Parties and Plots

That evening, the party was a huge turnout and within moments there were people laughing and talking and enjoying themselves as per usual. There was a succulent feast of some of the finest food and drink, the guests were all dressed beautifully and there was a wonderful band of minstrels and singers providing music for the event. And naturally, Cassandra was at the center of it all.

If there was anything Cassandra was good at, it was throwing wonderful festivities and charming her guests. From where Rose was watching, she could see that Cassandra already had a large group of men fawning over her and many of the female guests looked at her jealously.

Rose was waiting slightly nervously for her to be announced so she could enter the ball room. She never entered without permission and announcement, and though she was the late King's daughter, she never got quite used to entering a room with so many people like this as she always had butterflies in her stomach at this time.

Finally, Chip's voice rang out clearly, "May I present, Her Majesty Princess Rose?"

Rose took a deep breath and then slowly walked down the steps as her arrival was applauded. She smiled at the guests, who looked at her with awe.

Chip had done a nice job when he'd helped Rose prepare for the evening. She was cleaned and smelt of flowers, her hair was pinned back into a bun, and her locket gleamed on her neck. She was dressed in a simple but flowing scarlet colored gown that Chip had found and her golden jeweled tiara rested on her head. She looked very beautiful, but those who knew her would say she looked beautiful without even trying, both inside and out.

Rose greeted her stepmother's guests before taking her place beside one of the tables. Her stepmother was very strict on Rose's conduct. She was to speak only when spoken to, she could not leave the room unless instructed, she was to remain at the table unless someone asked her to dance and only partake of the food and drink if it was offered or Cassandra gave her permission.

"Glass of wine, Your Highness?" said a male, northern voice, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Rose looked up to see the man she'd met before beside her, holding two goblets of wine, one of which he was offering to her.

Rose took the offered goblet. "Yes, thank you, sir." She was grateful but surprised nevertheless. Generally at parties, she was admired and such, but no one had just come up to her like this since Cassandra became Queen because they feared reprisals from her.

"Please, Your Majesty, don't call me 'sir.' Just the Doctor," he said.

"Only if you will call me Rose," she replied. "And Doctor who, exactly?"

"Just the Doctor," he repeated.

Rose shook her head. "As you wish, then."

"That reminds me, why didn't you tell me you were the Princess?" he asked.

"You didn't ask, so I didn't tell." Not to mention, there was no reason for you to believe me, considering how I looked earlier.

"Ah," said the Doctor. "If it's not too bold, would you care to take a walk with me?"

"I'd love to, but I'm afraid I can't. My stepmother can be very strict about 'proper decorum' as she puts it. I have to stay here unless I'm dancing," said Rose, as she sipped her wine.

"You mean Queen of the Pigs over there?" asked the Doctor, glancing over at Cassandra.

"Doctor, shush!" said Rose, quickly. She looked around and felt relief when it appeared Cassandra hadn't heard him. "Whatever your opinion of her may be, she's still my stepmother and the Queen for heaven's sake. She has the senses of a fox, so be careful what you say while in the room, please."

If Cassandra heard insults about her, she'd likely take out her anger on Rose or worse, Chip.

"Well, if that's the case, then I shall," said the Doctor. "My apologies." He seemed concerned by Rose's fear, but said nothing on the subject, thankfully.

"Thank you," said Rose, gratefully.

"Well, since we can't walk together, would you care to dance?"

He's actually asking me to dance? No one's done that since my father died.

"I would be delighted."

She took his hand and they went out onto the dance floor. It was the first time Rose had danced in years, but she did fairly well and soon found herself laughing and feeling happy with him. They talked a lot as they danced. The Doctor seemed to be quite interested her, and they had quite a lot in common. Rose had dreamed of traveling ever since he was a little girl and the Doctor was a traveler. He told her about some of his journeys and smiled broadly when she mentioned how much she wished she could see the world.

"Perhaps I'll take you with me, if you'd like," he said.

