Chapter 4

In the Kingdom of Torchwood a secret meeting was taking place. Bishop Rhys looked at Owen with worry in his eyes. "Hurry! You should be on your way now, Owen. You must find the royal pocket watch with the ruby inside before your brothers. I should like to see you take the throne. The first benevolent king," Rhys turned to face Owen and gently brushed his hand against the Prince's cheek. "I don't doubt that Torchwood would be a better place under your rule."

Owen felt a surge of pride fill him at Rhys words, no one had ever had such faith and hope in him like this man before him. "Really?" he whispered softly as he leaned into the other man's touch.

"Well, that's fascinating, don't you think, John?" Adam's voice drifted over to them and the duo turned to see Adam and John coming out of the shadows.

A smirk spread across John's lips as he answered his brother's question, "Yes, indeed it is." His smirk only grew as Owen moved slightly in front of Rhys; everyone in the castle knew of their little romance.

"Prince Adam! Prince John! Well, since you're all here, won't you join me in a toast?" Rhys asked coming out from behind Owen.

"What a very good idea." John purred out, he was never one to turn down a drink, while Adam shrugged his shoulders; he truly didn't care on way or another but he wouldn't say no to a free drink either.

Rhys smiled as he summoned a servant to bring them four drinks, once they were in hand he made a toast to all three men, but he made sure to keep his eyes on Owen. "To the new King of Torchwood." All four of them clinked their glasses together and with the three brother's eyes locked in a staring contest they drank their wine.

A look of shock over came Adam's face the instant before he fell over dead, but Owen didn't notice. All he could see was a look of panic enter Rhys' eyes before the other man fell over dead. John's mocking laughter filled the air and with a snarl of rage, Owen lunged for his older brother.

"You! You did this! I'll kill you! You killed Rhys!" Owen howled as he tried to wrap his arms around John's neck.

Unfortunately John had always been the stronger of the brothers and he easily over-powered Owen and pinned him to the wall. "No, Owen. I think you'll find that you killed your beloved Rhys by drinking from the wrong cup." John sneered at his brother with delight.

In shock Owen released John and backed away from his brother; he had always known that John was heartless, but this was too much.

Sighing, John ran a hand through his hair. "Look, when you are finished wrestling with your conscience, may I suggest that you return to your chamber? Leave the quest for the stone to me and you can waste your life away mourning the loss of your lover." With a pat to his brother's shoulder, John left Owen alone to weep over the body of the only person he ever truly cared for.

After dressing in her finest clothing, Gwen looked around the run-down mansion with disgust in her eyes. "How have we lived this way all these years?" she questioned as she wrinkled her nose. "In my absence, I expect you to make it fit for the Queens we are." She issued her order before once again allowing her gaze to be drawn to the mirror and her youthful appearance.

Suzie and Mary rolled their eyes and sighed; they just hoped that Gwen would keep her mind on the task ahead and not waste the magic of their precious star. Of the three sisters, Gwen was the worst possible choice to send out on a quest; she was too easily distracted.

When she finally finished admiring her appearance Gwen turned to face her sisters. "When I return with our prize, all of us shall be young again. Never fear, my sisters, I will not fail." Gwen vowed and with her cloak fluttering around her she made her exit.

With gritted teeth Jack glared at the stubborn man. "Don't you ever sleep?" He demanded; he was cold, hungry and tired, and still stuck in a stupid crater all because Ianto refused to move.

"Not at night." Ianto cheerfully told the man from his seat. "It may have escaped your notice, genius, but that's when stars have better things to do. They're coming out, shining, that sort of thing." Ianto pointed out tensely as he swept his hand at the star-filled skies overhead.

Jack had had enough; it was time to lay down the law. "Yeah, well, it may have escaped yours, but you're not in the sky anymore. Coming out is off the agenda. Shining has been suspended until further notice. Oh, and sleeping during the day is O-U-T, unless you have some magical ability to sleep while you're walking." Jack finished off with a sneer.

Scowling, Ianto climbed to his feet, wincing at the pain shooting throughout his leg, and he found it hurt so much less if he just stayed on the ground where he was, so he did. "Have you not got it into your thick head yet? I'm not walking anywhere!" He was a star, damn it, he was not a bloody gift for anyone.

"Fine!" Jack snarled as he tossed up his hands. "Sit in the crater. I've had enough of you anyways. I was going to put you back in the sky, once I'd brought you back to my Rose, but clearly, you'd rather sit on your own in the middle of nowhere forever."

