Brenna Series

Chapter 2: Shaky Starts

It didn't seem to long at all before Jareth was awoken by a piercing cry and a chorus of goblin banter. His slightly pointed ears twitched, and a grimace fell across his face. His mismatched eyes slipping open regretfully. Though they were met with a room bathed in sunlight instead of moonlight, he still felt slightly tired. He hadn't wanted to wake up to the ruckus that was forming in the halls outside his door.

The initial cry had turned into a terrified wails and the goblin banter turned into frantic squabbling. He sighed and pulled himself into a seated position, wrinkling his nose in annoyance. He didn't waste time pondering whatever punishments may come, for he knew the cries would just get louder. He rose and proceeded to get dressed.

He refrained from grabbing one of his ever present capes, instead choosing to wear a soft grey breeches and a white poets shirt. Slipping on his boots carefully, he could almost time the moment a goblin would come bursting into the room to demand his presence. The mayhem outside had augmented to the point of chaos, and even the goblins knew when they were in over their heads. He really should have told them not to enter the child's room, but he hadn't thought anything of it at the time. Goblins were just goblins, in masses they could be dangerous but a single goblin was knocked aside with a wave of a hand. As he slid on his other boot, he started to count down from five. Just as he mouthed the last digit to himself, his chamber doors flew open.

He rose from his position at the edge of his bed and looked at the three goblin gaurds that stood uneasily in the doorway. His eyes narrowing slightly, and waited. After several painfully silent moments, one of the gaurds sacrificed one of their number to step up and speak to him.

"Yer Highness?"

"yes?" he inquired regally.

"The girl, Yer highness, is quite upset…" he continued, shaking in his place where Jareth's gaze had pinned him.

"I can hear that." Jareth stated sourly.

The gaurds gulped in unison, and their poorly sacrificed companion stammered a few moments before finding his intelligence buried somewhere in his brain.

"she refuses any forms of distraction or comfort Yer highness. We have tried, but it seems only to have made her cry more."

Jareth frowned, "I want who ever is in that child's room to leave this instant, I will go calm her down myself."

All three gaurds bowed at once and fled to do as he wished. Their voices rising to command the other goblins away. The squabbling stopped almost as quickly as it had begun, and the sounds of goblins rushing off in a hurry replaced it. several goblins rushed passed his still open door, looking as harassed as he bet Brenna must feel. with a shake of his head, he walked towards the door.

The wails that had been coming from brenna's room just down the hall had reduced to pathetic sniffles and the occasional hiccup. The rapid change from the terrified shrieks astounded him. he could only surmise that the goblins had frightened her some how. Walking purposefully towards her slightly open door, the heels of his boots clicking loudly in the quiet of the hall. He lifted an ungloved hand to push open the door, and take stock of what mayhem he might see.

He was pleasantly surprised to see that the chaos was minimal, an over turned chair and the linen of the bed tossed on the floor. He waved a hand, fixing the disorder in the room before turning his attention to where Brenna had gotten to. she was not on the bed where she had slept, nor in any immediately visible area of the room. He stepped in further and closed the door behind him. his eyes trailing curiously over the shadows that clung to the corners, then his gaze caught sight of her.

She was curled up beside the bed, huddled desperately against the soft fabric of the quilt he had just put to rights. Her small hands were covering her face, her little legs pulled up against her body. Her dress was rumpled and wrinkled, her hair a knarled mess. He would need to find a brush to smooth out those snarls, and a new dress so that one could be washed.

As he walked towards her, he noted that she seemed to not notice he was there. Yet, as he got closer, he saw her tense then peak out from behind her hands. Her large evergreen eyes were still sparkling with tears, and a her cheeks seemed damp with all the crying she seemed to have done. Promptly she sniffed, and cowered against the bed. Jareth tisked regretfully.

"now now, not this again little one."

He knelt a few feet away from her, watching her as she watched him. he didn't want to pick her up, he wasn't quite sure that would help right now. then what would? his mind ran through every possible idea. Then his eyes caught sight of a pillow that was squished between her and the bed. She seemed to be snuggling against in a frantic quest for comfort that she wasn't receiving. He smiled, and she cowered away.

