CHAPTER 13
Jareth went to the High Palace to talk to his father and ask why he shut down Sarah's mirror portal. The High Palace was made up of white and crystal, gleaming in the winter sun. The towers were shaped like a cluster of natural crystals. It was very high with separate towers inside each crystal pointing to the sky. He entered the palace and walked to his father's study. He knocked and opened the door, walking in.
High King Jonik asked, "To what is the occasion you come visit me, Jareth?" He was an older fae of like a seventy year old man with his hair pulled back In a ponytail. He was dressed in dark blue short pants, white stockings and black gold buckle shoes with a ruffled sleeved white shirt and a fancy brocade blue long jacket. Like he stepped out of the aristocratic 1700s.
Jareth said, "I came to ask you a question, father."
Jonik folded his hands on the desk and said stoically, "What would that be, my son?"
Jareth asked, "Why did you shut down the mirror portal to Sarah after her Labyrinth run? She was unable to communicate, and I blamed her for forgetting me."
His father, Jonik, said, "Because you dallied enough with that mortal human girl and need to consider better options of fae women to marry. Your distraction with that human child was nothing but a detriment to the crown in your kingdom and in mine. You need to take your life into account and start behaving like an adult and procure yourself a titled fae wife and queen."
Jareth said, "She is the Labyrinth's champion and the only champion in recorded history. You have no right to tamper with any of my runners, and you know it! You belittle an intelligent and resourceful woman and call her inferior? Your interference cost me my queen that the Labyrinth selected as my equal. You caused me to almost harm her physically from my anger, frustration, and obsession to retain her and exact revenge. She could have communicated, and we would have got to know one another and be amicable. Now, she is here, traveling the Underground who knows where. She at the beginning left to escape my wrath and now to find out what she needs and wants. I have tried to mend the fence I almost destroyed."
The High King shouted in frustration, "You brought that human girl here into the Underground! What were you thinking?"
Jareth angrily shouted, "Because of you, revenge!"
The High King shouted with finality, "Find her and send her back!"
Jareth said, "It can't be done now. She would die if she was returned, besides the Labyrinth is her guardian and refuses to let any of us harm her. She must stay here now, and she is no longer human either. Sarah is full fae with dark hair."
The High King stood up and roared, "Let her die! She's only a human girl!" He stopped and said, "What do you mean she's not human?"
Jareth said, "I gave her wish magic in hopes she would make a mistake and come back. I think she wished herself fae."
The High King shouted, "You gave her what! How could you do something so thoughtless, Jareth?! A human child running a muck with that kind of ability and fae magic could destroy the whole Underground!"
Jareth said firmly, "She didn't use it and now does with discretion under the Labyrinth's watch! She has not done damage, and she is not stupid to do that kind of damage!"
The High King shouted, "This is your fault that that human thinking child is here with such powerful magic! I want you to find her and bring her to me now!"
Jareth said, "No! I will not! The Labyrinth will not allow you to harm her, nor will I!"
Jonik said menacingly, "You will do as I say, boy, or pay for it in the end!"
Jareth said sarcastically, laughing, "You think you can defy the Labyrinth?! The pure magic of the Underground? Are you insane?! Your position has gone to your ego."
The High King shouted, "You think some inanimate object is going to defy the High King?!"
Jareth smiled and said, "Let's find out, shall we?" Jareth thought, 'Gaia, the High King Jonik, my father, thinks he can harm Sarah. He forcefully wants to send her back above to kill her, or somehow imprison her, or remove her magic.'
Gaia said, 'He will not dare!' A green mist formed in the High King's study.
Gaia said, "You High King Jonik will heed my warning. I am the Labyrinth. I am the magic of the Underground. I am why you even possess magic, fae! You interfere, touch, harm or cause any problems for my champion, Sarah, and I will strip you of your magic and make you explode from the boiling of your entrails. The champion is under my protection from the moment she bonded to my magic upon winning the Labyrinth run and earning the title and rights to be a citizen of this realm, as much as you do as a human or a fae. I am the powerful authority here, make no mistake. You may have a title, but if you defy me, you will gain my wraith, fae!" Gaia started warming up the High King. He started sweating profusely.
The High King shouted, "Ok, ok! You keep that human thinking child from causing havoc in the Underground! I do not want her harming our society and undermining my rule!"
Gaia said, "Your ego is too defiant when speaking to me. You will leave her be or face the price. Your last warning, High King Jonik." Gaia turned up the heat more.
High King Jonik shouted in a panic, "I will not! I will not go after her!"
Gaia said, "My champion is my child and has done no harm or caused problems. She is everything that is lacking and will only give balance in her strength, intelligence, and integrity."
