Chapter 45.

Anne looked up as the pair came walking into the War-room; she tamped down the fires. 'Not now, it's not time.' She told herself as she stood up and bowed to the King.

Quinn sensed the battle going on, but chose wisely not to address it just yet. "You sent for us?" he asked Cairbre.

"Sire, it would seem we've found inconsistencies." He motioned to the Court Scribe. "Lady Anne believes that there's a pattern and a missing piece."

Quinn looked at the board then to Anne. "What pattern, Anne?"

"All the portions that were known were in the hands of a Water, a Earth and Air Spirit." Anne pointed to the board. "We've placed the symbols next to the portions that are known."

Quinn looked at the board. "Jareth was right about you, young woman. You are brilliant!"

"Thank you…both of you." Anne said smartly as she plopped down on the tabletop facing the board. "It's still messy…but I think it's getting clearer." She let her feet dangle.

Sarah looked at the board, something about some of the words were vaguely familiar, troubling so.

The Bard pointed to a few lines of the new portion. "We know that the meeting of the elements had to do with the wedding…it was more or less a conclave."

Quinn nudged Anne. "That makes you the fox and Ryan the Raven."

Anne nodded. "Well the Raven was his symbol back when we started LARPing. He even had it on his original shield."

Sarah looked at the words. "This is all that was in the packet? Are you sure?"

"Yeah I'm sure." Anne waved her hand at the papers behind her on the table. "Look for yourself." Anne looked at Quinn. "We think the other part has to be held by a Fire Spirit."

"Makes sense." Quinn said confidently. "They never trust a entire prophecy to any one person or group. Mother Universe and her minions I mean."

Anne huffed, "Yeah, why make it easy on the hired help deciphering?"

Quinn put a hand on her shoulder. "Anne, Jareth would really appreciate this. As do I."

Anne did not look but patted the hand. "Anytime, Sire."

"Dances the sword in dreams and mist, lost and forsaken, truth long hidden in the ancient dream." Sarah whispered racking her brain. "I know that…where do I know that from?" she muttered to herself.

Cairbre stood by the board. "It reads more like a ballad then a prophecy."

Sarah looked at the Bard. "Ballad…that's it…a ballad… but which one...?" she was still muttering to herself.

Quinn looked at her. "Something wrong dear?" When the girl shook her head, he looked at the Bard and the Scribe. "So where do we look for the next clue?"

"Fire Spirit. We were assuming you'd have an idea of whom." Anne said.

The Fae King began to pace. "Old or young?" He asked.

Cairbre watched the Mystic, nudging his wife they ventured closer. "What is it?"

"I know this…" She grumbled. "I just can't place it."

The Bard frowned. "You know the words of the prophecy?"

"No….words like it." Sarah scratched her head. "Where did I hear this?"

Anne and Quinn paused in their discourse, and both looked at Sarah struggling. Quinn moved away from the Scribe and to his Mystic. "Sarah?"

"Dances the sword in dreams and mist, lost and forsaken, truth long hidden in the ancient dream." The Mystic repeated. "I know that phrase." Sarah closed her eyes… went deep into her memories. "she who sees beyond.." Sarah sang softly. "held the key to winning the Last Battle." Sarah opened her eyes. "I know this..." she paced. "I can't remember from where."

"A book, like one of Robins?" Asked the bard suddenly more than interested, he was astounded. "Sounds like something he'd do."

"No…it was a song… a song I heard when I was a child." Sarah paced. "Who sang that song?" Her face went blank as she stopped. "My grandmother."

"Your grandmother sang about dancing with a sword in dreams and mists?" The bard's voice held more emotions then he'd ever revealed. "Robert's mother?"

Sarah looked perplexed as she kept looking at the words seeking the memory. "Who? No! Not my father 's mother…my Granny on my mom's side."

Solea placed a hand on her husbands arm. "Your mother's mother?"

Nodding Sarah moved closer to the board. "It's as if I could hear her, but I can't remember the words….I remember the music…the notes and all…but… the words fail me."

Quinn was at her ear. "Where do we find your grandmother?"

Sarah looked at him, "You don't…she died the year after Linda left Daddy."

Quinn looked at the Bard, they were both thinking the same thought. A thought neither wanted to voice. Solea, accustomed to her husbands thoughts turned and looked a Sarah with a look that seemed full of pity. Quinn was about to speak when Anne said the words first.

"Would Linda know that old song?"

Breathing a sigh of relief, Quinn awaited Sarah's answer. Sarah looked at her friend. "What?"

"I said would your mother know that song?" Anne snapped her fingers toward the Mystic. "Sarah, pay attention…Stay focused on what we're talking about."

"Oh," The Mystic shook her head. "Yes, I think she might." She shrugged. "Doesn't do us any good…Linda and Jeremy are on a shoot in the Yucatan."