"Brenna, surely you can have something better then a pillow to hold?"

Brenna pulled her little hands from her face, and stared at him questioningly. He reached out a hand to her, taking stock of the fact she cowered away from that very motion, then twisted his wrist as if he was creating one of his crystals. It wasn't a crystal he made though, for in his hand was a limp soft furry item that he was sure would be appealing to her. its body was covered in long fine fur, its tail long and bushy. Two pointed ears sat atop it's head, and two large amber eyes stared out over a small black nose. Though very realistic, it was merely a toy. Jareth watched Brenna stare at the stuffed critter in his hand for a moment, then tenetively reach out a hand to touch the soft fur. Adruptly she pulled away, as if what she had done was wrong, and stared up at him timidly. He offered the toy to her.

"it's alright Brenna, it is for you."

Pulling away from the bed, and the sadly deflated pillow, she reached out a hand again and ran it over the fur. A soft, sweet giggle escaped her mouth. Jareth felt her little hands pull the stuffed animal from his hand, he watched her pull it close and hold it tight. Her cherubic face burrowed against the yielding fabric and stuffing, and she sighed. He smiled, a gentle indulgent smile. He kept his hand offered, letting her enjoy her toy a moment before pulling her back to reality.

"come here Brenna, please."

Brenna looked up at him from around the fuzzy head of the feline like face, then scooted towards him. the little stuffed animal scooped up into one arm as she did so. he carefully placed his hand on her back, then used his other hand to scoop her up slowly. He rose as he did so, situating her in the crook of his arm. Brenna was tense for a moment, then relaxed as he stopped moving.

"Peta!" she murmured softly.

He felt her snuggling against the soft creature again, and looked down at her questioningly.

"hmm?"

Brenna looked up at him, and lifted her new toy up a bit. "Peta!"

Jareth smiled, realizing that she had named her stuffed toy, and nodded in agreement. Though he had no idea where she had gotten the name from, he wasn't going to question the name. a child of three has an unusual mind. so young and so innocent, a child so young didn't understand many complex things yet their mind worked in ways that confounded adults to no end. That made his mind wander as he tough. Brenna was unusually intelligent for one her age. She understood more then, perhaps, she should for one her age. He just couldn't understand why. perhaps that is why it kept coming back to him.

Turning, he started to walk out of the room while producing a soft hankcheif and whipping her nose.

"I suppose your hungry Brenna?"

He glanced down at her, his long platinum hair falling to tickle her cheek. she giggled softly, and stared up at him a moment. then she nodded once, shyly, and hid behind her toy. He turned and headed down the hall towards the dining area. Since his subjects knew that he was awake, he could only guess that they had started to get the morning meal made. He would worry about getting another dress for Brenna later, no use getting a fresh dress dirty right away.

His well calculated guess was quite correct, unsurprisingly, for the drudges were setting two places at the table as he entered the room. One at the head of the table, where he normally ate, and one at the seat to the right. Brenna was murmuring in his arms, talking soft jibberish to her Peta, and unaware of the going ons around her. she only took mild notice when Jareth set her down upon the corner of the table.

The chair wasn't high enough for her, and a firm frown was seated upon his face. This was getting to be a bother. he didn't really have anything for children in his castle, aside from the old nursery that hadn't been used in a few centuries. He kept having to find some way to modify what he had to fit her and, while it wasn't that hard, it was getting tiresome to have to do it constantly. Then again, he chided himself, he need only to do it once for most things. Such as fixing a chair to the height and safety of one little girl, an easy task really. Still, he was questioning how much more of this he would need to do.

Lifting a hand, he gave a casual wave, and the chair rose, the arms and the back shrinking a bit till it appeared something like a medieval high chair. Then, lifting Brenna, he placed her in the chair. Next problem, brenna's Peta was still clung in a death hold in her arms.

"Brenna."

He spoke gently, resting a hand upon the soft fur. Brenna looked up at him, her soulful eyes blinking up at him.

"I think you might want to put Peta down while you eat."

Brenna looked at Peta then at his hand, which remained resting upon the soft fur, then she slowly let the toy go. He took careful hold of the fur, and gently pulled it away. Placing it on the table near her.

