Chapter Five
Jareth had been expecting the knock on his chamber door. "Come in," he stood, not bothering to hide his naked form. The woman stirred in his bed, a small whimper escaping from her lips. The door opened, revealing a man about his height, light brown hair brushing softly on his forehead, disguising the true nature of his character, it gave him a childish air.
"Seigfreid." Jareth nodded.
"Jareth, as modest as ever I see. But it is not for me to judge, that is for the Elders, a council has been called. Murder has occurred of the foulest nature and you are called to speak; for it happened within your walls and the chief suspect is your ward."
"Very well, tell them I shall arrive at sunrise." Jareth closed the door, and grinned towards the bed. The flame haired woman was stirring even more, enough for him to continue with his conquest of her, in all ways that he deemed necessary. Just as she was stilling back into slumber, he pounced on her, and giving her no chance of resistance thumbed te pages of his favorite book. ______________________________________________________________________
The sun rose slowly and Ferdinand watched mesermized, never had the sun fascinated him more. Perhaps because he had a need to take his mind off of other matters. He had awakened, remembering little of the night, only a lingering sense of chaotic power, but slowly as the sun crested the hills it came back to him. His mind filled with remorse, of all the pain he had caused, not for the Dunnei sisters, they were as heartless as he ever had been, but for his sister, the innocent Duchess. His reverie was broken by a strong hand bruisingly grasping his arm and pulling him into a standing position.
"Lord Ferdinand of Earth, I presume?"
"Yes." Ferdinand dropped his head, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"I am Cuchulain, I have been sent to bring you to the Council of Elders. You are being charged with the foul deed of murder."
"Very well." A bundle was thrust under his nose.
"Put these on, no need to strip you of all of your dignity." Cuchulain did not bother to warn Ferdinand about trying to run away, none could out run him.
"Thank you," the duke muttered. ______________________________________________________________________
The sun rose into view of the Council Chambers, the large glass windows illuminated the room. As Raeil turned her head away from this view, she caught sight of Jareth. He winked at her and came up to where she and Raef were seated.
"I have been asked to speak, but about what I have yet to know."
"Renersa Dunnei."
"I see."
"Fate be with you Jareth, they say it was Ferdinand."
"It always is dear Raiel, don't worry about me." He reassuringly patted her hand, which had been nervously twisting at the fabric of her dress. He then went to find his own seat. Looking around he saw Lord Seigfreid standing in front of the right hand set of chamber doors. Large and wooden with an iron pull, the doors were large enough to drive the moon through. In between the two sets of doors was a large platform where the Council would sit. At the other end of the hall opposite the Elders' platform stood a podium where those who had to speak would stand and recount whatever details they were told to. On the wall behind the podium there stood a mirror, although Jareth only knew this from previous visits to the council, it was currently draped in heavy black fabric. Forming an isle, there were on either side, boxes of seats for those who had been called to attend. The right hand set of doors opened and in walked Lord Cuchulain with Ferdinand.
Upon first glance it seemed that Ferdinand's hands were bound together, but they proved rather to be clasped, of his own volition, like those of a child in prayer. He was wearing the garb of a peasant hunter, as opposed to his normal finery: a coarse wool tunic of an indiscriminate gray and darker pants of the same making. He was however, barefoot, and his feet made a quiet slapping noise as Cuchulain walked him to his chair, small and wooden, in front of the platform, facing away from the podium. As soon as the Earthling was seated Cuchulain walked back over to the doors on the right, mirroring Seigfreid's stance.
The room was silent. And then the seats on the platform were no longer empty. They numbered as the hills of the city on the Tiber. Seigfreid stepped forward and in a clear voice spoke. "Lords and Ladies of the Underground. A Council of the Elders has been called, the charge, murder. The accusers stand before you."
A hole appeared on the floor, in the center of the isle. From it rose the remaining Dunnei sisters. They were still naked and disheveled, and between them lay Renersa's vacant body, her eyes still open eerily. Jareth held in an exclamation when he saw the swollen state of Lendara's belly, a child kicking beneath the surface. Softly their bodies swayed.
"The man from earth did this, killed us and without finishing, made us hurt." No one in the room could tell which of the two sisters were speaking, or even if perhaps it was the third unmoving mouth.
A member of the council stood, Lugh, he was tall and his strawberry blond hair was cropped short, but waywardly it danced in a breeze of its own making, his bright green eyes focusing on the scene before him.
