In Aranjuez and Let Me Sweep can be found on Sarah Brightman's albums.
Little Girl is solely mine. Please don't use it without permission.
Chapter 8: "Pleading Eyes that Both Threaten and Adore
"Yet in his eyes all the sadness of the world. Those pleading eyes that both threaten and adore..."
Morighana was in a sulky mood. She kick at everything and nothing that was in her path. A plan had taken shape in her pretty little head but its details were vague and it frustrated her. Normally when such blocks occurred she would take them to Jareth to work out the kinks. But not this time, Sarah had seen to that.
Ooo!, she glowered. "If I could just have five minutes alone with her, she'd be history!" She trudged along, glaring darkly at nothing particular. She shifted the pack on her back and decided it was taking too long to reach Aurora. She faded into the trees, leaving only footprints behind.
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Joy had left Sarah briefly to help her mother with the young ones. Sarah had trouble staying in one spot for very long. She just knew that Jareth would be showing up at any time and she was getting antsy waiting. She sighed dreamily and leaned against a tree's trunk. The tree moved.
Sarah jumped away from it in alarm and the tree laughed. She looked at the peculiar plant and found that what she had been leaning against was not a tree at all. It was Jareth.
Sarah ran to him a little too eagerly. It was never wise to let the Goblin King know just how much power he over has you, but Sarah did not know this. She caught him off-guard and he return her embrace somewhat stiffly. She didn't notice.
"Have you enjoyed your stay in the Dweller City?" he smirked after he had disengaged himself from her. Morighana's question still rang in his ears.
"Oh, yes," Sarah began to tell him all about it. Unfortunately, she also told him about seeing the children play "Jareth's Queenie" and about hearing the tale of Izella. It really wasn't Sarah's fault that she was being so careless and naive. The Gardens of Forgetfulness had made her forget that she strong-willed and had defeated Jareth once upon a time.
A dark cloud of animosity veiled the Goblin King's eyes. He waited for Sarah to finish her story then asked darkly,
"Who told you these things?"
"Joy, Aerona's and Bayard's oldest girl. Why?"
"I have a curious nature," he replied, his eyes normal again. "Sarah, I have some business to attend this morning. Regretfully, I must leave you for now..." He was thrilled to see her face fall. "But," he lifted her chin with his finger, "we shall spend this evening together, just you and I. I believe you would have fun in the marketplace until then, my dear."
Sarah felt something small and cool slip into her hand. It was a signet ring.
"Show this ring to the vendors and they will give you whatever your heart desires."
Sarah began to nod when his lips brushed hers and he was gone. Flushed and excited and a bit confused Sarah held a hand to her lips and clutched the ring with the other. All around her was the noisy bustle of people and Sarah was surprised to find herself standing in the middle of the marketplace. **************************************************************************** *************************************** **************************************************************************** ***************************************
Morighana sat on Aurora's lap as the readhead brushed out her black curls.
"Unce Jareth doesn't do as good a job as you do," she commented rubbing Ribito's silky ears. "He gets the brushed tangled in my hair more often that not."
Aurora smiled. "Did he ever learn to plait properly?"
"Yeah, surprisingly. He just never learned how to get me to sit still long enough to finish."
"All done," Aurora announced setting the silver brush on top of Morighana's pack.
Morighana stood up and grabbed Aurora's hands. "Come on let's go."
"Go where?"
"To get food. I didn't eat with Papa." Morighana never referred to him as papa to others, both she and Jareth kept it to themselves. But Aurora knew all their secrets and so she was not careful to avoid calling him her father. "I wanted to see you." She started to pull Aurora in the direction the Castle.
"Wait." Aurora grabbed the brush and pack. Ribito rose up to follow with Kemper riding between her shoulders.
"Come on!" Morighana urged growing, impatient. "I want you to meet Mae."
"Mae?"
"Yeah, she's this adorable Wished-Away baby that Uncle Jareth decided to raise in the Castle." Seeing Aurora's disapproval with what Jareth had done, she quickly added, "Please don't judge him, Aunt Rory. Mae's father wished her away. They already had more children than their government allowed and girls aren't very valuable where she comes from. If Papa hadn't taken her and kept her, she would have been abandoned."
"Like you, huh?"
Morighana looked away. "Like me. I think that's why he wants to take care of Mae himself, because her situation is as bad as mine was."