"see. it's not going anywhere Brenna. It'll be right her for when your done eating."

Brenna nodded slowly, looking at Peta, then she looked up at him. her eyes were somber and still. Mercifully, they were also dry of tears. He stared back at her for several moments, before seating himself in his own chair at the table. Not a moment later, several drudges came into the dining room with two laden trays. One was set in the place beside brenna's, while the other was placed beside Jareth. Two young elves then stepped up and placed the platters, cups and silverware in their respective places. One, he saw, was cutting up brenna's breakfast for her before placing it before her. it seemed they made something as mild as her dinner the night before for her breakfast, a simple fruit filled pastry and some cut up fruit in a bowl beside.

Jareth ate is breakfast slowly, keeping a close eye on Brenna. He was well aware that the two elf attendants were standing near by to tend to any of their needs. He was used to it, but Brenna seemed to be watching them intently. Her eyes wide and curious, though wary. He noticed her reaching for her glass, then stopping and looking at him with those wide innocent eyes. without a word, he set down his fork and picked up the glass for her. lifting it to her mouth, he helped her drink, then set the glass to the side.

Brenna paused a moment after she swallowed, then reached out to pick up a piece of apple that had fallen from the bowl and onto her plate. She brought it to her mouth and nibbled experimentally before taking a bite. A small almost dainty bite, the notion that a child her age could achieve dainty made him chuckle mentally. He was mentally praising the attendants for cutting everything in small enough pieces. Another bath right away in the morning was not a good start to another wise glorious sunny day.

The door that Jareth had entered the dining room from opened once again. A short goblin wearing messenger appearal came rushing in. a silver tray held out before him, a perfectly pristine white envelop laying upon it. he swallowed the bite he had been chewing rather forcefully. His eyes were locked on the envelop on the tray. It was laying face down, so that the Seal of the Courts could be seen blatantly upon the back. The goblin came to a stop beside him and bowed, offering the tray.

Reaching out he took the envelop from the tray, treating it as if it were dangerous. The Fae court didn't send messages for any trivial reason and he had figured they would contact him sooner or later. He had, after all, broken several rules when it came right down to it. all of them had to do with Brenna. He set the envelop down beside him, his appitite quickly leaving him. quickly, his eyes turned to Brenna. She was eating, oblivious to his sudden unease at the arrival of the letter.

Deciding that now was the best time, he lifted the envelop and proceed the extract the heavy parchment from within.

King Jareth, King of the Goblins, Ruler of the Labyrinth Kingdom

We are aware that last night, shortly after the evening meal, you left above ground on what was assumed to be a random flight. We are also aware that you have, during this trip, brought back a mortal child that was not wished away by another mortal. This is a direct violation of the regulations set by the Fae council on the regulation of what children are taken from above. To add to this, we are aware that no person was sent to run the labyrinth, as is also required by your set of Kingdom regulations. This child, no matter the circumstances, should be sent back aboveground to her family immediately. If you comply with our wishes, we will disregard the several laws you have broken. If you fail to comply a visitation from the Council will be issued.

Rioben, High King, Head of the Fae Council

Jareth stared at the letter for a long time. He was aware that Brenna had stopped eating and was staring at him. she had gone tense in her chair, watching and waiting. Jareth wasn't exactly sure how he felt about that letter. It gave him such an open window for redemption in the eyes of the fae court and yet. he turned his mismatched gaze to Brenna. The child hunkered down in her chair, bowing her head quickly and gulping softly.

Did he really want to send her back? Send her back to the realm above to the family that didn't care if she existed or not? his eyes touched upon one of the bruises he had known would show their colors today. Send her back to being beaten, starved and neglected. His heart hurt just thinking about it. could he really do that to her? she had lived 12 hours in peace and already she was beginning to improve. She had spoken to him. though her voice was painfully raw, he would have to encourage her to speak more. Did he really want to be the unintentional cause of the possible death of a child.

His eyes hardened, a dangerous gleam shimmering faintly in them. the child cringed even further away.

