Author's Note: THIS CHAPTER WILL BE UPDATED SOON… you can of course continue reading if you wish, but eventually you'll want to come back and REREAD it because there may be some drastic changes in the chapter. Fair warning. As much as it may suck you may want to hold off and read more later. Don't worry, the update is scheduled for release by 5/18/13.
XXXXXXCHAPTERELEVENXXXXXX
XXXMANDYXXX
Leaning against the door I took a deep breath. I didn't hear him move for a minute or two but then I heard the door across the hall snap shut. I sighed relieved. Apparently he was now satisfied with my answer. I heard someone clear their throat and I looked up startled. It was another servant and I smiled at her.
"I'm sorry. I forgot that we each had a servant tending to us. Have you been waiting?"
"Yes, milady. I've kept the bath warm milady. Or I could get you some tea if it pleases…"
"Both sound great, thank you."
She smiled politely and curtsied before leading me into the bath. The room was large and the bath could hold eight people easily. I took a deep breath and could smell something sweet in the air.
"What do I smell?" I asked her.
"That is the bath oil. It is an oil made from snapdragon flowers."
"Nice," I told her.
She stood there waiting for something and I finally turned to look at her.
"Is there a problem?"
"You are supposed to undress and give me your clothes milady," she said.
"Oh…"
I undressed slowly feeling awkward. I removed my panties carefully so as not to display myself any more than necessary and handed them to the girl.
"Would you like your tea during or after your bath milady?"
"After I think."
"Very good, I'll be back with your wardrobe book and you can choose your evening gown."
"Alright, thank you," I called after her.
The bathroom door snapped shut and I turned to the steaming bath. I dipped one toe in to test the water. I lowered myself in cautiously and sighed. The water felt amazing; I considered a nap but decided I'd probably drown. I found glass bottles filled with soaps and hoped I'd use the right one.
I washed and rinsed my hair and then I scrubbed myself thoroughly and as the water began to cool I heard a knock on the bathroom door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me, milady. I've brought you a wardrobe book. Her Majesty would like you to pick something from this one specifically."
"Come on in."
She entered with a large leather-bound book and lowered herself to her knees placing the book in her lap so I was able to read it.
"You don't have to sit on the floor, you'll get wet," I said.
"It is our duty, milady. Here," she said flipping the book open. "What color would you like?"
I looked at the two large pages. They had small samples of different fabric in different colors. I pointed at a color, careful not to splash water. She flipped a large bunch of pages and illustrations of different gowns covered the pages.
"Just pick one out milady and I'll get it for you."
She flipped the pages for me as I asked her to and I found it difficult to choose just one. When she turned the page again I knew instantly what I wanted to wear.
"That one!" I said happily. "It's beautiful!"
"It is, very nice choice milady. I'll get it for you now," she got up off the floor, her skirts sopping wet.
She sat the book down on a table and walked over to a tall armoire and retrieved a large towel. She brought it over holding it open. I realised she was waiting for me to get out and I did so. She wrapped the towel around me and began to dry me off.
"Umm, that's alright," I said embarrassed, "I can do it myself."
She looked slightly confused but she let me hold the towel to myself and she left to go get my dress. I dried myself off thoroughly and then noticed a screen across the room. I stepped behind it and draped the towel over the top to dry.
I heard the knock on my door again and called for her enter.
"I brought you all your garments," she said on the other side of the screen.
I peeked around it, feeling silly after she'd already watched me undress. I saw she had many items and wasn't sure where to start.
"I believe I may need your help with this part." I admitted.
She smiled happy to be allowed to help. She handed me a new pair of underwear and a strapless bra. I slipped them on and came around the screen. I was much more comfortable covered up this much. She handed me some stockings and I slid them on as well. She then helped me into a ground length pleated petticoat. She fastened the back of it for me.
She then handed me the beautiful gown I'd picked out. It was a beautiful shade of silver and had a black swirling pattern printed on it. She helped me into it adjusting, tucking, pinning, and draping different parts of it. She put a high, broad curved belt around my waist and fastened it. Looking in the mirror I saw it accentuated my breasts and stomach.
My breasts and shoulders were revealed by the low and wide neckline forming a deep V at the back and the front. My waistline was high and restricted by the wide stiffened belt. The gown was lined throughout and trimmed with black fur, much to my distaste; I hated the idea of wearing an animal. The black skirts, separate and attached to the waistline, were cut circular to develop into a train at the back. The long sleeves were tight and folded back to form a cuff.
I smiled as she led me out of the bathroom. I noticed how the dress floated behind me, making me look like I was walking on air. She had me sit in front of a vanity and she pulled out a tray of powders and liquids.
"If you'd like I can do your face and hair milady."
"Go ahead," I told her. "I feel over pampered."
"Oh, her Majesty sent these along for you to wear."
The woman lifted a box from the vanity and opened it. My breath caught as I saw the glittering necklace and earring set.
