Disclaimer: I don't own "Doctor Who", "Twilight", or the "Princesses" series; you know the drill
Feedback: Much appreciated
The Perils of Lorindar
If there was one thing you could always be sure of when travelling with the Doctor, it was that you would experience things that you would have once believed impossible; the only question was whether you'd enjoy them. While I could have done without my time spent working in the Dalek mines, my close call with James when I was with Edward had given me an earlier experience with facing the possibility of my own death, and I'd always either had faith that the Doctor could get us out of this or never faced anything on my own that I couldn't at least try to deal with.
Compared to some of my past experiences, therefore, while getting dressed up to attend a dinner in my honour with a royal family and two exiled princesses in the kingdom of fairy-tales was an intimidating prospect, it was one that I could at least theoretically accept. It was strange to think about the fact that I was having a meal with Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella, but even though I felt uncomfortable in a red dress with golden embroidery that would have probably sent Alice into hysterics if she'd seen it, it was actually rather easy to get along with the assorted princesses.
The Doctor had somehow managed to retain his usual clothes for this final celebratory feast to commemorate our victory over Omega, but I felt that it would be rude to turn down the dress when Snow offered it, and I had to admit that it was rather comfortable once I got used to it. While the Doctor conversed with the king and queen and a short man that I had been told was the former Fairytown ambassador, Trittibar- he'd apparently lost his position when he was forced to use magic to save himself, Talia and Snow from an attack- I was enjoying a conversation with the three women about our past experiences, ranging from the truth of their stories to anything I could tell them about life with the Doctor without discussing aliens, other planets, or concepts they couldn't understand.
Eventually, as the conversation around us began to die down, Queen Beatrice stood up, leaning on her chair as she looked around the hall.
"We are gathered here to celebrate the end of a threat to our allies in Fairytown, but we are also gathered her to acknowledge the coming departure of our two new allies," she said, addressing the entire hall before her attention focused on the Doctor and I. "The Doctor and Isabella Swan have come here under unusual circumstances, but their contribution to our victory over this new threat cannot be understated; were it not for the Doctor's exceptional knowledge and Isabella's own remarkable courage, it is unlikely that our own efforts would have accomplished anything. We have known them for a brief time only, but their assistance in these matters has been much appreciated."
"I only did what I could, your majesty," the Doctor replied, smiling back at the queen as she greeted him with a smile of her own before his expression became more solemn. "I just wish that I could do more…"
"We only ask that you do whatever you are willing and able to do, Doctor," Beatrice said, looking reassuringly at my friend, evidently understanding what the Doctor wasn't saying. "You have helped our allies and defeated a great threat; that's more than we could have expected."
"Thank you," the Doctor said, bowing slightly at her.
"It is a small thing in honour of all that you have done for us, but I felt that you might appreciate this token of our gratitude," Beatrice said, holding a hand out to receive a golden staff, about a metre in length, with two serpents twisted around one end in a manner that reminded me of that symbol outside some hospitals. "It is a staff of healing, one of the oldest magical items ever created; its use was generally symbolic rather than it possessing great power on its own, but the principle behind its creation was still fascinating. This one has been drained of most of its power, but it remains an item of some historical interest; since you have said that you do not use magic yourself, I thought that you would appreciate it as a reminder of what you have achieved."
"Your highness, I can't-" the Doctor began, as she walked away from her throne towards him.
"As I said, it is a powerless relic that was mainly interesting for its symbolic value rather than its ability, but I have faith that it will be in good hands, Doctor," Beatrice assured him with a warm smile, as she laid the staff in the Doctor's hands. "That's one of the benefits of being a queen; I have a great deal of surplus belongings that I will never use."
I had to chuckle at that analogy; I'd never met any actual royalty back on Earth, but it was hard to imagine any of them being this casual towards anyone they'd met such a short time ago…
"And for you, Miss Swan," Beatrice said, turning to walk towards me with a warm smile, pulling an object out from under her cloak, "Talia thought that you might like this."
