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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
- 8
- 9
- 10
The Goblin Kingdom
There was quite a crowd waiting when the King and Queen of the Goblins arrived home. Excited children and goblins bouncing around, both Caolin and Sherryana waiting patiently to the side with the reports of activity during their monarchs' absence while each child in turn was hugged and kissed. Even a few goblins got in on the greetings, at least from their queen. Jareth would never hug a goblin. Kick a few yes, but hug? No.
Jareth disappeared to his study with Caolin to go over his reports, and Sarah went and changed out of her uncomfortable court dress into leggings and a loose tunic. When the corset was removed she took a deep breath in and relaxed completely.
"I tell you, Sher, I would be happy to spend the rest of my days as far away from that place as possible." She told her friend who was carefully hanging the dress she had worn home in the closet.
Harmony had wanted to go unpack but Lily, with Karelinda on her lap, sat on the bed while their mother changed.
"I don't blame you my Lady. It is not a fun place for one as free spirited as yourself. Still It can be interesting." Sherryana answered from the open closet door.
"I can see it both ways." Lily piped in as she hugged onto her little sister who was busy trying on her mother's crown.
"Of course you do my most diplomatic child." Sarah replied. Lily would someday be quite an ambassador for The Goblin Kingdom.
"Look! I'm the queen!" The littlest girl, Karelinda announced to all.
They all looked, and laughed at the child with the crown perched crookedly on her head, holding on as if she let go it would end up around her neck.
Sarah went and picked her up out of Lily's lap and swung her around. "Yes you are my darling girl. Queen of my heart!" She hugged her tight.
The little girl squirmed to be put down, then sped away to play in her parent's closet.
They watched her, all laughing and shaking their heads at the child's boundless energy.
After Sarah was changed, and had pried her youngest daughter out her shoes and clothes, it was lunchtime so she had lunch with her children to catch up before getting to work. It was nice to sit and listen to all their adventures they had while their parents and eldest sibling were away.
Looking around Sarah noticed Harmony had not joined them. She excused herself and told Sherryana she would meet her in her office in an hour.
She tapped on the door to Harmony and Lily's rooms. No answer. She reached out and sensed her daughter's presence within.
"Harmony?" She knocked again louder.
After a few minutes the door opened. Harmony obviously had been sleeping, and was wrapped in her dressing gown.
"What is it mother?"
"Are you okay? It's not like you to sleep during the day."
Harmony nodded. "I didn't get back to sleep last night and hardly slept the night before. Just tired is all." She turned and went back into her bedchamber and sat on her bed.
Sarah followed her. "You can finally relax. I know the feeling."
Harmony lay back on her pillow. "I'm fine. It's just so many odd things happened the past few days."
"It will all work out, you'll see." Sarah said smiling her bright smile.
Harmony barked out a laugh and turned, covering her head with a pillow. "Oh no. I see where Lily gets it. You two are just too damn happy."
Sarah giggled. "Somebody has to be. Look, I noticed you didn't have the talk with your father I suggested. Maybe that will ease your mind. No rush, when you feel up to it. I love you, my grumpy little princess. Should I check under your mattress for a pea?"
Even Harmony had to laugh. That had been a joke since she was small. Whenever she was in bad mood, Sarah would make a big show of looking under her mattress, like in the aboveground fairytale. She removed the pillow from her face.
"Yeah yeah yeah. I promise I will talk to him. I just need a little time to get my thoughts together."
"Sleep sweet." Sarah said as left the room.
Harmony turned curled onto her side and was quickly asleep.

_
Jareth was reading over the reports for the last few days, when he stopped suddenly.
"Caolin, what is this? Hoggle left The Goblin Kingdom with his brother and did not return by the time the night shift guards were given leave this morning?"
Caolin look over the king's shoulder and read it himself. "I was not alerted. It is possible he returned this morning as we have not yet gotten the morning reports, Sire. It is not unheard of for Goblin denizens to leave for a night or two to visit relatives in other kingdoms."
