The Doctor, Rose and Willow arrive in Scotland 1879 where they meet Queen Victoria and discover a terrible plot against her.

***

The Doctor switched and pulled a few levers, controlling the TARDIS as Willow and Rose emerged from below. They were all heading to the 1970s and so Willow and Rose wanted to look the part, except the Doctor. "What do you think of this? Will it do?" Rose asked him, causing him to gaze down at them.

Rose wore denim mini-dungarees with a pink t-shirt underneath and Willow wore a cropped t-shirt and a white blazer with skinny black denim jeans. "In the late 1970s? You'd be better off in a bin bag." The Doctor said. "Hold on, listen to this."

He slipped a DVD into the TARDIS player, operating quickly. It started playing 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick'. Willow started nodding her head to it, knowing the song. "Ian Dury and the Blockheads-" The Doctor started.

"Number One in 1979," Willow stated, finishing his sentence off. 

"How do you know that?" He asked, surprised.

"I'm a bit of a punk." She apprised as she wandered up to the console. "From the looks of it, so are you."

He smiled, pressing a button as he sang along. "It's good to be a lunatic."

"A big old punk with a bit of rockabilly thrown in," Rose added, stepping closer to them. 

"That's what you are," Willow confirmed.

He glanced at them again. "Would you like to see him?"

Her eyes widened as did her smile. "You mean for real?"

"What else is a TARDIS for?" He spun over to another lever. "I can take you to the Battle of Trafalgar, the first anti-gravity Olympics, Caesar crossing the Rubicon or Ian Dury at the Top Rank, Sheffield, England, Earth, 21st November 1979. What do you think?"

Willow's eyes shot over to Rose who was just as ecstatic. "Sheffield?"

She happily agreed. "Sheffield it is."

"Hold on tight." The Doctor told them before pulling the lever, allowing the TARDIS to shake dramatically. The girls toppled a bit, startled by the sudden movement beneath their feet. When the chorus came around, the Doctor grabbed a hammer and began to beat the TARDIS console with it, in time to the song. 

Rose shouted as he continued to whack the console. "Stop!" Abruptly, they were all thrown to the ground by a sudden stop, jolting them.

They all started laughing in joy at their antics before the Doctor jumped up and yanked the girls to stand. "1979. Hell of a year. China invades Vietnam. The Muppet Movie. Love that film. Margaret Thatcher. Urgh. Skylab falls to Earth, with a little help from me. Nearly took off my thumb." He explained, putting his brown jacket on and exiting the TARDIS, Willow and Rose trailed behind.

Once Willow was outside, she noticed how green it looked. It certainly wasn't 1970s Sheffield but the Doctor and Rose didn't seem to take notice. "And I like my thumb. I need my thumb. I'm very attached to-"

Unexpectedly, the sound of rifles cocking shocked them. They looked up, regarding how they were now surrounded by Redcoats who aimed their guns at them. Seemingly the officer in charge was perched on a black horse. They definitely weren't in 1979 or Sheffield to be exact. "My thumb." The Doctor uttered as the trio put up their hands, surrendering. "1879. Same difference."

Willow rolled her eyes while the officer spoke with a strong Scottish accent. "You will explain your presence." His eyes wandered over to the two girls in a judging manner. "And the nakedness of these girls."

She raised her eyebrows at him. "Excuse me?"

"Are we in Scotland?" The Doctor asked, suddenly talking in a Scottish accent.

"How can you be ignorant of that?" The officer interrogated.

"Oh, I'm, I'm dazed and confused." He reasoned, turning to the girls. "I've been chasing these... these wee naked children over hill and dale. Isn't that right, ya... timorous beasties?" 

Willow held her breath, reluctantly nodding. Rose, however, replied. "Och, aye! I've been oot and aboot." She attempted a Scottish accent but failed immensely.

The Doctor gave Willow a look of shame, then he stared back at Rose for a moment. "No, don't do that." 

"Hoots mon!" She protested, sounding even more ridiculous than before.

"No, really don't. Really." He calmly ordered.

The officer was obviously tired with their chatter, finally requesting more details on them. "Will you identify yourself, sir?"

"I'm Doctor James McCrimmon, from the township of Balamory. I have my credentials, if I may." He referred to the psychic paper in his pocket, requesting to take it out. The officer nodded in acceptance, allowing the Doctor to remove it from his inside pocket. He opened it up for the Redcoats to see. "As you can see, a Doctorate from the University of Edinburgh. I trained under Doctor Bell himself."

"Let them approach." A female voice with an upper-class English accent decreed from a nearby carriage.

The officer regarded the voice, responding. "I don't think that's wise, ma'am." 

"Let them approach." The voice repeated.

He huffed, a little annoyed but carried out her orders. "You will approach the carriage, and show all due deference."

The Doctor nodded as they wandered over to the carriage. A footman stepped down and opened the door to reveal the figure of Queen Victoria. Willow gasped in astonishment as the Doctor simply smirked. "Rose, Willow, might I introduce her Majesty, Queen Victoria. Empress of India and Defender of the Faith."

Rose hesitantly curtsied. "Rose Tyler, Ma'am. And my apologies for being so naked."

"Willow Hughes, Ma'am. I also apologise for my nakedness." She couldn't help but chuckle a little upon admitting being "naked".

"I've had five daughters. It's nothing to me." She replied, greeting both of them. "But you, Doctor. Show me these credentials."

He handed her his psychic paper. Victoria read it in curiosity. "Why didn't you say so immediately? It states clearly here that you have been appointed by the Lord Provost as my Protector."

