Chapter Ten

Bards in the Kitchen

Author's note: Hippie99, your it this time because you nominated me ::grins cause I feel loved:: though Sightlessmuse doesn't go unnoticed for how many times she reviewed (so nicely in fact) both of your reviews made me smile.

Piper had eaten and gone to bed soon after her conversation with Jareth. She'd become tired after everything and amazingly enough, bid Jareth good-night.

"I expect to see you," he said in a firm tone "nine in the morning in that nursery. Someone will show you what to do." With that he gave a small smile and a short bow "good-night."

"Night," she murmured after him as he walked down the corridor. She made a bee-line for her room and shut the door behind her.

"Where have YOU been?" Sarah asked blankly and Piper didn't answer, she was far too tired. She merely lay down on her bed and covered herself. Her face scrunched with a tired yawn and she blinked at her aunt sleepily. Sarah didn't say anything more, she curled up on Piper's bed and they both fell asleep. There was a slight flick against Piper's nose and she batted it away.

"Missy?" Boon tapped her skull "hey, hey girly, get up."

"Hum?" Piper looked up and gave a sleepy smile "oh, hi there, Boon was it?" The goblin blushed a bit and nodded.

"Yeah," he nodded "dats me. Won't ya come down to breakfast before work, girly?" Piper nodded, though she was still tired and got out of bed. The goblin merely blinked at her and then smiled. "I'll come back for ye. I ain't done waken up everybody."

"Oh," Piper smiled "well aren't you just a morning person?" The goblin giggled and rushed off, closing the door quietly behind him. Piper tossed her hair in a ponytail and found some jeans and a no sleeve white button up shirt lying on her bed. She grabbed a pair of white socks and some tennis shoes and was in the process of tying them when Boon returned.

"Ready girly?" he asked and she nodded. They walked down the hall in silence for a long time and finally Piper kicked in.

"What do goblins do?" she asked and Boon gave her an odd look. "I mean, Knockers mine, Jin grant wishes, Gnomes are lawn decorations…" Boon laughed.

"We play pranks," he shrugged "oh, and we is really good at music. We love to sing n' dance… what do humans do?" Piper thought a moment.

"Be dull I suppose," she shrugged. The goblin stopped dead in his tracks and gave her the most breath defying glare.

"You is not!" he growled "you is the nicest human dat I know! You ain't dull, you very… different."

"Oh," she nodded "you want to know what I can do?" She thought for a moment "I'm very blunt, and truthful. I like to write and play piano and climb trees and…" she paused "I like books."

"I can't read human," the goblin admitted and Piper gave an odd look.

"Well I can't read anything else besides English so," she shrugged. They reached the dining hall and Piper looked in. Boon pushed her though the doors and left her alone to fend for herself. Two girls sat together, whispering and giggling. Piper closed her eyes for a moment, reminded her too much of the school cafeteria scene. Luther waved her over.

Hello Piper, his eyes seemed understanding how's your first day so far?

"Can't complain," she shrugged "I woke up this morning so I can't say I'm doing badly." The boy next to him laughed. He lad jet black hair and brown eyes, his face was strangely thin but his smile seemed to reach as far as his cheek bones.

"I'm Freddy," he said finally and held out his hand "what's Luther signing now? I've gotten a bit of it down, but he really is hard to read."

"Oh I'll teach you," she agreed "if you like. I'm sure Luther would like for someone else to talk to."

Maybe teach everybody? Luther suggested and Piper nodded. It was plane to see that Freddy was, more or less flamboyant. His clothing was a lot nicer than what Luther chose to wear, or Piper for that matter. But Piper figured it didn't matter, she was working today and like hell did she want to be uncomfortable. A loud crash came from the kitchen and a curvy girl with maroon hair came stumbling out holding a large tray. The two girls in the corner giggled wildly as the girl struggled with the tray. Piper practically sprinted across the room and held the tray (or was it the girl) steady. Her gray-crystal eyes shown worry, as if she didn't trust Piper. Piper didn't blame her, no one else seemed to be helping, so why would she unless she was planning on tripping her or something? They both set the tray down on the table and the girl held out her hand.

"Eeva," she said shyly and Piper took it quickly and shook rapidly as if she'd taken one too many caffeine pills. She stopped and shook normally and gave a joking smile.

"Hi," she grinned "Piper."

"Um," the older looking girl with blondish hair snapped "can we eat now or what?"

