Sarah hadn't actually heard Karen yelp with delight, until that moment when her gaze finally landed on the ring on Sarah's left hand. Meanwhile Toby had dissolved into laughter at the looks on their faces, and Jareth was snarling under his breath at the boy. The chaos eventually subsided when Robert rapped his fork against his wineglass repeatedly. "All right then," he said, glaring at Toby until he choked off the last giggles. "So, you two are engaged?"

"Yes," Jareth said, and Sarah chipped his ankle for it. They hadn't discussed breaking the news to her parents, because they were supposed to keep it under wraps for a while. But Toby had been on the verge of blowing that. It wasn't his fault, though, and Sarah was mentally kicking herself for being so stupid. She'd worried about everything relating to this dinner, and with Jareth's freakout in the car adding to her concerns, she'd completely forgotten about the ring. The very same ring that had so upset Della, and she should've known better, she should've had him glamour it right then.

"Congratulations," Karen said warmly, ignoring the look Robert shot at her. She did turn a surprised-yet-concerned look on Sarah, and added, "Isn't this … a little … sudden?"

"Not entirely," Sarah managed to reply, seizing her chance to set the story before Jareth could. He didn't know her parents, or what would mollify them best. "We've known each other a long time; since I was right out of college, actually, but we'd only met in person like twice. He's been living overseas and we kept it to email and IM. I broke it off for a while, because of Barton, and after that went south I just … gave up on dating for a while."

Jareth cut in smoothly. "We chanced to encounter each other again during one of her recent cases, and after some discussion, decided to make a go of it. Since I am able to travel here occasionally, it will be easier this time. And quite frankly, I did not intend to be so great a fool as to let her drift away again. Once we were both certain of each other, I saw no reason to delay."

Sarah managed not to snort at the liberties he was taking with the truth. Her second run through the Labyrinth was one hell of a 'discussion', particularly how it ended. "We've been seeing each other in person for a month or so," Sarah added. "I didn't say anything because I didn't want you guys to freak out."

"Yeah, Sarah the marriage-hater goes and accepts a ring from an older British guy, that wouldn't freak anyone out, Sare," Toby laughed.

He was enjoying her discomfiture, the little brat! Sarah narrowed her eyes, and asked sweetly, "Older, huh? You want me to tell them all about the girl you thought was so drop-dead gorgeous?"

Toby sat up like he'd been stung. "Hey, leave me out of that!"

"What girl?" Karen said, looking keenly at her son.

Jareth interrupted before Toby or Sarah could say anything. "A family member of mine. She's quite happily married, with no intentions of coming to New York. If you saw a photograph of her, you would understand why Toby was impressed, but it has no bearing on this other than sibling in-fighting. It's nothing, I assure you."

Sarah felt a little wash of something in the air, some kind of magic perhaps, and Karen and Robert both simultaneously decided to ignore the topic of Toby's crush. Which, yes, had been entirely mean-spirited of her, but clearly Toby couldn't resist making her life difficult on this score.

Robert was looking at her then,his expression tense. He clearly wanted to be happy but still worried. "Are you sure, Sarah?"

"Dad, at this point, I'd better be," she replied honestly. "You know me. I wouldn't take a ring from anybody, no matter how good-looking or how titled, unless I was damn sure he's the one I want. And this jackass, despite himself, is the one."

Jareth only smirked at her. "I do so love your pet names for me, precious."

Toby snorted laughter again, while she glared at Jareth. "Shut it, you," Sarah growled, and he only smiled.

"So you're really getting married," Karen said, her voice sounding dreamy.

Jareth put up a hand to forestall any further speculation. "It is going to be a very long engagement," he said. "Once we are wed, my family will expect Sarah to move to our country on a more permanent basis. Staying engaged shows our commitment without forcing us to take such drastic measures so soon."

Okay, point, I guess Umardelin is considered family, Sarah thought. "And yeah, the downside is that if I marry him, I'm going to have to leave New York and take citizenship overseas," she said, aware that only she could tell certain parts of it. Jareth could bend the truth back and forth like a silly straw, but he couldn't break it. Only she could outright lie.

"So the marriage itself is comfortably far in the future," Jareth continued. "For as much as I might like to steal Sarah away to my castle, she has too many commitments here to do allow me to do so just yet."