No, no he did not, he would not and could not do that to her. she was an infant of a child, mortal perhaps but did that really matter. She was a CHILD. A life that had barely begun to see what good there was in the world. He would not subject her to the un-needed abuse that she would get aboveground.

He was asking for a hell that he didn't wish to bring, but he would not heed their command. He would not send that child back above, even if he would pay dearly for it. the letter drifted lightly from his hands as he let it drop from his long fingers. He reached out and gently touched her hair, running his hand over her tangled curls.

"how is your breakfast little one?"

Brenna looked up at him hesitantly, staring up at his smiling eyes in confusion. Timidly, she sat back up and stared at him shyly a moment.

"is good, very good." She murmured softly.

Then she hiccupped, and covered her mouth with a small hand. He laughed and ruffled her hair.

"that's good. I see you've eaten quite a bit of what they have given you. are you going to finish?"

Brenna looked down at her platter, a few pieces of pastry and a half of the bowl still remained. Then she looked up at him and shook her head. He nodded once and motioned for the attendants to take their trays away. One of them offered a damp cloth which he accepted with grace. Then he focused on Brenna again, she was about to grab Peta.

"oh no, not yet Brenna. You can play with Peta in a moment. give me your hands so I can wipe them off."

Brenna reached out a hand hesitantly, and Jareth enveloped it in the soft damp cloth. Rubbing her hand carefully, he let it go and took the other hand that was offered to him. once her hands were clean he rose and came to stand beside her chair, she looked up at him. he reached down and cleaned off her face, then reached over to take hold of peta. Her little hands reached out towards her toy, and he handed it to her with a smile. Brenna promptly took hold of Peta and hugged it tight. She did tense, as Jareth picked her up, but didn't flinch or cringe away. He settled her in his arms then turned back towards the hall.

Now to get her a dress, he knew he would have to dig one out some where. The enchanted wardrobes were iffy items, though handy at times they didn't always produce the item of clothing that was needed. he didn't feel like waiting for them to produce a dress for her.

He glanced down at brenna's tangled mass of hair and sighed. Ah yes, a brush too. A dress and a brush, so simple things. Walking into her room, he strode over to her bed and set her down upon it. the colors contrasted a bit with her current attire and he frowned. They weren't really fitting for a child either. he focused on the bed spread and inclined his head. The pale green faded into a soft lilac, and the brown to a deep amythest. Brenna gasped and stared at the changed colors, before laughing and clapping her hands in delight.

Jareth couldn't help it, he smiled once again. He had never smiled so much in such a days time as he had since Brenna had come to his kingdom. How interesting. He promptly changed the color of the rest of the bed linen and pillows. Once done with that, he lifted his hand.

Brenna shrunk away instantly, watching him out of the corner of her eye. He merely twisted his wrist and brought a brush to his hand. It was his own, though he rarely used the brush for his hair. Combs were far better easier to use on his hair then brushes were. Then he sat down and pulled her into his lap.

She was a tensed up little ball, yet she sat still. Peta was strewn across her lap, her fingers taking a death hold to its fur. He sighed.

"Brenna, relax little one. your hair needs to be brushed."

Brenna glanced up at him, tilted her head and blinked cutely before facing forward again. Then he began the task of combing through the snarls. They gave surprisingly well as he drew the brush through her hair. Though the occasional tangle did give Brenna reason to whimper softly and try to pull her head away. By the time he had detangled most of her hair, save for a few stubborn snarls that seemed to persist despite his efforts, he had also come to the answer to his second problem.

he thanked the skies for good connections in the underground. Sending the brush back to it's place, he took Brenna off his lap and deposited her in the middle of her now purple bed.

"there, you play in here for a little bit Brenna. I'm going to go speak with some one. I'll be back to check on you soon."

Brenna pulled Peta closer and nodded absently as she began to smooth the fur. Jareth watched her a moment, a bit concerned despite himself, before turning and leaving the room. He wasn't exactly sure why he was so concerned. Perhaps it was because she didn't seem bothered with being alone that he was concerned. Any small child disliked being left behind. Though, he corrected himself, that is usually because they have their parents to look to. Brenna was still stuck in the mindset that she had only herself, he shouldn't expect her to step out of it rapidly.

