Chapter 21, The Conspiracy
Sarah awoke to the sound of someone rummaging around the room. It was cold, the blanket that had been covering her was gone. She sat up, and saw Jareth tossing through his things.
"I don't know what you're still doing here." He said, not bothering to look at her. She scratched her eyes and shook her head, not sure she heard him right.
"What?" She asked.
"I said it is time for you to leave! You would do well to listen the first time I speak." He commanded. Sarah flinched. He spoke to her with such anger. What was his problem?
"Why do I have to leave?" She asked him, trying to cover herself. He slammed his hands down on a table.
"Mage!" Mage entered, wary of the rage in his voice. "Remove this woman immediately!" He ordered. She too, was confused. She stood, not sure what was going on or what to do. "Is there a reason no one seems to hear me today? I said get her out!" Mage shuffled over to Sarah, handing her her clothes.
"What? Jareth what's going on?" Sarah was worried now, quickly dressing as she spoke. He finally turned to look at her. She thought he was going to leap across the room and attack her.
"You dare refer to me by name, wench? I don't know what happened last night, but I assure you, you have no such authority!" He screamed. He'd never spoken to her like this. Tears swelled in her eyes, she didn't understand.
"What do you mean you don't know what happened last night? What's going on?" She was on the verge of crying. Mage hurried her along. Jareth gave a menacing chuckle.
"Apparently I enjoyed myself a little too thoroughly last night. I don't know what you think may have happened, but I have a schedule to keep, and you are of no further use to me." She was now fully dressed. Mage was trying to pull her from the bed. "I suggest you have her out of my castle by the time I return." He said to Mage, and then turned to Sarah. "Dear girl, you really should try to control yourself better. The sight before me is quite unpleasant." He said before exiting the room.
She couldn't hold it in anymore. Her mind started racing, as she let out choked tears. She looked to Mage for an answer.
"You need to leave, now." Mage whispered, pulling her to her feet.
"Mage stop! What is going on? Why does he not know who I am?" Reluctantly, she let Mage lead her towards the door.
"My Lady, we must hurry." She started going through a small box on Jareth's desk.
"But why?" She tried reigning in her emotions. Mage turned to her, holding a crystal.
"He is bewitched." And with that, she transported the two to Lake Aria.
Sarah was so confused, she didn't have the slightest idea of what was happening. Bewitched? What? How? This is all happening too fast. She needed to sit. Once inside the cottage, she threw herself into a chair.
"Mage, tell me what is going on. What do you mean he's bewitched? He was fine last night." She was exhausted, it couldn't be any later than five-thirty in the morning. Mage placed the crystal on the table, taking a seat next to Sarah.
"Someone has put a spell on him. I could see it in his eyes. Someone must have placed a charm on him at the ball." She tried to speak calmly.
"Why? What's it doing to him?" She was starting to calm down.
"It would seem someone doesn't want the King getting married." She eyed Sarah intently.
"Why? I mean...who would actually do something like this?" She was trying to make sense of everything.
"Sarah, His Majesty is the single direct heir to the throne. He has only two weeks before he is abdicated. That is more than enough cause. There are other royal families, I'm sure one of them must be behind it." She rested her hand on Sarah's knee.
"Well then we don't have any time to waste." She said, getting up and walking towards the bathroom.
"What do you mean? Where are you going?" Mage asked.
"If this is truly happening, we must tell Oetheron. He'll help us, I know it." She said shutting the door behind her. "I'll be out soon! I just need to make myself presentable!" She yelled from behind the door.
Mage sat in worry. This was a grave situation they were in. Sarah emerged soon after, ready to go. She grabbed the crystal from the table, standing close to Mage.
"The High Castle." She said, vanishing in puff of glitter.
They arrived in an open lobby. A small male Fae rushed over to them.
"My Lady, what is your business for being here?" He asked. His voice was timid, she thought maybe this wasn't how to make an entrance.
"I need to speak with the High King immediately. It is of the upmost importance." She tried to sound commanding and serious.
"Wait here one minute." He stared at her for a moment, before scurrying away
Sarah looked down at Mage, who returned the same distressed expression. They stood in the lobby, waiting. After a few minutes, a booming voice echoed from a hallway. Oetheron soon followed. He approached her with outstretched arms. Sarah stood as stiff as a board.
