Chapter Nineteen
"A new Universe? Please tell me you're joking, *please*."
"I'm joking." The Valeyard chuckled.
"No, say it like you mean it." River said firmly.
"Are you hungry?" The Valeyard asked. "I'm hungry, let's go out, I want to go out."
"No, we need to talk about this."
"Why? There's nothing to worry about, and I'm not so much going to create a new Universe as I am going to modify the way time works in this one." The Valeyard explained casually.
"You can't change the way time works, Sweetie."
"Of course I can, I'm a Time Lord, it's what I do best!"
"Allow me to rephrase: 'you *shouldn't* change the way time works.'."
"I disagree. Besides I'm not just jumping into it, I'm doing my research."
"Research?" River repeated doubtfully. "Research to safely change the Laws of Time?"
"Exactly, here, I'll show you."
River took a breath to protest but she wasn't quick enough. The Valeyard wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her up against him as he set off the Vortex Manipulator. With an icy flash the dark library vanished, replaced by a blindingly sunny day. River blinked a few times to adjust to the new setting and looked around.
Standing on a large sandstone terrace of a several story building River looked out over a vast city made of single story adobe style houses nestled in and amongst tropical type trees and pillars of red banded stone. The sprawling home behind them was the only one that rose up higher than the rest offering her the view. The wooden lattice work roof above the terrace was dripping with fragrant purple flowers that swung from their vines in the warm desert breeze.
"Valeyard!" An exuberant male voice called out. "My friend, it has been too long!"
River turned around to find a bald medium built dark skinned humanoid about her height approaching them from the archway that lead into the house. He was dressed in a plain loose fitting off white pair of pants with a matching billowing shirt. A first River thought he was wearing a brightly coloured heavily beaded necklace, but as he got closer she discovered that the 'beads' were coloured protrusions in his skin, like scales. The alien rushed up and bowed, showing that he had similar scales down the back of his neck.
"Dakari!" The Valeyard greeted warmly as he returned the bow. "I am sorry it has been so long, I am a very busy man."
"No apologies needed. I can only imagine that the Time Lord's work is never done." Dakari laughed. "I am pleased you still have time left enough for us."
"Always."
Dakari turned and looked at River with a sudden expression of shock. Unsure of why she warranted such a reaction from the man River simply smiled.
"Oh my..." Dakari breathed in seeming awe as he bowed deeply to River. "Is this who I believe it is?"
"Yes she is." The Valeyard smiled brightly. "This is my wife."
"River Song, it is an honour beyond measure to finally meet you." Dakari said sincerely as he took River's hand and gave it a gentlemanly kiss. "You are every bit as lovely as the Valeyard has boasted."
"Boasted?" River repeated in surprise.
"You are all he ever speaks of. I don't believe there is a maiden on my planet that has not offered themselves to your husband, but his loyalty belongs only to you, as does his heart."
"Both of them." The Valeyard purred.
River wasn't sure how to respond, she couldn't recall a time when he had ever introduced her to anyone as 'his wife' and certainly not to someone who he had clearly been talking to about her. Dakari turned his attention back to the Valeyard, his large dark eyes shinning in excitement and admiration.
"We must celebrate," Dakari announced "a feast beyond measure."
"How long do you need?" The Valeyard asked.
"The moons are both to be full one solar week from today."
"We will meet you right back here."
Dakari bowed once more before taking a step back. The Valeyard took River's hand and with a flash the sun that had been high in the sky was suddenly setting. Dakari was waiting for them, but now he wore a brightly coloured embroidered open robe over a set of fine white silk clothes. At his side was what appeared to be a female of his species dressed in multi layered light weight dress that was cinched at the waist with an embroidered belt that matched the style of Dakari's robe. Just like Dakari she had no hair, but unlike him the colourful scales ran back from above her eyes and over her smooth head.
"Valeyard," Dakari repeated his bow "everything is set, the whole city will be in festival tonight!"
"Wonderful." The Valeyard nodded. "My wife will need something more appropriate to wear."
"All taken care of." Dakari motioned to the women. "River Song, this is Atish she will help you."
"Oh, that's not nece..."
"River," the Valeyard whispered in her ear "please don't insult Dakari's hospitality."
"What does this have to do with showing me your research?" River demanded quietly.
"Dakari," the Valeyard spoke up once again "tell River what life was like before I came to your world."
"It was a nightmare beyond description." Dakari replied instantly. "My people were on the brink of despair and extinction from a curse that was set upon us nearly a thousand years ago."
"A curse?"
