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Not Leaving You

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Prompt - "You need to leave."

Requested - anon

The Doctor never said more about his past than he had to. Most of the people who travelled with him never asked too many questions, too caught up in the life that came with knowing the Doctor to ask about who he really was. When they did ask he gave them just enough to stop asking. 

He didn’t know what was different about you. When you asked he found he didn’t mind sharing a part of himself with you, a part of himself that nobody else knew. He couldn’t say for sure why because it ached his hearts terribly to talk about a life long gone but it was a little bit easier with you at his side.

You were a curious thing too, he’d lost count of how many times he’d lost you, you wandering off, too distracted by something or other and ready with a million and one questions by the time the Doctor finally did find you.

He knew sooner or later you’d be curious about him too, once you found out he had two hearts that had taken up about a week’s worth of conversation, you asking questions about Time Lords and what else was different about them, not knowing that there were no more Time Lords out there and missing the sad look that the Doctor forced off his face.

He had taken you to a planet he had found many, many years ago, one that made his chest feel warm and a smile pull on his face as you repeated the name after him, the word Zirafell sounding as beautiful as the planet itself coming from your lips. He had never shown it to anyone before but there was something so extraordinarily different about you that he wanted to share all his hiding spots and secrets with you.

The two of you were sitting in the field, the TARDIS parked not too far away. The grass was littered with little pink and blue flowers and a lilac lake glistened under the two suns in front of you.

“Where are you from anyway?” You asked softly, breaking the peaceful silence that had settled between you causing the Doctor to look at you in surprise but you kept your gaze on the lake.

“Me? Oh nowhere really.” The Doctor answered after a few beats of silence, watching as a frown pulled at your face.

“Everyone’s from somewhere.” You told him, finally turning to face him and seeing the discomfort on his face. You wondered whether to push it but before you could decide the Doctor spoke again.

“Not me. Not anymore.” The Doctor sighed and you stayed silent for a moment, just looking at him.

His gaze was on something just passed your shoulder, refusing to look at you as his mind played memories from long before you could even imagine. You wanted to know what he was thinking about though, wanted to know what put that sort of look on a person's face. 

“You could always go back home.” You told him, keeping your voice soft.

The Doctor looked back at you, a sad smile spreading across his face. You hadn’t seen that smile in a while, of course you’d seen it plenty when you’d first met him. A sad man sitting alone looking like his whole world had fallen apart around him and there was nothing he could do about it.

It took some time but eventually he told you about the people he’d lost and how travelling with him was dangerous. He had told you he’d take you home, that he’d understand if you wanted to leave but you just wrapped your arms around him, pulling him in for a hug, smiling into his chest when he gripped you tight.

“Not even I can do that.” The Doctor laughed softly, no amusement in it as he turned to look out at the lake. He never wanted to talk about it, about all that pain and suffering, about what he had done and yet sat here with you, he wanted you to know that sad, angry, lonely part of him. 

“My home’s long gone, Y/N.” The Doctor said after a long silence where you had figured he wasn’t going to share anything with you. “It was a beautiful place, you’d have loved it. I’d love to have shown you. The Time Lords, my people, the universe was so much brighter with them in it. People would cheer when they saw one and now, now they’re gone, my planet’s gone.”

“What happened to it?” You asked, voice barely above a whisper as you looked at him, his eyes glazed over. 

“There was a war.” He told you, swallowing around a lump in his throat. “It doesn’t matter, but nobody won that day. Nobody ever really wins I suppose. Everyone died. Everyone but me.”

When you first saw the Doctor, before you knew who he was, you just referred to him as the sad man. Watching him now you couldn’t think of a better way to describe him, the sad man, the sad man who was all alone in the universe, the sad man who had lived through the destruction of his whole planet, his whole race.

The sad man with a magical box who spent his life bringing hope everywhere he went.

“The last of the Time Lords.” You murmured, remembering what a woman from several months back had hissed to him, at the time the Doctor brushed it off when you asked questions, now you knew why. 

“The last of the Time Lords.” The Doctor agreed just as quietly and neither of you said anything else, there was nothing left to say so you rested your head on his shoulder, his coming to rest on top of yours as the two of you stared ahead at the lilac water.

From that day onwards you and the Doctor were closer than ever, he shared more of his life with you and you found yourself falling a little bit more for the man as each day passed. It was a dangerous thing to do, falling in love with the Doctor and yet you let yourself fall, not bothering to question if he would catch you but enjoying the fall while it lasted.

You felt closer with the Doctor than you had with anyone you had known back home, not a single day went by where you regretted leaving, regretted choosing the Doctor over your old life. You knew you’d make the same choice over and over again. You could never give the Doctor up.

Months passed since that day, months where you and the Doctor would spend your nights floating through the galaxy, legs hanging over the TARDIS door as the Doctor told you about the different stars and planets that surrounded you with such fondness, months were he took your hand in yours and you couldn’t help but smile, savouring the feeling of his thumb running softly across the back of your hand as he pulled you along, tugging you back to him when you went to wander off. Months were you and the Doctor traded secrets in the quiet of the night, things that you’d never have dreamed of sharing with anyone else and yet knowing the whispered words were safe with each other.

“You’ll love this one, Y/N/N!” The Doctor told you with an excited grin on his face, hurrying you to put your coat on causing you to laugh before he finally grabbed your hand and pulled you out of the TARDIS, pausing long enough to lock the box before the two of you were off.

