Chapter 20. That which will not be healed

Bryn had returned to the suite of rooms Devon had provided, a maid was now waiting for her and helped her to change out of her day gown into something more appropriate to the evening. The maid was a quiet creature who was called Mri, and she seemed most respectful. Her hands were skilled in the ways of the Fae styles of garments, something Bryn could not claim to be. When she finished working her wonders, Bryn looked very appealing.

Devon was awaiting her at the foot of the stairs; he too had changed into evening attire. "You look very pretty." He commented as she moved down the stairs with a graceful gait.

"Thank you, sir." She answered. "But I'm afraid I cannot take any of the credit. Mri is the one you should complement."

Devon raised one brow; "Tell me, is the maid working out?"

"She's very good at what she does," Bryn commented carefully. "And she's pleasant enough."

"Good, I'm glad." He said taking her hand and escorting her to the little dinning room. "Now you must tell me how your day went, and I shall tell you about the little trip I took Above." He seated her and then took his own seat.

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Daisy was ready when the relief guards showed up. She bid them good night and sauntered down the hall heading toward the guard house and her evening meal; Della was strutting at her side. She looked up at the Harpy who usually went off to the quarters kept aside for Harpy guards. "I thought you'd be rushing off to find yourself something warm and bloody."

"In due time," Della said keeping pace with the small but swift Goblin. "Before you go into your meal, would you tell me something..."

"If I can," Daisy placed her hand on her hilt at her side. "What information do you need, birdie?"

Della crossed her arms, "I'd like to know about him and her."

"That would take more than a few minutes," Daisy mused softly. "Tell you what, you go hunt down your dinner, I'll go eat the stew that cook has burned, and we'll meet at the pub in say two hours from now. And over a nice pint, I'll be more than happy to answer all your questions."

Della felt her stomach churn and growl. "Yes, I'm unusually hungry this evening, alright. The pub in two hours, order me my regular." She headed for the exit and the freedom of the night skies.

Daisy went into the dinning hall used by the Goblin guards and found it fairly empty. She sat down at the long wooden trestle table and waited for her meal to be served. The King had made few changes in the castle but the best was in taking on more servants and having the staff of the Goblin kitchen increased. Most of the non Goblin staff had their own dinning area, and kept to themselves. So it was not unusual when Daisy left her post late in the evening for this dinning room to be almost empty. Her dinner was set before her, and she quietly ate.

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Sarah lay in the bed, wondering what day it was, and why she was so dizzy and weak. She rolled to her side only to disturb the fresh wounds on her breasts, and rolled back to her back with stinging tears in her pale jewel eyes.

From the outside world, she could hear the sounds she'd heard here before. One sound brought fresh tears, the sounds of a great beast in the forest roaring. She recognized the sound, it could only belong to Ludo, and it was at some distance. She wondered if the gentle giant still remembered her at all… or was she just a fleeting thought.

She had wanted to call out to them, so many times…but to keep them safe from the King's wrath… she told her self over and over, she'd done it to keep them safe. Lying here in the dark, hungry and weak, she now had to admit to herself, that she'd not called on them for fear of having to face Jareth yet again. "My will is strong," she whispered to herself. "And my Kingdom as great…."

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"Your mother," Devon began his conversation pensively; "Seems a rather… sensitive being…"

"Sensitive," Bryn repeated and shrugged. "Yes, I suppose that's as good a description of my mother as any other."

The Fae Baron pursed his lips, not sure if the girl was play acting or just not listening to him. "I mean she's sensitive to things that are out of the ordinary." He sipped his wine.

Bryn looked at him rather blankly for a moment. "I was under the impression that was what you meant." She leaned back and looked at him. "Did something happen when you went above that I should know about?"

Devon thought of the memorial, and of the young man in leather who lamented her being taken from him. But it was her mother's and Sarah's mother's reactions that were foremost on his mind. "When I arrived at the appointed place where they were going to eulogize you and the other girl…"

"Sarah, her name is Sarah." Bryn's voice was tight and a little angry.

"Yes," Devon nodded. "Both your mothers seemed to be aware of me, even though I was not seated close to them."

"That would not be unusual," Bryn took a sip of the wine in her crystal goblet. "Both of our mother's are Celts. As are our fathers, however the women in Celtic lines are usually the ones who are… sensitive as you've observed."

Devon frowned, "Bryn, were you aware of this before you took up with Sarah and the insane little Greek?"

It was Bryn's turn to frown, "I have been aware since I was a child, Baron."

Devon leaned his elbow on the table, cradling his chin in his hand. "Then how could you allow yourself to be party to all those dark rituals?"

"Sarah was trying to retrieve a part of her self," Bryn said flatly. "I don't expect you to understand."

"She should not even have been able to remember," Devon murmured looking at his untouched dinner. "When a runner leaves the Labyrinth, the memory fades… It was a safeguard put into place long before we came here…. By we; I mean the Fae presence here in the Kingdom."

"Well her memory was foggy…" Bryn admitted as she played with a fork full of food on her plate. "The only thing she knew for sure was that she could not dream…. And then when the memory came flooding…" She placed her fork down and changed the subject. "How were my mother and father?"

