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In A Time Of Winter	By : Jetredgirl Category: G through L > Labyrinth Views: 5645 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from Labyrinth or it's characters in any way. The Original Characters ARE mine, but I don't profit from them either :)

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
Sarah had went to bed alone. She knew Jareth would be conversing, or attempting to converse, with Gaia for a long time.
She was, however, surprised to wake up far into the night and still be alone. instinctively she reached out and found the soft glow of her husbands presence in reassurance. He was fine, but she felt his underlying anxiety.
She got out of bed and into her robe and slippers, and followed the glowing connection down the stairs and out into the courtyard. There were a series of stone benches near the stairs that led to the city and there she found him, the moonlight glinting off his pale hair as he sat on the stone, his feet up, his chin resting on his knees.
She laid her hands gently upon his shoulders and sat down behind him. She knew he felt her approach so he wasn't startled, but he did tense at her touch, which was unusual.
"Jareth?" She whispered as she leaned in and place her chin upon his shoulder. "What's wrong? Why didn't you come to bed?"
He leaned his head to the side to press against her cheek, and reached up to take her hand. "I'm not tired love. So I chose to sit here and look at the moon and stars for a while. You needn't worry about me."
"You're my husband, it's my nature to worry about you, and my job." She kissed his face. "Besides, I know better. Something has got you worried. I can feel it. Please, let's not go through the whole "hiding things from Sarah because she is a delicate flower" routine again. You well know I am anything but."
He turned and placed his feet on the ground. He reached over put an arm around her to pull her in. "I know. You are the strongest person I've ever known. I guess I just want to protect you, shelter you, from anything that would make you sad, or worried, or angry. I promised you I would take care of you, and I feel like I have failed, sometimes."
Sarah's eyes softened. "Oh Jareth... I'm sorry. You DO take care of me. Of all of us. You are just one person though. You can't do everything, be everything, to everyone. I know ever since...well, it just seems like you have never gotten over completely what happened all those years ago. That you still carry that burden thinking anything different could have been done. You had to do it Jareth. You had no choice. It was me or everyone else in the world, maybe even more than one world. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. I love you more than anything. You and the children are my entire world. You haven't failed at anything having to do with us. You are a wonderful husband, father, and respected as a good king by everyone under your rule. How is that failure?"
"I failed your friend." He pointed out.
Sarah felt a twinge of pain in her heart, and of guilt. Blaming Jareth was a momentary lapse of reason on her part. She knew Jareth wasn't overly fond of Hoggle, but he went far and above most rulers when it came to securing his kingdom. He would never have knowingly put Hoggle in danger.
"He put himself in that situation, by trusting a relative. We as sentient beings tend to take for granted those related to us are loyal and trustworthy by right of blood. What happened to Hoggle... as much as I hate to say it, was a series of bad choices culminating in his death. Besides you never trusted Merkle and I did. Maybe if I would have known, I could have stopped him from leaving the kingdom." Sarah said.
She sighed, her shoulders sagging. "If it's anyone's fault besides Hoggle and his brother, it mine for believing the best in people. For leaving the kingdom before Merkle was gone."
"It is not your fault either, Sarah." Jareth answered. "Do not ever stop having the faith you do. You have a pure heart, you must always keep that. It is the source of your unique magic."
"And charm?" She asked playfully, trying to lighten the mood.
He smirked at her and tucked an unruly curl of hair behind her ear, stopping to caress her cheek before dropping his hand away. "Ah yes. Charm you have in spades."
They laughed together, but after a moment Jareth's face became serious. "I spoke to her. There are things I must tell you. I ask you hold your response until I finish."
Sarah's brows rose and fell at his tone. He sounded angry, and worried. "Alright, I promise."
He held her hands in his, and looked into her eyes as he told her everything Gaia had told him. The shock on her face as he spoke of how, exactly, Harmony had been saved and what had been done mad him more angry, but she had to hear it all.
He knew in his heart and soul, he needed to stop trying to protect his wife, taking all the worry onto himself.
When he was through speaking, Sarah was silent for several moments.
