Chapter 59.
Sarah knew where she'd find Linda; she would be where she was each day at this hour. She was in the garden arguing with Karen over wedding plans. Both women were becoming hostile, and Sarah had enough. "Do you two want there to be a wedding?" she shouted at them.
To her surprise both women looked shocked and turned to her. "Well of course we want there to be a wedding." Her mother said.
"Of course we do." Karen agreed.
For a moment Sarah thought she was going to burst out laughing at the pair, now standing side by side and acting as if they were the best of friends. "Well then understand this, unless I win my battles there will be no wedding!"
"That ridiculous!" Linda stated. "We've sent out the invitations."
Karen frowned, "I thought the battle was already won."
"Do either of you hear or see any birds?" When they shook their heads Sarah continued. "We are still in the great silence. Have you noticed the clouds gathering?" She pointed overhead at the threatening skys.
"No." Linda said with a frown. "We didn't notice." She turned to Karen with a serious face. "Get the children inside, quickly."
Karen nodded. "Of course."
Linda dropped the selfish mother act and all her Fae blood surged. "What do you need, my daughter?"
"Mother, I need the copy of the Meander's Queen Script you've kept." Sarah stated.
Linda frowned. "It's packed away…and it's got wards on it, so I can not produce it with a spell. I'll go dig it out."
Sarah watched her mother leave. "She does spells?" she asked the air. "Since when?"
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Millicent looked at the rooms. "I'd say this speaks highly of the Kings favor." She simpered. Her fingers touched the ornate carvings on the furnishings.
Mycroft stifled the urge to burst out laughing in the girls face. "Will that be all, my lady?"
"For now." Millicent sighed and dismissed the servant with a bored flick of her wrist.
Phineas watched the girl. "You are Queenly material, girl."
"Thank you, Healer." She said with a measure of pride.
"Don't count your chickens so soon." Warned her father. "We've a foot in the door that's all."
"I can get more." The girl assured him with a boast.
Phineas eyed her voluptuous body with envy for the son of Oberon. She may be stupid and vain but she was also built with pleasure in mind. He wondered if it would matter much if he too sampled her again.
Hawthorne cleared his throat, and caught the attention of the lusting physician. "We are for now. Let us make the most of it."
Millicent turned to her father. "I shall wear my most flattering gowns during this time. You don't really think that spawn can compete with me do you?" She walked toward the bed and bath chamber that were to be hers. "I'm going to have a nice long lazy soak before I dress for dinner. I'm sure the King with have only the most fabulous banquet for us."
Hawthorne waited until she had left the room then he looked at the Healer. "What games you and that stupid cow have been playing must be put on hold for now. I don't care how many times you've bedded her in the past nor how often you plan to in the future. For now we must keep our eyes on the prized. She will make a fine puppet Queen. Once she is crowned you may do what you like with her."
Phineas smiled, "You wouldn't want to join us would you?"
The Lord scoffed. "I prefer real royal women, not play actresses like my daughter. Once things are in our favor I will petition for the release of Elise."
"Good luck with that." Phineas sighed. "Even after we have the Goblin King where we want him, you'll have a difficult time with Oberon on releasing Elise."
"Perhaps not; I intend to offer to keep her my enslaved guest." Hawthorne stated. "Her father has always had a perversion for enslavement of the women in his life."
"Have you forgotten she has a husband?" The Healer asked.
The handsome courtly Lord gave a half smile to the healer. "As often as did she."
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Sarah found the household staff awaiting her. "Don't you all look overjoyed?"
Lusha moved toward the Lady of the Castle. "You welcome the wench who wishes to sever your bond?"
"Keep your friends close." Sarah said with a devious smile.
"Keep your enemy closer." Mycroft finished; as he came into the meeting. "She's already taking the bait as you knew she would, Lady Sarah. She thinks it's the King who has placed her in the finest suite of rooms."
Sarah stood on the work table to be seen and heard. "We enter now the time of the storm. The last battles for the Soul of the King will be fought. I prefer them to be fought on my terms not on someone else's." She looked at the sea of servant faces, Elf, Fae, Goblin and others. "I have no intentions of losing."
One of the Elf maids asked. "What do you want us to do?"
"Treat these intruders as honored guests. Give them their heart's desires. She looked at Krus. "Feed them the finest food we've ever served." She pointed to the great hall. "We put on the most fantastic banquets for now. We'll wine and dine them and entertain the socks off them. When the moment is right I will make sure that wench knows who the King is bonded to!" She turned to the court musicians. "I want the most beautiful music you've ever played… all but one song."
The leader of the troubadours bowed. "I understand, my lady."
Looking at the sea of hopeful faces Sarah smiled. "I could not be prouder of you than I am at this moment. You are my people, and as Consort to the Throne, I promise you, we will not fail."
