Author's note: Wow. This chapter was really hard for me to write. I was trying to get a lot of feed back and was wondering if I wanted to bring in a few other characters into that were mine and some that weren't. Jenny: thank you for the threatening note of love to help me write this chapter. Cat: You've been a great support and well you're read mine and I'll read yours…. and…I have made the decision to add Jareth's brother. His name is not mine and (Cat) will vouch for the fact that I just want the name and not the character himself. I believe that I wouldn't be able to do it justice. There will be other characters, which include the elf prince, fairy prince, and Puck or Robin Good fellow from A Midsummer Nights Dream. Also there will be some action in this chapter as well as a little bit blood, a bit of darkness; inner demons and conversations that are not so nice but kick…the dialogue is great. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy this one!
Chapter 6
From each of life's misfortunes, large or small, comes a new beginning, an opportunity to renew your faith in the future
The giant stone castle stood in all its brilliance in the center of the goblin city. The night sky was a grand cerulean with millions of stars glimmering throughout the vast sky. The air was warm and humid causing the citizens in the Underground to seek refuge in the water source that was available to them. There stood a giant fountain that had been dry, up until a night ago. The news of the Queen's departure and arrival of the young princess went swiftly throughout the kingdom hours after the true event. The day that followed had all goblins and Fae alike chatting about the Kings disappearance. Gossip filled every street corner and home in the Underground of how the monarchy was now left to a young inexperienced girl that had no powers to speak of.
That didn't seem to be the issue with Eve and the small rally of goblins and fae's around her. Traveling all over the castle most of the day ever since her father had left. Eve had improved the castle dramatically leaving it not only clean but also beautiful once again. Sending goblins and fae's off with work for the next day Eve glanced at the large clock that hung in her fathers' office seeing five minutes till thirteen O'
Clock. Finally alone she takes a deep breath to relax and stretching a little from her chair, Eve leaned back getting cozy in the large armchair.
"Long day?" Said a male voice from the shadowed doorway. Eve smiled as she looked up to the door.
"Extremely." She answered. The adolescent boy about sixteen moved from the door and smiled back at Eve. His hair and eyes matched the clear blue of an afternoon sky. Eve didn't move as the young Elf prince moved closer to the desk where she sat. He had the face of a sixteen-year-old teenager with no imperfections and a complexion as if the sun had never touched him. He's hair was pulled back letting it fall between his sholder blades, it glimmered under the candlelight that surrounded the room.
"Demetrious, I'm so glad you're here. I've been going out of mind since he left." He took a seat in a chair opposite from her and crossing his legs showing off his green pants and shirtless pale chest.
"I knew this was going to be a challenge…" She thought a moment. "How could he let it get this bad? Why would he let his country get this terrible?" He got up and moved out of his seat and kneed to her side resting his arm on the armrest.
"You've done a wonderful job, Eve." He said putting his hands over hers. "The fae counsel cant wait to meet you." He said with a smile. Eve's eyes rolled.
"Oh Gods I cant wait for that." She said with sarcasm. "I was trying to forget about meeting with them." She paused and rested her head against Demetrious head look at him eye-to-eye and smiling. "Are you going to help me?" Still looking at him.
"Would I be a good boyfriend if I didn't?" He said moving upward and kissing her forehead. Eve pulled back and leaned into the chair and gazed at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Is that what we are calling us now? That would mean the worlds will know that you are courting me it would also would mean you really like me…right" She gave a coy smile and laughed after a moment of his silence. Demetrious stood and lifted her hand to his lips and paused after he kissed it. He looked at her with the deep ocean eyes that could wrap her and hold her forever.
"I will be here with Nick and Robin tomorrow. Willing and at your beck and call where ever you need us." He kissed her hand once again and bowed. "My lady. I suggest you get some sleep. You will need it." He left by walking into the corner and disappearing into the shadows. The lack of wind and movement from outside carried into the silence that was in the room.
It was five past thirteen O' clock and Eve kept her eyes on the shadow that Demetrious had left through. The path that she would have with him was not a path that needed to be crossed just yet, but soon. Right now she needed to restore a kingdom, unite its people, and return the kings heart. He was right she would need her sleep if she was to face the counsel tomorrow and prove her power and strength to them. How would she do that? Would she be able to pull it off with just mind trick or would they need proof that she could do magic? Sleep, sleep will solve the questions. With rest answers will come and with slumber a new day will take place.
The golden doors stretched to the ceiling and it made Eve's small frame look superficial in its entire splendor. The double doors had carvings of gods and cloud and the heavens. In the corner near the hinge was the goddess Nemesis, the goddess of revenge and justice. Eve contemplated if what she was doing was either of those things.
