Chapter Thirty-six: Anne

Standing by and watching her father torment the Doctor was the hardest thing Anne had ever done. She tried to remain composed, but she hadn't been able to stop from crying out the first time her father pressed a brand against the Doctor's chest. By the time he stopped she was weeping, fighting nausea, and leaning on Geoff for support. She was ashamed of her reaction; nothing had been done to her yet she was ready to collapse. Pull yourself together! she chided herself. The Doctor's the one being burnt and he's more composed than you are.

Her father had turned to her while Moore put a new set of brands into the fire on the brazier. Anne lifted her chin, trying to project defiance. She couldn't let him see how close he'd come to breaking her will. He'd pressed her to yield and she'd refused, focusing on her anger with him and her love for Arthur. She couldn't let a man like this have any power over her child, no matter what he was threatening.

"We're done talking," she told him. "It doesn't matter what you say. I'm not going to change my mind. I will never hand my son over to you." Her father glared at her, his hand clenching into a fist. For a moment she thought he would strike her but he turned away instead, nodding toward Moore.

"Very well. Get the next set of brands ready, Moore," he said, moving toward the chair. "Perhaps you can reason with her, Doctor."

"She's doing the right thing," replied the Doctor. His voice was rough but there was a glint in his eyes when he smiled at her father. Anne felt a surge of humility at the sight; despite being bloody and battered, he was staying firm. She blinked back tears, overwhelmed by gratitude and shame.

"Very well – it won't take long for the brands to be ready and then we'll see if you still feel that way," her father said. He turned away, beginning to pace. His face was a mask of anger. Anne looked away from him to find the Doctor watching her. He smiled at her and she blinked back more tears.

The thud of steps on the stairs disrupted the quiet of the room. Trock strutted into the room, smirking when he caught sight of Anne. She glared at him, watching warily. He stepped up to her father, who looked less than pleased to see him.

"Well?" he demanded. "Did you find him?"

"No," Trock answered, sounding unconcerned. Anne could feel Geoff's tension increasing. He didn't like Trock to begin with and now the man was bordering on contemptuous in his address of their father.

"Then what are you doing here?" he asked. Trock ignored him, keeping his attention on Anne's father. The two men continued to argue about the need to find the man for a few minutes but Anne tuned out their words. She watched their body language, trying to judge if they were going to come to blows. If the men began to fight, she might have an opportunity to get to the Doctor. She could see he was watching them closely too.

It wasn't until Geoff's grip on her tightened that she realized she was now the subject of discussion. Trock was looking at her, his expression half-leer and half-sneer. She fought back a shudder.

"Hand her over to me and my men," he was saying. "We'll get her to sign whatever you want in no time."

"No!" Geoff moved, releasing Anne as he stepped in front of her, attempting to shield her from Trock's view. "You will not touch my sister." Anne was startled by his vehemence.

"That's enough, Geoff. Pipe down," chided their father.

"But he…"

"I said pipe down!" the older man snapped. "Your sister's going nowhere at the moment."

"Remember the terms of my employment, Ormond – your promise to me."

"Once my daughter has signed the document, you'll have your opportunity," her father replied calmly.

"What opportunity?" Geoff asked, his voice rising in pitch. Trock turned his gaze to him, smiling contemptuously.

"I've never bedded a queen before…" he began. Geoff sprang forward, slipping past their father to punch Trock. He hit the man in his jaw, sending him staggering back with one hand on his chin. Anne couldn't keep back a smile of satisfaction when she saw his mouth was bleeding.

"You little…" Trock reached for his sword. Geoff drew his as well, lashing out at the other man as his father shouted for him to stop. He leapt back to avoid being struck as the two men fought, their swords clanging together. The sound echoed through the room and Anne expected the rest of the men to join them soon. Her father continued to shout at the combatants. He turned to Moore, who was waiting behind the Doctor's chair, and motioned for him to join him. The two men studied the fighters, trying to figure out how to intervene without getting hurt themselves.

When none of the other guards appeared, Anne ran to the chair. She wasn't sure how she would get the Doctor past the fighters or the men upstairs but she was determined to try. Her hopes for rescue had been pinned on Mattias' companions being close by, but if his compatriot had died before reaching them, they wouldn't know where to look for her. Maggie might find them, but she was heading for the camp in the crater.

The Doctor was watching the fight so closely she didn't think he saw her approach. Up close she could see his wrists and ankles were rubbed raw from the straps on the chair. She laid a hand on his arm to alert him to her presence before moving behind the chair to undo the strap around his neck.

"Ssh," she cautioned. The band came loose and she moved to his wrists, working on those straps..

"You… you need to get out of here," the Doctor whispered. Anne shook her head as she moved to free his ankles.

