He noticed that Rose had been wanting more time to herself since they last saw Martha, a mere few days ago. He had wanted to go and see her, but the TARDIS told him to give her space for now. She needed her own time. When he asked why, she called him her beautiful idiot. He didn't know what that meant, but he decided not to push for more information.
Finally, two days in, he couldn't take it anymore and asks the TARDIS again. At first, she didn't want to tell him anything because she was protecting Rose. Finally he wore her down and said Rose missed her family. He sat down in the hallway and sighed. It made sense. She just left, no goodbye, and no way to tell them she was okay. And a dimension separated them, and it was devastating for her. He slowly got up and headed to her room, but the door was open and she wasn't there. He tried his room, but nothing. He heard a muffled sound of laughter coming from behind a door down the hall. He pushed open the double doors to the library and looked around. Rose was in the sitting area in front of the fireplace. He walked over to her and noticed that on the table in front of her chair, there were books piled, and she one open in her lap.
She didn't look well; she looked exhausted, like she hadn't been sleeping. She hadn't spent another night in his room since the episode with Martha and the hospital. He was rather saddened by that, while he didn't always need to sleep, he did like the thought of Rose asleep in his room. Contrary to popular belief, he didn't spend his every waking moment in the console room. He did go to his own room to unwind, usually to read. He didn't plan on getting so tired, or falling asleep. He heard Rose get up later on, but didn't hear her come back. He was surprised to found her there in the morning. He was elated. He wanted things to go back like that. He enjoyed having her that close to him.
He sat down beside her, but she didn't look over at him. He glanced down at the book on her lap and realized that it was, in actuality, a photo album. She was looking at all of her pictures of her and her mum. He put his arm around her shoulders and she drew herself in, resting her head on his shoulder. She didn't ask and he didn't care.
They had changed. Something about them had changed. He thought it was because of how close they came to losing each other, forever. It awakened things in him, he wasn't sure if it had in her. Rose had suddenly become all he thought about. Much more than usual. Thinking about her stirred up feelings in him he didn't think he was capable of feeling anymore. But then, what couldn't Rose make him do or feel? Should he really be surprised that he was falling ever more in love with her? But it was also these feelings that made him extremely uneasy. They scared him. That's why he worked so hard to keep them buried inside. He didn't want them to surface; it made him want to run from them. Because he didn't understand them.
He looked down at Rose who ran her fingers over a photo of Jackie, Pete and herself as a baby.
He thought back to the time they went into the past to visit him. Humans. Couldn't resist the temptation to alter things. That was the only time he'd truly been cross with her. But she had fixed it with her father's help, and she'd been brave in the end. But he knew, it's never easy to watch a loved one die, especially if it's your father.
He was drawn from his thoughts when he hears a small thud; the album had fallen from her lap and fell to the floor. She turns to look up at him, her eyes glassy with tears and instantly he pulls her into a tight hug. He knew how much she missed them. He wanted to take her pain away. He wanted to be the one to comfort her for a change. He was tired of her taking care of him. He wanted to be the one for once.
He felt her tighten her grip and let out a very shaky breath as she tried to calm herself. If she needed more time, he'd give it to her. Grieving for family never truly leaves your heart or soul or thoughts. He would know.
'Does it ever stop hurting?'
'Yeah, it does.' He lied, but she pulls away and looked him in the eye, he could tell she didn't believe him.
'If it did, when I look in your eyes, I wouldn't see what I see.'
'What's that?'
'Pain, guilt, remorse and self-loathing. You've lost everything, but you don't allow yourself freedom. Letting go can be hard, because it's never easy. But if you hold on, it can be just as difficult. But letting go shows your true strength, not holding on.' Rose holds his hand tightly and stares at their fingers intertwined.
When she looks up, she saw his surprised face. And his stutter as he tries to form an argument or anything for that matter.
He couldn't believe it. He was speechless, how did this turn into her comforting him again? Was it because he was a bad liar? Or because he was really the last person in the universe who should be offering that kind of advice? She smiles as she touches his cheek with her hand.
She leans forward and picks up the album and places it on the polished table.
'Close your mouth Doctor, you'll catch flies.' He obliged and did what he was told.
She keeps her hand on the cover and closes her eyes. He wanted to say something, but he didn't know what.
'I'm sorry I've been such a mess for the past few days.' She looks over at him.
'I understand, really I do Rose.'
'I just…needed some time to accept it…that's all. And I asked the TARDIS to give me some space. Not to shut you out, really, I didn't want that. I just, wanted to be alone, to remember is all.'
He nodded, he understood. That's what he did when they first met. Go off on his own and feel the weight of guilt on his shoulders. And he wanted to be alone, because he didn't think anyone would understand, or know what he wanted to hear. So often he'd replay the same scenarios in his head trying to find anything shred of hope that he could have done things differently. But it was always the same. His sacrifice for the greater good.
She had helped him heal, whether she knew it or not. For that, he was ever grateful. She stands up slowly and she looks at him, still sitting.
'I don't want to keep moping around forever.' She extends her hand and he grabbsit eagerly as she pulled him up. Impulsively he huggs her and he felt her arms around him just as tight.
He quietly lets go and lets her lead them out of the library and down the hallway.
'Do you think she knows I'm okay?' Rose turns around.
'Course I do, because I know she'd haunt me if I ever let any harm come to you. Oh, now that is a scary thought. Can you imagine?'
Rose went to reply when suddenly there was violent shaking as they both were knocked to the ground. However, just as quickly as it started, it stops. Rose looked around confused.
'What happened?'
'I dunno, the TARDIS landed all of a sudden.' The Doctor helps Rose to her feet and they take off running to the console room.
