CHAPTER 15

Sarah knocked and unlocked the door. Sarah said, "Open up, honey." Brie removed the chair. Sarah came in and put Azrael on the bed. Sarah took off her cloak and Brie gasped, grabbed a washcloth and wetted it using the pump. Sarah looked at her funny and Brie put it on her gloves hand covered in blood. Sarah realized why then.

Brie had tears in her eyes and said, "Sar, what happened?"

Sarah said, "A dead man wanted to sell me to the Ogres and Azrael to a buyer with a knife but he couldn't get a hold of me, after Azrael went to the bathroom. It's just his blood, little one."

Sarah wiped all the blood off her gloves and rinsed out the washcloth into the bowl of the pitch/bowl set on a small table by the pump. She dumped the water. As she turned around, Brie launched herself into her arms. Sarah wrapped her arms around her, hugging her.

Brie cried and said, "I… I canna go on… without ye, Sar… If anythin' happen to ye… I be lost."

Sarah kissed her cheeks all wet and said, "I am not going anywhere, sweet girl. I'm alright and so are you. The greedy man was after Azrael. You should have seen Azrael. I dropped the leash and he backed off. He just sat there like a good boy and watched. He is so smart to know not to interfere when he's still small. He even growled at the guy before."

Brie stepped back, kissed Sarah on the cheek and said, "I love you, Sar. Ye protect me an Azrael like ar mama would." Brie picked up a happy Azrael.

Sarah said, "You are my children. It's just that simple." Sarah sat next to Brie and petted her head. Brie leaned in, putting her head against Sarah's shoulder. Azrael wiggled to be let down.

Sarah kissed Brie's head and said, "Let's go eat, little one." Brie sat Azrael on the floor. Sarah got Azrael's toys out and rolled his leather balls on the floor with his lamb's hoof. He took off after it. They got on their cloaks and gloves. Sarah locked the door and they went downstairs to eat. The place was busy.

Sarah and Brie approached the innkeeper because there were no seats at the counter and said, "Can we have two dinners and four wines with a tray, please?" Sarah put down two silver. He collected the money and gave her two coppers. He filled four wines and put them on a tray. He went to the back and came out with two venison roasted dinners. Sarah took the tray to a table in a dark corner and they ate their dinners listening to the music and watching the people.

Sarah noticed some rough looking people. Sarah listened to a conversation about one man finding a dead man outside when he went to pee. He said he still had his money on him so he took it. The other guy said, "Oh well, probly scum tryin' ta hurt someone an gets it back in return." Sarah thought that was pretty casual. We must watch our backs here.

The innkeeper shouted over everyone in the inn, "Ye best get yer unpaid arses down them stairs or ye will facing Darth!" A very big tough looking man went charging up the stairs and two men came thrown tumbling down the stairs.

He shouted, "Told ya! Ifin ye ain't a paid patron, ye got no business going up them stairs!" The people in the room started laughing at the two morons picking themselves off the floor and out the inn door. The big guy pulled up a chair and sat by the stairwell.

Brie clasped Sarah's hand. Sarah was done drinking her two wines and said, "Are you done, little one?" Brie whispered, "No but let's go." Sarah drank a bit of her second wine and they stood up and walked to go up the stairs. The big man stopped her.

Sarah said, "We paid for room six." He looked at the innkeeper. The innkeeper nodded and the big man removed his arm. Sarah said to the big guy, "Thank you for looking out for us. My little one, thanks you too." The big man smiled at her and nodded.

Sarah took Brie up the stairs and they locked and put the chair under the door. They took their baths, washed clothes and hung them to dry. Sarah put on clean leggings and boots, put on her belt and cloak. She scooped up Azrael and put on his leash to go potty again. She locked the door waiting for Brie to put a chair under the doorknob. She held Azrael and her knife in her other hand.

Sarah went downstairs and the crowd was less but the big man was still there in the chair. She said to him, "I'll be right back." She walked out to the other side of the building and watched while Azrael went to the bathroom.

She came back inside and the big man asked, "Did ye buy em'?

Sarah said lowly, "No, his family was murdered in the woods, but the man was killed by the mother. He was alone at one week old."

He said, "They be bastards killin', buyin' and sellin' em'."

