Chapter 28. Trials of Beltane
Sarah suffered as she feared she was going to lose her lunch, if he'd eaten any that was or breakfast for that matter. She had been nervous and panic stricken. As positive as her parents had been she knew that being ordered to bring Joey to the courthouse was not a good sign. She had changed her clothes six times, and Joey's at least as many. Nothing seemed right this morning. Her eyes were dark and hollow looking. Her face was pale and she looked ghostly or haunted. No matter what she tried on it seemed to make her look even more pallid.
Sarah held her son to her breast one more time before they were to make the short trip to the court house. "I love you, Joey… always… always remember that." She crooned to the baby. When he finished she tidied him up and carried him and the diaper bag down to the main floor where her mother, Jeremy, her father and Karen and Toby were waiting for them. She didn't try to speak, her voice was gone.
Robert led her to the car and the police kept the crowds back. Someone in the crowd screamed at her that she was a witch to keep the baby from his father. Sarah looked at her son, resting peacefully in his car seat. "I would never keep you from your father." She vowed in a whisper. Silently she whispered another prayer to the God she thought had long forsaken her and stopped listening to her pleas. 'Please God, find Jay…send him to us before it's too late.'
The courthouse was surrounded by thrill seekers, paparazzi, reporters, supporters and hecklers. All held back by barricades and officers of the law. Sarah carried her baby wrapped in a blanket up the steps of the courthouse feeling like each step was bringing her closer to doom. In the lobby stood Dido, Magda, Kevin and Peter, all there to show support and give her their strength; Sarah was grateful for the support.
The courtroom was packed. Both sides of the seating area were filled with people who just had to be part of the verdict. Including the important looking man with the elegant lady on his arm in the very last row of the side which Sarah was going to be. In the courtroom Sarah took her seat at the defendants table with her father. She held the baby in the carrier, the baby looked about the room as if he knew something was happening. He was not exactly fretful, but he looked anxious and was a little fussy. Across from them sat Robin Hayden looking very confident and his lawyer who gave baleful looks at Robert and Sarah. Behind actor sat the beautiful blond who had been on his arm. Sarah felt pity for both of them, and wondered how Robin could do this to her.
Dido whispered to Magda that she wished there was something she could do.
Peter closed his eyes, he could feel something, something not of this world, and he smiled. He looked at Sarah and prayed she was strong enough for what was about to take place.
The Judge entered the court room and looked at the assembled group with disdain. After the Bailiff said his peace, the Judge placed his hands together on the desk before him and sighed heavily. "We are brought here today by serious charges." Looking at Sarah, he continued. "You have been charged with falsifying a birth record, and denying a father his right to his son." He looked at Robin, showing a good deal of compassion for the man's plight. "You insist on giving the credit for your son's birth to this J.G. King person who does not seem to exist. Several witnesses have testified to the passionate relationship you shared with Mr. Hayden…"
'Say your right words.' Sarah heard.
"No," she whispered.
The judge, thinking she was contradicting him fumed. "Young lady do you understand the serious nature of your misdeeds?" Hid voice rose.
Sarah looked up at him, but heard a chorus of Goblins hissing. She looked around the room, panicked. "Oh no…" she murmured feeling a bit dizzy. She found herself gripping the edge of the table, as if it were the only think that would keep her from fall off the world. She saw dark shadows dart about behind the judge and she began to fear the worst.
The elegant lady's face looked troubled; she turned to the important looking man and whispered urgently. "Do something!"
"No," he said firmly.
"I never meant for something like this to happen…" she moaned. "Oberon, do something…"
"It's not my place, wife… now be silent and watch." He looked at her with a commanding gaze. "Watch." She looked over at Sarah who was watching something beyond the judge with frantic eyes.
"As you've not shown one shred of evidence to disprove the claim of Mr. Hayden… I have no choice but to…" The judge was silenced when both doors of the courtroom where thrown open. The heavy wooden doors made a thunderous sound as they slammed against walls. "See here! Who are you and what do you want?"