Robert and Karen both looked rather nonplussed at that, and Sarah realized they'd only heard one word in the statement when Karen said slowly, "You have a castle?"

Sarah dropped her head in her hands and groaned. "Can I go back in time and shoot Walt Disney?" she muttered plaintively.

Jareth patted her shoulder, smirking. "I managed handsome and charming. Forgive me for not being an actual prince, precious." She could only glare at him while he grinned, his words at the end of her first run coming back to her. Other women have to settle for a mere prince to bed and wed, happily ever after. You get a king.

Taking the opportunity to change the subject, Sarah sighed heavily and asked pointedly, "So, Dad, how have things been at work lately? Tobe told me you have a really big case in the works."

Another touch of magic backed her up, and Robert brightened at that. Although Sarah knew the next half hour was likely to be almost incomprehensible to anyone with less than a decade's study of corporate law, it at least got his and Karen's minds off the prospect of planning a wedding.

Back in New York City, people were trickling into Imperiale. Sunday night wasn't as crowded as Friday and Saturday, but it still did good business. Alix was up above it all, elbows on the rail, listening to the music and feeling its pulse in the humans below.

Colleen rolled up beside her, the aluminum frame of her chair coming to a rest a hair's-breadth from the rail. Alix had tried steering the thing once, out of curiosity, and earned a new level of respect for her merrow. Anyone who could manage to be deft and graceful on wheels, when nature meant her for a life in the water, deserved that much and more.

They stood in companionable silence for a while, until Ojore joined them. The African fae took his place on Alix's other side, leaving the dryad bracketed by her two oldest allies. She gave him a slight smile, then returned to watching the dance floor.

Colleen broke the silence. "So we're doing this, then? With Umardelin's help?"

"They offered, I haven't accepted," Alix said. "They know what we want. And there are wild lands aplenty near Umardelin."

"It would not hurt to have powerful neighbors, if they are friends," Ojore said thoughtfully. "I do not think either of them means to slight us. And there is Etaron to consider, as well."

"I will not take Etaron's charity," Alix said sharply.

Ojore looked down at her. He was a kind of dryad himself, a tree spirit anyway, though African mythology was very different from Greco-Roman. "It is not charity. She gave offense, and seeks to make amends."

Alix shifted uncomfortably. "Truly, she never intended any ill. I know that, little as I can see it when she's standing in front of me. I took offense, she gave none. And she wrote me a blank check of an apology that would leave us owing her. I won't have that."

"We didn't want to play politics with any of them," Colleen began. "But if we're going to, Alix, why is Umardelin any better than Etaron?"

The dryad sighed and tipped her head back, letting her wavy green hair spill loose down her back. "Because I've been of assistance to Umardelin's queen. Sarah, I trust. Not so much Jareth, but he seems all right. For a king. That makes Umardelin an acceptable risk, and I am as eager as you are to bring this to a conclusion. But Etaron … Etaron is an old kingdom, and I don't know how traditional they are."

Traditional, to the low fae, meant discriminatory. Perhaps even dangerous. Colleen worried at her lower lip. "Before I got mixed up with the rebels, I never heard any ill of Etaron. They're not on the coast, but the river nymphs always kept us appraised of problems. If they were the kind we should fear, I would know."

Ojore sighed. "Alix, you know we two do not lightly criticize you. We have been at your side the longest, and neither of us will ever desert you, come what may. It would be no dishonor to die at your side."

"I won't let it come to that," Alix said softly, shaking her head.

He wasn't finished. "But where the Queen of Etaron is concerned, you know you are not rational. Please, listen to us. We have no reason to mislead you."

Alix stood up straight, and felt them both stiffen beside her. She kept her voice mild. "Neither of you have met her, either. Ojore, you've never even dealt with the Celtic fae of the high courts. Remember their High King, who is of her kind, was willing to slaughter legions of your people, to assassinate as many kings as need be, until you all accepted his rule. They are a ruthless breed. I would not deal with them unless my hand is forced. And that, my very good friends, is final. Unless you choose to go behind my back and act in defiance of my wishes, we will not treat with Etaron."

There was a pause, and then Ojore said quietly, "I do not forget my brothers' blood, shed in the wars of kings who never bothered to even count our deaths. Nor will I defy you, Alix. I owe you my life and honor. I would sooner linger here a thousand years than stain my loyalty to you, even if I were proven right."

