[Fiction] These Lovely Hollows: Chapter 2
Title: These Lovely Hollows
Rating: T [To be safe, I will alert for mature themes in later chapters and be clear should the rating change]
Genre: Romance/Adventure
Summary: Upon Alice's fateful return, a Tyrant rules a Black Throne, the White Queen has vanished, and the Mad Hatter and the Resistance are to deadly arms to defend the life they know and love. The Game is set, the Players at match-now it's up to Alice to make the next move.
Author’s Note: This is my first Alice in Wonderland fan fiction, posted at fanfiction.net, but I really do love this community and wanted to share it here, as well. There are such amazing writers here, and I hope you’ll give my little story a chance. Thank you!
Chapter 2: Five Golden Stars
Imagination has always had powers of resurrection that no science can match. -Ingrid Bengis
Alice was not easily frightened, but when she found herself free falling into a dark abyss, she constituted it as an appropriate scare.
Down and down she went, so fast and far that she wasn't sure if she was falling up or down. The farther she fell, the odder it looked as she began to see shapes and objects clinging to the walls. Book shelves filled with lost knickknacks and books forgotten about, tables with lamps still burning and dinner plates with the dinner only half eaten, even a bed that was fairly made. Grappling at anything her slender hands could find, she found roots and vines and tried to grab a hold of them, but the only one she found a good grasp on snapped (tearing her fingernail in the process), and she slammed into the top of a china case that was perilously perched on a roped root, shattering the glass within its windows. Alice had enough time to breathe once before it fell end over end, breaking in half and the blonde plummeted even faster than before, this time surrounded by porcelain dishes.
Alice didn't realize that she was screaming until her back hit the top of a piano next, and her head hit the back of the keys. Just as the piano began to slide off its perch as well, Alice opened her eyes and glimpsed a look upward at the hole she'd fallen into- a hole that now resembled a pale grey eye that seemed to be staring directly at her with the most curious expression.
Suddenly, a thousand memories, yet they were all the same one, came flooding back to Alice. She could feel the remembrance surge her brain, down through her nose and cheeks, up to her eyeballs and down through her body, as if it had only happened moments ago. Voices swam through her mind and rang in her ears.
"Be back before you know it," She had promised with a twinkling smile.
"Futterwacken," purred a Cat.
"Six- I can slay the Jabberwocky!" she said, her fists tightening on her sword.
"It must be your choice," whispered a defeated Queen.
"If it ain't Alice, it ain't dead…" stated a little boy, confused yet sure of it all at the same time.
"Down with the Bloody Red Queen!" roared a handsome Scottish rouge, wild viridian eyes gleaming.
"Stupid girl," muttered a cerulean Caterpillar.
"McTwisp brought us the wrong Alice!" complained a feisty Mouse.
"I'll take you to the Hare and the Hatter, but that's the end of it," purred the grinning Cat.
"It's you…you're absolutely Alice, I'd know you anywhere!" gushed a joyous, lisping man with the most bewitching, yet kind eyes she had ever seen.
"You called it 'Wonderland' as I recall," drawled the Caterpillar.
Alice threw herself up off the piano at the realization of where she was (or where she was going, rather), but the sudden movement sent the piano hurtling down into the abyss behind her until her entire body crashed through a wall of soft brick, then hit something that felt like cement; she was sure it had broken every bone in her body. Alice whimpered, waiting for the piano to come crashing from above to smash her, but after five long counts, she opened her eyes and found that she was by herself, unharmed, laying on a black and white checkered tiled floor, in a room with doors at every turn. She sat up, rubbing her head and slowly, that day with Hamish that had been so foggy before… returned. And suddenly, it was Hamish, Lady Ascot, Margaret, and the entire engagement party itself that was foggy. The real memory, the one that had been there the entire time… the memory of Wonderland-Underland was real.
