Episode: A Journey in the Dark
Chapter: Many Partings [5/5]
Summary: Amy wanted to have a good time with her boys, one last trip before the wedding. Rory wanted a party to make up for his stag, something truly worth of traveling in space and time. A businessman wanted to find the saboteurs so work could continue… and he wanted his daughter back too. The Master wanted to get rid of those annoying Ponds so he could get back to figuring out a way to bring the Doctor back. Or the one where some people get what they want, others get what they need, and the time travelers only lose.
Rating: T
The door is still open, but the voices Koschei catches from the inside, while frantic, are civil. A moment later, when he's finally at the door, he catches Vastra gawking at all the equipment around, cradling some vials to her chest that she carefully leaves in a rack before she rearranges the machinery hesitatingly. Arthur is standing next to Rory, still unconscious in a bed that seems taken out of an actual 1880s hospital, while Flint dabs at the sweat on his daughter's forehead, lying on a second bed.
"Do you have everything you need for a cure?" he asks, startling them all, but focusing on Vastra, who hesitates before finally scowling down at the vials.
"No, I do not. I thought I took everything I needed, but I'm missing half of the required composts," she scowls, and there's a stabbing feeling deep in his chest at the memory of Amelia helping Vastra procure said composts. "I can use some of my own venom to synthesize an antidote, but it will take far longer to nurse her back to health. Fortunately, with this method I can use far simpler technology to restock on the antidote, so you'll be able to move on as soon as you drop us somewhere safe."
"Us?" Koschei repeats, frowning in confusion, and Vastra pointedly looks away from him, her scales darkening into a deeper green in what he assumes is a blush.
"You're a Time Lord. If there are more of us left, even if – even if my sisters are dead… I trust your word. I have committed crimes I will not apologize for, but I can make amends. And her…" Vastra looks over her shoulder discreetly, fondness and curiosity in her eyes as she observes Flint and his daughter. "She's different. She looked at me and didn't see a monster, unlike myself. In her, I saw only another ape, her hands stained with my sisters' blood. But she looked at me and saw I was lonely, long before I realized it myself. She granted me an equal standing. The least I can do to repay her is see that she recovers. And maybe… Maybe the paths that we each shall tread are already laid before our feet, though we do not see them," she adds, this time meeting Koschei's gaze, who simply nods without bothering to look into her words and leaves her to start synthesizing the antidote.
Arthur is eerily quiet when Koschei joins him at Rory's bedside, simply staring as the Time Lord looks over the lump growing on his only remaining companion's forehead. He'll live, even if he'll have a killer headache when he wakes up. Fortunately for him, Koschei manages to find some anti-inflammatory cream in one of the cupboards, which he carefully spreads over the bruise darkening his forehead, careful not to disturb his rest. The tears on his face are easy to wipe, leaving only some redness behind – for now.
"What's in your mind?" Koschei finally asks once he puts the cream aside, watching as Jenny turns in her fever dream to better feel her father's hand on her cheek.
Arthur stays silent for almost a minute, as if he hadn't heard the question, but finally his shoulders slump and he lets out a weary sigh.
"I just… Can't believe that this is it. All of the fear, Jonas' death… His killer is standing there right now, and I can't even blame her for it, knowing she was suffering my same pain many times more strongly than I did, with all of her people gone. It's just… Why couldn't this be simple? I never wanted to be a hero in a story, to accomplish great deeds or anything of the like!"
"Only a small part is played in great deeds by any hero," Koschei points out, but by the way Arthur's jaw clenches, that doesn't help.
"Still. I wish it need not have happened in my time."
"So do I," Koschei agrees softly, thinking of Theta and little Amelia and how Rory is going to feel when he wakes up, before forcing his thoughts past all that. "And so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us," he explains, and this once, Arthur's look is of interest as much as it is of confusion, with perhaps the slightest hint of hope in the mix. "It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us to take care of those years wherein we are set, nurturing and cleansing the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not for us to decide."
"I guess so," Arthur finally answers, meeting Flint's eyes when his employer looks up, before turning away. "I still don't know how I could be of help. All I have ever studied, all I learned in my lessons and my parent's bookshop…"
"The world is not in your books and maps. It is out there," Koschei interrupts, and Arthur turns to him in surprise. "Don't you think it's time you set out to do what you wanted to do? Find that, and everything else will come after."
