AN: Sorry this update took so long. Hope you enjoy this long chapter because it took me forever to write it. Please read and review xoxox
The Shakespeare Code
Freya and Martha held on tightly untill the TARDIS slowed to a stop.
"Do you have to pass a test to drive this thing?" Martha asked.
"Yep." The Doctor said happily, popping the 'p'.
"Let me guess, you failed." Freya teased and the Doctor winked at her but didn't answer as he ran for the door.
He stopped once he got there, turning to look at the two of them.
"Out there, is a brave new." He said, smiling at the wonder on their faces.
"Where are we?" Martha breathed.
The Doctor just opened the door and stood back. "See for youself, guests first."
Freya walked forwards straight away while Martha hesitated, frowning at how the Doctor's smile widened as he watched Freya's excitement.
"Wow." Freya said once she got a look of outside. "Martha! You have got to see this!"
Martha pushed down her feelings before walking down the ramp. A smile appeared on her face. "Oh my god, we did it, we travelled in time. Where are we?"
"When are we?" Freya corrected, not noticing Martha's smile falter.
The Doctor, however, looked up just in time to see someone throw a bucket of something out of the window.
"Watch out!" He said, pulling both girls backwards just before it hit the floor.
The three of them looked down at it in disgust. "Somewhere before toilets." The Doctor said. "Sorry about that."
"OI!" Freya yelled upwards and the Doctor was strongly reminded of Jackie Tyler.
"Don't start arguments." He scolded lightly, trying to hide his smirk.
"We've seen worse." Martha said, trying to get the Doctor to take his eyes of Freya. "Worked late night shift at A&E...but are we safe? I mean, can we move around and everything?"
The Doctor and Freya turned to look at her. The Doctor looked confused while Freya looked amused, probably guessing what Martha was going to say.
"Of course we can, why do you ask that?" The Doctor asked.
"It's like in those films, you step on a butterfly, you change the future of the human race!"
"Tell you what, don't step on any butterflies." The Doctor said simply. "What've butterflies ever done to you?"
"But what if I kill my grandfather?" Martha asked.
"Are you planning on killing your grandfather?" The Doctor asked patiently.
"Well...no."
"Well then." The Doctor said before leading them down the street, Freya and the Doctor walking ahead while Martha followed annoyed.
"So, this is London?" Freya asked, looking around.
"Think so. Round about...1599."
"Weird how much has changed." Freya said thoughfully. "Makes you wonder what the world is going to be like in the next four hundred years."
I'll show you, the Doctor promised silently, not brave enough to say it out loud in case she turned him down.
"Am I alright?" Martha asked suddenly. "I'm not going to be carted off as a slave am I?"
"Why would they do that?" The Doctor asked, confused once again but Freya understood instantly.
"He's not human, just act normal, seems to work for him." Freya said softly, slightly hurt when her friend rufused to look at her and kept her eyes on the Doctor.
"Besides, you'd be surprised. Elizabethan England, not much different from your time." The Doctor pointed behind them. "Look over there, they've got recycling." They walked past two men who were standing beside a barrel of water. "A water cooler moment." They walked past a street prophet who was talking about the world ending. "Global warming and Oh yes and entertainment. Popular entertainment for the masses. If I'm right we're just down the river from Southwark. Right next to..." The Doctor grabbed Martha and Freya's hands and the three of them ran quickly. The Doctor suddenly stopped causing them to stumble a bit. "Oh yes! The Globe theatre, brand new, just opened. Strictly speaking, it's not a globe, it's a tetra-decagon, 14 sides...Containing the man himself"
Martha opened her mouth to say something but Freya beat her to it. "Shakespeare?"
"Oh yes." He said grinning, holding out his arm for Freya. "Miss Noble, will you accompany me to the theatre?" Freya just giggled as she linked her arm with his. His smile got wider before he turned to Martha and offered her his other arm.
Martha forced a smile on her face before doing the same as Freya. She scowled when the Doctor looked away and lead them towards the Globe.
...
"That's amazing!" Martha said happily, clapping with the Doctor and Freya. "It was worth putting up with the smell!"
The Doctor smiled widely.
"And those are men dressed as women, yeah?"
"You were right, not so different from our time." Freya said in amusement and the Doctor laughed.
"Where's Shakespear? I want to see Shakespear." Martha said suddenly. "Author! Author!" Martha chanted before turning to the Doctor. "Do people say that? Do they shout author?"
"Author!" The crowds began to shout.
"They do now." The Doctor said as Shakespear bounded onto the stage.
Martha raised an eyebrow. "Well he's different looking from his portraits."
"You can say that again." Freya said eyeing him up. The two friends glanced at each other before the burst out laughing.
