Madoc Chapeau took a deep breath of fresh air, closing his eyes and soaking up the bright sunshine on his face. His cheeks were stained with involuntary tears that he quickly wiped away. He turned and looked at the girl whose hand he was still holding.

Beatrice looked back at him, but it was clear she was having trouble fully forming her thoughts as all her senses came begrudgingly back into place. She shuddered and he wrapped his arms around her compassionately.

“How long?” her voice croaked.

He checked his watch. “Only a minute.”

“What?” She drew back from him. “But, it felt like forever!”

“Time and everything else has no meaning inside The Obscurity, but in the outside world only a minute passed while we were in there.”

“It was horrible,” she reviled. “That feeling of complete emptiness and consumption, yet still being conscious. I almost didn’t make it out.”

“Neither did I. It was a good thing you started running.”

“Me? But, I was following you!”

“Not after the light started to dim. The light was meant to last an eternity, but then it started to fade. I thought it was all over – that we could never find our way.”

“I thought it was moving farther away from us so I started to chase after it.”

“Then I’m glad I didn’t tell you about the Eternity Light.”

“What would have happened to us if we did get stuck in there?”

“I don’t want to think about it,” he said grimly.

Beatrice concurred. Mad Hat stuffed the stolen uniform into his hat before giving the hat a shake, turning it back into a cap.

“It looks like we found our way back to town,” Mad Hat observed, and indeed there was a length of brick wall that indicated they were just outside the city limits.

“Well, what’s our plan? Sneak into the palace and find the other mirror? Sounds way easier said than done.”

“Of course it’s easier said than done. Nearly everything is easier said than done.”

“It’s just an expression.”

“An expression?”

“Yeah – it’s just something we say. You guys don’t have expressions either?”

“We have expression with our faces but not with our words.”

“Well, maybe you call it something different, but come on, focus. How are we going to get inside?”

Mad Hat and Beatrice crept along the alleyway that led up to the back of the palace. They had planned to sneak in through the kitchens, but the back entrance was certainly more crowded than they had expected.

“What’s all this? I thought we left the Faire,” said Beatrice.

There were jugglers, belly dancers, sword swallowers, and acrobats all milling around or preparing their performances.

“Looks like the Prince is having a party,” shrugged Mad Hat.

“Well, how are we going to sneak in now!?”

“I have an idea.”

Madoc Chapeau adjusted his new headpiece.

“What’s in the basket, Hat?” Beatrice was dressed in colorful silks and Mad Hat was dressed to match.

“Nothing.”

Their make-up and hair was done up so that the two looked nearly unrecognizable.

“Whose costumes did we steal?” she asked again flatly.

“They were the easiest ones to get at that suited our needs.”

“Just tell me who they belong to, Hat,” she insisted.

“The Snake Charmer and his assistant, okay,” he begrudgingly admitted.

“I knew it! And just how did you think we would be able to pull this off? Unless you just so happen to be really good with highly dangerous snakes I think I want a new outfit!”

“We don’t need to perform, we’re just trying to get inside. Besides, the snake’s probably harmless.”

“Oh yeah? Why don’t you take a look and see,” she dared.

“Fine.” Mad Hat tentatively lifted the cover of the tall straw basket and peered inside. “Nope, you’re right. That is probably the most poisonous snake on this side of the Mirror.”

Beatrice gave a sarcastic and nervous laugh. “I’m so glad I was right! Wait, you mean venomous.”

“No, this one is poisonous. One touch could kill you. But, like I said. We don’t need to actually put on a show, we just need to get inside the palace.”

“While carrying a flimsy basket full of deadly snake. I must admit, I lack as much confidence in the containment of that animal as I do in our plan.

“It’ll be fine.”

“How do we sneak away and start searching for the mirror? It’s not like someone won’t notice us wandering around the halls,” she indicated their outfits.

“We can worry about that once we’re in.”

“Yeah, we can worry about it after we’ve already walked into the lion’s den, huh?”

“What’s a lion?”

“Wha- uh, it’s kinda like those nasty cats back in the Labyrinth except it doesn’t talk in just mauls and eats you if it thinks you’re food.”

“You’re world sounds like a treacherous place.”

“I suppose it is, but I never felt this afraid for my life in my world.”

“You’re afraid for your life?”

“Well, yes, shouldn’t I be? Since I’ve been here I’ve very nearly died more than a few times now. And at this moment we happen to be walking into the house of the man trying to capture me so he can do who knows what.”

“I don’t think the Prince is going to kill you.”

“What then?”

Mad Hat shrugged and looked away. “We better get moving. It sounds like everyone’s going inside now.”

The two stepped over the horrified snake charmer and his assistant who were sitting on the floor, tied up with rope, gagged, and very wide eyed.

Non-snake charmer and non-assistant crept down a hallway. They had left the basket of snake behind in the crowded hall where all the performers had gathered to form a line. So far they had been successful in avoiding the attention of any guards or other palace personnel.

“Where do you suppose he’s keeping the mirror?” Beatrice asked in a whisper.

“I don’t know, the Throne Room?”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because I think that’s the room we’re outside of now. Should we take a look?”

Before either could decide one way or the other, the doors they were standing in front of flew open to reveal a very loud and lively party already going on. All of the entertainers and other guests were dancing about and the two got swept into the bustle as a row of caterers rushed out with empty food platters of what appeared to have been very large lobsters and some sort of fake looking soup.

Beatrice’s stomach growled.

“Do you see anything?” Mad Hat caught Beatrice up in a modified quadrille type of dance and they moved across the floor trying to see without being seen.

“Look! Over there!” Beatrice exclaimed in a hushed tone and Mad Hat spun them around to have a look for himself.

“The mirror – it’s up on the platform,” he regarded, and it was, standing tall and stately behind the currently empty throne and between two tall and stately guards.

“So what are we gonna do? Just walk right up there?” Beatrice asked.

Mad Hat dipped her gracefully. “You really think that’s a good idea?” he asked before bringing her back up.

“Do you have a better one?”

He smiled. “No, but I think the guards would notice, don’t you?”

She frowned. “Well, we are dressed like snake charmers… we might as well try and play the part by charming the Prince’s snakes.” Beatrice suddenly made a sound of surprise and pain. “Ow!”

“What? Are you okay?”

“Uh, yeah, I just… it felt like I got sliced on the hand or something.” They both looked at her hand but there was no sign of injury.

Mad Hat began to lead her in the dance once more. “Any sign of the Prince?” He spun her out and she took a look around.

“No, I don’t see him anywhere,” she replied as she spun back into her partner’s arms.

“Well, he sees you,” came a smug voice in her ear.

Beatrice started and turned her head to find that Prince Jacques had somehow replaced Mad Hat as her dance partner without her realizing.

“Surprised? Well, I have a bigger surprise for you my Queen… welcome to our wedding party. Would you like some tea?”

Beatrice was slack-jawed and speechless. She tried to say something, but couldn’t think of any words. She looked around and saw Mad Hat scowling from behind two large armed guards wearing funny looking wigs.

“What’s the matter, Darling? Frog got your tongue?”

“What do you want from me?” She demanded, but he only smiled.