A.N. - Okay, so I wasn't intending to add another chapter until next week, but inspiration struck, so here we are. Also, I'm borrowing a character I created from my other story because I just like him (though in my other story, Brok is not a High Adviser). Now to post this before my best friend gets home because I have to help her with last minute wedding details...Enjoy!

Choices

The goblin started at Toby's outburst, then sauntered over with narrowed eyes to the group. "Keep it down!" he hissed. "Do you want to call in the whole Dark Army?!" Then he caught a better look at the boy and his eyes widened. He's Fae marked, but he's here, Above? What does that mean? Then he took in the other members of the group until his eyes rested on Sarah. She's Fae marked too?! Something's up with these two mortals, and I'm gonna find out sooner or later.

Dan made his way forward, as if to show the goblin he was the leader of the group. Sarah noticed that the goblin didn't look too impressed. Well think of who the goblin's comparing Dan to. It's no contest who would win between those two, Sarah giggled to herself, blushing as the image of Jareth popped into her head. Dan spoke up, and Sarah told her mind to can it. "Hello? We mean you no harm, whatever you are, and we hope that you don't mean us harm either."

"Whatever I am?" The goblin asked, a little hurt. "The boy just told you what I am, I'm a goblin. More to the point, my name is Brok and I serve His Majesty as a High Adviser."

"Oh," Dan said, slightly taken aback. "I'm sorry if I offended you, Brok. My name is Dan and these are my fellow travelers. We're trying to hide from those creatures."

"Dark Fae," muttered Sarah, unable to help herself, and though the rest of the group didn't hear her, Brok's ears perked up and his attention strayed to her for a second.

"Hmm," Brok said, "We thought the Dark Ones might have gotten through to the mortal world, but we weren't sure. The passage has been barred."

"How did you get through just now if it's been barred?" Kayo asked.

"The King's been having me test all of the doorways, both well used and forgotten. This is one of the less used ones, so it should have been harder to get through, but perhaps there were other factors involved. I'm not entirely sure myself."

"So why is your King having you come through?" Dan blurted out, trying to gain control of the conversation again.

"To ascertain what was going on here, of which you've just told me. So thank you, you've made my job easier. I'd hate to have to run into one of the Dark Ones, they're just downright nasty." And with that, Brok turned to go. Sarah blinked. Damn, she'd forgotten that tendency of the more intelligent goblins to get right to the point, then be on their way.

"Wait!" Sarah called out, causing Brok to stop and turn her way. There was a knowing look in his eye, a gleam of victory that she couldn't quite place. He knows something, but what? She wondered. She had no time to find out though, she had her brother and her friends to worry about. "Isn't there something His Majesty could do for us?"

Brok cocked his head and seemed to consider for a moment. "Well," he finally said, "you could plead your case to the King. Since he and some of the other Fae are trying to plan a counter-attack, there's a good chance that he'll help you."

"I sense there's a condition to pleading our case," Sarah replied. "So what is it?"

Brok nodded in approval. The young lady was smart, and that bode well for her. "I could take you through the portal with me, and you could plead your case, but you would never be able to come back to the mortal realm."

"What?!" Dan exclaimed. "That's not fair! We don't know anything about how to live in your realm, as you put it." He turned to the others, saying, "I think this goblin's trying to trick us, there's got to be another way to fight."

Fury flooded Sarah at his words. There were some things you just didn't do, and one of them was insulting a goblin! "Why would he trick us, he doesn't have anything to gain from doing that, Dan!" She yelled at him. "We asked for his help, and I'm sure if there was another way, he would have told us. Besides, what choice do we have? I for one would feel a lot safer if we were somewhere where a royal magical being was nearby to help us instead of running around the woods like chickens with our heads cut off."

Brok snickered at that. She's a goblin defender, I like her! He thought. To the group he splayed his hands out in the universal gesture of peace, saying, "Lady's right, I've got no reason to harm any of you. So make your choice, but you'd better make it quick cause I ain't sticking around till the Dark Ones find us."

The whole group gathered closer together, talking in hushed tones. Sarah was the first to speak up. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm going to go with Brok regardless of what the rest of you want to do. I'm sorry if that seems harsh or selfish, but I have my brother to think about and this seems like the best way to keep him safe. Besides, there's nothing left for me here."

Dan sighed, running his hands through his hair, then said, "While I have my reservations about this plan, I have to agree with you, Sarah. And I'm sorry for what I said earlier, it's just that we don't know if we can trust Brok."

Sarah fixed him with a determined look, replying, "He won't betray us, I promise. Goblins may be pranksters and adept at misdirection but they don't have it within themselves to go back on their word."

Tessa spoke up, "How do you know so much about goblins, Sarah?"

Sarah gave her friend a wry grin and said, "Let's just say I had some first hand experience when I was younger. I'd rather not go into the details of it right now, though."

"Well that settles it for me, I'm in!" Tessa laughed. The others agreed to go as well.

"Looks like we're going with you, Brok," Dan said, turning to the goblin.

"Good, now there are a couple of things I should go over with you. First, the trip through to the other side of the portal might make you mortals a bit woozy. It's not meant for human travel. Secondly, you will have to put in a formal petition to the King in order for him to hear your case. I'll help you do that, but the form is simple enough. Finally, when you do finally get an audience with the King, whatever you do, do not insult him. He's a kind enough leader and he'll hear you out with an open mind, but if you anger him, you might just find yourself bogged."

"Bogged?" Dan asked, a bit bewildered.

"It's awful, don't even ask," Sarah murmured to him, hoping that Brok wouldn't hear.

But Brok did hear, though he chose not to show that he'd heard. So, she's been to the Underground before. I wonder if that has anything to do with her mark. I'll just have to keep an eye on her and the boy.