Chapter 9. The Queen's dilemma
Tatiana paced the Queen's garden, troubled and unwilling to share her torment. Oberon watched her from the footbridge, knowing better than to intrude on her need to sort. He had warned her, he told himself, he had tried at least. It worried him that she was taking on so. "Poor woman," he muttered aloud.
"I concur." A voice sounded behind the High King.
"Princess Nicole," Oberon held a hand out to his stepdaughter. "I had no idea you were in residence, you look well." He was truly fond of the girl, and had always treated her as his own child. He felt responsible for her existence.
The outstretched hand was accepted by the young Fae woman, "I arrived shortly before you called the Goblin King to appear before you." She stood at his side, her eyes on the woman pacing. "My mother has waltzed herself into a corner."
"She had help in that little dance," Oberon sighed. "My son."
Nicole's dark eyes filled with worry. "He knows her too well, he knew she would call for him to obey the Escheat, he boasted to me that he counted on it."
Oberon drew the girl to walk along side him as he left the footbridge to walk a path that was moving in a direction away from the Queen's garden. "You hold no animosity toward Jareth?"
"No," Nicole said quietly.
"You are one of the few," Oberon commented.
"I understand my kinsmen," Nicole mused. "And he understands me, Sire."
"You claim each other as kindred," the High King took comfort in the statement.
A smile formed, giving the young Fae woman a loveliness few could achieve. "We have always thought of each other as brother and sister, Sire. I admit, I am amused by his antics most of the time."
"And now?" the High King asked.
"Now," Nicole glanced over her shoulder, "I wish I could say I am not amused, but I am." She continued when she saw the surprise in the face of her stepfather. "Father, everyone expected him to lick his wounds and crawl off to a corner, behave like a whipped puppy. How they could expect this is beyond me. Jareth is nothing if not consistent, to accept defeat is not in his nature." She smiled, "I know it was my mother who insisted that you banish him to the Goblin Kingdom, and give him a throne no other wanted. Instead of being chastised, Jareth became a beloved monarch of subjects other Fae wish to ignore and deny. He not only managed to rule the unruly little goblins, but he refined their missions in life. And his alliance with the creature that is the Labyrinth… is a feat on other Fae King managed. Most others who wore the Goblin Crown, including the last Goblin, had no control over the creature." She sounded like a very proud sibling, praising someone few others even wanted to admit existed. "Instead of cowering like a beaten or whipped dog, he marched in and took control. Yes, I admire him." She admitted. "I understand why he did what he did, and I can not help but be amused by the corner he let my mother waltz herself into."
"Nicole," Oberon murmured. "I wish your mother had your forgiving nature. Right now she's plotting how to get even."
"For all the good it will do her." The Fae princess looked back toward the Queen's garden and its pacing occupant. "He'll be counting on her taking some sort of action."
"I agree." Oberon sighed. "I know I would."
"He is much like you," claimed the princess; "Strong, bold, and daring."
Amused the High King smiled broadly. "Thank you, Princess." He continued to stroll with the young woman on his arm.
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Tatiana, exhausted took a seat on one of the marble benches. Defeat was not something she enjoyed, and didn't accept easily. She wondered how she could have been so stupid as not to hear her husband's warning. She had watched the rascal grow up; she knew he was sly and calculating. Now she had be hoist upon her own petard.
The Goblin King had tricked her into demanding he obey the edicts and the Escheat. He had wanted her to make the demands, and now she too was required to observe the ancient laws. He had trapped her by not doing a thing; he knew her reactions to his using her situation would cause her to want a settling of scores. All she had done was to play into his hands.
"Why would he want me to demand that he adhere to the canons?" she asked aloud, but before she could answer herself she noticed movement.
Lady Allison's face was a mask of fury as she approached the garden where the Queen sought solace. Her beautiful features were cold on the best of days; her icy comportment was even more evident with her wrath. Her gray eyes had the look of a blizzard in their depths. "My Lady High Queen." She addressed the queen with a deep curtsey. "Might I have a few words with you?"
Tatiana, while not terribly fond of the woman remained polite. "You may speak, Lady Allison." She was still miffed at the woman for having bungled the mission of summonsing the Goblin King to the Court of the Seelie here on Avalon. "Be seated."
The other took a seat opposite the Queen. "I stand humiliated," she began petulantly.
The High Queen found this was one time she was amused by the antics of the scamp King. Not only amused, but she approved of his having humiliated the cold Fae courtier. "Indeed."
Allison felt her jaw clench, she fought to keep civil to the High Queen. "I reacted to the situation in the castle in the Goblin Realm as any self respecting Fae would. I was acting on behalf of the Seelie Court, and I was treated like a lackey." She complained.