Alice stood up, turning in disoriented circles before her eyes landed on the antique key laying on the glass table, beside the bottle of-
"Pishsalver," said Alice with a grin, striding to it. As she picked up the bottle, she wondered for a moment why it was so easy to do this again. Why was she here? There must be a reason, of course. The blue butterfly (she had a sneaking suspicion of the identity) that had caused her balance to be her literal downfall had not been a coincidence. She was sure of it.
Alice felt an eternal relief wash through her at being so close to Underland again. She paused with the bottle in hand and looked up from where she’d fallen. There was an entire life up there that she had discovered. She’d crossed oceans, explored continents, stood her ground in a world that was destined to shut her out. In a world where everything was in explicit rules to dictate your world in perfect order, none of it made sense to Alice. It never had.
Drink me, said the card on the bottle.
“This does, though,” Alice murmured, staring at the bottle. “Underland- it always has…”
With that, Alice tipped the bottle up to her lips, closed her eyes, and drank. The liquid was warm and tasted like stark copper and salt, searing her throat. She choked and coughed for a moment, and she felt the familiar receding pressure leaving her body as she began to shrink in size. She gasped and reached out for the key just as her eye level passed the table, grabbing it in time as she found herself to be mere inches tall. Her blue coat was to be left behind, as was her moss green skirt and white blouse. She looked down to find a dress that felt to be made of the lace lining of her white blouse. It was in a tangle of knots about her body, silvery satin lining from the embroidery tying around her neck and the tops of her arms. It would have to do- she wasn’t to be bothered by it now.
“I’m coming- I’m coming!” Alice called as she ran to the door. No one was there of course, but she felt the need to reassure anything that had missed her- anyone who had missed her. She pushed the key into the lock, twisted it, and shoved the door open. She closed her eyes, a little game she liked to play to delay wonderful outcome-that is, the beauty of the world she missed so terribly.
When she opened her eyes, though, she felt all of the breath leave her lungs in dismay.
Underland had changed, and Alice had a feeling that something had gone terribly, terribly wrong.
To the untrained eye, or perhaps someone who had never been to Underland before, it was not obvious. But Alice knew Underland. It was a place that she understood and took refuge in.
“What…” Alice whispered, going down the steps from the door quickly, two at a time.
Underland looked like it had its colors drained from certain spots, as if it was a watercolor picture that had raindrops spattered on it. The sky was pearl grey and bleak, threatening rain, though Alice couldn’t remember a time it had rained when she had been there. The toadstools stood along the edges of the path she walked, many rotten and creating a foul odor that caused Alice to cover her nose and mouth. Worst of all- the flowers- the flowers’ faces! They were silent, unmoving as if… as if…
Alice rubbed her bare arms, the hair on the back of her neck standing up on end as a sudden chill raced up her spine. It all seemed so dead. There wasn’t any sound at all from what Alice could hear- no buzzing of insects, no chirping or squawking of birds… no life at all.
“Hello!” Alice called, and she began walking quickly, a bad feeling curling up in the pit of her stomach like a serpent. “Hello? Is anyone out here? Please! …someone…Absolem? Mallymkun? Thackery?”
A sudden lurch of her heart knocked Alice breathless, and she turned quickly in a circle, whispering “Hatter?” The sudden memory of those empowering, impassioned viridian eyes sent a jolt through Alice’s veins and made her heart leap in a tremulous joy. She had to find him- she had to. She’d told him that she’d be back, and now she was and she had so much she wanted to tell him…
Alice felt a tremble in her legs. She swallowed, her heart seizing for a moment in panic. But then it became more insistent, and suddenly Alice realized it wasn’t her legs, but the whole earth seemed to shudder beneath her. A thundering was upon her, and Alice was only able to turn around before a herd of riders came brandishing through the toadstools and flowers, trampling all that was in their way, and came up to surround her.
