Chapter 6: Death

It was Sarah's second day working by herself without the supervision of Fern. The week was almost up, and she was excited. It was Sunday and on Sundays they got the second part of the day off. It was hard work, and everyday she was sore to the bone and exhausted. Every second day was better because her room, Fern, Jessie and herself, was able to go into a large room with a pool to bathe their sore muscles. The bathing pool was heated with specially designed clay piping which circled the pool in three rows and crisscrossed on the floor under the tiles. The heating system reminded Sarah of the Greek temples she studied while she was in school.

As she washed the floor for the second time that day, just because Fern came by and said she could see spots on the literally spotless floor, she reminisced about the past week. Fern drove her hard and Mistress Liz drove her harder, that is, whenever she came across Sarah. She didn't often leave her rooms. She was old, even for a Scat, though their life span is incredibly longer then the average mortal. As rumour had it, she wouldn't last through to spring. Which meant-

Which means her high and mighty Princess Fern will be Chambermistress. She seems to think so much of herself. Fern is using me so much I think I will snap! What right does she have to treat me, or anyone else, like that! She seems like she's nice and helping you but really she's just using you to do her own work! I'ts not right! It's not fair! Then again, nothing is as it seems…

That thought hit Sarah like a bag of soggy oranges. Fern hadn't been using her at all. She had been testing her! That made Sarah angry. But when the tower bell started to toll, announcing the noon hour, her anger dissipated. Now she got to eat and relax! It was a very cheerful thought.

Lunch was more relaxed then she had seen it anytime in the past week. The girls talked and laughed and included her in their conversations which was a first. And Jessie was there. She didn't normally join the maids in their meals because she ate with Henry, the doctor. When the meal was over, Jessie had disappeared once more, but Sarah wasn't worried. She would see her again soon anyway. Now at least she had sometime to wonder around outside. It was cold but she had a warm jacket in the chest given to her.

The snow on the ground brought back some childhood memories with her mom and dad. She was seven years old and they built a snowman in the park and had a huge snowball fight. She smiled at the sight of her mom and dad rolling around on the ground like kids. But the fun stopped when both Sarah and her mom coughed. They called it quits and went back to the house where they drank hot chocolate with those mini marshmallows. The next day both Sarah and her mom came down with the flu but in Sarah's opinion it was well worth it, that is, until she got better and her mom didn't. She could remember the trip to the hospital and then going home without her mother. Everyday for a week, they went to the hospital to visit, but one-day, they stopped going. When Sarah asked her father why they didn't go see her mom anymore her father said it was because she was in heaven now. She wasn't allowed to go the funeral.

She sighed and sat in a snow bank, just thinking about nothing and everything letting her mind wonder. A shadow fell over her.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't miss I-have-my-head-in-the-clouds."

"Fern, what do you want? It is my time to do as I please right now, after all."

Fern shrugged, "That's the case with the maids, yes. But the professor would like to see you, and seeing as he came across me first, he sent me to find you. Now get going! Or will I have to drag you to his office?"

"Henry wants to see me? But why-." Her eyes flew open and she slowly smiled. He's going to start to teach me? That means less work! Finally! With that she jumped to her feet and raced away into the palace

Fern just stood there stunned and then she sighed in defeat and called after the running girl. "Wait up! I have to bring you to him!"

OXO

By the time Fern caught up to Sarah, she was well within the palace and very lost. Sarah looked at her sheepishly and said, "Guess you should lead now, I haven't been down this way very often…"

Fern sighed loudly and shoved past Sarah, pushing the older girl into the wall.

"Maybe next time you'll listen to me! I may be younger then you but I'll have you know we mature much quicker then humans!" She spat out the word like it was poison.

The look on Sarah's face was enough to make Fern want to burst out laughing. The girl was completely clueless when it came to the wonders of the Underground.

"I-I'm sorry. I–I did-didn't know. I… well-" She stuttered.

"Forget it! That's why you're going here anyway. To learn." It sounded nasty, even to her own ears but she didn't care. She just wanted the human out of her hair for good! And she will get that as soon as she learns enough to live by.

Once they got to the Professors office, Fern left without a word. She couldn't stand that girl no matter what the others told her! And besides, she had more important things to worry about. The health of her Aunt was failing fast. It was unlikely that she would survive the month, let alone the season. Fern was quite sad about that, but she was also very worried about her own standing, what if she couldn't fill the bitch's shoes? It was what her Highness wanted and what was expected but she didn't necessarily want to. She was old enough now to live on her own and she missed her home.

She knocked at the chambermistess' rooms. No answer. She cracked the door open and saw her aged aunt lying on the floor. Running to her fallen relative she screamed for help.

OXO

Henry leaned over Mistress Liz, taking her pulse once more. He stood and stretched his back.