"Your Sonya aren't you?" Piper asked and the girl gave a deep glare.

"Yeah," she almost spat "why?"

"Just making sure," Piper shrugged "I'm usually really bad with names." Food had been served (though it seemed they all waited for something) and Eeva sat across from Piper who was sitting next to Luther who was by Freddy. Sonya was talking to Becky about how the god Zeus would come to Earth in the form of a swan and seduce young girls.

"Who would fall in love with a swan?" Becky scoffed "I mean, even if it WAS a talking swan, how could you even think bout something like that?"

"Better question," Freddy pointed out "wouldn't it get in the way of… you know, I mean its not really natural or anything…"

"You get past it don't you?" Sonya mused. Piper's ears grew hot, that was a very mean comment but she didn't want to raise any confrontation. She paused a moment, aw what the hell?

"I could understand someone falling in love with a taking swan," Piper blurted and they all seemed to look at her "I mean, I could but, think of the pick up lines!" Piper turned to Eeva and put her arm up on the table and leaned over. "Hey baby," she winked "quack." Eeva laughed, and so did Freddy.

"Swans don't quack," Sonya snapped and everyone looked to Piper.

"Then what do they sound like?" she asked "I mean, I know they don't quack but, I don't have a clue what noise they make. We don't have to be politically correct do we? I mean you weren't a moment ago…" Everything went quiet and no one said anything. It was one of those silences where if a pin were to drop you'd hear the air rushing past it. Freddy bit into an apple and Becky giggled.

"I got a CD player in my room," Sonya said after a while "this Friday I was wondering if you'd like to join our little party and sleep over in my room."

"Oh," Piper nodded "would that be just me and you or…?"

"Me," she smiled "Becky, you, and probably the boys if they're really nice to me this week. Would you like to come?" Piper thought a moment, argh, they had an 'in' crowd with servants!? Why couldn't everyone be friends? Why did people have to be so difficult? CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?! Piper smirked, she'd never been one for letting the weak get trampled. Nor did she like this Sonya very much. And Eeva seemed like she was all alone, and she seemed so cool.

"I can't," she sighed "my apologies."

"Can I ask why?" Becky blurted and Piper shrugged.

"Can you?" she paused a second "oh, you wanna know why! I see. Well, I was actually planning on inviting Eeva here over to my room on Friday and sleep over in my room. And the boys too if they wanna come and sit around." Eeva, Freddy and Luther all looked at her like she had a death wish. Luther looked at her, almost admiringly while Eeva seemed a little embarrassed at Piper's declaration.

"Pish posh," Sonya smirked "I have the CD player, nobody is going to want to miss out on hearing all the songs from Aboveground."

"Boy do I miss rap," Freddy muttered sarcastically and Eeva laughed. Sonya shot her a look and she grew quiet.

"But if you wanted to," Piper said "couldn't you rap yourself? Or sing? Or play?"

Piper, Luther signed quickly you must be crazy for going up against Sonya, but I can't sing, hell, I can't even make noise so what good could I do? I can't make my own music…

"Can you whistle?" Eeva asked and both Piper and Luther looked at her in surprise.

"Can you understand him?" Piper whispered and Eeva nodded. "Its amazing! Three people so far! Luther your going to be a social bug!" Luther smiled. "Shoot, Eeva can help me teach Freddy and then maybe Boon and the other-"

"GOBLINS!?" Sonya screeched "you actually talk to those…. Things?!!?!" Piper nodded. "Your insane! Talking to those filthy… creatures."

They seem better mannered to be than she is, Piper singed and Eeva laughed, this time not stopping when she was glared at.

"I like goblins," Piper admitted "they're quite friendly and funny. Quiet charming creatures they are." Sonya gagged but quickly straitened up as Jareth entered the room.

Good morning Sire, Luther signed.

"Your Kinglyness," Sonya gushed and Becky bowed her head in respect.

"Hola!" Freddy said in a loud, almost obnoxious voice and everyone at the table looked at him. "I mean, good morning sir."

"Morning," Eeva almost whispered and Jareth put his hand behind his ear. "Good morning," this time in a louder tone.

"Mornin'," Piper mustered and Jareth sat at the head of the table.

"Morning," Jareth said blankly and put food on his plate. No one said anything, though they did start eating. Piper felt nervous about praying in front of people, she never had before, except Jareth but then he was magick (that whole openness thing).

