Arath strode through the busy market angrily. He was over everything. Over being the next in line for the throne, over his parents constantly telling him what was "proper" and what he should and should not be doing. Their latest argument had been about his marriage to a girl he didn't even know. He was refusing to marry her, she would probably be some atrociously irritating girl who fawned over him and who had no opinions of her own. He despised those sorts of people. Though the market was so busy, he made his way effortlessly through the crowd, it seemed to part to let him through, and he payed no attention to where he was going. As he walked her saw someone out of the corner of his eye, but he payed it no attention, they would move for him. So he continued on his path, letting the anger wash through him. A body slammed into him and he stumbled backwards, quickly catching his footing before he fell. The first feeling of shock left him and was replaced with anger. How could someone be so stupid, did they not know who he was? The girl who had landed on the ground pushed herself up to her knees, and then stood.

"what is your problem?" his voice was filled with anger. No doubt this girl thought that this would make some good story for her friends later. Well he was not going to let her get away that easy. He saw that she was trembling slightly. Good he thought to himself, she should be.

"Well? Do you not think that you owe me an apology?" This would be an easy win, there was no way that this dirty and disheveled girl would stand up to her.

"No, I do not think that I owe you an apology, though I do think that you owe me one"

He was slightly shocked at her answer. He had never had any talk to him like that in his life, apart from his parents. He heard the slight trembling in her voice as she finished, but she held herself strong and clenched her fists to her side.

His eyes narrowed at her,

"I think you should perhaps reconsider your decision, I will forgive you if you apologise now"

He decided that it did not matter that she spoke well, he was the crowned prince and she was his subject, she should be on her hands and knees begging for him to forgive her. He watched her, waiting for her reply.

"I won't reconsider, though I would be happy to accept an equal share of the blame"

He could not believe this girl. How could someone be so self possessed.

"Accept an equal share of the blame" He weighed the words, he could still not believe that she had actually said that, and to him of all people.

"You are either incredibly arrogant or incredibly stupid, and judging from your appearance I'm going with stupid"

He saw her blush violently. He had won now. She would fall at his feet begging for mercy. He opened his mouth to tell her that perhaps he would be lenient, but she beat him to it. 
"I am not stupid, I am anything but that, and it was not my entire fault that I bumped into you, you stepped in front of me and I couldn't stop myself in time to avoid you, so I stand by my decision of it only being half my fault, and if you were not so arrogant and conceited and full of your self you would just admit it and we could both move on"

He was a taken aback at her outburst. He saw that she was trying to hold back tears, and amusement quickly replaced his shock.

"Not stupid? I must say that I would beg to differ, though you do seem to be quite passionate about what you believe in, no matter how incorrect you may be"

He was thoughtful for a moment, she was not as stupid as he had first assumed her to be. She spoke well, which he judged to be the result of some education. Though looking at the state of her you would never know it. He saw her holding her arm.

"Is there something the matter with your arm?"

He saw her look down at her arm.

"Oh, I twisted it when I fell"

Her answer was dismissive, she clearly was not going to be steered away from the matter at hand. He saw her blink and shake her head as if to clear it.

"Are you alright?"

He was somewhat concerned, she did not look so well. The colour that had spread its way across her cheeks had paled considerably. She didn't reply, and he watched as she fell, as if in slow motion, to the hard ground.

He looked at her body lying on the ground, and sighed. There was no way that he could just leave her here. Bending down he picked her up, noting how light she was, and turned to make his way back to the palace.

.....................

The moment he walked through the palace doors, he walked quickly into one of the lounge rooms, setting the girl down on a couch. He then stepped outside the door and requested a Maid send for the Doctor. He sunk into one of the chairs opposite the couch and looked at the girl. Her knee length skirt was ripped at tattered at the ends, and her jacket was I much the same state, yet he could see that they were tailored to fit her, even though they now hung loosely from her malnourished body. Her long her was matted and tangled, and he assumed that when it was clean it would be a dark raven colour. Her face was streaked with dirt, but he could see the pale skin that was below it. All in all he surmised that she was no where near being beautiful, but she was not so unattractive, slightly above the average he decided. The sound of someone opening the door behind him interrupted his thoughts and he stood.

"Doctor Harven, I thank you for your quick arrival"

The Doctor smiled and bowed slightly

"Of course, where is my patient?"

He motioned to the couch and the Doctor strode quickly across the room, kneeling by the couch. He placed his fingers on her neck, feeling for a pulse. Satisfied that she was not in an extreme danger of dying, he turned and faced Arath.

"Where did you find her?"

He shifted on his feet slightly,

"I bumped into her in the market, she fell, I believe that she twisted her arm, and she just, fainted. I could not have just left her there"

The last sentence he said defensively. He had done nothing wrong.

The Doctor nodded and turned back to the girl.

"She is clearly malnourished, the fall no doubt added to her physical state, I am sure she will be fine, I will take her back to my office to keep an eye on her"

He lifted her gently off the couch and nodded to Arath as he walked out of the room.

The moment the Doctor had left the room, he sunk back into the chair he had been sitting in and stared aimlessly at the spotless white ceiling above him.