Hey, I'm on a roll ::grins:: Well, I must warn you up front: Big Cliffhanger at the end of this chapter. Now before you guys send me any death threats know that I have just finished Chapter 27 but I still have to get it looked over and checked before I post. Have to love those beta readers and I send a very huge thanks to mine. She's done a fabulous job and should be commended, don't know where I would be without her. I'm on a roll guys and looks like this story will be concluding soon. No big promises though, as the story usually writes me more than I write it. I'll shut up now and let you read.
To What May Come
Chapter 26
The trees towered over two travelers as they made their journey through the forest below; the temperature giving no comfort as it reflected the forest's mood. Though it was midday and the sun shone brightly, the forest was dark and cold, lending no comfort.
Purple eyes searched the foliage above, as the trees swayed and rustled against the wind, echoing their protest against its force. The forest was eerily quiet, making both Edward and his friend tense. They could feel the unease of the forest and the lack of birds singing and insects chirping made them all the more tense.
They had been riding through the forest for hours and the further they went the darker the forest became, felt. It made the hairs on the back of Edward's neck stand on end.
Armand wiped his brow with the sleeve of his dark brown shirt, his nerves making him perspire slightly. He had been in the presence of powerful dark magic before, but it did nothing to prepare him for encountering it again. The forest reeked of dark magic and Armand wondered if they should be out here.
The horses suddenly jerked back, protesting against going any further. Edward calmed his horse, stopping their journey and dismounted his steed, Armand following suit. Patting the horse's neck Edward murmured the ancient tongue of his ancestors into the animal's ear, calming its panicked nerves.
Looking towards Armand, they both knew that they could not take the horses any further, "Armand?"
"I know, but I fear that you still wish to continue forwards." Armand knew Edward all too well.
Edward frowned, his friend knew him more than he knew himself at times, "We've both known these forest since we were children; this dark power is new. We have to be on the right track. I have to continue, but you may stay if you wish."
Patting his white steed, Armand murmured words into the animal's ear allowing the reins to fall freely to the forest floor, "Then we continue on foot."
She felt her strength slowly growing from the pure magic that she pulled into herself from around her. Fayla's mind reached out to her surroundings and she could sense where she was, Varden's castle, and it was cloaked by a hiding spell. No wonder they had yet to be found! Reaching out further, she could sense a large forest, old forest, and it was crying out in agony at the darkness that choked its pureness.
Fayla cringed from the feeling, magic was supposed to work with nature not against it. She needed to get out of this place and soon, she did not know how much more of this she could stand. Reaching out yet further she searched the forest, searched for some… Edward? What was he doing here?
She could see him clearly, traveling with another elf, dark skin with light blue eyes. Mentally reaching out she called, "Edward, please, can you hear me?"
Edward flinched back, as his mind was flooded with a voice, "Fayla?" he asked in disbelief. Surely he had not lost his mind.
Armand looked to him with concern, "What is it?"
Fayla's voice sounded within Edward's mind, "I'm here, you are on the right path. Keep journeying to the north and you will reach Varden's castle. Be careful, he is still here… I can't keep this up… much longer… I…"
"Fayla!" his heart constricted as she suddenly broke off contact. Jaws tightening, he looked to his friend, "We have to hurry."
Grabbing Edward's arm, Armand looked sternly to his friend, "Look, do not allow your emotions to rule you. We continue, but we must take care. Remember that Varden is no fool, he would not leave his dwelling unguarded, especially when he has the Goblin King's betrothed."
Lips purging together, he knew his friend's words to be true, they needed to hurry but they also needed to be cautious. Calming his racing heart, Edward forced himself to focus and nodded grimly, "Then we will be cautious but swift."
Both Elves took their swords from their horse's saddle and placed them within their sheaths. Taking a dagger from his saddle bag, Edward tucked it into the side of his boot and looked to Armand to make sure he was ready.
Armand secured his sword and a small pouch of fairy dust; one never knew when it would come in handy, to his belt. Nodding silently to Edward they continued north on foot, both alert and ready for what may come.
Fayla slumped to the floor, her strength leaving her as she had overexerted herself. Red hair fell over her pale face as she closed her green eyes, trying to hang onto consciousness. She could not allow herself to fall asleep, not when she had just regained her senses and blocked Varden from her mind. If she gave into the urge to let go, he would be back within her mind and she could not allow that to happen, especially when she was so close to getting herself away from his grasp.
Pushing herself from the floor, she forced herself to stay awake and called upon the untouched magic to give her back her strength. Leaning against the wall her eyes scanned the room that she was in, her eyes purposely averting the bed.
