Mad Wonderland -11-

Back when the battle of the Champion had been fought and, for the Red Queen, lost, most her card knights had surrendered their weapons and their loyalty to her. However a small number had remained loyal to the Bloody Red Queen and had sought her out in her exile to serve her again, hoping to restore her to her formal glory. As this force grew, Ilosivich Stayne, of whom the Red Queen was terrified after his attempt on her life, suddenly changed his behavior toward the Queen, once again becoming loyal and subservient to her. Though the card knights saw the change as suspicious, the Queen had been more than willing to once again accept Stayne into her good graces for she indeed still harbored affection for her Knave of Hearts. The Red Queen had rallied her troops, though small in number, into a force which they all referred to as the Red Rebellion. She'd added to her troops by terrorizing small villages far outside the reign of the White Queen, staying well out of sight until she had a large enough force.

Now that Eracebeth had the Mad Hatter in her hands, she knew she'd be able to ransom a Royal Decree out of her dear sister in exchange for the madman's well-being. That didn't mean the Red Queen was planning on letting him live though. Once the Decree was delivered to her doorstep, it would be off with his head. She'd let her sister stew with that loss for a while, and then perhaps she'd march upon Marmoreal, if she could grow forces large enough.

The whole operation was to be conducted from Salazan Grum at the Red Queen's old palace. Now that she had an army behind her, she wasn't concerned about coming back within the range of the White Queen's rule. The palace was wreck, having been looted and destroyed by revenge-seeking Underlanders after the battle. It was falling apart in some places with holes blown through some walls and other walls missing entirely. The furnishings were bare, but the dungeons were still quite intact and that was where the Mad Hatter was now being held.

Though his surroundings had changed, his attitude had not. He didn't acknowledge the card knights as they roughly moved him from the cave to the castle, nor as they again bound him to the wall, shackling his wrists to the bricks of the dungeon. He knew he was going to die at the hands of the Red Queen and it barely fazed him. But knowing that he would die soon allowed him to let his mind wander to the one thing he wanted to think about. Even if it hurt to know she would not return, it wouldn't matter because in three days he wouldn't feel anything anymore, so Tarrant figured that he'd at least spend his last days reliving his happiest memories. Occasionally the ghost of smile would pass over his face, or even a chuckle would escape his lips. More often than not, tears dripped down his face, for he'd have liked to see her one last time, but if he was to die, he'd die thinking about Alice.

This did not please the Red Queen as she sat on what was left of her throne. She was disappointed at the shape of her castle, and further disappointed by the Mad Hatter's lack of fear and pain. His actions had cost her the battle and she would make him suffer for it. "KNAVE!" she shouted and Stayne came over to her throne and knelt.

"Yes, majesty," he said out loud, while thinking, Yes, Bloody Big Head.

"Fetch me a whip, and have two of the knights meet me in the dungeon," she said, standing slowly.

"Yes, majesty," he said again, rising to go carry out the orders.

The Red Queen made her leisurely way through the castle to the dungeon where she was met by two card knights, one presenting to her a cushion on which lay a red whip, long and cruel looking with a tiny red heart at the tip, the point facing outward like a blade. She picked it up and let herself into the Hatter's cell, gesturing for her knights to follow her. The stood at attention behind her and waited for more orders as she paced back and forth in front of the Hatter. He sat against the wall, his arms hanging out to his sides in the shackles, staring at the ground.

"Hatter," Eracebeth said, but he did not respond. She kicked one of his legs hard but still no response. "LOOK AT ME!" she shouted, reaching down and hitting him across the face with the still-wrapped-up whip, the handle catching his jaw and the sharp little heart leaving a gash across his cheek but he still didn't respond. Blood trickled from the cut and the Red Queen's face grew red with rage. "Get him up," she ordered her knights who went over and, grasping Tarrant under his arms, hoisted him to his feet. He stood unmoving but they held his arms anyway.

"So, you don't care that you're going die?" the Red Queen asked. "You don't care that I'll be free and your head will come off your shoulders?" The Hatter didn't move still, his face blank, his eyes staring at the floor. Growling with frustration, Eracebeth addressed her knights. "Unshackle him and turn him around. Remove his coat. I will make him care. I will make him scream!" she shouted furiously. Her knights did so, turning the Hatter so he was facing the wall and his back was to the Queen. The knights held his arms tighter as the Queen wound up and lashed Tarrant hard with the whip. He flinched, a tiny sound of pain escaping his mouth.

The Queen whipped him again, and again, and again. The little heart dug into the Hatter's skin, tearing through his shirt as though it was crepe paper. The whip left long, deep welts across his back as she continued to whip him mercilessly. When he could no longer fight the pain he cried out but he didn't move to escape or fight – there was no point in it that he could see. Even if he did escape the Red Queen's castle, what point was there to anything anymore? He'd never see Alice again. The pain of the whip made him scream but the pain in his heart was what kept him from fighting.

Finally, the Red Queen was feeling some satisfaction.


***

It wasn't long before the Bandersnatch arrived at Marmoreal with Alice and Mallyumkin on his back. They dismounted in the courtyard and as she stepped down, Alice stumbled, still feeling ill. She thought perhaps if she ate some of the Upelkuchen cake and went back to her normal size she'd feel better, so she pulled it out and ate a little. She grew, her clothes fitting her better again, but her whole body felt like it was on fire. She thought she was going to vomit again but it was almost as though the pain in her body kept her insides from heaving anymore. She swayed but the Bandersnatch leaned up against her, keeping her upright. Mallyumkin looked up at Alice and asked, "Are you sure you're alright?"

Not wanting to divert attention away from the plight of the Hatter though, Alice nodded and gulped back bile rising in her throat. "I'm fine, I'm fine," she said, steadying herself with the Bandersnatch's help and walking toward the main door of the castle. "We need to speak with the White Queen," she said, and Mallyumkin followed her.

Finally, everyone was seated together in the White Queen's sitting room and Miriana told Alice and Mallyumkin about the Red Queen's ransom note. "WHAT?" Alice and Mally shrieked simultaneously. When they calmed down, the White Queen looked at them.

"I need someone to go Salazan Grum and rescue him. I'd do it myself but you know, my vows," she said with a frown. "I can't send my whole army – Eracebeth would see them coming a mile away and she'd… It would not end well for Tarrant," she said and everyone nodded, trying not to imagine what would happen. The White Queen looked at Alice. "He hasn't been the same since you left, Alice," she said quietly. "I realize that it is much to ask of you after all you've already done for us, but I feel that it must be you. If it is anyone else, he may be uncooperative. He needs you."

Not according to Cheshire or the others, Alice thought glumly, still believing it was her fault that the Hatter had left and thus been captured in the first place. But she still had to save him – she couldn't let any harm come to him, she cared too much about him. And it was her fault that he was in such peril at all. "Of course I will go, Majesty," she said.

"Ay! I'm going too!" Mallyumkin shouted. The others shared a look but Miriana nodded.

"That would be good. I have to admit, I don't know what you two will be up against, but I am glad you are willing to go. Alice and Mallyumkin, if you'll follow me, I'll show you to the armory. The Vorpal Sword will be yours once again, Alice."