9

"Kellie!" Ianto yelled with annoyance coming out of Myfanwy's stall with a blanket in his hands "What the hell!"

"Sorry Taddy" she laughed, the trumpeting male dragons quieting as Ianto glared at them. "We forgot you were snoozing with her."

"Well… your brother is awake now too" Ianto sighed as Toto shot past, his little giggles as he ran for Theo. Theo hooted and leaned down to let the child cuddle against his head. Ianto had been hopeful there but so far there had been no connection with the child and dragons at all. Ianto was now sure that he was not a rider. This little boy would love his time on the horse beside his father, live a mortal life and be fulfilled in other ways.

The fact Kellie was a rider in training was an achievement in itself and Ianto knew had he not come along, it would not have happened as she only found the ways of bonding ways being close to him. Ianto knew Jack had not worked things out yet and also knew sometimes he had to move at his own pace. The fact that a Dragon and Rider share the lifespan was not lost in Ianto who knew it would not mean shortening of the Blue's life… rather an extension of Kellie's. She would, in effect, be a token Mara. Rare, but not unheard of in royal blood circles… the love of a parental transcends blood. Right now, he wanted to throttle her for waking the child with the dragon song.

"Sorry Taddy" Kellie said, not caring a jot as she turned to her dragon "Come on Henry. Let's go outside into the sun and play. It's boring in here with the olds."

"Oi!" Ianto roared, Myfanwy roaring in unison as she complained about the rudeness of the child. Ianto turned to face the red dragon "I know. She does not mean disrespect. She is but as a yearling. Come. I will sing to you my sweet."

Kellie knew she had won and she grinned as she ran out with her dragon.

Ianto then remembered Toto and groaned, turning to find someone to send after him "Andy? Can you grab the Toto beast?"

"Oh no" Andy said as he dropped the wire brush he had been grooming his dragon with "He's loose?"

"As loose as a goose" Ianto replied making the man laugh as he nodded and went searching for the little horror. They all hoped he had not gone far but Ianto could not leave Myfanwy. Not with the morning sickness that was starting to loom.

Hard to handle.

Or hide.

.

.

.

.

Jack was surprised to find the Mara Queen at his door, staring at her for a moment before nodding to let her in. Her face showing her annoyance at this "Really? You hesitated?"

"It's not you, Mother-in-law my dear. My son has escaped his nest and is about, we are searching and I fear a little preoccupied." Jack sighed, letting her sweep into the entrance way.

"Do you have a minstrel?"

"Pardon?"

"A minstrel? Someone who sings, makes music. Set them in the great room and make noise, like a party. He will come like a moth to a flame. How I always got my children … apart from Ianto. I had to seek his damned dragon to get his attention. He was always destined to be a rider."

"As is my daughter, Kellie. She showed early bonding" Jack said as he let her sweep along the halls, behind them a flute starting to echo in the Great Room and servants started to pretend to laugh as they danced to the joyous sound.

The stables were quiet, Ianto finished his song of comfort and was quietly sitting against Myfanwy as she taped a single claw on the ground in a rhythmic way. The queen entered and looked at her son, the dragon, then over at the open door and the two dragons in the distance playing with the little girl. She looked again at Ianto, blinking slowly.

Ianto opened his eyes and saw her, straightening slightly as Myfanwy automatically closed her wing that had been loosely around him, covering him protectively. "Mama?"

"I thought so. Heard of this mass seeding occurring, so many dragons in the same stables, then the riders as well … I thought … no. Came to check… to see for myself. Dear Mother Moon. It's true. Seeded." she said with wonder and Ianto cleared his throat, rising and patting the wing to release him.

"Yes. It is not unheard of, just unusual. It's an Ancient thing." Ianto cleared his throat again.

Morning sickness?" his mother asked calmly.

"A little. Hmmmm" Ianto nodded stepping over to allow her a rare hug, something that she alums wanted but rarely got from him. Of all her children, he was the most withheld. The Dragon Blood in him made him like that. She knew that. She knew he lived for those damned winged beasts. Now, she knew why.

"So. King of Dragons. The prophecy continues to be true. You know this will mean coming back through the gates. It can not be born here. Not here." She said and Ianto snorted as he stepped back, shaking his head.

"As you say… I am King. I am here in my home" Ianto bristled.

"Are you? Seems he is the king, you are merely his mate. Think this will make it any easier? This will not feminise you? You know as well as I …anyone born of the old blood is born in the Great Pools of the Ancient Tears" she scolded "You must return… the child must be born there!"

"No!" Ianto said angrily "No. If you care so much, bring some water here to bless the child when he is born. Hmmm? I will NEVER go back there."

"A boy?"

Ianto stared at her silently, not wanting to say anything more and she felt his anger in being cornered into saying as much as he had.

Finally she understood.

"Oh. You've not told yet?"

Ianto continued to silently glare and she placed her hand over her mouth "Oh my. Still a little spark, so new."

"Yes. Can't say for another week at least" Ianto whispered "Magic still stirring in the deep."

"Then I shall return with your father for the announcement. I will bring the waters and I will accept your decision to remain here. "she said knowing full well he would dig his heels in if she said anything else.

And she REALLY wanted to know this grandchild coming.