Alice's Life in Wonderland

Chapter Seventeen - The Countess Is...

Alice fluttered her eyes. Warm air wrapped around her, she felt comfortable. Slowly, she sat up and looked at her surroundings. She was in a little room in a small four post bed, and a fireplace with a blazing fire not afar. Alice tried to stand up, but as her feet landed on the ground, she felt dizzy.

The door of the room opened ajar and Countess Chester came in, smiling.

"You're awake!" she exclaimed, then saw her pale face. "Oh dear! Sit down, you need more rest. Water?"

"I think so," replied Alice as she sat down on the bed. "Thank you Countess."

"My pleasure," and she handed her a glass of water. "You fainted right in front of everybody. Everyone was worried, especially Hatter."

"Hatter!" cried Alice, her hands trembling, spilling some water onto the bedspread. "Where's he? Where's Matthew? I remember... he... he... accepted..."

"Alice, calm down. I'm afraid he has gone with the Queen."

"No!"

"I'm sorry Alice. He did this to protect you. He doesn't want you to die. He was brave to face her."

"But to marry her! Countess, think about it! What a terrible thing. I would die of heartbreak."

"You really do love him then."

"Of course I do! He did everything for me!"

"Did you know he cradled you in his arms when you fell? He was very gentle indeed. I could see it in his eyes and gestures."

"Oh, speak of it no more!"

"I'm sorry. I wish I did not choose this path years ago, or I may have had experienced more of his love, I guess."

"What?"

"Oh dear, it's nothing."

"Wait!" said Alice and she put down her cup. "That's why you know so much of him! That's why there is that twinkle in your eye as you speak of him! You are Melanie Walter! Matthew's first love!"

"I..."

"Don't even deny it."

"I won't," and she paused. "And I am."

Alice looked at the Countess. Countess Melanie Walter, the wife of Count William Chester. Matthew Hatter's first love, a person whom she concerned as a friend. The baker's daughter who worked in her uncle's farm, the little girl whom Hatter sometimes talked about.

And it was the Countess all along.

Alice sighed, and a tear fell down her cheek.

"Why didn't you hate me? Why are you so good to me? You love him and I love him too! I... don't understand. You should have hated me for doing all of this, to be with him!"

"Oh Alice, what happened to Matthew was my fault. I was too afraid that time, I ran away, I parted away from him. I am happy Alice, because you showed up. You saved his spirit and every other good saved about him. You saved his name from forever becoming the Mad Hatter. You opened his eyes once again to the outside world. You have made him happier than I had ever seen him. You became his true sweetheart. You gave him a chance to prove himself. Oh Alice, I'm glad, because Matthew could finally put me down and fall in love again. You were never my replacement, you are you. You are Matthew's true love, and he will always love you more than anyone. He could not share his love with the Queen, he could only give it entirely to you and you alone.

"Oh Melanie!" cried the poor girl and she sobbed uncontrollably.

"Oh Alice, you can never be compared to any other girl, never. And he loves you the best of all."

At the palace, things were going queasy. Hatter had left the shop without any baggage and he couldn't live in a separate place from his house without bringing his things away.

"I have to get those things back," explained Hatter to the Queen of Hearts.

"I won't let you leave!" yelled Florence. "I need you to stay, or else you might run away, like that day years ago!"

"You don't mean that, don't you?"

"I mean it! And you might go to your Alice and run away with her."

"Shan't!"

"Oh! That means you don't love her enough. What a pity."

"Florence!"

"Fine! You can't go, but I'll tell Bunny to run down to your little house tonight and fetch your things."

"But..."

"No buts! Take it or leave it."

"Fine..."

Later in the evening, just before Bunny left for the Fantasy Woods, Hatter gave her a letter.

"Give this to Alice, please. Bunny, she means really much to me," said Hatter.

"Okay," replied Bunny and she stuffed the letter into her pocket. "I'll give it. Just don't let the Queen find out you are still trying to communicate with your fiancé."

She left and ran through the woods, searching for the Hatter's house. When she arrived, she knocked

The door flung open and Dormouse was at the doorway.

"What's wrong with you? Coming to take us away?" he snapped at Bunny. "Taking Hatter away is already enough, and you wanna take us?"

"I was... was just come... coming to take some luggage for him," stammered Bunny. "Where is Alice?"

"Alice? Oh, the Countess took her away after she fainted."

"What countess? I only know a count. Count William Chester, right?"

"He married months ago, so there's a countess. Got it?"

"Uh..."

"Now leave this house! Goodbye!" the mouse screamed rudely and shut the door in her face.

"How impolite!" Bunny murmured to herself. "Perhaps I should pay the countess a visit..."