A Kingdom in Mourning
Sarah bound from her bed, grabbed her shoes and went quickly to find Carlin. "What is it?"
Carlin looked at her; eyes filled with deep sadness. "The King returns." He motioned to where the figure of the king was taking form.
Jareth came through the portal, his face a mask of despair and agony. In his arms was what looked like a child, rather what was left of a child. It was young, barely older than Gwynn, by the size of it. Sarah could see the bruises and gashes, and knew by the pallor, the little one was gone. The King walked silently past Carlin and Sarah. Sarah sobbed and turned to Carlin, who gave her comfort. She could hear laments go up from every corner of the kingdom. Carlin guided her to her office and ordered a maid to bring her a cup of tea. He took his seat, and waited.
Sarah put her head in her hands. "Does this happen often?"
"No, but once is too often in the King's mind." Carlin said humbly. "In the old days, the days of darkness, this happened with great frequency. As man became enlightened, we Fae hoped that this kind of abuse would end." The Steward clasped his hands, knotted fingers. "Children abandoned, or sold into slavery, some abused for some monsters pleasure. Or like the child the king was summonsed to take, beaten and …worse."
Sarah rose, went to her window and listened to the laments. "That poor child."
"Yes." Carlin agreed.
"What will happen now?"
"We will mourn and bury the little one in our way. There is a hill where the kings of this realm have decreed such little ones be laid to rest." The Steward explained. "The King will stay with the little one during the time of repose, never leaving. Then there will be a state funeral."
"Who attends?" Sarah felt the tears burning at her eyes.
"Representatives of each of the races here," Carlin whispered. "Members of our staff, and citizens of the city. Who ever wishes to."
"Where, is the little one laid in repose?" Sarah looked at him; the sorrow that filled the kingdom was touching everyone.
"The King, our King, built a chapel," he cleared his throat and joined her at the window. "You can see it there in the distance. Just beyond the Chapel is the resting place."
Sarah looked at the darkening skies. "I'm going to see my children."
Willa was trying to calm the children. When they saw their mother, they quieted down. Jenny looked at her mother. "What is that sound?"
Sarah took her seat, and let Gwynn climb into her lap. "Jenny, what do you know about where we are?"
"This is the Goblin Realm…you told us about it in stories." The little girl said.
"Do you know who Mr. King is?" Sarah asked. Her daughter shook her head. "He's Jareth, the Goblin King, Jenny. Do you remember what I told you the Goblin king does?"
"He takes away unwanted children." Jenny became still. "Like me and Gwynn."
Sarah turned her daughter's face up. "No, Jenny. You and Gwynn are not unwanted, you were never unwanted. That is why Jareth sent for me when your daddy wished you away. I always wanted you, both of you." She soothed the little girl. "Jareth does take away children who are wished away. However, he always offers a chance to win back that which was wished away. Those who are stay here are adopted out to families. But sometimes, a child is wished away too late."
Willa stood by listening to the mother tell the child the harsh reality of life.
"The bells?" Jenny asked sadly. "A child died?"
Sarah nodded. "Yes, before Jareth could help the little one, it was gone. The child was very young, not much older then our Gwynn. And the little one was very frail. It just was not strong enough to come here."
Jenny came closer, "Poor Mr. King," she moaned. "Where is he now?"
"The little one will lay in repose tonight in the chapel by the hillside. Tomorrow the child will be buried there. The King is there now," Sarah explained.
Jenny sniffed, "Can we go be with Mr. King?"
"Yes, we can." Sarah hugged her little girl. "I wanted it to be your choice." She looked at Willa. "Dress the children, something plain. I'll go change and we'll leave."
Willa watched the woman in awe. "Such strength, and she only a mortal."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Faun was waiting for Sarah when she arrived in the dressing room. Sarah looked at her, "Something somber, and respectful, Faun."
The maid nodded, and took out garments in dark blue wool. She helped Sarah to change. Sarah pinned the Chatelaine ornament at the hip. She took her time, wanting things to be right. All other adornments she removed, except the rings on her hands. She pulled on her cloak of blue wool and went to the room where her children were waiting for her. Willa had pulled a cloak on and she held Gwynn in her arms.
"I shall be honored to accompany you, my Lady." The Elf woman said quietly.
Sarah nodded. As they entered the hall, Faun appeared in a cloak. Sarah nodded at her as well. Taking Jenny's hand in her own. The three women and two children walked through the halls and down to the main entrance. As they walked, a quiet procession began to follow. Though the winding streets of the Goblin City, to the chapel. As they passed by, increasing numbers joined the procession. Fairies began to sing a sad lament, and their voices carried on the winds. Goblin voices joined as the procession wound though the streets toward the chapel.
