The Underground

When Hoggle tentatively stepped back into the hall he discovered that other members of the Advising Council had joined Jareth. One such person was a beak-nosed goblin by the name of Fidgit who had once openly criticized Sarah Williams when she'd activated the goblin's magic. "Would you listen to that rubbish?!? It doesn't even begin with I wish! I wish the goblins would come and take my brother away right now! That's not so hard, now is it?!" Fidget was one of Jareth more intelligent and deliberate goblins. Well known for his sharp opinions and cutting impatience. Although technically a Labyrinth Knight Fidget had been demoted in rank due to his conduct during the battle in the Goblin City, but had retained his advising position because he was a goblin and it had been a debatable conflict of interest not to fight on Jareth's side. Didymus had also just arrived by way of some back entrance near his post overlooking the Bog of Enternal Stench and had taken it upon himself to escort the aged Wiseman who looked as if he was being guided in his sleep by the sprightly Fox.

The only one left who wasn't there was Agnes the Junk Lady, though just because she wasn't there didn't mean she didn't know exactly what was going on at any given time. No doubt she would be late if she arrived at all.

Jareth indicated to Hoggle to hurry up and sit down so he could get on with their business.

"Right lets get on with this. I suppose your all wondering why I've called you all here and I'm sure rumors have already begun to swirl. Well, allow me to clarify." Out of nowhere Jareth produced the oversized envelop Mim had presented to him and threw it into into the center of the table with a thwack that caused almost everyone to jump in their seats.

"In their infinite wisdom in two weeks time the High Council Plans to unload upon us. I've just been told, not asked, TOLD that we are to host the High Council's Centennial Ball. In two weeks time the entire kingdom is going to be crawling with anyone who is anyone from the high corners of the blasted Underground. Now I don't think I need to remind any of you why that might be a little bit of a problem. I don't believe for one second this is a courteous expression of the High Councils Esteem for us. Certainly as a neutral sovereignty the kingdom had won few friends in recent memory and I will not have the security of everything we have established here compromised. That said I cannot defy the High Council in this matter therefore we must formulate a strategy in addressing the matter. I am asking for your advisement and council." Jareth informed them all seriously as he leaned over the table and griped its edge.

Everyone only looked at each other, all stunned and equally concerned. Finally, Sir Didymus got up the gumption to pose a question. "But...My Lord? Why now? Why here? Doths they Majesty really believe tat the High Council wishes thee ill?"

Jareth smiled mirthlessly. "With out a doubt, Sir Knight."

"Well don't the Goblin Kingdom have any friends?" Hoggle interjected with unusual confidence he reserved for when he felt indignant. "Gwah, I mean can't we control whose coming to this thing?"

"The dwarf makes a fair point, we may not be able to exclude certain parties from attendance but we can certainly stack the deck to our favor. Who do you know on the High Council we can count on?" The White Huntress inquired waving a little at the drawf in acknowledgement.

"I may have one or two favorable friends left among the Empyream and, Meriel, the people of the Enchanted Forest will follow your lead. The only real good ally I can think of that holds a direct seat at the High Council's table is Scheherazade, Queen of the Forgotten dessert. she's fair and discerning at the very least and will remain impartial. As for the kingdom of Astraea they've been silent for some decades. Hoggle, do you think the far off Dwarven clans to the North and East would even respond to us? Goblins are not their favorite beings but they may be tempted if we offer them access to a few of our lesser treasuries."

"guh, I dunno. I suppose it wouldn't hurt teh try, but just remember if they get a better offer from someone else they not think twice about turning on you." Hoggle advised shrewdly.

"Sir Didymus, what about the intellectual animals and the retired knights?" Jareth inquired turning his attention to the fox.

"Well, I see no reason why they wouldn't want to come to the party, your Majesty. But it might be fair hard to track many of them down. I could send out word but it may take a good amount of time." Didymus offered.

"Do it Sir Knight. We'll hope for the best." Jareth agreed. "I want all the oubliettes temporary sealed as well as all entrances in and out of the castle save the main ones. The maze is to be put on high alert but there is to be no interference unless its a matter of state or on my orders. The castle goblins will be enchanted to take a more pleasing form but the city and maze goblins are to remain as they are and I want everyone on their best behavior No doubt invitations will also be sent out to the Earthlong and Silent Ones. I'm sure they will be too busy distrusting each other to bother with meddling with me. I have good faith that some of the lesser Green Children will also be willing to provide entertainment. The Arid Flats are to be marked as off limits to everyone. Are we agreed?"

Everyone nodded in agreement except for Agnes who of course was a Junk Person and not there to voice her opinion.

"I want the agreement of everyone, that includes you Agnes. You might as well come out from behind that curtain your ease dropping behind. I'm entrusting you to keep your people in line. The last thing I need is some royal going and losing all of their memories." Jareth muttered referring to a hidden area near his throne behind him.

"Dwah, his Gobliness ruins all of Agnes's fun!" A loud clacking sound could be heard as Agnes tried to turn around and pull back the curtain. Her large shell like mass of junk bashing into either side of the wall she'd been hiding as well as one or too ease dropping goblins. "Ow! My back! Well? Get out of my darned way! Don't sass!"

Finally the goblin spy emerged pretending to move much slower than she was actually capable of to give the illusion of age and fragility.

"Glad you decided to join us, Agnes. Do I have your people's word?" Jareth pressed.

"Yeah, yeah. Keep your pretty pants on. We promise not ta interfere. At least not unless someone starts something first. So you keep them royals out of our hair and everything should be fine." The junk woman muttered.

"Fine. Then the invitation go out now. The rest of you know what to do. I want progress reports as soon as they become available." Jareth ordered. "You're all dismissed, and thank you."

Satisfied everyone began to shuffle in their seats. Until Hoggle cleared his throat. "Huh, Jareth..."

"Huh, God. If I must..." Jareth looked annoyed. "As one final remark there is a human woman that appeared in the Labyrinth by the name of Joby. Clearly I did not bring her her so her protection and security falls under the jurisdiction of the Labyrinth Knight so long as she is roaming about the kingdom. Please assist her at your own discretion. That's all I have to say. You may all go now."

Jareth pressed his fist to his heart and bowed graciously to the lot of them and waited patiently for all of them to shuffle out. Meriel rose graciously from her chair to stand discreetly near him. "I notice, you failed to mention your own family on the list. They are part of the Royal Court. Am I to take it you don't intend to invite them?"

"Lord, yes. My family is the last people I want at this event and don't you dare send word to them either. Queen Mad is up to something. If things do go badly I'm going to need a hidden ace or two in my hand."

"Yes. A convenient excuse, I suppose." Meriel observed obscurely. "Well at any rate this business should prove to be interesting."

Meanwhile, Joby found herself outside of the castle gates, eyes darting between Hoggle's compass to the map.

Hmmm. Let's see, she thought taking a moment to focus her thoughts I'd love to find someplace quiet, where I can just relax and pull myself together. She felt her stomach rumble. Oh, some food would be great too. The needle turned sharply and she took her first independent steps into the hedge maze.

She walked the path in the same manner that the dwarf told her, a steady, unstopping gait. However she indulged in sightseeing. She watched the flight path of some remarkable golden colored bird with long, elegant tail feathers that danced in the wind like kite tails. She greeted a short, squat goblin with enormous green eyes. It returned the gesture with a tremendous passing of gas and seemed perplexed with Joby's ensuing laughter. She slowed her pace as the compass steered her through several abrupt turns. Green bushes gave way to brick walls. Another corner and she nearly jumped out of her skin when she came face to face with a mossy patch covered in eyes. They extended outwards and followed her until she rounded a corner and hit what looked to be a dead end. Before her stood a marble wall carved to look like the folds of a pair of curtains. She was at a loss as to what to do next.

"You certain this is right?" she asked the compass. The needle didn't move. She studied the wall for a second before reaching out towards it. The wall gave way to her touch swaying as if it were real fabric. She grasped the curtain and pulled it aside.

Her face lit up and she knew she had reached her destination.

"This is just... perfect!"

She nearly skipped into one of the most charming orchards she had ever seen. Neatly manicured trees stood in multiple rows bearing several kinds of red, yellow, and plum-colored fruits. Rose bushes lined the walls, and at the center stood a statue of a woman smiling pleasantly at her garden. A small water fountain trickled from the far wall next to which sat a stone bench. She walked towards it and put down everything but the map which she carefully folded and slid into her back pocket. She approached a tree bearing fat, golden apples. She picked one, picking off some of the skin with a thumbnail. She held it close to her face and inhaled deeply. Its rich sweetness made her stomach rumble more. She knew it was potentially risky, but she took a small bite. The flavor coated her mouth with a sweetness that made her think of honeysuckle sap. She finished it with relish, leaving the core by the roots. It was then that Joby noticed something unusual about the soil. She scooped some into her hand. It was dry, too dry and very sandy. She didn't see any organic material or anything else that would provide nutrients to the trees.

"Impossible..."

She could accept crystal balls that transported its user to a new world, a winged goblin that defied the laws of flight, and a labyrinth that moved with a mind of its own, but she struggled to wrap her head around the notion of bountiful orchards thriving in barren land.

"Now this is just a miracle."

She finally took a seat on the bench rinsing her hands in the water. She leaned against the wall and sighed. She let her state of amazement dissolve as she thought about her situation. A weight had settled into her stomach since she heard the news.

On the plus side, there's no neater place to be so helplessly stuck in. The thought was hardly reassuring.

"I...I don't know anything about miracles. But...Nothing is impossible here...Or, at least, I don't really see how anything could be impossible in a place like this. I don't really know, I suppose." Someone muttered from the other side of a short green hedge that was on the other side of the garden.

the man speaking sounded lost and somewhat unsure but well meaning as he stammered through his train of thought with only the back of his head showing over the hedge and what appeared to be a soft pink frilly looking parasol hovering over the man's head angled against the sun.

