Chapter 10: The Rock and the Handkerchief
Sooner than he thought it would happen, the finals were announced. Unlike the earlier matches, the winners were determined with only one run.
The Doctor's shoulder was screaming with fatigue and soreness. A quick peek earlier had shown colorful bruising coming up from the pressure the heavy lance was putting on his muscles.
Snowflake had kept her poise during the break, and had surprised the Doctor when she allowed some children from the Chrysoberyl Cluster to pet her and feed her grain from their flattened palms. In fact, she seemed to be thoroughly enjoying her day on the pitch.
His first match was thrown by an opponent who was disqualified for having an illegal lance. The Doctor was informed as he was perched on Snowflake's back, preparing to enter the stadium.
"What does that mean exactly?" The Doctor inquired.
"You win your first match, sir!" Joshua answered with so much excitement that his voice squeaked.
He almost wished that he could have just gone up and got knocked off his equine beast so he could go back to the Tardis.
The first round of finals were done, and there were only four of them left. They were called again to the field to be introduced, and this time the Doctor was careful that he bowed in the prescribed manner to avoid another embarrassing lesson.
His flag was being flown by many of the onlookers in the crowd. Some were calling out his name, and every now and then a specific comment could be heard from someone telling him that they had their pay check riding on him, or that he could have their daughter if he won.
He shook his head in disbelief. He had once got to light the Olympic Torch back on earth, and had thought that was an incredible moment. He now had more respect than ever for what the athletes had to go through, and was determined to remain a spectator from now on.
Once again, he sat astride Snowflake for another run. She shook her head and snorted in anticipation, and his own heart raised its beats to keep up with the adrenaline rushing through his veins. The gong sounded and Snowflake lurched forward.
The sound of the crowd faded into his consciousness. Snowflake's hooves striking the ground beat a tempo matched by his own breath. In slow motion, he raised his lance and pointed it at his opponent. The two men raced towards each other, both intent on unseating the other.
WHAT was he doing? The Doctor pulled back at the last second, raising his lance and sitting back on Snowflake. His hands shaking, he realized that in the heat of the moment, he could have seriously injured the competitor on the other side of the rail. He took off his helmet, and the sounds of the situation crashed in again on him.
Turning, he saw the other man being helped up from the ground.
"What?" He said in confusion.
Joshua came running over to him, his face glowing with pride.
"Excellent move, sir. He never saw it coming!"
"What?" The Doctor repeated.
"Sir, when you pulled back, he reached out for you and lost his balance! You won the run, sir!"
The blood drained out of the Doctor's face. "You mean I have to do this again?"
"Just one more time, sir. One way or another, just one more time."
The announced called for a break for the participants to ready themselves for the final run. The Doctor just sat on Snowflake's back, at the end of the run, not moving.
"Sir? Do you want to come back to the tent?" Joshua asked.
"Joshua, get a message to the Princess. Tell her I want to see her. NOW." He ordered.
He watched as the boy ran to the stands, jumping up and down to get the Princess's attention. He saw her get up and wave her attendants back down, and gingerly make her way across the field over to him. He would end this. Now.
"It's rude to be on an equine beast when addressing royalty," she said.
"Because you have to look up to me?"
"Because the thing may piss on me." She responded.
His mood once again restored, he jumped off the back of Snowflake and taking the Princess's arm, led her away out of imminent danger.
"Princess," he began.
"Doctor, you are so marvelous! I am a convert – you have shown me that I have been in error."
"What?" His intended speech left him with the confusion of her words. "What error?"
"My error in judging a man by his appearance. You were right – a man's size doesn't matter when measuring his skill or his heart. You have my eternal gratitude."
"I'm glad you're learned that, Princess."
She started walking back towards the stands, and called over her shoulder "as soon as you win that crystal for me, then I'll be able to give you your reward and I'll formally acknowledge your lesson."
Once again, he stood there, wondering what just happened.
Oh, she was good.
…………………………………………………………………..
For the final time, he hoped in forever, the Doctor mounted Snowflake. Somehow he would have to get through this last run and depart this planet.
