Chapter Thirty-seven: Amy

Amy was rapidly concluding forests were nicer to look at than to walk through. There were low branches to dodge, undergrowth which snagged her feet, and somehow, despite following behind several men, she kept finding spider-webs, usually with her face. She was carrying the med case now that Rory had the sword, and when its shoulder strap wasn't getting caught on something the case itself was banging against her hip as she moved. It seemed like they'd been walking for quite some time and she hoped there wasn't much further to go.

She'd been surprised when Grist offered Rory the dead man's sword, and even more surprised when Rory took it without hesitation. The sword was in a scabbard on a belt and Rory had slipped the belt around the outside of his jacket with practiced ease before moving to retrieve the med kit from his horse's saddle-bags. He'd passed it to Amy without comment, turning away before she'd even slipped the shoulder-strap over her head. He'd been ahead of her on their walk so she hadn't been able to see his face and, much as she longed to pull him aside and talk to him, this wasn't the time or the place.

Amy was so lost in her thoughts she failed to notice Grist signaling the group to stop. She nearly walked in to Rory, coming to a stumbling stop when she realized he wasn't moving. He glanced back at her, his expression unreadable, before looking ahead once more. She studied the back of his neck, feeling a little concerned. He seemed almost… coiled, like a spring – all tension and compressed energy. She didn't know if she should be worried for him or not. Something had happened on the ride around the woods' edge. Rory had turned pale and hadn't seemed aware of where he was for a few minutes. He'd insisted he was fine when she questioned him, but he spent the rest of the ride with Grist. And then Grist handed him a sword…

"Amy." Maggie's quiet murmur disrupted her thoughts, bringing her back to the present. Grist had returned and was waving the group forward into a circle. She moved after Rory, who was already several steps ahead, and Maggie followed her.

"The manor is just ahead," Grist murmured once they were all assembled. "Unfortunately we're approaching the gardens. We're going to have to circle around. We need to find a less-exposed approach to the house and we also need to see if Ormond has any guards stationed."

"If we find a way in…" began Robbard.

Grist shook his head. "Just reconnoiter for now. We need to get a better idea of what we're facing before we try to go in." The men nodded, a few of them looking frustrated. Amy shared the feeling.

"We need to hurry," she protested. "The Doctor…"

"We have to do this right," Rory said quietly. "If we're not careful we could get the Doctor and the queen killed."

"We'll meet on the opposite side of the house," Grist told the group. "I'll take Blane, Master Williams, Mistress Pond and Mistress Fragin south. Robbard, Ortel – you go with Landon to the north. Be careful – you'll have to cross the drive up to the house at some point." Amy didn't miss the look of disappointment on Maggie's face when she realized she wouldn't be going with Landon. Everyone nodded and began to separate.

Grist led their party with Rory just behind him. Amy came next, with Maggie on her heels and Blane bringing up the rear. Amy watched Rory again as they walked. His hand hovered near the handle of his sword and she realized with a start he was moving much like Grist. His steps were sure and his head moved slightly as he scanned his surroundings. Somehow her adorable, bumbling husband had transformed into a confident, capable soldier. She felt strange watching him; he didn't seem like her Rory at all. Then his foot caught on something and he pitched forward into Grist, shattering the illusion. Amy fought back a giggle as she moved to help them. Nope. Definitely still Rory.

It didn't take them long to complete their half-circuit of the house. Amy hoped the other team had better luck; they hadn't seen any signs of guards but they also hadn't found any place where the woods came close to the house. The old duke had apparently liked manicured lawns because his home seemed to be surrounded by them. If they couldn't find a way to sneak up to the house, would Grist insist on waiting for darkness? Could the Doctor and the queen wait that long?

When they reached the rendezvous point they found Ortel waiting for them.

"There's a side-door just ahead," he whispered as they reached him. "It's close to the forest and there don't appear to be any guards. Landon and Robbard are waiting there." He turned, and they started after him, moving quickly. Amy could feel her heart start to race and Rory's neck was flushed. His hand was on his sword-handle once more, gripping tightly. Even Grist seemed keyed-up and excited.

Landon and Robbard were waiting near the edge of the forest. Amy could see past them to a small strip of lawn and what appeared to be the side of the house. The bottom half of the house was made of stone, with stucco and half-timbering on the first floor. A fire place jutted out from the house and the door was beside it.

"That's the kitchen," Maggie whispered, confirming Amy's suspicions.

"Do you know the layout of the house?" Grist asked and Maggie nodded.

"This is the kitchen entrance. From the kitchen you can go through a pantry into the great hall, or into a smaller dining room for the family," she explained. "I can show you." Grist frowned but Landon spoke up.

"You're very brave, Mistress Fragin." Maggie blushed and beamed.

"Alright," Grist murmured, cutting them off. "Landon, Robbard – you go first. Signal us when it's clear." The two young men nodded and darted out, moving swiftly across the narrow lawn and into the house. A few minutes later Landon poked his head out the door and waved them over. They all ran, filing quickly into the house.

