A/N: I got a few requests for this episode in particular, so here it is. I've made the Master extremely creepy here. And I mean, a major, extremely awkard creeper. Because I think he would love to see Diana just get really freaked out by his behaviour. And he'd want to make the Doctor respond, so... Yeah. That's why the Master's a major creep in this chapter.

I have also given you lovely readers a fair amount of Five/Diana fluff, comforting, adorableness and some farewell fluff with Nine. And yes, you should be suspicious.

When I woke up, I had a horrible headache that seemed to reach to every inch of my body. I groaned in pain and rolled onto my side, holding a hand to my head as the pain intensified. I was in my bedroom and my movie posters that I had rolled up were stacked neatly in a corner of the room.

I stepped clumsily out of bed with a heavy sigh. My glasses had been placed on the bookcase beside my bed and I put them on after rubbing the grains of sleep from my eyes. I looked down and noticed that I was still wearing my v-neck and jeans, but my jacket, scarf, and shoes had been removed and placed on the floor at the foot of my bed. There was a yellow sticky note attached to my shoes and I knelt down to pick it up and read it.

"The TARDIS seems to have put you in a deep sleep. You'll be fine other than a headache. Please promise you won't look into the heart of the TARDIS again. That could kill you if you're not careful. Since I don't know if you'll be with another incarnation of myself when you wake up, I hope that you are safe. If you're still with me, then I'm either in my room or the console room.

-Theta"

I smiled and put a hand over my mouth. His note was scribbled in tiny lettering so it could fit on one sticky note. With a laugh, I put my jacket and scarf on, then my shoes. The TARDIS flashed her lights as I stepped into the hallway and hummed beneath my feet.

Running a hand over the walls, I walked from my room to the Doctor's and knocked lightly on the dark blue door. There wasn't an answer, so I started to walk away in the direction of the console room. His door suddenly flew open behind me. I jumped a little and looked back at him with a smile.

"Hi," he breathed.

"Hi." I took in his appearance and tried not to look as if I was checking him out. (Even if I was.) He was wearing only his burgundy jumper, black jeans, and black socks, his jacket and shoes were abandoned and probably lying on the floor in his room. "How are you?"

"I'm... fine. You?"

"Alright. Bad headache, though."

The Doctor smiled and his shoulders seemed to relax. "Oh, you haven't left yet. Fantastic."

"Yeah."

We stood in awkward silence for a minute or two until the Doctor swallowed and swept his arm back. One of his eyebrows raised in questioning as he took a half step backwards. "Did you... want to come in?"

"S-Sure," I squeaked.

I took a cautious step forward, my eyes flicking nervously over the Doctor's face. He smiled partially and opened the door wider so I could walk through. Crossing my arms over my stomach, I stepped through the doorway and into his room for the first time.

My mouth fell open as I looked around his room. The walls were painted a blue that was only slightly darker than the TARDIS exterior. He had a large, mahogany bed frame placed in the center of the room and pressed against a wall, and his bedsheets were dark blue and white. At the foot of his bed was a large, black trunk with a gold lock on it.

Scattered over the walls were small polaroid pictures of some of his earlier companions. Susan Foreman, Barbara, and Ian smiled sweetly at me from a black and white photo just above and to the right of the Doctor's bed. Beneath it was a picture of me and the same trio of companions. Then there were pictures of me with Jamie, Victoria, Zoe, Jo, Liz, Alistair, Sarah, Leela, both Romana's, Adric, Nyssa, Tegan, Turlough, Peri, Mel, Ace, Grace, Charley, Rose, and Jack. On the other side of his bed were pictures of me with every incarnation he had been, except for One and the War Doctor. Beneath those was a picture of his daughter Susan with two other girls, one having bouncy blonde hair and the other with dark brown skin and luscious brown hair. And beneath that was a picture of me, looking only slightly older, with the three girls huddled around me.

A small metal desk faced the wall that was opposite his door. There was a black chair with wheels resting next to it and a small stack of papers on top of the desk. Scattered on the floor were yellow and white pages with Gallifreyan writing on them. Identical papers were pinned to the wall above his desk.

"It's looks nice," I said honestly. "I like it."

"Thanks," he answered, shutting the door with a soft click.

"What does all that writing say? Are they notes or something?"

"Or something." The Doctor walked past me, his feet padding softly on the hardwood floor. He stopped, then turned and approached me. His fingers curled and uncurled as he gazed down at me. "About last night, with Margaret. Blon, actually..."