“Welcome to Thucruiruta.” The Doctor beamed at you and you couldn’t help the gasp that escaped you as you finally looked around.

The planet was beautiful, the sky was golden and all sorts of creatures were moving around you, so many things demanded your attention and the thing that won it was the Doctor squeezing your hand.

“It’s beautiful, Doctor.” You breathed out, watching as the Doctor’s grin softened and you didn’t even try and stop yourself from smiling back, leaning into him before letting him lead the way.

The Doctor was eager to show you everything, used to your curiosity and the hundreds of questions you came up with, more than happy to show off and answer them, making his way through the stands and insisting you try all the different foods on display. 

It was hard to imagine such a perfect day taking a turn but you had also gotten used to trouble following the Doctor by now, so when an explosion sounded not too far in the distance you immediately turned to the Doctor, waiting for him to do something.

It didn’t take him more than a second to grab your hand, pulling you into the heart of the danger and you went along with him willingly. You knew you always would, you never gave it a second thought, you knew that you would always follow the Doctor no matter where he went.

You gasped as you took in the scene, people were scattered all over the floor, some crying out and others not moving at all. You gripped the Doctor’s hand in yours and he squeezed back before moving further into the chaos, looking around for some clue as to what had happened.

There was a child on the floor, a deep cut in their green skin as blue blood poured from it. You pulled your hand from the Doctor’s and made your way to the child’s side as the Doctor pulled the sonic screwdriver out to try and find what had caused the explosion. 

“You alright?” You asked softly, pulling your jacket off and using a sharp bit of rubble to rip the end of your shirt in lieu of a bandage. 

“Hurts.” The kid whimpered and you gave her an encouraging smile, warning her it might sting as you tied the torn material around her arm as tightly as you could.

“Good job, that’ll be good until we can get you to your family.” You told her standing up and holding a hand out for her, pulling her up by her uninjured arm and looking around. “Where was your family?”

You watched as she pointed the way you had come from, away from where the explosion was and you glanced over your shoulder to see the Doctor glaring down at the sonic, a furious expression you couldn’t ever remember seeing on his face that sent a shiver down your spine.

“Come on then, let’s see if we can find them.” You said, pulling your gaze from the Doctor and forcing the uneasy feeling you suddenly felt in the pit of your stomach away, leading the young girl away from the scene.

Even in the sea of screams and shouts for friends and family you managed to find the young girl's family quite easily, her mum falling to her knees and wrapping her arms around her daughter, mindful of her arm after she winced. 

You stayed long enough for the family to thank you tearfully and the girl to hug you before you pushed your way through the crowd and looked around for the Doctor, frowning when you couldn’t see him.

You made your way further into where the explosion had gone off, gasping when something sharp dug into your arm, looking to your left to see a tall figure beside you, sharp teeth visible as the thing grinned down at you and pushed you forward, dragging you alongside it and not even pausing as you fought back against it.

There was a slimy sort of wet texture to the creature and you couldn’t stop yourself from wincing as it’s nails drew blood from you, the thing snarling the whole time until it pushed you onto the floor and you were staring at sharper nails and blue feet, looking up to see more than a dozen of the things standing together.

“Let her go.” The Doctor’s voice sent a wave of relief through you and your head snapped around to look at him. “Now.”

The Doctor’s voice was cold, so devoid of any emotion that it scared you. The creatures, however, didn’t seem at all phased by him and instead laughed at the Doctor.

“The Doctor always was too fond of the humans.” One of the creatures laughed, sending a wave of spit flying from his mouth. “Too bad he can never save his precious little pets.”

That seemed to hit a nerve with the Doctor and you had heard the stories of his past companions, of how much danger they had been put in simply by being with him. You knew it was scarred on his two hearts, every loss, every defeat, every life lost, every life he blamed himself for.

“The Doctor’s not good at saving anybody.” Another one called, amusement clear in its voice, “Poor little Doctor, all alone, no Time Lords around anymore.”

The creatures all laughed together and you winced as you watched fury take over the Doctor. It seemed these creatures had history with the Doctor, at the very least they knew exactly what buttons to press to tear him apart.

The Doctor looked different, he didn’t look like the Doctor you had seen every day, he looked like a whole different person. Cold fury in his eyes, mouth set in a thin line and his knuckles bone white from the grip he had on the sonic.

“You will let her go and you will leave this planet.” The Doctor told them, voice low and commanding the attention of everyone.

You could only stare at him, fear in your eyes, not sure who you were more afraid of in that moment. Usually you could read the Doctor easily, always seeming to know what his next step was but right then, in that moment you didn’t know what he was going to do.

“Or what, Doctor?” One of them spat but you didn’t bother looking behind at them, keeping your gaze on the Doctor. “The last time we met you were a coward, what’s changed?”

“What’s changed?” He shot back, taking a step forward and you felt your breath catch in your throat at his tone. “What’s changed? The last time I showed you mercy. That was a mistake. I won’t make the same one twice. Now leave.”

“Or what?” It asked again, tone hard as the creatures refused to move.

“Or I’ll burn this entire planet with you on it.” The Doctor said without hesitation and your eyes widened, staring at him in shock.

“You wouldn’t, the Doctor wouldn’t harm innocents, not in the name of revenge.” One of them laughed but it sounded nervous, like it didn’t believe its own words and looking at the fury on the Doctor’s face you had to agree with it.

“Do you really want to test that theory?” The Doctor asked, the silence stretching as the creatures all looked at each other. “All I have to do is press this button and you’ll be dead before you realise it.”