Aurora smiled in reverie. No matter how wicked Jareth was, his love for Morighana was very real. **************************************************************************** *************************************** **************************************************************************** ***************************************
Aurora had managed to slip away from the Crystal Kindgom long enough to visit Jareth.
He was in the courtyard watching ten-year-old Morighana being pushed by Ribito on a swing.
Jareth greeted Aurora with a kiss, but his gaze slipped back to the little girl shrieking with delight as she soared higher and higher.
Aurora watched him watching her. His face mirrorred Morighana's; he laughed when she laughed, smiled when she smiled.
Aurora slipped her arms around his waist and said, "You love her, don't you."
He nodded, his eyes never leaving the curly-headed child. "She's my little girl."
"Papa!" Morighana suddenly shrieked. "Watch me!"
Ribito ran in front of the swing just as Morighana let go and jumped. She landed squarely on the tiger cub's back and squealed in glee.
Jareth applauded her as she ran over to them and jumped in his arms. She smacked his cheek with a kiss, then Aurora's.
"I love my papa and mama," she declared.
Jareth and Aurora smiled at each other. **************************************************************************** ************************************** **************************************************************************** **************************************
Aurora's heart began to pound as they neared the Goblin City. She hid behind her hair and avoided eye contact . She doubted that anyone would recognize her dressed as she was, but she didn't want to risk it.
Morighana, oblvious to Aurora's paranoia, led them to a hidden door in the Castle's stone wall barricade, a route that allowed them to avoid the hassle of using the Gates. Another secret passage way allowed them to bypass the inner bailey and go directly to the courtyard.
Aurora hesitated when Morighana bounded up the steps to the entrance to her home. The girl stopped with her hand on the door and looked back at Aurora expectantly.
"Come on in. I'll have Faith get us something to eat."
Aurora waved her on. "While you do that, I want to see the Garden. It's been ages since I've been there.
Morighana shrugged and Ribito followed her indoors. Aurora's request was hardly unusual; after all the Garden of Eternal Spring had been made for her.
The Garden of Eternal Spring was located in the heart of a miniature replica of the Garden Maze in the Labyrinth just outside of the courtyard. Aurora found her way in easily and though she had spent many days in the Garden, was still mesmerized by its beauty. To her right was the Rose Swing, just as she had last seen it.
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"It's just a little further," Jareth said excitedly. "Just a little bit more."
"Can't you just tell me?" Aurora couldn't stand the suspense. Jareth has been talking about this surprise for days, and she was dying of curiosity.
Jareth finally came to a stop and removed the blindfold from her eyes.
"Well?"
Aurora's jaw dropped at the sight of a perfect bench swing made entirely of red roses.
"Oh, Jareth! It's- it's amazing!" She laughed and ran to it.
Jareth followed her. "Do you really like it?" His eyes reflected his intense desire to please her.
"How could I not?" she said as Jareth guided her on to it.
The swing was just like a rose- soft and delicate. But it was resilent and suported weight without so much as damaging a petal.
She giggled and ran her hands over the seat. The heavenly perfume was intoxicating. She turned to Jareth and threw her arms around him.
"You've truly outdone yourself this time, mo run!"
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Joy finished changing Agnus and ran outside. She looked around for her friend, but could not find her.
"Sarah?" She walked around to the backyard , but Sarah was not there either.
Joy frowned and put one hand on her hip and the other on her head.
"That's strange," she muttered to herself. "She was here a little while ago."
A dark shadow fell over Joy.
"Sarah!" Joy exclaimed as she turned around. "I was just look-"
The girl's face froze in silent horror. Though everything within her told her to run, her feet felt as though they had been cemented to the ground. The last thing she saw was the evil gleam of a silver and gold pendant.
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Inside the castle, Morighana had gotten distracted. Faith had handed her a note from Jareth that instructed her to go to her room. He had something for her.
A crate made of the wood of a Flarrow tree sat on a chair in her bedroom. Morighana's eyes lit up and she pulled the note off the top of it.
Morighana,
I thought perhaps Ribito would like it if she weren't the only elemental creature around here.
Love, Papa
Morighana shrieked in delight and with hurried caution unlocked and lifted the lid on the crate. Nestled inside was a large egg of earth tone colors and she ran her hand over the glossy shell .
