Hurts Like Hell
By: NikkiKelly
Disclaimer: I do not own the Labyrinth. Jim Henson does… When you think about it, he does own all the really good stuff…
Author's Notes: This chapter owes its title to the FANTASTIC movie, The Holiday, starring: Kate Winslet, Jack Black, Jude Law, and Cameron Diaz. I swear (sad as it may be) that movie changed my life recently. Mainly the speeches at Kate Winslet gives to 1. Jack Black about unrequited love and 2. Rufus Sewell about him. AMAZING! I'm sorry, but I cry every time.
A million thanks to those who have been following my story and for the nice reviews you've been leaving me. I know it takes me time to update, but now that my sister finally had her baby and I have a more stable living situation, I will (hopefully) be able to write more.
All my Love,
~Nin~
Chapter 8: Real Gumption
It did not take Alyx very long to sneak out of the castle and to the stable grounds. She was congratulating herself on a good escape when she walked through the stable gates and her heart sunk at what was before her eyes. There were at least five very immense stables before her and she could tell that each housed rows upon rows of stalls. How was she ever to find him in this mess? Against the daunting challenge, a determined look came to her eyes and she strode through the doors of the first building. She'd check every stall if she had to in order to find him. Slowly, she made her way down the first aisle, admiring the many beautiful horses stabled on either side of her. As she went further on and further in, she found the animals in the stalls change from mere horses to many shades and hues of unicorns, random nightmares (not unlike those she saw in the Enchanted Wood), hippogriffs, pookas, and other creatures that were only, vaguely, equestrian.
Many times she was tempted to stop and admire the strange creatures housed in the stalls (except for that strange one that seemed to breath fire), but moved on in search of the Goblin Prince. Groomsmen watched her pass from where they were feeding or mucking for the animals and whispered about her. Unfortunately, most goblins did not know how to whisper. They all knew why she was there and who she was after, but not a one was brave enough to step forward to help her. After passing through her third row of stalls, she stopped to take a rest. A small goblin clutching a broom watched her movements with wide and odd set eyes from a stall beside her. He wore, what Alyx guessed, was a former metal spoon, as a cap and pieces of a rather fine ladies slipper as his clothes. She gave the ugly little creature a pleasant smile.
"I'm a little lost… Do you think, you can help me?" Alyx asked.
If possible, his eyes grew wider, and he peered around the stall as if he was searching for the person she was speaking too. Finding no one but himself, he looked back to her.
"The Lady talkin' to Peepers?" He asked, his pupils dilating to near the size of his head.
She nodded.
"Oh." The small creature swallowed, hard. "Peepers never has Lady Fae talk to him before."
Alyx smiled. "I'm not a Fae Lady."
"Oh…" His relaxed and then those eyes widened again. "You here… You that Girl! You looky for the Prince then, huh? Yep, Yep!"
He dropped his broom and ambled down the row ahead of her, happily. Alyx watched the little creature, curiously and he turned back to wave her his direction.
"Lady follow Peepers. He know wheres to go!"
Alyx hurried to keep up with the small creature's stride. "The you know where-"
"You follow Peepers." He repeated, pausing once to scratch his head with one back leg. "The Prince at back of barn… I show you the way. Yep, yep."
Hurriedly, she followed the small goblin through the labyrinth of stalls, until he paused at the end of one row to sniff the air. He peered down the last row and nodded. He pointed down that way with one clawed toe.
"He there, Lady. Last stall… Past the tack." The ugly creature beamed its best smile as Alyx patted it on the head, fondly.
"Thank you, Peepers. You are a lovely little goblin."
The small thing had the humility to blush before it scampered back the way it came, eager to share the latest gossip with the other goblins that tended the stables. Alyx watched him leave with a small smile, before turning back to the last row. As she eased forward, she heard a husky voice, speaking low.
"Buck up, Jaron. Life isn't that bleak." It encouraged and a low nicker rang out.
Passing a wall covered with various riding tack, Alyx's eyes caught on the large black and white cat napping upon a saddle. Its pale red eyes opened, slightly, and followed her movements as she hunted the stalls in search of the owner of the voice. She paused to study the cat just as intently as it was she, when she heard the voice again, closer this time.
"So, Jareth is a snob… Defy him like always. You never had a problem doing that before. In fact, you excel at it…"
Alyx peered around the nearest, open stall door and a large brown stallion looked up at her, blinking its deep eyes in shock. Further study of the stall found Jaron lying in the hay at the back, one arm thrown over his face.
"Well, hello there, my lady." The horse said and bowed its head. "To what do we owe the pleasure of your beauteous presence today?"
Jaron's arm dropped from his face and he saw Alyx. His eyes widened, slightly, and he sat up, slowly, so his arms rested on his knees. He studied her with a calm eye.
He asked, evenly. "Aye, my lady, to what do we owe?"
"Introduce me, you twit!" The horse grumbled and nudged the Goblin Prince with his head, hard.
Jaron gave the horse a glare. "Falada this is the Lady Alyx of the Aboveground. Alyx, this nag is Falada… He's a talking nag."
Falada bowed his head, ignoring Jaron. "A pleasure, my lady. You are a vision of loveliness. I am sure that you are everything this idiotic lout has filled my ears with and more."
Jaron gave the horse a dirty look. "I'm thinking of making you a gelding."
"I am only making the lady more comfortable." Falada protested.
"Thank you." Alyx rubbed Falada's nose, gently. Her eyes went back to Jaron. "I came to see you, Jaron."
"I thought you were forbidden to see me." Jaron said, coolly.
"No, you are forbidden to see me." Alyx smiled, weakly. "Jareth never forbade me to do anything."
Jaron gave a small smile. "A loophole."
"Yes… A small one." She took a deep breath. "I need answers, Jaron."
"I will try my best to give them to you."
She took a deep breath and started. "Were you planning on taking me to Mab? Were you going to take me to the Unseelie Court?"
Jaron blanched. "Of course not! Why would I-"
"What about Willow?" Alyx asked, softly.
Jaron's face grew stony and he replied. "She made her own choice."
"Who was she? What happened to her?" Alyx persisted. "I deserve to know."
Jaron was quiet for a few long moments and Alyx feared he was going to refuse to answer her. Then, he took a deep and even breath.
"There was a time when I thought I loved her. There really was…" Jaron whispered as he stood to lean against one wall and his eyes grew distant, as if he was looking into the past right there before him. "Before that wretched night in Elroen and that terrible Midsummer Masque…"
"Then you didn't take her to the Unseelie Court?"
The sound of her voice drew him back to the present and his mismatched eyes landed on her. "Of course I did. Has my family not already told that? Do you see now why I am such an unsavory character to be around?"
