A/N: How's that for a twist?…heh heh heh. Will Her Majesty be sympathetic or did Sarah make the biggest mistake since wishing her brother into the hands of the goblins?
Jareth: Did she really call my mom to tell on me? Hmph!
Disclaimer: No…I don't own Jareth, though I'd like to…he belongs to Sarah and they belong to Jim Henson…what a pity...
Sarah looked around the room, but nothing had changed. Well…that was a total waste of time. What in the hell was Hoggle thinking telling her to call on the High Queen? Now she felt like a total idiot. Did she really think that Her Majesty had the time to talk to a mortal like her? Sarah was so deep in her self-deprecation that she didn't notice the subtle shift in the room.
"Hello Sarah."
Sarah turned to see the most beautiful woman she had ever laid eyes on in her life. "Your Majesty," she said, making sure to curtsy as a sign of her respect to the Queen. "How did you know my name?"
"One does not forget the Champion of the Labyrinth. What can I do for you?" asked the Queen, eyeing the pretty girl before her.
Sarah looked at the Queen and could see much of Jareth in her. Her hair was the same gorgeous shade of blond and her mismatched eyes were identical to his. She looked into her eyes and was relieved to see kindness, rather than the cruelty as she saw within Jareth's. She took in a deep breath as she recalled what she had been told to say. "I wish to lodge a formal complaint against Jareth, His Majesty, The King of the Goblins."
"Oh my," sighed the Queen. "What has my son done this time?"
"He has violated Underground law number 35-2401," Sarah said, proud that she could remember exactly what Hoggle had told her.
The Queen's brow furled as she tried to remember exactly which law the girl could be referring. Suddenly, it came to her. "Are you accusing him of Dream Interference?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Sarah said, nervously looking at the Queen before her. She couldn't read her facial expression. "He has been coming into my dreams and trying to get me to make a false wish in order to export me into the Underground."
A sigh escaped the lips of the Queen. She should have known that her son had not forgotten the girl that bested his Labyrinth. "Sarah," she said to the girl, "I cannot stop you from lodging a formal complaint against my son, but I hope you will let me talk to him before you do. A formal complaint is a major undertaking and would require you to come to court to make your accusation. I think I can convince Jareth to end his Dream Interference without going through all of that."
Sarah thought about the Queen's proposal. She was right. Sarah did not want to go to court and have to face Jareth, she just wanted him to leave her alone. "I agree to your solution."
"Sarah," the Queen said, smiling at the raven haired beauty before her. "I will speak to him this afternoon. If you have any more problems, please contact me and we will go into formal procedures."
"Thank-you, Your Majesty," Sarah said, curtsying again. She watched as the Queen disappeared into a cloud of silver glitter. She sat down at her vanity and looked into the mirror. Her eyes showed signs of the relief that washed through her. Well…that's done. I just hope I didn't make things worse with His Royal Pain in the Ass. She picked up her brush and began sweeping through her long dark tresses. She gazed at herself in the mirror. Not bad. She was pleased with what she saw. Her face had lost the baby fat that used to plague her. It was now a fine oval shape with cheeks that retained a natural blush that made her look lovely. Her eyes were a pretty shade of green while her lips were as red as a rose. Yep. Not bad at all.
Jareth paced the throne room angrily, kicking goblins out of the way as he moved. She rejected me again! The goblins looked at their master with worry. He had been mad before, but never quite like this. She even said the words again. Hmph. No power over her, we shall see about that!
"Your Majesty," a sharp voice came from behind him startling him out of his thoughts. Jareth turned to see Tenny, his aide, standing there.
"Yes, what is it?" Jareth growled.
"Her Highness, The High Queen is waiting for you in your office," the short, wrinkled dwarf said, frowning at Jareth's mood.
"Damn it. Of all days for her to want to visit," Jareth swore, heading towards his office within the castle.
Frowning, he turned into the office to see his mother sitting at his desk and looking through his paperwork. Damn it! He hated it when she invaded his privacy like that. It made him feel as if he were three-years-old again. "Mother," he said, taking her hand and kissing it lightly.
