A/N: I hate this chapter. Like, i really hate this chapter. and if it didn't introduce Torchwood, I would have simple not included it. unfortunately, I needed the contrast between Torchwood's opinion of the Doctor, Rose and Annamae.
A/N 2: A little more sprinkling of clues on Annamae's past.
Chapter Sixteen: The Wolf
The Doctor was plotting their next cause to the 1970s. He wanted to go to a concert of Ian Dury. Rose was with him in the console room while I was taking the time to have a nice relaxing shower. Following the incident with Cassandra, I had sat in the library with the Doctor for a little while before I fell asleep. When I woke it was to find myself in my bed, with a breakfast tray on the bedside table and a note.
Once I had eaten the delicious breakfast of banana pancakes the Doctor had left me, I headed to the shower. Normally I didn't spend more than five minutes showering since they rarely stopped, but I took this time to relax my muscles under the warm water. Once I was sufficiently relaxed, I climbed out of the shower and headed to the wardrobe to see what the TARDIS had gotten for me. I raised my eyebrow at the selection of dresses that were there.
"So not the 1970s then?" I questioned with a smile, gentle running my hand over the doors. "You taking us to the 1800s, beautiful?" I asked with a smile. The TARDIS hummed a happy confirmation in my head as I selected one of the dresses. It was similar to the one that I had warn when we went to see Dickens, but this one was more purple then blue.
Once I was ready, I headed to the console room in time to hear the tail end of the Doctor's conversation with Rose.
"1979. Hell of a year. China invades Vietnam. The Muppet Movie. Love that film. Margaret Thatcher. Urgh. Skylab falls to Earth, with a little help from me. Nearly took off my thumb." As the Doctor was talking, he grabbed his coat and left the TARDIS. I rolled my eyes and followed them. "And I like my thumb. I need my thumb. I'm very attached to…" the Doctor finally noticed the soldiers on horseback who were pointing a gun at him and Rose. "My thumb….1879. Same difference." The Doctor shrugged as Rose and the Doctor both put their hands up. I stepped outside of the TARDIS and raised my hands as well.
"You will explain your presence. And the nakedness of this girl." The soldier demanded with a Scottish accent.
"Are we in Scotland?" The Doctor asked, his accent automatically taking on the Scottish twang. This reincarnation of the Doctor regularly changed his voice when talking with others. Sometimes just for a couple of words, sometimes for longer depending on the reason why he had done so.
"How can you be ignorant of that?" the Soldier asked like the Doctor was an idiot.
"Oh, I'm, I'm dazed and confused. My wife and I've been chasing this, this wee naked child over hill and over dale." The Doctor answered, quickly spinning a tale. "Isn't that right, ya timorous beastie?"
"Och, aye! I've been oot and aboot." Rose said, putting on a terrible Scottish accent that caused me to roll my eyes in horror.
"No, don't do that." The Doctor told her with a frown.
"Hoots mon." Rose responded.
"No, really don't. Really." The Doctor shook his head.
"Will you identify yourself, sir?" the soldier demanded.
"I'm Doctor James McCrimmon, from the township of Balamory. This is my wife, from London town." He motioned to where I was silently stood at his shoulder. "I have my credentials, if I may." The Doctor motioned to his pocket. At the man's nod he pulled out the psychic paper.
"As you can see, a Doctorate from the University of Edinburgh. I trained under Doctor Bell himself." The Doctor said proudly, like a true student of a renowned professor would have been.
"Let them approach." An upper English accent came from the carriage that the soldiers had been guarding.
"I don't think that's wise, ma'am." The soldier cautioned.
"Let them approach." The voice repeated.
"You will approach the carriage, and show all due deference." The soldier lowered his weapon and led them over to the carriage.
The footman opened the door to reveal the imperial widow, dressed in black as was her custom since the death of her husband. Immediately, I dropped into a curtsey, not wishing to offend the proud queen of England.
"Rose, My Lady, might I introduce her Majesty Queen Victoria. Empress of India and Defender of the Faith." The Doctor introduced, bowing slightly in acknowledgement of the queen's authority. He didn't do it regularly, but Victoria was one of the rulers that he admired.
"Rose Tyler, Ma'am. And my apologies for being so naked." Rose said, blushing slightly as she offered a slight bobbing curtsey.
"I've had five daughters. It's nothing to me." the queen waved off. "But you, Doctor. Show me these credentials." The queen ordered. He handed over the psychic paper. "Why didn't you say so immediately? It states clearly here that you have been appointed by the Lord Provost as my Protector."
"Does it? Yes, it does. Good. Good. Then let me ask - why is Your Majesty travelling by road when there's a train all the way to Aberdeen?" the Doctor questioned.
"A tree on the line." The queen answered.
"An accident?" the Doctor questioned, a note to his voice suggesting that he didn't believe his words.
"I am the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Everything around me tends to be planned." The women answered, raising her head slightly.
"An assassination attempt." The Doctor nodded, understanding what she was saying.
"What, seriously? There's people out to kill you?" Rose asked shocked.
"She's the queen of England, dear sister." I answered for the queen. "She has had several known attempts on her life to date. It does not surprise me that rebels continue to try and take her life."
"Indeed, I'm quite used to staring down the barrel of a gun." The Queen agreed imperiously.
"Sir Robert MacLeish lives but ten miles hence. We've sent word ahead. He'll shelter us for tonight, then we can reach Balmoral tomorrow." The head soldier explained.
"This Doctor, his wife and his timorous beastie will come with us." The Queen ordered.
"Yes, Ma'am. We'd better get moving - it's almost nightfall." The soldier suggested.
"Indeed. And there are stories of wolves in these parts. Fanciful tales intended to scare the children. But good for the blood, I think. Mrs McCrimmon would you care to join me?" The Queen questioned.
