A/N:

Here we are…the final chapter. Upon request of the lovely Alania Downs this chapter is super long…it actually contains all of Act Two—minus most of the scenes we've already seen with Hatter as Mordred. We may have one or two of those in there that couldn't be avoided.

This chapter is dedicated to you. For following Hatter until the Closing Curtain.

Here we go…for the final time!

Hatter stared out into the darkness, his face twisted in thought. It was the final night of Camelot. Act One had gone off without a hitch; after all with two nights previously under their belts they had gotten the hang on things. But, for some reason, Hatter felt odd about Act Two. His previous scene had felt strange, otherworldly, as if it felt as if he were to be doing it a thousand more times. It didn't feel like it was the final night. He suddenly turned to Emma, who sat in a chair opposite him, pretending to do the embroidery in her lap.

"Jenny, I feel old."

"Nonsense dear."

"It's true." Hatter said, walking over to her. "I was thinking of it this morning. I walked briskly as ever to my study and arrived much later than I expected to. The days seem longer; the nights seem shorter; and my horse seems higher."

Emma laughed. "You don't get enough fresh air, Arthur. You spend far too much time in your precious civil court."

"I can't help it. I only mean to stay for a moment, but I become absolutely transfixed. Not because I'm proud of it, which I am. But it's so exciting. Before, when disputes were settled by physical combat, I always knew the outcome, because I could tell at a glance, which was the better swordsman. But now, with a jury and a judge, you never know till the verdict. It's positively riveting."

"I know it is. But I do worry about the jury, Arthur. They don't know the parties involved. They don't really care who wins. Are you sure it's wise to trust decisions to people so impartial?"

There was a sense of urgency in her voice as she spoke. Lifting an eyebrow, Hatter walked over to her. He felt Arthur would be confused; after all, he had thought of the Round Table and probably wouldn't be able to find anything wrong with it, which was what had happened to the Queen of Hearts.

"But that's the point…"

He was interrupted however, by the sudden entrance of Daniel. His face was red with anger and annoyance and he walked briskly, Hatter turned to him.

"Damn it, Arthur!" Daniel cried, before turning to Emma in a slight bow, "Forgive me, damn it. But, damn it! I've just left the chaps downstairs, and I can't stand it any longer. Yours Miserably has got to speak up."

Hatter arched an eyebrow as Emma gave Daniel a slight nod and Daniel turned back to him, his face redder than it ever.

"About what, Pelly?"

"About what? Not about "what." About who, what? Mordred. That's what."

Hatter gave a little sigh as Emma stood from her chair, throwing her embroidery onto it as she spoke with much distain in her voice. "Oh, please, Pelly. Let's not talk about Mordred. This is the first night in a month he's not coming for dinner, and I feel as if I were going to a party."

"I'm sorry, M'am, but I must." Daniel said with another slight bow in her direction, before turning back to Hatter earnestly. "Arthur, you have to face it: you have sired a snake! And to top it all, you've set him loose to poison your own Court. Do you have any idea what foul things he's saying and doing?"

Hatter nodded. "Yes, I do."

"Oh, you do, do you?" Daniel said, much sarcasm in his voice. "Are you aware of the snaky way he's stirring up the Knights?"

"Yes. He's preying on their provincialism and trying to make them yearn for their own lands." Hatter said with another sigh, before walking over to Arthur's throne to take a seat. He felt that, with everything that was going on, that the sudden appearance of Mordred would make Arthur extremely weary.

As he sat down, he heard Daniel mutter. "Oh, you know that." Then, he added ominously, taking a step towards Hatter. "But, when he disappears every afternoon, do you have any idea what he's up to?"

"He's searching the forest for his aunt, Morgan Le Fey."

"Oh, you know that too? But I'll wager you don't know what he's saying about chivalry?"

"Yes. He's mocking it with vulgar limericks."

Hatter smiled to himself as Daniel arched his eyebrows and took another step forward. "He's mocking it with vulgar... You know all that?"

With a nod, Hatter leaned back in his throne. "Yes. And I know why. To destroy me and those I love-and make his inheritance come faster."

It was almost as if he were talking about himself. It was hard to believe that only a few months ago he was Mordred. In a way, he was talking about himself.

"Then why, in the holy name of heaven, don't you stop him, Arthur?" Daniel said angrily. "Arthur, you've simply got to stop thinking thoughts and think of something."

Hatter turned as Emma slowly placed her hand on his shoulder, her face grave. "Is this true, Arthur?"

"Yes, it is." Hatter said. "But we practice civil law now, and we cannot take the law hack into our own hands. Talking is not a crime, nor is walking in the woods. When he violates the law, the law shall deal with him."

"Do you mean to say, Arthur, a chap has to wait till he's killed before he can attack?"

Hatter paused for a moment. The Court of the Round Table, or at least in Arthur's eyes were just and true. Mordred was bad news, and they all knew it and yet with the system Arthur had created could he be brought to justice? "Pelly, I'm afraid I have no answer to that."

"Well, I never thought I'd hear myself say it, but, Arthur, what you need is a new idea."

"And one will be found, Pelly. You shall see." Emma said in almost a whisper, her eyes on Hatter.

Daniel turned to her. "I hope so, M'am. I hope so. I'm very worried." There was a moments pause, as he added, "You know, M'am, in many ways chasing the Beast is much easier than living with people. It's true, when you're questing, the winter chills you and the summer scorches; the wind slaps you about a bit and the rain drenches you. But it's orderly. You can count on it. And they never all get together and do it to you at the same time. But people…"

Another pause. "I'm not referring to you, M'am. Or to you, Arthur. You're…special people. That's why I stay on, I suppose."

Hatter took a step forward. "I'll tell you, Pelly, I could do with some fresh air. Let's get
away from people tomorrow and go partridge shooting."

"I'd love that, Arthur." Daniel said as he began to briskly walk off stage. "Well, goodnight, M'am. Goodnight, Arthur."

There was a long pause, after Daniel walked off. Hatter could feel Emma's eyes on him. "Arthur, I hope you suffer no guilt about Mordred. I feel nothing about him, and neither should you. God knows you're not the first king to have one of those things running around."

