Standing twenty feet tall, the hedge was covered in tiny pink flowers. The scent of wild roses filled the air, and Rose had a sinking suspicion this was meant for her.
She stood on the road to the castle and stared at the thorns for another thirty seconds, then immediately began a check of the perimeter. Her worst fears were realised: there were no exits, no breaches in the hedge. They were completely cut off from the outside world.
When she reached the road again, a group of townspeople had gathered. "Don't touch it," she ordered. "We don't know what kind of curse it might hold."
Jake Simmonds, the blacksmith, looked at her. "You think it's enchanted?"
Rose snorted. "A giant brambly hedge just appears overnight, and you think it isn't?" Jake nodded once in agreement, and Rose looked at the rest of the crowd.
"What are we going to do?" Mr. Henrik asked. "If we can't get out, then food can't get in."
"That's right, and no one can get in to to buy things, or to stay at my inn," Harriet Jones added.
Rose held up her hands, the weight of her ring heavy on her finger. "I'm sure Prince John will find a way to get in touch with us. He's well aware of the impact this will have on our lives." She looked out at the grumbling crowd and saw fear in their eyes. "Please, trust him," she said. "And show that trust by returning to your homes and your lives."
Harriet shook her head. "You're wearing his ring, Rose, but he isn't here right now. What if he can't do anything, and we're trapped here forever?"
She should have known someone would see the ring and understand what it meant. "As the prince's betrothed, I know him better than anyone. And I promise you, he will not leave us stranded here."
Rose looked each of her neighbours in the eye, willing them to believe in the Doctor. One by one, they slowly drifted away from the road back into the village.
She drew a deep breath when she was left alone with only her mother and Mickey. "Do you really think he'll find a way to fix this?" her mum asked.
She toyed with her ring. "He has to," she said firmly.
A bird flew over the thorns and then in swooping circles until it landed on a post a few feet away from Rose. She looked at it blankly for a moment, taking in the grey feathers and the coloured bands around its neck. Then she spotted the small tube tied to its leg.
"Mickey, grab the pigeon gently," she said, waiting until her friend had it in a firm grasp before she stepped forward.
She delicately untied the tube from the bird and removed the thin parchment. "You can let go," she said absently as she started to read.
Rose,
By now I'm sure you're aware that your village is completely cut off from the rest of the kingdom. The seditionists delivered an ultimatum to the castle: either I step down, or none of you will ever see the outside world again.
I want to, Rose; I was so tempted. I was ready to give into all their demands just to have you here with me, where you belong. But Jack told me… he convinced me that you would want me to put my duty to the kingdom first. If I step down, the whole kingdom would fracture. So, I can save the kingdom, but lose you. I know what you would tell me to do.
I'm sure you're wondering if there's a way through the hedge. I've already had experts examine it, and the answers were… Well. It is possible to cut through the wood, but it grows back almost immediately. And that's a problem, because the thorns themselves are laced with a deadly curse. If a single thorn pierces your skin, you will fall into a deep sleep and never wake up. Sadly, Lady Adeola fell victim to the enchantment before we were able to warn people.
I've asked if they could find a way to counteract the curse or to destroy the hedge, but I was told it would take years. Unless we can find the seditionists and force their sorcerer to remove the curse, you can't ever see me again.
It's not all bad, though. We'll find a way to get supplies over the hedge, and at least you're with your family. You, your mum, and Mickey, just living a life, day after day. Maybe this is better. I could never have given you that.
I need to go. There's an emergency meeting of the council in five minutes, and I need to present the image of a king who is prepared for the coming battle.
So, if it's my last chance to say it: Rose Tyler, I
Your Doctor
Rose stared at the large ink blot next to the "I." She could picture him pressing the quill to the parchment, unable to finish that sentence, to write out the words he'd held back for fear the universe would take her from him.
"Well? What did Himself have to say?" her mum asked, pulling Rose out of her daze.
She folded the letter up and tucked it into the pocket of her apron. "The seditionists are holding us hostage," she said briskly. "If the Doctor doesn't step down from the throne, we'll be trapped here forever."
"Forever?" Mickey squeaked. "How are we supposed to live like this? What's your precious prince going to do now, Rose?"
Rose glared at him. "They're working on a way to get supplies over the hedge. Oh, and I was right: the thorns are cursed; if you touch one, you'll fall asleep and never wake up."
"Oh great!" Mickey waved his hands around wildly. "So we're trapped in our little village with no way out and only the promise of a prince that anything will get in. And on top of that, if we even accidentally touch these thorns, we might as well be dead?"
Rose's mind was whirling with possibilities, keeping the grief at bay. She started walking back to her house, leaving Mickey yelling at her back.
