another chapter...*looks askance at muse* took a while *bounces up and down* I got HB 2 for x-mas, so now I can study the studly elf in detail...
All sorts of things, preparation for the Yule ball...and Tam Lin's choice...
Dawn, Two days later: Nuada's chamber...
Pen shifted closer to Nuada, drawing her hand across his chest. She smiled in her sleep when she heard the sound of male contentment her touch brought. Nuada however, was wide awake and had been for some time. He took contentment in "watching" her sleep, letting his keen senses compensate for his lack of sight. He stroked over her hair, frowning at the oily feel. He knew she did not use human manufactured soaps on her skin or hair so it told him she needed a bath or someone had introduced her to the various bath oils. He brought a few strands to his nose, the scent of lavender greeted him. He had liked it when she'd smelled of forest and meadow, the heaviness of scent did not seem right upon her. He made a note to ask Jareth to have proper bath oils and soaps brought, ones that made her smell less like a queen and more like the wood Nymph he knew her to be.
She stirred at his thoughts, smiling wider against his skin. She placed her lips to skin and took a soft nip. He didn't jump under her little love bite but turned his awareness to her.
Good morning, little human. He said softly though their bond.
His good morning was rewarded with another soft nip.
So my little human wishes to give me a proper good morning...
Her soft chuckle against his skin, told him she was in a playful mood.
Define Proper... She sent back, her nips wandering lower.
He let out a soft chuckle that quickly turned into a gasp when she nipped the skin upon his stomach.
Pen knew he was not quite up to making love, but other things were up and she intended to make sure it was definitely a "good" morning. His soft gasps told her that her teasing was having an effect.
"...Enough." He gasped. "Proper enough..."
She frowned a bit, she hadn't even gotten to the good part. She kissed her way back up, capturing his lips.
"...I wasn't done." She pouted.
I hear someone out in the hall... He said through the bond. They do not sound like anyone I have heard before.
She nodded, shifting to lay at his side. Her hand slid under the pillow, pulling out a stiletto.
The knock was tensive, as if frightened. The door opened slowly, a boy of no more than ten made his way toward the hearth and curled up in what was usually Nuada's chair. She put a finger to her lips.
I will go see what our young guest wants... She said through the bond. He looks exhausted.
Nuada nodded, Do not frighten him..
She slid from the bed, moving across the floor slowly. It took her a moment to get a look at the child.
Its Tam Lin... She sent. I do not know how, but it is him...
He looked up at her, wide green eyes glistened with tears.
"What do you want little one..." She said, reaching to bush his unruly dark hair from his face.
"I wanted to sleep with you and athair..."
She knew elf children were very much different than their counterparts, child hood was much longer.
"Come on then," She said. "We will make room."
The little boy got up sleepily and followed her.
Nuada was very surprised, but moved so Tam Lin could sleep between them. The boy was quickly asleep curled between his parents. Pen gently touched Tam Lin's head.
He is as he should have been... She sent. He must have escaped his keepers...
All to find us, I find that highly suspicous...
She looked down at the small boy.
He was frightened, as if he feared to seek us out.
Nuada's hand covered hers on Tam Lin's head, he wanted to believe fate had drawn them together to be a family..
"Let him sleep." She whispered.
Nuada nodded, listening to the boy sleep.
A few hours later...
Jareth was the first to disturb them, coming to retrieve Tam Lin. It was as they had thought, the boy had slipped out of the nursery and gone wandering. It had been sheer chance he had found them.
"...He wanted the spells broken." Jareth said quietly. "He remembers little of what has gone before, he is wholly a ten year old boy."
Pen gave a soft smile, leaning down to gently to kiss Tam Lin's head.
"We'll come to the nursery in a day or two." She said quietly. "Tell him he may see us then, We...need to get used to him this way..."
Jareth nodded. "I will."
Nuada pulled Pen close to him as Jareth carried the boy out.
She turned in Nuada's arms and and buried her head in his chest. Her son had been given back to her and yet had been taken away. His hand stroked her head.
"...Shush..." He said, feeling her shaking.