And, with those last words, Koschei leaves Arthur's side so the man can ponder over his words, calmly approaching Flint once the man sits down on the chair next to his daughter's bed.
"I believe an apology is in order. And my gratitude. I did not believe in your wizard tricks, and when it finally dawned on me that you may actually be the genuine article, I thought you arrived too late to save my daughter. But you did not. It was late enough to make me realize things I had forgotten, or perhaps I had never known them at all, yet still early enough to return my little girl to me," Flint says calmly, but his voice is tired and frayed with more emotions than Koschei cares to decipher, holding onto Jenny's hand in a way that leaves Koschei both jealous and about to scream.
"A Wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to," he answers casually, his lips twitching into what in another timeline would've been a smirk, had Amy been around and Rory awake, sure they would have enjoyed him adding to the whole 'wizard' thing.
In another timeline.
"So it seems," Flint huffs, still so focused on Jenny that he doesn't notice Koschei's own emotional mess. "We are indeed fortunate to have met you, and to have you by our sides."
"I am with you at present, but soon I shall not be. I am not staying in London," he tells Flint, who finally jerks his head up to meet his empty eyes with his startled and dreading ones. "You must settle this affair yourselves, that's what you have been working towards," he adds, gesturing between the occupants of the infirmary, his voice loud enough that he has the attention of everyone conscious. "Do you not yet understand? My time here is over. It is no longer my task to set things to rights, or to help you do so. Not that you need the help. You have experienced enough, grown enough, that I have no fear in leaving you three to set arrangements for the future."
Arthur hesitates for a moment, looking at the other two to try and see what their opinions are. Vastra hisses and straightens, but after a look at the chemicals she's started to mix and prepare, she turns to Flint with pride and defiance in her eyes, daring him not to agree to Koschei's statement. And Flint, after a moment of clenched jaw and anger at past slights, turns to his sleeping daughter and lets all the resentment go to meet Vastra's eyes and nod, if a bit recalcitrant.
It won't be easy, but Koschei's sure they'll work something out.
Of course, that's when Rory chooses to wake up with a groan and some curse words slurred under his breath. Arthur grabs his hand before he can rub the bump on his forehead, and by the time he has managed to blink his eyes clear and focus on his surroundings, Koschei is by his side, expectant and fearful at once.
"Doctor? Where are we? What happened?" he mumbles, rubbing his eyes and carefully sitting up against the headboard with Koschei's help. "I remember finding Jenny, and a white light and… Did I get hit on the head?"
"Yes, you did," Koschei answers carefully, meeting Rory's eyes when he finally takes his hand off his face, his confusion clearing when he looks around and sees the others in the infirmary.
"Oh, we got there in time to save Jenny, didn't we? That's a relief," he sighs with a smile, relaxing and grinning at both Flint and Vastra. "And this is the TARDIS, right? I've never been in this room before… Did you have to carry me? I wasn't too heavy, was I?"
"Not at all," Vastra answers this time, lips twitching into something that can either be depreciating or proud.
Rory, being Rory, takes it as pride in her own strength, grinning again.
"Glad to know. I was afraid he'd had to drag me on the floor. He isn't exactly the tallest of the bunch," he adds, pointing at Koschei.
But while the others chuckle or relax at the cheerful words, Koschei feels something cold wrap around his hearts.
"What do you remember of-of before the tunnels?" he asks carefully, pushing down panic, and Rory blinks in surprise before scowling.
"That's right! You promised me a party and instead dropped me here! What a guide you are," he huffs indignantly, with irritation in his eyes but not true anger, never true anger.
Koschei's throat closes and, without a word or looking back when Rory calls for him—Doctor? Wait, I wasn't serious!—Koschei leaves the room and rushes to the console, grabbing onto it tightly as he accepts the TARDIS' crooning, holding onto her as he tries to figure out how to breathe and silence the drums in his ears—
He forgot her. Rory forgot Amy. Lamia said he wouldn't but he forgot and I can't bring Amy back without an anchor, without Rory's memories, but he forgot her and Amy is gone and—
A cool and raspy hand wraps around his wrist, ripping his hand from the console to rest it on a scaly temple—
Breathe.
