Chapter Four Tooth and Claw
"I am not wearing this!" I exclaim, storming into the consul room, holding up the leather shorts and crop top that the Doctor left in our room. Now that I was me again, the TARDIS pulled out our old room, though she gave it a few modern touches. I missed our nights together, especially the nights when we couldn't sleep and we watched home videos. Lately though, that's all we've been doing, going through everything just to make sure that all my memories were there. The Doctor was more than happy to help, but honestly, I think he was just happy that I was Hephsta again.
"What's wrong with it?" the Doctor innocently asked, glancing up at it with a smug smile. Sivy scrambled across the consul, looking at it and then shaking his head.
"Yes I know that, why do you think I'm wearing this?"I gestured to my outfit. Rose jumped up, wearing a rather short dungaree skirt. She pouted when she saw what I was wearing.
"I only do period dressing when: A, I'm a hundred percent sure of where we're going and B, when I'm not wearing stuff like this!" I exclaimed, shaking the outfit around.
"C'mon Georgie! It'll be fun!" I shake my head, throwing the outfit to the side. She shrugs and then turns to the Doctor, "What do you think of this? Will it do?"
"In the late 1970s? You'd be better off in a bin bag. Hold on, listen to this," he pops a CD in and I blush deeply when 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick' comes on, "Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Number one in 1979."
"You're a Punk!" Rose exclaims with a laugh then looks over at me and frowns, "Why you blushing?" I cleared my throat, she did not need to know, she's far too young.
"No reason," and then walk up to the consul, pushing a few buttons, "It's good to be a lunatic..." I mutter, singing along.
"That's what you are. A big old Punk with a bit of Rockabilly thrown in."
"Would you like to see him?" the Doctor asks. Rose's mouth drops open in surprise.
"How'd you mean? In concert?"
"What else is the TARDIS for?" he pulls me in and we start to dance around the consul, "I can take you to the Battle of Trafalgar...the first anti-gravity Olympics...Caesar crossing the Rubicon...or...Ian Dury at the Top Rank, Sheffield, England, Earth, 21st November, 1979. What do you think?" He dipped me, so I was looking at an upside down Rose.
"Sheffield it is!" Rose exclaims, the Doctor pulls me back up.
"Hold on tight." I say, giving her a wink. Sivy pulls a lever and the three of us lurch forward as the TARDIS takes off. The Doctor whacks the consul with a hammer to the beat of the music.
"Would you stop? She's never going to take us anywhere that we want if you continue to do that!" I yelled and the movement stopped. The three of us fell to the ground, and Sivy landed on my face. I couldn't help it, I started laughing and soon Rose and the Doctor started laughing too.
"1979. Hell of a year!" He pulls Rose and I to our feet and I set Sivy on my head as we head over to the door, "China invades Vietnam...The Muppet Movie! Love the film. Margaret Thatcher...urgh...Skylab fall to Earth...with a little help from me...nearly took off my thumb," the Doctor steps out, Rose and I followed him, "I like my thumb. I need my thumb. I'm very attached to..." he falters as he notices that we are surrounded by Scottish soldiers all around us. I quickly pull Sivy off my head and stuffed him in my back pocket, and held up my hands. Rose and the Doctor quickly followed, "...my thumb." The guns click ominously.
"1879." I murmur to him. He shrugs.
"Same difference."
"How sure where you that this was 1979?" Rose quietly asks me, leaning over a bit.
"Out of a hundred percent?" She nods.
"26, maybe 25," I leaned over to the Doctor, "When are you ever going to let me drive so we can actually get to the right places? I passed all time travel tests with flying colors." He scowled at me, I knew that he hated to be reminded of that because he claims that I cheated. Saying that wearing dresses shouldn't be allowed. And then I remind him that my tester was a woman.
"You will explain your presence. And the nakedness of this girl." I awkwardly clear my throat, glancing over at Rose. She glances down at herself.
"Are we in Scotland?" the Doctor questions in a Scottish accent.
"How can you be ignorant of that?" the Captain asked.
"Oh, I'm-I'm dazed and confused. Me husband and I 'ave been chasing this...this wee naked child over hill and over dale. It's why I'm wearing me trousers. She's me younger sister...not very good at listening to authority. In't that right, ya timorous beastie?" I say in my own Scottish accent, looking over at Rose.
"Ooch, aye! I've been oot and aboot." Rose says in a terrible accent of her own. I shake my head.
"No, don't do that." I quietly say in my English accent.
"Hoots mon!" she continues.
"No, really don't. Really" the Doctor says, shaking his head.
"Will you identify yourself, sir?"
"I'm Doctor James McCrimmon, this is me wife Georgina. From the...Township of Balamory. Eh...I have my credentials, if I may..."he gestures towards his pocket and the Captain nods. We all lower our hands while the Doctor fumbles in his pocket and pulls out his psychic paper. He shows it to the soldiers.
"As you can see, A Doctorate from the University of Edinburgh. I trained under Doctor Bell himself."
"Let them approach." a voice calls from the carriage.
"I don't think that's wise, ma'am."
"Let them approach." the voice repeated. The Doctor gestures towards the carriage and the Captain has no choice but to let us pass.
"You will approach the carriage. And show all due difference." The Doctor gives him an 'aye aye, Captain', signal and we all approach the carriage. One of the footmen opens the door to reveal Queen Victoria.
"Rose, Georgie-might I introduce her Majesty Queen Victoria. Empress of India and Defender of the Faith." The two of us curtsey.
"Rose Tyler, Ma'am. And my apologies...for being so naked." Rose says with a nervous laugh.