He pulled her back toward the bed, it was the only way he knew how to comfort her. The bed hit the backs of his knees, he sat pulling her into his lap.
"We have a son..." He said. "who is the near spitting image of me..."
She smiled up at him, reaching up to touch the scar across the bridge of his nose.
"We will have more sons." He pulled her closer. "Warriors to defend their people..."
"There will be daughters too, fine ladies to make the courts jealous."
through their bond he got an image of a little girl, near the image of his sister. His heart clinched, his sister.
"I'm sorry, beloved..." She said. "I did not meant to..."
He shook his head, "do not be sorry, I must learn to deal with my grief."
She leaned up to kiss him, he always tasted of spice and Autumn to her. He smelled that way too, very much a creature of the forests.
"...Be of one heart with me." He said softly.
"I am thy heart..." She said softly. "As I live so shall you live..."
He moved to lay back, let the mattress cradle his body while she sat above.
Neither know how long they staid that way, only that time stood still. Pen lay on his chest, her fingers tracing over his collar bone. The mix of emotions, some sharp others like caresses of butterflies upon skin. She could see the strands, wrapping around one another. The broken pieces no longer shooting off sparks, but seeking. With the previous experience she was reluctant to connect.
Do not fear me...please, do not pull away....
The plea was heartfelt, honest. Through the link she felt the fear and feelings of abandonment buried in it. His sister's choice had already caused one abandonment, she could not add to it. She felt a strong surge of need too, wanting and lust.
"Your wounds..." She whispered.
He let out a chuckle "cannot a man feel lust without consummating it..."
She sighed, that was true enough.
"Now my little human, will you lay upon me all day or shall we see a bit of the gardens this morning. I grow weary of laying in bed."
She smiled, walking in the gardens sounded like a wonderful idea.
Three days later...
Jareth came to pay a visit to Pen and Nuada, bringing news of their son. They had gone to see him the day before, finding the nursery quite pleasant. Tam Lin simply adored his father, wanting to hear tales of his battle with humans and the red demon. Pen refrained from shattering the boy's illusions that war was a gloryous thing.
"...He's settling in." Jareth said. "And has made the acquaintance of all the Goblin children."
Pen smiled, "...Friends are good."
Nuada knew her feelings about the stories he'd told. Though she found the one about three score humans being fended off with a cooking pot quite funny, the ones of his slaughtering a whole village simple because they were human had sent her from the room.
"He has not asked to learn a weapon yet, though I suspect with age he will wish training." Jareth said. "I also came to tell you of the Yule Ball, you and Jaeren are set to preform. I came to ask you what colors shall I have your gown and Jewelry made."
Pen smiled softly. "I have given no thought to it, I wore the Green and silver of the Goblin court for my first, and Nuada's colors for my second..."
"A subtle Gray and plum..." The seamstress said as she came in. "...No, that does not suite her...Blue..."
Nuada's breath hitched.
"...You always looked good in blue..." his words haunted him.
He'd said them to Nuala moments before the room had been filled with agents and a very drunk demon.
Pen could feel his body tense at the mention of blue.
It was Nuala's favorite color, wasn't it?
The silence from his end of the bond told her true enough.
If it reminds you too much, I shall not wear it...
No, wear what colors you like, The pain is mine to bear...
She reached up to touch his cheek, he turned his face into her palm. Jareth noticed the gesture, it spoke well for how he wished to portray Nuada to the Court.
"...Will you be attending Lord Silverlance" Jareth asked.
Nuada turned toward him. "...I go where my heart goes, of course I will be attending."
Pen took note the tone was much too cheerful for the emotions she was feeling.
"Perhaps we could discuss this later..." She said.
Jareth nodded and corralled the seamstress out the door.
Pen turned her attention to Nuada, who was making his way over to the chair by the fire. She could feel the sadness eating away at his resolve. She made her way over to him, and placing her hand upon his shoulder.. He turned his face from her, sadness flowed through the link.
"It is not your burden to bear, nor should you apologize for being what you are." He said. "Blue was indeed Nuala's favorite color, she wore it to please me."
"You loved her, and were close to her."
He turned his face to her, offering her a wan smile.