Once again, Willow gasped in wonderment. "Does it?" The Doctor squinted, bewildered at how he let his mind run wild. "Yes, it does. Good. Good. Then let me ask - why is Your Majesty travelling by road when there's a train all the way to Aberdeen?"

She straightened up, becoming solemn. "A tree on the line."

"An accident?" He suggested.

"I am the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Everything around me tends to be planned." She stated.

"An assassination attempt?"

"What, seriously?" Rose questioned, surprised. "There's people out to kill you?"

The Queen glanced over to her. "I'm quite used to staring down the barrel of a gun."

"Sir Robert MacLeish lives but ten miles hence. We've sent word ahead. He'll shelter us for tonight, then we can reach Balmoral tomorrow." The officer informed.

"This Doctor and his timorous beasties will come with us." She joked in a commanding way.

"Yes, Ma'am." The officer hesitantly complied. "We'd better get moving - it's almost nightfall."

"Indeed. And there are stories of wolves in these parts." Victoria soon described her love for horror stories. "Fanciful tales intended to scare the children. But good for the blood, I think. Drive on!" 

The trio was directed to walk behind the carriage, still surrounded by Redcoats. Rose was still baffled over their situation. "It's funny though because you say assassination and you just think of Kennedy and stuff. Not her."

"1879? She's had, oh, six attempts on her life?" He apprised. "And I'll tell you something else. We just met Queen Victoria!"

"I know!" Rose joyfully squeaked.

"What a laugh!"

"She was just sitting there," Willow exclaimed. "Like a stamp."

"I want her to say we are not amused. I bet you five quid I can make her say it." Rose wagered against the Doctor. 

Willow giggled again, impressed by Rose's stupidity. "Oh my god, Rose!"

"Well, if I gambled on that, it'd be an abuse of my privileges of travelling in time." The Doctor explained.

"Ten quid?" 

"Done."

"Doctor!" Willow puffed, astonished that he would agree to the bet.

"What?"

***

Eventually, they arrived at Sir Robert's home called Torchwood Estate, entering the courtyard. It was very grand with a large astronomical observatory built into the roof. Although it all seemed beautiful, Willow had a strange shiver sent down her spine. Something was very wrong here. Very, very wrong. "Doctor?" 

"Hmm..." He hummed, slightly ignorant.

"Something doesn't feel right." She told him.

"Nonsense!" The Doctor answered. "You're just a little shaken up from meeting Queen Victoria."

"Doctor-" However, before she could finish, a young man joined them from inside. Behind him stood several bald men, which appeared very odd to Willow.

Victoria stepped out of the carriage, helped by her footman as the man approached her with a smile. "Your Majesty." He bowed in her presence.

"Sir Robert. My apologies for the emergency." She addressed. "And how is Lady Isobel?"

Robert seemed to hesitate, fearful. "She's indisposed, I'm afraid. She's gone to Edinburgh for the season. And she's taken the cook with her. The kitchens are barely stocked. I wouldn't blame Your Majesty if you wanted to ride on."

"Oh, not at all. I've had quite enough carriage exercise." She declared, observing the house. "And this is charming, if rustic. It's my first visit to this house. My late husband spoke of it often. The Torchwood Estate. Now, shall we go inside? And please excuse the naked girls."

"Sorry." Rose expressed.

"They're feral children. I bought them for sixpence in old London Town. It's was her or the Elephant Man, so-"

Willow whacked him from behind. "Shut it!" She harshly whispered.

Rose rolled her eyes, glancing back at Victoria. "Thinks he's funny but I'm so not amused. What do you think, Ma'am?"

The Queen was taken aback but did not hesitate to reply. "It hardly matters. Shall we proceed?"

"So close," Rose whispered to them, laughing. She was so hopeful that it was kind of depressing.

Queen Victoria marched inside, followed by a Redcoat who took a small locked box from the carriage and carried it into the house. The Doctor gazingly smirked at it. " So what's in there, then?"

"Property of the Crown. You will dismiss any further thoughts, sir." The officer clearly didn't trust them. Then, he ordered the rest of the soldiers to stand guard as the group entered the archaic household. "The rest of you go to the rear of the house. Assume your designated positions."

***

The group, including Queen Victoria and Sir Robert, entered the observatory with the intent to study its beauty. "This, I take it, is the famous Endeavour," Victoria commented on the massive bronze telescope perched upon an open window.

"All my father's work," Robert revealed. "Built by hand in his final years. Became something of an obsession. He spent his money on this rather than caring for the house or himself."

"I wish I'd met him. I like him." The Doctor admitted. "That thing's beautiful. Can I?"

He nodded, allowing him to examine it. "Help yourself."

The Doctor waltzed over, stroking it as he does with the TARDIS. "What did he model it on?"

"I know nothing about it. To be honest, most of us thought him a little, shall we say, eccentric. I wish now I'd spent more time with him and listened to his stories." Robert shyly responded, seemingly regretful about something.

"It's a bit rubbish. How many prisms has it got? Way too many." Willow bit her nails in embarrassment, understanding how judgemental he was being. "The magnification's gone right over the top. That's stupid kind of-" The Doctor subsequently took note of Willow's discomfort, comprehending what he was doing wrong. He whispered to her quickly. "Am I being rude again?"

"Yep."

"But it's pretty. It's very pretty." She sighed, chuckling at his foolery.

Stupid genius.

"And the imagination of it should be applauded," Victoria appended, fascinated with the machinery.

"Mmm. Thought you might disapprove, Your Majesty." Rose continued the bet, wanting to hear her say the famous words. From Willow's expressions, she disapproved of her actions. "Stargazing. Isn't that a bit fanciful? You could easily not be amused, or something? No?"