"I've had five daughters. It's nothing to me. But you, Doctor...show me these credentials," the Doctor hands the psychic paper over and the Queen studies it for a moment, "Why didn't you say so immediately? It states clearly here that you have been appointed by the Lord Provost as my Protector." I rolled my eyes.
"Course it does." I mutter.
"Does it? Yes, it does! Good! Good! Um...then let me ask-why is Your Majesty traveling by road when there's a train all the way to Aberdeen?"
"A tree on the line." was the Queen's answer.
"An accident?" the Doctor questioned.
"I am the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Everything around me tends to be planned."
"An assassination attempt?" I asked.
"What, seriously? There's people out to kill ya?" Rose asked with wide eyes.
"I'm quite used to staring down the barrel of a gun." the Queen remarked.
"Sir Robert MacLeish lives but ten miles hence. We'll send word ahead, he'll shelter us for tonight, then we can reach Balmoral tomorrow." the Captain informed, coming behind us on his horse.
"The Doctor, his wife...and their timorous beastie will come with us."
"Yes, Ma'am. We'd better get moving-it's almost nightfall."
"Indeed. And there are stories of wolves in these parts. Fanciful tales intended to scare the children. But good for the blood, I think. Drive on!" the Queen informs. Rose grins at the two of us and we follow the carriage.
"It's funny though, 'cos you say 'assassination' and you just think of Kennedy and stuff. Not her." Rose comments.
"1870-she's had...oo...six attempts on her life? And I'll tell you something else: we just met Queen Victoria!" I happily exclaim, giving a little jump.
"I know!" Rose excitedly says, jumping with me and grabbing my hands.
"What a laugh!" the Doctor says, giving the two of us a grin.
"She was just sitting there!" Rose grins.
"Like a stamp." the Doctor comments.
"I want her to say," she puts on an 'upper-class accent', "we are not amused," she switches back, "I bet you five quid I can make her say it."
"Ten quid it's when she's pissed at us."
"Well, if I gambled on that, it'd be an abuse of my privileges of traveller in time."
"Twenty quid?" I asked.
"Done."
-DW-
One of the footman opens the door for the Queen once we stopped at the estate. Sir Robert, at least I assume it's him, emerges from a doorway with a bald man following him.
"Your Majesty." he bows.
"Sir Robert. My apologies for the emergency. And how is Lady Isobel?" the Queen asks.
"She's...indisposed. I'm afraid-she's gone to Edinburgh for the season. And she's taken the cook with her-the kitchens are barely stocked...I wouldn't blame Your Majesty if you wanted to ride on." I cock my head to the side a bit.
"Something's not right here..."I mutter to the Doctor, who nods in agreement.
"Oh, not at all! I've had quite enough carriage exercise. And this is...charming. If rustic. It's my first visit to this house. My late husband spoke of it often. The Torchwood Estate. Now, shall we go inside."
"Torchwood..." I murmur.
"And please excuse the naked girl." the Queen adds.
"Sorry." Rose apologizes with a blush.
"She's a feral child. I bought her for sixpence in old London Town. It was her or the Elephant Man, so..."
"He thinks he's incredibly funny." I comment, looking over at the Queen.
"But I'm not so amused. What do you think, Ma'am?" Rose finishes.
"It hardly matters. Shall we proceed?" Sir Robert nods and the group begins to make our way into the house.
"So close." Rose says to the two of us. We grin.
"Makerson and Ramsy, you will escort the Property. Hurry up."
"Yes, sir." the soldiers say. One of the soldiers takes a small wooden box from the carriage and carries it carefully to the house.
"What's in there, then?" the Doctor asked, interested.I swear,his curiousity will one day get us killed.
"Property of the Crown. You will dismiss any further thoughts, sir," the Captain says and the Doctor pulls a face to me, "The rest of you go to the rear of the house. Assume your designated
positions."
"You heard the orders. Positions, sir." The Doctor nods towards the house, and we all follow the others. I quietly pull Sivy out of my back pocket, shutting him down, though he put up a great fight.
"Can't risk it." I quietly explain to the Doctor, who nodded in agreement.
-DW-
Sir Robert enters the Observatory, followed by the Queen, Rose, the Doctor, Me and three of the household staff (who creep me out). An enormous telescope sits in the middle of the room.
"This, I take it, is the famous Endeavour." the Queen commented.
"All my father's work. Built by hand in his final years. Became something of an obsession-he spent his money on this rather than caring for the house or himself." Sir Robert explained.
"I wish I'd met him, I like him. That thing's beautiful-can I um..." He gestures towards it with a smile.
"Help yourself." The three of us move forward to examine and the wheel next to it.
"What did he model it on?" I ask, running my fingers over it.
"I know nothing about it. To be honest, most of us thought him a little...shall we say, eccentric," the Doctor lets out a dopey laugh, "I wish now I'd spent more time with him. And listened to his stories." Sir Robert glances at the Queen.
"It's a bit rubbish," he comments, peering through it, "How many prisms has it got? Way too many. The magnification's gone right over the top, that's a stupid kind of a-" he turns and quietly asks me, "Am I being rude again?"
"Yep." I say with a nod.
"But it's pretty! It's very...pretty" the Doctor quickly adds. I pat him on the arm, giving him a smile.
"And the imagination of it should be applauded." the Queen comments.
"Mm! Thought you might disapprove, Your Majesty. Stargazing. Isn't that a bit fanciful?" the Queen stares at Rose, "You could easily...not be amused, or something? No?"