The Doctor rolled his eyes at them, of all the things to be interested about when they first saw Shakespear! "That man is a genius! I can only imagine that amazing words to come out of his mouth!"
"OH! SHUT YOUR BIG FAT MOUTHS!" Shakespear shouted and the Doctor's face fell.
"Oh."
"You should never meet your heroes." Martha said with a small smile, her eyes darkening when she saw Freya pat the Doctor's arm sympathetically.
Freya was still smiling when she turned to her friend, her smile vanished when she saw the look on Martha's face.
"You've got excellent taste, I'll give you that." William said, walking around the stage. He paused and pointed to a man. "That's a wig!" He said, making everyone laugh. "I know what you're saying, Love's Labours Lost, that's a funny ending isn't it? I just stops. Will the boys get the girls? Well don't get your hose in a tangle you'll find out soon."
"When!" The crowds yelled.
"All in good time. You don't rush a genius." The crowds laughed as William stumbled back slightly. "When? Tomorrow night!" He yelled and the crowds cheered. "The premiere of my brand new play, a sequel no less. And I call it, Love's Labour Won!"
The crowds cheer again, including Martha and Freya, while the Doctor frowned.
"I'm not an expert, but I've never heard of Love's Labour's Won." Martha said as they walked out of the theatre.
"Me either, but I was never that interested in Shakespear to be honest." Freya admitted.
"Must be the lost play." The Doctor muttered.
"We could film it!" Martha said suddenly, looking excited. "And flog it on the internet."
"No." The Doctor said firmly and Martha's smile faded.
"Why do you think it disappeared?" Freya asked quietly, trying to ignore her friends scowl.
"Well, I was going to give you a quick little trip in the TARDIS but I suppose we can stick around a bit longer." The Doctor said and both girls grinned widely.
...
"Mr Shakespear I presume." The Doctor said as they all walked into the local inn.
"Oh no, no, no." Shakespear muttered, putting a hand over his eyes while to two men sitting next to him smirked in amusement. "No autographs, no you can't have yourself sketched with me and please don't ask where I get my idea's from. No be a good man and shove-" Shakespear froze when he opened his eyes and caught sight of Martha and Freya. "Hey nonny, nonny. Sit right here next to me. You two, get sewing on those costumes. Get going."
"Come on lads, I think our William's found his new muse." A women said, looking sour about it.
"Such unusual clothes. So...fitting." Will said, eyeing them both.
The Doctor frowned, for some reason feeling protective over the young time lady, he walked behind her and gripped her shoulder, sending Will a glare.
Will, seeing this, winked at Martha who hid her scowl just in time. Freya looked up at the Doctor confused and he grabbed the psychic paper.
He holds it up for Will to see. "I'm sir Doctor of TARDIS and these are my companions, Miss Martha Jones and Miss Freya Noble."
Will glanced at the psychic paper before staring at the Doctor. "Interesting, that piece of paper. It's blank."
The Doctor smiled. "Oh, thats...very clever. That proves it. Absolute genius."
Both Freya and Martha peered at the paper curiously.
"No, it says so right there. Sir Doctor, Martha Jones, Freya Noble. It says so." Martha insisted.
"No it doesn't." Freya told her friend quietly, quickly looking down when Martha glared at her.
The Doctor saw this and frowned. "Psychic paper...um...long story. I hate starting from scratch." He sighed as he put the psychic paper back into his pocket.
"Psychic." Will said, pursing his lips in thought. "Never heard that before and words are my trade. Who are you exactly and, more to the point, who is your delicious blackmore lady?"
Martha and Freya stared at him in shock. "What did you say?"
"Isn't that a word we use these days? An Ethiop girl? A swarth? A queen of Afric."
"I can't believe I am hearing this." Martha muttered.
"It's political correctness gone mad. Um, Martha and Freya are from a far-off land...Freedonia." The Doctor invented quickly and Freya turned to look at him.
"Freedonia...is that the best you can come up with?" she asked and he smiled.
"Excuse me!" A loud voice from behind them said, making them jump and they turned to see a large man glaring at Will. "Hold hard a moment. This is abominable behaviour. A new play without warning? I demand to see a script, Mr Shakespear. As Master of the Revels, every new script must be registered at my office and examined by me before it can be performed."
"Tomorrow morning, first thing, I'll send it round." Will said calmly.
"I don't work to your schedule! You work to mine! The script, now!"
"I can't!"
"Then tomorrow's performance is cancelled!" The man spat and out of the corner of her eye Freya saw a red haired women slip out of the room. She shrugged it off, probably nothing.
"It's all go round here, isn't it?" Martha whispered to the Doctor and Freya as they looked between the man and Will.
"I'm returning to my office for a banning order. If it's the last thing I'll do 'Love's Labours Won' will never be played!" The man snapped before storming out.
