A/N: WHAT IS THIS EVEN? I was looking through my files for a completely unrelated uni project when I found a notebook dating back to 2009. It contained the first half of this story. I figured since so much of it was already written, I might as well finish it. Like I've stated previously, Labyrinth isn't really my fandom anymore, at all, but this story was a bit of a guilty pleasure for me so WE'LL SEE, there could be more to come. unbeta'd, mistakes are all mine.
R&R!
Disclaimer: not mine, not making a profit.
Chapter Five: Amongst the Fae, Pt 2
The room Dilys lead Sarah to eventually, after a long walk through the central wing of what she could only term a palace, took her breath away. She liked to think that she'd seen her fair share of wondrous things, first during her escapade in the Labyrinth. Even if it had seemed disgustingly filthy and more than a little left in disrepair, still, wondrous structures, amazing alien architecture, if a little rough around the edges. Then, later, she had lived in London and walked through old world streets, cramped by tall Gothic buildings, hemmed in by cobbled streets. It was easily one of the most beautiful cities in western Europe but not even the palace itself could compare to the splendor of what lay before her now.
On the way, in the corridors, they passed beings that moved in groups of twos and threes, people who were obviously very important, followed by attendants and their aide-de-camps. Sarah hardly dared even try to put names to some of them, though she tentatively labeled a few "faeries" or "elves" - depending on their height and coloring - and at one memorable moment on their walk, saw what she could only see fit to call a gnome - complete with pointy red had and all of eighteen inches high. They all ignored her, too important to take any sort of notice of a lonely human.
Dilys gestured to the amenities of the room, pointing out a bed and wardrobe, a little refresher hidden behind a privacy screen and featuring an empty tub, a washstand and basin, and a squat toilet device. Afterwards, the maiden eyes Sarah critically, taking her in from frumpy ponytail and cardigan to smudges ratty converse.
"I'll take a look through the attire we brought with us and see if I can find something suitable for you to wear to dinner tonight. If her ladyship wishes, a seamstress may be summoned tomorrow to fashion a simple wardrobe for you before we depart."
Sarah grimaced, her voice taking on an edge of sarcasm, "What, Old Navy clearance rack doesn't cut it in the high Seelie Court?"
The look she got in response practically dripped with ill concealed disdain though Dilys did little more than wrinkle her nose.
Continuing, "Not that you actually know what Old Navy is but," Sarah stopped talking as the look on her guide's face darkened, "right ok, I guess I'll just wash up while you see about those clothes then. Sorry," she muttered and turned away, suddenly ashamed.
"Very well miss. I will return shortly," Dilys nodded curtly and left.
Sarah's head spun a little as she took in the room: the luxurious king sized bed draped in silk and velvet, curtained off from the world by rich tapestry bed hangings. The windows opened out onto a small personal balcony but the encroaching night made it difficult for her to see anything past the colored glass panes of the french doors.
"Christ, who puts stained glass in a spare bedroom?" she pulled the curtains back closed and poked her head into the empty wardrobe, under the bed where not even magical dust bunnies seemed brave enough to gather, and finally made her way into the bathroom. She found hot and cold running water issue forth from the sink stand as well as from shiny copper pipes attached to the claw-foot tub. Had to be magic.
Twenty minutes later, Sarah emerged from the decadent bathroom, a thick cloud of steam followed her out into the bedroom. Dilys had returned sometime in the last few minutes, her arms full of boxes that she dumped onto the bed without ceremony. Another serving girl hovered in the doorway, equally burdened.
"Ah good, I hope you enjoyed your bath, "Dilys seemed marginally more at ease. She gestured for the serving girl to set down her boxed and began opening them, pulling brightly colored articles of silk and lace out with deft fingers.
"Yeah, it was very amazing," Sarah cleared her throat awkwardly, "is this really all for me?"
"Yes, just a few things we pack for emergencies but they should do you for a few days. Here," she held up a sleek blue frock in a gauzy fabric, "I think this will suit tonight's dinner. I am not sure of the style, her ladyship is often considered a bit of a sartorial rebel but I do not believe it completely disagrees with your bone structure, yes?" she attempted a small smile, obviously an olive branch.
Sarah chose to accept it, "This is a lot more than anything I could have imagined," she offered a strained smile in return, "everything seems so different from my last time in the Underground."
Dilys sniffed eloquently, "The Goblin kingdom is hardly what I would consider proof to base an entire opinion of Underground upon, if you understand my meaning."
"I'm beginning to see that, yeah," Sarah's laugh was muffled by the fabric of the dress as it slid over her head. She jerked her arms through the long sleeves and studied her reflection in an oval mirror hanging against one wall while the other woman tightened up the lacing in the back.
"Her ladyship has arranged a seat for you at the high table."
"Sounds fancy," Sarah peeled her dusty jeans off and laid them over the back of the lone settee in the room.
The younger attendant who had returned to the room with Dilys set up a tiny chest of drawers on the vanity table. It was wider and deeper than it was tall, made from a polished chestnut colored wood and decorated with intricate and colorful trellis patterns. It reminded her of something like that most delicate decoupage she could imagine.
"I'm not sure 'fancy' is the correct word but you may consider it an honor yes. Your presence at these proceedings is unprecedented," Dylis began opening drawers, sorting out a pair of stockings, slippers, and ribbons. She handed over the gauzy knickers. Once Sarah had struggled into them, she gestured for the girl to be seated and began brushing her thick, dark hair.
"Strictly speaking, you are the guest of the Goblin King which brings with it it's own degree of esteem, and secondly, you are now the honorary guest of the Grand Duchess of Faerie. This position does lend you some standing amongst the gentry. It is a particularly unique combination of recommendations to your character. And that is, of course, after one takes into account your own- how shall I say, celebrity status?"
The young maid, arms held stiff and draped in a hundred ribbons of varying shades of blue, snorted indelicately. Dylis cast her a sharp look, selected three ribbons and dismissed her with a flick of her wrist. Sarah watched in curiosity as the other woman hurried to pack away the chest and scuttle back to the door.
"If that will be all, ma'am?"
"You're dismissed." Dylis didn't cast her a glance, eyes focused on where her deft hands wove Sarah's hair back and up into a complicated style.
"What do you mean, 'my celebrity'?"
Dylis twisted the side sections of hair into a half dozen tiny braids with surprising speed and threaded them back with ribbon, the entire thing impossibly tight and intricate, almost painful. Satisfied she pulled Sarah up by her shoulders and ran firm hands across her seams, straightening until she looked almost pleased by the finished product and stepped back.
Sarah eyed her closely in the mirror, too shocked by her own bizarre appearance to dwell on it. Deep inside, she felt like if she thought too long about anything that was happening to her, she might simply break down laughing hysterically and never stop. It was much safer, for her own sanity, to focus on everyone else.
"Well, you are Sarah," Dylis said, finally, meeting her eyes in the mirror.
Sarah frowned and shrugged off the other woman's hands, "Yeah? So what?"
Dylis's lips twitched in the barest hint of a smile, the sharp points of her teeth briefly outlined against her rosebud mouth, "The Sarah, the girl who beat the Goblin King."
"What? You can't mean no one else ever..."
"You should realize, people tend to remember conquerors, yes?"
TBC