"Hold on." The Doctor fiddled with the door until it clicked open. He stepped out into a forest, leaves crunching under his feet. "Here we are! Medieval age! time of knights, princesses, and outdoor bathrooms." He takes a deep breath in and exhales. "you done yet?"
"I'm not coming out!" I yell from the TARDIS. "I look silly!"
"Nonsense. You look grate!" He yells back in. Therese a long pause, then the sound of my foot steps getting closer. The Doctor hold out his hand to help me out as I step to the ground. I had a long red dress on with embroidered flowers on it. There was a green velvet rope tied around my waist, matching the sleeves that hung almost as low at the dress, tips just barley dragging. Lace lined the collar and mid sleeve.
"I don't like dresses." I say as I tug at the fabric. "It's like wearing a really tight blanket or something."
"Yeaaaah, I never liked wearing them ether. Common!" We start our way to the west where the Doctor claims a real live castle stands. After a good trudging and some jokes about the Pillsbury dough boy, we arrive.
"Wow." I say under my breath as we pass through the gates. The surrounding wall reached as high as a two story house. Men where posted at the top and entrance in authentic armor, armed with swords at their sides. I held close to the Doctors arm as we passed with a crowd of people into the market place. It was a lively seen. Children ran around chasing chickens, holding sticks and dolls. People with baskets filled to the brim walked about as vendors haggled with customers. This made the renaissance fair look like a joke.
"Right then," The Doctor pulled a small coin sack from his pocket and tossed it to me. "Their you go. Don't spend it all in one place. Keep within eyes distance and you'll be fine." I spill some of the gold into my hand and move it around.
"What's this for?"
"For shopping! Whats the point of being in a market place if you can't buy anything? Now go on," he turned me around and gave me a push. "Have fun. I'll be right behind you" I turn band smile.
"Thanks!" I say before turning back around to jogging down the market path. The Doctor slowly made his way along. letting his eyes brows the selection.
"Ye should hold a closer eye to that maiden!" He stopped to see where the voice was coming from.
"Excuse me?" An old hag sitting on a wooden crate motioned for him to come closer. He did.
"People have been diapering. Taken by the creatures in the forest they have. I'd be a shame for such a young thing to vanish from this world." The Doctor turned his head to watch Ashley Nichole talk to a vendor about a bruised apple.
"Don't listen to that woman." Burst in the nearest shop keeper, grabbing the Doctors attention. "- only been pick pockets and drunks that've vanished, god knows we could do without'm. Now get to the back where you belong ma!" He shouted at the old hag. She wobbled to her feet and muttered angrily as she made her way behind the store. Meanwhile, Id' just bout myself three, non bruised apples from a nice guy with overgrowing arm hair. I was vary proud of myself for finding the best in the bunch and was about to take a bit of one when I saw them. Children on the side of the road, barley clothed with dirt all over. Two boys and one girl. The oldest had to of been 13, no more. They huddled as he tried keeping his brother and sister warm. The youngest, being the little girl of 4, held out a hat to passers by. I walked over smiling, knowing what I had to do.
"Here's one for you," I put an apple in the little girls hand, "and you," The youngest boy already had his hand reaching for the fruit. "And one for you." I had to open the elides boys hand to place the apple inside. He looked at it in disbelief, then up at me.
"Thank you miss. It's been weeks since we were shown such kindness." He said as his siblings tor into the food.
"Weeks you say." I tap my lips, pretending to give it thought. "I'll just have to make up for that." I plop my coin sack in the hat. The weight of it bent the hat in half, almost causing it to fall on the ground. The little boy took the hat from his sister and shook it, hearing the coins jingle. "Now, don't spent it all in one place. Spread it out, ya know? Make it last." they had all started to water as I talked. the first to hug me was the little girl.
"Thank you red lady." She said softly.Then the boys.
"Thank you red lady." With a warm hart i pat them on the head and send them on their way. the littlest ones run to the meat shop with uncontainable smiles. The eldest runs after them but before disappearing in the door, he yells back.
"I owe you!" He didn't of course but I didn't have time to tell him. I walk back to where I bought the apples and find the Doctor, leaning on the stand with a look of pride on his face. Smile completely brimming.
"What are you so smiley about?" I say as I approached him.
"Oh nothing." He says, still smiling at me. He popes an apple in the air for me to catch. "Here." He winks. "You've earned it."
Trumpets sound off in the distance. The people rise to look as a mans voice yells above the crowd.
