Disclaimer: I merely am borrowing the below characters from the BBC. The plot, however and certain names of certain mythical beasts are also mine. :P
And now on to chapter 17. A smashing chapter with some lovely writing, in which Uther has the Doctor and Rose rewarded. Also in which there aren't any swallows, though I think you can hear a starling... Ok, ok - no more Monty Python.
Anyway, thanks must go to pachysam once again, who gave me the idea of including the "dragon" once again. It's just a brief bit, but thank you all the same. Thanks also to all those who have reviewed, alerted and favourited. Also for those who are interested - this is the third last chapter. I have one more plus an epilogue. Please - Enjoy!
Seventeen
"They're gone?" Uther looked steadily at the Doctor, before turning his eyes to his son. Arthur nodded.
"We were able to interfere with the tele-"
"We were able to freeze them, Sire," Rose cut the Doctor off, before he got too technical for the King.
"Freeze them?" Uther frowned.
"If you'll allow me to explain, Sire," the Doctor continued, after shooting a small glare at his companion.
"Can you do so in simple terms, Doctor?"
Rose stifled a giggle as the Doctor looked affronted for a moment before nodding. "The angels..." he paused only two words in, trying to think of an appropriate way of describing what the angels did. "They kill by looking at their victims; however they can be defeated by simply looking at each other, thus killing themselves. That's why they are often depicted as weeping angels. They can't risk looking at each other."
"I see," the King nodded. "Go on."
"We were able to get them to look at each other, my Lord."
"Good," Uther approved. "So where are they now? Have you just left them in my courtyard?"
"We moved the statues into the forest nearby," the Doctor continued, as the others behind him nodded in agreement. "They should not be disturbed, under any circumstances."
The King nodded once more.
"They are also flooded with a golden light," the Time Lord told them. Behind him, Merlin shifted slightly. "This is part of their nature, Sire. When they are killed, the light is automatically created to ensure they do not stop looking at each other, even in the darkness."
"It's not sorcery?"
"No," was the blunt reply. "It is simply part of their physiology."
Uther nodded again, pondering his reply. "Then I shall ensure no one is to touch them. You have my word, Doctor."
The Time Lord bowed his head solemnly in thanks before he broke out in a cheerful grin. "Excellent. That's that sorted then. Allons-y aye, Rose." And his companion couldn't help but smile back. His cheerfulness was infectious.
"Allons-y?" Morgana frowned.
"It means 'let's go'," Rose replied.
"You're leaving?" Arthur asked, surprised.
"So soon?" Morgana's eyes widened as though she didn't want the pair to go.
"But, Doctor. You must be rewarded," Uther cut in and all eyes turned to him again. "Please, Camelot owes you its thanks."
The Doctor glanced at Rose, who gave a tiny shrug. "Well, I spose we could stay a little longer," and he grinned.
* * *
Two hours later found the Doctor and Rose back in the great hall and throne room. Rose had changed into another dress, borrowed from Morgana's vast cupboard; the Doctor remained in his pinstriped suit. Together they were knelt at King Uther's feet. To one side they could see Morgana and her maid, Gwen smiling fondly at them. On the other, Arthur and Merlin stood, looks of gratitude showing on their faces.
"Well, this is original," Rose murmured sarcastically; so quietly that only the Doctor heard her.
"What did you expect?" the Doctor responded. "He's a King. They knight people. That's what royalty do when they reward someone."
"Just saying; it's getting a bit old."
"But you've only been knighted once before!"
"Well, how many times have you been knighted then?"
"1681, if you are including today," was the whispered reply.
"Why am I not surprised?" Rose muttered before the pair's attention was drawn back to the King as he gently tapped firstly the Doctor's shoulders.
"I dub thee, Sir Doctor of..." he paused and the hall went silent. "Of..."
The Doctor cleared his throat and with a cheeky grin at Rose, answered for Uther. "TARDIS, my Lord."
If Uther was puzzled by the name he did not show it. "I dub thee, Sir Doctor of Tardis." The blade rested lightly on the Doctor's shoulder before it moved to Rose's. "And I dub thee, Dame Rose of Tardis." Rose raised an eyebrow at the Doctor, who simply shrugged at her, before breaking out in a grin again.
