Chapter 9b

As the days turned into weeks things had become pretty routine in the Underground, Jareth and Christine continued to practice her magic and in their spare time they explored their love for each other. Jareth was pleased with his Champions progress and as each day passed he felt that she could handle anything that she might be forced to face during the High Council meeting. But a dark cloud hovered over the castle; all attempts to fine Gaylord had failed Jareth felt increasingly frustrated with the lack of success. Adrianna had recouped nicely from her encounter with Waylinn but as she continued her tasks in the castle she had a look of worry in her eyes for Gaylord. To help lessen Jareth's frustration and worry Matilda became the liaison between the Council and the King, as the full moon drew nearer there were daily reminders from the Council regarding the coming night and the presentation of the Champion.

One evening Jareth sat in his chambers looking over the reports, from the goblin general, and sighed wearily there still was no sign of Gaylord in the outer rim of the kingdom. Jareth placed the half-hazard written letter on his desk and rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hands and said a silent prayer to the powers of the land to keep his dear friend safe. Sitting back in his chair he contemplated what to do next when he heard a soft knock at his door he called out gruffly,

"Enter!" standing up he got ready to chastise the goblin who interrupted him and maybe drop him into the Bog of Eternal Stench, but his frustration immediately dissipated when he saw who walked into the room.

"I am sorry Jareth for interrupting you," Christine said as she walked toward him, "I was resting and felt your frustration and I was wondering if there was something I could do to help."

Their connection had gotten stronger as they spent more time together; it still amazed Jareth that no matter where they were they knew what the other was feeling.

He smiled at her, "I don't know if you can help but your company is always appreciated."

He stopped talking when he noticed that she was not paying attention to him due to her close examination of the room. He watched her touch the chair near the fire and look closely at the books on the wall behind him. He wasn't sure what to think as she continued to browse the room slowly. As she turned to face him again he saw confusion emanating from her lovely face.

"What is it Christine?" He asked quietly.

She continued to look at the room and knew she had seen it before, even though this was the first time she had stepped foot into it since she had been staying in the castle. Then all the sudden it hit her, this was the same room she saw in the painting in the antique store down to the old high back chair and the dusty books she was surprised that the room was an actual place.

Jareth watched as she looked at the room and as he closed the distance between them he asked with worry in his voice, "What is it Christine?"

She looked at him and asked, "Is this the room that is painted in the picture at the antique shop?"

Breathing a sigh of relief that there wasn't a problem he took a hold of her hand and lead her to a sitting area next to the fire knowing that an explanation was in order, "Yes, it is the same room in the painting,"

Taking his seat he gestured for her to follow suit and as soon as Christine was settled he continued, "After the Temptress put the curse upon my kingdom I struggled with bouts of depression and I spent a lot of time in this room. I would look out that window, and try to think of ways to break the curse." he said as he tilted his head toward one of the three windows in his room.

After a brief moment he continued, "One evening I asked the Spirits of my Land to help guide me to a solution for my problem when suddenly a soft breeze moved across the castle wall and caressed my cheek, it put me in some sort of trance and I walked over to where my easel stood and started to paint. I didn't think about what I was doing I just let the sensations guide my hand and create the picture for me."

"I painted for hours so I have been told I lost all sense of time." He sat back in his chair and took a drink from the cup that was on the table next to him then he continued, "After my trance disappeared I looked at my painting and saw it for the first time the woman I painted. I knew instinctively that she would be the one to save my kingdom somehow. I immediately left the Underground to search for her hoping that I could find her and convince her to return with me to my castle. As I took flight and appeared in your world I wasn't sure where to start so I just flew hoping that Fate would guide me to my savior. As I flew I followed any sensations that came to me, soon I found myself in a dense forest I sat in a tree to rest before beginning my search once again."

He took another drink from his cup before continuing, "I watched many hikers and travelers walk by, but none of them was the woman I painted I heard some campers up the path a ways so I flew toward them to get a better look but unfortunately as I got closer I found out that they just were a bunch of teenagers enjoying the forest. Needless to say I was very disappointed."