She carefully lifted the silver enameled and sapphire jeweled collarette with the large diamond pendant and fastened it around my neck. I lifted the earrings one at a time and placed them in my ears. Looking in the mirror all I could do was stare. It was like looking at someone else. I didn't recognise myself and it was a strange feeling, not unpleasant, just weird.
"Milady?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah?" I asked looking at her.
"If we're to have you ready for your party we must finish your hair and face soon," she said.
"Wait. What party?"
"Her Majesty has informed the court that we will be celebrating Lady Miranda's day of birth."
"But it's technically not until tomorrow. I certainly don't think it's worthy of a large party," I said.
"Her Majesty loves any excuse for a formal event," the servant admitted. "If not for you then she'd have found another reason for tonight's affair. As it is the kitchens are most busy preparing a lovely cake for you."
I gaped at her in horror. Oh, I hated parties. Correction, I loved parties but I hated parties that I was the main attraction of. I'd rather fade into the background having a good time instead of being the center of attention for the evening. I sighed and shook my head remembering how much I'd read of Marie Antoinette's life. She was a party girl for sure.
"Alright," I said, "I suppose we should get done then. I'd hate to be beheaded for being late to a party."
She ignored my statement and began using different brushes and devices to curl and pin my hair into a beautiful loose updo. She then used dozens of powders and liquids on my face. She used a brush to apply a final swipe of mascara and stepped back to look me over.
"Are you pleased milady?" she asked.
I looked closely at my face. I had a light shade of blue on my eyes and my lashes were long, black, and thick. I looked like a doll with my porcelain skin, pale lips, and big decorated eyes.
"You've done a fantastic job," I told her meaning it.
She put the makeup tray away and folded her hands in front of her. Someone knocked on the door and my servant woman went to it to open the door. When she opened it a man in servant's attire was waiting.
"Her Majesty has asked her guests to join her in the royal dining hall," the man said. "You're friends are waiting here in the hall for you."
The servant woman smiled at me and held the door open.
"I'm sorry we never got to your tea, milady," she apologised. "But here are your shoes."
She handed me a pair of black flats soft and supple and I slid them on.
"It's fine. If you're still here when I come back we can sit and have some then," I told her.
"Yes, milady."
I smoothed the gown after I stood up and looked at myself in the mirror again, I felt my ego explode and tried to stamp down the level of my vanity. I looked beautiful and very much like an aristocratic lady. Honestly, I wasn't usually this self-absorbed but apparently being pampered this much was bad for me.
I walked across the room nervously though. I wasn't sure what I'd look like compared to the others. What if they were just wearing what we'd arrived in? But my fears were quelled as I stepped into the hall and found Donna and Martha outside my door. They were also wearing dresses. They also had had their hair and faces done. Donna was wearing a soft lilac dress that accentuated all her perfect curves. Martha was wearing a brilliant shade of yellow that accentuated her skin beautifully.
"You look amazing!" Donna said looking me over.
"Thanks," I said happily, "you too!"
"I feel like we're playing dress up," Martha admitted looking at her dress.
"Yeah, but you look good. Yellow is a good color on you," I told her.
Amy and River joined us and I smiled at them. River was wearing an emerald dress and Amy was wearing a dress in a brilliant shade of blue. We stood there silently looking each other over when we heard the men join us.
"I didn't see that dress in the closet," Amy said to me.
"Oh, I didn't actually look. My…servant brought me a book," I realized I'd never even asked the girl's name.
"Toinette gave you one of her books?"
I turned to see the Next Doctor coming from down the hall. He was wearing a handsomely tailored black suit and accessorized with a top hat and bow tie. The Doctor was close behind him in an attractive white suit and red tie with matching red converse.
"I guess so; my servant did mention something about her requesting that book specifically."
"Oh, she must like you!" The Next Doctor exclaimed. "I'd say that dress is worth at least a thousand quid."
The girls stared at my dress in awe and I felt myself blush. I ran my hands over it delicately and looked the other girls' dresses over. Why would I be the only one chosen to wear a 'special' dress? I adjusted the belt nervously and was thankful when the attention was pulled away from me.
"Bow ties… Seriously?" I heard the Doctor ask.
"Yeah, so? Bow ties are cool," I heard the Next Doctor respond.
"Oh, Rassilon," the Doctor muttered while Amy cracked up.
Rory and Jack came out of Jack's room and joined us in the hall. We looked them over and they were dressed as immaculately as the Doctors. It was like living in a fairy tale story. They were dressed like princes, all top hats and silk handkerchiefs. I avoided the Doctor's eye and smiled at Jack as he looked us all over.
"Ladies! You look beautiful," he said bowing dramatically.
"If you are all together I can show you to the banquet hall," a manservant said drawing our attention.
"Please do," the Next Doctor said cheerily.
He offered his arm to River who smiled adoringly at him and took it. Rory followed suit and offered his arm to Amy awkwardly. She laughed and took it, her red hair floating around her in curls as they walked away. We followed after them as I listened to the other four discuss what they'd been doing in the time we were all separate.
