Ynys Roana - Prologue
Title: Ynys Roana
Author: moonfirefic
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones, Rhys Williams, Rhiannon Davies, Mica Davies, David Davies, Martha Jones-Smith/Mickey Smith, Others
Beta: milady_dragon
Art: xennie_b Check out her awesome work here!
Summary: When Martha brought Ianto’s body back to the newly rebuilt Torchwood Three, she never expected a selkie, a mythical creature of the sea, to revive him and take him beneath the waves. Now seven years later, she has a chance to bring Ianto back, and it’s up to the fragments of Torchwood and their allies to find Jack, and convince him to call Ianto home.
Notes: Ynys is Welsh for island, and roana a derivative of roane which is Welsh for seal. Selkies are magical half-seal half-human creatures found in the folklore of the British Isles. This story is heavily influenced by tales my Nana used to tell by the fireside of her seaside house near Bantry, Ireland. There's a dash of the movie The Secret of Roan Inish, a smidgen of The Seal Children by Jackie Morris, and a liberal dusting of Irish family traditions (Nana still smoors the fire nightly - albeit with a more traditional prayer).
I hope you enjoy it. I had a lot of fun writing this, and would love to know what you think.
Prologue
“There is a place on the edge of Wales where fields and moorlands meet, where heather and gorse slope down high cliffs. Waves crash and bite at the cliffs, and the wind lifts the spray as seals sing to the rhythm of the sea.”
The Seal Children - Jackie Morris
July 9, 2010 - Mermaid Quay, Cardiff
A gentle fog rolled across Cardiff Bay, coating Mermaid Quay in a blanket of stillness. A lone gull emerged from the east and circled the Millennium Center, tracking the progress of the vehicle slowly making its way past the newly rebuilt Roald Dahl Plass. Swooping low, she breezed past the driver, making sure that she still had her in sight.
Martha Jones-Smith looked up through the windshield of the UNIT transfer van to the cloud ridden sky above, watching as the gull that had been her companion through the long drive from London made a graceful sweep of the Plass, before circling her destination: the newly rebuilt entrance to Torchwood Three.
“Goodbye,” she whispered as her feathered escort circled the building one last time, and letting out a single parting cry, flew towards the bay. As the silence of the morning descended upon her, Martha felt bereft without the simple comfort the gull had brought during her journey. As her travelling companion disappeared, the eerie fog grew thicker, obscuring even the shining black letters over the entrance to Torchwood from view.
After the incident with the 456, Torchwood was out in the open, no longer unknown to those it protected. Watching the entrance to the office building that now housed the organization slip in and out of the fog, Martha contemplated the list of friends and family who had given their lives in duty to Torchwood: Adeola, Owen, Tosh, Jack, Ianto....she looked over her shoulder to where Ianto Jones resided inside his cryo-chamber. One year to the day, and she was finally bringing him home. Martha had seen to his release from UNIT personally. When they had protested that he should be incinerated to prevent potential contamination, she had called the Doctor, and put him on speaker phone, letting the Time Lord himself convince UNIT that he would take responsibility if anything happened. Jack may have disappeared, but this was one thing Martha would do for his fallen lover, and for her lost friend.
Sighing, she exited the vehicle to check that everything was in order before retrieving Gwen to move him to the newly refurbished morgue. Silence filled the air, and the gulls, so prevalent at this time of morning, had stilled their voices, leaving only the soft crash of the waves against the pier to mark time’s passing. The world seemed to be holding it’s breath in silent tribute, as Ianto Jones was laid to rest.
Martha opened the doors and checked on the status of the chamber. No change in transit, all were systems operational, and the virus still dormant. After finishing her clinical analysis, she brushed back the ice coating the chamber window to view her silent friend within.
“I’m sorry he’s not here to see to this himself,” she whispered. “I know that I’m a poor substitute, but I promise you Ianto, I will make sure that if there is any way to bring him back, I’ll find it.” She gently kissed the glass above his temple, hoping that wherever he was now, he had found some peace. Giving him one last glance, she exited the van, closing and locking the doors behind her.