Koschei gasps, the air flooding his lungs despite how little it has been, and with the next slightly larger gulp, he finally focuses on the pale blue eyes looking into his.
Breathe, Vastra repeats, her thoughts loud and clear, but her mind neatly organized and carefully hidden behind well-constructed mental defenses, with only the loud reminders for Koschei to breath being available to his panicked mind. Breathe.
"I'm breathing…" he manages to whisper after almost two minutes of this, and only then does Vastra let go of his wrist so he can withdraw from her mind. "I'm breathing."
"You were panicking."
"I had reason to," he snaps, turning away from her before covering his face with his hands, taking in another tremulous breath to chase away the last remnants of horror trying to drag him under once more. "I have reason to…"
"You saved lives today. One man who asked for death by trying to bring your own about is not worth your time. You acted in self-defense; you shouldn't torture yourself for it."
… It takes an embarrassingly long time to realize she's talking about Boyce, but when he does figure that out, Koschei drops his hands and straightens with a scoff.
"I know that. He is not… He's not what is in my mind," he answers, his anger dying quickly under the new wave of despair.
Amy is gone…
"It is not despair, for despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not. You should do not," she cuts through his self-loathing and grief, and Koschei can't help but straighten in surprise at her words. "I know that look in your eyes, for it was the same one I carried in mine. But know this – the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path, one we all must take. The gray rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it. White shores, and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise," she explains, ignoring the couple of whoa from Arthur and Rory, standing at the mouth of the corridor and listening intently. "Don't give up. Whoever you have lost, you will meet them again, in due time. But until then, keep fighting. It is what they would have wanted you to do."
Koschei looks into her eyes trying to find fault in her words or a reason why they don't apply to his situation, and realizes there are none. He will keep fighting to get Amy and the Doctor back, no matter how difficult such may seem right now, and he will take care of Rory in the interim. And when the day comes that he must die… Well, he better have a good tale by then, because he knows a black-haired little girl who will take nothing but the best of stories as price for his being late again.
He feels his lips twitch into something that may be the beginning of a smile, but while it doesn't grow further, Vastra seems to need no more to straighten with a proud purr.
"If this magic box of yours could deliver us to the surface, Mister Gandalf, I would be grateful if you could see us to a certain address. It is my house, empty for but some maids of mine who will speak no word of what they see if given the order. I believe I can procure all instruments Madame Vastra has need of to care for my Jenny with no difficulty, and she would be more than welcome to stay with us in the meantime," Flint calls from the corridor, where he has joined Rory and Arthur, and, huffing slightly and murmuring under his breath about not being a taxi, Koschei turns back to the controls.
"Alright, give it here and I'll see what I can do."
The TARDIS delivers, materializing in the middle of the living room, and after some hand-shaking, Flint, Vastra, Arthur and Jenny in the latter's arms, stand in the living room staring at Koschei and Rory, in the TARDIS door.
"How could we ever repay you for this?" Flint asks softly, and Vastra lifts her head, waiting for Koschei to speak so she can get to work on whatever he wants immediately.
However, Koschei huffs and shakes his head instead.
"I know where to find you. I'll come and collect when I have need of anything you could offer," he tells them, not sure if he's actually serious about his words, but all three of them nod nevertheless. "Don't get yourselves killed before that."
"Sure," Arthur laughs, grinning before his smile turns softer, more serious. "Any good advice for the future?"
Koschei thinks for a moment before deciding it is not worth it to check their timelines, instead leaning against the TARDIS and looking at each and every single one of them before turning to the red of the coals still smoldering in the fireplace.
Red like a little girl's hair, and like an apple with a smiling face carved clumsily into it.
"It is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keeps the darkness at bay. Simple acts of love and kindness," he tells them as much as he reminds himself, but when he finally looks up at them, he manages half a smile to send them off. "Don't forget that."
"We won't," Vastra promises while the other two merely nod.
"Well then, I wish you both safe travels, Mister Gandalf and Mister Rory. You will always be welcome in my home. Now, come along, Mister Tucker, Jenny's room is this way."