That piqued Ianto's interest. "And just how were you planning to get me back into the sky?" There was only one way for him to get back in the sky and that was with a Babylon candle, and he doubted this boy had one.

A sly smile spread across Jack's face. "I find the fastest way to travel is by candlelight," he finished off his statement by pulling out the candle his mother had left for him.

Ianto couldn't believe his eyes. "You've got a Babylon candle." Sure it was almost used up but still, it might have just enough power to get him home.

"Yeah, I got a bubbling candle." Jack stated proudly.

Ianto just shook his head as he slowly said, "A Babylon candle." Really, he was wondering how the hell Jack had gotten his hands on something so rare when he didn't even know the name of it.

Jack pouted at the other man. "That's what I said."

Ianto gave him a purely deadpan look. "You said 'bubbling'."

Jack felt his cheeks heat up as he realized his mistake. "Anyway, I was going to give what's left of it to you." Jack told him as if was no big deal and began to put the candle away.

"That barely has one use left." Ianto stated the obvious.

"So be grateful that I'm not using it right now to get us both back to the wall. Unless you have a better way of getting yourself home?" Jack knew that Ianto had no other choice but to accept his offer.

"Fine!" Ianto knew that he had little choice but to accept. "Help me up," he ordered, holding out his hand to Jack.

"All right. All right. I'm coming." Jack muttered under his breath as he moved over to Ianto, and grasping the star's hand, he pulled the man to his feet. He might have used a little too much force and he accidentally hauled Ianto straight against his own body. Blue met blue and for one brief moment nothing existed but them.

Sadly that moment didn't last long as Jack opened his mouth, "We need to get going; Rose is waiting for us." Forcing himself to move away from Ianto, he turned on his heel and began stalking away.

Ianto made a face at Jack's back. It hadn't even been a whole night yet and he was already sick and tired of the name 'Rose'. 'I'll walk but at my own pace.' He refused to be rushed and began walking at a very slow pace.

Jack turned back to check on Ianto and felt his eyebrow twitch; 'Of course I have to be stuck with the most stubborn star out there.' Coming to a full stop he turned completely around and glared at Ianto. "You are going to have to walk quicker than that. Otherwise, I'll never get you back to Rose in a week."

Ianto levelled another glared at him. "I have already agreed to be your gift, so don't go pushing your luck. You see how fast you walk when you're the gift." With that said, Ianto stalked past Jack.

'This is going to be along week,' Jack thought with a sigh, but for his Rose, it was worth it.

On a small farm near the halfway point between crater and wall, a young man's life would never be the same again.

With her hands on her hips, Rhiannon Davis stared sternly at her eldest child, David, and their pet goat, Janet. "Now don't you take less than a florin for her, David! Do you understand me?" She questioned her son for the tenth time.

David nodded his head and dutifully replied, "Yes, mother."

"No dilly-dallying! And don't even think of stopping at the tavern, young man, or you'll be sorry." Rhiannon added the threat they both knew would be true if he disobeyed her.

Making the vow David tightened his gripe on Janet's leash and led her down the path away from the farm, not knowing the danger he was about to meet.

The power of the star was not to be wasted, Gwen knew that, so that meant she could not pull her carriage by magic, not until she had the star in her grasp. A cunning smile spread across her face as she spotted the young boy and his goat. "A florin for your goat, boy," she called out to him.

David came to a stop and stared at the woman before him and then at her carriage and at Janet. "She's a bit small to pull your carriage."

Gwen stared at the goat before turning her gaze onto David. "You're quite right." Before David could blink he was hit with a spell and Gwen smiled at the two animals standing where, only seconds before, had stood a boy and a single goat. "That's much better."

Back at the Davis farm, Rhiannon stood out on the porch, worry clearly written on her face as she called out, "David!" hoping that her son would respond, but it was a call that would go unanswered.

Gwen travelled in style of a few hours until her stomach began to rumble. Her eyes caught sight of a distant campfire, and after pulling over to the side of the road, she decided to head over to the camp on foot. A snap of her fingers, and simple spell kept the two goats hidden from sight.

Esther was enjoying the crackling fire as she warmed her hands while waiting for her food to cook. A twig snapping in the shadows had her gaze shooting up. "Who goes there?" she demanded as a dark figure moved towards her. "What do you want from me, a poor innocent flower...?"

Gwen entered the clearing and rolled her eyes at the dramatic woman. "Oh, do shut up. I know what you are and I swear by the ordinances of the sisterhood to which we both belong that I mean you no harm this day. I only wish to share your meal." Gwen explained with both her hands in the air.

