A/N Rose learns what Eilam has up his sleeve as the situation nears the boiling point.
Chapter 16
A day had passed since King Zerin's unexpected proposal of marriage, and after giving enough time for what Rose hoped would seem due consideration but without dragging it out unnecessarily, she planned to meet with Zerin that next evening after she and the Doctor had returned once again from working on the TARDIS. She would then kindly but firmly refuse with a final answer of no. So when she arrived back at the castle that evening and a short while later received word that he requested her presence in his Ruling Chamber that night after dinner, she was more than happy to agree. Rose didn't want to prolong this any further for everyone's sake, and she was glad to be getting this over with once and for all.
She and the Doctor had dinner that night in the dining hall, of which the King did not attend in plans of giving her some space until her decision had been reached. The Doctor then returned to their chamber to continue working on small components of the TARDIS he had brought back with him, as had become his routine so that he could keep working on repairs from their chamber at night. The TARDIS had actually improved to the point that they could now remain in the ship and have some of the basic necessary functions, but they were still lacking the galley and a few remaining rooms. Plus, moving out of the castle before Rose had given Zerin her final answer and then had the opportunity to thank them all for their hospitality would have seemed a little unfitting.
As the Doctor continued his work from their chamber that night, Rose went to keep her appointment with the King. The Doctor had asked if she wanted him to accompany her, but Rose thought it would be best and less uncomfortable for Zerin if she did this on her own. The Doctor had tried to act fairly unconcerned about it all since the day before, but he had wished Rose would have just told Zerin a firm 'No' right away. He understood her reason for wanting him to feel she had given the matter due consideration, but he still didn't like the idea of Zerin thinking that marriage to Rose was a possibility in the meantime. He wanted the issue to be clear. So he was relieved she would finally be putting this to rest now.
Upon leaving their room, Rose was escorted down to the Ruling Chamber. As she entered through the heavy double doors of the long, narrow room, she found Zerin, along with Eilam, already waiting. She noticed Zerin seemed perceivably tense and avoided meeting her eyes as she stepped into the room. Maybe he already sensed her negative answer, she thought. Rose approached the stately, round, dark wood table where the two men sat. Zerin was in the center position behind the table in the large, high-back chair covered in a deep crimson cloth, with the Elder seated to his right. Rose took a seat across from them both.
"Lady Rose," Eilam greeted her first.
"Sir," Rose nodded to the aged man, then looked to Zerin. "Your Majesty." Zerin nodded once, his posture stiff. This was not going to be pleasant, she feared. She just hoped he would understand and not be too hurt by her refusal.
Eilam began getting right to the matter. "I understand you have been giving consideration to the proposal of great importance made to you by the King."
Rose cleared her throat, preparing to be firm. It was the only way. "Yeah, I have. And though I've given it careful consideration and will forever be honored to have been given such a proposal, I'm afraid that my answer is still no."
Zerin swallowed hard, his face troubled as he leaned forward. "Rose, I beg of you to reconsider. As my Queen, you have my solemn word that your life here would be one of the utmost honor and privilege. I would make it my quest to see that you were happy all of your days."
Rose smiled gently. "I'm sure you would. But Zerin I just...I don't love you or have strong enough feelings for you in that way. And even with its privileges, all of...this just isn't the life I want."
Eilam folded his weathered hands and leaned forward on the table, his gaze intense as he studied her while awaiting the answer to his next question. "Tell me this, do you love the Doctor?"
Rose tensed, taken a little aback by the blunt and unexpected question from him. "With all due respect, I don't think that's an appropriate question for you to ask."
"Oh, I think it is a very appropriate question," he countered. "While you are indeed a highly intelligent woman, I do not believe you yet grasp the importance of all this, but that must change. I do not think you realize just how much is at stake here for the people of Zobulan. I do, however, think that if the situation were made a little more...critical for you on a personal level, then you would not be so quick to idly disregard what has been proposed here."
"Eilam, enough," Zerin cut in, the tension mounting. "There is no need to resort to this."
The Elder drew a deep breath as he leaned back. This wasn't pleasant for any of them, but he believed it was necessary. "It has been done, Zerin. The rest is now up to Lady Rose."
"What are you talkin' about?" Rose hastily questioned, growing more uneasy by the second as her eyes flitted between the two men.
Eilam turned his aged yet sharp eyes back to her. "I am not a man to dance around an issue, so to put it in blunt but simple terms, if you refuse this marriage, then I am afraid it will cost the Doctor his life."
Rose abruptly stood up from the table, her chair screeching back across the dark wood floor behind her. "What? Just what exactly do you mean by that? Because if you think that threats are the way to get what you want, then you–"
"This is not an idle threat," Eilam assured her darkly. "This has already been put into motion, and only your fulfillment of this marriage will be able stop it."