"No. I do feel nothing for him. And there's no escaping the fact he's an appalling specimen."

This was a difficult scene for Hatter, he didn't have a child, as of yet. He knew that he wanted one and he knew that in time, Alice did too. However, he could not imagine in his wildest dreams of considering his child, he and Alice's child, to be an abomination. How could someone think of a child that way? No matter what.

His father had thought of him that way. Hatter felt a surge on anger at the thought. The way his father completely abandoned him, made it seem as if he hadn't cared about their family at all. No. He couldn't let his negative thoughts take control of him now. Arthur was not that type of person, Mordred had been and it had worked for him. But Arthur was the peaceful type, even when he disliked someone.

Emma smiled gently. "Amen. The one thing I can say for him is that he's bound to marry well. Everybody is above him."

"Yet, there he is, Jenny. And even if he were banished, he would remain a constant menace to the throne. And to us…Jenny, don't you wish you'd never been born a queen?"

"Oh, occasionally." Emma replied, as Hatter made for his throne to sit. "It's never being alone that bothers me most. Do you know, I have never been without someone around me in my entire life? Neither at Camilliard, or Camelot. I mean, completely, totally, solitarily alone? Sometimes I wish the castle were empty, everyone gone, no one here but me. Do you know what I would do?"

Hatter looked at her from the throne, as he believed Arthur would, his eyebrows arched, a small smile playing on his lips as she continued. "I would bolt every door, lock every window, take off all my clothes and run stark naked from room to room. I would go to the kitchen, naked; prepare my own meals, naked; do some embroidery, naked; and put on my crown, naked. And when I passed a mirror, I would stop and say: 'Ello, Jenny old thing! Nice to see you!'"

Hatter laughed as Emma came over to sit beside him, in the corner of his eye, in the darkness Hatter could see the outline of the orchestra pick up their instruments as she did so. "But I must say, on the whole, being a queen can be…"

"Can be what?"

"A weary load. That dreadful boy. One more added burden we could quite well do without."

"Yes, but a burden we can't escape."

"Royalty never can." She paused for a moment, before turning to Hatter with curiosity. "Why is that, Arthur? Other people do. They seem to have ways and means of finding respite. What do they do? Farmers, cooks, blacksmiths…"

Music began to engulf the stage as Emma began to sing. "What do the simple folk do to help them escape when they're blue?"

She rose from her seat and stared off into the darkness, Hatter watched her with his eyebrow arched ever so slightly, but a smile playing on his lips. Out of all the duets Arthur had with Guenevere, this was one of his favorites. " The shepherd who is ailing, the milkmaid who is glum, the cobbler who is wailing from nailing His thumb?"

With a sudden burst of excitement, Emma turned and sat once again beside Hatter, looking up at him. "When they're beset and besieged, The folk not noblessely obliged...However do they manage to shed their weary lot? Oh, what do simple folk do, we do not?"

Hatter looked at her, as if he was thinking, the music continued as he too began to sing. "I have been informed by those who know them well, They find, relief in quite a clever way. When they're sorely pressed, They whistle for a spell; And whistling seems to brighten up their day. And that's what simple folk do; So they say."

"They whistle?"

"So they say."

Emma rose from her sitting position and hopefully began to whistle. Hatter, joined in. They whistled away for a moment. Finding small comfort, he stopped and looked at her hopelessly. She, too, stopped and sighed. "What else do the simple folk do to perk up the heart and get through? The wee folk and the grown folk who wander to and fro have ways known to their own folk we throne folk don't know."

She once again, took a step towards the audience, as Hatter rose from his throne, following her. "When all the doldrums begin, What keeps each of them in his skin? What ancient native custom provides the needed glow? Oh, what do simple folk do? Do you know?"

Emma turned to Hatter, as he began to sing. "Once along the road I came upon a lad singing in a voice three times his size. When I asked him why, he told me he was sad, and singing always made his spirits rise. So that's what simple folk do, I surmise."

"They sing?"

"I surmise."

Truth of the matter was, this wasn't the fact at all as far as Hatter knew. Never had he heard an Oyster sing because they were sad or whistle due to stress, but Hatter found it quite enjoyable to do it either way. Perhaps he could get Alice to try it out, they could start a trend…only in the comfort of their own flat of course. Either way, Hatter and Emma grasped hands and began to sing together.

"Arise, my love! Arise, my love! Apollo's lighting the skies, my love. The meadows shine with columbine and daffodils blossom away. Hear Venus call to one and all: Come taste delight while you may. The world is bright, And all is right, And life is merry and gay…"

Emma and Hatter stared at each other, a smile on both of their faces as Emma continued. "What else do the simple folk do? They must have a system or two. They obviously outshine us at iurning tears to mirth; Have tricks a royal highness is minus From birth. What then I wonder do they to chase all the goblins away? They have some tribal sorc'ry you haven't mentioned yet; oh, what do simple folk do to forget?"

Grabbing her hand, Hatter led her to the middle of the stage. "Often I am told they dance a fiery dance, And whirl til they're completely uncontrolled. Soon the mind is blank, and all are in a trance, A vi'lent trance astounding to behold. And that's what simple folk do, So I'm told."

A memory flashed in his mind if a night a few months ago, as he and Emma began to spin as the music swirled around them. In his mind's eye, Hatter could see he and Alice in their flat. Music was playing from the computer speakers as they began to twirl in unison. It had been their first contact in months since getting a role in Camelot. Hatter couldn't wait to be with his Alice again, feel her skin, smell her hair. They would have a lot of catching up to do.

After their spinning was done Emma, although a bit dizzy as she did so, grasped his hand. "What else do the simple folk do to help them escape when they're Hue?"

"They sit around and wonder what royal folk would do. And that's what simple folk do."

"Really?"

"I have it on the best authority."

As the music began to swell down, they looked at each other. It was as if the realization had hit Guenevere. This man that stood before her, King Arthur, was being betrayed, by herself and his best friend. Hatter could see tears swell up in her eyes and he took in a sharp breath, as they both ended the song, hand in hand.

"Yes, that's what simple folk do."

