Chapter 9: Family Reunion

Toby felt minimal discomfort when they were standing on solid ground again. They were outside a castle so grand that is put Buckingham Palace to shame. Floral gardens wound in a delicate maze around the side and in towards the back, curling around the alcoves and into court yards. Pale rose tinted stone made up the structure with intricate designs surrounding the doors and windows. Daniele's firm grip on Toby's arm slackened and Toby drew away from him intending to follow one of the garden paths.

"This way, Toby. We must first pay the Queen a visit." He strode into the palace and past guards standing at attention. Maybe they were just there for decorative purposes for they didn't try to stop the two as they intruded. The palace was mostly stonework but with tapestries depicting stories or legends draped on the walls. Toby couldn't get enough and his eyes thirsted for more. He paused to look closer at one of a dark haired girl running from a monstrous contraption, her head turned, looking back behind her. A small man was her only companion as they ran down a dusty corridor. Daniele called back his attention, "Toby, hurry."

They came across a small girl holding a boy of about eight by his hand. Her eyes were vibrant yellow and silted pupils. She frowned when she saw them and asked of Daniele "What are you doing here? I thought you were banished?"

He faked a yawn. "Oh that. No it wasn't extended to the family just to my father and older brother. I came to witness the coronation for I heard that you were to be crowned my pretty." His bored expression turned playful and he winked. The girl just pulled away and rolled her eyes.

"If that were so, then you have no right to touch me! I might just decide to tell Annetha about this. She'll see to it that you are escorted back Above."

"I don't think Annetha has that power do you? And be at peace. I'm only here to act as witness for my father. He has a message to be delivered to the new Queen."

"I don't want to know what that may be and I don't care. I'll take you to Annetha. She does still have the power to deal with vermin like you." The girl tightened her hand on the boy and cast a disgusted look at Toby and turned away, walking briskly.

She took them to a long corridor and led them to the end, in front of a set of double doors. She knocked softly and the door opened. "Your Majesty. I'm sorry for the interruption but you have a messenger here I believe you will want to deal with."

Inside a musical voice drifted out. "Come in then." They entered the room. It was a single large bedroom. The main focus was a large fireplace with couches spaced in front of it. "I see. What does Antonio want this time, Daniele?" the voice came from the couch. A golden haired beauty who couldn't possibly be human owned it.

Daniele, for the first time, bowed. "Your highness, please excuse us. I had hoped to speak to the heir of the throne. There are things my father wishes to know but Jessie," he motioned to her, "said she was no longer in that position. I believe it is human's rule this time, have you found one?"

A girl, one who was over-looked previously, sat up straighter on the opposite couch. Toby couldn't believe what he was seeing. Of course he had seen pictures of his sister and himself when they were younger. They were always playing or Sarah was holding him and reading a large picture book. That was near seventeen years ago and this girl looked the exact same. He couldn't stop the involuntary step forward or the whispered "Sarah," from escaping. A quick look at Daniele's shocked face also meant he was not expecting to see the girl.

She frowned. "Why is everyone calling me that? Do I look like her? No! Not at all!" She turned to Daniele. "You had something to say to me? Well then say it!"

Annetha cut across whatever Daniele was planning to say. "Maggie, you need to be more formal when addressing a messenger. Ask again."

She sighed and did so. "What was the message you had for me, Sir?" Annetha nodded her approval and looked toward Daniele.

His shock still evident on his face and he seemed unable to speak. Annetha sighed. "Do you know, boy?"

Toby shook his head from side to side, also unable to take his eyes off the girl. "I'm sorry if I seem rude. You look a lot like a woman named Sarah Williams. I was surprised, that's all."

She flipped her hair in annoyance. "Yes everyone says that I look like my mother though I don't see it. I see myself mostly as… myself."

Toby's eyes bugged, "Your mother? Your mother is Sarah Williams? Where is she?"

Maggie shrugged. "In the garden still I think. But she better get here soon or- hey! Where are you going?" she shouted at him but it was no use.

Toby was already out the door and down the hall, looking for a way into the gardens. He was stopped by a hand on his shoulder and he looked up at Daniele. "I have to see her!"

The man nodded. "I know, that was who I was going to try and find information about. My father's orders but it's not a good thing that she's still alive, Toby. If my father finds out about this, she won't live for long."

Toby frowned at him. "What do you care? I know the reason why you wanted me and it wasn't because you found me passed out around a toilet. You wanted to know why my sister wasn't there for whatever you planned with her and you killed my dad for it!"

Daniele tensed and turned rapidly, walking away. He paused and came hurrying back to Toby. "I don't want her dead! I wouldn't want her dead! Ever! But my father does and my brother does." He gripped Toby's shoulder. "How do you think she got away? The Goblin King and Robert Williams set everything up! With my help." He shook his head. "I have no idea what we will find. She was dead. Fifteen years ago she was dead!"

Toby took a step back. "There is no way. Look at you. You can't be more then three or four years older then me, there is no way."

"I'm not human!" he growled out. "Do you think humans could part the boundaries between the Underground and the Above? Of course not!" he grabbed Toby's arm again. "Come on and let's see your sister."

