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You Belong to Earth
By
Jaffee Leeds
We couldn't stop talking after that.
"Abner! Why didn't I think of that?" I kept saying.
We kept up a steady pace for hours. The sleep had done us a world of good and we trucked along covering more ground in an afternoon then both days before. We could see the castle clearly now and only a short span of space of maze and the Goblin city separated us from our goal. The sun was high and bright and, to my eyes at least, it was brighter and yellow-er than I had ever seen it. Everything was changing around me and I didn't have to do anything.
I caught Abner watching me but every time I looked back his head would snap around like he wasn't doing anything. But every time he glanced at me I felt he was holding back from saying something, every time he helped me over a log or over a wall or something there was a strange sensation in his touch. Feeling a little giddy from the experience in the darkness with Jareth—I was sure it was him; I didn't hesitate to ask Abner what was going on.
"Nothing," Abner replied blandly. We rounded a corner and found a dead-end. After considering our route we turned back and started off in a new direction.
"You were looking at me again," I said pointedly, "You're watching me."
"You are the only other person around; I have nothing else to look at," he countered. He was walking taller than ever and had tied his hair back with a bit of string. His face was still hidden under the beard, but I was getting used to it.
"I can't tell you how good that makes me feel," I quipped dryly, "Especially since I look so glamorous," I spun in my ratty pajamas and pirouetted a few feet before wobbling off balance.
"Graceful too," Abner's eyes twinkled with mirth, "I'm so lucky to have you as a guide. Though I suppose I shouldn't anger you—there's always the Bog of Eternal Stench to hold over my head."
"The what?" I plopped back to my flat feet, "What is that?"
"How can you not know about the Bog?" he asked shock widening his eyes, "I thought everyone knew about it!"
I held up empty hands, "Betty Brainless here, you have to tell me."
"Very well," we walked on as Abner filled me in on the various parts of the Labyrinth I didn't know about.
I learned about the endless corridor that went on in two directions forever and how easy it was to overcome once you didn't trust the illusion of walls. Abner told me about the Double-Speaking Guards and the Helping Hands. I have to confess that Helping Hands sounded creepy and disgusting; Abner said he had encountered them early on in his journal through the Labyrinth and had actually said the right thing; up.
"Apparently few people ever think to ask for that," he commented, "Without realizing it I had escaped an early placement in the oubliette."
"Yeah," I didn't meet his eyes. The whispered conversation with my father made me feel guilty. Pretending not to notice Abner went on.
"Anyway, from there I found my way into a tricky mist filled forest with a bad habit of misleading people for weeks. The inhabitants are not the friendliest people in the world."
"There are people living in the Labyrinth?" I was surprised, "I thought there were only goblins."
"No, they're kind of goblin we call the Fireys," Abner gave me a curious sidelong look, "You don't seem to know much of anything dealing with the Labyrinth."
"I've never been here," I reminded him, "My mother never told me anything about it."
"Still, you are Jareth's daughter," Stopping, he propped a foot on a fallen log. Musing quietly for several long moments, "And—Sarah never told you about your father or the Labyrinth?"
"Never," I explained, "She was trying to protect me from him, Jareth. And I don't think she wanted to tell me about the Labyrinth because –Well, look at this place!"
I threw my arms wide, "Would you tell anyone about a land where they could become lost in their dreams? Even if they succeeded in conquering their dreams who would want to leave this place? It's beautiful."
Abner's eye darkened, "I think there are few who would agree with you."
I stopped dead.
"What did you say?"
"I said that I don't think there are a lot of people who agree that this—place is beautiful," Abner said carefully. He let his foot drop and stood, "I would be one of them."
I said nothing. There was nothing to say. I felt guilt wash over me as I followed him along the path we had chosen. I watched his foot prints stirring the dirt and noticed the little swirls of red they left behind as my eyes began to take apart and reassemble the fabric of the Labyrinth. Abner didn't notice and I realized it was because he was merely human; he couldn't see things the way I could.
"Merely human?"
The words whispered through my mind in the voice of my father. I whipped around and looked everywhere but it was only me and Abner. Again, Abner was unaware of what was going on. I wasn't about to alert him. Mental dialogue was new but fairly easy.
"Good, he wouldn't understand anyway." The voice continued.
"He's a good man," I countered mentally, "He's a better man than you."
"I can't argue with that," the Jareth said lightly, "Because I am not a man—not a mortal man."
"You know that makes it easier for me to hate you," I replied, I was beginning to bring up a mental image of what I thought Jareth looked like but nothing beyond David Bowie came to mind.
"Why should you hate me?" he questioned. His voice was so close I almost felt that he was walking beside me, "I've never given you any reason to hate me."
"You've never given me reason to love you," was my simple reply, "And your offence against Abner is reason for me to hate you."
He snorted arrogantly, "I've explained to you why I did what I did to this man." He said man as if he were a dog, or a cat. I bristled, "You should understand the reasoning there."
"I do—" I felt him swell with pride, "—to a point. You forget you're the one who brought him here and created the temptations of the Labyrinth. You can't pretend to be merciful when you're the cause of his problems."
"You still don't understand do you?" he was losing patience, "The temptations as you so appallingly term them, are of your own making. Each one creates his own weakness and each one dreams his own dreams. My Labyrinth only obeys them."
"But it's your Labyrinth, it revolves around you. Nothing works without you," I said angrily. I felt flushed and annoyed, "And you command it!"
No answer. I stopped in my tracks and stamped my foot.
"Answer me damn it!" I yelled.
Abner turned, "What?"
I ignored him, "Jareth! Jareth! Answer me!"
"What's wrong with you!" Abner shouted, "Don't summon him!"
