Chapter Seven: The Secret Garden

Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth.

Though the hidden land was often referred to as a garden, it was much more than a simple plot of flowers; there were dark woods, rolling hills, winding rivers, deep valleys, wide meadows, and dozens of garden-like areas. A calm had settled across this place as the sun began to set. In one of the western meadows there lay a camp. A tall adult human stumbling upon this camp might have felt a bit out of place as everything was built for people about four and a half feet in height.

Amid a small collection of colorful tents, a young Elf girl of about nineteen in appearance, paced back and forth across the grass. She had strawberry-blonde hair that ran down her back in a long braid, and vibrant violet eyes. The first thing one would noticed about her, aside from her small size, would be a pair of large purple and blue butterfly wings adorning her back. She was trying her best to look like she wasn't peeking around the side of a blue tent to see something behind it.

Nearby, a group of five Elven women sat in a circle and sent up heavenly harmonies from both instruments and voices. Among this group was one with black hair, a dark complexion, and brilliant blue eyes. Upon her back were vibrant crimson butterfly wings which were twitching in irritation. She was watching the blonde and eventually stopped singing and walked over to the nervous-looking girl. The rest of the music group continued on without her.

"Eolande," the dark woman spoke in a mezzo-soprano voice, "you must stop pacing. She will be fine. Rossa has had the best training in healing and medicines that one may receive in the Underground. Trust her."

"I do, Arethusa, I do," the blonde replied, a soprano, "but what if we found her too late? What if she is beyond help? Oh, I knew we should have had that picnic cleaned up. The Champion is going to die and it's all our fault!" She buried her face in her hands and began to sob.

Arethusa rolled her eyes and reached out to pull Eolande's hands away from her face. "Compose yourself, Eolande! Oh, how I wish the Goddess had not placed you with us this afternoon. Then I would be spared all this incessant pacing and unnecessary worrying!"

Eolande bowed her head. "I apologize if my anxiety causes you displeasure." There was no hiding the hint of anger in her voice.

The dark woman smirked before affecting a cool and superior air. "Your apology is accepted; you are young and still have much to learn about controlling your emotions." She cocked her head to the side as if she were being thoughtful. "Actually, you still have much to learn in general."

"Oh, how clever, Sister," Eolande said sarcastically, though she struggled to keep a smile off her face. "It's a wonder you decided to commit yourself to the service of the Goddess, for that wit of yours would be enough to attract hundreds of men."

Then, after a moment of staring at one another, they burst out laughing.

"What is all this laughter about?" An older woman with a rich alto voice stepped out from behind the blue tent. Her hair was white with scattered strands of blue but her skin did not reveal her to be any older than forty years. Her eyes, on the other hand, were a deep amber and told of her hundreds of years of experience. She carried a pair of magnificent golden brown wings on her back.

"Nothing, Rossa," Eolande giggled out.

"How does the Champion fare?" Arethusa asked, knowing that the question would sober her blonde sister up immediately.

Rossa chuckled at Eolande's suddenly anxious expression. She reached out to stroke the girl's hair comfortingly. "She is going to be fine. I've managed to pull the poison apart from her system, now it merely needs to be expelled from her body. I shall need your assistance as it can get rather...messy."

"Of course!" Eolande nodded enthusiastically. Arethusa snorted and rolled her eyes.

With a scolding look at Arethusa, Rossa led the two girls around the side of the tent over to an old weeping willow tree. Rossa parted the green curtain that covered the tree to allow the younger elves to pass through. The Champion laid against the base of the tree upon a pile a pillows, a damp cloth resting across her forehead. The only light in the area was supplied by a few lanterns, all placed around the sleeping girl. Eolande was the first to reach the girl's side.

"What must we do?" the blonde asked while pushing loose strands of Sarah's hair away from her face.

Rossa pulled a small vial of green liquid out of a pouch that was strapped across her chest. "I need to have her swallow this. Eolande, get her elevated a bit more. Arethusa, grab that bucket over there and be prepared to rush over as soon as I've given her the medicine."

