When the King returned to his domain, he received many odd looks from some of his subjects, and a few goblins even made the mistake of asking why his behavior was so strange; those few received an 'if looks could kill' glare and a growled warning about being thrown into the Bog. Jareth had no time to deal with them, nor the mood.
The spell he had cast captured Sarah's soul before it could escape from her body and be lost to the worlds beyond. The spell, however, was only temporary. If a vessel for her spirit could not be found within 13 hours, that spirit would be lost. Ironic, the King thought dully; I made her search for 13 hours for a way to save the life of the baby.. and now I must do the same.
Jareth hastily made his way to the servants' quarters, non-goblin that is. They were no good for any jobs save to sing rather badly and "protect" the castle. Bursting through the door, he stood and waited for the attention of those present, which took an entire 5 seconds (the servants had learned to be quick when the King wanted something, so to save themselves from the Bog). Clearing his throat, the King addressed the servants, now kneeling and looking to him for orders.
"I need a messanger sent to the neighboring kingdoms. The message is of the utmost import; should it not arrive in due time, there will be DIRE consequences. And I mean worse than the Bog."
A shudder passed through the group of kneeling servants. Jareth pointed to several of them.
"You will each go to a kingdom with a message I shall write. It MUST arrive there within three hours, at the very latest. Is that understood??"
Each nodded quickly, eager to please the King yet frightened of his threat.
"Then prepare yourselves for the journey. I will return shortly."
Leaving the now busy messangers to prepare, Jareth went to his study to compose his messages.
Jareth tied the final piece of parchment with a golden thread and sighed. He took the crystal from his pocket and stared at its glow for a moment. By the gods, I hope this works. He carefully put the crystal with its most precious contents back in his pocket, picked up the letters, and returned to the servants' quarters, where the messangers were waiting. He gave them each a letter and instructions, reminding them again of their time limit and the consequences should they fail, and sent them on their way. He retreated to his bedchambers, exhausted mentally and emotionally. He stood at the window for a few moments, watching the messangers departing the castle, and sank down onto his bed with a sigh. He once again took out the crystal. Staring into its depths, he whispered a word in the same foreign language used when he cast the spell. An image of Sarah, curled into a ball like a small child and sleeping, appeared in the blue glow of the crystal. He smiled faintly.
"You will live again, my love. I swear it."
The spell he had cast captured Sarah's soul before it could escape from her body and be lost to the worlds beyond. The spell, however, was only temporary. If a vessel for her spirit could not be found within 13 hours, that spirit would be lost. Ironic, the King thought dully; I made her search for 13 hours for a way to save the life of the baby.. and now I must do the same.
Jareth hastily made his way to the servants' quarters, non-goblin that is. They were no good for any jobs save to sing rather badly and "protect" the castle. Bursting through the door, he stood and waited for the attention of those present, which took an entire 5 seconds (the servants had learned to be quick when the King wanted something, so to save themselves from the Bog). Clearing his throat, the King addressed the servants, now kneeling and looking to him for orders.
"I need a messanger sent to the neighboring kingdoms. The message is of the utmost import; should it not arrive in due time, there will be DIRE consequences. And I mean worse than the Bog."
A shudder passed through the group of kneeling servants. Jareth pointed to several of them.
"You will each go to a kingdom with a message I shall write. It MUST arrive there within three hours, at the very latest. Is that understood??"
Each nodded quickly, eager to please the King yet frightened of his threat.
"Then prepare yourselves for the journey. I will return shortly."
Leaving the now busy messangers to prepare, Jareth went to his study to compose his messages.
Jareth tied the final piece of parchment with a golden thread and sighed. He took the crystal from his pocket and stared at its glow for a moment. By the gods, I hope this works. He carefully put the crystal with its most precious contents back in his pocket, picked up the letters, and returned to the servants' quarters, where the messangers were waiting. He gave them each a letter and instructions, reminding them again of their time limit and the consequences should they fail, and sent them on their way. He retreated to his bedchambers, exhausted mentally and emotionally. He stood at the window for a few moments, watching the messangers departing the castle, and sank down onto his bed with a sigh. He once again took out the crystal. Staring into its depths, he whispered a word in the same foreign language used when he cast the spell. An image of Sarah, curled into a ball like a small child and sleeping, appeared in the blue glow of the crystal. He smiled faintly.
"You will live again, my love. I swear it."