"This device surveys the infinite work of God," the Doctor shakes his head at Rose's attempt, "What could be finer? Sir Robert's father was an example to us all. A polymath. Steeped in astronomy and sciences, yet equally well versed in folklore and fairytales."
"Stars and magic. I like him more and more." the Doctor comments with a smile. He wanders around the telescope to examine it some more. "Reminds me of you." I blush, our children's bedtime stories often consisted of wonderous tales of creatures with magic or stars that fell to planets and fell in Doctor always said that I was his star, I fell so that he could fall in love with me.
Course when he says that, it's usally when he's trying to make up for some silly mistake he did. But, I can't help it, he's very sweet when he says it.
"Oh, my late husband enjoyed his company," she turns to Rose and I, "Prince Albert himself was acquainted with many rural superstitions, coming as he did from Saxe Coburg."
"That's Bavaria." The Doctor mutters in Rose's ear.
"When Albert was told about your local wolf, he was transported." The Queen says to Sir Robert.
"So, what's this wolf, then?" I ask.
"It's just a story." Sir Robert says, trying to dismiss the topic.
"Then tell it." The Doctor says. Sir Robert glances around at one of his housekeeping staff very uncomfortably.
"It's said that-"he haltingly began.
"Excuse me, sir. Perhaps her Majesty's party could repair to their rooms. It's almost dark."
"Of course. Yes, of course." Sir Robert says, sounding grateful to be stopped.
"And then supper. And…could we find some clothes for Miss Tyler and Mrs. McCrimmon ? I'm tired of nakedness and I'm sure that Mrs. McCrimmon would prefer to get out of her trousers." The Queen asked, looking over to the staff, who give her a curt nod.
"It's not amusing, is it?" Rose asks pointedly. Queen Victoria ignores this comment and glances around, turning back to Sir Robert. The Doctor mutters something to Rose, who pokes him in the chest.
"Sir Robert, your wife must've left some clothes. See to it. We shall dine at seven. And talk some more of this wolf. After all…there is a full moon tonight."
"So there is, Ma'am." Sir Robert agrees, giving a forced smile. He bows, and the Queen leaves the room followed by the rest of us.
-DW-
I go to the wardrobe, opening it up and examining the different dresses. Though the amount of dresses that were in there was confusing, I pushed it back for now. I held up a brown one, scowled at it, and then immediately put it back. I smile as I notice the frilly blouse hanging up, remembering all the silly different outfits the Doctor has worn. I notice a blue dress and pull it out, holding it up and twirling. I set the dress on the bed and go to another wardrobe, opening it up and letting out a scream finding a young woman inside.
-DW-
"They came through the house. The incitements, they took the Steward and the Master. And my Lady." Flora explained as the two of us sat on the bed, terrified and close to tears. I squeezed her hand in a comforting way.
"Listen-my husband, he's called the Doctor-he'll know what to do. I can help you too but I need the Doctor. You've gotta come with me."
"Oh, but I can't, Miss." Flora argued, shaking her head.
"Flora, we'll be safe. There's more people arrived downstairs-soldiers of the bloody queen! They can help us. I promise. Come on. Okay? Come on." We get up and I slowly open the door, peering cautiously out of the door. Once I see that the coast is clear, I grab Flora's hand and lead her down the corridor. I nearly trip over the unconscious guards.
"Oh, Miss. I did warn you!" Flora exclaims. I kneel down, checking his pulse.
"He's not dead...must be drugged." I turn around, seeing Flora being taken away. I get to my feet, ready to fight until someone grabs me and drags me away.
-DW-
"Don't make a sound. They said if we scream or shout, then he will slaughter us." Lady Isobel warns. I frown, looking between her and then the 'Host', as Isobel called it.
"He's not human is he?" I quietly question. Isobel nods.
"Course he's not." I said with a sigh. The Host raises his head slowly and opens his eyes, showing his black eyes. Lady Isoble and her household staff whimper, and all I do is stare. I slowly shift my feet underneath my but, pushing Sivy out of my pocket. He fell on the ground with a quiet thud. I paused for a second, seeing if anyone noticed it. When no one reacted, I closed my eyes and turned him on.
"Get to the Doctor. Warn him about the staff and that we've got a werewolf holding us captive." I mentally told him, though he grumbled and groaned, he did as I said. Once I knew that Sivy was out, I slowly stood up and approaching the Host.
"Don't child." Isobel says and I ignored her. I slowly edged toward the host, the chain that was holding all of us together. When I can't get any closer, I kneel down.
"Who are you?" I question.
"Don't enrage him."
"Where are you from? What galaxy? Can you at least give me coordinates?"
"Ohhh...intelligence...you're obviously not from here..."
"Where were you born?" I try.
"This body...ten miles away...a weakling, heartsick boy. Stolen away at night by the brethren from my cultivation. I carved out his soul and sat in his heart." A mental list began and with every bit of information given to me, a species was crossed out.
"All right...so the body's human. I want to know about you...the thing inside."
"So far from home." he whispered.
"If you wanna get back home, we can help." I offered.
"Why would I leave this place? A world of industry, of workforce and warfare. I could turn it to such purpose."
"How would you do that? You obviously don't have enough power on your own."
"I would migrate to the Holy Monarch."
"You mean Queen Victoria?" I asked.
"With one bite, I would pass into her blood. And then it begins. The Empire of the Wolf! So many questions," he suddenly lunges forward, causing I and the other prisoners to jump in surprise, "Look! Inside your eyes! You've see it too!"
"Seen what?" I immediately asked.
"The Wolf! There is something of the Wolf about you!"I slowly breathed in and out and tried to act confused.
