"You released him from all geas binding him," Howl slumped with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. "Sarah Williams," he groaned and slid his fingers through his black hair to fist it there. He gave a quiet yet very frustrated grunt. He sat up straight suddenly and thumped the ground with both hands.

"This is why we train apprentices, only I'm going to insist you read fae lore, fae history and the four doorway wars as from Ingary perspective so that you know what twisted fate you're tempting here. For this alone I could ask and have granted Jareth's execution."

"You wouldn't dare!" Sarah leaped to her feet, and felt the magic around her rise.

"No!" Howl snapped at her. "I don't want to! Don't force my hand by adding your own uncontrolled insanity to all this!"

Sarah stood panting as the magic crackled about her; the purple fire seemed to burn brighter about Jareth. As she forced herself to breathe calmly, the fire burned down.

"Sit down, Sarah," Howl said calmly. "I am trying to help you."

She sat once more, her hands still shaking

"Sarah," Howl said gently, "the only other wizards I know are human and would prefer to bind or kill Jareth rather than helping him. Do you know any fae mages who would be able to settle this uncontrolled outpouring of magic he has about him?"

Sarah thought frantically. She didn't know any fae mages, and the elf she had met the other day was a negotiator not a magician. She felt a pool of dread settle on the bottom of her stomach.

"I know one," she said in a small voice.

Howl breathed out in relief.

"Do you know his or her name so we may summon them?"

Sarah blanched.

"You want to summon the High King?"

"How do you know the High King?" Howl's voice squeaked with shock. He cleared his throat harshly and he gaped at Sarah in dismay. "Why is everything always so difficult with you?"

"I blame Jareth," Sarah said squarely.

Howl gave a tired snort of laughter at that.

"There are two of you in this deal," he reminded her. "How are we to negotiate with the High King? What is the Goblin Kingdom's policy in regards to him? What I mean is how big a boon are we going to end up owing a potentially capricious fae?"
Sarah folded her arms under her breasts and tilted her head.

"No boon at all!" Sarah declared vehemently. "If he so much as thinks to use this to his advantage I'll kick his ass across the Abyss! If he can't do one thing right by his son, then I'll find a way to usurp his entire kingdom and make him sincerely regret it."

"His son?" Howl croaked and rubbed his eyes tiredly with the ball of his palm. "Suddenly this is all beginning to make so much sense."

"What is?"

"The sheer magnitude of this mess," Howl said dryly. "Well, go ahead. You might want to step outside the circle to do so."

.

Sarah stood between the house and the circle. Howl remained seated beside Jareth, but turned as she came to a halt.

"Michael, see everyone has a horse shoe," Howl called.

Sarah was rather relieved when Michael dragged the crate over to her house. The cold it radiated made her bones ache unpleasantly. She wondered how her family could stand it. Toby took one and dropped it with a yelp. He eyed the harsh red burn on his hand for a second and burst into tears.

"I never thought of that," Howl sprang up and ran across to Toby who had his mother and Sophie trying to inspect the burn on his hand. "Stand back," he ordered and grasped Toby's wrist in his and with a gesture trailed his fingers through the air above it. His eyes sharp with concentration. Toby gave a stunned gasp and stopped crying.

"It's gone?" He clenched and unclenched his hand gingerly then smiled.

"You're coming to sit with me within the circle," Howl declared. "As fae touched, you and Sarah shouldn't touch ensorcelled iron."

"But I can touch the poker," Toby said in bewilderment as he trailed after Howl.

"It's regular iron; it'd hurt but not disable a fae. This," he pulled Toby carefully in between two glowing pieces, "is spelled to do just that. Don't touch."

"Now you tell me?" Toby snapped.

"Your pardon?" Howl said with mild politeness and Toby smiled up at him with wide-eyed innocence.

"Tobias," Karen warned.

"Sorry," Toby muttered hastily and plumped himself down beside Howl's spot on the quilt.

.

Sarah fidgeted and then took a deep breath when Howl nodded he was ready. She closed her eyes, picturing somewhat the elf she had met, the High King's nephew, and the image merged with Jareth's features somewhat. What were the right words? She could feel them sometimes; what would work in a situation and what would not. All she sensed now was that it needed to be very grand, and elaborate and formal. All the words she ever had in her head left right then. She sat feeling the magic build around her with no focus.