Ribito looked at the egg curiously and then sniffed at it. She smiled in a tiger's way. She had gone with Jareth to pick out the egg for her mistress, but she knew he had given it Morighana earlier than planned in order to divert her attention from Sarah.
Morighana gently lifted the egg out of its container.
"What do we do with it, Ribito?"
Ribito's mother instincts kicked in and her directed Morighana over to her own private area of her mistress's room with a nudge of her nose. Morighana sat on the floor and waited while the tigress bulit a suitable "nest" for it.
"Clever Ribito," Morighana praised her and gently placed the egg down.
"Now what?" **************************************************************************** *************************************** **************************************************************************** ***************************************
Aurora was the first thing Jareth saw when he entered the Garden of Eternal Spring. She was curled up in the Rose Swing. How many times had he seen her like that? When she had left, the Garden seemed to have faded a bit; but it was as brilliant ever now that she had returned.
He remained hidden from her view and watched her for awhile. Jareth sighed. He did not enjoy fighting her, but she wouldn't listen to reason. He took a moment to collect himself and entered the Garden.
Aurora looked up when she heard footprints. A hint of a smile crossed her lips as he sat beside her and put her feet in his lap. Neither spoke. The sun filtered through the tree leaves creating shadow patterns on the walk. The wind drifted in and wove its way through the Garden carrying with it a haunting melody.
"Aranjuez, a place of dreams and love..."
Aurora and Jareth looked at each other, each thinking the other had spoken.
"Where a rumor of crystal fountains in the garden seems to whisper to the roses..."
Aurora looked away first and Jareth sighed again. A nighting gale stirred in the tree over their heads and added to wind's song.
"Aranjuez, today the dry leaves without color which are swept by the wind are just reminders of the romance we once started..."
The song bothered Aurora. She stole a glance at Jareth and found him staring at a large fountain just beyond a hedge. He looked as troubled as she felt.
"And that we've forsaken without reason..."
Morighana heard the wind and left Ribito and the egg for her window. She couldn't see the cause of the wind's song and so turned from the window and went outside; curiosity having gotten the best of her.
"Maybe this love is hidden in one sunset, in a breeze or in a flower waiting for your return...."
Morighana stopped before she stepped over the Garden's threshold. She saw her uncle and Aurora and heard the wind's song. She watched from a distance, silently praying that this would be the beginning of things returning to the way they had been before Aurora left and Sarah had upset their world. She held her breath in anticipation as Aurora stood up and took Jareth's hand.
"Aranjuez, today the dry leaves without color which are swept by the wind, are just reminders of the romance we once started and that we've forsaked without reason..."
Aurora stood facing Jareth, her eyes searching his. His expression was as always: aloof, impassive, slightly arrogant; his eyes however, were not. She reached out to brush the blond hair out of his eyes and she could see that she still had as much power over him as he had over her. Perhaps more.
"In Auranjuez, my love. You and I."
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A wicked thought broke through the clouds of Morighana's daydream. If Jareth were here with Aurora, then that could only mean that no one was with Sarah. She ran back to her room and slid next to Ribito. She took the tigeress' face in her little hands and put her forehead against Ribito's. A slow, sinister grin spread like poison across her face.
"Sarah's fun is about to be undone, Ribito. Let's go pay her a little visit."
Adrenaline began to flood Ribito's system and she could feel the thrill of the hunt awakening from its hibernation. The tigeress matched Morighana's grin and her eyes blazed.
Morighana called to Faith and told her to watch the egg. Then Morighana took out a viewing crystal and quickly located Sarah lost in a whirl of activity in the marketplace. Instantly, girl and tiger where there.
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Things had been going smoothly between Jareth and Aurora until the subject of Sarah came up. The two had taken a stroll further into the Garden. Arm in arm they admired the flower beds and exotic greenry that both had seen several times over. It wasn't clear who mentioned Sarah first, but it immediately murdered the romantic mood of the day.
"There is no way I'm going to agree to anything you suggest until I have my neice!" Aurora shouted at him.
Jareth circled her furiously, jaw set at an intense angle. "There's not a thing you can do about it, Aurora. Sarah wished to stay in the Underground. That wish is legal and binding."
"But you tricked her!" she exploded. "She's a child, Jareth! A human child! You took advantage of that!"
