"Honestly dad, these head collars are ridiculous." Jenny scowled as she walked into the TARDIS console room in full Prydonian Time-Lady gear with head collar and all and she fidgeted with her head-collar, finding it uncomfortable to wear. "How do you even run in them?" Jenny found it very difficult to walk quickly in this layers of robes without tripping over them. She had a call from her parents from Messaline about her sister's upcoming Untempered Schism ceremony and she knew how important it was for her family for her to be there. So important that she even allowed her mother to put her hair up in fancy braids and apply make-up on her. Something that Jenny was far from pleased about. She was a soldier! Not some sort of doll but it made her mother happy and that was all that mattered.
Braxiatel turned to face his daughter. He too was also in full Time-Lord gear and he moved towards Jenny, helping her sort out her collar properly. "These are not meant to be for running in," He told her calmly as he fixed her collar for her. "These robes are to represent our people and culture. Now, let's take a proper look at you." He gently stepped back away from her and examined her and nodded in approval. He was certainly feeling like a proud father today and he couldn't be more than proud of either of his daughters. "You look absolutely wonderful my dear." He knew Jenny wasn't a full Time-Lady, but she was still his daughter. That was all that mattered.
Jenny placed a gentle kiss on her father's stubble, feeling pleased at the compliment and she wished Cline could see her dressed like this. "Thank you."
She was about to stand beside him but he grabbed her hand, noticing a very simple yet shiny ring on her wedding finger and he lifted her hand, examining it carefully as he realized it was no ordinary ring. "And when were you going to tell us of this young lady?"
Jenny blushed deeply, pushing back a strand of blonde hair behind her cap nervously. "Cline and I are engaged now. Of course-you are all invited to the wedding." She hurried quickly as Braxiatel raised an eyebrow at her. "If you haven't killed him by the time we get back that is..."
"Mmm. You're going to have to tell your mother though soon." Braxiatel reminded her as he brushed down his robes, making sure they were spotless before he clasped his hands in front of him, awaiting for not only his past self to appear but also for Romana and Thyra.
"She's going to be okay with it though will she?" Jenny asked her father worryingly. She loved Cline with all her hearts but she knew family came first and she wanted her mother to accept her and Cline's happiness. "She will approve of me and Cline?"
"When I was a youngster, I was taught that 'Time plays silly buggers with us all." He began carefully, looking at his youngest daughter. "If she does not approve with you now, she may approve of you later on."
"Romanadvoratrelundar will approve of the marriage between you and Cline my dear," Another voice spoke, a very familiar voice and Braxiatel and Jenny turned around to find Braxiatel's past self standing there, giving them a sly smile and Jenny looked slightly startled by his sudden appearance. "She is your mother after all."
Braxiatel gave a curt nod to his past self. When he first started meeting with his past and future-selves all those years ago, he'll admit he did find it an unusual feeling but he was now used to it. This past-self that was with them now was the one that went to war for Romana and Gallifrey. The one that knew her best. "You've arrived on time then?"
"I always arrive on time. We are not like our dear little brother now are we mmm?" His past-self continued. The past-Braxiatel was wearing bright purple Cardinal Time-Lord robes and had a handlebar moustache with cold, haughty grey eyes. His eyes looking younger than the present-Braxiatel felt at this moment in time. "It's a pleasure to see one of our daughters ready and on time."
"Hello dad." Jenny told his past-self with an uncertain smile, finding it very strange that these two men in the room were the SAME person. HER fathers before she shook her head. Time-Travel. She was going to have to get her head around it somehow. "I'm going to have to get used to this."
"It won't be for long." Present-Braxiatel told her reassuringly.
"Daddy!" Thyra suddenly squealed with delight upon seeing her younger sister and they saw Thyra walk quickly towards them in Time-Tot clothing with her little cap on, her hair all braided properly and fashionably, not noticing that there were two Braxiatel's in the room for she was far to excited to show daddy the final result and the TARDIS hummed delightedly.
"Ah-ah-ah!" Present-Braxiatel calmly reprehended his daughter but he couldn't help but smile slightly as he raised his hand, making her pause in her tracks. "No running today. We've been through that haven't we my dear?"