"I'd be careful what I eat here. In this specific place. I can't say for sure but now and again I see creatures forget themselves and nibble a bit here or there. It never seems to work well for them after that. Practically everything in the labyrinth seems saturated in magic. I mean...Dont take my word for it or anything. you probably ate a safe one, though I can't be certain on the subject." The man went on in a rambling manner, his voice sounded English but more warbled in tone. Like the man suffered from a mild knid of fluttering anxiety that he was trying to minimize if not entirely conceal.

The voice jerked Joby back into reality. It sounded male, speaking a dialogue reminiscent of Wonderland. She carefully peered across the garden until she caught sight of the parasol. She stood and took a few slow steps in his direction. She was about to call out to him, but he continued.

"Well I certainly hope I ate a safe one," she responded. Suddenly, she became hyper aware of her body. "How long have you been standing there...and what do you mean it never seems to work out for the animals?" The man's voice was distinctly English like the King's; perhaps they were related. She walked closer. He sounded sort of peculiar, like he was uneasy.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

She now stood on the other side of the hedge. On tiptoe, she could peek at the stranger from over the top of it. All she could see was the little pink umbrella and a glint of sandy hair.

"The sun. It bothers me. There's not often alot of shade among the maze. And I'm frightfully afraid to go near the forest. I like sitting here though. Its pretty at least, wouldn't you agree?" The man didn't even try to look at Joby he just looked ahead of him or at the ground with one knee curled against his chest as if he was cold and the other curled around his bent leg as if he was trying tuck as much of himself as possible under the very limited shade of the pink parasol.

The man's outfit was simple and bland. He wore black trousers and a small black vest over a course textured but typical white shirt with large billowed sleeves and a worn white cravat at his throat that had seen better days but looked quite clean. The man's face was long and hollow but more common than aristocratic. and his eyes were dull and wet looking like polished blue stones submerged in water. The man was tall. About 6', taller than the Goblin King by at least a nose and forehead. And he was thin and gangling of limb with one hand holding the parasol and the other arm resting limp palm up at his side as if he had not the energy or the inclination to be master of it.

"Don't worry. Nothing's died that I'm aware of...But you know sometime a creature will change color, or go seemingly mad, or simple develop some kind of strange affliction that I'm sure must entirely upturn the rest of its day. Nothing too serious, I imagine. There's certainly worse things that can happen to you in this place. I do try to stay put whenever possible. But the maze...It shifts. And sometimes I just cant help but wander away when I see something new or interesting. And then poof, I'm lost again."

"Oh, I think its one of the most marvelous places I've ever seen," Joby said. "I quite like the sun myself...we get far too little of it back home." The man behaved as if he had been shaken by something. She wondered what he had seen wandering around the labyrinth. "I just got here not too long ago, I'd like to get back home, I'm sure I'm already in a world of trouble at work, but the King says he can't do anything about it right now."

She still felt nervous about the possibility of have eaten a troublesome piece of fruit. "Well my day has been pretty upturned already...still, I'd really like to not turn blue or lose my mind for the rest of it."

She wanted to get to him somehow, but she wasn't certain which turns would lead her there. She remembered what she had been told about the compass and ran to fetch it along with the rest of her things.

"Well, just to be safe, would you mind hanging around a bit...make sure I don't start seeing things that aren't there or start to say funny things?"

His clothes intrigued her. The men here certainly had a real old fashioned sense of style. Even from where she stood, the man looked remarkably human. The notion that there had been others before her had never occurred to Joby.

"You say you're lost? How long have you been here?"

"Not quite forever, I think. Its hard to gauge. Time here in this maze moves strangely and...sometimes, I think, not at all. I'm not sure what that might imply exactly. But I'm sure it implies something important. All I remember is that I was looking for something. Something that escapes me just now. I get flutters sometimes, but for the most part much of it's gone. Fluttering towards me one moment and away and out of sight the next." The man said.

When Joby inquired if he would be so kind as to keep her company for awhile, the scarecrow of a man seemed to brighten a little at the idea of some mutual company and did actually stand up to face her.

"Dunne Perchete. At your service, Madam." The man bowed deeply at the waist in a most well meaning manner. "You look very nice. I take it your not from around these parts. With the exception of people coming out of the forests I don't recall seeing many people such as yourself around here. Perhaps we might become friends."

She could still hear him over the hedges as she watched the needle of the compass lead her to where he was. He spoke softly, distantly as if he kept his thoughts someplace else.

"What a shame you've forgotten what it was...I think I have something that would help, but it only seems to work if you're very exact about what you're looking for." She felt a touch a concern for the stranger and still just a little bit of fear for her own self. Something inside the labyrith seemed to have caused him to lose some of his mind and she didn't want to suffer the same fate. He mentioned the nature of time, an element of magical worlds that she had nearly forgotten about. Didn't Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy spend an entire lifetime in Narnia before returning home as children who had only been gone for a few odd minutes? This notion brought a tremendous amount of relief to Joby's worried mind. Yeah, maybe things kinda work like that here. I could be stuck here for months and still make it to the Millers on time. She strode with a little more pep as she rounded the corner, finally coming face to face with the stranger.

She reached out a hand for him to shake, and immediately tried to make it look as if she were grasping for an invisible skirt to fan out as she curtsied. She almost forgot about the more old fashioned form of greeting. She still beamed despite her embarrassment.

"Joby Jones. Pleasure to meet you."

She became aware of her clothing once again, and tried to brush away some nonexistent dirt from her cutoffs. "Well thank you, ever since I got here, I've felt pretty under dressed. I've noticed that so many people here, with the exception of goblins, have a wonderful sense of style."

She nodded. "You're correct. I'm from a city called Boston, but I think I may have heard some of the goblins call it something else...that I was from a place that was above somewhere I think."

She studied him. He didn't appear to be much older than her, and outwardly he looked entirely human. Perhaps the Goblin City possessed more humans than she had thought. Maybe that was why her arrival didn't come as any shock to them. Did humans live in this world too?

"I'd much prefer being lost with a friend than being lost all alone. I've run into some folks that have certainly been of help, but haven't been particularly welcoming or friendly."

It was really all she wanted to hear ever since her arrival. She wanted someone, anyone to recognize that her presence in that world was at least unusual and she had hoped to find herself a kindly, quirky partner (perhaps those were selfish, self-centered thoughts, but she had been fed on a feast of fairy tales that had told her that humans in a magical world were special). At last things were starting to work out according to the laws of the fictional stories she had read.

"Perhaps we could even help each other. I'm sure you know the way around this place better than me. I have this map-"

She pulled it from her back pocket and unfolded it. She didn't see the harm in simply showing Dunne a map. How would he know of its true nature anyway? As long as it was still in her hands, she felt perfectly at ease.

"-but its very different from the ones I'm used to. Things shift and relocate, and I can't read the language that's written on it. I'm really just looking for a place where I can stay. You know, rest my head, eat a safe meal. I'm not certain how long I'm going to be here."

"I'm not much good with maps, at least, I don't think I am. But I do know a place you might be able to stay if you can get us there. Its a place in the Goblin City. A young woman by the name of Magdalene. She's a blackmith, I think. Human as well. I'm willing to bet she'd be willing to put you up for a while. She's always been willing to help me when I've come across her." Dunne offered.

This seemed like a logical plan and with Joby's helpful objects as their guides it was hard to work their way back into the goblin city and to Magdalene's specific hovel.

It was indeed a blackmith's hut and, seeing that it belonged to a human and not a goblin, was quite a bit bigger than many of the other buildings around it.

Mag was outside working in the back when she saw Dunne approach her work area.

Mag looked young, parhaps just seventeen but certianly no older than twenty. She was plain and dressed as a typical peasant. When she saw Dunne a grave kind of relief overtook her expression as she put down the sword she was working on and waited for them to approach.

"Dunne, you found your way back. I'm glad to see your still alive. Who is your companion?" Mag turned her attention to Joby.

"Another human? I didn't think many of us would exist outside of our world. Are there others?"

Along with her curiosity, Joby felt a little nervous. How did other people get here? How many have journeyed back home? How many were still trapped like her? Was she fated to spend her life separate and unreachable to her family and friends?

"Oh, I really don't want to trouble her. I can't pay, but I can offer my services to help around her home. I'm an expert gardener and I'm a pretty good cook, at least I think I am."

She agreed, and after a lengthy, but pleasant walk, they found themselves standing before Magdalene's hut. Joby gazed at some of the glittering pieces of armor sitting finished on the shelves as well as some of the beautifully-crafted blades displayed on the countertops. She smiled and waved at the young girl as they approached. Clearly she knew Dunne and looked delighted to see him. She glanced at Dunne when Mag said "alive." What did she mean by that? What kind of messes had the man run into?

"Hi, I'm Joby. You make some beautiful weapons and armor. I came across Dunne while wandering the hedge maze."

She turned the compass over in her anxious hands.

"I'm not from around here you see. A woman I met in my world sent me here without giving me any notice as to what was going to happen. Now the king of this place has said he can't help me get back home unless she shows up. I don't know when that will be, but now I'm stuck here. Dunne said you might be able to help. Oh, I really hate to intrude like this, but I don't know what else to do. I could really use a place to stay. I don't know if I have anything of value to you in my purse. I'm afraid I didn't anticipate this surprise journey. But I can work. I know how to care for nearly any plant you can think of and I can cook too. I can also help you around your smith. I'm strong for my size and can haul firewood for your forge or bring you ingot bricks."

She was rambling again. Ever since childhood, she never liked asking help from strangers. Thanks to some of her mother's more unsavory methods of acquiring drug money, Joby still felt a twinge of guilt whenever she asked for a favor, something about the act itself made her feel like a liar, a dishonest con artist.

"I only need a couple of days to figure my way around this place and maybe get my hands on a few necessities."

