So Cruel
Chapter 9: Elaine
As promised, this installment was updated slightly earlier than my previous one. Thank you to the readers who continue to follow this story, and I hope you enjoy!
Same disclaimer applies.
The High King did not even stand to make his last announcement nor did he make any movements toward greeting the new arrivals. He merely remained in his seat- his hands folded tensely atop the table, his shoulders stiff but upright. A plentiful navy blue cape lined with a silken material beneath adorned his shoulders and emphasized the expansive breadth of his bearings. Underneath, his flowing ashen blouse had been tucked into fitted black pants. Several gold buttons and corresponding sashes lined the front of his chest. His long silver hair was slackly tied behind him and lay flat against his back. Overall, there was definitely a confident or noble air to his presence yet it seemed presently plagued with a sense of disappointment or even boiling anger. Nonetheless, his face remained firm and his eyes examined the two individuals in front of him with an exacting attention.
To his opposite, at the other far-end of the table, however, the High Queen of the Underground displayed an unusual emotion. Although she attempted to exude a calm and elegant air, there was definitely an underlying strain troubling her. The blues of her eyes kept rotating between Darien and Sarah as if their union both surprised and scared her.
Her golden hair was set in several soft curls around her heart-shaped face. Her cheeks were rouged to a healthy rose color, and her large lips were arranged into a thin straight line. Strands of pure white pearls were intricately woven through her tresses while others were wound a number of times around the whiteness of her neck. She wore a tasteful powdery blue dress with authentic gold stitches accentuating the vast richness of her clothing. It was quite similar to the one Sarah had on. However, the collar of her dress had been let down low to emphasize the beauty of her jewelry as well as the bountiful condition of her bosoms. Sections of lace lining the top effectively barred any indecent exposure.
Seconds passed. Darien and Sarah were still in their original positions up front.
Jareth then suddenly shifted in his seat and placed his hands folded upon the table in a comparable manner to the way his father had done earlier. Although, now, he did not wear the same angry look, his face still beheld a peculiar sensation and appearance. It was disturbingly blank in its expressionless state. Frozen, so that nothing in his demeanor could reveal what he was thinking inside. Nonetheless, a certain coldness managed to surface and writhe in his voice.
"Well, sit," he commanded.
Darien and Sarah looked at each other before Darien swept Sarah gracefully back upon the floor. She landed with a soft click as her shoes lightly contacted with the polished ground beneath her. Quickly patting the layers of her dress to a suitable level, she sent Darien a reproachful glare before making her way toward an empty seat. When she noticed Darien had not moved form his position though, she looked back with unease.
Two miniature goblins were striding towards where either Darien or Sarah now stood. They were noticeably clean compared to most of the others of their kind and now gestured for their human guests to follow- their stout fingers indicating the way.
Sarah quickly recognized what it wanted and worked towards following its lead. She resolutely obeyed, as she did not want any more trouble for the day. Ultimately, she had been placed across the table and next to Jareth… she looked down at her plate to conceal her face.
Darien though merely shrugged and slowly walked towards where his goblin was pointing. Taking his seat, he smiled politely to Jareth and Sarah sitting across from the table and then sent an equally reverent smile to the High King and Queen. The seat to his left had been left conspicuously empty.
The new arrivals both seemed to have noticed, as they guardedly exchanged questioning glances. Eventually, however, light seemed to dawn upon Darien's face, as he looked ahead with a knowing glance. He smirked at Jareth as well as his likely part in their separated seating arrangement- thereby minimizing any contact Darien and Sarah may possibly have during the course of the meal.
Jareth returned with a pointed grin.
Darien squinted back in disapproval.
Sarah stared suspiciously at them both.
"So," the High Queen swiftly interrupted with a graceful air, "I'm pleased we could all gather today inside Goblin Castle." Her expression was innocent.
"Do you realize how long we've been waiting?" Jareth, a bit too crossly though, broke through the attempted fineries and polished talk. He glared at Darien as if placing the whole blame on him alone. His stance was challenging.