"Arise, Sir Doctor and Dame Rose of Tardis. Knight and Lady of Camelot."
And as the two of them rose to their feet and turned to the waiting crowd, cheers erupted. And even behind them, the two travellers could hear the King clapping his thanks.
"Well, this is certainly more warm and welcoming than last time," Rose muttered through her gracious smiles.
"Victorian England, Camelot – there is a distinct difference, you're right Rose."
"So Dame Rose of TARDIS now?" She looked sideways at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Ah, Dame Rose of the Powell Estate and of TARDIS," the Doctor corrected her and she laughed at the seriousness in his voice. It wasn't long before he was laughing too.
* * *
"Are you sure you cannot stay longer?" Morgana asked the two travellers', somewhat sadly.
It was the next morning and Rose and the Doctor were already in the courtyard preparing to head back to the TARDIS. Morgana, Gwen, Arthur and Merlin had all joined the pair in farewell. A feast had been held after their official knighting ceremony the previous night with both Rose and the Time Lord as guests of honour. Morgana had even managed to pull a few strings, allowing Merlin and Gwen to be excused from their usual serving duties. After all, they too had helped greatly in the defeat of the angels.
Rose glanced up at the Doctor as he shook his head and gave them a regrettable smile. "Always moving on, isn't that right Rose?" And she nodded. There was a pregnant pause before Arthur spoke up.
"We owe you both thanks," he told them as the other three with him bobbed their heads in furious accord.
"It's yourselves you should be thanking," Rose replied. "We wouldn't have been able to do anything if it weren't for you all." And she glanced meaningfully at Merlin in silent thanks.
"She's right," the Doctor commented, shooting a grin at Rose. "But then, she nearly always is."
"Nearly always?" Rose tilted her head in a mock frown.
"Yup," the Doctor popped the p, as he often did and moved on to grin cheekily at the others. "But we really must be heading off,' he added, the tone in his voice changing.
"We'll walk you out," Arthur said.
"Uh... no no, it's fine. We wouldn't want to impose..." the Doctor tugged an earlobe. He didn't realyy want to have to explain the TARDIS to the future king of Camelot and his companions.
"It's no trouble," Morgana smiled.
"We insist."
Rose glanced at the Doctor who shrugged. "Of course then."
As the six of them left the courtyard and heading for the drawbridge, the voice of the trapped Vorkey sounded a farewell inside the Doctor's head.
"Farewell Doctor, the three-fold man of Gallifrey. I bid you luck in your travels and warn you of their returning."
"Kilgharrah!" the Doctor responded, a hint of surprise leeching into his thoughts. "Wait. Their returning?" he questioned, making sure not to show his confusion or discomfort on the outside.
"The ghosts and the darkness, the knocking and the extermination and the children, the death and the life."
"I see what Merlin meant about your cryptic messages," he thought. "Being trapped in that cave must have sent you insane, Kilgharrah," the Doctor continued more scornfully than he had intended as his mind reeled in a number of unpleasant ways. Ghosts? Darkness? Children? Death...?
"I will not be trapped for long, Doctor. I will be freed and you will not be here to stop me!" was the roaring reply.
"Goodbye, Vorkey," the Doctor muttered wearily in his head, suddenly wanting to end the conversation. "I thank you for the warning."
"Goodbye then, Time Lord," came the whispered reply; contrasting greatly to the roar from before. And then the Vorkey was gone, as quickly as he had arrived.
"Doctor?" Rose asked as he paused in his steady walking, her hand grasped in his.
"Mmm?"
"You ok?"
"Always," and they shared a smile, even as the Doctor thought through the images of death the Vorkey had implanted in his mind.
A/N - Addtional - Lastly, I would love to hear everyone's opinion regarding the Arthur/Merlin relationship in this story. Should I make it more obvious (i.e. including a possible kiss at the end/them getting together etc)? Or should I keep it at a very very strong friendship with no obvious sexual actions between them (i.e. including a hug at the end etc.)?? I am unsure at the moment and would love to hear everyone's opinion on the matter. I will be going with what my readers (i.e. you guys!) want to see more. :)