The Doctor held the sonic up and you shook your head, not that he was looking at you but you couldn’t believe him. He wasn’t bluffing, he wasn’t improvising whilst he came up with a plan to deal with this without harming anybody. He was being deadly serious.

You were terrified of the man before you. He wasn’t the Doctor, not the Doctor you knew anyway.

“Liar!” A creature yelled and the Doctor gave it an unimpressed look before going to press the button but you stood up before he could.

“Don’t!” You shouted, reaching a hand out like one would around a scared animal, locking eyes with the Doctor for the first time since you’d been pushed onto the floor. “Don’t.”

“Y/N, you don’t know what these are.” The Doctor told you, his thumb hovering dangerously close to the button on the sonic. 

“I don’t care. This isn’t you, you’re the Doctor! People look to you for hope, you’re not a murderer, don’t do this! Don’t become them.” You pleaded with him but his face was still set with cold fury and you feared there was no changing his mind.

“Get to the TARDIS and don’t look back.” He instructed and you immediately shook your head.

“No.” You told him. “No, I’m not letting you do this. There are millions of innocent people on this planet and you will not destroy them for whatever grudge you’re holding.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, you need to leave. Now get on the TARDIS, Y/N!” The Doctor snapped and you felt tears sting your eyes but held your ground.

“No. If you’re going to burn this planet you’ll do it with me on it.” You said, voice shaking as tears made their way over your eyes, hating that you didn’t know what the Doctor was going to do.

“Get on the TARDIS.” The Doctor commanded through gritted teeth but you shook your head again.

“I already told you I’m not leaving.” You told him, blinking away the tears as they carried on running down your face.

The Doctor held your gaze, the small part of him that wasn’t consumed with anger and hatred felt guilt and hurt as you looked at him like you were terrified, like he was the monster instead of the creatures behind you. 

“Leave.” He spat out, not taking his gaze of you as he addressed the creatures. “Get off this planet and if I ever see you again I won’t show a shred of mercy.”

The creatures wasted no time scurrying away, hurrying over to their ships and taking off just as quickly, leaving you and the Doctor staring at each other. Just as the Doctor opened his mouth, you cut him off.

“Take me home.” You told him, suddenly feeling drained.

“Y/N,” he sighed but you just shook your head at him, moving past him and making your way back towards where the TARDIS was parked, using your key to unlock the box and letting yourself in.

The Doctor sighed to himself, rubbing a hand across his face before pocketing the sonic and following after you, desperately trying to think how he could salvage this. He hadn’t wanted to let himself fall for you but over the year and the months you’d spent at each other’s side he couldn’t help it.

Now he was losing you because he had held onto a grudge from so many years back.

The anger had taken over him to the point he couldn’t control himself but you could, you stopped him even when he didn’t think he could be stopped.

When he walked into the TARDIS you were sitting in one of the chairs, looking away from him as he quietly worked on setting a course for Earth, hoping you would change your mind before you got there.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered, watching you closely. He could tell you were listening but you didn’t say anything. 

“Those creatures, Y/N…” He trailed off and you finally looked over at him, seeing him take a deep breath before he spoke again. “Those creatures are called Eelvo’s. I met them a long time ago, long before I had this face. I lost somebody because of them and I let them go.”

“You don’t kill people.” You told him, your voice quiet but firm and the Doctor sighed as he came and sat next to you. 

“I have bad days, Y/N. Days where I am not a good man.” The Doctor told you, ashamed of himself, ashamed that you had seen him like that. He had never wanted that.

“Doctor, today I was more scared of you than any of those other things.” You said softly, glancing at the Doctor as he shut his eyes and swallowed thickly around a lump in his throat, fighting back tears.

The last thing he had ever wanted was for you to be scared of him.

“I’m sorry, Y/N, I’m so, so sorry. I don’t know what happened, seeing them again after so long, seeing the destruction they were still causing, the pain and lives they were still taking…” The Doctor trailed off, a single tear making its way down his cheek.

You sighed softly, reaching over to take his hand in yours and giving it a gentle, reassuring squeeze. You were still unsure, still hadn’t liked seeing the Doctor so furious but he was still the Doctor, he was your Doctor again and seeing him in pain was the last thing you wanted.

“I’m sorry, Y/N/N, I never wanted you to hate me.” He whispered, his voice breaking around the words and you felt your heart break with them.

“I don’t hate you, Doctor.” You told him honestly, “I’ve never seen you like that and I didn’t like it but I don’t hate you. I’m not sure I could ever hate you.”

The Doctor smiled over at you sadly and you returned it, squeezing his hand again.

“I’ll take you home.” He whispered and you frowned, you had asked him to take you home but the thought of actually leaving the Doctor behind sent an ache through you.

“How about Zirafell instead?” You asked him, a small smile pulling at your lips as he looked over at you in surprise. 

“You sure?” He asked, a hopeful note in his voice and you nodded, watching as his shoulders lost the tension in them and he let out a small breath, nodding himself before standing up and moving around the console to change the course, hoping that the two of you would be alright. 

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Wishing on the Stars

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Prompt - Y/N, the Princess of Vathea, has spent her whole life wishing on the stars, waiting for a life of adventure and excitement. The stars answer in the form of the Doctor.

