The Goblin King was angry. It was the only way he wouldn't be heartbroken. She sounded positively miserable that he had saved her. It was extremely frustrating. After all this time to finally have her back here and her spirit was seemingly cut in half. Entering his private study, he slammed the door and shouted.
"AIDEN!"
With a small pop a smallish man appeared out of thin air. He was around 5 feet tall with a very wiry build and sharply featured face. He had a riotous head of flaming red hair specked with gold flakes. His skin was a black as onyx. He wore a crisp white tunic with oxblood breeches. His pointy shoes were complete with a set of silver bells. All in all, he was a fine male specimen of fire pixie. With a flourishing blow and a slightly sarcastic lilt in his voice he came correct.
"You summoned me, Your Majesty? How might I be of service on this most fine day?" He spoke through a smile of pearly white and slightly pointy teeth. That is until he properly took in the disposition of his king. He had been the king's aid and advisor for many years and had never quite seen a dark cloud over him quite like this. His smile wilting, he asked a very dangerous question.
"How is she?"
Jareth's eyes snapped up, "You know?"
"Of course, Sire. The labyrinth made it clear to all of us locals when the Champion returned. It caused quite a stir. Everybody knows."
Sighing heavily, the king took a seat at his desk. Growling slightly through steepled fingers he mused harshly, "I suppose it was unrealistic to think I could contain this. Soon the High Court will know. And they will have many questions, none with easy answers. As for your question, she is doing very poorly. When I found her, she was…quite elderly. A state of being that persists and it gives her much pain and distress."
Aiden cocked his head to an inquisitive angle, "I would not have thought that it had been so long. How long do you suppose she will live?"
Jareth took a deep breath and relayed the strange course of events. All the time watching as Aiden's face twisted into a caricature of confusion.
"Such a thing is unprecedented, Sire! I can only guess at the effects this upset will have. One thing is clear, however. She cannot continue in this current state. If what you say is true and despair grips her...Your Majesty, it may consume her. And in her case, that could destroy her. If you wish her to live, my advice to you is to see to her every comfort. Give her something to live for, Sire."
A light crossed the kings face, the first echoes of an idea forming. Slowly he stood, "You're right of course." he hurriedly began to put himself together. shrugging into a fitted black silk jacket and adding diamond links to his cuffs. His voice taking on a regal edge.
"Inform the staff. Assign Brenna to be her lady in waiting, she can have any additional entourage she requires. I want seamstresses working around the clock to provide her with an absolutely perfect and complete wardrobe. Make sure to include some Above style trousers and comfortable footwear."
Aiden was already scribbling furiously on a pad of paper. "Do you have any instructions for the Royal Guard, Sire?"
"Yes, please have Grimmholt assemble his ranks for immediate inspection. Additionally, I want the Elven Archers brought out of exercises for the battlements. And the Ogre Berserkers posted at every entrance to the Labyrinth. I want the patrol schedule doubled and scouts sent out to the boarders of the outer forests. We can't know who will try to take advantage of these unusual circumstances and I don't want to take any chances."
"Immediately, Your Majesty." Aiden was grinning from one pointy ear to the other. In moments like this, he was reminded why he would follow Jareth to whatever end. He was a very thoughtful and proactive king. It was not always so with Fae sovereigns. "The general populace sir?"
Thinking it over for a moment Jareth arrived at a decision.
"I shall see to that myself. They are my subjects and this is a matter of foremost importance. It is my duty to inform them of any possible calamities."
"Very well, Your Majesty. Any additional message for the staff?
Jareth put a companionable hand on Aiden's shoulder, his eyes holding a slightly manic gleam.
"She is a noble of this kingdom who has just arrived. Let's snap to it as if she were the High Queen herself. "
GKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGKGK
Click. Clack. Click. Clack. The flagstones heralded the Goblin King's approach. The perfect sound of an inescapable disposition. You could always tell the mood of the Goblin King by the metronome of his gate. Normally, that sound would be enough to send the Goblins and a few of the smarter chickens scurrying to the shadows in a cacophony of gleeful fright. But today was different. When the Goblin King finally reached the Lower Throne Room he was met with an unsettling stillness and a roomful of expectant eyes.
One tiny goblin with a sugar bowl on her head and wooden spoon scepter stepped forward out of the crowd. Crooking her finger at him, she beckoned him down to her eye level.
He knelt slowly, "What can I do for your Arabella?"
The little goblin swelled up with pride and straightened her back, she had been chosen by the others as the bravest to address His Majesty.
"We knows the Lady is back, Kingy. The Maze tolds us. Is Lady ok?"