"Got a fix on where the cargo ships have been going down," Jack said.
"Is it really the vampires, or faeries, or whatever doing it?" Donna asked.
"It seems so. There's only been one survivor and he's been mute ever since the attack. He won't say a word," the Doctor said.
"I've seen faeries before, Doc. These aren't it. They aren't the same species at all," Jack told him.
"No they aren't," the Doctor agreed.
"So what do we do then? How do we stop them?" Martha asked him.
"First we have to find a way to the island. We'll need a ferry or an airship."
"How do we go about getting one of those?" Donna asked. "Sonic paper?"
The Doctor grinned and winked.
"I'm sure it will help in the process of retrieving one. But Troy up there thinks he can come up with transport by talking with the Queen."
"Troy?" I asked confused.
"Remember? I'm John, he's Troy."
Suddenly our earlier conversation came back to me and I nodded.
"Sorry, forgot. Troy… It's a wretched title," I said.
"Agreed."
"Be thankful you have plenty of years to think up a different one for yourself."
He laughed and Martha wrapped her arm around mine pulling me forward out of hearing shot.
"What happened earlier?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"The Doctor seemed," Martha paused trying to find the right word, "troubled earlier. He came to sit with me while one of the servants did my hair. He was oddly quiet and when he was talking it was halfheartedly and he seemed distracted. He wouldn't say what was bothering him but when I asked Jack if he knew what was up he said he didn't know anything except the Doctor had wanted to be left alone with you."
I stared at her startled. My mouth moved, trying to make a sound but failing miserably, I shut it again. I hadn't thought about the fact that if something happened with him all his companions would notice. I should have known. When you are with someone for a long time you become tuned to them.
"Sorry," Martha said, "I'm not trying to be nosy. I was just concerned. He's not usually like that is all. If something bothers him he brushes it off with a shrug of his shoulders and covers it up with all smiles and ridiculous rambling about places he has to show me."
I looked at her again and noticed just how beautiful she was. I couldn't understand how the Doctor could never have felt anything for her in the year they'd travelled. She seemed kind hearted and fun. I realized I was being rude and I focused on her last statement. I knew telling the Doctor what the Queen had said was a bad idea.
"He insisted I tell him the entire conversation from in the carriage. I tried to avoid it and give him half answers but he wouldn't let me go unless I told him."
"Yeah, when he wants something he doesn't back down until he gets it. It's not exactly a good thing in some cases. So what did you say exactly?"
"I told him the truth. That mostly the Queen did the talking and that she knew him well, or seemed to. But then I guess he knew I wasn't telling him everything and blocked me from my room until I told him."
Martha thought about that and her eyes widened. She looked at me sympathetically.
"You told him the Queen said you'd leave him," she said.
I nodded and looked at the floor ahead of me.
"No wonder he was a bit off. He's lost so many people in his life. He hates knowing his future, especially if it involves losing people, whether he's attached to them or not. He's had a wretched couple years," Martha said sadly.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"There was a girl, Rose; she was one of his companions for quite a while. She met him during his ninth incarnation. She was with him when he regenerated into, well, the him now. She'd fallen in love with him and on top of that he fell head over heels for her as well. But when she got stuck in a parallel universe that was it for them. And he's never really moved past that…" she said quietly peering over her shoulder to be sure they were still having a private conversation.
She didn't have to worry. Donna and the Doctor were arguing over something and Jack was adding little comments here and there to keep the fire going. Martha smiled at them in spite of the not-so-happy subject we were discussing.
"So what happened?" I asked.
"After Rose left he met Donna. Did he tell you how he met Donna?" she asked me.
"Yes and how he met you," I admitted.
"Well, Donna refused to go with him at first; she told me it was because he scared the hell out of her. Then I met the Doctor in the hospital. Later that night he invited me to go with him for 'a trip' and we travelled for a year, just the two of us. But when he and I were travelling we came across another Time Lord in the future. He travelled back in time and became Britain's Prime Minister. He did terrible things to the Doctor and to the world. He was a sick man. He held the Doctor hostage, caged and chained like an animal… for a year! I travelled alone for that whole year and I did it by his request, did you know that?" she asked.
I shook my head following her every word.
"A year, alone, travelling in a world of open warfare and people dying everywhere. The only thing I had to keep me going was my hope of saving the Doctor and my family… and, I suppose, my love for him, which only grew stronger every day I travelled. I told everyone I met all about him; the Doctor and his magic box, saving our world without us even knowing he was doing it. Gone without asking for a single thank-you," Martha smiled sadly as she drifted off a bit as if remembering.
I heard the sadness and the pure devotion in her words. I looked around me as I wondered how far the banquet hall actually was. We seemed to be walking a lot.
