Chapter Text
She knelt at a window and pleaded with Time until her lips chapped and her tongue was too dry to go on. Surely he could turn back the clock. Surely he had dominion over her fate.
She would spare the jabberwock this time, if only Jest would live.
She would let the beast have Mary Ann, if only Jest would live.
She would listen to Hatta’s warnings. She would turn away from Mary Ann’s cries and escape into the Looking Glass. This time, she would not look back,if only Jest would live.
She would do anything. Marry any king. Wear any crown. Give her heart to anyone who asked for it. She would serve Time himself if he would bring back Jest to her.
“What an interesting proposition.”
“Who was that? Who is there? Guards-”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” this ominous voice reverberated through the room. “Now don’t turn around.”
“Who are you?” This heartbroken girl who knelt on the floor said slowly.
“Who am I? Why, you were just begging to speak with me.”
Time. It was Time. In her room.
“Will you give him back to me?”
“Not for free of course. This would alter much of the universe. Yet I grow tired of the same story playing over in Chess.”
“Isn’t this what you wanted? Your prophecy. Raven returns to murdering, the Fates get a queen’s heart, and Hattah succumbs to the madness?”
“You leave out a part of the prophecy. The one that matters to you. Speak it. I don’t have the Time for silly girls who refuse to speak the full truth.”
Catherine took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. It was for him. For Jest. “Jest dies. An innocent protecting those he loves.”
“There it is. Good girl.”
A rare flare of emotion lit up in Catherine. Anger. “You will not speak to me that way! I am the future Queen of Hearts.”
“There she is.” A deep, low chuckle filled the room.
“If you are only here to make fun, you can leave. I am done being a pawn in a game.”
“Now, dear Lady Pinkerton, no one ever stops being a pawn in my game. I am Time.” She could feel the smirk painting Time’s face. It infuriated her. “But, as I said, I grow bored of Chess. It is all the same. They fight, neither side wins, they plan and scheme, over and over. I believe it is Time to step in and mix things up.”
Catherine slowly stood up. She felt a small glimmer of hope reach her aching heart. It felt like the sun was rising after a dreary day. The light forces itself free from the depts of darkness.
“And what do you have in mind?”
“I allow you to go back to that door. I can give you one more chance. You leave that lowly servant to die, allow the Jabberwock to keep killing, and go on to Chess. As you should have.”
“As I should have? The prophecy-”
“Those pesky girls playing with my story.” A brief bout of emotion filled Time’s voice. Catherine felt her knees buckling. This was not a being to play with. He was danger himself. “They like to change things to be best for them. This way they would get s queen’s heart and live longer.”
“So you’ll bring Jest back and let us continue just to spite them?”
“I am afraid not. I can not alter their existence. I can give you Time. That is all. Your heart still belongs to them.”
“You said it yourself. They want a Queen’s heart. I am not a queen, sir.”
They sat there in silence. The seconds dragged on. That was until Catherine gasped. That is what time meant.
“Finally figured it out? Took you long enough.”
“What about the others? I will not let myself do this if Jest is only destined to die anyways.” Even mentioning his death shattes her resolve once again. Her voice trembles and there is nothing she can do to get it under control.
“Oh, their part in the prophecy does not matter. It is you who has what the sisters need. They had already paid their dues. Now, do we have a deal?” Time held a hand out.
Catherine waited holding her breath for what Time would do next. What extra stipulation he would give her for His help.
“Well? Are you going to turn around?”
“You said-”
“I do not care what I said. Are. You. Going. To. Turn. Around.”
Catherine slowly turned. She was both scared of not turning and turning. Either way could cause her to lose this deal. Lose her Jest all over again. When she finally saw Him she could not help but gasp. He was not handsome exactly. He had a unique look. He looked kind but cruel. He looked ancient but young. She couldn’t define any other features about him. It was as if she could not focus on anything in particular to memorize.
Time cleared his throat. Cath looked down at his hand and took tentative steps forward until she was close enough to grasp his hand in hers. Again it felt odd. It was both calloused and smooth as if His body couldn’t decide what it wanted to be.
After shaking his hand she quickly withdrew her own. Time chuckled.
“Until we meet again, Lady Pinkerton.” Time bowed.
“Wait! I have so many quest…”
He disappeared before she could finish. Catherine looked around her. She was still in her room. Nothing looked different. Nothing felt different. She still felt the gaping hole in her chest.
“Time! You promised! You promised.” Catherine sobbed. “You said I would have him back.”
“Why don’t I have him back.”