Inspired by - this post by @cxnnorussy

Zaliri was a beautiful planet full of the brightest greenery and beautiful sparkling stretches of water. For most children growing up on such a planet was exciting, there was never a dull moment, so many secret spots just waiting to be discovered, mountains to climb, hills to roll down, lakes to swim in and beaches to explore. There was always something happening, the many towns were always full of life, whether it be from stalls filled with beautiful things or the nicest of foods, celebrations thrown or fun days hosted. 

Most people couldn’t complain much about life on Zaliri, it was a good life. 

For you however it was anything but. For you as Princess of Vathea, the Kingdom that your father ruled, filled by many towns spreading all the way to the eastern border where the Kingdom of Thavis started, life wasn’t as good.

You hadn’t always lived a life so sheltered, one where instead of joining the festivities in the closest town, you had to watch from the windows of your bedroom, envying how the children danced and ran around together, hating how people hugged and laughed, sharing stories and food without a second thought.

It was all you wanted, to live a life away from the castle, one where you could laugh freely and explore the lands. 

But that wasn’t the life you led. Instead you were confined to the castle and its grounds, hardly allowed to leave and on the rare occasion you were granted permission to venture beyond the castle walls you were surrounded by guards and never allowed to stray from them. 

It hadn’t always been this way, you couldn’t remember much of your life before your mother died but you could remember her taking you outside, the Queen joining her people as they celebrated, you and the other children playing together as if you were no different from them.

It was only after her death that your father had sheltered you away, ignoring your cries and pleas to go back to the village. Your father was a fair ruler, the people liked him well enough though they had loved their Queen. It didn’t matter that the King didn’t come down to the villages and give his time to the people as his wife had once done, he kept them safe and they were happy.

You had grown used to your life, you might not have liked it, feeling as though you were wasting it, but you had accepted this was how things were. It wouldn’t matter for much longer anyway, soon a time would come when your father would let you go.

The day after your next birthday you were to be married and you would leave Vathea behind to live in whatever Kingdom your future husband would come into power of. You weren’t all too thrilled to be married to a complete stranger, you hadn’t liked it from the moment you’d found out your marriage would be decided for you but the thought of leaving the castle was enough to keep you from protesting too much.

Silently you mourned though, mourned a life that could have been, one of adventure and excitement, one of travelling to far off places and never having to be trapped again, being able to go wherever you wanted and fall in love with somebody who you truly wanted to marry.

You knew it was an impossible dream, even more ridiculous than the fairy tales you had read as a child and yet you still found yourself wishing and pleading to the stars that shone high above the castle, begging for them to save you, to show you the life you wanted.

Your wish was never answered though. Instead you watched from your window as carriage after carriage pulled up within days of each other, Princes and Kings coming to convince your father they were the best suited to create an alliance with, each leaving with dejected looks on their faces.

You couldn’t say you were too disappointed but as your birthday grew closer and closer you couldn’t help but worry your father would decline every suitor that pleaded their case. 

“I have met with Zaliri’s best and finest and I have yet to decide who you will marry.” Your father started that evening, his eyes narrowing as you slumped in your seat. “That is why a ball will be thrown, there you will meet the men I have picked out and you can choose whom you marry.”

You weren’t sure how to feel, of course the thought of marrying anybody you didn’t know was a wretched one but you feared that this was your one chance at freedom. Your father wasn’t concerned by your silence, focusing on his own meal and missing the way you pushed at your food with your fork, an action that if he had noticed would have had him lecturing you on the proper manners expected of a Princess and future bride.

The rest of the meal passed in silence, your thoughts on the upcoming ball with a feeling of dread.

“The ball will be hosted the day of your birthday and the wedding will be planned for the day after.” Your father told you before leaving the room and you sighed, heading up to your own bedroom to stare up at the stars, wishing for a miracle.

The castle was filled with life over the next few days, the workers were busy with the impromptu ball and as the day drew nearer royals from all over the planet starting arriving at your castle.

You did your best to avoid the men but unfortunately they were on a mission to win you over, finding you all over the castle no matter where you ran off to. It was exhausting and you found yourself debating whether a life with one of these dull men was worth it. 

Each one you encountered was more boring than the last, all of them were prim and proper, fussing over every little detail and seemed only capable of talking about themselves and their Kingdoms. You weren’t quite sure a single one of them had enquired about you yet, if they did ask questions they were about your father.

You sighed as you ducked out of the castle and out onto the grounds. There was plenty of room, though it didn’t feel that way when you were confined to them, but right now you were grateful for the chance to escape the madness inside, taking a breath of fresh air as you tried to avoid anyone else.

You had been walking for some time, lost in your own thoughts, before you were startled out of them by a body colliding with yours. You let out a yelp, waiting to feel the cold, hard ground, frowning when you felt a pair of arms around you instead, helping you back upright.

“Sorry about that!” The man before you said, a grin on his face as his arms fell back to his side. “You alright?”

Your eyes widened at the man, something about him was…odd. Different in a way you couldn’t quite put your finger on. He was so different to the other men in the castle, his brown coat that seemed so very unlike anything from Vathea, the way he smiled at you and addressed you so informally. 

“Miss?” The man prompted and you shook your head, unable to stop yourself from smiling back at him.

“My apologies, I’m quite ok, thank you.” You answered and watched as his smile widened even more, his eyes seeming to light up but you couldn’t say for sure why they would.

“Well I’ll let you carry on with your walk then, my lady.” He grinned, stepping out of your way and holding a hand out for you to walk past him.

