Chapter 33
Nolwynn arrived early to see Jareth off. She was surprised to be led to his private rooms, where he was alone, his back to her as he studied the contents of his dressing room.
"Where's Sarah?"
Jareth didn't turn around at the sound of her voice but answered, unsurprised at her arrival, "Probably still barricaded in her room." His words were calm but clipped and flat.
"Oh my, what happened? Lover's spat?" She teased, trying to lighten his mood.
Jareth let out a snort of derision, "One would have to have a 'lover' to have a spat." He paused a moment before adding, "I told her about the prophecy."
"Well, it was about damn time." Nolwynn leaned against the door frame that separated Jareth's bedroom from the dressing room, she looked around and shook her head, he really did have more clothes than she did. Ridiculous.
"She threw quite the temper tantrum."
"Yes, I assumed she would. You put it off too long."
Jareth shot her an annoyed glance as he perused his wardrobe for a jacket. What does one wear to destroy a life-long nemesis?
"Don't get mad at me. You should have told her long ago."
"Yes, well hindsight and all."
"She'll get over it."
"I'm not so sure, she mentioned going home." Jareth sighed as he pulled a jacket from the rack in front of him. Other rulers had maids and valets to choose their clothing, Jareth couldn't imagine what one of the goblins would try to dress him in.
"Maybe she should go back for a while, she'll realize how much she belongs here in no time." Nolwynn suggested cheerily. She couldn't image Sarah being happy in the human world after her time in theirs.
"If I could be as sure as you I would let her go." He said wearily.
Nolwynn's forced smile finally faded, "I'll talk to her while you're away."
Jareth shot her a look of skepticism, "I don't know Winnie, you were so helpful last time."
"Yes, I know I shouldn't have told her you love her, but it really did just slip out."
"Of course, Nolwynn." He replied, unconvinced.
Nolwynn looked to the ceiling as she fought the desire to throttle her friend, tactfully she decided to change the subject, "What are you going to do?"
Jareth shrugged on his jacket, "That depends."
"On?"
"The state of His Majesty and if your brother has the nerve to meet me face to face."
"Who else would be there?"
"Not sure, Nechtan has always been a coward when it came to fighting his own battles."
Nolwynn was silent as she tried to think of the possibilities, she could only think of one, "Branna?"
"Possibly, though back stabbing and rumors are more her thing, I was surprised when she confronted us in Grandmother's gardens." Jareth moved to the large mirror, reaching from the floor to the ceiling he could take in his appearance while he could see Nolwynn behind him, shaking her head in exasperation as he seemed more concerned with his clothing than the impending meeting.
His vanity appeased Jareth turned to his friend, his face serious, "If something goes wrong you need to get Sarah out of here. If I'm not back tonight take her to your Kingdom and keep her there until it's safe to send her home."
"The human world? How will I get here there? I don't have that kind of power." The Fairy Queen shook her head.
"The new Goblin King will."
Nolwynn fought back tears as she looked up at her best friend, she reached out and hugged him. Jareth, stunned for a moment, wrapped his arms around her.
"If you don't kill him, I will." She said, her voice catching. She waited a moment more before collecting herself and pulled away from him.
Jareth gave her a soft smile before stepping out of the room and toward the corridor, Nolwynn followed a few steps behind. When he reached the door that lead to Sarah's bedroom he paused a moment, he lifted his hand a few inches but it quickly dropped back down. No, he decided, he was not going to give her a chance to ignore him or continue with her accusations. He squared his shoulders and continued on his way, ignoring the disapproving huff coming from his friend.
They made their way into the throne room where Jareth took his seat. He shot an arrogant wink to Nolwynn before disappearing, ready to take on whoever waited for him.
Sarah did not sleep a wink, she had not expected to. Since Jareth had received that suspicious summons she had been a ball of nerves, she couldn't imagine resting peacefully while he was preparing for whoever was waiting for him in that castle. If she was completely honest with herself she had expected to spend the night before the meeting with Jareth, but now she was locked in her bedroom, avoiding him after their fight in the garden.
She didn't even attempt to sleep, she remained in the dress she wore to dinner as she paced the length of the room in outrage. She tried to calm herself, tried reading, brushing her hair, even sketching could do nothing to ease her thoughts. A prophecy, forever linking her to him. All this time he told her she was in danger because she defeated the labyrinth, and she had believed it. Looking back, she could see how foolish it was not to suspect more, why would anyone apart from Jareth cared?
