A/N: Lots of credit goes to grapejuice101 for giving so many wonderful ideas and helping me feel more confident in my writing. You are so helpful and without the questions you keep asking, I wouldn't have come up with some of the ideas I have in this chapter.

Also, a big thank you goes out to anyone and everyone who has commented/reviewed and followed this story. Just by doing something small like that makes my day so much better. Thank you all so much!

I felt my heart stop in my chest. My legs turned wobbly and I sat down quickly before I could lose my balance. The Master turned and looked at me with a wicked smile that sent chills down my spine. It had been him all along. I had let him kiss my hand, flirt shamelessly with me, and he was smiling about it. The thought sickened me.

The Doctor lifted his chin in the air and glared at his rival. "Not at all. You may disguise your features, but you can never disguise your intent."

"And you can't approve."

"You know I can't."

"Tissue compression eliminator," Tegan mumbled under her breath.

The Master looked back at the Doctor. "You've always been my greatest stimulation, my dear Doctor, but now you inspire me."

Tegan quickly grabbed a knife resting on the table and threw it at the Master. Without even looking, he raised a hand and caught the knife. I slumped further into my chair in shock. "Your first slip, my dear Doctor. Would you care to make a second?"

He raised an eyebrow and held out the strange tool that had changed his face and the knife to the Doctor. The Doctor hesitated for a moment before grabbing the "tissue thingy ma-bob", as I had elected to call it.

"And now a third," the Master said with a smirk. "This is useless in your hands. You have moral scruples."

King John waved his hand. "Come, what is this discourse? Consummate the victory!"

The Master dropped the knife and held his arms out in an invitation. "Come, Doctor. Kill me. Thwart my little game."

"Kill him," the king urged.

The Doctor shook his head. "It is sufficient, your Majesty, that your Champion is disarmed."

"Not for us. In sooth, this is but a puny demon that has no stomach for it. So be it. Let the Maiden embrace the vanquished."

The Master's face twisted in fear. "Your Majesty, no! Have mercy! I beg you, no!"

Two guards grabbed him by the arms and dragged him towards the Iron Maiden. I felt horror churn in the pit of my stomach as I saw the iron stakes pointing out of the Maiden. If he wasn't able to escape then he would be impaled and the thought was terrifying, even if he was one of the Doctor's greatest enemies.

"Sire," the Doctor implored, "I must intercede. As victor, I beg you to be merciful."

"We are not merciful, our demon."

"Your Majesty!" the Doctor tried.

The king held a hand up. "Hold! We give you the choice, our demon. The Maiden shall embrace this snivelling wretch, or Sir Geoffrey. Choose, our demon. Come, the lady waits, impatient to lavish her warm favors. Come, our demon."

The Doctor returned his sword to the man who had given it to him. The Master was shoved into the Iron Maiden and started screaming as it closed. I covered my mouth in shock as he continued to scream. Then the sound of a TARDIS dematerializing started to echo in the dining hall. The tears that wanted to fall dried up in my eyes as the Iron Maiden dematerialized.

"Behold, our demon," the king said. "We too have tricks."

"The bastard," I mumbled under my breath.

Tegan ran to the Doctor's side. "What's the Master up to?"

I jumped up from my seat, ready to run to the Time Lord's side, when the king grabbed my arm. "Please, Lady Diana. Stay with me."

"Your Majesty," I started nervously. "I would love to, but my... husband needs my assistance."

"He can manage without you, I should think."

I looked over to the Doctor and Tegan. They were speaking quietly to one another and the man who had let the Doctor borrow his sword was talking as well. I sighed and sat down again.

"Very well, your Majesty. As you wish."

"Our demon shall be our Champion," King John declared. "Accoutre him."

The Doctor shared a few more words with those gathered around him, sparing me a glance as he finished. Two guards walked up to him and bowed, then escorted him out of the room.

"Where are they taking him?" I asked the king.

"They are giving him clothes that are fitting of a king's champion, my dear. He shall return shortly. There is no need to worry."

When the Doctor returned ten minutes later wearing a thick robe and a sword belted around his waist, I rushed from my seat and to his side. He put an arm around my shoulder and let me rest against his chest. "Are you okay?" I asked softly.

"Fine. Don't worry."

