Okay, guys, I'm at the shop and you'll get a few updates today cause I can't do my lino cut for college here as the microwave is too powerful which makes the lino too soft....Anyway, I passed everything for my assessment, so I'm happy about that, which means that I can do more updating until the end of the next block, when, if I have work to finish updates will be sporadic....But enough from me, here's part two of Tooth and Claw.

The Doctor and Rose stood with their hands in the air, they were surrounded by soldiers. "1879." said the Doctor "Same difference."

"You will explain your presenc, and the nakedness of this girl." said one of the soldiers.

"Are we in Scotland?" the Doctor asked

"How can you be ignorant of that?"

"I'm dazed and confused." he replied in a Scottish accent. "I've been chasing this wee naked child over hill and over dale." At this Rose gave her husband a look that said he was in trouble, he gulped.

Rose started to speak in a strange accent "Don't do that."

"Hoots, mon?"

"No, really don't." he said, although a small smile appeared on his face.

"Will you identify yourself, sir?"

"I'm Doctor James McCrimmon from the township of Balamory." said the Doctor, causing Rose to look at him as though he was completely thick "I have my credentials, if I may?"

The soldier nodded and the Doctor and Rose put their hands down. The Doctor reached into his pocket and pulled out the psychic paper and held it up "As you can see, a doctorate from the University of Edinburgh." he said as he showed it to them "I trained under Doctor Bell himself."

"Let them approach." said a female voice.

"I don't think that's wise, ma'am." said the soldier

"Let them approach."

The Doctor shrugged his shoulders at the soldier, who then said "You will approach the carriage, and show all due deference."

The two of them walked towards the carriage. They stopped at the door "Rose, might I introduce her Majesty Queen Victoria, Empress of India and Defender of the Faith."

"Rose Tyler, ma'am." Rose as she curtsied "And my apologies for being so naked."

"I've had five daughters." said the Queen "It's nothing to me. But you, Doctor, show me these credentials." The Doctor handed her the psychic paper "Why didn't you say so immediately? It states clearly here that you have been appointed by the Lord Provost as my protector."

"Does it? Yes, it does." said the Doctor "Good. Good. Erm, then let me ask, why is Your Majesty travelling by road when there's a train all the way to Aberdeen?"

"A tree on the line."

"An accident?" he asked

"I am the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland." she replied "Everything around me tends to be planned."

"An assassination attempt?"

"What, seriously?" asked Rose "There's people out to kill you?"

"I'm quite used to staring down the barrel of a gun."

"Sir Robert MacLeish lives but 10 miles hence." said the soldier "We've sent word ahead. He'll shelter us for tonight, then we can reach Balmoral tomorrow."

"This Doctor and his companion will come with us."

"Yes, ma'am." said the soldier "We'd better get moving. It's almost nightfall."

"Indeed, and there are stories of wolves in these parts. Fanciful tales, intended to scare the children, but good for the blood, I think. Drive on."

--

Rose and the Doctor walked behind the carriage "It's funny, though, 'cause you say assassination, and you just think of Kennedy and stuff, not her."

"1879?" said the Doctor "She's had, oh, six attempts on her life. And I'll tell you something else. We just met Queen Victoria."

"I know!" said Rose as she looped her arm through his "She was just sitting there."

"Like a stamp." said the Doctor

"I want her to say, 'We are not amused.' she told him "I bet you 5 quid I can make her say it."

"Well, if I gambled on that, it would be an abuse of my privilege as a traveller in time."

"10 quid?"

"Done."

--

They stood outside a large house, waiting for Queen Victoria to exit her carriage. They watched as Sir Robert and the Queen spoke, by his body language, the Doctor could tell that there was something bothering him. He joked about Rose's nakedness.

"He thinks he's funny, but I'm so not amused." said Rose "What do you think ma'am."

"It hardly matters. Shall we proceed."

"So close."

They watched the soldiers remove a box from the carriage "So what's in there then?"

"Property of the Crown." said the soldier "You will dismiss any further thoughts, sir."

The Doctor made a face at Rose, who laughed. They then went into the house.

--

Sir Robert led them into a room that looked like an old observatory "This, I take it, is the famous endeavor." said the Queen.

"All my father's work." answered Sir Robert "Built by hand in his final years. It became something of an obsession. He spent his money on this, rather than caring for the hous or himself."

"I wish I'd met him." said the Doctor "I like him. That thing's beautiful, can I...."

"Help yourself."

"What did he model it on?"

"I knw nothing about it. To be honest, most of us thought him a little, shall we say, eccentric. I wish now I'd spent more time with him and listened to his stories."

"It's a bit rubbish." said the Doctor "How many prisms has it got? Way too many! The magnification's gon right over th top. That's a stupid kind of... Am I being rude again?"

"Yep!"

"But it's pretty!" he said "It's very pretty."

"And the imagination of it should be applauded."

"Hmm." said Rose "I thought you might disapprove, Your Majesty. Stargazing. Isn't that a bit fanciful? You could easily not be amused, or something. No?"

"This device surveys the infinite work of God." said the Queen. "What could be finer? Sir Robert's father was an example to us all, a polymath, steeped in astronomy and the sciences, yet equally well versed in folklore and fairytales."

"Stars and magic." said the Doctor "I like him more and more."

"Oh, my late husband enjoyed his company. Prince Albert himself was acquainted with many rural superstitions, coming as he did from Saxe-Coburg."

"That's Bavaria." said the Doctor

"When Albert was told about your local wolf, he was transported."

"So, what's this wolf, then?" asked the Doctor.

"It's just a story."

"Then tell it." said the Doctor

"It's said that..."

"Excuse me, sir." said a servant "Perhaps Her Majesty's party could repair to their rooms. It's almost dark."

"Of course." he said "Yes, of course."

"And then supper." said the Queen "And could we find some clothes for Miss Tyler? I'm tired of nakedness."

"It's not amusing, is it?"

"Stop it." the Doctor said as the Queen asked Sir Robert to find some clothes for Rose.

"We shall dine at 7:00, and talk some more of this wolf. After all, there is a full moon tonight."

"So there is, ma'am." said Sir Robert. He bowed as the Queen left the room, followed by Rose and the Doctor.

--

The Queen went to her room and the Doctor and Rose went to theirs. The Doctor gave Rose his coat. "Sorry about earlier." he said

"It's fine." she said as she pulled the coat around herself. "What's this for?"

"So you don't have any problems." he told her as he reached his room. He kissed her cheek "Love you."

"Love you, too." she replied as she walked on to find clothes.

--

Rose opened a wardrobe and pulled out a dress, she didn't like it, so she tried another. She laid it on the bed and opened the other wardrobe. She screamed when she saw there was a young maid hiding in it. She got her out and the two of them sat down. The maid explained what happened.

"They came through the house in silence." she said "THey took the steward and the master, and my lady."

"Listen, my husband. He's called the Doctor. He'll know what to do. You've got to come with me." said Rose

"Oh, but I can't, Miss."

"Whats' your name?"

"Flora."

"Flora, we'll be safe." Rose told her "There's more people arrived downstairs, soldiers and everything. They can help us. I promise. Come on. Okay? Come on." The two of them exited Rose's room cautiously. They found one of the soldiers lying on the ground "Oh, Miss, I did warn you."

"He's not dead, I don't think." said Rose after she checked his pulse "He must be drugged or something." Both of them were grabbed from behind and dragged off."

Okay, and we'll stop there for now. The next part will be up soon. Here's something, the maid has the same name as my Mum.

TTFN

Julie