Once and Always Champion (3/7), an Alice in Wonderland fic
Hours passed and, despite her best effort, Alice could find no way of escaping the room the Hatter had locked her in. Sometime during the night, she had drifted into a fitful sleep. Her dreams had been plagued with the wickedness of the Jabberwocky and Tarrant’s orange rage-filled eyes.
As the sun came up, she stuck her head out of the window, trying to hear something, anything, from the field.
Silence.
She took it as a positive sign; there was no way the dozens of people she had seen earlier could be that quiet.
Suddenly, an unsettling feeling washed over her; just how long did Tarrant plan on keeping her here alone?
The hats that surrounded her provided her with somewhat of an answer. Tarrant certainly wouldn’t leave his work forever…
Right?
She brought her head back inside, nearly knocking into a smile floating in mid-air. “And so the girl Alice waits.”
“Chess!” she said, relieved. “Have you come to release me?”
“I hate getting involved in petty arguments,” he replied languorously as the rest of his body shifted into view. “They always put me out.”
“I need to get out of here and talk with Queen Mirana,” Alice said.
“Yes, Tarrant did mention that you claimed to be the Champion of Mamoreal, though I have to admit I can hardly imagine someone of your stature holding such a title,” retorted Chess, studying her.
“But I was,” she maintained, getting more than slightly frustrated at having to repeat herself to everyone she had met thus far in Underland. “I even slew the Jabberwocky!”
He looked unimpressed. “That is even less believable than your claim to being the Champion.”
There had to be someone in Underland who could prove Alice’s claim. Finally, she had an epiphany. “Absolem can prove it. The Oraculum will show that I am the Champion.”
A wide smile appeared on Chess’ face. “I do believe a visit to Mamoreal is part of Tarrant’s plan.” At her look of optimism, he added, “Without you, of course. He would never allow someone who he believes to be part of the Red Queen’s plans to get into the White Castle.”
“I don’t understand why he doesn’t trust me this time,” she muttered. She looked at Chess. “When I came back to Underland, he was the one who was convinced I was the Alice.”
“Perhaps it is not Time for Tarrant to believe you are who you say you are. You know how awfully the two of them get along,” offered Chess.
Shaking her head, she answered, “It seems so strange. After I slew the Jabberwocky, he asked me to stay in Underland. Maybe--”
“He asked you to stay?” Chess uncharacteristically interrupted. “That is most interesting.”
Before she could ask why that particular fact had caught his attention, the door opened. Tarrant walked inside, his hands behind his back and a scowl on his face. “Where did you get yer hat?” he demanded.
Alice reached up and touched the hat protectively. “Hannahlyn gave it to me,” she said with much Muchness.
Tarrant frowned.
Chess grinned.
“Why this does present a most interesting problem, doesn’t it, Tarrant?”
The Hatter turned to the Cat. “It takes one to know one.”
Alice watched the exchange, baffled.
Chess picked up on her confusion. “A hatter’s first hat is quite significant in the Hightopp clan,” he explained, ignoring the ire from Tarrant.
Alice touched the brim of her hat lightly. That was what Hannahlyn must have been talking about earlier.
The Cat turned back to Tarrant, grinning. “I suppose leaving her here while you go to Mamoreal is out of the question.”
“Why?” she asked, watching Tarrant glare at Chess.
“When a person received receives a First Hat, they also receive the protection of the entire Hightopp clan.” He paused dramatically. “Something I am sure that your friend was quite aware of when she gave you that hat,” explained Chess, seeming to enjoy Tarrant’s displeasure more than he should.
“She’s naught but a lass. She didnae knew what she was doin’,” Tarrant replied stubbornly.
“But you’ll have to respect her request since she is no longer able to take her hat back,” disputed Chess.
Alice’s eyes widened. “Is she all right?”
“Of course she is. Despite Tarrant’s reluctance to trust you, he could hardly ignore your claims,” answered Chess. “The Hightopps are safe.”
Hope bloomed in Alice’s chest. Perhaps things were going to work out this time, she thought. Just as the happiness threatened to overtake her, Chess spoke again. “But, the Queen has been taken.”
Alice sharply looked at the Hatter. “What happened?”