"Yes?"

"Are you alright? Your neck..."

My hands flew to my throat and I found that the skin was sore to the touch. I winced, but kept my hands around my neck. The Doctor's eyes softened and he slowly brushed my hands aside.

"May I?"

I nodded wordlessly. He gently undid my scarf and slipped it from around my neck, letting it fall to the floor. Then his hands brushed against my skin with long, gentle, caresses. My breath left me in an instant, his attention to my neck making my stomach twist and turn like I was on a roller coaster.

"She hurt you," he growled.

"I'm fine," I insisted, bringing one hand up to touch his shoulder.

"She could have killed you. And I wouldn't have been able to stop her."

I swallowed and tried to catch the Doctor's gaze with mine. Our eyes finally met and I smiled warmly at him. Slowly, like time itself had been altered, he leaned down. His fingers curled against my neck and drifted up to my temples. Then his lips touched mine and I felt like flying.

For a fleeting moment, I could hear his thoughts in my head. Into the kiss he poured his relief, his love, his worry, and his passion. His hearts were crying and singing and hurting, all for me.

My hands came up to wrap around his neck and pull him closer. I smiled, despite the kiss and curled my fingers around his short hair and held him close.

Then he pulled back, as breathless as I was. Our hands were frozen on each other's faces. I looked up into his eyes and smiled as I gasped for breath.

"I can't lose you," he whispered against my mouth. "I can't bear to lose you. You are the only thing in this universe that I truly care about, Diana. And I if I lose you, I have nothing. Can you understand that?"

"I think I'm starting to."

He pressed a brief, yet loving kiss to my lips and pulled back again. "I'd like to look at your neck again," he said seriously. "You don't have any bruises yet, surprisingly."

I nodded, kneeling to grab my scarf. I had just grabbed it when a stinging sensation started near my wound from the Auton blast. I dropped it in shock as the pain increased. Standing, I watched in awe as gold light wrapped around my arms. The Doctor's eyes turned sad. I looked at him and let out a breath. I didn't feel ready. I didn't want to leave so soon after everything that happened.

"So soon?" he asked.

"I don't want to."

"I know."

I fought against the urge to jump to another time and another Doctor. "I could hear you in my head," I blurted. "When you kissed me. You said... Did I misunderstand?"

"Misunderstand what?"

"I heard you say that you loved me," I said slowly.

"I have for many years," he responded as I faded away.

I started to reach out for him, wishing that I didn't have to leave just when we started to get close. I brushed my fingers against my lips and smiled. My skin tingled and the memory of our kiss warmed my heart. I didn't like leaving, but at least I had a series of wonderful memories to remember him by.

The sound of the TARDIS materializing echoed in my ears as a simple white console appeared around me. A woman's voice with an Australian accent sounded close to my ear. I took my glasses off and rubbed my eyes as the gold light around my body brightened.

"Planet Earth."

"So it seems."

Five's tenor voice made me smile. I slid my glasses on again and looked around. I had appeared in the corner of the console room and no one had noticed me yet.

"You didn't set the coordinates for here by any chance?" Turlough asked.

"No."

"When is it?" Tegan asked.

"March the fourth," the Doctor replied as he looked down at the console to check. "1215."

"Is it England?"

"Yes, it is."

I wanted to interrupt, but wasn't sure how to do it. Worry set into my heart as I realized that I had no idea what was going to happen. I had only been able to watch so many serials of the t.v. show before I was transported to the Doctor's universe. Does he know that I have limited knowledge? I wondered. God, I hope so.

"Could this be a Black Guardian trap?"

"I don't think so," the Doctor said as he walked around the console, "but something certainly isn't right."

"You're not going out there?"

"Just for a moment." The Doctor walked back to his original spot at the console and pressed the button that would open the TARDIS doors. Then he turned towards me. "Diana!"

I blushed and smiled. "Hi."

"Well, this is a pleasant surprise," he said with a grin. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you."

He stepped forward and reached over my shoulder to grab a coat, his eyes never looking away. Tegan came up behind him and took the coat from his hand. With a gentle smile, the Doctor bent his arm and extended it in my direction.

"Shall we?"

I nodded and put my arm through his bent elbow. He pushed the door open and stepped out with Tegan and Turlough close behind us. Just outside of the TARDIS was a group of people staring at us in fear.

