** Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth, Sarah, Jareth, or other recognizable events/characters therein; they are the property of the late Jim Henson and his estate, Brian Froud, and or the distribution companies whom hold legal rights to this property. The only things I can claim are my original characters, additions to the world, and new events **
There is an A/N that I would like everyone to read at the end of this chapter, so please don't skip this one! Thank you so much!
Soft light drift through the open window into the room. It was morning, though the light would belie such a thing. It was still darkened, as if the light that was shining was merely a bright full moon and not a morning sun. Which, had Sarah looked out the window yet, she would realize was right.
Staring at the canopy of her bed she waited. She was alone, that much she could tell. Her dress had been removed from her and replaced with something akin to a night gown, though whatever it was made from felt as though there was nothing there at all. Clothing without clothes, the thought made Sarah smile despite herself.
A soft knock on the double doors brought the girl to a tense wakefulness, sitting bolt upright in the bed and clutching the blankets up around her neck and shoulders.
"Beggin' pardon, miss." A soft female voice said as the door opened to admit the one who had knocked. A pale hand pushed the door open just enough to let the newcomer enter. Sarah gasped at the sight before her.
Standing there in what looked like floating cloth was a beautiful woman. Her clothing seemed to sway even when she wasn't moving. The skirt of her dress was layers of greens and browns, different lengths and sizes that were connected to the bodice of the dress with a rounded waist and what looked like wrappings at the hip, though Sarah figured they were probably decorative more than useful. The bodice of the dress was of a pale green, it showed the boning of a corset. She could barely make out a design on the dress, it appeared to be wolves or another lupine creature. The top of the dress was brown, completing the look and showing off the woman's endowed bosom in a manner that was both modest and shockingly sensual at the same time.
Sarah shook her head at the thought, however. She'd never shied away from the beauty that was a woman's body- she was one after all- but she had never thought of another woman as sensual before and she sure as anything wasn't going to start now. Finding her voice once she realized she had been staring for almost too long, Sarah spoke.
"Who," She squeaked, coughing a little and swallowing again. Her voice was stronger when she spoke again. "Who are you?"
"Nissa, milady." The woman spoke again. Her accent was almost cockney, if Sarah had to place it from the Overworld. Overworld? Oh, yes, she was Below. "Lord King asked me to take care of ye. He's right fit in a state today- shouldna keep him waitin'."
"Nissa," Sarah said as she stood, waving to the girl to close the door behind her. She dropped the blanket from her hands and onto the bed once she was sure they were alone. "Without sounding completely rude… what are you? You don't look like any goblin I've ever seen."
"That's 'cause I ain't no goblin, miss." Nissa curtsied slightly, bowing her head to Sarah as she did so. "I'm a fylgja, a servant in his Majesty's court."
"A fylgja?" Sarah stumbled a bit over the unusual term for what the woman was. It sounded almost Icelandic more than Gaelic or Celtic- something she had noted most of the lore seemed to come from. Or most of the surviving lore came from those cultures.
"Overworlders would call me a doppelganger, or a changeling." Nissa replied gently, her eyes crinkling with laughter that did not reach her stoic disposition. She seemed mischievous and almost as young as Sarah herself was, but the human felt sure that this fylgja was centuries older than she looked.
"A changeling? Like a child left behind when faeries take another?" Sarah was genuinely curious, forgetting how rude it might be to the faerie creature in front of her. And rudeness never went over well with the Fae.
"In centuries past, miss." Nissa looked away and towards the empty fire grate. The room was warm for the season, a sign of the King's magic- for this place had been ordered cleaned for the first time in many moon cycles. It was an odd thing for the King to ask, but the answers came in the form of the human before her.
Nissa studied Sarah just as Sarah studied Nissa. It was obvious that this was the woman from whose shadow the fylgja had been cast. The similarities in the two of them were unmistakable. Though Nissa could see the immaturity in her own features versus the woman who now stood regal in the nightclothes of a Queen. Nissa decided that she liked this Sarah, her heart was pure and innocent; the heart of a believer, the heart of faith. The light she would bring to this darkened kingdom would be plenty and bright.
"We should dress ye, miss. If y'er wanting to go see the King an' all." Nissa moved to the dressing area. There was a table with a silvered mirror, with the mixings and powders of face paint. There were brushes made of the finest Pooka hair and scents and oils aplenty for the coming days. The faerie turned away from the table and to the large wardrobe. It was a connected room, something she had never seen in any of the other suites in the castle before.
