Chapter 31. Solstice evening
Bryn sat quietly in the sitting room in the suite of rooms that had been set aside for Devon. She began to realize just what kind of attentions he'd been given all his life. His mother after all was the High King's sister. Being Oberon's nephew meant he was treated with more respect than most other's with the exception of Oberon's children. And Devon had assured Bryn there were many of those.
The rooms were in the family wing of the unbelievably mammoth palace. Bryn mused to herself one could easily get lost here and not be missed for weeks on end. She knew they were not on the same level as the rooms that Jareth would be housed in, but he was a son of the High King and would be in a suite of rooms higher up. It irked her that she was so close to Sarah and yet so far. She would have loved to have been able to reach out to her friend at the ceremony, but that was not to be. Because Jareth was the High King's son, he and his personal slave were kept at a distance even from the rest of the Goblin entourage. And Jareth had disappeared quickly after the procession into the palace, with him went any chance of Bryn being able to see Sarah even for a moment.
Devon had kept his distance, watching Bryn sulk over her missed friend. He sighed, wishing he could ease the pain the young woman was in. But that didn't seem to be possible. It was a wonder to him that a woman so deep in contemplation could look so breathtaking, and yet that is exactly how he wanted to describe Bryn at that moment. She was in a long violet colored gown that looked perfect for her. While it was not exactly a Fae styled gown, it was elegant and sweeping and could have come out of a Jane Austin novel. Her long red gold curls where piled high upon her head, and laced with green ribbons and little violet flowers and ivy leaves. Her feet were in tiny little violet slippers and she looked as if she'd walked through a mirror from a bygone age. Devon sighed heavily, "Bryn, you don't look happy." He said using her given name as he did rarely.
"Devon," she looked at him with a concerned continence. "He's going to keep us apart, isn't he?"
"I warned you that he would," he said coming to sit beside her on the divan she was seated on, taking her hand into his. "Bryn surely you understand that you and Sarah were the power in that little circle of yours. Until he can be sure of Sarah, he will keep you apart, perhaps in time…"
"Time? How much time, a year…two… a hundred?" she scoffed with a pout.
"I will see what I can do…" Devon promised placing an arm about her comfortingly. "I would move the heavens and the earth for you."
Squeezing his hands, she nodded. "I know you would, Devon." She smiled softly. "And I do appreciate it, no matter how I'm behaving right now. I'm not ungrateful to you…. You've been wonderful to me… and I really don't deserve such treatment."
"You look so beautiful this evening," he complemented her in an effort to change the subject. "I shall be the envy of all at the ball." He drank in her beauty; "For I shall be with the loveliest woman there."
"You're a charmer," she snickered forgetting her problems for a moment.
Jareth sat on the edge of his bed, watching the woman at the vanity gather her hair up into the clasp and arranged the cascading locks of hair in a careful manner. He had surprised Sarah with a more demure garment for the evening. The dress was still revealing, but it was far more sedate and respectable than the slave's costume that still lay in tatters on the floor of his suite of rooms. Now she was dressed in a long form fitting gown that looked like it came out of Eddie Abdu's Middle Eastern café. It was claret colored velvet, encrusted with the most exquisite crystal beading that Sarah had ever seen. The beading covered the bra, the arm straps and the peek-a-boo opening that went from her from just under the bra to her navel. It was cut to show off her figure, but not be overly revealing. The long skirt had a slit that only went up to her keen, but the skirt was full enough that it didn't impede walking. There were armbands in the same claret colored velvet that went from her forearms down to her wrists, and attached with a ring to her thumbs. The color of the garment and the veils that she was attaching to the clasp that held her hair complemented the girls coloring. Leaning back on his elbows Jareth admired his acquisition. Even without jewels or costly gowns of silk and brocade, Sarah was beautiful.
"Don't forget your collar," he whispered softly.
"I won't," she said still working on her hair. "It's right here on the vanity where you put it." Leaving the bed, he came to kneel behind her and watch her in the mirror. Sarah paused and looked at him in the mirror. "You're making me nervous…" she said resting her hands on the vanity.
"You're making me…" he kissed her shoulder. "Hungry." She had shivered under his gentle kiss and he whispered as he took her ear lobe in his teeth. "Tagaan," releasing her ear he let his eyes meet with hers in the mirror.
