User blog:The Weary TimeLord/Memoir of a Dimension Hopping Madman: Love in the face of pain. Chapter 11.

Chapter 11: Two Lords and a Cross Examination.

Vellantha moves towards Lyda faster than I would have thought possible. “What exactly did she say Lyda?” Vellantha looks down on the other woman with surprise. “Her Lordship said for me to fetch you and your visitor immediately, your ladyship, she is in the main hall” Lyda looks scared. I move from the balcony to stand next to Vellantha “Well you heard Lyda; she said immediately, I think it’s best we don’t keep her ‘Lordship’ waiting. She sounds rather important.” “You’re right Doctor, please follow me.”

With that Vellantha leads me out the door of the room and down several exquisite stone hallways lined with beautiful paintings, tapestries, and assortments of displays. ''Vellantha certainly has a beautiful home; I should complement her on it later. ''We ascend a stone staircase with windows that give a wonderful view of the countryside. We walk to a set of imposing double doors, which swing open as we approach ''hmm must be automatic. ''Beyond the doors lies a beautiful grand hall fit for fine dining. Huge stained glass windows line each wall allowing red light to pour in and fill the hall. Polished wood rafters with sculpted decorations which I assume are house crests adorn the ceiling. The floor is made of polished marble, long tables of dark wood are set in rows along the floor. At the front of the hall stands what appears to be two ornate thrones made of ivory and grey leather. A large chandelier of interwoven metal and glass works as the room’s centerpiece and brings everything together.

Standing at the center of the room was an elegant woman wearing a black dress which could barely pass for clothing as it covered very little. Her skin was pale but not sickly so, her hair was white and draped down past her shoulders. Two black horns curled neatly about her head. Six huge white wings curl about the woman; and her eyes are a deep red color. ''She’s the spitting image of Vellantha.  Interesting, I’ll file that away for later.'' Vellantha bows quickly while clasping the ornate sigil necklace around her throat which I had failed to notice earlier, “Please stand-up sweetie.” the woman speaks with a sweet voice “There’s no need to stand on ceremony with me.” I could tell while her voice was sweet, it could command authority at a moment’s notice. “Now then who is this?” the woman motioned to me. “This is the Doctor, he saved me from several Knights of the Order” Vellantha smiles slightly. “Doctor, may I introduce my mother the Demon Lord, Lilith.” Vellantha motions toward the woman before me. ''Ah that explains the resemblance, but I thought they were sisters they both look like they’re in their twenties. ''“Good to meet you.” I say as I extend my hand. Lilith takes it and shakes curtly. “Likewise, but tell me Doctor was it?” “Why would you save Vellantha, and what do you expect in return?” She regards me with a gaze that would level most people. “Nothing madam, I was raised to help others; when I saw those knights surrounding her I simply did what I thought was best. As for returns, I want nothing only a way home.” She laughs at this “'''You are not what I expected, I have been watching your aura and while you speak the truth, I feel there is more to the story. But first come have a seat.” '''With that she motions Vellantha and I to a table. Vellantha and I sit together while the Demon Lord moves around the table to take a seat facing us.

“Now please tell us your tale Doctor, and leave nothing out.” she says the last part with a stern intensity. “I’m the Doctor, which is the name I took in order to keep a promise.” She nods for me to keep going “I’m a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey which resides in the constellation of Kasterborous in the heart of the Medusa Cascade.” I stop talking as both ladies look confused “What is a Medusa Cascade” Vellantha inquires. “More importantly what is a Time Lord?” “May I, a visual representation might help?” I pull my Sonic Screwdriver from my pocket. The Demon Lord nods her approval. Looking around I spot a silver serving tray “This should work for projection.” Using the tray as a reflector I attune my Sonic to project a hologram (In color of course, what do you think this is?) and I project a picture of Gallifrey. “This is my home world which is located here in the constellation of Kasterborous, and this is the Medusa Cascade.” “So it’s a star system?” Vellantha replies with almost a droll wit as if she had been reading from a script. “Yes” I say happily “As for what a Time Lord is that’s really just what my species are called, we were the first ones in our universe to discover time travel and harness it for our use.” “I see, and that is how you arrived here you willed yourself to our world?” the Demon Lord shows no sign of any emotion and remains statuesque.

“No we, my kind that is grew sentient living machines called a TARDIS they are what allow us to travel in time and space; even to other universes or realities.” At this point Vellantha very nicely interrupts me “So how did you get here, did you use your uh TARDIS?” “No, sadly not I fell through a portal from the world I was in and I landed along the road where I met you. Speaking of which something that’s been bugging me. The ecology of the land where I entered the portal, it was green and yet here the composition has altered significantly why is that?” “Wait just a minute” Vellantha nearly shouts at me “That portal you fell through was from last week! It closed days ago. ” I was shocked at this it had been a whole week, not only that but I was apparently trapped as well. “Ok not a problem I’ll figure something out.” I mutter with a less than convincing enthusiasm. “As for why it was green there and not here, well that’s based on the ecosystem, we were in regions near The Order. But my home is far more suited to a warmer and gentle environment, not stricken by harsh light or overly bright colors.” Vellantha replies. “I see, interesting.” ''I might need to look into that, I find it odd that ecology could alter to resemble this place naturally. Perhaps magic played a hand in this.''

“I believe I speak for Vellantha when I say we will do all we can to help you return home if that is your wish.” “But one last question: Your eyes are wrong; they are old while you look young, how is this possible?” Vellantha glanced at me quickly but did not otherwise react as if she had expected this news. This surprised me as I found it rather odd. “I’m a Time Lord we live a long time, when our bodies die we can regenerate. You see Regeneration is a unique process; it destroys the body while completely rebuilding it in a new way, so a whole new body means new face, hair, skin color, eye color, etc. In that way we can live for ages simply by changing and renewing ourselves.” “So you’ve regenerated before?” Vellantha asks looking rather stolid. “Yes, fourteen times in total with fifteen total incarnations so far” I smile at the two ladies to reassure them.

 Author’s Note : (The Regeneration limit was a throwaway line from The Deadly Assassin a Classic Who story, as a reason for the Master to be dying and have him steal more Regenerations. And with the Doctor being able to infinitely Regenerate in New Who I find the whole idea of a Regeneration limit to be a stupid short sighted creation which should remain forever locked away. As such I’m completely ignoring it and it does not exist in this setting. The ages of any Gallifreyan characters have also been extended to reflect the longer lives that would result without a limit. )

“But to answer your question your Lordship I am around 19,876 years old.” “While that is older than most, I am young when compared to my fellow Time Lords, I am still young in my society, as I am the equivalent of being in what you may consider as my earliest maturation cycle. My eyes reveal my age because as the old saying goes, the eyes are the mirror to the soul.” The pair’s almost negligible reaction has me puzzled. ''Usually when one expounds on being an alien, possessing time travel, and being for all intents and purposes immortal barring extenuating circumstances there’s more a sense of shock and awe with a dab of confusion or fear. But with these two there’s nothing, absolutely nothing no reaction at all. Blimey quite humbling I suppose. ''