Down the rabbit hole

CHAPTER 11

Since Alice was little, she had always been taken cared of, even if her father wasn't really present. She obviously had her mother, but sometimes her mother would have to leave because she wanted to be out of the castle. Away from her jobs and responsibilities.

Alice was too small to understand or too hate her mother. She just thought her mother needed her space sometimes.

In that kind of situation, two guards would stay with her. She remembers them as big men with a sword. One with brown hair and the other was blond. She used to lay hide and seek inside the castle and when she had to study, they would help her. They just entertained her, but Alice always thought of them ands two big brothers.

One day they had to leave because their mother was sick, but what Alice didn't know was that the two guards were not who they said they were. There were two kingdoms in Hollobe, Stock Wood and Mirrowvale. They were both rivals and hated each other deeply. When the two guards left Alice felt lonely and she kept on asking about them. She wanted to know if they would come back, if they would play with her because she missed them deeply. Her mother insisted on her to stop asking questions, because the truth was that they were both discovered exchaching letters with the enemy and they were killed. They both asked the Queen if they could see Alice one last time, just to make sure that the poor girl didnt know anything about what was going to happen, and to say their goodbyes forever.

The same day they told Alice their mother was "sick", they died, and Alice would never know about it.

Alice stood still in front of Raithen.'The Cards?' Raithen nodded.'They are the Queen's guards. They came to send a message.' Raithen looked at his horse which was not very far. Alice didn't know a queen ruled this land. She thought of how wonderful it would be to rule this world. To be able to see and explore the wonders of Wonderland.

Her thoughts were interrupted by his voice.'You are safe.'

She looked at him and admired the boy for a few seconds. He had saved her and she was more than thankful. She wanted to show her gratitude in any way possible, but she had to go see Hatter. They both came into Lumen for a reason, and talking to pretty boys wasn't one. 'Thank you for everything Raithe. I'm very sorry I can't repay you right now, but I intend to.' He chuckled and Alice could help but hear him and relax a bit. 'You are more than welcome.' He replied, 'And you don't have to repay me.'

'You saved my life, why wouldn't I repay you? She questioned.

Raithen just looked at her as he smiled. He wondered where this girl had come from. 'Because you were a wonderful casualty.' Alice could not believe him. Raithen was telling her that because they had met she wouldn't have to give him anything in return for saving her. She realized that this boy was a fool, but she had to admit that she liked fools.'You say a lot of nonsense, do you?'She turned her head a little and smiled. Raithen could have sworn he saw an angel in front of him.'What is your name?' He asked. 'Please, I need to know.'He begged, and Alice could have perfectly imagined him going down on one knee and begging for her name, or for her.

'Alice Wells.' She bowed her head lightly.

'Ironic, don't you think?' She just smiled as he offered her a hand and she accepted it. They both walked towards his white and black horse. Alice wrapped her free hand around her stomach feeling still cold. Raithen got on the horse with no problem, and she stared at him not knowing what to do. 'Hop on. I'll take you wherever you want.' He extended a hand and Alice took it. He helped her get on and she sat in front of him. Alice felt behind her a pair of arms passed beside her wrapping her. He took the reins of the horse, not touching her in case she felt uncomfortable and the horse started to walk.

Alice didn't understand how they were gonna get out of the Fairy Garden. The horse did not walk through the door, much less switch two people on top. She realized that they had re-entered the maze by a different path. The roses on this side of the maze were red and Alice looked at every single one of them. She also noticed a pair of eyes sometimes gazing at her, but she didn't mind. 'Are you still cold?' He asked and befores she could answer, one of the hands on the rains went into Raithens pockets and he gave her a small biscuit. Alice looked at the biscuit in her hands a little doubtful.

She didn't know if she wanted to eat since she had had quite the experiences with food in Wonderland. 'Its okay, it will just make you warm.' He reassured her. She found it quite strange that the food did all these magical things. How did they even make them?

She took a small bite and waited for a few seconds, until suddenly she felt this warm in her chest. She was surprised it worked that fast, but it didn't extend through all of her body, so she took another bite, and another until she left all but crumbs. She felt much better and obviously warm. A sigh escaped her lips and she did not realize that she had settled on him. Riathen was very still and he did not know what to do, he just knew his cheeks were flushed with her contact.

'Can I ask a question?' She nodded her head.'How did you end up inside the well?' She thought about all that had happened. Everything since she had fallen into the rabbit hole, and she surprisingly chuckled.

'It's a long story.'

'I have all day.' Alice smiled unconsciously at the blind offer. She knew that if she spoke she would never shut up, and she surely didn't want to bore the poor boy. He had already gone through the trouble of saving her.

'It's really long.'

'And I'm really interested in you.' Even if he hadn't said the last two words, they floated in the air. When he had insisted again on knowing it might have been Alice's imagination, but she felt her heart flutter.

The thing was ever since she had told her her name, she has had this feeling. She didn't think it was a good idea to tell him everything about how she had gotten here, so she tried to dismiss it. 'I'd rather not talk about it.' He nodded, not insisting anymore and she felt relieved he did so.

Maybe it was this place but ever since she came, the more she knew about this place the more she wanted to stay.

And that was a terrible idea.