A:N/ This is for my wonderful cousin, Petrol
I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it
:D
Ampersand
x
The sunrise oozed like syrup through the circular window and trickled onto the curled up figure of Sarah Williams – intoxicated by the weight of magic in the air.
She hadn't a clue how long she had now been in the abandoned rooms of the Goblin Castle – all she remembered was Riordan promising his return as she had passed out from the sheer load of the air on her senses.
Her stomach grumbled angrily as she stretched her arms above her head, pressing her boots against the wall, watching the gilded ceiling above her.
She could hear the chatter and bustle of what she presumed was usual castle life outside the heavy wooden door; cheerful voices exchanging morning's greetings in an almost song-like tone.
She longed to join the excitement that seemed to be rife outside the door, but not a single soul had entered. Riordan had told her the room was abandoned – but all she wanted was to see a friendly face, a smile…a friend.
A knot twisted in Sarah's stomach as her head lolled towards the door. The weight of the magic-laced air was too great for her to stand up on her own yet, but her mind was clearing faster than she wanted it to.
Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didymus…even the little worm. She had forgotten them all because of her unbreakable need to forget everyone and everything from the Labyrinth. In her spite, she had abandoned them too.
What would they say if they saw her now?
Would they even recognise her?
Sarah sighed miserably, her boots tapping the wall in boredom and in fear.
"I forgot – mortals never did do well inside stone walls." A familiarly soft voice whispered, the door cracking open as a boot poked through the gap.
Sarah hauled herself up quickly, regretting it as soon as she began to sway – coloured lights dancing before her eyes as her heart pounded with fear.
"…Sarah? Are you there?" The voice came again, asking quietly and almost in fear.
"Riordan? Oh thank God! Get me out of here, my head is killing me."
The door opened quickly whilst the tall figure of Riordan crept past it, a package wrapped in some form of silk under his arms.
But before Sarah could take another step to greet him, a smaller figure darted out and collapsed into a heap of a curtsey.
"Lady Sarah!" The voice breathed, a head of butterscotch curls bowing before her, pointed ears poking out from behind them.
"Woah, woah, woah! Who are…who are you?"
"Sarah, this is Solanne. She is one of Jareth's handmaids but her loyalties lie with me. She'll be your sole protector here when I'm busy distracting Jareth from discovering where you hide…"
"…Hide?!" Sarah asked incredulously, her voice barely more than a breaking whisper.
The deadly, silent pause hung through the air frigidly as Sarah's eyes widened at them both.
"He doesn't know I'm here, does he?"
Solanne turned her head to Riordan quickly, her expectant expression on her petite face giving them away completely.
Sarah's clapped her palm to her forehead, letting it slide down her face in anguish.
"Well- I'm screwed then." She exclaimed cheerfully, the sarcasm layering over her voice.
Solanne stifled a small gasp, but kept her eyes to the floor.
Riordan, on the other hand broke into laughter, immediately taking to her fiery personality.
"Sarah, I gave you my solemn word I'd keep you safe." He smiled, tipping his feathered hat to her from the doorway. "I think we've all had enough of doom and gloom lately. I'm afraid we can't stop here for long – court assembles in a matter of minutes. Solanne will escort you to the West Wing, where you are more than a welcome guest there. I'll leave it to my brilliant maid to get you out of her safely. Espionage is more her field than it is mine." He winked, pressing his ear against the door as the sound of marching echoed quietly from the outside world.
Sarah crouched down to Solanne, her eyes flickering quickly over her amazingly pointed ears.
"It's lovely to meet you – but please…just call me Sarah. I'm no one of title." She smiled awkwardly, taking the girl's hand to shake it warmly.
"Solanne, I think it's best we all get moving. Let her rest until court is over. Undoubtedly, the change of air here will be more than fatiguing for her. Under no circumstances will you answer the door to anyone."
"Of course, Sire."
"Solanne." Riordan said dangerously, his eyes flashing quickly in warning at her.
Solanne pursed her lips quickly in realisation before picking herself from the floor to brush off her skirts, still grasping Sarah's hand as the footsteps from outside drew closer and closer.