"Gracious." Devon observed softly. "I had not planned on speaking to them, but found myself quite inexplicably standing before them offering them my condolences…."

Holding up her hand, Bryn halted his conversation. "Have you any idea of how disconcerting it is to hear of ones own funeral and memorial? I mean I'm use to bizarre occurrences in my life, but this…this takes the cake." She pushed her chair back and rose to her feet unable to remain seated. "Baron, do you really think this is normal dinner conversation?"

Devon still leaning on his elbow looked at her with amusement. "Miss Cystennin, I don't find anything about our situation… normal."

Bryn gripped the back of the chair she'd been seat on moments ago. "At least that seems to be one point on which we agree."

"Oh dear," he moaned softly. "You're about to begin ragging on the King again, aren't you?"

"In a word, yes," Bryn gripped the back of the chair tighter, her knuckles turning white.

Devon tossed his linen napkin onto the table. "Well there goes dinner," he leaned back, crossed his arms and sighed. "Go head, rail if you must."

"I don't understand you!" She burst out angrily. "Explain to me how you can possible defend a blackguard like this King."

"He's the King, Cariad." Devon shrugged. "What's to defend, if he makes a demand or a rule… he's the King."

"He handed me over to you like a sack of wheat and you have no qualms…" She began to rail.

"Correction, I requested you…" Devon smiled softly. "And the King granted me a boon… you are the spoils of war, remember?"

"War," the girl lifted the back legs of the chair off the floor and swiftly placed it down again. "If there was a war as you are so fond of claiming, then it was your King who initiated it!" She released the chair all together. "He didn't have to take Sarah's dreams… it was petty… no it was worse than petty… it was… grudging. One hears how gracious Kings of the Fae realms are… and…"

"Where on earth did you hear that Fae Kings were…. Gracious?" Devon asked skeptically. "Talk about Fairy Tales…." He waggled a long finger at her. "You know little or nothing about real Fae Cariad."

Bryn paused in her argument, her face blanked out and she felt her mouth drop. "I beg your pardon?"

"Even with all your study of Celtic folk lore and I'm sure you've made a hobby of it," he observed in a genuinely sympathetic tone. "You know little of what we Fae truly are." Pouring more wine he turned the tables on the girl. "Cariad, I confess I know little of your world… the place you lived and the laws by which your people govern themselves, however I'm sure that you follow those laws because they are the laws…"

"Your point?"

"I don't have to agree with my cousin to follow his laws," Devon sipped the wine slowly, savoring the bouquet of the vintage. "As to Fae Kings being gracious… well that's a fine little Fairy story, but not entirely true… Fae Kings like any other King must be strong and ruthless at times. Ruling is a brutal business, Cariad."

Moss green eyes watched him, "I have no doubt…"

"On the contrary," he countered a bit icily. "That's all you seem to have is doubts." He pointed to her chair. "Do sit down," he commanded gently making it sound more like a suggestion. "Allow me to give you some basics."

Taking her seat again, Bryn frowned. "What basics?"

Devon swirled the wine in his goblet, watching the trails and admiring the work that went into making the libation for his pleasure. "First, you are going to have to relinquish this ridicules resentment you've built up for the Goblin King… it's a waste of time. Secondly, you are now and forever more a subject of the Kingdom of that very same King…"

"An unwilling subject," protested the young woman; "More a prisoner of war."

Devon set the wind down and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Cariad, prisoners of war have a glimmer of hope of escape or release… you have neither." He looked over at her. "I will not call you property, nor will I call you chattel;" His eyes were unsympathetic as he looked at her when he released the bridge of his nose. "You're an intelligent young woman; Cariad surely that fine mind of yours could be put to better use."

Bryn felt the sting of his gentle insult. "What would you have me do, my Lord Baron?"

"Instead of plotting in your dark little Celtic heart how to get even with the King," he watched her mouth drop again and knew he was right; "Why don't you learn about the history of this King?"

"I don't like being treated like a bird in a gilded cage…" Bryn countered with a firm tone. "Wolves don't make good house pets, Baron… we are meant to be free… and wild…not domesticated… we become dangerous when kept in captivity."

"Even a wolf knows when it has to reset its territory, Cariad…and as for dangerous… Darling girl you've no idea of how much danger you were in before I stepped in and suggested to the King that he…give you to me." Devon poured more wine for the young woman. "Permit me to enlighten you. You understand the canons governing magic and its uses, do you not?"

"More than Lilith did," Bryn admitted fingering the stem of her goblet. "Had I the least idea she had handed Sarah a copy of the La Tène scrolls I'd have put a stop to the entire operation."

"Cariad," his voice was low, dangerous and enticing at the same time. "Do you for one moment really believe you had that kind of power? I don't… in this we are minor players… supporting the main attraction. But just to clarify in my own mind, why would you have put a stop to it? What was it about the scrolls that you found… unacceptable?"

