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Crystalline Dreams
by: Dreamspinner and Delilah
Chapter 6



    Dreamspinner stretched in luxurious abandon at the large window of the master bedroom. The window was open, and she sent a mental call to the winds, which came swirling in around her, drying her newly-washed hair. Her long flowing silk nightgown curled and swept around her form almost lovingly. Her alabaster skin had once more taken on its usual hue and luminosity, which greatly relieved Gwydion. He came to stand behind his wife, wrapping his arms about her, and she leaned back into his embrace.
He chuckled warmly, "I suppose Jareth will be by in a bit to collect you, but I'll not let you go without a fight." His voice had a hard edge to it as he said those last words, and she did not doubt him. "Delilah should be having fun without him there... as soon as she realizes he's gone."
Dreamspinner giggled, "I wonder what she'll do?"
"I know it will prove most amusing!"
Dreamspinner tried in vain attempt to hide a yawn. Gwydion smiled, and turned her to face the bed.
"Get into bed, you," his rich voice sounded in mock-threat.
"You'll stay with me?" she asked softly.
"Of course, bright-one, as always." he scooped her up and plunked her down on the bed and lay down beside her, pulling the soft blankets around them both. Dreamspinner curled up beside him and put her head on his chest, and he gently stroked her fiery hair until she fell into peaceful slumber. Gwydion watched his beloved's sleeping face and traced the smooth line of her cheek with his finger, causing her to smile and nuzzle in closer to him.
A discreet cough forced his attention to the window, where Jareth was now standing.
"Don't you ever knock?" Gwydion said irritably. Dreamspinner frowned in her sleep, and Gwydion lowered his voice to a sinister whisper, "Do not even think of trying to take her, Jareth. She is mine."
"Don't you mean that *you* are *her's*?" Jareth sneered.
"Does it matter? We belong to one another, and that is all you need know," the handsome elf-lord held his dear-one close to him, daring Jareth to make a move.
Jareth wisely decided to try another tactic, "Well, so she is here. Fine. But remember, I am the one who brought her. You could not, so you owe me."
"She came to me. I owe you nothing. Remember, she ran away from you."
Dreamspinner stirred restlessly in Gwydion's embrace, "Hmmm? What's going on?" She looked around and saw Jareth, "What? Oh no, not again. Will you ever let me sleep? Go away."
Jareth clutched his heart in mock-injury, "Oh! She dismisses me! I shall just die!"
"I should have shut the window," Dreamspinner muttered darkly, looking deep into Gwydion's unamused eyes. His gaze brightened a bit when she sent him a soothing tendril of her thoughts.
"Jareth, if I have to go back to your castle, Gwydion comes with me, so there," Dreamspinner stonily remarked. Jareth frowned and thought about protesting, but knew better. "Besides, you have no power over me." Dreamspinner said the words and he couldn't believe it. He stood there for a moment, his head cocked to the side, testing the boundaries and limits of her resolve. Finding no foothold in her consciousness, he sat down on the window-seat with a disappointed sigh. She was on her homeground- this was a sacred place she had created, aside and apart from him, so long ago in her memory that it was firmly a part of her being. He should never have opened the gates if had planned to keep her. He'd remember to reward his brother appropriately for his interference later. Well, at least Delilah was still his.
"Okay. If you want to come back to the castle, it is your choice. I'll not pressure you either way. But I do have your friend," He reminded her, watching her through slitted eyes. He would catch her by her own sense of honor. Gwydion pursed his lips, but said nothing.
"Jareth, go make yourself comfy downstairs. I need some real sleep, okay? You know where the mead is. Go have a bottle of it. Have a few. Call a few nymphs in for your pleasure. I don't care what you do, just do it in another room." Dreamspinner snapped at him.
Gwydion started to laugh, "Oh well, Jareth, M'lady has commanded. You had better go."
    A very disgruntled Jareth swept out of the bedroom. He was also very patient and he would wait until she wanted to come back with him, no matter how long it took. He and Gwydion had locked horns before. He knew the Lord of the Wild Hunt well; therefore, he knew that Dreamspinner would not be returning to the castle unaccompanied. Drat. He calmly walked down the stairs and into the kitchen, snagging a bottle of mead and a small crystal glass from the pantry as he passed. With a whispered word, the bottle assumed a more pleasing temperature, the golden fae mead cooling nicely. Jareth flopped down into his accustomed chair by the hearth, to wait this out. Unbeknownst to him, the Lady Delilah was amusing herself quite nicely at his expense back at the castle.

