Chapter 10.
Sarah inched her way to the far side of the throne, needing room to face the King who was all too close for her to think straight. "Jareth," she said quietly, "You said that Toby knew~ I take it he also knew the right words to say…"
Hearing the slight alarm in her voice, the Goblin King nodded with a cryptical smile. "Indeed."
"And you've said no Fae male…" Sarah made a circular motion with her index finger, "Am I to understand you programmed my little brother to interfere in any union I was planning?"
Lounging back, his arm swept over the top rail of his throne, it was a very powerful picture he was painting. "Sarah Williams," he addressed her formally. "I would never allow any man, mortal or Fae to interfere in our ongoing battle of the sexes."
Her lips formed a thin straight line, "I see…" she crossed her arms akimbo over her bosom, "The fact that I've not heard a peep out of you for five years not withstanding?"
Now it was his turn to give her a grim and somewhat arrogant gaze, "Did you in that five years ever once call out to me?"
It was a tactic she'd not expected, and it shook her confidence. "No," she admitted quietly.
"No," he reached out the hand that was not draped over the top of the throne; his leather clad fingers caressed her chin. "I may have been silent, I may have been unobtrusive, but never think I was not aware of your comings and goings."
"You were watching me," she gasped; "The whole time?"
"Of course," he answered with haughty delight. "What did you expect?"
Sarah closed her eyes thinking blocking him from her view would keep her mind clear, she was wrong. "So you are aware of every…"
"Every," he repeated knowingly.
Green eyes opened and looked into the mismatched stormy eyes of the King. "I'm not sure I like that."
"Spilt milk," he suggested coldly. "Believe me I can tell you that watching my intended play kissy face with little school boys, is not at all pleasant."
Sarah remembered her school boy beaus, and their fumbling and her narrow escapes. "I was not your intended," she managed to get out with a little dignity.
"Of course you were, and are," he made his case as his fingers trailed down her long swanlike throat. "The fact that you were not made aware of this has nothing to do with the facts."
"Did you plan on swooping down upon me no matter whom I was going to marry," she accused, trying to sound agitated.
"Of course," He acknowledged pleasantly, resting his thumb in the hollow of her throat, feeling her quickened pulse. "Sarah darling, you didn't really expect me to allow anyone besides myself to enjoy your~ charms, now did you?" His voice sounded lazy, and enticing, and like a long dark purr. "While I was disposed to give you some latitude of space during your maturing, I draw the line at anyone besides myself sharing your~ bed."
"You kept me a virgin!" she accused harshly.
"My bride has to be~ innocent, unknowing and unknown," he explained calmly. "I did us both a favor."
Pulling free of his contact she stammered, "That's… that's… Machiavellian!" She moved swiftly to put space between her and the King, "No; make that Draconian!"
Snickering, Jareth allowed his head to lull back until it rested on the curved ivory behind him. "One cannot argue with success, can one?" Feral, and all too pleased, he watched her with eyes going to slits like a creature of the wild night. "You know I'm right."
Sarah turned her back to him, her only means of defense. "You're unbelievable."
"I'm possessive," he corrected not moving from his comfortable position on the throne. "It is an advantage to my benefit that I can back up my claims to you," he teased. "In time you'll appreciate that I am possessive."
"Don't hold your breath," she muttered tapping her toe angrily.
"Sarah," his voice was like a caress, "Do you truly feel you've missed out by not acting promiscuously? Handing out your favors to every Tom, Dick and Harry?"
His arguments were too logical for her, "That's not the point," she said over her shoulder. "And don't talk about it like that, you make it sound tawdry."
"Come here," he invited with a sly smile.
"Not on your life," she shook her head.
"Come here," he purred.
"No," she said finding resisting his invitation more problematic than she's anticipated.
"Come~ here~" he crooned, delighting in causing her to blush. "Beloved." Dramatically, he extended a gloved a hand toward her. This time the girl responded; not as quickly nor as enthusiastically as he'd have preferred; however she did comply with his request. "Sarah, I promise you the rewards of me keeping you virtuous will be worth the inconvenience." His hand closed about her fingers soothingly as her captured hand was brought to his lips.
"Oh, I'm so holding you to that," she promised with darkness of her own.
--
"Walk with me," Oberon directed his once friend and companion. "There are too many words to be spoken."
Bowing slightly the elder Woodbine kept pace with his once sovereign; "Sire, I am willing to speak to you on any subject you deem reasonable."
"Our sons," Oberon reasoned, "Are bound to knock heads together, like rams over a she-goat."
Having met Sarah the displaced Fae Lord was amused, "You've not encountered Miss Williams have you?"
"I've not had the pleasure, no." Oberon paused before glancing at his amused companion. "Am I missing something here?"
"Indeed," mused Woodbine, "The young lady is~ unique."
Interest peaked; Oberon paused and inquired, "In what way?" His voice dropped an octave as he spoke, "How is she unique?" His eyes swept sideways to insure they were alone. "How can a mortal be so captivating?"
"Surely you recall your own fascinate with the female of the species," Ridge murmured suggestively.
"I've not strayed for a very long time," Oberon retorted defensively. "So enlighten me, edify me."
Ridge sighed with a wistful smile, "She's a bewitchingly lovely creature, eyes like emeralds with sapphire high lights, skin like silky milkweed cream, and hair that is the shade of a fresh roasted chestnut…. Her very essence is tangy and invitingly enchanting. But I think it's that pure soul she carries that makes her a true treasure," Ridge murmured. "Sarah believes, in a world that has long forgotten the unseen."