Her chest felt uncomfortably tight. She looked up at the younger girl who still stood several inches above her. She didn't know what she would do if she were denied. Then again, she had slept on the streets before.

"You're world is not unknown to me. Although I can't claim to have seen it for myself. The woman who probably brought you here was Mim. I'm afraid she's a better trouble maker than she is a sorceress. At least so far as those gifted in magic go around here. I have no doubt she will be back in the Goblin City soon enough, you can probably speak to her in a few days. Since Jareth didn't bring you here, I'm happy to assist you." Magdalene agreed.

"My name is Mag. Come on. I'll get Dunne something to eat and find you both a place to sleep. By the way. Thank you for bringing him back to me." The blacksmiths tone had a measured levity to it that suggested she half expected never to see the the man again.

Magdalene brought them both into her house and put some cold stew over the fire for Dunne, quietly instructing him to sit down near the fire until it was ready. The man seemed to obey like an absentminded though obedient child and went on to sit and stare quietly into the flames with his pink parasol neatly closed and laying beside him seemingly out of place with it's candy pink coloring and frill.

"You can sleep up in the loft. Just there. Your botany interests and abilities will serve you in the Labyrinth. Somewhere around here I have some books on the subject. If you end up staying for a long period of time, I might suggest you consider traveling to other parts of the underground where there are larger human populations. The Labyrinth itself doesn't have many human people in it. The few of us that are were generally born here. Contrary to popular belief very few end up in the Labyrinth by magic or chance. Other than you, in the forty years I've seen people come and go here Sarah was the only one to challenge the great maze itself." Magdalene remarked.

"Yes! Mim was the one who brought me here. You really think she'll show up in the near future?"

A flood of relief overcame her as Mag invited her into her home.

"Oh thank you," she said earnestIy. "I promise to earn my keep in any way I can."

As the three stepped inside, Joby traced a finger fondly over a thick log railing. The interior was dimly lit with rays peeking through the windows and candles flickering on the tabletops and banisters. It was everything she imagined a blacksmith's hut would be and she gazed around delightedly. Her eyes lingered over Dunne's silhouette as he stood in front of the fire."

"What's his story?" Asked Joby "Your friend...well it's like he's here and isn't here you know? And the way you looked at him when we arrived...is he alright?"

She clasped her hands at the sight of her simple bedroom. The bed was draped in some kind of thick, sturdy fabric layered over with some kind of hide. She had a simple bench and table upon which sat a bowl and pitcher. Her singular window faced the rear of the home towards the city. It was really more than she could have asked for.

"This is just splendid. You say you have botany books? I'd love to look through them. The way some of the plants grow here is fascinating."

She wondered just how vast this world truly was. Did Mag call it the Underground? Perhaps under different circumstances she would venture out into Faerie's unknown, but she had been advised not to wander too far. It defied her previous assumptions, but Joby smiled at the concept of humans growing up in such a fantastic realm, so far away from the ugly blackness that seemed to permeate the undercurrent of her own society.

Her heart skipped a beat at the mention of a name.

"Sarah" she repeated blank faced and blinking. The world around her slowed into stillness. Somewhere in the back of her mind, pieces began to fall into place. With hardly a thought, she pulled the little red book from her pocket. A thumb caressed the fading gold letters on the cover.

"Sarah Williams."

It wasn't a question. Suddenly, Joby's presence in the Underground didn't feel so coincidental. But...surely Mim wouldn't have known of her relationship to the writer and business owner. She could feel her muscles grow tense. Despite her roller coaster childhood, she possessed an unshakeable faith in fate. She had a sixth sense of sorts, a stirring that could be felt through her whole being when she stood on the threshold of some significant turn in her life. Previous to that moment, Joby had only felt that stirring just a few times before. She didn't what the Labyrinth had in store for her, but for the first time since her arrival, she somehow knew she was exactly where she was supposed to be.

A laugh pierced through the silence and soon Joby found herself doubled over, bracing herself against the wall with one hand as she fought a tirade of giggles.

"Sarah Williams, wow. Wow wow wow. Oh Im sorry. I'm not losing it, I swear. I just forgot how funny life can be sometimes."

When Joby almost fell down laughing Mag politely waited for her to regain her composure before explaining further. She hoped the girl hadn't gone daft. That sometimes happened to people upon arriving in the Labyrinth.

"I take it Sarah is somewhat of a legend in your world as well. Interesting. As for Dunne, he's forgotten himself. I don't know much about his origins but I know he was born in the underground and has since lost his memories to the maze. I also suspect he's not all together human. If he was he'd probably be dead by now. Dunne is much like a child in the sense that he relies heavy on child like fear and curiosity to help him get by. Most of the time when he wanders off into the maze he won't eat or drink anything. He's too afraid too usually. So you can imagine why I worry about him when he disappears for weeks at a time." Mag explained.

"There's a ball coming up soon. Mim won't miss out on such an event. She's terribly vain and brown nosing. And there will be many important people present that she'll want to rub elbows with." You'll be able to talk to here for sure. What did Jareth say when you mentioned how you came to be here? I assume you sought an audience with him." Mag inquired.

"Sarah's a legend here?! Oh man, I think she's neglected to tell me a few things. No, where I'm from she's pretty normal. Husband. Kids. Dog. She runs a shop and she's an incredible writer. Kind of a fan of hers actually as well as her personal landscaper." She couldn't mask her pride. "You said in your FORTY years here, you've only seen two of us get here by magic? Gracious, you look younger than me and I'm twenty-five."
She was adjusting to the parade of miracles. She had always wondered how people in stories ever ceased from being in awe of the magic around them. Now she knew that it was because they were so numerous, the sense of amazement was sure to fizzle out eventually. The slower aging process wasn't much of a shock to her anyway in light of all that she had seen.

She gazed down at her new friend from the railing. "Certainly a lot to worry about. Wish there was a way I could help him. I'll certainly help keep an eye on

She wondered what sort of things the Labyrinth held that could incite such fear, but she let the question go.

"A ball? How on earth does this place manage to both entirely obliterate and then fully manifest all my storybook dreams at once?"

She struggled to follow. "Wait. Are you saying I could talk to Mim at this ball? You do mean ball as in a bunch of pedigree hoity-toities dressed impeccably, dancing well rehearsed dances and discussing politics over flutes of champagne? Didn't get around to packing a ballgown this morning and I don't think tie-dye fits under the banner of formal wear. Besides, I just don't have any business lurking around a place like that. I'm sure I reek of Outsider.

Joby nodded, remembering her feeling of helplessness and the sting of his dismissal.

"He said that there really wasn't much he could do. He said I had to wait for Mim to show up at his kingdom again."

She could see the reflection of firelight dance from the copper pans, and she conjured up images of swirling, weightless fabrics similar to what had adorned the black eyed woman who had accompanied Jareth, she could see the well practiced footsteps moving in time to the swell of violins and couples promenading beneath the the glow of floating enchanted lights.

"Do you really think the ball would be my best chance at finding her? There's nothing I hate more than disturbing a nice time for everyone, but I certainly can't stay here forever either. Do you have any ideas on how I could get in?"

"If Mim has done something punishable I can almost guarantee you that Jareth will ensure she is detained for a period of time. The two don't particularly get along. As for going to the festivities you could ask to go with someone from the enchanted forest. Everyone from Meriel's domain has been invited. You'd be less conspicuous that way. The festivities go for five nights. It isn't all just ball rooms and dancing. Part of the event acts as a summit for the High Council and attending kingdoms and its a chance to address larger problems that the Council wants assistance with. I'll be there as part of the King's Guard." Mag suggested.

"In any case there's still much time. For now if I were you I would relax and try to acclimate a little." As Mag reassured her she caught the pot ready to simmer over and excused herself to attend to it.

"Come and have some real food. Tomorrow I'll find those books for you and help your sort some other details out." Mag promised.

"Yes, well I'm certainly going to settle in a bit before I start asking around for dates, but that may be an idea," Joby said as she descended back down. "Sounds like this ball is a pretty big deal," she added thinking back to the commotion she had witnessed in the Great Hall. She was beginning to understand why the king brushed her off so quickly and yet managed to aid her in her troubles. She felt a touch of shame in her own ego. In the castle, she had felt, well, offended that her entrapment hadn't been a priority. It wasn't like her to expect to be the center of attention. She knew why it had hurt so much. All of her childhood disillusions crumbled around her, worlds she once withdrew herself into so intensely that they became real suddenly became shallow, brittle projections with a simple wave of Jareth's hand. He stripped her of her armor of fantasy and thrust her out alone into a dizzingly real realm. Perhaps she would later tell her friends about just how lost to her own world she had become all those years ago.

The scent of the stew triggered a loud rumble in Joby's stomach. The questionable apple was all that she had eaten all day. Thankfully, it never gave her any bizarre side affects. She took a bowl and scooped a ladle filled with leeks, carrots, onions, potatoes, and some vegetables she couldn't recognize.

She patted Dunne's shoulder as she passed by and sat in a chair across from him. She watched the steam rise from her bowl as she reflected on the sheer insanity that had occurred. She looked at Mag and Dunne still hardly believing where she was.

"Thank you. Both of you. I'd be spending the night in that garden if it weren't for you, Dunne. And Mag, this is all too much really, your hospitality, this meal. You two have been such a tremendous help already."

Her tense body relaxed against the backboard of her chair. She smiled lazily, eyes gazing into the rafters. For a moment, all was well.

"Yes, yes I'm coming," muttered an irritable Marten Gwyndion into one of his gold cuffs that had began to glow in a bright light. He had nearly finished dressing and was throwing on a loose, collared black tunic when he received his summons. Quickly, he cupped some cold water from a basin by his wardrobe and splashed it on his face. He ran his hands through lengthy coal black hair and tucked his mother's ring that hung from a black cord under his collar. He never cared for mornings, but he was always expected to be one of the first out of bed to prepare the Prince for his daily duties. Stifling a yawn, he left the safe confides of his bedroom in a brisk walk. His older brother hated to be kept waiting.

