Epilogue

A young boy frantically pushed through the morning crowd of shoppers and cutpurses of the London streets as he made his way to an extravagantly decorated carriage parked outside of one of the finer merchant houses. He fell to one knee and gasped heavily as he waited for the person within.

It wasn't long before his patience was rewarded by a contingent of nobles and armed guards exiting the building. One of the guards gazed at the boy in suspicion and soon walked up to him.

"You there, boy! State your business quickly, as the Queen does not take kindly to stragglers about her person."

"I've been sent to bring news to the Queen regarding Master Shakespeare and nasty goings-on at the Globe, sir! The Master of Revelries sent me to inform the Queen herself, considering what she did to Shakespeare the last time a woman was on the stage…"

"A woman?" roared the guard as he clenched his fist. "That pompous arse!"

"Do tell what events have caused my guards to curse so flagrantly in my presence, George." The guard's eyes bulged as he turned around to see Queen Elizabeth dressed in red and gold finery, and staring at him with her brow raised and arms crossed.

"M-m-ma'am…milady…your highness…" he stammered nervously as he gestured to the kneeling boy.

"Out with it then!"

The boy glanced up and saw that the George's tongue-tied condition wasn't going to improve anytime soon. He quickly removed a small scroll from his doublet and began reading from it. "The Master of Revelries has sent me to inform Your Highness that Master Shakespeare has not only once again been charged with employing women on his stage as well as unapproved and dangerous devices, but two strangers were witnessed on stage that Your Majesty has issued warrants for arrest for: one Doctor and Martha Jones."

"WHAT?" Elizabeth exclaimed in surprise. "Quickly then…what are we waiting for?" She climbed into her carriage hastily and leaned out the window. "George! Gather your guards and meet me at the Crown…I've got some old business to take care of!" George nodded speechlessly as the carriage took off in a cloud of dust down the street.

Elizabeth smiled evilly from her carriage as she looked out at the people passing by. "I can't imagine having a nicer day," she said to herself as she let the window curtain fall and she leaned back into the cushioned seat. "Not only do I get to berate Shakespeare for breaking the (albeit stupid and outdated) rules again, but I get to have my revenge on the 'good' Doctor. I tried to listen to his words…by God did I try…and what did it get me? What did love get me?" She clenched her hands and grimaced. "Days of verbal torture, all amenities taken from me along with my pride, and a front row seat to a fool's hanging, that's what!"

She closed her eyes and took a deep calming breath before opening them again. "Every time I tried to love, more punishment was heaped upon me for being such a fool. I tried to love Dudley…he'd been so close to my family for so long…" she quickly wiped a tear away with her handkerchief. "But then his fool wife had to die and once again, I was the center of a scandal!" She clenched her handkerchief tightly in her fist. "I've learned the hard lessons of God that purity is the only way, and that your words were that of the Devil, Doctor…and now I will do God's work by halting that tongue... permanently!"

Martha could feel the beginnings of a blush creep over her cheeks as Shakespeare gazed at her intently from their seat on the stage prop bench. Sure…he's not the Doctor…but like he said, the man's a genius, right? And besides…maybe I can make the Doctor jealous…

Shakespeare lifted his hand and gently caressed Martha's cheek with the back of it as he leaned in towards her. "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate…"

She did her best not to visibly cringe as the odors from his mouth reached her nose. Okay…scratch that… "I'm incredibly flattered, Will…I really am…but your breath? It stinketh." She leaned back and smiled apologetically.

He dropped his hand and smiled back. "I shant let odorous breath stand in the way of beautiful inspiration…in fact…" He was interrupted suddenly as two men from his acting troupe ran up to the stage.

"Will! She's coming! She's coming!"

He rolled his eyes as he looked at them, none too pleased for the interruption. "Who's coming, you daft gits? Can't you see I'm busy?"

"The Queen, Will! She heard about what happened with the play last night and now she's coming to see for herself!"

The double doors of the Globe slammed open with a bang as a contingent of armed guards marched through and stood at attention along the walls. Queen Elizabeth strode in, a look of grim determination on her face. She sneered as she raised a hand and pointed at the stage. "Doctor! Finally I can have revenge against my sworn enemy! Off with his head!" The guards along the wall gripped their spears firmly and charged the stage as others began prepping bows.

Martha gaped at the scene spreading out before her as she stood and started backing away from the guards. "Doctor?"

"What?" he exclaimed in surprise at Elizabeth's words. "What?"

"Doctor! Come on!" Martha grabbed his hand and pulled him along as they ran down the stage stairs and out the door. This was just her second trip, and she didn't want to end it as a pincushion!

She could tell by the stampeding sounds behind them that the guards were still following them as they ran down the street. She put her hands out just in time to keep herself from slamming into the TARDIS as the Doctor fumbled for his key. "Just what did you do to the Queen?" She asked in worried curiosity as she watched the guards lift their bows. "Anytime now…" she muttered.

Suddenly the door clicked and the Doctor smiled at his success as he swung the door open and ushered Martha first into the safety of the TARDIS. "I don't know," he replied as he stepped through the door, then turned back to grin at the guards. "I look forward to finding out, though…"