"Dress me? I promise, Nissa, I can do that myself!" Sarah was suddenly bumbling again, following the other girl with uneasy steps as she walked barefoot over the surprisingly soft feeling stone floor.
"Aye, miss. I'm sure ye could in the Overworld; where females dress as men." Nissa replied almost flippantly as she paraded through the smaller unlit room with a knowing grace. Her nimble fingers trailed over the garments in the dark, stopping when they found the one they were looking for.
Sarah found her mouth open in a gape for the second time when she saw the dress that Nissa had pulled from the wardrobe. It was the most beautiful thing that she had ever laid eyes on, and the most regal looking dress that she'd ever seen.
The skirt portion of the dress was made of two layers, connected at the waist by what looked like silver and black lace belting. The belting curved up and over the hips before coming down in a small 'v' in the front. It was intricate, a seemingly never ending line of knots weaving in and out of the others. The main skirt was of a heavy looking brocaded leaf green with the same silvery designs. About four inches from the hemline it became a deeper green with even brighter stitching.
The over skirt was of a see-through silver with green, and it wrapped around the back of the dress but did not fully come together in the front. It had the same belting down the two sides where it came down, from Sarah's point of view it looked like the upper skirting would begin at the insides of her thighs and end further out, shoulder width or so.
A corset made up the bodice, using the same material as the underskirt. The middle part of the bodice was the dark green, accenting the bosom and coming to another point at the belting on the hips. Wrapping around and creating the rest of the torso was the lighter green, the silver designs running up and down the boning of the corset top. The silver and black lacing that adorned the belting and skirt hem was also on the top of the bodice, it seemed to highlight the breast area and Sarah began to worry if she would even be fully covered in such a dress.
There were no sleeves to the dress, not actual ones anyway. A collar made of shoulder braces, from their looks, ran over the back of the dress and to the front; it looked almost like a jacket top that only sat on the shoulders and couldn't close. It came up high on the neck, and a clasp at the throat was revealed to be almost a necklace in make, the same charm Jareth wore rest in the center. Attached to the arm portion of the shoulder coverings were rounded layers of the same silken see-through cloth on the upper skirting. They looked to be what Sarah would have called Elf sleeves in her youth.
"Something amiss, milady?" Nissa's expression was suddenly worry filled, she second guessed the picking of the dress for moments before Sarah coughed out a laugh. "Milady?"
"It's beautiful, Nissa." Sarah replied, her eyes full of mirthful tears as she continued to laugh. "I was just caught by its splendor. Surely you don't mean for me to wear that to go see Jareth?"
"My Lord King commanded that you dress as a proper Lady would, miss." Nissa chewed the inside of her cheek as she spoke. If the human thought this dress was splendorous then wait until she saw any of the others. Nissa knew for certain that this was the plainest dress in the wardrobe.
"A proper Lady?" Sarah snorted, Nissa looked almost horrified. "No one has ever accused me of being such, and I hardly wish to start now. Though, I did agree to this and willingly came back to this place. I will bide my time on this, for now. He's not going to parade me around in frilly delicate dresses like some China doll."
"Not meanin' disrespect miss, but it's not a wise thing… upsetting the King." Nissa looked to the ground as she spoke. She had seen the wrath the Night King could bring forth, and she did not wish it upon the hopeful future Queen.
"Wise or not, Nissa," Sarah waited for the faerie to look up at her. "I am my own woman, and I will not become some trophy to show off. I am adventurous and like to be wild and free, I like to see things and to learn- I will not be cooped up like a bird in a cage."
Maybe it's a cage ye need. Nissa found her traitorous mind thinking as she merely shook her head in silence and began to undo the ties on the dress. She would pick out shoes for her Queen once she had the rest of the outfit on her.
It was obvious to the fylgja that the human Bride Queen was not someone who was accustomed to finery, dresses, or possibly even the face powders that Nissa would have to use to make her presentable to the King. It made Nissa wonder if this Bride would be able to fit in amongst the comings and goings of court here in the Realm of the Sea. The Night King's court was one of the biggest in the Below, given its proximity to the border between the realms.
She considered herself as she helped the human out of her night things and into the shift that went under the other, finer, clothing. Nissa was classified as a lower-class Unseelie. Unseelie faeries were the most common here in the Below, but the King also not only entertained but also employed Seelie faeries. He was not very picky as to his court guests or workers; Nissa supposed it was from being around Goblins all the time. Even she was wont to avoid them if at all possible.
