Chapter 11.Crystals and masks
Sarah lay in the tub for an hour soaking. She enjoyed the peaceful feeling that had stayed with her when she'd left the Chalice Well. When she had arrived back at the house, Harper informed her that Jeremy was resting and her mother was still out. He asked if the girl were hungry, and when she told him no he suggested that she go to her rooms and rest. Lying in the tub of wonderfully hot water scented with expensive oils, Sarah pondered what it was about Harper that kept nagging at her something about that man just didn't set right with her.
The bath had refreshed Sarah, and she felt ready to take on the world. She wrapped her wet hair in a towel, and applied moisture cream as she had done for as long as she could remember. Hands, feet, arms and legs were all attended to with the cream, as was her face and neck. Six months ago she had thought it was part of a regiment that her mother had begun for her with the idea of her having a stage career and wanting to keep her looks for as long as possible. Today she knew that no longer was true, somewhere around the time she'd wished away Toby her focus had changed. Being a stage actress was all about her. Today she didn't think so much about herself, and she found she was happier for it.
Green eyes that had seen thing no other sixteen year old had cared to look at, looked in the mirror of the vanity. This vanity was not quite like the one she had at home. Hers was a replica of a French white provincial set that her mother had fallen in love with when Sarah was four. Linda had insisted that Robert buy the set and they put Sarah into the room that looked like a fairy princess' dream. The furnishings in Jeremy's home were not replicas, but true antiques and originals.
Sarah mused that if she were home, she'd be sitting in front of her own mirror trying to converse with Hoggle. She leaned forward and touched the mirror, gently and whispered. "Hoggle… I need you…" She had not expected anything to happen, so when the mirror began to fog she stood up quickly and looked around. Panic swept through her, she didn't want Nan or anyone else to see the mirror changing or whoever was on the other side.
"Sarah… Sarah…" a familiar voice called to her, but it sounded muffled.
Forgetting her fears, the girl leaned to the glass that was foggy. "Hoggle? Hoggle what's wrong? Why can't I see you?"
"Be careful…" the voice warned as the mirror reverted to its former appearance.
Sarah's fingers felt a tingle in the glass even after it had reverted. She pulled her hand back, looked at her fingers and frowned. She had no time to mull over what had just occurred as Nan was tapping at her locked door. She crossed the floor and unlocked the door. "Yes, Nan?"
The maid held in her hands a large garment bag. "Your dress has arrived miss."
"Has my mother returned?" Sarah asked watching the maid place the garment bag in the armoire.
"Yes, Miss. You're mother is in her bath now." Nan said without looking at Sarah. "Would you like me to bring you a light tray, Miss?"
"A light tray?" Sarah was distracted and Nan's words seemed to be confusing.
"Would you like something to eat?" Nan asked.
Sarah shook her head, "I don't know…." She looked in the direction of the mirror, wondering if she should try to contact Hoggle again. "Sure… I guess."
"Fine," The maid smiled and exited the room promising to return in a short bit with something for the girl to munch upon.
Sarah locked the door and moved back to the mirror, thought of what it was she'd said, and then feeling the same feeling she'd had before her leap of faith to save Toby, she spoke. "Hoggle…I need you…" The mirror didn't change, she touched it and even the tingle was gone. "Oh dear…something is wrong…." She muttered.
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Jareth looked at the Goblin guards holding the gagged and bound figure between them. "Well, if it isn't you…." He said mockingly to the gnomish dwarf. He went to one knee, bringing his eyes level with the dwarf's eyes. "And just what was it you think you were about to do?" He smiled, but there was no warmth or friendliness in the gesture. "You were about to warn the girl, weren't you?" He stood up and pulled the dwarf forward to the crystal wall and the image of the girl that was still so clear. "Now really Hogsfeet, you know we can't have that."
The little bound man struggled, crying into the gag that prevented him from calling out to the girl. His eyes went to the King, wordlessly pleading for mercy for the girl, if not for himself.
Jareth was amused. "Still playing her hero? Still thinking of being her…friend?" He looked over the head of the struggling dwarf to the large hobgoblins who were standing at the entrance of the hovel Hoggle called home. "Have you rounded up the other two?"
"The beast is in a dungeon even now, Sire." One guard said with a wicked grin. "We're having difficulty in locating the other."
"Bother," muttered the King, as he remembered the canny little Knight who had left his post to champion Sarah on her last visit. "Don't hurt him when you find him!" he ordered. "He's getting on in years, and I won't have him harmed."
One hobgoblin frowned. "But Sire."