"The Council has much to decipher. Here the Dunnei sisters stand, one dead, two merged at the minds and one unexpectedly with child. There is also the matter of the dead goblin. We know that the earthling is responsible for this carnage, but how and why? Among other things."
Lady Undula stood, her hand resting on Lord Darez's shoulder. "If I could speak, Lord Elder?"
"Yes, Lady Undula?"
Raeil squeezed Raef's shoulder and walked towards the podium. As she readied herself to speak she heard the drapery fall back from the mirror. Its purpose was to verify all she said, to show what her mind saw as words fell from her mouth. "I speak not from pride, but from truth. There is not a book in the Underground that I have not read and kept to heart. It is on these grounds that I say I know how all of this happened." She gestured towards the Dunnei sisters and Ferdinand, the bracelet on her wrist swaying: wings of a golden owl tapping gently against her wrist.
"Jareth, King of the Goblins brought this mortal to our world and restored him from death's door using our methods. This mixed the magic of our world into his blood, his tainted blood. Before he came here, Lord Ferdinand was a madman. He killed his twin sister out of fear that she had made an unwise decision in marriage. He feared she was no longer under his control. Sadly, once she was dead he realized he no longer had anyone to control."
Hearing these words, such cold analysis of his actions from someone he considered a dear friend hurt Ferdinand. However, he knew deserved it, and worse. Tears continued to soak his beard.
"While still on Earth, he sunk his pain in madness, one called Lycanthropy. This I all know, because The Goblin King invited me to watch along side him as these events occurred." As she spoke, images of Ferdinand's past life unfolded on the mirror. His sister and brother, how they were all murdered in an intrigue he started. Yet, Ferdinand saw none of this, his back was still to the mirror but he could see the grim expressions of the council become grimmer as the witnessed what kind of man he was.
"However, the mixing of his mortal madness with the power of our full moon and the Goblin magic that had been used to heal him created something entirely new, he really did become a werewolf. I doubt he was in control of himself when he murdered Renersa Dunnei.
"As to Lendara's new state, I feel there is no better option for the mother and the child than that the child be banished to its father's native land, earth."
Nods of agreement were given, while ears eagerly awaited further explanation.
"As you see, she is with child, and most undoubtedly, without any of the proper rituals. It is my belief that she has achieved this state due to the nature of the conception, most likely she and Lord Ferdinand were enjoying each other's company when the full moon crested. The normal rush of power for any of us is extraordinary, but for someone so deeply affected as a lycanthropÉNot only was the energy enough to conceive but to accelerate the growth process."
Lendara seemingly took this as a cue to walk around the court, almost flaunting her new body.
"Is that all Lady Undula?" Lugh, stood again.
"Yes, Lordship."
"Very well, resume your seat. Goblin King, what have you to say? By all accounts that are to be had, this is your criminal, and thusly your crime. Speak."
"Yes, Lordship." Jareth rose, his composure like a stone wall. Knowing the last spell of the pond would work innocence into his words he spoke.
"It is true I did bring the earthling here, and cured him with my magic. I knew of his Aboveground illness, but was unaware of any consequences it might have in our world, for that I apologize." Jareth's eyes and voice lowered in appropriate marks of shame. "However, as to him being in my custody, that is no longer the case. As you see," and so the council chamber saw, as the mirror showed them what Jareth wished them to see. He and Raiel Undula exchanging ownership tokens.
As the events unfolded Raiel lifted her wrist, unconsciously mimicking the gesture played in the mirror of Jareth's mind. She became aware then of the golden bracelet that rested there. A small gold owl looking up to her with a feirce look. Dismayed eyes looked up to Ferdinand, she could see the golden wings wrapped around his finger. A completely legal contract, yet completely false. She almost had to laugh at what the mirror showed her to be exchanging Ferdinand for. As Jareth placed the charm around her wrist she could be seen dropping the pendant for her father's oldest plow horse around his neck.
Even in her shock, the words Jareth continued to spill out penetrated her ears. "I am no longer warden of the earthling, on the morning of the ball Lady Undula approached me in an effort to relieve me of that duty. While I had grown most fond of him, I am always willing to listen. And so I did, I released custody of him to her as she wished. She had hoped her ownership of something so exotic would impress her newly betrothed, Lord Darez. Were you impressed, M'lord?" Jareth perked an eyebrow.
