A Window to the Soul

Jareth paced in his study as the council sat in deliberation of his news.  He viewed them from his scrying pool and the anger was apparent on his face.  Stark’s mother, Queen Miira had been asked to leave the council room when she had grown violently angry at the accusations of her son.  In truth, the council had seemed to believe her denial until Jareth produced the note Stark had left behind and his magical aura was clearly visible. 

“Jareth, how can you be certain that Stark is indeed after the Labyrinth?” Derkean Skillian spoke.  He was an aged felis, the ruler of the first kingdom, whose voice carried the weight in the council.  He had lived centuries and was perhaps the oldest living creature in the Underground.  In his youth, he had participated in many military campaigns and had seen more than his share of devestation.  Derkean was decidedly against any kind of war and had worked beside the Lady Illiana to ensure peace throughout the realms. Now, as he witnessed the rage and sorrow upon the Goblin King’s face, he knew that if Stark was indeed responsible and the council turned a blind eye, war would be imminent.  If Jareth could provide proof to Stark’s involvement and intentions, then there could be no doubt that the council would side with him.  “Are these, um, how did you put it, precautionary measures, truly necessary?  Allow the council to tend to the matter of finding and questioning Stark.  What you ask is for the ruling house of the fourth kingdom to fall on it’s sons mistakes leading us to war.”

“What I ask is my right!  I now have eleven hours before my chosen is to be killed or worse by the hands of Stark, by his own admission.  I cannot and will not stand by idle while you politely ask to speak with him.  I have a witness.  Grant me the governing law to use my magics to free her and to punish Stark.  I ask for no more than is my right!”

“You say you have a witness to Stark’s betrayal?”  Caleenishalim Tssali spoke.  Her deep blue hair flowed well past her waist as she tilted her head and stared deep into Jareth’s eyes.  The Etherals were known to speak very rarely and used their magics even more rarely as it was among the most powerful in the realms.  Hence, when one spoke, all listened.  And when Cale spoke, everyone gave her space.  As with all on the Counsel, she was ancient.  The race of Etherals had existed before the Underground and Aboveground were separated.  It was there magic that had created the rift – to maintain the balance.

“I do.”

“And who would that be, dearest Goblin King?” Her lilting voice held no patronizing tone, only sought answers. 

“Areyne of the Darken Fae, my Lady.”

“RIDICULOUS!  Her voice holds no clout!”  Came the loud objection from the far left of the council.  There stood Arimgin.  He had been one of the loudest members dismissing her family from the fae lands.  It had been rumored, but never proven, that if Arimgin backed the Miira in the expulsion of Areyne, that she would agree to grand the rotund man the young girl’s family lands.  Coincidentally, he now resided on those lands.  “Her family is disgraced, of course she would lie!  Of course she would do anything to get back at the lover who scorned her!”  Cale turned to face him, though no emotion was ever shown on any Ethereal’s face, the aura surrounding her had grown dark, and she was clearly angered.

Everything went quiet and all eyes focused on Cale.  She turned to face Jareth again.  “Bring forth Areyne and I will read her.”

Everyone gasped and quiet whispers of surprise and fear were heard thoughout the chamber.   Ethereals were the most powerful beings in the Underground, but they were also goverened by the highest morals.  They saw no need for material gains and thus were unswayed by money or power.  They existed in the balance and sought to maintain it.  One of their less understood abilities was to perform a reading and when done, the answers they opened were final – there could be no doubt.  Areyne was to have her soul presented before the council – barred open and the truth shown.  If she tried to conceal the truth, hide her intentions, her soul would be torn open and she would be left as an empty shell.  That garish fact was why the room stood still when Areyne entered.  Because their judgement could be so cruel, readings were forbidden, unless the circumstances were dire, and only an Ethereal could call for one. 

Jareth and Areyne stood in his room now, she looked to him with no fear in her eyes.  He took her hands and in an instant they stood before the council.  Areyne stepped forward, her long hair pulled back from her face, her strength showing clearly.  Cale moved forward to position herself in front of the young fae.  There was no fear upon her face or in her eyes, she had nothing to hide.  Without warning, Cale stepped inside of Areyne. 