They stared at each other forlornly, suspended in that moment as the lights dimmed. Hatter was thinking of Jack again as immediately, they headed for the exit to prepare for the next scene. As she passed, Hatter could hear Emma sniff and wipe her eyes. This scene was, or at least it seemed like it was always real for Emma, although Hatter was never sure why. As he passed her, he gently patted her on the back in reassurance as he headed for his dressing room.

For the next scene, Hatter was to wear his red vest the one he wore in the very beginning of the play. Throwing off his purple cape and crown he began to rush as the music for the next scene began. He wasn't in it, but it was incredibly short and young Sally was in it.

It was the scene that Hatter had almost dreaded as Mordred. The Fairy Scene. Now, that he was no longer the character however it was actually quite entertaining to watch. The new Mordred was a very good sport about the way Sally hung onto him and Katherine had been right that it was hilarious.

In a matter of minutes, Hatter found himself backstage. Daniel was there as well, ready for their next scene, which came right after the Fairy Scene. He held a bow and arrow in his hands. From the stage they could hear Jacob, the new Mordred stay speak loudly with a phony British accent.

"Then why should you be denied it, when all I ask is to play a prank on King Arthur?"

Jacob's interpretation of Mordred, was the farthest from Hatter's ever had been. While Hatter had used his own emotions to create a character, and told that he gave the character a slippery yet sinister feel, Jacob did the exact opposite. He made Mordred seem like a flimsy slimy character.

Hatter wasn't exactly sure how he felt about the new Mordred. They worked well together obviously and Jacob did do a good job, the obvious reasons why Katherine chose him in the first place…yet Hatter felt a loss as he watched him perform.

Looking out onto the stage, he could see Jacob standing beside Rachel. Sally and the other fairies hung on his shoulders and pulled at his velvet green vest, trying to get at the candy he had sticking out from the pockets. Hatter smiled to himself. Ah, the memories of the infamous Fairy Scene.

Rachel stood next to him, as if completely oblivious to what her precious court was doing. Her long mousy hair was down, and her forest green silk gown flowed delicately behind her as she quivered around the stage giving her a woodsy feel. She looked as if she were about to burst. "King Arthur? Oh, Wart! I used to watch him from my invisible window out walking with Merlyn. He was a dear little boy. No. I do not wish to harm him."

Hatter watched as Jacob lifted an eyebrow. "No harm." He said eerily as he took a step towards Rachel. His expression would have sent shivers down Hatter's spine, had it not been for young Sally gripping his back, reaching for the candy in his left pocket. She grabbed a lollipop as he suddenly twisted around as if to swat her away and began to lick it gleefully as the scene continued, smiling at the other members of the court who looked forlornly at the piece of candy.

Rachel stared at the lollipop longingly for a moment, before snapping back to Jacob. "You're the son of a wicked mother, Mordred, and I know you're up to mischief."

"Oh, No mischief at all. Just a delicious little game that will amuse you. Arthur is out hunting. Lure him to your forest, and detain him for the night."

"Detain him for the night? No. Such games are for the afternoon. At night, I eat. And I'm more ravenous every minute."

Jacob seemed to be getting impatient. "Please, dear Aunt? Make him drowsy and build a wall around him? The invisible kind you do so well."

Hatter felt Daniel tap on his shoulder, nodding gesturing towards the other end of the stage as Rachel said suspiciously, "How do you know I build invisible walls?"

Making a quick glance toward the stage one last time, the two men headed towards the back, to sneak behind the curtain to get to the other side for their next scene. They heard Jacob say, "Mummy told me. Please, dear Aunt?" As they started out slowly.

This was difficult. It was crowded behind the large black curtain and a tight fit if they didn't want to touch it. The black curtain was visible by all, no matter what scene was being preformed in the play. One false move and the entire audience would know that they were there. They had to move slowly yet swiftly.

Hatter kept close to the wall as the scene continued. He heard Rachel say, "No! I will not harm little Wart. Court!" Music began, as she added. "Farewell, nasty Mordred!"

Taking another step, he heard Jacob begin the song. "Enough candy I'll bring to furnish a new wing."

Hatter didn't need to see the two to know what was going on. Rachel would hesitate, as if tempted, then with courageous resolve she would continue her departure. She did it every time.

As the scene played in his head, he heard Jacob add, "Masses and masses of gummy molasses."

Hatter knew that Rachel would be stopping at this point. The thought of it would seem to bewitch her as Jacob continued. "Fudge by the van! Fresh marzipan!"

They were halfway across the stage now, moving slowly but steadily as to not attract attention. Hatter knew that at this point, Jacob would outstretch his hand and Rachel's defenses would crumble, and she would reach for it. "All yours it will be if you'll build me a wee little wall."

Then, the two would begin to waltz. Rachel would have a disgusted look on her face when she sang, "Do you promise, you devil, It's all on the level?"

Jacob would smile devilishly as they twirled around on stage. "I solemnly swear it's a harmless affair."

"On your honor, dear lad?"

"Honor? You're mad!"

Rachel would then pull away from him, and turn away. "Ye gods, but you're low! My answer is "No," And that's all!"

They were almost to the other side of the stage now…it was within reach. Rachel would be starting to walk of stage again, as Jacob called out earnestly, "A basket or two of marshmallow goo… A licorice stick that takes two years to lick…"

Finally! The other side of the stage! Hatter followed Daniel's outline in the semi-darkness as out of the corner of his eye, he could see Rachel turn back to Jacob, her eyes wide. "Where's the King? Bring the King! I shall build him a wall three and seven feet tall! I'll hurry and mix some invisible bricks."

"Oh. Queen! You're a joy!"

"Be gone, nasty boy!"

Jacob bowed and exited the opposite side of the stage gleefully as suddenly a stuffed bird fell directly in front of Rachel. She picked it up to examine it for a moment, before suddenly running behind a tree. Daniel walked onto the stage with Hatter close behind.

"Where's the bird, Arthur?" Daniel asked, looking behind a tree stump. "Where's the bird? You hit it. I saw it. Where did it go?"

Hatter however, ignored him, staring off into the mass of trees for the set, a confused expression on his face. "Strange, Pelly. I've never seen this forest before. I used to play in this valley when I was a boy. But it was like a meadow. There were no trees."

