Once all the trumans and trolls were gone, Jareth and his people returned to the castle. Kaya’s maids had been found and were being tended to along with other women whom had been abused by the trolls. Kaya was given a large house outside of the castle walls, just outside of the town. Jareth had used it for visiting nobles, but now it was to be Kaya and Grosh’s home. They were assigned fulltime guards, as Jareth was not ready to fully trust the truman yet. Kaya set aside rooms for the guards to sleep in while they were at the estate.
For the first few days in their new home, Kaya and Grosh just enjoyed each other. Grosh was so grateful for all they had been given. When he first laid eyes upon Kaya and knew she was his, he worried about their fate. He was no fool. He fully understood he was the enemy of the humans and he didn’t know how this would work out, but he knew he had to be with Kaya no matter what. He could not live without her, so each morning he praised his good fortune.
Kaya had written to her parents, and the missives had been sent with the king’s report on the end of the war to Ariyona’s parents. She knew her parents would be overjoyed that she had been found, but would not understand her love for Grosh. Then again, she wasn’t sure she understood it, but she knew in her heart he was the one for her. Grosh was out in the garden, under the watchful eyes of his guard, so Kaya knew she had some time alone. Grosh tried to spend some time out of doors each day—rain or shine—as he had spent so much of his life below ground. He gloried in being out of doors.
Some of Kaya’s possessions had been retrieved from inside the mountain. Luckily her prized books and a few other items had been unharmed when she had been attacked. She looked at the item she treasured the most, her talsmuth castle. Kaya had been so relieved when some soldiers brought a cartful of items taken out from the mountain. She had sorted through the items, taking only those which belonged to her. Clothes could be replaced but the castle and some of her books were irreplaceable. In fact, Ariyona had already sent her several gowns, and once her parents received her missive, she hoped they would send the rest of her belongings. She had been travelling lightly when she had gone to meet the husband her parents had chosen, as they had said they would send the rest at a later date.
Kaya thought about how close she had come to being forced to marry a man that was not her true mate. If her caravan had not been attacked by Grosh and the trolls, she could very well have been wed by now to someone who would not make her happy. She didn’t even like his name—Balderdevon. What would she have called him for short, Baldy? Kaya laughed at that and tried to picture what he looked like. In her mind, he was bald because of her name for him.
Two fortnights later, Kaya was enjoying one of her romance books when a servant announced she had a visitor. Kaya went to the front sitting room, thinking Ariyona had come. She breezed into the room, but stopped short when she was met by a strange man. She could tell he was of noble birth, but she knew not who he was. He looked her over from head to toe with lust in his eyes and Kaya shrank back from his stare. Finding her voice, she finally spoke up.
“May I help you, sir?” she stammered.
“My dear, do you not know who I am? I see that the reports of you sullying yourself with a half-breed are true. Nonetheless, I shall still have you as mine. Once you are home where you belong, you shall pay for your indiscretion.”
Kaya’s hand flew to her mouth as she gasped, “Balderdevon?” The newcomer nodded his head.
“Now that I have confirmed what I was told, I shall go and speak to the king and claim what is mine.” With those words, he strode past her and out the main door. He mounted his horse and rode off with his men following close behind.
When Grosh came inside, he found Kaya sobbing in the front room. “What has happened, wife of my heart?”
Kaya told him of her visitor, and that her betrothed was on the way to see Jareth and Ariyona. As expected, a few hours later they received a summons to the castle. Kaya had already changed her gown and Grosh wore the best clothes he had, some that Jareth had donated to him, at Ariyona’s prodding. Their guard had been alerted, so they and the horses were all prepared when the summons arrived. Kaya was devastated, afraid she would be forced to leave Grosh, but he assured her the fates would not have brought them together only to have them torn asunder.
As they entered the bailey, they noticed everyone staring. Kaya knew this was something she would have to get used to as Grosh was unique. Also she knew the humans did not trust him yet, as he had just recently been their foe. They were accompanied by a few more guards as they made their way to the great hall. Kaya noticed Balderdevon standing near the thrones as she and Grosh approached and bowed. When she stood, she saw that Jareth looked angry and Ariyona was concerned. Kaya stood as straight as she could, although she wanted to throw herself at their majesties’ feet and beg to be allowed to stay with Grosh.
Finally Jareth spoke. “Lady Kaya, this noble has come before me claiming his betrothal to you. He states that your father promised you to him and they had come to an agreement regarding this. He has asked us to honor this betrothal and to give you into his keeping as your lord husband. What say you?”
Kaya paled as she looked from the king to her betrothed and saw the lecherous grin upon his face. She swallowed rapidly several times before she could answer. Looking back at the king and lowering her eyes, she replied, “What you say is true, Majesty. My father did promise me to…to him, but it is not what I wish, Sire. You know how it is with Grosh and me, as it was with you and her Majesty the Queen. When our eyes met, our souls were joined.”
Balderdevon snorted at that and Jareth glared at him. “I am vexed by this situation. I do understand what you are feeling, yet the promise has been made. Betrothals are not so lightly broken.”
“You are the king. You can break the agreement. Please, Majesty,” Kaya pleaded.
