Mother
My honour was not yielded, but conquered merely. Cleopatra
For to tempt and to be tempted are things very nearly allied... whenever feeling has anything to do in the matter, no sooner is it excited than we have already gone vastly farther than we are aware of. Catherine the Great
"Mother, mother...wake up, we're almost there." As Sarah was becoming conscious she could feel her body being lightly jostled and hear the sound of horses hooves underlying an erratic creaking sound. At first she thought she was dreaming and then she felt a small hand shaking her arm to rouse her further. She opened her eyes and realized she was in a carriage of some sort sitting next to an excited young boy with an impatient look on his face. Toby!
"Toby...oh Toby." She cried out as she grabbed the boy and hugged him with all her might. He wiggled away from her, "Mother...what's wrong?" Now at arm's length Sarah was overjoyed just to look at him, "Nothing, I love you, that's all." Toby sheepishly put his head down, "Aw, I know that...but ...the Goblin Castle! Look!"
Toby changed position and was now kneeling on the seat pointing out the carriage window. In Sarah's mind for a moment time stopped and she couldn't look at anything but him. How long had it been since she saw him last...three years? Four? Karen and her dad didn't want to bring him to the asylum when he got old enough to start asking questions. They thought it best that he didn't see his sister slowly withdraw into herself.
All she could think was, "He's beautiful." His cherub face was surrounded bysand colored curly hair that complimented his large blue eyes. Innocent eyes, which at the moment were filled with anticipation. Sarah relaxed with happy gratitude that the brother who sat next to her was a picture of perfect health. She fought desperately not to grab him again and smother his small form in her arms. Instead she turned her head and allowed her eyes to follow Toby's arm then finger as it steadily pointed to the castle beyond the Goblin City.
Two figures, obviously in deep conversation, sit privately on a bench in the formal garden maze of the Labyrinth. At first glance, and from the cut of the clothing, it seems that they are both male. Upon closer inspection it becomes clear that one is a tall striking woman and the other is the infamous Goblin King.
"You can't be serious," Melody, Electress of the Weir, Overseer of the Ubian Sea and Mistress of the Salts countered after hearing Jareth's disclosure.
"I am."
Melody, who had been a devoted friend of Jareth's mother for many years, came immediately when the Goblin King sent the message that he wished to see her, alone. While they had always exchanged pleasantries at formal Underground engagements never had the son of her former friend sought her company personally. His unexpected request could only mean one thing, he needed her assistance, and in that regard she was right.
"I don't question the legalities of you choosing an Aboveground wife or heir; as a Sovereign we both know you can do so if you wish. I question if it is the right thing to do."
Jareth stood and walked a few paces away from the bench. Melody had not failed him; she was more concerned with the "rightness" of the overall situation than the petty politics his unorthodox marriage would stir. His mother had chosen her friends well.
He turned to face her, "Right or wrong I need your help."
Melody could plainly read by the expression on Jareth's face that he had already made up his mind. Her next response was the only one possible under the given circumstances, "What do you want me to do?"