Chapter 5 Shadow Talks

Alice turned around to look at the castle one last time, memorizing the sight of the beautiful white, light-reflecting, marble walls. She knew she wouldn't return there for quite some time. This thought saddened her in some way but also gave her hope. She was going on her own adventure with the person she wouldn't give up for all the power or riches that Wonderland possessed.

She looked at Hatter's dark and shady form that she was holding tightly. His electric orange hair slightly bobbing up and down with Dexter's long and heavy strides. Smiling to herself, she rested her head against his shoulder.

She yawned widely and closed her eyes momentarily as she teased the drowsiness that was starting to appear. Despite her long slumber at the Ascot's estate, weariness had taken over once more.

She wasn't glad to break the comfortable silence that rested between them, but she sensed that if she wouldn't bring it up now, it wouldn't happen at all. ''Hatter?'' He hummed softly. ''Do you know a place where we can rest?'' she asked tiredly as she retreats her head and looks at his face as he turns to her.

''I do know a place, but it's going to take some time to get there,'' he said hesitantly as he returns his focus on the road ahead. Alice stifled her second yawn, but her eyelids were starting to droop now. It frustrated her, not being able to stay awake when it is necessary.

She forced her eyes open and fought the fogginess that was now entering her mind and dispersing her thoughts. ''It's fine. Can we go there?'' she asks blinking the sleep away.

As she tries to keep the sleep at bay she is surprised to hear Hatter's voice again, ''Are you managing to stay awake?'' he asks softly as he turns to her once again. ''Yeah, I'm managing,'' she said, fighting a fresh yawn.

He chuckled softly and shook his head. ''No, you're not.'' She only barely heard his words and she was startled when Dexter suddenly halted. ''C'mon. You can't sleep like that, you might tumble off,'' Hatter says as he holds out his arm to her.

She takes it and he shifts his position so she can sit in front of him and he can hold her at the same time as steering Dexter in the right way.

She was leaning against him and almost immediately she allowed the sleep to take over, just after she could hear him say, ''Goodnight, my dearest Alice.'' And he places a soft kiss on her brow.


''Alice.'' she heard a distant voice call softly. She felt a slight brush on her cheek and she smiled. ''Alice. Wake up.'' The voice wasn't stern nor flat. It was a beautiful rich voice, hinted by the sound of a slight lisp.

She would recognize that voice anywhere. And as her eyes flutter open, she's face to face with the attractive man that she came back to Wonderland for.

She smiled at him and curtly pecked his lips. She stretched and blinked the sleep from her eyes.

''Where are we?'' she asked curiously after taking her time to examine the room.

Hatter looked into the room uncertainly and sighed. ''I've brought you to my childhood home. This is where I grew up.'' His smile slowly faded.

''You lived here?'' she asked, knowing he was reminded of his family. ''Yes, you can say so,'' he said.

She watched him and gave him a sideways hug. ''I know this reminds you of your family. And I know what you're feeling. I lost my father.''

He looked at her and Alice couldn't bear the sadness in his eyes. Hatter was always cheerful, happy and let's not forget mad. But whenever he was sad, it was heartbreaking.

Alice wanted to help but didn't know how to. She smiled at herself and asked softly, ''Do we really need to go or is there still some time left for a nice cup of tea?''

Hatter knew what she was doing and his grin returned. ''I suppose there's time for one cup,'' he said thoughtfully.

Alice chuckled and kissed his cheek.

Once downstairs, Alice took her time to look around. She was curious about his house but she was afraid to ask questions because he might return to his sad state.

''Hatter?'' she turned to him. He was sitting on the ground in front of the fireplace, watching the fire crackle. ''If you want to go that's fine. I'd understand.'' She didn't want to make him stay if he was not feeling comfortable.

I approached him and sat down next to him. Again the sadness had returned and I felt my heart rip apart. I hugged him again. ''It's ok.'' He rested his head on her shoulder and a tear trickled down his cheek.

''I miss them, Alice,'' he whispered heartbrokenly. She closed her eyes and tightened her grip. ''I know. The Red Queen has done a terrible thing. And I understand how you feel,'' Alice said sympathetically.

''I know you do,'' he sighed. ''But that doesn't take that terrible feeling away,'' he said hoarsely.

Alice retreated and watched him with tears in her eyes. ''Maybe, one day, we can make a family of our own,'' she said softly, wiping away his tears. He smiled a little and looked at the ground.

Alice adjusted his hat so it sat straight on his bright orange hair. The kettle started whistling and Hatter was about to stand up, but Alice pushed him back down. ''Stay here, I'll get the cups.''

Hatter grinned at her and stood up again. ''Together.'' He took her hand and pulled her to another room, which was obviously a kitchen.

He opened a cabinet and there sat two identical cups. He took them out and poured them both with hot water.

He prepared their tea while Alice was watching him quietly, hoping he wouldn't become too upset. If she had known that when he meant that he knew a place to sleep, he had meant this place, she would never have told him to go. She'd rather sleep on the forest ground than to see Hatter upset.