"Not without you." The first strap came of easily but the buckle on the second was stiff and she struggled to undo it. She could feel her heart racing and her hands were shaking, making her task more difficult. The strap scraped across the Doctor's sore skin as she worked, making him hiss in pain. Behind her she could hear the fighting slowing, the blades ringing together less frequently. Geoff and Trock were panting and she knew it wouldn't be long before her father and Moore were able to restrain them. There was no time to lose if she was going to get the Doctor out of there.

"Just go," the Doctor muttered. "You'll never make it out of here if you're trying to drag me along."

"If I leave you, he'll kill you. I'm not going to let that happen."

"I'm not that easy to kill," he insisted. "Trust me." Anne ignored him, continuing to fight with the buckle. At last it moved, allowing her to pull the strap free.

"Got it!" she gasped, springing to her feet and reaching for the Doctor's good arm. "No more arguing – we're both getting out of here." She shifted, bending her knees as she pulled his arm across her shoulders. She rose, bringing him upright with her. For a moment he was balanced and then she felt him sag.

"I… I can't," he gasped. Anne put her arm around his waist, trying to give him more support, but it was no good. His knees buckled and his full weight landed on her, pushing her off balance. She felt herself start to fall and tried to catch herself with her free arm. She hit the ground hard, sending pain shooting up her arm to her shoulder, and then her head connected with the stone floor, dazing her.

The next thing Anne was aware of was of a weight pressing her to the ground. The Doctor, she thought. We've fallen. A moment later the weight eased and she realized someone was pulling the Doctor off of her. She reached out, wanting to catch him, and a hand caught her arm. She was hauled up into a seated position and brought face to face with her father's furious visage.

"Idiot child," he hissed, yanking her up to her feet as he stood. "Just what did you think you'd do once you got upstairs? Take on the other two men yourself?"

"Why do you care?" Anne asked, trying to pull away from him. "You're planning to hand me over to them anyway." She heard Geoff hiss in a breath behind her father.

"You… you wouldn't," he protested, stepping into view. "Father…"

"Of course I wouldn't," her father snapped.

"But Trock…"

"I never intended to let him near her. Once we'd gotten what we wanted, I would have dealt with him. Your sister is far too valuable to be given to some lowly guard."

"Of course," Anne said, trying not to shudder. "He had nothing of value to offer you."

"Of course," her father echoed mockingly. Geoff stared at him, looking horrified.

"What are you saying, Father?" he asked. "You're not… not really going to… sell Annie."

"Be quiet, Geoff," her father snarled.

"But… she's your daughter…"

"I told you to shut up!" snapped their father. "Come and hold your sister. Moore, dispose of that… mess." He gestured over his shoulder and Anne caught sight of Trock's bloody body near the doorway. She sucked in a breath and looked away, feeling sick. Geoff stepped over to her, taking hold of her arm. Her father leaned down to haul up the Doctor, setting him roughly into the chair. He crouched down so their faces were level, reaching out to slap him when the Doctor's head lolled. The Doctor moaned and her father slapped him again.

"Stop it!" Anne cried, trying to pull away from her brother.

"I've had enough of your nonsense, Annie," her father growled, looking up at her. "It's time you decided. Does this man live or does he die?" He flicked his wrist, releasing the dagger he kept in his sleeve. It slipped into his hand.

"This is wrong," Geoff murmured softly, his grip loosening on Anne's arm. She stayed still, hoping he wouldn't realize what he'd done. If he loosened just a little more, she could pull free.

"For the last time, Geoff, be quiet!" Their father rose, reaching out to catch hold of the Doctor's hair. He tilted the man's head back, exposing his throat. She could see the Doctor's pulse beating in his throat. The scrapes from the strap and the cut from Geoff's knife stood out in stark contrast to the pale flesh. "What's your choice, Anne?" demanded her father, his eyes gleaming. Anne stared at him, feeling her heart thudding. He looked almost feral and she had no doubt he would go through with his threat. She had to stop him, no matter what it took.

"I… I'll sign," she whispered, letting her shoulders slump. "Just… let him go."

"No! Annie, you can't!" Geoff protested. He let go of her arm and she sprang forward, intending to push her father away from the Doctor. Everything happened very quickly. Her hands hit her father's chest and she heard someone crying out, shouting No! Then she felt a pain in her side so intense it took her breath away. She staggered back, struggling for air. She felt something warm and wet against her abdomen. When she looked down she saw a red stain spreading across her bodice. At its center was the hilt of her father's knife. She stared for a second before her knees buckled.

"You stupid little…" Her father's contemptuous remark was cut off as Geoff lunged at him. Anne saw them out of the corner of her eye as she slumped, coming to land in the Doctor's lap. He caught hold of her, drawing her closer, and she could see he was crying.

"Anne," he whispered, looking horrified. "What did you do?"

It's amazing what having all my office-mates vanish for the morning (plus sort of forgetting to actually do any EATING during my lunch hour) will do for my writing productivity! Here's this chapter, a day ahead of when I thought I'd have it finished.