Chapter: A Knife Hidden in Light
Sarah still smiled that radiant smile, as she let their hands drop down between them once more, but there was a twinkling mischievous quality to it as she seemed to shift her attention forward towards the sprawling goblin city: " So you ordered Ludo to protect me hmm?"
" Well it would not do to have my future queen injured or accidently dropped in the bog, now would it. Besides I thought that he would make a good companion to you."
" Hmm did you now... oh and speaking of Ludo, what the hell is he? "
" He is a stone guard, he keeps watch over the living stones, that is the earth mothers flesh. Those stones are notoriously cantankerous if left without a stone guard, but if the stone guard is as strong and wise as Ludo, then ..." : Jareth's eyes turned soft and slightly dreamy as if he was watching some wonders beyond the quaint medieval city before them: " Ludo can do more than simply call the stones with his voice, he can mould them into any shape he desires. And Ludo is a master craftsman, supremely gifted in creating objects of unsurpassed beauty and strength. Remind me to show you around the castle grounds later, the statues there are his work, and they are quite exquisite."
" Ludo? We are speaking about the same huge orange guy aren't we, the one who can barely choke out a full sentence? "
Grinning at her Jareth, nodded: " Yes well, I will grant you that, at least in your tongue he can't, but he is quite the conversationalist in his own. Oh don't look at me like that, did you honestly believe that we all spoke American English down here? Please Sarah that is just naive and frankly quite arrogant. But then you were but a child then, so I suppose that it makes a certain kind of endearing sense."
Brushing his teasing quip aside with a smile Sarah asked: " So my naiveté aside, how many languages are there down here, and how many will I have to learn? "
" Arh my precious those are two very good questions, as to the first question, then every race has their own native tongue, as well as the common underground tongue. and as to how many their queen should master, well in time all, but as a start I would say that the common tongue, goblin and maybe Elemental, as that allows for communication with most of the elemental creatures, the fireys, stone guardians and such. But there is no rush, you can wait until you have decided whether you intend to stay here, or go back to your above ground life. I'm certain that a beauty such as you must have a lover or fiancée awaiting your return."
Staring at him in open confusion, Sarah felt her eyebrows try to connect with her hairline: " Why would you think I have a boyfriend? Let alone a fiancée, didn't I just marry you, and kiss you like my life depended on it? What kind of a girl do you think I am?"
Who the hell was he to think so little about her! How dared he! Anger flared instantly as she yanked at her hand, intent on creating distance between them, before she slapped his royal ass upside the head. But his fingers would not budge, and she found herself staring into his eyes from only an inch or two away as he leaned towards her.
" Forgive me my Queen, I did not mean to imply that you have no honour, I merely find it baffling that none of the men above ground have claimed you as his own. Are they all struck dumb and blind!"
The kiss was not unexpected, but it still surprised her with the its gentle desperation, as he pulled her closer, trapping their legs between the bodies of their mounts. it was a short kiss yet it still left her as breathless as any other kiss they had shared since her coming here.
" Please Sarah don't be crossed with me, I couldn't bear it... Please..."
His voice was a faint whisper, as he breathed the words against her lips, and the desperate fear in it instantly quelling her anger. How could he be so afraid of losing her? The concept baffled her. He didn't even know her, for crying out loud, and why was she so concerned with her feelings for him. He was the goblin king, the monster of her childhood. A man she had spent a grand total of what, quarter of an hour with, before he appeared, bleeding and broken on her dorm room floor. What the hell was going on here!
" Look Jareth I'm not crossed with you, but as I just told you this is just so utterly overwhelming, and I ... I have no idea what the hell is going on, so you will just have to take my word on this and then bear with me okay?"
" Very well..."
" And Jareth, we really need to have a long serious talk, I'm not saying today, or in the next few days, but soon, 'cause I have like, a million questions I need an answer to. So there it is okay, you good with that?."
" Yes Sarah I am as you say "good with that" it is only fair that you be given an understanding of what this": Waving vaguely with his free hand, to indicate them, and the city they were almost through: " Is, before you make any lasting and irrevocable decisions.
"Good, thanks Jareth. "
Squeezing his hand gentle, Sarah flashed another soft smile at him before she turned her attention back to the road in front of them. They had left the Goblin city behind, and were now walking their horses up a long beautiful avenue flanked by huge trees with golden trunks and crimson foliage which completely obscured the view off the castle with their gnarled branches. The trees looked vaguely like oak trees, except no oak had ever had that colour, and only the very oldest of oaks would ever reach the height of these colossi's. They were silent as they rode the last few hundred feet under the cover of the trees. But it was a good silence, the kind that only grew after years of easy friendship, and being together. And it scared her to no end.
