Chapter 24
(Needing Permission)
Amador was all smiles as he walked toward the dining room for breakfast. Last night might not have been perfect but it had definitely ended perfect. He could still feel the feel of Ari's lips on his and it left him yearning for more.
"You seem to be in a rather good mood this morning," Jareth commented seeing his brother as he made his own way toward the dining room.
"Everything is perfect," The High Prince said before he thought. Jareth raised his eyebrow at the dark haired fae. "I thought things went well at the ball," He said quickly trying to cover himself.
"What happened?" Jareth asked reaching out and stopping his brother from walking. When Amador immediately looked guilty before instantly taking on a dismissive expression the Goblin King knew something was up. "Did something happen between you and Soren's daughter?"
Amador was smiling before he realized. He instantly tried to cover himself but an amused look revealed he was too late. "I kissed her after the ball," He hesitantly admitted. "Ari's agreed to let me court her," He added a moment later sounding rather proud.
"I see. Well before you get too pleased you might want to remember you still need Soren's permission to court her; at least formally," Jareth reminded him.
"That won't be…"
"He knows your record with women Amador and he might decide to protect his little girl from you. Certainly from your record," Jareth warned. "Even you have to admit you have enjoyed rejecting girls after you're done with them in very public displays."
"Ari's different!" Amador insisted. "She's….I need her Jareth. I know I can have with her what you have with Sarah. I've never wanted to level so many fae men in my life just for dancing with Ari!" He said as anger surged through him at the thought of all the men she'd danced with last night. "I don't want anyone's arms around her but mine!" Exasperated he walked over to a nearby window and looked out at the gardens.
"Basketball outfits and all?" Jareth questioned watching his brother's movements. "Ari was dressed as a princess last night Amador. I wouldn't expect to see her always dressed up to her station. She…"
"I don't care if she never wears a dress again but our wedding day!" The High Prince announced. "I don't care if she holds court in her men's clothes as long as she's mine," he said still looking out the window. Slowly he turned around to see an amused and even triumphant looking Goblin King.
"What?" Amador asked.
"Do you even realize what you just said?" Jareth asked.
"What that I don't care if she doesn't wear a dress again but…" Amador fell silent for a moment as realization of what he said dawned on her. A smile slowly crossed his face as he realized Ari really was everything he wanted. "I love her. I want Ari as my queen."
"Then I suggest you speak with Soren quickly. Arianna attracted a lot of attention last night." Both men turned and were caught off guard to see their father standing there with a very delighted Queen Dahlia.
"Finally!" The queen squealed excited before rushing over and embracing her son. It was not the most proper thing for her to have done but she didn't care. Her son had finally found a woman that had captured his heart.
"Mother!" Amador said prying the woman's arms off him finally.
"I'm sorry Amador but it's taken you forever to find the right woman," Queen Dahlia said.
"Yes well first you have to get Soren's permission to court the girl and second she'll have to be tested for worthiness of ruling the underground," King Riodan warned.
"Ari will pass the test I'm certain!" The queen said arrogantly to her husband.
"It's not the test I'm worried about. I doubt she'll do things the traditional way but I'm sure Ari will make it far enough to be acceptable as a bride for our son. It's getting Soren to agree to let our decadent son court her that may be the real problem," The king replied.
"Please, will you help me?" Amador implored of his father. "I'll do whatever it takes but…I have to have her."
"We'll talk to Soren after breakfast," The king said.
Amador nodded and the four fae continued down the hall to the dining room. Amador was not feeling nearly on top of the world as he had when he'd first gotten up. The thought of facing Soren about Ari now that he'd been reminded of his past made him uneasy about what Soren would say. The King of the Dark Elves was the one person that could stop him from being with Ari.
Ari looked down the table at Amador confused. They'd kissed last night and he said he wanted to court her but now he was being almost too proper. A look at Jareth told him that as proper as he was something was up. Scanning the rest of the table she knew she wasn't the only one confused. Sarah seemed to sense tension as well. Their friends however were eating their breakfast completely oblivious.
"Okay what gives?" The Dark Elf Princess finally asked.
"Hmm? What do you mean?" Soren inquired.
"Not you. They're acting weird," Ari said gesturing to the High Royal Family. "Did I make a mistake I'm not aware of last night or something?"
