S T A R T. A G A I N- {Halice} ~ 175+ subs

"For who can bear to feel himself forgotten?"- W.H. Auden

"I’m frightened, Alice. I don’t like it in here it’s terribly crowded."
He woke with a start, his thoughts buzzing with the fears he’d only ever told to one other person. For a moment, he gazed upon the empty hill, his mind wanting to see that which would bring a terribly rare smile pulled at his face. Then the hope was gone and he sank back into his seat.
"I’m fine." He assured the open air.
"Are you?" Her voice curled through his thoughts, twisting around him and then an idea struck him. A crazy, mad, wonderful idea. A smile once again lit his face as he rose from his seat and walked off.
His heart pounded as he raced onwards, looking back as the clang of metal echoing through the trees behind him as Mirana's men chased after him. A part of him knew she’d sent them out of concern, but he couldn’t take it any more. "Her" voice was a constant hum in his head, her promise, the Underland forsaken riddle- didn’t she know he didn’t have an answer!? Then the gate appeared before him...he was almost there...
Alice wandered aboard the deck of the "Wonder", smiling when the familiar sight of home met her eyes. Absolem flitted past her lightly, his brilliant wings reminding her of what she had left behind...the reason why she had returned...she could only hope that she could find Him again, and lift the sorrow that had plagued his eyes in every dream-memory she'd had since that day. She wandered the garden and from the corner of her eye, she saw the rabbit...her sign the gateway was open once more. In her mind she saw her beloved friend's eyes turn the horrible orange of madness and she ran...back to him.
This time, with her memories intact, she quickly made her way into the fantastical world.
The Hatter came to a halt not far from the gate, glancing around him, judging whether he could make it before the guards caught up to him.
As Alice made her way through the gates, a noise caught her attention and she turned, delight filling her when she saw him.
"Hatter! I'm so happy to see you I thought-"
The Hatter slowed but did not turn, slowly shaking his head to ward off her voice.
"You're not really here."
He continued on his way, filling Alice with a cold fear.
"Wait! You can't leave me here."
Suddenly her voice was far to clear to be just in his head and the Hatter turned around quickly.
"Alice?"
He moved quickly to her side but still hesitated. Alice stepped towards him, and finally he reached out, picking up her small frame and placing her delicately on his shoulder, before he set off into the Tulgey Woods. As they walked, he glanced at her often, more to assure himself of her being there until they reached the tea party. They spoke for a long while, but then the Hatter's eyes shifted and he looked slightly dazed. Alice questioned him on it and his mind was thrown back into a memory that had occurred only a short time ago.
Mirana had come to pay him a visit, but as they spoke about their champion, the White Queen spoke the question that ignited it his madness.
"Where is she now?"- believing that McTwisp had been keeping the Hatter up to date with the girl's whereabouts in Upperland.
He had snapped, but for a moment, her voice and face became Alice and he quickly snapped back,
"She said that I’m not real."
Memories of Alice's previous visit came to his mind, seeing her at the Red Queen’s side. Her calming him down in the throws of madness with a single touch...her gentle words that had put his troubled mind at ease.
"Have I gone mad?"
"All the best people are."
Then suddenly his mind drifted and a strange series of images, that he couldn't (didn't want) to understand flooded his mind, but again, Alice brought him out of it. They found themselves on the balcony once again, and spoke into the night. Then an odd seriousness came over him, the pain in his voice suddenly throwing guilt upon Alice’s shoulders, one she could hardly stand. She was the cause of his pain and sadness. He wanted to assure her that he had not meant what he had said, had not meant to blame her, but then she spoke, a slight smile in her voice. And he chuckled, quietly agreeing with her.
"I would dream up someone who’s half mad."
"Yes, yes. But you would have to be half mad to dream me up."
"I must be then."
Smiles broke over both of them and they found themselves close to each other, much like the day she had left. Alice found her smile would not fade as she spoke,
“This place is real...and so are you.”
The Hatter felt the calm she brought envelope him, clearing his mind entirely as he leaned towards her, whispering what he had always meant to say.



Kudos to you if you read all that...and if you did...CONGRATULATIONS!! You'll be one of the first to find out that I'm going to be opening an "Alice" studio of my own soon...but shhhh! Don't spoil it just yet my loverlies! ^^ Just keep an eye out for the auditions!