This is a sequel to my fic "Becoming the Master" so you should probably read that first.
This is written in the universe of my personal Doctor Who canon, although others may consider it AU.
It takes place within canon around the time that the second Doctor was captured and returned to Gallifrey to face trial. You do not have to have seen the episodes to understand the story.
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'You sent for me, father?' Koschei said, bowing and showing the proper respect as he approached his father's chair.
The senior members of Koschei's family who had gathered for the family conference turned to look at him as he made his entrance. He was something of a spectacle. Koschei was rarely invited to attend these meetings; his father did not consider it necessary to consult him about important family matters. Not that his father, the ultimate patriarch ever really consulted anybody, not even his own brothers, about matters concerning the family. He ruled over them all with an iron fist.
'I did,' Lord Fallon replied, not looking up as his son approached but rather continuing to read through the papers in his hand. Koschei stood uncomfortably in the middle of the room, feeling hideously exposed and vulnerable as he felt the eyes of his family upon him.
Several moments passed before Lord Fallon put the papers aside and fixed his son with an intense stare.
'My son, now you are almost of age, the time has come when you should be bonded. I have found a partner for you.'
Koschei stared, dumbfounded. Of all the things he'd been anticipating when he'd received his father's summons; this was the last thing he'd expected. He felt as though he'd been knocked sideways by the news. The murmurs of curiosity spread throughout the room but Koschei couldn't make out the words being spoken, but he heard enough to gather that this was news to them as well.
He supposed that it wasn't entirely unexpected that his father would start pressuring him to make moves in this direction, he was almost of age after all, but for it all to have been decided and so soon after Theta...
'Who?' he asked, aware that he was expected to give some kind of response to the statement that his father had chosen him a partner had been selected for him but too shocked to be able to respond properly.
'The Lady Ianna,' his father replied as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. 'I have spoken with her family and brokered the match.'
The reaction from the other family members was instant. They stood up and immediately began applauding Lord Fallon and Koschei realised exactly why his father had elected to tell him the news in this setting. This was his father's greatest triumph. He had succeeded in creating a union with one of the most powerful old Gallifreyan families and now he intended to reap the rewards. Koschei felt his stomach lurch as the wave of nausea washed over him. He couldn't breathe.
'Ianna? You can't be serious, father.' He was aware of the defiance in his voice and saw the shift in his father's eyes.
'I'm deadly serious,' the coldness in Lord Fallon's voice was palpable; his expression was darker, more challenging, as though daring Koschei to argue, to disobey. Suddenly he felt like a little boy again, being chastised by his father for daring to venture outside of the grounds of the estate to visit Theta.
'But I can't bond with Ianna. I don't have feelings for her.'
Lord Fallon looked utterly confused. 'That is of entirely no consequence,' he replied with a frown. 'Her family is one of the most influential in Gallifrey; a union between us makes sense. It will increase our political standing. That is the only matter under discussion today.'
Koschei couldn't argue; he'd never been able to stand up to his father. He felt weak and powerless in a way that only his father could make him feel; small, useless and pathetic.
He hated him for it.
'The formal introductions and announcements will be made tomorrow evening,' Lord Fallon continued, ignoring his son's obvious discomfort and instead continuing to bask in the praise of his other family members. 'The bonding ceremony will take place three weeks from tomorrow to coincide with the Equinox celebrations.'
Koschei was horrified. 'So soon?'
'Will that be a problem?' There it was again, the challenge, the threat.
'No father,' Koschei replied, looking down at the floor and trying desperately to swallow his anger; the drums sounding out a war march in his head.
'Good,' Lord Fallon looked satisfied. 'I'm glad you see sense and I trust you won't allow yourself to become distracted by the recent events?'
This time Koschei looked puzzled, 'what recent events?'
'Oh you mean you have not heard? Your old friend – the half breed what's his name? "the Doctor," he's been captured. He'll be facing trial.'
'The Doctor?'
Koschei was aware that a range of emotions were playing out across his face and that his father was reading each and every one of them. There was surprise; anger; confusion and – although he hated himself for it, a twinge of tenderness and affection, even love. Damn him.
'Yes, I knew that it would only be a matter of time of course. He was always trouble that one. That is why I always told you to stay away from him. Maybe now you can understand that.'
Koscehi didn't reply. He just turned and left the room. Once the door had closed behind him he broke into a run and didn't stop until he was outside; away from the estate and up in the hills. When he stopped he sunk down onto the grass and buried his head in his hands.
Everything was happening so quickly; he felt like he'd been alone for so long, the emptiness inside him had been growing ever since the day that Theta had left, since their bond had been broken and his hearts along with it. He'd vowed that day never to let anyone in again and he'd remained true to his word, he'd isolated himself from everyone, his family and his peers – he couldn't call them friends, not really. Theta had been his only real friend.
He thought he'd succeeded in building up the barriers and pushing everybody away, but it seemed that he'd been wrong. He was still there – a part of Theta was still there in his hearts. Why else would he have felt so sick at the mention of his name?
Now, Theta was back on Gallifrey, but he was captured, facing trial; the authorities would have him, he'd be locked in a cell. Koschei knew what they were capable of and he felt terrified about what they could be doing to Theta; they could be hurting him. He immediately hated himself for being so weak.
Theta had abandoned him. Theta had left him behind. He'd run away, taken the cowards way out instead of fighting for what he really wanted. Koschei had been prepared to fight. He was willing to leave everything behind to go with Theta; he would even have found the strength to stand up to his father with Theta at his side. But Theta had just given up and now he'd made a mistake and he was stupid enough to have been caught. He didn't deserve any sympathy.
But damn him to hell, Koschei couldn't help himself; knowing that Theta was so close after so long just made his hearts ache. He wanted to go to him; he wanted to see him but how could he, when he was locked in cell? They wouldn't let him in and if he tried, the guards would tell his father and there would be hell to pay.
Then there was the bonding ceremony – it was only three weeks away. He thought he'd have more time. Theta had not been gone that long. He needed more time – to forget.
The ceremony couldn't happen. He couldn't be bonded to Ianna. He remembered her from his time at the Academy. They had not moved in the same social circles but he remembered her. She was an absolute dullard.
Ianna was far from being his intellectual equal; she was too submissive; she presented him with no challenge, not intellectually; not physically; not emotionally. How could he even begin to conceive of her as being a worthy substitute for Theta?
Being bonded would connect them; he would share her thoughts, she would share his. He couldn't do it. He didn't belong to her. He couldn't share that connection with anybody except Theta; the breaking of the bond didn't stop the feelings inside him; but his father had commanded it – how could he disobey his father?
He closed his eyes and listened to the drums in his head. They were quieter but still always present. The one constant, the one thing that Koschei knew he could trust was that drum beat, but it still did nothing to comfort him.
He wrapped his arms around himself and felt so very alone.