From her perch on the ornate lounge seat, the princess of Endana's dark eyes watched the distraught figure that was pacing in front of her. She had little idea of what could be said for consolation, but knew she had to try.

"Are you alright?"

The moment the question left her lips, the look of disbelief sent her way told her that it had been the wrong thing to say.

"I just told you I came straight from the memorial service," came the sharp reply, "How could I be alright? Do I look alright?"

"No. Forgive me. It was a foolish thing to ask."

A resigned sigh, then a softening. "It's okay. You were only trying to be polite."

"I'm not being polite, I'm sad. Incredibly sad, to hear this news. But also concerned, for you, and for your friends. How is the Doctor faring?"

Teeth bit hard into a lower lip. "Badly. I knew that he didn't take loss well, but I don't know if this time is worse because it was his fault, or if it's been a long time since he lost someone like this. Either way, he's hard to be around right now."

The princess reached out to take the hand much paler than her own, and used it to pull her guest down to sit next to her. "After what the four of you did for my people, you are welcome to stay here as long as you might need. And you know I would be glad of your company."

"...I'd definitely hoped so. Thank you."

A wheezing sound filled their ears as, out in the corridor, the blue box that was just visible through the doorway began to disappear.

"I think it may be time for you to tell me the whole story," the princess said quietly, once the noise had faded, "From the beginning this time."

"Yeah. Well, it probably won't surprise you to learn that it started with a lot of running."

Very brief AN at beginning of next/first proper chapter.