He strode onward, heading for his throne room. only coming to a halt as he reclined within his throne absently. Along the way he had called a riding crop to him and he began to tap it absently against one knee. His other hand came up to cup his chin, one finger tapping his cheek thoughfully.

He wasn't sure what she would be up to at this time of day. Though he wasn't all that concerned about her being still in bed. She was a dawn riser, out of necessity instead of habit. Still, she was also far busier then he ever was when it came to royal duties. She could be off checking up on some race on some other planet. Even so, she was the only person he knew of who would have a dress that would be suitable for Brenna. In his opinion at least, no child staying in his castle will be dressed in commoners clothes.

He summoned a crystal and twirled it about his hand. Then, he stopped and held it. focusing upon it, he spoke to it directly.

"show me Tiombe."

The crystal started to glow, brighter it glew and it grew as it lifted above his hand. The crystal spread out like a mirror, and upon it was a young women. her long copper brown hair cascading down her back. A sky blue gown shimmered against pale skin. her angelic face was turned towards a young man with dark hair who was dressed as only a knight would be. Then hazel eyes turned towards him. he knew she saw him, as he saw her. soft red lips parted into a pleased smile. A delicate hand rose to pull her long hair from her face.

"Jareth?"

The man behind her stopped in his exercises and turned to face her, inclining his head in confusion. His deep tan evident of his prolonged time maintaining his fit figure out in the sun. his brilliant blue eyes shimmered curiously, and he placed his sword into the sheath at his side.

"tiombe?" he questioned.

Tiombe turned to face him, smiling endearingly.

"it's alright my love, it's only Jareth."

Then she focused back on him, "would you like me to come to you? I am free."

"if you wish it." Jareth said absently.

He was so used to yielding to her. she was, after all, a being best not questioned. Even so he loved to do so just to tease her and she knew it. she would laugh with him. be that as it may, Tiombe got what she wanted by default due to her status. Even if it turned out to be an inconvenience.

Tiombe nodded, and Jareth closed the spell. Though, as the image faded, the woman remained. Though full sized, and standing in flesh and blood. she smiled like the sun, the light coming from the windows seeming to pull towards her and make her glow.

"what ever can I do for you Jareth?"

Her chime like voice danced around him, it's amused lilt causing him to smile.

"nothing I bet you can't handle." He replied flippantly.

She came wafting over, literally seeming to glide across the space between them, and seated herself upon the arm of his throne.

"come now Uncle, I'm not always free, what is it you need?"

She smiled, and he laughed. Sitting up, he took her hand in his and gave it a pat.

"now now. what have I told you about being hasty?"

She laughed with him.

"that should I ever feel the need to be hasty I should go speak with the ents."

"exactly! That'll zap the hasty right out of you."

He rose and drew her to her feet. Her playful gaze was very soothing. Expecially since her eyes remained the normal hazel which she was born with. Occasionally they would shift to various other colors to display her mood, which was the only reason she didn't have mismatched eyes like any other fae.

She chuckled softly, "dearest Jareth, that would zap the energy from me. I do swear they move so slowly it's as if an eternity has passed before they take one step."

She followed him without question out of the throne room. Compared to his confident stride, she was like a will – o – wisp. Though her soft slippered feet did indeed touch the ground, motion to her was effortless. This came from a oneness with her magic that very few achieve. Her magic was her, and she was it. it was that simple.

"to answer your question. I have a…..guest of sorts. And frankly I do not have the……proper attire for one such as she. I was hoping you could be of assistance in this matter."

"She? Why ever could you not give her some of the gowns that I have left here for that purpose dear uncle?"

They were approaching brenna's door now, and Jareth was becoming uneasy. He paused before the closed door and said softly.

"Because she's to small to fit them Tiombe."

He inclined his head towards the door, knowing what tiombe would do. No sooner had he motioned towards the door, tiombe had stepped up and placed a hand against its surface. Slowly the wood seemed to vanish, and they could see into the room. though from the inside it would seem the door was still there. He watched tiombe's face carefully. Seeing her eyes grow wide a moment as they took in the small child playing upon the bed, then they shifted color. Straight from hazel to startling blue. Then she turned to look at him.