"She and I should have been one being, twins are rare among Elvish kind and usually born the same gender."
"Were the rumor's true then..."
He looked at her, his mouth agape. Through their link he felt the rest of that question. He would answer her honestly.
"Yes and no." He turned his head away again. "She would not allow it, my father would not allow it. Though I courted her as any man."
She knew it was not uncommon among Fey royalty to wed a cousin or even a sibling to insure the throne. Much like many Royal lines of the human monarchies in the past.
"Had fate been kinder..." he said softly.
She leaned down and kissed his cheek.
"Fate brought you to me." She whispered. "and fate brought her to the man she was destined for...however briefly."
He turned from her again, she could feel it.
"Their child would have been the first water elf born in centuries..." He said. "In my hate...what have I taken from the world..."
She could feel him sliding away, she clung with a will.
Please beloved, do not do this to yourself...
He rose slowly. "I wish to be alone..."
She removed her hand and let him tap his way out to the balcony. She stood there, unable to do anything.
It was well past dark when he returned to the room, Pen had already gone to bed. He taped his way over to his chair. He seated himself and turned his face to the fire. It would be so easy, break the fragile bond and walk into the labyrinth. He remembered that voice, the voice of his child; genderless and regretful at its own loss.
"Atheir..." Said a small voice at the door.
He jumped, the door creaked. Small bare feet plodded across the stones. Tam Lin had escaped his keepers again.
"By the fire little raven..." He said in Gaelic.
The boy plodded over to him, his night shirt a bit over sized and what looked like a stuffed doll under his arm. He could tell most of this just by sound, the doll was new the fabric still smelling of the loom that made it.
"Sleep here..." the boy murmured.
With care he picked up his son, putting him in his lap. The boy snuggled in, gripping on to his tunic.
It was a strange sensation to feel those small hands gripping into the fabric. The last time he'd held Tam Lin, the boy had been wailing with cold and hunger. He brought his arms around the small boy, who had fallen asleep almost immediately. Ten years he'd been denied his son, denied his bond mate who slept alone in their bed. He thought how happy Nuala would have been to know he had a son. Perhaps she had known, had contact with him. He did not hear Pen's steps come to the chair.
"...Escaped his keepers again did he?" She whispered, quietly moving to the other chair.
Yes, and found me here. He sent not wishing to wake Tam Lin.
Pen noticed the doll, dressed in red and black. She knew who it was supposed to be, but in the way of all dolls distorted.
It seems our little raven thinks highly of his father...
Tam Lin let out a small sound and snuggled in closer, clearly dreaming.
And what evidence do you have of that. He replied with a touch of sarcasm.
His doll is male, has pointed ears and is dressed in your colors...
Nuada raised an eyebrow, he knew all children played with some type of doll.
So it would seem he does, there is not shame in that...
No there is not...
Go back to bed little human, I will remain with him until his keepers come to find him
She rose, yawning softly.
The door creaked softly, one of the nursery maids came through the door. They had checked all the beds and found themselves one short. Now that Tam Lin knew his way to them, it would be simple deduction to find him.
"I'll take him now Lord Silverlance..." the maid said.
Nuada carefully rose, "It is time for you to sleep in your own bed, little raven..."
There was a small protest, but a few murmured words got the small fists released from fabric.
He stroked the boy's head.
"Good night my son..." He whispered softly in Gaelic.
The maid took his son, the small boy was so deeply asleep he did not know he'd been taken.
"Come to bed..." Pen whispered softly. "Let my nearness calm your mind..."
He turned to make his way to the bed, yes sleep would be good.
Dawn, Jareth's study...
Jareth looked over the invitation list, sighing. IT appeared a duet of Life singers was a rare thing, or perhaps because one of them was human it made the nobility crawl out of the wood work. Near four hundred nobles had requested invitations add to the five he'd actually invited. Near a thousand people would be flooding his castle. Security was going to be a nightmare, not to mention personal bodyguards and hired mercenaries. Any of a dozen nobles would jump at the chance to entice a Singer to their service, especially one as rare as Pen.