"It would be an honour." I responded, curtseying. Turning to the Doctor I kissed him lightly on the cheek. "I'll handle the backstory. Don't say anything else about our past until I comment." I ordered him before accepting his help into the carriage.
"Drive on!" the queen ordered once the door was shut. "If I'm not mistake, you have a London accent?" the queen questioned as the carriage started moving.
"Yes, my queen." I answered, shifting my skirt slightly so that it sat more comfortable on the carriage bench.
"And yet, your husband is from Scotland?"
"He travelled for business and education," I explained.
"How did you meet?" the queen asked curiously.
"He saved my life. I had found myself cornered by bandits and he came across the scene. Although not a fighter, my husband's mind is great and he was able to get me out uninjured. I haven't left his side since."
"How very courageous of him." The queen said with a sad smile.
"If you don't mind me asking, my queen, how did you meet your husband?" I asked carefully, aware that I could be over stepping my bounds since Prince Albert had died 1961, nearly 18 years ago.
"It was May 1836, and I had yet to take the throne. Albert was one of the two people that my uncle wished for me to marry." The queen said fondly in remembrance. "He was so handsome; his hair the same shade as my own, his eyes large and blue, and he had the most beautiful nose and a very sweet mouth with fine teeth. But it was not just his outward appearance that attracted me, but also his charm of countenance, his expression and his educational and intellectual words."
"He sounds like a truly amazing man, my queen." I told her softly.
"He was," the queen agreed softly, her eyes distant as she remembered happier times. Unknown to herself, she was talking aloud about the memories she had of her husband to this woman that seemed so calm and at ease around her. Most unusual considering her station.
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It took nearly two hours to arrive at the House they would be staying at. The footman helped the queen out of the carriage before helping me down. The Doctor offered his arm once I was on the ground and I gladly took it. It had been most awkward travelling with the queen.
The House had a stone engraving above the dual doors identifying it as Torchwood House.
We were greeted at the door by a nervous young man dressed in a suit, and what appeared to be the servants of the house, all of them bold and men, from what I could see.
"Your Majesty." The man in a suit greeted with a bow.
"Sir Robert. My apologies for the emergency. And how is Lady Isobel?" the queen greeted politely, as she noted the lack of the lady of the house when it was traditional for the lady to be the one to greet guests.
"She's indisposed, I'm afraid. She's gone to Edinburgh for the season. And she's taken the cook with her. The kitchens are barely stocked. I wouldn't blame Your Majesty if you wanted to ride on." Sir Robert said, his eyes shifting nervously to the bold servant at his side. It seemed that the Doctor and the Queen both missed his unease since neither of their postures or facial expressions changed.
"Oh, not at all. I've had quite enough carriage exercise. And this is charming, if rustic. It's my first visit to this house. My late husband spoke of it often. The Torchwood Estate. Now, shall we go inside? And please excuse the naked girl." The queen waved to where Rose was stood.
"Sorry." Rose muttered, blushing slightly at how out of place she was.
"My sister, young and rebellious. With our father's death, it falls to me and my husband to teach her the ways of a lady before a husband can be found. I'm sure in time we'll find her a man kind enough to balance out her wild, curious nature." I explained before the Doctor could open his mouth and sprout some nonsense about her being a feral child.
"Thinks she's funny but I'm so not amused. What do you think, Ma'am?" Rose asked turning to the Queen. I lifted an eyebrow slightly, confused by Rose actions. She wasn't normally so belligerent.
"It hardly matters." The queen dismissed. "Shall we proceed?"
"So close." Rose muttered to the Doctor who rolled his eyes as he led us after Queen Victoria.
The Doctor paused when the head soldier issued orders to a few of his men. "Makerson and Ramsey, you will escort the property. Hurry up."
"Yes, sir." They agreed, taking a small locked box from the carriage and carrying it into the house.
"So what's in there, then?" the Doctor asked curiously.
"Property of the Crown. You will dismiss any further thoughts, sir. The rest of you go to the rear of the house. Assume your designated positions." The head soldiers said.
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"This, I take it, is the famous Endeavour." The queen said as they entered a massive observatory which had an equally as large telescope.
"It's beautiful." I breathed in amazement, moving forward to admire the instrument. I always had an interest in stars, and by consequence telescopes which allowed us to look at them in greater detail. I didn't know that something of such complex design had existed in this time.
"All my father's work. Built by hand in his final years. Became something of an obsession. He spent his money on this rather than caring for the house or himself." Sir Robert admitted.
"I wish I'd met him. I'd like him. That thing's beautiful. Can I?" the Doctor motioned towards the telescope which I was gentle running my hand along one of the wooden curves that had been carefully handcrafted to make it. The craftsmanship used in each detail of the telescope was almost artistically refined – like it was designed to be a show piece.
"Help yourself." Sir Robert gave his permission.
"What did he model it on?" the Doctor asked, observing the mechanism of the telescope more in depth then I was doing.
"I know nothing about it. To be honest, most of us thought him a little… shall we say, eccentric. I wish now I'd spent more time with him and listened to his stories." Sir Robert said, once again shooting an uneasy look at the servant. I moved away from the Endeavour to stand closer to the queen. If Sir Robert was being threatened by these people playing his servants then there was a great chance that the Queen's life was in danger.
"It's a bit rubbish. How many prisms has it got? Way too many. The magnification's gone right over the top. That's stupid kind of…" he leaned into Rose, noting the words that he was spewing and the look I was giving him. "Am I being rude again?"
"Yep." Rose answered.
"But it's pretty. It's very pretty." The Doctor tried to recover.
"I apologise for my husband, sometimes his words of engineering get ahead of his social sense. But I must say, the craftsmanship of the Endeavour is truly astounding."
"Indeed, and the imagination of it should be applauded." The Queen agreed, offering a polite smile of recognition at my words. The Doctor just smiled apologetically at me as he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. This body had trouble recognising what was polite to say, even more so than his blunt prior incarnation which knowingly insulted people.
