Chapter Notes:
Latin
Nine = Novem

Chapter 9 - The Summer Games

The furore over Lady Cassandra, the assassination plot, and Rose's part in uncovering it carried on for weeks. As predicted, she was hounded wherever she went for the first couple of weeks. Overnight she had a meteoric rise through the social ranks and suddenly became someone of import, that people wanted to talk to and be seen talking to.

Rose's friends were just as astonished as everyone else and a little miffed that she had not told them. Their irritation did not last too long though, and they were drawn into the adventure and conspiracy of it all.

As the weeks went by new intrigues and fresh gossip took hold of the court and Rose's popularity dwindled with the changing seasons. Not that she minded, it was a nice reprieve from the constant questions and incessant whispers that had followed her.

The beginning of summer heralded the Summer Games which occurred at the start of summer every two years, alternating years with the Winter Festival. The Games incorporated many exciting tournaments and sports, an extensive market, and, by and large, was a week of entertainment and leisure. The main events were held on the first day which lasted from dawn until dusk, and often well into the night; with smaller events throughout the rest of the week.

The Games were held in the Royal Pasture, in the many acres of royal meadows and grazing land which lay to the east, between the city and the mountains.

It was a clear day, the sky a bright blue and the sun was pleasantly warm when Rose and the others made their way down to the Pasture, marvelling at the spectacle as they went. The city was decorated with banners and flags, and freshly potted plants adorned every surface. The city's inhabitants were laughing and joking, all talking about the Games as they headed out to the fields. Men rode by on fine thoroughbred horses, colourful and elaborately clad women ambled passed, and excited children ran about. The sheer number of travellers, traders, participants, and fellow spectators was astonishing.

Clara insisted on picnicking away from the crowds of people who poured into the Pasture and through to the cordoned areas. The group found the perfect spot sitting on a small grassy hill in the shade of giant fire oaks; a white cloth was spread on the ground on which baskets of food were unpacked.

Excitement hummed through the air, as the group laughed and joked and waited for the Games to begin. From their position on the hill they would have a good view.

A hush descended on the crowd nearest the central arena and spread outwards as the King, standing on a dais, welcomed everyone and officially opened the Games.

Rose had not seen the King since the afternoon Lady Cassandra was arrested and she was quite glad that she and the others were some distance away. She did not feel up to being scrutinised once more by those blue eyes.

The archery competition was first. It was a quiet yet tense affair that had competitors and spectators alike hushed and focused. It ended in a nerve-racking tiebreak with the two finalists matching each other shot for shot until at last someone made a mistake, and a winner was declared.

The archery contest was followed by the ring toss, an entirely different and more raucous event with much whooping and hollering from the crowd.

A little later there was a flurry of excitement when Captain Jack Harkness appeared on his dappled grey stallion. The Captain, as always, set many female and a fair few male hearts a flutter. The arrival of the Captain heralded the beginning of the jousting completion which was quite terrifying - the speed of the charging horses, the crunch of wooden lances splintered on contact with metal armour, and the tumble of a fallen competitor and the gasp from the crowd. Captain Jack, unsurprisingly, came first but second place was awarded to a young newcomer from the far east of the kingdom.

There was a short break after the jousting to give the attendants time to set up for the horse races.

Taking advantage of the pause in activity Rose tilted her head back slowly and surreptitiously, directly into the path of the afternoon sun. Though it was not the most lady like, Rose loved the warmth of the sun on her face, the burst of patterned radiance behind her closed eyelids, the brush of the breeze on her warm cheeks.

It took her back, for a few seconds she was a girl again, in her father's arms, giggling like mad while he spun her round and his laugh washed over her.

Memories she had long thought forgotten resurfaced. How long ago her father had talked to her of the Capital while the sat nestled together on the couch in his study. He had talked of great houses, elaborate tournaments and events, a sparkling palace, and the noisy, chaotic workings of the royal court, where the fates of men and women and kingdoms were decided. He had spun fanciful stories of her own future visits to the great city, and she had eagerly absorbed every tale.

But he had died before his stories could come true and Rose's busy and happy childhood had been abandoned for more sober duties of helping to run a household with little money.

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It had been some time since Novem had been on a day out and had had a chance to relax, and the Summer Games provided a perfect opportunity to do both.

He stood on a dais in a cordoned off area and scanned the crowd, watching over those gathered. It was a time for all - courtiers, ordinary folk, and servants - to enjoy.

He was lost in his thoughts when a flash of blue caught his eye.

