A/N King Zerin's sureness shows signs of faltering, which does not go unnoticed by Eilam. Meanwhile Rose has some news for the Doctor.

Chapter 15

The proposal had at last been made, and King Zerin returned to the palace feeling optimistic as he entered his Ruling Chamber. Rose had been reluctant and had not agreed flat out, but this was nothing less than he had expected. When being offered not only a marriage but a kingdom, prudent consideration was understandably required. And while she had not given an immediate answer of yes, Rose had agreed to at least consider his proposal. He could ask no more of her than that. If Rose was truly the one destined to be Zobulan's fated Queen then he had confidence in what her final answer would be.

Zerin took his ruling seat in the chamber, doing his best to maintain a positive outlook on all this, looking past any of his own inner emotional conflicts. He reassured himself with the thought that this was his and Zobulan's destiny. And in terms of personal feelings, Rose was not a woman he felt indifference towards. There was something about her he found captivating, beyond just the nature of her exotic origins. He was being truthful when he told her that he believed stronger feelings between them had the potential to grow over time.

But even if such feelings did not, he could not allow emotions of the heart to sway his judgment concerning the good of Zobulan. He was not a man who disregarded the importance of such deep emotions; he just didn't allow himself the selfishness of his own personal feelings being permitted to overshadow what might be best for the people under his rule. As a King who sought the best interest of the realm, such self-centered leading was not allowed.

Zerin's mind fell back to thoughts of his lineage. Though he had never known his grandfather, Zerin knew of his legacy. His rule had been one of brutality and bloodshed during a particularly tumultuous time in Zobulan's history. His grandfather had died in an uprising of the Jezrians in a battle to reclaim the throne when Zerin's father, Zephrim, had been but a young boy. His father then had to be hidden for a time to protect his own life. King Kezra, the Jezrian who ruled in his grandfather's place when the Jezrians succeeded in claiming the kingdom, had then been a more just King in his rule over both peoples, driven mostly in his desire for peace by an aspiration for his own rule not to end in an equally bloody manner. The residing animosity between the two races had not dissolved, however, and Zerin's father grew to become the military leader of the Krendorians, continuing the fight.

Zerin's mother had died in childbirth, and he was raised by a custodian until he was old enough to join his father on the fields of battle. His father's vision for his son of royal lineage was to one day become Zobulan's King and put an end to the bloodshed which had cost them all greatly. Though Zerin had been raised in a time of battle and did what had to be done to fight on the side of his own people, the Krendorians, he did not carry the same deep-seated hatred for the Jezrians that Zerin's father admittedly harbored himself since the day his own father had been killed. His father saw Zerin's potential as a peacemaker and believed he was to one day become Zobulan's King who would rule with favor.

Zerin's father then died in his arms in battle on the fields of Shaldon. Before his father drew his last breath, Zerin swore to him in those final moments that he would fulfill his father's vision for him. Zerin's quest for peace had squelched the hatred for the Jezrians that might have otherwise seized his heart on that day.

To now be in the position of standing as the King who would fulfill the ancient foretelling of lasting peace for this world was not something he took lightly. If Rose was the one destined to be Zobulan's next Queen at his side, then he had no doubts that she would come to accept this if it truly was meant to be. He esteemed and was even coming to care for her greatly. Yet he would not allow a triviality such as whether or not he loved her to hinder Zobulan's destiny.

Such feelings of his own were not to be a consideration in this, he firmly told himself. And then Zerin gazed up from his position of contemplation to see Shadarra approaching the chamber from the outer colonnade, and the very emotions he had tried to free himself from had instantly succeeded in seizing him yet again the very moment his eyes fell upon her.

If he allowed himself to be completely honest within his own heart, Shadarra was the one reason for any hesitance he felt in this. She had been his reason for hesitance in seeking the heart of another woman from the beginning. What he felt for Shadarra was something he had fought, denied, and refused; yet the fact still remained. This woman of Jezrian descent had done what was never meant to happen between the opposing peoples – whether he had been a King or a commoner. She had captured his heart. He believed Shadarra felt it, too. He could see it in her eyes as she no doubt saw it in his. It was there. The forbidden longing. Longing for what could never be. Regardless of Rose, this could never be. And if he were truly being honest with himself, a selfish part of him hoped that a union with Rose would ease the ache of unfulfilled yearning he carried within.

Trying, as he had countless times, to rid himself of these emotion-filled thoughts, he quickly stood to his feet as Shadarra passed through the colonnade, across the King's Court and into the Ruling Chamber.

"Your Majesty," she greeted him with a slight bow of her head, her gleaming snowy hair which was worn loose in long, wavy curls cascading elegantly forward across her shoulders.

