Chapter: A Mother's Love
Golden streaks of sunlight, pierced the heavy dark grey clouds, setting the walls of the sprawling Labyrinth alight in scattered patches. The wind had turned frigid with the first touches of a night freeze, as the day had waned.
Not that Jareth and Sarah had noticed, having spent the day until the very late afternoon making up for all the years, that Jareth had waited for her to finally be given form. The only reason that they had left their nest at all, had been an insistent pounding on the door, accompanied by a demanding nasal voice, which Jareth identified as Shiver, the captain of his Bloodthorn guards, and his third in command.
Leaning back against the balcony balustrade, Sarah rubbed at her arms, feeling the cold seep through the heavy dressing gown, as she watched Jareth lounge in one of the overstuffed chairs by the fire. One leg casually thrown over the armrest, the other stretched out in front of him as he rested his chin in his hand, looking every inch the regal monarch, as he watched the tall athletic looking goblin give a thorough rapport on the progress of the Labyrinths defences, and the arrival of a man named Llagain.
Gone were the happy mischievous lover she had spent the better part of eight hours, acquainting herself with in all the best ways. And in his skin sat the man who had been king for millennia, a warrior king to rule wisely. Even lounging in apparent relaxed repose, he looked strong, lean muscles seemingly coiled and ready to strike as he pondered the words of his captain.
Nodding Jareth said: "And how many of the white orcs follow Llagain? "
" Seventeen thousand with five thousand of which being mounted draegor knights."
Jareth's eyes widened in shock, before narrowing to show blatant suspicion: " And this is supposedly just half of his standing force, neigh on three hundred thousand blooded warriors. Why in the name of the great earth mother has Oberon amassed such a force! We have suffered no wars between the realms since I was born to ascend the throne..."
Running his fingers through his thick shock of fine and neat dreadlocks, in a movement Jareth knew signaled that something profound was vexing the proud goblin, Shiver cleared his throat before saying: " He claims that this army is but seven years old my liege, Oberon began recruiting the moment that you were taken, yet you know as well as I that it takes neigh on sixty years for the bond between Draegor and rider to form properly, and the Draegor knights who followed the white blade, are ALL Blooded."
" Yes I see your point, however, Oberon has sent these troops on my request, I find it hard to believe that the Seelie court should harbour malicious intent while sending half their troops to mass under my banners. No I think that we may rest easy for now Shiver, Oberon may be an ostentatious git, but he is no oath breaker " : Shaking his head Jareth sighed. It was not that he could not follow Shivers train of thought, for it had also been the first one he had gone to, yet on closer examination the idea became preposterous. If Oberon were planning to launch an attack, then it made no sense for him to wait until, Jareth had been rescued. The logical course would have been to attack while the Labyrinth were at its most vulnerable, and then bond it to himself, adding the labyrinths power to his own. Or maybe even allow it to simple die, and let the four realms merge once more, even though that would have meant the death of every creature born of the tiny realm.
Bowing slightly in acception, Shiver said: " As you command my liege, now is there anything else with which your majesties require my assistance? "
It was like watching the sun break from behind a menacing cloud as Jareth smiled and gestured towards the second plush chair, with one of the mugs that had just materialized in place of three crystals: " Yes sit, taste this, and then you can explain to me how The Goblin Lord managed to drop a runner into the bog. Oh and Sarah precious please join us, we can't have you catching your death out there. Honestly precious I don't see what you were lurking out there for in first place..."
Gathering the flowing skirt in her hands, Sarah smiled as she re-entered their chambers, feeling the dry heat of the roaring fire wash over her skin: " Oh don't worry about that I just wanted to give you two some space. Besides it's not that cold out there."
" Hmm" : Rising gracefully, Jareth meet her half way, gently wrapping her in a warm pelt as he lead her to the fire, and the chair he had abandoned: " Then why are your hands cold and your cheeks rosy? "
Letting him tuck the pelt firmly around her, Sarah grinned:" Okay I admit it, it's freezing out there, but I enjoyed it, the Labyrinth looks absolutely amazing in this light, I just couldn't stop staring."
Lounging languidly on his side on the worn couch, Jareth nodded and sipped slowly from his usual oxford mug: " Yes he is quite beautiful in the light of the setting sun, most especially the bog... speaking of which if I'm not mistaken, then you my dear Shiver were preparing to regale us with the story of how a runner came to find herself face first in the less than savoury waters of the said bog."
