Doctor Who_ Wolfsbane - Jac Rayner [18]
„Hello,‟ he said, springing out from behind his tree and making the lad jump back in surprise. „I‟m the Doctor.‟ He held out a hand. The lad looked at it blankly, then held out his own hand, mirroring the Doctor‟s movement but making no attempt at a handshake.
„I am Godric,‟ the young man said. He was frowning, looking confused, but tried to smile politely at the Doctor and Harry. He made a slight, nervous bow.
The Doctor bowed back, lowering his hand. „Delighted to meet you, Godric. What brings you here?‟
Panic darted into Godric‟s eyes. Not the panic of a man challenged to reveal a secret, but that of a man who did not have an answer to give.
„It‟s all right,‟ said Harry, attempting to be reassuring. „Er...
strange things have been happening around here. To all sorts of people. Trees and things. So if it‟s anything like that...‟
The lad didn‟t look particularly reassured. „Trees...‟ he murmured, but then shook his head. „You may think my brain addled, but I fear I do not know why I am here. In fact, aside from my name I seem to know very little.‟
„I wonder if you know the year,‟ the Doctor said.
Now confusion set in the man‟s eyes. Harry hurried to help him out. „Do you know who the king is?‟ he said - then realised that was actually quite a complicated question at the moment, and added, Er...‟
But a light suddenly shined. „I remember!‟ the boy cried.
„Arthur is the king, of course.‟
Ah. Well, could be so, of course. Arthur was a real person, wasn‟t he? Well, in some way or other. But could they take this at face value? Weren‟t young people of this time always playing pranks? Bright Young Things, or what have you?
But then in a place where werewolves were killing young girls and trees were coming to life, face value was probably exactly the way to take this.
The Doctor nodded thoughtfully. „Just to be completely clear we‟re on the same page, this would be Arthur, king of the Britons, leader of the Knights of the Round Table and husband to Queen Guinevere?‟
Godric beamed.‟ Indeed!‟
„But you can‟t remember anything else.‟
Godric‟s face fell again. „No.‟ He turned from them. His breath had started to come in heavy gasps.
The Doctor nipped round in front of him and put his hands on Godric‟s shoulders. He began to take in deep, slow breaths, encouraging Godric to keep pace with him. „Here‟s what we‟ll do,‟ the Doctor said. „We‟ll take nice, deep breaths, and clear our minds. We won‟t try to force out memories. It doesn‟t work like that. Just imagine yourself back there, in your past. Remember feelings you felt, rather than things you saw or did.‟
Godric had his eyes closed now. His breathing calmed.
„Content,‟ he said. „I‟m feeling content. The sun‟s on my face; I can feel it on my eyelids. I‟ve walked far and I‟m glad of the rest, but feeling joyful in my heart. I don‟t know why...‟
His breathing began to increase in speed again. „Don‟t think of that,‟ said the Doctor. „Go back to the feel of the sun.
Are you lying down?‟ He pressed his hands on Godric‟s shoulders, and the young man sank to the floor.
„I‟m lying on the grass. A hill, I think.‟
The Doctor guided him back, the lad‟s head on the grassy mound covering the murder site.
„I can smell roses and honey. And I can hear the trickle of water, and I realise how thirsty I am. I have walked a long way and my water bottle is empty. I get up.‟ His head sprang from the grass, but his eyes remained closed. „I look for the water. It‟s a little spring, and the water is cold and crisp and sweet. As I drink, I feel the most perfect peace I have ever known in my life.‟ Godric sighed, a smile on his face. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes. „That is all I know,‟ he said.
Harry almost sighed too. For a fraction of a