He went over to the console and starts examining the screen, confused. When he looks up, Rose was already heading to the door. He smiles as he grabs his coat off the chair, passes Rose hers, and stood beside her.
'I wonder where we are.' Rose looks up at him.
'Open the door and find out.' He smils and she grins up at him. Rose all but runs out the door. He follows silently and locks the TARDIS behind him.
Rose stands with her mouth open as she sees many people millng about on a crowded, dirty street. He guesses it to be Elizabethan, judging by the clothes…and smell.
She turns to him and smiles widely, as if she couldn't believe this was possible. That's what he loved about her; she loved everywhere they went, no matter how dangerous it was, just the prospect of visiting a new place, she was enamored it.
The Doctor extends his arm and they waded through the street crowds and Rose looking around with awe.
'Where are we?'
'Mind the loo!' A shout came from above as a man began to dump the contents of a mysterious bucket. The Doctor pulls Rose away and he looks up.
'Somewhere before the invention of the toilet.' He looks back down at her and she shrugs, unaffected.
They continue to walk aimlessly admiring the town. It was only when Rose began to recognise things from history books that she starts to form a sense of recognition about where they were that she asked the Doctor what she was thinking.
'Is this London?'
'I think so, probably around 1599.'
'Am I going to be okay?'
'What do you mean?'
'Remember last time, Queen Victoria. How immodestly I was dressed? How I offended people.' She rolls her eyes.
'Oh! Right. Well, you're dressed better now I guess. Pants, that's a good sign.'
'You have no idea do you? Rose put her hands on her hips.
'Not really no. Tell you what, we'll wait till someone says something and I'll think up something.'
'I am not amused…' Rose smiles and he couldn't help but laugh as they resumed walking down the street.
'See it's not so different from London now. Look. Recycling,' He points to a man shoveling manure. Rose made a face. He points to two men standing by a barrel with drinks in their hands. 'Water cooler moment. And global warming.' He said as they pass a preacher trying to convince the streetwalkers of impending doom.
'Well I guess, if you look at it that way…' Rose looks around again. She couldn't believe she was really here in Elizabethan England. The Doctor stopped walking suddenly and she walked into his back. He looked at her and she offers an apologetic smile.
'Oh yes, yes. Entertainment for the masses. If I'm right, we're just down the river by Southwark right next to…' He grabbed Rose's hand and they run around the corner before he stops. 'Oh, yes the Globe Theater! Just opened. Through, strictly speaking, it's not a globe, it's a tetradecagon, it has fourteen sides containing the man himself.'
'Wait, is Shakespeare in there?' Rose asks wide-eyed.
'Oh yes. Miss Tyler, will you accompany me to the theater?' He holds out his arm.
'It would be my honour.' She gives him a beautiful smile and kept herself close to him as they made their way through the crowds towards the theater.
Rose is amazed, the theater was packed, and smelled foul, but she didn't care. So many people were standing shoulder-to-shoulder all facing the main stage. They were cheering as the actors on the stage took their bows.
'That's amazing! Just amazing! It's worth it, putting up with the smell. Are those…men dressed as women? Yeah…'
'London never changes.' The Doctor had a bemused smile on his face.
'But where's Shakespeare? Why can't we see him? I wanna see him!' Rose looked around. She put her fist in the air and started chanting, 'Author! Author!'
The Doctor stared at her and Rose felt her cheeks redden slightly.
'Do people even shout that? Do they shout 'author'?' Rose asks now embarrassed.
A man in the crowd closer to Rose starts to chant, right were she left off. Slowly it spreads as the crowd says it with vigor. Both she and the Doctor look around.
'Well…they do now.'
Shakespeare comes out on to the stage and he took an exaggerated bow and blows kisses into the crowd. The audience cheers more and the noise becomes deafening. Rose looked up at the Doctor with awe in his eyes.
'Genius. He's a genius. The genius. The most human human that's ever been. Now we're gonna hear him speak. Always, he chooses the best words. New, beautiful, brilliant words.' The Doctor leans forward in anticipation.
'Shut your big fat mouths!' Shakespeare said and the audience erupts into laughter.
'Oh, well.' The Doctor stood straighter and Rose puts her hand on his shoulder.
'You should never meet your heroes.' She said sympathetically.
'You have excellent taste! I'll give you that,' Shakespeare moves a bit around the stage before continuing. 'I know what you're all saying. 'Loves Labour's Lost,' that's a funny ending isn't it? It just stops! Will the boys get the girls? Well, don't get your hose in a tangle, you'll find out soon. Yeah, yeah. All in good time. You don't rush a genius!'
He closed out with a bow, but suddenly he jerks back up right.
'When? Tomorrow night.' He declares.
The audience erupts in cheers; Rose notices that the cast has stunned looks on their faces.
'The premiere of my brand new play. A sequel, no less, and I call it 'Love Labour's Won!'' Again the audience cheers widely and Rose looks at the Doctor who remains quiet.
Silently they exit the Globe Theater, and walk slowly down the street. It was late now, and Rose notices that the Doctor was in thought, so she takes his hand and breaks his concentration.
'I'm not saying I'm expert or anything, but I've never heard of 'Love Labour's Won.''
'Exactly, it's a lost play. It doesn't exist, only in rumours. It's mentioned in lists of his plays, but never ever turns up. No one knows why.' The Doctor began to think, that this must have been why the TARDIS abruptly landed.
'I wonder why it disappeared in the first place.' Rose asks.
'I'm beginning to think this is why the TARDIS suddenly landed.'
'Right in the middle of a mystery,' Rose looks around the empty street, 'It's getting late, don't you think?'
'I know a little place.' He led her through the streets, merely following a hunch.
