30

Ianto had joined the queen on her balcony once again. It was often becoming a morning thing and she looked forward to it, disappointed on the days Jackson clearly monopolized him.

"Good morning Mama" he said as he sat, the more familiar title one that made her ever so happy.

"Good morning sweetling. Sleep well?"

"Yes thanks. The ride to the far hills to check the trap lines at dusk was invigorating. I do love the smell of the air near the waterfalls." Ianto smiled happily. "Cooler with the water spray in the air too. The Mounts loved it. Alice got quite wet."

"I've not been out that way in years" she admitted.

"No! Surely not. No. That will not do. Why not you and I this afternoon while Jack and His Majesty have that boring meeting in the War Room. We will ride out and enjoy the day… a picnic for afternoon tea. We can eat on the grass like heathens." Ianto laughed. "Get grass stains that has them whispering."

Oh. Oh, really? Oh my. An invitation to ride?

"I've not done that since I was a youngling" she said softly, "Once the crown descended my mother told me I was too… regal for such folly. I only ride the outer fields around the keep now."

"Well… who's queen now, hmmm?" Ianto laughed happily as he lifted his face to the sun "Poo and posh. Come on. If Her Majesty cannot go where she pleases in her own realm… what's the point. Besides, set an example to Alice that having fun is important too, no matter what age or designation."

"You're right! I want to ride one of those huge beasts." She said eagerly "Is there a refined one?"

"Ah. Yes, there is one that came with me that was trained for a more… delicate rider… one that carried some of my nieces at times and likes a female rider. If you think you can handle one, I will not scoff madam. Alice rides her with confidence."

"I would like to" she nodded.

.

.

"LOOK A FOX!" the queen yelled, standing up in her stirrups as she pointed in the distance and Ianto turned his head to see her royal hounds chasing a bright blue fox from its hiding place in the shadows of the rocks. He gave a sharp whistle and the hounds turned back towards them, abandoning their chase.

"You stopped them?" she said with surprise.

"The Blue Bearded Fox. They are in pup season at the moment so that is likely a parent hunting for food for the young back in the den. Can't have that" Ianto said gently "Both parents are needed for the little ones to grow."

"Oh, I did not know that. Of course, you are right. To all there is a season" she nodded.

"Look darling... I saw this the other day and meant to ask about it" Ianto said as they came to an overgrown area that had wild flowers growing mad "There is a building in there."

"Yes. There is" she nodded "This was once the Groundskeepers' cottage inside the wilderness of the garden. There used to be mystical gardens all along this area in the shade when I was but a youngling, the waterfall feeding it all as there is a river running under the ground here… a stream of cool in the dirt."

"So there IS a building beyond the vines… I did wonder" Ianto was interested, standing up in his stirrups and to her shock he nimbly jumped, his feet flicking up to stand on the rump of the huge Mount, now looking over the vines. "Oh… I see the roof. Seems intact."

"Well… it was a lovely place to come to as a child, overgrown even then but not like this" she looked around "Pity. You can see the fallen rocks along here where the garden wall followed the river beneath all the way to the river… is was so pretty."

"Well… I have been looking for a project that does not involve smothering the child. Seems the Governess gets pissy with me" Ianto said as he slid gently back into the saddle and she laughed.

"Yes, a great idea. I gift this to you then."

"Gift it? Can you do that?"

"I am the fucking queen" she said gaily "I can do whatever the fuck I like."

"Mama… potty mouth… you kiss our king with that mouth" Ianto said with fake horror, then started to laugh along with her. "I would love that. MY own little spot. I could come here for picnics and such, even just to hide from whatever latest delegation of royal pricks are here to waft about looking important. Wraithing is hard and it is easier to just disappear completely if they are a realm I do not like."

"Ah… singing to the choir" she laughed as she agreed her own time spent hiding in her quarters when certain people visited was boring. He spoke as if they were friends. Companions. Then she realized that he is older than her, much older and she was but a child to him. Yes. Friends. Lovely.

"I have my own money, I shall make this my own special project. Try to capture a little of my lands… my home. The water from the falls spray over in the afternoon winds.. why it is lush and green here in the shadow of the cliff-face. I might grow some pretty things that the sun cannot devour with it's heat."

"I would love that. The poor gardeners have so much work to do at the palace, watering every morning and anteroom to keep it lush. It grows wild here in the shade… yes. Some of the more exotic of your flowers from your home realm would be lovely, I do so love the bright colours. What a show the gardens put on each time we visited"

"Then it is agreed. This is to be my patch of dirt" Ianto said and he looked long and hard at the area she had indicated as his so he might have it documented with the men in her security detail as signatories.

And that is how Ianto gained his first legal piece of land.

And his own spot in Jack's homeland.

Finally… he could now call this his home too.