Jareth said, "I refuse to marry another but her. I will send away all you send to my door. If I can't find a way to fix my relationship with Sarah because of your interference, I will not be marrying anyone." Gaia faded out at that point.
Jareth flung the door open and marched out into the palace hallway, with his father yelling, "You'll do as I say, or I'll make life difficult for you, boy!" Jareth ignored him.
—--
Sarah had to brave the storm to go to the bathroom but stayed inside to play with the kittens. She was having them play with leather cord pieces and their balls rolling around. She laughed at how cute they were. Sarah sang, fed them dinner, gave shadow treats and talked to everyone. Sarah made her dinner, put more wood on the fire, and laid down to read until she fell asleep.
—--Day 38
Sarah woke up warm and cozy, snuggled up with her little boy kittens. She scratched their little ears to wake them up. They stretched out long wise on their backs with cute pointing toes and started purring. Sarah just loved how adorable they were getting as they grew.
Sarah got up and put her boots and cloak on. She saw four feet of snow in front of the cave. Sarah thought, 'At least it had stopped snowing, and it was sunny.' Sarah had to go to the bathroom and had to wish for a wide patch of snow in front of the cave to the side to be clear, so she could go.
She ate her leftovers with tea and fed all the animals. She saddled and packed up Shadow and wished for a path to the road. The snow was pretty deep from drifting. Sarah wished the road were clear to Réalta. It has become easier to travel.
By the time night descended, Sarah reached Réalta. She went to the inn and got a room for two nights. She dropped off the bags, wished the room secured and boarded Shadow.
Sarah walked back to the inn and locked herself in the room. She started a fire, putting the screen up, took off her cloak and gloves. She put the kittens on the bed and the two kittens popped out and sat watching her set up their litter box. Sarah pulled out the blanket for them. They climbed down the blanket and used the litter box.
Sarah pulled out her clothes and bath stuff. She put her cloak and gloves back on, with the bag with her kittens in it. She went downstairs to get dinner.
Sarah sat down and asked the innkeeper, "Can I get a wine and a meal?" She put a silver coin down. The fae innkeeper was a red haired man looking about thirty years old with blue eyes, long hair pulled back in a ponytail, he was in a gray shirt with black pants and a brown long leather vest on. He gave her some wine and went to the kitchen.
The human guy, with greasy hair next to her, reached out to take the silver coin, and Sarah grabbed his wrist. At that moment, the innkeeper came out and saw what was going on. Sarah let go of the thief's wrist. The innkeeper put her plate down and walked around grabbing the man by the coat at the back of his neck and escorted him to the front door, kicking him in his ass and shouted, "Never come back! I'll cut off your hand next time." People were laughing at the jerk.
The innkeeper came back and took her silver and gave her change. Sarah said. "I hate thieves."
The innkeeper said, "Me too." He got busy serving customers. Sarah ate in peace and the kittens got a taste discreetly. She went up to the room and took a bath and went to bed.
—--
Jareth was back in his kingdom and he was determined to talk more with Sarah. So, he took a bath and got in bed and entered her dreams.
Sarah was standing in a forest and she could hear the crickets chirping. She looked around and saw Jareth walking towards her through the forest, dressed exactly as he was before in the last dream. He was in his white shirt, gray tight pants and his high collared reddish brown leather jacket with a cape hanging down.
Jareth was smiling with his sharp tooth smirk at her. He said, "Hello Sarah. How have you been?"
Sarah smiled back at him more comfortably this time and said, "Hello Jareth. I've been just fine trying to stay warm."
Jareth said solemnly, "Sarah, why don't you come to my kingdom for winter. It's hard traveling in snow and ice. I promise not to impede you in any way. You can come and go. It's warmer in my castle."
Sarah sighed and said, "Yes, it is tough. I am going to go to Nádúr in the Elven Kingdom. Prince Alwin wanted me to visit his castle." Jareth was jealous of Alwin's relationship with Sarah. He vied for all her attention.
Jareth said earnestly, "All you have to do is just call me, and I'll come get you, horse and all."
Sarah was thinking and said, "I'm still considering your offer and not sure yet."
Jareth frowned and said, "I hate you around other men. If I hadn't screwed up, I would hope it would have been me you wanted to see."
Sarah said softly, "Jareth it won't happen overnight or in a week."
He said sadly, "I regret everything. I don't want you to be uncomfortable around me."
Sarah smiled and said, "I know, Jareth."
Jareth said ominously, "Be careful Sarah, my father has found out your here and he is unpredictable. Gaia has warned him to leave you alone but he may find another way. I'll release you from this dream, sweet Sarah. Call me if you are in trouble Sarah. I will always come for you."
Sarah said,"Thank you, Jareth." The dream faded.
—--