They came upon a little inn that went by the name The Elephant Inn. He led Rose up the landing and speaking briefly with a woman named Dolly.
His attention was drawn to an open door with voices, some of them angry. A man burst through the door, visibly angry and the Doctor peeks in.
'Hello!' He knocks on the door slightly. 'Excuse me! I'm not interrupting am I? Mr. Shakespeare, isn't it?'
'Oh no, no, no, no, no. Who let you in? No autographs. No, you can't have yourself sketched with me. And please don't ask where I get my ideas from. Thanks for the interest. No be a good boy and shove…' The Doctor raises an eyebrow as Shakespeare suddenly stops in his sentence. He turns behind him to see Rose peeking into the room as well. 'Hey, nonny, nonny. Sit right down here next to me.'
He gestures to the man remaining in the room. 'You, get sewing on them costumes. Off you go.' He waves his hand dismissively.
'Come on, lad. I think our William's found his new muse.' A younger woman smiled and picked up the tray that was on the table and led the young man out.
'Sweet lady,' Shakespeare smiles as Rose takes a seat next to him. The Doctor felt a stab of jealousy and instinctively moves a chair closer to Rose and takes a seat. 'Such unusual clothes…so fitted.'
Rose turns to the Doctor and gives him an, 'I told you so' look. He reaches into his coat pocket and produces the Psychic Paper, attempting to change the subject. He turns to Shakespeare and shows it to him.
'I'm Sir Doctor of TARDIS and this is my companion, Dame Rose Tyler of the Powell Estate.'
'Interesting, that bit of paper, it's blank.' He crosses his arms against his chest and leans back.
'Oh, that's…very clever. That proves it. Absolute genius.' The Doctor smirks.
Rose moves to look at the paper but doesn't understand, 'No, it says so right there. Sir Doctor, Dame Rose Tyler. It says so. The Psychic Paper says so.' She looks over at the Doctor.
'And I say it's blank.' Shakespeare challenges and the Doctor puts the Psychic Paper back into his coat pocket.
Rose sat back amazed that someone had been able to outsmart the Psychic Paper.
'Psychic. Never heard that before, and words are my trade. Who are you exactly? More's the point, who is your nonpariel?'
'What does that mean?' Rose blinks but a smile breaks out on her face. She leans in closer and waits for her response.
'Oops. Isn't that a word we use nowadays? A beauty? Maiden? A Wen…'
'You think I'm a beauty?' Rose cuts him off, sat back and smirks, as she looked at the Doctor who simply turns away. 'Well, Mr. Shakespeare, you're very observant. And your description is quite accurate…' She leans in again.
'Rose here is from a far off land. Uh, Freedonia?' He didn't mean to end it with a question.
Before Shakespeare could answer, a man burst into the room looking very angry.
'Excuse me! Hold hard a moment, this is abominable behaviour! A new play with no warning? I demand to see a script, Mr. Shakespeare. As Master of the Revels, every new script must be registered at my office and examined by me before it can be performed!' The man's, Lynley, face had tinged red with fury.
'Tomorrow morning, first thing, I'll sent it 'round.' Shakespeare tries to settle the man down.
'I don't work to your schedule, you work to mine. The script! Now!'
I can't.' Shakespeare answers.
'Then tomorrow's performance is cancelled.' Lynley said flatly.
'It's all go around here, isn't it?' Rose smiles at the Doctor who returns it.
'I'm returning to my office for a banning order. If it's the last thing I do, 'Love's Labours Won' will never be played.' He stomped off and out the door.
The table was quiet for a bit before Rose spoke once more, 'Well, then, that's the mystery solved. That's 'Love's Labours Won' over and done with. But somehow, with us here, it's never that easy, is it?'
Chilling screams broke the stillness in the air and together the three of them ran down the stairs and into the street where Lynley is stumbling around spitting up water.
'It's Lynley!' Rose exclaimed.
'Leave it to me, I'm a doctor.' He was already at Lynley's side.
'Sorry, that won't stop me.' Rose was beside the Doctor.
Lynley suddenly dropped to the ground, Rose bends down and the Doctor starts to run, to look around the street for anything malicious.
Rose starts to listen to his chest for any signs of breathing and a heartbeat. She starts to mumble to herself, 'Okay, just like Martha said, we need to get the heart going. Mr. Lynley, can you hear me? You're gonna be all right.'
Rose bends closer to his mouth in order to begin mouth-to-mouth, as the Doctor returns and bends down next to Rose. Water begins to gush from Lynley's mouth. Rose jumps back.
'What the hell is that?'
'I've never seen a death like it. His lungs are full of water, he drowned. And then…I dunno, like a blow to the heart. Like an invisible blow,' He stands and turns to the woman he saw earlier in the room with Shakespeare, 'Good mistress, this poor fellow has died from a sudden imbalance of the humours. A natural if unfortunate demise. Call a constable and have him taken away.'
'Yes sir.' The woman does a short curtsy, but suddenly another, younger woman appears out of nowhere.
'I'll do it, ma'am.' She offers and heads towards the empty street.
The Doctor crouches back down beside Rose who had a confused look on her face.
'Why are you telling them that, Doctor?' Rose inquired.
'This lot still have got one foot in the Dark Ages. If I tell them the truth, they'll panic and think it was witchcraft.' He says matter of factly.
'Okay. So then, what was it?'
'Witchcraft.'
Once the constable had come to take away the body, the Doctor, Rose and Shakespeare headed back into the Inn and back into the room where they had met and once again sat around the table. The woman from the incident appeared before them and smiled sweetly.
'I got you a room, Sir Doctor. You and Miss Tyler are just across the landing.'