"That explains my son's interest…" agreed the High King.
"It may be more than a matter of interest on your son's part," warned Ridge with a raised hand. "I've suspected that she was~ Fae touched for a lack of a better term." He recollected the first time Jefferson had presented Sarah to the elder Daniels. "I warned my son when he introduced her to us that she was not an ordinary girl."
"He must love her very much," Oberon offered sounding consolatory.
Sadness filled the handsome man's eyes as he spoke to his friend, "No, what Jefferson feels is not love, nor passion, nor even devotion. I fear my son is so swept up in his own importance that all he saw in Miss Williams was a picture perfect Politian's wife." Shrugging the elder Woodbine sighed deeply. "I fear my son is as spoiled as most favored sons are. He has always gotten just what he wanted just when he wanted it. I'm not sure how he enticed poor Sarah into this marriage business… the girl never seemed too impressed by him."
"Not impressed," the High King mused, "From what I saw of you son he cuts a rather dashing figure, and must be very sought after among mortals."
"He's handsome," agreed Jefferson's father, "Sarah always seemed polite, yet reserved. Unlike so many of the young women of the mortal world, she holds to her virtues. She does not give her favor lightly, nor frivolously or without due consideration. Now I see why," he smiled wistfully. "Her favor was spoken for, even if she was not fully conscious of it."
Oberon, nodding, turned back toward the path. "I have no real awareness of the girl. I was only told by a visitor of some of the antics that take place in my son's court. I try not to interfere where the Goblins are concerned. They seem to like my son, they don't object to his rule, so~"
"Understandable," Ridge agreed, "They were always a problematic race, as I recall." He looked at the peaceful surroundings, "I've missed this place," he confessed quietly.
"Has your time in the mortal realm been difficult?" inquired the High King.
Ridge snickered, "No, not difficult." He shrugged once more, "I've been very fortunate, I used my talents and created a commodity that the mortal realm desires. And I've been prosperous and privileged, my life has not lacked. I married a lovely woman, one who is devoted to me and gives me more peace than I thought was possible." His face saddened again, "But the mortal realm is not the Fairylands…. Nor do we have gardens with the sweet enchantments that you have in abundance here."
"You've considered yourself an exile," Oberon observed with candor, "For that I am sorry."
"To my knowledge that is what I was, an exile." Ridge agreed. "One who was Fae, but no longer acceptable to Fae company and therefore banish from the shores of my own homeland." Placing a hand on his friend's arm he continued. "But I would not have you pity me, my lord…for in the mortal realm I did find love, and success, and peace."
"I should like to be acquainted with your wife," Oberon said softly. "She sounds like a magnificent woman."
"My wife is one in a million," Ridge agreed. "And she knows~"
"Knows," Oberon allowed one elegant brow to climb upward.
"One does not keep a secret like this from a spouse when she is suffering very strange traumas that are out of the ordinary during a pregnancy." Ridge chuckled gently.
Oberon chuckled as well, "I imagine not."
--
Hoggle, watched as pixies and brownies and other small Fae creatures began to scurry down the paths. He knew they were up to something, and had he a spray can with him he'd do something about it. However as his mixture of stun potion was back at the gate of the Labyrinth he decided to investigate instead. They were never very careful about covering a trail, and that made them almost too easy to follow. Hoggle spotted the pair of goblins watching something over the rise; he looked up to find himself staring at a sphere. While it was not crystal like the one's the Goblin King was known to make, it was most assuredly Fae produced. Hoggle crouched down with the gathering crowd and observed.
Porkuspie looked over at Hoggle and gave him a nod, "Hoggle," he greeted him quietly.
"When did this happen," Hoggle asked pointing at the sphere.
Firefly shrugged, "Not long."
Observing the pair in the bubble, Hoggle groaned, "The boy looks like our King," he shook his head. "And that one," he pointed to the man. "Don't look too happy about it."
--
Toby snickered as the man railed at him, "Yeah, I'll bet she and the King are laughing at you right now, you jerk."
The bubble began to shake and the field that held it in place wavered. "Silence you foolish child!" bellowed the man, "For the life of me, I don't know why she's so devoted to you, you brat!"
Toby fell back and laughed, "You think I'm a brat," he giggled. "You should have seen Sarah!" the child was far too relaxed. "Who do you think started all this?"
Jefferson clenched his fists, looked at the crumbling walls of his force field, "Once I have her away from your family she'll mend her ways…" his haughty tone was not lost on the child.
Like a caged tiger the child crouched and glared with eyes that began to glow like stormy seas. "You've no idea of what you're suggesting," he glowered. "Sarah is not complacent, Sarah has the heart and soul of a warrior… and you just want her because she looks like eye candy."
Jefferson didn't deny the accusation, instead he laughed at the caged boy.
--
Hoggle turned to the goblin crouched beside him, "That was a mistake," he whispered.
"Yeah, I think so too." Firefly agreed.
Porkuspie nudged the pixie beside him, "What's the odds the kid takes the fool out?"
The pixie snickered, "Even but give it a few moments… should go up." Crabapple took out the diminutive but very complicated mathematics string he carried. "What do you wish me to put you down for?"
Porkuspie handed the pixie a small purse filled with coins. "ON the kid," he said cunningly.
Hoggle, watching the exchange handed a small garnet ring toward the pixie, "On the boy."