"Mmm. Thought you might disapprove, Your Majesty. Stargazing. Isn't that a bit fanciful? You could easily not be amused, or something? No?" Rose said and I realised what she was trying to do. She was trying to get her to say what was her 'famous' phrase in the future but historians had determined she never really said.
"This device surveys the infinite work of God. What could be finer? Sir Robert's father was an example to us all. A polymath, steeped in astronomy and sciences, yet equally well versed in folklore and fairy tales." The Queen disagreed with Rose.
"Stars and magic. I like him more and more." The Doctor complemented.
"Oh, my late husband enjoyed his company. Prince Albert himself was acquainted with many rural superstitions, coming as he did from Saxe Coburg." The queen agreed.
"That's Bavaria." The Doctor whispered to Rose who had looked confused at the term.
"When Albert was told about your local wolf, he was transported." The queen said in fond remembrance.
"So, what's this wolf, then?" The Doctor, leaned forward interestedly.
"It's just a story." Sir Robert said hesitantly.
"Then tell it." the Doctor encouraged.
"It's said that…" Sir Robert began but was cut off by the servant making my suspicions grow.
"Excuse me, sir. Perhaps her Majesty's party could retire to their rooms. It's almost dark."
"Of course. Yes, of course." Sir Robert agreed quickly.
"And then supper. And could we find some clothes for Miss Tyler? I'm tired of nakedness."
"It's not amusing, is it?" Rose prompted.
The queen gave Rose an unimpressed, assessing look before dismissing her and speaking to their host. "Sir Robert, your wife must have left some clothes. See to it. We shall dine at seven, and talk some more of this wolf. After all, there is a full moon tonight."
"So there is, Ma'am." Sir Robert agreed, and there was a definite hitch to his voice.
As Sir Robert and the servant led the others out of the room, I leaned into the Doctor and whispered so no one else could hear: "Keep an eye on the servants. I don't trust them." I warned him before taking Rose's arm and going to find her something more appropriate for the time period they were in.
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Not wishing to frighten Rose I didn't mention my suspicions, instead I watched silently as Rose explored the contents of one of the wardrobes. I was looking around the room calmly, yet intently, to see if there was anything out of place, any sign of a struggle. I had done the same on the way to the room. The only thing out of place were the servants of the house who were all bold, male and athletic, which shouldn't be the case. A house like this would have maids, as well as a handful of servants. Since it was also so remote, as a country estate, it should also have a handful of farmers and stable men.
Rose eventually found a blue velvet dress that was to her liking. She placed it on the bed next to me, and went to the other wardrobe to see if there was anything there she could wear to go with it. As she opened the door, Rose jumped back with a scream. I ran forward to find a young maid sat in the wardrobe, staring at them petrified.
"It's alright," I soothed, crouching so I was at the same height as the maid. "We're not going to hurt you."
"Who are you?" The maid asked, staring between me and Rose.
"I'm Anna, and this is my sister Rose. We're here with the Queen." I told her, offering a hand and hoping that she would take it. Hearing that we were part of the Queen's party seemed to calm the maid down since she let me lead her from the wardrobe and to the bed. "What's your name, sweetheart?"
"Flora, miss, we need to hide." Flora pleaded, her eyes flickering to the door in worry.
"I'll lock the door." Rose said, hurrying over to do so in the hopes of calming Flora down.
"Can you tell me what happened?" I asked once the door was locked.
"They came through the house. In the excitement they took the Steward and the Master, and my Lady." Flora explained, looking down at her lap.
"Hay, it's okay. The people who came, they were the bold men posing as servants?"
"Yes, they're the monks from the local Abby." Flora agreed.
"We need to find the Doctor, he'll know what to do." Rose suggested.
"And we need to alert the soldiers and get them gathered with the Queen. Then we need to find the Lady of the house." I disagreed with Rose since it would take more time to find the Doctor then the closest guard who were stationed throughout the house and on the grounds. Standing I took Flora's hand to lead her out.
"Oh, but I can't, my lady." Flora said, her voice coated in fear.
"It's okay, we'll protect you." I promised.
I led the way out of the room, keeping a grip on Flora's hand, Rose holding her other hand to create a chain. As we came around the corner, the solider who had been placed on guard was lay collapsed on the floor. Rose dashed forward to check on him while I hesitated, scanning the hallway for threats.
"Oh, Miss. I did warn you." Flora said, her voice wobbling.
"It's okay," I comforted as I knelt to check the man's vitals. "He's still alive. But it means we need to move quickly." I told them seriously.
A shuffle of feet had me straightening and facing the threat that had come up behind them. Two monks had grabbed Flora and Rose, while another three were stood there. Apparently, they had come to deal with the soldier's body before anyone stumbled over it.
The monk that came forward to secure me was taken by surprise by the sharp blow to the side of his neck that sent him into unconsciousness. Unfortunately, the other two weren't so easily fought of. In a fail of limbs and feat, I did my best to hold off the two monks and get to Rose and Flora but they were obviously highly trained and one of them had a staff he had somehow been concealing on his person.
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When I came too it was to find myself laying on hay covered ground. My head was slightly fuzzy from the blow that had finally knocked me out, my wrist was probably broken and I had a split lip. There were likely other bruises that I had obtained, but those were the ones that caught my attention. To make matters worse I could feel the bite of metal against my ankles, alerting me to the fact that I was chained.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself to be in a cellar. The servants, gents and lady of the manor were all chained by their hands to the wall. Rose and Flora were chained with them. Everyone was silent and staring fearfully at the cage that was placed on the other side of the cellar, close to where I was chained up.
"Lady Isobel?" I asked of the only women who was dressed as finally as I was.
"Yes." She agreed, whispering.
"Right, okay." I sighed, "Are any of you injured?"