When I accepted the gift, I was surprised to see that it was a decently-sized dagger, reminding me of something I'd seen in the Lord of the Rings films during a marathon that the Cullens had on at one point- Jasper apparently enjoyed the war scenes- with a handle carved in the shape of a snarling wolf's head.
"Considering that you needed to borrow my wolf to fight last time, I thought I'd make sure you have your own in future," Talia explained, smiling at me as I studied the blade in awe. "I used a few tricks Snow's picked up over the years to prepare it; it's not quite as impressive as Danielle's sword, but it should be able to cut through most things if you need it, and Snow helped me include a couple of other enchantments so that you can't hurt yourself with it by accident."
"Thanks," I said, smiling in appreciation at the princess as I studied the blade in my hands.
I may hope that I wouldn't need this kind of defence in future, but the fact that someone had gone to all this time and effort to make me something to ensure that I could defend myself, rather than Edward and the Cullens and the Quillettes always telling me to stay back and let them handle it…
Even if I wasn't on their level now, it was nice to feel that people acknowledged me as a potential equal rather than automatically dismissing me as a victim who could never compare to them. As much as I appreciated the Cullens' desire to protect me, it had always frustrated me that I could do so little to help them in return; anything that made me feel like I could make an active contribution was good news as far as I was concerned.
The next morning found me standing outside the TARDIS, waiting impatiently for the Doctor to arrive; everything I'd taken to my room was already back in the ship, but I still needed the pilot if I wanted to go anywhere. I could have stayed inside the ship, but even if I had a key, when I'd woken up early this morning before the activity in the palace could really kick off, I felt that it would be more polite to wait outside the ship in case the Doctor brought anyone with him for a final goodbye (The Doctor might feel comfortable waking up royalty, but I wasn't there yet).
Even after the feast was over, the celebrations hadn't completely ended. While most of the royals and servants had retired for the night, the Doctor and I had somehow ended up talking with Snow and Talia respectively, Talia giving me a few interesting tips on how to use my new knife and the Doctor last seen engaging in a very animated discussion with Snow before she took him somewhere else. I had eventually just collapsed in my room after Talia's training was over, too exhausted to even change out of my dress, but when I had woken up the next morning I found that Danielle had left me a note saying that I could keep the dress as well if I wanted it, which at least saved me having to change back into my regular clothes.
I was just starting to wonder if I should nip inside to find something to read in the TARDIS library while I waited, when I heard someone talking as they came towards me. Turning in the direction of the voices, I smiled at the sight of the Doctor walking into the courtyard, still chatting with Snow about something, as Talia and Danielle led the way.
"Early riser?" Danielle asked as the four of them joined me around the TARDIS.
"My last boyfriend didn't sleep much, and when you're with the Doctor… well, you get used to the need to get moving at short notice," I explained, patting the blue box with a slight smile.
"Oi!" the Doctor said, looking at me with mock indignation. "I've never expected you to run just after waking up!"
"True," I conceded, smiling teasingly at him. "Still, we do tend to end up running a lot…"
"Not all the time," the Doctor retorted defensively. "We managed to get by during our trip to the Tempus Fugit without any trouble, didn't we?"
"The what?" Snow asked.
"Just a restaurant the Doctor owns," I explained. "We went there for a rest after a… well, it was a difficult time."
"You own a restaurant?" Talia said in surprise. "I thought you said you were a traveller?"
"I've dabbled in a few ventures over the years," the Doctor clarified, before he shrugged as he indicated the TARDIS. "Anyway, as nice as it's been to see you all, Bella and I should probably be moving on; time and tide wait for no man, after all."
"You wish to return to your travels; I can respect that," Danielle said, drawing her glass sword and looking solemnly at us. "However, if you would allow me a moment of your time before your departure, could you kneel?"
I was almost too stunned to respond to that request when I realised what Danielle intended, but seeing the Doctor get to his knees, I quickly followed his example and knelt on the ground before the princess.
