Episode 09: All that Glitters Part I
It was a cruelty of existence consistent throughout the whole of the universe, thought the Doctor, that human and Time Lord alike should be forced to always remember the past. For the past to shape who they were in the present. What they were in the present.
Miserable.
An explosion, a blaze of hell slashing out across the galaxy. A blaze of fire, like blood rippling through space and across time. The screams of millions, as an entire world was ripped apart before his very eyes.
Used.
A dark room, long in the past. A memory never returned to and never forgotten. A horrifying stranger. An indifferent family. A loss of innocence. Violation.
Frightened.
A little girl who would never know her father, except to watch him die, lying on the pavement just a block away from the home he would never return to.
Alone.
A man trained to kill, to be ruthless so that the rest of the free world might go on, trained to block the memories when they became to overwhelming for their carnage and darkness. A gradual hardening of the heart and soul.
Perhaps the universe would end because they, none of them, really wanted it to continue.
Are we doing this to ourselves, because we can not let go of the past?
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Rose is gone. King Aetes' guards have her," the Doctor said, his voice grave and pained. He looked away, his eyes falling on the dark, crashing waves of the Black Sea. "Every time she comes with me, I almost get her killed."
Eroica smiled, much to the annoyance of the Major, Jason, and the Argonauts, who were taking the situation very seriously. "The key word there is 'almost,' Doctor. And she chooses to come with you, after all. I'm sure you couldn't leave her behind if you tried!"
"So, let's get her back then," a strong voice declared from deep within the ranks of the Greek warriors.
"That sounded like a woman," the Major said, frowning.
The Argonauts slowly stepped to one side, to reveal the figure of a striking female warrior. She stood a foot taller than Jason, her long dark hair falling in thick ebony curls down her back. Her shoulders were covered in petal-shaped pieces of armour, thick leather gauntlets adorned her forearms, and a sword was fastened to her belt. She stared at them with a look of cool determination.
"Oh, Atalanta, of course. I'd forgotten about her," Eroica said after a moment's pause. "As you can imagine, she didn't hold my interest as much as some of the other Argonauts."
The Major glared at him. "Pervert."
Atalanta regarded them coldly. "Well? Are we going to stand here all day, or are we going to save your wife?"
The Doctor stared at her in surprise. "My? My wife—! No, no, Rose isn't my wife! Why does everyone think we're a couple?"
"You mean you're not?" Eroica asked, baffled. "I thought since what happened in Vers—"
"Well, what—is it written on my forehead?" the Doctor exclaimed.
The Earl looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. "Well, actually it is pretty obvio—"
"Alright, alright," the Time Lord sighed in defeat.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The crashes of armoured boots striking the soft marble floors of the fortress-castle rose like thunder, shaking the walls and pillars. The Major, Atalanta, and Jason took the lead of the party; Jason brandishing a sword, the Major using the strength of his fists to clear their path of Colchian guards.
A dozen of the brutal warriors swarmed upon them at once, screaming for blood. Dorian turned swiftly, bringing the sword Orpheus had lent him up in defence. The raw, brutal force of the Colchian's strike knocked him off balance, threatening to force the weapon from his grasp.
"The way these barbarians fight lacks the elegance and nobility of Renaissance fencing—"
"What do you expect? The Code of Chivalry?" the Major snapped back, delivering a killing blow to the guard's temple. There was a sickening crunch, and the man crumpled to the floor.
Eroica averted his eyes from the ghastly sight. He was normally better with a sword, but in this case—
Another of the barbaric warriors lunged for him, this one grabbing a deep handful of Eroica's lustrous golden curls and pulling the Earl off his feet. He couldn't help the scream that escaped his lips at the sudden sharp pain, and quickly twisted one of his wrists around to reach the thin dagger tucked into his belt.
A moment later, his attacker released him, screaming in pain and clutching his mutilated hand. Eroica straightened and shook out his mane with an air triumph.
Klaus, standing next to him, blinked in surprise. "I don't think I've ever seen you look so angry, Herr Dieb."
Dorian's only response to that was to sniff a little in disdain and toss his hair.
At that moment, the second assault hit them. The Major was knocked to the floor, wrestling one of the warriors, and two lunged for the thief. The Doctor yelled out a warning, but was forced away by another soldier. Jason and Atalanta were fighting back-to-back, fending off a group, the clanging cries of their swords reverberating off the castle walls.
Eroica jumped backwards, trying to avoid his attackers, but stumbled on the uneven stone flooring. One of the guards caught his arm in a bruising grip and slammed him into the hard stone wall. He tried to struggle, but a sharp blow to the back of his head seemed to knock all the strength from his body. The guard pulled his head back, and Dorian shuddered as he felt the edge of a dagger dig painfully into his throat. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly, a cold chill running through his body.
The next thing he knew, there was a muffled cry of pain and the weight of his attacker pinning him to the wall vanished. The dagger fell clattering to the floor, and Dorian dropped to his knees, shakily touching his unmarred neck.
When his eyes focused again, he saw Atalanta standing triumphant over the guards' bodies, her sword smeared with thick blood, and the slightest of smirks playing on her lips. "And you didn't want to bring a woman on the quest," she said to Jason.
"Ah—well—" the young leader of the Argonauts shifted uncomfortably at the sight of her blood-splattered armour and turned back to the maze-like halls of Aetes' palace. "We better hurry and find your wife, Doctor."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Let GO!" Rose yelled angrily, struggling against the iron grip of the Colchian guards. They had grabbed her just outside of the Argonaut's camp and dragged her back to the palace of King Aetes. The fortress-castle was monolith and huge, with gleaming walls of white marble and roofs of solid gold that blazed in the light of the sun.