"Nature, old boy. Things pop up, you know. Where's the bird?"

"Sh-h-h." Hatter hissed, holding a finger to his lips, out of the corner of his eye, he could see Rachel peeking her head out of her hiding place, his cue. "It's awfully quiet around here, isn't it?"

Walking over to the tree stump, Hatter sat down. "Not a leaf rustling, not a whisper in the woods. It makes one rather drowsy. Would you care to rest a bit?"

"No thank you, old man. I want to find that bird, what? I mean, if you hit a bird with an arrow, it ought to fall down like a gentleman."

Hatter watched as Daniel exited, muttering to himself. He yawned, trying to make himself seem as sleepy as possible. "Merlyn, do you remember how often we walked this valley when I was a boy? Do you know what I miss of those days? Not my youth. My innocence. My innocence…"

He folded his arms and shut his eyes ever so slightly, faking sleep. Almost immediately, Rachel and the Fairies appeared from behind the trees, carrying imaginary bricks. In balletic pantomime, flying back and forth across the stage with more and more bricks, they constructed a high invisible wall around the sleeping Hatter. He watched out of the slits of his eyes, as Rachel had to stop Sally a few times from pretending to throw one on top of him. He smiled to himself slightly; one of Katherine's many ideas based on Sally's eccentric nature. When it was complete, Rachel smiled to herself before pretending to pat the wall all around, to make certain it was perfect. Finding it to her pleasure, she disappeared, followed by her Court.

"Arthur?" Daniel called from backstage, as Hatter pretended to jolt awake with a start. "The bird's hopeless, Arthur. Let's push on."

Hatter however, ran his head through his hair. He looked around curiously, as if sensing a change. "Where am I? What's happened? How long have I been asleep? Pelly, we must get back to the castle. I have strange feelings."

"Right. If you want." Daniel said with a shrug as he started to walk away.

Hatter rose from his seat and began to follow. This part was difficult, having to pretend a invisible wall was in front of him. A few giggles murmured from the audience as Hatter pretended to collide with the wall, an orchestra member adding a thunk! sound with a piece of wood for good measure. He had never run into a wall, or an invisible one at that to his knowledge, but Hatter assumed it hurt quite a lot. He clutched his head in agony as he "felt" the wall with his opposite hand.

"Well, old man, are you coming or aren't you?"

"I'm trapped!" Hatter cried, feeling the wall feverishly, as if looking for an opening.

"I say, Arthur. Who are you waving at? What's wrong with you?" Daniel said, coming towards before running into the wall himself, the same thunk! heard. "I say! What is this? It feels like a wall! But I don't see it."

"It is a wall."

"Where did it come from? How did it get here?"

"Morgan Le Fey. Morgan Le Fey! Is this your sorcery?" A new memory flashed in his mind, one that had never come across him before. He was in Wonderland, Alice had been captured and he had gone to save her…only to be captured by March. They had been separated and Hatter thrown into a small white room where he could barely move before being interrogated. He had been trapped. Helpless himself. Unable to get out or save the person he cared about. He felt a sickening feeling in his stomach. Is this how Arthur was feeling?

"Pelly, get back to the castle. Find Lance. Find Jenny. Warn them to be careful."

Daniel stared at him, as if he'd said something preposterous. "You know, Arthur?"

"Do as I say, Pelly!" Hatter cried feverishly. If it had been Alice, Hatter would had definitely wanted Daniel to get a move on, even if she would be with Jack. His stomach plummeted again as he watched the man run off the stage as it turned into darkness.

Hatter fled off the stage. There was another costume change, and he had to get his armor ready too. Not only that he had to help everyone get ready for Guenevere's execution scene.

He could hear the scene between Lancelot and Mordred begin to start as he threw open the dressing room door and threw off his vest and shirt and throwing it to the ground. What was Alice up to tonight? She had told him she couldn't come to the final performance for she and a few girlfriends had made plans. Hatter hadn't minded, but anything involving Guenevere made him think of her…and his next scene most definitely involved her, the Execution Scene. Hatter felt shivers go down his spine as he thought of it. No. He couldn't think about it now. They had two whole scenes before it and Hatter had plenty of time to relax. He walked over to his closet of costumes and began fumbling through them; he needed his purple tunic and cape again.

He came out a few moments later, armor in his arms and fixing his crown. Rick stood nearby, waiting for them. Hatter handed them to him with a slight smile as he started to head towards the stage. The song Fie On Goodness should have just finished, he wanted to get ready for his next scene.

Emma, in a white loosely flowing gown, sat at her dressing table on the stage, slowly brushing her long hair as the orchestra played softly. Kris entered quietly from the opposite end of the stage. Hatter could see clearly that he wore no armor, only a dagger in his belt. He watched helpless as Kris looked around the bedroom as he entered, as if seeing it for the first time, which in truth he was.

"Jenny…?" Kris called out in a hushed tone, almost fearfully. One of the things that Hatter noticed as the play would go on, was that Kris would slowly drop the French accent until only a hint of it was left.

"Jenny, I was in the yard…I couldn't sleep...I saw the light in your window...I knew you were alone...I tried to stay away...I tried, but I... Jenny..." Hatter watched as Kris took her in his arms and they embraced passionately. Hatter's heart skipped a beat. Why did all of the Lancelot and Guenevere scenes put a sickening feeling into his stomach? No. This wasn't Alice. This was a play. An emotional play for him, but only a play.

Yet, he got a slight hint of satisfaction as he watched Emma pull away. "Did anyone see you?"

"No one. The castle is dark. I was careful. Jenny, don't be afraid."

"But I am afraid."

"I swear we're alone. No one saw me enter. Jenny, there's nothing to fear. Arthur won't be back until…"

There was silence, as Emma stared up into his eyes, as if hurt. Kris let go, and murmured. "Forgive me, Jenny."

"We're not alone, are we, Lance?" Emma whispered sadly, as Kris once again taking her up in his arms.

"We are, we are."

"We're not. Here you are, with your arms around me, and the first thing we think of is him."