The stillness of the morning was broken by a splash in the water below the pier. Curious, Martha moved to the rail alongside the quay to investigate. A small contingent of grey seals floated on the waves before her, unblinking and silent, witnessing the pain that Martha had tried to keep in check for so long. Someone had once told her that seals could cry, and as she looked closer, she saw that the tales must be true, as a seal with sad brown eyes swam closer and looked at her, eyes wet with weeping. Seeing this creature shed the tears that Martha had tried so hard to keep at bay became her undoing. Unable to hold back any longer, Martha leaned against the railing, sobbing into sea below. Staring into the human-like faces of the gentle creatures, Martha considered them a sort of watery honor guard, standing vigil for the man she was finally bringing home. Squaring her shoulders and wiping her eyes. Martha smiled gently as the largest of the group swam up to the rail, staring at her with unusually bright stormy blue eyes, as if understanding her pain.
Martha smiled down at him. “He gave us all so much. I just want to make sure that he comes home where he belongs. Jack couldn’t do it. It hurt him too much, so he left. Gwen has her hands full with Torchwood. So that leaves me.” The seal blinked at her as she continued to speak her thoughts aloud. “Not sure why I’m telling you this,” she laughed bitterly. “But Ianto had so much more life to live, I just don’t understand, why did this have to happen?” She broke down again, and the seal barked gently at her, as if telling her that it would be alright. Martha wiped her face a second time. “Alright, I hear you,” she shook her head. “Get it together Jones; you’re talking to a seal here.” She sniffed and blinked away the remainder of her tears before composing herself once more. “Watch over him for me while I get the others ready, yeah?” Martha asked the seal. His nod of response seemed almost human. Giving him a nod of her own, she stepped away from the rail, and walked towards Torchwood, ready to face the ghosts of the past and do right by the man in her charge.
As soon as Martha went inside, the seal disappeared and a man emerged from the fog near the railing. Tall and fair, his shoulder length white hair curled loosely around the weathered face of a man long at sea. Pulling his coat tight around him, he glanced around to make certain Martha was gone, before making his way to the back of the van. Raising his hand to the lock on the double doors, a layer of ice crept over his fingers to encase the lock, causing it to weather into a brittle piece of worn metal. Smiling to himself, he tapped it gently, causing it to shatter apart on the ground below. Opening the doors, he surveyed the contents, reaching in and pulling out the gurney holding the cryo-chamber, and rolling it away from the van. Stopping alongside the railing where Martha had stood, he deactivated the controls on the chamber, and slid back the glass top, revealing the still form of Ianto Jones within.
“Ah pup, what have they done to you?” he wondered aloud, taking in the cold countenance of the lifeless body inside. Sliding the glass further back, he unhooked Ianto from the various electrodes and IV lines, gently lifting him out of the chamber and into his arms. Sitting Ianto gently down to lean back against the railing, he held him close, rubbing his hands slowly over his cold body as he returned it to a more normal temperature. Once Ianto was warm enough, a small silver flask covered in runes emerged from the pocket of the man’s coat, and he brought it to Ianto’s lips, tilting his head back to pour the liquid inside down his throat before closing his mouth. Stillness returned to the quay as the seals watched in silence. A flock of gulls circled overhead keeping lookout; ensuring that the men below were not disturbed. The man held Ianto securely in his arms as he sat against the railing, rocking him back and forth, and humming an ancient lullaby while waiting for the elixir to do its work. The minutes passed like centuries until finally he felt the man in his arms begin to stir.
“Grandfather Liam?” asked a raspy voice beneath him. Liam looked down to see the stormy blue of his own eyes mirrored in that of his grandson. He felt for his pulse. It was weak, so very weak, but the fact that he had awoken, meant that all was not lost.
“Aye, laddie,” he said, barely keeping the tears from his voice. “Tis me.” Ianto looked confused.
“But how?” he asked, unsure of what had happened or where he was.
The warning sound of a gull’s cry echoed through the empty Plass, and shouting from the direction of the Torchwood office quickly followed. Seeing Martha and Gwen running towards them, Liam knew they only had moments before they would be discovered.
“No time son,” he said, hauling Ianto back up onto his feet. “I’ve done what I can, but you know the rules of your Mother’s clan.” Ianto’s eyes went wide as the implication of his words took hold. Suddenly it all came rushing back; The 456, Thames House, and...he glanced over to the cryo-chamber, his death. He looked back to his grandfather and the flask still inside his hand, realizing what he must have done. But what about Rhiannon and the kids? What about Torchwood? What about Jack? He glanced down to contemplate the shroud-like medical gown that barely covered his modesty, and then over to where Martha and Gwen were running towards them, guns drawn and ready to shoot.
