The Queen and the Rose

Chapter 13

    She couldn't quite explain her distrust for the Queen.  It felt odd, like she had no right to be suspicious of the woman who was supposed to lead her.  She felt even less for the Pharaoh.  She went about her days trying not to throw her doubts around, was grateful and dutiful, as she should be.  Mornings wore into afternoon wore into evening, and she gre3w more and more tired as the days progressed. 

Her irritation was one that grew, with being ordered around, feeling as though she shouldn't be, but she couldn't imagine why.  It must've been her duty from birth to serve the rulers, but she was somehow repulsed by the both of them.  Something about them had an almost sinister quality.

When she thought things like this, a little twinge that felt like gold would stir in the back of her mind, and she would hear that grinding, whirring sound again.  She'd always press the heel of her hand to her forehead, even though it didn't really hurt, and wait for it to pass. 

It was a night when she found herself pacing around their small room, a room that felt smaller by the day, when she addressed the Doctor.  He was sitting down, watching her carefully, as though he could tell something was off.  Obviously, he could. 

"I think we should run away," she said abruptly. 

He raised an eyebrow at her.  "You think we should run?"

"That's what I said," she sat across from him, one of her knees drawn up on the table.  "Don't you think we should?  Doesn't this feel wrong?"

She watched him closely as he furrowed his brows at her, not like he was angry, more like he was considering.  He nodded slowly.  "Yes, I mean, it feels wrong to be under someone's control.  Although, wasn't it much the same before we lost our memories?"

Rose nodded, though she wasn't entirely convinced of that fact.  "I suppose we were.  But something feels off."  She let her gaze drift, almost as though she were looking right through him, and then, fast as a shot, she let it turn back to him.  "You're a Doctor."

"Truer by the day," he beamed at her.

"Something's wrong with me."

His smile fell and a worried shadow immediately passed over his face.  "Are you feeling ill?"
She shook her head, "Not as such, no.  I just... I keep getting these..."  She was fidgeting, tapping her temple with her fingers but seeming incredibly uncomfortable. 

"Go on," he said encouragingly, laying a hand over hers.  "What's happening?  Maybe I can help."

She wasn't sure how to describe it, but something told her that the Doctor might know exactly what it was, regardless on if she could completely trust him or not.  Of course she trusted him, that wasn't the question, but the matter of an unknown illness still stood.  She felt frustration building in her chest, afraid she would explain things incorrectly or not well enough.  He watched her patiently though, waiting for her to be ready to speak of what was ailing her.

Heaving a heavy sigh, she started to force out words.  "I get this feeling, in the back of my skull."
As a result of her words, he lifted a hand to cup the back of her head.  "Here?"

"Yes."

"Alright," he removed his hand, "Anything else?"

"I feel something back there, like this presense, but it's...  It's a color."

A confused look passed over his face, like he wasn't sure what to think of it, but he didn't want to frighten her.  "What... Uh, what color is it, Rose?"

"It's gold."

"Lucid conscious dreaming," he responded.  "You're feeling yourself in a half-dream state, most likely."