"This device surveys the infinite work of God. What could be finer?" Rose bit her lip in anguish. "Sir Robert's father was an example to us all. A polymath, steeped in astronomy and sciences, yet equally well versed in folklore and fairytales."

The Doctor gazed up at the sky. "Stars and magic. I like him more and more."

Willow contemplated for a moment. "Reminds me of someone." She beamed up at the Doctor who, in turn, returned a grin.

The Doctor resumed his investigation of the invention. "Oh, my late husband enjoyed his company." She eyed the girls, moving towards them. "Prince Albert himself was acquainted with many rural superstitions, coming as he did from Saxe Coburg."

"That's Bavaria." The Doctor murmured in Willow's ear.

Victoria's head rotated back to Sir Robert. "When Albert was told about your local wolf, he was transported."

"So, what's this wolf, then?" The Doctor questioned intrigued.

"It's just a story," Robert stated.

"Then tell it."

For a few seconds, Robert showed signs of uncertainty, looking back at the strange servants. "It's said that-"

"Excuse me, sir." One of the servants intercepted. "Perhaps her Majesty's party could repair to their rooms. It's almost dark."

With disinclination, he shone another shining smile. "Of course. Yes, of course."

"And then supper." The Queen asserted. "And could we find some clothes for Miss Tyler and Miss Hughes? I'm tired of nakedness."

"It's not amusing, is it?" Rose spat from behind, attempting the bet again.

Instead of replying, Victoria insistently glared at her before speaking again. "Sir Robert, your wife must have left some clothes. See to it. We shall dine at seven, and talk some more of this wolf. After all, there is a full moon tonight."

"So there is, Ma'am."

***

Rose and Willow were exploring the contents of Lady Isobel's wardrobe, trying to find a suitable dress to wear for dinner with the Queen. "I wish the Doctor actually got the location right."

"Why?" Rose asked, holding a dark blue dress with frills in hand. "We're going to be having dinner with Queen Victoria!"

"I know, but it would have been nice if we weren't the laughing stock of the Redcoats and the Queen." She stated.

She sighed. "True."

Willow eyed the dress curiously, guffawing a little. "You're not going to wear that are you?"

Rose squinted at her and then back at the dress. "What's wrong with it?"

"There are frills."

She put one hand on her waist. "Excuse me but, back then, this was in style." 

"We are "back then", stupid!" She joked.

Rose put the dress down, annoyed. "Why don't you look for a better one then?"

"Fine!" Willow stood up, strolling over to another cupboard and pulling it open. "I'm going to show you what style- ah!" She shrieked in terror.

Rose peeped inside, perceiving what scared her. Crouched inside the wardrobe was a young maid who gasped for air, also startled by the appearance of the girls. "Oh my god." She muttered.

The maid's face contorted into one of panic as she started to sob. "Hey, hey. It's ok, you're safe." Willow helped the maid out of the wardrobe and sat her on the bed.

"What happened, sweetheart?" Rose inquired, wiping her tears away.

"T-the bald men. The monks." She stuttered, referring to the peculiar servants. "They came through the house. In the excitement, they took the Steward and the Master, and my Lady."

She knew it. Something was wrong here and now Willow knew what. 

The girls continued to comfort her as Willow informed her of how they could stop this. "Listen. We've got a friend. He's called the Doctor. He'll know what to do. You've got to come with us."

"Oh, but I can't, Miss." The maid fearfully cried.

"What's your name?" She requested.

"Flora."

"Flora, we'll be safe. There's more people arrived downstairs, soldiers and everything, and they can help us. I promise. Come on." Willow stretched out a hand, beckoning Flora to take it. "Okay? Come on."

They made their way out of the room and into the corridor, hoping to find a way to the Doctor and warn them. After sneaking around a corner, their eyes landed on an unconscious soldier. Rose squatted on the ground, checking his pulse. "Oh, Miss. I did warn you."

She shook her head. "He's not dead. I don't think, he must be drugged or something." 

"Perhaps that's what they're going to do to the others-" Abruptly, Willow was jerked backwards and being dragged away by one of the monks. Suddenly, another appeared behind Rose and grabbed her as well, taking them away.

***

"Your companions beg an apology, Doctor. Their clothing has somewhat delayed them." The servant lied.

"Oh, that's all right. Save them a wee bit of ham." He said with no realisation of what had happened to them.

"The feral children could probably eat it raw." Queen Victoria quipped.

The Captain laughed forcefully. "Very wise, Ma'am. Very witty."

Nonetheless, the Queen was "not amused" by his forced compliment upon her. "Slightly witty, perhaps. I know you rarely get the chance to dine with me, Captain, but don't get too excited. I shall contain my wit in case I do you further injury."

"Yes, Ma'am. Sorry, Ma'am."

The Doctor couldn't help but smirk, knowing Rose would probably be continuing the bet if she were here. "Besides, we're all waiting on Sir Robert. Come, sir. You promised us a tale of nightmares."

"Indeed." The Queen agreed with his statement. "Since my husband's death, I find myself with more of a taste for supernatural fiction."

"You must miss him."

For once, Victoria frowned in depression. "Very much. Oh, completely. And that's the charm of a ghost story, isn't it? Not the scares and chills, that's just for children, but the hope of some contact with the great beyond. We all want some message from that place. It's the Creator's greatest mystery that we're allowed no such consolation. The dead stay silent, and we must wait." She turned back to Robert. "Come. Begin your tale, Sir Robert. There's a chill in the air. The wind is howling through the eaves. Tell us of monsters."