"Thank you for this food," she said as quietly as possible "and for these wonderful people to share it with. And bless (or whatever you do) those that prepared it and provided it. Amen."

"Are you Catholic?" Sonya asked bluntly once Piper's head was up. Apparently, everyone had heard her prayer.

"No," she said quietly.

"I am," she said proudly and Piper just nodded.

"I'm Christian," Becky admitted.

Me too, Luther signed.

"I'm a bunch of odds and ends," Freddy smirked "I believe a lot of junk." Piper looked at Eeva though she didn't say anything and kept her head down.

"She's a witch," Sonya blurted and Piper choked on a piece of apple. It wasn't because of her religion, but how Sonya said it, so cruelly and hatful like.

"Really?" Piper asked looking at Eeva. She merely nodded. "Wow," Piper smiled at her "what kind of Wicca you practice?"

"Celtic," she said shyly.

"Ah," Piper nodded "so you believe in reincarnation and transmigration, right?" Jareth watched closely as Piper attempted to draw Eeva out a little, be more open. Eeva nodded, seeming a little shocked that Piper had any idea of her beliefs.

"What's transmigration?" Becky asked and Sonya nudged her from under the table.

"Transmigration is the transfer of the human soul into an animal or plant," Piper explained and looked back to Eeva "right?" She nodded and now a smile was forming on her face.

"I'm a Bard," Eeva explained and Piper smiled.

"Oh really?!" she grinned "you should show me sometime! I love poetry." This went on for quiet some time up until everyone left the dining hall and started work.

"Piper," Jareth said firmly and Piper looked up worriedly "today you'll work with Eeva. She'll show you how to work the kitchen and possibly help you find your way around the castle, though I'm sure your too far beyond help."

"Love that sarcasm, Jareth," Piper sighed and started clearing the table "it suits you."

Author's note:

Druids (or Dryads if you're a female) had three divisions.

-Bards: the poets (normally wore blue robes)

- Ovates: the prophets and philosophers (normally wore green)

-Priests: who wore white.

For more information please email me at: IdonyEllen at -

Morrigana: ::smiles:: aww, I'd glad you like it. I'm not sure how I got the dialogue ::shrugs:: guess the story just took over. Thank you!

WhiteSwan: Yeah, Jareth is a little… motherly isn't he?

Hippie99: ::smiles and runs around the room:: Aw, your so nice! I don't know how I came up with that, I guess my muse has been working his tail off (sweet fellow he is) which brigs me to another point… why are all of my muses guys?.... ::giggles::

Sightlessmuse: So do I, I've got a great pic on my comp of Jareth in that room (if ya want I'll email it to you). Piper's bluntness comes from my own I suppose, it's a trait in other people I admire very much. As for Sarah and Jareth, I really don't know. I'm not sure if I want to fix him with Piper or Sarah! Its so difficult ::growls annoyingly:: And yes, I updated quite a bit ::yawns:: but these stories is ALL I've been thinking about (I daydream FAR of often). I don't think I'll be stopping now. Yeah, poor Jareth being tired, poor dear. AND (good lord you reviewed a lot) I just HAD to dedicate it to you!! Look at how much you review!!

Rosakara13: sorry ye got lost.

LadyAniviel: glad to here you say so, and I don't KNOW who I'm paring yet! It seems that Jareth likes Piper (my story controls ME not the other way around it seems) but I think Piper's will gonna get it into her head that Jareth likes Sarah, and try to match them up. OH the humanity!

Chaimera: Sorry, I tend to leave them off oddly ::shrugs:: and thank you! I don't normally do a lot of sad, depressing openings (or stories for that matter) but lately… meh. And thank you, THANK YOU SO MUCH for not bugging me about spelling - I do it all the time.

Princess Consuela Banana Hammock: number one, me likey you name. Number two, caffeine is what makes the world go round.

Acantha Mardivey: now now, I updated ::shakes finger:: don't get huffy at me young lady.

LadyAniviel (again): I've been updating, why haven't you? ::ahem:: I better be seeing some chapters up soon young lady. Anyways, thanks for the review and yeah, I understand your busy (keep it up your doing wonderfully)

Acantha Mardivey (again): glad your happy love.

Acantha Mardivey (once more!): wow… you like to review don't ya love? Anyways, Piper is a little hyper, and yeah, she's blunt… very…very blunt. And stop giving the plot line away!! ::laughs:: that's my job hun, let me finish it lol.