"That man looks distinctly unfriendly," Tegan pointed out, gesturing to a ragged looking man a few feet away on a horse.

"So he does," the Doctor agreed.

The man on the horse sneered, "My liege, I have no need of aid from Lucifer."

"Lucifer?" the Doctor asked.

I looked up at him in confusion and shrugged my shoulders. "I don't actually know anything this time," I told him.

Tegan pointed to a man wearing a crown and elaborate furs at the front of the crowd. "Is that the King?"

"Without a doubt."

"Damn you cringing caitiffs," the king said mockingly. "We tell you there's naught to fear. Do our demons come to visit us? Bid them attend us."

"Demons?" The Doctor looked down at me and shook his head. "Very odd indeed."

"Makes a nice change for you not to take everything in your stride, I must say."

The Doctor looked back at Tegan pleadingly. "Must you?"

"Too right," she answered.

"He even seems pleased to see us. A king welcoming demons."

"Which king?"

"Oh, Tegan," the Time Lord sighed. "1215? King John, of course."

"The one who lost something in the wash?"

"Well, you could put it like that. This particular shirt turned out to be the Crown Jewels, but that's next year. We're still three months away from Magna Carta."

Three knights stepped forward and surrounded us. They pushed us forward and made us stand in front of the king. "Welcome, our demons," King John said invitingly. He grinned and something about his appearance seemed off to me. "Name yourselves. Can this be Lilith?" he asked in reference to Tegan.

"Her name is Tegan, your Majesty. This is Turlough." The Doctor looked at me and seemed like he was trying to discover something. His eyes widened and his hand waved in the air as he tried to decide what to say. "This is my, uh..."

"Your?" the King repeated. "Your lady demon? Your hellish wife?"

The Doctor nodded wordlessly, his cheeks flushed. "Close enough," he muttered. "I am the Doctor. And we are not demons."

"You're too modest, Lord Doctor." The king waved his hand and gestured to the raised platform behind the crowd. "Come, rejoice with us in a trial by combat. Come, make way for our demons. Let them be seated by us."

The king then stepped closer to me, tilting his head slightly as a disturbing smile moved across his face. He took my free hand and pressed it to his lips. "Your husband seems to have forgotten to tell me your name, Lady Demon."

"M-My name is Diana," I answered slowly. "And I'm really not a lady or a demon."

"I am afraid I do not believe you, Lady Diana. Your name is that of the heathen Roman's goddess. Surely you are a demon."

I tightened my fingers around the Doctor's coat sleeve and resisted the urge to pull my other hand free of the king's grasp. As disturbing and odd as the king seemed, I had no right to disrespect him. Or else I'd end up without a head.

The Doctor cleared his throat and offered King John a false smile. "Do for give me, your Majesty, but shouldn't we take our seats?"

The king released my hand and smiled. "You are quite right, Lord Doctor. Come!"

Three people gave up their seats by the king and moved somewhere else. The Doctor, Tegan, and Turlough had taken their seats already but I found that there was no room for me. I asked the Doctor what I should do and he waved me over.

"Just play along," he whispered in my ear, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me onto his lap. "I don't know what else to do."

I put my arms around his neck and sighed. His arms tightened around my waist and pulled me closer. I shivered as a cold breeze swept through the field, cuddling into his chest for extra warmth. The Doctor smiled reassuringly at me and gently kissed my forehead.

I watched in fascination as the two knights on horseback put their helmets on and urged their horses forward. The knight who had sneered at us upon exiting the TARDIS managed to knock the other knight off his horse with his lance. While the fallen knight, who had lost his helmet during the fall, tried to catch his breath and recover from the blow, the other man dismounted his horse and drew his sword. I worriedly gripped the Doctor's coat lapels.

"Do something," I whispered.

The knight raised his sword and was about to bring it down when one of the men who had given up his seat leaped to his feet. "Sire!" he cried.

The Doctor moved my arms away from his neck. "Your Majesty," he started respectfully, "if I may make so bold."

"Hold!" the king ordered. "Lord Doctor?"

"If this is trial by combat, your Majesty, there's clearly a victor and a vanquished. Must blood be shed?"

King John nodded. "We take your counsel, O demon. Spare him."

As the company was escorted to the large mansion at the edge of the field, the knight who had knocked the other from his horse approached me. He had taken his helmet off to reveal shaggy, dirty, tangled light brown hair that reached his shoulders and had a matching beard. His skin was marked with scars and he looked althogether evil.

