Sorry this took so long to get finished. Haven't really felt in the mood to write and I recently got a new job so I haven't really had the time. Very excited about hearing what you all think about it. XD
*In the Castle*
Laenalith had tried several unsuccessful times to summon her Majesty to her side. The child that had been brought to the castle was pacing and very agitated. He kept spouting nonsense about "how the orcs would pay" and "how dare they attempt to hurt his sister". She was still unsure of what the young one was really talking about. There were only rare circumstances where the occupants of the Underground were permitted to enter the Aboveground let alone interfere in the lives of said individuals. Would anyone in their right mind actually risk the wrath of the High King?
*At Hoggle's*
He had fended off Sarah's questions so as not to tell her anything that Kai didn't want her to know. Apparently she didn't remember much. Sarah was pacing, a bad habit that she had picked up from Jareth. She remembered Krystal telling her that there was a man who had wished to speak with her at the door. When she got to the door the man had seemed, somehow, familiar. She didn't remember anything after that other then the green hand that had reached for her over the head of the man. She stopped suddenly, her blood running cold. Her children were in the house. Granted Kai and Toby had been there but Toby had no magic. Kai would have kept them safe but she knew that he had come down to check on her and look for Jareth. Beginning to panic she calmed slightly when she saw her son enter the building.
"Kai! How are Krystal and Kenyon?" The question was out of her mouth before she realized that the Goblin King was standing behind his son. She recognized that she had placed herself in an awkward position but at the moment she didn't care. Kai gauged her reaction to his father and knew that she still expected an answer.
"They are both safe and well. I'm not sure that I can say much for their emotional states, however Kenyon is at the castle being attended to by Laenalith and Krystal is in the care of Uncle Toby." Sarah burst into tears of relief.
"So what had happened?"
"Toubard and Soubias had decided to follow my magic trail. So when I came to inform you that father wished a meeting they decided to have a meeting of their own. They brought a troll with them. We only got to you after you had lost consciousness. I fought with them as best I could but I, alone, am not a match for two monarchs. I was forced to find father for aid. It seems though that Krystal had a great idea and wished Kenyon away to save his life."
"So the boy at my castle, his name is Kenyon." All eyes turned to the Goblin King. "From what Laenalith has told me he appeared at the castle in a terrible state."
"You mean you don't know? When I had come to fetch you and couldn't sense you Hoggle had told me that someone had wished a child away and I had assumed that you had gone to get him."
"I was surprised when I felt the spike of magic signaling that a child had been brought to the Underground." Both King and Prince stood there speculating over the recent events but Sarah knew what had happened.
"She did it. She tapped into her power and sent him here." Both sets of eyes turned to her. Hoggle was making himself scarce and looking busy so as not to interrupt. Without another word Sarah teleported herself to the throne room. There was Kenyon pacing the room as a worried elf looked on. Placing a hand on the woman's arm Sarah met her eyes. The woman was startled to see someone that she didn't recognize but relaxed when her Lord and Prince entered shortly after.
"Sarah what is going on here?" Hearing the name of his mother the boy stopped his pacing. As soon as their eyes met tears began to stream down his cheeks and he rushed into her waiting arms.
"They were after her. I couldn't stop them. They want to take her from us." Sarah rubbed her son's back trying to calm the sobbing boy.
"Sarah I will ask again, what is going on here?" This is not how Sarah had wanted to tell him. Actually if she had it her way there would be no telling him at all. However if there were Underground nobility after them, she had no choice.
"Jareth, this may come as a surprise to you but you need to know something. After I went back Aboveground…" Kai looked knowingly at his mother and produced a crystal. Throwing it into the air it fell back to the earth and shattered. Glitter showered around two people that had now joined them in the throne room. It seemed that Krystal had managed to collect herself. Upon seeing each other Kenyon fought to get out of his mother's arms and Krystal went up to them. Sarah handed Kenyon to her. Krystal squeezed her brother then remembering his injuries she loosened her grip.
"Are you alright? I'm so sorry that I did nothing while they-" She couldn't bring herself to say it. She had failed to protect her brother and there was no apology that could make up for it. Kenyon shook his head and hugged her as tightly as his little arms could.