"Yes… they have." Alyx admitted. "I want to hear the story from your lips before I make any decisions."
Jaron studied her for a moment gave a small nod. "Very well… Know now that this is a story that very few have heard… As, I'm sure Jareth has told you, Willow Raine is the middle daughter of a very well respected lord from Citadel Inlet. She was the perfect match for a High Prince of the Seelie Court and the secondary heir to the Goblin Throne. I met her after she had returned home from finishing school in Bethmoora and her family brought her to Court for the Season. Her brother, Loreto, ran some of the same circles as I did in those days and her sister Isolde is still a close friend to my sister. When I first saw Willow, I was smitten. We started to court and I was blind to her truest, darkest nature. I thought I had finally found a woman worth marrying. I was a fool…
Many young Fae men run amongst the festivities of both Courts and I was no exception. There is much fun to be had within the right group of Unseelie, thus I was no stranger to their escapades and revelries. Willow begged me to take her, just once, and like a fool, I agreed… A few months into our courtship, our families decided to take us to Elroen, the Elfish city of canals, for a little holiday. We were to be guests of the Doge of Elroen, Arturos, and it was Midsummer…"
Willow batted her chocolate eyes at Jaron as she tugged on his hand. "Please, darling? You promised!"
Jaron, reluctantly, let her drag him along the small walkway beside the busy canals. Fireworks erupted above the city, celebrating both the Doge's birthday and Midsummer in one grand evening. The pair of Fae royals had dressed for the festivities. Willow was in a fancy Venetian gown of lace and bright yellow velvet with a matching mask upon a pole clenched in her right hand. Jaron wore head to toe black from his boots to the dark cloak thrown around his broad shoulders. He paused, staring up at the beautiful fireworks through the bird-like mask upon his face. He tugged on Willow's hand to draw her back to him and dropped his eyes to hers.
"Can we not just enjoy Midsummer here?" Jaron asked. "Honestly, I tire of the Unseelie. They are too dark in their festivities for my tastes."
Willow gave him a small smile and kissed his cheek, playfully. "Then let us go and be the light in the darkness, my darling. We shall bring some flame to the Dark Court."
Jaron frowned, slightly. "Willow, I am used to the festivities held by those of the Unseelie forest folk. This Mad Midsummer Ball boasts Queen Mab's hostess skills and I know that her disturbing reputation must precede her."
"Do not say the Queen of Air and Darkness's name so lightly!" Willow hissed and peered around, fearfully. "They say she can hear you when you speak it in the dark of night!"
Jaron snickered at the old superstition. "You have been listening to the old Wood-Wives for far too long. Mab is a powerful woman, but not as much as all that. Still, I do not think it is a good idea to attend her Masque tonight. It is quite unlike anything that you have ever seen before at your finishing schools."
Willow's bottom lips drew out in a pout. "But darling, you'll be there to protect me! Besides they would not dare hurt a High Prince of the Seelie Court and his guest!"
Jaron sighed and let his ego get the best of him. "Well, I suppose you are right… I will be there to take care of you… Why not?"
Taking the lead, Jaron led her down a darkened alley and to the edge of a narrow canal. There were steps leading down the edge of the canal where, waiting, were lines of black gondolas steered by spindly limbed glaistigs in dark green robes. A large Fae man with a mohawk and dark armor stepped before them, blocking their way to the gondolas.
"Are you lost, children? He asked with a smirk stretching the scars upon his face and his dark eyes twinkling. "I believe the Doge's Palace is the other way."
"Then that is a good thing, Lord Harkin, because we are in search of the exact opposite." Jaron replied, addressing the man he knew to be the Chieftain of the Unseelie Guard.
"Ah, the Goblin Prince. I almost did not recognize you, your grace." Harkin's smile drew to a thin sneer. "The Dark Court welcomes your grace… And your beautiful guest."
Willow batted her eyes, coquettishly, at Harkin as Jaron led her down to the gondola. Jaron knew that the Chieftain of the Guard held no love in his heart for the Goblin Prince. With a low bow, the glaistig steered them towards the dark and narrow tunnel that would take them to the Mad Midsummer Masquerade. Jaron tried to act nonchalant as the tunnel darkened and they rode in pitch black, but he felt uneasy with this adventure. A dim light appeared in the distance and the narrow canal led them into an immense underground lake. The cavern was alit only by the fluorescent algae growing upon the steeple-like rock formations. Willow gazed around in wonder as Jaron slipped one arm about her. He always stayed wary where the Unseelie were involved.
A bony hand grasped Jaron's shoulder and the glaistig whispered into his ear. "Hold on, sweet prince."
All at once, they were at the edge of a giant waterfall that toppled into the dark. Jaron cursed and wrapped his arm tighter around an oblivious Willow, while his other grasped the side of the boat.
"Jaron! What are yo-" Willow started to protest and then her eyes widened as the front of the boat began to tip over the edge. She grasped at his shirt, fearfully. "Jaron?"
"Hold on!" Jaron cried out as the boat tipped and the pair began their freefall through darkness. Willow's screams echoed throughout the cavern as they tumbled down and down. Then, it was as if time stood still and they floated as if they had hit the pool at the bottom. Yet, there was not a drop of water around them. Hair and clothing fluttered around them as they, lazily, dropped downward. Then there was a flash of bright light and they landed upon a pile of cushions at the corner of a vast ballroom. Willow gave a grunt as she landed, rather hard on her butt, and tumbled away with a sharp cry of relief.
"Seems we have some newcomers and they are inexperienced at our waterfall entrance!" A jovial voice snickered and a pair of Unseelie Fae moved to help Willow to her feet. "And it is a Seelie courtier by the looks of things!"
"Pretty little sunflower… What are you doing dancing in the moonlight?" Another asked as she tugged her arms free of their grasp. She gave them a flirty smile and opened her mouth to retort when Jaron's arm wrapped around her and drew her backwards, possessively. He melted from the shadows, giving the other Fae a pointed smirk.
"She is dancing with the Goblin Prince this moonlit night." Jaron replied, his demeanor reminding them much of his eldest sibling, the Goblin King.
"I beg your pardon, High Prince Jaron." One stammered with a jerky bow. "I did not kno-"
"Jaron!" Willow gave him a slight rap upon his arm as she tugged out of his embrace. "Do you need to be so rude?"
"Yes." Jaron replied, annoyed at her flirtatious attitude.
"We are guests here, my dear!" She informed him.
"Esteemed guests." Jaron reminded her.
