Nice long chap here for you guys. I hope you like it! It was my favorite so far to write!
-Nico
Setanta
The name did nothing to reflect the majestic wonder of the city that lay sleepily before Sarah. It seemed to be morning here; golden rays of sunlight poured down into the groupings of houses and shops, illuminating the predominately white stone walls with a spectacular glow. Children could be seen running in the streets, chasing each other with what looked like medieval water guns. Merchants sold their wares, women stopped to chat with each other and delicate carriages carrying the more well to do ambled unhurriedly down cobble stoned roads.
"Why did you bring me here?" Sarah asked, her voice throaty.
Jareth considered the question and then shrugged. "Consider it a gift," he said. "It's not often we have a return guest in the Underground."
Sarah folded her arms across her chest, not believing the explanation.
"I wouldn't want you to leave the Underground this time with the same ill conceived impressions of my home," Jareth tried again.
Sarah remained still, save one raised eyebrow.
"I'm bored," Jareth finally stated.
"I'm more inclined to believe that over anything else," Sarah replied.
"Come," Jareth said, once again extending his hand.
"We're going down there?" Sarah asked. Jareth laughed.
"Did you think I'd bring you all the way here just to stand on a hill?"
Sarah shrugged. "Anything is possible with you," she said.
Jareth smiled smugly. "That is a lesson that usually takes people much longer to learn."
Sarah laughed. She could almost feel the shift in the already blurry lines surrounding hers and Jareth's relationship. He stood next to her, his face softer than it was when inside the Labyrinth. The warm breeze seemed to breathe life into his limbs. The coat he had been wearing slowly disintegrated, leaving him standing in his stark black clothing.
"Take my hand," he said softly.
And surprisingly, Sarah obliged without a fight.
Jareth relished in the small victory.
They began to descend the hill when Jareth suddenly stopped and looked over Sarah critically.
"What?" She asked.
Jareth's mouth twisted while he chose his words. "Your clothing…" he said, gesturing towards Sarah's simple black tank, dirty white skirt and mud-caked boots.
Sarah looked down at herself and scoffed. "Well I haven't exactly been relaxing by the pool for the last couple hours."
"If you'll permit me, I can provide you with something more suitable," Jareth offered.
"Who do I have to impress?" Sarah asked, suddenly embarrassed of her appearance.
"If you prefer what you're wearing, then…" Jareth turned from her with a dismissive gesture.
"No," Sarah said quickly, pulling Jareth back by his hand. "I mean, it's alright. I permit you to provide me with something more suitable."
She had mimicked his accent on the last part of her statement.
It should have irritated Jareth, but instead he found it endearing.
"Close your eyes," he instructed gently.
Sarah felt a slight fluttering on her skin for a moment and then everything stilled.
"Much better," Jareth declared.
Sarah opened her eyes.
Her ratty skirt and shirt had been replaced with a fitted black dress. As she took a breath, felt her ribs press against the corset that had wrapped around her waist. The dress was a simple design, but undeniably elegant with a plunging neckline that disappeared into the corset and then flowed into a soft, silk skirt that clung seductively to her hips and legs. Silver thread covered the bodice, creating an intricate pattern against her chest.
Delicate black slippers covered her feet over black silk stockings, which, to her amusement, were speckled with the faintest dusting of glitter. She raised her hand to her hair, which had been swept up into a delicate gathering of thick curls.
She looked up at Jareth, who was in turn regarding her with an approving glare. "You are very beautiful," he told her gently.
Sarah felt dwarfed by the compliment. "Thank you," she said genuinely.
Jareth nodded and took her hand again, this time placing it properly in the crook of his arm, leading her into the heart of Setanta.
It seemed that Jareth had not been to visit his hometown in quite some time.
From the moment they passed through the impressive gates that opened up to allow visitors access to Setanta, Jareth was inundated by joyful greetings.
Sarah remained at Jareth's side, silently observing the Goblin King under completely different circumstances.
An elderly looking male Fae was the first to spot Jareth. The old man had been carefully organizing and then reorganizing his cart of fresh fruit, preparing the items to be sold for the day. As Jareth led Sarah past the spot the merchant had selected to set up shop, the merchant smiled broadly, revealing rows of crooked teeth.
"Your Highness!" He exclaimed happily. "It's been too long!"
"Hello Terrep," Jareth said cordially. "How goes the fruit business?"
Terrep adjusted his shabby vest self-consciously. "Very good," he said, nodding enthusiastically. "Try for yourself!" Terrep selected a particularly large apple and handed it to Jareth, who bit into it with vigor.
"Delicious," he proclaimed. "Thank you, Terrep."
The old man nodded again. "Any time, Your Majesty!" He said. "Anytime!"
"He seems to like you," Sarah commented as they continued on.
Jareth pulled her hand onto his arm again and leaned down to her. "He doesn't know me very well," he said playfully, taking another large bite of the apple.
Sarah smirked. "Apparently," she agreed.
