Chapter 3.

Solea stood at her husband's side awaiting the audience with the High King. She was proud of her husband's rise in the eyes of the High King. She felt he had often been overlooked as it writings were now mostly on Fae history. She stood quietly at his side, gazing round the great throne room of the High King's palace on Avalon. To be presented at court she'd chosen the gown she'd married her Bard in, a gorgeous blue-gray dress encrusted with teardrop crystals, that looked so much like rain when she made the least little move. One would swear that you could even hear the droplets of rain. She also wore matching crystals in her long hair. Cairbre let his thumb make slow circles at the small of her back. The gown left most of her back and shoulders exposed. When announced, they moved forward, Cairbre in fancy Bardic robes and Solea in her nearly lifelike gown. He bowed and she curtsied low.

Oberon bid them to rise with a wave of his hand, he graced them with one of the few smiles Solea had seen him display this day. Cairbre extended his hand and led his wife aside. "Something troubles our High King." The Bard gathered.

"Someone." Solea said more intuitively.

Cairbre raised a brow. "Wife, have you been Scrying?"

"No, my husband…but one does not need a Scrying pool to know that look. He's troubled by the two made one." Solea said confidently.

Her husband glanced back at the High King. "Perhaps we should seek a pool…check things out?"

"I'd say that's a very timely suggestion, husband." She also looked at the High King. "Something's about to happen, I can just feel it."

Cairbre growled softly. "Indeed?" He smiled; pleased his wife was multitalented.

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Quinn paced the turret repeatedly. Fingertips clad in leather to the chin of the King. So deep in thought, he had not even noticed the dragon that landed and was clinging on the parapet. Back and forth, he paced.

Angus watched, then hunkered down. "Quinn." He greeted the darker.

"Angus." Quinn returned the greeting. "What are you doing out?"

The old dragon chuckled. "What are you doing out, is more to the point." He flashed a toothy smile at the young Fae.

Quinn moved closer, "It was getting crowded in here." He pointed to his head. "You have any idea of what's like to listen to his thoughts day in and day out…And get him thinking about that girl…." Quinn crossed his arms and huffed.

"Ah, the girl…I thought we'd get round to her sooner or later." Angus mused. "So tell me Quinn," The accent got deeper and darker. "Is it true ye made her dicker o'er the price o ye brother?"

Quinn covered his eyes and nodded.

Angus snickered loudly. "I hear tell ye also set a price." When again the young Fae nodded, Angus sighed. "Oh, and what would that be now?"

"A kiss." Quinn said in a low voice.

"Ah," the old dragon nodded his head up and down. "Seems a wee bit small." He nudged the Fae with his shoulder. "Why a Kiss, Quinnie me lad?"

"I wanted to sever the bonding." Quinn shrugged. "She is not a Fae…"

"No, but she's not a Mortal either, Quinnie." Warned the dragon, he sniffed, "You've her scent all over you lad. Been to see her then?"

Quinn nodded, and began to pace again. "She must be a witch…or a siren of come kind."

"Oh and why would that be?" the Dragon was enjoying the dilemma of the young Fae man.

Quinn began speaking to himself again. "There's just no justice. I give up my life…my life…and still I'm beguiled by that green eyed little witch."

"What did ye do Quinnie?" Angus asked lightly.

"I told her I wanted my payment for saving Jareth." Quinn covered his eyes. "I told her I wanted my kiss."

"That must be some Kiss you demanded there, laddie." The old dragon laughed.

Quinn thought back to his demands, "A kiss, given freely, open mouthed, closed eyes…and tongues…." Quinn smiled crookedly, "yes, it's some kiss alright."

Angus fell off the turret laughing. Quinn watched the winged lizard glide off into the night.

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Sarah sat on the floor of the nursery. She had not moved from the spot since the Fae had left her. She was not even sure she could leave, until the telephone rang and she picked it up. "Hello?"

"Sarah, it's Karen." A voice said tearfully.

"How's your dad?" Sarah asked.

"He's holding his own right now," Her stepmother sighed. "How are the kids?"

"Asleep…we're in the middle of a huge storm, and I'm actually expecting the power to go out." Sarah teased.

"I have faith in you being able to handle the situation." There was background talk and then Karen said quietly. "Your father wants to have few words with you."

Sarah braced herself. "Yes, Daddy?"

"You can forget going to Scotland." The line went dead, Robert's way of denying her any avenue of protest.

Sarah groaned, dropped the telephone and walked over to the windows. The storm was raging and she wondered if it would bother her father if she just flung open the windows and hurled herself out into the heart of the storm. If she were lucky, she could be hit by lightening.

A throat cleared behind her, a voice intoned. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Sarah turned. "You again?" she groaned.

Quinn ignored her and went to look at the sleeping children. "Ah, good, still sleeping."

"Get out of my house." She demanded, again she tired to stomp her barefoot. Again, it made little or no impression.

