Author's Note: This is my first Labyrinth fanfic, so please don't expect too much. I'll continue it if there's interest...
* * *
It was quite warm for so late into the fall, and Sarah Williams trudged towards the store in only jeans and a tee shirt. She was studying the grey cement she walked across, and so did not notice the sparkle in the air right away. Did not notice it, in fact, until it fully engulfed her. The sidewalk vanished from beneath her feet, to be replaced a scant second later by solid grey stone. She turned her face up slowly as the glitter dissipated.
"Jareth?" The Goblin King sat up straight on his throne the moment she appeared.
"You will no doubt be wanting to know why I have brought you here, and demanding to be returned immediately. Pray allow me to explain first." Still stunned by her sudden change of whereabouts, Sarah could only nod dumbly.
"Were you to remain Aboveground, you would be dead in the next day. I wish to save you from such a fate, and thus have brought you here."
"You have no power over me!" she bit out, not quite believing that all this was real. She had been in contact with her friends several times after her adventure in the labyrinth, but being back Underground was quite a different story.
"Indeed I do not. If you truly wish to return home, I shall have no choice but to send you back there. Please hear me out first, Sarah. The first time you were in my realm, I reordered time for you. I also have the power to see select portions of the future, and I have seen what will happen to you if you are Aboveground tonight. I had hoped that you would be my guest for the next two days, until the danger is well past." She narrowed her eyes.
"Why should I believe you?" He shrugged elegantly.
"I have no proof to offer you beyond the glimpse of your future I received, and I don't think you would enjoy that."
"Why not?"
"It is your death, Sarah, and in a quite unpleasant manner. But if you insist," he reached for one of the crystals that hovered in the air near his throne.
"No- wait. Why do you care what happens to me? I thought-"
"That I am your enemy? No, Sarah, I am not. During your prior visit, I was merely living up to your expectations of me. I trust those have now changed?" She nodded slowly.
"Good. In that case, I hope you will agree to stay here until your home is again safe." Another sluggish nod.
"Excellent. I had prepared a room for you here in the castle, but you need not stay here if you do not feet comfortable with the idea. I would be equally willing to provide you with some currency and a guide to the Goblin City. There are one or two decent inns..." Sarah shook her head.
"I-I'll stay here."
"Very well. I want you to know that you are a guest here, Sarah, not a prisoner. You are free to roam the castle at your leisure, though I would thank you to keep out of my private apartments. The entrance is marked with my sigil," he indicated the silver pendant at his throat, "You shan't miss it. Your room connects to a bathroom with modern plumbing and a library. If you need anything, you may call me with this." He plucked a crystal out of the air and offered it to her. Sarah hesitated, and he laughed quietly.
"No tricks, Sarah. It is merely the Underground equivalent of what I believe you call a telephone." She flashed a nervous smile and took the ball quickly, as though she were afraid it would burn her. After an ackward moment of silence, Sarah tucked it into a pocket of her jeans.
"What about my family? I'm still living at home, you know." Jareth didn't contest that. Instead, he selected a crystal from the halo overhead and threw it towards a corner. It exploded in a burst of glitter, which cleared to reveal a telephone. The cord disappeared into the stone wall. Sarah stared at it for a long moment without moving.
"Call your parents and tell them you're going somewhere with a friend?" Jareth suggested. Sarah blinked several times and darted to the corner to make the call.
* * *
Jareth leaned back in his throne as Sarah dialed the number, letting his eyes trail across her. She had matured significantly since he had last seen her in person, though she still retained a youthful vigor. He had watched her intermittently over the years, though how many it had been exactly he wasn't certain. The precious thing had graduated high school and decided to take a year off before starting college. At least this trip wouldn't take her away from her studies, then.
He had to admit that at least a part of him was happy for the excuse to bring Sarah back to the Underground. That play of hers had perhaps exaggerated things a bit by claiming he was in love with her, but he did have a special fondness for the girl. Woman, now, the Goblin King corrected himself. And he simply would not tolerate her early demise.
