Disclaimer: I don't own it; I make no profit from it. Mores the pity.
A/N: I am a slave to your reviews. Keep them coming please. Obviously I will shamelessly beg. I may be a little longer putting out updates, I am getting ready to make a cross country move in less than two months. What am I doing instead of packing? Writing my story of course! I also have to make sure that I answer all of Sarah's questions and get good explanations for all of the weird stuff going on, although, it seems to me that weird stuff abounds when dealing with one sexy Fae and his kingdom. Wish me luck.
Conall and Fiona looked visibly relieved to see Jareth, Liam and Siobhan gave a shout of joy and ran to greet him. Sarah looked thoughtfully at the small group and wondered if it was possible that they had all aged slightly since she had been gone. It was time, she decided, for Jareth to cough up some answers.
"Much as I hate to break up this family reunion, we really need to figure out a strategy." She said.
"Yes, I agree." Kevin put in. "You had a plan back at the precinct, Sarah. Is it still something you want to try?"
Jareth turned and looked at Kevin, eyes narrowing as he noticed the way the man had maneuvered himself closer to Sarah. That one bears watching. He thought.
"I don't know, Kevin. Maybe it will still work, I have to figure some things out still. It also depends on how helpful our new recruit is willing to be." Sarah responded, giving Jareth her best courtroom glare.
"I am ever at your service, my dear." Jareth said, managing to look arrogant, smug and amused all at the same time. Sarah gave an unladylike snort in response.
"I have some questions and this time they need answered. No games, no riddles. Got it?" Sarah began.
At Jareth's nod, she continued, "What is happening to them?" She asked, gesturing to Fiona, Conall, Liam and Siobhan. "They seem to be aging right before our eyes. The children are faring well, but Fiona and Conall don't look well."
"Magic is exhausting, Sarah. They have been trying to keep Liam and Siobhan hidden above without the benefit of a power source. Even in the underground, using magic can be exhausting, however, there are stores there that can be drawn on to replenish what we use. Constantly using magic, without being able to rest and restore, can and will take its toll." Jareth explained.
Sarah remembered her encounter in the Escher room with Jareth, his words made much more sense to her now. I am exhausted from living up to your expectations of me. As his words played back in her head, Sarah blushed and looked at him, an apology on her lips, when Jareth just shook his head, she decided to deal with that at another time.
"So they need to go back to the underground?" She asked.
"It is not that simple, pet." He responded wearily. "I assume that how you ended up here, is that you thought to bring them to my castle beyond the goblin city?" At Sarah's nod, Jareth continued, "it would seem that the way is blocked to them. I can only assume for their protection. I sent them here as there were assassins sent after Liam and Siobhan. After their parents were murdered, they then became targets."
"Wait, I thought Fiona and Conall were their parents." Kevin interrupted. Jareth shot him a chilling look and continued as if he hadn't spoken. "Fiona and Conall were trusted advisors to Devin and Shea, who were the natural parents of Liam and Siobhan. It was only natural that they step in as foster parents and guard them against harm."
"Do you know who is after them? Who killed their parents?" Sarah asked.
Jareth hesitated and looked over at Liam and Siobhan before speaking. "We have an idea." He said finally. "There are powerful people who would like to see their thrones pass to someone else. They are to be the rulers of the Elvin Kingdom and the Hobgoblin Kingdom. Traditionally Elves and Hobgoblins have ruled themselves, Fae have only ever intervened when necessary, however, due to mismanagement and poor relationships between other kingdoms, it was decided that Fae rulers would be put in place. As a neutral, unbiased ruler. The hope was that this would bring peace and prosperity back to the two Kingdoms."
"Doesn't sound like it worked." Sarah remarked. "So, I just have to know, how old are they? How long have they been hiding out here?"
"Time moves differently underground, Sarah, as you well know." Jareth said. "In human years, it has been approximately 250 years since Shea and Devin were murdered, Liam and Siobhan were but 10 then. They ruled over the Elvin Kingdom, Siobhan will take that throne. Rhiannon and Alaric were the rulers of the Hobgoblin Kingdom; they were murdered some 200 years ago in human time. As they had no offspring, natural or adopted, Liam will inherit as he is their nephew."
"How exactly does one murder a Fae? I thought you guys were immortal?" Sarah looked at Jareth thoughtfully, wondering exactly how old he was. It was difficult to judge when he talked in terms of centuries like it was just last week.
Jareth gave her a toothy smile, leaning close he whispered in her ear, "Don't get any ideas, precious Sarah." Suppressing a delighted shudder at the warmth of his breath on her ear, Sarah tried to ignore the warmth that spread through her from his nearness.
"It is a valid question, Your Majesty." Fiona spoke for the first time, looking weary. "If Sarah is meant to help you protect us, she should know what to look out for." Conall nodded in agreement.
"There are several methods," Jareth began. "There is the age old method of poison. Nasty bit that, if you cannot identify the poison soon enough, or get to a healer, it would be brutal. Being stabbed with iron would do the trick. The tired old cliché of being burned at the stake. Of course," he continued softly, anger and grief glowing in his eyes, "beheading seems to be a favorite of late."