Indeed, it was welcome challenge, however, in Darien's case. He shot a defiant look in Jareth's direction, and the two sat in an intense stare down for a notable moment- each putting their determination on show and each trying to prove they were the better man. Both of them leaned faintly forward in their chair and confrontation seemed almost imminent. Looking at the two, it appeared as if they were about to snatch at each other.
But, all of a sudden and to Jareth's chagrin, Darien abruptly broke the invisible link between them. His eyes were no longer locked with Jareth's and, instead, he turned his full attentions to Sarah and smiled- clearly ignoring Jareth as if not even concerned of his presence. Sarah looked a bit uncomfortable but Darien's face displayed full confidence, as he looked her in the eyes. He enjoyed thinking he was making Jareth squirm in his seat.
Jareth just rolled his eyes and looked away.
"Well," began the High Queen once again, now overlooking or choosing to ignore the earlier stare downs, "I've heard from one of your servants Jareth that you and Sarah have been getting along well. You've even got her bedchambers set up right next to yours." She looked at him to see if he would disagree or argue the matter further. Seeing that Jareth did not, she spoke again. "Truly, this is a welcome development."
"Yes, now, perhaps it's Darien's turn to start focusing on finding a nice lady for himself," the High King interjected with a hearty laugh. His previously cold front was beginning to melt.
"That could be pleasant father," Jareth mused, "but I think it would serve him just as well if he focused on other matters more beneficial to the kingdom. For example, he could continue his studies in the neighboring Fae kingdom until he attains an honorable position in his own right- after all, the honors of being 'Goblin Prince' are only temporary." A note of spitefulness and malicious intent was perceptible in his remark.
"What are you talking about?" Excitement and joy were gradually creeping up in high levels within the High King's voice, "Darien, by all standards, is a full-fledged adult. My boy, wouldn't you like to find someone like Sarah?"
Jareth had paused mid-drink at this turn of events and, specifically, at the mention of Sarah's name. Although the High King's words did not hold any implicit meaning, his statement struck a delicate chord. Jareth gripped his goblet filled with exceptionally select wine between his fingers more tightly, its blood red contents slightly trembling, and looked blankly into it before taking a quick sip. He placed it back on the table with a dull thud.
Sarah, on the other hand, quietly coughed in surprise and, pretending she was in no way concerned with what Darien was saying, awkward looked for her fork. She started eating the odd meal that had recently been placed in front of her of brown meat garnished in strange herbs and vegetables.
"You must admit, I'm right aren't I?" The High King pushed.
"Yes… I do want to marry someone," a far-off look encroached upon Darien's face as he briefly paused to sensibly measure his words, "but I want to marry someone I deeply care for."
"I guess you already have a lady in mind," inquired the High King curiously, a bit more interest and significance in his speech. He waited for a response or some other evocative reaction.
But it was the High Queen yet again who interrupted the conversation. She answered before Darien could even open his mouth. Her royal and dignified manner was beginning to fade, as her countenance succumbed to an obvious intensity. Worriedly and a bit jadedly, she stated, "He should abide by tradition and-"
"I've already fallen for someone," Darien admitted, boldly cutting off his High Queen. Now, he looked towards Sarah with gentle eyes.
She, unexpectedly feeling everyone's eyes analytically upon her, stopped with a fork awkwardly situated inside her mouth. Sarah had been slowly picking at her food- trying desperately not to attract any unnecessary attention and endeavoring toward remaining quietly out of the conversation between the royals. Seeing this strategy was no longer feasible, she returned her fork to its place next to the other utensils beside her plate and slowly looked up at Jareth.
He did not offer her any help. Rather, he was staring uninterestedly at the table top.
The High King and Queen looked unnervingly at each other.
"Really, who is it?" The High King refused to give up on his investigation just yet.
"I know you must be curious, but please don't ask questions for now."
"Hmmm, I've never seen this side of you… Who could this lady be?" His voice had drifted off markedly toward the end, and it could be seen that the High King's statement was not really a question he expected Darien to answer- at least not yet.
Jareth, however, refused to back off the topic for even a moment. He wanted Darien backed into a corner and with himself having the last word.
"I wonder, this is quite out of the blue." Jareth was visibly smug in his tone and comfortably faced Darien across the table. "I don't know who she is, but I hope it works out."