Lady Undula hadn't been able to believe that all that she knew had lain at Jareth's feet, were now heaped upon her own lap. She was frightened and for the second time in less than a day she broke into hysterics, something that frustrated her to no ending. For she knew they would do her no good but to make her look weak.
Lugh looked at each councilor in turn, each nodding their head. He then looked at Ferdinand.
"Seigfreid, cover the Mirror again, it has served its purpose. The Council, in no wish to delay this has agreed upon the proper method of disposal for those at hand."
"For the murder of Renersa Dunnei, you Ferdinand of Earth, are sentenced to life in the Black Lands. For the Sidhe responsible for this reprehensible behavior, Raiel Undula, you are also banished to the Black Lands for as long as the earthling lives. Hopefully there you can maintain better control over your ward. As betrothed of the responsible Sidhe, Lord Raef Darez, are banished for the span of one year to the Black Lands, for though not guilty of this crime as her betrothed you are partially responsible for her and thus must take partial punishment. For the child of Lendara Dunnei and the earthling, banishment, to Earth."
Lugh clapped once and the hall was no longer in the presence of the council or the banished, and for those who watched, such as a certain Goblin King, it was a strange sight indeed, to watch Lendara. Her belly which had been swollen with child, slowly reduced back to its normal slender proportions.
______________________________________________________________________ Back on Earth, in the past though, not quite so distant as the one our Lord Ferdinand is from.
Linda pressed her hand to her belly, the corset wasn't working anymore. Her stomach swelled with the life growing in it; and she didn't like it.
"George I have tried everything," she whispered forcefully into the phone. "I won't be able to go to New York," she paused to listen to the voice on the other side. "I refuse to go to a doctor, you know how I feel about them." Linda nodded as she was cajoled over the phone. She had only three more weeks with the theater company and she originally had planned to go to New York. So she could on a string of auditions, now those plans would be futile. "Who would want a fat actress, George?!" Her anger got the better of her usually aloof demeanor.
"What do you mean fat, sweetie?" Robert's voice interrupted his wife's thoughts.
"I have to go George." She hung up the phone, sucked in a breath and turned to face her husband.
"I'm pregnant, Robert." Her voice was void of any emotion, but her doting husband didn't notice.
"Oh honey!" He ran to her and hugged her, "that's wonderful"
Jareth had been expecting the knock on his chamber door. "Come in," he stood, not bothering to hide his naked form. The woman stirred in his bed, a small whimper escaping from her lips. The door opened, revealing a man about his height, light brown hair brushing softly on his forehead, disguising the true nature of his character, it gave him a childish air.
"Seigfreid." Jareth nodded.
"Jareth, as modest as ever I see. But it is not for me to judge, that is for the Elders, a council has been called. Murder has occurred of the foulest nature and you are called to speak; for it happened within your walls and the chief suspect is your ward."
"Very well, tell them I shall arrive at sunrise." Jareth closed the door, and grinned towards the bed. The flame haired woman was stirring even more, enough for him to continue with his conquest of her, in all ways that he deemed necessary. Just as she was stilling back into slumber, he pounced on her, and giving her no chance of resistance thumbed te pages of his favorite book. ______________________________________________________________________
The sun rose slowly and Ferdinand watched mesermized, never had the sun fascinated him more. Perhaps because he had a need to take his mind off of other matters. He had awakened, remembering little of the night, only a lingering sense of chaotic power, but slowly as the sun crested the hills it came back to him. His mind filled with remorse, of all the pain he had caused, not for the Dunnei sisters, they were as heartless as he ever had been, but for his sister, the innocent Duchess. His reverie was broken by a strong hand bruisingly grasping his arm and pulling him into a standing position.
"Lord Ferdinand of Earth, I presume?"
"Yes." Ferdinand dropped his head, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"I am Cuchulain, I have been sent to bring you to the Council of Elders. You are being charged with the foul deed of murder."
"Very well." A bundle was thrust under his nose.
"Put these on, no need to strip you of all of your dignity." Cuchulain did not bother to warn Ferdinand about trying to run away, none could out run him.
"Thank you," the duke muttered. ______________________________________________________________________
The sun rose into view of the Council Chambers, the large glass windows illuminated the room. As Raeil turned her head away from this view, she caught sight of Jareth. He winked at her and came up to where she and Raef were seated.
"I have been asked to speak, but about what I have yet to know."
"Renersa Dunnei."
"I see."
"Fate be with you Jareth, they say it was Ferdinand."
