12
Ianto stood regarding himself in the ornate mirror, his robes replaced with a tunic that bore the royal colours, showing the house to which he was marrying.
This time tomorrow he would be walking the halls as The King's Consort.
He brushed the material with his fingertips, still not used to seeing the strong colour and nodded at the seamstress to show his acceptance of her alterations.
The only thing he knew would be hard would be the descending chains, knowing they were simple silver with small dark blue stones to match the royal blue of the realm made it easier, they actually looked delicate and unimposing.
They would look fine over the bright colours or the preferable black.
And the thing he really clung to, he only had to wear them occasionally.
Ianto sighed and straightened his back as if the weight of the world were descending as well as the title, walking slower as he neared the turn back point, not allowed near Jack's cambers until the ceremony.
Blast.
He stood looking down the hallways and sighed, turning to pace some more as he told himself it was not nerves, just his need to roam that caused the restlessness.
"Aye, aye!" Rhys called out as he strode towards him, his own tunic and matching leggings the vermilion red of Andy's House, worn with extreme pride.
"Rhys!" Ianto exclaimed with delight as his oldest friend proudly twirled to show his intended's colours.
"We will have a wee ceremony in a few months, once his father finally cools off" Rhys snorted, "Seems he had a wife all picked out for the poor sod."
Ianto laughed and accepted the clap to his back with good grace, long since used to Rhys' roughhousing manner.
He hoped Jack was faring better than he.
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Andy frowned as he watched the young King pace.
"How did I get you!" he pouted, "Why can I not be with Ianto, you could have asked for bloody Rhys!"
Jack smiled, "Because I knew he would be all puffed up and slappy. Ianto can handle his roughness better than I. Besides, you are my friend too. Right?"
"Of course!" Andy flopped back on the bed theatrically, "But I want my teddy bear!"
Jack laughed and saw more each day, the man Ianto had counted as a friend so quickly.
"Come on, you know you want to try my crown and it is forbidden out of chambers for another to touch it" Jack grinned, watching Andy sit up with glee.
"Come, before anyone sees" Jack waved a hand and watched Andy prance to stand and wriggle, the crown in Jack's hands lowering. "And I now declare you .. King of all you own!"
"I declare …" Andy said in a falsetto voice, "My people shall have a day of celebrations. Also, all must wear trousers of red, including the women in a sign of respect for my beloved. Also, by decree of the Great Andrew, nobody is allowed the cross their legs with the left leg on top. Dogs are to sleep on the bed and all hair is to be loose flowing. As I say, it shall be so!"
Jack was laughing as Andy pranced and Andy quickly removed the crown as a knock announced a visitor, the Queen entering to catch a glance of Andy as he shot back to return the crown.
"Typical!" she snorted, "And you laugh at us women for trying on each other's jewelry."
"Don't know what you mean, pretty lady" Andy pranced and she laughed along with her son.
"It is almost time my love" she smiled at her son, "Ianto looks so grand in our colours, he was born to be finely dressed."
"His tunic, it does not cover his butt does it?" Jack grimaced and she sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Stop that!" she scolded, "Not grab-arsing until after the vows!"
"Awwww" Jack flopped on the bed this time, flinging his arms out to grin like the Cheshire cat.
"Come on" Andy patted his belly, "You know you must be first in attendance for the masses."
"As long as nobody else tries a grope" Jack muttered.
"Your derriere is safe my king" Andy said with a theatrical growl as he pretended to look for attackers.
"No me." Jack snorted, "Ianto's ….derriere. That is purely my domain."
"I'm not sure if I needed to hear that" Andy said as he skipped for the door, "EVER!"
Jack laughed again and let his mother adjust his clothing one more time before walking out and to his future.
He couldn't wait to see his beloved and declare his undying love.
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"Come on buddy" Rhys said softly, throwing an arm around Ianto and squeezing, "It's time. He's walking."
Ianto took a deep breath, then stepped out the door.
His future was waiting for him, and he was not about to let him down.
