Chapter 31: The Courtship
Sarah couldn't remember ever being so busy in her life! Despite Ione's claims that she would never make a good queen, it was the centauress that was doing most of the teaching. Ione had taken the courtship announcement to the Seelie Court to be recognized. Then Sarah's training had begun in earnest! She was learning even more decorum than she had needed as the daughter of Lady Lorien. Ione with her properness was the perfect teacher. It was not quite two weeks into their lessons following the announcement of the courtship that they received some unexpected visitors.
"Now stay right there, Aranel. I have to go get something..." the centauress said. As she turned around she let out a semi-startled cry and bowed. "Arannya, Tarinya!" she gasped reverting momentarily to her own language. (My King, my Queen!) While Ione enjoyed a close relationship with Jareth, the King and Queen had never approved of it. They allowed her presence only because she was an extremely valuable warrior. Because of this, her bow was lower than usual. Sarah turned around and thought the centauress had tripped or something. The centauress' right foreleg was extended while the left went back. Her right hand was over her heart, and her head was bowed. Sarah thought it strange since Ione didn't bow that low to Jareth. Her standard bow was more Elvish in looks with a simple gesture of her hand and nod of her head.
"Lady Ione, you should keep to a language we all understand," King Dayton admonished a bit harshly. Ione said nothing though she bit her lip.
"King Dayton, Queen Ithilia," Sarah said with a curtsey and a smile. "Welcome! What brings you here?" She placed her hand on Ione's shoulder still feeling strange that she could reach it for a change.
"Why, we came to see you, dear," Ithilia said warmly. "They're not trying to bully you are they?" the Queen asked with a side-glance at Ione. Ione felt the barb but again she simply bit her lip.
"Why, no, Your Majesty. Lady Ione is merely helping me learn the formalities of royal life," Sarah replied missing the animosity between the royal pair and the centauress.
"Is that so," Ithilia said quietly with another glance at Ione. "Come though, shall we find my son? We had hoped to talk to the both of you."
"Ione, where is Jareth at?" Sarah questioned. She knew that with her telepathy the centauress could easily locate the Goblin King.
"Oh, I'm sure we can find him," Dayton insisted cutting off any response from Ione.
"You needn't look far," stated a voice familiar to all present. Ione had contacted Jareth immediately anyway, and Jareth knew of the strained situation between the centauress and his parents. It grieved him greatly that they persecuted her so. Their relationship had been mutual, and it had been Ione that insisted they break it off. He walked over to his knight and signaled with an almost careless gesture for her to rise. It was yet another form of his parents' disrespect of Ione that they left her in that terribly uncomfortable position. Ione sent him a secret expression of her gratitude. Her gaze remained aloof, and Sarah wondered why. It had been a long time since she had seen the centauress so removed.
"Ah, Jareth, there you are. Is there any place we can discuss our business with you and Aranel privately?" Ithilia asked once again glancing unmistakably at the centauress. Neither Jareth nor Ione missed the gesture.
"Ione is my most trusted councilor, Mother," Jareth stated firmly. "Whatever needs said can be said in front of her for she will hear it anyway." Dayton frowned at his son's impertinence. He would have been perfectly happy to find Ione had returned to Aboveworld. He did not want that wanton mare influencing his son any longer.
"We came to discuss plans for the wedding, Jareth," Ithilia commented. "Surely only you and Aranel need to be involved..."
"Nay, Mother, Ione has been handling much of the preparations including the schooling of my future Queen. Ione also took and witnessed the annunciation of the courtship in the Court."
"Ione is to be my Matron of Honor, Queen Ithilia," Sarah intervened still in the dark over what was going on.
King Dayton and Queen Ithilia dislike my presence, Aranel...
But why, Ione? What could you have possibly done to upset them? You have always been loyal to Jareth. You were his only friend in his dark moments...
What could I have done? Try having two of his children. They disapproved of our relationship from the moment they learned of it. Now they don't want me to have any influence over him.
But it was your idea to end the relationship because of the pressures of royalty on your race!
The King and Queen do not know this nor are they likely to be told. My love for them grows less and less with each insult...
But, Ione, they are Jareth's parents...
They'd rather see me dead than see me still advising their son as King of the Underground! They tolerate my presence only because as a warrior I am a valuable asset!
Sarah's hand flew to her mouth, and Jareth put an arm around her waist. He knew from the glint in Ione's violet eyes that the centauress was explaining the situation. Neither of them liked it, but Ione refused to let him tell his parents any more about their relationship.
Jareth, I should go...
No, Ione, they will have to get used to your involvement someday.
This is not that day...
I do not wish to see you run from them like a whipped dog!
Nor shall I. I leave to keep my temper.
There should be no cause...
But there is. I have duties to attend to...
Those duties are teaching Aranel.
I cannot do that while you are discussing with your parents. I am still Elder of the 5th division. I cannot completely ignore the Junkyard while teaching your bride-to-be.
"I have to make sure my lieutenant is maintaining the division anyway, my lord," Ione said aloud. "Lady Aranel, we shall continue when you are free." She turned to the King and Queen with her expression veiled but distrusting. "Your Highnesses..." with that Ione straightened and left the room with the dignity of her race following her. Jareth and Sarah watched her go. When the centauress was out of the room, Jareth turned his furious gaze upon his parents.
"When are you going to stop tormenting her!" Jareth demanded.
"She was assuredly one way that led to your near destruction, my son," Dayton replied evenly.
"Ione has ever been my friend, father. Indeed she was my only friend in my darkest hour!"
"That is indeed a sad case..."
"Your Highnesses both, consider how much she has always sought the best for the kingdom. Why it was she who..." Sarah stopped short when Jareth cut her off.
"No, Aranel. Say no more."
"But, Jareth, if they knew."
"Ione does not wish it spoken of. It is her spirit they are wounding, and I will abide by her wishes."
"Of what do you speak," Dayton questioned.
"It is a matter between me and Ione, Father," Jareth replied with an even tone.
"You would share all confidence with your centauress but not your own father?" Dayton demanded. "I wonder if your bride-to-be even realizes who she is making the closest in her wedding plans!"
"Ione bore two children to Jareth. Yes, I know!" Sarah cried in exasperation. "She has made very clear where the three of us stand. Ione is the knight, Jareth is the King, and I hopefully will turn into a Queen. We have worked this out. Why can't you?"
Dayton and Ithilia stood shocked. "Aranel, a Faye's firstborn is supposed to be their finest and strongest. The strength to rule the kingdom is tied in them."
"So Taureth was supposed to rule the Underground?" Sarah asked with a raised brow.
Dayton and Ithilia felt the barb. It was not true of their own sons. Taureth had been evil from the start. Yet they could not know what they had started in the innocent heart that listened through the mind of her love...