Well guys, here is the next chapter. Thank you so much for your reviews, they keep me going. Please read and enjoy.
To What May Come
Chapter 27
The image that greeted his vision through the crystal brought a sly grin to his lips. Poor Sarah, looks as though her reunion was going to be shorter than expected. Dispersing of the crystal with satisfaction, Varden gazed out at his followers. Soon, the final piece to his revenge would be complete.
Standing tall before his men, Varden looked proudly over his gathered followers, "Follow me and we will free our world from those simpletons of the court. They have denied us for far too long." Swords were clanked against their armored chest in unison, thundering to the ears. Varden merely rose up his hand and all were suddenly silent.
"Wait for my command and we will spare no one. Today we take the Goblin City and the Underground's so called rulers and protectors. Tomorrow we will have the power to change the Underground into what we know that it is supposed to be, OURS!"
The crowded mass of Fae and Elf cheered loudly, all filled with the hunger for destruction and power.
The ground beneath their stomachs, they crawled closer to the edge of the hillside. Both Edward and Armand peeked over and what they saw sent a shiver down both their spines. Over a hundred Fae and Elves stood armed and ready, Varden standing before them.
Edward quickly ducked back, turning as he lay on his back, "By the magic's! He's going to attack the Festival and…"
Armand finished his sentence for him, "Kill all of the court. They are sitting ducks and would be taken completely by surprise."
Turning towards his friend, Edward was torn between saving the one he loved and warning the court. Looking to Armand he whispered, "Go back to the Goblin City, warn them of Varden's plans."
Armand frowned, "But there is no way I can get there in time!" he quickly whispered back.
"Go back to the edge of the forest, there's a looking pool there. Contact Lady Elizabeth and warn her. Quickly, we have no time to argue!" Not allowing Armand the time to argue, Edward slid down the side of the hill and made his way to the castle gates.
Cursing under his breath, Armand slid down and ran as fast as his feet could carry him to the looking pool. He only prayed that he would be able to warn them in time.
Hugging the castle walls, Edward swiftly moved to the doors, his head quickly peeking around the corner. In the clear, he ran into the castle ducking behind an open door as footsteps were heard coming near. Holding his breath, he listened for the footsteps to fade away before making his way back into the castle halls.
Silently, he moved ducking behind corners and doors to keep from being detected. As he moved, he searched his senses for Fayla's presence, it was faint but growing as he moved deeper and deeper into the castle's center.
Coming to a bolted door he looked around him before pulling out his sword to slice through the door's lock. The clang of steel hitting metal echoed the hall around him bringing a curse to his lips. The lock cracked with his blow and he quickly did it once again, successfully breaking the lock completely.
Quickly dislodging the bolt to the door, he opened it sliding in and closing it behind him. Back resting against the door, he felt relief flooding his being as Fayla's form met his view.
Fayla's head jerked up as she heard that noise again and then she watched with held breath as the door opened. Edward was here; he made it!
"Edward!" she exclaimed relieved to be seeing him.
He was by her side in an instant, helping her up from the floor, "Fayla, you're weak."
"I'll be fine, just get me out of here! We have to hurry and warn the court…" Fayla tensed as she heard the sound of footsteps coming towards the door.
"I know, I sent Armand to the looking pool at the forest's edge, he's going to send a warning to Lady Elizabeth." He looked to her with concern as he felt her tense.
Edward swirled around, pushing Fayla behind him as the door was flung open and pounded against the wall. Stepping forwards, he quickly brought up his sword meeting metal with metal as he fended off his attackers.
Two of Varden's guards had swarmed the room as they had found the lock to the bolt broken and immediately attacked the elfin intruder. As his comrade attacked the intruder the other Fae started for Fayla to bring her to his Lord.
Edward saw the other heading towards Fayla; pushing off the sword that came down on his, he kicked his attacker quickly bringing his sword to the Fae's middle. Before the Fae could tumble over in pain, he slammed into the one that was headed for Fayla knocking them both to the ground.
Swords clang to the ground as both lost their hold on their weapons. Fist came quickly in contact with face just before Edward rolled towards his dislodged weapon.
Fayla watched with held breath as Edward fought off the last of the guards that had entered.
Edward was on his feet in seconds, just in time to reflect the Fae's sword from slicing his middle. With skill, he turned away from the sword as it came quickly to run him through. Slashing in a downward motion his sword met flesh and the Fae collapsed into the pool of his own blood.
Sheathing his sword, Edward quickly took off his waistcoat and wrapped it around Fayla's trembling form. With a sly smile he looked to her with a sideways glance, "Milady, onward with the rescue?"