Thyra slowed down to a power walk as she walked over to her fathers and Jenny. "Sorry daddy." She said to her father before looking at her father's past self with curiosity. She knew he was her father but yet at the same time he was not. "Hello father."
His past-self shifted slightly, not used to being called father and Present-Braxiatel smirked. "You will find you'll get used to be calling that. After a while, it's a very pleasant feeling."
"What is?" Romana's voice asked as she was the last one to arrive and she stepped into the console room and like Jenny, wore full Time-Lady Prydonian robes with the proper head collar. She looked around the room before glancing at Braxiatel's past self and she stopped in her tracks, overcome with emotion. "Oh my..."
His past-self gave her a long, traditional bow. She looked beautiful as always. Then again, to him Romanadvoratrelundar will always be beautiful and full of grace and beauty. "My lady. It is always so lovely to see you."
Romana slowly made her way over to him, unable to regain herself. This was the Braxiatel she knew best. This was the Braxiatel that has stuck by her side for so long whilst she ran for President on Gallifrey. The one that protected her from the Pandora, the one that stayed by her side until the end of her ruling days and even then, even then he still fought for her like he still was doing today. "It's you. It's really is you."
"It really is me." His past-self gave a slight smile at her. "And you look more beautiful than ever my lady."
"I've told you before Braxiatel, flattery will get you nowhere." Romana chuckled as she stood by the present Braxiatel's side who held his arm out for her and she linked her arm through his. "Are you ready?"
"Yes. I have everything covered and I've tripled checked to make sure that Darkel and her spies are nowhere near the Untempered Schism." His past-self explained. "Both K9's and Leela were more than happy to help to cause a distraction for us."
Romana's spare hand went between her hearts, feeling touched and emotional as she remembered her dear friend. "Oh Leela," Romana commented softly. She longed to see her home and friends once more but she knew she couldn't but she was giving Thyra the opportunity to do so and that was all that mattered for Romana. She wanted Thyra to have a feel of Gallifrey. She wanted Thyra to breath the air of Gallifrey and run through it's long red pastures whilst she had the chance to. "She is and will always be a very dear friend to us."
"That she is." His past-self nodded before looking at Thyra, looking at her carefully and he could see quite clearly how she looked like her mother. "Are you ready?"
Thyra nodded before slowly walking over to his side. "I think so." Thyra replied truthfully, feeling scared yet at the same time excited. She was excited to go to Gallifrey. She has been dreaming of this moment for so long and to finally get the opportunity to go home meant a lot to her despite the fact she knew the TARDIS is and will always will be her home. She was the child of the TARDIS. Not a child of Gallifrey.
"Very well. Do you want to say your goodbyes now?"
Thyra quickly ran and hugged her mother and Romana pulled her in tightly for an embrace. "Be a good girl now," Romana told her softly as Thyra looked up at her. "And bring back little pieces of home. For your mother?"
"I'll try mummy." Thyra nodded before she hugged her daddy and Jenny.
"You look pretty cool sis." Jenny grinned at her sister as they pulled apart from their hug.
Thyra beamed up at her. "Thanks. Not as cool as you though!"
"Nah, yours is cooler. I don't like the collars." Jenny pouted, making Romana roll her eyes fondly at her youngest daughter.
His past-self chuckled. "Come now Thyra. It is time we went." Thyra quickly went and stood by Braxiatel's past-self and held his hand, staring at her family with wide eyes. "It's time we went." He gave one last nod towards the others before he held out a Time-Ring and he and Thyra clung to it before they disappeared in a blue flash.
Romana trembled before she embraced Braxiatel carefully and Braxiatel held her back as Romana sobbed into his chest, Jenny watching them silently for she knew her parents were hurting over the loss of their home. "I want to go home Brax." Romana sobbed as Braxiatel rubbed her back soothingly. "I want to go home."
Thyra and her father landed neatly on some of Gallifrey's long, red pastures. Just a few miles outside the capitol before Thyra felt the millions of Time-Lord's and Time-Ladies mind hit her and she began to panic and she clung to the red grass tightly.
Her father's past-self looked at her sternly. "Build up your mental shields Thyra," He told her calmly. "Remember what your mother has taught you about protecting your mind. Be calm and concentrate."
