Hi everyone! This is my first story that I have posted, so I am hoping to get lots of reviews! Dont get discouraged by the amount of Jareth in the first section, I want to set up Sarah' story before they reconnect. Anticipation just makes it more fun:)
Disclaimer: I in no way own Sarah, her family, Jareth and the concept of the Labyrinth. Some of the fairy tales will be mine, but most wont. I am in no way going to make money off of this. All other characters/concepts are mine.
Sitting on an airplane for eleven hours; watching terrible movies, eating terrible food, is a pleasure for no one. It is worse when those eleven hours happen to fall on one's birthday. Nevertheless, Sarah Williams was convinced that this was the best birthday of her now twenty-two years. Sitting in a cramped economy seat, sandwiched between the window and her growing younger brother Toby she experienced a thrill of anticipation as she thought of the family's destination and the next couple months.
Sarah had just graduated from university, with a degree in Creative Writing and a minor in French and now was fully prepared to become a celebrated collector of traditional fairy tales. Some interests never fade, even when most people in her life (namely Karen and her father) had told her that such tales were for children and that she needed a real degree, with a real career and a real salary.
But now she had her degree, even if it was in Liberal Arts and she had graduated with honors. Not surprising considering her inherent perfectionism and drive to prove to herself and her family. Sarah had proved that she could make it in the "real world", beyond the confines of her childhood fantasy stories and play-acting in the park.
And now Sarah was going to France. A graduation present from her dad and Karen, who knew of Sarah's passion for the old world with its folkloric history. Originally the trip had been planned for Sarah and her father alone, but an unexpected raise in her father's salary had allowed the entire family; including her grandmother; Nana Vero and Sarah's other half-sibling; seven year old Mackenzie. Who at the moment was very cranky.
"Sissy I want a story!" demanded the bright-eyed girl; who like her mother had off-blond hair and a demanding disposition. Privately, Sarah hoped that this business of ordering people was just a phase.
"Sissy!" More insistent this time.
"Shhh. Macky you're going to wake Toby!"
"But you promised. You promised that if I sat here and didn't yell and dance in the aisles that you would tell me a story! I is being good!" She put her hands under her legs as if to emphasize her complete compliance.
"Are being good Mackenzie' interrupted Sarah's stepmother Karen, 'You are being good"
"I jus' said that!"
Sarah sighed. Macky was really adorable sometimes. Sarah was glad that she was now old enough to enjoy her growing up instead of resenting her as she had Toby. Sarah winced, still feeling guilt over her treatment of her baby brother when had been a screaming baby. He may not remember her resentment but that didn't erase it from Sarah's conscience.
"Okay Macky, which story do you want to hear?" Sarah asked, grinning at the excited look on the child's face.
"I want to hear the one about the little lost dragon."
This was one of the many stories that Sarah had made up over the years to entertain the rambunctious child. Many of them had morals, although Sarah was fairly certain that Macky did not quite understand. One could never tell though; children were extraordinary. She turned to her little sister, going into "story teller" mode and began her tale.
"Once upon a time there was a little dragon called Zister and Zister was the only one of the Kin who couldn't do magic…"
Typically, their plane into the Charles-de-Gaulle airport was late, making it difficult to find transportation to their friends' house in Versailles, about twenty minutes from Paris itself and an hour from the airport. They were going to stay there for the night before catching a train to Nice. Finally they located two willing cab drivers and were on their way. The city was at its most beautiful at night, and Sarah's blue eyes were locked on the view out the window of seven-story buildings with a charming, overcrowded air about them, softened by the yellow glow of the streetlamps.
Toby and Mackenzie were thankfully sleeping, the flight and time change finally having taken its toll. Karen and her father were in the other car, directing the conducteur to the De la Pont's house. It was an old structure, as most buildings in the area, but well preserved; painted a sage green with white shutters and a well kept flower garden. Sarah yawned and stepped out of the car holding a grumbling Mackenzie and saw Yvette welcoming her parents in the foyer.
"Bonsoir Richard, ma cher Karen! I am so glad to see you again!" Yvette warmly greeted the two exhausted adults. She was a petit woman, with dark eyes and hair, currently pulled back in chic bun. She had been Karen's roommate for several months when Karen was still in college and had traveled to the country to study for a quarter.
"Oh Yvette", Karen said, looking concerned, "You didn't need to stay up for us! I still know where the hidden key is", she added with a wink. "We could have slipped in quietly and let you and Jean-Paul sleep".
"De rien ma cher, de rien. Now come," Yvette directed, looking pointedly at Toby who was eyeballing warily this strange woman and Sarah, still holding Mackenzie. "I have made up beds for all of you although Sarah, you shall have to sleep on the couch, d'accord?"
At this point Sarah didn't care if she slept on the floor; so long as she got to put Mackenzie down. Karen took Macky from her and Sarah was directed to a quite comfortable looking couch where she promptly fell asleep, fully clothed.
Outside the glass pane windows, underneath an unusually clear sky sat a snowy owl, seemingly fixated by the people inside. He sclipped his beak twice and then flew off into the night.