"Mademoiselle, I am awed by your beauty," he said, bowing before me and smiling.

I looked up at the Doctor, who seemed amused, and then looked back at the knight. "Uh, t-thank you! You're very kind."

He stood and quickly grabbed my right hand, pressing it against his lips and humming softly. "I am Sir Gilles Estram, Mademoiselle Diana, the king's champion."

"That's... great," I answered slowly, feeling flustered.

"I am the best swordsman in all of France. The king honors me greatly by having me in his company."

I smiled politely. "You speak English very well, Sir Estram. That's very impressive."

"I am a learned man, Mademoiselle. It was necessary for me to learn the language."

A strong wind blew across the field again, sending chills up and down my back. The Doctor tightened his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to his side. Sir Estram's face turned worried and he took another step closer to me.

"Is the Mademoiselle cold? I shall give her my finest furs."

"Oh, that's not necessary. Really. But thank you very much."

"No, no. I insist."

The Doctor cleared his throat and smiled kindly at the knight. "Perhaps we should settle this inside. My friends are getting cold and we shouldn't keep the king waiting."

Sir Estram nodded and walked away almost immediately. He caught up to the king and started speaking to him in hushed tones. I watched them in silent interest, feeling sure that I had seen Estram once before.

Once everyone had reached the mansion and headed for the dining hall, Sir Estram caught up to me and the Doctor, shoving rudely past Turlough and Tegan. He had a large, black fur coat in his hands and he offered it to me insistently.

"Thank you very much, Sir Estram, but I couldn't take this from you. Don't you need it for yourself?"

He gave the Doctor a smirk. "Your Mademoiselle Demon is very kind, Sir Doctor. You are lucky to have her for your wife."

"Yes, I am. You're quite right."

"But I insist that the Mademoiselle Diana takes my coat. I would hate for the beautiful lady to be cold in this mansion."

I felt my face turn bright red and quickly took the coat from his hands. He grabbed one of my hands before I could pull back and kissed it gently. I disliked the amount of attention he was giving me and wasn't sure how to respond to his flirtation.

"Thank you very much, sir," I mumbled awkwardly.

"Please excuse us, Sir Estram," the Doctor said. "We should be going to our new room now."

A young page who had been standing off to the side bowed solemnly and told us to follow him. He bowed respectfully at Sir Estram before leading us away.

"How can they live in such cold?" Tegan asked as we walked through the cold stone hallways.

The Doctor responded, "By eating lots of food."

"Here, Tegan," I said as I wrapped my borrowed coat around her shoulders. "You're probably colder than I am."

She smiled. "Thank you."

I saw that Turlough and fallen behind and started to go after him, but the Doctor grabbed my hand and pulled me forward. The page gestured to the door in front of us and then left. The Doctor nodded with a smile. "Thank you," he told the page as the door closed. "Oh. Where's Turlough?"

"He was looking at something, I think," I told him.

Tegan pointed to the straw bed on the floor in front of us. "Look at the size of that bed!"

"Hmm. Another way of keeping warm."

Tegan rolled her eyes. "What are we doing here, anyway, Doctor?"

"We were invited for a meal."

"You know what I mean."

The Doctor grabbed a large animal skin from the bed and handed it to Tegan. "Here, put this around you. Diana should take that black coat back so she doesn't insult her new friend."

I hid behind my short curtain of hair and blushed. "He's not my friend," I mumbled. "Besides, he sort of creeps me out."

"He's not exactly pleasant looking, is he?"

"I feel violated just by him looking at me. And I'd really like it if he would stop kissing my hand."

The Doctor grabbed my hand and rubbed his thumb over my knuckles. He smiled warmly at me and leaned forward to kiss my cheek. Then he grabbed the black coat Tegan was holding out behind me.

"I promise we'll leave as soon as possible." He wrapped the coat around my shoulders. "But I have a feeling that something's wrong here."

I tilted my head to the side. "What do you mean?"

"March the fourth, 1215. The King takes the oath today."

"What oath?" I asked.

"To take the cross as a Crusader. But he did that in London."

"Who says?" Tegan asked, her tone sounding annoyed and tired.

The Doctor stepped away from me and started glancing around the room. "Your history books, actually."

Tegan sat down in the edge of the bed. She shrugged and suggested, "Perhaps they got that bit wrong."