Hatter cleared his throat uncomfortably, as Kris said, "But you love me, Jenny."

"Of course, I do. And I always shall. Night after night I've thought of you here and wished for it with all my being. And suddenly, we're less alone than ever."

"But why?"

Emma had turned away from him at this point, her arms crossed and body hunched over, as if trying not to cry. "Now that the people are gone, can't you see the shadow between us? It's wider than the sea. It fills the room. Perhaps it would have been better if we had never said a word to each other at all."

She still refused to look at him, as music slowly began. "I loved you once in silence, and mis'ry was all I knew. Trying so to keep my love from showing, All the while not knowing you loved me too. Yes, loved me in lonesome silence; your heart filed with dark despair… Thinking love would flame in you forever, and I'd never, never Know the flame was there."

Hatter felt a hand on his shoulder, but he couldn't look away. Why was it that all Camelot songs seemed to apply to him in some way or another? Although he had not known it then, he had loved Alice the moment he had seen her in her very wet dress. But at that point it had been futile. She had been dating that Jack Chase guy…later Jack Heart, which had made the situation worse. Hatter could distinctively remember the moment he had felt the twinge. When he knew he would never have her. That night by the fire.

Jack's a lucky guy…

Hatter felt his breath catch as Emma turned back toward Kris, and ran into his arms.

"Then one day we cast away our secret longing; The raging tide we held inside would hold no more. The silence at last was broken! We flung wide our prison door. Ev'ry joyous word of love was spoken…And now there's twice as much grief, Twice the strain for us; Twice the despair, Twice the pain for us As we had known before."

"David?"

It was Rick. "David, we need you're help with your throne, you know, move it for the next scene?"

Hatter nodded as he followed Rick his mind elsewhere. He could hear the scene continue as they headed towards the back of the stage, where his throne lay unseen by the audience, Excalibur sitting on top of it.

"Jenny," Kris cried desperately. "It's because we're 'ere, 'ere in Camelot that everything is so wretched."

"No, Lance."

"Jenny, come away with me. To Joyous Gard. Let us 'ave it open and above board at last."

They lifted the throne together as the scene continued onward. Hatter gripped the sides with gritted teeth as they did so. Moving ever so slightly. Inch by inch. They couldn't be seen by the audience.

"Lance, I've told you a thousand times I shall never leave Arthur. Ever. Now, let us say no more about it."

The throne was slowly heading towards where it needed to go as the scene continued. Hatter only took a brief moment to look up and watch as Kris threw his hands up, raging. "But this agonizing torment! Day after day, year after year. Would God I 'ad your talent for acceptance, your invincible English calm!"

"Oh, the insensitivity of sensitive men!" Emma snapped, obviously turning on Kris. "Always suffering so much they can suffer nothing for others. You think you're the only one in torment. I'm just as tortured, just as anguished as you. But what would you have us do to this man we both love? Run away! Leave him! Make him publicly miserable! Force him to declare war on you, where either one of you, if not both, would be killed, as well as hundreds of others. What sort of heart-breaking solution is that?"

There was silence between them, as the group reached their destination. The throne seemed to be getting heavier every second, but they couldn't let go. Not yet anyway. In the silence, dropping the throne on the stage would obviously attract attention from the performance. They had made that mistake once already. They waited. Hatter shifted uncomfortably, until…

"Forgive me, Jenny. I shall never mention it again. I swear. Nor shall I come to you again. I swear that, too."

"Lance?" Emma said in almost a whisper as they set the throne down, finally, then turned of their heels and headed backstage. Only Hatter remained on the darkened part of the stage, waiting. "Have we no more tender words to say to each other?"

"The silence at last was broken! We flung wide our prison door. Ev'ry joyous word of love was spoken…And after all had bееп said, here we are, my love, silent once more and not far, my love…from where we were be…"

They were at a loss for words as she ran into his arms, sobbing. Hatter could feel his heart sink as he watched them from the darkness. His heart ached for them. For Lancelot and Guenevere. Two Star Crossed Lovers. Fated to forever love each other but destined never to be happy. There was a time he thought he would be just like them.

"Lancelot…" A slimy yet sinister voice whispered from the shadows opposite Hatter. "Don't touch your dagger."

Hatter watched as Kris whirled around, Jacob coming into the stage lights. He smirked at them both, his sword drawn, five knights following behind him.

"I accuse you of treason, and order you both to stand trial for your crime. Surrender in the name of the King."

Hatter went towards his throne and sat down, waiting for the lights to come up on his side of the stage. He watched as Kris walked toward Jacob as if to surrender. Then suddenly he leapt forward and snatched the sword from Jacob's hand. For a second the Knights seemed to be too startled to move. Jacob shrank away in terror. Kris, with gritted teeth backed up, his sword held high menacingly, and with his free hand, reached for the outstretched hand of the Queen. The Knights spread out slowly to surround him, waiting for him to make the first move. Hatter could feel his breath catch slightly as he tensed his muscles, the rest of the cast gathering backstage in the corner of his eye. Here it was. Guenevere's execution scene.

Kris and the Knights seemed suspended, never taking their eyes off of each other as Kris whispered. "If I escape, I shall come and rescue you. If I am killed, send word to Joyous Gard. Someone will come."

Then suddenly, he leapt forward as the rest of the stage lit up. The entire Camelot Cast ran on stage, as Kris and the Knights began battle. Hatter however, stared ahead, his face as grim as it could possibly be and the chorus burst into song.

"Out of the room, down the hall, through the yard, to the wall; slashing fiercely, left and right, Lance escaped them and took flight. On a day, dark and drear, came to trial Guenevere. Ruled the jury for her shame She be sentenced to the flame."

Hatter watched, his jaw set tightly, as Rick stepped forward and pulled Emma from the scuffle and led her backstage. Kris had jumped off to the other side of the stage and was lost from view.

"As the dawn filled the sky, on the day she would die, There was wonder far and near: Would the King burn Guenevere? Would the King let her die? Would the King let her die? There was wonder far and near: Would the King burn Guenevere?"