"I hope not." She whispered to herself. Corrupt power was something that she had avoided all her life. Everyone around her taught her that too much power was deadly. What she was doing here was enlightening her people. Yes, these were her people and at this moment they all looked to her for assurance and faith. Taking a deep breath trying to rid the feeling of butterflies and the nauseous feeling in her stomach Eve pushes the door open and walks into the crowed courtroom. Hundreds of fae and goblin nobles gossiped loud to others. The roar died in seconds as Eve entered the room walking to the center of the court. Looking up showing whatever brave face she could make, she glanced around at goblins and Fae's as they whispered and hissed about her. She took another deep breath remembering that throwing up here would be a bad idea. A load voice comes over the space and everyone silenced. "Nobles be still." The voice was young but flamboyant; it controlled the room. The voice came with a face, as a twenty something year-old fae walked up to her. His intense emerald eyes was the first thing she had to look at. His crimson-ginger hair was loose and fell to his elbows. The shock of his hair of his scrawny Pale body made Eve want to back up and get away from him.
"My lady, I'm Lysander Mani." Remembering history class his last name meant serpent. Good someone I can trust. "On behalf of the counsel you are welcome here." His voice was more like a shriek then real speaking. His clothes placed him as high counsel and high lord. Oh good, someone who will want my fathers thrown. Just smile.
"Thank you Lord Mani." She gave a narrow bow. " I wish to address my presence here, and say what I plan to change." I sound strong, like I know what I'm talking about. Lovely. He made a face as if she had spoken in a strange language.
"Why would you want to change anything?" His face was light for what is was and showed not harm or injury, but it was blank and unreadable. Was he serious? What should I do? Do I stand my ground and defend why I need to do this? Or do I ask him why his thinks it should be the same? I don't want any blood spilled here.
"Lord Mani, What do you think of this kingdom? The goblin city for example?" Eve raised her chin slightly and tilted it in her question. All eyes where on him now and his answer. There was movement behind the eyes as if fire had erupted and was trying to break out and harm Eve. Eve's anxiety exploded throughout her mind. Oh my Gods! What did I do? Feeling her heart in her ears and hands, she regained her composure without much of a scene.
"My lady." He said through his teeth with a hiss. "I understand that much of… the Underground's lands have become a vast amount of waist lands but there is no need to change what has worked for much of us here. And I fail to see how a child such as yourself could accomplish… anything" His face was more genteel now but hate and loath was present, as well as a wicked smirk. A murmur of agreement went around the room. Eve's temper was partly contained something inside her need to say that all this was wrong and horrible.
"I realize that, but the citizens of this kingdom are dying without food, water and a place to live. Without these lower class citizens we have nothing. We are not rich. We do not rule over anything." A laughter of giggling and chuckles encircled the room after Eve finished. The loudest shriek of laughing came from Mani himself. Eve couldn't hold her patience any longer.
"Lord Mani, my purpose here is to reclaim this land and to restore it to its former brilliance." She broke the distance that was between them; she was speaking right in his face. She gave him a sarcastic and mocking smile. "Furthermore I don't need the your permission or the counsels authorization to fix my kingdom" Eve backed away to look at the entire room full of quiet fae's and goblins. "I am Princess of the Underground. I have yet to be crowned in your eyes but by blood I am ruler." She finished standing strong with a fierce look. Mani approaches slowly and Eve turns to look at him not changing her gaze. He stops and smiles at her.
"Then prove your fit to be ruler. Your position haves its savior moments but you must also be the hand of punishment." This was a test and Eve knew it. An assessment to see her power and lack of compassion like her father. Boy they are in for a surprise.
"I feel as if you have a criminal waiting for me to punish, Mani." The demonic grin resurfaced again and sent chills down her spine. Be strong. Mani looked to the main doors when Eve had come through.
"Bring the prisoner." The door opened and in came two Fae armed guards and a women dressed in a frayed and worn dress. She had been some rich nobles daughter. There was no movement as the girl came in weeping and as placed at Eve's feet. Eve looked down at her feet. What should I do? Really not contest. I can't kill her. Eve looks around at the counsel and then at Mani and his dim-witted smile. Mani materialized a very old knight in shinning armor looking sward. That looks really heavy. He reaches out holding the sward with the long blade in the air waiting for Eve to take the hilt of it. Eve reached out and took the sward from his hand. It was heavy and it took two hands to hold it up. Eve pointed the blade of the sward downward and lifted it high. The sward crashed into the stone floor embedding it in the marble floor. The girl screamed at the loud noise and a few nobles flinched as well. Eve released the sward as it stayed in place and bent down and lifted the chin of the crying girl. She met the eyes of the young woman and smiled.
"Your okay. Take my hand." Eve let out her hand and the young girl took it. Eve helped the girl to her feet. "What's your name?"
"Emma." She mumbled with a small mousy voice.