"where did you get her Jareth?"

"Above…"

Tiombe frowned, staring at him a moment.

"So that's what those ruffles are making a fuss about. She wasn't wished away was she."

Jareth merely shook his head, "no, tiombe, she was not. she was….being harmed tiombe. By her parents. I was not going to let a child so young go on being abused."

Tiombe stared at him for quite some time, her blue eyes flickering on occasion. She was at war with herself. Blue meant sorrow, sometimes it deepened and sometimes it vanished. After a while, her eyes returned to hazel and she sighed.

"fight hard for this one Jareth. Even if the council gives you trouble. I can sense she will be important in the future. I will help if I can"

Then she glanced towards the door, "though i'm not sure what good it would do me. this isn't my look out, after all. I deal with Almighty matters. And what matters follow my calling."

"I know tiombe, I do not ask you to get involved. I'd prefer to deal with it upon my own"

He reached up and ran a hand through her hair, smiling down at her. tiombe smiled back and then became thoughtful.

"a dress? For her? I guess I might have one some where. Perhaps a few actually. Eva just grew out of her toddler dresses after all."

Jareth smiled, "that's why I suddenly thought of you. how is Eva and lance by the way?"

Tiombe groaned and proceeded to shake her head with a tisk, "pure terrors those two are. What can you expect? Eva is learning that she can cast spells and is enjoying it far to much. Lance seems to want to learn, a little to eagerly might I add, how to sword fight. the boy is only a year older then eva. Liam is overjoyed though."

Jareth shook his head, an amused smile upon his face. He understood her slight exasperation at her family. Tiombe seemed to drop into another train of though then nodded once. then lifting a hand, she waved once and a soft sky blue dress appeared in her hands. A toddlers dress, with a robin's egg ribbon going around the waist and tying into a bow at the back. White butterflies were embroidered into the bodice, the sleeves and the skirt remaining one color without adornment.

It was a simple dress, yet he knew it would work till he could get some made for Brenna. Glancing at tiombe, he reached for the dress. She did not release the garment immediately. He looked at her face, and she locked gazes with his.

"I don't need the dress back Jareth, Eva won't miss it. but…..even if she doesn't stay for long…….spoil her a little bit. The child needs it."

Jareth stared at tiombe before nodding in agreement, then she was gone. The dress still in his hand, he could only stare at the space Tiombe had just vacated. he was used to her coming and going like that, but he would never get used to her random omens. Dang Queen of fate and order, sometimes he really didn't like being in the uninformed category.

Muttering, he turned to the door. Opening it, he strode in and walked straight over to Brenna. The little girl had turned to face him when he had entered the room. Peta was seated beside her, and she seemed to be totally relaxed with just sitting on the bed playing. He had disturbed her, he noted, for she was now focused on him. her eyes looking at him, then looking at the dress in his hands. Then she looked up at him again, her deep eyes confused.

"I'm afraid I had to get you a new dress Brenna. The one you are wearing currently got a bit stained during dinner last night."

He motioned towards the small stains upon her skirt. Brenna looked at them, then reached out to take hold of one such stain. her head bowed and she murmured something softly. Jareth knelt down to her level so that he could hear her better. Looking at her from this level was a bit easier then looking down at her.

"what was that Brenna?"

Brenna didn't look at him, she seemed almost scolded. Her eyes were downcast and sad, her hands now fidgeting with the skirt of her dress. Her soft, dove's coo voice whispered softly.

"I sorry.."

Jareth frowned.

"for what little one? a few stains? That's nothing to worry about. They will wash out easily. now come here so I can put this one on you."

Brenna lifted her head and glanced at the dress in his hand, then carefully turned to crawl over and slide off the bed. She let him help her take her current dress off, then kept her arms raised so that he could slide the blue one over. once on, Jareth couldn't help but smile. It was a bit big, the skirt going right down to the floor, but it fit fine otherwise. Tiombe was always a good judge of such things. Picking her back up, making her gasp softly in alarm, he made to leave the room when she gave a pathetically plain whimper. He paused, then glanced at Brenna. She was looking back towards the bed, where he noticed Peta lay forgotten upon the quilt. With a mental scolding, he turned back around to retrieve it. she reached over his arm eagerly, little fingers gripping the animal tightly as she pulled it close. He chuckled softly, shaking his head before he continued out of the room.