Sarah finished her call, jumping just a little when the phone vanished. She walked back toward Jareth, her gait considerably more measured than it had been. He noticed a determination in her eyes and braced himself for whatever was coming. The Goblin King could sometimes see into the future, but his own was closed to him.
"I will stay here, Jareth, if you promise me something." He raised an eyebrow expectantly.
"No tricks, and no peaches."
"Alas, and I had a lovely peach cobbler planned for dessert tonight," he stopped at the steely look in her eye, "I'm joking, Sarah, I'm joking. Seeing as I'm not the villain anymore, I am entitled to a sense of humor beyond nefarious laughter. Do you not agree?"
"I suppose. But I still want a promise." The indignant set of her chin let him know quite clearly that they weren't going anywhere until he acceded to her demand.
"I swear, Sarah, no tricks, and no peaches of any sort without your permission."
"Thank you. Now, where's this room you were talking about?" Jareth smiled expansively and got to his feet, gallantly offering Sarah his arm.
"I shall take you there. Would you like a tour of the castle as well?" She nodded curtly and took the arm.
"That would be nice."
As he led her throughout the castle, Jareth couldn't help but enjoy her presence and her touch upon his arm, even if the circumstances were not ideal. When they got to her room, he released her arm and bowed deeply.
"If you would care to dine with me, I shall be having supper in a few hours. Otherwise, simply let me know when you are hungry and I shall provide a meal for you." She nodded and stepped into the room quickly, shutting the door behind her.
Despite Jareth's friendliness, Sarah was glad to be alone again so that she could think. She didn't know what to make of it all, but the Goblin King's presence made it difficult for her to concentrate. Now that she was by herself, a dozen new questions hit her. She should have demanded to see his 'proof', should have questioned why he was watching her at all, should have found out how she could return Aboveground if he tried anything funny. Should have found out when he was having dinner so she wasn't late.
* * *
Author's Note: Well, there's what I have so far. I hope it isn't too terrible. Comments are wonderful!
* * *
It was quite warm for so late into the fall, and Sarah Williams trudged towards the store in only jeans and a tee shirt. She was studying the grey cement she walked across, and so did not notice the sparkle in the air right away. Did not notice it, in fact, until it fully engulfed her. The sidewalk vanished from beneath her feet, to be replaced a scant second later by solid grey stone. She turned her face up slowly as the glitter dissipated.
"Jareth?" The Goblin King sat up straight on his throne the moment she appeared.
"You will no doubt be wanting to know why I have brought you here, and demanding to be returned immediately. Pray allow me to explain first." Still stunned by her sudden change of whereabouts, Sarah could only nod dumbly.
"Were you to remain Aboveground, you would be dead in the next day. I wish to save you from such a fate, and thus have brought you here."
"You have no power over me!" she bit out, not quite believing that all this was real. She had been in contact with her friends several times after her adventure in the labyrinth, but being back Underground was quite a different story.
"Indeed I do not. If you truly wish to return home, I shall have no choice but to send you back there. Please hear me out first, Sarah. The first time you were in my realm, I reordered time for you. I also have the power to see select portions of the future, and I have seen what will happen to you if you are Aboveground tonight. I had hoped that you would be my guest for the next two days, until the danger is well past." She narrowed her eyes.
"Why should I believe you?" He shrugged elegantly.
"I have no proof to offer you beyond the glimpse of your future I received, and I don't think you would enjoy that."
"Why not?"
"It is your death, Sarah, and in a quite unpleasant manner. But if you insist," he reached for one of the crystals that hovered in the air near his throne.
"No- wait. Why do you care what happens to me? I thought-"
"That I am your enemy? No, Sarah, I am not. During your prior visit, I was merely living up to your expectations of me. I trust those have now changed?" She nodded slowly.
"Good. In that case, I hope you will agree to stay here until your home is again safe." Another sluggish nod.