“According to the Winding Ivy, the Bitter Orange trees told Stayne where she was when she was traveling back to Mamoreal as we were coming back here. The Jabberwocky attacked the Royal Guard and Stayne was able to take her,” the Hatter reported angrily.
“We need to go to Salazen Glum,” she said as she ignored his orange gaze and pushed past Tarrant.
He grabbed her arm before she could leave. “Ye’d like that, wouldn’t ye?”
Alice had enough of the Hatter’s distrust. What had been bothersome was becoming unbearable. “We are going to have to work together, Hatter! The Red Queen has Mirana and the Vorpal Sword--”
“Nae, she doesnae,” he replied. He slowly pulled out the sword from behind his back and reluctantly held it out towards Alice. “When I told th‘ Queen abit yer claim about being her Champion, she insisted that I bring th’ Vorpal Sword tae ye.”
At least Mirana believed her, Alice thought, slightly relieved. It was a relief to have at least one friend in Underland. She placed her hand on the hilt of the sword, centimeters from Tarrant’s hand. He released the weapon to her with a scowl.
“We need to save Mirana,” she proclaimed.
“That may be true,” Chess said. “But, you cannot simply walk into Salazen Glum and take her back. There are rites that need to be performed.” He sighed. “Politics are so exasperating.”
“Absolem will be waiting for you in the White Queen‘s castle. He will be able to assist you with what you need to know,” he continued.
Filled with resolve, Alice turned back to Tarrant. “Are you going to come with me to Mamoreal?”
The Hatter flicked his gaze from her face to the sword to the top hat on her head. “Aye, but I’ll nae b’lettin’ ye out’ah ma sight.”
“Then I have nothing to worry about,” she said confidently.
Despite walking for nearly six hours with hardly a stop, Tarrant saw no outward signs of fatigue on Alice’s face. He looked around the forest and noted where they were. The trees here were rather friendly; it would be a good place for them to stop for the night.
“We’re stopping?” She didn’t seem too pleased at the idea.
“The Weeping Willows tend to get startled by people walking by them at night. Getting caught up in their branches--and tears--is a most unpleasant experience,” he answered, forcing himself to be halfway civil to her.
He had promised Chess, before he had left to do whatever Cats do, that he would try to not be completely gruffious with Alice the entire trip to Mamoreal. And, he grudgingly admitted to the several voices in his head, part of him wanted to be kind to her.
Stop, the loud voice of Suspicion shouted, she could be part of th’ Bluddy Behg Hid’s lickspittle cronies.
Tarrant wasn’t sure about that anymore. His voice of Reason was quick to remind him that, after spending the day with her, he had found that she had Muchness, Determination and Fearlessness, but not any Malevolence.
Still, his Suspicion countered, she could b’tryin’ tae trick ye.
She gently placed the sword and top hat on the ground next to her and leaned against the closest tree. “You still don’t trust me, do you?” she asked, slicing through the silence.
“I’m not sure, Alice,” he admitted, taking a seat close--but not too close!--to her. “How do I know your plan wasn’t to get the White Queen captured?”
Her eyes fluttered closed at his question. “I told you already, I’m the Queen’s Champion. I would never do anything to harm her…or anyone else in Underland. You must try to believe me, Tarrant.”
He couldn’t deny that the pull to trust Alice, especially after she had said his name like that, was strong, but so was his Distrust of her.
He needed to get to Mamoreal!
Absolem would have answers for him.
She watched him for a second, waiting for his response.
A riddle was in order, his Mind suddenly decided, wearied from his constant thoughts of Alice.
“Why is a raven like a writing desk?” he asked, changing the subject.
For some reason, this cause a brilliant, beautrific, bright--Tarrant was considering words that began with the letter B--smile to flash across her face. “I haven’t the slightest idea,” she answered.
Surprise, Happiness and Suspicion shouted in his mind simultaneously.
Maybe, his Happiness whispered, she was telling the truth and was the Queen’s Champion.
Or possibly, his Suspicion countered, she had been spying on him and had heard his oft-repeated answer to his own riddle.
Or perhaps, his Surprise argued, maybe she remembered him asking her the riddle when she crashed his tea party so many years ago.
Or conceivably--
“Hatter!” Alice said, cutting into his internal debate.
