Unwonderland

Alexias left the clearing. A small smile on her lips, until she remembered she had to drag Charudatta back to the castle. She sighed.

"What took you so long," he demanded.

"I was apologizing for your stupidity," she snapped back, even though she didn't really apologize for anything to Abel.

"He is Red Queen-"

"I know!" she screamed, "you're so simple minded! Maybe not all Red Queen Territory is bad!" she growled," now, go," she ordered, pointing in the way of the castle. He huffed, turning and leaving her. She followed, glaring at the outline of him.

***

"Alexias," the White Queen acknowledged her, "Ah, Charudatta, nice to see you."

"Nice to see you too, Miss," Charudatta bowed.

"So, Alexias, what brings you here?" the White Queen asked.

"I have a complaint," Alexias started. Charudatta was unusually silent.

"What is it, darling?" the White Queen asked.

"I do not wish to marry Charudatta any longer," she stated. Charudatta sucked in a breath.

"Why is that, darling?" she asked again.

"He's a jerk, he's demanding, he is bossy and the ever so grateful, he jumps to conclusions and yells at strangers. He shows no kindness," Alexias' voice grew harder with each word.

"Charudatta, is this true?" the White Queen asked. Alexias didn't look at him, and he never spoke, "well then. With that, Charudatta, you may go now. You may still live in the castle, seeing as you haven't a home, but you may not talk to Alexias or interact with her in any way, shape or form. Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma'am," he nodded.

"Then you are dismissed," the White Queen spoke. Her voice rang with finality. Alexias heard Charudatta's exit, "Alexias, you do know we will need to find you another betrothed."

"I know," Alexias said softly, "I also have something to speak with you about."

"What is it dear?" The White Queen asked.

***

She was walking back to the river, it was around noon. The Bandersnatch walked silently next to her. She was excited, hardly able to wait to talk to Abel again. She arrived in the clearing, stopping, not taking another step. She did this everytime she came here.

Her natural instinct was to survey her surroundings. Nothing. Next she gazed at the river, it was so beautiful, she smiled lovingly. After that, she looked to Abel's tree. Instead of a boy there, there was a note. She retrieved it from the boarder, reading it to herself.

'Alexias, I'm sorry I have a mission to attend. I will be back as soon as possible. Please don't wait up for me.'

-Abel

"How nice," she mused, silently, to herself. She heard someone approach. She looked to the sound of the noise. It was coming from the brush on her side. Most likely Ancilla.

"Ancilla, I'm fine, just go back," she said nonchalantly. The rustling didn't stop, "Ancilla?"

There was no answer. The rustling grew closer.

"Who's there," Alexias yelled. The Bandersnatch started to growl. Charudatta stepped from the bushes, murder in his eyes. He was glaring at her.

"Charudatta, you are not permitted near me, at all," Alexias informed. Charudatta never answered. The Bandersnatch put itself between her and him. She glared.

"Alexias," his voice was full of hatred.

"What?" Alexias demanded.

"How could you," he whispered, a scowl knitting his eyebrows together.

"I couldn't stand you anymore. Now go, before you get in trouble," she mumbled, turning her back to him. It was a bad move. Somehow he dodged the Bandersnatch and grabbed her from behind.

The Bandersnatch couldn't get him without injuring Alexias. She whimpered. Charudatta didn't know she was a skilled fighter. She waited until he thought he had her. Happens all of the time. They loosen their grip a fraction, giving Alexias a chance to twist out of it.

The White Queen had taught her this, personally. It was fun. Charudatta loosened his grip, and Alexias twisted. She had gotten free, except for the giant gash down her arm. He was armed. Charudatta laughed.

"Man I've been waiting to do that," he giggled uncontrollably. He was gasping, as if the one cut was exciting. Actually, it hurt like hell. Alexias glared.

Now that she was free, the Bandersnatch pounced, crippling him to the ground.

"Ahhh!" he yelled. The Bandersnatch was about to kill him.

