CHAPTER 20
Jareth angrily said, "Your spy you sent to kill Sarah is dead, father."
The High King shouted, "That's outrageous! How dare you kill my employee!"
Jareth asked, "Why would you do such a thing, father? She is fae."
The High King replied, "I'll do as I please! What do you mean, she's fae?"
Jareth answered, "Magic has turned her fae. I already told you this. You break your own laws. I am reporting this to the council. You dare invade my kingdom with your assassin to kill a fae that has never even broken the law. Why would you do such a thing?"
The High King replied, "I didn't know she was fae. She was human from the last time I checked."
Jareth said, "Oh, so it's ok to send assassins to kill humans in other kingdoms? It's an act of war to send in an assassin, and you know it! I told you before that she was fae now, but you selectively decided to ignore me?"
The High King said, "You didn't have to kill him, Jareth. He was a good assassin."
Jareth added, "You have gone too far. You know the labyrinth protection is on her, and you defy magic itself that warned you about doing this? A sentient entity older than any of us?"
The High King said. "She should not be here with magic. She is a human in a fae body. She could destroy the Underground. Humans are useless and only good to relieving sexual urges." Sarah's mouth just opened and hit the ground. She thought, 'Of all the things to say, and that bastard says that?'
Jareth stiffened and stated, "Don't you dare send another, or I'll go after you with my army and send assassins after you. Do you hear me?"
The High King replied, "Don't you threaten me, boy!"
Jareth added, "I will let Gaia and the council deal with you." Jareth threw the crystal into a tree and it exploded. Sarah jumped.
Jareth summoned Gaia. A green glow emerged. Gaia said, "Yes, my king?"
Jareth said, enraged, "My father just sent an assassin after Sarah and she killed him under my authority. My father admitted he did it thinking she was here and human, even though we both told she was fae. I am notifying the council now." Jareth sent a crystal to message the council of the crimes his father committed.
Gaia replied, "Nobody attempts to kill my champion. I selected her over all. I am the authority here." The labyrinth faded.
Jareth said, "Come, Sarah, we must go to the High Palace to confront my father before the council." He waved his hand, and she was in a rich burgundy velvet dress that was form fit and split up to the thigh and flared out. With a black velvet cowl hooded cape. She still had her bag on her shoulder under her cape with the kittens in it.
Sarah said, "Jareth my purchases." He waved his hand and sent them to her bed. He put out his hand to her. He pulled her close against his chest once she took his hand. They both vanished.
They reappeared in the High King's Palace in the room of hearings. His father and the council were there, and so was Gaia.
The High King said, "Jareth, there you are now, call this whole thing off. It's just a misunderstanding."
Jareth replied, "You overstepped your authority. You tried to kill a titled Lady and the Champion of the Labyrinth. She is a fae now, and you sent an assassin into my kingdom to kill my Labyrinth's champion, human or not a titled member of the Underground."
The head of the council, the chancellor, stated, "What say you High King Jonik?"
The High King replied, "This is not what it seems. Yes, I heard the mortal human was here in the Underground and I wanted her gone. She interferes with my son's reign in the Goblin Kingdom. She undermines him by compromising his judgment. I required her eliminated because she has uncontrolled magic, and she has compromised my son before. She has come back to finish the job of stopping him from marrying a titled fae."
The chancellor stated, "High King Jonik, your kingdom is run how you see fit and King Jareth may be your son, but he runs his kingdom how he sees fit. You sending an assassin is worse than a spy to kill someone in his kingdom. That is an act of war if you did it to any other king in this realm."
Gaia declared, "I am the most powerful authority here, and she is my champion and under my direct protection for over the last eleven years. I will not be undermined by anyone. You were warned and still blatantly defied me."
The chancellor stated, "What say you, High King Jonik?"
The High King replied. "I did not expect to cause this much of a problem with getting rid of a human."
Jareth responded, "You crossed borders to commit murder on my guest and the Labyrinth's champion. You tried to kill a fae in the end. Even if she was just a human, you would have murdered a titled Lady in the Underground. She became one the moment she won."
Gaia stated, "For this you will be stripped of your magic, High King! I demand it by my written laws! No one here would possess magic, if not for me!"
The High King shouted, "You can't do that! I did not know she turned fae!"
Jareth answered, "I can't believe you just lied. What is wrong with you?"