"She is failing, but for now her heart beats strong. It seems she only fainted. I need you to stay and look after her for the next few days, ok Fern?"

He looked at her with pity. Her only living family was dying before her eyes. It was rare for one so young to lose all her family. She didn't even look away from her Aunt's face as she nodded and moved to sit on the stool Henry just vacated. He nodded in satisfaction, at least Liz wouldn't be alone at this time. He motioned to the almost forgotten Sarah in the back of the room to follow him.

"I'm sorry our lesson was interrupted. But-."

She waved for him to stop.

"I understand but are you sure you should leave her? What if she needs you right now?"

Her concern was touching, she truly cared about other people, even if they were not so nice to her as he well knew. She was just what the Queen needed to- but no, it was still too early to think about that.

"She is old and it getting close to her time. We can only wait. Right now, the only thing you should concern yourself with is your lessons. It's vital that you learn."

They were back in his office, and Henry resumed his lesson on general history of the Underground. All the creatures of the Underground were originated in the Aboveground and were worshiped by the Celtic Druids. But when the birth of a new and more powerful religion came, they were called demons and were slaughtered. The Druids, in fear for their sacred lives, created a doorway into the Underground. Through this doorway, the creatures fled and vowed never to return to the Aboveground. Well, the elders vowed and the young ones adventured, thus creating all of the myths and legends running around in the Aboveground today. King Arthur was very much real, as was the Druid Merlin. But what the tales neglected to mention was that Arthur was of the Faerie, so was his half sister, Morgain le Fae. Hence her name. As their legend suggests, it was only a few years after the Druids opened the portal that King Uther was killed and Arthur, being in proper position, was made king. The Once and Future King was still alive but living in solitary for the most part, away from others of his race, except, of course, for his sister.

"Ok. That's all for today!" he laughed at Sarah. She looked like she was going to fall asleep right there on his couch. "I want you to write down all of what you remember and give it to me the third day of the week. We will meet then, as well as the fifth day. For now this will be your schedule, three days a week. Now go to bed you ungrateful child!" His words were harsh but his voice and eyes were kind.

"Thank you, Dr. Henry. I really love this history, it's everything I always wanted to be true!" She closed the door behind her.

"I truly hope you mean that, dear. I truly hope. Things are not always what they seem. Not even close."

He shook his head and sat down to ponder. Her eyes were positively alight when he mentioned the existence of the King Arthur and Morgain though they never went by those names anymore. At her amazed look, Henry decided to hold back some information. He wasn't sure how well she would take it if she knew that her 'Friend' King Jareth was indeed the Once and Future King and his sister Queen Annetha was Lady Morgain. The true tale was even more mournful then the fairy tale. Arthur, or rather Jareth, was meant to marry a noble woman of the catholic faith, but she was killed on her way to their wedding by a man named Mordred, who was not his son. Jareth, in his pain and worry fled to the Underground, which was being called Avalon in those days. He was never able to bring himself to fall in love again… until now. But Sarah was so different from his golden haired beauty, stubborn, firey and independent. She was strong willed and independent. She would have to be to ever make it through the labyrinth. Perhaps she can bring him out of his shell for good. One could only hope, for the Labyrinth mirrored his isolation from society. It was so wild and untamed, and very dangerous. The creatures there were barbaric and monstrous.

Henry only hoped that when the time came, she was willing to give Jareth her all. When-if she was ever ready.

OXO

It was months after Mistress Liz died, and the spring flowers were beginning to bloom. The fresh sent of crushed blossoms flowed in through the open window of Sarah's and Jessie's room. Fern moved into the chambermistress's chamber when her aunt died but the other two girls were not sorry for the loss of a roommate. The sun was rising and the light fell across Sarah's eyes, waking her up. She noticed the other bed empty and freshly made. She could not understand how Jessie was able to wake up so early when Sarah always fell asleep before she even came into the room. She got washed and dressed into the normal smock.

Fern walked into the room unannounced.

"Ah! I see you've learned how to wake up by your self now, eh servant girl?"

"What do you want Fern? Was it just to criticize me for something I don't do anymore or was there another propose?" She asked in a bored voice.

"Come." Was all Fern said and walked to the end of the hall. She opened the door and ushered Sarah into her rooms. There she sat and motioned for Sarah to do the same.

"I'm leaving here. I don't care for this job anymore then I did being a maid. You're the chambermistress now. Have fun and good riddance!"

Sarah's mouth dropped open. Me? Chambermistress? This has to be some kind of mistake!

"Why me? There are plenty of girls here more qualified to becoming chambermistress, why do you need me?"

A voice spoke from the shadows. "Because I command it."

Queen Annetha Stepped into view.