Chapter21. Sarah's Tempest

Jareth found Sarah staring at the Labyrinth from the throne room window. He cleared his throat to warn her of his approach. She didn't look his way, just kept her gaze out the window. Leaning against the window frame he shifted so he could look at her profile. "I didn't order the compote." He said carefully.

Green eyes looked at him with apprehension. "I didn't think you did." She divulged. "NO, that was a calculated move by an older hand…" The expression on her face was on of defeat. "And like a fool, I did exactly what he expected me to do."

Mismatched eyes watched her carefully. "Sarah, he's tricky I'll give you that…"

She shook her head, "He's more than just tricky." She looked deeply into the eyes of the Goblin King baring her soul. "Jareth, he's use to getting what he wants, no matter what. If the Bard was accurate about him, and I have reason to believe he was… your High King will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants."

"Sarah." Jareth's voice dropped two octaves. "Don't give in to him. Until we are joined…"

"I know…I understand…" Sarah placed fingertips to his lips, silencing him. "Jareth you have to get back in there… Jackie is in danger here also."

"No." Jareth kissed the fingers on his lips. "Jackie is in no danger, I've claimed her and she is already a citizen of my realm…a subject that old Oberon has little interest in. It's you he wants." He pulled her into his embrace. "Now, that….I can understand."

Resting her head on his chest she smiled. "Pax?"

"Pax." He kissed the top of her head.

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Sonia over heard the words spoken by the Goblin King and his little mortal playmate. She pressed her body into the castle to keep from being noticed. Wicked and depraved thoughts ran rampant though her mind. She had been right; the old fool High King was smitten with the little human. Now all she had to do was offer her services to help him obtain the little creature. Surely he'd reward such a service with her hearts desire…The Goblin Queen's crown!

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David looked at Toby, noting his young friend had seemed to be more poised in the presences of the High King than usual. Mark also looked over at the boy.

Toby looked at the compotes that had been placed at each place setting. He looked at the servant who was looking confused. "Take this away; bring what the Goblin King ordered." The words came out clear and confidant. "You may leave the High King's as he seems to be enjoying it so much."

Oberon, amused, looked at the boy with contemplation and thoughtfulness. "So you're the little scamp Jareth has named as his heir."

"I am." Toby crossed his arms much as Jareth would.

The High King scooped more compote. "An amazing thing, the peaches of the Goblin realm, don't you agree?"

Knowing the old fox was trying to barb him into a squabble Toby reflected on his words before answering. "They have their uses."

"You've tasted of them recently?" Oberon sought his answers.

"We have." Toby spoke for all the students.

The High King looked at the young people seated round the table. "What if I was to tell you I could…lift… the enchantment with a magic charm and put an end to Jareth's hold over you? That I could return you to your former status and you'd be free to return to your mundane lives? Would that be of interest to any of you?"

Toby didn't want to over play his hand; he looked at Ian, then at David and Mark. In their eyes he found the truth and it gladdened his heart. "We're not interested."

Oberon snorted lightly. "You are all going to let this…boy talk for you?"

Mary stood up, walked to stand behind Toby, Susan did the same. Mark and David and Ian also came to stand behind him as did Jackie. David as elder spoke for all. "We have allegiance to Prince Toby. He has leave to speak for us all."

Toby repeated, with his friends united behind him. "WE are not interested."

Oberon smiled, pleasantly. "That could change."

Toby shook his head, as the servants began to bring in the dishes originally ordered by Jareth for the meal. "Don't count on it…Sire."

Reflecting, the High King raised a brow. "He chooses well with you, my lad. You will be a credit to the Goblin Throne."

Toby looked at his friends. "You may all return to your seats. We have classes after our meal."

David led Mary back to the seat beside him, Mark led Susan. Ian and Jackie took seats on either side of the boy who was now very much acting like a prince.

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Sarah giggled lightly. "Look at us." She said. "Who would have ever thought we'd end up on the same side."

"I did." Jareth claimed.

Sarah looked up into the mismatched eyes that had haunted her dreams. "I was afraid I'd never see that look again."

"What look?" He asked.

"That look, the one that you give me when ever you're not trying to manipulate me." Sarah pulled back, sighed and looked at the door that led back to the dining room. "Well, we best get back in there… we have to eat. And I've got class with the students this after noon."

Jareth held his gloved hand out to her. "Together." He promised.

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Oberon was finishing his compote as they returned. Toby and the rest were finishing their appetizers as well. Jareth saw that someone had ordered a change and he smiled. He and Sarah took their places again.

The High King turned to address Sarah directly. "I offer you an apology, young woman."