Alice turned quickly, noting that they all carried crossbows of impeccable impression, black, with glittering steel tips, all pointed at her. This can’t be, I slayed the Jabberwocky! The Red Queen couldn’t have risen back to power, she thought. All of the men were dressed ruggedly, reminding Alice of what Robin Hood’s merry men might look like. Galloping up in the middle was a dark horse, but Alice could see on the tips of the horse’s mane it was stained in violet. The rider wore a black jerkin with an insignia of five dark, golden stars on the chest arranged in a circle. Her eyes traveled up further to meet a very handsome face. He had dark hair that fell in wisps, tied back in a pony tail. His face was chiseled, slightly tanned, with a black goatee, high cheek bones that set onyx eyes, and atop his head was a hat that reminded Alice of a pirate, complete with a raven’s tail feather.
Then, he smiled.
“Who might this precious little flower belong to?” he asked, dismounting with more grace than Alice possessed in her pinky toe. He was so tall, much taller than she expected. She was forced to look up to meet his eyes.
As he walked into the circle of horses, the men raised their crossbows up to the sky in reverence and authority. The man walked up to Alice, and she felt weak in the knees at his presence (though no one could have expected this-so many months of learning the power of persuasion and intimidation no longer affected Alice). She sensed power radiating off of him, though he dressed rather simply like a hawk master. He smiled with perfect white teeth, and Alice thought he must have a charm about him. He was still waiting for her answer.
“My name is Alice,” she said, just as the man took her hand and placed a delicate kiss upon it.
A stunned silence washed over everyone, and the dark, handsome man looked shocked, frozen over Alice’s slender fingers. She felt uncomfortable with him holding her hand, and at first his grip on her tightened, then he released her. “Alice?” he murmured, floored it seemed. “…not the Alice, Champion of Marmoreal? Slayer of the Jabberwocky? Surely, not that Alice.”
Alice felt butterflies in her stomach, but nodded timidly. She wasn’t sure if it was such a good idea to reveal herself to a complete stranger, but there was nothing to do about it now.
Suddenly, the man kneeled down, sweeping off his hat and bowing his head. “It is an honor, Beloved Alice,” he said, grinning up at her. “I have heard all the great tales about you, how you brought such honor and glory to the White Queen…restoring her to power.”
“Queen Mirana? Where is she? Is she at Marmoreal?” Alice asked, her heart jumping at the mention of the beloved monarch of Underland. “I must see her immediately.”
The man before her looked pleasantly amused, and Alice felt a flicker of annoyance. He was looking at her as if she were a child. “The White Queen? She has taken leave, dear Alice.” He looked surprised at her shocked face. “You were not aware?”
Alice’s eyes measured him for a moment, before they went from surprise to suspicious. “Taken leave where?” she asked.
“No one knows,” he murmured, troubled. “It was as if she just vanished.” The way the man bowed his head, folding his gloved hands-Alice swallowed heavily. Something was so wrong…
“Who are you?” Alice asked, looking at him as he straightened himself up. “I’ve never seen you before.” And this was Alice's third trip to Underland, so she felt she had the right to consider herself on good standing with creatures here in this world she loved so much. And she was even surer that she would remember this man.
“Ah, yes,” he said with a charming smile, bowing. “My name is Lord Rivalen.”
“Lord Rivalen?” Alice puzzled, tilting her head. That was completely new. “Where are you from?”
“I was born in Crims under the Red Queen’s rule, years ago,” he said, looking off in the distance with dark, narrowed eyes. For a moment all was quiet, and Alice wondered if he forgot she was there. She took a step back and his eyes snapped back to her, the smile returning. “Well, come. You look perfectly lost in this desolate place. We’ll get you food and clothes and talk about what is to become of you.” He put two fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly, and one of his men brought up an equally dark horse.
Alice didn’t usually like decisions to be made so quickly for her by others, but this man seemed to know more about what was going on in Underland than she did. He would give her answers, she felt, and he seemed to have a kind disposition for her. So without any more arguments, Alice let Lord Rivalen help her up onto the black mare, and their party moved quickly through the toadstools and marshes, traveling through Underland’s countryside.
