The platform which the Doctor and Rose were standing on, brushed softly against the grassy earth and they both stepped off as it moved up and away on it's journey to the heights of the tree tops again. It was with an almost awkward reluctance that they released their hold on eachother and walked side by side toward a smiling Ibroc, who was waiting for them a little way off. They were now in a green wilderness, cut in two by a swift river, (into which poured the waterfall). Trees and shrubs grew all around, although they were much smaller than the ones they had just left, infact they were quite similar to those growing on Earth, Rose thought, except that they were mostly blue with pale pink leaves.
For several minutes they walked together following the path of the river. Soon Ibrocs smile grew more warm than the sun as he looked into Roses face. "Our village is close by and you will be able to rest. Our welcome feast will continue long into the night."
Rose smiled back. "I'm looking forward to it. The Doctor was telling me how friendly your people were when..."
"We were set on by that raggy young upstart and his pointy stick wannabe warriors." The Doctor finished for her. "Who is he anyway.?"
"My son." Ibroc said.
"Oh." The Doctor paused. "Nice boy."
Ibroc laughed softly, shaking his head. "Owler is troubled... he is trying to find his way, and perhaps because he is the son of a Sage it is more difficult for him."
"I was meaning to ask you about that 'Sage' title." The Doctor said. "You weren't exactly Sage material when I was here last."
"I was headstrong... foolhardy." Ibroc agreed, full of regret. "My thoughts were not centred."
"So what happened to change you?" Rose asked .
Ibrocs smile faded slowly away as memories ran though him. It was as if a shadow had darkened his heart. And Rose could not help but wish she had not asked the question.
"That is a story meant for another time... not a day of celebration. We cannot dwell on sorrows past."
Rose looked to the Doctor, and he nodded slightly. It seemed that for now at least he was content to let his friend keep his secret a little while longer.
"I couldn't agree more.!" The Doctor enthused, throwing his arms over Rose and Ibrocs shoulders. "Nothing should spoil a day of celebration... that's what I always say, isn't it Rose.?" He winked at her.
"Oh yeah, all the time." She agreed with a grin.
"Now, about this welcome feast... will there be party hats.?"
The Harkuns village was a sprawling, busy, colourful place. Everywhere Rose looked she saw happy people at their daily chores. Groups of men and women were at the river side, some in raft like boats, hauling in fish from the cool waters, others were carrying woven baskets filled with fruits. Children were running around barefoot, playing like little wild things, carefree and blissful. As more of the villagers saw the three of them approach, they would wave to greet them, and some of the children ran up to them with smiles filled with baby teeth. By the time Ibroc, the Doctor and Rose had reached the centre of the village, they had a large group of people circulating around them, all with faces alight with curiosity. Even though they had just arrived, Rose could feel the air of welcome which surrounded them. It was warm and almost real enough to touch.
"My children..." Ibroc announced. "This day we are all blessed by the Godess, as she sees fit to bring friends old and new into our lives." He held out a hand to introduce Rose and the Doctor to the Harkun villagers, who watched them with wide eyed interest.
The Doctor grinned madly and waved. "Hello !"
Rose smiled at a small boy with purple feathers in his hair. "Hello..." she said. "My names Rose." The child immediatly started to cry, before being swept up into the arms of his mother and comforted.
"And I'm the Doctor."
The Harkuns looked to Ibroc, their Sage, to confirm that what the Doctor had said was true. Ibroc merely nodded, but this was enough, as only moments passed before an unreasonably pretty young woman, who appeared to be about Roses age, came forward and handed her a large red flower that Rose recognised as the same honey scented bloom that grew in the Tree Temples.
"I offer blessings and good fortune to you both... Rose and the Doctor." The girls gleaming orange eyes lingered on the Doctor longer than Rose liked.
"My children, tonight we hold a feast of celebration and welcome... much is to be prepared." Ibroc said. It seemed that this was all the instruction the villagers needed, for no sooner had the words been spoken than they began to return to their work, leaving only the girl who had brought Rose the flower, still with them.
Ibroc placed a hand upon her shoulder. "My friends I am afraid I have much left undone. Kyte will show you to my home. She will tend to your needs gladly until I return. Rest well."
Rose kissed Ibrocs cheek before watching him walk off into a crowd and be absorbed by his adoring people. She smiled warmly to herself then turned to look at the Doctor, but he and Kyte were already setting off in another direction. As she watched them, Rose felt her smile fade like a pale winter sun.
Kyte was holding the Doctors hand.
Ibrocs house was large and warm, it was built with a dark wood and its roof was made up of a thick thatch of leaves and grasses. Inside it was decorated with woven wall hangings in rich colours. The same colours were used in the heavy woven flooring. There was no furniture as such, instead the floor was strewn with soft plump cushions of all sizes and colours and in the centre of the room burned a steady fire in a circle of pale oval stones. Instead of doors there were thick dark curtains, through which were rooms yet to be explored.