“I’m fine,” he squeaked.
Thankfully, she didn’t press the issue. “How long has it been since I’ve been in Underland?”
Despite his maligned relationship with Time, Tarrant knew that it had been five years, ten months, fifteen hours since Alice--a little girl at that Time!--had left Underland. But, he was rather regrattlin' at the Idea of telling her that he was keeping track of how long it had been since her Departure.
“Several years,” he answered. He watched her process the information.
“How has the Red Queen been?” she asked.
“Furymanglin’, as always,” he answered. “After the tart trial, she became more unbearable. ‘Off with their heads!’ she’s always saying. Most of Underland has gone into hiding.”
He watched her close her eyes. “I’m sorry, Hatter,” she said sincerely.
“It’s nae yer fault, Alice,” he said, Confused as to why he was trying to offer her Comfort.
“But I stood up for Stayne at the trial. Perhaps if I hadn’t…”
“Regret is a dreadful companion,” he interrupted. “Ye didnae dae anythin’ wrong. You were tryin’ tae dae the right thing by him. It’s nae yer fault Stayne is a slurking urpal slackush scrum.”
To his Astonishment, she scooted closer to him and leaned her head on his shoulder. “Thank you,” she said simply, not explaining her actions to the Befuddled hatter.
“You’re welcome,” he choked out, positively, absolutely, totally, not enjoying the feel of her against him.
As she shifted her head slightly, causing her warm breath to puff against his neck, Tarrant realized it was going to be a Long Night.
Tarrant and Alice arrived at the gates of the White Castle right as Brillig was about to begin, just as he had predicted they would earlier in the day. As they stepped onto the courtyard, Chess appeared to the side of Alice.
“Have you talked to Absolem yet?” she asked, ignoring her manners.
“Yes,” he said simply, giving no details of his conversation with the caterpillar.
“And?’ Alice prompted edgily.
Tarrant shared her impatience. After such a long journey, they were both eager for answers.
He spun in the air leisurely, not bothered by their annoyance. “He asked to speak with you himself. He’s waiting in the Queen’s study.”
Tarrant didn’t know what to take from Absolem’s request. Surely if he thought Alice was a danger, he would have had the Queen’s guard take her in custody before she had passed through the castle gates. But, the fact that he wasn’t willing to use Chess as his messenger didn’t settle well with him either.
“Let’s go see what he has to say,” Alice said determinedly, leading them into the castle.
Tarrant watched her with a bit of Admiration which did not go unnoticed by Chess. “My, someone has certainly moved passed his accusations of disloyalty against the young Alice,” the Cat observed with a wicked smile.
“Perhaps,” he said quietly enough so the subject of their conversation couldn’t hear, “I have a bit hasty in my judgment of her.”
“Maybe you should wait to see what Absolem has to say before you make a decision,” Chess said cryptically before disappearing suddenly.
Tarrant hastened his step, catching up to Alice. Somehow, Chess’ words had caused his Faith in the woman in front of him to suddenly go into hiding.
Soon, they found themselves in the Queen's study with Absolem sitting on a large pillow, smoking his hookah. “So the trouble-maker returns to Underland,” he said, not kindly.
Alice, however, seemed unbothered by his hostility. “It’s good to see you again too, Absolem,” she greeted with a small smile. “Chess said you had something to tell us.”
“Yes,” he said before he took a long drag from his hookah.
Impatient, Tarrant frowned as the caterpillar took his time in making ornate smoke creatures which danced across the room. “Were ye gonnae tell us somethin’?”
Absolem’s eyes flashed in anger, but he answered the Hatter anyway. “The Cheshire Cat says that you have come seeking answers from the Oraculum.” He sucked in another drag of smoke. “I cannot help you.”
“Why not?” Alice asked.
“Because it has disappeared,” he replied simply.
“It’s…disappeared?” Tarrant repeated disbelievingly. “When did this happen?”
“Approximately a day and a half ago. Not long after the Queen left for the Tylwyth,” Absolem answered seemingly unconcerned.
Tarrant whipped around to face a bewildered-looking Alice. “That’s when you arrived!” he said, his voice full of accusations.
“I had nothing to do with that!” argued Alice.
