Chapter 11

Edana was rooted to the spot, unable to run as she very much wished to do, but she began to scream for help even though she knew it was futile. The dragon reached out and clasped her in one hand, the vicious claws closing around her suffocatingly tight. Huge black wings flapped once, twice, and the dragon was airborne with his alarmed human cargo. She had stopped struggling now, not wanting to fall from such a dizzying height.

* * * * * * *

Jareth and the Elven diplomat were conducting their affairs of state in one of the topmost rooms of the castle when the unicorn filly suddenly lifted her head from where she had been sleeping beside Jareth’s chair and whinnied. Jareth gave her a harsh look and said, "If you’re going to disturb us, have the decency to leave."

The unicorn hauled herself to her hooves and trotted to the window, ears cocked toward something outside. She neighed a few times, turned to look at Jareth, who was growing irritated, and stamped one foot.

The Elven ambassador became interested. "It is said that no creature has better hearing, or better intuition, than a unicorn," he remarked. "Perhaps you had better find out what it is she is trying to tell you."

Jareth agreed. "The creature has a sort of connection, if you will, with a…guest in the castle. And she does seem particularly insistent in this matter." He rose smoothly and went to the window, at first seeing nothing. A huge reddish shaped loomed in the sky, approaching the castle rapidly. It did not take Jareth long to recognize the dragon. "Damn," he swore intensely.

"Trouble?" asked the envoy, joining the king at the window. He squinted at the dragon as it neared.

"You know of Ciaran? He prefers to be known as Fafnir," Jareth asked in clipped tones. At the envoy’s look of distaste and sharp nod, Jareth looked out the window in abhorrence. "He has just found a way to make a royal nuisance of himself."

"Your Majesty, may I suggest that we continue negotiations after you have rid yourself of this present menace to your kingdom, if you will allow me to stay in the castle for as long as that may be."

Jareth nodded appreciatively. "That may be the best course of action, and you are welcome here for as long as you need. I must apologize for the inconvenience. Ciaran could not have chosen a worse time or target."

The dragon hovered outside the window now, his yellow gaze eyeing Jareth with condescension. "I seem to have found something which belongs to you," he said in his cultured voice. "Should you desire her back, you know what you must give me in return. Of course, it’s all the same to me if you don’t. She has quite a bit of spirit, and I’m sure I could find ways to amuse myself with her should you have more important matters to attend to."

"I’ll die before I live with you," Edana raged at the dragon.

"That can be arranged, my sweet," the dragon told her uncaringly. "Oh No! I can’t hold on anymore!" he exclaimed, loosening his fingers and retightening them a few times so that Edana slipped out of his grasp. Soon she was kicking and screaming, her fingers clamped around the claw on his last finger. It was smooth and glassy, and she could feel herself sliding. The fall from their height would at least leave her crippled, if it did not kill her. She was almost relieved when she felt the other hand close around her body, and she stopped screaming. "I didn’t think you really meant that," he gloated blandly. "Not that it makes any difference at all what your opinion on the matter is anyway." The dragon turned his attention back to Jareth, fuming at the window. "See what I mean? You know what they say about women with so much vivacity. I can’t wait to find out if its true." They could hear the smirk in his voice, though his dragon countenance displayed no emotion. "I’ll keep you posted on our progress," he promised.

Edana began struggling to get free of the dragon’s grasp again when she realized the conversation was over and this was her last chance for escape.

Jareth hated his inability to do anything to save her. It would be too dangerous, however, with her right there in the way. He was also seething too much to use any of his strong magic coherently. "Leave her here!" he commanded. "It’s my kingdom you want, she has nothing to do with it."

The dragon laughed. "My dear Goblin King, I’d never have thought you so transparent. There is nothing in the entire Underground that means more to you than this silly Aboveground girl. What better way to ensure your agreement to my proposition?"

"I see you don’t know everything, then," Jareth replied harshly. "Perhaps I do still have the advantage."

"Deny all you wish, King. News travels faster than messages from your heart to your brain, apparently. The kingdoms are abuzz with expectation that you’ll soon announce an overly delayed and long-anticipated engagement, and I think they are surely correct." He flapped the great black bat-type wings once, and it sent him slowly backwards. "But that is a discussion best left to another time. You know where to find us." The massive red beast turned smoothly and began rapidly flying away to his home.

Edana felt ill from dizziness. To end the violent vertigo, she closed her eyes. Eventually she must have either fallen to sleep or passed out, for the next time she opened her eyes it was at the voice of Ciaran.