Zerin stood, distancing himself from the Elder and moving towards Rose. "I'm sorry, Rose. This was done without my foreknowledge."
"What was done?" she demanded.
"The Doctor has been given a poison." Eilam stated calmly. "Colorless, odorless, tasteless. His drink was laced with the substance at dinner."
Rose shook her head vigorously, not accepting it. This couldn't be true. "No. No, you're lying. He's fine."
"He is fine for now," the Elder corrected. "And he will continue to be perfectly fine as long as you cooperate. The toxin requires a duration of two full days to take effect. You will marry the King tomorrow before dusk. The preparations have already begun. After you have gone through with the wedding, I will see to it that the Doctor will be given the antidote immediately after, as I am the only one who knows its whereabouts. You have my solemn word that he will be given it. But you should also know that if you went through with this just long enough to ensure the Doctor's safety, but after the wedding tried to retract your vows, the kingdom would be thrown into chaos." He paused to let that sink in, but Rose could barely hear through the pounding of blood in her ears as he continued on. "Word of this impending marriage is now being spread throughout the ruling city, and a groundswell of anticipation has already begun. If you tried to abandon this marriage after the fact, a belief of extreme failure within the monarchy would spread, leading to an uprising, and war would soon follow. Regardless of what your feelings might be toward me at the moment, innocent lives would inevitably be lost in the ensuing revolt. I do not believe you are the type of person who would bring on bloodshed over this."
"Unlike you!" she seethed, her fists clenched at her sides so hard she nearly shook.
"I am simply doing what is best for the entire kingdom. Sometimes difficult decisions must be made."
She turned from him, rounding on Zerin. "And you're just sitting here and allowing this? Doing nothing?" she spat. "But this is exactly what you want, isn't it? This gets you what you wanted, and that's why you're letting him do your dirty work for you."
He drew a breath, attempting to steady himself and tamp down his emotions. "This is not the route I would have taken, but it has already been done. And Eilam is right in saying lives could now be lost over this, not just the Doctor's. But I do not wish to see the Doctor harmed any more than you do, Rose. Which is why you must go through with this. Please."
She took a sharp step towards him. "No, there's another way. Throw Eilam in the...the dungeons and make him give up the antidote! Then turn him over to the people if they want someone to blame in this! You're supposed to be the King, but look at you. You're nothing more than the Elder's puppet on a string!"
When Zerin replied, his voice was toneless, eyes lowered. "Zobulan's prudent rulers have always followed the council of the Elders, Rose. You simply do not understand the way of my people and the code that is followed, nor the destruction that has come when a quest for peace in the interest of the people has not been made above all else."
Rose shook her head in derision. "Oh, I think I'm coming to understand the way of your people all too well. You lot are nothing but vindictive, bloodthirsty villains. No wonder your planet has always had war. I think you crave it!"
"On the contrary," Eilam spoke up. "As unpleasant as the means are at the moment, this is being done to bring about lasting peace."
He stood and moved around the table, taking a few steps closer as he spoke evenly. "Now, this is how we shall proceed from here. You are not to tell the Doctor the full details of this. I am aware that he is a clever man with many capabilities, and would no doubt do something to try and stop this if he knew the full truth. To avoid any such unpleasant complications, you are to tell him that this marriage is your choice." Rose was vehemently shaking her head, but he continued on. "We will send for him shortly. He will be brought to this chamber and you will tell him the joyous news of your impending union with the King. You will be given some privacy within this chamber to speak with him, but I will be just outside making sure that you follow the plan that has been laid out. If you deviate from this, we will immediately seize the Doctor and have no choice but to imprison him until this is over. Is that understood?" Rose wasn't even going to attempt to answer as she bored into him with her fiery gaze. "Guards will also be posted at your chamber tonight. It is for your protection, of course, now that you are to be the future Queen of Zobulan. But you should also be aware that you are not to leave the palace before the wedding tomorrow. We will prepare a separate chamber for the Doctor to avoid you going against us and conferring with him on a plan of opposition once the two of you were alone. The Doctor will no doubt understand that it is no longer appropriate for him to share a bedchamber with the King's future wife."
Rose nearly shook with rage. "You have this whole sick plot perfectly planned out, don't you?"
"Rose," Eilam replied, his tone softening, which only succeeded in enraging Rose more, "I am not a heartless man, as you no doubt think. These measures are extreme, and for that you have my apologies. But once this marriage has been sealed, you will see that it has been for the good of everyone. Not just Zobulan. The Doctor will be free to leave unharmed, and your life will be one of exceeding privilege. You will lack nothing."
Rose turned away, her entire body radiating distress as she reached the only decision she felt she possibly could under the circumstances. She closed her eyes and drew a deep, strengthening breath before turning back to Zerin. "I'll do it," she said shakily. "I'll agree to this marriage, I'll go through with it, I'll do whatever you want, only please just give the Doctor the antidote now."
