Hey all. I had some random free time and filled it with some random writing so here we go. No idea when next update'll be but many thanks to those who've reviewed!
Disclaimer: Not mine, we know this. Kudos to Henson & Co.
Hunched over, Sarah walked in perfunctory march yawning occasionally. It seemed as though she had finally made it to her bed only to be yanked out a few minutes later. To her surprise, the path Jareth led was to some sort of stable and honest-to-God horses stood patiently in their stalls. She started to complain about having little equestrian experience but Jareth nearly threw her on top of one before mounting his own, grinning lightly at her squawk of protest. At least her hair was back to its rich brown though the hairstyle was definitely tweaked in a manner Sarah knew that no one else but Jareth and a handful of 80's bands could pull off (and she was neither).
Trying to will her eyes to stay open while squirming to keep her balance in a saddle was far from her idea of fun. "Jareth, why do I have to go, too?" Sarah asked, trying not to cringe as she noted that she sounded like an eight-year-old.
"You should be grateful. Few creatures are graced with my company for so long. Besides, not only do you still need to get used to the Underground but you still have to get rid of this," he gestured to his face, the spot changing slowly from brown to black then a deep violet. "And it's rude to leave one's guests."
"Look," Sarah said, "It's not that this hasn't been fun for imprisonment but can't you just send me home? A vacation is one thing but I really should be getting back. I have a life there. Toby didn't say the right words anyway and you know it."
Jareth said nothing and Sarah wished that she hadn't, her lack of sleep making coherent thought difficult.
"The prospect of magic and getting to see my friends everyday is a wonderful thing but I have to go home eventually."
"You're here now. I will not transport you back. If and only if your magic gets strong enough to shift between realms will you go home, this is rare even among the natives." He turned to face her with a snarky grin. "I'm afraid this is your home. Why not enjoy it?"
"I'd enjoy it much more if I had some coffee," she grumbled.
Jareth laughed. He twisted his wrist simply and tossed Sarah a crystal that shifted into a thermos as she fumbled trying to catch it. A goblin snatched it up for her and jumped as high as his stumpy little legs would allow trying to return it to her in a pathetically cute manner. Sarah nearly toppled over as she bent down to take it from his outstretched hands.
"Thanks," Sarah replied, honestly grateful. She took a sip and glanced up at Jareth's face as he gauged her reaction…and coughed to cover a laugh when the vermillion spot shifted to cerulean.
A few minutes later, after the caffeine started buzzing in Sarah's bloodstream, Sarah turned to Jareth. "So where are we going anyway?"
"I'd tell you where but it is much more fun to see you fret about the matter." Sarah rolled her eyes and didn't give him the satisfaction, biting down protests. "Fine. We're heading east to talk with the elves."
"Elves? Real elves?" Sarah asked eagerly.
Jareth raised a curious eyebrow. "Yes…" he drew out warily.
Sarah's gushing was cut (thankfully) short before it began when an object fell from the sky. The mysterious black thing made an impressive mini-explosion, scattering bits of black plastic and shards of all sorts of colors in all directions. The train halted.
"What the hell was that?"
Jareth leaned in to investigate (the spot shifting from Barbie pink to mashed peas green). "I've seen this before. This is part of the problem we're on our way to discuss."
Sarah slid off of the saddle and wobbled a few steps over. "Oh. Emm. Gee. It's a laptop."
"A what?"
"It's a computer, a smaller one."
Jareth still didn't fully understand, as was clear by his perplexed look (and the spot switched to a royal purple ever so slowly).
"It's a machine, Jareth. Quite popular Aboveground."
"I see. And what is it doing here?"
"The thing just fell from the sky. How am I supposed to know?"
As if to reply, the screen flickered a brief image of a Microsoft Word document with the black letters standing firmly against a white background before a strange liquid oozed from the screen and it blanked out for all eternity. A ghost of a voice wove itself in the air around them: "Take that, you damn essay!"
Sarah's brows furrowed in confusion. "Have all the 'disturbances' been like this?"
"All of a similar nature, yes. The objects have varied on some accords. But the main problem—"
"—Besides getting clocked in the head on some random Tuesday?"
"—Yes, besides that, an incident like this is enough to send the goblins into a tizzy for the next four days. Can you imagine comforting a hysterical goblin who is quite certain that the sky is falling?"
After noticing the panic already spreading among the goblins of their train, she shrugged and made a gallant effort to hop back on the horse…until a small hoard of goblins nearly shoved her over once or twice in their zealous attempt to help. Jareth merely watched, amusement etched on his face.
"Thanks for your help, Jareth," Sarah grumbled sarcastically.
He smirked. "I gave you coffee, what more do you want? Here." Jareth tossed her a crystal. "Work on the movements. Perhaps you'll figure out a way to remove this," he gestured to his face, "Before we arrive. I'd rather not try to explain it."
Sarah gave a snort. "You're not helping your case. I'd kind of like to see that."
"And then you'll explain why your hair is pink?"
"Don't you dare change it back."
"Didn't we go over this last time? I'm quite rebellious, Sarah. I don't care to be ordered about."
"Alright, alright," Sarah conceded, throwing her arms over her head just in case. "I'll give it another whack."
