Aithne still felt the pain in her shoulder and arms, where the guards had grabbed her in a more than aggressive manner. She had expected to be arrested, yet she had hoped to evade it. It was no surprise to her, that they'd immediately put her into chains once they found her – in the end, she was a wanted criminal to them, one they'd chased for years now. Still, she had hoped to escape them, despite the chances being more than low. She should have known.

But how could she stand and watch, how the princes and the person most important to her get abducted? After all, they were the future of this kingdom, which she'd sworn to protect. Or more likely, their people.

The guars shoved her into the cell, that had nothing more than a stony bed and, of course, out of reach, a window, with bars in front of it, to keep her in. Behind her, she heard the door made of jail bars being closed, while she struggled to get up. The floor was made of stone as well, cold and even. She heard her capturers laugh, joking while leaving the cellar.

Sitting up, she took her surroundings in, and sighed. She had it coming, even if she wished she didn't. On the other hand, she was determined, to do it again, should she have to. The amber eyes of Heine flashed through her mind, widened in surprise, and irritation. Then, they'd held a rather unnatural fear for her that shaken her core. He had recognized her, even after all this time.

Struggling for a moment, she rearranged hersitting position, and closed her eyes.

"What has even happened there?!"

"Why did they take her?!"

"She... saved us... didn't she?"

"Master, do you know her?!"

The princes were still shaken from the events that had interrupted their way home, and it showed in their endless flow of questions. Heine had a hard time coming back to his senses enough to actually realize the situation, and couldn't believe to have seen her again this way. Years had passed, since he last caught a glimpse of her, and he knew, that she probably had seen him more often than he'd seen her. She was a master in disguises, yet she came out to protect them, knowing of the endangerment of her freedom.

It must've been her I sensed when we left the carriage., Heine realized. No one else would be able to stay hidden from me. Which means she purposely stayed close, but why? Did she detect Their Highnesses? She'd always had a grand sense of protectiveness...

"Yes, I know her. Though I have to admit to not have been in contact with her for more than a long time. Most I know by now is through the 'wanted' advertisements.", he finally answered. "She seems to have been on the run for quite some time now. Probably the reason the guards didn't hesitate to grab her."

"But... I don't understand... She saved us, why would they take her in then?", Leonhard asked.

"As I said, she was on the run for more than a few years by now, escaping everything they did to catch her."

"But...", Licht insisted. "She didn't look like a criminal at all. In fact, she looked like she was some good person. I mean, she saved us, without knowing who we were, didn't she? Who would do that, if they're evil?"

"Maybe... because... of the Professor?", Kai thought out loud.

"So? If she's wanted, she must've done something that justifies this approach. I don't believe the guards would have done that if it was something really bad. The fact that she was on the run just proves it. No one who's innocent would stay on the run. She wouldn't have had to run if she was innocent or didn't do anything.", Bruno said clearly, pushing up his glasses.

"It could still... be a misunderstanding...", Kai reminded his brother.

Bruno rose his eyebrow. "Dear brother, I won't deny that that's possible. Especially since the master himself knows her. But as I said before, she wouldn't have felt the need to run if that was the case."

"She could've simply been afraid, Bruno-nii!", Licht chimed in.

"Even if, does it really matter now?"

"Wait...", Leonhard said, finally catching on. "Does this mean we've been saved by a criminal?"

His brothers and Heine looked at him. Are you serious?

The Royal tutor sighed. "It does seem that way, yes."

An unreadable expression formed itself on Leonhard's face. Did he pay attention at all? Heine shook his head. Doesn't matter. We're save, and well. Or almost well.

"In any way, we're back at the palace, without larger injuries or losses. As homework I for a report on what you've seen and done in the city, your impressions of it and what you think needs to be improved.", Heine instructed, receiving a bunch of nods from Bruno, Kai, Leonhard and Licht.

"Should we include the incident as well?", Licht asked.

Their teacher inclined his head. "If you feel it to be necessary, you can."

"Alright!"

"Homework?! But we were already in the city!"

"See... you... tomorrow, teacher..."

"I feel the inspiration! I'll start it right now, master!!"

He could only shake his head at their mostly childish behavior. Then, he looked towards the dungeon.

Aithne...

Hours flashed by, while the bright light of the day was slowly replaced by a rather dark sunset. Aithne's shoulder still throbbed with pain, and she felt some more minor scratches and bruises. Her right leg was cut open a bit, but by now, the bleeding had stopped. She had ripped a bit of her clothing to cover it, and to keep pressure on it. The temperature in the room dropped, and her cell was embraced by darkness, still just light enough to see. A small shimmer crept through the bars of her 'window', that let the chilly air in.

Better to freeze than to suffocate, I guess., she thought, resting in the same position as before. Oh well, at least it has a roof. That's more than I've had sometimes.

Her thoughts flowed steadily, as her only source of entertainment. She wondered, what she'd get for dinner. If I get anything, that is. She critically eyed the stone tiles and wondered how long she'd have to stay in here. Months? Years? Would they move her? Maybe to a high security prison? It would not be an unreasonable decision.

She thought of Heine. He'd looked better than he'd had before, the life in the palace sure did him good. He deserved it, even if he didn't think that yet. Viktor had definitely chosen the right person to tutor his sons, that was obvious as well. From what she'd heard, they'd already chased out a great number of teachers. With Heine, the had probably bitten into granite. He was persistent, if he wanted to be. She wondered how their encounter had looked like and imagined different scenarios. Remembered her own, and those she'd witnessed in the past. Before she became a criminal, of course. She'd done her best to difference herself from him as much as possible to prevent her doings from harming him or his reputation.

Footsteps came closer, in a somehow still familiar manner. A smile reached her lips.

"How nice of you to visit me, Heine...", she said, not opening her eyes. She just knew it was him. There was something about him that she'd always recognize. "How are you doing?"

"I'm doing fairly well... Though I can't say the same thing for you, it seems.", he replied, a lantern in his hand. He still wore his teacher robes, as he rarely took them off. She rolled his head over to him.

"It does look that way, doesn't it?"

"What did you do? It was more than obvious they'd get you.", Heine asked. The worry was still written in his eyes, which, most of the time, concealed any feelings. She chuckled.

"As if I could watch my dear old friend and the princes get abducted."

"So you did know...", he mumbled.

Another smile graced her features. "I did."

He shot her an almost angry look. "That should've kept you away even more. I can handle myself, and them, if necessary."

Aithne shrugged. "I didn't feel like letting you down, so I did the best I could."

Heine breathed out. "That wasn't needed."

"I did it with pleasure."

He shook his head. "You're incorrigible." His eyes softened. "Thank you, though."

She smiled again. "You're welcome."

Silence stretched itself around the dungeon. Neither of them knew what to say or do. In the end, it was him, who broke the silence.

"What happens now?"

"I don't know... Not this time."

"I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be. I'd do it again, if it was the same."

------------

I DO NOT OWN THE ROYAL TUTOR; ANY PICTURES OR THE MUSIC USED IN THIS FANFICTION