Chapter 20

(Oberon)

The Seelie High King sat quietly looking over maps and ways into the Goblin Kingdom. Luckily Queen Benessa was completely loyal to him and kept him informed of everything Flora reported. Sarah had made a deal with the Goblin King to save her friends. While he hated the deal the young woman had made it did by him more time to save her.

"Care to tell me what is going on?" Oberon looked up to see Prince Darien.

"What does it look like? I'm trying to figure a way to reach Sarah and get her out!" The Pale haired man huffed.

"That's not what I mean." Darien waved his hand and the doors to Oberon's office closed shut, and locked. "I trust it is safe to speak of any topic?"

"No one can hear us," Oberon said warily watching his long time friend.

"We've known each other a long time Sire," Darien began. Oberon remained silent. "What is this girl to you?" Oberon raised an eyebrow at the Prince of Dreams. "You seem to be working far harder on how to rescue her than on how to resist whatever King Ormond is planning."

"Sarah does not deserve to be at Jareth's mercy!" The Seelie High King announced.

"I believe you have just made my point." Oberon gave him a questioning look. The King almost looked confused. "I know you don't mind humans Oberon but you never refer to her as such."

The older fae watched as the prince walked closer to where he was at his desk. Darien passed him by slightly as he went to the large windows just behind and to the left of the king's desk. The prince looked outside for a moment before turning to face him. "I cannot help but wonder what this girl is to you."

"Darien…"

"You never refer to her as the girl or human. It's always Sarah," Darien informed him. "You even ignore the term of Jareth's obsession. Why is that?" He asked his dark green eyes showing he expected an answer.

"I don't answer to you!" Oberon snapped.

"Perhaps not. What do you thing Tatiana would say if this was brought to her attention?"

Oberon narrowed his eyes at the younger fae he had considered a close friend. "You dare to…"

Darien cocked his head to the side at the higher ranking fae. "I am many things my friend, but stupid isn't one of them. I can't help you if I don't know what's going on. It will stay between us but… your actions are odd. I don't think she's a hidden lover but what could she possibly…" The fae's eyes went wide as he fell silent. "Is she your daughter?" Oberon didn't respond. "Oberon."

"No."

"Then why…"

"This stays between us Darien. Not even your mother is to know!" The dark haired fae nodded. Oberon sighed. He had wanted to keep everything hidden. The older fae should've recognized he wouldn't be able to keep it from Darien forever. The prince knew him better than anyone.

Darien walked over and sat in a chair before the King's desk. "I'm listening."

"Sarah isn't my daughter but it is my fault she's trapped here," Oberon confessed.

"How? I thought the peach…"

"That's what everyone thinks," Oberon cut in. The Dream prince watched as the blonde man rose from his seat and went to the window behind him looking out.

Darien didn't like seeing Oberon this way. For the first time in his immortal life he witnessed the High King looking rather guilty. "Oberon, who is she?"

"A victim of pride." The blonde man was silent for a few moments. "I was angry with Lindalynn for leaving. It was Beltane and I happened across a beautiful little girl."

"She's Lindalynn's daughter!" The prince said shocked.

"No."

"Wait, I don't understand. You aren't making sense!" The prince said getting up and walking to where the king stood.

"I thought it was Lindalynn's daughter. I wanted Lindalynn to return. If her daughter was forced to come here I thought she would be to. I gave the child a strawberry from the Underground. The moment she took a bite I headed for the portal." Oberon's face turned sad as he continued to speak. Lindalynn stopped me just before I could take the child through the portal."

"The mistake was already made." Oberon's Blue eyes looked down at the window ledge.

"I under…"

"No you don't, there's more." Darien fell silent allowing the High King to continue. "After she stopped me I learned she had stolen the child from someone else. I was going to steal Sarah to force Lindalynn back into the underground. No real mother would turn their back on a child."

The prince nodded in agreement. "That's when I learned she'd stolen the child out of jealousy."

"Jealousy?"

Oberon nodded solemnly. "She had always wanted king Eliseo."

"King Eliseo is dead. Who could… My goddess she's Lorelei's daughter!" The Prince of dreams said in utter shock. Silence filled the room for several minutes. "Eliseo has an heir after all." The Prince's tone was soft and filled with pity for the dead king.

"Lorelei would never have surrendered to Ormond if she'd known her child had lived," Oberon said sadly. "Once she became Ormond's queen there was no point to telling her about Sarah. It was too late. I stayed silent to protect the girl. When her daughter won the Labyrinth it canceled out one of the fruits but not the second." Oberon looked at the prince not hiding his regret. "She was free of the strawberry. If she hadn't have eaten the peach she'd have been safe. I have to save her."

Darien nodded. "We will save Sarah." Oberon looked at him hopeful. "I'll help you. Eliseo was a good man and King. He helped me on more than one occasion. The least I can do is help save his daughter," The dark haired fae said firmly. Oberon smiled and nodded his thanks. Somehow they would save the dark haired girl. Even if they had to break a few rules.