Once upon a time I watch a movie called Labyrinth. I now own the movie but sadly not the rights. I am just having some fun with the muse.
I must thank you all for following, favoriting and reviewing my story. I appreciate your patience awaiting more chapters. Know that I will be finishing this story and that there will be a sequel, as I have become very fond of the characters I created and wish to explore their individual stories in depth.
Chapter 34
Aislinn stood beside the motionless body of her husband, blood on her hands and gown. The gathering of people stared in horror and disbelief from the Queen to the now deceased king. The guards of the High court stepped forward and seized the queen. She was being taken into custody for regicide. The members of the High Council would be called together to name Lorcan as acting regent until the trial would decide if Aislinn would be reinstated as High Queen or sentenced to death for the killing of the High King.
Lorcan, Jareth and Ruari leapt up to come to their mother's aid, as Caoilainn was already at her side and Sarah and Riona rushed up to the head table in a show of absolute solidarity. "Guards, take care how you handle the High Queen!" Lorcan's face was a mixed palette of anger, concern and grief. He wanted his mother protected above all, as some of the people were now demanding justice for their murdered king and others were glad that 'the mad king' had been dispatched so handily.
"I am claiming my position as temporary regent, while awaiting the council's appointment, and ask that my mother, Queen Aislinn be placed in the tower under double guard until the council can come together to decide her fate." The crowd murmured at this, not sure this was the best course to take but who would dare argue with the Crown Prince? The guards led Aislinn away to secure her from any harm and keep her imprisoned as was expected.
Fergal ran up and fell in step along side Caoilainn, who stubbornly refused to leave her mother's side. "Try to stay calm, my sweet. You have experienced a huge shock and you must remember the babe." He whispered it softly into her ear, so that no one would hear, as they had not yet revealed the pregnancy. She had wanted to wait until after the wedding and now that had turned into such a family tragedy.
"I know you are concerned, my love, but my place is at my mother's side as Lorcan can not offer her support as the first born, since he is acting regent. I promise I will take it easy for all of us." She grimaced, as experiencing so many conflicting feelings was making her feel very ill indeed.
The queen herself had not spoken a word, her face an unreadable mask of cold indifference. She walked along side the guards, not really seeing or reacting to anything that was happening. She was practically sleepwalking through the entire process. Killing the king had done something to her, causing her mind to protect her from what she had done and shutting down to all things but the most necessary functions. The family feared for her well being and her own sanity.
"Mother. Please will you not speak to me?" Caoilainn was trying so desperately to connect with her mother. She was now the only parent she and her siblings had and she was greatly concerned she might lose her to the torment that appeared to be controlling her mind long before the council would be able to decide if she must die for choosing to end her father's life.
One thing was clear to her: the lives they had all been living would never be the same again. Only the fates could tell what far reaching consequences the events of this day would have on all members of the High Court.
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The rest of the queen's children had gathered in a room just off the ballroom: Lorcan was pacing back and forth as Orlagh sat nearby, wringing a lace handkerchief with her hands, her face wet with tears. She did not wish to appear selfish or heartless but this was not the wedding celebration she had envisioned. The pain and worry etched on her new husband's face concerned her greatly. The only thing that seemed to be a positive development was that she felt so much more like her old self. There would be much that needed to be done and she wanted to be as supportive as Lorcan would allow her to be.
Riona was being consoled by Ruari, their twin bond a great comfort in light of the horrors the family had just had to face. The twin siblings had been lucky to have had a close relationship with both of their parents, long before the madness that had consumed their father.
Again, the two looked at their brother and his incessant pacing. They would rally around him and offer all the support he would allow. But they knew, that as acting regent, he would need to be strong and show not weakness. He would not likely ask for help and it would fall to him to sit on the council at their mother's trial as well as having to preside over the Royal funeral and burial services.
Sitting the furthest away from the rest of the family was Jareth, on a love seat with his arm around Sarah, her head resting limply on his shoulder. Her pallor was most distressing and he stroked her hand with his fingers as he waited for a healer to come and examine her. He was fiercely protective of her, as he'd always been, but now, because of the babe, that need escalated exponentially. He also felt a tumult of varying emotions that he tried his best to shield his beloved from: anger and betrayal over his father's treachery, and guilt. Tremendous guilt that all this was his fault and if Murtagh had not saved him all those centuries ago, none of these events would have come to pass. He turned his attention away from his own feelings to focus on his pregnant queen.
Sarah was feeling strange, her body felt warm, like she had a fever. Trying to process everything that had happened, her brain was a confused jumble of thoughts and emotions. Seeing someone killed up close had been very frightening. Never had she seen so much blood or heard someone exhale their final breath in the much lorded death rattle.
She tried not to close her eyes because she didn't want the images to replay in her mind. She heaved a long sigh and was glad that Jareth was holding on to her, their bond comforting her as she could feel his love and concern. She raised her eyes to look at his face and he turned and gave her a reassuring smile and hugged her a bit more tightly. Her hand drifted down her body to her flat tummy and her mind turned to the tiny little life she could nearly feel if she tried.
She slowed her breathing and concentrated on her new connection to the labyrinth. "Gaia, I ask most humbly for you to strengthen our magic and grant us all the protection you can." The swift tendrils of the labyrinth's magic connected to the keeper and the guardian. She felt Jareth acknowledge her having contacted Gaia through their bond and saw him smile at her. His free hand moved stealthily to come to rest on top of her smaller one, laying on her belly. Her eyes fell closed as she drifted into unconsciousness.
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Never in the long history of the Underground had madness led to a sitting monarch being murdered. And hardly in front of the entire assembled court. The High Queen would be called in front of the council and would have to answer for her crime. Aislinn sat in the tower, staring at the fire burning in the in the small fireplace. The numbness she had felt after killing Alroy was beginning to give way to her vividly recalling the events leading up to her pulling the knife out of the folds of her skirt. The traitorous selkies implicating the High King in the conspiracy to kill the Goblin King and kidnap his betrothed. Alroy accusing the selkies of lying and then she, herself, stepping up to dispatch the man who had abused and tormented her for nearly their entire marriage.
Never had she suspected Alroy harbored such terrible secrets and habits. Their courtship had been loving and sweet. The first year after the bonding had been wonderful, too. Then things changed after the birth of Lorcan. Things between them went downhill and never seemed to improve, spiraling down into near constant physical, mental and emotional abuse. Aislinn could have endured the beatings but the verbal abuse, insults and harsh words were so much worse than any beating.
Jareth had been the catalyst that gave her the desire to fight her vicious and cruel husband. She barred him from her chambers. True enough he had cheated on her, but she really did not care for his attentions and was grateful he satisfied his disgusting and perverted desires with others.
She had no regrets. If the council decided that she should be put to death, it would be worth it to know that she had shielded her subjects from their mad king and she had saved her beloved Jareth from his father's blood lust. No, she would harbor no regrets.
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A/N - Sorry this chapter is a bit short but the remaining six chapters will be much longer. The trial will be quite for sticking with me.