The Goblin King's Daughter
By: DemonSaya
Chapter Ten
"Announcing King Jareth of the Goblin Kingdom, and his companion, Lady Sarah Williams."
Sarah glanced towards her companion, arching a brow faintly. He certainly was aiming for a showy entrance, wasn't he? She smiled as she lightly set her hand upon his own. As he escorted her through the door and into the ballroom draped with gold silk she could feel every eye in the room was upon them. She knew that they were a handsome pair, her dressed in the rich wine red gown accented with gold and opalescent threads that he'd had commissioned for her. He was dressed to match at her side, in silks of black and that same wine color, red streaks mingling with his wealth of wild blond hair.
There were a few mirrors at the sides and she could see herself beside him, her gloveless hand resting lightly upon the black leather hands of the Goblin King – her lover and beloved adversary – her hair hanging in ringlets around her face, just as wild as his own. She could feel the half-smile that turned up her painted lips and she glanced upwards at her escort in wry amusement. He was returning her look with one of his own, all smug arrogance.
He leaned towards her moments before they left the safety of their goblin escorts. "Now that is how you make an entrance, precious," he teased lightly.
"Really? I thought there would be more glitter," she teased lightly, drawing a laugh from the man at her side. She flushed faintly, tearing her gaze from his own, hers wandering over the people who attended. She saw no sign of her daughter or her kidnapper amongst those who stood on the dance floor, and she knew it was best to try to keep her attention on her escort, but it was difficult. She missed her daughter desperately, and she wanted to be sure that she was truly alright.
As if he knew what she was looking for, he drew her towards a man who had dark hair, golden skin, and hazel eyes, that bore a faint resemblance to the boy. He wasn't a youth by any means and his expression upon first sight of Jareth twisted into an expression of such hatred that it actually startled her. She stole a glance at her companion and saw him still wearing that smug smirk, although she could see shadows in his eyes. Suddenly, she became aware that despite Jareth's carefree outward appearance, he was actually quite furious.
"Well, well, I didn't think you'd show up, Jareth," the man said, his voice snide.
A movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention and she saw a man clad in black standing in front of her daughter, his stance that of a guard.
"I had to thank you for your generous invitation in person," Jareth said, keeping his voice polite. She couldn't deny that she was impressed with his control. "Our kingdoms have not been friendly in quite a while, it's good to see that you've moved past your anger and are trying to get along with us now."
Oh, this was steeping in political bullshit, Sarah thought as she chewed on her lip and her eyes were drawn towards the pair off to the side once again and she saw that the youth called Kieran had one hand on Erin's wrist and was holding her back, frantically whispering in her ear. She could have been mistaken, but there was a faint air of both panic and relief on his face. It crossed her mind that perhaps Jareth was right and she returned her gaze to the Goblin King, setting her other hand on his as well. "Darling," she inquired, keeping her voice on the edge of feminine and delicate, hoping to further throw off those around them.
Surprise, followed by pleasure flashed through Jareth's eyes almost too fast to follow, and he turned towards her, smiling. "Of course, where are my manners? Precious, this is King Bram; Bram, my lovely companion is Lady Sarah Williams, the champion of my Labyrinth."
The air of disdainful ignorance that surrounded them for most of the conversation between the two was shattered and tension filled the room, although Sarah suspected that they'd been listening all along and now no one wished to speak due to wanting to know what the response to that little challenge would be. Silence reigned and shock rippled through the crowd. The hazel eyes of King Bram grew wide and perhaps a little frightened. Then, the expression became one of disgust. Still, he offered a hand and a smile that might have been charming if not laced with malice. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Sarah," he said.
If you were any more pleased, you'd choke, Sarah thought, keeping the delicate, air-headed look on her face. "The pleasure is mine," she said, setting her hand upon his own and trying not to cringe in disgust when he pressed his lips against it. He held it tight for a moment longer than was necessary, obviously considering something that probably wasn't wise, when Jareth extracted her hand from his grasp and put an arm around her waist.
