Here I am, Lost in the light of the moon, That comes through my window. Bathed in blue, The walls of my memory divides, The thorns from the roses. It's you and the roses. Touch me and I will follow, In your afterglow. Heal me from all this sorrow, As I let you go. I will find my way When I see your eyes, Now I'm living, In your afterglow. Here I am, Lost in the ashes of time, But who wants tomorrow, In between, Longing to hold you again, I'm caught in your shadow. I'm losing control. My mind drifts away, We only have today. Touch me and I will follow, In your afterglow. Heal me from all this sorrow, As I let you go. I will find my way, I will sacrifice, 'Til the blinding day, When I see your eyes. Now I'm living, In your afterglow [in your afterglow]. When the veils are gone, As I let you go, As I let you go. Touch me and I will follow, In your afterglow. Heal me from all this sorrow, As I let you go. I will find my way I will sacrifice, Now I'm living, In your afterglow. Bathed in blue, The walls of my memory divides, The thorns from the roses. It's you who is closest.

Afterglow - INXS

They returned hours later. Tired and bloodied but alive and victorious. The wounded were place in soft beds as the great hall had been turned into a makeshift hospital. They had lost a few precious members but overall the casualties were light. What a blessing.

The bander was in bad shape but he would live. He'd not be bounding around in the next few weeks but at the moment they could be happy with that.

Alice had been washed as promised and was laying in the chapel. Her hair gleaming once again, her body dressed in a long golden gown. She appeared to be sleeping.

Tarrant still battle marred, found her there. Looking peaceful and ethereal.

He knelt beside the slab she rested on, "You must wake up now" he whispered to her in a very small voice, "I really can't do this without you. Whoever heard of a mad hatter for king? I simply don't know how to do this."

He crept closer noting the small glowing orb around her neck. Nestled in that little indentation he had so loved to kiss. He arched a brow, he'd never given her jewelry. And he had never seen this on her. The thought made his jaw clench. He'd not even given her a proper ring when she'd agreed to be his wife.

He touched it lightly.

"Leave it" came a low voice from the corner. He looked over to see Chess floating in the corner. He blinked.

"Hello Chess" he said sadly. A tone that the cat had last heard in a dark, dank cell. "You can't imagine what its like."

"I can."

Tarrant touched the golden cloth, a wobbly smile playing for a moment and then he sighed heavily, "She hated white. Said it was too sterile. I… wanted her to ….be with me….always." He rose on shaky legs and heaved another large breath.

"Tarrant" Chess said gently, but the hatter had turned and had fled the chapel.

Chess floated closer to Alice, the glowing orb reflected in his large shimmering eyes. "You are an awful lot of effort" he told her, though there as affection in his voice. He glanced to the crown that sat on the ledge just out of arm's reach and shook his head.

Tarrant locked himself in the tower that night, through the door, Mally and the others could hear the banging of metal, the crackle of fire and the muttered oaths of the hatter. He did not answer when they called to him and refused to open the door when they begged.

The only one allowed in was the hare and his large carpet bag of chemicals.

Tarrant was crowned the following day. He didn't want it, but SHE had fought and died for this. He'd not abandon it now. It was a wide crown, sliding over his favorite hat and resting against the brim. Mally assured him he looked very regal, but he didn't feel it. In fact he felt very little at all.

There was no feeling now. No light. When Alice had been with him, everything was bright and glorious and hopeful. Now there was only the fading shimmer of what she had been. He didn't like it. Not at all.

Once the ceremony was completed, the chapel doors were thrown wide so that all the creatures of Underland, large and small could come and pay homage to the fallen champion. She, who had given everything to save them and their world. There were flowers everywhere, all the roses having uprooted themselves to stand silent around her. Candles burned brightly as the day wore on and into the night.

Mallymkun who had often been at odd with the girl, stood on the ledge, large tears pooling in her eyes and dripping over her tiny nose. Despite what anyone had thought, she did like Alice. And now she felt bad for ever having doubted her. She sniffed, wiping her nose and nodded, when McTwisp ushered her down and out of the chapel.

In just a few hours this would be over. Alice would be sealed inside the cold stone. Just like they done to the white queen. Oh they would recall her, write songs and poems, celebrate and mourn her. But what did that matter Tarrant thought bitterly. She was gone. Again. He'd lost her and this time there was no looking glass or rabbit hole to bring her back to him.

He stood in the back of the chapel. Tall, silent, so very calm. Looking very much like his dark haired ancestor who stood off to the side. No expression, no emotion. But if one dared look close enough, they could see the hatter was falling to pieces before their very eyes.

