Fifteen
1
Sarah needed to work off some excess energy. At the moment she had everything from an attentive libido, building rage, annoying embarrassment, and a gnawing frustration carousing their way through her system. In the recreational room, Puck had hardly lifted the lid on the knife box before she made her selection and was hurtling the points at the practice dummy. The suspended wooden man jerked and swayed with each hit.
2
Jareth found Leslie in the library. She was in one of the large, comfy chairs reading a book. He had to admit to him self that she looked so annoyingly content and naively happy, that he positively loathed the prospect of causing her distress. Of course it was unavoidable. Jareth was determined to begin the life he wanted.
"Leslie-," he began to say only to be interrupted by a knock at the door.
3
From the top of the stairs Sir Didymus watched his young friend practice. Every few throws she would let out a vicious snarl. Thoughtfully he combed his whiskers with his fingers. The details of how his lady had been returned to the Labyrinth, the realm of the Underground were unknown to him. He understood it to be a sensitive subject and had thought best not to pry. Yet he could not ignore her frequent displays of sheer anger. 'Nearly blood lust,' he mused. What was causing his lady such pain?
4
"Come in!" he ordered the individual into the library.
Glancing back at Leslie, he saw her smile at him and place a marker in her book.
A goblin peered inside. "Excuse me sire, but two letters have arrived: one for Miss Wimberly and one for you." With a bow the goblin left.
Having looked at the script Leslie's face turned concerned, "Excuse me Jareth, but would you mind if I read this now?"
"Certainly." 'It will give me time to rethink how I am going to have this conversation,' he added in his thoughts.
As she broke the seal on her letter, he turned his attention to his own. His letter was simple enough- Leslie's father would not be arriving until the day before the ball which was now in ten days time. In ten days he could have the ball called off. He could have Leslie and the countess packed, tucked inside a carriage, and out the door. Simple. He looked at Leslie- her back was turned to him. Simple aside from hurting her.
5
Sir Didymus sniffed becoming aware of another presence near by. Looking over his shoulder he saw the physician approaching. "Greetings noble knight," said Bartholomew.
"Hale good healer! And how dost thou fair today?"
"Oh, well enough. You?"
"Fair enough. Though," here the little fox nodded over the banister. "My lady's well fair does trouble me some."
"Ah Lady Sarah." He stood next to the fox. His tone had held something like concern and his eyes were soft as he watched her retrieve her knives. "Yes, she has been on my mind as of late as well."
Didymus' whiskers twitched. "I should never want to pry where my lady has not invited me," he said thoughtfully. "But I wish that there was something I could do to ease her current state."
Bartholomew nodded. "She is most definitely agitated."
"And there is more to it then her relationship with the king… blasted peaches," he added in a curt murmur.
"Pardon?"
"It is nothing," he quickly amended.
Bartholomew glanced from the recreation room's floor to the knight. "You knew Lady Sarah during her first visit here, didn't you?"
The fox nodded. "Yes. I swore to protect her that day. I-I will continue to protect her. Why Bartholomew- how come thou lookest at me so intently?"
The physician's eyes had narrowed. "Hhhmm," he made the sound thoughtfully. "Sir Didymus you are known for having a keen sense of smell. While the majority may disagree with you over what smells appealing…."
"…I happen to like the bog…"
"…Indeed, but it is known that you can sniff anything out. I came here to find your good lady and discuss a matter with her. The out come of my conversation with her may prove your talent," he tapped the fox's nose poignantly. "most useful. Will you wait here?"
Didymus squared his shoulders. "Of course."
At the base of the stairs Bartholomew waited until Sarah's hands were empty of her knives before he made his presence known. He applauded her progress. She sort of glared at him and then shrugged. "My progress is of little significance if I cannot put it to good use," she bit out.
He put a hand on her shoulder. "It gives you a good and useful outlet. You are growing into a wonderfully strong fae Sarah Williams." He squeezed her shoulder.
"Thank you Bartholomew. What brings you down to the recreational room?"
"You. I need to discuss some delicate details with you."
Sarah watched as he reached into a hidden pocket inside his jacket and pulled forth to vials. Each one was filled with a clear substance. Some how she knew what they were- her stomach knotted. She looked questioningly at the physician. "Every time I come to you, I seem to be the bearer of bad news. You were raped. You are no longer human. You are possibly pregnant," he ticked them off in an almost apathetic way. "I would like to bring you some news that would be beneficial."
She eyed the vials. "So what's the point of them?"
"His majesty has informed me of the unique situation you find your self in, having been violated by two men. I have been working for the past month on separating each one's…personal DNA."
