Queen Victoria and her travelling companion sat in a comfortable silence as they travelled by carriage to Sir Rober'ts Torchwood Manor. The Queen in particular was exceptionally excited to be arriving at the house that her late husband spoke so fondly of; however her companion seemed distant as if in deep thought.

The Queen's companion was an odd woman she looked young yet her hazel eyes were impossibly old and told a story of sorrow and despair. However this day the Queen noticed that she seemed by both happy and filled with dread when the Queen had invited her to accompany her on her annual trip.

The Queen's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the carriage stopping and sound of a man's voice, a traveller on the road; she knew that Captain Reynolds would be able to reason with the man swiftly so that they could continue on their way. However, her companion tensed at the man's voice and she finally spoke.

"Ma'am, if you do not mind, I wish to speak with the man whom is on the road as I suspect that he may be your protector that the Lord Provost has appointed." She explained calmly to her dear friend letting her tense muscles calm as she regained control over her body.

"What need do I have for him? I already have one protector, I do not need another." The Queen responded confused as to her companion's peculiar claim, she had not mentioned this matter before.

"Ma'am, I alone cannot protect you especially on this journey. This man is a dear friend of mine and I would trust him with my life; as you know that is a trust hard earned." The auburn haired woman explained to the elder Queen just as calmly as before and the Queen gave in to her friend's persuasive patience with a nod she granted her Ranger permission to greet this man.

Ranger opened the carriage door, gathering her dress's skirts and stepping out onto the cold Scottish soil. She swiftly made her way towards the Captain and her old friend as he was introducing himself.

"I'm Doctor James McCrimmon. From the... Township of Balamory. Eh... I have my credentials, if I may..." The Doctor explained, in a Scottish accent, gesturing toward his jacket to presumably retrieve his psychic paper to fool the Captain.

"That won't be necessary Doctor; we have been expecting you and your companion, if you would care to follow me." Her voice rang out as she travelled towards the Doctor to show him that he was among friends. The moment the Doctor saw, the woman talking he was stunned into silence, standing before him was the one woman in the universe he never expected to see again; she gestured for him and his companion to follow her behind the Captain and towards the carriage. Rose looked completely and utterly confused as to what was going on between the two and she couldn't think of how the Doctor knew this mysterious woman.

"I don't think that's wise, ma'am." Captain Reynolds warned the Ranger still suspicious of the pair of travellers however the Ranger quickly dismissed his suspicions.

"Fear not Captain, I have known this man for many years; if he were a threat to the crown then I would not be allowing them to approach the carriage." She reasoned calmly however she never took her eyes off of the Doctor and neither did he off of her.

"Follow me, if you would please," The Ranger ordered breaking her gaze with the Doctor; leading him and Rose toward the carriage where the Queen sat waiting almost anxiously to meet this man whom her companion trusted so. One of the footmen opened the carriage door for the trio as the Doctor and Rose obediently followed the Ranger to the door as she came to a halt at the carriage and the other two stopped surprised by the occupant of the carriage, "I introduce her Majesty Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; Empress of India and Defender of the Faith."

"Rose Tyler, Ma'am. And my apologies...for being so naked." Rose spoke up moving past her confusion of the brunette woman the Doctor kept glancing over to. She even managed to conjure up a laugh, albeit a nervous one but a laugh all the same.

"I've had five daughters. It's nothing to me." The Queen spoke gently accompanied by a smile; then she moved her attention to the man by Rose's side she was puzzled by the look on his face of sheer shock upon either seeing her or her companion.

"As I told you earlier, your Majesty, Doctor McCrimmon has been appointed by the Lord Provost as your Protector." Ranger addressed the Queen however subtly informed the Doctor of his current position and breaking him out of his current daze.

"Yes! Good! Good! Um… then let me ask - why is Your Majesty travelling by road when there's a train all the way to Aberdeen?" The Doctor questioned confused, he had resigned to only glancing at Ranger every now and then to check that she was still there and not a figment of his imagination.

"A tree on the line." The Queen answered simply to the peculiar Doctor.

"An accident?" He asked, although unconvinced by his own suggestion.

"I am the Queen. Everything around me tends to be planned." The Queen announced with the slightest tinge of fear lacing her words.

"An assassination attempt?" The Doctor asked glancing over to the Ranger for a brief moment to see her giving him a small nod to confirm.

"What, seriously? There's people out to kill ya?" Rose queried not believing that someone would want to kill the Queen.

