One Shots

Letters

Basically a little bit of trickery and sadness and a reunion. A hint to sadness. For anyone who hasn't read my other story (that's not one shots) mo croí is Irish for my heart.

Tarrant hadn't seen Alice in two years, in the real world. But that doesn't mean he hasn't heard from her. On the contrary, they kept in constant correspondence.
Tarrant often sent her poem instead of an actual letter, when there wasn't much news in Underland. Much like now. Tarrant's most recent letter went like this.

"Every Christmas is last Christmas
Every day becomes yesterday
Every hour passes
Every life withers
Every smile fades
Every frown grows
All hearts break
All of time is dim
All of my soul is empty
All darkness smothers the dwindling light
Without you at my side.
Come back to me, Mo Croí."

He missed her very much, as his letter suggested. He loved that he could talk to her, even though he couldn't see her. He loved hearing about her latest adventures in Overland. He loved knowing that she was still only his Alice and that she didn't plan on that changing. In fact her previous let was like this.

"Dear Tarrant,
I miss you so much, especially now that were on board the Wonder, with little to do to occupy my time. I really enjoyed my time in China, the Empress and I have become good friends. I supposed that is due to the many trips I have taken to China. Mother complains about how long this journey takes. She's feeling under the weather so I don't scold her much because of it.
Yours always
Alice x"

Tarrant often asked Mirana if they bring Alice back to Underland to visit. But Mirana always said unless they needed her, it had to be her choice to come home and Tarrant could never bring himself to tell Alice that she had choose to come back to him. However what he didn't know was that if she knew that, she'd come back in a heart beat. Mirana was noticing how blue Tarrant's eyes were of late, signifying that he was feeling, well, blue. So she too, decided to write to the champion.

"My dear Champion,
I have notice a certain Hatter has been a bit sad as of late. I wonder has he mentioned that if you so, wished you could come back to Underland. But I must tell you that if you do choose to come back to us, to him, there is no guarantee that you will be able to return to your land.
Yours sincerely,
Your friend Mirana"

Of Mirana didn't know whether or not Alice would be open to this idea but she had to try. When Alice received the letter, she leaped for joy. She could return to the hatter if she wished to. The thought excited her very much. Once she had calmed herself down she showed the letter to Helen Kingsley, her mother who she had an expanding business with. They discussed it, and came to the conclusion that she should go. Helen wished to see that her daughters were happy when her life was at an end, and it nearly was. But she didn't tell Alice that. She only told her that she wanted her to be happy, and live her life to its fullest. So when they returned to England Helen sent Alice off to Underland, with a letter to open when she got there and a warning not to return for anything. Not even Margaret. So doing as she was told she headed to Underland, to her friends, to Tarrant. When she arrived she forgot about the letter and ran straight to Tarrant's table. She settled into life in their world and they  told each other that they loved one another.
After a month of being in Underland Alice remembered the letter. She opened the letter which said;

"My dearest Alice,
I'm counting on that you forgot about this letter and are reading it a while after you left England. However if not, you know the rules. No coming back for any reason.
As I am writing this letter, your in the next room getting ready to go home, to Wonderland. What you don't know, blinded by your merriment and the fact that I've hidden it well, is that I'm dying.
I was given two weeks to live. I sent you away so that you could live a happy life, with your mad man, and not see me weak. Forgive me my dear. I'm truly sorry. But you must now live up to your promise, and stay in Wonderland. I love you dearly. Be safe, be well.
Your loving mother
Helen Kingsley"

Alice suddenly felt like a child again, when she found out where her father disappeared off to for months on end, when she found out that she had been lied to. She suddenly had no strength, only that of the mad man's she loved, who's shoulder she cried on.

"I forgive you mummy. I love you."