CHAPTER 14
Sarah decided while Jareth was busy to go into town and do a little shopping. She wore her cloak and had Lyra in her pouch bag on her shoulder. She stopped in a bakery and bought a big bag of candied nuts and a few cookies. She was eating her warm buttery cinnamon toffeed nuts and strolling about with Lyra peeking out of her bag looking at everyone. People were staring at her in curiosity.
Sarah went off into the entrance to the Labyrinth and began wandering around through the maze and the different areas. The walls would change to let her pass. Sarah felt something niggling in the back of her mind. She was thinking, 'It's like picking at the back of my mind.'
The voice of the labyrinth said in her head, "Block it. Put a barrier up between it and you in your mind. Think of an iron wall it will repel fae and witches, remember?" Sarah did. She spotted a black crow jumping from tree to tree.
Sarah said in her mind to Gaia, 'Gaia, there is a black crow hopping from tree to tree following me.'
Gaia said, "That would be a fae from the clan of the crows in the Unseelie. They are mostly made up of the Unseelie King Oranus's kin."
Sarah thought, 'What is he doing inside of your domain?'
Gaia said, "I have no idea but he seems to have taken an interest in you."
Sarah thought, 'What is that idiot doing trying to read my mind?'
Gaia said, "Yes, the fae must be curious why you have dark hair and are freely roaming in here." The crow was still following her.
She sat down, pulled Lyra out of her bag and put her on the ground where she sat. She was eating her snacks when out of her peripheral view she saw the fae in his natural form at a distance watching her. Sarah ignored him and continued eating as Lyra was on he leash sniffing around. The fae got closer when she was done eating. Sarah whispered a barrier secured around herself.
He chose that moment to throw a crystal at her and it bounced off the barrier. Sarah mumbled a wish for the fae to have his hands bound. He struggled and wrestled to get free.
Sarah said stoically, "Hello. You have been following me for a while inside here. Why are you following me?" The fae was all in black leather with green eyes and had black tips on his blonde hair. He was handsome and looked her age but who knows how old fae are anyways.
The fae said, "Are you a witch? Your energy is different."
Sarah said authoritatively, "I asked why were you following me? Answer the question?"
The fae said, "I was curious about who and what you are. Your hair is dark and your markings are strange."
Sarah said, "Who are you?"
He said, "I am Lord Danbury. My father is the brother to the Unseelie King and leader of the Clan of the Crows. Your magic is different and strong too you feel like…. an enigma actually. I just do not know. What is your name, pretty fae?"
Sarah said, "I am Sarah from a far away place. Of course my magic, my looks and strengths are just different. Good, now your curiosity is settled and you can go on your merry way."
Danbury said smiling, "You are very pretty, Sarah, from a far away place. I hope we meet again." He changed into a crow and flew away. Sarah got up and went back to the castle.
When she got to the castle it was complete chaos in the throne room with goblins running amuck. Jareth was raising hell in his study. Sarah just stood in the hallway cuddling Lyra just down from the throne room listening.
Jareth yelled, "If you can't do one simple thing like this, then you're fired and no use to me! I want you to leave my kingdom right now, not to be able to return! I'm done with you and your manipulations and telling my father what I am doing!"
Darneth said begging, "But your Majesty I have been in your service for over three hundred years."
Jareth said snapping, "Then I guess it has been two hundred and ninety nine years too long! Begone!" Jareth snapped his fingers and Darneth was transported with all of his belongings outside of the borders of his kingdom that repels him if he tries to reenter. Jareth called for his cousin Jarell through a crystal, sending it out the window.
Jareth got the necessary books out and set to drafting the formal courting documents himself. He was sitting in his study when a crystal floated through the window. He looked up and Jarell was looking back at him through it as it hovered in mid air.
Jareth said frowning, "I need you cousin. I fired Darneth and I need my best friend whom I can trust as my advisor. I can explain more to you when you arrive. There is a couple plots afoot."
Jarell gasped and said surprised, "Surely not. I will be there in the morning with my things. Can I have good quarters that weren't Darneth's? He gave me a case of prickly heat when I was around him too long." Jareth laughed.
Jareth said smiling, "Of course you can have better quarters." He waved his hand like fanning the air.
Jarell asked curiously, "What are you doing there?"
Jareth said perturbed, "Drafting my own formal courting papers to file personally to the Royal Register Willem in Murias. I'm sick of my father and his games and Darneth dragging his feet."
Jarell said surprised, "It is shocking how your relationships or the lack thereof is so interfered with. Who is the lucky lady?"
Jareth said, writing, "The pretty girl I stopped you from trying to claim."
Jarell gasped and said, "That pretty flower? I thought she was just a human?"
Jareth laughed and said, "She is way way more now. She has transformed into more than a fae with five types of magic, fully trained to use them efficiently and in battle. She is the most powerful, beautiful and exquisite fae in the Underground. I have been wanting to court, betrothed and marry her. This is my chance where she agreed and I won't let anyone come between her and I."