"I'm quite used to staring down the barrel of a gun." The Queen answered grimly glancing over to her Ranger to see her giving the Queen a reassuring and sympathetic smile.

"Sir Robert MacLeish lives but ten miles hence. We have already sent word ahead, so we will stay at the Torchwood Estate tonight; and then we can reach Balmoral tomorrow, your Majesty." The Ranger proposed her plan to the Queen, also wishing to distract her Majesty from the prior discussion knowing that she would rather not dwell on such affairs.

"Very well and this Doctor and his...timorous beastie will come with us." She announced causing the Doctor and Rose to smile at this in amusement; however the Doctor still kept an eye on the Ranger.

"Yes, Ma'am. We'd better get moving - it's almost nightfall." The Captain agreed anxious for the Queen to be safe.

"Indeed. And there are stories of wolves in these parts. Fanciful tales intended to scare the children. But good for the blood, I think… Ranger, do you wish to continue the journey in the carriage?" The Queen asked unsure if the Ranger wanted to talk with this Doctor and his companion now or later.

"I will ma'am," She answered climbing into the carriage however before closing the door she called out, "Doctor, once we arrive at Sir Robert's I wish to speak with you privately, if you do not mind."

"No, not at all." The Doctor answered quickly not wanting to let her slip through his fingers. The Ranger smiled and closed the carriage door signalling for the driver to carry on. The Doctor and Rose proceeded to walk behind the carriage on foot.

"So, who is she?" Rose asked the Doctor genuinely curious about this 'Ranger'.

"Who?" The Doctor asked acting oblivious.

"That woman, Ranger? And what kind of a name is Ranger? She it's almost as bad as 'the Doctor'." Rose clarified joking towards the end not noticing the Doctor's reluctance to talking about the woman in question.

"She's a Time Lord, well, Time Lady; and an old friend." The Doctor explained briefly, which shocked Rose causing to slow her pace.

"I thought you said that the Time Lords died?" She questioned confused by the Doctor's answer.

"That's what I thought but it seems that she survived, of course Midnight would; I can't get rid of her, bad penny." The Doctor answered smiling to himself glad that his friend had survived the slaughter.

"Midnight? The Queen called her Ranger. Wait, is she the friend that you told me about before?" Rose spoke up again even more confused.

"Yes, and Midnight's her nickname. Anyway, we just met Queen Victoria!" The Doctor changed the subject away from the Time Lady as he needed more time to process her being back in his life.

"I know!" Rose exclaimed excitedly, making a mental note to ask more about the Doctor's relationship with this 'Midnight Ranger'.

"What a laugh!"

"She was just sitting there!"

"Like a stamp."

"I want her to say," Rose started before putting on a stereotypical British accent, "We are not amused. I bet you five quid I can make her say it."

"Well, if I gambled on that, it'd be an abuse of my privileges of traveller in time." The Doctor proclaimed as if he was above such a childish bet.

"Ten quid?"

"Done." The Doctor agreed. His mind began to wander off thinking about all the deals and bets he had made with Midnight, wondering if she'd still join in. After all, who knew what she was like now; she had regenerated at least once since they last saw each other.

When they finally arrived at the Torchwood Estate the footman opened the door for the carriage's occupants to exit. Ranger exited first then proceeded to assist Queen Victoria out of the carriage. The Doctor and Rose stood off to the side watching the exchange, until a man, who they presumed to be Sir Robert, approached the carriage.

"Your Majesty." Sir Robert greeted the Queen, bowing as he did so. However, the Ranger was more interested in his servants as they were all bald, used to extraneous exercise and most certainly did not look like servants.

"Sir Robert. My apologies for the emergency." The Queen sincerely apologised, "And how is Lady Isobel?"

"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." Sir Robert explained nervously, as though he wished for her Majesty to continue on her journey. She glanced over to the Doctor and gave him a questioning look to see if he had spotted Sir Robert's unusual behaviour but he simply frowned and looked confused.

"Oh, not at all! I've had quite enough carriage exercise. And this is... charming. If rustic. It's my first visit to this house. My late husband spoke of it often. The Torchwood Estate," The Queen announced cheerfully and filled with excitement, "Now, shall we go inside? And please excuse the naked girl."

"Sorry." Rose sheepishly apologised to Sir Robert, slightly embarrassed by the attention towards her dress sense.

"She's a feral child. I bought her for sixpence in old London Town. It was her or the Elephant Man, so..." The Doctor explained staying in character as to avoid suspicion; however, Ranger suspected he was just joking around by this point.