"Ah, ah," Jareth said lightly, but there was a warning aimed at Bram. "The lady is spoken for this evening. Although I suppose I'll have to spare her for at least one dance so I might share one with my daughter. I don't imagine the Prince minds sparing his bride for the sake of tradition?"
"Come now, Jareth, Kieran is family now. Calling him 'the Prince' is far too formal," Bram taunted back. "One day, he'll inherit both your land as well as my own..."
Jareth smiled and slipped an arm around Sarah's waist, his lips turned in an amused smile. "Come now, I'm still young and I've more than enough time to have a son..." His other hand came to rest low on her stomach, and Sarah wanted to punch him for implying to the entire ballroom that she was knocked up by the Goblin King.
More shock, more whispers. Sarah ignored them, however, since Jareth was turning towards where her daughter stood with the young man and his hand slipped away from her stomach. Erin's eyes locked with her own and Sarah saw that this was no surprise to the girl. She had obviously known for a while – or at least since her abduction – that her father was of the fairy realms, and that was the man who was walking beside her, seemingly calm – slowly, cautiously. There was a fierce sort of joy in her daughter's eyes and she knew it was reflected in her own as Jareth moved towards them as well.
Once they were facing the pair, she saw Kieran trying to pull up that smug, arrogant attitude that practically dripped from his father and realized that this boy was a very bad actor. She leaned towards Jareth and spoke softly. "I want to speak alone with Erin," she said quietly.
He smiled at her. "What a coincidence, I would like to have a word with young Kieran. Perhaps I'll take my daughter to speak on the balcony and you follow in the guise of looking for your escort?"
She saw that they understood each other and she squeezed his hand gently in her own. "I think that's a wonderful idea."
Then they were standing in front of Kieran and Erin and Jareth wasted no time offering a hand to Erin, who looked dazed and surprised as she set her hand upon her father's. Sarah smiled a bit, since she could sympathize. The Goblin King cut quite a figure. Meanwhile, the young man had the decency to look uncomfortable as he offered her a hand as well. She kept maintained her character, setting her hand upon his and smiling stupidly. There was a look of intense suspicion on his face as he led her to the dance floor and music was cued up.
Once everyone was distracted by dancing with their partners, she leaned towards the boy who she could nearly look in the eye. "You're lucky I don't slip a knife between your ribs, you fairy prick."
Amber eyes flashed in surprise and then he looked relieved, rather than worried. A wry expression covered his face and he smiled ruefully. "Ah, now I see where Erin gets her charming personality," he said. "Although I don't suppose I can blame you. We didn't exactly meet on the best of terms."
"No, we didn't," she agreed. When she didn't say anything else, he squirmed in discomfort for a moment until she gave him a faint smile. "However it is my understanding that you're keeping my daughter safe, and for that I am grateful. Her condition hasn't gotten out of control, and she is blossoming into a young lady without me." That thought was a little distressing. How would she convince her headstrong daughter to return above if the child fell in love with a fae prince?
"If it makes you feel better, she did attempt to rearrange my privates when I first kidnapped her, and has rather excelled at being a thorn in my side since then," he said, but detected a fondness in his voice that he couldn't quite hide. She looked at him in surprise, recognizing that expression he wore.
"Oh, bloody hell, you're in love with her," she said quietly.
He looked startled, and opened his mouth to object, but it instead snapped shut and he glanced around them. "For the love of the gods, woman, don't say that out loud here," he whispered fiercely. "If they suspect that I view her as more than a tool, if they knew that I my loyalty is in question, then we'll both be killed, and I'll hardly be any use to your daughter if I'm dead."
"You're right," she said quietly. She went silent contemplating this new information. The boy being in love with her wasn't something she'd expected, although Jareth seemed to have suspected for a while. He'd kept making allusions regarding how Erin was turning the boy inside out. It was only slightly comforting.
A movement from the corner of her eye drew her attention and she turned a bit, seeing Jareth guiding her daughter towards a broad exit that let onto a balcony. "I suppose I should adopt my bubble head persona again. I'm going to need you to escort me to the balcony on our left. Jareth wants a word with you and I want to speak with Erin. I've been worried about her."
