8

"There you are, I wondered where you got to" Jack said as he watched Ianto enter his chambers.

"I was checking on my horse and accepting a battle challenge from one of your men" Ianto explained calmly, settling on the end of the bed with those long limbs folded and he looked just like a wood sprite. A fucking huge one.

"Challenge?"

Don't worry… I did not injure him. He did not mean it as he did not know what I am. I forgave the trespass." Ianto assured him, reaching out to pat his foot "Now… to us. When do we bond and we get you out of this bed?"

"Just like that!" Jack snorted.

"Why not? The huge black horse is yours… almost as large as my red. I want to ride with you, I want you to show me this land I must learn to love as my own. Come… what do you say?" Ianto leaned forward with a wide smile.

"I say that I prefer not to be handled thanks very much and next time my mother and her people coach you into how to perk me up, you chose a better pretense at friendship" Jack replied blandly.

Ianto's hand withdrew as if he had touched something of molten lava and he rose from the bed to stand and regard Jack.

"I see. A loveless bond then is it? OK. Pity... I did hope... silly me. Of course. Then let us be bonded so you may live the life you were born to and I can begin the life I chose to submit to, hmmm?" Ianto said with a flat, angry voice. "NO ONE coaches me as I have my own mind, thoughts and feelings. I shall keep such things to myself SIR"

Jack watched him slam from the room and wondered if he had been wrong.

Had this stranger actually truly offered friendship?

Had he been a tool?

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Owen looked up from the kitchen table where he had been helping shell peas with surprise as Ianto stormed past, the air about him seeming to shimmer with the heat of his anger. Owen ran after him and they spilled into the courtyard "Hey. What's wrong?"

"You did not tell me the bond was loveless. Not once… not once did you say that the prince would not want me as a friend or consort. I am beyond pissed that he sees me as just another … another…. Thing. I must think on this and reflect on what I thought this would be so I might come to understand what I now know it to be. I must prepare myself for a life of solidarity now."

"What?" Owen squeaked "What? Hey… not… Jack is a good man. A friendly, funny man and… hey."

Ianto swung to face him "It is OK. I will be OK. I need… I need a tailor. I have entirely the wrong wardrobe for a life of dull service. I was ready for a life of commitment and marriage. He will not wed me. He will not love me. Clearly… he does not even want to interact with me. I need to adjust everything now."

Own nodded, leading Ianto to the tailors and stood watching as Ianto planned a new wardrobe to reflect a life of piety.

Then Owen went to smash Jack for whatever the fuck he did.

,.

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"What do you mean.. robes!" Jack said with confusion as Owen paced.

"That man… that… pretty little morsel I brought you … you rejected him. He is about to change his clothes so he is no longer desirable to you and instead reflect the fact he is an undesirable shadow now" Owen said with clear anger "I brought you a bond-mate to not only cement your life-force but to enrich it. Do you have any idea how feckin clever he is? Strong? I saw him cut down an attacker outside like… it was a training exercise. As for our guards, not a single causality when we were attacked on the road. You just… dismiss him?"

"What are you talking about. He came into my chambers and acted like… like we were equals. Like we might be buddies or something" Jack huffed.

"And he had to be faking it? Are you stupid? Jack… he WANTS to have a relationship with you. You will be bonded. He is an Elf. You will be together for a couple hundred years if all goes well… it makes sense he wants you both to get along. Gods! You.. I really wonder sometimes. As an equal. Fuck me. He IS a fucking prince ya know… the young Prince Ifan… how is he supposed to act around another prince… like a servant?" Owen stopped and suddenly thought of something as he huffed with astonishment "Jack… he DID tell you he is the Young Prince Ifan of the Elvish Royal Family right? He doesn't look like them because he is a throwback to their elders. Some say he is a reborn."

Jack smacked the side of his head as he knew all too well of this fact. His old teachers had drummed into him the rare Old Bloods of the Elvish and what they looked like, now to spot one and above all else… to try and befriend them if you can.

He knew he had to apologize… the one thing he hated most in the world… that and people who are cruel to animals. Yeah. Damn it.

Jack rubbed his face.