"Just bruises." Lady Isobel answered, keeping her voice down.
"That's good. How's Rose, my sister?" I motioned to her so that they wouldn't be confused.
"Just knocked out. She'll come too soon. Flora didn't fight back so they didn't knock her out." The lady explained.
I nodded my understanding as I ripped the hem of my dress to use as a bandage to secure my wrist. "Who's in the cage?" I asked next, trying to get as much information as I could before I either found a way of escaping, or the Doctor discovered we were missing.
"He's a monster." One of the men spat, but apparently he had spoken to loud because the lady immediately shushed him and stared at the cage in fear.
Rose started to come to then. "Where am I?" she demanded, not bothering to keep her voice down as she sat up.
"Don't make a sound. They said if we scream or shout, then he will slaughter us." Lady Isobel cautioned.
"Rose, do as they say. Don't antagonise him." I cautioned as well, noting how everyone had shifted back at Rose's voice. She hadn't whispered like the Lady and I had been doing.
"But he's in a cage. He's a prisoner. He's the same as us." Rose said, confused.
"He's nothing like us. That creature is not mortal." Lady Isobel explained as the young man opened his eyes to reveal that they were completely black. Rose jumped back in shock, but I didn't. I recognised the look in the beast's eyes even if the colour was different.
Being careful to not rattle the chains that encased my ankles, I climbed to my feet and moved forward, blocking the creature's sight of the other prisoners.
"Anna, what are you doing?" Rose asked.
"Please, my lady, don't." Flora's voice cautioned as I moved forward to within two meters of the cage.
"I'm addressing the creature possessing this human vessel." I spoke calmly and quietly as I tried to get control of the situation.
"Oh, intelligence." The creature breathed, leaning forward so his pale face could be seen more clearly in the pale light.
"How did you find this human vessel?" I pressed for answers.
"This body?" The creature questioned. "There was a weakling, heartsick boy. He was stolen away at night by the brethren for my cultivation. I carved out his soul and sat in his heart." The creature drew out the last word with what might have been pride, or pleasure.
"And you, where are you from? What's your planet of origin?"
"So far from home." The creature breathed in response, not giving me a name.
"Why are you here? What do you want?" I asked, needing to know the information and doubting I would have very much time left to talk. Soon the creature would turn into a voiceless beast.
"A world of industry, of workforce and warfare. I could turn it to such purpose. I will migrate to the Holy Monarch." The creature answered proudly.
"You mean Queen Victoria?" Rose asked, shocked. I waved her to be silent.
"With one bite, I would pass into her blood, and then it begins. The Empire of the Wolf." Suddenly he lunched forward against the cage. The people behind me shuffled back in shock, but I remained were I was. It was unwise to show weakness (be it shock or fear) to a creature such as this.
"Look. Inside your eyes. You've seen it too." The creature said in an almost childish tone.
"I've not seen it," I disagreed, guessing what a beast such as this would have seen inside me that was similar to him. "I was it."
"You burn like the sun, but all I require is the moon." The creature said, drawing out the final word.
I moved back, turning my back on the creature and crouching in front of the petrified servants and lady.
"Anna, what did he mean? What did you see?" Rose asked, confused.
"It doesn't matter. What matters is we need to get out before he transforms because he will kill us." I told them seriously.
"And how are we going to do that, we're chained." One of the men said, pulling at his chains as though to remind her that they were still there.
"These bricks, they're marble, yes?" I asked, motioning to the wall were the shackles had been nailed in.
"Yes." Another man answered.
"Alright, you're all chained to the same point, enough applied force should be enough to pull the manacles free." I explained.
"What about you, you're not chained with the rest of us?" Lady Isobel asked.
"I'll be fine. We don't have much time, so get up and start pulling." I ordered, moving back to where my chain was nailed into the wall. Before they could begin their escape, the cellar doors were flung open, bathing the crate in moonlight.
"Moonlight" the creature breathed, removing his cloak and closing his eyes.
"Don't stare, pull!" I shouted at the lot, jolting them into action. Once I was sure they were following my instructions I used my good hand to remove the pins from my hair. With some difficulty, due to my damaged wrist, I was able to pick the lock of the manacle on my right leg.
"One, two, three, pull! One, two, three, pull!" Rose was shouting encouragingly. Suddenly the chain came of the wall and they turned to start on the other one. Smiling grimly I began picking the other lock.
Just as the second chain broke away, the wolf finished transforming and examined its paws. The second manacle was harder to unlock, and I was relieved to see the Doctor and Robert when they kicked the door down.
"Where the hell have you been?" Rose shouted over the screams of the servants.
"Get them out." I shouted, finally picking the lock, and dodging around the wolf to help Robert usher the people out.
"Oh, that's beautiful." The Doctor breathed, staring at the beast.
"Come on, go. Get out!" Robert shouted to the people who had hesitated.
The werewolf broke free of his crate and the Doctor took up the chant to get everyone out. Once everyone was out, the Doctor paused to stare in admiration. I rolled my eyes and grabbed his arm to pull him out of the room before the creature could hit him with a piece of his crate. The Doctor locked the door with the sonic screwdriver and ran through to the gun room.
Once the steward hands were free, he went straight for the gun cupboard and started handing out guns to the men as they were freed.
"Arms, Ready, everyone?" the Steward ordered the men.
Robert turned to Isobel. "Take the girls. Get them out through the kitchen."
"I can't leave you. What will you do?" Isobel asked unwilling to be parted from him again.
"I must defend her Majesty. Now, don't think of me, just go." Robert ordered.
"All of you, at my side. Come on!" Isobel called the maids before she ushered them down the corridor.
"Will you be okay?" the Doctor asked me, wrapping my wrist more securely with some bandages from his pocket.
"I'll be fine. Any idea what type of alien that was?" I asked him.