'Thank you…Miss?' Rose asked.
'Dolly, if you please ma'am. And you're welcome.' She gave another short curtsy and set about to her tasks.
'Poor Lynley. So many strange events. Not least of all, this land of Freedonia, where women are accustomed to being around the bodies of the deceased?' Shakespeare inquired.
'A woman can do what she likes, that's just the beginning.' Rose states.
'And you, Sir Doctor. How can a man so young have eyes so old?'
'I do a lot of reading.' The Doctor cleared his throat.
'A trite reply. Yeah, that's what I do,' Shakespeare turns back to Rose. 'And you, you look at him like you've something to tell him. Something life altering. Yet you hesitate, for fear the answer will not be what you seek.'
Rose had wide eyes and blinks slowly. How did he know all of this? She felt the Doctor's eyes on her and she stood up abruptly, feeling uncomfortable. 'I think we should say good night.' She headed out the door.
'I must work; I have a play to complete. But I'll get my answers tomorrow, Doctor, and I'll discover more about you and why this constant performance of yours.'
The Doctor was now at the doorway and turned to smile at him. 'All the world's a stage.'
'Hm, I might use that. Good night Doctor.' He smiled and began to gather his writing tools.
'Nighty-night Shakespeare.' He answered and headed across the hall.
He entered to find Rose looking around the bedroom, her eyes on the bed.
'Not exactly five-star huh?' Rose smiles.
'We'll manage. We've had worse.' He counters.
'I don't have my toothbrush.' She sighed.
'Oh. Hang on.' Rose watches as he pats his jacket down and reaches into a pocket and produces a toothbrush. 'Contains Venusian spearmint.'
'So who's going where? I mean, this bed is like a drop of water in the ocean compared to your bed.'
'We'll manage. C'mon.' He spreads out onto the bed with his back against the headboard and Rose smiled.
Rose climbs onto the and positions herself with her back against his chest, her legs out in front of her and his legs ensuring she won't fall out of the bed. She tucks her head under his chin and his arms go around her middle. Rose smiled.
'You going to be comfortable? All night?' Rose asks.
'Course.' Was his reply.
They were quiet again and Rose closed her eyes, pondering over the day's events.
'So magic and stuff. That comes as a bit of surprise. Isn't that a bit 'Harry Potter?''
'Wait till you read Book Seven. Oh, I cried.' She turns to face him and he smiles.
'Shush, don't ruin it for me. I'm not there yet,' She smiles and leans her head back into his embrace. 'So is it real then? I mean, witches, black magic and all that?'
'Course it isn't! It looks like witchcraft, but it isn't.'
'Ok, so then, if it isn't witchcraft, then what is it? Alien?'
'Well, there's such a think as psychic energy, but a human couldn't channel it like that. Not without a generator the size of Taunton and I think we'd have spotted it. No, we're missing something Rose.'
Rose thought for a moment, something big. Something large? Where had they seen that? There were plenty of large things in London, but what was it? What caught her eye? Then it hit her.
'Doctor, what about the Theater itself. It's pretty large.'
'Rose Tyler, you're…'
Their thoughts were interrupted as they heard a woman scream.
When they burst through the door across the landing, they were just in time to see the body of Dolly lying on the floor.
'Wha? What was that?' Shakespeare said groggily.
Rose ran to the window and she saw, what she knew she saw, was a witch. And she was flying away on a broomstick.
'Her heart gave out. She died of fright.' The Doctor said amazed.
'Doctor?' Rose calls and he joins her at the window.
'What did you see?' He saw nothing but the black of night.
'A witch?'
Dawn slowly etched itself over the Elephant Inn while Shakespeare, the Doctor and Rose sit at the table in silence.
'Oh, sweet Dolly Bailey. She sat out three bouts of the plague in this place. We all ran like rats. But what could have scared her so? She had such enormous spirit.' Shakespeare sighed.
"Rage, rage against the dying of the light." The Doctor said.
'I might use that.' Shakespeare looks over.
'You can't. It's someone else's.'
'But the thing is, Lynley drowned on dry land, Dolly died of fright and they were both connected to you. Why is that? It's like someone is using you…' Rose didn't realize she had been speaking out loud.
'Are you accusing me of these deaths?' Shakespeare asked.
'No! Sorry, I was just thinking. But what I did see was a witch. It was flying away, cackling away. And you've written about witches.'
'I have? When was this?'
'No. Not quite yet.' The Doctor whispered to Rose.
'Peter Streete spoke of witches.' Shakespeare offered.
'Who's Peter Streete?' Rose asked.
'Our builder. He sketched plans to the Globe.'
'The architect. Hold on. The architect! The architect! Rose you were right!' He slammed his fist onto the table. 'The Globe! Come on!'
The Doctor ran out of the room and left Rose and Shakespeare to stare at each other before running out after him.
Rose and Shakespeare arrive shortly after the Doctor and followed him onto the stage of the theater. The Doctor jumps from the stage into the pit area and tries to think of how it all fit together.
'The columns there, right? fourteen sides. I've always wondered, but I never asked. Tell me, Will, why fourteen sides?'
'It was the shape Peter Streete thought best, that's all. Said it carried sound well.' Shakespeare offered.
'Why does that ring a bell? Fourteen?' The Doctor thought.
'There are fourteen lines in a sonnet.' Rose states and shrugs her shoulders.
'So there is. Good point. Words and shapes, following the same design,' The Doctor begins to pace as he thinks aloud. 'Fourteen lines, fourteen sides, fourteen facets…Oh, my head. Tetradecagon…think, think, think, think! Words, letters, numbers and lines!'
'This is just a theater, Doctor' Shakespeare stated.