"Well then..." Martha sighed in disappointment after a few minutes of silence. "Mystery solved. That's 'Loves Labours Won' over and done with. Thought it might be something more...you know...mysterious."
"You've probably jinkxed it now." Freya said dryly.
There was a scream from outside.
"Told you."
The four of them ran outside to find the man from before spitting up water.
"What's wrong with him?" Freya asked, her eyes wide as the man fell to the floor.
"Leave it to me." The Doctor said firmly to the people around them as he ran over to him. "I'm a doctor."
"So are we." Martha said, grabbing Freya's wrist and pulling her over next to the doctor. "Well...kind of..."
Martha and Freya kneal down next to the man while the Doctor looks up and down the street. Freya opens the man's mouth, ready to start CPR. As soon as his mouth opened, water started to gush out.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?" Martha exclaimed while Freya frowned.
"His lungs are full of water. It's like he drowned." She muttered, looking up at the doctor for answers.
"He's had a blow to the heart...an invisible blow..." The Doctor muttered before turning to the waitress. "Good mistress, this poor fellow has died from a sudden imbalance of the humours." He said, Martha and Freya shared a glance. "A natural if unfortunate demise. Call a constable and have him taken away."
"Yes sir." The women muttered, going to do it before she was stopped by the red haired girl.
"I'll do it ma'am." She said before walking off.
Freya watched her retreating form with a frown. She shook her head and turned her attention back to the Doctor.
"Why did you tell them that?" Freya asked.
"This lot still have got one foot in the Dark Ages. If I tell them the truth, they'll panic and think it was witchcraft."
"And what was it?" Martha asked.
"Witchcraft."
"I love witchcraft. Used to think my sister was a witch." Freya said, completely random.
"It wouldn't really surprise me." Martha said, making Freya smirk.
...
"I've got you a room, sir Doctor. You and your friends are across the landing." The maid, now known as Dolly Bailey, said with a flirty smile before she left.
Will sighed once she was out of hearing range. "Poor Lynley. So many strange events. Not least of all, this land of Freedonia where women can become doctors?"
"Women can do a lot of things if they were given a chance." Freya replied and Will turned to the doctor.
"And you, Sir Doctor, how can a man so young have eyes so old?"
The Doctor stared back at him. "I do a lot of reading."
Will smirked before looking back at Freya. "As for you...I can't seem to put my finger on you...you're quite the mystery."
"Isn't she just." The Doctor whispered while Martha scoffed. Freya frowned at her friend in confusion, but as many times before Martha didn't even glance at her.
Will turned to Martha who looked a little more interested now. "You look at these two asif you're surprised they exist. They're as much as a puzzle to you as they are to me."
"I think it's time to say goodnight." Martha muttered, grabbing Freya's wrist and dragging her across the hall, leaving the Doctor and Shakespear behind them.
"Only one bed." Martha stated once they were in the room. "You don't mind sleeping on the couch, do you?"
It was more of an order than a request and Freya cringed when she looked at the 'sofa'. It was hardly a sofa, more of a small chair that seemed to be falling apart. Freya knew that if she slept on that she wasn't going to be able to move properly tomorrow.
"You sure that's a good idea?" Freya asked quietly. "For you and the Doctor to be sharing a bed?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Martha asked sharply.
Freya sighed before going with the truth. "He's obviously still in love with this Rose. I just don't want to see you hurt."
"More like you want him for yourself." Martha rolled her eyes.
"I'm not interested in him." Freya insisted and Martha gave her a doubtfull look. "I'm not! From what Gabs has told me, he acts a lot like my dad."
Martha raised an eyebrow. "Your dad acted like the Doctor?"
"Yes...apparently it was one of the things my mother love about him." Martha still looked like she didn't believe her and Freya sighed in annoyance. "Look, just lay off him. You're starting to act like a desperate, middle aged woman!
"Oh, lovely!"
"Don't like the truth, shouldn't start with the attitude!"
The two women glared at each other before Freya sighed. "I'll sleep on the...'sofa'...tonight but I'm not going to keep watching you make a fool out of youself. You could be dancing around in front of him naked and he obviously wouldn't be interested...though I wouldn't put it past you to actually try that going on the way you're acting right now."
Martha looked like she had just been slapped. She watched stunned as Freya got as comfortable as she could, curling up like a cat to fit on the small seat.
"Whatever Freya." Martha spat after a few minutes of silence.
Freya rolled her eyes. "Wow, 'whatever', you know that would actually upset me if I were five." She closed her eyes with a sigh before muttering under her breath, "and I'm supposed to be the teenager!"
Less than a few minutes later, the door opened and Freya could hear footsteps coming further into the room. They stopped suddenly and Freya kept her eyes closed but couldn't help but think that he was watching her - supposedly - sleep.
