Chapter 42

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Jareth's Will

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"This isn't interesting." Sarah complained.

Jareth shot her an exasperated look. "Don't be such a child. Sarah." he chided her. "You shall learn nothing more from me until you have mastered the basics of defense." he drawled ignoring her pouting. "You live in a dangerous world Sarah, and someday you might not have anyone but yourself."

Sarah realized she had not considered this. She had always had her friends, Jareth and the Duke looking out for her. The idea of being alone without any companions in this world was frightening indeed. Knowing full well what would have happened if the Duke wasn't looking after when Illiana had come into her room that night.

"Okay, you're right." Sarah sighed submitting.

Jareth smirked. "What was that?" he teased.

"Don't push it." Sarah glared and then concentrated at the task on hand.

The Cottage

Midge hustled to the door at an insistant and rude rapping. "Can I help you?" Midge asked not hiding her irritation at the robed fae who stood at her door.

"I am here to collect Tobias Williams." the fae sneered handing Midge a scroll.

"Why and under who's authority?" Midge raged.

"What all the commotion?" Robert asked coming from the barn.

"Ah, Mr. Williams?" the fae turned, cutting off Midge before she could speak.

"Yes?" Robert replied giving his wife a worried glance.

"I am here to collect your son." the fae pointed to the scroll that he had handed to Midge. The fae continued, "You should be very happy, your son is to attend a very prestigeous school."

Robert and Midge both exchanged confused looks. "I've already lost my daughter, I'm not losing my son as well. I don't care how prestigeous this school is." Roberts rare temper began to flare.

The fae snorted. "I am afraid you have no choice." he pointed to the scroll again. "The High council has ordered his attendance, it is not an invitation."

Jareth's Study

"But Sire...all this for a mere girl?"

Jareth shot the man a deadly look. "She is not a mere girl. Sarah is the descendent of Queen Amalthea and King Falcor." Jareth said sharply.

The man fidgeted uncomfortably and choose his words carefully. "But the bloodline is so...diluted." he made his final protest.

"Not...as diluted as one might be foolish enough to think." Jareth voice still had a hard edge to it as he signed the last document of his will. "Now do take care of these documents." he gave the man a look of warning and he rolled the papers up and handed them over.

"Yes, your majesty." the fae man bowed deeply and left with Jareth's will.

Jareth sat back with a sigh, rubbing the temple on the unchanged side of his face. It was the coldest month of winter in the Underground and it suited Jareth's mood just fine. There were only six months left now before the transformation would be completed, some days Jareth looked into Sarah's eye and saw hope and other days he caught a glimps of the ring that was still snug around her finger and knew there was none. During the weeks he had spent with Sarah providing her with lessons he had lost much of the deep rooted anger he had for her. He no longer wished her to be miserable, he found each day that her happiness meant everything to him. That is why he had called his councellor of affairs, he would ensure that Sarah was taken care of. He would not let her depend on his cousin, she would have her own land and wealth fitting to her station. She would be well long after he was gone and she would remember him for it.

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Author's note: Alright that goes down in shortest chapter history! I promise I will never write a chapter that short again. I got back from vacation and was terribly busy and then discovered I had terrible writers block! It took me four days just to write that much! Awful I know. So I just wanted to get it over with so I could move on to the next chapter which will come much easier. So here is a snack if you will.

Thanks to a new reader/reviewer: Hakkai Ottaku