Grinning the bright-eyed Goblin fiddled briefly with his tight cuffs before saying: " Well, it all began when she decided to kick Hoggle, and pushed young Sir Gribe into an oubliette..."
Sitting in her chair, Sarah watched with wonder, as a completely new beast arose before her, Jareth the friend and brother in arms. Watching the two old comrades poke fun at each other and be completely at ease together, gave her whole new image of the terrifying goblin king and how much his subjects loved him.
The sun set fully and darkness swallowed the realm as Shiver told funny anecdotes from the labyrinthian lives during Jareth's absence, they were all happy and bright, yet Sarah still heard the clear message in those tale... Jareth, king... you were sorely missed.
. . .
Starlight filled the entire room with pale silvery highlights, reminding him of the light in Gaia's realm. Running his fingers gently over her sinfully soft cheek, Jareth sighed deeply. He was tired, weary to the bones, yet he could not let himself succumb to the siren call of sleep. To sleep was to dream, and dreams... No.
But he could rest, rest with her warm body sprawled halfway on top of him, as she dreamt. Her delicate hand buried deep in his hair, holding on as if she needed that grip to reassure herself that he was still lying beside her.
"But you don't deserve her, now do you, you mongrel. How dare you defile such innocence. you claim to love her, but you are a monster, you got her family killed. You are disgusting!"
No, no, no. Squeezing his eyes tightly shut, Jareth buried his face in her silky hair. Whispering: "No No No No "
Over and over again, as the windborne voice continued to rake his mind with cold iron words.
"mongrel! "
"Bastard."
"Pathetic"
"WEAK!"
"UNWORTHY "
Clinging to her sleeping form, Jareth whimpered desperately into the darkness: "No, Please... I love her, I have for so long... please... I can't live without her."
" If you love her, then make her leave. make her see that these "memories" You continue to offer her are the false fever dreams of a twisted mind... she is a child... And you are a vile corrupter... Disgusting."
No, No, No. Rubbing frantically at his stinging eyes, Jareth rolled soundlessly from the bed. He needed to get away from here, from the voice, from the pain.
Turning slowly towards the sleep rumpled furs, Jareth felt his breath catch in his throat. Starlight spilled over her sleeping features, painting her in silver and ebony. The very image of her spirit self. An innocent spirit caught in his lecherous clutches. Grabbing his hair, Jareth sank to his knees violently shaking his head trying to banish the voices and thoughts. But the voice only grew louder, more shrill, more cruel, chasing him as he fled into the bathroom.
. . .
Dawn spilled across their chamber floor, and Sarah knew even before she opened her eyes, that Jareth had left. It was a change in the air, as if the air of their rooms seemed less vibrant, more frigid despite the roaring fire. As if the cold of the early snow piling up against the glass of the balcony doors, had washed over her. Sitting up slowly, Sarah ran her trembling hands over her face, and into her long heavy tumble of hair, something had changed, yet Sarah could not for the life of her put a finger on what it was. But she felt in her bones that the cold was the herald of darker tides.
Sliding from the warmth of the furs, Sarah stood, stretched and padded slowly towards the half open door leading into the bathroom.
It felt strange, almost wrong for her to be inside Jareth's chambers without him, as if she was trespassing on something profoundly private, and. ...
Stopping mid thought Sarah stared dumbstruck at the full length mirror, taking up the entire wall opposite the door. Large beautifully formed words greeted her with their golden colour.
My beautiful precious queen.
I could not bring myself to disturb your much needed rest, not after I kept you up so late.
I have left a surprise for you on the bed, and I would be most thrilled if you would concede to wearing it and join me in my study, where I fear I will be bogged down most of the day, to deal with those matters that Hoggle and Shiver could not handle in my absence.
Yours forever Jareth..
Staring at the words, Sarah couldn't help, but feel suddenly warm and loved. He could not bring himself... Well it was fair in a sense, he had kept her up and quite busy until they had literally fallen asleep on top of each other.
Grinning to herself, as she slipped into the steaming tub to soak her sore muscles, Sarah leaned back against the edge of the tub with a deep sigh. Maybe she really did belong here, by the Goblin king's side, Jareth certainly seemed to believe so. Sinking deeper into the almost scalding heat Sarah sighed as the fragrant water loosened her tight muscles. And maybe he was right, this strange world felt more real to her than the "real world" ever had, it felt... Pausing Sarah bit her cheek as she tried to convince herself that it wasn't true, but it was. This world felt like Home. Only she was no fey and Jareth deserved a fey queen, someone beautiful and...
