Chapter 56.

Oberon walked at the side of the litter being carried by his son's Goblins. He looked down at the man lying helplessly and tried to be supportive. "It'll all be alright son." The man closed his eyes.

Behind them at a short distance strode the Mystic cradling the crystal sword. He had not known her. The truth of that cut her as deeply as the sword had cut Angus. It hurt, it hurt like hell. She was not really sure what she had expected, and now listened to the air. There were still no birds; the great silence was still enforced. 'Ok, Mother Universe, it's your game, your show. I'll just play my part.'

When the litter reached the palace Sarah ordered that the King be taken to his bedchamber. She looked at the High King. "You should go with him, don't leave his side."

Oberon nodded, he almost reached out a hand to the young woman, but hesitated. "Thank you…Mystic." He addressed her formally.

The formal address also stung for some reason. Sarah watched as Father and son were escorted to the King's quarters. "Meep! I need you." Sarah called out as she moved to the Throne room. She seated herself in the King's circular throne, placing the sword on her lap delicately.

Meep appeared and landed on the stone tiles solemnly. "You called for me, Lady Sarah?" He too addressed her with title.

Sarah shrugged off the feelings of wounded ego; "Yes, Meep. I need to speak to the elder of your tribe. Could you please arrange for him to meet me here, as soon as possible?"

Meep bowed, "As you wish, Lady Consort." The Pixie disappeared.

Giles was the first of the champions to enter the throne room and see Sarah seated on the Throne. He bowed to her and took his place behind the throne. Ryan and Anne entered together, each looked at the other, but neither spoke. Ryan moved to his place and Anne took her usual seat. Goblins began to stream in, from every opening into the great circular room. Little faces, some pinched up, some bug-eyed some grotesque, some crazed, all looked to the Consort for some kind of comfort. All came closer to the throne. A few seated themselves on the steps as they had during the time before the Consort.

Sarah looked at them. "He lives." She said firmly. "And the battle goes on. For now we must protect our King. We have uninvited guests, and they must be watched and kept from disturbing his Majesty."

One of the taller Goblins, one who was more articulate than the others came forward. "What do you want us to do, Lady Sarah?"

"WE do what we always do. The Kingdom goes on." Sarah looked at her lap, and the crystal sword. "Business as usual." She looked at the glum faces and said. "Well…?" For a moment she sounded very much like the King. The smallest of the Goblins, a little fellow with bulging eyes and pinkish hair took up a cloth, spit on it and began to polish Sarah's boot. Sarah looked down, and started to laugh. "Ok, that's not what I meant."

Giles stared for a moment then burst out laughing, followed by Ryan.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Oberon sat in the chair beside the huge bed in the center of the sleeping chamber. His son had closed his eyes and went to sleep as soon as he'd been placed in the bed. The only time he saw the features on the face in the bed change was when a strange song being sung in the throne room filtered up. The face in the bed smiled, as the lips silently spoke the words. 'You remind me of the babe.'

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Once Ryan and Giles were able to compose themselves they then took on the task of getting the Goblins to settle down. The singing to the Consort ended and little bodies moved out of the throne room.

Meep reappeared with his elder in tow. "Lady Sarah, Consort of the Goblin Throne, I present to you Talon Silvercrest our Clan Elder."

"Talon Silvercrest, I give you my salutations." Sarah addressed the handsome Pixie with respect.

"We greet you as well, Lady Sarah." He bowed deeply. "How may my Clan serve thee?"

"I've a favor to ask of thee." Sarah tapped her fingers on the sword.

"Ask."

"I would ask that your Clan sever as the protectors of the King as he recovers." Sarah said firmly. "We have faith in your Clan, and its history of service to the throne speaks for itself. I can think of no other Clan that could serve us as well."

Talon smiled broadly. "It shall be done." He placed his hands behind him. "Whom are we keeping out?"

"A healer from the High Court, and a few Fae intruders we don't want disturbing our King." Sarah stated still tapping the sword. "The Healer is named Phineas."

Talon's smile faded. "I know him. You are justified wanting to limit his influence. My Clan will see to it he goes not near the chamber."

Sarah sighed, "The others are Lord Hawthorne and his minx of a daughter."

Talon snickered, "Again I see that you are a proficient judge of Fae character."

"For now," Sarah rose from the throne. "Only Oberon and Talbot the Healer will be allowed free access to the King."

"And yourself, Consort?" Talon asked gently.

"I will see the King if and only he asks for me." The young woman said quietly.

Talon opened his mouth then shut it again, bowed and exited.