"Lady Allison," The High Queen became stoic and poised. "Did you expect him to stop dead in his tracks, to turn all his attentions to you? Were you not informed before you set off on your mission that he was dealing with a wished away child summons?"
The cold that emanated from the Fae woman grew more frigid. "Matters of the Seelie Court should take precedence," she huffed.
"Not when a mortal is running the Labyrinth," admonish the High Queen.
Unaffected by the castigation, the woman continued her complaint. "He left me waiting while he coddled a mortal brat." She growled angrily. "He came here to our courts and humiliated me!"
'You brought that down on yourself,' thought the High Queen. "You expected him to overlook your lack of respect?"
The cold features went stony. "I don't respect him," she admitted openly. "I know most of the court feels the same about him as I do." She stood up. "You yourself, my Queen, don't give a rat's ass for him." She had forgotten whom she was addressing. "Were it not for the fact that the High King harbors a soft place in his heart for that bastard, we would not have to tolerate his presences at all."
Tatiana stood up, her face cool and impassive. "Madame, you forget yourself," she said calmly.
Allison stood, glaring at the High Queen. "You know it's true." She challenged. "Right now you sit here in this garden, plotting your own revenge on him for having ill used you." She didn't give the Queen a chance to deny it. "I too want revenge! No man has ever spoken to me or of me in such a manner and gotten away with it. I want vengeance, I demand it."
The High Queen wondered for a moment if the Gods were suddenly on her side, "Lady Allison, while I don't like your way of addressing your High Queen… I understand your sentiments." Tatiana took her seat once more. "I will not stand in your way of settling of scores."
Allison frowned, not sure she understood the other woman's words.
Tatiana unexpectedly became calm and tranquil. Her face was the picture of serenity. "I will not stand in your way. However, I won't help you, and I have no desire to know your plans."
Grasping the comprehension of the true meaning of the Queen's statement, Allison smiled coldly. She simpered, "I was not here." She rose, curtseyed and left the now tranquil Queen.
Tatiana rose to her feet, "I wonder if you'll be expecting this little turn of events, my dear step son."
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The image in the crystal orb fogged. "Yes, Madame, I was." A voice spoke gently to the images shifting in the orb. "You are far too easy to read." He now watched as the orb image became the cold beauty of Lady Allison. "And this one is too full of her own importance." He tossed the orb into the air where it burst into thousands of sparkles come showering down. "Maz, the game is afoot!" He called to the Goblin on the other side of the throne room.
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Nicole found the High Queen sitting in peace, too much peace the princess thought. "Mother what have you done?" the girl demanded.
"Is that any way to address your mother?" The Queen chastised.
"Yes!" The girl stated coldly. "What have you done?" She demanded again.
Tatiana smiled, "I have come to terms."
Nicole closed her eyes, the other scent still hung in the air. "Oh Mother, you didn't…"
"Didn't what, dear?"
The Fae princess winced, "I don't believe this is happening." She looked at her mother, "I can't believe you set Hiver on Jareth."
"Did I?" Asked the High Queen with what was nearly childlike innocence batting her pretty lashes.
The Princess of Avalon shook her head. "Mother, surely you knew he'd know."
Tatiana winked. "Of course I knew he'd know. You think I'm not aware he has means of knowing what is going on everywhere?"
"Then why?"
The High Queen smiled her peace still intact. "Nicole, if anyone can take Lady Allison Hiver down a few notches, I'm sure it would be Jareth."
"You want him to take her down a notch?" Nicole sat down beside her mother. "You want Jareth to switch from targeting you."
"Well that is one of the benefits," admitted the High Queen. "Mostly I just want to see that smug face on the Lady Allison obliterated. You didn't hear the way she addressed me, like I was her equal, such disrespect I will tolerate from no one." She placed a motherly hand on the Princess's hand. "In this instance, I will expect Jareth to act as my champion."
"Why should he accept such a position?" The princess challenged.
Tatiana stood up and smiled peacefully. "For many reasons, first because he is foremost, my stepson, and it is a matter of family honor. Secondly because neither of us cares for the lady in question, and thirdly because it takes me out of the hot seat shifting his evil intentions onto one who so richly deserves them. Care to wager how long it takes him to wipe that smug look off Lady Allison's face?"
Nicole stood up, "Madame, you're as twisted as my brother."
Tatiana looked entirely too pleased. "I thank you." The Queen looked about her garden. "My dilemma is solved, on many levels." She began to stroll away.
Nicole watched her move away, she didn't follow. The Princess placed a hand to her lips and murmured. "He used you over and over and over," she sighed. "If you are at peace, who am I to stir the pot? Let sleeping dogs lie." She sat down again. "I almost feel sorry for Allison."
