Chapter 20

(Open your eyes to the truth)

Ari lay on her stomach on top of her bed trying to decide what she wanted to do next. Propped up on her elbows she tapped a pen to her cheek while she tried to decide her next move. The blonde woman needed a new prank.

"Come in." She called and looked at the door. She watched as the door opened and her friends entered the room. "Hey I was wondering what you guys were up to." Her cheerful smile faded as she sensed something wasn't right. "What's going on?"

"We need to talk." Sarah said leading the group inside.

"Okay, sure. What's on your mind?" The tomboy asked and closed her notebook. She noticed Brandy close the door but paid little attention to it. "If this is about getting sent back don't worry I haven't given up on finding a way." Ari assured her friends and sat up.

"No…that's not it." Lola said clearly uneasy.

Ari moved her blue eyes from one person to the next. "Okay out with it. What's going on?" Her voice changing to insistent rather than curious.

"You need to talk to your father Ari." Sarah said calmly. She saw her friend roll her eyes and something snapped in her. "Damn it Ari listen to me!" The dark haired girl snapped. "I know you're pissed but you're mad at the wrong person! Your father was devastated by the loss of your mother! If it wasn't for your grandmother she'd be alive!"

"My grandmother looked after me!" Ari shouted at her.

"You're grandmother has lied to you from day one!" Sarah shot back. "Your father loves you Ari. The fact that Evelyn has turned you against him and all fae is killing him!"

Ari looked at her with narrowed angry eyes. "You seem to have forgotten he's the reason you're here." The tomboy sneered. "King Soren is no angel."

Jenna sensed the warning and knew she needed to help Sarah and Ari. "Sarah isn't saying Soren is perfect Ari." Jenn said carefully. "She's just saying you should give him a chance." The dark haired girl couldn't help but step back as angry eyes turned her way.

"Don't jump on Jenna." Brandy said quickly. "She's trying to help." Ari didn't snap but looked at Brandy less than pleased. "Look I think there's been a lot of misunderstandings and to some point lies but…I've seen the way your father looks at you Ari. It's the look of a father who loves his daughter and wants nothing more than to hold her."

"King Soren is not…"

"Yes he is!" Lola snapped. "Like it or not he is your father." The redhead said firmly. "I know you're stubborn and maybe it's the dark elf in you I don't know but…"

"Open your eyes Ari." Sarah said in a calm clear voice. "I know you want to blame your father and Jareth for everything but they aren't entirely to blame. Yes your father made mistakes and so has Jareth but that doesn't mean they don't care."

"Are we talking about me or you?" Ari said in a less than polite tone.

"Both." Jenna replied. The red and black haired girl replied. "The truth is you both need to open your eyes." Looking at Sarah she said, "Jareth really does love you. He's not the best at showing it but…He truly cares about you." Brandy and Lola nodded in agreement.

"I know." Sarah replied. "I'm not saying I completely trust him but I know."

Sarah turned her green eyes on Ari and said, "Give Soren a chance and quit tormenting Arium." The last part of her sentence was border teasing. "His pale hair is all going to turn completely white if you keep it up."

Ari couldn't stop a smirk from crossing for face or the snicker that occumpanied it.

"Did you really slip fish into his soup?" Brandy inquired. Ari just laughed and nodded accepting full blame.

"Ari….that's just gross!" Lola said scrunching her face in disgust and crossing her arms.

"No wonder he turned the soup down at lunch." Jenna commented. "He looked a little green at the mere suggestion."Ari let out a giggle.

"Ari….that was really not very nice." Sarah commented. "If nothing else give Arium a break alright?"

"I'll think about it." Sarah nodded and Ari watched as her friends left her room, closing the door behind her.

The blonde woman sat in silence. The words of her friends played over in her head. No one had ever stood up to her like that and she wasn't entirely sure how to take it. With a sigh she got up from her bed. Maybe a walk would help her clear her head.

Sarah left the room feeling like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She'd dreaded confronting her frined but knew it was necessary. Ari needed to be made to see everyone in the underground wasn't bad.

"How did it go?" Sarah looked up to see Jareth leaning against a column in the hallway.

"One never knows with Ari." Brandy said. "We'll see you later Sarah." Sarah nodded and the trio walked away leaving her alone with the King of Goblins.

"I'm not certain if I should feel relieved or concerned." Jareth remarked.

Sarah shrugged. "We left in one piece so I'd like to say it's encouraging. I'm hoping she'll think about what we said. The whole kidnapping me and the others however might be a bit of a hurdle for him."

"I suppose I shall have to accept some of them blame for that." The wild blonde haired fae replied.

"Ari's mad but she's not completely unreasonable. She'll come around, I think."

"Sarah I do believe you need to work on the way you give encouragement." Jareth teased. Sarah couldn't help but let out a light laugh and not in agreement.

"Maybe you could teach me."

Jareth felt his heart flutter with more hope she'd forgive him. "It would be a pleasure my lady." As he stepped toward her he might have sensed her heart rate increase if he hadn't been so preoccupied knowing his heart had also increased. "Would you care to take a walk?"

Sarah smiled and nodded. Jareth took her hand and after placing a chaste kiss on her knuckles he slipped her arm through his and they began to make their way out to the gardens.

It was late as Arium stood looking out the library windows. He knew he should go to bed but was not in a rush to find out what Arianna had done this time. The Elf still got chills at the memory of minoes in his soup.

The teacher was at his wits end. Scolding or yelling at the girl seemed to have no effect. If anything it made her pranks worse.

"Arium?"

The master stiffened at the sound of the Dark Elf Princess's voice. 'Do I dare turn around?' He asked himself. Internally groaning, he turned to face the most insufferable student he'd ever met in his long life.

"Princess." He said sounding both calm and tired.

"Can I talk to you?"