"I'm surprised, Nissa." Sarah commented, suddenly bringing the handmaiden out of her reverie. She made a questioning noise, not wishing to speak. "This cloth, it looks and feels like a mixture of silks and velvet. It's thick like wool, but not scratchy or uncomfortable. But it also feels like I'm wearing nothing at all, there's no weight to it."
"Faerie craftsmanship, miss. Ain't nothin' more than a little bit o' glamour. Many of your dresses would be right heavy without the magic." Nissa smiled behind the Queen. She was naïve, but not unafraid to question. Her apparent acceptance of the situation would make things much easier for both her and the King.
"It is beautifully made." Sarah commented as she allowed Nissa to lead her to the mirror. She managed to retain the gasp that so desperately wanted to come out as she saw herself in the mirror. She was beautiful. The dress highlighted the curve of her hips, her naturally slim waist. The swell of her breasts. It made her look sensual and yet regal at the same time. She couldn't help but notice how plain her face and slept-in hair looked in comparison to the rest of her.
"No, miss, you're beautiful." Nissa whispered as Sarah looked over herself in the mirror. She noticed how the woman's eyes trailed up and down, down and up. Saw the blush as she continued to examine her body in the dress. "Now, miss, if we can I need to do your hair. The King is still waitin' and I do not want him to wait for long."
"Oh, oh… yes. Jareth." Sarah sat on the stool at the vanity. She looked at her face in the mirror and studied it closely. She still looked young but the roundness of her face had given way to a more slender profile. Her eyes would forever be curiosity filled, a sparkling light green with a darker ring. The longer she looked, however, the more she thought about things that had bothered her all through the rest of the Beltane festivities and well into her dreamless sleep here.
Why had Murtagh lied to her and Katrice? What did he have to gain from finding her? Sarah supposed that she could have just been the collateral damage of his and Katrice's relationship, but without proof she was more inclined to believe that Murtagh had purposefully sought her out.
Thinking of that little weaseling snake of a faerie… God she was so angry with him! How dare he enchant her and then force her to enter the Dance- what gave him the right to be able to push her around and take over her life? If you hadn't wanted this, then why did you dream it when he enchanted you? If you hadn't wanted this, then why didn't you tell the truth when you were rooted? You couldn't lie, and yet you declared yourself accepting of being Jareth's Bride.
Sarah inwardly growled at herself as she thought about the rooting and the testing of her heart and worth. The looks people had given her once they saw what the crystal revealed- her journey through the Labyrinth and her words to Jareth at the end. Sarah didn't miss the change in their demeanor, the way they seemed to either respect her… or be completely horrified at the idea of her presence.
You went there in search of Him. Isn't that why you decided on cultural studies? Mythologies, theologies, and lore? Cultural anthropology that focused specifically on Celtic history. You looked, through the Nords and Vikings, through every Slavic history book you could find… You looked for him.
Damn herself, she was right. Sarah had looked for Jareth. For a while after leaving the Labyrinth she had visited with Ludo, Hoggle, and Sir Didymus. Others from the Labyrinth appeared with them sometimes, always in the background and they never interacted with her. But then the visits became less frequent, she saw her friends less and less as weeks turned into years. Hoggle told her it was because the Goblin King was trying to seal up the portals through which they had been communicating.
She hadn't doubted it at the time.
But as her friends' visits lessened the dreams came. Not nightmares per se, but recurring and unsettling nonetheless. Dreams of dancing, dreams of songs, dreams of pathways ever reaching- everchanging. An owl, white as snow, off in the distance. He was always there in one form or another, always watching. Waiting. He always seemed to be waiting.
Night King. Sarah's still dazed mind finally began to put pieces together. The Night King, ruler of the Kingdom of Dreams, also known as the Labyrinth. Son of the last Night King Oberon and his captive, and sister-in-law, the High Queen Oonagh.
She remembered now, she had read about him in one of the faerie lore books in a dusty old shop about a month or so ago. The book had been so interesting that she'd had to buy it, and the woman at the shop had given it to her for free. The older woman claimed that it had been 'many a year' since she'd seen someone so interested in the Fey, as Sarah was.
The book had said that King Oberon had been jealous of his brother Finvarra so he had stolen the High Queen to entice his brother into war. The plan had failed, however, when High Queen Oonagh escaped with the help of the Night King's chosen mortal Bride- who he had banished back to the Overworld for such a crime.
Her thoughts were paused, though, when she felt a cold weight on her forehead. Looking up into the mirror she squeaked in surprise, much more embarrassing than a simple gasp. Looking back at her was a Queen befitting the gown. Nissa had done wonders with the primitive powders and oils, that much was certain. Her eyes now stood out on her pale skin, made paler with the makeup.
