Chapter 7. The sound of silence

Sarah had packed all her things carefully; grateful her Grandmother had extended an invitation up to the cabin for the winter break. Eddie had agreed with Linda that Sarah should start the new job at the club after the winter break so she could make a clean start of everything. Linda and Jeremy were still out of town and would not return Stateside until the New Year.

Karen true to her new form was unreceptive to Sarah even seeing Toby during the Winter break. She told Sarah that she didn't want her in the house if she was not there and they were going to be in Florida with friends. She also told Sarah that the gift she'd sent by post was being returned to the store as Karen didn't want Toby to receive things from her anymore. As far as Karen was concerned, when Robert died, so did Sarah.

Sarah looked at her dorm room one more time, she could hear the voices in the wall and she ignored them. Sarah had been surprised that Linda had leased a car for her to use during the move out of the dorm. The girl didn't have that much to her name, just camera equipment mostly. She neatly packed things into the trunk and prepared for the long drive up state to her grandmother's rustic cabin in the hills. Some classmates from the photography course had stopped by her car to say their farewells. The person who'd surprised her was the instructor. He gave her a package filled with used camera parts, just odds and ends really. He told her he had a feeling she'd make use of them. Then he wished her success in her endeavors. Sarah was thankful for the lengthy drive up to the cabin. It gave her time to think and to cool down from her anger toward Karen. Her grandmother didn't deserve to be getting any of that fallout.

White snow had already kissed the hills; dusting them and making them appear clean and shimmering in the bright winter sun. Sarah's great grand father had staked the land just after the civil war the family history said. The land was not good for farming, nor was it a good place to raise livestock unless it was mountain goats. But her great grandfather saw a bit of his homeland in the rocky crags and the majestic vistas. He'd built the cabin and cleared only a portion of the land. When the deposits of rich anthracite had been discovered the canny man had leased the land to the mine company for a time. The money made had put her grandfather though school and then her mother. Her grand parents had retired to the cabin after her great grandfather had passed.

As a child Sarah had spent summers and winter breaks with her grandparents enjoying the wonders of the mountain. When her mother had moved to New York, her grandmother had been there for her to lean on. Her granny had maintained a good relationship with Robert, one that Karen had never understood. Her granny had even welcomed Karen and Toby up to the cabin. However Karen didn't care for the rustic life, and refused to come up after the first visit. Robert with Toby in tow had returned. Betty McFadden, or Gram Betty as she was called by the children, wasn't bothered with silly nonsense like divorces. In her way of thinking Robert was part of her family, and a silly piece of paper was not going to change that.

Betty McFadden was Celtic though and though, a war bride who came to the States following her handsome husband. Even now, in her golden years she was a handsome figure of a woman. She was nearly as tall as Linda and Sarah, and her long dark hair had gone silver and was worn pinned up in a neat bun at the nape of her neck. She walked a great deal in the hills, and was healthy. Her maiden sister had come to live in the States years after she had settled, and now Katie Jean lived with Betty in the hills. Betty leased some of her land to a ski resort, giving her a very fine income that she lived on wisely. She was wise and sturdy, and given to telling wonderful stories of the wee little people and the Fairy world.

Gram Betty was standing in the door as Sarah pulled the rented car up into the long winding drive in front of the rustic cabin. "Sarah, hello!" She greeted the girl with a hearty wave.

Sarah smiled; nothing seemed to keep the old woman down. "Granny!" She turned off the engine, exited the car and ran to the arms opened wide. She loved the scent her Granny wore; it smelled of ginger spice and honeysuckle. It gave one the feeling of home, of protection and of serenity. Sarah breathed the scent in deeply. "Oh Granny." She murmured.

Betty placed a welcoming kiss on her Granddaughters brow, "Welcome home, child." Hugging her close and seeming not to want to allow the girl to leave the embrace.

Katie Jean was pulling on a heavy wool shawl, "For the love of the Gods woman, let the child breath." Her accent seemed to get deeper the old she got. "Now then," she muttered as she passed the pair hugging. "Let's empty that car, and then we can chat."

Sarah and her great aunt removed her belongings and stored them in the room Sarah would be using during her stay. The car was then placed in the car barn that stood across from the house and set back. As Sarah entered the house, Druid, her grandmother's elk hound greeted her by standing and placing his heavy paws on Sarah's shoulders. The great hairy beast's head towered over her and his tongue lapped at her face.

"Druid!" Katie Jean snapped, but was ignored.