The trees fell away, revealing the castle beyond the goblin city in all its glory, tall towers topped in black slate and sweeping galleries surrounding the sprawling buildings, of shimmering polished white stone. Gargoyles and carved stonework, enhanced the massive gothic structures, giving the entire castle an aura of fairytale enchantment, like the castle of the cursed prince.
" God that is beautiful, it's like a fairy-tale castle."
" Well I'm glad you like it, it really would be an inconvenience to build another. But if there is something you dislike, feel free to have it changed. you are queen now you know."
nodding slightly Sarah sighed: " Yes I am..."
Suddenly the castle seemed to loom over her like a hungry dragon.
. . .
Pushing the Study doors open, Jareth stalked into the room, briefly noting that the dragon skull hanging from the ceiling was glowing once more, as the true magic of the labyrinth flowed freely.
Moving with a confidence he didn't truly feel, Jareth circled the roaring fireplace without looking at it. Two figures sat quietly in the plush chairs in front of the desk, neither of the tall imposing Fey were clad in their robes of office. Having opted for more casual clothing, they could have passed for a couple from the lower rungs of the nobility. Or would have, had it not been for the power that radiated off both of them in near physical waves.
" Queen Titania, King Oberon. Please stay seated, we have much to discuss."
Titania smiled, light shimmering in her pale aqua eyes, as she leaned forward in her seat, studying the movements of her son with keen interest. Yet it was Oberon's deep rumbling voice that broke the silence: " I assume you want to retaliate against the Nightrealm and that unseelie bitch? If so you will require more skilled warriors. I have already sent word to my Captains and General Commander Llagain is in route even as we speak, he should arrive two days from now at the very most. I trust these news pleases you?"
Bowing stiffly, Jareth nodded: " Yes you have read my mind sire, I do indeed intend to retaliate against the Nightrealm, as for the Unseelie ...well I cannot fight a war on two fronts, and that means that I shall require you to help me keep the Labyrinth safe."
" Certainly son what do you require? "
" Bring your white hunt, and station it at the gate of the unseelie realm, keep them locked down while I deal with the Nightrealm."
Nodding Oberon looked grim, as he held Jareth's gaze: " And when do you intend to bring that bitch to heel, if you delay too long she will only gather her loyal troops and strike first. Please son strike at the heart of the unseelie court now, do not let her call the minions."
" No": returning Oberon's grim look, Jareth continued as he settled carefully into his deep chair: " Not until I have found the very core of this plot, I will not lay waste to a realm before I know the reason of their betrayal. I am fully aware of what this appears to be, but Morgaine is still one of my mothers, and I will hear her reasons from her own mouth. .."
" And why is it that you refuse to see reason" : Surging forward in his seat with barely retained fury, Oberon snarled: "Must that bitch kill you to make you see beyond your misguided love, great seven Jareth, you are not a suckling babe any longer."
" Stop" : Holding himself in an iron vice, Jareth pulled himself up until he stood tall, towering over the seated fey king. How dared he, Oberon might be one of his fathers, but Jareth was no longer a child, and he refused to let Oberon treat him like one: " You forget yourself king Oberon, this is my realm and I will not be dictated like a child, how I deal with this betrayal is my decision, NOT YOURS! "
Surging to his feet, Oberon towered almost a full head over Jareth, slamming his massive fists into the desk, cracking the surface: " HOW DARE YOU! YOU INSOLENT WHELP! IF YOU LOSE THIS WAR THEN WE ALL PAY THE PRICE FOR YOUR FAILURE! WE WILL ALL PERISH! IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT? IS IT ANSWER ME! "
Jareth's lips thinned, and his entire body grew rigid, as murderous rage welled up inside of him, leaning forward on the desk he brought his face mere inched from, Oberon's as he felt his eyes narrow and darken until the red glow of his pupil were the only colour visible. Holding the imposing kings gaze, Jareth took all the time in the world as he drew his lips back in a feral snarl, blatantly displaying teeth that had suddenly become sharp and predatorial, his voice cold and low enough to make true fear creep into the forest lords dark yellow eyes, as he ground out: " You forget yourself Forest lord, this is MY KINGDOM, and I may have been absent but I remain its KING! I will be treated as such. If you continue addressing me with this shocking, lack of respect, I shall be forced to banish you both to the deepest heart of the unquenched reaches, and seal off you realm for eternity... Have I made myself clear? "
Nodding Oberon seemed to wilt as he backed minutely away from the elemental rage before him. He was the Forest lord, the horned god, he was no weak sapling to shatter in its first storm, but against the raw fury of the Goblin king he was no match.