"I figured you would like to see some of the labyrinth, Brenna."

Jareth stated, as he strode down the hall. Brenna shifted a bit in his arms and he felt something soft against him. he guess that she had moved Peta into her other arm. Glancing down, he saw her glance out of a window as they walked passed it.

"What's labyrinth?"

She murmured softly. Jareth paused before another window, and set her on the ledge. Lifting a hand, he regally waved it in an arch before her.

"This, Brenna, is the labyrinth. Though more then just the maze before us, it is my kingdom. It is a place I hope you will call home."

Brenna looked up at him with those jewel bright eyes and blinked in awe.

"all this your's?"

Jareth couldn't help the proud smirk that came upon his face.

"oh yes. this and quite a bit more. You cannot see in one glance all that I rule over, all that I own."

Glancing down at Brenna, he saw the child like wonder of one her age upon her face. Her gaze was upon the maze before them, watching in well mannered curiousity. giving her a moment, he sweeped her up and turned to head back in the direction he had been heading.

"I thought you would like to see the garden behind my castle, young Brenna. My father's mother, my grandmother, planted it some years ago. I find it a nice, restful and quite spot during any sort of day."

Brenna murmured a response, bouncing her toy a little. Jareth just shook his head in disbelief. Just like a child, she had such a small attention span and was already on something else. So he decided to think on what to do about the council. He could always go and confront them, bring for this case early. But that might make them think he was pushing his position in the courts. That wouldn't go over well and might make things worse.

Turning down a hall and heading down some stairs, he pondered the second choice. He could also just wait for them to come to him themselves. He dreaded the idea, but it would give him time to think. He couldn't let her go back to that family life she had been in, though he knew the council wouldn't see it from his point of view. They were strict about mortals in the underground, with good reason. still, he hoped there was some way he could convince them to make an exception.

A large wooden door was now before him, the goblin sentry standing before bowing deeply as he swung the door open for him. he strode on, stepping out into the bright underground sunlight.

"Eh! Bright!"

Glancing down at Brenna, he saw her hiding herself behind peta and laughed. She peeked out from behind the animal and looked up at him, then giggled sheepishly. He bounced her a bit and then motioned before him.

"of course it's bright! It's day time youngling. Now, what do you think of the garden?"

Brenna looked out at the garden before them, and gasped. Her eyes looking over the large exotic flowers, glittering bushes and the odd colored leaves of trees. All of it perfectly maintained, kept in eternal perfection. A soft joyful exclaimation escaped her mouth.

"OH! flowers! Pretty flowers!"

Her voice was becoming clearer, nicer to listen to. with a laugh she squirmed a little, and he set her down obligingly. His eyes a little wide in wonder. She was like a different child, as she let her feet sink into the think grass beneath her. peta was trailing In the green expanse, yet he wasn't worried about dirt or any other filth. Brenna then walked forward a few steps, approaching some lily like flowers that were growing along a nicely kept grass path. Sitting herself down infront of the flowers, she reached out a little hand and ran it over the petals.

A small pink butterfly rose from the flower's center, causing her to gasp. He watched as the little insect fluttered around her face a for a little bit, then went to hover over the other lilies. Instantly, other butterflies rose, and they came to flutter around her while playing soft chime like notes. The Chimeflies liked children, he knew this, for he often brought the particularly upset infants to the garden to let them sooth them. these ones seemed rather taken by her, for they would land and play for her as she sat there and giggled sweetly.

He smiled, inclining his head and moving to sit upon a near by rock that sat along the mouth of the path. Brenna seemed oblivious to him, to taken by the butterflies that followed her as she wandered down the path a little further. he couldn't help but hope that things went well.

She was happy in the underground, and a live to see be happy. Though as fearful as an infant, she deserved a happy life. He would try to give her a happy life. Even if the council was displeased.