Chapter 7. The decree of the King
Oberon had kept his displeasure and annoyance with the Goblin King under control. Feeling it was not fair for the mortals in his company to suffer for the deeds of the Fae who was playing fast and loose with the rules that had been in place for eons. His presence at the performance was to bless the work that would be the last of the director to whom he was patron. He would mourn the passing of so gifted a mortal. Making sure his legacy was known was a pleasant chore for the High King of the Fae.
Once the Goblin had been wheeled from the stage, Oberon could hear and feel the summons that would call the mischievous badly behaved Fae King from the theater. Oberon sighed, regretting that a summons had not come earlier, and then regretting the regret. He relaxed and watched the rest of the performance with interest. He had to admit, it was a night he would not soon forget.
Tatiana sat sulking, fuming that the Goblin had used her story to his own advantage. She would find a way to make him pay, she swore.
At the play's conclusion they stood with others in the audience and applauded soundly. They mingled with the mortals who didn't know them for the Fae they were. Like so many others they attended parties to celebrate the opening of the play. However it was not to a fashionable apartment, nor a multimillion dollar mansion or condo they retired to. It was to FairyLand that they did go. Home to the mystic misty isle of Avalon where Oberon ruled over the Fae Realms as High King.
He remained in his tux, too weary and too upset to change when they arrived within their palaces' walls. "If I were a drinking man, I'd get drunk right now." He muttered as he moved drained and all-in toward his throne room. Taking his seat in the carved massive seat he looked at the woman who had not spoken for hours. "I'm sorry he upset your evening, my dear."
"Upset my evening?" Her eyes burned like flames. "Upset my evening?" her words dripped sarcasm. "Is that what you think?" She unceremoniously dropped her evening bag and wrap on the marble tiled floor of the throne room. "He did more than just upset my evening, Oberon. He used me and my story to plot revenge on one who bested him fairly!" Her long nails now dug into the fleshy heels of her palms.
"My fault," the High King said quietly. "I should never have boasted of my victory over you."
"No," she said shaking her head in disagreement. "I will not lay this one at your feet. I lay this at the feet of the Goblin King alone. Let him take responsibly for his own deeds, even if used yours as his blueprint."
"He's too smart for his own good sometimes," Oberon observed. "Who else would have thought to use ancient edict of the Midsummer's Night seeding?"
Tatiana paused; a faint smile came to her lips as a long dormant memory stirred. "Perhaps we can use that edict to our advantage and teach him a lesson." She looked at her husband who was leaning back prepared to hear her out. "The edict says a Fae can seed his git upon a mortal foe on this night. But it also decrees that the Fae who seeds can have no contact with said mortal until Beltane."
"Yes," Oberon muttered, "I too recall those canons."
"As High Queen I can demand that he adhere to the canons." Tatiana crossed her arms akimbo over her breasts. "He used my story; it is my right to demand he stay to the rules and Escheat."
Oberon, thoughtful upon his throne remained quiet. "It's too easy." He stated. "He would know this, would he not?"
Tatiana, too pleased at what she felt would be the proper response to the insult given her, didn't hear. "I demand my High King that the Goblin King be brought before the court to face our decree."
"What's said is said," he murmured sadly. "I will issue the summons. It may be a few hours before the lad can join us, he received a summons just after he was rolled off the stage."
"Why couldn't it have come before he…" She waved hands, clearing her mind. "Just summons him and alert the court."
Oberon gaze at her for a moment, take into account her anger and the boy's own actions to make sure she'd be angry. "He's sly…" the High King alleged. "However, you've called for his summons, and so mote it be."
Feeling vindication, the Fairy Queen moved to her throne beside that of her husband's. "So mote it be." &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Jareth received the summons just as he'd thought he might. He was watching the runner in a crystal in his hand, as the wished away child sat quietly in the pit being watched over by two little goblins who were mesmerized by the child. Every since Toby they seemed to be fascinated and enthralled by the tiny humans. Jareth encouraged the interplay between them, fewer and fewer children were wished away. And the ones who were, of late, he found were not of a necessity to change. He had found them homes among the populace who could not bare children of their own. Foundlings were never hard to place, nor were children who were without damages.