"I don't know what you mean." I stated.
"You burnt like the sun, but all I require is the moon." he hissed. The doors of the cellar are thrown open and the moonlight floods in, over the Host's cage. He presses his face against the bars with a blissful smile. My hands immediately began to glow and I close them into fists, mentally willing them to die down. The prisoners shift around uncomfortably. The Host sheds his cloak, a wind blows through the cellar. The Host grabs the bars of the cage. I quickly go back to the other prisoners, getting them up
on their feet.
"All of you! Stop looking at it! Flora, don't look-listen to me. Grab hold of the chain and pull!" I start to pull, though I'm sure I could pull the chain all on my own, there's no need to freak them out more, "Come on! With me! Pull!" Growling starts to emit from the cage and all Lady Isobel does is stare at the creature in horror, "I said pull! Stop your whining and listen to me! All of you! And that means you, your Ladyship! Now come on-pull!"
They all stand and help me pull the chain from the wall. The Host is slowly starting to transform into a wolf. He screams in pain as his skin bulges horribly and soon they turn into growls as he soon begins to look more and more like a wolf.
"...three...Pull!" we all tug on the chain, "One-two-three-pull!" The werewolf's transformation is complete. It growls and flexes its claws. And finally, the chain comes free and the Doctor kicks the door down.
"Where the hell have you been?" I yelled. The Doctor turns and stares at the werewolf with wide eyes that were filled with awe as it grabs hold of the bars of the cage.
"Oh, that's beautiful!" the Doctor exclaimed.
"Get out!" Sir Robert commands his wife. The wolf begins to bend and break the bars, throwing the cage off. The household staff are all clamoring to get out of the room. I grab the Doctor by the ear to bring his attention back to the situation at hand. He and Rose help me usher everyone out.
"Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out!" he yells.
"Come on…"I mutter, keeping a close eye on the wolf. The werewolf stands tall, free from his prison. He throws the top of it across the room, narrowly missing the three of us. The Doctor grabs my hand and we all run out. I slam the door and the Doctor locks it with his sonic screwdriver. We all quickly run once we hear the wolf howl.
-DW-
"This wouldn't happen to be a nice wolf like when we first met?" I asked, leaning against the wall to catch my breath, my hands still in cuffs. The Doctor sighed and shook his head. "Thought so."
"Arms…take your strife…ready everyone?" the Steward turn to Lady Isobel after handing all the guns to the men, "Take the girls. Get them out through the kitchen." Lady Isobel shakes her head, turning to her husband.
"I can't leave you. What will you do?" she asked him.
"I must defend her Majesty. Now, don't think of me-just go." Sir Robert commands his wife, giving her a kiss. She reluctantly pulls away and gathers the maids together.
"All of you at my side, come on!" She pulls them through the kitchen. The Doctor pulls his sonic screwdriver out of his pocket and starts to unlock the handcuffs.
"It could be any form of light modulated species trigged by specific wavelengths." The Doctor began, speaking very fast.
"Yes, I know that." He ignored me, still focused on getting me out.
"Did it say what it wanted?"
"The Queen, Crown, throne-anything it didn't have that she did." The cuffs are free and I jump at the thumping sound from the direction of the cellar. I slowly walk out to the corridor to look. The wolf has managed to knock down the door and is standing at the other end of the corridor. He and I stare at each other for a few moments before the werewolf growls and I run back into the room. I run into the Doctor's arms and the three of us quickly get behind the line of men ready to fire.
"Fire!" They shoot at the wolf, who only stumbles back a few steps. "Fire!" I flinch, burying my face in the Doctor's chest. He kisses the top of my head, stroking my hair. Once the firing has stopped, I lift my head and turn around, seeing no sign of the wolf.
"All right, you men, we should retreat upstairs, come with me." The Doctor commands, turning towards the stairs with my hand in his.
"I'll not retreat. The battle's done. There's no creature on God's Earth that could survive such an assault." The Steward spat. I rolled my eyes.
"We're trying to tell you to come upstairs!" I exclaim.
"And I'm telling you, sir and ma'm, that I will sleep well tonight with that thing's hide upon my wall." He strides across the room to look down the corridor, checking for the wolf. I watch him, breathing quietly and trying to keep my powers at bay. Seeing nothing, the Steward comes back with a triumphant looks on his face. "Must've crawled away to die-" and he is lifted clean through the ceiling by the wolf and the only sound is of him being devoured.
"There's nothing we can do!" the Doctor yells, the four of us immediately talking off.
-DW-
The Doctor, Rose, Sir Robert and I hurry into a room. I slam the door shut, pushing my body weight against it while the Doctor locks it with his sonic screwdriver.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" Sir Robert calls up the stairs. Queen Victoria quickly comes running down the stairs.
"Sir Robert! What's happening?" The Doctor dashes off somewhere, most likely to check any other options of escape, "I head such terrible noises."
"Your Majesty-we've got to get out. But what of Father Angelo? Is he still here?" Sir Robert asked. The Queen hesitated before answering.
"Captain Reynolds disposed of him." The Doctor came back.
"The front door's no good, it's been boarded shut. Pardon me, Your Majesty-you'll have to leg it out of a window." He gestures through a door and Queen Victoria shows a bit of reluctance but soon walks through with her head held high. Sir Robert follows her and soon Rose, the Doctor, and I do so as well. I pull Rose aside.
"I need Siv. He can help us out with the priests." I whispered, Rose quickly took the chocker off and gave it to me. I threw it to the side and Sivy transformed in mid-air, scurrying off to do what I said. Sir Robert, the Doctor, and the Queen go over to the window opening it up and then kneeling down for safety. Rose and I stand where we are, just in case.
