Chapter 13, Future Full And Empty

Jareth was met by a small Fae upon entering the castle. This must be the courier. He thought. The young man was flustered and distraught. Jareth waved a hand signaling him to relax.

"Your Majesty. I was told to deliver this to you with the upmost urgency. It is a letter from the Council." He was practically shaking. He took the letter from the young Fae and sent him on his way. A letter from the Council? This can't be good.

As he walked down the hall he issued for Mage to accompany him to his study.

"Who is this mysterious guest I am told is waiting for me?" He asked her.

"Your father." She stated flatly. Jareth stopped on a dime and whipped around to face her.

"What? Why was I not told it was him?" He tried to hush his yelling. She looked him in the eye and mumbled,

"Why would he come to you so discretely with such urgency?" She backed away, waiting for him to she the rational behind everything.

Jareth stormed off to his study, throwing the door open as he entered. A large figure stood at the balcony. He slowly approached the shadowy figure, and waited in the door way.

"Father." Was all he said. Oetheron turned to face his son, with a dark and serious look. He was a large man, and quite intimidating when needed. He was far taller than Jareth, and weighed about a hundred pounds more.

Jareth stood his ground, waiting to see what would happen. Oetheron now loomed over him, with the same cold stare. After a moment, his facade gave way and a cheerful smile broke through.

"Jareth my boy, it is good to see you. I missed you at the ball." he said, placing his hands firmly on Jareth's shoulders.

"Ah, please forgive me. I found myself rather, preoccupied that night." He returned his father's grin.

"Yes, I fear that is the very reason I am here." He moved to enter the study.

"What do you mean?" Jareth was wary, no one should know about Sarah.

"My son, I, nor any one else in my court for that matter, is blind." He said shaking his head slightly. Jareth's demeanor grew dangerously serious. A dramatic change that did not go unnoticed by his father.

"Explain." He demanded.

"The human, she is your Champion is she not?" He asked calmly.

"Yes." Replied Jareth. He certainly wasn't making this easy.

"There is something at work here. What you do is none of my business, I am merely here to inform you." His tone was cautious and appeasing.

"Continue." Jareth said.

"I am to assume there were some...complications regarding the slumber of your mortal?" He asked, Jareth nodded slightly. "And I'm guessing our spells don't seem to work on her either for that matter?" Again Jareth nodded. "Well, you and I both know there is a ten day limit on the mortals here. Your human, is proving to be quite troublesome. The magic that is keeping her here for those ten days, is in fact a spell put in place by myself and a very powerful one at that. It would seem that not even old magic can bind her. She's breaking the spell Jareth, I won't be able to keep her here much longer." He waited. "She is strong, her will is great, and the Labyrinth has only increased that." He waited for Jareth to speak.

"How much longer?" He asked.

"Two days, maybe three. At the rate the spell is fading, I can't tell for sure." Oetheron frowned at the look on Jareth's face. His heart had sank to the floor. Two days! That isn't nearly enough time. I can't convince her to stay within the next two days...And I can't tell her she only has two days to make her decision...It's not fair! This is all falling apart before I even had a chance to build it. Jareth's mind rambled, he was being torn apart inside.

Oetheron walked to his son, and placed his hands on his shoulders yet again. Jareth stared at the floor searching for an answer to all this.

"Do you love her? This mortal, is she worth you such pain my son?" He wanted so desperately to comfort his son, but knew he could not.

Jareth thought. All this time he knew he wanted her to stay. He longed to hold her, to feel her skin. She brought out such emotion in him, such a fire that had been little more than a spark. But did he love her? He had never actually pondered the word love. When it came to Sarah he thought and felt through an emotion, not a word. Was love the name to what he felt? Could love even describe it in its entirety? He suddenly thought back to what Mage had said. "matters of the heart as you say? Now that is a place you have never ventured dear boy." She was right. He'd never experienced this before. He wanted her to stay, why did he want her to stay? What would happen if she did. She would be with me. Was his final thought.

"She holds my heart in her hands." He looked up at his father, his face riddled with defeat. Oetheron backed away from his son. He knew Jareth was strong, determined and ruthless; he would find a way.

"I need not remind you of our nature, for you and for the sake of your kingdom, I suggest you do not fail." His voice became a low echo as he turned to dust.

Jareth sat in his study for hours, contemplating what was happening and how he could stop it. Two days...Two days to make her love me, to make her leave it all behind.

Early the next morning Mage entered the Kings chambers for her daily spruce. She found it empty and untouched. A bit concerned, she headed for the study. She found him huddled on the couch fast asleep. He was a mess, even though he was already asleep he looked exhausted. Papers and books littered the floor. She grabbed a blanket and draped it over him, careful not to stir him.

"I told you you would fall. Do you ever listen to a thing I say?" She spoke softly.

She started picking up papers when she found an unopened envelope amongst the mess. It had the Councils seal. She thought a moment of what it could be. She gazed at Jareth's sleeping form and realized what was in the letter.

"We can save this for another day." She whispered, taking the letter with her as she left the room.

Jareth woke late that afternoon, and he felt awful. The room was slightly cleaner than he remembered, and he was thoroughly wrapped in a blanket. He slowly got up and retreated to his chambers. He took as much time as possible getting ready. He was about to give up and go to bed when there was a knock at his door.

"Enter." He growled. Mage slowly entered the room, shutting the door quietly behind her.

"Sire, I'm sorry to intrude, but you have a great deal of appointments to attend, with your absence yesterday and with it being so late in the day already." She heard him grumble, and walked over him. "Come on, the sooner you get this done the sooner you can go back to sulking." He shot her a glare but allowed her to lead him towards the throne room.

Jareth was busy settling disputes, signing papers and deliberating with his advisors well into the morning hours of the following day. He was beat, still distraught over what to do with Sarah, he had already wasted an entire day; she only had one, maybe two at most and that was a big maybe.

He slumped in his throne, trying desperately not to drift to sleep. Mage had watched him throughout the day with worry. She approached him and spoke gently.

"It takes a boy to chase after a woman. It takes a man to catch one." She then walked away to her chambers, not waiting for a response, sure she wouldn't get one.

Jareth sat alone, and pondered her words. After a few minutes, he too retired for bed.