"She's exhausted." Martha said with a small laugh.
"Why didn't she go to the bed?" the Doctor asked softly.
"Erm...don't know, I went into the bathroom, came out and she was out like a light."
...
The Doctor watched the young time lady sleep as if she was the most fasinating thing in the world.
"Not exactly five star." Martha said suddenly and he looked up.
He looked around the room before looking back down at Freya. "It'll do. I've seen worse."
"I haven't even go a toothbrush."
The Doctor put his hand into his pocket and pulled one out for her. "Contains Venusian spearmint."
Martha took it with a smile, the smile faded when the mans gaze turned back to Freya. "So...who's going where? There's only one bed."
"You and Freya can have the bed, I don't sleep that often anyway." The Doctor said, not noticing Martha scowl as he walked over to the sixteen year old and picked her up. He placed her on the bed gently and sat down where she had been moments before.
Martha pursed her lips as she sat on the bed. She moved around so she was facing the Doctor, giving Freya a discreet kick. Freya made no sound or movement and Martha wondered whether she was actually asleep or listening.
Martha smiled slightly. "So...magic and stuff...that's a surprise. All a bit 'Harry Potter'."
The Doctor chuckled at his favourite series. "Wait untill you read book seven. I cried."
"But is it real? Witches, black magic and all that."
"Ofcourse it isn't!" The Doctor scoffed quietly and Martha blushed.
"Well how am I supposed to know?" Martha exclaimed, not bothering to keep her voice down untill the Doctor shushed her. "I've only started believing in time travel, give me a break!"
"Looks like witchcraft but it isn't." The Doctor said, a thoughtfull look coming over his face. "There's such a thing as psychic energy but a human couldn't channel it like that. Not without a generator the size of Taunton and I think I would've spotted that. No...there's something missing... Something really close, staring me in the face and I can't see it."
Martha stared intently at the Doctor but frowned at his next words. "Rose would know. Right now, she'd say exactly the right thing. Still, can't be helped. You're a novice, never mind. I'll take you back home tomorrow."
Martha scowled at him but if he noticed he didn't mention it. "Great!" She snapped, turning away from him.
She lay awake for another ten minutes before she heard Freya's breathing get louder, a tell tale sign that her friend was now starting to fall asleep. Martha bad mood worsened. Ofcourse she had heard everything and was probably dying to laugh!
...
Freya was startled awake by a scream and had barely had a chance to register what had happened when the Doctor yanked her off the bed and across the hall, Martha eventually following.
Freya gasped in shock at what she saw when she entered William Shakespears room. The landlady, Dolly Bailey, was dead on the floor - her eyes glazed and staring upwards, her mouth slightly parted. Freya shivered as she knelt down next to her.
"Wha'? What was that?" Will asked confused, blinking hard as if he had just been asleep.
"Her heart gave out." The Doctor frowned. "She died of fright."
"Doctor?" Martha called slowly from the window, her eyes wide.
"What did you see?" he asked quickly.
She looked stunned. "A witch."
"Well, that's just great." Freya said sarcastically before sighing heavily.
...
"Oh, sweet Dolly Bailey." Will said softly, a few hours later. "She sat out three bouts of plague in this place. We all ran like rats. But what could've scared her so? She had such enormous spirit."
"Rage, rage against the dying light." The Doctor quoted and Freya looked at him amused.
Will paused thoughtfully. "I might use that."
"You can't." Freya said with a small smirk. "It already belongs to someone."
"But the thing is, Lynley drowned on dry land and Dolly died of fright and they were both connected to you." Martha said suddenly and everyone turned to her.
"You're accusing me?" Will snapped, obviously offended.
"No, but I saw a witch - big as you like - flying, cackling away, and you've written about witches."
Will frowned in confusion. "Have I? When was that?"
"Not yet." The Doctor and Freya muttered and Martha blushed.
"Peter Streete spoke of witches." Will said suddenly.
"Who's Peter Streete?" Freya asked trying to remember hearing off a Peter Streete but came up with nothing.
"Our builder. He sketched the plans for the globe."
"The archietect." The Doctor muttered before his eyes lit up. "Hold on...the archietect! The archietect! The globe! Come on!"
He took off and the other three followed.
"I've never this much in my life!" Freya said to Will as they ran and he chuckled.
...
Freya watched the Doctor from her seat on the stairs of the stage. She was slightly awed by him - though in a different way than Martha - and couldn't seem to keep her eyes off him.
"The columns there, right? 14 sides." The Doctor said as he looked around the globe. "I've always wondered but I never asked...tell me, Will, why 14 sides?"
Will shrugged. "It was the shape Peter Streete thought best, that's all. Said it carried the sound well."
