Chapter 22.

Sarah was in the state dining hall, issuing last minuet orders and asking for changes. She was pleased to see Anne and her stepmother huddled at the head table discussing the wedding arrangements. Guests were milling about, talking and gazing at the changes in the banquet hall. Sarah had again arranged for the horseshoe setup of the tables that the King and his Champions sat at. There were smaller tables for guests who were residents of the kingdom, just as before. She was glad she had learned her lessons of table etiquette at the time of the Tourney. Now everything worked like a well-oiled machine.

Ryan and Giles entered with Celestia, they moved to the head table and took their seats. Sarah made sure the healer the High King had sent was no where near her or the King. She did not like the man, and would not have him seated by either of them no matter what his rank was. In the chair that Quinn had occupied at the Tourney now sat the Bard, Cairbre. His wife was beside him, smiling and speaking softly. She placed Phineas down by Anne knowing she would be well equipped at keeping him in line. Everything was ready, and everyone was in his or her places with the noticeable exception of the King and her father.

Sarah looked at the entrance, the King entered telling Robert something, and her father looked more than amused. She was rendered speechless at the change in her father who smiled over at her with ease. Quinn walked Robert to his seat, gave a pleasant greeting to Karen, even asking how the children were. He then moved down the table to where Sarah stood, slightly taken aback. He raised her hand, and kissed the back of it. "Good evening, Sarah." He greeted her with a practiced tone of nonchalance.

"Good evening…Sire." She looked down the table and whispered harshly. "If you put a spell on him, I swear…"

"No spell." Quinn tapped her nose with his gloved index finger. "Logic. Your father is a man of logic, Sarah." He smiled. "So do you want to stand here, draw attention, or do we eat?"

Solea placed a hand on her husbands. 'See, they are on a new footing.'

Cairbre was watching the reactions of the Healers. One was pleased the other not so. 'There is mischief afoot here, wife.'

'Noted and being observed, husband.' Her tone was vexed. 'He's up to something, I can feel the tensions.'

Cairbre turned to look at the young woman taking her seat beside him. "Lady Sarah, are you…rested?"

Sarah knew he was referring to her demeanor when she had called an end to the interview of the Healer from the High Courts. "Yes, thank you Bard."

Quinn motioned the staff to begin serving. "We had an uninvited guest earlier today." He spoke to the Bard, knowing that Phineas was listening with rapt attention.

Cairbre gazed at the King, and understood he was baiting the healer. "Really? Anyone I'm familiar with?"

"Lord Hawthorne." Quinn ran a finger over the rim of his wine goblet. "A rather unpleasant man."

"With an equally unpleasant daughter." Sarah interjected.

Quinn snorted. "Aye to that."

Cairbre was already aware of the visit, but not wanting to tip the Healer at the other end of the table off, played dumb. "Lord Hawthorne? Do you have business with him Sire?"

"No, I do not." Quinn stated firmly, he perceived a slight grimace on the face down the table to his left. "Nor do I wish to have."

Cairbre sighed. "There I can not fault you, Sire. Hawthorne is not well liked in most circles."

"Sarah and I had business, recently, in the high court. Lady Millicent, against all protocol not only flagrantly flung herself at me, but she suggested I dismiss my consort."

"She called me your mortal pet, dear." Sarah poked the meat on her plate viciously with her fork.

"Yes, dear, she did." Quinn slid one hand lazily over the top of her chair. "I however am not stupid enough to use such a slur."

Sarah looked at the man, mismatched eyes looked back at her with a gleam. "Well, that's nice to hear…dear."

Quinn smiled back, "Having to deal with Millicent one day and her father the next does not please us." He emphasized us, and directed the mark clearly to the Healer who was frowning at the other end of the table.

Giles seated beside Solea looked at the king. Solea gauged the man, and found him of good mettle. She spoke with the Archer carefully. "His Majesty is fortunate to have champions who are so true."

Giles looked at the Water Sprite. "We are true to our King." He assured her.

She nodded, and looked back at her husband who was quietly discussing the state of the kingdom with the two made one.

Diner ended, and the minstrels who had been playing left the center of the room. Quinn rose from his seat, placing a hand to Sarah's elbow he made it clear that he wished to have her at his side as he gave audience to the guests. Sarah's hand tucked into the crook of his arm as they made their rounds from guest to guest. Quinn perceived the ire and disdain that Phineas quickly covered and hid at their approach.

"Sire, may I have a word with you?" The High Court's Healer requested politely. He looked directly at the King, ignoring the person on the King's arm.

"Not now, Healer. I have guests to attend to." Quinn shot the man down without even raising a brow. "Sarah dear, let us greet Lord and Lady Vandish. Lady Vandish was one who remarked on your garden."

Phineas watched the couple move to the lesser guests and greet them warmly. He felt the knee jerk reaction to Sarah. 'Nephilim.' His heart, mind and soul cried out. None of that ilk was good enough for the childe he had saved. His efforts were not going to be overturned by Jareth's efforts to place a fallen on a Fae throne, he vowed in silence. What was needed here was a Full Fae Queen. He would persuade the shattered half he knew well to give the Lady Millicent another glance. There was still time, the bond was not yet formed betwixt the entity known as Quinn and the Nephilim spawn.

Something awakened in Robert, some inner sense. Glaring toward the healer, he quickly turned to Karen. "Make sure you and the children are never alone with that one." He whispered carefully.

Karen glanced over. "Understood." She nodded with a painted smile. "And agreed."