But she hardly had time to appreciate the majesty of the scenery with the brutish soldiers dragging her inside.
"The King will be pleased," the captain mused. "Those Minoan bastards were altogether too arrogant in his presence. They need to be taught to respect their betters."
"Shall we send her back to them piece by piece?" one of the guards holding her sneered.
"Well, that would be a waste, wouldn't it?" the Captain smirked, leaning uncomfortably close to her.
Rose felt nauseated.
She stepped on his foot. Hard. The captain let out an angry roar of pain and the guard holding her released his grip in fright. Taking this as her one and only opportunity, Rose slammed backwards into her captor, knocking him off balance, and darted out of his reach.
Her heart pounding, Rose tore away from the mob of enraged soldiers, and began running down the long castle corridors. But the warriors were right on her heels, their hairy fists reaching for her. The hallway turned sharply just ahead of her, and she had the barest glimpse of long white robes and sombre-coloured veils before colliding with Princess Medea. Both women fell to the ground in an ungraceful heap.
Within seconds, Aetes' men had them surrounded, lances and swords drawn and pointed dangerously at Rose's neck. She looked up at them dizzily from the hard marble floor and groaned. So much for the escape plan.
Beside her, the Princess was picking herself up off the floor, fixing her displaced shawl and veil and straightening the long white gown that flowed elegantly down her slim figure. Rose saw the surprised look in those wide dark eyes when they fixed on her. "You…you were with—You are one of the Argonauts, are you not?"
"Well…I guess you could say that," Rose answered uncertainly, eyeing the cruel blades of her captor's swords uncomfortably.
Medea, who was following her gaze, immediately turned to the Captain with an angry glare. "And I suppose you brought her here, didn't you? Think you could impress my father by harassing the group we've just made a tentative peace with?"
The knights looked uneasily to their leader, who appeared startled by the Princess' sharp words. "But Lady Medea, they're our enemy! They intend to rob us of the Golden Fleece! They are invaders—Minoan scum! Enemies of your father!"
"I know," she said quietly, and her eyes, no longer looking at the Captain, perceptibly darkened. "Nonetheless, we are in a sort of truce at present. Your behaviour is a crime Zeus would not lightly dismiss, for they are, at present, our guests, and guests are sacred."
The warrior looked about helplessly for a moment, but finally bowed his head in consent. "Very well," and to the guards he said, "lower your weapons."
Medea nodded curtly. "Leave us now, I wish to speak with this girl."
The soldier's eyes flashed up, flaring with anger. "But my lady she must be—"
"Do as I say!" Medea's voice spoke with a sudden deep tone of command. The volume, unnaturally great, sent a chill down Rose's spine, and even the warriors, fully clad in armour and brandishing long swords, jumped and paled at the thunder that rumbled beneath her words.
Bowing hastily to their sorceress-princess, they dispersed.
Rose stood shakily as the soldiers left, looking at the Princess in surprise. "I wouldn't have expected a bunch of tough-guy warriors like that to be scared away by a princess—no offence."
Medea smiled at her wryly. "I am hardly just a 'princess,' Rose Tyler," she dropped the name from her tongue, clearly emphasizing that she knew it without needing to be told. "Surely you have heard that I am a great witch, a cousin, in fact, of the sorceress Circe?"
In fact, Rose did remember one of the Argonauts mentioning something about that, and frowned. "Listen, thanks for helping me out, but—"
"I do wish one favour of you…please," Medea spoke in a low voice, and removed her veil so that Rose was looking into the beautiful, though deathly pale face of the princess, framed by her sharply contrasting raven-black hair and red painted lips. "When you return to the Argonauts, you must tell Jason…" the Princess paused, looking pained and uncertain.
But Rose thought she knew what the princess was going to say. "You're in love with him, aren't you?"
Medea's eyes grew wide in surprise. "What? I—"
Rose placed her hands on her hips, smirking just a little. "Come on, admit it—you like him, don't you?"
"Oh. Well, I…" the Princess looked small and lost, all of a sudden the power of the witch was gone, and the uncertainty of youth was in its place. Her wide eyes looked sad, almost frightened, and she would not meet Rose's gaze. "What can I do? He is an enemy of my father. It is a silly thing, anyways, this childish love of mine."
"Don't say that!" Rose exclaimed, unable to keep from grinning in excitement. "I think it's exciting! Like Romeo and Juliet."
"Who?" Medea asked, looking confused.
Rose shook her head and continued: "And you can't keep your love a secret, or else you might lose your only chance for true happiness! Who knows what could happen? Don't worry—I'll tell him for you."
The Princess looked up at her, quiet and surprised. "That isn't what I wanted…"
Now it was Rose's turn to be confused. "It isn't?"
"No…" and Medea smiled sorrowfully. "You are very perceptive, Rose Tyler. I do love Jason, but it can never be. No, I do love him, but I can not betray my family and my country by acting foolishly on this childish emotion. What I wanted you to tell him is simply…to leave."
"To leave?" Rose repeated, astonished.
"Yes. When you get back to the Argo, tell them all to just…leave. Tell Jason to get away while he still can."
