Six– Alice
The night air was cool and the stars were shining brightly above us as we sat on the stone bench by the waterfall- our spot.
I could feel The Hatter breathing as his back lent against my own, both of us facing away from one another, hugging our feet with our arms.
We had returned from Castle Dementia, defeated and no-one daring to speak. As soon as we had reached the safety of Marmoreal, Mirana wondered off on her own without anyone desiring to go after her.
I still did not fully understand what had happened or what was going to happen and I knew it was not the right time to ask yet.
So far I had gathered most of my thoughts into a few groups which were quite an achievement for me as I had many thoughts nowadays.
Firstly; Iracebeth of Crims was my mother, making me Arietta of Crims, which also made me Arietta of Marmoreal as that was my Aunt's title- but I was also Arietta of Dementia as that was the castle my Mother and Aunt were born in. Secondly; my mother was a murderous, vile creature who had murdered thousands including my very own grandparents for not giving her the crown. And thirdly; a girl named Alice had captured the heart of my favourite Hatter many years ago, and part of me hated her for it. Well… I presumed…?
"Why is a Raven like a Writing Desk?" The Hatter suddenly asked, and I looked up to the stars.
"I haven't the faintest idea," I said, grinning.
I looked around to The Hatter who had looked over to me and smiled.
"That is exactly what I said," he admitted.
We stayed that way for quite a while, just smiling at one another until I avertedly broke the moment by yawning.
The Hatter giggled.
"Someone is a little sleepy!?" he cried, loudly.
"Shush," I insisted, hitting him lightly on the arm. "I have not slept in almost a day! And I do not wish to return to the castle as I am frightened I shall bump into my Aunt and disrupt her 'cooling down' time."
The Hatter swung his legs around so he was sitting straight and gestured to his shoulder.
"You may rest here if you desire," he said, wistfully. "It is really quite comfy you know, well… so I've been told."
I lowered my eyebrows and sat up.
"Not really, I just made it up," he admitted, shyly.
I laughed and lent against his shoulder, finding myself falling asleep as soon as I closed my eyes.
The wind moved through my hair as I felt The Hatter's head fall onto mine, his hat jolting down to now cover both of our heads as we slept.
I awoke to the feeling of a sharp jab in my left foot.
"Yowl," I screeched, jumping off the seat and standing, grabbing my sore foot with my hands.
I looked down to my attacker Mallymkun who was holding her small sword over her shoulder and grinning at me.
"Talk about a rude awakening," I muttered, crossing my arms.
The Hatter's eyes darted open, sitting up straight and adjusting his hat to sit properly on his head as the mouse jumped up and sat beside him.
"Morning Hatty," the mouse said, in her usual squeaky voice. "Sleep well?"
The Hatter stood, arching his back and moving his head from side to side.
"On the contrary," The Hatter said, gazing off into space. "It was quite… dark."
He spun around to look at me and lowered his eyebrows when he saw my bleeding foot.
"Mallymkun," The Hatter said, turning to the mouse and leaning down close to her. "Have you been stabbing our friends again?"
"Maybe…"
"What have I told you about stabbing friends?"
"To not to," The mouse replied, placing her hands behind her back.
"Good Mallymkun," The Hatter said, patting the dormouse's head before standing. "Now, to the castle!"
Mallymkun glared at me, tracing her finger across her neck meaning for me to watch out before scurrying after him.
I did not really desire to return to the castle, after all my avoidance skills were better than any other skill I had obtained in my twenty-five years of being alive.
I slowly wondered away from the castle and through the glorious gardens, tracing my hands along the elegantly trimmed hedges and gazing in wonder as the flowers chatted amongst themselves in the far corner.
I continued my way along a path until I reached the bottom of the grand gardens to see a single white tree with flourishing pink leaves. There was a singular branch hanging off the main trunk with a small white swing tied around it.
