Merlin/Doctor Who Crossover | A Comedy of Errors
Title: A Comedy of Errors
Author: cantseethesky
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Arthur/Gwen, Merlin/Martha, 10thDoctor/Morgana, Morgause & all other Merlin characters.
Warnings: Spoilers for Series 2 of Merlin up to Sweet Dreams and Series 3 of Dr Who up to 42
Disclaimer: Do you really think that if I owned Merlin David Tennant would NOT be in it???
Summary: The Doctor and Martha stumble upon a time that nobody really knows anything about... including the Doctor himself! What they find out about the supposedly mythical characters of Arthurian legends is surprising to say the least. Even the Time Lords don't really know what went on before King Arthur's reign... Can the Doctor and Martha really find out without seriously altering the course of history as we know it? Or will the whole thing turn out to be a Comedy of Errors?
Author’s notes: thanks to mydoctortennant for betaing!
-.-.-.-
Martha looked on sceptically as The Doctor skipped around the TARDIS with his usual level of enthusiasm.
“Soooo if I reverse the extrapolation and backtrack the polarity using Dalek temporal shift technology…” he pulled several levers, and paused to look quizzically at the small telephone on the sideboard, before picking it up and dialling three numbers. “That should do it - the temporal vortex should prevent us falling into the void as well as avoiding possible paradox complexes…”
Martha coughed loudly, The Doctor turned, startled. “What?”
“In English, please?” she asked with a laugh, crossing her arms and tapping her boots against the floor.
The Doctor grinned, pulled out his sonic screwdriver and pointed it at the TARDIS controls. Without warning the TARDIS lurched and they were sent hurtling through time and space.
“We’re going back to a time that I’ve never been to before!” The Doctor shouted over the noise.
“Really?” Martha replied, she wasn’t overly interested, she was concentrating more on keeping upright. Martha was beginning to wonder if The Doctor knew how to fly this thing at all. Then, the TARDIS grounded to a sudden halt.
“Martha Jones!” The Doctor picked himself up and held his hand out to help Martha, “How would you like to meet King Arthur?”
“You’re kidding me.” Martha grinned, “King Arthur. The King Arthur? Sword in the Stone, Excalibur, Round Table King Arthur? Isn’t he just a legend?”
“Well… let’s find out shall we? Allons-y!” The Doctor grinned and ran over to the TARDIS door, opening it swiftly and holding the door open for Martha who jumped out of the TARDIS enthusiastically.
Martha’s wide grin diminished, the mud underneath her feet had soaked into her shoes. The Doctor swiftly followed pulling an umbrella out of his pocket.
“What the…?” Martha shielded her face from the heavy drops, “Maybe we should wait until the storm clears?” she shouted above the thunder.
“Oh come on it’s just a spot of rain!” The Doctor laughed, as a flash of lighting nearly blinded them. “Where’s your sense of adventure?” he joked, and then proceeded to run out into the think fog surrounding them.
“Doctor! Wait!” Martha ran after him, closing the TARDIS door behind her. She squinted through the fog, trying to catch sight of him down the dusty backstreets of what appeared to be a medieval style village. “Where are you?”
“Come on!” The Doctor called, “Over here!” they ran towards the welcoming light of a small house nearby, it was pretty much the only thing visible in the fog.
The Doctor burst into the house, surprising a pretty woman with dark curly hair wearing a lilac dress.
“We’re very sorry to intrude.” The Doctor grinned at the shocked woman, “I’m The Doctor and this is Martha.” Martha waved tentatively at the woman. “Mind if we stay here a bit until the rain clears?”
“No, not at all.” The woman smiled, and then her smile changed to a look of concern. “You must be soaking wet! Here - take some blankets, sit down. I was just about to make some soup.” She hurried over to the bed, passing some blankets to The Doctor and Martha. Martha looked around at the dusty little house, it seemed neat and tidy enough, if a little shabby around the edges.
“Do you live here alone?” Martha asked, glancing over at the one bed in the corner.
“Ever since my father died.” She smiled sadly at Martha. Suddenly, as if to hide her distress, she reached for a broom from the corner and began to sweep the floor.