Betty quietly said. "Druid, down." And the great hairy beast walked to the fireplace and lay down on the rug before the roaring fire. "He just wants to let Sarah know she's welcome, Katie." The elder woman looked at the girl removing her heavy coat and gloves. "You give up eating? Look at you, why you're not more than skin and bones."

Sarah rolled her eyes, "I've not been really hungry of late."

Betty shook her head, "Well I'll soon take care of that!" She motioned toward the kitchen. "We've stew for dinner, and fresh bread and some home made cheese that one of my neighbors makes."

The girl responded, "That sounds grand." She looked around the cabin and began to loose some of the at odds ends feeling. "It's good to be here." She said softly.

"We're glad to have your company." Her Granny said firmly. "You are always welcome here." Her face lost some of its pleasantry and her next words were harsh. "That white faced goat your father married has little right to keep you from hearth and home…let along the boy." Seeing her granddaughter flinch; the old woman placed a comforting hand to the young woman's shoulder. "Sarah, I'm an old woman, and I don't waste time on pretence any more…I've little enough time left to me, and I intend to use it well. I speak my mind."

Sarah nodded and smiled sadly; "You've always spoken your mind."

"Something your father appreciated." Betty boasted proudly. "You're mother said that Karen is not allowing you to see the boy unless she's present."

"That's true." Sarah sighed, feeling the weight of the world on her young slender shoulders. "And I miss him… never thought I'd say that, but I do."

Katie Jean had begun to set the dinner table for the three of them. "What about Robert's partners, what do they say about this?"

"I'm a minor," Sarah groused bitterly. "They say when I turn twenty one I can petition the courts for visitation rights."

Betty's face showed the anger she felt. "That a girl would have to petition the courts for the right to see her own brother…" She shook her head. "That one is just asking for a curse."

Katie Jean growled at her sister. "Now don't you be starting something that can come back and bite one of us on the ass… for it is likely poor wee Sarah who'd be the one bitten!" She placed the stew pot on the table heavily. "After a nice bit of stew we'll all feel better."
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Jareth looked across the table at the face of his wife; she seemed preoccupied by some thought. "Is there something that is disturbing you, Adrianna?" He noticed she picked at her food still.

The Princess looked up at him and shook her head, "Just stray thoughts."

The Goblin King placed his fork down, "You don't seem very happy. Has there been word from your father's palace that's bothering you?"

"No," She sighed softly. "Father is weaker, but still he hangs on."

"The new cook is not to your liking?" He asked.

"The food's fine, very good…I'm just not very hungry." She confessed.

Jareth considered allowing the subject to drop but found he could not. "Is it me, Adrianna?"

Startled she looked up at him, "Heavens no. You're kindness itself!" She shifted in her seat. "I'm just a bit at odds." She changed the subject. "Will you be journeying above?"

He nodded solemnly, his face a mask of gravity. "I've a few charges above that must be seen to."

"Charges who've not yet been wished away?" She asked.

"Not all my concerns are of those who've been wished away." He side stepped the question, not wanting to admit that the one concern was a boy wished away and won back. Earnestly he had not wanted to lie, but he also didn't want questions about his boy. The one child in the entire world he cared for most of all.

Adrianna suddenly seemed to change, her face brightened. "I very much liked the solstice party last night. I think this was the prettiest solstice tree I've ever seen."

Jareth smiled, "You're welcome, Adrianna."

She placed her elbows on the table, her head in her hands. "Could we have more parties?"

The King smiled again; "If you like my dear."

"I do…I like parties very much…" She began to eat again, this time with her fingers.

Jareth didn't try to reprimand her, relived that she was at least eating.

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Sarah finished the stew and had another helping of bread and cheese to please her grandmother. The old women had refused her offer to help with the dishes and she sat in the fat old arm chair at the side of the fireplace with her legs tucked up under her. Druid sat with his eyes wide open upon her, watching vigilantly her very breathing.

Betty and Katie looked at her from the kitchen sink now and then. They would then look at one another and shake their heads.

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Adrianna excused herself after she'd finished as much as she was going to eat. She went to her rooms as she did every evening after the meal, leaving the King to his own devices. This of late meant his flight to the mortal realm to check on Toby. Tonight was no exception, he was aware that the mother had taken the boy away for the extended winter holiday and he could feel the boy's fears and anxiety call to him. He left the table, moved to the door that led to the terrace and the night sky. He transformed smoothly and headed toward the sky. The portal took him not to the area of the mortal realm where the boy lived, but to where he was staying. The sea air and the warm winds told him he was near the tropics. The house the boy and his mother were guests in was brightly decorated for the winter holiday. The lights and gay decorations seemed a bit out of place with the palm trees and sand. The overly elaborate sleigh with the figurine in the red suit was comical with the sound of the waves on the beach below.

