A/N: Okay so there is a piano in this chapter again. As I mentioned before, they weren't invented yet but hey, it's fiction. Who the hell cares? haha. Just indulge me this one time :) If I took it out, the scene just wouldn't work the same :)

Chapter Nine

Ireland/England border

"See? I told you it would be a piece of cake," House whispered as Emmett helped him drag the man into the bushes and steal his clothes. "All he had to do was see the time machine and what did I tell ya? He fainted dead away."

"Let's hope Althea has the same reaction."

"If she doesn't, I brought some laudanum with me. Got the map?"

"Yeah," Emmett said as he handed over the drawing of Suffolk castle. "The princess is in this tower. So I'll be waiting outside in the Delorean. All you have to do is get her to the roof and I'll be there."

"You better be."

Althea sat on her cot, staring out the window. It was dark, and she wiped the tears from her eyes once again. But she wasn't crying about Emmett this time.

"Please, God," she prayed, "someone rescue me. Send me a knight in shining armor to take me from this god forsaken place."

House wandered through the corridor, looking through the peepholes of each door until he saw her. His heart almost stopped when he heard her quiet sobs.

"You there!" a man's voice boomed from the other end of the hall. "What ye be doing?"

"His royal anus wishes to see the Princess," House hissed. "But I don't have the key."

"Tis right here," the man said as he dangled the keys like a carrot in front of House's face. He wasn't fast enough to see the fist coming that knocked him to the floor. He tried all three keys on the ring before the door opened and he burst in, dressed in a suit of armor.

Althea got to her feet and stared at him. "What do you want?" she demanded.

"Well, if you're going to be that way about it, I'll just leave," House snickered.

There was something familiar about the man's voice so when she was close enough, she tipped up the visor on his helmet to reveal the gorgeous pair of blue eyes that haunted her dreams of late.

"Sir Gregory? How... what?..."

"Do you really want me to stick around and answer that or do you want to get out of here?"

There were voices out in the hall and House drew his sword and shoved her behind him. "Stay close. We're going to the roof."

"The roof? But the exit is downstairs."

"Just follow me," he said as he headed out into the hall and skewered two men with his long sword. At the base of the staircase leading up to the roof, Prince Jon appeared.

"You cannot escape, Dr. House," the man laughed. "There's nowhere to go from here."

"That's what you think," he said as he shoved Althea through the door. "Get up there!" he shouted to her before he closed the door behind her.

Prince Jon drew his sword and laughed again. "I will fight you to the death, sir!"

"Bring it on, asshole! And if you've laid a hand on her, or touched her in any way, I'll kill you myself."

"She is to be my wife and I will do with her as I see fit."

"She will never be your wife. You don't deserve her, and when I'm done with you, you'll be headed to the scaffold. This castle is surrounded by King Richard's men. You really think you're going to come out of this the winner? I outweigh you by at least a hundred pounds. You're no match for me in body or wits."

Prince Jon lunged with his sword but House sidestepped him and opened the door to the staircase leading up to the roof, hoping by then that Emmett had Althea safe.

Prince Jon Chased House up the stairs and Althea was there, standing at the ledge looking down in horror.

House and the Prince lunged and sidestepped each other with their swords. House had never used a sword in his life but it was actually not that difficult to anticipate what the Prince's next move was going to be.

Meanwhile, Emmett was sitting in the driver's seat of the Delorean with the passenger gull-wing door open as he beckoned Althea to jump down. But she was paralyzed with fear and all she could do was stare in wonder at the sight in front of her.

"She's mine! You'll never have her!" Prince Jon said as he lunged toward House, who jumped out of the way just as the Delorean rose higher so he was in view. Prince Jon paused and stared just as Doc opened his door and caught Jon in the chin, knocking him out cold.

"Althea, get in the car," House ordered.

"What're you going to do with him?" Emmett said as he gestured to the prince.

"Got room in the trunk?" House grinned as he took the rope he brought with him and hogtied him.

"Actually, yeah. He would fit in there."

Althea watched the two men pick up the Prince and stow him in the trunk. "Is he... dead?"

"No, he's just resting. My fist is no match for a stainless steel car door," House chuckled. "Now, get in, and Emmett will get you to safety, then we can all go home."

She hesitated and Emmett wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "It's safe. You can sit on House's lap. Once he gets out of that suit of armor of course."

With the three of them crammed in the car, Emmett flew them back to the castle in no time and stowed the car back in his workshop. As soon as they got out, Althea hugged Emmett, then threw her arms around House and held onto him for dear life. "I do not know how to repay you. I think you were sent to me by a miracle. I was praying for a knight in shining armor to come rescue me, and not but a short time later, you were standing there in the doorway."

House didn't know what to say, but he was looking into her green eyes as she smiled back at him with total adoration and new found affection. It was as if she were seeing him in a new light, and she liked what she saw.

