Chapter 11—Midnight in the Garden of the Goblin Queen

***This is my little tribute to the memory of David Bowie who will always be the Goblin King. May he reign forever.***

Take note that I've fudged the timeline on when Sarah's original journey occurred for various stylistic reasons. In this story, Sarah's original trip to the Labyrinth occurred at the beginning of summer in 1996, NOT 1986.

I own my original characters and the precise order I put my words down in. The world and characters of the Labyrinth film will sadly never belong to me. I just like to play in their sandbox. I make no money off of this. Seriously. As I'm self-employed and a bit obsessive, I think I might actually be losing money because of it. That said, if anyone owns a spare Jareth, I'm happy to give him a good home. I have references.

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Author's Note: I apologize for the extreme delay on this update. The surgery I was having ended up being far more major than expected from the scans. Since then, my life has been a comedy of errors and I've had very little time and even less inspiration to write. Thankfully, I'm finally back in the zone.

I am, however, starting another story in another fandom to which will start posting soon. I will be switching back and forth between the two in order to prevent burnout as I am now reaching the more complex and challenging portions of this piece. I deeply appreciate all of your continued support. Thanks for reading!

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Tell me what to do so I do nothing wrong/
Something I can hope for, something real that I can see/
So nothing falls apart, so that it does not end/
I cannot return, I can't start again.

~ from Rubicon by VNV Nation

It was nearly 2:00 a.m. when Nikki finally fell asleep. Sarah was nowhere near that state herself. She stared at her ceiling, listening to the faint music emanating from the painting on the wall above her. If she focused, she could almost hear his voice, singing to her. She remembered the ballroom, remembered dancing with his arms around her. No, she chided herself. You will not fantasize about the Goblin King, you stupid girl.

Sarah wished she had a hot mug of Marvok's enchanted tea available. Quiet moments were the worst. They always brought back memories of hypnotic eyes and sly smiles and…other things. She rubbed her hands down her face with a sigh. Why can't you be happy with what you have? she asked herself. Or at least learn to be careful about what the hell you wish for? You wanted magic to be real and it's real. You wanted to be special and now you're all kinds of freakin' special: Lady Sarah the Defiant, Champion of the Labyrinth, wielder of vicious sentient weapons, and annoyance to supernatural assassins. You're a unique freakin' snowflake just like you always wanted.

The dark voice cutting through her thoughts was almost a relief. "Are you done dreaming of His Majesty and needlessly berating yourself for it? We have things to discuss."

She opened her eyes and discovered that Marvok was perched on her headboard. His ruby eyes glittered down at her with amusement. She glowered back at him. There was really no point in being embarrassed about it. It wasn't as though she could keep secrets from Marvok. "Go on, laugh at how pathetic I am," she thought at him.

He smirked. "I always do." He hopped off the headboard and landed gracefully next to her pillow. She rolled onto her side to glare at him.

"I killed something today," she told him. It seemed like she should feel something about that. Horror, maybe? Remorse? Guilt? Truthfully, the only thing she felt guilty about was that Nikki had to see it. She felt little about the act itself. The creature wanted to kill her and she killed it first. If anything, she felt a bit proud of her accomplishment. And, perhaps, a bit worried about what her lack of guilt said about the person she was becoming.

Marvok smiled. "Indeed. It was an excellent first kill. Your skill has increased much faster than I could have foreseen. You have been a dedicated student. It is unfortunate that your mortal obligations require so much of your time."

Sarah smiled at that. Marvok wasn't one for hollow praise. He was clearly pleased. After all, everything had gone as he planned. "You meant for me to kill it. You wounded it, then drove it towards me."

He nodded, not bothering to deny it. "You were ready, but since many hesitate the first time, I had to control the circumstances. If you had frozen, it would not have been able to cause permanent damage to you before I could eliminate it. I had planned on taking you to Nightmare to make your first kill, but I was not going to waste such an opportunity. I assumed it would be easier for you to kill something that was not sentient, and felivyrns barely even qualify as animals. They are descended from escaped magical constructs and serve no purpose other than slaughter."

Sarah sighed. She didn't like being coddled. "Would you have done the same if I was a shadow goblin cub?"

Marvok blinked at her. His puzzlement was palatable. "Of course. The first kill should always be made under controlled conditions."

She considered this. She'd gotten the impression that shadow goblins were vicious from birth, so she couldn't really feel offended when Marvok used the standard training method for cubs. Finally, she asked, "You needed to talk to me?"

