A/N: Sorry about the delay. Had a busy week. Lots of birthdays to celebrate, mine included :P So here's the latest chapter. I'll definite post the next one tonight or tomorrow. It's all ready to be posted as well :) Thanks for reading and for your reviews :) I'm glad you're enjoying this :)

Chapter Eight

London 1666

"Princess! Princess!"

Althea closed her eyes and cursed softly as Prince Jon approached. "I was so worried about you."

"Were you?" she asked. "Why?"

He blinked. "Well I... because you hit your head."

"Which I would not have done if you'd have caught me. Good day," she said and turned away, but he grabbed her arm and turned her to face him.

"Do not walk away from me, Princess," he hissed.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was under the impression that our talk was over. Now take your hand off me this instant."

He removed his hand and she started to walk away. "They said you were..."

She turned around again and gave him a look of interest. "They said I was what?"

"Feisty."

"I am. The real question is are you man enough to handle it?"

He grabbed her arm and shoved her up against the nearest tree and pressed his body against hers.

"Get off of me!"

"Not until I show you just how much of a man I am. You're a tease, Princess. I'm onto your little game."

Althea began to panic. Nobody was around, which was unusual for mid-morning. That only left one solution. Her knee came up hard and hit Jon in the family jewels, causing him to fall to a heap on the ground, writhing in pain.

She hurried into the castle and ran into her father. "My dear daughter. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, father." Then suddenly, her eyes filled with tears and she shook her head. "No, I am not fine."

"I saw you talking with Prince Jon. Is he not to your liking?"

"Honestly? No, he is not. He is a ginger freak!"

King Richard chuckled and then nodded. "I do believe he will ask for your hand."

"Oh no," she sighed.

"You do not want it?"

"No, father, I do not."

He nodded and then leaned close. "Neither do I."

Her eyes widened. "Does that mean I can refuse his proposal?"

"You're a woman of free will. And between you and I, it wouldn't be that great of a match."

She threw her arms around her father and sighed. "You have no idea how happy that makes me."

"We will meet in an hour in the throne room and I will send the King and his son on their way."

"Thank you, father."

An hour later found Althea in the throne room with her father, the King of Suffolk and his son, who was looking a tad bit uncomfortable. He scowled at the princess.

"Well, I believe my son has a very important question to ask your lovely daughter."

"Well, out with it then," King Richard sighed, clearly not in the mood to waste any more of his time.

"Princess, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife, thus joining our two kingdoms?"

"I am unable to acquiesce your request."

It was so quiet in the room that a pin drop could be heard.

"I beg your pardon?"

Althea sighed loudly "Let me put it to you in terms you can understand. It means no."

"There's your answer, she said no," the King said. "Back to your kingdom you go, and take your son with you."

"Her Highness is very brave," King Suffolk said. "But my son deserves to know why."

"Do you want to start with him not catching me when I fainted yesterday, which caused me to have a concussion? Or how about the way he forced himself on me in the garden not less an two hours ago!"

"Silence!" King Suffolk shouted at her, but the King was furious. "You will not talk of such nonsense!"

"And you will not speak to my daughter in such a tone. She's made her choice and this meeting is over."

"She's going to regret this. My son will have her."

"Over my dead body," Althea muttered.

"Oh, my beautiful princess," King Jonathan said with a wicked smile. "I'm sure that could be arranged."

King Richard stood up. "How dare you threaten my daughter! Get out of my castle and so help me God, if either one of you sets foot in my kingdom again, your heads will be as good as gone! Now get out of here and take your..." he turned to his daughter, "what did you call him?"

"Ginger freak."

"Ah yes. Take your ginger freak son with you."

"You'll be sorry, your Majesty!" King Jon hissed as he grabbed his son and pulled him from the room.

King Richard turned to his daughter. "You did not tell me the boy forced himself upon you."

"I... didn't want to worry you, father."

"I see. Well, from this day forth you do not go anywhere without an escort, is that clear?"

"But father..."

"No buts. You will do as I say. It is for your own good as well as your safety. Do you understand?"

