Chapter 4

Shenya cowered in the corner with the least number of dead around it. In the past few hours, or was it days? She had been kidnapped, raped and beaten. Well, not beaten all that much. Just raped. And being stuck in this pathetic excuse for a cell.

She shrunk further into the corner as the door opened.

Dirpeck walked into the room where Dido was playing. He made sure no one was about, then waited for the prince to acknowledge his existence.

"I've seen you before, but I don't know your name. Tell me." Dido ordered. Dirpeck decided to take the risk that the boy was telling the truth.

"Dirpeck, your Highness," he answered as he bowed.

"Oh, yes, Dirpeck. . . I think I've heard of you somewhere in one of mother's stories, but I'm not sure which one. Remind me."

"I was the one that ate three five-five-twos pies!" Dirpeck proudly took credit for someone else's deeds. What he really meant was three dozen, but goblins couldn't count that high. They only count to five. The smartest ones could actually count to ten, but Dirpeck was not one of these. After that, they just start over.

"Oh, yes. I remember that. What did you come here for?" Dido asked curiously.

"His Majesty requests your presents." Dirpeck replied.

"Presents? What. . .Oh, presence. Okay, lead the way," Dido said.

Dirpeck made his way out of the room with Dirpeck in tow, and turned the corner, bumping straight into Jareth himself.

"You asked to see me Father?" Dido asked.

"No, although I was coming to see you. Where would you get an idea like that?" Jareth asked.

"Well, Dirpeck said--" Jareth cut him off.

"There is no such goblin as Dirpeck. He changed his name to Traitor eight years ago."

"But why? Just because he ate three dozen pies?" Dido asked, noticing that Dirpeck was nowhere to be found.

"If you must know, that was Gimglick that ate all of the pies. Traitor was responsible for endangering the royal family in the rebellion." Jareth schooled his son on recent history.

"Wait a minute! He said you wanted to see me!" Dido exclaimed.

"I did, but I woouldn't trust any of the goblins to give you that kind of message. What I came to tell you is that Shenya has been kidnapped, and I want you to stay on your guard and not trust anyone outside this family." Jareth replied evenly.

"Oh, okay." Dido said sullenly.

&(&(&(&(&(&(&(&(&(&(&(&(

Dirpeck hurried along the halls of King Arkus's castle. He ran right into the mage. He seemed to have a problem running into important people he didn't really want to see today.

"Did you get the boy?" The mage asked.

"No, I'll take normal payment for the girl only. I missed my chance. He'll never come now," Dirpeck replied.

"Very well. Your reward is in this room," the mage said, shoving him in. Dirpeck gasped at what he saw.

Jareth paced back and forth in his throne room. Shenya had been captured by a mage. For what purpose, he did not know. Dirpeck had been with her, but came back, saying she had told him to tell the king what had occurred. Dirpeck also had tried to kidnap his son, that he was sure of. So what did it mean?

It all boiled down to one thing: Dirpeck was working for someone, who wanted members of the royal family for some reason. The question was, who?

Jareth went to the library and looked up every fae lord with a mage in their service. He copied them down, then went crossed off those that did not have a grudge against him, or that was sure would never betray him.

That left him two names. King Filre, and King Arkus. Both wanted his kingdom, and both had grudges against him. But only King Arkus was low enough to use treacherous goblins to do his dirty work. King Filre was known for not having anything to do with goblins, dwarves or anything below three feet. He claimed that it lowered his reputation.

So that left King Arkus. Jareth concentrated his power on the fae lord's castle, and sensed wards, cloaking devices and other such secrecy apparrell. But underneath it all, he sensed what was he was looking for. Shenya. She was in there somewhere, and he intended to find her and get her out of there. Even if it cost him his own life.

A/N: First off, don't worry, I won't let Jareth die. But that sure was a close for Dido. Poor kid. Doesn't know who to trust. Second, I know all of you are screaming for Dirpeck's blood and various body parts, but I promise you, his time is coming. Third, I am just curious to see how old everyone here thinks I am. The winner(s) will get to pick one torture weapon to use on Dirpeck. Sorry you can't torture him, yourselves, but I promised that to Wings. But I can let you guys pick the weapons. Just make sure it won't kill him. I have a special death planned for him.

Replies:

Wings- Yes, just email me about how you want to look. Is black leather okay? Sorry, but Jareth and Shenya won't get a chance to kill him.

MorganLeFay99- My school doesn't start for another week. It doesn't start until the day after Labor Day every year. Shenya would be about 24 years old. Sarah would be 27, Dido turns 8, and Toby is around sixteen or so.

Draco's daughter- Again, I'm free until September 7th, but I have fair all week before that, so I don't know how much I'll update.