"Maybe I did," he countered with equal intesity. "But if anyone is at fault, it's you, Aurora!"
Aurora looked at him dumbfounded. "And exactly how do pin this on me?!"
"If you hadn't left in the first place, none of this," he spat the words at her, "none of this would have happened! You brought this upon yourself!"
Aurora shook her head fiercely, trying to bite back her anger. " Don't you dare," she warned. "Don't you dare. You will not guilt me into accepting your dirty bargain!"
Jareth stared at her uncomprehendingly. When he spoke again, a torrent of emotion shook his speech. "Dirty bargain!? Dirty bargain!? It wasn't a dirty bargain when you wanted to escape Daddy dearest! It was the best I could offer you! It's what you wanted and now it's a dirty bargain!?"
Hatred jumped out at Aurora and made her back down. The fight seeped out of her. "Jareth, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. I didn't mean it like that.."
"Stop!" His eyes had a wild look to them and she could see that she had pushed him too far. "It's too late for words of remorse, Princess," he voice had an eerie calm to it. "What's said is said. But I warn you. Leave now without Sarah. Leave or I will gladly let Mummy and Daddy know their little girl is here."
Aurora's eyes went wide. "No, Jareth..." her voice faded at the look in his eyes. The last embers of love had gone out.
"Yes," he hissed. "You think you're so grown-up, little girl. So grown-up."
Aurora stumbled backwards but his hand shot out and grabbed her wrist in an iron vice. From the woods around them an eerie melody, and unfriendly tune surrounded them.
Jareth held her in a steely gaze then shook his head. "No. No. I'm not letting you go so easily. You'd like to be rid of me though, wouldn't you?"
Aurora began to speak, but instead yelped in pain. Jareth let go of her, giving her a rough shove.
She fell on her bottom and sat there rubbing her wrist as Jareth still glared at her. The haunting music became stronger.
"You can change your clothes, little girl And the way you wear your hair. You can change the color of your lipstick And even the shade your eyeshadow. But You're still the same. Still the same little girl who ran away from here. You can't hide who you are. Eventually you must face the past. Stop denying what you are. Accept it and come home. You're just a little girl. You will always be a little girl.
You ran so long But not very far. The past will always be there to haunt you. The mirror will always remind you, You're just a little girl. You can't change the way things are, little girl. Just come home and be contented. You're just a little girl.
Child, don't be foolish. Little girl don't be so naive. I am your past. No matter how you try to forget I am always there. You thought you'd left me far behind. But I was closer than before. Now I've come to to make you face Who you are, little girl. You're just a little girl.
Daddy can't help you, Mummy can't hold you. You chose to leave their safety. You wandered from the nest. No prince will come to your aid now, little girl. You've failed the test And walked into my snare, Because after all, you're just a little girl.
Little girl, how you blinded me, Blinded and decieved me Not something expected from Such a little girl. Your beauty bedazzled me, Your charms beguiled me, Quite impressive for a little girl. But it doesn't change the fact You're still a little girl.
My mystery delighted you, My darkness enchanted you, Because you're a little girl. So different from the princes was I That You were instantly mine, little girl, You never stood a chance. You're such a little girl.
But then you ran away little girl, Ran away to join the world. You thought I was gone, little girl. You thought I was distant memory. But not so, little girl. If you weren't such a little girl You would have known, I am always there. But you're too much of a little girl.
You won't leave again, little girl. You'll take your rightful place, little girl And learn to be happy with that. You're mine little girl. You can't escape For you're my little girl.
Little, little girl"
By the end of his song, Aurora was in tears. He pulled her to her feet and held her close.
"Sarah thought my Labyrinth was a piece of cake and like her, I bet you thought this was going to be a piece of cake as well."
He paused, letting the implications of his words settle in. "Let's see how you deal with this slice: by sunset the Crystal Kingdom will know that their princess has returned."
He released her and disappeared.
Aurora collapsed to her knees as her world fell in on itself. She'd not only lost her neice, but now she would lose everyhting she had worked for in Sarah's realm. But most of all, she had lost Jareth. For the first time since she was five, Aurora sobbed. But it was not for Sarah or Ireland; it was for Jareth. Her cruelty had finally overtaken her and she would now have to pay for it.
"Let me weep over my cruel fate and that I long for freedom. Let me weep over my cruel fate. The duel violates these images- I pray for mercy for my sufferings. Let me weep over my cruel fate and that I long for freedom."