Thyra closed her eyes, concentrating on building up the walls of her mind. She wasn't used to having this many Time-Lord's or Time-Ladies in her mind. She wasn't used to being around so many of her kind despite the fact she knew in her time they were all dead. She swallowed as she felt all the minds disappear and felt only her own mind and she opened her eyes.
"Better?" Braxiatel asked calmly as he watched Thyra steady herself. He knew it must be hard for her for only having her parents as company and not familiar with so many Time-Lord's nearby but he knew it was the future that Thyra had to take, alone.
Thyra nodded slowly. At least she could only sense them now and she felt tones better at having blocked out all of their thoughts. "Yes father."
"If we come across any other Time-Lord's on our paths, you must understand you cannot call me that. Otherwise questions will arouse suspicion and we must be discreet. I am acting as Cardinal here for your mother who is currently fighting to remain in her position as President. For now, you are a distant cousin of mine who has been twice removed. Do you understand?"
Thyra nodded once more, understanding how important her father's role was and how important it was to keep the Time-Lines of his position. Not only that, but if political enemies of her parents found out she was here, it will only damage the Time-Lines "Yes father." She repeated once more, suddenly understanding just how serious this situation was.
"Good. Now, follow me." He turned on his heels and walked away from the Capitol of the city, heading towards some mountains and Thyra eagerly followed him.
"Where are we?" She asked excitedly, taking in all of her surroundings. This was the only chance she was ever going to get of Gallifrey. Her home planet. Yes, she has been on it before in the computer world with CAL but that was all from her imagination. This was the real Gallifrey with real living people, long before the Time War has even begun and she was going to treasure every moment of it, knowing for the fact she was never going to step foot on her home planet ever again. She trailed her fingers through the long red pastures as they walked, wanting to touch and feel everything that belonged to Gallifrey and she looked up with awe as she saw the birds tweeting and flying up above them.
"We are near Wild Endeavour which is where the Capitol is," Braxiatel explained, pointing towards the fading Citadel in the background where Gallifrey's two suns were hovering near it before he turned back around and pointed back in the directions of the mountains ahead of them. "Those mountains there belong Mount Lung and we are heading towards it."
"How come?"
"My home resides there. Your home too. Now come, there will be time for questions later." He replied as they came face to face with a large and intimidating building and Thyra craned her neck to see the tall House that had been built into Mount Lung and it's adjacent hills. The walked through the large, twisted metal gates that held the Seal of House Lungbarrow on the front before they walked towards the large and neatly carved in a dark wooden door and she watched as Braxiatel typed in some complicated codes to enter their House. "Welcome to the dark and ancient House of Lungbarrow. Stick close to me." He told her sternly and he placed his palm upon the wooden door and for a brief moment, there was a whirring of electric noises coming from it before the door swung inwards, allowing them in and they stepped inside House Lungbarrow.
Thyra looked around in awe, seeing it's long and spacious rooms and carved, gothic gargoyles were hung about on the architecture ceiling. The House itself was dark and gloomy and covered in dust and Thyra gathered it hadn't been used in a very long time and for a brief moment she wondered why. She took another close look, looking at the furniture and seeing that all the furniture was very large and twice the height of her father and she saw the tables and chair scatter about in the distance.
Braxiatel's lips curled up into a slight grimace, remembering why he always tried to avoid coming back home much like his brother. "I always did hate living here." He murmured as they walked forwards down the long, dark corridor filled with paintings of past Time-Lord's and Time-Ladies who have lived in House Lungbarrow were peering down at them and Thyra couldn't help but feel as though she was being judged by them. A table bumped into him and Braxiatel scowled, kicking it out at the tables legs in annoyance. "Out of the way." The table scattered to the other end of the hallway.
"It's so dark in here." Thyra observed as she carefully followed her father. Why was there so little light in House Lungbarrow? Did her father always do everything in the dark? She shivered, hoping for her sake there were no Vashta Nerada around. "Can't there be a least a little more light?"
"It's always been dark and depressing." Braxiatel replied truthfully. "It's how my father wanted it. It has been like this for many, many centuries though neither my brother or myself have stepped foot in this House for a very long time. I'm surprised it hasn't been buried underneath Mount Lung yet. No doubt it will do soon with the whispers of the upcoming war."