Alix placed her pale slender hand on his strong forearm. "I know, my friend. I do not think you would do so. But I cannot leave open the door of possibility." He covered her hand in his, gently, acknowledging her unspoken apology.

That left Colleen, and she winced. "Alix … are we not ruthless, in our way? Didn't you seek out Sarah when you felt her presence, and lure her in like an anglerfish? The fact that you like her doesn't mean we aren't definitely benefiting from her friendship with you."

The dryad smiled. "Sarah herself is ruthless as only a human can be. Who do you think inspired the High King, if not humans and their wars of conquest? Yes, I like Sarah more than I meant to. And she is honorable to a fault, as long as you don't threaten someone or something she cares deeply about. Do that, and you'll find there's steel in her."

Alix paused, thoughtful. "I could not let a power such as she is walk past without investigation. And yes, I would have used her, very gently, but my lessons in magic were meant to be bartered. Now I have seen inside her mind and heart, as she has seen mine, and we walked away still friends. She does not think I'm using her, even when she knows that was on my mind when we first met. Not when she sees benefit to herself in our friendship, and that our cause is righteous. That last is of most importance to her. If we were not honorable, if we had nefarious plans for her and her kingdom, she'd have struck at me the other night when she was here, and damn the consequences."

Colleen worried at her lip, thinking. "We're already playing a tense game for high stakes, Alix. Why is it that Sarah can be swayed by righteousness, and not Cadelinyth?"

At that name, Alix flinched, trying to control the reaction and failing. "You know better than to say her name," she scolded. "I damned sure don't want her showing up here. Perhaps she is, and she makes common cause with her low fae subjects, and rules with wisdom and mercy like the queens in stories for children. But perhaps she isn't. And I won't take that risk." She turned to fully face the merrow, and her caprine eyes were narrowed to slits. "I said it was final, Colleen. Do you of all people doubt the danger of the high fae?"

The merrow arched her back, her tail rising so the stiff fin curled up. There was a deep, ragged notch on the left side. "By this, I know damned well how dangerous they are," she replied hotly. "There's still a bounty on these fins, I'm still an outlaw, and I dare not swim Underground until I have citizenship to protect me. Your citizen, you stubborn stick, if I meant to follow anyone else, ever again, I'd try my luck in Umardelin or Etaron.

"But Ojore is right – you do not see clearly when she's involved. I know why, Alix, don't glare at me like that. Your rage masks your vision more surely than cuttle-ink. And it scares the hell out of me that the one I trust to lead me is swimming half-blind up a dangerous current!"

Alix ground her teeth, but stilled her tongue. Colleen was more frightened than angry or defiant, and she had cause. Whenever the dryad so much as thought of Etaron's queen, a red veil came down over her mind, and the worst of it was that she knew her hatred was not justified. And even as she struggled with the rage she'd kept banked for over six decades, Ojore still held her hand in his, a quiet strength trusting her no matter what she decided.

Their trust in her humbled her enough to let the anger pass, for now. By all the gods, she would not betray her people, would not use them as callously as she had once been used. And listening to them, even when they defied her, was part of her responsibility to them.

"Fine," she said at last. "Never let it be said that a willow cannot bend. If she offers to aid us thrice, with no obligation, I will take her up on it. And pray that our impatience doesn't doom us all. Is that enough for you, Colleen?"

"More than enough. I would not argue with you if I didn't love you, Alix." So saying, the merrow took her other hand and kissed the backs of her knuckles. The gesture, one of ritual submission, turned Alix's stomach much the way that being bowed to turned Sarah's. Unlike Umardelin's queen, she didn't let it show in her expression.

Instead she kissed the top of Colleen's head, murmuring, "I love you too, you pesky fish. Gods alone know where I'd be without you and Ojore."

"Somewhere much like this, but not so handsomely guarded," the African fae replied, and both women stared at him before breaking into laughter. He only grinned at them, glad to lighten the atmosphere.

All of them knew that things were changing. To Alix and Ojore, it felt like the first trickles of earth that signal a landslide; to Colleen, it was the glassy calm before a mighty storm. After sixty years of carefully, patiently cultivating followers and gathering strength, Alix had made an ally who could tap powers unheard of Above. And that meant that sooner rather than later, they would be looking to found their own kingdom.