"No!" Jareth growled. "Sir Didymus is to be treated with respect." He looked down at Hoggle; "This one however is fair game." He shoved the dwarf out of his way. "Take him to the dungeons, and if he gives you trouble, beat him." Jareth the Goblin King watched as Goblins dragged the struggling Hoggle away. He paused, turned over his shoulder and looked at the girl on the other side of the reflection. Her face was clean and her hair wrapped in a towel, and she was wearing only a terry cloth bath robe. "Not this time Sarah, no companions, no champions…" He watched her and smiled; "Only you and I this time…."
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Nan placed the undergarments that had arrived on the bed. She could hear the hair dryer blowing in the bathroom and knew that the girl was getting her hair prepared for being dressed. She moved to the vanity and placed out all the ornaments that had been designed for the gown and the girl. Nan remembered other ornaments that had been used on the mortal girl, and once more she marveled at the attention the Goblin King paid to details. These were not anything like the sliver and pearl wisps' that had dressed the long dark locks upon their last meeting. Yet in their own way they were far more enchanting… and enchanted. The magic they contained would remain dormant until the King triggered them. Until then they would be just pretty little hair bobs.
Sarah exited the bathroom, and saw the maid admiring the ornaments on the vanity. "What are you looking at Nan?"
The maid turned and smiled at the girl, "Mr. Eden ordered some jewels for your hair, Miss. I was admiring the workmanship." She motioned the jewel case now on the vanity.
Sarah looked at them with trepidation, "Are … are they real?" Her eyes turned to the face of the maid. She felt suddenly quiet foolish having asked such a question. "Of course they are," she muttered. "I can't accept them…" Sarah sat down swiftly and violently on the vanity seat.
Nan moved to stand behind the girl, meeting her eyes. "They are part of the gown you are to wear, and there is no question that you must accept them." Her voice was abrasive and unsympathetic to the qualms the girl was experiencing. "Your mother will expect you to wear them, Miss."
Sarah doubted her mother had any idea that Jeremy ordered these nor did she really believe her mother would demand that she wear them. However she knew Jeremy would. Not wanting to start a row, she looked at the case. "I guess, if I have to… I have to." Looking at the hair ornaments she could only image what the dress looked like. Then she shivered remembering another dress. 'If it looks anything like that thing, I swear I'll tear it up and not go!' She began to tap her fingers on the vanity nervously. "How long before I have to dress? I'd like to speak to my mother."
Nan shook her head, "I doubt you'll have time, Miss. Your mother is putting on her makeup and her hair dresser is in there with her right now." She looked at the girl. "I suggest you put your make up on as well, Miss. I will be happy to help with your hair. Mr. Eden requested that both you and your mother wear your hair up this evening."
"Up?" Sarah had worn her hair up only a few times; "Up, how?"
Nan took hold of the shoulders of the girl and firmly made her face the mirror. "Trust me, Miss I know what I'm doing." She reached for the items she'd placed on the table herself and began to work with the long think tresses of healthy hair.
Sarah watched as her hair was brought up and piled in carefully sculpted curls and tendrils, ornaments clasped and pinned in place the riot of curls. As the maid progressed the style reminded Sarah of a painting of Empress Josephine she'd seen in an art gallery.
Nan stood back, admiring her handiwork and said with confidence; "You'll be the loveliest young woman at the ball tonight. They won't be able to take their eyes off you." The complement had the opposite effect that Nan had thought it would have; the girl didn't look pleased or more comfortable. In fact she looked down right miserable. The Goblin maid wondered why it was that the mortal girl was so unhappy. She cleared her throat; "If Miss will not complete her makeup…."
"I can't," Sarah sighed. "I don't know what color my dress is….and…"
Nan was already bringing out a new set of shadows and pencils and makeup brushed for the girl to work with. "This is the palate you are to work with, Miss." She informed the fretting girl.
Sarah looked at the shades of the shadows, they were soft and shimmery and pastel… and in various shades of white and taupe. There was fawn and mushroom, and the lightest of light brown. Sarah looked at the palate and gasped. "What color is the dress, Nan…and don't tell me you don't know because I've a feeling you know a great deal…." The words were forceful and confident.
"White, Miss… your dress is white…" Nan stated coolly.
'White…' fear shot though the girl as she thought of the dress that had been in her nightmares for weeks. "Why white?" she asked, she began to think of an excuse not to wear the gown. "I don't wear white well….."
Nan looked at her with disbelieving eyes. "Miss Sarah is an unmarried young woman… and this is your first ball, is it not?" When the girl nodded, Nan went on. "It is a tradition for a young lady to wear white to her first ball, Miss."
Sarah was stuck and she knew it. "Nan," she closed her eyes and scrunched up her face; "Is the dress… poufy and frilly and looking like spun sugar?"
