Chapter 12
(Reunion)
The girls had toured the castle and the castle gardens. Just before the eight hours were up a guard had retrieved them from their wanderings and escorted them to the High King's throne room. The girls knew it must be getting close to the time for Jareth to arrive.
Ari stayed close to the dark haired girl. There was no way she'd let the Goblin King just take her. She didn't care if the High King was his father, she'd protect her friend.
They entered the throne room to see King Riodan and Prince Amador were already there. Whippley and the rest of the Goblin group were also there waiting. The girls noticed the goblins looked more nervous than they were about their King's arrival.
"Hey Whippley. You guys staying out of trouble?" Ari asked giving the group a warm smile.
"We already in truble. Dun need more." Digger said clasping his claws together nervously.
"It'll be okay." The tomboy said and winked at them. While not all of the goblins looked comforted, Whippley flicked his tail and beamed at her.
A sound of thunder ripped through the air and the lights flickered. A set of glass doors toward the right side of the throne room flew open. A second crack of thunder and a familiar barn owl entered the room before transforming into the imposing figure of the Goblin King.
"Hello Father, Brother," He said giving his father a tip of the head in respect.
Sarah immediately noticed he was wearing the black outfit he'd worn the very first time she'd ever seen him. Unconsciously her mouth slightly opened in awe. She had known he was beautiful but it seemed her memory had not been as accurate of him as she thought. He was far more breathtaking than she remembered.
As if feeling her eyes the blonde fae turned and looked directly at the woman he had spent many nights watching and dreaming of. "Hello Sarah."
It took Sarah a second attempt before her voice finally managed, "Jareth… your majesty." She said quickly correcting herself.
The Goblin King smirked at her in his sexy way. "It seems you've grown up." He said and stepped toward her.
"Oh no you don't!" Ari said stepping in front of Sarah. "You're not taking Sarah!"
Jareth raised an elegant eyebrow at him. "Is that so?" He said tilting his head to the side as he watched the teenage princess openly glare at him.
"We shall see." He said. Catching a glimpse of his goblins however he turned his attention on them. "It seems some of us have for gotten where their loyalty belongs. Perhaps a swim in the bog of eternal stench will…"
"Don't you dare!" Ari said and stepped toward the goblins.
"You dare to…"
"They've only done what you asked." Jareth turned at looked at his dark haired obsession. "You did have them following us didn't you? Even before we came here?" Sarah said openly challenging him to deny it. "Why?"
"Sarah…"
"Did you make a deal to have me brought to you?" The dark haired girl demanded beginning to sound angry. "Did you?" She shouted at him.
Ari would have attacked the King but stepped back seeing Sarah was handling it on her own. The tomboy wanted to protect her friend but at the moment Sarah didn't need her to.
"Answer me!" Sarah growled.
"I offered you to him." The group of girls looked to see Soren enter with a group of Dark Elves.
"You just offered her up?" Jenna sneered.
"I wanted my daughter found. Jareth has the ability to cross realms when it is not Samhain or Beltane." Looking at Sarah he said, "You denied him power over you. So I offered to get him you knowing he wouldn't refuse. He was to find Arianna and I would hand you over to him."
"You Jackass!" Ari yelled at her father. "You had no right to make a deal like that! Sarah is my friend, not some ditsy twit to be passed around!"
"You are my daughter and I would do anything to reclaim you!" Soren said as his temper flared as well.
"Go to hell!" The tomboy yelled at the King of Dark Elves. "I'm not coming with you and…"turning to face Jareth continued. "You can't have Sarah. You two are nothing but scheming, manipulative assholes!"
"Ari!" Sarah said. "That's enough!"
"Sarah he…"
"I know. But you swearing like a sailor will not get us anywhere!" The dark haired girl interrupted.
"I am not swearing like a…"
"Not much better." Brandy commented. The blonde girl glared at her and the brunette fell silent.
"Look, I'm not saying I'm happy about having things around us manipulated or being trapped here, but for the time we are all stuck here anyway!" Sarah said crossing her arms over her chest. Silently she thought, 'I'll let Jareth have it later without so many witnesses.'