The runner was running out of time, and he felt a pang of pity of him. The boy had been overwhelmed, given duties he was not prepared for by unthinking adults. Jareth knew the child was also not up to the running of the Labyrinth. He had been thwarted at every turn, and now was dissolving into a puddle of tears. He had not even reached the oubliettes. Jareth pitied the poor child.
"Maz," he called softly over his shoulder to a goblin gazing out the throne room window. "Would you mind getting me the scroll on this lad?" The goblin Maz moved swiftly to the one time endless pile of scrolls. Of late the scrolls had decreased in size. He picked out the one he knew was for this runner, and moved swiftly to hand it to the King, lounging in the throne watching the runner in the crystal.
Jareth took the scroll and read, frowning. "I can't send him back." He stated resolutely. "I cannot send either of them back."
Maz looked at the dull eyed child in the pit. "They have been terribly neglected."
"Aye they have." Jareth placed a gloved hand to his chin, having dropped the scroll into his lap. He raised the orb to eye level. "Recommendations?"
Maz scratched his head, wanting to give his King the right answer. "Why not foster them both out to the same family?" His long fingers, with their broken nails, made noise as they raked over his scaly skin; his long dried hair looking and sounding like straw rankled under his touch.
Jareth smiled at the suggestion. "Well thought out, Maz."
As if cued the emissary from the Seelie Courts appeared at the foot of the throne. She pulled her robes closer and gave a disgusted grunt upon seeing the two goblins watching a babe in the pit. "Goblin King, I bring thee a summons." She sounded on the verge of heaving.
Displeased at being interrupted in the middle of his conference; the Goblin King held up a hand, with the index finger extended to silence the intruder. Having achieved that goal, he turned his full attentions to his goblin advisor. "Maz, do we have any foster families willing to take two children?"
"Two?" Questioned the Fae intruder; her eyes seeing only one child in the pit, "I see but one."
"I'm offering the runner sanctuary." Jareth's tone was discourteous at best, impertinent at worst. "Kindly keep still."
"You dare take that tone with an emissary of the High King?" she snapped.
"Emissary," Jareth warned in a cold fury, "remember your place." Gathering her robes even tighter the Fae woman muttered to herself. Jareth chose to ignore the mutterings and looked back at Maz. "So we?"
Maz had ignored the woman, and had moved to a ledger filled with the names of the fostering families of the Goblin Kingdom. "We have several, Sire. The miller could use sons.. as could the new brew-master… We've a farmer who is open to taking more than one child." Maz looked at the notations. "Ah we have a family here in the Goblin City that would love to have children."
"Whom would you choose?" Jareth asked looking at the runner.
Maz looked at the King, moved closer and also gazed into the orb to assess the child in question. "The Miller." He said thoughtfully.
"I agree," Jareth nodded.
"What does it matter?" the Fae female grumbled discontented at being kept waiting.
Lowering the orb, the Goblin King stare angrily with a defiant glower forming; "Madam, you are forgetting your place." He admonished harshly. "I am acting upon my foresworn duty and the welfare of the wisher is as important as that of the wished away." his free hand came slamming down on the side of the throne, making a cracking sound. "Lady Hiver, you are interrupting my duties, I will not ask you again. Kindly wait."
Allison Hiver had never expected to be spoken to with such disrespect. Her gray eyes, already cold and dull turned icier. She drew within herself, keeping still.
The hands of the great sword clock in the throne room chimed out the hour, thirteen chimes. Solemnly the King nodded, "It's done." He moved from the throne instantly adorned in the robes of the regalia. "Maz ready the wished away, I go to offer sanctuary to our runner." He gave a half turned look to the Fae woman. "I will speak with you when I return." Jareth looked again at Maz, "I wish you to join me at the bridge." When the goblin nodded the King vanished from the room. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
The sound of a child weeping greeted the King. He saw the child crumpled over, sobbing and lamenting his lot. Gently he knelt beside the child who upon seeing him, whispered earnestly. "I tried."
