FIC: Of True Minds and Hearts (a fairy tale)
The title and the ficlet itself are somewhat, but only in a small way, inspired by Shakespeare's Sonnet CXVI: Let me not to the Marriage of True Minds. Find it here: http://rpo.library.utoronto.ca/poem/1871.html . It's one of my favourite sonnets and one of the few poems that I have ever memorized.
Title: Of True Minds and Hearts (a fairy tale)
Author: acciochocolate
Characters: the Fourth Doctor, Romana, K-9 and Adric (by implication)
Pairing: Four/Romana
Rating: PG
Spoilers: only if you haven't seen the 17th and 18th seasons of Classic!Who
Genre: a modern fairy tale in the storytelling mode
Summary: the Doctor thinks of his past, deals with his present, and anticipates the future
Disclaimer: Note that Romana, the Doctor, Adric, and K-9 (created by Bob Baker and Dave Martin) and the show Doctor Who all belong to the BBC. I'm just playing in the sandbox, that's all.
Of True Minds and Hearts (a fairy tale)
Once upon a time, long ago and far away, travelling through space and time was a curious object. In looks on the outside similar to a police call box of the mid-20th century, from the country of England on the planet Earth, it was a time machine. But not just any old time machine, oh, no, this was a Type-40 time capsule from the planet Gallifrey, home of the Time Lords, those keen observers of time and space, who never interceded, but just recorded history, past, present, and future. Affectionately known only as the TARDIS to those who travelled in/with her, the ship was rather larger on the inside than the exterior dimensions would suggest.
The TARDIS was presently home to two of those Time Lords, both renegades, known for meddling, saving planets, rescuing civilizations, and defeating various nasty creatures and other wicked beings, when they weren't on holiday. The tall male with the curly brown hair and dazzling smile was known only as the Doctor. His partner in crime, a lovely but often serious blonde lady, gave her name as Romana. Along with their robot dog, K-9 by designation, they roamed the universes and dimensions, doing what they did best.
In between their adventures, they rested, and so did the TARDIS, floating in the Vortex. Years and human lifetimes passed, and still they were somewhat and mostly happy together, sharing laughter and compelling arguments and fascinating discussions, good and bad times equally. Along the way they gained respect for one another. Romana learned that indeed experience was a good teacher, and the Doctor found that book knowledge was of great aid on many an occasion.
The two of them discovered over the years an affectionate friendship for each other, that drifted slowly into love. Shared danger and witty banter had bought them closer together. In their exile, they never considered returning to their home planet, but made their own home, their own family with dear K-9, and at last they were a couple. In the TARDIS and in their adventures and in each other they had all they needed.
***************************
Or so he had thought.
The Doctor felt the weight of years upon him, and somehow sensing his time in this body was growing short, he made preparations. He would not be caught out, not this wily Time Lord, not he, not even as weary as he felt. That happy life was all gone, with Romana and K-9 staying on the other side of the C-V-E, in a universe that he could not reach again. She had chosen to stay to help those people trapped in slavery, time travellers like and yet unlike themselves, and the Doctor had given her K-9 in the end. His dear pet (though Mark II by form and function) could only regain his memories beyond the Gateway, all lost in the time winds.
The Doctor was proud of Romana's choice. But they had been together for such a long time that he had not considered that she would leave him. (Though, when they had been fighting, sometimes he considered taking her back to Gallifrey, or at least bluffing so.) In the end, though, she had proven herself to be little different from all those others who had travelled with him, and had left, to do good elsewhere and elsewhen. Even love could not keep her from what she perceived as her duty. He missed Romana and K-9 more than even he would ever admit to.
Now the Doctor was back where he should be, in N-Space, with only a curious boy as his companion. Not really understanding why Adric had decided to remain with him, the Doctor mentored the boy as best as he could in his time remaining, hoping that his next regeneration would be as kind to a young man separated forever from his home and his people.
The Doctor had done what he could.
Now he awaited his future and his destiny.
Title: Of True Minds and Hearts (a fairy tale)
Author: acciochocolate
Characters: the Fourth Doctor, Romana, K-9 and Adric (by implication)
Pairing: Four/Romana
Rating: PG
Spoilers: only if you haven't seen the 17th and 18th seasons of Classic!Who
Genre: a modern fairy tale in the storytelling mode
Summary: the Doctor thinks of his past, deals with his present, and anticipates the future
Disclaimer: Note that Romana, the Doctor, Adric, and K-9 (created by Bob Baker and Dave Martin) and the show Doctor Who all belong to the BBC. I'm just playing in the sandbox, that's all.
Of True Minds and Hearts (a fairy tale)
Once upon a time, long ago and far away, travelling through space and time was a curious object. In looks on the outside similar to a police call box of the mid-20th century, from the country of England on the planet Earth, it was a time machine. But not just any old time machine, oh, no, this was a Type-40 time capsule from the planet Gallifrey, home of the Time Lords, those keen observers of time and space, who never interceded, but just recorded history, past, present, and future. Affectionately known only as the TARDIS to those who travelled in/with her, the ship was rather larger on the inside than the exterior dimensions would suggest.
The TARDIS was presently home to two of those Time Lords, both renegades, known for meddling, saving planets, rescuing civilizations, and defeating various nasty creatures and other wicked beings, when they weren't on holiday. The tall male with the curly brown hair and dazzling smile was known only as the Doctor. His partner in crime, a lovely but often serious blonde lady, gave her name as Romana. Along with their robot dog, K-9 by designation, they roamed the universes and dimensions, doing what they did best.
In between their adventures, they rested, and so did the TARDIS, floating in the Vortex. Years and human lifetimes passed, and still they were somewhat and mostly happy together, sharing laughter and compelling arguments and fascinating discussions, good and bad times equally. Along the way they gained respect for one another. Romana learned that indeed experience was a good teacher, and the Doctor found that book knowledge was of great aid on many an occasion.
The two of them discovered over the years an affectionate friendship for each other, that drifted slowly into love. Shared danger and witty banter had bought them closer together. In their exile, they never considered returning to their home planet, but made their own home, their own family with dear K-9, and at last they were a couple. In the TARDIS and in their adventures and in each other they had all they needed.
***************************
Or so he had thought.
The Doctor felt the weight of years upon him, and somehow sensing his time in this body was growing short, he made preparations. He would not be caught out, not this wily Time Lord, not he, not even as weary as he felt. That happy life was all gone, with Romana and K-9 staying on the other side of the C-V-E, in a universe that he could not reach again. She had chosen to stay to help those people trapped in slavery, time travellers like and yet unlike themselves, and the Doctor had given her K-9 in the end. His dear pet (though Mark II by form and function) could only regain his memories beyond the Gateway, all lost in the time winds.
The Doctor was proud of Romana's choice. But they had been together for such a long time that he had not considered that she would leave him. (Though, when they had been fighting, sometimes he considered taking her back to Gallifrey, or at least bluffing so.) In the end, though, she had proven herself to be little different from all those others who had travelled with him, and had left, to do good elsewhere and elsewhen. Even love could not keep her from what she perceived as her duty. He missed Romana and K-9 more than even he would ever admit to.
Now the Doctor was back where he should be, in N-Space, with only a curious boy as his companion. Not really understanding why Adric had decided to remain with him, the Doctor mentored the boy as best as he could in his time remaining, hoping that his next regeneration would be as kind to a young man separated forever from his home and his people.
The Doctor had done what he could.
Now he awaited his future and his destiny.