Mad Woman // Ned Stark // Petyr Baelish (2)

8. Slap

Alice and the Bandersnatch approach the open drawbridge. The Knights abandoned their post moving away for her, fear coursing through them. Bayard waited on nearby hill. He saw the Bandersnatch with Alice and the boys on its back. He ran out to meet them. 

"Hey-oh, Alice!" Bayard the bloodhound declared. 

"Bayard! To Marmoreal!" Alice declared as he led the way toward the White Queen's Castle. The drawbridge lowered for them. 

"It's weird that this actually seems normal." Ned remarked as they held on tight. 

"This is normal now." Petyr offered. Alice chuckled, she liked that they were getting along. 

The White Queen's castle was light and airy in contrast to the oppression of her sister the red queens castle. She sat on her throne, a knights uniform stood upright, in a prominent position at the doors as she waited for Alice. 

"This place is nicer than Westeros." Petyr remarked. 

"Can you imagine Cersei in this place?" Alice chuckled.

"I would rather not." Petyr admitted. 

"Everything is so.... bright." Ned remarked as they walked.  

"Here we are boys, the end of the line I suppose." Alice remarked before looking to the giant doors before her leading to the throne room. She turned back to them. "I'm really sorry if this wasnt what you pictured." Alice remarked. 

"Where is the talking caterpillar?" Ned mused. 

"And the floating cat." Petyr added smiling back at her. "It's even grander than I could have imagined." Petyr offered. "I'm glad I finally got a chance to see it." 

"Me too, when we get back to Westeros the kids are going to pitch a fit though." Ned remarked. "Jon has been wanting to come to Wonderland since he was little." 

"Thank you, both of you." Alice said sincerely as she kissed their cheeks. 

Petyr and Ned pushed the doors open and Alice entered carrying the Vorpal Sword confidently. 

"Welcome to Marmoreal." The white queen announced as she moved to greet them.

Alice bowed and Ned and Petyr followed her lead as Alice offered the white queen the Vorpal sword. The White Queen nodded her thanks as she took it gingerly from Alice. A wave of relief filled her as she placed the Sword in the hand of the standing suit of silver armor.  

"The Vorpal Sword is home again. The armor is complete." The white queen remarked but her smile faltered.  "Now all we need is a champion." She looked at Alice, waiting for her to declare herself a champion for the crown but Alice dropped her eyes to the floor.

"You're a little taller than I thought you'd be." The white queen remarked. 

"Blame it on too much Upelkuchen." Alice remarked.

"Come with me." The white queen requested as they moved to the kitchen.

"Since when do you speak wonderland?" Petyr mused. 

"Since now apparently." Alice remarked. Before the words were very confusing but now it seemed very natural to her.

 As they entered the kitchen, a pepper mill flew across the room and hit the wall behind them. 

"Is the March Hare around?" Alice asked peering around. 

"You're late for soup!" The hare declared. He picked up a whole pot of soup and threw it. It hit the wall. Alice took a finger to the wall for a taste.