The two younger girls followed the orders they had been given; Eolande transforming into a taller human version of herself in order to handle Sarah better, and Arethusa dragging the bucket over to her. As soon as all was in place, Rossa crawled upon the bed of pillows to kneel by Sarah's head. She gently parted Sarah's lips and poured the liquid into her mouth. The brunette immediately began shifting and twitching. Her eyes flew open and she quickly sat up, Arethusa just barely making it to her as she vomited.

Her stomach now emptied, Sarah laid back on the pillows, her eyes only partially open. Eolande grabbed a bowl of water and a cloth and began to wipe Sarah's face. The girl's lips twitched as if she were trying to say something. Just as she managed to get the first syllable out, she was interrupted by a noise that sounded very similar to the crack of thunder. Seemingly from nowhere, dark blue smoke appeared and shrouded a tall figure from the view of the women. Eolande moved closer to Sarah, wrapping her arms around the girl's upper body protectively. Arethusa walked forward and transformed into a large brown bear before the hidden figure. Rossa crossed her arms and appeared to be greatly annoyed.

"Are you going to step forth, or shall I send Arethusa in to retrieve you?" Rossa called out to the figure. "I've always wondered which one of you would win in a fight."

Slowly the smoke began to fade and the figure stepped forward. "Hello, Rossa. It's a pleasure to see you again as well." The Goblin King stood before the group, dressed in his glittery all-black ensemble, complete with high-collard cape.

Arethusa relaxed slightly and reverted to her Elfin form. "Oh, it's you."

"Tsk, tsk, Arethusa. That's not a very polite tone to use with someone who so generously brought you into his home."

Arethusa growled and looked about ready to attack Jareth, but Rossa placed her hand on her sister's shoulder and gently pulled her back.

"Why are you here, Jareth?" Rossa asked calmly, though her body was still tense.

Jareth clasped his hands behind his back and circled around the two women. "I seem to have forgotten a part of our agreement. Did I not promise you security from unwanted intruders such as my goblins, in exchange for your promise not to interfere with my runners?"

"Yes." Rossa nodded.

Jareth stopped walking and faced the two girls on the pile of pillows. "Then who is this?"

"I am Eolande." The blonde carefully laid Sarah down and stood up. She looked at Jareth innocently. "I am the newest Sister."

Frustration radiated off Jareth in waves. Arethusa snorted and smiled at her sister proudly. The Goblin King struck his most intimidating pose. "Do you realize to whom you are speaking, Girl?"

Eolande smiled at him and looked around the area as if she hadn't heard anything. She slowly brought her eyes back to the Goblin King who was glaring at her with a dangerous glint in his eyes.

Furrowing her brow, she asked softly, "Were you speaking to me? Oh, my name is Eolande. Not 'Girl.'"

Arethusa burst out laughing and Rossa grinned. Jareth was not so amused. Thankfully, a noise from Sarah stopped him from inflicting some form of punishment upon Eolande. All eyes went to the brunette laying amongst the pillows. Eolande quickly returned to her original position at Sarah's head, cradling her in her arms.

"I...need to go," Sarah murmured as she weakly attempted to pull out of Eolande's grasp.

"Hush." The blonde girl comfortingly stroked Sarah's hair and gently rocked her. "You need to rest."

Jareth stared at Sarah with an unreadable expression. "What happened to her?"

Rossa stepped up behind the King "Two weeks ago, a few of your male goblins managed to find the door to our garden. We're not quite certain of how long they had been sneaking in before we noticed them, but as soon as we caught them we warned them not to return. Three days later, a few of our sisters found them watching us bathe in the river. We secretly laid a trap for them: a spread of poisoned food. You can imagine how well it worked."

Jareth appeared unsurprised and said casually, "I was wondering where those four had scampered off to."

"We forgot about the food and the goblins for a fortnight—things were busy with the fast approaching Festival of the Moon—but we were going to clean it up today. Unfortunately, the Champion had somehow gotten to it before us."

Jareth's eyes flashed to Rossa, full of several unidentifiable emotions.

