Chapter Five

After Jareth convinced Seth to go with Hannah, the boy had teared up thinking his bird-man didn't want him either, he went to the Goblin Glade. The Bookerie was of course still not back yet, but that wasn't why he was there. He was actually there to speak with Fleeter. The goblin was to be in charge of the kingdom, mainly the Goblin City, while Jareth went to see her. Making a face, Jareth wasn't looking forward to seeing her at all.

Procrastinating, wanting to delay this reunion as long as possible, Jareth went to his stables and took out his favorite horse. It was a beautiful polomino he named Aurora's Dawn. She was fast, fleet-footed, and he'd had her since she was a foal. He chose her though because he hadn't taken her out in awhile. He'd been busy trying to fix the magic that had gone haywire in the Underground.

Riding horseback instead of flying would give him some extra time to think how he should approach her. A horse would be slower since it was limited by terrain and obstacles whereas in his owl form he could fly strait there.

All too soon tough, Jareth spotted the cottage. Making a face he sighed, sliding off the horse's back. Stroking her neck, he patted her. Aurora's Dawn walked a little yards away and began to graze. Going up to the door, Jareth lifted a hand to knock but a goblin came around the corner of the cottage. It was a Greener, the green tipped fingers giving it away.

After eyeing him she pointed back the way she had come. "The mistress is in her gardens."

"Thank you."

Jareth walked around the cottage to an expansive garden that looked more like a field and was probably closer to the truth. He could see the woman he needed to speak with hunched over as she looked over he plants. He halted a good distance from her, feeling like he always did around her. Scowling, he tried to push the feeling of being an uncertain child away. She didn't even look his way but both knew she was well aware of his presence.

"I thought you never wanted to see me again?"

Jareth frowned. It was true, he didn't, just because he didn't like her didn't mean he didn't have respect for her. If he had his way, he wouldn't have anything to do with her ever; for the rest of her life. Yet, he needed her help.

It was difficult enough admitting it to himself but now he actually had to say the vile words. He could already feel his stomach turning. "I need your help."

Ardis rose with a handful of herbs. "I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that. What did you say?"

Jareth scowled and gave her a venomous look. This was why he disliked her so much. The way she said it was completely convincing, if one didn't know her, and he did. Not one to repeat himself especially after asking for help, but knew he had to in order for her to even consider helping him get out of the mess he'd gotten himself into all unknowingly.

He hated that barely visible smug look she wore waiting for him. The words leaving a bad taste in his mouth he re-itterated, "I need your help, Ardis."

"Grab that bundle and we can have some tea while you tell me about this desperate situation that you have yourself in, hmm?"

Relunctantly, he did as he was told and followed her into her cottage. He told her what transpired while she went about making them tea.

"I see," Ardis murmured setting her tea cup down. "You do get yourself into troublesome situations, don't you?"

Jareth tried to scowl at her but it came out as more of a pout.

"Of course, that's probably whey the goblins chose you." She glanced over at him and grinned. "Then again, it was a close call. You could have ended up the next Fairie king, what with that mischievous nature of yours."

He nearly choked on his tea then gave her a dark look which sent his goblins running. Ardis merely smiled at him. Then becoming half serious, she asked, "Did you ever get that business with that mortal taken care of?"

"Which mortal are we talking about?"

Ardis regarded him over her tea cup and once again he felt like a boy and wanted to squirm in his chair. Outwardly he remained calm and dignified, arching on brow.

"Fine, don't tell me,but you know you'll have to do something about it soon."

Jareth scowled at the reminder of the encroaching date. He did not want to think about it anymore than he had to. "We were talking about keeping the Fae Council from wanting my head on a pike for unknowingly breaking the contract we had made with the humans. Remember? Or is my upcoming nuptials more important then my life?"

Ardis sighed completely abandoning her tea and indifferent amusement. "This is why I objected to you assuming the title of Goblin King, not because I didn't think you weren't capable. The Goblins chose you for a reason. You honor the pact they first made with their General. Yes, you can be cruel, but not needlessly so. That is not your true nature and you are never mean unless it is necessary. But you are still such a child thinking only of yourself."