The Doctor sighed. "Why does that ring a bell? 14..."
"There are 14 lines in a sonnet." Martha pointed out.
"So there is, good point." The Doctor praised and Martha's face lit up. She shot Freya a smirk.
Freya frowned when she saw this smirk - well two can play at that game - and spoke before thinking, something which is never good for her. "There are 14 possible Bravais lattices that fill three-dimensional space." She blurted out. Will and Martha shared at her in shock while the Doctor smiled. "Sorry, just thought since we were sprouting out facts I could add one of my own."
"Thats...that's amazing. You're brilliant." The Doctor said, sounding like a proud dad and when he turned away again Freya looked at her fri-Martha.
If looks could kill Freya would've been six feet under.
"This is just a theatre." Will said, looking confused with the whole situation. Freya pursed her lips, for someone so smart he sure got confused a lot.
The Doctor smiled slightly before sitting on the side of the stage. "Oh, but the theatre's magic, isn't it? You should know. Stand on this stage, say the right words with the right emphasis at the right time...you could make men weep, or cry with joy, change them. You can change people's minds just with words in this place. And if you exaggerate that..."
"It's like your police box. Small wooden box with all that power inside." Martha said and the Doctor's grin widened.
"Martha Jones, I like you." He said and Martha, once again, flashed Freya a smirk. This time Freya just rolled her eyes, she was really getting sick of Martha right now. "Tell you what, though. Peter Streete would know. Can I talk to him?" the Doctor asked, not noticing his two companions exchange.
"You won't get an answer. A month after finishing this place...lost his mind." Will said grimly.
"What happened to him?" Freya asked concerned.
"Started raving about witches." Will said casually and Freya's gaze snapped to the Doctor who's face held no emotion. "Hearing voice, babbling. His mind was addled."
"Where is he now?" the Doctor asked calmly.
"Bedlam."
"What's Bedlam?" Martha asked confused.
"It's the mental hospital." Freya explained. "Though I think 'hospital' is the wrong word for it."
"Well, aint you just full of knowledge!" Martha spat and Freya sighed. The Doctor frowned when he noticed this but he didn't say anything about it.
"We're going to go there." He said instead. "Right now, come on."
He stormed out and Freya sighed. Well, atleast he wasn't running. She was the first to get up and follow him, she heard footsteps behind her and tried to ignore Martha's burning glare. She really was getting sick of this.
...
"Are you okay?" the doctor asked as they were walking while Martha and Will talked.
Freya forced a smile on her face. "Yeah."
He didn't look convinced with her lie. "You don't look it. What's going on between you and Martha?"
"Nothing." Once again, he didn't look convinced and Freya bit her lip. "Martha likes this guy...but lately he shows more of an interest in me." It wasn't a lie, no need to tell him that this guy is actually him.
"You seemed alright before."
"We had an arguement about it last night, while you were talking to Will."
The doctor frowned. "Well, Martha shouldn't be blaming you for it."
"Just don't worry about. We've had worse arguements." Now that was a lie.
The doctor sighed when he saw Martha and Will standing feet away, no longer following. "Come on, we can have a good flirt later."
Will smirked. "Is that a promise, Doctor?"
The doctor stared at him stunned. "Oh, 57 academics just punched the air. Now move!"
...
"Does my Lord doctor wish some entertainment while he waits?" the jailer asked as he led them into the hall way. "I'd whip these madmen. They'll put on a good show for ya. Bandog and Bedlam!"
"No, I don't!" The Doctor snapped angrily and the jailed turned away sheepishly.
"Wait here my lords, while I make him decent for the ladies."
Freya looked around with a shiver. She hated how these people were treated...and to think, her mother would've been put in this place if they'd lived back in these times.
"So, this is was you call a hospital?" Martha asked in disgust, now getting what Freya had meant (not that she'd ever admit that to her). "Where the patients are whipped to entertain the gentry? And you put your friend in here?"
Will rolled his eyes. "Oh, and it's all so different in Freedonia." He mocked.
"But you're clever! Do you honestly think this place is any good?"
"I've been mad. I've lost my mind. Fear of this place set me right again. It serves it's purpose." Will said quietly and Freya bit her lip, guessing when this had happened.
"Mad in what way?" Martha mocked Freya ignored the urge to strangle her.
"You lost your son." The doctor said softly and Martha smirked vanished in an instant.
Will nodded sadly, refusing to look at any of them. "My only boy. The Black death took him, I wasn't even there."
"I didn't know, I'm sorry." Martha whispered and Will nodded. He was more forgiving than Freya would've been...
"It made me question everything. The futility of this fleeting existence. To be or not to be...oh, that's quite good."
"You should write that down." The doctor advised but Will pulled a face.
"Hmmm, maybe not. A bit pretentious?"
