♡ Wonderland ♡

~ Chapter Two: Castle Gates ~

The short white rabbit man dashes through the forest, eventually arriving at two huge golden gates. Behind them was huge off white colored castle. It was beautiful with red stones at the caps of the towers.

He taps his foot as he waits for the guard to open the gates upon seeing him. After a few moments of nothing, the rabbit whistles loudly. The guard wakes up and opens the gate, not noticing anyone following him as the gates open, he dashes in.

Alice was shocked by the castle. She was practically in aw. She loved castle's when she was younger she always wanted to see one. "Oh my... you're beautiful..." She walked around going inside the castle gates, admiring its beauty. Hiding herself just in case.

"Your Majesty!" The rabbit said panting a bit.
"My... my apologies for being so late." He takes out his pocket watch. It was five minutes past the time he was supposed to be there. He puts the pocket watch away,  looking back at the queen. He catches his breath before speaking again.

"Please, forgive me, Benevolent Queen. I won't let it happen again, believe me." He bows slightly as he speaks, his one hand on his chest with his fingers tight together.  It was evident now that he was sort of a butler. The red tail coat and white gloves should have said it all.

He doesn't dare look up from his bow. He was taught to wait until she said to.

"I believe you, i'd hate to cut of you head like the rest... but I must thank you for bringing in the murder." The Queen waved her hand for Lourem, the white rabbit. To stop bowing.

"Alice Pleasance Rose Liddell. You are here for your crimes against the Queen. Killing my poor defenseless Jabababywocky!" Mary the Queen, stood up and began walking down the steps of her red throne.

"Hm?" Lourem turned around and his eyes widened. Was it really her? She had changed so much since they first met. She might not even remember him.

Alice, getting caught of guard that the Queen saw her. Looked up at her and began speaking. "Excuse me, Your Majesty.. What have I done? I don't recall doing anything to a 'Jabababywocky'..." she went into a cursty.

"Alice..." Lourem whispered to himself. She was beautiful, her blonde locks softer and blue eyes brighter then how he first seen her. He knew what he had to do.

He slowly turned back to the Queen, clearing his throat.
"Ahem... Your Majesty, you're mistaken. This is not Alice. I should now. You must remember, my Queen, I remember Alice from years ago when I was but an apprentice to your head servant."

He spins around to Alice before finishing his statement.
"This, I can confirm, is not Alice." He winks at Alice, letting her know to play along for her own sake.

"O-oh! Uhm, yes. I'm not Alice." She was about to continue, until Mary stopped her.

The Queen glared at Alice. "Fine. If this is not Alice, what is the blondes name? Oh, and let the blonde answer for herself, Lourem." She left her gaze from the rabbit, and eventually made her way to looking at Alice.

"Oh- u-uhm... i'm..." She paused thinking of a name, then her sister came to mind. No one here knew her sisters name. So it would be easy playing it off as her own name, right? ".....Lorna, it's Lorna." She said. Slightly tilting her head to Lourem as a 'Thank you.'

Lourem quickly releases a breath he was holding in "using your sisters name, clever Alice." He then turned to the Queen.
"See, my Queen? Her name is Lorna. It's uncanny the resemblance, really." He chuckles awkwardly and smiles to reassure the Queen that everything was a misunderstanding.

"I'll escort her out. Come with me, Lorna." He turns and bows to the Queen before turning and walking out with Alice following.

Mary, on the other hand was trying to figure why Alice was being all nervous.
"Oh! No wonder she's nervous!! She is I'm the presence of a Queen after all. Don't have her leave just yet! I would like to have tea with our guest!" Mary clapped her hands happily.

Alice stopped walking and looked over to Mary.
"Oh- yes, of course, Your Majesty." She curstys slightly, turning back to Lourem with a somewhat worried expression. She didn't know what else to do but agree with the Queen.

But, just looking over to Lourem made her feel... safe, and comfortable. She had no idea why she felt this safe... Alice was certain she hadn't met Lourem before. Though he did look familiar...

Lourem quickly stops walking and straightens up. His noise starts to twitch a bit as he turns around to the Queen.
"Ah... right. Yes. Right away, Your Majesty. Uhm... Lorna, Your Majesty, please follow Alfred to the garden courtyard. I will be out momentarily with tea." He gestures to another castle servant as he rushes off to make the tea.

845 words!!
Hope this part was somewhat longer!! I really do enjoy this AU with my friends, and hope you do too!!