Marvok nodded. "Not here. There are things of which I am…uncertain, things I need to understand. We must visit the Labyrinth.

"We're going to the Underground?" Sarah asked. She couldn't hide the excitement that filled her at the thought.

Marvok shook his head. "Not just yet, Champion. This time, we will visit Her in my realm." He leaned close, "Now, SLEEP."

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"Let me see if I understand your report." Jareth's voice was cold and quiet. "Sarah's guardians were able to conceal their presence from you so thoroughly that you have no idea who, or even what, they might be. All you do know for certain is that at least one of them is a master assassin. Is that correct?"

Bree'Onne nodded. He didn't fidget under the intensity of Jareth's gaze. Stillness was a native trait of the Serpentine. A lifetime of training enhanced this tendency to perfection. Even so, in that moment, it took all of his will not flinch away from his King. "That is correct, Sire." He paused before adding, "Further, the assassin clearly possesses staggering skill, even by the standards of the Masters. The privacy spell on the Champion's quarters was beyond anything I've ever seen."

Bree'Onne almost sagged in relief when Jareth's glare shifted to the crystal at his fingertips. Bree'Onne focused his mind, called on his training, and forced his body to maintain its proper stillness. Minutes crept by as he waited on his liege's word. The King remained silent, eyes locked on the crystalline orb. Bree'Onne didn't mind the waiting. He'd mastered that skill when he was still a child. He would contentedly wait until time's end so long as the Goblin King's attention wasn't focused on him while he did it.

Suddenly, Jareth's form went rigid. His eyes flared wider with shock. The King hissed, "Just who did that accursed maze send?"

Bree'Onne made no motion, when he spoke, his voice was cautious, "Your Majesty? Has the Labyrinth provided you with greater knowledge of the Champion's guardians?"

Jareth looked back to his Seneschal with a resigned sigh. "Only that She doesn't fear betrayal because the guardians are blood-bound to Sarah."

Bree'Onne's ebon eyes widened. "But, that's…"

Jareth cut him off with a wave of one hand. "Yes. I know." The King gave a low growl and hurled the crystal at the wall. It burst into prismatic shards with a sound like tinkling glass. "By Danu! What manner of creature would even know how to perform a blood bond? Only a handful of senior priests are said to possess that knowledge! And why would such a drastic measure be necessary? None of this makes any logical…" Jareth stilled, his expression turned contemplative. After a moment, his gaze shifted back to Bree'Onne. "You said that Sarah had Ascended?"

Bree'Onne nodded. He'd been expecting a question about that point.

Jareth's gaze bore into his Seneschal. "And she was transforming? Becoming Fae?"

Again, Bree'Onne nodded. "Without doubt, Your Majesty. Had I not seen her previously, I would have assumed her to be half Sidhe."

Horror washed over Jareth's features. "She's not in Chrysalis," he whispered.

Bree'Onne cocked his head to one side, considering. The significance of this hadn't occurred to him. Like most goblin races, the Serpentine did not, and had never, bred with non-Fae. Still, he understood the fundamentals of the process. For a half-human to transform without the proper assistance was…problematic. His eyes widened. "It…it didn't occur to me," he muttered. "She didn't seem to be in any distress."

Jareth blinked. "Are you certain? You saw no signs of pain?"

Bree'Onne sighed. "I saw no signs…but, honestly, Your Majesty, I'm certain of nothing when it regards the Lady Sarah."

The King pinched the bridge of his nose between two fingers and took a deep breath. "She's transforming, without Chrysalis, but showing no indications of trauma. To my knowledge, that is unprecedented. Further, she's Ascended, and none of us realized it until you laid eyes on her." Jareth snarled and raked his hands through his pale hair. "I didn't feel her Ascend. I should have. None of this…" Jareth paused, his eyes narrowed. "Why didn't the likelihood of her Ascension occur to any of us? We knew that she had taken full title. It clearly occurred to others outside of the Labyrinth."

Jareth rose to his feet with bared teeth. His eyes flashed silver as his power flared, filling the room with crackling static. Instinct warned Bree'Onne not to move, not to draw the maelstrom's attention. Jareth turned to stare out the window at the Labyrinth. His hands curled into fists as the magic built in the air around him. "How DARE She?" he hissed. "How dare She hide this from me?" The King's ancient desk exploded in a rain of splinters.

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Sarah smelled roses, and something that reminded her of burning leaves. The combination was compelling. She could hear the crackling of a fire nearby. The air was warm and a gentle breeze ruffled her hair. She could feel Marvok's familiar presence behind her.

