Chapter 37.
Quinn watched Sarah as she spoke to her parents during dinner. 'Jareth.' He called softly to the other. 'I hope you know what you've asked of us.' He excused himself abruptly.
Sarah looked up. "A summons?"
"Yes." He moved toward the door, surprised that she followed.
Her hand gripped his arm. "Have there been many since the Tourney?" She asked fearfully.
"A few." He said softly. Searching her face, he understood. "No, none like the summons Elise caused."
"So you've taken on that task." She saw the horde coming.
Quinn took her face into his hands, kissed he as if bidding her farewell. "I am the Goblin King." He reminded her.
"Be careful." She begged, kissing him back.
"Wait up for me." He asked. "I want to talk."
She nodded and watched him change into the Regalia and vanish. Turning to look back at the dining room, she wondered what to say. When she returned to her seat, Robert directed the discussion the subject of where the Goblin King had gone was not discussed.
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Servants brought the evening meal into the War-room. Anne stood staring at the words as the meal was laid out. Ryan came to stand behind her. "Well wife?"
She looked at him, then sighed. "Wife…that sounds so nice. So normal."
Ryan put hands on her shoulders. "Sweetheart, when we signed up for this we both knew 'normal' was not part of the bargain."
"I know." She huffed.
Solea poured the water goblets. "You can never complain of a dull life, Anne."
Cairbre was seated and still writing. "Give me one moment and I'll be ready for dinner."
Giles took his customary seat. "Take your time Bard."
Ryan heard a tapping at the door; Celestia was standing there. Ryan waved her in. She moved quickly to her husband's side.
The Bard cleared his scroll. "Done, where's dinner? Ah Celestia, how wonderful of you to join us."
Solea motioned the servants to begin laying food on the table. She then took her seat beside her husband. "Well, after a good meal we can review what we've learned."
"You sound like a teacher." Ryan teased.
The meal would have seemed perfectly normal, had it not been for the fact that the King was not present. Halfway though the meal the alarms went off and Anne's face bleached. "That's the Summons….but who…is going to answer it?"
Giles sipped his water, "The same person who's been answering them since the Tourney Anne. The Goblin King."
Anne opened her mouth and snapped it shut. Her face registered her inner battle.
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Sarah had kissed her parents and siblings goodnight. She had gone down to the garden and the arbor. Several hours had past and she found herself wondering just what happened when a Summons occurred. She returned to the Castle, saw that there was still activity in the War-room and chose not to join in. Instead, she walked into the throne room.
"You should go to bed." Meep said from above her.
"No, I'm waiting up for …the King."
Meep shook his head; "You can't do anything for him."
"I promised I'd wait for him." She said.
"It could be hours," the Pixie warned. "Go to bed Sarah."
"No." she said taking a seat in the throne. She looked the Pixie. "You can go if you want."
"And leave you here alone with him?" gasped the Pixie. "No way."
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It was well after midnight when the Bard suggested calling it a night. He and his wife went off though the passage to their rooms. Anne and Ryan, along with Celestia and Giles headed for the Royal apartments. Giles noticed Sarah sitting in the throne room, he excused himself and went to where the Mystic sat alone.
"Sarah, what are you doing here alone?"
Pointing to the Pixie, she said. "I'm not alone. I am waiting for the King. He asked me to."
Giles nodded. "I see. It may take some time. It often does." He bowed to her. "If you need anything, let me know."
"Thank you Giles, goodnight." She pulled her feet up and tried to find a comfortable spot. Gradually her eyes closed and she fell into dreamless sleep. Meep moved closer to the girl and soon he too was asleep as he curled up in the rams' horns over the throne.
Quinn handed the child he had collected over to the nursery of the castle. He sent the horde off to their beds and wandered back down the corridors that would lead to the throne room and the stairs to his chambers. He saw the girl first, then the Pixie. Quietly, so not to disturb either he ventured closer. Carefully he removed the girl from the throne while the Pixie slept on. Quinn, cradling the sleeping girl transported them in a flash to the bedchamber of the Goblin King. Merlin looked up from the bed and cocked his big head to one side. Quinn placed the girl down next to the dog and curled up beside her.
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Sarah heard the panting of the dog, felt his heavy body pressed up against her on one side. That was familiar, what was not, was the feeling of a warm body pressed along side hers on the other side, and the arm encircling her. She blinked her eyes, and did not recognize anything in the room. Shifting slightly, she turned to look at the man sleeping beside her.
Her movement awoke the man, mismatched eyes opened and looked at her with contentment. "Good morning." He whispered.
"Is it?" she asked.
Quinn closed his eyes and pulled her closer, "Your virtue is still intact." He muttered.
Sarah smiled, then whispered. "Why?"
The mismatched eyes opened and the man smiled. "Vixen." He accused.
Sarah giggled, "I should go to my own room and get ready for the day ahead."
Strong arms encircled her. "Not just yet." He argued sweetly. "Just a few more moments of this bliss, if you please."
Sarah did not struggle. "Hard night at the office dear?" she put on a sympathetic voice.
Quinn snickered then played along. "Yes, darling, you know how it is."
"Poor baby." She cooed. "Must be some way we can make you feel better."
Rolling over, pinning her under him he whispered, "There is…." His lips took hers, and the tip of his tongue slid over hers teasing her. When her mouth opened to him, he did not question it; he took the offered opportunity and entry. Moments later she was breathless, as he began to explore her with his hands. "My brother is a fool." He growled. "Count your blessings it was not me that first night."
"Blessings?" she moaned.
Raising his head, Quinn looked her in the eye. "Were it I that night, you'd be the mother of three by now."
"Talk like that is going to upset Meep." She warned.
"But the little bugger's not here, now is he?" Quinn snickered evilly.
"I could yell for him." Sarah suggested.
"Not with my mouth over yours." He said in a sing song voice bringing his face back down on hers. His mouth tenderly touched hers, not surprisingly, she responded. Quinn rolled back to his side. "Thank you for trying to stay up for me."
"I use to wonder what Jareth did when he'd return from a…summons." Sarah looked at Quinn. "It would seem there's a lot I don't know about the Goblin King."
Sitting up in the bed, he looked down at her. "You are going to be a very good Queen." He assured her. "You've grown beyond that brat stage you were in when my brother met me."
Sarah winced, "Brat?" she sat up. "And just what do you know about it? You weren't there!"
The Fae man sighed, "Part of me was Sarah."
"What?" she looked confused.
Quinn shrugged. "Jareth and I were always…connected… shared thoughts, feelings, emotions… and even to some extent shared experiences."
"You said that the snake was your idea…" Sarah whispered, "How much of my experience in the Labyrinth was your doing?"
"Bits and pieces." He admitted. "Even now I'm just finding out which ones." He reached over her to pat the dog. "Things I thought I knew, I find I'm not sure of." A smile crossed his face as he gave attention to the hairy beast in the bed with them.
"Merlin likes you." Sarah noted.
"I like him, he is a grand dog. Good company." Quinn said lightly.
"I always thought so." Sarah also ruffled the hair on the dog.
Mismatched eyes sought hers. "Are you ready to face the others?"
Sarah nodded, "I think I'd best run along to my room and change." She crawled past the man and placed her feet on the floor. "Will you be coming?" she asked.
"Soon," He promised. He watched her go though the door to her chamber, shifting his position on the bed. "Merlin, remind me not to do that again…" He groaned as the ache he had been experiencing eased a bit. "Quinnie, that was not one of your better ideas…." He snickered at himself and the discomfort he was in. 'Jareth, how is it you never once tried to bed that wench?'