Christine quickly interrupted, "Jareth were you in your owl form when you arrived in the forest?"

Looking at her confused by her question he answered, "Yes I was but why do you ask?"

Smiling she continued, "Was it about nine years ago during the fall season?"

Doing a quick calculation in his head he answered, "Yes it was about that long ago. How did you know that?"

With a sparkle in her eyes she explained, "When I was a teenager I was camping in the woods with some of my friends, that year there was an extended Indian summer and we wanted to enjoy nature before it got to cold. While all my friends decided to set up camp I went into the woods to find some kindling for a fire as I was searching I looked up into the trees and saw a snowy white owl. I remember thinking that it was weird because owls are usually nocturnal creatures."

As she focused on her loves face she concluded, "I think your feelings were accurate but your timing was off. You painted the future me not the teenage me."

Jareth realized what she said was true and couldn't believe that he didn't think about it nine years ago.

Sighing Christine continued, "For a long time I thought about that owl and I went back to the forest many times hoping to see it again as I got older I forgot about that day until I saw your painting in Matilda's store and the first thought that popped in my head was how much you looked like the owl I saw."

She stood up from her chair and knelt at Jareth's feet and laid her head in his lap and said quietly, "I am glad that I finally found my owl."

Not wanting to break the sweet silence between them Jareth played with her hair as they both stared into the fire lost in their own thoughts and slowly they drifted off to sleep contented.

Jareth awaken when he heard a knock coming from his door he slowly lifted Christine off his lap and laid her head back on the chair. Walking to the door he rubbed the knick from his neck as he opened it Matilda greeted him and handed him a letter,

"I am sorry to wake you Jareth but I think this needs your immediate attention it is from the High Council and it is regarding the curse that was placed on your kingdom and your request to accompany your Champion, into the Temptress's lair, when the time comes to face her."

Looking at his mentor he smiled, "Thank you Mattie but don't apologize for coming to my door I am glad that you decided to be the mediator between the Council and me. I was about to drop every last one of them into the Bog of Eternal Stench because of their constant reminders of the full moon meeting."

Smiling Matilda answered, "I am glad I could help Jareth but now I must get to bed dealing with the council and your messenger goblin is exhausting work."

As Matilda started to walk away he closed the door and hurriedly opened his letter while sitting down at his desk:

Dear King Jareth,

I am sorry to inform you that your request to accompany your Champion on her quest to defeat the Temptress has been denied. After much investigation we found the exact wording of the curse the Temptress used and it plainly states that the Champion of the Goblin King must face the Temptress physical alone other wise the curse cannot be lifted from his kingdom. I am truly sorry I have to be the barrier of this bad news but I believe that Christine will be able to complete her destiny on her own she is smart and very resourceful and she has the best teacher in the land. Now I must bid you farewell my friend and I will see you soon.

Yours truly Lady Katrina

Jareth threw the letter on his desk in anger and looked at his love sleeping peacefully wishing that he could join her on her quest as he promised. A knot formed in his stomach as he thought about having to tell her he couldn't keep his word. He stood up from his desk and walked to sleeping woman to awaken her and tell her the bad news he just received.

He gently shook her shoulder and as her green eyes open to look at him all he saw was love emanating from them. As she lifted her head from the chair she stretch her sore muscles, Jareth hoped that the love he saw would still be there tomorrow after he told her about the letter.

"Christine wake up we have to talk."

Smiling at him she flirted, "I could get use to waking up to your face my handsome King."

Jareth beamed as he helped her to her feet and exclaimed, "And I can get use to you falling asleep next to me but right now we have to talk about…"

Before Jareth had finished his sentenced Christine interrupted, "Yes I know we have to think of some way to save Gaylord and I came up with an idea right before I fell asleep. Why don't we rescue him when we face the Temptress, we could find him and release him then help him escape before we face her…"

Christine stopped her rambling when she saw Jareth quickly walk away heading toward the open window, she wonder what she said during her ramblings that bothered him quietly she asked, "What is wrong Jareth?"