"What? No! You were perfect!" Queen Dahlia assured her.
"Then what's with all the tension?" Sarah asked. Looking at Jareth she said, "Even you're tense. Did I…"
"No the ball was perfect," Amador assured her. "You were both perfect."
"Then what's the problem?" Ari asked point blank.
"I did something I shouldn't have," Amador said before he thought.
Hearing his words Ari knew exactly what he meant. "Oh. Excuse me." Ari got up and headed out of the room.
"Ari wait! I didn't…" Throwing down his napkin he went after her.
"What is going on?" Soren asked. "Did he dare…."
"NO!" The royal family said knowing what the king thought.
"Yes well something clearly happened!" The king snapped before putting his napkin down and heading after his daughter.
"Jareth!" Sarah said getting up herself and heading out.
"What did I do?" The blonde fae asked getting up himself and following after his bride. Several concerned looks were exchanged before everyone else headed out as well.
"Ari wait!" Amador pleaded calling down the hall after her.
"No!" She said before running outside in an attempt to avoid him.
"Let me explain!" He called after her. When she continued on he headed outside and finally catching up he grabbed her arm. "Damn it Ari will you just let me explain?"
"You already did!" She snapped at him. "Sorry you were so disappointed! I guess I haven't had as much practice as you!"
"Practice?" He said confused before realization dawned on him.
"Just leave me alone!" Pulling her arm away Ari started to run away. She only got a few feet before Amador materialized before him. "Let me go Amador!"
"Damn it let me explain!"
"No! I don't want to hear whatever excuse you're going to try and use for why kissing me was a mistake!" She yelled at him angrily before trying to break his grip on her.
"Kissing you wasn't the mistake Ari!" Amador yelled frustrated. Surprised Ari stopped struggling and looked at him. "Not asking your father for permission to court you before telling you I wanted to was."
"What?" Ari asked confused.
"I love you Ari. I am completely and undeniably at your mercy," He replied cupping her face gently. "I thought Jareth was crazy for letting himself fall so hard for Sarah and I really didn't understand it until you."
"I don't understand Amador. What does my father have to do with…"
"I can't court you if he refuses me," Amador explained. "Your father loves you and he wants to protect you."
"And?" The blonde woman said clearly not understanding.
"Ari….I've lived rather decadently where women are concerned as you figured out upon meeting me," Amador said sounding embarrassed. "You're father may not want to give me a chance. My passed is a wreck Ari. I can't lie to you I've publicly humiliated more women in the past than I think even Arium can count; and enjoyed it."
"Why?"
"Because I was a fool and I never thought I'd find my match," He replied. "I've never regretted my past until now. Ari I don't even know how to begin to convince your father to give me a chance with you. I don't even know if my father can help me."
"Forget trying to convince anyone of anything," Ari told him. "What would you want him to understand?"
"That I love you and I don't care if you don't wear a dress again but on our wedding day," The High Prince replied. "I can't take back what I've done. I can only promise your father I'll love you and do everything in my power to make you happy. You're everything I need Ari."
"Pranks and all?"
The High Prince smiled, "It's part of you Ari and I wouldn't change a thing. You make me enjoy life in a way I never knew I could. You have opened my eyes to things I never would have considered before. I thought the goblins ere insufferable before but now… I think they are growing on me. Especially Whippley and you girl's other little guardians. He adores you," he added taking her hands in his.
Ari smiled. "I think they think I'm part Goblin."
"I'm not sure you aren't with some of those pranks you pulled," He replied. "Especially the taffy stuck guards. I think they still fear you."
"Nah, not after I helped them with Lady Belinda the other day," She assured him.
"You did the…" Seeing her smile Amador shook his head. "I'm not sure that's one we want my father to know about."
"So tell him on a day he's frustrated it'll give him a laugh at the memory of her muddy and hanging from the tree upside down," The princess suggested. "So what do we do?"
Soren was about to storm out into the garden when he heard Amador yell, "Kissing you wasn't the mistake Ari!" The king was more than surprised but stopped himself from entering the courtyard and allowed himself to listen to the two outside. "Not asking your father for permission to court you before telling you I wanted to was."
The King of Dark Elves listened in silence as Amador explained himself and even poured out his heart to his daughter. Listening and watching the two he knew there was in fact love between the two.
