Brian Williams woke before the dawn to start his route as a milkman for the town of Leadworth. He took a quick shower and put on his uniform of rubber boots and brown apron over his street clothes and left his home. He quickly returned, though, and gently woke his wife, "Etta, Etta wake up. Please honey, I need you to wake up."
Her husband slowly roused Etta Williams from her sleep and she groggily looked around for a clock, "What's goin on Brian? Issit Rory? He okay?" she bolted up at the last question, nearly missing her husband's head, afraid that her only son was hurt or sick.
"No honey, Rory's fine. There's a woman collapsed on our lawn. She looks as if she hasn't been awake for a while. We should bring her inside, right?" Brian asked his wife, nervous that she would decline hospitality to the poor dishevelled woman on their lawn.
Etta looked at her husband, confusion marring her features, "Go bring her into the sitting room and put her on the couch. We can figure out what to do once she wakes up. Don't wake Rory, though, I don't want to confuse him," she said decidedly and Brian left the bedroom to do as his wife bid. Etta left the warmth of her bed, throwing on a silk robe over her nightgown as she headed downstairs to preside over her home. Her husband was carrying the unconscious woman in as Etta descended the stairs. As Brian placed the unknown woman on the couch, Etta observed the woman's matted strawberry blonde hair, her pale skin and her long robes that seemed dyed to match her slipper-like shoes. "You need to go to work, Brian. I will put the kettle on and wait for the woman to wake up," Etta decided as she looked at the woman on her couch.
"But Etta what if she's dangerous?" Brian pointed out worriedly.
"Then I will wield my frying pan and call the police. Now go you'll be late," Etta told her husband. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and he left, somewhat reluctantly, for work. Etta sighed and turned back to the kitchen to stop the kettle from squealing, waiting for the Williams' guest to awaken.
The Time Lady awoke slowly, blinking out the harsh light. She noticed that she was in a house, which was most certainly not where she blacked out last night. She also recognised the smell of good British tea, which cheered her up considerably as England was one of her favourite places on Earth, which is always a good planet to end up on. Nobody does tea like the British. She finally was aware that there was a boy looking at her curiously, with soft-looking hair and cautious eyes.
"Hullo," the young boy said as the Time Lady slowly sat up on the couch. "Are you alright?"
"I am getting there," the Time Lady groaned as she ran a simple test of her time sense, "Who are you, sir?"
The boy looked around confused, and then seemed to realise that this strange woman was referring to him, "I am Rory Williams. I am turning nine in a week." Rory said solemnly, as if imparting a great truth of the world.
"Rory Williams! Really? My goodness hello Rory Williams, my name Aileas Sigma. Are you looking forward to being nine?" The Time Lady asked as she smiled widely at the confused boy. She was ecstatic to have finally got a handle on her sixth sense. She was also exuberant that the small boy in front of her was, in fact, Rory Williams. Reading that the year was 1996, Aileas seemed to brighten, getting settled within a near turn-of-the-century and the correct slang for the time period. Aileas also toned down her smile, reading the boy's emotions as confusion and wariness, to keep from frightening Rory.
"I am, I really want a yellow Game Boy because they are so cool! My friend David has one and it is so fun to play with, plus the new Game Boys play games in colour!" Rory said, perking up and launching into a topic that made sense to him. Aileas smiled indulgently as Etta walked into the living room from the kitchen, hearing her son talking animatedly. Etta saw her guest and knew that she would do no harm to her family, as this mysterious woman was also a mother. There was sadness in her eyes though, Etta noticed, which was troublesome.
"We will see, Rory," Etta said smiling affectionately, and ruffling her son's hair when he came to stand by her legs, suddenly shy. "Hello, my name is Etta Williams, are you okay?" Etta asked her unusual guest, who had stood when her impromptu host made herself known.
"I am feeling much better, thank you Etta. My name is Aileas, and I apologise for imposing on your home. I can be leaving now."
"It is not much of an imposition, all you did was sleep on the couch," Etta scoffed, waving away protests, "Is there anything else we can do for you? Any family we can call?"
"No," Aileas stated sadly, but then quickly covered it up with a smile, "If you can point me to a train station that will take me to Cardiff, however, I would be grateful, thank you."
"Who is heading to Cardiff?" Brian asked as he strolled into the living room removing his brown apron, his work finished for the morning.
