Chapter 44
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Mysteries
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Sarah looked up from her book and twisted around so she could peer over the side of the comfy oversized chair she had nested in. "There you are!" Gavin exclaimed as he noisily made his way over to his side. Sarah was normally not torn from her reading but after hearing doors thrown open and someone tripping over a stack of books her curiosity got the best of her. Sarah only raised his eyebrow in question, she had never seen Gavin so rattled before.
Gavin bent over and grasped his knees, noticeably out of breath. "I've been looking all over for you." he finally managed to say.
Sarah laughed. "And this wasn't on your top places to look?" Gavin shot her a look and Sarah only smirked in response.
"I need your help Sarah." he asked almost desperately.
"Help with what?" Sarah asked, truly curious as to what Gavin would need her help on.
"I need you to teach me how to dance." Gavin looked at her with pleading eyes.
Sarah was surprised. "Oh I don't know Gavin...why do you need to learn how to dance anyways?" she asked suspiciously.
"Please Sarah, you have to! Priya has invited me to go to a mascarade ball with her...didn't she tell you about it?"
"No, no one told me anything." Sarah stated irritably.
"Oh well I am sure she was going to" Gavin smiled trying to get Sarah back into a good mood. "Please Sarah, we're family. You've been to many balls and this will be my first I cannot disgrace Priya." he pleaded once more on his knees this time.
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Oh alright!" she gave in, "I can't believe this." she thought to herself.
"You're the best." Gavin got up and squeezed her.
"Alright alright im the best." Sarah pushed him away. "Don't suffocate me." Gavin only looked down at her expectantly.
Sarah stared back at him blankly until she realized why he was standing there. "Not now!" she exclaimed. "Don't you have work to do or something?" she waved him off. "After dinner I suppose." Gavin only grinned and made his way out of the library.
Sarah stared after him amused. "Boy he has it bad." she laughed.
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The Academy
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As soon as the Duke had found out that Toby had been sent to the Academy he left as soon as he could to investigate. He knew his cousin was one for outrageous actions, but he could not understand why the council would have agreed to send a mortal boy to The Academy. The Academy was for fae of noble birth, it was very rare for a fae of common birth to ever attend the school, they had to be unusually gifted.
The Duke had interrogated many of the staff as soon as he arrived. No one knew why the young mortal had been sent to the school, the council had told The Academy that their reasons would remain secret until un-know matters were resolved. The whole situation was strange and had everyone baffled, the only thing anyone knew for sure was that Toby, after a few exercises was showing great magic potential. It was quite the scandal, at first the teachers were afraid that the other students would resent or try to harm the mortal boy. However, he was such a mystery even to the students that they were too curious to resent him.
Toby was just as baffled as everyone else. At first he was angry and sad that he had been taken away from his family once again. After a few days of classes he was happy to be where he was, all his wildest dreams were coming true. To the knowledge of the fae there had only been one human born with the ability to wield magic, Taliesin the Wizard. Through his line came other wizards but the power diminished through the years until none bore the ability. The theory around the school was that Toby came from this bloodline and he was Taliesin reborn.
Only a few days passed before it became known that Toby was the baby wished away by the girl who conquered the Labyrinth under King Jareth's rule. There wasn't a day that Toby didn't noticed the glances and whispers behind his back. While this disturbed Toby he was never mistreated and everyone was nice to him, although he could tell it was only fake from some people.
Today Toby had a visitor and was happily making his way down to the common visiting room. Toby hoped it was his father or even better, Sarah. Toby's face fell a bit when he saw that it was the Duke who had come to see him. The Duke had been Toby's hero when Toby first met him, but when he never returned with his sister he had never liked him the same.
"Good day to you Toby." Lasair sat on a cushioned chair. "How are you liking your new home?" he asked friendly.
Toby gave the Duke a bow and climbed up on a chair next to him. "Hello my Lord." Toby replied respectfully.
The Duke laughed. "I see they've been teaching you etiquette! You and I are friends though Master Toby, you must call me Lasair." he smiled. The Duke regarded Toby behind masked eyes. There was definitely something about the boy that he had missed before, the same mysterious element that was in Sarah was in her brother. He was still a child but had a maturity and intuition beyond his age. Lasair hated mysteries and he swore he would get to the bottom of the strange family of mortals. However, in the mean time he would earn Toby's trust just in case he could use the boy to his advantage some day.