"I dub thee Sir Doctor of Lungbarrow and Lorindar, and Lady Bella Swan of Forks," Danielle said, placing her sword on each of our shoulders before stepping back and indicating that we could stand up. "I hope you don't mind; I'm not sure what the policy is for knighting someone if they already have an estate, but I felt that it couldn't do any harm…"
"I greatly appreciate this honour, Danielle," the Doctor said, smiling warmly at her as he shook the three princesses by the hand. "Your help in dealing with Omega has been very welcome; Bella and I will always remember meeting you."
"I second that," I said, trying not to grin like an idiot at the notion that I was now a lady as I followed my friend's example, also exchanging brief cheek-kisses with the princesses as we parted. "I mean, I heard so many stories about you before coming here- I mean, I've heard those stories before I even met the Doctor- but meeting you… well, they don't do you justice."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Talia said, shaking her head with an amused smile on her face before she looked at me with the closest thing to genuine warmth I'd seen on her face. "You're not the best fighter I've ever known, but if you encounter things like Omega on a regular basis… you're one of the bravest people I've ever met."
"Thanks," I said, smiling awkwardly at her.
"We probably won't see you again, will we?" Snow asked.
"Probably not, no," the Doctor acknowledged, nodding back at her. "It's been an experience, but this place is so far off my usual routes that, well…"
"I understand," Snow said, her farewell smile turning more seductive as she walked up to him. "In that case…"
When Snow grabbed the Doctor by the back of the head to pull his lips to hers, giving him such a passionate kiss that I suddenly felt like an intruder on some private moment, I decided that discretion was the better part of valour right now. Smiling awkwardly at Danielle and Talia one last time, I turned around to open the TARDIS door and slip inside, making sure that my knife was secure in my belt before the Doctor entered the ship, wiping his mouth as he looked over at me.
"Sorry about that," the Doctor said, the Time Lord appearing unusually embarrassed as he hurried to the console. "Apparently, Snow wanted to just give me one last reminder of last night; her words, not mine."
"Last night?" I repeated, looking at my friend in surprise as he set the TARDIS in motion to take us away from Lorindar.
"We started talking after the main celebration was over, Snow suggested we continue it in her rooms, and then… well, one thing led to another, and the other thing led to her blindfolding me with my own tie and taking my shirt off…"
"Hold on a minute…" I said, torn between staring incredulously and bursting out laughing as I considered what the Doctor had just revealed. "Are you saying… you mean… you and Snow White…?"
"She was very… I didn't really… well, what do you do in that situation?" the Doctor asked, waving his hands in confusion. "Honestly, I go through seven bodies without anyone wanting to do more than talk to me or lock me up, then I go and kiss the woman who killed me in a post-regenerative fit, and nowadays everyone wants to… jump my bones or whatever the term is!"
"Well," I said, unsure what I should say given my own limited experience, "at least you… said a fond farewell?"
"It's been an interesting trip, certainly," the Doctor noted, smiling wistfully as he adjusted a few settings on the console; I felt the TARDIS shaking slightly, but compared to the turbulence we'd experienced before landing at Lorindar this barely registered. "Anyway, it wasn't all that; we had some rather interesting talks about some of the more unique spells she's performed, some of my own experiences while travelling, how Omega could copy my body, that sort of thing…"
I wasn't naïve enough to think that the Doctor was completely over what had just happened- I doubted that he'd ever found it easy to kill another Time Lord even before virtually all the other Time Lords were wiped out- but as he talked about his conversation with Snow White, I knew without needing to ask that my friend would be all right.
AN: Well, there is the last chapter; hope you all enjoyed it.
And with this story in 'Twilight Storm' concluded, in the next instalment, Bella Swan will witness the Doctor's past and future, as she accompanies the Tenth Doctor during his role in the most impossible day in all of creation…
AN 2: If anyone's interested, the topics that Snow questioned the Doctor about are intended to imply that she's started the train of thought that would lead to the events of the fourth book in Hines' series, The Snow Queen's Revenge; in an attempt to save the dying Beatrice, Snow used her magic to create a new body for her, but the ritual backfired and resulted in Snow taking a turn for the worse…
