Sorry it's taken so long, but life beckons... Enjoy!
'I'm asking you to abide by her decision when she makes it, Beara, Ibonmeth. If she decides to return to the Labyrinth, you can bombard her then, but if she decides on a human existence, allow her that little comfort!'
The anger of the Storm Hag was not something Jareth bore easily. She sat on his throne, her face like thunderclouds, as Jareth spoke to her.
'You don't allow your children to dictate how they're raised, Jareth. You discipline them and they do as they're told.' Ibonmeth said from her position at Cailleach Beara's flank.
'I agree with the Goblin King, ladies.' the Morrigan interjected.
'If the Harbinger says that she will come Underground, then she will And if she doesn't, then let her live her life the way she wants to,' Jareth growled.
'Does she realize how much havoc you caused when you took her memories? You took a bright little finch and turned her into a mute little sparrow. She might not be interested in the man who magically lobotomized her.' Ibonmeth said.
'I did it for her. I did it for the both of us- I wanted her to have a normal life, and I wanted to forget her! I never wanted to change her.' Jareth said, angrily.
'You changed yourself as well, lad. You never got lost in the palace before; and don't think I didn't see the crystal that you followed to my rooms in the palace,' Beara said.
The silence that met this comment was as cold as ice.
'Ahh, I see you realized it after the fact!'
'It is of no importance. And you couldn't find your way out of a paper bag, Beara,' Jareth snapped.
Cailleach Beara was preparing her retort when Myth, Sarah's dog, trotted into the throne and sat at her feet.
'Wuf,' she huffed in doggie greeting to the strange woman.
'Jareth, you didn't tell me you were pet-sitting! What on earth brought a dog into your care?' The Morrigan said, kneeling down to pet the creature.
'It belongs to Sarah. I have no idea how it got here, and when she left, she neglected to take it back with her.'
The dog rolled over, exposing her belly and obviously expecting more affection from her admirers. 'How sweet!' the women chorused.
What is it with women and small furry creatures? Jareth wondered, watching the women fawn over the dog.
Cailleach Beara looked up at the Goblin King, a gleam in her stone-gray eyes. 'Alright, laddie. I will bide my time. But mind yourself: when she makes her decision known to you, you inform me right away!'
Ibonmeth looked surprised. 'What made you change your mind, Cailleach?' she said, tilting her head in a disturbingly bird-like fashion.
'She left a part of herself here. Treasured pets, a belonging, perhaps her heart. Aye, she'll be back, and sooner than you expect.'
'Now, ladies, I believe we're needed to assist with the skirmish with the Seelie soon. As long as we're agreed, I think we must make our exit.' The Morrigan said to her companions. She waved in acknowledgment to Jareth, and then sunk to the ground in a wave of black mist and wind. A raven burst forth from the mist and flew out the window, cawing raucously as it went along.
'I spend half my life being a swan. I feel no need to fly everywhere, as she does. I believe I will join my sister in the traditional manner. Goodbye, Goblin King!' Ibonmeth pulled herself up straighter, and then disappeared, leaving behind a small pile of swan feathers.
'All these birdies and their molting. Ach, well. You know where to find me, Goblin King!' Cailleach Beara said, and was gone with a peal of thunder.
Jareth was suddenly alone, and very tired.
As predicted, a storm blew in on Saturday that dropped over a foot of snow in just a few hours, and Sarah was forced to huddle on her couch with coffee and blankets. She'd spent the day turning in her resume to various places online, in hopes of finding a permanent job. The house that had been in Texas had an insurance policy, so when it was destroyed by the storm she'd received a pretty little check- but it was mostly gone now, spent on replacing her belongings and finding a new apartment. The house had been a graduation gift from her mother, but she didn't really regret the loss. It had been small, and modest, and perhaps not in the best neighborhood, but a house was a rather ostentatious gift, even from her mother. She couldn't just say no, and so she had been left with the only option: to accept it, graciously, and be thankful she didn't have to pay for her own housing.
Sarah's mind drifted aimlessly, from the home she had left, destroyed, to her mother, to her little brother, to the strange dreams she'd had last night. It seemed that strange dreams were par for the course since she'd gotten her memories back. Usually they were dreams of Jareth- long, frustrating dreams with witty repartee and veiled innuendos that were slowly driving her mad. Occasionally there was a dream of flight, through clouds and rain and wind, with the voice of a cantankerous old woman in the background. Last night, however, was a dream of a mighty battle. The two massive armies had met on a field of vibrant green, one armored in silver and white, the other in black and red. The white army had been full of tall, ethereal Fey, with flowing hair and eyes like lightning. The red army had Fey amongst the ranks, but also held more fearsome creatures. It seemed to Sarah that there had been a contingent of goblins, several of which she could have sworn she had seen in the Labyrinth before. The most disturbing part of the red army was rock-callers, in her opinion. Ludo and several creatures like him stood in the back, surrounded by armored men on winged horses. She had always been certain that Ludo was a gentle creature, but she did recall the havoc he had caused to the Goblin City. She was not surprised to see Sir Didymus alongside Ludo.
Sarah's dream self floated amongst the ranks of the red army, without purpose or direction, and gradually found herself near the rear, surrounded by tall horses with wings and even taller men and women. She recognized a few faces from the memories she had shared with Jareth- the birdlike woman, Ibonmeth, and Jareth's father, Ethur, were both in attendance.
