ignite ➝ Doctor Who¹

XVI

"She was a haemophiliac. They used to call it the Royal Disease."
— The Doctor, Tooth and Claw

They knelt before the Queen as a sword was raised above them. It was placed with a strange grace on Penelope's shoulder and she let out a shuddery breath, hardly believing that she was being knighted by Queen Victoria. The woman returned the sword to someone off to the side and beckoned us to stand.

"By the power vested in me by the Church and the State, I dub thee Sir Doctor of Tardis. By the power vested in me by the Church and the State, I dub thee Dame Mary of Torchwood. And by the power vested in me by the Church and the State, Dame Rose of the Powell Estate. You may stand." The Doctor stood, taking a moment to offer Penelope a hand up, who was a little confused at being the Dame of 'Torchwood', wasn't that the name of the Estate?

"Many thanks, Ma'am." Rose nodded eagerly.

"Thanks. They're never going to believe this back home." Penelope was all but ready to leave but the Doctor went and opened his mouth again, digging a deeper hole for a woman that wanted nothing further to do with the supernatural.

"Your Majesty, you said last night about receiving no message from the great beyond. I think your husband cut that diamond to save your life." Penelope put a hand on his upper arm, trying to get him the message that he should probably stop, but he just thought that she was spurring him on. "He's protecting you even now, Ma'am, from beyond the grave."

"Indeed. Then you may think on this also. That I am not amused." Rose's face lit up, having won the bet that the two others had started. Turning to face the Doctor victoriously.

"Yes!" The Queen continued, not an ounce of amusement on her face.

"Not remotely amused. And henceforth I banish the two of you." The Doctor's smile cracked a little, not really understanding what he was hearing.

"I'm sorry?"

"I have rewarded you, Sir Doctor, and now you are exiled from this empire, never to return. I don't know what you are, the two of you, or where you're from, but I know that you consort with stars and magic and think it fun.

The only real person in this whole ordeal seemed to be your wife, and despite us all knowing that you are beyond us, she looks at you as if you're worth the earth she walks upon.

But your world is steeped in terror and blasphemy and death, and I will not allow it. You and Dame Rose will leave these shores and you will reflect, I hope, on how you came to stray so far from all that is good, and how much longer you may survive this terrible life. Now leave my world, and never return." She turns to Penelope, a softened glare making her shrink back, her ears still burning about what she said about her and the Doctor. She was beckoned over.

"Go on, I'll catch up." The Doctor nodded and reluctantly walked away with Rose, she missed, however, the longing look he cast backwards. "Ma'am?"

"Dame Mary, I've decided for you to be the founder of our Torchwood Institute. For as long as it stands you may come and go as you please. Until we meet again." Penelope curtsied, hoping that what she doing was right.

"Thank you very much Ma'am."

"Do try and keep your husband in line, he needs you."

Leaving the Queen's presence, she was helped onto the back of a hay cart by the Doctor, who kept hold of her hand until they got back outside the TARDIS. She pulled on him lightly, making him stop. Rose continued on, knowing that this conversation would be a little private. He was grinning, hoping that it wasn't as serious as the horrible feeling in his chest was telling him.

"So, the royals are werewolves, who would've known." She smiled softly at him, spinning the ring on her hand, setting off alarm bells in his mind.

"I need you to take me home." He felt his hearts stop, trying to imagine that she hadn't actually said that. Penelope's own breath stopped coming as easily when she saw the heartbreak behind his eyes.

"Oh." she could hear the crestfallen break in his voice and realised that he took it the wrong way.

"Oh my god, not like that. You can't get rid of me that easily, I mean, we're married aren't we?" She holds up her left hand, watching the hurt turn to confusion - with a burst of relief that she wasn't planning on completely leaving - and he takes hold of her hand that she had held up. "I nearly died twice today, and I've seen so much death these last few days. I'm still struggling to mourn my mother and I need to go back and plan her funeral. I need to say goodbye to her before I can go on. I'm avoiding it and that isn't healthy, I have to go and sort it all out."

"Okay. I'll take you back. But not for long, who knows what I'll get up to without my wife?"

"I dread to think. Here," she lets go of his hand to take the ring off but he stops her, gently taking her hand back into his.

She could hardly breathe at his soft touch, watching closely as he slipped the silver band back onto her ring finger. He held onto her hands, trying to memorise the feeling of her hands with his ring.

"Keep hold of it for me. It means more to me if you have it than if it stays tucked away in the TARDIS." She blushes, a slow one this time, blossoming like flowers across her skin until her entire face was a bright pink. He watched in wonder, not sure how one person could have so many different ways of expressing her embarrassment.

"Could you be there, with me, for the funeral. I don't want to be on my own and I don't have any other family that would make it."

"Of course Penelope. I'll be there."

"Thank you Doctor."