It was a woman, dressed in a delightful light blue dress with a wide sash of darker blue tied in a bow at the back, on which his attention focused. He looked at the sunlight glinting on the golden strands of her hair. Her feet were tucked under her dress, her face upturned to the sky. She looked about twenty, though her figure was mature. She was watching the riders who had just entered the arena causing much excitement among the crowd.

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The races were exhilarating. Rose and the others watched with bated breath as the competitors hurtle at breakneck speeds around the track towards the finishing line. Not all participants made it and there was one terrifying moment when a rider fell off his mount and right into the path of the other competitors. There was a collective gasp from the crowd and more than one person cried out when the rider fell, but thankfully he managed to escape with only minor injuries.

The day moved on and it was soon time for the equestrian vaulting. Riders entered the arena and preformed a selection of daring and acrobatic manoeuvres and an assortment of synchronised performances. Some even brought their dogs in to the arena and performed tricks and feats of agility.

Lastly, it was the turn of the acrobats who performed many incredible feats as well as death-defying aerial stunts eliciting many gasps and cheers from the crowd.

There were a number of accidents throughout the day, the medical staff always on hand to treat and in a number of cases stretcher off the injured. Martha, given her medical knowledge, elaborated quite a few times on what was happening when anyone asked.

At the other side of the arena areas were being set up for the animal shows, including horses, dogs and all manner of livestock, that would be held over the following days.

The main part of the day ended with the conclusion of the acrobatic show and with the highlight of the day over the group left the shade of the fire oaks to wander through the market.

The stalls stretched out across the field in a seemingly endless manner. There were tables overflowing with delicious and succulent smelling foods from every corner of the kingdom and even beyond its borders, stalls with all manner of trinkets, and others with rare and exotic plants.

Rose stopped to admire a particularly fine and delicately crafted pocket watch with the intricate circular script of ancient Gallifrey carved on the outside. She spent a bit too much time admiring the watch and soon lost track of the rest of her group.

Rose meandered through the boisterous crowd trying to find Martha and the others when she stopped suddenly, a cold prickling feeling trickling down the back of her neck. She turned trying to figure out what had caused her to feel uneasy. It did not take her too long.

A broad-chested man stood not far from her, watching her too intently. As soon as Rose apprehended him, he broke his gaze, acting as if he had not been starring at her. Then a flurry of guests streamed between them and he vanished into the crowd. Only after he had disappeared had Rose realised who the man has been. It had been the King.

Perplexed by the strange encounter with the King, Rose wandered aimless around the stalls and ended up quite literally bumping into Larry causing much laughter from the group.

The first day of the Summer Games ended late in the evening when the setting sun forced many activities to stop. The night was young though and while the games had finished for the day the festivities and merriment had not. Where once there had been an arena there was now a dance area with many tables and benches encircling it and even more places to eat and drink at. Torches and fires were lit and soon the entire Pasture was flickering in the fire light. Spontaneous rounds of singing broke out and an outbreak of dancing soon followed.

Rose did not see the King again that night but a number of times she felt the same tingling at the back of her neck, like she was being watched.

After a long yet highly enjoyable day the group decided to retire for the night as the merriment began to turn to drunken rowdiness.

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It was a week after the Summer Games before Rose and Martha found the time to properly meet up with each other again. The pair strolled down the tree lined path in the gardens each enjoying the summer sun.

From their brief encounters in the intervening days Rose had noticed that Martha had been in an unusually cheerful mood and Rose strongly suspected that it was a who, not a what, that was behind Martha's good mood.

"Martha?"

"Hmm?"

"Has someone caught your eye?"

"Wwhat?" Martha faltered, becoming suddenly quite flustered. "What makes you say that?"

"Oh, I do not know. Maybe your persistent good mood, the near constant smiling, or perhaps it is the humming."

"Humming, what humming?"

"Well there has been an inordinate amount of humming coming from you. Ask Sally if you do not believe me."

"Oh. Well, there is someone."

"A beau?"

"Well, no, not exactly. We have only met four times. I mean, he has not said anything, but I do like him and...oh I do not know!"

Rose looked curiously at her, a glint in her eyes. "Martha, what is this? You aren't enamoured with him after just four encounters, surely?"

"Yes," she laughed at the idea. "I am indeed enamoured."

The pair lapsed into friendly silence before Rose gave Martha a wistful smile, "It has been too long since we last did this."

Martha laced her arm through Rose's. "I think we have both been so busy that the time has just slipped by. But I am very glad to see you now."

"So, tell me more about this beau of yours," Rose teased.

