Torchwood Fic: Changeling (3/4)

[merucha]

Title: Changeling, Part Three of Four

Author: Emma

Characters: Canonical Torchwood Three members… sort of.

Rating: Some chapters definitely not safe for work.

Disclaimer: Oh, please. If I owned them, would I let some of those idiots write the scripts? And if I were making any money off them, would I be where they could find me?

Summary: A young girl’s mysterious history could bring disaster to Cardiff and Torchwood Three…

Author’s Note: Gwynn ap Nudd is the King of the Tylwyth Teg, the fairy folk of Wales. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwyn_ap_Nudd. Kymry as a name for Wales is found in a poem dated to 633, but I decided to appropriate it for the Tylwyth Teg. And "elf-shot" is a fairy weapon; that should tell you something about Gwen's godmama!

Part One is here; Part Two is here

            Gwen dropped her keys on the ceramic bowl Rhys had put on the kitchen counter as a last-ditch effort to stop her from losing them. She was tired and hungry, but mostly she was scared. Her mam-gu had told her stories of mad Queen Mab and the things she did to mortals who displeased her; and she remembered once, when she was very little, her godmother storming into their kitchen, looking like she was about to start slinging elf-shot in every direction, screaming about Mab’s bloody intransigence. If Jack was right, the Mad Queen was coming for her granddaughter with the Unseelie Host at her back. What King Gwynn would have to say about this invasion of his kingdom was not something she wanted to consider just at that moment.

 

            She opened the fridge and pulled out the casserole Rhys had left for her. She hated these trips he had to take every other week. She wanted him here, with her, so she could cuddle with him on the sofa with her head over his heart, and listen to its steady beating. Rhys was solid, real, and whenever he was around she felt stronger. On the other hand, she was glad he was away from all this. If it came to war, the old borders would be closed. Rhys would be safe in Carlisle.

 

            The ring of the doorbell caught her by surprise. Her parents were visiting relations in Llangoed, and Rhys’s friends knew he was away. She cradled the casserole in one arm and went to open the door.

 

            “Tosh? Is anything wrong?”

 

            “No. I just… You’re having dinner. I shouldn’t have…”

 

            “No, come in. Join me if you haven’t eaten yet. Rhys always makes enough for six. Throw your coat over there.”

 

            She popped the casserole in the microwave and set the time as per Rhys’s careful instructions. Then she opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of wine. She poured each a glass.

 

            “It’ll be ready in fifteen minutes,” she told Tosh. “In the meantime, tell me what’s worrying you.”

 

            Tosh was quiet for a moment.

 

            “Can I help with that?” she asked as Gwen started to set the table.

 

            “No. Come on, Tosh. Ask.”

 

            “It’s about Jack and Ianto. After what happened on the Plas, I did a little research. Don’t smirk at me like that, it’s my way of dealing with anxiety!” She giggled and suddenly they were both laughing, a release of tension as much as humor. “I understand the mechanics of a geis, but that… what happened… seems to go beyond that.  They used to be happy, Gwen. Now it’s as if they can’t stand being apart, but at the same time they’re so tense it’s painful to watch.”

 

            “I know.” She sipped her wine. “What Jack did is very old magic. It has to do with the nature of a geis. You see, most geis don’t take motive into consideration. In technical words, it’s an if-then statement. If you do a, then x will happen.  Once it’s in motion, it can’t be stopped. What Jack did was to use Caledfwlch to rewrite the statement and become Ianto’s geis holder. Since Ianto had acted under his instructions, he was safe.”

 

            “But that’s good, isn’t it? Or it should be.”

 

            “Not really. The geis Ianto was under was very strong. The only way Jack could tamper with it was to use Wales’s most powerful magical object to bind Ianto to himself as a vassal, since in magical terms only a vassal can be ordered to break a vow. In essence, Jack now owns Ianto.”

 

            “Gwen!”

 

            “It’s more complicated than that, truly. There are mutual responsibilities. Have you noticed how Jack looks for Ianto at times? Ianto’s become Jack’s anchor, his link to the real world. Jack is the brake on and the guarantee for Ianto’s behavior. But the bottom line is that Jack controls Ianto. Literally. Ianto cannot say no to Jack.” Tosh’s stricken face made it clear that she had grasped the implications. “How can either one of them be happy about that?”

