SCENE 16

RETRIBUTION IS BEST EXPLAINED IN WHISPERS

One moment she had been ready to pop another French fry in her mouth and the next she was ogling at some strange new surroundings. She shoved the fry into her mouth and chewed. 'I had been looking at the photos,' they were still in her hand. 'then the song came on the radio, and then I thought…' she paused and sighed with her revelation. "Confounded old habits," she mumbled out loud. She had wished to know where Jareth was. Her eyes wandered over the ornate carvings of vines, leaves, and flowers. 'Where am I? This is definitely not the castle beyond the goblin city. Though…I wouldn't be opposed to seeing the throne room decorated with this sort of class. Wow! Are those rose buds?'

A door opened and shut. Turning she saw Jareth coming towards her. He looked peeved, but in control. As he approached her, his expression softened and he brought his hands together in an almost supplication manner. "I know you must be mad with me," he said without greeting her. "And believe me I didn't want to leave you this morning."

"Jareth I-,"

"It was the last thing I wanted!"

"Really its-,"

"Do you have any idea just how wonderful you smell? I wanted to snuggle right back up against you. I could have stayed with you all morn-,"

"Jareth!" she raised her voice. "I'm not mad at you. Calm down."

He looked surprised. "You're not?"

"No. I could tell something was wrong." She went to him and put her arms around his waist. "What's wrong? You look… well, you look almost disappointed."

"Well," he paused. "I was rather looking forward to coddling you out of any anger you might have been feeling for being left alone." He braced himself for the reprimand.

She smiled raising an eye brow. Squeezing him closer she said, "Well I'll let you coddle later. But now to more important business: what's wrong? And where are we?"

He put her at arms' length. "My dear welcome to the royal court of the high king, King Oberon!"

"Really? Wow!" Her eyes ran over the carvings again. "Why here?"

"It would seem that my cousin, the southern boy with a gentleman's charm, has challenged my right to claim you." Her arms tensed. "There's a law here my dear: a fae can only offer themselves to a mortal three times. If the final offer is refused, we are to never offer again."

"Three strikes and you're out. But," she seemed to calculate something in her head. "But that doesn't add up."

"I know that. King Oberon doesn't know it. And Jasper, well, he would like to ignore all such evidence."

"But why would he want that?"

He leaned in close gathering her into his arms. "Isn't it obvious? He wants you my dear. He wants what I got."

Sarah blinked. "Well hang on! Don't I get a say in any of this? I don't very well want your cousin!" Her whole body turned rigid. "What do we need to do?"

"We are going to go back through those doors and tell King Oberon exactly what happened five years ago."

"I'm not exactly dressed for court."

"You're perfect." He ran his eyes over her t-shirt and blue jeans. "I want my lord to see you for exactly who you are. Here now, what is this?" he reached for the photo packet she held onto.

"Oh." She giggled. "Our family photos."

"Ah. I'll hold onto those." He tucked them inside his vest. Offering his arm they walked through the doors.

Admittedly Sarah felt a surge of nerves as they entered the room. Her anger though over rode those nerves. How dare Jasper challenge their right to be together! How long had he even known her? Just a few days. How much did he even know of their story? It couldn't very well be much. She held her head high. Fae dressed in flowing garments of rich colors stood aside to let them pass. At the end of the isle waited a man dressed in green and blue robes. Next to him she recognized Jasper. It was hard to hide her scowl. She followed suit with Jareth's bow and curtsied. "My lord I present to you Sarah Williams."

Oberon approached. "Sarah Williams welcome to my court. May we each find favor in each other's eyes."

"Thank you."

"Do you understand why you are here Sarah Williams?"

"To tell you why Jareth has a right to be with me."

"Yes. Tell me Sarah Williams what happened that night five years ago."

She hesitated. She couldn't help her self. Not even Toby knew all of the details of that night. It was mildly embarrassing. Clearing her throat she began, "Five years ago I wished away my baby brother. I was mad at a lot of different things, and he was easy to take my frustration out on. I said the right words and the goblins came and took him. Jareth came as well and explained the situation to me."

"Did he offer you anything?" asked Oberon.

She swallowed. "He offered me my dreams."

Jasper snickered. "Which no doubt included him. Sire please-!"

"Excuse me," she interjected tersely. She looked at Jasper. "You didn't even make my acquaintance until a few days ago, so… shut up. You of all people would have the least clue about what my dreams involve."

He took a few purposeful steps closer to her. "Your dreams are usually much darker," he spoke the last word with purpose as if to emphasis his appearance. "then you care to admit."

She rolled her eyes. "See here you over stuffed peacock-,"

Jareth turned as if to hold her back. "Easy Sarah," he murmured.

She realized she had stamped her foot. "I won't stand here and have this crotch-thinking moron say such things and make claims that are ignorant." She looked at Oberon. "Sire let's just cut right to the heart of the matter alright. Technically Jareth only ever offered him self- his body, his being- to me once that night five years ago. Once. The other two times were offers of my dreams. My dreams. At that particular time my dreams did not involve Jareth."

She met his eyes: they winced just slightly with concern.

Oberon observed them. "Just what exactly did your dreams involve Sarah Williams?" he asked.

"Acceptance," she responded still looking at Jareth. "Love. Two things I honestly didn't feel that I had at that time. Two things that I still needed until his subjects returned, turning my whole life topsy-turvy; turning it upside down!" She laughed quietly at the use of the phrase. His hand on her arm flexed. She placed her own over his. "Besides I told him he could come back… whenever he wanted to."

"Well that changes things," observed Oberon. He regarded the couple in front of him. "You gave him leave to return to you?"

"Yes. It felt normal for him to be in my house, using my things, sitting on my sofa."

"Well, in light of such testimony I have to bless your union."

"What?" roared Jasper, indignant.

"She asked him to come back," Oberon said simply. "I cannot argue with that. Please," he hastened to add. "wait to kiss though until after you leave." They exchanged sly glances.

"Sire," sputtered Jasper.

"Oh shut up you spoiled brat. Clearly you're just envious of what your cousin has acquired. My decision is made: King Jareth of the Goblin Realm has the right to claim the mortal Sarah Williams. Dismissed."

Sarah looked away from Jareth, an idea occurring to her. "My lord, I would seek retribution."

He paused intrigued. "Yes?" She motioned for him to draw near. Whispering to him she explained her idea for retribution.