Hey. As all fanfiction writers will surely know you have the best intentions to write a gabillion chapters and get all excited about it and then life throws a whole load of shite in your face! Lol. But anyways, I'm going to write at least the next three chapters before I go to work again at six tomorrow so even if things get crazy busy I'll still be able to post at least once or twice a week from now on and stay ahead of myself.
I love you all. Review you Jareth whores ;)
(P.S. those waiting for M anst, romance and drama- its coming! I swear! This isn't gonna be a simple story trust me- we're still only in the build up!) However, this is primarily a romance X
Sarah kicked at a tree angrily cursing Jareth and cursing that blond bint Marianna. She was trying hard to fit in and not be affected by the damn Goblin King but now he had the cheek to bring a woman back to his tent right under Sarah's nose? Unbelievable.
Sarah sat with a loud *Humpf* on a nearby tree stump and leant her chin in her hand, unconsciously pouting childishly, green eyes dark and troubled.
Admit it Sarah she thought with a deep exhale of breath life sure aint no merry adventure that you'll just dance through with the Goblin King fawning over you and butterflies and rainbows Sparkling overhead… I'm so out of my depth.
Seized with sudden anger she stood and kicked at the tree she had assaulted earlier growling curses under her breath. Not only had that bitch Marianna made her look a fool in front of Jareth but Basil and Indigo as well! The champion of the Riders wasn't meant to be some incapable mortal mortalish, Sarah mentally corrected herself, I've got to be better!
And she didn't mean more flirty, giggly or attractive than the despised Marianna, who was probably writhing underneath the Goblin Kings more than capable ministrations right now, but rather more professional, intelligent and harder working than anything the Underground had ever been before. She had fought the Goblin King and his crazy Labyrinth! She had turned down the gorgeously infuriating Fae before! Stop mooning you silly cow Sarah told herself firmly and strode off to the dragons cave where she hoped to find somewhere that was at least quiet and warm to sleep, even if it did mean sharing residence with a large Dragon.
She was decidedly not thinking about pale hands caressing soft skin, arching and moaning bodies entwining as one as the two golden creatures, one whom she idolised and one who she despised, consumed in their passions for beauty and pleasure moved in a rhythm old as the world and came shuddering to completion… but the image seemed burned into her mind.
Oh little one Isa muttered in her mind sleepily in her mind as she settled against the dragons warm grey side and was swiftly covered with a great, grey wing. You are so conflicted.
I know..
Sleep now dreamer and perhaps tomorrow things will be brighter. The dragon heaved a great warm, showing alarming teeth although the darkness is coming we will face it together my girl, and then they'll see what a force we are to be reckoned with.
Yes Sarah thought letting her eyes fall closed He'll see… They'll all see… and with a slight smile on her lips she let her eyes drift closed.
-JS-
Sarah picked her way carefully through the branch strewn corridors of the Labyrinth, pausing every so often to more closely inspect a small clump glittering moss or a gathering of stalk like eyes which followed her as she passed. Great, glowing spider webs clung to the walls around her, Sarah tried not to notice the dark, furry shapes waiting just at the edges of them, waiting for an unknowing fly or fairy.
As she gazed into a crevice in a wall a pair of yellow eyes looked back and a hissing voice whisped from the darkness
"Hallo Ssssarah"
"Did you just say hello?" Sarah whispered back, unconsciously leaning in closer .
"No" the enormous blue snake slithered forward and flicked its split tongue, showing pointed fangs and swaying slightly. "I sssaid 'hallo', but that's clossse enough." It smoothly entered another hole and disappeared with a flick of its tail.
Sarah blinked rapidly and straighted, looking ahead down the seemingly never ending corridor before her, where a crow picked at the carcass of something small and furry, which Sarah couldn't make out.
"Sarah"
A voice spoke behind her and she spun again, feeling the heaviness in her limbs which one often experiences when dreaming.
"Sarah"
She couldn't make out where the voice was coming from, was it Jareth calling to her from the centre of the Labyrinth? She began to run, tripping and stumbling over rocks as she went, the dust from her hurried steps floating in the air around her.
"Sarah" the voice called again, seemingly closer than before.
"Where are you?" Sarah cried, whipping her head this way and that as she ran "Jareth?"
"Sarah"
She ran faster.
"Sarah"
"I'm here! Jareth, I'm here!" She cried just as the ground beneath her feet fell away and she fell screaming into the inky blackness where there were no helping hands to halt her fall.
