We slept late. Half of the night dancing and the other half in his bed, had left me exhausted. But I was happy. Happy didn't even encompass what I was feeling. It was something like contentment. He moved in his sleep, throwing an arm over me, and drawing me against him. He mumbled something that sounded like "Good morning" and settled again. I knew that had to be more like the afternoon, but I didn't bother correcting him. At the moment, the bed was holy ground and I didn't want to leave the peace it offered. I closed my eyes.

Perhaps another twenty minutes passed and he stirred again. I heard him move off the bed and his soft foot steps across the floor. I peaked out from behind my eye lids and caught sight of his bare form moving into the washroom. I smiled to myself- he did have quite the body. I rolled and stretched, yawning. Water and food never sounded so good. I sat up and moved to the edge of the bed. Being an exhibitionist was definitely not on my agenda. His shirt was the only thing I was able to locate. I had pulled it over my head and was stretching again when he came out. He had a nice silk robe on. Putting his arms around me, he indicated the shirt and said, "Very sexy. I don't think you need a robe at all."

I kissed him. "You know I,"

I was cut short by someone yelling frantically, "Jareth! Your highness! Jareth! Your highness!"

A series of doors opened and slammed shut. The chamber's door flew open and Bartholomew came crashing in waving a sheet of paper in the air. I yelped and Jareth shielded my exposed body with his.

"Bartholomew!" he roared. The physician glanced hurriedly around. "Knocking is a common courtesy!"

It seemed to just register in Bartholomew's mind that Jareth was not alone. He gasped in horror at his mistake and turned around. "Oh my- the blessed moon! Forgive me Lady Rebekah! I was not aware that you were both indisposed." He was breathless and talking urgently.

"What do you want?" asked Jareth.

"There's a message from the border- the head guard sends word that Brighton's men have moved onto our lands!"

Jareth's body turned rigid. My breath caught in my throat. He glanced back at me. "Bartholomew, go out into the sitting room. I'll join you in a few. At the moment I'm not disposed to give you another sneak peak at Rebekah." The elf left and shut the door. Jareth walked back into the washroom, calling out as he went, "Find some of your under garments at least!" I began looking around the room. "Sorry but it appears our honeymoon will be cut a little short." I had pulled on a few of the garments when he came out carrying another robe. "Here, put this on. We're in this together now."

I smiled. "You mean you want to share kingdom affairs with me?"

He smiled in return. "You're second in command now. Come on, let's find out what our cocky neighbor has gone and done."

Bartholomew was still red in the face when we joined him in the sitting room. Jareth ordered tea and some food from a servant, saying he wouldn't be able to think straight until he had a little nourishment. In the mean time the elf gushed apologies again. I stilled him, and encouraged him to speak on the matter at hand. The tea arrived and having been poured, Bartholomew explained the contents of the note. Jareth took it from him as he spoke, "They moved just this morning. It's a fairly large army- mainly Trows and Uruks; there's even rumor of a few Eliefants. They haven't progressed far. The border guard reports that they haven't even met their current station."

Jareth paced- tea in one hand and note in the other. "Who ran the message?" he finally asked.

"Squeak- she's the fastest. She left the camp at ten this morning and we received the message only ten minutes ago."

"Time now?"

"A little past noon."

Jareth smiled with something like pride. "She hasn't lost her touch."

"Is two hours remarkable?" I asked.

"It's a day's march to the border between us and Brighton," replied Jareth. "Squeak is the fastest runner in the whole Underground. The man has Eliefants!" he harshly said under his breath. "Alright… we prepare to march then." He rang a bell. He went to a desk and retrieved paper. He continued to speak to Bartholomew, "I'll need you to round up your best assistants- keep the group small. As well, alert your kinsmen." The servant arrived as he finished writing. "Find Squeak and have her deliver this to Captain Broag- tell her I want her to run her fastest." The servant dismissed he turned his attention back to the elf, "Where is my father?"

"He's in his own room I believe. I had not told him yet."

He seemed to consider what to do next. "Are you going to involve the courts?" I asked cautiously.

"I'll leave that up to my father. So far Brighton hasn't broken any laws, just ticked me off. Go Bartholomew!" The elf dashed from the room.

He finally stopped pacing and moved towards a window. Setting the note and tea side, he stood there starring. I sat my own cup aside. Well it can't be romance and mystery all of the time, I thought standing up, He is a king after all. I went to him. Sliding my arms around him I asked, "How long until you march then?"

"We'll ride at first light tomorrow. Rebekah," he turned towards me. "you are to stay here. I dare not even think to ask you to come with- a Fae battle is no place for a mortal."

I knew he was right. I hated it. "I know," I conceded. "Do you think you'll be gone long?"

