Disclaimer: I own a few box sets and I don't think they count towards much.

Ok, so the action is just about to start. :D Hope you enjoy this pre-action chapter, as I like to call it. Although, truthfully, I'm not completely happy with it or with the action chapters either. Writing the Weeping Angels is unbelievably hard! And there is always so much you have to consider. Not to mention tryign to keep everyone in character. Ok, enough of me complaining. I enjoy writing anyway, even if I am a perfectionist. :) Please - enjoy (oh and please review - I promise it'll only take a minute. :P)

Fourteen

The Doctor looked up from his position on the bed as Rose entered their chambers, "Oh, that's much more practical," he proclaimed and Rose did a little twirl in the new outfit, grinning as she did.

"It's much more comfortable too," she admitted.

"Good," and the Doctor patted the bed, gesturing for Rose to sit down beside him.

"Do you think we'll get through this?" she asked seriously, sitting down beside him.

"Course we will," the Doctor replied, as though it was obvious.

"But?" Rose asked. From experience she knew there was always a 'but' or an 'it's just'. It was the latter this time.

"It's just the Weeping Angels can be a dangerous species."

"Dalek dangerous?" Rose asked, as though there was a scale on which such things were measured.

"No, no. They're relatively harmless, you just need to... keep an eye on them," he grinned childishly, not being able to resist the pun.

Rose simply rolled her eyes. "Then why aren't we out trapping these angels now? It's not like you to tell everyone to rest up. It's always running with you. Not that I'm complaining; it's nice to relax a while."

"We relaxed on that pleasure planet," he pointed out.

"Yeah, but..."

"But I know what you mean. And everyone needs to be rested up. A tired person blinks more and I don't want to risk that."

Rose nodded in understanding, "But we'll be alright, yeah? All of us?"

"Only time will tell," the Doctor replied seriously. "Surely you should know that, by now?"

"Yeah," and Rose leaned into the Doctor, resting her head on his shoulder. "Yeah, I know."

* * *

Arthur glanced up briefly as Merlin entered his room, without knocking; not that the Prince expected any different from his manservant.

"I thought you were with Gwen, warning the kitchen staff," Arthur asked casually.

"And I thought you were with your father," Merlin retorted swiftly.

Arthur shrugged, "His dismissed me sooner that I thought. He's still upset about..."

"Yeah, I know," Merlin nodded.

"Why are you here, Merlin?" the Prince's tone was soft.

"I... I just didn't want to be... I didn't want to spend time alone in my chambers. There are too many reminders, still," he replied.

"Of course," Arthur replied, with a slight nod of his head. There was a moment of silence between them. Merlin got as far as wondering if he should do some cleaning before Arthur spoke again.

"I'm sorry about before, Merlin," Arthur told him. "I just overreacted. It's just..." he trailed off.

"It's ok. I understand, sire."

"You do?" Arthur looked his servant in the eye, shocked.

"Of course. You just wanted to be the hero, as per usual," Merlin stated and Arthur's eyes widened. It wasn't as if Arthur cared that much about him. Did he? "You didn't want me to be the one risking myself. That's your responsibility and you didn't want anyone else to steal your glory. Least of all me."

"You really shouldn't quit your day job, Merlin," Arthur muttered.

"What?"

"You complete and utter... do you really think that was why I didn't want you out there risking your neck?"

"I... uh..."

"Of course not! Merlin, I lik... I care about you, alright. I don't want anything to happen to you," the last sentence he whispered and Merlin's mouth opened in a perfect 'O'. So he did care.

"Oh."

"But it's only because it's hard to find a decent manservant," Arthur rushed after Merlin had said so little. "I would hate to find another one at this time of the year and -"

Merlin cut him off, before he could ruin it, "I care about you too, Arthur," and he grinned, widely and Arthur couldn't help smile back slightly. "Well," Merlin began again, "now that we have that cleared up, did you want me to get your armour?"

Arthur sighed slightly and ran his hand across his face before looking up at his ever so loyal servant. "Merlin?"

"Sire?"

"Just... look after yourself out there?"

Merlin looked straight into Arthur's eyes. "I will, my lord."

Arthur nodded, satisfied. "Good. Now, you can stop 'my lording' me and get that armour."

Merlin grinned and nodded his head in a slight bow, "Of course, my lord," he replied cheekily.

* * *

"Finished?" Morgana asked of Gwen as her maid when she returned.

"Yes, my lady," Gwen replied. "They all know to stay away."

Morgana smiled fondly, "Thank you."

Gwen nodded and rushed over to remake Morgana's bed; despite the fact it was already immaculately done.

"Gwen?" Morgana frowned.

"I'm just..."

"You're worried," Morgana could tell even before Gwen paused in her hurried work and nodded again slightly.

"How can you not be?"

"I am a bit," she admitted. "But I have faith in the Doctor and Rose," Morgana said simply, even it wasn't entirely true. She wasn't going to tell Gwen of her own fears.

"You think we'll get through this?"

"I am sure we will," and Morgana promised with a smile as Gwen nodded, accepting it. "Now, we should rest up."

"Of course, my lady," Gwen replied. "I'll be in the antechamber if you need me."

Morgana nodded and watched as Gwen walked off. Sighing she looked out the window and hoped she could keep her promise.

* * *

Not long after the clock had chimed three in the afternoon, the group of six met up in the courtyard outside the kitchens.

"You ready for this?" the Doctor asked of them. And glancing around he received nods in response. It seemed as though that was all they could manage. The Time Lord suspected that this was the first alien encounter they had experienced.

"You know to head to safety when they arrive," Rose added in and couldn't help but notice and look Arthur and Merlin shared.

"We know," Arthur managed to say.

The Doctor nodded, "Well, good luck then," he said, turning to Rose and smiling at her in a final sort of way. "Metal wands at the ready," he told them, making it sound like something from a futuristic Harry Potter. Despite the situation, Rose had to stifle a laugh at the mental image.

"Ok," he muttered the tone in his voice was one of finality. Without waiting for a response, the Doctor then commanded them to press the buttons he had previous shown them.

They did.

No one heard the telepathic frequency which was being emitted, but they all knew that any moment the angels would appear. And it would begin.