Chapter 4
In a corner of the Atinition throne room The TARDIS arrived The King and Queen looked around at the strange noise by then had noticed The TARDIS in the corner they looked at each other as the door opened to reveal Jareth and Katie just after him and then Rose and The Doctor. Once Jareth saw his mother and father he rushed over to them as The TARDIS door closed.
"How are you?" He asked
"We are fine but will not be soon" His mother replied and Jareth looked at The King
"We always knew that all of this with the outsiders will never really be over," Jareth said to him and then looked down at the table to see maps and papers one such particular paper was the family tree
"Somehow they got word that you were gone they started attacking the small villages to the North-East of the river in the forest people have gone missing large families slaughtered in their homes..." The King said "But they also left a message" King Edwin said and handed Jareth a piece of paper he read it aloud
"We know the prince is gone... Give up the throne or this is war you have three days...Prince Ashtac, the rightful heir to the throne, grandson of Vextsif"
As Jareth read it he looked up at his father
"All this time... they"
"When did this start?" The Doctor asked
"Two and a half months ago" The Queen replied
"How long have I been gone," Jareth asked his mother
"About three months"
Jareth eyes widened in shock he looked at The Doctor as Katie spoke
"Why is he doing this?"
Queen Alyce looked at her and then to the family tree as did the other's they watched as she explained
"It was about a hundred years ago during the reign of King Kaydn and Queen Elaine that their son Prince Latimer was disowned from the family after trying to murder his twin brother the rightful heir but instead he killed his younger sister Princess Brennya it wasn't long after this that Prince Latimer had run away to the North and became the leader of the outsiders..."
"Who are the outsiders..." Rose asked and Queen Alyce looked at her
"Murders, criminals, thieves anyone who's been in prison or disowned from families..." She replied and then looked back at the family tree and continued to explain "It was through the reign of King Turavauv, Latimer's brother and the reign of Queen Celethe that they continued with their mission from father to son..." The Queen paused and looked at The King for a moment and then looked back at the table to the family tree and pointed to a particular name "It was the death of Queen Celethe and the death of Vextsif, Latimers son that the war ended and the outsiders disappeared never to be seen again"
"But why now?" Katie asked as she looked at The Queen
"For some reason why they heard of our son being away from Atinitie, they thought it was best to attack" King Edwin spoke looking at the map "They are marching towards us"
"Where are all the people?" Jareth asked
"The people from the outlying villages before the Forest have been evacuated safely" The King replied
Rose stood beside Katie and looked at the map
"But what about the people in the towns?"
"We hope to stop the outsiders advancing any further before they get to the towns" King Edwin replied and Jareth stood away from the table and headed for the red marble stairs to lead out of the room
"I'll go and get ready..." He said quietly as he left everyone watched him go
Once Jareth got to his room he opened the door and quickly shut it behind him leaning on the door for a moment his eyed closed he was thinking after a moment he opened them and looked around his room and saw that it had been untouched for the last three months it was completely the same as he walked in he shut the door behind him and went over to the wardrobe but as he walked over he heard crying coming from the corner of the room and looked over to the corner but because it was dark he couldn't see anything so went over and to his surprise he found his eight years old sister Princess Xeni sitting there crying so he bent down beside her.
"Xeni... sister? It's okay" He said and she looked up at him with sad red eyes but smiled when she saw him
"Jareth where have you been?"
"I've... just been travelling Sis..." He replied thinking of what he's been up to the things he's seen some of them he's not sure he should tell his sister "So what's up?"
"The Monsters" She replied with a sniffle
"Monsters?... under your bed?"
"No... the outsiders there going to get us" Xeni replied with another sniffle
"No they're not going to you Xeni it's going to be fine mummy and daddy are downstairs so why don't you go find them? You'll be safe"
"My big brother will keep me safe won't you Jareth?"
"Always sister love you," Jareth said kissing her forehead
"Love you too Jareth" Xeni replied with a smile at Jareth she stood and dried her eyes Jareth watched her as she skipped out of the room as he watched her a tear slid down his face he thought of his family and wished he never left.
End of Chapter 4
