Chapter 26. King of the land of broken souls
Jareth sat with his legs dangling over the bog, contemplating. Hoggle stood with Sir Didymus at the bottom of what had once been a bridge. He looked at the little Knight and frowned. "How long has he been like this?"
"For a few hours, my brother," Didymus sighed. "He pines and there is no comfort I can offer."
Hoggle shook his head, wiped his hands against his vest and moved toward the King. "Jareth."
The King didn't look, he just stared. "Go away Hoggle." He said quietly.
Hoggle ignored the order but took note of the fact the King had used his correct name. "Just gonna give up are you?" He taunted as he stopped a few feet from the King. "Just gonna sit here and pout? Or are you going to bay at the moon as it rises?"
Mismatched eyes closed in pain. "Yes, I thought I might… then again I may just take as swim in the bog…"
"Oh that would be just wonderful." Hoggle quipped. "That'll fix everything."
"Go away." Jareth whispered.
Hoggle stayed where he was. "Is this the great and wondrous King of the Goblins?" He teased. "Is this the man who strikes terror in the hearts of his enemies?" He laughed at the man who glared at him. "Oh Sarah should see you now!"
"Shut up!" Jareth pounded a fist on the stones he was sitting upon. "I never want to hear that name again for as long as I live!"
"Oh really?" Hoggle snickered. "Your very soul cries out her name! I'm surprised it's not written on your face like a tattoo!" Jareth glared at the little man, who only continued his taunting. "So you're just going to sit here and take it, is that it?"
Jareth rose to his feet. "See here you little scab," He grabbed onto the ear of the dwarf. "You're just inches from being made Prince of the Land of Stench!"
Hoggle slapped away the hand holding his ear in a painful grip. "Mad now?" He looked into the mismatched eyes and saw fire. "Good! Maybe now you'll start looking for the loophole!"
"Loophole?" Jareth smacked his boot with his riding crop. "There isn't one."
"Ha!" laughed the dwarf callously. "There's always a loophole. You Fae are famous for having loopholes! But you're too busy feeling sorry for yer self to even look for it!" He pointed an accusatory finger at the Goblin King. "I told you once and I'll say it again, she's too good for you! You never deserved Sarah!" He turned his back on the man, praying his taunts got though.
Jareth gasped, then gulped and then sputtered as he stomped his foot. "Hogs breath!"
Hoggle smiled, cast a slow glance over his shoulder. "That's Hoggle."
"It will be mud if you ever speak to me like that again." Jareth warned, then smiled. "Thank you."
"So what are you going to do?"
The Fae King tapped his boot with the crop. "First thing I'm going to do is look up the Fae laws… as you said…we are famous for loopholes." He strode off.
The dwarf smiled.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Sarah finished the last of the corrections and put the papers back in her case. She looked at her reflection as she passed the full length mirror. She looked old, haggard and lonely. "Martyr." She sneered as she walked past. "Save the Kingdom, save the child….and loses yourself…" There was something gnawing at her very soul.
She moved down the stairs and at not being instantly attacked by the exuberant Druid, she knew that her mother and the pup were still out for their walk. Sarah felt a bit of relief, loving her mother, and having her near was wonderful. However there were times she just wanted to be able to sulk… She didn't want her mother to know it was more than just Robert's and Karen's passing. When ever she had time to her self she wondered what Jareth was doing. How was he coping with the impending wedding. The thought of Sonia in bed with Jareth drew a furious snarl from Sarah. One that started deep in her gut. It should be her wedding, her bridal night, her bridal bower.
Even the tea that she made didn't make the thoughts of Sonia's gloating disappear. Sarah walked out of the house, stood in the middle of the back yard and said aloud. "I wish there was some way of turning this around. I wish I could make it impossible for Sonia to get her clutches on Jareth!" She sank to her knees. "I wish…"
Hands, strong and looking as if sculpted from the finest marble took hold of her shoulders. Gentle pressure pulled her to her feet, and she was turned to face the High King. "Granted," he said looking at her with delighted satisfaction.
Sarah looked at him then tears sprung to her eyes. "Oberon." She sobbed as she allowed him to embrace her. "Oberon."
Soothingly he held her against his heart. "Hush daughter, all is not lost."
"But it is…he's going to marry that scheming little bitch." Sarah sobbed.
Oberon looked at the two women standing a short distance from him and the girl. He motioned them to take their leave, as he continued to sooth the child he'd never know. "Sarah, do you love him, truly?"
"With every fiber of my being… I think I've loved him even before I ever knew him." Sarah looked up at the man. "He's the other half of my soul."
Softly the High King caressed the damp face. "I should have seen it when you were willing to give up everything to recue your brother. You refused to allow him to give up his throne…yours is the noblest of hearts, my child." He used his thumb to wipe away a tear. "Daughter, forgive this foolish old man."
Sniffling, Sarah pulled away from the High King. "You only did what you had to do, Sire."
Oberon sighed. "It would be so easy to let you go on thinking that." He took a deep breath. "However, it would not be truth. Sarah, I didn't do all that I could have, because I didn't want a mortal in a position of power. As Goblin Queen, you'd have…power."
"I never wanted power." Confessed the young woman. "All I ever wanted was to be loved. I would gladly abstain from accepting the crown, if that were all that was needed. I'd be happy just to be a consort…His consort…."
"I should have recognized your strength." Oberon chastised himself. "Sarah, you will make an amazing Queen." He tipped her face up. "My daughter."
Sarah felt as if she was in a fog, and it was spinning her round and round. "Why do you keep calling me that?" her voice was tinny in her own ears. Her knees were shaking and she was worried she was about to faint.