''Where's Dexter?'' Alice asked, breaking the silence. ''I've let him outside while you were asleep,'' Tarrant replied. He passed her one of the cups and she took it gratefully. She wanted to down it quickly so they could be on their way, but the tea was steaming hot.

They went to sit down at the dining table and Alice couldn't help but notice that Hatter's gloominess wouldn't vanish. Watching him with a concerned expression, she placed her hand on his and smiled.

She didn't have any words to say. At least she didn't know how to say what she was feeling.

''Do you want to talk about them?'' she asked softly, dreading that it might be stupid to ask such thing. But Hatter smiled at her and nodded.

While he told her about his family she noticed he actually cheered up a little. Even if it was just a little, she was happy that she had managed to distract him for now. He even chuckled a few times which made Alice smile.

He told her about her childhood memories that were really dear.

Even though he had cheered up a little, Alice was glad when she noticed that they had finished their tea, because that meant they could get going.

''If you want, I can show you a picture of my family.'' He took her hand and pulled her into another room. He dropped down on his knees in front of an old wooden box and opened it. As he was rummaging through the contents, Alice was watching him uncertainly.

She was afraid that a picture of his family might upset him again, but before she had gathered the courage to say anything he had already pulled out a painting of the Hightopp family.

He sat down, crossed legged and watched the faces on the painting. He started pointing around at all the faces and naming them as a small smile crept up his face.

When he finished he sighed and placed the painting back in the box before closing it and turning to Alice. ''Thanks. I suppose that I just needed to talk about them.'' He hugged her and Alice placed her arms around him as he placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

''Let's go. We need to get going,'' Alice said smiling at him. She was happy that his mood had brightened and was grateful that he didn't go mad.

They quickly left the house and Alice was surprised at all the trees surrounding the clearing where only the Hightopp's house was built.

''This must've been a great place to play when you were little,'' Alice said looking around at nature.

''Yes. Yes, it was.''

Alice felt his hand tremble and she squeezed it softly to let him know he's not alone.

''So, where's Dexter?''

''We need to call him. He's somewhere in the forest.''

Alice nodded and stepped forward. She cupped her hands to her mouth and shouted, ''Dexter!''

They noticed several birds emerge from the trees in the distance, knowing that Dexter was approaching and scaring all the other animals away.

''There he comes,'' Hatter muttered as soft thumps became louder and louder. In no time, Dexter had jumped from the green wall in front of them and Alice gasped startled at the sudden appearance.

Dexter stopped beside them and waited for them to mount him. Alice greeted him with a soft pat before climbing on his back. ''Do you want to ride?'' Alice asked looking down at Tarrant. ''I'm ok.'' He jumped on behind her and slowly his arms slithered around her waist and rested his head on her shoulder.

He yawned and Alice looked at him with a frown. ''Did you get any sleep last night?'' she asked softly.

He nodded. ''I slept on the floor. It wasn't very comfortable so I kept waking up,'' he explained with an innocent look in his eyes.

Alice raised an eyebrow. ''Alright, fine. I didn't get any sleep, but it's ok. I'm fine.''

She sighed and they set off into the forest.


Tarrant let her head rest on Alice's shoulder and Alice knew he was still a little upset. She wanted nothing more than to help, but she was terrified to death she might only make it worse.

''Tarrant?'' Alice asked uncertainly.

''Hmm?''

''I love you.'' She felt like it might help him get his mind off his family, even though she hated to draw attention to herself at emotional moments. He smiled and placed a kiss on her cheek. ''I love you too, Alice,'' he whispered hugging her tightly.

She didn't know if she succeeded at distracting him, but at least she let him know she's there for him.

''Alice, can I talk to you about my past?'' he asked suddenly which caught Alice by surprise. He did want to talk about his past which was not what she expected at all.

''Of course,'' she said kindly.

''All right.'' He sighed. And started telling Alice about his childhood and all the good memories he had of his family.

He told her about the first hat he had ever made and about his brothers and sisters who all seemed to be just like him, only slightly less mad.

Everything he said seemed to go smoothly but when he came to the part of Horunvendush day, his voice faltered and I saw the tears return to his eyes.

Alice placed a hand on his shoulder. ''It's OK. Don't be afraid to cry,'' she said softly.

He nodded and continued.

''On my twelfth birthday my parents had organized a birthday party for me at my grandparent's house. That was the day the Jabberwocky killed the whole Hightopp clan, except me. When the Jabberwocky had come, my dad told my mum to take me with her and hide. He couldn't come with us because he had to fight for the Queen, which was Mirana's aunt at the time.''

His voice was quiet and Alice had to strain to hear what he was saying over the snapping of branches and the pounding of Dexter's feet.

''My mother took me into the forest and hid me under a big tree root. She wanted to hide, but she was too late. I could already hear the Guards coming.'' He stopped for a moment and sighed as a tear rolled down his cheek.

''My mother told me to stay where I was until it would be safe again. The last thing she said to me was, 'I love you, Tarrant. Remember, I will always love you.' before they took her away from me and beheaded her.''

