Hey guys, here is another chapter. This story just keeps going and going and going. I hope I still have everyone interested in this. Stupid writers block is holding me back. ::pouts:: I hope I'm keeping the story interesting and not drawing it out or anything. Enough with me babbling enjoy:
To What May Come
Chapter 23
Blinking back from the bright light that illuminated the room, Cunningham stepped back slightly disoriented as he saw that they were no longer within the throne room. He saw both King Jareth and Lady Elizabeth standing slightly in front of him, but his eyes were drawn to his new surroundings.
Dark, damp stone surrounded them and loomed over them as they all stood within a cave. He could slightly see his breath as he exhaled, a shiver running down his spine as he noticed the cold damp air wrapping around him like a blanket.
Elizabeth shivered from the coldness of their new surroundings, arms crossing, she tried to rub the warmth back into them. Her eyes were focused up ahead where she knew was the path through the Lost Cave Of Dragons that lead to what the King seeks. A thick, long cloak being thrown over shoulders brought her out of her gaze. Securing the clasp of the cape around her neck, she looked to the King thankful for his generosity, "Thank you."
Jareth nodded in return, a crystal forming in his hand; it glowed and hovered from his open palm floating slightly ahead of them. The light lent an otherworldly glow to the dark cave walls that surrounded them, illuminating their path.
Elizabeth looked from the King to the path and grabbed his arm, her eyes pleading, "Please reconsider?"
Jareth patted her hand before pulling it gently from its hold on his arm, "You know I will not."
Elizabeth sighed, "You must take the path, but we can not go with you. Before you reach the main chamber there will be several test that you must pass."
Jareth nodded; wielding another crystal, he handed it to her, "Take this, it will return you both to the castle."
Taking the offered crystal she held onto his hand, "Your majesty, be careful."
He nodded and looked to Cunningham, "Upon your return, give word that I have gone out again in search for Sarah and Fayla. Speak nothing of this." Jareth's eyes bore into Cunningham's as he sternly spoke, "You are a lucky Fae to have her favor. Do not fail her in her trust."
Cunningham could only nod, the intensity within the kings' gaze and his voice not lost on him. Watching King Jareth turn from him and start down the pathway, Cunningham looked to Elizabeth and pulled her to him. He breathed heavily her scent, "Please believe me when I say that you have my heart, dear Elizabeth, I would never betray you."
She smiled in response, her hand that wasn't holding the crystal touching the arm that was wrapped around her, "I know."
As she spoke those words, the crystal in hand began to glow until it engulfed them both within its light. The cave dropped into darkness as they left, a faint light shone within the distance slowly fading away to nothing.
His steps forward were confident, never wavering from their path, he knew of the test but what the tests were he did not know. Still, he would go to hell and back if it meant that he would get his Sarah back and out of that damnable Fae's grasp.
Each step that he took was echoed in the caves around him, every breath burned, as it seemed that the further forward he traveled the colder that it became. The path before him was starting to narrow but he did not waiver as he continued on wandering when the first of the test would be.
Up ahead of him he could see what looked to be an entrance to a chamber, for the first time since starting his way down the path Jareth stopped. He eyed the entrance, studying it carefully as he could sense something about it. There was a magical hum that came from it and he wasn't sure as to its origin, as it was of no magic he had ever sensed.
Sarah's smiling face came to mind, breaking him of his study of the entrance and he stepped forward. As soon as he walked through the entrance he felt a magical pulse surge throughout his body.
The sound of stone scrapping on stone met his ears and as he turned towards the entrance, he noted that it was now shut off. There was no going back now, not that he would have. The crystal that floated before him clang to the floor, the light dying. Jareth now stood in complete darkness.
Attempting to wield his power to form another crystal, he was stunned to find that nothing happened. A silent curse left his lips at the realization that he was powerless. How could he use the Scepter now?
"Who dares enter the Cave of Dragons?" a loud voice boomed around and through him.