When she spoke her mouth was tight. "I can't say I'm sorry Gaia saved our daughter, I am grateful, the most grateful I've ever been. She is here and alive and I love her so...but why didn't Gaia tell us then? Why no warning? Maybe we could have done something, taught her something, let her know she was...different? Special? What? What does this mean for her? What is expected of her?" Sarah had a million thoughts running through her head all at one.
Jareth took a deep breath. "I know. I have all these question and more. I adore my daughter. My first born. I too hover between the gratitude of her survival and presence... and the anger of The Gods, or one of the Gods, deciding something without even consulting us, or even telling us what they had done so she could be prepared for it. So we ALL could. I honestly do not know what to do next, or what to tell her."
"Maybe we shouldn't tell her anything until we know more." Sarah suggested. "I mean, I'm not sure it would do her any good to know. We don't even know what this "rising darkness" is."
"Ground quakes are not known in the Underground Sarah. I have never heard of it happening outside eons ago when The Gods themselves were at war. Something *is* coming. Something has happened, somewhere in the underground. Whatever it may be, it managed to dislodge this realm from the magic that stabilizes it enough to cause such a thing. That is not a good sign." Jareth replied, his voice dark.
Sarah's body clenched in fear but she shoved it back. "I agree with you. We need to find out what has happened."
Jareth nodded once. "I will go to Talystra once more I suppose. See who else has been affected. Before you ask, I will go alone, because I need you here to look after the kingdom and there is no one I trust more than you. I will take a small honor guard, but I want Caolin here in case he is needed."
"Take you father with you." Sarah said, not wanting Jareth to have no allies in the capitol city. "He will be good company, and you will have back up you can trust. He is well liked."
"If it keep you from worrying, I will. He has not been there in several years and would enjoy visiting some old friends." Jareth agreed.
With Sarah, Caolin, and Toby staying in his kingdom, he knew things would be looked after. He Father had no official post in The Goblin lands, other than occasional adviser, so he would not be missed in any assigned post. It was a sound idea.
He stood and brought Sarah with him, pulling her close. "We should get some rest, my love. The near future is going to be eventful indeed and we should rest when we can."
She hugged him. "Nothing will keep me from worrying, Your Majesty. About you, the children, our friends, the kingdom, both the underground and even above. We will do whatever we have to."
Clinging to each other, they went inside, back up the stairs and to their chambers.
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As the large doors closed to the castle, Harmony stepped out of the shadows she had hidden in when she tracked her mother out of the castle.
She had simply been unable to sleep and thought to join Sarah out in the night air for a walk when she saw her join her father, whom she did not know had not retired for the evening yet, so she paused. She had been able to shield herself from detection easily and had not planned to hide from them for long, but when they started speaking she had stopped herself from approaching her parents as her name was mentioned.
What does it all mean? She was given a God's powers? Or, some of it?
The thought frightened her. She had been told all her life she was unnaturally strong in magic. Then again, her father had been told the same thing growing up.
How will they all handle this? What do they want me to do? Should I tell mom and dad I heard or keep it to myself?
She fel ta dread deep down inside, that whatever it was she would called upon for, by Gaia herself, was going to be the test to end all tests.
If I fail...oh dear lord, if I fail? They would all die? Her family, her friends, everyone?
She slipped back inside, using her magic so that the guards did not see her. Silently she flitted through the castle to her chambers, climbed into bed, and buried herself under the blankets.
She would not sleep tonight, but felt the need to seek a safe place all of the sudden. To hide herself away. Her bed she had slept in since childhood seemed the only place in the world for it at that moment.
That is where she remained, eyes clenched closed, waiting for morning.
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Elsian rose in the early morning light filtering through the tiny window The Goblin King had so graciously afforded him in his small cell in the castle dungeon. There was a knock on the hinged slot of the door, which popped open, a tray of food waiting for him. He took it and sat down on the rickety chair in front of the even more rickety table and placed the tray upon it.
His breakfast was gray and brown, barely recognizable as food. Some kind of warm grainy cereal, with a hunk of brown bread, and earthenware cup filled with milk. A guard had told him he should feel lucky, as he was being allowed to eat regular goblin fare, not prisoner food.
He was skeptical, yet mildly horrified at what the prisoner food was if this was considered good.
The colors of the meal matched his mood perfectly, he thought to himself. He rarely spoke out loud here. The echo of his own voice annoying him.