"I don't want you to leave again."

"I won't," he promised. "Just stay close by."

"Is our Champion not ready?" King John asked.

"I am ready, sire," the Doctor answered, pulling his arm back.

"Then let him attend us with his squire."

The Doctor started walking towards the king, motioning to Tegan. "That's you, Tegan."

"Your sword. Come, your sword. We grow tired."

He unsheathed his sword and gave it to King John.

"Kneel." Gently resting the flat end of the sword on the Doctor's shoulders, the king knighted him. "Arise, Sir Doctor."

The Doctor took his sword back and sheathed it. He stood and nodded politely at the king.

"You are now our Champion."

"Your Majesty does me great honour. And my first action in this role shall be to arrest that man. Arrest Sir Geoffrey de Lacy."

I raised an eyebrow and looked over at the young man, who had scowled. "A friend of thine, perhaps," he said to his older cousin, "but not mine."

"Unhand him," the Doctor ordered. I shook my head in confusion as he approached the two men. "He is a man of honour. Lord Ranulf, is there a dungeon in this castle?"

So that's his name. Ranulf. That's helpful. I watched in curiosity and confusion as Ranulf answered, "There is."

"Sir Geoffrey, do you know it?"

"Then be so good as to lead me to it."

King John laughed. "We like our new Champion. He's something of a jester."

"I must insist you lead me to the dungeon," the Doctor said, drawing his sword.

My mouth fell open. "Doctor, what are you doing?" I asked loudly.

He looked over at me with a firm expression. "What I have to."

"But I thought he was innocent?"

Ignoring my concern, he raised the point of his sword to rest under Geoffrey's chin. "You have no choice. Must I remind you that my sovereign lord holds the Lady Isabella hostage?"

"I thought you friend," Ranulf snapped.

"So did I," I muttered to myself. "Geoffrey?"

"For you, cousin."

Some of the guards stepped forward to hold Geoffrey, but the Doctor stopped them with a wave of his hand. "No, my friends," he said with an authoritative tone. "Attend the King. I have no need of assistance. Your Majesty. Sir Geoffrey." He bowed and then left with his cloak flying behind him.

I ran after him with Tegan hot on my heels. I grabbed his elbow and pulled him back to face me. "What on earth are you doing? You tried to save his life! Why are you threatening him?"

"Diana, in the interest of security, where is the Master most likely to house his TARDIS?"

I shrugged and shook my head. "How the hell should I know?"

"In a dungeon," he responded, playfully tapping his finger on the tip of my nose.

I swatted his hand away and put my hands on my hips. "I don't understand what's going on. Can't you just explain it to me?"

"I can't let the king or the Master think that I know something's wrong. So I have to pretend."

"So you're not actually arresting Geoffrey?"

The Doctor scoffed. "No, of course not. What kind of Time Lord do you think I am?"

The Doctor led Tegan, Geoffrey, and I through the mansion. He instructed that we stay close behind him so as not to get lost or in trouble. I was just behind him, Geoffrey, and Tegan when I heard something behind me. I stopped walking and turned around, seeing nothing. Then the sound started again around the corner that we had just come from. I turned back to ask the Doctor about it but found that he and the other two had kept on going without noticing I was gone.

"Oh. Well, then." I ran a hand through my hair and looked in the direction the Doctor had headed in. "I guess... This way?"

I walked forward cautiously, unsure if the Master had stayed behind or if I was getting myself hopelessly lost. Ahead of me in the poorly lit hallway was the sound of someone stumbling and a voice.

"Doctor?" I asked softly. "Is that you?"

He suddenly appeared from around the corner, jumping out in front of me and grabbing my hand. "Come on," he encouraged.

"Wait, weren't you just over there? With Tegan?"

"Tegan's looking for Turlough. I'm looking for you. And now I've found you. Now come on. I've found the Master and trapped him in the king's chambers."

"Really?"

"Yes." He started off in the direction he had first appeared, dragging me behind him as he ran along at a fast pace.

Within a minute, we reached a large wooden door that was locked. The Doctor dropped my hand and fiddled with the lock for no more than five seconds. He pushed the door open and stepped through the doorway.