“Can I ever come back?” he asked, suddenly scared of the answer. His grandfather saw the growing fear on his grandson’s face and sighed.
“I was called by the tears of Martha Jones. Seven years must pass before we can return Ianto. There’s naught I can do to change that,” he replied, hoping Ianto would forgive him. His grandson has always known of the family history; he had joined Torchwood because of it. But to him, it had only been stories. The need to choose had never been real. He could only pray that Ianto would understand why Liam had been forced to make the choice for him. Looking at his grandson, he held his breath as Ianto held his gaze, seeming to weigh his words and sort the truth of them. After a moment’s contemplation, Ianto closed his eyes, nodding his acceptance.
“They won’t understand,” he finally said, looking up as Gwen and Martha reached them, guns raised, ready to take down whoever had dared to try and steal the body of their fallen comrade. When the reality that Ianto was in fact alive and standing before them registered, the shouting stopped and the questions began.
“Drop him now!” shouted Gwen. “Who the bloody hell are you and what are you doing to Ianto?”
Liam merely ignored her, concentrating instead on keeping Ianto upright as the elixir did its work, and his strength slowly returned.
“Ianto?” Martha asked, staring at her resurrected friend in disbelief. Lowering her gun, she moved slowly towards him, hoping that somehow this was real. Ianto barely had time to smile before his grandfather spoke again.
“I thank you for callin’ me Miss Jones,” he said with a voice as salty as the sea. “As requested, I’ll be looking after him now.”
“But you can’t,” Gwen challenged him. “He has family here, and Torchwood, and, and what about Jack?” She stepped up beside Martha, her gun still pointed at them.
“I can, and I will,” he replied, inching them closer to the railing’s edge. “Torchwood holds no sway over my kind. Your Captain had three years to profess his feelings for my grandson; more than enough time, even by human standards. And now he’s gone.” He sat on the rail and helped Ianto up beside him. Gwen’s grip tightened as she made ready to shoot the strange man rather than let him take Ianto over the railing with him. Seeing her start to squeeze the trigger, Ianto shook his head, willing her to understand that he had no choice in the matter. Seeing the pleading in his eyes, she hesitated, hoping Ianto knew what he was doing.
“Seven years must pass before Ianto can return,” Liam continued. “Until then, I suggest you inform your Captain that only if he is worthy will my grandson answer his call.”
Turning his gaze to Martha, he gave her a small smile and nodded his head. As Martha thought of the seal who made a same gesture earlier, her mouth dropped open in shock as she realized they were one and the same. Before she could speak, he smiled at her and put his arm around his grandson’s waist.
“I’m in debt to you, Miss Jones,” he said, flashing her a smile just as cheeky as his grandson’s. “If you ever have need of the selkie folk, all you have to do is call.” She stared back at him, and then turned to Ianto, trying to understand what was happening. He returned her gaze; face flush with the cold of the morning, and eyes as bright and knowing as his grandfather’s. Suddenly it all made sense.
“Do you have to leave?” she asked. But thinking back on the folktales she had heard as a girl, she already knew the answer.
“Yes Martha, I do. I can’t stay now,” Ianto said quietly. Martha stepped forward and touched his cheek.
“Be careful out there,” she whispered, not knowing when or if she would ever see him again. Ianto leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
“Ynys Roana,” he whispered in her ear before pulling away. Martha kept her face neutral, knowing he had given her a message. She smiled, filing the knowledge away for later. It may not make sense to her now, but she was sure that Ianto had said if for a reason. Stepping back to Gwen’s side, Martha lowered Gwen’s gun and shook her head.
“We have to let him go Gwen,” she said turning her back to the two men on the railing. “There is more at work here then either you or I know.” Anger, fear, and resentment warred on Gwen’s face, until she finally lowered the weapon. Satisfied, Martha turned back to the railing to see Ianto mouth the words ‘thank you,’ before turning his eyes to the sea below.
“Are you ready boy?” Liam asked. Ianto nodded once, swallowing back the fear growing in his belly at what was to come. “Ladies,” Liam said with a wink, and the two of them fell over the side. Gwen ran forward with a cry, searching the water for any sign of them. Martha, guessing what had happened, watched as the empty medical gown sunk below the waves. Looking further out, she saw a pair of silver seals surface at the end of the quay. The smaller of the two looked back at her, nodded once, and then dove beneath the waves. Martha raised her hand in farewell. Ianto was gone.