"Yes, father."

She wandered down to the stables where Emmett was working at the forge. His face was covered in a fine sheen of sweat as he pounded metal with a sledgehammer.

"Afternoon, Princess." He put the hammer down and smiled at her, but then frowned when he saw her face. "Why the long face?"

"Prince Jon asked me to marry him."

"That's good news," he said, and then studied her face. "Or maybe not."

"He tried to... well he tried to... oh I can't even say it."

"He tried to what?"

"He pushed me against a tree and called me a tease."

Emmett's eyes widened. "He didn't..."

"He did. I do not even want to contemplate what he would have done next if I had not used my knee on him."

He cleared his throat and sat back down, crossing his legs. "Remind me not to get you mad at me in the future."

"Oh, Emmett," she giggled. "I could never do that to you. Anyway, he and his father left."

"You mean you're not going to marry him?"

"God no! He's... what Dr. House said, a ginger freak."

Emmett laughed. "Oh, is he the one you were dancing with before me? The one with the red hair and really pale skin?"

"Yes! He started talking about us, and babies and... I don't even want to think about it."

"No wonder you're upset."

"It's not that I don't want to get married! I do. I just..."

"You want to choose who you marry, is that it?"

"Exactly. I seem to have this crazy notion that you should marry for love."

"It's not crazy. I know I wouldn't be able to marry some total stranger just because I had to. There's someone for everyone, Althea. You'll find him."

He reached over and patted her hand but didn't move it right away.

"Am I interrupting something?" House inquired as he stood in the doorway, having eavesdropped on their conversation.

"No, not at all," Emmett said as he quickly pulled his hand away from hers. "I was just taking a quick break. What can I do for you?"

"I had some time on my hands and thought you might want to go for a ride," House said to Althea. "Word on the street says you can't go out without an escort." Then he whispered, "there are gingers in them there woods."

Emmett looked worried. "What happened?"

"The prince of putz and his father threatened her. The King fears a kidnapping so she's not allowed to go out alone."

"With all due respect, House, you think her having an escort is going to stop these people if they're hellbent on revenge?"

"What do you suggest then?"

"One of us should stay with her at all times."

"Oh no," Althea said as she began to back away. "Not again."

"Not again what?" Emmett asked as he scratched his head in confusion.

"No offense, dear Emmett, but although your idea is a good one, I don't think it's the right one."

"Then what do you suggest?"

"Just leave me be. If they're going to get me, they're going to get me. They'll find a way."

"I'd rather not give them the opportunity," House grumbled.

"And I agree with him," Emmett nodded. He reached for her hand again and squeezed it. "Let us protect you, Althea. If something happened to you, I'd never forgive myself."

She looked into Emmett's dark brown hypnotic eyes and she couldn't help but notice the desperation in them.

"Dr. House, could you please give Emmett and I a few moments alone?"

House glanced at his watch. "That's one hell of a quickie."

Emmett glared at him and pointed to the door. "Out!"

"Okay okay I'm going," he sighed and left the stable, but didn't go far.

"Emmett," Althea began as she stood up and began to pace. "I feel horrible about what I did."

"Ohhhkayy. What is it you think you did?"

"I was afraid that I led you on before. And then the other day I told you that we were better off as friends."

"That's right."

"It seemed right at the time but now I just don't know anymore. I do not know what I want."

"Althea, you're young," Emmett said with a smile. "And we've had this talk before. You need to find someone closer to your own age."

She stopped pacing and wringing her hands. "But that's the problem, Emmett. I don't want someone my own age. I just want you."

She was standing in front of him, on her tip toes, with her hands on his chest as she stared expectantly at him, waiting for something.

He cleared his throat and placed his hands over hers. "Althea, I don't know what you've got in your head about... us. But whatever it is, can't happen."

"Why not? We like each other, don't we?"

"Yes, yes we do. But that's all it can ever be. I wish there was a way I could make you understand that."

"No," she said as she stepped back. "I understand completely. Goodbye, Emmett," she said and then turned around and quickly ran outside, nearly knocking over House on her way out the door.

