EPILOGUE

The queen considers her champion across the fine, white bone china tea service. "Alice..."

"Yes?"

Mirana winces at the young woman's apprehensive tone. The queen is tempted to drop the subject she wishes to discuss entirely. But she had reinstated their teatimes for a reason! Determined, she continues, "I would like to share with you an... option."

Alice takes a sip of tea, her brow arched with condescension. "An option or an order?"

"An option, Alice, for you and... Tarrant to consider."

Across the table, Alice sets her teacup down with a graceless clatter.

Mirana still finds it difficult to believe that Tarrant is still... that it's possible Alice truly sees... After all, Mirana knows of no precedence for this... But, however...

She takes a deep breath and says, "Were you to decide that life here in Mamoreal is not to your liking, there are... other posts you might consider. On the border of the Outlands, for instance, where you would be expected to maintain the border and resolve local disputes... at your discretion."

"And you would trust my judgment?"

"Alice," the queen assures her, "although many question your sanity, I have never questioned your sense of right and wrong."

For a long moment, Alice says nothing. Mirana watches as she spins her half-empty teacup in its saucer slowly. One rotation... two...

"This offer," Alice says finally, glancing up. "Would you be making this because you still believe me to be... mad?"

"Alice, my champion," Mirana replies with a heartfelt smile. "I make it because nothing would give me greater pleasure than to believe that you are not."

And when Alice looks up over the tea service there is a gentle smile curving her lips – a smile free of bitterness and stress, a smile the queen has not seen in what feels like a very long time – and a warmth in her eyes.

"I'll have to talk to Tarrant first but—"

Mirana frowns slightly as Alice glances to the side, her gaze moving from up high to lower. She grins at the neighboring chair as if someone has just seated themselves in it. Mirana suppresses a shiver at the thought of Tarrant sitting so close to them despite his... deceased state. The thought doesn't appear to bother Alice, however. She reaches out a hand to that invisible guest and when she turns her attention back to the queen, Mirana sees her answer in her eyes.

"We accept."

*~* The End *~*

Notes: So, you still have questions? You're curious? Well, I shall do my best:

(1) Stayne: There was a misunderstanding during Mally's interrogation. She was defending Tarrant out of love but, as Stayne does not understand love he assumes she's trying to protect the real leader of the Resistance out of loyalty. In his mind, she'd just confirmed that the Hatter is the mastermind behind the on-going rebellion against the Red Queen. In my mind, I imagine him marching off to gloat and make sure there are no rescue attempts happening. Of course, he interrupts the latter and... *ahem* Yes.

(2) The Uprising: In the film, the Hatter organizes the uprising in the Red Queen's court, but I can easily imagine Mally – enraged and out for vengeance – managing to do something similar with the aid of the Tweedles and Bayard's family and, yes, even an unusually muchy McTwisp.

(3) Triumphant Return: Right, so, Tarrant is holding the Tweedles' hands as they return to Mamoreal... or is he? After all, that's what Alice sees through the spyglass. Actually, the fact that no one greeted Tarrant or Chessur when they arrived, despite their bravery, made me a little Suspicious. Why was Alice the only one to interact with them? Even Mally didn't stick around... Which got me thinking about all the times in the last bit of the movie when the Hatter and Chessur's interactions with others are limited to themselves... and Alice. When I realized that... well, can you blame me for considering the ghost angle?

(4) The Hatter's Top Hat: After the fuss dies down on the battlefield, Nivens McTwisp hands the Hatter his hat. Yes, I realize I didn't show McTwisp's perspective on this. I declare we shall assume that just as Chessur could touch the crown in That Moment, the white rabbit could return Tarrant's hat to him.

(5) The White Queen's Champion: Even if Alice goes on a tour of Underland, she'll still be the queen's champion. This fic is different from my main series, One Promise Kept, so the duties of the champion are different. Alice stays in Marmoreal during the story because she has nowhere else to go, honestly. She trains because she isn't completely opposed to fighting on the White Queen's behalf again. But she doesn't have to stay in Marmoreal. If the queen needs her, she'll summon her. Otherwise, Alice can do whatever and go wherever she likes.