Jareth cringed at her words even as he grew angry. She leveled him with a stern look he recalled from early childhood.

"Don't you try and deny it. Even with the state of your kingdom, which could probably be your fault to begin with, and you're still more concerned with what'll befall you from the Fae Council instead of what will happen to your people if this chaos spreads beyond your borders."

Chargrined, he slumped in his seat. It was true. He came here needing her help to get himself out of a jam and she only gave him a lecture and reminded him that it wasn't about him at all. She had always done that; made him see the larger picture when he could only see himself and how it affected him.

"I want to come see this boy, Seth." Ardis said suddenly.

Jareth's head snapped up, eyes narrowing. "Why?"

Ardis smiled and Jareth felt a sense of dread. It wasn't usually a good thing for him when she smiled like that. Especially when directed at him. "Someone has to watch your kingdom while you go Aboveground to speak with the boy's 'mother' and get to the bottom of things."

"I don't need you to take over. I've already got Fleeter overseeing my domain."

The woman sighed. "I do not want to retake your mantle, Jareth. If you recall, I willingly stepped aside for you even though I thought you were not mature enough." He glared at her for that comment but she ignored him and continued. "I love and respect the goblins as much as you do. But, I am sure you are as aware as they that while they do a good job, it is our job to run the Goblin Kingdom. It is our responsibility not theirs of the overseeing of the Labyrinth."

Knowing all of this, Jareth still found himself not liking it one bit. As far back as their history went, the guardianship of the Labyrinth and the surrounding land was the sole responsibility of the descendants of the first Goblin King. Still, Jareth eyed Ardis with suspicion. The woman had not left her cottage in ages. She had to have an ulterior motive to be breaking her self-imposed exile.

"Oh, for heaven's sake Jareth! Can't an old woman just want to see her grandson without plotting a coup to take over your kingdom?"

"With you, one hardly knows, mother."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Having gotten a temporary pass to go Aboveground, Jareth looked at the uninviting cold white cement blocked institution. Gearing himself up to have to endure the taste, touch and smell of iron all around him, Jareth walked quickly. The sooner he talked with the woman and got answers,the sooner he could go back home and start putting things to right.

He charmed the orderlies and nurses into letting him in to see the woman since it would take too long and he really did not want to fill out all that paperwork and convince them he was a friend or relative. He stared out the window at the drab scenery and wondered why mortals were so scared of their loved one that were so different that they had to institutionalize them. That was just one more thing about mortals that he did not understand.

Turning, he stared at the woman that was with the orderlies. He couldn't believe this was the woman he had once known so long ago. Before she had been beautiful and radiant. Now, she was not even a pale imitation of herself. Her long hair and been cut and was unkempt. Her skin was dangerously pale, showing veins and her bones were pronounced. Dark circles like bruises made her eyes look sunken.

As soon as his brain made the connection of who she had once been, his mouth had to say in a somewhat bitter voice, "It had to be you, didn't it."

Upon hearing his voice, her eyes blazed and lunged across the table for him, "Give me back my son!"

Not sure what to have expected, but thinking ahead, Jareth had already cast an illusion/calming spell around them so to on lookers it would seem as if they were sitting there pleasantly conversing. Grabbing her wrists, he carefully removed her claw like grip from his blazer, not wanting to hurt her more than he had to.

"I did."

"No you didn't! Give me Seth!"

"Ah, but he's not really yours, is he?"

Silence and a glare met his querry. Vanessa sat down, arms crossed almost in a self hug.

"Whose child is he?"

She gave him a searching look before replying in an indifferent and bored voice. "Mine, now."

"Actually, he's mine." Jareth grinned enjoying this a bit too much. "Your son foolishly lost a wager with me. I'm sure you know what the stakes were."

Another glare at him. "Why are you here?"