Sarah didn't even have to ask; she knew then what method had been used to kill the monarchs of the underground. She felt sympathy and grief flow through her at the thought that Liam and Siobhan had possibly witnessed that gruesome end to their parents.
"I have one more question before we call it a night." Sarah said softly. "Earlier today, when I prepared to meet the children, I started seeing things. Can still see them, I have to know what that's all about."
"What do you see?" Kevin asked, looking at her strangely.
"I see colors around everyone. When I first saw Detective Cooper, he had a red haze all around him with a smudge of black around his head. His partner, Detective McKinney was surrounded by a warm golden light. It felt safe, Coopers, did not."
"Oh, how wonderful!" Siobhan exclaimed. "You see Auras. What color is mine?" She asked, spreading her arms out and twirling around.
"You have a blend of pinks, greens and lavenders. The same as your brother and parents. Although, yours and Liam's are bright, theirs are fading." Sarah said, looking apologetically at Fiona and Conall.
Jareth turned to them with a look of concern on his face. "You have served me well in this task. I fear, for your own health and safety I must unbind you from Liam and Siobhan and send you back."
"Oh, Jareth no!" Fiona exclaimed. "I would gladly give my life that they may live!" She turned to her husband and clutched his hands. Her eyes pleading with Jareth.
"I know you would, dear lady." Jareth said, moving to stand beside them. "Let Sarah and I take it from here. Go to my Kingdom and rest. Recharge, that way, if we have need of you again, you will have the strength to assist."
Fiona turned to Liam and Siobhan, "Come here, my darlings." She said, opening her arms to gather them in as they ran to her. Hugging them tightly and placing a kiss on their tear streaked cheeks, she said, "I love you both very much. You must do whatever His Majesty commands of you." Hugging them tightly to her she said, "this isn't good bye, darlings. It is only until we meet again." Crying softly, she turned back to Conall who gently squeezed Liam's shoulder and said, "Mind your King, young man. Protect your sister." Turning to Siobhan he gathered her in for a hug. "Try to curb your stubbornness. We will see you again."
Jareth drew a crystal onto the tips of his fingers, nodding at Fiona and Conall he said, "I will send you directly to my castle. You will be my honored guests under my direct protection. Should you have need of me, send word by way of the dwarf Hoggle." With that, Jareth threw the crystal at their feet and they disappeared in a shower of glitter.
"We need a plan." Kevin stated.
Sarah stood watching Jareth, noticed the way his shoulders seemed to sag slightly. "I have one." She said. "It will involve cooperation and not a little deception, but I think it will work." Turning to Kevin, she placed a hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to continue with us if you don't want to. I don't want to destroy your career like I'm probably about to destroy mine."
"No," he responded. "I think I can be helpful. Besides, I'm intrigued."
"Well then," Jareth said flatly. "Aren't we the merry band?"
"How were they disguised?" Sarah asked. The wheels starting to turn in her mind. "I know when I got the call, I was to take two very small children, when I got there they had aged. Now they're aging more." She eyed Liam and Siobhan carefully, trying to determine if they would agree to go back to small children. "The only way I'm involved is if they're minors. Now we have the added problem of them being parentless." Jareth let out an annoyed sigh at her word. "No," she stopped him when he looked ready to speak. "I know you had no choice but to send them back. Trust me, I get it. We need replacements is all." She looked Jareth slowly up and down, "we'll have to do something about you too, fancy pants. As much as I like the ensemble, you can't go parading around Manhattan like that."
"Oh, we're discussing wardrobe now?" Jareth sneered.
"My Lord," Siobhan spoke up. "I believe I know where Lady Sarah is going with this. You need to again glamour us to look like small children. That way her involvement won't be questioned and for Kevin to remain to help, he must have clients, which would mean we need parents." She looked at Sarah for confirmation and received an approving nod from her.
"I may have someone I can call on." Jareth murmured. "I can glamour myself and the twins, that is simple. I need a bit of time to contact a trusted couple to pose as their parents. What are you proposing?"
"Well, we can't stay here. My original idea was to get them to a safe house within the city. It helps greatly that my boss doesn't trust Detective Cooper. I don't trust him either. I remember once, someone told me things are not always what they seem. Detective Cooper may seem like the golden boy cop, but there is definitely something not right with him." Sarah said.
Jareth stroked his bottom lip with his finger thoughtfully, then, with a wave of his hand, Liam and Siobhan were toddlers and he was dressed in a business suit, his once wild golden locks, trimmed neatly and tamed back in a professionally short style. Sarah blinked once and looked at him in shocked amazement. She was a bit taken aback by his changed appearance, she was surprised to find, while this look was attractive, she preferred the other.
Kevin let out a low whistle. "That is some parlor trick." He commented.
"Indeed." Jareth responded.
"Ok," Sarah began. "We need a cover story for you. Can you conjure some documents to explain your presence? Something official so that they'll have no choice but to let you be involved in the case? They also need to stand up to scrutiny"
"I believe I know just the thing." Jareth said, with another wave of his hand a leather satchel appeared at his feet. Reaching in he pulled out official looking documents and handed them to Sarah. She looked over them carefully, smiling she handed them to Kevin who read them and stared at Jareth in disbelief.
"Kevin, meet Inspector Jeremy King of Interpol." Sarah said smiling widely.