"But…"
"Please," the Princess looked at her, and now the pain and fear in her eyes was overwhelming. Rose felt the gravity of the situation, and her heart moved with sympathy for the witch who had scattered the Colchian guards, who had become a princess afraid of disobeying her father, who had become a poor frightened girl, right before her very eyes. "Please, you don't know the labours my father is planning on making Jason face!"
"What labours?" Rose asked quietly.
"There is a stranger who arrived at our castle only a few days ago. Guests are protected by Zeus, so of course my father was obliged to let him stay. But the King has taken an unnatural liking to this stranger—I mean, he doesn't know who he is, or where he comes from, but all of a sudden my father trusts him like his dearest friend and values his advice over the wise counsellors and high priests! But I can feel it…he is an evil man, and he is…different. Alien. He does not belong here!" the Princess shuddered and wrapped her arms around her chest tightly.
"He claims that he will give my father bulls which can breathe fire, with hooves of iron that will crush and destroy Jason! And my father intends to make that one of Jason's labours—to tame these monsters and have them plough the fields."
Rose was listening hard, concentrating on every word the Princess said. And, remembering the strange vision she had endured in the town earlier, she wondered if the King's 'mysterious' guest wasn't their own mysterious enemy. They would have to be on guard. "Medea—"
A muffled cry of "Rose!" cut her off, and the two girls turned to see five tall figures racing down the hallway towards them. It was the Doctor leading them, of course, and she couldn't help but smile affectionately at him.
"What are you doing here, Doctor? Come to rescue me?"
He looked surprised at seeing her unharmed, apparently having a pleasant chat with the enemy, and finally grinned sheepishly. "Well, yes, that was what I had in mind, actually."
"Please do excuse the intrusion, my lady," Eroica said smoothly to Princess Medea, bowing with the easy grace of an aristocrat. "I tried telling them to just go up to the front doors and knock, but you know how it is with these warrior-types. It's always 'storm this,' 'destroy that.'" The Earl sighed dramatically, although Rose could tell he was nearly giggling, and the Major was glaring at him in pained annoyance.
The Doctor seemed a tad embarrassed. "I was going to come alone, but—"
"But I told him I would not stand by while a Minoan maiden was in danger!" Jason declared loudly, and he stepped to the front of the party, dressed fully in his armour, his large shield displayed proudly at his side. He removed his plumed helmet, allowing his long golden hair to fall free.
Rose was on the verge of pointing out that she wasn't exactly a—whatever it was he had just called her—but realized the way Medea, standing slightly behind her as though hiding, was gazing up at him with an expression of longing and admiration, and decided it would be best to step out of the way.
She went to the Doctor's side and squeezed his hand tightly. He was grinning at her, as always, and she stood on her toes to give him a peck on the cheek. He looked startled. "Rose—"
"Ssh!" Dorian hushed them, nodding in the direction of Medea and Jason.
The two were left staring at one another; each, it seemed, in a sort of dumb surprise. "Princess Medea…"
"Jason…" she looked nervous, and glanced over Jason's shoulder to Rose. Rose nodded at her encouragingly. She looked back to Jason. "You need to know…my father plans on making you face fire-breathing bulls with hooves of iron that can tear a man to shreds. You must plough the field with them and sow dragon's teeth, from which a thousand armed warriors will grow and attack you!"
The Major snorted and rolled his eyes, Eroica glared at him.
Jason had suddenly gone quite pale, he, apparently, believed every word of it. Finally he spoke, clearly struggling to keep his voice calm. "That fleece is kept unjustly by an unjust king. And if I must go to my death tomorrow, in my attempt to reclaim Iolcus, then I will go to my death."
"No!" Medea gasped, looking terrified, and she trembled as she spoke. "No mortal man can attain the Golden Fleece—it is impossible! Even should you tame the fire-breathing bulls, the fleece itself is guarded deep in the forest of Ares, impossible to manoeuvre through! And then, there is a wall nine ells high, with towers and gates, and over the gates there is a stone wall with golden battlements, and there is a mad witch, and a dragon, and—"
"But I might still win the Golden Fleece," Jason interrupted, drawing close to her and gazing firmly down into her eyes. "If a wise and lovely maiden were to come to my aid." He held her gaze, and the Princess blushed and looked nervously away.
"But—but who can possibly face the bulls' fire-breath and fight ten-thousand armed warriors, and brave the dragon in Ares' forest?" she asked in a small voice.
And Jason took her hand and kissed it. "He who has your help, my lady."
The Major groaned. "This is the worst drivel I've ever heard in my life!"
Eroica looked annoyed. "You have no sense of romance!"
"If that's your idea of romance than all I can say is thank God."
The Earl rolled his eyes, Rose giggled despite herself, holding the Doctor's hand tightly. Things were finally starting to look up. Somehow, she knew that Medea the Witch would be able to help Jason. Sure enough Medea, her uncertainty apparently cast aside, bade them follow her to her private chambers in the castle's most Northern tower.
"You are right to think that I am powerful…" she said quietly, moving about the dark chambers, taking strange herbs from jars and clay pots that rested on old stone shelves, and on the floor all around a space that had been dug out for a fire. "I can make you a potion," she said, turning back to Jason so suddenly he nearly ran into her.
"A potion? You mean, like, medicine?" Jason asked, frowning in confusion.
The Major was shaking his head in disgust at the entire situation. "There is no such thing as fire-breathing bulls!" he scowled. "The things this king is threatening you with are impossible!"
"About as impossible as a time-travelling police box, I'd say," Eroica said, nodding and obviously trying very hard not to laugh.