"Believe me, I would love to," said Rose, wistfully.

But Rose though did want to leave, she believed her wish to travel was just a fantasy, a childhood dream, nothing more.

Even if it was possible to escape the guards, or if Cassandra wasn't Queen or my life here with her was different, I'd have to remain in the kingdom. I have a duty to my people. I'm their Princess and future Queen. How could I just up and leave?

"But later, perhaps. I can't leave tonight," she said, finally.

"I understand. Oh, Rose, you might want to hear this next song," said the Doctor.

"Oh? Why?" asked Rose.

Then one of the minstrel's voices sang a beautiful sweet song over beautiful music.

One Song
I have but one song
One song
Only for you

Two hearts
Tenderly beating
Ever entreating
Constant and true

One love
That has possessed me
One love
Thrilling me through

One song
My hearts keeps singing
Of one love
Only for you

Rose frowned in confusion before her face lit up in realization. She looked at the Doctor. "Did you—?"

"Consider it a gift," said the Doctor.

Rose felt touched and couldn't help but smile. "You, sir, are without a doubt, the most charming man that I've ever met. Thank you."

"My pleasure, Your Majesty," said the Doctor, smiling. They stopped dancing as the music ceased and the guests started to depart as the clock struck midnight. "I must be off now, but I'll return when I can. I hope I see you again, Rose."

"As I do you, Doctor," she said.

"Just remember, if you need me, I'll find you. Always."

He kissed her hand and then departed, leaving Rose feeling happier than she had in a long time, and yet she was still baffled by it all.

I've only just met the man, yet he's shown me so much kindness. Why on earth did he seem to be so interested in me, a lowly princess-turned-servant girl? There's nothing special about me.

"Rose!" said Cassandra, loudly; snapping Rose out of her thoughts. She didn't seem to be angry, but cold. "Who was that man, the one you kept talking to and dancing with?

"I don't know. He didn't give his name," said Rose. It wasn't a lie. It wasn't like 'the Doctor' was really a name, now was it?

"Really?" said Cassandra, narrowing her eyes. "For a man who seemingly didn't give his name, he certainly seemed to be very interested in you. Do you have any idea why?"

Rose shook her head. "I can think of none, milady," she said, truthfully. She didn't know why the mysterious Doctor seemed to be so fascinated with her.

"Of course you can't. Why would any man even consider looking twice at a worthless, skinny little blond thing like yourself?" muttered Cassandra.

Rose was used to Cassandra's constant harshness, but that didn't make it hurt any less. Still, knowing Cassandra was expecting a response she said, "I doubt he is. I believe he was just acting out of pity. What am I compared to you, Stepmother? I'm nothing."

"Quite correct," said Cassandra. "You're less than nothing, in fact. Now, get yourself back into your servant's attire and clean this place up before you even consider going to bed."

Rose inwardly winced at the thought of doing more work, especially since she'd been working all day and was tired, but she knew it was better to do as she was told rather than risk one of Cassandra's punishments. So, she just bowed her head respectfully and said, "Yes, Stepmother," before obeying her.

Rose never disobeyed Cassandra for any reason. The fact of the matter was, after her father passed away, Cassandra began to frighten her. And over the past few years, it'd gotten worse. If it wasn't a look Cassandra gave her, then it was all those private talks with Chip or those strange people Rose sometimes saw her meet with, and sometimes Rose would swear she heard frightening noises coming from Cassandra's chambers or sparks of light under the door. She'd told no one of this, because there wasn't anyone that she could tell. She didn't want Chip to have divided loyalties and she feared what would happen if she did voice her suspicions.

So, like it or not, Rose was trapped, a prisoner inside her own home. But for forever or only a while longer, who could say?

XXX

That same night, Cassandra was in the mirror room as Chip tended to her.

Now, Cassandra was unlike the other Queens of her realm, not because of her beauty or cruelty, oh no. She was unlike the others because she wasn't born in their time. No one, save for Chip, knew Cassandra's greatest secret: she was from the year five billion.