"Excuse my manners, Ma'am, but I shall go first, the better to assist Her Majesty's egress." Sir Robert says, putting an arm out in front of her. The Queen nods.
"A noble sentiment, my Sir Walter Raleigh."
"Yeah, any chance you could hurry up?" the Doctor impatiently asks. Sir Robert climbs onto the window sill and immediately dodges out of the way, Rose and I dropped to the ground to escaped the bullets.
"I reckon the monkey boys want us to stay inside." I mutter, climbing over and taking a glance out of the window.
"Do they know who I am?" the Queen demands. I rolled my eyes.
"Course they do. That's why they want you, you're gonna be dinner for the wolf." I stated, looking over at her.
"Now, stop this talk. There can't be an actual wolf."As soon as she said that, a howling rings through the house. Our company jumps to our feet, and quickly runs out. We run into a hallway and the wolf is battering on the door.
"What do we do?" Rose yells, grabbing my arm.
"We…run!" the Doctor answers.
"Is that it?!" Rose demands, looking between the two of us.
"You got any silver bullets?" I asked her.
"Not on me, no!"
"There we are then, we run. Your Majesty, as a Doctor, I recommend a vigorous jog," he jogs on the spot to demonstrate, "Good for the health. Come on!" The Doctor grabs the Queen's hand and runs up the staircase. Soon, however, the wolf breaks down the door and is running up the staircase. I paused for a second, leaning over the edge to look.
"Come on! Come on!" the Doctor yells and Rose grabs me. We run through the corridors, the wolf gaining close on us. Suddenly, Captain Reynolds appears armed. He shoots the wolf, who reels backwards down the corridor. Our group ducks behind a corridor to catch our breath.
"I'll take this position and hold it. You keep moving, for God's sake! Your Majesty-I went to look for the property, it was taken. The chest was empty."
"I have it. It's safe." The Queen assures the Captain, who gives a sigh of relief.
"Then remove yourself, Ma'am. Doctor, you stand as Her Majesty's Protector. And you, Sir Robert-you're a traitor to the crown." He cocks his gun.
"Bullets can't stop it!" I exclaim, putting a hand on his arm.
"They'll buy you time. Now, run!" He pushes us down the corridor and takes his position. Sir Robert and the Queen are already halfway down and into another room. The Doctor, Rose and I run in. I close my eyes, listening to the horror of a good man being torn apart. However, there was no time to grieve, we immediately started to barricade the door with what we could find.
"Wait a minute, shh, shh, wait a minute…"the Doctor says, hushing at us. We all stop our work to hear the wolf howl into the silence.
"It's stopped." I said, getting up onto one of the chairs and pressing my ear against the door.
"He's leaving Mistress!" Sivy cried, swinging down onto my head. I jumped in surprise and quickly threw him over to the Doctor.
"Keep him quiet!" I hiss. Rose shushes me.
"Listen…"she says and I climb down, slowly turning as I heard the wolf progress around the room. The Doctor shoves Sivy into his pocket and turns to Sir Robert.
"Is this the only door?" he whispers.
"Yes," he says, then his eyes become wide, "No!" He dashes to the other door with the Doctor and the two of them barricade it shut. Rose silences them. We all look around uneasily as the sounds of the werewolf walking slowly begin to diminish.
"I don't understand. What's stopping it?" Rose asks, looking around.
"Something in this room," The Doctor answers, walking over to the two of us, "What is it? Why can't it get in?" Rose smirks at the two of us.
"I'll tell you what, though…"
"What?" I ask, looking at her. Her face breaks out into a grin.
"Werewolf!" Though I was almost killed by it, I can help the grin that's breaking out onto my face. The Doctor's grinning too.
"I know! God, it's like our first day together all over again Fessie." The Doctor says, throwing an arm around my shoulders. Rose looks over at me, confusion written all over her face.
"I'll tell you later." I assure her, waving it off.
"You all right?" the Doctor asked, suddenly focused on me again. I smiled at the concern, that's just how he was, happy and excited one minute and then concerned the next.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am. It's all my fault. I should've sent you away. I tried to suggest something was wrong, I…though you might notice. Did you think there was nothing strange about my household staff?" Sir Robert apologizes, still over by the door with his head in his hand. I raised my hand.
"I did, they creped me out."
"Well, they were bald, athletic…you wife's away, I just thought you were happy." The Doctor said, scratching the back of his head. I smacked him and he let out a quiet yelp.
"Time and place." I mutter.
"I'll tell you what though, Ma'am, I bet you're not amused now." Rose offers, still trying to win the bet. The Queen sharply turns to her.
"Do you think this is funny?" she angrily demands.
"No, Ma'am, I'm sorry." Rose meekly apologizes, almost hiding behind me.
"What, exactly, I pray someone please-what exactly is that creature?"
"You'd call it a werewolf, but technically it's a more of a lupine wavelength haemovariform. They're kind of like werg's now that I think about it." I inform her.
"And should I trust you, sir and ma'am? The two of you who change your voices so easily? What happened to your accents?" The two of us looked at each other, realizing what she said is true.
"Oh..right, sorry..."
"I'll not have it. No, sir-not you...not that thing...none of it. This is not my world."
-DW-
The Doctor touches the woodwork, examining the carving of the mistletoe on the door.
"Mistletoe...Sir Robert, did your father put that there?" the Doctor asked, turning back to look at him.
"I don't know...I suppose..."Sir Robert answered hesitantly.
