Chapter 24.
Sarah looked at the door of the King's chamber, paused, thought of reaching out, but went on to her own rooms instead. After her maid had changed her garments and departed. Sarah went to her balcony to sit. She looked at the tiny bird that made its home here. Listening to its sweet song, she put to rest the anger of the day.
Sarah sat quietly in the breakfast room; Anne and Ryan had been the only ones who opted for a morning ride. She was alone in the room when Quinn came in looking ragged and pained. He looked at her and she at him. Sarah walked over to him with a cup of coffee. "You look awful, poor baby."
Quinn drank down the coffee, then turned to her. "Sarah, I'm sorry…I was wrong…"
"No, I was." She placed her hand on his sleeve. "You are the King of this kingdom…and protocol was not being observed because I was being pigheaded."
Quinn took her face into his hands. "Listen to me, I don't care…I don't care if you put Hawthorne and his daughter out in the bog!" He whispered. "I should have heard what you were saying…all I was thinking about was…how it would look. I didn't think about how it felt to you…I'm sorry."
"I didn't think about how it looked…. How it would be perceived. Karen put me straight, and we fixed the seating." She handed him the readjusted seating chart. "Now no one can complain."
Quinn looked at the chart. "Bless Karen…Will you forgive me?"
"Sure, Quinn…everyone gets at least one free pass." She teased as her hand ran up his sleeve.
He smiled. "Unless you're a green eyed beauty, then the passes seem to be limitless." He handed her back the seating chart. "I think you're doing a wonderful job planning out our friends wedding."
Sarah blushed, "Thank you, Sire."
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The next twenty-four hours went more swiftly than any other's Sarah had ever known. Last minute arrangements and alterations kept Sarah, Anne, and Karen busy. Even Celestia was drawn into the busy work of keeping things on a even keel.
The King looked at everyone as the midday meal was being cleared away. "There's an old tradition here, one I think should be kept. The Groom, is kept away from the Bride until they see each other at the ceremony."
Anne barked at him. "So help me! If you are suggesting a stag party…"
"He is taken to a lodge by his companions, and is wined and dined there." The Quinn raised a gloved hand to silence her. "There's no hanky panky… just good friends and good times remembered."
"And what does the Bride do?" Anne crossed her arms.
Sarah placed a hand over her friend's arm. "She has diner with her closest female friends and stays at peace."
Anne looked at her, "At peace?"
"I've your diner planed." Sarah said. "Just you, me, Karen and Celestia…no outsiders."
Anne looked at her, "Go on."
"How does an evening of Dragon song hit you?" Sarah asked sweetly.
"Oh you know me so well!" Anne looked at Ryan. "See you tomorrow pal."
"Yeah you'll know me. I'll be the guy with the knees knocking." He kissed his beloved and was taken away by the King.
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A carriage took them over the countryside to the King's lodge. It was set on a high hillside, overlooking a quiet part of the Kingdom. Quinn had food and wine sent on ahead, and a few of the Elf servants to serve them. Apollo stayed at the castle to see to the Bride's dinner.
Quinn poured a small portion of wine for each of them. "I purpose a toast." He said clearly. "To Anne, who makes our friend here so happy."
The three others raised their glasses in toasting the Bride as well.
Ryan looked around the lodge, "I don't remember being here before."
"We didn't use it often," the King said quietly.
The Paladin lowered his glass, "WE?" He looked at the doleful expression his King wore. "You and Quinn?" The King placed his glass on the table, crossed his arms and nodded. Ryan pressed on quietly. "This was a place you'd come to with your brother? A hunting lodge?"
"We never used it for hunting." The King said firmly. "After all, when one has to hunt down the wished away, hunting other things seems…trivial." Mismatched eyes darkened. "We used this place to confer on matters that concerned our Kingdom and the Isle. It was our place of solace, and healing. It was our refuge."
Giles looked around the dining area, then at the King. "It is peaceful still, Sire."