There were only a handful of mourners now and Tarrant dreaded when they would all leave. He looked down at his bruised, nicked and raw hands.

"Are you certain of this?" Chess asked, "There is so much good you could do for Underland yet."

"I'm very certain Chess. Its time to say goodbye now. Thank you for all your help through the ages."

Espelth watched the flowers and animals depart the chapel. And then Tarrant turned to follow them.

"Tarrant?" she called out, "Aren't you going to say goodbye?"

He shook his head without turning, "I canna do it" he rasped after a long moment, "That would make it real."

He was a coward and he knew it. But if he crossed that floor to the slab, the only thing he wanted was to crawl up on top of it and join her in that far off place she had gone to. His hand shoved into his pocket, fingering the labor of love he had worked so hard on all night.

She reached out to him, but he shook his head again, "I don like this. Its no a pretty story."

"For all the love she held for you, for this place. You can't even say a proper farewell?" Espelth asked softly.

Under the watchful eyes of the witch he slowly made his way to Alice. He pressed his brow to her cooler one and sighed, "I canna live wi out ye lass".

The Hightopp appeared beside him and stretched out his large hand. In the palm was a vial of brilliant yellow. Tarrant looked up at him and then at Espelth. "Whas that?"

"Alice isn't really dead Tarrant." Espelth told him.

He shook his head slightly, "I can see her, touch her, there is no life there."

"Magic" she said simply, "She was very badly wounded and had she remained in her body at that time, she would have truly died. We just… moved her somewhere else for a time."

He looked very ill, "What?"

She nodded, "When Argus brought her back, he washed her with a mixture of mermaid and phoenix tears. Her wounds were healed, but her soul was also hurting and very weak. I took her soul and her life from at the very end."

He blinked, "Where is it?"

"Her throat."

His eyes slid to the glowing sphere.

"How?" he demanded in a tight whisper, not daring to believe a word of it.

Chess appeared at his shoulder, "Espelth has evaporating skills" he said plainly, "Where I can move matter and switch forms. She can do all that and move spirits. Something I learned much later in fact. Under the red queen."

Tarrant shook his head.

"Its now she made the horde, and the Hightopp."

"If you want her back, give her the potion and wish it." The witch said.

The hightopp lifted the vial to him. With shaking hands, Tarrant uncorked the bottle and gently parted Alice's lips. He dripped the viscous looking drops across her tongue and then pressed his mouth to hers. "Come back to me Alice" he whispered.

He drew back and waited for long minutes, but nothing happened. Turning to the witch and the dead man, his eyes flashed a furious orange.

"What madness have ye driven me to? You slimy toad headed, momerath spittle…."

There was a voice from far away, shouting. A voice she knew only too well. Alice forced herself to open her eyes feeling t he room spin alarmingly. She clenched her eyes shut and swallowed hard against the feeling.

"Tarrant?" she asked in a soft voice. The hatter was still shouting in his rage and didn't hear the small sound.

Tarrant advanced on the witch but the Hightopp put himself between them. "No." he said in a one low, raspy word.

The others blinked in confusion.

"Tarrant! Look!" Chess suddenly cried out, pointing behind the hatter.

The hatter swore softly and glanced behind him before tearing into the cat verbally. Then he stopped, blinked and turned round fully.

There, on the slab of stone, struggling to sit up….was Alice.

She was very dizzy and nearly toppled off the slab until the Hightopp calmly moved closer to assist her to the floor. She crumpled softly at his feet. Her hand pressed her mouth as she tried very hard not to be sick. The feeling was starting to pass for that she was grateful.

Tarrant knelt before her, eyes taking the loveliness of her face.

"Where am I" she asked when she could open hers again, "What happened?"

He blinked, did she not recall him. "You were dead Alice" he told her.

She nodded, swallowing hard again, "I know."

He cradled her chin on his fingertips and forced their eyes to meet, "Do you know me?" His voice was laced with his unspoken fear.

She leaned into his touch, "You're… my Tarrant."

And his heart sprang to life again, he hugged her gently to him, uncertain if he might break her. His lips finding the lightest purchase against her skin. Her sweet scent blooming in her hair and flesh and he breathed deeply, his grip slowly tightening.

They were brought back to reality by Chessur's voice. "Are you ready now Espelth?"

She nodded, "I think we both are."

Tarrant helped Alice her feet, an anchoring arm around her waist to steady her. "Thank you so much" Alice said quietly, "For everything. Both of you."

Espelth smiled gently and brushed her cheek with her fingers. "Live gloriously champion Alice."

Tarrant nodded, "What will you do now?" he asked.