"I'll leave you in Solanne's excellent care. Until next time." Riordan grinned devilishly, sweeping into a bow as he removed his hat in a flourish.
"You have a pretty name." Sarah smiled, her mind barely functioning as wave after wave of a dizzying nausea spread through her head.
Her knees began to buckle, but Solanne's surprisingly sturdy arm caught her before they gave way.
"It means something or other to do with the Sun." She grinned back, her hazel eyes like beams of sunlight in themselves, her creamy complexion and butterscotch locks giving her the essence of the star itself.
"My uncle also works in the Court, The Court of Helios. Namesakes… there are far too many." She joked light-heartedly, supporting Sarah's weight on her small frame with amazing ease.
Random syllables began to pour out of Sarah's mouth; her eyes glazing over in an exhausted daze as her head lolled forward from the sheer strength it took to stay somewhat upright.
"Oh dear." Solanne murmured, pressing the back of her fingers to Sarah's forehead. "We'd best move you from here quickly."
Sarah gurgled a reply, half-watching Solanne's hand light up as she touched one of the marble walls. A ripple effect of gold light spread across it like a raindrop in a pond, an image of another room replacing what had been there only seconds ago.
"Whatthehell?" Sarah slurred, her eyebrow raising and falling sleepily.
She garbled as Solanne began to walk directly into the image in the wall, all light distorting as a cool blast ran over Sarah's skin only to find her in an entirely different change of scene.
The feathers in Riordan's hat fluttered and bobbed as he walked briskly through the empty hallways of the castle. His half-brother must have lost his mind when he had rebuilt the castle. Jareth had buried the court of Helios deep within the Palace walls, ready to catch the next incompetent fool who thought they could make their way through his obsession with mazes and puzzles.
The fanfare of trumpets echoed through a hundred hallways, his head snapping up from his thought.
"Damnation – I'm late." He cursed to himself, his eyes flickering over the walls in hope of finding the time.
His black deerskin boots echoed against the mosaic tiles, the emblem against his extravagant, ruffled cream shirt dangling as he picked up his pace.
Time seemed to be against him, as the guard finally came into view, the owl-shaped pillars guarding the doors of monstrous proportions. The guards nodded their heads curtly in respect as the doors swung open to reveal a bustling glitter of court – the Court of Helios.
A dusky glow embraced the courtroom that was bustling with various Fae.
A short, stout man rushed forward with velveteen coat tails trailing behind him quickly.
"His excellence, Duke Riordan." He bellowed, his voice far exceeding his unimpressive height.
Silence embraced the court as the majority fell into a bow before him as Riordan shot the ladies of the court a grin whilst walking to his usual place.
"Finally decided to grace us all with your presence, have we?" A rich voice hissed into his ear, a tall figure leaning over the oaken arm of a chair.
"Knew you'd understand, Jareth." Riordan replied light-heartedly, whacking him on the back as he settled into his velvet-lined seat.
Jareth hissed as the pain blazed across his back, shoving Riordan in the shoulder as he ground his teeth.
"Do you have some form of mental affliction?" He spat, rubbing his temples with his gloved hands as the pain ebbed slowly away.
Riordan's face twisted in pity, his eyes scanning over the raw gashes still visible through the gauzy fabric of Jareth's shirt.
"Still at it, are they? Damned bastards."
"And here they discussing the best time for the festival. How I despise them."
"Ooh! The festival. I've been up for a sword-fight!" Riordan grinned, turning his attention to Jareth's face.
The smile was wiped from his mouth as he watched his half-brother's unimpressed face – his blonde eyebrow rising delicately in the half-glow of the courtroom.
Riordan's head turned, scanning those who had turned up at court to see and be seen.
He sneaked an elegant wave to the ladies of the court, grinning mischievously only to receive a sharp nudge from Jareth's elbow.
The majority of the dim-witted nobility were in their respective places, fanning themselves and adjusting their cravats as they craned their necks from their gilded balconies. Feathers from cavalier's hats like his own fluttered between the crowd of Fae, jeweled masks glittering back as he watched them all.
"I see Fion hasn't bothered to rear her ugly head – again." Riordan said quietly, covering his mouth with the side of his hand.