*******


"Jareth? Jareth! JARETH!" Delilah finally gave up and plopped down on the floor. She winced slightly at its coldness, but was too tired to even get up. Nightmares had kept her awake the entire night and now no one seemed to be around. Dreamspinner was gone and so, apparently, was Jareth.
She really didn't like this turn of events.
"Where is that no good son of a fairy when I want him?" She muttered as she stood. Sitting around would accomplish nothing. As she walked she noticed that the halls were changing and the doors getting more and more ornate. Curiously she spotted a goblin carrying what looked like a pile of spandex and sequins.
"Well, well, well, what have we here? I think I spy with my little eye some Jareth clothes." Delilah chuckled evilly. As the goblin passed unaware of her presence she grabbed it by the collar. Clothes flew everywhere.
"What's the matter with this floor! It's moving!" The goblin shrieked as it scurried about picking up articles of clothing.
"Hey you!" Delilah called using all her public speaking classes to send her voice echoing down the hall.
"Eh?" The goblin looked about and caught sight of her. "What are you about?" It asked.
"You're taking those clothes to be washed?" She asked.
"Aye." It narrowed small piggy eyes at her.
"Well, there's been a change of plans. His royal hairiness, I mean highness, wants all of his clothes washed."
The goblin paled. "All of them?" He squeaked.
Delilah nodded. "All of them."
The goblin was beginning to hyperventilate. "I'm going to need some help."
"Then get it!" Delilah waited as the goblin ran off. She was going to enjoy this immensely. So Jareth wanted her to keep him company hmm. Well, we'll see how he likes this bit of company. When the goblin returned with about ten others she followed them into Jareth's room and she began to take stock of what he had. She saw a crystal laying idly on the desk and she picked it up.
"Naughty, naughty Jareth. Don't want to leave these lying around. It could fall into the wrong hands, like this!" She eyed the ball carefully. A goblin walked by and she tripped it.
"Where's Jareth?" She asked sweetly.
"Flew out early this morning." The goblin replied.
"Really? You don't say." Delilah watched as the creatures began to file out of the room, their arms laden with clothes. She absently fingered the crystal ball before making a decision. She concentrated for a moment and watched as the ball glowed and began to change shape. When it was finished she handed the box to the last goblin on it's way out. "Tell the washers to use the um soap in this box."
The goblin nodded and glanced at the box. He turned to ask the woman a question but she was gone. It shrugged and continued on deciding it didn't really need to know what "Bleach" meant anyway.