"My dear, what brings you here at such an hour? You should be in the company of my dear son." He exalted.
"Your Majesty please, something's happened. Jareth's been bewitched." She spat. Oetheron paused his embrace, holding her by the shoulders. His expression became stone and serious.
"What? You have proof of this?" He eyed her suspiciously. Mage stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, it is true. He has been cursed, I have seen it. I don't know how, or why, or what kind of spell it is but-" Sarah cut her off.
"He doesn't remember me. He threw me out like a harlot. Please you have to help." She pleaded. Remembering she needed to present herself as calm and collected, she reigned in her worry and waited for his response.
Oetheron stepped away from her, pacing as he thought.
"How could this happen?" He wondered aloud.
"Sire, with the installment of Seventh Law in only two weeks, it would seem someone wishes my King to lose his throne." Mage explained. Oetheron took in her words, processing what was happening.
"I should have foreseen such events. I should have had someone watching." His voice became aggravated. "I will see for myself, and divulge what ever spell he is under." He turned back to Sarah, frowning at the tears that glazed her eyes. "I will send you word. Fear not, I will fix this." He spoke softly, caressing her chin with his thumb.
"Thank you." She whispered, fighting back tears.
"I must warn you, until we know what is going on, I strongly suggest you stay away. There may be more to this than we know. I do not wish a tragedy to befall you." Sarah backed away and nodded. Turning to Mage, signaling it was time to leave.
They vanished once again, returning to the cottage. Mage stood in the doorway after Sarah entered.
"Lady Sarah, I must go. I have my duties as well." She was sad for her, knowing there was no way to help.
"I know." She replied. Mage wanted to comfort the dear girl.
"Will you be alright? I will check on you when I am permitted." She tried to prolong her departure.
"I'll be fine. Oetheron will fix all this...He has to." She gave Mage a false smile.
Mage nodded as she turned to leave. Reluctantly, she closed the door behind her, heading back to the castle. Sarah sat alone, unsure of what to do next.
Jareth sat in his throne, pinching the bridge of his nose. He saw Mage enter from the corner of his eye. She took her place to the side of him.
"Where have you been all morning." He groaned.
"Ridding you of your night's affairs. She was proving to be rather difficult." There was a trance hint of a sneer on his face.
"She really was quite ridiculous." He said. Mage watched him carefully. She needed to find out as much as she could without alarming him.
"Sire, are you feeling alright?" She asked. He huffed.
"No. My head is killing me. How much did I drink last night?" He asked himself.
"I'm afraid I can't answer that, I wasn't there. Do you remember anything from last night?" She couldn't understand how he wouldn't know who Sarah was.
"I remember dancing." He said with a smirk. " Nothing much aside from that. It seems I faired well, that woman was quite tempting wasn't she." He asked rhetorically.
He really doesn't remember Sarah? What does he believe has transpired the past week? This is very peculiar... She thought.
A furry Goblin ran up to Jareth, bounding about with anticipation.
"Sire! Sire!" It shrieked. Jareth winced at the pain in his head.
"What?" He spat.
"His Majesty, the High King! He is here to see you!" The little thing shouted between bounces. Jareth didn't move.
Oetheron entered the room, calm and cheerful. He approached his son, expecting the usual bow. He was startled when he did nothing, remaining in his slouched position on the throne.
"My son! How good it is to see you." He bellowed, his eyes scanning Jareth's face.
"What is the means for your visit, father?" Jareth snapped, looking up at him with distaste. Normally, the King would have taken grave offense to such disrespect, but under the circumstances he remained indifferent.
"Can a father not check up on his son? You seemed to have quite the time at my dinner last night, I wanted to see how you were doing." Jareth raised a suspicious eyebrow, he didn't trust his father as it was and this was certainly odd behavior for him.
"It would seem I did. I don't remember a damn thing." He said, holding the side of his head.
"I see. Did you at least find the company of a good woman?" He asked, wanting to know if he truly didn't remember Sarah as she had said.
"All I can say is I woke to an arduous woman in my bed." He snickered. Oetheron looked into his eyes, there was something different.
