Jareth found himself outside of Esaye chambers. She could hold the key to ending this nightmare he found himself now apart of. Knocking he waited until he heard her call to enter from the other side. Entering he saw Esaye sitting on one of her green couches crocheting by the fire. He sat down in the chair next to the couch and stared at the fire trying to figure out what his next move was in the twisted game he was playing.
The room was silent except for the crackling of the fire. He won his prize, but at what price? Sarah was going to be difficult to handle in the up coming days and he had to curb her before the celebration or the counsel could force his hand. For once he almost envy the freedom his brother and sister had, they wouldn't be forced into a marriage unless he desired it. Something he would never do to either of them.
"You blew the final confrontation didn't you," Esaye sighed as folded up her work and placed it a wicker basket next to the couch. "I assume since you are not obliterating anything she lost, but you are here. Shall I assume you knocked her out with a sleeping spell?" She waited for him to speak but he remained silent. "Be cautious how you proceed."
"She is volatile currently," he informed her as he balanced his chin on his fist trying to think of his next move. Staring into the fire waiting for some answer to appear.
"Well I would suggest making sure she is aware she is not a prisoner, but do not advance on trying to make her queen," Esaye suggested as she stood up and stretched.
"Hm... Go to her she should awake soon," he ordered, and then stood, an idea forming in his mind. "She'll need rest after her run in the labyrinth and she is still covered in Tessan powder."
"May I ask what you are going to do next?" she asked as he stood.
"I did promise Tavan he could mold my future queen," he replied and then went to leave.
"You need to solidify a plan, something. Make her more comfortable here, humans do live differently than we do and rushing her with etiquette could be foolish." she pleaded him and he gave her a look question look. "I'm sure you know what your thinking of doing, just proceed with caution is all I am saying."
"Just attend to Sarah," Jareth hissed before he stormed out.
Sarah found herself laying on top of gold silk sheets that where cool to the touch. She had awaken a few moments earlier and was awaiting for Jareth to reappear. Growing bored she looked around the room. The bed she was sitting atop was king sized the sheets gold in colored. Behind the massive dark cherry wood head board where windows that looked out over the goblin city and the labyrinth was in the distance. In front of her was a gold couch with two wing back chairs on either side in front of a back marble fire place. Then she noticed four doors the one to the right of the bed was a black door, the one furthest away from her was an oak door with cravens of goblins in the frame, and the last two doors to the left of the bed where nest to each other and had flowers carved in them.
Getting up she went to the door furthest away from her. Her fingers traced the carved goblins before she reached for the brass door knob. Turning the knob she surprisingly found it unlocked. Slowly opening it she peaked around the door and looked out into a long hallway.
"Anything amiss Lady Sarah?" asked a small goblin standing outside the door.
Sarah had over looked him at first, she should have known he would have her trapped in here.
"Everything is fine," she said sweetly before closing the door.
Back in the room she stared at her other three options of doors. Of course she could always make a bed sheet rope and climb out the window. That would be a last resort, she thought as she headed towards the black door. Twisting the knob she found this door locked.
"I wouldn't bother with that door, it's a utility closet of sorts," Esaye stated as she walked in through the hallway door.
"Ash?" Sarah gasped, confused as Esaye walked towards her. The blond hair that was always in a tight bun was light and feathery, this had to be another trick.
"I believe it's time we had a chat Sarah," Esaye said as she gave Sarah a sympathetic smile. "But first I will state when you came to live in my home I had no idea you had been to my brother's realm before."
"Your brother?!" Sarah gaped and her jaw dropped. She should have known, the owl pendant always reminded her of here, but she looked nothing like Jareth.
"Yes, Jareth the Goblin King is my brother, and I did give him an earful for this mess," she replied before giving a Sarah a good look over. "Come let's get you cleaned up."
"No," Sarah hissed as she yanked her hand away from Esaye, like her hand had just been burnt by Esaye's touch. "How can I trust anything you say?"
"Honestly you cannot because you know who my brother is, and to you after the ordeal you've just gone through," Esaye said speaking openly and hoping Sarah would realize she wasn't the enemy here. "But you have been living in my home for years now, do you think I would bring harm upon you?"
"I want to say no," Sarah replied, and Esaye gave her a small smile.
"Then let's start with no secrets," Esaye said as she as she held out her hand. "I am Princess Esaye of the Goblin kingdom. The youngest of three children and hopefully here to make your transition to living in this castle painless."
"Sarah, eldest of three children and no desire to live in this castle," Sarah stated as she shook Esaye's hand.
"I have little desire myself to be here," Esaye laughed as she withdrew her hand as Sarah released it. "But alas I cannot defy my King."
