I would like to thank , hungergamespettalover, XxlittlexwitchxX, and everyone else who is still reading my story. This is a short chapter because me and my friend are going to be taking a break for a few weeks to try and finish school. We have finals and projects that have to be finished within the next two weeks and I am struggling with trying to pass 3 of my classes if not more so this semester has been bad for me.


Chapter 9

"But you look pretty in a dress." Hatter replied. "All women look pretty in dresses. A woman wearing pants is like a man wearing a dress. They may still look pretty, but not as much as in their natural clothing."

Dani rolled her eyes as she listened to him, but had to remind herself that this is how people were during this day in age. Who knew how long it was going to be before women could wear pants and get the reaction he was giving.

"Right." She says walking over to the wall of weapons and tilts her head at the large variety.

"Are you done?" Hatter asked, but before she could answer he peaked over his shoulder. Seeing that she was decent, he turned around and looked at the weapons with her. "Have you ever fought before?"

"Not really, its improper for a women to fight and get her hands dirty." Dani says twisting and turning the sword in her hand as she feels the weight in her hand.

"How hard can it really be? I mean all you have to do is push down the cards and they fall over and struggle to get back up."

Hatter laughed nervously and bobbed his head up and down in agreement. "Her most dangerous soldier has switched sides... I hope. But there is more..." He trailed off, his eyes going wide and his gaze distant.

Dani looks up at him as she grips the sword in her hand. "If my sister trusts him, then I will too. She doesn't just go with anyone she just meets, she's smarter than that." she says placing the sword on her back. "What aren't you guys tells us?"

"There is a... weapon that the Red Queen has." Hatter started, and then looked around the room, his eyes wide with fright. "Let's hope she doesn't use it..."

"What kind of weapon and why are we know just hearing about it?" Dani says fixing her armor plate on her chest to make sure it doesn't fall off. "How do we stop it if she does use it?"

"It needs a sword. A special sword." Hatter replied with a small nod. "In the Red Castle."

"Of course it is, god forbid it's in a simple place not protected but tons of guards." Dani says while scratching the back of her head.

"Are you going to fight or stay behind because you're a hatter and not a fighter?"

Hatter looked confused for a second, as if not sure if she was being sarcastic or not. He finally just laughed nervously and smiled. "I will aid my Queen in any way she sees fit."

"Do you know how to fight then?" Dani asks while taking her sword out and leans to the side on it.

"I am a Hatter." He said bluntly, but didn't directly answer her question.

"Yeah...got that." Dani says before placing her hand on her stomach and looks around. "Where is the kitchen at in this place?"

"Oh, the kitchen!" Hatter smiled and strode past her and out the door. He didn't bother to wait for her before leading the way to the kitchens.

Dani blinks in confusion and walks fast after him to make sure she didn't get lost in this giant castle.

Only when he was about to turn into the kitchen did Hatter look back to make sure Dani was still there. He gave her a smile, and then vanished through the door.

Dani gave a small smile back then caught up with him and walked into the kitchen. She looked around the kitchen then at the table full of random things.

"Would you like some tea?" Hatter asked as he pulled down to tea cups, two saucers and a can of tea bags. He placed one in each cup, and then looked toward Dani again.

"Uh sure I would love some tea, thank you." She says, sitting down on a stool next to him watching him make the tea then looks up at him.

"So...with all the different creatures and people here, are you married to one of them?"

The Hatter laughed and shook his head. "Oh no." He replied as he poured the hot water into the cups. He then placed them onto a tray, along with sugar, honey, cream biscuits and spoons.

"That's a shame, have you thought of getting married?" Dani says grabbing a spoon and twirling it in her cup of tea as she leans against the counter.

"Married? Oh no." The Hatter easily replied as he sat down and put several large spoonfuls of honey into his tea, then took a long sip from it, as if it wasn't still scalding.

"Oh..." Dani says taking off a piece of her biscuits and eats it while she lets her tea cool down then adds some honey and sugar into her cup.

"And what about you? You must have suitors lined up to ask your hand." Hatter grinned and took another sip from his tea.

"No, not really. I mean not anyone I want to be with just what society thinks I should be with. I should be able to choose who I want to be with." She says taking a sip of her tea.

"You cannot choose from your suitors?" He asked with a small frown. "Who would choose for you?"

"My family would have to choose for me, probably someone rich or powerful that would benefit them. It has nothing to do with me or my happiness. That's why to be away from them right now." Dani says while taking a small bite of her biscuit.

"Family fights with family here." Hatter smiled sadly. "Is it the same where you come from?"

Dani looked up at him with the same sad smile and nods her head. "Yes, that is the same. Thank god I have my sister who looks past our fighting so we can still be very close."

"Here, sisters fight with sisters." Hatter said with a small, distant smile. "Animals fight with animals, plants fight with plants. The Earth fight the Earth."

"Everybody everywhere fights with something; I don't think there will ever be a time when no one is fighting." Dani says while finishing her cup of tea then sets the cup back on the small plate.

Hatter's eyes widened slightly, as if the thought had only just dawned on him. "Then he frowned and sadly looked down at his tea. "You will be fighting today."

"Yes, yes I am. For a place I know nothing about for people I just met. I would love to rub this into my family's face, if I were to ever see them again." Dani says while standing up from her stool and faces him. "Someone has to fight."