"True." Jareth answered. "But that silly dwarf? He hasn't left The Goblin Kingdom since he was granted residence. Please check with the guards. If not I suppose I will send a few guards out to search for him in the "in betweens" from here to The Troll Lands. Surely he wouldn't be so stupid as to go there, even with his brother. Usually I would let the fool fend for himself but Sarah will be worried."
Caolin Nodded and bowed. "I will go now and ask the guards stationed where it is said he went through. I'll be back shortly, Your Majesty."
He came back half an hour later with the report that Hoggle had not been seen.
Jareth hissed. "Wonderful. As if I do not have more important things to do. Do not speak a word of this to Sarah. She will get it in her head to go off and seek him out herself and I do not want my wife trekking through those unprotected areas. Send a dozen of my elite group out to look for him. They should be safe. The outcasts that wander there would not dare want to deal with them. Tell them to watch out for traps."
"It will be done, my friend." Caolin bowed again and left.
Jareth got up from his chair and looked out the window into the gardens below. No Hoggle there.
He rubbed his forehead and sighed. "Bloody fool." He shook it off and went back to work.

_
The elite guards of The Goblin King had seen many things. Many over the years had fought and died in the service to their monarch. They did so gladly as their king was good to them. Those not married had fine quarters, food and warm bed within the castle and those who had families were given good homes to raise their families in. Their king respected and admired their prowess and loyal service.
There were those times though, each guard would gladly lay down their sword and never fight again if it meant a quiet life without the worry of killing and being killed. Like with all sentient beings, these were never easy choices but done out of necessity for the protection other their homes and King and Queen and now their children. It was the highest honor.
Teagus, the commander of the guard and currently leading the group assigned to search the in betweens, looked diligently behind every tree, rock and bush, scanning the horizon for any sign of the dwarf. It was rather warm this day, he thought, as he wiped his brow with his handkerchief.
They were following the path that led to the beginning of the Troll lands.
"Sir Sir!" said Grenfnel, his second in command as he ran up.
"What? Have you found anything?" He asked.
Grenfnel nodded. "Feran spotted something in the tall grass close to the entrance to The Goblin Kingdom to the southwest. He told me to fetch you before checking it out. He thinks in may be..a body."
Teagus swallowed hard. "Let's go."
The two traced the long path back to where Feran was waiting with several other Goblin guards. Each looked very distressed and upset.
"What is it." He asked as he walked up to the group and stopped. Feran looked into his commander's face, deadly serious in his expression. "You better see this sir. The King is not going to like this at all, and the Queen..well. You just better look for yourself."
Teagus walked past them all and into the area to see what was laying in the tall weeds. He crouched down and covered his mouth a feeling of horror and sadness threatening to overtake him.
Standing he turned and growled. "Get the king, now."

_
The Goblin King had fought in The Great War. Death was nothing new to him. Suffering he had seen more of than he would care to remember. He had walked through rivers of blood, he had taken many lives.
The one thing he could never get used to was the waste. The tragedy of loss to those who had to live through the aftermath.
On this day, his family would feel that pain.
Caolin stood behind the king. He could see Jareth's anger rising to critical levels. His clenched fists and tight jaw as he watched the guards carefully place the body of the dwarf on a cloth and fold it in around him.
Caolin held the leather parchment, with only 7 words written on it in blood. most likely Hoggle's blood.
You will all suffer. Death to Immortals.
Caolin put his hand on his friends shoulder. "We will find whomever did this, My Lord."
"We will." Was all Jareth said.
"What will you tell.." Caolin stopped as Jareth turned, his burning eyes crimson.
"I will have to tell her the truth. There is no way to hide what happened here."
"She will be heartbroken, if I may speak freely." Caolin said quietly so only Jareth could hear.
"I am aware, Caolin." Jareth snapped back then immediately regretted his harsh tone. "I apologize, my friend. It is just that.." He couldn't go on.
Turning back to the goblins. "Take this...in through the dungeon entrance so no one will see. Leave him in one of the infirmary treatment rooms and let Merrik know to meet me there. Tell him to speak to no one." Even though he was not fond of Hoggle, he could not reconcile that what he had been looking at had been his wife's friend.