'Oh, but a theater's magic, isn't it. You should know. Stand on this stage, say the right words with the right emphasis at the right time. Oh, you can make men weep, or cry with joy, change them. You can change people's minds just with words in this place. And if you exaggerate that…'
'It's like the TARDIS. Small wooden box on with all that power on the inside.' Rose smiles.
'Oh. Oh Rose Tyler, have I told you recently how brilliant you are? Tell you what, though. Peter Streete would know. Can I talk to him?'
'You won't get an answer. A month after finishing this place…lost his mind.' Shakespeare pondered.
'Why, what happened?' Rose asked.
'Started raving about witches, hearing voices, babbling. His mind was addled.'
'Where is he now?' The Doctor frowned.
'Bedlam.' Shakespeare looked grave.
'Is Bedlam a hospital?' Rose inquires.
'Bethlem Hospital, yes Rose. It's a madhouse.' Shakespeare nodded.
'We're gonna go there. Right now. Come on!' The Doctor suddenly jumped back on stage and grabbed Rose's hand, leading her out with Shakespeare running after them, after ordering around two younger actors of course.
The Doctor's pace was hard to match and eventually Rose fell behind him in the streets, while Shakespeare caught up to her.
'So, tell me of Freedonia, Rose. Where woman are not scared of the bodies of the deceased, and women can be writers and actors.'
'My country is ruled by a woman. Women can hold any position they want to.' Rose said proudly.
'Ah, she's royal. That's God's business. Though you are a royal beauty.'
Rose stopped in her tracks, trying hard to wrap her head around the fact that William Shakespeare; the William Shakespeare was flirting with her.
'Well, Mr. Shakespeare, I'm flattered,' Rose said with a smile and she leaned to whisper into his ear, 'But I do happen to know of the wife you left in the country. But I just can't. It's not right.'
'But Rose, this is Town!' Shakespeare counters.
The Doctor stops and looked at them both. Again he felt jealousy stab him and tried to get them to refocus.
'Come on. She can continue to reject you later.' He takes Rose's hand.
'She merely inspires me to work harder for her approval.' Shakespeare reached for Rose's other hand, the one that was free and give it a kiss. Rose blushes and the Doctor turns to hide a scowl. He thought that Shakespeare reminded him of Captain Jack. This wasn't good.
'Move it you two!'
Rose stood outside Bethlem Hospital, if it could even be called that, and looked on in horror. The Doctor dropped back and held her hand.
'This is normal Rose, remember that. We can't do anything.'
'But they're people! Being treated like that?' She cried. She couldn't understand how human beings could do this to their own kind.
'Want to stay behind?' He asked.
'No, no I don't.' Rose gripped his hand tighter.
Shakespeare called out to them to hurry up and they quickened their pace inside.
Rose looked on in horror as she heard loud screams and moans as the jailer led them through the halls.
'Does my lord, Doctor, wish some entertainment while he waits? I'd whip these madmen. They'll put on a good show for ya. Bandog and Bedlam!' The jailer smirked.
'No I don't!' The Doctor stated.
'Wait here my lords, while I make him decent for the lady.' And the jailer walks away.
'So this is what you lot call a hospital? Where the patients are whipped to entertain the gentry? And you put your friend in here?' Rose turned to Shakespeare.
'Oh, and it's all so different in Freedonia?' He countered.
'But you're so clever. Do you honestly think this place is any good?'
'I've been mad. I've lost my mind. Fear of this place set me right again. It serves its purpose.' He states quietly.
'Mad in what way?' Rose ventured.
'You lost your son.' The Doctor said quietly. Sympathizing with him.
'My only boy. The Black Death took him. I wasn't even there.'
'I didn't know. I'm sorry.' Rose said quietly.
'It made me question everything. The futility of this fleeting existence. To be or not to be…oh, that's quite good.'
'You should write that down.' The Doctor smiles.
'Hm, maybe not. Doesn't it seem a bit pretentious?'
The jailer's calls beckons them forward and Rose braces herself for what's to come.
The jailer unlocks and slowly opens the cell.
'They can be dangerous, m'lord. Don't know their own strength.'
'I think it helps if you don't whip them! Get out!' He yells and knelt down beside Peter slowly.
'Peter? Peter Streete?'
'He's the same as he was. You'll get nothing out of him.' Shakespeare said shaking his head.
The Doctor slowly put his hand on Peter's shoulders. The moment of contact, Peter jerks his head up. He looks at the Doctor with wild and glassy eyes. And he seems like he wants to them something, but is unable to do so.
The Doctor carefully places his fingertips on Peter's face and looks him deep in the eye.
'Peter, I'm the Doctor. Go into the past, one year ago. Let your mind go back, back when everything was fine and shining. Everything that happened in this year since happened to somebody else. It was just a story. A winter's tale. Let go. Listen. That's it, just let go. Tell me the story, Peter. Tell me about the witches.'
Peter slowly lies back down onto his cot and stared off into space, Rose and Shakespeare just stare at each other, while the Doctor crouches down next to the cot.
'Witches spoke to Peter. In the night, they whispered. Got Peter to build the Globe to their design. Their design! The fourteen walls, it was always fourteen. When the work was done,' He let out a chilling laugh, 'They sapped poor Peter's wits.'
'Where did Peter see the witches? Where in the city? Peter, tell me. You've got to tell me where were they?' The Doctor asked.
'All Hallows Street.' He whispered.
Suddenly a woman, old, haggard and angry appears before the Doctor.
'Too many words!' She spat. The Doctor jumps slightly and moves to stand beside Rose.
'Doctor! What is she?' Rose asked but she didn't get an answer out of him.
The woman suddenly lays her hand on Peter's chest and he lets out a scream before dying before them.