"Well, one can never be too careful. Sit down." Esther knew she was safe from harm due to Gwen's vow. Once Gwen was seated and had a drink in her hand, Esther, ever the polite hostess, asked, "Anything else?"

Gwen smiled at the woman. "Nope." She then took a sip of her drink.

Esther pointed to the animal cooking on the fire. "What's it to be, heads or tails?" She asked.

"Heads." Gwen answered while licking her lips.

No more words were spoken as Esther and Gwen enjoyed their meal. When only bones remained and Gwen was on her second cup, Esther let an innocent smile spread across her face. "So, stranger, where are you heading off to on this fine day?"

Gwen shrugged her shoulders and answered easily, "I seek a fallen star. He fell not too far from here. And when I find him, I shall take my great knife and cut out his heart while he still lives. And the glory of our youth shall be restored."

Delight filled Esther eyes. "A fallen star? That's the best news I've heard in ages. I could do with losing a few years myself." She just needed to know where the star was. "So whereabouts did you…" She never got to finish as a look of rage over took Gwen's face.

"Limbus grass!" Gwen roared as she tossed the cup to the ground. "You dare to steal truth from my lips by feeding me limbus grass?" By now Gwen was on her feet, her magic crackling through the night air. "Do you have any idea what a big mistake you made, Esther?"

A gasp of fear escaped Esther's lips; she had never given her name. "How do you know my… Who are you?"

"Take another look." Gwen ordered.

Upon looking with her magic Esther eyes widened in shock and fear and she fell to her knees, bowing to the woman before her. "I shall not seek the star, Your Dark Majesty. I swear." Esther knew the power of the Dark Sisters and not even a star was worth facing one of them.

A devious smirk came over Gwen's face. "Seek all you wish. You shall not see the star, touch it, smell it or hear it. You will not perceive him even if he stands before you." Gwen's voice wove the spell. "Pray you never met me again, Esther." That was Gwen's parting remark before she took her leave of the trembling Esther and thoughtful-looking blue bird.

Ianto and Jack had being walking for hours; the sun was out in full and they had yet to be getting anywhere, and a certain star had had enough. "So let me get this straight, you think you know we're going the right way because and I quote, 'I just do.'" The tone of absolute disbelief in Ianto's voice made it very clear that he knew they were lost.

But Jack would not let Ianto get him do. "I do, though, I don't know why. Maybe it's my love for Rose guiding me home." A goofy love-struck smile spread across Jack's face.

"Oh, please, spare me." Ianto muttered under his breath as he rolled his eyes.

"Ifan, whether you like it or not…" Jack was cut off by an angry star.

"Ianto! My name is Ianto." He snapped at the man; really was it so hard to remember the name of the star you held as a prisoner.

Jack felt bad forgetting the other man's name but for some reason he found Ianto really hot when he was angry.

"Would you please slow down?" Ianto finally had to ask. Jack had being walking in an almost run from the start and it was begin to get to him.

Jack's blue eyes softened as he took in Ianto's tired face. "Yes, of course." He slowed his pace down. "Look, we're going north, the wall is north and if you look up in the sky, even during the day, you can see the… "Jack trailed off as the star he was looking for was nowhere in sight. "The evening star. That's so weird." He couldn't understand where the star went.

Ianto let out a stream of steady laughter; oh this was too much. "That's funny. Hilarious, really. My sides are splitting." Jack had them following a star that no longer sat in the sky.

Jack pouted. "No, I'm being…" Suddenly it hit Jack and he was sure his jaw was on the ground. "Wait that… That was you! Really?" He couldn't believe his luck. He had gotten Rose the evening star; this was sure to win her heart.

Once again Ianto rolled his eyes before deciding that he was too tired to move another inch and he sat down beneath a nice shady tree.

"What are you doing?" Jack demanded the moment he saw Ianto sitting in the grass, head resting against the tree.

Ianto cracked one eye open and peered at Jack with intense irritation. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm sitting down. I'm tired." Ianto was not used to being awake during the day, he wanted to sleep, damn it!

"Please don't do this again." Jack knew he was close to pleading but he couldn't help it. "We agreed we'd stop off at the next village to eat and rest." Jack reminded the star.

"Come on, Jack. It's midday. I never stay up this late! Just, please, let me sleep!" Ianto knew he was begging by now but he truly didn't care.

The pleading look in Ianto's eyes undid Jack. "Okay, you… Well, then I'll…You sleep. I'll go get something to eat." Jack finally managed to get out.