The room was lavishly furnished with chairs of dark wood facing a roaring fire, elegant dresser and vanity that stood on the far wall facing the bed, dark red heavy drapes that hung concealing a window. Pushing herself along the wall, she made her way to the drapes pulling it back when she made it to them.
What she saw made her heart lurch and her breath catch in her throat. There, far bellow her window, was a large mass of beings armed for what looked like battle. They all varied in shapes and sizes, a mixed variety of Elves and Fae. Each looked rugged and frightening, the aura's surrounding them dark and sick looking. Fayla calculated that there had to be at least over a hundred.
Allowing the drape to fall back in its place she leaned her back against the wall, her mind trying to put together what he was up to. What did Varden plan to do? As the realization came to her, her eyes widened in horror.
"By all that is magic, he plans on attacking the Goblin City, and with all of the court gathered there, oblivious to the danger…" Fayla sucked in her breath at the knowledge that they would be slaughtered. Varden would have complete power and control of the lands without their rulers and protectors to stop him.
Fayla's legs could no longer support her and she sunk quickly to the floor her hands falling limply to her sides. Head tilting back, she took a long and deep shaky breath. So many would be slain and there was nothing that she could do to stop Varden. She had to warn the Goblin King, but how?
Pulling away from Sarah, Jareth looked to her with concern, "Did he hurt you? Are you all right?"
Sarah smiled weakly, "I'm fine now that you're here. He…he tried to…" she pulled herself back into his arms, "Oh Jareth, I just want to go home!"
Jareth's eyes narrowed as he held her in his arms, a look of pure anger filled his eyes and he tightened his hold of her, resting his head on hers, "I promise you that when this is done and I have you safe he will pay dearly for this."
She swallowed from the coldness she could hear within his voice and knew that if she looked up within his eyes she would be able to see his anger. Closing her eyes she softly spoke, "I love you."
Hearing those words softened his anger; he needed to focus on getting her to safety and worry about Varden later. Pulling reluctantly away, he called upon his power to form a crystal in hand. Shock and bewilderment hit him hard as no crystal formed.
Sarah watched him, fully expecting to see a crystal appear within his hand and yet there was nothing. Varden's voice came to mind, 'A little binding spell, can't have him leaving after I've gone to all the trouble of bringing him here now, can I?'
Urgently taking Jareth's arm, as fear gripped her heart, Sarah shakily spoke, "He… he sent some kind of dark crystals to the corners of the room, he said it was a binding spell."
A frown creased Jareth's brow at this news, looking up he focused his vision past the darkness and could barely make out the three crystals that aligned the walls. Scanning further he could make out a ledge and the outline of a door. It would be a risk but there was nothing else that he could try.
Taking Sarah's hand from his arm, he kissed it lightly, "I will get us out of here."
Softly stroking her cheek he stepped away and focused all of his Fae power into shifting into his owl form. He could only hold that shape for a short amount of time with the binding spell surrounding them but if he could get to that ledge he would be out of the binding's circle and able to use his magic to destroy them.
Sarah watched her love with concern, not knowing what he was going to do. She watched with fascination and wonder as he quickly shifted into the form of an owl and flew upwards.
He was loosing his hold of his owl form quickly and cried out as pain ripped through his being. He could hear Sarah cry out as he felt himself fall.
She had watched him as he flew up and then cried out as she heard a high-pitched cry from his beak. He was falling, changing back to his Fae form. Sarah did not think, only reacted as she ran out to the edge of the oubliette and fell on her stomach grabbing his arms. Her body jerked forward, her stomach scraping against the harsh stone floor, "Jareth!"
He jerked, his feet dangling in mid air, as he felt Sarah grasping his arm, his hand clasping down around her arm that held him. Looking up he could see her hanging on the edge, her face red from the strain of holding him. Quickly, yet carefully, he moved his feet against the wall trying to find some kind of footing.
She would not let him go and she felt herself pulled slowly forwards, "Hang on!"
He could feel that he was pulling her over the edge and reached for the edge with his free arm but not able to reach, "Sarah, let go! I'm pulling you over."
"NO! You go I go with you!" she argued.
His mismatched eyes sought out her blue eyes with love and tenderness, he could not allow her to die because of him. Softly he spoke, "Sarah, I love you." He let go of her arm and was slowly sliding out of her grasp.
"Jareth, NO!" tears bordered her eyes but she refused to let go, "Damn you Jareth, don't do this to me! I can't live without you!" She could feel him sliding from her grasp, "PLEASE!"