"I should think not. I am confident that Brighton has been over zealous and probably isn't well prepared. I'll be expecting you to be waiting for me upon my return," he added and then crooned, "My queen!" He was kissing me- long and sweet as if there were not any pressing issues at hand. Pulling away he said, "Coronation or not you are now second in command. To the bog with any un-retrieved memories- I will only have you."

Ghads, I thought uneasily as he hugged me, I haven't told him and apparently neither has Oberon! He was asking if I was hungry. I nodded yes. A battle was a day away and we had bonded- the bog take Sarah indeed! I couldn't bring myself to talk about her. I sat down to eat.

Oberon looked eerily calm. His face was controlled and his jaw was set. His eyes- his eyes were ice. Jareth and I had met him for council in Jareth's study. Jareth had related the contents of the message and had given it to him for review. He also made it quite clear to his father that he was leaving me behind to see to things and that he intended to ride at first light. Oberon stroked his chin and claimed the right to call on the Landstriders. Kooky, another Froud connection, I thought standing in the room listening to them talking. Oberon then offered to stay behind with me to help me get acquainted with ruling. "I thank you sire," I told him. He soon left to see how many elves Bartholomew had been able to gather.

Standing in the room with the waning light of the afternoon shining through the windows, I felt my first real twing of fear. The two of them had such calm determination- as if going into battle was no different than flossing one's teeth. I had confidence in Jareth's abilities, no doubt, but it was still combat. Naturally my mind played flashes of scenes of World War II epics- firing machine guns, dropping bombs, and men screaming and running for their life. Fae were not invincible. I found myself seeking to say something to Jareth; some words that would express what I was feeling. We were now waiting: how many elves would serve? How many Landstriders were near by? How many goblins could the castle staff spare? All of the waiting made me tense, anxious. He was standing behind his desk, his hands spread before him, leaning in thought. I went to him and touching his arms said, "You will be careful?"

"Of course," he replied, turning to half lean half sit on the edge.

"You will come back to me in one piece?"

His eyes surveyed me. "What is this- are you anxious for me?"

"Terribly. I don't want to end up a young widow." I paused surveying him. "Though I'm sure there would be plenty of other Fae men willing to step up."

The corners of his mouth turned smoothly up. "No other man could keep you satisfied, Fae or not," he added reaching for me and pulling me against him.

"Oh are you so sure of yourself?" I kept a playful edge- anything to ease my nerves.

"You're mine, remember?" He had moved himself from the desk and had me in the vacant spot in the time it took him to speak. His eyes locked on me and that one eye brow rose up. "I am the only one suited for you."

I inhaled the spices that were always present when I was this close to him. My hands rested on his chest. "Cocky," I quipped with a smirk.

"Just so!" The innuendo made prevalent by his one smooth action of pulling my right leg up and around his waist. He leaned his whole body in, holding my raised leg with one hand and his other bracing my back. He was close enough to kiss, but he paused just short of my lips. "My, my, is your breath a little short?" he then teased.

Yes it is, and it's all your fault, I thought as I met his sexual challenge by throwing my other leg around him.

"My, my is some one afraid of a little competition?"

"Competition? There is no competition! I'll be coming back to you girly," he leaned in further, still keeping his face at that achingly close distance.

"You had better," I spoke with intensity. "I haven't the patience to acquaint myself with someone new. You're enough of a handful."

I heard something clink and fall over as I nearly became parallel with the desk. "I'll be back, and when I am I expect to be rewarded for my patriotic services." He grazed my lips.

Oh this is so much better than worrying, I thought happily.

I felt him beginning to slide away from me. I squeezed my legs around him and held him fast, pulling him against me. "Don't stop. I- I am afraid for you," my voice was airy. "And all of this waiting, this impending departure… Jareth, I don't want to loose you."

"And you won't." He dropped the sexual over tones. He held me there on the desk, intimately situated. He stroked my arm. "I know what I am doing. Trust me. I'll only be away for four days at the most- a day to ride there, two days to set things right, and a day to come home."

I lent forward and kissed him, full on the lips, hard and begging. My back met the desk and we lay there, bent in two, kissing each other. Something about this battle was not right. It nagged at me. So I kissed him, speaking unheard things into his mouth. Whether he understood or not, or even felt the same unsettling nature of the looming battle, was lost on me nor did it matter. When Bartholomew came knocking on the door, yelling about elves and Landstriders, he picked me up and rubbed my nose affectionately. "We'll finish this business later," he said. He moved away allowing me to drop to my feet. "A nice private dinner, just the two of us, and I'll stay with you as long as I dare to before joining the company. Smile for me Rebekah." I did, as best as I could.