“So,” she said while she swept, “What brings you to Camelot?”
“Oh, nothing,” said the Doctor, shaking the droplets of rain from his hair. “Just passing through y’know, hoping to catch a glimpse of King Arthur and all.”
The woman stopped her sweeping and straightened up, “Arthur? You mean King Uther?”
“King Uther?” Martha crinkled her brow in confusion.
“Yes,” the woman looked at her strangely, and began sweeping again “Arthur is Uther’s son; he’s the Crown Prince.”
“Oh…” The Doctor grinned apologetically at the confused Martha. “Ah. We’re a bit too early.”
The woman looked puzzled, “Early? Not at all, Arthur was made Crown Prince some months ago,” she stopped sweeping again, and looked at Martha properly, her eyes narrowing slightly. “What… interesting clothing you are wearing…” she frowned slightly.
Martha looked down at her jeans and red leather jacket, she wiped her hands nervously across her jeans. “Well… my real clothes got wet… in the storm,” she lied.
The pretty woman propped the broom up against the wall and ducked behind a curtain that Martha presumed hid another room. When she returned she was carrying an old but practical looking yellow dress. “You are welcome to borrow this if you like.” She said, holding up the garment.
Martha looked at The Doctor, he shrugged as if to say “When in Camelot…”
Martha smiled up at the woman, “Thank you…” she trailed off, realising she didn’t know the woman’s name.
“I’m Guinevere,” she stuck out her hand for Martha to shake, “But most people call me Gwen.”
Martha’s eyes widened and she shot The Doctor a meaningful look. “Thank you, Gwen.” she smiled before heading off to the other room to change.
“Guinevere, eh?” The Doctor grinned his boyish grin,“Forgive me, but you don’t look like much of a noblewoman to me…?”
“Oh no, sir.” Gwen smiled, heading over to her sink to begin preparing her dinner, “I’m the Lady Morgana’s maidservant, down at the castle.”
“Guinevere was the maidservant to Morgana Le Fey?” The Doctor frowned. “That can’t be right, wasn’t Morgana evil? And wasn’t Guinevere supposed to be Arthur’s wife? Even the Time Lords assumed… Well I guess they don’t call it ‘The Dark Ages’ for nothing.”
A particularly loud thunder crash echoed across Camelot, The Doctor jumped suddenly as the door to Gwen’s home unexpectedly burst open for the second time that night.
In the doorway stood a dark figure with his face shrouded by the mist.
And then a skinny boy with a childish grin took a step into the doorway.
“Gwen!” shouted Merlin, hauling a large chicken over his shoulder, “Arthur sent me again! He said something about Destiny and Chicken so…” Merlin stopped mid-sentence, noticing The Doctor sitting comfortably at Gwen’s dining table.
“Hullo!” said the Doctor, with a quick wave.
“Merlin!” Gwen bustled over, “What have I told you about knocking?” she smiled anyway and brushed down Merlin’s brown jacket.
There were footsteps behind the curtain and Martha stepped out, straightening Gwen’s yellow dress. “How do I look? My hair’s gone all curly in the rain but…”
Martha’s eyes widened as she noticed Merlin standing there. “Oh. Hello.” She said, suddenly shy for some reason. The Doctor was staring at the new arrival, the skinny little boy Gwen has just called “Merlin”.
“Hi,” Merlin stuck his hand out to shake hers, “I’m Merlin.”
“Nooo,” The Doctor grinned.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Martha’s eyebrows raised suddenly.
“Hang on let me get this straight,” The Doctor stared, “You’re Merlin? The Merlin?”
“Err… yeah, I suppose,” Merlin looked sideways at Gwen, who looked just as puzzled as he was.
“Wait,” The Doctor frowned, “Did you say you were Arthur’s servant?”
“Yeah,” Martha cut in, “And Guinevere said she was a servant as well.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being a servant.” Gwen looked indignant.
“No, no.” Martha said, “I didn’t mean that…”
Merlin loosened his neckerchief nervously and placed it on the table. “Anyway, as I was saying,” he turned back to Gwen “This is for you,”
Gwen raised an eyebrow, “Arthur sent me a chicken?” she laughed suddenly as if at some inside joke.