"Anyways," Martha said continuing, "the Time Lord, he was called the Master, and he was shot. He refused to regenerate, purposely denying the Doctor someone of his own kind to love and care for. The only connection to his home and he lost it over a bullet. Then I left, after admitting that I was in love with him. God that was the longest couple minutes of my life. I could tell it hurt him to see me walk away but I just couldn't do it anymore. Then he began travelling with Donna. He's so much better now, she makes him better."
I glanced back at Donna who was still holding her own in whatever debate she was having with the Doctor. Jack seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself standing between them. I turned to look up ahead of me to see that River and Amy were talking with their respective husbands.
"Donna seems like a wonderful woman," I observed, "and she doesn't seem afraid of him now."
"No, not anymore," Martha agreed. "She's just brilliant. She's been the wall for the Doctor when he's needed one to lean on. But bad things are always happening around him and we were both unable to help him in the last couple travels."
"What do you mean? What happened?" I asked.
"Well, he'd helped save Earth for what I'm sure was the billionth time and we were talking on the TARDIS. Donna had gone home to talk to her granddad and mum, so she could say goodbye and explain to them what she was really doing with the Doctor. But as soon as we were all on the TARDIS together it just got sucked into space and we ended up on another planet. We landed right in the middle of a war between humans and creatures called Hath. They took a tissue sample from the Doctor and genetically created, well, a young woman."
I stared at her in shock. My mouth dropping open in complete surprise.
"That would technically make her…"
"His daughter, yeah. She was a completely unnatural creation and on top of that she was born to fight and use weapons. Completely opposite the Doctor. He'd been a bit cold towards her in the beginning. Acknowledging she was real and nothing more. Donna showed him the truth of her biology though, she had two hearts, and Donna even named the girl Jenny. By the time we left he'd come to accept her and seemed happy to have a daughter to care for. But in the end it hadn't mattered. Jenny had proved too much like and she stepped in front of a bullet in order to save him."
I looked back and Donna and the Doctor were laughing now, argument apparently sorted. I looked at Martha horrified. I'd never have known anything like that had happened to him. He seemed happy, carefree… and yet…
"Did she," I couldn't bring myself to finish that question.
Martha nodded sadly and looked back at the Doctor as well.
"He lost her and then he just did what he always does, tossed his emotions aside and pretended nothing happened."
"How long ago was this?" I asked."That she… died."
"It was over a month ago, for me anyways. But for them… who knows, time travel you know? What's four days for them is an hour for me. It didn't help that right afterwards I returned back home and he and Donna ended up in a library that had Vashta Nerada living in the shadows. That's where he met River for the first time. Unfortunately the first day he met her was also the last day of her life."
My head shot up to look at River.
"Wait if you weren't with them… How do you know all this?" I asked.
"I became the doctor's confidante. By accident I believe. One day he just started talking and all this stuff rushed out before he realized what he was saying. I've listened for him whenever he's needed me too ever since. And Donna quite often needs a female companion as much as the Doctor needs one in general."
"It's probably good he can talk to you. I doubt he'd do so with anyone else, ever."
Martha smiled at me softly, a strange look on her face.
"What?" I asked.
"Maybe someday there will be someone else that can become his confidante. I'm getting married soon," she said lifting her hand to show me her engagement ring, "and that will be the day I won't be able to tend to the Doctor."
I ignored the implication and steered the subject towards safer grounds, safer for me anyways. "So what happened then? At the library?"
"Well the specific details are unknown to me; it's beyond a sensitive subject for both of them. But from what I gathered a computer at the heart of the library saved all the people in it in order to save them from being killed by the Vashta Nerada. Apparently the Doctor had tried to send Donna back to the TARDIS but something happened and the computer ended up saving Donna like all the other humans. He told me it was one of the most saddening moments of his life, thinking he'd lost Donna, and in his opinion it had been his fault. But while she was indisposed he and River had to work together to save everyone. I don't know specifically what happened with River and him. I wasn't there. I just put together what he and Donna have told me. Either way it was safe to assume River'd someday be his wife. Which, I suppose after this trip," she said looking at the Next Doctor and River, "it's safe to assume we were correct."
"But how did she die?" I asked.
"River died when she chose to sacrifice herself in the place of the Doctor in order to save Donna and the other 4022 people trapped in the Library's computer. The Doctor saved her though, sort of, with something called a 'Neural Relay'."
"Think of it as a data chip for a computer. It contained River's data ghost," the Doctor told us, we hadn't heard him come up and we were both startled. "I saved her by uploading her into the virtual world contained in the Library's data core. CAL, the library's data core, was controlled by a human girl who was wired into its mainframe. CAL had also saved the data ghosts of all of River's dead archaeological team, giving her company in the virtual world. So thankfully she still has a peaceful life to look forward to even after her time."
Martha and I glanced at each other. We hadn't meant for the Doctor to catch us gossiping about anything so personal. I decided our best way out of this was to continue the subject as if that's all it was, a talk about River.
"So that was the first time you met her then?" I asked him.
"Yes. It seems we are going to be meeting a lot," the Doctor said looking River over.
