1
Gwen stood defiantly holding her head high as her parents screamed for an audience with the king.
Ianto had been moving through the palace then heard a commotion and was now standing there in total shock as she pointed at him and declared him the instigator in her horrible experience.
Once again the arrival had been without fanfare or warning only this time she was entering without her co-conspirators on the inside.
Canting his head in the way a Fool might, he chose a slowly building smile.
The Lord Cooper stormed over and sneered into Ianto's face as he demanded he go fetch his master.
Ianto considered another smile, this one more predatory as he flicked his hand and several guards immediately took a knee to show respect.
"Unfortunately I must inform you that my King is busy right now" he purred softy, "If you would like to freshen up I will check his diary for the day and see if I can squeeze you in before …..Tea?"
Lord Cooper's mouth fell open as he laughed, throwing his head back as he spun to face his wife, "Did you hear that? The Fool will fit us in my Dear!"
The Lady Cooper saw what her husband did not as Ianto shifted to one foot in preparation to leave. The soft tunic slid and the pin of the King's Hand glinted on the collar.
"Come here Gerard" she hissed as Ianto now looked in her direction.
She did not see a Fool, or a King's Hand.
She had been raised under her own father's work table.
An only child and as such allowed to know the world of men and as she watched the lithe body move and the dark clothing beneath the tunic winked at her, she knew what was regarding her own Fool.
"Gerard!"
He walked over with his arms wide, "What?"
"Do not antagonize that man" she hissed.
"Why. He is the Fool!"
"No" she whispered as she watched him turn and wrath into the tapestries in order to reach his beloved quicker that mere mortals, "He is something else."
They were led to quarters and she sat on the edge of the bed while servants scuttled about, considering what she knew of this man.
"You!" she barked and the servant girl froze, taking a knee obediently.
"Tell me of the King's Hand" she demanded.
"Ianto. He has been the companion of the king since they were children. They are inseparable, betrothed and very much in love, milady" she said softly as her violet eyes held the lady's slippers fast in their gaze, "His Majesty was said to have offered to abdicate if the bonding of the two were not agreed to by the Elder Council. They are the real deal."
"Thank you, that is what I thought" she sighed, waving her off.
The girl bowed and moved to help the Lady Gwen unpack.
"Well?" Gerard sat and looked at her.
"We have to adjust our plans" she huffed, "We were wrong to believe Uncle with regard to the King's need for a Queen. The young man you were insulting appears to have filled that role."
"So what now!" he demanded, "By the Great Mountain, how much more gold must we sink into this folly?"
"Don't be so droll!" she sniffed, "It is not as if we are done. We have the other plan and it seems to have been the one we should have gone with in the first place."
"Ah." He sighed as he hated the thought of what must come.
He had argued for the first choice and knew she would blame him for years to come for its failure.
It was her bloody uncle though, not his for goodness sake.
He just hated the thought of the work involved with Plan B.
He looked over at Gwen who was still pouting as she bemoaned the state of her gowns from the travelling, telling himself that she was worth the blood he would have to wash from his hands.
Decision done, he rose and walked to the nearest wall, starting to run his hands over each inch of it, searching for a hidden door or peep holes.
He had worked hard to reach this place in society, his beloved wife as cut throat as he and there was no way he was going to let this little set back hinder them.
Gwen was to be Queen.
Come hell or high water.
Over however many dead bodies as necessary!