-JS-
Jareth's mismatched eyes snapped open, careful not to disturb the naked girl sleeping beside him he sat up.
Mavek closed his book with a snap, brow furrowed and listened intently.
Gabriel shivered as he took a puff on his pipe, though the air was still and warm.
Isa awoke with a roar and twisted his neck to lack back at the girl who thrashed beneath his wing, claimed by the quiet darkness of sleep.
-JS-
Sarah was still falling, but slowly now, she could tell by the gentle ripple of a breeze in her hair and face. She had stopped screaming a few minutes ago after what had really been a spectacularly long descent. Bet this is gonna be one hell of an oubliette Sarah thought wryly, inexplicable calm washing over her. All of a sudden thousands of dust motes around her lit up and her feet found ground, though still all around her seemed nothing but emptiness.
"Sarah"
The same voice as before
"Sarah"
Melodic as it was though Sarah was pretty sure it wasn't Jareth calling to her from the darkness.
"Wh…Who are you?" Sarah quavered trying to sound brave, but fiddling with her own hands, squinting into the darkness "Hello?"
"Hi."
Sarah shrieked and tripped over her own feet as she span around so fast she hit the ground with a soft thwump.
Sarah sat gaping up at the most beautiful child she had ever seen.
Well, more like teen really. A boy of perhaps thirteen or fourteen laughed and held a pale hand towards her which she just stared at for a few seconds before raising her eyes to stare upon his face in awe. The boy's tousled hair was like spun gold curling ever so softly, his dancing eyes were such a bright, light blue that his pupils seemed to pull you in with an alarming intensity and his smile was so dazzling that Sarah sat and blinked at him stupidly for far too long before scrambling ungracefully to her feet.
"Hello Sarah" the boy twinkled up at her, shoving his hands in the pockets of his khaki shorts, sporting a t-shirt that proclaimed "Frankie Says Relax".
"Who are you?" Sarah managed to choke out eyes wide.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm the Labyrinth!" the boy exclaimed.
"Not really…" Sarah muttered. The boy looked at her and raised an eyebrow in question "You're uh… not exactly what I expected"
"Thought I'd scare you less this way…hang on…." the Labyrinth muttered and in a swirl of dust motes an old man with a long white beard wearing robes and half moon spectacles gazed at her. "How about now?"
Sarah frowned.
"No?" The old man changed to a Fae like man with white blonde hair pulled back in a long braid down his back and clothes that were strangely reminiscent of Jareth's. "How about this?"
Sarah covered her eyes with her hand and gave a wry smile.
"I've gone crazy."
"No, I just pulled you into a dream so we could have a little chat" the Labyrinth grinned.
"Yep, definitely a dream! Not real!"
"Of course it's a dream, but who says that means it isn't real?"
"Stop misquoting Harry Potter" Sarah snapped.
-JS-
Jareth stepped from the tent into the night and watched as a Sparrow hawk rocketed past the tent and collided with a tree before righting itself and swooping back in front of him. In seconds Mavek was standing before him looking ruffled.
"You feel that?" his friend asked him worriedly.
Jareth nodded and holding a finger to his lips, glancing back at the entrance to his tent he led his friend away.
"The Labyrinth's magic has come closer to the surface than I've ever felt it before" Jareth muttered as the two of them walked.
"It's awakened?" Mavek exclaimed? "It's not going to take on corporeal form or anything creepy like that is it?"
"Oh hush" Jareth muttered.
"You know, the old goblin tale!" Mavek exclaimed "be good or the Labyrinth will come and eat you!"
Jareth ignored his friemd, knelt and put his hand to the floor, closing his eyes and becoming completely still. For once Mavek knew when to shut up and waited for several tense minutes until Jareth's eyes snapped open, glowing silver.
"What's happening?" Mavek asked worriedly as he felt the pulsing magic, inherent in the earth grow even stronger. "Jareth?"
"I'm not sure…" Jareth mused standing as the glow faded from his eyes. His voice lowered to a growl "but whatever it is, it has to do with Sarah"
-JS-
The Labyrinth, now a young boy again, and Sarah sat opposite each other, cross-legged on the floor.
"I had no idea you were alive….like this" Sarah frowned apologetically "Had I known I wouldn't have kicked you quite so much"
"Or drawn on my flagstones?" The labyrinth drawled eerily, such an old voice coming from a young face, "or destroyed my stair room?"