The knock was soft, as if half expecting someone not to be there. He called for them to enter, looking up to see Pen.
"Tam Lin found his way to Nuada and I again last night." She said softly.
"Sit, " He said. "Do you fear for him?"
"Yes, especially with the ball. I know these things are nightmares for those who hold them."
Jareth nodded, setting down his quill. "Your upcoming performance with Jaeren has brought out the best and worst of the Fae Nobility, it would be a wise idea to carry a blade upon your person."
He watched her hand tremble, she had not picked up a blade since the accident.
"With the ball, I have little to spare." He said. "Overcome your fear, work..."
He set a blade upon the desk, much like her own but different, the handle of bone was from a creature long vanished from both above and below.
"This is the blade that killed Balor, I wanted it as a remembrance of an old friend. What do you think Nuada would do if he knew I had this?"
"Walk into the Labyrinth and let himself be eaten by the bigest and nastiest of its citizens."
Jareth raised an eyebrow. "...most likely in his present state. Before then, it did not stop him from attempting to summon up the army, nor sacrifice the last forest elemental to further his plans."
"He pays for it now, in his grief, all that has been lost."
Jareth looked at her, her hair still messy from the bed.
"He has nightmares?"
"None he remembers." She said. "For that the gods both above and below are kind."
"You've not slept well."
Jareth's statement brought a look to her eyes that surprised him.
"I sleep well enough," she said softly. "I do not know who he mourns the hardest for, Nuala or our lost child..."
He knew long ago appearances could be deceiving, even for one such as Nuada Silverlance.
"The ball is in two weeks." Jareth said. "Nobles will be arriving tomorrow, you must make it seem Lord Silverlance is in good health, and no threat to the other nobles."
"Must you ask such a deception of me?"
Jareth frowned. "Let us talk of this when your eyes are not clouded by sleep."
He got her to rise and got a human like goblin to escort her back to Nuada's chambers.
Sara came through one of the secret passages a few moments later. Eying the blade upon the desk. She had left their son in the care of one of the nursery maids.
"...What is your old blade doing on the desk." She asked.
Jareth turned and sighed. "An object lesson for a reluctant singer..."
"You can't force her, wounding her lover effected her..."
"I know, precious." He said. "But there are dangers soon to be within the castle She cannot be protected from by my people."
"The other nobles, it did not go well the last time..."
Jareth frowned, truly it had not gone well. A small band of them had assaulted both Pen and Nuada.
"I shall give her dispensation to defend herself." He said. "Jaeren will know how to defend her to the council if they make a stink about her silting open some bastard's throat."
"I do not trust your brother..." She said softly.
"I do not trust him either, but the Singer is of his bloodline."
Sara was a bit stunned. "I thought..."
"She is human, he sired her blood line many generations ago." Jareth said. "When he was young and stupid..."
"What are you not telling me Jareth." Sara said.
He sighed, this was one of the few things he'd not discussed with Sara over their courtship. The memory of his elder brother's loss was too painful and Jaeren's abandonment of his duties too sore a subject.
"I should never have been king, but he joined the guild shortly before our elder brother died." he said. "Jaeren is elder by an hour..."
Sara put her arms around him. "If you had not become king, you would not have me."
He smiled, shaking his head. "I would have found you, fate herself would not have kept me from you."
"...She doesn't know about the guard then." Sara said. "That they were princes of their houses, or the armor they wore."
"No, some of the nobles would have welcomed Silverlance as High King. It was the loss of their sons among the guard that has them screaming for his blood."
Jareth remembered wearing that armor, being unable to talk save as a Raven until the armor was removed. The carnage Nuada and wink had left behind had only served as fuel for those who said the prince had been mad.
"The Singers, you said they long ago stepped away from the conflict...why?"
"Two lovers. One human, the other a Fey prince...the human was the first human singer...chosen by the prince to be his bride." Jareth sighed. "It is all I know of the legend. Jaeren could tell you more."
"Do you think history is repeating itself?"
Jareth looked at her and shook his head.
"No, though history echoes." He said. "Come I need a hand at turning down about three hundred nobles..."
Sara smiled, though worried about having that many people in the castle.