Chapter 23
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Changes
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"Oh Christine, fancy meeting you here." Lady Angelina interupted Sarah's conversation with the Duke. Sarah was suprised to see Angelina here at the ball but put on her best face and smiled sweetly. "I thought that the Marquee would have thrown you out by now." she continued.
"Excuse me?" Sarah's smile fell as she tried to control her rising temper.
"Oh you haven't heard?" Angelina mocked innocence. "As you well know, after winning our little competition I went on to bigger and better things. As usual, I won employment to sign for a full year at the noble's estate of my choice." her she paused to smile cruelly. "I've always wanted to sing for the Marquee, his estate is so lovely, you'd agree I'm sure." she paused again and Sarah wanted to smack the smug look right off her face. "so it looks like you're out of a job."
The Duke had noticed Sarah's balled fists and flushed cheeks, and interviened before Sarah could act on her anger. "Oh that's just wonderful!" the Duke exclaimed cheerfully.
"What?!" Sarah couldn't help herself.
The Duke continued to smile. "That's wonderful because since I heard you sing I've been trying to find a way to steal you from the Marquee!" Sarah looked confused again. "Now you're free and I don't have to be sneaky." he laughed.
The Lady Angelina let out a muffled cry of frustration before storming off, and this time it was Sarah's turn to look smug. "Oh Christine!" the Marchioness called as she, followed by her husband walked briskly to Sarah's side. "I'm so sorry, that horrible girl made it over here before us. We didn't want you to find out that way." Fionna looked very sad and apologetic.
"I can't believe I'm going to be forced to listen to that wretch for a whole year." The Marquee said disdainfully. "Seriously, we nobles are being abused, we must put a stop to these blasted competitions." he lamented.
"Yes I believe I have all the fortune this night, Sarah shall sing for me now." the Duke announced to the Marquee.
"Oh how wonderful." the Marchioness said relieved.
"Wonderful for them." the Marquee muttered and recieved an elbow from his wife.
Sarah feeling as though she'd been on a rollercoaster that evening, interupted the nobles. "Well, the Duke and I still need to talk about the details of this new arrangement but I do believe everything will work itself out..However, my friends you have my deepest sympathies." everyone laughed. "It's been a long day and I do believe I will retire early. Thank you so much for your Kindness." she thanked the Marquee and his wife. "and Duke Lasair, it's been a pleasure." and then she moved carefully out of the ballroom, stopping right outside the doors to make sure no one was waiting for her. Satisfied that no one would bother her, she made her way to her rooms for the night.
Rest did not come easily for Sarah, she kept replaying the nights events over and over. She was very suspicious about her family not showing up and Jareth showing up. "And why didn't I recognize him right away? How could I not?" she questioned herself over and over before finally falling into an unrestful slumber.
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The Next Morning, in the Castle...
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Gavin let out a groan as he regained consciousness, "ughh my head." he groaned again, wincing as he felt the throbbing knot at the back of his head.
"That was a foolish thing you did, brave...but foolish." Robert admonished, seeing the boy wake. Gavin looked around and scowled at his current surroundings.
"Where's Toby?" Gavin asked when he noticed the little sprite was not with them.
Robert sighed and wrung his hands through his receeding hair. Gavin noticed the dark circles under his eyes and knew that Robert had not slept at all. "He didn't appear here with us..." Robert shook his head, worrisome. "I just hope he is with Midge and Lily."
Gavin kicked the stone wall in frustration. "I should have gone with my gut! I knew that carriage driver wasn't to be trusted..." he scowled and flopped back down on his bed.
"You can't blame yourself for this Gavin." Robert tried to calm the young man. "We could be worse off, I expected to be shackled in some damp rat infested dungeon. This room is luxury compared to what I was expecting."
Gavin looked around the room. It was true, the two beds were comfortable with proper bedsheets, pillows and a thick warm blanket. The room was clean and bare, but they were even provided with a somewhat private bathroom. There was only one small window, too high up for either of the men to see out of, even if they stood on the beds. There was one thick wooden door that had a small opening at the bottom. "Hmph." Gavin finally grunted. "It's still a prision."
"Let me out Goblin King!!" Toby's small fists were red from pouding on the bedroom door that seperated him from freedom. Toby had been spellbound momentarily when he first arrived in his new locked bedroom. There was a fancy little bed that fit him perfectly, the wood frame was painted a dark red, Toby's favorite color. He'd found a chest filled with fancy looking clothes that looked terribly uncomfortable. The rest of the room was filled with all sorts of toys and games imaginable. There were toy swords and sheilds, costumes and toy armour for knights. There was even the most fantastic looking wooden rocking horse, dressed as a knight's horse and fitted with a lance. Toby had skipped about the room most cheerfully at first, inspecting everything and forgetting his families misfortune.
Then to his dismay, he remembered why he was in this room to begin with. He remembered the stories his sister had told him of the Goblin King and knew of his trickery. He had immediatly marched to the door, determined to give the Goblin King a piece of his little mind. It was then that he realized he was locked in this play room, but he was determined not to give into the Goblin King and he began shouting and banging and making as much dreadful noise as he could. For every little boy knows how much grown ups hate such noise.
"Where did these Williams get such wills?" Jareth muttered, becoming quite irritated with all the wracket coming from down the hall. He had been tempted to put a spell about the room that would trap the noise within it. Then he thought better of it, incase the little one hurt himself. Jareth let out another sigh, "I'm not going to get anything done with these distractions." he stood from his desk and strode down the hallway.