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Ryan noticed the King lounging in the throne, tapping his boot with a riding crop. "What are you doing, Babalouie?"
The King looked over at Ryan, "Trying to figure women out." He droned.
The Paladin laughed as he drew near the throne. "Well if you get a clue, tell me…"
"First she threatens to rip the little witches' eyes out, and now she's all oh yes let's have a party…" The King groused.
"Who threatened whom?" Ryan asked trying to understand the conversation.
"My consort."
"Sarah?" Ryan asked.
The mention of her name drew the King's attention. "Sarah." It sounded different when he said it, more like a caress. "Yes, Sarah."
"Ok, whose eyes is she ripping out?" Ryan smirked seeing how the very name of the young woman affected his friend.
"Millicent."
Ryan's smile faded. "Millicent is here?"
"Didn't I just say that?" The King looked up.
"Not exactly, pal." Ryan held up a hand, silencing a protest. "Is she alone?"
"No, her father and that High Court Healer are with her." The Goblin King grumbled. "Will you explain to me why we are entertaining and allowing them to be our guests?"
"Sarah wanted to entertain them?" Ryan whistled low. "Man this is not going to be pretty." He looked at the king. "My advice is duck and cover, and pray the fallout is not too lethal."
Golradir Telrúnya, and the youngest brother of the Telrúnya clan Orodreth, came in search of the King. Golradir informed the Paladin that both he and Orodreth were needed to see to the Kings needs. Golradir then requested the King follow him.
"Why?" The Goblin King huffed.
"Lady Sarah's orders Sire." Golradir stated. "Do come along, Sire. We have only a short time in which to dress you."
"I know how to dress myself." The King protested.
"Best do as they request, Babalouie." Ryan sighed. He pulled his friend from the throne. "Just inhale and suck it up, pal…this is a girls war and you don't want to be among the casualties."
The Goblin King looked at the two Elvin servants. "Fine, let's go dress up the King."
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Tári Telrúnya stood behind Sarah frowning. "I don't understand." She said with annoyance. "That Fae woman is going to be using every trick in the book to present herself as a prize! You can not allow her to out do you, Lady Sarah."
"I'm not, Tári." Sarah said applying the minimum of makeup to her flawless skin. "I'm following an old proverb. Less is more."
"Lady Sarah I know a thing or two of old proverbs…and I think the one you should be using is fight fire with fire." The maid protested.
Sarah giggled. "But that's what I am doing."
The Elvin maid shook her head. "Think of how the King had you presented to Lord Quinn!"
"I am, and believe me I know what I'm doing." Sarah said confidently. She rose from the dressing table. The long under gown of buttercup yellow moved like the wings of a butterfly. The over gown of fine forest green made her eyes sparkle and she looked young and fresh and innocent. "Now tell me the truth, would you want a Fae woman who's had countless lovers, or the virginal consort?"
Tári Telrúnya let her jaw drop slightly before she remembered herself. "My Lady, I stand corrected."
Sarah smiled, "One more thing and I'll be ready to go." She reached down onto the vanity and picked up the piece of jewelry. "Look out Millie, here comes Sarah."
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The minstrels gathered in the gallery and began to play softly. The candles in the chandleries gave off soft light making the crystals that hung from them sparkle and flash. Guests, some of whom seemed surprised at the last minuet invitation began to gather. The King, flanked by his Paladin and his Archer entered the great hall where the reception was being held.
The King looked at his own reflection in the mirrors on the wall, and he had to admit Sarah had dressed him handsomely. The forest green tunic with the soft gold accents gave color to his pale pallor. The cream colored shirt with its intricate jabot and the doeskin breeches all added to the statement that he was King. While it was not the fanciest thing in his vast closet, it did make him look and feel majestic.
Ryan, dressed in his fine black leather tunic, looked fierce. Giles in the Lincoln green tunic jested again about being a rogue Robin Hood. Both men stood at the King's side with pride. Celestia and Anne entered the room together. Taking their places in the King's entourage.
An elegant Elvin man, dressed in long robes of blue and green acted as the major domo, announcing the guests as they entered the great hall. One by one the guests came in and bowed to the King offering him praise and thanks. When Millicent was presented she had almost expected the King to offer her a seat beside him. She did indeed dazzle, dressed in a gown of amber with amber beads encrusted in the bodice.
"Thank you so much for this lovely reception." She simpered prettily.
Before the King could correct her assumptions, the major domo brought down his staff three times. All in the room turned and listened.
"Lady Sarah, of the Vortex, Mystic of Labyrinthia, Consort to the Goblin Throne." The Elf said loud and clear putting emphasis on Consort.