"Don't worry Emma, I'll take care of everything." Eve gave Emma a reassuring smile and looked at Mani with a smug smile and his revolting scowl. "Now can anyone please tell me what Emma has done?" Eve had expected Mani to step forward. "Lord Mani, what has she done?" His frown was now a smile again.
"Your majesty she was caught…fornicating with a young man, that was not her betrothed and lower then her station. That is a dishonorable obsession that has disgraced her family." He paused and waited for Eve to argue.
"And by all means Lord Mani why is it her fault?" Eve said with confidence
"Because she's a women. She seduced him." The remark through Eve like a brink to the face leaving her mouth open and speechless. "Men are not legally responsible for those kinds of crimes." The use of the word crime was sadistic. Mani was infuriating Eve; she know that changing the appearance of the kingdom wasn't going to be the end of her mission. She would have the change the rules too.
"Well Lord Mani, the crimes that she retains are no longer, I pardon her." Mani reached out as if to say she couldn't do that. His face was malignant and bitter. Eve knew she had won and he couldn't do anything to stop her. "At this moment her reputation is in the past and is restored. She go back and live with her family or if they do not desire to keep her there she may stay here and become a courtier to me." Mani interrupted Eve.
"A women can't become a courtier, only men." He stated.
"Well the rules are changing around here Lord Mani, and I think that you and the counsel need to get used the them." If she challenged him and won the rest would fall into place and acknowledge her. She smiled and bowed to Mani and turned to bow to the counsel. "I will be looking at the laws and amendments that the Underground has, and wither or not they are fair and just to everyone." The court was in full gossip as Eve and Emma left the room. The huge doors closed behind them and Emma turns to Eve with a worried face.
"What you did in there for me was magnificent. But I think arguing with the counsel wasn't a good idea." She said with a humble smile.
"Yes, well I don't really need them. The counsel has no real power. The only reason they were formed was because of the war between my father and the King and Queen of the Fairies. A mere guidance then head of state commune. Well Emma I have something's to get to but your welcome to stay here and I know that one of the goblins will help you find a room and not so tattered clothing." Eve smiled as she saw Emma's face light up.
"Thank you your majesty, your are compassionate to everyone." She bowed and walked down the hallway and paused and waved back to Eve. Eve smiled as if she could see her and waved back as Emma disappeared.
Eve walked along the hall thinking about what had just happened with the counsel. It was very bold of her to act the way she did.
Well I guess it was necessary. And that Lord Mani…I really don't like him! I really need to see why he's in power and what his strategy is. Because I know that this will not be the last of him.
Turning a corner moving into the throne room Eve sees Demetrious and two other boys. The first was sitting on the floor on his stomach With his feet up in the air. His hair was very short and had two very pointy ears and goat-like horns coming out from his head. He had brown fur instead of pants but was far from a fawn. He was a hobgoblin. A trickster but helpful if bribed enough. He was tutoring the young prince of the fairies who was sitting Indian-style hovering an inch about the floor with his eyes closed. His eyes open as his butt falls on the floor. His eyes where a bright green with his brown dirty hair sticking up with a magical sparkly gel, or morning dew or something that made it have the sparkly look. A frayed green mossy piece of material was all the clothes that he wore. His tiny frame was miniature but his was tall which made up for the wired shape. Demetrious was sitting on the throne with a big smile looking at Eve. He was wearing a smile and tan leather pants, which showed his magnificent leg muscles.
"So how did it go?" He smiled back at her. Eve walked into the room pushing off the wall she was leaning on.
"Could have been better but it went okay. Hey Puck, Hey Nick. You guys ready to get to work?" Eve said patting Puck on the head. Nick made a face and stuck out his tongue.
"Work? Why?" Nick whined. " We could be playing in the forests and tall woods. Why work?" He continued.
"Because you are my friends and if need to fix this place in time, then I need your help." She smiled. Nick looked at Puck and shrugged and nodded.
"Okay, Sure. What do we have to do?" He smiled back.
"Well first we are going to give food out to the goblins in the city, it will be fun." Eve smiled at the three. "Come on. I'll tell you about the meeting with the counsel on the way.
If we do not find anything very pleasant, at least we shall find something newThe afternoon heat hung over the Goblin City like a desert without end. Nevertheless the goblin citizens went on with their day like regular. The only difference was that color was starting to return to the city and the labyrinth. Green leaves and bright red walls and deep blues returned to the skies. The town was living again; it was the same place but returning better and wonderful. As Eve, Demetrious, Nick and Puck walked into the town square carrying baskets of food all the goblins and Fae's paused all and stared at them.
"We are going to be so popular." Puck whispered to Nick. Eve stepped forward.
"My name is Eve. My mother is Sarah, your Queen. I know that you have been feeble for years. I have come to say that no more will you or your families go without food. No more will you be arrested and killed by the law because of trivial crimes. No more will this city be left in ruins!" At that moment the people cheered at Eve. She and the others started to hand out food to the goblins and Fae's when the food that was in the baskets disappeared.