"I can not finish if you insist on playing games, Sire." She whispered never taking her eyes from his.
"You must wear this pretty outfit again for me…at home." He kissed her shoulder and moved away.
Sarah cursed herself for letting him get to her, her hands shook lightly as she lifted the Goblin gold collar and fastened it to her throat. Rising from the mirrored vanity she turned to the King. "I'm ready."
Jareth finished fastening the last fastener on his tunic of the same color velvet as her gown. He moved to stand before her, his eyes dinking her in like fine wine. "All will envy me…" He murmured; "For I have the greatest treasure upon my arm." Sarah looked up into his eyes; he could tell part of her wanted to throttle his neck. Long gloved fingers stroked her chin, as he masked his features with a haughty countenance. He dropped his hand slowly to pick up one of her hands, he began to turn toward the door when Sarah stopped him.
"Jareth, wait," she said in a breathy tone. He looked into her face and she said. "Something is wrong." She glanced franticly about the room, much the way she had when they were dancing in the crystal ball room he'd created for her. "I can feel it."
He didn't dismiss her fears, or her reservations outright. He tightened his grip on her fingers. "What are you feeling, Tagaan," he keep his features schooled.
Sarah looked at him, the word should have upset her, but it didn't, if anything it caused her to focus. "Someone here means you great harm."
"Besides you?" He teased gently.
Sarah looked at him before pursing her lips. "What is between you and I, is just that… between you and I… our little private war is ours… This, this is something that reaches beyond you…it extend to even the High King and Queen."
"Woman's intuition?" he asked raising her hand to his lips before bending slightly to kiss the long slender fingers.
"I don't know," she confessed breathily, "I've never experienced anything like this."
The Goblin King embraced her, pulling her snugly against his chest and looked at her with a haughty smile. "Stay alert, keep that mind of yours focused. If you should feel the need to alter me to danger…do so."
Returning the haughty smile with one of her own; Sarah teased the King. "Is that a royal order?"
"A Kingly suggestion," he teased giving her body a gentle squeeze. One hand moved down her back to rest just above her rounded bottom. "You watch my back and I'll watch yours."
Sarah sighed, "Jareth do you have to make everything sound…sexual?"
He snickered as he released her from his embrace; "No, I don't have to…" He offered her his arm.
Sarah placed a hand over his; "This changes nothing," she warned. "My opinion of you has not altered, you are still a thief."
The King nodded; "Understood." He waved his wrist, the door of the chamber opened to the corridor where Daisy in her dress uniform and Della in a modified uniform stood awaiting them.
The guests were gathering in the grand dinning hall, everyone was seated according to station. Talagon and his daughter were seated at a lower table than the Winderspire family. Jareth and Devon both were seated although not together at the higher table. Jareth enjoyed upsetting the apple cart by insisting that Sarah stand behind him. Sarah knew from the instructions of Donatien that her duty was to look out for her master's welfare. She mused that this was a great cosmic joke, her looking out for Jareth, and being amused she wore a slight Mona Lisa smile.
Circe murmured something in her father's ear, and he let his eyes move toward the high table, and the man seated with the woman in a wine colored gown standing attentively behind him. "Tagaan," he said to his daughter.
Bryn looked down the table toward Jareth, and then behind him at Sarah who seemed to be looking for something. "She's worried," Bryn observed and motioned to Devon.
Devon felt the tension in the room as well and was also looking about. "I can understand why. Someone's resentment and jealousy is not being shielded."
Bryn let her eyes sweep the room without appearing to be frantic, "Devon," she whispered. "Why is it no one else seems concerned?"
"Most would not even notice, as they are self focused." He explained. "Jareth's aware…" he pointed to the man seated looking in total control. "He just covers it better than any one else." He motioned to two Goblin Guards to join Daisy and Della along with Sarah behind the Goblin King.
Oberon entered the Dinning room with his wife on one arm and Linda on the other. Jareth stood as did the others in the room. He gave a side ways glance to the woman standing demurely behind him. But as her eyes were cast downward, she'd not seen the woman on the High King's arm. Looking back at the trio, he could not mistake the daggers in the eyes of the dark haired mortal beauty on his father's arm. Linda was angry with him, and he was well aware of it. When the High King seated both his ladies to either side of his place, he took his seat as well and the servants moved forward with food and wine for all.
