Chapter 6

Jareth instantly returns to his castle, rage rolling off of him in waves of red magic. He snaps his fingers and transforms his clothing into the black armor of The Goblin King, forged from the hardest and lightest metals made by the hands of the neighboring Orc kingdom. The only additions to his armor that he had made himself were a sword at his hip and a dagger tucked inside the top of his boot, just in case he got into a jam.

"Mugwump, come here!" He bellows the fury unmistakable in his voice.

"M-m-master?" Mugwump stutters, huddling in the doorway to the throne room, frightened by his king's reaction.

J areth turned toward the cowering goblin and spoke only three words. "Ready the army," came out of clenched teeth in a steady voice. An hour later Mugwump scurries back and waits until he is acknowledged before speaking. Jareth nods at the presence and utters, "It's time." His cloak swirls around his body, the magic seeping from his pores. His gait does not falter nor does his gaze as he leads his army into battle for the first time in centuries.

Sarah couldn't stop moving all day. When she was standing she was pacing and when she was sitting her leg bounced violently, laying down she tossed and turned. That would force her to stand and begin pacing once again. The cinnamon and clove scent lingering on the heavy cloak was the only protection that she had from the musty smell assaulting her nostrils.

"Oh Jareth, where are you?" she whispers under her breath. Once again she pulls the cloak tighter around her body, the flimsy pjs not doing much to keep out the dampness. She had stopped in front of the window when a person behind her cleared their throat, causing her to turn quickly.

"He will be here soon," Damien says quietly. "I had no idea Ivanen would do this to you." This caused Sarah to turn her back to the Fallen, not wanting to hear what he had to say. "Sarah, Jareth is on his way, along with an army to retrieve you but I came to warn you. Ivanen is going to try to use you against Jareth. He will do anything to get Jareth's kingdom from him and I don't want to see you get hurt." Out of the pocket of his black skinny jeans he pulls a simple emerald pendant on a black cord. "Please wear this, it has a spell on it to protect you from all harmful magic," he rests the necklace on the partition between the bars.

"Why should I trust you? You're the one that took me from my bed and brought me here," Sarah says, her voice as cold and as hard as shards of ice.

"Please, if I knew he was willing to kill you to get what he wants I would never have brought you here. Please trust me, I don't want you to be killed in the duel," he pleads.

"What duel?" she asked, her eyes like snake venom instead of shining emeralds.

"Jareth is coming for you but Ivanen won't go down without a fight. Jareth is much stronger, but Ivanen will still fight. If he thinks he is going to lose he will use you as a distraction. He will harm you, to throw Jareth off, and then kill Jareth when his attention is on you. I never wanted any harm to come to you Lady Sarah." Tentatively Sarah took the pendant and put it in the pocket of the cloak, hoping Damien is being truthful. He unlocks the cell to take her to the throne room.

A smirk tugs on the corners of Ivanen's lips as the goblin army appears over the crest of the hill, hundreds of goblins clad in armor ready to fight for the mortal in his possession.

"Right on schedule," he whispers as he turns to face Sarah.

Ivanen snaps his fingers and her pj's turn into a dark green fitted dress that flares slightly at the hips and wrists. It dips softly showing a bit of her cleavage. A golden belt rests on her hips and the front of the belt hangs to the floor, splitting the skirt in two. Her hair is transformed into a dazzling display of curls with emeralds sparkling throughout the up do. The cloak stays upon her shoulders along with the owl pendant that is stationed between her collarbones. Lastly a pair of emerald slippers appears on her feet.

Ivanen admired his good work for a moment before turning toward to doors. Damien nodded to Sarah to put the pendant on. After she fished it out of the pocket she slipped it on over her head. The emerald rested between her breasts, against her heart, and it was hidden behind the fabric of her dress.

Mere seconds later Jareth burst through the doors to the throne room as Ivanen smirked at his brother's appearance. Sarah couldn't help but marvel at Jareth. His black regalia encapsulated her attention. The magic was rippling around him in waves of scarlet, especially around his gloved hands. She turned her attention to his face, which was a mistake. The fury is evident on his face, even to a mortal with no Fae blood mixed with their own.

"Ah brother, welcome to my home. It has been far too long since I have seen you," Ivanen says smugly as he slowly rises from his throne.