I wondered down and traced my hands along the white rope until reaching the end. I moved around and sat on the swing, gripping each rope with my hands and swinging forward and backward.
The small pink leaves slowly began to fall all around me, landing on the green grass below and all through my blonde hair.
"I used to love this swing."
I stopped and looked behind me as Mirana emerged form behind the tree.
"Oh, Aunt Mirana I was not aware you were-"
"It is fine Ari," she said, kindly and walking over to stand beside me. "I wished to speak with you anyway."
I began to get anxious. I had never had a really serious conversation with Mirana before.
"Whatever about?" I asked, although slightly punching myself as it was quite a silly question to ask considering recent events.
"The past," The Queen said walking around to face me, her hands elegantly folded in front of her. "That and the future, may I?"
The Queen gestured for me to stand and I hastily did so, Mirana sitting herself down onto the swing ever so gracefully.
"Mmm I remember when this swing was first put together," she said, closing her eyes and swaying slightly. "I had only just built the castle and it was the last present my sister ever gave me."
She fell silent, giving me time to ask the burning questions.
"What happened?" I asked, quietly.
Her eyes turned to me, her expression nothing more than neutral.
"Jealously is a curse Ari," Mirana warned me, her eyes narrowing. "It can drive the most elegant person in the world into a fiery rage. I had always known my sister had that rage, but before it was announced that I would be queen she kept it very well hidden. When my parents informed her of their decision, she… she was jealous. She left the castle in a fury, vowing that mother and father would pay for not allowing her rule. With that, she made Castle Crims and befriended the Jabberwock, of whom she enticed into a world of murder and betrayal; opening with the murder of Calista and Rowan of Dementia and the destruction of the once great castle."
My eyes were flooding with tears as Mirana barely even moved a muscle. She was soo prefect; she barely even blinked as she explained the story of her own disastrous and strenuous life
"Her rage continued, destroying my life and taking my crown," Mirana continued, unfathomed by my palpable crying. "Once it was regained, she was banished to continue her seethe elsewhere. She destroyed hundreds of buildings, killed thousands of innocent people and wounded many more. 'She destroyed our lives, took our souls. To control every mind, was her one and only goal.' It's a poem-"
"I know," I said, wiping my eyes. "I read it somewhere whilst I was trying to find information about Alice."
The Queen's eyes suddenly looked up to mine, filled with light and hope.
"Alice… Alice…?" Mirana said, her voice trailing off. "Quick, to the library."
Mirana stood and grasped me by the arm, tugging me away with her. She pulled me through the castle and into the library.
"This way," she stated, releasing me and leading me through the library to an old dusty door in the back of the library. She pushed open the doors and headed down towards a golden book stand which held a small tattered scroll.
We made it to the stand and Mirana took the scroll, looking to me.
"Do you know what this is?" she asked, quietly.
I shook my head, unsure.
"It is the Oraculum," the Queen informed me, running her long fingers along the scroll. "It foretells the time line of Underland from the day it began to the day it ends. If it is foretold that Alice is to return once again, then it shall be so- after all she is required if the Red Queen is ever to return."
The Queen rolled out the Oraculum, running her eyes along it.
"Oh my gosh," she cried, wide –eyed.
"What is it?" I asked, moving around to see what she was gawping about.
There, drawn patently onto the scroll was me, as well as Emerella and Cylis in the small cottage when I was first informed of who I really was.
"But… but that's me!?" I cried. "Why am I soo important?"
Mirana scrolled the never-ending script down to the next picture which was of a man in a hat behind bars with a girl wearing a cloak sitting on the floor outside of the bars.
"That was when I spoke to The Hatter before we left Crims!?" I cried, curious.
She scrolled further down to see another picture of Mirana beside the empty chest at Dementia. One further down there was a picture of a girl, with long curly locks holding a long sword.
"Alice," Mirana said, dazedly. "It appears my hunch is correct; it has been foretold that Alice is to return to Underland once more."
