Hey, sorry guys for making you wait but with things at work lately I've really haven't had very much free time to work on this. So please be patient. As for the cliffhangers, sorry but these chapters just keep ending that way and well, it will probably do that in the chapters to come. It's just the way that the story comes to me. For of you that have commented on this story, thanks and I send big hugs and love your way from deep in my heart. You guys make my days brighter. Well, I'll let you get to the story and allow you to enjoy.
To What May Come
Chapter 21
Breath knocked out of him, Varden lied on the crumbled remains of the oak table that sat beside his bed. It took him only a moment to compose himself as he rose from the floor, dusting off the fragments of wood from his clothing. The power that lashed out at him was not something that he was prepared for, especially coming from a mortal. Humans held no such power!
A roar left his lungs as his anger grew. How dare she deny him? How dare she lash out at him? Dark green eyes scanning the tent, he grinned wickedly, as he knew that she had fled his camp, "Yes, run Lady. I so enjoy a good chase."
Varden leaned his head back, a dark chuckle escaping his lips. Raising his arms, his body transformed into a large black hawk, just before he flew out of the tent entrance.
Sarah struggled with the need to help her friend and the knowledge that if she went back for Fayla she would only be captured again. That man, Fae, or whatever he was tried to…Oh God! What was she to do?
The horse seemed anxious as it shifted its weight from hoof to hoof awaiting Sarah's command. She pulled at the reins turning him to go back, but then pulled back again, as she knew that she was being foolish. She would be no help to Fayla if she got herself caught again. She needed to get back to Jareth and the Goblin City, but how, she did not know where she was or how to get back?
Brow's scrunched together as she tried to think of something, anything, to help her. Deciding that just waiting in the middle of the woods was only going to get her into more trouble, she decided to head away from where she knew the camp was. Anywhere would be better than being within that place and with that being who called himself Varden.
Decision made, she nudged the horse forwards away from camp, praying that she would be lucky and be able to find help. She had to hurry; the longer she waited the more likelihood that Fayla would be in more danger.
He could feel the wind beneath his wings carrying him amongst the clouds; eyes focused on the ground that swept below him as he soared above his kingdom. Jareth could no longer stand idly by and do nothing as his love was in danger. He had to find them and soon.
A flash of an image obscured his vision making him waiver within the sky. Quickly, he regained his balance and cried out in aggravation as the vision had only allowed him a glimpse of Sarah in the woods. She was on a horse, but where, he did not know. At least he knew that she was within the woods, which did narrow his search down a little.
If he were in his Fae form he would have been grinning, as he caught sight of Sarah riding through the thick woods. So she thought that she could escape him! She would soon see the mistake in her attempts. Swooping down, he shifted quickly back into his Fae form, appearing in front of her horse.
Sarah jerked back, caught by surprise as Varden suddenly appeared before her. The horse reared back, startled from his sudden appearance and she could not hold on as she found herself being flung back. She cried out as she felt herself falling, followed by a sharp pain and then everything went black.
Varden raised his brow at the scene as he watched her thrown from the horse, a loud cracking noise confirming that she had injured herself badly. Dark green eyes shifted back to the horse seeking out its dark wide eyes. The horse jerked back slightly before calming and settling.
Walking past the horse, he knelt beside Sarah's limp form; he could see the earth beneath her being soaked with her blood. She had obviously cracked her skull, but he could not have that, not now so early in the game.
Hand reaching down, he willed his power into healing her wound, but making it so that she did not awaken. He couldn't have her struggling and trying to get away now, could he? Picking up her light form, he disappeared with her in his arms, purposely leaving the horse behind.
Jareth wavered once more in his owl form as he could briefly feel a pain shoot through his being. 'Sarah?' he knew it was her pain that he was sensing and his urgency to find her increased. Eyes sharply searching the ground below, he picked up the faint sense of magic.
Gliding downward towards the forest floor, he shifted to his true form as he landed on the ground. He eyed the horse that was left without its rider and felt his heart fall through the pit of his stomach. Sarah had been here, her aura was faint but she had been here.
Slowly, he approached where the horse stood, taking the reins that dangled loosely on the ground. Petting the horse along its nose, he searched the surrounding brush for some sign of where she had gone. Mismatched eyes searched the ground looking for any type of tracks that he could track, when his eyes stopped at a moist spot within the leaves and soil.
Leaving the horse to graze, Jareth stepped towards the spot crouching down to take a closer look. His gloved fingers brushed the leaves revealing a large stone darkened by moisture. Bringing up his fingers he rubbed them together taking in the substance scent, blood.
Jaws tightened as his eyes clinched shut, the breeze that whisked through his blond hair was unnoticed as he concentrated his full power on sensing Sarah. Nothing, not a trace, it was as if he was being blocked. Varden must have increased his power since last he had dealt with him.
Not willing to give up he forced himself to rise and turned to the waiting horse. Approaching the dark steed, he forced the animal to look him within his eyes as he murmured ancient words. As soon as the words were spoken, the image of Sarah's unconscious form within Varden's arms just before them vanishing was shown.