Robert took a seat, "It's the kind of place that sets one at ease."
Quinn nodded. "We thought so." He raised his glass, "To peace."
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Apollo had seen to the Bride's meal himself. Knowing that the Bride would be nervous, he kept the foods light and softly seasoned.
When the meal was cleared away, Sarah invited the others to come down to the Wyrn. The walk over to the area where the Dragons were housed was pleasant. The sun had set on the Kingdom and the night sounds filled the air.
Karen had never seen the dragons, and was a giddy as a child. She asked a million questions on the walk over. Stopping only when she saw the great dragon that stood at the entrance of the Wyrn. "My God…it is a Dragon." She muttered.
Sarah smiled, "Good evening, Angus." She greeted the Dragon Lord. "I'd like to introduce my stepmother, Karen Williams. Karen this is Lord Angus, Sire of the clutch here."
Angus looked at the woman standing with her mouth agape, "Greetings, and welcome." He said at last.
Karen moved closer, "Pardon my stare." Her voice was timid. "I've never seen a dragon before."
The Dragon Lord understood her uneasiness and soothed her nerves. "Aye, we've not been in yer world for a long time. Be at ease, dear lady. Ye are under the protection of the Mystic Sarah. And ye are welcome here." The Dragon turned and led the way into the caravan where the other dragons had gathered. "Since this is a special evening, we've chosen to sing for you the mating songs."
The grooms showed the ladies seats, and the Dragons began to sing.
Anne closed her eyes, listening to the blending voices. Karen took hold of Sarah's hand in the excitement and squeezed. "This is wonderful."
Celestia sat beside Anne, and smiled softly as the many voices of dragons filled the echoing chamber. The end of the performance enchanted all four women by the blending of dragon voices. Sarah rose and thanked the master of the Wyrn. The four women then crossed back to the castle. Each bid the bride sweet dreams then went off to her own bed to sleep.
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Solea had been watching Sarah and the bridal party, she even found herself singing softly along with the dragon song. Her husband was seated on the other side of the Scrying Pool, watching the shattered soul and the groom's party. He looked up when he heard his wife's voice. Seeing that the men were quietly reminiscing, he changed his focus, and brought up an image in the pool. The image was of the Healer Phineas pacing in the Healers chamber.
"He's plotting something…something evil." Cairbre stated.
Solea left the images of the women to join her husband. "Yes, dear, but what? The shattered soul refuses his efforts to get him alone."
"He has to be the one who told Hawthorne that Jareth keeps Nephilim." The Bard heaved a sigh. "He has been most disagreeable this entire visit. And the few times Sarah and the King have allowed him to question them always ends with Sarah storming out of the room."
"At least the champions are watching and weary of him." Solea placed her hand supportively on her husband's shoulder. "With all of us watching, perhaps his plans will be foiled."
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The Groom's party returned to the castle just before mid morning the day of the wedding. Giles took Ryan to a preparation chamber. Robert took his leave of the King and went to his chambers to make sure that things were in order. The King walked toward his throne room, only to be intercepted by the High Court Healer.
"A word, Sire." The Healer held up his hand to halt the other.
"I really don't have time for this today, Phineas." Quinn tried to pass the man.
A hand gripped the arm of the two-made one. "Make time, boy!" the voice was angry and filled with infatuation. "I will not be put off any longer, Quinn."
The King looked at the hand gripping his arm, "You forget yourself, do you not?"
"You forget yourself, Quinn." The healer growled back.
"What do you want?" Quinn asked trying to keep a level head.
The healer, thinking he had the upper hand, smiled coldly. "Come with me, what I have to say is for your ears alone." He focused and a moment later they were in the heart of the tunnels below the Labyrinth. "Is that brother of yours aware of us?"
"Jareth rests," Quinn said smoothly.
