Part 2 of the I Spy the Username game. :) I don't normally ship River and the Doctor (any version) but for the purposes of this story, that's basically still happening. I feel like I've got almost every ship in this fic. 10/Rose, Duplicate10/OC, Eleven/River, Eleven/Clara, Donna/Lee, Martha/Mickey. It's all here. Anyway...find the user name!
It's easy to get into the party. A flash of the psychic paper, a smile from Rose and we stroll right in. And since this is a fancy event, there's a man announcing each of the Guests as they come in.
"Now presenting Lord Doctor and Lady Rose of Tardis!"
"Now presenting Mr. Noble, Professor Song, and the Lady Ryder of the Void Estate!"
I raise my eyebrow at the Doctor. "Really? The void estate? You couldn't come up with something better than that?"
"I can't be expected to come up with everything."
"Well, I'm thirsty so I'm going to go find a drink." I head off to find refreshment and return with a glass in hand. I walk into a conversation with River and Junior.
"And then you insist on keeping that Calico Kitty of yours." River is teasing him I can tell.
"It's named Pippa. There no reason to bring her into this." He's defending the stuffed animal I gave him seventeen years before.
"And that just proves my point. You're still a child." Ah. That's what he's arguing. It's been an ongoing battle for a couple of years now. He insists he's old enough to handle some of the heavier stuff on trips but we still protect him as much as we can. He doesn't like behind babied. But he'll be grateful for it when he's on his own.
We're interrupted by another announcement. "Now presenting Master Otaku, the Wicken of Asgard!"
The Doctor is happy about this. "Ooo. A Wicken. I've always wanted to meet one. Let's say hello."
"What's a Wicken?" Junior asks.
"Well, in common mythology they're people with a third eye. Capable of seeing the future. Little things like who you might marry or what job you're going to get. But really they're a cousin species to the time lords. Very different as far as their life spans which are closer to a human but they are time sensitive."
I try to clarify it in my mind. "So they can see timelines but only to an extent?"
"Yes. They make brilliant fortune tellers." At this point we have arrived in front of the tall man with hair that seems to be black but closer inspection reveals that it is the darkest green I've ever seen. Other then that, he seems completely normal. If you're counting human as normal that is.
"Hello! I'm the Doctor and this is my wife Rose, her sister Ryder, my son Junior, and our friend River."
"How do you do? I am Otaku. Royal advisor to the court."
"You're a Wicken right?" What is with this family and it's rudeness?
"Yes. On my father's side. My mother was native Asgardian. I'm a third generation advisor to the royal family."
"Wonderful!" I exclaim. No particular reason. What else am I going to say to that? Just the the trumpets sound and the attention of the whole room turns to the announcer.
"And now ladies and gentlemen, her royal highness, the Crown Princess of Asgard, our lady Rinnala!"
Everyone's attention becomes riveted on the young woman who makes her way down the steps into the grand hall. Her dress is as red as blood, with burgundy flashing in its folds that matches her hair color perfectly. Her face is obscured by an elaborate mask complete with a ruby in the center of her forehead, with red Pegasus feathers adorning it to frame her head. The skirt flows behind her, making her steps took as though she is gliding across water. In a word, she's mesmerizing.
She notices Otaku and smiles. She makes her way toward him, and by extension, us. "You look lovely your highness." He bows to her politely.
She inclines her head back to him. "Thank you Master Otaku. It's a fact that Dawn knits the best silks. I should not look half as lovely without this dress."
Otaku finds his manners and manages to introduce us to the Princess. "My lady, may I present Lord Doctor, his wife Rose, their son Junior, her sister Lady Ryder, and their friend...was it Professor...Song?"
"Indeed," River confirms. We all bow politely and she greets us.
"Thank you for attending my party. I'm so pleased that you were able to make it."
The Doctor continues the exchange. "My lady...may I be so bold as to ask about the nature of the throne? You are the only heir yes?"
"Of course. Lord Doctor was it?"
"Yes."
"Doctor who? He he," she giggles at the absurdity of his name. I smile. They always have to ask that.
"Just Doctor." He smiles too.
"Of course. Yes. I'm the only heir. My father is growing ill which is why I'm coming out so early. If you'll excuse me."
She turns her attention to other guests come to greet her. It isn't long before she accepts a dance invitation and is gracing the dance floor. I look at the Doctor only to see his thinking face. Rose notices it too. "Trouble?"
"Maybe. Maybe not. It could be nothing."
I roll my eyes. "Who are we kidding. It's always something." Rose and the Doctor just grin and Junior gets excited as well. River and I look at each other and laugh. As we head off to investigate, the Doctor explains that something isn't right about all of this. Rinnala should not be coming out, even if her father is ill. She's apparently only sixteen and is considered too young to even be an acting ruler. If something happened to the King, an advisor would temporarily take the throne.
So we split up and then there's of course an assignation attempt. And that leads to us having to keep everyone on lockdown. But everyone's in masks so that makes everything even more complicated. Even the guards are wearing full masks of gold under their black Arabian robes.
But that's how we catch the assassin, because one of the guards is too short. "Look at the 10th squad, 3rd seat in." We look where the Doctor directed and sure enough, too short.
We remove the mask and take the young woman in for questioning. Her name is Alexa Chan. She tried to kill the princess in order to get Otaku on the throne because she's secretly in love with him. Ironically, Otaku never knew she existed. She was a simple chambermaid who never said a word to him or anyone else for that matter.
As far as adventures go, it was a rather simple one. We were even able to enjoy the rest of the evening. We danced and laughed and it was good day. And by the time River says goodbye at the end of the night, everyone is sad to see her go.
When we're back in the vortex, I sit on my bed and write in my journal. It's gotten thicker over the years. All my old entries about episodes are still there but I rarely have need of them anymore. Now it's filled with adventures that I've lived rather than seen. So I add the events of today and smile. I always wondered what the picnic at Asgard would be like, and now I know.