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The Doctor prowled the square. Where in chaos’s name was she? Typical human. They always wandered off the moment you took your eyes off them. He really ought to buy reigns for her. This human was particularly talented in that area. Getting lost. Picking up strays. Getting into trouble. His stride faltered. Trouble. Why did it feel like she was in trouble? His eyes narrowed as they swept the square, seeking and failing to find the flash of yellow hair. Something was wrong. He searched the square again, this time seeking Nicholas and finding no trace of him. That was when he caught sight of Adelphos, skulking at the edge of the square. Step firm and purposeful, the Doctor strode towards him. As he rounded the corner of the main building he caught a brief glimpse of Rose, laying supine on the ground, before a blow connected with his skull and the world pitched and turned black.
*****************
The Doctor woke to the sensation of soft sheets, warm light on his face and a pounding in his head. And then he remembered. Rose! He propelled himself to his feet, realising as he did so that he was back at Adelphos’s house. Anger and fear permeating through every pore, he flung back the door to his chamber and went in search of his host.
Adelphos, Helen and Nicholas were all dining in the central courtyard. The Doctor stormed towards them, fists clenched, jaw tight and eyes deadly.
‘Where is Rose?’
‘Sit, Doctor, eat. Rose is no longer your concern. We will, of course, return her belongs to you, they are yours by rights.’ Adelphos’s tone was light as he gestured to a small pile on the floor by the table. The pile was of Rose’s clothes and, resting on top of them, were her phone and TARDIS key.
‘Rose is my only concern. Where is she?’ The ice in his voice should have been warning enough, but the Phosians seemed oblivious to it.
‘Rose is gone. Please, sit. Rejoice, for soon the gods’ favour shall be ours once more. Winter will return and balance will be restored!’
‘Enough!’ The Doctor’s arm descended on the table, scattering crockery and causing Helen to shriek in alarm. ‘I will ask you one more time. Where is Rose?’
‘Really, Doctor, she was simply a means to an end for you. I fail to comprehend your agitation.’
‘I think what you fail to comprehend, Adelphos, is my meaning. Where. Is. Rose? What have you done to her?’
Nicholas swallowed. The Doctor glared at him, his eyes piercing and deadly, ‘If you're going to plead ignorance, don't waste my time. I know you had something to do with this and believe me, you will tell me where she is, one way or the other.’
‘Rose is no longer with us.’ Nicholas said calmly.
‘What is that supposed to mean?’
Adelphos stretched out a calming hand. His face and his voice were gentle when he spoke.
‘I am sorry, Doctor, but I am afraid Rose is lost to you. She is dead.’
The Doctor’s face was impassive, his eyes glittering dangerously, as he stared at Adelphos.
‘No!’
‘It is true.’
In one swift move, Adelphos was out of his chair and pressed against the wall, the Doctor’s arm tight against his throat. ‘What. Did. You. Do?’
‘Please, Doctor. It was for the best. Rose was not dear to you, you said it yourself, it was her wealth you wished to secure. That is now secured and she has gone to become a goddess.’
The Doctor felt his chest tighten and his hearts grow still. Rage was swelling within him, so raw, so all consuming, that he was not certain he could contain it. He needed Rose. She kept the demons at bay. Without her, without her there was no telling what he would become.
‘Rose was, is, very dear to me. More dear than you could possibly comprehend. I will ask you one more time. What did you do?’
‘She has saved us from the displeasure of the gods.’
‘Where is she?’
Adelphos’s eyes widened as the Doctor let loose the full extent of his rage, his eyes shimmering with the power of the Oncoming Storm, his body vibrating with barely restrained energy. Every line of his body screamed fury and promised death.
‘Believe me, Adelphos, you want to answer me. They don’t call me the Destroyer of Worlds for nothing. If Rose is not returned to me then the disfavour of your goddess is nothing to the destruction I will unleash upon you. Now, where is she?’
Adelphos gaped at him, incapable of speech. It was Nicholas who answered. ‘She is with Hades. We have sent her to the underworld.’
Pinning Adelphos with one arm, the Doctor swung to contemplate Nicholas. ‘What, exactly, does that mean?’
‘She has partaken of the fruit of death and been sent to him. Shortly he will accept her into his realm and the rains will return.’
The Doctor’s hearts leapt. ‘She’s still alive?’
‘Most likely. But it is only a matter of time.’
‘How long?’
‘A few hours at most.’
‘And where is she?’
Nicholas looked to his master. Adelphos blinked, his eyes darting desperately for escape, knowing his reply would not be well received. ‘At the mouth of the underworld. Deep beneath Phoses.’
‘Take me to her!’
Adelphos swallowed. ‘That is not possible, Doctor, only the dead or dying may enter the passage to the underworld.’
Helen coughed gently. ‘That is not quite true, husband. Do you not recall Orpheus and Eurydice? Hades will relinquish his hold on the dead if the plaintiff’s heart is true.’
Adelphos looked at his wife with gratitude, feeling the arm at his throat ease its pressure just a little.
‘Yes, yes. You are right. If you sought to recover Rose in the spirit of Orpheus then it might be possible and the offering would still be valid, the rains should still come.’
‘I don’t care about your rains, only Rose. What do I have to do?’
Helen looked at her quivering husband and stepped forwards, touching the Doctor’s arm gently.
‘Orpheus had to lead Eurydice out of the underworld without once gazing upon her, trusting to his wife’s love and fate to ensure she stayed behind him. You would have to enter the underworld and lead Rose to the surface.’
Adelphos hurried to explain further. ‘We do not have the powers of Persephone to rip Rose from you should you gaze upon her. For the quest to be valid you would have to be robbed of sight. You would have to rely on love to guide you from death and back to the realm of the living.’
‘Fine.’ He bit out, releasing Adelphos. The man sagged against the wall, staring at the Doctor in shock.
‘Doctor, are you sure? There is little chance of success. Orpheus failed.’
‘I am not Orpheus. I will not fail. Do what you have to. I will recover Rose.’
‘Very well. I can blind you with a simple potion, reversible should you return. Rose has partaken of the fruit of death, however. I can give you an elixir that will mitigate the affects for a few days. If you return to the surface within forty-eight hours I will be able to administer the antidote and return her to life. Should you fail to complete your quest within the prescribed time she will be lost to you forever.’
‘I understand.’
‘Very well. Nicholas, make ready the boat. We must make haste to the gates. If you do not reach Rose soon it will be too late even for love to recover her from the house of Hades.’
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Well, yes.
To be honest, Nine is the only incarnation I can imagine coming close to embodying "Oncoming Storm", but boy, does he embody it!
ETA: right icon, because "thoughtful Doc" is in there, too, but not appropriate at the moment!
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