Chapter 16. The Solstice promise

Riha began keeping secrets from Sarah. She had not intended to, but she found that she could not confide in her cousin her soul's content. There grew between them a dark silence that Riha covered with trips to the Library and time alone with Conner. When she and Sarah were together she found herself staring at the cousin she had gown to love with worried eyes.

Sarah had not taken notice of the growing silence, for she thought her cousin was reflecting on the growing feelings towards Conner Channing. Sarah herself had begun to study the books given her by Mrs. Channing and began a daily practice of solitude. Times when in the light of a candle she would reflect and contemplate her fate.

Megan watched the girls during those days that followed the Thanksgiving break. The end of the semester was upon them and the winter break was coming quickly. She seethed each time she saw the handsome blond man talking to Sarah. Her hate blinded her reason, and she began to make a plot to destroy not just Sarah's reputation, but her very life. Others watched Sarah's movements for her and reported to her. Megan had lost all interest in the Irish girl, all her hate was centered on Sarah.

Sarah began marking days off on a calendar, looking forward to Christmas. Yet before Christmas was the Solstice and the party to be given by Mrs. Channing for the High Feast. The last official day of school was supposed to be the twenty second. But by Wednesday, the day of Solstice the school was pretty much a graveyard of activity. Many of the students had left at the beginning of the week for an extended vacation. Megan and Ellen and Whitney were among the first to vacate the premises.

The cast had been removed from Riha's foot, and with the aid of a walking stick she was getting around fairly well. Her foot looked a bit shriveled, but the doctors had told her it would be only a short time before she'd be using it again if she kept up with her exercises. She had chosen a pair of easy to wear flats to go with the party dress she wore for the evening's festival. The flats were easier on her feet than boots or high heels. She waited quietly while Sarah finished dressing in the plaid skirt and vest she'd chosen. Her mind on the silence and the secrets she was holding. Looking up her mouth dropped as Sarah came toward her.

"Sweet Saints above us." She gasped. "You look like your great gran."

Sarah blushed. "Thank you."

Officer Smyth came to the door to let them know Conner was waiting for them in the parking lot. Since the accident they had been very careful to keep visits limited to when Sarah's parents were present to act as chaperones. Conner waited down at the car, keeping it warm for Riha. Sarah was a little disappointed when she saw that Jareth was not with him. Her heart sunk when Conner said that he'd received a call saying that Jareth might not be able to make the gathering as something had come up. Sarah had not received such a call and wondered if the man had begun to loose interest in the romance. Sitting in the back seat of Conner's Car, Sarah wished she'd stayed home instead of going to the party. She painted on a half hearted smile by the time they arrived at the Channing home.

Mrs. Channing, dressed in a long gown greeted each guest handing them a holly wrapped taper. When the bulk of her guests had arrived, she had everyone form a spiral circle in the parlor, from the center of which she stood and lit the taper of the person standing next to her. Each taper lit the next one and she gave the solstice prayer.

"We circle round creating sacred space,
invoking from the Heavens holy grace.
We call the Gods to guard our solemn rite,
and ward this hallowed ground with walls of light.
Let sky above and earth below unite,
a bond established by Olympic might.
Let fear and discord leave without a trace,
and peace prevail within this holy place.

Let word be deed by this decree.
As it is said, so must it be!
Sit verbum factum hoc decreto.
Ut dictum est, sic statim fiat!"

Mrs. Channing then raised a wide brimmed goblet from the little table she stood beside in the center of the room. "May this cup of cheer touch all our souls and stay with us though out this coming year." She took a sip and passed it on. Each person took a sip and passed the cup to the next person.

When the cup reached Sarah she was about to refuse it when a voice said to her softly. "It's mulled cider, take a sip." Sarah turned to see the mismatched eye of the one she thought was not coming. Taking a sip she passed the cup to him. He sipped and passed it on, leaning closer he said quietly. "She would not serve wine to this large a group. Too many under aged participants, besides mulled cider was the drink of choice with her clan. Wine was not easily had."

