A Mad, Wonderful World

Chapter Four-Another Mad Tea Party

Margaret had finally made a full recovery. She insisted on getting out of bed the morning after her rather dramatic arrival, and Alannah consented, and then chuckled. Margaret looked at her, slightly confused. "What are you laughing about?"

Alannah grinned. "I'm just imagining Tarrant's face when you meet him. He's been a nervous wreck ever since you arrived. He thought at first you had come to try and bring Alice back to Overland with you."

Margaret shook her head. "No, I would never try to do that. In fact, I might not go back myself." She laughed bitterly. "I have nothing left to go back for, anyway. My husband is a thorough cad, and I'm sure that if I did go back and told him where I had been he would have me placed in Bedlam."

Alannah frowned in confusion. "Bedlam?"

Margaret nodded. "Yes, it's an insane asylum in London. It's quite well known." She looked at Alannah. "Has Alice ever told you about our Aunt Imogene?" Alannah looked thoughtful.

"She's the one said that she was engaged to a prince, right?"

Margaret nodded. "That's her. Alice advised her to seek help, and she refused. She kept insisting that her prince would come and take her away from everything. Finally, Mother stepped in. She had Aunt Imogene committed to Bedlam. As far as I know, she's still there."

Alannah gasped. "That's horrible! Locking people up just because they see things differently than others. I'm glad we've no asylums in Underland. Then again, everyone here is mad. So perhaps the whole place is an asylum." She grinned, and then changed the subject. "Tarrant and Alice are most likely at the Windmill preparing for the Mad Tea Party. Ilosivic and I are going to be there, as well as Thackery, Chessur, and Mirana. Tea time is six o' clock. Casual dress."

Margaret blushed. "My dress was rather ruined by my fall. I don't suppose you know where I can get another?"

Alannah smiled, and walked over to the wardrobe that stood against the far wall. She opened the doors with a flourish, and grinned at Margaret. "There. An entire selection. I'm certain you'll be able to find a suitable dress."

Margaret's eyes lit up. "Thank you."

"You are quite welcome. I'll let you alone so you can find something."

She left, and Margaret ran over to the wardrobe. She began examining the dresses, noting with some embarrassment that they did not require a corset. She finally decided on a deep green dress. After she had cleaned herself up, she decided to give herself a tour of the castle. She opened the door to her room, peeked up and down the corridor, and decided to go left.

She walked down the corridor, admiring the paintings and tapestries that adorned the walls, and noticed a young man heading in her direction. He was handsome, with grey-green eyes and dark brown hair. He had a bouquet of flowers clutched in his hand, and he appeared to be very nervous. He approached her, and bowed slightly.

"Ma'am, I wanted to give you these as a welcome gift. I do hope you will accept them." He handed her the flowers, and Margaret took them, a slight blush on her face. She hadn't been given flowers in a very long time, and she appreciated the kind gesture.

"Thank you so much…" she looked at him, and he smiled.

"Corporal Thomas Blanchard, Ma'am."

Margaret extended her hand. "Margaret…Kingsley."

Blanchard took her hand, kissing it gently, and Margaret felt herself blush. "I am honored to meet you, Miss Kingsley. I wonder if perhaps I could show you around Marmoreal?"

Margaret grinned, then looped her arm in his, smiling. "I would be delighted, Corporal."

He beamed, and then escorted her down the corridor.

Alannah ducked, and a tea cup went flying over her head to crash against a tree. She and Stayne were at the Windmill, helping Alice and Tarrant set up for the Tea Party. Their children were inside, playing happily with Badger. Alannah straightened, and gave Thackery a piercing glare. "Thackery, try not to break all the cups, please."

Thackery frowned. "Aye. But I just like throwin' 'em. They make sich a lovely sound when they hit the trees." He threw another one, and this time it was Stayne who was forced to duck. Thackery laughed madly as the cup crashed into the Windmill. Stayne sighed and gazed pleadingly at Tarrant.

"Can't you curb the Mad March Hare for a bit?" he asked in slight exasperation, and Tarrant sighed.

"I'll try. Thackery! Behave yourself at this party or I'll hide all your spoons." Thackery went pale, and Tarrant grinned. "So do you promise to behave yourself?"

Thackery nodded quickly, and Tarrant laughed. "Good. Come help me carry out the tea trays. Chessur, if you could be so good as to become solid, you can carry out the scones."