Sarah heard the commotion in the room, heard gasps and closed her eyes tighter. Magda grabbed her arm. "He's here, Sarah! He's here!" Sarah could feel the electricity in the air, and that scent, the one thing that seemed to haunt her, was heavy. She didn't dare turn to look, but grabbed the hand on her sleeve. Magda was now squealing, "Sarah, he's here!"
"I object," the clear loud protest came from the newcomer to the courtroom.
Sarah could have sworn she heard the hiss of water hitting fire. There were other sounds, but she didn't want to even try to figure out what they were. She stood on shaking knees unable to turn or move. She didn't even remember standing up, but then everyone seemed to be standing now. Her father looked at her then back at the man who had just entered the courtroom.
"Who are you?" The Judge demanded.
"I'm J. G. King… the father of Sarah Williams' baby." He proclaimed as he moved forward. "And I have the DNA to prove it…."He cast a withering look at Robin who was pulling back trying to shrink. "Do you?"
Sarah felt her heart pound; he was nearly at the front of the courtroom. She could hear Karen and Linda thanking whatever God had brought him. Something told her he was almost at her side; she refused to look at him. In fact she was refusing to open her eyes.
"Is this true?" The judge demanded. "Miss Williams is this man J.G. King… the man you say fathered your child?"
A hand touched Sarah's elbow, fingertips that were firm and familiar. She let the air out of her lungs, and moaned. "Yes." Her eyes, still shut tight, she leaned to him and breathed in his scent. "Yes." She was still afraid to open her eyes, fearful of breaking the spell. Jay King was here, claiming her child as his, defending her and protecting their child. He was here, at last. All the trouble of searching for him, all the months of worry faded away at his touch. She kept her eyes closed and breathed him in.
The man in the Armani suit cupped her face in one hand and smiled at the closed eyes. "Sarah." He said as only he could. Her eyes shot open as did her mouth as he closed in on her. Whatever protest had been rushing forth from her was captured in his open mouth. His arms held her like steel bands. When he raised his head, she looked at him with accusing eyes.
"You…." She hissed.
"Yes, my love… me." He murmured, ignoring the looks of her family and friends. "I am the father of your child." The words were for her ears alone, no one else seemed to hear what they were saying to one another.
Sarah turned her attentions to the child in the baby carrier; he looked up at the stranger with knowing eyes. Before she could protest the judge was slamming his gavel on the desk demanding silence and order. Her mind raced, it was accept the Goblin King or allow Hayden to win. She looked at the Goblin King knowing she had no choice.
"You say you're J. G. King…" the judge didn't seem willing to accept this on face value. "If this is true, where have you been?"
"I'm afraid I was on assignment for my families concerns over seas… your honor. Where I was there is no easy communications. No phone lines and the mails are dreadfully slow, if it gets though at all. I only found out about this trial a few days ago. My solicitor will be here shortly, I came on ahead…" He explained with almost a respectful tone in his voice. He placed a protective and possessive arm about Sarah. "Had I known that our joining had produced a child I would have been at my lady's side at once." He lied, Sarah stiffened under his embrace. Gently he massaged her arm. "I can not image what Mr. Hayden thought to profit by making claim to my son."
Hayden felt deserted; he knew the Fae presences that had been with him for months had fled. He said nothing.
Still not convinced the judge questioned further. "And you say you're willing to have DNA testing done?"
"I am." Jareth smirked knowing Hayden didn't dare.
"That won't be necessary," The lawyer representing Hayden announced. "We withdraw our complaint."
Sarah stood still; she heard the cries of joy. She heard the congratulations. Felt the pats on her back. The only thing that was real was a voice screaming in her head. Jareth, the Goblin King is the father of my baby! Her knees went first and Jareth was left holding ragdoll limp Sarah from crumpling completely.
The Judge narrowed his glare, still on Sarah. "Perhaps you'd care to come into chambers and explain this." His words were directed at Hayden, who shook his head, and declined. The judge glared, "It was not a suggestion!"
Hayden's lawyer followed his client into the chambers.
Robert looked at Jareth, unaware he was keeping Sarah from falling to the floor. "Young man, I'd like a word with you."
