Ok so I've decided to have the story take place in BOTH the real world and fantasy world, each chapter going back and forth in order to tell the tale. If it gets confusing I can always post which is which before the chapter. Again, please mind the errors and off…we…..go!

Chapter Two~

Princess Karissa had been uneasy the whole morning, unable to settle into any task her mother or anyone asked of her so she decided to go out for a ride. She went right for the stables where her stallion waited in his stall with a brick of hay to keep him happy. Once inside the stables Karissa tacked her horse with her sidesaddle and bridle before mounting into the saddle.

"Karissa, darling, where are you going?" came the voice of her mother and turning her coppery head to see the older her silvery hair in a French braid over her shoulder.

"Just for a ride mother, I need to clear my head." Karissa said settling herself better into the saddle before patting the neck of her horse lovingly. Seeing the need for a moment of freedom in her daughter's eyes, Gwendolyn smiled saying,

"Go on then, just don't stay out too long." at those words Karissa kicked the horse in the side making him break off into a canter leaving her mother alone in the stables, a worried look on her face. As she returned to the palace Karissa was cantering through the gates and into the forests that surround her home already feeling better. The clean sweet air, the crisp wind on her face cooling her, the sun shining down to make the world glow; everything was perfect. She smiled and laughed as she held onto the horses reins not caring where she went as long as this feeling of peace stayed for a while. She spurred the horse into a quick gallop sending them flying through the trees, a quick blur of white between them. It seemed hours later that she slowed the horse into a soft walk coming to a small clearing where a stream was running alongside one end. Dismounting from the horse, Karissa lead the horse to water so he could drink when she heard a voice calling out,

"Grace darling where are you?" turning towards the voice, Karissa noticed a man coming out from the trees wearing a long brown trench coat and brightly colored scarf. His brown hair was shaggy but his eyes were the brightest wintergreen Karissa had ever seen. Once he spotted her he smiled and headed over asking,

"Have you seen a little girl? Wearing a red cloak with brightly colored flowers on it?" Karissa shook her head saying she hadn't and watched his face sag with fear and sadness.

"When did you last see her?" she asked the man who had stopped beside her but wasn't looking at her yet instead the waters below.

"A few hours ago, I'm starting to really get worried." the man said before turning toward Karissa to say,

"I'm sorry, how utterly rude," and then he bowed with a flourish saying,

"The names Jefferson Hatter lady." Karissa giggled at his antics and curtsying said,

"The names Princess Karissa Sir Hatter." at the name Jefferson looked up expectantly saying,

"It was fabulous to have met you, but I really need to find my daughter." Karissa had been admiring him with an interested eye and at those words felt her heart drop; he had a wife and child. But she cleared that thought from her mind as she asked him,

"Would you like some help sir?" the man simply laughed causing her to slap his shoulder in aggregation; why would he be laughing at her genuine offer to help? At the slap he jumped and rubbing his shoulder said,

"I meant no disrespect Highness, but I've never been called 'sir' before, that's all." and slowing his laughter looked at her saying,

"I'd appreciate some help actually." Karissa felt like a fool, how could she let her emotions run so high like that? Forcing a smile to her face Karissa said,

"Alright then, let's go back to where you last saw her." and so the two headed off back into the woods calling out as they went the name 'Grace', Karissa leading her horse beside them. As they called for the lost girl they talked each feeling a certain strange emotion trying to break through to the surface. Neither would allow it though; Jefferson had lost his only love, Karissa never knew what love was in the first place. But why was the feeling gnawing at them so?

"Papa! Oh Papa!" a little voice from a ways off cried and both turned towards the sound a smile on their faces, they had been at it for seemingly hours. Soon a small figure in a crimson cloak with colorful flowers came out from behind a tree and seeing her father cried,

"PAPA!" and raced for his open arms. Karissa felt a twinge of jealousy as the child was picked up into Jefferson's arms and twirled about but once again quelled the thought.

"Papa, who's this?" asked Grace when back on her feet having noticed the woman beside her father.

"This is her Royal Highness Princess Karissa, she was helping me find you darling." Jefferson said again doing a flourishing bow at her name. The little girls eyes widened at the title and quickly dropped into a curtsy saying,

"Tis an honor."