Her hands unlocked from around his neck and they slid down to his chest as they stared at each other.

"Gregory," she said softly as she raised herself a little higher so she could look into his eyes.

"Hey, House, are you going to help me with this guy?" Emmett called out, causing Althea to step back from him.

"I'll just... go see my father."

"Good idea. And tell him we've got Ginger freak. They can come get him in the stable."

"Would you come with me?" She asked House.

"I'll be there in a few minutes. I need to help Emmett move this assclown and cover up the car."

She stared at the car like it was the eighth wonder of the world. "It is truly remarkable. I must go to America one day."

"That could be arranged," House thought to himself as he watched her go.

"I think she was waiting for you to kiss her," Emmett chuckled as the Prince started to slowly come around.

"Seriously? It's hero worship, nothing more."

"If you say so, but don't be surprised if his Majesty offers her to you. I wouldn't put it past him."

"What would be the point? I'm leaving when you are."

"And going back to what, exactly?"

"Medicine, duhh. I'm going crazy. These are truly the dark ages and I feel like I'm lost here. There are no challenges for me. I live for the puzzle. I solve the cases no other doctors can. So far the only real medical thing I've come across has been consumption, and I couldn't cure that anyway."

Emmett nodded. "I understand. It's been hell trying to come up with replacement parts for the time machine. It's taking a lot longer than I anticipated. But don't worry, I'll take you to the exact time you came from so it'll be like you never left."

House nodded. "I appreciate that. Well, I guess I better deliver this idiot to the tower and go see his Majesty. I'm sure he'll want to see me."

"Indeed he will. Good luck."

XXX

"Dr. House, I am definitely forever in your debt," the King said as he held his daughter close.

"You need to thank the Blacksmith too. He had a big hand in her rescue."

"I will indeed. I think you've done an amazing job, Dr. House. You will be rewarded accordingly. What would you like? I have a mind to elevate you to Duke status."

House blinked. "Why would you do that?"

"You've more than proven yourself worthy. You no longer have to earn your keep as the physician. You may move yourself to the home that once belonged to my late wife, on the castle grounds."

House thought. "That big house with the moss growing all over it?"

"Yes, that's the one. Does that suit your needs? Or would you like something larger?"

"That would do fine I think," House chuckled, trying to avoid the looks that Althea was giving him. She hadn't taken her eyes off of him since he arrived.

"In that case, please kneel, sir Gregory."

House got down on one knee and bowed his head. He'd seen a few elevations since he's been at court and he was down with the proper procedure.

"I dub thee, Gregory House, Duke of Yorkshire, bestowing upon you all the privileges set forth with your new status. You may rise, your Grace."

House almost laughed at that. Wilson would have a coronary if anyone even contemplated calling House that. He sighed when he thought about his best friend. He didn't know why it was the first time he'd thought about his friend in quite some time.

"You look sad, Gregory," Althea said softly. "Does this not make you happy?"

"Oh, yeah. It does, thank you, your Majesty."

"You may go. Of course, one of your duties as Duke is to collect the Prince from the tower and bring him to me."

House grinned then. "It would give me great pleasure, your Majesty."

He turned to go and Althea followed him. "May I walk with you, Your Grace?"

"You can just call me Greg. Or House. Hell, you're a Princess, call me whatever you want."

She smiled and placed a hand on his arm. "If you need assistance moving your things please don't hesitate to ask. I'll make sure you have all the help you need."

"Thank you," he said and then headed to the tower.

XXX

"Prince Jonathan of Suffolk. You are charged with kidnapping a royal princess and demanding a ransom."

"She was promised to me!" he shouted, and was quickly restrained as the judge shouted for order. "Now for your sentencing. You will be dragged through the streets to the town square and brought to the scaffold where you will be hanged until you're half dead. You will then be cut down and disemboweled. Your privy parts cut off and fed to the dogs, and then, finally, your head will be removed. You have until tomorrow at noon. Away with you," the judge said and watched as the Prince was led away.

"Ouch," House winced. "That sounds absolutely barbaric. I'm assuming the guy is alive while they do all this to him."

"Yep," Emmett said, who was also there to hear the final judgement. He studied House's face. "You're going to watch, aren't you?"

"Hell yes! I'm all over it. I've never seen it done in movies. This'll be a treat."

Emmett chuckled and patted his friend on the back. "You're a sick ticket, House. Or shall I say, Your Grace."

House chuckled. "House will be fine. I don't know why the King made me a Duke. What's it good for?"

"He pretty much gave you free reign to marry the princess. Dukes can marry princesses, after all."

"I don't even know her."

"So get to know her. Woo her. Court her. Or... whatever it is they do here."

"So if I get my own house, do I also get servants?"

"Yep. You'll love it. Might be lonely though. It's a big house."

"I know, I've seen it. But it beats the hell out of my room in the east wing."