Chapter 8: "Pleading Eyes that Both Threaten and Adore
"Yet in his eyes all the sadness of the world. Those pleading eyes that both threaten and adore..."
Morighana was in a sulky mood. She kick at everything and nothing that was in her path. A plan had taken shape in her pretty little head but its details were vague and it frustrated her. Normally when such blocks occurred she would take them to Jareth to work out the kinks. But not this time, Sarah had seen to that.
Ooo!, she glowered. "If I could just have five minutes alone with her, she'd be history!" She trudged along, glaring darkly at nothing particular. She shifted the pack on her back and decided it was taking too long to reach Aurora. She faded into the trees, leaving only footprints behind.
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Joy had left Sarah briefly to help her mother with the young ones. Sarah had trouble staying in one spot for very long. She just knew that Jareth would be showing up at any time and she was getting antsy waiting. She sighed dreamily and leaned against a tree's trunk. The tree moved.
Sarah jumped away from it in alarm and the tree laughed. She looked at the peculiar plant and found that what she had been leaning against was not a tree at all. It was Jareth.
Sarah ran to him a little too eagerly. It was never wise to let the Goblin King know just how much power he over has you, but Sarah did not know this. She caught him off-guard and he return her embrace somewhat stiffly. She didn't notice.
"Have you enjoyed your stay in the Dweller City?" he smirked after he had disengaged himself from her. Morighana's question still rang in his ears.
"Oh, yes," Sarah began to tell him all about it. Unfortunately, she also told him about seeing the children play "Jareth's Queenie" and about hearing the tale of Izella. It really wasn't Sarah's fault that she was being so careless and naive. The Gardens of Forgetfulness had made her forget that she strong-willed and had defeated Jareth once upon a time.
A dark cloud of animosity veiled the Goblin King's eyes. He waited for Sarah to finish her story then asked darkly,
"Who told you these things?"
"Joy, Aerona's and Bayard's oldest girl. Why?"
"I have a curious nature," he replied, his eyes normal again. "Sarah, I have some business to attend this morning. Regretfully, I must leave you for now..." He was thrilled to see her face fall. "But," he lifted her chin with his finger, "we shall spend this evening together, just you and I. I believe you would have fun in the marketplace until then, my dear."
Sarah felt something small and cool slip into her hand. It was a signet ring.
"Show this ring to the vendors and they will give you whatever your heart desires."
Sarah began to nod when his lips brushed hers and he was gone. Flushed and excited and a bit confused Sarah held a hand to her lips and clutched the ring with the other. All around her was the noisy bustle of people and Sarah was surprised to find herself standing in the middle of the marketplace. **************************************************************************** *************************************** **************************************************************************** ***************************************
Morighana sat on Aurora's lap as the readhead brushed out her black curls.
"Unce Jareth doesn't do as good a job as you do," she commented rubbing Ribito's silky ears. "He gets the brushed tangled in my hair more often that not."
Aurora smiled. "Did he ever learn to plait properly?"
"Yeah, surprisingly. He just never learned how to get me to sit still long enough to finish."
"All done," Aurora announced setting the silver brush on top of Morighana's pack.
Morighana stood up and grabbed Aurora's hands. "Come on let's go."
"Go where?"
"To get food. I didn't eat with Papa." Morighana never referred to him as papa to others, both she and Jareth kept it to themselves. But Aurora knew all their secrets and so she was not careful to avoid calling him her father. "I wanted to see you." She started to pull Aurora in the direction the Castle.
"Wait." Aurora grabbed the brush and pack. Ribito rose up to follow with Kemper riding between her shoulders.
"Come on!" Morighana urged growing, impatient. "I want you to meet Mae."
"Mae?"
"Yeah, she's this adorable Wished-Away baby that Uncle Jareth decided to raise in the Castle." Seeing Aurora's disapproval with what Jareth had done, she quickly added, "Please don't judge him, Aunt Rory. Mae's father wished her away. They already had more children than their government allowed and girls aren't very valuable where she comes from. If Papa hadn't taken her and kept her, she would have been abandoned."
"Like you, huh?"
Morighana looked away. "Like me. I think that's why he wants to take care of Mae himself, because her situation is as bad as mine was."