It was madness to think this had happened in the in between wasteland. Yes there were outcasts there, but torture and murder of a dwarf were not their usual way of things. At most they would beat him up and take any valuables. Their main targets were Immortals.
"What can the healer do?" Caolin asked his king.
"While we do not have the technology of the aboveground healers, we have ways to find out what happened. Healers see much death and are the best at discerning cause of death and what kind of creature or weapon could do certain kinds of damage. From there we work outward to a reasonable conclusion. Though I am not feeling reasonable at this moment."
He watched as the Goblins with Caolin transporting left to follow his orders, then he too disappeared back to the castle.
Jareth met his healer less than a half an hour later in the room that held Hoggle's remains.
The cloth removed, all Merrik could say was "Gods!" before beginning. He had a job to do.
Merrik, disgusted and shocked, grimly worked both magically and with his hand and instruments, while Jareth stood silently in the corner observing.
The initial examination took a little more than an hour. The healer nodded to Jareth and together they wrapped the body. Merrik washed his hands as he began speaking. They were covered in blood.
"Sire, whomever did this was particularly vicious. Why would someone do such a thing? Hoggle was a gardener. Of harm to no one!"
Jareth motioned. "Get on with it. Who or what did this?"
"The burn marks are made with an iron brand. I could detect small bits in the wounds. Immortals don't use iron tools as a rule. The strands of fur are a mottled red, brown and gray, much like Ludo's species of land ogre. The only beings I know of that kill such gentle beasts for their skins were trolls. I would like to see if the parchment is troll skin."
Jareth hissed. "Trolls?! The dwarf's brother has been residing in the troll lands, but they have no use for dwarves. Even if he went with his brother there..why would they kill him? Not just kill, but torture and..this?!"
Merrik shook his head. "There is no evidence as to why except the threat on the parchment. My lord. I am not knowledgeable about trolls. He was tortured and beaten before they took his heart. Rather forcibly took it. I am sorry, Jareth. I know how much he means..meant..to the Queen."
Jareth's clenched a fist and pounded the side of his thigh. He was trying to keep his lust for hunting down the perpetrators and chopping them to bits this very moment.
"How dare they! One of MY subjects! They will pay!" He said, his voice rising.
Merrik grabbed his king's arm, holding him back. Jareth's eyes narrowed as he looked at the healer, surprised he would do such a thing.
"My Lord, forgive my forwardness, but you must calm down. I do not think it would for Lady Sarah to see in in such a state. Would you like me to tell her?"
Jareth took a couple of deep breaths and stepped back. "No. I agree Merrik. I need to calm myself. Please do not let Sarah hear of this for the time being. I will be back in a little while. Then I will take care of it."
Jareth left the infirmary and disappeared, reappearing in the tower room. He loved this room. This is where all things pertaining to magic were kept. He had spent many hours here practicing and teaching magic here. It was a place of peace. For it was best to be in a calm state when dealing with magic.
He stepped out onto the window ledge and jumped, turning into a snowy white owl as soon as his feet left the stone.
He swooped down and looked over his kingdom, eventually roosting on a large tree in the great forest that wrapped around the midpoint of The Labyrinth.
Watching the ground, he saw what he had been looking for, a small rodent rustling around in the leaves.
Letting his bloodlust take over, he plunged, talons raised to make a killing blow.

_
Sarah was in her study working on the daily acquisitions that kept the castle running. She had layers upon layers of delicate balancing to do within the hierarchy of goblin society. Which when looked at from outside was nothing but chaos, then once you became familiar with it you learned that goblins do have a structured society in their own way. They preferred to barter rather than outright buy and sell, so it was always a tricky task getting the food and sundry items not only for the castle proper but for the Goblin City straightened out so everyone was satisfied.
As she was writing, she noticed how quiet it had become. Sherryana was taking completed messages and sealing them with the castle seal as Sarah handed them to her. Beyond the rustle of paper and the clock ticking, there was no noise. This was unusual.