Elsian often wondered why he was still alive. He expected to be long dead at this point.
Somehow, deep inside a spark of life had appeared, against his own will, against all the odds of his survival. He no longer wanted to die.
A thought he tried to ignore told him it had something to do with the girl with the turquoise eyes. The daughter of the man who wanted him dead.
The irony was not lost on him that The Goblin Queen, whom he had been partially responsible for her near death, and the child she had been carrying now grown, were his shield of protection. The two women his only guard against his head residing on a spike on the castle gates.
He wondered how Drell was. If he had retreated to the Elf Castle to begrudgingly work for his father again, or if he searched far and wide for his lifelong charge.
He chewed and swallowed, doing his best to not taste the gruel. The bread was surprisingly fresh, and the milk was quite good, cold and creamy. He assumed it was either goat's or sheep's milk. Either way, it was nutritious and quenched his thirst. The spark within urging him to eat and keep going. He stared at the cracks in the wall that had developed thank to the ground quake, and hoped the damn walls didn't fall in on him in his sleep some night.
He spent several hours a day exercising in his cell, not wanting to lose muscle tone from inactivity. The underground immortals did not put on weight easily, but living in this fashion could surely cause it to occur. After breakfast he moved the chair to the side and began his daily routine.
Mid sit up, he was startled out of his concentration by a banging on the door, and the clinking of keys, signalling the door was being unlocked. His stomach tightened as he had no magic to sense who was coming.
The Goblin King's aide stepped in. Caolin wasn't it? And he was frowning.
"Prince Elsian." He said, sounding like he was addressing something particularly foul that had stuck to his boot.
Elsian stood. "I am no longer a prince." He answered matter of factly.
The man's frown deepened. "Irrelevant. You are being moved. Against my advice, The Queen has decided that your accommodations are not fitting for a prisoner of your... station, as this area of the dungeon was damaged and needs repairs that will take several days. Gather your things."
Elsian's mouth dropped open and slammed shut, but he said nothing. He put on his shirt, grabbed his travelling sack, which he had been allowed to keep after it had been thoroughly searched, with his few belongings inside, and followed the dark haired man out of the cell. He was shackled there, before being led out of the dungeon area, and up several flights of stairs down a darkened hallway in an obviously isolated and rarely used part of the castle, and to a door. When the door was opened, his jaw dropped again.
While the room was spare, it was a typical room that was found with a royal castle. A large bed, wardrobe, fireplace, a table with two chairs, and a shelf of dusty books.
In fact there was dust everywhere, but a fire had been lit, and a pile of fresh linens sat on the bed waiting to be put on.
A door to the side of the bed stood ajar, and he could see a small bathing chamber within.
He practically itched at the thought of taking a proper bath.
The King's aide spoke. "You will have to clean it yourself, but the basic amenities are in working order. This is an inner room, no balcony, for obvious reasons. Your door has been modified to lock from the outside, and guards will be posted at all times, your meals delivered at the same intervals. There is clean clothing, sleeping pants, and a robe and slippers in the wardrobe, soap and fresh towels in the bath. Do not take it for granted. The Queen's graciousness can be quickly rescinded and you will be returned to dungeon level at anytime. Remember that."
Caolin nodded to the guard who promptly unshackled the prisoner. The group backed out of the room, The dark haired aide to the king narrowing his eyes to give him a hard glare, before closing the door.
The former Elf prince stood there listening as the door was locked, and the guarded took their place on either side of it.
Once it was quiet he crossed the room and opened the wardrobe. There were a few simple pairs of leggings and tunics, and 2 pairs of cotton sleeping pants. He picked the clothing up and inhaled deeply, enjoying the sweet scent of freshly washed cotton. It was comforting to his weary soul.
He put the linens on the bed, then gave in to his urge to strip his dirty torn clothes off and fill the marble tub with blessedly hot water. As he sank in, he sighed. He took a good hour to soak, and scrub himself clean, before reluctantly getting out of the tub.
As he stood he saw himself in the mirror behind the door. He was shocked to see himself for the first time in so long. He looked haggard, pale, and thin. Far thinner than he had thought. His long limbs had retained their muscle tone thanks to his exercise, but his hair was ragged and the dark circles under his eyes vivid against the whiteness of his face.
