Okay here is what everyone's been waiting for: Jareth and Varden go head to head. Who will win? Read and find out. Bwuahahahahahaha! ::clears throat sheepish grin:: Sorry a bit carried away there. Hehe! Thank you everyone that has reviewed. I hope you enjoy this chapter, I know I did. Please read and tell me what you think about this chapter.
To What May Come
Chapter 28
Fae, Elves and various members of the court quickly moved to the room's center as sharp swords and spears were pointed at them. Surrounded by armed Fae and Elves, fear and shock gripped the members of the court. Lords pushed the Ladies protectively behind them as they glared in outrage. A few of the Kings straightened hands balling up into fist as they summoned their power.
A dark and chillingly cruel laughter filled the ballroom as a Fae with raven dark hair and piercing green eyes stepped before them. Varden stepped past his followers with a dark crystal clutched in his hand, a sinister sneer about his face.
King Erwin of Magewood stepped forward, his blue eyes narrowing at the Fae before him, "Varden! How dare thee?"
Varden simply flicked his wrist and the King fell back as dark magic slammed into him, "Oh please, spare me the theatrics!"
Queen Alia quickly went to her husband as she helped him to sit back up. King Erwin was dazed, as he was not prepared for the amount of power that was thrown at him. Tossing her red locks out from her face she glared up at the dark Fae, "What is it that you want?"
Sighing he shrugged his shoulders as if bored by her question as he smoothly replied, "Queen Alia of Magewood, I would think that you would have guessed by now. Revenge Highness, that is what I seek."
Glaring at the noblemen and women before him he continued, "Surely you all have not forgotten about me and what you had done to me."
Narrowing his eyes Varden continued, "I had loyally served within the court, and with one word from that Goblin King, you BANISHED ME! I, Lord Varden, a Fae that had done so much for the court's was banished, thrown out without a bye or leave!"
Lady Elizabeth pushed her way from behind Lord Cunningham, dress flowing behind her as she approached him. Cunningham tried to grab for her arm but she was quickly out of his reach.
Hazel eyes ablaze, Elizabeth stepped before the dark Fae, "Loyal!" she scoffed at him, "You, loyal! That is a lie and YOU know it!"
Varden grinned, "Lady Elizabeth, beautiful and head strong as ever I see! Pity you will have to meet your end soon."
Lady Elizabeth was not fazed by his words as she continued, "Save your pity for someone who cares! The only thing you ever did was manipulate and use those around you to gain power."
Cunningham was behind her, pulling her back as Varden stepped forward, dark crystal before him, "For that my dear, I have something special for you."
Lord Cunningham pushed her behind him standing tall and brave, "Leave her be. Or are you such a coward that you would harm an unarmed woman?"
Amused by Cunningham's words Varden rolled the crystal in his hands, playing with the options of how to best torment the two, obvious lovers. Grinning wickedly he coldly looked to Cunningham, "Coward? No, but I can not allow you and your colleagues to plague the Underground any longer."
Tossing up his dark crystal he stepped back giving the command of attack in a calm and cold voice, "Kill them all."
Suddenly, before his men could advance, the crystal shattered above them. Varden staggered back as he felt power flooding the room and it was not from his calling.
Green eyes quickly looked to his men and his eyes narrowed angrily at what he saw. Fae and Elves stood frozen in ice and before Varden could counter the spell that had been cast upon his men, they shattered, dark crystallized parts tumbling to the courts and Varden's feet.
The crowd of Fae and members of the court exclaimed in surprise and horror at the sight. All within the room backed up to the walls of the ballroom, eyes searching for their rescuer.
Varden turned where he stood, a cold and empty look upon his face. Clap, clap, clap, "Bravo, I see that you have escaped my trap dear King. Please do not keep us waiting for your grand entrance!" he ended sarcastically.
With a swirl of glitter and light Jareth, The Goblin King stood before Varden. Dressed in black riding boots and black form fitting pants, he wore a black breastplate over a deep red satin shirt. The Goblin King looked powerful and frightening, the Jareth that everyone knew well.
Varden's expression did not change nor faltered as he faced the angry Goblin King, "How was the reunion? Did she tell you of our little foreplay? I must say, she is a hellcat in bed!"
Jareth's eyes narrowed dangerously, a sword appearing within his hand with a flourish of his wrist, "For trespassing my Kingdom after being banished, kidnapping Sarah, my betrothed and Fayla, and attempting to destroy and kill the members of the court I hereby call your life forfeit."
He scoffed at the Goblin King's words, a sword appearing within his hand as Varden and Jareth circled each other, "We will see about that!"
A spark rose between them as enchanted sword met with enchanted sword with a sharp clang. Metal hissed against metal as they circled, swords sliding against each other.