***

Willow, Rose, Flora, Lady Isobel and the other household staff were chained up in the cellar of the estate. A cage lied a few feet away from them where a young man in a dark cloak was silently sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed. "Don't make a sound. They said if we scream or shout, then he will slaughter us." Isobel informed the girls.

"But he's in a cage. He's a prisoner. He's the same as us." Rose pointed out.

Lady Isobel's expressions were filled with horror. "He's nothing like us. That creature is not mortal."

Willow and Rose were unsure what she meant until the young man opened his eyes, revealing that they were completely black with no sign of white. Only the staff showed signs of dread and panic when staring at him.

***

"The story goes back three hundred years." Sir Robert told. "Every full moon, the howling rings through the valley. The next morning, livestock is found ripped apart and devoured."

"Tales like this just disguise the work of thieves. Steal a sheep and blame a wolf, simple as that." The Captain stated, disrupting his tale.

Robert proceeded. "But sometimes a child goes missing. Once in a generation, a boy will vanish from his homestead."

***

Without fear, Willow crept onto her feet, hoping to confer with the young man. "Stay here." She told Rose.

"Don't, child," Isobel warned.

Nevertheless, Willow moved across the floor, as far as the chain could take her. "Who are you?"

"Don't enrage him." The steward suggested.

"I know what I'm doing." She explained, kneeling on the floor to speak with the black-eyed man. "Where are you from? You're not from Earth. What planet are you from?"

"Oh, intelligence." He muttered in a thick Scottish accent.

"Where were you born?" Willow interrogated.

The caged man thought for a few moments on his answer. "This body? Ten miles away. A weakling, a heartsick boy, stolen away at night by the brethren for my cultivation. I carved out his soul and sat in his heart."

"Like a parasite?" She asked.

He grinned sinisterly. "Yes."

***

"Are there descriptions of the creature?" The Doctor wondered.

"Oh, yes, Doctor." He established. "Drawings and woodcarvings. And it's not merely a wolf. It's more than that. This is a man who becomes an animal."

"A werewolf?"

***

"All right, so the body's human. But what about you, the thing inside?" She questioned.

"So far from home." He answered.

"If you want to get back home, we can help-"

"Why would I leave this place?" He asked. "A world of industry, of workforce and warfare. I could turn it into such purpose."

She curiously raised her eyebrows. "How would you do that?"

"I would migrate to the Holy Monarch." The man affirmed.

Willow heard the staff heave breath from behind. "You mean Queen Victoria?"

"With one bite, I would pass into her blood, and then it begins. The Empire of the Wolf. Many questions." For a few seconds, he gazed into her eyes before lunging out at her, causing everyone in the room to jump out of their skins. "Look. Inside your eyes. You've seen it too."

"Seen what?" She faltered.

"The Wolf." He brutally grunted. "There is something of the Wolf about you." 

Bad Wolf

Bad Wolf

Bad Wolf

"I don't know what you mean," Willow responded with hesitation.

"You burnt like the sun, but all I require is the moon." The man spat. Swiftly, his eyes widened at her. "There's something else about you."

Willow gazed back at Rose, sharing the same curious expression. "What?"

"Remember..." He whispered.

Remember...

Remember...

Remember...

***

"My father didn't treat it as a story. He said it was a fact." Sir Robert narrated as the full moon hung high in the sky. "He even claimed to have communed with the beast, to have learned its purpose. I should have listened. His work was hindered. He made enemies. There's a monastery in the Glen of Saint Catherine. The Brethren opposed my father's investigations."

"Perhaps they thought his work ungodly." Queen Victoria theorised.

Robert began looking quite unsettled as if he had a reluctance to continue. "That's what I thought. But now I wonder. What if they had a different reason for wanting the story kept quiet? What if they turned from God and worshipped the wolf?"

The Doctor's eyes fluttered over to the servant who he now realised was chanting 'Lupus Deus est'. In an instant, he caught onto what Sir Robert was implying. "And what if they were with us right now?"

***

The cellar doors were abruptly thrown open by the monks, allowing the light of the moon to shine on the crate. The man turned towards the streams of light, relishing in it. "Moonlight" Willow backed away as the man removed his cloak. 

An unnatural wind started to blow through the cellar, signalling danger. "All of you! Stop looking at it!" She demanded, although, no one listened. Their eyes were fixated upon the man. "Rose, Flora, don't look. Listen to me. Grab hold of the chain and pull! Come on! With me! Pull!"

The young man began to contort, transforming into a different kind of creature. Willow held onto the chain, trying to pull it off and encourage the others to do the same. "I said pull! Stop your whining and listen to me! All of you! And that means you, your Ladyship. Now come on, pull!" They all tugged on their chains, endeavouring to rip it off the wall. 

***

"What is the meaning of this?" Victoria bellowed.

"Explain yourself, Sir Robert!" The Captain yelled.

Robert panicked, letting his fears run loose. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, they've got my wife."

"Willow!" The Doctor shouted, bounding from his seat and confronting the monk. "Where's Willow and Rose? Where are they!" 

The Captain took out a revolver and aimed it at the chanting monk while the Doctor and Sir Robert sprinted out of the dining room, trying to find their loved ones.

***

The man became more wolflike, growing sharp nails and his face continued to mutate. The rest of the group kept pulling at the chain. "One, two, three, pull! One, two, three, pull!"

By the time they tried to pull it off for the third time, the man had already fully formed into a werewolf and was now examining his paws. The group strived once more. "One, two, three, pull!"