Jareth had seen too it that food had been brought to his chambers, and he'd made sure that Sarah had eaten before she'd dressed for the evening. The last thing he needed or wanted was to be seen as uncaring for the needs of his servants or his person slave. Sarah looked at the meal being served without envy; she stood behind him looking more like a sentinel than a slave.
Bryn closed her eyes and focused her mind. 'Sarah, what is wrong?'
Sarah turned her head slightly toward the direction of the girl and the Baron. Just as quickly she brought her face back to where it had been, with a determined expression.
Devon placed a gloved hand over Bryn's hand in her lap and shook his head, warning her not to try to make mind contact again with gentle dissuasion.
Jareth was also aware of Bryn's thought, but made no issue of it. He too was as alert as Sarah, and knew there were far more dangerous beings in the grand room. He felt Sarah place her hand on his right shoulder, moving his left hand; he placed it over the hand that tightened as she picked up stray thoughts that were unshielded. Gently, almost as if they were more than an angry master and a difficult slave, he patted the hand on his shoulder.
Daisy watched the exchange with a calm that was eerie. Della felt her wings twitch and she looked at Daisy. The pair were unaware it seemed of the change in the output of their pheromones, and unaware that the Goblin guard and Harpy were aware of the changes. . The two Goblin guards behind Daisy and Della began to close in, closing ranks as it were, forming a barrier that would protect not only their King, but his Tagaan, as well.
When the meal finished the High King and his Ladies moved toward the ballroom with the entire entourage of guests following. At this point Sarah was once more gracing the arm of the Goblin King, and moving in graceful steps keeping pace with him. In the ball room Oberon and his Ladies moved to a Dais, where he sat in a throne and both Linda and Tatiana sat on either side of him in chairs that were one step below his. Jareth moved to a seat lower down on the dais, sitting while the minstrels began to play. He didn't bother to look at Sarah, for he knew she was well versed on what was expected of her.
Devon usually sat beside his cousin, and found that there was a seat open for him to do so as well as a smaller seat for Bryn on the step just below. He looked at Jareth, unsure of bringing his pretty mortal witch in such close proximity of Sarah. Jareth read the uncertainty and shrugged; this seating had been arranged by the High King and could not be questioned. Devon placed a hand under Bryn's elbow as he guided her to the seat placed for her before sitting beside his cousin.
"Any last words?" he whispered to the Goblin King.
"Hail Creaser," Jareth retorted.
Oberon stood up and whispered something to Linda who nodded; he then turned to his Queen and extended his hand. The High Queen gave him an indulgent smile as she stood, and followed him to the middle of the dance floor. No one would dare dance before the Royal Couple, it was simply not done. The minstrels began to play a tune that seemed to bring a gleam to the Queen's eyes and a smile of recognition.
Sarah listened to the melody closely, understanding that it held special meaning for the Royal couple. She looked over to the woman seated beside the throne on the dais. The woman feeling her gaze looked over at her, her face calm but her eyes filled with fire. Sarah felt the corner of her lips quirk up before she looked away. It had been a long time since she'd seen the woman look so contented. She had questions, but they would have to wait, there were more important thing taking form here that needed to be kept observed. She could wait until later to question the Goblin on just how her mother ended up sitting beside Oberon.
Circe was seated in a corner, her father was standing beside her, but her attention was on the Goblin King. Without moving her head, or appearing to be looking about, she let her eyes seek out the little blond head of Tanya Winderspire and her disappointed face. The pretty and young Fae was seated watching the Goblin King as well, her lower lip trembling. Amused, Circe placed a hand to her face, and said for her father's ears only to hear. "I think we are about to see some…trouble."
Talagon directed his vision toward the young Fae girl. "This should be amusing."
The Duke and Duchess had joined the High King and his Queen on the dance floor. Leaving their daughter to her own devices in a seat that was reserved for nobility in the grand ballroom. Tanya looked over at the members of the King's family who were seated on or near the Dais not with envy, but with growing impertinence. She had a determined look on her pretty heart shaped face when she stood and marched over toward the dais.
Sarah heard the twitch of Della's wings, and the shifting of the uniforms of the Goblins upon the approach of the girl. She shifted her own position and looked at the pretty Fae creature coming toward them. Had Sarah been born a Fae, she gauged that she and the girl approaching would be relatively the same age. She felt a pang of something akin to pity for the pretty creature, and for the actions she was about to take. Swiftly she moved to block the girls approach.
