CHAPTER 18

Jareth stepped in the room just then quietly. Sarah wheeled around ready to shoot whoever it was and said when she recognized him,"Jareth you scared the shit out of me! Never do that when I have my gun out! I couldn't live with myself without you." She got tears in her eyes. She clicked the safety on her gun. He walked up to her and took her in his arms. He looked at both Emiline and Galron on the floor behind her.

He said,"They are both poisoned?" Sarah nodded against his neck.

He said, "Good. The Goblin Army is coming behind me in about ten minutes. I made them wait because I wasn't sure what was happening in here. I heard most of it. I'll never underestimate you, my Goblin Queen. You are my perfect mate and mother of my child."

Emiline screamed and screamed at hearing him say that. Emiline said, "You should have been mine! Not that filthy human animal!!!" She started crying.

Jareth said, "She's not human, she is100% fae, you stupid hard headed fool. I hated you from the moment I met you. I never would have married you. If I couldn't have Sarah ten years ago. I would never have married. You would have been the last person I would think to marry in the whole Underground. I hate you, Emiline, and always will!" Emiline let out a blood curdling scream of rage, over and over again. Her screams faded as Jareth walked Sarah out of the salt caverns.

The bulky big goblin soldiers in armor stopped in the corridor. Jareth said, "Retrieve the two people alive and the one dead. Bring them to the High Palace through the Unicorn Kingdom portal. The rest of the army can go back to our kingdom." They went to do his bidding.

He wrapped his arms around her hugging her so tight to his body. He whispered, "You scared me, my sweet Sarah. My world has been so very dark without you in it. I was so frightened of living without you and my baby. Gaia told me what you said to her through the connection. I hurried here to get you out of here, the second I realized where they hid you. Gaia will be so relieved to have you home, as will my parents. I love you, you are my life, my most precious thing."

Sarah said, "I was afraid, but Gaia said magic wouldn't work in there. I knew then I was on even ground with them. I had my weapons on me and they did not understand what a gun would do." He kissed her deeply and held her again. He was so proud of her bravery. They heard the goblins coming.

They turned and hurried out of the cavern so the goblins who were coming up from behind them with Emiline and Galron, could follow. Jareth wrapped his cloak around Sarah and put her up on his horse. He mounted up behind her holding her closely. He rode at full gallop through the snow to the nearby Unicorn Kingdom. He used their portal by the castle to transport them to the High Palace.

Jareth carried Sarah into the High Palace and his father and mother came running to them as they entered. Jareth had just barely enough time to put Sarah on her feet. Tatiana cried out and hugged Sarah so tight. She said crying, "You poor child, my girl, my sweet girl is back. Thank you Danu. Thank you."

Oberon wrapped his arms around them both and said, "Yes, thank you Danu, for bringing back our invaluable girl."

Jareth told them that Emiline and Galron were iron poisoned and the dead Wellesley were coming behind them to the High Palace.

When the Goblin soldiers brought the bodies of the two alive conspirators and the dead body was put in stasis. The families were notified. The healers evaluated both Emiline and Galron. It looked grim for Emiline to live beyond tomorrow, because the poison entered her blood at four entry points. Galron might have a chance as a eunuch, if the poison could be stopped and filtered from his blood.

Wellesley's family was devastated to find out that their son was dead because he went along with Galron to contribute to kidnapping, rape and conspiring to murder the Goblin King's betrothed. They quietly picked up the body to prepare him for the funeral.

King Darius was devastated because Emiline would more than likely die a painful death. They retrieved the bullets from her body and tried to keep filtering her blood from the iron. The prognosis was fatal. He was told that Emiline masterminded the plan to kidnap the Goblin King's betrothed, get two others to commit multiple raping of her and then she herself would torture and murder her all to achieve the Goblin throne and then High throne. He realized now why she wouldn't let it go. He couldn't believe she would go so far to do such a heinous thing. He was mortified as he watched his daughter cough and sputter.