She thought back on their fight, how blindsided she felt and how betrayed. How could he keep something so huge from her? All her life she had wanted to make her own choices, find her own way and now she finds out some book in this world of goblins and fairies and God knows what else has her future all mapped out for her. How is she supposed to react to something like that? She sat in the window sill and watched the sun rise over the labyrinth, the prophecy faded to the back of her mind as the time for Jareth to leave the castle inched closer and closer. She headed for the door, deciding to see him off but just as she reached for the knob she head footsteps, she knew it had to be Jareth. Frozen, she listened as the steps paused momentarily in front of her door, only to pick back up and become more distant. Sarah leaned her head against the door, hand still on the knob, annoyed with herself. She had yelled and screamed at him last night before storming off like a child. She wouldn't talk want to talk to her either.
Stress beginning to wear on her, Sarah wearily headed to bed, her shoulders and back aching and tense. Still in the forest green dress, she hugged the pillow to her and wondered what Jareth was facing, and if he would come back. He had yelled at her last night while she hurled accusations at him, she had deserved it, as she thought back to last night she realized she had completely overreacted. The stress of her situation and her confusing feelings toward him had been too much, the prophecy and the revelation she had had many lives to fulfill it was too much.
She had the right to be upset over all the things he had kept hidden from her, she knew she was not wrong on that front, only the way she had chosen to confront him. She couldn't shake the thought that all his words of love were nothing but a ploy to get her to fulfill the prophecy. Why else would he go through this hell the Daemon King was putting him through, why else would he give a damn about what happened to her? He had something to lose.
A few tears trailed down her cheeks as she silently cried with frustration. She needed to get away from here she thought, back to her own world. She wondered if Jareth would even agree to let her go. If he wouldn't maybe Nolwynn would know who could help her. Just then a knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. She got up from the bed and unlocked the door to see the concerned face of the Fairy Queen.
"Is he gone?" Sarah asked without preamble.
"Yes, a few minutes ago, I told him I'd stay with you." She answered softly, her eyes watching Sarah closely, looking for any sign of how she was feeling, "He said you two had an argument last night."
Sarah sighed and turned away from Nolwynn, walking toward the window, as if she could see the mysterious castle Jareth was summoned to, "It was awful. I yelled, he yelled back."
Nolwynn remained silent, the faint rustling of wings as she sat down was the only indication she was still in the room.
"Did you know?" Sarah asked flatly, her sleepless night was beginning to catch up with her.
"Yes." Nolwynn knew what Sarah was asking and felt it was best not to feint ignorance, "He told me shortly before he brought you here."
"All of it?"
"I assume so." Nolwynn tilted her head to the side as she studied Sarah, who was staring vacantly out the window while she nervously fiddled with the pearls on her gown.
"Do you believe it all?"
"Yes, I've seen your name in The Book. Besides, Jareth has never lied to me before, I doubt he'd start now." The Fairy Queen answered calmly as she could, as her mind kept going over all the horrible things Jareth could be facing at the moment. She needed to do what she could to make sure he had Sarah to come back to.
"I'm not so sure."
"What are you not sure about?"
"His reasons." Sarah answered cryptically.
"Would you prefer to talk about this to someone who knows more?" Nolwynn sighed as she asked, she recognized trying to get Sarah to talk about her feelings on the matters at hand would be like pulling teeth, she was going to need help.
"Yes, but I'm so tired right now, I can barely think." Sarah's face was pale, with dark circles under her eyes.
Nolwynn went to the adjoining dressing room and pulled out a night gown and robe, "Get some sleep and when you wake up, hopefully Jareth will be here. If he isn't I'll have someone else here to talk to you."
Nolwynn helped Sarah into the billowing white gown and into bed. It was only a matter of a few moments before she was sound asleep.
Jareth found himself in an empty throne room, though it was daylight outside the room was murky, candles and torches were cold in their holders. The dais the High King's throne would have been placed was empty, the need for one was unnecessary in this hideaway.
He remained in the cavernous room for a few moments, his eyes searching for any sign of movement, expecting an attack at any minute, but he was confident he was alone in the room. His footsteps echoed around him as he entered a corridor. Paintings of past High Kings and their families adorned the wall, including his own grandparents. Jareth's thoughts were racing, planning for whatever could be waiting for him around each corner.
He reached the end of one gallery and found himself in a large dining hall, like the throne room it also looked completely neglected, except for two place settings at the far end of the table. Taking a few steps into the room a voice broke the silence.
