I do not own Labyrinth


"Well, that's great." Sarah said aloud to her empty room. She eyed the terrible written note sitting next to a bowl of Underground fruit.

Sarah,

The king has graced this wing of the castle with the day off. You are free to do as you wish. Please, don't get lost in the castle.

Audra.

Sarah was sure she would spend the entire day searching for a way to get somewhere and not find where ever it is she wanted to go until she was ready to go back to sleep. Oh, and last nights events didn't help either.

Despite the fact that she was sure Jareth deserved the punishing she delivered, she still felt quite bad for throwing the mug a him. At one point during the night she even convinced herself the cup had slipped and the rest was gravity's fault. She couldn't circle round to that reasoning now. Then, she felt the reason Jareth was acting all angst-y was because she had bruised his outer ego, at this she felt good. But in the end, she still had this dark feeling in the pit of her stomach.

At least if she had been working in the day care she could keep her mind off that emotion consuming her guts. Now, what was she supposed to do?

She dressed into a t-shirt and another pair of pants like yesterday's. She downed the fruit and thought about trying to find Flogray—damaging something seemed like it would reduce the stress pushing down on her shoulders. It was a heavy type of thing.

So, with nothing to do in that too-damn-pretty room of hers, Sarah left. Of course she had no destination—maybe find Hoggle or Ludo? When she arrived at the stairs she just started walking. The idea of bumping into Jareth flashed through her mind as she walked lost up and down the crazy room.

He was too curious about that tattoo of hers. When she caught him staring at it, she was afraid he would notice the little message hidden within the lines of her labyrinth. No, no, no. If Jareth found out, that would be quite bad. Sarah cringed just at the idea of him holding that over her head—not a very promising day that would be.

How long had she been wandering? She had no sense of time in that stair-room, but then she finally saw an exit. She sighed with relief just hoping she hadn't stumbled back to her room, or worse—the cell. She shuddered.

She stepped into the darkened, stoned doorway feeling quite silly. Oh, those stairs. They had such a mind of their own, and her legs hated them.

"Jareth?"

He looked up from his book in surprise, but not as surprised as her. She turned back to the stairs, but they had already started changing—yes, she was certain now, she hated them.

And here Jareth was, lounging on a sofa-type thing with the sunlight kissing his side. Sarah's eyes darted around the golden room with no walls and its shimmering arches right out of Beauty and the Beast. The ceiling was high with arts worthy of the Sistine chapel delicately strewn like ribbon all around her to the reflective floor. Statues were climbing out of the walls begging for attention with fearful eyes. It was shimmering beauty all accentuated by the golden orb in the sky. It was a sunroom pushed to limit and then put on acid.

She found Jareth again—now sitting up—eyeing her with trivial amusement. He laid his book upon a round table in front of his couch while the wind outside decided to ruffle his already wild hair.

"And who are you showing off for?" Sarah asked walking towards him. She tried to get a look at the title of the book, but she couldn't read the language. Dang!

Jareth smirked while giving her a condescending look. "Is that your way of telling me you love it?" He placed his cheek in his hand.

"Oh, as if. It all has to do with how marvelous you are, at any rate, that's what you assume." She placed her hands on her hips in an annoyed fashion.

"Sarah why must you always be so hostile?" His voice was velvet, soft and crooning. "You couldn't simply say, 'what an exquisite room.' No, you attacked me first in assuming I was showing off."

"Well, you are definitely not humble." She strolled past him stepping off tile and onto fresh, moist grass. She was taken aback by the amount of flowers blooming everywhere and petals flew across the horizon in colors Sarah had never imagined. Vines grasped the edge of hedges and silver poles protruding from the ground. Spinning and dancing flowers tapped into something within Sarah. It was like a backyard—on steroids.

He stepped behind her. "Hmm, I think I may have to agree." The petals remained suspended—constantly moving like butterflies with no course.

"Jareth, I'm about to do something and I don't want you to ever speak of what I'm about to do." Her eyes were serious, her stance guarded.

Jareth's leered over Sarah. "That depends on what you're offering."

Sarah laughed. "I'm not offering anything. Just don't say anything about what I am about to do." She shot him an innocent grin…

…and then she was bounding off into the masses of dancing flowers. Singing? Was that what they were doing? She giggled childishly to herself feeling the flowers wrap around her fingers and trace her face with the utmost care. With a collective sigh, the flowers left her leaving a glittering trail of wonderful scents all around her. She kept running into the tangible spring gaping at the surreal magic before her. She lapped up the feeling of floating within this scene of animated paintings. Then she stood still, hugging herself with a contented expression—this strange feeling, it was serene.

