"This afternoon Melody and the Hatter shall wed on the Isle of Flowers. Our festival will run slightly different this year. It comes with sad tidings that we shall bear witness to a trial, so a wedding will be most welcome afterward."
As the queen told her kingdom of the Red Queen's crimes, Hatter frowned. The flowers had never liked Matilda. She stood no chance of retaining her crown at the mercy of their judgment. Did Adelaide realize that?
As people began congratulating him on his good fortune, Melody returned to his side.
"I hope you don't mind," he whispered as they headed to one of the banquet tables for the feast. Cadence and Gareth were already seated.
Melody pulled a chair out next to her sister and smiled at him. "I don't. I think, where I am from, I would have been afraid of such a thing, but for some reason I'm at complete ease with you. It sounds crazy."
Hatter poured tea for them, but noticed Gareth and Cadence had chosen wine. Obviously, I ended up with the better sister. Wine over tea? Bah!
He smiled as he plopped a sugar cube into his cup. How had he lucked out this much in so little time? Two days ago he'd argued with a Boojum about bringing a findling into Wonderland. At the time, he'd thought asking the White Rabbit for a favor the worst thing he could have done. Sometimes mistakes were the best decisions a person could make. A life without risk isn't worth living. In fact, it makes it rather dull.
Now he had something to look forward to. He loved his work, loved the creativity, but it hadn't loved him back. Hatter never realized how much he'd needed to be wanted and appreciated outside of his craft.
"What are you thinking about?" Melody asked. "You're frowning."
He smiled warmly. "How lost I would have been if you'd gone."
She intertwined her fingers with his and laid her head against his shoulder. "I didn't."
Servants carried plates of food to the tables, rising steam flooding the air with traces of spices and herbs. His stomach growled and Melody giggled.
His good mood lasted until Gareth was asked to weave his heroic tale—a tradition upheld at every festival.
***
"Where's Devrel?" Melody asked her sister after taking a bite out of something called a mome rath that tasted a lot like pork.
Cadence sipped from her wine. "He's making arrangements with the flowers about the trial so they know what to expect. The queen sent him since he can move around the quickest. I love your hat."
Joy filled her heart. Hatter had surprised her with a miniature black top hat that looked nearly identical to his, and he'd pinned it into her hair before they left. He said he'd made it overnight, while hoping she didn't leave him. It sat atop her head proudly in a slight angle. She adored it. "Thank you! I'm sorry I missed your wedding."
Cadence giggled. "The Red King actually blushed when he informed us this morning that the ceremony couldn't wait, and I was scandalizing poor Gareth by not marrying him. Can you imagine such a thing in our world? He'd be taunted mercilessly. It's so different here. Women in power and men with the delicate reputations. I like it."
The people around them whispered behind their hands and shot speculative glances their way. She leaned in to Hatter. "I think I have damaged your reputation."
Stunned, he paused with his fork halfway into his mouth and took notice of the gossipers. He lowered his utensil. "Doubtful since we are marrying today. You're new to the land, your sister too. Not to mention, the Red Queen is going to trial...what do you expect them to be discussing?"
"Can't you pretend to be a little distressed? Perhaps I would like them to think I'm no more than a notorious seductress from another world."
Cadence barked out a laugh at her other side and mumbled, "Too many romance novels, Mel."
Hatter's eyelids lowered, his gaze grew heated. "You are that, but no one else needs to know about it. As for my reputation, if they think you a notorious seductress, they also know you never saw fit to move on to another man after having me, so I think I will be just fine."
The White King stood and everyone ceased their chatter. He had smooth, dark skin and closely cropped black hair. He wore all white from his jacket down to his boots, and his crown sparkled with quartz crystals in the light. Next to him, the queen had finally donned her own crown, looking ever stunning in her dress.
"Gareth, please do us the honor and tell of the time you slew the Jabberwock and saved Wonderland from its terror. I'm sure your new wife and her sister would love to hear the story." The king reclaimed his seat, and Gareth smiled shyly before approaching the dais where the high table was located. He didn't sit with the royals, but stood on the platform with them.