"Doctor," I started as I stepped through after him, "what are we going to do with-"

A gloved hand came over my mouth, cutting me off. I panicked and started struggling against my captor. I guessed it was a man because of his height and strength, despite my desperate attempts to free myself. Then a mouth landed close to my ear and dry lips brushed against my skin.

"Do be quiet, my dear," the Master breathed softly. "I can't have the Doctor stumbling upon us just yet."

The sleeves of my jacket slid up and thick, rough rope wrapped around my wrists. I shrieked into the Master's hand and blindly kicked backwards. He deftly moved out of the way of my flailing limbs and laughed. He finished tying my wrists together and quickly shoved me forwards, laughing again when I stumbled.

"I'm nowhere near done with you yet," he snarled.

I turned to face him, my hair swept across my face and blocking parts of my vision. I started taking small, uncertain steps backwards as the Master advanced. "Look, whatever you want, I'm sure you and the Doctor can come to an agreement. I can't help you."

"Of course you can, my dear Diana."

I shook my head. "Please. Master, I barely know the Doctor. I've only known him for a little more than a month. I'm nothing. I can't help you."

The Master smirked and stopped advancing on me. "He loves you and he'll do anything to protect you. You are the perfect bait for your precious husband."

"But he's not my husband! Not really. He's just my friend." He reached into his coat and pulled out a long white cloth. My eyes widened in fear and I stumbled backwards in a desperate attempt to put as much distance between us as possible. I stepped on the edge of a chair and fell, letting out a gasp. "Please, Master. Please."

I struggled against my bounds again, but the Master put a hand on my shoulder. "Don't be stupid," he whispered, his lips grazing my ear. "I should hate to hurt you or your precious Doctor."

I recoiled away from his touch and hung my head. The Master stepped out of the shadows where I was tied and towards the android Kamelion, his eyes focused on the machine. I watched in awed fear as Kamelion's body shimmered and morphed into a copy of myself.

"Why, Diana, you look so terribly cold. Shall I help warm you?"

The copy of myself smiled and crossed one leg over the other. "Oh, Master," she purred, "please."

I screamed into my gag, "No! No! Stop it, stop it! Don't do this!", but not a sound came out.

The Master grinned and leaned over my copy, brushing the back of his gloved hand across her cheek. She let out a laugh in a low, almost seductive tone and reached up to cup her hands around the back of his neck. The two were about to kiss when the Doctor stormed into the room, eyes ablaze.

"What-"

"Oh, Doctor," my copy said with a giggle, "you have terrible timing. The Master and I were just-"

"Now, now, my dear," the Master scolded lightly, kissing the tip of her nose. "We shan't bore the Doctor with the minuscule details."

The Doctor could barely contain his anger. "What are you doing?"

The false me looked the Doctor up and down in disgust. "What does it look like?"

I cried out into my gag, trying to protest that it wasn't really me that was flirting with the Master. I wanted to run to the Doctor and let him wrap his arms around me, to protect me from anything else that would try and hurt me or tear us apart. But I couldn't because I had let the Master trick me and overpower me. Bitter tears welled up in my eyes and fell down my cheeks.

"What did you do to her?" the Doctor demanded of his old enemy.

"Me?" The Master scoffed and waved his hand. "Doctor, I haven't done anything to your wife. She came to me willingly."

I yanked against my ropes and shook my head. Technically, the Master's words were true, even if he had done it all by tricking me. I silently begged the Doctor not to believe the Master, that I would never betray him like that, that I would never want the Master when I could have him instead.

"You would never do this. You haven't a cruel bone in your body."

"People change," my copy snapped.

"Not you. Never you."

The Master straightened and readjusted his suit. "Very good, Doctor. I'm impressed." He snapped his fingers and my copy morphed back into the form of Kamelion.

"Where is she?" the Doctor hissed, his eyes flashing dangerously.

"Like I would ever tell you."

"I know that that is not Diana. So you have exactly five seconds to tell me where she is and if I find that you've hurt her in any way, then nothing on this Earth will keep me from tearing you apart. Do you understand?"

Still maintaining a calm and collected exterior, the Master smiled. "Why, Doctor. I thought you abhorred violence. Whatever happened to change it?"

"Don't test me."

"You know, it is a widely known fact that love is a chemical defect."

"Master, do not-"

"What would she think of you if she could see you now, ready to murder me? Would she love you then?"