"What the..."

"God damnit!" Emmett hissed as he kicked over a stool.

"What just happened?"

"It doesn't matter. I hurt her feelings. She'll never speak to me again."

"What did you say to her?"

"I told her the truth. And she didn't like it."

"What did you say to her?" House repeated, getting a little impatient.

"She told me in so many words that she wanted me, even after I told her that she needs to find someone closer to her own age."

"Oh man," House sighed as he scratched his forehead with his thumb. "You really don't know much about women, do you?"

Emmett shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Women have always been one of the great mysteries of the universe to me. But I stand by what I said. She'd be happier with... well, someone like you, House."

"I wish."

"What? You don't like her?"

"Of course I like her. But I don't think she likes me, or ever will as much as she likes you."

"Oh, I dunno about that. I've seen the way she's been looking at you recently. Ever since she took that blow to the head..." Emmett's eyes widened. "Great Scott! That's it!"

"What's it?"

"How badly did she hit her head?"

"Pretty bad. Bad enough that she had a wicked goose egg. It was just a mild concussion. What does that have to do with anything?"

"Maybe she wasn't supposed to marry the prince? And her hitting her head just facilitated that from not happening."

"Yeah, and?"

Emmett scratched his head. "I don't know. But something doesn't feel right."

"We need to talk to her."

"No, you need to talk to her. You're the reason she ran out of here crying."

Emmett's eyes widened. "She was crying?"

"Well yeah. That's what women do. You upset them, and they cry. Especially women in this day and age. It doesn't take much to cause them to cry, or to faint. I witnessed that action first hand, and although amusing, a lot of women don't do it gracefully. But yeah, you go find her, and talk to her."

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

Emmett searched the castle inside out but there was no sign of Althea. When he returned to the stable, House was there, talking to a very attractive milk maid.

"So did you two kiss and makeup?" House inquired.

"She's not there."

"What do you mean she's not there? Where else would she be?"

"I don't know, but she's not in the castle. She must've run off somewhere."

"Then we need to find her." House dismissed the milkmaid with the promise of seeing her later, and the two men set off on horseback to locate the missing princess.

XXX

Althea lay in the green grass staring up at the blue sky above as she contemplated things. She chose that field because it was quiet, and far enough from the castle that nobody would think to look for her. She always considered it her special place when she needed to think, and now was one of those times.

She'd long since stopped crying, but it didn't mean she wouldn't start again once she started thinking about Emmett.

She knew he cared about her, and she was more than straight forward about her feelings for him but still he refused her. That she couldn't understand. True he was much older than she was but age never bothered her. Unfortunately it bothered him much more.

So when he tried to steer her towards Dr. House, it made her angry. How dare he decide who she should want! Of course Dr. House was younger than Emmett but that didn't mean he was best suited for her, either.

And yet, one look into those blue eyes of his made her weak. She wondered if his kisses would make her feel the same way. That wasn't to say Emmett's kisses didn't do that to her. The first kiss they shared was incredible, even if she was quite intoxicated at the time. But the second time wasn't so much and therefore led her to believe that her feelings for the blacksmith were not as they seemed.

The sound of approaching horses made her sigh, but she didn't move. Clearly they'd discovered her secret hiding place and would no doubt take her back to the castle.

"Well, well,what do we have here?" a stranger's voice laughed, causing the other man to chuckle.

"Looks to be one very lovely lass. She is just as the Prince described."

Althea's eyes flipped open and she sat up. "You are trespassing, sirs. Please go back from wence you came and leave me be."

"I'm sorry, your highness," one of the man said as he jumped down from his horse. He had something in his hands that he hid behind his back. "We are here by order of Prince Jonathan. He wishes to see you."

"Well I do not wish to see him. So you may go and give him that message."

She didn't notice the other man come up behind her.

"Please forgive me, Princess," the man said as he lunged towards her with some rope. She backed away into the arms of the man behind her who grabbed her hands while the other man secured them behind her back. "Don't fight, lass. It's so much better if you don't fight."