'No!' The Doctor yells.
'Witch! I'm seeing a witch!' Shakespeare states with his mouth open.
'Who would be next, hmm? Just one touch!' She laughs. 'Oh, oh, I'll stop your frantic hearts. Poor, fragile mortals.'
Shakespeare ran to the door and shouts at the door, 'Hey! Let us out!'
'That's not gonna work. The whole hospital is shouting that!' Rose cried, backing herself towards the door.
'Who will die first, hmm?' The witch cackled.
'Well, if you're looking for volunteers.' The Doctor steps forward.
'No! Don't! Doctor!' Rose cries.
'Doctor, can you stop her?' Shakespeare asks.
'No mortal has power over me!' The witch spat.
'Oh, but there's a power in words. If I can find the right one…if I can just know you.' The Doctor thought.
'None on Earth has knowledge of us.'
'Then it's a good thing I'm here,' The Doctor began to pace as he thought, 'Now think, think, think…Humanoid female, uses shapes and words to channel energy…ah, 14! That's it! 14! The 14 stars of Rexel planetary configuration! Creature, I name you Carrionite!' He pointed his finger at her.
The Carrionite wails in agony and suddenly disappears.
'What did you do?' Rose asks as she steps forward.
'I named her. The power of a name. That's old magic.' The Doctor turned to face her.
'But you told me there was no such thing as magic.'
'Well, it's just a different sort of science. You lot, you choose mathematics. Given the right string of numbers, the right equation, you can split the atom. Carrionites use words instead.' He looked out the window suddenly.
'Use them for what?' Shakespeare inquired.
'The end of the world.' He turns back to face them.
Little did they know that the world destruction was going to be back burner as they plotted a way to take out the group who were vastly becoming detrimental to their plans.
Rose and Shakespeare sat at the table and watch as the Doctor paces trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. And then he starts to ramble on.
'The Carrionites disappeared way back at the dawn of the universe. Nobody was sure if they were real or legend.'
'Well, I'm going for real.' Shakespeare leans back in his chair.
'What do they want?' Rose asked.
'A new empire on Earth. A world of bones and blood and witchcraft.' The Doctor replied.
'But how?' Rose didn't understand.
'I'm looking at the man with the words.' The Doctor turns to Shakespeare with his eyebrow raised.
'Me? But I've done nothing.' He states innocently.
'Hold on, though. Didn't you say last night you were going to work on the play? That Carrionite was in the room too. So what happened?' Rose looks over at Shakespeare.
'Well, I was finishing the play. I must have fallen asleep.'
'What happens on the last page?' The Doctor sat down with them.
'The boys get the girls. They have a bit of a dance. It's all funny and thought provoking as usual. Except. Except those last few lines. Funny thing is…I don't actually remember writing them.' He confesses.
'That's it. They used you. They gave you the final words. Like a spell, like a code. 'Love's Labours Won,' it's a weapon! The right combination of words, spoken at the right place with the shape of the Globe as an energy converter! The play's the thing! And yes, you can have that.' The Doctor stood up again.
They immediately pull out a map and start looking at it.
'There. All Hallows Street. There it is. Rose, we'll track them down. Will, you get to the Globe. Whatever you do, stop that play!'
'I'll do it!' Shakespeare shook the Doctor's hand. 'All these years I've been the cleverest man around. Next to you, I know nothing.'
'Now now, Will, if you keep talking like that, you'll add to his already huge ego.' Rose grinned.
'I'm not. It's marvelous. Good luck Doctor!'
'Good luck Shakespeare,' He pulls Rose towards the door, 'Once more unto the breach!'
'I like that. Wait a minute…that's one of mine!' He laughed.
The Doctor pokes his head back into the doorway. 'Oh, just a shift!' He grinned.
Rose and the Doctor stop in front of a street marked All Hallows.
'All Hallows Street, but which house?' The Doctor scans the cramped street, all the houses looked similar.
'So how do these Carrionites plan to end the world?' Rose said.
'How do you explain infinite temporal flux?'
'Try not to do it smugly.' Rose countered.
'Oh! I know! Think of it like 'Back to the Future!''
'Like the film?' Rose asked.
'Course the film! Marty McFly goes back and changes history.'
'Oh! Right, then he starts fading away. Oh my god, if we don't fix it now, the human race will fade away, won't it?'
'It will end right now in 1599 if we don't stop it. But which house?' The Doctor repeated.
They heard the sound of a door open slowly and it drew their attention to a house in the middle of the abandoned street.
'Ah, make that witch house.' Rose tries to stifle a laugh and he took her hand.
They make their way in and see the Carrionite from the Elephant Inn waiting for them.
'I take it we're expected?' The Doctor asked.
'Oh, I think Death has been waiting for you a very long time.' She stated flatly.
'So,' Rose stepped forward, 'This can't be too hard, I just have to name you. So I name thee Carrionite!' Rose pointed her finger at the blonde woman, but nothing happened. 'Missed something, didn't I?' Rose looks at the Doctor who nodded. 'Always a catch.'
'The power of a name works only once. Observe. Now your heart grows cold. The north wind blows and carries down the distant…Rose!'
Rose suddenly saw back and collapsed to the floor. The Doctor kneels beside her and moves her hair out of her face.
He stands slowly and turns to face her, feeling the rage seep into him.
'Big mistake. That name will always keep me fighting! What did you do?' He yells.
'Only sleeping, alas. Curious, the name has less impact. She's somehow out of her time. And as for you, Sir Doctor!' She points her finger, and panicked slightly as nothing happened.
'The naming won't work on me.' He stated.