"Damn." He sighed. He dug around the drawers under the sink, and found some very small bone scissors used for nail care. As he was certain there was nothing else sharp in the chambers he was given, they would have to do. In fact that they were left was probably an oversight, but he could hardly do damage to anyone who had the power to snap his neck with a flick of the finger. He located a toothbrush and a jar of the sodium mixture commonly used to clean teeth, so he did that, slipped into the sleeping pants, and sat on the rug in front of the fire. It took almost an hour to cut his hair with the small implement.
When he was done, he stood in front of the mirror to even it out. He was unused to having hair so short, as longer hair was the norm, but he found he liked it. It was just long enough to brush his shoulders and curl inward around his chin, and would negate any need to pull it back, at least for a while.
"At least it's clean and out of the way." He said to his reflection. The image looking back at him looked less than convinced.
I wonder if this is some sort of gift of being granted a night of relative normalcy, a bath, clean clothes, a decent bed, before my execution.
Oddly, he wasn't even fazed by the thought. He no longer wanted to die, but he wasn't afraid either.
Whatever comes in the morning, will come. Meanwhile, I will do something I haven't been able to do in a long time, read a book, by a fire.
It was barely past midday he calculated, and there was nothing else to do anyway. no window to gaze out of. He perused the shelf of dusty books. Most he had read years before in The Elf Kingdom's extensive library.
He smiled as he came across a book of underground fairy tales his mother had used to read to him and his sister when they were children, and pulled it out of the shelf. Sitting cross legged on the rug by the fire, he opened the old tome and read, letting himself relax for the first time in a long time.
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Jareth and Jastiel arrived in Talystra to a scene of chaos. Leaders from all over the underground were there trying to get information on why a ground quake had occurred, where it had originated, and who was responsible.
From the chatter around him, Jareth got the impression The Goblin Kingdom was lucky. In a few kingdoms the damage had been much more severe, and a couple had suffered many casualties and fatalities.
His mind kept drifting earlier that morning before he left, and Sarah telling him they had no choice but to move Elsian as upon inspection the cells where he was being held had moderate damage, flooding and needs at least a week's repair. He offered to fix it with magic, but she insisted the masons did their work, because, after all, that is what they were paid for.
He sent Caolin on a hunt for an unused room that could be fortified, and found one in the guest wing opposite the royal residence. It gave him little comfort, but as Elsian had no magic, he would be unable to get out.
The Goblin King checked in with the manager of the royal apartment dormitories, and along with his father went to his rooms. The woman who kept the building organized and watched over all the suites informed him The Council would be gathering later that evening in an emergency session, as many leaders were turning to them for answers.
As he swept off his cape and hung it in the closet, there was a small rap on the door. Jareth was immediately suspicious as he wasn't expecting any visitors. He sent out a tendril of magic and found a very small presence of an elf aside from his guards, a rather nervous elf presence.
What is it?" He demanded in a clipped tone.
A guard opened the door. "Sire, there is an elf who wishes an audience with you. He says he saw you arrive and has an inquiry about the location of Prince Elsian."
Jareth sighed and with a gloved hand covered his eyes momentarily. "Of course. The Elf Kingdom comes snooping around. fine. Send him in, but please remain."
The guard turned. "You may enter." He said to the elf, who was practically shaking with fear.
The small creature stepped into the room, only a step ahead of the large goblin. He practically twitched at the close proximity of the intimidating guard.
Jareth regarded the elf. He looked familiar. "Yes?" Jareth snapped.
The elf jumped, then bowed deeply.
"Your most exalted Majesty, I am here merely to inquire about my former charge Prince Elsian. I have been searching for many days. He left our cabin deep in the night. I thought perhaps you knew of his whereabouts."
Jareth thought about it, wondering if he should tell the elf the truth. Once he had spoken he recognized the small being as Elsian's companion. Regardless, it wasn't as if the elf could get into his kingdom and rescue the man.
"You do know, Elf, that if he came anywhere near my lands, it is within my rights to execute him without any hesitation?" He asked.
The elf's eyes widened. He knew, but he fear shifted for Elsian instead of himself.
"I am aware, Your Majesty, I had merely hoped that while you had some idea that he had not been so foolish."