Sarah didn't trust him, but felt refusing his apology was more dangerous than accepting. "I accept your apology, Sire."

During the rest of the meal, the old fox watched Sarah with intent eyes.

Sarah watched carefully and when the last student had finished she excused them to go rest for an hour. She told them she'd meet with them in the library for the class. Rising from her seat she excused herself and made as graceful an exit as she could.

"See here, you old fox!" Jareth turned on the High King. "You've descended on me, unannounced, and uninvited! This is my Kingdom! And you are for now but a guest, kindly act like one."

"Tut Tut." Said the older King amused by all the fire in the younger man's voice. "I am High King… you are Goblin King by my authorization. I can remove you from the throne at any time I wish. I can give it to someone else.

Jareth laughed mirthlessly, "No one else wants it, and you know it!"

"Lady Sonia wants the throne," Oberon reminded the younger Fae. "She sees herself as a Queen…and she lusts for power."

"While it's true that the woman wants the power, it is also true she could never handle it." Jareth said firmly. "Can you really see her having any authority over the Labyrinth?"

Oberon had a mental image of the pesky woman being given her comeuppances by the living creature known as The Labyrinth. "I can see her having her ass whipped by it." He snickered, as he looked toward Jareth. "I keep you as king for several reasons boy, and you should know that. You are good at what you do…and you rule this kingdom fairly. Your subjects love you, and that says a great deal. I keep you as king not just because no one else wants this kingdom and all its responsibilities… I keep you because you and you alone are in tune with the Labyrinth." Oberon stood up. "Do you really think the creature will accept that boy, the one you named heir?"

"She does already." Jareth announced.

"You have an heir…what do you need with the woman?" The High King challenged.

"Love, Oberon…I need her love." Jareth looked pained.

"Her human nature will break your Fae Heart." Warned the older man. "I…have no love for her…and would expect none in return…."

"Lust would never win the lady, old fox." Warned the younger. "She is my other half, Sire. Not yours."

"Not until I say she is." Oberon smiled. "And I am not yet convinced that I should."

"Test us all you want, it will change nothing." Jareth smiled as well. "Sarah loves me, even if she's yet to acknowledge it to her self. She loves me, Oberon."

For a moment the memory of love and being loved softened the features of the handsome High King's face. "For your sake, Jareth…I pray she does."

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A little over an hour later the students and Toby were entering the library with quiet conversation. Sarah had arrived early and set books out for the students. "Everyone gather around this table." She instructed. "Good, everyone has a book? Alright, open to the play in the back of the book, the one titled Tempest." She handed a book to Toby. "You may as well get in on this."

Toby opened the book.

Sarah took her seat. "How many of you have read this play?" when the hands went up she saw that only Ian and Jackie had not read the play. "We're going to read some of this aloud, and then discuss it."

Sarah assigned reading parts and they began their lessons. Sarah felt the eyes watching, but didn't know where they were coming from.

Above the class, from a place where she could not be viewed, Lady Sonia watched and listened.

Oberon entered the library. "Excuse the interruption, Lady Sarah. I would like to request to be allowed to observe."

The hair on the back of her neck rose. "Of course, Sire. Would you like to take a seat here at the table with us…you are welcome to join in our discussion."

Sonia licked her lips; the old fool was behaving like a school boy in her estimation. So much the better for her plans.

Oberon took a seat beside Sarah and asked. "What play are you discussing?"

"Tempest." Toby handed a book to the High King. "Are you familiar with the play?"

Taking the book and overlooking it, Oberon answered. "I'm familiar with all of the works of the Bard of Avon."

Sarah was grateful that the class had been assigned Tempest and not MidSummer's Night Dream. "David, you were asking a question?"

David looked at the High King and then went on with his question. "What is the purpose of the enslavement of Airel?" He shook his head. "The character of Prospero does not really need him as he has his own magic."

"Airel is the servant of Prospero's whims." Sarah said.

"Miss." Susan spoke up. "What is the gender of Airel?"

"The Bard left that rather ambiguous." Sarah said. "I think he wanted it to be subjective to who ever was reading or performing the play." She looked at the girl who'd asked. "What gender do you perceive?"

"Female." Susan said calmly.

"Male." Ian stated just as strongly.

Around and around the discussion went. Sarah turned to Oberon. "And you Sire?"

Oberon looked at the students, eyes twinkling with wickedness. "A third possibility that may have escaped you, my dears. The reason Airel is rather androgynous is because the creature is asexual."

"Asexual?" David frowned. "Is that possible?" he looked at Sarah.

"Ask the High King, I'm not an authority of what Sprites and Spirits and Fae can and can not do." Sarah said sitting back. "The floor is yours, Sire."