“Arthur?” The Doctor asked, “Ki… I mean, Prince Arthur?”
Gwen’s laughing stopped abruptly, panic spread across her face. “It’s not for me, obviously, it’s for… err… Lady Morgana. Must be.”
“Don’t worry!” The Doctor laughed, “Your secret’s safe enough with us. We don’t care, in fact we’ll be rooting for Arthur and Guinevere!” Gwen shook her head in confusion. Martha couldn’t help but laugh at Merlin’s quizzical expression.
“Anyway, here’s your chicken, Gwen,” He said loudly. He placed the chicken on the table before leaning down and whispering something in Gwen’s ear, she nodded and replied in an equally quiet tone, but Martha could just about make out the words, “Tell him I’ll meet him there.”
Merlin left soon after. The Doctor glanced out of the window, the storm was beginning to clear but it looked like it was getting dark.
“Well, we’d better go then…” The Doctor began, but Gwen was having none of it.
“No, no, you can’t travel at nightfall! Stay here for the night,” Gwen’s smile suddenly turned to a frown, “Oh Merlin’s left his neckerchief…” she made towards the door as if to chase after him, but then turned back to the soup boiling on the stove, conflicted.
“I’ll give it to him,” Martha smiled, taking the neckerchief from Gwen and heading for the door.
“Thank you, Martha,” Gwen smiled, and returned to her cooking.
Martha raced along the foggy street towards Merlin’s retreating form.
“Merlin!” she cried, “You forgot your-”
Suddenly, Martha felt a rough hand grab her from behind and drag her into a dark alleyway. She struggled helplessly against her captor, but to no avail.
“Be quiet. Now.” Surprisingly, it was a woman’s voice that spoke in her ear. “If you value your life you will come with me, maidservant.”
Martha realised the woman’s mistake. Because she was wearing a maidservant’s dress they had mistaken her for Gwen. Martha tried again to struggle, but the anonymous woman whispered some strange words into her ear, words the TARDIS apparently couldn’t translate.
Martha fell limp into Morgause’s arms.
Chapter 2
Author: cantseethesky
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Arthur/Gwen, Merlin/Martha, 10thDoctor/Morgana, Morgause & all other Merlin characters.
Warnings: Spoilers for Series 2 of Merlin up to Sweet Dreams and Series 3 of Dr Who up to 42
Disclaimer: Do you really think that if I owned Merlin David Tennant would NOT be in it???
Summary: The Doctor and Martha stumble upon a time that nobody really knows anything about... including the Doctor himself! What they find out about the supposedly mythical characters of Arthurian legends is surprising to say the least. Even the Time Lords don't really know what went on before King Arthur's reign... Can the Doctor and Martha really find out without seriously altering the course of history as we know it? Or will the whole thing turn out to be a Comedy of Errors?
Author’s notes: thanks to mydoctortennant for betaing!
-.-.-.-
Martha looked on sceptically as The Doctor skipped around the TARDIS with his usual level of enthusiasm.
“Soooo if I reverse the extrapolation and backtrack the polarity using Dalek temporal shift technology…” he pulled several levers, and paused to look quizzically at the small telephone on the sideboard, before picking it up and dialling three numbers. “That should do it - the temporal vortex should prevent us falling into the void as well as avoiding possible paradox complexes…”
Martha coughed loudly, The Doctor turned, startled. “What?”
“In English, please?” she asked with a laugh, crossing her arms and tapping her boots against the floor.
The Doctor grinned, pulled out his sonic screwdriver and pointed it at the TARDIS controls. Without warning the TARDIS lurched and they were sent hurtling through time and space.
“We’re going back to a time that I’ve never been to before!” The Doctor shouted over the noise.
“Really?” Martha replied, she wasn’t overly interested, she was concentrating more on keeping upright. Martha was beginning to wonder if The Doctor knew how to fly this thing at all. Then, the TARDIS grounded to a sudden halt.
“Martha Jones!” The Doctor picked himself up and held his hand out to help Martha, “How would you like to meet King Arthur?”