Eventually, the end of the chain broke free from the wall as the Doctor and Sir Robert burst through the cellar door. "Where the hell have you been?" Rose yelled, angry that he didn't come here sooner. 

However, Willow didn't have time to reply as she was busy helping out other people and the Doctor was too focused on admiring the werewolf. "Oh, that's beautiful."

"Come on, go. Get out!" Sir Robert commanded.

Willow straightened up and supported Rose off the ground. "Doctor!"

The werewolf started to claw its way out of the cage, breaking through. "Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out!"

"Come on!" Rose directed the staff out of the room, along with Willow.

He pushed everyone out before taking one more look at the creature, admiring it with interest. Though his admiration was cut short by the werewolf hurling a piece of the cage at him, Luckily, he ducked out of the way before it could hit him. He quickly ran out of the cellar and slammed the door behind him, using the sonic screwdriver to lock it. Its howl echoed throughout the house.

Once they were a safe enough distance away from the wolf, the Steward started to gather weapons for him and his men while the Doctor was busy releasing the shackles on Willow and Rose's arms. "It could be any form of light modulated species triggered by specific wavelengths." He explained. "Did it say what it wanted?"

"The Queen, the Crown, the throne - you name it." Rose said as he undid her shackles.

A sudden crash reverberated, signalling that the wolf had escaped the cellar. The Doctor, eager to find out what exactly this werewolf was, crept over to the hallway and glared down it. During his investigation, he found the wolf at the end of the passage, snarling at him. The growls were enough to make him flee back to Rose and Willow, tugging them away from the action. "Fire! Fire!" The Steward commanded, ordering the men to shoot the beast.

Their shots were painfully loud, giving Willow and Rose an annoying ring in their ears. After the wolf retreated into the hallway, the sound of bullets ricocheting ceased. "All right, you men. We should retreat upstairs. Come with me." The Doctor calmly requested.

"I'll not retreat." The Steward stated. "The battle's done. No creature on God's Earth could survive such an assault."

"I'm telling you, come upstairs!" The Doctor roared.

"And I'm telling you, sir, I will sleep well tonight with that thing's hide upon my wall."The Steward argued, in which after he checked the hallway for the wolf. "It must have crawled away to die-"

Unexpectedly, the Steward was hoisted onto the ceiling by the werewolf who managed to sneak upon them. The trio watched in terror as he was ripped apart and slaughtered. "There's nothing we can do!" The Doctor yanked them away from the scene, rushing towards where Queen Victoria was. Sounds of snarling and wet meat ripping haunted them as they ran.

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty!" Sir Robert shouted.

"Sir Robert? What's happening?" Victoria cried, jogging down the stairs. "I heard such terrible noises."

"Your Majesty, we've got to get out. But what of Father Angelo? Is he still here?" He questioned.

"Captain Reynolds disposed of him." Victoria dubiously responded.

The Doctor, Rose and Willow caught up with them, eventually. "The front door's no good, it's been boarded shut. Pardon me, Your Majesty. You'll have to leg it out of a window."

She nodded, following him into a drawing-room for their planned escape. The Queen was ready to leave until Sir Robert moved in front of her. "Excuse my manners, Ma'am, but I shall go first, the better to assist Her Majesty's egress."

"A noble sentiment, my Sir Walter Raleigh." She tantalised.

Nevertheless, there was no time to crack jokes as a werewolf was still on their tails. "Yeah, any chance you could hurry up?" The Doctor asked in an annoyed tone, regaining his South London accent. Robert agreed, opening the window without caution but before they could go anywhere, the sound of gunfire rang through as the bullets rebounded off the window. They quickly ducked away from sight. 

The Doctor snuck over to observe who he shot at them. Below were some of the monks who were now dressed in red karate uniforms with a sash made of plants as decoration. "I reckon the monkey boys want us to stay inside."

"Do they know who I am?" Queen Victoria snarled, repulsed by the monks' actions.

"Yeah, that's why they want you," Rose stated, causing Victoria to glare at her with disbelief. "The wolf's lined you up for a... a biting."

The Queen shunned her. "Stop this talk. There can't be an actual wolf-" However, upon hearing another howl from the wolf, she suddenly realised what she said was true.

The group ran out into the corridor again, unsure where to go next to escape the werewolf. "What do we do?" Willow urged the Doctor, slightly afraid.

He paused. "We... run."

Her eyes widened, upset with his choice. "Is that it?"

"You got any silver bullets?" The Doctor asked with a hint of sarcasm.

She rolled her eyes again, pausing for a moment and sticking her hands into her blazer pockets then, after a while, pulled them out. "Not on me, no."

"There we are then, we run." He informally decided. "Your Majesty, as a Doctor, I recommend a vigorous jog. Good for the health. Come on!"

The Doctor sprinted up the staircase, along with the others. Although, the wolf was high on their trail and lunged up the stairs to get to them. The group could hear it smashing through the wood of the stairs as it climbed up. "Come on! Come on!"

Nevertheless, it was almost too late as the werewolf was right behind them until the Captain unexpectedly appeared in front of them and shot the beast, causing it to retreat in fear. "I'll take this position and hold it. You keep moving, for God's sake!" He told them as he reloaded his gun. "Your Majesty, I went to look for the property and it was taken. The chest was empty."

Queen Victoria was nearly out of breath but still managed to word a sentence. "I have it. It's safe."

"Then remove yourself, Ma'am. Doctor, you stand as Her Majesty's Protector. And you, Sir Robert, you're a traitor to the crown." He held his gun high, ready to fight once more.

"Bullets can't stop it!" The Doctor hissed.