Jareth pushed against Varden's blade successfully pulling away, fluidly he struck down, not at all fazed that Varden had met his blow. With each stroke he studied each move that Varden took, assessing his fighting technique. Varden was indeed skilled with a sword and Jareth was having slight difficulty finding a hole in his defenses.
Dark green eyes calculated the Goblin King's every move, not at all fazed by Jareth's skill. Dodging a swing from Jareth's blade, he heard it hiss past his ear missing his shoulder by millimeters. With a grunt, he turned slicing his blade downward only to meet with Jareth's blade once again.
Thinking of bettering his odds, Varden quickly summoned the dark magic that surrounded him, sending the Goblin King stumbling back with his invisible blow. Dagger materializing in hand, he flipped the dagger catching it loosely by its blade before throwing it with a flick of his wrist.
The dagger struck its target imbedding itself into Jareth's shoulder, his gloved hand came up quickly, a hiss escaping his lips as he quickly pulled the dagger from his shoulder. The blade clanged to the floor as he held his wound, warm blood coating his gloved hand. The guests within the ballroom watched with baited breath, no one daring to interfere.
A few of the Fae women screamed out in horror as Varden took his opportunity and lunged forward with his sword arm to stab Jareth's middle. Jareth moved quickly out of the blades way, no longer holding his wound as he had quickly healed it and was able to move his arm once again.
They stood a few feet apart slowly circling the other, Varden smiled triumphantly, "What is it Majesty? Tired, or perhaps worried that you have met your match?"
A light brow arched up at this, "Hardly, just savoring this moment before I end your pitiful life!"
Varden laughed out at this but was taken by surprise, as like lightening, Jareth was only inches away. He reacted just in time as his blade successfully blocked Jareth's blow. A low growl escaping his lips he pushed against Jareth's blade, the metal sparking slightly as metal loudly strained against metal.
Wicked grin edging the corners of Jareth's lips he slyly commented, "Now who is it that should be worried, hmm?"
Lips twitching and eyes narrowing, Varden pushed against Jareth's blade, straining; he knew that if he did not do something soon he would loose. Managing to free his hand without Jareth noticing, Varden reached for his hidden dagger. Hand gripping the handle, he plunged the dagger forward with all his strength.
"Goodbye, Goblin King!"
At Varden's words he felt a movement coming towards his stomach and quickly grabbed Varden's wrist preventing him from impaling him. With one hand holding his sword pushing against Varden's sword and the other preventing him from impaling him he grunted against the effort.
Varden sneered, "I promise to ravage your Sarah thoroughly before I kill her. Consider it my gift to you."
Mismatched eyes narrowing to slits, Jareth twisted the blade away from him and impaled Varden in his side. Pushing the blade deeper into his body Jareth watched with satisfaction as Varden's eyes widened, his eyes filled with shock and pain. Jareth's voice was cold and filled with loathing, "You will never touch Sarah nor harm anyone I love again!"
Turning the blade within the wound he watched with satisfaction as Varden lost his grasp of his sword and slid down limply to his knees, Jareth removing the blade before he fell. Looking coldly down at Varden's injured form he started to circle him, the tip of his sword never leaving the dark Fae's neck.
Varden could feel the blood draining from him, his side stinging from the pain of his injury and his strength quickly leaving him. Tried as he might, he could not call upon his powers to heal his injury as the dagger that he had used was made especially to kill the Fae.
He collapsed forwards, his breathing labored as he could feel his own blood seeping into his lungs. A cough racked his body, the bitter taste of his own blood coating his lower lip as it slowly dripped from his mouth. He watched in sick fascination, as his own blood made a slapping noise as it hit the floor beneath him.
Jareth's brow rose at this, the wound he inflicted was not lethal, pressing the tip of his blade to Varden's back he glanced at the dagger within his hand. Sure enough reaching out with his Fae senses he could sense that the blade was enchanted.
Walking to the front of Varden he pressed the blade of his sword to his throat forcing him to look up into his eyes, "How ironic you should die by your own making!"
Disgusted with the form before him he rose his booted foot kicking Varden against his shoulder and forcing the Fae to lie on his back. Varden coughed in agony blood choking his breathing as it rose into his throat. Wheezing he struggled against the pains of death hand reaching his throat as he tried to roll onto his stomach. He had not the strength.
All within the room stood silent watching as Varden lied in his own pool of blood as it grew and grew, his intense green eyes fading with each growth.
He could hear his heart beat thudding slower, slower, slower, and slower. Body in agony, he had no strength to move as he shakily took in a breath, blood and air entering his lungs forcing him to choke. Thud, thud, thud, thud…thud…thud…thu…th…