"Oh the other doo, too...a carving wouldn't be enough...I wonder..." he licks the woodwork and I stuck my tongue out in disgust, "Viscum album, the oil of the mistletoe-it's been worked into the wood like a varnish! How clever was your dad? I love him!" he turns to Rose and I, "Powerful stuff, mistletoe. Busting with lectins and viscotoxins."
"And the wolf's allergic to it?" Rose asked. I shook my head.
"Well, it thinks it is. The monks needed a way of controlling the wolf, maybe they trained it to react against certain things." I explained.
"Nevertheless, that creature won't give up Doctor, and we still don't possess an actual weapon." Si Robert reminded him. The Doctor rolled his eyes.
"Oh, your father got all the brains, didn't he?"
"Being rude again." I murmured to him.
"Good. I meant that one," he strides towards the bookshelves, "You want weapons? We're in a library. Books! Best weapons in the world," he puts his glasses on, "This room's the greatest arsenal we could have," he pulls some books off the shelves and throws them at Rose and I, "Arm yourself."
Rose, the Doctor, Sir Robert and I immediately start flicking through the books.
"Biology, zoology…there might be something on wolves in here…"Rose mutters.
"Hold on, what about this?" the Doctor asks and chucks a book at me. I barely caught it, due to the fact that it was far too big and I'm still tiny in this damn body. I glared at him but all he did was give me a cheeky grin and continue looking for books to help us.
"…some form of explosion…"Sir Robert mutters, flicking through his own book.
"Hmmm, that's the sort of thing. Ooh.." the Doctor jumps down from the ladder, holding an open book, which he puts on the table, showing us an illustration of a rock falling to Earth from the sky, "Look what your old dad found. Something that fell to Earth." Rose, Sir Robert and I gather around, looking at the picture.
"A spaceship?" Rose asked, looking over at me. I open my mouth to answer, but Sir Robert beats me to it, pointingto a paragraph in the book.
"A shooting star," he corrects and begins to read, "'In the year of our Lord, 1540, under the reign of King James the Fifth, an alimighty fire did burn in the pit'. That's the Glen of Saint Catherine just by the Monastery."
"But that's over three hundred years ago. What's it been waiting for?" Rose asked. Neither the Doctor or I answered, until a though popped into my head.
"Maybe a single cell survived." I began, pointingat him. He nodded, catching onto what I was thinking.
"Adaptring slowly down the generations."
"It survived through the humans."
"Host after host after host." I finished, he clicks his fingers, pointing at me.
"But why does it want the throne?"
"The Empire of the Wolf…the Victorian Age accelerated…starships and missiles fueled by coal and driven by steam…leaving history devastated in its wake…" I muttered, the images slowly coming together in my mind.
"Sir Robert!" the Queen snaps, standing up. Sir Robert meekly goes over to her, unsure of what might happen to him, "If I am to die here…"
"Don't say that, Your Majesty." Sir Robert interrupted.
"I would destroy myself rather than let that creature infect me. But that's no matter. I ask only that you find some place of safekeeping for something far older and more precious than myself." she opens her bag.
"Hardly the time to worry about your valuable." The Doctor commented from beside me. I smacked him on the back of his head, quietly scolding him.
"Thank you for your opinion. But there is nothing more valuable than this." And with that, she takes the Koh-I-Noor from her bag, holding it in the palm of her hand. My jaw drops, granted, I did have plenty of nice things back home but the Georgie part of me was amazed that I was standing even close to the Koh-I-Noor.
"Is that the Koh-I-Noor?" Rose asked with amaze.
"Oh, yes…the greatest diamond in the world, well second greatest," I frown and looked at him, "You're here." He shrugged, I blushed. We all shuffle forward to get a closer look.
"Given to me as the spoils of war. Perhaps its legend is now coming true. It is said that whoever owns it must surely die."
"Well, that's true of anything if you own it long enough. Can I…?" he asks, holding out his hand for the diamond. Queen Victoria gives it to him and he pushes his glasses to his nose to look at it closely. Rose prods from the side, her eyes wide.
"Yeah, I've seen better." The Doctor quietly says and I smile, standing up on my toes and giving him a kiss on the cheek. A blush formed and he cleared his throat, pretending to examine the diamond.
"How much is it worth?"Rose questioned.
"They say the wages of the entire planet for a whole week." I stated with a grin. Rose peers at it, then quietly snorts.
"Good job my mum's not here. She'd be fighting the wolf off with her bare hands for that thing."
"And she'd win." The Doctor and I said with a grin. Rose laughs and I giggle, it would certainly be a sight to see. Jackie fighting the wolf for the Koh-I-Noor, she would probably use her meatloaves as a weapon.
"Where is the wolf?" Sir Robert asked aloud, walking away from the group and towards the door to listen, "I don't trust this silence."'
"Why do you travel with it?" the Doctor asked the Queen, referring to the Koh-I-Noor. Though I wasn't all that focused on the diamond anymore, Sir Robert did bring up an excellent point. It was far too quiet.
"My annual pilgrimage. I'm taking it to Helier and Carew. The Royal Jewelers at Hazelhead. The stone needs recutting." I frowned and took the diamond from the Doctor, looking at it myself.
"It's perfect." I argued, looking at the Queen.
"My late husband never thought so."
"Now, there's a fact-" the Doctor began, taking off his glasses, "Prince Albert kept on having the Koh-I-Noor cut down. It used to be forty percent bigger than this. But he was never happy. Kept on cutting and cutting."