"Excellent. I had prepared a room for you here in the castle, but you need not stay here if you do not feet comfortable with the idea. I would be equally willing to provide you with some currency and a guide to the Goblin City. There are one or two decent inns..." Sarah shook her head.
"I-I'll stay here."
"Very well. I want you to know that you are a guest here, Sarah, not a prisoner. You are free to roam the castle at your leisure, though I would thank you to keep out of my private apartments. The entrance is marked with my sigil," he indicated the silver pendant at his throat, "You shan't miss it. Your room connects to a bathroom with modern plumbing and a library. If you need anything, you may call me with this." He plucked a crystal out of the air and offered it to her. Sarah hesitated, and he laughed quietly.
"No tricks, Sarah. It is merely the Underground equivalent of what I believe you call a telephone." She flashed a nervous smile and took the ball quickly, as though she were afraid it would burn her. After an ackward moment of silence, Sarah tucked it into a pocket of her jeans.
"What about my family? I'm still living at home, you know." Jareth didn't contest that. Instead, he selected a crystal from the halo overhead and threw it towards a corner. It exploded in a burst of glitter, which cleared to reveal a telephone. The cord disappeared into the stone wall. Sarah stared at it for a long moment without moving.
"Call your parents and tell them you're going somewhere with a friend?" Jareth suggested. Sarah blinked several times and darted to the corner to make the call.
* * *
Jareth leaned back in his throne as Sarah dialed the number, letting his eyes trail across her. She had matured significantly since he had last seen her in person, though she still retained a youthful vigor. He had watched her intermittently over the years, though how many it had been exactly he wasn't certain. The precious thing had graduated high school and decided to take a year off before starting college. At least this trip wouldn't take her away from her studies, then.
He had to admit that at least a part of him was happy for the excuse to bring Sarah back to the Underground. That play of hers had perhaps exaggerated things a bit by claiming he was in love with her, but he did have a special fondness for the girl. Woman, now, the Goblin King corrected himself. And he simply would not tolerate her early demise.
Sarah finished her call, jumping just a little when the phone vanished. She walked back toward Jareth, her gait considerably more measured than it had been. He noticed a determination in her eyes and braced himself for whatever was coming. The Goblin King could sometimes see into the future, but his own was closed to him.
"I will stay here, Jareth, if you promise me something." He raised an eyebrow expectantly.
"No tricks, and no peaches."
"Alas, and I had a lovely peach cobbler planned for dessert tonight," he stopped at the steely look in her eye, "I'm joking, Sarah, I'm joking. Seeing as I'm not the villain anymore, I am entitled to a sense of humor beyond nefarious laughter. Do you not agree?"
"I suppose. But I still want a promise." The indignant set of her chin let him know quite clearly that they weren't going anywhere until he acceded to her demand.
"I swear, Sarah, no tricks, and no peaches of any sort without your permission."
"Thank you. Now, where's this room you were talking about?" Jareth smiled expansively and got to his feet, gallantly offering Sarah his arm.
"I shall take you there. Would you like a tour of the castle as well?" She nodded curtly and took the arm.
"That would be nice."
As he led her throughout the castle, Jareth couldn't help but enjoy her presence and her touch upon his arm, even if the circumstances were not ideal. When they got to her room, he released her arm and bowed deeply.
"If you would care to dine with me, I shall be having supper in a few hours. Otherwise, simply let me know when you are hungry and I shall provide a meal for you." She nodded and stepped into the room quickly, shutting the door behind her.
Despite Jareth's friendliness, Sarah was glad to be alone again so that she could think. She didn't know what to make of it all, but the Goblin King's presence made it difficult for her to concentrate. Now that she was by herself, a dozen new questions hit her. She should have demanded to see his 'proof', should have questioned why he was watching her at all, should have found out how she could return Aboveground if he tried anything funny. Should have found out when he was having dinner so she wasn't late.
* * *
Author's Note: Well, there's what I have so far. I hope it isn't too terrible. Comments are wonderful!