Thyra snapped her eyes away from a painting of a woman who had very long ginger hair, hair so long it reached the floor of the painting and she read the painting title; 'Innocet' and Thyra knew she was a Cousin of hers somewhat. "War?" Thyra asked weakly, knowing she couldn't say anything about the Time War to her father at this moment in time. She didn't want to tell him. She didn't want to explain it to her father for she wasn't ready to tell and Thyra wondered if this was how her mother and father felt when people asked them to explain the Time War all the time.
"Don't be foolish Thyra. I know of the War that is about to happen and I know who it is against. But still, you cannot tell me any of it." He warned her before they entered what appeared to be the sitting room that unlike Donna's house, was very much like the rest of House Lungbarrow. It had large armchairs and tables, a book case built into the whole of a wall opposite the end of a grand and ancient fireplace that automatically lit up for them once they entered the room. "Sit." Thyra quickly scrambled to the nearest armchair.
At first, she struggled to get on it because it was so large but the arm chair seemed to have a mind of it's own and it buckled it's legs underneath for her to climb on and as soon as she sat down, it returned to it's normal height much to her surprise. The furniture in the TARDIS was never like this and she wondered why all the furniture in the House of Lungbarrow was so large and she wondered if it was like this all over Gallifrey.
"Would you like any refreshments?"
"Just some water please father." Thyra replied. Truth be told, she wasn't that hungry or thirsty. Her family had a big feast before they all got prepared for the ceremony and she was full from that and it was one of the only meals where her mother and father cooked everything themselves. All traditional recipes from Gallifrey.
"Very well. I will be a few microspans." He gave her a curt nod before he left her in the empty room.
Thyra wasn't quite sure what to make of House Lungbarrow. She knew for sure that the TARDIS is and will always will be her home but this, this was where her father and brother grew up as children. This was where her father's side of the family began and she briefly wondered what her mother's House, House Heartshaven looked like and wondered if it was more cheerier than House Lungbarrow.
Suddenly, she felt another presence in her mind coming towards the room and Thyra began to panic, wondering why her father was taking so long when the door opened and in stepped an elderly woman who stopped in the doorway and stared at her like a deer caught in the headlights as did Thyra who equally stared back at her.
The woman was old. Very old and Thyra knew at once she was not a Time-Lady despite the fact that Thyra could sense her still but Thyra knew she was a blood relative. The woman wore simple crimson robes and had short, grey hair that reached above her shoulders and grey eyes and the woman shook her head before closing the door behind her. "What is your Name young lady?" The woman asked softly, giving her a small smile as though she knew who exactly Thyra was.
"My name is Thyra." Thyra replied as she held out her hand in greetings. "Pleased to meet you."
The woman looked pleasantly surprised at Thyra's hand gestures and eagerly shook it, the woman's hand feeling warm and soft as Thyra looked into her kindly eyes. "It has been a long time since someone has done any human gestures to me. How do you know of them?"
Thyra fidgeted in her seat uncomfortably, wondering if she should trust the woman in front of her when Braxiatel walked back in followed by two tables. One table carrying refreshments and another table carrying a selection of elegant clothe boxes that were placed in neat rows.
"Over there." Braxiatel ordered, gesturing for the tables to move near Thyra and the tables quickly did so, being careful not to spill the drinks and he closed the door and he suddenly paused in his tracks as he saw the woman there before quickly hurrying towards her. "Mother? What are you still doing here?"
"Hello to you too my son." The woman smiled softly as Braxiatel stood near her and despite the fact that Braxiatel has regenerated, Thyra could see quite clearly the resemblance between mother and son. "When were you going to introduce me to your daughter?"
Braxiatel blinked, surprised at the fact she knew Thyra was his daughter. "She's not-"
"Do not lie to me my son. Save your lying for the politics because you are going to need them no doubt. Especially with what I've been hearing about Inquisitor Darkel." The woman told him sternly and Braxiatel sighed heavily before looking at Thyra, knowing there was no escape now. "Now, answer my question."
"She's not my daughter at this moment in time," Braxiatel carefully explained, knowing he could never lie to his mother no matter how hard he tried. He could lie to everybody else, but never to his mother. She always caught him out no matter what. "She's from the future and she's here to see into the Untempered Schism."