Alice watched him from the back and was shocked. She wanted to say something but nothing would come to her mind. She put her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

She felt tears sliding down her cheeks. ''That's awful. You were just a small boy,'' she whispered. He turned his head to look at her. ''I was, and after that, I lived with the White Queen. But at least I survived,'' he said softly, Alice saw a tear escaping his eye.

She admired his ability to look at the bright side of most things. He might be mad, but he had a heart of gold and a sharp mind.

''I'm so sorry you had to go through that,'' Alice whispered. ''Well, it's the past. What we must focus on is the present,'' he said smiling. ''You've returned, that is all I could ever wish for.''

He turned his head to face what was in front of him again. ''Come on Dexter, almost there,'' he whispered into Dexter's ear. ''How much longer do we have to travel?'' Alice asked. ''Only several miles, but there's one problem.''

Alice raised an eyebrow. ''There are guards hiding everywhere. We need to be able to cross the border without being seen.''

Alice sighed and touched her head. ''Do you have an idea?'' she asked trying to come up with one herself.

Silence settled upon them as if Alice hadn't said anything. She didn't mind, because she knew that he was probably coming up with some kind of master plan.

The rest of the ride went in silence. The knowledge that any guard might have their bows aimed at them, carefully hidden beneath the vegetation, was starting to unsettle Alice. With every step, they closed in on the border, so it was only more than logical that there must be a lot of guards in the forest surrounding them.

Suddenly Dexter stopped walking abruptly and I could hear him growl softly. Hatter placed a comforting hand on his head. ''It's alright,'' he whispered in his ear before dismounting him and helping Alice down.

''Hide at my childhood home. When we need you we will call for you,'' Hatter says as he pats Dexter softly. After the goodbye licks from Dexter, he set off into the woods, toward Hatter's old home.

''What now?'' Alice asked quietly as she watched Hatter examine their surroundings carefully. It takes him a few seconds to turn to her, but as he faces her, a smirk crosses his face and he suddenly jumps up, catching a thick branch above them. ''We go through the trees,'' he said as he grinned down at her.

He pulled himself up and straightened on the branch as he looked around and hopped onto another.

Alice watched him in horror. How was she supposed to do that? She had grown up in the city. She had never climbed in a tree, let alone jump from branch to branch.

Hatter noticed her rigid form through the branches and he silently hops back toward her. ''Alice, come on. We've got to go,'' he whispers as he looks around with concern.

Suddenly they hear the creaking of branches closeby, and Alice stares at the bushes in pure terror. It was over. She was going to get caught and brought back to Marmoreal and she wouldn't have any chance to find out what was really going on.

She closed her eyes and waited for the guards to appear. And as she heard the voices nearing them, she could suddenly feel hands gripping her tightly and pulling her into the air. It takes her a whole lot of self-control to keep in the shriek she was about to let out when she felt the hands grip her armpits.

She opened her eyes and looked around in horror. Her bottom connected with a branch and she balanced herself on top of it. It's then she realized that Hatter was dangling from the branch, his legs wrapped around the branch as he swings himself onto the branch and next to Alice.

He puts his finger to his lips and watches her earnestly as two guards protrude from the bushes just beneath the tree.

Both clothed completely white, their helmets tugged beneath their arms as they were cutting through the rough undergrowth that clawed at their shins.

''So, Frank,'' one of them said, uncertainty hinting his voice. The other guard rolled his eyes and turned to face him, just below the branch where Hatter and Alice were seated, holding their breaths. ''What?'' The annoyance in his voice was very clear, and it made Alice wonder if he was indeed a good person.

The guard who had started the conversation shuffled on his feet, but then looked into Frank's eyes. ''Why did the Queen want us to look for them here? Why would they want to go to the Outlands?'' he asks softly as he lowers his voice in the second part of his question.

Frank let out an exaggerated sigh and said, ''Because the Queen fears for her champion's health. She is convinced that she has become delusional and that she had been ranting on and on about how Ilosovich Stayne had chased her,'' Frank says as he talks with a baby voice. ''Oh, yeah. Right.''

''I wonder why she has sent you to come with me. If we need to chase some mad person than I would rather do it with someone else,'' Frank muttered under his breath.

As they started to make their way out of sight, Alice could feel her blood boil. How could the Queen say that?

Tarrant placed his hand on one of Alice's pulled up knees. ''Are you OK?'' he asks softly. ''Fine,'' she says curtly as she straightens on the branch, trying to keep her balance. ''Hatter,'' she says, as she looks into his eyes. ''I can't do this,'' she says with a glazy expression.

He halted next to her and took her hand. ''Let's do it together. You'll jump as close to the trunk as you can so you can grip it tightly when you hit the branch,'' he says as he locks eyes with her. Then he smiles softly. ''It's going to be alright,'' he says as he squeezes her hand confidently.

''OK. But I'm only doing this because you seem to have such confidence in me,'' she says as she lets out a shaky breath. She glanced down at the ground and she could feel her head starting to spin. Come on, Alice! Just do it. You're not like all the other women, you can do this! she thought as she focuses on the next branch. And if not, the thick undergrowth will save you.

She grinned and looked at Tarrant, nodding curtly, before focusing on the branch and together, they leaped.