This is turning into something a bit more epic than I had originally planned. This chapter went in another direction as well, but don't worry it'll twist back to where I always planned it to go in the following Jareth chapter. Just took the scenic route.

I'm enjoying the reviews. I love hearing your opinion. Sometimes you're spot on and it makes me want to surprise you! Sometimes you're so far off from my long-term storyline that it really gives me a new perspective in my writing. Its fantastic. I love hearing your opinions on Willem and Sarah and the Stone King. As you can see from the time line, Sarah's story is now at 12 years Underground - which is when Jareth's story first started. At this point, the story is going to pick up as everything comes together.

I'll give you guys a hint: Toby is not in the castle. Our girl is a bit smarter than that. Jareth's kinda underestimating her... but then I think perhaps that's a hazard of being a centuries old magical being. You have a lot of time to puff up your pride and arrogance over the lesser beings., and SPOILER ALERT - It will definitely be the downfall of Mordred in the end.

Time Above - Time Below - Chapter (S/J)

Late 1986 – 12 years – c19 (S)

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Late-1986 - 12 years - c2 (J)

Mid 1987 – 13.2 years – c20 (J)

Chapter 20

Whilst Mordred's arrival had been expected, none anticipated the almost indecent hour he descended upon them. Barely has they finished breakfasting when the great doors opened to reveal the unseelie group, headed by the devil himself. His entourage was large and menacing, and Jareth saw hidden beneath the robes any number of weapons. He wondered again at the sanity of the Stone King who allowed those with whom he was not allied to be so armed within his own walls. Still, there was little he could do about such things.

"Greetings," the Stone King called out from his perch at the head of the table.

Apparently the old king was unbothered by the unannounced arrival and certainly quite literally not bothered to stand on ceremony. He had remained seated where protocol dictated he stand in greeting. Many eyes boggled at the insult, deliberate or no. Jareth contained a smirk as Mordred's face twitched with repressed offence.

"Your highness," Mordred drawled, "Allow me to-"

"Oh it's no bother," the Stone King interrupted cheerfully, "You're quite forgiven for the earliness of the hour. Why! I doubt we even have your rooms prepared."

Jareth nearly choked on the honeyed mead he had been sipping.

"Willem? Have we got the boy's rooms prepared?" the Stone King asked easily, apparently unaware of the tension he had caused.

"We have certainly made preparations for the horses," Willem replied in all seriousness, "Though I'm afraid with the recent excitement, we had left the room's preparations till the last moment. The staff ought be finished with them in the next few hours."

The Stone King gave a satisfied nod, "There! All's well that ends well! You shall have your rooms in good time, young sir. Though I do say," and here he wrinkled his nose, "You appear quite dirty from your travels."

The gathered struggled to maintain their composure. The Stone King was an acknowledged eccentric, though his unnerving ways had been mostly accepted with some amusement. But the dark aura of Mordred made them warier in their festivities. There were solemn days ahead.

Despite the insults to his person, Mordred bowed with a mild expression of looking forward to refreshing himself. Jareth observed all with interest, and wondered at the amused glances between the Stone King and his Heir as the great doors closed. He knew them but little. His days had been spent both negotiating with any number of kingdoms as well as searching for Sarah, and through her Toby. The Stone King remained an enigma to him and the Heir… the Heir largely irritated him.

He couldn't say he felt a lover's jealousy over Sarah's impromptu visit to the royal chambers. In truth, his lack of discernment bothered him more so than the fact. He had simply discounted the possibility of any relationship between the girl and the Heir. That he had been proven wrong and quite literally ruffled his feathers. It had clearly ruffled Lady Mahryssa as well. The woman was going to great lengths to establish a relationship between herself and the Heir, even going so far as to spread small tales of secret trysts and unspoken promises to a select few. Jareth had little doubt she would eventually play the seduced victim, attempting to force an alliance. With only her word for it, he doubted her success. Besides that, he had his own Heir to find.

He had spent too long searching and still he had no greater clue to Toby's whereabouts than when he first arrived. It was maddening. There was little time left, for he had his own kingdom to return to and without his Heir safe at his side for the coming war he would be forced to take drastic measures. He sighed. He had hoped Sarah would prove more accommodating but since she had proven stubborn he was indeed forced to drastic measures.