Comfortingly the Fae opened his arms to the child. "I know you did, Nathan." He gathered the weeping mortal. "I know you tried."
"It's just so hard…" he sobbed into the shoulder covered in Fae armor. "And I don't understand…"
Jareth held the child, allowing him to cry himself out. Once the sobs had subsided, he brushed the remains of tears from the child's cheeks. "Nathan, tell me about your home. Tell me about your life, child."
Fear flashed in the hazel eyes of the boy of no more than eleven. "I can't," he fretted. "I was told never to," he gulped hard. "They said I'd be taken away." He was franticly looking for an escape route, finding none he crumpled and began to moan.
Jareth hushed the whimpering child. "Nathan, I won't harm you. No one is going to come and take you away. I promise," Jareth lifted the boy into his arms and held him close giving the kind of comfort he found these little victims needed. "Talk to me boy, make me understand what happened."The story poured out of the withering figure, hands were wrapping themselves in the king's cloak. Jareth listened and didn't judge, he knew the child had suffered enough judgments.
When the child had finished, he wiped his nose with his sleeve. "I lost, didn't I?" Jareth nodded somberly. "So Tommy has to stay here with you?" Again a nod; "I envy him." The boy drew a long sobering breath. "I'm ready to go." He said trying to square his little shoulders.
Jareth stood, extended a hand to the boy. He felt the tremors of fear and the weight of the serious nature of this loss run though the boy who was trying to shoulder it all. As they walked, the boy asked. "Will Tommy be a goblin?"
"No," Jareth answered quietly.
Nathan whispered in a fearful voice. "Will he be alright?"
"He will go to a good family who will care for him as if he were their own." Jareth assured the runner.
Nathan nodded, "I'm glad, he deserves to be cared for." Under his breath he added. "Not like me."
Jareth stopped walking, turned to face the boy, taking his face into his hand he asked. "Why do you deserve less?"
"I'm bad." Nathan looked at the path at his feet, unable to look in the eyes of the king. "I'm just a stupid rotten kid, I wasn't even supposed to be born….they never wanted me…Not that they wanted Tommy… but I'm the rotten one."
"I don't think you're rotten." Jareth murmured softly. "I think you were overwhelmed and spoke in anger and haste and perhaps a sense of desperation."
Nathan's lower lip quivered. "Tommy's better off here…"
"Would you like to stay here?" Jareth asked.
Nathan hesitated, looking up at the king with the first glimmer of hope. "Could I?"
Jareth smiled benevolently at the mental whipped child. "I can arrange for you and Tommy to live with a good family. It does mean however that you can not ever leave here," he cautioned the child. "Think carefully before you answer."
"You mean I can stay with Tommy? I can live here… I don't have to go back there?" His voice raised three octaves. "I'll stay."
Jareth pointed to the bridge just ahead of them. "Across that bridge your new mother and father are waiting for you, run to them… my boy." The little dark haired boy turned, saw his little brother in the arms of a kindly looking man who was waving a welcome. Nathan hugged the Goblin King, turned and ran to the new family awaiting him.
Maz joined the king on the opposite side of the bridge. "They'll be fine now, Sire."
"Yes, here they will be safe, and happy." Jareth turned on the path and headed in the direction of his castle. "Now I have to deal with that Fae woman." He growled moving to the place where it was easy to reach transporting to the castle. He looked for Maz, but found the little goblin man missing. "Coward!" he shouted, smiling. He didn't blame the goblin for wanting to hide. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Lady Allison was pacing, trying to ignore the horrid little creatures scurrying over the floor. Her patience was limited in having to deal with the Goblin King. She had little or no patience for the subjects of the Fae king and was on the verge of taking her leave when the King came into the throne room with two goblins following to whom he was issuing orders. Lady Allison could feel her jaw tighten, and her molars begin to grind. Moving to the King and not waiting for an invitation to speak she thrust the scroll in her hand out to the monarch. "You are here by served notice to appear before the Seelie Courts, immediately." Her tone was hostile, and disrespectful. The expression on her lovely face matched her tone of voice.
