Chapter 14.

Quinn looked at Sarah, "Permit me," he said then flicked his wrist. Instantly she was attired in the Mystics Gown, she had created for herself for the Tourney. "This makes us look official." He placed himself in the midnight blue regalia. He held out his hand. "Shall we?"

"Don't you think we should let someone know we're gone?" She took his hand.

"No, we're only going to be gone a short time. Just long enough to seek some answers." Quinn looked down at her provocative gown. "Good thing to…I really don't trust myself with you dressed so… provocatively. That gown screams out suggestions I'm just weak enough to take you up on."

"Your as incorrigible as Jareth." Sarah accused.

He growled softly. "Baby, we are cut from the same bolt of cloth." He gripped her hand and focused. The tunnel faded into the darkness. Moments later they reappeared on the lawn of a grand palace. "Home sweet home." Quinn said fondly.

"I thought Labyrinthia was home sweet home." The girl looked about, to get an idea of what she had stumbled into this time.

"Well it is, now…but Jareth and I spent most of our boyhood here." Quinn said easily. "This is where were raised hell."

"I'm sure." She looked around. "Why so deserted?"

Quinn frowned. "Because the old man is expecting us." He led the way up the path. "If I know him, he's had a bard or two Scrying on us the entire time."

Sarah halted her steps. "You mean someone's been watching us?" She blanched. "That's rather …rude."

"Not at all." Quinn teased. "It's part of being one of his sons…all our antics are put to record." He tugged her fingers but she refused to move.

"You mean what he did…the crystal ballroom, the Escher room…all of it has been…recorded?" She asked faltering.

Quinn slipped a hand to her waist, "That and my forcing you to bargain with me, yes…all of it has been put to record."

"I'm going to be sick." Sarah groaned.

"Later," Quinn pulled her along with a gentle hand. Quinn only paused as they reached the entrance of the grand hall. "Game face, darlin'." He warned. He took on the haughty look that the Goblin King was known for, as they entered the palace. Silently and unhurriedly, they walked though the great hall of the palace toward the throne room. The great hall was not overly crowded; there were a few groups of Fae conversing here and there. Those that choose to take notice of the pair bowed to the Fae King, as his rank was higher than their own.

They had almost cleared the space when a voice rang out sharply and shrilly. "Jareth! Jareth, darling!"

Quinn winced as he stopped. "Millicent." He muttered. Slowly he turned to see the Fae woman rushing over his way from a group sitting by the windows. He schooled his face as the creature approached.

"I had no idea you were coming to court!" The woman slapped his shoulder with her ivory fan. "You beast, why didn't you let us know you were coming…we could have prepared a fitting welcome." She teased him moving so her ample bosom was more than evident. Her lavish gown of green taffeta hardly hide any of her curves.

Leaning back on one leg, and giving her a skeptical simper he spoke. "Millicent, I don't recall you ever being quiet so happy to see me in the past."

The Fae woman with long reddish gold curls linked an arm in his, almost possessively. She looked over at Sarah and simpered. "Send your little pet away and I'll show you just how glad I truly am, darling."

The King did not appear to be amused; his consort was doing a slow burn. "Really?"

The woman pouted, her pretty mouth puckered up. "I see no reason we cannot be friendly…after all, now that Quinn is no longer about to muck things up…send the human away, and we'll get reacquainted."

Placing a possessive arm about Sarah, the man cleared his throat. "Millicent, have you met Sarah, my consort?"

The Fae woman looked at the other with disinterest. "I'd heard some rumor that you'd hooked up with a mortal…but really darling…you don't…"she sniffed the air. "You don't even smell attached…"

Quinn faltered, but was covered quickly by Sarah who now stepped forward and shoved the pushy woman back. "Back off, sister! He's spoken for!"

Millicent gulped, "My mistake." She rushed off toward her friends.

The Goblin King looked very upset, Sarah held out her hand, and when he took it she turned again in the direction, they had been headed. Entering the great throne room, the man did not wait to be announced. He moved quickly to the throne. "Father, we must speak."

Oberon looked at them, "Yes?" He was about to toy with the lad when he noticed the urgency in the mismatched eyes. Stepping down from his dais, he motioned the pair to follow. He led the pair to a quiet spot in his private garden. "What is it boy? Are you in pain of some sort?"