"Does it worry you?" I wondered aloud.
"What?"
"That you and she are more than companion and Time Lord," I said.
The Doctor seemed to think about it a minute.
"I don't know. I barely know her at this point in my life, ask me when I'm him," he replied.
We finally stopped outside a large ornamented set of doors. The servant escorting us held up his hand to have us stop.
"Her Majesty would like to have you join her," the manservant told me directly.
I don't know what the look on my face was but Martha cracked up laughing at me. She nudged me forward to follow him but I couldn't help noticing the uneasy look on River and the Next Doctor's faces.
The manservant rapped on the grand doors and they were opened from inside. Someone announced the 'royal guests of the court'. Another servant came out and led the others in, Donna and Jack winked at me on their way by. I smiled.
"If you would follow me milady," the manservant said to me.
I followed him down the hall and was ushered into another room. The door was shut behind me and I turned to look at Marie Antoinette, I had to force myself not to stare. The gown she'd worn earlier had been beautiful, but this one made it look like a cheap thrift store buy.
"I'm glad to see you found a gown you liked," she said to me.
"I love it, thank you," I told her.
She smiled at me and got up from her vanity to join me near the door.
"Miranda, I asked you to be escorted here because I have a favor to ask of you."
I looked at her startled. The Queen of France wanted me to do her a favor? This excited me a bit, but I also felt suddenly nervous. What could I do that she didn't have hundreds of others available to do all the time?
"Anything, your Majesty," I told her doing a well practiced curtsy.
"For starters you may call me, Tony," she told me. "I had a dear friend who used to call me that; I admit I don't much care for such familiarity."
"Tony?" I repeated unsure.
She smiled at me and took my hand, leading me to sit on her grand bed beside her.
"The other favor is for you to sing tonight, for me," she said.
I stared at her with my mouth hanging open stupidly. The fact that it was completely rude never crossed my mind. Apparently Antoinette noticed she had surprised me with the request and continued so as to explain.
"I was merely a child when I first met the Doctor. He spoke of such wonderful places and people. But he never spoke of anyone as he did you. He made you sound like an angel in the Heavens, perfect in every way. I have to admit he seems to have been right. When I realised who you were I knew that I had to send you one of my personal wardrobe journals. Only you were fit to where the Royal Dresses of France…"
"Oh, you didn't have to! I would have been fine with what the other girls wore," I interrupted.
She smiled at me.
"You remind me of my old friend who called me Tony," she said with a sad smile. She shook her head slightly as if to shake away bad thoughts. "Listen, I can tell a princess from a pauper, and you my love, are no pauper. It is true the other dresses are quite lovely, but you will see that your friends are dressed the same as any commoner when we go to supper. But you? You and I will be Queens here and we will be treated as such."
I didn't much like the sound of that, did that mean she thought the others weren't good enough? I frowned. She must have read my thoughts on my face.
"Oh, please don't take offense. I do not mean that your friends are unimportant, I merely felt more a connection to you. I don't know what it is; it's similar to how I feel when with the Doctor."
"But what does this have to do with me singing for you? Why am I so special?"
"You were the Doctor's most loved and favored companion, I knew this, and he never denied it. He used to say that you had the voice of a mermaid; angelic and alluring. He told me he used to hear you sometimes when you thought no one was listening. I must admit since I was a child he had painted such a perfect portrait in my mind of you. I suppose you became a fairytale princess in my mind and it would please me to no end to have you perform for me tonight!"
"I'm sorry, I can't…"
The door to the Queen's chambers banged open.
"Of course you can! Toinette that's a brilliant idea! In fact, I know just the song we could sing," the Next Doctor said happily barging in and clapping his hands.
Antoinette frowned at him before bursting into giggles.
"Oh, Doctor. You and your listening at keyholes."
"Yes, well. Bad habit. I don't think I realized quite how much I spoke of Miranda. So, what do you say?" he asked looking at me.
"Say to what?"
"You and I singing of course. Although you and I haven't sung it together yet I know you have written it already. Though I suppose I'm messing with time again, but never mind that. You and I, yes?" he rambled happily.
"No!" I said getting up from the bed. "I can't!"
"Oh, nonsense of course you can," he said dismissively. "You and your phobias. Though I admit they certainly are serious ones for you. I'm telling you, you'll learn to get over them right quick traveling with me! Arachnophobia, claustrophobia, acrophobia, nyctophobia. All of them can be overcome in time. For now let's work on that performance anxiety. Come along, Tate," he said heading for the door.
"Wonderful!" Antoinette exclaimed. "This will be a fabulous birthday party for you tonight."
"Wait a minute," I called after him. "I don't even know what we'd sing!"
He peeked his head back in the door and smiled at me.
"I See The Light," he said.
I stared at him. I'd written a song with that title only a couple months ago, how did he? I sighed. The answer was a simple one: Time Lord, future Time Lord. Oh, this was complicated. The Queen was staring at me with a look that said she was not going to take another 'no' happily.