Galron's family, Tatiana's half sister and brother-in-law, quietly came to see if he would survive the blood poisoning and knew that now only his younger sister was left to carry on their bloodline. They knew he was not conducting himself in a responsible fashion in living his life, but they were shocked that he would be a part of a plot like this against his own cousin the Goblin King and his betrothed. They were embarrassed and devastated.

Jareth and Sarah stayed in the High Palace that night, after they had Sarah examined thoroughly first from head to toe. They fed Sarah being she had gone a whole day with no food or drink. She was famished. Jareth took her to his old room afterwards to get her to relax in comfort. He stripped her and put her in a warm swimming pool tub of soapy water. He joined her and proceeded to wash her throughly from head to toe. He soaped her hair and scrubbed and massaged her head. She was melting into his loving attention.

He had never done this for anyone but Sarah. He was going to do everything to take care of her tonight and every night he could. He loved and missed her so badly. He was sick with worrying for her and the baby. He will now show her how much he loves her. While she rinsed her hair in a waterfall thoroughly. He washed himself quickly. He held her so tight when she returned to the warm water. This time is was not sexual, it was a deep love and caring for someone. He helped her out of the tub, as she wrung out her hair. He got towels to wrap her hair and he dried her body gently.

He dropped a crystal and she had a long loose warm linen nightgown on her. He waved his hand and dried her hair and manually brushed it out for her. He dressed himself in silk black pajama bottoms. He put her in bed beside himself and laid down with her held in his arms. He nuzzled her neck and started to cry. He had never done this before, crying. He didn't cry, not since he was a child centuries ago. She held him kissing his head, while patting and rubbing him as he cried. She cried herself. They were tears of relief, release of anxiety. He was with his Sarah once again, and he felt safe in her arms and her safe in his. He never wanted to feel so helpless again. She was his queen, his woman and his wife already in his heart. He was lost without her. He was feeling her fear and stress the whole time. It was the only way he knew she was alive the entire time she was lost to him.

Gaia had told him that she had communicated with Sarah temporarily. She said Sarah was in the dark, the room smelled of mine salt and Emiline and Galron were behind it. Gaia said she told her to do whatever was necessary to survive and not be guilty over it because they wanted to kill her and with her, the baby. Sarah did exactly that. She was ready to kill them all and in the end, they both might just be dead from the poisoning of iron. He was not sorry for them at all. Just like Sarah said, she was not evil because they were the ones who setup to kidnap, rape and murder her along with their son. They knew nothing about that but it was still true. There wasn't an evil bone in Sarah's body. She had to save herself and their child from evil hell bent on her destruction.

It took them over an hour to shut off the thoughts and emotional turmoil of the last couple days. Sleep finally came with Jareth laying his head over Sarah's heart and his arm wrapped around her abdomen. She fell asleep rubbing his scalp with her fingers threaded through his hair and her other hand holding his hand with fingers intertwined.

—--47th day

Emiline still lingered moaning in pain when morning came. She rasped loudly, "Father, you are stupid and foolish man. That human animal Sarah has destroyed all my dreams of ruling the entire Underground."

Darius said, "She is fae."

Emiline spat, "All humans are vermin and should be put to death. She came from them and is no better."

Darius decided then that his kingdom would not be allowing the enslavement of humans any longer. His daughter made him see that hatred for them had set her on a path that got herself killed. The other fae kingdoms banned it. Perhaps, they must be right. He would make it a royal decree as soon as he took her body back for her funeral. She coughed and wheezed.

Galron was in almost the same shape, but not quite. Not only did his crotch hurt badly from the iron bullet tearing his genitals apart, but the poison procedure was a painful process, also. The healer said his genitals would be removed and he started to cry. He moaned and cried out in anguish and pain. His parents asked him why he would do such a terrible thing. He said that Emiline deceived him and he never should have listened to her. He said he never should have gone into the salt mine and had no magic. He said he was defenseless against the barbaric human. They still said raping was a horrible crime to commit against one of the fae. He spat that she was human filth. His parents shook their heads and wondered how they went wrong with him. They knew if he was cured he may well die anyway from the sentence in his trial for his crimes. The penalty of death would be issued for such crimes against a fae.

