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Italy is the most beautiful country in Europe as well as the weakest. France is invincible when attacked on its own territory. My country doesn’t like the sea so the fleet won’t be powerful.
Reinette had said that, or she would say that in one of her letters, historically. France's Navy was far from powerful, and that was well known. They weren't an attacking nation, not since Napoleon. A navy wasn't necessary.
Which was, of course, why this small but very direct pirate ship decided to attack the wealthy-looking French vessel sailing from England back to France. The captain and sailors were more concerned for the large chunks of ice and the falling snow than the possibility of pirates in English waters. And then, there they were.
The commotion caused by the attack woke the Doctor, who had been snoozing over the captain's logs, and by the time he had his senses about him, he was huddled on deck in a fur coat that was two sizes too big with the rest of the male crewmembers. He didn't know where the females were, and therefore didn't know where Reinette was.
He remembered studying pirates in his youth. He was terrified for her safety. Even if they believed her ransomable, they might not be so delicate with her in the voyage back to France.
Snow fell in his lengthening hair, and he bundled himself tighter against the spray of the icy sea water. The pirates appeared to be searching for treasure and staying warm below, while the crew they kept alive froze on deck.
Reinette had said that, or she would say that in one of her letters, historically. France's Navy was far from powerful, and that was well known. They weren't an attacking nation, not since Napoleon. A navy wasn't necessary.
Which was, of course, why this small but very direct pirate ship decided to attack the wealthy-looking French vessel sailing from England back to France. The captain and sailors were more concerned for the large chunks of ice and the falling snow than the possibility of pirates in English waters. And then, there they were.
The commotion caused by the attack woke the Doctor, who had been snoozing over the captain's logs, and by the time he had his senses about him, he was huddled on deck in a fur coat that was two sizes too big with the rest of the male crewmembers. He didn't know where the females were, and therefore didn't know where Reinette was.
He remembered studying pirates in his youth. He was terrified for her safety. Even if they believed her ransomable, they might not be so delicate with her in the voyage back to France.
Snow fell in his lengthening hair, and he bundled himself tighter against the spray of the icy sea water. The pirates appeared to be searching for treasure and staying warm below, while the crew they kept alive froze on deck.
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The Doctor pulled a loose board free, and swung it towards the head of one of the stunned pirates. He cried out, and tumbed backwards down the stairs. The others turned to face him, stunned by his miraculous reappearance. Wasn't he downstairs? How did he get upstairs? Why was he all wet?
Enough of a chance for the Doctor to pull a sword off of the door and slide it across the deck towards Reinette. She was a far more skilled swordsman than he, and he hated weapons.
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The booming crack of board to flash unfroze her, where Reinette was still just as startled as the pirates by her hair's sudden appearance. A sword skittered towards her and she caught it, even as two of the men lunged towards her, neither with an especially pleasant look in their eyes. In response she cut a wide arc with her weapon.
"I assure you I do know how to use this."
With one hand she urged the Doctor to keep moving, and to get the other women to safety.
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"Downstairs," he ordered, "Go!"
They stayed frozen in place, looking quite angry and vicious.
"Oh, you order them, Reinette. You're much better at that than I am."
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"They did do everything I wished for before, it seems," Reinette advanced, engaging in sword play with the shortest, burliest man. He was not properly trained, but life skill was evident. "How does it feel, knowing you were ordered about by a woman?"
Inch by inch she advanced forward. Only once did her attacker's blade find her coat. Each attack was countered.
"You heard the gentleman. Downstairs."
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The rest of the French crew, who had been sitting idly before, stood behind them, suddenly realizing they might well win this. Cowards. This was the reason why the Doctor chose company with Reinette over any of them. She was brave.
"Come, come, now we don't have all day." There was a scurry of noise downstairs, and the Doctor swung out, thwacking the man before him with the board, and setting him to tumbling into another pirate. Both fell down the stairs. Hopefully slowing any advancing assistance.
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"Not that I mind, of course."
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"Thank you for your cooperation."
With that Reinette slammer the door shut, pausing to lean against it and catch her breath.
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"Bullets can go through that wood," he warned, and he pushed the board he'd been brandishing as a weapon against the door, securing it to either side with the very last reserved energy in his sonic screwdriver. The last nail slid into place just as the final reserves sputtered and died.
At least it had those reserves when he needed it.
He turned to one of the other French crewmembers, "There's an open window on the starboard side, there. Make sure none of them get the bright idea to climb up!"
He then turned to Reinette. His initial reaction was to ask if she was okay. It was, of course, overturned by his initial initial reaction, which blurted out: "You were brilliant!"
