Standard disclaimer: see chapter 1
This is a shorter chapter but I'm working on more. I hope you
enjoy. ---Onaree
Chapter 5
Clio stalked into her brother's study, threw herself down on a chair tapping her foot angrily.
Finvarra tried to ignore his sister, but she had the most annoying way of tapping her foot. It had annoyed him since he was a child and she only did it when she wanted attention. Best to get it over with. "Clio, what are you doing back? I thought you and Jareth would be going over things in regards to your future wedding."
Clio tapped her foot some more, setting Finvarra's teeth on edge before answering snippily. "There has been *no* talk of a wedding. In fact there has been precious little talk! Do you know what the last thing he said to me was???"
Finvarra silently sighed and asked, "And that was?"
"He said that if I was cold, I should have called for a servant to bring me a blanket, as that is what they are there for!!!" Clio responded throwing herself back against her seat. "He is completely distracted by 'his Sarah', whoever that maybe, that he completely ignored me!"
Fin just shrugged. "She is probably his mistress. Look at it this way, if he has a mistress you won't have to chance dying in childbed. It is very thoughtful of him." Fin tries to give Clio a hug but she stays stiff in his arms.
Fin's huntsman knocks on the door while leaning in, "Lord Finvarra, I have found something in the lands just inside the forest on the southeast side of the castle. I think you should come and see for yourself."
Finvarra and Clio follow the huntsman to the forest. "I found this," he held up a fine blanket with the Goblin King's symbol embroidered on it and streaked with blood, "just here," he said pointing to a patch of ground near his feet that also had traces of blood.
Fin examined the blanket curiously, "What would one of Jareth's blankets be doing here, much less blood-stained?"
Suddenly Neeka shot out of the trees where she was hiding and scuttled up to Clio, and clung to her skirt, speaking in her baby talk a mile a minute.
Fin knelt down closer to the little creature, "What is she saying Clio?"
"If you'll be silent, I'll try and figure it out. Goblin is a very hard language to understand and baby talk is worse. Not that they are much easier to understand when they have been taught a proper fae language."
Clio picked up Neeka and brought her to eye level to listen to her more closely. "She is saying that Jareth was leaving a room that wasn't his so she went in and wrapped herself up in a blanket and fell asleep. But she was awoken when a giant with dark hair and a scar on his face moved the blanket. He then cut the pretty lady's hand and rubbed it on the blanket before they left."
Fin rubbed his chin, "That sounds like it could be Lord Abraxas. Not many fae have scars, especially on the face. Perfect."
Eyes flashing, Clio responded, "What do you mean, perfect?"
"The 'pretty lady' of whom the creature spoke must he Jareth's mistress. If we can tell him where to find her, we will have the upper hand. We can get him to sign a marriage contract in exchange for this information." Fin smiled at his plan.
Jareth having dismissed Sir Didymus, sat thinking on his throne. Who would have the gall to kidnap her from within his own castle? In point of fact, who even knew she was here to be kidnapped? He decided that he needed assistance to puzzle this out. He would fly over to Fin's kingdom. Jareth smiled, Fin maybe a grasping fool but at least he was open about what he was grasping *for*, that made it so easy to gain what you wanted from him.
Having made his decision, Jareth changed into his owl form and flew to the Brownie Kingdom.
Swooping through the throne room window, he landed next to Fin's throne.
Fin lounged casually on this throne, but inside he was a tense as a tiger ready to pounce. In an indifferent voice he asked. "What brings you here, Jareth. Mayhaps a pretty lady?" He snapped his fingers and the blanket appeared in his fist. He held it up to nearly Jareth's eye level and shook it slightly.
Jareth grabbed the blanket, just staring at the blood stains for several moments. "Where is she?" he demanded of Fin.
Fin, still relaxed, answered. "Not in my kingdom, this was found by my huntsman today. There was a witness, I will have you know. What is it worth to you for this information, hmmm?" Fin's eyes flashed with greed at the end of his statement.
Jareth sighed, he should have foreseen this. "I will give you anything that is in my power to give.... only do not be angry at me if you ask for something I am unable to offer."
"Done!" Fin offered Jareth a contract to sign. The terms of the contract were that: in exchange for who had Sarah, Jareth would give Fin anything he wanted -- so long as it was in his power to give.
Jareth read and quickly signed the document, handing it back to Fin. "It was Lord Abraxas, it had to be. The witness mentioned that he had a scar on his face. I also believe that you two do not get along, do you?"
Jareth's eyes hardened as he watched Fin before becoming an owl once again and flying out the throne room window.
