Chapter 4

Prince Sebastian, Alice!

"Is she awake?"

"Let me see!"

"Move aside so I can see her!"

"You big head get in the back!"

Alice opened her eyes to see tiny little men with fiery red hair and red eyes stare at her. She covered her mouth covering her scream as she fell off the bed. The tiny gnome sized men gasped and rushed to help her.

"I'm dreaming aren't I?" Alice asked them as she moved backwards and huddled herself by the wall.

"We're Sebastian's servants at your service Princess Alice!" All of them said before bowing, their pointy noses touching the floor.

"Where am I?" Alice asked as she watched the small men and also women pull back to give her space. She looked around and saw the sun glittering outside in the red clouds.

"Princess! We are here to escort you to the throne room where Prince Sebastian will formally introduce himself."

"Princess? I'm not a princess… I'm just… Alice. Who are you and… What are you?" Alice asked as she knelt down and picked up one of the little servants in her hand. All the little servants were the size of a small flower pot and as heavy as a brick.

"I'm Godfred, Princess, and Prince Sebastian has ordered us to call you Princess!" The little elf said bowing in her palm.

"Princess we must change your dress! It's covered in dirt and grime!" The other elves said before opening a door with ropes tied to the handle. The closest was filled with expensive looking gowns and hats. Alice walked over as Godfred hopped onto her shoulder and she pulled out a red and black gown covered in black fabric around the top.

"Is there anything in here that isn't… red?" Alice asked as she looked at the different gowns covered in all red or partial black. A few of the elves gasped and Alice covered her mouth again. She forgot that the Red Queen's court wore strictly red and black.

"Princess, the Queen requires all guests to wear her colors as a sign of respect," Godfred whispered into her ear.

"Of course… This dress will be perfect then," Alice lied to the elves. Majority of them grinned and nod in unison.

"These shoes will match nicely, Princess!" The elves said handing her black high heels.

"These will also match nicely too, Princess." Godfred said pulling out chandelier diamonds earrings.

"Oh will you look at that… It's red…" Alice said looking at the earrings. She smiled at them and waited patiently for them to leave and give her the privacy to get dressed without prying eyes of a dozen elves.

"Oh! Princess Alice wants to get dressed alone," Godfred said after an awkward moment of silence. His friends whispered excitedly and left her alone in her bedroom. The door slammed behind them and Alice flopped down onto the red and black bed. A small headache blossomed as she tried to remember the events leading up to her sitting inside the Red Queen's palace. The last thing she could remember was a gust of wind on her face and watching the burning village vanish before her.

She threw on the dress and stared at herself in the mirror. Her hair was a mess! Grabbing the black brush on the table she pulled on her hair to get rid of the knots and leftover dirt from the fall. Outside she heard the sound of a dozen soldiers stomping into the castle, the captain's voice echoing the courtyard as he bellowed orders at his men. She peered out the window and saw a glimpse of a man wearing all black walking alongside a woman with a rather large head and red dress. Alice shivered remembering the Red Queen…. Not only was she terrified of her, she knew it was the Queen who wanted her head on a red platter after killing her dragon.

"Princess? Are your curls giving you trouble?" Alice turned and saw a smaller female elf standing near the door. She wore the same matching outfit as everyone else, a red shirt and black pants and boots. Her hair was covered by a red hat but her eyes sparkled green. "Please call me Goderella, Princess," She curtsy and climb onto the bed before jumping onto the table in front of Alice. Grabbing the brush, Goderella also took a red bottle on the table and poured it over Alice's hair. The liquid made Alice's hair cold and silky as Goderella brushed the knots out.

"Can you tell me what happened? I must admit I am not the Queen's favorite so why am I here in the castle and not a dungeon?" Alice asked the elf.

Goderella giggled. "You don't remember? Prince Sebastian rescued you from Prince Aaron's servants. You are the key to saving the prince from the curse! The Queen herself would like to see you in the throne room and introduce the prince to you formally."

"I was in a burnt village though… Hatter told me Sebastian would never find me if I was disguised."

"Someone told him that you made it to Wonderland and were disguised! Hatter has always been one of Prince Aaron's servants along with those other ungrateful tea party friends of his." Goderella jumped off Alice's shoulder and placed her hands on her hips. "A fine bride you would make the prince!"

"I don't want to marry anyone though! Don't I have a decision anymore? My mother was forcing me to marry someone I could never love and now I am stuck in this castle being forced to marry a man I never said two nice things to!" Alice slammed her hands on the table and paced around the room.

"Princess… it's part of the prophecy that you would marry one of the princes… If you don't then both of them will die," Goderella whispered.