"Well…. It was kind of necessary at the time…" Sarah grinned "Will as strong, kingdom as great etc. Though I took a bit of liberty with the kingdom bit.."
"No, you were entirely right" The labyrinth fiddled with a handful of dust motes it was making float from palm to palm.
Sarah snorted "The mortal world as great as this place is? You must be joking"
The Labyrinth frowned and met her eyes "But Sarah" it exclaimed "this is your kingdom!"
-JS-
Mavek and Jareth entered Sarah's tent only to discover the empty bed and quickly dying fire.
"Where did she go?" Mavek frowned "Looks like she's been gone awhile…"
Hearing the deep breathing of Marianna next door Jareth had a fairly good idea why, he shrugged and turned to Mavek frowning. "This is most irregular, I have never felt such presence from The Labyrinth, we must find her immediately."
"Shall we split up?" Mavek suggested, poised towards the door.
Jareth snorted, conjured a crystal and spoke Sarah's name into its glassy depths before it faded into thin air.
"We'll know where she is shortly" Jareth smirked.
-JS-
"Well it is now I suppose" Sarah grimaced "Now I'm trapped here!"
"No…" The Labyrinth began but at that moment a crystal materialised out of thin air between them which The labyrinth quickly grabbed and covered with his hands. "My master is trying to find you!" it exclaimed shooting a panicked look at Sarah before gazing intensely down at the orb "No…you..dont…"
-JS-
Jareth frowned "Stay here incase she returns" he snapped at Mavek and the next instance an owl flew from the tent and, faster than any owl had the right to fly, began swooping over the camp seeking the lost girl.
-JS-
"We don't have much time" The labyrinth kept a tight hold on the orb. "Master may not be able to find your mind, since it is here with me but your body is still beside Isa!"
"Jareth is your Master?" Sarah exclaimed
"Long story, supremely power sentient landscape running amok, tampered down and bound by Fae, still uncontrollable till HE came along and.." The labyrinth rolled its eyes "tamed me"
"Oh…" Sarah blinked "makes sense"
"I've grown up a bit since my wilder, younger days!" The Labyrinth gave a grin before becoming serious again.
"Listen Sarah, when you said 'My Kingdom as great' you weren't fabricating, by beating me and Jareth you have just as much of a right to this Kingdom as he does! By all rights you could claim it right now if you wanted to! But Jareth must not know that you realise this, he's feeling unstable on his throne as it is at the moment!"
"What!?" Sarah exclaimed "I don't want to be king! I mean….Queen! "
"But Jareth will see it as conspiring and betrayal to overthrow him if he even guesses that I've told you any of this! Didn't you wonder why you suddenly had all those skills and magic coursing through your body? For goodness sake girl you're the dreamer that has been foretold for centuries! Right now you're the heir after Jareth!"
"That's insane!"
"You've got to be at the forefront of the Riders, lead them into battle! Do all you must to succeed in this endeavour, be a true leader!"
The orb began to buzz between the Labyrinths hands "Listen quick and hard! You will bring the ancient magic back to the Underground, but you've got to…"
The Labyrinth's voice faded as if the sound had suddenly been turned down and Sarah's vision became fuzzy.
"Damn it! You've got to dream Sarah…"
"I am…" she muttered hazily
"Not like this! Have faith in yourself! Stop tampering down your spirit Sarah, Or….!"
"What?" she muttered, The Labyrinth's voice now nothing more than a whisper as darkness crept in.
"Your spirit….. Only way to win the war…. Fight Jareth for your part in this war, he cannot cast you aside believing he can handle this alone! Fight for what you believe is right!"
"Fight.." Sarah repeated weakly as even the dust motes stopped sparkling
"Tell nothing of this meeting."
-JS-
"Sarah!" As Sarah's eyes suddenly snapped open her vision was full of Jareth and the words "Tell nothing of this meeting" still whispering in her thoughts.
"What?" Sarah growled "Was sleeping!"
"What did you dream?" Sarah realised Jareth was grasping her by her shoulders and as she mouthed clumsily he gave her a rough shake.
"You're hurting me!" Sarah whimpered as his grip tightened and he bodily pulled her to her feet and brought his face in close to hers.
"Tell me!" Jareth snarled, his face suddenly animalistic, pointed teeth bared and mismatched eyes blazing, it was as if his whole body was suddenly crackling with magic.
