Horizon 8.2/?

Gabriel entered the castle, immediately struck by it's silence. The throne room was usually the center of activity. Now, it was empty.

"I sent all the servants home." Amalthya said, noticing the way his eyes roamed over the throne room. "Silviet is upset enough as it is. I don't think the sight of goblins cavorting in the castle would have helped her much." Her tone was subdued, lacking the strength it'd had earlier. 

Gabriel looked to where Amalthya stood. It seemed her face had aged since the time they'd traveled together. Her manner was changed as well. "You have the bearing of a queen already." He said lightly.

"I'm not a queen." Her face was grave. "Gabriel, the situation is urgent. Jareth may be dying. A dear friend of mine may be as well. I need your help. While I was waiting for you, I read through Jareth's journal. He mentions a sorceress by the name of Annag. Do you know where she lives?"

Gabriel nodded. "I do."

"Thank God. All right. I want you to get a carriage ready. I saw an old one in the stable. It's run down, but it will work. Get the horses hitched and then come find me. Jareth and Xander are unconscious, so I'll need your help moving them. Hopefully this Annag can give us the help we need." With that said, she turned and strode back down the corridor to get Silviet. Gabriel left the castle and headed towards the stable.

----

He walked into the stable to gather the things he needed. Pulling the old coach out into the yard, he felt the air stir around him, though there was no breeze to speak of.

"Ah. There you are Gabriel. I knew you wouldn't fail me in a time of need."

He whirled around, only vaguely recognizing the voice. Standing behind him, leaning calmly against the barn was someone who shouldn't have been there.  Her blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight, long blond hair streaming over her shoulders like spun gold.

"Benassaie, Your Majesty..." Gabriel stammered. "But you're..."

"Dead?" The woman laughed. "Yes. I may be that Gabriel, but a mother has to watch out for her son, and I couldn't leave Jareth."  She smiled sadly. "Though I should have known you'd watch out for him, you and Annag." Gabriel was too astonished to say anything. "Well? Stop gaping and help me get those horses hitched. We need to save my son."

"Of course." He nodded, and followed her into the stable. He brought Obsidian out into the yard and Benassaie followed with Windwalker.  They soon had the two horsed hitched and the coach readied. "Your Majesty...." Gabriel turned to address the ghostly queen, but she had vanished. Gabriel decided that, with all of the other commotion, it was best for him to keep the ghostly visitation to himself.

He went back inside, and helped Amalthya get everyone situated in the carriage. He took the reigns and started the horses down the path that led to Annag's home in the woods.
----
Everything was still, and an eerie quiet hung in the air. He hopped down from his seat. "I'll go talk to her. No reason to haul this lot out of the carriage if there's nothing she can do for us."

Amalthya watched him walk to the door, and got a brief glimpse of a woman in dark robes as the two conversed. She couldn't make out what they were saying. A moment later, Gabriel strode back to the carriage. "She says to bring them inside, and she'll see what she can do."

They carried the unconscious men into the house. When Annag saw Gabriel carry Xander into the house, she gasped and stepped back a pace.  "You didn't tell me," she said, giving Gabriel an accusing glance.

"I didn't want to upset you." Gabriel replied, taking Xander into the back room.

"You know Xander?" Amalthya asked the sorceress."

"I should hope so," Annag replied, "He's my brother."


End Chapter 8.2