Disclaimer: I only own the plot... nothing else... oh and the silly made up names of certain mythical creatures... I own that too. :P

Enjoy. :) Also hope I did an OK job at characterising a certain aforementioned mythical creature. ;)

Eleven

"Doctor, welcome," the voice was no longer inside his head, but echoing around the large cavern.

"Who are you?" the Doctor shouted back. "Show yourself!"

"As you wish," the voice replied and something about its tone made Rose shudder.

"Merlin?" she asked, turning and frowning at the young boy. "Who have you taken us to see?"

"Why don't you take a look," Merlin answered with a small smile.

"Wha..." she trailed off as her eyes landed on the giant beast in front of her, now perched skilfully on a large ledge. "Oh My God. Is that?"

"You'd know it as a dragon," the Doctor stated, his eyes boring straight back into the eyes of the creature.

"Time Lord," the 'dragon' responded evenly and Rose's mouth dropped.

"Doctor? How does it... he... how does he know us? How does he know you?" Rose asked, stepping forward to stand beside her companion.

"He knows you?" Merlin questioned out loud to no one in particular.

"Oh, he doesn't know me specifically," the Doctor answered, not bothering to turn and face the young sorcerer. "He merely knows of my race."

"You're race?"

"He's a Time Lord," Rose told Merlin, flashing him a brief reassuring smile. "But, Doctor, how can this... Dragon know of the Time Lords? Wait, is it even a dragon?"

"Course he isn't. Dragons don't really exist," the Doctor told them, as though it were obvious.

"Don't I, Doctor?" the giant creature spoke for the first time in a few moments, a tiny grin gracing its face.

Sensing the beast was playing with them, the Doctor simply grinned back. "You don't exist as a dragon, that's for sure."

"Sorry, but, are you certain?" Merlin asked.

"He is," Rose answered for the Doctor.

"Dragon is just a word that the humans found for you when your species first came to this planet," the Doctor explained.

"Only a Time Lord would know that," the creature stated. "Go on then, Doctor. Tell your friend what I really am!" Its tone was daring.

"Vorkey," the Doctor stated bluntly.

"Is that their species?" Rose asked and received a nod in reply.

"Never thought I'd see one of you in the flesh and trapped beneath the castle. Why aren't you free?"

"The Vorkey came here centuries ago, looking for peace. But we were hunted," and the creature shot a quick glare at Merlin. "I am the last of my kind, Doctor. As you are of yours."

A flicker of pain shot across the Doctor's face and Rose took his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "What is your name?" the Doctor demanded, changing the topic.

"I am known as Kilgharrah."

"I am the Doctor, this is Rose and behind me there is Merlin," the Doctor said, automatically gesturing to each of them in turn.

"I am already acquainted with the young warlock," Kilgharrah said. "And I am sorry for your loss," he solemnly bowed his head. Merlin didn't reply, but knew he spoke of Gaius.

"Right, now that the introductions have finished," the Doctor started. "We need your help."

The Vorkey began to laugh, "Help? Of course you need my help! You always need my help."

"I've asked him for guidance a couple of times," Merlin admitted to the Doctor and Rose, who nodded. "Not that it was very helpful, mind you."

Ignoring both Kilgharrah and Merlin's comments, the Doctor continued. "This place is being overrun with the Weeping Angels."

"Overrun?" Rose whispered. "I thought you said there was only 4 of them."

"I was trying to make it sound impressive and urgent," the Doctor whispered pointedly back.

"Oh, sorry."

"Point is, these creatures are taking people away. Sending them back into time. It has to stop."

"What exactly do you want me to do about them? I've heard of the Angels. The Lonely Assassins. Foraging though all of time and condemning creatures to live to death," the creature replied.

"We need advice," Rose cut in. "Merlin brought us here and said you could help."

"Of course he did," and the Vorkey chuckled.

"I know you can help," Merlin told him.

"Can I now?"

"Listen to me, Kilgharrah," the Doctor said. "If you don't help us, this city will fall prey to the Angels. Camelot will fall." The creature seemed to consider this. "I know of the young sorcerer's destiny. I know of his greatness with Arthur. If you let the Weeping Angels ruin this place, no destiny will be fulfilled."

"And you won't be freed," Merlin cut in.

"I will be freed!" Kilgharrah roared with an angry shake of his head. "You have promised."

"Help us now and Merlin will free you," the Doctor said, glancing a look behind him at Merlin, who nodded.

"Fine," the creature agreed, his eyes flitting between the Doctor and Merlin. "You have the power yourselves to stop this. To stop them."

"We do?"

"Of course," he replied, as though it were obvious. "Combine your gifts Doctor, with those of the young warlock. Combine the worlds of science and magic."

"But magic is a science," the Doctor protested. "Clarke's third law!"

Kilgharrah stared blankly at him.

"Why has no one heard of Clarke!?"And Rose suppressed a giggle.

"You're magic will be strong enough, Merlin, to work on the angels. However your time will be limited," the Vorkey continued, choosing to ignore the Doctor's ramblings. "And you will not be harmed."

"How can you know that?"

"I know," he merely replied and the Doctor frowned thoughtfully. "But for now, that is all."

"What? That's it?" Rose questioned incredulously.

"I bid you farewell, Doctor, Rose. But lastly, a warning to you both. I fear your time together is limited. You choose your companions well, Time Lord. Too well, I fear and that will be their and your own downfall."

"What's that supposed to mean?" the Doctor demanded, instantly becoming protective of Rose.

"We will not meet again, I'm afraid. Good luck to you all," and Kilgharrah bowed his head, before suddenly taking off into the air. He was soon out of sight.

"Answer me!" the Doctor yelled after the creature, but he was gone. Rose glanced at the Doctor, who shot her, what he hoped, was a reassuring smile. She returned the smile, before turning to Merlin as he spoke.

"I should have warned you that he's not very helpful."

"On the contrary," the Doctor countered. "He was very helpful."

"What did you mean, though? He's not a Dragon? What did you say he was?" Merlin asked.

"A Vorkey. They were the keepers of the skies of Arcadia," the Doctor explained. "His home has gone now, too," and the Time Lord, turned away a haunted look, once again, in his eyes.

"So he's a different species?" Merlin questioned further, not fully understanding the Doctor's comments.

"Yes," Rose answered.

"Like the Angels? And the Doctor?"

"Yes."

Both Merlin and Rose turned to look at the Doctor, who was now deep in thought, again. "Doctor?"

"Hmm?" he looked up. "Sorry, yes. I think I've worked it out," and he grinned.

"You have?" Merlin asked, raising an eyebrow and giving a look Gaius would have been proud of.

"Yup," the Doctor replied, popping the p.

"Can we get out of here, first?" Rose asked, suppressing a shiver.

"Yep, and then we're going to bring down some angels," he continued to grin.