Chapter 21.

Robert looked at his clerk as he entered the Adjudicator's chamber; "I need to see a volume on the laws concerning Nephilim. Where would I look?"

The Goblin clerk, Thom bowed and went in search of the books needed. Thom was of a higher cast of Goblin, larger and more intelligent. He enjoyed working in the castle and he liked the harshness of the new taskmaster. He found the volume he knew the information would be in and brought it quickly to the adjudicator. "This is what you seek, Master Robert."

Robert opened to the index; found the pages he needed and began to read. When he finished, there was no trace of a smile left on his face. He closed the book and frowned. "Thom!" he barked. "Are there anymore?"

"Yes, Master Adjudicator! Right away." The Goblin bounded over tables to reach the bookshelves and dig out forgotten volumes. Three more books were dug out to be brought to the desk of the Adjudicator. "Your volumes, Sir." He also placed scrolls on the desk to be gone though.

"Thom, I need parchment and a quill." Robert opened the book, and looked over at his chief clerk. "And if you wouldn't mind scribing for me."

Thom's face light up like a candle. "Master," he nearly purred. "I'd be honored."

Robert began to read the passages he wanted written. He added his own thoughts from time to time, knowing his faithful scribe would take the words down exactly as spoken. Book after book and a few scroll later, Robert had a clear and concise view of the laws the Fae held to concerning the question of the Nephilim. It gave him little peace.

Thom watched the master pace. "Sir, what is it that vexes thee so?"

Robert looked at the Goblin; "I'm Nephilim, Thom"

The clerk shook his head. "You were Nephilim, Master Robert in the world of man that is. Here, you are Master Robert Goblin Adjudicator. You are now part of the Goblin Realm. You are in essences …Goblin."

Robert Williams took his seat behind the heavy desk. He looked at he chambers given to the Adjudicator. "I have always loved the law, Thom. The world of laws is something I understand, something I value." Looking around he sighed deeply. "Now I find I have to know laws that are foreign to me."

Thom looked over the page he had written. "Law is law, master. It is universal, don't you find?"

Robert closed his eyes. "That's a bit simple, Thom."

"Law is simple." The Goblin said wisely. "If you were in the world of man, you'd follow one set of rules…Here you must follow another, yet law is still law. Some are good, some not so."

"I'm not here by choice, Thom." Robert said quietly to his clerk.

Wide round eyes looked into the eyes of the Adjudicator. "Goblins not here by choice either. We learned to accept this exile, just as you learned to accept yours. Now you learn new life. You are lucky man, Master Robert. You have a chance to make a difference, and learn."

Robert nodded, he held out his hand for the page Thom had finished writing. "You have a strange sense of what is luck, Thom."

The Goblin left his seat came to the elbow of the Adjudicator. "I remember old days…when Nephilim were hunted down like animal. When they and their families herded in to pens, destroyed, and forgotten. You will never witness or experience anything like that, Master. King lays claim to thee and thine. King protects what is his."

"I've given the King little reason to protect me." Robert sighed reading the passage over again. "Thom, close the office, I'm going to seek audience with the King. I'll see you come sun up." Robert was about to take off his official robes when the Goblin stopped him.

"Master, wear your robes." Thom slid one of the heavy books off the desk. "You want to be official with King."

Robert smoothed the robe back over his shoulders. "Yes, I think you may be right Thom. Robes of office shall be worn. Thank you, Thom."

The Goblin watched his master leave the safe haven of the chamber to go seek the king. "Good luck, master." Thom called after him.

Robert knew where to find the King, the circular throne room. He could see a group of those who were awaiting the king's judgments. These were cases that had nothing to do with the laws. They were land grants and other daily running of the kingdom cases. Robert stood back, and listened to the king speak to a few. He had to admit the King seemed to have a good head on his shoulders and a keen understanding of what was just.