--------------------------------------------
Sarah, with the covers over her head, thought to herself, this isn't getting me anywhere. She flung the covers off and went to examine the contents of the trunks.
One dress she pulled out had a decent (or nearly so) neckline but was very sheer. The next a deep neckline but of a heavier fabric. "Between the two of these I think I have a decent dress." Sarah said out loud. She put the heavier dress over the sheer one, letting it puff out at the neck and wrists.
Suddenly the door was flung open. In strode Lord Abraxas. Tall, with dark, long hair bound with a narrow silk ribbons at the back of his head. A small scar next to his right eye was almost lost in the crinkles of his face as he smiled at Sarah.
Scars amongst the fae are very rare. Since they have both the traits of self healing and great vanity. But wounds made by iron are very hard to heal (assuming that the wound didn't kill them). And Abraxas' scar was from iron and he had expended a great deal of magic for decades to make the scar as small as possible.
Abraxas stalked over to Sarah, undoing his cuffs as he spoke. "Pity that you have changed. I rather liked the other outfit." He untucked his shirt and grabbed Sarah by the waist. "Now my sweet Sarah, you are going to start earning your price."
He scooped her up and dropped her on the bed. Sarah tried to struggle but he was far to strong for her. Abraxas started nuzzling her neck and worked his way to the valley between her breasts. Sarah was trembling with fear, only heighten when Abraxas crooned. "Cold, my sweet, let me warm you." He straddled her, totally pinning her down while he placed open mouthed kisses on her breasts.
"Get off me," Sarah cried and tried to shove him off but couldn't.
Suddenly a voice rang out from the door, loud and clear. "Villain, unhand yon maiden!"
Abraxas looked up to see Sir Didymus in the doorway with his sword drawn. He got off the bed, twirled his hand and a sword appeared. Sir Didymus took a running leap, did a double somersault landing on the bed in front of Sarah. He gave a quick bow "My Lady", did another somersault landing on the side of the bed on the far side of door.
Abraxas knowing that he would be at a disadvantage if he tried to fight the knight across the bed. Sir Didymus had perfect footing, while he would have to reach and was limited by the bed. Also all he had to do when Abraxas thrust was to jump from the bed knowing that his opponent had over reached himself and would be at a disadvantage. Not to mention his expensive prize would become damaged.
He came around the bed to face the fox knight without any obstacle between them.
Unseen by Abraxas, Hoggle crept into the chamber with a finger to his lips holding out his other hand. Understanding, Sarah slipped quietly off the bed. She took Hoggle's hand and they left the chamber. When they were both outside the chamber they started to run.
Sir Didymus' nose may not be as sharp as once it was, but his hearing is as sharp as every. When he heard the sound of Hoggle and Sarah escaping, he started step two of the plan. When Abraxas lunged, he did a backwards flip landing on the opposite side of the bed. Abraxas followed so that his back was to the chamber door.
Before he could lunge again, he felt the tip of a blade in-between his shoulder blades and a voice in his ear that turned his blood to ice.
"Trying to steal what is mine are you? I'll have you know I do not take kindly to that." The Goblin King's tone might have been conversational, but his meaning was deadly serious. Then he spoke sharply "Sir Didymus, see to the others safety. I have *matters* to attend to here."
Sir Didymus bowed deeply to his king, did a double flip landing on the floor below and ran out to follow the others.
He arrived at the meeting point where the rest of the Goblin troops were waiting if they were to be needed.
Sarah was just finishing hugging a squirming Hoggle.
He bowed deeply to her, hat in hand, "My lady thou art safe now."
"Sir Didymus, thank you!" Sarah said thankfully, hugging him tightly.
From a few feet off, Jareth watched as Sarah hugged Sir Didymus and from Hoggle's blush and fidgeting he must have also been hugged. He finished cleaning his blade and thought to himself, if she is handing out hugs to her saviours then I had better present myself. He strode over, holding his arms out so that she could easily hug him. A smile broke out on his face as she raced over to him. A smile that faded at the feel of her hand striking his face.
"You *SOLD* me!!!!" Sarah screamed.
Hand to his face Jareth replied angrily "No I saved you. And since you are giving out hugs as a reward I am her to collect mine."
"I'm not hugging you." she shouted at him and then turned her back. Bad move, remember the first rule of dealing with a Goblin King-- never turn your back on him.
In a low dangerous voice he responded. "I'll have you know, Sarah, that I always collect what is owing to me." With the speed of a snake his arm grabbed her around the middle and flung her against his chest where he pinned her with her eyes just above his eye level. Jareth's other hand stroked her back with his other hand and buried his face in her neck for several minutes.
Then he released her so suddenly that she would have fallen on her backside. Luckily, the bed broke her fall.