The first thing she needed to do was write back to her Doctor. She rummaged around in the small cubby where she kept her personal belongings and retrieved a sheet of parchment, a quill, and ink. Sitting at the rough wooden table, she began to write.
Dear Doctor,
Rose bit her lip. She wanted him to know how much she wished she could be with him, but reading between the lines of the first two paragraphs of his letter, she knew how close he was to crossing that line. And as much as she hated the thought, Jack had been right. His duty to the country had to come first.
I can't think what to say. In all our adventures, I never imagined something like this might happen. When I promised you forever, I didn't think I would be forced from your side.
But don't think I'm just gonna go back to work at a shop and take up with Mickey, just because of an inconvenient curse. Your magicians might think there's no way through, but they don't have my motivation. I made my choice a long time ago, Doctor, and I'm never gonna leave you.
Before you say anything, I promise I'll be careful. After all, it wouldn't do much good to find a way through, only to… well. Please don't ask me to stop. This is what I need to do. If I just sit back and accept this, I'll go mad.
Doctor, I love you. I swear I'm gonna get back to you, no matter what anyone else says. Don't give up on me. I've always believed in you; I need you to believe in me.
Your Rose
She read over the letter, then dusted a small amount of sand over it to dry the ink before rolling it up and sliding it into the tube. The pigeon was still waiting for her on the post, and Rose stroked its feathers lightly in thanks before attaching the tube.
It was nearly sunset when the pigeon reappeared. The note it carried was much shorter than the previous one had been.
Rose Tyler, if there's one thing I believe in, it's you.
DWDWDWDW
Rose slept poorly that night, the twin concerns of supplies for the village and finding a way back to the Doctor keeping her awake. She'd barely fallen into a fitful slumber when a pounding on the door woke her up.
Rubbing at her bleary eyes, she stumbled out of bed and got dressed. "What's going on?" she mumbled to Mickey when she stepped out of her cottage.
"Something's landed on the village green! An' there's a letter addressed to you."
Rose ran to the village green and smiled when she saw a large hawk perched atop a small basket of fruit. Mr. Henrik handed her the letter.
Her eyebrows rose when she spotted the royal seal. An official letter then. She traced the image of the wolf embossed in the blue wax, then broke the seal to read the letter.
Two sheets of parchment were folded together. She read the one addressed directly to her first.
Rose,
I have given you a title and rank with the court. It isn't the title I want to give you, not yet, but I need someone on your side of the thorns who can be a royal representative. As my betrothed, you are the logical choice.
Yours,
The Doctor
Rose drew in a deep breath and tucked this letter into her apron along with the one from the day before. After scanning the second letter, she realised it was actually a royal proclamation.
Forcing her trembling fingers to still, she began to read aloud.
"To the residents of the Powell Estate, on this the eighth of July in the year 2007 Orange Delta, from His Royal Highness Prince John:
It is with deep regret that I must inform you that your village is being held hostage by the seditionists intent on destroying our kingdom. Their demands are too steep; I cannot give in.
But, as you can see, we have found a way to provide for you. Birds from the royal falconry will arrive daily with food and other necessary goods. As you find yourselves running out of things, simply send a note back with the birds and we will get them to you as soon as possible.
One other order of business remains. Since your village is now entirely cut off from the rest of the kingdom, I am in need of a representative. To that end, I appoint my betrothed, Dame Rose Tyler of the Powell Estate, as my emissary. Any disputes you would bring to the royal court, any concerns you have, you may take to her. Any judgement she hands down should be seen as coming from myself.
Having already communicated privately with Dame Rose, I know her priority will be finding a way to tear down the thorns. I charge all of you to give her whatever assistance she asks for, for your own good as well as that of the kingdom.
I am certain you will all live up to the hope I am placing in you. I remain,
Your humble monarch,
Prince John"
Rose's voice died down, and she steeled herself for the outcry this would surely bring. She was one of the younger members of the community, and a woman. How could she be worthy of this much responsibility?
The villagers were silent for a long moment, then the herbalist looked at Rose. "I bet I can find something that would kill those thorns."
"Nothing's ever got through my leather apron," offered Jake. "I bet if you wore leather, you could walk through the thorns without getting cut."
"Aye," said the tanner, "I could make you an outfit that would protect your body from head to toe."
"And I'll make you the strongest blade possible to cut through the canes," Jake added.
One by one, the villagers offered to help in whatever ways they could. Rose looked around at these people who had been her neighbours all her life. All of them looked at her with trust and hope in their eyes, and for the first time, she felt the weight of her position.
"Well then," she said, the first true smile creeping over her face since she saw the hedge. "What are we standing around here for?"
DWDWDWDW
Days blended into weeks and then months as the citizens of the Powell Estate worked together to help Rose break through the hedge. One by one, the pieces of the plan came together, and eventually, Rose had a sharp blade laced with a potion that slowed the regrowth of the bramble and a tough leather outfit that would cover her from head to toe.