Shocked, Tanya's mouth was agape; her pretty blue eyes popped open in astonished surprise. "Stand aside," she commanded in a soft voice expecting to be obeyed.
Sarah looked at her, amused by the brazen behavior. "Not this time," she mused, and then wondered why she'd used that phrase. 'This time?' she thought to herself.
"I'm ordering you," Tanya said more firmly.
"You do not have the authority to order me," Sarah said in a tone she hoped didn't sound too condescending.
Pouting and infuriated, the girl stomped on pretty dance slipper clad foot. "Jareth," she said louder. "Tell this…slave to stand aside."
Jareth had been watching the exchange from the corner of one amused mismatched eye. Devon was aware as well, and waited to see what the Goblin King would or would not do.
"Tagaan," Jareth addressed Sarah in a formal tone while holding out a hand to her. Sarah took the hand allowing the King to pull her closer to his side. "She may approach."
Tanya narrowed her eyes toward the woman that she now saw as an immoveable obstacle before trying to look more pleasantly toward the Goblin King. "Would you care to dance?" she asked politely, thinking better of demanding that he dance with her.
"Yes, thank you." Jareth said rising, he looked at Sarah with a gloating gleam in his eye. If he had expected her to be crestfallen he was disappointed. She stood with a calm that he could not read.
Bryn groaned as the King and the Duke's pretty daughter moved to the dance floor. "Oh is he in hot water."
Devon looked over at Sarah. "Boiling I'd say," he murmured before rising and extending a hand to his guest. "Come, my dear…let's dance."
Bryn looked toward Sarah, but the other had her eyes on the Goblin King and no other. "Sure, why not."
Oberon returned Tatiana to her seat, extended his hand to Linda, refusing to take no for an answer. The woman rose and moved down the dais slowly on the King's arm. "I'm going to kill him," she said in a dark undertone as Oberon led her in the slow graceful steps of the waltz playing.
"Not if I beat you to it," he mused.
The actress looked up at the High King and smiled. "We could just let Sarah," she teased.
Oberon looked toward the dais, and sighed; "Your daughter is beautiful," his arms tightened about his paramour. "Nearly as beautiful as her mother."
Linda gave him a simpering smile. "You had me at hello," she teased.
"Ah but to keep you…" mused the High King. "That will take finesse."
Talagon frowned as he looked at his daughter. "I'd have thought the mortal would have put up more of a fight."
"Don't be a fool," warned the girl seated in the chair with her attention on the Tagaan; "She is stronger than the fool in the Goblin King's arms…and she knows it… her position is in no danger."
Talagon murmured in a sinister way, threateningly; "Perhaps we can change that." His daughter nodded.
Sarah felt something, and noticed a change in the air. A scent that caught her attention, but she kept her face school. The music changed and more Fae joined the dancing. She watched as Jareth exchanged partners with another Fae lord. As the hours of the ball wore on she watched the handsome Goblin King dance with many partners. All the while she kept her face schooled as Donatien had taught her. 'Take no insult were none is offered.' She told herself. 'He's doing what is expected of his station.' Bryn and Devon were speaking to the High King and Queen, and Sarah gave herself an instant to envy her friend that freedom, but the instant was over quickly and she resumed her stance.
The High Queen was commenting to Bryn on how lovely her choice of gowns was, when Devon placed a hand under his Uncle's elbow pulling him slightly away from the ladies. "I've a need to speak with you on an urgent matter."
Oberon looked past him to the ladies. "So I see."
Devon spoke quietly. "I wish to request your permission…to take the girl as my wife." He spoke seriously.
Oberon gave his nephew a long observing gaze. "I will take it under advisement… I would suggest you wait a bit… you were rather rash in demanding her as payment for rescuing your cousin…I would not wish you to act rashly in the taking of a bride. Ask me again in a few months…say six."
"Thank you, Uncle." Devon whispered. "I will abide by your directive."
Oberon smiled, somewhat indulgently at his sister's son. "Get to know the girl, before you make a commitment."
"I've marked her," Devon disclosed in an apologetic tone.
"Marking is one thing, marriage is another." Cautioned the High King, Devon nodded.
Linda once more seated and relieved she didn't have to play hostess, watched her daughter as the evening wore on. She felt her jaw clench more than once. When the Goblin King danced with nearly every unattached Fae woman in the grand ballroom, Linda felt her temper rise.
