Chapter 53.

Quinn received the summons just as dinner was ending. He rose from the table without a word. Sarah instinctively understood and followed. He transformed in the hall into the Goblin Regalia. There they awaited the horde that always went with the King of the Goblins on his mission. He looked down at his consort. "You don't have to stay in there and listen to that if you don't wish to, my dear."

"They happen to be my family." She shrugged softly. "I'll get though it. Be careful." She saw the horde come rushing down the hall, laughing and giggling.

"I'll be fine, don't wait up. You have to work on the words of the ballad." Kissing her lightly the Two-made-One then turned and stalked off into a portal.

Sarah remembered the times she'd witnessed Jareth do that and felt the same pangs of misery that always accompanied the memories. She didn't return to the hostile situation in the dining room. Instead she walked though the hall and down to the war-room. On the way she could feel Meep's eyes watching her. "Hello, Meep." She said softly.

"Where you off to?" he asked in a voice that mimicked a child's.

"Going to take a look at the ballad again, want to come along? I'd love the company." She kept walking.

"You would?" He seemed surprised. "I got the feeling you didn't quite like me anymore."

Sarah paused and waited until the little Pixie was close enough that she could look into his almond eyes. "What I don't like is the way you and …the Shattered soul keep making digs at each other."

Meep hung his head for a moment. "Sarah." His voice was full of remorse. "You have to understand. I've known both halves of the Soul. And I get on well with one half, but the other one and I have sort of a running contest of one ups-menship." He looked up from the floor. "We don't mean nothing by it…we don't."

Sarah grimaced. "There are things on this side that I find hard to accept. You two fighting like little kids is one of them."

Meep smiled shyly. "Sarah, we were and sort of still are little kids…together." He shrugged. "We grew up together, and are considered children to older Fae." He then leaned closer. "I'll let you in on a little secret…we all really like each other."

Sarah laughed. "Well it doesn't look like it!" She opened the door to the war-room. "Come on you get to listen to me sing Dragon Song."

Meep sat crossed legged in the air. "Ok. Let's here you belt it out, baby."

Sarah laughed. "No more reading cheap novels for you little buddy."

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Quinn returned much later, making a stop at the healers rooms first. The child who had wished itself away lay in his arms battered and bruised. "Talbot!" he shouted for the healer who came running. Upon seeing the injured child he took care to not upset the poor wee child. Quinn sat with the little one calmly telling him he'd be fine now, and that he was safe. Tears fell as the little one told the healer of his injuries. Once the child was feeling safe, Quinn told him he'd be staying in the infirmary for the night. The child drank a sleeping drought that was given him and soon fell into a healing sleep.

"I don't want him to remember his former life." Quinn said stroking the child's thin hair.

"I will take care of that, Sire." Talbot assured his master.

"Good." Quinn stretched. "I don't know how my brother did this for so long."

Talbot said in quiet tones. "It was a job that had to be done." He then added. "You've done a good job as well."

Quinn shook his head. "No, I'm just filling in." The Fae looked distracted.

"Is something wrong, My Lord?" Talbot asked watching for signs of a malady.

"No…just tired and edgy." Quinn excused his condition. "Angus is hold up in the Wyrn and won't talk to us until we have the words of the Ballad to present to him. Sarah is working on that," He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm just tired. It's not easy being King. I'm going to walk off this edginess then go to bed. Goodnight Talbot."

The Healer watched the Fae. "You heard." He spoke to the one in the shadows.

"Yes."

The Healer bowed his head. "The Battles have begun. Gods help us all."

There was no answer, the unseen had already moved on.