"They'll buy you time. Now run!" The group hesitantly accepted the Captain's untimely fate as they continued down the corridor, coming across a library where the Doctor led the group inside.

The Captain emptied his revolver just as the werewolf pounced upon him, tearing him apart. Rose couldn't help but watch outside as he was mauled to death. Inside, Willow gathered her energy back until recognising that Rose was still outside. "Rose!" She yelled as Willow reached for her waist and tugged her inside, hearing the Captain's screams.

As they were dragged inside, the door shut behind them. "Barricade the door." Sir Robert demanded, grabbing whatever items could be used to seal the entrance so the wolf would not get inside. After placing a few chairs and a table in front of the doorway, the group could hear very few noises outside. "Wait a minute. Shush, shush, wait a minute."

Sir Robert stopped barricading the door as the others listened outside, hearing a faint lonely howl. The tension grew intensely, Willow could feel chills travelling down here as they hearkened for noise. "It's stopped." The Doctor murmured. He stood on the barricade and put one ear to the door, hearing the wolf sniffing outside before leaving. "It's gone."

"Wait, listen!" Willow snapped, recognising moving footsteps. It was surrounding them, wandering over to somewhere else. 

"Is this the only door?" The Doctor wondered.

"Yes." Robert declared, gazing around the room until his eyes landed on another entrance. "No!"

The Doctor and Sir Robert reached for anything that could block the doorway to stop the beast, trapping themselves inside. The scratching and sniffing continued for a while but it didn't seem like it wanted to come in at all. "I don't understand. What's stopping it?" Rose inquired curiously.

"Something inside this room. What is it? Why can't it get in?" The Doctor pondered.

"I'll tell you what, though." She started.

"What?"

"Werewolf." Rose stated in amazement.

"I know." He embraced both her and Willow. "You all right?"

"I'm okay, yeah." Willow replied.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. It's all my fault." He sat himself down. "I should have sent you away. I tried to suggest something was wrong. I thought you might notice. Did you think there was nothing strange about my household staff?"

"Well, they were bald, athletic. Your wife's away, I just thought you were happy." The Doctor reasoned.

Rose chuckled. " I'll tell you what though, Ma'am, I bet you're not amused now."

Willow elbowed her in annoyance. "Rose!"

"Do you think this is funny?" Victoria snapped, singling her out.

She frowned, regretful. "No, Ma'am. I'm sorry."

"What, exactly, I pray tell me, someone, please. What exactly is that creature?" She demanded, wanting answers.

He shrugged. "You'd call it a werewolf, but technically it's a more of a lupine wavelength haemovariform."

"You're not helping!" Willow asserted.

The Queen's fury only grew more as time passed. "And should I trust you, sir? You who change your voice so easily? What happened to your accent?"

Swiftly, he finally realised that he wasn't Scottish anymore. "Oh right, sorry, that's-"

"I'll not have it. No, sir. Not you, not that thing, none of it. This is not my world."

***

It was quiet. Too quiet. Suspiciously silent. Everyone was on edge, including Willow who had learnt not to be afraid of anything after travelling with the Doctor. In fact, he was busy looking for a way out. Eventually, he noticed something on the doors that he had not seen before. On the wall, there was a carving of mistletoe. "Mistletoe. Sir Robert, did you father put that there?" The Doctor questioned uncertainly.

Sir Robert glanced at him, doubtful and uninterested. "I don't know. I suppose."

"On the other door, too." He spotted. "No, a carving wouldn't be enough. I wonder." His tongue licked the wood, making Rose and Willow grimace in disgust. "Viscum album, the oil of the mistletoe. It's been worked into the wood like a varnish. How clever was your dad? I love him. Powerful stuff, mistletoe. Bursting with lectins and viscotoxins."

"And the wolf's allergic to it?" Willow asked.

"Well, it thinks it is." The Doctor answered. "The monkey monk monks need a way of controlling the wolf, maybe they trained it to react against certain things."

"Nevertheless, that creature won't give up, Doctor, and we still don't possess an actual weapon." Robert spoke.

The Doctor presented him a look of disapproval. "Oh, your father got all the brains, didn't he?"

"Being rude again." Willow pointed out.

"Good. I meant that one." He bounced over to the nearest bookshelf. "You want weapons? We're in a library. Books! Best weapons in the world. This room's the greatest arsenal we could have." He took out a few books, throwing them towards Sir Robert, Rose and Willow. "Arm yourself."

***

Everyone, except Queen Victoria, rambled different words as they read through the books, trying to find some information on the wolf. "Biology, zoology. There might be something on wolves in here"

"Hold on, what about this? A book on mistletoe."

"A book on magic."

"Some form of explosive."

"Hmm, that's the sort of thing."

"Wolf's bane, what about that?"

"Look what your old dad found." The Doctor stated, laying a book down that showed a drawing of an asteroid falling into the Highlands. "Something fell to Earth."

Willow's eyes fluttered over it in marvel. "A spaceship?"

"A shooting star." Sir Robert read from underneath the drawing. "In the year of our Lord 1540, under the reign of King James the Fifth, an almighty fire did burn in the pit. That's the Glen of Saint Catherine just by the monastery."

"But that's over three hundred years ago. What's it been waiting for?" She conferred.

"Maybe just a single cell survived. Adapting slowly down the generations, it survived through the humans, host after host after host." The Doctor theorised.

To Sir Robert, the answer was still unclear. "But why does it want the throne?"

"That's what it wants. It said so. The... the Empire of the Wolf." Rose explained what it had told her, Willow and the others when it was in its human form.