"Thank you, Doctor Gandalf and Rory," Arthur tells them hurriedly before following after Flint, completely missing Koschei's scowl and Rory's grin. "And for the last time, Mister Flint, it's Tolkien! Arthur Reuel Tolkien!"
Rory chokes on his next breath and Koschei has to pat him on the back a couple of times before he recovers his composure, though his eyes are still wide as saucers.
"Did he seriously say Tolkien? That was J.R.R. Tolkien's dad?! But I told him all about The Hobbit! And you kept quoting Gandalf and—Oh my God, did we seriously inspire The Lord of the Rings?!" he squeaks, dazed, and Koschei exchanges a confused look with Vastra before they both shrug.
"Come on, Rory, I think you've had enough excitement for today. Do you know where the kitchen is? There's a good lad, just go down and heat up some water, I'll join you for tea in a jiffy," Koschei coos, but Rory is too stunned by whatever Arthur's surname means to mind his tone, simply wandering into the TARDIS in a daze. "I think the poor guy needs a nap."
"Agreed," Vastra hums, and when Koschei turns to her again, she seems to grow shy for a moment before once more meeting his eyes with determination. "I hope you find what you are looking for. And remember, you have friends in this house, allies to call on to when the need arises. Do not forget us."
"I sincerely doubt I ever could," he answers honestly, and Vastra clasps his hand in a firm grip before she follows after Flint and Arthur.
As soon as she's out of sight, Koschei drops his smile and reaches into a pocket, drawing out a handkerchief-wrapped parcel that shouldn't have fit in there if not for the bigger-on-the-inside nature of the pocket itself.
He can smell the artron energy on whatever he pulled out of the crack even before he starts unwrapping it, that hint of something so familiar in it teasing him as much with hope as it does with dread, but finally alone, Koschei doesn't hesitate in unwrapping it.
It's wood. Blue frame, white pane with black letters. Edges ripped and burnt, as if whatever it had belonged to had shattered in an explosion.
Koschei's hearts stop.
Slowly, he takes a step further out of the TARDIS and, never looking away from the burnt piece in his hands, he turns around to face her, lifts the piece—
And his breath catches in his throat as the broken piece finds its place atop the undamaged version of itself.
POLICE TELEPHONE
FREE
FOR USE OF
PUBLIC
Advice & Assistance
Obtainable Immediately
Officers & Cars
Respond to All Calls
PULL TO OPEN
AN: This chapter shares its title with the sixth chapter of Book 6 of the Lord of the Rings, and yes, it is the last book, and the last half, of Return of the King. However, it isn't the last episode in that book. You can probably guess why I chose this one.
The episode title is the same as the fourth chapter of the second book of The Fellowship of the Ring, 'A Journey in the Dark'. In it, the fellowship travels to the gates of Moria, where they must deal with a creature in the lake in front of it, Gandalf eventually opens the doors of Moria by speaking the correct password, and they reach the tomb of Balin.
My apologies if the writing and/or continuity for this chapter is choppy or awkward, as it has been written in fits and starts and been erased, modified and shuffled around a lot. In short, writing this thing was Hell. Putting aside Real Life, I had to erase and rewrite this episode twice because it wouldn't behave, it kept getting stuck - and then, when it finally wrote itself, I had to take some time to see if that twist at the end was something I would be able to work with for the rest of the season. Turns out I can. And turns out Amy wouldn't hesitate to push her Raggedy Man out of the path of a bullet after all they've been through. All that about her being his babysitter was serious, apparently…
So, now that I've managed to get the chapter written and the future ones planned and plothole-proved, it's back to the adventures of the Raggedy Doctor and Ame-uh, that is, Rory Williams. This will be interesting…
Yes, Arthur is meant to be J.R.R. Tolkien's dad. He probably left a diary or something behind, since he died when Tolkien was a baby, or his Mom knew the tales well enough to repeat them to her sons. After this adventure, Arthur left the construction business and finally got that job at the bank, which then sent him to South Africa, where his two sons were born.
As for the Flints and Vastra… Well, their story contains spoilers. We'll see them again.
And yes, I know Vastra has an origin story with the Ninth Doctor in a comic (?), but I haven't seen that so I'm ignoring it. It's hard enough to keep up with the TV series continuity as it is without adding all the rest…