The Ballad of Tam Lin, Part Three
Author's Note: The Doctor will be wearing a kilt for the duration of this story because I say so. :D
The Doctor caught up with Rose just as she reached the outskirts of the village. As she stormed past a family working in their garden, the Doctor reached out and grabbed her elbow.
“Please, wait,” the Doctor huffed. “I’m sorry! Really I am! It’s just that this man you’ve seen might be linked to the Tam Lin disappearances. If he’s part of it, then you might be in serious danger, Rose. I don’t want to risk losing you.”
Rose paused and let the Doctor finish before cooling off. After all, if he was right about this suspicion, then they might be on the right track to fixing the problem of the missing girls.
“I don’t know,” Rose admitted. “But if it is him, he doesn’t look anything like I’d imagined. He seems to have the power to take other forms.”
The Doctor fell into stride with his companion as they walked back to the McClean’s.
“Tell me what he looks like, then,” the Doctor insisted.
Rose felt her cheeks flush, and she wondered how much she should reveal. She was horribly embarrassed about admitting that the Doctor had a doppleganger, considering what activities she’d been up to with him. But then again, missing information might put another girl in harm’s way. Rose decided to come clean, but figured it could wait until she’d had a cuppa.
“Mind if we talk about it over tea?” she asked. “It’s been a long couple of days.”
The Doctor seemed to like her idea and held open the door as they approached the McClean household.
“After you,” he offered. “I’ll get the kettle on.”
Rose smiled appreciatively as she sat down at the simple dining room table. It appeared that their hosts were gone from the house for the afternoon, which Rose also welcomed. Some privacy was definitely in order, considering their topic of discussion.
After a time, the Doctor sat down and pushed a steaming mug toward his companion, who blew over the top to cool it down.
“There,” he said by way of introduction. “Now tell me everything.”
Rose pushed her cup away and stared at her hands nervously.
“He looked like you,” she said.
The Doctor was so shocked that he nearly dropped his mug.
“Come again?” he asked.
“Tam Lin…if that was him…he looked just like you. Had me going, certainly. Both times I thought you’d just shown up, but it was him in disguise as you.”
Rose dared to glance up at the Doctor, whose face reflected puzzlement and distress.
“He chose to masquerade as someone you trusted,” the Doctor offered.
Rose swallowed hard and cast her eyes into the corner of the kitchen.
“He chose to adopt the persona of someone I’m…deeply attracted to,” she admitted. “I think it makes it easier for him to lure young women; to make them do what he wants.”
The Doctor fumbled with his mug and sloshed tea all over the table.
“I…that is…er…” he trailed off uselessly.
Rose pushed aside her embarrassment to focus on the real issue at hand.
“But don’t you see, Doctor?” she said pointedly. “If Tam Lin can make himself look like other people, then he could be anyone! He could be here in the village right now!”
“Right,” the Doctor answered distractedly. “Sorry, did you say…deeply attracted?”
“Well…yeah,” Rose squeaked out. “I’m only human, Doctor, as you’re so fond of pointing out.”
“And so…when you and him…did things,” the Doctor continued uncertainly, “you were really seeing me? You thought you and I were…”
“Yes,” Rose answered firmly. “If you hadn’t intervened today, we would have certainly-“
“Right!” the Doctor interrupted before blowing out a long pent-up breath of air.
“But it wasn’t just that he looked like you,” Rose added. “The things he said were amazing. Romantic, poetic…all the things I’d want to hear. And there were these bells chiming along that made me feel like I was in a trance. It made it all so much easier to believe.”
“Bells,” the Doctor mused. “Yes, I think I heard something like that when we first landed. Although I’m sure they weren’t meant for me. I think he’s projecting on a psychic level…maybe that’s why I was able to perceive them, and why I could make out his form somewhat back on the moors. Rose, we’re definitely dealing with a strong telepath…I really don’t want to make you feel restricted, but, I think it would be best if you stuck by my side from now on.”
Rose nodded and drank some of her tea, enjoying its warmth and soothing effect.
“I won’t disagree with you,” she allowed. “I’m not sure what happens after he’s consummated these relationships, but I really don’t want to find out.”