Absolem sighed, interrupting their exchange. “You are nearly as stupid as you are Mad. The Oraculum reveals itself when it chooses. She couldn’t make it disappear any more than you can fly,” he explained distastefully. “If you had taken the time to See, you would know Alice is no threat to Underland.”
Absolem’s harsh words silenced Tarrant’s Distrust and allowed his Reason to speak to him. Of course there was no way for her to have taken the Oraculum. She had been with him in his workshop when it had disappeared. Guilt and Remorse joined in the conversation as they reminded him of his actions at Witzend.
What had he done to her, locking her away? Why of all the abhorrent, appalling, atrocious actions--
“Hatter,” Alice said softly, calling him back from the Madness.
“I’m fine,” he squeaked, knowing he was far from it.
Alice flashed him a reassuring smile before turning back to the caterpillar. “We need to rescue the White Queen,” she insisted.
“You can’t just go in there and take her from the Red Queen’s castle, stupid girl,” argued Absolem.
“But I am her Champion!”
“While you are correct in your assumption that Time does not alter the Champion’s oath to a queen, only one monarch can challenge another,” Absolem countered. He blew a puff of crown-shaped smoke over Alice’s head.
Chess grinned.
Alice bristled.
Tarrant--and all his Voices--froze.
“You want me to become a queen?” asked Alice disbelievingly.
Tarrant looked at the crown of smoke still over Alice’s head. Queen Alice? He couldn’t explain why, but for some reason it seemed right.
Alice looked at the Caterpillar, squaring her shoulders. “What must I do?”
There was no fear in her voice, Tarrant noticed, only determination.
“You must reach the Queen’s Position, of course,” answered Absolem. “It is on the other side of Snud.”
Tarrant could see the confusion on Alice’s face. It seemed her knowledge of Underland geography was limited. “I know where it is.” He turned to her. “I can take you there if you want,” he proposed before he fully realized what he was offering.
What was he doing? A Hatter had no place to escorting a queen-to-be across Underland! Such a task would be better left to the Knights of Mamoreal.
Alice, however, seemed delighted at his proposition, rewarding him with a small smile. “Thank you, Hatter.”
“You’ll leave in the morning,” Absolem declared. He blew a puff of smoke that looked like the card soldiers and marched across the room. “Be on alert. If the Red Queen finds out what you are trying to do, you will be in danger.”
Alice nodded. “I understand.”
Before the two of them could walk away, Chess spoke, “When you get a chance, Absolem, perhaps you can search the archives on Frabjousness.”
The caterpillar looked bothered. “Why in the name of Underland would I do that?”
“Because, I believe another one is about to take place,” answered Chess coyly.
If this concerned Absolem, he didn’t show any outward signs of it doing so. “I’ll check when I have the time,” he replied, unexpectedly compliant.
Tarrant searched his memory for the word, but other than Frabjous Day, the word didn’t mean anything to the Hatter. It was probably something concerning Cats, he decided distastefully.
With the conversation over, Alice left the room. Tarrant soon followed after her. Before he could reach her, he felt a small poke on his toe. He looked down at saw Mally, stabbing him with a hatpin!
“That’s fo cancelin’ the Tylwyth,” she said angrily. She stabbed him again. “An that’s fer not telling’ me ya self!”
He knelt down to his long-time friend. “I couldn’t help it. The Jabberwock--”
“I heard Absolem talkin’ about it! But I would have poked it in the eye then I could have had Lafriden cheese,” she said, longing in her voice.
“Well, that I can help you with,” he said with a smile. He reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a perfectly Mally-sized chunk of cheese.
“Oh Hatter!” she said, embracing his finger before grabbing the piece of cheese. “And don’t think you’re leavin’ here without me either,” she said with a bit in her mouth. “I haven’t fo’got about how troublesome that Alice is! Someone has got to look out for ya!”
“Count me in as well,” added Chess.
Tarrant looked up and watched as the Tweedles waddled towards them.
“We’re coming too.”
“Contrariwise, if we don’t get to come then at least we’re safe in the castle.”
He watched as Alice looked over the group. “Of course, you’re all welcome to join us.”
Tarrant didn’t know if he was relieved or disappointed at the idea that he and Alice would have company.
Part 4