A Place in This World // Helaena Targaryen

20. Hat

Helaena saw a tell-tale plume of smoke coming from a topiary mushroom.

"Absolem?" Helaena questioned getting closer.

"Who are you?" The caterpillar countered blowing out a puff of smoke at her.

"I thought we'd settled this. I'm Helaena... but not that one, well maybe that one." Helaena was still debating that. 

"How do you know?" He blew smoke in her face. She coughed and waved it away.

"You said so yourself." Helaena reminded him defensively.

''I said you were Not Hardly Helaena. But you're much more her now. In fact, you're Almost Helaena." Absolem countered.

"Even so, I couldn't slay the Jabberwocky if my life depended on it." Helaena informed him seriously.

"It will. So I suggest you keep the Vorpal Sword on hand when the Frabjous Day arrives." He countered. She abruptly poked him with her finger. "No touching! There's no touching!" Absolem demanded.

"You seem so real. Sometimes, I forget that this is all a dream." Helaena murmured.

"You still think this is a dream? Oh you silly girl." He blew smoke at her again. 

"Stop doing that!" He chuckled and his whole body jiggled like green jelly. He kept chuckling as he obliterated himself from view.

"Can I obliterate Aegon with the sword when I wake?" Helaena countered shouting at the sky.

+

The Hatter cleaned his hat as he waited in a cell for his execution, they were taking his head. The Cheshire Cat appeared outside the bars, floating before him

"I've always admired that hat." Cheshire remarked.

"Hello, Chess." Hatter replied still petting his hat pathetically.

"Since you won't be needing it any more, would you consider bequeathing it to me?" Cheshire offered innocently.

"It's a formal execution. I want to look my best." Hatter corrected.

"It's a pity about all this. I was looking forward to seeing you Futterwacken." Cheshire remarked still floating lazily around the cell.

"I was rather good at it." Hatter recalled offering a sad smile. The Cat re-materialized in the cell with the Hatter.

"I really do love that hat. I would wear it to all the finest occasions." Cheshire remarked.

"If you see Helaena again..." Hatter began. "Tell her... tell her..."

"She knows." Cheshire assured. 

"I never said it." Hatter countered. 

"She knows."

"Tell her anyways then since you know what I'm not saying but what I mean." Hatter requested. 

'Tell her yourself." Cheshire corrected.

The Hatter and the Dormouse walked toward the executioner with their heads down. The Tweedles and the White Rabbit blended in with the crowd. The Queen and Knave watched from a balcony.

The Hatter and Dormouse stood on the platform. The Hatter stepped forward, pushing Dormouse behind him. The Executioner attempted to take off his hat.

"I want to keep it on." Hatter mumbled

"Suit yourself. As long as I can get at your neck." The executioner remarked. The Hatter placed his neck on the beheading stone.

"I'll be right behind you." Mally the mouse declared stomping her foot down on the ground. The White Rabbit covered his eyes, not able to watch. They had failed.