You hesitated for a moment, every other suitor had taken up as much of your time as they could before you could politely slip away and this one was leaving you be, not even introducing himself or telling you how well off and important his Kingdom was. 

“Thank you, kind sir.” You laughed softly, stepping past the man, pausing to look back at him and shaking your head fondly as he waved at you.

You decided you quite liked the man.

That night the evening meal was a dreadfully boring affair, you had contemplated if you would be able to sneak out when your suitors continued to go on and on about why you should pick them. You looked around the long table, wondering where the man from the gardens had gotten off to, sighing as you realised you had never gotten his name to ask about him.

Hours passed before you were finally able to leave, forcing smiles and laughs as you excused yourself, nodding as you backed away from two men who refused to take a hint before simply turning and walking away from them.

On the way up to your room you suddenly stopped, the hallway was freezing and the lights were dimmed. A shiver went up your spine as you took a step back, unable to explain what it was exactly that had you so unsettled. You couldn’t get to your room any other way and contemplated taking one of the many guest rooms as you took another step back.

When your back collided with something hard you let out a small shout and turned around quickly, turning to see the man from earlier with his hands raised.

“It’s alright, it’s alright, it’s just me.” The man said softly, your chest raising and falling quickly as you struggled to catch your breath. “That’s it, you’re alright.”

“My apologies, I didn’t mean to-”

“No need for apologies, my lady.” The man said, smiling at you, even as his eyes shifted around the hallway, looking past you at something.

When you went to turn around he caught your hand in his, pulling a gasp from you as you turned your gaze back to him but he was still looking over your shoulder. It was only when you cleared your throat did his eyes meet yours and you watched as they widened, your hand falling from his.

“Sorry about that. Won’t you let me walk you to your room?” He asked and any other time you would have declined but something about the hallway scared you so you nodded, watching as the man lifted his arm for you to take.

You couldn’t help but smile as you wrapped your arm in his and let him lead the way down the hall, your gaze darting around the room like you were waiting for something to pop out but you made it through without anything happening and breathed a sigh of relief when you came to a stop at your door.

“There we are now,” The man grinned, “safe and sound.”

You couldn’t help but frown slightly as you looked back towards the direction you had come from, a feeling of dread still weighing on you.

“Did something feel…wrong to you?” You couldn’t help but ask, dragging your gaze back to him just in time to see his eyebrows knit together.

“Wrong?” He prodded and you shook your head, unable to put it into words. “Trust me, nothing’s going to harm you.”

Your frown deepened at that and you looked towards the man, curious about his words, curious about who he was and where he had come from but the man just smiled and took his arm from yours.

“I’ll let you get some sleep, Princess, busy days ahead and all.” He dismissed himself, turning back towards the hallway and leaving you staring at his back.

How improper. One never turned away from a Princess, especially not a suitor who was trying to win her favour and yet this man was so peculiar. You sighed softly and entered your room, shoulders losing some of their tension at the warmth.

It took a while for you to change from your dress and into your sleepwear, turning the main light off and leaving only the soft orange glow of the lamp to light the room, as well as the moonlight that shone through the window.

You walked past your bed and sat on the seat that rested against the window, looking out at the lit up gardens before your gaze lifted towards the stars. You thought back on the strange man, his words, a promise that nothing was going to harm you.

What had he meant? It was a strange thing to say to somebody but mixed with the uneasy feeling you had it made you suspect he knew something you didn’t. He seemed so unlike anybody here and yet you found yourself doing as he requested.

You found yourself trusting him.

So far he had been different but charming and he had been pleasant towards you, something you couldn’t say for anybody else. As much as you hated that your only options were marriage or confinement, you couldn’t help but think you wouldn’t have minded much marrying that man. He seemed anything but dull, he seemed like he was ready for something exciting and you wanted to join him.

The next two days passed without much happening, you didn’t feel that horrible, cold unease you had felt days before and almost wished for it when compared to how bored you were listening to the men drone on and on. 

By the time Sunday came, the day before the ball and two days before the wedding, you were just about ready to damn it all and run far, far away. You had noticed your strange man had been absent from all meals and you hadn’t bumped into him again, only catching passing glances at him, unable to stop the smile that pulled at your lips as he grinned and waved at you before running off to do whatever it was he did.

That night you couldn’t find sleep, instead you spent hours staring out of the window from your place in your bed. There was a feeling in the pit of your stomach, not unlike the one you had felt the other day in the hallway. You felt on edge, every little creak making you jump until you sighed and sat up, hesitating before climbing out of your bed and shrugging a coat on.

You slipped your feet into a pair of shoes and opened your door, holding your breath as you waited for something that never came. When you stepped out you couldn’t help but shiver, hesitating for a moment as you debated whether you should just go back to your room.

You shook your head and practically ran through the hallway, making your way out of the castle and avoiding the guards as you snuck outside. You let your feet lead the way, not paying too much attention to where you were going, not until you came upon a tree that towered over you. The tree was always in shades of reds and oranges, never green like every other trees, no matter the season it never lost its leaves or colour.

Underneath it was a gravestone, one that you hadn’t visited for a long time, one that hurt every time you so much as thought of it. Still you let yourself fall to your knees, brushing your fingers along the stone.

You didn’t say anything, what was there that could be said? Everything that would happen from tomorrow was as set in stone as your mother’s name was on the stone before you. Nothing could change it, no amount of wishes to the stars could change what your life was going to be like.

