He stood there, staring at me in a confused manner. I held out my hand. He shook it limply. He seemed astounded I was there.
"Yes I am the Hatter. Who might you be?" I pondered whether I should tell him my real name or my fake name.
"Her name's Hatter" replied the Cheshire cat from behind me. "And she's been looking for you." The Hatter grinned a smile of slightly yellowed teeth.
"I knew you'd be baffled when you saw her," the cat purred. "I was a little confused myself. Spitting image, don't you think? You two might as well be related." I looked at the cat.
"Where's Chess?" I asked him.
"I'm over here!" she replied. I turned around, but she wasn't there. Then, she slowly appeared.
"He taught me how to do that!" Queenie laughed. She turned her attention to the Hatter and curtseyed.
"I'm Queenie." He smiled at her. Just then a voice from the clearing called.
"Hatter! Are you in there?" He smiled politely at us and turned to the voice.
"How many spare chairs do we have?" he cried. "We've got guests!"
He stepped out and beckoned for us to follow. The Cheshire cat came out first, and Chess pushed me out behind him. I quickly took in my surroundings. There was a worn table in the centre of the clearing, with a variety of plates and cups and cakes. Sat at the table was the March Hare and the Dormouse. The Dormouse gasped as she saw me emerge. I smiled weakly at her. The Hatter hopped onto the table and signalled for me to follow. I walked up to the table, and he hoisted me onto it. I looked behind to see Chess and Queenie sitting down at the table. They grinned at me. Trust them to leave me to make the scene. I followed the Hatter across the table and he allocated me a seat next to him and Chess. As I sat down I grinned at Chess. We burst into laughter, though I have no idea why. The Dormouse looked confused but the Hatter seemed to be enjoying it all.
"I could get used to parties like this!" I told Queenie and Chess.
"It's fantastic!" Queenie agreed.
"Who are you!?" The Dormouse enquired, jumping on the table and and pointing her tiny sword up my nose. I lowered the sword and held my nose, for fear of sneezing on the Dormouse.
"Of course, how rude of me," I said through holding my nose. Chess seemed to find this immensely funny. The Dormouse grew impatient. Chess picked her up and set her down in her seat.
"They are our guests," began the Hatter. "Apparently they've been looking for us."
"Yes but who are they?"
"They are Hatter, Chess and Queenie" The Cheshire cat purred. The Dormouse fell silent.
"What do you want?" she asked sternly.
"Well for starters," I began. "I think we'd like some tea." This seemed to annoy the Dormouse to no end, but the Hatter laughed merrily and passed us each a teapot. Chess, Queenie and I all took a sip. I don't generally like tea but this was delicious. Queenie nibbled a cake and Chess dunked a biscuit in her tea.
"What are you here for?" The Dormouse asked.
"We need the Jabberwocky blood" Chess said with her mouth full of soggy biscuit.
"The rabbit said you had it."
"Did the rabbit bring you here?" The Hatter asked.
"Yes, but it was an accident." Queenie answered. "He was looking for Alice."
"Ah, yes, I remember" The Hatter chimed. "We sent out a message for Alice."
"You won't find her" I said. "She's long dead." The Dormouse gasped, and the Hatter drooped a little.
"Alice lived years and years and years ago." Queenie explained.
"The rabbit was clumsy and got spotted by us" Chess said. "So now we're here." The Hatter looked quite miserable. After all, how would you feel knowing a friend was dead?
"We could help you" I suggested. He seemed to lighten up a bit.
"You think so?" he asked.
"Sure!" I said. "Why not?"
"Hatter," Chess whispered in my ear. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into!" I ignored her.
"What's your problem?" I asked. The Dormouse shuffled slightly. The March Hare tapped a spoon on a worn teacup, and the Hatter looked around, as if he were being watched. He leaned closer to me, so close I could smell his breath. It smelled like sweet tea.
"There is a new enemy in Underland" he whispered.
"Who?" I whispered back.
"Carlotta. She came to Underland claiming to be a distant relative of the White Queen. The Queen had no memory of her, but invited her in all the same. The next day the Queen went missing, and all of her subjects were captured by Carlotta's men. She now rules a cruel, harsh reign. Even worse than the red queen." He stopped and sat back. I looked at Queenie. She bit her lip and chewed it thoughtfully.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think we can help you," Chess apologized.
"Chess!" Queenie yelled. "You coward!" Chess wasn't a coward, but she knew a lost cause when she saw it. The Hatter sighed and reached into a teapot. He pulled out a bottle with green liquid in. Chess raised it to her lips to drink it, but I snatched it out of her hands.
"Keep the blood for now" I said, handing it back to the Hatter. "We're staying. Right?"
"Right!" cried Queenie.
"Right," said Chess, a little less enthusiastically. The Hatter grinned at me. I grinned back.
"I like your spirit, girl" he said. He placed the bottle in the middle of the table.
"Now, shall we finish this tea party?" The Hatter continued to tell us about the situation in Underland. We listened intently.
"We must have been here a while" Queenie remarked. "It's got pretty dark."
The Hatter shook his head.
"We've not been here that long." I looked up. A huge shadow was looming over us.
"GET DOWN!" cried the Dormouse. The Hatter shoved my head under the table. Chess was shoved under by the cat and Queenie climbed under. The Cat joined us with the Dormouse, the Hare (who was shaking uncontrollably) and finally the Hatter. He had with him a teapot. We were all still holding our mugs, so he poured us some tea. Queenie, Chess and I huddled together.
"What's going on?" Chess whispered. The Hatter put a grubby finger to his lips.
"Carlotta's troops" he whispered so quietly I could scarcely hear him. He put a finger to his lips again and we sat in tense silents. I could hear the marching of feet, getting louder and louder. Then it stopped. I held my breath. Suddenly, the crashing of plates and cups filled my ears. The hare looked as if he were going to cry. Then, the tablecloth was pulled away. We were exposed.
A pretty woman stood above us. Her hair was as black as night, and her eyes glittered. She wore black armor and was holding her helmet in her hands. She tossed it away and stared at us, smiling.
"Hello my dearest Hatter. What a pleasure it is to see you."
"The pleasure is all mine my lady" he stuttered.
"Hatter, it seems you have some new guests with you." She pointed at us. "Who are they?" I was speechless. Luckily the Hatter had already thought of what to say. He put his hand on my shoulder.
"May I introduce my sister to you. She is on a visit with her friends." I glanced back at Chess and Queenie. Queenie looked shocked, and Chess looked as if she were going to laugh. I smiled weakly, and went along with the part. I tipped my hat.
"A pleasure to meet you, madam." The woman seemed to believe the Hatter's story.
"And may I ask, why are you sitting underneath your table." The Hatter held up his teapot.
"We thought it was going to rain. We didn't want to get the tea wet." Some of the knights mumbled and drew their swords.
"Don't worry. He's mad." She told them.
"Don't worry Hatter that's just my patrol dragons. You can come out now." We all climbed back into our seats and sat stiffly. I smiled, still trying to act the part.
"Hatter, I believe we should have a proper introduction to your relatives. I formally invite you to my castle." A knight grabbed the Hatter and held his arms behind his back. I stood up to help him, but I was restrained.
"Bring your darling sister too. In fact, bring them all! The more the merrier, I say."
The knights grabbed everyone at the table, and dragged us away. We were tied up and hoisted onto horses. Queenie was sat on one with the March Hare. Chess and the Cheshire cat were sat on another. I was sat in front of the Hatter. The doormouse was carried.
"Where are we going?" I whispered to him.
"To Carlotta's castle."