"He always said," the Queen's voice is almost dreamlike, like she's going back to when her husband told her this, "The shine was not quite right. But he died with it still unfinished." And that's when it all clicked in my head.
"Unfinished!" my eyes go wide, "Oh, yes!" I toss the Koh-I-Noor back to the Queen and begin pacing, talking out loud so I could figure it all out.
"Everything is unfinished in this house," I point to Sir Robert, "His father's research," I point over to the Queen, "Your husband, Ma'am," I go over to her, "He came here and he sought the perfect diamond-hold on a mo..."I slowed down, holding up a finger and then sneezed, "Anyway-all these separate things, they're not separated at all, they're connected! Doctor-please tell me you're getting this?" I looked over at him and he just shook his head. I huffed and turned back to the Queen.
"What if, this house, it's a trap for you-is that right Ma'am?" I asked slowly.
"Obviously."
"At least, that's what the wolf intended. But! What if there's a trap inside the trap?" I looked to everyone, who all just gave me blank looks.
"Explain yourself, Georgina." the Queen demanded. I sighed, trying to think of a simple way to tell her this.
"What if his father and your husband weren't just telling each other stories?" I began, "They dared to imagine all this was true. And they planned against it. Laying the real trap for you...but for the wolf," a sprinkle of plaster falls onto my shoulder. I dust it off before I slowly look up, where the wolf is on the glass dome above our heads, "That wolf there..." and because I have the greatest luck, the glass starts to crack, "Run! Go!"
Everyone drops everything and runs for the doors as the wolf crashes through and lands on the desk. The Doctor remained, at the door, staring at the wolf with marvel in his eyes.
"Not now!" I yelled, pulling him back and slamming the doors shut. The five of us run down the corridor.
"We have to get to the conservatory!" I yelled, sliding across the floor and quickly grabbing Rose around the corridor. Lady Isobel throws something at the wolf, some sort of water, and the wolf howls in pain. My hands light up and I throw a ball at him, causing him to whimper and scurry down the other end of the corridor.
"Good shot!" the Doctor comments Isobel before turning to me and giving me a kiss.
"It was mistletoe!" Lady Isobel explains and the Doctor and I pull apart. I jog down to the end of the corridor, checking to see if the wolf was there.
"Isobel!" Sir Robert reunites with his wife momentarily, "Get back downstairs."
"Keep yourself safe." she orders him, the two of them sharing another kiss. A small smile appears on my face, remembering when the Doctor and I were like that.
"We better hurry." I say, coming back to the group. Though I want Sir Robert to share a longer moment with his wife, we don't have all that much time.
"You go." he tells her. Lady Isobel nods, gathering his skirts and going back to the maids.
"Girls, come with me. Down the back stairs, back to the kitchen. Quickly!" Lady Isobel and the maids run off and Sir Robert stares longingly after his wife. I wish I could give him some words of comfort but they all soon leave me when I hear the wolf growling.
"Come on!" the Doctor says, grabbing my hand. Sir Robert runs ahead.
"The observatory's this way!" he calls, leading us up the central staircase. The five of us quickly rush up, hearing the wolf gain upon us. The Doctor and I pull ahead, running into the observatory first.
"No mistletoe on these doors, your father wanted the wolf to get inside!" I explain, pointing at the doors, "We just need time. Everyone has to get inside, can we find some way to barricade this?" I look to the four of them, the Doctor seemed to have finally caught up on what was going on here and was busy trying to get everything in place.
"Just do your work and I'll defend it." Sir Robert solemnly states. I frown, I don't like the sound of that.
"If we could bind them shut with rope or something!" the Doctor exclaims, ignoring Sir Robert.
"I said I'd find the two of you time." Sir Robert determinedly repeats. Rose, the Queen and I stare at him. "Now get inside." The Doctor looked at Sir Robert before he gave him a nod.
"Good man." Sir Robert nods back and my mouth drops.
"Doctor!" Sir Robert closes the door, and the Doctor runs over to me, kissing me on the forehead before turning to the Queen.
"Your Majesty, the diamond." He held out his hand. The Queen clutched her bag, looking at the Doctor with a wary expression.
"For what purpose?"
"The purpose it was designed for." I answered, holding out my own hand. The Queen glanced between the two of us, unsure of who to give it to before she pulled it out of her purse and gave it to me. I quickly ran over to the telescope.
"Rose! Doctor!" the two of them ran over, "Lift it! Come on!" the three of us slowly started to turn the wheel. Luckily, the clogs started to shift and the telescope began to rise.
"Is this the right time for stargazing?" Rose sarcastically asked with a strain in her voice. I'm sure that this was difficult for the two of them but I was barely breaking a sweat. Though the Doctor might be a Time Lord, he still only had the strength of a human.
"Yes, it is." I answered as we continued working. Soon, the screams of Sir Robert echoed throughout the house. I closed my eyes, trying to block them out. The Queen raised a crucifix and pointed it at the door. Rose freezes for a moment, her face frozen with horror, before I usher her to mover faster.
"You said this thing doesn't work!" Rose reminded the Doctor.
"It doesn't work as a telescope because that's not what it is!" the Doctor began.
"It's a light chamber! It magnifies the light rays just like a weapon."
"We've just got to power it up!" the Doctor finished with a grin.
"But there's no electricity!" I roll my eyes and start turning the light chamber, muttering angrily about twenty-first century humans.
"Moonlight!" Rose happily exclaims, figuring it out, "But it needs moonlight! It's made by moonlight!"