You couldn’t say for sure how long you sat there but a sudden cold breeze had you shivering, the air had been still and warm not a second earlier and you lifted your head to see a mist that had come from nowhere.

You felt your breathing start to quicken as you stood up, looking around the gardens and feeling cold to your bones. A noise form above had your head snapping up and your eyes widened at the figure that watched you.

It was hard to make out exactly what it was, the sky dark behind it but you could see the wings, black and red giant things that flapped ominously as the thing stared at you with cold, unblinking eyes. 

Your heart raced, beating so loud you were afraid it would beat right out of your chest. You couldn’t move either, frozen as still as a statute, only able to stare at the beast in the sky. You gasped when a phantom pressure tightened around your neck and you felt yourself struggling to breath, pained gasps escaping you.

You closed your eyes, unable to fight back and knowing you were going to die. That was until a warm hand took yours, seeming to break whatever had been holding you in place and when your eyes snapped open you turned to see your mystery man.

“Run.” He commanded and pulled you along after him.

You wasted no time and followed after him, letting him drag you all the way back to the castle and only stopped when the two of you arrived at your doors.

“Come on now,” He said, opening your door and gesturing for you to step inside. “In you go, that’s it.”

You entered your room and he followed in after you, an act that if it had been any other suitor and any other time would have had you calling the guards but right now he was where you wanted him to be.

You couldn’t explain it but you felt the safest place for you right now was wherever this man was.

“What was that thing?” You asked, hurrying over to your window and staring out at the night sky, not seeing anything there but the moon and stars.

“A creature I haven’t seen for a very long time.” The man said and you turned to look at him with wide eyes.

“You know of such beasts?” You exclaimed, moving over to the man. “Just who are you? You’re unlike any man I’ve ever met before.”

“Thank you.” He grinned before seeming to remember the beast and sighed. “Right now I’m the man who’s going to come up with a plan to save your life.”

“Save my life? What in the stars are you talking about?” You asked, feeling more confused and frightened than you had ever felt in your life. 

“That creature out there, it’s a Lonix. It’s a very old and very dangerous creature and for some reason it’s locked onto you.” He said causing you to frown, the man might as well have been speaking another language for how much of it you understood. 

“You’re mad.” You told him, watching as his face softened and he smiled sadly at you. “Completely and utterly mad, talking such nonsense.”

“I wish it was nonsense, Princess, believe me I do but right now you’re in a lot of danger and I don’t know how to stop it.” He told you, his words so brutally honest that you couldn’t even try and deny them any longer.

“Who are you?” You finally asked, eyes filling with tears that you struggled to keep at bay.

“I’m the Doctor and I’m going to help you.” He promised and you let out a sob, the Doctor pulling you into his arms and you let yourself cry into his chest.

“You said you don’t know how to stop it.” You finally managed to say, the words barely a whisper but you were close enough to the Doctor that he heard the words just fine.

“I don’t.” He told you, his voice matching yours. “But I’m going to stop it, that much I can promise you.”

You nodded into his chest before pulling away, rubbing at your eyes with the sleeve of your coat, taking a seat on the bed and looking towards the Doctor.

“You said it,” you said, shaking your head in disbelief before trying again. “You said this thing, this Lonix had locked onto me. What does that mean?”

“The Lonix is a creature that keeps itself alive by feeding off others but it can only do that by making deals.” The Doctor started, coming to take a seat next to you on the end of the bed as he continued. “It promises something and takes a life, then it comes back years later and takes another life.”

“I have never made such a deal.” You told him, looking at him and hoping he knew you were being honest.

The Doctor easily saw how scared you were and he took your hand in his, stroking the back of your hand with his thumb softly.

“I believe you but somebody did make a deal. What about your mum and dad? The deal could be years old, it could have been for anything.” The Doctor asked and you glanced away from him only for your head to snap up, wide eyes looking at him.

“You said the creature takes one life and then another years later.” You said, watching as the Doctor nodded. “My mother died when I was five years old. My father, he, he never told me how she died, only that she had passed in her sleep.”

“If they made a deal then the Lonix should be after your father, not you.” The Doctor murmured, more to himself than to you.

“Is it going to kill me too?” You asked once the silence became too much and the Doctor focused back on you again.

“No, listen to me, I am not going to let it get you, do you understand me? You’re going to be just fine.” He promised and you took a shaky breath before nodding, forcing yourself to believe his words because what other choice did you have. “I’m going to fix this, I promise.”

The Doctor left that night despite your protests and somehow you managed to get some sleep, though your dreams were filled with monstrous beings and the Doctor not being quick enough. 

It was strange waking up the next morning, knowing danger was close by and yet having to go about your morning as if nothing had changed. You spent most of the day preparing for the ball later that evening, no chance to see the Doctor as you were pulled this way and that, into one gown and then another. 

You wanted to see him though. He was the only suitor that you wanted to see, you hoped he was able to figure out how to deal with this Lonix, hoped that afterwards it could be him you married. 

Your thoughts stayed on the Doctor all day. Such a peculiar man, you were still not certain which Kingdom he came from and what a strange name, the Doctor, he had offered no more, nothing other than the Doctor. 

Last night had changed something in you, not just seeing that terrifying beast but the way the Doctor held you in his arms, the way he held your hand and promised you everything would be ok. Marrying the Doctor didn’t seem like such a chore the way it did when you thought about marrying any of the other men who thought they had a chance. Marrying the Doctor seemed like a lifetime of excitement and you had a feeling he wouldn’t keep you locked away from it but instead he’d introduce you to a world you could only dream of.

