The dawn smelled of trouble, the chill tangy sweet summer breeze that bites at exposed flesh unchecked until the sun rebukes it for it's insolence by drawing the sizzling heat of day up with it. Jareth didn't sleep that night. Not that he was worried, but more that the conversation of the amusingly cynical 'thief' had kept him satisfyingly occupied. He vowed the council would pay dearly for this idiocracy. He knew they try and pin him down for something ridiculous the moment they thought they had a clear shot, but not this. This was plain stupidity. But he would shatter their little plans when he explained that Sarah had called him.

His conversational companion seemed to share his optimism, and had fallen asleep some time ago. He preferred to stay awake. The sun slanting over the visible land outside sheened everything in the purest tints of gold. Eyes that matched watched unblinking for a long while. Now and then, thoughts flitted uninvited into his mind. Thoughts centered around the young woman with the seal brown hair, wide almost doe-ishly brown eyes and the spirit, untrained still, but strong and stubborn as an ox. With a frown, Jareth pushed the thoughts aside. Rubbish. That was the past. He had other things to attend to. Conveniently, any musings on the topic of 'Sarah' were shoved aside out of necessity, as a pair of council-employed Trachits thumped less than gracefully up to drop the magick restraint shields after a moment of bickering in tongues. Jareth folded arms over his chest impatiently. The sooner this was over, the better. Truthfully, he found it greatly amusing that the council thought a pair of Trachits, mindless reptilian creatures, would be able to hold him if he chose to leave. Either way, he wasn't going to be difficult now. Getting out of here with no strings attached was his primary goal.

After some time of threading through corridors, they came to the silver metal doors of the council's hall. Casting a withering look at the reptiles that flanked him, Jareth strode in with the strides of a cat that just ate the canary AND got away with it. Hush fell like a fog over the room, partially sanctioned by the stern look of the high counsellor. The old elf watched Jareth a long moment, thin lips pulled back into disaproving line, before beginning with the opening litigations.

Through the entire spilling of political jargon Jareth stood unmoving as an alabaster statue, jaw set defiantly as a hint of a smile traced itself firmly over his lips. After some time, and quiet almost insectoid chatter amongst the council members, Jareth was addressed.

"Yesterday's proceedings were inconclusive due to the nature of the defendant." Here he glared outright at the Goblin King. Jareth's temper boiled up within him immediately. The elf's audacity was as astounding as it was irritating. "In light of the defendant's unwillingness to cooperate with the council, any further infractions on his part shall be greeted with a penalty of purification."

Jareth growled inwardly at this, knowing better than to test the edgy council leader any further right now. Purification was their answer to any mage or magick user that wasn't wholly angelic, which none were. Any infraction upon the code of 'do onto others as your would have them do onto you' would be bestowed upon the inflictor. Jareth did NOT wish to undergo that. To add insult to injury, the ancient elf leaned over the high bench he sat behind and smiled patronizingly at Jareth.

"That means Velvetsteel, if you waste anymore of the council's valuable time, we'll use the third to pronounce you guilty by avoidance. Do I make myself clear?"

It took every fiber of his being not to growl like a baited wolf at the condescending being. With an overly polite grin Jareth nodded mutely, not trusting himself to speak.

"Now," the white haired elf continued, leaning back into the dragon bone chair while lifting a few papers to inspect, "You have answered truthfully near none of the questions posed- "

"I've answered ALL of the questions posed truthfully," Jareth interrupted, forgetting to stifle the anger creeping into his tone.

"Velvetsssssteel!" A gryphon on the right of the curving council bench thundered. "Thissss isssss your last warning! The counccccil will not tolerate another outbursssst!"

He didn't answer this, but merely held the eyes of the snow-manned elf who sat with a look of grim, thin worn patience pasted over ancient features. His mouth was wreathed in wrinkles, and to Jareth's thought, the better part of them were probably not caused by smiling.

After a moment the elven high chancellor continued, nodding to the purple feathered gryphon. "Thank you Rik. As I was saying," he paused purposely and gave Jareth a quick glower of his own, "it is the feeling of this council that any evidence you could provide in defense would be circumstantial at best-"

"The hell it would. Exactly what kind of trial are you giving me?" Jareth shot, disbelieve staining his words mixed in equal proportion with anger. This was unheard of. They were making choices WITHOUT his testimony, and didn't seem too keen on letting him speak either. Without a supporter to object, he had little say, and fewer still rights. Guilty until proven innocent.

