Wonderland: 11

When they reached the meeting room, Bilac guided Vincent inside with a calm and contained smile.

There was a side of hatter that was still feeling uneasy near him, especially after he saw how the queen had acted hugging him, but what was more important, he felt really unsure if he belonged there, in the meeting room.

He was no part of the queen’s counsel and still, he was allowed there. That was when he noticed the rabbit was pointing him a chair. He sit there, while watching the rabbit, that was when he noticed the pained expression he was making to seat down. Did he walk all the way there with that pained expression and the hatter didn’t notice because he was too busy with his own thoughts?

- Rabbit, does it still hurt?

- Only a bit, although the queen healed me, it seems my body isn’t used to taking a blow, haha… - he got really quiet for a second, then, looked the hatter in the eyes. - I know, you must be wondering why did I go to the queen, or even didn’t asked her to let me go before, when she was hanging on my neck. She’s the queen and she worries about all of us. So I don’t mind acting tough, as if nothing is hurting while in front of her. I don’t want to make her more worried.

- Hm… - the hatter agreed for a second, really quiet.

- Please, Vincent, don’t say anything. She will get worried and I only want her to be at ease and be able to work as best as possible. She’s already too busy with all this stuff, she can’t waste time worrying about me.

- I don’t think she sees it as wast…

But before the hatter could finish his sentence, the door opened up again. The queen lead the way, right after her stood the Ace and Jack, as well as Ella. The two men looked surprised to see not only the rabbit inside, but the hatter as well, Ella on the other side didn’t look that much surprised at all.

- Great, now we are all here. - said the queen, as she sit between the hatter and the rabbit. - As you all know, we were attacked at the meeting organized at the Looking-Glass kingdom. Although I knew they must have been contacted by the other kingdoms, since they are the closest ones to us, I didn’t think it would go that bad… That being said, we have to find a way to protect ourselves and if possible, counter-attack long enough to make those who oppose us fear us again.

- And I don’t suppose you want to decapitate more civilians? - asked Ella, more calmly than any other in the room seemed comfortable with.

- Right. - the queen agreed. - So, the thing is, I think I need my card guard back.

Smiles spread across Ella’s and Jack’s lips.

- Oh, stop smiling you both. -the queen laughed as both of them shared a look that the hatter couldn’t quite understand. - You know what to do. Jack, bring me the Diamond Suit Army.

The jack got up so fast he hit the table with his knee, but he didn’t seem to mind, he kneel to the queen once and then excused himself, exiting the room without further instructions. The Jack was a really quiet person, the hatter had noticed, but somehow he seemed to have a good relation with the queen and the black-haired girl, Ella, which made the hatter question his behavior. How the hell could someone get along well with her?

- Willard?

- Yes, my queen?

- I know you are young, but you are the only card left from the Hearts Suit Army. I will need you to find possible candidates for it.

- They won’t listen to me, my queen. You know I would never neglect an order you gave me, but that’s impossible.

The queen got up, smiling, walked to him and kissed him in the cheeks, really carefully.

- They will. You’ve got your magic, don’t be afraid to use it. And Ella will help you, what do you say?

- … - he hesitated for a second, then agreed with his head. - If you believe I can do it, my queen, then I will.

- Amazing. You both can go.

Both of them got to the door, excused themselves and exited the room.The only ones left were the hatter, the queen and the rabbit. The queen had returned to her seat between them.

- My queen? - the rabbit called her out, his furry hands scratching one another nervously on his own lap. - Do you mind me asking?

His question wasn’t clear, so the hatter just looked him from over the queens head, rather curious.

- Not at all, Bilac.- the queen had her eyes closed for a short second, her smile unbeatable in her lips, a smile the hatter soon find out he and the rabbit were looking to quite amazed. - Your loyalty to your job and now for me will get you in trouble here in wonderland and I’m afraid I won’t be able to forgive whoever hurt you. So I thought it might be a good idea if you and the hatter shared jobs.

- My queen?

- You will be my counselor for external politics and you, Vincent, will be my counselor in internal matters. Afterall, your friends must still be trying to find a way to save you from my castle and I’m sure that they already reached Griselda after not reaching Alice.

- How do you know they didn’t reach Alice?

By the look in the rabbit’s eyes, the hatter had made THAT question. Like, that question that was probably best unsaid. But the hatter was mad and crazy and we all know that rather well! He didn’t even think about it before opening up his mouth and now was way too late to go back.

He knew that the instant he noticed even the queen looked surprised with his words.

- Oh, it seems I talked too much. - she sighed, closing her eyes and caressing her eyebrows. - But you did say you would rather know, didn’t you?

The hatter just agreed, moving his head in silence, trying to understand if he would lose his head and make the rabbit lose his as well. No wait. That wasn’t the old queen. This one would never hurt them. So he just agreed, this time more sure. He wanted to know.

- Because I talked to Alice before leaving the exile. It was her who brought me back.

- What? - the rabbit and the hatter spoke at the same time.

- Alice is here? - the hatter couldn’t believe his ears.

- No, she is not. I wouldn’t bring her here against her will.

- But you said…

- Yes, I can talk to her. We have a new… Connection.

- Connection?

- You guys don’t know how many years passed by in her world, do you? - and this time, the queen looked surprised. - That is why your friends won’t find her.

- What do you mean?

The hatter felt heart broken. Not that he hated the queen, or even living in the castle, but Alice was one of his best friends. The idea that he didn’t knew something as important about her, and more than that, that the queen that Alice hated knew broke his heart.He didn’t hate the queen, he wanted to tell all his friends about how benevolent she was know, but he felt so betrayed.

For a second, silence was all that could be heard in the conference room, the rabbit himself was silence for some time now.

- Time where she is goes by really different than here, hatter. She is okay, don’t worry. But I’m afraid you guys would never recognize her.

- … - he bit his lips. - I’m… I’m sorry, I’ve got to go.

He got up and exited the room, the rabbit tried to follow him, but the queen stopped him by putting her hand on his arm.

- Let him go.

- But that was too rude to you, my queen.

- No problem, Bilac. We’re all friends here and I understand he is hurt. Let him go and calm himself.

The rabbit’s ears fell beside his head and he sit near the queen again.

#wonderland #alicethroughtthelookingglass #aliceinwonderland #english