Not even birds were singing in the gardens below.
Sarah threw her quill down. "What is going on? This place is usually buzzing. There is something weird going on."
"I noticed too. It's as if the whole kingdom is holding it's breath, isn't it? Odd." Sherryana replied.
A sharp knock on the door made them both jump.
"Enter please." Sarah said.
Caolin came in and bowed to his Queen, then nodded at his wife. "May I borrow my wife, Lady Sarah? If you can spare her."
"Absolutely. Caolin, is their something wrong?" She noticed the man's rather pinched and troubled expression.
"I..cannot say, Your Majesty Lady Sarah. I do believe His Majesty will be coming to see you as soon as he finishes his current..situation. He needs to speak with you privately and asked me to retrieve Sherryana so he may do so."
Sarah narrowed her eyes. "Now what situation is he trying to "protect" me from?" She used air quotes to make her point. "I've been here all this time and he still doesn't trust me to be able to handle anything remotely unpleasant. If I'm a queen dammit, let me be a queen. Otherwise he should have just made me castle chatelaine and his wife."
She stood and walked to the window, arms crossed.
"My Lady, please. The King WILL explain. He is not hiding anything from you. I swear it. There are complications that needed to be addressed before he comes to you. I have my orders." Caolin answered stiffly.
"Sarah..you know Caolin would never.." Sherryana started.
"Yes, I know I know. Please, just go." Sarah said distractedly. The feeling of dread and foreboding waving over her.
Something was very wrong.
The door shut behind her and she stared at the blue sky as she listened to the clock tick.

_
Caolin stomped down the hallway, frustrated. He was not mad at his queen, and in fact agreed with her to an extent. No Queen in the underground was expected to be shielded from the harsh reality of life here.
To be a queen meant being strong beyond measure. He knew Sarah was stronger than anyone queen he had ever heard of. He could also understand his friend's covetous nature. If he were to lose Sherryana, or someone attempted to hurt his family, he would stop at nothing to make sure they suffered.
"Caolin why are you walking so fast? What is going on?" Sherryana said as she tried to keep up.
He stopped and sighed. Then offered her his arm. "I am sorry. Please, we need to speak somewhere private."
Sherryana was alarmed at his tone. "Alright, there is a supply closet right there, we can step inside fora few minutes."
Caolin went to the door and opened it, pulling his wife into the small room with him, to tell her what had happened.

_
Jareth paused before the door to his wife's study. He could feel her inside, could sense her annoyance. He still had no idea how he was going to tell her.
His brief flight and letting his animal instinct take over had eased his desire for killing at that moment only a little. As with all of his kind there was a primal need, a darkness that could only be sated by destroying those who had chosen to take from his kingdom.
They had slaughtered one of his subjects heinously and without hesitation. His instincts were telling to find them, kill them, make an example of them so no other would dare ever do such a thing against his kingdom. This, was an act of war. He was good at war. He would bring it to his unseen enemy in spades.
On top of everything, more than daring to act against his rule, this was a viciously personal act. This act was meant to hurt himself, his children, and most especially Sarah.
He knocked softly, and push opened the door.
"Sarah?" He enquired within.
She turned from the window, arms crossed. "What the hell is going on Jareth?"
He closed the door and sealed it magically. This was not something he wanted to share with anyone else in the castle. He knew the news was starting to filter out but no one needed to be witness to this moment.
"My love..can we...let us sit alright?" He gestured to the sofa.
Sarah, upset, felt that irritation melt away when she saw Jareth's face. His casual speech pattern, his wan face more pale than usual.
She sat across from him. He leaned forward and grasped her hands tightly in his.
"Sarah..I...I do not know how to say this. something has..I mean I need to tell you that.."
Sarah moved to sit next to him. Her eyes wide. It was not like Jareth to be at a loss for words.
He looked up and make sure to be looking at her face so she would know and understand.
"Hoggle..he is...he has been, that is..Hoggle has died. I am so sorry."