"Wait wait!" Alexias stopped the Bandersnatch just before it bit his jugular, "you can't kill him. We'll be blamed. We have no witnesses. Let him go."

She unsheathed her sword. It was long and majestic, she always felt so close to her sword. Like it was an extension of herself.

"If you come any closer, I will cut you," she growled. Charudatta glared at her, leaving the clearing. The Bandersnatch watched him leave. In a matter of minutes he was out of sight.

Alexias surveyed her surroundings once more. She had lost a lot of blood. Her eyesight grew blurry. She was gasping. She passed out.

***

"Alexias," a nice voice pulled her to consciousness.

"Hm?" she said sleepily.

"Honey, you've been hurt," this voice said again.

"Yeah, I know," she spoke.

"Who did it," the voice asked. It was feminine. Alexias was just about to say, when she realized, she shouldn't. If she were to turn Charudatta in, she could be killed. She had to think fast.

"What time is it?" she asked. Her voice was thick with sleep and her eyes unopenable.

"That is unimportant, who did this to you?" the voice asked again.

"No one, I had left for the clearing," she swallowed, drawing time to think of a good excuse, "when I arrived I went straight to the river, but I had slipped... Trying to catch myself, my arm drug against a sharp rock, hence the gash on my arm."

She so hoped it was believable. She kept her breathing steady and her face unreadable, she waited for an answer.

"If that's what you say, honey. You have gotten fifty two stitches. You mustn't do much with your arm until you're fully healed. You're on pain medication, so don't get up too fast. You will feel nauseous for the first couple of weeks, that's normal.

"Please, just be more careful. And you mustn't go alone, ever," the woman explained.

"Alright," Alexias' voice was raspy, "what time is it?"

"It's almost seven," the woman explained. Alexias had to go.

"I must go," she opened her eyes, slowly sitting up. There was a sharp pain in her left arm. She looked and frowned. It was wrapped in bandages. Just barely could she see the stitches from underneath. She sighed. She won't be able to do much now.

"Where are you going?" Alexias finally identified this voice. It was the White Queen.

"The river," she stood up. Her stomach flipped. Her good arm flew to her stomach.

"Do you feel alright?" the Queen asked.

"Yes, I will be back by ten. I promise," Alexias promised.

"Take the Bandersnatch with you. And be careful," the Queen spoke once more.

"I will," Alexias nodded and left.

***

She arrived at the river for the third time today. Normal routine for her. This is where she came to relax after training, forget stress or to just remember her mother. She sat heavily in the brush. not able to get any further. She sighed.

"This is going to take some getting used to," she said softly to the Bandersnatch. It had laid down next to her, allowing her to lean against it's broad shoulder.

"Alexias?" whispered a boys voice. She looked toward the sound.

"Yes?" she crawled out of the brush, The Bandersnatch behind her.

"Did you get my note?" he asked.

"Yes, but I waited for you anyways," she smiled. Abel smiled back. His smile was sane, not mad. He must still be on his medicine. Well, so was she.

"I kind of thought you would," Abel chuckled. She could feel the weight of the medicine on her shoulders. Sweat beaded on her forehead.

"Are you alright?" Abel asked, moving as close to the boarder as he could. It was starting to get dark, starting to get hard to see each other.

"Hm? Yeah," she nodded, slowly, "I'm fine."

"No you're not," Abel spoke, "What happened?"

Tears came to her eyes. This is the first time she has cried since her mother had died, "Charudatta... He attacked me."

"Charudatta? The man who kept yelling at me?" Abel asked.

"Yeah," she looked to her lap.

"What'd he do to you?" Abel asked silently. Since he arrived, she had kept her arm hidden. She lifted it, painfully. Abel gasped, "He cut you?"

"Yeah," she dropped her arm as quickly as she could without hurting it. The anger was visible on Abel's disappearing features, "Don't be mad," she whispered. Abel shook his head.

"No one should ever cut a woman," Abel growled. She smiled sadly, "You know what? Wait here," he got up and ran from the forest.

"What?" she asked as he left. He didn't answer.