Sarah could feel that her body was asleep and that she was no longer inside of it. She was in the Labyrinth. She was in Nightmare as well, but that was far less important. The Labyrinth was what mattered. The Labyrinth was home.

Sarah opened her eyes. She was standing in the center of a rose maze and the roses were all burning. The blossoms grew from hedges that were so dark a green as to be nearly black. The hedges didn't burn; only the roses were aflame. The fire didn't consume them; they were perfectly whole, wreathed in lapping flames. She reached towards one of the roses and it moved, nuzzling against her hand like an affectionate cat. The flames twined up her fingers and across the back of her hand. She felt heat, but no pain.

"Where am I?" she asked.

"The Royal Gardens of the Goblin Queen," Marvok replied.

Sarah's gut twisted. The rose coiled tighter against her, as though to offer comfort. She fought to keep her voice level. "I didn't realize that the King was married. Who is she?"

Marvok chuckled. "There is no Goblin Queen. His Majesty is unwed."

Sarah turned to look back at him. There is no Queen, but I'm standing in her gardens. "What happened to her?"

He tilted his head, studying her. A faint smile pulled at the edges of his lips. "There has never been a Goblin Queen."

Sarah frowned at him, her brows knitted together in confusion. "I don't understand. You just said…"

Marvok chuckled. "I told you that these were the Royal Gardens of the Goblin Queen, and they are. They came into being the day that Jareth took the crown. The Queen also has private chambers in the Castle Beyond the Goblin City. There has never been a Queen, but one must assume that there will be someday. The Labyrinth clearly planned ahead."

Sarah looked away, considering the information. The knowledge made the strangeling beauty of the garden even more haunting. Roses burning eternally for a Queen who had never been. The flower wrapped around her wrist tugged at her, seeking attention. She reached up her other hand and stroked it idly. It vibrated, purring against her hand. "It's so beautiful here," she said. "The future Queen is lucky." She smiled down at the purring rose and the flames wrapping up her arm. "The roses are so affectionate. I wouldn't have expected them to be friendly."

Marvok laughed at that. "They are no such thing. They are carnivorous, and they normally rip apart poor fools who get within their reach."

Sarah blinked. She had moved closer to the hedge without noticing and was now leaning against the dense foliage. Burning flowers crowded around her. The roses didn't seem threatening. "Um…Should I be concerned about where I'm standing?"

"There is no need for you to be. You are the Champion. All of the Labyrinth's denizens know you." Marvok stood motionless for a moment, watching the roses as they pressed against her. There was something in his gaze that she couldn't recognize, some knowledge he didn't share. He moved forward, taking her hand and leading her away from the hedge. "Come, Champion. There is more to see and much to be decided."

Marvok led her deeper into the maze and into a small courtyard orchard. The trees were lovely, disturbing things—shaped like weeping willows with charcoal bark and vermillion leaves that reminded her of dripping blood. Marvok slipped beneath the branches of one and returned with a familiar, violet fruit. Sarah accepted it from him with a murmur of thanks. "This is a bloodfruit," she said.

Marvok nodded in response.

"I thought they came from the Underground, but they don't, do they?"

He shook his head. "No. Bloodfruit trees grow only in the Nightmare Realm. The ones that we have brought you came from this very orchard."

Sarah considered this, "I know that I have to eat food from the Underground if I want to stay healthy, but why have you been giving me fruit from Nightmare?"

Marvok hesitated. "I did not foresee how much our blood would alter you. I knew that it would change you to some degree, that you would never again truly be a creature of the light…" He shook his head and shrugged. "The transformation went far beyond what I expected. I realized the truth of it as I watched your aura shift during your Ascension." His gaze met hers.

"It's black," she whispered. Her voice spoke words from a film she'd watched dozens of times: "Black as midnight, black as pitch*…"

"Yes. With colors tangled through like glowing threads. You belong to the Labyrinth first, but Nightmare has a claim on you that you will never be free from. If things were otherwise, I would never have allowed you to so much as touch a Darkblade, let alone wield one. Regardless, the change cannot be reversed. You are bound to this realm, so you deserve to benefit from the power that such a binding can grant you. Over time, the bloodfruit will strengthen that power." He watched her, awaiting her reaction.

Sarah shrugged and looked away. Railing against the truth was pointless. Her time in the Underground taught her that. "What's done, is done," she quoted. She sat down on the grass and began peeling her fruit. "Will I ever be able to come here for real? Physically, I mean."