"It could be any form of light modulated species triggered by specific wavelengths. Did it say what it wanted?" The Doctor asked in turn.
"It wants to bite the Queen and rule earth." I answered.
"Right, of course." The Doctor responded with a frown.
"That's practically modus operandi." I agreed with where his thoughts had gone when I gave him that answer because I was very much aware that most aliens who find earth try and rule it.
A crash was heard as something burst through a wooden door. The Doctor went out to investigate. When he found the werewolf at the end of the passageway, he turned and ran back grabbing Rose and my hand as he went to pull us along.
"Fire! Fire!" the Steward ordered as we got behind the line of men to stand with Robert.
"All right, you men. We should retreat upstairs. Come with me." the Doctor tried to get the men to retreat once they had stopped firing and lost sight of the creature in the smoke.
"I'll not retreat. The battle's done. There's no creature on God's Earth that could survive such an assault." The Steward responded arrogantly.
"I'm telling you, come upstairs!" the Doctor said angrily.
"And I'm telling you, sir, I will sleep well tonight with that thing's hide upon my wall." The Steward stepped into the corridor and when he didn't see anything, he turned back to face the group. "It must have crawled away to die."
He was suddenly hoisted up to the ceiling. I grabbed Rose and pulled her around the corner so she didn't see the man get killed although there was nothing I could do for the noise. The Doctor grabbed my hand and we started running again. Only Sir Robert followed us, the rest of the men stayed behind and they died one by one.
"Your Majesty? Your Majesty!" Sir Robert called in panic as they reached the staircase.
"Sir Robert? What's happening?" the queen asked, coming down the stairs. "I heard such terrible noises."
"Your Majesty, we've got to get out. But what of Father Angelo? Is he still here?" Sir Robert responded.
"Captain Reynolds disposed of him." The Queen answered after a pause.
"The front door's no good, it's been boarded shut. Pardon me, Your Majesty. You'll have to leg it out of a window." The Doctor said, motioning to the drawing room.
"Excuse my manners, Ma'am, but I shall go first, the better to assist Her Majesty's egress." Sir Robert said, approaching the window.
"A noble sentiment, my Sir Walter Raleigh." The Queen bowed her head in assent.
"Yeah, any chance you could hurry up?" the Doctor said, his voice slipping back to his normal London accent. Robert opened the window but was immediately forced to duck for cover as they came under fire.
"I reckon the monkey boys want us to stay inside." The Doctor commented when they had stopped firing and he could look out the window without being shot.
"Do they know who I am?" The Queen questioned crossly.
"Yeah, that's why they want you. The wolf's lined you up for a, a biting." Rose answered hesitantly.
"Stop this talk. There can't be an actual wolf." The Queen denied. At that moment the werewolf chose to howl. I winced slightly recognising the howl as being one issued by a wolf as they declared a hunt. They wouldn't be able to hide from it since it probably new their scents – the only one it hadn't the chance to scent was the Queen herself which meant it was probably chasing the one scent it didn't recognise.
"What do we do?" Rose questioned fearfully as they left the drawing room.
"We run." The Doctor answered, frowning as he tried thinking up a plan.
"Is that it?" Rose demanded.
"You got any silver bullets?" the Doctor questioned sardonically.
"Not on me, no." Rose responded sarcastically.
"There we are then, we run. Your Majesty, as a Doctor, I recommend a vigorous jog." The Doctor jogged on the spot for a moment. "Good for the health. Come on!" Grabbing the queen's hand he led her up the stairs. Rose, Sir Robert and then I followed.
"Come on! Come on!" the Doctor shouted as the wolf smashed its way onto the corridor below them.
The wolf was catching up when the head soldier appeared from a corner and shot the wolf, making it retreat.
"I'll take this position and hold it. You keep moving, for God's sake! Your Majesty, I went to look for the property and it was taken. The chest was empty." He said, reloading his weapon.
"I have it. It's safe." The queen answered, trying to catch her breath.
"Then remove yourself, Ma'am. Doctor, you stand as Her Majesty's Protector. And you, Sir Robert, you're a traitor to the crown." The soldier raised his weapon and prepared to step around the corner.
"Bullets can't stop it!" the Doctor shouted in frustration.
"They'll buy you time. Now run!" he ordered.
Knowing his death was as fixed as the other men's, I grabbed Rose and pushed her after Roberts. The Doctor ran at my side as we entered the library.
"Barricade the door." Robert said, grabbing the closest chair. Rose and the Doctor helped, stacking as much furniture against the door as they could.
"Wait a minute." The Doctor held up his hand as he listened. "Shush, shush, wait a minute." There was a lone howl from the wolf. "It's stopped." The Doctor frowned in confusion. "It's gone."
"Wait, listen." I pointed out, hearing the footsteps and growls from the other side of the walls as the wolf circled the room.
"Is this the only door?" the Doctor asked Robert.
"Yes." Robert answered before his eyes widened and he ran to the left. "No!"
Together he and the Doctor were able to barricade that door as well.
"I don't understand. What's stopping it?" Rose asked, looking at the Doctor for answers.
The queen had taken a seat as she tried to get over the shock of her beliefs being shaken. I joined her on one of the chairs, breathing deeply and trying to focus through the fuzz of a concussion to find out what I was missing.
"Something inside this room. What is it? Why can't it get in?" the Doctor asked, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
"I'll tell you what, though." Rose said with her tongue in tooth smile.
"What?" the Doctor asked confused.
"Werewolf." Rose answered excitedly.
"I know." The Doctor answered, trying to clamp down his own excitement given the situation but this was the first time he had ever come across a werewolf and he loved learning something new about the universe. "You all right?"
"I'm okay, yeah." Rose agreed.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am. It's all my fault. I should have sent you away. I tried to suggest something was wrong. I thought you might notice. Did you think there was nothing strange about my household staff?" Sir Robert said, holding his head in his hand.
