Time could not be held back any further, Sarah would have to return home to keep the timeline intact. She would be safe while in the Above Ground, Queen Alyssa thought rationally, and the training could continue in other ways. But fate has a way of showing us our plans are meaningless. And even Champions would be tested by real life.
Karen Williams turned on the television and sighed at the news. The weather that had been so mild seemed to be changing into frost, and it was only November. Usually they had a few more weeks of calm before the first snow. Sorting through mail she smiled. Sarah's latest letter from the student exchange program had arrived, probably telling her what sort of things to pack and where to meet her ride once she got off the plane.
Her cousin in Ireland had called just a week ago saying that it was unseasonably cold for this time of year. Maybe Karen should pack long underwear for Sarah. Sarah never had any concept of what the weather was outside if she was lost in her acting. Robert had said Sarah's mother had been the same way before she died.
Karen remembered meeting Sarah for the first time when the girl was eleven. So strong and not needing anyone, almost like she was older than Karen. The fights were to be expected, Karen supposed. But in the calmer moments, Karen wondered if Sarah would ever need someone's help. They were getting along better now, and Sarah seemed to love Toby, but silly as it seemed, Sarah had a subtle drama about her that Karen would never understand.
She glanced up at the ceiling thinking about Annie and Sarah, hoping they would wake up soon and maybe eat lunch. It had been a long night for them both but Karen knew Annie was in no hurry to get back home. Karen frowned at the thought of Annie's mother. Most of the other girls at school didn't talk to Annie much because her mother was rumored to be too friendly with the married men in town. A few of them went as far to hint that it was for business purposes. Karen didn't listen to idle gossip, but she did see the look on Annie's face whenever her mother was mentioned.
Well, thank goodness Annie had Karen to tell her troubles to, or she would, if she'd want to talk. There was a sad weariness to that girl. She hoped that when Sarah went off to Ireland for six months that Annie would handle it all right. She knew Sarah hadn't told her yet, but that was Sarah's job, not hers.
"Karen," her husband called from upstairs, "I can't find my red tie. I can't go to this meeting without my lucky red tie."
Karen rolled her eyes, amused at her husband's words. "Coming dear, just give me a minute to put the mail down."
JSJSJSJSJSJSJSJS
"Leave? But I just agreed to stay?" Sarah said, not understanding. Alyssa glided over the marble floors of her ballroom, directing servants in decorating for the celebration of Sarah challenging Jareth for his life and kingdom. A bit odd to Sarah's way of thinking, but she did enjoy watching the preparations.
"My child, we can only hold time back for so long. Your family will notice you gone and you still have a life above – but we do need you. I have an idea, if you wish to hear."
"Well, okay. I suppose I can listen," Sarah said, moving out of the way of some cleaning staff as they moved heavy blue curtains off the windows to replace with spun gold cloth.
"You were planning to be an exchange student this year, correct?"
"Well, yes – how did you – never mind," Sarah sighed, watching the chaos around her.
"Well – your travels will take you to a university in Ireland, one very close to the castle of the Above Ground royals."
"You mean, my grandparents? They are still alive? Do they know about me? Why didn't they come see me after my mother died? Oh gosh, they are ashamed of me aren't they?"
"Sarah, calm yourself. In answer to your queries, yes, your grandparents. They are still alive, but in as great a danger as yourself. They were not able to see you due to Jordana's interference and they are in no way ashamed of you. I'm sure they love you dearly."
"You are sure? But you don't know?"
"There is so much you still don't know, things I thought would be easy to explain."
"Well, now's as good a time as any," Sarah grinned weakly.
"Indeed. When your mother ran away, Jordana, being the younger sister, felt she was then the heir to the Above Ground and by rights should have the Goblin Kingdom her sister rejected."
"And the Goblin King her sister rejected?" Alyssa had the grace to look slightly embarrassed.
"I see someone's been telling tales. Yes, Ablilena was promised to Jareth. But they fought constantly about everything. Don't get me wrong, they were the greatest of friends, they trusted each other completely. They just didn't have the bond needed to be married, if they had tried, both would have been lost to us." At Sarah's confused look, Alyssa continued.
"To be Fae and to be married - it is meant as an eternity. Until they are bonded in matrimony, they may have as many partners as they wish, with no threat of ostracism from their family members or from their former partners. If the marriage bond is tried between two who do not worship each other freely, both will be consumed by such sadness that death becomes a blessing. So for most Fae love is freely given as such until the one true bond is formed. Not all Fae find such a match and well they have their own happiness."
"Ah," Sarah said, blushing.
"Yes, ah. My son Jamen is a master is such fleeting attachments, but I digress. Jareth has felt no such attachment with anyone until now. But as you have rejected him, he will not take the vow. He will never marry for we do not do such things lightly. Jordana feels that she has been cheated out of her rights. Her parents disagreed but did not know of her studying of the black arts under the tutelage of Carman herself."
"And that would be?"
"Ah, I forget you do not know of your heritage. Carman is known far and wide as a destructive evil within Ireland's history. She and her three sons ravaged the fair isle until they were vanquished and Carman died of grief. However, her libraries were never found. Until Jordana came across them. She bragged to whoever would listen that Carman was a visionary and a prophetess of great renown. She did not however tell anyone she had found the libraries."
"And no one thought to ask her about her obsession with this witch?"