"I wish for Eltharion te' Meurfinan, High King of the Fae to come here right now!"

If she thought Jareth was flashy with his thunderous entrances and glittery exits she was mistaken. The entire back yard glowed with a soft power and every sigil and ward sign blazed like the sun. Before her in a pool of sunlight, with lazily falling motes of golden magic, stood the most beautiful elf she had ever set eyes on. He was as tall as Jareth and had wild blond hair that hung midway down his back. He wore a golden robe trimmed with shimmering emerald stones and the shapes of oak leaves stitched into the hems and cuffs of his garment. A gold link belt was slung about his waist over a pale green silk tunic and hose. About his neck he wore a pendant in the shape of a sun, and instead of a crown he wore antlers set in gold which stretched back and over his head. His eyes were a chilling blue that Jareth's gained when he was angry.

"Er, hi!" Sarah smiled at him.

His gaze darkened. She could feel the force of his magic hot and ferocious against her being like the midday sun in a desert.

"Who are you, impudent mortal, that you have my name to summon me like a common imp?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Your Majesty," she dipped a slight curtsey. "I'm Sarah Williams, I called you here because Jareth's in trouble."

His face froze in the middle of a triumphant sneer, and oddly, the heat of his magic lessened slightly.

"Sarah Williams," he spoke the name with relish and she felt it catch at her very being, yet somehow slip off her. She felt as though ice froze her heart for a moment, had he actually managed to grasp her, she would have fallen utterly into his power.

"What does the mortal Sarah Williams have to do with my bastard son?"

She glared up at him, suddenly furious. He was tall, slender and she could see where Jareth had inherited his cheekbones and eyes. Yet they had none of the slightly blunted nature that made Jareth's face pleasantly handsome to behold, his was sharp, almost cruel with the expression he now wore.

"You don't have to be rude!"

"Rude? I think not, little mortal girl, you are the one who has summarily demanded my presence forgoing all common courtesy and decorum."

"Look, Your Majesty, I'm not here to play games with you, we can do it another time. Jareth's your son, so you'd know how his magic works, yes?"

"And I weary of your senseless prattle. Sarah Williams, tell me the purpose of this summoning!"

Sarah felt the magic in the command and before she could stop herself had gabbled it all out.

"I lifted all the geas Jareth had on him and his magic went haywire and you're the only fae who might have any hope of helping him, please!"

She clapped both hands over her mouth and gaped at him in shock.

He blinked right back at her, hiding his own surprise with a very familiar raised eyebrow. His magic fluctuated from blazing hot to a refreshing warmth.

"Only his true love could possibly manage that."

Sarah blushed bright red, buried her face in her hand and groaned in utter mortification. Had Jareth been under that sort of spell? It was too embarrassing for words.

"Whoo hoo!" Toby whooped from behind them.

Eltharion spun about with the blinding speed of a trained warrior. He had his sword in hand and dagger in the other, held by the tip as if he meant to throw it. She could feel his magic flicker like Jareth's did, all sparks and lightning, there was no doubt they were related.

"No!" She darted around him and spread out her arms as she stood before him. "Please don't hurt them! They've all been helping me help Jareth."

Eltharion wore a haughty aloof expression as he assessed them.

"A very mixed group of mortal humans." He sheathed the dagger again and lowered his sword. "Three taste of fire demon magic, two under the protection of the same, one who has the taste of my son's protection and you," he turned his attention to Sarah again. "You have the taste of the trial magic's my son so easily weaves."

He suddenly sheathed his sword and stepped backwards to examine her.

"You're the Queen of the Labyrinth?"

"Er yes?" Sarah said guiltily, remembering the letter.

"You sent that little yellow scrap of a note," he suddenly focused all his attention on her and she cringed, but held her head high.

"Yes," she said, "In all fairness, your trade negotiator was being high handed and disrespectful."

"Oh, of that I have no doubt, it's why I send him, Jareth usually blunts the edges off his personality enough that we can tolerate him at court for the next few months."

Sarah blinked. His magic was warm and inviting now. What had changed? If anything she was more wary now than she had been when facing his anger.