Chapter 36: Meeting with the
council
"Sarah
I apologize for losing my temper. They should not have been saying anything
about you. And I apologize for their
actions, as well." Jareth
stated quietly.
"Jareth it is not your fault!
They were just stating their opinion about me. Although I don't know what I did
that would possibly get them so mad
at me. I have done nothing to upset anyone so I don't
understand."
"Sarah they are just
goblins, with a wasted life. They have nothing else to do but to make fun of
others, and make others miserable...Now
since our breakfast time has been wasted, we should probably go to the Half-ground
now and we can eat something on the way
there. If that is alright with you?"
"That is perfectly
fine Jareth. What ever needs to happen we will do it."
"Well then let us
go!" Jareth took Sarah's hand getting up from their seats and they walked over
to the balcony. They both took a deep breath and Jareth transported them to the
Half-ground. They stopped at the entry way to the city. Guards bowed to them. Jareth
nodded his head to acknowledge them. Then the guards opened the gates. Jareth
and Sarah walked in. Jareth held Sarah close for he did not want to lose her.
They traveled through the city, casually speaking with some of the peasants.
Many of the peasants were very happy with the way that the Half-ground had
turned out since Jareth and Sarah had become the king and Queen. As they made their
way through the city they stopped once more in front of the castle. In the
beginning when Sarah would visit she dreaded entering the castle. She would get
uncomfortable. But Jareth would pull her closer to him and assure her that nothing
was going to happen. This always made Sarah feel a bit better. Now as they
stood in front of the door Sarah was not as afraid. She was gradually getting
more use to it. As Jareth waved his hand the doors opened. He put out his hand
and allowed Sarah to step in first. She nodded her head and smiled at him. He
was a complete gentleman. He had his hand on her back as they walked in...
"Ah good morning Your Highnesses! How are you on this frigid morning?"
"Ah Ardor, it has been a
rough morning and I fear that it will only get worse."
"I am sorry to hear that
my Lord. Is there anything I can do for you?" He said as he offered to
take Sarah's cloak. Sarah whispered "Thank
you" as she untied her cloak and handed it to him.
"Your Highness, shall I
take you cape as well?"
"Oh no thanks I am all
set."
"Of
course." He bowed.
"Ardor please send for Banter, I wish to speak with him. And tell him to
meet me in the Throne room!" Jareth ordered as he looked to Ardor. Ardor
bowed again and then left the open hall, turning left to go and find Banter.
"Sarah shall we go to the
Throne room?"
"Well if that is where
you told Banter to meet you than yes." Jareth kissed Sarah on the forehead,
smirking at her for being so wise to him. She got up on her tippy
toes and kissed him in the lips before beginning to walk with Jareth to the
room. They walked in and took their seats. There were councilmen in the room.
They were the usual ones that took care of everything while Jareth and Sarah
were back in the Underground. Jareth asked how everything was going. The
councilmen told him that there had been a few rogues but they took care of
them, they were now in a oubliette inside the
Labyrinth. When Sarah heard this she thought about her time in the oubliette.
Then she remembered Hoggle and how she had not seen
him since she had been there, nor any of her other friends. She decided to ask
Jareth about them. But every time she was about to speak, Jareth would ask the
councilmen another question. So she decided to wait. There was a knock at the
throne room door.
"Come in!" Jareth
ordered. And the doors swung open, Banter came walking in, he bowed to Jareth,
and then bowed again, only
this time to Sarah. He walked up to her and kissed her hand and then stepped
back. Jareth turned his face to Sarah to see her smiling. He leaned over and
whispered to Sarah. She nodded her head and then got up from her seat.
"Excuse me Gentlemen but
I have some things that I need to tend to." She said as she carefully
lifted the bottom of her gown off the floor so that she did not trip on it.
Banter was looking at her, as she kissed Jareth on the lips and smiled. Banter
said something
under his breath.
