As promised:

Seven Years:

Jareth paced in his throne room, he had been unceremoniously dismissed from his study nearly an hour before by Sarah and a rather nervous looking Alyana. He kicked absentmindedly at a stray goblin before striding to the large widow and leaning on the ledge.

"You are restless tonight, My King," a gentle voice said from behind him and Jareth turned to see Jor'yl, the Dragon Lord advisor that Alyana had bestowed on Sarah and never seen fit to recall.

"Yes, not that it is any of your concern," he arched a delicate eyebrow, yet was grateful to the Dragon for bringing up the subject. "Did my sister appear to be behaving oddly today?"

"I would not offend you for the world, My King, but I believe that the First Lady has been behaving strangely for many months." Jor'yl kept his tone neutral, yet inched a little further away from the Goblin King. To his surprise, and immense relief, Jareth merely sighed and nodded.

"Yes, for a few years..." he trailed off, deep in thought again. "Perhaps I should find out what she wants with my wife." He muttered, not expecting the Dragon to reply. To his surprise, Jor'yl did.

"I do not believe that is wise, My King. In my experience, Her Majesty dislikes being disturbed." If looks could kill, Jor'yl would have been a large stain on the granite floor. As it was, the advisor took a few steps back, then bowed and made a swift retreat.

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Sarah watched as Alyana paced nervously, twisting her black gloved hands together, the emotion completely out of character for the confident Dragon Lady. For a moment she feared that Alyana was going to tell her that something was wrong with Toby, then the other woman stopped and took a deep breath.

"I'm engaged, Sarah," there was a slight tightening about her eyes, like she expected Sarah to fly into a rage. Instead the younger woman jumped up and hugged her.

"But that's wonderful, Aly!" She exclaimed. "Do we know him?"

"Dal'in." The name was barely audible. Sarah stepped back, confused by Alyana's apprehension.

"But surely you're happy? This must be what you want. You did agree to marry him."

"Yes, but if the council objects..." she trailed off.

"If they object, what?"

"Sarah, they could force me to break off the engagement!" Tears stood in her eyes.

"But you can refuse."

"Yes, then they will take my realm from me. Toby isn't ready to rule yet."

"I wasn't ready either," she reminded the worried woman. Alyana looked at her, her eyes filled with something like pity.

"You were older, you had something to drive you. They will chose his advisor, it has never worked well in the past." Her eyes now held fear. "I will never see him again, Sarah, I will be outcast from my realm, as will Dal'in. If anyone takes us in they will not be looked on with favour." Sarah sat her in one of the large arm chairs and handed her a small glass of something similar to brandy.

"You know that I'll back you, Aly, as will Jareth. We won't cut you off, and even if they chose a bad advisor for Toby, we'll find a way around it."

"But you're not on the council, Sarah." Alyana all but wailed. "There is so little that you can do!"

"Trust me," she smiled at her friend. "This should be a happy time. Besides the council did not object to me and Jareth, and I was a mortal, why should they object to you and Dal'in?"

"What about Alyana and Dal'in?" Jareth asked from the other arm chair. Both women flinched a little guiltily.

"Jareth, what have I told you about sneaking up on me like that?"

"That it's manly and impulsive." he smirked at her.

"I believe my exact words were 'don't ever.'" She reminded him, trying hard not to smile. "You know that I don't like it." He smirked at her for a moment longer then turned his attention back to his sister.

"What is happening that involves you and Dal'in, Dear Sister?"

"We are engaged to be married."

"You're what?" He jumped to his feet, his mask of complete calm slipping totally and replaced by utter fury. "Have you told that council?" She shook her head silent. "What were you thinking? He's your advisor, your councillor..."

"He's the son of one of the most noble families in my realm."

"Marvelous, I'm so happy for you! Alyana, you know that the council will object."

"They didn't object to us," Sarah interjected quietly.

"You were almost Fae, you had ruled my kingdom in my absence, my heir, you had defeated me and imprisoned Camulus. You were famous, My Love, Dal'in... Alyana, they will object."

"But if we back her up, Jareth," Sarah desperately clutched at straws.

"Maybe. Oh, Alyana, how do you do this? Why do you do this." He knelt before her. "Of course I will back you, Sister."

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The Glade erupted in angry shouts as Alyana delivered her news. Pilthe and Gord immediately and loudly declared their displeasure at the choice of the First Lady, Adrolith and Jareth both backed her up. Vaela, it seemed, was still too unwell to make the journey and Alon had not bothered to attend. The council was divided. Then the unexpected happened, the Shadow King made his first appearance in nearly seven hundred years.

"Daves!" Adrolith, the only member of the council to ever meet the king, exclaimed in shock.

"Elf King." The Dark Lord bowed his head. He was not an elf, not a goblin or dragon, he had no form and yet seemed to have all forms. He was both dark, yet light, both absorbing it and exuding it. To gaze too long into his blood red eyes was to lose your soul. "May I express my congratulations to the First Lady, I make no objections to this match." All present stared.

"You have no authority here, Daves!" Gord roared. "You have not attended our meetings for seven hundred years, power not exercised is lost."

"I disagree, your predecessor did not attend council meetings for three hundred years, until just before he died," Jareth reminded the Dwarf King. "By your logic we should have cut off you kingdom as well. Personally I welcome the return of the Shadow King, we have been enemies too long." He kept his voice at a low purr, but inside he was seething with rage, desperate to know why Daves had backed up Alyana. He needed to know the price.

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Daves made a gesture and his midnight cape vanished as his Warg advisor trotter to his side.

"Majesty," he growled.

"She will marry."

"The boy?"

"Will resent it. The fairy Queen?"

"As ordered. She weakens."

"Good, and the girl?"

"Loyal."

The plot thickens and I'll stick to my rules PLEASE review so that I can post the next bit. You KNow you want to really!!

Artemis