I realized too late he was right. I watched a red cloud descend on Abner and I screamed. There was a pulling sensation, a wrenching pain in my gut-- and I was alone. The wind whistled lightly through the passages of stone, kicking up a whirlwind of dust. I fell to my knees in agony, I couldn't even cry. Consciousness blurred and I saw a haze of white before my eyes. Breath whistled between my teeth, it sounded strange and hallow in my ears. I was falling forward and couldn't stop myself. The rocky ground rushed up to me and I closed my eyes, waiting for the pain of impact.
It never came.
JarethSarahEmilyJarethSarahEmilyJarethSarahEmilyJareth
He had never held his child.
Physical touch was something that taken Jareth some time to get accustomed to. It was important Sarah who touched, hugged and caressed everyone she loved in some way. Jareth had watched this without understanding until he realized it was her way of expression emotions of affection. With every touch she was saying the words that Jareth had coveted.
I love you.
He hadn't understood until after she was far out of reach. She had finished the Labyrinth and gone home and he had sent her without once touched her skin. He had danced with her certainly, but layers of fabric that separated at intimate touch. His own habit of wearing gloves had annoyed him beyond belief when he realized he didn't know the feeling of her cheek under his fingers, the softness of her hand in his. The realization had gnawed on him in the passing years as longing ate away at his soul and spirit.
Finally he had gone to her. He wasn't going to wait until she called for him because she might never say his name or even his title again. Immortal he might be, heartless, no. He had gone to her in fear and trembling, feverish and shaking that she might turn away that pretty head and refuse him with her sweet lips. But he had offered her his love and a share in his life, humbly, lovingly. And she had fallen in his arms in gratitude and relief; her pain had been as great, but her own pride had kept her back. Without considering he had kissed her, claiming her mouth with his and pulling her to him so tightly there were bruises on her arms the next day. But they didn't care, neither of them.
Once she was his, Jareth understood touch. He learned the joy of watching her lean into his hand when he stroked her cheek and fell against him when he kissed her neck. The fire that was generated by their love making that scorched him too deeply to forget the wonder of touch.
And when she pulled away from him he had felt the gut wrenching agony of loss. He lost her warmth during the nights and found the bed too large and empty without her. And he pretended he didn't care when she had left him completely; it was easier to lose her if she wasn't present to taunt him with her loss.
And he had never held his child.
Now as he cradled the limp form of his daughter in his arms, Jareth felt a rush of pain come crashing over him. She was so weak and small in his arms; suddenly powerless, helpless and young--so unbelievably young. He rested her dark head against his shoulder and lifted her easily into his arms. He felt the flutter of her heartbeat against his chest and felt wonder at the knowledge that this child…his child, lay in his arms for the first time.
Laying her gently on the soft grass beside the path, Jareth laid his hand along Emily's face, feeling the tiny pulse of blood through her veins. It was the song of life he had loved in Sarah, fainter in their daughter, but present with all the wonder he had found in Sarah. She stirred under his touch.
"Hurts," she gasped weakly.
"Make it go away," he encouraged softly.
"Can't," she whimpered childishly.
"Yes, you can," he reassured.
"Can't," she repeated and curled toward him, seeking comfort.
Gathering her toward him, Jareth whispered, "You must. I will not do it for you."
"Please--" Emily whimpered again and pulled weakly on his coat, "Can't."
"No," he said firmly, "You must heal yourself. Go to the darkness."
She fell silent, but ceased her struggling. Her breathing grew steady and as it did he looked into the darkness and saw her there. She stood, her mouth open in surprise watching him holding her body. Tears stood out in crystalline relief against her dual-colored eyes and she had wrapped her arms around herself as if in protection. They stared at one another for a long, long moment. A life time slipped by between them as the years fell away and they knew--knew who they were.
"I don't--" she faltered, "I don't know what to do now."
He understood her, "Do what you came to do."
'What's said is said," she repeated his famous words as her own. He smiled; she knew what they meant now.
"Yes," he encouraged, "I cannot bring it back on my own anymore. I have let go too much to claim back."
"But I will," she answered, her words timidly arrogant, "I can."
"Then do," he answered. He released her body carefully and walked into the darkness with her. He pointed to the wound that bled inwardly in her physical body.
"Do," he repeated, "And come to me at the castle."
"Can't I go with you now?" she asked quickly.
He bent his head over her, thoughtfully, the frosty strands of blond hair glowing in the strange light, "No. No, you cannot come with me. Save yourself and come to me." He cupped her cheek again and she didn't shy away from him, "Remember, Emily, you belong to earth."
JarethSarahEmilyJarethSarahEmilyJarethSarahEmilyJareth
Yodeladyhoo: A writer always likes to hear that they're improving! Thanks so much. I'm glad you like the name. I had a deuce of a time deciding on what I was going use. Keep reading!
Avitergirl: Yes, Jareth was the voice but I don't think he's creepy. And you have to remember that neither Jareth nor Emily for that matter are strictly human so they will react to emotions and things differently than we would. Keep reading!
Sintar: I hope you liked it! Keep reading and reviewing!
Sky Girl Butterfly: Ah! Your reaction is actually what I was hoping for! It's hard to understand the working mind of Jareth and the Labyrinth--that's what makes it so interesting! Keep reading.
Daughter of Olorin: Now, does your name mean you're the daughter of Gandalf? I think I heard somewhere that Olorin was Gandalf's name before he was--eh--Gandalf. Anyway-- and remember that an addiction to Labyrinth fan fiction is not illegal! Thank God!
lanthe: Thank you so so so much! I didn't want this story to be a regurgitation of every other Lab fic in this section. Enjoy!