Suddenly, Jacob was by Hatter's side. "Arthur! What a magnificent dilemma! Let her die, your life is over; let her live, your life's a fraud." He smiled at Hatter slyly, a terribly cruel and wicked smile. "Which will it be, Arthur? Do you kill the Queen or kill the law?"

Hatter looked up into the wicked face and shrunk back into his throne, as the script told him to do but either way his heart beat quickly. He could see some of the chorus members begin to bring out the stake that they were to tie Guenevere to. In the back of his mind he could see Alice in the Gaming Room with all the other Oysters. Her father had just been shot and that strange man with the strange neck decoration was pointing a gun at her. Hatter had responded immediately…but what if he hadn't? What if he had been too late?

"Treason has been committed." Hatter said, his jaw tightening as he looked out toward the audience. "The jury has ruled! Let justice be done."

"She must burn. She must burn. Spoke the King: She must burn. And the moment now was here for the end of Guenevere."

Emma entered, followed by a priest carrying a cross, and two soldiers to guard her. She approached Hatter, paused and looked up at him. He slowly turned and looked at her in return. Their eyes held a moment. Hatter found himself holding his breath as she continued, a dead Alice in his mind's eye. He could see her body sprawled out by her father's. He hadn't made it in time…he hadn't saved her. A tear fell down Hatter's cheek. Emma walked toward the stake and as she was tied to it, she looked over at him. But Arthur had crumbled inside, and so had Hatter.

"Slow her walk, bowed her head, to the stake she was led..."

A herald had come up to the opposite end of the stage. He called to Hatter. "The Queen is at the stake, Your Majesty. Shall I signal the torch?"

However, Hatter ignored him as he stared off into the darkness. He swallowed as the herald called again. "Your Majesty…Your Majesty…!"

"In his grief, so alone from the King came a moan…"

"I can't!" Hatter cried his voice cracking slightly. "I can't! I can't let her die!"

"Well," Jacob said, pure venom in his eyes behind his evil smirk. "You're human after all, aren't you, Arthur? Human and helpless."

"Then suddenly earth and sky were dazed by a pounding roar. And suddenly through the dawn an army began to pour. And lo! Ahead the army, holding aloft his spear, came Lancelot to save his dear Guenevere!"

Kris had appeared, with knights wearing his similar armor. The Knights of the Round Table turned towards then, and battle began. Hatter rose from his throne and took a few steps forward, as if watching. He was barely aware that Jacob followed him.

"Lance!" Hatter cried out. "Lance! Come save her."

"Shall I signal the torch, Your Majesty?" The herald cried desperately, moments after however, one of Lancelot's knights had approached him and stabbed him. As he fell to the ground, Kris ran up to the wooden stake, and began to struggle with Emma's bonds.

Hatter only had a moment to look, before Rick had rushed forward, blocking his view. "Arthur, an army from Joyous Gard is storming the gate. Shall I double the guard?"

Drawing in a sharp breath, Hatter shook his head dazedly as Rick let out cry of anger as he grabbed his sword and went to join the fight. "Arthur, you're inviting a massacre!"

Hatter ignored him. Breathing heavily. A new image was in his head. One that had never truly existed and never could have existed. He was Arthur, in Camelot. It was the Knights of the Round Table verses the Knights of Joyous Gard. Hatter was whacking away with Excalibur, fending them off. Taking a moment, he had looked up to a large hill and could see Jack. He wore Lancelot's armor and was riding a magnificent white horse. Alice sat behind him clutching his waist, wearing Guenevere's dress. He had let them go. She was safe.

"Save her, Lance! Save her!"

"By the score fell the dead, as the yard turned to red. Countless numbers felt his spear as he rescued Guenevere."

Hatter looked over to the scene again. Kris had untied Emma and they were now making a hasty exit toward the back. Chorus members dressed as Knights, both for the Round Table and Joyous Gard were beginning to fall by each other's hands one by one.

There was a wicked cackle beside him that made him jump. Jacob stood next to him again, watching the same scene with obvious excitement. "Sweet heaven, what a sight! Can you see it from there, Arthur? Can you see your goodly Lancelot murdering your goodly Knights?" "

A pause, as Jacob circled around Hatter, whispering close to his ear. "Your table is cracking, Arthur. Can you hear the timbers split?"

Hatter felt his breath catch again. This was the reason why Katherine had chosen Jacob to replace him as Mordred. Despite his making Mordred seem a tad flimsy at times, Jacob was incredible at being solely and purely evil when needed. Every performance he knew how to make Hatter feel complete anguish. It was truly real.

"Merlyn!" Hatter called out, "Merlyn, make me a hawk. Let me fly away from here!"

Jacob laughed with mad glee. "What a failure you are, Arthur! How did you think you could survive without being as ruthless as I?"

"Merlyn! Merlyn!"

"In that dawn, in that gloom, More than love met its doom. In the dying candles' gleam came the sundown of a dream."

Rick stepped forward from the remains of the scuffle. He kneeled at Hatter's feet. "Most of the guard is killed, Arthur, and over eighty Knights. They're heading for the Channel. I'll make ready the army to follow. Arthur, we want revenge!" As he turned to leave, he allowed the audience to see that the opposite side of his face was covered in blood. Hatter could have sworn he heard a few members of the audience gasp in shock.

"Oh, God, is it all to start again?" Hatter said taking the center of the stage as the chorus members began to drag out the dead. "Is my almighty fling at peace to be over so soon? Am I back where I began? Am I? Am I?"

Jacob laughed manically as he left Hatter, alone in the middle of the stage. Five of the surviving soldiers entered with the Hatter's armor. He stood like a prisoner being shackled while they fastened his armor to him as the chorus ended the song and the stage lights began to burn a dark blood red.

"Guenevere, Guenevere! In that dim, mournful year, saw the men she held most dear go to war for Guenevere. Guenevere! Guenevere! Guenevere! Guenevere! Saw the men she held most dear go to -war for Guenevere! Guenevere! Guenevere! Guenevere!"

Then suddenly, Hatter was quite alone, standing on the reddened stage. He drew a breath as he heard Kris call. "Jenny. 'e's 'ere!"

Hatter turned on a dime as they approached. Kris wore his armor, ready for battle and Emma wore a black cloak. He met them half way.