The Doctor dribbled some of his tea over his lip and sputtered with embarrassment.
“Quite right,” he answered abruptly. “Uh, I think I need to check on the TARDIS…”
“Which means we’re going to check on the TARDIS?” Rose asked as a reminder. “By your side from now on, right?”
The Doctor wiped his face with a small towel and ruffled his hair nervously.
“Ah, of course!” he replied. “After you, Rose Tyler.”
She didn’t bother to cover her smirk as they left the house together.
**
The Doctor was all thumbs as he scanned the planet for something he called ‘interplasmic psychic residue.’ Rose watched with amusement over the console, but was also getting a bit piqued at his reaction to her recent predicament. She could hardly help provoking him just a little bit, if for no other reason than watching him squirm.
It was true that she found the Doctor very attractive, but Rose was certain that she wasn’t nursing anything other than a fleeting crush on the Time Lord. Sure, she loved being around him, and lived to see the goofy smile on his face whenever they found some new trouble to get into…but it was little more than that. She knew that he’d never return her feelings, so she kept the fantasy of being with the Doctor exactly that, and never pretended that it would turn into something real.
“So I was thinking,” she began carelessly. “Why would Tam Lin project himself as you when he could just have easily taken the form of some handsome young Scot? I do love a Scotsman…something about their kilts, I suppose.”
The Doctor bit back an offended whine and fumbled with the wires leading to the monitor.
“Dunno!” he answered indifferently. “Maybe Tam Lin didn’t suspect you’d go native…”
“But I would!” Rose objected. “Some of the men in the meeting hall were…”
She blew out a breath and fanned her face for emphasis.
“Those little bags they wear around their waists…” she said, lazily pointing her finger toward her hips.
“Sporrans,” the Doctor reported distractedly. “Really? I always thought they were a bit unnecessary…like man purses, if you think about it. What kind of bloke carries a purse anyways?”
Rose giggled and leaned against the console.
“Well I’ve always fancied them,” she teased. “And it’s not like they’ve got pockets that are bigger on the inside. In fact, they’ve really got little other storage considering their um…pants-less preferences.”
“That’s hardly the point,” the Doctor sniffed.
“Then what is the point?” Rose followed quickly with an innocent smile.
The Doctor crossed the small gap separating them and stared heavily into her eyes.
“The point is you were dreaming of me,” he said in a low voice.
Rose sucked in a breath and savored his proximity, and said a silent but thankful prayer that bells weren’t ringing in the distance.
“So what if I was?” Rose egged him on, meeting his gaze challengingly.
The Doctor seemed to double back on himself and let his mouth fall open.
“So you must have been projecting a strong awareness of my presence,” he replied easily. “No doubt from spending so much time with me.”
He drew back and settled on the console beside her, but Rose had a feeling he was holding something back.
“Is that all?” she prodded. “If I’d been traveling with Mickey, I might have projected an image of him instead?”
The Doctor visibly ruffled at her question.
“Of course not!” he dissented. “You and Mickey were off a long time ago. The psychic confluence would have been ineffectual.”
“Are you saying that you and I are on?” Rose asked, emphasizing the last word.
The Doctor looked at her with interest and appraised her eyes.
“Well as far interconnective supersensual attraction goes, then…yeah. You and I are definitely on, Rose Tyler.”
"Are you tryin' to tell me you think I'm a fit bird?" she asked with her tongue between her lips.
“I would never compare you to any subspecies of water fowl,” the Doctor said defensively. “But a summer’s day? Much more likely. You shouldn’t have to ask me if you’re beautiful Rose Tyler. You’re what makes beautiful look ordinary.”
The Doctor dropped his eyes and Rose blushed brilliantly. She was at a loss for words, but the Doctor hurried on in a flustered tone like nothing had happened.
“That’s why I’m going to take very good care of you for the remainder of our stay in Brigadoon,” he followed up. “This Tam Lin character is obviously very, very interested in you…but he’s gonna have to get through me first.”
Rose threw her arms around the Doctor and held him tightly.
“Yeah,” she breathed.
