Albion Grimm

Frederick the Dormouse

The king sighed, sitting on his throne. Hansel looked at Red who shook his head. Then there was the strange man who was in my bed, sitting there with his eyes closed. The four of them sat there, different as night and day, watching as I walked into the room.

“Sorry to have kept you all waiting.”

“First, let me introduce you to Frederick.” Albion gestured to the sleeping man. “Frederick is a Dormouse from Wonderland.”

“What?” I asked out of surprise. “He’s sleepy because he’s a mouse, is that it?”

“I know it’s hard to believe, but Frederick is always like this. He really should come in through the main entrance, but he inevitably sneaks in and falls asleep. He’s known to be sprawled out in the hallways sometimes, but he’s partial to soft beds. He just happened to choose yours this time.”

“I see…” I sighed as I watched Frederick the Dormouse nod in his sleep. “Even if he’s sleepy, to think he’d just climb into someone’s bed. I find it hard to accept.”

“I agree.”

Frederick yawned, seeming oblivious to the fact that we were talking about him.

“By the way if he’s a character of Wonderland, what is he doing here?”

Frederick rubbed his eyes sleepily as he answered me.

“The Spinner of Tales gets angry when we try to leave Wonderland. That’s why, normally, characters can’t leave Wonderland. But…”

“Wake up Frederick.” Albion shock his shoulder.

“What were we talking about?”

“Wonderland characters aren’t normally allowed out of Wonderland?”

“That’s right, but I’m not normal. To keep it short, I can get away without anyone finding out.”

“How?”

“Because I live far from the Spinner of Tales’ prying eyes, I guess? But I can’t stay away for long, or he’ll find out.”

“There’s no time for idle chit chat. I might add, are you sure you have time to be dozing off in my castle, Frederick?” Albion’s voice was cold as he gleard as Frederick fell asleep again.

“Hey, Frederick, it’s time for you to wake up.” Hansel said with slight annoyance in his voice. “It would be in your best interest…”

When Hansel and Red noticed the King sending him an arctic glare, they rushed to shake him awake, and he opened his eyes again. Frederick seems like quite a handful.

“You called me out here without much notice, Grimm, so I don’t have much information.”

“I don’t care.” The king glared at Frederick as he let out a yawn. After seeing my look of confusion, he explained. “Frederick is an informant; he regularly reports to me about the goings-on in Wonderland.”

“Since losing Alice the Spinner of Tales has changed. Suddenly he’s…”

“Frederick!” Hansel yelled.

“He’s suddenly become very weak. I don’t think he has the energy to pursue her.”

Everyone was on edge; afraid he would fall asleep again at any minute. The King was increasingly losing patience, and I was afraid he might explode at any moment. I felt sorry for Hansel and Red, who grew paler by the minute.

“That’s all the information I have.”

“How are the Hatter and Queen of Hearts?” Albion suddenly asked, avoiding my gaze.

“You really want to know about them?”

“Just answer the question.”

“Well. They’re fine. This is unlike you, Grimm.” Frederick tilted his head curiously and gave it some thought. “Come to think of it…” Frederick clapped his hands together when he seemed to remember something. “I seem to recall that the Hatter and the Queen of Hearts are working together to find Alice.”

“Are they well?”

“I haven’t heard of them getting sick and the Spinner of Tales is too weak to go after them as well.”

“Oh, I’m glad.” I’d been worried about them.

“Frederick. I wonder,” Albion gave me a small smile and nodded for me to continue. “Could deliver a message to them? Tell them that… Alice is fine. She will see them as soon as she can, so please don’t worry.”

“Sure thing.”

“Thank you, Frederick.”

“But you owe me.”

“What! Oh yes, Frederick you are in informant after all.” I suppose some sort of payment was required for his service. “I don’t have any money, but…”

“It’s not money I want.” A sleepy looking Frederick studied me lazily as he spoke. “That room I work up in. It’s yours, right?”