The Goblin King took a deep breath in and let it out. "Yes, well, you were wrong. He was just that foolish. He headed straight for The Goblin Kingdom." The elf's lip trembled. Jareth turned and made himself a drink, then crossed the room and took a seat before continuing.
"Elsian is a a terribly fortunately man, however. My Queen is a generous soul. So no, he is not dead...yet. He is merely imprisoned, for the time being."
The elf practically collapsed with relief. "Oh, thank you Your Majesty, and please convey my gratitude to Her most gracious Majesty, The Goblin Queen."
Jareth took a long pull of his drink. "Tell me, Elf, are you here alone?"
"My name is Drell, Your Majesty, and no, I accompanied my most Blessed King at his allowance."
"So Eriol is here." The elf, Drell nodded. The Goblin King's brow rose. "did he send you here? Does he care where his son is?"
"N..no. He disowned Elsian and cast him out. He has no care if he is alive or dead. But...but...despite everything, Elsian is my friend, so...well...I just wanted to know if he was alright." The Elf stood tall then, as if somehow proud of his affiliation with Elsian.
Jareth laughed. "You have terrible taste in friends, elf. Let it be known, for whomever gives a damn, he lives... for now."
He finished his drink and stood. "Please leave. The guards will show you out."
He didn't even wait to watch Drell go, but when into the suites' sleeping chamber and closed the door.
Drell was unceremoniously dumped outside the door, the two guards taking their place on either side, glaring at the elf.
Taking the hint, Drell fled before his king noticed he wasn't around.
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When Jareth entered the hall, he found complete bedlam. Never had he seen so much confusion in a council meeting. Leaders from kingdoms all over the underground arguing, pointing fingers, the council itself screaming over the din to call the meeting to order.
He pushed his way through the crowd, his guards ahead of him. Even their presence wasn't helping much, though a few of the more goblin wary people moved away quickly.
Jareth made it to the front and waited. And waited. The crowd was not settling. He was getting more and more frustrated.
He took matters into his own hands, literally, as a large crystal appeared in his hands, no one taking notice. He flicked his wrist to an unused corner near the front and the crystal flew, exploding loudly upon impact.
The majority of the crowd immediately ducked, a few screams ringing out.
For one moment, everything was silent. Jareth stood there scanning the gathering for anyone who dared stand up against him.
He smirked as people started to slowly stand as the figured out what had happened, and glared at him. He said nothing to them but turned to the shocked council. "Shall we call this meeting to order, good council? You are welcome." He bowed and sat nonchalantly crossing on leg over the other and draping his arm over the back of the, as he observed, rather ugly ornate chair.
"Goblin King, while I appreciate your efforts to quite the group in theory, your actions are less than satisfactory." The Council leader said, being quite careful how he addressed the rogue king.
Jareth rolled his eyes. "Oh please, my actions are consistently less than satisfactory with the council. Let us get on with this. My dear Queen is overseeing repairs in my kingdom and sends her regrets and regards. I would like to return home as soon as it is possible. " He absently created a crystal and twirled it.
The Queen of the Deep Mines Kingdom stood. Others moved out of the way. While immortals tended to be lean, the people of highest mountain kingdoms were heartier in build and stance. She was tall and broad with copper skin and black hair in a hundred small braids piled on her head to make her even taller. They rarely came down from the mountains, except those who brought the metals, gems, and fine marble goods down to market. "Good Council. I came here to beg for aid. My Kingdom was ravaged mercilessly. We are a small kingdom who relies heavily on our mines to support us. Many of the mines caved. Hundreds died or are still trapped. We need hands for digging and food to feed our families. My first born son is dead and another missing. The dwarves work day and night but it is no use we simply don't have enough hands, and there is so much."
Jareth watched the queen's jaw clench. He could tell how galling it was for the proud ruler to beg for help. He stood. "You need ogres, Lady Hellena. They are large enough and strong enough to move what needs to be moved. They have endurance and need only a few hours of sleep a day. I can send a dozen to your kingdom. They are born of the mountains and work well in the thin air."