"Alright, but… you'll sing it with me?" I asked nervously not wanting to upset the Queen.
I had terrible visions of being beheaded. Being a Time Lady doesn't come naturally. Although my genetic makeup was very much Time Lord, my mind and beliefs weren't. I was all too human after living as one for so long.
"Where I'm supposed to, I don't think I should sing the girly parts," he joked. "Now, may I escort my ladies to the Banquet Hall? I'm afraid we're already going to be quite late."
"You may my lord," Antoinette said taking an arm.
The Next Doctor offered me the other and I took it. He led us out of the room; Antoinette's four ladies in waiting followed behind us silently.
"Announce us," the Queen ordered the doorman.
He rushed and opened the doors stepping into the large hall and his voice echoed in the chamber.
"Announcing her Majesty, Queen of France, Marie Antoinette!" He paused for the loud applause and then continued, "And her guests of honor: Lord Troy Hansom and Lady Miranda Tate."
The Doctor led us through the door and we were greeted with applause. The first thing I noticed was that hundreds of people were crammed in the balconies above. The giant circular room was filled with people. I felt the Next Doctor squeeze my arm, for comfort I supposed.
"You get used to it," he whispered out the side of his mouth.
"They watch you eat?" I asked just as quietly.
"Don't worry, my dear," Antoinette said to me. "It took forever for me to become accustomed as well."
I wasn't sure if that made me feel better or worse. There were two large tables facing each other and I saw that the King and Queen of England were centered in the first, seated with other nobility.
The Next Doctor helped Antoinette into her seat and then me into mine and everyone sat down again. The King of England made a long speech, welcoming the Queen of France to their country and home. When he was finished he clapped his hands and food was brought out to the tables. I was overwhelmed with the amount of food on each plate. There was no way I could eat it all. For starters I didn't eat red meat, ever. Secondly, I didn't know what half of it was.
I noticed everyone else had tucked in and I lifted the proper fork and stared at my plate. I could feel the hundreds of eyes watching us and I suddenly felt what was left of my appetite disappear. Antoinette glanced at me and whispered behind her napkin, leaning over the Next Doctor.
"The corn and potatoes are good. Don't eat anything that is red or black. And you can eat as little as you'd like."
I smiled at her appreciatively. I listened to the large amount of chatter going on between both tables. I forced myself to eat the corn and potatoes but quit eating as I felt my stomach turn. I was terrified of large crowds and I noticed the Next Doctor looking at me. I met his eyes and he nodded as if understanding what the matter was.
He leaned closer to Antoinette and whispered to her. She looked at me in mild surprise.
"Are you alright, dear?" she asked.
"I'm fine, thank you." I told her placing my napkin back in my lap. "Just a bit nervous I guess."
"The Doc…"
"Troy," the Next Doctor corrected.
"Yes, of course. Troy tells me you do not do well in large groups of people?"
I looked up at the crowd gathering at the railings and nodded staring back at my plate. She reached over and took my hand. I smiled at her. She was not what I expected Marie Antoinette to be. They always described her as selfish and a party girl. This girl seemed considerate and compassionate.
"I'll be fine, Tony. Thank you."
I was thankful when Donna, who was on my other side, engaged me in conversation and distracted me the rest of supper. The King clapped his hands and servants came to take away our dirty dishes. Standing up the King called to all the people in the balcony. He invited them to another banquet hall where they'd be celebrating the birthday of Lady Tate as requested by the Queen of France. There was lots of cheering and the balconies began to empty, presumably to the room the party was being held.
Donna bumped with her elbow and gave me a mischievous smile.
"Oi, how about that? A party in your honor held by Kings and Queens! How's that make you feel?"
I felt my face turn red and my stomach turn, I swallowed hard and I was thankful when Antoinette grabbed my hand and lifted me out of my seat.
"I'm sorry, Lady Donna, you'll have to excuse us a moment!" the Queen said
She led me away from the table, her ladies in waiting following closely behind. In the hall she led me to a bathroom and I excused myself, disappearing behind the privacy screen and heaving into the toilet. I came back out feeling embarrassed.
"Are you feeling better milady?" one of the ladies in waiting asked me.
"Yes, thank you," I said.
I looked around and realised Antoinette and the other ladies had left me for privacy.
"Her Majesty has gone on to the party. Lord Smith is waiting for you in the hall with Lady Noble."
I thanked her and left the room, coming face to face with them.
"Sorry, Donna," I apologised. "I didn't mean to run out on you."
"Hey, no worries. Why didn't you tell us you were afraid of large groups of people?"
"It's not that I'm afraid of them, I just don't manage well being the main attention of them. I guess I couldn't take all the eyes staring."
Donna nodded sympathetically.
"Gotta say I wasn't all that happy with it either, I can't believe they do this every meal, every day!" She said looking at the Doctor.
"Yes, well. Different time, different standards," he said. "Are you alright to head to the party then?"