"Oh please both of you, it's just Karissa if you can." Karissa said in responds trying her hardest not to giggle at the over the top antics of the man who continued to act strange. Jefferson looked up to find her completely honest and smiled wide saying in a hushed voice,

"Alright then Krissy." at the nickname Karissa tilted her head and was about to ask when Grace said quickly,

"He does that to everyone he likes." she meant it to sound simple but to these two it had a deeper meaning, and it caused Karissa to blush.

"You know," started Jefferson coming to stand before her,

"You should do that more often, blush. It makes your face light up." at his complement Karissa felt the blush deepen as Grace giggled. Looking to the sky, Karissa noticed the sun just beginning to set and gasped saying quickly,

"I best leave! It's almost night and mother will be so worried!"

"You can't go!" Jefferson cried as Karissa began to mount her impaction horse who wanted to go back to his warm stable and eat. Turning her head to see the man Karissa asked,

"Why ever not?"

"Because wolves and bears and wild things live in the woods! It wouldn't be safe!" Grace said honestly taking one of Karissa's hands and giving a tug asked,

"Stay with us?" Karissa looked up to Jefferson who was about to hush his child when a howl caused them all to still; the howl was close by.

"Girls, get on the horse, now." Jefferson said quickly and picking up Grace placed her atop the horse while Karissa scampered behind the child in the saddle. As soon as they both were atop the horse a dark figure came out from behind the trees snarling and snapping its jaws.

"Papa!" cried Grace as he picked up a log to defend the girls.

"Leave! Head for the ridge and follow the trail back to the cottage! Wait for me there!" he shouted as more wolves started to appear but Karissa screamed,

"I won't leave you!" turning to see the two girls on the horse Jefferson smiled softly saying,

"I'll find you again Krissy. Now go! GO!" and not needing to be told twice Karissa spurred the horse into a gallop as Grace cried for her father. Karissa gave one finally look back just in time to see Jefferson smack a wolf to the ground with his log. She realized that he was keeping the wolves on him and not allowing the beast to follow them, she was both grateful and worried sick. It was a short time later that they arrived at the cottage where once getting off Grace started pounding her fists at Karissa saying,

"You let my papa die just like my mama!" shocked by this outburst, Karissa bent down to take the girls wrists saying,

"If we hadn't left then we too would have died." sniffling, the child with tearstained cheeks said,

"Then what will happen to me?" Karissa smiled warmly at the terrified child and said,

"I'll take you to live with me." just then they heard a snapping twig and both turned with fear in their hearts as a dark figure came out into the light from the cottage.

"PAPA!" cried Grace just as he nearly collapsed onto the ground holding his right arm. Both girls raced to his side, Karissa helping him upright and wrapping an arm around his middle lead him into the house.

"Grace tie the horse off will you? I'll tend to your father." she said and nodding Grace quickly went to do her job as Karissa pushed the door to the cottage open and pulled him towards the fire.

"You know," he started to say as she sat him down in a chair and went off to find something to bandage his arm with.

"You surprise me Krissy, most wouldn't be so bold as to take a child they don't know from a man they don't know in order to save said child." he finished as she came over with a ripped piece of her skirts and bending down before him asked him to remove his jacket.

"I'll have to fix it later." he said simply as he shrugged out of it and let it fall to the ground as Karissa looked over the wound; it wasn't too bad but bleeding heavily. As she wrapped it she said softly,

"Thank you, for saving me and her."

"Think of me as your personal knight in shining armor then." Jefferson said winking down at her and getting a giggle out of her smiled. He was starting to like that sound.

"Is papa alright?" asked Grace as she entered the cottage having done her chore and nodding Karissa stood as she finished tying off the bandage to say,

"All done." Jefferson stood too saying as he did,

"Now, for sleeping arrangements….Grace can sleep with me while you Krissy take her bed. If that's alright." Grace ran for her room to make it suitable for the princess as she walked over to Jefferson who began cleaning up his part of the cottage.

"Your too kind Sir Hatter." Karissa said yawning behind her hand feeling the tug of sleep at her eyelids. Turning to see her, Jefferson noticed her tired face and replied softly,

"Anytime Highness, anytime." soon all three were asleep; Grace with her father and Karissa in Grace's bed. By morning when the first rays of sun crept through the windows though Karissa would be gone having woken early with the fear that her mother would surly send guards to look for her. She gave one last look to the man who saved her life taking a moment to admire him before running off, mounting her horse and off she went. At the sound of the horse Jefferson bolted upright and noticing the empty bed felt his heart all but break. She left without saying goodbye, she didn't even say goodbye.