Chapter Forty Eight

Judge and Jury

Grizbine had stormed his way through, inch by inch, and was now at the very edge of the Junkyard. He was covered in grime from head to toe, and even without having been dipped in the bog of Stench, his odor rivaled it. His mood was nearly as foul.

Looking on from his vantage point, Jareth gave the signal to the Labyrinth to bind the intruder. Hearing the foul language that spewed from his cousin's lips, he requested that the Labyrinth also gag him. He called for a horde of Goblins to go and pick up the parcel tied so neatly. Jareth had been keeping track of the Goblin general watching over the invading army. He returned to the castle taking time for dressing in the Dragon's hide battle armor over his tunic. His cloak fluttered as he descended the stairs.

Jareth said nothing upon entering the throne room, he merely walked straight to his throne. The Goblins in the room bent or knelt in homage. He motioned them to rise, and glared at the invading army. "You mercenaries have made a mistake running afoul of my Kingdom." Goblins carrying Grizbine entered the throne room and unceremoniously dumped hin at Jareth's feet. "Cousin," Jareth placed his gloved hand to his chin. "Nice of you to …drop in."

Grizbine, still gagged struggled against his bindings.

"You are a Fae, of a Royal family. I could try you myself…However I think it best if we bring the others of the family into this." Jareth smiled. "I, Jareth Goblin King, do here by call for a Royal Tribunal!"

Tatiana and Lady Voral appeared. Neither lady looked pleased, and Lady Voral seeing her son hog-tied, was not amuse. "How dare you treat my son so?"

"Silence woman." Jareth bellowed above her.

Lord Banyon and Lady Gwendolyn appeared next. "Someone called a Tribunal?" Banyon asked. Seeing the invading army, he frowned.

When Lady Voral took a step toward her son, Tatiana's hand halted her. The High Queen's face looked carved from stone. The call for Tribunal was serious business, and the High Queen knew it.

Arawn stepped out of the shadows. "You sent for me, Goblin King?"

Jareth nodded, "I've called for Tribunal."

Arawn looked down at Grizbine on the floor. "I see."

Lady Voral pulled free of her sister's grasp. "I demand you untie my son, and now!"

Mismatched eye leveled on her. "Madam, to whom do you think you are speaking? This is not my Father's court, where his wife coddles you and that misbegotten curse you call your son. This is my Kingdom, and here your title is little more than an honorific. Next time you speak, take care with your words." Jareth warned in a voice that was stern. Goblins at the base of his dais growled in agreement.

Lady Voral had never been spoken to in this manner; her face reflected the shock. She opened her mouth to protest.

Tatiana silenced her. "Look about you, sister. This is no game."

The other woman looked from her son to the mercenary army being held by Goblin guards. "But he's my son… I cannot bear to see him treated so."

The High Queen frowned. "Then don't look," was her suggestion. Tatiana looked past her sister, to the throne. "And do you intend to sit in judgement over the Tribunal?" Her voice dripped venom.

"No, Madam." A voice from the stairs proclaimed. "I shall be doing that."

Goblins with trumpets in hand heralded the entrance of the High King. Flanking the High King on either side was Clovis, dressed in her Clerics robes and Sarah, now dressed in her owl gown. In the arms of the High King was a newborn child, Sarah's son.

Oberon and the women at his side entered the throne room.

Jareth stepped down from the dais, and knelt before the High King. "I yield my seat to you alone, High King."

Oberon smiled, "Rise, Jareth Goblin King. I'd like to present to you your son."

Jareth took the bundle from his father's arms. His eyes shone like diamonds, as he placed a kiss to the baby's brow. "Welcome my son, to our Kingdom." His voice shook with emotion as he tenderly cradled the new born in his arms. "I have a son!" He cried out to the court. The Goblins cheered. He looked at Sarah. "Are you all right, my woman?"

"Me?" Sarah quipped. "I'm the Goblin King's Consort and the Kingdom's Chatelaine. I'm ready to take on the world, if need be."

Jareth winked at her. "That's my Sarah."

Oberon led Sarah to the miniature of the Goblin throne. "Be seated, Madame." He then ascended the dais and took his place above all others in the room. "This Tribunal will come to order."