Tension at her side made Hatter's annoyance noticeable. He set down his fork entirely and locked his jaw. Melody wondered why he was upset, but Gareth began his story and she paused her contemplation to listen.
"...When efforts to keep the beast's terror at bay were unsuccessful, my father, rest his soul, trusted upon me the Vorpal Sword, which was passed down to him from his father, who found it while exploring the Forgotten Mountains."
Melody whispered, "Where are the Forgotten Mountains?"
"They are walled off, mostly, in the Kingdom of Hearts." Hatter said.
Gareth patted his sword belt. "This is usually the part where I unsheathe the Vorpal Sword and raise it high for all to see, but I gave it up in exchange for my beloved."
Hatter snorted beside her and she glared at him. What was his problem? She'd seen them be civil before, so she couldn't understand why he became so irritated when Gareth came around.
"While it is odd not to feel its weight," Gareth continued, "I would trade it again and again for every day spent with Cadence."
Multiple sighs could be heard, and Melody spotted a few jealous females glaring at her sister, who blushed brightly. She glanced at Hatter as he rolled his eyes.
"What's your deal?" She whispered so Cadence couldn't overhear. "You keep radiating hostility toward him for no reason."
"There is a very good reason," Hatter said softly. "This is not the place to discuss it."
"I hunted the Jabberwock through the Tulgey Wood for days, with no success," Gareth went on. "Exhausted, I took refuge under the great Tumtum tree to plan my next move and take a quick nap. Only, the Jabberwock was nearby and scented me. Gazing upon the sword, it roared and attacked. There were only two options: fight back or run."
The crowd was completely engrossed in his tale, some leaning forward, mouths slightly agape. "The creature had wings, speed I lacked, and considerably sharp teeth and claws. Running would have resulted in death, so I did all I could to survive. I leapt to the side as it pounced and struck true. The sword severed its head instantly, piercing its flesh in a way no other weapon had been able to before."
Cheers rose from around the court. Melody and Cadence clapped with the others. Hatter crossed his arms and a tic started in his jaw.
"Seriously, what's wrong?" Melody asked. She had a sneaking suspicion to the cause. Nearly every time he became pissy there had been some reference to the Jabberwock or he'd spat the word "slayer" in Gareth's direction.
But why would he sympathize with—
A monstrous caterwaul pierced the air. Silence overcame the court, and Gareth's grin fell away to a look of utter dread. Above the trees, a dark shadow loomed. The dragon it belonged to landed with a booming thud that shook the tables, toppling wine and spilling tea. A new Jabberwock had arrived, and Gareth had given up the only weapon capable of piercing its flesh in exchange for love.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The people of the White Kingdom careened into a panic. Mob mentality broke out as they screamed and ran in varied directions. The king attempted to drag the queen toward the castle, but she stood her ground, refusing to run and hide in her own kingdom. Melody liked her a lot.
"I told the Red Queen something like this would happen. Preparations could have been made if she'd listened!" Cadence stood, but Melody grabbed her arm and stayed her. Th
e Jabberwock seemed intent on Gareth, and she didn't want her baby sister being eaten by a dragon after narrowly avoiding being fed to a gryphon or attacked by bandersnatches.
Marchy rushed over to where Hatter planted himself in front of her and Cadence. Valiantly, he joined him in shielding them from the Jabberwock. Women could rule the land, but men were still stronger when it came to battle. Typical, but Melody would never admit she was terrified. She'd never prepared for dragons.
"You killed my father." The Jabberwock's voice sounded like slow-rolling lava over rock, sizzling and popping as it burned all that stood in its wake. The only one who didn't react to hearing the creature speak was Hatter. Melody's suspicion increased.
"You can speak?" Gareth backed up a step.
The Jabberwock threw its head back and roared, and suddenly Melody was more than happy to have Hatter in front of her. Mainly because she could cling to him like the teddy bears she used to hide behind while watched scary movies as a child. She peeked over his shoulder to see what happened next. Cadence held her arm in a death grip.