Plunging under the surface, Sarah rubbed vigorously at her face, in an effort to chase the unwelcome thoughts away, as she re-emerged. What the hell was wrong with her? Where was all these negative thoughts coming from, hadn't she just come to terms with her feeling towards Jareth! and this entire situation? Yes she had.
Pulling her fingers through the water heavy mass of her hair, Sarah sighed in resignation, if she was to be a worthy queen to Jareth, and the Labyrinth, she would have to trust her heart. And her heart said that this was her home now. Besides Jareth would not have presented her to the entire realm if he had, had any doubt about his feelings towards her. And she would have to trust him to know his own heart.
Getting out of the tub, Sarah wrapped one of the ridiculously soft towels around herself, before returning to the bedroom, intent on seeking out the surprise Jareth had left her.
It lay on the unused four poster bed, a big black dress box, complete with seven crimson roses, held together by a stunning silver chain carrying a blank pendant that hummed with power where it lay atop a folded note.
Picking up the paper with trembling fingers, Sarah read.
My Love
I have taken the liberty of having some more substantial breakfast prepared for you, since you have consumed nothing but pulped fruit alongside me for the last few days, and I would most selfishly hate it if your sublime curves were to waste away, for no better reason but your reluctance to eat before me when I am unable to join you.
Eternally yours.
Her eyes had barely left the paper, before the succulent sent of bacon, and eggs washed over her making her mouth water, and her stomach growl. Turning slowly, Sarah grinned as her eyes landed on the heavily laden tray, suddenly taking up a good part of the couch. There was a small pot of steaming and fragrant coffee, beside it sat a glass of clear orange juice, but most of the tray was taken up by a plate filled to the brim with scrambled eggs, crispy bacon and a bread that looked like it had been soaked in butter, all of it still steaming.
" Damn you Jareth, you are too good to me. "
Sitting on the couch, Sarah smiled as she began eating.
. . .
The pile of unread papers still reached a daunting two feet in height, even after he had spent the last six hours going through the tedium of reviewing a multitude of problems all of which he was expected to solve. This was the times when he hated being a king.
Throwing the papers he was perusing onto the table in a flurry, Jareth groaned, it was barely mid morning, yet he had been up for more than six hours, keeping sleep and nightmares at bay with administrative work. Oh yes and coffee, mustn't forget the coffee, though it had already made him vomit more than once. He was teetering on the edge of exhaustion once more, but the fear of what his dreams would bring pushed him further, even though the words began to swim in front of his eyes, as the morning wore on.
Sweet Elder gods! his eyes burned and watered, and there was nothing he wanted more than to close them, and let the darkness beckoning at the edge of his vision claim him.
But with the darkness came the voices, cold cruel voices slicing away at his already fragile sanity, with barbed razor words.
" Bastard, Half breed. Mongrel. Cruel. monster."
Clutching the edge of the desk, Jareth gasped for breath, as terror constricted his chest. What if Sarah had seen?, what if she knew what he was, how weak... Shaking his head in confusion, Jareth surged to his feet, using the sudden movement, to focus outside the sudden onslaught of fear filled thoughts. What the hell was happening to him?, he knew who he was, and so did Sarah.
Leaning on the desk, Jareth drew in deep shuddering breaths, as he followed the trail of terror into his own mind. It was like a faint aftertaste of something bitter, that lingered on the surface of his conscious mind, like dust. It felt alien not a part his own mind, yet it had a feeling to it that was utterly familiar, terrifying but familiar, if only...just a little... further...
The crisp sound of knuckles rapping against the door, shocked him back from the depths of his mind, to blink against the bright glare of the round sunken hearth in front of him.
" Yes, enter ": Waving his hand towards the door, Jareth let the heavy door open to admit who ever it was.
" Jareth? God almighty, sit down before you drop. "
" Sarah": Whipping his head up and towards the sound of her voice, Jareth staggered as the world blurred before his eyes. Strong delicate hands cradled his face, as the world finally regained its focus.
" Sarah? You came.. I. . was not expecting you this early in the day."
" Early? It's almost ten o'clock, How long have you been cooped up in here?"