Jareth landed in one of the ornamental trees, the foliage covering his location. Peering in the wide window he could see the festivities. The adults were gathered around a decorated Yule tree, laughing and joking. On the floor at the feet of the woman with strawberry blond hair sat the boy. He was pouting, and not one of the adults seemed to take any notice. The host of the festivities was passing around glasses of wine and boasting of its price and its flavor. The boy's mother was the center of attention, and enjoying every moment of it.

The boy stood up and kissed his mother's cheek when he was told it was time for him to turn in. He walked toward a hallway and the bedrooms. Jareth waited, wanting to see what these adults were going to do for the child before he made a move. Not one of them, not even the mother made a move to go see to the child. Jareth felt his temper rise and took wing toward the room he know knew the boy was in. Peering in the window he could see the child lying there staring at the ceiling. He was along, no teddy bear, no statue, no mother tucking him in, no Sarah telling him stories. Even the sudden presences of the King in the room didn't seem to phase the child, and that worried Jareth.

"Toby," He called the name out after putting a spell on the room so to keep this meeting secret and private.

"You're not real," the boy sighed dejectedly. "Mommy says you're just part of Sarah's sick mind and I'm not to believe anything she says to me."

Jareth walked over to the bed, sat on the edge and looked down at the boy. "Oh, I'm not real?" The boy shook his head, "Just part of Sarah's imagination am I?" The boy nodded, and Jareth smiled. "Well than I suppose this is not real either." He drew a crystal from the air. "Do you know what this is?" He showed the orb that was glowing to the child.

Inching up, the boy sat up and gazed at the item dancing over the gloved fingers. "No…" he whispered.

"It's a gift…" Jareth teased lightly. "It will show you your dreams…" He used the same voice and phrasing he'd used with the older sister a few years earlier, and was amused by his own replication. "Do you want it?" His voice became enticing, and beguiling.

Toby looked from the orb to the man's face; cautiously he reached up to touch the smooth surface of the crystal sphere. "It's real." He gasped, and touched it again, this time placing his whole hand over the surface. "It's really real." There were tears in his beautiful eyes. "Sarah wasn't lying to me, she told me the truth…I knew it… I knew she wouldn't lie to me."

Jareth had mixed emotions about reaffirming Sarah in any manner, but seeing the joy and elation on the boy's face gave him an excuse. "Do you want it?" The boy nodded and the man slid the orb from his fingerings into the open hands of the child. "Then it's yours." He watched as the child lay back down, holding the glowing sphere eye level. Jareth looked into the orb; such powerful dreams were displayed for a child so young. The Goblin King smiled as he stroked the child's hair from his forehead. "Would you like a story, my boy?" The child nodded sleepily and fell asleep as the King told a tale of the Goblin Kingdom. When the child was sleeping peacefully the King placed a spell on the orb that it should remain with the child. He kissed the boy's forehead and left the same way he'd entered. He had planned on returning to his kingdom, having assured himself that the boy was safe. He headed toward the portal, and then found himself being pulled in another direction. Owls being wise enough not to struggle against Mother Universe, he allowed the force pulling at him to direct his flight. Soon he was moving though space to the snow covered mountain.

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Sarah pulled on her heavy coat and took Druid out of the cabin for a walk. He was not Merlin, no one could ever replace her beloved pet, but he was a good substitute. He walked at her side for a long time, when she was well out of earshot of the cabin; the girl began to speak to the dog. "Druid, I'm lost…I'm so lost." The hound looked at her with wise eyes. "I miss Toby…and Daddy…and nothing is ever going to be the same." She took a seat on the rocks looking up at the night sky. "She won't let me see him, she won't let me give him presents… she locked me out of my own house." She wailed softly.

The owl sat in the trees listening to her lament, impassive.

"It's not fair!" She bellowed and the echo bellowed back. The dog with her stirred at the harsh sound coming back at her, the girl fell to her knees crying.

The owl's heart was hardened, and he would not allow her tears to sway him. She had rejected him, now she must pay the same price he had to.

A snicker came from the rocks, dark shapes darted back and forth, the dog growled deeply. 'Say your words, and we'll take you away.' The voice promised.

The owl looked down at the girl who clung to the growling beast for strength. "No.. no…no…" She moaned.

A Goblin ventured closer, "What have you to lose?" he tormented her.