I musn't tell him. Sarah thought desperately If the Labyrinth's right, if it's the only way to win this bloody war… I'm going to have to deceive him for his own good!
Fighting to keep her face frightened and confused Sarah mouthed wordlessly again before stammering "I think I was flying with Isa, over the beach…"
"You lie!" The Goblin King roared and, if Jareth had not erected a hasty silencing spell when he had found Sarah, the whole cave of Dragons would most likely be awake and curious at the echoing harshness of his shout. "You dare lie to me?"
Sarah just gazed back at him.
"I was a fool to trust you again" Jareth spat, releasing Sarah suddenly as if it disgusted him to touch her "What have you done now? Turned my Labyrinth against me like you did with subjects in my Labyrinth? Tried to bargain for a way home? Attempted to take my magic that I poured into the Labyrinth by drawing it to the surface?"
"No!" Sarah exclaimed "I… Jareth I have no idea what you're talking about!" She lied.
He eyed her suspiciously. "You're a joke. A mortal girl playing dress up, this is no game, you are no warrior. Again, I tell you, you should not be here. The mighty Riders, brought so low by a foolish girl. Such a pity" he said with venom.
"Jareth…" she entreated taking a step forwards "I don't…"
"Do not address me in such an informal manner." Jareth growled "Just try not to fuck up then get the hell out of my life."
"But…" Sarah reached forward but her hand was dashed away, one glover finger pointing in her face.
"Stay away from me!"
Jareth strode angrily from the cave and took off into the night leaving Sarah staring after him.
Little one! Isa exclaimed in her mind sounding aghast What have you done?
I'm not sure… But it's what's right.
-JS-
The next morning as soon as Sarah strode down from the caves into the city of tents she knew something was wrong. Carlisle gave her an odd look as he passed and a few inhabitants of the bustling morning stared at her as she strode through them. Sarah had an uneasy feeling that more than a couple of the groups had been muttering about her right until she came within earshot.
When she was hallway back to her tent Mavek fell into step beside her.
"Meeting in the strategy tent at eleven" he said, far too brightly for so early in the morning.
"I'm assuming some kind of gossiping is going on…" Sarah muttered shooting a look at Mavek who kept his eyes resolutely forward. Even the Riders passing them on errands gave Sarah a second look in puzzlement.
"Well…" Mavek huffed "The King is right royally pissed and more than a few people felt the rising of the Labyrinth's magic last night and by now they've probably assumed it was something to do with you." Mavek tugged at his collar
"Why me? I'm just another Rider, why does everything have to be about me?" Sarah flashed Mavek a quick smile as they continued walking "Might start to make a girl awfully big headed!"
Mavek snorted, "Just another Rider huh? Not champion of the Labyrinth? Not champion of the Riders, you don't exactly fit in with them do you? You don't even look like them!"
Sarah nodded conceding the point and was lost in thought for a moment.
"Come on hun" Mavek nudged her making Sarah wander slightly off path "Just because you're an unconventional champion doesn't mean you won't be a brilliant one! The business last night… well it just seems to have cemented the view that there's something a bit off about you"
"I don't look like one…"
"Pah!" Mavek clapped her on the shoulder "appearances don't matter do they anyway!"
"Oh but they do… " Sarah was silent for another moment before suddenly calling out "Indigo! Tamar!" If I'm gonna get this business done I'm gonna do it right, we've got to win this war and first and foremost I've got to lead the Riders, become completey one of them, first and foremost I've got to look the part and then… I guess I'll have to act until it becomes natural. This isn't some childish game I can wander through in a puffy shirt anymore She glanced down at the casual Riders clothes she was wearing, she often cast aside the armour feeling it was a bit much Come on Sarah, you always think you'd be a great actress! Costume and getting into character is important right!
The two Riders who had been lounging against a tent chattering wandered over.
"Follow me." Sarah stated grimly leading them towards her tent, leaving Mavek looking after them, bewildered. It seemed Sarah could turn and change just as swiftly as Jareth could.
"Damn hormonal women" he muttered under his breath as he went to find the King "She'd better get things straightened out pretty soon, all this indecisiveness is making me dizzy"
-JS-
Indigo and Tamar stared at Sarah bewildered as they lounged upon the seating in her tent.
"You want to look like a Rider?" Tamar asked "Sorry but… what has that got to do with anything?"