Blue light radiated from Areyne’s body, out her mouth and eyes, from her fingers and toes.  She was lifted to the center of the room and floating there, arms spread, her soul was barred.  Each of her recent encounters with Stark, all of her past encounters with him, his lies and betrayal, his delving into the dark magiks, his brutal attack on her life, and something not even Jareth had known, something that caused those on the council that had stood against her to hang their heads in sorrow and shame, all of these images were presented to them, etched upon her soul, now bared for the would to pay witness to.  She had been pregnant with his child – and he had seen to it, through the dark arts – that her child had never been born. 

The image before the council was that Areyne in a field kneeling before an enraged Stark. She was young, her hair hanging loosely, just past her shoulders.  Her hair was auburn, but her eyes were still pale blue.  She would have been beautiful, had not sorrow scarred her lovely face. 

“Stark please, I am begging you, do not do this!”

“How could you think that telling me this would please me?  Why couldn’t you have just run off into the forest to whelp your little mutt alone with that thing you have been seen with lately!  How dare you try to disgrace me in this way!”  Stark’s anger continued to build.  “It probably isn’t mine, you dirty whore.  Is it his?  Is it that dark elf’s creature that is festering inside you?”

“Please, the child is to be ours.  It is your son.  I have only ever been with you Stark, and though we have not spoken in weeks, I thought,  I thought your child would….”

“You thought.  There is a laugh.  You thought by telling me you were pregnant with our child that you would monopolize my time.  That I would turn to you and suddenly become a loving and caring man, content to raise that disgusting thing in your rotting womb as a family.  You thought to steal my power. You thought to steal me away from the magiks.  You disgust me.  You are nothing.  And because you are nothing you deserve nothing”  He was kneeling in front of her and with a word his had began to glow a sickly greenish black color. 

Areyne tried to run, tried to scream out to anyone, but she was paralyzed by some unknown magic.  Stark smiled and in an instant, reached his hand through her gown, through her skin, into her belly, and murdered the life that was inside her.  A black ink seemed to ooz forth from where his hand still latched inside her, it crawled up her chest and into her mouth.  She stared in horror as it covered her body, then retreated.  He pulled his hand back and released her from the spell.  She fell to the ground clutching her abdomen, knowing that she was now and forever barren.

He smirked and pulled at a piece of her now darkened hair, “Black looks good on you, whore.”  He stood and stared down at the frozen woman.  “It probably wasn’t even mine.”  Spitting on her face, he turned on his heel and left, muttering “Whore” And he was gone.    

Areyne was left to sob in the field alone, as the rain started to fall.  The last image the council saw as the soul-telling faded, was a black hawk land beside the sobbing woman, the rain falling on her frail form,  and then all was dark.

Areyne returned to the floor and collapsed into Jareth’s arms as the Etheral released her.  She looked up into Jareth’s eyes, reading the horror etched into them, she quietly rested her head upon his chest, whispered “I’m sorry,” and passed out.

Derkean Skillian spoke, and his voice was grave.  “Jareth, Goblin King of the fifth kingdom, based upon Counselor Cale’s reading of Areyne of the Darken Fae, I hereby grant you the permission of the Underground to find Stark and punish him for the kidnapping of which he is accused.  I also grant you the following choice, Stark  may be brought before the Council on charges of practicing of forbidden majiks, assault, kidnapping, murder and any additional charges to yet be revealed, or, I am willing to allow you to choose to hold Ultimate Judgement.  Stark is already guilty by the reading, and due to the severity of his crimes, would be exiled above ground without magic, our only recourse.  However, the Counsel accepts whatever punishment you would see fit to give.”  All of the counsel members agreed and nodded their heads.  Even Armigin had been moved.  “Then, the choice is yours.  The law of the Underground is beside you, whatever course of action you choose.  Go now, and find the woman.”

Jareth nodded, and in an instant, was gone back to his study holding the now conscious and shaken Areyne.

“I must go and speak with Stark’s mother.”  Derkean said quietly.  “I must know the truth and must make sure that she sees what we witnessed here.  Cale, will you accompany me?  This will not be easy.”  Derkean knew that to maintain peace was going to be a difficult task, but with the Etheral by his side, they would not fail.  Either the Queen would accept, or she would be removed from power.