"It always is dear Raiel, don't worry about me." He reassuringly patted her hand, which had been nervously twisting at the fabric of her dress. He then went to find his own seat. Looking around he saw Lord Seigfreid standing in front of the right hand set of chamber doors. Large and wooden with an iron pull, the doors were large enough to drive the moon through. In between the two sets of doors was a large platform where the Council would sit. At the other end of the hall opposite the Elders' platform stood a podium where those who had to speak would stand and recount whatever details they were told to. On the wall behind the podium there stood a mirror, although Jareth only knew this from previous visits to the council, it was currently draped in heavy black fabric. Forming an isle, there were on either side, boxes of seats for those who had been called to attend. The right hand set of doors opened and in walked Lord Cuchulain with Ferdinand.
Upon first glance it seemed that Ferdinand's hands were bound together, but they proved rather to be clasped, of his own volition, like those of a child in prayer. He was wearing the garb of a peasant hunter, as opposed to his normal finery: a coarse wool tunic of an indiscriminate gray and darker pants of the same making. He was however, barefoot, and his feet made a quiet slapping noise as Cuchulain walked him to his chair, small and wooden, in front of the platform, facing away from the podium. As soon as the Earthling was seated Cuchulain walked back over to the doors on the right, mirroring Seigfreid's stance.
The room was silent. And then the seats on the platform were no longer empty. They numbered as the hills of the city on the Tiber. Seigfreid stepped forward and in a clear voice spoke. "Lords and Ladies of the Underground. A Council of the Elders has been called, the charge, murder. The accusers stand before you."
A hole appeared on the floor, in the center of the isle. From it rose the remaining Dunnei sisters. They were still naked and disheveled, and between them lay Renersa's vacant body, her eyes still open eerily. Jareth held in an exclamation when he saw the swollen state of Lendara's belly, a child kicking beneath the surface. Softly their bodies swayed.
"The man from earth did this, killed us and without finishing, made us hurt." No one in the room could tell which of the two sisters were speaking, or even if perhaps it was the third unmoving mouth.
A member of the council stood, Lugh, he was tall and his strawberry blond hair was cropped short, but waywardly it danced in a breeze of its own making, his bright green eyes focusing on the scene before him.
"The Council has much to decipher. Here the Dunnei sisters stand, one dead, two merged at the minds and one unexpectedly with child. There is also the matter of the dead goblin. We know that the earthling is responsible for this carnage, but how and why? Among other things."
Lady Undula stood, her hand resting on Lord Darez's shoulder. "If I could speak, Lord Elder?"
"Yes, Lady Undula?"
Raeil squeezed Raef's shoulder and walked towards the podium. As she readied herself to speak she heard the drapery fall back from the mirror. Its purpose was to verify all she said, to show what her mind saw as words fell from her mouth. "I speak not from pride, but from truth. There is not a book in the Underground that I have not read and kept to heart. It is on these grounds that I say I know how all of this happened." She gestured towards the Dunnei sisters and Ferdinand, the bracelet on her wrist swaying: wings of a golden owl tapping gently against her wrist.
"Jareth, King of the Goblins brought this mortal to our world and restored him from death's door using our methods. This mixed the magic of our world into his blood, his tainted blood. Before he came here, Lord Ferdinand was a madman. He killed his twin sister out of fear that she had made an unwise decision in marriage. He feared she was no longer under his control. Sadly, once she was dead he realized he no longer had anyone to control."
Hearing these words, such cold analysis of his actions from someone he considered a dear friend hurt Ferdinand. However, he knew deserved it, and worse. Tears continued to soak his beard.
"While still on Earth, he sunk his pain in madness, one called Lycanthropy. This I all know, because The Goblin King invited me to watch along side him as these events occurred." As she spoke, images of Ferdinand's past life unfolded on the mirror. His sister and brother, how they were all murdered in an intrigue he started. Yet, Ferdinand saw none of this, his back was still to the mirror but he could see the grim expressions of the council become grimmer as the witnessed what kind of man he was.
"However, the mixing of his mortal madness with the power of our full moon and the Goblin magic that had been used to heal him created something entirely new, he really did become a werewolf. I doubt he was in control of himself when he murdered Renersa Dunnei.
"As to Lendara's new state, I feel there is no better option for the mother and the child than that the child be banished to its father's native land, earth."
Nods of agreement were given, while ears eagerly awaited further explanation.
