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Chapter 7. The Quest
As the Doctor strode into the square his gaze was drawn inextricably to Rose. She was sitting at the feet of his statue, eyes closed, her face a perfect picture of misery. He sighed, thrusting his fingers through his hair and leaving it impossibly scruffy as his hand came to rest at the back of his neck. He’d made a perfect mess of this. He’d kept her on the TARDIS for a week after the Wire, frightened to let her out of his sight, frightened she’d get hurt, and then he’d abandoned her at the first little hiccup, hurt her himself, because he was jealous. It was so irrational. So typical of the new emotions that constantly threatened to capsize his control.
He walked towards her, rehearsing his apology over and over, as he had been ever since he’d left the portico.
‘Rose?’ he queried as he reached her. Her eyes shot open and, before he could continue, she hurtled herself into his arms, pulling him tight against her and burying her head in his chest. He automatically returned her embrace, folding his arms around her as she snuffled into his shirt.
‘I’m sorry!’ She whimpered, her arms tightening convulsively around him.
He sighed. ‘I think that was my line!’ She looked up at him then, her eyes red and bloodshot from crying.
‘No, it’s not. I made you feel like you weren’t … that I liked him best, and I don’t. I just…’
‘You miss him. It’s all right, Rose. Really. I understand.’
‘I don’t, though. He’s you. I know he’s you. It just doesn’t feel like he’s you. You’re so different. Not good or bad different,’ she hastened to add, ‘Just different.’ She loosened her embrace, stepping back from him, struggling to find a way to articulate the complex emotions that writhed within her. ‘He would never have shown me the Taeniura.’ She said, her voice sad and her eyes troubled. He stretched out a hand towards her, cupping her face gently.
‘Oh, Rose. Yes he would. He was going to, he just ran out of time. Although, he did show them to you, in the end. Because he really is me, you know. Everything he thought and felt, all up here,’ he tapped his head, ‘Different body, same mind, same feelings. Little things change, but the big stuff, that’s still here. And you, Rose Tyler, you’re big stuff.’
Rose opened her mouth to respond, only for a loud bell peal to drown her out.
‘Couples will gather for the procession!’ The man who had taken her name announced, and Rose blushed.
‘Um, that would be us.’ She ventured quietly.
‘You registered us?’ He asked. Rose nodded and he beamed at her, his hearts suddenly light.
‘I thought maybe it would be fun?’ She confessed, ‘We’re Mr and Mrs Smith.’ His laughter was so loud and explosive that several people turned to stare and she blushed even more furiously. ‘Doctor! Stop it, people are looking!’
‘Did I ever tell you you were brilliant, Rose? Because you are. Perfectly and totally brilliant. Come on, then. We’ve a procession to join!’ Gripping her hand he pulled her to the congregation point and presented them to the Grammateus. The man solemnly checked their names and then held out his hand, gesturing to the somewhat crumpled sash Rose held tightly in her left hand. She gave it to him and with a quick, practised motion he tied the Doctor and her together at their joined hands, binding them tightly. Smiling, he motioned them forwards and, somewhat nonplussed, Rose and the Doctor joined the growing group of similarly bound couples. As the last rays of the sun slipped out of sight the bell pealed again and the procession began.
Town’s folk guided them out of the town with lit torches. One by one the torches were doused until only one flickered at the head of the column. Finally, as they passed the last of the town’s buildings, the last torch was put out too and the procession ground to a halt. With a peal of the bell, a small pyre was lit. Behind it, suddenly visible in the flickering light of the bonfire, was a small platform onto which the town Hodegos walked. Resplendent in a robe of gold and silver he looked down upon them, his gaze solemn. Raising one hand as if in benediction, he spoke.
‘Beloved of the Isaggelos, tonight you test your love for one another, and enact the trial of the great Rose and her Doctor.’ He smiled, lowering his hand and gripping the rail at the front of the platform.
‘You have undertaken to trust to love and the benevolence of the gods to guide you safely.’ He gestured to the sky; ‘The moon is but slight; her rays will not aid you. The sun is abed and can offer you no help before the dawn. But be not afeared, the Isaggelos offer you the light of their devotion to assist you,’ as he spoke a burning arrow was shot to the heavens and in the instant a glow burst forth from the hillside.
‘That’s where the portico is,’ the Doctor whispered into Rose’s ear. She nodded her understanding but her eyes remained locked on the Hodegos.
‘Be clear, young lovers, only faith in one another and the purity of your love will enable you to reach the gates of the underworld and return from them before the night is past, but the reward is great. At the entrance to Hades you will find a garland of flowers. Should you succeed in your quest and return to the town bedecked, know that your union will not only bear fruit but will endure for all eternity, pure and unsullied, even beyond death.’
He paused as the couples beneath him stirred, the gravity of their quest brought home to them by his intense words. ‘Good luck, my children. May the blessing of the Koinonos Isotes be with you.’
The bell chimed out once again and as one body the assembled couples moved forwards.
Chapter 8
