Again, I'm sorry for the massive delays in posting any chapters for my stories. I'm still working on Book 2 of my Twin Lights series but I regret to say that the sequel to Heart and Soul is on hiatus due to writer's block and a lack of time. I will continue to write and post for Twin Lights and I hope that inspiration may come so that I can work on Heart and Soul 2. My main concentration, however, is on looking for a job and working on the renovations to my home. Thank you so much for your patience on this matter.
Chapter 11
For the next three days, Alex saw very little of Rose as he learned exactly how to behave as a Nere'ii slave, including how to speak to a Time Lord, how to address other slaves (especially those of a higher rank), how to stand, bow and kneel (sometimes in that exact order), and other necessary actions required of slaves in the Citadel. He also learned as much as possible of the social structure in the Citadel, when he may address someone directly in comparison to when he needed to go through a liaison like the head of the household staff (usually a highly trusted Nere'ii slave). And finally, he learned as much as he could of the physical layout of the great city, especially where the Hall of Science and Technology was.
The roleplaying parts of the training were the hardest for him as he had to behave like a slave for several hours each day. If it weren't for the look of disgust in Rega's eyes, it would have been difficult not to get angry because of the degradation. However, as the Gallifreyan pointed out each time, Alex was going to have to get used to far worse treatment in the Citadel and he needed to develop a thick skin against it or be punished for insubordination. The rest of the time was used to go over details on the mission, including the dates and times to meet with contacts.
The journey to the Citadel would be a long one. First Rega would escort him to Arcadia, which was a three day journey with very little rest time. Then Alex needed to procure transportation to the Citadel which, thanks to his forged documents, he could obtain within a couple of days. Communication back to the community would be through one of Rega's private connections, whom Alex would need to contact as soon as he was able to do so without breaking either of their covers. The contact would send a transmission to Rega's old battery-operated receiver only when it was safe to do so.
Alex insisted that they use code names to identify each other. He gave a slight smile, his eyes showing a bit of mischief in them. "How about you're Robin Hood and I'm Will Scarlet? Not the Will Scarlet from the actual legend, mind you. That would be a bit awkward being your nephew. More like the Will Scarlet in the Errol Flynn movie. Well, sort of. The characters are a little mixed up. I'm the archer and you're the swordsman. I get Maid Marian and you don't. Maybe I should be Robin Hood but then I'm not the leader of the Merry Men. I supposed that means L'trief is Little John. He's big and strong enough."
"What in the name of the Eternals are you talking about?" the Time Lord questioned.
"Robin Hood," the Nere'ii stated plainly. "You know. Sherwood Forest, Little John, Will Scarlet, Maid Marian, Sheriff of Nottingham…" He noted the utter confusion on the Shobogan's features. "And you haven't a clue what I'm talking about."
"Not even the least," Rega admitted, giving the hybrid a look that requested an explanation.
"Robin Hood is an old Earth legend. He was a nobleman whose title was stolen from him. He saw that the people were being oppressed so he decided to become a bandit. He stole from the rich and gave what he stole to the poor, all in the name of justice against tyranny. He had a band of cohorts and they were call the Merry Men. Among the Merry Men were a tall, muscular man they called Little John and a swordsman named Will Scarlet, who was also Robin's nephew according to the original stories. Maid Marian was Robin's love interest. She was a noblewoman of great strength and conviction. The Sheriff of Nottingham was the bad guy. He would overtax the people in the name of Prince John, who was the brother to King Richard of England. Richard was away from England fighting a war so he was unable to prevent his brother from manipulating the people for his own greed and power. And Robin Hood and his Merry Men took refuge from arrest in Sherwood Forest. The stories, like most legends, are partially based on fact. There was a Prince John who was the brother to King Richard who was away from England to fight a war. And Prince John was reportedly a bit of a tyrant. But there's no proof that Robin Hood and the others actually ever existed."