Aurora smiled in reverie. No matter how wicked Jareth was, his love for Morighana was very real. **************************************************************************** *************************************** **************************************************************************** ***************************************
Aurora had managed to slip away from the Crystal Kindgom long enough to visit Jareth.
He was in the courtyard watching ten-year-old Morighana being pushed by Ribito on a swing.
Jareth greeted Aurora with a kiss, but his gaze slipped back to the little girl shrieking with delight as she soared higher and higher.
Aurora watched him watching her. His face mirrorred Morighana's; he laughed when she laughed, smiled when she smiled.
Aurora slipped her arms around his waist and said, "You love her, don't you."
He nodded, his eyes never leaving the curly-headed child. "She's my little girl."
"Papa!" Morighana suddenly shrieked. "Watch me!"
Ribito ran in front of the swing just as Morighana let go and jumped. She landed squarely on the tiger cub's back and squealed in glee.
Jareth applauded her as she ran over to them and jumped in his arms. She smacked his cheek with a kiss, then Aurora's.
"I love my papa and mama," she declared.
Jareth and Aurora smiled at each other. **************************************************************************** ************************************** **************************************************************************** **************************************
Aurora's heart began to pound as they neared the Goblin City. She hid behind her hair and avoided eye contact . She doubted that anyone would recognize her dressed as she was, but she didn't want to risk it.
Morighana, oblvious to Aurora's paranoia, led them to a hidden door in the Castle's stone wall barricade, a route that allowed them to avoid the hassle of using the Gates. Another secret passage way allowed them to bypass the inner bailey and go directly to the courtyard.
Aurora hesitated when Morighana bounded up the steps to the entrance to her home. The girl stopped with her hand on the door and looked back at Aurora expectantly.
"Come on in. I'll have Faith get us something to eat."
Aurora waved her on. "While you do that, I want to see the Garden. It's been ages since I've been there.
Morighana shrugged and Ribito followed her indoors. Aurora's request was hardly unusual; after all the Garden of Eternal Spring had been made for her.
The Garden of Eternal Spring was located in the heart of a miniature replica of the Garden Maze in the Labyrinth just outside of the courtyard. Aurora found her way in easily and though she had spent many days in the Garden, was still mesmerized by its beauty. To her right was the Rose Swing, just as she had last seen it.
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"It's just a little further," Jareth said excitedly. "Just a little bit more."
"Can't you just tell me?" Aurora couldn't stand the suspense. Jareth has been talking about this surprise for days, and she was dying of curiosity.
Jareth finally came to a stop and removed the blindfold from her eyes.
"Well?"
Aurora's jaw dropped at the sight of a perfect bench swing made entirely of red roses.
"Oh, Jareth! It's- it's amazing!" She laughed and ran to it.
Jareth followed her. "Do you really like it?" His eyes reflected his intense desire to please her.
"How could I not?" she said as Jareth guided her on to it.
The swing was just like a rose- soft and delicate. But it was resilent and suported weight without so much as damaging a petal.
She giggled and ran her hands over the seat. The heavenly perfume was intoxicating. She turned to Jareth and threw her arms around him.
"You've truly outdone yourself this time, mo run!"
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Joy finished changing Agnus and ran outside. She looked around for her friend, but could not find her.
"Sarah?" She walked around to the backyard , but Sarah was not there either.
Joy frowned and put one hand on her hip and the other on her head.
"That's strange," she muttered to herself. "She was here a little while ago."
A dark shadow fell over Joy.
"Sarah!" Joy exclaimed as she turned around. "I was just look-"
The girl's face froze in silent horror. Though everything within her told her to run, her feet felt as though they had been cemented to the ground. The last thing she saw was the evil gleam of a silver and gold pendant.
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Inside the castle, Morighana had gotten distracted. Faith had handed her a note from Jareth that instructed her to go to her room. He had something for her.
A crate made of the wood of a Flarrow tree sat on a chair in her bedroom. Morighana's eyes lit up and she pulled the note off the top of it.
Morighana,
I thought perhaps Ribito would like it if she weren't the only elemental creature around here.
Love, Papa
Morighana shrieked in delight and with hurried caution unlocked and lifted the lid on the crate. Nestled inside was a large egg of earth tone colors and she ran her hand over the glossy shell .