Jarell said stunned, "Wow, Jareth that would make you both the most powerful faes in the Underground. Just imagine your children."
Jareth said proudly, "She will save our people. She has iron immunity and no fertility issues."
Jarell said seriously, "I will go pack now. I will be there at sunrise. This is very much more urgent than I expected. See you tomorrow, cousin, sire, your Majesty. I'll work on that too" Jareth laughed. The bubble popped. Sarah went down the hallway to her room with Lyra following on her leash.
A little while later, Jareth came to her room knocking on the door. She opened the door and let him in. He had parchment in his hand and said, "I have the formal courting documents drawn up. I need you to read them and sign, Sarah."
Sarah said, "Come in Jareth and we will sit by the fire." She invited him in which was the first time she had since using the magic to bar all fae from her room unless invited in.
They sat down in the two chairs by the fire and Jareth handed her the documents. She started reading them. They were pretty straightforward with formal jargon. He was to take her to all public events, they were to share meals together and spend time together getting to know each other to insure compatibility. He was to give her gifts and show signs of affection as well as herself. If intimate contact were to occur, she was to be exclusive unto him. But, it said nothing about his exclusive intimacies towards her.
Sarah said stoically, "It doesn't mention your fidelity, Jareth. I will not sleep with you without that promise when the time comes. I guess we will see if you can commit yourself equally. Until then, I will sign this though until I have that promise all sexual contact is off the table." She signed up he papers and handed them back to him. Jareth knew that she would say that. He was relieved she signed the paperwork though. He signed it and stood up. He leaned in and kissed her cheek.
Jareth said, "Are you coming with me to file them personally?" She smiled and magical donned her green cloak and took her bag and gathered up Lyra putting her in the bag and on her leash.
They left in a swirl of glitter to the Royal Stables. Her horse Valiant was already saddled and Jareth's war horse stallion Cróga' (Brave). Jareth lifted her up on her mount and got up on his own. Sarah followed Jareth.
Jareth said, "We will take the city portal to Murias. Just say 'Murias' when you enter the portal."
When they arrived and walked their horses through the portal, they went towards a large castle that looked like a cluster of natural crystal points in an iridescent opaque white. The entire castle glowed as it reflected light.
Sarah asked, "Is that the High King's Castle?"
Jareth said dryly, "Yes, it's my father's castle. We are going to the court next door to it." Sarah was surprised and didn't know that Jareth was the son of the High King. The High Court building next to the castle and it's perimeter surrounded in gates, was a large golden dome in the center with a multi pointed star mounted on top like a big picker ball like sharp tines sticking out all around it. It reminded Sarah of a mosque domed building. Under the dome was a series of arched stainglass windows. The towers were tall with gold turrets on top of various sizes. The buildings themselves were all in white marble stonework with gold shot through it. It was a bunch of very beautiful buildings. The rode up to a stable outside of the Court and gave the stablehand their mounts to hold on to temporarily. Jareth told them he would be right back. He lifted Sarah off the horse and sat her down on her feet. He took her hand and led her to one of the towers. They went up a few flights of stairs and into a room with clerks busy running around.
The man at the desk saw Jareth and said, "King Jareth, how many I help you?"
Jareth said, "I wish to file formal courting documents. I fired my advisor." Everyone stopped and looked at him.
The clerk said, "I'll get the Royal Register Willem for you." Jareth nodded.
The Royal Register Willem was dressed in a red velvet with gold trimmed waistcoat and knickered short pants. He had white ruffles at the throat from his shirt, white stockings to the knee and black gold buckled thick heeled shoes. He looked like he walked out of the 1700's to Sarah. His hair of blonde and gray mixed was in a ponytail with a black bow. He walked up to Jareth.
Royal Register Willem said in a snooty tone, "How many I assist you, King Jareth?"
Jareth said handing him the scrolled and sealed document, "I want this filed and registered immediately without delay."
The Royal Register looked them over and said, "Yes, sire, immediately. He proceeded to stamp sign and date the document with the Royal Register seal and went and got the book of records and magically copied and filed it in the pages of the book.
The Royal Register Willem said, "There you you go sure, all recorded." He nodded and bowed.
Jareth said, "Thank you." He turned and took Sarah by the hand placing it on his arm and they walked out as everyone watched.
Jareth said seriously, "I wonder how long it will take until my father gets wind of my relationship status."
Sarah said, "He sounds like he treats you like a child trying to manipulate you."
Jareth said dryly, "He does all the time. He has no respect for me when I refuse his manipulations."
Sarah sighed and said, "Its sad when a father can't respect defined boundaries when your an adult. My father did that too." Jareth nodded and patted her hand.
Lyra let out a loud mew. They stopped and Sarah put Lyra on the ground to go to the bathroom. Sarah vanished it all when she was done. She picked up her kit and kissed her cuddling her. They walked to the stables, Jareth lifted Sarah up onto the stallion. They went back through the portal to the Goblin City.