“You’re kidding me.” Martha grinned, “King Arthur. The King Arthur? Sword in the Stone, Excalibur, Round Table King Arthur? Isn’t he just a legend?”
“Well… let’s find out shall we? Allons-y!” The Doctor grinned and ran over to the TARDIS door, opening it swiftly and holding the door open for Martha who jumped out of the TARDIS enthusiastically.
Martha’s wide grin diminished, the mud underneath her feet had soaked into her shoes. The Doctor swiftly followed pulling an umbrella out of his pocket.
“What the…?” Martha shielded her face from the heavy drops, “Maybe we should wait until the storm clears?” she shouted above the thunder.
“Oh come on it’s just a spot of rain!” The Doctor laughed, as a flash of lighting nearly blinded them. “Where’s your sense of adventure?” he joked, and then proceeded to run out into the think fog surrounding them.
“Doctor! Wait!” Martha ran after him, closing the TARDIS door behind her. She squinted through the fog, trying to catch sight of him down the dusty backstreets of what appeared to be a medieval style village. “Where are you?”
“Come on!” The Doctor called, “Over here!” they ran towards the welcoming light of a small house nearby, it was pretty much the only thing visible in the fog.
The Doctor burst into the house, surprising a pretty woman with dark curly hair wearing a lilac dress.
“We’re very sorry to intrude.” The Doctor grinned at the shocked woman, “I’m The Doctor and this is Martha.” Martha waved tentatively at the woman. “Mind if we stay here a bit until the rain clears?”
“No, not at all.” The woman smiled, and then her smile changed to a look of concern. “You must be soaking wet! Here - take some blankets, sit down. I was just about to make some soup.” She hurried over to the bed, passing some blankets to The Doctor and Martha. Martha looked around at the dusty little house, it seemed neat and tidy enough, if a little shabby around the edges.
“Do you live here alone?” Martha asked, glancing over at the one bed in the corner.
“Ever since my father died.” She smiled sadly at Martha. Suddenly, as if to hide her distress, she reached for a broom from the corner and began to sweep the floor.
“So,” she said while she swept, “What brings you to Camelot?”
“Oh, nothing,” said the Doctor, shaking the droplets of rain from his hair. “Just passing through y’know, hoping to catch a glimpse of King Arthur and all.”
The woman stopped her sweeping and straightened up, “Arthur? You mean King Uther?”
“King Uther?” Martha crinkled her brow in confusion.
“Yes,” the woman looked at her strangely, and began sweeping again “Arthur is Uther’s son; he’s the Crown Prince.”
“Oh…” The Doctor grinned apologetically at the confused Martha. “Ah. We’re a bit too early.”
The woman looked puzzled, “Early? Not at all, Arthur was made Crown Prince some months ago,” she stopped sweeping again, and looked at Martha properly, her eyes narrowing slightly. “What… interesting clothing you are wearing…” she frowned slightly.
Martha looked down at her jeans and red leather jacket, she wiped her hands nervously across her jeans. “Well… my real clothes got wet… in the storm,” she lied.
The pretty woman propped the broom up against the wall and ducked behind a curtain that Martha presumed hid another room. When she returned she was carrying an old but practical looking yellow dress. “You are welcome to borrow this if you like.” She said, holding up the garment.
Martha looked at The Doctor, he shrugged as if to say “When in Camelot…”
Martha smiled up at the woman, “Thank you…” she trailed off, realising she didn’t know the woman’s name.
“I’m Guinevere,” she stuck out her hand for Martha to shake, “But most people call me Gwen.”
Martha’s eyes widened and she shot The Doctor a meaningful look. “Thank you, Gwen.” she smiled before heading off to the other room to change.
“Guinevere, eh?” The Doctor grinned his boyish grin,“Forgive me, but you don’t look like much of a noblewoman to me…?”
“Oh no, sir.” Gwen smiled, heading over to her sink to begin preparing her dinner, “I’m the Lady Morgana’s maidservant, down at the castle.”
“Guinevere was the maidservant to Morgana Le Fey?” The Doctor frowned. “That can’t be right, wasn’t Morgana evil? And wasn’t Guinevere supposed to be Arthur’s wife? Even the Time Lords assumed… Well I guess they don’t call it ‘The Dark Ages’ for nothing.”