This is a shorter chapter but I'm working on more. I hope you
enjoy. ---Onaree
Chapter 5
Clio stalked into her brother's study, threw herself down on a chair tapping her foot angrily.
Finvarra tried to ignore his sister, but she had the most annoying way of tapping her foot. It had annoyed him since he was a child and she only did it when she wanted attention. Best to get it over with. "Clio, what are you doing back? I thought you and Jareth would be going over things in regards to your future wedding."
Clio tapped her foot some more, setting Finvarra's teeth on edge before answering snippily. "There has been *no* talk of a wedding. In fact there has been precious little talk! Do you know what the last thing he said to me was???"
Finvarra silently sighed and asked, "And that was?"
"He said that if I was cold, I should have called for a servant to bring me a blanket, as that is what they are there for!!!" Clio responded throwing herself back against her seat. "He is completely distracted by 'his Sarah', whoever that maybe, that he completely ignored me!"
Fin just shrugged. "She is probably his mistress. Look at it this way, if he has a mistress you won't have to chance dying in childbed. It is very thoughtful of him." Fin tries to give Clio a hug but she stays stiff in his arms.
Fin's huntsman knocks on the door while leaning in, "Lord Finvarra, I have found something in the lands just inside the forest on the southeast side of the castle. I think you should come and see for yourself."
Finvarra and Clio follow the huntsman to the forest. "I found this," he held up a fine blanket with the Goblin King's symbol embroidered on it and streaked with blood, "just here," he said pointing to a patch of ground near his feet that also had traces of blood.
Fin examined the blanket curiously, "What would one of Jareth's blankets be doing here, much less blood-stained?"
Suddenly Neeka shot out of the trees where she was hiding and scuttled up to Clio, and clung to her skirt, speaking in her baby talk a mile a minute.
Fin knelt down closer to the little creature, "What is she saying Clio?"
"If you'll be silent, I'll try and figure it out. Goblin is a very hard language to understand and baby talk is worse. Not that they are much easier to understand when they have been taught a proper fae language."
Clio picked up Neeka and brought her to eye level to listen to her more closely. "She is saying that Jareth was leaving a room that wasn't his so she went in and wrapped herself up in a blanket and fell asleep. But she was awoken when a giant with dark hair and a scar on his face moved the blanket. He then cut the pretty lady's hand and rubbed it on the blanket before they left."
Fin rubbed his chin, "That sounds like it could be Lord Abraxas. Not many fae have scars, especially on the face. Perfect."
Eyes flashing, Clio responded, "What do you mean, perfect?"
"The 'pretty lady' of whom the creature spoke must he Jareth's mistress. If we can tell him where to find her, we will have the upper hand. We can get him to sign a marriage contract in exchange for this information." Fin smiled at his plan.
Jareth having dismissed Sir Didymus, sat thinking on his throne. Who would have the gall to kidnap her from within his own castle? In point of fact, who even knew she was here to be kidnapped? He decided that he needed assistance to puzzle this out. He would fly over to Fin's kingdom. Jareth smiled, Fin maybe a grasping fool but at least he was open about what he was grasping *for*, that made it so easy to gain what you wanted from him.
Having made his decision, Jareth changed into his owl form and flew to the Brownie Kingdom.
Swooping through the throne room window, he landed next to Fin's throne.
Fin lounged casually on this throne, but inside he was a tense as a tiger ready to pounce. In an indifferent voice he asked. "What brings you here, Jareth. Mayhaps a pretty lady?" He snapped his fingers and the blanket appeared in his fist. He held it up to nearly Jareth's eye level and shook it slightly.
Jareth grabbed the blanket, just staring at the blood stains for several moments. "Where is she?" he demanded of Fin.
Fin, still relaxed, answered. "Not in my kingdom, this was found by my huntsman today. There was a witness, I will have you know. What is it worth to you for this information, hmmm?" Fin's eyes flashed with greed at the end of his statement.
Jareth sighed, he should have foreseen this. "I will give you anything that is in my power to give.... only do not be angry at me if you ask for something I am unable to offer."
"Done!" Fin offered Jareth a contract to sign. The terms of the contract were that: in exchange for who had Sarah, Jareth would give Fin anything he wanted -- so long as it was in his power to give.
Jareth read and quickly signed the document, handing it back to Fin. "It was Lord Abraxas, it had to be. The witness mentioned that he had a scar on his face. I also believe that you two do not get along, do you?"
Jareth's eyes hardened as he watched Fin before becoming an owl once again and flying out the throne room window.
--------------------------------------------
Sarah, with the covers over her head, thought to herself, this isn't getting me anywhere. She flung the covers off and went to examine the contents of the trunks.