Jareth broke the seal, opened the scroll and read, nodding his head as he read. "You may inform the High King that I will be there as soon as I've cleared up some details here." He turned to move to his throne when a hand clutching his arm halted his steps.
"You are to appear immediately." She repeated as if speaking to an ill-disciplined disobedient child.
Looking down with disdain at the hand on his sleeve, Jareth curtly said. "I will be there when I'm finished here, good day Madame." He watched as the hand was withdrawn. "I will so inform the courts."
Lady Allison growled and vanished. Maz peered in from the hall. "Is she gone?"
Jareth smiled and nodded. "Yes, you can come in now Maz, and call the others for me would you?" Tired and soul weary the king moved to his throne. Goblins began to gather, most were in some kind of loosely shaped kind of armor, many with helmets. "I'm going to be away for a few hours." The king informed his horde that was with him constantly. "Maz you are in charge of keeping things in the castle under control. I expect the rest of you to keep the peace until I return." He motioned his scribe to come forward. "The boy Nathan and his brother Tommy are now with the Miller and his wife. I want weekly reports on how the adoption is going." The scribe took notes and nodded. Jareth looked about the room, "Maz see if you can get the live stock out of here."
Maz looked at the chickens and the black pig still being led about on a leash. "Where should I put them?" He asked.
"Don't we have stock pens?" Jareth teased.
The Goblin shrugged. "I don't know; I never looked for one." He leaned against the throne. "Does that mean we can't bring the goat in?"
Thumping the little goblin on the head, Jareth snickered. "Just get the chickens and pig out of here before I get back." He rose and smiled at his horde, "I'm off, be good."
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Members of the court had been arriving since the summons was sounded. Beautiful creatures if somewhat vain, gathered in small groups. Some seemed elated at the prospect of seeing the Goblin King humiliated and disgraced. There were many speculations among the Fae as to what the High King would do about the arrogant younger Fae King. Lady Allison's return without the King in tow had drawn comments. The Emissary didn't look pleased, she was still fuming.
"My Liege," she bowed humbly to Oberon and inclined her head toward the High Queen. "Good Lady," she sighed deeply offended. "The King refused to accompany me on my return. He said to inform you he'd be along when he was ready." She knew those were not the words used by the Goblin King but she was too offended to worry about semantics.
Tatiana gripped her side rails of her throne in an effort to keep her temper under control and her face stoic. The movement, slight as it was would have gone unnoticed in the world of mortals. However here, in the realm of the Fae, it was not only noticed, it drew immediate comment.
Oberon waved the seething courtier away; he looked over at his Queen who was also seething just beneath her cool surface. He didn't speak, already tongues were waggling in the court, and he didn't wish to add fuel to those fires. Instead he placed a hand over his wife's softly. She looked over at him, and quietly accepted the support and comfort her husband was making an effort to give. The winds shifted, a scent unlike any other Fae scent filled the air. Oberon patted the hand under his and turned his attentions to the entry way of the grand court chamber.
Jareth appeared on the steps of the grand staircase. He looked regal, but he also looked infuriated and appeared to be keeping a tight hold on his emotions and his temper. He was behaving far from his usual brash way. He was behaving like a man with a purpose, instead of a spoiled child. Slowly, unhurriedly he descended the stair, his face schooled and nearly stoic. His cape fluttered as he approached the dais of the High King and Queen. Once at the base of the dais he bowed his head in a courtly manner. "Majesty," he addressed the High King. "I've a grievance." The entire court gasped.
Amused, Oberon could feel the corners of his lips turn up as he worked at keeping a straight face. "Indeed?" A surge of pride filled the High King; the boy had turned the tables and caught them off guard. "What is this grievance?"
"Am I or am I not a King of one of the five Underground Kingdoms?" Jareth asked boldly. Tatiana blinked, not believing she'd heard the question correctly.
