Chapter Seven
Methanwy, the handmaiden who had been appointed for them, opened the thick oak door to the bedroom and beckoned the Doctor and Rose to enter.
The room was comfortable with dark oak floorboards covered with rugs. A dressing table with stool was next to the small window, with a wardrobe in the corner of the room. The main feature of the room was the single, four poster bed with a beautiful golden silk evening gown laid out on it.
Methanwy continued across the room and opened a door to an adjoining bedroom, where evening clothing was laid out for the Doctor.
"This is your room Sire; I will help Lady Rose to dress. If you require assistance, please knock," she said with a smile and closed the door.
He walked over to the bed and shrugged off his robe and jacket and started to dress for dinner.
Methanwy helped Rose remove her dress and gasped.
"M'lady! Your undergarments are..., most unusual," she said opened mouthed and blushing. Rose was wearing a strapless, lilac, uplifting bra which gave her a nice cleavage, and lilac panties.
Rose blushed herself at the attention and gave a single laugh. "Yes I suppose they are around here, but they are nothing special where I come from, and they are very comfortable."
Methanwy held the gown so that Rose could step into it and pulled it up her body.
Rose put her arms into the 'bell' sleeves which were an off the shoulder design. Methanwy started to lace up the tight bodice which accentuated Rose's already 'fit' figure. When she had finished, she had Rose do a twirl to make sure everything was in order.
"Oh, m'lady. Thou art truly beautiful," she said with sincerity.
"Thank you Methanwy. Pray call me Rose," she said in a conspiring voice. "These airs and graces do not sit well with me."
Methanwy looked horrified. "Oh m'lady! I cannot. I would lose my position if I were found to be talking to a Lady as an equal!"
"Forgive me Methanwy, I did not mean to offend. 'M'lady' it is then, but think on this. You have seen me without clothing, and am I not a woman the same as you?" she said as she walked over to the connecting door.
She knocked on the door. "How'ya doin' in there?" she called. She heard footsteps and the doorknob rattled slightly as the Doctor opened the door.
He was wearing his brown pinstripe trousers with a wide leather belt, and his blue shirt minus the tie. Over that he wore a brown tunic and a black studded jacket. The whole outfit was finished with his usual footwear.
"Hello," she said with her usual cheerful smile.
"Well hello," he said back. She could see he was giving her the once over and liking what he saw. He cleared his throat. "You've gone and done it again, the dressing up thing I mean," he said with a smile.
He held out his arm for her to take. "Come on my Lady Rose, let us go eat, drink and be merry, for tomo..., Oh, no, I don't like the ending on that one," he said as he furrowed his brow. "I know! Past the lips, past the gums, look out stomach, here it comes." Arm-in-arm, they left the bedroom in fits of laughter, and a bemused handmaiden shaking her head.
In the dining hall, the tables had been arranged in a 'U' shape, with chairs around the outside. Waiting staff could then serve the guests from the inside. The Doctor and Rose were shown to the head table, a great honour. Patrice was seated next to Rose, and made introductions to other people in the hall. The time agent entered and the Doctor introduced him to Patrice.
The hall was filling quickly now and most of the seats were taken. Everyone stood as Arthur and Guinevere entered the hall and walked to the head of the table.
"Please be seated my friends and let us give thanks to God for the food on our table," Arthur said as he spread his arms.
"Amen," the assembled guests replied.
"Now let the feasting begin," he said with a smile and a clap of his hands.
Servants carried in tureens of vegetable soup as a starter, with freshly baked bread rolls. Pitchers of mead, wine and cider were brought from the bottlery to fill goblets and tankards.
There was the gentle hum of conversation as diners enjoyed the thick, spicy soup. Rose chatted with Patrice and Sir Dinadan next to him. Rose liked Dinadan; he had a great sense of humour. He reminded her of the Doctor, who preferred to joke his way out of trouble rather than fight.
The Doctor talked with Queen Iseult of Cornwall, who spoke with a beautiful Irish brogue. He learned that King Mark was Sir Tristan's uncle.
Servants removed the soup bowls and trays of hot food were carried in. Sides of venison, oxen and boar were brought in from the kitchen on those trays. Bowls of roasted and boiled root vegetables, grains and pulses were brought to the table in large serving bowls.
Guests chose the meat that they preferred and it was carved at the table by servants and put on their plates. The bowls of vegetables were passed to and fro along the tables as guests helped themselves. This was another opportunity for people to get to know each other as they passed the bowls.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Arthur addressed them. "Those of you who joined us at luncheon will know that we have two guests who have travelled far and wide and have agreed to share with us the tales of their travels."
