A/N: Sorry this update took so long. I'm at a bit of a writer's block for this story. I know where it'll go, it's just the getting there part. LOL Also please excuse my historical inaccuracies. The real Roman fort that was in Cardiff was actually made in 55 AD. ^_^* I will try better in the future to maintain accuracy in my fics.

51 AD

The Doctor peered out of the TARDIS door. From the looks of things the TARDIS had decided to behave itself and actually landed exactly where it was meant to: the back alley of rain soaked Roman fortress. Perfect! Chickens squabbled in the distance while the sounds of hammering from the blacksmith, soldiers practicing, and the local citizens going about their daily lives filled the air. The Doctor hopped over the worst of the street muck as he came out to the main streets. Nothing out of the ordinary, nothing at all in fact that would have brought the Doctor here on any other occasion; it was simply too normal.

"Make way for the Bride of Helios!" Now that was more like it. A procession was coming from the main keep through the main street of the fortress. Slaves carried a golden palanquin with gauzy red curtains. Guards marched at the sides while the herald continued to proclaim the "Bride's" coming. As the Doctor watched dozens of people stopped what they were doing to come and watch the parade. Many bowed in homage while others seemed to be caught in rapture at her passing. One woman broke from the others worshippers and charged at the procession, a small bundle in her outstretched arms. Two of the guards stopped her before she could get to the so called "Bride."

"My Lady please! It is my child! Save her please!" Tears streamed down the woman's face as she tried to push the small bundle of her child through the blockade of the guards. Through the palanquin's curtains a voice came: "Let her approach." The guards lowered the spears and the woman moved into the inner ring. As the palanquin was lowered a slave pulled back the curtains revealing the owner of the voice. The Doctor couldn't help but notice that the woman was plain more then anything else. Mousy brown hair pulled back in what he assumed was the most recent fashion and crowned with a golden coronet, a sun at the center. Her face was freckled and her nose was rather flat. Not particularly tall either the Doctor noted, but even the Doctor felt that despite her lack of physical beauty there was a strong charisma to her. Rising from her throne the Bride took the woman's child from her.

The Bride looked out and addressed the people. "My children! Know this: That all who come to Me shall be rewarded for their devotion to my husband, the Great Helios! Trust in the might of His Light and be saved!" The roar from the crowd was deafening. As they cheered the Bride removed the dressing needle on her right shoulder letting the golden fabric of her dress fall revealing her breast. Raising the needle for all to see, she thrust it into her exposed bosom letting loose a stream of blood to match the palanquin curtains. A slave took the bloodied needle while the Bride held the infant to suckle at her breast. The mother's hands were clasped as she watched her infant suckle the Bride. Within moments a small cry came from the bundle and the mother's face turned to joy. "Let the Bride of Helios be praised! She has not made a sound in days! Thank you, thank you!" The woman continued to make obeisance to the Bride as she returned the child to the mother who returned to the crowd, rejoicing in the healing of her daughter. As the Bride replaced the fabric of her dress only the Doctor noticed that where a stab wound should have been only smooth skin was left. "Now that is interesting. Very interesting." With that performance done the Bride returned to her seat and the procession continued on its way.

The Doctor ran across the street to speak with the woman about her child and maybe to get some answers about this Bride. The woman was still surrounded by townspeople all exclaiming, many trying to get close enough to touch the blanket that held now wailing infant. "Excuse me, very official business here." The Doctor pushed through the crowd to the woman flashing his psychic paper to her. Good thing it showed images as well. The chances of these people being able to read were nil. "Hello I'm the Doctor. If I may?" "Of course my Lord," the woman replied handing her child to the Doctor. "There you go, you're alright," The Doctor spoke to the baby as he ran his sonic screwdriver over her. The crowed began to dispel with the Doctor's monopoly of the mother and infant. "So tell me, what's your name?" "I am Zea, my daughter is Laveda." "And tell me Zea, who is this Bride? Why go to her for help?" The Doctor passed Laveda back to Zea having finished examining her. "You do not know the Bride of Helios? Why she is our Savior! She descended from on high a year ago in the Chariot of her husband the great Helios. Her blood heals all and she promises to lead us to a new age of glory. Just look at my Laveda! For a week she did not make a sound, she ate scarcely a drop, and now she cries lustily." The Doctor nodded. "Thank you Zea. It seems I should go and pay my own respects to the Bride." Zea smiled at the Doctor before heading on her own way. The Doctor turned and marched straight to the fort's keep.