Ready to bring his plans into full play, Varden materialized his power into the dark crystal, a wonder what one can learn while in exile. Hand rising into the air, he called upon the dark magic to do his bidding. The black crystal sphere floated up from his hands, rising above.
His lungs felt as if they would burst as he finally reached the looking pool. Running to the pool's rim, he fell to his knees as he came to the water's edge.
Waving his hand over the water he focused his mind on the one in which he sought. The water shimmered and faintly glowed before a woman Fae with golden brown hair and hazel eyes met his vision.
An exasperated sigh escaped her lips as she stood beside Lord Cunningham. Though with the Goblin King not being present for the festivities they had decided to continue with the ball that had been planned. Elizabeth had noticed that she was not the only one in low spirits as most of the guests were unusually quiet. Even Lady Peal was quiet, as shocking as that was it brought no joy to her saddened soul.
Cunningham knew that she was worried about Fayla and Sarah. Elizabeth looked as breath-taking as ever, but the light within her eyes was no longer present. Pulling her closer to him he tried to lighten her mood, "You look enchanting this evening."
Elizabeth looked to Cunningham with a small smile, "Thank you, I just wish I could feel the part. Do you…"
"No, do not allow your thoughts to think of such things. We…" Lord Cunningham's words were cut short as Elizabeth pushed past him.
She had seen the mirror shimmer behind Cunningham and quickly headed for it. There before her eyes was Armand, a close friend of Edwards, "Armand?"
Armand bowed his head, "Milady, I have urgent news. Warn the others, Varden has gathered a large army and is planning on attacking the Goblin City."
Cunningham came from behind Elizabeth, "How many?"
"Over a hundred at least. Please, you must make haste; they looked as if they were about to…" they never heard Armand's sentence completion as they heard screams from behind.
Elizabeth sucked in her breath as she watched as armed Fae and Elves surrounded the ballroom pushing the guests back to the ballroom's center. She felt Cunningham pull her back behind him and watched over his shoulder as a very familiar Fae stepped out into the open.
Sarah whimpered as she felt his arm slide further from her grasp, "No," she whimpered as her eyes locked with his.
"I love you Sarah, never forget that…" Jareth's words were cut short as his arm slide completely from her grasp. Strangely, he felt an overwhelming calm fill him as he fell.
Horror filled her eyes as she cried out in metal anguish. Not noticing the pendant she wore glowing, she watched her love fall, disappearing into the darkness bellow. Sarah felt as if her heart was being ripped to shreds, her eyes unable to look away from where she had watched him disappear. Shattering of crystals drowned out her cries, the pendant now hot against her skin.
He was falling and soon would meet his end, pity it had to end so soon after finally finding his love. The few days that he had spent with Sarah quickly filled his mind and his heart ached that their time together was so short. Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass met his ears as he fell into the darkness. Power flooded his senses and he quickly used his regained power and transported himself to Sarah's side.
Relief and joy overwhelmed him, as he knew that the binding spell had been broken. Pulling Sarah into his arms he hugged her urgently, "Sarah!"
Sarah hit him against his chest, sobs raking her body, "You Bastard!" she pounded her fists against him again filled with relief but also anger, "How could you?"
Jareth winced slightly from her fist pounding into his chest, "I'm glad to see your relief that I didn't fall to my death."
Sarah jerked up from him pulling his face down to hers as she urgently kissed him long and hard with a fierce passion. After a long and deeply passionate kiss she pulled away and glared up at him, "I thought I lost you. Don't you ever do that to me again!"
A throaty chuckle left his lips as he pulled her to him once again, smothering his face into her dark tresses, "I'm afraid that you're stuck with me."
Pulling away he touched the locket that he had purchased for her, "It seems that there is more to this locket than I had first thought. Remind me when we get back to generously reward this locket's maker."
Sarah took his hand in hers clasping it against her chest said, "Please, can we get out of here…Oh God! What about Fayla?"
With a flourish of his wrist a crystal easily formed in his gloved hand, peering into it he tried to focus his magic into locating Fayla but she was hidden from his perception. Cursing Varden's name within his mind, an image formed within the crystal and his eyes narrowed coldly.
Dispensing of the crystal he helped Sarah to her feet as he stood from the floor, "He is blocking me from seeing her." Not wanting to alarm her he quickly added, "She will be fine, Varden is not with her."
She looked to Jareth with question, "How can you be so sure?"
"Sarah trust me, I have no time to explain. Here, take this and wait for me." Not allowing her to protest or comment, Jareth pushed a crystal into her hands, quickly swooping down kissing her passionately before she vanished from his side. With Sarah safe he could now fully concentrate on taking care of a certain thorn in his side. With a flourish of his wrist another crystal formed in hand, tossing it up into the air above him it exploded in glitter and light as he vanished from the oubliette.