"What is his parentage?" Jareth leaned forward a frown on his face. "I've never liked you, you know. I only tolerated you because I had to. What happened between you two? How did you end up-" Jareth waved a hand around them. "here."

"What'll you give me in return?"

Jareth leaned closer, eyes never leaving hers. "Your freedom from this place."

Her dark eyes searched his and a glint that he recalled of times before, her face hardened. "Give me your word as a Fae and King."

Solemnly he nodded. "I so swear that I shall do everything that is in my power to get your freedom from this place."

Nodding, she relaxed into her chair. Giving him a malicious vindictive look she grinned. "You truly wish to know his heritage?"

She began to laugh and Jareth began to wonder if all her time trapped in the Aboveground and these iron filled building had driven her completely mad.

Vanessa leaned closer and told him everything leaving out no details. When she was through with her tale she enjoyed the expression on his face that he was trying to hide. "Remember, Jareth. You gave your word as Fae and King."

"I will not retract my pledge," Jareth scathingly retorted before calming and giving her a vindictive smile of his own. "I shall abide by my promise. It is your own fault however for not stipulating the exact terms of your freedom."

Jareth dropped his illusion/spell so when she furiously tried to lunge for him again, the orderlies were quick to respond.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Max nervously moved his leg in the passenger's seat of his aunt's car. She looked over at him with concern. "Are you sure you want to do this today, sweatheart?"

He nodded. "I have to see her today. It can't wait."

"Okay." She didn't sound convinced but decided to let him be.

All that was going through Max's head was, "Mom knows, she knows, she's going to kill me." He stared blankly out the window not really seeing the passing scenery. His mother knew he'd wished away Seth. She still remembered him and knew it was all Max's fault. Biting the inside of his cheek he felt his stomach twisting in nervous guilty anxiety. What'll she do to him? She'll hate him for sure. The anxiety and nervousness becoming physical he felt bile rising in his throat.

"I think I'm gonna be sick."

His aunt quickly pulled over and in to time flat, Max had his seat belt loose, car door open, and heaving what little he ate at breakfast onto the pavement.

"That's it, we're going back home."

"No! Please, I have to see, mom."

"Fine, but you get sick again, I'm turning around and we're going back home, clear?"

Max nodded. Shutting the car door, he sat back in the seat with closed eyes trying a relaxation technique his aunt had tried to get him and Seth to do when they were upset. Taking a deep breath he tried to imagine he was inhaling white mist that was full of positive energy. Exhaling, he imagined the negative energy leaving his body in a black mist. He did this several times before he found he felt calm, body relaxing.

When he opened his eyes he realized they were sitting in the parking lot of the hospital. His aunt was watching him and smiled. "I told you that would work, didn't I?"

Mutely, Max nodded not trusting himself to speak. He had thought it a crock and still did, but he was willing to try anything to calm his racing heart, emotions, and mind. Swallowing, he followed his aunt inside and up to the reception desk. There they went through the process of getting Max a visitor's badge. He was shown to a visitor room while the orderly went to get his mother.

Sitting down, he clenched his hands, wringing them. He wondered what he should say or what she would say. What could he say? His head snapped up when the door opened and he felt his heart fill with lead and plummet to his stomach while at the same time he felt a huge wave of relief.

The orderly who left to get his mother was in the doorway, a sad sympathetic and pitying look on her face. "I'm sorry, honey. You're mother doesn't want any visitors today. Why don't you try again later?"

With a shaky voice he asked, "Did she say why?"

"I'm sorry sweetie."

Max nodded. He was right. His mother hated him. She didn't even want to look or speak to him. Slowly, he walked to the water fountain before returning to his aunt. While bent over the spigot, he heard two of the orderlies talking. He listened despite himself when he heard his name. They were talking about his mother. She had a visitor earlier in the day. A man with pale hair and mismatched eyes. Max shivered feeling cold. But what hurt him most and had him seeing red was that when the orderly told his mother that Max was here to see her she had replied, "I don't know what you're talking about. I don't have any children."