Disclaimer: I own nothing of this.

Chapter 26
The Confinement

Sarah could not say whether she was relieved or bothered by the fae princess. Sarah rather liked Ailene, as the princess insisted to be called, but also felt always somehow diminished in her presence. Ailene possessed the same kind of air with Jareth -- and also her fiancée in some extent, same haunting beauty that made Sarah aware of her own imperfections. Her skin could never be just as smooth, her eyes as clear and her hair as shiny as Ailene's people.

She tried to tell herself she was being stupid but never quite succeeded. And sometimes Sarah thought the princess sensed Sarah's discomfort around her and avoided her because of that. The thought made Sarah feel even worse.

Yet even when slightly envious for the fae girl, she was also grateful. The presence of Ailene and her companion, a dark haired maid called Minea, made it easier to spend time with Jareth. For once, he didn't act as insufferable around Ailene. Secondly, she knew almost everybody in the Underground and could tell Sarah more than the Goblin King was willing to do. But it was very clear she didn't want to talk about Gaway.

Nor did Jareth…Sarah chewed her bottom lip and stared at the lush garden in front of her. The Goblin King had come to her in the morning. He told her flatly that he had received a ukase from the Council and was to meet them today. After he left, Sarah could not stay in her room. She fled and, for her own amazement, found herself in the King's gardens. She didn't notice the red haired fae girl before Ailene sat on the bench next to her.

They both remained silent.

"Are you alright?" Ailene asked, and Sarah grimaced.

"You've talked with the Goblin King," she said and, recognizing the look in Ailene's eyes, sighed. Sarah shrugged her shoulders. "It's not like this would be a surprise," she finally said. "He told me they would call him -- eventually. I…I just never thought it would be this soon."

Ailene didn't reply at first, glanced down on her hands and took a deep breath. She shifted on her place. "I'm sorry," Ailene said suddenly.

Sarah glanced at her. "For what?"

The princess fidgeted her fingers, stealing a glance at her. "I…" Ailene lowered her eyes. "I feel I am the one to blame for your…situation."

Sarah stared at the girl and suddenly realized the reason for the guilty look in Ailene's eyes.

"Oh, of which of them?" Sarah asked. "For my mother wishing me to the Goblin King, me wishing away my brother, or you not marrying your fiancée?" She cringed at her tone, knowing she pounded.

"Oh, I don't know!" The other girl shouted, frustrated. "It all, I guess! Should I've been more courageous and stood up for myself you wouldn't be in that situation. You wouldn't have to deal with the Underground problem, wouldn't have to worry about…Gaway." The name left her shivering.

Sarah took a deep breath. "You know, Ailene," she finally said. "Have you not escaped your groom-to-be when you did, I would now be subject of Jar…the Goblin King. For that I'm thankful."

Ailene lifted her face and cried, "But why would you feel that you wouldn't want to belong to this world?" She swung her hand around them, pointing generally all around and nowhere at all. "I would love to be able to live here!"

Sarah didn't reply. Her lip curved downwards at the girl's question as she asked instead, "What was it like to live as a future queen?"

Ailene flinched and sighed, "More work than pleasure. Father was strict that I should get the best schooling available. Sometimes I think he worked on me more than on his duties. He wanted our house to be remembered the best Underground rulers - the Rebuilders," she nearly spat the world.

"Oh?" Sarah glanced around them, barely noticing the pale tangerinish sky, rooftops behind the wall, and the shadows the Goblin Castle cast on them.

"It was Gaway's invention," Ailene said, lowering her gaze. "He suggested we should start fresh, turn our backs on the old customs and do everything new...and father was more than glad to comply." Ailene took a deep breath. She lifted her face from her skirt and stared blankly ahead. "He never thought he would be elected as a king." She glanced at Sarah. "Jareth was first in line."

Sarah nodded. "Gwendolyn told me as much as that," she said.

Ailene smiled ruefully. "I would be lying were I to say he was the last…but very near at least." She shook her head. "The war was terrible. I almost lost all my relatives. Father was lucky to survive." Her expression turned sad. "I think he lost his heart the moment my mother died."

"Oh?" Sarah dampened her lip, surprised.

"When the Labyrinth went…wild, all hurried to defend our world," Ailene told. "And mother was on the frontline. She died on the eve of the final peace. Father never got over it."

"I'm sorry…" Sarah said not knowing what else to say.

Ailene didn't seem to see her when she looked at her. "It was a long time ago," she told absentmindedly, "and I was only a child."

Sarah cast down her gaze. "My mother just died," she said, a familiar feeling of longing clutching her from her throat. "I guess we weren't that close with her, but I miss her…"

Ailene's eyes flashed briefly but she refrained commenting. "Father, after loosing almost everything dear to him, desperately wanted to forget," she said almost lightly. "And my people were as tired as they were broken. It seemed a new era would start with the house of Theria on the throne," she grimaced at her words. "A more happy one. Peaceful one."

"There's been peace," Sarah pointed out.

Ailene sighed. "Barely. The pain runs too deep, and we are unable to forget."

Sarah shifted her weight. "Why did…?" She bit her lips, and Ailene turned to look at her.

"What?"

Sarah just shook her head. "Nevermind. It's not my business…"

Ailene stared at her for awhile a blank look on her face. Something appeared briefly in her eyes. "You want to know why I left my home," she finally stated.