"Was either of you injured in the escape?"

Kris shook his head. "Untouched, Arthur."

Emma took a step towards Hatter, letting the clock fall from her face. "Arthur, we want to return with you to England. No matter the cost, we must try to put things right."

"This war will do 'orrible 'arm to the Table, Arthur. We must stop it before it grows."

"Let us pay for what we have done."

"At the stake?" Hatter asked, turning away from them and walking back to the center. "No! I won't take you back. I shan't let you return. For what end? Justice? They've forgotten justice. They want revenge! Revenge! That most worthless of causes. It's too late, Lance. The Table is dead. It exists no more."

"What?"

Hatter looked back to them. "Over half the Knights were killed in the yard. Mordred has fled to Orkney, taking some with him. I suppose to organize an army against me. The rest are waiting in their tents, itching for dawn, cheerful to be at war."

He suddenly felt very old. All those years of trying to put an end to the barbaric ways, to be destroyed in seconds and completely forgotten. "It's the old uncivilized days come back again. Those dreadful days we all tried to put to sleep forever."

"It's your wish, Arthur, that this dread battle go on?" Kris asked.

"No, it's not my wish, Lance. But I can think no longer what to do but ride the tide of events. Oh, what a blight thinking is. How I wish I'd never tried to think at all. All we've been through, for nothing but an idea! Something you cannot taste or touch, smell or feel; without substance, life, reality or memory."

Trumpets sounded as the three of them looked around. Hastily, Hatter gestured toward them. "The charade begins soon. You must go back to Joyous Gard."

Kris shook his head. "Jenny is not at Joyous Gard, Arthur. She stays with the 'oly sisters. Is there nothing to be done?"

"Nothing, but play out the game and leave the decisions to God. Now go."

Kris went to Hatter. They quietly and solemnly clasped arms as Hatter nodded to him stiffly. As they let go, Kris paused for a moment, and looked at Emma. Then, without a word, exited quickly, leaving Hatter and Emma on the stage alone.

"You must go, too, Jenny."

However, Emma approached him. "I know. So often in the past, Arthur, I would look up in your eyes, and there I would find forgiveness. Perhaps one day in the future it shall be there again. But I won't be with you. I won't know it."

Hatter's breath caught as she ran to him, sobbing. They held each other for a moment, as she sobbed. As he and Emma broke apart, she looked into his eyes, tears still streaming down her cheeks. "Oh, Arthur, Arthur, I see what I wanted to see."

"Goodbye, my love…" Hatter said as he kissed the top of her head gently. They held hands for a moment, before she let go and took a path opposite from Kris. "…My dearest love."

He stood in silence. Thinking of Alice. During this entire experience they had felt a lot, fought a lot and made up a lot. Now, in a few minutes it would all be over. For good. Hatter wasn't sure if the tears in his eyes were from happiness to be with Alice again, or sorrow that the experience was all about to be over.

There was a rustling on the opposite end of the stage from the curtains. Hatter turned toward them as a head popped out. "Who's there? Come out, I say!"

Slowly, timidly a young boy, about the age of fourteen came out. He was dressed as a peasant and his flaxen colored hair stood out in different places, and he carried what looked like a very old bow and arrow. This was Aaron, the son of a friend of Katherine's whom Hatter had only met a few weeks before during dress rehearsal.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty." The boy said as if frightened. "I was searching for the Sergeant of Arms and got lost. I didn't wish to disturb you."

"Who are you, boy?" Hatter asked, his expression grim as he motioned for the boy to approach. "Where did you come from? You ought to be in bed. Are you a page?"

"I stowed away on one of the boats, Your Majesty." Aaron explained. "I came to fight for the Round Table. I'm very good with the bow."

Aaron lifted his bow for Hatter to see. Katherine had found it at an antique store and had been very strict with Aaron not to play with it. He hadn't listened. Hatter took it from the boy and examined the taped part that had broken off a few nights before.

"And do you think you will kill people with this bow of yours?"

"Oh yes, Milord. A great many, I hope."

"Suppose they kill you?" Hatter asked, handing him back the broken bow.

"Then I shall be dead, Milord." Aaron said matter-of-factly. "But I don't intend to be dead. I intend to be a Knight."

Hatter paused. "A Knight…?"

Aaron nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Milord. Of the Round Table."

Arching an eyebrow, Hatter took a step towards the boy. He felt that, after the destruction of the Round Table it was odd to hear such a statement. "When did you decide upon this nonexistent career? Was your village protected by Knights when you were a small boy? Was your mother saved by a Knight? Did your father serve a Knight?"

"Oh, no, Milord. I had never seen a Knight until I stowed away. I only know of them. The stories people tell."

"From the stories people tell you wish to be a Knight?" Hatter asked. He paused for a moment, then asked. "What do you think you know of the Knights and the Round Table?"

"I know everything, Milord. Might for right! Right for right! Justice for all! A Round Table where all Knights would sit. Everything!"

He crossed over to the opposite end of the stage in thought, leaving young Aaron in the middle by himself. Might for right. Right for right. Justice for all…All were Arthur's ambitions that were to never be realized. Forgotten in time. Yet, here was this young peasant boy who knew about it all. He paused for a moment, as if thinking and then, had a wonderful idea. Hatter turned on his heel and headed towards the boy, and approached him at a fast pace, much to the boy's sudden surprise.

"Come here, my boy. Tell me your name."

"It is Tom, Milord." Aaron said.

"Where is your home?"

"In Warwick, Milord."

"Then listen to me, Tom of Warwick. You will not fight in the battle, do you hear?"

Hatter watched as the boy's hopeful face turned to disappointment. "Yes, Milord."

"You will run behind the lines and hide in a tent till it is over. Then you will return to your home in England. Alive. To grow up and grow old. Do you understand?"

The boy nodded.

"And for as long as you live you will remember what I, the King, tell you; and you will do as I command."

Hatter watched as Aaron, nodded, the disappointment gone. "Yes, Milord."

Hatter smiled, as the music began. For the last time. "Each evening from December to December before you drift to sleep upon your cot, Think back on all the tales that you remember Of Camelot."