**
That night, Rose was looking forward to a non-eventful evening, but the McClean’s had other ideas in mind. Muireall came to Rose before dinner, and handed her a beautiful sea-green gown embroidered with tiny white rosettes.
“For the dance, tonight!” she reported cheerfully.
“Dance?” Rose asked in alarm. “I didn’t know there was a dance!”
“But that’s why Branan and I were gone all day!” Muireall protested. “We had to get the great hall decorated for the Chief’s daughter’s coming-out celebration! You and the Doctor have to come!”
Rose’s face fell to the beautiful handcrafted fabric under her fingers, and she rubbed over it longingly.
“I suppose just for a few hours,” she allowed. “But is this really the best time for a celebration?”
Muireall chuckled as she drew an arm around Rose’s waist.
“It couldn’t be more timely,” she answered. “Village morale has been at an all-time low in light of recent events. Chief Innes is hoping that such an occasion will lighten the peoples’ hearts, and remind them of all the things we have left to look forward to. Dinner, dancing…an eventual betrothal…these are the things that make life worth living, Rose Tyler.”
Rose nodded with a shy smile playing over her lips, and hugged Muireall tightly.
“Of course you’re right,” Rose said. “Just let me get dressed.”
“Good,” Muireall replied. “If nothing else, it will be worth seeing your Doctor decked in the Highland’s finest! You’ve not seen him in a kilt before, I take it?”
Rose’s mouth nearly dropped to the floor.
“It’s a sight,” Muireall confessed. “You dinna hear it from me, but if I were a younger, unmarried lass…well…”
She trailed off to let Rose fill in the blanks, but added a wicked wink. Rose couldn’t get into her gown fast enough.
**
Downstairs, the Doctor pulled at his kilt uncomfortably.
“Haven’t had to wear one of these in ages,” he complained to Branan. “Are you sure I’ve got it on properly?”
“Aye!” Branan answered heartily. “Yer sporran’s a bit crooked though.”
The Doctor reached down to adjust the pouch just as Rose walked into the room looking like an ethereal goddess in her beautiful gown. The Doctor was so distracted that it took him a moment to realize he was still fumbling with the sporran rather indecently.
“Uh…” he gasped out inarticulately.
Rose was about to laugh when she took in his full Highland dress, from the bright red and black tartan kilt to his button-down, heather gray jacket fitted snugly over his chest. He even had the calf-high socks and a pair of black leather Brogues. Dashing was the first word that came to mind, but it was swallowed with the laugh Rose might have let out had she not looked into his eyes at that moment. They were absolutely smoldering.
“You look…” he stuttered, “You are…breathtaking.”
Muireall smiled knowingly and pulled her husband into the kitchen, not that Rose and Doctor even marked their departure.
Rose inhaled shakily and came to stand before the Doctor.
“I might say the same of you,” she responded shyly. “Never thought I’d see you all done up in traditional Scottish kit. It suits you…well, more than suits you.”
The Doctor stared down at Rose’s bare shoulders and took an unsteady breath.
“Well,” he croaked agreeably. “Don’t suppose they’re going to make me do any jigs, do you? Or reels? Or strathspeys…”
His voice faded out as Rose leaned in as if to savor his words.
“Would it be so bad?” she teased. “I can’t be any worse than you. If you keep me by your side, you’ll look great by comparison.”
“Oh I intend to keep you close,” the Doctor exhaled. “You’ll be the most sought-after woman in the town with that…frankly criminal gown on. Are you sure that’s what nice Highland girls are supposed to be wearing?”
He waggled his eyebrows at her, but Rose merely batted him away with her hand.
“Muireall made it,” she said mock defensively. “M’ just borrowin’ it.”
The Doctor allowed one lazy finger to trace down the outer edge of her arm, and just barely resisted the urge to pull her into his embrace.
“Right,” he said suddenly as if snapping out of a trance. “I guess we should get going then. A long night of treacherous dancing ahead of us?”
Rose laughed but followed his lead as he moved toward the door.
“Alright then,” she agreed. “But do watch my toes this time, Doctor! I seem to remember at the Callex Ball how you kept dancing on top of my feet!”
“Oi!” the Doctor objected. “That was the planetary style! You can’t blame me for a cultural phenomenon!”
