Chapter 12: Goblin Trials
Time passed until the time of the Goblin Trials was upon them. Vendae had explained to them that the first fight was generally for the amusement of the Faye. Jareth let some of his goblins hold a tournament, but it usually ended up as a quite humorous affair. It wasn't until the following day that the real tournament began. The real tournament was extensive and took place over the span of two days pushing the length of the Goblin Trials to three days. The first day of the real tournament was the style generally recognized at tournaments where two knights charged from opposite sides of the barrier. The second day, all the combatants split into two groups and held a mock battle. It was a chance for the Goblin King to show his power. Vendae did not want to tell Sarah that it was also an annual chance for the King to adopt away his 'guests'. Over the time of Vendae's instruction, outfits had been made that were suitable for the occasion. The boys, with their already classic old-English look, would fit right into this world. Sarah was a little more unsure about the clothing even though it was more comfortable. The boys' clothing had only a bit of the flair exhibited in the Goblin King's style. They wore breeches of black with knee-high leather boots, black silk poet's shirts with black leather vests over them. Both boys had their hair tied back in a ponytail with a black silk ribbon. Both also had black capes with stiff collars that came up to their chins and reached down to about their knees. Sarah had noted with pride that both boys were still wearing their gold cross necklaces. But even though the boys were clothed in black, they did not seem dark. The dark clothing was embroidered with gold thread in intricate patterns, which served to set off their golden hair. Sarah herself was dressed in a light blue outfit that seemed to show off all her best features. Material of the neckline sloped gracefully giving it an almost Grecian look. The neckline continued back over her shoulders into trains of silk that would blow in the wind behind her. The back was very low crisscrossed with only thin strips of fabric over her lower back and shoulder blades. The train of the dress was not extremely long and Sarah knew she could manage. But the dress showed more skin than she was prepared to show. The light blue of the gown brought out the blue in her hazel eyes perfectly against her dark brown hair.
"Vendae, I'm not sure I want to be seen amongst the Faye... I've always been the ugly duckling..." Sarah protested when Vendae came in to see the finished outfit.
Vendae was nearly blown away by the comment. Did Sarah really think herself plain? She'd heard women fish for compliments. Some of the Faye women's beauty was only skin deep. But Sarah seemed completely innocent about her ethereal beauty. She surpassed even her mother who, before her secret marriage had been revealed, had been hailed as the loveliest in the whole of the Underground. Despite the terrible crimes wrought upon her, Sarah was still innocent. Now Vendae realized that Sarah was also innocent of her own beauty. She'd been silent for too long...
"Well, I guess I'm right. You know you don't have to spare my feelings Aunt Vendae. I've been used to it since grade school..."
"No, Sarah! I was just amazed at how innocent you are of your own beauty!"
Sarah shook her head, but she didn't feel up to a fight. In the morning, she was going on display with her boys. Vendae had at least warned her niece that the other lords present would be very interested in the Goblin King's guests.
The morning was bright, and Vendae came early to give Sarah and her sons last minute instructions. It was during these instructions that Jareth made his appearance.
"I trust they are ready to behave as my guests, Lady Vendae?" the King demanded arrogantly. Vendae saw Sarah's chin raise only slightly before she thought better of whatever it was she had intended to say.
"Yes, Your Highness, they are ready," Vendae responded. Jareth had noted how Sarah had responded as well.
"I shall look for you at the tournament, Lady Vendae," Jareth said. It was a customary necessity, and Vendae knew he would only keep such necessities because he had to. She also recognized it as the dismissal it was.
"Your Highness," Vendae said with a curtsy. "I shall see you at the tournament, Sarah." She nodded and smiled to the twins before disappearing from the room. Sarah did some last minute checking of the boys' attire. That gave Jareth time to admire Sarah's appearance. But the trio with him missed this brief perusal. He himself was resplendent in all black attire that was highlighted by a bright blue shirt. His black cape had subtle markings embedded in the fabric, and once again his blond hair was streaked with blue. Sarah didn't notice, but the King's shirt exactly matched the blue of her dress. The black cape was a dressier version of the one he had worn at their first meeting. His overall look was meant to impress, and it definitely worked.
"Come!" he said with a curt nod.
Sarah and the boys were transported with Jareth to the doors that led to the outer courtyard and tourney grounds. Goblin servants opened the doors and trumpets announced the King's arrival to the guests already gathered. The doors led out to a grand staircase that had stairs on both sides like a bridge. Jareth walked to the rail to address the gathered guests. Every man, woman, and child among them from all races and kingdoms under the rule of his father bowed or curtsied.
"Citizens of my father's kingdom, I welcome you to the Underground's annual Goblin Tournament!" Raising his hands he finished, "Let the entertainment commence!"