"We still need to be courteous. Do not be so possessive!" She reprimanded him as she moved to approach the other pair of Fae. Giving them a bright smile, she said. "You must not mind my Goblin Prince. He grows jealous over me quite easily."
Jaron's mismatched eyes did not show how shocked he was by her actions. Long gone was the sweet and demure Fae royal that he had fallen for. She now acted as if she was a skilled seductress at the peak of her game. He gave a graceful, yet mocking, bow.
"Forgive me if I am offending your newfound friends, my sweet. Perhaps I should take my foul humor, elsewhere?"
She quirked her eyebrow. "Could you?"
Jaron felt the air rush from his lungs at her retort and his eyes narrowed. "If my lady wishes it."
"I wish it." She replied, sourly, as she hooked her arm in that of one of the other men.
Jaron's eyes grew dark as he, slowly, realized that he had merely been a means to an end. She wished to let herself be lost within the Darkling Court, but needed someone to take that fall for her. A scapegoat for her sudden and unexplained disappearance. He had been had.
"Willow, do not take this Masque so lightly!" Jaron hissed. "This is not the balls of Merial that you are used to!"
"I am well aware." She batted her brown eyes at him. "I tire of that drudgery."
"So you tangle with death?" Jaron replied, and an Unseelie stepped before him.
"The lady tires of your company, Goblin Prince. Perhaps you should leave her to us?"
Jaron felt his anger rise, but managed to keep it in check as he looked to Willow. "Do you tire of me as well, Willow?"
She studied him and shrugged. "There are sometimes."
His face grew stony. "Dance with me."
"Do not order me-" Willow started and he grabbed her arm to pull her away from the others. "Jaron!"
"Dance with me." He ordered and swept her away into a mad waltz. He leaned in to hiss at her. "Are you a fool? This is no place to play such foolish games."
"I play no games." She tugged in his grasp. "Let me loose."
"This is no playground." Jaron replied, hoping she would see reason. "We dance with Unseelie tonight!"
"I know and it is where I wish to be! Let me free!" Willow tugged away from him and gave him a frown. "You've wasted enough of my time already!"
Jaron felt his heart snap in two and dropped his arms to his sides. "Then dance with the dark."
She titled her chin up at him and disappeared into the crowd. Jaron ignored the calls of the Unseelie women as he let himself melt back into the shadows and away from the prying eyes. He scarcely saw her all evening, yet only caught fleeting glimpses of her, and she was always in the arms of another. That was, until he found her nestled in one of the lounges and participating in an, for lack of a better term, orgy. She saw him and smiled. She smiled that damned smile as they fucked her before him and he knew then, for certain, that he had been used. He left the lounge in bitter disgust and moved back to one dark corner of the ballroom. Sometime later, she emerged, her dress torn from one shoulder, and a satisfied smile upon her face.
He stepped forward as she neared him, his face grim in the torchlight. "Having fun, are we?"
She snapped around at the sound of his voice and raised her chin, haughtily. "Since I have not been pestered with your ill-humor the last hour, I have."
"Willow, leave with me now… I beg you!" Jaron pleaded, ignoring her scathing tone towards him.
"However could you even imagine that I would return with you? I thought you were smarter than all that!" She asked as she placed her hands upon her hips with a cruel smile. "I have no intention of returning to my father's home. I never did!"
"Do not speak that way! Jaron admonished.
"It's true! I have waited years to join the Dark Court. I tire of the dull days and even duller nights within the Seelie Court. I long for darkness and fun and sin!" Willow retorted. "Tonight, I held counsel with Queen Mab herself. She has made me one of her ladies-in-waiting."
Jaron drew back from her as if she was on fire. "Then you have made your choice?"
"I'm staying." Willow jerked at the amulet around her neck and tossed it at him. "Take this as a memento to remember me by, my sweet prince."
Jaron clutched the amulet in one hand until his knuckles turned white. "And you will let me take the blame so easily, then?"
"Of course. You are known for sullying women across the Underground… Consider it a favor, for I am adding to your already well known reputation." She sneered and turned to sashay away into the crowd. Jaron's eyes followed her, until she disappeared into the throng of dancers. His eyes narrowed and he disappeared in a wisp of wind and feathers.
"I left and went to her father with the news…" Jaron voice was somber as he ended his tale. "As she planned, her defection was blamed upon me and I have been a social pariah ever since."
"I see…" Alyx bit her bottom lip and hugged her arms to herself. "The pretty way you talked to me, the way you took me to those wonderful places, and the way you kissed me… Was that just the lure or did you really want to be with me? Are you the swayer of maidens and seducer of virgins that they make you out to be?"
"You are still pure, aren't you?" Jaron retorted, a little testily. "I have not taken your virtue!"
"You came awful damned close!" Alyx snapped back with a blush.
"If I had taken your virtue, then I would have to make an honest woman of you, wouldn't I?" Jaron replied and snapped his mouth shut at his confession. His mood softened and he smiled. "Besides… I felt that I was miles from making you mine."
The pair studied one another for one still moment and then rushed into one another's arms.
"I trust you, Jaron. Please don't hurt me." Alyx pleaded, burying her face in his chest and he tucked her head under his chin.
"Never." Jaron replied, fiercely, as he kissed her head.
For the next few stolen moments, they reveled in being in one another's arms again. Jaron's arms tightened around her and her fingers clutched the back of his shirt. His fingers moved to cup her chin and tilter her head up to face him so he could kiss her, gently. Only to happy to touch him again, Alyx leaned into the kiss and let one hand move to grasp a handful of his shirt. Jaron groaned and made to scoop her into his arms, but she halted him.
"I have one more question…" She said, a little breathlessly.
"You women are all talk." Jaron teased. "What else could you possibly need to know?"
"Where did you go after that night? Jora says that you were a ghost for fifteen years. What happened to you?"
A strange look came across his face and he gave her a smirk. "I went away after that night. I learned to cross the worlds, but I think those are stories best left for another day."
"Okay, I can deal with that." Alyx said as she gave him a slow nod and a sad smile. "I've been gone for awhile… I'd better head back, before I get us into more trouble."
"I want to see you again." Jaron replied, breathlessly, and let his hands trail down her arms.
She broke from his grasp, unwillingly. "You will, but perhaps only at the Masquerade."
"I understand… I still want to take you."
"I don't think Jareth will let that happen." Alyx replied.
"Then save me a dance… No matter who escorts you, save a dance for me?"
She ducked her head so her hair covered her tearing eyes and gave a quick nod. "Of course."
Jaron cupped her cheek in one hand and brushed the tears from her cheek with his thumb. "Please, don't cry. I do not like tears in your eyes."