"So we are both prisoners here?" Sarah sighed as Esaye shrugged her shoulders then ushered Sarah towards the two doors with flowers carved into them.
"I wouldn't say prisoners more like forced guests," she stated the pointed to the door on the left. "If you've seen the oubliettes and dungeons we have around here, you'd find being a prisoner less accommodating. Now let me show you around your chamber. This is you closet."
Esaye opened the door and Sarah gasped as she looked into the closet that was almost the size of her room at home. It was filled with dresses and gowns of all shapes and sizes. Most of the dresses where gold color, a theme Sarah was noticing.
"Why is everything gold?" Sarah asked as she entered the closet and notice a vanity and opened a drawer to find it filled with bracelets.
"Everyone has their own color here," Esaye stated casually as she watched Sarah. "My color is green, Jareth black, and Talek blue."
"Why am I gold?" Sarah asked as she opened another drawer and found it full of necklaces.
"It's just the color the king chose," she replied nonchalantly.
Esaye knew she couldn't tell Sarah that gold was the queen's color. The king and Queen always dressed in the colors of the kingdom as well as the crown prince. That's why Talek and Esaye wore different colors then those of the kingdom, so they would be known that they where not in line or on the thrown. All Fae kingdoms followed this unwritten rule, except Aresia, Princess Xulasa dressed in red like her father even though Prince Sternia was heir to the throne. Xulasa always thought of herself as a queen, and once she found out about Sarah, Esaye knew she was going to have a freak out.
"This doesn't seem right," Sarah told her as she closed the drawers on the vanity. "Why is Jareth giving me these chambers and clothes and jewels? This does not make any sense."
"I told you, you are not a prisoner," Esaye said as she led her from the closet and towards the other door.
"Then what am I a prize he's going to dress up and parade around," she snorted as Esaye opened the other door.
"That would be silly," Esaye giggled, even though she knew her brother was going to parade her around, not just because she was a prize but so all others would know she was his. "This is your bathing chambers."
"Wow," Sarah gasped as she found herself in a completely tiled room.
The floor looked like she was walking on polished turquoise and the walls had shells pressed into them and looked like sand in between the shells. The ceiling looked like a clear night sky with stars twinkling in the distance. In the middle was large pool of water, it reminded Sarah of hot springs she had seen in travel magazines.
"The pool is being fed be under water springs," Esaye informed her as she pointed to the light blue waters that had steam curling off it in little tendrils. "It's from the Dryd Spring. Only found in our kingdom, and has amazing healing capabilities, which may be nice after your journey tonight."
"Thank you," Sarah murmured as she stared at the inviting waters, but then a thought crossed her mind. "I do have one question, what am I to wear to bed? I don't think I saw anything that looked like pajamas in the closet."
"Do not worry, I will have something for you before you finish your bath," Esaye said as she pointed to shelves that where built into the wall and had blue fluffy towels on each of the shelves. "Towels are over there and the water has natural minerals in it that will cleanse your skin rather than harsh chemicals you humans prefer. I will return when you are finished."
Before Sarah could enquire anymore Esaye had turned and left. She had closed the door leaving her alone in the room. It was quiet and Sarah was nervous that someone could be spying on her, but she decided to take her chances for a bath. After all she was still covered in pink Tessan powder and the water did look so inviting.
Esaye forgot that humans preferred to sleep in clothes unlike the Fae who sleep in the nude. She couldn't fathom why humans would wear binding clothes when sleep was supposed to be freeing. Sleep was an escape from reality, and right now her reality wasn't very pleasing. While Sarah bathed Esaye made her way to Jareth's office. She found him there finishing tasks that should have been handled hours ago.
"I need to make a small request," Esaye said as she entered.
"Which is," Jareth sighed and rubbed his temples, awaiting whatever bad news Esaye had to say
"I need to return to our home and retrieve a few personal items for Sarah to make her more comfortable here."
"Fine," Jareth sighed and waved her away.
Knowing better then to question getting her way so easily she curtsied and then vanish to travel to her home. Trying to go back to his work he tossed a scroll back onto his desk. No work was getting done tonight. Getting up he stretched and decided to end this disastrous night. Tavan was not happy to start 'training Jareth's pet' as he said before Jareth had made him leave his sight before he removed Tavan's head from his shoulder. Walking towards his chambers he stopped in front of a door a goblin guard was standing in front of.
"You understand your orders right Blegg," Jareth asked the guard as he stared at the door, tempted to enter but he knew better than to have another confrontation so soon.
"No one but you, Lady Esaye, and approved servant are getting through that door sire," Blegg responded and saluted Jareth.
"Notify me if anyone else tries," he said before he continued his course to his chambers to rest for the night. He knew tomorrow held more trying times ahead.