Rating: T [To be safe, I will alert for mature themes in later chapters and be clear should the rating change]
Genre: Romance/Adventure
Summary: Upon Alice's fateful return, a Tyrant rules a Black Throne, the White Queen has vanished, and the Mad Hatter and the Resistance are to deadly arms to defend the life they know and love. The Game is set, the Players at match-now it's up to Alice to make the next move.
Author’s Note: This is my first Alice in Wonderland fan fiction, posted at fanfiction.net, but I really do love this community and wanted to share it here, as well. There are such amazing writers here, and I hope you’ll give my little story a chance. Thank you!
Chapter 2: Five Golden Stars
Imagination has always had powers of resurrection that no science can match. -Ingrid Bengis
Alice was not easily frightened, but when she found herself free falling into a dark abyss, she constituted it as an appropriate scare.
Down and down she went, so fast and far that she wasn't sure if she was falling up or down. The farther she fell, the odder it looked as she began to see shapes and objects clinging to the walls. Book shelves filled with lost knickknacks and books forgotten about, tables with lamps still burning and dinner plates with the dinner only half eaten, even a bed that was fairly made. Grappling at anything her slender hands could find, she found roots and vines and tried to grab a hold of them, but the only one she found a good grasp on snapped (tearing her fingernail in the process), and she slammed into the top of a china case that was perilously perched on a roped root, shattering the glass within its windows. Alice had enough time to breathe once before it fell end over end, breaking in half and the blonde plummeted even faster than before, this time surrounded by porcelain dishes.
Alice didn't realize that she was screaming until her back hit the top of a piano next, and her head hit the back of the keys. Just as the piano began to slide off its perch as well, Alice opened her eyes and glimpsed a look upward at the hole she'd fallen into- a hole that now resembled a pale grey eye that seemed to be staring directly at her with the most curious expression.
Suddenly, a thousand memories, yet they were all the same one, came flooding back to Alice. She could feel the remembrance surge her brain, down through her nose and cheeks, up to her eyeballs and down through her body, as if it had only happened moments ago. Voices swam through her mind and rang in her ears.
"Be back before you know it," She had promised with a twinkling smile.
"Futterwacken," purred a Cat.
"Six- I can slay the Jabberwocky!" she said, her fists tightening on her sword.
"It must be your choice," whispered a defeated Queen.
"If it ain't Alice, it ain't dead…" stated a little boy, confused yet sure of it all at the same time.
"Down with the Bloody Red Queen!" roared a handsome Scottish rouge, wild viridian eyes gleaming.
"Stupid girl," muttered a cerulean Caterpillar.
"McTwisp brought us the wrong Alice!" complained a feisty Mouse.
"I'll take you to the Hare and the Hatter, but that's the end of it," purred the grinning Cat.
"It's you…you're absolutely Alice, I'd know you anywhere!" gushed a joyous, lisping man with the most bewitching, yet kind eyes she had ever seen.
"You called it 'Wonderland' as I recall," drawled the Caterpillar.
Alice threw herself up off the piano at the realization of where she was (or where she was going, rather), but the sudden movement sent the piano hurtling down into the abyss behind her until her entire body crashed through a wall of soft brick, then hit something that felt like cement; she was sure it had broken every bone in her body. Alice whimpered, waiting for the piano to come crashing from above to smash her, but after five long counts, she opened her eyes and found that she was by herself, unharmed, laying on a black and white checkered tiled floor, in a room with doors at every turn. She sat up, rubbing her head and slowly, that day with Hamish that had been so foggy before… returned. And suddenly, it was Hamish, Lady Ascot, Margaret, and the entire engagement party itself that was foggy. The real memory, the one that had been there the entire time… the memory of Wonderland-Underland was real.