The weight on her forehead was a crown, she realized. It was a magnificent piece, crafted from what Sarah could only describe as solid moonlight it shone so brightly and in such a silver pallor. There were five points on the crown, all topped with glittering jewels. The middle, and shortest to Sarah's surprise, was topped with a mesmerizing black jewel of which she couldn't place the name for. It was a pointed diamond shape whereas the other four jewels, dark red, were rounded on the sides though they still came to two distinct points top and bottom.
Coming down in a point on her head was an intricate design, something that Sarah couldn't make out completely however it looked much like scales all knotted together. The silvery metal was dotted with smaller red, glittering white, and black jewels. It truly was a masterpiece of a crown- and Sarah found herself longing to wear it forever.
That thought was shaken out of her mind, however, when her eyes caught sight of the most focal point to the crown- it's black horns. They looked almost like ram horns, curving up and back on her head before once again curving forward. The horns came up between the outer and inner spikes, coming back to rest on the outside of the taller jewel covered peaks.
Her hair had been braided, curled somehow, and styled around the crown. It seemed to come up through it and looked almost like chains attached to the beautiful metal piece. She felt very much like a dark faerie princess, the same kind of thing she'd dream about as a child- the same thoughts that once led here to the Labyrinth.
"I… I look…" Sarah was stammering, unable to find words to describe not only how she looked but the butterflies that had taken flight in her stomach and veins.
"Ye look like a queen, miss." Nissa said with a coy smile. "He will be pleased."
"Honestly I don't care whether I please him or not." Sarah squared her jaw and shoulders as she talked. The thought of dressing such a way, beautiful or not, merely to please him was a sickening thought. She had agreed to this year and a day out of a feeling of obligation, owing him for saving her twice in her life. That was it.
She owed nothing else to Jareth. Not affection, not loyalty, not anything. And especially not this god forsaken feeling in the pit of her stomach. A strange heat that seemed to originate in her lower abdomen and travel both up and down her body as if it were flowing through her blood. She detested it and the thoughts that came with such a feeling.
"As ye say, miss." Nissa's plain reply came after a few moments of silence. The fylgja was thinking about the demeanor of the Bride of her King. She was headstrong, independent, and had a feisty personality that would greatly contrast- and possibly fight with- the typical features of the King. He was cunning, with great measures of wit and wisdom. He was more brooding and sullen than the girl, but Nissa hoped that the fire and light that Sarah exuded would be enough to change and warm King Jareth.
"Um," Sarah stood and looked down at her feet. She was wearing what Nissa had called hosen- a primitive three-piece pair of what felt like tight and silk pants. But her feet were otherwise bare of anything. "Am I to go without shoes?"
"Oh no, miss. I hadna gotten them for ye yet. Please, sit, it'll only take me a moment." Nissa rushed off to grab the shoes she had in mind for the gown. She grabbed them quickly and brought them to the Bride for inspection. Nissa had a hard time, still, using the girl's name even in her head. She found herself using Bride or Queen more than Sarah.
Perhaps she would come to get used to it. Handmaiden was not her usual title or job. Too many new things in one day.
Sarah inspected the shoes as Nissa handed them to her. They were as gorgeous and gauche as the dress she was wearing. They were made of what felt like a bendable metal material, something she had never seen or held before. The shoes had a heel to them, if she had to guess it was close to two inches. They were what Katrice would have called cone heel, it was wider at the top near her foot and thinner near the ground.
Sarah thanked whatever deity might exist that they weren't stiletto or overly tall. She'd never been graceful in heels, and was thankfully taller than most women without them.
Looking at the details of the shoe, Nissa had taken one to place it on her foot, she was astounded at the beautiful designs. The heel was made from an owl in flight, and the silvery material seemed near white there. A nod at the Goblin King for sure. The same knotted design that was on the belting and lace of her dress was also found on the front of the shoe- they matched exactly, which meant these shoes were made for this dress.
That struck Sarah as odd, but she said nothing.
Nissa took the second shoe and made quick work of the laces that went up the side of the boot, a detail Sarah had missed. She stood and brushed her hands off before looking at the Queen who sat before her.
