Tales of a Time Lady (A Doctor Who Fanfiction)

8: Chapter 1: King and Country

"That's it. This is the last time I let you drive!" Jay groaned as Axe handed over an umbrella covered in polka dots. The Doctor and Marie stood under another, Axe sheltered with Jay.

"A bit rainy for Italy." The Doctor chewed his lip, unaware of his mistake.

"It's England in the middle ages!" Jay cried, sighing when she sank in the mud. "You couldn't be more off!"

He wasn't fazed. "Oh well. The rain should be clearing soon."

"Soon?" Axe poked outside the umbrella and looked up at the sky. "The sky is as black as the mud we're sinking in."

The Doctor held up a finger. "Wait." Five minutes passed and suddenly the rain slowed, then stopped.

"You're kidding." Axe shook his head in amusement. Jay was less impressed. The Doctor was beaming, smiling at Maire who was amazed.

"Lucky guess. Come on, I think I see a path." Jay popped down the umbrella and shook it. Marie shook hers and grabbed the other one, tying them up. She was going to put them back into the TARDIS, when Jay stopped her. "Marie, I think we should hang on to them. Knowing English weather, it will probably rain again." She nodded and resumed her place next to the Doctor.

"Jay!" Axe had walked up the nearest hill and spotted something. "I think someone's coming!" Jay titled her head and put a hand over her eyes.

"Who?!" Axe had started running back down the hill towards them. "Axe, who is it?" Jay asked again as he returned.

"Not going to be believe this. It's him! The king-!" The sound of trumpets interrupted Axe and soon a parade of men on horseback charged down the hill. The Doctor and Marie grinned and couldn't wait to see the fuss. Jay was nervous and gritted her teeth; her history with Kings hasn't gone all that well. Especially with Charles the Second.

The men slowed down and approached the themgroup. The horses parted to reveal the king. The Doctor and Jay stiffened. It was Richard the third.

He was young, with brown hair to his shoulders, one of which was ever so slightly uneven than the other. He had a smile and pleasant eyes, but seemed tired and wet. His smiled widened when he saw Jay.

"My people. It is honourable to meet you. May I enquire, how you come to be so far from, well, anywhere?" He gestured around him. The countryside was deserted, hills upon hills and not a castle in sight.

"Ye thy thee sire-" Marie tried to speak, but was cut off by the Doctor.

"No, don't do that." He said quietly. "Your majesty, we are simply travelling. The rain caught us off guard."

"You weren't expecting rain? In England?" Richard chuckled, with a glimmer in his eye. His men laughed. "If you have no place to stay, I invite you all to my castle, it is not far."

"Thank you, but-" Jay started to say.

"We have no horse." The Doctor nodded. Jay gave him a look. Richard chewed his lip.

"Will!" He called over his right shoulder. A man on a black steed pushed through and bowed.

"My highness?"

"The stallions are still among us?" Will nodded.

"Yes, sire."

Richard clapped his hands. "Arrangements have been, well, arranged." He chuckled again. Jay was glad he was in high spirits. She wasn't eager to tick off a medieval king. "You ride, I hope?" The Doctor and Marie nodded, Axe and Jay swallowed nervously.

"Define riding." Axe muttered under his breath. Will had disappeared and come back, two men by his side pulling along four horses. Two of them were white with blacks spots on its rears, the others chestnut brown.