Toby shifted uncomfortably under the Duke's gaze. "I like it here. The classes are fun." Toby replied finally.
"I'm glad to hear that. Have you learned anything yet?" Lasair asked Toby. He wanted to see first hand what this wee mortal boy was capable of.
Toby nodded his head excitedly forgetting his distrust of the man. "They taught us how to manifeast." Toby nodded.
Lasair laughed again. "You mean manifest?" he corrected Toby's pronunciation.
"Yes, manifeast." Toby mis-prounouced again. "How to manifeast our magic." he smiled.
"That is very good, you must do that before you can do anything else." The Duke was curious to see if Toby could manifest his own magic and in what form it would take. "Can you show me?" The Duke prompted.
Toby looked around the room. "We're not suppose to outside of class." he frowned.
"Well, as the Duke I command you to show me." Lasair smiled. "You won't get into trouble." he assured the boy.
Toby grinned impishly. "Okay!" he nodded his head enthusiastically. Toby closed his eyes and held out his little hand, palm open and facing up. Lasair watched Toby intently, he noticed the sweat that formed on the boy's brow as he concentrated. Finally a flame sprung forth Toby's palm, Toby opened his eyes slowly then and grinned as he watched the flame dance on the palm of his hand.
"Ah!" Lasair exclaimed, surprised and curious. "I can do that too." he smiled and held out his palm. Instantly a flame sprung up and danced in the palm of his hand.
"Cool!" Toby shouted and as he did so lost concentration. The flame sprung out of his palm and caught the rug on fire. "Oh no!" Toby shouted once more, worried that he would be in trouble and thrown out of school. The Duke laughed and motioned his hand downward towards the fire on the rug. The fire went straight out and only a small black smudge remained as evidence.
"Not to worry, it will be our little secret." Lasair smiled.
Toby smiled back. "Maybe he's not so bad after all." Toby thought to himself. "Thanks!" he smiled and jumped up from his chair.
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Hoggle's Cottage
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Hoggle sat and listen to his dear friend sing sweetly. He always loved Sarah's visits and he always loved her singing even more. The song ended, "So what do you think? Should I sing that at the competition?" Sarah asked.
Hoggle opened his eyes and patted Sarah's hand. "Anything you sings is nice."
Sarah sighed. "Nice isn't good enough Hoggle!" she exclaimed dramatically. "I want to win!"
"You'd win no matter what you sang." he assured her. Sarah sighed once again, realizing her friend was not going to be any help in this area.
"I read every book in the castle I could find on curses and I am no closer to figuring this out than when I started." Sarah said changing the subject.
Now it was Hoggle's turn to sigh. "I don't know whys you consumed with this." Hoggle shook his head. "You're just gonna get yourself inta trouble."
Sarah considered her friend for a moment. "Do you really hate Jareth so much that you wish him to become a Goblin?" she asked.
Hoggle sputtered his ale. "That's less than he deserves!" he declared.
Sarah laughed at his antics. "Really Hoggle, he's not that bad." she said gazing out of the little cottage window.
"He's a bully!" Hoggle defended his case.
"Hmmm. True." Sarah smiled. "Regardless of all that he has done...I don't think he deserves that fate."
"Hmph" Hoggle snorted. "What's got you soft on him?" he asked disgruntled.
Sarah made a face. "I'm not soft on him! I just think..." she paused.
"You thinks what?" Hoggle asked curiously.
"I think he's misguided and misunderstood. I'd have my panties in a twist if I was cursed to become a goblin." she laughed.
"You'd have what?" Hoggle exclaimed, confused by Sarah's words.
Sarah laughed again. "Oh never mind. But I will find out about this curse and you'd be the bestest friend if you'd only give me a clue!" she pleaded.
"You's promised not to ask no more!" Hoggle pointed an accusing finger at her. Sarah threw up her hands in frustration.
"I know I know. I'm sorry, I'm just not getting anywhere." she exclaimed.
"I told ya a hundred times, I can't say nuthin." he grumbled miserably.
"I know." Sarah stood up and gave her friend a hug. "I better go, or I'll be late for my lesson."
Hoggle watched as Sarah left, he had noticed the subtle changes in her as her time in the Underground lengthened. "Maybe the rats got a chance after all." he shook his head.
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Author's Note: Thank you everyone who's been reading and reviewing :-) This chapter is a little longer than the last. I have the outlines written for the last 6 chapters, hopefully i will update again soon.