4
Ianto was still dressing when the ping sounded and he rushed to the screen with surprise. Jack?
Jack stood there with a look of total panic "Ianto… I … I don't' now what to do."
"Tell me" Ianto said softly.
"Uncle Marlin came off his horse. Out for a morning canter before breakfast and… it's bad. It looks really bad... Ianto I don't now what to do!" Jack wailed "I wish you were here. I feel so alone."
"Oh Cariad" Ianto ws upset now as well "Darling. Is your mother OK? How terrifying."
"She is being sedated, she was beside herself and as for Aunty Eilish… she collapsed. They don't know if he will survive… darling... please… is he better? Can you possibly come to me?"
Ianto was torn and knew he had no choice "Of course darling. Of course. I will… Gods. I can't you took the large Hover and I … ah… "
"By train" Jack sniffled "Mama said the quickest way to get here with all the traffic on the roads due to the celebrations would be the train."
"Yes… yes… GILLY" Ianto roared for his man who came running and soon Jack looked a lot happier as he watched Ianto prepare to come to him "I am coming Cariad. This time tomorrow we will stand together and be strong, yes? Only… what … five hours by train… yes. Gods. The Capitol. I hate the bloody Capitol City. You better know how much I love you."
"Oh baby, just come to me and help me now. I don't want to be a flapping idiot." Jack smiled softly, and blew a kiss as he closed the call.
Ianto ran from the room as Jax remained sleeping in his arms and he practically slammed into Gwen "GWEN! Thank the gods. Jack's Uncle… the King… fallen from his horse and it's bad. We have to get there…something about the train?"
"Yes!" she swung to grab a passing servant "Call for the train to be paused for his Highness at the Royal Station. I want three good guards and assurances that we will have a compartment to ourselves… go!" she ordered like a boss and Ianto felt better. She turned back to him "Pack things for you and bub. I will race and pack for me. We will go and I will see Rhys, you will comfort Jackson and we will be OK. Now… I need my good cape."
She took off and Ianto returned to his room, only realising once he was in there that he was still in his PJs with his hair flowing loose. Oh well. Friends, right?
.
.
"Did you hear anything more from Jack?" Gwen asked as she helped load the Hover for the train Station, watching Ianto jiggle the grizzly child. She held out her arms and he handed Jax over with relief, now able to check the luggage.
"No… you?"
"Rhys called a short time ago to see if I was coming with. Yes. It's bad, Jack wasn't exaggerating. They had all manner of healers in there trying their best. He said it was the strangest thing. The horse is one the King rode the most, a good mild tempered beast. It was like it was suddenly possessed, jumping up in the air bucking and leaping about. Then it simply leapt up and landed on it's back, crushing the poor king beneath it's weight. Jack was screaming with such horror that he lost his voice for a moment or two." Gwen said as she patted the baby's back "He does love his uncle so."
"My gods, I didn't realize he was there" Ianto was more horrified now.
"They all were. Jack, his mother, the King and Queen as well as two of their adult children. All out for a morning ride. How horrible to see one of your family members injured like that. He has been in wars, great battles and such, to be felled by a horse's brain fart… what a thing. Almost like someone has it in for him" Gwen stopped talking and placed a hand over her mouth.
"It' OK. It is just me you said that to, but try not to say it again" Ianto smiled softly, patting her arm to show he knew she didn't' mean it in a horrible way. Not malicious, just plain stupid sometimes. Something like that could get her in trouble. So many ears around these walls. He motioned her to get on board while retrieving his child as they were ready.
"Thanks Pet" she smiled, then lifted her large travel bag onto the seat beside her "Right. Let's get this show on the road. Gilly, help the Prince will you? Can't you see he had his hands full trying to step on here man?"
They were soon on the train and as promised, the carriage was a lovely one that had enough room for Ianto to lay the little boy on the seat beside him, placing a leg up to form a little safe space as he lead back to look out the window his foot was now resting against.
"You'll get cramp doing that all the way there, he should have come with a seat" Gwen huffed.
"He hates being strapped in, a real tantrum tosser like his father" Ianto said with an eye roll and she giggled as she agreed. Buddies. On an adventure.
Only for five hours.
What could possibly happen.