"From the future? But why are you not looking into the Untempered Schism in your time my child?" His mother asked, bemused as both she and Braxiatel looked at her before Braxiatel handed Thyra a glass of water. "The only reason I can think of for a child of Gallifrey not to look into the Untempered Schism in their own time is when Gallifrey-Oh." The woman's eyes widened and she swallowed, realization dawning on her and her hand was curled into a fist over her heart. "Does Gallifrey really fall?"
"I'm afraid it does." Thyra replied weakly before taking a sip of water. "Please don't ask me to explain. I'm not sure if I could."
"And your mother child? Whose she?"
"Someone you know very well Mother," Braxiatel gave her a coy smile. "President Romanadvoratrelundar of House Heartshaven."
His Mother didn't even look remotely surprised. "I always knew it was going to be you or Theta to be the one to be in love with her," She chuckled. She knew both her sons had a fling with Romana and she couldn't blame them. Romana was a very beautiful and intelligent woman, one who treated both of her sons kindly when most did not simply for their human background and she actually listens to her people. Something that not many Presidents would do as well as Romana. "And I've missed my own son's Marriage ceremony."
"Actually Mother...my future-self tells me we had Thyra out of wed-lock." His mother raised an eyebrow before she suddenly began whacking Braxiatel on the arm, making Thyra giggle as she watched her father try to get away from her. "Ouch! Mother, I'm a Cardinal for Rassilon's sake! Not a child! Honestly, there's no need to hit me." Thyra continued giggling, finding the situation very funny.
"Don't give me that excuse! You've had a child out of wedlock? You had a child before you and Lady Romana even completed the Mating process? You were always the good boy Irving Braxiatel. Now you are becoming almost as bad as your younger brother." She managed to stop whacking him, giving him a piercing glare. "What would your father say to you if he was around now?"
"Mrs Lungbarrow," Thyra told her shyly and she and Braxiatel looked at her, Braxiatel rubbing his sore arm as he scowled. "My mummy and daddy had little choice when they loomed me. It's not their fault."
"Explain."
"Well...you have heard of a fellow Time-Lord called the Master?" Thyra asked and they both nodded, both of them knowing the Master very well. "Mummy and daddy were captured and tortured by the Master on Earth for a whole year and he forced them to loom including me, 99 other children to make a perfect army to kill my parents. But...then the Master killed my brothers and sisters just at the end of the looming process when mummy and daddy finally defeated him by what he called the Toclafane who were in fact humans from the end of the universe. So it's just me now. I was the only one to survive the Toclafane's massacre. That, and I do have my younger sister Jenny who was created from a progenation machine on the planet Messaline during a war-zone." She grinned. "So technically it's only me and Jenny."
Braxiatel's mother sighed, knowing that from what her granddaughter has told her, her son and his Mate have both suffered a lot. First the destruction of Gallifrey, then the Master and their children. She snapped her fingers and a spare armchair came up behind her and she sat down in it, trying to process what Thyra has just told her. She looked at Braxiatel almost tiredly. "I was right. You are almost as bad as your brother."
Braxiatel chuckled. "Not quite as bad as him my dear mother."
His mother indicated towards the boxes on the table next to the refreshments and Thyra peered over at them. "What are all these boxes for?"
"These, I'll show you now." He grabbed one box to reveal a set of robes. One for Time-Ladies ladies and one for men. "Are a selection of wedding robes."
Thyra beamed up at her father's past-self. "Are you going to propose to mummy soon?" She began to feel excited. She couldn't wait to spread the word to her Aunties and Uncles! Was her father really going to propose to her mummy soon? Just when was he going to do it?
"My future-self, yes. But since Romana and I like to do things very traditionally, we do not have any wedding robes to wear for the ceremony and since Romana herself cannot go through the Time-Lock around Gallifrey, it's very hard for us to decide which ones she will like best. So, Thyra, I will let you chose the robes in which you may think your mother will like best." Braxiatel nodded and he put down the box back on the table before he carefully removed all the lids from the boxes and placed them neatly to one side.