Sarah's mouth dropped open and snapped closed. "What? Why? Was he sick? I knew something was wrong. Oh Hoggle.." Her eyes began tearing up .
Jareth pulled her to him, and she buried her face in his neck. He listened to her quiet sobs. If only this was the end of it.
As he stroked her hair he went on. "There is more. He was not sick. Sarah..someone murdered him. He disappeared yesterday morning, and was found just about two hours ago. My love I am soooo..I promise they will pay for this."
Sarah sat up and looked at him. "What do you mean murdered?! Who would murder Hoggle?! Why?!" Her voice rising now. Almost shrill.
She stood and he stood with her, trying to hold on to her. "Sarah, I know you are distraught. We suspect he may have been murdered buy trolls but nothing is certain. Trolls do not typically attack dwarves as they are of no use to them. We will find out I swear we will."
Sarah wrenched away from him and walked back to the window her hand covering her mouth. She stared out at the gardens so lovingly attended to by Hoggle and herself.
Then she felt something else. Anger. Anger so fierce she wanted to pick up a chair and throw it through the window. She want tear apart whomever had taken her friends life and use her magic to put them together, only to tear them apart again. She want them to suffer.
She clenched her fists so hard her nails broke the skin of her palms. The pain bringing her back to herself somewhat.
She turned back to Jareth.
He was shocked by what he saw. He had never seen her look like that before. Her eyes shining with the distinctive red glow of their kind signifying the need to spill the blood of their enemies. He looked down at her hands..there was blood dripping from her fingertips.
"I will kill them myself." She growled. "Whoever did this, has no clue what they have just brought upon themselves." Hot tears ran down her face.
Jareth went to her and took her hands, running a finger over each palm to heal the small wounds. She was shaking with pain and rage. He understood.
"WE will make them pay."
He took her face in his hands and pressed his forehead to hers. "I must be truthful, I wanted you to never have to experience this. Never have to feel this way. I know it was unrealistic. I believe we have gotten so comfortable here I let myself pretend this could never happen. This world can be such a vicious, unforgiving world. There are many who think little of one life. This was done to prove a point. Someone telling us we are not safe. We never really have been. I just let you and the children believe it because it was easier than seeing fear in any of your eyes. I am sorry."
Sarah's eyes were shut tight as she tried to control her feelings. She was physically hot to the touch and knew she needed to cool down.
"I need to get out of here." She whispered, her throat raspy and dry.
"Where do you want to go?" Jareth asked.
"Outside." was her answer.
They disappeared and reappeared at the small lake that was fed by the stream that ran through the forest. It was a private place that Jareth had created just for himself and Sarah a few years earlier, for those times when they needed to be alone.
As soon as they appeared Sarah sank to the ground, breathing shallow and laying her overheated face on the cool grass.
Jareth was worried. He knew she would be upset but this was frightening.
"What is happening?!" She cried and arched, panting.
As Jareth watched she started to change. She had never shown a propensity to shift before,and had thought as all other mortal born changelings, could not. He was surprised to see it happening to say the least.
She screamed and he kneeled next to her. "Sarah you must relax!" He knew this was impossible to do, but he had to try anyway. He had been through it. The first shift was the most excruciating thing he had even known. There was little he could do except watch and stay by her side. He wrapped his arms around her and held on.
Magical current flowed through her every cell, changing and reshaping her body. It felt like a she was being tort apart alive and sewn back together by iron needles and her muscles and bones moved within her. So she screamed and screamed until he voice changed to howls and roars.
Finally, she was still. Breathing hard, but still. Jareth opened his eyes and sat up.
In place of his wife's form was a black cat with bright green eyes, staring at him in confusion and wonder.
Can you hear me? Jareth heard in his head.
"Yes my love. He said, reaching out and stroking her fur. "I should have known you would be a cat." He smirked.
How do I turn back? Why did this happen? He heard.
"Our animal forms are connected directly to our emotions. Our most basic instincts. Your desire to protect those you love and kill those who would hurt them is strong. Fierce. If it is any consolation. You are beautiful either way."