She returned to Jareth, not looking him in the eyes. God, she must have looked absolutely silly.

"Oh, please continue. That little scene was most enjoyable." He chuckled and took Sarah's hand.

Her eyes flashed to him as sparks danced in her fingertips. Does he feel this? He gently led her to the sofa, facing her away from the sun. After releasing her hand, he sat on the other end, a cushion separating them.

"Let's put aside our pride for a moment, Sarah." His head turned gently taking in the sunlight.

"Our pride? Why, Jareth," She emphasized the use of his name. "Whatever do you mean?"

He gave her a warning look. His arched brows twitched in provocation. "I mean shut that overly untrusting, stubborn mouth of yours." He challenged, "If you can."

Her eyes narrowed and her lips parted as if she were going tell him off, but she decided that would just be proving him right, right? So she snapped her mouth closed again and rolled her eyes.

"Good girl." Jareth gave a toothy grin. "See, now we can just discuss without the pressure or expectations of the other."

Sarah sighed, her eyes wondering back out to the area of corporeal magic. "What is this place?" She did as Jareth asked, dropping her pride and showing just how amazed she was with the enchantment behind them.

Jareth abstained from giving a smug smile. "This is my garden. It helps me relax." And that was the truth. After a day of taunting an individual and stealing children, his garden was the perfect place to loose himself.

"I see." A phrase Sarah jumped to when she wasn't sure what else to say. She looked away from the garden and felt the awkward silence slipping in from everywhere. Whattosay? Whattosay? Whattosay?

Her mouth spoke before her brain could catch up. "What are you?" Suddenly, she felt rude, like maybe that wasn't something you asked people—Was he people?—in the Underground. Then all kinds of questions were forming in her head. What are manners like in the Underground? What was that strange right angle fruit she had eaten days ago? Why was Jareth Goblin king? Who made him so? Were there other Goblin Kings? Why babies? Why her?

Jareth stifled a chuckle. "I am a fae."

Now, Sarah's questions dissolved. "What the hell is a fae?" Needless to say, she felt stupid. Should she know what a fae is? An animal?

Jareth sighed, he wasn't aware when he awoke this morning to do research on his labyrinth he would also be giving a history lesson on his kind. "Fae are the offspring of angels and humans. We are not angles, but we possess magic and immortality like them, but with the features of humans."

Sarah made a face between awe and possibly disgust. "Angels exist?"

"Angels, God, magic…it all exists, Sarah. Only some get the chance to see it first hand." Jareth was amazed when Sarah narrowed her eyebrows and watched him for a moment, but he was even more amazed when after that moment, she bowed her head and closed her eyes. "What are you doing?"

Sarah didn't move when she answered. "If God is real, then I seriously need him to forgive me for my sins."

Jareth's laugh bellowed within the room. When Sarah's eyes opened he actually slapped his knee while his laugh continued. "And just what is so funny?" Sarah, wasn't pleased.

"Oh, nothing, Sarah. Please continue your prayers." He smiled and waved a hand at her in order to allow her to continue, but she just stared at him.

"No, thank you. I'm quite finished." She gave him a warning glance. "Have you met any angels."

"A few." He leaned back into the sofa. What an interesting choice of topic. "Have you?"

"Well, since you're part angel and all…" She tried not to make it sound like she was flabbergasted that he was part angel.

"Oh, dear. I'm afraid you misunderstood me." He put a hand to his temple. It had been so long since he had attempted to explain history. "Long, long, ago, Angels came from Heaven—against the rule of God—and mated with humans. The humans realized their children were different and so the angels took them and made a home for them, here, in the Underground."

Sarah felt like she was being tricked. "If this is true, then why is it never mentioned in the Bible?"

Jareth was put off by her lack of belief in him. "The same reason you have never heard of fae until now." He let that soak in a minute before he continued "So, the fae grew up together and eventually became their own race, changing and adapting for years and years, and here we sit, thousands of years later."

Sarah was thoughtful, "So, one of your parents isn't an angel?"

Jareth shifted. "Let's not talk about me, Sarah, or the fae anymore. There are other matters I'd like to converse over."

Now, Sarah was interested, but she couldn't just burry all those questions rising within her. "Why was it against God's rule for the Angels to mix with humans?"

Jareth should have known his obstinate Sarah would catch a small detail like that. "Because God had already done so—Eve I think her name was—and had produced several children, and they were much too powerful for his taste."

Sarah didn't believe him and let it show, but she thought she would humor him. "So, what did he do with these children?"