He had long grown accustomed to the servants diverting their gaze and distancing themselves from his path, but many still made the effort to address him with some respect. Long before his exile, rumors spread about Lili's youngest son.
"He's a bad seed, I tell you." He once overheard a court member say when he was a child.
"Mark my words, he'll be nothing but trouble and misery for this kingdom," another had said
"He is Darkness reborn" the cook theorized.

Marten would grow to fulfill some of the kingdom's expectations, earning a reputation of being a menace, a deviant, and a selfish addict who nearly threw Astraea into yet another state of turmoil due to his actions. Life wasn't easy being the child who carried the brunt of his mother's curse. When Lili allowed the influence of the Lord Darkness to enter into her pure heart, it became divided, possessing equal amounts of both energies. Her offspring weren't so evenly split. The eldest, Dedric, came to the world like like a breath of the eternal spring the kingdom dwelled in and smiled happily just hours after his arrival. He radiated a sort of purity that caused servants and citizens alike to look upon him like a child messiah. Marten's birth on the other hand carried with it a cold reminder that the curse still possessed a firm hold over Astraea. He certainly didn't look evil, but he carried with him a cold, heavy aura that induced a sense of dread to anyone around him.

Growing up, he endured a parade of tutors and nursemaids, most of whom struggled to treat him with the same warmth and affection as Dedric. Other children avoided him altogether, too afraid to even pick on him. His brother never seemed affected by his presence, and generally treated with kindness and fairness though he was often bossy and used his position as future king to call the shots during playtime. However, he couldn't resist the attention and adoration of his other peers, and soon left Marten to his own devices.

As teen, he became fed up with the sympathetic gestures of his parents. His brother had long sided with his friends and often reminded Marten of the terrible thing he had inside him. He developed in interest in the magical sciences, finding black magic in particular to be the most gratifying. With little effort, he could bring life to inanimate objects, he could manipulate the elements and bend them to his power. At last he felt a sense of control, a reason to take pride in himself in his brother's shadow. Dedicating years of study to his art, he grew more powerful, as did the Darkness in his heart. His depression, anger, and sense of isolation deepened and he resented his home for rejecting him. He found a way out, a way to pierce the veil between the Underground and Aboveground. On the other side, he found a marvelous world with a tremendous population of rejected souls...and they welcomed him into their company with open arms. For the first time in his life, Marten felt like he belonged. He ran wild in a bustling human city of tall gray towers, thick black smoke and vices to ease every pain he suffered and women who found him to be a handsome bedmate.

He jumped between worlds as often as he could get away with, but he never learned to seal the portal behind him. An unknowing human would be crossing through an alley on a winter's night and find themselves in a blossoming warm forest bathing in sunshine. A gnome would be digging for truffles and cross over onto hard, black pavement, standing face to face with a starved, feral stray dog. By then, Marten's mind was clouded by a variety of substances. He wasn't aware of the mayhem he had left behind.

Even after the courts found him out and put him on his first trial, he went back. He couldn't stand returning to the faces that now glowered in their confirmation that their young prince did the Darkness' bidding. He fled back to the Aboveground swearing never to return. He found a human woman who shared her ramshackle trailer outside of her city. Together, they spun deeper into their addictions hiding away in abandoned warehouses and buildings, lounging in their mindless stupors.

At last, he was found by the imperial guard that had braved the crossing to bring him home. In his absence, a unicorn foal, the purest of creatures that helped anchor the light to Astrea, had wandered through his portal and was nearly lost to the Aboveground. This was the worst crime he could commit and finally had to pay his dues in full. Mab sentenced him to exile, stripping him of all titles, revoking all of his magical ability, and putting him under Dedric's watch. Outside of formal affairs where he still acted as a sort of figurehead, he was sentenced to stay inside the castle indefinitely.

After suffering months of withdrawal, he discovered that he made another mistake, a mistake that would finally wake him up to the true impact of all his meddling.

Lilian

That's what he called her. Near the end of his trials he had been informed that he had conceived a child with his human partner. He knew what she was like. He knew what kind of home the girl would grow up in. At first he begged, pleaded with the high court to steal the girl away and bring her to him. They denied his request, citing the fact that she carried the curse as we'll and that there was already too much darkness in Astraea.

"Besides," his brother said "you certainly don't have the best track record for responsibility and I have far too much on my plate dealing with your disasters to look over your illegitimate spawn as well."

Reluctantly, he agreed and prayed that the woman would do good with the child. He was never told her name, never saw her face, but finally Marten Gwyndion knew pure, unconditional love and took on his punishments without resistance. He became a servant to his brother and put his whole existence in his hands. After all, what better way to make up for his shortcomings, than to serve the Prince of the Light himself? He was given gold cuffs, shackles tied to a ring his brother wore that would glow anytime he required his assistance.

Still, Marten couldn't resist working one more bit of magic. After seven years of secrecy and asking for help from some unsavory characters, he opened a window into his daughters world. Helplessly, he watched tears stream down his child's face as her mother unleashed an avalanche of hateful words, words he had heard people say about himself in secret whispers, but never in ear-splitting screams. In a panic, he searched his kingdom and beyond for help. On a stroke of luck, the Goblin King paid his city a visit. He had heard about how he traveled to the Aboveground and stole a child. He promised Jareth anything and everything if he would just take his daughter someplace safe. The deal was struck and Jareth delivered as promised. A few years later, he managed to peek through one more time. At ten years old, his black-haired girl sat snugly in between a pleasant middle aged couple. The woman was reading, exaggerating her face and voice and making her laugh. The man put an arm around her, and Marten felt a pang in his heart. A least she was safe, safe and so very happy.

His brother found out, jailing his helpers and installing around the clock watchers to make sure he never used magic again.

"Put her far from your mind," his brother said "you're nothing to her and she's perfectly happy with her human parents. Let her live her life."

Since that day, his life had become a regular routine of service to Dedric and he was never out of his sights for long. Dedric liked him close, even when meeting with high officials, Marten stood behind him like some silent, shameful child. Occasionally, he got to enjoy some peace from his brother's presence at formal parties where he was too busy striking trade deals and alliances with other rulers to be bothered.

Today wasn't any different than the others before. He was to directly go to his brother's bed chamber and prepare him for the day. He walked down the long hallway with its elegant vaulted ceilings and gigantic windows overlooking the sunrise as it peeked over the distant mountains. He didn't bother to knock when he approached his brother's door.

____________

Dedric was still in his dressing gown when he heard his door creak open.

"Marten, I have some news" he said without turning around. He knew whenever his brother walked into a room; the air always felt chillier. "The High Court has just announced where they will be holding their centennial ball."

"Oh?" Marten replied. "By the sound of it, they didn't accept your application for it to be held here."

Dedric shook his head, frowning as he finally turned. "Unfortunately not. Mab seems particularly adamant about the Goblin City hosting the festivities." He knew that would get his brother's attention.

"No kidding. My, that ought to prove to be...well interesting to say the least."

"Ugh, it's going to be a disaster if you ask me."

Not that Dedric thought ill of the city or its king, he actually didn't think much about the place at all. At his core, he fancied himself a businessman of sorts wheeling and dealing on behalf of his kingdom. He knew how to positively charm leaders and push trade agreements in his favor. He thrived in his position, managing to shield much of his country's infighting from other nations. Astraea's prime export was its bountiful crops, boasting the widest variety of produce in the Underground. His kingdom was also envied for its natural beauty, the vast wilderness around the city forever bloomed in endless spring, not counting the winter that his mother first unleashed the dreaded curse.

He saw the Goblin City as a quirky little place, an ancient husk of a city populated by untold numbers of unpleasant creatures and one lonely man. It possessed no exports (unless someone ever needed sand, hedge bushes or garbage), Jareth never seemed to bother too much in maintaining foreign relations with his neighbors, and the city itself was just...well, dull. Sure it was a special place in its own way, much like a skeleton of a man still walking around powered by his own refusal to die. Dedric just didn't see anything beneficial in conducting business with the place. He would have preferred to skip the event altogether, but he knew his attendance was not optional and would reflect poorly upon him among the Underground.

"And on top of that," he said "we only have two weeks to prepare. I'll be needing you to compile a list of anyone outside of the High Court who will be expected to attend."

Marten nodded as he opened the wardrobe and laid out the day's clothing. Dedric moved to the mirror as his brother began dressing him.

Like his brother, Dedric inherited their father's black hair, but his lay in tousled curls like their mother. He also had Jack's piercing blue eyes that could disarm even the most rigid of maidens. He was just a bit taller than Marten, but that could have been in the way he carried himself: straight back and chin tilted high. Marten tended to slouch, eyes watching the floor. He pitied the man sometimes. He was born with far more Darkness in his heart and thus became attracted to its power. Dedric really tried to lend a hand growing up offering companionship and tutoring him when his teachers tucked tail and ran. However, he was five years older and thus inevitably joined the ranks of his fellow noble peers who didn't care for the younger prince's company.

So whenever Marten first started causing issues some thirty odd years ago, Dedric felt partially responsible. He knew his brother possessed Darkness inside him, but he didn't do enough to help keep it under control. Now, after having to ask Mab for permission to wipe the memories of half a dozen humans that had wandered into his forest from the Aboveground, after having to sneak a twenty man search unit into the Aboveground to frantically search for a lost unicorn foal, after having to deal with the humiliation of the court accusing him of hiding the truth of his brother having a love child with an Aboveground human, after an untold number of trials, he felt that he had Marten properly supervised. For fifteen years, he had not practiced any magic. Dedric knew about the first time he had opened a window. He had peeked through his bedroom door and decided his rule breaking slide. Seeing his poor Lilian suffer her terrible fate was punishment enough. During the Goblin King's still too recent visit, a servant told him that she had overheard Marten strike up some bargain with him in order to have the child taken someplace else. Once again he kept silent. After all, he knew she was being abused and she was still his niece; he wasn't heartless. But after that, Dedric watched him, keeping tabs on all of his known contacts for magical ingredients. Sure enough, he caught his brother red handed a few years later checking up on his daughter again.