"Because you are my daughter," Oberon looked at her the way Robert had looked at Toby. "A daughter in whom I'm so proud…No father could be prouder to claim thee." The High King drew her to his heart. "Forgive me child, for the wrongs I've done thee."
"I don't understand." Sarah said as her hands clutched at his robes. "What are you saying?"
Holding her at arms length he regarded her with pride. "You look very much the way Lydia did that wonderful winter of our love."
"Lydia…" Sarah blinked. "My mother's real name is Lydia…."
The High King nodded, "Child, are you aware of the meaning of the name Sarah?" when the girl didn't answer he said calmly. "It means Princess." He winked at her. "And that is what you are… you are a Princess."
Sarah's mind was reeling, what was it her mother had said… that she'd loved someone before her father…that the love of her life had not be free… "You and my mother?" She looked up at the High King.
"Yes." He said with a wolfish grin.
Sarah thought of his advances upon her in the Goblin realm. "You dirty old man!"
Oberon laughed. "Guilty, child." He was still holding her at arms length. "Come Sarah, embrace your father."
The girl hesitated. "And Robert Williams?"
"A foster father," Oberon said kindly. "One who shall be remembered with honors, for he tried to be a good father to you, my daughter."
Sarah moved closer. "Father." She placed her head again on the High Kings chest, at his heart. "Help me! Don't let that witch win. Don't take my beloved from me."
"Shhhh, child." Soothed the High King.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Linda watched from the kitchen window. "She's accepting him." She said to the other woman.
The Fairy Queen smiled. "Of course she is." Her long fingers rested lightly on the shoulder of the human woman. "She is his daughter."
"Yes, she is." Linda wiped the tear in her eye away. Turning she looked at the wife of the High King. "I mean and meant no ill to you, good Queen."
"None is taken." The Queen said gently. "My years of jealousy are long gone. I have come to accept that Oberon has a roving eye. Truth be told, my own eyes have roamed from time to time."
"Then you have no objection to my entry into the ethereal?" Linda asked softly not sure how to ask.
"Are you so willing to give up the world of the human flesh?" Tatiana asked calmly. "Once you join us…you can never return here you know."
"I've nothing to hold me here if Sarah and Toby are not here." Linda said. "Good Queen, this world is very harsh on those who are not one with it. I have long been apart from it. Long before your husband welcomed me into his caress… Like Sarah I was labeled a dreamer, and a fool. Only on stage did I feel myself come to life. The stage has been blessed with magic…"
The Queen nodded. "I understand. But Lady Lydia," the Fae woman spoke intimately. "This is the world you were born to."
"If you are worried about me monopolizing the attentions of the High King, fear not… I'm going to ask Oberon to allow me to live in the Goblin Realm…I'd like to be close to Sarah and Toby." Linda said. "I shall take back my name…and be Lady Lydia of the Labyrinth."
Tatiana smiled, "That would be very good." She snickered. "Even if Oberon spends time visiting… You are a wise woman, and I think we shall be good friends, as long as we are not under one another's feet."
"My thinking exactly." Lydia said. "They come." She pointed to the door that was opening.
Sarah entered first, seeing the High Queen she gave the woman a curtsey then looked to her mother. "I think you and I should have a long talk."
"Someday." Lydia said smoothly. "When things are not so rushed."
Oberon saw that Lydia had tea on the table waiting for both he and Sarah. "Ah, tea." He took a seat. "How thoughtful."
Sarah looked at the man. "Father, how can you be so calm…Jareth is about to wed that interloper! And I can't even think of a way to stop it…I've been banished."
"Not exactly….Sarah Williams was banished." Oberon blew lightly to cool his tea. "Princess Sorcha was not; in fact she can not be banished as she is the daughter of The High King." There was smugness in his tone.
Sarah looked at her mother, "Princess Sorcha?"
"The Celtic translation of your name." Lydia said smoothly.
"I know that." Sarah snapped.
"Sarah, look at that little pendant you wear." Her mother commanded. "Read the words."
Sarah pulled the chain up and looked at the pendant, "What words, there's just a spiral on this thing."
"Turn it over." Oberon offered.
Doing as she was told, she found words, 'Sláinte agus saol chugat!' Under that was one word, Sorcha. She looked at her mother. "My Gaelic is rusty…what does it mean?"
Lydia smiled, "It means 'Heath and long life to you, princess'. It's been your protection."
Sarah looked at the pendant. "Ok, someone light the lamp because I'm still in the dark."
Oberon smiled. "Sonia thought she was ordering the banishment of a mortal…"
Sarah nodded.
"You're not merely a mortal, now are you?" The High Queen said sipping her tea. "You're the daughter of Oberon….you're a Fae Princess…Princess Sorcha…"
Sarah smiled. "I out rank her!"
"Bright, isn't she?" Oberon teased.
Sarah looked at her father. "I can accuse her of breaking Eschant!"
"That's my little girl." Oberon purred.
Tatiana and Lydia nodded.
Sarah looked at the High King, "Have you rescinded the Heirship?" When he shook his head, Sarah turned to her mother. "Good lady, would you be so kind as to awaken Prince Toby. It think he'd like to be in on this."
Lydia nodded and went to fetch the boy.
Sarah turned to her father. "Sire, the six students who were banished as well. They are part of the Goblin Court, Lady Sonia had no right to demand their removal. I would like you to place them under my protection."
"Done." He said.
"How much time do I have?"
"You have just until the full moon rises." Oberon warned carefully.
"I'll be ready." Sarah said firmly.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Jareth moaned as he went over the books. "There has to be something…somewhere…."