The Major glared at him. Then he turned and glared at the Doctor as though daring him to disagree. The Doctor merely shrugged. Rose stood between them. "I don't know, I think we need to be ready for anything," she said.
The Major snorted. She glared at him. He glared at her.
The Doctor cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Rose is right, we don't know where are our enemy is, or when he might reveal himself to us. If he is here, I would expect him to be somehow caught up in the struggle between Aetes and Jason."
"Why?" Major Eberbach stated derisively, more than asked. "How could it possibly further his goal?"
The Time Lord shrugged. "Beats me, but his sort usually gravitate to where the power is and enjoy a good show."
The Major's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I have not forgotten the possibility that you and he may be the same person, Herr Doctor."
"Not this, again!" Dorian sighed, shaking his head in frustration.
"There!" Medea exclaimed, and the group turned to watch her pour a thick and steaming liquid into a vial and pass it slowly to Jason. He regarded the concoction dubiously. "Drink that tomorrow morning, and you shall be made invincible! The bulls' iron hooves will not tear your flesh, nor shall the fire of their breath burn you!"
The Major turned back to the Doctor. "That," he said, jerking his thumb in Medea's direction. "Is especially impossible."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
They spent the night back the Argonaut's main camp, on the shore below the city of Corinth along the coast of the Black Sea. A large fire was built up along the shoreline, with large stones surrounding it in a circle to keep the flames contained, and the sound of the waves rolling and breaking against the rocks a continuous rumble in their ears. The sky was black and deep by the time they returned from Aetes' golden palace, and the stars overhead were more brilliant and numerous, scattered overhead in a way Dorian could not remember ever having witnessed before. He sighed, the cool night air and sea breeze sharp and refreshing, brushing his hair back, over his shoulders. It seemed like a night for magic, for faerie tales to come true, when he could imagine and believe in Medea concocting her witch's brew, and a dragon curled in a deep sleep around the tree which bore the legendary fleece.
Rose and the Doctor had walked hand-in-hand all the way back to the camp, and now relaxed by the fire. The Doctor was stretched out on the rocky terrain, Rose curled against him with her head on his shoulder, her long hair falling over his dark jacket.
The Argonauts worked on around them, sharpening weapons, repairing armour, or simply sitting and talking about their adventures, and if they would ever get home to Iolcus. Dorian's smile was bittersweet. "I, too, am far away from my homeland," he said quietly to Orpheus, taking the wine that was offered him and sitting beside the musician.
Orpheus was silent a moment, his long dark hair falling over his face and onto the old worn cloak fastened about his shoulders. "Where are you from?"
"Far, far away…" Dorian sighed, craning his neck back to look up at the millions of stars scattered there like diamonds. He was tempted to stretch his arms up and steal them all.
The minstrel nodded soberly, drawing a lyre out from beneath his cloak. He arranged the instrument on his lap, but did not play it, merely ghosted his fingers above the taught strings, as though it helped him to think. "You are very sad, and that is not the only reason."
"No…" the Earl said softly, closing his eyes. "I had to fall in love with the most confusing man in the universe. He's hated me for years, and then all of a sudden he kisses me, but then he acts as though nothing's happened and goes back to yelling at me again!"
"I see…" Orpheus murmured softly.
The first few notes were so faint he wasn't certain he was hearing them or imagining them, above the cackle of the great fire they had set up, and the crashes of the sea and wind. But the notes grew louder as he concentrated on them, crisp sharp notes, sweet notes, cutting through the other noises until the small lyre was able to drown out the rest of the universe, the melody rising and falling, twisting and turning, lulling slowly and gently and deeply.
The wind died down, and the fire dulled its intensity, and the sea became quiet. The stars shone brighter, seeming to pulse in and out of the dark sky in accordance to the notes of the lyre. And as Dorian stared up at them, he felt himself, his spirit, being drawn up into their radiance, their brilliance, flying among them, feeling their presence.
When Orpheus stilled the lyre, Dorian turned his head away, wiping the tears from his eyes. "Thank you…" Dorian whispered hoarsely, despite himself, smiling shakily at the musician.
Orpheus smiled kindly, he placed the instrument with care at his feet, and turned to face Dorian. In the moonlight, Eroica could see the Argonaut's skin was tanned dark from his adventures at sea, his face was handsome, his eyes dark and kind. "You are the one who calls himself 'Eroica,' yes? But in the darkness now, you shine like Apollo."
To avoid commenting on that, Dorian drained his wine goblet in one rather undignified gulp. He usually enjoyed ego-stroking compliments and flirtation, but not tonight.
"You know, a beautiful man such as yourself need not spend his life pinning away for one stubborn oaf."
He had to smile at that. Not many people had the courage to call the Major an oaf, even well out of earshot. Just great, he thought, the one who wants me isn't the one I want.
Orpheus was leaning closer to him now. He smelled of the ocean, and the fire, and the wind and the night. He was beautiful, and an appreciator of the beautiful in the universe, as his haunting music had proven, and in another life-time, Dorian might have leaned towards him, and accepted that kiss, and all of the wonderful things that would come after it…but not now. Not after everything he and Klaus had gone through. Were still going through.
He only just begun to raise his hands to pull away, when—
"SHEIβE! You—You Gott verdammtt! You PERVERT!" Somehow, the Major sounded even angrier than when Eroica flirted with him. The roaring yell was causing the rest of the Argonauts to turn and look at them, and Dorian, in an uncharacteristic act of self-consciousness, felt himself blushing. "SCHWUCHTL! DEPP! WICHSER!"