The diners briefly put down their cutlery and applauded the Doctor and Rose. They continued eating as Rose asked the Doctor if she could tell them of one of her favourite memories. He smiled at her, knowing which memory it would be.
"Twas in the frozen wastelands of the north, on a beach the locals called 'Woman Wept'," she began.
"Woman Wept?" Queen Iseult said in her gorgeous accent. "What an unusual name."
"Yes m'lady, unusual indeed. There was a... rock formation on the cliff that had the appearance of a lamenting woman. The ocean had frozen with the intensity of the cold. The sight of it took the very breath from my breast."
She stopped for dramatic effect. "The very cresting of the waves themselves had been frozen in an instant. Higher than the walls of Camelot, it had the appearance of a sculpture created by ice giants."
She embellished the story and told of how they had explored this beautiful place in between mouthfuls of the gorgeous food. There was gentle applause as she finished her tale.
The Doctor next told of an army of soldiers, clad in enchanted metal armour. Prisoners would be clothed in the armour and become soldiers of that army. Those that resisted were killed by a touch of lightning from the metal gauntlets.
Guests heard of how he and Rose had fought the soldiers, rescued prisoners and finally broke the enchantment on the armour. He actually got cheers from his audience.
They both took it in turns to tell the frightening tale of a werewolf trying to attack a ruling monarch. They both got 'oohs', 'ahhs', gasps, applause and cheers.
The tables were cleared, and a desert of steamed sponge pudding with a mixed berry sauce was served. Rose put a spoonful in her mouth. The sweet sponge was contrasted with the tangy sauce.
"Oh my Lord, this is exquisite!" she exclaimed out loud. The King thought that she was talking to him.
"I shall be sure to inform the cook of your enjoyment," he said with a warm smile. He had taken a liking to Rose, her exuberance and almost childlike innocence were refreshing.
"And now Sire, I wouldst tell a tale that I have heard just this very day," the Doctor announced. He took a swig of his mead and settled back in his chair.
"In a far off land, there is a race of warrior maidens called the Tezzar. The Tezzar wear magical armour that protects them from most weapons, it can even resist the fiery breath of a dragon. Their swords are so finely crafted that they can slice through any armour and the blade never dulls." He stopped to take another drink from his tankard. He could see that people were waiting for him to continue.
"Their mortal enemies are the mountain dragons, called Craigon. They try to take what the Tezzar have and they also try to take them for food. The Tezzar use their armour and swords to resist their attacks."
That was the background, now for the interesting bit.
"Three months previously, an early morning hunting party was riding to the south of Camelot near the Welsh border. They saw two stars fall from the sky and make landfall nearby." He glanced over at Arthur and saw him looking at him with a stern face. 'Well that's hit the mark', he thought to himself.
"They rode in the direction of the fallen stars and came upon the lake in Black Wood. The waters of the lake were foaming and a strange mist hung over the water. A woman dressed in purest white staggered out of the water and collapsed to her knees on the shore. As the hunting party watched, the water behind her erupted and a beast, twice her height emerged behind her, it was a dragon."
Another swig of mead for a dramatic pause.
"The woman stood and turned, drawing her sword, but she was weak and too slow. The sword was knocked from her hand and, flying through the air it embedded itself into a nearby boulder. The beast roared and the very air itself was set to flame. The woman glowed brilliant white and yet was unharmed by the conflagration. In its rage the beast knocked the woman to the ground and stamped on her chest. In a single bound it unfurled its wings and took to the air and disappeared from sight."
Some of the knights were passing looks between themselves and the King.
"When the hunting party reached the fallen woman she was mortally wounded. 'What is your name fair maiden', the master of the hunt asked. 'Galach Driell' she replied. She looked to the stone and her sword, reaching out, 'Hex Cali Bar', she said with her dying breath."
"Excalibur? The Kings sword?" King Mark asked, breaking the silence that had fallen on the room. Even the servants had stopped to listen.
The Doctor gave a lopsided smile. "No, it was 'Hex Cali Bar'; it means 'Die with My Sword'. It is a great honour for Tezzarians to die with their sword in their hand."
There was no applause, no cheers, just an awkward silence.
"Pray tell Doctor, who told you this tale?" The King asked as he looked around the room. The same knights were looking suspiciously at each other.
The Doctor had his manic smile on his face. "Cavall did!"
The room erupted in laughter, except for Rose and the Doctor who just smiled at each other, and the King, who was starting to look annoyed.