Ethur was totally different from the few moments she had spoken with him. Gone was the mildly flirtatious attitude and the air of relaxation. In its place was a fierce aura of strength and determination, accompanied by a look of sheer stubbornness. He held a helm of black lacquered metal with a sharp gold crown over the visor. Sarah could not clearly hear their conversations, and so only caught bits and pieces.
'...an affront to our kingdom...'
' Clearly the last straw!'
'...spurned our offers of goodwill...'
'No true heir to the throne...'
A huge raven descended from the sky, leaving a trail of black mist behind it. The raven landed on the extended arm of Ethur, who called for silence. The lords and ladies that surrounded the King gathered close, watching the bird expectantly.
'Well, Morrigan? What news have you?' Ethur finally asked.
The bird opened its mouth, and let forth a mighty caw. Then, it began to speak in a terrifying voice, feminine but with an undercurrent of rage and strength.
'The Seelie King refuses to surrender. He offered you the same option, but knew you would not accept. He says he hopes to send you to the arms of your maker, where the fool of a son-in-law you chose now rests.'
A howl of rage echoed from behind the King. Sarah could not see the person, but the lone voice soon became many voices, raised in anger.
Ethur, however, remained silent and still, eyes locked on the massive raven on his arm.
'Aeden may have been a fool, Majesty, but this is no reason to start a war. Tethur means to kill you, and wipe the Unseelie off of the map.' The raven said, hoarsely.
'Aye. Do you have any great prophecy for me, Harbinger?' Ethur looked at the bird closely as he spoke.
'Sire, I have none.'
'Riaghan, bring me the iron broadsword,' Ethur said after a moment. His squire disappeared into the crowd around the king, hurrying to get the weapon.
With a mighty flap of its wings, the raven shot up into the sky. Sarah was so enthralled by the bird that she almost missed the next words to be spoken by the King.
'If I fall today, I only have one son to pass the crown to. I trust that he will make a good leader, and that you will all follow him as faithfully as you have followed me. I name Jareth, Goblin King and Keeper of the Gate, my heir from this day forth.'
Sarah blinked, and then King Ethur sounded the charge. She was soon pulled up in a tide of magic, following the King and his supporters as they moved to the fight. All was chaos, and for a while Sarah floated above the masses. She was soon joined by a woman that she had seen previously: the gray hag that had warned young Jareth in his memories.
'Well, Granddaughter, how are you enjoying the show?' the hag asked her, as they floated above the battle.
'Will he die?' Sarah asked, motioning to the King.
'He wouldn't have named Jareth as heir if he felt he would live, lass.'
'He can't die! It wouldn't be...fair...' Sarah broke off, realizing how futile it was.
'The Morrigan made no promises either way, child. That is why I brought you here... to watch your future be decided.'
Sarah opened her mouth to respond, but her words were drowned out by a horrible, guttural cry in a language that she had never heard before. The raven that had been circling above them dove down, changing form into a woman made of dark mist and lightning. Sarah and the hag were right behind her, their dream selves sucked in with the pull of the raven-woman's magic.
Ethur was on his knees, a hand over his side. A man stood over him, silver armor glinting in the sun, a large black sword in his hand. His face was twisted with rage, but perhaps there was a resemblance between the two, Sarah had thought.
'As it should be, brother. You, on your knees, before me!' The silver man said.
Ethur's silver-green skin was blanched, and his piercing eyes stood out from his face as he gasped for air.
'No!' Sarah wailed, reaching out as if to help the fallen King. As she did, a bolt of lightning cracked the sky in two, landing squarely on the man who had brought Ethur low.
Sarah did not remember what happened in her dream after that, because she had woken up immediately. Her apartment had smelled like ozone.
As Sarah thought about the events of her dreams, she realized she had made her decision. If she cared so much about what happened to Jareth's father, obviously she was emotionally attached to Jareth. The other details would have to be sorted out later.
'I need to go back to the Labyrinth.'
Zip was hiding in the Firey forest. The King had kicked him out of the castle, as well as many other goblins, and he had no other place to stay. This didn't really bother Zip- as long as his ears were intact, he was comfortable sleeping wherever. The only problem he had was the Fireys kept trying to remove his head. So Zip was forced to hide from them in strange, small places- like the hollow tree that had been knocked over and used for a seat by goblins and fireys. He was huddled inside the tree, contemplating taking a nap when he heard a loud *thunk* and a string of words he had never heard before.
'...Oh sure, they warn you, watch what you wish for, Sarah, but no one ever says watch what you simply say out loud in your own home. Christ on a cracker! Is this the forest with the... oh, no!'
Zip watched a pair of feet come into view. He recognized those feet!
'Lady?' Zip poked his head out of the tree.
The Lady jumped, but then saw who it was. 'Hi, little guy! Boy, you sure scared me...'
'Lady, you need help?' Zip asked, and then began to squirm his way out of his hiding spot.
'Oh, no. I think I can find my way to the center...' The Lady trailed off.
As she spoke the forest had rearranged itself from a foggy, dark mess that seemed impossible to traverse, to a slightly less threatening (and far brighter) forest with a clear path down the middle. The path led to a part of the maze Zip recalled with some cheer- the garden maze.
Beyond the garden maze, they could see the walls rearranging themselves in neat rows, until there was a direct path to the Castle Beyond the Goblin City.
Zip watched the Lady in amazement.
'Did you do that?' he asked.
'I suppose so,' she responded. 'Are you coming with?'