Sunday Story – From Beyond The Stars Part Four

Amy collapsed back into the sofa her mind racing at the snippet she had just learnt, River had met the Doctor before he was her Doctor. She tried to imagine River interacting with the Doctor as she was imagining him from the manuscript, River certainly would have had something to say about the Doctor who thought he was a god. She felt the anger rising again at the idea of the Doctor deciding who should live and die, oh she had seen have have to make that choice before but never like this. This woman, this… well whatever she was, she hadn’t hurt anyone she had sent them away to save them before they had been harmed there must have been another way. She reached for the manuscript and resumed her reading.

I stood facing him trying to find the words that would somehow convince him that things did not have to be this way, but deep inside a voice told me we had always know this time would come. Tears flowed down my cheeks as my eyes met his searching for a glimpse of something that would allow me to convince him that I was no threat to anyone.

“I don’t want to do this but I have no choice, you are changing history, people come here and meet you, then never go on to fulfil their destinies, medicines are not created that will save lives in the future, books never written that are supposed to change the thoughts of civilisations. And I know, I really do know you never intended any of this but you can’t change it. You’re the flame to which they are drawn and the only way to stop them is to tale away the light.”

I knew he was right, I knew in that very minute the very destiny of this planet, of these people I had grown to love was in danger just from my presence, he was talking still talking of the possibility of taking me to another planet, somewhere I could live out my days where my influence could do no harm. I knew that was not realistic, my union with this body was too fragile so adjust to another gravity and the link between the two of us mentally was too far progressed now for either of us to continue alone. I would not make the man stood before me responsible for my death. Marietta agreed the course of action we determined to take and urged we act quickly lest either of us lose the courage required to act. I took my leave, requesting that we have an hour to prepare ourselves and put our affairs in order before we depart. I confess I felt guilt at the deception of allowing him to believe we were going to accompany him in his ship and when he looked in our eyes I felt sure he knew or suspected what we intended, however he made no objection.

We sit here now in our boudoir, writing this letter that I hope will allow anyone who reads it to look back at our lives and understand that we never intended harm and that they may forgive the Doctor as we have done for his part in what will happen now. Marietta and I have shared our final thoughts, we have chosen that she shall sit by the window when I depart so that thought physically separated we may witness and give comfort to each other in our final moments.

We bid you farewell and go now to our rest.

A tear dropped onto the paper, Amy’s hand trembling as she imagined what the entity had done. How had the ended it? Had Marietta survived the separation? It couldn’t just end like that she need to know how it finished, she jumped up intent on demanding the final chapter of the story from the Doctor, as she did so a single sheet fell from the manuscript clutched in her hand. She bent and retrieved it, in a different hand were the answers she wanted. The writing was familiar, it resembled the Doctor’s but the flourishes varied from those with which she was acquainted. She realised it belonged to the previous incarnation of the Doctor he had finished the story.

Postscript

If I am honest I knew what they were intending. I could have stopped them, I should have stopped them, I thought I had more time.

After they left me I wandered round the garden trying to work out the best way to transport them and think of a new home for them where they could live together, and no one else would be at risk from their spell. I had even felt myself succumbing at times, she or should that be they were so beautiful and truly captivating, that smile and those eyes like lakes you could have dived into and drowned for eternity. Infact that was not so far from the truth of what had happened to those who had come into close contact with them. I thought I had it all worked out, it was then as I turned towards the house that I saw what they had planned.

Marietta sat at the window, I was just close enough to make out the smile on her lips, then from her a light appeared. It surrounded her wrapping her in its glow before expanding and stretching out into the open air. It seemed to whole sky was filled with a warm glow, tinged the palest of pinks. The like an explosion in reverse it shrunk. The colour intensified and the area covered diminished until it a red star burned in the sky then with a blinding intensity burst like a firework, thousands of sparkling cinders falling to the Earth and a feeling of terrible sadness over came me. I looked back at the window and noticed Marietta slumped against the panes of glass.

I raced into the house taking the steps two at a time as I ascended to her chamber. when I reached her she was barely breathing I lifted her and placed her carefully upon the bed. I knew, even as I frantically called for assistance it was too late to save her. For one last time, at great effort to her, she opened her eyes and looked up at me smiling, I strained to make out her words as she asked,

“We were magnificent, were we not?”

“Oh yes! You were magnificent, you dazzled them all and they loved you.” I answered

I felt her go limp and knew she had gone. I closed her eyes and smoothed her hair back. Standing to leave the room I found this manuscript. After I finished reading it seemed fitting I record the final actions of these remarkable women, I can’t accept the forgiveness they offer nor the shame of allowing others to know my actions which led to this and shall place these words in a place they shall not be found again.

The Doctor was still fixing the controls when she returned to the console room, he looked up at her his eyes moist as he awaited her verdict. She tried to smile but it died on her lips.

“You couldn’t have saved her, even if you tried she would have died, she said so herself. As soon as they separated they would both die there was no other way.”

“I could have taken her somewhere, them, together as one, somewhere they could have both lived on.”

“And then what Doctor left them to live in solitude not coming into contact with anyone else, ever. You would have saved them yes but they wouldn’t have had a life they would only have had an existence. In the end they made the choice, it was theirs to make and I don’t think for one minute either of them would want you to feel sad over it.”

“Maybe not, but that doesn’t make it right.”

The Doctor connected the final two wires there was a flash of light that filled the room, and caused him to jump to his feet anxiously checking the console.

“Strange it’s never done that before. Enough moping I know what lets go to Paris, I love Paris, Paris is cool. Did I ever tell you Madame De Pompadour kissed me…”

“Now is that supposed to make me jealous?” River Song stepped out from behind the far side of the console adjusting her Vortex Manipulator “Hello Sweetie, don’t worry I’ll forgive you, I kissed the king.”

River leaned over and punched in co-ordinates, she looked up at the Doctor and smiled. “Looks like I arrived at just the right time.”