"Cavall?!" he said in disbelief. "My hunting hound?" The dog, which had been lying at the back of the hall, got up and trotted over to sit by his master, thinking he had been called. Arthur instinctively stroked the top of his head. "My grooms and squire told me of your odd behaviour today. Art thou trying to tell me that you converse with animals?"
"Oh verily, 'tis a very useful ability," the Doctor said matter-of-fact.
There were rumblings and mutterings of disbelief amongst the diners.
"I sense the assembled guest do not believe that I have the gift. Therefore I propose a small demonstration, if the King wouldst allow?" The Doctor looked the King in the eye. He needed the King to believe him, and more importantly, he needed him to trust him.
"What do you propose Doctor?" The King asked, raising an eyebrow.
The Doctor sprung to his feet. "Excellent."
He ran over to a serving wench and grinned at her. "Wouldst thou be so kind as to fetch a clean soup tureen from the kitchen?" he asked her.
He ran into the centre of the tables and addressed the guests. "I doth require five personal items to be placed in the tureen. Items that I can have no prior knowledge of."
Rose was beaming a smile at him, she loved to see him like this, all manic and frenetic.
"Rose, wouldst thou take the tureen around the table for people to put their items in and then place it before King Arthur." Rose stood and met the girl coming from the kitchen. She took the lid off the tureen and stood in the middle with the Doctor.
"Cavall, wouldst thou agree to participate?" the Doctor asked the dog.
Cavall stood and trotted around the table and sat by the Doctor.
{Thank you my friend. Follow Rose and watch closely. Try to describe each item placed in the tureen}
{No problem Doctor} The Doctor was sure he could see the dog smiling.
The Doctor turned to face Arthur. "Sire, pray choose a trusted knight to accompany me while I wait outside."
Arthur looked left and right. "Bedivere, my marshal."
The handsome knight stood and bowed to his King. The Doctor headed for the doors and Bedivere followed him through, closing them behind him.
The first item was from a young lady who placed a handkerchief in the tureen that had the letter 'A' embroidered in one corner. Rose saw Arthur speaking to his manservant, who left the room.
Patrice called Rose over. "This is the key to my room m'lady," he said with a wicked grin. Rose smiled coyly and blushed.
A signet ring and a bracelet were also added and finally an intricate Celtic brooch. The King's manservant had returned with parchment, a quill and a pot of ink as Rose placed the tureen at the head of the table.
"I wish to add an item of my own," The King announced. "I am writing here, Cavall's favourite treat that I feed to him when he hath pleased me." He folded the parchment in half and half again and placed it in the tureen. Rose replaced the lid and went back to her seat. Arthur nodded to the servant standing by the doors and he left to fetch the Doctor and Bedivere.
The Doctor literally ran into the room in excitement and went to the centre of the tables. He knelt down on one knee and touched foreheads with Cavall. There was an exchange of whining, snuffles and a couple of barks and the Doctor stood up. The guests were obviously bemused by his antics, this was fine entertainment.
"Firstly there was a handkerchief with a letter 'A', kindly donated by..." Cavall trotted over and sat facing the young lady. "... You m'lady. Cavall apologises, but he is not sure of your name. He believes it to be Ariadne."
The woman clapped her hands. "You clever boy!" she cooed.
"Thank you ma'am," the Doctor said, and then realised she was talking to the dog. "Ah, right, my apologies." Rose got a fit of the giggles and the rest of the guests laughed.
"Next was... Patrice. Oh I liketh thine style. Making the Lady Rose blush with the offer of the key to your room." This got a round of applause and a raucous cheer from his fellow knights.
"Then followed a signet ring from Sir Galahad, a bracelet from Queen Iseult and an intricate brooch from Sir Tristan." The Doctor folded his arms in triumph as he turned in a circle to applause. Cavall trotted up to him and barked.
"Oh yea, verily, there is one more test added by the King. A fine idea Sire, one that I would also have proposed in your position," he said with a smile. "The titbits of venison that you give to Cavall are greatly appreciated. He loves you and is devoted to you and you alone. However, he has confessed to me that he has a sweet tooth, and the shortbread that Edmund feeds him on his walks is also very welcome." The Doctor frowned. "Didst I just say that out loud? I fear I may have just gotten Edmund into trouble."
The hall erupted with laughter and applause. Arthur's face went from amazement, to open-mouthed disbelief to roaring laughter. The Doctor held out his palm and Cavall gave him a 'low five'.