"Lady Shadarra," he greeted in return, a warm smile forming. Serving in a representative capacity for her people meant that the two often conferred on domestic matters concerning the realm. But ruling transactions aside, these small moments that allowed them to be in each other's company were times he had come to cherish.

"I simply came to inform you of the progress made on the issue of the Sedrin Valley," she said.

"Ah, yes," he nodded. "The border dispute."

"I spoke again with the Jezrian families leading the opposition, and they are willing to make a compromise. Provided the Ruling Council approves it, the landowners on the eastern side of the border will allow the more direct route to the Kipron Road to be made for those on the south, provided a new border will be drawn extending their property further east."

"You have made great progress," he noted with admiration.

She shook her head slightly. "We both know they never would have disputed this in the first place if those in need of the access route had not been Krendorian. Bribing them with the possibility of more land would not have been necessary otherwise."

"Still, I'm very pleased with the progress you have helped bring about. I will, of course, be recommending to the Ruling Council that this be agreed upon. I don't think I will need to issue a mandate. I see no reason for them not to agree, especially considering that the additional land being sought is unoccupied."

"Thank you, Sire," she replied with a smile. Shadarra paused before continuing. "I...came to speak with you earlier but was informed you were out riding." She dipped her sparkling blue eyes, the ones that always entranced him even when they held sadness, before raising them back to his own eyes of dark contrast. "And did you...enjoy your ride?"

"I did," he replied, maintaining a now forced smile as he tensed slightly. "Thank you."

Shadarra hesitated before speaking further. But she knew he would not be angered or think she was stepping out of place for asking this, and she wanted to let him know she was happy for what this could mean for Zobulan, regardless of what it would mean for them. "And I...I understand Zobulan may soon have a reason for great rejoicing," she said, managing a tenuous smile.

"I..." He halted, struggling for the words to form in reply before resigning himself to the issue. "You know, then, of what has been suggested concerning Rose," he stated, his eyes falling from hers.

Her own eyes drifted off from him. "Of course. I knew this would undoubtedly be the case the day of her arrival. How could it not? This is what was spoken of, what was meant to be, is it not? And should the two of you be united, you will have nothing but my utmost happiness for you on that day." She tried to speak with assurance, but could not hide the slight shake in her voice at the end.

"Shadarra," he softly breathed, unable to keep his eyes from her any longer as he instinctively moved a step closer. He had to say this. Maybe it was a moment not of strength but of weakness bringing this out in him now, but even if it could never be spoken of again after this day, he had to say it. "I know that due to our...circumstances I have never been able to speak of the...the deep care I have for you. But I want you to know–"

"Zerin, don't. Please," she whispered, turning away and desperately fighting back the threat of tears. "This will only make things more difficult."

He felt the ache in his heart he had tried to suppress flare. He moved in closer, his hand drifting out to rest on her upper arm. "Oh, Shadarra. If this were any other world. If you and I were any other two people and anywhere but here..."

Just at that moment Eilam appeared in the entryway. "Ah, forgive me for interrupting," he spoke out, eyeing them each with a hard, knowing look as they both abruptly turned towards him, putting distance between each other. "I came to speak with you, Sire, but I see you are already...occupied."

"No. No, I was just leaving," Shadarra insisted, barely looking up as she then hurried past him and out of the court.

The Elder watched her go, then turned back and studied the conflicted expression on the young King's face. Eilam had been contemplating a plan to make certain nothing hindered Zerin's potential union with Rose due to the possible feelings he suspected Rose and the Doctor might hold for each other. He was now certain that he would need to carry this plan out to ensure that Zerin followed through as well.

As a man who sought peace throughout his long life, Eilam was not fond of the measure he would soon take, but he would do whatever had to be done to assure this union took place. Nothing could be allowed to stand in the way of what he believed was Zobulan's destiny.

-:-:-:-

After her very eventful ride with Zerin, Rose had been contemplating the entire way to the TARDIS on just what to tell the Doctor. She couldn't help but wonder just what exactly he would think of this. Should she even tell him? He certainly had enough on his mind at the moment as it was. Rose wasn't even considering actually marrying the King of Zobulan, but just the fact that she had been asked was incredibly significant, and too big a matter to keep from him, she finally decided. He needed to know. For one thing, she wondered if her final answer of 'No' would affect her and the Doctor's treatment by these people and the hospitality shown while here. Not that she would ever consider stringing Zerin along just to try to stay in his favor, but the Doctor needed to be aware of the situation so they could be prepared for whatever shift in hospitality might soon come if they were no longer welcome in the castle. She highly doubted Zerin was the type of man to take back his kindness in reprisal, but still, the Doctor needed to know what was going on.