The kitchen was large but dark. There was no fire in the hearth, not even any glowing coals. Everywhere Amy looked she saw signs of people leaving in haste. There were a pile of potatoes sitting beside a basin on one counter but only half of them were peeled. A chunk of meat rested on a nearby block half-chopped, and on a small trestle table near the center of the room sat a pot of some kind of broth. The faint scent of souring herbs reached her when she took a step toward it and she wrinkled her nose.

The house was absolutely silent and Amy wondered if they were in the wrong place. What if Ormond had taken the Doctor somewhere else? She watched nervously as Grist waved Maggie forward. The young woman pointed toward a door and he nodded, waving Landon and Robbard toward it. The two men moved quietly, sliding their boots along the stone floor. They'd drawn their swords at some point, as had Grist, Blane, and Ortel. Rory's hand was on the handle of his but it was still in the scabbard. Amy put a hand on the med kit, moving it around to the front of her so she could make sure it didn't bump in to anything.

The pantry door opened a moment later and this time Robbard spoke.

"Master Williams!" he hissed. "We need you." Rory stepped forward and Amy went with him. Grist started to protest and she waved toward the med kit without stopping. He sighed and came with her. They passed through a small pantry and out into an alcove. A doorway to their left led to a set of stairs going down. The grand hall of the manor house was straight ahead and they followed Robbard across it, moving past trestle tables and mangy stuffed animals. Amy frowned at the scenes depicted on some of the tapestries on the wall; they weren't the sort of thing she'd want to look at while eating.

A man was on the floor half-way across the room, lying between two of the tables. Amy grimaced at the sight of him. One of his arms was half-off and his head was badly bashed. Rory knelt beside him and shook his head. She shuddered and looked away from the gory figure.

"Where is everyone else?" Grist asked softly.

"We've seen no one else down here," Landon murmured. "Perhaps they're hiding upstairs." He nodded toward an ornate staircase at the opposite end of the hall from the pantry and the three men started toward it. Grist looked over his shoulder to tell Amy and Rory to stay where they were. Rory got to his feet and Amy turned her gaze back toward the alcove. Movement caught her eye and she froze, her eyes going wide as she realized a man was stepping out from behind one of the hunting trophies. She recognized the gray and black uniform of the royal guards and realized this must be one of the men who'd betrayed the queen.

"Rory, look out!" she cried as the man dashed forward. He sprang across the table in front of him, charging toward her husband. She expected Rory to retreat but instead he drew his sword and stepped forward to meet the attack. The man slashed at him with his blade and Rory parried the blow with his, the sound of metal-on-metal echoing in the hall. The men drew back, feinting and lunging, blades lashing out again. Amy retreated, bumping into the other table as she watched. She was half-horrified and half-amazed at what Rory was doing. It hardly seemed possible for this to be the same man who'd lashed ineffectually at a vampire-fish-man with a broom.

There was more movement in the corner of her eye and Amy yelped as a second man appeared from behind her. She took a step back as Grist charged up to meet the newcomer, his blade flashing as he lashed out. Landon and Robbard were right behind him and when she looked back to Rory she saw Blane and Ortel joining him. The six men faced down the other two, quickly subduing them. Rory stepped away as Blane and Ortel seized his attacker. He was breathing heavily but appeared unharmed. Amy rushed forward to embrace him, forgetting about the med kit, and he yelped as the metal case banged into him.

"Sorry!" she gasped, drawing back. "Are you…"

"Yes," Rory squeaked, doubling over in pain. "Just… give me a moment." Amy shifted the case to her hip and reached out to help him over to one of the benches, sitting down beside him. Landon, Blane, Robbard, and Ortel were securing the prisoners, using strips torn from one of the tapestries (a particularly vile one, Amy noted) to tie their hands and feet. Grist glowered at them, moving to stand over them once they were secured.

"Where is the queen?" he demanded.

"You're too late," replied one of the men. "She's gone."

"Gone where? Where are the Ormonds, and the rest of your party?"

"Dead, mostly," answered the man, his lip curling. "We left Fitts behind yesterday, and Trock is down in the basement. Geoff Ormond did for him."

"You've seen Geoff," added the other man. "We did for him."

"Where did Ormond take the queen?" Grist asked, crouching down and catching at one of the men's shirt-fronts. His face was red and Amy could see a vein throbbing near his temple.

"He didn't take her anywhere," the first man said, his eyes shining. "She's here." Grist drew back his hand, ready to strike and the second man sighed.

"She's in the dungeons below," he announced, "along with her friend." Amy didn't wait to hear more. She ran for the stairs she'd spotted in the alcove, with Rory close on her heels.

It is currently just after 8pm on Saturday here in Indiana, which means in 7 days and less than one hour I'll be watching season 6! I'm a tad-bit excited. :) I'd also like to suggest a story. _Wars of Our Fathers_ by exorcisingemily is simply brilliant and well worth a read. It really has just about everything - The 11th Doctor, Jenny, Rory, Amy, a new Roman empire on Earth, and Sontarans. Great, epic fun! And I'd also like to thank everyone for alerting, favoriting, and especially reviewing this story. It means a lot.