A particularly loud thunder crash echoed across Camelot, The Doctor jumped suddenly as the door to Gwen’s home unexpectedly burst open for the second time that night.
In the doorway stood a dark figure with his face shrouded by the mist.
And then a skinny boy with a childish grin took a step into the doorway.
“Gwen!” shouted Merlin, hauling a large chicken over his shoulder, “Arthur sent me again! He said something about Destiny and Chicken so…” Merlin stopped mid-sentence, noticing The Doctor sitting comfortably at Gwen’s dining table.
“Hullo!” said the Doctor, with a quick wave.
“Merlin!” Gwen bustled over, “What have I told you about knocking?” she smiled anyway and brushed down Merlin’s brown jacket.
There were footsteps behind the curtain and Martha stepped out, straightening Gwen’s yellow dress. “How do I look? My hair’s gone all curly in the rain but…”
Martha’s eyes widened as she noticed Merlin standing there. “Oh. Hello.” She said, suddenly shy for some reason. The Doctor was staring at the new arrival, the skinny little boy Gwen has just called “Merlin”.
“Hi,” Merlin stuck his hand out to shake hers, “I’m Merlin.”
“Nooo,” The Doctor grinned.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Martha’s eyebrows raised suddenly.
“Hang on let me get this straight,” The Doctor stared, “You’re Merlin? The Merlin?”
“Err… yeah, I suppose,” Merlin looked sideways at Gwen, who looked just as puzzled as he was.
“Wait,” The Doctor frowned, “Did you say you were Arthur’s servant?”
“Yeah,” Martha cut in, “And Guinevere said she was a servant as well.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being a servant.” Gwen looked indignant.
“No, no.” Martha said, “I didn’t mean that…”
Merlin loosened his neckerchief nervously and placed it on the table. “Anyway, as I was saying,” he turned back to Gwen “This is for you,”
Gwen raised an eyebrow, “Arthur sent me a chicken?” she laughed suddenly as if at some inside joke.
“Arthur?” The Doctor asked, “Ki… I mean, Prince Arthur?”
Gwen’s laughing stopped abruptly, panic spread across her face. “It’s not for me, obviously, it’s for… err… Lady Morgana. Must be.”
“Don’t worry!” The Doctor laughed, “Your secret’s safe enough with us. We don’t care, in fact we’ll be rooting for Arthur and Guinevere!” Gwen shook her head in confusion. Martha couldn’t help but laugh at Merlin’s quizzical expression.
“Anyway, here’s your chicken, Gwen,” He said loudly. He placed the chicken on the table before leaning down and whispering something in Gwen’s ear, she nodded and replied in an equally quiet tone, but Martha could just about make out the words, “Tell him I’ll meet him there.”
Merlin left soon after. The Doctor glanced out of the window, the storm was beginning to clear but it looked like it was getting dark.
“Well, we’d better go then…” The Doctor began, but Gwen was having none of it.
“No, no, you can’t travel at nightfall! Stay here for the night,” Gwen’s smile suddenly turned to a frown, “Oh Merlin’s left his neckerchief…” she made towards the door as if to chase after him, but then turned back to the soup boiling on the stove, conflicted.
“I’ll give it to him,” Martha smiled, taking the neckerchief from Gwen and heading for the door.
“Thank you, Martha,” Gwen smiled, and returned to her cooking.
Martha raced along the foggy street towards Merlin’s retreating form.
“Merlin!” she cried, “You forgot your-”
Suddenly, Martha felt a rough hand grab her from behind and drag her into a dark alleyway. She struggled helplessly against her captor, but to no avail.
“Be quiet. Now.” Surprisingly, it was a woman’s voice that spoke in her ear. “If you value your life you will come with me, maidservant.”
Martha realised the woman’s mistake. Because she was wearing a maidservant’s dress they had mistaken her for Gwen. Martha tried again to struggle, but the anonymous woman whispered some strange words into her ear, words the TARDIS apparently couldn’t translate.
Martha fell limp into Morgause’s arms.
Chapter 2