I saw the Doctor flinch at the Master's words and wished with all my heart that I hadn't let myself get fooled by such an evil man. "I will tear this pace apart stone by stone if that's what I have to do to find her. Now tell me where she is!"

"Do you see what she's done to you? You were once sensible and logical and everything a Time Lord should be. Now you're fueled onwards by love and love alone. How pathetic is that, Doctor?" The Master laughed darkly and clapped his hands together. "Oh, how love changes the best of us. How it has changed you into a monster." He paused and observed the Doctor carefully. "Could you do it? Could you really kill me for refusing to tell you where she is?"

"Would you care to find out?"

The Master smirked and turned, slowly approaching the spot in the shadows where he had bound and gagged me and threatened me with death. "I am curious to see what she thinks of you now, Doctor."

"What do you mean?"

Stepping into the hidden alcove I had been forced into, the Master gripped my arm and pulled me against him. I whimpered and strained against his strong grasp on me. He yanked me past him into the light, holding me by my wrists and guiding me from behind.

The Doctor's eyes widened and I could tell that he had to restrain himself. His hands curled into fists as I was guided even closer to him. I looked up into his eyes, silently apologizing for what the Master had put him through and begging him to help me.

"Let her go."

"Now, now, my dear Doctor. Let us not be too hasty. Are you not intrigued by my android friend, Kamelion?"

"At the moment? No."

"You should be, Doctor." The Master ripped the gag from my mouth, dropped it, and then gripped the hair at the back of my head. "He can perform very fascinating tricks."

He gestured to Kamelion with a move of his head. The Doctor and I looked over to see Kamelion transform into King John. "This is your King John?" the Doctor asked as he looked back at us.

"Not my invention this time, I'm afraid. Kamelion is a tool of an earlier invader of Xeriphas, and instrumental in my escape from that benighted planet." The Master tugged on my hair and tilted my head back another inch. "Look again."

Kamelion shimmered and transformed into the copy of myself he had used earlier to trick the Doctor. I stifled a pained sound when my hair was pulled a little more. I could see the Doctor turn back to us and a grimace work its way across his face.

"Do forgive me if I say I'm not impressed."

"A weapon used by the invaders of Xeriphas," the Master elaborated. "A decoy, capable of infinite form or personality."

My copy smiled and laughed. "I am a complex mass of artificial neurons, dear Doctor."

"And controlled by?" he asked.

"Merely simple concentration and psychokinetics," my false self answered. "Watch this."

Kamelion then morphed into the form of the Doctor, complete with cricket outfit and celery. "Anyone can play," it said.

The Doctor focused on the android and stared intently at it until its form started to morph again. "Quite masterly," the new copy of the Master said with a smile.

"You flatter me, Doctor," the Master. "Although I do prefer Diana."

Kamelion transformed into the copy of myself and grinned. The Doctor looked away from it and back at the Master and I.

"So you use Kamelion here as bad King John."

"Aided and abetted by you, his demon, and your blue engine." The Master shrugged and added, "I will admit that your arrival here was most timely."

"A gift," the Doctor replied coldly.

"How succinctly put."

The Doctor took a step forward, but stopped when the Master tugged harshly on my hair. He raised his hands and stepped back. "So the King turns the Barons solidly against him, he is killed in battle or deposed, possibly in favour of King Phillip of France. He cannot therefore offer Magna Carta. What do you think of it so far?"

"I couldn't do better myself."

"Thus the foundations of parliamentary democracy will never be laid."

"Brilliant."

The Doctor shook his head. "You cannot be allowed to alter the course of history, even indirectly."

"You can't do much about it, can you, Doctor? I have your wife."

"I'm not his wife," I managed.

"Do be quiet," the Master hissed in my ear. With his mouth still close to my ear, he glanced at his enemy. "How do you propose to stop me, Doctor?"

"I shall have to give it some thought."

"You haven't much time. Your little wife doesn't have much longer, I'm afraid."

"You haven't your compressor."

"I still have my wits, Doctor."

The Doctor took a step forward and glared at the Master. "So do I."

"You would do well, my dear Doctor, to ponder that you played directly into my hand. As did you, my dear."