It seemed as though the stars, after all those years of wishing on them, had finally heard you and decided to answer your pleas in the form of the Doctor.

You walked into the ballroom after all the guests had arrived, standing at the top of the stairs and immediately scanned the busy room for the Doctor. Every other time you had tried to find him he had seemed to disappear but tonight he was here, gone was his brown coat and bizarre shoes and in their place was a black suit, a white shirt and black tie along with a shiny pair of black shoes. 

Your eyes stayed locked to his, a smile spreading across your face as he grinned at you, standing off to the side as you walked down the stairs. 

Immediately you were surrounded by suitors but you only had one person in mind. You pushed your way through the crowd, ignoring the shocked and offended gasps, coming to stand before the Doctor who’s smile softened as he looked at you.

“You look beautiful, Princess.” He murmured and you laughed softly, a blush coming to your cheeks.

“Thank you. You look rather handsome yourself, Doctor.” The Doctor opened his mouth to say something but the sound of music coming from the band interrupted him, the men around you talking over themselves as they tried to be the first to dance with you.

“May I?” The Doctor asked and you grinned at him, slipping your hand into his, the two of you laughing as the others complained amongst themselves.

You and the Doctor joined the dance floor, his hand going to your waist and yours resting on his shoulder as your other hands entwined with each other and the Doctor took the lead.

“Doctor, I hate to ruin such a moment but I must know-” You began but the Doctor cut you off.

“The Lonix. There’s a way to stop it.” The Doctor told you, still moving the two of you to the beat of the music, dancing together like you’d been doing it your whole lives. “The only way to stop it is to trap it. If it doesn’t kill you by the time the day ends then it dies.”

“How do we trap it?” You asked, staring at the Doctor with a mix of hope and fear in your eyes and the Doctor squeezed your hand softly.

“It’ll be easier if you’re with me. It’s you it wants, it’s you it’ll follow.” The Doctor told you and you took a deep shuddering breath. “You can stay here though, if you’d like, I can find another way to trap it. This thing is pure evil, feeding off people’s weakest moments and destroying them, I’d understand if you didn’t come.”

“I’m helping you.” You told him, trying to be firm even as your voice shook. “This creature, this monster killed my mother and it wants to kill me. No other family will suffer because of it.”

“I like you, Princess.” The Doctor murmured, a smile pulling at his lips and you chuckled softly.

“I like you too, Doctor. I can honestly say you’re the most exciting thing in my life.” You said and watched as he looked at you in disbelief.

“Come on now, you’re a Princess on a planet that’s full of exciting things.” You couldn’t help but laugh at his words, watching as his eyebrows knitted together.

“For most that’s true, for me though my father never lets me leave the castle. I haven’t left the castle grounds more than a handful of times since my mother died.” You told him softly, unsure why you trusted him to tell him things you’d never told anybody. “I wished for so long for something to change, for a life of adventure and excitement, one where I could explore and never be stuck in one place ever again. I’m just not sure the universe wants me to have that sort of life.”

“Oh I don’t believe that.” The Doctor grinned. “I think we were meant to find each other, Princess.”

You blushed at his words, looking towards where your hands were still tangled together before forcing your gaze back to him.

“I think I’d rather like that.” You murmured, both you and the Doctor pressing closer to each other, your eyes shifting from his down to his lips.

Before either of you could move there was a loud screeching sound and the whole castle seemed to shake. People around you started to scream, all looking around as they tried to figure out what was happening but your gaze stayed locked on the Doctor’s.

“Allons-y.” He grinned at you and before you had time to question the strange word he was pulling you along with him, his hand still tangled with yours.

He led you out into the grounds and didn’t stop running until the creature was in view. There was a determined look on his face as he suddenly stopped, the creature roaring and flying down towards you.

“Doctor.” You called, voice shaking as you gripped his hand tightly in yours. “Doctor, what are you doing?”

He turned to face you, pulling your gaze away from the Lonix as he cupped your cheeks in his hands, forcing you to look at him.

“Do you trust me?” He asked seriously and you didn’t even hesitate, it should have been a silly question, you’d only known the man for a few days and yet they had been the most memorable days of your whole life.

“Yes.” You answered honestly, without the slightest bit of doubt and the Doctor smiled at you.

“Good. Now remember what I said, I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” The Doctor promised and you nodded, putting your life in his hands.

Your breath caught in your throat as the creature flew towards you, your hand still holding the Doctor’s like it was your lifeline. The creature roared as it started its descent towards you and you held your breath, eyes scrunching shut as you waited for something to happen.

When nothing did happen you opened them and gasped at the creature in front of you, it was even bigger from up close. The Lonix thrashed against an invisible barrier, trying to break free but it was no use. 

“Told you I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.” The Doctor said, drawing your attention back to him and you turned towards him with a deep breath.

“That’s it? It can’t hurt me?” You asked, wincing as it shrieked in its cage.

“Nope, it can’t hurt anyone ever again.” The Doctor told you and you couldn’t stop yourself from throwing your arms around him, pulling him into a hug and letting a few tears of relief slid down your face.

“Thank you, Doctor.” You whispered into his chest as his arms came around you, holding you close to him and resting his head on top of yours.

“You’re most welcome, Princess.” The Doctor held you until you pulled away, his hands coming up to cup your cheeks again, wiping the few tears that had fallen. “You should probably get back to your party, wouldn’t want anybody to come looking and find this.”