She nodded, fiercely and he gave her a gentle shove towards the stall door.
"Hurry back, before you are missed."
She gave him a small smile and rushed away. He leaned against the stall door and took a deep and uneven breath.
"She's a pretty little thing, Jaron." A silky voice cooed. "Where ever did you find her?"
Jaron spun around and sneered. "How long have you been sneaking about?"
Mab Nightshayde, The Queen of Air and Darkness, and Sovereign of the Unseelie Court, stood at the far corner of the stall, and she was darkly perfect. She wore a strapless black ball gown, dusted with diamonds to represent the stars of the night sky. The corset style top sat so low on her chest that it barely covered the coral colored skin of her areola. The dress cinched tight around her slender waist and flared into a voluminous floor length skirt. Dark elbow gloves adorned her arms and she rested one hand on her hip. Her fiery red hair was weaved and braided through her elaborate crown made of jagged black stones upon her head. A wicked smile came to her full maroon lips as she circled him, her pale red eyes narrowing. She held a long, curved wand in one hand and was tapping it against her thigh with each step.
"Oh… Just a little while… I was catnapping." She reached out with her long, black nails to pluck a piece of hay from his dark hair. "Have a roll in the hay, did we, Jaron?"
"What do you want?" Jaron asked, bluntly, for her was in no mood for her games.
"What makes you think that I want something other than to see you?" She pouted. "It's been an eternity since we have spent time together, sweet prince."
"You just spent time with me in the Castle Beyond the Goblin City." Jaron reminded her and then added, pointedly. "Even if I did not invite you."
"Yes, but why have you not graced my halls? We so do miss your passionate presence." Mab hissed in his ear and trailed her fingers down his chest.
"Nothing interests me there, Mab." Jaron replied, stoically. "As well you know, I only stay where things interest me."
"I see… You have other things that are much more interesting to you here then? Who is she? Is it that little girl that I saw traipsing about in here a few moments ago?"
"She is no one."
"Is she the same no one that my orcs spotted with you at Still Lake a few nights ago?" Mab asked. "Is she that mortal child? What did those blasted hobgoblins call her…? Oh, yes… The Girl Who Wished Herself Away?"
Jaron's mismatched eyes, narrowed and he warned. "Leave her alone, Mab."
"Of course." Mab drew the fingertips of one hand across his shoulders, slowly, and whispered in his ear. "Willow misses you, Jaron."
"She's a fool." Jaron hissed.
"Why? Are you still angry that she let you take the blame for her disappearance? It seems to me that she came out the winner in that little game." She stood behind him and ran her hand down his spine with a sigh. "You must come back, dear Jaron! My masquerades have not been the same since you left."
"Not interested."
She leaned in, pressing her breasts against his back, to whisper in his ear again. One hand came up to stoke his bicep. "My bed has been lonely since Carsys's death."
"And it will stay that way."
She laughed, digging her nails into his shoulder. "My little Halfling… How I do miss having you around! This Court does not appreciate you as I do. Does Jareth still order you about like his dog?"
Jaron shrugged off her touch and spun to reply, coldly. "Leave me alone, Mab. I've told you that I'm done with the Dark Court."
She snarled at his rejection and pointed one finger at him. "Someday, you will be mine, Jaron Armande Sindhe and you will regret this moment."
Then, in an explosion of red smoke, she was gone. Jaron frowned as Falada snorted out his annoyance at their intruder. Staring at the spot where Mab had been, Jaron worried about the nosiness and wrath of the Queen of Air and Darkness.
"She creeps me out." Falada said and his flanks quivered. "Gives me the willies when she comes outta nowhere like that. Skulking about as a cat of all things! Who knows how long she's been lurking about today and listening in on us?"
It had been three days since the Goblin King asked to 'court' her and Jareth had made every attempt to spend all of his free time with Sarah, but always in the presence of others. He worried about tarnishing her reputation. She was actually starting to wish he would do something to tarnish her reputation. They had little chance to talk about themselves freely with everyone following them about. Sarah was feeling bored and since she was lesson free, she wandered towards the Sindhe Wing. After searching for him in the ballroom, where he was supposed to be teaching Alyx to dance, Sarah deduced he must be in his quarters. She rapped her knuckles upon his door and, without waiting for an answer, she opened it to find the Goblin King sitting by his window. He was staring out at the sea with a frown. He rose, quickly, when she entered.
"Sarah." He breathed.
"Hello, Jareth." She gave him a small smile.
"Aren't you supposed to be in your court lessons with mother?" Jareth asked as she moved to sit at the windowsill with him.
"It seems that I excel at learning, so your mother let me off early today." She shrugged and then pointed out. "I thought you were supposed to be teaching Alyx to dance?"
Jareth frowned. "I thought that as well. Jora came in telling me something about Alyx needing to 'powder her nose', then I had that blasted fairy, Trog, trying to pull my hair out from the roots and cursing at me in a strange combination of Gaelic and Goblinese."
"What happened to Alyx?" Sarah asked, worried about her friend.
"Well, after running away that bothersome sprite, I, obviously, went in search of her." Jareth paused, his brow furrowing. "I found her on the beach… She was crying."
Sarah was alarmed. "Is she okay?"
"I haven't the foggiest." He shrugged. "When I approached, she simply told me to bugger off and stalked away to her quarters."
Sarah frowned at him. "Well, why didn't you ask her what was wrong?"
Jareth blinked in astonishment. "I never had a chance to between the bouts of venom that spewed from that girl's lips! I wish that I could recall the tongue-tied curse that that mother would use on Jaron when he was a child, because I use it on that brat of a girl. I am not her enemy, Sarah!"
"You aren't being a very good friend to her either." Sarah replied and gave him a pointed look. "She needs friends right now. Not guardians."
Jareth frowned. "It is rather hard to be that child's friend."
"You've got to realize that she's not just a scared kid, Jareth. Alyx is caught in that awful in-between of woman and child. That's not an easy time for anyone. Especially one that thinks she's in love."
"Don't remind me!" Jareth groaned. "Luckily, few know of that scandal at Still Lake the other night."
"You should have let Jaron have the chance to explain his past to her first, instead of going off the handle." Sarah said.
"He was on the verge of deflowering her when I found them!" Jareth replied and then snorted. "I doubt he would have told her anything."
"She's only just met him. Nothing makes the worst impression on a girl than when you go over your criminal record with them within two weeks of meeting them." Sarah pointed out. "Not a good way to get to a girl's heart."
"It is not your friend's heart that I worry about." Jareth replied, bluntly. "Did you miss the part of the story when I found him on top of her and both were half-clothed?"