Rose rolled her eyes as the McCleans emerged from the kitchen and directed the group outside.
“So you keep saying,” Rose muttered under her breath.
**
The Doctor had a hard time keeping up with Rose at the dance. Under the festooned ceiling, couples swirled in time to the lively violin and bagpipe quartet, and Rose was almost always among them. To the Doctor’s consternation, she had a new partner every time she turned around, and it was getting more difficult to get a word in edgewise in between reels.
He had his own troubles to attend to however, considering how Chief Innes kept insisting that the Doctor take his lovely Avril out for nearly every song.
The young girl blushed furiously each time, and shook her head in apology as the Doctor stood up with her once more.
“He’s got it in his head that I’m gonna be married tonight,” she sighed before bouncing into the jaunty number. Her long blonde hair trailed expertly behind her.
The Doctor gave her an understanding glance and tried to keep his feet in the proper position.
“You can’t blame him,” the Doctor replied. “He’s only looking out for your best interests. It can’t be easy, though. Especially since it seems I’m the one who he’s got pegged for your future husband!”
“Dinna ye think I’m a bit young though?” Avril complained. “I know our ages seem different to your kind, but even at forty I'm barely out of my schooling! No offense to you Doctor, but I'm not ready to be piled under bairns!"
The Doctor laughed out loud at the girl's comment and her ignorance of his vastly superior age. and caught Rose’s eye as she twirled by in the arms of a handsome young Scot. Avril must have spied his expression, because she swept closer to his side and frowned compassionately.
“Besides,” she said in a lower voice, “it looks like you’ve already got your heart set on someone else.”
The Doctor glanced down at the Chief’s daughter and shook his head.
“Oh no, that’s all wrong. Rose and I are just mates,” he answered in an unconvincing tone.
Avril spun around and came back to clasp hands with the Doctor.
“For now,” she insisted. “But one day you’re gonna have ta tell her how ye feel. Girls like that don’t wait around forever, Doctor. Just look at the line waitin’ for her hand!”
The Doctor followed Avril’s eyes toward a group of men gunning at the edge of the crowd, each one vying for Rose’s attention.
“Blimey,” he nearly growled. “This is absurd.”
He broke off from his dancing partner and stepped into Rose’s unoccupied arms during a difficult turn.
“Hello,” he breathed happily.
Rose blinked and laughed when the Doctor swirled them around, while her previous dancing partner stood looking flummoxed. Avril moved to sit down, looking relieved.
“A bit rude, that,” Rose commented. “You could have waited for the next song.”
“But I couldn’t!” the Doctor protested. “I’d have been waiting all night! Have you seen the queue?”
Rose peered past his shoulder and felt her mouth fall open when she saw all the men waiting for a turn to dance with her.
“I was wonderin’ where they kept coming from!” she said. “These guys really don’t have a lot to choose from, huh?”
The Doctor fixed her in his gaze as he danced them around the room.
“I don’t think a lack of variety or options is what’s prompting them,” he stated. “You are the most beautiful woman in the room, Rose.”
He squeezed her right hand before they broke apart, and was loathe to have her disappear around a separate partner for a moment. When she appeared on the other side of Branan and locked hands with the Doctor once more, he smiled contentedly. His hearts fluttered at the thought, but he hadn't realized until then how much he missed her when she was gone...even if it was only a few seconds.
“All this dancing is starting to wear me down,” she admitted. “Do you think we might step out for a breath of fresh air?”
The Doctor nodded and followed her lead as they left the main hall through a large glass paned door. Outside, he breathed in the cool air and turned dizzily to his companion.
“Have you seen anything suspicious since we’ve been here?” he promted suddenly. “I’ve been trying to keep a look out for any abnormal behavior, but I can’t---“
He was cut off when Rose insinuated herself into his arms, and pulled him into a passionate kiss. His lips were still moving slightly when she backed away, and leaned confidently against the balcony ledge.
“Abnormal behavior,” she mused. “I don’t suppose anything about Brigadoon is ordinary, Doctor.”
The Doctor felt a little bit breathless as he stared down his companion, his eyes still drifting over the pucker of her lips.
“What was that for?” he asked in a low voice.
