CHAPTER 25: PREPARATIONS
Plans for the ceremony were started immediately. First and foremost was the announcement that the king had indeed found love and was loved in return. All of the Underground needed to be reassured that the prophecy had come to pass. Sarah saw Sprout off back to the Elvan Wood to make the announcement to all of his kindred. Before he mounted his horse, he stood and took a good long look at his companion. She smiled at him. "It's turning out to be quite the happy ending, isn't it Sprout?"
"Oh it is. Lord Earthendale and Lady Cottonwood will be so thrilled to hear that a proper ritual is taking place. The messenger bird returned yesterday with a message- they await me with much eagerness. I'll return soon." He mounted. "With every elf in tow!" He rode off. Hobbes barked after him, expressing his own eagerness and excitement.
Inside she wandered around the halls until she found Jareth. He was down in the servants' quarters, in particular the section in which Froud worked in. A spacious room had been set up to hold large dowel rods rolled thick with fabrics. Any and every sort of material that could be worked into a garment was at Froud's dispense. At the center of the room an awkward machine with many legs and arms stretched and spun its wire frame to create new cloths. As Sarah walked in the machine was in motion moving thread and needle through its creation process. Several apprentices monitored the process and in the midst stood the fastidious Froud. His hands were flying in all directions expressing and emphasizing some idea. Listening intently in front of him stood Jareth. As she walked up Froud turned and pulled a long piece of gold satin from a dowel. "It's tradition," she heard him say.
"What is?" she asked reaching Jareth's side.
"Wearing gold," he replied taping a finger to his chin. "But," he took the satin and held it across her shoulders. "I'm not too sure this quite suites you. Yet then again what am I thinking- you'd look the most ravishing in nothing." Laughing he kissed her forehead.
Down in Froud's world Sarah soon began to learn the traditions of an Underground wedding ceremony. Known as a Union Ritual it was a multi-faceted event that was more extravagant than any Hollywood affair. While she had been getting the guest list together, Froud and Jareth had started on the ritual attire. With gold as the main color all other schemes were going to enhance and glorify its presence. Both her and Jareth's outfits were going to be a combination of white and gold. The white represented the innocence of the love represented, and the gold represented the royalty of Fae. As Jareth once again stretched a piece of cloth across her shoulders, Sarah found herself smiling.
"Now," he started returning her grin with one of his own. "Not only is it tradition to wear gold, but there are also certain flowers and jewels that will be worn."
"All right."
"Froud, I think that perhaps a silk should be used instead of the satin."
Froud appeared with a smaller roll of fabric. He adjusted a dainty pair of spectacles on his nose. "Oh, silk- of course! Ahh, Miss Sarah you will be absolutely breath taking! The jewels will caress your skin and the gold will enhance your color."
"She will look exquisite"
"Now I must be going back to my work. If you like your majesty can return later to see the final sketches of the apparel." He bowed toward Jareth.
"Yes of course. Come along my dear." He led her up into the main part of the castle.
The day went by with Jareth pointing out all of the various realms of the Fae that would need to be informed of the event. Jareth was most insistent on this point- not a single Fae could be forgotten. He pulled out yet another map depicting someone else's home. There was a vast world that lay beyond the Underground. For the first time Sarah realized that the Underground was more of a realm inside a whole other world, no, universe. She looked in wonder at the illustrations. The castle was going to be filled with all sorts of Fae. Laughing inside herself, Sarah wondered if the Tooth Fairy would make an appearance.
Yvonne went from being a lady in waiting to a secretary that day. She was more than willing to do anything that the savior of the Underground could wish for. And to please her lord and master Jareth- she would give her life for him if he would ever ask it of her. She watched her daughter run ahead of her- she would do anything to insure a better chance at life for her. They were on their way to assist Sarah with the guest list. They came along the gallery and went into the small study room. Sarah started when the small goblin came running in. "A thousand pardons my lady!" apologized Yvonne coming in after her. "But she does love to move about so."
"Oh it's all right. She just surprised me."
Yvonne began to speak, in what Sarah assumed was her native tongue. She took hold of her daughter and Sarah heard sharp, hissing, crackling noises coming from her. To her it sounded more like harsh gibberish.
"There my lady, my daughter will remain calm for us to work."
They sat on either side of the small desk. "She is your daughter then?"
"Yes. My pride and joy." A look of absolute tenderness passed over her face.
Sarah looked over the goblin to find that the creases in her face weren't quite as harsh as so many others were. She wondered about Yvonne- why was she so different from the other goblins? The other lady goblins rarely ever came near her, but Yvonne was more than willing to spend nearly every waking moment in her presence. "Well, how about that guest list?"