Chapter 16. The Pink Princess or You married Barbie!

Sarah saw relief in the King's eyes, even as he held onto the mask of haughtiness. Silently she allowed the Princess to tell the King that she'd decided against changing the dinning hall after all. She smiled at Sarah, and said. "I want Sarah as one of my ladies in waiting."

Jareth buried his face in his hands. "No." He said darkly.

"But I want her." Adrianna stomped her foot angrily. "I want to play with her."

Breanna was standing off to the side, watching the conflict. Zoan made a hasty exit, fearing a renewed threat of pink garments. Toby and George returned to playing with the toys in the pit.

Jareth looked at his bride. "Sarah is not a toy," he warned.

Suddenly turning coy, the Pink Princess wound her fingers in her husband's cape. "I'm sure that Sarah would like to play with both of us, Jarikins." Swiftly the girl turned and looked at Sarah with an enthusiastic gleam. "Besides, she'll look splendid in pink!"

"No." Sarah spoke up and saw surprise on the faces of both the Fae standing to either side of her. "Mortal in the middle is over, do you both hear me?" She looked at the Princess with a very stern expression. "I'm not wearing pink, do you hear me?"

Pouting the Princess nodded. "I still want you as a lady in waiting." She murmured.

Looking at Sarah, Jareth's eyes lit up. "Sarah cannot be a lady in waiting." He pointed to the shawl that the mortal girl wore. "She's a Bard, Adrianna, and that's a far higher station than Lady in Waiting."

Capturing Sarah's hand, Adrianna pulled the Bard close. "But I don't want her to leave." She protested like a child.

Jareth looked at Sarah, his eyes filled with hunger and longing. "She's not leaving us. She's going to stay here at court and be our Bard."

Breanna watched the scene playing out before her, the mortal girl with her mouth agape, the Pink Princess literally leaping for joy and the Goblin King looking like a cat with a canary. Then there were the boys, playing in the pit and for the most part ignoring the silly adults standing over them.

Jareth felt a tug on his cape, he looked down at Toby. "Yes?"

"I'm hungry." Toby whispered urgently.

"Oh dear, it is time for me to get them some food. They've not eaten since breakfast…we were going to have something at the festival." Sarah turned her attention to the boys. "I'm sorry boys…I see to getting you something."

"Thanks mum." Georgie said still playing with the toys in the pit.

Toby nodded, "Thanks Mum."

"Mum?" Jareth raised a brown, "How is it they call you, mum?"

Sarah blushed, "Laird Brodie thought if I were presented to strangers as Widow McFadden… a widow with two sons…. I'd attract less… unwanted attentions."

The sounds of many feet drew Sarah's attention toward the door where a flash of color scampered by. Adrianna heard the lilt of laughter and pulled Sarah's hand, "Come on, it's time for more games."

Sarah held back. "Princess, I must see to the boys first… before I do anything. I have obligations that come before having fun."

The pretty Princess sighed, "Well, come to me when you're free… you can't miss my pavilion… its pink…" She turned and skipped off.

Sarah observed the exit and silently turned to Jareth. For a moment she said nothing, for she could not find words to express the confusion her mind was in. "Is she on the level?" Sarah finally expelled the words with force as she hitched her thumb in the direction the princess had exited in.

Jareth stared in the direction his Bride had gone. "I wonder that myself sometimes." He looked down at Sarah. Before he could speak there was the peel of girlish laughter and he winced.

Breanna moved forward, "Bard, what say we take these fine lads down to the kitchen and allow cook to spoil them with wonderful foods?"

"Sarah," Jareth motioned toward the older Fae woman. "This is Princess Breanna, the daughter of the High King…and my mother."

Looking at the older woman, Sarah suddenly felt as if there were someone nearly sane in the room. "I'm happy to meet you Princess Breanna. And I think that's a wonderful suggestion. Which way is the Kitchen?

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The servants of the King were a mix of races, some Goblin, some Elf, and some Fae. The Kitchen staff was mostly elf, but there were Goblins as well. The cook was only too happy to serve the King and the lads he had in tow. There seemed to be a great deal of activity and Jareth explained that most of it was in preparations for the state dinner being held later that evening.

Jareth sighed heavily. "At least she didn't change the dinning hall." He looked over at Sarah who was nibbling slowly on some crusty bread and cheese. "How did you manage to talk her out of her madness?"

"I told her it was inappropriate." Sarah said calmly. She put the rest of her food down. "So Goblin King, what do you intend to do with us now?"

His mother looked at him as well. "I would like to hear that also. OH and how are you going to explain this to your Grandsire?"