"It will," Darien fired with his own 'I won't back down' look of willpower and resolve. The two engaged each other's eyes until…
"Ouch!" Sarah abruptly yelped while grabbing her napkin, "I bit my tongue- blood, it's bleeding." The entire company shifted in their seats to look at what Sarah had done. There were mixed looks of concern and incredulity, as she fidgeted fretfully in her seat.
Jareth looked exasperated at first but ultimately turned to aid her- dabbing his own napkin to her tongue while holding her head with his other hand. "You should have been more careful"
Honestly, I can't trust her to even eat her own food, Jareth thought to himself with a sigh.
"Goblin, bring some ointment." The High Queen firmly ordered.
"Yes ma'am." It bowed reverently and slowly backed away to follow her command.
"Never mind, I'll get it," Jareth pushed away his chair annoyed and began to get up.
But before he fully stood, Darien had quickly and wordlessly gotten off his seat- causing Jareth to pause and watch his peculiar movements. Darien strode towards a nearby table holding a pitcher of water as well as a small bucket of ice. Unfolding the cloth napkin from his breakfast, he filled it with several cubes of ice and enclosed it all in tight bundle.
Jareth observed Darien's antics with a dirty look as he moved closer to Sarah. Although his angered posture should have been a warning gesture, Darien continued on his way to the other side of the table where they both sat. He now offered Sarah his newly made ice pack in front of Jareth.
"Sarah, bite on this for now. It will stop the bleeding," Darien advised.
Everyone watched this disquieting incident wordlessly and stared after Darien- beginning to fully grasp the implications of his mysteriously hidden love. The gears were unmistakably turning in each of the breakfasters minds.
Sarah hurriedly accepted the pack and held it to her mouth with a grudging look, as if seeing what this little act had done. Its serious yet effective consequences spread throughout the room, and she stared guiltily at the table in front of her- trying to avoid all eye contact.
"Thank you Darien," Sarah finally made out, the ice pack in her mouth muffling her voice.
"I'm just glad you're alright," Darien stated with sincere care icing his voice. His silver eyes were focused entirely on her, and the sides of his lips edged into a warm smile. His face move closer to Sarah's own.
Knock, Knock.
A sound at the door suddenly interrupted everyone's thoughts and sights, as a medium-sized goblin decked with a large snout and a plate of golden hair appeared inside the doorway. His long gray tail still trailed behind him inside the hallway, and he fidgeted with his hands nervously. He bowed deeply inside the doorframe before speaking.
"Excuse me, please pardon the interruption, but the last guest has arrived."
The goblin gestured to someone behind him and began walking toward the empty seat beside Darien. It pulled the seat out from the table so its intended occupant could more easily sit, but that person remained motionless at the doorway.
It was a very attractive woman.
Her light, golden hair extended past her waist, and its elegant braid glittered against the voluptuous set of her body. Her dress hugged her chest in a flattering manner while the rest flowed sophisticatedly to the floor. She did not wear a lot of jewelry, and, instead, flaunted a more natural kind of splendor and magnificence. It was an appreciably dazzling outfit that left the lady wearing it with a goddess-like beauty.
After a few minutes, her audience noticed she had not moved from the spot she had first arrived at and was simply ignoring the motions of her goblin.
Instead, the woman was staring impatiently at someone in front of her. Hands folded across her chest and feet tapping the floor in a hasty manner, she tenaciously stood her place. Her mouth was set in a seductive pout, a move she frequently employed to exploit her desires.
Jareth's chair was soon heard scraping dully across the floor. He had gotten up and was now strolling to the beautiful woman's side. His eyes appeared dark with desire and overwhelming temptation as he finally reached her. Placing his hands tightly around her, he faced everyone in the room, but his eyes stared only into Sarah's as he spoke.
"Please forgive this lady's rude tardiness. She will face my consequences later" Jareth pulled her closer to him and lowered his head to kiss her neck. "Everyone, this is Elaine, and she will be spending a lot more time with us inside Goblin Castle from now on."
That mischievous man we all know as Jareth... what should we do about him? lol until next time!
And please review. My muse and I would be eternally grateful. Thanks again.