A/N: My goodness, this is quite late. I apologize to all my readers. I meant to get this out much earlier, but I was having a little trouble with it. I've since put together an outline and should start cranking out the updates regularly. Thanks much to J Luc Pitard, seniastardust, lonely 27, and angelinastefany for their reviews of last chapter. Remember, reviews make me happy and happy people update faster!
Disclaimer: I own my idea, but not the Labyrinth.
Sarah sat with Amy in the crowded movie theater. They were eating out of a tub of popcorn and drinking massive amounts of carbonated beverages. The lights dimmed and the previews started. Sarah sat back in her seat to watch them. Something brushed against her foot. She looked at Amy, but decided it couldn't have been her because she was obliviously watching the screen. She looked at the man sitting next to her, but he was too wrapped up in making out with the girl sitting next to him. Finally, she looked down to see a pair of eyes staring back at her. She jumped in her seat before realizing what she was seeing.
"I've got to run to the bathroom," she said to Amy. "I'll be right back."
Amy gave her an absentminded nod. Sarah pushed her way through the aisle of people before exiting the theater. Now where to go? It wasn't as if she could say anything with all these people around. She walked around the complex until she found an empty theater.
"Alright guys. Come on out," she shouted. One by one, tiny little creatures began crawling out of the shadows. There were goblins, sprites, and fairies to name a few. One of them walked over to her and she looked down at it. "Snickle, what are you doing here?"
"We just wanted to see the movie," the little goblin replied.
"What have I told you about following me into public places?" she asked, sounding very much like a mother. Sarah was used to this routine by now.
"Awwww, Lady Sarah," said Snickle, dejected. "We didn't mean no harm. No one can see us 'less they've been Fae touched."
"Even so," Sarah replied. "You guys never seem to stay out of trouble. The last movie we saw together, you pulled the fire alarm and I didn't get to see the end of it." She had to admit, though, the movie was boring and she wanted to get away from her date's groping hands in the worst way.
"We'll be good," Snickle protested. "We promise."
Sarah found herself smiling in spite of herself. "Alright," she replied. "If you can be good, you can stay and watch the movie with me. Any funny stuff and its right back to the Goblin Kingdom with you."
"Yay!" the horde yelled as they ran back into the shadows.
Sarah watched them go and sighed. Ever since her trip to the Labyrinth, she'd been surrounded by Underground creatures. She mostly saw goblins, but sometimes she saw fairies, sprites, and other beings. She walked back to the theater to find the opening credits had begun. Making her way back to her seat, she sat down to watch the movie. She ignored the eyes within the shadows or the hand gripped to her ankle during the exciting parts.
When the movie was over, Amy asked her if she wanted to grab some dinner. Sarah told her about her upcoming date with Ryan. Amy teased her about her new romance all the way back to Sarah's house. Sarah laughed good naturedly and teased Amy about her long-term engagement. Amy had been engaged to Thomas for five years. The wedding had been postponed seven times. Sometimes she wondered if she was ever going to marry the man.
The two friends said their goodbyes and Sarah went into her house. She looked at her watch. It was 6:35, meaning she had less than an hour to get ready for her date. She took off her jeans and t-shirt and decided to take a shower. After her shower, she spent nearly twenty minutes pouring over her closet trying to decide on an outfit for tonight. Finally, she settled on a black pencil skirt that hung to just below her knees and a green cashmere sweater. Black ballet flats completed the look. She spent the rest of her time putting on a light layer of makeup and styling her hair into loose waves.
"Looking good Williams," she said to her reflection. She put some cherry vanilla perfume behind her ears and on her wrists. When she heard the knock at the door, she nervously went to answer it.
Ryan stood on her doorstep, resplendent in his midnight blue pants and grey button down shirt. His short, black hair shone and he had a twinkle in his deep blue eyes. He allowed his eyes to take in the beautiful woman before him. She would be someone he'd be proud to have on his arm. The two of them made quite the handsome couple.
"You look beautiful tonight, Sarah," he said, giving her a chaste kiss on the cheek.
"You're looking good yourself," Sarah replied, returning the kiss.
"Ready to go?" he asked, holding out his arm. She nodded and placed her hand around his firm bicep. She could feel the thick muscle underneath his shirt and it excited her. He led her to his silver Lexus and held the door open for her. She slid in and he closed it behind her. Never had she been with such a gentleman before. Ryan climbed into the driver's seat and the couple drove towards the restaurant.
"Where are we going?" Sarah asked.
"It's a surprise," Ryan replied, smirking. Sarah looked at him. He reminded her of someone, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
"So, have you found a more permanent place to live?" Sarah asked.
"Not yet," he replied. "I'm really only visiting." It was the truth. He was only visiting the Aboveground while he courted Sarah. When he had wooed her and declared his intentions for marriage, he would take her back with him to his castle.
"How long are you staying," she asked. Suddenly she felt depressed. It was just her luck to fall for someone who was only passing through.
"Less than a month," he replied. If everything went well, he'd be taking Sarah with him back to the Underground to become his Queen. Of course, he'd have to cast a spell to give her immortality and magic, but that shouldn't be much of a problem. He'd make the Council accept his choice for a mate. After all, they were the one to declare a challenge. They never specified what type of creature he was to marry. This little Mortal would be the perfect partner for him.
