Disclaimer: I do not own the Labyrinth
REST IN PEACE David Bowie...It's a terrible tragedy...but I will continue to honor your memory through fanfiction.
Chapter One
Seasons Change
15 maker days ago…
From where she lay cradled in his arms, Jareth could feel Sarah's warm breath tickling his chest. He watched the gentle rise and fall of her body against his as he swept away the wild brown locks hiding her sleeping eyes.
He smiled, this was it. This was his dream.
Jareth had been a Maker of Dreams for almost a century, but never had he paused to reflect on his own heart's desire. He had never dared to dream but had only contented himself in delivering enchanted worlds to other human dreamers.
But now, wrapped in his arms, he possessed the body and soul of his dream and her name was Sarah. The beautiful, graceful Sarah, with her feisty spirit and loyal heart. He pulled her closer, dearer to him. I will never let you go.
She stirred in her sleep, the worried lines in her face had vanished in the comfort of his arms.
"Sarah," he whispered, his voice a melodic purr. "Tomorrow I will ask you to marry me. You will be mine, won't you? My wife?" His heart skipped a beat.
"My wife."
He marveled how two little words could bring him so much joy. Dare he venture further? Four words?
"Mother of my children."
Happiness complete.
The sun had begun to filter through the windows of the Keeper of Truth tower casting a halo of light over his beloved Sarah. Soon the cobblestone streets below would be a bustle with the makers of Jorg. The day was rising and Sarah began to stir.
He felt a flitter of lashes followed by a soft contented sigh.
"Good morning," he cooed, softly in her ear as he feathered a kiss on her forehead.
"Splendid morning..." She replied, through a contagious smile. "Can we just pause time?"
Sarah propped herself up, staring into Jareth's mismatched eyes.
"My sentiments exactly."
"Let's just stay this way forever." She nestled closer to Jareth.
Forever? There it was. The sweetest word of all.
"Forever?" Jareth said with a smile.
He cupped Sarah's face in the palm of his hands, "Forever would be a dream come true."
Today…
Sarah felt sick. Her breath was labored, her body was wet with perspiration and the world around her seemed to be spinning. Her stomach lurched violently; she wanted to vomit. Right there where she stood in the devastated Xumena she wanted to empty all the shock pulsing through her system onto the wrecked ground. Could it be real? Could she trust her own eyes? Another wave of nausea sent her reeling forward, bending over at the waste. It's not real. It can't be real. Shards of glass cracked under her shifting weight. Sounds real, she thought as she heaved onto the rubble below. She couldn't be in Xumena. She must have taken a wrong turn. But her attempt to fool herself was as shallow and empty as her stomach now felt.
Xumena had been decimated.
The silver domes had been demolished leaving the streets blanketed with mountains of grey debris. In each direction Sarah looked all she could see was devastation. She tried desperately to find her bearings. Where were all the makers? Where was Jeminy? Where was the train station? Sarah carefully lifted and planted her heavy legs, one dreaded step after another to the highest point on the largest mound. Managing to stand, she peered over the wreckage below. She could make out the gates that had housed the Mortal Embassy among the stainless steel sea. Within the gates the large needle like structure had poured into the ground, sinking beneath the surface as if it had melted into the earth. She shuttered. There, where the Embassy once stood erect and proud, was a giant form of the letter B protruding from a pool of glossy silver. Sarah pulled away abruptly, forgetting her footing and wedging her ankle between two hard surfaces. The brisk movement caused her to lose her balance and fall flatly on her side, twisting her ankle as she ripped herself from the silver mound. The searing pain that now emanated from her freed foot was quickly brushed aside. Once again, Sarah found herself questioning the validity of own sight. She couldn't have seen what she thought she saw. Though she wouldn't dare to let herself check. The Brotherhood is evil but they are not capable of that. They couldn't…Sarah stopped and stared at the surrounding nightmare, allowing the reality to sink into her bones. The Brotherhood did this. They destroyed Xumena…and they…they…but she couldn't get the thought out. Thinking about it would make it real. But ignoring it would be a travesty. She gritted her teeth, anger seething through the gaps. They used the bodies of Makers to sign their handiwork.
A giant B of Maker bodies.
Vomit. Again.
She pulled herself up, limping quietly and carefully through the hills and valleys of destruction. She had to get to Jeminy. She tried not to consider the fact that she had yet to see a live maker since entering the Maker's Realm. She clung to hope that Jeminy was safe. How did this happen? When did this happen? Sarah had only been in the Human Realm for a few days; that was only a couple of weeks in Maker's time. How could things have changed so quickly, so drastically? She thought destroying Olina's Speck of Dust had been a large blow for the Brotherhood. Was this retaliation? Did the destruction spread beyond Xumena? The questions continued to reel through Sarah's mind while the worry and fear drove her forward through the rubble. When she reached the peak of a small mound Sarah sighed in relief. The train station had remained intact, and Sarah could make out someone in the distance ducking into the dome.
"Jeminy!" Sarah exclaimed. "I'm coming."
But before Sarah had managed to set a foot in the station's direction she was reeled back by the force of a tall man pulling her down and out of sight. Where did he come from?!
"Get down!" he huffed. Sarah ripped away from his grip. She fumbled backwards before gaining her balance and sending an invisible punch at the man. He plummeted to the ground, his knees buckling behind him and his arm smashing into a pointy steel beam.
"Blimey!" the man shot through clenched teeth. "That's my making arm, I think it's dislocated" he said, fighting the pain in his expression.
"Stay away from me." Sarah retorted, hands up and ready for a fight.