"Jareth I-" Sarah gave him a little bit of a shocked look and her face fell a little. "You don't trust him."
"Pardon?"
"You don't trust him…" Sarah's voice was soft and sad. "You don't believe your brother. You really believe that he gave that girl over to Mab… Don't you?"
Jareth opened his mouth to reply and paused. Taking a deep breath, he nodded and he avoided looking at her. "Yes, I believe he did just that."
"I don't."
His head snapped up at her confession. "I beg your pardon?"
"I don't think he did it. I… I trust him, Jareth." Sarah shrugged her shoulders a little. "He kept his promise to me even if he took a few liberties in the conditions, but he didn't outright deceive me. Tell me, do you trust this Willow more than your own brother?"
Jareth's jaw tensed and he replied, curtly. "The girl had an impeccable reputation before meeting Jaron."
"That's not what I asked. I asked if you trusted her more than Jaron." Sarah persisted. "How well did you know her?"
"What does it matter?" Jareth spat, a little exasperated.
"There are two sides to every story, Jareth… Did you ever ask Jaron what his side was?"
"He never spoke of it and I did not press." Jareth replied, coolly. "Are you forgetting that you too have only known my brother a very short time?"
"I'm well aware of that, Jareth." Sarah retorted back, a little testily. "I'm only trying to help!"
Jareth sighed, realizing, again, that they were fighting over nothing. "I apologize, my mortal… Between trying to take care of your friend, this damned Masquerade, and then this fiasco with Jaron, I am mucking up this 'cleaned plate' thing with my actions, aren't I?"
She gave him a small smile. "No. You're doing the best you can."
"I'll be glad when we can go back to my Labyrinth and be at peace."
"So you can continue to keep my reputation spotless there as well?" Sarah teased with a smirk. "This 'courting' isn't much fun if you ask me. You haven't taken me to the movies or anything."
Jareth sighed. "Sarah, I have explained to you how tongues wag in the Underground. If we were to caught alone like th-"
She shook her head. "Oh, no… I talked to your mother."
"Oh? What is her opinion on the matter?" Jareth asked, irately.
Sarah raised her chin. "She said that she and Jorall didn't worry about the rumor mill and did as they damn well pleased."
Jareth frowned. "And you see what that gave them. Jaron."
"She also said the same about your father and her…" Sarah sighed. "I'm only saying that it's hard to get to know you with a million other people shoved up our noses. We need some alone time."
"We're alone right now." Jareth pointed out with a smirk. "What are your plans for this alone time?"
Her cheeks turned scarlet. "Does everything have to be an innuendo with you?"
"I am the Goblin King."
"That can't be your answer for everything." She protested.
He chuckled and took her hand. "Okay, love… When we return to my castle, I swear that we shall have all the alone time you can handle."
She quirked one eyebrow and decided to play along with his game. "I don't know if you'd have that much free time, Goblin King."
Jareth gave a throaty laugh. "Oh, how I do love a challenge, precious."
There was a brisk knock at the door and Jareth's snapped that direction. He snarled and Jorall poked his head in. A wide smile came across the older King's face. "'Ello! Everyone decent?"
"Yes, Jorall?" Jareth hissed, obviously annoyed. "Can I help you?"
"Sorry to interrupt… It can wait." Jorall's grin broadened.
"I'd had better be going anyways." Sarah blushed and rose.
Jorall gave her a grin and a bow as she came towards the door to leave. "Radiant as always, Lady Sarah."
Sarah grinned back and flicked his arm with one finger. "Stop being such a flirt, Jorall."
"I can't help it, love." He gave her a lopsided grin. "I'm Irish."
Laughing and disappearing to the hall, much to Jareth's chagrin, Sarah left the two men. Jorall gave Jareth a rather cheeky smile and Jareth returned it with a frown.
"What?" Jareth grumbled to his all too cheery stepfather.
"Swaying maidens?"
Jareth's frown grew. "No."
"Why not? It's fun." Jorall winked and then asked. "Can I have a word?"
Jareth nodded and waved his stepfather inside. "Always. Sit. Would you like a drink?"
"I wouldn't say no to a bit of whiskey." Jorall rubbed his hands together, eagerly, as he sat in one of the chairs before the fireplace.
Jareth poured them both drinks and handed one to Jorall. "What do you need?"
Jorall took a long swallow and sighed, happily. "Ah, that's the stuff… How's things going with the little lady? Looked well a few moments ago if my eyes serve me right."
"Cut to the chase, Jorall. I am in no mood for your games." Jareth warned and sipped his drink.
"Oh, you're no fun, Jareth!" Jorall teased. "Maybe she's what I want to discuss?"
"Not bloody likely." Jareth replied, dryly. "Spit it out."
Jorall gave him a knowing smirk. "You are blunt like your father… Jareth, I want you to let Jaron escort Alyx to the masquerade."
Jareth nearly choked on his drink. "After the stunt he pulled the other night? Do you want her dead?"
"I believe they're good for one another. Jaron needs a good girl to keep him occupied and she's a good girl." Jorall took another drink. "She'd keep him focused on something other than causing mischief."
Jareth stayed silent for a moment. "I worry for your son, Jorall. My brother has become more and more reckless as of late. I worry… Nay, I fear, he may be a consort of Queen Mab's."
"What?" Jorall was shocked. "He would never side with Mab-"
"He's been sighted at her masquerades for years in her company. I love my brother, but I do not trust him." Jareth downed his drink. "Mab has come calling to my Labyrinth as his guest recently."
"I heard the tale… When was this?"
"Shortly before Alyx wished herself away. She stayed in the room next to his and he joined her on her nightly rides." Jareth gave a great sigh. "I was gracious and accommodated her, as customs dictate, but it infuriates me that he would be so careless to invite an Unseelie into my home! What could he have been thinking?"
Jorall refilled both their glasses. "That's his problem. He forgets to think, sometimes."
"I fear he may be defecting. I won't let him escort the mortal." Jareth replied.
Jorall pondered for a moment. "Then will you consent to have Roland escort her? That lad's trustworthy as the day is long."
Jareth nodded, slowly. "Yes… I think Roland would be sufficient. He'll not let Jaron talk him into foolish things while under Grandfather's eye."
"I warn you, Jareth. Don't force them apart. It will only make things worse." Jorall sipped at his drink. "Let nature take its course and we'll stay on guard. I believe in the best of my son. He has a true heart."
Jareth raised his glass. "You have more faith than all the Priests of Elroen, Jorall."
"I'll drink to that."
Outside the open window, Trog's tiny face could be seen amongst the leaves. Her eyes narrowed, mischievously, and she flew off towards Goodfellow Glen. She had plans to set into motion.