"The Goblin King, Jareth!" he responded his voice full of the royalty that had been drilled in him since he was a child.
A brilliant light consumed the room revealing a large chamber and a lighted figure hovering above Jareth. The being looked of Fae origin; his eyes a brilliant light blue with white hair and transparent skin. If Jareth was not mistaken, he knew that this Fae before him was a spirit.
"King Jareth," the spirit bowed slightly before floating down to stand in front of him. "I am the guardian spirit of these caves and of what you seek."
Jareth eyed the entity before him, "Then you know that my time is short. I need…"
The Fae spirit held up his hand, "Yes, you need it in order to find those that you have lost."
Rising from his position before the King his next words were spoken with authority, "Be warned Goblin King, the Scepter is not to leave its hiding place. The test awaits you."
The Fae spirit disappeared as his final words were spoken leaving Jareth alone to face the coming test.
Back pressed against the cold stonewall, Sarah hugged her legs to her chest, resting her head on her knees. Her long dark hair dropped over her face hiding it from view. To her side sat a small tray of food, untouched.
Sarah ignored the pains in her stomach urging her to eat the food but she knew better. The growl of her stomach caused her to look up the tray of food looking more and more tempting. Standing, she glared at the tray, her mouth watering. Anger boiling up within, she kicked at the tray causing the food to spill to the floor. Still not satisfied she picked up the tray hurling it into the darkness where she heard it as it clanged against the walls as it tumbled to the bottom.
The food lay there before her on the stone floor and she eyed it coldly, wishing that she could just take one bite. Anger being replaced with frustration she slid to the floor, her head dropping back against the wall, eyes clenching shut.
Mentally, she pictured Varden standing before her and her knee quickly coming up into his groin making him crumble to the floor. Sarah would love to castrate him and push him over the ledge at this point. Her thoughts brought a sly grin to her lips but the expression was short-lived as her current situation was all too hard to forget. How long had she been here? How much longer would she be here?
A presence in the room was noticed, causing her eyes to shoot up at who her visitor was, "Well, speaking of the devil!"
Varden's eyebrows rose at this, "I take it that you did not enjoy the food I provided? You really should eat."
Sarah shook her head rolling her eyes, "I'm touched by your concern!" she added sarcastically, earning a dark chuckle from him.
"You really are amusing! So much fire, too bad you chose to deny my offer."
Varden's gaze tore through her; Sarah crossed her arms over her chest hiding the shudder that went through her. Chin lifting; she defiantly shot back, "Seeing my options I would rather take my chances with this oubliette."
His amusement was brought short by her statement and he was in front of her in an instant, "And that you will! Pity, such a young thing to meet an end so early in life."
Sarah's eyes narrowed, he was just close enough to…Sarah stepped back, hitting the stonewall behind her as she saw what appeared within Varden's hand.
A dark crystal appeared within his hand with ease as he summoned his power, "Now this, my dear, is my early wedding present for you and your dear betrothed."
Sarah felt her stomach lurch and turn at the site of the dark crystal. The crystal was almost identical to the ones she saw Jareth use, except for the fact that this one was black as night. She felt sick as Varden came closer, causing her to flinch back only succeeding in hitting the back of her head as there was no place further that she could go.
Satisfied with her reaction, he began to allow it to dance within his hands and watched with satisfaction as Sarah's eyes widened when other crystals started to appear. Three dark crystals appeared within his hands, one by one floating from his hold and drifting to the far corners of the oubliette, disappearing within the darkness.
She looked at where she saw the last of the crystals disappeared and swallowed nervously. Sarah did not want to know but she found herself asking, "What kind of present?"
Varden grinned deviously, "A little binding spell. Can't have him leaving after I've gone to all the trouble of bringing him here now, can I?"
With that said, he vanished from the oubliette leaving Sarah alone once again. She found herself sliding to the floor and lying on her side as she drew her knees into her chest. What could she do now? If Jareth came for her he would be trapped with her in this awful place and it would have been her fault. If only she could warn him.