The Master released his grip on my hair long enough run a hand across my cheek. I jerked away from his touch and tried kicking at him like I had earlier, hoping that he would release me. But instead he twisted the rope tighter around my wrist to elicit a painful response.

"Let her go and I'll consider leaving you alone."

"You would do that, Doctor?"

His gaze softened for a moment as he stared at me. "For her, I would do anything."

"You are caught in our web, Doctor," my copy suddenly said.

The Doctor looked briefly at the android. "He has a mind of his own?"

"Indeed," the Master agreed. "But highly susceptible."

"Dominated by our demons," Kamelion added.

The Master took a step back and brought me with him, twisting the rope even more. I bit my lip so he wouldn't have the satisfaction of hearing me cry out. The Doctor followed me with his eyes, worrying and fighting his anger every moment that the Master had control over me.

"You will know that the king and his dead brothers are believed to be the devil's work, Doctor. Your interference here with your dreary TARDIS has only confirmed this. You are, dare I say so, discredited demons, and as such you make a unique contribution to altering the course of history. Hoist on your own petard."

"And where will you take your toy next?"

"Does it matter? You'll not be there to greet me. And I'll have Diana with me."

"Like hell you will."

"Oh, Doctor. Do not forget whose power she is under at the moment. I could snap her pretty little neck at any time I want to."

Narrowing his eyes, the Doctor took another step closer. "But you won't do it. Kill her and you have nothing to bait me with. Besides, your friend Kamelion has a mind of his own. I'm sure he can tell the difference between right and wrong. he will turn against you."

"He obeys only my will," the Master insisted.

"Yes, but for how much longer?"

"For as long as I command it. Kamelion will not turn on me."

"You don't think so? If you are to take Diana away from me as you say, then she will surely have an influence on him. She is the greatest person I have known or ever will. She can change even the hardest of hearts."

"Not mine."

The Doctor sighed. "We were the closest of friends once, now you try to kill me with every chance you get. I'm afraid I've given up on you."

"You're getting old, Doctor," the Master laughed. "Your will is weak. You couldn't defeat me if you tried. I think it's time you regenerated."

"You won't win, not ultimately."

"You're mistaken. With Kamelion's unique ability at my command and Diana's powers mine to harness, it's only a matter of time before I undermine the key civilizations of the universe. Chaos will reign, and I shall be its emperor."

"You can't control her!" the Doctor said forcefully. "Not even she can control it. What makes you think that you can?"

"I can control anything and anyone. And with your Diana gone, you'll go mad trying to find her. But you never will."

Anger welled up inside me. I couldn't let the Master kidnap me and I couldn't let the Doctor go on a wild goose chase after me, possibly putting himself in danger for my benefit. I brought my heel down on the Master's instep and then brought my foot up as high as I could manage, effectively ramming my heel into kneecap. Mentally, I thanked Rose for giving me the high heeled boots that had come in handy.

The Master let go of my bound wrists and stumbled backwards. I whipped around and kicked him in the shins. When he fell to the floor writhing in pain, he stared angrily up at me. "You stupid, ignorant girl!" he snarled.

"I may not be smart like Romana or Zoe or Susan. And I may not be beautiful like Rose or Sarah or Liz or Clara. I'm perfectly ordinary and I am nothing special. But you know what? I care about the Doctor. He's my home and my life and I'm not going to let you or anyone else hurt him."

He groaned and hung his head. "Rassilon, Doctor. She's too innocent for her own good."

"Earth is a primitive planet," the Doctor said as he started untying my hands. "You won't succeed so easily elsewhere. You'll never succeed. And your compressor is in my TARDIS. It seems all your plans are thwarted."

Suddenly, there was a loud banging on the door. The Doctor quickly, yet gently, pulled the rope from around my wrists and threw it to the floor. He pulled me into a tight embrace and breathed in to my hair.

"Your Majesty!" called a man.

"Doctor?" I asked.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes. I'm fine. Just sort of... in shock."

"Enter," ordered the voice of King John.

I looked over the Doctor's shoulder and saw that Kamelion had morphed into the king. Then the door to the chamber flew open and slammed against the wall. I gasped and grabbed the Doctor's coat, keeping him close to me.

Ranulf stepped into the room, along with another man, two guards, and Turlough. Ranulf drew his sword with a grimace. "Sire, you have him."

