Chapter 32

(Realizations at Hand)

Oberon stood looking at the overgrown weeds that surrounded the castle and kingdom. A sense of uneasiness and guilt rushed over him. When the royal family had all died or been taken he'd cast a spell, putting the kingdom to sleep. Even the kingdoms subjects slept within the enchantment.

Silently the king stood there. He thought of Lorelei and the pain the woman had been in when his brother had snatched her. She'd so caught up in grief and the loss of her child she hadn't noticed Ormond until it was too late. His thoughts shifted to Ormond and Jareth at his castle moments ago.

"It's a shame…." Oberon became silent as he suddenly realized Ormond had never sensed Lorelei's presence. "That isn't….Eliseo." Suddenly the Seelie King understood. The only way Ormond could not have known Lorelei was there was if they had never been truly bonded. The only way that could be possible was if Eliseo still lived.

Instantly Oberon ended the spell and willed himself to the kingdoms throne room. He needed to find the captain of Eliseo's guards. Those within the kingdom thought the king had only recently died; there memories were fresh. If he was quick enough they just might be able to save the two women and Eliseo.

Lorelei kept a calm face on but she felt anything but. The realization of what Sarah had said about her marriage to Ormond scared her. Jareth had been cruel to Sarah but Ormond could be far worse. If he figured out that Eliseo was alive and reached him first he'd probably kill him.

"Mom?" Sarah said noticing an intent look on her mother's face. "Mom?" She said again.

"Hmm?" The blonde woman replied. "What?"

"What are you thinking about?" Sarah asked. "You were deep in thought."

Lorelei stopped and looked at her dark haired daughter. "Sarah…Ormond didn't take your father."

"Yeah we know Ishaan did," Sarah said not seeing the point.

"If he figures out that your father is alive…"

"We have to find him. Before Ishaan has a chance to separate from Ormond or…"

"If he separates from Ormond….Ishaan could cover his tracks!" Lorelei said realizing how much danger Eliseo would be in.

"Shit!" Sarah said. "There would be no way to prove he's responsible and…." Instinctively both women picked up there dresses and started to run through the forest.

It took effort for Lorelei to not use her magic she wanted to reach Eliseo quickly but it was too risky that they'd be caught. If Ormond caught them first Ishaan would easily be able to cover his tracks. IT was unlikely Ormond or Jareth would listen to either of them about Ishaan or his plans. There was no guarantee they'd care even if they did.

Jareth entered his throne room accompanied by Ormond and Ishaan. "Talon."

"Sire. Where is…"

"Sarah is missing. I need you to get men together. We'll use the tunnels to hide ourselves but I want her found now!" Jareth said angrily.

"Where is Lorelei?" Ormond questioned.

"I haven't seen her since before you left. I assumed she followed after you," Talon said confused by the queen's lack of presence.

"No matter." Ormond quickly focused to find his wife through the bond. Ishaan internally cursed knowing it wouldn't work. Ormond's forehead scrunched. "I can't feel her."

"What do you mean you can't feel her?" Jareth asked. "You're bonded to her."

"That's only possible if Eliseo was alive and he's dead," Talon said knowingly. "Perhaps she is searching for Sarah that has affected your ability to find her."

Ormond frowned. Talon had never been bonded to a woman so did not fully understand. "Eliseo's body was never actually found."

"I thought you told Lorelei…"

"I told her Jareth but no I never saw his body!" Ormond snapped angrily walking a few steps away. "Damn it!"

"Are you telling me there's a chance Eliseo is alive?" Jareth said shocked. "That would make your marriage to Lorelei"

"Void," The UnSeelie king said less than pleased.

"If he's alive than where is he?" Talon asked. "He has to be trapped somewhere or something. He would never have allowed you to claim Lorelei. Oberon would have used this to declare full out war."

"That is a very good…" Ormond turned around to see Ishaan was not there. "Where is Ishaan?" The other men looked and noticed the immortal human was no longer there as well.

Ishaan cursed as he quickly left the castle to make his way toward his prisoners. He had thought to use them to force some of the Seelie into submission but he didn't want to chance Ormond finding out he had Eliseo. If Ormond found out there was no telling what he'd do to him? The mortal man knew he couldn't suddenly say he'd taken Eliseo prisoner for him; Ormond wasn't stupid. The UnSeelie King was arrogant and vain, yes, but not stupid.

Sarah stopped running tired. "Why can't you just transport us there?" Sarah asked tiredly.

"It could alert others to our presence. I'm technically UnSeelie right now. We…I shouldn't be here," Lorelei admitted.

"You're marriage is void though."

"You know that and I know that but no one else does," She reminded the human raised girl.

"Are you telling me if we can't prove he's alive…"

"They'll give me to Ormond even if I don't want to go. I can't prove there is no bond between Ormond and I. By Oberon's own law he'll have to let his brother have me again."

"You guys have some really fucked up rules you know that?"Sarah declared. Lorelei nodded and gave a shrug. "I'm glad it was just a dream."

"What was just a dream?" Lorelei asked stopping Sarah as the girl went to take a step forward. Sarah suddenly looked uncomfortable and turned red. "No. Sarah…Jareth consummated the marriage with you last night. By Fae law he is your husband."

"I didn't want to marry him!" Sarah shouted angrily before starting to walk forward angrily.

"No but you consented," Lorelei said grabbing the young woman's arm and stopping her. "I know you don't want to hear this but it's the truth. Jareth is your husband and the marriage is consummate….wait."

Sarah looked at her. "What? What are you thinking?"

"You're marriage is consummated Sarah but you aren't bonded to him yet," Lorelei said as she began to think.

"What? Mom I'm in the dark over here. A clue please?" Sarah said becoming frustrated as she watched the queen pace and have a silent conversation with herself. "Hello?" Sarah called out frustrated.

"Sarah if we can get your father and get out of the underground you could be safe," Lorelei said knowingly. He can't track you. Ormond can't track me. We'd have to live like mortals but….we could. You've lived there."

"You're serious," Sarah said watching her with a less than optimistic expression. "Mom..."

"He can claim you here Sarah but not there."

"What…"

"As you put it we have some less than perfect rules here." Sarah just looked at her mother and shook her head at the woman's choice of words.

"Let's just find Dad and take it from there."

"Agreed."

Author's Note: Okay so hopefully you will all forgive me. I moved to another state and do I really need to go into how much of a pain in the you know what it is to move? Then of course I had the wonderful experience of my hard drive failing. Not crashing but failing. Needless to say I lost some work. Also after having issues on fictionpress right before I moved I was so frustrated I couldn't focus. Anyway I am going to be doing some tweaking of past chapters and all but wanted to get this up. Those of you that had been following my non fanfiction stories can find them on . Chased by the Gods, Water Goddess, Visionary, Shalace, and Light in the Darkness can be found there. Thank you to all who review, add to favs and alerts and of course for reading. Warning on Next Chapter. Lorelei and Ormond flash from the past.