Continuing Tales

Bonkers To Be Late

A Alice in Wonderland Story
by RosieLilyIce93

Part 8 of 48

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Alice followed the wall until she came to the front gate. Looking around she spotted the chess piece guards at work. Unsure of her reception, she cautiously approached.

"Excuse me, but I've returned to see the Queen. Would you let me pass?" Alice kept her voice firm, as she had learned from Captain Williams. The towering chess pieces simply continued to stare straight ahead. They gave no sign of recognition at all.

Alice huffed and placed her hands on her hips. After several more attempts to gain their attention, she threw her hands up in the air and sat on the gravel path way, glaring up at them. She wasn't there long though.

"Gentleman, this is THE Alice. You really should let her pass. Once she gets her hands on a sword, well, you remember …" Chess's voice drawled.

The chess pieces turned to look at each other and visibly shuddered. They seemed to be remembering her beheading of the Jabberwocky. Alice couldn't help but smirk. They finally moved apart and the gates opened wide. Making sure Chess was still floating above her head; Alice stepped through and continued up to the White Castle.

"Thank you for your assistance Chessur. I was rather at a loss there …" Alice kept her voice down in deference to the humming cherry trees. Chess was less inclined toward the peace of the moment though.

Smacking her face with his fluffy tail, Chessur's frown floated above her.

"You'll need to be more assertive Champion. Your time here will come to depend on it." Alice paused to look at him quizzically.

"What do you mean Chess? These cryptic warnings of yours are starting to sound more and more dire." Alice stopped to look above at him but was met with nothing but pure air. Snorting and shaking her head at the cat with evaporating skills, Alice pushed through the great doors of the castle.

She was immediately met by a fish in a waistcoat.

"Name?" the fish asked.

Alice paused before answering. Assertiveness was necessary as Chess had said. Clearing her throat and squaring her shoulders, Alice made a slight bow.

"Alice Kingsleigh, Champion to the White Queen and Won – Underland." Alice almost slipped back into the old childish nickname for the place.

"This way." Alice and the fish proceeded up and down the corridors before coming to a door she vaguely recognized. Alice smiled at the doors. On the other side, Nivens's squeaky voice rang out her name. Alice could hear the crowd on the other side fall silent. The doors swung open and Alice stepped inside.

She didn't dare look to the sides of the room. The Thunderwhapped stares of the White Courtiers didn't matter. The only eyes that mattered were those standing on the dais at the front of the room.

Mally the Mouse, Thackery Earwicket, Bayard the Bloodhound, Chessur, and the Tweedles, all stood around the White Throne. Alice focused on the beaming smile of the White Queen. That smile that could calm seas and make the sun shine. Mirana of Marmoreal, her queen, her friend.

Mirana rose gracefully and swept toward Alice. Stopping just in front of her, the Queen raised her hand and gently caressed her cheek, much like she had before Alice's leaving. The smile on her face was radiant, but her next words made Alice's heart smile more.

"Welcome home my Champion." Mirana briefly turned to her court and waved them from the room. At last, it was just Alice and her friends left. Mirana stepped aside and let Alice approach the White Throne dais. Stopping just short of the steps, Alice knelt and opened her arms. In a flurry of movement, each and every one of them was clamoring for hugs and attention.

"Welcome home lass!"

"Alice you dog, where ya bin?"

"It's about time Champion."

"Contra wise, Champion, your timing is perfect."

"Yer late for tea!"

Mirana gently cleared her throat and the chorus fell silent.

"Now, now Thackery. She's not late yet. We still have a few minutes until brillig. If you would care to join us Alice?" Mirana waved her hand in the direction of the nearby kitchen.

A much safer place for the Mad Tea Party than the White Queen's parlor thought Alice wryly. She stopped at the door and the rest of the company turned to look at her. Alice surveyed the confused faces and frowned at the White Queen.

"Our party seems to be lacking a member Majesty. Where's the Hatter?" Alice asked the question slowly, fearful of Chess's remembered statements from earlier.

Mirana pursed her lips and seemed unwilling to answer. Alice turned to the original members of the Mad Tear Party and eye balled them carefully.

"Where's Hatter Mally?" Alice's voice was full of command. The dormouse wrung her tail between her hands and wouldn't look her in the eyes.

"Mr. Hightopp has been confined to his rooms for his safety as well as that of others. His sanity has … deteriorated since your … since Frabjous day." Mirana's voice was sad and Alice felt guilt rear its ugly head. Without thinking twice, she sped from the room, ignoring the calls of her friends.

Once outside, Alice once again out her faith in her feet and took off up the nearest set of stairs. Left, right, left again and a dozen paces down a deserted corridor later, Alice found herself outside a heavy metal door.

Metal? Alice paused at the site. Almost everything in Marmoreal was made of natural product. This metal door did not bode well. It was built as though to keep people out. Or more accurately Alice realized, to keep someone in. Alice swallowed audibly.

Suddenly Alice felt something softly brush her cheek. Turning her head, she saw that Absolem had landed on her shoulder. Looking at his wildly twitching antenna, Alice drew in a deep breath.

"Muchness." She muttered to herself and to him. Out of the corner of her eye, she could have sworn the butterfly nodded before lifting off. She herself nodded.

Placing her hand upon the door handle, she spoke over her shoulder one last time.

"If I'm not out in time for tea, send in the cavalry." And with that, she stepped into the room and closed the door.

Bonkers To Be Late

A Alice in Wonderland Story
by RosieLilyIce93

Part 8 of 48

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