"No, no," the Doctor responded. "It's too well documented."

"Oh, who cares?"

The Doctor gave Tegan a scolding expression. "I care."

"All I care about is getting back to the TARDIS, where it's nice and warm. No wonder they forced him to sign Magna Carta. Bet there was something in it about underheated housing."

"He wasn't."

"Wasn't what?"

"Forced into signing Magna Carta. He was as much for it as anyone."

"Now look, Doctor, I know my history," Tegan answered.

"Do you?"

"Are you saying King John was a good man?"

"Well, given the times he lives in, yes. But don't take my word for it. You'll be able to judge for yourself. Nobody forced Magna Carta from him. He could have crushed that rebellion as easily as that," he said with a snap.

"But, Doctor," I started, "if he was such a good person then why is he hated so much and all that in my time? Er, modern times... I guess."

He started to answer when the door to the room swung open. One of the men who had given up a seat for us charged through the doorway.

"What have you demons made of the King?" the man demanded, his sword drawn. "He is bewitched. First he takes my whole fortune, and now he has made my lady a hostage. How can he question my loyalty? There is none more loyal than I."

The Doctor stepped in front of me, his arm moving back to wrap around my waist. I put a hand on his shoulder and hid behind his back. "We are not demons and we've done no harm to the King, or to anyone. Nor do we intend any."

"Whence come you?"

"From an outer province," the Doctor answered slowly.

"And this strange attire? Your Lady Demon wears a man's clothes. Is that not wrong?"

"Yes, well. She's special and I let her do whatever she wants." He looked back at me and smiled reassuringly before looking back at the man. "Please believe that we are friends. If you're in trouble, I would like to help if I can."

The man sheathed his sword and turned to the guards that had come in after him. "Leave us, and fetch warm vestments. And a dress for the Lady Demon.

"No, it's quite alright," the Doctor insisted. "She'll stay covered up, won't you, dear?" I nodded mutely. "There. See?"

The guards bowed and left, closing the door behind them. The man remained and stared curiously at us. "You were four."

"Uh, yes. We seem to have mislaid Turlough. But that's no matter. He should be fine." The Doctor moved his hand away from my hip and I felt an urge to grab his hand and pull it back. But I resisted the feeling and instead wrapped Sir Estram's cloak tighter around my body. "How long has the King been here?"

"Since yesterday. He is not himself. He's not as I know him."

"Well, could he be ill?"

The man scoffed. "In rude health. He rode from London yesterday, and then to a stag hunt to bring down the only kill."

"This Sir Gilles Estram?" the Doctor questioned.

"I like not this man."

"Well, I can't say I care for him much myself. None of us do. He is particularly interested in my... wife, it seems. It truly bothers me." The Doctor paused. "He is a French knight. Is he the only Frenchman with the King?"

"I know not. He has never favoured Frenchmen before this, even renegades from the King of France."

"Could Sir Gilles be bringing some pressure, some influence on the King?"

"The King is influenced by none! The King I know is resolute and firm of purpose."

The Doctor glanced at me with a furrowed brow. "When does he return to London?"

"I know not, and no word from the city. My cousin was summoned there by the King a week since, and he's not returned. Why? And why no word concerning him?"

"Your cousin was summoned to London?"

"Aye, to take the Crusader's oath."

"Today, March the fourth."

"What say you, my Lord Doctor?"

The Doctor ran a hand across his chin. "What if your guest was not the King?"

"Not the King? Then who?" the man asked incredulously.

"An imposter."

The man shook his head. "I have known and served my sovereign lord for many years. No imposter could be so like."

I could tell that the Doctor seemed to know something. He nodded once and smiled politely at the man, but there was a warning in his smile and in his eyes. "Be vigilant, my Lord. I suspect things are not what they seem."

"You are a sorcerer, surely."

"No, no, and I ask you to trust me, please."

I nodded eagerly as Tegan added, "You can trust us."

"You will join my household at meat, then."

The Doctor grinned. "Thank you, we would be delighted."

"When it pleases you."

Then the man left, which meant that the three of us could relax a little. Only a few minutes later, the two guards re-entered the room with a large fur cloak for Tegan and the Doctor. I was relieved to find that no dress had been provided for me.

"Warmer, Tegan?"

The Australian nodded at the Doctor. "Yes. Now shouldn't we find out what's happened to Turlough?"