The Shobogan smiled slightly. "I can see how you would make the correlation between this legend and my own cause. Very well. I'll be Robin Hood. You'll be Will Scarlet. I'll make sure that your contact in the Citadel knows the code names." He wasted no time and proceeded to send an encrypted message using the antiquated transmitter Alex had noted the first time he'd entered Rega's pagt'horiol.
On the day of his departure, Alex garbed himself appropriately for his mission. He was dressed in a long sleeve white tunic and a loose fitting long maroon vest which hung over red trousers, all of which was hidden under a brown robe accented with yellow thread. Atop his head was a turban-like hat which matched the rest of his outfit. On his feet was a pair of dirty brown boots. The clothing was very typical of what someone of the lower classes would wear in the cities on Gallifrey.
Rose sighed as she regarded her love. She'd been fully informed of the time frame in which to expect a word from Alex and knew that the whole mission was going to take a lot longer than at first anticipated. She knew that it would take a lot more than a week for Alex to get in good with his new "master" and to get the information they needed to stop the deadly disease from continuing to slowly wipe all people of human ancestry from their community. With the journey there, the mission itself, and the journey back, it looked like this excursion was going to be more like five or six weeks. It didn't help in the least that she had a nagging feeling in her gut that something bad was going to happen.
"I know. I know," the hybrid conceded, knowing that the blonde woman wasn't pleased in the least with this development. "And I know that this is just rehashing what I've already told you but we've run out of options to save our people. I can't cure this disease, the only cure is in the Citadel…"
"And the only person who has any chance of getting the cure is you," she finished. "That doesn't mean I like this any more than I did the first time you explained it."
He gently took her shoulders. "I'll be fine. Rega's well-prepared me for what to expect and how to get what we need. He has a friend in the Citadel who can help me as well. And you'll hear from me just as soon as I'm able." Seeing the concerned expression on her features, he knew that there was something else bothering her. "What is it? Bad Wolf?"
She exhaled in frustration. "I had a dream last night. You were in a dark room and you were in pain and scared… and desperate… You weren't yourself. And Nona… she called me to her pagt'horiol and she said she had the same vision." Tears started to form in her eyes as she recalled the memory. "Alex… don't go."
"I have to. You know that. Hundreds of people are going to die from this disease if I don't. And I seriously doubt the Time Lords are just going to use it on our people. Eventually they're going to turn it on every human and Nere'i who doesn't fit their vision of society. We need to have the cure if that happens."
"I just want you to be careful and come back to me."
"I will," he assured. "Not even the mighty Time Lord Empire can keep me from returning." He paused thoughtfully. "Rose, there's something I've wanted to do for a while now. And given the circumstances now is as good as a time as any, even if it isn't the most ideal situation."
"What is it?" she asked.
"I wanted to do this the human way but, given that isn't really an option… Well, it was more of a mix of Gallifreyan tradition and human tradition…"
Rose gave a slight smile, already anticipating what he was saying. "What is on your mind, Alex?"
"First of all, I wouldn't do this without going through the proper channels, which I already did. I mean, I did get permission according to Gallifreyan tradition. I was going to complete this according to human tradition when we were in Vienna but then the time scoop happened and…"
She took his hands to gain his attention and imbue confidence to him. "Alex… Gallifreyan tradition is fine."
He nodded. "Okay. In that case, come with me." He gently took her hand and guided her to Rega's pagt'horiol, requesting to enter. "Wait here," he instructed Rose before entering the abode.
"I see you're ready," Rega commented. "Your supplies are by the entrance." He noted the gleam in Alex's eyes. "Something on your mind?"
"Indeed, Lord Rega. I know that I am not following appropriate procedures concerning this matter but, given that I am about to depart, I ask for lenience and expedience."
"'Lord Rega'?" the Shobogan replied with a hint of amusement. "Alex, we aren't in that sort of relationship, despite the training you went through the last couple of days. What's on your mind?"
"Rose is outside waiting and I want you to act as a witness and to give your approval."