"Our guest Aileas needs to head to Cardiff. She wanted us to point her to the train station," Etta replied as Rory ran over to his father and Brian gave him a solid pat on the back as Rory clung to his leg.
"Nonsense!" Brian exclaimed, "The trains run so infrequently through our town, there aren't any until next Saturday anyways. I'll drive you to Cardiff."
"Oh you don't have to do that…" Aileas said, shying away from their help.
"Brian. My name is Brian and it is not at all a trouble. Please let me take you to Cardiff, it really isn't a big hassle."
"Oh please Mrs Sigma, I've not been to Cardiff for a long time and I wanna talk to you more!" Rory burst out, no longer hiding behind his father's leg.
Aileas felt her hearts break looking into Rory William's hopeful face and missing her own children. The Time Lady could also not hide her enthusiasm for spending time with the mysterious Rory Williams she had met far in her past. "Alright, that would be fine," she conceded. "But, only if I can sit in the back with Rory."
Rory's face split wide with a grin and he bound upstairs to get dressed.
"Thank you Aileas, for letting us help and for letting Rory come along," said Etta, smiling at her son's enthusiasm.
"Thank you for wanting to help. You are a most kind family, and I hope that one day I will be able to repay you," Aileas replied, meaning every word of her debt. Rory bounded down the stairs, and almost tripped over himself running to put on his shoes. The door slammed behind him as he quickly disappeared from view.
"That is not required at all, Aileas, but that is kind of you," Brian smiled, "Well, let's get out to the car before my son starts honking the horn at us." Brian and Aileas both chuckled as they left the house, Etta shaking her head fondly, and going back to her cup of tea.
The drive to Cardiff was an interesting experience for Aileas, to say the least.
"So Mrs Aileas, where are your clothes from?" Rory asked as soon as his father pulled onto the highway.
"Rory, don't ask our guest anything rude!" Brian gently admonished as he turned on the radio in order to discourage his son's inquisitiveness.
"No, no Brian it is fine. Rory my clothes are native to my hometown and the orange is to distinguish what family I belong to," Aileas explained.
"Does every family have a different colour where you are from?"
"No just the really important ones. I'll tell you a secret Rory," Rory leaned closer to the Time Lady as she brought her voice down to a whisper, "I am actually a very important lady, like a queen, where I am from, but it is a really big secret because there is a war going on, and I cannot tell everyone who and what I am, otherwise the bad guys, the opposition of the war, will try to kill me," Aileas smiled as Rory's eyes grew wide and his mouth dropped open.
"Really? That was why you were lost? Did you lose the rest of your family to this war?" Rory asked in a hushed tone as well, respecting his new friend's secret.
"Yes, I think so. I'm not really sure if they are even alive," Aileas replied sadly, frowning deeply and looking down into her lap, "I don't think anyone will actually remember I am a Lady now."
Rory sat up tall and puffed up his chest, "I will. I will always call you Lady Sigma from now on. That way nobody forgets how important you are."
"Thank you very much, Rory. Since you are recognising my status, you are my knight now," Aileas decided, affecting an exaggerated official-sounding voice, nodding her head and smiling at Rory's beaming face, "Now that you are my knight, you will need a knightly name," Aileas thought for a few minutes, "How would you feel about Sir Roranicus?"
"That is a great name! Does that mean something where you are from?" Rory asked, devouring Aileas' every word.
"Yes as a matter of fact it does, the name Roranicus from where I am from means loyal warrior," Aileas fibbed, causing Rory to preen and puff up with pride at Aileas' praise. Rory's grin dropped, however, as his father pulled up into the main square of Cardiff, and the boy turned to face Aileas.
"Will you come back to Leadworth for my birthday Lady Sigma?"
"I will try to Sir Roranicus, I will try," Aileas replied sadly, ruffling his hair affectionately.
Rory then leaned over to hug his new friend and lady. Aileas hugged the small boy with tears in her eyes. She then got out of the vehicle and looked back at Brian, "Thank you very much again Brian."
"It was no problem at all, Aileas. You promise that there is someone in Cardiff for you, right?" Brian asked sternly.
"I promise Brian," Aileas smiled at both Brian and her little knight then turned, her orange robes billowing about around her as she walked towards Bute Street and Roald Dahl Plass.