Straightening Jareth leveled a naked golden clawed finger at Oberon's chest noting the obvious distress the uncovered claw caused the huge forest lord as Jareth drawled coldly: " You will send me as many warriors as can be spared, but no less than half your forces, as well as enough arms to equip them for a lengthy campaign. And I mean half of ALL your forces, that includes your Draegor's, firey's, and any other creature am I clear? You will do that the instant you return home. Now you may leave.. I have other pressing business to attend to."
Keeping his frigid gaze locked on the not quite cowering couple, Jareth gestured towards the door, nearly ripping it off its hinges as it flew open. " I wish you a safe journey."
Nodding they both rose, and bowing slightly, Titania pulled the still shocked looking Oberon out beside her, barely clearing the door, before it slammed shut behind them.
Keeping her back to the closed door, Titania rested her head on her husband's shoulder, with a satisfied smirk: "Well my beloved husband, I do believe that our plan have just bloomed into its final stage before completion. I must say, that that could not have had a more satisfactory outcome."
Chuckling darkly Oberon nodded: " Yes my Queen, I must admit that I had my doubts as to the accuracy of your assessment, but you have most certainly proven me wrong. Now let us make haste, and have Llagain speed up the proceedings, we must have the bulk of our troops ready to move through the gate, before my departure. Are you still adamant about remaining here despite his orders? "
" Fear not my lord, Jareth would not risk my wellbeing no matter the rage he feels towards you, I am after all his only remaining mother. Beside I must still craft the Throne, there is no way that Jareth will believe this little charade of ours if there is no second Throne."
Wrapping his ethereal wife in his brawny arms, Oberon grinned, turning the dark chuckle into a rolling laughter of such cruelty, that it sent a pair of goblin maids racing back down the hallway in a state of furious terror.
.. ... ..
Leaning on the desk, Jareth growled deep and low in his throat. It was a cold feral sound, the kind that struck fear of the gods into the hearts of men, huddling in the darkness. Drawing in deep shuddering breaths, Jareth crushed his naked hands into white knuckled fists, his sharp claws drawing drops of blood as they pierced his calloused palms. Thoughts of bloody vengeance danced behind his closed eyes. They would pay, they would all pay in blood, for the betrayal and cruelty they had subjected him to. There was no other way, he was the goblin king, and there was no other way, but to make an example of both offending realms.
Letting out a shuddering breath, Jareth slumped carelessly back in his chair, going rigid as the still raw burns tore and flared from the careless movement. White hot pain washed over him, leaving him blind and gagging with the agony of it, as his hands gripped the arms of the chair, leaving deep gouges in the heavy dark wood. It burned and filled him with a deep raw pain, that almost rivaled the pain of having the cold wrought iron pressed against his skin in the first place. Growling he breathed in deeply trying to quell the pain and succeeding only in making the burns along his ribs reopen, sending new waves crashing over him, until he was drowning in the pain, and all turned dark.
It hurt, everything hurt, but the torturous burning had finally subsided enough for Jareth to draw in a harsh breath and open his eyes. Sunlight still washed through the narrow slitted windows, letting Jareth know that he couldn't have been out more than a half hour. Running badly shaking hands through his unusually long hair he shook it out. This was unacceptable, he had known of course, that the burns would not be affected by the hurried magical healing, but being weak enough to be knocked out by a wrong movement made in an unguarded moment, simply wouldn't do. And it left him with only one option, not that he liked it, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
Closing his eyes, Jareth reached within himself, searching for that place in his very soul were the Labyrinths magic curled like a content cat around the tiny depleted blue core that had once been his own power. His incorporeal fingers stroked it's dark gold surface, causing it to rippled like liquid light, as he coaxed it from it's dormant state, and into his frayed control once more. It was weak obviously still restoring itself from the strain he had put on earlier when he returned the realm to it true form. The expenditure had been necessary but left him with precious little now, that he had need of it.
But even so the power responded to his needs with unwavering loyalty, as the bright golden light, stretched and undulated, slowly flowing over his raw icy soul, like a warm silky balm, as he directed it's flows to the screaming burns. Guiding the light as it covered the ruined nerve endings, numbing them to the pain of the iron burns.
Relief was instant, as Jareth drew just enough power into himself to make his body numb and allow him to move with some grace, appearing strong once more, restoring his body to its former state, even if did not restore his full physical strength. It was dangerous, he knew that, numbing his body like this made him blind to any damage done to him, and if he was not careful he could drive himself too far, past the point of healing. Yet smiling softly to himself, Jareth pushed himself from his chair to stride from the room with a new feeling of calm resignation, he no longer mattered, they had Sarah now, if anything should happen to him, she would simple take over. And in his heart Jareth knew that she would be a good queen to his realm. In any case he was just heading to the room of maps, not into open battle, not yet at least.