Rubbing at his jaw, Jareth sighed, as he weighed for and against telling her the truth, only to decide there wasn't anything that would be made easier by her knowing that he had not slept yet: " Only a few hours, no longer... but... sweet goddess look at you, you look absolutely amazing my lady. "
Stepping back Jareth let his eyes linger on her as she stood before him dressed in the dress he had left for her. It was a dress made from thin buttery golden white leather, with long full sleeves that barely touched her shoulders, but were gathered at the wrists by wide bone cuffs. the body of the dress had a scooped boat neck, that only just graced the top of her perky breasts, before turning into a tightly fitted bodice, that flared into a full flowing skirt slitted up the middle to reveal her long slender legs clad in tight grey leggings and knee-high boots in a golden white doeskin.
To match the dress, she wore her hair loose, only held back from her face by seven crimson roses, used as hairpins, and the long simple chain that held her medallion.
Blushing, Sarah performed a to Jareth's surprise, extremely graceful curtsy: "Thank you my lord you are most gracious. "
Gripping her around the waist as she straightened, Jareth growled: "No, I'm not, you look like a goddess, a true queen. "
Taking her hand gentle, Jareth sat back down, pulling Sarah down to sit in his lap, gently nuzzling the sensitive spot, behind her ear.
" How ever my precious, you have chosen a most opportune time to join me, since a great deal of these newer correspondences, all concern one specific event, or rather two specific events, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. "
Settling her so that they could both see the papers, Jareth pulled them closer, and gestured towards the exquisitely penned pages.
" And what event would that be?"
She sounded calm as she asked that seemingly innocent question, while her mind screamed. Please, please, please,PLEASE don't be my coronation.
" Why it would be your official coronation, and well whether there is to be a wedding in the near future, but I think that we can wait a while before deciding on that step, don't you think? "
Panic flared, widening her eyes and bleeding the colour from her face. Didn't he know that they were already married, wait... no of course he didn't, who could have told him. And how the hell was she supposed to tell him, should she just pop it on him, or what? Yeah, that might be the best choice, to just get it out before he heard it from Oberon or Titania. Because that she sensed would not be a good situation.
Okay this was it then.
" Look Jareth I have something I need to tell you, and it might be something of a shock okay, so I just need you to keep calm until I'm done okay? Cause this might just be you know a little shocking?"
" Precious you are rambling, what are you trying to say? "
Drawing in a deep shuddering breath, Sarah steeled herself against the pained uncertainty, twisting his expression: "You were unconscious for the first two almost three days, and so weak. I didn't...I thought... "
But it was no use, tears poured from her eyes, as she relived the horror of those first days, the fear that he was too damaged to survive.
" Sarah..."
Wiping the tears away with her left hand as she rested two fingers over his lips with her right, effectively cutting off his words: " No don't, you need to hear me out... We thought that you could die at any minute and Samhain was only a few days away, and the Labyrinth needed someone to bond with, but to do that I needed to have a connection to it. And... And... Fuck this. Jareth we are married... Oberon married us just before you woke up... just before I had the weirdest dream and you woke me up... there that's it."
Grabbing the hand that was silencing him, he pulled it from his lips, as he exclaimed: " We are wed? WE ARE WED! AND WHEN... When were you going to tell me this? "
Anger shook his entire form as he sat rigid beneath her, eyes narrowing as they burned into hers with enough force to scald her very soul.
" I.. I didn't know what to say, how to tell you... I mean how the hell do you initiate that conversation? Oh by the way my liege while you lay dying one of your four fathers who happen to be the horned forest lord of legend married us, so I could bind your Labyrinth to us both and prevent it from being swallowed up by a gang of realm eating forgotten gods? Yeah that sounds good let's stick with that shall we?" : Biting of her snarled tirade, Sarah stood staring down at him with blazing green eyes, her fists clenching and unclenching at her sides:" God you are such an idiot! "
Vaulting out of the chair, Jareth towered over her, like a wall of sheer fury and pain: " I am an idiot! I'm.. the one who was wed without consent! Oh that is RICH! My precious. .."
" Oh and why would that be... Love..." : She might be smaller and mortal, but she would be damned if she would cower before him again, Goblin King or not. Yet her fury could not shield her from his next words.
" Because you already had a connection to the Labyrinth,.. You were connected through my power in you... through my... broken... Hmp maybe you are right, I may very well be the fool in this... "
All anger vanished as Sarah struggled to grasp Jareth's dejected words. Had she had a connection to the Labyrinth through his broken heart? What the hell, why hadn't she known, wasn't that the kind of thing that she should have been able to feel? And then it struck her, of course she had a connection, how else could she have called her friends through the mirrors? His broken heart...