Toby pulled free again and easily kept pace with the long strides of the other man. They walked through the palace and into a courtyard where the hedges began. Quiet voices floated around the first entrance they came to and a man and woman came in to view, arm in arm. They stopped talking and stood frozen, staring at the two men. Toby was the first to recover looking at the sister he never remembered meeting but she was still recognizable from her pictures seventeen years ago. "Sarah!"

She looked at him in confusion then her face lightened drastically. "Toby?"

Sarah went to move forward but the man at her side held her back. "Hello Daniele." He said in a deep smooth voice. "Good of you to bring young Toby to us. How is your father?"

Daniele tilted his head in acknowledgment. "King Jareth. My father is well… for now. You know how things can be." He smiled a tight lipped smile.

Jareth released Toby's sister and moved to embrace Daniele. Sarah's mouth dropped open.

"Wait! Daniele? I know that name! You're the brother of Marco, right? But you're here, your Fae?" Her voice raised a few octaves on the last word.

OXO

Sarah felt her throat close up. If he's Fae does that mean they all were? Does that mean they can come get her here? She felt the others looking at her but she could no longer see them. She was losing control of her senses, something she had only done a few time at the very beginning of her training. A hand came to rest on her shoulder but she couldn't see who it was. Her soul was struggling to get away and it took all of her failing power to keep herself grounded. Arms wrapped around her and pulled her against a solid chest. Lips at her ears, whispering to her saying everything will be fine. Her body relaxed and she looked up into Jareth's face.

"They found me, haven't they?" She couldn't keep her voice from breaking. Jareth tightened his arms in response.

"No, they haven't. I told you that we have plenty to discuss and we only touched the tip of it in relation to us. Love, perhaps this should wait until after the coronation, Maggie is waiting for you to help her get ready." His logic helped calm Sarah and the fact that they haven't found her was good news.

Sarah looked at her brother for a long moment, trying to memorize his face. She smiled at him. "Toby, come here." He came and she enfolded him in a hug. "Oh there is so much to tell you! I'm so sorry. Everyone must think I'm dead. Poor Karen, is she alright? Have you heard from father?"

Toby looked confused. "Mom is fine. But you haven't heard? Robert was killed a year after you disappeared."

Sarah frowned. She couldn't accept it. He was dead? The last of her family was gone for good? How was she supposed to feel? She shook her head to clear it. "We can talk about this later. Now I have to go see my daughter and make sure she is alright." Sarah took a firm grip of Toby and led him to the rooms her daughter was waiting in. Jareth and Daniele stayed behind. "Toby, what are you doing with him?" she asked when they were out of hearing range. "He's very dangerous."

Toby snorted, "You don't have to tell me that. He already threatened my mom if I didn't go along with what they were planning, but I guess most of that was his father."

"His father?" Sarah was confused. The Musciasco brothers didn't have a father, or that was what the press led them to believe.

"His father, yeah. Antonio Straccitella. Didn't… oh they didn't know that when you disappeared did they? It was uncovered a while ago. I did a report on their family when I was in my final year at school."

She didn't know what to say to that. Toby was very much aware of politics for someone his age and he didn't have a father who made sure they paid attention to things like that. She changed the subject. "You didn't seem surprised when I said I had a daughter. Why?"

He shrugged. "I met her, I think. I called her 'Sarah' and she got mad at me. Her name is Maggie right? Does this mean I'm an uncle?"

"Yes to both. It doesn't bother you that she's only a few years younger then you?" Sarah was trying to gage his reaction but he was doing a good job of being calm.

"No, should it?"

"I don't know, shouldn't it? But then, you probably don't even remember me… you were just a baby."

He shrugged again. "Everything is different here. Is that man, Jareth? Is he the father?"

Sarah nodded. "I haven't seen him since she was conceived," He shuttered, "I came back this morning."

"Please you don't have to give me the details."

"I didn't! That was no where near descriptive."

"But still…" they looked at each other and grinned. Blood brought people closer together even if only one of them remembers their last encounter.

They made it to where Maggie and Annetha were waiting. Sarah opened the door without knocking and ushered Toby into the room. Annetha smiled and Maggie looked up surprised.

"What's he doing here?" She asked in her primary language.

"Maggie, English please. It's rude in front of people."

She sighed. "What is he doing here?"

"That's better." Sarah laid a hand on Toby's shoulder. "This is Toby Williams. He is my baby brother."

"Hey!" he interrupted. "I'm taller then you!"

"Oh but darling, I'm older and stronger then you."

He mumbled, "You don't look it."

She smiled fondly at him then turned to Anne. "Anne, can you take him Aboveground? I don't want him to stay here. I don't even know how long he's been here! What if he changes?"

Anne frowned. "I can't take him. I could take you because you already started to change. But he's fully human, I don't know if he could handle it. I'm not gentle as you know."

"But he can't stay here! He still has family!"

"Peace. Sarah, they only arrived an hour ago. Let him stay for the ball tonight and then you can ask my brother, or Daniele who is the one who brought him after all, if they can return him."

Sarah conceded with a small sigh. "Alright, I can tell when I'm being overly motherly." She looked at Maggie who had yet to change into her gown. "Well darling, what do you think? Should we get you dressed or not?"

Maggie grinned. "Why mother, I do believe you are right."