Chapter 39.

"Who gave her the prophecy?" Sarah asked, not wanting to think of Elise at all. "Who was the prophecy given to in the first place?" She looked at the faces watching her. "It had to come from somewhere. So who had it, who voiced it?"

Cairbre shook his head; "Nothing is written of where it came from only that it was in the keeping of Oberon's daughter Elise."

Anne watched Sarah. "What are you thinking?" She knew the girl had good instincts.

"I would really rather keep her out of this if possible." Sarah admitted.

"Because of Robin?" Anne asked almost coldly.

"Yes," Sarah said quickly. "Because of Robin."

Quinn looked at the consort, "Just what did that brat do to you?"

Sarah laughed with tears in her eyes. "Where would you like me to start? He tried to take the chalice of Arthur! Tried to trick us into finding it for him, and if that was not enough he wanted a book a dark book of magic… then he set a Minotaure on us! Took me captive and threatened me with every vile medieval torture ever thought up! And then he hurt Meep!" She was nearly rasping when she finished.

"Elise spoiled that kid rotten!" Quinn exhaled in a growl.

"She tried to bribe Jareth when she was called on the carpet over Robin's behavior." Anne injected.

Quinn rolled his eyes. "She would." He held a hand out to the consort. "If at all possible we should try and find a way to not have either of them involved."

Giles cleared his throat, "Sire, what kind of terms were you on with her husband?"

"Jett Zaker?" Quinn shrugged. "About the same as Jareth I'd say. He was always polite and cordial with us. Truth be told we rather pitied him being married to our sister."

"Do you think Jett would know anything about this?" Sarah asked, remembering the cool reception the Fae had given the mortals who had bested his son.

"He may." Quinn said. "There's only one way to find out, we have to go back to Avalon and ask him."

"Couldn't we just invite him here?" Sarah moaned.

Quinn understood her reluctance to step foot in the halls of his father's palace. "If there's more to this, then it could be in her…rooms." He said. He looked at the Bard. "Keep working on this, and we'll be back as soon as we can."

Sarah groaned. "Court dress? Or Mystics costume?"

Quinn looked at the Bard, "You choose…left to me, its going to be the scanty outfit."

"Court dress." Cairbre said softly.

Quinn winked at Sarah. "That little number you wore when we first met." He wave his hand and she was in the midnight blue gown, and her hair looked wild like his. He too had changed into the Regalia.

Sarah looked up at her hair. "Was that necessary?"

"It will scare off females on the make." Quinn teased. "They take one look at us, and poof! Away they will go."

"You and your brother both have warped senses of humor!" Was the last thing the assembled group heard as the pair faded from view.

Anne tossed the chalk she had been holding the whole time. "I almost pity Quinn; having to deal with any of that Zaker clan!"

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They appeared outside the entry, as was the custom. The Goblin King extended his hand and she placed her over it. Regally they entered the great hall, only to be welcomed by worried whispers. A Fae footman rushed forward.

"Goblin King, we did not expect you." He said bowing.

"Raker, I'm looking for Jett Zaker." Quinn said softly. "Is he about?"

"To be sure, my Lord." The footman stood up. "I believe he is in attendance on the High King." The little Fae man motioned them to follow him. "They are nearly done with the meeting. If you'll come with me, I'll have Master Zaker join you in the solarium." He opened doors to a huge crystal chamber filled with exotic plants. "I'll just have some refreshments brought into you."

Sarah looked at the room, complete with a waterfall. "He never does anything small does he?"

"Father?" Quinn asked looking around the room as if for the first time. "No, he doesn't. You should see when he's wooing a woman…talk about overboard."

"So that's where you and Jareth get it from?" Sarah suggested sweetly.

Quinn winked. "We learned from a true master! The Best!" He strolled to where she stood before the waterfall. His gloved hands moved to her waist. "Am I hearing complaints?"

"No." She sighed. "Never."

"Maybe we should find a waterfall back home…you look splendid beside one." The King teased.

Sarah inclined her head as servants entered the room discreetly, and placed tea on a tea table. "I wonder how long we'll be kept waiting."

"What was your assessment of Zaker?" Quinn asked as they walked to the tea table.

"He didn't care for humans." Sarah stated honestly. She poured tea for Quinn and then for herself. "He also didn't seem to be very fond of Robin."

Quinn closed his eyes; "He comes."

"How do you do that?" Sarah watched, as he became very formal.

"Years of court etiquette and protocol." He said taking a courtly stance.

"Jareth didn't use it very often." Sarah warned.

"Zaker knows that we've been merged." He said.