"I'm sure," Jareth said through tight teeth; "However, now is not the time." He shifted his weight and Sarah shuddered and muttered something unintelligible under her breath. "I believe Sarah and the boy have first call on my attentions." He pinched the young woman under her ribcage and she jumped to attention. He liked the look of fire that was now building within her eyes, now that the first shock of his true identity was wearing off.
"You!" she snapped.
"Me," He nodded, and released her so she could stand on her own; "Established." He said in a undertone, "Sarah if you wish to air our dirty laundry," He made and sideways glance at her father; "It could have very serious consequences."
Robert didn't hear what was said between the man and his daughter, he only knew he had to get into the Judges chambers and keep things from causing more problems. "Stay here, we're not done."
Linda had moved to stand behind Sarah. "Jay, we've been looking franticly for you."
"I am sorry," he kept his tone apologetic and composed. "I had hoped to get back sooner but I ran into some trouble that could not have been timed more poorly." He looked beyond Sarah at the baby. "Handsome little tyke, isn't he?" Leaning closer he mused in a voice that dripped absolute pleasure. "He has my eyes."
"He does not!" Sarah retorted shortly. "His eyes are not a bit like yours."
"Actually I think his eyes are a lot like Jays." Linda said looking from father to son. "Same jewel tone of blue and same intensity."
"Thank you, Linda," Jareth said graciously. He moved to get closer to the baby, but was blocked by Sarah. "Now, now, my precious… I'm just going to look."
Sarah could feel the stares from Linda and Karen, and was sure Magda and Dido were staring at her as well. Still she blocked the man, her lower lip trembled as she tried to obstruct and impede his progress. She heard snickers, and tittering, and whispered. "Goblins." She looked about and knew the courthouse was crawling with them. She looked at Jareth who looked calm and serene. He placed a hand under her chin and she realized he was not wearing the gloves he'd worn when she'd first met him. His touch was electric, little shocks coursed between them. She murmured a plea of some kind that was if not ignored, not headed. The hand at her chin moved down to her shoulders and turned her to look at the baby who was apparently watching them both with happy eyes.
"Our son," he crooned in her ear now standing beside her and holding her captive in his grasp.
Sarah was on the verge of telling him that the child was hers and hers alone, when she saw the lawyers, Robin and the judge returning to the courtroom. She wanted to tell him he could just leave now, thank you very much. However he was now standing besides her making his claim not only on the boy but her as well. It was not even that he was doing anything more than just standing there. Sarah looked at him; the Armani suit was even more formidable than his Goblin Armor if possible. The wild shock of hair had been tamed, and looked beyond stylish. He looked like a prince of Wall Street. Commanding, and completely at ease in any situation.
Robin had made the mistake of looking over at Sarah as he moved to his table; Jareth's scent changed becoming more powerful. His eyes glowered at the man who had tried to steel the child from Sarah, a privilege reserved for the King of the Goblins alone. One hand moved to Sarah's waist as the Goblin King glared at the actor who had told him once to piss off. Robin looked desperate to leave. Jareth knew he could not exact his revenge on the man, not here in this crowded court room. His settling of scores would have to wait. There were more pressing concerns for now. Jareth looked at Sarah's father who looked confident; the King of the Goblins then turned his attentions to the judge. He could sense a confusion spell having been placed on the man. He also knew his presence would cause that spell to go haywire. 'Amateur,' he thought to him self, vowing to himself to make the Fae responsible for this pay dearly.
The judge waited until everyone was seated and quiet, he then cleared his throat. "The birth records for the infant Joseph Williams-King will remain as it is… and the claim of J. G. King as father is accepted by this court. Case dismissed." He tossed the gavel down and wondered how in the hell he'd been roped into this trial in the first place.
Robert stood up, turned to Jay King and said. "Now as for you young man…"
"I think this would be better discussed in private," Jay spoke evenly to Sarah's father; "Unless you wish the press to make a spectacle of the rest of our… affair." He knew his words were heard and the meaning understood by the man of Law. "Perhaps if you'd allow me to have some of your time in private, I can answer all your questions."
Robert could hear the click of cameras and the popping of flashes, "I'm sure that would be better." He agreed.