He made them rulers of respective parts of the world. "Why do you do these drugs, Sarah?"

Sarah fell silent. She was angry he had completely avoided her innocent question and was now on the spot. "I don't think we're of friendly nature to discuss this at the moment."

"But I do, think so, Sarah." He moved closer his voice was seductive. "Tell me Sarah, tell me."

She gave a nervous laugh, "Perhaps some other time. I don't want to be depressing when we are actually just talking. Let's not ruin it."

"Then some other time, but you will tell me what became of that little girl." He ran a gloved finger down her cheek, their eyes burning into each others.

"Do you ever wonder…" She caught her breath as his finger left, "About what would have happened if I had said 'yes'?"

She wondered if he knew what she was talking about. That had been years ago when he basically offered himself to her. Now she was wondering what made her even ask he question. Where had it even come from. Everything was fine. They were talking about angels and his parents—he didn't mention his parents. Jareth was so confusing.

Why does he do this stuff to me?! Her inner thoughts swirled around him. Ugh. It was a terrible disease.

"There is no wondering, Sarah." He smirked. "I would have been your slave."

Sarah let her eyes drift to the upper left, a mischievous grin taking the place of a frown. "That's interesting." Her finger tapped her chin lightly as a Jareth wearing a clown suit entered her mind.

"What? What is interesting?" Jareth almost growled perturbed by her obvious amusement.

Sarah let her gaze find him again, her face unchanging. "Just the idea that…" She leaned forward placing a finger on his nose. "You could be the one kissing my boots."

"Sarah, we decided to put our pride away." He gently took her finger in his hand placing it in her lap. "But since you have decided to bring it up. You are my slave. My slave. And you will do as I command you, there will be no kissing of your boots."

Sarah swallowed the panic tearing her lungs to pieces within her.

"But I do have a proposition for you." He let his agitation slip away.

"Why don't you just command me, Jareth?" Sarah's tone was spiteful, her eyes dotted with a dare.

"Do this Sarah, and I will set you free. I'll even escort you to the Aboveground." He tilted his head to the side, the sun brightening his eyes.

"How can I trust you?" Her voice was almost a whisper.

Jareth let the silence sneak in. "Let me put it this way, do you really have a choice?"

"No, I suppose not, but why are you allowing the girl that defeat you get away? Hmm? That's not like you Jareth, even I know that." A bit of arrogance was making home within her words.

He rolled his eyes and then brought his fingers the bridge of his nose. "Because if you do this, you'll be saving more than one life, Sarah. You'll be saving my kingdom. Then, your debt is paid."

"You need me that bad?" She was serious again loosing that superior edge in her voice.

Jareth didn't miss a beat. "To complete my plan, yes, I need you. Your part is crucial."

Sarah let a small smirk decorate her cheeks to go along with her singsong way of talking. "And, what is my part, your highness?"

He watched her, his eyes full of inquisitiveness. "Tell, me, Sarah, are you still an actress."

She shrugged. "I have taken a few classes."

"Good. I am going to a ball in a few days, and I need you to accompany me." He squeezed the bottle of love potion in his pocket.

"Alright, I'll buy, but what acting am I going to need to do?" She leaned forward and fanned herself. The sun was growing hot.

Jareth have a toothy grin with an almost predator like stance. "You have to be completely in love with me."

She outright laughed in his face. "Really, Jareth, no one is going to believe I've fallen in love with you. No one is going to believe anyone has fallen in love with you."

"Sarah."

With the way he said her name, just in the way it rolled of his tongue, it reminded her of all those years ago. All that time ago, when he begged her to accept his offering. "Fine, I'll do it. As much as I think this is just to humiliate me and not save your kingdom, I'll do it. But, you better return me to the Aboveground."

"Of course, I'll return you, Sarah."

She smiled, a secret rush inside her. "Well, I'm off to find Hoggle and Ludo." Then she leaned in and kissed Jareth. It was quick, shocking, and Jareth wanted more, but she was gone before he could pull her into him, gone before he knew what she was doing.

She laughed as she walked off, but she didn't look back as she called, "Farewell, my love."


An: Well, heres an update. I hope you enjoyed it. I'm sure you've noticed they have become further and further apart. Ah, yes. School is starting and I have to pack in my free time now. Sorry dears. I do thank all of you for your reviews and I do hope this doesn't become forgotten while I do home work and study...or it at least becomes finished before then. haha. Good one. Well, you know, reviews always make me want to write more...so...maybe I'll fail if you review. Ah, who cares. Reveiws keep me sane.

R&R