Thyra jumped out of her chair before placing her glass back on the refreshment table as she carefully examined them one by one. She had to admit, they were all beautiful robes and she knew her mother would look beautiful in any of them before she came across the last one, feeling the fabric through her fingers and she knew that this was the one. She turned to her father excitedly. "This is the one." She told him firmly. Somehow knowing that this was the wedding robes that her parents should wear.
Braxiatel took the box of her and carefully placed the lid back on before storing it carefully in his pocket behind his robes. "Very well. I will take them back to the TARDIS."
His mother peered out of the window, noticing how dark it was getting before she turned back to look at her son. "It's time." She whispered before she quickly went to a draw in the cabinet near by and unlocked it before getting out a small box and she handed it to Braxiatel. "Take this."
Braxiatel stared at the box she held out in her palm, knowing what it was. "Mother, I can't."
"Please take it my son. I haven't worn the necklace since your father died and I have no desire to wear it again. I think it's time this necklace went to a new owner. You've already have the ring, why not have the necklace as well" She gave him a soft smile, putting the box in his palm and closed his protesting fingers around it. "Besides, I don't think your brother is going to get married any time soon now is he?"
"Thank you." He placed a gentle kiss on her cheek before storing the ring carefully away and looking at Thyra. "Come Thyra. You are ready, I take it?"
"I think so." She replied truthfully, brushing down her robes and making sure they looked presentable.
"Good. Will you see us out mother?" Braxiatel asked.
His mother nodded, a small smile placed on her face. "Of course. Though I hope you'll come and visit me again sometime soon. It has been very quiet in the House of Lungbarrow without you or your brother and all of your cousins running around the place." She commented as they made their way back through the same hallway as before.
"You do realise, you will have to wipe your mind of our visit after this?" Braxiatel enquired in a low whisper, watching Thyra trailing on ahead. "I can't risk any spies coming over and peeping into your mind."
"I understand. I just wish Gallifrey didn't have to end." His mother looked at Thyra sadly. "I can sense your daughter's suffering as she suffers in silence and I know she wishes to be on Gallifrey a while longer but alas, she cannot. Everything has to end otherwise nothing will ever get started."
"You have always been wise, mother." Braxiatel commented smoothly as they reached the door.
"I've learnt it from your father." She gave him a small chuckle before she looked back at Thyra. "Now you take care of yourself and keep your father in check in the future for me. Will you do that?"
Thyra bowed gracefully for her, remembering all her mother has taught her. "Yes Grandmother."
She straightened Thyra's collar and cap, making she looked perfect for her Untempered Schism ceremony. "There. You look splendid." Thyra merely smiled up at her warmly. "Now you best leave before anyone notices you." She pushed open the door for them and Thyra and Braxiatel stepped out into the Gallifrey evening.
"Thank you mother." Braxiatel gave her a curt nod before turning on his heels, Thyra trailing closely behind him. "I'll promise I'll see you very soon."
"I know you won't Braxiatel." His mother whispered as she watched her first born son and Granddaughter walk further away. "You never will come back for this place only brings you pain." She shook her head sadly before she crept back into House Lungbarrow, closing the door behind her firmly.
Thyra and Braxiatel walked mostly in silence towards the Untempered Schism. Thyra feeling more nervous and slightly giddy than ever, unsure how she was supposed to act. She wondered which child she would be; the one that became inspired? The one that went mad? Or the one that ran away? She knew her mother became inspired but as for her father, he never really said. She looked up at her father's past-self, desperately wanting to know. "Which child were you when you looked into the Untempered Schism?" She asked him quietly as they tread carefully through the fields of Gallifrey in the dark.
"Mmmm? Me? When I looked into the Untempered Schism, that was many, many centuries ago now but I became inspired. My brother, he ran away." Her father replied, reminiscing.
Thyra chewed her bottom lip as they neared the edge of the Citadel, the Untempered Schism looming even closer to them. "Is it painful?" She couldn't help but ask. She has asked this question many times to her parents, both giving her different answers each time
"It's a different experience for everybody. Everybody reacts in different ways. You will soon see for yourself." He looked at her just as they arrived at the Untempered Schism. He remembered how he looked into the Untempered Schism. To him, it was a painful experience but it had inspired him. It inspired him to become the Time-Lord that he was meant to be and he wouldn't have had it any other way.
