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Chapter 28
Jareth recognised the look that had appeared on Sarah's face and the light that had come into her eyes. He could only hope that storm clouds had appeared somewhere other than the Labyrinth this time as her anger was not directed at him. He retreated back to a space beside the High King.
"Father, if Sarah destroys the High Council I can still marry her right?" He asked quietly.
"Thankfully she doesn't have the power for that." The High King responded.
"Did you not see my kingdom after her run? She did that with the help of a dwarf, a rock caller, a senile old fox and his cowardly steed. Now she has magic, more magic than I've have seen in a long time, the personal loyalty of most of my subjects and the Labyrinth itself will do anything to get Sarah back, I don't know what her limits are now."
"This is why Titania kept telling me not to interfere between you isn't it?"
"Correct. I recognise that face, she completed the Labyrinth with that face."
It had taken a few minutes for Sarah to push her anger down enough to be able to think properly. "Dad can you take Karen and Toby into the next room? I promise I'll explain everything later."
Robert didn't look happy but he did as she asked.
When they'd gone she continued, "Would they take the baby straight to Thalia or hold it themselves before a final ruling?"
"He will have been taken to the council chambers on Avalon to verify Thalia's claim." Jareth replied
"Then take me there." She demanded.
"It is not possible. Humans are still forbidden to enter Avalon." Titania rebutted.
"Then take me as far as you can, and then I'll do it on my own."
"Sarah this isn't an army of inept goblins you'll be facing. It's the High Council of the Fae, they have magic and body guards." Jareth was afraid for her safety, the safety of their child.
Sarah addressed him directly, "It's obvious that your parents can't help me in this or they would already have returned my son." She fixed the royal couple with a hard emerald gaze.
Oberon sighed heavily his face displaying more of his great age than Sarah had ever seen. "My hands are tied by the laws I set down a millennia ago. My subjects wished for a greater say in the governance of the Kingdom, so I allowed them to form a Council to deliberate on matters of inheritance and judging disputes among the nobility. Things that I would have once had to rule on myself."
"Why does that mean they can take my son?" Her was hard.
"Because humans have no status in our world and human laws do not apply. They have ruled that as the son of a High Prince, Jay, should be raised below as it is clear his birth mother gave him up. He should be raised by his fathers family."
"Then I will change their minds. Human or not they are going to give me back my son."
"Jareth knew there was nothing he could say to change her mind but he had to try just one more time. "Sarah, this isn't just about Jay. You risk not only yourself by doing this but our child too." He approached Sarah and placed his hands on her face, tilting her head so he could look into her eyes.
"Jareth, you know I can't just sit back and do nothing."
"Yes, I know."
"And I know that once the council rules you are bound by their decision." She pulled back and Jareth's hands dropped.
"We can find another away."
"There is no other way. I want my son back."
"Then I will take you to the Gates of Avalon you will have to make the journey alone from there." He created a crystal between his fingertips and held it out to her. "Take it, it will show you the way. Promise me you will take care."
She stroked one palm down his cheek. He tugged the glove off one hand so he could cover hers with his own, savouring the feel of her skin. "I promise. I'm guessing we don't have much time before the council is in session again?" She addressed the question to the High King and Queen.
"Not more than an hour." Oberon answered.
"Then let's get this show on the road."
Jareth transported her to the gates as promised. Sarah was finding a few too many parallels to her time in the Labyrinth though Avalon looked a great deal less desolate. It was a paradise, rolling fields and forests. The city walls were a shining white.
"Once through the gates the wards in Avalon will be tripped and the guards will try to stop you. They can't use magic to transport within the city walls but they can use it on you. My parents and I will be waiting for you inside. You are the most precious thing in the world to me and I want to spend my life with you." It was the most honest thing he had ever said to her. "Just fear me, love me, do as I say, and I will be your slave." He repeated the words from so long ago hoping for a different outcome.
"I love you, is that enough?" She stared deep into his eyes.
He smiled so radiantly it almost hurt to see. "It's more than I could have ever wished for." He held out another orb, it dissolved into glitter and in it's place hung a pendant on a long silver chain. He placed it carefully around her neck and lifted her hair back into place.
The pendant matched his own. Sarah was stunned and slightly confused. "Is this what I think it is?"
"A statement of intent and the protection of the Labyrinth." He gathered her into his arms and pressed his lips hard against hers before quickly releasing her. "Time is short. Go." He faded from sight.
Sarah took a deep breath and turned towards the shining city gates. She looked down at her clothing, a tea dress and heels while suitable for Sunday dinner with the family but weren't going to cut it for a run through Fae territory. She closed her eyes and concentrated, if she couldn't do this small piece of magic getting to the council was going to be harder than she thought.
Somehow it worked, the dress had turned into close fitting black leather trousers and vest, the heels into a pair of knee high flat boots.
She used her magic to shield herself, like she had before, and walked though the gates.
The guards at the gate had been easy to overcome and those that had come at her in small groups left disorientated and disabled by her magic. Luckily the other fae in the streets seemed to ignore her presence and stay out of her way. The Palace was only a few streets away now, she could feel it. The council chambers were inside.
As she paused for breath on a busy street, she could feel the magic flowing through her now, always ready at her fingertips. She could feel more eyes on her now and felt out of place amongst the beautiful, fantastical creatures all around her. New instincts warned her not to stay in one place for too long, the guards would find her soon she had no doubt about it.
As she approached the Palace gates, even more imposing than the city walls, she realised why she hadn't encountered too many guards on her trip through the city they were at least a hundred blocking the way. She stopped a short distance in front of them.
A spokesman for the guard moved out from their ranks, "Turn back and leave this city or you will be taken into custody and detained!"
"I am here to see the High Council!" Sarah raised her voice to address the assembled men. "Move out of my way or be prepared for the consequences." She gathered her magic, and felt the clouds rumbling above her, marring the perfect blue skies.
"Your kind don't belong here! What do you possibly think you can do against us." The man sneered at her and drew his weapon obviously not having heard the reports from the men she'd met on her way.
"I'll do what I have to!"
The man tried to use magic to repel her but it rebounded harmlessly off her shield. "That's not possible!"
"So be it." Her voice carried across the courtyard.
The first lightning strike hit the ground inches from the man's feet, the shockwave knocked him flat on his ass. The next hit in the middle of the guards sending them diving for cover and Sarah took advantage of that running through the gaps and the gate behind them, using her powers to erect a barrier to stop them following her.