CHAPTER 17
—--day 55
That morning she found Gypsy licking her nose. Sarah giggled at her. The puppy was getting more active and playful in a dumpy cute way. She fell over a lot. Sarah was going to get her potty trained and take her out with Beowulf, get her toys and teach her by example how to ask to go to the bathroom. She was also going to feed her milk and meat. Sarah pulled out the jar of chopped meat but it was too chunky for the pup, so she wished for a second jar of ground meat that won't spoil or run out with a small bowl and three leather balls stuffed with leather the size of a silver dollar coin.
Sarah did her morning ritual and fed Gypsy the ground meat mixed with milk. She was eating it well and liked it. Sarah made up a milk bottle for later and got ready to go outside for the wolves to go to the bathroom. She had all her belongings packed up.
When Sarah found a place for the wolves to go to the bathroom, she put Gypsy on the ground and watched her sniff around. She squatted and peed then went over to a different spot and pooped. Sarah praised her. Beowulf came back and they all went inside to eat breakfast.
As Sarah and Beowulf ate their breakfast, Gypsy was watching them on Sarah's lap. Sarah gave her the first taste of eggs and yolk. She was licking it with her tail and butt wiggling.
Suddenly, Gypsy let out a "Whooo…. Wooo." Sarah started laughing. It was her first cute words in puppy other than grunting or crying. People were looking at them, but Sarah didn't care.
After breakfast they all went to the cobbler and Sarah got Gypsy a collar in little black leather like Beowulf's collar with little rings on it and a buckle with length to grow a bit and another leash. You can never be safe raising wolves in chicken country. She also got a bigger crossbody fur bag for carrying Gypsy around when she gets too big for the one bag right now. Sarah told Beowulf that he was to help teach her to be a good wolf as she grew up. Beowulf yipped once. Sarah went to the jewelers and got a protection against magic and luck charm to put on Gypsy's collar, then Sarah went back to the inn.
Sarah rounded up her bags and showed Gypsy the leather balls rolling them on the floor. The pup ran after them and pounced, rolling over on her side, licking and chewing on it. Sarah laughed at how rolly-polly cute she was. Sarah thought about getting some big bones or hooves to chew on from the butcher later.
It was close to noon so Sarah grabbed all her baggage and dropped her key off to the innkeeper who was confused at her leaving early. Sarah told him that he could keep the money and she was going to the castle. The goblin innkeeper thought that "The Sarah" must have got a job there in the castle and he was glad to keep the money.
Sarah walked up to the stable and got Dathúil and Álainn, saddled and packed up. She walked him up to the castle with Beowulf. The fae guards said, "No entry!"
Sarah said seriously, "I have permission from the King to come to the castle at noon. I am Sarah, the Labyrinth Champion."
The fear guards said nastily, "That's what everyone says! Move along!"
Sarah took down her hood and said authoritatively, "How dare you not check to be sure you're not wrong! I will call the king himself! I 'wish' the Goblin King was right here." Both guard's eyes got big.
Jareth appeared and said, "Why are you late, Sarah?" He was dressed all in black with his black cloak on because it was cold outside.
Sarah said indignantly, "Your nasty attitude guards practically called me a liar when I told them I was to come here at noon. I even told them I was Sarah, the Labyrinth Champion."
Jareth said, "I left specific instructions last night that the champion was coming to the castle at noon. Why did you not let her in?"
The one guard said, "Sire, we were not told about a visitor coming or the Champion."
Jareth said, "I left word with your Commander to notify you."
The other guard said, "We received no instructions, your majesty."
Jareth said, "I will take this up with your Commander then. Sarah can come and go as she pleases. Come, Sarah." He took Dathúil and Álainn's reins, Beowulf's leash and Sarah around the waste and transported them all. When they reappeared, Sarah, Beowulf, and her baggage were all in a beautiful fancy bedroom all in greens and cream colors. The Georgian and Victorian furniture, with rich dark green wall to wall thick rugs was stunning. The four poster wood carved bed was an oversized king size bed with a dresser, armoire and vanity. There was a seating area by the fireplace with high back chairs and a small sofa. It was very beautiful.
Sarah said, "This is a very beautiful room, Jareth. Thank you."
Jareth smiled, saying, "Let me show you the bathroom." He opened the ornate door next to the armoire and it was a lush bathroom with a shower, toilet behind a curtain and a pair of sinks. The bathing area had a stone sunk-in floor with three steps down into a grotto pool surrounded by lush plants. The best feature was the small waterfall coming out of the stone wall. It was absolutely incredible.
Sarah said in awe looking around, "This is the most beautiful bathroom I've ever seen. Does your bathroom look like this one, Jareth?"
Jareth chuckled and said, "Yes, similar, Sarah."
Sarah said giggling, "I can't wait to go swimming tonight." Jareth loved her giggle.
They walked out and Jareth said, "The armoire is full of dresses for you. I hope you like them. I hope you will put one on after you settle in. Would you like lunch?"
Yes, Jareth, for Beowulf too. He eats what I eat when not camping or traveling. I appreciate your generosity so much for such nice accommodations." Jareth made a table of food appear by the fireplace.
Jareth smirked and said with a drawl, "Your welcome, Sarah. I leave you to it and come get you for dinner. I have made a patch of grass that is self-cleaning on your balcony, for your animals. I hope it makes it easier for you." Sarah walked up to him and he didn't know what to expect. Sarah kissed him on the cheek. He smiled real big and said, "See you later, Sarah." She waved at him. Jareth walked back to his study smiling because Sarah kissed him.
