19

Alice had finally calmed for bed, later than usual but finally conked out. Ianto had taken the time to cover her and sing softly as he stroked her hair just to make sure her dreams were sweet fire dragons and such, then he left the room to find Gwen standing outside the door.

"Hello Gwen."

"I came to check her."

"Asleep. Thank you for your kind heart. Rhys tells me you are a good markswoman with the bow" Ianto said as he expertly steered her away.

By the time they reached Ianto's quarters they were both laughing as she listened to stores of Ianto and Rhys from his youth. Ianto turned to face her "Thank you Gwen. It was nice to have a friend walk with me. I am glad Rhys found you, he is a good man and a great provider. Also as my right hand man, when I am a king of this realm he will be of the high court. If you are wed to him you will have your own ladies. Mind you… Hart is also a good candidate as he will be Jack's Hand."

"You… a king?"

"Well I cannot well be a queen darling" Ianto roared with mirth "I am a Prince of High Blood form the Elvish Royal House. When Jack is King, I shall be his second. Also a king. Rhys will be my Hand just as Johnty will be Jack's. I do not feel wrong telling you this as I see the interest between you so it is not really meddling is it?"

"Not really... he warned me that you are a clever bastard. No. I do love him already… yes we are talking of binding and no… I had no idea." She said as she now saw Rhys in a grander light. And Hart…. Oh my. Choices. "John Hart?"

Ianto watched her speed off and made a mental note to ask Rhys is he was truly invested in this one. A bit… flighty. Come to thin k of it, he had not spoken to Rhys much as of late. Jack was in the War Room with his father going over something so Ianto wandered out to the stables to talk to the man, finding him in conversation with another … Andy. Right. This one is called Andy, a stable hand not afraid of the Fire Mints, more intrigued.

"So, that's why we can't have anything combustible in their stalls" Rhys was explaining as he reached out to place a hand on the man's shoulder. Oh.

Ianto stood by and after a while Rhys looked over in his direction and started slightly, then grinned as Andy turned and then looked at Rhys in question. Ianto realized he was wraithing and stepped into the light, making Andy squeak, then laugh "Gods… what a scary bugger you are!"

"Sorry. Habit. Was checking the FMs before bedtime" Ianto said with a soft smile "Know why they are called FMs?"

"Fire Mounts?"

"Feckin Monsters" Rhys supplied and Ianto laughed as he nodded.

Ianto looked between the two men and saw what was happening, even if they could not and knew our Gwen might be a bit miffed when she realizes she has been piped at the post by more than a nose… by a Fire Mount's head indeed. Andy had won a race he did not even know he was in as he leaned in and let his body push against Rhys before he moved away, Rhys following obediently.

Oh my.

"Rhys?"

Rhys stopped walking after Andy and turned to face him, a wide simile in place "Boss?"

Rhys… Gwen is a nice girl and she has nice childbearing hips and all but… really… so do you. You are Elvish ya know. You CAN have your own child if you chose a male mate" Ianto winked, nodding in the direction of Andy.

Rhys stared at Ianto, then turned to stare at Andy, then back at Ianto again "Wha… hang on… what? I need a wife."

"No. You need a soul mate. A Bond Mate. Sexual orientation matters now… vessels come in all shapes and sizes and all can be fun... come on … I see the way you look at him. As Royal Court… one day my Hand… you can ya know. Choose a male mate." Ianto poked at him.

"She will not like this" Rhys said as he again glanced at Andy.

"She chose which horse to hitch her wagon to when she entered the court of the princess. The princess is dead, the court disbanding. She can either stay as a member of Alice's court, help raise the babin … or piss off for all I care. You don't think she sees you as a good provider… and a means to stay in the court?"

"Yeah well … she is all … no touching… no kissy… yeah. She almost doesn't like me then is all over me… she's playing me ain't she."

"choose well my child, forever is a long time" Ianto answered, then started to walk away as Rhys leaned against the wall to watch Any now cavorting around the camp fire in the lower courtyard of the stable block, everyone laughing as he told some story with exaggerated movements.

Rhys knew there was no choice to be made.

Ianto was right.

Rhys had wanted him from the first snark.