Bryn wondered if she was hearing the ticking of a clock or the beating of her own heart as she considered his question. "My Lord Baron," her voice was more respectful and demure. "We three had only been working as a small circle for a short time… and although I'd had some training previously… we were to all intents and purposes unsupervised. The spells in those scrolls frighten magic users far more advanced than we three novices. I know of Ban Drui who stay as far from them as they can get…they are dangerous in the hands of a experienced witch… and catastrophic in the hands of someone as unbalanced as …"

"Sarah?"

"Lilith," Bryn removed her fingers from the stem of the goblet and tapped lightly on the table cloth. "You see Sarah, although holding on by threads, was far more balanced then Lilith… Sarah just wanted her dreams back, oh a perhaps a touch of revenge… Lilith…. She wanted something darker… She was willing to open a Pandora's box." Bryn was still disturbed by the events that had played out.

"Why Morrigan?" he asked softly; "Why that Goddess?"

"Who better to go into battle with?" Bryn asked still feeling uneasy about the ritual that had brought the Goblin King into the mundane realm without being summons by a wish. "Too questioned Sarah on beseeching Bloody Morrigan…"

"On Avalon there is a place, old and seldom visited called Morrigan's Dance. It had once been where Fae who were faithful to the Goddess Morrigan had worshiped, and still held disturbing energies. It was there Jareth was standing when you three pulled him out of the Fairy Lands…. I suspect because of that there was no disturbance, and his disappearance would have gone unnoticed had I not witnessed it." He looked at Bryn with a schooled face. "I was under the impression that the La Tène scrolls were kept under guard and key by magic users on your plane."

"I have no idea how Lilith got a hold of the scrolls translation… or if she even really knew what it was she was handing over to Sarah." Bryn sighed darkly. "It was in the scrolls that Sarah found the ritual and the invocation to Morrigan."

"The moment Lilith gave the scroll to Sarah, fates had been sealed… yours, mine, the King's and Sarah's…. and yes, even Lilith's fate had been sealed." Devon reached over, placing a hand on Bryn's. "It's not our war, little one. But we are casualties of this war none the less." His fingers laced into hers. "Accepting our fate does not mean we don't have misgivings…"

"I'm not sure I can accept my fate…" Bryn stated flatly.

"You took the first steps, Cariad… you ate and drank the food of the underworld…freely of your own will." He reminded her gently and compassionately. "I didn't force you."

"No, you didn't…" She agreed feeling the pressure of his fingers on hers. "And for that I thank you, Baron."

"Devon, Cariad… my name is Devon." His voice was soft and full of empathy.

She shook her head, "I can't… it's too soon… Baron, and I have too many…wounds."

He sighed. "I have hope."

"For what?" She asked frustrated with the situation.

"For a future," he suggested.

Bryn pulled her fingers out from under his. "You've already said that you intend me to be your little playmate in bed, that's not much of a future."

Devon looked at her, "Cariad, have you never…"

"I'm not a virgin," She looked away.

Knowing the subject matter being discussed was not to her liking, he shifted gears. "Cariad, although you are under my care, and I cannot allow you to wonder about the Kingdom freely… I can offer you limited freedom here in this house…on this estate. I can instruct you as to the history of the Kingdom, and acquaint you with some of its more palatable features." He extended to her his hand, open palmed. "Pax?"

Placing her hand on his, she sighed. "Pax."

Enclosing the hand he smiled. "Good, now, let's try to finish something of this dinner…"

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Daisy had found the pub to be nearly as empty as the dinning hall had been and wondered if the others had gone on holiday. The pub keeper brought over her tankard, promising to bring another when Della joined the Goblin. She had not been there but for a little over half an hour when the Harpy, fresh from a Kill sauntered in. Della's eyes were still filled with bloodlust as she swaggered over to where Daisy sat. She saw the pub keeper rush over with a tankard of ale and she smiled at her partner. "Ah Goblin Ale," she said raising the tankard. "How I love it."

Daisy snorted and downed the rest in her tankard. "So Birdie, just what is it you'd like to know?"

Della looked about the almost empty pub; there were only Goblins in the establishment. "Can we talk freely?"

"Aye, we can." Daisy nodded. "There's none here who have memory shifts."

Della griped the edge of the table. "That's one of the things I need to know about…." She growled angrily. "Whose idea was it, and just whose memory is shifted?"

"Not yours," Daisy said lightly. "Your kind was not involved in the first time Sarah was here." She smiled at the pub keeper who brought over more ale.

The Harpy's edginess subsided a bit. "When did she first visit?"

"A few years back," Daisy said drinking her libation. "Spent eleven hours in the Labyrinth…and reached the castle against all odds…" She smiled at some distant memory of that night.

"So his nibs went over the edge over a girl who wished away her brother?" Della frowned disturbed by the idea.

"Hell no," Daisy scoffed. "He was already stalking her, following her around a park she frequented, and even knew where she lived… it was no accident he was there the night she wished the child away…" She smiled wickedly. "You see he'd been called between the veils by something in the girl… and what no one knew…."

"Called between the veils?" It was Della who was now scoffing. "OH come now, you'd have me believe that the mighty Goblin King was nothing more than a lovesick …."

"He was…." Lamented Daisy; "And is."

