CHAPTER 16

Jareth was floating in an inky blackness. It was quiet and peaceful as he started to rise up slowly. He heard faint talking at first then quiet. He felt that he was laying on a soft surface. Jareth woke up and opened his eyes and saw a four poster bed in a bedroom. He was trying to remember what he did before. It was blank. Where was he before this? He couldn't reach the memory. Jareth's mind drifted off and he fell back asleep again.

—--

Sarah was in a murky fog. She was drifting along and started to rise up out of it. She opened her eyes and saw she was on her side on a dirt floor. Sarah's hands were bound behind her and her mouth was gagged. That instantly put her in a state of awareness suddenly as she tried to punch through the fog to reality. She was in a room that was a funky gray stone or rock and roughly chiseled out. It smelled like rotten eggs. She could hear dripping from somewhere when she commanded her aching body to roll over. Sarah was in a cell with two sides of iron bars. She heard someone coming, she rolled back in position and faked asleep.

A man's voice asked, "Is she awake yet?"

Another man came into her cell and nudged her. He said, "No, your majesty, she is still out. What do you want me to do with her?"

The king of wherever said, "I think we should keep her bound and give her food and water for now for the next three days, after that we may need to dispose of her. We have to see if my daughter can use her potions and persuasion to convince him she is his betrothed, until then keep her alive and bound in her cell. It's salt so she will have no magic to use against you and being she is a woman, well she can't be strong enough against my best guard." They both laughed.

The guard said, "Ok, I'll tend to her. I hope she's not a whiny type." They both walked out of the cell and the room.

Sarah lay there and thought, 'What am I going to do? I can't use my magic. My poor sweet Jareth is going to potion dosed and brainwashed. If they do succeed what will happen to her babies and the stuff she will need to survive? Jarrmain is going to go crazy if he can't find us. I hope he finds me, because by the sounds of it Jareth probably won't remember me.' That part was tearing at her heart in hopes of a miracle.

—--

Jareth was coming to consciousness, as someone was caressing his brow. He fluttered his eyes open expecting a dark haired green eyed girl and saw a redhead with blue eyes instead to his disappointment. The woman had her hand stroking his cheek.

She said, "There, there. You are going to be just fine. You took a tumble at the ball is all. I took you home to take care of you."

Jareth said looking at her puzzled, "Who are you?"

She pouted and said, "I am your betrothed of course, Deena. Don't you remember, Jareth my love? We have been together for the last few months."

Jareth said looking at her peculiarly, "No, I don't remember you. I don't seem to remember anything at all. What the hell is going on? This is not right, something is wrong. I was dreaming about a dark haired green eyed woman. She was human but then she looked fae later in my dream. She's the one I love, not you. What the hell are you trying to pull? I'm leaving." He swung his boots off the bed and marched out the door as Deena ran behind him trying to get information from him on who the dark haired human woman was.

Deena was trying to keep up with him as he walked through the castle trying to find the way out. She asked panicking, "Who is the woman in your dream, the human? Maybe I can help you?"

Jareth looked at her and could feel the desperation rolling off of her. He said, "No, I have said enough. I have to go home."

Deena said begging, "Don't leave. Let me go with you?"

Jareth didn't like how this woman felt. It was peculiar. He said, "No, I am leaving now!" He opened a large door and it was a courtyard. He turned into an owl and flew away. Deena stomped her feet in frustration and started swearing in fae.

Jareth was flying over the land reaching into his mind for where his home was. A flash of a castle in the middle of a maze came into his mind. He flew and flew around the Underground looking for this place but did not know what direction to go in.

—--

Sarah was still on the dirt floor but sat up and was looking around in the dim light with only an oil lamp on a table way across on a table in the room outside the cell.

Sarah thought about things she remembered. Jareth told her to just say the Labyrinth's name and entity would speak to her in her mind. Sarah thought concentrating, 'Gaia? Gaia?' Sarah waited.

She felt a faint presence in her mind saying, 'Champion?'

Sarah said, focusing hard, 'A king is keeping me locked in a salt mine. They will probably only keep me alive for three days. They are giving potions to Jareth to not remember that he loves me.'

The presence said, 'I will tell the High King Jarrmain. Be safe.'

—--

The High King's castle was in a flurry of activity. Once it was discovered that the High Prince and Lady Ashar were gone. The ball was dismissed and the soldiers spread out to search the grounds. Jarrmain was in a frantic state and he had to find his son and Ashar. He kept thinking they could be hurt or in pain. They had been searching for hours and trying to figure out who could have done this. The first to come to mind was Carilina and her father King Brunan were the suspects. They had them come to the High Palace and take truth potions. They were cleared.