Nan, knowing what dress the girl was referring to feigned ignorance. "No… Miss… the dress you are wearing tonight is elegant and does not look like spun sugar."
Sarah opened one eye; "No full skirt?" when the maid shook her head, she opened the other eye; "No full sleeves?" The maid shook her head again and Sarah drew a breath, not realizing she'd been holding her breath. "Thank the Gods… all of them!" She blew out her cheeks and looked down at the cosmetics that were awaiting her, "I guess I'd better put my face on."
Nan stood back and watched as the girl worked with the soft colors that had been issued to her. Nan had often seen the way human women did their makeup, and laughed to herself that they looked more like Goblins than she did. Sarah's makeup looked soft and natural and only highlighted the beauty she'd been blessed with. Nan had to admit, for a mortal, Sarah was regal.
Sarah finished applying the make and used the bottle of makeup setting spray her mother had given her. It keep things from sliding off the face her mother had said. Then she sat back and looked at the finished product. "Well?" She asked the maid who was hovering.
"Very nice, simple and natural…" Nan said as she handed Sarah a bottle of expensive perfume. "Mr. Eden thought you'd like this scent." Nan knew that Mr. Eden had no idea that the bottle of perfume was being given to the girl as he had never purchased it. Nan's orders came from the King, and she obeyed him without question. The scent was soft and gentle and of course laced with a spell to be triggered at the right moment. Making sure the girl had spayed the scent, Nan asked if the girl needed help with the underpinnings.
Sarah looked at the garments that had been laid out for her on the bed, "I can handle most of it… except that thing." She pointed to the corset. Picking up the rest of the underwear Sarah went to the bathroom to wrestle with them. Moments later she exited the bath dressed in the long white muslin chemise, over the soft silky panties and silk stockings that had been provided by the dress maker. Taking a long breath she picked up the odd looking corset and looked at Nan. "I suspect you know all about this thing?"
Nan took it from the girl and put the vest like undergarment on her and began to lace her in. "This is copied from the ones that were in use in the Regency era." Nan informed the girl. "Count your blessings it wasn't Victorian." Sarah snickered at the joke the maid had made. Nan was holding the final layer, the petticoat which had a scooped neckline and was sleeveless, and was fitted in the back with hooks and eyelets. It was made of soft material, and was prettily decorated in front. "You look lovely." Nan assured the girl as she hooked the girl up.
Sarah turned to observe her reflection in the one full length mirror in the room. "My goodness." She remarked looking at the undergarments she wore.
Nan was already at the armoire opening it and getting out the garment bag, "Now the gown." She said.
Sarah winced, defiantly she pulled herself together. No dress was going to get the better of her, she vowed. "Ok, let's see this dress," she muttered as she turned and walked to where the maid stood. She halted her steps and gasped, in the maids hands was a dress of white silk with an over dress of sheer white that was transparent and decorated with crystal beading and diamante and sliver threads that formed tiny delicate flower patterns and soft swirls. There were no sleeps only a decorative cap that went over the shoulders of the sheer material and crystal fringing. It was no fairytale sugar and spice dress. It was romantic, and elegant and sophisticated and it was moonlight. Sarah approached as if in a dream. "That's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
Nan nodded as she held the dress open and up, placing it over the girl and making sure she didn't disturb the girls coiffure. "The hair ornaments were made to resemble the flowers in the overgown." She smoothed the dress down over the girl and moved behind her to being fastening the tiny perfect crystal buttons down her back with careful fingers.
Sarah watched her in the mirror, "Nan, this gown must have cost a fortune." Her voice was low, breathless and almost reverential.
"Nothing but the best for Mr. Eden's ladies," Nan said.
Sarah heard a tapping at the door, "Are you decent?" Jeremy's voice called.
"Yes," Sarah answered.
Jeremy had a jewel case in his hand as he entered, he smiled at her. "You look wonderful, Sarah. I have something for you."
Sarah protested, "Jeremy, you've done too much as it is…"
He scoffed; "None sense." He held out the case. "Open it."
On a bed of red velvet sat a jeweled choker, "Jeremy! It's …it's…" she stammered looking at the sparkling work of art.
"It's crystal…" He sighed sounded deflated, "I couldn't begin to afford the real one…" He lifted the replica out of the case. "However, this being your coming out as it were, I thought I'd splurge and get good crystals and not cubics…" He fastened the choker to her throat. "You look even better than Audrey did…."
Sarah looked at the gown and choker, and saw they were reminiscent of the gown from the ball scene in My Fair Lady. "Of course…." She remembered telling Jeremy years before how much she loved that movie and that dress. "Oh Jeremy…. How sweet that you remembered."