He smiled thinly. "Even with my assurance that she was safe," he asked, and then shook his head when she tried to object. "I suppose it's natural. I stole your daughter before your eyes. However, the one they really wanted was you. My father wanted to spill blood to incite war, and that would have destroyed this country. I hated Jareth for what he did to my mother and a part of me always will, but right now, that doesn't matter."
She looked at his face for a long moment, seeing a young man taking the final steps of maturity and thought for a moment that if her daughter fell in love with him as well, she would try to be understanding. Even if she made them stick to the human standard and make his ass wait until her daughter was at least eighteen. She put a hand to her head and staggered slightly. "Oh, I'm dizzy," she lied, seeing his eyes sharpen upon her as though sensing something different.
He supported her, his eyes seeming to find something and she knew he'd realized that this was a signal. "Here, why don't we step onto the balcony for some fresh air?" She saw his eyes flicker towards his father and the man was smirking in his arrogance. She knew he thought his son was going to make the moves on her, to hurt Jareth. The fool.
.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.
His daughter was not a bad dancer at all, and she appeared to be as light on her feet as her mother, her face splashed with those same freckles, although he found them adorable on here, whereas they were enchanting on Sarah. Her gaze was heavy with youthful innocence and arrogance and he fought back the smirk that had been tugging on his lips since he'd begun waltzing with his daughter.
After a moment, when Bram's attention strayed to Sarah and Kieran, he shifted his grip, guiding her towards a balcony. "Come with me, child," he said quietly, leading her swiftly and silently, casting a glamor to keep attention from them. Once they were out of the line of sight of the other dancers, the girl suddenly threw her arms around him.
"I always knew it," she whispered, her voice fierce. "I always knew that prick Alex Foster wasn't my father!" She pulled back, looking up at him, a broad smirk on her face. "I just didn't expect it to be a fairy king, either."
He smirked faintly, offering his hand as escort, leading her towards the balustrade. "I suppose you have a keen instinct, then, haven't you? Just like your mother," His eyes flickered towards the ballroom, feeling a brief tension when he realized he couldn't see Sarah very well amongst the sea of fae dancers. Once they were at the stone rail, he turned, resting his elbows upon it so he could both face his daughter and see anyone who might approach behind her. It was a stupid question to ask, but it was all he could think of to say. "How have you been?"
She gave him a speculative look, then smiled. "Before or since I came here?"
He chuckled. "Either. Both? I've missed all the best parts of your life, so I'm afraid I've much to catch up on."
Her smile turned sly of a sudden, and he wondered if this was how his mother had felt when he'd pinned her with that look. "Not to mention twelve years of Christmas and birthday presents to make up for..."
She looks like her father...
Jareth lowered his face and smiled; not one that usually sent the goblins running, an honest smile. "I suppose that is true as well..."
The girl went quiet for a long moment, just looking up at his face, a fierce look on hers. He'd noticed the resemblance between the two of them in the picture, however now that he was closer, now that he was really looking at her, it was more startling, more amazing. "Did you come here to save me?"
The tone was strange, as if she'd reached a conclusion that she wasn't certain she liked. He arched a brow towards her. "My dear girl, if I've learned anything from dealing with your mother it's that the Williams women can take care of themselves; although you seem to be a tad accident prone."
She blinked, tilting her head to the side, in a very familiar fashion, that in this respect reflected confusion. "How do you mean?"
"Every time you shook your kidnapper for a moment, somehow you were getting hurt. First you triggered that trap, and then you wander off and nearly become a naiads victim..." He shook his head. "Tough is good, but you should learn that it's alright to rely on those older than you. Like the young prince who has been trying to take care of you." He lifted his gaze and saw her eyes averted and a faint hint of pink on her cheeks.
When she realized he was looking at her, the flush darkened. "I...I don't know what you're talking about!"
He smiled faintly, inclining his head as his lover and Erin's protector began to move towards the balcony. "Of course you don't. You are Sarah Williams' daughter, after all."
"And yours," she pointed out, frowning.