"Jareth, my son, how are you?" his mother asked, smiling at her oldest child. She could tell by his frown that he had not been happy to see her sitting at his desk.
"I have been better," he said with a sigh. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit?" He moved the books and papers from the chair next to the desk and sat down.
"I'm sorry to have to bother you with this today," the Queen said firmly, "but a complaint was lodged against you, Jareth"
Jareth grumbled, looking at his mother. "Who in Hades lodged a complaint this time?"
The Queen took a breath and looked at her son. She knew he wouldn't be happy with the answer to that question. Nonetheless, it had to be done. "Sarah Williams." She could see the fury that overcame him as he let out a stream of curses. "She says that you have been interfering with her dreams," she continued. "Is that true?"
Jareth said nothing but glared at his mother. His silence was answer enough.
"I asked her not to make a formal complaint until I talked to you," she told him. "I trust that you will discontinue the interference at once and we can be done with this issue without going to the court."
Looking away from his mother, Jareth said nothing. Queen Alcina looked at her son, frustration beginning to show on her face. "Well…" she pried. At his silence, she felt her temper rise. "Damn it Jareth. I know you're angry with her, but you cannot continue to try to seek your revenge for the besting of your labyrinth." He remained silent, pouting as he had as a child when she would scold him. She sighed and looked at her stubborn son. In his eyes, she saw something unexpected. "I don't think its revenge you are seeking," she concluded. "You love the girl, don't you?"
At that, Jareth flinched. Guilt was written all over his face. Alcina smiled and placed her tiny hand on his back, soothing him as she had when he was little. It was time to tell him the secret. She and her husband had been arguing lately about the secret they had been keeping from him. Her husband, knowing his son's stubborn attitude, had wanted to wait until just before the big event before telling him. He believed that Jareth would try whatever he could to avoid the responsibility placed before him. Alcina thought he should know so he could prepare. It turned out that she was right. Not that I mind saying I told you so later. "I am going to tell you something that may lighten your mood and gladden your heart dear son."
"What ever are you talking about mother?" Jareth asked, still pouting at having his feelings uncovered.
"Jareth," she sighed, trying to decide where to begin. "Before you were born there was the Great War. Each Kingdom was struggling for power and many perished. When your father came into power, he decided to end the war within the Underground for good. He called upon each Kingdom to come together to work out their differences around a table instead of on the battlefield. Each Kingdom made their demands and he sought fit to grant them the things that they required until, one by one, they had been satisfied."
"Mother, I know all of this," Jareth interrupted, impatiently.
"Please, let me continue," his mother said, looking at her son with a weary smile. "Tired and worn by the proceedings, he came upon the last of the Kingdoms to make its demands. The Lunar King, who was unhappy that he had not come to power, stubbornly refused to make a demand. Realizing that he could lose everything he had worked so hard to achieve, your father made a promise to him that he knew the King could not refuse."
"What was the promise?" Jareth asked. His curiosity had been peaked and the angry look on his face was beginning to recede. He, like all of the Fae, knew about the Great War and the Counsel that was created by his father. He had never heard the details of the Great Pact that had resulted from that first meeting.
"'You have a daughter,' your father said to him. The Lunar King acknowledged that he had a 16-year-old daughter named Lyndora. His wife had died during the Great War and she was his only child. 'Then I will make this offer to you,' your father told him. 'My wife is with child and it is to be male and my heir. I will betroth your daughter's first born daughter to my son. Together, they will unite the Underground and grant your Kingdom the power you seek.'"
"WHAT!" Jareth yelled angrily. "How in Hades could he do that to me and how could you not tell me that I was betrothed?"
His mother looked at him with sadness in her eyes. "I'm sorry Jareth, but your father did not want to tell you until he thought you were ready. If you will let me continue, I can give you some comfort tonight."
Jareth looked at his mother and bowed his head. With a raise of his hand, he signaled for her to continue.
"Lyndora was a sweet girl, but she was unhappy with her father's promise. She thought she could escape by going to the Aboveground. She changed her name and tried to build a life for herself. It was there that she met her mortal husband. Together, they had a child. A little girl. They named her…" His mother paused, smiling at her son as she could see the realization dawning in his eyes. "…Sarah."