"I suppose popping in and out is out of the question." Quinn said.

"You bet it's out of the question." Sarah snapped. "Popping in on her in her London flat would be one thing. We could get away with a quick visit to introduce the heart throb to her…but not in the Yucatan."

"When do they get back from this shoot?" Quinn asked carefully.

"End of July." Sarah said offhandedly. "Mother likes to make sure I know where she is if I ever need her. I've got her whole summer schedule committed to memory."

Pointing to the chalkboard, Quinn said. "See what you can make out of that part of the prophecy… We'll have to wait until the end of next month to confront Lady Linda."

"Confront?" Sarah's reverie ended abruptly. "What do you mean confront?"

She grabbed hold of Quinn's arm.

"Just what I said." He put on the haughty manner of the Goblin King. "We need to get the rest of this prophecy, Sarah. And if your mother holds the key, we need to confront her."

"I don't like the way you say that, Sire!" Sarah said raising her chin. "I will not allow you to do harm to my mother."

"Who said anything about harm?" The Fae asked.

Cairbre cleared his throat. "If I may interject here. Lady Sarah, it's clear you're the child of mixed blood. Your mother may or may not be aware of it, and of the old prophecy. Things like that are handed down in families…usually Mother to Daughter."

"And if she does have the words?" She looked at Quinn.

"She comes here."

Sarah didn't like the answer, " And if she doesn't?"

Quinn raised a brow. "She comes here anyway." He moved a few paces back from the Mystic. "She will be dealt with no matter what."

"She's got a life of her own, Sire." Warned the Mystic fiercely. "She is involved."

Quinn shrugged. "It's of little interest to me, Sarah. She's going to come here one way or another. So resolve yourself to it."

"That's not fair!" Sarah protested. "You have me, you have Toby, and my parents and even little Kerry. Isn't that enough? Leave Linda alone."

"It's out of my hands, Sarah." The Fae King crossed his arms over his chest. "Now especially."

"You can't do this."

A dangerous glint came into the mismatched eyes. "Yes, dear…I can."

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Sarah left the war-room feeling as if she'd been hit by a steamroller. Quinn would not give one inch. He as much as told her so, and there was no way to warn her mother of what was going to be coming her way once she reached England's shores. She didn't join the family for lunch, she went as far from the Castle as she could go without leaving the grounds. Hoggle and Didymus saw her, and seeing her black mood chose not to join her. Ludo even stayed far from her as he saw her stalking the farthest reaches of the palace garden along the wall that led to a part of the Labyrinth. Here the girl took refuge and wept bitter tears.

Anne had been biting her tongue, and was holding back during the mid-day meal. Robert seemed distracted and didn't notice that Sarah was absent. After everyone had eaten and began to exit the room Anne walked over to the King and glared at him.

Quinn looked up at the girl, "Is there something you feel you need to say?"

"Yes," Anne said flatly, then swatted the back of the Kings head with a open hand. "Go find Sarah, you idiot!"

"If Sarah wants to sulk because I have to behave as a king…" He began to defend his position.

Anne was having none of it. "Look, Two mad One….When Sarah Williams goes off like that it spells trouble. I've seen it all…I was in school with her when Mommy Dearest went and left Daddy…I was there when Daddy married Karen without so much as a introduction to his teen daughter. I saw what she did, how she pulled into herself. You don't want that to happen…so go, go grovel!"

Quinn looked like a great truth had just been revealed to him, his face looked shocked. "Oh, you're right, Anne. She does not need trauma right now. I'll go find her."

He drew a crystal, "Show me the girl." He whispered. The foggy crystal cleared, and Quinn recognized the place where Sarah had taken refuge. "We may be some time." He said as he rose from the table.

In the little niche of the wall, Sarah sat with her face buried in her knees. Tears were still falling. Quinn had materialized in the garden, allowing himself a distance to walk. He sat down quietly beside the weeping Mystic. "Sarah, dearest," he whispered.

"I would spare you this pain if I could."

The young woman wiped tears from her cheeks. "I know."

"I have to do what's right for the Kingdom," he kept his voice reasonable. "I am sorry if I was harsh with you."

"I know." She wrung her hands.

"In all rights, I should have dragged her here when I brought Robert and Karen…but I wanted them settled in before I dealt with your mother…" Quinn said trying to sound reasonable.

"I don't blame you for that." Sarah sighed.

"But you do blame me…or rather you blame us, don't you?" Quinn reached out one hand to her.

"I suppose I do." She took the hand.

Placing his arm over her shoulder, Quinn drew her close. He leaned toward her until his head touched hers. "I'm sorry."

"So am I." Sarah sniffed.

"Pax for now?" He requested in a tender voice.

"For now." She agreed.