"You're seventy percent water but you can still drown. Come on!" I grunt, this one was certainly much more difficult. "Come on!" It was finally aligned and the three of us step back as the moonlight breaks through and bounces off the prisms. The werewolf finally breaks through the door and I grab onto the light chamber, absorbing the moonlight and keeping an eye on the wolf. The wolf advances towards the Queen but the Doctor tosses me the Koh-I-Noor and I shoot a prismatic beam of moonlight at him.
The wolf slowly raises above the ground and resumes it humans form. It gives me a pleading look, saying that he wishes to finally be free from his curse. I close my eyes, making the beam brighter. With a final howl from the wolf form, the creature vanishes and I drop the diamond, stumbling backwards. The Doctor catches me, giving me a smile.
"Did I do it?" I quietly ask as he kneels down, holding me tightly. He smiles and kisses my forehead. Rose rushes over, helping me up onto my feet, where the Queen is staring at a wound on her wrist. The Doctor grabs my waist, helping me stay on my feet.
"Your majesty? Did it bite you?" he asked.
"No, it's…it's a cut." She assured us, though not sounding very truthful.
"If that thing bit you…" I began, slowly walking over to her with the help of the Doctor.
"It was a splinter of wood when the door came apart."
"Let me see." The Doctor says, reaching for her hand before the Queen sharply pulls it away.
"It is nothing." The Doctor and I glance at each other, neither of us believe her.
-DW-
The Doctor, Rose and I step forward and kneel before Queen Victoria. All those who survived the night are there, though Lady Isobel is dressed in a black dress, making me frown as I remember her husband's death.
"By the power invested in me, by the Church and the State, I dub thee: Sir Doctor of TARDIS," she taps him on each shoulder with a sword and then turns to me, "By the power invested in me, by the Church and the Sate, I dub thee" Dame Georgina of TARDIS," she taps me with the sword on each shoulder. The Doctor and I share a grin, we thought it would be best if we didn't mention that I was actually a queen, keep it simple and stick with my human name.
"By the power invested in me by the Church and the State, I dub thee: Dame Rose of the Powell Estate," she taps Rose with the sword on each shoulder, "You may stand." We all rise, grinning from ear to ear.
"Many thanks, Ma'am." The Doctor thanks, grinning and then secretly grabbing my hand and writing I love you in Galifreyan on the back of my hand.
"Thanks! They're never going to believe this back home." Rose says.
"Your Majesty, you said last night about last night about receiving a message from the great beyond; I think your husband cut that diamond to save your life. He's protecting you even now Ma'am, even from beyond the grave." The Doctor says with a smile. The Queen gives him a small one back.
"Indeed," her expression quickly changes, "Then you may think on this, also: that I am not amused." Rose and I cry with joy, giving each other a hug while the Doctor groans.
"Not remotely amused," Rose and I quickly break, trying to look like we weren't happy moments ago, "And henceforth…I banish you." There's no need to hide it now, all happiness is gone, why on earth would she banish us!? The Doctor and I look at each other.
"I'm sorry…?" I meekly apologized for the both of us, not entirely sure what she wanted us to say.
"I rewarded you, Sir Doctor and Dame Georgina. And now you are both exiled from this empire, never to return. I don't know what you are, the three of you, or where you're from, but I know that you consort with stars-and magic-and think it fun. But your world is steeped in terror and blasphemy and death and I will not allow it! You will leave this shores and you will reflect, I hope, on how you managed to stray so far from all that is good.. And how much longer you will survive this…terrible life," she steps away from the three of us, "Now leave my world. And never return."
-DW-
Dougal's cart comes to a halt, not that far away from the TARDIS. We all jump off the back and wave him off.
"Cheers Dougal!" the Doctor cried and we all turned around, walking back to the TARDIS, "You know, the funny thing is, Queen Victoria actually did suffer a mutation of the blood. It's historical record haemophiliac. It used to be called the Royal's Disease! But it's always been a mystery because she didn't inherit it. Her mum didn't have it, her dad didn't have it-it came from nowhere!"
"What, and you're saying that's a wolf bite?" Rose skeptically asked. I shrugged, clasping onto the Doctor's hand and swinging our arms back and forth between us.
"Well, maybe Haemophilia is just a Victorian euphemism." I said with a grin, looking over at Rose.
"For werewolf?" she asked.
"Could be!" the Doctor and I answered.
"Queen Victoria's a werewolf?" Rose asked, obviously still not believing it.
"Could be! And, her children had the Royal Disease. Maybe she gave them a quick nip." The Doctor suggested and leaned over and nipped me on the neck. I giggled and smacked him on the arm. Rose rolled her eyes.
"So, the Royal Family are werewolves?" Rose asked in a disbelieving tone.
"Well, maybe not yet. I mean, a single wolf cell could take…a hundred years to mature…might be ready by ooh..early 21st century?" I suggested, looking over at Rose and waiting for her to catch on.
"Nah! That's just ridiculous!" she shrugged, waving it off before considering it, "Mind you…Princess Anne…"
"I don't think we'll say anymore." I grinned, jumping onto the Doctor's back as he continued walking.
"And if you think about it…they're very private. They plan everything in advance. They-they could schedule themselves around the moon-and we'd never know!" the Doctor and I snigger as he opens the door and we walk in.
"They like hunting! They love blood sports. Oh my God, they're werewolves!" I laugh as the Doctor drops me into a chair. I cup my mouth and let out a howl, making Rose and the Doctor laugh and soon join in with their own howling.
-Note
I'm so sorry for this being so late, my computer broke at home and I've been having to do everything at school. I'm going to try and make the chapters come quicker now that we've got it back. Thank you for being so patient!