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For once in her life, Donna Noble was finally living up to her name, carried through the countryside in an extravagantly ornamented sedan chair, open to the fresh air surrounding her. Even if she was only 20 inches off the ground, since her worshipers were living garden gnomes, she could still appreciate the view, and she could certainly appreciate being treated like royalty.
She glanced behind her at the disgruntled Time Lord trailing behind, adorning the gnomes' version of a jester's outfit – featuring wristbands of pink and white flowers, and of course the halo encircling his dome fashioned with the same lovely plants. A skirt of pink sewn together flowers surrounded his waist, the strands billowing as he took each step. He was shooting daggers at the ginger queen.
She scoffed, "Oh come on, Spaceman!" He briefly regarded her with a flash of his eyes, returning them to the ground below for fear of being walloped in the shins again by a gnome. Apparently it was against their custom to allow anyone who denies the queen's regal status to look upon her.
Donna rolled her eyes. "How were we supposed to know having ginger hair is heralded as royalty by these cute little guys? It's not my fault you disagreed with them. Just admit it Time Lord: for once, I'm better than you." The Doctor huffed and turned his head. Donna sighed to herself in resignation.
She leaned down and whispered into the ear of the gnome in charge. He seemed steadfast in denying whatever it was she requested, until she reached up and stroked her flaming locks, at which point the little creature succumbed, apologizing and bowing as he granted his approval.
Donna looked at the Doctor with a smirk, tapping the cushion beside her. The gnomes set down the chair and he climbed up. "Thank you your highness, thank you, thank you, oh thank you." He gushed sarcastically, getting down on his knees and holding up his clenched-together hands for added enthusiasm.
"Now, now, Doctor. Behave or I'll call upon my authority and make them add sparkles." She gestured to his fashionable headpiece. His face took on a grumpy expression, and he plopped himself down beside her.
"Onward, darlings!" she commanded, and they were off, which thoroughly impressed Donna. "Did you see that? That actually worked!" she raved in a hushed voice to her less-than-interested companion, slapping him excitedly on the shoulder. "This is the life." She reclined leisurely in the chair, crossing one leg over the other and placing her hands behind her head.
Once they reached the town square, flowers showered over Donna (well, more like landed on her from nose-level, as that was as tall as the buildings the gnomes stood on were), there was cheering and singing, confetti flittering about, gifts of fruit, offerings of seeds, bowing wherever she looked. "Oi, I could seriously get used to this!" she confessed, as little hands petted her hair.
Donna gracefully accepted each souvenir, waving daintily, and blowing kisses to the crowd. She giggled cheerfully and put on her most charming smile for her admirers. The gnomes ate it up, relishing in every bit of the show she put on for them. They thought she was the most beautiful creature that had ever stepped foot on their soil.
The Doctor couldn't blame them entirely. He gazed on her, standing on a platform and waving a bejeweled scepter about (nearly dropping it only once), dubbing each and every gnome either a dame or a duke. Her simulated elegance and poise dripped from her in every motion. She lowered herself to allow a garland of large periwinkle flowers to be hung around her neck, her celebrated hair falling in wavy red tresses across her shoulders. Another gnome approached and placed a tropical-looking flower behind her ear.
She thanked them, looking over at the Doctor with an amused smile who was similarly adorned with a floral lei. His was pink, to match his skirt, naturally.
They eventually bid their farewells, heading back to the Tardis, the Doctor steering a wheelbarrow loaded with gifts through the woods. The blue box was a mere few feet away, so the Doctor set down the wheelbarrow to retrieve his key. Donna pulled the flower from her ear and inhaled its sweet aroma, sighing in delight, waiting at the door for the Doctor to unlock the Tardis.
The Doctor held the door open to her, bowing, "Come your Majesty, 'tis time for tea."
She held her hand to him in a ladylike manner, and moved only when he took her fingers. He held them as she stepped inside, her nose turned up, a proud and slightly teasing smile pulling at her lips. He followed after her, pushing the wheelbarrow inside, thinking, 'tea, and a hundred foot long pole to pull her head down from the clouds.' He shook his head with a grin as he turned back and closed the door.