Stayne, Alice, and Alannah tried not to laugh as a very indignant Cheshire Cat appeared on a tree branch. "Carry scones? Really, that seems so boring. Couldn't I just be a supervisor? That seems so much more interesting."

Tarrant glared at him, eyes orange. "Ye can either carry the scones on yer own or I can tape them to yer 'ead. Make up yer mind, Cat."

"Given the choice, I suppose I could carry them," Chessur drawled. He floated inside, grabbed the tray of scones, and then carried them over to the table. He set them down and looked down his nose at Tarrant. "Is there anything else you would like me to do, Hatter?"

Tarrant nodded. "Go find Alice's sister and escort her here."

Chessur vanished, and Tarrant stepped back and observed his Tea Tables. They looked as they had during Alice's first visit. He grinned, and then looked at Alice, who had come to stand next to him. "Do you think your sister will like this?"

She nodded. "She will. It looks lovely, Tarrant, and it brings back such lovely memories for me as well."

Margaret smiled softly to herself as she walked through a garden-one of many, she had been told. Corporal Blanchard had shown her all around Marmoreal, answering all her questions about life in Underland, and listening with interest as she told him about her life in London. He had also been a perfect gentleman, something that she found rather endearing. Lowell had never been much of a gentleman. Oh, he could put on the act, and he was quite charming when he did, but it was all skin deep. The Corporal was different, she thought. He was a truly gallant man, and she found herself enjoying his company very much. Before he returned to his duties, he had asked her to spend a day with him, and she had agreed. "I feel like I'm being courted all over again," she laughed to herself.

"Being courted is great fun."

Margaret gaped in shock at the…cat head that hovered above a flower bed. The cat grinned, revealing sharp white teeth, and Margaret gulped in fear and timidly addressed it.

"Hello, Puss."

Chessur smiled softly. "That's what Alice called me when we first met. Cheshire Puss."

Margaret's eyes widened in recognition. "Are you the Cheshire Cat?" At his nod, she laughed. "Alice told me about you. She said you were quite the interesting animal. Is it true that you're mad?"

Chessur grinned. "We're all mad here, and your sister is as mad as all of us. Now, if you would please follow me, I will take you to the Windmill and the Tea Party. How good are you at ducking?"

Margaret blinked at the strange question. "I…suppose I'm decent at it. Why do you ask?"

Chessur smiled enigmatically. "You'll see. Follow me, please."

Margaret followed her mind racing in confusion. Why had she been asked if she was good at ducking? She kept her eyes on the strange cat that floated in front of her. A few times she opened her mouth to ask a question, but then fell silent, unsure of what she wanted to say. Finally, they reached the end of the path, and Margaret found herself staring at a strange sight.

There was a large clearing in front of her. Spread out in the clearing were three tables spread with fine linen tablecloths and burdened down with tea pots, tea cups, and more sandwiches, scones and tarts than Margaret had ever seen in her life. She was surprised that the tables hadn't collapsed from the weight of all the food. Directly behind the tables was a large windmill, its sails neatly patched.

She turned her attention from the landscape to focus on the occupants of the tables. She recognized the one-eyed man as being the Captain that had been so helpful in getting her into Underland. He was whispering to the woman sitting on his right, and she giggled before lightly smacking his arm. Margaret smiled sadly. Lowell had never shown her any sort of affection.

"Meggie!" Alice came out of the Windmill and gave a cry of delight at seeing her. She was carrying a little girl of about three, with electric orange hair. Margaret's eyes widened in shock. She had never seen such orange hair, and yet on the girl it looked surprisingly cute. She was dressed in a pale lavender dress and had a bright green ribbon tied in her unruly curls. The effect should have been jarring, but somehow it worked.

Alice walked up to her. "Meggie, I'm so glad you could make it. I'd like for you to meet Arianna. Arianna, say hello to your Aunt Meggie."

Arianna looked at Margaret, and then spoke quietly. "'Lo."

Margaret beamed. "Hello, Arianna. You are such a pretty little girl. How old are you?"

"Free."

Margaret's eyes widened in surprise. "Three? My, you're a big girl, aren't you? Do you think I could get a hug?" Arianna looked over at her Momma, and Alice smiled.

