Once and Always Champion (6/7), an Alice in Wonderland fic
The return to Mamoreal, thanks to the enormous bird, was quick. As they disembarked, Thackery rushed out to meet them.
“Ah’ve got naw wan ter feed!” he said as way of a greeting. “Naw wan is ‘ere ter tell me if me batten bread ‘as too much pepper in it!”
“I’m sure it more than likely does,” Alice heard Tarrant respond patiently. “You tend to use the tablespoon rather than the teaspoon for measurements.”
“That’s cos teaspoons are meant fer TEA!” Thackery shouted.
Knowing what was coming, Alice ducked her head as the tea cup came flying through the air in her direction.
“Most excellent reflexes, Alice,” Tarrant said, smiling as he walked beside her. They entered the main hall--the area was noticeably empty. “You never did tell me why we needed to return to Mamoreal.”
She walked into the armory and approached the gleaming silver armor of the Champion and the Vorpal Sword. “I’m saving Mirana,” she replied.
“Ye ur a queen nauw,” he replied, tempted to block the exit. “Ye need a Champion tae fight fer ye.”
A flash of annoyance crossed her features. Didn‘t he understand that, despite the crown she was wearing on her head, her commitment to Mirana came first? “I don’t have one.”
“I’ll be it.” There was no doubt or hesitancy in his voice.
That caused her to pause. Of course he would want to be her Champion. Tarrant would never let her stand in harm’s way alone. “Tarrant,” she said warmly with a soft smile, “I know you would, but this is my battle to fight.”
“Nae, it’s not.”
Alice took the armor from its place. “When I became Champion, I made the decision to protect Underland. The Red Queen needs to be stopped and I’m going to be the one who will do that. Just like I did before,” she replied. “I know what the Oraculum said. I have to be the one to defeat the Jabberwocky.”
She watched him internally debate with himself until he finally he took a deep breath. “When you were here before…did I stop you in becoming the Queen’s Champion?” he asked, the colors in his eyes swirling.
She shook her head. “You were the one who encouraged me the hardest to become the Champion,” she answered truthfully.
He tensed at her response. As if she sensed his thoughts--and perhaps with the beginning of the Frabjousness she had--, she cupped his cheeks. “You helped me find my Muchness and that is something I’ll always be grateful for,” she said.
“Did you…get hurt the last time?” he managed to ask despite his Fear.
She shook her head. “No.” She thought of how Tarrant how watched over her before. There was no doubt he would do the same this time. “I’ll be fine.”
She watched his eyes go from orange to yellow to a grayish-green. “I’ll b’watchin’ over ye.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“The White Queen’s guard will be waiting for you when you arrive,” Absolem said as Alice stood before him.
“But if Mirana has issued the challenge--”
“We will assume that it was under duress until she has told us otherwise,” interrupted Absolem. He studied Tarrant and Alice for a second. “I assume that you have been informed of the Frabjousness.”
“Yes, we have,” Alice answered for the two of them.
He eyed Alice carefully. “The Cheshire Cat told me you have already begun to feel the effects during the encounter with the Knave of Hearts. That you were able to speak Outlandish effortlessly?”
Alice shot Tarrant a sideways glance before nodding. “And think it as well,” she answered.
Tarrant nearly stumbled forward. She what? Why hadn't he known about that?
“Not surprising,” Absolem said, taking a drag from his ever-present hookah. “You both were highly emotional at the time. The connection would grow stronger to seek out strength from the other, especially with you, Alice, since the Frabjousness has been initiated much longer than it has with Tarrant.”
He looked at them both. “I should warn you that an unrooted Frabjousness connection can be extremely dangerous,” he said, blowing out an intricate skull and crossbones.
“We’re gonnae die because o’ it?” Tarrant asked.
“No,” Absolem answered, irritated. “But, if one of you were to get injured, the other would undoubtedly suffer.”
Alice flashed a glance at Tarrant. “What if…” she paused. “What if one of us dies?”
Terror screamed through Tarrant’s mind. She said she would be fine!
“I would suggest,” Absolem replied, not paying any heed to Tarrant‘s turmoil, “that you make an effort to stay alive.”
“But, what if the Jabberwock mangles, murders, MASACRES! Alice?” Tarrant nearly shouted.
“It is your job to make sure she does not suffer that Fate, you stupid Hatter,” Absolem retorted shortly.
“Free Will is always a mite stronger than Fate,” Alice muttered, thinking about Tylluan‘s words.
Absolem looked slightly impressed. “It would appear that you can learn.”
Tarrant glanced at Alice, who was silently pleading with him to trust her. He did! It was that slithy Jabberwock that was his problem!
“Tarrant, I’ll be fine. We’ll be fine,” she said softly. She grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze as Absolem frowned slightly.