A smile spread across Ianto's face, he was pleased that Jack finally gained some sense, only to blink as Jack walked around the tree several times. "What are you doing?" he finally asked.

Jack didn't answer until his third walk around. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm making sure you don't run away." Jack told him with a smile as he tied two links of the silver chain together.

Ianto was fuming as Jack happily walked away.

John Hart was staring out at the coast as his loyal servant, Andy, came up and informed him, "Your Highness, the soothsayer, as you requested."

John gave Andy one long lingering look, he knew who would be warming his bed for the rest of this journey. But pleasure would have to wait; he had business to attend to first.

Bilis managed to keep the nervous look off his face as Prince John approached him. "South, you said," John began the conversation on a fairly cordial note, "and so south we went, yet still no stone. Do you propose that we start swimming?" John asked, sarcasm now lacing his every word.

"Sire, I've merely relayed to you what the runes have told me," Bilis explained. "I can do no more."

John wasn't convinced. "Well, consult them again." John ordered until a thought hit him. "Wait." He moved in closer. "Before we seek the stone, I have another question." John would find out if Bilis was telling him the truth or not.

"Am I the seventh son?" John asked.

The runes showed yes.

"Another question, is my favourite colour blue?" John continued on with his questions.

Again the answer was yes.

Not taking his eyes off of Bilis he asked his next question. "Has excessive begging or pleading ever persuaded me to spare the life of a traitor?" Bilis took a deep breath as he threw the runes into the air. "What does that mean?" John asked as a completely different answer appeared than the usual yes.

"That means no." Bilis answered, pleased that he managed to keep his voice under control.

The smile that graced John's face radiated pure danger. "Good. Throw them again. This time, throw them high." John ordered circling around Bilis as he did and then John asked his final question. "Are you working for my brother?" he growled in a dangerous tone.

Gulping, Bilis did as told and no one breathed as the runes flew high into the air and then they came crashing down and the answer was yes. John gave Bilis a look that clearly said, 'You brought this on yourself.' Before Bilis could open his mouth to say anything John ran him through with his sword.

As John cleaned his sword, Andy moved towards his prince. "So, do we start travelling west now?" he asked.

John gave him a leer and a smile. "We'll head west in a little bit, first I think I'll need some comfort after being betrayed." John purred, leaving no hint of what he wanted.

"What ever my Sire wants I obey." Andy sent John a coy look and as his prince closed in on his prey the search for the stone was forgotten for now.

Grumbling under his breath about 'stubborn gorgeous star' Jack stalked throughout the forest.

'Jack.'

Jack halted in his steps as several voices called out to him. "Who's there?" he demanded looking around.

'Jack.'

"This is not funny." Jack growled as the voices continue to call his name.

'Jack.'

Gwen was not at all happy as she stared at the empty crater, finally seeing no other choice, she rubbed the red ruby ring on her finger, hoping her sisters could inform her where their star was. "Come on," she growled impatiently.

Suzie and Mary's faces appeared. "Be careful how much magic you use, sister. It's beginning to show." Mary warned.

"One goat and one small enchantment, hardly extravagant." Gwen was quick to point out.

"Well, even using the ring will take its toll." Suzie reminded her. "Better call on us only in dire need." Suzie finished her warning.

"And use your runes to locate the star yourself." Mary spoke up again.

Gwen pouted and stomped her foot. "I used them and he should be here. But now they're just telling me gibberish," she whined.

Mary and Suzie shared a look; this was just one more reason why they hadn't wanted Gwen to go, she could become rather childish when things didn't go the way she wanted them. Turning away, Mary went to consult her own runes. "It is because you must stay where you are, my sister. He is coming to you. Oh, be warned, Gwen, delicacy is needed. Misery is draining him, he's barely shining." This was not good news; they needed their star to be happy.

It was Suzie that came up with the idea, "Set a trap that ensures his heart is glowing before you cut it out."

Ianto had been sleeping peacefully until he felt something soft nuzzle his cheek. Opening his eyes slowly he was greeted to a sight that took his breath away, a unicorn stood before him. To Ianto's amazement the beautiful creature placed its horn against the magic chain keeping him trapped and instantly the chain fell away.

Smiling, Ianto climbed to his feet and petted the unicorn in thanks before climbing onto its back and riding away. Ianto felt bad for leaving Jack, but stars were not meant to be used as gifts, and they were certainly never meant to be kept prisoner.

Moments later Jack came back to the spot where he left Ianto only to find the chain and no star. "Ianto! Ianto!" he called out in worry. "Oh, you idiot." And Jack had no idea if he was talking about himself or Ianto.