"Look at her, she is perfectly fine, happy, and heathy" he had told him. "She has a father, a mother; you can let her go. Now I'm reporting this violation of your exile to the High Court."

Over the years, Dedric would glance into his niece's life. He watched her grow and made sure no one from the Underground brought her to his kingdom. She may have looked kind in her world, but he feared what Darkness she had inside her. Besides, he had plans to produce an heir himself, though he knew his time was starting to tick away. A wife was hard to find when all the women around him were so star struck, they forgot to behave like normal persons.

"When will you be needing that list" Marten asked as he finished his task.

"As soon as you can" said Dedric "I have come up with a few trade routes I'd like to discuss with some neighbors to the North and East."

One thing was for certain, no matter how droll of a party he had to endure, he wouldn't be leaving empty handed.

Cafe' Petite - Paris, France - 10:00 AM

"You and I can't see each other again that's all there is to it. I don't want to discuss it anymore." The man known as Alfonso said in conclusion to the topic he and Crispin had been quietly discussing as they sipped their espresso together. 'You'll see in time is for the best."

'No, Alfonse. I don't think I will. Sweeping our friendship aside is one thing. But we've been working nearly three years on this project. I've put every cent I've had into it and so have you. More than me in fact and for almost a decade longer. I can't believe you're abandoning me now when were so close to finding it." Crispin remarked tensely as he struggled to contain the depth of his conviction.

"You're right. I've put everything I have into this. But I must admit, I've been thinking for some time now, that perhaps the time has come to let go and forget about what might have been. For so many years I have been dreaming about a place I'm not even sure really exists. I find myself growing tired of trying to grasp at a vision that I can barely still imagine in my mind, let alone, touch. Even the smells have faded from my memory. It needs to stop now, Crispin. It needs to be allowed to fade along with me." Alfonso's explanation was practically a heartfelt plea.

Toby, Crispin was Alfonse personal name for him, could feel the longing behind his friend's words as well as an overwhelming sense of failure that was so disparaging to Toby that it tore him to the core and shattered him simultaneously. Alfonse was giving up on him, on what they had been working so hard to achieve together. This understanding both hurt and angered him for several reasons of which only a few Toby could properly name.

Worst yet Toby knew in the depths of his soul that if he turned and walked away from the man now then he would never see Alfonse again. the thought poisoned him and profoundly disturbed his usually jovial spirit.

"Listen to me my beloved friend. Go back home. See your family again. I have selfishly kept you from them and I find myself sorry for it. In time you will forget me. Probably sooner than either of use wishes to admit. You are still a very young man. You waste your youth on this and, unlike in that other place, here time is of the essence. Cherish it." Alfonse had reached over by this time to lightly wrap three of the fingers of his left hand around the small espresso cup that Toby was balancing in the palm of his right hand half way between them. The edge of Elfonse lower finger just barely grazing the padding of Toby's thumb.

The contact between them was so subtle and Toby's reaction so entirely innate that it was difficult to tell what was exactly passing between the men in that moment. Whatever it was, clearly it pained Toby greatly although the younger man showed a great strength of fortitude by not allowing his overwhelming emotions to get the better of him. particularly in such a plainly public place.

Alfonse had picked the cafe' on purpose knowing Toby couldn't and wouldn't openly defy him in such a setting. Toby privately hated him for it.

"I may very likely go home Alfonse. At this point you leave me little choice in the matter. But I want you to know right now that I'll never stop searching. I know there's something else, something more, out there. Although I don't need to see it again to know its real I still want to understand it. You might be able to give up on this, but I can't. I know you understand why." Toby said evenly through his clenched jaw and glazed wide eyed expression.

"Yes, Crispin. I understand all too well." Alfonse replied.

Sarah's Household - Boston - 4:30 PM

The woman formerly known as Sarah William before she'd married was currently sitting in her living room rather than being at work like she should have been. Considering Sarah both owned and operated Mirror on the Green it was her purgative to close the shop up early and come home if she wanted to and today was turning out to be one of those times. At the moment no one besides Sarah was home which had given her ample time to mull over the strange phone call she'd received during the morning from her favorite and only brother.

While Toby Williams commonly wrote to Sarah and her family at least once a month sending postcards and trinkets from where ever he happened to be at any given time, Sarah had started to become slightly concerned with the rapid decline in his actual phone calls and visits home. Sarah couldn't help but shake the uncomfortable feeling that something was going on with him and that Toby was purposely not telling her about it.

"I've already talked to mom and dad. Did you know they've been renting out the old house over on Claybourn?" Toby had asked half way through their phone conversation.

"Yeah. Malcolm and I have been keeping it up for them since they moved to Florida. Dad wanted to sell it but you're mom couldn't do it. You were conceived in that house after all. Up until recently there was this sweet old couple renting it until the husband had to transfer to an assisted living nursing facility. For awhile we had some college students living there but its empty right now." Sarah had confirmed over her work phone.

"I know. Mom told me. I bring it up because I'm moving back to Boston, Sarah. I was going to look for a place to stay but Mom offered to let me use the house until I found a teaching job in town." Toby had explained.

"Wow. I'm...Surprised. I guess I never imagined you'd com back here long term. You don't have to stay there. You know? We do still have the guest room in my house. The kids would love if you stayed for awhile and Malcolm and I would be happy to have you." Sarah had offered.

"I can't, Sar. I mean...I'd love to but I've still got some personal work to wrap up and the old house would be a better environment for me right now. Of course dinner is always an option. You know I can never turn down Malcolm's pasta and your desserts." Toby had tried to keep his voice light and airy over the phone but he couldn't completely mask his actual mood which was far from chipper.

"Tobs are you OK? You calling out of the blue and telling me you're moving back home feels weird to me. What's all this really about?" Sarah had asked.

"I can't explain things right now Sarah but I promise I'm all right. Things have just taken an unexpected turn that's all. I'll tell you about it when I get into town and have time to settle in." Toby had promised.

Beyond that their phone conversation had gone on normally with Sarah talking about he daughters and bring up her husband's latest antics. Sarah had hung up feeling good about everything but as they day wore on a flutter of worry began to develop and now that she was home Sarah was almost positive that something was going on. She just had to wait until Toby got back into town to confirm it.

The castle was far too high over the clouds to ever experience anything except for the brightest sunshine during the day or the starriest dark at night. It looked below on rain and lightning, on snow and thunder, even the occasional cyclone that passed by The Land of Oz.

Elspeth looked downward from the white windows, her skin showing yellow-white in the light as the moon traded places with the sun. She hadn't enjoyed her coronation celebrations as much as she'd hoped to; after all, the circumstances of being crowned The Empyrean weren't pleasant. Her father had been sick for some time and her mother had only recently died suddenly. They spoke to her for hours on end about ruling and the considerations that must be made while doing so. Some of it she understood, and some of it she really didn't... but, perhaps those questions were supposed to be cleared up as time passed on. Her father had once wisely told her that not all leaders know the right answers, and that it's only natural to be wrong at least every once in a while.

The door knocked. She smoothed down her long white tunic and turned to face the noise.

"Elspeth?" Sayer asked as he opened the huge wooden door and stepped just a pace inside her outer apartment. "Your guests are looking for you."

She nodded and put a hand on a nearby table. "But I'm busy," she said through a sigh, bringing her fingernails up to investigate them. "There's much that needs to be done."

"I'd anticipated you saying that," he said sing-songily, pointing a finger at her. Behind his back he pulled out a flask. "Which is why I made sure you weren't going to miss out on the blackberry mead that was send up from Below."

Elspeth's face lit up. Of all the fruit located far away on The Ground, blackberries were her favorite. "Oh, thank you, Zi!" she said brightly. "How considerate and kind of you."

He pulled up a chair and grinned as he flicked his blonde hair out of his bright eyes. "Don't mention it," he said as he pulled two cups from the center of the table and poured the contents of the flask within. He raised his cup into the air, nodding in a faux-worship manner. "'My Empyrean!'" he squelched, mocking the priest who'd bestowed the honor upon her. "'For nothing of this world shines such as you.'"

Elspeth rolled her eyes and took a sip of the mead. Its sweet tones aired gently through her nose. That had to be Queen Bee Honey bonding the flavor together... and there was only one place that came from. "This came from The Enchanted Forest," she remarked astutely.

"Aye," he affirmed. "The Knights of the Labyrinth send this to you, with their blessings."

Elspeth's face fell just slightly. "Even Jareth?"

Sayer stopped suddenly. "Why, yes," he admitted. Why didn't he just say something else? "Jareth also dispatched this, I suppose."

Elspeth stared at her glass for a long moment, then finally opted to drink the whole thing down in one attempt. "That was the finest thing he's ever done for anyone," she added wryly after dabbing a white cloth on her lips to soak up any leftover purple-gold liquid. "I'm most concerned."

Sayer tilted his head and sighed. "You are truly fixated on serving Jareth justice," he said resignedly. "It's all you talk about."

"What he did was dangerous," Elspeth insisted darkly, pulling the white window frames off of their latches and shutting them against the sky for the night.

Sayer lit a candle, and casually walked about the room, connecting the small flame to lanterns intended to illuminate the large room. "I rather like Jareth," he volunteered with a grin. "Never much of a man for combat. But his sense of humor is far better than yours."

Elspeth offered him a sharp glare. "As long as Jareth is still permitted to conduct his activities in the fashion he does, the realm just isn't safe," she rattled for what must have felt like the eighteenth time. She remembered the havoc caused when Sarah Williams was brought into their world. Sarah was a lovely girl, and Elspeth admired her tenacity and headstrong nature, so it wasn't Sarah that she blamed. She blamed Jareth for the scare, for the terror it caused those in Empyrean.

