Disclaimer: Doc Martin and recognizable storylines belong to Buffalo Pictures.

{Special Disclaimer: Parts in italics are from Doc Martin, Series 3, Episode 1 "The Apple Doesn't Fall" - written by Richard Stoneham. I have left them in italics to properly credit the author.}

The Fearless Prince and His Faithful Hound - Chapter 3

Wednesday

Martin took some time before lunch on Wednesday to choose a restaurant. He didn't want to go where they knew people, because they would certainly be interrupted.

Just about any villager found Louisa fair game to talk to about anything and everything. He knew it was because she was the kindest person he'd ever met, but that didn't make it okay with him. At the very least, when they needlessly stopped to talk, why couldn't they just say hello and move on. Or, when necessary, arrange to meet to discuss an issue that needed more time.

Oh, they bothered him, as well, constantly hoping to save a trip to the surgery for on-the-spot medical care. Maybe that's what he liked when he thought about himself with Louisa. They both took care of the people. It was nice to know someone who understood the demands of his profession.

Although he would rather have done his usual, and chosen a restaurant with a top Zagat rating, Martin thought of Louisa as he read a few reviews. He chose one about 20 minutes away in Wadebridge, seemed to be converted from a small church, because both the food and atmosphere were recommended. He made a reservation.

That afternoon, there was a rare bit of time without appointments. A couple of villagers in a row had cancelled, so Martin took the opportunity to go to see Louisa about her fainting incident.

It had happened that morning. He had been walking past the Platt, when children started screaming. Martin had leaped over a bench to get to Louisa quickly. He'd asked her to come to the surgery, but she said she was fine and needed to take the children back to the school. Even though she had agreed to come see him that evening, he decided to take the time now.

Martin entered the school from the street and went down the hall towards Louisa's classroom. As he peered through the door's window, he heard a woman say, "Miss Glasson should be in the schoolyard with her students. Although, come to think of it, she may have left early today. Anyway, that's where the class is." The woman entered another room just down the hall.

Martin entered Louisa's classroom. It was empty, but he thought he might be able to see the schoolyard from the north windows, so he walked over to them. Unfortunately, the view was just angled wrong. He could see the ocean, though, and the turquoise and blue were soothing.

He looked over at Louisa's desk. There was only one item on it, a book, so, with curiosity, he walked over. It was a children's picture book and looked familiar. He recalled seeing it on the ground when Louisa had fainted. He opened it, and silently read,

"Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away, a prince arrived to search for the princess he was destined to marry."

Martin imagined hearing Louisa's voice as he read. He pictured her as she had looked that morning, beautiful in her pale yellow sweater.

"The prince was handsome, charming, and fearless. With his faithful hound at his side, the prince journeyed for days on end. He fought dragons, wizards, and goblins. And just when he thought all hope was lost, he finally arrived at the castle where the princess was imprisoned. The prince climbed the hill to free the princess…"

From the hallway came the sounds of a commotion. Martin heard shouts of "Stop!" and "Bad dog!" and that annoying, shaggy, gray dog burst into the classroom and came right up to Martin. The dog started barking steadily at him, then trotted towards the door, and turned back to Martin. It barked rhythmically again, as it approached Martin, then took a couple of leaps towards the door.

Martin started thinking about Mrs. Zimmel, and this dog from the other day. He thought about the dog from his childhood, and how its barking had been quite meaningful, according to Aunt Joan. He decided to go towards the dog, if not to follow it, at least to lead it from the school.

Martin continued out the door, and down the hall, receiving grateful looks from several teachers, and hearing lots of giggling children. When he got up to Fore Street, the dog continued to bound towards him and away from him. It got particularly frantic when Martin went in the "wrong" direction. Martin just wanted to be sure Louisa wasn't in the schoolyard.

Then he started to follow the dog. Something made him imagine Louisa in trouble, and since the dog was headed in the direction of her cottage, he started to pick up his pace.

- oo0oo –

Louisa had left school early. Her headache had returned by lunchtime, and she was still tired. She thought she'd go home and get some kip before going to see Martin in his surgery.

He had been there when she awoke after fainting that morning, his concerned face assessing her. As she and the children walked back to the school, a couple of them told her about Dr. Ellingham jumping over one of the park benches as he rushed over to her. She smiled. She would have liked to have seen that.

As she walked towards her cottage, the gray mutt that liked to hang around the surgery walked along beside her. He really was a nice dog. She didn't know why Martin disliked dogs so much.

Nearing her front door, she started to feel short of breath again. She opened the door, stepped inside, and closed it. She heard the dog bark, everything went black, and she slumped to the floor.