Drums of Asgard.
Hello, one and all! It is the dawning of part three of Green and the Doctor may have to face a fact he didn't even know existed.
By the way…who would love to see a live action version of this with Tom Hiddleston and David Tennant? Because Lord knows I would.
Green: Part Three.
The Doctor knelt there in stunned silence.
The Aztecs were humans. They'd been an ancient human civilisation that had perished long ago due to the interference of the Western world! He'd never known any other galactic race to bear the name.
…What was this?
"That…sounds very familiar to a race on Earth." He intoned carefully, watching their reactions.
He was given a sad smile from the old woman as she and her partner sat down on the loamy earth, crossing their legs and planting their staffs deep into the ground.
"Yes, Earth was good to us, while it lasted. When the men in metal came, they killed many of us and destroyed what was once beautiful. Our ancestors saw no option but to leave, to escape the massacre."
The Doctor felt sorrow in his chest for these peaceful natives. He understood the personal cost of war all too well.
"We made our new home on Earth and, for many years, all was well. Our crops prospered, our mages saw many things to come and we left our mark on the rocks." The old man continued, placing a hand on the woman's knee. "But then men with skin whiter than the moon discovered our lands, discovered the gold and silver."
The Doctor felt sick, because he knew what humanity was like, especially the Western world. Loki stirred in his lap, drops of sweat beading in the hairs closest to his forehead.
"They took and took, not caring what happened to us. Many of our children were lost to us, taken to become what they called "slaves". In a way, it was worse than the beginning, so we left once more and came back to the one planet that had our hearts. It was empty and almost desolate, but under our capable hands, it thrives once more!"
With a stroke of his hand, the Gallifreyan soothed the restless tossing of his companion and the former Prince grew still again.
"It seems like you've had a happy ending after all!" he said cheerfully, trying to keep out the foreboding in his tone.
"We are not sure. Recently, our warriors discovered the remnants of our enemy. They lie on the ground, unmoving." The woman shuddered, her eyes glassy. "We fear them."
No, it couldn't be that easy, could it?
The Doctor grimaced, knowing how sly the Cybermen were, figuratively speaking. Their emotions had gone long ago and, due to Loki's recent tumble, didn't want them anywhere near him. Loki wouldn't be strong enough to face such dangers right now. But he couldn't just leave these poor Aztecs to deal with what would possibly be another invasion, no matter how small.
"I've dealt with these metal men before," he answered at length, staring down the two elders. "If you help me with my friend here, I'll go and see if they're a threat to you. I can get rid of them for you."
The people gathered looked sceptical at his words and the Doctor looked deeply at them all with eyes that were young, yet older than the Earth's moon at the same time. Dark brown eyes that had seen too many things and yet not enough closed.
"I'm the Doctor and I've done this hundreds of times. They keep coming back because they're stubborn like that. But they're not me. They are NOT as stubborn as me and never will be."
A silence reigned for a moment and forest green eyes flickered open and closed, wandering unseeingly upwards to the sky. The Time Lord glanced downwards, his eyes visibly softening at the glazed innocence.
"You're going to be fine, you hear me? Fine."
Loki gave no reply, unable to hear the man who had spirited him away through the spinning void that he fell through.
"Father, can you help with this spell?"
Odin looked up from his parchment at his youngest son, small and willowy in stature, but none the less beautiful in his eye.
"What spell, my son?" he asked, smiling fondly as he set down his quill.
"I keep having trouble with lighting this candle!" huffed Loki, holding up said white candle with a pout that made Odin chuckle and go over to kneel by his son.
"Have patience, my child. You are moving very quickly with your studies and are more advanced than Frigga and I ever were with magic at your age."
Loki's eyes widened in wonder, green orbs reflecting his father's face.
"Really? Even better than you? But you are the Allfather!"
Odin laughed again and cupped his son's hands together, trapping the candle holder in their warmth.
"Think about the flame. Lose yourself in the glow and see the wick spark in your mind's eye."
Loki's eyes closed and the wick began to glow a hot red as a tiny flame wriggled its way desperately upwards, trying to find its hold.
"Tell that flame that its home is the candle and that it will always be welcome there. That way, the fire will be more inclined to do your bidding. Magic cannot be forced or tamed, but it can be reasoned with and befriended."
The candle flame wavered for a moment before suddenly bursting forth into light and Odin put a hand on his shoulder.
"Look, you did it."
Loki opened his eyes and gasped in delight.
"I did it, father! Thank you!"
He threw himself into Odin's arms (after placing the candle on the desk) and Odin wrapped him in a big bear hug, the rumbling of warm laughter echoing through Loki's chest.
Loki's eyes rolled open for a minute to find the blurred Doctor leaning over him.
"I'll be back for you, Loki. I'm going to find a way to bring down your fever."
And the former Prince believed him, strange as it was. Oblivion washed over him like the waves in the storming ocean once more.
The Doctor stood up and stared at the little group of warriors assigned to accompany him to the Cyberman resting site.
"I guess we're off then!"
The elders and healers waved them away, turning back to the feverish Jotun the second the men were gone from sight.
The band of men picked their way towards metal and madness, armed to the teeth and unsure about what would happen.
The action will come next chapter, so hopefully this will tide you over until then!
Love Lily. X