Background
information on Banter: Banter has been living in the castle of the Half-ground
for over six hundred years. He has been the most trusted adviser of that castle
for five hundred and forty-one years, which would explain his name. He grew up
in that castle. His
father and mother were best friends of the prior king and queen. He is much
older than Jareth, who has only been alive for three hundred years. When Sarah
first came to the Underground Banter thought that she was the most beautiful girl
he had ever heard of. And when he heard that Jareth had fallen for her, he
became infuriated. For he himself had heard of her, when
King Locket would mention her during his time as king. Banter had wanted so
much to meet her and court her. Hearing of how beautiful she was. And when she
had been held captive in King Locket's castle he would try to go and see her.
But King Locket would hold him back. He himself had fallen for her.
There was a
magic that she held that had all the men crazy to woo her. Now he has to deal
with seeing her in the arms of Jareth. He sees her every week with the
knowledge that she is wed to Jareth and that she is now Queen, and that just kills
him. And before entering the throne room he takes deep breaths and forces a
smile to prepare for heartbreak yet again. So again when he saw Sarah kiss
Jareth on the lips, this got him upset. But he could not let it show, so he counted
to ten under his breath. He watched as Sarah walked over to the door. He ran
over to the door and grabbed it for her.
"Well thank you Banter!"
Sarah smiled.
"Of
course my lady!" He smirked. And Sarah left. He shut the door
behind her. When he turned around he saw Jareth looking strictly at him. Banter
turned red and cleared his throat, as he walked back over to stand in front of
Jareth.
"Your Highness,
I..."
"Make it strictly known
Banter that she is your Queen and my wife for that matter! I am aware of your
feelings for her. And you are going to
have to control yourself and get any thoughts pertaining to her out of your
head. Other than, that she is you queen and you do as she says! Understand?...
Because if you don't let me know right now and I will find someone else to fill
in your place! And let me tell you that there
are quite a few people that I have in mind. So I will have no problem doing it!
Do I make myself clear!" Jareth spoke in the most stern tone any of the councilmen had heard before. And
he meant very word. When he spoke his eyes were fixed on Banter. The councilmen
could see that Banter was embarrassed and was trying not to show it. They also
notice that Jareth did not care about, making a fool of him in front of them.
"Yes Your Highness I
understand." Banter frowned.
"Good! Now with that
said, back to work. I have to ask you, for the next year or so I am going to need
someone to watch over this place really well. And I need you to pick a group
that is willing to stay here and watch over it, with you. And I warn you that
if something goes wrong I can't help you. You will have to find a way to fix
the problem yourselves..." Jareth got up from his throne and started walking
towards the doors.
"...I want you to let me
know about your choice, later on this evening. Understand?"
"Well yes, Your
Highness? But has brought this on? Is anything that matter?" Banter asked
confused. Jareth was almost out the door, when he stopped and mumbled,
"No nothing is the
matter. Everything is wonderful!"
"Well then what is
it?" Banter asked eagerly. Jareth sighed and smiled at the wall opposite
him and said,
"Your Highness, Queen
Sarah is with child." Banter jumped backwards.
"What!?"
He asked in shock not sure that what he had heard was correct.
"I said that Your
Highness, Queen Sarah is with child!" Jareth turned now to look at Banter.
Jareth could tell that Banter's heart had dropped into the pit of his stomach,
as he watched his expression. The other councilmen crowded around Jareth
congratulating him, and asking him all sorts of questions. But Jareth told them
to be quiet for they were not to know yet. And that is why he had Sarah leave the
room. He did not want Sarah to know that his surprise was to stay with her
every day during her time of pregnancy. And that he was not going to go to the
Half-ground for anything. And he made sure to tell the councilmen that.
It was a special surprise for his love. As he was telling the councilmen this Banter moved to the back of the crowd. He was dumb founded and did not know what to do. Although he mused that, Jareth was saying all this stuff to rub it in his face. To make him feel worse. He did believe that it was true, but did not like that he brought it up. After five minutes, Jareth finally told the councilmen to get back to work.
They bowed good bye and wished him a safe journey home. As well as luck with the Queen. Jareth shut the door behind him and walked down the hall with a smile on his face. He liked that fact that he made Banter upset. And he liked that fact that he could rave about Sarah being with child, even more. But he promised himself that he would not tell anyone else about their big secret.