********

    Delilah skipped down the hallway wondering what other mischief she could stir up. She passed a clear doorway and paused. Skipping in reverse she halted before the door and opened it. Inside was a library of sorts. Books of all sizes and shapes were carefully filed and placed on the shelves. A well used desk was placed in the corner of the room. Delilah immediately recognized the signature on one of the papers as Jareth's. She read through the paper and realized that it was a contract of sorts.
In it Jareth was agreeing to export three hundred peaches to some kingdom or other in return for continues use of their crystal mines. Smiling she grabbed the pen and began to add zeros to the peach delivery. When she couldn't fit anymore zeros on the line she tossed the pen down and eyed the many books. "Oh goblin!"
"What?" A greenish looking lump of goblin warily entered the room.
Delilah turned to him in what she hoped was a non threatening gesture. "I just got a message from Jareth."
The goblin seemed slightly skeptical but did not dispute it with her. "What's the boss want?"
Delilah felt an evil smile coming on. "He wants you to realphabatize the entire library."
The goblin considered this for a moment before asking it's question,"What's re-alf-a-bit-izinh?"
The woman sighed. She should have seen this one coming. "It's when you take all the books off the shelves, mix them up, then put them back however you want to."
The goblin's eyes lit up. "Okay!" He merrily got to work, gaily flinging books from the shelves onto the floor. Delilah watched feeling very satisfied. There was nothing worse in the world then a reorganized library. Especially when the library had been the same for centuries. She was about to walk out when something caught her eye. It was a smallish box hidden up on one of the shelves. She reached out and took it down easily popping the catch. Inside was a tiny crystal. She lifted it to the light and
frowned. It wasn't one of Jareth's crystals. It was tinted blue rather then Jareth's translucent ones. A feeling that she had seen the crystal before come over her but she brushed it away. She went to put the box back never aware that she had allowed the crystal to drop into her pocket. With a quick glance back to make sure the goblin's were still working she turned and continued on her way. It was a large castle after all and there was so much to do.

********


    Jareth had finished the bottle of mead awhile ago, and was getting very disturbed by the lack of noise coming from the upstairs... It was just too quiet. Deciding that he had waited long enough, he resolutely climbed the stairs, making sure he was creating enough noise to rouse anyone from the deepest slumber. He knocked loudly on the door frame of the master bedroom. Nothing. He pushed the door open to find the bed empty. After glancing around he spied a note on the pillow.
It read: "Jareth, went to the castle. *hugs* Dreamspinner."
"What!?! Well, I'd best be off then!" he growled as he changed into an owl and flew out the open window. He had such a headache already, and this was making it ever so much worse.

*******

    Dreamspinner and Gwydion laughed as they rode his shadowed mount on the winds toward the castle. Jareth should get the note and be after them soon. He looked so peaceful passed out like that.... She just didn't have the heart to wake him(or so she had said, with a mischievous glimmer in her eyes when Gwydion had asked her). She pressed her cheek against the warmth of his back, snuggling in closer to him. He cupped her hands within one of his own, squeezing them lightly. They
would arrive at their destination very soon. Dreamspinner wondered what mischief Delilah had been up to while they were gone, and what Jareth was going to do once he found out.
'Stupid fool should never have left the castle. He was just begging for something to happen,' Dreamspinner sent her thoughts to Gwydion, who chuckled. They landed in the courtyard and startled a whole mess of goblins, who went shrieking into the city, telling tales of dark warriors descending upon them. Dreamspinner stifled a giggle as she slid from her perch behind Gwydion, gracefully landing on the bottom stair. Gwydion swung from the saddle, landing next to his wife, dismissed his steed, and together they entered the castle.
Genna appeared suddenly beside Dreamspinner, arms wide to take her into her embrace, "Childling, I am glad you have rested well. Gwydion, you have done a great service."
The tall elf-lord inclined his head in acknowledgment of Genna's calm praise, "I would have done no differently, for she is my light." Dreamspinner smiled sweetly at him, putting her hand in his.
Genna smiled indulgently at the two of them, "Come, now, let us go and find Delilah."