Her dark eyes focused on The Goblin King. He was an ally and always generous in trade. Her daughter was a former wished away. "Lord Jareth. I thank you. That will help. I am afraid it will take far more than even ogres. "
Jareth understood. Unfortunately his lands were rich in magic, but while they were certain well off and supported themselves quite well, most kingdoms had more monetary resources than The Goblin Kingdom. "Still, my ogres will come. Expect them within the week, with a shipment of foodstuffs in tow." He knew Sarah would insist on sharing their food stores with the stricken and hungry people.
The Head of The council, Laby Morgana, pounded her gavel. "Fine fine. Now, is there anyone who might know where the ground quake was centered or a possible cause?"
Once every kingdom represented reported what they had experienced, it was surmised that the kingdoms of the north mountain region had suffred the most, therefore the instability came from that general vicinity. There were 3 areas that had not reported to The Council, The Troll Lands, and 2 small kingdoms directly to the north of them, the northernmost underground. Both semi private fiefdoms, who, while technically under The Council's rule, were left mostly alone. The Immortal families that lived and ruled there preferred to stay to themselves are were fairly xenophobic of the "lesser" underground species, only allowing elves besides themselves dwell there, and only as servants. The Troll lands lying between them and the rest of the underground proved to be a good deterrent for invaders or visitors. It was obvious this was the area the quake originated.
"How will we go there?" Eriol, The Elf king stood. Jareth saw the young woman, heavy with child, to the side. She wore the consort crown. The King's Consort being a position of honor in the underground, she would be taking the position of The Queen at The King's side in The Queen's absence. Jareth's eyes widened slightly at the apparent youth of the girl. She looked to be about the age of his daughters.
Not taking any chances, Eriol? Acquiring a mate as young as possible without raising eyebrows, to sire as many children as possible. Does the girl know she is being used as a broodmare? Jareth thought to himself.
Just then The Elf King's eyes met his, and his lip curled up in a satisfied grin. Jareth was curious if the woman would be crowned when it was appropriate to do so, or if he would keep her in a subservient role. He would bet the latter.
A brief picture flashed in his head of his own wife's sparkling green eyes, and succulent body.
He assumes I am jealous? Please. No one even comes close to my lovely bride. He wishes he were so blessed.
The pounding of the gavel as the din in the room rose pulled The Goblin King from his own thoughts.
The Queen of Crystal Water Kingdom rose. "We will have to traverse the Troll Lands to get there. No one will do that without an army so large it will alarm the ruling families there."
"If they still live. We do not know how much damage they have sustained, or how many lived through it." Jareth pointed out. "No. I suspect, due to recent issues within my kingdom, The Troll Lands are exactly where we want to go. Has anyone heard from The Forest Trolls? They would be the only group to contact The Council for aid, if any."
Eriol crossed his arms, scoffing openly. "Why would we concern ourselves with Trolls. They have caused us enough grief for a thousand lifetimes."
"Because, Lord Eriol, The Forest Trolls long ago renounced the dark ways. They are citizens of the underground and if they need help, they certainly cannot count on their dark brethren to give it. Haven't we desired a foothold in The Troll Lands for as long as the underground has existed? We have always tried to respect their autonomy, but they have betrayed us again and again. If we reach out now, we may be able to gain an ally. A much needed ally, that can keep us abreast of The Dark Ones." Jareth crossed his arms in turn, facing the other king, eyes blazing.
"What has occurred within your kingdom, Lord Jareth?" The other king asked pointedly of the notoriously tight lipped Goblin King.
Jareth narrowed his eyes in warning. "Local concerns. Nothing pertaining to this fair gathering." He knew it was possible Hoggle's murder had gotten back to Talystra and spread around. To most it would be some minor occurrence to gossip about until the next thing came along to speculate about. The two former friends knew differently.
Especially is the elf told Eriol I have Elsian imprisoned in my castle. He might think I suspect Elsian of the crime. Which I don't really. What would have been the point of killing one of my citizens before arriving on my doorstep? He already had a death mark on his head in my kingdom. Jareth thought.
More rulers stood then, diffusing the situation. Eriol reluctantly sat, not wanting to be the first between the two, but he was urged by his consort. Jareth smirked at him and sat, only half listening to other rulers complaints, concerns, damage reports and requests for help.
Jareth realized that he may be at the capitol city far longer than he wanted, and felt a longing for home.
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Sarah stood silently in the highest room in castle. One that was locked to everyone but her and Jareth.