The horses apparently knew where they were going much better than Sarah did as Jareth leaned over again and again to offer his advice (in varying tones of playfully patronizing, honestly helpful and all in between) yet the small band continued onward. Much to Jareth's chagrin, the spot had yet to disappear and now had a new layer to top of it that changed to new colors just as frequently. Jareth took what he could get though because Sarah's next effort allowed the spots to change to his skin tone every other other color switch (not that burnt sienna wasn't a flattering color for him, especially mixed with a deep sage). Since Sarah was giggling far too much to really make another worthwhile effort, Jareth practically sulked (though kings certainly didn't sulk) with a sour expression etched on his face.
Thankfully for everyone's mood (since Jareth had a particular pleasure in sharing his mood with his subjects), they soon reached the gates in front of spectacular home with elegant fountains and trimmed hedges…that were apparently animals of their own sort that moved about the yard to their own whims. The courtyard, though marvelous, was still overshadowed by the elegant building it surrounded. It was magnificently tall but the stone seemed to have a flow all of its own (though when she rapped on the rock with her knuckles, it was certainly solid enough). Pillars of the flowing pale stone held up a roof with many intricate carvings depicting all sorts of heroic scenes along its edges.
"Astounding, isn't it?" Jareth commented dryly.
Sarah mumbled something that sounded like an affirmative.
"Welcome Jareth," a figure with outstretched arms spoke from the doorway that had blended so smoothly into the wall moments before.
"A pleasure, my friend. Please, allow me to introduce Sarah. Sarah, this is Gremalkin, leader of the elves. Rease would be his son."
Not entirely sure what to do, Sarah dipped into a small curtsey while Jareth and Gremalkin shared an amused look though neither said anything.
"I have heard about you, Sarah. Wonderful to meet you at last."
Sarah raised her head and bit back a gasp. Elves were supposed to be beautiful, she'd always thought…either that or the sort that made shoes in the middle of the night without being seen. The "man" in front of her had stiff hair pulled back into a ponytail with pointed ears (at least) and pointed features overall, ultimately making him look more malicious than lovely. His fully black eyes glinted strangely as he flashed a grin with pointed teeth. He was short, in a stooped way, much like a gnarled tree complete with an odd tint to his skin and hair that suggested as much.
She recovered herself quickly. "Your home is lovely."
Gremalkin grinned again and Sarah held back a shudder. "My people take great pride in craftsmanship. If it came from nature, we seek to master it."
Having no response for that declaration, Sarah only nodded politely.
Gremalkin's smile faded as he continued, turning to Jareth: "That is why I've asked for your help. There is nothing natural about these disturbances."
"I'm not sure if I know any more about this than you but by happy chance, Sarah has recognized one of the strange objects."
Hope (somehow) sparked in Gremalkin's eyes. "Truly?"
Sarah nodded and Gremalkin barked a rather odd laugh with a strange heh hehehehe. "You are both most welcome. Come on inside then." He gestured gallantly first to Sarah who followed as she was bid. With an odd waxy hand he stopped Jareth at the door.
"Jareth, are you coming down with some sort of dragon flu?" he asked in real concern.
Sarah snorted as Jareth shot her a glare.
"It's a long story," he drawled, obviously tweaked.
"Well, I do believe we have some time to discuss it. I must say though that magenta is quite an interesting color mixed with chartreuse. Oh there it goes back to your pasty skin again. I was quite certain it was the light at first. Just because we're in the Underground doesn't mean you can't find a little bit of sun every now and again."
Sarah giggled at Gremalkin's offhanded teasing but Jareth only raised an eyebrow. Gremalkin's face shifted from feigned innocence to another outright and malevolent-looking grin.
"Come on now. Just frustrated that you can't threaten me with the bog of eternal stench?" He turned to Sarah, "It's his favorite threat, you know."
Sarah nodded. "I know. Works quite well on the goblins."
"Most everything works well on the goblins so long as it doesn't contain words with too many syllables." Gremalkin suddenly looked quite confused. "Why has your hair turned pink?"
Sarah's hand instantly flew to her head as snatched a lock and pulled it down in front of her eyes. Though the shade wasn't quite as shocking as it had been before, it was decidedly pink.
"I bet I could add another spot to your face, Jareth. A nice black and blue one that won't change colors," she mentioned with false sweetness.
Gremalkin gave another creepy laugh. "I like this one, Jareth. She's got a lot of spunk. I understand your obsession."
Jareth was about to say something but realized that it probably wouldn't have helped matters and wisely decided against it, shaking his head. Sarah raised a questioning eyebrow.
Gremalkin pressed his hands together, ultimately generating a sound like a branch creaking in the wind. "Well, then, we'll have something to eat and get down to business."
He turned and headed back inside with a smooth, almost slithering walk.
"One of these days, I might just have to toss one of you in the bog of eternal stench just to keep you in line," Jareth tossed out.
Sarah laughed. "You could try." She sobered, "This is all really odd."
"Seldom a dull moment in the Underground but dull is all relative, I suppose. Some folk get used to mayhem and magic blowing up all around them."
"Will you please change my hair back?"
"After you threatened to punch me?" She merely glared back with her arms crossed.
"Alright, I suppose," he laughed, swishing one hand.
After Sarah checked to make sure he did just as he'd claimed, she slipped her arm in his. "Will you escort me?"
A real smile stretched across Jareth's face. "My pleasure," he purred, leading her down the hallway.
Authoress Rambling: That voice echoing across the distance after the smashed computer, definitely me. I'm sure we've all been there. This fic is basically just for fun when I'm in kind of a silly mood so I'm sorry if updates are disgustingly few and far between, especially with this next term here. Updates should be more regular with "Power Struggle" if you actually like my style. ;) But hey, thanks for reading!
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