********


    Jareth fluttered through the window and hovered for a moment above the ground before changing shape and settling his clothes about himself. First he had to find Dreamspinner and Gwydion. Second he had to find Delilah, who was more than likely sulking about somewhere. He passed his mirror on the way to the door then paused. His clothes and hair were wind swept and rugged. He couldn't go
out looking like some disheveled fool. He wandered his way over to the closet and flung open the doors deciding to try something in the maroon department. He blinked in surprise when he wasn't met with the normal rainbow of colours that had been dyed into the fabric of his extensive wardrobe. Instead all he saw was white, with a few traces of pink and periwinkle blue. He reached out and slowly went through the stuff to make sure it was indeed his. Yes, there was his favorite coat that he wore to that wonderful elf's wedding, and there were his favorite evening pants. A scuffling at his door caused him to turn and observe a goblin carrying in more white clothes.
Grabbing the goblin he hauled him backwards. "Wha? The floor's moving again!" The creature shouted then noticed the king. "Oh, it's just you."
Jareth smiled slightly trying to keep his rage in check. "Yes. Tell me, what are you doing with those clothes?"
The goblin cocked its head. "Bringing 'em back here to hang up."
"No, no, no. What have you done to them?" Jareth asked refreshing his original question.
"Washed 'em, like you told us to."
Jareth blinked in silence for a moment. "I wanted you to wash just the dirty ones, not all of them."
The goblin shook his head. "But the lady told us that you said to wash all of the clothes with some special soap."
Jareth frowned deeply. "The lady?"
"Yeah. Blonde, loud voice, kind of haughty." The goblin paused unable to think of more descriptive verbs. "Said you were his hairiness."
"And what else did this lady tell you all to do?" Jareth asked as he pulled out a crystal.
"She told someone to re-alfa-something-or-other the library, and she reorganized your study, and she reset all the clocks so that at every half hour there would be at least one that rang thirteen o'clock and she. . ."
"Enough!" Jareth shouted as he stood and hurried out the door. When he got his hands on that infuriating woman he was going to make sure that she had enough to do to last her an entire lifetime!


********


    Delilah slid around another turn almost spilling the bucket of paint she had found down in one of the cellar rooms. The blue contents swished dangerously and she winced hoping none of the stuff would get on her. She decided that this shade of blue would look wonderful for the mural she was beginning to start at the other end of the hall. A cold hand clamped down on her upper arm and she jumped in surprise and pain. The blue paint can spilled as it rolled away from her and covered the floor. She was dragged backwards and she winced as the fingers tightened. She managed to turn slightly and she gasped when she saw Jareth's face. He was fairly glowing with anger. For a brief moment Delilah wondered if she had gone too far in annoying him. He turned and dragged her along after him as he walked down the hall. She had to skip/run just to keep up with him and keep him from dislocating her shoulder. Using his barely controlled magic he flung open one of the doors and shoved her in before him. Delilah yelped as she stumbled forwards but he caught her and shoved her up against the wall pinning her there.
"Jareth, stop! You're hurting me!" She whispered as she tried to gather more air into her lungs.
"Really? And I care because? So, you seem to take enjoyment at my expense, hmm? Well perhaps I should turn the tables. How does it feel to be on the receiving end for once?" Jareth tightened his grip on her arms.
"It's all your own fault! Not only do you drag me to this place you leave me here all alone. I had to find something to occupy myself with while you were out gallivanting around with gods know what!" She shrieked at him.
Jareth snarled and produced a crystal that flashed malevolently. Delilah's eyes widened and she screamed for him to stop but he ignored her pleas bringing the crystal closer to her face. Not knowing what else to do Delilah did the only thing that a woman could do in her position.
She kicked him.
Hard.
Jareth winced and dropped her as his knees gave out. Delilah gathered her skirts and ran from the room screaming bloody murder at the top of her lungs. Goblin heads popped out of rooms as she fled past. Jareth, meanwhile got to his knees and stood shakily. He had had enough out of this woman. He could easily follow her by her screams and he smiled. Using the crystal he transported himself slightly ahead of her and waited for her to come to him. As he expected Delilah ran right into him not seeing him with the tears that were flooding her eyes. She screamed as he once again trapped her against the wall and this time grabbed her throat to keep her from trying to kick him again. Delilah's sobs caught in her throat as he tightened the pressure and both from the fear and loss of air at her flight down the hall she closed her eyes and fainted wondering when the knight in shining armor was supposed to appear to save her.

~~~~on to Chapter 7