Chapter Six

The Valeyard ate his dinner of poached salmon and steamed broccoli and carrots while he and Rose chatted. He was trying to ease her fears but in reality he couldn't help but be smug. The Gallifreyan name had been a lie, he'd never called his Rose that, it was just something that came to mind and he went with it. Everything he had done and was doing was meant to seduce Rose into staying with him. He did care for her, albeit now in a twisted kind of way but he also wanted the Bad Wolf power on his side, if it was still there. He was aware of her mission but he reasoned that if there was one parallel Doctor, there must be more and he was sure that other parallel Doctors would sort out the whole Davros thing. Besides, that had already happened on his timeline and time could be rewritten.

Besides, he was now the master of the universe and time was his to control. If he wanted to pull Rose Tyler of her timeline and keep her for himself he would. As his younger self like to say, time was not the boss of him.

Rose, meanwhile, was trying to keep calm and keep things light but she wondered about the Valeyard's intentions. She wasn't naïve and she was pretty sure that soon the Valeyard would do something outrageous to gauge her reaction and test her loyalty to him, like torture and kill someone or maybe even have her do it. She was wary of his lovey dovey feelings for her and she wondered if it was all an act. This wasn't her universe and she didn't know how deep the relationship was between this Doctor and the alternate version of Rose but all the same, she intended to keep her guard up around him.

They finished eating and the Valeyard stood up and walked around the chair.

"I think you should rest now, my dear, while I attend to some business," the Valeyard said as he untied her. "For the moment, you can use my private quarters while something suitable is arranged for your own person use. I have an en suite bathroom with a large bathtub/spa that is ready and waiting. I'll have some of my staff attend to you if you wish to have a bath."

"Staff…as in slaves?" Rose said, standing up once the rope slackened.

The Valeyard walked to her side and cupped her cheeks with his hands.

"You don't know the whole story yet so reserve judgment please?" he said to her.

"Reserve judgment about you enslaving people," Rose said.

"There is more to it than just that, A'Le'Mohar," he said. "Just give me the benefit of the doubt and all will be revealed in time."

Rose wasn't so sure about that but she was willing to play along so she nodded and told him she would reserve judgment. The Valeyard smiled, which Rose had to admit looked like a pained grimace to her. He took her hand and led her away from the chair before he put his arms around her and held her close to him, gazing down at her with that same grimace on his face. Rose wondered how often he truly smiled because he didn't seem to be good at it. Rose looked at his outfit, the robes and skullcap and made a face.

"What is it?" he asked her.

"Why this?" Rose said. "Why are you wearing this…thing?"

"I don't know if you realize this, my hearts, but London and indeed, the whole of the UK is actually quite chilly most days. This keeps me warm and allows me freedom of movement plus, it's traditionally worn on Gallifrey so it's a link to my past. I wouldn't look down on it because you might want to wear something like this once you realize how cold it can get outside."

Rose reached up and gently pulled off the skullcap. She stared at the graying hair with interest while the Valeyard watched her.

"You're not ginger," Rose teased. "I can see a bit of brown mixed in with the grey."

"Yes, well, I gave up on that dream long ago," the Valeyard said.

"Keep this off your head," Rose said, pointing to the top of the skullcap.

"Why?"

"Because you look better without it," Rose said, reaching up to run her fingers through his hair. "The grey hair suits you, this black…bowl doesn't."

"Again, it keeps my head warm in the chilly air."

"Yes but it's warm enough in here so could you not wear it in here?"

"What about this then? You want me to be in the altogether?" the Valeyard said with a wicked gleam in his eyes as he tugged at his robe.

Rose had to laugh at that. Maybe the Valeyard was bullshitting her with the charm but deep down, she had to believe that a part of the Doctor still existed somewhere. The Valeyard reminded her in many ways of her first Doctor and he started out being bitter and angry and willing to kill without a second thought, but after being with him he softened and became a better person. She figured it was a long shot but perhaps she could do the same for this Doctor.

"Well, I do have business to attend to, my Rose. So I will escort you back to my bedchambers and have some servants bring you some fresh clothing and toiletries and towels. Is that alright? Because I assure you, the servants are treated well and I will not crack the whip at their backs."

Rose nodded and smiled when the Valeyard gently kissed her forehead before he stepped to her side, took her hand and led her to his bedroom.

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After making sure she had everything she needed, the Valeyard came back down to the State Room to conduct some business. He had carried his skullcap with him all the way there and as he sat back down at the table, he sat the skullcap in front of him. He was about to put it back on but then thought better of it and moved it to one side for the moment. He waited for his spies to come in the room and he smirked when they did and stopped short upon seeing his natural hair. They quickly recovered and did the usual groveling before the Valeyard told them to sit down.

"So, what news from the outside world?" he said to them.

"We have located the house where the traitor, Clara Oswald, resides, My Lord," the spy nearest his chair said. "What do you wish us to do?"

"Well, now," the Valeyard said as he tapped a finger on the top of his skullcap. "This is quite a decision. After all, my Clara has been playing this little game of cat and mouse for some time now, hasn't she? But perhaps, it's time for a meeting of minds here. Do not arrest her or harm her but deliver a message to her that I wish to meet with her here for a light lunch and some negotiations. I want to hear what my Souffle Girl has in mind."

"What about others that are with her?" one of the spies asked him.

The Valeyard waved his hand dismissively.

"All in due time. Just deliver the message to Clara and let her come to me. Never let it be said that I wasn't merciful and willing to hear someone out. But that is all you will do. Do not arrest or harm her in any way, is that understood?"

"Yes, My Lord!" the spies said in unison.

"Good. Do it as soon as the meeting is concluded. And now that we have that out of the way, what else is of concern to me?"