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Quinn found he could not shake the feeling, the edginess he had called it. It was more, but he didn't want to alarm the Healer. He paused in the halls that lead to his bedchamber. Moving one more door down, he listened and could hear the soft sounds of sleep. The girl and the Pixie were both deep in slumber. Closing his eyes he deepened both sleepers slumber. Once he was sure they were in states that would not easily awaken he entered the girls chamber. Removing the leather gloves that clad his hands and kept his touch from overpowering the innocent, he moved closer. Standing over the bed he looked down into the face of the young woman who was his consort. His and his brother's, the Two-made-one. Going down on one knee he leaned over the bed, until his face was but a breath away from hers. His mind raced. 'She should be ours….mine…' long elegant fingers traced the cheekbones and then the lips. He felt his heart pound and his blood fire. Even in sleep she reacted to his touch, her face was an open book. She loved them…she loved THEM. He leaned closer, whispered her name and found her lips. Deep in the dream she returned the kiss. Quinn pulled back and looked at where his hand had headed. He pulled away from the bed and chided himself. He had never seen the need to take a woman, any woman with out her participation.

Quinn left the room and the entire Royal apartments swiftly. He went as far from them as he could without leaving the palace. Up to the turret, and began to pace. What was he thinking? Yes, he desired the girl. Yes, he wanted her for his own. He had faced that demon already. He had given up his life so the girl could have her King. He paced repeatedly until he thought he'd go mad.

"Quinnie." A voice called to him softly.

The Fae saw the eyes of the Dragon boring down on him. "Angus…" his voice shook.

The Dragon Lord rose up, opened his wings fully against the night sky. "I'm here, Quinnie me lad."

With a sound that sounded like hell at the gates, the young Fae moved to the protection of the Dragon Lord. "Help me…I'm filled with darkness and dark thoughts." He pleaded.

"I canna help ye laddie mine." Angus wrapped his strong wings over the weeping Fae. "The demons ye fight are not mine to banish."

"I want her." Quinn said against the scales of the old Dragon. "She is my very breath."

"If ye take her, and I'm not saying ye should not…but if ye do…there will be consequences." The voice was sympatric. "Once ye cross that bridge ye can never come back."

"Jareth understood that." Quinn moaned. "But I can't always feel him now, Angus…and I'm afraid. I don't think I have the strength to hold him…here much longer….And my need…needs for Sarah grow each day. I'm not sure I can keep her safe from my…desires."

The old Dragon Lord craned his neck and placed his head on that of the Fae. "Let her save you lad."

"No, it's Jareth who must be saved." Quinn moaned into the scales. "Jareth must be the one who lives….it's what was meant to be…it's the only thing that will satisfy our father…" Tears fell again. "I love my brother enough to give him my body, my life, and a full soul. I love him enough to give him Sarah."

Tears fell from the kaleidoscope eyes of the Dragon Lord. "Know this then Quinn of Tarsi, ye were and are loved."

"Help me, Angus. Take me far away from here this night. If I stay, I can not guarantee my resolve."

The Dragon unfurled his wings. "Ride with me Laddie mine, but ask me no questions. We ride silently."

"Agreed." The Fae mounted the dragon and was grateful to see the tower grow smaller as they rose to the night sky.

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Millicent looked at the Healer. "What is wrong?"

"He blocks me, he blocks us!" he shoved the woman away. "He should not have that kind of strength of will against me!" The turned an angry glare on the naked woman. "Or perhaps you are not as well versed in the desires and pleasures of Quinn of Tarsi as you seemed to think you were."

Millicent stood up. "I had him begging me for my bed at one time, Phineas."

"Well he's not begging now, nor is he sampling the Nephilim!" The healer roared

The woman placed a calm hand on his arm. "Do you maintain that thread?"

"Yes." He said pulling free of her touch.

"Then don't push…a gentle nudge may get you the results just as well if not as quickly." She suggested.

Phineas paused, cooled his anger. "You may be right." He motioned her to take her place on the lounge. "You will now be the recipient, and The Shattered Soul will be tormented by the pleasure I find to give you."

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Quinn was beyond tired when Angus retuned him to the palace. Instead of taking him to the turret, Angus brought him to the Wyrn and carried him in. The dragons formed a protective ring and shut out everything so the man, the shattered soul could find rest in sleep.