"Oh so I just marry one and let the other die? Where is the justice in that?" Alice snapped back. Goderella looked at the floor and shook her head. "Wait… you said both princes die? Hatter told me only Aaron was cursed."

"Everyone says Sebastian cursed Aaron but in reality both of them are cursed… Everyone will fall for Aaron but die however no one will ever fall in love with Sebastian. I remember the night Sebastian was carried back by the Red Queen's head knight saying he too was hit by the curse. When the Queen tried arranging him with a few ladies, they ran screaming from the palace. The curse destroyed Sebastian completely. He too locked himself away in the castle. When the prophecy was found, the Queen began searching everywhere for the missing girl, until Sebastian found you. The girl who wasn't from Wonderland. The curse wouldn't affect you so the entire kingdom started looking for you! That is until Sebastian found a way to pull you back here… except Hatter got to you first!"

"Why would Hatter lie to me?" Alice asked.

"Because he works for the White Queen! He's downstairs right now actually-" Alice didn't hear the rest of what the elf said. She took off running through the door and down the hall past other elves waiting for her. She needed answers from her friend about all of this. Why would Hatter keep the other part of the story a secret from her? She slammed into a knight wearing a suit of red who grabbed her before she fell over.

"Apologies, your highness. I didn't see you. Are you looking for the throne room?" The knight asked.

"Hatter… I'm looking for Hatter!" Alice huffed.

"Hatter? That madder? He's with the Queen waiting for you! Follow me," He responded and took Alice down a long hallway where portraits of the royal family hung. She walked past the Queen's and stood in front of the Red King. He stood with a sword placed on his waist in front of a battlefield, his face showing no hint of laughter but he was indeed a very handsome man.

"It's a shame you never met the king. Prince Sebastian looks just like his dad, the knight responded.

"How did his dad die?"

"In a battle against a neighboring kingdom. Both the Red king and the White king teamed up with a massive army to battle the kingdom and as a result both kings died. It broke the Queen's heart when she heard the news." He turned left and before her stood a large red and gold double door entrance.

"Curious…" Alice whispered and pressed her hand on the door.

"ENTER!" A loud booming voice shouted behind the door. Alice jumped back as the door open before her. Her body froze up as she saw the Red Queen stand from her chair.

The Queen's head was rather large as usual and covered with white makeup and the added red and blue on her lips and eyes. Her red hair was shaped into a heart where a gold crown sat comfortably on top. Alice noticed that the small gold staff in her hand was twirling in impatience and quickly curtsied before offering her hand to the Queen when she made it to the two thrones.

"Come, daughter. Welcome to the Red place and into my family, dear Alice." The Queen said as Alice grabbed her hand and she was pulled up the tiny stairs into a hug.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you again after so many years." Alice said as the Queen let go of her and slumped back into her chair, sipping on red wine from her crystal glass.

"Well my son has gone from quiet and rude to a chatty blabbing baboon with planning this welcome ball for you tonight. He wants to marry as soon as possible to keep my sister from starting a war with us."

"If I may have a say in this… It seems all to kind, Your Majesty but I don't deserve this…"

"Well of course you don't! Sebastian is going to spoil you rotten to the core with this wedding planning."

Alice bit her lip and took a seat in the empty chair. "Your highness… Do you know who cursed your son?"

"No one knows! If I knew he would be without a head! Silly girl, clearly lies have been put into that tiny head of yours," The Queen snapped.

"My Queen… The Prince has returned." A guard said bowing before her.

"Fine. Bring in the prisoner as well."

"Right away." The guard said before rushing out of the throne room.

"AND BRING ME ANOTHER GLASS OF WINE!"

The doors swung open and the large group of elves walked in including two guards carrying Hatter.

"HATTER!" Alice shouted.

"A PRINCESS NEVER SCREAMS!" The Queen said putting her scepter in front of Alice so she couldn't get up.

"You're royal hiney…" Hatter said as the guards dropped him and he bowed to the Queen.

"You lied to Alice, disrespected my son and kicked one of the servants when they brought you food. I should serve your head to my bandersnatch on a silver platter with a side of ranch dressing."

"I would taste better with Honey Mustard, Queen of Screams."

"Hatter…" Alice said making a pretend cut on her neck.

"Put him next to Alice. I want everyone to witness, Sebastian's entrance!" The Queen shouted. The dozen of elves quickly lined up on either side of the long red carpet with a weird stick in each of their hands.

"What's that?" Alice whispered to Hatter who sat on the stairs before her. Hatter looked at the elves and chuckled.

"Magic," He replied. The door flew open as the elves raised their sticks into the air sending off dozens of small fireworks and red glittering sparks. Alice was beyond amazed as the elves cheered for the man walking down the carpet. He stopped in front of the Queen and bowed before kissing her hand.