" God Jareth I... I am so sorry... I"
Putting up a hand, Jareth stopped her dead in her tracks with that simple gesture: " Sarah don't... just go.. I need to.. to think... I need to..."
Turning his back on her he abruptly stalked from the room, slamming the doors behind him leaving her in silence.
. . .
A soft silken voice whispered into the perfect golden crystal resting in her pale alabaster hand.
"Bastard, Halfbreed. Mongrell. Cruel. monster."
A cold smile twisted the ethereal face into a hideous mask of hatred: "She doesn't love you, why would she, you are a bastard, a mongrel, a weak minded coward. How could anyone who bested that pitiful excuse for a Labyrinth, ever love someone like you. She lied, every word she whispered so sweetly in you ear, nothing but filthy lies... Lies... Lies... Lies.."
Smirking down at the image showing a devastated Goblin King, The queen threw back her head and cackled gleefully. Close, she was so close now, soon his heart would shatter completely, breaking him utterly. All it would take were a few more well placed hints, and then their plan would come to completion.
. . .
The sound of his boots echoed down the sunlit hallway, as Jareth stomped towards the one place that he could think of, that might offer any kind of answer.
Wiping angrily at the tears burning unshed in his eyes, Jareth turned around the final corner, and stopped in front of the huge ornate gold doors. Beyond these doors lay the answer to whether he and Sarah were truly wed, if they were then the magic that coursed through the very fabric of the realm would have created a throne for its new queen. If there was a throne then that begat the question, Why had his own magic not returned to him. If they were truly bound by the vows of wedlock, and it Sarah truly felt the way she claimed then why had his magic not returned to him? But if there was no throne, then why would Sarah believe that they were wed? Who had lied? and most importantly why?
Running his hands through his long hair, Jareth sighed. He didn't want to open these doors, he didn't want to be confronted with what lay behind. The thought that Sarah might have lied to him, or didn't truly love him, was more terrifying than all the torments he had faced at the hands of the night goblins. And Jareth refused to dwell on it, until he had seen... Swallowing thickly, Jareth rested his hands on the carved claws that acted as handles... Before he had seen what lay beyond these doors.
The doors of his Throne room towered over him as he pushed with both hands forcing the heavy doors into the dusty room, the sudden wind sending clouds of dust into the stale air in thick obscuring clouds.
Coughing softly, Jareth gestured to the enormous windows lining the outer wall, flinging the shutters wide open with a tightly controlled burst of power, flooding the room in bright golden sun light, for the first time in more than seven years.
Heavy grey dust and cloth like spider webs covered everything in the sprawling room, proclaiming this a ghost room, long abandoned, in the heart of the labyrinth. Ignoring the dust Jareth let his eyes follow the long line of candelabras as they lead to the raised dais at the opposite wall, where the light did not penetrate the inky darkness.
Small clouds of grey twirled around his polished boots, dimming the gleam of the lacquer as he walked slowly into the silent room, with a pounding heart.
Stopping in the middle of the two lines of candelabras, Jareth turned to face the throne dais still hidden in velvety darkness letting his eyes adjust to the shadows before whispering: "chámace"
Making the candles flare to life bathing the dais in bright light.
Tears burned behind his eyes, as Jareth took in the sight before him.
Heavy dark blue velvet draped across the stone wall, framing and enhancing the dais that no longer held a single throne. Two thrones stood like twin colossuses at the center of the platform, one black and imposing with gargoyles clambering over it like frozen horrors at the armrests and backrest, the other golden and light, where gargoyles sat guard instead. These were the thrones of the goblin king and queen, and they were magnificent.
" No.."
It was but one broken word, but it ripped the last his frayed world apart. Nearly seven years of pain and horrors that should have broken him, that should have ground him into the dust of his perished realm and plunged the five remaining realms into darkness not seen since before the memory of men. He had survived, clinging to one thought, to the faint hope that he would see her one more time, and bask in her love. ...Her love, her lie...
Jareth didn't register when his legs had given in, spilling him into the thick dust, in a sobbing heart broken pile.
" Son? Jareth, Oh My child what have happen to leave you thus broken? "
The sound of her voice ripped into his scab of grief, tearing it off to expose the haemorrhaging wound beneath, even as it froze him to the spot with sheer horror. Cold hands cupped his tear streaked chin, filling him with terror he had long though forgotten as he scrambled back from the apparently comforting touch, with a strangled whimper.
Trailing her long silver lacquered nails along his skin, Titania, sighed in open disappointment: " Really Jareth I would have thought you old enough to put that imagined pain behind you, but apparently I was wrong."