She called a meeting in the green and gave recognition to the blacksmith, the herbalist, the tanner, and the seamstresses who had each done their part. "Tomorrow I go through the hedge alone, but it wouldn't be possible without all of you. You've more than lived up to the trust the prince placed in you."
That night, Rose, Jackie, and Mickey had supper together at the Tyler cottage, and Jackie tried once more to convince Rose to stay. "I don't see why it has to be you who goes," she said while they enjoyed a shepherd's pie. "If he loves you that much, then why would he want to risk you dying?"
"Maybe I love him enough that I want to get back to him," Rose shot back. "Or maybe as the Crown Prince's future wife, I feel it's my duty to be the one to go."
"Isn't it everyone else's duty to serve you?" Jackie asked.
Rose dropped her fork back into her bowl. "I'm gonna be the queen one day, Mum, and a queen doesn't just give up. She doesn't just let things happen. A queen makes a stand, she says no. She has the guts to do what's right when everyone else just runs away."
There was a beat of silence, then Jackie said, "Well I think—"
"I can't!" Rose exclaimed. She pushed back from the table and ran out of the cottage.
Stars shone brightly in the clear night sky, and Rose stared up at them, trying to regain control over her temper. Why can't she see that I have to do this? An' not just for me, but for all of us?
She heard a twig crack and said, "I'm over here, Mickey."
"You know she's just worried about you."
"I know."
"And you really can't just… stay here? You could have a proper life…"
"I'm gonna stop you before you say something we both regret later, Mickey. This isn't my life anymore. I'm sorry."
"I think I already knew that," Mickey said after a long pause.
"This isn't just for me, you know," Rose told him. "If we can find a way to get me safely to the castle, then I can tell the Doctor's advisors what we did and they should be able to find a way to pull the hedge down entirely."
She sighed. "It's even possible… You know I'm really the one being held hostage. The seditionists took the whole village just to get me. So maybe if I get out, they'll realise they've lost their bargaining chip and they'll let everyone else go."
"Well then." Her old friend smiled painfully. "I'd better go so you can get a good night of sleep."
The silence in the cottage the next morning over breakfast hurt Rose's heart. She'd thought… she'd hoped… but apparently her mum just couldn't let her go.
She was at the door when Jackie finally spoke. "You're doing the right thing, sweetheart."
"What?"
"You're doing the right thing. When you have children of your own, you'll understand why I wanted you to stay where it's safe, but…" She sighed. "I'm proud of you. And you'll make a great queen."
Rose stared at her for a moment, then threw herself into her mother's arms. "I promise I'll be careful," she whispered. "I'll get through and then we'll find a way to get rid of this stupid hedge and I'll see you again. I promise."
Her mum stroked her hair, then pushed her back. "You'd better," she said fiercely. "I don't mind my daughter going off to be queen, but I won't have her die in some thorny bramble."
The Tyler women laughed weakly, and then Rose said, "It's time for me to go."
"Let me come with you and help you put that suit on. All that leather, it don't look half complicated."
Even with her mum's help, it took a good thirty minutes to get Rose suited up. Outside, a crowd had gathered near the hedge along the road, ready to see Rose off. She raised her long knife in an awkward salute, and then turned to the thorns.
A cheer went up from the villagers when she made the first slice. Rose smiled grimly and continued to work, and gradually, the noise of the crowd died down.
She chanced a glance behind her when that happened and was surprised to realise she was completely surrounded by thorns. And it wasn't just the people she couldn't hear: there were no birds, no sounds of the wind rustling through the leaves, nothing. The smallest hint of light filtered down from above, but outside of that, she was in a complete void, separate from all reality except for what surrounded her.
Sweat dripped into her eyes, but the helmet and gloves kept her from wiping it away. She blinked furiously, and the stinging sensation eased a bit.
Like light and sound, time as she had known it ceased to exist. Instead, it was measured in her growing hunger, in the ache building between her shoulders, in the awareness that the thorns were slowly creeping up behind her.
Finally, finally, she saw a hint of light ahead. The pinprick became a small opening, and the sight revived her flagging strength. Adjusting her grip on the handle of her knife, she cut the canes away with a vigour she thought she'd lost.
When she'd cleared enough of a hole to see the castle, she nearly cried in joy. She'd almost made it—she would make it. Hope and tiredness melded into a frenzy of motion, and in just ten minutes, she'd cleared a window large enough for her to duck through.
Rose wanted to dance with joy when she set foot on the firm ground of the road on the other side of the hedge, but something caught at her ankle. She cried out as she tripped, holding her hands out to ward off the ground rushing up to meet her.
Just before she hit the ground, she felt a prick on her ankle, and fell into a deep sleep.