"It's alright. She's a very nice lady. Go on, sweetie." Arianna stretched out her arms, and Margaret took her, beaming.

"Alice, she is a darling. I see she inherited her father's hair and your eyes. But didn't you tell me that you had twins?"

Alice nodded. "I did. In fact, here comes Tarrant with Josiah now." She smiled at her husband as he approached, Josiah in his arms. He was dressed in his purple suit, and Alice laughed when she realized Josiah was wearing the same thing. "You both look good in purple, love."

Tarrant grinned. "Well, of course." He bowed slightly to Margaret. "Mrs. Manchester, I am very glad to see you again."

Margaret smiled. "Please, call me Meggie. I do not wish to be known as Mrs. Manchester. In fact, I would much prefer being Margaret Kingsley once more."

Tarrant beamed. "As you wish, Meggie. Now, would you like to meet your nephew?" Margaret nodded, and he grinned. "Josiah, say hello to your Aunt Meggie." He chuckled as Josiah buried his face in his shoulder. "He's a bit shy, but give him time and he'll warm up to you. I see you've already met Arianna."

Margaret looked over at Arianna and grinned. "Yes. We're getting along splendidly."

"Excellent. Now, the tea is brewing, the scones and tarts are nice and hot, and we're ready for the party to begin. Might I be allowed to escort you to the table?" Tarrant asked her. Margaret blushed.

"Of course. I would be honored."

Tarrant looped his arm around hers and escorted her to the table. "You may sit where you like. Mirana should be along shortly."

Margaret chose a seat, and gaped in wonder at all the food. "I have never seen so much food in my life!" She turned to the woman seated next to her, and grinned. "Lady Alannah! I'm so very glad to see you again!"

Alannah laughed. "I am happy to see you recovered so quickly, Margaret. Or may I also call you Meggie?"

Margaret smiled. "I insist on it. You were so kind to me." She looked over at Stayne. "Captain, I wanted to thank you for the kindness you showed to me in the Hall of Doors."

Stayne smiled. "There's no need, Ma'am. It was the least I could do."

Margaret nodded, and then took a breath. "Captain, I hope you are not offended, but I find you a most imposing man. If I may ask, how did you lose your eye?"

Stayne laughed. "I am not offended at all. I lost my eye to a creature known as the JubJub bird. It happened when I was young."

As Margaret listened to Stayne tell the story of how he lost his eye, she couldn't help but notice that he kept stroking Alannah's hand with his thumb. He seemed unaware he was doing it, almost as if it were a natural reflex, and Margaret felt a slight twinge of sadness. She glanced over to Alice and Tarrant, and saw that they too had their hands linked. Margaret sighed, wishing that she could have been so lucky in her marriage.

"Am I late for the Tea Party?"

Margaret turned at the voice, and her jaw dropped. A woman dressed in the most beautiful white gown she had ever seen was gliding into the clearing. She was pale, with pure white hair and dark brown lips and eyebrows. Tarrant beamed.

"Not at all, Mirana. You are right on time. Margaret Kingsley, might I introduce Queen Mirana of Marmoreal? Mirana, this is Alice's sister, Margaret Kingsley."

Margaret nearly leapt out of her seat. She curtseyed deeply. "Majesty, I am honored to meet you."

Mirana smiled softly, and pulled Margaret to her feet. "There is no need for such formality. You are Alice's sister, and that makes you family. I insist on being called Mirana."

Margaret smiled. "Of course."

Later that night as Margaret lay in her bed, she thought back to the wonderful time she had at the Tea Party. It had been so unlike the staid and boring parties she had attended in London, when she had been forced to listen to dull conversation about fashion and politics, two subjects she honestly could have cared less about. At this party, the conversation had flowed, jumping from subject to subject. It had taken her a bit to get used to it, but she wasn't Alice's sister for nothing, and she soon became comfortable, adding her thoughts whenever she could.

She snuggled deeper into the soft bed, sure that she was going to enjoy her time here. 'In fact', she thought mischievously, 'I might never go back home.'

Author's Note-Bedlam is the common name for Bethlem Royal Hospital in London. It was built in 1247 as a Priory, and became a hospital in 1337. The word 'bedlam', meaning uproar and confusion, derives from it. For a long time, it was notorious for the inhumane treatment of the mentally ill. However, today it is at the forefront of humane treatment. (More info can be found on Wikipedia.)