"That is the only word I have for it. We walked through life never knowing when each step might become our last. In the blink of an eye the person beside you could go from a child to a full grown man, or sometimes they would just turn to dust. Our fields and crops often times would be lost just as quickly. Without warning they would sprout from seed to mature plants, but then wither and rot before they could be harvested. No one can even count how many have died in the sudden famines across our world. My own son crawled after a ball on the living room floor and now he is older than I am."
"That's horrible." River sympathized. "What was happening?"
"Time eddies." The Valeyard explained. "Drifting pockets of energy where time ran thousands of times faster than it should. They swirled all over this planet, another result of the weapon that trapped the Minyans in agelessness."
"But no more!" Dakari brightened again. "The Valeyard drove the evil Time Spirits away ten years ago."
"Has it really been ten years?" The Valeyard ask as he tapped on his Vortex Manipulator. "Hmmm...I meant to come back in five."
"You are no better with that thing than you are with the TARDIS." River teased as she reached out to take the Vortex Manipulator. "Maybe you should let me wear it and I can drive for a while."
"Go get read for dinner." The Valeyard ordered as he pulled his wrist away. "I'm starving."
River decided that an argument over the Manipulator here and now wasn't going to solve any problems. Feeling it would be best to wait for him to be sleeping to try again River peacefully allowed Atish to lead her away. She brought River into a large spa type room with a deep pool set into the floor. Atish walked over to the closet and selected a white dress with a slight shimmer to the featherweight fabric along with a silver and deep blue sash belt to match. She laid the dress out on the near by stone bench before she turned to River.
"Does that come off?" Atish asked as she looked curiously at River's mass of curly blonde hair.
"My hair?" River automatically brought her hands up into her hair. "No, that's a part of me."
"I have always been curious about Lord Valeyard's...did you call it 'hair'?"
"Yes." River smiled.
"It looks very soft." Atish noted as she looked at River in curiosity. "I must admit that when I first saw Lord Valeyard I thought another creature was living on his head."
"You're not the first to make that mistake." River chuckled.
"My people thought he was a Demon when he arrived, we called him a Time Spirit, and we blamed him for our curse. Now we see that he was a gift to us from the gods. He saved us and asked for so little in return."
"He asked for something in return?" River asked surprised. "What did he want?"
"Only Dakari knows for sure, but he told us that it was a price he was willing to pay." Atish smiled brightly. "Come, get ready, the feast can not begin without you."
River just nodded, still thinking about the idea that he had asked a price of Dakari in return for his help with the time eddies. Atish bowed to River and left. River was used to getting all dressed up when she went out during the nights with the Doctor. Usually the Doctor had something ready for her to wear in the TARDIS when he picked her up from Stormcage. However she felt a little strange changing into the native outfit for the evening out with the Valeyard. She tied the intricately designed sash around her waist before looking herself over in the mirror.
"A price?" River sighed to her reflection. "What are you collecting now, Doctor?"
Suddenly deciding that she was more angry by what she had learned than anything else River stormed out of the room to confront the Valeyard and demand to know exactly what he had stolen from these people as his 'price' for helping them. Atish was outside waiting for her and noticed the determination in her eyes.
"Is everything okay, Lady Song?"
"No, not by a long shot." River replied. "Where is the Doctor?"
"Doctor?"
"The Valeyard." River corrected.
"Follow me."
River followed Atish through the hall and down the stairs. The lower level of the house had been transformed into a vast buffet style feast set up on countless rows of decorated tables. Outside in the desert garden looked like the party was already in full swing with guests mingling and laughing with one another. Half the city looked like it was in attendance and as River stepped out of the mansion everything suddenly went quiet and all eyes turned on her. Not used to such a reception River stopped cold.
"It's okay they've never seen a Time Lady before." Atish explained.
"I'm not really a Time Lady."
"Of course you are," the Valeyard purred in River's ear after sneaking up on her from behind "you are my Time Lady, and you look stunning."
"Doctor..."
"Valeyard." He corrected as he wrapped his arms around her waist without letting her turn around. "Dakari, lets get this celebration properly started. Let's make some noise, we need music to dance to, now until dawn breaks!"
Dakari stepped into River's view and raised his hands up to his guests with a joyful trilling sound that they all repeated. Seconds later a deeply tribal song with a strong multi drum beat and a fast pace brass melody rang out over the jubilant crowd. With the music playing the party was quickly in full swing. The open garden was lit by the twin full moons and well placed torches. The desert flowers that bloomed at night added a beautiful fragrance to the cool night air.
