Chapter 24: Enlightenment
Sarah stood to her feet and bowed to the High Prefect. Now sitting, Jareth could appreciate her looks for the first time as he could do so unobserved. All eyes were now on Sarah. She was divine for a mortal. He couldn't imagine how a human could pull off such beauty! Despite the modesty of her gown, Sarah looked like a queen!
"Your Grace, about eight years ago in the Aboveworld, I was waylaid outside of my college. I was knocked unconscious and taken to a different location. I awoke stripped and tied to a bed. I was then raped and assaulted before knocked unconscious once more and returned to the walkway outside my college. I became pregnant and bore twin boys seated in the assembly today."
"And how do you know that Prince Taureth was your attacker?" the High Prefect inquired.
"Firstly, Your Grace, my sons bear a marked resemblance to the princes. Secondly my attacker was masked, but I could still see his eyes..."
"These clues might point to King Jareth as well," the High Prefect pointed out as Taureth sneered in her direction.
"Your Grace, there are several reasons for me to rule out King Jareth." The Prefect motioned for her to continue. "It must be remembered that I was attacked in Aboveworld but that I had already had contact with King Jareth. At that time it had been about six years since I had won back my younger half-brother, Toby. The story of my first time in the Underground is well known. Your Grace, King Jareth would've known well that I could recognize his eyes. They are a rarity in Aboveworld. King Jareth would also have been aware that I would not be able to tell anyone. In Aboveworld they would have thought me insane! Only one person in Aboveworld ever knew, and she did not believe me. In fact she accidentally wished me and my two sons away because she didn't believe the Underground was real."
"Can this person come forward to testify to this fact?" Taureth held his breath.
"No, Your Grace, I am afraid..." Sarah paused as Jareth placed a hand on her arm and whispered something to her. "Correction, Your Grace, the witness is here after all. I would call Miss Elaine of Aboveworld." The doors opened and Sarah saw one of the Labyrinthine Knights was escorting her friend. She knelt when she came to stand before the Prefect.
"Young Lady, you have been called as a witness to events occurring in Aboveworld. Do you understand that perjury is not acceptable?"
"Yes, Your Grace," Elaine managed quietly. "I was one of the people who found Lady Sarah on the walkway outside our college dorm after her assault. She was really battered and ended up in the hospital for a week just to see to her injuries as well as for evidence to try and catch the person responsible. The case had no leads obviously, and nine months later Sarah had twin sons."
"This is your case for Prince Taureth being the boys' father?" the Prefect inquired of Sarah.
"There is but one more thing that I did not find out until I arrived back in the Labyrinth, Your Grace. I call for Lady Vendae of Willoway to bring forward my sons Daire and Darien." The crowd gasped yet again as the boys stood beside their Aunt and came forward. Elaine was escorted to a seat. The resemblance between the princes and the two boys was extraordinary! The boys went to stand before the High Prefect. "Your Grace to your right is Darien and to your left is Daire. Darien is my oldest of the two." Sarah left the podium from which she addressed the Prefect to stand by her sons. "Darien, I need you to turn to your bird form, ok?" Darien nodded and within moments there before them was a young black hawk. The hawk flapped its wings and flew up to the high table. "Your Grace, King Jareth's form is an owl. Were these boys his, they would take on his form." The room stirred like crazy! There was no way that Jareth was the boys' father now, and that left one possibility.
"Silence in the court!" the Prefect demanded banging his gavel. "I will have silence and respect for justice!" He turned to Prince Taureth. "I am assuming, Prince Taureth that you are not willing to reveal your bird form."
Dayton spoke up, "Even if he wished to he could not. I have restricted his magic while he is on trial." The crowd gasped as their own Queen stood from her place.
"I can assure you, Your Grace, that my elder son's form is indeed that of a black hawk," the Queen affirmed gracefully. Taureth gaped at her in astonishment. His own mother was testifying against him! Darien had flown down beside his brother and transformed to a boy once more.
"Lady Sarah, what is the form of your other son?" the Prefect inquired. It could be that one turned into a hawk and one turned to an owl, and this mortal was only showing him the one to incriminate the elder prince.
"Daire?" Sarah pushed quietly. Daire looked up and after a few moments there was in his place a red-tailed hawk. There could be no question now. These boys were assuredly Taureth's. Taureth was visibly pale! How in the Underground did she find out about the bird forms!
"There can be no question in anyone's mind," the Prefect concluded with a nod. "These two boys are the sons of Prince Taureth. Members of the Council consult with each other on the matter of treason." The council members took little time to reach a verdict, which was handed on a scroll to the High Prefect. The Prefect read the Council's conclusion and nodded. "I concur with the Council in this matter. Prince Taureth is guilty not only of treason against his brother the Goblin King, but he is also guilty of despoiling an innocent maiden in Aboveworld." The Prefect glared at the elder prince. "Prince Taureth, you are hereby stripped of all rank and honor. Let none shelter you, let none give you aid. Your powers are yours no longer for you have used them in deceit! No magic shall you ever wield again." Taureth almost breathed easier until the Prefect turned to Sarah. "Lady Sarah, what punishment shall be bestowed for the dishonor he wrought upon you?"
"Your Grace, I am no judge of what best befits this situation. I would ask only that the Council agree on a course of action that will keep him from repeating his crimes," Sarah replied with a bow.
The courtroom fell into stunned silence including Jareth. By Faye law, Sarah had the right to ask for his brother's head on a platter for his crime against her. Why was she allowing him to live? The council members began to speak quietly amongst each other. After some time of deliberation the many Faye, Elves, and other Seelie races began nodding their heads in agreement. The Faye woman recognized as their spokeswoman rose and addressed the High Prefect.
"We have reached a decision, Your Grace." The woman handed another scroll to the guard who gave it to the Prefect at the high table. For the first time in the proceedings, the High Prefect showed it to the King beside him. King Dayton expressed surprise but nodded his head.
"The prisoner will stand for his sentence." When Taureth was slow to rise, guards on either side of him forced him to his feet. "Taureth the Disgraced, you are hereby banished to the Kingdom of the Mazonia. Should you ever be seen outside of those borders, your life is forfeit of the grace your victim has shown you this day. You shall serve their Queen for so long as you remain alive. Nor shall you be capable of passing on your legacy of evil to future generations least they be as disgraceful as you."
Taureth was overcome by extreme pain that died as quickly as it came. From the general area of that pain, he knew his worst fears had become true! They had made him a magic eunuch! While part of him had remained male, part of him had been turned female for the sake of necessity. No! They couldn't do this to him! Why couldn't they just kill him! It was a fate worse than death to be banished to the Mazonia! He was pulled kicking and screaming from the courtroom. Ione could feel Sarah's uncertainty.
"The Mazonia are a race I believe humans are familiar with. They had to flee Aboveworld when your invention of gunpowder nearly ruined their way of life. I believe in Aboveworld that you would call them Amazons. Trust me, Taureth will receive no kind treatment at their hands." Ione decided against telling Sarah about the other thing that had been done to the ex- prince.
Sarah silently thanked Ione for her explanation. She turned again to the High Prefect.
"Lady Sarah of Willoway, is there any way this court might help atone for the suffering you have been made to bear?" King Dayton asked.
"I have only one request I can make, Your Highness..."