Chap 7
Jack was impatient for SV Myfanwy to berth. They had received little to no contact since reports that the first raiders had attacked and were now relying on the sparse comms from the support vessels to assure themselves that there was still hope.
Not expected for another 24 hours, her early arrival was a considerable surprise, as was the garbled transmissions telling of the attack. As she came along side Jack felt physically sick at the damage he sighted along her hull.
Burns and scorch marks littered her skin like battle scars and the sight of the horrible wound where the bastards had torn her flesh away to enter filled him with rage.
His beautiful boat, his lovely girl. He hoped some had lived so he may tear their innards out through their fucking arses for this insult to the fine lady Myfanwy.
Finally the order was given to board and Jack pushed his way forward, onto the damaged boat.
He walked past the carnage as he headed for the medical bay. The young woman leading him was nervous and he feared the worst as she hesitated outside the doors and burst into tears. His worst fears were realised as he pushed open the doors to find the body of Lady Rhiannon lain in state. Pale and still in death, he saw her beauty fading with the warmth of her body. A candle-light burned softly by the bed.
She was dressed in white. Jack saw with a jolt of pain that it was her wedding robes that adorned her restful form. Another expensive gesture from her poor planet that would go without applause.
"I'm sorry." A small voice moaned and Jack turned to see an injured man slumped in the chair placed in the corner of the room.
"The man in the next bay was her bodyguard. He died trying to save her, they exchanged love words as they died in each other's arms" he sighed as he looked up at Jack. "Know that she knew love."
Jack kissed his fingertips and placed them against the cool cheek of his lost bride-to-be.
"I read the note you wrote her. She came to me with it and I saw the hope and promise." He continued quietly, "I encouraged her to respond. To say yes."
"Ianto?" Jack said softly finally recognising the meagre ghost of the man he'd watched feeding birds in the royal gardens.
"I'm sorry. We've fought so hard, come so far but to fail you now!" Ianto's voice broke with the last words and Jack knelt to touch the man. A spark of fire engulfed Jack as he held Ianto's ice cold hand.
Ianto felt as cold as his sister and had he not spoken Jack may have thought him dead as well.
"You're hurt" Jack gasped as he recognised the smell of early infection.
"Yes. Mortally I think." Ianto gasped with pain as Jack's fingers found the blade's bite in his side.
"Oh Gods!" Jack cried lifting Ianto from the chair and walking swiftly from the room.
Ianto cried out as he left his sister's side and Jack quietly berated him, "She would want you to live you fool!"
"No. I wanted her to live, my life is forfeit! Was the moment my bond-mate rejected me and damaged my life's journey!" Ianto cried.
"Nonsense. If such words were truth I would have died a thousand deaths at the side of my wife as she gave her life for our son!" Jack snapped as his emotions wared internally.
Why was he so relieved that Ianto was alive? His bride lay dead in that room back there and yet he rejoiced?
As Jack carefully placed Ianto onto a waiting stretcher he looked down, into eyes of stormy-blue and saw his answer. He felt a pull deep in his belly.
This is the one he was supposed to bond himself to all along.