"He is not my beau," Martha tried to counter but the side eye Rose gave her had them both falling into a fit of giggles.

"You must stop stalling and tell me," Rose said excitedly, her eyes widening in anticipation.

"Well," Martha went on conspiratorially, a pleased grin on her face, "He is very tall and handsome."

"Of course."

"He moves in all the right social circles and goes to all the parties."

"Yes..." Rose smiled at her with inquisitive eyes.

The women had stopped their slow little walk around the gardens and gazed at the assortment of trees and shrubbery.

"He is been making eyes at me for quite some time now. And at the last ball we danced."

"Oh Martha," Rose whispered as she clasped Martha's hands in hers. "That is wonderful. Do I get to know his name?"

Martha shook her head with a somewhat shy expression on her face. "No. But he should be attending Lady Jones' ball next week and I will introduce you then. Alright?"

"Oh alright. You can keep your beau secret for now." Rose grinned at Martha as they linked arms again and continued their walk.

They remained in companionable silence for some time before Martha spoke again in a curiously sober tone. "Rose I observed something interesting a number of weeks ago at the last ball we attended together."

"How Sally and Larry only danced five dances together?" Rose asked facetiously, trying to defuse the unexpectedly serious tone Martha had adopted.

"No." Her friend's brow furrowed.

"Ohh, let me guess again. You observed ... the immense amount of alcohol consumed by the Duke of Manhattan?"

Martha rolled her eyes. "Well, I did notice that. I would wager he did not feel the best the following morning. But that was not what I meant. I observed the King, and he was watching you very closely."

Rose was taken aback by the statement but quickly recovered. "I dare say he was only curious because of the assassination plot. I mean, it is not every day a young Baroness foils an assassination attempt, is it?"

"Mmhm," Martha mused, thoroughly unconvinced.

"Martha, you cannot be serious!" Rose admonished with a smile.

"I am just saying what I observed, that is all. If that observation happens to lead to a certain conclusion that is not my problem," Martha said with a cheeky grin.

"Oh, you are incorrigible!"

While she had refuted Martha's words at the time Rose had spent a number of days mulling over what Martha had said to her about the King. Back and forth her mind had gone from outright dismissing the notion to hesitantly considering it, especially after the encounter at the Summer Games, and then back to dismissing it.

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Lady Harriet Jones' house, set in high up in the affluent Eastern District, was glowing with light from so many torches as the carriage drew up outside.

A liveried footman stepped aside as Rose and her friends made their way into the marbled-floored hall. Entering the drawing room, they paused, and Rose's eyes swept the assembled guests dressed in their finery, the ladies beautiful in fashionably cut silks and satins and the gentlemen in impeccably tailored suits.

The room was decorated with delicate ivory coloured material with a blue-and-bronze design, the colours reflected in the upholstery and the heavy curtains that hung on the windows and the expensive rugs that covered the floor.

"Rather splendid, is it not?" Rose said, still not quite believing she had managed to be invited to a ball at Lady Jones' home, so far out of her social circle as it was.

"As usual," Sally answered. "It is what you expect at Lady Jones' affairs."

The room was aglow with the dazzling radiance of myriad candles. Soft music could be heard in the background and for those guests who sought entertainment two adjoining rooms had been set aside for gaming.

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Novem saw Rose the instant he entered the hall.

Jack followed the King's gaze, interest lighting his eyes when he saw the delightful object of his friend's attention. "Is that absolutely divine creature Lady Tyler?"

"I believe so," Novem drawled drily. He knew exactly who it was, and Jack knew too but teased him anyway. How could he not remember the woman who had helped thwart an assassination attempt against his person? At the time he had been grateful but ultimately unconcerned about the woman who had help save him, she was a Baroness, and he was unlikely to see her ever again. However, time and again he encountered her from afar and very quickly she had begun to pique his interest.

"She was raised by her mother, her father died when she was young. He left them in a bit of an awkward situation, financially speaking. Fortunately, they managed to make it through those hard times. Lady Tyler is all the stronger for it. She is also an excellent horsewoman."

Novem tuned a baleful eye on his friend. "You seem to be extremely knowledgeable about Lady Tyler, Jack."

"I have had one or two delightful conversations with her."

"Then that explains it. However, I am not remotely interested in Lady Tyler." Turning his back on Rose he smiled at Donna and began walking towards her, abandoning a bemused Jack.

Later, Novem's eyes were drawn once more to Rose, the light of the chandelier bathing her in a golden glow.

He was staring at her, he realised, but he could not help himself. Hers was a dangerous kind of beauty, for she had the power to bewitch a man with a flash of her green eyes.