"You," Jareth directed his comment to Sarah. "And the boys will reside here in the palace." He reached for Toby and drew him up to his lap. "I will have rooms prepared for you… a small suite of rooms in my wing. I will allow you to go on protecting the heir and .." he smiled at Georgie kindly, "His companion."

"You told your wife…." Sarah hesitated.

"That I'm making you the court Bard, quite so." Jareth kept his sarcasm to himself, not wanting to upset the child in his lap. "If you've finished eating, I'm sure Brodie has seen to it that your belongings have been delivered. Come with me and we'll get you settled."

Breanna sat with her cup of tea, watching the Bard leave with the King. She tapped her chin with long fingers as she contemplated the situation. A Goblin tugged gently at her skirt and asked if she were going to help the King. "No, little one, this is one mess his mother cannot help him with."

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Brodie and his son stood in the entry hall of the castle each carried the items belonging to the Bard and her children. Thom's face was long and disappointed; Colyne's was set in resolution. Goblin Guards halted them, and made them wait.

Jareth was leading the woman and her children when he saw the men standing at the entry hall. "Brodie," He called down to him. "Do you have the Bard's belongings?"

"Aye Sire." The Laird called back.

"Bring them," the King ordered.

Jareth held the hand of the blond boy, "Have you had a nice adventure so far, my boy?" He asked.

Thom looked up, hearing the king call Toby his boy.

Toby smiled up at the King with a look of true affection on his features. "Oh yes, a wonderful adventure… we've been chased by villains, and rescued in the woods…and I learned to fish."

"Did you?" The King was doting on the boy.

Thom's face became dark with concern and uneasiness.

The King had led them to the floor his chamber was on, motioning toward a suite of rooms that were being readied. "Here we are. Sarah, I do hope it's to your liking, if there's the least thing you don't like….I'll change it."

Sarah entered the rooms, the appointments were not lavish, but they were comfortable. "This is very nice, Sire." She said quietly. A pair of Elf maids approached the Brodie men, the relived them of the objects belonging to the Bard and the boys. Sarah walked over to the Laird, she laid her hands in his. "Thank you for keeping us safe." She addressed him with warmth and consideration. "In the Bard wagon is a quilt I just finished. It was started by Lorna… and I think I'd like Fiona to have it… she admired it so."

"She will treasure it, Sarah darlin'." Colyne raised her hands and kissed them. "May the roads be kind to thee…"

"And to thee." Sarah replied. She then looked at Thom, but he turned away wordlessly before she could speak. She hung her head for a moment.

Gloved hands slid down over her shoulders, past her forearms and came to rest just below her breasts. Firmly, possessively he pulled her back against him, side of his face resting along side her head. "Let them go." He whispered. "Don't make it harder for him. He knows he can never have you."

Clasping her hands, Sarah nodded.

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Colyne felt the anger and betrayal his son was feeling directed at him. "If you have something to say, say it." He halted the lad on the steps leading up to the castle. They were at the bottom of the stairs, and just yards away from the Princess's Pink Pavilion.

"Why didn't you tell me Sarah was the King's mistress?" the words were hateful and spat out with venom. "Why didn't you tell me her son Toby was the King's heir?"

"I warned you not to be free with your affections toward Sarah." Colyne argued hotly. "I told you from the start that her fate lay not with you."

Thom slammed a hand on the stone balustrade, the sound was explosive. "To watch him pack her over his shoulder, and slap her on the bottom like a common tavern wench…."

"Thom… He is the King… and she belongs to him. Did you hear her deny it?" Colyne kept his voice calm and reasonable. "Sarah belongs to the King, she was never free to give herself to you…did she ever once even hint that she was interested in ye?"

The younger Brodie sighed deeply. "No." He moaned. "I thought it was that she was mourning…." He looked at his father. "She's no widow, is she?"

"No." His father sighed. "She was never a widow."

Thom shoved his hands in his pockets and walked away from the castle.

In the Pink Pavilion, a girl in a Pink gown wore a thoughtful expression on her pretty face. She had been standing at the entrance and had heard the entire conversation. She looked over her shoulder at the girls playing and smiled.

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Jareth had not relinquished his hold; his fingers hardened their grasp, clutching her closer. His lips were now at her ear. "You are mine, now and always, Sarah."

"You're married." She reminded him.

The fingers flexed and held her closer. "It matters not."

"It matters to me." She whispered, closing her eyes and bemoaning her fate. "Because of me, a good man goes from here with a broken heart."

"He is not the only one." The King's voice intoned darkly. "You have always been careless with the hearts of men, haven't you, my dear?"