"Evidently not. Neither has that slippery Captain of mine."
"I'd ignore all that Jareth. If they decide to host the Festival of Court, then you are just going to have to push that to your priority."
"It's the last thing I need. Especially with all that has arrived through my castle walls."
Riordan's head snapped around to meet Jareth's frosted gaze.
"...A...arrived?" He asked quietly, his voice almost wavering.
"Oh open your eyes, Riordan! The tension between everyone – they might as well have War stamped across their foreheads."
Jareth turned, narrowing his eyes at Riordan as if he had gone completely mad.
"It's instances like that – that give me that twinge of distrust in you, Riordan. Your face was enough to make anyone think you're hiding... something from me."
Riordan laughed, the knot of sickening fear in his stomach unweaving nervously.
"I'm almost beginning to think the festival will do you good." Riordan sighed waving away Jareth's accusations.
Riordan folded his arms in a sense of victorious finality, turning his attention back to the furious and flying debates of court.
"But, my Lord, the Festival of Court is perfectly suited to this fine weather. It would certainly lighten the mood of...late."
The court paused for a moment, the obvious direction of the jibe making Jareth tense in his seat, the squeak of his leather gloves clenching to a fist echoing loudly in Riordan's ear.
"Ignore it." Riordan hissed quietly, leaning across his seat to Jareth's ear.
"What would your opinion be on the matter, Sire?"
Both Riordan and Jareth looked up in unison at the prestigious title, but Riordan laughed off his mistake and gestured for his half-brother to speak.
"By all means, let the festivities continue. One third of a man is hardly enough to stand in your way, after all." He said dangerously, crossing his boots on the railing before his seat, coolly forcing him to meet his gaze.
"Sire." The man gulped, making a point of bowing low.
"Very nice touch." Riordan grinned, leaning into Jareth's ear again.
Jareth nodded in reply, his eyes still fixed coldly on the man who had dared ask for his opinion. A few years earlier, he would not have dared to ask such a question. It seemed power was trickling from his hands much faster than he would have liked.
"With his majesty's opinion – the court of Helios is dismissed."
Bubbling chatter filled the room once more, as Fae streamed through the gilded doors and the ladies of the court waved coyly to Riordan from behind their masks.
Riordan stood up, streching and adjusting the feathers in his hat.
He didn't bother to look back, knowing that Jareth would have already transported himself elsewhere – so short as his patience was.
The empty courtroom lay before him, in all its cold grandeur as he closed his eyes and felt the prickle of magic crawl up his skin, his location distorting into another – the West Wing.
His hand reached for the jewelled door handle, opening it quietly, tipping his hat to the figure of Solanne who was pacing the room, her hands clasped together in worry. Her curls flew round as she darted over to him in relief.
"Oh thank goodness you're here! Riordan there's something you need to see..."
"Solanne you and your worrying." He smiled, looking around the large room. "And where is Sarah? Is she alright?"
"Sire..."
"Solanne." He hissed, closing the door quickly.
"You need to see this..."
Riordan took one glance at Solanne's hazel eyes pricked with fear and followed her quickly to were Sarah lay, sleeping peacefully over a chaise-longue.
"She's fast asleep...I see nothing the matter." He said quietly, taking off his hat to hold it between his fingers.
Solanne silently drew back the silken sheet that Sarah was under, the light falling on the tiny tattoo of the ampersand ingrained into her skin.
Riordan flinched and drew back, the breath knocked from his lungs as his eyes quivered over the tiny mark.
"Solanne...do you know what this means for her?" He breathed, the words barely able to fall past his lips.
Sarah murmured sleepily, quite comfortable despite the horror her onlookers felt.
"Jareth is bound to the last ampersand...does that not mean..." Solanne exclaimed quietly, barely able to look upon the mark.
"It means...that she can never leave until his contract is destroyed or...." Riordan whispered in anguish, his voice trailing off in despair.
"...or time itself reversed." Solanne finished for him, her fingers clutching the edge of her blue skirts.
Riordan's eyes flickered across Sarah's unknowing face as a sick nausea rose to the surface of his stomach.
"...Dear mercy..."
"What have I done?"