"What happened to all the food?" Shouted one goblin and then another. Shouting around the plaza broke out as the large mob moved toward Eve, Nick, Demetrious, and Puck. Demetrius taking hold of Eve shimmered out of harms way, as Puck did the same with Nick. Eve heard laughing behind her and turned to find Lord Lysander Mani laughing at the angry gang of town folk behind them. Eve moves out from Demetrious and faces Mani.
"Lord Mani, what have you done to the food? Where is it?"
"Please your majesty call me Lysander. And I have hid the food in the bog of eternal stench, if you wish to retrieve it then by all means proceed." He smiled and bowed.
"Lord Mani, please return the food. They are hungry and need food and being their monarch I have the duty to feed them." Eve asked nicely.
"How about…no." He laughed and evil laugh of evil as he stared at the four of them and their helpless situation.
" Mani you are really getting on my last nerve. Please return the food and this wont get ugly." Eve warned him. Mani looked at Eve with an unthreatened look on her face.
"You have no power, all you have is your fathers gift of bargain, other then that you have no supremacy here. You are a weak little girl without magic and have no right to be here in this land other then the fact that you are the love child of a whore Queen and a love nauseous King." Strong energy filled Eve, and by now the crowed had their eyes on Eve and Mani. The wind moved under Eve almost lifting her above the ground and in the distance thunder was heard.
"You will retract your words Lysander or the power in me I will punish you."
"You have magic?" A sly grin was on his face. "Your not a total loss. But I don't think that you will hurt me. I've had magic longer then you've been alive." He said waving his arms around gathering dark clouds above him. "I've got more power then you have. You couldn't raise a finger to me and your idle threats against me is false." He spouted. The sky was growing dark and lightning lit up the darkness for a matter of seconds. Mani laughed as Nick and Puck quivered behind Eve. Demetrious stood back watching Eve and protecting the other two. Eve looked back at him and stared, as if speaking to him without words. She turned back to face Mani and the wrath he was invoking in the city. She raised her arms to the sky and making a hole through the dark clouds seeing blue sky. She pointed her hands toward Mani.
"Lysander one thing that I didn't tell you, the Queen of the Fairies blessed me with very strong magical gifts, as a baptism present. I wont kill you because it's not in my nature but I believe it was you how said I should punish the wicked. I see none other more wicked then you." A gust of wind from behind her flew up at Lysander lifting him off the roof and up into the air spinning him around and around. Eve put her arms down and Lysander fell to the ground with a thud. He lifted his face with a bleeding lip and a small cuts on his face.
"Stop. Please. I beg of you. Show mercy." He whispered.
"Mercy like you've shown the citizen of this kingdom? To give you compassion and empathy as you beg for your life, like Emma did in that courtroom?"
"I will change, this place will change. I swear, just spare my life and I will be at your service." He whimpered. The dark clouds were residing and sunlight was appearing again.
" I will spare you. My goal here is not to hurt anyone let alone start battles. But don't underestimate me again Lord Mani, because…yes I am a little girl with a broken home of a family but soon all will be fixed and mended that is my goal." She said the sky was bright again. Eve walked up to Lysander and bent over with a hand stretched out.
"Take my hand Lysander and join my team to help this world. To restore everything that was once beautiful and good." Eve said with a smile. Mani reached out to grab her hand when a beam of harsh light came from behind Eve and blasted his hand. Screams scattered around as the crowed dispersed into their home and way from the magical weapons. Eve spun around to see a tall man drenched in a black cloth standing over the unconscious bodies of Demetrious, Nick, and Puck.
"Who are you? Why have you done this?" Eve said on the verge of tears. The man covered in darkness and walked over the bodies and toward Eve and Lysander.
"This doesn't concern you. My complaint is with Mani, and his death will end that." He spat walking up to Eve looking the strange figure in the eyes. The deep blue eyes that showed no end and yet no beginning. Eve straightened and contested him with her eyes.
"Well it is my business. I am Princess of the Goblin City. Daughter to Jareth and Sarah, King and Queen of the Underground and I declare you to halt you attack on Lord Mani." Eve issued. The eyes of the stranger opened as if shocked. He lifted his dark hood to revile a face that resembled Jareth's. His eyes were blue and hair was dirty blonde but straight and pulled back into a tight tail. His body was fuller with more muscles and taller. Movement moved behind him as Eve noticed Demetrious was wake. Eve looked back at the strange man with baffling eyes and he returned the gaze.
"Your Eve." He said. "I'm Stephan. Your uncle."
Wow. I thought I would never finish this chapter. Well don't worry I haven't even started chapter 7. So I'll be tackling that next. So please tell me what you think about this chapter. Yes I know that it's very complicated. But I swear I has a 50/50 chance that it could get better. Thanks a bunch.