"Yes, Annamae noticed. She warned me but I couldn't figure out what was wrong." The Doctor admitted. "I'm a bit slow in social situations."
"I'll tell you what though, Ma'am, I bet you're not amused now." Rose said, trying to lighten up the situation. I dropped my head with a silent sigh. Now really wasn't the time.
"Do you think this is funny?" the queen demanded with a disapproving frown.
"No, Ma'am. I'm sorry." Rose bowed her head in shame, realising that she had overstepped.
"What, exactly, I pray tell me, someone, please. What exactly is that creature?" The queen asked, trying maintain her polite disposition despite her anger and panic.
"You'd call it a werewolf, but technically it's a more of a lupine wavelength haemovariform." The Doctor explained.
"And should I trust you, sir? You who change your voice so easily? What happened to your accent?" The queen asked sharply.
"Oh right, sorry, that's…" the Doctor rubbed the back of his head again, shooting me a sheepish look. This was why I discouraged undercover work from the Doctor, because he was terrible at keeping his 'character'.
"I'll not have it. No, sir. Not you, not that thing, none of it. This is not my world." The queen announced.
"I know it's not your majesty." I said, carefully standing and placing a comforting hand on her arm. "And I'm sorry that you got pulled into this, but that creature out there needs to be stopped, and you need to be protected. Sometimes he can be a right arrogant idiot, but the Doctor is the best man to figure out what that creature is and stop it. And I know you can't trust him, so I'm asking you to trust me."
"And how can I trust you, you've lied as much as he has?" The queen demanded in turn.
"No, my lady. The only lie I've told was the nature of the Doctor and Mine's relationship. We are not married. That is the only lie I've told you. We truly did meet in London where he saved my life. The Doctor truly is a man of science, education and travel who saved my life when I was cornered. And I am looking after my younger sister." I disagreed.
"Very well," the queen sighed, retaking her seat while the Doctor began searching the room for the reason the beast had been kept out.
After a while of awkward silence, the Doctor spotted a carving on the door. "Mistletoe. Sir Robert, did your father put that there?"
"I don't know. I suppose." Robert answered.
"On the other door, too. No, a carving wouldn't be enough. I wonder." The Doctor leaned forward and licked the wall. I wiggled my noise slightly in disgust but didn't say anything. This Doctor had a thing for tasting things to identify it. He had done the same with blood just after he regenerated even though I had already told him what it was.
"Viscum album, the oil of the mistletoe. It's been worked into the wood like a varnish. How clever was your dad? I love him. Powerful stuff, mistletoe. Bursting with lectins and viscotoxins." The Doctor said excitedly.
"And the wolf's allergic to it?" Rose questioned.
"Well, it thinks it is. The monkey monk monks need a way of controlling the wolf, maybe they trained it to react against certain things." The Doctor answered.
"Nevertheless, that creature won't give up, Doctor, and we still don't possess an actual weapon." Robert pointed out.
"Oh, your father got all the brains, didn't he?" the Doctor asked rhetorically.
"Being rude again." Rose pointed out.
"Good. I meant that one. You want weapons? We're in a library. Books! Best weapons in the world. This room's the greatest arsenal we could have." He picked some random books from the shelves and passed them around. "Arm yourself."
"Biology, zoology. There might be something on wolves in here…" Rose muttered pulling some books of the self.
"Hold on, what about this? A book on mistletoe." The Doctor said, quickly flicking through it looking for information.
"A book on magic." Rose muttered, giving up on the other books.
"Some form of explosive." Robert said, flicking through the books on the shelves.
"Hmm, that's the sort of thing." The Doctor muttered sarcastically.
"Wolf's bane, what about that?" Rose asked holding up the book she was now holding.
"Doctor." I said, staring at the page I had opened in the history book of the local area.
"Look what your old dad found. Something fell to Earth." The Doctor said with a smile, bringing the others who had been searching over to look at the book. Only the Queen stayed back.
"A spaceship?" Rose queried.
"A shooting star." Sir Robert corrected with a term he knew before reading aloud from the book. "In the year of our Lord 1540, under the reign of King James the Fifth, an almighty fire did burn in the pit." Pointing to the drawing that accompanied the passage, Sir Robert identified the location for everyone else. "That's the Glen of Saint Catherine just by the monastery."
"But that's over three hundred years ago. What's it been waiting for?" Rose asked confused.
"Maybe just a single cell survived. Adapting slowly down the generations, it survived through the humans, host after host after host." The Doctor explained.
"But why does it want the throne?" Sir Robert questioned.
"Queen Victoria is one of the most powerful people on earth right now. Her empire is vast, and the people love her. If the wolf can infect her, it will have control of the entire British Empire for generations and no will notice." I explained.
"Imagine it. The Victorian Age accelerated. Starships and missiles fuelled by coal and driven by steam, leaving history devastated in its wake." The Doctor agreed.
"Sir Robert. If I am to die here." the Queen stood proudly as she faced Sir Robert.
"Don't say that, Your Majesty." Sir Robert pleaded.
"I would destroy myself rather than let that creature infect me. But that's no matter. I ask only that you find some place of safekeeping for something far older and more precious than myself." The Queen said, reaching into the purse she had been clutching this entire time.
"Hardly the time to worry about your valuables." The Doctor pointed out.
"Thank you for your opinion, but there is nothing more valuable than this." The Queen said, withdrawing a diamond from her bag.
"Is that the Koh-I-Noor?" Rose breathed in amazement.
"Oh, yes. The greatest diamond in the world." The Doctor agreed.
"Given to me as the spoils of war. Perhaps its legend is now coming true. It is said that whoever owns it must surely die." The Queen explained, staring sadly down at the diamond.
"Well, that's true of anything if you own it long enough. Can I?" the Doctor held his hand forward. The queen hesitated a moment before handing it over.