Marvok dropped to a crouch. "You can come here whenever you wish. I don't recommend venturing outside of the Labyrinth until you have mastered more of your power, but I can teach you how to slip through the shadows to reach the gardens tomorrow if you like."

Sarah smiled as she pulled away the last of the fruit's thick skin. "I want to learn." Even if it was the Nightmare Realm's version, she would finally be able to visit the Labyrinth. The gardens made her feel…at peace. A thought occurred to her then and she looked up at him, "Am I allowed to be here? I mean…these are the Queen's Gardens…"

Marvok arched a brow at her. "As I already stated, there is no Queen. There never has been. As Champion, you have the right to travel where you wish within the Labyrinth. Besides, who is going to challenge you? The King has not visited this realm in eons. As Lord of the Labyrinth, he has power over both Dream and Nightmare, but he has always favored Dream. I assume that is why the Queen's Gardens are here. The Queen needs to be of the other side in order to provide balance." Marvok smirked. "It will also give her a place to reside when she wishes to avoid him."

Sarah's lips twitched up at that, but she managed not to laugh. She bit into the bloodfruit, savoring the tart and spicy juice. She swallowed her bite before asking, "Reside? Does the future Queen have a palace in Nightmare's Labyrinth as well as a garden?"

Marvok grinned. "There is a castle at the heart of the Labyrinth here just as there is in the Underground. However, it was not to the castle that I referred. The Queen's Retreat lies at the center of her gardens. I suppose you could call it a villa. I can show it to you next time, if you like."

Sarah nodded. "As long as it's permitted, I want to see it." She paused, chewing her fruit before turning to him with her brows furrowed. "Marvok, you said that the King favors Dream, but that doesn't make any sense. He's obviously dangerous. Shouldn't he prefer Nightmare?"

Marvok laughed. "Do you truly believe that dreams present no danger?" He looked into her eyes. "Tell me, Champion, out of all the trials you faced during your challenge, what obstacle came the closest to defeating you?"

Sarah blinked. "The ballroom…I ate an enchanted peach…"

His smirk was wicked. "So despite everything you overcame, the peach dream was nearly your undoing?"

She looked away and nodded, blinking back tears at the bittersweet recollection.

Marvok gripped her chin with one hand and forced her to look at him. "Are you familiar with Greek mythology, Sarah?"

She nodded. "Yes. Why?"

He tilted his head, arching one brow. "Do you recall the tale of Odysseus? Of the Lotus Eaters?"

Sarah's eyes widened in understanding. "Those who ate of the fruit never wanted to go home again… They gave up their lives to dwell in dreams…"

Marvok nodded. "And what did the Goblin King offer you in exchange for your brother? What prize did he tempt you with?"

"My dreams," she whispered. "He offered me my dreams." She scowled. "So dreams are dangerous because they make you forget what's important. You can lose yourself in them and you never see the threat until it's too late." Her eyes glittered with anger. "It seems to me that nightmares are far more honest. They don't try to hide the truth and trick you into falsely believing that you're safe."

Marvok chuckled. "I couldn't agree more." With that, he released her chin and gracefully shifted to sit beside her.

Sarah sighed and leaned against his shoulder. It was comforting. Marvok was a sadistic bastard when he felt like it, but he was her sadistic bastard. After finishing the bloodfruit, she finally asked, "What do you think I should do about my birthday? His Majesty will be expecting an answer."

Marvok sighed. "The answer to that is more complex than you probably realize. At this point, you cannot return to the Underground for any extended period of time."

She turned her head to look up at him. "But why? I mean…I've been worried about what to tell my family and I know that it would be easier for them if I just wait until graduation and convince them that I'm going to college in England or something…But that's not what you're concerned about, is it?"

Marvok shook his head and flashed Sarah a rueful smile. "No. A convenient fabrication could be created for your human family's benefit if that was the problem." He looked away from her. "In the beginning, I expected for you to return to the Underground once you had learned the basics of controlling your power. However, you are changing far too rapidly for that to be a viable option at this time." He reached forward and grasped strand of her hair, pulling it in front of her eyes. "Your hair is almost black now. Soon, it will be as dark as mine." He released the strand and ran one fingertip along her forearm. "Your skin becomes paler by the day. You are becoming Fae and the change is happening incredibly fast. If you lived in the Underground, it would only speed the process. Until the transformation is complete, or the rate of change stabilized, it is not safe for you to dwell there."

Sarah studied his face. There was something he wasn't telling her. "Why is it dangerous, Marvok? What aren't you saying?"

