Hatter had a dozen questions he wanted to ask at that moment, but a sharp look from Charlie had reminded him exactly how much was at stake. Alice, first. His questions could wait. He nodded and then he ran.

Bursting into the streets, he blinked at the brightness of the afternoon sunlight and covered his eyes. He knew Charlie would be okay. Jack would be furious but he would assume Hatter had escaped on his own. If and when Jack did discover his true liberator, he wouldn't be able to stay mad at the old knight for long.

Hatter kept to the side street, head bowed so no one would get a good look at his face. He needed a disguise, a way to hide from the suits until he was clear of the city. Searching the buildings, he smiled when his eyes set on what he was seeking. He ducked into a tavern. As he expected, there was a coat rack by the door.

Hatter smirked, the bartender never noticed him as he plucked a coat and hat off the rack and put them on before strolling back out into the sunlight. He took a moment to tip his hat in front so the shade would better cover his eyes, and he set out to find a horse.

*~*~*~*~*

Alice was huddled against the side of the building, Daisy pressed against her back and Tiger Lily at her side. The two women refused to ease off, even though she'd explained several times that she could take care of herself. The sounds of battle raged around them, echoing off the surrounding buildings and making the noises seem like they came from all directions at once. Alice doubted her own words.

They had seen bodies in the streets, fires burning and people fleeing. It was a nightmarish scenario that had her wishing that Hatter was safe, wherever he was.

Through the smoke-filled air, Alice saw a figure approaching. She breathed a sigh of relief as Violet ran to greet them, eyes darting about cautiously for any soldiers that might be lurking.

"Well?" Tiger Lily asked.

"It's true," she nodded, making a show of wiping soot out of her eyes though Alice could see the tears that glistened, unshed. "The King is dead. Some say poison, some say old age but the result is the same."

"What about the Queen?" Daisy asked, her voice breaking.

"I found her ladies in waiting as they were escaping. They say she's fled with the princess into the forest of forgetfulness. They'll be safe there for a time… even if they won't remember why."

Daisy gave a shriek, drawing the women's attention and weapons all at once. The sound was followed by Rose's laughter, the flower had managed to sneak up on all of them and give the youngest a good fright.

Tiger Lily glanced around to make sure no soldiers were approaching now that their position was given away then turned her fierce glare to Rose. "If you're going to be noisy at least say something useful."

Rose rolled her eyes, "The king's death isn't why the Lion attacked. He heard his brother had obtained Alice of Legend and was intending to make her his wife. The Lion didn't like the thought of his brother having a creature of such legendary political power… even if her petals are fading as we speak."

"I'm not a flower…" She mumbled half-heartedly. Alice could feel her cheeks go pale at what she'd just heard. The Unicorn had lied to her! He was never going to let her go back to Jack and just the thought of having to be married to that repulsive beast made her feel sick.

"We need to leave." Violet said seriously.

"Agreed." Tiger Lily nodded. "Violet, Rose: go and find the Queen and princess Lily. Keep them safe and take care of each other." The women dashed off with no ceremony, just the same sense of urgency that fueled the battleground around them.

"Daisy, weapon out. You're with me. We'll make our way to the stables."

The trip to the stables seemed to take much longer than Alice remembered from entering this place but she realized that Tiger Lily was taking the long way around so that they wouldn't be spotted.

Once they reached the building, the three women hurried inside.

"Quickly, untie some horses." Tiger Lily instructed.

"What are you going to do with me? Are you going to just hand me back over to the Unicorn now that you know what he has planned for me?"

"That doesn't matter now. We have to get you out of here." Daisy said.

"And after, when we're safe… what then?"

Tiger Lily sighed, "We'll take you back to your Hatter. The prince… The Unicorn, he… never mind... It doesn't matter."

"You love him." Alice realized.

Tiger Lily's eyes glistened and she pointed to a horse. "Take that one."

Alice allowed the misdirection and worked at loosening the tether when she heard laughter, deep and masculine. She turned to find its source and, at the far end of the stable, there was another entrance in which stood four soldiers. They all bore the crest of the lion.

Tiger Lily cursed under her breath and Alice could sense both her companions step closer to stand by her.

One of the men stepped forward, his hair was like a shaggy, dark mane about his stern face. "Well, well… if it isn't my brother's whores." He smiled in a grim way. "It would be just like him to hide her among you so that getting her from the garden would be like picking berries in a bramble patch. You made everything so much easier by coming right to me. So… which of you is Alice?"

The fear that Alice felt turned quickly to relief as he realized that they hadn't heard the earlier conversation and no one here really knew what she looked like. That uncertainty could be used to their advantage. The three of them remained silent, staring at the soldiers and holding their weapons tightly in case the men attacked.

The Lion's eyes surveyed each woman and he growled in frustration. "I've no problem with killing all of you just to make sure my brother won't have her. Or maybe I could give you to my men to entertain them for a while."

Daisy rushed forward with a furious yell before Tiger Lily or Alice could stop her. Her dagger drawn, she ran straight at the prince. The men all unsheathed their weapons but the Lion caught her wrist in his hand as she attacked, blade a hairs breadth from his throat and his fist came across her face.