He rested a hand upon her head and kissed her brow lightly. "Of course. I almost pity your friend."
The flush darkened her cheeks once again, and he gestured with his chin at the pair that was approaching. She turned and he watched as joy lit her eyes and she lifted the skirts of her dress, sprinting towards her mother. He withheld a chuckle when he saw brown leather beneath layers of moonbeam skirts. The girl really was her mother's daughter.
He watched the elated child and relieved mother embrace and his eyes flickered towards the somewhat guilty gaze of the young man who also watched them. With a faint smile, he pushed off the balcony and moved towards them. "Sarah, why don't you take Erin over there and...catch up?" His eyes were focused on Kieran as he spoke.
The youth looked at him, a slightly nervous look on his face. Sarah looked from one to the other, shrugged, and then guided her daughter far enough away from them that they had some privacy. Once they were out of earshot, Jareth smirked. "It's far too late to feel guilty, prince." The boy jumped as though startled and he leaned back gestured towards the railing. "Rest yourself for a moment, gather your wits."
Once the boy was reluctantly leaning against the rail to his side, he gestured towards the pair. "Feels a bit like being clobbered upside the head with an iron skillet, doesn't it?" There was a confused look on his face and Jareth bared his teeth in a grin. "Falling in love, I mean."
Kieran groaned, driving his hands into his black hair and pushing the glossy hair back from his face. "For the love of the gods, is it that obvious," he grumbled. "Because if it is, then I'm in deep trouble, and so is she."
"Most of our kind wouldn't notice, after all they are too in love with themselves to realize. Even those who have fallen in love would not realize, because you're in love with a mortal. I, however, am also in love with a mortal, so I understand the symptoms. One of them being guilt for things you have no power to change any longer." His gaze wandered towards the pair and he felt a brief stab of melancholy himself as he looked at the lovely face of his own Sarah Williams.
"You did something that made you feel guilty?"
"I blamed her for something she couldn't have changed about herself. I blamed her for leaving me, for winning, even after she asked me to stay with her. I didn't tell her that speaking my name would call me to her side and it took her thirteen years to learn that herself."
"So you haven't seen her in thirteen years?"
"Until you wisely kidnapped my daughter, I hadn't been in the same room as her in nineteen years. She spoke words in the Labyrinth that rendered me incapable of being with her unless she called me."
"'You have no power...'" the youth said quietly.
Jareth turned his gaze towards him. "How would you know the right words of the Labyrinth?"
Kieran shook his head, and then looked at Erin's back, his face somewhat serious. "While we were traveling, Erin learned of her paternity from me. She spoke of a story her mother had told her as a child, how it had always felt like more than just a story. She also mentioned that she thought that those words were why you weren't able to go to her."
The king sighed, sagging back against the balustrade, his face serious. "Indeed. It would appear my girl has the same quick wit as her mother." Jareth looked at his daughter's back, narrowing his eyes. "It takes time to make the women of the Williams family see anything, even that which should be obvious to the rest of either world. That is not a bad thing, as Sarah will most likely hold to the above ground standard and make you wait until Erin is at least a few years older before she views your wedding as anything more than something to protect her daughter."
"What about you," Kieran asked, his voice genuinely curious.
Jareth smiled, turning towards the youth. The young man's golden eyes were narrow, as though seeking his own answer. "I'll stand by the side of my beloved in front of her. However, you are married legally and I understand falling for someone who is not ready by her world's standards. So this is my advice. Wait until she's ready. It might be years, but eventually it will happen. When it does, do not let her go."
He knew his voice was melancholy, and his eyes had drifted back to Sarah, who was holding her daughter tightly and speaking fiercely in the girl's ear.
"Isn't there a human saying that says if you love them, let them go?"
The boy was too perceptive. "Indeed, there is," Jareth agreed. "However, that is only if it is their wish to leave. I have made a rather troublesome mistake at this point, and my kingdom might end up without a king." He turned towards the boy. "At that point, you'll become king by default, as you're married to my daughter."
The leather gloved hand grabbed his jacket collar, and there was an intense look on his young face. "What are you talking about," his voice was a sharp whisper.
