Chapter Three is now here! Please, review! Coming up in the next chapter…the Goblin King is finally back!
Chapter Three: A Father's Desire
Clothes were brought to Sarah shortly after Angeletta left, and she spent a long time admiring the clothes and putting them in her wardrobe. She let her hands glide across every piece of clothing as she went through them, enjoying the silky and velvety sensations beneath her fingers. She chose a light purple and white silk dress for the upcoming banquet and draped it carefully across one of the plush recliners. She then found a dark green dress made of light, airy fabric, and changed into it.
The reflection in the mirror pleased Sarah, and she swirled once before it, watching the dress twirl gracefully around her.
"This place is so different from the Labyrinth," Sarah told herself as she stopped out onto her balcony and gazed at the ocean. "I can see why Angeletta doesn't want to leave it."
Sarah watched the waves and enjoyed the ocean breeze for a good while before she went back into her room and walked over to the door. She wanted to explore the beautiful castle, and so she opened the door and stepped out into a hallway.
Sarah's feet brought her everywhere. She ventured through two dining rooms, a grand ballroom, a great study, three lounges, and four balconies before she arrived at an immense indoor courtyard and realized that she didn't know where she was.
"Oh dear," Sarah sighed, turning in circles and gazing at all the exotic plants that surrounded her. "Great going, Sarah. There's probably an opening just in front of you and you haven't seen it yet."
Her face brightened at that thought, and she put her hands out in front of her. Sarah slowly walked towards the mass of plants in front of her and let out a yelp as her hands struck against them. She heard a chuckle and turned to see Arylyn standing a short distance away from her.
"Have you lost your way, Sarah?" He asked, his eyes shining.
"I'm afraid so," Sarah blushed.
"No need to be embarrassed. Come. I will show you the way out," Arylyn smiled, offering Sarah his arm.
Sarah took his arm and walked with him through the courtyard.
"Your home is very beautiful," she complimented, looking at a small waterfall as they walked past it.
"Thank you. Angeletta is greatly to blame for that," Arylyn smiled. "I will certainly miss her when she is gone, but she will accomplish great wonders for the Labyrinth."
"You want her to become queen?" Sarah asked, looking up at him.
"Yes. Jareth's crime is unpardonable according to the Fae rule, and Angeletta will make a far better leader than Ravis."
"But if Jareth is Fae and the only blood heir left then why is he king of the goblins and not the Fae?"
Arylyn looked down at her with surprise.
"You are a deep thinker, Sarah! Jareth once had the opportunity to be king of the Fae, but he refused."
"Jareth? Refused to have more power than he already does now?" Sarah gasped.
"Yes. In order to become the king, Jareth needed a queen. He found no one to his liking. That is why it is believed that he captured you. He would have both a queen and an heir to make him king of the Fae. Obviously he failed and is now in great trouble because of the attempt. The Fae are now under the power of the council because, unlike the goblins, they can only be ruled by a blood heir."
Sarah was stunned. Jareth had taken her to be queen? When he offered her all of her dreams he actually offered her the Fae crown? It was almost too amazing to think about and she had refused!
"What about Angeletta?" Sarah surprised herself by asking. "Why do he and she despise each other?"
"Their relationship is a mystery to all," Arylyn frowned. "No one truly understands their dislike for each other. My belief is that their opposite characters clash far too often. It is very much akin to light and darkness. They are opposites in every way and can only become kindred if one is consumed by the other. When you see Jareth and Angeletta together you will understand what I am saying."
"Do the people want Angeletta to be queen?"
"Of course. Jareth is demanding and cruel. My daughter would be gentle and just. The goblins would come to love her just as I do. I want, more than anything, for Angeletta to become the queen. I am so proud of her. No father could be more proud."
"I was never under the impression that the goblins disliked Jareth. They did everything he told them to without a fight," Sarah pondered.
"Perhaps what you say is true. I haven't spent much time with the goblins. I do believe Angeletta would be good for them."
"The Goblin City could use a feminine touch and a lot of cleaning," Sarah grinned.
"Are you at all hungry, Sarah? It is nearly the afternoon meal and Angeletta will be waiting for us in the dining room," Arylyn offered.
"I am hungry, come to think of it," Sarah smiled sheepishly, and Arylyn nodded.
"Very well then. Hold onto my arm. We'll be there in a second."
Sarah gasped with surprise as the scenery around them suddenly changed and they were standing at the end of a very long table.
"There you are," Angeletta smiled, standing up from the far end of the table. She had changed her clothes and was now in a teal dress that shifted gently around her as she stood. "I was waiting for you! Servants have been sent out to inform everyone of the banquet, Father."
"Excellent, Angeletta! I found Sarah lost in the courtyard."
"She looks a fit flustered. Are you all right, Sarah?" Angeletta asked with a bit of concern as Sarah released Arylyn's arm and moved towards one of the chairs.
"I'm okay. How did he do that?" Sarah asked breathlessly.
"It is our home, Sarah. We can do that whenever we like," Angeletta grinned. "Won't you sit down? A servant will be here any minute now with refreshments."
Sarah sat down and Angeletta moved to sit next to her, giving Arylyn the head of the table.
"How many guests are coming?" Sarah asked, watching as a servant entered the room with a steaming covered dish.
"At least one hundred. Perhaps Jareth won't come. I'll be very grateful if he doesn't," Angeletta said, gesturing for the servant to place the entrée in front of Arylyn.
"That reminds me… Do the Fae and goblins celebrate Thanksgiving?" Sarah asked.