You will excuse me if I'd rather not be a cat beautiful or not. So again, how do I change back? Those green cat eyes narrowing as they watched him.
"You must will it. Use your mind and picture yourself as you usually are. Then push your magic outward towards the picture." Jareth answered out loud.
The cat closed her eyes and breathed slowly.
After few tries Sarah was able to clumsily get a hold on her magic in this form. In her minds eye she saw herself as the person she saw in the mirror, and pushed the magic out to flow back through her body.
The pain started again, making her shake, but she kept herself from showing it as much. She clenched her jaw to keep from screaming, or roaring, but little whining noises came through anyway.
Jareth stood back and waited. Eventually he saw the telltale sign of flowing energy, and in a flash Sarah was herself again.
She make it to her knees before slumping. Very weak.
Jareth picked her up off the ground and carried her to the small cottage they kept there. He went inside and deposited her gently on the bed.
She curled into herself and tiredly watched her husband brew something.
"This will help ease the pain." He said as he worked.
For a few moments Sarah had forgotten what had brought them to this place. Then it hit her. Hoggle was gone. Her best friend. The first friend she had made here.
The sadness overcame her, and she started to cry. Her anger giving way to a hollow empty feeling deep inside. Why?
"No it won't." She said softly through her tears. Her voice small and full of sorrow.
Jareth sat the cup on the small table and gathered Sarah in his arms. While he did not have the same depth of loss he knew Sarah felt, he did feel sad for the waste of life. It was senseless and wrong.
There was nothing he could do to ease her sadness, he knew. Nothing she would accept. The only thing he could have done is take her memories of the dwarf, and there was no chance she would want that. As painful as it was, she would keep and cherish every second. He knew her.
He rocked her and gently rubbed her back and stroked her hair. There was nothing he could say.
He opened the bond between them and let her pain in, hoping to ease the burden in her heart. The waves of her sadness washing over him, making tears of his own well up. She was fighting let him in.
He laid her on her side and curled around her as if trying to shield her...but he could not.
"Let me in Sarah." He said in her ear.
She finally did.
They stayed like this for several hours until her exhaustion finally kicked in and she fell into a troubled sleep.
Conjuring a crystal, he sent a message to his assisant that they were at the cottage, safe, and not to be disturbed. They would tell the children when they returned in the morning.
He did not sleep. He laid there watching shadows shift as the moon moved overhead, thinking and plotting revenge on those who had hurt his Sarah.

_
Sarah woke to bird songs. For a moment she wondered where she was.
Then she remembered. Turning she saw she was alone.
"Jareth?" She called as she sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. The cottage was small but luxurious. Just big enough for the two of them. The door opened and he was there, carrying several fish on a string.
"Good, you are awake." He said. "Are you hungry?"
She stood and went to stand beside him as he prepared the fish for cooking. "Fish for breakfast?" She joked, trying to find some sense of normalcy.
He smiled at her. "From what I understand it is not uncommon in the above in some areas."
She rubbed the sleep out her eyes. "True enough. Let me help."
He handed her a knife.
she started cutting up the fish he had cleaned. "What time is it?"
"It is a bit later than I had planned, but early enough to call this brunch. You were sleeping so soundly I thought I would get a little fishing in. I enjoy it and get a chance so rarely these days." He replied, popping the fish into a pan. It started to sizzle right away.
"Jareth I...what is going to happen now?" She asked. Trying to approach the subject without starting to get upset again.
"We will eat, we will bathe and change, then we will go back to the castle and deal with what needs to be done." He said firmly.
"Will there be...a funeral?" Sarah said.
"If you would like, love, I will leave that to you. Typically non immortals are left to their own kind to take care of such events, but as he is the only dwarf here, and an honored friend of the crown, a service would be acceptable."
"Was." Sarah answered.
"What?"
"He was a friend of the crown. Not is." She said frowning. "Oh gods..I have to tell Didymus..and Ludo."
"Would you like me.." Jareth started.