—--

Late in the morning like 9am, Jareth and Sarah woke up from sleeping hard. They had breakfast and sent word that they would join his parents for lunch. Jareth made love with Sarah for the rest of the morning.

They met up with his parents for lunch. Tatiana was doting on Sarah, by touching and patting on her, after being through such an ordeal. They had their plates of food and were eating.

Jareth said, "Father you should have seen her, she was in complete control. She was not panicking or showing fear. She told them what she was going to do to them and why. She kicked Emiline in the head in a defensive move I use in hand to hand combat. She knocked her out for a while before she put the iron in her shoulders and both knees. Galron has been doing unspeakable acts to humans and she cured him of his problem with iron. It was amazing. She is a fighting warrior queen. She needs to be taught melee fighting, like I was trained. She probably already knows some of what we train already. She even cut up her dress so she could move unencumbered. I was in awe of what I saw."

Tatiana said, "You will do no such thing training her to fight like a man on a battlefield, until she gives birth. It will be too hard on her delicate body."

Sarah said to Jareth, "It is good to exercise. I would like to learn motion and form until it becomes cumbersome. Battle can come later after the baby unless you get me pregnant again. She giggled as Oberon almost choked on his tea." Jareth chuckled and Sarah giggled.

He thought, 'She wants to learn everything. My beauty is so intelligent and willing to be taught as much as she can. I am so proud of her. She also just said she wants more children from me. Danu, I love this woman so much.'

Oberon said, "There has never been a warrior queen before in the Underground. It will be fascinating to see. Any strength is good for ruling, whether intellectual or physical, or both. Being Sarah is rational and fair minded, she will be something new for our people to be proud of. Wars have been fought for many millennials with irrational people and unfair practices."

Sarah said, "Usually, the first man to raise a fist, is the man who's running out of ideas. A wise man named H.G. Wells once said that."

Oberon was impressed and said, "A wiseman indeed. Most of the time ignorance breeds fear and causes men to react recklessly."

Sarah said while eating and in her own thoughts, "I find greed may be a factor for its motivation. When morality comes up against greed, it is seldom that profit loses. Wars can be by coveting something and not always because something was taken. Offensive and defensive, in my theory offensive is to gain and defensive is to protect. Peace through strength works best, but war is usually invited by showing weakness." Oberon looked over at Jareth with an eyebrow raised. Jareth smiled and nodded his head.

Jareth said, "You know more in that pretty head of yours than most men who have been educated into positions of power. "

Sarah said, "That's because I have never sought power, just understanding and defense. My professor at the university in Ireland taught a Strategic History class about the history's influence of the use, threat of use, of politically motivated force. It was fascinating. He was a very brilliant teacher."

Tatiana said, "Sarah, just how much did you learn about politics?"

Sarah thought for a minute and said, "I studied history for a very long time and got four master's degrees at two universities in Ireland and Scotland. I discovered that history is just past politics, but politics are history being made. The only written history is usually interpreted and recorded by the winners of conflict. So basically, it can all be skewed, unless you can discover both sides and make up your own mind."

Oberon looked at Sarah with awe and said, "I feel confident that our grandchildren will be in good hands when it comes time to teach them about the world and how to find balance from strategy and wisdom." Sarah blushed at his compliment. Jareth loved that she was so humble in her modesty and she blushed so prettily.

—--48th day

The next day, they learned Emiline passed in the night and Galron was losing the battle with the iron poisoning. The healers were giving him a day or two to live. Darius took his daughter home in the winter snow.

After breakfast, Jareth wrapped Sarah in a heavy wool cloak, winter dress and petticoats with boots. It had snowed and he wanted her to be warm for going home on horseback.

They said their goodbyes to his parents and left for the royal stables. He had to stop and see Gaia on the way back. She had been calling him to bring her champion to her before going to the castle.

He took her to the royal stables and put her up on the horse and mounted up behind her holding her close to his body. They rode Treun through the snow to the portal.

When they got to their destination Jareth dismounted and took Sarah from the saddle and had her wait inside the passageway, while he covered Treun with a blanket to keep off the snow. He wouldn't fit in the narrow passageway. So he had him covered to wait.