"You did what you should have. They were trying to take you. I'm sorry that I wasn't stronger. I couldn't protect you." Surprise showed in Krystal's eyes as she hugged her brother back. Not wanting to kill the moment, but seeing the injury on the young woman, Laenalith made her way to Krystal and placed her hand on the woman's head. As soon as she had finished healing the wound she smiled at Krystal.
"You must be the sister that he spoke of. Were you really attacked by orcs?" Krystal looked from the elf to her brother.
"Since when do you associate with elves little brother?"
"Would someone care to enlighten me to this situation before I track down those bastards that call themselves orcs and have them explain things to me?" Focus centered back on Jareth. Krystal set her brother down and smiled at him before giving him a gracious curtsey.
"Apologies Your Majesty. How far has he been informed?" Kai shrugged and shook his head making her chuckle. "So we were attacked by the orc royalty and a cave troll in the honorable Lady Sarah's house. I wished my brother away when he refused to reveal my location to the monsters that call themselves nobles. However I was not quick enough to do so before they had begun to torture him. I am pleased to see that he has been sufficiently taken care of. Then yourself and Kai arrived in time to save the rest of us." She nodded at the end of her explanation, satisfied that she hadn't given anything away.
"That still raises the questions of who you are exactly, what you were doing in my Sarah's house, and how your brother got to my castle via goblin magic but not mine." Krystal pushed her hair behind her right ear. A habit she had developed to show nervousness. Jareth seemed to recognize the action. "You have nothing to fear from me child, now speak." Krystal glanced at her mother who decided to intervene on her behalf.
"Jareth you're frightening her. Why don't you and I go speak privately in the library while Kai shows the children around the castle. If you so wish, you can speak with Krystal after we're finished." Krystal and Kenyon shared a look between themselves. Their mother was hardly ever the voice of reason let alone calm headed. They were sure to hear the argument that would stem from the conversation no matter where they were in the castle.
"I think that is a splendid idea Your Majesty's, and while the children occupy themselves on the castle grounds I will see to it that rooms are set up for your extended stay, food is prepared for dinner, and that Master Toby's wounds are seen to."
"Thank you Laenalith." With that Jareth extended his arm to Sarah. "Shall we my dear?" Without a word Sarah placed her hand on his elbow and was escorted from the room.
"Well all things considered I think that went rather well, for now." Krystal's 'for now' made her uncle chuckle. The kids turned their attention to him. "So Uncle Toby, how are you feeling?"
"Much better thanks to this lovely wood elf here." Laenalith blushed at the compliment.
"I had better go see to the meal and your rooms now. By your leave Lord Kai." He nodded to her and she scurried out of the room avoiding eye contact with any of them.
"So you kids go have fun exploring the Labyrinth. I think I'll stay here and occupy myself in some way or another." They chuckled at their uncle as they headed out of the throne room.
"So who wants to see what?" Kai turned to look at his siblings as they began walking down one of the never ending halls. The Aboveground siblings glanced at one another before nodding.
"The Bog of Eternal Stench!" They answered simultaneously. Their brother looked at them like they had each grown an extra head.
"Seriously?" They both nodded. "Alright then to the Bog we go." They both watched him expectantly. "I thought we could walk there so that we can talk about things."
"What kinda things? Like Underground things?" Little Kenyon's eyes lit up in wonder. Kai chuckled.
"No, young prince, I'm more interested in how your sister transported you here under such harsh conditions without any of us sensing the spike in her power." Krystal looked out the widow as they were passing by it. Hoping to somehow distract her eldest brother from his question. To her dismay when she looked to her left BOTH of her brothers were looking at her expectantly.
"Alright fine. You win. I just did what I do to get myself here in my dreams. Though I didn't realize that I was doing it until the unicorns pointed out that I wasn't actually dreaming. When I wished that Kenyon be taken I was actually falling into unconsciousness and instead of teleporting myself here I sent him instead." She shrugged thinking it relatively unimportant. "Anyway I figured that if I had never been sensed before then no one would be able to sense it then either." Kai contemplated her answer. Sure he had known that his sister had visited the Underground several times before he had even realized that she was doing it, but to hear her say that she hadn't known either was astounding.