"That is so beautiful." The Doctor said, examining the diamond from several different angles.
"How much is that worth?" Rose asked, leaning forward to look at it.
"They say the wages of the entire planet for a whole week." I answered for the Doctor.
"Good job our mum's not here. She'd be fighting the wolf off with her bare hands for that thing."
"And she'd win." The Doctor agreed with a smile.
"Where is the wolf? I don't trust this silence." Sir Robert said, looking around uneasily.
"Nor do I," I agreed, scanning the room for any weak points that might be exploited.
"Why do you travel with it?" the Doctor inquired of the queen.
"My annual pilgrimage. I'm taking it to Helier and Carew, the Royal Jewellers at Hazelhead. The stone needs re-cutting." The Queen explained.
"Oh, but it's perfect." Rose breathed with a frown.
"My late husband never thought so." she explained.
"Now, there's a fact. Prince Albert kept on having the Koh-I-Noor cut down. It used to be forty percent bigger than this. But he was never happy. Kept on cutting and cutting." The Doctor explained.
"He always said the shine was not quite right. But he died with it still unfinished."
"Unfinished. Oh, yes." The Doctor suddenly exclaimed, throwing the diamond back to the queen.
I snapped my eyes to him, recognising that tone. The Doctor had just figured something out and was now forming a plan. "There's a lot of unfinished business in this house. His father's research, and your husband, Ma'am, he came here and he sought the perfect diamond. Hold on, hold on. All these separate things, they're not separate at all, they're connected. Oh, my head, my head. What if this house, it's a trap for you. Is that right, Ma'am?"
"Obviously." The queen responded, motioning the barricade at the door.
"At least, that's what the wolf intended. But, what if there's a trap inside the trap?"
"Explain yourself, Doctor." the Queen demanded.
"What if his father and your husband weren't just telling each other stories. They dared to imagine all this was true, and they planned against it, laying the real trap not for you but for the wolf." Some plaster fell from the ceiling, making the Doctor look up to the skylight, "That wolf there." he breathed. Suddenly the glass began cracking under the wolf's wait.
"Out." I shouted, darting forward to pull down the barricade, disregarded my injuries as I did so. The Doctor joining me.
"Out! Out! Out!" The Doctor agreed, taking up his chant again. I grabbed the queen's hand, unwilling to leave her unguarded until I was sure she was safe from the wolf.
"Get to the observatory!" the Doctor orders, shutting the mistletoe doors on the wolf in the hopes of delaying it. The Doctor ran ahead with Sir Robert leading the way, I was a few steps behind them with the Queen, Rose at my other side. However, as we reached a turning in the corridor, Rose stopped and stared at the wolf who raised a paw to strike her. Rose screamed and covered her face, but the maids and Lady Isobel chose that moment to appear – throwing a pan of liquid on the wolf, making it retreat.
"Good shot." The Doctor complement.
"It was mistletoe." Flora explained.
"Isobel!" Robert kissed his wife passionately. "Now, get back downstairs."
"Keep yourself safe." Isobel pleaded.
"Lady Isobel, could you take my sister, look after her?" I asked. Rose had been too close to dyeing on this trip repeatedly, I wasn't going to keep her in danger when they ran out of places to run.
"What!" Rose demanded, but Lady Isobel nodded her assent. She didn't question it, since it was obvious that I was the older one of the two, and Rose was a child no older than some of her maids. A child who wasn't even attired properly.
"Of course." She grabbed Rose's shoulders and began leading her away while herding the other maids with her. "Girls, come with me. Down the back stairs, back to the kitchens. Quickly!"
"Come on!" The Doctor said, motioning them forward.
"The observatory's this way." Sir Robert took the lead again.
As was to be expected the observatory was at the top of the house. By the time they had made it to the top of the stairs, the wolf had recovered and was following them once more.
"No mistletoe in these doors because your father wanted the wolf to get inside. I just need time. Is there any way of barricading this?" The Doctor asked, looking around the doors for anything. I pushed the queen inside, and looked to the shield on the wall were there were two swords crossed over. Both of them sharpened, and kept in good condition.
"Just do your work and I'll defend it." Sir Robert ordered, making my head snap back to the conversation as Sir Robert's name appeared on the list but it wasn't as defined as the servants had been.
"If we could bind them shut with rope or something." The Doctor said frantically.
"I said I'd find you time, Sir. Now get inside."
"Good man." The Doctor muttered, stepping into the observatory. I took my opportunity and pushed Sir Robert in as well, slamming the doors closed and grabbed one of the swords to barricade the door.
"NO, what are you doing?!" The Doctor shouted, banging on the door.
"Buying you time, now get to work Doctor." I ordered him, drawing the second sword and stepping away from the door and towards the wolf that had finally reached the top of the stairs.
"My Lady, that is my job." Sir Robert argued though the wood.
"And break you're promise to your wife? Get to work, Sir Robert, Doctor." I told them sharply before blocking the both of them out and focusing on wrapping my magic around me like a shield.
The wolf pawed forward, prepared to attack at a moment's notice. I stood still, watching and waiting. Suddenly, the wolf pounced. I rolled, bringing the sword down as I went. The Wolf howled in pain as the sword skimmed its shoulder but there wasn't enough damage to slow it down. It attacked again, this time I was forced to the ground under the weight of the beast's paws. To stop it from biting me, I raised the sword and pushed it against the wolf.
The beast was heavy, and the struggle short. It seemed the beast decided it didn't want to continue this fight any longer, because it swiped it's left paw at my side at the same time it released me, sending me flying into the wall with a scream. My vision swam and started turning black as I saw the wolf turn and face the door that I had been defending.
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The Doctor rested his head against the door for a moment before turning and heading for the telescope.
"Your Majesty, I need your diamond." The Doctor said as he started trying to rotate the wheel at the side of the telescope.
"For what purpose?" the queen questioned.