"Thanksgiving? What is that?" Arylyn asked.
"It is a day when family and friends come together, have a huge meal, and say what they are thankful for. It was originally started by people called Pilgrims who were grateful for the assistance of Indians."
"We don't have a particular day called Thanksgiving, but we often have large banquets with friends. It would be a new experience to celebrate Thanksgiving," Angeletta said thoughtfully.
"What of Christmas then?" Sarah asked, putting a roll on her plate.
"The celebration of the Child's birth?" Arylyn said. "I have been researching that. It is a fascinating story, the story of Christ. I believe it to be true. I am still learning about it, though."
"Do you celebrate Christmas?" Sarah asked, amazed that Arylyn knew about Jesus.
"We don't. What does one do on Christmas?" Arylyn asked.
"You give out presents, people give presents to you, you decorate a Christmas tree and hang up stockings over a fireplace," Sarah said simply.
"I like how that sounds! Father, may we do that?" Angeletta asked, clapping her hands together and nearly upsetting a glass of juice.
"If you wish, my dear, although I believe you will have to do that in the Labyrinth," Arylyn nodded.
"True," Angeletta sighed and then looked at Sarah. "That color dress suits you nicely, Sarah. I trust you met Dahlia, your servant?"
"I did. She brought the clothes to me, introduced herself and then left," Sarah nodded, thinking of the petite Fae she had just met a short while ago.
"She didn't put your clothes away? I shall have to speak with her," Angeletta said, shaking her head with disapproval. "Would you care to decorate the banquet room with me as soon as we are finished eating?"
"Don't the servants do that?" Sarah asked.
"Angeletta usually sees to the decorating," Arylyn smiled, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
"I would like to go with you," Sarah nodded.
Half an hour later, Sarah found herself standing atop the roof of the castle, the ocean stretched out before her as far as she could see.
"This floor hasn't been cleaned for some time," Angeletta said from her side. "What material shall we make it, Sarah?"
Sarah studied the outdoor banquet hall carefully, admiring how large the roof of the castle was and the fine rails, made out of multi-colored stones, that surrounded the whole of the roof. She looked at the floor and frowned at the plain bricks that covered it.
"There will be dancing as well as feasting tonight?"
"Yes," Angeletta nodded.
"The dance floor should be made of some type of smooth material."
"Like marble covered over to protect people from slipping?" Angeletta smiled.
"Yes."
Angeletta held out one hand and instantly the floor was changed to sparkling white marble. She stepped onto it to test it and once satisfied, she turned to face Sarah.
"What about the rest of the floor?" She asked.
It took Sarah several seconds to speak, she was so stunned.
"T…t…tile maybe?"
"What color?" Angeletta grinned.
"Glittering white…like the dance floor."
"Do you dance, Sarah?" Angeletta asked as the floor transformed.
"I've only danced once."
"Oh? It must have been special."
"It was. He was beautiful and intimidating all at once, and he sang," Sarah said quietly.
"I don't particularly care for dancing, but as the lady of the house I must," Angeletta said, twirling gently. "I should probably practice, else tonight my feet will hurt. Care you to join me?"
"No thank you. I'm a bit clumsy," Sarah blushed. "You go ahead though."
Angeletta nodded and then began to dance, her arms up as though she were holding her partner. Sarah watched, mesmerized, as Angeletta moved gracefully, the pinnacle of beauty as she hummed a haunting melody. She moved in perfect time with the music and suddenly started, startling Sarah.
"Father! You nearly scared me to death!" Angeletta exclaimed, hand going to her heart as Arylyn appeared before her.
"I want to have the first dance of the day with you since the Goblin King will have the first dance of the night," he smiled with fatherly affection.
"I gladly accept your offer!" Angeletta laughed lightly. "Sarah, however you want to decorate this roof just wish it and your decorating desires will be granted."
"Really?" Sarah grinned and then turned to the railings as Arylyn and Angeletta began to dance.
Arylyn began to sing.
"Twas the queen that did charm me and steal my old heart,
For before we did dance, her I loved from the start.
She gave me a smile that charmed me away,
Tis a pity she isn't with me to stay."
Tiny lights suddenly appeared above the dancers, and Angeletta grinned as Arylyn continued his song.
"So dance ye brave knights, thou fair maidens of old,
For my queen's in my arms, her heart of pure gold.
And always I wonder how she stole me afar,
With the grace of a dove and the charm of a star."
Angeletta stumbled gently against a pillar covered with vines that hadn't formerly been there, and she laughed as Arylyn spun her away from the pillar and finished his song.
"My love don't you leave me, standing alone,
For the touch of your hands and your smile I'll bemoan.
Keep your heart close to mine and your smile always shine,
For wherever you are, you will always be mine."
"That was lovely Father," Angeletta smiled as the Fae finished singing and ceased to dance. "Sarah, it seems that we shall have a lovely banquet tonight."
"Yes indeed," Arylyn nodded, gazing at the vine-covered pillars, the bright lights strung up overhead, and the sparkling railings that surrounded the deck. "I shall leave you two ladies now and make my own preparations for the evenings events. I will see you shortly before the banquet, my darling," he said, kissing Angeletta on the head and then disappearing.
"Jareth was able to disappear and reappear like that," Sarah said, moving towards Angeletta.
"Indeed. I have more preparations to make for this evening, Sarah, so I shall leave you now. Would you care to return to your room?" Angeletta asked.
"Yes please."
"Very well. I will bring you there and then I will see you an hour or so before the banquet."