Jareth looked at Ariyona. He knew what her decision would be in this, but she was holding her tongue, as he had warned her to. He knew what his wife would want him to rule; nonetheless, their betrothal was set and Kaya had been promised to Balderdevon. Jareth looked at Grosh who had remained silent throughout this exchange. He shuddered a little at the thought of any human female wanting to mate with a creature like him. Yet Jareth knew there was no denying the pull of destiny when eyes locked. He knew the fates were not to be trifled with.
“I shall require time to think upon this matter. Lady Kaya, until I make my ruling, you must stay at the castle and not reside with Grosh. I will allow you to visit him each day with a chaperone, but you will be given a room here. Lord Balderdevon, you too shall be assigned chambers here and may visit with Lady Kaya when she has a chaperone available. Grosh, you may join us in the evenings for feast, as long as your guards accompany you to the castle. This is my decision,” Jareth announced.
He could see that Kaya was distraught, but she knew her place and would not speak up. Grosh as well was distressed they would be apart. The king thought Grosh was about to speak, but instead, Grosh respected protocol and held his tongue yet there was anger in his eyes. Jareth looked to Balderdevon and saw the look upon his face as he looked at Kaya. He was struck by the similarity of that look to the way Vicker used to look upon Ariyona. He dismissed the three, ordering Grosh back to his estate and had Kaya and Balderdevon assigned to chambers in different wings of the castle.
Jareth dismissed the rest of the people waiting to see him, as he didn’t feel like dealing with any other business after this encounter. He took Ariyona by the hand and they went to their solar. As soon as they entered, Jareth grabbed a bottle of mead. He filled a goblet, drained it in one swallow, then filled it again. Only then did he look upon Ariyona’s face and he could see her wrath there.
“How could you?” she screamed. “You know what it is like. If Kaya feels what we feel, then you know they are meant for each other. You are the one who always tried to convince me about our fate. How could you not just send that slimy Balderdevon on his way?”
Jareth drank his mead, slowly this time. “Scream all you wish, my wife. I cannot just dismiss this as easily as you think. If I dissolve their betrothal, it will show that agreements mean nothing. They are bonded through a contract. Nonetheless, I know the bond that Kaya has with Grosh, if it be true. I am still not sure about him. I do not know if we can trust him. He is a half-breed creature, our enemy. So scream if it makes you happy. This is not a decision I can make lightly.” After draining his goblet, he flung it across the room and stormed out.
Ariyona went to Kaya’s chambers and found her friend upon the bed in tears. Ariyona sat beside her, stroking her back until her sobs eased and Kaya sat up.
“What am I to do,” Kaya sobbed. “How am I to live if his Majesty forces me to wed Balderdevon? My heart will break. Grosh is my soul mate. I am sure of it.”
Ariyona put her arm around Kaya. “I know, my friend, I know. I will do my best to help you, but my lord husband must consider the betrothal bond as well as your bond with Grosh. It may take some time, but we must just hope the king makes the right decision, and until that time, you will have me to keep you company. Am I not good enough?”
Kaya laughed as she dried her tears. “Yes, Yoni, I will have you. I have missed spending time together as we did back in Carillon.” She hugged her friend.
“Good,” Ariyona chirped, “so come. Let us walk in the garden and then retire to the solar where we can catch up on old times.” Ariyona grabbed Kaya by the arm and they sauntered into the garden, walking the hedge maze. Ariyona did not know where Jareth had stormed off to, and at this moment she did not care.
Jareth, meanwhile, was storming through the corridors of the castle. The servants and guards knew enough to get out of his way when their king was in a rampage. Jareth didn’t know where he was going, he was just walking blindly until he found himself outside of his children’s schoolroom. He knew the children were within at their lessons. Calming himself down, he entered the room.
Jasson and Arianda sat at a table, books strewn in front of them, writing furiously. They looked up in unison breaking into smiles when they saw their father. Arianda reached him first and Jareth embraced her in a great hug, adding Jasson within his arms when he arrived.
“You are troubled, father. Is there anything we can do to help” Arianda inquired.
Jareth sat upon a bench near the window and the children sat on either side of him. Their tutor excused himself from the chamber to give them privacy. “I cannot believe I am here seeking advice from my children, but I know you two are special.” Jareth explained the conundrum he faced along with not wanting to make the wrong decision.
The children looked at each other across Jareth’s lap. It seemed to him as if they were speaking without words to each other. Arianda looked up at her father. “We cannot help you here. Although we can foresee how each choice will go, we cannot influence you, father. I am sorry but the choice you must make. The fates demand it come from you.”
Jareth hugged each child and thanked them. If nothing else, being with them had calmed his rage allowing him to think clearer. It was soothing to be here with the twins. They sat with their father until their tutor returned quietly and cleared his throat.
“Ah, yes. Forgive give me, Master Tutor,” Jareth began. “Back to your lessons, children. I will see you at feast.”
Walking out of the schoolroom, Jareth saw Cormack leaning against the wall waiting for him. “I was told you were a tempest storming through the corridors. I came to see if there was aught I could do to help.”
“Yes,” Jareth agreed. “Come drink with me.” They went to Jareth’s sitting room and emptied two bottles of mead. By then, it was time for the evening meal and they meandered down to the feast hall.
Ariyona took one look at her husband and said, “You are drunk, my lord.” Jareth nodded. “Do not speak with me this eve.”
“Fair enough,” Jareth replied and sat upon his throne. Others within the hall began to take to their seats once the king had sat down.