Chapter 39. Lady of the Tower

Jareth walked slowly toward the throne room, the Goblin Throne room, where he felt he'd be left in peace. He didn't bother with torches, or with lighting a fire to warm the room. The cold felt good, and it kept him mind focused. The last thing he needed or wanted was to be lulled into a warm fuzzy feeling. With the agility that seemed to be inherent in the Fae, he moved to the throne and lounged as he had done so often. There in the darkness he sat, thinking.

Daisy had seen the King move to the throne room long after he'd left the girl in the tower. She frowned and moved down the hall swiftly to enter into the chamber where others were already gathered awaiting her. Lutin bowed to her as she entered; she glared at him, but kept her words to herself. She took her seat beside the master of the guild, Donatien Sade. Lutin closed the door when the last of the King's conspirators had been seated. He nodded to his niece who stood and addressed them.

"I thank you all for coming on such short notice," she began; leaning on the table to emphasize her position as the unspoken leader. "The girl has refused the King's offer of his bedchamber."

Donatien frowned, "She what?"

"Refused the King," the Captain of the King's personal guard repeated slowly.

The Master of the Guild leaned back, "I'll be damned," he muttered. "You were right about her having more spirit and integrity than I had credited her with."

"Spirit and integrity won't be much use to her," Daisy warned. "She began to read the scrolls but was disturbed by something she read. I fear that she and the King are hell-bent on repeating the past."

Joachim, the metal master shook his head. "It is worse than you suspect," he ventured. "The King has asked to see what else was left behind by Zoltarie."

Philo nodded, "He's asked for more of the equipment that has been stored to be taken out of storage. I fear he'll follow the same path as his predecessor."

Della who'd been silent spoke out, "I say let him," she tapped her talons on the smoothly polished surface of the table they were seated at. "He is the King," she reminded all.

"Yes, and we'd like to keep him as the King." Daisy announced as she stepped away from the table and began to pace about it. "Jareth is the best thing that has happened to us, and we owe it to the High King to keep this one alive!"

The King's Leather master spoke up, slightly irritated. "Perhaps if we told him," he offered.

"No," Daisy crossed her arms, "I told you before; he must find the information out for himself. The only thing we can do is direct him to it."

Lutin pointed to the table stacked with the precious scrolls. "What more can I do, hog tie them both and force them to read the scrolls?"

"Uncle, I know you've done the best you can." Daisy held one hand up. "At least he's making efforts to read, but also to renew our kingdoms flagging spirits."

"Therein lays the rub," Donatien's elegant voice rose above the murmurs. "Before, we were of little interest to the rest of the Underground. We were useless in their eyes; however I'm told that we've sparked interest in some."

Pausing, Daisy's hand went instinctually to the hilt of her sword. "Have we," she asked quietly. "I take it you still have," she paused to find the right word; "infiltrators in the other kingdoms?"

The line of his lip curled slightly, but his face showed no other reaction. No one ever knew anything he didn't want them to. "You'd be surprised my dear Daisy Bookworm how many beings I've trained, and how many owe allegiance to our cause." His eyes sparkled with delight, he ignored the stares of the Harpy as he flirted outrageously with the Goblin woman. "But than I'd be only too happy to educate you."

Her brow raised slightly, the Goblin woman sighed. "Were that there was time, rhaakduuaal dhec." She growled the intimate words in their native tongue for beloved friend.

Della narrowed her glare, wondering what was between these two.

Lutin looked to the Captain, his face serious as he spoke. "If she's refused him, yet again…"

"It will be handled," Daisy promised before turning her attentions to the Master of the Guild once more. "I'm told he's asked you to continue her training."

"Indeed," Donatien acquiesced. "You and the winged wonder here are to deliver her to me come the morrow."

"Winged wonder," snarled Della.

"No offence," Donatien shrugged as he looked at her. "There are few enough Goblins with wings, and Harpies make such a lovely sight in our skies."

"Save the flirtatious words for those who need them," she flexed her talon in warning. "What I want to know is how any of this is the concerns of the Harpy flock?"

Before Daisy could address her, Donatien said in a dry tone. "As your flock is now fully intergraded in the kingdom, what happens to our King is a major concern. That is unless the Mother of your Roost has taken it into her head to abandon the rookery and move your flock out of here." The glare he received told him otherwise. "You are now just as much a part of the goblin kingdom here as the fairy and gnome and dwarf races that have migrated to us."