One dress she pulled out had a decent (or nearly so) neckline but was very sheer. The next a deep neckline but of a heavier fabric. "Between the two of these I think I have a decent dress." Sarah said out loud. She put the heavier dress over the sheer one, letting it puff out at the neck and wrists.
Suddenly the door was flung open. In strode Lord Abraxas. Tall, with dark, long hair bound with a narrow silk ribbons at the back of his head. A small scar next to his right eye was almost lost in the crinkles of his face as he smiled at Sarah.
Scars amongst the fae are very rare. Since they have both the traits of self healing and great vanity. But wounds made by iron are very hard to heal (assuming that the wound didn't kill them). And Abraxas' scar was from iron and he had expended a great deal of magic for decades to make the scar as small as possible.
Abraxas stalked over to Sarah, undoing his cuffs as he spoke. "Pity that you have changed. I rather liked the other outfit." He untucked his shirt and grabbed Sarah by the waist. "Now my sweet Sarah, you are going to start earning your price."
He scooped her up and dropped her on the bed. Sarah tried to struggle but he was far to strong for her. Abraxas started nuzzling her neck and worked his way to the valley between her breasts. Sarah was trembling with fear, only heighten when Abraxas crooned. "Cold, my sweet, let me warm you." He straddled her, totally pinning her down while he placed open mouthed kisses on her breasts.
"Get off me," Sarah cried and tried to shove him off but couldn't.
Suddenly a voice rang out from the door, loud and clear. "Villain, unhand yon maiden!"
Abraxas looked up to see Sir Didymus in the doorway with his sword drawn. He got off the bed, twirled his hand and a sword appeared. Sir Didymus took a running leap, did a double somersault landing on the bed in front of Sarah. He gave a quick bow "My Lady", did another somersault landing on the side of the bed on the far side of door.
Abraxas knowing that he would be at a disadvantage if he tried to fight the knight across the bed. Sir Didymus had perfect footing, while he would have to reach and was limited by the bed. Also all he had to do when Abraxas thrust was to jump from the bed knowing that his opponent had over reached himself and would be at a disadvantage. Not to mention his expensive prize would become damaged.
He came around the bed to face the fox knight without any obstacle between them.
Unseen by Abraxas, Hoggle crept into the chamber with a finger to his lips holding out his other hand. Understanding, Sarah slipped quietly off the bed. She took Hoggle's hand and they left the chamber. When they were both outside the chamber they started to run.
Sir Didymus' nose may not be as sharp as once it was, but his hearing is as sharp as every. When he heard the sound of Hoggle and Sarah escaping, he started step two of the plan. When Abraxas lunged, he did a backwards flip landing on the opposite side of the bed. Abraxas followed so that his back was to the chamber door.
Before he could lunge again, he felt the tip of a blade in-between his shoulder blades and a voice in his ear that turned his blood to ice.
"Trying to steal what is mine are you? I'll have you know I do not take kindly to that." The Goblin King's tone might have been conversational, but his meaning was deadly serious. Then he spoke sharply "Sir Didymus, see to the others safety. I have *matters* to attend to here."
Sir Didymus bowed deeply to his king, did a double flip landing on the floor below and ran out to follow the others.
He arrived at the meeting point where the rest of the Goblin troops were waiting if they were to be needed.
Sarah was just finishing hugging a squirming Hoggle.
He bowed deeply to her, hat in hand, "My lady thou art safe now."
"Sir Didymus, thank you!" Sarah said thankfully, hugging him tightly.
From a few feet off, Jareth watched as Sarah hugged Sir Didymus and from Hoggle's blush and fidgeting he must have also been hugged. He finished cleaning his blade and thought to himself, if she is handing out hugs to her saviours then I had better present myself. He strode over, holding his arms out so that she could easily hug him. A smile broke out on his face as she raced over to him. A smile that faded at the feel of her hand striking his face.
"You *SOLD* me!!!!" Sarah screamed.
Hand to his face Jareth replied angrily "No I saved you. And since you are giving out hugs as a reward I am her to collect mine."
"I'm not hugging you." she shouted at him and then turned her back. Bad move, remember the first rule of dealing with a Goblin King-- never turn your back on him.
In a low dangerous voice he responded. "I'll have you know, Sarah, that I always collect what is owing to me." With the speed of a snake his arm grabbed her around the middle and flung her against his chest where he pinned her with her eyes just above his eye level. Jareth's other hand stroked her back with his other hand and buried his face in her neck for several minutes.
Then he released her so suddenly that she would have fallen on her backside. Luckily, the bed broke her fall.