Orpheus seemed unsure whether to defend him or run away, and thus remained seated very, very still beside him. Dorian winced under the volume of the Major's voice, very close to putting his hands over his ears.
"No, Major, you have it all wrong—"
"IDIOT! SCHWEINEBACKE! PERVERT!"
"No! For once I actually wasn't—" But it was useless, nothing he was saying could possibly be heard over the German's bellowing. Well, fine. Two could play at that game.
The Earl pushed himself to his feet, and strode up to the Major so that they were standing toe-to-toe, then he took a deep breath, and yelled as loudly as he possibly could: "BE QUIET!"
Klaus stared at him like he'd lost his mind, but was startled into silence, a rare occurrence if ever there was one, thought the Earl with a wry little smile. He expected the Major to growl at him, or hit him, or at least make some annoyed comment along the lines of 'since when do you shout?' But nothing came. The German's mouth twitched, as though he wanted to say something more, but didn't. Instead, he turned on his heel, the trench-coat flaring up in the wind behind him.
"Verräter!"
Dorian reached out and grabbed his hand. Klaus tried to jerk out of his grasp, but Dorian tightened his grip, digging the heels of his feet into the dirt and holding the Major there with all his strength. "Since when do you call me a 'traitor' for flirting with another man?"
The Major fell still, and silent. For a long moment, they stood frozen that way, neither man moved or spoke. Klaus did not even seem to be breathing. The cold night wind moved over them, and the waves crashed and broke against the shoreline. Dorian released his hold on the Major's arm and moved to stand in front of him, but the German would not look at him, would not meet his gaze or acknowledge that he was there. His eyes had a strange distant look. Dorian felt a pain deep in his heart.
"Major—Klaus—whatever you think—"
"Shut up!" the Major snapped bitterly. "I always knew everything you said was a lie!"
He could only stare, wide-eyed with confusion and disbelief as the Major pulled away from him and began to walk away, into the shadows, the darkness. For a moment, he felt as though the whole world had collapsed. Nothing made sense anymore. "I don't understand," he said softly, staring at the roaring fire, and the black night and the stars. "Klaus…?"
It was on the grassy cliff, overlooking the camp, and the ocean, and the stars, that Dorian found him. He was standing, as tall and stern-looking as ever, gazing out over the churning sea as though it was an enemy he was preparing to attack, the wind knocking his long raven-black hair into his eyes.
Dorian approached cautiously, unsure of how the man should be approached. "Major…I don't understand what's wrong."
"Of course you don't, you're an idiot," the Major said simply. The anger was gone from his voice, as much as the anger was ever gone from Iron Klaus' voice, but he still did not turn or look at the thief.
For a long while, they stood in silence.
"I…" he sighed, trying to think of what to say. For once, there nothing. The stars were reflected in the ocean, tiny pin-pricks of light scattered among the turning waves. The wind was cold. "…You hate me, don't you?"
"Ja, of course. You know that," the Major answered roughly.
Dorian felt his heart sink. He shouldn't have hoped for anything else, but still…those words stung.
"But…." the Major continued, and Dorian could see he was lighting up a cigarette. "But, I hate everyone. In the entire world, everyone hates everyone else. The other so-called emotions are just masks, or fantasy, or…"
For the first time he did look at Dorian, carefully, contemplatively. It was a look the Major had never regarded him with before. And Dorian felt his eyebrows creasing together. He almost wanted to cry, although he wasn't sure what for. The Major was acting…unlike the Major. It was the end of the world, then, wasn't it?
Klaus took a deep drag off his cigarette and turned back to studying the ocean as though it were a battlefield he was commanding. "But…but you can't hate everyone, Major," Dorian said quietly.
The Major smoked for a moment, before responding in a level, emotionless voice. "I hate…I hate my mother, for dying when I was a baby. I hate my father, for trying to raise me into someone he could be proud of. He'll be dead too, soon. I hate my idiot Chief, and my idiot subordinates, and my superiors who are even stupider than my subordinates. I hate our enemies, and I hate our damn incompetent allies. I don't think there is a God, but if there is, I hate him the most of all."
Klaus' voice sounded so cold when he said this, so empty. Dorian shivered, he bowed his head a little, allowing the curls to fall in front of his face. He didn't want to see the Major when he was like this. It was too personal. It frightened him in a way he could not express.
"I don't know…I don't hate you, Major."
"But you don't love me, either. Do you?"
The way it was spoken, such odd bitterness, Eroica shivered.
"Because if you did…"
"If I did…?"
"I wouldn't know what to do anymore."
A heavy sigh, and the Major flicked his cigarette away into the wind.
Dorian could only stare.
"I wanted to finish this…mission. Without you knowing. It would have been easier for all involved. I could have gone back to my life…without…having to think about it, much," he spoke slowly, as though every word was a struggle.
Taking a shaky breath, Dorian moved to stand beside him on the cliff, close enough to reach out and take his hand. The wind was biting and sharp. "What are you trying to say, Major? I don't understand. I don't—"
"I don't hate you," the words were spoken gravely, with a dead sobriety to them and a weight that increased their meaning, their depth, and breadth. "Dorian."
He shivered.
The Major turned on him so quickly he had no time to prepare. A hand like iron grabbed his forearms in a bruising grasp, pulling the thief around so roughly that he was knocked off balance, and stumbled over his own feet as he was pushed into Klaus' chest.