Rega grinned broadly at his words, deducing what the hybrid was doing. "My witness and approval?"
"You are the head of this clan, are you not?"
"I suppose that I am. It's just so very formal of you. All right, then. You have my permission and approval. Bring her in and I'll be a witness."
Alex smiled in amusement before inviting Rose into the pagt'horiol. He then bowed to her. "Rose Marian Tyler, having obtained approval from Lord Rega and your parents, I hereby make a request that we be bonded, forming a new house for our descendants. In other words… will you marry me?"
The blonde smiled widely at his request before looking to Rega. "Umm… how…"
"Just answer him," he instructed. When she still seemed uncertain how to reply, he gave a slight snort. "Oh, for the Eternals' sake, woman! Say yes!"
"Yes!" she blurted out, smiling widely at her beloved. "Yes, Alex! I'll marry you."
The two laughed in relief as they kissed passionately, so much so that Rega found himself gently prying the two apart.
"Since you're being so formal, do you want commitment bracelets made?" the Gallifreyan questioned.
"Commitment bracelets?" Alex and Rose questioned simultaneously.
"It's a rural Gallifreyan tradition," he explained. "Typically, the head of a clan or house gives couples commitment bracelets to show their devotion to each other. Since I am the head of this community, the task of providing the bracelets falls to me."
"In our former universe, a Gallifreyan groom presents a medallion to his fiancée, which represented a merging of their houses," Alex explained.
"And I assume the medallion is engraved with the new crest of the merged houses," Rega surmised. "The same is done with commitment bracelets."
"On Earth, the groom presents an engagement ring when he proposes," Rose added.
Rega laughed slightly. "Well, make up your mind. Which, if any, is it going to be?"
"Well, the engagement ring that I was going to give Rose is still back on Earth. And this is a different planet with a different culture…" Alex hinted to Rose with a grin. "And I've already come up with a crest for our new house."
"You have?" Rose queried.
"Yeah, I made it for the ring you were supposed to get in Vienna," he answered, scratching his ear as he spoke. "I could quickly draw it out so that Rega can have it engraved on the commitment bracelets for us."
"Works for me," she agreed.
Rega looked on them with amusement. "It's settled then. Alex, you draw your house crest before we leave and I'll have the bracelets ready when you return."
"I'll get right on it," the Doctor replied. He gave Rose a loving kiss before moving towards the table in the center of the pagt'horiol. Locating a blank piece of parchment, he carefully recreated the Gallifreyan design that he had on the engagement ring, including the roses on each side. Finishing his work, he presented it to Rose. "So… what do you think?"
The blond regarded the design, her fingers tracing the crest. "It's beautiful. What does it mean?"
"It's an integration of our names," he answered gently. "I figure that works since neither of us belonging to a formal Gallifreyan house."
"It's perfect," Rose told him, returning the parchment with a loving smile.
Rega looked between the two, wishing that he didn't have to intrude on the moment. "If Alex is going to make to Arcadia in time for the transit to the Citadel, we need to get on our way soon."
The Doctor looked on the design he'd drawn before handing it to Rega. "You'll handle this?"
"They'll be ready for you when you get back," the Gallifreyan assured him.
Nodding with gratefulness, Alex again approached his beloved. "I have to go."
"I know," Rose answered softly, wishing the moment would continue for a little longer. "Be careful and come back to me."
"I will," he stated emphatically. "When I get back, I'm marrying you, Rose Marion Tyler. I promise."
Pulling slowly away, she allowed Alex to collect his provisions before walking with him to the pagt'horiol's entrance, Rega preparing himself in silence. Kissing her fiancé once again, she wished him good luck and then watched quietly as he and Rega strode away from her. Only when she had left her sight completely did she slowly returned to the pagt'horiol she and Alex shared. Lowering herself into their ground-level bed, she pulled his pillow into her arms and wept into it, wishing that the ominous feeling of dread she had about the mission would go away.