Mrs. Channing motioned Riha to come forward, the Irish girl recited a poem and when she finished Conner came forward. He placed a wreath of holly and ivy into the girl's hair. Lifting her hands into his, he spoke. "Before this our assembled kith and kin, I ask thee for thy hand."

Riha held his hands to her heart. "Before this our assembled kith and kin, I do here by accept your request. Here is my hand, give me thine." Conner took her left hand, slipped a Claddagh ring on her ring finger and kissed her hand. He then looked at his mother and nodded.

Mrs. Channing took a cloth form the table and wrapped the joined hands.

"We swear by peace and love to stand,
Heart to heart and hand to hand.
Mark, O spirit, and hear us now,
Confirming this our sacred vow." She said and they repeated the vow. Mrs. Channing held a hand over each of them and said clearly. "Let it be celebrated, that Conner and Rhiannon have this day hand fasted to one another and in one years time will wed."

The guests applauded loudly and Conner and Rhiannon moved though the spiral to receive well wishes. Mrs. Channing collected all the tapers in a sand bucket. Sarah looked at Jareth, dressed in the most formal outfit she'd seen him in. "I thought you weren't coming."

"I almost didn't make it. We had a legal problem and I nearly called your father!" Jareth said as she led Sarah to a little alcove. "I've been in the state capital all day, playing politics, hence the suit."

"You clean up good." She teased.

Jareth shrugged. "So did you know about the hand-fasting?"

"No, came as a complete surprise to me." Sarah admitted looking around for the other couple. "I really should yell at her… You think living with someone you'd know what they are up to."

Jareth leaned closer. "Does Riha know all your little secrets?"

"No." Sarah blushed as she spoke. "Does anyone know all yours?"

"No." He growled, his eyes dancing wickedly. "What time do you leave tomorrow?"

"We're on the noon train." Sarah said quietly. "We've each got one class in the morning. And then it's off to sugar plum heaven. Karen is cooking up a storm, and she's had the tree up since the day after thanksgiving. I swear one year she's going to stick it up on Halloween."

Jareth laughed heartily. "Consider yourself lucky. I can't even get home for the season. Too much going on here, I'll be having my Yule with the boys."

"Ah the ever present Hog, Lou and Shamus eh? So where are they tonight?" she teased, Still trying to find her cousin.

Jareth looked around and then pulled her by the hand out of the parlor and down the stairs that lead out side. "Come on, too crowded here and too many distractions."

"I don't think I should…. What if Riha is looking for me?" Sarah asked.

Jareth looked at her and smiled. "Come on." He was not taking no as an answer. He guided her out the door and toward a car that looked totally out of place in the parking lot of the shop. He opened the passenger door and waited until she was seated, then he closed the door soundly and moved swiftly into the driver's seat. "Time to blow this pop stand," He said gunning the engine. "We need somewhere more private."

Sarah fastened her seat belt, "I thought we were coming out to your car to talk."

He gave her a devious smile and drove into the night. He drove past the town center, and past the businesses. Past the school and then past the few houses on the outskirts of town. He headed toward the hillside. "Don't look so worried Kitten." He teased. "We're just going somewhere we can talk without having to worry about what we say."

"It's a bit cold for your hillside castle, Jareth."

He pulled past the hillside cutoff and toward another road. "That's true." He motioned up the road. "There's a little inn here, only open during the ski season."

Sarah looked and saw the German styled building. "Oh that's so cute."

"Cute." He shook his head. "Women."

Sarah laughed, "You sound like daddy. He's always chiding Karen for finding things cute." Jareth parked his car, stepped into the cold night air to come around to her side to open the door. His hand was held out to her, and she left the car without complaint.

The little ski inn was quiet, just as Jareth had said it would be. There were only a few people sitting in the bar, and the dinning room was nearly empty. The materdee who'd met them at the door recognized Jareth immediately and greeted him cordially. He escorted them personally to a table in a corner that was reserved for them.

"I called ahead." Jareth said smugly.

"Pretty sure of yourself, aren't you?" Sarah asked as her chair was held out for her.

