20

Ianto was in the sunlight.

He had that old floppy hat on once more, sitting cross legged in the long grass at the site of the struggle. His eyes were closed and his arm had been gently removed from the sling so his hands could both rest on his knees as he tried to find a calm place. Some minor muscle damage, no nerve damage. A relief with his main joy in life as well as income was his art. To lose that would have been to lose his voice.

I love it here.

He did not want this to be remembered as a negative space, this bad place to linger. Not here.

Rhiannon's place.

His place.

Home.

He felt the sunlight go and opened his eyes, looking up to find a man standing there regarding him. He knew instantly it was one of the mountain folk. A Wilder. The feather in his hair, the long unkempt hair that framed a solemn thin face with a craggy beard sort of screamed 'wild man' and the clothing that seemed handmade backed up that theory, even if the boots Ianto had first seen as his eyes travelled up the torso seemed familiar.

"Hello there?" Ianto said softly "Can I help you?"

He man stepped back, still staring as Ianto as he coaxed his hand back into the sling and rose to greet him, his other hand extended "Hi. Welcome."

Gently, the man accepted the handshake then swiped his hand back with a raw fear, his eyes darting around as he searched the meadow.

"If you are looking for my boyfriend, or the brother … they are not here. Took the kids to town for some shopping. I didn't' want to go. With all that has happened I wanted to take a quiet moment to reconnect with the land. You see, I love it here and don't want a bad spot to ruin it. Like a bruise on an apple rots it out. A bad thing happened here … I want to smooth it away. Let it go. Does that make sense to you?"

The man blinked slowly then said in a guttural growl "We cleanse with fire."

"I do not doubt that. Many do" Ianto nodded like it was not a big thing, then pointed to the table and chairs sitting in the shade "Shall we take some shade before I melt? I am not too good in the sunlight. I sometimes wonder if I am a vampire that refuses to accept my fate. The sun does give me a headache."

The man moved the a chair and sat, examining the pitcher of iced tea and glasses with interest, raising a glass to hold up to the light, the pitcher's hand painted on scene was of a deer and a foal. He seemed to like it. Ianto sat and poured himself a drink, then a glass for the man as well, ignoring the fact he was raising other glasses from the set to look at too.

"Silly to being them all out when it's me on my own. I really wanted to see them outside in the light. Just finished them ya see" Ianto smiled "I think I shall do a set of wild flowers next. The animals were fun though. Not sure if the fox's muzzle is the right length. I've not really seen one up close. Only pictures."

The man picked up the glass with the fox on it and turned it slowly then said "You made these?"

"Painted them, yes. I am an artist. It's what I do. How I make money. Mostly I do painting for people, like… to hang on their wall but I get bored easily." Ianto turned the pitcher so the man could see the woodland scene painted on it "Did this first then added each glass. See? All six animals are there if you look."

The man did, his face lighting up as he picked up each glass and searched for the animal and picked it out.

"I am called Ianto" Ianto said after a while "My boyfriend is the tall one with the dark hair that flops abut. He's Jack. The other one, the younger one with lighter hair and an angry walk if his brother Gray. The children, no doubt you've watched them too … the girl is called Mica but mostly Mimi. David is the boy. The woman that was here and is now gone was their mother, my sister. She died. Why she is gone. I am their guardian now."

"Wondered"

"Cancer. Cruel and vile thing. She was strong and stubborn but… it was evil and … well … the children seem to be OK. Oh, the mad thing is called Myfanwy. She is the children's pet. Came with them" Ianto smiled as said dog wandered past with a branch in her gob.

"Not like ours."

"No. She is called an Old English Sheep Dog. You see .. I am from Wales. Why my voice sounds different. Wales is next to England. We came here when young, she was first married and not yet had the children. But we are from there. Over the sea. I don't know why she thought getting an English Sheep dog would somehow harken to our roots. Bloody thing is mad. I guess it brings out the old saying."

"Hmmm?"

"Only Mad Dogs and English men go out in the midday sun."

The man blinked, then laughed and nodded "Yes. True. I like that one. I am Honour."

"Pleased to meet you Honour. A lovely day, a new friend … seems my desire to get rid of the bad feeling in that spot is now complete. You have changed that spot to where we first met. A positive place one more. Thank you. I do appreciate that."

Honour blinked, then smiled softly as he nodded.

He like this man who had invaded their land too. Not like the others moving in and claiming it all … forgetting it belonged to someone else first. No. This one was different with his soft voice, gentle speech and pretty gifts.

Once done talking Honour rose and bowed slightly, then went to leave with the glass still in his hand. Ianto said softly "Would you like to take them with you? They are my first try and it is tradition to give the first one away for luck. Would you? I can get some newspaper and roll them up into a box."

Ianto didn't' know why he did it. He was quite proud of them but seriously, if he was going to do another set he didn't need two. Right? And the man was quite smitten with them, still looking at them the entire time.

Ianto had no idea that he was making an offering to the tribe. No idea that he was starting something that would change things in a way he would have never imagined but as he watched the man disappear back into the trees with the box under his arm he knew Blue's influence was cleansed from here.

Not with fire.

With hope.

Seems to spring from the ground around here.

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So ends part one. I know … more? Part two will deal with the Montanan folk a bit more and that proposal Jack has to get right.