Jareth brushed the boy's hands off with a smile. "I gave into a need that was nineteen years old and had the pleasure of holding her in my arms without the promise of her staying with me. This is her life, so it has to be her choice."
The hand grabbed him again. "She'll die," he whispered fiercely. "Have you told her that?"
"She won't die," Jareth promised quietly. "Even if she should leave me, she won't die. I will use all of my strength and I know well enough how to prevent it. I will spiral into madness as a result, becoming a Fisher King, and I'll be lost in that forever. But believe this, young man, even should my beloved leave me, she will not die."
There was shock on his face, and slowly, the gloved hand released him, those golden eyes wide. "You're talking about a complete sacrifice. Give up everything to keep her soul anchored in her body."
A smile turned up his lips and he looked towards her. "She's left me twice, I've little doubt that she'll do so once again. Once she has her darling daughter back safely, she'll leave me once more. It will be the last time, and if she ever calls me again, I won't hear her."
This morbid talk was depressing him. He gestured vaguely. "Don't let my fate concern you. I've made my own choices in this life, and it's up to me how I leave it. Now, we need to gather our respective partners before the rest of the guests have reason to call attention to our absence. A glamor only lasts so long."
The boy nodded and they began moving slowly towards the ladies. When Erin turned, Jareth saw a slightly feral expression on her face and he wondered what Sarah had been talking to the girl about. He'd inquire to his lady later. What did surprise him was when she walked directly up to him, pressed a light kiss to his cheek and then gave him a smile that did wonders to lift his spirits. "Kieran and I will go first," she said lightly, setting her hand upon Kieran's, her young face not looking young at all with that expression. She looked like a radiant young lady and he watched them go with a smile.
"She's really fond of that boy," Sarah said softly.
"He's in love with her, as well." Jareth looked towards her and saw a soft expression on Sarah's face as she watched the pair go, her eyes slightly unfocused. "They're a good pair, in a few years she'll make a formidable queen, and he'll be a just ruler. He's three times the man Bram was at that age."
Sarah's eyes moved towards him and there was something warm in her eyes. "I think so, too," she agreed. Her hands reached up slowly and she touched his face lightly, running her fingertips over his cheekbones. His eyes closed involuntarily and he lifted a hand, flattening one against his face. "Tell me again why we're not bringing them with us," she asked softly.
He smiled faintly. "At this point, it would make me look like a jealous father, and it would be viewed as an act of war."
"What about this marriage?"
"It's legally binding here. Putting her in that dress and displaying her before the rest of the fae in such a manner makes it known throughout the kingdoms, and word will trickle back to Oberon." Jareth shrugged faintly, turning his face into her palm to kiss it gently. He opened his eyes and saw a musing expression on her face.
"Does that mean we're married," she asked and he noticed that there was something in her eyes that he couldn't identify.
He knew what she was referring to. The events in that crystal ballroom so long ago. He smiled thinly. "No, darling. That was a dream that I spun for you, nothing more. I was...showing you the possibilities. You cast the dream aside, and you left me," he released her hand and prepared to step away, but her hand slipped up, curling into his hair. He closed his eyes, unable to look at her. "Sarah-"
His words were stopped by soft lips against his own. His eyes snapped open and he barely stifled the whimper that rose in his throat. Her eyes were closed, her coal lashes brushing against her cheeks. When those moss-green eyes opened, he found himself struck dumb by the longing within them.
"Sarah," he breathed, lifting a hand to caress the abundance of curls that hung around her face.
.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.
She felt the caress, but her eyes couldn't look away from the surprised wonder in his own. "You're going to make me leave after this, aren't you," she said quietly. "You say you'll welcome Erin and I, but you've made no hint of what you really want. Always, you've shown me possibilities, but you refuse to make demands." She rested her forehead against his chin. "It pisses me off."