"The purpose it was designed for." The Doctor answered seriously, stepping away from the telescope for a moment. The queen hesitated before a howl of pain from outside the door prompted her into handing the diamond over.
"Sir Robert." The Doctor ordered, darting back to the control wheel, except Sir Robert joined him and started helping him to raise the telescope.
"Is this the right time for stargazing?" Sir Robert questioned, looking nervously too the door where they could hear the snarling and growling of the wolf.
"Yes it is." The Doctor answered grimly, refusing to look to the door and be distracted even as his hearts cried out that Annamae was in danger.
The Queen held up her jet cross and prayed as she faced the door.
"You said this thing doesn't work." Sir Robert reminded the Doctor.
"It doesn't work as a telescope because that's not what it is. It's a light chamber. It magnifies the light rays like a weapon. We've just got to power it up." The Doctor answered through gritted teeth.
Just as a scream came from the other side of the door, the moon shines down into the telescope lens and bounces between the prisms, magnifying as it goes. The werewolf breaks in and goes for Queen Victoria. The Doctor slides the diamond over to where the light hits the floor. It refracts upwards, catching the werewolf in its beam and lifting it up off the floor. The wolf turns back into a young man, hanging as if crucified in mid-air.
"Make it brighter. Let me go." The wolf questioned, looking at the Doctor.
He nodded, walking to the telescope to magnify the eyepiece. The man turned back into the shape of the wolf with a howl before vanishing. The Doctor looked to the Queen who was staring at the small scratch on her wrist.
"Your Majesty? Did it bite you?" the Doctor questioned seriously.
"No, it's, it's a cut, that's all." The queen answered, dropping her wrist so the Doctor couldn't see.
"If that thing bit you…?" the Doctor began but the Queen cut him off.
"It was a splinter of wood when the door came apart. It's nothing." The queen answered.
The Doctor wanted to question her, but there was a more pressing matter. He stared a moment before nodding, and running out into the corridor.
"Annamae!" looking around he found her slumped on the floor. Running over, he knelt down and pulled her into his arms. "Annamae, come on, open your eyes." He pleaded, gentle cupping her face in his hands when he noticed that she was still breathing.
"Your voice is too loud." Annamae muttered, opening her eyes slightly to look at the Doctor.
"Thank god." The Doctor breathed with a laugh, pulling her into a hug.
"Sir Robert," Annamae said once she had been released from the Doctor's hug, even if she remained leaning against him with her eyes half closed. "I think your wife deserves to have a few more years with her husband, don't you?"
"Thank you." Sir Robert said gratefully.
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The following morning, the Doctor had finished patching me up and the entire household had been called to the drawing room. Sir Robert and his wife were both stood behind the queen at a place of honour, while Rose, me and the Doctor were kneeling before her.
"By the power invested in me by the Church and the State, I dub thee Sir Doctor of TARDIS. By the power invested in me by the Church and the State, I dub thee Dame Rose of the Powell Estate. By the power invested in me by the Church and the State, I dub thee Lady Dame Annamae of the TARDIS." The Queen tapped each of us on either shoulder with her sword as she spoke. "You may stand."
"Many thanks, Ma'am." The Doctor said as he stood.
"Thanks. They're never going to believe this back home." Rose agreed with a smile.
I was silent, only bowing my head in acknowledgement of her reward. But I wasn't foolish, the queen's limits had been pushed the day before and I doubted that she would continue to allow them into her kingdom following the excitement expressed at seeing the wolf.
"Your Majesty, you said last night about receiving no message from the great beyond. I think your husband cut that diamond to save your life. He's protecting you even now, Ma'am, from beyond the grave." The Doctor said, offering a smile to the widowed queen.
"Indeed. Then you may think on this also. That I am not amused." The Queen said seriously.
"Yes!" Rose cheered. I reached over and grabbed her arm to silence her.
"Not remotely amused. And henceforth I banish you." The queen declared. I bowed my head once more in acknowledgement.
"I'm sorry?" the Doctor questioned shocked.
"I rewarded you, Sir Doctor, and now you are exiled from this empire, never to return. I don't know what you are, the two of you…" she looked to Rose as well. "…or where you're from, but I know that you consort with stars and magic and think it fun. But your world is steeped in terror and blasphemy and death, and I will not allow it. You will leave these shores and you will reflect, I hope, on how you came to stray so far from all that is good, and how much longer you will survive this terrible life. Now leave my world, and never return. And you Lady Annamae, I think you should consider your place beside the Doctor carefully. You showed great courage and empathy towards those who died last night. You will only be allowed back inside my empire if you travel alone."
"Although I thank you for the consideration, My Queen, I will not abandon my Doctor for all his childish wonder and excitement at that which he doesn't recognise or understand, he is one of the best men I have ever met. He has made it his life's mission to protect, and to serve, without thanks or gratitude. He works in the shadows, protecting the realm from threats that the people are not yet ready to understand. It is unfortunate, my queen, that you have learnt of such threats in the way you have." I bowed once more to the queen, before taking the Doctor's arm and Rose's hand and leading them from the estate.
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When they finally returned to the TARDIS, they sat down in the kitchen and ate some pasta that Annamae prepared before Rose headed off to bed, the rest after the wolf had been dealt with having been short and uncomfortable. The Doctor took Annamae down to the medical room to check her over, although they both new full well that most of the damage she had sustained had nearly fully healed and she mostly had bruising left.
He was worried, and he didn't know how to express that verbally so he was doing it by checking her over. And he wanted to show that he was grateful for what she had said to the queen. Although all his companies grew to care for him, rarely did they care enough to defend him in the way she had done. Annamae understood the Doctor on a personal level that he didn't think any human had ever done so before. And he was grateful that she cared enough about him to learn because it meant that the care, protectiveness and affection that was growing inside of him was probably returned by this wonderful woman.