"My race," Della said softly, almost fearfully. "Is comprised of females who hunt down a mate, consummate and then devourer… only females are born to us… there is no love… no fated relations… but we are aware of them." She griped her tankard. "Are you telling me the King and this…mortal are… fated?"

"So it would seem," Daisy sighed.

"Shit," groused the Harpy darkly. "They can not bear the sight of each other."

"I never said it was a pretty tale, the story of this Goblin and his Mortal." Daisy commented gently. "But it's a Goblin tale," she lifted her tankard; "One worth the telling." Shifting in her seat, the Goblin female raised one leg, and rested her foot on the edge of the bench seat of the booth she and the Harpy were seated at. "You would not believe the lengths the King went to for the girl, and still she managed to out maneuver him."

Della stretched her wings to their full span. "I don't see any thing extraordinary about this mortal.."

"She came here, brazen and bold," Daisy snorted loudly. "Twisting inhabitants about her finger…. Including one of the King's own guards…"

"Treason," questioned the Harpy.

"Not exactly," mused the Goblin woman. "More a case of an outwitting…" She thought gently of Didymus. "And chances for an old dog to behave like a young pup…. And remember the code of olde…and go forth on a quest…" The Goblin smiled softly. "The Kingdom was never so alive as it was when the girl came to run the Labyrinth… and even the Labyrinth was reluctant to let her go…"

"So, how is it a mortal escaped a mighty Fae?" Della questioned.

"Near as I can figure it, it has to do with the fact that she was young… and innocent herself." Daisy mulled over the facts still wound in her mind. "See she had just entered what the mortals call puberty…and was in that in-between place … not quite a child and most definitely not yet a woman."

Della blinked, for she herself was not yet quite ready to breed, and understood what few males would. "A juvenile?"

"Aye, but already with a soul that was crying out to the soul on this side…." Another long swig and then she finished. "Who was but a juvenile as well."

"You think of his majesty as a juvenile?" Scoffed the Harpy.

"In the scope of their lifespan, oh yes." Daisy stated audaciously. "Who else but a juvenile would do what he did? Go in the dark of the night for revenge against someone who'd bested them at their own game?" Daisy lowered her leg and leaned on the table. "The Labyrinth is his game! He is the first King since Zoltarie to understand and nurture it, this living creature we live upon. So humiliated and affronted was our proud King that he waited outside her window in owl form until her celebration of victory was ended, and she had gone to sleep… then he crept into her room, deepened her sleep… took her first kiss, stole it from her sleeping lips…. And harvested her dreams…cursing her, and kissing her at the same time….Aye, he's worthy of the title Goblin King…living here, he's become one of us…He's more Goblin now than Fae." She leaned closer. "He even repeats the actions of Zoltarie…. One would think he was the old King reborn in Fae guise."

"Zoltarie," cautioned the Harpy; "Went mad due to his obsession with the mortal he kept."

"No," countered Daisy; "It was not the keeping of the mortal that drove the King to madness… it was her murder and the betrayal…"

"Betrayal?" Della grabbed the Goblin by the leather jerkin she wore. "What betrayal?"

Prying the claws digging into the jerkin free, Daisy frowned. "Claws in Birdie," she soothed. "Zoltarie was betrayed by a member of his court. One who was jealous of the King's possession of the mortal. Funny when you think how close Zoltarie came to butchery the bitch himself. Talk about loggerheads. From the moment Zoltarie took her captive until the moment she was stolen from him they were in a constant battle… perhaps that is why they mated so…passionately."

"A Goblin mated to a Mortal?" Della shuddered in disgust.

"It happens," shrugged the Goblin woman. "Many of us have mixed blood in the Kingdom. I'm half elf, half Hobgoblin…." She motioned to the pub keeper. "He's half dwarf and half mountain goblin."

"But a mortal…" her distaste in mortals was showing strongly. "That's disgusting." Della leaned over the table now. "I'm told they turned their backs on magic!"

"Some," cautioned Daisy. "Others, like Sarah Williams hold to those old tales… ironic, isn't it? I'll bet twenty kopeks she use to dream of being rescued from an ivory tower like the very one she's in now." A fleeting sadness passed over the face of the female Goblin guard. "There's little or no chance of rescue for her, not now not from the moment the King moved to take revenge…. Perhaps not from the moment he took notice of her." She motioned for yet another tankard of ale.

Della accepted the ale poured into her tankard. "Who would want to rescue the enemy of the King?"

"Three subjects I can think of," Daisy lamented. "Hoggle the gardener, Ludo a beast of the forest and Sir Didymus…."

"Sir Didymus is the King's trusted…."Della paused, blinked and drew back. "Sir Didymus is the knight you spoke of… the old dog…acting like a young pup?" When Daisy nodded, Della questioned hotly. "How can that be? The King and Sir Didymus are close… very close… why he trained the King in the art of fencing and quarter staff! You're telling me that a Knight of the First Order would turn his back on King and country for that…girl?"

