When The Wind Stands Fair

Penny's Consent

Time was dying, but she hadn't cared. He had yelled at her and she had seen his pain and his suffering, but she hadn't cared. The only thought running through her head had been I will not be the woman who kills the Doctor. She knew the scale of the situation. All of time happening at once, slowly dying. She knew that just one touch would put her and the Doctor back on that shore of Lake Silencio where she would have to kill him. And she knew that every world would suffer because of the death of time. But she didn't care. She loved him too much to kill him, even when it was killing her. I will not be the woman who kills the Doctor, she thought through bitter, silent tears.

And if he had read her mind he had ordered her to step near. At the time, she was hyper-aware of his presence, of how far away he was. She was aware of his touch, or lack there of, in this case. He demanded his handcuffs be taken off and then he ordered someone to find a piece of cloth, settling for his own bowtie by the end of his ramble. River had been uncertain, like a deer caught in the headlights. But she took the other side of the cloth when she was instructed to do so. He looked so deeply into her eyes that she thought he was reading her thoughts. She hoped he could because then, just maybe he would understand that she could never kill him. Not for this universe or the next. He didn't look away when he asked Rory to repeat the line "I consent and gladly give." And when Rory asked why he demanded that he just say it. Then he asked Amy to say it also.

"Mother of the bride," he muttered, still looking at River.

Her mind froze in that moment. She knew the legends. Of course, she did. Would she be the one who killed the Doctor or the one to marry him? But in this moment, her heart both sank and rose. She would marry him but she would also kill him. He leaned into her and she refrained from pulling away.

"Now River, I'm about to whisper something in your ear, and you have to remember it very, very carefully, and tell no one what I said," he had said in a low voice. Then he leaned closer and whispered something very short into River's ear. She took a sharp inhale as he pulled away. "I just told you my name. Now, there you go, River Song. Melody Pond. You're the woman who married me."

A smile slipped across her rosy lips as awe filled her eyes, mind, and heart. That crafty Doctor. Always one step ahead. Always to clever to be caught. She loved him and for the first time, she saw how much he loved her. There was a comfortable silence that settled over them both as Amy and Rory looked at them in a mild sense of loss.

"And wife," the Doctor had said, suddenly and loudly. "I have a request." He proclaimed and River knew what came next. "This world is dying and it's my fault, and I can't bear it another day. Please, help me. There isn't another way."

She smiled softly and took a deep breath. "Then you may kiss the bride."

"I'll make it a good one."

"You'd better."

She had done her duty. She had killed the Doctor and then she had gone to the world's most secure prison for it. But she knew the truth. She knew that rule one was and always would be that the Doctor lies. But from that moment on, he wouldn't lie to her. Not again. Her days were filled in the cell of a prison, under guard. But her nights were up to the Doctor and her. She had no trouble escaping the prison and soon, the prison learned what to expect from her. She always came back and each time she did, it was with another breathtaking story. Sometimes, she would have an audience of guards to listen to what she had to say. Sometimes she was much too sad for that. Sometimes the Doctor would not come for long periods and she would sink so deeply into herself, no one could touch her. Other times he would take her away and when she returned the next morning, she would sit diligently and write in her blue journal.

• • •

"River?" A voice called from the other side of the console of the TARDIS. She felt his presence as he walked around the console and leaned aginst it beside her. He was looking at her. Simply looking, taking her in. "River?" He asked softly, making her lift her head so that he could tap her nose. "What are you doing?"