At Jareth's accusation five of the members took to their feet in sudden defensiveness, yet lowered themselves back as the old elf lifted his chin.

"Enough. This is not a three-ringed circus. You were warned Velvetsteel." Jareth gritted his teeth as the elf frowned deeply in his direction. The room was silent for a long moment. "Since you cannot see fit to hold your tongue even in your own best interest, the council will appoint a speaker for you."

"What?! This is bloody well insane! You can't be serio-"

"Enough!" The chancellor erupted, slamming the papers down on the desk's smooth top. A few of the sheets floated lazily to the ground as he regained himself. Jareth might have been satisfied by the exasperation of his main persecutor if he weren't so outraged at the last passing. "Rik," he looked hastily toward the gryphon, whose hackles were raising slowly, "you will speak for him."

It didn't take Jareth a second to see the surprise take over the creature's raptorial face for the short time it did. The chancellor was overstepping his own boundaries in this. There was no law allowing such things to pass unless the accused could absolutely not speak for themselves. But there was no higher power to go to here. And they wanted him silenced.

Rik hopped neatly from his seat and padded slowly toward Jareth, who continued to bite the inside of his cheek in order to keep himself quiet. Despite his efforts there was no mistaking the outrage written all over chiseled features. Even the large rook feathered gryphon looked uncertainly toward the elven leader Makrac with a fair amount of worry. In short, the council member had no idea how to proceed. This was not normal, or even allowed action within their circle. Certainly it would be opposed sooner or later. Glancing back to Jareth, the ebony creature cracked a beak at Makrac. "Permisssssion to approach the bench ssssir."

Makrac nodded mutely. Jareth was coming to detest the smug smile that touched the elf's mouth. Talons clicked against the floor as the gryphon stalked over to speak in hushed tones. "Ssssir...thissss issss highly irregular. It will be protessssted."

"Nonsense. Who will protest it? It is your duty to keep harm from the seven kingdoms as a member of this council. Do you think he will turn around and be suddenly a model ruler? No. This is our chance to keep him out of the way for good."

The gryphon considered, glancing back at the unmoving figure that was the goblin king with eyes of mustard yellow a whirl. "Makrac you have taken thisssss too far. Thissss issss not upholding the truth or goodnessss....thisss isss maliciousssss. I want no part of it."

The ancient elf's eyes steeled over as he leant closer to the heistant member. "You'll participate in this Rik, and you'll do it without further question. As higher authority here I order it so." He hissed, and Rik nodded slowly as he turned back toward Jareth.

"Now then. Shall we continue?"Makrac closed fingers over the scattered papers, drawing them into some semblence of neatness again. Within amoment he was collected.Jareth...was far from him. What was he supposed to do? THey couldn't do this...it wasn't ALLOWED. But he had no one to protest FOR him.And HE couldn't speak. He was trapped. He would gate,leave immediately and let THEM come after HIM... but the room was shielding, and there were MORE than enough mages to subdue even HIS efforts at present. So deep in thought was he that he nearly missed the counsellor's first question.

"What was the name of this mortal?"

Rik looked back at Jareth who's lips parted in a silent snarl. STUPID question. Makrac was trying to push him over the brink.Jareth wouldn't take the bait. The gryphon's claws clicked quietly against the cold marble floor as he moved, answering, as stated, FOR Jareth. "Ssssarah Williamsssss."

"And where were you on May 22, three months past?"

The purple feathered gryphon looked pained pacing a bit more ardently. His pacing slowed considerably as the ancient elf glowered quietly at him. "Withhhhhh her."

"Where?" Jareth was biting hischeek again, hard enough that the wine-esque blood of deep blue was staining his mouth by now.

"Her housssssse, 12 Cherryhill rd. The United Sssstatessss of America."

"Did she invite you?"

Rik shook his head and Jareth's eyes flared dangerously, the light within them leaping within like flashes of rusted lightning."No."

The room's occupants were muttering quietly, lips passing on sounds of inquisition as Macrak and the other members following stood. "With that I hand proceedings to Law-Giver Keren."

Blue skinned and short, the woman stood and lifted a petit chin toward Jareth. "I Keren Asil'gh proclaim you, Jareth Velvetsteel guilty of charged offenses. To punished by death in the First."