Some days were not spent entirely in the library. Occasionally she and the prince would walk outside, and Amy would listen to him talk. Other times he'd ask her to talk, but he never managed to get many details out of her.
The prince also had one friend in the castle, a healer named John. Sometimes they went to see him, but he was often busy.
Amy quite liked John. He was kind, funny, and had somehow managed to put up with the prince for years – a feat that Amy herself was slowly endeavoring to accomplish.
There was one more person whom Amy had managed to make the acquaintance of, a man who called himself simply "the Doctor". He was an eccentric man: the palace wizard, she later discovered. The first time they met, it was purely by accident.
Amy was in a hurry. While she had been training, someone had stolen and hidden her cloak, and it had taken her and Rory ages to find it. Now she was late, and the prince was going to be so angry –
As she rounded a corner, she collided with someone, and it was so sudden and unexpected that she lost her balance. She tumbled to the ground, scrolls fluttering everywhere, several of which landed in her lap or on her head.
"Miss, are you all right?" a voice said, and someone grasped her hands, pulling her to her feet.
Amy blinked, focusing on the man in front of her. He had a young, childish face, accompanied with an alarmingly large chin. His blackish-brown hair flopped into his mossy green eyes, which were wide and anxious. He was wearing long, deep blue robes, the likes of which she'd never seen before, with the palace's crest embroidered on the right side.
She realized he'd asked her something. "Ah… yes, I'm sorry," she said. "I should have been watching where I was going."
The man released her hands and bowed deeply to her, making his fringe fall into his eyes even more. "It was my fault, my lady," he said good-naturedly. "I'm afraid this happens quite often."
She chuckled, bending to pick up a few scrolls. "Are you a scholar, then, my lord?"
He helped her, grinning. "I'm a magician – a wizard, if you like," he said. "Call me the Doctor."
"The Doctor?" Amy was amused. "Well, Doctor, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Amy, a knight and Prince Sherlock's guardian."
The Doctor widened his eyes again, looking impressed. "I am honored to meet you," he said sincerely.
She laughed, embarrassed, and handed him the last of the scrolls. "I must be on my way now, but I hope I shall see you again."
The Doctor took her hand in his free one and kissed it lightly, smiling. "Until the next time, my lady."