Della stiffened, "I don't see representatives of those races here."

"Nor will you," Daisy said taking charge once more. "We here are the spokesmen for the clans and the guilds and the hierarchy that exists. You are included to ensure the cooperation of the flock, and you are one of the King's guards as was a predecessor of yours to the last great Goblin King." Della settled back. "The King must read the scrolls, as must the girl… dangerous times are ahead." She turned to Lutin. "She read the Fae codicil, the one reading no child born of a slave may rule."

Lutin knew the codicil well, "I fear there are other Fae rulings that she will find upsetting."

Donatien steepled his long elegant fingertips; "Our King's declaration of sovereignty does not sit well with other Fae."

"They are not aware of his lineage," Joachim muttered.

"Nor is he," Daisy warned. "He must read, and find this out for himself."

"And the girl?" Della sneered.

The Master of the Guild snickered, "I will be only too delighted to direct her attention to the scrolls of lineage. She too must know from whence she came."

"Envy is what destroyed us," Daisy stated moving back to her seat. "Our kingdom has much to offer, but we must work against becoming too showy."

The leather master nodded, "The lower races are in accord, the rebuilding is coming along."

Turning to the metal master, Daisy asked quietly; "And the mines?"

"Once more in full production, Captain." He assured her. "That was the easiest matter, what is not seen is not noticed. As most of our mining goes on under the rich mountains and soil, it is easy enough to hide not only the work, but the stockpiles."

Philo passed a list to the woman, "Here is a report on the stores we've cataloged."

Going over the list, the woman smiled. "The King will be pleased."

--

Sarah sat on the ledge of the window, watching the sky turn to a dark color before the stars began to twinkle. The cool evening breeze kissed her skin as it moved over her. The rooms of the castle below her were dark, but she could feel him. She knew he was there, waiting, lurking. Turning back to look at her turret room, she frowned. He'd been right; she'd been getting turned on when he'd bound her to the St. Andrew's cross. And now she was feeling empty. Sarah was not sure what was worse, being bound and tortured or wanting to be bound and tortured in to submission.

She crossed the room to the implement of sexual torture, her hand ran over the cross brace and she shuddered as a deliciously evil thrill coursed through her veins. She had not bothered to light a light, and was now alone in the darkening room. Alone with her desires, her needs, moving closer to the cross she brushed up against it. The sound that escaped her throat was something between a strangled cry and willing mewls; but that was not the sound that drew her attention. It was the soft fluttering of wings that alerted her she was not alone.

Strong hands moved to rest over hers as she held onto the wooden frame. "Are you going to tie me up?" she asked closing her eyes.

"Do I need to?" He replied darkly in her ear, his voice low and dangerous. He moved closer, her backside spooning to him. "Or do I but need to suggest it?"

"It's not fair," she whispered. "You know it's not fair."

"Life is not fair," he stated as his lips moved to her throat. "Don't expect it to be." Fingers dug into her soft hands, curling about and holding tightly. "Your king has need Tagaan or Rhuukarlaan, and only you can meet those needs." His voice rumbled from deep in his throat. Once more she shivered, quaking as his hands made demands of her. "Blast your mortal hide," he spun her to face him; "Would that I had no need of you."

Tilting her chin defiantly the girl's eyes met his with just as much fever as he was feeling; "Would that I never called upon your name."

For a moment he didn't move, it appeared that he was not even breathing. Gone was the longing looks he'd given her, now replaced by fury, rage and vehemence. "I could just walk away," he warned.

"You'd be back," she gloated. "I may not have power over you, fairy boy… but you're body wants what mine has."

"Bitch," he cursed her.

"Pervert," she returned her voice laced with excitement.

One hand moved to her tilted chin, "I think you really like that part of me, don't you vixen?"

"As much as you like my defying you," she quipped saucily.

Mismatched stormy eyes searched her face; in the darkness his owl senses were heightened. "Answer me this, vixen." He murmured in a sinister manner. "Would you want me any other way?"

Sarah paused, his thumb was resting in the hollow of her throat, moving slowly up and down and sending a river of heat through her. "No," she admitted in a voice that was deepened with throaty passion, his thumb made swallowing difficult. "Not that I want you as you are, either."

"Would you like me to leave," he teased pulling back. Sarah's hands shot out, gripping him and pulling him to her. Her mouth savagely ravaged his. In that moment, when she took over, he found himself enjoying the aggressive and intensely passionate manner of his unwilling captive. "Use me, Sarah;" he urged. "Use me."