Millicent turned her attentions to the young woman standing at the entrance, scoffing lightly. "How impressive." Her insulting tone was not overlooked by the Royal Fae who rose from his seat and stood with his mouth open.
Members of the Goblin Court bowed to her as Sarah walked gracefully into the room. She kept her head high and her eyes on the King. Her parents, standing off to the side with each other and their partners all watched with satisfaction and delight. Linda and Karen clasped hands as the girl walked by unhurriedly.
Oberon who was standing beside his son was taken aback by the simple grace and poise with which Sarah moved. He looked over at his son, and saw the affect the girl raised among mortals had on him.
Sarah ignored the glare she was receiving from Millicent. She stopped before the King and dropped down into the most graceful curtsy and lowered her head. "My King." She said melodiously.
"Rise, my Lady." The Goblin King reached out his hand and for the first time during the reception touched someone. "We've been waiting for you."
"I apologize for keeping you waiting." Sarah said as she rose.
"You are well worth the wait." The king said breathily.
Phineas frowned.
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Sarah, seated in the hostess seat, was the one whom most of the guests turned to. Millicent was feeling overlooked and disregarded. She decided to take matters into her own hands.
"Jareth," she addressed the King. "You darling, I want to thank you for the lovely rooms you provided me." She batted her lashes at the king.
"I didn't provide you with rooms." The Goblin King said slightly dismayed and troubled by her forwardness.
"Of course you did." Teased the Fae woman.
"No…I didn't." He repeated.
"OH you like the rooms then, I'm so glad." Sarah said kindly. Millicent turned at the sound of the other girl's voice. "I just knew those rooms would be perfect for you, dear Millicent."
"You chose the rooms?" gasped the startled Fae.
"Well of course I did." Sarah said innocently. "After all, his Majesty has better things to do than run a house."Slowly she sipped the wine that was being served. "That's my job."
Millicent lost her appetite, and pushed the dinner plated away. "I see." She said pouting.
Lord Hawthorne could see his daughter was being bested. "Yes, well we do thank you for your attention to details. The rooms are adequate."
"So glad you like them. Oh do enjoy the view, though it appears there will be no amazing sunrise. It seems your visit will be over shadowed by storms." Sarah kept her voice pleasant and benevolent. Phineas' reactions to the conversation were mirror images of Millicent's. He stabbed at his dinner with a fork. Sarah feared they would lose some of the fancy dinnerware during the visit, and hoped that they could be replaced.
The Goblin King listened to the conversation and hid the smirk behind crooked fingers over his upper lip. He wondered if the Goblin Court officials would object to him toasting his Consort. Hearing her best all remarks sent toward her with the least amount of effort and still maintaining a cordial countenance, he raised his glass to her and winked over its brim. Sarah smiled at him as only she could.
Linda turned to Robert and whispered in his ear. "That's our girl!"
Robert nodded, and then placed his hand over Karen's. Linda leaned past him and winked at the woman who had helped raise her daughter. Karen winked back. Jeremy watched as the Fae intruders were being gently put in their places, and snickered.
Dinner ended, the guests were ushered into one of the great salons for entertainment. The Goblin King was seated in front; his honored guests seated along side him. Millicent made sure she was seated beside the King. Sarah was seeing to last minuet details, but noticed the other girl's boldness.
Elvin singers moved to the makeshift stage that had been provided. They began to sing a ballad about the Goblin Kingdom. The King was enjoying the performance, but Millicent was clearly bored. She leaned over to the King. "I thought there would be dancing tonight…I long to dance in your arms again."
The King's face went white, partly with anger, partly with scandalized outrage. "I beg your pardon, madam. Did you not understand that I have a consort?" He angrily whispered back.
Millicent put on her pretty little pout. "Now, Jareth darling, surely you don't mean me to be put off by something so trivial. We grew up together, remember? We've spent many pleasant hours together." She was about to put a hand on the King's sleeve.
The King saw her hand moving toward him and he vanished from the room. Millicent looked at the dead space where the handsome Fae had been. She turned to her father, questioningly.
Sarah leaned forward. "There's been a summons." She explained softly. "Our King is always on duty." She rose from her seat and exited the great hall.
Mycroft was waiting for her. "How convenient a summons came."
Sarah looked back at the guest still enjoying the performances. "One didn't." she confided. "I set up an emergency ward." She patted the arm of her butler. "I've got a King to sooth." She moved to the stairs beyond the throne room and found the King seated on a stair in the Escher room.
The man looked up at her, "You did this?"
"Yup." She took a seat beside him.
The Goblin King put an arm over her shoulder. "Good thinking." He praised, closed his eyes and listened to the music filtering up from the great hall. Sarah leaned into his shoulder and closed her eyes as well.