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Having been aware of his presence for some time and feeling his razor-sharp gaze on her, Rose stole perplexed and surreptitious glances at the King. His tall, athletic frame was resplendent in black jacket and trousers, similar to the ones he wore at his birthday celebration a year previous. In contrast, his shirt and neckcloth were dazzling white. He looked unbearable handsome. He also looked utterly bored.

Glancing across the room at the King, Rose watched him prowl among the courtiers. He seemed to radiate barely leashed strength and power. There was something almost primitive about him, and she felt that his elegant attire was nothing but a front, a civilized guise concealing the fact that he was dangerous and powerful.

Rose was surprised at his presence at the ball, particularly given his apparent boredom. And so, it was with even greater astonishment that Rose saw him making his way through the crowd towards her. She could have sworn she heard Martha whisper, "Told you."

He was not coming over to her, she thought. That would be ridiculous. And yet there he was coming closer and closer to her. She watched him, transfixed.

The King bowed to her, "It is a pleasure to see you again, Lady Tyler. May I enquire after your health?"

Rose curtsied, "I am well, your Majesty. Thank you for asking. And you, your Majesty?"

"I am well also."

There was a brief and awkward pause, Rose was not sure what to say or do. This was not how she had expected the evening to go. Why was the King even speaking to her?

"Lady Tyler, if you are not otherwise engaged would you do me the honour of sharing the next dance with me?"

"Wha-?" Rose choked out. What had he just asked her? She had surely misheard. She must have. There was no way that he had just asked her to dance. Her mouth hung open inelegantly and her mind struggled to find the words to form a coherent sentence.

Before her brain had consciously found those words, she spoke, hearing herself but not being in control of what she said. "Yes, I thank you."

The King nodded his head in acquiescence and offered her his arm and, in somewhat of a daze, Rose took it.

Had she just agreed to dance with the King? She had, hadn't she? Oh Goddesses, have mercy on her!

As the pair entered the dance floor there were hushed murmurings all around the room, whisperings which only grew louder when the music began, and the King and a Baroness held each other close for the dance.

He hands were warm and his arms which held her were strong. He moved across the dance floor with an assuredness that she herself did not feel. She felt as if she were dreaming. He was so big and yet slender, his torso tapering away from his shoulders. It made her feel so petite to be next to and held by someone of such considerable physical presence. Up close there was an intensity about him that crackled through every movement, every lingering look.

They danced in silence for some time before the King broke it. "Are you enjoying your time at the palace?" he enquired politely.

"In some ways," she said, almost sighing. Was she to waste these few precious moments with the King in polite nothings? Yet he did not look as though he was really interested in her answer. "I am certainly glad to see the palace and it pleases my mother that I am here."

"Your father died some years ago, I seem to recall?"

"Yes, during the plague. I was so young I did not understand properly but it hit my mother quite badly. Things were very difficult for several months after. We were ... we were not left in comfortable circumstances." She did not want to sound as if she was complaining so she added, "But everything has worked out, I am here, and my mother is quite happy."

"I am glad that it has turned out well for you."

Rose looked up at him, puzzled, his words and body language were at odds. Was he really happy for her or was that the politeness speaking?

Novem met her gaze with one of surprising intensity, "Truly, I am."

"Thank you," Rose breathed as the dance ended and they came to a stop, the King still holding her close.

Coming to her senses and becoming aware of her close proximity to the King's broad chest, red hot heat flooded through Rose's body. She quickly disentangled herself from his arms and curtsied, "Thank you for the dance, your Majesty."

The King nodded. "Good night, Lady Tyler, it has been a pleasure," and with a small bow the King melted into the crowd and disappeared from her sight.

Bewildered and flustered Rose stood rooted to the spot for some moments before the glances and whispers of the courtiers around her jolted her into self-conscious action.

Snaking her way around people, she eventually came to the doors that led out to the terrace. Stepping out she crossed to a low wall and placed her hands on it for support, breathing hard. The terrace was dimly lit with the rest of the city illuminated in the distance and she did not see the tall dark-haired man, his features in shadow, quietly conversing with Lady Harriet Jones until it was too late, otherwise she would not have ventured outside.

Her sanctuary broken by the seemingly ubiquitous presence of the King, Rose retreated back into the ball and to the safety of her friends who reined in their teasing over the King's dance when they saw her discomfort.

The group left early, the continuous whispers following Rose and the absence of Martha's beau put a damper on the evening and it was decided by all to call it a night. It was a decision Rose was eternally grateful for.

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