For a second he couldn't see anything, and felt only the overwhelming warmth of the Major's body pressed against his own. Then there was an arm winding tightly around his back, trapping him firmly in place, and another hand slid up to his chin, guiding Dorian into…
The kiss was deep and harsh, it seemed raw, if a kiss could be such, brutal and pilfering, but for the heat—oh the heat, the warmth was divine, coursing through every inch of his body, burning down to his feet and sending electricity through every strand of hair. He felt himself moaning from deep in his chest, and the arms holding him tightened, the hand that had been at his neck, now slipped through his thick hair, tangling in the curls.
The feeling was more intense—more complete—more overwhelming, than anything Dorian had ever experienced before. The night-time was shattered, and they were engulfed in a blazing, burning fire. Their bodies pressed so tightly together, it was painful and the most exhilarating pleasure all at once. When their lips parted, the Major did not let him go, but held him there, which was good since Dorian wasn't certain he could stand, his legs felt like water.
When was the last time anyone had ever had such a profound, intense, overwhelming effect on him? Oh…never. He buried his face in the crook of the Major's neck, and felt the faint brush of lips graze his forehead.
"Darling…" he didn't know why his voice broke when he said it. He didn't know why he was crying. "Love..."
But, somehow, the Major seemed to understand, and did not let him go.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The next morning, the group set out for King Aetes' palace, again. This time, all of the Argonauts followed them, their weapons and armour ready lest the Colchian's spring a trap on their party. Dorian knew that wasn't likely to happen, and strode along confidently at the head of the party with an enthusiastic Doctor, a laughing Rose, and…the Major. Everything was going to be different between them, now, Dorian thought. They hadn't spoken to each other since last night, although the Major hadn't exploded at him, either.
The Earl's spirits rose as the magnificent golden roofs of the great castle came into view, rising up against the clear blue sky and blazing like fire in the sunlight. It was magnificent. It was more beautiful than he had imagined while reading the stories as a child. And all the better now that he could truly appreciate it, without having to worry about fending off bloodthirsty warriors. He laughed. It felt good. Good to laugh again.
Rose was smiling widely, her arm looped through the Doctor's, and the Major walked by his side, as calm and stern as ever. The sun overhead was warm and bright. Everything was as it was supposed to be. Life was good.
The Colchian soldiers stood all around the palace, and lined the hallways where they entered, but made no move towards hostility today. When they reached the grand throne room, the Sun King sat in his throne, regal and grand, his jewelled crown and sceptre blazing gold. Medea stood at his side, her dark veils covering her face, but her eyes met theirs and she had a look of cool determination about her.
At the King's other side stood the cloaked figure they had seen the day before. He stood perfectly still, watching them, though they could not see his face. Dorian saw that Rose, the Doctor, and the Major were all regarding the figure warily.
Jason stepped forwards, squaring his shoulders, he regarded the king evenly. "I have come for the Golden Fleece, that by rights belongs to my people, as you know," his voice filled the hall, eliciting angry murmurs and gasps from the soldiers, servants, and court assembled.
King Aetes, however, smiled horribly, his lips curling up to reveal cracked and yellowing teeth. "I would be happy to give you the Golden Fleece, young Jason. Provided you complete the simple tasks I request of you. As we agreed." Aetes' tone made it painfully clear that the tasks were going to, in no way, be simple. The king continued: "First you must yoke to a plough two of my bulls, and sow the field with dragon's teeth. From the dragon's teeth will grow an army of undead warriors, whom you must destroy."
Jason swallowed, he looked nervous, but Medea nodded to him. Slowly, he removed the glass vial containing her elixir from his cloak and drank it. The brew bubbled thick and frothy as it poured from the vial, and as soon as he had finished it, Jason's fingers trembled, and the glass tumbled to the stone floor and shattered. Dorian watched the warrior balk and stumble backwards, his legs seized in sudden violent trembles and his chest heaving.
"She's poisoned him," the Major said in a low voice. "To help her father."
"No!" Rose exclaimed. "She wouldn't do that!"
Sure enough, as they watched, Jason straightened, albeit shakily, breathing deeply, his hands clenched into tight, pale fists at his sides. His skin had taken on a deathly hue, the white-grey of a corpse. Dorian felt a sense of revulsion seeing it, and unconsciously stepped backwards, stumbling against the Major. To his surprise, Klaus didn't snap at him or shove him away.
"I am ready to face the bulls, now," Jason told the king in a loud voice, his eyes steely grey.
The man in the black cloak bent low and whispered something into King Aetes' ear. The King smiled coldly at Jason and the Argonauts and nodded, gesturing to the armed guards. "My men will escort you to the field."
They assembled in the large grassy fields behind the palace. The Argonauts watched nervously, assembled among the King's royal guards, and Eroica and the others stood with them, shielding their eyes from the harsh sun and watching everything carefully. The cloaked figure had vanished, and reappeared at the far end of the field, leading two giant animals in heavy chains.
As they drew closer, Dorian realized the giants were the bulls that Jason would have to face. They were incredible, hideously mammoth creatures that dwarfed the humans, larger than the bulls he had seen at the Running of the Bulls, and unnaturally angry beasts. Their eyes were glowing and bloodshot, their hooves glistened like steel and tore the ground to shreds beneath their enormous bodies. And—was that smoke seeping from the great quivering nostrils?
Dorian gasped.
"Ja, they are big," the Major nodded. "But not fire-breathing, I see."