The Doctor visualised what a world would be like under the rule of werewolves. "Imagine it. The Victorian Age accelerated. Starships and missiles fueled by coal and driven by steam, leaving history devastated in its wake."

Queen Victoria heard quite enough, interrupting their thoughts. "Sir Robert. If I am to die here-"

"Don't say that, Your Majesty." Robert detested.

"I would destroy myself rather than let that creature infect me. But that's no matter." Her arm dove into her small bag. "I ask only that you find someplace of safekeeping for something far older and more precious than myself."

"Hardly the time to worry about your valuables." The Doctor commented.

"Thank you for your opinion," She harshly snapped. "But there is nothing more valuable than this." Victoria took out a clear white diamond, drawing in the group's attention.

Interested, Rose wandered forwards. "Is that the Koh-I-Noor?"

"Oh, yes." The Doctor apprised. "The greatest diamond in the world."

"Given to me as the spoils of war. Perhaps its legend is now coming true. It is said that whoever owns it must surely die." She asserted, describing the legend.

"Well, that's true of anything if you own it long enough. Can I?" He requested to hold the diamond for the trio to examine it. "That is so beautiful."

Willow smiled at the form of the diamond and how beautiful it was. "How much is that worth?"

"They say the wages of the entire planet for a whole week."

"Good job my mum's not here. She'd be fighting the wolf off with her bare hands for that thing." Rose commented.

She giggled. "Yeah, and she'd win."

"Where is the wolf? I don't trust this silence." Sir Robert queried, doubtful about their situation.

However, the Doctor ignored the question, still cherishing the diamond. "Why do you travel with it?"

"My annual pilgrimage. I'm taking it to Helier and Carew, the Royal Jewellers at Hazelhead. The stone needs recutting." Victoria revealed.

Rose raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Oh, but it's perfect."

"My late husband never thought so." She replied.

"Now, there's a fact. Prince Albert kept on having the Koh-I-Noor cut-down. It used to be forty per cent bigger than this. But he was never happy. Kept on cutting and cutting."

"He always said the shine was not quite right." She continued. "But he died with it still unfinished."

"Unfinished. Oh, yes." His eyes widened, piecing together the puzzle at last. The Doctor threw the diamond back to Victoria. "There's a lot of unfinished business in this house. His father's research, and your husband, Ma'am, he came here and he sought the perfect diamond. Hold on, hold on. All these separate things, they're not separate at all, they're connected." He rambled, holding his head in his hands. "Oh, my head, my head. What if this house, it's a trap for you. Is that right, Ma'am?"

"Obviously."

"At least, that's what the wolf intended. But, what if there's a trap inside the trap?" He speculated.

She did not seem to understand at all, ordering a description. "What if his father and your husband weren't just telling each other stories. They dared to imagine all this was true, and they planned against it, laying the real trap not for you but for the wolf." Abruptly, plaster dust fell from the ceiling, startling him.

The group gazed up into the starry night through the skylight. What stared back at them, shocked them. It was the wolf and it was cracking the glass that kept the group safe from harm. "That wolf there."

"Speak of the devil-" Before Willow could finish, the glass cracked more on top of them, telling the group that they were no longer safe and the glass was about to break. "Out! Out! Out!"

They legged it towards the barricade, moving the items out of the way and opening the door to get out and into the hallway. The Doctor made sure that they all got out safely and that no one was left inside. The sound of glass shattering told the Doctor that he needed to shut the doors as quickly as possible and run. 

"Get to the observatory!" The Doctor ordered, creating a plan in his head.

The werewolf lunged towards them, almost reaching Rose. She spun around and screamed as it leaned over her. Her scream could have been the last thing Willow would hear of her cousin and best friend. Luckily, Lady Isobel and the maids who had managed to hide out in the kitchens threw a pan of liquid is thrown over it. It howled in pain before retreating.

Willow sprinted over to Rose and held her, happy that she was ok. "Thank you." She told the maids.

"Good shot." The Doctor said.

"It was mistletoe," Flora stated.

"Isobel!" Robert embraced her, planting a small kiss on her lips. Eventually, they parted. "Now, get back downstairs."

"Keep yourself safe."

"Now go."

"Girls, come with me. Down the back stairs, back to the kitchens. Quickly!" She commanded the maids as they ran back downstairs.

The werewolf wasn't too far away, meaning that they still weren't safe. "Come on!"

"The observatory's this way." Sir Robert led them down the corridor, towards the observatory.

They carried on climbing the staircase as the wolf recovered down below. Ultimately, they ended up outside the observatory with plenty of time to make sure their plan was going to work. "No mistletoe in these doors because your father wanted the wolf to get inside." He opened the doors, letting Rose, Willow and Queen Victoria inside. "I just need time. Is there any way of barricading this?"

"Just do your work and I'll defend it." Robert assured them.

Although, the Doctor was oblivious of him. "If we could bind them shut with rope or something."

"I said I'd find you time, Sir. Now get inside." Sir Robert sternly stated, grabbing the Doctor's attention.

He hesitated, knowing that there was nothing he could do to save them all. "Good man."

The Doctor slammed the doors, leaving Sir Robert outside to defend himself. "Your Majesty, the diamond."

She tightly clenched it in her hand to protect it. "For what purpose?"

His hand remained stretched out, demanding the diamond. "The purpose it was designed for." In fear, she instantly handed it over. "Rose. Willow!" He jogged over to the control wheels of the telescope, requesting the girls' help while Queen Victoria stood a few feet away from the door. "Lift it. Come on." 

The control wheels started to move, raising the telescope into the sky. "Is this the right time for stargazing?"

"Yes, it is."