Althea put up quite a struggle but she soon tired and when the men clamped something over her mouth and nose, she succumbed to darkness and her whole body went limp.

XXX

Prince Jon stood over Althea as she lay on the cot in the dungeon. "Her dress is torn," he hissed, and then grabbed one of the men. "I told her she wasn't to be touched!"

"She put up quite a struggle, your Highness. It was unavoidable."

"When will she wake up?"

"Soonish I would think. I gave her laudanum, for she was quite agitated, screaming for someone named Emmett and Dr. House."

Prince Jon laughed. "Aye, the blacksmith and the doctor. Both grossly unsuitable for the likes of her. She belongs with someone of great nobility. Not to mention someone as young as she who can keep up with her."

"You should be so lucky," one of the men laughed, but was backhanded by the prince.

"Silence! I suggest you keep quiet or I shall have you thrown in the stocks."

"I beg your pardon, your highness," the man muttered as he rubbed his jaw.

"I have some business to attend to. I'm sure his Majesty, King Richard will be demanding her return. Let the negotiations begin," he laughed. "How much do you think he'd be willing to part with his dearest daughter?"

XXX

Emmett and House approached the field where someone said they saw Althea, but she was nowhere to be seen. "Wait, I see something, over there!" Emmett pointed to what looked like an article of clothing laying in the grass. He jumped off his horse and picked up the cap she sometimes wore when it was chilly. "This is hers. But where is she?"

House glanced around and saw a note. "I think I have a good idea." He unfolded the note and read it aloud.

To his majesty, King Richard,

I have your daughter in safe keeping. If you wish her to be returned, you will see fit to give us your blessing so we may be wed. Your daughter has consented to marrying me of her own volition. I will be in touch to make further arrangements requiring her dowry. Humbly yours, Prince Jonathan."

"Great Scott! God only knows what he's doing to her right this minute. We have to get her out of there."

"I don't even know where there is, do you?"

"No."

"We need to get this to the King. He'll know what to do."

Emmett looked at House. "You have an idea, don't you?"

"I might. But the King needs to see this first."

X X X

The king read the note and was no doubt furious. "This means war!" he shouted.

"If it pleases his Majesty, I might have a solution on how to rescue the Princess," Emmett said as he stepped forward. "That said, I don't believe starting a war is the right course of action."

"He's right," House said. "If you storm the castle with canons and... whatever else you use, she'll be dead in two seconds.

The king paled and sat down. "You think... he would kill my daughter?"

"No, not the prince. He's too much of a coward to do it himself."

Emmett poked House in the side to get him to shut up. "I might have a plan. But I think it would be better to go in quietly. Dr. House and I could do it easily and bring your daughter back safe and sound."

The king laughed. "You and Dr. House? That's preposterous!"

"Your Majesty! A message has just arrived!" a page shouted from the doorway. "It's from his highness, Prince Jon!"

"Well, bring it to me then!"

The page quickly handed the letter to the king and stepped back, next to House and Emmett while he read the note.

"It says they are to be married tomorrow at noon and that if I want to see their future children, to pay her dowry. He's arranged a place to drop off the money tonight."

"Wow. That's almost too easy," House chuckled.

"Easy? How do you figure, Dr. House?"

"Emmett and I can go and drop off the money, and then take down whoever comes to collect it. Then we go to the castle and get her out of there. It is a castle, right?"

"Aye. Not as big as this one but a fair size. It will be very dangerous."

House cocked his eyebrow. "Danger is my middle name," he said in an ominous tone, similar to Austin Powers.

"Well, if you're sure..."

"Let us do this, your Majesty."

The king was considering it. "If I let you do this, you realize I will be forever in your debt, don't you?"

"Yes," House grinned. "Your daughter is worth it."

"You like her very much, don't you? And you too, Emmett."

"Yes, your Majesty," both men said together.

"Then go! You have my full support. I will grant you full immunity, but please, bring my daughter back unharmed."

Both House and Emmett bowed and quickly left the throne room.

"Danger is my middle name?" Emmett chuckled as they headed to his workshop.

"Shut up! I saw it in a movie, okay?"