“Yes.”

“Do you mind if I sleep in it a little more?”

“Absolutely not.”

“What? But why?”

“How can you honestly expect me to agree to letting you sleep in my bed? That’s absurd.”

“She’s right. Frederick, I’ll find some other way to compensate you for the information and delivering the message. So, stop trying to get into her bed.” My face heated at the implication.

“Then I want a luxurious pillow, one that’s fluffy, something with plenty of cotton wool. It’s only harvested once a year, but I expect you already have some.”

“Right, I can arrange for you to have your pillow right away. So, let’s leave the King to take care of business.” Hansel said.

“Yeah. If you’re going to snooze do it in Wonderland.” Red was defiantly annoyed as he stood.

Red and Hansel each grabbed a half-sleeping Frederick on either side and dragged him out of the Throne Room. We watched them in silence. The King let out a sigh as he turned his gaze to me.

“You may leave now.”

The Kings words brought me back to the present, and I followed after the others. I found them debating about the luxurious pillow, Frederick napping on a seat. Eventually he left Grimm Castle and made his way back to wonderland. Red collapsed into the recently free seat and let out a loud sigh.

“Frederick hasn’t changed one bit. In fact, he seems worse than before. Albion seemed much angrier than usual.” Hansel spoke before Red could say anything.

“Maybe he was already in a bad mood?”

“No. As a King, it’s hard to imagine him being upset so easily.”

“Like Red said, maybe Frederick’s attitude was worse than normal.”

“Actually, he’s always like that.”

“Then what else could it be?”

“Maybe it has nothing to do with Frederick, and more to do with you, Ayla.”

“What? Me?” My eyes widened in surprise “I haven’t done anything.”

I did bump into the King when I ran out of my room. I can’t imagine him getting upset over something like that. Besides, he didn’t seem to mad right after I bumped into him. Then I wonder what the problem is?

Later I was walking down the hallway toward my room. I saw him out of the corner of my eye standing on a balcony. I gave it a moment’s thought before deciding to approach him.

“Your Majesty.” When I called out to him, he slowly turned around. His expression held no trace of the irritation he demonstrated toward Frederick. The expression he wore was calm as usual. “Thank you for asking Frederick about Luke and the Queen of Hearts.”

The King slowly walked towards me. When I tilted my head in question, he raised a hand and gently cupped my cheek. We wordlessly stood there with our eyes locked, the only sound being that of the wind. It was as if we were trying to look into each other’s soul. He leaned in brining his face closer to mine. My heart was beating like crazy, butterflies fluttering in my stomach. Is he going to kiss me?

“This is the first time I’ve seen someone from the Real World up close.” His voice was full of longing as he whispered in my ear, his arms snaking around my body, pulling me into a tight hug.

“As I watched you, interact with Red, Hansel and the townspeople, I remembered Suncatcher’s words.”

“May I ask what those words are?” My voice was so quiet I was surprised he herd it.

“I would have been so much happier if you were real. — Those were the words he whispered to me and the other story characters.” The King’s expression was soft as he pulled away.

“I was overcome with sorrow and held onto the stubborn belief that your world and the World of Stories were completely separate. But sometimes happiness can be found in two world mingling.  I’ve come to that realization after watching you in this world. Ayla, I’d like to thank you for reminding me of that.”

“Your Majesty” My heart leapt when he smiled softly at me. Who knew he could look like that.

“Tomorrow, I plan to return you to the real world. Once Alice is returned to the Real World, the Rules of Wonderland will eventually become obsolete. Your friends, the Hatter and the Queen of Hearts should be released from their duties.” He let me go and took a step away, turning to face away from me again.

“Thank you.” I was glad to me able to return to the Real World. Will tomorrow be my last day with Albion and the others? The thought made me sad. I bid farewell to the King, and returned to my room with mixed feelings. I thought I’d as least try to finish the book I was reading.