Hello my lovely readers, here's chapter 6! Thx to all for your interest, it really makes me happy!

bLoOdY9o1 thank you so much for your lovely review :) How I could do that, break Ianto's heart like this? Well, I received the story idea from elliotdean, and it was demanded that Jack shall not remember Ianto, so... :) Yeah, the Czarina is a two-faced person, she has her nice parts and her evil parts... anyhow, you really make me want to continue writing this story thanks again ^_^

sky song, welcome! And thank you for R of course I also want to finish this story and I don't want you to die waiting for me to do so, so, here's chapter 6 :)

Chapter 6

The guards managed to bring Ianto out of the throne room without much resistance on his part. His eyes saw long corridors, the high white walls, and yet he registered nothing. His mind was disabled, his senses numb. He heard nothing, saw nothing, felt nothing. He wondered if he might have become insane by now, maybe he just pictured Jack's face in someone else. Maybe he saw things he wished for, not the reality. Or maybe all of this, the last few weeks, the torture and the pain, were just a dream, a terrible hallucination.

Not too gently the guards finally pushed him into a chamber, the iron lock was closed loudly, and the wooden door was shut. Only now Ianto felt able to breathe again, he slowly returned to the living. He took a deep breath and looked around his new home: The chamber had a size of approximately 10 square feet, a simple bed stood along the longitudinal wall. The walls were also white, but they appeared not as sparse as in the palace of the Empress; fine and colourful flowery patterns were painted on the walls in different colours. The room was clean and seemed somewhat homely, but the bars in front of the window reminded Ianto that he was held here as a slave.

He slowly sat down on the bed. He was too upset and too confused to lie down and relax. He sat broodingly on the edge of the bed, kneading his fingers together. Still his heart was pounding with adrenaline and panic. Jack's unknowing eyes were burning in his mind, the memory of it was painful. It must have been Jack... his appearance, his voice, he heavenly scent that Ianto had smelt even from a distance...

All the worse that it must have been him. This meant he had forgotten him. But how could you forget someone you had loved? At last the long-suppressed tears came, and as they ran, they were unstoppable. Ianto buried his face in his hands, and he was crying for a long time, and he couldn't stop shaking and sobbing. It hurt not to be known by Jack, to feel so insignificant. Had he never meant enough to him that he wasn't even worth a memory? On the other hand, his reason finally suggested to him, more than 4000 years had passed. Who knew how long a person could remember?

Jack had promised him during his assumed death, to remember him in 1000 years. Maybe it had been so, and in the course of time, the memories of Ianto had slid deeply into the back of his head. Somewhere inside Jack there still had to be a part which remembered Ianto. This thought calmed Ianto at last, and he could hold back his tears for a while. In his mind already plans and ideas formed, and this was always an indicator to him, that he would find a solution and that he would not give up. In the last weeks the thought of Jack had been the only thing that had granted him a remnant of desire to live, and for that very reason he could not give up now. Anything else would just mean not to live any longer, to have no more hope, to make no effort. And to never feel Jack's love again.

It inspired Ianto with confidence that he had time now. By a fortunate coincidence he had found Jack, and despite all events both of them were alive. Somehow he would find a way, he would make Jack remind him, he would win him back. As long as he was here, he had a chance.

Excited Ianto stood up and paced the small room up and down. He could no longer thing quiet thoughts; Again and again he saw Jack in front of him, in the strange clothes of this era. A smile suddenly crept to Ianto's lips, as he felt his heart beginning to flutter. How he had longed for Jack … only to see him again caused a tingling sensation in his stomach, a desire to be near him, to feel his skinthight embrace... He loved him, like he had loved no other man before. He had to start laughing, because of the strange concatenation of events, but at the same time, he was crying again, because he was really down and out with his nerves and his strengths.

...

It didn't take more than an hour until Ianto was freed from his solitude.

A grim-looking guard opened his door and eyed him contemptuously.

"Get up, there's enough work for you", grumbled the burly guard. He was wearing a long black robe, the weapons on his belt were gleaming in the sunlight. Ianto followed him in silence, and as they walked, he had time to observe the castle. Almost everywhere he saw human slaves of all ages scurrying along, bringing things or fulfilling small works. Almost every floor was equipped with high-quality parquet, but some passages and floors were covered with bright, large stone tiles.

The most walls were white and high, and many of them were furnished with beautiful, colourful murals. Ianto felt strongly reminded of the inside of a church; the air was consistently cool, the high ceilings created a feeling of infinite size. Truly, he thought, a temple for a deity.