Soren had to admit the prince was right that he'd probably have said no but listening to the two and hearing the High Prince's wedding comment he knew he'd never made such a remark before. There was no question. Amador did in fact love his daughter and she loved or at least had strong feelings for him.
"Soren…"
"I know," He told the High King. "He loves her."
"Yes he does," Sarah said knowingly.
"I'm not saying no but…she has only returned. Others need a chance as well," Soren said calmly. He saw the disappointment on the Queen's face. "I will not forbid him from paying her calls but I want Arianna to at least spend time with a few others before they enter a formal courtship."
Soren opened the door and hearing Arianna say, "What do we do now?" knew it was time to speak up.
"It is time for you to return to our kingdom," Soren said calmly. Seeing his daughter was about to object he said, "It would not be appropriate for you to reside in a castle with one of your suitors."
"Suitors?" Ari asked.
"You'll allow me to court Ari?" Amador asked hopeful.
Soren looked at the High Prince and then his daughter. "I want you both to understand what I'm going to say."
"I'm not going to like this am I?" Ari said as suspicion entered her conscious.
"I am not saying no Arianna," The King said openly. "However even you must agree that Arianna has not been here very long and last night was the first time she's been exposed to several men of the underground."
"I know," Amador instantly didn't like where he was sure the king was headed with his decision.
"As such it would only be proper for my daughter to have a little time to get to know others from our world." Looking at Arianna he said, "I will allow Prince Amador to visit the kingdom and spend time with you however I will not allow you to enter into a formal courtship at this time."
"But…"
"Hear me out Arianna," He said raising a calming hand toward the girl who was becoming upset. "I know you have feelings for his highness and I do understand he loves you."
"Then why…"
"It's not abnormal Ari," The High Prince said disappointed. "Most women have at least a short period of having suitors pay them calls before anything formal is established between the woman and one specific fae man." Looking at Soren he said, "I won't say I'm not disappointed but if this is what I must due to gain Ari than I'll abide by it."
"Arianna you need to get your things together. It is…"
"They already are. I'm supposed to go to the Goblin Kingdom with Sarah and Amador," The blonde woman replied.
"That would hardly be…"
"What if Arium accompanied them?" Queen Dahlia suggested. "Surely you won't make them cancel plans they already had."
Soren internally groaned. A look at his daughter revealed hope in her eyes. "Three days but then you come home. Sarah may accompany you."
"Thank you!" Arianna said and threw her arms around her father's neck.
"Very well. Now go and finish your breakfast. Amador and I will be there in a moment." Ari nodded and headed back inside.
Once they were alone he looked at The High Prince. "I know you are disappointed but I want her to be sure. You don't have a good record and…"
"I want to marry her King Soren. If I could skip courting her and just marry her now I would."
Soren looked at the younger fae and didn't doubt for a moment what the prince said. "It's not as easy as that and you know it. Arianna must face the Queen's challenge and do well to even be a candidate to become your bride."
"She can do it," Amador said boldly. "There is nothing that girl can't do."
"Walk in Heels." The two looked over to see Whippley before exchanging an amused grin. "Lucky she no hafta do dat in challenge."
"She doesn't ever have to wear a dress again except for our wedding day," Amador replied.
"Got time ta practice den," Whippley said before abruptly scurrying off.
"How long will you make me wait?" Amador asked dreadingly.
"If her heart is still set on you come Sarah and Jareth's wedding day I will allow you to escort her to the wedding as your first formal function," The king replied. "That will be at least a month." Amador nodded and followed the king back inside. It wasn't the answer he wanted but it was far better than the normal six months to a year most women had for open courting.
Author's note: Okay so I was originally going to go straight to the Goblin Kingdom but I felt like I needed to address this first. So it will be the next chapter that will take Sara, Ari. Amador, and Arium to the Goblin Kingdom. It will either be a really long chapter or I will split it in two as I plan to have a large portion devoted to Lola, Brandy, and Jenna and why they are still in the underground as well. I also Plan on a large portion going to Sarah and Jareth. It is their relationship I will focus on in the Goblin Kingdom. Thank you to all who Review, add this story to alerts and Favs and of course for reading. Explanation for my absence can be found on my profile.