'Typical' she thought.

"Thinks he's funny but I'm so not amused." Rose stated. It seemed to Midnight that the Doctor had chosen a companion that was similar to his self, if that was good or bad she didn't know, "What do you think, Ma'am?"

"It hardly matters. Shall we proceed?" The Queen responded confused by Rose's comment, Ranger had to refrain from rolling her eyes at the blonde's childishness. Sir Robert then nodded and began to show the group into the house; however Ranger hung back a bit to ensure that the property was taken care of. Incidentally, the Doctor stayed behind.

"Makerson and Ramsey, you will escort the Property. Hurry up." Captain Reynolds ordered two soldiers who made their way towards the carriage to take out a small wooden box; they then carefully carried it into the house.

"What's in there, then?" The Doctor asked Ranger quietly.

"Sorry, can't tell you that. All I can say it that it's property of the Crown." Midnight answered cryptically; she always had a habit of being cryptic and vague.

The Doctor, Rose and the Ranger all followed the Queen and Sir Robert into the house and upstairs into the observatory where Sir Robert's father's greatest invention lay.

"This, I take it, is the famous Endeavour." Queen Victoria asked Sir Robert gesturing towards the large telescope set up by the window. The Doctor, Rose and Ranger all looked at the telescope admiringly at its sheer size and smiled like giddy children at Christmas.

"All my father's work. 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." Sir Robert explained.

"I wish I'd met him, I like him. That thing's beautiful - can I um...?" The Doctor asked smiling, gesturing to the telescope.

"Help yourself." Sir Robert stated, the Doctor, Ranger and Rose all moved forwards to examine the telescope; Rose went to go towards the wheel next to the telescope admiring it and trying to figure out its purpose, the Doctor admired the telescopes craftsman's ship whilst the Ranger's eyebrows furrowed as she peered into the telescope noticing the over excessive use of prisms; far too many for a telescope.

"What did he model it on?" The Doctor asked intrigued as to what possessed Sir Robert's father to create such a marvel. Ranger gave the Doctor a look signalling for him to look through the telescope himself.

"I know nothing about it. To be honest, most of us thought him a little... shall we say, eccentric," Sir Robert admitted sheepishly causing the Doctor to laugh. Sir Robert then glanced at the Queen with regret in his voice, "I wish now I'd spent more time with him. And listened to his stories."

"It's a bit rubbish." The Doctor stated bluntly frowning, oblivious to his attitude and Ranger simply rolled her eyes as Rose turned to Sir Robert grinning hoping that the Doctor would catch on to his rudeness, "How many prisms has it got? Way too many. The magnification's gone right over the top, that's stupid kind of a," Finally the Doctor caught on to what he was saying then he muttered quietly to his friend and companion, "am I being rude again?"

"Yep."

"When are you not?"

"But it's pretty! It's very... pretty." The Doctor responded quickly, trying to redeem himself and attempting to ignore Midnight's comment.

"And the imagination of it should be applauded." The Queen praised.

"Mm! Thought you might disapprove, Your Majesty. Stargazing. Isn't that a bit fanciful?" Rose wondered, causing the Queen to stare at her, "You could easily... not be amused, or something...? No?"

"This device surveys the infinite work of God." The Queen stated simply, very much confused by Rose's actions. The Doctor shook his head at Rose's antics with a small smile on his face whilst the Ranger sighed lightly, "What could be finer? 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."

"Stars and magic. I like him more and more." The Doctor announced before he wandered back to the telescope to continue his examination.

"Oh, my late husband enjoyed his company. Prince Albert himself was acquainted with many rural superstitions, coming as he did from Saxe Coburg." The Queen explained, more so to Rose than anyone.

"That's Bavaria." The Doctor explained to Rose, causing Midnight to smile as he really hadn't changed since she last saw him, well not that much personality wise at least.

"When Albert was told about your local wolf, he was transported." The Queen told Sir Robert.

"So, what's this wolf, then?" The Doctor questioned intrigued as was Midnight. She'd had dealings with beings that take over a host body and can transform into werewolves; lupine wavelength Haemovariforms, if she remembered correctly, however most of the ones she met were scared and just wanted to go home, perhaps this one was the same.

"It's just a story." Sir Robert brushed it off attempting to convince the others in the room it wasn't worth hearing, or that he was scared of the tale.

"Then tell it." The Doctor urged noticing Sir Robert's reluctance. Sir Robert glanced at the butler nervously before opening his mouth.