Lady Voral stood beside her sister, trying not to look at the struggling man on the ground. Tatiana motioned the woman to keep still.

Jareth handed the baby to Sarah, "Our son," he took her chin in his gloved hand. "Magnificent."

Oberon cleared his throat, "May we proceed?" At his son's nod, the High King spoke out. "What are the charges?"

Jareth turned to a Goblin Scribe, accepted a scroll, and handed it up to the High King.

The scroll was opened and read: the High King looked down at the bound Fae. "Grizbine, you are charged with trying to steal the Goblin Kingdom from its rightful Ruler. Moreover, you are charged with plotting to murder the Goblin King. You are charged also with the plotting of the murder of the High King. How do you plead?"

A Goblin had removed the gag, and Grizbine was spewing hatred for all present.

Oberon blinked, "I assume that's a guilty plea."

Tatiana frowned. "Who brings these charges?"

Jareth stepped forward. "I do."

Sarah rose from her seat, "I do."

Clovis sneered. "I do."

Oberon tapped his chin with the scroll. "I do."

Tatiana looked at her husband. "You?"

"Me," he said firmly.

"I, as well." A voice from the top of the stairs rang out.

All eyes turned to the direction of the voice. In splendor, Baal entered the throne room of the Goblin Court. He looked down at the man bound in the vines of the Labyrinth. "This one came to me, asking for a weapon to kill King Jareth so he might take over the Kingdom. He offered to me the Mortal Consort of the Goblin King and her then unborn child."

Oberon knew Baal. "And did you accept the offer."

Baal moved toward the Royal Goblin couple, and looked at Sarah. "I allowed that one to think I did." Speaking directly to Sarah he said, "It would have been phenomenal I assure you. Pity it will never be." He raised Sarah's hand, and pressed his lips to it. "I will, however, remain your servant."

Sarah swallowed hard. The being was tall, far taller than even Oberon. His eyes were as commanding as his voice, deep pools of black with fire in their center. When he looked at you, it was as if nothing else in the world mattered. Sarah could understand how it was women in the tales told of this 'God-man' were swept up in his sexual magnetism. Were she not holding her son in her arm, she would have been lost in his eyes and magnetism.

Jareth cleared his throat and tapped the hand holding Sarah's. "If you don't mind."

Baal, amused, raised a brow at the younger immortal. "If you should ever tire of being a Goblin Consort…"

"Enough." Jareth placed himself in front of Sarah. "Get your own Mortal."

The self-proclaimed God laughed. "I hardly think another could match this one."

Oberon watched the two immortal males preen and strut for the Mortal woman. "Gentlemen," he spoke to remind them of the importance of the proceedings.

Sarah placed the released hand under the baby in her other arm. Jareth motioned her to be seated again. He stood over her, glaring at Baal.

Baal, for his part found the entire exchange entertaining and the offered mortal woman charming. He looked over to Oberon, "I allowed that one to think I had given him a weapon that would destroy Jareth and allow him to claim the Kingdom."

"That's a lie!" Decried Lady Voral, not willing to believe her son would break the rule of the Escheat. "What proof do you have?"

Baal moved toward the woman now cowering next to the High Queen. He looked at her, considering if he wanted to play with her. "You will find on his person, a gauntlet, appearing to be made of gold with an interior lining that looks to be iron." He turned his attention back to Oberon. "I told him that if Jareth placed his hand in the gauntlet he'd be dead in an hour. That one was only too happy to believe me."

One of the Goblin guards pulled the tunic open, and the gauntlet was plainly visible.

Lady Voral gasped.

Grizbine roared into the replaced gag, fury in his eyes.

Baal looked down into the eyes glaring at him. "Now really, Grizbine. You didn't think I'd actually place a weapon of that magnitude in the hands of a fool such as you. You're soul is corrupted, and your heart stone." He looked at Jareth, "The metals are base, and harmless to Fae. You see your kind is not the only ones who know the value of using the Glamour." Baal looked pleased with himself.

"Perhaps it was a test of your loyalty Baal," Tatiana said trying to find a way to defend her Godson.