"And is she gone?" He asked warily.
"Aren't they always?" Jareth responded, giving him a mischievous grin.
"Tell me, are you looking forward for what is to come in two weeks?" Oetheron stood, rather awkwardly. If he didn't remember Sarah, did he remember his marriage obligation?
"Remind me father, what is to come in two weeks?" Jareth humored his question. Oetheron was taken back a bit. This was serious.
"Why, it is soon to be the day of your birth. There is to be a grand celebration. After all, it is to be your five-hundredth year." Jareth merely let out a disgruntled huff.
"Well, I will keep you no longer, it appears you are recovering just fine." He gave a defeated grin. "Come, bid me farewell." He beaconed his son.
As if he was still an aggravated teenager, he slowly rose and slumped towards his father, giving an exaggerated bow. When he rose, Oetheron placed his hands on his shoulders, staring into his eyes. Jareth felt a slight pulse as his father began to speak.
"I will see you soon my son. I wish you the best." And with that he was gone.
Jareth returned to his seat, slouching into his usual position. He pondered the strange behavior of his father, dismissing it as honest concern.
Sarah was in the same spot she had been in, lost in thought. The dramatic burst of glitter drew her attention. She shot up, realizing who it was.
"Oetheron! That was fast. Tell me, what have you learned? Can you save him?" She almost threw herself at him.
"It seems you are right. He has been spelled, and it is more serious than I thought." His voice was laced with sympathy.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"I was able to determine the intensions of his enchantment." He walked her over to sit by the fire.
"How?" She asked him.
"I sent a magic pulse through him by contact, I was able to decipher what magic was being used on him." He took a seat on the couch.
"And?" She sat across from him.
"The spell, was designed to make him forget his love for you. To forget your identity completely. Not only that, he seems to have forgotten his obligation to Seventh Law. Whoever conjured this curse wants him to exceed his time limit, forcing him to give up the throne." He stopped, sensing she was about to say something.
"Ok, now we know what's going on. Can you fix it? Undo the spell I mean?" She tried to sound hopeful.
"I, myself can not. It will require many of my researchers to determine the precise spell used, and even more to find the charm to reverse it." Her face dropped. He leaned into her, placing his hand over hers. "I will have my top augurers working day and night. There is still time. but, all I can say for you is to wait. There is nothing you can do in the matter, not yet." She nodded in understanding. He left her soon after that, wanting to get started right away. Once again, Sarah was alone contemplating a life without Jareth.
Jareth sat in his daily court, listening to the complaints of his subjects. His head was pounding, and he felt dizzy. All of the sudden he rose from his seat, and started to exit the room. He stumbled and ran into the door, pausing to catching his breath.
"Your Majesty!" Mage exclaimed rushing over to him. His breathing was heavy, and he stood hunched in the doorway.
"I'm fine." His voice was hoarse.
"Perhaps you should lay down. I will take care of the rest of your appointments." She tried to lead him towards his chambers, how she hated to see him suffer. He thrashed his arm, pushing her away.
"Don't touch me. I can walk of my own accord." He yelled, attempting to straighten himself.
"Sire, you seem ill, please, I urge you to retire for the day." She pleaded with him. He rationalized his current state, deciding she was right and resumed walking down the corridor.
Days passed. After a week or so with no word, Sarah became extremely distraught. She hadn't seen the King or Mage in what seemed an eternity. She'd managed to keep herself from going insane by spending her time visiting Hoggle, Sir Didymus, and Ludo. They knew nothing of what was going on, and were a simple escape from her worries.
To her dismay, it was an escape that was always short lived. Every night she returned to the lake and slept alone, in the place that meant so much to them. Every night his vision came to her, an agonizing bliss she would never be able to be rid of.
It was just another day in the countdown. Sarah sat beside the windowsill watching chirping birds flutter about, when Mage appeared. She jumped up at the sight of her.
"Mage!" She exclaimed.
"Lady Sarah." Mage replied.
"Where have you been? I was getting so worried." She started to ramble when Mage waved a hand, telling her to silence. She took a deep breath before speaking.
"Sarah, I'm afraid His Majesty has fallen ill."