"It's said that-"

"Excuse me, sir. Perhaps her Majesty's party could repair to their rooms. It's almost dark." The butler announced ominously, clearly not wanting the story to be told.

"Of course. Yes, of course." Sir Robert agreed; this put the Ranger on edge, something definitely wasn't right here, hell, she'd been warned as such.

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

"It's not amusing, is it?" Rose asked pointedly, Queen Victoria ignored the comment.

"Sir Robert, your wife must've 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." The Queen finished off with a smile.

"So there is, Ma'am." Sir Robert agreed nervously. He bowed, then the Queen and her party departed; Rose being led by the butler to Lady Isobel's chambers and Midnight guided the Doctor to an empty drawing room to have a quiet chat.

Once the two of them were inside the room and the door was shut the Doctor immediately enveloped Midnight in a hug and she returned it laughing as she did so. Midnight was the first to speak, "Doctor! Get off! I've got a reputation to up hold."

"You've never cared about reputations!" The Doctor exclaimed picking her up and twirling her around before setting her on the ground again, both still laughing.

"It's good to see you again." She stated happily smiling up at her friend, her arms still resting on the Doctor's shoulders, "Do you know how long I've had to wait until a version of you that hadn't met me yet came along?"

"Sorry." He apologised looking into those bright hazel eyes that he missed so much before his smile faded, at least somethings didn't change. He then asked the question that had been on his mind, "How did you survive?"

"That's a tale for another day, but right now we need to figure out what's going on in this house. Have you noticed how all the servants are bald and very athletic?" The Ranger inquired with a thought full expression.

"And here was me thinking that you weren't interested in humans," The Doctor pondered cheekily before Midnight gave him a playful whack on the arm so that he would concentrate, "Yeah, and Sir Robert looks scared to death of them."

"It's got to have something with this 'mythical' wolf… Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Midnight asked with a playful expression on her face accompanied with a smirk.

"I'm thinking that we need to do some snooping." The Doctor announced; Midnight hummed in agreement.

"I'll get to the kitchens you get the study, meet in the dining room for supper, we'll grab Rose then all three of us will search the rest of the house after." The Ranger formulated the plan and the Doctor nodded in agreement before the pair rushed off to their respective rooms.

God did he miss her.

The Ranger checked that all of the servants had left the kitchens before she started rummaging around. She didn't need to look around for long as she was suddenly hit with the distinctive smell of mistletoe and there were remains of it everywhere. Why there was mistletoe she had no idea, however she suspected it had something to do with controlling the wolf as they're allergic to the viscotoxins in it. Although she would need more data to confirm that hypothesis.

Just as Midnight was about to pick up a piece of the mistletoe one of the bald 'servants' came into the room and she quickly dropped her hand, "My apologises, I seemed to have gotten lost when wandering about the house. I came here in search of someone to direct me to the dining room however no one was here." She explained calmly.

"Follow, me my lady." The servant ordered and the Ranger complied, the man took her to the dining room where the others were. She sat down beside her Majesty and across from the Doctor.

"Your companion begs an apology, Doctor. Her clothing has somewhat delayed her." The butler explained to the Doctor. Midnight didn't trust him whatsoever and dread wormed its way into her stomach.

"Oh, that's all right. Save her a wee bit of ham." The Doctor responded cheerfully smiling, knowing what Rose is like. When he looked over to the Ranger he became a little worried but she gave him a reassuring smile.

"The feral child could probably eat it raw." The Queen joked causing Midnight and the Doctor to smile and Captain Reynolds to laugh, quite loudly, who was sitting beside the Queen also.

"Very wise, Ma'am! Very witty!" He exclaimed joyfully.

"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." Victoria sternly told him.

"Yes, Ma'am. Sorry, Ma'am." The Captain apologised meekly, embarrassed by his lack of manners.

"Besides, we're all waiting on Sir Robert! Come, Sir! You promised us a tale of nightmares." The Doctor eagerly urged Sir Robert.

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

"You must miss him." The Doctor stated sadly, earning a sorrowful gaze from her Majesty.

"Very much." She confirmed looking sadly at the Doctor lost in her memories causing the Ranger to speak up to comfort her friend.

"But is that not a part of the charm of a ghost story, ma'am?" The Ranger asked rhetorically, with a sad yet comforting smile for the Queen, who returned it in agreement.