"Where do you live?" Sarah asked. Maybe he didn't live too far away. She'd never been one for long distance relationships. The few she had had didn't end well. Well, in all fairness, most of her relationships did not end well. She seemed to be quite unlucky in love.
"I actually live in another country quite some distance from here," he replied. He didn't know how else to explain it to her. He couldn't very well come out and say that he was from another realm. One that he wasn't totally sure she remembered or still believed in.
"Oh," Sarah replied. That didn't bode well. Sarah decided to enjoy the time she spent with him, but not to get too attached. She didn't want to be hurt again. Her last boyfriend had cheated on her, saying he wasn't willing to wait any longer for her. It was embarrassing being the only girl she knew that was still a virgin at her age. She just couldn't picture herself in bed with any of her previous boyfriends. This lack of lust seemed to be the one factor that proved to be too much for most of the men she dated.
Ryan sensed her unease at his location and tried to think of someway to comfort her. "I do a lot of traveling," he said, finally.
"So do I," she said, perking up. Perhaps they would be able to see each other more often than other long distance relationships she had in the past. Sarah shook her head and tried to slow down her thoughts. She was getting way ahead of herself. After all, this was only a first date. It wasn't as if he were asking her to marry him.
"Perhaps we can take a trip together sometime," he suggested. She smiled at him as he pulled up to the valet parking. He got out of the car and walked over to the passenger side. Opening the door, he held his hand out and helped her to feet. He handed the keys to the attendant. Sarah took Ryan's proffered arm and the couple walked into the restaurant.
La Pêche Savoureuse was the only French restaurant in her little town. It was quite a lot more upscale than Sarah was used to. At least it wasn't as upscale as some of the places she'd had to interview people in when she went to some of the bigger cities. She'd felt as awkward in those places as she had in the crystal ballroom from her peach induced dream of so many years ago. Something about the name of this restaurant unnerved her, but she didn't know what. Her French had never been very good.
Ryan and Sarah walked up to the host and were seated immediately. Ryan tipped the man generously and they were left alone in the little alcove. It was quite private and Sarah began to wonder exactly who the man was before her. He must have some kind of pull to get such an exclusive table. A curtain separated them from the rest of the room.
A server came and collected their drink order. Ryan ordered a 1982 Chateau Haut Brion Pessac-Lognan. Sarah blanched when she saw the price on the menu. She'd never spent more than $20 for a bottle of wine. This one was over $300. She began to get slightly nervous. She didn't even know the man and he was dropping hundreds of dollars on her.
"So Sarah," Ryan said as they waited for their wine to arrive, "where do you work?" Years of political dinners and tedious balls had perfected his art of making small talk.
"I'm a freelance journalist," she replied. "I get assignments from various newspapers and magazines and then work to get the information. What about you?"
"I'm the head of a large corporation," he answered. It was the closest job he could think of to being King. He couldn't very well blurt out his real job title.
"Sounds intimidating," she said.
"It can be," he agreed.
The waiter came back with their bottle and two glasses. He offered the cork to Ryan who sniffed it and pronounced it suitable. Pouring a small amount in one of the glasses, he offered it to Ryan. The High King smelled the aroma and took a sip, swishing it around in his mouth. His smile conveyed his approval and the waiter poured the couple full glasses. Sarah watched in awe. He made wine tasting look like an art. Ryan ordered them an appetizer and the waiter hurried off to put in their order.
"To beginnings," he toasted, raising his glass.
"To beginnings," she replied. Sarah lifted her glass and Ryan clinked his glass to hers. She took a sip and smiled. It was delicious. She'd never had a glass of wine taste so good. Ryan certainly had good taste.
"If you could do anything, what would you do?" Ryan asked.
Sarah seemed taken aback by the question. "I guess I would be a writer," she said after a moment.
"Are you not a writer already?" he asked.
"I'm a journalist," Sarah corrected. "I would love to write novels."
"What kind of novels would you write?" he asked, intrigued.
"It's kind of embarrassing," she replied, blushing. She looked at him and he silently gave his approval and encouragement to continue. "I love the world of fantasy."
"Fantasy?" he prodded.
"You know," she went on. "The Underground. World of Faerie. Gaelic myths. That kind of thing."
"Fascinating," he replied. This was better than he could have hoped. She was still enamored of his world. It would be much easier to convince her to return with him. He silently wondered if he should have just appeared to her as himself and swept her off his feet. He didn't like this deception he created, though, he did love his games. Something his son definitely inherited from him.
Their appetizer soon arrived and Sarah allowed Ryan to order her entrée for her. He put in their order and their talk moved freely from topic to topic. Sarah found herself enjoying his company immensely. She hated to see this date end. All too soon, their meal was over and it was time for him to take her home. Ryan followed her to her door, admiring the view from behind. She certainly was a fine specimen of the female persuasion.
"Thank you for a lovely time," she said, turning to face him.
"The pleasure was all mine," he replied.