Turning her face to his, she blinked, her green eyes looking like pale jewels. "I didn't mean to be."

Jareth could feel the change in her breathing and had the boys not been there in the room he would not have been able to resisting taking her. "How many men have you broken, I wonder." He whispered his expression filled with dark longing.

The maids quietly stood keeping their eyes obverted, not wishing to witness the King's indiscrestion. Their presence was going ignored; it was the boys who caught his attention and caused him to release his hold of the woman. The maids later told some of the other staff that the hold the King used on the Bard was not one of a sexual nature; it was more of a domineering declaration.

Jareth left the little sitting room and looked at the boys' bedroom. "Is everything to your liking my lads?" He smiled when they pronounced the room perfect. He turned to Sarah. "Perhaps you'd care to see your bedchamber now, Bard." He motioned with his hand for Sarah to open the door.

Sarah's hand trembled, looking at the King she warned sharply. "This had better not be Pink."

Jareth shook his head, "You are not pink, Sarah."

The door opened to a bedchamber in jeweled tones, blues and greens and amber. She gasped looking at the sumptuousness and opulence of it all. "This can't be for me." She moved back. "It's too grand."

Roughly gloved hands closed in on her shoulders. "It's all for you… it's always been for you."

Fearfully she wanted to back away from the room, but was prevented by the hard body that blocked her retreat. "Jareth, please…don't…" she whispered as he propelled her into the room and followed her in. She looked at him; his hand pulled the door closed. They were alone, in a room that was designed for more than just sleeping. "You're married." She whispered.

Jareth removed his cape. "So you keep reminding me." He began to unfasten his Jerkin and soon it too was on the floor with his cape. He stood before her in only the poet shirt and breeches and boots. "Come here, Sarah."

Unwillingly she moved closer, like a moth dancing into a flame. She could feel her lower lip tremble, but forced her expression on her face to remain stony. Defiantly she set her jaw, remembering this was a King with a grudge. She stood looking up at him, forcing herself not to flinch. Jareth extended one hand to her shoulder and pulled off the Bardic shawl, depositing it on the ground with his cape.

"Let us have an understanding." He said placing the hand that hand removed her shawl to her waist. Slowly it moved to the small of her back and he pulled her firmly to him. "You are a subject of the King. And the King expects obedience."

"Does the King expect me to stand still while he ravishes me?" Sarah asked spitefully.

Mismatched eyes flashed with anger. "If and when the King decides to ravish you, yes." Unexpectedly, he abruptly thrust her aside. "You are now the court Bard… I would have you come and entertain us this evening after our dinner. I hope you have a good tale to tell." He snapped fingers and his discarded garments were over his arm. "I shall have garments brought for you. You will dine with the boys, see to their needs. An escort will come for you." He bowed toward her and vanished.

Stooping to retrieve her Bardic shawl she muttered. "I don't know why you're so all fired arrogant," she sat down on the bed, hugging the shawl closer. "You married Barbie!"

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Adrianna paced her bedchamber, her thoughts were flooding her mind with emotions she was not ready to process. Ona watched her mistress pacing. "What evil game are you playing at now?" She shook a warning finger at the Princess. "You're playing with fire my girl…. Asking that the Sarah be a lady in waiting…what were you thinking?"

Adrianna continued to pace. "I wanted to be sure she stayed close."

Ona scoffed. "You really think he'd allow that one to escape his grasp yet again? Have you learned nothing of a man's vanity?"

The Princess in Pink paused. "His vanity?"

The old maid was setting out the gown for the evening, yet another pink confection. "Aye, his vanity…" She looked at the girl she'd helped raise. "You do know who that girl is don't you?"

"She's a Traveler Bard…." The girl stated, "One in whom the King has had an on going interest."

Fingers on the hand of the older woman snapped. "Wake up, Adrianna… that is no Traveler! And no mistress of the King either. That is Sarah Williams! The champion of the Labyrinth… and the boy with her, the wee blond boy is the brother she wished away and fought thought the Labyrinth to win back."

"Sarah Williams… the girl the King loves." Adrianna collapsed to the floor. "This malady must be making me addled brained, Ona." She pointed to a goblet. "My herbs, please."

The older woman poured a mixture into the goblet and handed it to the girl. "Yes, Sarah Williams."

Adrianna laughed softly. "That explains so much. The girl the King loves…." She sipped the mixture in the goblet. "Perhaps I can use his vanity," she said in a voice far more mature than the breathy utterances she used in public. "This Sarah Williams may be more than just the champion of the Labyrinth, Ona…. She may be my savior as well."