DISCLAIMER: I don't own Doctor Who

Sorry for the long wait! I've been busy with drama school and I wasn't feeling too sure about how to link in the next few chapters, therefore we've had a small time jump!

It'd been almost three months since Hally had been dramatically escorted from the academy library, the events that had followed had been kept a complete secret by all involved and once The Master had, after a week of extreme tension, finally released Hally from his room, Hally's life had fallen very quickly into its usual routine.

The Doctor had seemingly completely disappeared and to her surprise the Gallifreyan Council had refrained from questioning her again. The only real change that had happened in the past month was that Persca and Lenden were now dating.

It was awful and Hally was seriously starting to lose patience with their sickeningly sweet romantic exchanges between classes. It was a luxury to even get Persca to herself for more than five minutes before the lanky blonde somehow managed to find them. Hally was certain that he'd put some sort of tracker on her, it just wasn't possible to keep 'accidentally' running into one another as often as they did.

"I've lost you haven't I?" Persca's unimpressed tone caught Hally's attention and she coughed awkwardly, looking back to her friend.

"No?" She smiled sheepishly, "You were just saying how you're spending way too much time with your boyfriend and I can't help but agree…" Her smile grew wider at the exasperated sigh that Persca expelled. They were both sitting underneath their usual tree outside the academy. Hally had her back up against the rough trunk, her knees tucked in to her chest. Persca was sat, thankfully without her lapdog, cross legged opposite her.

"You're one to talk." Persca quipped, rolling her eyes. "You literally disappeared for a week with Mr Creepy and don't think I don't know what you two were up to…" She said, flicking her eyes up and down Hally's body.

Hally scrunched up her face and didn't even try to stop the undignified noise that escaped her throat. "Blurgh!" She ran both her hands up her face and through her hair as she leant back against the tree. Persca raised an eyebrow at her, obviously expecting some sort of insight into her week long disappearance three months ago.

"I told you! They were questioning me about my father. It had nothing to do with The Master." Hally shrugged, pouting slightly.

Persca nodded patronisingly, "Mmhmm, of course."

Hally spotted the unmistakable blonde mop of Lenden approaching them from across the grounds, she made a face and motioned to Persca. "Watch out, your stalker's coming."

Persca looked over her shoulder and waved Lenden over to them happily, she turned back to Hally and pointed an accusatory finger at her face. "This isn't over…"

Hally just gave her a sickeningly sweet smile in return, a look that clearly said, yes it is.

As Lenden plopped himself down next to Persca and the pair proceeded in petting one another incessantly Hally's gaze drifted up towards the top of the academy, she could see the roof of the old observatory glinting in the bright afternoon sunlight. She would be meeting The Master tomorrow evening for their usual lesson. They had also slipped back into their usual routine despite The Master having spent most of the time she'd been stuck in his room either trying to irritate her or simply ignore her. Hally had gotten so bored that she'd eventually had to find her own sources of entertainment which had started with rearranging The Master's bookcase into non-alphabetical order, eating all of the food in his room and wearing as many of his clothes as physically possible. On day four The Master had gotten so frustrated when he couldn't find a clean shirt that he'd cornered Hally up against the bookcase.

Her back had hit the shelf and she'd gasped when The Master had pulled irritably at the collar of the shirt she'd been wearing. The top of the shirt had ripped open and the two of them had paused in shock. He'd hovered in front of her face breathing heavily, the intense silent tension stretching for a long few minutes before The Master had pushed himself away, slamming the door to the room as he'd left.

It was then that Hally had realised that the strange tension that had been growing between the two wasn't something that she'd just created in her head. It was obviously affecting him too. The Master wasn't the kind of person to run away from anything, so the fact that he had slammed the door in her face twice now must have been because he was somehow also being affected.

She smirked to herself as she watched Persca pull Lenden into a clumsy kiss. It was comforting to think that she had even a slither of power over The Master, that she made him uncomfortable in some way.

About time…

The severely inhibited part of her brain that wanted to push The Master against the wall and kiss him was also doing cartwheels at the possibility that he wanted to kiss her back.

She shook her head and made a small noise of disgust as Persca pulled away from Lenden, giggling stupidly.