Toby stopped his pounding when he heard someone outside the door, then he heard a key slide into the lock and braced himself to bolt as soon as the door was opening. The door swung wide and Toby rushed out of the room, to freedom, to find his family. He did not make it more than a foot outside when someone grabbed his arm tightly and began to drag him back inside the room. Toby immediatly recognized the Goblin King and started swinging his free arm and kicked with all his little might. It was all fruitless effort but that did not deter him.
"Come now Toby, that's no way to respond to my generosity." Jareth admonished the boy as he sat him down on the bed.
"I don't want your stuff." Toby said defiantly, lifting his chin in a manner he'd seen is sister do many times.
"What do you want then? I can give you anything you want." Jareth smirked.
"I wan't you to leave us alone." Toby demanded.
Jareth laughed. "So smart for one so young." he mused. "I am afraid that isn't possible young lad."
Toby crossed his arms. "I don't know why my sister ever liked you!" he half shouted, half pouted. "you're mean!" he accused.
Jareth tried not to looked shocked at Toby's words. "Your. Sister. Hates me." He said rigidly.
Toby scratched his head. "Well sometimes. She always changes the story. One day she loves you, other days she hates you. Sometimes she doesn't know." Toby said as if he were trying to figure it out himself.
Jareth laughed. "Well that's interesting news..." he thought to himself. "You sister, is a spoiled brat."
"She is not!" Toby argued. "When she finds out about this she's going to come and save us!" he shouted once more.
Jareth laughed again. "I'm counting on it." he said darkly before slamming the door shut behind him.
It hadn't taken Priya long to figure out who the new prisioners were. "What kind of fool is he!" she fumed on her way to the throne room. When Jareth entered the throne room he swept past the fuming elf which only infuriated her further. "What are you thinking?!" she snapped as soon as he had seated himself.
"Silence!" Jareth snapped back. Priya's mouth closed in a thin hard line, waiting to see what her King would say next.
"I grow weary of these games you play behind my back." Jareth stated coldly, eyes glaring down hard on Priya like that of a disapointed father.
"I was only trying to help you...I thought.." Priya began to argue defensivly.
"You didn't think at all!" Jareth snapped again. "Now, I'm appointing you to by Toby's nanny." he said more calmly.
"What?" Priya exclaimed, shocked.
Jareth ignored her outburst. "Whatever fate brought Sarah's family here, I shall turn it to my own uses...now go." he dismissed Priya.
"He's reducing me to a nanny!" Priya muttered as she stormed out of the throne room.
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At the Marquee's Estate
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Sarah had discussed the details of her employment with the Duke over breakfast. Now she continued to think over the past events as she packed up all her belongs that she kept at the Marquee's. "Just when I get comfortable something happens." she sighed. Sarah was just as excited as she was nervous about her contract with the Duke. The Duke lived in the most western of the Kingdoms of Thanvaanit, a land primarily inhabited by the Nyemshir fae. To Sarah's understanding they were a sort of elemental creature, the Duke himself drew his magic from fire. Sarah was excited to visit new lands and meet new fae, but she also knew that she would not be able to see her family as often due to the distance. The Duke had been most persuasive though, offering her a much higher salary, her own horse and maid. Like the Marquee, he had agreed to let Sarah visit her family when time allowed for it and told her that they would be welcome at his home at anytime.
Sarah had planned on visiting her family and interogating them as to why they were unable to visit her. However, the Duke had insisted that she leave with him today and get settled into her new home. He had told her that he had several important dinner's coming up that he needed her to attend, and then he promised he would arrange for her to visit her family. Sarah had confessed her worries to the Duke about Jareth doing something to her family for revenge. The Duke had assured Sarah that as long as her family stayed out of the King's realm, there was nothing he could do to them.
Sarah smiled as she packed the last of her things, including the small mirror that Hoggle had given her as a birthday present. She lovingly stroked the silver rim before putting it away in her bag. "I'm not sure why I trust this Duke...him being related to Jareth and all...but there's something about him..." she smiled thoughtfully. "When I'm near him..I just feel something that I've never felt before." she laughed at her own thoughts. "Don't be silly Sarah."
Sarah had just finished when a light tapping came at her door. "Come in." she called. Sarah smiled when she saw the Marchioness enter.
"I just wanted to bid you farewell my friend." Fionna embraced her. "It's been a true please Christine...or should I say Sarah?" the Marchioness wiggled her brow.
Sarah sighed. "The rumours are true...I am sorry I was not honest with you." Sarah frowned.
"I understand dear, it may have been a wise decision. You have friends and allies now, do not be afraid." Fionna embraced Sarah once more. "Derryth wishes you well, he is still very sore about this whole situation though." she confessed.
"Again, my deepest sympathies." Sarah laughed.
"Sarah." Fionna sounded worried. "I have no reason to distrust Duke Lasair...but, he is a single man and you are a beautiful young woman..do be careful and call on us if you ever have the need."
Sarah laughed. "You sound like Midge now. I can take care of myself. I'm Sarah Williams." she winked.
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Author's Note: Thank for waiting patiently (or not so patiently) for this chapter. :-) Took me a couple days to write, I was just having trouble with it for some reason. Still don't know how pleased I am with it though. Anywho, I have a lot of free time coming up so you'll probably see a couple of new chapters this week. Of course, that's not a promise. Thanks to all my reviewers, you keep me going. love to all!