10
Ianto found Toto in the Great Room dancing with the servant's children, laughing as he enjoyed himself. With a soft sigh Ianto saw that the child had been craving some fun and it must have been so boring for him in the stables.
Maybe Jack was right. The Nanny needed to be more hands on.
His mother was returning in a week. He knew what he had to ask, finding her with Jack's mother having high tea so he settled with them "good morrow my dears."
Ianto accepted a cup of tea and settled back in his chair to look at his mother "Mama. I have need of a nanny. I have two that share time with the children but Toto is a handful, at the age of running, hiding and pushing the boundaries. He needs someone to be with him all the time. Kellie is fine with her nannies and Governess. I feel… I need one."
"Yes. You will do" his mother agreed "an Elvin one."
"Yes"
"I do not see why" Jack's mother said, bristling "Our kind are more than capable of caring for OUR children!"
"I want one of my people here. I think it would enhance my calm!" Ianto said gently "The following months will be harsh at times, the eggs laid and then the time of waiting which is a dangerous and hard time. My people have songs of waiting, things we do to celebrate and encourage the growth of the chicks. For that… for that I need my kind around me. The riders will do what they can but I need one refined, one trained in the care of younglings."
"Oh. Does Jack know if this?"
"He does not need to know. This is my decision. I am adding an Elvin Nanny to my staff. In fact… I may need a cook as well." Ianto frowned. Annoyed by the queens' strange reaction to this "My lady… we have never had a problem before, I am surprised to find we are having one now. Do you not want my kind in your halls?"
"No. Of course not" she huffed "You are so short fused lately. Jack had told me of your snarling and snapping at him for no reason! For the love of the stars, I am only asking as the other staff my take offence if you replace them!"
"I am replacing no one madam, adding. Yes. As is my right as a king." Ianto was beyond confused now, rising to leave and then sitting again, slightly dizzy. He cleared his throat and reached for the cup of tea he had not drunk "Seems I am not drinking enough. I forget to hydrate and the dragons are so hot."
"Yes, Jack tells me that is why you have the fire slit so early in the morn for the inner rooms. The children are sleeping near the warmth of the dragons, sharing the space. He likes the heat." She nodded.
"Of which I am thankful for it will get hotter yet" Ianto snorted then rose, taking a moment to nod to his mother.
After he left she turned to Jack's mother and said softly "he has given me permission to share something with you, something that is not to be shared anywhere else. For this… we need to walk the gardens. The walls have ears."
Jack's mother was intrigued and they rose, taking the air as they walked along with skirts brushing. Finally Jenny said in a stage whisper "Ianto feels the need for some of our kind closer to him as the impending birth of younglings mean a time of danger. Delicate and small, he wants those around him that not only appears simple and gentle, but can hide a blade well"
"Ah. I get that. Ok, he wants to have some hidden security. I did not understand, thank you for explaining it. Of course… it makes sense." She nodded "he seems so fragile himself right now."
"The sparking, the seeding is taking it out of him. Spread between so many dragons, the bickering and such… hard on him. He is trying to keep the peace between several who shared the same buck and now argue whose chick he will choose to be the father of." Jenny laughed "apparently he is a bit of a dog!"
"Oh my. They do not bond for life?"
"No, they do not all, some but not all. They mate then go their separate ways. Some never even see their chicks. Others are loving loyal partners. Depends on the bond."
"I know so little about them yet they surround us. My granddaughter Kellie is showing signs of becoming a rider. Is that normal? One of our kind?"
"Yes. Rare but happens when Royal Blood thrums. A pinch of our blood in your ancestry somewhere mehaps? Dragons do not care, if they like you they will choose. With Ianto's guidance she will be a good one, he trains the best" came the final advice then she said in a loiu voice "But of course, a celebration of the newlings would be a wonderful idea in the months to come. Maybe some music and food, to show a nurturing side?"
"Perhaps if you send over one of your people that can cook some of the delicacies our people do not know? The riders with child might like some for their delicate constitutions?" Jack's mother caught on as she kindly asked on Ianto's behalf for the cook he wanted.
These two queens walked together in companionable silence enjoying the warmth of the day, the scent of the roses and the realization they had more in common than they thought.
Perhaps they could be friends?
Rare in Royal circles.