"You're both disgusting." Hally muttered, turning her nose up at them.

"Mmmfph." Lenden looked up from Persca and he frowned. "Oh, I'm sorry, I'd totally forgotten why I came over here…" He began, looking apologetically to Persca. He turned his gaze towards Hally apprehensively, "They've arrested him, The Doctor. He's to be put on public trial immediately."

Hally's nostrils flared and Persca got to her feet in an instant. "When did they announce this? No doubt they'll be rushing it through to try and stop any real defence!" She turned to rush back towards the academy when she seemed to notice that Hally hadn't moved.

"Hal?" Hally looked up at her friend, sighing softly as she got to her feet.

"Yeah, I'm coming." Hally let Persca and Lenden lead the way to the arena, as they got closer more and more students of the academy and residents in the Citadel joined them and soon there was quite a large crowd headed out to the arena at the foot of the mountain.

Hally gently took hold of Persca's robe as the crowd got heavier, trying not to lose her friend. She could hear her talking in a hushed tone to Lenden.

"I don't think they're telling us everything about this war… I mean why would they need to start drafting extra soldiers like your father if it was going as well as they keep telling us?" She was whispering. Hally frowned and was going to ask her what she was talking about when the trio finally made it out of the crowded dark tunnel and into the vast arena.

Despite the sheer amount of Time Lords all huddled together inside the arena it was relatively quiet and as Persca slipped through further to the front, pulling Lenden and Hally along behind her, Hally was able to see why.

The entire Gallifreyan Council were stood at the far end of the arena, elevated on a grand platform. All of them, including The Master were stood in large semicircle that arched up high over a shimmering silver dome beneath. From where they were currently stood Hally could just about make out the figure of her father inside the dome.

To the left of the dome there was another platform of solid gold, atop that was a wide sort of podium and behind it stood Rassilon. He addressed the crowd of the arena, adorned in his full ceremonial robes and crescent shaped shoulder piece.

"… his crimes are unforgivable and must be punished without mercy! He has committed treason!" A murmur rippled through the crowd and Persca shot Hally a worried look. The punishment of treason was death and it certainly wasn't looking all too hopeful for The Doctor.

Hally bit her lip and she slowly pushed herself further forward, slipping through the small gaps in the crowd until she was only a few rows from the front. Perhaps there was something she could do? She didn't necessarily like The Doctor but he didn't deserve to die. She looked around, taking in her surroundings. Perhaps a large enough distraction would allow The Doctor to escape?

As if in response to her train of thought she locked eyes with The Master who was stood on the archway with the rest of the Council. He narrowed his eyes at her intensely and Hally was sure she saw him twitch his head from side to side in a definitive no.

She looked back towards The Doctor, Rassilon was again addressing the crowd, his voice booming over their heads. She subtly held out her hand at the height of her waist, turning her palm up to face the sky. The arena was huge and the large platform where Rassilon, The Doctor and the Council currently stood was being held up by four thick stone pillars, the two back pillars extended up behind the platform and up towards the top of the arena.

Perhaps if one were to fall…?

Just as Hally began to concentrate on one of the heavy stone columns a dense hush came over the crowd and Rassilon went quiet. Hally frowned as she lost concentration and turned around to look over her shoulder at the entrance of the arena along with everyone else around her. She strained up onto her tiptoes to try and see what everyone was looking at but whatever it was, it was too far away. She looked at Persca questioningly but her friend just shrugged her shoulders. Hally continued to strain even as the crowd started to move, they were parting, allowing someone to walk from the entrance to the arena towards the stage. Hally, Persca and Lenden were pushed back as the crowd split, creating a walkway.

"Holy shit! It's Abstrax!" Persca whispered to them as Hally began to be able to make out a large entourage of beings adorned in the most beautiful blue colours making their way towards the platform.

"Huh?" She whispered back to Persca, distracted by the people that were coming into view. They were all very tall, at least 6 foot, they had a delicately elvish appearance to them but they were all so beautiful. Not one of them looked remotely similar to another despite their uniform colour, each had their own unique hair colour and style and the most wonderful skin. Like shimmering diamonds of varying colours, there were deep greens and burning oranges. Hally's mouth dropped open in amazement.

