"He's going to take me to see the Singing Towers of Darillium — he's been promising for ages"

The sound of the TARDIS echoed through Stormcage, waking every prisoner. The complaints of all but one could be heard throughout. All but River. The sirens came alive, and the sound of the guards' footsteps grew closer as each second passed. The Doctor leant around the doors of the TARDIS, using his sonic screwdriver to unlock his wife's cell door. She ran through the doors, narrowly missing the oncoming guards.

"So, Melody. Where shall we go? Alvega, maybe? No, no. Too close to Skaro. We never got to go to the Bastiel system. Do you remember? Tonight their eight moons will shine directly onto the mountain, causing a cascade of sparkling light to spread over the entire valley… Oh, I know! The Singing Towers of Darillium!"

He danced around his TARDIS, pushing buttons and speaking faster than any human could keep up with. She hadn't been able to get a word in. She knew this Doctor all too well, and she prayed every night that he would never change. The TARDIS jolted, sending them flying through time and space to the legendary towers.

The TARDIS landed, making the usual strange noise. The child of the TARDIS hated hearing her in pain. "900 years and you still can't fly the old girl right," she grumbled. The Doctor protested, arguing he flew her fine. With his wounded feelings, he reached under the console. Draping a rug over his shoulder, he grasped River's hand and without saying a word, led her out to the beach surrounding the silver towers.

Laying in the sand, the towers came alive. Red washed over them, casting bright crimson shadows across the land. The red of love, dancing with the harmony they had perfected. "The towers sing for you, Melody," he said with sheer wonder and pain in his voice. The music played, beautiful sounds being projected for miles. The legendary Towers of Darillium, singing River's final song, and it too, was coming to a close.

The end grew closer, and his grip on River grew tighter. He didn't want to let her go. Not his River, his beloved wife. "You know I'd never do anything to hurt you, right?" the Doctor asked, barely a whisper. River looked at him like he was an idiot, but until death do us part was drawing to a rough end.


Thunder pounded through the black sky, and golden lightning forked through the rain, striking and stabbing at the desert sand. Water had not touched the land in years, but now flowed freely through the dunes. Her saturated golden curls clung to her narrow shoulders, her eyes betrayed her true fear, and shudders ran through her body as it neared. It's head was bowed, shielding its eyes, but she could still hear its low, guttural growl. What is was, she was unsure of. It had followed her from the ancient towers, and all she knew was where it went, death followed.

Escaping into a tomb, River collapsed to the solid ground. Exhaustion had overtaken her, and she couldn't fight any longer. Spirits whispered. This was wrong. The entire day had been wrong. Her Doctor had known what was to come, but he didn't save her. She felt lost, alone, and betrayed. As the seconds passed, she faded. She had lost the only one she has ever loved, and she knew this was it. As unconsciousness began to take over, a claw grasped at her neck, guiding her into an eternal sleep.