I felt guilty for momentarily forgetting about Turlough. But the Doctor only nodded and didn't seem too worried. "We will."

Tegan sat down on the edge of the bed again. "I don't feel safe here."

"Me neither," I added, pulling the fur up around my neck and wincing in pain when it rubbed against my skin. I just managed to stifle my harsh intake of breath so as not to worry Tegan or the Doctor.

"A while longer, then we'll go." Then the Doctor looked at me, his gaze firm and scolding, yet not angry. "You're hurt."

I shook my head. "No."

"Yes, you are."

"How do you know?" I asked. "I haven't even started bruising yet."

He smiled worriedly and stepped closer to me, brushing his hand against my cheek. "I always know. Now let me look."

I nodded and slid the cloak down to my shoulders. "It's my neck."

"What happened?" he asked as he looked over my throat.

"Your future. There was a monster who seemed to think that using me as leverage was a great idea. Nearly killed me. Thank God the TARDIS saved me."

"I don't think there's any internal damage. Your throat will be sore for a few days or weeks, depending on how badly you were hurt. But the old girl seems to have healed you pretty well already. We'll just keep an eye on you and make sure you don't get worse."

"How did the TARDIS heal me? She's done it before, but I don't understand how."

"She likes you," was his only explanation. Then he pulled the fur cloak up to my neck and smiled. "Now let's go join the king."

The meal was well underway by the time Tegan, the Doctor, and I reached the dining hall. I looked around nervously, hoping that something bad wasn't going to occur and that I wouldn't get in the way if something did happen.

King John smiled as we entered the room. "Our demons, welcome."

The Doctor bowed and Tegan and I curtsied. Then the Doctor grabbed my hand and squeezed it comfortingly.

"Come join us."

We took our seats next to King John. Tegan took the chair farthest away from the king, the Doctor sitting next to her, which left me with the chair next to the king. Just as I started to sit down, Sir Estram cane up behind me and took my right hand.

"Mademoiselle," he said softly. "You are warmer now?"

"Y-Yes. Thank you."

He released my hand and pulled my chair out. I looked at the Doctor, who nodded. Trying not to appear worried or nervous about the knight's attention towards me, I sat down.

"You look quite warm," he whispered in my ear.

"Sir, please. I'm... I'm flattered by your complements, but I'm not interested."

"Isn't that a shame?" he asked as he walked away.

I bowed my head and covered my mouth with my right hand. I reached my left under the table and grabbed the Doctor's leg. He leaned close and put a hand against my cheek, his eyes burning with anger.

"Diana, are you alright?"

"Sir Estram," I whispered.

"Yes, I heard." The Doctor's voice had turned rough and it was as if his temper had been unleashed. "I won't let him bother you, Diana. Don't worry."

"Can't we go?"

"Darling, I'm sorry. But the king seems to be an imposter. There is a terrible plot going on here and I have to fix it before history is changed. But I promise you that we will leave as soon as possible."

He leaned in and kised me, the contact over before I could even realize it had started. My head was swimming with confusion and shock. The Doctor had kissed me twice within the span of about an hour and a half and I had no idea how to react. Had I imagined kissing him before? Yes, lots of times! Had I wished that he would kiss me more than once? Of course. But that was back when he was still a fictional character I would watch on the television. This was real life now.

King John suddenly started singing. I pulled away from the Doctor and watched the king with interest. "We sing in praise of total war, against the Saracen we abhor. To free the tomb of Christ our lord, we'll put the known world to the sword. There is no glory greater than to serve with gold the Son of Man. No riches here on Earth shall see, no scutage in eternity."

When the song was over, Sir Estram stood. "And now, sire, for some additional entertainment."

A large metal object that looked liek a sarcaphagus was carried into the hall by two guards. King John clapped in earnest and smiled his haunting smile. "Bravo, our champion. And who is to delight in her embrace?"

A young man with curly red-brown hair was escorted into the hall. He looked like he had been beaten and treated very poorly. I turned to the Doctor and tugged on his arm. "Doctor, he looks horrible," I whispered.

The man who had spoken with the Doctor, Tegan, and I earlier ran to the young man's side. "Sire, this is my cousin Geoffrey de Lacy, a loyal knight. You summoned him to London but a week since to take the Crusader's oath."

"So we did, indeed we did," the king agreed. "And he has seen fit to disobey that summons."

Geoffrey shook his head. "Not so. I left your Majesty in London four hours since. You must remember."