"Patience," Sayer said as he set the candle down and stood in front of the table. He patted the hilt of his sword and nodded to her. "Perhaps you'll have your chance to make your case. But in the meantime, I've got a door to watch and you've got to get rest for your first day as Empyrean."

Elspeth smiled feebly at her older cousin. She did feel tired. "Thank you, Zi," she offered quietly. "See you tomorrow."

On the next day, Elspeth's white and gold robes flew behind her like fire in the wind as she sped unattended through the old halls of the castle. Her strong jaw was stiff and her eyes blazed ahead, burning amber with frustration.

Her hands pushed the door to her counsel chambers, the wood banging against the stone wall. Sayer and a small group of elderly wise men were gathered around a large table studying a map and a letter. They all looked up at her when she entered.

"When were you planning to discuss the nature of a certain invitation to The Goblin City?" she fumed. She stood before them and folded her bare arms, and noticed the invitation itself laying flat on the table.

"Your Grace, we were—" one white-bearded advisor attempted.

"This is unacceptable!" she pitched, staring each man directly in their eyes as she studied their faces. "Under no circumstances is a dispatch from The Underground ever to be circulated like this before I am consulted."

No one said anything. Not even Sayer, as he stood quietly at the table for the duration of the long silence. Elspeth's angry stare wasn't helping. "Your Grace?" he finally stated politely.

She shot him a nearly-poisonous glance. "Keeper?" she responded, opting to call him by his formal court title rather than the nickname she'd given him as a child. 

"If you'd like to have a word with me about the developments, I'd be happy to provide you with the latest news," he volunteered smoothly.

She eyed him stoically before nodding. He was giving her a way to save face after what he must have perceived to be a breach in politeness. "Please wait outside in the hall until you are summoned," she managed calmly to the four older men. They wordlessly exited, their footsteps and the shutting of the door the only noises heard for several seconds.

Sayer let out a long sigh. "Elspeth, you certainly have a way with words," he mused aloud with a broad smile. "You've no idea how nervous you've made them. What's got you so rattled beyond recognition?"

She wanted to laugh. She did. But there was pressing business. "What's this that I hear about a ball in The Goblin City?" she inquired. To-the-point.

Sayer nodded. "Yes, and we're attending," he said simply, smiling as he offered Elspeth the invitation from the table.

She reached out a small hand and took it quickly, reading it over and inspecting every inch of it. "Why were we invited?" she asked aloud. "I've never been there. To The Underground, I mean. Why would I want to go?"

"Because The Labyrinth is a unique place in the world," he assured her. "And it's better to visit as an honored guest than as an unwelcome visitor."

She shook her head. "I can't go down there," she insisted. "Not after what happened."

Sayer gestured toward one of the ornate wooden chairs in the middle of the room. "Please?" he offered with a smile. "I'd like to discuss this with you."

Elspeth wove her way toward the chair and politely stood by it, gesturing similarly to another chair beside her. "What is there to discuss?" she asked mildly, her eyes betraying the frenzy ensuing in her mind.

Sayer nodded as they both took their respective chairs. "The Centennial Ball is a tradition," he said. "Your parents used to attend annually."

"Was it always held in The Goblin City?" she asked with staid curiosity.

He shook his head. "No, it's a revolving honor," he affected. "But that's the idea. It's an honor. We are attending. In fact, this ball was held in The Empyrean before you were born. I remember. I was a very small child."

Elspeth shook her head. "Zi, I don't think that will be appropriate," she spoke bluntly in an attempt to be commanding.

Sayer rolled his eyes. "You're never willing to provide details about Jareth's apparent offense against you outside of the Sarah Williams incident," he observed tacitly.

"The plague," she fired back quietly, "the plague is what-"

"That was never proven," Sayer volleyed in return, "and you know it. Why do you despise Jareth so much? You've never even met him in person."

Her eyes blinked glossily at him for several seconds. "No, I've never met him in person," she confirmed. "I know all that I need to know about him and his ways."

Sayer sighed. "You really ought to be focused on finding someone to spend the rest of your life with that you don't constantly find yourself wanting to throw off the Skybridge," he chastised. "That is far more important than Jareth. For the last several weeks you've been conducting the kingdom's business in an orderly, fair fashion. Today you're simply not being yourself."

Elspeth bristled and opened her mouth to say something, but caught herself and held back. She paused as she looked at him. "You're right," she quietly stated, her eyes looking out at the golden sky through the huge pane of glass positioned at the front of the room. It was no use trying to get Sayer on her side. The real story was much too embarrassing. "There are plenty more important things." She cast a look back at her cousin. "And you're right. The Empyrean would look silly if it wasn't in attendance." She looked down at her own hands. "And you always talk about how you're so fond of Jareth."

Sayer laughed. "Oh, so I'm trying to force you to go to this event so that I can spend time with my comrade in The Underground?" he quipped. "Your sense of humor sometimes, Elspeth."

She cracked a smile. "I do what I can," she chirped. "I can't guarantee that I'll have a good time."

Sayer laughed again. "That's all right," he assured, "having a good time is never anyone's primary purpose or mission at a setting such as this. These events are tedious and silly." He sighed. "I personally do lament that it's being held in The Goblin City. I'm sure their local women are absolutely hideous," he added with a twinkle in his eye.

Elspeth laughed through her nose. "Zi, you never have a shortage of things to say," she crinkled.

He smiled and stood from his seat. "I hate to overrule you here, Elspeth, but I must insist that we maintain relations with other kingdoms on The Ground," he said resignedly. "You'd advise that anyone in your position do the same."

She also stood. "I suppose I'll have to decide which masks to bring," she thought aloud. "And what to attend the ball in. I wore my silver ensemble at the last one a few months ago. Something different this time."

Sayer shrugged. "As long as I don't have to wear a dress, you can pick what you like," he sighed. "Just remember your mask."

~@~

Ariadne's favorite pastime when not concocting her secret spells and potions, was to eavesdrop on everything going on among the Empyrean. Ariadne was a very good spy. And paid attention to every whisper, every word, every secret sordid thing that went on in the castle and sometimes beyond it. Ariadne insisted upon knowing everything at all times and as a result she had gotten into the habit of using her skills of sorcery to never sleep or hunger or thirst. she was like a piece of well maintained marble. Beautiful, timeless, and fixed.

Ariadne had been around a long time. Much longer than anyone suspected. Longer than Elspeth or Ozias, longer than Elspeth's parents. She had been Elspeth's mother's nursemaid as an infant and rocked the child to sleep weaving her magic and biding her time. Ariadne had of course disappeared from public view from time to time for appearances sake and had occasionally altered her appearance and age to accommodate the belief that she was the accumulation of many generations before her when really she had used her secret magic to live on.

In this time and place she was Elspeth's personal servant and handmaiden. A position she'd served in to Elspath's mother before her untimely death. Her present position was one Ariadne had carefully cultivated. It was a place of great privilege, honor, and trust though Ariadne was neither honorable nor particularly trustworthy by nature, Nevertheless she gave off an air of absolute devotion and demure loyalty when she secretly felt no such thing for anyone out side of herself.

Naturally Ariadne Had been eavesdropping most of the morning. She particularly liked when Elspeth's advisers were trying to keep things from her, or better yet when they were trying to make choices for their leader without her full consent. the fact that an invitation had arrived regarding the High Council's Centennial Ball was of peak interest to her. Specifically for the fact of where in the underground the festivities were to be hosted.

Ariadne knew enough about the Goblin Kingdom to realize its vast potential and untested power. And Ariadne hungered to grasp a piece of that power for herself. while she had long delighted in manipulating events within the Empyrean empire. Ariadne wanted more than the lofty sky kingdom could offer alone. She wanted to rule and she wanted to rule something less fleeting then the dying culture of the Empyrean that was only vaguely aware of their own long overdue decay. 

About the only person she absolutely knew that she had to be careful of was Oziar Sayer. He was not a stupid man nor was his loyalty and honor easily bought. There was many a time when Ariadne wished to simply kill him and be done with it. But ever patient she knew it would be easier and more effective to get rid of Elspeth's guardian and potential inheritor in a more conventional and less incriminating way. So she did nothing but stay away from him and present the most stoic and glossy surface she could muster whenever he was around. A surface that like smooth water under moonlight was mirror reflective instead of revealing.

Ariadne did not need to spy to know that Elspeth would be furious that morning once she got wind of what had been going on right under her nose. And sure enough the young woman was furious and no doubt behaving in a highly uncooperative manner.

Now Ariadne needed only to wait and enjoy the resulting calamity. Ever the dutiful servant, for Ariadne was very good at fulfilling her role, the middle aged woman waited stoically in Elspeth's chambers and in an anticipatory manner had ordered the lesser servants to fetch the Empyrean several of her mask cases, more then a dozen, that each housed three to five masks of varying decoration, colors, size, and grandeur. Most had been apart of the royal family's collection for centuries and there was at least one for every generation that had been born.

Ariadne waited silently for the impending storm, oh how she relished conflict in all its many forms.

Elspeth opened the large doors to her inner chambers later in the evening and sighed as she closed the large doors behind her. She stood in one place for a few moments, shutting her eyes and reflecting on the day.

She hadn't meant to lose her temper in front of her advisors; after all, serenity was the value that The Empyrean treasured the most. But Sayer was there to come to the rescue. As always. She didn't always like how Sayer could just be so bossy, telling her that she needed to do something that wasn't at all in line with what she actually wanted to do--but usually he was right, and had her best interests in mind.