His arms slipped around her, caressing the skin above the corset lightly. "My dearest, you love to defy me, so making demands is futile." He kissed her hairline, and then moved his lips down along it, till he reached her ear. The caress of his lips made her shiver. "I love how you defy me, but I do not wish to trouble the tenuous arrangement we have between us. If all you will allow me is the physical pleasure we share, I will take it. Besides, you've yet to answer if you intend to stay, so I cannot ask for more."
She pulled back, staring into his two-toned eyes. He was such a frustratingly stubborn creature. Couldn't he see that she wanted him to ask her to stay? He was thrusting the whole of the decision upon her shoulders and it made her want to scream and start strangling him. She slowly released his hair and stepped back, withdrawing from him. She didn't look at him as she did, so his hands grabbing her arms startled her and she looked at him, surprised. His eyes were wide, slightly panicked, as if he thought she was going to disappear or vanish right then.
Her heart ached. He didn't trust her to stay, and he was afraid to really ask her to, because he thought she would say no just to defy him. Slowly, she put a hand behind his neck, pulling him down and she gently caressed his lips with her own. As she retreated, she opened her eyes to check his expression now. "I'm here now," she said softly, chastising him.
He gave a soft sigh, leaning forward, resting his forehead against hers. "That you are, darling. That you are..."
.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.
Kieran stood near Erin while she ate a plate of food with the same ravenous way she'd eaten everything since they'd met. He kept his gaze on her, a bemused expression on his face, turning away those who came to speak to the young lady who was focused entirely on the food offering before her. He'd even had to turn away Sarah at one point, who upon noticing her daughter with the plate of food smiled in amusement.
Nothing can compete for her attention when there's food, the woman had said before leaving. It was something he'd learned quickly enough. When the girl ate, there was a single-minded intensity to it. Others would show expressions of disgust, but they didn't know of her health issue regarding food.
After a few moments, he heard the fork hit the plate and turned towards him. The plate was empty and she was staring into space, a far-off look in her eyes. The conversation with Jareth had been little comfort. It was slightly bothersome that the girl had so many of her mother's character traits, and Jareth's comment about her being not ready. The Goblin King himself had been denied by a woman who wasn't ready, had been abandoned by the woman who held his heart, not once but twice. Twice, the man had fought the madness of becoming a Fisher King for the sake of that one woman.
If that woman left now...
He was surprised to find that he didn't want to deal with the idea, because if he even entertained it, he would have to entertain the possibility that after all this was done then she might leave.
He withheld a sigh and saw the pair that he was thinking of dancing in the corner and the Goblin King was whispering into the woman's ear. Whatever he was saying caused a sad-looking smile to turn up her lips.
"They are such unbelievable idiots," Erin's voice at his side startled him and he looked down towards her. He stared at her, surprised and then snorted softly.
"Seems so," he agreed, smiling faintly.
She looked up at him, frowning. "My mom doesn't want to go home, but he didn't ask her to stay. She had some rather uncomplimentary things to say about that."
He shrugged faintly. "He wants her to choose him over her world," he said quietly. "He doesn't want to push her, because he wants it to be her choice."
She pursed her lips, the perfect picture of annoyance. "They need marriage counseling," she muttered, a dark look on her face. "I'm not good at that crap."
"Neither am I. Besides, they'll just turn it on me," he quietly put an arm around her shoulder, pulling her against his side. Rather than grow rigid as he expected, she relaxed against him, her head resting on his chest. "When the time to make a decision comes, what will yours be?"
"Oh, I don't even need to think about it. I don't belong there," she didn't look at him as she spoke, but he thought he could see the faint hint of a blush on her cheeks.
"Erin?"
She glanced up at him, an eyebrow arched. "Is that a problem? I mean, I've never gotten to spend any time with my father, and I suspect I'll fit in the Goblin Kingdom rather well." She grinned a bit. "Besides, you're my friend, I'll miss you." Her eyes returned to the twirling dancers and he found himself staring at the top of her head.
He smiled faintly, leaning down and kissing the side of her face. "I would miss you as well," he said quietly, meeting her gaze when she looked up at him in surprise. Then, her face split into a smile and she snuggled quietly back into the embrace. His smile broadened and he slipped his hand down, lacing his fingers with hers.