Chapter 9: Bowing

The Doctor, panic rising in his chest, desperately searched for Chancellor Shue. It turned out that the finals was one of those "dangerous contests that are left for professionals" that the Chancellor was telling him about.

He had to ride an equine beast, similar to a huge Clydesdale horse on earth, in what amounted to a jousting match! He was going to be killed – run through with a lance that was bigger around than he was!

The Chancellor remained elusive, and the Doctor and Pranis headed towards the tent resignedly. The Doctor's mind was working in overdrive, trying to figure out how to get out of this predicament. Who ever thought that he would win that event? He shouldn't even be here! Maybe there was an obscure law that off worlders weren't allowed to compete in this?

A young boy of about 12 approached the Doctor and bowed. "Sir, I'm Joshua. I'm to get you ready for your match."

Joshua was as tall as the Doctor was, for all of his young years. His blue skin had a paleness to it that was a further indication of his youth. He led the Doctor over to a stall area and started fitting him with equipment.

"Joshua" the Doctor began. "I don't know what I'm doing. I don't think I can do this."

"Oh, sir, you have to! Everyone knows that the Princess is counting on you!" Joshua exclaimed.

The Doctor moaned, his misery beginning to bubble up despite his determination to be cheerful.

"But I'm going to be killed!"

"No, sir. No one has been killed in one of these matches for at least 3 or 4 years! You'll be fine, you'll see."

This statement did not appease the Doctor.

"Joshua, you don't understand. I-don't-know-what-to-do!" He emphasized each word with a pounding of his hand on the stall wall in frustration.

The boy sat back on his heels and looked up. "I can tell you, sir. I can tell you what to do."

The Doctor halted in his tantrum. "You can? Enough to keep me from getting killed? I mean, I can be maimed a bit – that I can recover from, anyway. And I won't mind if I just get knocked around, bruises fade quickly. But just not killed."

"I promise, sir." Joshua said solemnly.

"Well, that's ok then!" The Doctor's mood shifted wildly once again. "So, what do I do?"

"Let me get you trussed up, then I'll show you."

By the time Pranis joined the Doctor at the tent quite awhile later, Joshua had thoroughly explained to the Doctor all of the ways he may fail. The problem was, he had yet to learn any techniques that would help him survive.

"Maybe I can go last again?"

"Not this time, sir. Your position is determined by rank, and as you are unranked…." He didn't finish the sentence.

But the Doctor did. "Then I go first."

Gravely nodding, Joshua confirmed the statement.

The announcer's voice called all participants to the field. Their eyes meeting, Pranis and the Doctor nodded to each other.

"Let's do this," the Doctor said. They started walking, Joshua bringing up the rear, leading the reins of the equine beast that the Doctor would be riding. He had snorted when he had been introduced to "Snowflake". She looked like she would just assume eat him as to let him ride her.

"You know…we can make a break for it and take off in the Tardis within 10 minutes" Pranis stated seriously.

The Doctor paused in his march, turning his body towards the direction that the Tardis was parked. "That's a thought, yes. But I can't. I promised." Resigned, he resumed his advance.

His anxiety went into overdrive as he stood in a line with the other participants and waited for his name to be announced so he could bow to the crowd. The Princess was walking down the line, shaking hands and wishing the athletes luck. She paused in front of the Doctor, as he bowed.

"Doctor, that's not how you bow. Didn't anyone ever teach you?" she asked.

"Yes, but I can't move in this equipment very easily," he returned.

"Let me show you. You have to work around the leggings." She walked behind him, and placing a hand on the inside of his thighs, she pushed his legs outward a bit, then pressed down on his back, moving him into the most awkward position that he ever could imagine.

The crowd roared its approval and humor, and the Doctor returned upright, his face beet red with embarrassment and chagrin.

"Now, that's a proper bow!" She said cheerily, and, reaching down to give him a peck on his cheek, she continued on down the row.

"If I'm not killed, she's going to be," he murmured under his breath.

Pranis looked at Joshua and shrugged. "That princess of yours is trouble" he said.

"All girls are trouble" Joshua returned, his 12 year old wisdom firmly in hand.

……………………………………………………………………………

It was good that he had heavy leather gloves on, because the sweat had something to soak into. He couldn't say the same for his face, though.

He sat astride on his horse, listening to the end of the speeches and posturing from the officials. The crowd was growing restless with the heat of the day baring down on them. Inside his helmet, he knew what a baking biscuit must feel like as it's turning crispy at the edges.

Snowflake restlessly pawed at the ground, no doubt annoyed that there weren't any small people about to munch on. He felt it best that he remained in the saddle, out of reach of her gigantic mouth. He could feel her muscles moving under his legs, and despite all of the anxiety inside of him, was still able to have a moment of wonder at the magnificence of her strength and beauty. He reached over and patted her neck.

"There, there, girl. Do good, and if things work out well, I'll give you a nice young princess to chew on when we're done."

The first match was announced, and Joshua approached him, the incredibly long lance being held upright. He handed it up, and the Doctor grasped it, positioning it as Joshua had made him practice in the tent earlier. It seemed much heavier now.

He remembered what he was told earlier that day about the throwing lances – it was all in the balance. He adjusted his grip, and found the weight shifting so that it was more evenly distributed.

The gong sounded the start, and Snowflake, being well trained, knew what to do. She sprinted down the marked path, hugging the rail that separated the participants. The Doctor looked up just in time to see another contestant racing towards him, the point of his lance aimed at the Doctor's chest.

It took everything he had to stay upright on Snowflake's back as her gait threw him back and forth. Trying to balance the lance so he wouldn't drop it, he had a moment where he was thrown back against the saddle. Struggling to sit upright again, Snowflake came to a halt that was much more graceful than the takeoff.

The crowd was hysterical. It appeared to them that the Doctor evaded the oncoming lance with a deft gymnastic like move of ducking backwards while aiming his lance at his opponent. Of course, to the Doctor, he slipped.

They were set up for another go, with the point for the run being awarded to the Doctor. Figuring that it would probably be the only point he would be awarded, he was feeling better that at least it wouldn't be a shut out.

This time, he used his knees to grasp Snowflake's sides to keep his balance. His arm was feeling fatigued from the events of the day, and it was more difficult to raise the lance. He overcompensated by aiming just above his opponent's head, hoping that the body of the lance would sweep him off his horse rather than the tip knocking him off. To the Doctor, minimum impact would be preferable.

His move worked, but not in the way he thought it would. The oncoming challenger thought that the Doctor was flipping his lance around to club him with the short end, and was in the process of bringing his own lance around when the Doctor caught him in the shoulder and unseated him. The referees decided it to be a legal move.

Because the Doctor was awarded two points, he didn't have to do a third run and was able to climb off Snowflake's back to rest.

Under the elimination system, the Doctor did not have to compete again until towards the end of the day. He took off his gloves and helmet, the sweat dripping down his hair and burning his eyes.

A cold glass was pressed into his hands. Gratefully, the Doctor looked up and saw Pranis grinning down at him.

"You look like a pro out there!" He said excitedly. "You're doing great! Half of the women in the stands want to bring you home with them!"

"I just want this to be over" the Doctor groaned.