"So how many times had you visited the Underground before I found you and started following your movements?"
"Can't say for sure. I don't know if there was a point where my dreams transformed into reality or if I have been visiting this place ever since I first thought that I was dreaming about it."
"I have a question, how many people have you met down here?" She smiled at Kenyon.
"I've met lots of creatures. Made lots of friends with most, but since children here age differently then we do they never remember me." Kai could hear the pain in his sister's voice. Coming to the land of her birth, making friends with her subjects, only to have to reintroduce herself time and again would have been hard. Especially at a young age. "Of course I have also made friends with some of the monarchs of this land." At that Kai's back went rigid.
"Such as?"
"Well there is Bethrezen of the demon tribe, and then of course his father King Uther. That was a different matter entirely though. Kai, whoever started making the monarch of the Underground get an Aboveground education was really onto something. That was how I met Bethrezen. Surprisingly he knew that I was a child of the Underground he just didn't know who. Though him and his father have taken it quite well and have welcomed me into their kingdom on numerous occasions. Then there's Haku, the youngest prince of the dragons. I met him quite a long time ago though so I'm not a hundred percent sure that he would remember me."
"Anyone else?" Krystal shook her head.
"Other then them and the Fairy Queen, no."
*Jareth's Study *
Jareth led Sarah to his study where they could talk in peace away from prying ears. The library was too social a place and although the goblins didn't read there they still spent quite a bit of time in the room. As they entered the room Jareth sent a goblin for tea. Sarah took her place in her favorite armchair across from the fireplace. Jareth took his place behind his mahogany desk. They sat in companionable silence until the goblin returned with their tea. Once they were alone again Jareth initiated the conversation.
"Sarah, who are these people in my house?" Sarah remained quiet and sipped her tea. When she spoke she asked a question of her own.
"Have you ever looked in on me since we went our separate ways?" The Goblin King contemplated how to answer that question.
"I had out of curiosity for the first few years. When you didn't call to me I made the descicion to let you live your life, as you demanded when you stormed out." She nodded to her tea, remembering that day well.
"I appreciate you respecting my privacy Jareth. However, I have to tell you something important. I have not respected your privacy quite as well as you have respected mine."
"Of course not. Your son was here. Your instincts would not permit you to completely leave him in my care. If they had you would not have been the woman I married." Sarah blushed at the compliment but shook her head.
"That's not what I meant Jareth," at that he tried to make eye contact but Sarah remained fixated on her cup. "You see, I know there were nights where you dreamt of me."
"Sarah..." his tone was that of confusion and apprehension. She finally met his eyes.
"They weren't just dreams Jareth." She gave it a few minutes to sink in before continuing on. "Krystal and Kenyon were in the throne room. The boy that came to you and the girl that wished him away are your children." Silence filled the room. One party trying to digest the information just brought to light, the other praying the first party took the news well. After a few terse moments of uncomfortable silence the Goblin King spoke only one word.
"Explain."
*Inside the Goblin City *
The children hadn't made it very far to the Bog of Eternal Stench, as a matter of fact they hadn't made it very far out of the castle, when Kai felt the pull of his father summoning him back. He glanced at his siblings and judging the looks on their faces realized that they had felt it as well.
"He's calling us back isn't he Kai?" He nodded at Krystal.
"Aw but I still want to go to the Bog. Can't it wait?" Kai laughed at Kenyon's pout but shook his head.
"Father is not a very patient man and whatever he needs to speak with me...us about seems rather urgent. We shouldn't make him wait any longer then is necessary."
"I agree. Knowing that mom has informed him of our relationship with him I think it is imperative that he return with due haste." With that Krystal grabbed Kai's arm, picked up Kenyon and teleported them back to the castle. They appeared just outside the door to the study. Kai gave her a bewildered look. She just shrugged at him. "It was faster than walking." She set Kenyon down ignoring his cries of "again!" and knocked on the door. They waited only a moment before their mother greeted them and ushered them in.