Alice stood up, turning in disoriented circles before her eyes landed on the antique key laying on the glass table, beside the bottle of-
"Pishsalver," said Alice with a grin, striding to it. As she picked up the bottle, she wondered for a moment why it was so easy to do this again. Why was she here? There must be a reason, of course. The blue butterfly (she had a sneaking suspicion of the identity) that had caused her balance to be her literal downfall had not been a coincidence. She was sure of it.
Alice felt an eternal relief wash through her at being so close to Underland again. She paused with the bottle in hand and looked up from where she’d fallen. There was an entire life up there that she had discovered. She’d crossed oceans, explored continents, stood her ground in a world that was destined to shut her out. In a world where everything was in explicit rules to dictate your world in perfect order, none of it made sense to Alice. It never had.
Drink me, said the card on the bottle.
“This does, though,” Alice murmured, staring at the bottle. “Underland- it always has…”
With that, Alice tipped the bottle up to her lips, closed her eyes, and drank. The liquid was warm and tasted like stark copper and salt, searing her throat. She choked and coughed for a moment, and she felt the familiar receding pressure leaving her body as she began to shrink in size. She gasped and reached out for the key just as her eye level passed the table, grabbing it in time as she found herself to be mere inches tall. Her blue coat was to be left behind, as was her moss green skirt and white blouse. She looked down to find a dress that felt to be made of the lace lining of her white blouse. It was in a tangle of knots about her body, silvery satin lining from the embroidery tying around her neck and the tops of her arms. It would have to do- she wasn’t to be bothered by it now.
“I’m coming- I’m coming!” Alice called as she ran to the door. No one was there of course, but she felt the need to reassure anything that had missed her- anyone who had missed her. She pushed the key into the lock, twisted it, and shoved the door open. She closed her eyes, a little game she liked to play to delay wonderful outcome-that is, the beauty of the world she missed so terribly.
When she opened her eyes, though, she felt all of the breath leave her lungs in dismay.
Underland had changed, and Alice had a feeling that something had gone terribly, terribly wrong.
To the untrained eye, or perhaps someone who had never been to Underland before, it was not obvious. But Alice knew Underland. It was a place that she understood and took refuge in.
“What…” Alice whispered, going down the steps from the door quickly, two at a time.
Underland looked like it had its colors drained from certain spots, as if it was a watercolor picture that had raindrops spattered on it. The sky was pearl grey and bleak, threatening rain, though Alice couldn’t remember a time it had rained when she had been there. The toadstools stood along the edges of the path she walked, many rotten and creating a foul odor that caused Alice to cover her nose and mouth. Worst of all- the flowers- the flowers’ faces! They were silent, unmoving as if… as if…
Alice rubbed her bare arms, the hair on the back of her neck standing up on end as a sudden chill raced up her spine. It all seemed so dead. There wasn’t any sound at all from what Alice could hear- no buzzing of insects, no chirping or squawking of birds… no life at all.
“Hello!” Alice called, and she began walking quickly, a bad feeling curling up in the pit of her stomach like a serpent. “Hello? Is anyone out here? Please! …someone…Absolem? Mallymkun? Thackery?”
A sudden lurch of her heart knocked Alice breathless, and she turned quickly in a circle, whispering “Hatter?” The sudden memory of those empowering, impassioned viridian eyes sent a jolt through Alice’s veins and made her heart leap in a tremulous joy. She had to find him- she had to. She’d told him that she’d be back, and now she was and she had so much she wanted to tell him…
Alice felt a tremble in her legs. She swallowed, her heart seizing for a moment in panic. But then it became more insistent, and suddenly Alice realized it wasn’t her legs, but the whole earth seemed to shudder beneath her. A thundering was upon her, and Alice was only able to turn around before a herd of riders came brandishing through the toadstools and flowers, trampling all that was in their way, and came up to surround her.