Together, they walked toward the front of the stage. Hatter placed his hand on the boy's shoulder and leaned down and looked at him.

"Ask ev'ry person if he's heard the story; And tell it strong and clear if he has not: That once there was a fleeting wisp of glory Called Camelot."

Hatter faced the audience, smiling with a wide grin. "Camelot! Camelot! Now say it out with love and joy!"

The boy smiled along with Hatter, and burst out as loud as he could. "Camelot! Camelot!"

Hatter nodded enthusiastically, and placed his arm over the boy's shoulder. He gestured out to the audience, staring into the nothingness, imagining Camelot's grand castle looming over green hills. At peace."Yes, Camelot, my boy…"

The lights had changed from dark red, to a light blue. Out of the corner of his eye, Hatter could see the cast gather together backstage. He continued to sing.

"Where once it never rained till after sundown; By eight a.m. the morning fog had flown…Don't let it be forgot that once there was a spot for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot…"

Daniel entered. He was dressed for battle and carried Excalibur in his arms along with his own. "Arthur…?"

"Give me the sword." Hatter said to him feverishly, his hand outstretched as he approached. Once he had it, Hatter turned back to Aaron. "Kneel, Tom. Kneel."

The boy did.

"With this sword, Excalibur, I knight you Sir Tom of Warwick." Hatter said, touching the tip of the sword on each of the boy's shoulders. "And I command you to return home and carry out my orders."

Aaron rose from his kneeling position, beaming broadly. "Yes, Milord!"

Daniel approached and placed his hand on Hatter's shoulder.

"What are you doing, Arthur?" he asked Hatter uncomfortably. "You have a battle to fight."

"Battle?" Hatter asked, looking at him smiling, before turning back to Aaron. "I've won my battle, Pelly. Here's my victory!"

The music swelled around the stage as Hatter nodded to Aaron. "What we did will be remembered. You'll see, Pelly. Now, run, Sir Tom! Behind the lines!"

The boy nodded and ran across the stage, out into the audience, he ran as quickly as he could down the isle and into the darkness.

Hatter watched him. "Run, Sir Tom! Run boy! Through the lines!"

Daniel watched too, with a confused expression on his face. "Who is that, Arthur?" He asked once the boy was completely out of sight.

"One of what we all are, Pelly. Less than a drop in the great blue motion of the sunlit sea." Hatter gripped the sword tightly and turned to Daniel excitedly. "But it seems some of the drops sparkle, Pelly. Some of them do sparkle! Run, boy!"

The two kings stood in silence for a moment, before Hatter, still smiling nodded to him. Together and in step, they turned to exit as the curtains drew to a close behind them.

XXXXXXXXXX

Hatter stood, wearing his armor in the middle of the hall in the theater. The show was done. It was done forever. Never again would he step upon that stage as King Arthur. Ever.

But he couldn't be sad about it. At least he couldn't seem sad. Honestly, he didn't know how he felt but he he knew that he had to plaster on a smile, no matter how much his cheeks hurt. Hundreds of people stepped forward to congratulate him and tell him well done. A few younger audience members even asked for his autograph and gushed over how well he had apparently done.

Hatter took it all in stride with a smile, but inside he felt numb. He wasn't sure if it had hit him yet. It was over. It was truly over. It felt unreal, like he was in denial. This would be the last time in this costume, in this theater. It seemed like it was just another preformance, like he would come back tomorrow...but he wouldn't.

Suddenly, he felt as if a giant bolder had cashed into him from behind, or at least a small person. Sally stood behind him, smiling widely hugging him tightly and blushing.

"David!" She said happily. "David look who I found!"

Behind her was Alice. She carried a big bouquet of flowers and was smiling widely as Hatter stared at her dumbstruck . "I thought you weren't coming tonight?"

"And miss this?" She asked him, handing him the bouquet. "Not in a million years! You did really well tonight Hatter. This was your best performance yet."

'You did great!" A voice from behind said. Hatter turned around to come face to face with Adam. He looked a lot healthier since Hatter had seen him last, although perhaps a bit thinner than last time. He walked beside Katherine who was smiling almost as much as him.

"How are you feeling?" Hatter asked as they shook hands.

Adam shrugged. "I'm feeling better. More so now that I've seen the performance, I couldn't have asked for a better understudy David. You killed it."

"Thanks." Hatter said, putting his arm over Alice's shoulder as she leaned into him. "It's hard to believe it's over though!"

"Actually, it's far from over." Katherine said to them. "In about a month I'll be holding auditions for the musical "Annie". It's completely different from "Camelot" all together; but nonetheless it's still a great show with great music and scenes. It would be really great if you were involved somehow. You interested?"

Hatter nodded, interested. Maybe, just maybe this experience wouldn't have to be over! Prehaps, he could do it again. Another musical, another character. A whole new opportunity. Then again, what about Alice? What about all of her sacrifices, all of the fights...would she be willing put put up with them all over again? He smiled at Katherine as he took Alice's hand. Either way, Hatter felt content. He was with his Guenevere, and she wasn't going anywhere. No matter what. It was because of Alice that he had gotten this wonderful experience. He looked at her, eyebrows arched as if asking permission silently. She smiled at him her pale blue shining as she nodded.

Hatter felt a surge of joy as looked at Alice, his eyes bright and happy as he leaned in and gave her a slow passionate kiss before turning to Katherine a smile plastered on his face.

"What do you think?"

A/N:

It's hard to believe that this story is over…someone pinch me. It doesn't seem real. Thank you all so much for reading this far and pulling through the hiatus and the time I was doing Our Town and all of my rants about how busy I apparently was. It means so much that you took the time to read this. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Oh! If you're interested in the musical that inspired this story you can go to my profile. There you will find a link to some actual footage of my high school's performance of Camelot including Kristian (who played Lancelot and the inspiration behind the character Kris) singing C'est Moi just for you! Well…sort of. My sister recorded it while they were backstage during one of our performances.

Also on my profile you can see another clip of Seven Deadly Virtues. It's the clip of the night I thought of Hatter's Hobby...if you look closely you should be able to tell it's formulating in my mind as I do the scene myself.