Elspeth drifted over to her small vanity table, sitting down on its cushioned stool and staring at herself in the mirror. Her large brown eyes were ashy with fatigue, and uncharacteristic dark circles were appearing under her eyes. She reached her fingers up to massage her cheekbones distractedly as she stared ahead, inspecting her tired face. Her eyes then drifted to the mirror's ornate frame... the mirror that her mother used to sit in front of when Elspeth was a little girl, playing on the floor close by, watching the former queen have her hair fixed, practice speeches, or even stare just like this at the end of long, difficult days. The same white marble table with the reflective glass surface. The same scratches on the table's leg where the stool had hit too many times as generations of Empyrean queens had done those very same things for millennia. 

She blinked back a tear and choked back a sigh. She missed her mother dearly.

Elspeth then drew her spine up straighter, and unpinned her hair. "Ariadne," she called out softly. She'd even inherited her mother's handmaiden, a golden-haired woman who embodied the very ideals of serenity as The Empyrean so loved. Her own former handmaiden, Teiss, was relegated to being an attendant at court. While she missed Teiss' friendship that they'd enjoyed every day for over 15 years, she couldn't help but feel far more like a real queen when Ariadne was attending to her. There was something very special about her, indeed. "Could you please assist me with my hair?"

Ariadne as always was at the ready to serve her mistress. When she stepped behind Elspeth, it was as if she'd been there all along. Ariadne undid the intricate seed pearl strands that had been carefully braided through the woman's hair. Undoing the intricate design without causing any discomfort as she loosed Elspeth's hair. 

"Do allow me to brush it through for you. You'r mother was very fond of this ritual with you when you were a little girl. She was always so proud of how you would hold so still. She would remark to me often how she knew you would one day become a great leader of our people whether you chose to sit upon the throne or not." The statement was true.

Whenever possible Ariadne preferred to employ the tactic of real truth, fore it tended to better mask other denials and lies she might have otherwise employed in other situations.

"Don't worry about the events of the Goblin Kingdom. I know you will represent our people with all the grace, beauty, and wisdom that has been your heritage and birthright since the beginning of time. In fact, I think you will find yourself quite apt to turn every head who gazes upon you and that is a mighty power indeed. But not the only gift, nor the most important one, at your disposal. Have you decided upon the Mask you will wear?"

Elspeth smiled. Ariadne always seemed to know what to say to make her feel better. While she lacked Teiss' subversive sense of humor and vibrant personality, she possessed such an aura of elegance. At times Elspeth wondered if Ariadne remotely had any Empyrean royal blood running in her veins.

"Thank you, Ariadne," Elspeth responded softly, her face folding into an appreciative smile. "That's very thoughtful of you." She paused as she let her handmaiden's long, pale hands pull the ivory-handled and boar bristled hairbrush through her long brown hair. There was nothing as refreshing as the feeling of calmness and poise that came with a head of fully-brushed hair.

Finally, she cast a glance at the window. They'd be traveling soon. "As for the gowns..." Elspeth started, trailing off as she caught a glimpse of the aurora borealis beginning to fan itself over the western portion of the sky. She permitted herself a smile. The Empyrean possessed all the beauty of other parts of the world, and more. Her empire was truly breathtaking... She caught herself quickly. "I simply cannot decide. We will be there for days. I do love my emerald ensemble. And the white with red lace." She drew in a deep breath, and the thought of Jareth and his transgressions crossed her fatigued mind. "It'll be important that I make the most striking and commanding presence that I can," she added wryly.

"Yes, my lady. If you wish it, it is sure to be so." Ariadne affirmed, having no doubt in her own mind that the woman would surpass her own expectations.

A Few Days Later

The Old House - Boston - 7:00 PM

Toby Williams didn't actually tell Sarah when he was going to be in town mostly because he wasn't ready to see her yet. As his older sister, Sarah had an uncanny ability to know when Toby was lying to her. He also knew that if Sarah thought for even one second that something was wrong, she would want to know about it and she wouldn't give him a moment’s peace until she was satisfied. Toby needed some time to build up a convincing poker face. Or, at least, he wanted to wait a day or so before he announced himself as being back in the community.

Irene had already taken the liberty of sending her son a spare set of house keys. So when his plane got into the Boston terminal early in the afternoon, Toby was able to take a taxi straight to the old house without having to check in with Sarah first. He'd been careful to fudge his timeliness with his mother as well knowing that Irene would probably tell Sarah about it if he didn't call her first. Toby hadn't flown directly from France, he'd made a pit stop in Spain first to pick up some of his research there before he'd come back to the states. Unfortunately there was too much to bring home all in one sitting. He and Alfonse had covered too much ground to conveniently condense everything they'd been working on into one confined package. Of course that’s exactly what Toby planned to do with it now that he was back in Boston, but that was a separate task entirely.

As Toby sat in the taxi he removed a thick stack of fat envelopes from his jacket pocket and looked through them. There were at least a dozen addresses from all over central Europe. One for every town Toby had stayed while he collected data for Alfonse and followed up on leads. Each letter was from a trusted contact and friend of either Elfonse or himself. All of them included binding promises to send Toby their information by mail and arrangements to assist him in any other way he might come to need them. A few of them had even sent cash. A friendly fund some of them had apparently taken up on Toby's behalf so that he could get on his feet and have a little something extra.

There was just enough for Toby to make a down payment on a very used car, pay six months’ worth of rent to upkeep the house, live off of a weeks’ worth of Chinese takeout and pizza, and to get thoroughly sloshed with some night. The last contribution was undoubtedly from Judith. One of Alfonse distant and zany cousins.

While Toby knew all of it was right and necessary the prompt news from his contacts did little to cheer him and served as even more evidence supporting the time and preparation Alfonse had put into arranging his divorce from what had become their mutual cause. Apparently everyone else had been made aware of the older man's intentions long before Toby had been told and the truth of that considerably stung.

The taxi pulled into Toby's childhood home just around 7:00 PM.

Most of the family furniture in the house was gone but Irene promised that there was plenty of left overs tucked away in the basement and a few boxes worth of stuff up in the attic left over from before each of the kids had gone away to college. The rest of the house was more or less scarcely furnished. Comfortable enough. Although common logic advised against it, apparently one really could go home again.

After dumping most all his luggage in the living room to unpack for later, Toby threw the mail on the dining room table from the inbox on the porch and proceeded to inspect the kitchen. Not surprisingly there wasn't anything in the fridge and just a few scattered remains could be found in the pantry, no doubt left over by the College kids that had last occupied the house.

Sighing Toby returned to the dining room to have a rest and glance through the junk mail that had been delivered. As he expected almost all of it was a sad excuse for murdering trees and the two envelops that were actually legitimate mail had been mis-delivered by the postman and belonged to one of the houses a little ways down the street. Shaking his head Toby pocketed the envelops and decided he had no other option but to return them on his way back from the little corner drugstore a few blocks away. While Toby could have ordered out for dinner there were a few other essentials he wanted to pick up. Like toilet paper for one.

And anyway Toby figured the walk would do him some good.
Early the Next Morning in Boston

Sarah's House - Morning

Mornings in the Ethden household were always active. Sarah and Malcolm liked to instill the importance of family time whenever possible and meal times seemed to be the easiest to organize even if breakfast time was often rushed.

"Mal, is Meri up yet? I'm not driving her late to school again." Sarah remarked as she simultaneously flipped a hot cake and tended bacon all in the same large pan.

"I believe I heard some nondescript groaning when I passed her door on the way down. I'm sure that's as good a sign as any." Malcolm replied as he settled into his seat at the kitchen table and made faces at their younger daughter while she spooned her Cheerios into her mouth and tried not to giggle.

Sarah was about to encourage her husband to double check when Meredith suddenly appeared in the archway between the kitchen and the living room fully dressed with her books already in hand. "Morning dad. Hey, mom. Look, don't bother cooking me anything I should have been out the door five minutes ago."

"Why is that again? I believe I've forgotten." Malcolm inquired. Although the truth was Meredith probably hadn't told them her plans.

"I want to check out something before class. Don't worry. I promise I'll get to class. Is it OK if I barrow the car this weekend?" Meredith asked.

"Um...Ask your mother." By now Malcolm had plucked up the morning paper and disappeared behind it only to occasionally glance over the top and sides to confirm what was happening around him.

"Mom?" Meri asked after narrowing her eyes at her father for not telling her yes or no himself.

"What do you want it for? Where are you going with it? And who are you going with?" Sarah asked steadily as she plated the food she was cooking and carried the dishes to the table to set down before her husband and then her own spot.

Meredith rolled her eyes and sighed audibly for being dealt the third degree.

"Mer, you know the rules. If you want to use the car you have to tell us what your plans are with it. When you get your own and can pay for the insurance and gas you can do what you like with it and your father and I will stay out of your business. But until then..." Of the two of them, Sarah was the stricter parent.

"Yeah. I know." Meredith said under her breath. "Look, never mind. OK? It’s not important. I'll figure something else out..."

Apparently annoyed now Meredith rolled her eyes and shook her head as she grabbed her backpack and started to turn around and walk into the living room.

"Hey...HEY." Sarah eased out of her chair and walked towards her teenage daughter meeting her in the living room and encouraging Mer to turn and look at her. "You don't have to make this so hard, you know? I don't think these questions are that invasive. Your dad and I just want to make sure we know what’s going on. I know you're a young adult and you don't feel like you should have to tell us certain things anymore but I'm telling you that we're only trying to do what we think is best. When you have kids of your own someday you'll understand."

"Wow. This conversation is way more uncomfortable than I imagined. Like I said, don't worry about it. I swear I'm not planning on joining any cults or orgies this weekend. If you won't let me have the car I'm sure I can work something out with Tess or Angela." At that Meredith glanced at her watch. "I got to go. I'll see you later."

Meredith gave Sarah a peck on the chin as if to say -this was just a discussion and not a fight- before she disappeared out the garage door muttering goodbye to her father and sister before the door finished swinging shut.