Her posture could use some work. And she has no idea how to sit like a lady, she's all wood and rigid- no fluidity or grace. She's going to need lessons. Nissa was taking stock of her new charge. The King had told the fylgja that the Bride's acclimation and comfort was her new charge of duty. She's not fully without her graces, however. She's delicate, and rather mature seeming for being so young. These clothes do much to highlight the natural beauty that is already there. One plus, even if proper ladylike manners didn't exist.
"Miss, if you will, I should lead you to your husband now." Nissa said, instantly regretting her choice of words at the sight of the Queen's jawline tensing. She had angered her, Nissa just knew it.
"I have agreed to this deal for a year and a day, that does not mean I am his wife nor is he my husband." Sarah's voice wasn't cold or mean, though she was fuming inside. It did no good to be mean to someone who had been so kind. "I… I owed him. This is repayment of my debt, and once this is over I will return to my world Above and that will be the end of it."
"As ye say, miss. My apologies for such bold a statement." Nissa curtsied and inwardly cursed. Trying to convince this girl that the world in the Below is where she belonged was going to be harder than she originally thought- Sarah seemed to hate it here, though the fylgja could not understand why.
She had beaten the Labyrinth, one of small handful to ever do so. And the only one to beat King Jareth's Labyrinth- he had taken such care and pride in it compared to Kings before him. This girl, at a younger age than she was now- and before she was even a woman- had taken the power the Night King had over her and she had used it for her freedom. Nissa couldn't think of anyone who had ever done that with any Night King.
Sarah stood and made for the door while Nissa was thinking, stopping only to look back at the faerie. She cleared her throat awkwardly, trying to hide her nerves but failing to do so.
"Um, Nissa? I don't know where I am supposed to meet Jareth." Sarah replied with a blush growing up her neck and cheeks. "I am unfamiliar with the castle…"
"Not a problem, miss. I can show ye." Nissa moved briskly to the door and stopped to look at Sarah before they left the room. Carefully adjusting one of the locks of her hair that had come loose from the styling, Nissa decided that the Queen was as presentable as she'd ever be. She found herself almost whispering a phrase she wished had stayed in her mind. "Are ye ready, miss?"
Sarah thought for a moment, touched by the care the fylgja was showing. She worried at her bottom lip and her brow furrowed as she thought about it. Was she ready? Sighing and squaring herself for whatever was to come, she nodded.
"Yes, I am ready."
A/N: Greetings and welcome! I would like to thank you for reading, first of all, and invite you to review or message me with any comments, questions, or concerns you may have. I do read all of them and answer even my reviews should there be a need (questions or the like) for me to do so.
Now, there is a small list of things I wish to address so I'm going to jump right in:
1. King Finvarra, Queen Oonagh, and King Oberon. Yes I know that these are all examples of mythological, literature, or folk tale Faerie royalty. I do also know that they come from different stories. As with the ritual in the previous chapter and with the chapters to come I want to reiterate that the background and the mythology used in this story is a melting pot of many tales.
2. Fylgja. Fylgja (pronounced fEElg-ya, to the best of my knowledge) are a type of Slavic Unseelie faerie.
3. Seelie and Unseelie. Seelie faeries are seen as the 'higher' faeries. Seelie means Holy or Blessed and the faeries within this category in the courts (yes, I researched this) were seen as beneficial to mortals, they would often come and warn mortals who accidentally offended them or to return human kindness with their own acts of help. They are seen as 'day' faeries, and even though they can be mischievous and playful will avenge offense or wrongdoings without fail or second thought. Unseelie faeries, however, are seen as the 'night' faeries. The word Unseelie means Unholy or Unblessed and this category of fae is made up of the typically more evil-inclined creatures. Not all are evil, but most will choose to harm over to help when given a choice. They can be malicious and don't need offense to go after an enemy or a human- many of the creatures in this category, according to myth, will do as they want without provocation.
4. My overly wordy descriptions. I'm sure you noticed in this chapter the care I took to describe Sarah's gown, crown, shoes, and others. This is because I am trying to create as much of a living world as possible. I promise that after the next few chapters I will focus much less on the descriptions of clothing, rooms, or general scenery (special occasions will arise, and then talk will turn to the trees or whatnot). I want you to be able to imagine in your minds eye what the clothes these characters are wearing look like, what their style is, and from here on be able to continue seeing that as you read- to help build the world for you to inhabit as I write it.
That's all I can think of as far as things that absolutely need to be addressed at the current moment. Just typical stuff for a heavier Fic. As usual I want to again thank all of you for reading and remind anyone who wishes that the comments are open and I do respond to messages as well as (now that I have one x.x) my Tumblr.
Thank you for reading, I will see you again soon!