Linda frowned, "I'm worried about getting through that throng with the baby." She watched as Robin and his lawyer made their way out of the court room. "He's going to talk to the press, and God knows what he'll claim."
"He'll say that it could have easily been his, even though everyone knows it couldn't." Jareth announced knowingly. "He's going to try and save face at the cost of Sarah's reputation." Long fingers took hold of her elbow. "I'm going to see the Bailiff, see if we can go out through the Judges exit." He moved toward the court official and began to speak to him.
"Commanding, isn't he?" Robert asked as he gathered up his papers and shoved them into the briefcase that he had open on the table. "Sarah, get the baby ready, I think he's going to get us out of here and I want to move fast."
Karen grabbed Toby's hand. Magda said she'd have Peter drive her and Dido over to the Brownstone and they would all meet there. Sarah gathered Joey's diaper bag and picked up the carrier. Jay motioned for the family to come forward and the court official saw them out and down the hall to an elevator that would take them to the garage. Once there Karen and Linda headed for the car with Toby. J.G. King held Sarah's arm and announced he'd be driving her and the baby over in his car. Robert wanted to protest, something about the man raised the hackles on his neck. Sarah opened her mouth to make an objection, however the fingers at her elbow tightened in silent warning. Jeremy told them not to be long, as he and Robert went to the car. Jareth turned Sarah toward a very handsome limo that was pulling toward them.
"Get in." He ordered her curtly, the pretences of manners fading. "Strap the boy in, woman." He watched with a measure of satisfaction, he had not expected her to be cooperative or obedient. He settled himself into his seat and looked at his driver; "The Williams'' brownstone, Hollis." He commanded. "And take your time, Miss Williams and I have business to discuss that is best discussed without her family interfering."
The privacy window went up and Sarah glared at him, and hissed. "I should have known it was you!"
"Yes, you should have." He draped an arm over the back of the seat and looked at her. "You look lovely, motherhood suits you."
"What do you want from me, Goblin King?"
The hand draped over the back seat moved slightly, taking hold of the long locks of dark chocolate hair. "I want what I've always wanted, Sarah…. What you owe me…"
"I don't owe you a thing," she voiced disapproval. "Except maybe contempt for what you did to me. I won! I beat you fair and squarely, in spite of how often you cheated! I knew the Fae were snarky, but I had no idea that you'd go so far as to trick me into…." She paused, bit back the words, pursed her lips and vowed. "I owe you nothing."
Jareth snickered, amused. "I doubt the rest of the Fae community would agree."
Batting his hand away she glared at him. "And I should care what they think?
"Yes precious," he sighed airily. "You should."
"Oh really? Once you leave I have no intentions of ever having anything, and I mean anything to do with your kind again." She stated with conviction. "You have no power over me!"
"Think again, doll." His hand now knotted in her long hair. "We share a bond that can never be broken. We share a son."
"He's my child!" She reached for the baby in the strapped in car seat carrier.
Jareth pulled her hair and prevented her from touching the child. "Listen to me, and listen well, woman. In one month and twenty-one days you will be directed to a holy grove. You will present yourself and the child there at that time. My son will at that time be presented to the High Court, and will take his place among us."
"Joey does not belong to you," she gasped. "You can't have him!"
"You will not discuss this with your family," He continued ignoring her protestations. "I will not tolerate interference from anyone, not even them. I can be cruel Sarah, so don't try me." He released her hair.
"And if I refuse?"
"Don't even think of it," he warned knowing that refusing was the least of what she was capable of. He knew the challenge would set her on a path that would lead to her downfall, and he looked forward to the next forty or so days. "Hollis, once around the park if you will," he ordered and drank in the view of Sarah staring at him. "The lady and I rather enjoy the view of a park. Don't we… Sarah?"
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Hayden had sent his lady friend home, he wanted to be alone. He poured a scotch, neat, and dark it slowly. He stood at the window looking down on the city and growled to himself. He had been so sure the Fae woman would not fail him… He had been a fool. Someone had warned him when he was a child not to take the Fae at face value, nor to take lightly any bargain made with them.
The scotch burned and stuck in his throat as tried to down the last drops in his glass. Anger and frustration drove him to raise his arm and hurl the glass at the fire place. The Glass never reached the hearth, it hung in mid air.