"It is not something Above Ground Fae usually meddle with unless provoked. Jordana challenged her parents for control of the Above Ground and used their own magic against them blended with spells from the libraries that no one had used for thousands of years. It imprisoned the magical creatures above, somewhere we cannot reach."
"But your wizards, and your own powers. Someone must be able to see where they are," Sarah said, tears appearing in her eyes.
"We have control of the Under Ground. It is part of the agreement set forth centuries ago. Jordana can only come here and bid others to do her work for her. She has no real power unless it is freely given to her. But you - you are the daughter of the Light Kingdom and the beloved of the Dark."
"Jareth," Sarah started to say. Alyssa waved her protest away.
"Not just Jareth. You are beloved of us all, dear Sarah. We have claimed you into our hearts. You have the power to be Above Ground and rescue your grandparents, but you cannot do this until you defeat Jareth and reclaim the Goblin Kingdom."
"Why is nothing straightforward here? How much do you think I can do? Do you all just sit around making up these ridiculous contests and rules to prove how smart you all are?" Sarah stood up and faced the window. Alyssa came up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"One step at a time dear one. You must win the Challenges before you have the right or the power to go forth to fight Jordana for your kingdom above."
"My kingdom above? Ah, my head is spinning and I need time to think."
"Of course, dear child. I'll leave you alone but I will see you before you return home to your parents. Each night, we will visit your dreams once you are in Ireland and continue your training. When the time of the next Challenge arises, you will be returned here."
"You said I'll be near the castle, where my grandparents live?" Sarah tried to remain calm but her nerves were shot. Each hour spent here added to her quest. And she still had those Challenges to train for, before she could even think about saving her grandparents.
"You will be living in an apartment with someone quite close to me, someone who will watch over you as well as she can. And when you are not with us in dreams, she will reinforce your training until the time of Challenge."
"Well no one's ever really told me what this first Challenge is supposed to be anyway. I mean, will I be ready? What will I have to do?"
"That's the joy of the Challenges, my dear. No one knows until they come forth to try."
"Argh another flippin' fairy rule to bang my head up against a wall about, great." Sarah threw herself back into her chair and shielded her eyes. Alyssa laughed softly and brushed some of Sarah's fine brown hair back off her face.
"You are a Champion of the Labyrinth, Sarah Brigit Williams, daughter of my heart, and heir to a kingdom richer than your wildest imaginings. We do believe in you. All of us and that includes my son."
"Somehow, that thought does not bring me great comfort, your highness," Sarah admitted. But she smiled anyway.
JSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJS
Annie could not believe it, she was finally at the High Court again, and she could just give Sarah the necklace and go home. She wondered how she'd go about finding her friend without being noticed. Lithos had left her at the path leading up to the palace - a palace that apparently floated in the air. Nice. Nothing about this place was right.
And people were forever leaving her with quick goodbyes. First Aberdon, then Lithos. Not that she cared, but it was a bit rude.
She stared up at the palace, noticing the dragons flying around it and shuddered. There was really no way to get up there was there?
"Excuse me?" A voice in the trees called out to her and Annie jumped.
"Who's there, show yourself," Annie called back to the woods. A little butterfly came out and flitted around her head. Looking more closely she saw it was a fairy. She swatted it and the fairy flew back in alarm.
"Now what do you want to do a thing like that for!"
"Aberdon told me about you garden fairies, you bite!"
"For your information, I am most definitely not a garden fairy. I'm a library fairy and I've just returned from my daily constitutional." Tarreth hoped that made him sound important.
"Does everyone around here talk like they live in a story book?" Annie asked, amused in spite of the situation.
"Well, we sort of do, if you think about it. Hmm, you look familiar - ah, you are the Princess Sarah's friend from the Above Ground. Antoinette, wasn't it?"
"Yes, and she doesn't want to be a princess here, she wants to just go home with me and forget this place. So I have to go see her now and get her to see reason. But, I can't exactly fly up there."
"Hmm, I see your point, fair Antoinette. Perhaps you need a bit of help then?"
"What, no! I don't want anyone else knowing I'm here," she said frantically. Another voice came floating around her. Familiar and low.
"Then I suggest you not stand in the middle of the road, little one. You're quite easy to spot that way," Aberdon looked at her from his horse, a somewhat furious look on his face.
"Oh, you. I just want to see Sarah."
"I thought you had left this place, why have you not?" The question was not spoken in anger, but she could see he was not pleased to see her.
"I um, got lost."
"On a path leading out of here, unlikely. Try again." His cold silver eyes lined in blue looked right through her and she shivered.
"I mean, I was leaving and I forgot something. To tell Sarah, to apologize I mean. I didn't want to leave things they way they were." She glanced at Terrath daring him to contradict her words. He just shrugged and flew off towards home.
"I see. Well if you can stand being near me long enough to get you up there, I can fly you back to the palace." He stretched out a grey gloved hand and waited.
"But you are on a horse," she said, confused.
"Yes, we can both agree, Scáil is indeed a horse. Now, are you willing to come with me or should I see if Sarah wishes to float down here to see you?" The sarcasm was laced with another emotion she didn't recognize. She nodded meekly and let him help her onto his horse.
Fingering the pendant within her jacket pocket, she took a deep breath and thought out just how to get the pendant around Sarah's throat and rescue them both.