It was subtle, but there! Tarrant felt a whisper of her confidence run through him via the Frabjousness. She really did believe she would defeat the Jabberwock and that was enough for him. Finally, he nodded slightly, silently agreeing with her.
“We‘re ready,” Alice said.
“Then there is nothing else to say except...Fairfarren, Queen Alice.”
“Fairfarren, Absolem.”
Now that his worries had been silenced--at least temporarily-- Tarrant remembered Absolem’s claim that Alice was able to speak Outlandish. He followed Alice and her Muchness out to the main hall before his Curiosity spoke up. “What did he mean that the Frabjousness has been initiated longer with you?”
The empty hall of the castle was certainly not the place he wanted to have such a personal conversation with Alice, but he knew they didn’t have time to find a private spot to discuss this matter.
Alice paused and looked at him. “I’m assuming it’s because I returned here before.”
“And you spent a lot of time with him--with me?”
He was surprised at his resentful tone. Why if he didn’t know any better, he would think he was Jealous with of himself!
“Not as much as I would have liked and certainly not under the best of circumstances,” Alice replied truthfully, causing a wave of Envy to pass over him.
“What was he like?”
Alice laughed. “Tarrant, you are him,” she tried to assure him, moving to take a step around him.
He stood in her way.
“I need to know.”
She sighed. “He was…sad,” she finally said. “He lost everything because of the attack on Ipalm.” A faint smile passed over her lips. “But, despite his brokenness, he had a kind heart, like you, Tarrant. I’d like to think that I helped him heal after I slew the Jabberwocky...before I returned to Overland.”
Panic gripped him as he processed her words, causing his Jealousy to flee!
What if, his Terror shouted, she decided to go back after slaying the Jabberwock this time?
Though he had only been reacquainted with her for a few days, he couldn’t imagine being without his Alice. Surely she would feel the same way.
Wouldn’t she?
“Why…did you leave? Go back to Overland?” he asked desperately, Needing to know the answer.
“I had things I need to do.” She frowned, seeming unsatisfied with her answer.
Tarrant drew in a shaky breath. “Would you--” Another shaky breath. “Would you leave again?”
She shook her head. “I’d step through the same looking glass every time,” she said confidently.
He didn’t quite understand what she meant, but based on the look she was giving him, he knew he shouldn’t Worry about her leaving Underland any longer.
“I cared deeply about you then, but now, whether it’s because of the Frabjousness or not, I…” she drew in a trembling breath, “love you more than I ever thought possible,” she finished softly, shyly.
The cacophony of emotions shouting in his mind nearly caused Tarrant to blackout. Alice, Queen Alice, the woman with an impossible amount of Muchness, loved him?
He knew he should reciprocate her words, but instead his Disbelief squeaked, “You love me?”
A brilliant smile passed over her face. “Surely there are more impossible things you believe in?”
Relief and Confidence did a Futterwacken in his mind. He took a step forward and ran his fingers through her hair. “And I love you, my Queen Alice.”
The dirty, blood-stained checkerboard battlefield was no less grotesque a sight from the back of the Phoenix, Alice noted. It circled around the entirety of the field, allowing Alice a bird‘s eye view of the fighting arena.
They saw the Red Queen and her army, Mirana and the Bandersnatch carrying the Knave of Hearts on its back. Alice felt Tarrant stiffen behind her. “What’s that slurking urepal slackush scrum doing here?”
“Getting ready to cause problems, I’m sure,” Alice said coldly.
The Phoenix landed on the opposite side of the battlefield. Alice, along with Tarrant and Mally slid off the creature’s back. Looking back she saw throngs of the White Queen’s soldiers, ready to fight. And, to her surprise, she saw a large group of men and women wearing top hats and brandishing swords, standing in front of them.
“Is that…” she trailed off.
“Aye. I told ye the Hightopps take their commitment to the First Hat very seriously,” Tarrant answered.
They watched as an older man with a familiar-looking face approached them. “That’s my pa, yes,” Tarrant said, answering her unspoken question. “This is Eideard Hightopp.”
The older man, bowed to Alice. “Queen Alice, wearer o‘ th’ First Hat, th‘ Hightopp clan o’ th‘ Outlands requests permission tae fight along side ye.”
Alice looked at Tarrant, who was watching the two of them with such powerful Pride, she could practically feel it. She nodded. “T’would be a pleasure tae hae such braverific people fight alongside me.”
If the fact she spoke Outlandish surprised him, he said nothing of the matter. With one final bow, he turned around and returned to his kinsmen.
“Tarrant?” his father called, waiting for him.
Tarrant froze, looking between Alice and his father, his Queen and his family. “My place is with Alice now, Pa,” he answered.
He looked at the two of them for a moment before nodding. “If ‘at is what th’ queen wishes,” he said, taking his place with the Hightopps.
They turned to face the center of the checkerboard and saw Iracebeth and Mirana, now with bright pink hair, approaching the center of the board.