Oberon, having an inkling of the jest of this complaint was going to be, nodded. "Yes, you are a King… You are the Goblin King." He stated loudly enough for the entire court to hear.
"Am I not due the same respect that other monarchs are due?" Jareth asked keeping his face schooled.
"Indeed, you are due the same respects given any other monarch of the Underground." Oberon answered.
Jareth crossed his arms, partially in a defensive move, partially in an effort to keep control; he had the upper hand and didn't wish to lose it. "Then would you kindly inform your Emissary of how to show respect to a ruling Monarch?"
Lady Allison moved forward, enraged at being besmirched by this creature. "How dare you?" she gasped. Tatiana covered her eyes, embarrassed by the faux pas.
Oberon looked at the Emissary, trying to keep peace. "Lady Allison, mind yourself."
The Fae woman looked at the High King with wounded eyes. "He kept me standing about, surrounded by those dirty little goblins." She argued. "Even after he was informed that I was there on the business of the Seelie Courts."
Jareth turned on her, his rage now in his eyes as he kept his voice controlled. "Madame, I had a runner in the Labyrinth. I so informed you of this fact. Where there is a runner, it takes precedence over everything. My duty is clear, and no one, not even the High King himself is more important than safety of the runner."
"And is offering sanctuary to a runner more important than a summons from your King?" Lady Allison argued still offended by his actions toward the child who'd wished its sibling away.
Oberon held up a hand, the room quieted, he looked at the Goblin King. "You offered sanctuary?"
"I did." He stated calmly. "I'm within my rights to do so."
Allison stood with a look of triumphant victory on her smug face. "He admits it." Her tone was insolent. Tatiana was mortified; this was not helping her cause.
Oberon motioned the woman to be still, he looked at the Goblin King. "Of course you are within your rights to offer sanctuary when ever it is needed. May I ask what the circumstances in this case were?"
Jareth looked toward the High King, "A child of eleven normally has certain skills and abilities. This child was lacking them; he shows signs of having been abused, not just physically, but more deeply. His mind and his soul have been scarred," the King's voice sounded different as he spoke of the mortal child. "Nathan is unable to understand some of this. He believes he deserves the abuse, and no better. He said he envied his brother being able to stay in my kingdom, that he would be better off with me." Squaring his shoulders the King became solidly defensive. "I looked up the records on the family and found I could not turn this child away. I could not send him back to a living hell… so I offered him my protection as well as a foster family."
Allison didn't appear moved; her face was still full of distain.
Jareth pointed a gloved hand in her direction. "This woman spoke to me with open hostility before my subordinates and my subjects." He stated his complaint clearly. "She invaded my space and made demands of me without regard for the safety of the runner or the wished away."
Oberon looked at his wife; her complaint was losing its validity due to the actions of one of the court. "Lady Allison you owe an apology to the Goblin King." Oberon stated flatly. When the woman turned to look at the High King in shock, he continued. "Madame, if you had treated any of the other Kings of the Underground in such a manner the entire court here would be at your throat." He stood and looked about the court. "Everyone here has shown less than common courtesy to this King let alone civility. And he is a King…" Taking his seat again he glared at the Emissary. "You owe King Jareth an apology."
Lady Allison Hiver raised her head, turned and coldly but politely said to the Goblin King standing aside her, "I am most sorry, King Jareth."
Oberon knew as well as Jareth did she was no sorrier than she was ready to admit to fault. Jareth took the upper hand, and accepted the offered act of contrition. "I accept your apology, Lady Allison." He turned, ignoring her presences. "I believe you wished to see me, Sire?"
Oberon leaned back in his chair, astonished by the polish the boy was displaying. "Yes, I did." He looked at his wife who was also showing some sighs of surprise. "You made a claim earlier this evening, a claim on one Sarah Williams."
"Yes," agreed the handsome blond King.
"You claimed the right of Midsummer's Night Seeding?" Tatiana now questioned. Jareth inclined his head, smiling at the Fae Queen.
