Chapter 27

(No Danger at Diner)

Ari looked from Prince Mannion to Prince Hansel and back again. She glanced over at Sarah and was pretty sure her friend was as annoyed as she was by the two princes. Finally Ari had, had, enough. "Should we back up?" Ari asked looking at the two princes.

"Back up princess? I don't understand," Prince Hansel responded.

"I'm just wondering when both of your feathers are going to suddenly emerge and reveal your true identity of a couple of peacocks," She announced. Sarah let out a snicker before she could stop herself. Without waiting for either of the men to respond she looked over at her father and said, "You're going to have to do a lot better than this. I've had my fill." Without waiting for permission she rose from her seat and giving Jareth a respectful not she left the room.

"Where is she going?" Prince Mannion asked confused.

"Let us say neither of you have impressed my daughter," The king said feeling rather annoyed by the princes' constant bickering and need to upstage the other. "You are both dismissed." At first the two men looked confused but then seeing the warning in the king's eyes they quickly vacated.

Soren let out a sigh and then looked over at where The Goblin King sat. "I'm sure your brother will be pleased things did not go well."

"Amador want's Arianna to meet others in this world; including men. He just doesn't want her to fall for them," Jareth replied.

Soren turned his attention to Sarah. "You knew the moment you met them this wasn't going to work, didn't you?"

Sarah nodded and said, "Ari isn't going to give her attention to just anyone. That includes Amador. Our first meeting was her telling him to get over himself. She had no intention of letting Amador take me or her anywhere and if not for us she'd have let him have it."

"Amador changed because of your daughter," Jareth informed the king.

"He affected her as well but not as quickly," Sarah agreed. "Amador let her see the part of him he kept hidden. A part he may not have even known he had. However Ari recognizes things about people quickly; most of the time. The two of you are the exception."

"She was trying to protect you and angry with me," Soren replied. A small smile crossed his face as he thought of the ball and how quickly she had dismissed many of the men. How quickly she'd seen through a few and informed them of it. "She is very smart and a good judge of character."

"The same could be said for you in most instances," Jareth complimented. "Though I am somewhat surprised by your choices tonight."

"I owed their father's a favor," Soren hesitantly admitted.

"You didn't think she'd be attracted to them either," Sarah said realizing.

"No but she has now met two other men in the realm," He said. "She will be meeting a few more tomorrow." Jareth's amusement vanished. "I have arranged for you and Sarah to have some time to yourself. No crystal's Jareth."

"Why would….she's going to meet them while we're away," The green eyed girl summarized.

Soren's eyes turned to Jareth. "Amador is your brother and I'm not going to take the chance of you or your goblins interfering. Your goblins will be going with you," Soren informed him.

"Who's coming?" Jareth inquired.

"Prince Xathron, Lord Dunwood, and newly crowned King Tristin," Soren revealed. He watched to see if Jareth would show any visual signs of discomfort but the king did not. "While Lady Sarah may not know who these men are I believe even you have to agree they are wise choices."

"Indeed," Jareth agreed. He glanced over to see a very unsure Sarah. "Each of them possess something with the potential to attract Arianna."

"Such as?" Sarah asked not sure she liked the idea.

"Prince Xathron enjoys games as does Arianna." Sarah gave a nod acknowledging her friend's fun nature. "Lord Dunwood has a large estate not that far from my kingdom and owns several horses and has many other animals as well." She nodded seeing where the threat could be with him. "He is also one of the more…mischievous men in the underground and enjoys pranks."

"King Tristin is a new king and one of the things he rules are the white dragons," Soren said fully aware his daughter liked dragons.

"Why don't I get to meet them?" Sarah asked.

Soren smiled at her. "You're betrothed and it wouldn't exactly be proper at this time," he replied. "You can meet them after your wedding I'm sure."

"I will abide by your requests Soren but there are no guarantees of anything," Jareth warned. "I can take whippley with me but he always seems to manage to find his way back to your daughter."

"I am aware," He acknowledged. He looked over at Sarah and said "If not for you Jareth may very well have done well to court my daughter."

"I love Sarah," Jareth said. "Though if I did not and still knew what your daughter was capable of I do believe I would have stayed clear of her." Soren looked at him a little surprised. "I think you will agree I have my hands full enough with the goblins; your daughter is a handful."

Soren smirked and nodded. "Yet your brother is ready to marry her now."

Jareth gave an unconcerned shrug. "Sometimes love finds one in the most unexpected of places." Looking over at Sarah he added, "I had no intention of falling in love with you. I'm still not sure how I did."

"You loved my imagination," she said knowingly.

"You caught my attention that way true enough," he conceded. "You also kept me waiting for quite a while. I assumed you'd wish Toby away by the time he was two months old but you didn't. I should've known then you were a stubborn one." Sarah playfully glared at him and the king let out a chuckle. He took her right hand and bringing it to his lips he placed a gentle kiss. "I wouldn't have you any other way."

"Yes but as we've all pointed out I'm not as much trouble as Ari," Sarah replied causing both kings to chuckle and nod.

Jareth suddenly got a less than pleased look on his face. He sighed and looked at his dark haired beauty. "As much as I do not wish to end tonight it seems I am about to have a runner."

"I understand," Sarah assured him.

"I am lucky that you do." Gently he reached over and gave her a chaste kiss. "Tomorrow." She nodded and he looked at Soren. The two exchanged a respectful nod and Jareth transformed into his owl form and flew away.