He turned and faced her with apprehension showing on his face; "I don't know how to tell you this, so I will be up front with you…. I can't be there when you face the Temptress."

Christine shook her head in disagreement, "You promised that you would be there when I faced her…remember when we were with the Spirit of the Labyrinth."

Jareth looked at her anguished face and continued, "I just received word from the Council, the spell cannot be broken if I am physically there with you. I wish it was different but the curse was very specific according to Lady Katrina on how it can be broken."

All hope seemed to vanish within Christine's soul as Jareth told her of his news, "But you promised…" she said quietly in dismay.

He walked toward his love to console her but when his hands touched her arms she shook off his embrace and yelled at him, "Jareth don't you dare touch me you made a promise to me!"

Hurt, Jareth stepped back anger rising within his chest, "I know and I would have never made the promise if I knew the exact wording of the curse! By the Gods woman don't you understand that some things are out of our control?"

She looked back at him anger rising in her voice, "Yes Jareth I understand things are out of our control but a least I don't make promises without knowing all the facts!"

With her harsh statement said she turned from him and ran out of the room and down the hall not knowing where she was going but knowing she had to get out of the castle. She ran past Matilda without saying a word to her and out the door.

Soon afterward Matilda saw Jareth running in the same direction and before he reached the door she grabbed his arm holding him back. "Let me go Mattie I need to go after her."

Shaking her head she replied, "No Jareth, she needs time on her own to think things through why don't you join me for a cup of tea and you and I can talk." He took one last look at the door, which his loved just went through and with his shoulders slumping in defeat he knew that his mentor was correct she needed time to herself.

As they entered the Kings room Matilda led Jareth to the sitting chairs, "Now you sit right here and I will be right back with some tea.

As she walked out he looked into the fire, his thoughts in a jumble. He wanted Christine to understand that he had every intention of keeping his promise but he wasn't sure how he could be with her but not be with her when she faced the Temptress.

Jareth lifted his fingers to rub his eyes wearily when Matilda walked back into the room with a tray that held their tea. Without saying a word the older Fae gave a cup of tea to her friend then sat down with her own cup to wait, she knew that her King needed to talk but she was not going to rush him.

He took a sip of the hot liquid and started to immediately feel at ease he looked up and asked, "What is this Mattie?"

She answered, "It is tea Jareth."

Shaking his head he sighed in exasperation, "I know it is tea but what did you put in it?"

"I added just a tad of my own special mixture so that you would feel less stress and maybe think more clearly. It won't hurt you so drink up."

After the cup was finished Jareth he had to admit he did feel a little bit better but he still longed for Christine to return to him. He looked at the elder Fae across from him and smiled, "Thank you Mattie the tea was delicious."

Putting her own cup down she asked, "Jareth am I correct in assuming that Christine went running out of the castle because of the contents of the letter you just received stating she will have to face the Temptress alone."

Raising his head in surprise Matilda continued, "I read the letter before bringing it to you I thought it was another notification from the council about the full moon meeting."

Standing up he walked to the window and stare at his kingdom and said quietly, "Yes you are right, I made a promise to her that I will be with her when she faced the Temptress and I had to break that promise tonight…Needless to say she didn't take it well. I wish that there were some way that I could convince her that she can complete her destiny on her own. She is very powerful Mattie she has learned how to use her magic very quickly and every day her spells are getting stronger…. she just lacks self-confidence."

Matilda walked to his side to look out the window with him before replying; "I think that if you want really want to help her you might want to initiate some of those challenges that you were going to have her face when you first invited her to the Underground."

Jareth was about to object when she raised her hand up halting his answer and continued, "Sometimes the only way to build up self-confidence is to actually be in a position in which there is no one else to rely on. Jareth you have trained her well now it is time to put that training to use."

Looking out at the moon he knew that his friend was correct his Champion needed to be tested, slowly he raised his hand and created three crystal orbs and while juggling them in an intricate pattern he pick one and with a soft breath he sent it into his Labyrinth, he repeated the same steps with the other two and after they had disappeared from sight Jareth sat back in the window to await for his loves return.

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