"Well…yeah, actually I do."

Ailene lowered her eyes on her hands, and her fingers shifted restlessly underneath her gaze. "Would you marry Gaway for yourself?" She asked silently, and Sarah shivered at the though of the dark haired fae man. A fleeting smile emerged on Ailene's face, and, just as fast as appeared, it was also gone. "I could not marry him," she said, and her tone turned bitter. "I do not know how he succeeded in talking my father into the engagement, but father should have known better! I could never agree to him!"

"You are the crown princess," Sarah reminded carefully. "In my experience crown princesses rarely have opinion on their future spouses."

"I never wanted to rule!" Ailene answered irritated. "And High Lords know, I am even less willing to help Gaway where he wants…"

"So you run away," Sarah stated flatly.

Ailene clasped her mouth shut. "Yes," she finally said. "I run to Goblin Kingdom and pledged Jareth to help me." It was clear she didn't wish to continue the conversation any longer. Her back was tense and she stared ahead her forehead marred. Sighing, Sarah dropped the subject. They remained seated on the bench an uncomfortable silence lingering between them.

"No!" A sudden shout made them both sprung on their feet. They recognized Gwendolyn's voice. She sounded angry...or scared? "You cannot go there!"

"We go where we want," a deep voice answered. "You have no authority on us. Move away, woman!"

"This isn't your realm!" Gwendolyn shouted. "Our king will make you pay unless you leave!" Sarah glanced at Ailene. The fae girl turned paler and turned to look at Sarah. Her previous resentment was gone.

"So this is how they planned it…" she said slowly. "While Jareth is away the soldiers arrive to take you with them." Her brows knit together. "I wonder to whom they work for…"

"What should we -- I do?" Sarah asked restlessly. Her heart was beating in her chest. "Can't we turn them away?"

Ailene chewed her lip. "They have no right to be here -- unless they arrive under the orders of the High Council." She whisked an errand strand of hair from her face and stood a bit straighter. "I will stay," she said and her expression turned sourer. "If they are my father's men, they won't dare to do anything to you."

As she spoke, a group of soldiers emerged from the garden gates. There were five of them, all dressed in black armors and helmets. Gwedonlyn was following them and trying to prevent their progress but could do little good. They stopped at the sight of Sarah and Ailene, and Gwendolyn sprinted to meet the girls.

"I'm sorry!" the woman panted. "I don't understand how they got inside the castle without being noticed…" She looked helpless, and Ailene gave her a nod, turning to look at the soldiers.

It was evident they had not expected to see the princess. The leader's face turned a little paler, and he hastily bowed. "Your highness!" He straightened his back. "What are you doing here?"

Ailene regarded him coldly. "I might as well ask you the same, Erron," she said. "You work for my father, not the Goblin King. And this place does not belong under Oiding's rule."

Erron's expression tightened. "The Goblin King has broken his vow," said he. "We are here to take into custody a human he abducted from the Aboveground."

Gwendolyn grasped Sarah's arm and pulled her backwards.

Ailene snorted. "I can hardly believe him breaking any vow," she said and stared at the men. "On whose authority you reclaim his guest?"

The man straightened his back. "On the orders of the High King."

Ailene curved her brows. "Or lord de Menchen? Last I heard he had reclaimed a post of Ministry of War and Defense."

"Even a Minister works for his King," Erron said coldly.

"Yet the High King has no jurisdiction here," said Ailene. "You cannot force his guest to leave the palace without her content, and I assure you -- she will not leave the Goblin Lands with you."

His expression stoned and his grasp on the spear turned tighter. "An exile princess will not order us," Erron said finally and took a step closer. "Step aside and let us do our job." He looked at Sarah. "My lady, would you kindly obey and come peacefully with us."

Sarah didn't reply. She shook her head and backed away.

"Did you not hear what I said?" Ailene stepped between. "She shall not leave with you!"

"Your highness, please be sensible!" the man grunted. "I have my orders of which I'm expected to obey."

Ailene's expression turned colder. "And there is the Law," she snapped. "You've arrived at foreign country without content from its ruler. You could be executed for that."

The man hesitated, and Sarah stole a glance at Gwendolyn. "Is there really such a law?" She whispered, and the woman gave her a slight nod.

"Yes," she hissed back. "Albeit only the king can put it into action…"

"But Jareth's away!" Sarah whispered her teeth clasped together.

"Well, then we must hope they don't remember the edicts as well as we," Gwendolyn murmured.

"Your highness," Erron said through his gritted teeth. "Please don't make this any more difficult." He took a step closer and the other men followed. "The Goblin King is not here, and thus the pledge to Land Law is pointless."

Ailene didn't back away. "You cannot take her against her own will," she repeated.

The man stopped, sighed, and stared at the princess. He shook his head. "You do not leave us a lot of choice over the matter," he said finally. A lock of blond hair escaped under his helmet as he bent down on his belt. Sarah could feel the girls to tense, but the man only took a hold on a yellowish parchment. He took a step closer, offering it to Ailene. "Please, take and read it, your highness."

Ailene hesitated only a moment before she accepted the parcel. She rolled it open, read it in silence, and her shoulders slumbered. She lowered her arm and turned to look at Sarah and Gwendolyn, and sighed in defeat.

"They carry a seal of the High Council," she said looking at Sarah. "We can not prevent them. You have to follow them."