"What do you actually do in class?" Lenden muttered, Persca rolled her eyes and grabbed Hally's hand, snapping her out of her trance.

"King Abstrax, of An Garradh!" Hally's eyes widened.

"Oh! I thought he wasn't due for months?" She frowned, looking back up at the platform and at Rassilon. His face was schooled into a dark stony expression. Hally wasn't sure where this was going but The President didn't seem to be as self-assured as he was just a few seconds before.

"Something tells me this isn't a social visit…" Hally heard Persca mutter and she turned back to the sea of blue.

Once they'd reached the foot of the platform the mass of blue stopped and a lone figure ascended up the steps. The King gave a short bow of his head in Rassilon's direction before he turned to face the intrigued crowd. He had an older, kind face and a long sloping nose which sat between his bright shimmering blue eyes. His jawline was outlined by a well-groomed stubble, he smiled warmly down at the crowd.

"I apologise for our unannounced visit Lord President. However, I would be grateful if you would allow me to speak." The pair both fell silent and Hally watched as both the King and The President stared at each other intensely. It was barely visible but Hally saw Rassilon twitch his head down in approval. The King turned back towards the crowd and held his arms out in a welcoming gesture.

"My friends, please, I thank you for your attention. It is my honour to be able to be here before you today. The Kingdom of An Garradh and the great peoples of Gallifrey have for centuries been at the brink of a flourishing partnership, I and my people have only the highest respect and love for all of you." He smiled and bowed his head slightly.

"I hope that in the future we will only strengthen our bond and in doing so ensure both our great civilisations thrive for millennia to come." The King turned to Rassilon, shooting him a small smile.

"I also hope you will listen to an old man when he implores you to reconsider this trial. This man is no traitor of Gallifrey. I know of him and owe him a great debt. He is loyal and has shown true bravery. He saved a constellation of my people and for that, I shall be eternally grateful." Hally's eyes widened as she looked over towards her father, his face was sombre and he seemed to be avoiding the King's gaze.

Rassilon coughed over a scoff and straightened up, "Sir, of course, the people of Gallifrey welcome you, the great and noble King of An Garradh. However, this man has committed treason of the highest order against his President and his people. Your politics and personal debts have no jurisdiction here. He shall be tried for treason." He smirked slightly and Hally bit her lip as the King let out a soft sigh, visibly deflated.

"I am afraid you cannot possibly execute him. I know as President of Gallifrey you must respect the laws of time and the laws that ascertain to a fixed point. Even the great Gallifreyan President must abide by such rules." The King's friendly smile had dropped from his face and his voice was now laced with venom. Rassilon frowned, taken aback by the sudden change in the King and the heavy consequences of his words.

"Of course, it is the sacred duty of a Time Lord. We protect time." Rassilon narrowed his eyes, daring the King to continue.

The King abandoned the crowd and turned fully towards the Gallifreyan President, his voice was slightly muffled but from her position near the front Hally could just about hear the conversation that followed. "The early death of this man would irreversibly alter events which must not be interfered with due to the convergence of such a fixed point."

"What are you talking about?" Rassilon spat back, anger burning behind his eyes. Hally looked back over towards The Doctor and was surprised to find him watching her, as their eyes met he looked away a flicker of pain on his face.

"The future of the monarchy of An Garradh. It is a fixed point in time and you are putting it in danger." The King responded quietly, all formality dropping from his tone.

"Yes, what do you speak of, what has the Doctor got to do with this point?" Rassilon growled back, taking a step forward towards the King threateningly.

"I'm afraid it might not be the best time…" Abstrax countered, shaking his head in a silent warning to The President.

"I demand you explain yourself. Only once I have heard the full truth may I even consider your plight." Rassilon sneered, assuming that he had bested the King.

Abstrax turned slightly towards his people, the mass of blue fabric began to move and the crowd had to follow. Hally tried to grab for Persca's hand but within seconds she found that she'd be separated from them, she struggled, trying to push back against the moving crowd who were slowly edging her backwards.

"I'm sorry…" Hally turned back at the sound of the King's soft apology.