I stared at him in horror but realised I didn't have much a choice. The Queen was hosting a party for me; it would be beyond rude to blow it off. I was pretty sure they'd behead me if I so much as attempted it anyways.
"I suppose I have to be," I said.
"Don't worry; they won't pay any attention to you when you arrive. Not with all the important people attending."
The Doctor was right. When we arrived no one paid any attention to me at all. I was introduced to only a dozen people over the period of an hour, despite the fact that there were hundreds. I found myself stuck by Donna's, Martha's, and Amy's sides. I found I enjoyed their company. Together the three were quite a trio, joking and laughing. I'd completely forgotten my agreement to sing for the Queen; until her grand announcement anyways…
The Doctor was wandering from person to person smiling and shaking hands. I swore he'd spoken to everyone in the room already. I couldn't believe how much of a social butterfly he was. He had just come up to talk with us when Antoinette called the attention of the entire hall. When she told everyone that her guests of honor had agreed to have a special performance everyone began clapping and she called for the Next Doctor and me to come up. I grabbed the Doctor and rushed behind him hiding. He glanced over his shoulder at me, seemingly amused. I smacked him on the back to let him know that he should pretend I wasn't here. He folded his arms and faced forward.
I was still embarrassed from our talk earlier but under the circumstances I didn't have time to worry about it. Amy and Martha stood on either side of him blocking me from sight; unknowingly helping me in the process. Unfortunately for me the Next Doctor popped out of nowhere and grabbed my hand. He pulled me out from behind the Doctor and I tried to talk my way out of it.
"Doctor I can't do this!" I said trying harder.
"Oh, nonsense it's just a song or two."
"Two! You said one!"
"Yes, well, I remembered a song you used to sing I always quite enjoyed. I've already instructed the instrumentalists on the music so all you have to do is sing."
I pulled my hand out of his and stopped to glare at him.
"How dare you!" I said angrily.
"Now there's a look I've missed," he teased. He stepped closer to whisper in my ear. "There's a song you used to sing called 'Disgusting.' You used to laugh and tell me it fit us perfectly. I know you have no idea what I'm talking about but I'm asking you to do it for me, even if we aren't exactly on terms now."
I looked in his eyes and saw something that terrified me, hunger. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. To my mortification his Time Lord scent hit my nose with his close proximity and I felt myself become aroused. I took a large step back and I heard the Queen calling for us to come up again. I looked up at her and she was smiling brightly down at us. I felt the Next Doctor's hand slide into mine and he tugged it gently.
I followed behind him apprehensively. Standing on the stage I saw that Donna and the others had come to the front of the crowd to join the King and Queens to watch. I saw Donna give me two thumbs up for encouragement. I sought out the Doctor's face and he smiled at me, 'deep breathes' he mouthed. I took a few deep breathes as the instrumentalists began to practice the introduction. I was startled to find that they were exactly how I'd written them for the song. I looked at the Next Doctor who was smiling and he quickly turned to the crowd.
"My King and Queens, Lords and Ladies, due to a case of performance anxiety we'll be performing sat down, we'd hate to pass out in the middle of our performance as it's not meant to be a comedy…"
The crowd laughed and I felt my cheeks burn. Two chairs were brought up and the Next Doctor turned them so we'd be facing each other not the crowd. I realised he was trying to help me forget that other people were even there. I sat down and he took my hands in his, I ran through the lyrics in my head and decided it would seem like a part of the performance, it was a song about the love of two people. Of course he'd have thought it through. We'd probably done this before, in the future, the difference was it was a first for me right now.
"It's funny. I suppose I know how it feels to be River now. She has all these memories of being with me, but they haven't happened for me yet… Now I have all these memories of being with you, and you don't have clue."
I looked up at him but didn't get to reply as the instrumentalists struck the first chords and I closed my eyes, counting beats and waiting for the mark that would be my intro. Opening my eyes I pretended I was in acting class back in high school singing with Mitchell. I met the Next Doctor's eyes, focusing with all my might on them, and sang.
"All those days watching from the windows. All those years, outside looking in. All that time never even knowing just how blind I've been. Now I'm here blinking in the starlight. Now I'm here, suddenly I see. Standing here, it's all so clear: I'm where I'm meant to be… And at last I see the light and it's like the fog has lifted. And at last I see the light and it's like the sky is new. And it's warm and real and bright and the world has somehow shifted. All at once everything looks different, now that I see you!"
I sang with all my heart and realised how good it felt to be able to sing so freely, openly. The Next Doctor was smiling at me and I couldn't help but smile back, he was right, the lyrics just felt right somehow. He cleared his throat and began singing his verse and I was surprised that he actually had a beautiful voice. Strong and sensual, his voice was like velvet.
"All those days chasing down a daydream. All those years living in a blur. All that time never truly seeing things the way they were. Now she's here shining in the starlight. Now she's here, suddenly I know. If she's here its crystal clear I'm where I'm meant to go…"
"And at last I see the light." We sang together.
I paused for the next line.