Mirana looked over to the door as The White Rabbit hopped inside, almost as if Mirana had psychically asked him to enter.
"Your Majesty," Nivens said, bowing.
"Nivens, take this to Alice," The Queen said, pulling out a small white letter fro one of her dress pockets and handing it to Nivens. "This shall return our champion. Now go, go!"
"Yes Highness," Nivens stuttered, darting out of the room and away.
I looked back to the Oraculum in consideration. I could read the script, find out what was going to happen to me before it happened… the temptation…?
"You could read it you know," Mirana said, slowly walking over to me. "You could find out all the wonders and all the woes that bestow you in your future, after all it appears that it necessary that both Alice and you Arietta must be here in this time of time. What is wrong with taking a little peek?"
I looked to Mirana, her eyes danced.
I looked to the ground, shaking my head.
"No, it is wrong to know every move one must make," I said, looking up. "For that will shower one's judgment, and I do not wish to know everything that will happen to me, I prefer to ride the ride as it happens."
Mirana smiled, placing the Oraculum back onto the book stand.
"Good decision," she said, placing her arm around my shoulder and guiding me out of the room. "Now, we must prepare for Alice's return! You both will get along soo very well."
I grinned.
I hoped so.
The next month was filled with vigorous preparing. The Hatter was of course ecstatic about the return of his obvious lover Alice, yet I spent most of the month partly dreading her return. I knew that everything would change once she returned and from what Mirana had told me; the war between white and red would hastily recommence once the 'Champion' sets foot back onto Underland soil.
I sat atop the north tower, overlooking the whole of Underland with my sketch pad on my lap.
The wind bustled through my long straight hair as I looked up towards the snowy mountains. It would be summer soon and the mountains would be showering with clear and beautiful water.
"It's Alice! It's Alice she's here!" someone cried from down below.
I stood up and ran to the railing, looking down to the courtyard where dozens had gathered as a single girl with long knotted blonde hair wearing a blue dress walked towards the castle, The Dodo and The Tweedles on either side of her as the rabbit led the way.
Hastily I left the rails and returned to my room, cramming myself through the open window. I changed into a bright pink dress and brushed through my hair before running off downstairs and along the deserted corridors. It appeared that even the guards were excited for the return of 'The Champion'.
I walked slowly into the room, spying Mirana, The Hatter, The Dodo, The Tweedles and Nivens crowded around a tall slender girl with long blonde hair much like me although hers was curly.
She looked over to me, her blue eyes matching my own before she returned her gaze to the others.
"Who is she?" she asked, her voice sounding almost vulgar.
The Hatter turned around and grinned broadly when he saw me, taking my hand and tugging me over.
"This Alice is Arietta," The Hatter announced, proudly. "She's amazing and wonderful and… well many other synonyms of those words!"
Alice looked at me as if I were a mere mouse to her lion. Her face turned sour and she stepped back slightly.
"Erm… hello," she said, quickly.
She looked up to Mirana who smiled deeply.
"So, where is new Red Queen?!" Alice asked, keenly. "I heard she is trying to return her mother?"
My eyes widened before looking to The Hatter who lowered his eyebrows.
"She is right here," Mirana replied, gesturing to me.
Alice looked to me, then to Mirana.
"Why is she here!?" she demanded, angrily. "She's evil! Her mother killed dozens of people, she ruined many lives! If there is any chances of The Red Queen's return we should stop them at the core, and she is that core!"
I felt as if I had just been stabbed in the heart with a long sword.
I had spent months preparing for Alice's return; I though she was supposed to save Underland, bring us all together! Well, that's what Mirana had told me!?
"Alice, you are being highly rude to my niece," Mirana said, I could see that she was holding in her temper with much effort.
"I don't care!" Alice cried, shocking the whole room.
Obviously this Alice wasn't the Alice everyone else remembered.