Ryan put his hands around her small waist and pulled her closer. Touching his lips to hers, his kiss was sweet and romantic. She responded by putting her arms around his neck and weaving her fingers in his hair. Reluctantly, he pulled back and withdrew his lips from hers. Her face held a shy smile. His kiss made her feel slightly disoriented. It wasn't an entirely unpleasant feeling.
"Would you mind if I could call upon you again?" he asked.
"No," she replied. "I wouldn't mind in the least."
"May I have your phone number Sarah?" he asked. Sarah took a pen and a slip of paper out of her purse. She quickly jotted down her name and number and held it out to him. He took it and put it in his pocket, smiling.
"Goodnight Ryan," she said.
"Goodnight Sarah," he replied. He took her hand and placed a gentle kiss on the back of it. Sarah smiled and went into her house. Ryan watched the door close behind her and quickly climbed back into his waiting car. He drove down the street and turned the corner. If anyone had been watching, they would have seen the silver Lexus and its driver disappear as Ryan transported back to the safety of his castle.
"Did you find anything?" Shaun asked, stopping his pacing for the moment.
"He hid his magic trail," complained the elf. "I followed him to the Above, but I couldn't find him once I got there."
"Tricky, tricky," Shaun replied, impressed. None the less, the whole situation was highly frustrating. He had his orders to find out about the High King's new bride and by the Fates, he was going to deliver. The only clue he had was that the High King had gone to the Above. That wasn't much to go on. It was very interesting that the High King should choose a Mortal to be his Queen. That would not go over with the Council very well. What was Ryan doing?
"Keep working on it Dinsdale," he ordered.
The elf bowed and disappeared. Shaun resumed his pacing. Not only was he to find out what the High King was doing, he was also resolved to find out who was behind this test and why. Things were definitely not as they seemed and he would take nothing for granted. If corruption existed on the Closed Council, he wanted to expose it.
A crystal appeared before him. He sighed heavily. Just what he needed right now. Well, he couldn't ignore it. There was no sense getting suspicions turned on him. The Closed Council did not take well to dissenters.
"Yes," he said, his voice one of confidence. Years of training and royal upbringing allowing him to hide the fact that he was nervous beyond belief.
"Shaun," came the voice of the head of the Closed Council. "How goes it?"
"Trahaearn," Shaun replied. "So good of you to call. I have no news for you today. His Majesty is very good at hiding his trail."
"Have you been able to find out anything?" asked a very impatient Trahaearn.
"Nothing of any significance," Shaun lied. He was not about to say anything to the Council at this juncture. Besides, he really didn't know anything. Just because Ryan went aboveground did not mean that he was looking for his Queen there. Perhaps he had some dealing with one of the creatures Above. Gods knew, his son certainly had plenty of experience with the Mortal Realm.
"Very well," Trahaearn replied. "Continue to monitor the High King's activity. We must be informed as soon as the status changes."
"Yes, my Lord," Shaun promised.
The crystal disappeared, leaving a very nervous Shaun alone with his thoughts once more. He couldn't continue this façade. There was only one person he could truly trust and he loathed going to him. Everyone knew about his vile temper. He certainly enjoyed kicking around his subjects. No matter, desperate times and all that rubbish. With a sigh, he decided the time for action was now. He sent a messenger ahead to announce his arrival. After calling his coachmen, he climbed in and started on the journey that he hoped wouldn't end in disaster. With the Goblin King, you never knew.
Jareth lounged on his throne, watching Sarah sleep through one of his crystals. It was one of his favorite activities. He could see her face, though still not clearly, relaxed and softly smiling. Her body, covered by her quilt, fell and rose with every breath. Even under the thick blanket, it was still an enticing figure. She was so beautiful and regal, even in her slumber. This woman was born to be a Queen. He only wished she could become his Queen. Someday, she would call upon him. He hoped it wouldn't be too late.
The clearing of a throat interrupted his watch. With a flick of his wrist, the crystal disappeared. Jareth turned, irritated at the interference. Standing before him was a messenger from his neighbor, Shaun. This was a most curious sight, especially after he considered the news his father had given him earlier. Jareth wondered if this had anything to do with the actions of the Closed Council. With a sigh, he realized he would know nothing if he did not get on with things.
"Yes," he said with his false air of bored detachment.
"Your Majesty," the messenger began. "I come to you with news of the upcoming arrival of Shaun, King of the Sprites."
"He is coming here, is he?" asked Jareth.
"Yes, Your Majesty," replied the messenger.
"For what purpose?" Jareth asked.
"I beg your pardon," replied the messenger.
"I said, for what purpose," Jareth repeated. "Why is he coming here?"
"I don't know," admitted the messenger. "I only know that he is arriving by royal carriage and should be here shortly."
"Very well," Jareth sighed, irritated. "You are dismissed."
The messenger bowed and disappeared, leaving Jareth to ponder this interruption. He could honestly say he was surprised at this visit. Though he had nothing against Shaun, he never really spent time with the man outside of political functions. Arriving in a royal carriage made quite the statement. He was giving the Goblin King time to absorb, and prepare for, his appearance. Whatever else, Jareth knew that this visit was of some great importance.