As soon as the words had left his mouth, the cloaked man unchained the animals, and they lunged for Jason, their hooves ripping the dirt from the field in a thick cloud, a wretched scream sounding from their throats that made Dorian cringe and cover his ears. "They don't sound like bulls!" he shouted over the roaring, grating noise.
Jason, meanwhile, stood terrified, frozen, in the middle of the field, the monsters crashing towards him. "He'll be killed!" Dorian shouted, leaping out into the field and running to where the boy stood, frozen in shock.
"IDIOT!" the Major cursed, as Eroica reached Jason and tried to push him out of harms way, only to find that the Argonaut's skin had become as hard as a stone statue's. And now the bulls were racing towards both of them.
The thief let out a yelp of surprise as he was tackled and knocked to the ground as the bulls loomed over them, kicking their hooves in the air and snarling, which was, altogether, not a thing bulls were known to do. The hooves past over them, and Dorian felt thick muscular arms holding him down, out of harm's way. "You idiot, always trying to get yourself killed!" the Major hissed in his ear. Eroica shivered at his closeness.
"Major! Eroica!" the Doctor called from the safety of the royal guard.
The bulls roared and screamed over them, hooves flashing. The beasts struck Jason, who stood over them, and Dorian screamed, but the hooves did no damage, leaving the youth's skin unmarred, not even knocking him off balance. The realization of his powers finally seemed to be dawning on him, and Jason looked up at the beasts slowly, a smile forming on his lips. He clenched one hand into a fist and pulled back his arm…
He smashed the side of the first monster's skull with his fist and the creature wheeled backwards, roaring angrily, it's bloodshot eyes narrowed on Jason. It stamped the ground with it's hooves and seemed to snort, thin licks of flame creeping from the corners of its mouth.
"What—"
"Impossible!" Klaus shouted. "Gott verdammt!"
The fire sprayed out of the creature's mouth in a thick funnel of red and orange, flames spewing out like a flamethrower, covering Jason from head to foot. Dorian turned his head away as the second bull rounded on them.
"You have to DO something!" he heard Rose shouting at someone, and caught a glimpse of the blonde girl tugging at Medea's arm as he and Klaus rolled out of the path of the crashing iron hooves.
"They should not have gone in there. I made no potion for them!" the witch snapped.
As the tunnel of flames dissipated around Jason, they could see that he stood, still unharmed, and the Argonaut lunged for the bull's throat. But the second animal was still intent on attacking Dorian and the Major. The beast reared above them, screaming, and the flames began to spray from it's face.
Klaus lifted his arm to shield Dorian's face, but the flames stopped before they reached them, halted by thin air and breaking apart as though an invisible bowl shielded the two men.
"You did it!" Rose exclaimed excitedly, but Medea had gone deathly pale, and her entire body trembled and shuddered.
"I can not keep…shielding them…for long…" the witch gasped.
But Jason was already twisting the neck of the bull he had tackled and grinned as he heard a sickening snap. However, he found that the flesh did not give way to muscle and bone, but rather to sparking silver snakes and glassy metals the likes of which he had never seen.
Dorian shouted to the Doctor: "They're ROBOTS!"
The Doctor had run up to the very edge of the field, his eyes wide with shock. "Robots!" he repeated. "Robots!"
"Doctor, what are you going to do?" Rose cried.
"Well," he replied, turning back to her with a grin. "As usual I just so happen to have a brilliant idea!"
Jason stepped back from the bulls in shock, he had never encountered anything like them on his travels with the Argonauts, and didn't know how to fight them. He looked to Medea for help, but the witch had overexerted herself shielding Klaus and Dorian, and had slumped to the ground where Rose was holding her.
The Doctor took one look at the situation, and jumped at the robot bulls himself. He had the Sonic Screwdriver out of his jacket-pocket and leapt on the bulls back, clinging desperately to the thick neck. Eroica, meanwhile, pulled out the Screwdriver the Doctor had given him. The Major looked at him with some concern. "Do you know what to do with that?"
"Um…no, not really!" the thief squeaked as another tunnel of fire shot towards them and they rolled out of the way.
The Major snatched it from him and began running his fingers over the small controls. "How do you know what you're doing with it?" the Earl demanded.
"I'm the 'machine maniac,' remember?" he replied without cracking a smile.
Eroica let his head fall back against the dirt. Either this would work, or they'd be torn to shreds and burnt to a crisp. The Major rolled to his side and then managed to push himself off the ground, towards the bull's wildly bucking shoulders.
Dorian couldn't watch. He squeezed his eyes shut and listened to the sound of the hooves pounding against the earth, the snorts and screeches of animals that were not animals, and the muffled cries of the Major and the Doctor as they tackled them.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Ow," the Doctor remarked as he landed on the ground with a slight thud. He began dusting off his jacket as Dorian cautiously peeked open his eyes. The Time Lord grinned. "I must say, a mechanical bull isn't exactly the most original thing—"
The Major, meanwhile, leapt down from the bull he had been wrestling with. Both creatures now stood trance-like and docile before them. Dorian struggled to his feet, his once-lovely outfit now completely ruined. The Doctor could see how disappointed he was.
Jason merely stood stalk-still staring at everything with the expression of a lost little boy. "Well, Jason, you better yoke these beauties to the plough, and sow those dragon teeth." The Doctor pointed out, trying to helpful.
Jason shook himself as though to rid himself of a trance and nodded, approaching the bulls cautiously. Slowly, he took the heavy beam and attached the blade to the animals. He began to work the field as the Doctor and his companions recuperated.