"Of course I can. So could my father, before you cut off his head and left my mother and me to fend for ourselves."
"He attacked me!" Gareth exclaimed, eyes wide.
"You were tracking him with the one weapon forged to pierce our skin. What did you expect?"
Those who hadn't run covered their mouth as realization sank in. Jabberwocks were civilized creatures, but they looked like monsters due to their sheer size. Not to mention the teeth and claws it sported.
"Why are you here now?" Melody spoke without thinking, and the creature's head swiveled in her direction. The Jabberwock was bipedal, and took several steps in her direction. Hatter swore under his breath and backed up, making her move with him. Marchy prevented Cadence from running to Gareth the moment the creature's back was to him.
"Do not shield her, Hatter. I assume that is who you are. My father told us much about you. He loved the waistcoat you fashioned for him. He'd had great plans of entering society as a citizen of this world." He bowed his head sadly. "I've never seen him so proud as the day he came home in his fine clothing."
Cadence inhaled sharply, and Melody couldn't help but peek over to Gareth who had turned pallid. He stared at Hatter, disbelieving.
That's why he doesn't like Gareth. Why hadn't he told anyone?
Cadence fought against Marchy's hold. "Let me go. I need to go to Gareth. Now!" At Hatter's nod, Marchy released her. The Jabberwock spared her no interest. His focus remained on Melody and Hatter.
Reluctantly, Hatter allowed Melody to move to his side, but he held her hand in a tight grasp. He'd befriended the last Jabberwock, but this one was new and angry.
"I asked," Melody said, as calmly as possible, "what brought you here today?"
At this, the creature's fiery eyes slid closed and he shook his head sadly. "My mother has passed, and I am on a quest to find what has been lost since my father's death."
What was lost? The sword? The...surely not the head of his father. She was definitely not asking what had happened to that.
Hatter voiced the concern for her. "I apologize, but your father never told me he'd brought family. I thought he was alone." His tone gentled. "What was lost to you? Mayhap we can help you to locate it."
"Until he was sure we'd be welcomed, he hid us away." The wings on its back fluttered as he spoke. "After his death we had no choice but to remain hidden. As to what was lost... A Jabberwock's egg does not hatch for many years, and a new one cannot be formed until the last has hatched. A week after the new egg was lain, it was stolen."
"Is this why your father ransacked villages?" The White Queen asked. "We assumed, albeit wrongly, he was hunting us for food or sport. He was merely searching for the egg?"
"And that's what you were doing in the castle ruins yesterday morning?" Cadence concluded.
The Jabberwock turned its glowing gaze on her. "Scented you there, but you smelled unfamiliar. Not like others in this land. When you hid, I worried you hunted me. We've concealed ourselves in the mountains so long in fear of the dreaded slayer with the ability to harm us. Sorry if I frightened you. The Jabberwocky race only feeds on fish. We have wings to fly between the safety of mountain caverns and the sea to hunt."
Melody's heart ached for the creature, and for Gareth. His entire legacy to this world was based on a misunderstanding.
"Would the egg have hatched by now?" Melody pulled her hand free from Hatter and stepped forward. She wanted to help the Jabberwock.
The White Queen glided next to her. "And have you scented it anywhere on your quest to locate it?"
"We found out after my father's death that the Queen of Hearts had taken it, to train the hatchling to work at her behest. I was very young, and my mother did not dare leave me orphaned to meet the same fate as my father. Soon, war broke out and the whereabouts became mysterious once again. After my mother's passing, I decided to begin my search in its last known location, but it was a ruin with no life remaining aside from animals. No trace of the egg could be found. I am here because I scented it briefly, but it is difficult to discern with your feast providing so many different smells."
"If the egg is in my kingdom, I can swear to you that it is against my knowledge. The Queen of Hearts was executed by my sister, the Red Queen. Those who lived within the Kingdom of Hearts moved to her kingdom or mine. All within the castle was looted by..." The White Queen placed a hand over her heart and tears sprang to her eyes. "Matilda took the egg."
