Author's Note: Reviews are very helpful. I am currently unable to view traffic for some unknown reason. I have e-mailed fanfic with the problem but haven't heard anything. So please review so I know you're reading.
Chapter 14
(Something to say)
Jareth and Sarah entered the High Kings water gardens to speak before the High King ordered the Goblin King to leave.
The water gardens were a series of fountains small ponds and bird paths as well as a small stream that ran through the center of the gardens before leading out to another garden. Flowers that lived in water and those needing a lot of water decorated the area. It was relaxing yet gave a calm feeling to those who wandered through it. Its relaxing nature was why the Goblin King had chosen it for them to speak.
"What is this place?" The dark haired girl asked as they entered.
"The water gardens." He replied.
"Still manipulating the situation." Sarah said removing her hand from his arm and stepping away.
"I have done no such…"
"Yes you have!" She snapped and gestured to the elements of water all around. "Everyone knows water is relaxing and you brought me here to speak!"
"Obviously it isn't working!" He growled back.
"Don't you take that tone with me!" The girl shouted. "To think I wanted to believe everything Didymus told me!" She said and angrily turned away. "I actually thought I owed you a thank you." She added almost sadly as she glanced into a small pool of water with small koi fish inside.
"Thank you?" The King questioned.
"It doesn't matter. Ari was right. For all I know Didymus was just trying to save his own skin." Turning around to face him she said, "Why? Why Jareth? Why would you use me as some bargaining chip?" The green eyed girl demanded angrily. "I'm not your damn trophy!"
"I wanted you."
"You wanted me?" Sarah repeated sarcastically. "What about what I want Jareth? You never asked me. You made a deal to gain power over me!" She snarled. "You are so selfish!"
Suddenly anger began to take hold of the King of Goblins. "I'm a King we don't take kindly to rejection!" He snapped. "I would have given you everything!"
"You wanted my brother!" The dark haired beauty retorted. "If I had accepted he'd be a goblin!"
"What?" The Goblin said with widening eyes. "Of course he wouldn't be a goblin! He never would've been!"
"And I should believe this coming from on arrogant, manipulative goblin King." Sarah flicked her hand his direction.
"You won when you reached the castle!" Jareth shouted frustrated. "You're brother was already safe! You had saved him!"
"If that's true than why were we in the Escher room?" She demanded.
"Because…" Jareth began to feel defeated as he knew the next words would lead to his defeat.
"Because why?" Sarah said still angry but sounding more calm.
"Because I didn't want you to leave." He said sounding sad as he lowered his eyes to the ground.
Silence engulfed the area as both fell silent. Only the sound of fountains made any noise. Even the few birds in the area seemed to have fallen under the silence.
"I was too young."
"You're not now." The Goblin King said, lifting his eyes to her once again.
"I don't trust you Jareth. You've had goblins watching our every move, you made a deal to trap me here and put me under your control, and I still think there are things I don't know that I should."
Jareth stayed silent for a moment as he tried to determine the best way to answer her. As much as he would like to dismiss her words, the woman had a point.
"I admit I accepted the deal." The Goblin King conceded. "Soren did offer you in payment for finding Arianna." He watched as Sarah's green eyes bored into him. It was obvious the girl was not pleased but he knew, if he wanted her, it was time to be completely honest.
"I sent the goblins to find you. However I did not order them to be with you at all times. I did however allow them to stay in almost constant occupancy where you were."
Sarah raised an eyebrow at him. "You allowed them?"
Jareth shrugged. "They found Arianna to be to their liking. They think she's a lot of fun." With a chuckle he added, "I'm not sure they don't consider her part goblin."
Sarah couldn't stifle a giggle that escaped her. The girl could believe her mischievous friend being considered part goblin.
"Sarah," He said and gently took hold of both his obsessions hands. "I know you don't trust me but... I do love you."
"Then let me go." She replied. "Set me free and give me the choice."
"I can't Sarah. I can't watch you walk away again."
"You mean you won't." Snatching her hands out of his grasp she said, "You don't love me Jareth, you want to own me." Feeling her eyes star to water she fled from the garden.
The last person Ari wanted to be around was her father. Grudgingly she'd gone with him to an Atrium on the backside of the castle.
Reaching the Atrium the teenage girl whirled around to face her father. "What do you want?"
"I know that things are confusing right now…"
"No it's not. You kidnapped my friends and me and offered Sarah up as payment. What confusion is there?" The girl asked.
"Your grandmother kidnapped you!" Soren said annoyed. "All I did was reclaim my daughter!"
"And offer my friend up!" The tomboy reminded him. "You had no right to drag Sarah into this!"
"As difficult as it may be for you to believe he does, in fact, love her." The King of Dark Elves informed the angry girl.
"Yeah loves controlling her. He's done nothing but manipulate her!"
"Arianna you are young and do not understand."
"Wrong, you're old and don't understand!" She threw back at him. "If he loved her he'd give her the choice and wouldn't have trapped her here!"
"You aren't going to listen to anything I say are you?" The King said becoming irritated.
"No I'm not in the habit of listening to or believing kidnappers."
"I'm your father!"
"Great you donated the sperm," Ari said rolling her eyes.
"Evelyn took you Ari! I loved your mother! I didn't know what happened for years! I went to get her and she was gone. I searched and searched only to finally learn she died! I loved her more than I've ever loved anyone! She should've been here with me. You should have been born in our kingdom! Your mother would have been my queen."
"Easy to say when she's dead isn't it?" Ari said with narrowed eyes.
Soren saw the hate and anger and knew his attempts were futile. The girl saw him as the enemy. While part of him wanted to lash out he refrained. "What did your grandmother tell you about me?"
Ari looked away without response. "At least tell me what I need to defend myself from." Soren said pleadingly. "What did she tell you?" Ari didn't respond. "Did she tell you anything?"
"My mother's dead and you were gone. Not much to tell." The blonde haired teenager said coldly as she crossed her arms.
"I didn't abandon you Arianna. Had I known about you and where you were I'd have been there. Evelyn did this Ari, not me." When the girl didn't respond he sighed. Gaining her acceptance was going to be harder than he had anticipated. "I will leave you with the High King only because I have to. As angry as you are the time will come that you will have to accept I'm not at complete fault here. A week." Defeated the King of Dark Elves left the Atrium and his daughter behind.
Silently the High King looked over his once pristine formal dining room. Food was everywhere. The High King sighed. He'd never have guessed one teenage girl could cause such an event. "Here I thought my sons riding the Yale in the hallway was the biggest disaster my castle would ever witness. Arium is going to have his hands full." Shaking his head he left the disaster while servants hurried to try and clean up.
Author's note: A Yale is a four legged mythical creature with the body like an antelope with horns that swivel in every direction. I know this was a rather serious chapter so I thought I would end it with the high King looking the destroyed dining room over. Hope you enjoyed!