Espelth moved back to stand beside Argus. "Die" she said simply, "Our time has long since passed. The wrongs have been righted as best they can be. Perhaps Underland will forgive me and allow us to be reborn and live once more. Together."

Alice felt tears prick her eyes, "But… you just can't!"

Argus looked over at her, "Miss us Alice?" he asked. She nodded, biting her lip

He cupped her cheek in his cold hand, "No tears Alice. This is a happy time. We have seen all the turns made straight. Now its time to go home."

Espelth looked up at him, "I thought you couldn't speak until you had your soul again. I am so sorry Argus. I never found it for you."

"It was never lost" Chess pointed out, he reached out and in his paw was a sphere much like Alice's. "I have been keeping it for just this kind of occasion."

"An early agreement betwixt the cat an meself".

"Always had a soft spot for Hightopp clan."

Espelth looked stunned, "You never said."

"Wasn't time, now was it?" Chess countered.

The hightopp took the orb, crushing the ball and suddenly he was warm again, alive for only the moment. "Lets be off then" he said and escorted his wife outside. Turning to the cat they smiled, "Seems all yer string pulling has finally paid off, rest well cat." Argus said.

They made their way to the center of the large gardens, Chess close by with a torch.

Tarrant and Alice followed after, uncertain of what was to occur.

"I love you Argus" Espelth said and he brought his lips to hers, wrapping her tightly in his arms. Touching her for the first time over a hundred years.

"I love ye woman."

And Chess hurled the torch at them, the fire licking at the grass and then there was a large explosion. It would be instant. Painless for the once dead hightopp had seeded himself with powder to ensure it.

Tarrant dropped to the ground covering Alice with his body.

He lifted his head to peer through the smoke and the settling dust. But there was no witch, no Hightopp. He blinked, turning his head to see Chess hovering nearby a slightly sad smile on his face.

"Chess?"

"The fire of Underland was the flame of freedom" he merely said.

Tarrant slowly let Alice up, brushing her off and checking her over to make certain he hadn't inadvertently killed her again. There, in the center of the neat, green garden, was a scorched mark in the shape of a heart.

Alice blinked several times but there was nothing, save that heart, to prove they'd ever been at all. She felt sad for them, happy they could be together, victorious and torn.

She leaned heavily against Tarrant, who took her small weight easily. His arm was still around her, his other tangled in her hair.

"String pulling?" Tarrant finally asked, turning his green eyes to Chess.

"Yes," Alice chimed in, "I thought you never got involved with politics?"

He looped lazily in the air, "Yes, well now you see why. Bloody long game in the end, Learned my lesson many times over the first time." He floated neared to Alice and dropped a smaller silver crown atop her head, "Well majesties, I shall be off for now."

"Where are you going?" Alice asked him.

"For a nice cup of tea and a long overdue nap" he replied and with swish of his blue striped tail, he was gone.

Alice turned to find Tarrant staring at her in awe. "What?"

"When I thought I had lost you, really lost you…really, truly, forever, for always lost you.."

"Tarrant."

He shook his head again, and then fumbled in his pocket. He drew out a small item held it out to her. Alice let her eyes travel over the thin silver band, the golden hats that looped around it and in the center a gem from the Vorpal sword. "I made this for you last night" he admitted, "From a small bit of armor."

She blinked, tears flooding her eyes. "Oh Tarrant" she breathed. This was him and this was her and these were parts of the life they were sharing.

"You don't like it? I can always find another." He looked crestfallen.

Alice shook her head, "it's a good ring, a great ring , a wonderfully right ring, it's a perfect Alice Tarrant ring, its…."

"Alice!"

She smiled up at him overcome, "I'm so much better than fine."

He smiled, taking her left hand in his own and slipping the ring over the third finger and then pressed a kiss to the stone.

Then he lifted his head and took her lips captive in the softest, sweetest, most powerful kiss he'd ever unleashed on her.

"Queen Alice?" he asked tenderly.

"Yes King Tarrant?"

"Can forever begin now? No more interruptions?"

She nodded and he swung her up into his arms, laughing madly as he spun them in circles. He was so full of happiness he thought he might burst from it.

And Alice threw her head back as she held tightly to him and joined him.

Once upon a time there was a land beneath our own, where flowers talk, rocking horse flies fight with dragon flies. Where white rabbits in fancy waistcoats are very concerned with time. Where creatures and peoples have lovely tea parties in wonderful gardens.

And ruling over this land for over a thousand years, was a mad hatter who became king and his gentle champion warrior of a queen. And between them there as love and wisdom, peace and happiness. And everyone DID live happily ever after, ever after that.

~Long live Tarrant and Alice~