"Yes, indeed. It is not the scares and chills, that's just for children, but the... hope of some contact with the great beyond," The Queen explained to the rest of the group, the Doctor continued to gaze at the Queen knowing too well what she meant. However, his gaze shifted to Midnight reminding him that he wasn't alone anymore, "We all want some message from that place... it's the Creator's greatest mystery that we are allowed no such consolation. The dead stay silent. And we must wait." The Queen then shook herself out of that saddening trance as did the Doctor and the Ranger out of thinking about their own lost people, "Come! Begin your tale, Sir Robert. There's a chill in the air. The wind is howling through the eaves. Tell us of monsters!"

"The story goes back three hundred years," Sir Robert began "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." Captain Reynolds explained easily, not thinking for one second it may be real; the Queen looked slightly annoyed at his interruption.

"But sometimes a child goes missing. Once in a generation. A boy will vanish from his homestead." Sir Robert explained almost desperate for the company to believe his story, this set off alarm bells in the Ranger's head.

"Are there descriptions of the creature?" The Doctor asked Sir Robert intrigued not noticing Sir Robert's desperation nor Midnight's alarm.

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

"A werewolf?" The Doctor asked rhetorically, leaning forward incredibly interested.

"My father didn't treat it as a story. He said it was fact. He even claimed to have communed with the beast - to have learned its purpose." Sir Robert continued. The butler's attention seemed to have been diverted by something at the window and he began chanting 'lupus deus est', "I should've listened," Sir Robert stated regretfully and the Ranger started to put everything together, "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." The Queen suggested not noticing what the butler, or rather monk, was chanting at the window.

"That's what I thought. But now I wonder... what if they had a different reason for wanting the story kept quiet?" Sir Robert continued with his warning.

"What if they turned away from God and began to worship the wolf?" The Ranger questioned fully understanding after her mind quickly translated what the butler was chanting: 'The wolf is God'. The Doctor seemed to catch on to what she was saying as he stared at the monk by the window.

"And what if they were with us right now?" The Doctor also questioned as the monk continued to stay by the window chanting just as everyone else seemed to get the message.

"What is the meaning of this?" Queen Victoria demanded.

"Explain yourself, Sir Robert!" Captain Reynolds ordered Sir Robert pointing a gun at the monk and Sir Robert.

"What's happening—" The Queen began.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, they've got my wife." Sir Robert explained desperately.

"Rose! Where's Rose? Where is she?!" The Doctor shouted at the monk but he was ignored so he turned to the Ranger and Sir Robert, "Midnight, Sir Robert - come on!"

"You go after Rose, Doctor, I need to stay behind." Midnight reasoned standing closer to her Majesty and clutching at the skirts of her dress. Captain Reynolds' gun still pointed directly at the monk. The Doctor and Sir Roberts both rushed out of the room to find Rose.

"Tell me, sir. I demand to know your intention!" Captain Reynolds shouted enraged at the monk but he was ignored.

"Lupus deus est. Lupus deus est. Lu-"

"What is it that you want?" Reynolds continued to shout, at this the monk stopped chanting and he turned to the Captain completely unafraid of the gun pointed directly at him.

"The throne." He answered simply before suddenly wrenching Captain Reynolds' gun aside and knocking the Captain out. At this the Queen's eyes widen and the Ranger stood in between the Queen and the monk staring the latter down, an even tighter grip on her skirts.

"I take it that it was you and your brethren that halted the train to Aberdeen?" Midnight asked for confirmation.

"We have waited so long for one of her journeys to coincide with the moon." The monk explained, rather foolishly in the Ranger's opinion; never tell the opposition the plan before you carry it out. Monologuing had been many people's downfall especially when they were against the Ranger, and the Doctor for that matter.

"Sorry, to say but you have waited in vain. I will make sure that this wolf never gets the throne to the British Empire." Midnight declared steadying her breathing and staring at the monk defiantly.

"Oh, I don't think so, woman." He responded with a small smile. The Ranger's jaw locked. She pulled up her skirts, grabbed her gun and shot the monk dead with incredible speed.

No hesitation. No mercy.

Well, I hope that you all enjoyed that first part. I'm fairly new to uploading my works so any supportive feedback would be appreciated as well as any thoughts on the characters. With the Ranger I've got her personality sorted out, I think, but I would love to hear any ideas you have about her etc. Although, I will warn you updates will be messy as I'm about to go into exam season and I tend to lose inspiration quickly; however, I will try my best. The next update should be in a week or so.

Thanks for reading ~ Midnight.