"At least you don't have to treat patients anymore."

"No, true. Although I did tell his Majesty that I'm available for consults when the need arises."

"I'm sure they will. The doctors around here are clueless idiots."

House chuckled. "No kidding. I've had to give several of them strict lessons in hygiene and make sure they wash their hands properly before treating anyone. Well, it's late, I'm going to bed. I'll be moving into my new place tomorrow."

"Good. Thinking of entertaining a certain young lady?"

House shrugged. "I'll ask her, but that would almost be too easy."

"I thought you liked the thrill of the chase."

"I do. But I just don't know if she's interested."

"Well, there's only one way to find out, and that would be to ask her out."

"I haven't asked out a woman in... at least five years, let alone a woman in this century. And when she says yes, if she even does, then what? There's no music to make out by."

"So make your own. Or, if you want, you can borrow my portable CD player." Emmett chuckled when he remembered back to the day Althea saw it. "You should've seen her face when I showed it to her."

"Got anything decent to listen to? You don't strike me as the blues or jazz kinda guy."

"You're right. I do have a bunch of CD's, some of which are Marty's. He might have something you'll like. And I think the house you're moving into has a piano."

"Really? Well that'll work. I'll see you tomorrow in the town square. This I gotta see."

XXX

House had seen some sick things in all his years of being a doctor, but watching someone hang, and then be dismembered before decapitation, he felt sick to his stomach. And it took a lot to make him sick.

"Your Grace," Althea said when she saw him later. "Are you not well?"

"I'll be fine."

"Aye, you saw the Prince's execution."

"Did you?"

"No, I did not. My father does not wish me to witness such things."

"Good. Nobody should witness that. Although justice was done so that's one good way of looking at it. Still seemed pretty severe but, so be it."

"They do not do that where you come from?"

"Nope."

"What do they do?"

"Oh, they still hang people. In some states they still have death by firing squad. But there's also the gas chamber, lethal injection and..." he trailed off and decided against mentioning the electric chair.

"And?" she urged.

"I forget," he said and continued walking.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm moving into the house your father gave me. Where are you going?" he chuckled as she continued to follow him.

"I'd like to see the house if that pleases you. It's been some time since I've been inside."

"You want to walk through it with me? Sure," he shrugged his shoulders and approached the house that was covered in moss and ivy growing up the side of it. He unlocked the front door and was met with cold dampness that made him shiver.

"Damn, it's freezing in here," he said as he looked around the room. "Is there a fireplace?"

"Yes, in here," she said and walked into another room while he followed. There was indeed a large floor to ceiling fireplace with a stack of logs sitting next to it. "A fire would certainly warm things up," she smiled.

"Good idea," he said and tossed a few logs into the fire and then lit a match, from the box on the mantle. It took some work, but he eventually got a decent fire going and after standing in front of it for a few minutes, he warmed up. "So are you going to give me the grand tour?" he asked her.

She looked confused. "Grand tour?"

"Yeah, where you take me through all the rooms and show me where everything is."

"Oh," she giggled. "Of course. Follow me, your Grace."

House rolled his eyes but he kind of liked the sound of being called that, so he didn't correct her that time.

The house was pretty big. And he had a dozen servants who did everything from cooking to his laundry. "Don't you people ever put a fire on?" he asked one of them.

"Aye, Your Grace," one of them nodded. "I was just about to do that very thing and then you arrived and did it for me," he smiled.

"What's your name, kid?" House asked, because he was indeed just a boy.

"Stephen, your Grace."

"And what do you do?"

"Whatever you need, Your Grace."

"What I need is for you to stop calling me that."

The boy looked confused. "What should you like me to call you?"

"Dr. House is fine."

The boy bowed. "Yes, Dr. House. As you like."

The boy left them and Althea cocked her head to one side. "You prefer Dr. House over Your Grace? Why?"

"I am a doctor first and foremost. When I leave here I won't be a Duke where I come from."

She frowned. "You're leaving?"

He smiled at her. "You want me to stay?"

She stared at the ground, pretending to be interested in a dust bunny that she kicked around. "I thought that was clear."

"Why?"

"Why?"

"Yeah. Why do you want me to stay? I thought you only had eyes for Emmett."

"Emmett is a very good man, but he made it quite clear that he does not want to be with me... that way."

"So you moved on to me?"

Althea smiled impishly up at him. "I wouldn't put it quite that way, Greg. But ever since we met that fateful day in the woods, you have somehow managed to bewitch and enthrall me like no other." She reached up and gently ran her hand over his stubbled jaw. "You're a very nice man. A good man. Even if you don't want anyone else to know it."

He didn't know what to say to that so he just smiled at her and they continued to move through the house until they came to what looked like a ball room with a grand piano in the corner. "Wow," he said as he immediately crossed the room and sat down. "I wonder if it's in tune." He lifted the cover and hit middle C and discovered it was indeed in tune. "Niiiice." He began to play a tune that he composed in high school but was unfinished and Althea sat down next to him on the bench.

