Chapter Twenty: Anne

The ride away from Geoff and his men was unpleasant. The horse was moving at a full gallop and the terrain was rough. The jarring was uncomfortable for Anne and she could only imagine how the Doctor felt. She kept one hand on his wrist, holding his good arm around her waist. Despite her efforts she felt him sway more than once.

They had to slow when they entered the forest, and duck to avoid tree branches. For a long time they didn't talk; they were each preoccupied with spotting low-hanging branches and ducking or dodging them. The Doctor didn't complain but Anne could feel his breath against her neck. He gasped more than once and his breathing grew faster as they moved along. They stopped from time to time but Anne heard no signs of pursuit. When she spotted a clearing up ahead she decided they could stop. The Doctor needed to rest and she wanted to take a look around.

She helped the Doctor down from the horse, taking in his pallor and the lines of pain in his face. She settled him under a tree, leaning back against the trunk. She offered him water but he only took one drink before handing the canteen back to her. She took a drink and returned the canteen to him.

"Wait here. I'm going to take a look around," she told him. She didn't wait for him to answer before moving away. She made her way carefully from the clearing and back toward where she thought the path was. She paused frequently, listening for any sounds of anyone approaching. To her relief, all she heard were the sounds of the forest. She finally reached the path and found it empty. There were no signs of hoof-prints or foot-prints. No one had been here for some time. She leaned back against a tree, breathing a sigh of relief. They'd managed it; they'd gotten away.

Anne's relief was short-lived. When they'd run all she'd worried about was getting away. Now she realized she wasn't sure just where they'd gotten to. She knew they were in the Ostem Woods, but that wasn't much help. The woods were massive and she wasn't sure where they were in them. Were they close to the Ostem Manor House, or were they on the opposite side of the forest? Should they try to reach the house, or go elsewhere? To her horror Anne felt tears starting. She blinked furiously, trying to keep them back, but they just kept coming. A lump was filling her throat. She buried her face in her hands as she started to sob.

Once the floodgates opened, Anne couldn't seem to stop. She wasn't sure how long she stood against the tree, sobbing uncontrollably as her mind raced. You're an idiot, she berated herself. Your whole plan was escape. That was it. You didn't think about where to go, how you'd manage to get there. And it's not just you who's in trouble here. There's an innocent bystander back there, already injured, who's been caught up in all this. It was the realization that the Doctor was waiting for her that made her stop. She pushed herself up, willing the tears to stop, and took several gulps of air.

"This isn't helping," she whispered, needing to hear the words out-loud. "You're hungry and over-tired and you're letting it wear you down." She scrubbed at her face with her hands, trying to wipe away tear-traces, and took several more deep breaths before she started for the clearing.

The Doctor was waiting where she'd left him, his head tipped back against the tree trunk and his eyes closed. He looked pained and Anne felt her tears start up again. She hurried on to the horse, keeping her face turned away as the man stirred. She dug in to the saddle bags, searching for food. It was past mid-day by now and all they'd had to eat was some bread. The man had to be hungry. Her tears increased as she found nothing edible.

"Anne?" The Doctor's voice came behind her and she moved, keeping her head down as she went round to the other side of the horse.

"Doctor. I… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave you so long." She busied herself searching the saddle bags. She sniffled, trying to hold back a sob as she realized there was nothing for them to eat.

"Are you… crying?" The Doctor's voice sounded strained. Anne wiped at her eyes, trying to compose herself.

"I'm fine," she said. "I… I'm sorry I worried you."

"You didn't…" His reply was cut off by a hiss of pain and Anne moved to see what was happening. He was nearby, balancing on one foot while holding on to a tree trunk with his good arm.

"Are you alright?"

"I stepped on a rock," he said. Anne looked at his feet, surprised to find that he wasn't wearing any shoes. He wobbled a little and she hurried to help him, slipping under his good arm so he could lean on her as she helped him move to another tree.

"Where are your shoes?"

"In the tent."

"I'm sorry," she said, feeling stupid. "I didn't realize."

"It's not as if we planned this trip." There was no recrimination in his tone but somehow that made her feel worse.

"I'm sorry," she repeated, ducking her head as tears welled up. "I can't… We don't have time for this… weakness."

"You're not weak," the Doctor said, sounding baffled. Anne snorted and he went on. "You're not. Look at what you've done over the last two days – standing up to your brother, taking care of me, plotting escape, convincing a traitor to help us, getting us here…" Anne's tears kept coming and he let his voice trail off. After a moment she felt his hand on her shoulder, patting awkwardly. She wanted to turn and bury her face in his chest but she was afraid she'd knock him off balance again. The last thing he needs is you bawling all over him, she chided herself. Get hold of yourself already before he thinks you're a complete fool.

"I'm sorry," she choked out. "I can't seem to stop. I've picked a fine time to fall apart."

"You're not falling apart. You're just… having a little cry," he said, continuing to pat her shoulder. She wiped at her eyes, trying to calm herself.

"I … I don't know what to do now," she admitted, looking up at him. "I want to go to my son – see that he's alright and just hold him."

The Doctor nodded. "That's perfectly natural."