Ribito looked at the egg curiously and then sniffed at it. She smiled in a tiger's way. She had gone with Jareth to pick out the egg for her mistress, but she knew he had given it Morighana earlier than planned in order to divert her attention from Sarah.
Morighana gently lifted the egg out of its container.
"What do we do with it, Ribito?"
Ribito's mother instincts kicked in and her directed Morighana over to her own private area of her mistress's room with a nudge of her nose. Morighana sat on the floor and waited while the tigress bulit a suitable "nest" for it.
"Clever Ribito," Morighana praised her and gently placed the egg down.
"Now what?" **************************************************************************** *************************************** **************************************************************************** ***************************************
Aurora was the first thing Jareth saw when he entered the Garden of Eternal Spring. She was curled up in the Rose Swing. How many times had he seen her like that? When she had left, the Garden seemed to have faded a bit; but it was as brilliant ever now that she had returned.
He remained hidden from her view and watched her for awhile. Jareth sighed. He did not enjoy fighting her, but she wouldn't listen to reason. He took a moment to collect himself and entered the Garden.
Aurora looked up when she heard footprints. A hint of a smile crossed her lips as he sat beside her and put her feet in his lap. Neither spoke. The sun filtered through the tree leaves creating shadow patterns on the walk. The wind drifted in and wove its way through the Garden carrying with it a haunting melody.
"Aranjuez, a place of dreams and love..."
Aurora and Jareth looked at each other, each thinking the other had spoken.
"Where a rumor of crystal fountains in the garden seems to whisper to the roses..."
Aurora looked away first and Jareth sighed again. A nighting gale stirred in the tree over their heads and added to wind's song.
"Aranjuez, today the dry leaves without color which are swept by the wind are just reminders of the romance we once started..."
The song bothered Aurora. She stole a glance at Jareth and found him staring at a large fountain just beyond a hedge. He looked as troubled as she felt.
"And that we've forsaken without reason..."
Morighana heard the wind and left Ribito and the egg for her window. She couldn't see the cause of the wind's song and so turned from the window and went outside; curiosity having gotten the best of her.
"Maybe this love is hidden in one sunset, in a breeze or in a flower waiting for your return...."
Morighana stopped before she stepped over the Garden's threshold. She saw her uncle and Aurora and heard the wind's song. She watched from a distance, silently praying that this would be the beginning of things returning to the way they had been before Aurora left and Sarah had upset their world. She held her breath in anticipation as Aurora stood up and took Jareth's hand.
"Aranjuez, today the dry leaves without color which are swept by the wind, are just reminders of the romance we once started and that we've forsaked without reason..."
Aurora stood facing Jareth, her eyes searching his. His expression was as always: aloof, impassive, slightly arrogant; his eyes however, were not. She reached out to brush the blond hair out of his eyes and she could see that she still had as much power over him as he had over her. Perhaps more.
"In Auranjuez, my love. You and I."
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A wicked thought broke through the clouds of Morighana's daydream. If Jareth were here with Aurora, then that could only mean that no one was with Sarah. She ran back to her room and slid next to Ribito. She took the tigeress' face in her little hands and put her forehead against Ribito's. A slow, sinister grin spread like poison across her face.
"Sarah's fun is about to be undone, Ribito. Let's go pay her a little visit."
Adrenaline began to flood Ribito's system and she could feel the thrill of the hunt awakening from its hibernation. The tigeress matched Morighana's grin and her eyes blazed.
Morighana called to Faith and told her to watch the egg. Then Morighana took out a viewing crystal and quickly located Sarah lost in a whirl of activity in the marketplace. Instantly, girl and tiger where there.
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Things had been going smoothly between Jareth and Aurora until the subject of Sarah came up. The two had taken a stroll further into the Garden. Arm in arm they admired the flower beds and exotic greenry that both had seen several times over. It wasn't clear who mentioned Sarah first, but it immediately murdered the romantic mood of the day.
"There is no way I'm going to agree to anything you suggest until I have my neice!" Aurora shouted at him.
Jareth circled her furiously, jaw set at an intense angle. "There's not a thing you can do about it, Aurora. Sarah wished to stay in the Underground. That wish is legal and binding."
"But you tricked her!" she exploded. "She's a child, Jareth! A human child! You took advantage of that!"
"Maybe I did," he countered with equal intesity. "But if anyone is at fault, it's you, Aurora!"