'Fascinating. There is no name. Why would a man hide his title in such despair?' She tilts her head to the side.
'The Carrionites vanished! Where did you go?'
'The Eternals found the right word to banish us into deep darkness.'
'Then, how did you escape?' The Doctor asked.
'New words, new glittering from a mind like no other.' She smiles.
'Shakespeare.' The Doctor said.
'His son perished. The grief of a genius. Grief without measure. Madness enough allow us entrance.' She smirked.
'How many of you?'
'Just three. But the play tonight shall restore the rest. Then the human race will be purged as pestilence. And from this world we will lead the universe back to the old ways of blood and magic.' She declares triumphantly.
'That's a busy schedule. But first, you gotta get through me.' He stood face to face with the blonde woman who simply smiles seductively and reaches out to touch his face.
'Oh, that should be a pleasure. Considering my enemy has such a handsome shape.' She ran her fingers along his face.
'Now, that's one form of magic that's definitely not gonna work on me.'
'Oh, we'll see!' She suddenly yanks a lock of hair from his head and backs away with a huge smile on her face.
'What did you do?' The Doctor touched the back of his head.
'Souvenir?' She grins.
'Well, give it back!' He watches as the blonde woman threw up her arms and the window she was standing behind burst open and she flew out backwards. Levitating outside. He went to the windowsill with a small smile on his face.
'Well, that's just cheating.' He said.
'Behold Doctor! Men to Carrionites are nothing but puppets.' She procures a doll from her person and quickly wraps his hair around it. Rose wakes slowly and she sees the Doctor and that Carrionite at the window and she was holding something in her hands.
'Now, you might call that magic…I'd call it DNA replication.'
'What use is your science now?' She grinned and stabbed the doll with force and purpose.
Rose awakens fully as she hears the Doctor cry out and fall to the floor. She watches the Carrionite fly away, cackling.
'No! Doctor!' Rose ran over to him. 'Don't worry, it's okay. I've got you…' She carefully rolled him onto his back, her hands shaking and bent her head down to listen. She lets out a nervous laugh and smiles. 'She only got one…'
'Yup, just one,' He stands and nearly falls over again, Rose grabs him protectively and looks up at him. 'I've only got one heart working. How do you people cope? I've got to get the other one started. Hit me! Hit me on the chest!'
Rose panics and hits him on the chest as hard as she can.
'Ah! Rose! Other side!' He grits his teeth.
'I'm sorry!' She hits him again on the other side.
'On the back! On the back!' Rose hit him again and instantly he felt better as his second heart starts to function again.
'Bit to the left! Ah, lovely,' He stands once more, pulling Rose with him. 'There we go! Ba-da-boom! Well, now Rose Tyler, come on! The Globe!'
She grabs his hand and he pulls her in the direction of the Globe.
'We're lost! Admit it!' Rose cried as they pass the same house for the third time. 'We passed this house already Doctor!'
'No we're not!' He pulled her down a different street. And then back down the same one again. These Medieval towns were so condensed and small. Confined…confusing.
'You've a lousy sense of direction!'
'Have a bit of faith in me Rose! There is method to my madness!'
They hear screaming in the streets and follow it until they start seeing a red glow of energy that had begun to pour from the Globe.
'The stage door!'
Thunderclouds and lightening begin to form over the Globe increasing the ominous appearance.
The Doctor and Rose burst through the stage door and enter the backstage area. Rose looks and sees Shakespeare sitting, nursing his head.
'Stop the play! I think that was it. Yeah, I said, 'Stop the play!" The Doctor cried.
'I hit my head.' He stated.
'Don't rub it. You'll go bald.' Screams erupt from the audience. 'I think that's my cue!'
The Doctor runs out, and Rose grabs Shakespeare's hand and they follow him.
It was pure chaos in the theater; the crowd's terrified screams and the Carrionite's cackle filled the theater.
'Now begins the millennium of blood!' The Carrionites cry.
The Doctor, Rose and Shakespeare ran onto the stage and survey the chaos.
'The Doctor! He lives! Then watch this world become a blasted heath. They come! They come!' The blonde laughs and watches with pride as the remaining Carrionites were freed from a crystal ball and began to fly around the Globe.
'Come on Will!' The Doctor grabbed him. 'History needs you!'
'But what can I do?'
'Reverse it!' The Doctor cried.
'How am I supposed to do that?' Shakespeare said exasperated.
'The shape of the Globe gives words power, but you're the wordsmith. The one true genius. The only man clever enough to do it!' The Doctor explained.
'But what words? I have none ready!'
'You're William Shakespeare!' The Doctor smiled.
'But these Carrionite phrases, they need such precision.'
'Trust yourself. When you're locked away in your room, the words just come, don't they? Like magic. Words of the right sound, the right shape, the right rhythm. Words that last forever! That's what you do, Will! You choose perfect words. Do it. Improvise!' He watched Shakespeare nod and take a step forward and Rose watched utterly amazed.
'Close up this den of hateful, dire decay! Decomposition of your witches' plot! You thieve my brains, consider me your toy. My doting Doctor tells me I am not!'
'No! Words of power!' The blonde Carrionite covers her ears in pain.
'Foul Carrionite specters, cease your show! Between the points…uh' Shakespeare looks at the Doctor.
'7-6-1-3-9-0!'
'7-6-1-3-9-0! And banished like a tinker's cuss, I say to thee…' Shakespeare hesitates and looks at the Doctor who also is at a loss for words.
'Expelliarmus!' Rose cried, they both turn to look at her.
'Expelliarmus!' The Doctor repeats.
'Expelliarmus!' Shakespeare yells triumphantly.
'Good old JK!' The Doctor smiles.
