Thanks for the feedback folks, very very much appreciated. I've had a heap of time traveling for work this year and some of the fics on this site have kept me going while sitting endlessly in airports. This is my first attempt at a fanfic myself so I appreciate the comments. I know it's dark and i'm almost through the worst of it. Getting the feeling that people want copdoc. Yup, me too. Enjoy.
Tamsin paced the small room she'd been thrown into with her head in her hands, breathing deeply. Everything she was feeling was new to her, overwhelming her. Why did she care so much about the fate of the Doctor, any reasonable person could see that she had done all she could to help. Had the Morrigan let her leave she would have raised the alarm, but she was here, stuck in a room again without hope of escape. There was truly nothing she could do to save the woman. Truly nothing I can do to save her…as the thought crossed her mind Tamsin crouched on the floor, put her face in her hands and let out a frustrated and pained growl.
The Valkyrie sat on the floor of that room for the next hour, watching the sunlight creep towards her. A small window provided a glimpse of a freedom she so desired but the bars crossing it, keeping her locked inside the prison, reminded her that freedom is one of life's great mythologies. On hearing the lock of the door unlatch she lifted herself to her feet. The last thing she wanted anyone to see was how defeated she felt. The door opened and three large henchmen stood before her.
Understanding the risk they were facing in looking upon the face of the Valkyrie now she was removed from the eternity room, they immediate forced Tamsin's face to the wall and pulled her arms behind her
"Nobody wants to see your face darling, at least not in these circumstances" miffed the larger of the henchmen into the Valkyrie's ear as he forced cuffs around her wrists. Tamsin didn't have strength to resist.
As soon as the cuffs were on a black pillowcase was placed over the her head. Darkness again. Tamsin immediately felt uncomfortable as she was led stumbling out of the room. There was no warning given when the she was led down three small stairs. Losing her balance the henchmen holding her by the shoulders let her go as she fell down to the ground below and onto her knees. The three men laughed hysterically and in her mind Tamsin made a mental note to find all three and kill them when this was over. Pulled to her feet again she felt the momentary invigoration of fresh air as she was pulled outdoors. Even through the black hood Tamsin desperately attempted to suck in the cool air. Surrounded by the smell of grass and the freshness of the breeze she became immediately aware of her own rancidness and in a moment of pure indulgence she allowed herself to think of a shower, a hot soothing shower.
After walking for what felt like nearly an hour through increasingly dense woodland, tripping and stumbling all the way, Tamsin was brought to a halt and her hood removed. As her eyes adjusted once more to the light she began to make out faces and shapes. Attempting to assess her situation she turned around on the spot. She was surrounded by a ring of Fae, some familiar to her, others not. The Morrigan was not among them. There is at least 20 of them, can I take 20? There was a time when the Valkyrie didn't need to play the numbers game but as she reached the end of her life cycle her strength and power had diminished. Now every battle, every bar fight, every day was a numbers game.
As Tamsin looked down to her feet she saw a sword. It was delicate and intricately designed. At the center of the pommel sat a beautiful green emerald that attracted her eye. Tamsin felt an overwhelming unnatural desire to pick it up and hold it. She felt a connection to it in her stomach, a familiarity that told her that it was hers to have.
"It is the Gram sword Valkyrie, do you know its history", a man stepped forward from the circle, he was tall, slim and very very old.
"I do, it was forged by Odin…" Tamsin's voice trailed away as she bent over to take the sword in her hand. As soon as she picked it up she felt it's history and sensed its purpose. Looking towards the old man and into his eyes she knew what he was.
"You're a Drakkon, how did you come to have this?"
"I am the protector of all serpent Fae, Light and Dark, from those with dragon blood to those with snake blood. We used to think our greatest threat was having this sword land in the hands of our enemies. Throughout our history this weapon has been used to slay our great protectors, leaving our race at risk of annihilation. This sword is most powerful when it is in the hands of those who wish to slay my people. When we finally were able to steal the Gram we felt certain we would be safe."
Tamsin, her eyes still pouring over every nook on the blade, pondered the man's words. Why would a Drakkon allow a Valkyrie near this blade?
"I've got to admit my history isn't what it should be old man but haven't Valkyries been responsible for putting this blade in the hands of dragon slayers since the beginning of time?"
"Yes and now I give it to you again to earn your freedom"
"Earn my freedom? Why do I feel like I need a drum roll?"
As if on cue the circle separates and Tamsin looks on as a hooded figure is dragged towards her, groaning in pain. Lauren.
The Drakkon continued "Until recently this sword was the source of all fear held by my people, that was until your Doctor friend here participated in an experimentation program with Professor Taft that saw some of our oldest most powerful elders captured and tested upon before suffering horrific deaths."
Lauren was thrown down at Tamsin's feet and as she hit the ground she rolled over in pain before her hood was removed. As her eyes adjusted she looked up to see the Valkyrie standing above her with a sword in hand. Lauren's eyes darted around; she saw there was no escape. She had heard the words of the Drakkon and wanted to protest her innocence, she wanted to explain that she would never have knowingly participated in anything of the kind but knew it was futile.
"Your freedom for the life of the Doctor, it's your choice Valkyrie. If you refuse, you both die"
Tamsin didn't need to think the offer over. A Valkyrie at the end of her life cycle had little to live for anyway. "As much as I appreciate the swell offer old man, my answer is no".
"You also get the Gram. A Valkyrie in possession of the Gram will have an eternal life cycle"
Tamsin looked at the Drakkon in shock, she had never heard that within the mythology of the sword. She knew Valkyrie Brunnhilde had helped to have the sword reforged when it was broken but knew nothing of its links to an eternal life cycle.
"You sense how much stronger you are in the swords presence, you know that it's true".
An eternal lifecycle, no need to be reborn….do I want this life anymore?
"No. I won't" Tamsin threw the sword to ground
"Tamsin, wait…" Lauren grabbed the Valkyrie's leg and looked up at her, "do it, I don't want to see you die and if I have to die I don't want one of these strangers to take my life. I'm asking you to do it, please."
"Lauren, no. I've done some pretty shitty things in my life but I'm not killing you to save my own ass, no way".
"Please…." Lauren pleaded with the Valkyrie.
Tamsin dropped down to her knees to face the Doctor. She looked deeply into her eyes trying to assess what she was saying, what the Doctor was truly saying. Bringing her hand up to Lauren's face, Tamsin could see she was genuine, that she was without fear. Letting out a deep breath Tamsin brought their foreheads together, their noses touching and her hand still on the human's cheek. Both women kept their eyes closed feeling the warmth of the others breath. Lauren brought her hand down the Valkyrie's arm until she found her hand and entwined their fingers.
"I can't do it Doc" Tamsin whispered without moving herself from the position they were in but rubbing her thumb gently on Lauren's still swollen cheek.
"You can, I need you to. One of us needs to walk away from this place". Lauren squeezed the Valkyrie's hand and pulled away her face slightly so she could look the other woman in the eye "I need to believe one of us can survive this Tamsin".
They spent a moment in each others gaze before Tamsin looked up to the Drakkon and nodded.
"Ok, I'll do it".