"Come to see how fair you've caused me to fall?" he asked before the woman appeared.
Allison looked at the mortal with contempt. "Self pity is so human," her voice dripped disdain and she plucked the glass out of the air. "Wasteful creatures." She commented as she stepped toward the bar setup on the table.
"You just left!" He accused, "Just left me hanging…"
"I had my reasons," she assured him as she poured him another glass of the amber liquid.
Hayden took the glass, without a moment's hesitation, and not a sign of gratitude. "Of course you did… I thought you said everything would be easy… that there was no way Jay would show up."
"The Goblin King is more crafty than I'd credited," she murmured mostly to herself.
Hayden lowered the glass in his hands from his lips. "Goblin King?" He asked with a fearful sound entering his voice. "You had me claim something that belongs to the Goblin King? Are you crazy or just stupid?" His accusation got attention and she turned icy cold eyes on the mortal. "I would never have consented to this had I know that Jay was the Goblin King…." He slammed the drink on the table spilling the contents. "Lady, on the outside I may appear to be a cultured man, and the most excellent performer on stage… but on the inside I'm half Welsh… and I was raised on tales of the Goblin King and his powers." Both hands went to his hair and he tugged. "No one in their right mind takes on the Goblin King, no one."
Lady Allison Hiver glared at the insolent creature before her. "He's little more than you, mortal… Neither of you will be missed when you are gone, turned to dust."
Robin Hayden shook his head. "You deceived me…."
"You where willing to be deceived," she countered smoothly; "All in the name of a few fleeting moments of fame."
Hayden began to fear what was going to be the results of his having made a claim on Sarah and her son. "How do you intend to protect me?" He asked in a long sigh.
Allison's laugh had no mirth; it was cold and sounded ugly. "And why should I wish to protect you? You are nothing, a mortal, little better than an animal. While I, I am Fae, compared to you… I'm a God." She walked toward the windows. "You were useful, and now you're not… so I say fare thee well, mortal."
Hayden watched as the woman vanished, she had deserted him not once but twice on the same day. Holding his head in his hands he forced his mind to work, there was only one person he could turn to. Reaching for the phone he dialed the overseas operator and gave her a number he had memorized. A voice came over the receiver, and he swallowed hard the pride that had stuck in his throat. "Mama, it's me… Robyin… I'm in trouble, mama…"
"Son…" the voice said softly. "What do ye need?"
"Mama, I made a bargain with a devil in the guise of a Fae… is there anyway to protect myself from the wrath of the Goblin King?" He whispered.
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Jareth had escorted Sarah up the stairs of the Brownstone. The crowds had dissipated, and the police officers were taking down the barricades. Linda was at the door waiting for them when they arrived. The family had gathered in the parlor of Linda's flat, and were waiting for them. Jareth moved to Robert's side. "Sir, I believe you and I have an appointment." He motioned Robert toward the kitchen.
Sarah watched her father follow the man. She raised her baby out of the carrier and held him close. Magda, Dido and Peter arrived followed by Kevin, and his wife. The house was filling up quickly with victorious celebrators. But the celebration was leaving a sour taste in Sarah's mouth. It was not long before Robert and the man everyone knew as Jay returned.
Jareth moved to stand beside Sarah, "I must leave soon," he told her quietly. "Remember what I've said." He moved to speak to some of the other guests, thanking them for their support of Sarah while he'd been away. It was only when he paused to speak to Peter that Sarah's vision fluttered, and the glamour cleared. She saw Peter for the first time as he truly was, and she felt her heart pound. Peter Hobson was Fae, and by the looks of it a subservient to the Goblin King. Sarah looked at the babe in her arms, there was something unearthly about him, but it mattered not. He was her son, and she'd be damned if she was going to just hand him over to the likes of Jareth, King of the Goblins. So intent was she looking at her son she didn't see the look cast at her by the Goblin's King.
"Keep an eye on her," he warned Puck. "She's going to bolt."
"Why not prevent her from doing so?" Puck asked.
"And ruin the chase?" Jareth chuckled. "Not on your life."