"Is that any way to treat someone trying to help you, Sarah?"
"How do you know my name?"
The man stood up, dusting himself off with his good hand before setting his piercing green eyes on Sarah. He scowled at her, furrowing his brow.
"Stay there," Sarah spat when the man began to step forward. She shot electricity in her palm, to show she meant business.
"You've learned some new tricks," he said.
"Who are you? How do you know me?" Sarah asked hotly.
"My name is Knightly. I am Jeminy's son."
Sarah observed Knightly with obvious disbelief. He stood upright with a towering physique. His dark brown, thick and wavy hair crowned his square and disgruntled face.
"You are right to be wary." He said his expression softening. "Look, I am not the Brotherhood. I promise, I-"
"How do you know what I look like," Sarah said, interrupting.
"My father described you, and well, your attire isn't exactly 'Maker'."
"Prove it," Sarah said, her heart still racing. "Prove you are who you say you are."
"I can take you to my father."
"You want me to follow you. Without proof?"
"Yes."
"Are you mad?" Sarah asked, lividly.
"Mad? No, I'm not…angry," Knightly replied with a note of confusion. "But I am in earnest. And in any case, what choice have you got?"
Sarah paused, staring into Knightly's straight face. He appeared trustworthy, but nothing was as it seemed in the Maker's Realm. Quiz him, Sarah thought. "You are Jeminy's son?" she asked incredulously.
Knightly nodded in response.
"Well then, if he told you about me, he must have told you our story."
"Indeed, he did."
"Then you wouldn't mind answering a few questions."
"Sarah, I am who I say I am. I do not have time to placate you. We have to go meet my father. And," he continued, gesturing to his injured and bleeding arm. "I cannot mend my making arm. Unless of course you would like to do the honors."
"I think I will consider it collateral," She said warily. "I am not moving without some sort of assurance."
Knightly's face drew tight in anger once more. "As you wish," he managed through a snarl.
"Answer me this; how did we escape from the dungeons on Olina's Speck of Dust?"
"You disguised yourself as Olina."
"What did the guard do to Ichabad's food?"
"He spat in it. Can we go now?"
Sarah, looked hard at Knightly's tightly drawn mouth and furrowed brow. This man looked nothing like Jeminy.
"The guard on Olina's speck…boxers or briefs?"
"Briefs."
"What color?"
"Pink and white."
Sarah tried to remain serious but the image of the guard tied up in his underwear sprang back into her head. She fought the corners of her mouth from turning up into a smile. Meeting Knightly's gaze she realized she wasn't the only one. His eyes were brimming with amusement. In that light, she saw him, she could see Jeminy's warmth reflected in Knightly's eyes. At least she hoped she saw him because her mind was made up. She would follow Knightly and hope that he would be as earnest as he claimed to be.
"You are Jeminy's son?"
"Yes," he said emphatically.
"Fine, take me to him," she commanded, eying a relieved Knightly. If it really is the son of Jeminy, I treated him insufferably. She winced at the realization and added a curt, "please."
"Please take me to Jeminy," she said again, this time with a gentler, hopeful voice.
"It would be my pleasure," Knightly said. "Follow me."
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So this was the famous Sarah, Knightly thought, rounding a bend and heading towards his father's hideout. Father believes she could save us? He looked back where Sarah followed close behind. Her hair was a disheveled mess, her clothes were ripped, she was limping and he was pretty sure her top smelled like vomit. And she was the messiah of the Makers? Furthermore, Knightly thought, she is brash and uncouth. Why his father had sent him to find her was baffling to him. Regardless of what she had managed to do on Olina's speck of dust, to him, she seemed powerless against the strength and numbers of the Brotherhood. Knightly was only glad Sarah had found him and he hadn't lost precious time venturing into the Human Realm. Now he could deliver Sarah and head out to join the Maker's Apostles at first light. Numbers, Knightly thought, that is how we can defeat the Brotherhood, not by some silly, ill-mannered woman. Even with her so-called 'power'. She can't even heal herself.
"It is right this way," he said, gesturing Sarah towards the rubble covered trap door. He turned in time just to catch Sarah as she tripped on another piece of scrap metal. She grabbed hold of him tightly, trying to regain her balance.
"Excuse me," she mustered in embarrassment. "I must have two left feet."
Knightly let out a grunt. "That's my bad arm," he said, fighting the pain shooting from his elbow to shoulder. Case and point.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry."
"Never mind, we are here. I'll get it fixed."
"This is it?"
"Yes, this is where we have resorted to hiding. Here, help me move this," he said, bending down to lift scraps of metal from a seemingly identical mound of debris. "I can't 'make' it away, remember?"
Sarah nodded dutifully, and swiped the air with her hand, the remains shifted revealing the entryway. She exposed a shiny dial on a small square metal door.
Knightly pulled the wheel counter-clockwise towards him. "It isn't much, but it's home," he said at the entrance of a narrow silver shaft. A soft light filtered up through the narrow passage.
"Now we climb down," he said. "After you." He studied Sarah's reluctant expression before donning a devilish grin. "Or not," he said and he boarded the latter ahead of Sarah. Descending a ladder with one hand, not an easy feat, he thought.
Sarah looked about her cautiously before following him down into his father's bunker.
"Please shut the trap behind you," Knightly said after Sarah was in line above him. The door screeched close and the light from the devastated Xumena slipped away.
A/N:
Dear New Readers,
Thanks for trying out "Master of Makers" For your information MOM is a sequel. To fully appreciate MOM please check out my first story, "Maker of Dreams."
Happy Reading...
Thank you HEW for your proofreading