Author's Note: Yay, I'm back! I had a bad case of writer's block, plus various projects for college next year. Besides, Adina and Jareth have sworn to come after me if I don't write more down. Having both a hawk and an owl sit outside in your backyard will make you jumpstart! (Seriously. I'm not kidding about them being there.) So, here we go!

Chapter 22: She Couldn't be Happier

"Lady Galinda! How is the King today?" a young page asked the next morning. "Not any better. Now shoo!" The older Faerie quietly entered her royal mistress's chambers, looking this way and that. I wonder where Adina is. I haven't seen her all morning.

"Hi, Galinda!" Adina cheerfully exclaimed, vaulting over the Queen's balcony and into the room. "Your Highness!" the maid nearly shrieked. "Oh, sorry. Did I startle you?" All the princess received was a cold stare. " I have a cure for my father," Adina said, soberly.

Galinda's eyelids snapped open, taking that in. "Well, Your Highness, come on!" She started to fly off, then stopped. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I forgot you can't fly!"

"No," Adina said, "but this is better." And she crossed over to the wall, and walked through it.

"Please wake up, darling!" the Queen cried, shaking her husband's arms. "What'll I do without you?" Behind her, the King's advisors kept a close vigil, though they wanted to leave. "Doesn't Her Majesty know he might as well die?" one whispered. "Nothing will help," murmured another.

A great clamor arose outside the room, as Galinda entered, out of breath. "Your Majesties," she wheezed, dropping into a quick curtsy, "I-we-that, is- Her Highness- may have something to heal His Majesty."

"I do have something, not may," Adina called out, breezing in via the left wall.

"Walking through walls," the lords muttered. "Is there anything she can't do?"

"Are you absolutely certain, Adina?" the Queen stammered, hope rising in her voice.

"Yes, Mother. Now then………….." Pulling out a small musky vial, Adina opened her father's mouth and poured the contents down his throat. Several tense minutes passed……

"Imogene?" The Queen sprang forward, hearing her husband's voice. "Sylvan!" "Dearest, why are you crying?" And where's Adina?"

"Father," Adina breathed, falling into his arms. The Queen followed her, and the three of them stayed that way, for a long time.

Outside, an eagle smiled. Have your joy now, it thought, because it won't last long.

In his castle, Jareth sat still, lost in thought. "Sire?" He glanced up, to see Higgle-Hoggle, that was his name-there, shuffling his feet nervously. Might as well see what the dwarf wanted. "Is Her Highness, Princess Adina, okay?"

There was a question he'd been asking himself since they had last talked, but spying was not one of Jareth's strong points. Time to fix that. "Well, let's have a look, Hogwid?"

Wait a sec! He's bein' nice! He must be worried about her too, Hoggle guessed silently. A glance into the crystal showed their Majesties King Sylvan and Queen Imogene with Adina sitting nearby. She was radiant with happiness, eagerly talking. "She looks happy enough," he sighed with relief. "I feel better now."

I wish I could say the same, Jareth thought, turning the crystal around. Something is wrong there, or will be…………

"…..And so we toured the Goblin Realm," Adina finished her tale, looking at her parents.

"Very good, dear!" the King praised, a faint smile on his lips. "I'm so proud of you, Adina!" her mother chimed in, patting Adina's hands.

Under her parents' gazes, Adina smiled, and blinked back tears. They're proud of me. For once! Me! In a rush of emotion, she exclaimed, "I love you, Mother, Father."

"We love you too, Adina," the King said warmly. "But now, I must rest."

"Yes, Father," Adina smiled at him. "Pleasant dreams." With that, she left the room, feeling happier than she ever had before.

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