11

Ianto knew it was time, the warmth in his gut telling him so and he sat in the long grass watching Jack devour the picnic he had made for them both, a rare afternoon without the children.

"Goddess, this is nice" Jack sighed finally full and flopping back "those kids!"

"Jack. Kellie will never be queen" Ianto said, shocked at himself for the bluntness that made Jack sit up with confusion.

"what?"

"Cariad. My kind live for hundreds of years, with us joined…so will you. Neither child will live to bury us or take over our crowns. Bar us dying in battle…. We shall endure. Kellie will NEVER rule, neither will Toto. This why I allowed the dragon. She is getting old enough to see things, to recognize whispers and reasons for things. Sooner or later she will know that our crowns will be ours long past the lives of her children… their children. As a rider her life will lengthen to many … man years… three or four times her normal lifespan.. maybe more if Henry is strong enough for a runt… but not more than us" Ianto said as gently as he could "You and your family need to stop thinking of her as the next ruler and let her be herself, or of Toto as 'just the spare' because it lessens their place. They need to be raised to be a lord and lady or the court. A Prince and Princess… High Borne. When they wed, to become Duke and Duchess with their choice of partner. If they so choose. This realm, we will have to protect it for a very long time. The dragons born now will protect, also long after their children's children are gone. For Kellie is a rarity, most riders are my kind but those human ones live for a long time, like their mounts."

"The dragon will extend her life?" Jack asked with concern turning to hope.

"Yes. Yes, she will live to be over several hundred years old bar murder or accident. Henry is damaged, not cooked right. Why he is small. He is supposed to be bigger like the other blues. His life is stunted also. He will not live as long of a life, why he chose Kellie. Her death will quicken him in the end. He accepts that, likes her and knows choosing an Elvish rider only ensures his rider's premature death when his heart fails. This way… he will hold her when she goes first, mourn then follow as is the want of dragonkind."

Ianto could see that Jack was upset, his mind whirring as he lay back to stare up at the clouds.

"Do you … I mean … damn it. This is so hard' Ianto sighed, flopping back to join him, staring up at the clouds. "You know I am part Mara. I am also ancient blood, old blood. The magic flows in me."

"Why you are the King of Dragons. I know" Jack huffed.

"Yes. Myfanwy is due to lay her egg, any day she will pop it onto the little mound of straw she has made... along with a few of my tunics she stole the mad cow… and then will wait for her child to come." Ianto rolled his head to stare at his husband "And the time of waiting will begin. My mother and family are coming, bringing special scared water from the ancient spring where it is believed all life comes from. Our kind is supposed to be born in it, so we are blessed with it but I refuse to go back tough the gates. I am here now. I chose this life with you, so she beings the water for me. So in time… I will have a bath full of it."

Jack stared at him, not comprehending.

"Cariad… the time of seeding is down, the roots cast and the new life unfurling. Growing and becoming. Not just in the dragons, but their riders"

Jack blinked slowly, clearly not getting it and Ianto huffed "Jack! I am seeded too! Elf remember? Able to? Didn't know that I could with a human but there ya go… the power of all those randy dragons … pop."

Jack blinked again "Huh?"

"I a trying to tell you that I am pregnant with our child. A little Elvin human hybrid. Your son slumbers beneath my heart." Ianto whispered "The heart that beats for both of us, now beats for another. As my heart keeps you alive… for now it also does our son. Until he is born I may in great danger. From attack… illness... Bad birthing. When it is known, when they see a baby bump and it is known that I am pregnant there may be attempts on my life knowing it will kill you, the next borne king as well …. The High Prince of dragons ... such a trophy."

Jack was not breathing.

Or blinking.

"Well? Are you not pleased?" Ianto asked growing concerned now as it had never occurred to him that Jack may not want another child. Especially one of his kind? Is that it? Ianto was starting to feel hurt now.

Even as he thought that, Jack exploded "What?"

"Cariad"

Jack was on his feet, whooping and hollering as he ran in a small circle aroid Ianto, yelling and flapping his arms like a yearling still trying to find his first downdraft.

Ianto laughed as Jack celebrated, danced and lost his voice.

It would be OK.

In the keep dragons turned their heads in the direction of the meadow and listened to the celebration then turned to one another to nod silently.

Yes.

On guard.