It was at that moment that Hally realised that she'd been manoeuvred out of the crowd and was now stood, alone at the foot of the stairs to the platform, behind her the King's men stood expectantly. The King was looking directly at her, a ghost of an apology still on his face.

The seconds seemed to drag on as Hally stood silently watching the King, her mind was racing with a hundred different ways she was going to try and get out of this one.

Abstrax smiled sympathetically down at her and slowly extended out his hand towards her. Hally looked at his outstretched hand, flicking her eyes behind the King to Rassilon. His face was contorted in fury and he looked like he might at any moment order the execution of them all.

Oh, but he can't…

A wonderful thought passed across her mind. This was the King of An Garradh, it would be almost impossible for Rassilon to make a move against him. Especially with the current precarious position that Gallifrey was apparently in with the pressures of war closing in around them. Hally wasn't sure if it was a sudden realisation that she had some level of power in this situation or the comforting presence of two of the King's guards who were now flanking her protectively but Hally managed to lift her chin and look The President directly in the eyes.

"Lord President, as the King has mentioned, this trial appears to go beyond all of us. It is the laws of time at stake here and as a benevolent leader… I know you will always choose your duty to time over any… personal quandaries."

Rassilon made to step forward, his right hand twitching angrily but Hally cut him off, shooting him a warning look. "In these uncertain and conflicted times… I think it would be best suited for Gallifrey to not make any more enemies."

She paused, raising her eyebrow slowly.

Rassilon closed his mouth slowly, he was glaring furiously at her but she could see that what she was saying was slowly landing. He remained silent for what felt like hours.

"Release him." The order was so quiet that had the arena not been so silent both the King and Hally would have missed it. Hally's mouth dropped open in disbelief, in all of the hurried scenarios that she'd played out in her head she'd never actually imagined this one working.

The King flashed Hally a small smile before turning back to Rassilon. "I shall forever be grateful high President. You truly are the leader Gallifrey needs."

Rassilon schooled his expression and with a withering glare to The Doctor he turned dramatically on his heal and swiftly left the stage. As soon as he did the shimmering dome encapsulating The Doctor disappeared and he stepped free, looking just as bewildered as Hally felt. He shot her a look of recognition before turning and removing himself from the stage as quickly as possible. Hally figured it would probably be for the best, she doubted that Rassilon would be planning on simply letting him walk free.

The feeling of a cool hand on her shoulder brought Hally's attention back to The King in front of her. He gave her a warm, knowing smile and leaning in he whispered softly in her ear. "I am happy to see that the kingdom of An Garradh will be in safe hands once I am gone." With that, he pulled back and began to retreat back out of the arena from where they had entered.

Hally could feel the eyes of the crowd turning to stare at her. Figuring that she couldn't count on the ground opening up and swallowing her whole, she made a move and pushed through the crowd to her right, scooting around the edge of the platform. She dodged around the bodies of the crowd and pushed her way to one of the side exits where she broke into a run.

Hally ran like she was running for her life. She ran in the hope that she could avoid all of the thoughts that were racing through her mind and dodge the consequences of whatever had just happened when she suddenly barrelled into something very solid. She would have ended up ungracefully sprawled across the floor if two firm hands hadn't steadied her by the arms.

Hally looked up, her breathing was shallow and coming out in short pants. It dawned on her that she was looking up into the twinkling eyes of her father.

"What are you doing…?" She managed to pant. "You need to get out of here." She pulled back and The Doctor's hands fell to his sides. He was looking at her like he'd never truly seen her before.

"I don't doubt it. Although I should think you are also in danger after that little episode." He frowned as he paused to consider her.

"Until we cross paths again my child." He nodded a fond glint in his eye.

Hally watched her father disappear around the corner when the sound of voices approaching from her left reminded her that she needed to get somewhere safe. She bolted forward again and kept running through the corridors of the lower academy, her footsteps echoing up and around the high walls. Her lungs were burning and her legs felt like jelly by the time she finally reached the door she'd been heading for. She wrenched it open, hurling herself inside. She pressed her back up against the door of The Master's room, closing her eyes.

Shit.