Imagined...That one word rolled through Jareth's mind like a icy balm, burning cold at first, but then soothing as it stole his tortured emotions with its numbness. It felt almost like magic.
Running his hand across his reddened eyes, Jareth pulled himself up feeling strangle numb as his power ghosted across his face, erasing all traces of his tears and setting his markings in neutral golden white with dark lines. Bowing slightly, Jareth said: " Lady Titania, I thought that I had made myself quite clear, Why are you still in this realm?"
" Oh Jareth my son, I could not leave before I was assured that you had properly healed from your ordeal, and that you were in good hands.. I am your mother after all.. "
Yes his mother, that was what she was, standing back Titania kept her expression soft and warm as she watched that mongrel child, that Morgaine had forced upon her, struggle against the web of spells she had cast about him, with such care and patience. Four thousand years, she had planned and plotted and now finally, could she see the end of her plan. Jareth was struggling just to stand, and without his personal power, he was weaker than he had ever been. Oh the barbed joy of true love. Never had she been as happy about the loveless marriage she shared with Oberon, as she was now. No theirs was not a joining based on something as fickle and fragile as love. Theirs was a marriage of mutual ambition, and desires. They had once been worshipped as gods and they would be once more. No feeble child would ever stand in the way of that.
Filling her voice with a concern she didn't feel, Titania turned towards the two thrones, with an inward smirk. Yes they truly were magnificent, she really had outdone herself. But to the Goblin king she gushed: "Oh sweet Gaia, that is a most magnificent throne, very fitting that hers is a throne of harmony to yours of chaos and discontent..."
" Chaos and discontent? what are you hinting at madam, I was not aware that there was any chaos or discontent in MY Realm" : His eyes narrowed with anger, yet behind it Titania easily picked out the layers of hurt and uncertainty, and she knew there would never be a more perfectly vulnerable moment in Jareth's life. This was the culmination of all the doubts and negative thoughts that she had slipped into his mind for so many years. Of the web she had so painstakingly woven around him in his most helpless moments, ever since his birth. Reaching out Titania grabbed his naked hand, and lacing their fingers together, She cooed soothingly: " Oh sweetheart, you have been absent for neigh on seven years, leaving your realm in the hands of that... Dwarf, and the captain of you guard, Of course there is discontent, and honestly Child, this IS a realm of mostly Goblins, is it so hard to see from where the chaos stems?"
Staring down at their intertwined fingers with a slightly confused frown on his brow : " Yes well I supposed I. ..."
Closing her eyes, Titania pounced thrusting the last vital part of her spell into his mind, locking it all in place.
" Jareth look at me. "
His head rose slowly, to stare at her with eyes that showed nothing, but blank obedience: " Yes mother..."
Cold satisfaction filled her as she gently turned his face from side to side, carefully inspecting the threads of her weave, where they wove through his thick hair, like lines of flickering light. These threads would not be visible to anyone but her and Oberon. And in any case it would only be a little while longer, once the wedge had been driven completely in between the oh so happy couple , there was no one left to stop the most timely demise of the Goblin king and the ascension of his naive and easily controlled queen to sole ruler.
Releasing his chin, Titania trailed a single sharp nail along the graceful line of his throat, pressing in just hard enough to draw a thin line of blood, yet still his eyes revealed nothing but the blank obedient stare. Catching a crimson drop at the tip of her nail, Titania watched with satisfaction as it rolled along the edge to the pad of her finger, where it rest for just the briefest of moments quivering as if alive and afraid. Before her fingers moved slowly crushing the quivering drop, rubbing it into the alabaster of her skin.
"Hm much as I do relish having you so becomingly obedient and silent, you must understand that this very sudden change in you demeanour, could be seen as somewhat suspicious. I simple will not have any of those vapid creatures you call subjects, begin to poke their obscenely large noses into matters that does not concern their petty minds. Thus. ...": Pressing her sharp nail into the hollow of his neck, Titania let a tiny trickle of power seep into the weave surrounding his mind and soul: " Jareth King of goblins, you will leave this room, and not recall having encountered me inside. You will heed any suggestion or advice I or Llagain offer as good and valid. You will not argue or otherwise be obstinate, but you will make a show of examining my words before following them above all other... I bind you to these words by your blood, and my will."
Stepping back she smiled as she faded from sight, taking all traces of her presence with her.
An: not the villain you had expected was it. Do review ;-)