"Let us just say, Sarah Williams has an unusual way about her…." Daisy mused. "Because of that way, anyone who'd come into contact with her that was not of Goblin blood had to have their memories… shifted." Daisy now played with the empty tankard. "You see, Birdie… Sarah Williams was the only mortal to ever reach the castle… that and a few other facts the King would prefer the Fae world not be made aware of… are the reasons he went to such lengths to cover his tracks. The girl should not have remembered…no mortal who goes through the veil remembers beyond the night of the running…. The King erases the memory of the wished away…they become non existent in that realm… and they take up a new life here…."

"But Sarah Williams remembered…"

"Set out upon her own path of vengeance…" Daisy nodded.

Della stretched, "I grow weary," She twitched her wide wings. "I need a good night's sleep…" Standing up she looked about the pub. "It's a quiet night, and there's little to do until the King is recovered…."

"Go to your nest," suggested the Goblin. "I am off to my cot…I'll see you tomorrow…"

"Thanks for the ale, runt." Della moved toward the door. "You know," she said looking over her shoulder. "You're not half bad for a Goblin…"

Daisy watched the winged creature move out the door. "And you're not bad for a overgrown parakeet." She pushed the tankard aside, placed coins on the table to pay the tab.

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Bryn was listening to Devon read a poem, thinking that he had a good voice and very pleasant delivery. She tried to hide a yawn, not wishing to insult him more than she had at dinner.

Devon closed the book after marking the passage with a ribbon. "You are tired, my dear," he said placing the book down on a side table. "Come let me see you to your door."

"No," she protested. "Just because I'm tired is no reason you've got to end your evening." She stood up. "I can go up on my own."

"Cariad," he rebuked her softly. "I don't know what has happened to manners in your realm."

Bryn snickered. "I'm afraid a good many things have been swept aside in the name of progress."

Devon offered her his arm. "How am I to court you if you won't allow me to do the little things?"

"You don't need to court me," she protested looking at his arm. "I don't want you to."

"Cariad," He placed a hand under her chin. "I am not above going to bed with women I don't know… in your case… I should like to get to know you first…"

"You may not like what you learn." She warned pulling free of his fingers. "I'm not a trick pony you know."

"Cariad," he sighed heavily. "We have a truce."

Uncomfortable and feeling a little guilty, Bryn nodded. "Pax….ok, walk me to my door."

"Thank you," He offered his arm again. "After I've check in on the King in the morning," he said as they wondered up the stairs toward her rooms. "I shall take you to this wonderful waterfall I know of…"

"Is the King recovering?" Bryn asked softly.

"It will take time…" Devon reluctantly announced as they paused at her door.

"I didn't, and don't want him dead." Bryn looked at the floor as it was easier than looking at Devon. "Good night, my lord." She turned to her door. "Thank you for a pleasant evening."

Devon watched her door close, and for the second evening in a row found himself on a side he was not use to, outside. "Good night Cariad."

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Uncomfortable, in pain and racked now with hunger, Sarah lay on the bed trying to sleep. The sounds of her stomach would not allow her to achieve the goal. Dizzier than she ever remembered being she made her way to the water pump. Too weak to pump and cup her hands, she bent toward the pump and shakily placed her mouth in the path of the water flow. But her stomach was no longer accepting the water and she gagged as it came rushing back up with what was left in her stomach. She rinsed her mouth, and staggered back in the direction of the bed…. But didn't quiet make it, falling a few feet short of the bed she lay on the floor shivering as the room spinner into a dark abyss.

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Jareth awoke feverishly deep into the night, the swirling in the dream orb was erratic and the colors seemed not nearly as vibrant but more violent. One hand reached absently to the orb as through dry lips he whispered a name, Sarah. His hand dropped before touching the crystal, as he sunk into the dark that now gathered about him. All about him gathered nightmarish creatures and beasts. Deeper and deeper he was pulled into the horrendous nightmare. Each time he tried to rouse himself he was yanked back into the terror. When the dawn arrived, he opened his eyes and called out weakly for his valet. Rondo was swiftly at his side, calling quickly for the healer. Ghillie Dhu seemed mystified by the unusual systems the King was exhibiting.

"I would call for the Baron to come," he advised the King's valet. "I wish to speak to him."

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Devon was eating his breakfast discussing with Bryn the day ahead when the summons to the palace arrived. "Oh dear, this does not sound promising for our outing…." Devon said as he pulled on his cloak. "I'll be home as soon as I can, Cariad." He promised.

"Baron," Bryn grabbed his wrist as he was leaving the entry. "Would you do me the favor of asking after Sarah? I know we are not allowed physical contact, but… I worry over her…I'd like to know that she's…alright."

Devon looked at the hand on his wrist and was grateful for the contact even if it were on the other girls behalf. "I'll be happy to do that for you my dear."

Ghillie Dhu was still examining the King when the Baron arrived. Daisy and Della had arrived just ahead of the healer and were now standing guard in the hall. Devon paced the hall outside the King's chamber as he waited the healer's calling him into the room. Rondo peeped out the door and motioned the Baron to enter the chamber. "This is most unusual… I've never heard of anyone becoming feverish and hallucinatory after the poisons are out of the system…However I can find no other cause for the milady that is inconveniencing our King. I suggest total bed rest for the rest of today, and no stress." The old healer looked very concerned. "Would it be possible for me to inspect the bounds that were used?"

