.
Chapter 3
.
*o0o*
.
Thanks to all the reviewers so far! James Birdsong, I'm really glad you're enjoying the story. .7, I'm sorry I've kept you waiting longer than you hoped for, but you are the best! Hopefully this chapter keeps you hooked. I agree completely, estie793, Stayne was a persistent douchebag.
Things are coming to a head here, and they are mostly AU from here on out. Please let me know how you feel about this chapter, and happy reading!
.
*o0o*
.
Early the next morning, Tarrant convinced Alice to go with him to visit Mirana to ease the pain of the tearing between her legs. He stood with her as she informed the White Queen of the foulness imposed upon her, and Mirana was more than sympathetic. "Oh, you poor dear," she crooned, taking Alice's hand and pulling her to the alchemy table once again. "Why did you not say something sooner?" In moment's, the queen had mixed up a potion she promised would rid Alice of any pain. "Now, just a moment and I'll be done with the next..."
"The next?" Alice looked confused. "But I feel fine. The ache is gone."
Mirana gave her a pitying look, and gripped Alice's fingers with her own graceful ones again, pausing in her duties. "Alice... There are other... complications to consider."
"Complications?"
The Hatter moved toward her, supporting her elbow as the implication sank in. He swore in Outlandish.
Lowering her voice, Mirana leaned in. "You do not wish to birth the Knave's child... do you?" she asked quietly.
"Child?" Alice's voice rose as she said it, her hand flying to her abdomen. She looked disturbed, eyes flying to Tarrant's for support. "What... What do I do?"
Sharply inhaling for strength, Tarrant asked quietly for guidance from whoever might be listening. "Alice," he said, soft voice echoing in the nearly empty kitchen, "Ye should do what ye feel is right."
Alice's fingers tightened, digging into the brocade covering her abdomen. Flickering emotions crossed her face, and Tarrant moved closer to hold her tightly, something the Queen took careful note of with a twinkle in her eyes despite the sad occasion. "I not sure what..." Alice said quietly before trailing off.
Mirana raised her hands to her lips, eyes glimmering with a strange combination of joy and sorrow. "Oh! There's no need to decide at this exact moment." She finished adding her ingredients, the last something that suspiciously resembled an eyeball. Then she bottled the potion, sealing a gleaming silver top over the mist rising from it. "You can take another three days to think on it," she explained, handing the vial to Alice. "You and Tarrant talk it over first."
"Of course, Majesty," Alice accepted numbly, pulling the Hatter's hand over her stomach and gripping his scarred and bandaged fingers tightly for support.
"You'll need to meet me in front of the castle before the march." She nimbly replaced her supplies, turning back with a watery smile. "Bless you, Hatter," she sighed before exiting the kitchen, leaving them to themselves.
Alice turned, and brown eyes met green. "I never thought-"
"I should have, last night," he said quietly. His mind was racing. The idea of her becoming the White Queen's Champion was becoming more and more intolerable for him. It wasn't that he didn't think she could do it; any Alice with as much Muchness as he'd seen her display was never to be doubted. It was only that he didn't want her to have to be the Champion; it simply wasn't fair. She'd already experienced so much trauma in such a short time... Perhaps if he stepped forward in her place, he could save her that pain, the pain of taking a life. And now, in her possibly delicate condition... Well, he wouldn't allow her to be in danger.
"Alice..." he said quietly, holding her at arms length. "Let me slay the Jabberwock for ye." His familiar lisp was bleeding away into dark Outlandish again; it seemed she brought it out of him. "Ye can come t' the battle, but Ah'll be th' Queen's Champion." He stroked her cheek as he took her in relieved look, more than sure that this was the right course.
Her expression was relieved one moment and troubled the next. "But... the Oraculum..." she began, desperate. Her arms wound under his arms, clutching at the thick fabric of his jacket as she pushed her face into his throat.
"Ah dinnae care what th' Oraculum shows," he rumbled, his breath warming her hair as his nose pressed against her. "Ah'll keep ye safe..."
.
*o0o*
.
The Vorpal sword seemed heavy and unwieldy in his hands as he face the Red Queen's army, watching Mirana speak with her sister. Even more-so than his claymore, which he had given to Alice for safe-keeping; it would certainly keep her safe if anything could. She stood next to him, in the Champion's armor that fit her so well despite their agreement. It was another thing that would keep her safe.
Mirana had not seemed pleased, but she hadn't argued either, when he'd stood beside Alice and proclaimed his Intention. Chessur had jokingly offered to fight the Jabberwocky as well, of course, and there were a few more Sincere Proposals that simply would not work out (too small, too soft, too weak).
So it was left to Tarrant. He'd been trained in combat, new how to handle a sword better than any. He would keep Alice Safe.
Suddenly, the Red Queen called for the Jabberwocky, and the Hatter and the Alice stood transfixed as the monstrous creature emerged and made his way towards them, crawlingo nhis wings rather than flying. "This is impossible," Alice whispered.
"Only if you believe it is," he answered, gathering himself and trying to feel Muchy.
"Sometimes I believe in up to six impossible things before breakfast," she murmured.
"An excellent practice!" He watched the looming monster come closer. "However, just at the moment, Ah really need ta focus on the Jabberwocky." He squeezed her hand briefly, then strode purposefully toward the White Queen as her sister as where the Champion was. "Righ' here!" he said loudly.
The Red Queen and the Knave laughed. "You? What about your prophesied Alice?" Iracebeth gasped cruelly between guffaws.
The Hatter almost couldn't take the exulted and cruel look on Stayne's face. "She's too scared to fight, My Queen," he intoned slowly, an insane gleam in his eye before he took Iracebeth's elbow and stepped aside.
Then he was finally faced with the Jabberwocky.
.
*o0o*
.
TBC...