"I have removed all of the poison," Rossa quickly explained. "She is merely tired and weak from having had to experience such an attack on her body." The older woman reached up to pat Jareth's arm, feeling slightly uncomfortable about it. "She's going to be fine."

The Goblin King returned his attention back to the whimpering Sarah. He slowly knelt down beside her, his eyes never leaving her face. Sarah's eyes eventually found his and widened, her movement ceased. Her eyebrows formed a crease above her nose and she appeared to be trying to look very serious.

"I am...I am not dancing with you." She pointed a finger at Jareth accusingly.

He smirked and gently pushed her hand down. "I assure you, Sarah, if I had wanted to dance with you, we most certainly would be dancing by now."

"Keep your...your gloves to yourself." Sarah's eyes fluttered partially closed.

With a low chuckle, Jareth moved closer to her and reached out to brush her cheek with his hand. "Are you certain that that is what you truly desire?" He leaned in to her, his fingers trailing down to her neck.

"I..."

"Yes, precious?"

Sarah shot up, nearly causing a collision between her forehead and Jareth's chin. "I need the bucket," she moaned. Arethusa rushed forward with said bucket and pushed Jareth out of the way just in time. When Sarah was finished, she fell back against Eolande and closed her eyes.

"It would appear that not all of the poison had left her body," Rossa remarked, looking highly amused.

Jareth rose from the position he had been knocked into, glaring at Arethusa. "Due to her current condition, I will allow her to stay here without considering it a breach of our agreement." His emphasis on the word "allow" caused Arethusa to snort loudly.

"How gracious Your Majesty is!" Eolande gazed up at the Goblin King in false admiration.

"It is not a breach of our agreement for her to remain with us." Arethusa stood up. "Your goblins stole into our garden long before the Champion arrived. Therefore, it is you who broke your word first, and it is only fair that we, in turn, get to intervene in the affairs of one of your runners." With a satisfied and triumphant smile, the dark girl spun away and walked out from under the willow. A dangerous calm settled over the King's form and rolled off him in thick, cool waves. Rossa immediately intervened before another provoking word could be said to the Goblin King.

"I must speak with the King alone," she said, walking over to Eolande and gently pulling her from Sarah. "Go forth and spread the word to the others that the Champion is well."

After planting a light kiss on Sarah's forehead and throwing a pointed look at Jareth, Eolande left. Rossa watched as the King knelt back down at the Champion's side. She felt surprise as she sensed a hesitation in Jareth. She stared at him for a few more moments before a realization hit her, her face then relaxing into a knowing smile. One such rumor says that the Goblin King presented her with some of his own magic, for he had fallen in love with the girl...

"I had heard tell of the Champion's return to the Underground," Rossa said casually.

"Even here in your secret hideaway? Amazing!" Jareth replied with mock surprise. "Though I suppose that if gossip wishes to travel, it will find the ears of any eager listener." He looked at Rossa out of the corner of his eye.

She narrowed her eyes. "Careful, Jareth."

Jareth's gaze quickly flickered back to Sarah. Rossa sighed and walked closer to the King and the Champion.

"We are grateful, Jareth," her voice came out quietly, "despite our behavior. It hard for us—especially the young ones—to submit to the authority of the Fae royalty after our...history with them."

"I am not asking for your submission." Jareth's eyes remained on Sarah's sleeping form. "I would like your respect."

Rossa crossed her arms, her eyes hardening as a memory passed through her mind. "You've heard the stories, yes?"

"Yes." Jareth nodded. "That is part of the reason I invited you to come live within the Labyrinth."

"Girls-younger than even the Champion-stolen away, broken, sold, prostituted..." Rossa began to shake with rage. "And the High King did nothing! For over six centuries the Geimhreadh Forest had been our home and, instead of aiding us in our time of need, he cast us out of it! He punished us for being victims!"