The Valeyard kissed River's neck before spinning her around and taking a step back to look at her. River was just about to make her demands on knowing what he had taken from these joyful people in payment, however she was set slightly off balance when she got a look at him. River wasn't the only one who had been sent off to change. The Valeyard was wearing the traditional garb of the natives with the white silk shirt with the deep 'v' cut neck meant to show off the men's scales that showed of his spiral patterned birthmark. The embroidered open robe he was wearing perfectly matched the blue and silver sash on her dress.
Although she enjoyed the fashionable look on him, it was the bright look in his eyes and the truly genuine smile on his face that had her speechless. He somehow looked more alive and energetic than she could ever remember him being. He had always moved with almost childish excess energy, but there was always a certain sadness about him even when he smiled and particularly when he looked at her. There was none of that in him now, he was just staring at her lovingly.
"River, you look nothing short of intoxicating." The Valeyard breathed as he ran his eyes over her.
"You look...like you don't have a care in the world." River replied as she finally found an apt description for his demeanor.
"That's not true at all."
"No?"
"I don't have a care in the whole Universe, at least not right now."
"Which is why I hate to have to ask you this, but what did you take from this world in return for your help?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Atish told me you're help came at a price. What's happening to you? Since when to you demand payment from people?"
The Valeyard sighed and lost some of the boyish gleam in his expression. River's chest tightened slightly at seeing the sorrow back in his eyes. He reached out and brushed her temple with his fingertips. River's breath hissed across her teeth as a sharp pain lashed at her senses. Suddenly in the Valeyard's arms as though she had fainted she looked up at him.
"Doctor?" River asked disoriented.
"Valeyard." He reminded her.
"What are you wearing?"
"Do you like it?" He asked wiggling his eyebrows.
"I love it, but no bow tie?" River teased. "It hardly seems like you."
"It's a whole new me, that's what I've been trying to tell you. Come on, let's dance."
"Dance?" River repeated as looked around slightly dazed. "Weren't we talking about something important?"
"I don't know. We're we talking about you?"
"What?"
"That's the only important thing I can think of at the moment." The Valeyard chuckled. "Dance with me?"
"I'd love to."
Forgetting her brush with uneasiness River laughed as the Valeyard took her hand and lead her over to the large area that had been cleared out for dancing. The Valeyard pulled her into the center of the boisterously dancing natives. He used the hold he had on her hand to twirl River around before they fell into the fast paced local dance. River laughed as the Valeyard shamelessly displayed his enthusiasm to dance.
"You're insane, you know that, right?" River asked as the Valeyard shimmied.
"I tried sanity once, it was awful. No fun at all."
"You tried sanity? When?"
"Alright that was a lie, but I'm sure I wouldn't like it."
"Never been one for it myself." River admitted.
"I noticed you little psychopath."
River pretended to be offended causing the Valeyard to pull her into a kiss. Unable to keep herself from smiling River returned the kiss as best she could. The Valeyard took her by the waist and hoisted her up in the air. River yelp as the Valeyard tossed her up a few feet before easily catching her. The onlookers roared in approval of the move as the celebration whirled around them.
An hour or perhaps five hours, River had long lost track of time, River found herself parched for a drink. The Valeyard lead her off the impromptu dance floor and found a group of chairs. Leaving her to rest he went off in search of something for both their thirst. Once inside Dakari approached him with a nervous smile.
"Lord Valeyard, are you enjoying the celebration?"
"Immensely, Dakari."
"Wonderful." Dakari looked around and lowered his voice. "May I ask how my son is?"
"He is well."
"He behaves for you?"
"Of course. He does you proud."
"That is a relief to hear." Dakari hesitated before lowering his voice even further. "Will I...see him again?"
"That was never part of our agreement."
"I know." Dakari said quickly. "I do not mean to sound like I am ungrateful for everything you did for us, it's jus..."
"That is exactly how you sound." The Valeyard growled as his mood darkened. "Do not mention him to me again, understood?"
"Yes, Time Lord. My deepest apologies."
"Apology accepted." The Valeyard forced a smile. "I will do my best to return him to you, but I can not promise it."
"The fact that you will try is more than I could ever ask for."
"It is certainly more than you *should* have asked for. Now leave me alone."
Dakari bowed nearly to the ground before he backed away from the Valeyard. Watching him slink off the Valeyard narrowed his eyes as he felt his temper raise. Remembering his original mission to get River something to drink he stalked off. Grinding his teeth in rage he looked around at the natives that were suddenly backing away from him. He wasn't even aware yet that his chest was beginning to glow which was what was causing them to move away in fear. The Valeyard assumed that they were pulling away in disgust after learning that he had taken one of them in exchange for saving the rest.
"Ingrates, all of them...more proof that nothing I ever do is ever enough."