She entered the TARDIS and found the Doctor perched on the edge of the jump seat, sonicking some type of small rectangular device, with a tangle of wires strew across his lap. Rose also noticed upon entering and seeing the TARDIS for the first time that day that the proportions of the console room appeared to be back to the normal size, and one corridor had reappeared. She assumed a normal state was yet to be the case for the rest of the ship. But still, the repairs were going much better and more rapidly than first expected.

The Doctor looked up from beneath the dark rims of his glasses as she walked up the ramp. "Rose!" he called to her excitedly. "You're just in time. I've managed to reconfigure the dematerialization circuit, and now I just have to reconnect the fluid links."

The Doctor stood up and walked to the console, stooping down to begin installing the device he had been working to repair. He motioned with a flick of his head toward the sonic screwdriver which he'd left on the jump seat. "Use setting 146-z and hold it against the transducer cell each time the red light flashes on the power monitor panel."

Rose walked over and took the sonic, then moved to the console, doing as he asked. She methodically slipped into the role of assisting him, but her mind was still going over the events during her morning with the King.

"Is it holding at thirty?" he asked from his crouched position below.

Rose checked. "Yeah, still holding." She glanced around the much-improved console room, momentarily distracting herself from other thoughts by focusing on the ship. "The TARDIS is looking even better today," she noted.

"Oh, she's brilliant, she is!" the Doctor beamed proudly as he looked up. "The dimensional stabilizers have strengthened enough to allow the internal configurations to begin expanding again. We've got the secondary and tertiary control rooms coming back online, and even the infirmary. I'd say...less than a week and we should be able to leave. Maybe even a matter of days. Days, Rose!" he enthused. "We'll be back out there again...the open road. Where we belong. Ha!"

As if on cue, the glowing central column pulsed once steadily, and the Doctor's smile stretched wider as he hummed happily in the back of his throat before focusing down again on his work.

Rose was extremely relieved to hear this, but also wishing this could have come even sooner so she wouldn't have wound up in this now awkward situation with Zerin.

"So, how was your ride?" the Doctor asked absently after a minute of silence had passed between them. He had missed Rose on more than one occasion that morning when he had found himself in need of assistance (and maybe he had missed her for just a little bit more than that reason, too. Better with two, and all that...), but his selfless side was glad she had been able to spend a little time taking a break from endless repairs, even if she had done so without him.

Rose silently paused at his question. And here it was, then. Time to just get this out in the open, Rose thought. "It was...interesting. Very interesting. Definitely. The King, he..." Rose stopped short when she glanced down and could easily tell the Doctor wasn't really even focusing on what she was saying, too engrossed in his work. "Doctor, could you stop a minute?"

The Doctor hastily pulled himself up and moved to stand beside her. "Has it gone up to thirty-five?" he asked worriedly, scrutinizing the power monitor panel.

"No, this is fine. I just...need to tell you about something."

The Doctor slipped off his glasses and turned his full attention toward her, a slightly concerned expression on his face. He could tell by Rose's demeanor something was off. "What is it, Rose?"

She took in a deep breath. "It's the King. He...he... Blimey, I can't believe I'm even sayin' this. He asked me to...to marry him."

Rose wasn't quite sure what she had been expecting the Doctor's reaction to be, but she had not expected him to let out a bark of laughter. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Doctor, I'm serious."

The Doctor reined in his laughter and cleared his throat. "Yes, yes I know you are. I'm sorry. It's just that it's so...ridiculous."

"Really?" she questioned, narrowing her gaze and feeling a little defensive at his response. "Ridiculous that a King would see anything at all in someone like me, or ridiculous that anyone would even want to marry me in the first place?"

The Doctor's expression instantly sobered. "Rose, I didn't mean that. It's just that we've been here just shy of a week and you've already managed to charm the planet's ruler. It's ridiculous in the sense that this sort of thing – well obviously not this in particular – but seemingly implausible events just seem to follow us wherever we go. We can never just go anywhere unnoticed, can we? And I've no doubt he is quite taken with you. I could see it yesterday," the Doctor admitted, his voice falling just a touch quieter. "I'm sure he finds you quite fascinating. And," he hastily added, "he has every reason to think that way. But to go so far as to propose when he hardly even knows you is really just...well...a bit daft."

Rose glanced down briefly. The King's proposal, though not at all something she had wanted, had made her feel a little special. The Doctor was making her feel like it was nothing more than a joke. "His proposal wasn't meaningless or insincere. It's not just some...infatuation."