The King noticed Robert the moment he had entered the chamber. He didn't mind being watched so keenly, it was good for the man who'd lived his life among the mortals to see and understand a Fae Kingdom being run. As the last of the supplicants bowed and left the chamber, the King leaned back in his throne. "Master Adjudicator, enter."

Robert walked slowly toward the throne, and its occupant. "Sire." He bowed toward the king respectfully.

Quinn and Jareth both saw and felt the change in the man. Quinn spoke for them. "You seek us?"

Robert nodded, "Sire, I've a matter I need to discuss with you." His voice was respectful and calm.

"Of course." The king leaned forward.

Robert frowned slightly. "Not here, Sire…in private."

Quinn rose from the massive throne, "If you prefer." His tone was accommodating. He sensed the man was working at being civil and saw not reason to antagonize him. "Come, Master Adjudicator, walk with me." Side by side, they walked out of the throne room, out to a terrace and down toward a garden. "This garden was designed by one of Sarah's first friends here in the Kingdom. Our master gardener, a dwarf named Hoggle."

"It's a lovely garden." Robert said taking in the beauty. "I've missed so much that's been right before my eyes." He sighed.

Quinn directed the walk toward a secluded area near the new pond. He motioned the man to take a seat on the bench and then took one himself. "Robert, what troubles you?" Direct questions were the best way of dealing with a man like Robert Williams.

"I want to ask you," Robert paused, took a deep ragged breath. "Beg you really…Sire, promise me that Karen and the children will be safe." He hung his head.

The two made one gazed at the man with compassion. "Why should they not be?"

Robert looked at the Fae King. "I've read the laws, Sire."

"Which laws Robert?"

"The laws that cover the Nephilim issues, you've a rather extensive library, Sire." Robert shuddered remembering what he had read. "I know I don't have the right to ask you for any favors, Sire. But I ask not for myself, I ask only for Karen and my three children."

Quinn heard his brother's voice in his head. 'Go easy on him.' He narrowed his eyes. "You ask for your three children?" He stood up. "One of your children is not a child, Robert. She is my bride to be…do you accept that now?" The inner voice growled. 'Quinn!' He did not change his tact he kept his position.

Robert Williams felt broken. "You see Sarah as a young woman…I see only my beautiful young daughter. A daughter I've worked hard to protect from the harshness of both worlds, Sire."

Quinn did not change his tact. "Robert, this is not the mortal realm. Sarah is to be our wife. Do you accept it?"

Robert nodded. "It's sinking in."

"Then say it, please." Quinn was being as compassionate as he dared be at this point.

Robert looked at the King, "I accept that my daughter will wed you on her eighteenth birthday."

"Now Robert," the King stood up. "AS to this other matter…You and your wife are part of my household. Sarah's siblings are, while still in your care, my wards. What is mine is mine! I would never allow anyone or anything to harm what is mine. You have my oath." He spoke clearly. "Robert coming to me with this concern, asking for my word… I know it was difficult for you. You have read the laws on the issue, and I commend that. I would however also have you read the other laws dealing with the re-incorporation of Nephilim."

"Re-incorporation?" Robert looked troubled.

"You and your family are undergoing subtle changes, Robert." The King advised.

"In the world of man you'd have lived your life out according to the conditions of exile. You would have lived to be an old man and die…Here…" The king smiled. "Here you will live a very different life. Your life span will increase, the aging process slowed down. You might in time, develop some small magical talents. Your children, being brought here at a younger age will take on the Fae aspect of their nature. Point in case, Sarah. She has accepted the magic, embraces it. She's very talented."

Sadness filled Robert. "Sire, what about Karen…she's not of the Fae." The thought of being without the woman filled him with pain.

"Rest easy Robert. Though she is not Fae, she is Fae loved. She will live a long and happy life here. Far longer than she would in the mortal realm. She will not fall ill; she will age much slower, and will be happy. She has accepted her fate, and embraces her new life." Quinn said quietly. "She is quiet the woman. She has given you two find offspring."