"I'm here!" Sarah cried as she scrambled into a sitting position. "Toby! Ellie! I'm..." Her eyes met the Goblin King's, only briefly interrupting their gaze to look around the tent. "What is going on? Why are you here? Did you touch that food?" She let out a frustrated groan. "I should have known!"

"I surmise that your excessive babble means you are feeling better?" The Goblin King crossed his arms.

"I'm well enough to continue on my journey to defeat you," she spat as she slowly stood. She was a little unsteady the first few steps, but she walked forward determinedly. On the fifth step though, her legs gave out from under her. Rossa jumped forward, turning into a pile of feathers just as Sarah fell. The Goblin King chuckled and rose to his feet. He held out a hand to Sarah to help her stand. When she refused to accept it, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her back to the pile of pillows. Her thrashing and cries of protest did not appear to affect him; he held her tightly against his chest and held a smirk on his lips.

"Jerk," Sarah growled as he set her down.

"I applaud your determination, Champion," Rossa said, now back in her original form, "but I believe that some more rest would best benefit you. Although the poison is gone, your body still needs to recover from all it underwent today."

"How long will that take?" Sarah asked anxiously.

Rossa grabbed a small purple vial out of her pouch. "Once you swallow this you'll be well enough come morning."

Sarah stared at the proffered vial warily. "He didn't touch it, did he?"

"No." Rossa shook her head and leveled her gaze at Jareth. "He wouldn't dare."

Put slightly at ease, Sarah took the vial and downed it. It tasted like apple juice with an aftertaste of cough medicine. Giving one violent shiver, she handed the vial back to the woman. The Goblin King let out a laugh.

"None of this is funny," Sarah growled. "It's all your fault! And you called me a cheater."

"I did not poison that food, Sarah." He grinned at the confusion and distrust that collected in her expression.

"I'm afraid that I must take responsibility for that," the white haired woman admitted. "It was intended for a specific group of intruders. You were never supposed to find this place...though I suppose a Champion of the Labyrinth will manage to find her way anywhere within its stone walls."

Sarah was thoughtful for a moment, trying to draw back all of her memory from before the poisoning. "A bird led me here. He was all gray except for a long green feather on his head. He told me to eat the...oh, what were they called? Pits? Pricks?" She threw a casual side-glance at the Goblin King.

"Prits," Rossa supplied. "What a smart bird; those were indeed the only food items that we did not poison. Why did you eat the other food if he told you-"

"I've learned not to trust very many things down here." Sarah looked at the Goblin King pointedly. "I thought he was trying to trick me."

"Perhaps you should have given him the chance to prove himself," Jareth's voice held a slight edge to it.

"Trusting him could have turned out to be fatal for me," Sarah shot back.

Jareth scoffed, "Not trusting him did prove fatal for you."

"He should have given me more of a reason to trust him."

"He was. You were just too stubborn to see past your prejudicial opinions of him."

"'Prejudicial opinions'? You have no idea how I-"

"Enough!" Rossa shouted, immediately drawing the couple's attention to her and away from one another. "The Champion must rest."

Rising to his feet, Jareth nodded in agreement. "Of course. She may stay until mid-morning tomorrow. If she has not left by then, I shall have to return."

"We won't keep her from her journey any longer than necessary."

"Worry not, Goblin King," Sarah spoke with a wicked grin as she laid back on the pillows. "I'll still defeat you..." she yawned, "...and with plenty of time to spare."

Jareth smiled maliciously. "Oh, but you have no idea what awaits you, Precious." With a parting nod at Rossa, the Goblin King vanished in a cloud of glitter.

Rossa stared at Sarah's sleeping form with a frown. "No, she truly doesn't." She began to put out the lanterns, and as she got to the last one, she whispered, "And neither do you."

*Updated* A/N: Gah! This was the worst chapter to edit. I had to really fight with myself to make certain that I was staying true to Sarah and Jareth's characters. Also, I felt that I had been to easy on Jareth in his relationship to this group of girls, so I changed it to make it a bit more interesting than just: "Oh, yay! We love Jareth because he helped us, and everything is all sunshine, rainbows, and smiles!" I hope you liked it. Review!