Ari stood out on the balcony of her room and looked up at the stars. "I wish it could have been you Amador," she sighed. "Maybe next time."

"No not Nect time," Whippley told her. "Meet lord, prince, and king morrow," the goblin announced.

"What?" Ari asked. "Jareth, Sarah, and I have to sit through another dinner?" she asked horrified.

"No. fatter send king and Lady Sarah way for day. Send us too," Whippley said before his tail began to swish back and forth and then thump on the ground disappointed. A frown covered the goblins face.

"Okay so go." Whippley looked up at her crestfallen. "I said go with them Whippley. I didn't say anything about staying with them. Besides you didn't get to have any of the fun you planned with Mannion and Hansel." A smile crossed the goblins face as he saw a flicker of mischief in her eyes. Instantly his long tail began to sway with anticipation.

"Do you know anything about them?" Ari asked. Whippley immediately began to nod. "Perfect, tell me everything." Ari walked over to a small couch and patted the seat next to her. Whippley was there in an instant and began revealing everything he knew about all three men.

At first Ari had been focused on figuring out how to scare them all off. Unfortunately after learning one ruled dragons, another had lots of animals and one of them loved games like she did she decided maybe she wouldn't send them running just yet. After all she liked a challenge. Ari also had a nearly alarming need to beat guys at what they were good at. Dinner had been horrible but things were looking up. Besides they would need to lower their guards if Whippley and the other goblins running around were going to have any fun.

It was late as Amador sat in his mother's sitting room playing cards with her. He wasn't very familiar with his mother's new obsession with Rummy. While he couldn't be completely certain he had a feeling Ari's friends were responsible. He'd noticed his mother playing cards with Lola and Brandy quite a bit. Jenna on the other hand didn't seem to understand the fascination with the game any more than he did. Tonight however anything that would take his mind off of what might be happening at Soren's dinner was a welcomed distraction.

He watched as a frown crossed his mother's face. "I take it you didn't draw a card you needed?" Amador commented.

"It isn't helpful at all," The queen said in a near pout. "I must be doing something wrong. Perhaps I…" hearing the sound of fluttering wings the two royals watched as the curtains billowed in a breeze just as a familiar white owl entered the room. It was only a moment and Jareth appeared in his normal form.

"Jareth," Queen Dahlia said. "How was your time with Sarah?" she asked. While the queen did hope things went well for him, her real focus was what had taken place in general. Most importantly she wanted to know what had taken place where Ari was concerned.

"While I enjoyed my time with Sarah I cannot say Ari enjoyed her time." The Goblin King watched as a half pleased smile appeared on his brother's face. He also noticed his mother's eyes showed she was pleased as well.

"Don't get too pleased," Jareth warned.

"Why? What happened?" Amador asked suddenly becoming concerned.

"I'll be seeing Sarah again tomorrow. I am however not going to be allowed to see Arianna." He watched as his brother and mother glanced at each other uneasily. "Soren has arranged for me to spend time with Sarah outside of the castle. He's even sending the goblins away with me."

"He's bringing in others to meet her and doesn't want you there," Amador said realizing.

"As I am your brother he felt it best that I not be there when any true potential competition to you showed up. I am also forbidden from using crystals," Jareth said as he crossed his arms and leaned back on a column by the balcony door.

"Who?" Queen Dahlia inquired.

"Prince Xathron, Lord Dunwood and King Tristin," Jareth said less than thrilled. "Unlike the two gentlemen tonight that Arianna compared to peacocks they could become a potential threat to you in your quest for her hand."

"Did you say she compared them to peacocks?" Queen Dahlia asked. Jareth nodded and the queen let musical laughter escape her. "I trust the two princes felt the need to show one another up."

"Yes and it was most annoying. After her comparison your lady excused herself and left the room," Jareth said with a glance at his brother.

"Who is my greatest threat?" Amador asked.

Jareth gave an uncertain shrug. "One never knows how Soren's daughter will react to anyone or nearly anything. Though I know from Sarah that Ari is very curious about dragons. Then again her love for games and pranks… any of them are possible and none of them."

"Wait you said Soren is sending the goblins away with you?" Amador said remembering his brother's words.

"Yes, though I did tell Soren I couldn't guarantee anything," Jareth replied.

"Whippley will be back at that girl's side in no time," Queen Dahlia said knowingly. "Especially if he knows what Soren is up to." Looking over at Amador she added, "I do believe that little goblin likes you."

"Yes he does," Jareth agreed. Suddenly Jareth took out a crystal and gazed into it.

"Are you…you have a runner don't you," Amador said realizing.

"Yes and I'm not certain this one isn't actually trying to get himself killed," he replied annoyed.

"Surely you jest," the queen remarked.

"I wish I were," he replied glancing up at her from the crystal. "He has almost fallen off a cliff twice and if not for Hoggle he'd have already drowned."

"That is unusual," The queen agreed. "Whom did he wish away?"

"A currently, very angry bride that is now locked in one of my towers," Jareth replied.

"That doesn't sound like the best beginning to a marriage," Amador remarked.

"Not….excuse me I do believe he's about to try and get himself eaten by a shark," the king said annoyed. The crystal disappeared and transforming into his owl form once more he headed for the labyrinth. IT might be time for him to have a little chat with his runner. Jareth was not used to having runners try to kill themselves. He was certain the current runner had to be looking for death. If he wasn't then he was the unluckiest human in existence.

Author's note: I know you've been waiting for this so I hope you enjoyed it. See you next chapter! Thanks for reading!