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Hours after the defeat of the golden army...
The angel of death seemed pleased with what he/she saw, as a body formed from a pile of ash. Milk white skin marked with scars, white blond hair forming around strong shoulders. He/she turned to look at the alabaster figure that lay near the entrance to the chamber, the bargain made with her was simple their link for her brother's life. He/she knelt beside Nuada and whispered into his ear...
"Live..."
A gasping breath echoed and a heartbeat filled the chamber, sounding like drums...
The Goblin Kingdom, four months later...
Nuada Silverlance took a halting and painful breath. He remembered dying, falling to ash as his sister froze to alabaster. He felt panic before registering he was on his back upon something soft. He turned his head, opening his eyes onto darkness. A gentle hand touched his forehead, brushing away a few strands of his hair from his face. He spoke the only thing that came to his lips...
"Nuala..."
There was no answer, the hand withdrew. He reached out through the link he remembered being there, only emptiness and silence answered him.
"Nuala..." He sobbed, carrying as much sorrow as that moment in the chamber.
The hand again, and a soft voice. "Shush..."
He turned his head toward the voice, his eyes only seeing darkness. He tried to reach up to touch his face, the hand caught his.
"No, don't..."
He began to tremble, realizing he didn't know where he was or if that voice belonged to a human. He let out a wail of despair and anguish that caused the healer beside him to send him back into the void of sleep.
Council Chambers, Royal palace of Bathmora...
The goblin king stood before the high Council, waiting their verdict upon his "guest" now sequestered in one of the rooms in his palace. The council's first action had been to strip the unfortunate prince of his royal title and status though leaving him a noble of Bathmora. This he personally agreed with, as Nuada had been a fool to try to carry out his plans without understanding that he did not need the army, only patients. A good portion of humanity would wipe itself out, and those smart enough not to would no doubt willingly concede once again to the treaty.
The council's second verdict was to have the still unconscious fey lord blinded. This he did not agree with, as it had been done out of spite by the new High King. As in ancient human days, Fey kings had to be whole. Blinding Nuada insured he would never be whole to challenge him for the throne. The head of the Council called his name.
"...Jareth, King of goblins..."
He stepped forward, wishing dearly he could have had Sara's insight upon this matter. He bowed with his usual flamboyance.
"...We have decided to leave the prisoner, Lord Silverlance, as your guest with all the trappings due a noble of Bathmora." The council head spoke. "...You may have his caretakers be any being you wish as I doubt he'd even know if they were human or Fey..."
Jareth pondered that, for one who hated humans so, to be cared for by one. If it was one thing fate took delight in, it was irony.
"...It would be an honor..." Jareth said with all the courteous tone he could muster.
The tap of the gavel and the council ended.
Two days later, Place of the goblin king...
Jareth paced back and forth, looking now and again at Sara as she tended their child. Once upon a time he would have shared Nuada's views about humans, but having known Sara he knew there were still a few who remembered that "we are of one blood, ye and I" as Kipling so eloquently put it. To find one who would willingly give up life "above" to be caretaker and perhaps consort to a sundered prince.
"...Sit down dear," Sara said softly, though she could easily show off a fiery temper. "you won't solve this by force..."
He turned and sighed, taking a seat upon the edge of the bed. She was right, he had considered making the next human who failed the maze be Nuada's caretaker.
"...I cannot think of any who would come..." He said. "And to use the test in such a way..."
Sara looked down at their child, bright mismatched eyes looking up at her. She remembered the woman who had attended her labor.
"Do you think the healer who attended me would come?"
He turned to Sara, the birth of their child had been difficult and no fey would trust a human midwife to touch their queen. The healer had been a rare find, with a rare gift.
"Do you think one of her kind would come, the life-singers long ago withdrew from the conflict between humans and Fey...They would have to give permission for her to travel beyond the market."
Sara remembered they had been fortunate to have gained safe passage the last time for the young healer.
"The simplest is to ask..." Sara said. "Her name was Pen, I believe...she did not live far from the market..."
Jareth nodded, he had arrangements to make with both the healer's guild and the Singers council.