The sun was setting now, the evening dusk finally being the conquering blow to the heat of the sun. The crowd was murmuring in anticipation of the entire day of competition being decided by this final match. The Doctor, the lead negotiator, the one who helped to save them all the night before, was competing for the Princess. It was romantic, it was barbaric and it was exciting!
Pranis, who had been notably absent these past several hours, appeared at his side. Looking down, it was obvious what Pranis had been doing, and who he had been doing it with by the look on the girls that were accompanying him.
His helmet was seated and his lance in place. Pranis was saying something, and the Doctor leaned over a bit to try to catch his words. At that moment, the gong sounded, and Pranis reached up and slapped Snowflake on the flank.
Snowflake really didn't need any encouragement to begin her run, and that slap angered her. The Doctor felt a difference in her gait, and without realizing it, gripped some of her mane with the reins, tugging on her hair. Now she was really mad.
As they were approaching the halfway point, the Doctor was doing all he could to deal with the infuriated equine beast. As he leaned forward to try to pat her neck, the tip of the lance pointed down, brushing against her front shoulder.
She had had enough. She dug in her back legs, and reared up, a magnificent spectacle if you were on the ground witnessing it. To the Doctor, however, all he could do was to hold on for all he was worth.
To the equine beast and rider that was approaching them, the sight was terrifying. Snowflake looked like she would tear them apart with her front hooves. The rider lurched to the side, throwing his own equine beast off balance, and both of them toppled over, landing with a crash in the dirt.
Snowflake's hooves went back to the ground, and the Doctor ripped off his helmed and started talking to her in soothing tones, stroking her neck. She stood still, her bearing relaxing with the release of her fury.
Sensing that the crisis was over, the Doctor dropped his lance and slid off the equine beast, gratefully reaching contact with the ground. He walked to the front of her, talking to her. He rested his forehead on her nose, and reached as far around her neck as his arms could. "Thank you, Snowflake. Thank you."
She snorted in response, pushing him away so she could snuffle in the dirt for bits of grass.
The Doctor turned around, and the silence erupted once again into a shock wave of sound. Joshua ran up to him, jumping up and down, lurching against him to throw his arms around his neck.
"I knew you could do it! I just knew it!" He screamed.
The Doctor hugged him back, relief beginning to creep into his mind. He stepped back and started looking around.
The rider and equine beast were being helped up, both of them miraculously none the worse for wear. Pranis and the girls were hurrying to his side, his grin lighting up his face.
After more congratulations, the Doctor heard his name being called for the award ceremony.
"Help me take this stuff off, Joshua, will you?" He asked his young squire.
The Doctor walked up to the front wearing his familiar suit and trainers. The Princess was waiting for him, the Minister of the Chrysoberyl Cluster to one side and Chancellor Shue to the other.
The Princess said: "You have brought honor to us, Doctor! We have many things to thank you for and will be telling the story of your time with us for many days."
The Minister of the Chrysoberyl Cluster stepped forward. "Sir, we thank you for your sportsmanship in our contest. We would like to commemorate your win with this award, mined from our planet."
The crystal that he had seen the day before was presented to him, nestled safely in its box. The Doctor accepted it, and flipped the lid open, admiring the beauty of the stone for a moment, before closing it again and handing it to the Princess.
"Princess Chalandra Auromarinase Debelial Altase Lamentas of the Water Nebula," He used her full name as she had introduced herself when they first met. "It is with honor that I bequeath this award to you." The Doctor formally said.
"Doctor, your gift is accepted. In return, I have an award for you as well. You have competed today with bravery and skill. You put yourself in danger to represent me, and know that you carry with you my gratitude and my fond regards."
At this, she pulled out of her pocket her handkerchief, and pressed it into his hands.
"What's this?" He asked.
"A Princess needs only to give a token of herself for the gift to be real," Chancellor Shue said softly. "You have been given a great honor, sir."
The Princess approached the Doctor, and he turned his cheek, but she put her hands on his face and this time, very gently touched her lips to his. She said softly so only he could hear "It is time to put away my childish ways. Starting with you."
She then stepped back and curtsied deeply to him. He in turn gave her his best bow-legged bow, and when he straightened, she had already turned and was walking away from him.