Looking around at all the faces he saw the telltale signs of worry among his citizens. Several of them were holding hands, and almost all of them had removed their head ware. It was clear they had a great deal of love and respect for their Champion.
"Lady Sarah is going to be just fine. But she is very tired, and very sad."
Arabella's lip started to quiver, "Lady not want to be here with us?"
"That's not it at all. It's just a shock, and she didn't arrive in a…comfortable way."
He watched as the little goblin nodded sagely and then ran back to the large group. All of them chattering quickly in hushed whispers. Running back to him, Jareth raised an apprising eyebrow seeing her big brown eyes were steeled and her shoulders square. He was impressed.
"What can we's do, Kingy?"
Jareth, following her example, drew himself up to his full height and addressed the crowd in a booming authoritative voice.
"What we aren't going to do is wallow! Scurry and Alastair, you two are going to the Above to collect her things. The pictures are especially important. Do NOT break them. Captain Franken, you take a small squad of your most mobile troops to go summon Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus directly to Sarah. Any detours and you will all be bogged for the next month! Tickle, you round up the chickens. Oven, you are going down to the kitchens. Tell them to start preparing a welcome feast for this evening. Everyone else is to help the housekeeping staff in any way they ask. I want this castle spotless for tonight. After you are finished. All of you and I mean ALL of you will bathe. Arabella…"
"Yes Kingy, Sir!"
Softening his tone, he continued. "You may go and offer a proper goblin greeting to Lady Sarah. Please stay with her and do as she asks until Hoggle and the others get there. I will be sending Brenna to wait on her, so just keep her company."
Eyes shining, Arabella nodded vigorously.
"You have your assignments, now MOVE!"
The Goblins all scurried happily, and for once effectively to do his bidding.
GKGKGKGKGKGKGKG
After what seemed like an eternity of meeting with the community leaders of the Goblin City and the ambassadors from the other townships under his rule Jareth finally returned to his study. Bringing them up to speed had been a necessary evil to prevent the churning of the unstoppable rumor mill. At least if they were going to talk, it would be the truth. And the truth would protect Sarah. All of them had taken up the cause of her safety without hesitation. Having heard about her actions from Hoggle the dwarves, a very passionate and loyal race, had even pledged their lives. He had been completely floored by the zeal Sarah already commanded in others. She truly was their Champion. Laughing, he wryly hoped to himself that she wouldn't overthrow him.
Pouring a glass of wine, he took it over to the balcony.
Beneath him the Labyrinth spread out into the distance. Washed in the glow of the evening sun, the faintly purple magic of pure creation flowing uninhibited. He could almost feel the contentment of the creature. As if a lost piece of it had finally come home. He wished he could share in the energetic sense of bliss that had seemed to take over all the creatures under his care. But he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something terrible was just on the horizon. Before this was settled there would undoubtedly be trials. In that moment, he would have moved the very stars to stop what was coming.
He wasn't the High King, or the wisest sage. But he was still accustomed to being in complete control of his circumstances. He had never met a challenge he could not name let alone face. The nature of Sarah's transformation baffled him. Looking at her it seemed as if a shimmering bubble of magic was hovering over her like a second skin. The many colors of it seemed to shift and change, yet at the same time it seemed completely solid. Keeping her together. But what was keeping the bubble from popping? Without knowing just how easily it could destabilize he was at the complete mercy of totally unseen forces. And that was unacceptable.
And then there was Sarah. Whenever his thoughts drifted to her his heartache seemed as if it would only ever be relieved by a knife to the chest. Just that morning they had been enemies. An eternity of cat an mouse before them. What lovely games he'd had planned. A course of action to win her for every foreseeable circumstance had played out in his thoughts a hundred times. Married? He would have shown her just how unsatisfied she really was. Destitute? He would have saved her, for a price. Pining for him? He would have dragged out their reunion for an agonizingly long time until she submitted to him fully. But now, she was his sacred charge. A fragile and wounded woman who needed his care. But dignified. Still strong and smart, with an authority that made him snap to attention like no one had in centuries. No longer his toy or playmate. She had grown up. Perhaps even, grown beyond him. He had never prepared for this. How do you win a prize for which there is no contest? How does one play for keeps, without a game? He struggled to wrap his head around it, the whole thing felt so very...human.
But there wasn't time to stand here consumed with his thoughts in the encroaching darkness. He had a party to attend.
Drinking his wine down in one long gulp he walked back toward his desk. If he moved fast, with a few choice letters he might just be able to get ahead of the storm.
But he was stopped short by the sight of a golden envelope on his desk bearing the seal of the High Court.
A summons.
"Well. That didn't take long."