Thyra glanced at it quickly with wide eyes, seeing how large it truly was as she saw the opening to the space-time continuum swirl inside. There were torches lit around it, making the silver leaves on the trees nearby looked like they were on fire.
"Thyra of House Lungbarrow and Heartshaven, you are hereby today presented to look into the Untempered Schism to become a fully fledged Time-Lady." Braxiatel spoke, his voice sounding pompous and filled with authority and Thyra knew it was her time to be serious. "Do you accept the full responsibilities of being a child of Gallifrey?"
Thyra straightened her posture, standing tall and proud as her mother would have wanted her to be. "I do."
"Do you promise to obey the laws of Rassilon and Lord President Romanadvoratrelundar to protect Time and it's people itself? To protect the people of Gallifrey and her sister planets?"
"I do."
"Then say your vows to Gallifrey."
Thyra took a deep breath, remembering how she would say this vow to her parents every morning when she woke up when she was little as it all came rushing back to her as though she had learnt it yesterday. "I swear to protect the ancient Law of Gallifrey with all my might and brain. I will to the end of my days, with justice and with honour and temper my actions and thoughts."
"Now stand upon the Seal of Rassilon." Braxiatel gestured to where the seal of Rassilon lay upon the floor near the Untempered Schism and Thyra did as he asked. "And look into the Untempered Schism."
Thyra tore her gaze away from her father and stared into the Untempered Schism, her eyes wide as she felt the rush of Time and Space themselves run through her blood. As she stared into it, she felt a storm whip at her feet and the leaves on the trees began to flutter and Braxiatel had a hard time of keeping balance as the storm around Thyra grew increasingly worse but Thyra was unfazed as though the storm itself was not hurting her.
Braxiatel looked at his daughter with curiosity as he held onto his head-collar as he watched the storm grow around Thyra. In a way, it was as though she was almost controlling it and Braxiatel knew he wouldn't be surprised if that were true. But how was it possible? In all the children he has taken to look into the Untempered Schism, none have ever reacted this way and he tried to keep steady feet, not bothering at trying to keep his robes neat and tidy with how bad the storm was going and he only hoped the security control department were not looking at this area on the computers.
Thyra felt the storm whipping around her as she stared into the space and time continuum. She felt her telekinesis and telepathic powers grow within her as she stared. She felt inspired. She felt herself go mad. Her left eye going astray wildly. Not only could she feel and hear the storm around her, but she felt as though she was the storm itself. She felt as though she could travel far and wide and do anything with the storm and felt as though she had complete power over it. She was the Storm and she knew soon there will be a reckoning.
Thyra felt as though she had been staring into the Untempered Schism forever, looking into a never ending abyss but she knew she was only staring into it for at least an hour before she felt a tap on her shoulder and she blinked unsteadily and the storm around her quickly disappeared as quickly as it came and she looked up to see her father standing there, his robes untidy from the storm. "It's over." He told her smoothly, straightening his robes as he looked at her with some sort of pride. "Well done little one."
Thyra couldn't say anything and she felt her knees buckle underneath her as she collapsed into unconsciousness but before she could hit the ground, Braxiatel caught her and held her in his arms, finding the fact that holding Thyra was a very comforting thing and for a brief moment, he wished the current Lady Romanadvoratrelundar who was busy ruling Gallifrey could see their daughter in his arms.
Lady Romana was pacing up and down in the TARDIS anxiously waiting for her daughter and Braxiatel's past-self to return. Her robes billowing behind her as she walked. She couldn't help but feel that something could go terribly wrong with Thyra's visit to Gallifrey. But she knew her daughter was in perfectly safe hands.
Jenny and Braxiatel were having a game of Drat cards, Braxiatel using his telepathic abilities to hold them together as they tried to build the large house of cards and Jenny was about to place the last card on top of the house when there was a bright blue flash and just as Jenny was about to place the last card on top of the house-Braxiatel lost his concentration and the card house fell down, making Jenny scowl before they turned to see Thyra and Braxiatel's past-self standing few near the console.
Romana stopped pacing and eagerly went towards them. "Well?" She asked abruptly, needing to know how Thyra's trip went. She had to know that everything went well as planned. That there hadn't been any spies following them or any enemies following their trails. She had been so worried about the safety of her daughter despite her knowing she was in perfectly good hands that she had been pacing up and down the TARDIS console non-stop ever since.