He searched for her. For days he searched for her but to his great irritation she was nowhere to be found. It helped not that the blasted Heir Willem looked at him with a knowing eye. The scrutiny angered him further and drove him to search even more desperately. His travails were unsuccessful, and he found himself one day in the very spot where he had first seen her. Where could she be?

"Ah, King Jareth. I had hoped to have a moment with you."

Jareth, ever composed, turned to give Mordred the slightest of bows, "Prince."

"So curt… eous," Mordred taunted, the black of his lips revealing jagged teeth hidden behind a handsome face.

Jareth remained silent.

"I have something of yours," Mordred said congenially, "Or rather, I should say, someone."

It was unnervingly to the point and so unlike the fae that Jareth could not prevent the slightest of flinches from escaping. Mordred laughed, and it was all Jareth could do to grit his teeth and will it not to be possible.

"Can you ever think of whom it might be?"

There was nothing to say but allow Mordred to play his hand.

"He sends his greetings."

So it was a he, Jareth thought miserably.

"And gave me this."

Mordred produced a paper from the inner pocket of his robe. Jareth took it with caution, seeing it to be a worn scrap of paper. But it was unlike the papyrus of the Underground, and so he could only presume it had come from Above. He unfolded it to see the images of a smiling girl and infant looking at him from the dull yellowed page. The word RUNAWAY emblazoned beneath their pictures.

"You have them?" Jareth asked carefully, watching Mordred within his peripheral vision.

"Yes."

Jareth wanted to tear the unseelie's black heart from his chest. All his hopes, all his plans, were in the hands of a true monster. He couldn't fathom how he had lost so much to his enemy and without any warning. Despair gripped his heart to think they had been snatched from beneath his very nose.

"You will support Lady Mahryssa's claim to bearing the Heir of the Heir of the Stone King."

Mordred did not waste his words in victory. Defeat was bitter to Jareth, but he perversely drew some dark satisfaction from having the right of Lady Mahryssa's machinations. But did Mordred know the Heir had not fallen to them? What story had Lady Mahryssa told her Lord of her one-sided affair? Perhaps she had described him an unwilling suitor - one that needed to be bullied into such a bond? It was doubtful that any of it was the truth though Jareth supposed it was not in his interests to share such information with the bastard before him and he was ever practical. He had been defeated but in one so long lived as he, he knew it was but one battle, and the war not even begun. He would regroup. Mordred wanted the Stone Kingdom, but could not take it by force. The salt and sea diminished their kind too much to wage a proper battle. So it had come down to trickery. But what to do now?

"Why do you want the Stone Kingdom? It is a wasteland," Jareth was reaching for time more than an answer. He could easily guess what Mordred wanted.

"A trifle really," Mordred replied carelessly, "It borders my lands. Though no knight, bishop, castle or queen, it remains within the power of others to use its proximity against me. I shan't be brought down by simple arrogance in ignoring a well-positioned pawn."

Jareth doubted the Stone Kingdom were a pawn, given the unprecedented powers of its rulers. Mordred clearly thought otherwise. Perhaps he thought them magicians of parlour-tricks rather than the elemental mages they were proving to be? Still, while the growing power of the fledging rulers gave him the briefest of pauses, the Stone Kingdom did not hold his Heir hostage.

"I will give credence to Lady Mahryssa's claim."

His word was his bond.

Mordred nodded, "See that you do."

"And the children?"

There was no point pretending he cared little for them. There was too much at stake.

"Shall be yours." Mordred grinned before turning and taking his leave.

Jareth could have sighed with relief. Mordred knew the children were important to him, but the price he asked was not one demanded when bargaining with an Heir. He had missed a key piece of information. It would be his downfall. As he had underestimated the Stone Kingdom, so did Mordred underestimate Jareth. It was likely he supposed the children to have been stolen away by Jareth for his own amusement – not an uncommon practice amongst the unseelie. Jareth was certainly considered by many seelie circles to be too ruthless for their tastes. Yet too he was not cruel enough for the unseelie. He could only hope his outcast status continued to assist his Heir.