The guard brought Ianto to an oval hall, in its middle stood a meter-long dark wooden table. A handful of servants were already at work, some were cleaning the floor, othersbrought dishes and other items.

"Tonight the meeting of the Lord and his generals will take place here; help the others", commanded the guard, and without further instructions he left Ianto. Ianto looked helplessly around the room, considering the other slaves. It didn't take long and an overseer came to him and told him of his tasks. During work it was not allowed to speak, and so Ianto spent boring, stressful hours with his labours. In the evening, he was finally released from duty, and so a guard brought him back to his chamber. His main meal had been brought to his room, and he found a hot bowl with vegetable porridge and white bread. Water was provided for him in a stony carafe.

Ianto devoured his dinner hungrily and wondered if one spent everyday here like this – with work, silence, eating and sleeping. It seemed incredibly boring, and a slight hint of panic spread through him – he would become crazy if he had to continue a life like this. There had to be some other dalliance, games and entertainment, even for the slaves of the palace. When he had eaten, he walked to the barred window tiredly. Wistfully he eyed the bright moon, rising on a pale blue sky. In the distance he could see the darkening landscape, black treetops, grey shimmering meadows, scattered houses. The palace seemed to sleep quietly in a remote, isolated area.

When it was dark, no footsteps or voices were left to hear in the corridors. Ianto felt unable to find some sleep, so he got up again and walked to the door. He looked through the small barred porthole of the solid wood door, trying to identify something in the hallway. No guard was in sight, scattered torches illuminated the white walls. Ianto observed the lock of the door and wondered if he could probably crack it. Through Torchwood he had been able to get some experience in such matters. He looked around in his room, searching for a piece of wire, a little sturdy something, which could help him to escape from his cell. But the chamber was neat to the last crumb, there was nothing that could get him anywhere. Just when he started to lose h is courage, he rattled at the door, wondering if he could take it off its hinges – just then the door opened quietly and showed a small crack.

Amazed Ianto eyed the door – had the guard forgotten to lock him up? Or were the slaves generally not locked up? And they only imprisoned him as an exception, because he was new here? His heart began to race with joy and excitement. He would not wait to find out why. He had an errand, and he didn't want to wait for the next opportunity. Lithe as a cat, he opened the door and crept out to the floor, he left the door slightly open. Then he tiptoed secretly from corner to corner, peeking around every bend, listening if he could perceive any steps. His fingers twitched with nervousness, the fear of being discovered increased. He sensed that he approached the inhabited parts of the palace more and more, there were more torches burning in the corridors, and he heard distant voices. Where in the world where Jack's chambers? Probably the best guarded ones, in a central location, Ianto suspected.

At last he looked around a corner and saw a large wooden door with two wings. Two armed guards stood in front of it, looking grim. The light of the torches lit up their faces, their arms were gleaming in the light of the fire. Ianto tried to breathe quieter. He was sure that their were guarding the chambers of their master. Jack. He considered if he could cope with the two of them, but then it seemed easier to play a game with them, to perhaps get permission to enter. He took another deep breath, then he left his hideout and walked straight towards the guards. They seized their weapons and allowed him to come two steps closer, until they finally addressed him.

"Stop! Who are you and what are you doing here?", asked one. Ianto smiled his most charming smile.

"I was sent for to please the Lord..." He remembered the Empress, how she had tested him, and what she thought he should serve Ašira as a slave for. Frowning, the guard looked over to the other.

"Have you heard anything about that? It's new to me that Ašira keeps body slaves..."

Before the other guard was able to reply Ianto cut him off "I have been ordered, you waste my time and the Lord will grow impatient. Do you wish to anger our master?"

Ianto had to smile inwardly when he saw the worried look in the eyes of the sentinels. They still hesitated, but he had almost made it. He was just about to ask a new question, when suddenly the door opened with a vigorous jerk behind the guards. Ašira stood in the middle of the open door and looked at all present morosely. He was dressed all in white, he was wearing long linen trousers and a white linen shirt. Ianto watched him with wide eyes. Now all his lies would be nailed, and he would get a heap of trouble.

"What's going on?", he asked the guards sternly, and both of them immediately began to talk and pointed at Ianto excitedly at the same time.

"I wanted to see you, Jack. Talk to you!", called Ianto to drown out the guards, whereupon they fell silent and retreated silently to the door hinges. Ašira considered Ianto with long thoughtful looks, so that Ianto felt all weak at the knees – he was partly scared, the other half of him felt butterflies rumbling clumsily through his stomach. How good it felt to be considered by those eyes, to feel these gazes to the bone... A gentle smile finally fled to Ašira's face.