"It has been a long time."
Jareth's eyes narrowed when Nechtan appeared out of the shadows, lazily walking toward him.
"Not long enough in my opinion." Jareth matched Nechtan's blasé tone.
"That's where you're wrong, this has been a long time coming Jareth," Nechtan kept his distance, meandering around the room as Jareth remained in one spot, his eyes following the Daemon King, ready for anything he may try.
"Where is the High King?"
"Why would I tell you such a thing? My father-in-law," he said with disgust in his voice, "is my problem."
"I'd be happy to take him off your hands if he's such a nuisance."
Nechtan laughed bitterly, "I'm sure you would. How about a trade?"
Jareth sneered, "What do you want?"
"The human girl."
"No." Jareth said, his teeth clenched as he tried to control his desire to end Nechtan that very moment.
"I didn't think so. It's so pathetic, spending all that time with humans and now you're chasing after one like a boy. Tell me, Jareth, what makes her so special? Branna said she didn't see much to recommend her, but Branna has always been quite the jealous type, hasn't she? My sister prefers you to me, my own father-in-law prefers you, and I'm almost certain my wife would destroy me with her bare hands if she thought she would get a glance from you. No matter, I have Branna right where I want her. If you won't give me the girl I have another offer, give me your kingdom."
It was ridiculous, Jareth schooled his face into an expressionless mask, "That's impossible and you know it, even if I was so inclined."
"Then I suppose I could just take it. My son would make an excellent Goblin King under my tutelage." Nechtan mused, "No more weak humans to waste resources, no spoiled little girls to run the labyrinth. The kingdoms of Goblins and Daemons united, with them both in my power I would be even more powerful than the High King."
"Where is he, Nechtan?"
The Daemon King waved off his question, continuing on, "Once I found out about your little human I tried to get the High King to see things my way, that you were no longer fit for your throne. He refused to discuss it, wouldn't even consider putting his own grandson on the Goblin Throne."
"You know the rules, neither of us have that kind of power." Jareth pointed out the obvious, Nechtan had truly lost his mind, it was becoming clearer.
Nechtan ignored Jareth, instead he unceremoniously sat in the dining chair at the head of the table, gesturing Jareth to sit at the other place setting, "I thought we could discuss it over breakfast, perhaps you can come to see things my way."
Jareth continued to stand, Nechtan laughed and shook his head, "Always so stubborn."
"Some things never change, you're still the whining little boy that could never get enough attention."
The comment did the trick, Nechtan lost his temper and with a quick gesture of his hand he tried to fling Jareth against the wall behind him. Jareth's quick reflexes let him dodge the spell before he hurled a crystal at Nechtan, who was not as quick. The spell he had used froze the Daemon King to his chair, unable to move he could do no magic.
Jareth approached Nechtan, his mismatched eyes gleaming at the sight, "When it comes to magic you have never been as good as me, I would have thought you would have learned your lesson by now. Now tell me, where is he?"
Nechtan said nothing, meeting Jareth's gaze with an equal amount of hate.
"He has to be here, or else you couldn't be here, now what have you done with him?"
Nechtan remained silent.
"You leave me no choice." Jareth sighed, a crystal materialized in his hand. He rolled it back and forth as he watched Nechtan, who's eyes were now following the crystal.
"I had vowed to myself once that I would never unleash The Nightmares, I could never think of a single thing someone could do that would warrant such action. You've heard of them I'm sure, you know they could destroy what's left of your deranged mind in minutes. Your body on the other hand, well, that is harder to destroy, but they love the challenge. It is horrific, what they do, and it's been a long time since they've been let free, to have a chance at a king would be quite exciting for them. Now, I'm going to ask you one more time," He held the crystal up to Nechtan's face, who was swallowing uncomfortably, before going on, "How did you find out about the girl and where is the High King?"
Nechtan's stare remained unwavering, "You can do whatever you want to me, do you really think I'm working against you alone? You have no idea what you're up against. Do you really think a few goblins would scare me? Do you know what my daemons can do?" He chuckled a moment before continuing, "You're little human got a taste of their power."
"Suit yourself, I suppose I'll have to find him on my own," Jareth shrugged, refusing to let Nechtan see how much his words angered him, "Which means they'll have more time to get to know you." He said as he walked to the door, flinging the crystal behind him. Instantly, the sounds of Nechtan's screams echoed throughout the castle, only muffling slightly as the heavy wooden doors closed behind Jareth.