Chapter Text
"Stop it" Ianto laughed, slapping at his lover as Jack pulled him in for another kiss, then Ianto broke from him, running up the hill as Jack roared and clambered to his feet, racing after him. The picnic was left behind on the blanket Jack had spread, their laughter filing the air along with the birds that were flushed from the bushes.
Ianto stood in front of an old tree that looked like it was dead and Jack caught him from behind, kissing his cheek as he joined him to look up at the tree. Jack whispered "Creepy, what do you think it's doing here?"
""There stands the tree at the top of the hill.
The torchwood tree so tall.
There is magic in the leaves that whisper
Flowers of flame on each leaf a spark as it lives, then falls.
Beware the fire of the Torchwood tree
It's dragon fire can kill
Bow and remember the power of the old blood
In the tree at the top of the hill"
Jack blinked as Ianto recited the old children's poem that they had all grown up with and he looked around with interest. "This is Torchwood Castle?"
"I remember this place. Mama brought me here as child" Ianto nodded, sliding from Jack's arms to walk to the tree, feeling around in the long grass and finding the wall "See? This stone wall goes around the tree in a large teardrop. I remember … The castle was more too. Those storms two years ago took more down from the south tower. Once upon a time this was huge. Mama said it was like a light house, the furthest tower the highest and a fire was lit on stormy nights so ships might see the rocks below."
"I remember my father telling me about this one night, I had been ill. Mumps I think, snuggled in sick and sad, he told me the story of Torchwood Castle. He said it was struck by lightning, said to be from the gods themselves. Dragon Breath. The tree is not dead, merely in stasis waiting for the return of the old blood. After the massacre of the old bloods they were gone, burned in the pyres. Dad says some did escape, those old bloods live among us, hidden in plain sight waiting for the day their king returns to this place, renews the tree and wakes the magic in the dirt."
"Yeah" Ianto sighed, watching Jack crouch to dig around the roots of the tree "What are you looking for Cariad?"
"Well … if this is the Torchwood Tree it will have….aha!" Jack leaned back on his haunches and held out a dirty stone "An offering. Dad said in the olden times people would give this tree offerings to show respect and loyalty to the old blood. They left food, trinkets and stuff."
Ianto accepted the stone, brushing off the dirt to reveal a small carved dragon. He looked hard at it, and then went to hand it back "Put it back. It belongs to the tree."
Jack nodded as he accepted the now polished stone, the smidge of dirt on Ianto's tunic unusual to see. Jack placed the stone back and rose, stealing a kiss before he climbed out of the garden again "Come on. Let's pack the picnic up and head back. Mama will be watching for us with that storm rolling in from the sea."
Ianto turned back to look over the dark water at the bank of clouds rolling towards them like smoke from some distant fire. He reached out and touched the tree, whispering something under his breath before he turned to follow his love.
.
.
.
.
"I was worried sick!" she roared as she flapped her hands then grabbed Jack in a bone cracking hug "Darling, don't do that to Mama."
"Sorry Mama, I forgot the time. We were having such fun" Jack smiled as he looked back at Ianto. Jack missed the glare his mother threw at Ianto like a dagger, only seeing Ianto's polite smile as he ignored her ire.
"It was my fault Mi' Lady. My horse threw a shoe" Ianto said easily, Jack still amazed at his ability to lie to her when he himself could not possibly ever do such a thing.
"Well …. Of course. We can't help that now can we" she sniffed, her distain clear as she turned away from Ianto, her focus again on her son "And you are soaked to the bone. Jackson, you will catch your death. Go get changed now!"
Jack headed up the stairs and she struck, seizing Ianto's arm as she dragged him close to hiss "You will kill me with worry before you are done!"
Ianto shook her hand off and followed his beloved up the stairs to their room. Something else that incensed her was the sharing of a bed. Not that anyone would ever be good enough for her son and she openly scoffed at them and their marriage that she loudly proclaimed was not even real as it had not been ordained in the hallowed halls of their church.
Ianto picked up the wet clothing as Jack laughed and talked loudly as he rubbed himself down, flicking the towel at Ianto to follow suit as he pulled on dry clothing. It was not until he removed his own clothing and was placing it in the basket that there was a loud thunk. He hooked out his trousers and felt something hard in one if his pockets and he frowned as he felt it, rifled about and pulled from the pocket the offending stone.
The little dragon seemed to laugh at him in the palm of his hand. He was sure he had left it in the roots of the Torchwood tree. Seems not, his shock waning as he looked at it some more then slipped it into the pocket of his dry trousers.
You do not question offerings.
He would accept this one, given by the gods.