Anne watched the Healer. "You seem to have a perplexity about the King and our Sarah." She mentioned quietly as she stood at the side of the Fae.

The High Court Healer looked at her with a dismissive glance. "Do I?"

Anne stepped closer, "I've taken down bigger and better than you, pal. I am the gal that decked Timmus Longstirng, and won the Dragon Race at the Tourney. So, do not try dismissing me or thinking I cannot read Fae…. I've been trained by the best."

Phineas looked at her, his eyes hardened. "Are you challenging me, mortal?"

"Warning you, pal! Just warning you. You don't want to get the horn, don't fuck with the bull." Anne turned her back on the man and walked toward her betrothed.

Ryan watched the reaction of the Fae Healer. "You pissed him off good." He commented to the redhead as she placed her hand on his arm.

"He pissed me off first." She smiled.

"Line in the sand, Anne?" Ryan asked cautiously.

"OH yeah. Definitely." She looked over her shoulder at the man now staring again at Sarah. "And I think we need to warn our King and his consort."

"Agreed." Giles said as he and his wife came to stand with the Paladin and his lady.

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The guests had begun to retire for the night. Quinn kept the Jareth act up, but was getting tired, and Sarah could see the strain beginning to show. She suggested a walk in the garden, knowing they could find a spot for Quinn to drop the glamour. Without hesitation, he took her up on the suggestion. They headed to the familiar haunt of the arbor. Once covered by its foliage, Quinn dropped to a bench.

"Thank you, Sarah." He said in the voice was totally Quinn.

Sarah sat down beside the shattered soul the two-made one. "No problem, Quinn."

He looked at her, smiled softly. "You say the name with such ease."

"It's your name." She said quietly. "It must be hard to answer to the other name."

"Not hard at all," He stretched out his long lean legs. "Not when you've lived in each other's head all your life, as we have."

"Not a way I'd like to live." She teased.

"We know no other way." The voice was like hearing stereo. "We have always drawn from each other. Always been there for the other."

"Closer than twins you said." Sarah reminded him. "I think I'm beginning to understand that statement…. Now there is a frightening thought! ME understanding BOTH of YOU."

Quinn reached out a crooked gloved finger, and stroked her cheek. "That thought does not frighten us…it pleases us."

"There are some it's not going to please." She whispered sadly. "Quinn, you were not pleased originally with Jareth's choice. You think other Fae will not have objections. First I was 'That mortal girl' then I was 'The girl who ate the peach' and now I am a known daughter of a Nephilim…. I think that will not sit well with some at all."

"We don't care how it sits with others. It sits just fine with us." Quinn moved his hand to her throat. "Baby."

"Don't call me Baby!" she growled. "Do I look like a baby to you?"

Quinn hearing Jareth smiled softly; "You look like the babe…."

"What babe?" Sarah asked.

"The Babe with the power." Quinn moved closer.

Sarah closed her eyes; "I've heard this before!"

"And you'll hear it again." Quinn promised. "And someday, Sarah, you'll accept it." A voice deep within whispered. 'Just as you are learning to, eh brother?' Quinn drew her closer. "All things in good time, Sarah."

Sarah looked at him; "You look better."

Quinn nodded. "I had a extra protection up…I don't trust the Healer either. And I know him."

"He was at your birth…" Sarah frowned. "I still don't understand that whole shattered soul business."

"Someone played God, dear." Quinn frowned. "Had there been no intervention, there would have been one son…one soul…. One…Goblin King." He stood up. "Come, I sense our Champions need us."

"Great…game face…" Sarah rose to her feet and tried to look placid.

Quinn held Sarah's hand as they entered the dining hall; Giles came to their side. "We need have words." He said solemnly. "But not here, we need safe haven."

Quinn nodded, motioned the others to form a circle around him and in the wink of an eye, they were transported to the tunnels beneath the Labyrinth. "This is the most privet place I can take us to. Even the seers can not see us here." With a wave of his hand, seats were provided. "Shall we be comfortable?" Along with the Champions, Quinn had brought along Celestia. He valued her insights as much as her husband did.

Giles spoke first. "Healer Phineas is going to be trouble."

"Is trouble." Anne corrected.

"Noted." The King said in agreement with the observation.

"He reacted when you mentioned the visit from Hawthorne." Ryan stated. "He reacted badly."

"He was worse when you rejected his request for a private word." Anne said. "He was looking daggers at Sarah…oh and he does not like mortals very much either."

Quinn winced. "He's Xenophobic." He looked at Sarah, and shrugged.

"You think the High King is aware of this?" She asked.

"Father could be…he likes to weed out the bad seeds every now and then." Quinn answered mulling it over. "Father is very fond of Mortals…. Has had very passionate relations with a few…"

"EWWWWWWWWW" Anne said loudly. "I don't want to know."

Quinn snickered. "Sorry, my Lady." He wore a very pleased look at having grossed out the Lady Anne.

Ryan looked at Giles. "What about that other guy…the Bard?"

Giles shrugged. "He and his wife seem genuine enough."

Quinn quietly stated. "The Bard was witness to our birth…and recorded it. He has been the official Bard for us since then."

Sarah leaned closer, "For both of you?" She asked quietly.

Quinn nodded. "Yes."

"And you think he's on our side?" She looked at him.

"I'd wager on it." He stated.

Ryan sighed. "What do we do about Phineas?"

Quinn stood up and looked at his champions and friends. "We give the bastard enough rope to hang himself with."