The doors opened and Master Jett Zaker coolly strolled into the solarium. "I understand you wished to see me, Goblin King." He then looked at Sarah. "Ah, you bring the moral with you. Hello, Miss Williams." Coming closer, he stopped even before extending a hand to her. He looked at the King; "I sense Fae blood."

"Sarah is descended from a Fallen." Quinn stated coolly.

Jett lowered his thick lashes over his dark eyes. "Daughter of the Fallen."

"You know the prophecy." Sarah gasped.

"I know of it." Jett stated shortly. "So the great silence has begun?"

Quinn nodded. "It has."

Jett took a seat. "What brings you to me?"

"Elise had part of the prophecy in her keeping. We think she released only part of it." Quinn stated firmly. "Are you aware of her keeping it?"

"Who was not?" Jett said in exasperation. "She boasted of having been Chosen!" He frowned. "Your sister was not always pleasant, even less when she had something to lord over the rest of us." He flicked imagined dust from his cuff and the fancy lace there. "It was a great relief to many of us when your father had her incarcerated."

"Have you been in touch with her?" Sarah asked.

Jett snorted, "In touch with her?" He looked at the Goblin King. "Surely you know the punishment decreed." He looked back at Sarah, assessing her. "You didn't tell your little…consort?"

"Jett there's no need to be rude." Quinn warned softly. "Sarah is still new to our ways. We thought it best to acclimate her slowly."

Jett let his eyes travel over her. "I see you dress her as one of us." The Fae man did not hide his appreciation of Sarah's figure. He then looked back at the King. "I have heard that you are …fully marked, congratulations." Then back at Sarah. "Yes, congratulations…. She is a lovely thing…"

Quinn pinched the bridge of his nose, "Jett, must you resort to being unpleasant?"

Sarah whispered. "How was Elise punished?"

Jett stood up, "Come…I'll show you."

"She's here?" Sarah turned to Quinn, but it was Jett who answered her.

"In a manner of speaking, yes…she's here." HE motioned the woman to follow him. He left the grand crystal room and turned to the left, taking a path he entered a private garden. He walked straight toward a beautiful crystal statue. It was magnificent in every detail, from the lovely face to the folds of the court robes.

Sarah looked at the man, "I don't understand…what does this statue have to do with Elise's punishment?"

"This is Elise's punishment." the Fae man taunted. "This is Elise." He looked up at his wife. "Captured here in Crystal." Jett placed a hand under the chin of the statue. "In all her radiant beauty."

Sarah backed away. "Oh my God. That's… barbaric!" She looked at Quinn. "How could Oberon do that to his own daughter?"

"It was a far better fate than the one she had in mind for Jareth and Quinn." Jett stated looking pleased at the statue. "Here she stands, forever captured in crystal…and forever knowing."

"Knowing?" Sarah began to feel her knees buckle under her. Her voice sounded frail suddenly.

"Of course knowing." Jett said calmly. "The pushisment serves as a warning to others who would dare such stupidity."

Sarah looked away, turning her back on the lovely face in crystal.

Quinn sighed. "Jett, did you share chambers with my sister?"

"Nicely put." Jett sighed. "Yes, we shared chambers if not always a bed."

Sarah's head snapped to attention. "She was unfaithful?"

Jett was taking pleasure in Sarah's discomfort. "Like father like daughter, in this case. The little whore never even made a pretense at being faithful. Long before the ink dried on the contract of marriage, she had taken a long line of lovers to her bed. I've reason to believe that the whelp is not even mine." He looked at Sarah with licentiousness. "Are you planning on being a 'faithful wife'?"

"Of course I am." Sarah spat at him.

"How droll. I stopped pretending at fidelity after the second century." He said insultingly. "Turning a blind eye is easy once you start. If you should ever change your mind, little one...let me know. I'd be more than happy to console so innocent a convert."

Quinn stepped between them. "Move it or lose it!" He said curtly. "The woman is mine."

Jett snorted. "Yours? Which one? Whom am I addressing?"

The eyes of the Goblin King flashed and his nostrils flared. "Which one do you think?"

Jett examined the man before him. "Quinn of Tarsi, the darker… more dangerous half." He stepped back a pace. "Yours…guard her well."

Quinn glared at his sister's husband. "I want access to your quarters."

"By all means." He said amicably. "Go right ahead, I'll join you there in a few moments."

Quinn took Sarah's arm and quickly led her back toward the palace. A sound caught their attention. Sarah whispered tersely. "Is he pissing on that statue?"

"I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised." Quinn grumbled as he walked Sarah out of the garden.

"That's gross!"