(Author's notes: Hello! Avatarfan445 here! I know I haven't updated in a while, so here's a decent chapter! I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Barbiegirl2435 for writing the majority of this, lolz, and to Shadowgirl416 for letting me use an idea from her Fanfiction "Genesis"—I also recommend strongly you read that if you like Anneliese and Julian. Wellz, enjoy!)

Chapter 8: In the Mines

Previously:

Then the bar on the window fell, and made a clinging noise, which I'm sure Preminger heard.

I turn around to see Preminger standing there.

"How can you be king?" I ask. Last thing I saw was Preminger's sinister smile-and that wasn't a pretty memory, then the two men threw a sack over me. I struggled to get out, then I heard Preminger say-

"You're the tutor; you're supposed to have all the answers."

Forced down on my knees, I try to fight my way out of the sack. I hear the men behind me arguing, but I can't quite make sense of their words.

I hear the sound of fabric shifting—someone's moving—but I don't know where.

Rough hands on my back shove me forward, then another set of hands catch my shoulders and shoves me back. Back and forth, back and forth—this goes on for a while; it's almost like some sort of game.

"Enough of this nonsense!" Preminger demanded, "Take him inside where no one can see him; I'll figure out something to do with him later!"

The first set of hands pushes me for the last time, but instead of the other pair catching me; my face connects with the cold, hard ground.

"Yeah, right, I knew that!"

"Preminger's goons aren't the brightest…" I muse.

I can hear the grunts and groans of Preminger's half-witted accomplices attempting to drag me across the forest floor. I struggle to move myself into a more comfortable position, the rough material of the sack was chaffing my skin; slowly but surely, they manage to drag me towards the chalet.

The old, wooden door creaks open and they again begin dragging me; before I could make note of any changes, my head smashes against something—something hard. Gradually, I begin to fade…

Slowly, my eyes flutter open and I begin to take in my surroundings; the air around me was bitter and dense, and had a musky odor. My head was throbbing, yet I didn't know why. I struggled to move my hands, but they seem to be tightly secured behind my back.

"Well, this is perfect." I mutter, "And how the hell did I get into the mines?"

Suddenly, the door flew open and Preminger strolled through the doorway, a sinister smile on his lips.

"Why are you here? What did you do to me? And what the hell did you do with Anneliese?" I demand angrily.

Preminger smirked, "Patience, you pompous fool of a teacher; I haven't even answered your first question."

"And what was that, you powdered ninny?" I retort.

"Feisty aren't we, ponytail? It seems you do have a dark side."

I laugh dryly, "You haven't seen the worst of it. Now, you cotton-headed, ninny-muggins; exactly what was my first question?"

"Calm down, you sociopathic know-it-all; and I'll tell you how I'll become king!" Preminger bellows.

I snort. "Humor me."

"That's better. 'How do I become king?' you ask; it's actually quite simple. See, in the past few days, the princess has exhibited peculiar behavior; and I intend on getting to the bottom of it one way or another. And when I do…well, let's just keep that a surprise." He then laughs evilly.

He then strolls out of the room. When he reaches the exit, though, he turns his head back and says, "Enjoy your last few days in the mines…" Another row of evil laughter following his taunt.

"Will my last days be in these mines? Will I ever see Anneliese again?" These questions and more rampages around my head. The fact that I might not see Anneliese—or daylight for that matter—made my stomach do an uncomfortable back flip.

The good memories Anneliese and I had were uncountable. I smile as I reminisce the first time we met…

I pace down the hallway as I go to meet my new student. It was my first day on the job, and I need to make a good impression.

I couldn't believe I was working for royalty now, the fact that I was made the pressure intensify.

I was told to go this way by a mean-looking man who wears a strange purple coat, and, for someone who wears heels, was oddly short. I look up ahead and saw a head of perfect blonde hair wearing a pink dress that glides on the floor with elegancy. She stood opposite her mother, the queen, who smiles at the sight of me. Was that the signal for "come here"? Most likely. At first, it seemed as though the princess was going to fall, but she recoiled herself. I sigh in relief. Just as soon as she regained her balance, she lost it again when a hideous dog came tromping by.

Without thinking, I jump ahead and catch her just before she hits the ground. Butterflies race inside me as I saw her face for the very first time. I always heard the princess was beautiful, but she is much more than that.

Her eyes were wrinkled up, but as she opened them, a peace came to her face.

Carefully, I help her onto her feet again. I couldn't stop looking into those sea-blue eyes.

"Anneliese, are you alright?" the queen asks.

"Thank you," she says.

I was about to respond when the queen came closer. I step back and bow, and take her hand and kiss it. I repeat the same process to Anneliese, but sparks dash inside me at the touch of her soft hand.

I notice the book I brought with me was suddenly not in my hand and I reach down to pick it up.

"So, you like science books?" she asks, noting the texture of the book I now hold in my hand.

"Indeed, I do. Actually, I'll be your—" but the queen cut me off.

"Anneliese, I want to introduce your new tutor." Her eyes move toward me and I bow once again to Anneliese.

"It's an honor to meet you, your highness." I say as I regain my original posture.

"Well, well…" Preminger comes in. "I see the two…youngsters have already established a bond."

The queen smiles "Indeed, Preminger, indeed." she starts walking towards the castle.

"So, you are going to be my tutor" she repeats with a shaky voice, I nod.

"Oh, and thanks for catching me. It would have been very embarrassing if you weren't there." We begin to walk around the garden.

"It was nothing, but I guess I made a very wrong first impression, didn't I?" I ask her, worry in my face.

"No, no, no… actually I think my mother likes you even more." I chuckle

"And so did I" she assures "You didn't tell me your name" I stop walking for a moment and turn to face her.

"I am Julian, Julian Mills." I say holding my science book with one hand and taking her hand again to kiss it.

"At your service" I say with a smirk.

She smiles and we resume our walk.

The garden was filled with different kinds of flowers. I want to show my wide knowledge on the thing I notice she was interested in, science. So I wander through the thousands of flowers and found a particular one, standing out with a gaudy pink alone in the crowded garden. I gently pull the flower out, smell it and turn toward her.

I offer her the flower, at first she seems kind of shy to take it, but reaches out a gently hand anyway

"A perfect example of Rosa-" I start

"Centafolia" we finished in unison.

"My favorite" she finishes as she smells the flower.

I smile at her.

I come out of my train of thought feeling in a better mood. But as soon as reality hits, I fall back into a state of depression.

(A/N: What do you think? Leave a review and let me know! Bye bye!)

~Avatarfan445