 

            The microwave timer went off. She took the casserole out of the oven and put it on the table. “Bring the wine. I think it’s time you and I got really and truly pissed. If one bottle doesn’t do it, I’ve got more. Shit. Napkins.”

 

            She headed to the kitchen only to be pushed back by a gust of wind that smelled like lilacs after a spring rain. Tosh was half out of her chair, looking around a little wildly.

 

            ‘It’s fine, Tosh. It’s safe.” She took a candy dish filled with chocolate-covered almonds from the counter and offered it to the empty air. “Welcome to my home.”

 

            The young man had the ethereal beauty and the mischievous eyes of his kind, but there was seriousness in him that she had never seen in any Tylwyth Teg before. He wore forest green from head to toe, and the jeweled badge on his left shoulder identified him as a herald messenger of King Gwynn’s court.

 

            “I thank you for your kindness, but I cannot tarry. His Majesty has begun the gathering of the Host.”

 

            “Gwen?” Tosh whispered uncertainly. “Tell me there’s someone there.”

 

            Gwen realized with a start that Tosh could not see the messenger. “Yes, there is. I’m sorry,” she said to the faerie, “my friend has no magic, so she cannot see you. It is not disrespect.”

 

            The Tylwyth Teg’s eyes studied Tosh carefully. “She has magic. It was inhibited when she was a child. Her father did not think it suitable. I judge that she would be most unhappy to know that. But… “He reached out and touched Tosh’s forehead. “There.”

 

            Tosh’s half-scream at the – to her – sudden appearance of a handsome young man in forest green was almost comical. Controlling her impulse to laugh, Gwen made a shrugging gesture at her friend.

 

            “The Tylwyth Teg gifts you with elf-sight. They’re impulsive, sometimes.” She addressed the messenger. “You have news?”

 

            “I bring a message to the Swordbearer. King Gwynn ap Nudd bids him tell Queen Mab to take her child and go home. There is no place for the Unseelie Court in Kymry.”         

 

            “She will be told. But whether she will listen is another matter.”

 

            “Then let him tell her to look to her own throne, from within and without.” He tilted his head as if listening. “My Lord sends a message to yours. His counselor is in danger.”

 

            “His counselor?”

 

            “The woman who cares for children. Tell him to hurry!”

 

            Gwen didn’t bother with the customary departure courtesies. She dove for her purse and fished out her cell phone.

 

            “Jack? Estelle is in trouble. Right now… Yes, I’ll explain later.”

 

            She put down her phone to find Tosh talking to Owen. In a few seconds, she too put her phone away.

 

            “Gwen, what the Tylwyth Teg said sounded like war!” Tosh was shaking slightly. “There hasn’t been a war between the fair kingdoms in four hundred years and the last time it happened it was followed by two hundred years of disastrous weather. Whole countries collapsed!”

 

            “The Little Ice Age. I know, Tosh, I know. And Tosh… that was an intra-clan dynastic struggle somewhere in Northern Poland. This would be full out war between two of the most powerful fair kingdoms in the world.” She sat down with a thump. “I’m not very hungry anymore.”

 

            “Neither am I.”

 

            “Tosh… if I lend you a pair of pajamas and make up the sofa, would you stay overnight? I don’t think I want to be alone tonight"

           "Where can I put my laptop? I think we're going to have to do a lot more research. And Gwen? Bring that wine."

Comments

[wynkat1313.livejournal.com]

oh my... layers upon layers. yum!

[merucha.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm world building as I go -- it's difficult but very rewarding.

[samstjames.livejournal.com]

Wow, that was truly awesome... (wow, I think I would've totally freaked out at having an elf standing in my living room; so why isn't Gwen bothered, it that a normal occurence to her?) and a bit scary - especially the part with Jack and Ianto.

[merucha.livejournal.com]

Did you notice in the first paragraph she talks about her godmother "flinging elf-shot" and screaming about Mab? Gwen's grandma is a Tylwyth Ted and yes, it's going to play again later!

[rox712.livejournal.com]

That certanly shows Jack relying on Ianto in a completely diferent light. Poor boys!
Please save Estelle!