"THE BALL IS BEGINNING! ALL ATTENDEES ARE TO ASSEMBLE AT THE KINGS CASTLE!" I shake the Doctors arm as the yelling man repeats.
"Aw snap! a real Renaissance ball! That's way better then some piece of fruit. Can we go?" I say with excitement. The Doctor rolls his head as he stand from leaning. "Please? please,please,please?"
"Oh, I dunno. I don't do domestic." He says as he nervously watched others filter towards the castle.
"Common Doc. I earned this." I shoot him a you know I'm right look witch he returns with a neck scratch.
"Fine." He starts walking to the castle. I set my apple back with the bunch and cling to his arm, giddy and jumping. "It's a good thing I brought a banana." We fallowed the stream of people until we got to the castle doors. They where insanely tall. Black metal held the wood together with curves and eye catching patterns.
"Invite" the man at the door said with a drained tone. Probably from saying the same word so many times. The Doctor wiped out his Psychic paper and flashed it at him. The man sighed, opening the door enough to let us in.
"Thaank you!" I slip in before entering the ball room. Remember the insanely tall doors? This place was even taller. Tables lined the rim of the room with fresh fruit, ham, and chicken. The band was playing green sleeves as people swayed with their partners. It was like the movie A Knights Tale threw up in here. Cool!
"Time to mingle." I say to the doctor without looking at him. "Got your fruit?"
"Check" He says, pulling the banana out of his coat pocket.
"Let's do this." We detach and walk in opposed directions. I tried not to let him see me glance at him. He was so happy being with them, us. Humans that is. When he let his guard down, he was a normal guy. A laughing, chatting, wonderful guy. That other guy though. Behind the Doctor, hidden in the shadows cased by the pillar. That hooded figure standing there, no way to see it's eyes...
"I saw you today." said a Brawny man voice. I turn to see a Brawny man attached to it. He had red on, just like me. His shirt was lined with white ruffles and his pants where a little to tight. "You have a Saints soul." He brushed my cheek with his ruff hand. "And the face of an Angle.
"Wow there fluffy!" I step back. "I came here with someone, and I'm leaving with that same someone." He advances with that look in his eye.
"Theirs nothing wrong with a little change." I grab the nearest thing, which so happens to be a drum stick, and shove it at his face. He stops. The thought of grease on him seems to be as good as a sword.
"I don't care if your King Arther himself. You ain't touching me. Back off!" I shake the meat threateningly. He steps back with his hands up, same smug look on his face. that's when those trumpets sounded again.
"Now, Introducing. The guest of Honor. The Kings Brother. sir John!" The little announcer mans hand guided the crowds eyes to me and Fluffy. Everyone looked as I fending him off with chicken. Laughs where had as he slided his way to the middle of the room.
"Lords and Lady's!," He spouted, arms raised to grab their attention. "I am sure you are all eager awaiting the main even!" The group stated whispering with excitement. "The part of the day where I choose one lucky woman, to lay down with me for all of time! A wife!" He smiled as the lady's of the room giggled. I gagged. It was time to leave this bachelor party. I started pushing my way to the other side of the room where the Doctor was. "But, one Lady has already stolen my hart!" The crowd gasped as I stopped. No way. He couldn't be ... I gotta hide! I start fighting my way back to the table to duck underneath, apologizing left and right for shoving people out of the way. "A Woman without a name. The Red Lady!" Dang! I was so close. The crowd parts to let us walk to each other. How do they always know where people are pointing?
"That's vary nice of you, um, sir, But you see. I got a nasty case of the plague, as I'm sure my DOCTOR-," I cup my hands to my mouth so the yell is in his general direction. ", can confirm for you." I wait and watch for the Doctor to run to my side and make the problem go away. He never did. John looked around for someone to emerge with me. When no one did, he turned to me and laughed. The crowd soon mimicked.
"What a sense of humor you've got." He starts walking towards me.
"Well, in any case, I don't wanna marry you." He grabs my wrist and leans in so only I can hear him.
"Common girl. Half the women in this room would die for a chance at this." I jerk myself from his grip.
"Yeah, well. Marry one of them then." His smile finally left as he reacted to my comment.
"I picked you!" With that, I was hoisted onto his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. The crowd cheered as he took me away, The band had started to play again. All of this, drowning my screams for the Doctor. Where the heck could he be? Theres no way I'm raising children in a world without toothpaste!