"I'm afraid not," Devon explained softly, not wishing to disturb the man in the bed. "He destroyed the building and they were in it. I'm sure they are a molten mess now."

"Pity," Ghillie Dhu bemoaned. "One should know and understand that which we are frail to." He looked at the King and sighed. "If only I knew more of these restraints that were used. His wounds are not healing as they should."

The Baron watched as the old healer moved to take a seat beside the King's bed to keep watch. He moved quietly out to the corridor outside the King's room. Closing the door he turned to take a few steps away, half way down the hall he stopped. Having remembered his promise to the mortal in his keeping he returned to where the two guards stood. He cleared his throat thoughtfully, "Della," he began tentatively. "I was wondering, if you could give me information on the Williams girl."

The Harpy snorted and looked at him with condescension; "What one mortal girl not enough for you, Baron?"

Devon chuckled, genially. "Actually it's for Miss Cystennin that I'm asking… she wants to be sure her friend is… alright." He placed on hand behind his back to strike a casual pose. "So as you were the one who delivered her to the tower, you'd be the best one to tell me how she's fairing…" Neither Della nor Devon noticed the look of concern that was painted on Daisy's face. She listened carefully to the conversation.

Della chortled, "I delivered her to the tower, in one piece…pierced, but on piece… after that she was not my problem, Baron."

"Shit," muttered the little Goblin woman, looking as if something had just struck her.

Devon shrugged, turned to Daisy who was beginning to look worried. "Daisy, is something amiss?"

"Could be, my Lord…." The little Goblin sent a passing footman to the guard house for reinforcements. "My Lord if we could prevail upon you… we may be in need of your help…" She didn't explain beyond that, awaiting the replacements to come. Once the two guards were in place at the door, Daisy lead the way out of the castle. She looked at Della worriedly. "When was the last time you actually saw the Williams' girl?"

"I don't know… two nights ago…why?" Della frowned, not liking being pulled off her station.

"Because I don't think anyone has checked on her….or… fed her…" Daisy fretted.

Devon slapped a hand to his head. "Good Goddess…we've all been so worried about the King…. And I was distracted with…oh damnation!" He looked at the tower. "I'll go up." He waved his hand but found his magic would not allow him to transport up to the tower room. "That's damn odd…" he commented.

"That's the protection spell," Daisy rolled her eyes. "The reasons only Harpies or a transformed Fae in bird form can enter the tower…Della, take me up." She held out her hands to the Harpy trustingly. Careful to keep her talon withdrawn, the Harpy lifted them both with ease to the window entry. Once Daisy was released from the Harpy's grip she turned to see the mortal lying on the stone floor looking very gray. "Get the Healer," She ordered as she rushed to where Sarah lay.

"What if she's faking;" Protested the Harpy guard, not trusting the mortal.

"She's not faking, birdie, she's dying….." Daisy shouted. "Now go get the healer or the King will have both our heads for letting his prisoner die." The Goblin didn't try to move the girl, but did grab the bedding to cover the naked creature on the floor.

A moment later Della was out the window, cawing an alert as she winged her way to the balcony that belonged to the king's private rooms. She landed with ease, and slipped into the room careful not to disturb the King. Moving smoothly she stopped behind the healer, bending down she whispered in his hear. "You are needed elsewhere." He looked up at her, but stood and followed her out to the balcony where she easily picked him up and carried him up to the tower's opening. Gently she placed him on his feet. "There," she pointed to where Daisy was kneeling.

"Bring the Baron up," Daisy suggested as she moved aside for the healer.

"People are going to think we are having a party up here." Della snapped as she winged down to bring the Baron back up to the enchanted tower.

Ghillie Dhu moved more swiftly than Daisy had ever seen the old one move. His gait was graceful and swift as a gazelle. He knelt down and looked at the ashen face of the mortal. "Bless my soul, a mortal girl…." He looked at Daisy questioningly. "Who is this creature?"

"She is called Sarah Williams… and she is the King's prisoner… it was she who instigated the attack on the King." Daisy explained

Ghillie Dhu looked toward the window where Della was entering holding Devon by one arm. "My Lord, would you help me move this girl to that cot there?"

Devon had not even bothered trying to smooth his jacket, he moved to where the girl lay on the floor, lifelessly. He gasped as he bent over her. "Good Goddess, Jareth is going to have a fit…." He complained, motioning the Healer and the Goblin aside he easily scooped up the girl and carried her covered body to the cot. "Who is in charge of the care of this prisoner?" he directed his question to Daisy.

Embarrassed the Goblin woman shrugged. "I don't think the King placed anyone in charge… we were more concerned with him at that moment, Baron…." She frowned. "He only directed Della to deliver her here…. After that he was so ill and exhausted… I'm afraid we all forgot the girl…"

Devon looked about the tower, seeing nothing but what had been there when Della had brought him there to teach him a lesson. "Has no one seen to… you mean she's not eaten since we brought her to this side?"

The Healer snapped his fingers and everyone looked his way. "You, Harpy," he commanded in a voice that booked no refusal. "Go fetch a cauldron of soup from the kitchens, and if any give you grief tell them the healer has ordered it." He turned to the Goblin woman. "You fetch me soapy water and a cloth." His eyes were on the Baron. "You come here, and answer my questions."