"Are you freaking kidding me?" Cadence shouted. "Mortimer said she had plans to add a Jabberwock to her collection of creatures. I assumed she meant him." She pointed to the Jabberwock eyeing them all warily. It didn't trust them.
Melody started pacing, thinking aloud. "Or she feared what would happen should anyone spot this Jabberwock, and moved the egg to lure it out where Gareth could defeat it."
The Jabberwock stepped backward. Speaking of cages didn't calm him.
"That's a good theory, Melody, but why is it in my kingdom?" the White Queen asked.
"She wouldn't endanger her own kingdom, would she? No. I think she was sacrificing your people for her agenda." Classic misdirection. Using a disaster to cover up the plot for her little menagerie.
"There were knights from the Red Kingdom here yesterday." Hatter glanced at Marchy. We figured they were here for the festival, but come to think of it...they aren't here for the feast.
"Where did you see them?" The queen's voice was stern and her eyes narrowed dangerously.
"In the corridor, after you left with Melody."
The White Queen whirled around, preparing to call for her guards, but Gareth stopped her. The color of his skin had returned to normal, but sadness was apparent in his eyes. Melody's heart ached for him, imagining how he must feel.
"I will find the egg. It's the least I can do," he implored the last bit to the Jabberwock. "I didn't know. I was a child seeking to help in the only way I could. Your father attacked me. If he had spoken to me, if he had—"
The Jabberwock considered him and bowed his head. "So much pain has come from an error. If you can find the egg, consider yourself forgiven. A life saved to redeem the life lost."
"You may forgive me, sir," Gareth said. "But I'll never forget the harm I've done."
"I'll go with you," Hatter approached Gareth and placed a hand on his shoulder. The ugly truth had finally surfaced. Maybe now that she and Cadence were in their lives, they could finally be friends. "We'll find the egg together."
***
The silence between them grew more awkward with each echoing footstep. Hatter started to wonder if mayhap he'd been too hasty in offering to join Gareth on the search for the egg.
"Why didn't you ever tell me?" Gareth said finally, startling him. Hatter had grown so used to the silence that he'd suspected the question would never be asked.
"What good would it have done to place that knowledge on your shoulders when both kingdoms calle
d you a hero? You grew up believing you'd saved everyone from a monster. What kind of a person would it make me to do that to you? To be fair, I didn't know about the egg. I never found out what caused his reaction even though I've mourned that creature's death for years."
Gareth rubbed his jaw and exhaled slowly. "I remember thinking it odd he wore a waistcoat, but all sorts of animals wear clothing here. Devrel has one. Even the borogove Cadence has adopted wears a hat...which...you made for him." At Hatter's nod, he laughed without merriment. "Of course you did. I'm such a fool."
Well, yes—Hatter shook his head. Old habits. The borogove had wandered into his meadow some time ago, and Hatter thought a hat would go well with his sword. "The Jabberwock charged at you threateningly. You cannot let this affect you." The truth was out, and he had a new wife to focus on. It was high time to leave past mistakes where they belonged.
Gareth shot him an annoyed glance. "This is why you disliked me all these years, isn't it? Why, when you called me slayer, bitterness colored your tone. I used to assume it was jealousy, but it wasn't. You hated me. Now everyone else will too."
"I don't hate you, and nobody else will either." He ran a hand over his pocket watches, thinking of how to explain. "I hated how the act was celebrated, and resented the knowledge I held and could not bring myself to share. The Jabberwock I'd met was gentle and kind. Yet everywhere I turned, people cheered the death. My issue was not you, but the act itself. All that can be done now is ensure the egg is secured and the mistake is not made twice."
They searched in silence, looking in store rooms and in cabinets. The servants' quarters were tidy, but had so many hiding places. They weren't even sure how big the egg was or what color it would be.
"I think the Red King is going to nominate Cadence as the new queen," Gareth muttered solemnly.
He lifted his eyebrows and stood from poking into a potted plant. "Why not wed again and remain king?"
Gareth shrugged. "He isn't fond of it."
Not surprising. He always seemed bored. "How do you feel about that? It would make you king."
The Unraveling (Wonderland Book 2) Page 14