After leaving Jorall to mercilessly bug his eldest step-child, Sarah headed straight for Alyx's room, watching corners for soaking-wet Goblin Princes and snooping busybodies like that damned Ramsden. Twice within the last few days, she had caught the little rat snooping around the Sindhe Wing of the Grand Palace. Sarah Williams was by no means a stupid woman. For one thing, she knew that there was no way that he could possibly get lost in a palace he was practically raised in, and for the second, she saw the look in his eyes when he watched Alyx at supper every night. Though, bless his strange heart, Roland Amarantha managed to keep her friend well occupied in Jaron's obvious absence from the meals, he could not keep Ramsden's full attention from the mortal teenager. It unnerved her the way he stared. It was like a starving Doberman looking at a hunk of raw prime rib. Rapping her knuckles upon the door in the bossiest manner she could muster, she waited for the sharp reply that was sure to come from within. While waiting, she decided to broach the subject of creepy Fae men with her friend.
"If I told you once, I told you a thousand times! Bugger off and leave me the hell alone, Jareth!" Came Alyx's muffled reply from within.
Sarah knocked, again, harder this time.
"Damn it, I told you-" Alyx snarled as she jerked the door open. Upon seeing her friend, she stopped, and gave Sarah a small smile. "Oh… Sorry. I thought it was his-royal-pain-in-my-tush."
She let Sarah in and closed the door, quickly, behind her. Leaning against the door and crossing her arms over her chest, she gave Sarah an impish smile, trying to cover her own bad mood.
"So, we haven't been able to talk much the last couple days… I heard you wert midnight strolling with Jareth the other night." Alyx teased.
Sarah cocked one finely arched brow. "And I heard you were skinny-dipping with Jaron."
"I was not!" Alyx's face reddened.
"Close enough!" Sarah snorted and gave a chuckle. "So did you talk to him yet?"
Alyx nodded her head, slowly, and sighed. "Oh, yeah… I believe him."
"Believe him? What did he say?"
"The truth." Alyx replied, and cocked her head to one side. She attempted to change the subject. "I want to hear about the promises your Goblin King made to you."
"Oh, no you don't!" Sarah scolded as she sat down on the bed. "You aren't changing subjects on me so easily. What happened with you and Jaron?"
Alyx shrugged. "We talked and he told me his side of things. I believe him. Too bad Jareth doesn't."
"I know." Sarah sighed. "We were just talking about Jaron earlier and I realized that much about their quite strained relationship. I don't believe either have very much faith in the other."
Alyx sunk to the floor and hugged her knees with a small sigh. "And I thought dating Aboveground was a challenge…"
"Amen sister." Sarah agreed, somberly. "Tomorrow night will be the real test, you know."
Alyx nodded at the reference to the upcoming masque. "Don't remind me. You seen your dress yet?"
"Teutah's taken my measurements, but she says that the finished product is a surprise. What about you?"
"I'm already going to be in the spotlight tomorrow night enough as is, so I told her I wanted something simple. It's blue and pretty." Alyx shrugged again. "Really simple though. She had me try it on this morning so she could do a couple quick alterations tonight. You getting nervous yet?"
"Petrified." Sarah admitted and plucked at the duvet beneath her. "Not only are we going to have a bunch of snobby Seelie courtiers stuck up our backsides, we also have to worry about the more devious Unseelie that will be nosing about. Speaking of untrustworthy little rats… You aren't spending much time with Ramsden are you?"
"Of course not!" Alyx wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Ugh, that smug troglodyte stares at me all throughout our meals. Freaks me out!"
Sarah laughed. "I noticed. I've caught the little trouser snake roaming around our wing more than once since we've gotten here. Tomorrow before the masque, I'm going to talk to Jareth about keeping a watchful eye on that particular prince."
Alyx smiled. "Jaron won't let him do anything to me."
"Yeah, but Jaron isn't going to be allowed to be your date." Sarah reminded her. "Just promise me that you won't go wandering around by yourself tomorrow night."
"Don't worry… Even I'm not that adventurous." Alyx replied and leaned back against the chaise behind her. "So, tell me about your moonlight stroll."
Sarah shrugged. "We talked…"
"And…?" Alyx asked.
"I think we're… courting."
"You mean you and Jareth are dating?" Alyx's eyes widened. "Do you think you're gonna be the Goblin Queen?"
"Alyx! I haven't thought that far ahead! Jareth and I have agreed to take things slow and spend more time together when we get back to the Goblin City." Sarah replied.
Alyx chuckled. "Slow, my aching tushy! When's the wedding?"
"We aren't getting married."
"They're already talking about us you know. All the lesser Fae and the royalty. They think we are Aboveground princesses brought to marry off the Sindhe brothers to ease their parent's hearts. They're practically calling you a Queen!" Alyx sat up and studied her friend. "I already know that I'm stuck here and I'm okay with that, but are you prepared to stay here forever?"
Sarah swallowed hard and sighed. "I don't know, Alyx. This is all I've ever dreamed of, but I keep thinking of Toby and Dad… Hell, I'll even miss Karen nowadays!"
"What else?"
"What do you mean what else? Everything else is materialistic except my family and, since you had to make a little wish, all my friends are here!"
Alyx leaned her chin her knee and gave a short nod. "Oh, yeah… You're gonna make a good Queen."
Sarah frowned. "Have you been drinking that blasted fairy whiskey again?"
Much later, that same evening, High King Oberon sat behind his desk in his darkened study. The only light illuminating his grim face was that coming from the crystal sphere he held in one palm. Inside the foggy sphere, Imena's vision danced in a continuous loop.
The Girl Who Wished Herself Away.
Blood red apples.
A perfect peach.
The Goblin Prince smiled, juice dripping down his chin.
A trail of blood on marble floors.
The mortal girl again, shadows veiling her pretty face.
Silver feathers falling from a rusty cage dangling in the dark.
White clouds upon the endless seas.
The dark of caves and yellow eyes glinting in torchlight.
Mab's furious face as she held her crooked wand aloft.
Bone runes cast upon a wooden floor.
The jewel-like eyes of a dragon as flame erupted from its jaws.
Gypsies dancing in the firelight.
The Emerald Sea and Merial glittered in the moonlight.
The Goblin Prince's eyes glittering in the dark.
There was the rustle of scales on silk and Imena's voice came from the shadows. "I do not know what to make of it, your grace. Never have my visions been so chaotic and disorientated."
Oberon nodded and stilled the crystal on particular vision that troubled him. The silver feathers upon the floor of the rusty cage froze before his hard eyes. He recognized those feathers as the winter plume of Jaron's gyrfalcon form.