"All stuck here?" Jareth looked at his father. "What is she talking about?"
"For whatever reason I am unable to send them back." The High King informed his son and the King of Dark Elves. "They should be gone but something is keeping them here."
"That's…unusual." Soren said.
"Yes well, for now all of the girls will remain here at this castle." King Riodan announced.
"Father?"
"I think it is best that the girls stay here for the time being." While three of the girls looked relieved Sarah and Ari kept waiting for a catch to be thrown at them.
"My daughter…"
"Will remain here, as will Sarah." The High King said with a firmness that would not be challenged. "I will however grant you access to your daughter and Jareth access to Lady Sarah."
"As you wish." Jareth said calmly but less than pleased. Still, he knew better than to go against his father's wishes.
"What if we don't want to see them?" Ari challenged.
"That my dear, is not your choice." King Riodan said flatly.
"Jareth can't see Sarah alone." The tomboy said with open warning.
"I think you'll find that…"
"Both of you stop it!" Sarah snapped as her hands went on her hips as she scowled at both her friend and the Goblin King. Speaking to Ari first she said, "I know you want to protect me Ari and I do appreciate it but this is between Jareth and me." Jareth smirked pleased.
"You," The dark haired girl said pointing her right index finger at her former opponent. "Can wipe that grin right off your face. You know Ari means well and you are purposely provoking her."
"Darling I…"
"Don't even!" Sarah said dismissing his open attempt to calm her. "You have a lot to answer for but that's between you and I and we will discuss it without an audience." She said giving every indication it would not be a pleasant conversation for him.
Silence took hold of the room as Sarah seemed to have a warning one sided stare down with Jareth while Ari suddenly took on an amused expression.
"Amador, show the ladies back to their rooms so they may prepare for dinner." The High King announced breaking the sudden deafening silence. The Prince looked a little surprised but with a respectful nod led the girls began leading the way out of the throne room.
"Will Whippley and the other be staying with us?" Ari questioned as she stopped and looked at the High King. "It would be a shame to switch goblins when they already know us." She added gesturing to the goblins.
"Join the girls goblins. Your King wouldn't want you to abandon your charges." King Riodan ordered. Happily the goblins went off with the girls.
"Thank you." The tomboy told the high king and looking pleased walked away with Whippley at her side.
"May I inquire as to why you are keeping my daughter here?" King Soren asked.
"If you hadn't noticed your daughter is rather angry with you." Riodan watched as the King took on an almost sad expression. "Arianna needs time to calm down and accept her new life and position." Looking at Jareth he added, "Sarah also needs time to adjust to what her role will be. I am assuming of course you intend to make her your Queen."
"I am." The King of Goblins confirmed.
"Yes well, it would hardly be appropriate for you to court the girl from your own castle." The High King reminded his son. "The two girls will both stay here and receive instruction. I will allow you to come and see them. However after tonight I want you both to stay away for one weeks time. I want them both to have a chance to adjust to their new surroundings."
"I have already sent for Arium to come and instruct both girls on etiquette." King Riodan announced. "They will, after all, need some instruction before they are both presented at the ball."
"Very well." The Dark Elf King conceded.
"I will, however, come to you during the week and let you know of their progress, agreed?" The High King said. While he may have phrased it like a question the other two Kings new better. They would either accept or have no information for a week's time.
"As you wish." Jareth said, conceding to his father's wishes.
"So that we are clear that means no spying on them and no being around in any form." King Riodan warned.
"Pity." Jareth said but nodded he would abide by his father's rules.
"Good. You may freshen up and we will all meet for diner." With that the High King walked away.
"This is not exactly what I thought would happen when I came for my daughter tonight."
"Nor I Soren, nor I." The King of Goblins agreed. While Jareth was disappointed he could not take Sarah with him, he was also pleased he wasn't completely banned from her. Plus with her here at his father's castle, he knew she'd be perfectly safe.
Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. As you can see Sarah is stepping up and out from behind her protective friends. And yes there will be a chat between Sarah and Jareth coming up. Since it has been asked again yes Sarah will have magic of her own.