Sarah said, "I know. They should be free. This one will have a choice at two years old if he wants it. I would miss him though." The big man patted Azrael's head. Sarah nodded and went up the stairs. She unlocked it and knocked saying, "It's me baby." Brie moved the chair and Sarah opened the door. They locked it and put the chair back.

Sarah put another log on the fire and they went to bed with her two bed mates all cuddled up.

—--

Jareth entered her dreams. He was standing in a part of the Labyrinth with Sarah in her nightshirt and long hair past her waist was pulled to the side.

Jareth said, "Hello, Sarah." She just stared at him. She thought, 'God he is so handsome, sexy and exotic. Get a grip, Sarah.'

Sarah said, "Hello, Goblin King. How have you been?" He wasn't expecting that. No, he was expecting some snide comment or smart remark.

She cocked her head to the side like he does and asked, "Jareth did you close my portal in my mirror a day after I returned? I tried to call through it to Hoggle, Sir Didymus, and you, but it never worked again after that one time I used it to talk to Hoggle." He cocked his head to the side confused. What is she talking about me shutting down the portal? Someone closed it? I'm going to find out who did that.

Jareth said, "Sarah, really. I never shut off your portal. Is that what you're claiming happened after ten years? Are you blaming me?"

Sarah calmly said, "No, I'm not blaming you. I was just confused. I just assumed back then that you did it, because you were the only magical being I knew who had the power back then to do it. I was only fifteen. I suppose someone else must have done it if you didn't. Jareth, I don't hate you and I never did. I was more full of fear and anxiety back then when I was here. I had a lot of time to think about everything that happened as I grew up. I'm sorry I left with such a terrible misunderstanding between us like we did. I was fifteen years old and still just a child. I didn't know anything about adult feelings or desires back then. I was so afraid that if I listened to you, I would forfeit Toby. I don't blame you for anything." He was really confused now. She defused his accusation.

Jareth arrogantly said, "Why are you in the Underground, Sarah?" He wanted to hear her side of the story. Sarah realized that he was still hurt over her refusing to stay here with him last time.

She nodded and said, "I am an Archeologist and study ancient sites and I fell through a portal in Newgrange Mound. The wall just disappeared and I couldn't go back. It's not like I have much to go back to anyway. I have nothing anymore back there. Nothing but a job."

Jareth said, "What about Toby?"

Sarah looked at the ground and said with a tear in her eye, "Karen made sure I had nothing left. She made my father think I was a burden and nothing more. She made me stay at a distance and board at school, so I was away from Toby. She convinced him I didn't care anymore, just like my father. I haven't heard a word from my mother since I was twelve. So, I had nothing." She wiped the tears out of her eyes. Jareth was surprised she told him that.

She sadly said, "So, now you know. How have you been? How did you find me? I didn't think you checked up on me at all."

Jareth said thinking pensively and decided to tell her the truth, "I did for a long while and it had been four years I hadn't. I just thought I'd check and see how you were randomly and I couldn't locate you for some reason. My crystals were black. For a time I thought maybe you were dead. I wanted to know for sure. I went up twice when runners called and had my advisor run the runner. I went and saw your family and found out about your disappearance and relatives in Ireland. The second time, I then went to your Uncle's house and found out your car was found abandoned at Newgrange and your job said you were left there alone and never seen again. I went to the mound and found the portal and knew what happened. I just don't know how. Those portals are for fae only. It kind of surprised me. To answer your other question, I have been fine, putting out fires and running my kingdom. How did you come by a black wolf pup?"

She said, "I was camping here in the Fairy Kingdom and I heard a fight between a wolf and a man. I didn't go look until daylight and found a dead wolf, a dead man and the dead man crushed two out of three pups under him. I scooped up Azrael, the one crying for a mother that would never be able to come help him. I kept him warm and made meat broth trying to get it into him until I got to a town and the blacksmith gave me a bottle of goat and unicorn milk."

Jareth said, "He just gave it to you?"

Sarah said, "Yeah, but I wouldn't let him, so I gave him some gold coins for it. I knew it wasn't cheap. He had me go to the fae innkeeper to put a stasis spell on it. I did and gave him a gold coin for helping me by doing that."