Devon had never felt fear in dealing with a healer, until now. "I'll do my best." He said as his steps drew him closer to the very angry healer. "What would you like to know, Ghillie Dhu?"

The healer was pleased with how quickly Daisy obeyed his command, and smiled at her as she brought a basin of water and placed it on the stand next to the bed. Ghillie Dhu soaked the clothe and wrung it out to bathe the girls face. "Who is this girl, Baron?"

Looking at Daisy, Devon repeated what Daisy had already told the healer. "She's called Sarah Williams… and she's the one who instigated the attack on Jareth…but you've been told that…."

Eyes the color of the autumn skies gazed at the Fae, unyieldingly. "You mean to tell me this child is one of the witches you claim captured the King?"

"Looks on this one are deceiving, Healer Ghillie Dhu." Devon became defensive. "She's the ring leader of the witches… and…" He paused.

Tilting his head to one side, the healer waited for the Fae to continue, but he would not without prodding. "Yes?"

"She's been here before…." Devon looked at Daisy for help in explaining to the Healer.

"Healer," Daisy said carefully. "This is Dann Shalkec," using the Goblin words for The Champion. "The one who…"

"This is the child who refused the King?" He looked down at the gray features of the frail being on the cot. "Daisy, this is no child…"

"Some time has passed," she reminded the old healer.

He moved the cloth that covered the girl, his eyes widened at the wounds on her person. "Who did this?" his voice was angry and disturbed. "Who mutilated this young woman?"

"I did," Della said returning with a cauldron of soup; "Upon the King's orders." There was no remorse in the Harpy's tone. She was stating a fact, nothing more.

Ghillie Dhu turned once more to look at the Fae Baron who had the good grace to appear embarrassed. "And you approved this behavior?"

"It was not a matter of approval or disapproval at that moment, Healer." Devon said defensively. "Jareth had been… captured and subjected to eleven hours of… cruelty and torment at the hands of three mortal witches… they declared war on him… not on the Kingdom but on him directly… and the affront had to be dealt with. This was his…idea." Devon knew his argument may have been accurate, but he also knew it sounded lame to the fellow Fae.

"The other two," the healer was now applying herbs to the girl who was convulsing every time he touched her. "Did he disfigure and maim them as well?"

"No," Devon said softly.

Each time the healer touched the girl she reacted, even in her unconscious state. Ghillie Dhu turned to Devon once more. "What else did he do to this child of Earth?"

Daisy answered. "This is not from the punishment," she chose her words with great care. "The girl can bear no touch save the King's. She has been this way since the night she ran the Labyrinth…. No one, except her parents, and brother...may have contact with her person… No one…but the King… all other touch causes her great pain."

"Poor child," lamented the healer. "She has suffered so at the hands of the Fae… and I doubt her suffering is coming to an end…." From his robe he withdrew a small vial, opening it he poured the contents into the girls mouth and watched as the potion brought her back from the brink of death. He motioned Della to bring the cauldron of soup. He ladled a small portion into a cup and placing his hand behind her pillow raised her. "Drink, Sarah Williams, drink this broth…"

Della crossed her arms. "I don't see what all the fuss is about…This girl is the King's sworn enemy…. So what if she dies?"

Devon winced at the harsh truth spoken by the Harpy. "There are a few minor problems with that, Della." He sighed. "You see, even though Jareth is the Goblin King, he's still subject to a few Fae Laws… He'd have been within his rights to demand the lives of his assailants, however the moment he chose to let them live he was subject to follow the laws of The Escheat in dealing with them. The three witches are Kithain, and must be treated as such."

Della growled, impatient with the entire conversation, and thinking it pointless. "Kithain or no, she plotted the King's death…"

"No," Devon corrected the Harpy. "The only one of the witches who wanted Jareth dead was the Greek… not this one, nor did the one I keep." He looked at Ghillie Dhu remorsefully. "Will she live?"

"Yes," the healer sighed as he continued to help the barely conscious girl take in the nourishment she'd been denied for days. "But she is in very poor condition…I want to move her to the infirmary…"

"Out of the question," Daisy snapped back into her role as the King's guard. "She is a prisoner…and it was the King's wish she be here…" She moved to where the healer was seated, arguing with the expertise of a diplomat. "Ghillie Dhu, the fact that this one is back in the kingdom is a very closely guarded secret for now… can you guarantee that it would remain so if she were to be allowed be nursed back to health in the infirmary?"

The Healer frowned, seeing her point, not liking it, but seeing it. "No, I cannot." He admitted.

Daisy drew herself up to her full height, "I take responsibility for this prisoner, Healer. I will see to it she is not allowed to fall through the cracks again. She will be given proper care, and meals…"

Della in the blink of an eye moved to the Goblin's side, a sneer on her angular features. "Why? Why should you take responsibility for this prisoner? She is nothing to us!"