"Believe me" Sarah said grimly looking at the intimidating figures before her "Appearances can go a long way towards inspiring confidence and look at me! A fleshy mortal Fae thing that looks like a puff of wind could blow her over. Everyone's got to believe, the King has to believe that I am capable of leading the Riders." If the labyrinth was right I've got to be at the very forefront of battle, there can be no doubt as to my seriousness.
"I want a mask, I want the full battle armour, I want a weapon constantly at my belt, I need someone to do that…braidy thing so many Riders have done with their hair."
"Tatoos?" Tamar asked eyes shining as she leaned forward.
"Um…"
"Ill see if I can get Mavek to conjure up something semipermanent…" Tamar smiled, "All right wait here, we'll go get the stuff. I suppose you're sensible to be showing everyone you're ready for battle, maybe it'll make the Riders less casual, they've gotten rather lax admittedly"
Sarah wondered if that was a result of her neglect as a proper leader, if she just hadn't noticed before
"Oh, and tell them to spike up Isa" She called after Indigo who turned and grinned, gripping her hand.
"I don't know what's brought this on." He flashed her his open easy smile "But I approve of this new determined Sarah" and with a wink he strode away.
-JS-
"What do you think?" Tamar surveyed the mass chocolate locks before her, sections pulled away from the temples and braided with what appeared to be metal wires while the rest of her hair hung down her back.
"Looks good" Sarah replied "At least it'll stay out of my face." She tried not to think of an eerily similar hairstyle in a crystal ballroom, at least this was less poofy.
"That's the idea" Tamar grinned "though I admit the eye makeup is purely for effect."
As Sarah lifted the metal mask to her face in front of the looking glass and fixed it in place she had to concede that it did look more menacing when you couldn't see the fleshy parts around her eyes, instead it looked like they were appearing from the blackness.
"Guess I'd better try and get into that.." Sarah eyed what appeared to be extremely tight leather.
"You'd better, you've got half an hour" Tamar raised an eyebrow, it does stretch Sarah, plus its really not that obvious and body hugging once the armour boots and gloves are on top!"
Sarah struggled into the assortment of garments and sighed "Phew." Clipping the sword belt around her waist and slipping into the knee high boots she stepped infront of the mirror and grinned.
"Perfect"
"One last touch!" Mavek called from the corner where he'd been instructed to cover his eyes and face the wall, despite his protestations. He strode over and laid a finger on her neck.
"Not much to work with but…" black ink bled onto Sarah's skin, a tendril settling on her collarbone, curling attractively, one creeping onto her neck, it looked like the simple design continued onto her shoulder and perhaps upper arm beneath the armour.
"Better not be a fucking tattoo sleeve…" She muttered darkly, tattoos are so tacky.
"Relax, it's not permanent!" Tamar grinned "Now you really look like us!"
And Sarah had to admit she finally did. Finally, she felt like she fit in with the other two warriors, now she just had to go and live up to it.
-JS-
Jareth didn't say a word about Sarah's new appearance. He didn't speak to her at all in fact, for the next few days even after that he only barked orders in her general direction. Sarah wasn't surprised, she spent the time discussing tactics with Gabriel and the other Riders who heartily approved of her change in outlook, relieved their Champion seemed to be taking their part in the war so seriously. Marianna even stopped whispering and giggling at a look from Sarah now.
Isa wasn't especially pleased at the intimidating armour Sarah had asked him to wear, being always ready for battle seemed to make the great beast antsy. But Sarah knew her reasons were understood, he was just grumbling because he was itching to be able to fly freely again.
Flying the Dragons out on jaunts was on lockdown now that the enemy forces were amassing at the other end of the valley. Reports were received from the smaller members of the Undergrounds army that were sent on reconnaissance that more fighters seemed to be coming through each day.
Jareth flew over every so often to take a quick peek at the camp himself, though he knew it was dangerous.
By the tight set of his face Sarah guessed they would be facing some kind of conflict or battle any day now.
She tried to not to think how much his indifference towards her stung.
-JS-
I'll post another chapter TOMORROW! To make up for my naughtiness!
You have "TheConqueress" to thank for the updates, a gentle reminder set me back on track.
Hope youre getting through all the nervy indecisiveness of Sarah okay, couldn't have her just be like "BAM ready to go fight a war!" transformations take time
Two references to HP in this chapter…. Sorry. Second one is less obvious, review me if you notice, reckon you will!
Fighting in the next chapter, someone might get hurt, someone might get drunk… all kinds of things could happen.
Review If you have the time.