"It's perfectly foolish," Anne countered. "The first thing my men should have done once they realized I'd been taken was see to the security of the prince. There should be a dozen royal guards at Stoketon by now, ensuring that nothing happens to Arthur."

"None of them would come after you?"

She shook her head. "They shouldn't. I'm only regent. Arthur is heir to the throne."

"But?"

"Eckhart, my captain, is very loyal to me," she admitted. "He went with your friend to search for his wife so he'll also be feeling guilty about leaving me. He might do something foolish and come after me."

"My friends can be very… persuasive. They'd be insistent about attempting a rescue." Anne felt her panic fading as her mind turned to the problem. She paced as she talked. The Doctor stayed where he was, putting in a comment or a question from time to time but mostly letting her think out-loud.

"We can't stay here," she concluded at last. "We need to find someplace to hide until the searchers can catch up to us."

The Doctor nodded in agreement. "Alright. Where do we go?"

"These woods are part of an estate – they're hunting grounds. There are shelters and blinds all over in here. We just need to find one and stay there." Anne moved to help him to the horse, drawing his good arm over her shoulders again.

"A blind would be good," he said, huffing out the words between hops. "We'd be able to see anyone approaching." They reached the horse and came to a stop. Anne looked at the stirrups, considering options for getting the Doctor back to the saddle. It wasn't going to be pleasant. She could feel him watching her and ducked her head, her cheeks warming as she remembered how she'd broken down in front of him.

"I'm sorry about before. Sobbing like a baby – some queen I am."

"From what I've seen, you're a very good queen." He moved his arm, lifting her chin before catching his balance against the horse. His eyes locked on hers for a moment before he turned toward the animal.

"Thank you," Anne said, feeling a fresh set of tears well up at his kindness. She took a half-step toward him, going up on tip-toe to kiss his cheek. Her lips had just touched his skin when she heard the sound of a twig snapping nearby. It seemed very loud and she realized that the forest had gone quiet. She drew back, freezing with her mouth just inches from the Doctor's jaw when a voice called out.

"Who are you and what are you doing here? This is private property!" Anne moved back, taking a step to the side to see past the Doctor. A grizzled man stood near the edge of the clearing, dressed in muted shades of brown and green. His most prominent accessory was a crossbow, which was pointed toward them.

"We don't mean any harm," she called back, trying to divide her attention between the man's face and the bow. "We're just… passing through." She realized that while the business-end of the weapon was definitely pointed toward them, the man wasn't actually aiming it. He took a few steps toward them, frowning at the Doctor.

"You – turn so I can see you. Slowly," he called. The Doctor started to comply, hopping on his good foot, and Anne moved to help him. "What's wrong with him?" the stranger demanded, taking a few more steps forward.

"He's injured," Anne replied.

"I was thrown from my horse," the Doctor put in. "And then it ran off."

"You sound funny. Where are you from?"

"He's from Gaelia," Anne said quickly.

"They sure dress strange over there," the man answered, frowning at the Doctor's costume. "Where are his shoes?"

"Stolen," the Doctor suggested, glancing at Anne. She nodded and to her relief, the stranger slowly lowered his crossbow.

"You've had a rough trip."

"You've no idea," Anne murmured. The man stared at her and she spoke up. "We're sorry to have trespassed. I'm afraid we got a bit lost."

"Where are you going?"

"Hempsted," she said, naming a town on the opposite side of the woods from where they'd entered.

"You'll never get there before night-fall," the stranger told her. "You'd better come with me."

"We don't want to impose…" Anne began.

"Better to have you under my roof where I can keep an eye on you than out in the woods scaring all the game. Get back on yer horse and follow me." Anne turned to the Doctor, who lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug.

"We'll go with him," she murmured, "but let's keep my identity a secret for the time being." The Doctor nodded.

When they were both back on the horse, the stranger started off and Anne nudged the horse after him. He led them out of the clearing, pausing to collect a bag hanging from a nearby tree. There were dark stains on the bag and Anne realized the man had been out hunting.

"I have a right to hunt on this property," the stranger said, noting her attention. He shifted the bag to his other arm. "I was the old Duke's game-keeper. I still am, though there's no duke anymore. Her Majesty's been too busy to name a successor." Anne felt a nudge behind her and turned her head to whisper to the Doctor.

"The Duke died without an heir some time ago. His property is held by the crown."

"It's not right, leaving all this sitting here unused," the game-keeper continued. "I have to hunt now and then, just to keep the population under control."

"I'm sure Her Majesty wouldn't begrudge you the occasional hunt," Anne said.

"Hmph. Never know what the royals will begrudge," the man retorted.

"What's your name, Game-Keeper?" asked the Doctor.

"Fragin."

"I hope we won't be too much trouble, Mr. Fragin," Anne said. "Your wife…"

"No wife to be bothered. Just me, ma boy and ma daughter." Fragin looked over his shoulder, narrowing his eyes at Anne. "I trust this gentleman's your husband. I'll not have anything untoward under my roof." Anne felt the Doctor start behind her and tightened her grip on his wrist.

"I promise you, there's nothing untoward going on," she said.

"Good. Come on then. It's not far now."

I have stayed up way too late finishing this chapter. I'm going to be dragging come morning! If you can figure out a way to send caffeine with your reviews, that'd be terrific. :)