Jareth awoke bound and gagged. No hand gestures meant no magic. He had no idea what happened. One minute he had returned to his chambers, the next he was lying . . where was he lying? Moving in the back of a wagon, was what it felt like. He swayed a little from side to side with the movement and he could hear the wheels turn beneath him. They were a full 12 hours early. This would serve no purpose but to take the decision away from Jareth and automatically annex his own country and resources. Should the perpetrator of this little scheme be found out he could be sure of an automatic beheading.
Jareth's memory was slowly returning. He now remembered walking into his chambers after seeing to affairs of state, and being overtired, but not so much so as to not witness the guards stationed in his chamber. He mounted a protest and magic, but there had been a ward. He hadn't felt it in passing the door, but there it was, he felt it then. He knew what was going to happen next. He steeled himself for the blow and woke up in the back of the wagon. He hadn't gotten an explanation of any kind. The guard seemed mortal enough. He assumed they would have to stop at some point and eat. Jareth, being Fae, did not need to eat every day, or every other day. Every three days would suffice.
He every confidence that Sarah would find him and he did not turn afraid. This would only cause to muddle his thoughts. Sarah was his queen whether or not she thought so. It was in her heart. He realized now that her mother must have spelled her both when he attended her birth. Why the spell? Perhaps she was as eager as he to have it all ended. Her stubborn father, Sarah's grandfather, the old, pompus windbag didn't know what he was talking about. He was ravaging his possible son-in-law's lands when he would have them anyway. Rather in the case of Sarah, should she choose him, would mean that she would have the lands.
What was the difference? In the pact was the clause that should Sarah choose him as a husband, the war would cease automatically. Jareth had been invited to the birth, not the actual event, men were not allowed in birthing rooms, as births were so rare. Every three years Fae gave birth in the birthing chambers. That year, only Sarah was born. Her mother had known it was going to be a girl from the very first moment. Fae monarchs, were they women did not choose a king, which is what made the clause of this pact such an oddity.
Truce could not be declared if Sarah were spelled by any suitor for ill or positive gain. This still did not explain Jareth's predicament. He had nothing to gain. That silly pact simply meant surrender or be annexed. Jareth had no intention of either. Sarah had to make her decision by tonight without any influence. She could be informed, of course, guided, yes, but not influenced in any way toward one country or the other. Of course she had blood ties to the one country and no ties to him, other than their previous mishap, but he had saved her life hadn't he? That should count for something. He knew for certain he would see his way out of this.
Still, if the guards decided to string him up in a tree or burn him alive before he made it to his end destination, then he would not make it at all. His magic wasn't as strong across the border either. If he could get away before the wagon reached the river he was home free, and would show these little sons of peasants who exactly they were dealing with. Or he could wait for Sarah to free him, blessedly choose him as her husband, and all would be done, with the beheading of these guards at the very least for being co-conspirators.
If Jareth's hands remained bound it left him with very limited options for freeing himself short of bribery, and he was in no mood to be giving away land of any sort especially in light of the current war situation. Another option involved Sarah finding him, but he was unsure of this happening, though she might have a way to negotiate his release. Jareth would sit tight until then, that was all he could do.
"Yer ladyship! Yer ladyship!" Joselle burst into Sarah's chambers, just as she began to go over the pact with Lord Clifford. Joselle gave a short curtsey and then finished with the news "His majesty has been taken! Kidnapped this very day!"
"What? Isn't that. . .I don't know, I'm at a loss of words here. Needless to say this complicates things and in a time of peace, I'm sure it would constitute war, but. . .this is just plain ridiculous. Why?"
"I cannot say for certain, Lady." Joselle replied, "but sure as the sun comes up, we need to get him back."
Sarah was stunned. Why on earth would they do this? She knew full well who was to blame. Jareth couldn't just be taken hostage. Her heart sank. Much as she loathed him previously, she didn't want to see him carted off somewhere and taken prisoner. She even wanted to say that she cared. Jareth had begun to grow on her, lest she forget her little adventure the previous night. . .it was cozy. Of course she didn't go and randomly jump into the beds of her other friends. Jareth was just different. There was magic, and he was royalty after all. That brought things into consideration. All of this went through her mind in less than five seconds. And by then she'd decided to rescue Jareth. She didn't have a plan, other than hunting him down, but she was certain she had to go after him, that much was clear. She hadn't chosen him yet, and she hadn't reviewed the pact. As far as she knew, the other country was well within their rights, but somehow she thought not. In fact. . .
"Aha!" Said Lord Clifford who was perusing the document with alacrity, "There is an error in syntax here; this pact is void! Your choice of king is irrelevant. Still should you wish to see Jareth again and I sorely hope that for my sake you choose to rescue him, he would have to be at your right hand. You would be sole monarch. War is at an end. The other country must relinquish all rights and prepare to cede their land."
Sarah froze. Sole monarch. Fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave. That's what Jareth meant all those years ago. He knew this was coming. Of course he did. If he wasn't extra perceptionary, he was damn near close enough. Seconds ago she had made up her mind to rescue Jareth, it was an imperative, now, not so much. She didn't want to live here forever, but her mother was here. She could be reunited with her mother. She was royalty, and besides, did she really want to go back to the rat race of her old life? She practically had a husband waiting for her a) should she choose to rescue him b) if she let her feelings continue to grow. Why would her grandfather condone these actions?Did he not know she was alive? Better yet, did he not know she was here? By all means, she should let him know, and in a big time way.
"I'll go." Sarah nodded and began to round up provisions to go after Jareth.