Robert looked at the garden, the pond with black swans swimming in peace. "I was an important man in the world of man. A man with a bright and important future. I had made a name for myself in the field of law. I was known to be honorable, and just." He began to speak from his heart. "I had plans to enter the field of politics. Run for office and help my community. I wanted to be sure the laws were protected, and not abused."

Quinn listened, as did the hidden half of the shattered soul.

"I knew about the… Fae issue… and like my father before me, I chose to keep it hidden. I worked at protecting my family from harm." He looked at the King. "From what I perceived was harm." The King nodded and the man continued. "I can not apologies Sire. I did what I did because I love my family. To protect all my children I'd give up my very life. If I had to do it again, I would."

"You are an honorable man, Robert Williams." Quinn stated with a bit of pride. "A man who loves law, and family. That needs no apology. None will be asked of thee."

Robert looked at the wonders of the garden, the wonders of the Goblin Kingdom. "I came here with a hardened heart."

"And now?"

"Now…" sighed Robert. "Now I must learn new lessons…new laws, new ways." A quirky smirk crossed his lips. "Thom, my clerk says I'm a lucky man. I suppose I am…I would like to clear a path between us…you and I…."

Quinn held out a gloved hand. "Pax?"

Robert looked at the hand that had been so quickly extended, so freely given. "Pax." He placed his hand in the gloved one. "Thank you, Sire."

"I'm not a monster, Robert…" He paused and joked. "Well not always anyway." He snickered. "You could ask Sarah about her first encounter with the Goblin King. Her first view of me was of that of a villain. She took a long time to get over that notion." Quinn and the other both had reason to voice the words. "The relationship she and I have took time to build. Even now we are still learning to deal with one another." Quinn leaned forward, both elbows supported by his knees. "Robert, I don't expect instantaneous changes with you. You have lived your live one way. It will take time for you to get use to the changes. All I ask is that you give it a chance. Give the Underground a chance."

The man looked at the garden. "It's so beautiful here, almost painfully so."

Quinn rose from his place on the bench. "That's a step, Robert. You are now beginning to see the Underground. Take small steps, but take steps, Robert."

"And my daughter is a Mystic for the Kingdom?" He stood up, a look of pride on his face. "My daughter is a powerful Mystic."

"Your daughter will be a powerful and just Queen, not just a Mystic for the Kingdom." Quinn corrected. "And well loved by subjects and King alike."

"You love her?" The father asked the intended groom.

'Answer him Quinn.' The voice said.

"I love her with every fiber of my being." Quinn answered and faced the truth for the first time. He had accepted that Jareth loved Sarah. He had felt the full effects of it when he merged with his brother. Now he, like the Adjudicator faced the new truths. "I love her with my whole heart and soul." He felt the other take comfort in the hidden recesses of their soul.

"Then I give you my blessings." Robert took hold of the open front of his robe. "You have my permission to marry my daughter, Sire."

Quinn laughed. "Thanks…Dad." Both men laughed softly. Quinn looked at the setting sun. "They'll be waiting on us for dinner, and we have guests. I think we should join our family." The walked side by side toward the palace. "Are your offices to your liking? We can make adjustments to the chamber if they are not."

"Oh no," Robert was more at peace, "The chamber is magnificent! Moreover, the law library is unequaled. My staff is the most amazing group of creatures… My clerk, Thom is the very good at his tasks. And he's a good ear." Robert paused. "He said that I'm not really a Nephilim any more… he said I am now…a Goblin."

Quinn placed a crooked finger to his upper lip. "Well that's a simplistic way of putting it." He looked at the man. "You see, the word Nephilim, was really only suppose to cover those who cast off the coils of magic…who fell… it became the way of identifying the descendants also. As you are now attached to my Kingdom and my house, yes, in a way you are a Goblin. You are now, and have been since the moment I claimed you a citizen of my Kingdom and one of my subjects, and in that sense you are a Goblin."

Robert laughed. "There's a few Judges back in the world of man who thought I was one then."

Quinn laughed as well.