The Doctor regarded her seriously for a moment. He said all this was daft, which it was. But it was also making his stomach twist unpleasantly as the seconds ticked by. "I didn't say it was meaningless."

No, just laughable, she thought. Rose looked back up at him and wondered if she should even tell him the rest. The Doctor would no doubt just laugh all the more. "Well, I'm sure you'll find this even more hilarious, but he believes I'm the woman who was foretold would marry the favored King, whose union would help usher in peace. Now go ahead and laugh some more. Rose Tyler, Stuff of Legend, far and wide."

"I'm not laughing," he replied, his voice serious. He suddenly felt like doing anything but. "In fact, I should have seen this much sooner." His jaw tensed. "And if I hadn't been so...preoccupied I suppose I would have. This now explains quite a lot, actually – why the King would roll out the red carpet, so to speak, and welcome us into his palace as he had." The Doctor stuffed his hands in his pockets and blew out a breath. Zerin's feelings in this were obviously a little more serious than he realized. This was relieved only by the fact that those feelings went one way and Rose wasn't one to buy into the whole 'Ancient Legend' thing. He spoke his next words earnestly, making sure Rose didn't think he was just laughing it all off. "Well, I'm sorry if this has made things awkward for you now until we're able to leave. He was no doubt very disappointed when you told him no."

Rose hesitated, shifting a little on her feet and not meeting his eyes. "Well I didn't...I didn't exactly tell him...no."

His eyes rounded then narrowed. "What?" he all but screeched.

"Well I didn't tell him yes, either," she added quickly. "I mean...I pretty much did tell him no, but I also told him I'd give it a little more thought."

"What did you tell him that for?" the Doctor questioned in disbelief, his voice rising higher and higher.

Rose heaved a sigh. "Because I don't want him to think that I didn't give any regard to his request at all. When I tell him no firmly, he can at least be sure that I put some thought into it first."

The Doctor opened his mouth to protest further, but wasn't quite sure what more to say that wouldn't come out sounding as if he was making demands of how she should handle this. He didn't agree with her line of thinking one little bit. But there was also not much he could do about the matter. Rose wasn't his to control if this was how she wanted to handle it.

He ran both hands through his hair and cast an anxious glance back over at the console. "Well, this is all the more reason to get the TARDIS up and running sooner rather than later. The longer we stay the more complicated things could get."

He looked back at Rose and pointed a stern finger. "You just need to stop being so charming." With a half-smile, he then ducked down to scoot back beneath the console.

Rose chuckled and shrugged, glad the tension had seemed to ease. "Can't help it. I get it from my mum."

The sound of the Doctor's head banging beneath the console was accompanied by his startled choke.

The Doctor and Rose continued working together throughout the day with the mood remaining fairly light between them, even though on the inside the Doctor's thoughts had his stomach coiled in a knot.

He was going to lose Rose one day. He knew that. And not just because of her shorter lifespan. Actually, preserving, or at least extending her life could very possibly be an attainable prospect. They had time, of course, before even entering into such a conversation, provided Rose still chose to stay with him in the coming years and hadn't moved on with her life. But this was something he might be able to accomplish if Rose was ever open to that prospect, considering the near-limitless advances the Doctor had access to with all of Time at his fingertips. Though no matter how much time he might be able to buy her, it still could never be quite enough. He would still lose her one day. But he could keep her with him far longer than any others had ever wanted to stay. If she wanted to stay.

It was the task of holding on to her heart that he could never accomplish. They could continue on as they were – as best mates and traveling companions – for only so long. Eventually Rose would want more in life. She deserved more. More than someone like him was capable of ever giving. And it was only a matter of time before someone else came along who could and would give her such things. The Doctor might have laughed at the preposterousness of the situation when Rose told him of the King's proposal, but the truth of it was he was not at all surprised that Zerin would consider Rose for this. The both saw she was extraordinary.

He couldn't deny that the very thought of the King's proposal gnawed at him uncomfortably, but he was not overly concerned about it this time, though, because in observing Rose he was pretty certain that she didn't return any strong feelings towards Zerin. At least the Doctor didn't think so. Admittedly, he wasn't exactly an expert when it came to matters of the heart – a risky area he steadfastly avoided. But the Doctor didn't think he was in danger of actually losing Rose over this.

Not this time, anyway. But what about the next planet? What about the next ruler or peasant or ordinary bloke from Earth whose heart would be captured by Rose and she would eventually, among one of them, feel the same? The Doctor already knew the answer to that question.

When that day came he would let her go.

He would wish her well, tell her to have a fantastic life, and try, even if it took every last ounce of his strength, to move on. Always moving on. Alone. Because if there was one thing the Doctor was familiar with, it was losing.