"Their semen," she stated the obvious. Sarah gulped and tightened her jaw. Could it be possible? Could the answer to her prayers be in these two tiny vials? "Are you able to determine whose is whose?"
Bartholomew held up one. "You were right in accosting Lord Edenberge- his fluids were found on you. Please note I said on, not in."
Sarah nodded. Edenberge had told the truth.
He raised the second vial. "This was found inside you. Whoever it belongs to though does not wish to be discovered. There is a strong spell at work here that prevents one from discovering the identity. Their DNA is guarded."
"Why would someone do that?"
"My guess is that the individual has a nasty habit of… violating women. He can have his devious fun and never be caught."
This was hardly good news. Why had Bartholomew chosen to tell her? And particularly this morning? Sarah was in no decent mood and this news was not helping. "So… what then? Is there any hope?"
The smile that turned up Bartholomew's lips was small yet kind. "Smell is the one tell-all factor that no amount of magic can take away. It may be faint, diluted even, but a scent will linger."
Sarah drew her head back and wrinkled her nose. "You want me to smell it?" she asked.
"I came looking for you to ask of you just that, but I have found someone with a far keener sense of smell than either you or I could boast."
"Who?"
He glanced towards the second floor.
Sarah's eyes widened. "Didymus."
"He has already agreed to offer his services; he waits for your approval." With a nod from Sarah, Bartholomew signaled Didymus to join them below.
The little knight walked with a slow, steady pace looking dignified. He wanted to appear as supportive and understanding as possible. He knew not the specifics of what his lady had suffered, but he knew them to be a harsh experience and he hated the pain he knew her to be in. With a twitch of his nose he said, "My lady I am at your service." And he bowed.
"Didymus, my noble knight, my good friend, what we are about to ask of you is…," she paused. Taking a deep breath she continued, "It is revolting. I would not ask this of you if there was another way."
With a deep concern for his lady in his eyes Didymus looked to the physician to explain the situation. "From the contents of these two vials I need you to tell us who you smell."
"Who? Not what?"
"Who," insisted Sarah quietly.
Didymus' lips parted in a momentary hesitation. "For thee, anything," he said softly, taking hold of one of the offered vials.
6
Leslie was looking at him with eyes full of trust. Gently he took her by the shoulders. "Why Jareth, whatever is it?" she pressed.
'Be cruel, be sardonic, be everything of the opposite of what you have been; run her off; get her out! Just get this over with!'
For the past few years he had entertained her, encouraged her, and been to her everything that was false. She deserved a happy union, her own future as much as he did. She would do another fae man justice. "Leslie, we must talk you and me."
"Yes, we must," she agreed refolding her letter.
Jareth couldn't find it within him self to be cruel. "We have had some fine times together, have we not? I know you to be an honorable woman. Leslie I-," he was interrupted by someone pounding on the door. "The bog take whoever you are," he muttered rolling his eyes frustrated at being interrupted a second time. "Come in! Sarah!" he exclaimed surprised when she entered the room.
Sarah's stomach was in knots and she felt sweat moistening the back of her neck. She had run from the recreational room the moment Sir Didymus had sniffed the vial. The information she now held was of vast importance. Holding to the door for support she spoke as evenly as possible, "Your majesty, forgive me, but I must speak with you." She glanced from Jareth to Leslie praying to all the powers that be that he had not spoken with her yet.
"Lady Sarah, I am in the middle of something most important. Wait for me in my study," he replied evenly. He tried to tell her with his eyes what he was ready to do.
"Sire, I must insist. Please," she pleaded.
He released Leslie. "Excuse us my dear," he told her and followed Sarah out of the room.
Had Sarah's expression not have been so flushed, Jareth might have snapped at her. At her request for privacy he took her across the hall to another room. What could possibly be more important right now than ending things with Leslie? "Sarah, you are shaking," he said noticing her hands. He took them in his own soothing them.
"I know," she muttered her voice cracking. "I know. I know now."
There was a wild look to her eyes. He was reminded of her out burst this morning, and a great fear clutched his heart. "Sarah?"
"Jareth I know! I know who my attacker is!"
His face grew stern. "Who?"
"You must promise to leave me my vengeance," she said tightening her hands around his. Her brow furrowed. "You must promise!"
"It is yours alone to execute, whoever it may be. But tell me Sarah!"
"And you must promise to show no partiality. This is one man's sin!"
"By the Seven Graces and the Full Moon- will you just say his name already?"
Releasing his hands, she drew a deep breath and said, "Count Wimberly."