His words only served to enrage her more, "I hate you." Shoving him aside she moved away from the wooden frame, or tried to.

He pressed her back into the rough surface, his hands capturing and holding her wrists as he allowed his body to block her passage. "And yet I am all there is for you in this life." Suddenly he moved speedily away from her, he was at the window wearing a self satisfying smirk. "Good night, Sarah." He turned and winged his way out of her chamber.

"You bastard!" she screamed as she collapsed on the floor. "Come back," she begged in despair. "Don't leave me like this…"

The owl turned in midair, even before he was finished transforming she had leapt into his arms. The ferociously brutal kiss that was exchanged buckled both man and woman, as they went to their knees. Jareth peppered her face with kisses as he moved his hands over her possessively. Sarah clung to him, feeling the river of passion that was threatening to sweep her away. He yanked her off the floor, carrying her to the bed on the other side of the room. Even before he'd reached the bed he'd used magic to remove the barrier of their garments. Once he reached the bed he was sheathed within her promptly, remaining there for longer than he'd ever remained with a woman before. Once they were both sated, he rolled to his side and held her tightly against him. "I'll never let you go." He vowed.

Sarah listened to the thumping of his heart, nestled within his arms. "Is that a promise or a threat?"

Jareth smiled, "Take it any way you want it."

--

Donatien lingered as the others filed out of the scribe's chambers. He stood behind the chair he'd only moments ago been seated in. The walking stick that he carried was angled, and he waited patiently while Daisy gave instructions to the others. He noted that the Harpy was giving him the evil eye, and he pointedly ignored her. The winged female said something under her breath to the Goblin woman who seemed amused as the Harpy was sent on her way. The only person left in the chamber besides the elegant man was the scribe who took his leave, giving some privacy to the warrior and the Dominate male.

"You want something?" Daisy asked fingering the hilt of her sword.

Slivery gray eyes watched the motion with amusement. "Indeed," he tapped his walking stick lightly on the stone floor. He had known her for a very long time, and still he could never get enough of her. "But that goes without saying does it not?" He placed the walking stick across the table, waiting for her response. A moment later the sword lay beside it. "Daisy Bookworm, do you intend to keep the bargain made betwixt us?"

"I don't welch," she gritted through her teeth.

Donatien drew deep his breath, "I'm so very glad to hear that." One hand reached out to caress the cheek of the Goblin woman. "I feared you had second thoughts."

"Do you?" Her voice was firm, unshaken and slightly amused.

Slivery eyes moved from her head to her toes, "Not a chance," he breathed seductively. "A dangerous mistress is far more to my liking than one who has to be constantly petted and teased into my bed."

"Mistress?" She challenged.

"I mean that word in its original meaning," he assured her as he stepped closer. "The promise of a new age in the Kingdom," he whispered. "And a wife who is my equal."

"Than I take it you are satisfied with the arrangements," her voice teased.

Amused, and exhilarated, he chuckled before gathering her into his arms. "Say it again; say that you will be my wife."

"When this is concluded, I will become your wife." Her voice was firm, her eyes met his. "I wonder if you have any idea of what you've bargained yourself into, Donatien."

"All that matters, my dear woman, is that we are still in agreement." He held her close. "Ours is the joining of two of the oldest Goblin families in the realm." He could feel her resistance. "We are both honorable Goblins, Daisy."

"I must return to the tower," she tried to pry herself free.

"In a moment," he implored tenderly. "I have but these few moments to enjoy being in your company. Tomorrow, I go back to tutoring the girl, and playing the part laid out for me."

His words struck a cord within her. "I suggest besides teaching her to acquiesce to the King, you teach her to defend herself."

Disturbed by the suggestion, he tipped her face upward. "What is it you fear?"

"Betrayal," she admitted honestly.

Softly he laid his lips on her brow, "I will do whatever you think best, my lady." He stepped back, gazing down at her with resolve. "I will also make sure she reads more of the scrolls."

"You would do that for me?" Amazement filled her.

Gallantly, he went to his knees; "For you, for the Kingdom, and for the King." He vowed.

Gathering his face into her hands, Daisy leaned toward him to brush her lips to his. "My family has chosen well, and I am blessed to be your bride."

Rising once more he took her hand into his, raised it and kissed it. "I am the one who is blessed."