The Carrionites scream in agony and slowly began to get sucked back into the crystal ball in a violent rushing tornado, pulling into it with them, all copies of the play.
'Deep darkness! We are consumed!' The blonde cried again as she was sucked in with her hand reaching out.
The cloud dissipates slowly and the panicked audience looks around and small smiles break out across their faces as they realise that the evil is now gone. Quietly an applause breaks out and spreads like wild fire across the entire audience. The Doctor slips out backstage and into the balcony.
'They think it was all special effects.' Rose smiled
'Your effect is special indeed.' Shakespeare grinned.
'Oh, Will, I know you can offer me a line better than that.' Rose rolled her eyes.
Both Rose and Shakespeare take their bows as well. The Doctor finds the box that the previous blonde Carrionite was occupying and finds the crystal within it and gazes upon it. The three remaining Carrionite's are trapped within it for all time. He picks it up and slips it into his pocket.
In the morning the Doctor was looking for Rose who was somewhere in the Globe. He wanders the theater, while looking for her and any extra copies of the lost play. He searched everywhere but found none, but he did find Rose sitting on the stage with Shakespeare. They were laughing and he starts towards them. He watches as Shakespeare put his arm around her waist and pull her closer. Rose widens her eyes and he blinks back his shock.
'Come here…' He said and Rose put her hands up to stop him from getting closer.
'Ah, ah.' She tilts her head. 'I'm afraid my heart belongs to someone else.'
'The Doctor may never kiss you, so why not entertain a man who will?'
The Doctor tries not to quicken his pace so as not to draw attention to himself. Rose caught him coming closer and jumps off the stage and into his arms.
'Find any more copies?' She asked.
'Nope, it all went up into the sky.'
'My lost masterpiece.' Shakespeare mourned. 'No matter, I've got new ideas. Perhaps its time I wrote about fathers and sons. In memory of my boy, my precious Hamnet.'
'Hamnet?' Rose asked.
'Anyway, time we're off. I've got a nice attic on the TARDIS where this lot,' He held up the crystal, 'can scream for all eternity and I've gotta take Rose back to Freedonia.'
'You mean travel on through time and space.' Shakespeare mused.
'You what?' The Doctor asked.
'You're from another world like the Carrionites and Rose is from the future. It's not hard to work out.'
'That's…incredible. You are incredible.' The Doctor smiled.
'You're, amazing!' Rose echoes, her smile getting bigger.
'We're alike in many ways, Doctor. Rose, let me say goodbye to you in a new verse. A sonnet for my golden lady.'
'Now this is the type of goodbye a lady can get used to.' She nudges the Doctor.
'I shall compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate…' He was cut off by one of the actors who announces the arrival of the queen.
'Queen Elizabeth I!' The Doctor exclaims.
'Doctor!' Elizabeth cries.
'What?' He asks, taken back.
'My sworn enemy!'
'What?' He tilts his head.
'Off with his head!' She points to him and the guards advance.
'What?'
'Never mind the 'what' just run! See you, Will, and thanks!' Rose gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, grabs the Doctor's hand and pulls him towards the closest exit hearing Shakespeare's laugh follow them out the door.
They ran as fast as they could while they heard the clanking sound of the soldiers' armor indicating that they weren't far behind.
'Stop in the name of the Queen!' He calls to them.
'What have you done to upset her!' Rose asks.
'How should I know? Haven't even met her yet,' He said. 'Ah, but that's time travel for you! Still can't wait to find out!'
They approached the TARDIS and he quickly unlocked it and shoved Rose inside.
'That's something to look forward to. Oh!' He ducked quickly and ran inside just as the arches released a shower of arrows. One embedding itself into the TARDIS door, moments later, the TARDIS dematerializes.
They were quiet for a moment as they caught their breath and suddenly Rose starts to laugh and sat on the console chair. He laughed and sat beside her.
'So, you've managed to anger another queen.' Rose looked over amused.
'It seems like it. That'll be interesting.'
'That was quite the adventure. I met Shakespeare. He's a huge flirt.' Rose smiles and she leans into him.
'Quite the adventure…' He echoes and rests his head on hers and he heard her give a little sigh.
Rose was thinking about what Shakespeare had said to her about wanting to tell the Doctor something, and her fear if he didn't feel the same way. Their relationship had changed. She loved him, so very much. But she was unsure if he felt the same way and didn't give any sign that he had felt any different. So Rose kept her love secret. Maybe one day, she'd tell him and hopefully he would as well. She got up suddenly and headed towards the halls of the TARDIS, turning around and looking at him. His look of confusion and she just smiled.
'I'm going for a shower, being there…really made me appreciate the availability of water.'
He nodded and watched her head down the halls. Shakespeare had mentioned that she had wanted to tell him something. He did have a small idea of what it could be. But he couldn't be sure. Whatever it was, she was scared of his reaction. He wouldn't push her; he hoped that she would get over her fear soon. He had a feeling that whatever she had to say, he'd feel it back. Ten fold.
Hello!
I'm sorry this chapter took so long to get up. The long weekend passed and every time I tried to write, things came up.
I also want to let everyone know how much your support has been noted. Thank you all for continued support and your kind reviews. I'm trying to slowly build into the relationship between Ten and Rose, I hope I'm doing a good job and that I'm staying true to the characters, with my own little touch. I'm sorry for the spelling errors that may arise as you read.
I hope you enjoy the chapter. I'll start on the next soon.
P.S Nonpariel, is an Elizabethan word for beauty. My computer insisted on changing it, so I hope the spelling remains consistent.
I've edited this a bit as well, since a kind reviewer pointed out some areas of concern. I hope I've done it a bit more justice. Drop a review for more constructive criticisms.