Quinn let the façade melt away. "The merge is failing…we've not assimilated. We are not even close to being complete! There's two of us in here."

Oberon nodded, "I know. Talbot has kept me abreast of what my sons should have come to me with." He motioned the pair be seated. "Are you ready to seek the aid of a Fae Healer?"

Quinn looked at his father; his eyes were full of anger. "I've been ready! It is that stubborn mule brother of mine!" Quinn stood up and vented his frustrations. "He doesn't talk…doesn't fight! He lays there dormant…I give up everything and he plays dead!"

Sarah looked down at her feet, the display of emotion was powerful and she was not sure how to act accordingly. Oberon felt pity for both the girl, and the shattered soul. "Out of deference to your brother's wishes you've held off?" Quinn nodded. "I understand."

"Father I know I did the merge right." Quinn was grasping at straws. "I know he was weak but he was still breathing! I did everything right!"

"I'm sure you did, Quinn." Oberon looked at his son with calm understanding. "I'll have Healer Phineas come, I'll send him back with you. You cannot be away from your kingdom too long. All must seem to be going along well."

Quinn looked up; "We've another problem, Father. Millicent just accosted us out in the great hall. She said I don't smell attached."

Oberon raised a delicate brow; "I don't see how that's possible. You told me yourself that Sarah here bestowed the kiss of marking finishing the bond."

Quinn nodded, "So why would Millicent react to me as if I were unbounded?"

"You are not bonded," Solea said as she and her husband the Bard approached. "Jareth is."

Sarah looked at Quinn, "Is that possible?"

Oberon looked at Cairbre. "Is what your wife says true?"

Cairbre looked at his wife, "She is intuitive, Sire…it makes sense. Jareth was already half Fae-marked and he was on the outside when the kiss was given."

Sarah looked at the pair who had walked over; the man seemed so familiar. "What does that mean? In plain English so I can understand."

Quinn, his face slightly flushed turned to Sarah. "It means you have to bond to me as well."

"No." Sarah protested.

"Sarah, dear…" Oberon tried to reason with her.

"No!" she shouted. "I'm bonded to Jareth! I can not…I will not be bonded to Quinn!"

"You must." Solea said calmly.

"Why must I?" demanded the girl. She pointed to the body of what was not the Goblin King. "I already kissed that one! Why didn't it count?"

"Because I was not in control." Quinn said. "I was letting Jareth do our talking."

"But I don't think that's even…legal…it's like…polygamy!" Sarah argued.

Solea looked at the girl. "The two made one are still two…until both halves are healed and united…they are separate. If Quinn is not bonded, he is easy prey for some Fae female. You must bond."

Quinn took Sarah's hands. "Sarah what they are saying makes perfect sense."

Healer Phineas joined them a short time later. He listened to the High King and the Goblin King. He listened too to the words of the Water Sprite. "Lady Solea is correct in her assumption that one half of the shattered soul remains unbounded. It puts the entire bond at risk."

Quinn shook his head, and laughed to himself. "I was working to break their bond and now I'm honor bound to complete it! How's that for irony, Father?"

Sarah sat ashen faced, "I don't think I can do this."

"Sarah." Quinn walked to stand before her. "I'm not going anywhere it seems. If you want to be the wife of my other half, you are going to have to bond with me as well."

Sarah looked up at him, "Do you Fae ever do anything fair?"

The Healer pulled his beard, "I would suggest Lord Quinn court the Lady Sarah. That will give the lady time to adjust to the situation. I shall arrive at the castle in a few hours. Have your healer prepare a room for me."

Quinn held a hand out to Sarah. "We must go home, dear."

Oberon held up a hand. "I am sending my bard here to record in person all that is about to happen."

Sarah stood up, tears welling. "Why not? I've no privacy anymore!"

Quinn waved them all off. "Sarah, you are going to be queen, you had best learn to roll with the punches now."

She looked at him. "Whose queen am I?"

Not having the answer she wanted to hear, he said gently. "You are the Goblin King's Queen." He placed his hand to her waist. "Let's go home."