[merucha.livejournal.com]

Estelle is safe. I've never made it a secret that I would save her. And yes, poor boys is right!

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

You know, there's one problem with this fic... the parts aren't long enough! *g*

Mind you, it is getting written pretty fast so I shouldn't complain.

*hugs everyone cos they need it*

[merucha.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm on vacation this week and I stayed at home and did stuff and wrote... next week is back to work and things will have to slow down a little...

At this point they appreciate the hugs!

[missthingsplace.livejournal.com]

Crikey, Gwen was rather calm, i take it elves appearing out of nowhere is something that happens to her regularly?

I hope Estelle can be saved???

[merucha.livejournal.com]

Did you notice in the first paragraph about her godmother? "flinging elf-shot" and screaming about Mab's intransigence? Gwen's godmother is a fairy and yes, that will play a part in a later story.

Don't worry about Estelle. I've never made it a secret that that was a stupid move in the episode...

[adira-tam.livejournal.com]

more and more and more levels to this fic.
Thanks for the explanation of Jack and Ianto,
Tosh has magic..interesting


bring on the wine

[merucha.livejournal.com]

Yes, the wine... helps at this point!

[fide-et-spe.livejournal.com]

Oh I love the Jack/Ianto potential angst but so interesting and I look forward to where that goes. Really loving this Gwen. This is so brilliant.

I imagine Kymry and Cymru is the same word. Especially given the pronunciation, with Cymru being said as Koomree as it were. I wonder if it's just the way it's developed.

[msp-hacker.livejournal.com]

Kymry is a different way of saying Cyrmru, and was used even up to the earlier part of the 20th century. For instance, in my Welsh research, I used a book called "The Language of the Kymry."

[owensheart.livejournal.com]

Oh lovely chappie, loved the Elf opening Toshes maginc for her.

THis just keeps getting better.

[merucha.livejournal.com]

Thank you! He did open some of it. Poor Tosh is going to have to deal with that particular problem sooner or later.

I'm glad you're enjoying this!

[xennie-b.livejournal.com]

Ooh the plot thickens... even more :D
The new Jack/Ianto dynamics could make things very interesting too

[merucha.livejournal.com]

Yes, they will. Very, very much. But sooner or later it will be resolved... I promise!

The plot always thickens... you know me!

[lirulien.livejournal.com]

Tylwyth Teg gifted Tosh with elf-sight...why did I suddenly get a flash that this will have something to do with Geek Bearing Gifts?

And about Jack and Ianto...Ow. Well...umm...so Ianto's never going to be able to betray Jack ever again? Be interesting to see how you will handle Bilis and Flat Horm Island then...

I didn't think it's possible, but apperently I am falling more and more for you and your Ianto and your Torchwood. I heart you lots and lots and LOTS.

[merucha.livejournal.com]

Because you're starting to know me well? :D And it will play a part not only there but at the end of the series... stay tuned.

That is correct. He won't. Bilis... well, that's going to be different... and Flat Holm... again, different. If I ever get to series 2!!!

I'm glad you're enjoying this. It's been a lot of fun writing them.

[cen-sceal.livejournal.com]

This is just fantastic, but the poor boys, having to figure themselves out of this one, becoming so close in some ways and being even further apart in others. I love the way the layers in this 'verse are developing layers, this is beautifully done.
I'm really liking how you've got Gwen maturing and how Tosh deals with her anxiety with research. Very interesting hint about Tosh's magic as well.

[merucha.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm trying to world build as I go -- pages and pages of notes on things it would never have occurred to me I would need. And notes on each character and stuff... much more than I have done in other series in a way because I'm rewriting history as I go!

[truenorth7.livejournal.com]

Love the Tosh/Gwen moment!

[merucha.livejournal.com]

I wanted something like that for them. I hated the way they ignored Tosh in the first series except for "she can handle computers" and "she falls in love with alien" sort of thing. And it seemed to me that in a group of high-testosterone men and handling the stuff they do, they would bond to the other woman in the group...

[beth-mccombs.livejournal.com]

*steals Gwens wine bottle* Well, shit! Things just got complicated... more complicated.

Oh, just an FYI, your link to part two is wrong. It currently links to part one instead.

