AYLETH

Etan's arm tightened, pulling her closer, and she looked up at him, to find his green eyes blazing with hope and excitement—and more than a little heat. She smiled, though she found right alongside the burning for him that spiraled through her stomach, there was also the trill of nerves.

This was going to happen. This thing that she'd anticipated since her days in short-skirts. And it was going to happen with Etan who was… heavenly. And in love with her.

It was, quite literally, a dream come true. As long as it didn't turn into a nightmare.

What if she did it wrong? "I cannot find words, Etan," she said faintly.

He leaned down, touching her face, stroking her cheek. "There aren't words. That's why it's so beautiful," he whispered back.

Borsche cleared his throat on Etan's other side and they both turned, realizing all three men were staring at them.

Ayleth felt her cheeks heat for a very different reason than her stomach.

"There is one thing, before we sign the contract," Falek said, his voice weary, but firm.

"What is it?" Jareth asked.

Falek's hand tightened on the grip of his sword, his knuckles standing proud. Ayleth frowned. In Falek, that was a sign of fear.

"We cannot deny the risk that when the King and Queen of Zenithra learn these two have married, they may wish to… remove all witnesses, or legally binding documents. I… I chose you because I know you are a good man, Jareth, but I cannot in good heart let you walk into this without understanding: The consequence could be the title Traitor, and a criminal's death. Or it could be a cut-throat in the dark when you are walking home at night. The King can be… ruthless."

Etan pulled his arm even tighter against his side, pinning her hand to him. They looked at each other, his face was grim.

When they looked at Jareth, his face was grim as well—but also determined. "I joke plenty, Falek, as you know. I like to enjoy my day and my people. But I take my calling very seriously. God put me on this continent to do His will, and I do not believe that our meeting and working together, and your placement near me when this came to fruition is a coincidence. The Father of Light is also the Father of Peace. He would wish these two to achieve what they seek, I'm certain of it. And if He asks me to give my life in service to that… I am willing."

Falek blinked. Borsche's jaw went slack. "Sir, do you not want to take a moment at least, to consider, to speak with family or loved ones?"

Jareth shook his head. "I have never found my wife, though I have waited with eyes open. Perhaps this is why. Perhaps the Father had this task before he takes me home? I don't know. But I do know that I will not waver."

"Is there anything we could do, Falek, to protect Jareth?" Ayleth asked suddenly.

"No, no, no," Jareth said raising his hands to stop them before Falek could answer. "I am in the place I am supposed to be. I work with the people who need me. I will not flee this. If the King chooses to come for me, my flock will learn that their shepherd was willing to die when God asked. And that will… I will be blessed for that. Do not worry your beautiful head, Highness. If this is the time of my end, I am ready to meet it."

Ayleth frowned. How could this man give his life away so lightly? She was about to argue, to try to show him that he should value himself more, when Etan leaned into her ear.

"It is a belief of our faith that no man will die before or after the day of the Father's choosing—which was decided before he was born. He does not believe you could… thwart death if it is intended for him. And he does not believe the King could kill him unless it was intended for him."

As he straightened, Ayleth snapped her head to look at him. "Do you believe this?"

"I do," he said solemly.

Ayleth's stomach dropped. "So you—and he—would just welcome killers with open arms?"

"No, of course not. I would fight, I would flee, I would… I would do everything in my power to stay with you, Ayleth. But if I was certain that the task ahead was intended for me, and that it may result in my death… I would accept it as he is. At least, I hope I would. I admire his faith. It is real. He does not simply spew words from a book. He lives the truth. When it came, if he could not stop his own death, it was not intended to be stopped. If I could not stop mine… I would believe it also."

Ayleth looked back to Jareth, who was waiting patiently. "Why do you follow a God you believe would simply hand you to someone with murderous intent?"

Jareth chuckled. "I do not believe Father would hand me over to a murderer until my day had come—and perhaps not even then. I do not look for death, Princess. Only accept it if it occurs, knowing that it was the time of the Father's choosing for me. I am equally convinced any murderer that attempted to take me before that hour would find himself stopped, whether I knew of his plot or not."

But Ayleth was not pleased. This… shocking revelation that her husband would allow himself to be killed! To meet his fate with equanimity… it did not sit well with her. She could not quite pinpoint why, but something about it offended her.

"What other strange beliefs do you hold, Etan?" she asked suddenly. "I do not wish to be surprised if I must learn strange things that you believe you would or must do."

Etan chuckled, patting her arm. "I promise you, love, there is nothing you need worry about. Unless…" his face went pale. "Would you wish not to marry because of this?"

"Of course not!" she snapped. "I would wish not to be ambushed if my husband was going to sacrifice himself to a volcano!"

Etan, Borsche, and Jareth all laughed, even Falek looked amused, though his mouth only twitched. "I was not being serious," she snapped.

"We know," Etan said, cupping her face. "You are a beautiful, intelligent, and very funny woman, and I thnk the Father of Lights that he intended you for me," Etan finished quietly.

She softened then and squeezed his arm, his eyes lighting up when she smiled. "Well, then. I guess it's time that we should get this cockshow on the road?"

Etan swallowed a choking laugh and Falek dropped his head and shook it.

Jareth managed to keep a straight face, but looked as if he had swallowed a plum pit whole to do it.

"I think you mean, shitshow," Etan murmured.

She had. But she'd also known they needed to relax. "Oh, right," she said with a sly grin. "I'll try to use it correctly next time."