Not wasting any time, he climbed the horse, nudging it to continue in the direction he saw them disappear. With only a slight nudge of his booted heel and the tug of the horse's reins they were off, the horse's hooves pounding against the forest floor.
Pain, sharp piercing pain, it pulsed between her temples and at the back of her head. Sarah was starting to awaken from unconsciousness, but not yet able to open her eyes. She was aware of the fact that she was being carried, but was not sure by whom. Her head, it throbbed, she wanted the pain to go away, to stop.
Sarah struggled against the pain as she tried to remember what had happened. Her eyes struggled to open and slowly, painfully, they did. Vision blurred she tilted her head upwards her vision slowly starting to clear. She started as his features came into focus memory of what happened coming back. Gasp escaping her lips she pushed weekly against Varden's chest only succeeding in gaining his attention.
Feeling her stir within his arms he looked down to her startled face, "Awe, awake so soon, and so glad to see me I see!"
She pushed against his chest, her eyes bordering with tears, tears that she refused to allow to fall, "Let me go! You bastard!"
Varden's brows rose at what she had called him, "That, my dear, was not wise!" with that, he harshly let her go, causing her to fall roughly to the floor at his feet.
Sarah grimaced as she fell on her side, the cold concrete floor harshly cushioning her fall. She'd have to remember when insulting someone to do it when they are not carrying her. It then occurred to her that she was not in the same place she was when Varden first abducted her. Her eyes shakily looked up at Varden who was now looking down at her menacingly.
Motioning his arm around the room he began speaking, his voice laced with mocking sincerity, "Welcome, dear Lady, to your new home! I know it isn't much, but you'll adjust."
Eyes searching the room, she noted the barren stonewalls that surrounded them in the distance. Hands pushing against the cold stonewall she was leaning against she struggled to stand. The lighting was so scarce that she could only see a few feet of the floor in front of her; beyond it was blackness.
Amused by her quiet assessment of her surroundings he continued, "Since you were so resistant to my propositions, I have decided to allow you to stay here within this oubliette."
Sarah's eyes widened as she took in his words, stepping forwards she gasped out in surprise as her foot lost contact with ground. She felt his arms around her pulling her back as he whispered in her ear, "Careful, my dear, that is quite a drop."
She was trapped between the drop and him, apart of her thinking that she'd rather fall to her death than to be in his arms. Sarah wanted to wretch when she felt his hands run across her waist, his hot breath brushing against her ear.
Varden grinned against her discomfort of being in such a vulnerable position, "You can always reconsider your decision of rejecting me. I promise that it would be so much more pleasurable than what Jareth could offer you."
Her jaws clenched as she felt enraged by his proposal, "I'd rather you let me fall down that pit!"
A dark chuckle left his lips, "Oh no, I could not possible. Especially if I want my plans for your dear betrothed to work out. Live bate is always so much better, don't you think?"
A frown crossed her lips as her brow furrowed in worry, "What are you going to do?"
Stepping back slightly, but not by much, he kept his arms securely around her waist, making her rest against his chest, "Oh you will find out soon enough."
Sarah fell slightly back as Varden disappeared without warning, leaving her alone within the oubliette. She felt sickened, as her heart was swimming within her stomach. What did he have planned for Jareth?
"Oh Jareth, if only I could warn you!" falling to her knees she hugged herself, finally allowing the tears to fall. She felt helpless, there was no Hoggle to open a door and lead her out of this cold place. No one knew where she was or how to get to her. Why was he doing this?
Jareth allowed the horse to lead him back to where the horse had come from and stopped just at the edge of a clearing where he saw a large tent similar to the one that Sarah and Fayla had disappeared in. Dismounting the dark steed, he reached out with his magic but could sense nothing. Either Varden was blocking him still or he had arrived too late.
Stilling himself for what may come, he conjured his power appearing within the tent. Empty, there was a large bed, a destroyed table and an empty throne but no one to be seen. Slowly, he walked around within the tent, his eyes searching for any clues as to where they might have went.
Varden's voice echoed around him, "I credit you to finding my camp your majesty, but don't think that I am going to make this easy for you."
Enraged, he did not allow it to show in his voice or his expression as he coldly remarked, "Are you such a coward, Varden, that you are afraid to face me?"
A dark chuckle echoed throughout the tent, "Ah, in such a hurry to meet your end, are we? No, I will confront you soon enough, but now is too soon. I've only begun. Oh, and Jareth…Sarah tastes exquisite, I can see why you have taken such a liking to her and such a spirited young woman."
Jareth's fist tightened into fists, his jaws clenching and unclenching as he fought for control over his anger. That was what Varden was aiming for, to anger him so that he would do something rash. He would not fall for his ploy nor would he loose his self-control.
Crystal forming in hand he willed his magic into being, returning himself to the castle. He had to find another means to find Sarah and Fayla and it was obvious that he would not be able to do so by his usual means. As he disappeared from the tent and reappeared within his chambers, he swore that when he did get his hands on Varden that he would kill him…slowly.