Carlin saw the woman with her servants leave the palace; he watched as she held her head up and somberly led the procession toward the chapel. "What a woman," he muttered.
Jareth had watched, as the little one was prepared. It was his custom, as he hated for a child to be alone, even in death. He had ordered the child, a little girl, be dressed like a princess, and had laid the coins on her eyes himself. Now candles round the funerary box were lit, and he sat and listened to the songs of lament. When the chapel door opened, he was not prepared for the sight that greeted him. Sarah, holding Jenny's hand, moved forward unhurriedly. Both Sarah and Jenny stood at the coffin and bid farewell to the little one whose soul was already with Arawn. One by one, the members of the household bid farewell. Jenny went to sit beside the king and held his hand. Sarah sat next to Jenny and looked at the King. Willa and Faun with Gwynn took a seat behind the King and his Consort. Carlin entered the chapel and took a seat with Willa and Faun. One by one the mourners came though the chapel to pay respect to the little girl.
Jareth turned and looked straight ahead. As the night deepened, Willa and Faun carried the children back to their beds. Sarah stayed seated. Jareth said nothing, but was glad she was there beside him. Soon the chapel emptied and only the King and his Consort remained.
"You should go back, and go to bed," he whispered. "I'll send for Carlin to take you back."
"No." she said with a small voice. "My place is here. I should be here with you." She looked at the child who was receiving in death what it had not in life.
Jareth wished he could reach for and hold of Sarah's hand. "Thank you, Sarah," he said, trying not to look at her.
"No need," she whispered. Sarah wondered how many times he'd sat here in this chapel alone with a little one. How often, she worried, had he been called too late? What inner strength did it take to be Goblin King? She dared not look at him; right now he needed to be strong and focused. He didn't have to worry about his Mortal Consort. She placed her hand on his sleeve, so simple a thing to do. So little comfort, but it was at least offered.
Outside in the darkness lament after lament was sung. Different voices, the same messages. Just before dawn the chapel started to fill again. At sunrise the King rose from his seat and moved to stand beside the funerary pedestal. He looked down at the little one sadly and began the prayers. "We gather here this sunrise to bid farewell to the body of little Pearl Jones….
Give thou thine heart to the wild magic,
To the Lord and the Lady of Nature,
Beyond any consideration of this world.
Do not covet large or small,
Do not despise weakling or poor,
Semblance of evil allow not near thee,
Never give nor earn thou shame.
The Ancient Harmonies are given thee,
Understand them early and prove,
Be one with the power of the elements,
Put behind thee dishonour and lies.
Be loyal to the Lord of the Wild Wood,
Be true to the Lady of the Stars,
Be true to thine own self besides,
True to the magic of Nature above all else.
Do not thou curse anyone,
Lest thou threefold cursed shouldst be,
And shouldst thou travel ocean and earth,
Follow the very step of the ancient trackways.
All who attended bowed their heads as the king laid a hand on the brow of the little one.
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the infinite peace to you.
The King lifted his hand and nodded, as the coffin lid closed. Sarah saw the slight wince as the lid thudded shut. He watched the screws turned, and then stepped aside as the little coffin was lifted to the shoulders of four little goblins. He looked at Sarah as she quickly took her place beside him in the processional out of the chapel. The Fairies sang the last of the laments.
On the windswept hillside, along with countless others who were not strong enough to make the journey, they interred the little coffin. Silently everyone walked away, again leaving the King and his consort alone. Carlin stood a polite distance, watching, and waiting.
Jareth looked at Sarah, "Go back to the castle with Carlin, Sarah."
"Jareth…" she began.
He shook his head, holding up his hand. "No, not now. Not…here." He motioned his Steward forward. "Take the Chatelaine back to the castle. See to it she rests." He looked at the woman. "I will speak to you…later." He turned and walked away quickly before she could speak or reach out to him.
Carlin came forward. "My Lady?" he held out a hand. "Allow me to transport us. You must be tired."
"Less tired I think then he is." She looked at Carlin. "Why won't he let me help?"
Carlin placed an arm round her shoulder. "Lady Sarah, you did help. You came out to the chapel, led the mourners, and stayed at his side through the long night." He looked in the direction the king had walked. "Our king is not a simple man, Lady Sarah. He is as deep as a river and as dangerous as the rapids. He is not use to sharing the pain, or the responsibility. He will return."
"When?" She asked. Watching the sky, she thought she saw a lone white owl take wing. "When will he return, and where will he go?"
"He will return when he is finished. Where he has gone I don't know, and would not hazard a guess." The man cautioned. "Do not fret, the king will return. Come, you need to rest. The stress of this night is not good for a woman in your condition. His Majesty wishes you to rest."
Sarah watched as the owl flew out of sight. "Alright, take me ….home."