It was the room that housed ancient books of magic, where she had been trained by her husband, and they had trained the children. Soon Jariel would begin learning to control his budding magic, then Karelinda would follow.
She sometimes thought to have more children, to add to the population of powerful magic users of this world, would be a good thing. She loved them all so dearly, that more could only add to the love of her family. All of the unrest lately made her glad they had ceased having children for the time being.
Maybe someday we will have more, when all is peaceful again. I certainly hope that time comes soon.
Time was going so quickly. It seemed like only days since she had lived in a small apartment above, dreaming of her king she was never sure was real. She had almost convinced herself of it.
The memory of the night he swept into her life again made her smile. In her mind's eye she could see him barely visible in a small dark bedroom, telling her he had loved her since he saw her as a teen playacting in the park. How he had known she was the one.
Thinking of that, made her long for his presence. She was confident in her place here, finally, but his presence gave her peace of mind, that in the end all would be well as long as he was near and they stuck together.
Yet there was something wrong. Not with her love for him or him for her, but it felt like a wound somewhere had been created. That the magic that bound them had developed a crack deep within. It had been bothering her for days. The growing sense of wrongness in the magic itself, as if something was creeping in on their world, and their life together. Something was coming after them, their children. They were all in danger and she could not find where it was coming from.
So her she was, exploring these books, tools, and artifacts, trying to find something, anything that could help.
As she stood there, browsing a book called The History of Blood Sigils there were loud pounding footsteps climbing the stairs. Sarah reached out to discover there was two goblin guards approaching, and the tense hyper alert emotions caused her to hurriedly place the book on it's shelf and open the door, step out to the landing, and seal the room behind her as the two guards stepped onto the platform with her.
"My Lady, we have gotten word we have a visitor. He asked for you specifically." One informed her, bowing.
The Queen raised one delicate brow. "Oh? Who would want to see me? Without The King here? Rarely do I get visitors asking for me alone."
"Teagus said to tell you, you need to come. He said there is no danger, but the visitor is someone you will want to see. That is the only information we were given. We will escort you for extra protection."
"Alright." Sarah nodded once. "We will go from here, if it that important."
She stepped forward and laid a hand on the guard, closing her eyes and enacting her magic and letting them guide the direction of the transport spell so that the appeared in the right place.
When she opened them they were in a familiar place. The entrance to the kingdom where Hoggle's body had been found. Jareth had taken her there once, bu she had avoided the area since.
A group of guards lead by Teagus, who was the head of her personal royal group of goblins that traveled with her, was waiting. "My Lady Sarah, I apologize for interrupting you, but this, well, see for yourself."
The tall goblins moved, and within the circle, was a man, no not a man, a dwarf.
Sarah stared a long moment, he surprise showing to everyone present. She could barely push out the name of the being before her. "Merkle."
Hoggle's brother had returned.
He swallowed hard and looked up at the Goblin Queen, hat in his hands. Her angry expression and clenching fists making it quite clear how his appearance was going to be received.
"Sarah..er..Yer Majesty. We needs to talk. I weren't plannin' on comin' but...well, rights right. Ya can off me if ya want, but i need ta' tell yas some stuff first. After, ya can do watcha wills. I'll take ma punishments."
She turned to the guards. "Take him to the castle. One of the rooms down in the dungeon that has not been damaged. I need to send word to The King."
She turned her head towards Merkle, and he saw tears of pain glistening in her eyes, though he could tell she was angry behind them. "You better have a whole lot to tell me, Merkle, because no one, I mean NO ONE, hurts my family and gets away with it. Make no mistake, your brother was MY FAMILY. Farm ore than he was yours, it seems. Only because of him am I refraining from blasting you into oblivion right now." She flicked a hand and was gone.
"Let's go dwarf." A goblin grabbed him and jerked him along. "I've never seen the Queen so upset as when Sir Hoggle died, and you better pray to The Gods you have the right answers to her questions."
The ground fell out from under Merkle's feet as they vanished from sight.
Hey there! Thank you to all those reading, reviewing my stories! I promise I'm NOT abandoning anything!
Just dealing with severe writer's block, anxiety/depression issues and all these real world issues. sigh.
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In A Time Of Winter