"Good. What I have to say if for you alone…not him." The healer shook his head. "I didn't intervene to have all my efforts tossed aside. You were always the stronger of the two sides of the soul. Yours is the power that should rule. You must bury the past! Bury the one time Goblin King deep down so he can never emerge again."
"You're insane!" Quinn shouted. "Jareth is the King…I sacrificed everything to save him…now you want me to just bury him…. Trapped in a living hell?"
"You are now Jareth…" Phineas smirked coldly. "You have the throne that should always have been yours Quinn. Take the power! Use it. Be the King…"
Quinn closed his eyes, he felt the old resentments rise. "No." he said.
"Let your first act of Kingship be the denouncing of the Mystic Sarah. You should have a Queen that is purely Fae…not tainted Nephilim spawn." Phineas' eyes were wild with excitement. "There are Fae women in each of the five kingdoms who would be more than glad to share your throne…Think about it Quinn! Why in all this time have you not bonded to the woman…. She is not worthy of you! She was Jareth's choice in a moment of weakness. She would never be your choice." Phineas turned the younger Fae to face him. "I saved you…. I saw that you were strong… I saw to it that you were safe…don't fail me now."
Quinn looked at the Healer. "You've…given me much to …think on." He pulled away. "There is a wedding to prepare for."
Phineas nodded, "And many a Fae woman to greet…look upon them, see them…and turn your back on the Nephilim spawn."
Quinn left the Healer, feeling as if he had just been in a battle. His mind filled with the healer's voice. The old resentments and new ones as well plagued Quinn as he walked toward the bedchamber of the King. Opening the door, he found the dog waiting for him. He sat on the bed and the hairy hound came to his side. The gentle beast looked at him with eyes full of pity, and placed his paw on the lean leg. Quinn reached down, and stroked the faithful hound.
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Tári dressed Sarah's hair, over two years she had mastered finding new and exciting ways of dressing the long healthy hair of the mystic. "All the Kingdom is overjoyed today, my Lady." She said in a happy voice.
"Yes, we are all happy for Ryan and Anne." Sarah agreed looking approvingly into her mirror.
"Aye, but it the thought that in a few months time you will wed the King that also fills the Kingdom with joy." Tári gushed on.
Sarah felt her heart pound; she was going to be the next bride. "Yes…well…we must think only of Ryan and Anne today."
"Already guest are beginning to arrive." Tári announced.
"So soon?" Sarah winced. "I thought we'd have more time without outsiders."
The maid shrugged. "It is a state wedding, ma'am." She laced a ribbon encrusted with crystals though Sarah's curls. "It was so nice of the Bridal couple to include your little brother in the ceremony."
Sarah thought of her brother walking up the isle holding the rings on the pillow. He had done so well at the rehearsal; he had not been nervous or scared. "Yes, it was very nice…And he seems ever so pleased. He said he does not even mind having to dress up."
The maid survived her handy work. "What a shame all eyes will be on the Bride today…You look radiant, Lady Sarah." The maid went to get the new gown that Sarah was to wear.
Sarah quietly thought she was glad the eyes would be on Anne. She was not sure she could handle too many prying eyes just now.
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Quinn had left the King's bedchamber, and wandered down to the rooms locked up for two years now. He opened the chamber door and stepped in. Not since he had merged with Jareth had he been in here. He had ordered that the rooms be left as they were and locked. Nothing had been touched; even the drapes were still pulled shut, as they had been when he had left the rooms that last time.
He looked at the garments laid out on the bed, his handsome purple jacket beckoned to him. Lifting it off the bed, he held it close. This was his…this was him…this was …not helping. About to drop the garment, his hand felt something. Looking down he saw the crystal spider. So much a part of his existence his very essence. Slowly he removed the pin and let the coat drop. He turned the pin repeatedly in his fingers, haunted, taunted and mesmerized. This was his, this was him, Lord Quinn of Tarsi. Jareth slept deep in the deepest recesses of their soul. He gave one long last look at the chamber, slid the crystal spider into his tunic and left.