"Well isn't she in a sharing mood." Sarah muttered sarcastically in the same manner as her older daughter while she glided back into the kitchen. "Crysta, sweetie, if you’re done eating then go get your homework for daddy to check. OK? I'll take care of your dishes."

"Sure mommy. I know when to take a hint." Crysta said in a very non-childlike, though still adolescent manner.

Her younger daughter's tone made Sarah smile. "Where does she learn to say things like that?"

"I can only imagine, my love." Malcolm replied energetically as he folded over his paper and looked fully at his wife. "Now that you've strategically dismissed our other offspring, are you planning to tell me what's really on your mind?"

Sarah met her husband's eyes and then sighed deeply. "Something...Is going on. I don't know what it is yet, but I swear..."

"Darling, you've had these kinds of feelings before and they've always proved to be exaggerations of very minor things." Malcolm knew what his wife was getting at and felt the need to reassure her.

"I just don't think it’s a good idea to let the kids too far out of our sight right now. Plus my brother is supposed to be coming into town and I know he's not telling me the whole reason he's coming back..."

"Sarah, Meri is almost eighteen. You have to admit we've kept her far more restrained than you or I ever were at that age. Very soon we're not going to be able to protect her from the realities we both know exist. And anyway there's been no indication that we need to worry about all that other business anyway. We've never had an unexplained incidents with either of the kids. As far as their concerned the things you experienced growing up are just make believe. It’s not real to them and with any luck it never will be." Malcolm reasoned.

Sarah looked as if she wanted to say something else on the subject but was interrupted by the return of Crysta as the young girl bobbed her way back into the kitchen with her red book bag into tow and her book report in hand for her father to examine.

"Mommy when I get home from school today can I go over to Nana and Grampa's house and visit uncle Toby?" Crysta asked very seriously.

"No, sweetie. Uncle Toby isn't in town yet. But I'm sure when he get here you'll be the first person he wants to see. Promise." Sarah answered.

"But Mommy, Uncle Toby's plane landed already and I want to see him before the weekend." Crysta insisted.

"Crysta, Sweetheart, you need to put your name neatly in the top of this corner." Malcolm pointed out right before his wife kicked him from under the table. "...And your mother is right. Uncle Toby hasn't arrived yet, he'll call once he does and we'll all visit with him together."

At that Crysta gave her father the most adorable look of exasperation any child had ever possessed. "You're not listening to me, Daddy. Uncle Toby is already here. If you don't believe me than call him and see for yourself."

At that Malcolm and his wife exchanged glances and an unspoken question passed between them.

"Sweetie," Sarah motioned for her daughter to come to her so that she could look into Crysta's face. "Can you tell me how you know this? Did Uncle Toby talk to you when we weren't here?"

"No." Crysta replied honestly.

"Than how do you know? Explain it to me because I want to understand." Sarah implored her.

For a second, the nine year old simply stared at her mother as if she could see something Sarah and Malcolm couldn't. "I dreamed about it. Last Wednesday. Can I go now?"

Crysta tilted her head innocently to the side.

"Yeah. Go get your jacket and head out to the car." Once Crysta was out of sight Sarah settled uncomfortably back in her chair deep in thought while Malcolm observed her.

"Well," He said after a few seconds while placing down his folded newspaper atop his plate. "If you make the call I suppose I'll drive her to school."

At that, Malcolm pushed away from the table and placed the remaining dishes into the sink to be tended to later. He then walked over to Sarah, bent down, and gently kissed his wife upon the lips lingering longer than necessary as the buzz of older but unfazed chemistry passed between them. "You can tell me about it later. I'll see you at three."

After this final exchange Malcolm straightened and hurried out the back door of the kitchen, scooping up his keys fluidly as he went, and headed out to the car.

Once he was gone it almost seemed like Sarah was planning to dismiss the entire conversation. That is until her teeth clamped down gently on her lower lip and she chewed at it thoughtfully. The next thing Sarah knew she was on her feet with the kitchen's wall phone in her hand punching the number to her parents’ old house.

Sarah realized she might very well be reacting to nothing and yet her daughter's insistence had struck her.

Sarah waited patiently as the ringer on the other end began to ding. Once, twice, three times. By the fifth and sixth ring Sarah was beginning to think she was being silly. That is until she suddenly heard the receiver click over and a groggy familiar voice on the other end.

"H-Hello?"

Toby had been in a sound deep sleep when the phone in the corner of the master bedroom had begun to ring. Had he been in full possession of his mental faculties the young man might have been smart enough to just let it go one ringing like it was until the person on the other end gave up. But alas, such foresight was not meant to be.

"H-Hello?" He repeated again.

"I suggest for your own bodily health that you stay where you are, I'm coming over in ten minutes. You have until then to get yourself presentable for the firing squad." At that Toby's sister promptly hung up on him leaving the younger man blinking where he stood.

"You are in so much trouble." Sarah muttered evenly a little while later when she let herself into the house and met Toby as he swiftly padded down the stairs. "You wanna know how I found out you were already in town? My nine year old daughter had to tell me. And you wanna know how she apparently came across this information? She had a dream about it."

"Now," Sarah's arms were crossed over her breasts as she tilted her head to the side and stared at him. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I'm sorry?" Toby offered after a few seconds of assessing his sister's level of annoyance.

"Nope. Try again. And this time really think about it." Sarah replied.

"I meant to drop by the house today. I swear. I was totally planning on showing up on your doorstep and surprising you." Toby replied insistently.

"Crysta seems to think you've been her a few days. Is that true?"

"Yyyyyyes." At that Toby came the rest of the way down the stairs to meet his half-sister directly. "I really hoped you wouldn't be mad at me. The truth is I needed some time to myself and so I made arraignments to arrive here early and unannounced. I know it might have been a little inconsiderate of me but I can't exactly undo it now. How are you? You look really good."

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Golden Curls. And anyway I'm not mad, I'm just a little annoyed. I can appreciate that you wanted some you time but I have to admit you make me nervous when you do these kinds of things. Now come here you big brat and give me a hug." At that Sarah finally smiled and relaxed her body opening her arms up to her brother and motioning him towards her.

Not too long after they had there nice sibling reunion Sarah was seated in the dining room with a hot coffee mug in her hand waiting for Toby to join her.

"So why are you really back here? I could have sworn being overseas was like...Your home away from home. Are you and your mysterious boss not getting along or something?" Sarah asked before taking a careful sip from her steaming mug.

Toby sighed as he eased into the chair beside her. "Alfonse dropped me from his project, Sarah. I still can hardly believe it. I've put practically my entire adult life into our work and now it’s just...Over. Honestly I decided to come home because I just didn't know what else to do with myself."

"Well I can't say that I'm not happy to have you around, but I also can't really claim to understand why he'd do that to you. Granted you've never exactly been upfront about what you've been researching for him these last several years. Does not working with him anymore mean you can finally clue me into what you've been doing since you left college?" Toby had always been more secretive than she was but generally Toby told her about the important stuff eventually.

Toby's work for the reclusive writer however had always been a sensitive topic though and one of the few secrets Toby had withheld from her out of respect to his employer, so he said.

As for Toby's real motivations for secrecy the fact was that he'd always been a bit afraid of bringing his work up with Sarah mostly out of a real fear that she wouldn't approve. But then again with his work now permanently suspended it seemed silly to deny, if only to her, the truth of what had really been going on.

"Originally Valentini approached me to help compile research for a new manuscript he was working on. I was bored in college and I jumped at the chance to travel around Europe. About a year and a half into it Alfonse trusted me enough to tell me the truth. He told me that he'd once traveled to a strange and magical world that he believed existed like a mirror image to our own. Something else happened and he eventually came back but from the way he told it Alfonse seemed desperate to return to this other place but didn't understand how to. He never told me why but I assume it was probably because he'd formed some kind of intimate connection with someone on the other side and being separated tore him apart. Since that time I've been working with Alfonse to try and discover away to travel to this other place. In the last eight months I swear we came close to a huge breakthrough but I don't have all my data so I never finished making all the connections." Toby explained at length.

Sarah remained quietly stunned into silence as she listened to her brother explain what he'd been up to in the last few year. "Toby no offense but your boss sounds like a raving crackpot. Why..."

"No, Sarah." Toby interpreted firmly. "Alfonse Valentini isn't delusional. I've read his books, including the three unpublished manuscripts. It all adds up. Alfonse's novel aren't works of fiction their directly autobiographical. In the last few years I've seen enough to know the truth of his experiences. And besides, you and I are ones to talk when it comes to taking unexplained trips to places that shouldn't rationally exist."

"Toby you’re not suggesting that this guy...I mean that’s so..." She couldn't seem to find the words.

"I'm not suggesting anything. I'm flat out telling you. Alfonse has seen the maze. I don't know that his experiences went along the same vein as ours but there's no denying he was there...Underground, as he likes to call it." Toby paused. "If I hadn't been there myself I'd call Valentini a crackpot as well. But I have and I can't dismiss it."

"But why help him rediscover something we both know is better off left alone?" Sarah's tone had gone cold. Here she thought she'd spent her entire adult life distancing herself and her family from the sibling’s magical encounter and run in with the world of Faerie, only to discover that Toby had been openly seeking it out for the last several years without telling her.
"Sarah, not everyone is like us. I think some people who go to that other place are supposed to stay there. Who knows what Alfonse left behind there? Maybe it’s like what happened with us only in reverse. Instead of getting out he was trying to get back in. Can you honestly say that if you were ever separated from Malcolm and the kids and brought back there you wouldn't do everything in your power to get back home to them?"

"Fine." Sarah conceded. "Point taken. I just think it’s dangerous, is all. I almost lost you once, Tob. I never want to lose you like that again."

After that the siblings finished their coffee and Toby promised to come to dinner. Sarah wanted to speak more about the situation but she still had to get to work. Toby promised they talk about it again and there was also the subject of Sarah's younger daughter Crysta to mill over.