"Which of you is Alice? She was a great fighter so it's obviously not this one." He asked. Alice and Tiger Lily exchanged looks of trepidation but said nothing. He tightened his grip and Daisy whimpered.

The Lion flicked his wrist and there was an audible pop ending with Daisy's agonized scream. She swayed as her knees buckled from the pain but she didn't fall only because the Lion raised her arm, keeping her suspended by her now broken wrist.

He smirked, glancing at the other two women as he drew his sword. He pointed its tip at Daisy who was silently sobbing. "I'm not a patient man and your friend is very frail."

Alice grimaced in sympathy and looked to Tiger Lily for advice. Tiger Lily nodded to her then stepped forward, addressing the prince. "I am."

Shocked, Alice started to protest, "But-"

"Silence, Peony!" Tiger Lily shouted, the command sounding more like a desperate plea.

"I can't let you do this." Alice objected, moved beyond measure that these women who she had known for all of a day were willing to protect her like she was one of them.

"I am Alice." Tiger Lily said, tossing her hair haughtily.

"Thank you," The Lion purred. He thrust the sword forward, piercing Daisy's chest as he pulled Daisy towards him in a fatal embrace.

Tiger Lily screamed and Alice felt her heart clench painfully in horror as the Lion withdrew his sword, covered in her new friend's blood. He let the lifeless body fall to the filthy floor of the stable. "Seize them."

As the soldiers came at them, Tiger Lily lashed out, fighting fiercely. The first man was down in a flash of her blade and a cry of pain. Alice didn't have time to appreciate the fluidity of the flower's movements as a soldier attacked her. Alice used his momentum to flip him to the ground.

Tiger Lily tugged on her arm. "Run, now."

The two women burst into the streets, their earlier caution now unnecessary as they made their way frantically towards the gates.

Cursing, Tiger Lily pulled Alice into an alley just as some soldiers approached from the opposite direction.

"Come," Tiger Lily directed as she started to lead Alice down the narrow alleyway.

"But we're going the wrong way. The gates I came in are back there."

"Those gates go to the forest. I need to take you to the gate that's closest to the Red Kingdom. Besides, the Lion's men already saw us run for that gate. It might buy us some time if they're looking in the wrong place."

Minutes seemed to pass like hours as Tiger Lily led her on a seemingly labyrinthine path through the back alleys. They didn't meet a single soul until they came to the gates. Alice was thinking that it might have been too easy but she didn't want to say it aloud.

Tiger Lily turned to Alice, "From here, we have to run. We'll be out in the open and the best we can do is to get as far as we can and as fast as we can. Go!"

Alice did as she was instructed, dashing with all the strength she could muster. They had just passed through the stone structure when she heard the sound she'd been both expecting and yet dreading. The soldiers were coming.

"Keep moving," Tiger Lily yelled, though it was hardly necessary.

Off in the distance, a rider was heading in their direction. Alice feared for a moment that it might be the Red Knight, come back to claim her for the Unicorn but this rider wore no armor. She couldn't make out his face from this distance because of the hat he wore.

Alice put on a burst of speed as her heart soared with hope. Please, she thought, please let it be him. The rider was getting closer but so were the soldiers, they would all be within reach of each other in moments.

"Alice!" The rider called out. Alice wanted to cry at the sound of that familiar voice.

"Hatter!" Alice yelled back, his face now close enough to be in view. It was joy, love and a warning mixed into one shout as though she could express all she'd been through in one word.

He pulled the horse to rear in front of the women, and Alice allowed herself a glance behind her. The soldiers, Lion's men, were chasing on foot and fast approaching.

"Alice," Hatter sighed, his face a welcome sight after the events of this day. "Not a moment too soon, eh? Fancy a ride?"

Tiger Lily turned to look behind as well. She adjusted the grip on her knife. "Get out of here. I'll hold them off as long as I can."

"I can't," Alice gasped, nearly breathless from running.

"They won't kill me. They still think I'm you, remember?" She tilted her head to give Alice a smirk tinged with darkness. "I'll make them regret what they did to Daisy."

"We can't just leave you here!" Alice argued.

"If you don't then she died for nothing!" Alice quailed at the fierce admonition as much as Tiger Lily's unyielding expression. "A flower's life is not meaningless. Now go!"

Alice nodded, and Tiger Lily helped her onto the horse behind Hatter. Hatter eyed the flower suspiciously as she grabbed his forearm. She whispered something to him before stepping away.

"Take care of her."

Alice was denied her goodbye as Tiger Lily gave a shout, startling the horse. Hatter tried to reign in control but the flower followed up with a smack to the creature's rump that set it to galloping away from the battlefield.

Alice slumped against Hatter's back, the sounds of battle fading away. She tried to convince herself that he was real. She wrapped her arms around his waist, feeling secure as one of his hands lightly covered hers in acknowledgement. They were together again and, right now, the reason he left didn't matter.

She cursed herself for a coward because she couldn't bring herself to look back and see what would become of the flower that had saved her life. Instead she closed her eyes, the vision of Daisy's last moments swimming through her mind and she let herself give in to her sorrow.

*~*~*~*~*

To Be Continued…