Chapter 25. Last wishes

Jareth sat beside his princess, so frail, so pale so quiet. He held her hand, wondering if she was even aware that he was there. "How much potion did you give her?" He asked the Fae woman who was still standing in the room under guard.

"Only two drops…" Rosalind sighed. "I wanted her quiet, not dead." She groused.

Breanna scowled at her. "I can not fathom what you were thinking!"

"Can't you?" Rosalind shot back with venom. "I've heard all about you Princess Breanna….you're not above using trickery to get what you want!"

"I never gave sleeping potion to a dying girl." Breanna replied with just as much venom. "All of my victims, as they have been called were only too willing." He eyes danced with wickedness; "Including your own father."

Rosalind moved forward before the stronger hands of her guards pulled her back. She rested again on the wall and glared.

The healer looked down at the princess, her lips were moving and she was trying to speak. Jareth looked down as well; he leaned forward and heard the request. "We're sending for her now, dearest." He assured the girl who seemed against all odds to be awakening. "Try to rest." He looked at the Healer then at Rosalind.

"She'll be too late," Rosalind smirked; "Pity." She now leaned on the wall more relaxed as she watched the King try to comfort the dying girl. "Soon you'll have no Royal Princess and no lover… poor Jareth."

Breanna glared at the unfeeling other, "I'd be more worried about my own fate was I you…. My father doesn't take it well when others interfere with our family."

Rosalind smiled as if she were hardly worried about anything. "Yes, but he's so busy… and I'm sure he could care less what happens to a mortal…"

"Then perhaps you don't know me at all." A voice, deathly quiet and more powerful than any Rosalind had ever heard filled the room. Everyone in the room became aware they were no longer alone in the chamber. Light was the first physical sign of the manifestation of the High King. He appeared in all his Royal splendor, his face grim as he looked at the Fae woman with red hair. "You were saying?" Jareth bowed to his Grandsire, welcoming him.

Breanna moved to her father's side. "Hello Daddy." She said warmly.

Oberon gently touched her face. "Child," He moved past her to look down at the stricken girl in the bed. "Jareth, I swear to you I had no idea that she was also infected."

Jareth nodded, "I know, she and her father hid the secret well." His voice was compassionate and tender. "Adrianna would and did sacrifice everything to be sure her lands were safely in the hands of the Goblin King."

There was commotion in the hall, Elvin voices crying out jeers and complaints, Goblins and Hobgoblins uttering obscenities in their own tongue, and scuffling. Oberon and Breanna entered the main hall to witness a group of Hobgoblins protecting a mortal girl from the Elvin mob who'd gathered to prevent her from getting to the Princess's chamber.

"What is the meaning of this?" the High King roared. Seeing His Imperial Majesty standing before them, the Elves dropped their arms and fell to their knees. The Hobgoblins stood circled about the mortal, not trusting the Elves. The Mortal girl silently peered at the High King with enormous green eyes that were absent of fear. "You are Sarah?" He asked, when she nodded he motioned her forward. "So you are the cause of all this commotion?"

Sarah shrugged, her face calm facing the High King.

Oberon snickered to himself, she reminded him of other human's he'd had the pleasure of encountering. "Well what do you have to say for yourself?"

Pointing to her mouth, Sarah shook her head.

Oberon took her by the arm, "Prince Zoan would you and your guards come with us, please." He pointedly ignored the Elves. "Princess Adrianna will be comforted that you are again near her, my dear child."

Sarah entered the room walking past one and all and taking her place on the edge of the bed. She raised the hand of her dying friend and held it to her lips, to let the other know she was there.

Oberon turned to the Fae woman who was glaring at Sarah. "You have one chance to undo all your mischief. Take the spell off Sarah's voice."

Rosalind leaned on the wall again. "Not in this lifetime."

The High King sighed, "Is that your final word?" He asked.

"It is." She crossed her arms again, thinking she'd outwitted them all.

Oberon nodded, and raised his hand. "Inverto." He said quietly, but his word vibrated though the space. A light shown on both Sarah and Rosalind when it vanished the High King spoke to Sarah. "Say something."

Placing a hand to her throat she timidly tried. "What should I say?" She looked surprised but pleased. "Thank you." She said to the High King.

Rosalind opened her mouth to protest, and no sound would come. She grabbed her throat in frustration. Oberon smiled, ferally. "I gave you an opportunity and you choose not to take it." He watched her carefully. "Your crimes are many, and I am most displeased by you. I here by bind your powers for a period of two hundred years. During that time you will serve as a servant in my court. If you repent during that time I shall restore your powers, if not… then you will be forever a Fae without powers." He waved his wrist and she was gone.

Adrianna opened her eyes slightly. "Sarah." She whispered.

"I'm here, dear heart." Sarah replied softly. "Rest."

"No…must say…." The girl fought to keep her voice. "Take care of Jareth…." She pleaded with her friend. "He thinks he's strong…but he…is not always…"

"I know." Sarah looked over at the man who was coming to sit with them both. "I'll take care of him."

"My people will love you, my Sarah." Adrianna sighed in peacefulness. "I've placed my mark on you… and I'm giving you more than just my husband…."

Sarah blinked away the tears that were coming to her eyes. "I don't understand."

"You are mortal… no…longer…. I have made you…changeling." Adrianna smiled. "All those hours… we spent… I was able to… alter you… in time… you will be Fae."

Jareth placed his hand on Sarah's shoulder. "Woman did you not trust me to do that?"

The Pink Princess gave him a soft gaze, "No, husband I didn't." She turned back to Sarah. "Promise to look after Ona… she's been so good to me…"

"I promise…" Sarah kissed the hand again. "Ona will be treated like family."

The maid was now sitting on the other side of the bed, she wept.

Adrianna looked past Sarah, into the eyes of her husband. "I did love you, you know. I do love you… enough to be sure you're with the one true love of your life."

He nodded, "I love you too, my princess." His voice trembled with raw emotions.

"Don't hate me Sarah, but I envy you being able to…couple with this man…. I so would have loved to have warmed his bed." The girl growled softly and then moaned. "I'm not afraid…"

Sarah held the hand tighter. "I know you're not. You're the bravest woman I've ever known."

The dying princess looked up to the High King and hid Daughter. "Princess Breanna, you should make the Labyrinth your home now…" she was encouraging. "Jareth and Sarah's court will need your gifts, and you need to stop wandering about…" She looked to the High King. "I thank you for all you've done for my people, Sire."

Oberon placed his hands on Breanna's shoulders. "I'll see to it that Breanna stays here, Adrianna. You are right; she should not wander any longer. Your lands will never again be challenged, they are once more a part of the Goblin Kingdom evermore."

Looking up at Sarah and Jareth the princess smiled, closed her eyes and passed.