"Two years." She said to herself. "I just have to wait out two lousy years…and I can petition the courts…" She panted as she rested against the elk hound. "Just two years… I have to hang on for just two years…then I can spend time with him and she can't stop me."

"She will stop you!" Tormented the Goblin; sneering at the girl with eyes full of venom.

Shakily the girl rose, her chin sent in the same defiance she'd worn in the tunnels beneath the Labyrinth. "I beat the Labyrinth, and I can beat her as well!" She clenched her jaw. "It's a piece of cake!" She growled at the little Goblin who'd ventured too close.

The Goblin looked at her in wonder, backing down.

The owl watched as the girl pulled herself together, swiping at the tears on her cheeks. "I didn't brave the thirteen hours in the Labyrinth to loose to a wicked stepmother!" She threw back her head in rebelliousness and wrath. "Through hardships unnumbered and dangers untold I fought my way to the Goblin City! I will not be undone by one lousy stepmother! I swear I won't." She raised a fist to the heavens. "For my Kingdom is great!" The hills resounded with the conviction in the voice and the phrase, ringing for a long time with the sound. Even Jareth in owl form was impressed.

Sarah, renewed by her vow, looked more like an Amazon warrior Queen. Taking the leash in hand she retraced her steps to return to the cabin.

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Jareth had returned to his Kingdom, the sound of the girl's voice echoing still in his mind. He could not get the sound out of his head. Her defiance had pleased him at one time, and truth be told it still stirred fires within his very soul. He found himself thinking that he was delighted she was willing to fight for the boy still. No, more than willing, she was determined.

He strolled though the Labyrinth as he often did upon his return to the Kingdom. He paused at the new bridge over the bog of Stench. The new bridge didn't look much better than the last bridge. He looked down at the bog, the remains of the last bridge still sticking up as well as the rocks the beast had called. He smiled faintly.

"Sire," a voice from his past caught his attention.

Jareth turned to look at the humbled Knight. "Sir Didymus." He acknowledged the Knight. "I see the new bridge is finished."

The white mustache on the Knight's face twitched. "So I'm informed…"

"You doubt it?" Jareth pointed to the monstrosity. "It is right there, plain as the …nose on your face."

"They would not test it," protested the Knight in a tight voice. "How am I to have faith in it that it's true?"

"Judging is not your job, is it?" Jareth saw the Knight shake his head. "Your duty is to make sure none cross that bridge." He looked at the rickety construction. "This time you will not fail me."

"No, Sire." The Knight sniffed.

Jareth suddenly felt ashamed, he had never treated this mentor of his childhood so disrespectfully. "Are you well?" He asked.

"Aye…" The little Knight said softly. "Are you, sire?"

Jareth nodded, "I'm fine… never better. I have everything a man or King could ask for." Even he was not convinced by his words.

"I'd heard you've taken a bride…" Didymus knew full well the King had wed.

"Yes," the King sighed.

"My congratulations," offered the Knight cordially.

Jareth looked uncomfortable accepting the good wishes. "Thank you." He looked at the bog, thoughtfully.

Didymus also turned to look at the bog, sensing in this man the boy he'd taught. "Then it's over? Your feelings for the mortal girl?"

Jareth winced. "I've a duty as a King." He said acquiescently.

Didymus nodded, "I understand, Sire." He sniffed and looked at the King with the eyes of a Knight of the old Code. "I thank you for taking time to inspect the new bridge, Sire."

"Carry on." Jareth inclined his head before taking his leave.

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Three days after the New Year, Sarah returned home, she knew Karen was there. Steven had phoned to say that he would meet her at the house, acting on behalf of her mother who was detained overseas. She pulled into the drive way, looked at the house and marveled how one place could fill someone with such a feeling of warmth. Her belongings had been dropped off at the new studio apartment, and the trunk was empty. She planned on only taking a few things, just some clothes and some personal items she wanted close by. It was a shock to her when the front door of the house was thrown open and men in movers' uniforms came marching out of the house with Sarah's belongs. They placed them on the front lawn.

Steven drove up, as he stepped from his car he loudly ordered the men to stop what they were doing. He looked at the bewildered girl and knew this was not on her orders. He bellowed for Karen to come outside, but it was Kathy's face that peered out the window. Moving to the car he'd exited he dialed his car phone and called for the sheriff's department.

Sarah could see Toby watching her from his window; she prayed he was alone in his rooms and not being tormented by Kathy's brats.