Sarah said, "I turned fae on my twenty third day in Rince. A gypsy fortune teller told me on my 19th day in before that happened, that I was going to change. I didn't know why or what she meant. She said I was bitten before and it took a while to build up in me but it would be real soon. I was bitten by a fairy on my run. It's all I can think of that she meant. It scared the hell out of me. I made three very wonderful fae people in Rince when it happened. There were two brothers and the woman was the older brother's girlfriend. They all grew up together and we're so much fun. They taught me some magic. I told them I came from far far away and was raised by humans. Which wasn't a lie. The three helped me that week I was there. They were such kind people. I am fond of them. The brothers had businesses, one a jeweler and one an innkeeper. The woman owns a market."

Jareth said, "Sarah, how did you get money to survive here?"

Sarah said, "When I fell through the portal I tripped over a pot of gold." Jareth started laughing. She smiled looking at him.

Jareth was still chuckling and said, "Only you, Sarah, in all of the Underground would be fortunate enough to find a pot of gold upon entering the Underground."

Sarah said, "I actually now have found two." He started chuckling again.

Jareth asked, "Sarah how did you acquire a human child?"

Sarah said, "Jareth, a fae man was drugging, killing or selling patrons at an inn, after killing the owners. He was selling them to the Ogres and Centaurs in the town of Saor. I wished him and his friends away for hearing them plot my demise to be human females and sold to Centaurs. I found this tiny little girl thirteen years old in rags terrified. She was being raped repeatedly, enslaved, beaten and threatened to be sold by that animal. He murdered her parents right in front of her a year ago. I refused to leave her alone. We cleaned that man out. He had a huge hoard of money and people's mountains of things in three of the rooms. We took all his money. I found clothing, accessories, baggage and supplies to take care of her and outfit her as a man. We told the blacksmith, turned over the key to the inn and took the asshole's horse for her. He had only been there for four months. I love my child dearly. She is mine now and I will destroy anyone who tries to hurt her or take my wolf."

Jareth said sadly, "Sarah, that's terrible. Is she alright? Come to my Kingdom you and your child will be safer. Let me help you. I promise not to do anything to harm or detain you. I just want you safe. I can teach you more magic too. Please, Sarah, I just want to help you."

Sarah asked, "Will you show me your whole kingdom? I want to travel your kingdom but if it's as messed up as what I've seen in the Fairy and Unicorn Kingdoms. You maybe in trouble too with human trafficking to the Ogres and Centaurs. It's happening ramptly. I even heard many people in the inns and taverns say, that the High King doesn't care or do anything about it. There are good people being kidnapped and sold for money. It's cruel and violent. I have gotten rid of eight people, killing or wishing them away, in two kingdoms who were doing that. The last hoarder thief I got rid of, I split the money with the owner and he was grateful and wealthy now. My child and I are very healthy and wealthy, but not safe at all. I want to get her somewhere safe for winter and stable. I will come after this week in Loch Criostail. Can I wish for you when we are done and take our baggage and horses with us?"

Jareth said, "Yes and you can bring anything you like just pack up and wish for me to come to you. I'll transport you all and your horses. Thank you Sarah, for trusting me. Be careful, I did see you kill that man who had tried to hold a knife to your throat. Whoever trained you trained you well. I was amazed."

Sarah said, "It was my Uncle Kenny you met. He is a brilliant and powerful man. I adored him while I was there. I wanted him for a father instead of my own. Uncle Kenny showed me more affection and taught me what he knew than anyone. You taught me a lot too while I was here. I never told you I was grateful. I am now, Jareth." He stepped closer.

Jareth said, "Thank you, Sarah. You have truly changed in every way since you were young. I do want my healer to find out how this happened to make you fae, if it's alright. I want you to stay in the castle with me, if you would?" Sarah was weary of the castle, but she didn't want to offend him.

Sarah smiled at him and said, "Jareth, that is very kind and generous of you to do that and don't for one second think I don't appreciate it. I would like to just stay at your inn or tavern in the Goblin City for now. I have over fourteen thousand in gold and can afford it, besides it's been a while and I think we need to get to know each other again before I live with you. Let's be friends, ok?" He was a bit disappointed but understood her feelings. He would be happy with her being close. Maybe later he could get her to stay with him. Perhaps, court her later on.

Jareth said, "I understand but will expect you to visit me and me to visit you often and be my friend. I am looking forward to it. Be safe Sarah. I'll be waiting for your call." The dream started to fade.