Chapter 14: Insight and Escape

Sarah and the boys returned to their rooms to divest of their party gear not long after the terrible turn of events. The festivities died away as if cut with a knife.

"You are well, Ione?" Jareth asked coolly. Again he played out formality. He would never admit to anyone these days if he were actually concerned.

"I shall be at my post on the 'morrow, Your Highness. I require only a brief rest."

"That is good," Jareth responded with a nod. They had come into the castle where the Elder knights had been housed for the duration of the tournament. As soon as they were away from the others he leaned a bit closer to Ione. "And how are you really?" Ione played the game as well as he did. She would never admit a pain before company.

"The shoulder's a bit stiff, Jareth. It will be at least a day before it's fully recovered."

"Perhaps you should allow your lieutenant to take over your duties tomorrow, Ione."

"Jareth, it's not like this is the first time I've been wounded..."

"Nonsense, Ione! That arrow wound was nowhere near as extensive as this! And if I recall, you fainted from that experience..."

Ione laughed filling the hall with her musical voice. "You forget how much trauma I faced after that wound, Jareth! I was facing my King remember?"

Jareth merely shook his head and sighed... "Dismissed..."

Ione saluted her King and bowed. "Milord..." The Knight and the King parted ways leaving one lone figure standing in the shadows. Aurora had met with the Lady Vendae and had promised to meet the noblewoman in this hall. But now she had food for thought. Jareth had almost acted like his old self with Ione. He had shown concern that went beyond that of King and Knight. She had of course known that Ione was a friend of the King's as well as a trusted advisor, but why was Jareth only still friendly to Ione. Jareth had many friends in his youth. It seemed strange to Aurora that Jareth had retained a friendship with Ione above all the others of his own station. She wondered for some time as she waited for Vendae to arrive.

"Aurora?" Vendae called.

"Over here, Lady Vendae," Aurora replied.

"Why are you standing back in the shadows?" Vendae asked with barely masked curiosity as she drew her friend forth from her hiding place.

"You will not believe what I have just witnessed!" Aurora said in a hushed voice. She read the encouragement in their eyes and continued. "Jareth was concerned over the Lady Ione's wound! It was almost like the Jareth we all loved!"

"Seriously?" Vendae asked in shock.

"Indeed! I was shocked it was not a friend of his own class he held onto, but I was at least glad he still counted someone as his friend!"

"Perhaps he is not so far lost as we thought..." Vendae mused. Aurora's expression fell.

"Have no doubts, Vendae... Jareth has fallen far! Were he truly a star as the Aurelis foretells, he would no longer shine above the horizon!"

"Tell us at least what was said!" Vendae insisted indicating herself and her friend. Aurora nodded and told word for word what had been spoken.

"Then there is at least hope! But how did you listen in without Ione finding you? She always knows where others are by reading their thoughts..."

"Not when she's focusing her attention on rapid healing..." Aurora would have spoken longer, but their conversation was cut short by the entrance of the Goblin King.

"Ladies," Jareth said with the barest of movement in his head. He then pinpointed both Lady Vendae and Lady Aurora. "I hope you two ladies will be able to serve as witnesses of today's transaction..."

Both Vendae and Aurora nodded. Jareth nodded once then spun a crystal that would take them to his study. When he himself actually took care of the business arrangements, it was done there.

"Lady Lorien, you understand the bindings of the contract you are now signing?"

"Perfectly, King Jareth..." she responded as she signed her name to the scroll spread across Jareth's desk. She had read every line. Vendae watched carefully but dared not smile.

"Then it is accomplished. The Lady Vendae is familiar with the rooms and will gladly lead you thence," Jareth said looking to Vendae for conformation. Vendae didn't need to think twice. Jareth disappeared they knew not where, and Vendae lead both women to the rooms occupied by Sarah and her sons. Vendae knocked and was granted permission to enter. Sarah stood at once when she noticed that Vendae had brought her beautiful friend. Vendae missed Sarah's guarded expression since she was simply glad the boys were with their mother.

"Sarah, it's so wonderful, Lorien has managed to adopt you!" Vendae announced with a smile.

"Adopted?" Sarah asked in surprise.

"It is a custom amongst the Faye that wished away children are adopted away. I told you the problems Faye have with children. This seemed to be an excellent remedy. We were afraid that you'd be split up or that you might be accepted as a servant instead," Aurora explained.

"Why didn't you tell me this before!" Sarah demanded.

"Sarah, we didn't want to get your hopes up only to be dashed..." Vendae attempted.

Sarah wasn't convinced. "Why would this Lady Lorien want to help me?"

"Sarah," Lorien said quietly. "Perhaps this will help you understand..." For a moment the Lady Lorien's image flickered then in her place stood a woman Sarah knew very well!

"Mother!" Sarah exclaimed in shock. She raised a hand to her mouth almost as if she didn't believe the word she'd uttered. Lorien's form returned to normal.

"Yes, Sarah, I am your mother... But your real name is Aranel... Sarah is the human equivalent to the meaning of your true name..."

"My name has always been Sarah..." she stammered still attempting to grasp the situation suddenly thrown on her.

"Oh, darling, you were born here in the Underground. I gave you a Faye name before they forced me to give you up. Your father thought it best to give you a human name so that you would perhaps be more accepted amongst the humans. But come... We mustn't dawdle long here in the Goblin King's realm. It's time to take you home!" Lorien turned and noticed the boys sitting shyly on their mother's bed. "Come on boys. You're coming too..."

Daire and Darien brightened instantly and ran to Lorien's side. "When do we go?"

"Now's as good a time as any," Vendae said looking around. "Do you three have anything you need to bring."

"We came here with the clothes on our backs, Aunt Vendae. We have nothing to take that does not truly belong to the Goblin King," Sarah said with a shake of her head. Vendae noticed that all three were dressed once more in their old clothes.

"Well, there's no time to argue over ownership..." Vendae said with a determined set of her jaw. "Let's head for home, Lorien..."

Within moments the group was mounted on magnificent horses from Willoway and headed for the borders of the Labyrinth. Sarah was glad her boys had been given a chance to learn about riding. They looked born to ride the ponies brought for them. She was a different story. She was almost too sore by the time they reached their destination to appreciate the beauty of Willoway. It made the prettiest place she'd seen in the Labyrinth seem pale and drab! Although it was a palace or castle, it was built around the tallest trees Sarah had ever seen! Instead of ruining the landscape, the builders had merely borrowed from the landscape. The effect was stunning! Sarah wondered how a palace such as this one could be defended since all one would need to do was to cut down the trees. What she would later discover was that the trees were protected by an ancient magic that prevented their destruction by any means. Setting a saw to the thick bases of those trees would be a daunting prospect anyway. Lorien called them to a halt momentarily outside the gates of Willoway.

"Boys...Sarah... Until I find a way to tell my parents who you really are, it would probably be best if they think of you as adopted humans."

"I hardly feel Faye," Sarah admitted.

"We shall indeed remedy that!" the three Faye women said in unison.