The movers looked confused, and asked if they had done something wrong. Steven told them they were taking orders from a pair of lunatics. When the sheriff and his deputies showed up they pounded on the front door. Soon all of the neighbors were standing on doorsteps and sidewalks to get a peep at the spectacle taking place at the Williams' house. It was no laughing matter when the door was broken down, and Kathy and her children were hauled out of the house and placed in a paddy wagon. Karen came out of the house shrieking that if Sarah was leaving there was no reason her sister should be denied access to the house. Steven informed her that Kathy had no rights to the house at all, and that Sarah was not leaving, merely rooming near the college.

"College? What college, I'm not paying for that anymore!" Karen protested.

"Sarah has been awarded a scholarship and grants to complete her studies." Steven informed the woman.

Karen glared at the pair of them standing on what she felt was her porch. "I didn't sign for her to receive such benefits, there for she can't go."

"Her mother signed." Steven said coolly.

"Her tramp mother is not here." Karen pointed out, "and she's under aged, there fore I'm in charge and I say she's not going to college unless she takes business courses. Now get my sister out of that wagon!"

Steven could feel the entire neighborhood watching. "Karen, you're sister is going to jail for violating the restraining order, and her children are going to go into the system as well." He was calm to the point of being like a mannequin. "Unless you back down right now, that is."

Karen's eye flashed hot lava at Sarah. "This is you're doing!"

Steven cleared his throat, "Karen, do you want your niece and nephew in the system?"

The strawberry blond swallowed hard, "No…"

Steven looked at Sarah, "Go into the house with this deputy and gather what you need." He sent a warning look at Karen as the girl moved into the house. He looked at the moving men who were milling about. "What did this woman tell you to do?"

The crew leader pointed toward the wagon, "That one told us to clear the bedroom up there on the corner of the house… and she told us we didn't have to be careful with what she called the junk furniture. If this is junk I'm Rip Van Winkle." He scoffed. "We moved this down carefully, because I don't want to be sued. But that girl in the paddy wagon was in the room… tearing things up pretty bad."

Sarah stood in the doorway of what had been her room, looking at the devastation wreaked by Terry. The Deputy swore under his breath and placed a hand on the girl to support her, knowing that if it affected him, it had to be that much worse for her. Toby was in his room down the hall and Sarah could hear him whimpering mournfully. She looked at the Deputy and moved toward the sounds of tears. The four year old boy sat mournfully on the floor, in his hands were the shattered remains of the statuette of a Goblin King.

Looking up though his tears he sobbed, "Todd killed him….he killed the King."

Sarah entered the boy's room and taking him into her arms rocked him until the room was filled with the sounds of silence. She looked up to the Deputy. "Can I as a minor press charges against another minor?"

The Deputy scratched his head, "That's a new one on me, Missy… I think you'd better ask your lawyer."

Sarah left Toby in the company of the protective officer. She looked past her stepmother to her father's partner. "Can I press charges against another minor?"

"With the aid of a guardian, yes." Steven said curtly.

Sarah looked at the Sheriff, "Arrest both Terry and Todd." She walked past Karen again and went up to her room.

Karen followed her, grabbing at her arm and nearly toppling them both. "What do you think you're doing? You can't order an arrest!"

With strength she was never aware of, Sarah pulled her stepmother toward Toby's room where he sat holding the broken statue. "That's what your precious Todd did…he terrorized your own son and you've been oblivious to it!" Hauling the woman down the hall she pointed to the destruction of her belongings. "And this is Terry's work. Now tell I can't have them arrested."

Karen looked like a deer caught in the headlights. "No, they wouldn't… they couldn't…"

Sarah shook the woman. "They would, they could and they did!" She growled. "Wake up Karen and smell the coffee…they are users and you're their victim."

Shoving the girl off Karen sobbed, turned and ran to her own room, locking the door.

Sarah went into her room and collapsed on the floor, from the wall a voice whispered. 'Say your right words.' She looked toward the sound and hissed. "Shut the hell up."

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Steven signed the order, and Terry and Todd as well as their mother were all taken to the sheriff's office to be processed. He stayed at the house; having called a friend with a truck, he told Sarah her furnishings would be safer if placed in storage. Sarah would have preferred to take the vanity and bed and other things to the studio, but it was already furnished and there was not room. Karen was coaxed out of her room by Steven when Sarah was seated outside in the rented car. Toby was at the window waving goodbye to his sister, and holding onto the love worn bear. He looked up at his mother with pained eyes, and went to his room as soon as Sarah had driven away. He raised the mattress and shoved Lancelot back in his safe place. The room was again filled with the sounds of silence.