Quinn circled her, much as Jareth had in the Escher room. "So this is what you were wearing when he first met you, eh?" He snorted. "Not very attractive, hardly womanly." He closed his eyes, and drew upon the memories he could now share from his brother. Slowly he walked around her, then stopped behind her and leaned over her shoulder. "Still I see it has its…attractions." His hands encircled her waist. "Yes…very memorable."

"Don't Quinn." She warned quietly. "Stop."

"Make me if you can." He challenged.

Sarah froze. "I don't use magic on this side of the portal…you know that."

He nodded his cheek stroking hers, "That's going to make this such a lopsided fight, don't you think?"

"Are we fighting?" she asked, fearful.

Quinn pulled her closer. "We don't have to fight." He commented. "We can just call a truce and work out the final payment plan."

"Quinn…. About that…"

"Sarah." Quinn tightened his grip. "I did bring Jareth back to you…now fair's fair…You owe me payment."

Sarah moaned. "Fine take your kiss and go." She turned closed her eyes and puckered up.

Quinn looked at her; he was tempted but held back. "No, dear…not here…not on this side of the portal…"

Sarah opened her eyes; "You're going to make me kiss you in front of the court?"

He shook his head. "I've changed my mind about that…you and the Goblin King are now bonded…the court would just see it as Jareth getting…lucky."

"That bothers you?" Sarah blinked. "Why?"

Mismatched eyes, which now seemed more Azure looked at her with loss. "It is enough that it does, why is not your concern." He moved away from her. "Where's your little Pixie guard?"

"Meep is outside with the Pixies that guard the house for now. He'll come in when I retire." Sarah found herself answering as if it were perfectly normal to discuss her guard or anything else about her magical life.

Quinn's features were more clearly visible. He looked around the room, letting his eyes fall on the children snuggled in beds. He looked once more at the barefooted girl. "I think I prefer you in court dress. That," he pointed to the jeans. "Is not very becoming."

"They are functional, Quinn." Sarah defended her jeans. "And I like them…they served me well when I was wondering about the Labyrinth."

Quinn shrugged and took a seat in the comfortable old wooden rocking chair that was nestled into one corner of the room. He leaned back and began to rock slowly.

"What are you doing?" Sarah asked not sure that she was going to like the answer.

Quinn cocked his head to one side. "Contemplating, Sarah." He faintly smiled. "Where and how to demand my payment for services rendered. When you return to the Kingdom…"

"I'm not returning…not just yet…not as planned." Sarah interjected.

Quinn stopped rocking and leaned forward. "What do you mean you're not returning…you're scheduled to return…"

"My father is now thinking I am running off to be with you… him…"She pointed to the body in the chair. "That!"

Quinn looked down. "Now where did he get an idea like that?"

"You tell me." Sarah crossed her arms. "Was that Jareth or you at my graduation?"

"Jareth." Quinn sighed. "I must have slept though it…what did he do?"

"Oh he was his charming self…and my dad now thinks there's hanky panky going on." Sarah turned her back on the Fae.

Quinn laughed softly. "There should be." He left the chair and moved closer to the girl. "Why isn't there?" he asked in her ear.

Sarah stiffened. "Please don't do that!"

Placing the leather clad fingers on her shoulders; he let the hands slide down the length of her arms. "Why is my brother keeping you so chaste, I wonder?" The girl shivered in response to his touch. "Why would he want…." He paused, then began to laugh. "He's a hopeless romantic. He wants a virgin bride."

Sarah turned. "Bride? What bride?"

"You,…baby." Quinn teased. "That's what he calls you is it not? Baby." As Sarah's hand came up, Quinn caught it in his, and yanked her to him. "Should be interesting, shouldn't it? You, him…me."

Sarah gasped. "Stop it."

Quinn released the arm. "How ever we need to clear the optical field my brother is creating." He smiled. "Looks like I'll have to come here and mend bridges. When do you expect your father to come home?"

Sarah shook her head, "If I knew I'd never tell you, Quinn."

Quinn snorted. "OH Sarah there's many a thing you are going to tell me."

"Dream on." She turned her back on him, only to find him standing before her. "Stop that!"

"Stop playing hard to get." He warned. "We both know you are going to be the King's…consort." A hand cupped her chin. "You are fated, and not even I can fight fate. So let us work at getting the path cleared so you can rush to your destiny."

"I won't let you hurt my father!" she spat at him.

"Don't be a ninny. I don't want to hurt him….Hell, I don't even know him." Quinn said evenly. "I just want to fix what Jareth in his efforts to protect you has messed up." He smiled. "Now tell me when they are due back."

"They have not set a time…it depends on how Karen's dad is doing." Sarah said at last.

Quinn leaned down and kissed her brow. "Good night, Sarah…I shall be in touch."

Sarah shivered as he vanished. "Meep!" she screamed.