"You said this thing doesn't work." Willow responded, remembering when the Doctor harshly judged it earlier. 

"It doesn't work as a telescope because that's not what it is." The Doctor explained. "It's a light chamber. It magnifies the light rays like a weapon. We've just got to power it up."

"It won't work. There's no electricity-" She froze mid-sentence, staring up at the full moon. "Moonlight. But the wolf needs moonlight. It's made by moonlight."

"You're seventy per cent water but you can still drown." He pushed it, now and then checking whether or not it was aligned yet. There was no time for the wolf had already killed Robert and now it was ready to become Queen. "Come on! Come on!"

Suddenly, the moonlight shone through the telescope lens and bounced through the prism, magnifying as it went. Before long, the werewolf broke inside and tried to swipe at Queen Victoria. The Doctor managed to slide the diamond across the floor to where the light hit the floor. Then, the light show arrived as the light refracted through the diamond and hit the wolf who then was lifted into the air. The group calmed as they watched a beam of light engulf the wolf, turning him back into a human and undoing his curse. "Make it brighter. Let me go." However, though the man longed to be free, he did not want to live with the pain he had caused.

The Doctor hesitantly nodded, obeying his wish by wandering over to the telescope and adjusting the magnification of the beam. The man closed his eyes as he was turned into a wolf again, howling before vanishing into nothing. Willow finally caught her breath, glad that it was over. "Your Majesty? Did it bite you?" He asked, noticing that Victoria was examining her wrist. 

"No, it's... it's a cut, that's all." She replied, staring away.

"If that thing bit you...?"

"It was a splinter of wood when the door came apart." Queen Victoria answered. "It's nothing."

"Let me see." He reached for her arm but she escaped from his grasp. 

"It is nothing."

***

By morning, the household all stood present in the drawing-room as Queen Victoria gave her thanks to the trio by knighting them. "By the power invested in me by the Church and the State, I dub thee Sir Doctor of Tardis." 

She lowered her sword and turned to Rose. "By the power invested in me by the Church and the State, I dub thee Dame Rose of the Powell Estate." 

After knighting Rose, she placed her sword on the shoulder of Willow. By the power invested in me by the Church and the State, I dub thee Dame Willow of the Powell Estate. You may stand."

With glee, all three of them stood up and grinned in excitement. "Many thanks, Ma'am."

"Thanks. They're never going to believe this back home." Rose beamed.

"I don't think they ever will," Willow added. "But hey, we'll say we were nighted by the Queen anyway."

"Your Majesty, you said last night about receiving no message from the great beyond. I think your husband cut that diamond to save your life. He's protecting you even now, Ma'am, from beyond the grave."

"Indeed." She agreed, a little relieved. "Then you may think of this also. That I am not amused."

Rose gasped, laughing to herself as did the others. "Yes!"

"Not remotely amused." Victoria silenced them. "And henceforth I banish you."

Willow's eyes widened like the many times before but this time, she was more shocked. "Excuse me?"

Perhaps they did not hear correctly but the Queen seemed extremely stern about it. "I'm sorry?"

"I have rewarded you, Sir Doctor, and now you are exiled from this empire, never to return. I don't know what you are, the two of you, or where you're from, but I know that you consort with stars and magic and think it fun. But your world is steeped in terror and blasphemy and death, and I will not allow it. You will leave these shores and you will reflect, I hope, on how you came to stray so far from all that is good, and how much longer you may survive this terrible life. Now leave my world, and never return."

***

The Doctor, Willow and Rose rode in silence towards the TARDIS after being banished by Queen Victoria. Everyone was still in a sense of disbelief about the situation. As the driver, Dougal, stopped the cart, the trio jumped off. "Cheers, Dougal!" The Doctor thanked.

He rode away from them as the Doctor explained Queen Victoria's future. "No, but the funny thing is, Queen Victoria did actually suffer a mutation of the blood. It's a historical record. She was haemophiliac. They used to call it the Royal Disease. But it's always been a mystery because she didn't inherit it. Her mum didn't have it, her dad didn't have it. It came from nowhere."

"What, and you're saying that's a wolf bite?" Rose asked.

"Well, maybe haemophilia is just a Victorian euphemism." He conceived.

Willow chuckled, doubtful that it could be true. "For werewolf?"

He shrugged. "Could be."

"Queen Victoria's a werewolf?"

The Doctor shrugged again. "Could be. And her children had the Royal Disease. Maybe she gave them a quick nip."

"So, the Royal Family are werewolves?" Rose challenged.

"Well, maybe not yet. I mean, a single wolf cell could take a hundred years to mature. Might be ready by, oh, early 21st century?"

"Nah, that's just ridiculous!" Willow declared, comprehending that he was probably joking.

 "Mind you, Princess Anne." Rose joked. 

"I'll say no more." He took out the key as they approached the TARDIS, ready to unlock the door.

"And if you think about it, they're very private. They plan everything in advance. They could schedule themselves around the moon. We'd never know. And they like hunting!" The Doctor unlocked the door, allowing the group to step inside but Rose continued to chat. "They love blood sports. Oh my God, they're werewolves!"

As the TARDIS de-materialised, they were unaware that they now had targets on their backs. Queen Victoria didn't want to see them again and so she devised something new. Something that would tear the famous TARDIS trio apart.

***

I really like this episode but it's not one of my favourites though. School Reunion is one of my favourites and that will be coming soon but first, we have another interlude to look forward to.

So... I passed all of my mocks, meaning that I have the potential to pass my Maths and English!!

I hope you enjoyed reading because this was an ache to write.

- Alice ❤