"We must stay sharp tomorrow eve." Oberon replied and folded his thin fingers together and pursed his lips, thoughtfully. "I shall post double the guard at the ball and send out feelers amongst the lesser Fae to find clues to this mystery. I think, perhaps, I should send Jaron away for this ball as well."
"That is foolish." Morgan's husky voice came from the darkest corner and the sorceress illuminated their clandestine meeting with a tiny blue light that danced upon the ceiling. "Is it not wise to keep your enemies closer, Oberon?"
He threw her a hard glare. "Are you telling me that my grandson is a traitor?"
"No. All I am saying is that your grandson's loyalties will not fall with either Court." Morgan explained and wrapped her black shroud closer around her shoulders. "His loyalties lie with the girl."
"Perhaps then, she should return to the Aboveground." Oberon replied. "Perhaps it is too dangerous to keep her here."
"The girl has not even done anything." Imena pointed out. "It is unfair to punish her for nothing."
"I agree. There are other forces at work here. Those of a darker nature." Morgan added.
"You dark queen, I suppose?" Imena asked, dryly.
"Who else?" Morgan replied and trailed her nails along the arm of the chair where she lounged. "I fear that the dark magic that she toys with is slowly tainting her mind. Once she decides she wants something, not a soul will stop her. She has decided upon your grandson and nothing will sway her any differently."
"Does she have spies within my Court?" Oberon asked.
Morgan gave him a sharp look. "Of course she does! Do you not have your own in hers? There are those within you who do little more than the mere biddings of the Dark Queen. For my own protection, I cannot give you names, but I warm you… Keep an eye on the youngest mortal. They know that she is the way to the Goblin Prince."
After a fitful sleep, broken by strange and terrible nightmares, Alyx awakened the next day to Abby bustling about her room in a flurry of skirts and linens. Abby threw open the curtains on the bed and chirped. "Wake up, miss!"
Alyx sat up in the bed on one elbow and rubbed her eyes. "It's morning already? I just fell asleep."
"Lunch actually. Everyone slept in today. It's well past midday, sweets." Abby smirked. "Happy All Hallow's."
Alyx's eyes snapped wide open and she gasped. "The masquerade is today."
"Aye, and Roland will be here promptly at five to fetch you so-"
"Roland?" Alyx asked with a slight frown. "Is that who Jareth pawned me off on?"
"Yes and word is that Roland is thrilled. He said he likes your company." Abby replied. "'Sides that, the lad is Prince Jaron's best friend."
Alyx's attention perked. "Right… That's what Roland told me… Do you think that Jaron will attend the masquerade?"
Abby gave a very unladylike snort. "He'd cross the Dragon Waste's on his own two bare feet to get to this masquerade knowing you're to be there, miss."
Alyx blushed as Abby set up her meal near the fireplace.
Abby ordered. "Now get up and have your lunch before it gets cold."
Alyx obeyed and moved to the table where Abby had placed her lunch. Though the food looked and smelled delicious, she only picked at her meal. Abby tsked at the girl's meager eating.
"You'll be starved by dinnertime tonight." She scolded as she bustled about the room.
"I'm too nervous to eat." Alyx confessed, setting down her fork. "My stomach is doing flip-flips and back flips."
"At least eat yourself some fruit, child." Abby left the beautiful red apple that had been in Alyx's breakfast tray. "Now it's off to the tub with you, miss. That'll quell your nerves. You eat that apple and I'll have Cookie make you a sandwich or something after your bath."
Abby took the tray away as Alyx headed for her bathroom. Upon her happy entry, the trees swayed and dropped jasmine petals into the massive stone tub. The tub was nearly finished filling its self when she entered and Alyx smiled. Magic was a handy thing in this world. She could not wait until she knew her own. With a sigh, she disrobed and climbed in the steaming water and rested the apple on the edge of the tub. Leaning back, she closed her eyes, content. Perhaps she could get a little nap in since she had not slept very well the night before.
A happy voice cut through her thoughts. "Happy All Hallow's."
Alyx's eyes snapped open and she squealed in fear. Throwing her arms over her chest, she drew her knees up as well. Jaron was perched at the opposite end of the tub, a sly grin upon his handsome face. His loose tan shirt was, neither, buttoned nor tucked into his dark pants and he wore an elaborate goblin mask over the top half of his face. The goblin mask was comical, with a goofy face and curled horns. He had pulled back his hair with a bit of leather to keep it from his face. Lacing his fingers behind his head, he gave her a lazy smile.
"Jaron! I'm naked!" She blushed and attempted covered herself with bubbles.
"Yes… You are." He looked her up and down with a heated gaze and cocked his head, making the mask seem even more comical. His eyes brightened. "Neat."
"Jaron!" She gasped.
"Are you that pink all over?" Jaron asked, innocently, to her frown as he took off his mask. "Would you like me to get naked, too? So that we're on the same playing field?"
Jaron started to tug off his own shirt and she kicked water at him with a laugh. "No!"
"Really? Your loss." Jaron said, smugly, as he rolled up his pant legs and stuck his feet down in the hot water with a sigh. "That feels good."
"What are you doing?" Alyx asked, bewildered.
"Soaking my feet."
"I mean, what are you doing in here? I'm taking a bath!"
"I told you that I wanted to see you. So, I came to see you. I didn't realize that you'd be naked when I got here." Jaron smirked. "That's just a bonus."
She frowned at him. "You really are trying to ruin me aren't you?"
"It's what I'm good at." Jaron quipped. He gave her a sly smile. "Besides if I'm the one to ruin you then I'm the one who gets to marry you, remember?"
His confession made Alyx blush again and she hugged her knees closer to her chest. Jaron gave a frustrated sigh and sunk down into the tub, fully clothed, to sit across from her. Water sloshed over the sides of the tub as he landed and Alyx squealed, attempting to keep herself hidden. He stretched out his long legs to one side of her and reached out to snag one of her ankles to make her sit much like him. Though embarrassed to be the only naked person in the room, Alyx complied, and the pair stared at one another.
"Shiny apple." Jaron smirked.
"Breakfast."
"Lunch."
"Whatever." She grabbed it and took a bite. She held it out towards him and said around a mouthful of apple. "Wanna bite? It's good."
He accepted the apple and took a small bite. After chewing and swallowing, he grimaced, and tossed the rest of the apple out the open window.
"Hey!" Alyx protested.
"It tasted spoilt." He replied.
"It was perfect!" Alyx frowned. "That was my breakfast."
"Lunch."
"Whatever."