The doctor, Freya and Matha chuckled slightly before the jailed came back to lead them to Peter Streete's cell.
...
"They can be a dangerous, m'lord. Don't know their own strength." The jailer said as they walked into the cell to see Peter sitting on the bench, in the middle of the room.
"Might help if you don't whip them." Freya snapped and the jailer looked at her unimpressed.
"M'lady, I don't think you'd know how to treat them. Whipping is the only way to keep them in control. And the way they act makes you want to whip them anyway."
"Well, the way you're acting right now makes me want to whip you but I don't." Freya said sweetly and the jailer stared at her stunned before walking out of the cell in shock.
"Nice way of handling that." Will said, looking amused and Freya was happy to see Martha trying to hide a smile.
"Peter?" the doctor said softly as he neared closer to the man. "Peter Streete?"
"He's the same as he was. You'll get nothing out of him." Will said loudly only to be shushed by Martha and Freya who were watching the doctor intently.
The doctor layed a hand on Peter's shoulder. "Peter?"
Peter's head snapped up and he looked at the doctor wildly, looking like he wanted to say something.
The doctor looked at him sadly for a moment before placing his fingers on Peter's temples. "Peter, I'm the doctor. Go into the past, one year ago. Let your mind go back, back to when everything was fine and shiny. Everything that happened in this year since happened to someone else. It was just a story. A winters tale. Let go. Listen. That's it, just let go." Peter relaxed and the doctor lowered him to lie on the bed. "Tell me the story, Peter. Tell me about the witches."
"Witches spoke to Peter." Peter said shakily. "In the night, they whispered. Got Peter to build the globe to their design. Their design! The 14 walls ... always 14. When the work was done-" he cut himself off by letting out a laugh. "-they snapped poor Peter's wits."
"Where did Peter see the witches?" the doctor asked softly as he knelt by Peter. "Where in the cit. Peter, tell me. You've gotta tell me where they were."
"All Hallows Street." Peter finally gasped out.
"Too many words." Another voice in the room said, making everyone jump and look round to see a hag.
"Oh my god!" Freya muttered as the doctor jumped back towards the group and away from the hag.
"Just one touch of the heart." The witch said as she lay her hand on Peter's chest.
"No!" The doctor yelled but it was too late. Peter was already gone.
"Witch! I'm seeing a witch!" Will said, sounding slightly hysterical.
"Who would be next?" the witch asked. "Just one touch. Oh, I'll stop your frantic hearts, poor fragile mortals."
Martha began pulls at the cell bars. "Let us out! Let us out!"
"Martha, stop, it's worthless!" Freya said as she pulled her away from the bars and closer to the group.
The witch looked like she was enjoying herself. "Who will die first?"
"Well, if you're looking for volunteers..." the doctor said, walking closer to the witch.
"No! Don't!" Martha yelled.
"What the hell are you doing!" Freya yelled.
"Doctor, can you stop her?" Will asked, the calmest out of all of them.
"No mortal has power of me." The witch said smugly.
"Oh, but there's powers in words. If I can find the right one - if I can just know you..."
"None on Earth has knowledge of us!"
"Then it's a good think I'm here." The doctor said and the witch's smirk lessened slightly. "Now, think, think, think...Humanoid female, uses shapes and words to channel energy...ah! 14! That's it! 14! The 14 stars of the Rexel planetary configuration! Creature, I name you Carrionite!"
The witch - now known as a Carrionite - wailed in pain before disappearing.
"What did you do?" Martha asked as they all let ouf a breath of relief.
"I named her. The power of a name. That's old magic." The doctor said and Martha frowned.
"But there's no such thing as magic."
"Well, it's just a different sort of science. You lot, you chose mathematics. Given the right string of numbers, the right equation, you can slip the atom. Carrionites use words instead."
"Use them as what?" Will asked, looking pale.
"The end of the world." The doctor said simply.
Freya groaned. "Can't aliens just drop to earth for some tea?"
The doctor smiled.
...
"The Carrionites disappeared way before the dawn of the universe." The doctor explained once they were back at the Inn. "Nobody was sure whether they were real or legend."
"I'm going for real." Will muttered.
"But what do they want?" Martha asked.
"A new empire on earth. A world of bones and blood and witchcraft."
"But how?"
"I'm looking at the man with the words." The doctor said, looking straight at Will who frowned.
"Me? But I've done nothing."
"What can you last remember doing last night? Before waking up to Dolly's scream?" Freya asked.
Will shrugged. "Finishing the play."
"What happened on the last page?" the doctor asked, standing up straighter.
"The boys get the girls, they have a bit of a dance. It's all funny and thought provoking as usual - except those last few lines. Funny thing is...I can't remember writing them."