She considered herself the "last human" as she had refused to change while the rest of the human race evolved. However, that didn't stop her from undergoing multiple surgeries that kept her young but also transformed her into nothing more than a piece of skin with a face stretched across a metal frame. She was quite wealthy and had considerable influence, and it could've all ended happily had it not been for her selfishness.

Cassandra had gotten greedy and did terrible things for money. She was stopped by one man who stood out against all others, but she managed to escape before she could be imprisoned. While on the run, she created Chip, who was just a force-grown clone and made loyal to her so that she would have an ally and then she hijacked a Time Agent's vortex manipulator and wound up stuck in Rose's time. But she hadn't come empty-handed. She created a new body that was incredibly beautiful and used an illegal psychograft to transfer her consciousness to the new body.

Despite being stuck, Cassandra was resourceful and fiendishly clever woman. She managed to survive in the best way she knew how: lies and charisma. Eventually, through several years of lying and winning over the hearts of men, she became an aristocrat, which lead to her current position.

She'd grown rather attached to her position of power and had no desire to lose it, hence all her work to keep herself young and refuse Rose her rightful claim to the throne. Her vanity also ran so deep that she was fearfully jealous of Rose, who was a far greater beauty than she and better than her in so many ways. It was why she'd always been so harsh to her and kept her prisoner.

Many of Cassandra's mirrors actually concealed special cameras all over the castle, save for her one specially locked room, and the one she always spoke a verse to was at the center of it all and would only show things if Rose was not in the room.

"Mirror, mirror on the wall

Who's the fairest one of all?"

The mirror's reflective image faded, revealing images from the party that had just taken place. Much to Cassandra's displeasure, she recognized the man Rose had spent the evening with and grew even more furious when she heard her guests talking about how beautiful Rose was. To be more precise, how much more beautiful Rose was than Cassandra.

"THAT WRETCHED GIRL!" yelled Cassandra, as she broke one of the smaller mirrors, in a fit of anger.

Chip, who'd been in the room pouring Cassandra a glass of wine; nearly jumped out of his skin and looked considerably frightened at Cassandra's outburst.

"Is Mistress quite well?" he asked.

"No, I am not 'quite well!'" she barked, angrily. "That blasted stepdaughter of mine. How dare she do this to me? How dare she!"

"Calm down, Mistress. Drink your wine," said Chip, pressing the goblet into her hands. "You must relax. Anger is not good for the complexion.

"Yes, yes, of course, you're right, Chip," said Cassandra. She drank her wine and tried to calm down. After all, they did say anger caused wrinkles, something she did not want. She put her goblet down and then began pacing the room. "That blasted girl! I rarely ever allow her to be seen and one of the few times I do, she manages to catch the eye of the Doctor of all men! If he finds out who I am, he'll destroy me."

"Destroy you, Mistress?" repeated Chip, looking horrified.

"I don't mean literally, you idiot!" she snapped. "If he turns me over to the authorities for my crimes, there's no telling what they'll sentence me to."

"Surely he will not return, Mistress? This time is boring. Hardly of any interest to him, surely?" asked Chip.

"You don't know him as well as I do. If he's not here for some sort of catastrophe, he's here because of one soul out of millions catches his interest. He could ruin everything if he's as interested in her as I believe him to be," said Cassandra. "That dratted girl hasn't just caught the Doctor's eye or his hearts, you realize. She's been winning over the hearts of my own people because of her beauty and compassion! She's always been sickeningly kind to the riffraff who come begging to the door and now people are saying she's the fairest one of all!"

"But her beauty is nothing compared to yours. Surely she poses no threat to you, Mistress? She's a prisoner in her own home!" protested Chip.

"Never underestimate your enemies, Chip!" hissed Cassandra. If she had to get rid of Rose like she got rid of Pete, then she would. "There's no doubt about it. I must get rid of her and in a way no one will question. If I cannot obtain her youth and beauty for myself, than she will be gone forever!"