Daisy blinked at the Harpy as if she didn't quite know her. "She is Tagaan or Rhuukarlaan." The Goblin guard stated with force. "She is the property of the Labyrinth…not just the King who rules it… or perhaps that was not explained to you by the Matron…." Daisy placed her hand on her hilt as she did whenever things became strained between her and the Harpy she'd been partnered with. "I do no more than any other Goblin would…" she looked at the Healer. "She will be seen to."

"Tagaan or Rhuukarlaan?" Ghillie Dhu became reflective. "I had no idea, but I should have… I recall the last Tagaan or Rhuukarlaan. Let us hope this one fairs better." He rose to his feet and handed the remains of the cup of broth to Daisy. "See to it that she's not forgotten again, if you need my skills I will be available." He placed a hand on the Goblin's shoulder. "I will have some salves and herbs and potions for you to collect for her… come to the infirmary when you are able to." He gave Della a banal stare, "You may return me to the King." He commanded.

Della snorted, "Do I look like a delivery service?"

"Do it," Devon commanded quietly taking a seat in one of the chairs; he looked uneasily at the girl whose color was still not healthy. "When you've taken the healer back, return here, we need to have a strategy for the continued dealings with the witch." He leaned forward on his parted legs with a weary look on his face. "Go, Della."

Daisy looked down at the girl, her face was still ashen, but not as gray as when they'd found her. "This is my fault," she whispered once the Harpy had departed with the Healer. "I should have remembered her…."

"I didn't remember her either," Devon confessed bitterly. "And I have her… friend…" Worriedly he looked at the female Goblin. "We share the fault, you and I…and the King…"

Daisy shook her head, "His majesty is recovering…this is not his fault…"

"Daisy," Devon warned her with a darkening tone. "He was well enough to call for reports less than a day after the attack… Yes he was in bed, but he was aware enough to look after his kingdom… but he forgot this girl…. And I've a sneaking feeling that was on purpose."

"Can you blame him?" Daisy questioned as she watched the girl. "Think of what one has done to him….not just this attack, but the affront she … No… I will not blame him if he did put her to the back of his mind…" She looked about the tower. "It would have been different had we been able to house her in the dungeon like any other prisoner. The dungeon staff would have seen to it she was given nourishment."

"Could have, should have, would have…." Devon observed critically. "Spilt milk..."

"Aye, spilt milk;" Agreed the guard crossing her arms; keeping an eye on the opening watching for her partner's return.

Della swept into the room and folded her wings upon landing gracefully in one sweeping motions. "This looks like a conspiracy meeting." She observed coldly.

"It more or less is," Devon agreed being of the same mind. "For the good of the Kingdom we who rescued the King must be a conspiracy of three…" He pointed to the girl. "Jareth would not want her presence to be known, not just yet…I have no idea of what seeing her will do to whomever has had their memories shifted…Until the King is well enough to deal with her, we three must… I can not use magic to enter the tower...Nor to leave," he glared at the snickering Harpy. "Only a winged one can enter… and right now, that means you." He continued to look at the Harpy. "You will have to be the one who brings meals to her until the King can assign a winged Goblin."

"And should I refuse?" Della growled disagreeable.

"You can not," Daisy interjected. "Your matron took an oath for your entire breed….Like her or not, the girl is the King's possession…his slave…his chattel and you are foresworn to protect what belongs to the King, including her."

Arrogance and superiority shone in Harpy eyes as she regarded the Goblin. "Runt, sometimes you are a bit too smart for your own good."

Devon enjoyed the barbs being tossed; "For now, we three and the healer are the only ones who've seen the girl…. Let us keep it that way until the King presents her to the Kingdom after all she is his to deal with when all is said and done… for all I know he may just decide to let her rot here in this ivory and opal gilded cage." Rising he looked at Daisy. "As you are a commander in the royal guards I expect you'll have a way of fixing the schedules…."

"Who's going to tell the King?" Daisy asked cutting to the chase. "Someone has to."

Devon frowned, "I will."

"Oh let me," mocked the Harpy. "I can just image his…face."

Devon snapped at her, "Della, that's not funny…"

"It wasn't meant to be you prancing bag of hot air…" The Harpy snapped in return coarsely.

Placing her fingers in her lips the way she'd seen the King do, Daisy whistled sharply getting both to quiet down. "I suggest we all speak to him, and I suggest we do it soon."

Della shrugged, "Runt's right," she conceded.

"I hate the idea of disturbing him right now…he had a bad night." Devon contended softly.

"Hers was worse," Daisy observed and held up a hand to forestall any other comments. "I say we go to the King now… the girl will be alright for a short time. I need to make arrangements for the guards to shift in rotation. Birdie, you and I are going to be doing double duty here…and making reports to both the Baron here and the King." She motioned them both to the window. "Take the Baron down and then come for me... Come on! Move!"

"Bossy little runt," Della sniped as she flung an arm about the Baron unceremoniously. "You just love lording your rank over me, don't you runt?

"Move or be fricasseed you sorry excuse for a hen." Daisy shoved her toward the opening. When the pair was gone she took one long look at the girl in the cot over her shoulder. "Damn if history does not repeat…perhaps… this time we can change..." She stood in the opening and leapt into the waiting talons of the Harpy.