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Focusing on just that -- breathing -- Reinette willingly yielded control for the moment, allowing the Doctor to bark orders. A a part of her argued there was no time for compliments. A part of her, however, basked in his praise.
Her own smile flared bright.
"I was at that."
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Along with the crew, they stockpiled crates and rope and the anchor and anything else heavy that they could against the door. The pounding continued, but it was muffled. It appeared the pirates had begun turning on each other, as the sound of gunfire continued, but was not aimed at the door.
The Doctor stepped over to Reinette and took her wrist, checking her pulse. Her skin was icy and thin, and he didn't possess anything to help.
"Think you can manage?" That was to say 'are you all right' without the overused phrase being forced between them.
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After a moment of silence she untangled her wrist from the Doctor's hand and discovered the greatest benefit to her overcoat -- pockets. Both hands were firmly placed within. It was a great testament to her affection for him that Reinette allowed him to check on her at all.
"I am fine."
Glancing to the horizon, she judged that they were closer to England than France. After confirming as much with the remaining crew, she ordered them to set sail for England, not caring if the wished to be directed by a woman or not.
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The Doctor stepped over to the rail, glancing over at the churning, icy waters. He wondered what the pirates below were doing. Were they attempting to escape? Drill holes and let in the water? Or were they drowning their mistakes in alcohol, waiting for what would most likely be a short drop and a sudden stop awaiting them in England?
He looked down at the deceased screwdriver, and tossed it overboard, watching it sink into the black water.
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"Why did you do that," she pressed sharply. "You will need it when you return."
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Like the clockwork men bits, or his frayed purple tie. Little things in his life that were over, from before.
"Besides, maybe next time I'll make it a laser screwdriver, be a bit more handy with welding." He smiled, a little sadly, "And that screwdriver served me very well, very well. Only right it gets a heroes' funeral."
He turned to her, "The crew following your orders all right?"
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There. No, she did not agree with him. But secretly it was another thing she appreciated in the Doctor. He argued back. Reinette knew she was being sensitive. And contrary. But self awareness did not bring any ability to stop such things.
At his question she turned to study the sails, watched as they were hoisted and filled with wind once more. Her hair often cut her vision, but she managed to control it somewhat.
"We should be in England in six hours or so, if the weather holds."
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Not that Reinette's homes were not large, but they weren't the same. There was no movability. No way to take it all with him. That was what the TARDIS was, it was freedom. Freedom to hold onto memories and take them all with him.
He placed a hand on her forearm, trying to imagine that he could give her warmth that way.
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"Would you like me to see about acquiring you a home of your own?"
Though it could not travel in the ways that he wished, perhaps some sense of ownership might ease what was lacking.
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He gestured a bit to the horizon.
"Freedom of it all. Having a place that can run with you. Do you...I don't know if you understand. Like...if your fastest carriage was also your home, you could take anything with you. It would be worth it to hold onto it because you'd need it while you ran. But if all you have is your feet..."
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She watched him carefully.
"But I do understand Doctor. Not only because I have seen the worlds within your mind, and what might be possible? But because I have seen where such possibility might be born. From clock to clockwork man, and ship?" Her palms ran lightly over the railing. "To timeship. I cannot give you the freedom that you need, but I can see that you have a space to call your own."
And perhaps that was part of the problem as well. He left his home, and space, and history to travel through those that belonged to other people. To participate in other's lives, so he did not have to face part of his own. Reinette understood that as well, though she had little remedy for it.
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"I'm going to hug you now," he announced, stretching out his arms.
He would've simply done it, but with the proprieties and what-have-you on board, he wanted to make sure.
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"I can make no objection to that turn of events."
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Rather than merely hug her, he stepped around her, allowing her to keep a grip on the railing as he wrapped he hugged her from behind, his coat billowing between them. He wasn't warm, but he liked to imagine that it would warm her some, having him there, holding her.
He had the oddest desire to tell her how much he cared---how much he loved her. Years had gone by, and there was no doubt in his mind of his affections, but he had no means to express it.
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It occurred to her that he was getting a face full of more of her hair than could be deemed polite, and Reinette shifted slightly. Then, finally relaxing, she allowed herself to rest against him. Her first thought? Was how oddly close they were without skirts.
"Are the women all right?"
She did not include herself amoungst that group.
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"Oh, they'll be fine. Too much excitement for them, not enough sitting around and gossiping. Nearly lost one of them to the water." He shrugged, "Might've been easier on the rest of the crew if we had."
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