Chapter 16: An Unexpected Visit
It was nearly two months after their adoption, that Sarah received a visitor. It was Aeryck, Lorien's head servant, who announced to Lorien that there was a visitor from the Labyrinth to see the Lady Sarah. Aeryck was a shape-shifter. It was not uncommon for him to change into a different form to accomplish different tasks. To carry messages, Aeryck might change into an equine or bird form, and he could change into some type of marine animal if the job required work in water. There seemed no end to the possibilities! So when a wolf ran into the room and shifted to the recognized form of Aeryck, Sarah and the boys were not surprised.
"Milady," Aeryck said with a bow addressing Lorien. "There is a Labyrinthine asking to see the Lady Sarah."
"Does this Labyrinthine have a name?" Lorien asked with a smile even though her breath had caught in her throat. Her heart skipped a beat. Was Jareth even now sending spies on her?
"It is the Elder of Division Five, Milady..."
Lorien breathed a sigh of relief. There could be no dishonesty in the centauress. Her reputation was spotless throughout the Underground, and her love of honor was equally well known. "You may show her in, Aeryck." Lorien thought it best to not take chances just the same. "Boys, go down and see if Raoul needs help with the horses." The twins were off like a shot. Both of them loved horses so they didn't need asked twice. They passed the centauress on their way to the stables. Both took time to politely bow to the Knight before they were off once more. Aeryck announced her before admitting her into the parlor.
"The Lady Ione Athene, Elder Knight of Division Five of the Labyrinth."
Ione paced quietly into the room following the announcement. Since Lorien's Faye home was unequipped for her race, when offered a seat, Ione simply tucked her legs beneath her to rest on the floor. Social necessities were dispensed of first. Sarah was formally introduced to Ione and visa versa.
"How is your shoulder, Lady Ione?" Sarah asked conversationally.
"My shoulder?" the centauress asked in confusion.
"Yes, the last time I saw you, you were wounded," Sarah replied although she couldn't understand how the woman needed reminded of a wound.
Ione smiled. "Within twenty-four hours, Lady Sarah, there was not even the slightest trace of it. My kind heal quickly."
"Your kind don't even scar?" Sarah asked incredulously.
"I've carried very few over the past couple of millennia. The largest of those is due more to emotional stress than seriousness of the wound.
"Millennia?" Sarah squeaked. Her mother had only just recently revealed that she was hundreds of years old. "I suddenly feel like such an infant!"
Lorien and Ione shared a laugh, but it was Lorien who spoke first. "I think almost any Faye would feel the same if compared to Ione. I think the oldest Faye in the Underground is only a century or two over his first millennia, but there are many things here older than Ione."
"Indeed, the Labyrinth is one of them," Ione added. "It is alive as surely as we are. Its power is only lent to us, and we have only scratched the surface of it. That is one reason the Labyrinthine Knights were started. There are many who would wish to gain access to such a powerhouse of ancient magic."
"I still can't believe that it could get much worse than its present king," Sarah said with a sigh.
Ione seemed shocked. "You must've never looked evil truly in the eye if you can say that, Lady Sarah," Ione said in a low voice. "He is not all evil as you seem to think."
"I don't understand how you can say that to me when my best friend is still trapped within that castle being tortured by this 'not all evil' king!"
Ione could see this was very close to Sarah's heart as it should be, but she had no less close a reason for making the girl see the King for who he truly was. "What is revealed to you here must not leave here," Ione said in a voice quieter than Sarah thought possible. Surprised both women nodded. "I will bind you fast to your promise for only one other outside of my family knows of this. You see, Lady Sarah, I knew Jareth much better than anyone could've guessed before the angry bitter spirit settled on him. I was the first he allowed so close."
"So that is why Apollo looks so much like the king?" Sarah said remembering Miluien's comment the first day of the Goblin Trials.
"Apollo's human form is mirror image of the King's, Lady Sarah, although only His father, myself, and his sister have ever seen his face."
"The story I heard was much different!" Lorien added expressing her shock.
"Yes, we came up with quite a convincing story to answer for Apollo's resemblance. Jareth was not ready to be a father. He would've taken steps to protect us both if we had known how easily I would get pregnant. Once I had Apollo, the damage was done."
"I don't understand," Sarah said shaking her head. "Jareth is Faye, and you're... you are half horse..." Ione laughed, and Lorien was smiling at her daughter's unspoken question.
"Jareth has always been very considerate, Lady Sarah. He often changed his form to that of the Centauri. I once changed into a Faye for him, but it had disastrous results." Sarah looked confused again. "Our second child developed in my human abdomen. Though my daughter Isis can change to Faye form fairly easily, I have always found it very difficult. I was unable to change form when my daughter was being born."
"I cannot even imagine the pain of losing a child," Sarah whispered breathlessly.
"Yes, Sarah, it was a hard time for us both!" Sarah looked up at the centauress incredulously. She couldn't imagine Jareth being even remotely remorseful over anything. "No, do not look at me in amazement, Sarah. The loss of our first daughter hit him very hard! And it was only through the comfort I received from Jareth and my son that I kept my sanity. Even now, he is not all lost to us!" She held up her hand to stave off another of Sarah's comments. "No, Sarah, a piece of the Jareth all loved still remains. Often when he speaks to me, I catch a glimpse of the man I will always love. He has shown concern for me even in his darkest mood."
"So you two are in love," Sarah said with a nod. Ione sighed.
"Again, no. I am and always will be in love. Before he was overtaken, we ended our relationship. You see Jareth could not keep up the pretense any longer. I was not the one for him. We realized even before the Aurelis was pronounced that I would never be Queen of the Underground. But in realizing my feelings for my King, I have come to entreat you to help us, Lady Sarah. I do not meet the requirements of the Aurelis, but you do. I especially of the Knights do not wish to see my King torn apart in rifts or the Labyrinth destroyed. Much rests in you, Sarah. I have come to implore you, no, to beg of you to see beyond this the greatest and fakest of masks he has ever worn!"
"In truth, Lady Ione, your plea is most touching. But if indeed this mask you claim he wears exists, it is a good one for I have yet to see any hope there is good inside him." She stopped when the sound of running feet reached her ears. Moments later Aeryck entered hurriedly.
"Begging your pardon, Milady, but the Prince of the Underground has arrived."
"And he is most anxious to learn why one of his Knights has come to this particular household," said a most familiar voice. Jareth entered with much of the flair that always accompanied him. He brushed by the spluttering Aeryck who was muttering something about it being improper. Ione stood at his entrance but he noted the absence of her salute. Her first statement would prove quite a shock to the Goblin King.
"Jareth, they know."