“That would be difficult to explain.” You laughed softly. “Won’t you join me?”

The Doctor hesitated, looking over his shoulder before turning back to you.

“Of course, Princess.” The Doctor agreed softly, taking your hand back in his and leading you back to the ball which seemed to have continued, forgetting all about the events from before.

The Doctor let you pull him back out onto the dance floor, the two of you talking softly over the music, blocking out all the other suitors who desperately tried to pull you away from the Doctor but most had realised it was no use.

The night went on, you and the Doctor alternating between dancing and sitting alone at a table with drinks in your hand, the alcohol slowly working and making you feel tipsy and you let yourself lean into the Doctor, the Doctor not complaining in the slightest as he pulled you closer.

It wasn’t until a member of the staff finally broke through your bubble that you realised it wasn’t just you and the Doctor in the room. The woman nervously interrupted the two of you and told you your father wanted to see you. 

You excused yourself from the Doctor, letting the woman lead you to where your father stood frowning at you.

“Is everything ok, father?” You asked and watched him shake his head.

“Who is that man you’ve spent the entire evening with?” He demanded to know and this time it was your turn to frown. “He is no King or Prince!”

“What are you talking-” You began to say, looking over your shoulder to see the Doctor was nowhere to be seen. “Excuse me, father.” 

You ignore his protests, walking away from him and leaving the ballroom, making your way out of the castle, hoping the Doctor was just going to check on the creature considering it was past midnight. 

You saw him off in the distance, the creature nowhere to be seen and the Doctor looking as if he were leaving. That wouldn’t do at all, you had chosen him, he was the one you wanted. At first it had been a marriage of convenience but now you were glad of it. 

You liked the Doctor, you felt like you could spend forever with him. 

You followed him down, frowning as you tried to figure out where he was going when you watched him unlock a small blue box before he pushed the door open and went inside. You ran down the hill to catch up with him, most confused about what he was doing.

When you finally got to the box your frown deepened, what in the stars was he doing in there?

“Doctor?” You called, waiting a moment before touching the box, just as you did the door opened and you took a step back as the Doctor stepped out. “What are you doing?”

“Oh well, um, I just had things to check on.” The Doctor stammered and you looked at him as though he had grown another head.

“In a box?” You laughed in disbelief and the Doctor looked between you and the box. “The box doesn’t matter. Doctor, I just spoke with my father and he says he doesn’t know you, that you’re not one of my suitors? How can that be? You were invited here were you not? None of those other Kings or Princes stood a chance once I met you, it’s your bride I wish to be, not theirs.”

“Oh Princess.” The Doctor sighed, looking at you with warmth in his eyes. “I’m not a King, I’m not a Prince.”

“Then who are you? Why are you here if not for me?” You questioned, confused and a little bit devastated that it wasn’t him you could choose.

“Believe me, the only reason I’m here is for you. I’m sorry, I didn’t, I was more focused on the Lonix than those men in there.” The Doctor told you sadly.

“Who are you, Doctor?” You asked because you had always known he was different but you couldn’t begin to know how.

“I’m a Time Lord. This box is the TARDIS, it travels anywhere in time and space.” The Doctor told you, watching as your eyes widened and you shook your head in disbelief. “It’s true, look.”

The Doctor clicked his fingers and the door to the TARDIS flew open, your eyes followed the moment before looking back to the Doctor who gestured for you to enter. You hesitated before doing as he instructed, gasping as you walked in.

“It’s bigger on the inside!” You laughed, walking up to the console and running your fingers along it. “Doctor, it’s amazing!”

“I can take you somewhere, if you’d like.” The Doctor offered and you froze, staring at him with some much hope that it made him smile. “Anywhere you like, any time you like.”

“You mean it?” You whispered, taking a step towards him and the Doctor nodded, taking your hand in his as he spoke.

“I can show you the life you wished for, I can show you the stars you wished on.” He promised and how could you possibly say no to that. 

You didn’t hesitate to agree, unable to stop yourself from hugging him again, blinking away the tears in your eyes as you realised you were finally leaving the castle grounds and you didn’t have to marry a man you didn’t love to explore the universe.

“One trip to the stars, Princess.” The Doctor grinned and you couldn’t help but laugh as he moved around the console, flicking switches and pulling leavers as he went.

The stars were beautiful, you happily listened to the Doctor tell you all about them, getting lost in both the stars and the Time Lord for hours. The one promised trip turned into two, the Doctor insisting you had to see the festival of lights on Luiria which really were the most beautiful sight, the Doctor would have agreed but he’d spent more time watching you than the lights and that was a far better sight. After that he couldn’t let you leave until you’d visited Oaphus and then of course there was Vaetis.

“Hey Doctor?” You said to him one night as the two of you wandered the streets of Noavis after watching a play, the Doctor’s hand in yours, his thumb brushing softly against the back of your hand every once in a while.

“Yeah?” He answered, tilting his head to look at you with a smile, you’d never been able to stop yourself smiling back at the man.

“How long can I stay with you?” You asked him, watching his smile widen as he pulled his hand from yours to drape his arm over your shoulders to pull you closer.

“For as long as you want.” He murmured and you lifted your head to look up at him.

“Forever?” You asked and the Doctor laughed, a laugh full of happiness as his eyes crinkled with how wide he smiled at you.

“Forever sounds perfect, Princess.” He told you, pressing a kiss to your hair and you couldn’t help but agree.

Forever did sound perfect.

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