Apologies for the late update, I have my AS exams within the next week and revision is going very slow…too slow infact! No matter though I knew if I didn't update id lose your interest all to soon and that's the last thing I wanted! This chapter is relatively long and took a while to write, infact I re wrote it several times. Still not sure with the outcome but I think if I keep you waiting any longer you guys wont be too happy hehe!
As always I hope your enjoying this and please review, especially this chapter, telling me what you think!
ENJOY!

Chapter 8:

The Doctor awoke to the sound of chirping birds and the rustle of the wind outside blowing the magnificently large trees against one another. As he rose from his bed he realised he hadn't even gotten changed from his clothing's he wore yesterday.

As the Doctor stood, he stretched and coughed. Suddenly he gripped his throat in pain.

Woa! Man I'm thirsty.

Quickly glancing at the full length mirror on the other side of the room the Doctor decided he looked "presentable" enough to quickly go down for a cup of water. Obviously he didn't notice his ruffled hair, tilted tie, or his crumpled suit jacket.

As he left his room he glanced over to his left and stared at Rose's door. It wasn't open and by the sounds of it Rose wasn't awake yet.

He muffled a laugh. Looks like the wine hit her much harder than I expected!

As the Doctor walked through the corridor down the white marble stairs he entered the kitchen. In the kitchen their was a large jug of water but only one glass.

Was Rose already downstairs?

As the Doctor neared the counter and rounded it to reach the jug of water he noticed two servants quarrelling over some broken glass.

Well that explains why there is only one glass on the table. Rose must still be asleep.

"Torit you fool! These glasses were hand blown specially for the Prince as a gift from the King of Menthos! I can't believe you broke one!" One servant was saying to the other in a "loud" whisper to another servant who was clearing up the shattered bits on the floor.

As the Doctor heard this he stopped drinking and began to understand why a broken glass was such a huge deal. As he lifted the glass towards a source of light from outside he looked carefully and was stunned to see the decorations of the glass were created using air bubbles of different sizes. The different sized bubbles helped create an image of several flowers all entwined within one another. Wow! That must have taken a while! However within the amazingly beautiful designs there was something else, something that made the glass that much more beautiful. It took the Doctor about four seconds to figure it out. Menthorian sand. Of course, that's what makes it glisten so much in the light.

As the Doctor lowered he empty glass he began to get up to go wake Rose up but stopped when he heard the rest of the conversation.

"It wasn't me Rali! I swear it!"

The Doctor stopped and turned to look at the two servants. It was obvious the more dominant of the two, Rali, had noticed his glance and bowed towards him, greeting him.

The Doctor approached the two. "You say you didn't break this glass…uh…Toret?"

"Torit sir, and no I swear it wasn't I!"

"Enough Torit, our guest doesn't need to hear of your lies. My apologies sir about this rude scene to start your day."

"No no! Honestly I don't mind! Was just thinking it was such a shame that such a beautiful glass should have been broken."

"That it is" Came a voice from behind them. It was the Prince.

Both servants immediately bowed and chanted, "Good morning your highness."

"Morning. Rali, can you please ensure this mess is cleared away after my breakfast, I do not wish to see litter upon the floor, even if it was once a beautiful object. It is no longer of any use. We can deal with who to blame later. It is far to early in the morning, and I myself and far too tired."

The Prince then turned to the Doctor. "Is Lady Tyler wake yet?"

The Doctor who was staring at the glass looked at the Prince and replied, "I'm not sure, I don't think so. I have only just woken up. I'll go find her now."

The Prince nodded and stepped past them all into the dining area to go eat his morning meal.

As he left the room the servants bowed their heads and stood back up to find the Doctor vanished from the room.

The Doctor was already halfway up the stairs to go and wake up Rose. He had lots planned for her, and she probably was going to need extra help getting up and ready for another day of sight-seeing.

He reached her door and knocked.

"Rose?"

He tried again, knocking and calling her name. No response. He opened the door slowly and called her again as he stuck he his round the door to look inside.

The room was empty and the bed was still unmade. He glanced over to the right and noticed the bathroom was open and empty as well. He frowned. He stepped out the room and shut the door.

Where is she? The Doctor was beginning to feel uneasy of this ignorance and began to walk, or so he was telling himself he was walking and not jogging, down the stairs.

Once downstairs he glanced through every open door either side of him in the hallway and saw they were all empty.He then re entered the kitchen to find Torit cleaning up the remains of the broken glass.

The Doctor just gazed at him and the broken glass deep in thought as to where to look next.

Suddenly his eyes widened and in half a second he was in front of Torit and had picked a piece of broken glass from him and looked at it.

"Sir! Its sharp be careful!" Torit protested.

I've lived for over 900 years, battled daleks, saved the entire human race at least a hundred times over and he is telling me to be careful with broken glass?! Where is the justice…

Torit had now left the room to dispose of the other glass pieces, while the Doctor stood their his eyes fixed on the glass piece and his expression traumatized.

No…stop it, you are over exaggerating again. This is a holiday, a break from all the danger. Just calm down, maybe she just went for a stroll. Whatever, Rose would wait for you!

As his eyes trailed across the wet floor everything was coming together.

He crouched down and studied the water pattern. It was spread in one straight line towards the wall. This meant something pushed it in one direction. If Torit had just accidently knocked it over the water would have spread out evenly. No…someone pushed this glass and pushed it in this direction…

The Doctor mused as he stood up with the glass piece still in his hand as he stared at the most terrifying thing before him. An open window.

"No…please…just this once…no."

"What ever is the matter for such a dreadful look on your face Doctor? Honestly can this day get any worse?" The Prince asked, he had just entered the room and he was frowning. This morning hadn't gotten off to a good start. Expensive glass littered on the floor, poor breakfast, lack of sleep. He was doing his best not to lose control.

He paused when he looked over at the Doctor when he didn't reply. Usually he had something witty to say or some sort of indirect insult to speak however now he was silent. Staring off through the window into towards the forest.

He turned and looked at the Prince. The Prince was shocked at his expression and took a small step back as if to balance himself from the wave of emotion coming from the Doctor.

His shoulders were tense, his stance was defiant, and his hands were balling into fists. The Prince looked down to one of his hands and noticed blood trickling down it as the sharp edge of the glass was cutting through his skin.

The Doctor looked at him straight in the eye and spoke. "Something has happened to Rose…she's gone…"

He loosed his hands and stared at the piece of bloody glass in his hands. He shut his eyes as if to block the harsh message sent through the object in his hands. The glass had a rose decorated on it, now broken in half with blood smeared all over it.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Oh yeah! I loved writing that ending! It was one of those, "creative writing" moments!
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Mazza