Jareth approached the corner where Circe sat beside her father. "Talagon," he greeted the father politely. "Good of you to make the journey." He then looked down at the woman with shark like eyes. "You love lovely this evening Circe."
"Thank you, Sire." She said in a formal voice.
"Would you care to dance?" he bowed, extending his hand to her.
Catching a glimpse of the startled girl still standing on the dais she smiled coldly. "I'd love to."
Tatiana saw the pair walking to the dance floor before Oberon did. "Oh dear, what is he doing now?" she groused.
Oberon stopped speaking to Devon and looked at the dance floor. "I swear that boy lives far too much on the edge."
Devon moaned, "I'm never going to hear the end of this." He turned to see Bryn who was looking at Sarah, with tears ready to spill. "Bryn…we're leaving…now…" he held his hand out to her. "Say goodnight, dear."
Bryn felt a quiver of anger rage through her; she looked at the High King and whispered. "Good night." She took the Baron's hand and followed him swiftly from the Ballroom.
Della chuckled softly, but found herself on the receiving end of a glare from not Sarah, but Daisy. She swallowed the chuckle. Daisy moved closer to Sarah, not placing a hand on her but being near.
Oberon looked toward the dais, not at the daughter but at Linda. He was worried the stress of seeing her daughter ill treated would be bad for her and the baby. "Tattie, I'm going to take Linda to her rooms." He said quickly.
"I'll go with you as well." She offered.
"No…" he warned. "I'll be back… I just want her away from the shenanigans of that idiot I call a son. This kind of stress is not good for a woman with child." The High Queen understood and moved toward a group of courtiers to carry on conversation while he moved toward the dais. "Linda, I think it's time for you to retire." He suggested kindly.
Linda looked over at Sarah, "Not before I say good night to my daughter…" She stood up and walked over to the girl extending her hands to the younger woman. "Good night, Sarah." She said the girl's name.
Sarah held her head up, squared her shoulders and replied in a determined tone. "Good night, mother." Giving her mother's hands a firm squeeze she watched as the King led the actress out of the ballroom.
Jareth had seen the exchange and released Circe from his arms. "Thank you, for the dance." He said before moving toward the corridor that the King and his paramour were using to exit the ball. "A moment, if you please." He said in an angry tone as he moved after them, and addressed the actress. "Madam a word;" Coldly Linda turned to look at the young Fae King. Oberon glared at him, but he ignored his father. "The slave no longer has a name… and you will refrain for calling her by her old one."
Linda let her eyes do a quick sweep; the corridor was empty with the exemption of them. Acting on impulse she drew back her right hand and let it connect with the face of the younger Fae King with more force than even she knew was possible. It left a dark red mark on his pale cheek. "Don't you ever talk that way to me, you over indulged brat!" She turned to the High King. "Take me to my rooms before I take him over my knee and give him the beating he deserves."
Jareth held his cheek and staggered back against a wall, with his mouth wide open and his eyes holding shock. Oberon laughed as he tucked the actress's left hand back into the crook of his arm, and led her away. Jareth stayed leaning on the wall, knowing he'd pushed where he shouldn't have.
Daisy on the dais turned to Della. "Where's the King?" she asked swiftly.
It was Sarah who moved, she had seen Oberon being followed out the exit by Jareth and she feared he was about to do something even more stupid than the taking of her dreams. She'd seen her mother's hand connect with the Goblin King, and him stagger back. Once the High King and Linda had moved away she slowly approached. Jareth still against the wall he'd staggered to, looked at her. Sarah shook her head, and raised a hand to his face. "You deserved that you know."
"She called me an over indulged brat," he said quietly, upset.
"You are," Sarah confirmed, as she lowered her hand. "What did you expect her to do, Jareth?" she asked using his given name in a most intimate way. "I'm her child…She will never see me as… Tagaan." She stood before him, dressed in a slave's garment looking and acting like a Queen, making him feel like a knave.