"Wow… what a very grand entrance… for a prince that no one can love," Hatter sneered. Alice's heart flopped at Hatter's comment. She stared at the man as he raised himself up and looked over at her. His piercing red eyes made her breath stop as he moved in front of her.

"My dear, beautiful, Alice." Sebastian said bowing before her.

"I think I'm going to throw up." Hatter whispered. Sebastian's eyes glared at Hatter and his mouth twitched in anger before taking a deep breath and looked back at Alice. Alice stood up and shook Sebastian's hand, as she studied his features.

Sebastian was tall for his age but well built. His hair just fell to meet the lobe of his ear and Alice noticed the lower back of his hair was pure white. His breathtaking red eyes stood out against his pale skin and she noticed that within the eyes stood specks of gold sprinkled throughout the red pool of beauty. His simple black uniform allowed his chest to stand out and Alice could only wonder what was beneath that shirt. She felt her cheeks grow warm from even thinking of such things! His lips twitched into a smile as he stood before her.

"Prince Sebastian." Alice said before Sebastian grabbed her hand and kissed it.

"I apologize for my rude behavior to you earlier. I couldn't let Prince Aaron tell you lies about me. One idea of simply loving him would mean a nice jump off the cliff and both of us would remain cursed and dead." Sebastian said, his eyes twinkling. "Besides I decided that Hatter's death would only upset you more and think poorly of me. I do not wish to cause grief on you, only love, dear Alice."

"I rather be dead then listen to you seduce a dear friend of mine," Hatter replied.

"Hatter!" Alice hissed and grabbed Hatter's face. "Please…" Hatter's eyes glittered a brilliant green at her before he took a step back. She looked over at Sebastian and took his hand. "Thank you, Sebastian. I do believe what you have done has upset me greatly. I do not wish to be forced into a marriage by someone I hardly know."

"WHAT? GUARDS OFF WITH HER-"

"Mother! Please! She is right. We all have the right to choose who we love and marry. Alice… you have until the moon is full in the sky to make a decision. Please choose wisely for two fates rest in your decision," Sebastian said kindly. Kissing her hand and bowing before her, Sebastian left her with Hatter and the Queen as he barked orders at his guards.

"My son is a kind prince who believes everyone deserves a chance at happiness," the Queen said. Alice sat down and watched the elves leave through the doors.

"We all deserve to be happy, your highness. Besides this is just a dream… I'll be awake in no time and still have my chance of happiness ripped from me when I return home."

"Dream or not, two boys depend on you to make a decision. I suggest you make your choice quickly before the curse decides to take them both," the Queen replied coolly and stood up. "Run me a bath! I need to prepare for the ball. Your servants will take care of your needs. Bring Alice some wine!" She bellowed as guards bowed before her and escorted her to her quarters. Goderella appeared from behind the curtains carrying two glasses of red wine that made Alice cringe.

"He didn't touch that did he?" Alice asked pointing at the glass.

"It's from the kitchen, your highness! Sebastian is never allowed in the kitchen except to taste the deserts for the ball," Goderella replied and offer both Alice and the Hatter a glass. Hatter took his and sniffed it.

"Its wine from the valley… I smell the honey mixed in with it." He swirled it around before tasting it. "I taste nothing, Alice. Just the honey grape and raspberry." He chuckled and chugged the rest of the wine down.

Alice hesitantly took glass and stared at the red mixture in the glass. Hatter warned her not to drink anything Sebastian gave her yet Hatter finished his glass without a moment wasted! She slowly raised the glass to her nose and smelled the sweet honey scent and slowly took a small sip of the wine. The wine rolled down her throat and left a burning taste for more as it warmed her body and left her giddy.

"Well! We have a ball to prepare for!" Hatter shouted and offered his arm to Alice. The two skipped from the throne room as Goderella watched. Once the doors behind them, Godfred appeared from the curtains glaring at her.

"Prince Aaron gave us orders to follow and you went against them! She'll never leave the palace now!" Godfred shouted at her.

"I see good in Sebastian just as you see good in Aaron. Alice should not be forced to marry someone! Let her choose!"

"So you help her by poisoning her?! That's helping Sebastian you stupid girl. You better fix this Goderella or Wonderland will fall to the Red Queen. I have to detox Hatter since you decided to poison him as well!" Godfred hissed at her. She stared at the two wine glasses and watched her friend storm off before throwing the glasses at the wall. She fell to her knees and wept at what she had done. Prince Sebastian had been nothing but kind to her and if she would be the only one to help him then so be it. Everyone deserves happiness, it was time Sebastian received his share.