"As you see, she is with child, and most undoubtedly, without any of the proper rituals. It is my belief that she has achieved this state due to the nature of the conception, most likely she and Lord Ferdinand were enjoying each other's company when the full moon crested. The normal rush of power for any of us is extraordinary, but for someone so deeply affected as a lycanthropÉNot only was the energy enough to conceive but to accelerate the growth process."
Lendara seemingly took this as a cue to walk around the court, almost flaunting her new body.
"Is that all Lady Undula?" Lugh, stood again.
"Yes, Lordship."
"Very well, resume your seat. Goblin King, what have you to say? By all accounts that are to be had, this is your criminal, and thusly your crime. Speak."
"Yes, Lordship." Jareth rose, his composure like a stone wall. Knowing the last spell of the pond would work innocence into his words he spoke.
"It is true I did bring the earthling here, and cured him with my magic. I knew of his Aboveground illness, but was unaware of any consequences it might have in our world, for that I apologize." Jareth's eyes and voice lowered in appropriate marks of shame. "However, as to him being in my custody, that is no longer the case. As you see," and so the council chamber saw, as the mirror showed them what Jareth wished them to see. He and Raiel Undula exchanging ownership tokens.
As the events unfolded Raiel lifted her wrist, unconsciously mimicking the gesture played in the mirror of Jareth's mind. She became aware then of the golden bracelet that rested there. A small gold owl looking up to her with a feirce look. Dismayed eyes looked up to Ferdinand, she could see the golden wings wrapped around his finger. A completely legal contract, yet completely false. She almost had to laugh at what the mirror showed her to be exchanging Ferdinand for. As Jareth placed the charm around her wrist she could be seen dropping the pendant for her father's oldest plow horse around his neck.
Even in her shock, the words Jareth continued to spill out penetrated her ears. "I am no longer warden of the earthling, on the morning of the ball Lady Undula approached me in an effort to relieve me of that duty. While I had grown most fond of him, I am always willing to listen. And so I did, I released custody of him to her as she wished. She had hoped her ownership of something so exotic would impress her newly betrothed, Lord Darez. Were you impressed, M'lord?" Jareth perked an eyebrow.
Lady Undula hadn't been able to believe that all that she knew had lain at Jareth's feet, were now heaped upon her own lap. She was frightened and for the second time in less than a day she broke into hysterics, something that frustrated her to no ending. For she knew they would do her no good but to make her look weak.
Lugh looked at each councilor in turn, each nodding their head. He then looked at Ferdinand.
"Seigfreid, cover the Mirror again, it has served its purpose. The Council, in no wish to delay this has agreed upon the proper method of disposal for those at hand."
"For the murder of Renersa Dunnei, you Ferdinand of Earth, are sentenced to life in the Black Lands. For the Sidhe responsible for this reprehensible behavior, Raiel Undula, you are also banished to the Black Lands for as long as the earthling lives. Hopefully there you can maintain better control over your ward. As betrothed of the responsible Sidhe, Lord Raef Darez, are banished for the span of one year to the Black Lands, for though not guilty of this crime as her betrothed you are partially responsible for her and thus must take partial punishment. For the child of Lendara Dunnei and the earthling, banishment, to Earth."
Lugh clapped once and the hall was no longer in the presence of the council or the banished, and for those who watched, such as a certain Goblin King, it was a strange sight indeed, to watch Lendara. Her belly which had been swollen with child, slowly reduced back to its normal slender proportions.
______________________________________________________________________ Back on Earth, in the past though, not quite so distant as the one our Lord Ferdinand is from.
Linda pressed her hand to her belly, the corset wasn't working anymore. Her stomach swelled with the life growing in it; and she didn't like it.
"George I have tried everything," she whispered forcefully into the phone. "I won't be able to go to New York," she paused to listen to the voice on the other side. "I refuse to go to a doctor, you know how I feel about them." Linda nodded as she was cajoled over the phone. She had only three more weeks with the theater company and she originally had planned to go to New York. So she could on a string of auditions, now those plans would be futile. "Who would want a fat actress, George?!" Her anger got the better of her usually aloof demeanor.
"What do you mean fat, sweetie?" Robert's voice interrupted his wife's thoughts.
"I have to go George." She hung up the phone, sucked in a breath and turned to face her husband.
"I'm pregnant, Robert." Her voice was void of any emotion, but her doting husband didn't notice.
"Oh honey!" He ran to her and hugged her, "that's wonderful"