The crowd cheered and applauded before turning toward the tourney grounds to find their places. Jareth proceeded down the stairs followed by Sarah and her boys. Already heralds, who would later attend to the lists, had informed the crowd of their names. Jareth was seated on the right hand of a large throne in the main pavilion with Sarah and her boys seated behind him and to his right where they could still watch the festivities. Sarah wondered briefly why Jareth was not seated in the throne, but as if her mind had been read, she was answered. Another blast of the trumpets and a Faye of grandeur rode into the lists on a gray steed. He wore a crown on his head and ermine robes thus Sarah assumed him to be Jareth's father. As he rode closer, there was no mistaking it. The crowd rose in welcome of their King. With much pomp, the King of the Underground assumed the throne that awaited him. Sarah had naturally risen as well as her boys, and as the King greeted his son, she could definitely see the resemblance between them. A woman no less lavishly attired followed the King, and Sarah knew this was the Queen. Jareth bowed gracefully and the royal family sat down together followed by the rest of the crowd. From then on Sarah felt watched. She knew she was sitting in close proximity to the royal family, but she still felt their eyes were on her family instead. Surrounding the pavilion of the royalty were knights of all shapes and sizes. Knights surrounded the entire tourney grounds, but Sarah got the feeling that it was the knights seated in the area directly before the raised throne of the royal family that held true rank and honor. She was surprised by the diversity of races among the knights. There were Faeries and Elves, but they almost seemed normal for the environment as opposed to some of the other races. One of the Queen's ladies in waiting who had been seated near them began to explain the things she was seeing. Sarah and her sons were somewhat surprised to find her very polite and friendly. Her name was Miluien.
"I noticed you have been looking at the Labyrinthine Knights," Miluien said after introductions had been made.
"Yes, they are very diverse of race, but most of them look somewhat human..." Sarah replied with a smile. Miluien shook her head.
"There are 42 of them in all. Many may look human but less than half are really humans. I believe you already know Sir Didymus and Sir Ludo. Other than a Faye and the Elves, there are a few shape-shifters, and vampires. Many of the Knights are hybrids of human and Faye, Elf, or Vampire. There is a higher end Fiery, a higher level Goblin, another monster, and of course one cannot forget the centaurs!"
Indeed it was hard to forget the centaurs, one of the most impressive races she had seen! There were only a few of them. Three sat before the Royalty composing almost half of that honored group, but one stood amongst those guarding the tourney grounds.
"Why does that group sit before the King and royal family?" Sarah asked curiously. She had noticed each had a standard beside their chair and each standard had a picture with a number over it. A she-elf sat beneath a standard of a crow on a crooked tree with the number one over it. Next to her was a male elf sitting beneath a standard bearing a stone wall with the number two emblazoned upon it. Next in order came the group's only human, and that woman sat beneath a standard bearing a hedge wall with a three. Next to her was a centauress sitting on a resting couch represented by a standard bearing a picture of a forest. Another centauress was seated beside her with a standard picturing a pile of objects. Next came a woman who Miluien later told was the Knight's only Human/Vampire hybrid. She was the most honored of the group and had a standard that pictured a view of the Goblin City. Last of all was the only male centaur of the group. His standard was the plainest with an all black background and a single ray of light illuminating the number seven upon it.
"Those are the Elder Knights," Miluien explained. "The Knights are divided up into seven divisions that guard seven different aspects of the Labyrinth. They are Lady Chastidyi of Division One the Bog, Lord Fire Wolfe of Division Two the Stone Maze, Lady Anastasia of Division Three the Hedge Maze, Lady Isis Athene of Division Four the Fiery Forest, Lady Ione Athene of Division Five the Junkyard, Lady London of Division Six the Goblin City, and Lord Apollo Chiron of Division Seven the Oubliettes. The Elder Knights are the ranking knights of their division, and Lady London is their leader although Lady Ione was closer to the King. It is often joked that the Knights have become a family tradition. Lady Ione is the mother of Lady Isis and Lord Apollo."
"He's all covered up in that cape," Sarah commented.
"Yes, it is rumored that he looks very similar to the King so he must go about in a cloak in public events and become invisible elsewhere least he attract attention."
"Why does the other centauress look so different from the three Elders? Is it just because she comes from a different family?"
"More than you know! The Lady Ione is the only centaurian descendant of Chiron, the famous teacher of Greek Legend. All other centaurs are descended through a different line including Lady Aylea. The centaurs, when being polite, always refer to each other as cousins even though there is really no blood relation between them. But their personalities are as different as night and day! Lady Ione and her children are marked for their sage wisdom passed down by Ione's father. Lady Aylea is much more temperamental, and you have to tread carefully so as not to get on her bad side."
The trumpets announced the beginning of the trials and the group turned their attention to watching. Vendae had been right. Watching the goblins was very entertaining, but Sarah wondered what the following days would bring.