"I did, I do." She turned to Oberon, questions in her eyes.
He was too calm, too pleasant. Oberon suspected a purpose to the man's manner. "Do you understand the rules and canons there of?"
Jareth smiled, "I do."
"Including the fact that you can not have any contact with the mortal until Beltane?" Tatiana asked, becoming suspicious.
Smirking Jareth shrugged, "Only if you insist on keeping to the letter of the canon." Looking about the court, and smirking again he continued. "Seeing as you dragged me here, I'd guess you do intend to keep to the letter of the canon."
"You little bastard!" Tatiana stood up, "You used me twice!"
Oberon covered his mouth to keep from laughing outright. Jareth winked at the High Queen. "Indeed, but you were such a willing partner to being used on this second matter." He stood proudly. "I accept the canons." He turned to the courts. "I shall have no further contact with the mortal Sarah Williams until the feast of Beltane. Upon that high and holy feast I shall proclaim my authority over the mortal."
Turning to the High King Tatiana complained loudly. "Can't you stop him?"
"I told you this was too easy," he warned his wife. "The boy is much smarter than he let you all believe. You demanded he come to court; you demanded that he obey the canons. It is out of my hands." He looked at the Goblin King who was awaiting the High King's commands. "So mote it be, the canons are in place."
Sad eyes watched from behind a pillar, eyes that were kinder toward the Goblin King than others in the courts. She waited until he was within earshot. "You should not have used her in that manner, Jareth." The soft voice said.
Jareth turned to see the face come from behind the pillar. "Nicole," he greeted the Fae woman warmly. "You look well."
"I am," she agreed coming around the pillar to offer him her hands in friendship. "You look like a peacock."
He snickered, "I am."
She looked toward the dais, "I think that was mean."
"I'm sorry." He said feeling truly contrite. "I don't wish to cause you nor your mother discomfort or hurt feelings." Raising her hand he kissed the fingers. "I had hoped she would just over look the entire matter and let sleeping dogs lie."
"How could she?" Nicole asked with eyes now dancing. "You flaunted her, situation with Bottom… my father, before the entire Fae court, and a house full of mortals."
"Ah but look what a wonder that coupling produced," he boasted as he praised the young Fae woman who was always his friend in the courts. "Is there another in the courts who can compare to thee?"
"Peacock," she teased.
"I love thee as a sister, though we don't share a bloodline." Jareth said soberly. "If I caused you pain, I am sorry. It was not my intention."
Nicole's dark eyes filled with understanding. "Was it worth it?"
"A thousand times over, yes," Jareth drew her hand into his arm and bid her walk with him. "Yes."
The Fae who walked with Jareth looked more like her father than Tatiana, her mother. She had more human mannerisms than most Fae or Fae half lings. "Why did you want my mother to demand the canons be adhered to?"
"Tit for tat," Jareth insisted.
"But if you can have no contact… how will you keep track of this mortal?" Nicole asked urgently.
"Puck," Jareth said in a consistory sounding tone.
"Puck?" She asked not sure she understood his meaning.
Jareth led her to the gardens and seated her on a bench and took a seat beside her. "I left a gift for Sarah before I made my grand exit, a little silver ring. pansies and little tiny mushrooms in a band very delicate and very beautiful."
"A Fae Fairy ring? You know that no human who wears one is ever free of the bands." Nicole looked about; wanting to be sure they were not over heard. "Jareth!"
"Well," he looked disgruntled. "I couldn't exactly waltz her into a Fae Ring, now could I? So I did the next best thing. I left my gift, knowing she'll slide the ring on her finger freely of her own accord."
"Oh what a web you've woven!" Nicole muttered. "What does Puck have to do with this?"
"He's playing himself on the stage." Jareth snickered. "And he is free of the canons, he will keep watch over Sarah for me."
Nicole snickered as well, "I think my mother is right, you're a bastard."
Jareth, pleased and contented crossed his arms and mugged at his 'sister''; "Aren't' I though?"