[merucha.livejournal.com]

Fixed, thanks! Yes, we will all need a drink if Jack can't talk down those two monarchs...

[cookiesofkarma.livejournal.com]

I love the Gwen/Tosh friendship thing. And there's fairy magic in this story as well. :D

This is my favourite installment of this AU, I think. I bet that changes when the next chapter is put up though. XD

[merucha.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It didn't seem logical to me that they wouldn't bond a lot more than they did in canon. ANd I'm dismembering that as I go, so...

[mer5.livejournal.com]

I have been a lurker for a long time and I probably won't be the best at giving feedback but I thought it was necessary right now. I'm not exactly a Torchwood fan-I only saw the first season and the rest I know it thanks to the Internet- but I find your stories fascinating. Even people like me than only know the basics can get hooked to it and that speaks of your writing skills.

I fell in love with your writing thanks to your Celtic Men AU - I hope you finish it one day- and this universe cinched it. I like how you mix Celtic mythology, history,literature and the world and Torchwood we know. I'm hopeless in love with mythology so these stories are a pleasure to read. They are imaginative, compelling and well thought and you can't help getting emotionally involved with them. I'm simply hooked and want to learn more about them and how this so different word connects with what we know. Your writing is giving me hours of pleasure and learning new things and if I could I would give you fresh-baked buñuelos de viento filled with mocha, but alas it's not the season yet for them and I can't send them through the Internet, so I hope a long review will be enough to thank you for this story.

I'd love to write more about this, about how I fear for Jack and Ianto because a vassal-lord relationship won't work well for their personal lives and how I can't find an example of that working out well. Well I can think of a literary but they tricked someone to make them think the vassal was a long lost son of a lord so he could inherited the title and the couple could marry, and that doesn't work with magic. Anyway, I'm digressing and writing too much so let's just say I love your story and I look forward to read more.

[merucha.livejournal.com]

*blushes at the praise* *Stutters*... ahem... THANK YOU!

This AU has become an exercise in world building, much more than I've ever expected. Because it's a magical world but also one that is in some ways recognizably 'modern' I had to pay a lot more attention to history and culture and social structure.

I started out from two premises (1)magic is utterly real and in some ways commonplace and (2)the outcome of the Synod of Whitby favored Celtic Christianity (this one mostly because as I historian I had always mourned the disappearance of that particular form of Christianity). But I found had to work more and more in background to make the foreground believable. My hat's off to those who do this professionally!

I'm always relieved when someone tells me it's working! And don't worry about Celtic Men; it's going to get finished.

[msp-hacker.livejournal.com]

+1,000,000 for the reason of the Little Ice Age. And now I'm wondering what sword Jack is carrying since he was borrowing Caledfwlch from Arthur.

[merucha.livejournal.com]

Once you have carried Caledfwlch you are forever a Swordbearer.It's the sort of magic you can't take back!And yes, it will be important later, in the equivalent of "They Keep Killing Suzie". (Today seems my day for giving hints!)

And the Little Ice Age -- the history nerd in me couldn't resist!

[hab318princess.livejournal.com]

wow... loving this and thanks for the explanation on Jack and Ianto :D

[merucha.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And it needed to be spelled out because it will become more and more important!

[ronnyd.livejournal.com]

Just read all the stories last night to catch up. This is such a clever idea, and so well done. And I really like it that Gwen isn't selfish and unfaithful like she was always depicted in the show.

[merucha.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Well, Gwen will fall, but she won't be Mary-Sued. Stay tuned.

[teachwriteslash.livejournal.com]

Oh I love the reference to the Little Ice Age - was just watching something about that...

And the implications for Jack and Ianto ... oh ...

[merucha.livejournal.com]

Yes. UST on the way for the boys for a while, I'm afraid...

[jsks.livejournal.com]

plans within plans. nice to see gwen and tosh working together outside the walls of torchwood. is there some way for the bond between jack and ianto to become of a more equal relationship?
i love this series and the all the background work that you have put into really shines in the writing.

[merucha.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, and still more plans... And yes, it does get fixed, but not for a little while...

[luvinthe88and20.livejournal.com]

OOh I am glad you explained what the connection with Jack and Ianto is.

[merucha.livejournal.com]

I had to, really. It becomes very important as things go.