Suddenly a green entity appeared before High King Jarrmain in his office. Gaia said, "I have spoken to my champion, the one you call Lady Ashar."

Jarrmain asked frustratedly, "What are you talking about? Be clear. I have been searching for my son and the one he is courting Ashar from across The Sea Of Achar."

Gaia said, "My champion, Sarah Williams, is Lady Ashar. She has communicated with me about where she is and what they plan to do with my king."

Jarrmain asked, "Who are you?"

Gaia said, "I am the Labyrinth."

Jarrmain asked, "Are you saying that Lady Ashar is Sarah Williams the human child that won?"

Gaia said, "Yes, but she is not human anymore. She said a king is keeping her prisoner and alive for three days in a salt mine. She said they are giving my king potions to forget loving my champion."

Jarrmain asked, "Did she say which king?"

Gaia said, "She did not say or know."

Jarrmain called his advisor and had him get in touch with the Fairy and Unicorn Kings. He wanted him to tell them to come to the Palace immediately and have a couple guards escort them with him back. His advisor went immediately to send the message. Jarrmain said, "It wouldn't be the Pixie Kingdom, I already truth portioned them. It can only be the two that are fae. If one refuses to submit to the potion then we will know."

Gaia said, "I have tried to talk with my king, but he does not hear me or is blocked somehow. If they give him a potion to forget her, it may block everything if it is too strong."

Jarrmain said, "Why did he not tell me Ashar is Sarah Williams?"

Gaia said, "Because you threatened her life, High King. I will terminate your existence if you ever harm my champion like I will the king that holds her from me."

Jarrmain said, "It was selfish of me to hate her and not even know her. We can never tell anyone she is Sarah because the fae will never understand. She must remain Ashar, the beautiful fae that saved my life. Now I must return the favor, instead of taking hers like I once thought to do. I wonder if she forgives me. She does not treat me differently."

Gaia said, "Because my champion is chosen for her good qualities that will put balance back in the Underground. Her will is as strong and her kingdom is as great as my king's. She is special."

Jarrmain said, "I believe you. I have seen her magic work on my son's heart and my own." Jarrmain's advisor came back in with both kings in tow and two guards. Jarrmain and Gaia were still in the office.

King Thanius of the Fairy Kingdom asked earnestly, "What is this about, Jarrmain? Is there an emergency?"

King Pontaire of the Unicorn Kingdom said arrogantly, "Yes, I want to know also? I have dinner waiting."

Jarrmain took out two potion bottles and said, "I want each of you to swallow this potion, now."

Thanius asked, "What is it?" Pontaire looked at Jarrmain questioningly.

Jarrmain said, "A truth potion."

Thanius said, "Just ask me what you want to know? I'll tell you."

Pontaire said, "Yes, just say what you want?"

Jarrmain said, "Ok, which one of you are holding lady Ashar prisoner in a salt mine?"

Thanius said, upset, "I would never!"

Pontaire said, defensively, "Me neither and I am offended you would ask me that!"

Jarrmain said, "Then drink the truth potions and prove your loyalty to the High Throne." Thanius grabbed a potion. Pontaire grabbed the other one. Thanius downed the potion.

Jarrmain said, "Thanius, do you know where Lady Ashar is?"

Thanius said, "I swear I do not know, Jarrmain."

Jarrmain said, "What about you, Pontaire?" Gaia disabled all magic in the room. Jarrmain shouted, "Guards seize the Unicorn King!" The guards took hold of each arm of Pontaires.

Pontaire cried out, "She made me! Deena made me do it! You don't know how she is. She is manipulative." Gaia went up to the Unicorn King and ripped his magic out of his body. The man screamed from the pain of loss.

Jarrmain said, "Where is Ashar? Tell me now!"

Pontaire sniveling said, "In the Durian salt mine. I have a few guards in there with her. They were told to watch over her and feed her."

Jarrmain said, "Yes, I heard for three days. Lock him in the dungeon." The guards left to take him there.

Gaia said, "I want you to treat my champion like she treats you or I will be back." Jarrmain nodded.

Jarrmain told his advisor, "I want 100 soldiers to go with me to the Durian salt mine in the Unicorn Kingdom, now." Jarrmain snapped his fingers and was dressed in his gold battle armor. He went to the stable and got his steed prepared and an extra horse saddled.