With an exasperated growl from deep in his throat, Jareth pulled her into his arms, forcing his kisses on her and holding her with no intentions of being denied. He swept her up into his arms, striding toward the sweeping staircase that would take him to his rooms in the family wing. Behind them the Goblin guards walked swiftly. Sarah began to struggle as he mounted the stairs. "Be still," he warned in a threatening manner. He kicked the door open as they approached his bedchamber. Daisy pulled the door closed as she and Della took up their stations guarding the room and its occupants. He made no effort to ignite the lights in the dark room, but carried her straight to his bed. Her eyes in the darkness told him she half expected him to drop her roughly. Instead, he gently placed her on the bed and sat down beside her. "Comfort me," he said looking at her. Sarah blinked, it was not an order, not the way he had meant it to be. She had heard something in his voice something few ever heard from him. He was uncertain, and confused by his own rude actions. The lessons of the Guild master now were to be put to use. Placing a gentle hand to the spot her mother had left on his unblemished skin cooled the fire. Kneeling upon the mattress she leaned to him and kissed the cheek. Jareth lay back on the pillows and pulled her down with him. He didn't rip at her garments, but held her while he calmed the confusion he was feeling. "I was wrong to confront your mother in her delicate state," he said after a long time.
"Delicate state?" she questioned.
"She carries a child for my father." He said as he sat up. "I thought you should know."
Sarah sat up, looked at the Goblin King with an unreadable expression. "This is awkward." She said in a quite voice. "Your father and my mother are having a baby?" When he nodded, she placed a hand on his sleeve. "Does that make our… relationship… a bit incestuous?"
"No," he looked at her for a moment before beginning to grin. "I'm not sure." He admitted playfully. "I mean I had you before he had her…."
"Dose this make us…related?" She asked uneasy.
"No," he then thought again. "I mean I don't think so." He leaned closer to her, and placed an arm over her shoulder. He sighed as he leaned closer still to kiss her throat and work his way up to her ear. "I need you…" he admitted to her in a whisper.
Sarah looked at him, part of her wanted to tell him to go to hell. Part of her wanted to tear his heart out of his chest. "This changes nothing," she said softly as she gave him greater access to her tender throat line. "I still hate you."
He murmured as he moved his lips over her, his hand joining in the assault. "I don't care… I need you." He paused before pushing her back into the pillows and straddling her. "Sometimes, I just…need you."
Sarah remembered the words, and looked at him with an under layer of guilt clutching her heart. He'd heard, heard her speak those words or ones very like them to the friends she'd made in the Labyrinth on her journey of self exploration and growth. Looking at him in the darkness, she breathed deeply as he slipped a hand into the slit of her skirt. "Every now and again… for no reason at all… I need you…as well." she moaned.
Jareth let his hand slid up her leg until it reached her rounded bottom, "Sarah." He said darkly pressing his lips to hers he said her name again. "Sarah."
Oberon returned to the ballroom and took his place by his wife, "Jareth?" he asked.
"Gone, the girl with him;" The High Queen said in a voice that was for the High King alone. "You are going to have to tell him." She said firmly.
"I suppose you're right." He reluctantly admitted. "But it will have to wait until morning."
The High Queen looked at him, "Linda?"
"Madder than a wet hen," he mused remembering her assault on Jareth. "She'd bitch slap the boy without a second thought."
Tatiana laid her head on her husband's shoulder as they stood side by side watching their guests. "I'd pay good money to see that."
Placing his arm, supportively about her shoulders he sighed. "I'll talk to him come sunrise." He promised.
"It's for the greater good."
Della twitched her wings. "They're a strange pair," she remarked to her partner.
"How so?" Daisy asked amused by the Harpy.
"I'm never sure if he wants to throttle her, or devourer her in the heat of passion." Della announced.
"A bit of both," Daisy said.
"Harpies have a much better way." Della crossed her arms. "We mate, we eat the sperm donor, and it's all over and done with. No entanglements, no regrets, no hurt feelings."
"No lasting companionship," countered Daisy.
Pointing to the door and thinking of the pair beyond, Della snapped. "If that's companionship…"
"That," Daisy interrupted with a voice filled with Goblin pride; "Is Goblin courtship."
"She's only his slave," Della countered. "Not his mate."
Daisy didn't argue, knowing the Harpy would never understand what even the King and his Tagaan were not ready to face. She sighed as the heady scent of the King filled the corridor. Della growled darkly complaining about the odor, but Daisy drew great comfort in the fact that it was the Tagaan's scent mingled with that of the Goblin King. She began to hum a soft tune. Della cocked a brow upward before picking up the tune as well.