Wonderland: 12

It was already dinner time when they both reunited again. Ella and the Ace had spent all day walking on the city, looking for people who might caught their attention, they hadn’t approached their targets, of course, that was something for the queen to do, but they were able to watch them and choose which ones could be of her interest.

Jack had spent the whole afternoon talking to the guards at the Diamond Keep. He had commanded the training of a new Diamond Army when he left to the queen’s castle, but he wasn’t happy with the results. He had finished them all at the same time and he said he expected them to at least be able to get him tired. He was offended by their incompetence.

- That bunch of lazy useless asses…! - he cursed, before putting a huge spoon of soup in his mouth.

- Seriously, Jack, I understand you are angry, but this is gross.

- Does it matter? - Jack crossed his arms. - The queen ain’t here.. Why ain’t she here?

- Well, the queen and the hatter had a little… Disagreement today earlier… - the rabbit said, trying to be as careful as possible with his words.

- Disagreement? - Willard looked puzzled. - Why would Vincent disagree with the queen after she was so good with him? She even invited him over!

- I guess things are not so easy…? - the rabbit asked more than answered.

- But…

- Let it go, Willard. The queens disagreements are not our business. - Ella interjected, looking more interested in save the rabbit from the ace’s curiosity than anything else. - Besides, the Mad Hatter is not here either, so I guess we won’t be able to reach the bottom of it even bothering Bilac.

- I’m sorry, Bilac. It wasn’t my intention.

- No problem, Willard. - the rabbit smiled, politely.

- Ella, will you check on the queen later? - Jack asked, unusually calm.

- Yes, I’ll take her dinner, even though she didn’t ask for it.

- Good. Tell her I’ll excuse myself for a few days to train the Diamond army better.

- I will. I will also tell her about the guys Willard and I found today.

- Thank you, Ella.

- No problem, kiddo.

The ace looked offended by the “kiddo” part, but Ella was laughing. Apparently bullying people were one of her hobbies.

- Jack, please, train them well, the queen will visit the Great Woods pretty soon, it would be great if they were ready until then.

- I will, don’t worry, Bilac. By the way… I’m sorry.

- Huh?

- I’m supposed to be the queen’s bodyguard, you her brains, but still, you were the one who took the blow for her. I’m sorry I was too slow.

For a second the rabbit looked really shocked, then, he smiled.

- I’m a rabbit, being fast is in my nature. Don’t worry about it. I also swore her my life, I don’t blame you.

- Thank you.

That night, after everybody left the dinner table, Ella decided to take the queen’s dinner, as they had agreed. She didn’t even knock, just kicked the door opened and entered with the dinner.

- Get inside! I’m pretty sure you’re not protected enough against the wind out there! And I brought your dinner and news, so I don’t care if you are not hungry, don’t give me that much trouble and come here.

- Geez, Ella, you’re too loud. Are you competing me? - the queen entered back the office, as Ella had said, she was in the terrace wearing nothing more than her white under-dress. - Are you going to force me eat?

- If necessary, yes. So, please, eat alone, you know I’m not a huge fan of forcing people into stuff.

- Except those you don’t like?

- But I do like you, so please.

The queen laughed before sitting in front of the silver plate the other girl had brought. She started eating calmly, before gesturing that the black-haired girl sit in front of her.

- So?

- Well, Jack is furious that the card guard training isn’t going so well. He thought they were too lazy and will be out for a few days to finish their training himself.

- Oh, I’m sorry for those poor souls.

- Me too, but it will be good for you and for our safety.

- Guess so. What about you and Willard?

- There are a bunch of promising people in the city. Most of them need training, that’s true, but I believe luck might be on our side.

- I doubt it. Just like Time, Lady Luck usually don’t choose sides.

- Sometimes you are so boring, my queen.

They both laughed.

- What about Bilac and Vincent?

- Bilac was at the dinner with us, but no signs of Vincent.

- Please, serve him dinner in his room.

- Absolutely no.

- What about following my orders?

- Oh, I don’t like that guy.

- But you like Bilac?

- Bilac is different.

- Just because he is fluffy?

- Oh c’mon, how old are you, five? Ahaha! No, because he came back. Besides, he wasn’t so involved with those rebellious suc…

- Never mind I asked. Haha. You are so serious, Ella.

- Me? I play all the time.

- You don’t play, you bully.

- Well,I enjoy it either way.

- I believe your victims don’t.

- You talk as if I’m a black widow or something.

- Sometimes you do look like one.

For a second, both girls were silent. The black-haired one seemed a bit offended, but she sighed, giving up and throwing her head back, closing her eyes.

- I’m not serving him dinner until you tell me why he is acting like this.

- He discovered about Alice.

- How much about Alice?

- Only that his friends won’t be able to find her and that her time passes different from our.

- That got him so bad?

- I believe that besides the March Hare, Alice is probably his best friend. She talked a lot about him too.

- So you think he feels betrayed since she talks to you, but not him?

- Yup.

- Why don’t you take him to see her?

- I can’t right now. First I got to ask her if she agrees with it. And second, I need to begin with the training of the Heart Army.

- Well, if it’s important to you, why don’t you ask her, tell him, so he won’t starve and them begin with your army training?

- What would I do without you?

- Probably end up killing everybody again.

They both laughed. When the queen finished her dinner, Ella organized everything and left the queen alone, allowing her that she follow with her plan.

…

The moon was already high in the sky when the hatter heard knocks on his door, he wasn’t on the mood to see anyone, but he was afraid it was Bilac in need of his help and didn’t want to keep the rabbit hanging.

He walked to the door and opened it only to find the queen carrying a silver plate, alone.

- Ella told me you didn’t eat.

- … I’m sorry, I’m not hungry.

- I understand, but skipping meals will make you weak and if you want to be here, you need to be always on your best.

- … - he hesitated, but extended his hand to get the silver plate. - Thank you, my queen.

- Listen… Would you like to talk to Alice?

The hatter nearly dropped the plate, if it wasn’t for the queen forcing her way in his room and helping him hold the plate. So that was how much the subject would affect him.

- Sorry, I should have waited you put this on the table.

- No, no.... I’m the one who is sorry. I need to be more careful.

The queen just smiled, removing the plate from his arms and taking it to his table. She was already inside his room, anyway. She then looked him, still paralyzed next to the door.

- I need a few days to organize the Hearts Army training, but I promise you once they are chosen, I’ll take you to talk to Alice and I’ll try to explain you better… Why me and her are in… Good terms now.

- Will you really take me to see her?

- Yes. It’s a promise.

- Thank you.

- Will you eat now?

- Yes.

- Great. I’ll keep you updated when it’s time for us to go, then.

- Ok… Thanks again, my queen.

- No problem.

#wonderland #alicethroughtthelookingglass #aliceinwonderland #english