"She succeeded." Braxiatel's past-self replied with a smile and the Present Braxiatel, Jenny and Romana sighed with relief, Romana embracing her suitor tightly. "She is now ready to start her academic training." Jenny cheered for her sister, giving her sister a high-five.
Romana broke apart from her embrace with the present Braxiatel before holding out her hand for Thyra who eagerly took it and Thyra began to eagerly tell her mother and sister what happened-missing out the bits where her father wanted to propose to her of course.
The Past-Braxiatel turned to his present self, clearing his throat before holding out his hand. The Present-Braxiatel raised an eyebrow. "Thank you but I'm afraid I'm taken."
The past-self rolled his eyes. "No you half-wit. The painting."
"Ah yes. With me." He gave a curt nod to his past self and they walked past Romana. "And you do realize you've just insulted yourself?"
"Where do you think you two are going?" Romana asked, pausing the talk between her daughters as she glanced at the pair of them.
"We have some...matters to attend that concern the Braxiatel Collection." The Present-Braxiatel replied offhandedly and before Romana could question anything else, they both quickly went into the secret room and the past-Braxiatel locked the door behind him as the Present-Braxiatel unlocked the safe before carefully taking out Dali the Persistence of Memory painting and the paperwork with it.
The Past-Self gratefully took them before storing them away carefully. "Thank you. As always, it's a pleasure doing business with oneself."
The Present Braxiatel closed the safe and locked it once more before turning back to his past-self. "And you have my part of the bargain?"
"Of course. Thyra chose the robes herself for her mother and...I have something else." He took out the box of wedding robes and handed it to his future self before handing the box which contained the valuable necklace. "Mother says hello by the way."
The Present Braxiatel swallowed thickly, putting away the wedding robes before taking hold of the neat and dusty box the necklace was contained in and he blew the dust off before opening it and he swallowed thickly before closing the box and putting it on his desk. "That will be all. Business as always has been a pleasure."
The past-Braxiatel smirked. "One more thing before I go. Thyra."
"What about our daughter? You said she passed." The Present-Self turned his back on himself as he went to tidy up his desk.
"Oh she did. But there is a Storm within her that cannot be controlled." The Past-self replied almost warningly.
The Present-Braxiatel stiffened and he turned to look at his past-self only to find himself gone. Braxiatel stroked his moustache thoughtfully, wondering what his past-self could mean about Thyra having a storm within her. "I always did hate it when I did that."
It was a little while later and the TARDIS materialized inside the Torchwood hub once more. Braxiatel was the first to step out, followed by Romana, then Jenny and her fiancee Cline with Thyra coming out last-all of them still dressed in their Time-Lord gears apart from Cline and they were greeted by their human family.
Jack and Donna walked over to them eagerly, Wilfred sitting on the Torchwood couch with Luke, Sarah Jane and Toshiko who looked at them with wide eyes-all desperately wanting to know how Thyra did. "Well? How did my favourite niece do?" Donna asked, looking between the Time-family and she noticed how close Jenny and Cline were standing as well as Romana and Braxiatel. Donna had been dying to know how the ceremony went ever since Romana had given her the call that it would be taking place to day. She knew how much it meant to the Time-Lord's and now the ceremony had been completed, she wondered how the process went and what the experience was like for Thyra.
Braxiatel puffed out his chest, holding onto his head-collar proudly like the proud father he was with Romana smiling with pride as she held Thyra's hand tightly. "Thyra of Houses Heartshaven and Lungbarrow-has looked into the Untempered Schism and will now become a fully fledged Time-Lady."
The humans around them all began to whoop and cheered, all congratulating Thyra and the men slapped Braxiatel on the back proudly and Romana felt her hearts flutter with a sense of love and belonging.
Romana knew her home used to be Gallifrey, she thought as she observed the cheering humans and how Jenny and Cline looked at each other lovingly. But she realized now that her home was where her family was and to Romana, that was all that mattered. Where her family went-she went and Romana wouldn't change it for the world.
Note: The Past-Braxiatel is portrayed by Miles Richardson who is actually the original Irving Braxiatel from the Big Finish audios. His mother is the woman that appears in the End of Time.