"Why do you always call me like that? I'm Ašira, everybody calls me by that name."

"Because I knew you more than 4000 years ago, Jack. And at that time that was your name."

Ašira frowned and crossed his arms. He really had no interest to be bothered with further discussions this evening – not after the tiring consultations with his generals – but this slave was unruly, he wouldn't get rid of him so easily. He took a deep breath, and with a sigh he spoke to his guards "Let him in", then he turned around and Ianto followed him happily into his chambers. The guards closed the heavy wings of the door behind them quietly. At last. Ianto finally had his chance.

Enchanted Ianto entered the spacious private apartments of the ruler. Small candled burnt everywhere, the room was shining in bright lights. Here, too, everything was white and decorated with wood. The floor was made of dark parquet, a soft white carpet lay in the middle of the room. A huge canopy bed, bathed in white sheets and large cushions, stood in the left half of the chamber. To his right, Ianto saw wooden cabinets, a large round desk, a couple of upholstered chairs. A grand window at the front face of the room showed the dark blue night outside. Jack sat down on a chair with a sigh, then he looked tired up to Ianto. He rested his chin on his hand, trying not to fall asleep. It had really been a long, hard day.

"So? I hear... Say what you have to say."

Ianto clenched a fist, trying not to run to Jack, to kneel in front of him and to kiss his hand, or to bewet it with teas. He was so agitated, it was hard for him to restrain himself, in order to give Jack explanations.

"Jack, I knew you about 4000 years ago. We lived on Earth, in 2009. You called yourself Captain Jack Harkness back then. You were the leader of our team, Torchwood. We lived in Cardiff and protected the people from alien attacks. We were a couple, I loved you. I died in your arms, when the Earth was under attack by aliens, and as we wanted to save millions of human children..." Ianto had to breathe deeply, to bring his hoarse, trembling voice back under control. The longer he spoke, the more it upset him to still see the ignorance in Jack's eyes, none of Ianto's words evoked a memory in him. It couldn't be true! How could he have forgotten about all of this?

"But someone saved me, although you and I thought I was dead. Someone healed me, and froze me, and a few weeks ago I awoke in this time. Do you not remember, Jack? My name is Ianto Jones, I've known you for years. You promised you would never forget me. I can't believe you don't know me anymore..."

Tears welled up in Ianto's eyes. It was so much harder to make Jack remember him – a lot more difficult than he had thought. Despair overwhelmed him suddenly. What, if Jack would never remember him again? Deeply disappointed and frustrated Ianto closed his eyes and wept openly, he could no longer stand the pain. So, he didn't see Jack looking at him with pity, getting up and coming towards him slowly.

Ianto was startled when he felt a gentle kiss on his lips. Short and soft, like the touch of a butterfly, yet intense and soothing. He felt the warmth of Jack's body wavering to him, he smelled the alluring scent that made it difficult to breathe for sheer infatuation. He opened his eyes and looked surprised directly at Ašira, standing in front of him, looking him straight in the eye. Ašira's hand rested on his cheek and stroked it tenderly. He gave Ianto a smile, full of compassion.

"Nothing of what you say sounds familiar to me. It sounds like a fairy tale, a story anyone could tell me. But I see that you are upset. Go now, and sleep. Recover, calm down. And tomorrow I will take my time and call on you. Perhaps you will feel better then", said Ašira gently, stroking Ianto's pale cheek one last time lovingly, then he turned away and called for his guards.

They came and took Ianto, who was still weeping silently, and without any reluctance, he was brought back to his chamber. Jack did not remember him... He had tried, and it had come to nothing. Nothing at all. He still cried piteously, huddled on his bed, when the guards locked him up and left him alone. Jack's affection had been the cruellest torture, after his ignorance regarding Ianto. All night long he still felt Jack's warm, soft lips on his. His warm fingers on his cheek... his odour, sticking to his skin. The memory burnt in his heart and tortured him; he saw Jack's bright eyes, looking at him hauntingly. Sobs jerked Ianto's body, he was sick with grief and sorrow.

Finally, when he had the feeling there were no tears left in him, he restlessly doze for a few hours. Again and again he awoke in the night, plagued by nightmares. A single question pounded repeatedly in his aching, tired head: What was he supposed to do if Jack never remembered him again?

TBC