Oberon cleared his throat, his wife looked up at him. "My dear, in his tunic you will find a little gift he intended for you."

The Fae Queen was filled with dread, "How do you know he's a gift for me?"

"He talks to himself," the High King said callously. "Check his tunic, my dear." Tatiana gave a desperate look to her sister; the Lady Voral shook her head. When the High Queen refused to move, Oberon ordered one of the guards to search the prisoner. The Queen recognized the vial, and it is contents.

"Love-in-idleness," she groaned. "We can not be sure he meant to use this upon me…"

Oberon blinked. "It is well known the ointment works."

For the first time since the proceeding had begun Sarah spoke up. "Excuse me, but there is a way to find out what his intents were." All eyes were on her. Jareth smiled and nodded to her. "Take the gag from his mouth and ask him."

Oberon looked from Sarah to Jareth, sensing more than he understood. "Do as the Lady Sarah directs."

Grizbine was hauled to his feet and the gag removed. At first all that came from his lips were curses upon one and all.

Oberon roared. "What were your intentions?"

The room hushed. All eyes went to Grizbine fighting within himself to keep from divulging his secrets. They poured out at last like fine wine. "I intended to kill Jareth, force his concubine to watch as I defiled her daughter, and dismembered her son. I wanted to eat his heart before her terrified eyes. I planned on claiming my rightful place as the Goblin King, and then I planned on taking both my mother and the High Queen as sexual slaves. I wanted a child from both of the bitches. I want to see The UnSeelie Court wrest control from your ineffective hands, Oberon. I want to see you dethroned and my bastard placed on its seat. As for Lady Sarah, I did offer her to Baal…"

Lady Voral sank to her knees hearing her son speak like a mad man. She closed her eyes to close out the pain.

Oberon waved to the Goblin and the man was gagged again. "I've heard enough." He snapped his fingers, getting his wife's attention. "Have you?" Shame faced she nodded. "Grizbine, your crimes are too numerous to declare. You have sold your very soul to the UnSeelie Court, and we can not allow you to leave here."

Lady Voral, fearing her son's demise cried out. "Mercy, good Oberon, mercy!"

Tatiana did not speak but kept her eye averted, afraid to meet her husband's glance.

Grizbine cackled like a mad man through the gag. "Do your worst! My patrons will find me and rescue me. And when I come back, it will be with a vengeance!"

"For your crimes, I Oberon, High King of the Seelie Court, do here by sentence you to Crystalus." Oberon drew a crystal orb from the air and with all his might flung it to where Grizbine stood. The orb struck him and when it shattered, the man was incased in a crystal prison, frozen for all time. His features and hate were visible. Even the bindings of the Labyrinth vine were still visible. As was the gag in the man's mouth.

"No!" Lady Voral turned away not able to look any longer.

With a wave of his hand, Oberon sent the statue away. "So it will be with all enemies of our Court." He looked at his wife. "I will not ask you how much of his plan you knew… you are banished from Court for a period of two years. Take your sister with you from my sight. Now!"

Tatiana glared at Jareth, and she and Lady Voral vanished.

Banyon looked at his brother. "Went a bit easy on those two," he commented. Oberon shrugged.

Baal gathered his robe around him. "I've enough of this realm. I will take my leave." He looked at Oberon. "The covenant betwixt us stands." He moved past Jareth to stand before Sarah. "I repeat to you my offer. Should you ever tire of this one, call."

Sarah rose, with her son in her arms. "I thank you for your…generous offer. I must decline."

"Pity," the self proclaimed God murmured. "It would have been glorious." He moved away from the Fae. "I return now to my world." In a flash, he was gone.

The Goblins in the room began to file out. Members of the Court took their leave. The only beings left in the throne room were Oberon, Jareth, and Sarah with the baby. Jareth took the child from Sarah, and looked at the new Goblin Prince.

Oberon motioned for Jareth to return to his throne, then turned his attentions to the Consort. "All is as it was meant to be. Jareth is the undisputed King, with an Heir."

Sarah looked at the High King. "You're an even bigger bastard than he is."

Oberon leaned dangerously close. "And don't you ever forget it."