"And it's like the fog has lifted," he sang.
"And at last I see the light." We sang together again and then he paused for me.
"And it's like the sky is new," I sang higher than I ever had before.
"And it's warm and real and bright and the world has somehow shifted. All at once everything is different. Now that I see you… Now that I see you…" I sang with him for the ending and our voices joined in perfect harmony.
I heard our voices grow steadier and higher, the passion of the words taking over. It had started as just a song but it had become so much more… the lyrics had become a story, our story, and it was only just beginning.
The music ended and we both jumped in our seats as the applause echoed in the large room. I stared in shock at the large crowd, I'd forgotten them completely. I felt the excitement hit me as I looked at all the faces smiling and cheering. I found Donna and Martha cheering the loudest and couldn't stop myself from laughing.
"Thank you!" the Next Doctor called. "Now we have one more song special for our lovely Antoinette. I know how you love a new upbeat song; I have just the one for you!"
Antoinette clapped happily and beamed at us. I smiled back at her. The Doctor was clapping next to Jack looking impressed.
"We may need some help in the beginning though," the Next Doctor called out to the room.
The Next Doctor stepped off the stage and I felt my stomach leap into my mouth, he was leaving me alone up here by myself. I was surprised when he began to clap a rhythm. He had Antoinette join him and pretty soon everyone was. The Instrumentalists began to play and the lyrics came to my mind, I ignored my nervousness and began to sing along with the music.
"My heart booms at the speed of light. But the exit signs always on my mind, always in my sight.
I can say that I really want to stay, but the devil inside always wins the fight, always gets his way. Jump out the window gotta get out on the highway, think things are getting too attached I need an escape. I'm seeing stars and there is nothing more that I hate, baby.."
The crowd was clapping to the beat and I smiled when I saw Jack had grabbed Donna for a dance. She looked rather surprised and pleased as he spun her in a circle. The Next Doctor and River joined them and soon other people followed their example. My heart pounded in my chest and I thought I was going to be sick but I kept singing.
"…It's disgusting, how you changed me. From a bandit to a baby. Think I might gotta change my name, if I'm gonna walk this walk of shame. Look at what you do to me. It's disgusting…"
I finished singing and when the music ended they all clapped and the Queen came up to hug me. I accepted it with relief since I suddenly felt beyond nauseous. She waved me off stage and I took the steps two at a time and headed right past the Doctor and Martha who were waiting for me at the bottom. I knew they were following me but I didn't slow down as I raced out into the empty hallway.
Outside I leaned my head against the cool stone wall and felt the sweat run down the side of my face. I felt my chest constricting and when I tried to take a deep breath I felt a stinging pain shoot through me.
"Hey, you alright?" I heard Martha ask.
I felt her hand touch my back and I turned around and leaned my head back against the wall. I nodded my head but didn't attempt to speak. I was sure I'd throw up all over her if I did.
"What's the matter?"
"She's afraid of crowds and she was on stage in front of a large one, and the center of attention at that," the Doctor told her.
"Anxiety attack," Martha decided. "Okay, just take slow deep breathes… there you go."
I breathed slowly and felt my stomach settle slightly, but not enough. Martha stroked my back gently as I felt the tension ease a bit and I swallowed hard focusing on breathing. I turned to look at them apologetically.
"I'm sorry; I was doing so well too…"
"No! You were fabulous! Your voice is lovely," Martha said enthusiastically.
The King of England entered the hall escorted by a collection of gentleman. He stopped beside us and greeted the Doctor.
"I have been informed that you are looking for transport out to the islands," he said. "I've been told you think you can help with our... problem."
"Yes and yes…"
The King gave the Doctor an intense look.
"And what are you – some kind of crisis management expert?"
The Doctor scratched the back of his neck.
"No, well, yes, maybe I am. Crisis management, yes I suppose that's what I do, although I'm not sure about the management bit, sounds a bit desk-bound – meetings and agendas and all that, and no offence to you, your majesty, but that's not really me."
The King stared at the man in amazement. How could anyone talk that fast for so long and say nothing? He frowned and shook his head waving to the gentlemen behind him.
"Follow us and we can discuss business. I'm afraid such matters are not fitting to discuss before ladies of the court," the King said glancing at us.
I could see Martha's unhappiness with this statement but she didn't say anything as the Doctor gave her a warning look. He followed the group of men as they headed off but he turned to look at us again.
"Miranda, you're alright?" He asked as an afterthought.
"Yeah, fine."
He nodded and pointed a finger at Martha.
"Don't let him talk her into any more stupid ideas!" he warned. "I'd hate to have to hurt someone."
"I thought you didn't approve of violence…" Martha teased.
"I don't. Which is why it'd be tragic if I had to kill myself," he grinned.
We laughed as he jogged off to catch up with the disappearing group of men. We knew he was all talk, at least under these circumstances. I glanced at the wall and noticed an old style wall clock and sighed. For only being ten at night I was incredibly tired….
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