Alice turned quickly, noting that they all carried crossbows of impeccable impression, black, with glittering steel tips, all pointed at her. This can’t be, I slayed the Jabberwocky! The Red Queen couldn’t have risen back to power, she thought. All of the men were dressed ruggedly, reminding Alice of what Robin Hood’s merry men might look like. Galloping up in the middle was a dark horse, but Alice could see on the tips of the horse’s mane it was stained in violet. The rider wore a black jerkin with an insignia of five dark, golden stars on the chest arranged in a circle. Her eyes traveled up further to meet a very handsome face. He had dark hair that fell in wisps, tied back in a pony tail. His face was chiseled, slightly tanned, with a black goatee, high cheek bones that set onyx eyes, and atop his head was a hat that reminded Alice of a pirate, complete with a raven’s tail feather.
Then, he smiled.
“Who might this precious little flower belong to?” he asked, dismounting with more grace than Alice possessed in her pinky toe. He was so tall, much taller than she expected. She was forced to look up to meet his eyes.
As he walked into the circle of horses, the men raised their crossbows up to the sky in reverence and authority. The man walked up to Alice, and she felt weak in the knees at his presence (though no one could have expected this-so many months of learning the power of persuasion and intimidation no longer affected Alice). She sensed power radiating off of him, though he dressed rather simply like a hawk master. He smiled with perfect white teeth, and Alice thought he must have a charm about him. He was still waiting for her answer.
“My name is Alice,” she said, just as the man took her hand and placed a delicate kiss upon it.
A stunned silence washed over everyone, and the dark, handsome man looked shocked, frozen over Alice’s slender fingers. She felt uncomfortable with him holding her hand, and at first his grip on her tightened, then he released her. “Alice?” he murmured, floored it seemed. “…not the Alice, Champion of Marmoreal? Slayer of the Jabberwocky? Surely, not that Alice.”
Alice felt butterflies in her stomach, but nodded timidly. She wasn’t sure if it was such a good idea to reveal herself to a complete stranger, but there was nothing to do about it now.
Suddenly, the man kneeled down, sweeping off his hat and bowing his head. “It is an honor, Beloved Alice,” he said, grinning up at her. “I have heard all the great tales about you, how you brought such honor and glory to the White Queen…restoring her to power.”
“Queen Mirana? Where is she? Is she at Marmoreal?” Alice asked, her heart jumping at the mention of the beloved monarch of Underland. “I must see her immediately.”
The man before her looked pleasantly amused, and Alice felt a flicker of annoyance. He was looking at her as if she were a child. “The White Queen? She has taken leave, dear Alice.” He looked surprised at her shocked face. “You were not aware?”
Alice’s eyes measured him for a moment, before they went from surprise to suspicious. “Taken leave where?” she asked.
“No one knows,” he murmured, troubled. “It was as if she just vanished.” The way the man bowed his head, folding his gloved hands-Alice swallowed heavily. Something was so wrong…
“Who are you?” Alice asked, looking at him as he straightened himself up. “I’ve never seen you before.” And this was Alice's third trip to Underland, so she felt she had the right to consider herself on good standing with creatures here in this world she loved so much. And she was even surer that she would remember this man.
“Ah, yes,” he said with a charming smile, bowing. “My name is Lord Rivalen.”
“Lord Rivalen?” Alice puzzled, tilting her head. That was completely new. “Where are you from?”
“I was born in Crims under the Red Queen’s rule, years ago,” he said, looking off in the distance with dark, narrowed eyes. For a moment all was quiet, and Alice wondered if he forgot she was there. She took a step back and his eyes snapped back to her, the smile returning. “Well, come. You look perfectly lost in this desolate place. We’ll get you food and clothes and talk about what is to become of you.” He put two fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly, and one of his men brought up an equally dark horse.
Alice didn’t usually like decisions to be made so quickly for her by others, but this man seemed to know more about what was going on in Underland than she did. He would give her answers, she felt, and he seemed to have a kind disposition for her. So without any more arguments, Alice let Lord Rivalen help her up onto the black mare, and their party moved quickly through the toadstools and marshes, traveling through Underland’s countryside.