"Her mother was vile, cruel and evil and what's to say that she is not!?" Alice pointed out, boldly. "She does not belong here! Not with us!"
Alice pushed past me and down along the corridor, disappearing from view.
That was not how I was hoping my meeting with Alice would be.
"Alice," Mirana said, whisking off out of the room and after her.
I felt a soft hand hold onto my shoulder from behind me and I looked around.
The Hatter smiled when I caught his eye and I looked back to the door where both Alice and Mirana had disappeared to.
"She is not normally like this," The Hatter said and I half-smiled.
"She took my room!" I could hear from down in the corridor.
Suddenly Alice burst back into the room, looking fuelled with rage.
"First you take my friends, then my room! What else do you want of me?!" Alice snapped, looking at me.
Mirana re-entered the room, looking scarce.
"Alice-stop-being-like-this-this-is-not-the-you-I-know-but-right-now-it-appears-that-you-are-being-the-one-who-is-vile-cruel-and-e-e-eevil!" The Hatter cried, suddenly standing between Alice and myself, his eyes turning golden.
He began to splutter and jump around, cursing and yelling and I was suddenly frozen. I had never seen him like this before.
"Hatter!" Alice yelled, walking towards him but he pushed her off and continued his rant. "That always works…?"
I glanced around the room. Alice looked bamboozled; Mirana looked ashamed where as everyone else just appeared quite frightened.
"Hatter," I stuttered, even though I could feel my eyes burning with tears.
The Hatter suddenly stopped, his eyes turning green and looking to me.
"Please don't you desert me too," I said, quietly.
The Hatter's hair dropped and his face turned to a frown.
"Hatter, I'm sorry," Alice said, but The Hatter continued to look over at me.
I lowered my head and ran out of the room, up the spiral stairs near the library and running along the corridor towards the gardens, sitting down on the bench in front of the frozen lake at me and The Hatter's spot.
I held in my tears and wiped my eyes slightly before looking out to the lake.
"Why hellooo there little girl," said a wispy voice from beside me.
I stood up and looked around, yet there was no-one around.
"Do I know you from somewhere?"
"Where are you?" I asked, sounding almost foolish.
The voice was low and cheeky, yet sounded utmost familiar.
Suddenly, a large black cat with large eyes and an even larger grin appeared sitting on the bench looking up at me.
"Hey, you're the cat from the fair! You ruined The Hatter's show!" I cried, the thought suddenly occurring to me.
"Why yesss," The Cat said, he seemed to have a tendency to space out his words. "You spoke to Hatty! I would remember you anywhere, you looked immensely like someone I knew… but who was it?"
The Cat stood up and grinned at me before disappearing into a puff of smoke.
"May have been that Violet girl from the fruit stall," the Cat said, from behind me.
I looked around and The Cat was walking across the railing behind me.
"What are you?" I asked, quite forwardly.
The cat disappeared once again and re-appeared right in front of me a just a single floating head.
"I am Chessur, the most intelligent and smart cat in Underland," Chessur said, grinning.
"Intelligent and smart are kind of the same thing you know," I said, quietly.
The Cat head moved back slightly.
"Cheeky," Chessur said, disappearing.
"No, wait," I cried, "Come back."
I didn't really feel like being alone right now.
I sat back down on the bench and buried my head in my arms, not wanting to ever move.
It appeared that Mirana was correct; Jealous is a curse, because it changed Alice for the worst.
Hey everybody! I'm sorry this had taken a while, I hope you like it! Both Chessur and Alice have returned. I do hope you understand that Alice is acting a bit different from the Alice we all know and love, but that is partly because she is a bit jealous of Arietta and because she has spent soo much time in the real world where she has to be strict, commanding and mature- so she has naturally changed a bit. I have soo much more in store for the readers of this story so I do hope you read and review and tell me what you think! Thank you to everyone who is reading this story, you guys ARE the story as it wouldn't have even got this far if it weren't for you! :) MikiChik x