Chapter 9 – In Which Sarah Finds Jareth
After almost two weeks of searching, the castle was bigger than she had thought possible, Sarah finally discovered Jareth's hiding place. The door was open and he was standing by one of the windows, looking into his crystal wearing his customary black lace-up shirt and leather trousers with his usual knee high boots. Sarah stood in the doorway watching him.
"I was wondering when you would find me," He commented without turning around, "it appears that nowhere is safe."
Sarah was puzzled, "How did you know it was me?" she asked walking into what looked like a medieval office, her dress swishing in the breeze blowing through the open window off the forest to the south.
Jareth held up his had with the crystal in it, in answer, with a smug smile on his face.
"Ok, that's a bit creepy," replied Sarah catching on.
"Sarah, you are welcome to visit me," No she's not! Pricked his pride, "However, I am very busy at the moment. I'm sure that your knight and the dwarf, Hogbrain -"
"- Hoggle," Corrected Sarah with a smile.
"– yes, him, - I'm sure they told you of the current situation."
"Yes, they did," she replied, "That's why… that is…"
She is stuttering again, noted Jareth before being distracted by the bauble on his desk, which contained a tiny image of the Castle and Labyrinth and was rapidly flashing from day to night. It floated to hover in front of him and he began to swear before noticing Sarah's confusion.
"It's an alarm of sorts," he explained, "It means that someone has been wished to the Underground. Damn it, I don't have time for this," He muttered to himself, running his hand through his loose hair in frustration.
"But… won't this help? Someone to imagine all kinds of new goblins and creatures for the Labyrinth to replace the ones who were killed. Isn't this good?"
Jareth sighed tiredly; I seem to be doing a lot of that lately, "Normally, yes. However I have too much to do right now to keep an eye on some mortal wandering around in my Labyrinth." He gestured towards the desk with papers scattered untidily over its surface.
Sarah looked at him; he seems so tired, like he hasn't rested in a lifetime.
"Well, I can't do much, but I can keep an eye on them," she offered.
Jareths head jerked up in surprise and he looked at her.
"What?" asked Sarah suspiciously as he continued to stare at her.
"It is possible," he said, choosing his words carefully, "for a mortal to have a certain degree of command over magic for a short time with the aid of a certain…potion, for lack of a better term. So long as the elixir remained in your system, you would be able to take my place for this mortal's journey."
It was Sarah who now looked surprised. "Ok," she said just as carefully, "if I did this," she waved her hand at the patiently waiting bauble, "would I have to do it alone?
"I would be able to give you a certain measure of guidance; however, once you begin, you must see it through to the end. My influence must be minimal and I must not be seen by the mortal." He was watching her carefully, gauging her reaction.
Sarah took a breath to steady herself, Well, I wanted to help, "Alright. What exactly is this potion I have to drink?"
Jareth went to a cupboard in one corner and took out several bottles and a chalice, cleared a space on his desk and mixed the contents in the silver goblet in front of him before waving his had dramatically over the concoction and muttering something inaudible under his breath. The mixture erupted into a spectacular smoky display before clearing into a clear pale pink.
Jareth handed her the chalice wordlessly and Sarah looked at the contents for a moment before drinking it in one go. "You need to work on the flavor," she commented when she had drained the cup, wrinkling her nose in distaste.
Jareth smiled, "If it tasted pleasant everyone would be drinking it. Magic would be turned on its head by mortals using it with no regard for the consequences. Let us have a look at the person who would wish away a loved one," he continued, "to summon a crystal, imagine that it already exists, it has been in your hand all along but until now you have ignored it."
Sarah tried to do as directed with no success. She scowled at her hand as if it were doing it on purpose.
"It is the belief that the crystal will appear that makes it so. Watch, I will show you."
Sure enough, a smooth crystal that fit into her hand perfectly appeared.
"How did you do that so easily?" she demanded in frustration.
"I did nothing but encourage you're belief that the crystal would appear. You were the one who made it so," he replied smirking again.
Sarah looked even more frustrated and a little confused, "So you lied to me?"
"Well, yes," he replied, embarrassed at being seen through so easily, "but you didn't believe you could do it, but you did believe that I could. I had to circumvent your disbelief."
Sarah wasn't completely convinced by that but let it go, "So to see the person who did the 'wishing away' all I have to do is believe the crystal will do as I say?" she asked, Jareth nodded once.
Ok, let's try this. Show me the person who did the 'wishing away' she silently commanded the crystal. When she looked into its clear depths she nearly dropped her creation. Plainly depicted, as if on a concave television screen, Linda Holmes was frantically searching a little girls room.
"We all of us need assistance. Those who sustain others themselves want to be sustained."
- Maurice Hulst