"Must?" the king repeated.

Estram pointed a finger at the young man. "You lie. The King has been here since yesterday. Now let the maiden reward such mendacity. Prepare her."

The older man turned to beg the king. "Sire, be merciful, I beg you."

"Your cousin is guilty of lèse majesté, my lord," Sir Estram stated coldly.

"Surely he isn't," I added under my breath.

"I beg your pardon?" Estram asked.

I shook my head frantically. "Nothing."

"No, no, Mademoiselle. You spoke."

"I-I only thought that maybe we can find the truth some other way. Do we really have to kill him? He seems like a decent man."

"You do not know him, Mademoiselle."

"And you do?"

The Doctor stood before Estram could respond. "Your Majesty," he started calmly.

"What?" King John asked. "Our demon, you too would beg for mercy."

"Oh, indeed no, sire, but surely such a fate is too mild."

I looked back up at the Doctor and asked incredulously, "What? Doctor, are you insane?"

"Silence, Lady Demon! Let your husband speak."

I pressed my lips together so that I wouldn't say anything out of place to the king. The Doctor smiled and asked, "Would not boiling in oil be a more fitting end?"

"Ha! It must be a decade, our champion, since we boiled in oil. We accept your counsel, O demon."

"I thank your Majesty, but I was not suggesting alternative retribution. My interruption was provoked by shock."

What the hell is he up to? I asked myself.

"Shock?" King John repeated.

"Yes, I was quite shocked at Sir Gilles' monstrous lack of good taste."

Estram narrowed his eyes dangerously. "Who dares to question my good taste?"

"In my view, it is the worst possible taste to even think about following the King's quite remarkable performance. One just can't follow that."

"I am insulted!" the knight exclaimed. He stepped around the table, stood in the middle of the open floor, pulled one of his gloves off and threw it at the Doctor's chest.

The Doctor stepped out from around the table and removed his jacket. Tegan stood up and reached for the Doctor's arm. "Are you mad?" she hissed.

I leaned over the table. "Doctor, what are you doing? He could kill you!"

"He is said to be the best swordsman in France," the older man told the Doctor.

"Fortunately, we are in England. May I?"

Closing his mouth, the man unsheathed his sword and handed it to the Doctor. "Thank you," the Time Lord said. "I hope I don't disgrace it. And Tegan, in case of accidents-"

"Doctor, don't do it!" Tegan cried.

"In case of accidents, find Turlough."

"Doctor," I tried, "are you insane? Stop!"

"Well, well." King John grinned and clapped his hands together. "Our Champion and our demon. Have a care, Sir Gilles. Has our demon mortal life to lose?"

"I fear no hellhound," Estram snarled.

"Then set to."

"I have one request before we start, my king," Estram announced.

King John nodded. "Name it."

"If I should win, your Majesty, then I would beg a victory kiss from the Mademoiselle Diana."

"No!" the Doctor shouted. "I will not allow that. Do forgive me for being so bold, your Majesty, but my wife will not share a kiss with anyone other than myself."

"We shall see, Lord Doctor. We shall see." The king nodded and said, "Set to," once more.

Sir Estram lunged forward and the Doctor quickly parried the blow. The Doctor was able to keep Estram from killing or hurting him, but it was difficult work. Estram was the best swordsman in France, as he had said, and I was beyond worreid for the Doctor. He could take care of himself usually, but I didn't know what was going to happen.

The two started to take the fight out of the dining hall and up a flight of stairs. They reappeared on the other end of the dining hall only a few seconds later, still swinging their swords at one another. Estram lunged forward and the Doctor managed to jump out of the way just in time, but Sir Estram's sword came dangerously close to hitting the king because he stumbled forward. Angered, the knight started fighting even more furiously than before.

After one of Sir Estram's swings missed the Doctor, his sword clanged against the floor. The Doctor stepped on the sword and kicked the knight in the chest. Estram stumbled backwards, but caught himself just in time to avoid hitting the floor.

King John clapped enthusiastically. "Bravo, our demon," he complimented with an unsettling smile.

Estram then pulled a thin black tube out of his coat and held it up. His face turned blurry and started to wave for a few seconds. Then his face turned form that of Sir Estram to the Master. I gasped, hardly believing it.

The Doctor set his jaw. "You escaped from Xeriphas."

The Master smirked. "Oh, my dear Doctor, you have been naive."