Aurora looked at him dumbfounded. "And exactly how do pin this on me?!"
"If you hadn't left in the first place, none of this," he spat the words at her, "none of this would have happened! You brought this upon yourself!"
Aurora shook her head fiercely, trying to bite back her anger. " Don't you dare," she warned. "Don't you dare. You will not guilt me into accepting your dirty bargain!"
Jareth stared at her uncomprehendingly. When he spoke again, a torrent of emotion shook his speech. "Dirty bargain!? Dirty bargain!? It wasn't a dirty bargain when you wanted to escape Daddy dearest! It was the best I could offer you! It's what you wanted and now it's a dirty bargain!?"
Hatred jumped out at Aurora and made her back down. The fight seeped out of her. "Jareth, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. I didn't mean it like that.."
"Stop!" His eyes had a wild look to them and she could see that she had pushed him too far. "It's too late for words of remorse, Princess," he voice had an eerie calm to it. "What's said is said. But I warn you. Leave now without Sarah. Leave or I will gladly let Mummy and Daddy know their little girl is here."
Aurora's eyes went wide. "No, Jareth..." her voice faded at the look in his eyes. The last embers of love had gone out.
"Yes," he hissed. "You think you're so grown-up, little girl. So grown-up."
Aurora stumbled backwards but his hand shot out and grabbed her wrist in an iron vice. From the woods around them an eerie melody, and unfriendly tune surrounded them.
Jareth held her in a steely gaze then shook his head. "No. No. I'm not letting you go so easily. You'd like to be rid of me though, wouldn't you?"
Aurora began to speak, but instead yelped in pain. Jareth let go of her, giving her a rough shove.
She fell on her bottom and sat there rubbing her wrist as Jareth still glared at her. The haunting music became stronger.
"You can change your clothes, little girl And the way you wear your hair. You can change the color of your lipstick And even the shade your eyeshadow. But You're still the same. Still the same little girl who ran away from here. You can't hide who you are. Eventually you must face the past. Stop denying what you are. Accept it and come home. You're just a little girl. You will always be a little girl.
You ran so long But not very far. The past will always be there to haunt you. The mirror will always remind you, You're just a little girl. You can't change the way things are, little girl. Just come home and be contented. You're just a little girl.
Child, don't be foolish. Little girl don't be so naive. I am your past. No matter how you try to forget I am always there. You thought you'd left me far behind. But I was closer than before. Now I've come to to make you face Who you are, little girl. You're just a little girl.
Daddy can't help you, Mummy can't hold you. You chose to leave their safety. You wandered from the nest. No prince will come to your aid now, little girl. You've failed the test And walked into my snare, Because after all, you're just a little girl.
Little girl, how you blinded me, Blinded and decieved me Not something expected from Such a little girl. Your beauty bedazzled me, Your charms beguiled me, Quite impressive for a little girl. But it doesn't change the fact You're still a little girl.
My mystery delighted you, My darkness enchanted you, Because you're a little girl. So different from the princes was I That You were instantly mine, little girl, You never stood a chance. You're such a little girl.
But then you ran away little girl, Ran away to join the world. You thought I was gone, little girl. You thought I was distant memory. But not so, little girl. If you weren't such a little girl You would have known, I am always there. But you're too much of a little girl.
You won't leave again, little girl. You'll take your rightful place, little girl And learn to be happy with that. You're mine little girl. You can't escape For you're my little girl.
Little, little girl"
By the end of his song, Aurora was in tears. He pulled her to her feet and held her close.
"Sarah thought my Labyrinth was a piece of cake and like her, I bet you thought this was going to be a piece of cake as well."
He paused, letting the implications of his words settle in. "Let's see how you deal with this slice: by sunset the Crystal Kingdom will know that their princess has returned."
He released her and disappeared.
Aurora collapsed to her knees as her world fell in on itself. She'd not only lost her neice, but now she would lose everyhting she had worked for in Sarah's realm. But most of all, she had lost Jareth. For the first time since she was five, Aurora sobbed. But it was not for Sarah or Ireland; it was for Jareth. Her cruelty had finally overtaken her and she would now have to pay for it.
"Let me weep over my cruel fate and that I long for freedom. Let me weep over my cruel fate. The duel violates these images- I pray for mercy for my sufferings. Let me weep over my cruel fate and that I long for freedom."