“I just wanted to say thank you,” Rose answered. “For bringin’ us here…and for making everything possible.”
“Everything? What do you mean?” the Doctor asked incredulously before running his hand through his hair.
Rose smiled darkly as Chief Innes suddenly appeared behind them.
“She’s gone!” the Chief shrieked. “My wee Avril’s gone missing!”
The Doctor whirled around and appraised the Chief’s shaking shoulders.
“Don’t worry, we’ll find her,” the Doctor promised. “She can’t have gone far. She was just here a moment ago! Rose and I will---“
“Tsk, tsk,” Rose chuckled behind him.
The Doctor turned back around slowly, only just comprehending her eyes had turned dark and strange. A stormy countenance came over his face.
“Rose?” she whispered, coming to play with the Doctor’s jacket. “I’m afraid you’ve just missed her.”
“Tam Lin…that’s what they call you. Where have you taken Rose and Avril?” the Doctor demanded.
“You’ve been quite irritating,” the creature disguised as Rose groused. “Spoiling my plans at every turn. I had no choice but to take two this time. Her majesty gets very upset if I miss a sacrifice.”
“Sacrifice?” the Doctor and Chief Innes shouted together.
Tam Lin choked out a gasping laugh.
“At the turn of every moon,” he revealed. “The Queen devours the life force of some young girl to maintain eternal beauty and power.”
“And you help her. Why?” the Doctor shouted. “What’s in it for you?”
“Me?” Tam Lin spread his hands benevolently. “I’m a mere servant. I do the bidding of the greatest rider of Shee. Her eyes shine with violet light. Her auburn hair spills in brilliant waves about her face. Wherever she walks, golden whin and milk-white hawthorn blossoms. When she rides, the silver bells from her horse’s mane sing the sweetest song I’ve ever known. Why do I serve her? Why do I love her? Because it is impossible not to.“
“Who are you?” the Doctor asked sharply.
Tam Lin raised his hands to Rose’s face, and morphed into an obscure outline of a man. The Doctor could just make out the lines of the balcony through his shadow.
“I am what’s left of a young fool who ventured into the Lost Woods long ago,” Tam Lin said softly. “The Queen caught me and held me under her sway, so that I could never return to the world of mortal men. Sometimes I try to remember the taste of food…the warmth of the sun on my face…but these are hollow memories now. There is only her…the burning fire that sustains me.”
Chief Innes stepped toward the apparition of Tam Lin carefully.
“I will offer anything your heart desires, if only you free my little girl,” he promised. “This doesn’t have to go any further. You can help us stop this madness.”
Tam Lin laughed out loud and held his sides.
“You think either of you stand a chance against the Queen of the Faeries! You don’t know what power is, until you’ve looked into her eyes!” he squealed.
The Doctor fisted his hands at his sides before squaring off with the ghostly demon.
“You imitated me,” he said threateningly. “You’ve stolen Rose’s thoughts to form a perfect copy of me. Search them now, remember what you’ve looked over and forgotten. Remember exactly who you are dealing with.”
Tam Lin stumbled back and gasped, hardly daring to believe what he knew was absolutely true.
“You see the pulse of time and ride it’s back along the stars,” he shuddered. “One of the lost races. But you are like me, with a name so long disused it’s been forgotten. Forgotten like…Tom Leary. That’s what they used to call me.”
Chief Innes stared in amazement. “You’re the Leary’s boy!” he gasped. “You couldn’t have been more than nineteen when you disappeared. Your parents live here in the village now. When you went missing, it broke their hearts.”
“My parents,” Tam Lin said in wonder. “Yes, I used to have parents. And friends…a whole life stolen from me.”
“I can help you,” the Doctor swore passionately. “Just give me the information I need to breach the faery realm, and I will end your suffering.”
“I have seen your conquests in the mind of your companion,” Tam Lin answered. “And I will lead to you my captor. Beware her face Doctor, for you will love terribly, and lose all that you are with the merest glance of her countenance.”
The Doctor glowered. “It’s a pity she’ll get no warning of me.”
Tam Lin nodded his head as he indicated toward the moors.
“This way Doctor, destroyer of worlds!”
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