"I am always sure of my self." Jareth admitted. "What's more, I'm sure of you as well." He seated himself and ordered an aperitif for himself and sparkling water for Sarah. He smiled over at her confidently. "I'm a man who knows his own mind, Sarah. I'm not afraid to speak it."

"I've noticed." She studied him with the eyes of an artist awakening. "I suppose you even told Conner that we'd be leaving."

"I did indeed." Jareth sipped his drink when it was served. "Much as I enjoy a good Solstice gathering, I prefer to spend sometime alone with you." Reaching into his jacket he pulled out a small velvet box. "I've something for you, Sarah." He slid the box across the table. "Think of it as a Solstice gift."

Sarah looked at the box now sitting before her. "A Solstice gift?" Her eyes met his, and she pursed her lips.

"For heaven's sake woman, open it…it's not going to bite you, it doesn't have any teeth." Jareth teased.

Trembling fingers raised the lid of the little velvet box, a gasp of pleasure escaped Sarah's lips. "Oh Jareth, it's beautiful."

He stood up and removed the precious necklace from the case and drew it across her neck. "Shooting stars, so you'll always remember the night you promised yourself to me." When the clasp was connected, he let the necklace settle. Bending down he placed a kiss to her temple, then returned to his seat. "Our path lies between those stars, my dear."

Sarah fingered the silvery stars with little diamonds in their hearts. "This is so beautiful, so thoughtful."

"I'm glad you like it, Sarah." His voice was smooth as silk and delicately intimate. He reached a hand across the table.

Sarah placed her hand in his. "I wasn't expecting a gift…" She confessed. "Not until Christmas at least."

"This has nothing to do with Christmas, dear." Jareth stated. "Consider this your hand fasting gift."

"I didn't think the English honored the old tradition of hand fasting." Sarah mused.

Jareth chuckled softly. "They don't Sarah… I'm Welsh, we are a Celtic people, hand fasting is still honored among us."

"I see." Sarah felt as light as air. "There seems to be a great deal I need to learn about you."

"In time, Sarah;" He winked. "We've all the time in the world…now." The waiter brought over food and set it on the table. "I took the liberty of ordering our meal when I made our reservation." He nodded to the waiter who set things down and quietly, discreetly made his exit. "I think you'll enjoy the fare here, they have quiet the reputation with the snow birds."

"Snow birds?" Sarah asked.

"That's one of the names give to the ski crowd, darling." Jareth explained. "Do you ski?"

"No, I fall down." Sarah snickered at herself.

Jareth smiled at her, "I'll teach you." He promised kindly. "I look forward to teaching you many things, Sarah."

"That sounds slightly dangerous and very suggestive, Mr. King."

Jareth quietly agreed. "Indeed, Miss Williams…indeed."

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Sarah felt a pang of regret when it came time to leave the inn. She had toughly enjoyed the meal and Jareth's company. He settled her in the car and then after strapping himself in started the engine. Sarah knew the hour was growing late, and that he was going to be taking her back to Bell Hall. Part of her wished that the evening could go on forever, that they didn't have to end this Solstice evening. She wished that she could tell the man, but feared he'd just laugh. So she kept the thought to herself as the car moved down the hillside.

Jareth pulled the car off to the side road that was the frontage road to his property on the mountain. When she looked at him quizzically he smiled. As they rounded the bend that would bring them to the clearing he'd shown her, she noticed three men sitting around a campfire. "One last stop." Jareth said pulling the car over. Coming around to her door, he teased. "Do hurry, we don't want to miss this."

Sarah wished she'd worn boots as snow slipped into her shoes. "Miss what?"

Jareth pointed up as they reached the edge of the hillside where Hog, Lou and Shamus had built a small fire to keep warm. "That." He pulled Sarah back against his chest and pointed up.

A meteor shower filled the sky, giving a light show few would even notice. Sarah could not have been more pleased or awed. Jareth whispered in her ear. "I'll leave my love between the stars, Sarah…and you'll always be able to find it."

"Jareth King… you amaze me." She sighed.

Hog, Lou and Shamus gathered behind the couple, protectively.

"Happy Solstice, my dear." Jareth kissed her cheek.

"Happy Solstice, Jareth." She snuggled into his embrace.