"We have him," the false king agreed.

"Sire, they have slain my kinsman."

The king looked at the Doctor and I, giving us his disturbing smile. "Such perfidy must not go unpunished. We would have boiling oil. See to it."

The first two men left, leaving the guards and Turlough in the room.

"Doctor?" Turlough asked.

The Doctor pressed a lingering kiss to my forehead before pulling away and looking back at Turlough. "Yes. Yes, I'm not a demon for nothing."

"Very well, my dear Doctor," the Master snapped as he stood. "Your will against mine? So be it."

Both Time Lords concentrated on Kamelion, causing his body to be caught in between his natural form and the form of King John. While they were focusing on the android, Ranulf and one of his men returned.

"The King!" he cried. "What ails the King?"

"The Doctor," the Master whispered with difficulty. "Kill."

Behind me, the TARDIS materialized. I turned and gasped in shock, surprised that she had appeared without seemingly anyone controlling her. The Doctor suddenly rushed past me with his arm around Tegan's wrist. I was about to ask where she had come from when Turlough came up behind me, his left arm around my waist and his right holding a sword in front of us.

"No!" he snapped as the Master tried to advance on us.

"Do you oppose me, boy?" the Time Lord asked mockingly.

"I've had quite enough of you, whoever you are, so don't try me too far."

"Diana!" the Doctor called from inside the TARDIS. "Turlough!"

The Master reached wildly for me as Turlough pushed me into the TARDIS, waving the sword to ward off anyone who would follow us. "No!" the Master cried.

The Doctor closed the doors immediately after Turlough and I stumbled in. Turlough released his hold on me and placed the sword on the ground by the doors. I grabbed his sleeve and smiled. "Thank you, Turlough."

"It's nothing," he answered dismissively.

"God knows what the Master would have done with me if you hadn't-"

"Diana, really. It's nothing. I'm glad to help."

"I don't believe it," Tegan said roughly. "Can you see it too?"

I looked to where she was pointing and yelped. "Two of you?" I asked incredulously.

"Yes, I'm afraid so," Turlough replied as he walked over to the Doctor's side.

"Why are there two of you?"

"Tegan," the Doctor started with a smile, "let me present Kamelion."

"Oh." I laughed and shook my head. "Well, that makes sense."

Tegan was quite skeptical towards Kamelion and I couldn't blame her. She treated him rather rudely, which I didn't exactly approve of, but I didn't trust him completely. He could make a very realistic copy of myself and I wasn't comfortable with him. But I decided that if the Doctor thought he was alright, then he couldn't really be that bad.

"You're not going to leave the Master here to carry out his plan?" Tegan questioned.

The Doctor stepped back towards the console and set the coordinates. "Well, he's without Kamelion now, and he won't be on Earth for much longer. I took the opportunity of leaving his compressor activated. Won't do his dimension circuits much good. He could end up anywhere except where he wants to go."

"Rather like the TARDIS, really," the Australian mumbled under her breath.

The TARDIS dematerialized and the Doctor walked over to me. He gently cupped my chin and tilted my head back. "Are you alright?" he asked tenderly.

"I'm... tired."

He brought his other hand up to my cheek and gazed worriedly into my eyes. "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have been in danger."

"The Master's evil," I whispered. "He'll do what ever he has to so he can get what he wants. I'm in disposable."

"No," the Doctor said firmly. "No, you're not. Not to me."

I smiled. "You have no idea how much that means to me, Doctor."

He kissed my forehead and pulled me into a tight hug. "I don't ever want to see him hurt you like that. I could barely keep myself under control. Just knowing that I couldn't do anything without him hurting you-... I'm so sorry."

I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my head against his chest. The easy thudding of his hearts comforted me. "I don't blame you," I told him sincerely.

The Doctor suddenly pulled back, putting me an arms' length away. "Why don't you go to your room? I need to talk to Tegan and then I'll come and see you. Is that alright?"

"Of course it's alright."

I smiled and started towards the console room door. The Doctor watched me go in silence, his brows drawn together in worry. I crossed my arms over my stomach as I walked through the hallway and let out a heavy sigh. Would I leave before he come after me? I didn't want to leave yet. I wanted to stay with him for as long as possible. I wanted to stay home for once.