Kyte hung on the Doctors arm as she gazed adoringly up into his eyes, and told him in a hundred different ways how happy she was that he had returned to Harkun, what a great blessing it was to have him in the village, and how wonderful that nights welcome feast would be. The Doctor grinned like Alices friend the Cheshire cat, quite content to be fussed over. Rose silently seethed. The Doctors ego was big enough already and... she didn't like the way Kyte looked at the Doctor one bit. Not to mention the fact that both Kyte and the Doctor were completely ignoring her. Deciding that enough was enough, Rose walked up to them both and interupted Kytes hero worship.
"Well thanks for showing us to the house and everything... " She began with a busy note.
"It was my pleasure to accompany the Doctor and..."
"Yeah right." Rose butted in. "Anyway, job done eh."?
Kyte looked blankly into Roses face. "I do not understand."
Rose gave a frustrated sigh and glanced to the Doctor, who was frowning at her. "I just mean..."
"She means thank you very much for all that you've done and she's very grateful, but it's been a long day and she... we... would like to...rest now." The Doctor said.
"Oh." Kyte nodded. "Of course... I am so sorry. I shall leave you now." She bowed her head slightly at the Doctor and walked away, glancing back at the last moment to smile again at the Doctor. "But I will see you tonight, yes.?"
"Tonight, yes." The Doctor nodded.
Kyte left them then.
The Doctor turned to Rose. "What was that all about.?"
Rose shrugged and avoided his gaze. "Nothing...it was just what you said."
"You told her to get lost. Sling her hook. Get out. Exit stage left."
"No I didn't" Rose protested, then. "Yeah, ok I did."
"Apes.!" The Doctor shook his head then walked off to look around the room. "No manners."
A few minutes passed before Rose asked the question she had been chewing on. "Do you think she's pretty.?" She tried not to sound overly interested in his reply.
"Who.?" The Doctor was strolling around the room, picking up things, turning them over, shaking them, smelling them.
Rose sighed. "That girl... Kyte."
"Oh." The Doctor said, peering into a huge ornamental pot. "Her."
"Well.?"
"S'pose." He shrugged. "If you like tails."
Rose smiled, feeling slightly better. She looked around the room they were in, watching the Doctor as he continued his investigations.
"Should you be doing that.?" She asked as the Doctor picked up and rattled a large box of... something.
"Yes." The Doctor said before opening the box to peer inside. "No." He added quickly and put it back where he'd found it.
"She likes you." Rose said.
"Who.?"
"Kyte."
"Oh."
"Is that all you're going to say.?"
The Doctor thought about it, then gave Rose a slow easy smile. "Everyone likes me."
"I noticed." Rose said. "Which is odd."
The Doctor looked dejected. "What's that supposed to mean.?"
Rose grinned at his hurt expression. "I just meant it's weird. This is the first world we've been too where they don't want to kill us."
The Doctor thought about it. "No one wanted to kill us on Covax 6." He remined her.
"No... but they wanted to put us in a Zoo.!"
"It was a very nice enclosure." The Doctor pointed out. "And we were going to be the star attraction... still can't see why you were so against it." Rose laughed, her heart filling with love for him as she watched him walk slowly towards her, his ready grin sitting easy at his mouth. He stopped inches from her, his smile drifting as he stared into her face.
"So what should we do now then.?"
"Dunno." Rose said, drowning in the depths of his eyes.
"Ibroc said we should... rest."
Rose felt her heart race. "Not really tired."
"Me neither." The Doctor whispered, his breath soft against her cheek as he moved a little closer.
Even though he knew that he shouldn't, he touched her long blonde hair, twisting his fingers through it, before staring into her eyes with a darkening gaze. He was tired of fighting his need for her. Worn down by refusing the desires of his hearts. But even as he was about to risk everything, he was still afraid. He was afraid of scaring away the most precious part of his existance.
"What do you want to do Rose.?"
Rose couldn't speak, think or even breathe with him this close. Wordlessly she shook her head, still caught by him, lost in him. Her Doctor. She didn't dare believe that any of this was real. He placed a hand on her hip and she felt its presence there burn through to her skin. Instinctively she moved closer, so that they were barely apart now. Her palm flat against his chest, against the beat of his hearts. It had to be real.
"Rose..."
She closed her eyes, losing herself in the sound of her name falling from his lips. All she could think about was the kiss that was promised on the air between them. She tilted her head slightly and felt his breath soft against her lips...
There was a sudden noise from behind her, and the moment was torn away instantly. She and the Doctor parted as though ripped in two. She stumbled back a step and then looked at the Doctor as her mind reeled from the loss of him. She had never seen him look so angry. In confusion she turned to see what he was looking at - or rather who.
Owler stood in the doorway of the room, staring silently at them.