Capture and Loss
Morning eventually followed and Rose explored all she could of the cities. She eventually came to a wide variety of stalls and vendors. She was surprised when she saw a hungry-looking child gazing at a cart with fruit with longing.
"Hey, are you hungry?" she asked, startling the boy.
The boy nodded; too shy to speak.
"Here you go," said Rose, handing him some fruit and leaving money on the cart.
The child looked delighted and ran off, leaving Rose smiling.
"You'd better be able to pay for that," said the cart vendor.
"I just did," said Rose, confused. "I'm sorry, was it not enough?"
"I need more!" he snarled, grabbing her. "You didn't pay enough!"
"I-I'm sorry, sir. I gave you all I had," said Rose, feeling a little scared.
"Thief!"
"I am not a thief. If you just calm down and let me get some money from my father, I can—"
"Do you know what the penalty is for stealing?" he shouted, raising a sword.
"No! No, please!" Rose cried, trying to get out of the man's grasp.
But then another man with unruly brown hair and dressed in a brown suit appeared, and took the sword from the man's hand. He held up a sheet of paper that stated he was head of the guards. Rose knew fully well this man wasn't the head of the guards and wondered what he was up to.
"Excuse me, what seems to be the trouble here?" he asked.
"Oh, excuse me, sir. This-this girl didn't pay for the food she took," said the vendor.
"Really?" said the man, gazing at Rose and the money on the cart. "Well, as head of the guards, it's my job to take her off your hands. Rest assured, we'll deal with her."
"But-but, sir!"
"No, no, no, I can handle this," said the man, taking Rose's hand. He turned to Rose and whispered, "On my signal, run."
Rose nodded and quietly walked with him for a few steps and then…
"Wait a moment," said the vendor. "This is psychic paper! GUARDS!"
"RUN!" shouted the man.
Rose didn't need telling twice as she ran.
XXX
Deep within a dark room, a Time Lord was using his machines to spy on Gallifrey's people to figure out who the diamond in the rough could be. But then again, the Cave had said the one to enter would have many names. Who went by more than just two names?
Then he saw it and couldn't believe it his senses, but knew there was no other choice. Deciding he would have to get the man by force, he spoke to the guards.
XXX
The Doctor and the woman he'd rescued climbed up the way to his home. "Come on, we're nearly there. Watch your step."
The woman nearly fell and landed in the Doctor's arms as he helped her to stand. They almost shuddered at how close they were before separating.
"I want to thank you for stopping that man," she said.
"Uh, forget it," said the Doctor. "So, this is your first time down in the marketplace, isn't it?"
He leapt over the building roof they were on and began placing a board across the way so she could walk instead of jumping.
"How'd you know?" she asked. "Is that obvious?"
"A bit," he said. "But people usually catch on pretty quick."
"I think I just did," she said, as she leapt over the building and tossed him the stick as they arrived at his home. "I'm a fast learner."
"That was brilliant," he said.
"Thanks,' she said, smiling. "So, is there where you live?"
"Yep, just me," said the Doctor. "It's not much, but it's got a decent view and it's a roof over my head."
He opened the curtain and allowed her to see the stars and the palace.
"It's beautiful," she said.
The Doctor shrugged. "It's enough for now," he said. "I didn't always live like this. I used to travel. I'd use my TARDIS to go anywhere in time and space. But now, since I've lost it, I'm stuck here."
"What happened?" she asked.
"There was a battle with my half-brother and my TARDIS was lost. I don't know what happened to it. But I hope I'll find it and when I do, maybe I can help out a bit down here."
"I know how you feel. I used to live in a…rich place. But I always wanted something more. I wanted to be free. I always felt so…"
"Trapped?" he said.
She nodded.
"Was it really that bad?" he asked.
"Yes. And my father's trying to get me married off."
"That's horrible," said the Doctor. "I wish there was something I could do to help."
She smiled. "That's sweet. Thank you. So, where did you go on your travels?"
The Doctor told her about his journeys and the companions he'd had and even pointed out a few of the places he'd been to in the night sky. As he talked to her, he couldn't help but think of her arranged marriage. For some reason, the though of this girl getting married put a knot in his stomach. But why should it when he barely knew anything about her.
"Forgive me, I forgot my manners. I'm Rose," she said.
"I'm—"
"THERE YOU ARE!" shouted the guards.
The Doctor and Rose stood up in shock.
"They're after me!" they said in unison. They turned to each other. "They're after you?"
The Doctor looked for an exit and saw the wind. "Rose, do you trust me?" he asked, holding out his hand.
"What?"
"Do you trust me?" he repeated.
Rose grabbed his hand and tightly intertwined their fingers. "With my life," she said.
"Then jump!"
The two of them jumped off the building and miraculously, they landed on something soft, but then the guards caught up with them and grabbed the Doctor.
"It's the dudgeons for you, street rat!"
"Rose, run!" he shouted.
"Let him go!" said Rose. Pulling back her cloak and revealing the birthmark on her shoulder. "By order of the Lord President's daughter!"
The guards and the Doctor were shocked.
"Oh, Lady Rose," said the head of the guards.
The Lord President's daughter? the Doctor thought.
"What're you doing outside the palace? And with this street rat?"
"That's not your concern!" Rose snapped. "Release him, now."
"Well, I would, milady, but my orders come from Koschei, your father's advisor. You'll have to take it up with him."
"Believe me, I will," Rose snarled.
XXX
Rose stormed into the palace just as Koschei, her father's advisor came into a room. He always wore a black suit, had short blond-ish hair and had a creepy look on him. Rose had always disliked him and would have fired him within an instant, but she couldn't.
"Koschei!" she said.
"Lady Rose, how may I be of service to you?" he said, bowing in respect.
"You can tell me what the devil you want with a man who's done no wrong!" said Rose. "The guards just took a man from the city on your orders!"
"My lady, the man is an old associate of mine. I had reason to believe he'd committed a serious crime and I had him arrested," he said.
"What crime?" Rose demanded.
"Why, kidnapping you of course," he said.
"That's a lie and a half! No one kidnapped me. I ran away!"
Koschei looked shocked and almost distressed. "Oh dear, had I known I might not have had his sentence carried out already."
"What sentence?" Rose asked.
"Death," said Koschei. "By the chemical that destroys any remaining regenerations."
Rose was shocked. "No," she whispered. "He can't be dead. He can't be. How could you?"
She ran to her room in tears and cried into her pillow for several long moments. The man who saved her was dead and it was all her fault. She hadn't even learned his name.
After a while, she felt her father's hand on her shoulder.
"Rose, dearest, what's wrong?" he asked.
"Koschei has done something terrible," said Rose.
"It can't be that bad. We'll set it right, I promise. Now, tell me all about it."