“What did th’ Bluddy Behg Hid do to her?” he asked angrily.
“She’ll be fine soon enough,” Alice said, sounding more confident than she felt.
“If ye need me…”
“You’ll know,” she replied with a shaky smile.
Gathering her bravery, she walked alone to the two queens and proclaimed, “I, Queen Alice of the Outlands, demand the release of Mirana of Mamoreal.”
The Red Queen frowned distastefully. “And I, Queen Iracebeth of Salazen Glum of Crims, deny your request.” She turned back to her sister. “Summon the Jabberwocky.”
Alice froze, her eyes wide. Surely Mirana wouldn’t turn on the vows she had taken, would she? As Alice took in her pink hair and her snarling lips, she had to admit there was a chance she was too late to negate her sister’s influence.
“Mirana, please,” Alice pleaded. “Don’t do this.”
Alice looked at Mirana but saw no trace of the kind, gentle queen who had once patiently waited for her Champion to claim her place. Instead she saw a vicious, dark version of Mirana in front of her.
She narrowed her eyes at Alice. “You have tried to take Mamoreal for your own,” she accused as she looked past her. “You have deceived my guards and the Outlanders into fighting with you. Now, there is only death waiting for them for their betrayal.”
Alice suppressed a shudder at her coldness. “We are here to rescue you, your highness, not fight you,” she explained, ignoring the callousness coming from Mirana.
“Oh please.” Iracebeth interjected. “It’s obvious this Alice girl is nothing more than a menace. Look at her! Starting a mutiny!”
Alice reached up and took the crown off her head. With the ease of a hatter, she flung it across the battlefield to land in front of Tarrant. “I stand here in front of you, not as a Queen, but as the Champion of Mamoreal. Your Champion.”
Mirana flinched. “My Champion?” Alice immediately noticed the confusion.
So did Irecebeth.
“Don’t listen to her! Now call the Jabberwocky!”
Alice watched as Mirana took in her appearance. Several long seconds passed before she finally shook her head. “No. I cannot harm my Champion.”
“What?” screeched Iracebeth.
“I said, no,” the White Queen said, more firmly. As she took a step towards Alice, her hair was already beginning to eradicate the traces of pink, erasing Iracebeth’s influence over her.
Alice let out a breath as Mirana took a stand next to her. She shouldn’t have doubted her.
“Jabberwocky!” the Red Queen belted.
“Go to Tarrant,” Alice instructed. She offered her best reassuring smile. “You have your Champion.”
The Jabberwocky was no less terrifying to Alice when he emerged from the ground then he had been when she had first battled him. In some ways it was worse for Alice because, unlike the last time, she didn’t have the reassuring presence of Tarrant next to her.
She looked back at him briefly. He was looking at the vile creature, his orange eyes burning. Even from this distance, Alice could feel his hatred for the beast.
Wasting no time, Alice, firmly grasping the sword and shield, strode toward the Jabberwocky.
“So my old foe, we meet on the battlefield once again,” snarled the beast.
“You should fear me more than the sword,” Alice said, her voice hard, her body ready to fight.
“I was speaking of you, inferior bearer,” he snarled. “I am not bound by the limits of Time as those vermin you call friends are. I remember as you do what happened the last time we met and I can assure you that it will not happen again,” replied the Jabberwocky.
He flicked out his tongue, striking Alice’s shield. She staggered backwards at the impact, but was able to hold her ground.
“We’ll see about that,” she muttered.
She sliced at his tail as it swung by her face. “Foolish one!” he shouted. “I will not be defeated by a mere child again.”
She ducked as he snapped at her with his enormous teeth. “I’m not a child,” she replied, clinching her jaw. “I’m a Champion.”
Alice thrust the sword forward and stabbed him in the chest. She knew she needed to get across the battlefield to the steps so she could end the fight. While he was wreathing in pain, she dashed across the checkerboard.
“Not this time, child,” the Jabberwocky yelled. With a swift swing of his tail, he knocked the entire flight of stairs down.
For the first time since she'd become the Queen’s Champion, Alice wondered just how she was going to defeat the Jabberwocky.
Tarrant froze as he watched the stairs crumble under the strength of the Jabberwocky’s attack. He knew from talking with Alice on the way back to Mamoreal it was those steps that would lead to the Jabberwocky’s demise.
And now they were gone.
He needed to figure out some way--any way!--to help his queen, his Alice, from getting killed by the Jabberwocky. Interference was always an option, his courage mused, but not without a plan.
Tarrant watched as Alice stabbed at the vile beast. In response, he snapped his jaw, catching her arm in its teeth. Though he knew to be prepared, pain ripped through Tarrant’s mind. He screamed helplessly, nearly dropping his sword.
“Hatter!” Mally cried.