"I'd offer you a peach, but you know that I'll probably bespell it." Jaron smirked.
"What spell would you put on it?" Alyx asked, curiously.
Jaron materialized a peach out of thin air and offered to her. "Want to find out?"
She paused.
"I'll even take the first bite." Jaron took a bite of the peach and smiled, the juice running down his chin. He offered it to her and she took the fruit, following suit. She paused for a second and gave him a funny look.
"Did you bewitch the peach?" She asked, chewing slowly.
"No?" Jaron smiled. "I enchanted it a little."
She frowned. "Enchanted how?"
"'And what she didn't know was that Goblin Prince had fallen in love with the girl and given her certain powers…'" Jaron recited.
"What kind of powers?"
Jaron gave her a sly smile. "You can now spin straw into gold on a spinning wheel."
She gave a very unladylike snort. "Uh-huh, and goblins can fly on the backs of chickens over the Bog. What did you do?"
"It is only a little protection and dissuasion against bad magic." Jaron's hand snaked around her ankle so he could gently rub there. He gave her a pleading look. "Finish the fruit for me, Alyx… Please?"
"Protection? What kind of protection?"
"Trust me and eat the peach." Jaron replied and she took another bite of the fruit, chewing thoughtfully. He asked. "Am I all forgiven for Still Lake?"
She pursed her lips in an effort not to smile. "I'm thinking about it."
"Good." He frowned and his hand moved, absently, to rub her calf. He peered around the bathroom. "I see Grandma didn't change the décor much after she took my quarters away from me. I always liked my forest bathroom…"
"Where have you been staying?"
He smiled, slyly. "The stables."
"Liar."
"Roland's put me up in the Amarantha Wing." He changed the subject. "You look tired."
"I am."
"Why?"
She shrugged. "I didn't sleep very well last night."
"Why?" Jaron asked as he settled her foot upon his lap and began to knead her soles.
Her blush grew at his intimate touches. "I was nervous… About tonight."
He nodded, knowingly. "Roland tells me that he is escorting you."
"Does that bother you?"
"A little." Jaron answered, truthfully, with a shrug. "I want you to be on my arm tonight and dancing with me. The mortal in me makes me greedy, I suppose."
Alyx was confounded at his honesty of how he felt about her and felt enflamed by his touch. As she tried to think of way to either reply to him or change the subject, Jaron smirked.
"When you blush, it goes all the way down." Jaron teased and moved on to her other foot.
"It's not fair!" Alyx blustered. "You put me in such knots!"
Jaron gave her a warm smile. "You should see the knots you tangle me in, mortal."
The pair stared at one another, trying to decide if the other would let them kiss them. Their gaze was broken when they heard Abby enter into Alyx's bedroom and begin to bustle about. Jaron sighed and released Alyx's foot. Then he gave her a smile.
"Until the eve, my lady. I must be off before I damage your reputation further. Eat the peach… Please." With a wink, he disappeared only right before Abby opened the door and came inside.
Abby seemed puzzled. "Who are you talking to miss? I thought I heard voices."
Alyx blushed and took another bite of the peach as she sunk down in the tub. "I was… Singing to myself."
Jaron transported himself to the hallway, so he could avoid Abby. Water dripped from his sopping clothes to splatter along the marble floors with each step. Beginning to whistle, he decided to go and have few words with his cousin, Roland, before the masquerade. Turning, he headed for the Amarantha Wing of the castle, sauntering a bit.
Jareth's voice rang out from behind him. "Why in the name of Whuppity Stoorie are you so sopping wet?"
Turning to see his brother glaring from a nearby doorway, Jaron smiled and imitated the act of swimming. "I went swimming with the selkies and merrows on the beach. They said they like my legs."
"I thought you were forbidden."
"Not forever."
"You went swimming with your clothes on?" Jareth raised an eyebrow, curiously.
"At first." Jaron smirked.
"You are making a mess."
"I know." Jaron sighed and swung his arms, sending arcs of water everywhere. "Isn't it wonderful?"
Jareth frowned and brushed water from his suit. "What is the matter with you? You act as if someone has befuddled you."
"It's All Hallow's. My favorite holiday, you know." Jaron shrugged.
Jareth gave a snort. "You smell like jasmine."
"And vanilla." Jaron added and gave him a distant smile. "She likes vanilla in her baths as well."
Jareth frowned again. "She? She who?"
"Who?" Jaron feigned confusion and Jareth took a great breath, realizing his brothers and his love of games.
"Who the bloody hell are you talking about, Jaron?"
"Her."
"Her who?"
Jaron just smiled, slyly, and shrugged. He then turned and continued down the halls, slopping water as he went. His happy whistling rang through the halls as he left. Jareth gave a snort and went back to his room to prepare for the Masque, deciding it was not worth the effort to press matters. He had enough problems to sort through tonight, rather than Jaron and his antics.
Ramsden studied his suit that had been laid out upon his bed for the masquerade tonight and sipped his snifter of cognac, thoughtfully. By now the mortal had eaten the apple that he had sent with her meal at midday. The magic would already be seeping deep into her and making her susceptible to his glamour later. He was still furious that he was unable to escort her this evening. That damned Roland had beaten him to the punch and had the luck to wear that fresh piece of meat upon his arm.
Yet, he had much faith that she would be in his arms before the night ended. He would make sure of that. He would dance her deep into darkness and keep here there for his own pleasure. She would be a delectable conquest to take up his time in the near future. So long as he could keep her nosy, mortal friend away and out of his business. He swore that the Goblin King's intended bride followed his movements at every dinner that he had attended since their arrival. Her stark green eyes nearly bore holes into him every evening as he had attempted to woo Alyx. And because his mortal watched him, the Goblin King began to keep his sharp eye on Ramsden. It was rare that he did not run into Jareth at least once in the halls a day as he searched out the youngest mortal. It was all Ramsden could do to bribe a rather dull-witted brownie into adding the poisoned apple with the girl's lunch tray and not be caught for it. For all the trouble she was becoming for him, the little snit had better still be a virgin when he got his hands on her. He'd be livid if that damned Halfling had her first.
Slamming his drink down upon the nearest table, he moved towards his balcony and stopped short. Before him on the white marble was the bloody body of a young hare. His lip drew up in disgust as he heard the flutter of large wings. A handful of silver feathers floated down before him and he looked up to make out the form of a bird of prey as it flew down the beach. He scowled as he realized that the dead hare was a warning from the Goblin Prince. Snorting, he kicked the dead thing away with the toe of one boot. It would take more than a dead weed rat to frighten him away from his objective. The girl would be his.
A/N: You likey? I have more on the way!