David looked at the High King with wide open dark eyes. "Is that really possible?" Oberon nodded and the young man shivered. "That's disgusting."

Ian, whose Irish Blue eyes were also wide, whispered. "You mean like a morphidite?" the boy shuddered with revolution.

"No." The High King corrected. "Not a morphidite. The sexuality of an air spirit is not that easily defined." He began to speak in terms that were more difficult for the students.

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The discussion ended, Sarah dismissed the students and sent them off to enjoy some time alone. She looked at the High King with respect. "Thank you, for joining us." Sarah sighed. "You gave them a lot to think about."

"I would prefer to hear that I'd given you something to think about as well." He said looking even younger than he had at lunch. His hair was no longer just sliver, now there were deep dark traces in the full hair.

"Indeed." Sarah closed her book sharply. "Then let me make it clear for you. I'm not interested."

Not to be easily pushed off, the High King whispered in her ear. "You've no idea of what I can offer you, sweet Sarah."

A delicious shiver, like quick sliver ran down her spine. She suddenly stood poker straight and felt her breath catch in her throat.

Oberon slipped one hand gently to her waist. "At least, not yet." He pulled her gently back against him. "I've had mortal lovers before Lady Sarah, none ever went away… dissatisfied."

"You dirty old man!" She gasped.

"Don't knock it until you've tried it." He teased giving her bottom a firm swat. "I promise you, Lady Sarah…it would be worth your while."

Sarah shoved him off unceremoniously. "First off buster, I don't like to be pawed…." She moved away from him swiftly. "Secondly….I'm spoken for!"

"Not if I don't agree." Oberon teased, and then eyed her like with open lust. "So be nice to me little girl." He smiled like a cat about to eat a canary. "Come and give the dirty old man a little kiss."

"Go to hell!" she squealed.

"Like hot do you?" Oberon teased. "Come on little girl, let's see how hot before you beg for mercy."

Sarah wondered if anyone ever escaped this man once his attention was upon them. "There's a third reason I would never consent to this…." She put the wide table between them.

"And what would that be?" Oberon leaned on the table leering.

"Your wife." Sarah said firmly.

Oberon stood up and huffed. "Why bring her up?"

"Because you've seem to have forgotten her!" Sarah moved toward the door. "But I haven't and I won't!"

Oberon sat down and laughed softly to himself.

"She's right you know." Sonia said from above. "You have forgotten all about your Queen."

The High King had known the minx was hiding and looked lazily up at her. "Ah comments from the peanut gallery. Did you enjoy watching our duel of words?"

"I'd prefer to watch you make good on your threat to bed that wench." Sonia came slowly down the staircase. "She responded to you, High King….she'd be like putty in your hands."

Oberon leaned back into his chair. "What do you want, Sonia."

"I want the Goblin Queen's crown." She said lustily. "I want Jareth enslaved to me as his Queen." She smiled not too sweetly at her High King. "I want to see Lady Sarah your mistress. I can help you win her over…if you'll promise me what I want."

Intrigued the High King looked at the devious creature before him. "I see…in other words you don't think I can woo her away on my own."

"In a word…no." Sonia saucily said. She crossed her arms, "Not even with Love lies Idle."

Oberon was amused by the little witch. "And you would gladly offer your help to me to … win Lady Sarah's affections…even use trickery…all for the reward of having Jareth and his throne."

"Yes." She said in a heartless voice. "I want something, you want something. We can each have what we want."

"Not entirely, Sonia." Oberon stood up and tapped her cheek with a open hand. "After all, Jareth has named the boy Toby his heir…and if I consented to allow you to have Jareth, no issue of yours would ever set upon the throne."

Sonia rolled her eyes. "That changeling brat can be seen to… being crowned Queen is more important at this time. There's no reason to remove the brat at this time, I've no idea if I can even conceive a child of my own." Her smile was evil and malicious. "After I am made Queen, if I do conceive… the boy can be gotten rid of in any number of ways."

"Why do you tell me this?" Oberon drew back from her.

"I'm being honest with you, Oberon…something I don't allow others to know… my mind. I want Jareth…I want his throne…." Her voice was harsh. "You want his dolly…I'll help you get her."

Oberon felt a noose being placed at his neck, and didn't like it… not even the thought of Sarah was enough to entice him. "Thank you, Lady Sonia…but no." He walked away from her. "I suggest you forget this conversation ever took place… I know I will."

Sonia watched him leave. "I doubt you'll forget my offer." She said softly. "I will be ready to come to your aid, when you call ….and you will call…you fool…you will call." She laughed and the sound echoed in the room.