Sarah started unpacking after she took Gypsy and Beowulf out to the balcony to see the patch of grass. Beowulf went to the bathroom and it disappeared. She sat Gypsy on the grass and she peed. She told her she was a good girl. Sarah put all of the stones and magical items into the back of the extended deep armoire.
She put everything in her bags away and condensed them down inside of each other and put the bags in the armoire by her boots. Sarah took out a beautiful green velvet dress with a gathered sweetheart neckline and long sleeves. Sarah brushed her hair and put just a bit of makeup on her eyes. Sarah wanted to see the castle and explore. She had unclipped Beowulf and Gypsy needed to walk so she had to be leash on her and they slowly walked Gypsy into the hallway.
They started walking until Gypsy got tired and Sarah picked her up as they wandered around. It was a big place. Sarah walked down a set of stairs and came out into a room of rustic tables in rows. There was a kitchen with wonderful smells of fresh baked bread and roasted garlic. Sarah walked over to the kitchen and saw a big goblin and a human old woman making dough. Sarah was fascinated at how well they worked together.
The old woman said, "Dredge, can ye get the loaf pans and check the bread in the oven?"
Dredge said, in raspy deep voice, "These loaves be needin' 'bout ten minutes ta brown." The old woman nodded. Dredge sat the big stack of loaf pans on the table and they both started breaking down the dough filling them. The old woman looked up, probably feeling herself being watched.
The old woman kept working saying to Sarah, "Who be ye?"
Sarah said, "I'm Sarah, nice to meet you. It smells wonderful here and I was curious."
The old woman cackled and said, "Ye would be surprised at what ar cooking be attractin'." Sarah smiled.
The old woman stopped and wiped her flour dusted hands off on her apron and walked over to the doorway grabbing a basket with baked rolls, biscuits and a few pastries in it. The old woman said, "I be Maggie, Sarah, it be a pleasure ta meet tha champion. Here be a sample of me baked goods fer ya ta try." Sarah was very flattered.
Sarah said, "Well thank you very much. That's very kind."
The old woman smiled real big and said, "Ye ar a beautiful fae lassie, but I be thinkin' that champion be a human?" Sarah bit a little piece into a roll and rolled her eyes. It was fresh sourdough.
Sarah said giggling, "I fell into a Pool Of Destiny and then turned into a fae shortly after they returned me."
Maggie gasped and said, "Ye be important then. Most never be coming outta one a 'em."
Sarah Smith led and asked, "Is this the castle kitchen?"
Maggie said, "Nah, this be tha employee kitchen. Tha royal kitchen be up higher in tha castle near tha king's dinin' rooms."
Sarah said smiling at the woman, "Thank you for your time, Maggie. I'll let you get back to baking such wonderful things. Both of you have a wonderful day." Sarah waved and walked away. She gave Beowulf a piece of the roll. They walked out of the lunch room and went out into a corridor of small doors that were made of old wood. A goblin came out of one of the rooms and Sarah saw they were tenant rooms for employees. Sarah went on and found a stairwell deeper down under the castle.
She was getting wary of the creepy feeling coming from this stairwell; the darkness, draftiness and cobwebs alone were enough. She realized she didn't have a weapon on her and her wolves were vulnerable. Beowulf started growling. Sarah shushed him. She went around the curve of the stairwell and peeked around the corner and saw a man with a horse's tail stirring something in a pot and a pool of water on the half floor sloshing waves with a black horse breaking the surface of the water walking out to turn into a man with horse ears. They started talking in an Irish accent, one said, "Be the human soup ready? I be gettin' hungry." They were Pookas.
The other said, "Yes, just be givin' it a final stir." Sarah cringed and started backing away and went back up the stairs. Sarah decided to avoid the lower parts of the castle without Jareth.
Sarah was back above in the castle and was wandering around still. She heard voices talking. She got closer and listened. Sarah was outside of a sitting room or something.
The voice said authoritatively, "It doesn't matter what you want. You will do as you are told. I want you to kill him." She had to hide to listen to this. She went behind a tapestry and found a small corridor running along the walls of the sitting room. Sarah listened.
The other voice said, "Yes, master. I must wait for the next event he has here in the castle which should be soon because he has a new lady of interest and had dinner with her yesterday. He moved her into the castle today. She is a very pretty little thing fae but with dark hair and green eyes. The darnedest thing is she has royal Lugh markings."
The other voice said, "Lugh, they were dark haired and extinct three thousand years ago as far as anyone knows. They were said to have remained in the Aboveground. How could one survive?"
The other voice said, "I do not know Master Mernon. I just have the king's ear as advisor and listen to his conversations. He said she came out of a pool of destiny is all I overheard and she is the Labyrinth's champion. I thought she was human, but I am confused now."
The guy Mernon said, speaking out and thinking, "I'll have to research it, because if you are to kill him for our patrona, I do not need another interfering with my plans. The Lugh were known for their sword expertise. She could be a danger but let's hope she may be ignorant. Go before anyone is the wiser." They both left the room. Sarah wonders what she just stepped into. Perhaps, a deeper pile of crap than she knew. Talking about killing Jareth, conspiracy, another is a patron to these two. It sounded like Jareth's advisor and this Mernon. She would keep.it to herself for right this minute. Sarah left out and tried to find her way back to the bedroom before dinner.
When she finally got to the room she took the wolves to the balcony. Beowulf did his business and Sarah had to wake up Gypsy to go to the bathroom. She did and pooped. Sarah took them back to the bed and fed them both. She gave Beowulf a bowl of chopped meat and Gypsy her slurry. There was a knock on the door. Sarah got up and opened the door. It was Jareth and she let him in.