"Where did the man in the cloak go?" the Major asked, narrowing his gaze at King Aetes and his guards.
The Doctor followed his gaze. "There he is!"
The man was fleeing the scene, trying to get through the thick tangle of Aetes' soldiers and guards, stumbling and tripping over his own disguise.
The Major pulled his gun automatically. "Major, no! You can't use a gun in this time period!" Dorian cried.
The Major snorted and pulled the trigger anyways. There was an explosion of red were the bullet struck the man's leg, and, with a cry of pain, the figure collapsed. The Major strode over to him and ripped the cloak away. He and the Doctor both stared in surprise.
"Ristead!"
"That's Ristead?" Dorian asked. "The man we went to steal from before? The one responsible for building the Spartens and supplying them to the other Doctor?"
"Speaking of Spartens…guys…" Rose grabbed his arm and turned him back in the direction of the field. The "dragon's teeth" Jason had been ordered to plant were indeed growing into warriors, tall muscle-covered Spartens! They had no weapons, but they didn't need any, their corded hands were large enough to crush a human's skull in two.
"Not again!" Dorian exclaimed.
"This was part of his plan—to use you to lure us here and finish us off!" the Major roared at the terrified Ristead, grabbing the alien by his shirt collar and hauling him to his feet, wound and all. "While he went about using that Solar Crystal to finish his machine that will compress time!" With a vicious shake, he dropped the alien again and began to pace. "Verdammt! Nothing's going right! I told you all we did not have time for this escapade!"
"I think we have more pressing things to worry about at the moment, actually!" the Doctor exclaimed as the Sparten-warriors closed in on them.
"Damn it!" Klaus roared, drawing his Magnum again before the Doctor or Dorian could stop him and firing at their enemies. The Spartens weren't only after Jason, it seemed, they began to attack King Aetes' guards as well.
The King howled in outrage. "Ristead, you've betrayed me!"
The Doctor could do nothing but watch as one of the gargantuan hulks grabbed one of the Colchian guards, crushing the man's skull with its bare hands. He turned away, and quickly grabbed the sword from one of the nearby guards and brought it up to shield himself from the Sparten's blows. "What are we going to do?" the thief cried, stumbling backwards under the force of the attack.
"Damned if I know!" the Major shouted in response, firing at the Spartens. It no longer mattered much, since most of the Colchians and the Argonauts were in the process of deserting the King's palace, and the screams and chaos swallowed up even the echoing shots of the Magnum.
"Where's Rose?" the Doctor asked suddenly, trying to peer through the mass of the crowd. "Rose!"
"Doctor!" Dorian grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the path of one of the Spartens.
They tripped and fell to the ground, and caught sight of where Rose was huddled with Medea amid the turmoil. Atalanta and Orpheus were both fighting, trying to defend them, but the Spartens were overwhelming and much too powerful for the Argonaut's primitive weapons. After a few blows, the swords broke against the Spartens' chests, and daggers and lances could not cut their flesh. As they watched, one of Ristead's creations struck Atalanta and she was sent tumbling to the ground like a limp doll. Orpheus stared at the monsters helplessly, seeming to realize that it would be equally useless to try and fight back, or to run.
"No!" Dorian shouted. Beside him, a discarded bow had fallen, and arrows were scattered in the mud around the dead soldiers. He grabbed one and strung it on the bow, letting it fly into the back of the Sparten's neck.
"That isn't going to hurt it!" the Major snapped at the thief.
But it did distract the creature. The monster turned to see what enemy was attacking it, and began lumbering towards Dorian and Klaus. Orpheus was trying to help Rose stand. "Come on, we have to get out of here!"
"I'm not leaving Medea!" Rose shouted.
The musician appeared to consider arguing, but changed his mind when more of the Sparten warriors advanced on them, dragging Atalanta to her feet, they ran. Rose screamed and threw herself over Medea's unconscious form.
"Rose!" the Doctor shouted.
The Major shot the warrior that advanced on them, but it continued to lumber forwards, a smoking pit in it's skull. Dorian took the Sonic Screwdriver back from him, trying to remember what the Doctor had done on the space shuttle when they had stolen the Solar Crystal.
The Doctor was trying to force his way through the throng of panicked courtiers, dying soldiers and Spartens, the monster looming above Rose still far away, when a hand grabbed his leg and he stumbled. One of the Colchian guards was grabbing at him desperately, blood running down his arm and pooling around him, his chest slashed open beyond repair. The Doctor looked down at the man in horror, but jerked his head back when he heard Rose's scream, in time to see her fall.
"ROSE!" he screamed, breaking away from the dying men and running towards her. The Sparten had already moved on to other victims, it's task accomplished, when he reached her crumpled form.
She lay in a heap overtop of Medea, and he pulled her up into his arms, sinking to his knees as cold disbelief coursed through his chest. "Rose…it can't be…this can't be happening…"
He brushed the long strands of silky golden hair from her face, he felt the smooth, cool skin beneath his own coarse fingertips and shuddered. She wasn't moving. She wasn't breathing. He hadn't been able to see what the Sparten had done to her, he didn't know what those creatures were capable of doing. She didn't appear to be wounded, but she was…she was…
He ran a hand across her face, the flesh was already turning cold, the colour draining into grey. Her head lolled back, falling over the curve of his arm, her eyes shut gently, the long golden hair spilling onto the dirt.
Rose was dead.
To be continued in Episode 10: All That Glitters Part II