"Tomorrow," Eilam interjected firmly. "After the wedding, you have my word that he shall receive it, but not before." He looked towards a messenger at the door, nodding. The messenger nodded back in silent acknowledgement and left. "Now then, word is being sent to the Doctor that you wish to speak to him. He will arrive shortly, and I will be right outside. Remember what we have discussed so that this will not be made any more difficult for either of you."
Rose turned her back on both of them. "Get out," she ordered coldly.
Zerin stepped towards her. "Rose, I..."
She spun back around to face him. "I said GET OUT! Don't even speak to me!"
Eilam placed his hand on the King's arm. "Come."
The two turned and left Rose alone within the Ruling Chamber, but Eilam and a group of guards remained just outside the doors.
Once out of the room, the Elder turned to Zerin. "This is a difficult moment for her, I realize. But after tomorrow all will be as it was meant for everyone. Trust me." Zerin looked away. "I know you wish to do the right thing for all involved and would have taken a less...decisive path, but that would not have yielded the necessary results. You are an inexperienced King, Zerin, and–"
"So you keep reminding me," he hissed as his eyes focused back sharply.
Eilam narrowed his gaze. "Do not resist my council, because I do know what is best for our realm. You are known for your compassion, which can be an asset, but it can also be a hindrance if you allow that compassion to weaken you. You know my heart is for Zobulan, as is yours. Have trust in me."
Zerin clenched his hands tightly at his sides, a tone of loathing in his voice. "Haven't I always?" He then turned abruptly to leave, needing to clear his head.
Throughout his entire life Zerin had been taught, by his father included, that Kings were to respect the council of the Elders without doubt, for they would not be led astray by the Elder's wisdom. Now, he found himself calling into question lifelong beliefs. Yet he also held in his heart, above all else, the good of Zobulan. Even over his own life. Whether Eilam's methods were right or wrong, he was right about one thing: backing out now could cause an uprising among the people for whom he had devoted his life to bringing peace. Going about this in such a way was not easy for anyone, but he struggled to tell himself this was necessary for the sake of the entire kingdom, and he could not put anything else above that. He did not agree with Eilam's methods, but if this ultimately led to lasting stability for Zobulan, then he tried to tell himself the cost for all was a necessary one, even if he would have to spend the rest of his life somehow trying to make this up to Rose.
As Zerin continued away, he came upon Shadarra in the passageway from the opposite direction. He felt a flash of shame for her to even see him right now with what was being done.
"Y-Your Majesty," she stopped and greeted, barely meeting his eyes. Word was quietly but quickly spreading throughout the palace of the wedding preparations. She knew.
Pain seized the King's heart even as he struggled to bury his own feelings. "Shadarra," he breathed out.
She put on a forced smile, though it trembled. "I have heard the...the joyous news and have learned the preparations are already underway."
He swallowed down forcibly, his voice solemn as he confirmed this. "Tomorrow I will take Rose as my wife."
Her eyes were fixed on the floor. "You have my utmost best wishes."
He briefly closed his eyes. "I would expect nothing less from you," he replied with emotion. "Shadarra, you..." He turned and looked about, then guided her quickly by the arm into the shadows of the dim corridor. "You have always been the one for whom the words I hold within my heart have never been able to be spoken. But you know... Oh, surely you must know..."
She placed her hand on his chest, her eyes locking with his. "I do know, Zerin. I have known since the day you took the throne and showed me such heartfelt regard, which extended so far beyond just upholding your word to my uncle that I could remain here." She drew an unsteady breath. "Yet this is the way it must be. And I have also always known that you were destined for such greatness. For you to be the King for whom the legacy of peace was foretold brings me such joy," she said with a tremulous smile.
He slowly lifted his hand to her face, hesitated, then cupped her cheek, his voice low and pained. "Yet it comes with a price for all. I have never..." He clenched his eyes shut, swallowing hard. "I have never even allowed myself to touch you," he whispered. Without further word, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately but swiftly. She was just beginning to sink into his embrace when he released her and took a step back, both nearly trembling. He gazed into her eyes, his voice thick. "Tomorrow my heart will belong to another, and we will not speak of these things again."
He turned from her without further word and hastily continued down the winding corridor as Shadarra forced herself to continue on in the other direction.
Meanwhile the Doctor had been summoned and was on his way to Rose in the Ruling Chamber, unaware that all he thought he had known about his relationship with Rose was about to be shaken. He had told himself that if the day ever came in which she chose to leave him, he would let her go. What he hadn't known was that such a decision would so soon be put to the ultimate test.
As night fell and the appointed day drew closer, three hearts, with two more soon to join them, were seized in turmoil.