He sighed and glanced down at her. "The transition from human to Fae is agonizing. You must understand: every cell of your body, every mote of your energy, is being broken down and transformed into something new. In half-bloods, the change is called Chrysalis. The young one is brought to the Underground and cocooned in the magic of their bloodline. They are kept in an enchanted sleep until they are ready to emerge. They are never allowed to experience the pain. If they felt it, it would drive them mad. You are becoming Fae, but you have no Fae bloodline with the magic to aid you in this. Shadow goblins do not produce half-bloods. We lack the magic that is used during the transition. If the rate of change were to escalate…I doubt you would survive it. There is a limit to how much pain any creature can bear, regardless of their fortitude."

Sarah tilted her head, "But…I haven't been in any pain." Her eyes narrowed, "Why is that?"

He shrugged. "My magic currently keeps it blocked from you. However, the pain levels are already extreme. An escalation would push them beyond what I could shield you from."

Sarah blinked. She'd known she was changing. Her goblins had told her as much and she'd seen evidence of it for herself. She just hadn't realized that it was this serious. She squeezed his arm and sent her gratitude through the bond. Mere words couldn't express what she felt. Marvok's eyes widened slightly in surprise. He gave her a slight smile and nodded in acknowledgement.

After a moment, she asked, "Will there be anything human left in me when this is done?"

Marvok cocked his head at her, considering. "Not really. Your human origins will grant you some benefits, however. For example, you will never be vulnerable to iron as many Fae are."

She nodded. She'd suspected as much. It wasn't easy to hear, but it was far from unexpected. "What sort of Fae am I turning into?"

"Sidhe," he replied, "for the most part, at least. Your shadow goblin blood will prevent you from being considered pure Sidhe."

Sarah nodded again, trying to remain calm as she forced back her tears. Expected or not, Marvok's words left her emotions in tatters. She realized that some part of her had believed that she would be able to return to the Underground after her birthday. Now, she learned that she couldn't go home. She was trapped living in the human world and she wasn't really even human anymore! She wanted to demand answers, to demand to know how long this would take, but she knew Marvok well enough to be certain that he would have told if he could.

Sarah buried her face into the front of Marvok's shirt. Why does everything always have to be so freakin' complicated? she wondered. She breathed in the familiar scent of ozone and hot metal with an underlying note she couldn't name that she always took to mean 'predator.' It soothed her. The smell meant that her goblins were near, and she was safe. Marvok stroked her hair idly and gave her time to calm herself.

Once Sarah got her breathing under control, she asked, "The King isn't going to like my answer, is he?"

Marvok shook his head. "No. He is not. It will be necessary to tell him the truth regarding your transformation." He sighed. "It would be best if we offered some concessions to placate His Majesty."

Sarah considered this. "Why is that important? He has no power over me."

Marvok chuckled. "Right now, you are outside of the influence of his personal power. However, you are not outside of his reach."

Sarah looked up at him. "What do you mean?"

Marvok arched a brow at her. "He cannot affect you personally. Unfortunately, his subjects are under no such limitation. He is, after all, a King. He could send battalions to secure you and drag you back to the Underground."

She could feel herself starting to panic. How had that not occurred to her? Jareth was a freakin' King! He had armies, and spies, and supernatural assassins of his very own. She gripped the fabric of Marvok's shirt so tightly it was a wonder it didn't tear. Her voice shook when she spoke, "Just tell me what to do. I don't know how to handle…"

Marvok squeezed her shoulders with one arm. "You will be fine, mindin kaidrah*. You are never alone. I have a plan. I know how the game is played. I will defend you, but unless you wish to commit treason and begin a war, or spend the rest of your existence in Nightmare, it would be better to sacrifice some of your protection against his magic to secure protection against his ego."

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Chapter 11 Footnotes

"Black as midnight, black as pitch…": Partial quote from the 1985 film Legend.

mindin kaidrah: Phrase in Stygian (the common tongue of the Nightmare Realms); translates as "(my) little sister".

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Honoria Granger, SarahlouiseDodge, cchimp123, foolalex, kellyn1604, Bloodmoon Goddess, seapeach, Thouerisz, Shadowvulpes, PaleJewel1, Mad Shelley, ellerose77, Lost in a Midnight Sea, and Eclectic Me: Huge thanks to all of you for reviewing. I apologize for the lack of personalized responses on this chapter. Time has been at a massive premium recently, but I want you all to know that your reviews are precious to me. Thanks so much!

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