"No! I mean, no. Sorry it's just, that is something I should do." She fiddled with the ties on her belt and stared at the floor.
"Sit. The food is ready. You need to eat." Jareth told her.
He pulled out a chair at the small table and she sat.
He sat the food down and ran his hands over her face, wiping the tears away. "Sarah. It will be okay. I promise to you. They will pay. Hoggle would not want you to go on like this. He loved you so and would hate seeing you suffer. You have to be strong now. The children have to be told and this will be a blow. Unlike you and I this will be a new experience for them."
She nodded and turned to her plate of food. Not hungry but she knew Jareth was watching and expected her to eat something.
"Jareth I mean what I said. I want to help you find them. I have to. I know you won't want me to. Please don't fight me on this. He was my best friend." She said as she pushed the food around.
"Eat. I mean it Sarah. You need nourishment after going through your first shift." Was his reply."We will discuss the logistics later."
She shoved a bit into her mouth to avoid anymore arguing about eating. It was really good, a piece of filleted fish well seasoned, with some of the sweet vegetable she loved. It was similar in taste to a pea, but was blue and shaped more like a bean. The kitchen area at the cottage was well stocked with essentials. Before she knew it she had cleaned her plate.
She hadn't felt hungry but apparently her body was.
Jareth finished before her and ran a bath for them both. They had both spent the night in their clothes.
Sarah cleaned up the dishes manually and followed him in.
"Jareth..I feel like I just arrived here. Like I'm confused and don't know what to do anymore. Everything seems different now. Even what happened before..it seems like a vague dream." She said as she removed her tattered clothing and took his hand.
He got her settled then stripped and joined her, getting in behind her so she could lay against him as they had done countless times.
He washed her hair and then her body gently. She was perfectly capable but he was trying to comfort her some way. Make her feel safe again.
"For you it is I suppose." He murmured. "Most are all too familiar with how heartless it can be. That is what is unique about you, my love. You believe in the good in everyone. That such evil is rare. It is not. If we lived in a large city like Talystra, murder, rape, theft, assault happens frequently there and in other less..civilized kingdoms and lands."
He finished and kissed her shoulder. "Sarah do not lose that. No matter what happens. Do not lose that pure heart of yours."
She sniffed back her tears again. "This was because of me, wasn't it. Because he was friends with me. I favored him so he was a pawn."
"The truth?" Jareth asked bluntly.
She nodded.
"Yes, in part. It was a crime of opportunity however. Anyone leaving here could have been targeted. Hoggle is known to be a friend of The Goblin Queen, so it was merely an unexpected bonus for them. I still would like to know how the trolls would know it. Someone would have had to tell them and no one I know socializes with them."
"If only I would have...wait..what about Merkle? Was he killed?" Sarah had forgotten about the other dwarf in her grief.
"I do not know Sarah. He was not brought back here. It is possible. It is just as possible if Hoggle was killed by trolls, that Merkle is partly responsible. I knew there was something off about that blasted dwarf showing up here unannounced."
Sarah stood and grabbed a towel, while Jareth finished up and did the same a few minutes later. They dug around in the clothes stored at the cottage and dressed quickly. It was getting to be lunch at the castle and Jareth wanted to catch everyone together. He would rather have to only do this one more time.
Stepping outside into the sunlight, Jareth sealed the little house with magic so it would not be disturbed and took his wife's hand. together the transported back to face everyone.
It was going to be a long sad day in The Goblin Kingdom.

_
This has not been an easy hump to get over. Angst is not my best thing.
The next chapter will not be too long in coming. I originally had this and the next as one chapter, but when it hit 12,000 words I split them. Also halfway done with the one after that.
I dedicate this and the next chapter to my beloved familiar Salem Seymour, who went to The Bridge not long ago. His passing and my subsequent sadness helped me get to the place I needed to be to write this. I will miss you my sweet chunky monkey, my little black raincloud, my dearest loyal friend. I will miss you waking me up at 3am for a game of fetch!
Anyway, on to the next! Love you all! Muah!
- 8
- 9
- 10
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In A Time Of Winter