"That's it!" The doctor said loudly, making everyone else jump in surprise. "They used you! They gave you the final words! Like a spell, like a code! 'Love's Labours Won' - it's a weapon! The right combination of words, spoken at the right place with the shape of the globe as an energy converter! The plays the thing!" He yelled as he ran out of the room, he paused and stuck his head back into the room to speak to Will. "And yes, you can have that."
Will smiled.
The doctor came back into the room with a map and laid it out on the table for all to see.
"All Hallows Street. There it is." He said, pointing it out for them. "Martha, Freya, we'll track them down. Will, you get to the globe. Whatever you do, stop the play!"
"I'll do it." Will said, shaking the doctor's hand. "All these years I've been the cleverest man around. Next to you, I know nothing."
"Oh, don't complain." Martha said, smiling widely.
"I'm not, it's marvellous." Will said happily making Freya and Martha giggle at his expression. "Good luck, doctor."
"Good luck Shakespear!" The doctor said before heading for the door with Martha and Freya following. "Once more unto the breach!"
"I like that." Will said before pausing. "Wait a minute...that's one of mine!"
"Oh, just shift!" The doctor yelled back and Will smiled when he heard both girls laughter.
...
"All Hallows Street." The doctor said, looking up and down the deserted street. "But which house?"
"The thing is though...am I missing something here? The world didn't end in 1599. It just didn't. Look at me and Freya - we're living proof of that." Martha said confused.
"I'm guessing it's kinda like 'Back to the Future'." Freya said, she turned to the doctor before she was unsure. "Am I right?"
"Yep." The doctor said, popping the 'p'. "Marty McFly goes back and changes history."
"And then he started to fade." Martha said before freezing. "Oh my god, are we gonna fade?"
"You and the entire future of the human race. It ends right now in 1599 if we don't stop it. But which house?"
They look around when they hear creaking to see a door opening by itself.
"Don't you mean witch house." Freya said dryly.
The doctor didn't hesitate to walk into the house. Martha and Freya shared a glance before reluctantly following.
"I take it we're expected." The doctor said when they walked into the room to see the red head Freya had been noticing since they got to the Inn.
"Oh, I think death has been waiting for you for a long time." The witch said with a smile.
"Right, I know how to do this." Martha said before pointing at the witch. "I name thee, Carrionite." The witch gasped dramatically before smirking even wider. Martha's smirked, however, faded and she turned to the doctor. "What did I do wrong? Was it the finger?"
"The power of the name only works once. Observe." The witch suddenly points at Martha. "I gaze upon these bag of bones and now I name thee Martha Jones."
Martha falls backwards and Freya rushes to catch her. "What have you done?" she yelled at the witch but the witch just smirked back in reply before pointing at her too. "Across the galexies of Teya, I name you Gallifreya!"
The last thing Freya heard was the doctor's yells before everything went black.
...
Weird enough, the first thing Freya heard when she was coming to was the doctor's yells and the witch's cackles.
She opened her eyes to see the window wide open and the doctor lying unconcious on the floor.
"Doctor!" she yelled, rushing to his side as Martha struggled to sit up. She looked down at him worriedly before hitting hard on the side of his head.
"OW! What was that for?" He whined but stopped when she scowled at him. "Sorry." He muttered.
He went to stand up but fell to the side and Martha - now fully awake - helped Freya keep the doctor on his feet.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Martha asked nervously.
"I've only got one heart working. How do you people cope? I've got to get the other working. Hit me!" He ordered and Freya slapped him around the face. "I meant on my chest!"
"Well then, be more specific!" Freya snapped as Martha hit him on the chest.
"Ahh! The other side!" Martha bit her lip as she hit the other side of the doctor's chest. "On the back! On the back! ... Left a bit! ... Ahhh, lovely." He said, standing up straight. "There we go. Ba-da-boom! Well, what are you standing there for? Come on! The Globe!"
...
"We're going the wrong way!" Martha yelled after the doctor as they ran up the street.
"No, we're not!" He yelled back before stopping and running the other way. "We're going the wrong way!"
As they ran further in that direction they started to hear scream and as soon as they went round the corner, they understood why.
There was red energy, pouring from the Globe.
"I told thee so! I told thee!" The preacher said, for some reason he sounded excited.
"Stage door!" The doctor yelled as they ran towards the globe.
...
They ran into the back to find Will nursing his head.
"Stop the play! I think that was it. Yeah, I said, 'stop the play'!" The doctor yelled.
"I hit my head." Will complained.
"Obviously couldn't have hurt, there's not much in there." Freya muttered.
"OI!"
They ran from the back onto the stage, Martha grabbing Will's hand so that he followed.
"Come on Will, history needs you!" The doctor suddenly said and Will's eyes narrowed.