"It's very pretty. What is it called?"

"It doesn't have a name. That's all I've managed to write."

"You should finish it."

He shrugged. "Maybe one day." He began to play another song while she sat and listened and when he was finished, she clapped.

"You play very well. Where did you learn?"

"My Mom taught me. She gave lessons to all the kids in the neighborhood."

"She sounds nice."

"She is."

"Greg," she said softly as she inched a little closer to him, "do you like me?"

He arched an eyebrow at her. "Where did that come from?"

"I am just curious I suppose. You never let on."

"Oh, you mean why don't I bow to you and treat you like the delicate flower that you are?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"Because you're above all that. You're not a typical princess. And besides, I have issues with authority."

"You treat my father as he should be treated."

House chuckled. "Yeah but he's the king. If I don't, I could end up like the ginger freak."

Althea laughed. "That would not happen. My father adores you, Greg." She placed her hand on his forearm and looked up at him. "And so do I."

He looked down at the hand on his arm and then at her. "Really?"

"Yes. Really. Why is it so hard to believe?"

"Because nobody else seems to adore me."

"They are fools," she said softly as she continued to look at him through her long lashes.

"Yes they are, but that's inevitable," he agreed as he kissed her forehead softly, then her cheek, taking in the smell of her hair.

She closed her eyes as he nuzzled her hair and kissed behind her ear. She made some sort of a purring sound as she tilted her head to give him better access to her neck. Then she giggled. "Your whiskers tickle. Do you ever shave?"

"No. Would you like me to? Although if I did, I don't know if you'd like it. The scruff makes me look badass. I have a rep to protect, you know," he murmured as he continued to kiss her neck.

That's when they heard someone clearing their throat. "I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?" Emmett inquired as he stood in the doorway and tried to look anywhere else but at them.

Althea jumped up and smoothed her skirts. "No, not at all. Don't be silly," she said in a rush, clearly embarrassed. "I... I should go."

"Althea, you don't have to go," House told her, but she was already out the door. He glared at Emmett. "Thanks loads."

Emmett held up his hands in a surrender motion. "Sorry. How was I supposed to know she was here?"

"Why are you here?"

"I came to see if you needed my help but it appeared that you were well on your way to helping yourself."

"What am I supposed to do now?" House demanded.

"Go find her, tell her to come back. Why don't you invite her to dinner tonight?"

"Dinner?"

"Yeah. You know, like a date."

"I don't cook."

"You don't have to. In case you've forgotten, you've got a house full of servants just waiting to do your bidding. Tell her it's a housewarming party, pun intended, but don't mention that she's the only guest."

House thought about it. It was actually a good idea. "Wow, you're a hopeless romantic, aren't you, Brown?"

"Hopeful," he grinned. "There is a difference, you know."

"Right. So, if you were an embarrassed Princess, where would you go?"

"She probably went for a ride in the woods."

"Hmm. You're probably right. Okay then, I'll go ask her. God," he groaned as he scratched his forehead with his thumb, "I haven't asked a woman out in ages. This will be interesting."

On the way out, he instructed the staff as to his plans for the evening and they seemed all too happy to help him. He then went to the stable, saddled up a horse and set off to find Althea.

It didn't take him long to find her. He heard the music first so he climbed off and led the horse to where she was sitting next to a stream.

She was singing and playing a lute but she stopped when he approached.

"Relax, it's just me," he said as he came over. "Another talent you've hidden from me. Interesting."

"I did not hide it. I simply never mentioned it."

"Why not?"

"My father says it is a waste of time."

"Something you enjoy isn't a waste of time."

"That is not what he thinks. What are you doing here?"

"You left before I could ask you to stay for dinner."

She blinked. "Dinner?"

"Oh, right, you call it supper. Anyway, think of it as a housewarming party."

Althea giggled. "Interesting play on words, your Grace, err... Greg."

"Yeah yeah. I'm a funny guy. So will you?"

"Will I what?"

He rolled his eyes. "Come for dinner? You left in quite a hurry. What was that about anyway? You think Emmett would care if he saw us?"

"I do not want to hurt him," she said softly.

"Emmett's a big boy. He can handle it. Besides, we weren't doing anything scandalous. Not yet, anyway," he said with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

She blushed a very becoming shade of pink. "Will you play another one of your songs for me on the piano?"

He nodded. "You should bring your lute. We can have a jam session."

She cocked her head to one side. "Jam session?"

"Yeah, that's what you call it when two people play instruments together."

"Oh, I see. Well, I think that would be lovely. Yes, I will come to dinner, Greg. Thank you for the invitation," she smiled. "What time would you like me to be there?"

"Six O'clock is fine."