“I’m fine,” he assured her, rubbing his arm. He raised his gaze and saw Alice, retreating slowly to the fallen rubble.
“Tell me, Hightopp,” he heard from across the field.
Stayne, he thought with a snarl.
“Do you really think a girl can defeat the might of the Jabberwocky?” he asked, walking to the center of the field.
“Aye, I ken she can.” Tarrant would have said more, but at that moment, Alice was struck by the Jabberwock. The force of the blow caused him to stagger forward.
Unfortunately, the Knave noticed his reaction to Alice’s pain. He narrowed his eyes before Understanding dawned on him. “A Frabjousness?” he spat out. “Between you and Alice?”
Tarrant didn’t know how he knew about the rare connection, but it didn’t matter. His Intuition knew the Knave would use this information to use against Alice.
“I donnae know what yer talkin’ about,” he lied, hoping to protect Alice.
He sneered. “Of course you don’t.” With a quick flick of his wrist, he drew out his sword, ready to attack the unprepared Tarrant.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were ya.”
Mally!
Tarrant was so busy worrying about Alice and lying to Stayne that he hadn’t noticed the dormouse scurry to the other side of the battlefield and up the Knave. She stood on his shoulder, her hatpin precariously close to his good eye.
“Unless you want a matching patch fo’ ya other eye,” continued Mally.
The sword dropped to the ground.
“Now go save Alice,” Mally yelled, keeping her hatpin trained on the Knave. “He’ll be givin’ you no more problems.”
A large hunk of Lafriden cheese was owed to his friend, Tarrant knew, as he turned from the Knave. Without waiting another Moment, he quickly made his way made his way to the Phoenix. “We need tae b'savin' our Queen,” he said to the Outlandish bird.
The Phoenix nodded as they watched Alice barely dodge another volley of attacks. “What did you have in mind?”
Alice knew she couldn’t keep up the fight much longer. Days of walking combined with the swordfight with Stayne had drained much of her energy. Why hadn’t she accepted Tarrant’s offer to be her Champion?
She knew the answer to her question, of course. The idea of him getting hurt to protect her was unbearable.
The flame from the Jabberwocky pushed against her shield, causing her to nearly dropping the sheet of metal that was keeping her from an untimely death. As soon as the flames ceased, she rolled under another a piece of debris and used it for cover as she sliced his tail.
The blow was effective; a large portion of its tail was severed and wiggling helplessly.
Enraged, the Jabberwocky flicked his tongue out and knocked Alice to the ground. She gingerly reached up to her forehead and touched the warmth of blood.
Dizzily, she stood up, trying to brace for the next attack. She tried to focus on the double-image of the beast, trying to determine which of the Jabberwockies was in fact the real one.
To her surprise, he didn’t attack her right away.
Instead, it roared in pain.
“Interference!” the Red Queen shouted.
“Nae it isn’t. I am th‘ Champion tae the monarch o’ th‘ Outlanders, Queen Alice,” declared Tarrant.
But, she had told him no! Two Tarrants stood in front of her, ready to protect her from the Jabberwocky‘s next blow.
His gaze flickered briefly up to the sky. “This is interference.”
Before Alice could realize what was happening, she felt the Phoenix lift her up with its beak and toss her carefully on its back. “You’ll only get one chance to do this,” said the majestic bird.
He flew around the board once, allowing Alice to get her bearings, drawing from Tarrant’s strength. “Are you ready, your Majesty?”
She nodded as the hideous view of the Jabberwocky came into view. “I’m ready.”
With perfect precision, he dropped her directly above the Jabberwocky, allowing her to deliver the fatal blow. Alice forced her eyes to focus and hold the sword firmly in her hand as she plummeted to the earth.
“It is time to end this!” The sword sliced through the Jabberwocky’s neck effortlessly as Alice crashed to the ground.
She felt Tarrant’s hands on her, desperately running his hands over her body. “Alice? Alice?” he said, panicking. “Are you alright?”
She wished she could answer him, reassure him, that she would be fine, especially with that Worried look on his face. But, too much of her energy was being spent trying to stay conscious.
He winced as a bolt of pain shot through her, feeling as if it was his own. Unable to control himself, he lurched forward, kneeling to the ground. “Alice? Are ya gonnae b’alright?” he asked, clinching his teeth together.
Guilt invaded Alice’s mind. It was her fault he was suffering!
Mirana, blurry yet utterly distinguishable, entered Alice’s line of vision. “Tarrant?” she asked, confused. “Are you injured?”
“No, but Alice is,” he said by way of answer.
“But, how can--”
Alice tried to focus on the White Queen, but unconsciousness was calling to her, black spots dancing across her vision, urging her to rest. “Frabjousness,” she gritted. She turned her no doubt glassy and unfocused eyes toward Tarrant. “I’m so sorry.”
Then, there was blackness.
Part 7