The chancellor stated, "That is not the only law you broke. You have broken a peace treaty, crossed a border with an assassin, tried to murder a titled member of the Underground without provocation and attempted to kill a fae. That is four insurrections."
Jareth leaned over and whispered in Sarah's ear, "Marry me, Sarah. I'll do anything you want. I will not ask you to do anything. You are not being forced but asked honestly. I will love you until you can love me. I have to be married if I am to rule in my father's stead. Please, Sarah, I beg you. You would take possession of the Goblin Kingdom and me, the High throne until we have a child together to rule the Goblin Kingdom." Sarah looked in his eyes and they were desperate. She didn't want him to lose his birthright and everything. She didn't want anyone else in charge of the Underground, but Jareth because it could affect everyone. He said he would do anything. She thought about all those people depending on him.
Sarah replied, "You have to do the runner collection until I am comfortable doing it. We will work and do both jobs together." He nodded, smirking softly at her. She nodded and added, "Ok, Jareth, for the people of the Underground, you and me. I will marry you." He kissed her deeply. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at them.
Jareth was grinning big and said, "We are getting married." He held up her hand and kissed it. The council clapped, except for a woman on the council who looked angry.
The High King screamed, "To that changeling?!"
Jareth replied, "Yes, father to Sarah."
The High King bellowed, "I forbid it!"
The woman council member shouted, "I forbid it too!"
The council members looked at both of them and the chancellor said, "Callistra, are you insane?"
Callistra replied angrily, "Jareth is supposed to marry me!"
Jareth looked at her incredulously and replied, "Who told you that?"
Callistra spoke with her nose in the air, "Your father promised me to be the next High Queen. I am to be betrothed to you when he gets rid of that human filth!"
Sarah perturbed, answered, "Boy, were you a fool."
Callistra snapped, "Shut up, you little human whore!"
The head of the council stated, "That's enough! Callistra you are off the council for making liaisons behind the High Council's back. Summon Deveron from the Unicorn Kingdom to replace her in council."
Callistra shouted, "How dare you all! Just throw me away and put my uncle in charge to take my place! I earned my right to be here! I am not leaving!"
The head of the council said, "Guards! Remove lady Callistra!" They grabbed her on each side, and Gaia stepped in front of them. She placed her hand on Callistra's chest and tore the magic from her body. Callistra screamed, "No!"
Gaia then went over to the High King Jonik and did the same. He shrieked like he was being murdered. Gaia vanished after that. Sarah said in her thoughts, 'Thank you, Gaia.' The kittens started crying from being startled. She pulled them out and cuddled them to calm them down.
Gaia said, 'You are welcome, my champion.' Sarah had Jareth holding her still around the waist.
The chancellor declared, "Jareth you must be wed immediately, and it must be consummated. You are to be crowned in three days, according to fae law."
Jareth replied, "Then we will be married tomorrow." He looked at Sarah and she nodded. It was all so fast. Sarah's head was spinning now. She needed to get some serious sleep tonight because she was running on adrenaline. Jareth added, "I will be going back to the Goblin Kingdom so Sarah and I can eat, then prepare for tomorrow." The chancellor bowed and announced he would watch over everything to get his father packed up and out without incident. Sarah put the kittens back in the bag and Jareth held her close, and they disappeared to the Goblin Kingdom.
Sarah and Jareth appeared in her bedroom. Jareth took possession of her lips and kissed her passionately. He broke the kiss and said, while catching his breath, "I can never thank you enough for doing this, precious. I realize it was not planned or expected, and I rushed you to make a decision. My father royally made a disaster, causing his own kingdom's demise. It has thrust me into the position to take the throne. I wanted us to have more time to get to know each other before I asked you to be my wife, queen, and mother of my future children.
Sarah replied, "I had a feeling that in the end I would hopefully be with you. I knew when you kissed me at the ball. You need to learn more patience when dealing with me. I have never known this world, but for a short time, I met the good and the bad. I have to live here, and it is my world now, too."
Jareth replied, "I will try. You are too important to me not to do my best. I have waited so long to have you here with me. I promise no more harm, only love, and I will try to be more understanding." She caressed his face and kissed him in a slow, lingering kiss. He looked into her eyes as she opened them, and he saw her heart was in it. She still hadn't told she loved him, but he was going to capture her heart to the best of his ability.