"But what can I do?"
"Reverse it!"
"How am I supposed to do that?"
"The shape of the globe give the words power, but you're the wordsmith, the one true genius - just ignore Freya, she doesn't know what she's talking about. You're the only man clever enough to do it!"
"But what words? I have none ready!"
"You're William Shakespear!"
"But these Carrionite phrases, they need such precision!
"Trust yourself. When you're locked away in your room, the words just come, don't they? Like magic. Words of the right sound, the right shape, the right rhythm — words that last forever! That's what you do, Will! You choose perfect words. Do it. Improvise!"
"Close up this den of hateful, dire decay! Decomposition of your witches' plot! You thieve my brains, consider me your toy. My doting Doctor tells me I am not!" Will yelled over the screams. "Foul Carrionite spectres, cease your show! Between the points..."
He looked at the doctor.
"761390."
"761390. And banished like a tinker's cuss, I say to thee..."
He looked at the doctor again but the doctor looked as lost as he was.
"Expelliarmus!" Freya yelled.
"Expelliarmus!" Will yelled.
"Good old, JK!" The doctor yelled with a laugh as the energy started to disappear.
There was silence and the doctor ran of somewhere. The crowds suddenly start cheering.
"They think it's all special effects." Martha said in disbelieve.
"Your effect is special indeed." Will said charmingly and Martha adn Freya share and amused look.
"Not your best line."
Will laughed as they all bowed.
...
The next day, they were back at the globe. The doctor was looking through all of the props, Martha and Will were sitting on the stage while Freya was sitting on the edge thinking.
"And I say, a heart for a hart and a dear for a deer." Will said and Martha stared at him blankly.
"I don't get it."
"Then give me a joke from Freedonia."
"Ok, Shakespear walks into a pub and the landlord say 'oi, mate, you're bard." Martha chuckled at her own joke.
"That one is so old!" Freya called over her shoulder and Martha rolled her eyes.
"That's probably why you know it so well!" Martha yelled back and Freya scoffed.
"It's brilliant! Doesn't make sense mind you, but never mind." Will said, grabbing Martha's waist. "Come here."
"I've only just met you."
"The Doctor might never kiss you. Why not entertain a man who will?"
"I don't know how to tell you this, oh great genius, but your breath doesn't half stink." Martha said and Freya shook her head. That was polite.
"Good props store back there! I'm not sure about this though." The doctor said as he walked in, holding up a skull. "Reminds me of a Sycorax."
Freya smiled fondly as she got up to be closer to the group.
"Sycorax. Nice word. I'll have that off you aswell." Will said.
"I should be on ten percent. How the head?"
"Still aching. And don't you say anything." He said, looking straight at Freya who bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.
"Here, I got you this." The doctor said, putting the collar around Will's neck. "Neck brace. Wear that for a few days till it's better."
"You should keep it, it looks good on you." Freya said with a smile.
"What about the play?" Martha asked.
"Gone. I looked all over - every single copy went up in the sky." The doctor said.
"My lost masterpiece." Will said with a sigh.
"You could write it up again." Martha suggested.
The doctor was shaking his head. "Yeah, better not, Will. There's still power in those words. Maybe it should best stay forgotten."
"Oh, but I've got new ideas. Perhaps it's time I wrote about fathers and sons. In memory of my boy — my precious Hamnet." Will said making Martha freeze.
"Hamnet?"
"Yes."
"Hamnet?"
"What's wrong with that?"
"Anyway, time we were off. I've got a nice attic in the TARDIS where this lot can scream forever." The doctor said, holding up a crystal ball which the carrionites were trapped in. "And I've got to take these two back to Freedonia."
"You mean travel through time and space." Will said and the others looked at him in shock.
"You what?"
"You're from another world like the carrionites, Martha and Freya are from the future. It's not that hard to work out."
Freya was the first to unfreeze. "Okay, I take back what I said last night." Will smiled at her before turning to the women at his side. "Martha, let me say goodbye to you in a new verse. A sonnet for my Dark Lady. Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate - "
"Will! Will! You'll never believe it! She's here! She's turned up!" One actor yelled as he and his friend ran towards the group.
"We're the talk of the town. She heard about last night! She wants us to perform it again!" The other said excitedly.
"Who?" Martha asked confused.
"Her Majesty! She's here!"
Everyone's eyes widened when Queen Elizabeth walked into the globe.
"Queen Elizabeth I!" The doctor exclaimed in shock and Elizabeth stared at him in shock.
"Doctor!" She spat.
He frowned. "What?"
"My sworn enemy!"
"What?"
"Off with his head!"
"What?"
"Never mind what!" Martha snapped as she and Freya grabbed his hand and they ran for the TARDIS. Leaving Will laughing.
R&R