He hadn't, but that was not the point. "Well a girl comes out into society but once…" he muttered standing behind her. "May as well do it in style, eh?" He gave her shoulder an affectionate pat, and turned to leave. "We'll be leaving in half an hour. You're cloak will be waiting for you down stairs. Don't dawdle, Sarah….half an hour."
Sarah looked in the mirror, the only thing she didn't have on were slippers and opera length gloves. She could see Nan holding both items watching her. Self conscious she turned an looked at the maid. "Ok, shoes and gloves."
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Jareth stood in his bedchamber with the valet; he looked in the mirror as the man helped him into the Edwardian styled tux. He grimaced when the tie was readjusted for the umpteenth time. When the valet stood back he pulled his cuffs and adjusted the vest once more, making sure the crystal buttons were fastened correctly. "Very nice, Renaldo." He commented looking in the mirror at his reflection. Seeing Perrin enter, he smiled; "Our pigeons?"
Snickering, the Goblin Guard took a seat, "Pigeons are in the hole, Sire."
Jareth looked satisfied, and then raised a brow, "Didymus?"
Perrin rolled his eyes, "Unhappy that we refused to do battle with him."
Looking at ease and in command, even in the mundane evening garb, Jareth took a relaxed stance. "He's getting on in years, Perrin…however I will not have him damaged. No one has ever been a truer knight to the Kingdom."
Nodding even Perrin acknowledged the feats of the little Knight. "Few could boast of the accomplishments that he himself ignores."
Jareth slid a hand into the trousers and looked thoughtfully at the guard. "And Sarah adores him, if she thought I had done anything to injure or impair him she'd most likely cause injury to me…."
"She's fond of the dwarf as well," warned the guard.
Jareth shook his head, his fine hair floated about him. "She expects me to be harsh with Hogsnose."
"Hoggle," Perrin corrected self-consciously.
Waving a hand as if it were an insignificant and inconsequential point, the King turned his attentions once more to his attire. "Well, Perrin… how do I look?"
"You could pass for human…" the guard began, and the King smiled. Perrin finished his thoughts; "With the exception of your hair and face that is."
Jareth whipped around to face the mirror; "My hair…" seeing the wild and ragged Fae cut he frowned. "Oh bother! I forgot all about my hair… and face… Well a quick glamour spell with take care of that…." He raised his hand and made a gentle wave motion over his face and hair. Gone were the shadows and the markings that gave his eyes an owlish appearance even when he was not in owl form. Gone too was the wild hair, replaced by a smooth hairstyle that was elegant and well styled. "Mundane, but still… striking." He murmured toward the mirrors reflection.
"Better." Perrin agreed, holding out a mask to the King. "I don't know how you pulled this one off. Mask at a ball…"
"I didn't." Jareth admitted. "They already had the masked theme, one must enjoy the irony." He placed the half mask over his face, covering his brow to just below his nose. "Wish me success Perrin."
"As always, my King." The Goblin bowed as the King strolled past him.
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Jeremy stood at the bottom of the stair, watching as Linda descended with grace in the gown of sea foam green chiffon that draped her goddess like figure. He held out his hand to her and placed her gloved fingers into the crook of his arm. Pointing upward, he instructed her to watch. An instant later Sarah stood at the top of the stairs her figure framed by the stained glass window that decorated the elegant hall. Linda held her breath for a moment and turned approvingly to the man at her side. Jeremy wore a look of admiration, touched with sadness.
Sarah, unaware of how the stained glass window behind her gave her an almost ethereal and otherworldly aspect, began to descend the stair with her head held high. Slow deliberate steps, her fingers having raised her hem to allow her feet free access to the stairs. She looked fragile, with the dress sparkling and shimmering in the light of the chandler of the foyer. Her face was pure, innocent and waiflike in expression. On her wrist was the sting that held an ivory fan. She paused upon reaching the bottom of the stair and dropped into a deep curtsey to her mother and Jeremy.
"How the little girl has grown," Jeremy said to Linda, he moved forward, hands extended to the girl. "You look enchanting."
Harper came forward with their evening coats. Jeremy helped Linda into her wrap and Harper held the red velvet cloak for Sarah. Harper then bid them good evening and watched from the door as they entered the hired taxi.
Nan joined Harper at the door, when the taxi pulled away both let the glamour drop for what they believed to be the last time. Nan looked at the spellbound townhouse and held a hand out to the man who'd been her companion for over a century. "Home?"
Raising her hand to his lips he kissed it with adoration. "Home," he agreed as he closed the door and led her to the passage not even Jeremy knew of that led to the Goblin Kingdom. They stood side by side upon a windswept hill overlooking the vast grandeur of the Kingdom. Both looked to the castle silhouetted in the night with the moon shining down upon it. Each wore a expression of peacefulness.