Authors Note: Hi all, Let me know what you think of this first chapter and I will continue if there is interest for it! Obviously, I own nothing.
"I have no idea what to do with the girl." a voice rang out into the hallway from the throne room. "I'm at wits end and I cannot find it in myself to speak with her" The voice continued, exasperation, frustration and a hint of something akin to fear in the words. Despite the tone, the words flowed from the speaker like molten honey, sweet and hotly dangerous.
"You chose this, and you have the power to end it at any time. Simply enter her as a participant and she becomes someone else's headache" Another voice responded, this one distinctly female, with just the smallest lilt of amusement coloring the words.
"You know I won't do that" The male voice responded, defeat and in his tone now.
"You buy yourself too much misery with this girl, and a mortal. You certainly know how to cause yourself trouble brother." The voice was softer now, carrying a note of concern "You could always simply explain the situation to her, perhaps she would find your company preferable to the alternative."
"Oh yes, and a fine conversation that would be. I can hear it now 'Dearest Sarah, allow me to explain to you why you have been locked in the castle beyond the Goblin city. You see, by Fae rule you became part of the court the moment you beat my Labyrinth, and now as a subject of the High Court you must either stay here with me or be entered into a competition whose specifics and consequences you are completely ignorant of' I'm certain that will go over wonderfully Ariadne"
"Then explain the competition to her in full" Ariadne replied in exasperation.
"And if she chooses to enter the competition? I cannot risk that. I stand to lose too much if she is entered" the male voice responded. "You know the title she holds is tied to the Kingdom, if she were to be entered it could compromise our sovereignty and give any number of other claimants a chance to strengthen their hold on our lands."
"Then bed her, make her ineligible" Ariadne responded tartly. "Regardless, you must make a decision soon brother, before the High court comes knocking down the door"
"I cannot simply b…" The words were cut off when a dark haired tempest twirled into the room, hair flying, heavy boots stomping the stone floors, green eyes flashing with anger and outrage.
"Excuse me?! You come within 5 feet of me and I will castrate you Goblin King!" The dark haired woman cried, pointing an accusing finger towards the man, whose eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Ariadne slid between her brother and the infuriated brunette with practiced ease and held up her hands in a gesture of supplication. "We were just discussing-"
"Rape is what you were discussing" Sarah shot back, her voice growing in volume while bile rose in the back of her throat.
"You misunderstand, Sarah, allow me to-" The Goblin King broke in, stepping around Ariadne and placing his hand on Sarah's shoulder.
His hand was still covered by his black gloves, but the touch sent shivers down Sarah's arm even as her ire and panic continued to grow. "No, Send me home Goblin King! For my will is as strong as yours, and my Kingdom as great, I demand you send me home!" her voice was touched with more than a bit of panic now, but she could not help the desperate note that crept through the anger in her voice as she violently yanked her shoulder out of reach of the Goblin King. Her heart pounded, her throat was dry, and despite her anger, she could feel tears threatening to well in her eyes.
Two weeks ago she had been living her life, going to her job as a publishing agent and spending her spare time volunteering as a director for her local high school theater, where Toby was currently a Sophomore. She gone to sleep after feeding her cat Ludo and had woken up to find the Goblin King towering over her from the side of her bed. He said nothing, but the next instant she found herself in the Castle Beyond the Goblin City, and had not been allowed to leave since. No explanation, no conversation.
For the last two weeks Sarah had wandered the castle looking for him, cursing his name and demanding to be returned home. On the first day a small goblin had given her a short tour of the castle, showing her the way to the kitchens and other necessary areas, but when Sarah asked him to take her to the King, he shook his head 'No' so fast his batty ears whipped around his head and he fell. And so it was with everyone she met. Every time she asked, yelled, demanded, whispered, cajoled or attempted to coerce the goblins in the castle to take her to the king, they refused. The doors to the outside of the castle seemed to lock themselves in front of her every time she tried to leave. At attempt to jump out of a first floor window only transported her back to the small room she had been given as a living chamber. For two weeks she had explored the castle, and eventually resorted to hiding behind columns outside the throne room, figuring that eventually he would need to visit this room if nowhere else in the castle. And she was right.
Which led her back to her current situation, staring down the Goblin King and his female companion, apparently his sister. Much like her brother she had long blonde hair, and unlike him, both of her eyes were a light sky blue. Ariadne held her hair back from her forehead in a simple, sleek braid that ran most of the way down her back, and wore a pair of black breeches tucked into calf height brown boots. She wore a brown corseted style jerkin with a sky blue shirt underneath. Overall giving the impression of a pirate more than a princess, though she sported a large amulet around her neck, and the braid that hung down her back was hung here and there with tiny white pearls. She was stunning, and her face clearly showed how taken aback she was by the fierceness of Sarah's emotion. She composed herself quickly and took a step away from the enraged mortal, taking her brothers hand and drawing him back a few steps with her, trying to show the girl that they meant her no harm.
"Sarah, my name is Ariadne, please, take a seat and we will try to explain…" Ariadne was more shocked by what happened next than she should have been. The mortal girl began to cry. Shaking in rage and desperation and looking from her to her brother while tears spilled from her eyes, she said "Let me go home, please"