Sarah tapped the sword. "Anne, I want to see that prophecy once more." She rose from the throne.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Gently, Sarah placed the crystal sword on the center of the table. She could clearly see the Dragon captive in its heart. She was not sure what the others saw, nor did she really desire to ask them.

Cairbre bowed to her, he was already in the war-room, awaiting her. "Lady Sarah."

"So formal, Bard?" she addressed him cautiously.

Drawing himself up, the older man nodded. "For now."

Sarah sighed. "Due to circumstances, I will be exercising my position as the Consort of the Throne." She announced as they gathered round her. "We are besieged, and I know his Majesty would expect us to defend his Kingdom."

Giles bowed to her. "It will be done, my Lady."

Pointing to the board, Sarah spoke clearly. "I want a break down of every part of that prophecy that has already happened. I want what has not separated so we may study it. I don't care if you have to fill this room with chalkboards…or if you end up writing on the walls. I want to see what's coming at us next."

Cairbre smiled softly. "We will work on it."

Solea at his side placed her hand over his arm.

Sarah turned to Anne. "You need to look at it without Fae influence. They put meanings on things that have nothing to do with what the prophecy is. Come at it as if it were one of the puzzles we solved that Robin snuck in on us."

Anne nodded. "You bet."

"Thank you, all of you." Sarah looked down at the sword. "This is not over, not by a long shot."

Giles frowned. "What do we do about the unwanted guests?"

Sarah wore a matching frown. "This is not just our home. This is the palace of the Goblin King…and there is protocol. Much as I hate it, we must welcome guests. We can however limit their movement. I've called on the Silvercrest Clan to protect the King in his chamber. None but the Healer and the High King will be allowed entry for now. As I told the Goblins, it's going to be business as usual. We do what we always do. Ryan will do the work of the Paladin, Sir Didymus will take care of the palace guard, and Giles I expect you to continue your work as the architect of the Kings renovations. Anne I'm depending on you to use your skills to decode the rest of the prophecy. Bard we are most grateful for the help you and your wife are giving us." Sarah looked again at the crystal sword. "I need to be prepared for my next battle." She picked up the sword. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've an adjudicator to see."

They all watched as she left, "Regal." The Bard said with a smile.

Anne looked up at him. "What?"

"The word you are all looking for in your minds…Regal." He pointed in the direction of where the Consort had stood. "She's grown into the roll quite nicely."

Anne looked at Ryan and Giles who were motionless. "You heard the lady! Get to work." She then moved to a chalkboard and began making check marks at events that had taken place. "We've all got our work cut out for us."

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Sarah found her father waiting for her in his office. "The King lives." She said softly.

"And my daughter?" he asked just as softly.

"I'll survive, takes more than a fire breathing dragon to take down Sarah Williams!" She said with her head held high.

Robert cleared his throat, "What do you intend to do about your mother?"

"I'll deal with her, and Karen and the entire wedding mess later." Sarah pinched her nose. "Right now, I'm going to go have a nice cup of tea."

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Talon called the most diligent of his Pixie Clan to his side. "The Consort has entrusted the safety of the King to us." He looked at Bann, "You and your men are to continue to watch the Williams' children. WE know his Majesty would want them kept safe at all costs. Meep, you are to stay with the Lady Sarah, she's in more danger now than she could possibly know. The rest of you will be on shifts guarding the King. Every possible entrance to his room is to be watched at all times. Dex, I want wards put up to keep magical influences not belonging in that chamber kept out!" The Pixie began barking out his orders to his men.

"We want to help." A small voice spoke.

Talon turned toward the direction of the sound. In the air floated the Queen of the Fairy swarm that troubled Hoggle from time to time. "Yes, I think you should help. No one would dare cross you, would they My Queen?"

"He's our King as well." She said proudly. "We've lived in the Labyrinth for centuries now. We want to help."

"We welcome your help." Talon said.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Hoggle, and Sir Didymus found Sarah in the garden having a quiet cup of tea. They didn't speak at first, Hoggle was not sure he could find words to help. He moved forward and placed his gnarled hand over hers. Sir Didymus moved to her other side, standing courtly and giving her his strength. Sarah placed her hand on his shoulder and smiled down at both her friends. "Thank you." She sighed.

Sarah finished her tea in peace.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Anne looked at the board. "I don't know why… but I don't get the feeling that Sarha's battle with Phineas is over just yet."

Cairbre looked over Anne's shoulder. "I don't think any of her battles are at an end. Anne do you see what I see?"

Anne blinked to clear her focus. "Damn." She said under her breath.

The Bard read the words. "The Dragon Reborn must kneel before the Crystal Throne before Nephilim spawn, or all is lost."

Solea looked at them, "Where is the Crystal Throne? And how does a Dragon get reborn?"