"Jareth! Jareth!"
A small child who looked to be no more than five or six was shouting the Goblin King's name. Jareth immediately turned to the sound and knelt down as the little girl approached, her blond hair in messy pigtails spilling down her back.
"Jareth!" She exclaimed, placing her hands on her hips. "Jareth, where have you been?"
Sarah smiled.
The child was scolding him.
"I've been busy, Lillet," Jareth said as the child frowned, still looking at Jareth disapprovingly.
"Too busy to come home and see me?" She asked, her lower lip pouting out a bit. Jareth smiled, straightening the sleeve of the small girl's muddy dress, which was slipping down her arm.
"You know I'm never too busy for you," he whispered.
Lillet looked up at Sarah. "Who is she?"
The girl's voice was venomous, jealous of Sarah's presence.
"This is Lady Sarah," Jareth said. "She is visiting us from aboveground."
Lillet narrowed her eyes. "Do you watch television?" She asked.
Sarah blinked. "Um, yes," she replied.
"Did you bring a television with you?" The child followed up.
Sarah stifled a laugh. "I must have forgotten it at home."
Lillet frowned. "Will you bring one next time?"
"Sure," Sarah said. Not that there will be a next time …
"Good," the tiny child said, now rewarding Sarah with a smile.
Lillet placed a small kiss on Jareth's cheek before scampering away, back to whatever she had been doing that got her so dirty in the first place.
Jareth stood. "That was Lillet," he told Sarah. "She's the daughter of one of my council members. Precocious little thing."
"How does she know about television?" Sarah asked.
"How do you know about fairies and goblins and unicorns?" Jareth countered. "Tales of the aboveground run just as rampid as our stories do aboveground."
Sarah nodded. "Do people from aboveground visit often?" She asked.
"There is the occasional visitor," Jareth said. "People I have met; trustworthy people who we conduct trade with, etc."
"I had no idea you were so reliant on the aboveground," Sarah commented.
"I'm not," Jareth clarified. "However you do have some useful products. I haven't yet been able to train our silkworms into producing the fine garments our ladies are so fond of." He touched the sleeve of Sarah's dress to highlight the delicate silk. "They seem to have the idea, but they have a nasty habit of falling in love with the silk, prefering to destroy it rather than hand it over to anyone else. Selfish little bastards, if you ask me."
Sarah hoped he didn't notice the chill that ran down her spine when his fingers briefly touched her shoulder.
As they passed a small shop at a particular corner, two Fae women exited, giggling to each other as their servants followed behind, trying to carry the results of what had obviously been an extensive shopping trip.
The blonde noticed Jareth first. Her demeanor instantly changed from giddy school girl to vixen. Her brunette friend, noticing the change, immediately followed the blonde's gaze to where Jareth and Sarah stood.
"Your Majesty!" The blonde exclaimed, dropping into a curtsey. Her friend followed suit. "Forgive me, but I didn't see you standing there."
Jareth moved away for a moment to take each of the ladies' hands in turn, dropping a proper kiss on the backs of both. "Lady Leanne, Lady Mae," he identified them both. "It has been an eternity."
Leanne, the fairer of the two, laughed appropriately and fluttered an intricately designed fan in front of her face. "Perhaps not that long, but several years none the less," she said. Her crystal eyes flitted to Sarah. "Who is your friend?"
Jareth pulled Sarah closer to Leanne and Mae. "This is Sarah," Jareth said. "She's visiting from aboveground.
Mae and Leanne exchanged a glance. "It's a pleasure to meet you," Mae finally said, extending her hand. Sarah looked up at Jareth, shrugged and then kissed the back of Mae's hand.
Mae pulled away and wiped her hand on the back of her skirt and Leanne laughed. "She's adorable, Jareth. I'm sure her antics must certainly provide you with hours of entertainment."
Sarah blushed angrily, aware of condescension when she heard it.
"She is a brilliant woman whose company I enjoy immensely," Jareth suddenly quipped, obviously irritated by Mae.
Sarah looked up at him, noting the cool, indifferent glare he was aiming at the gorgeous Fae women.
"If you'll excuse me, ladies," Jareth continued. "Sarah and I are late for an appointment. Send my regards to your families."
And then he placed one arm around Sarah's waist and clasped her hand in his, leading her from the two women who were now gawking at the pair like scolded school children.
They continued to walk for several minutes, perhaps as much as an hour. Neither spoke and Sarah was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with just how comfortable Jareth's hand felt upon the curve of her midsection.
She tried to occupy her mind with other thoughts; the sight of a flower she had never seen before, the style of dress of the citizens of Setanta, the incredible breeze…but nothing could draw her mind away from the warmth on her side, emanating from the man to her left.
She shouldn't be here, enjoying what could only be described as a Sunday Stroll while her freedom depended on her solving the Labyrinth. She was probably running out of time as she thought, once again tricked by the masterful Goblin King. And now she had allowed him to take her to a mysterious new place, God knows how far from his castle.
She was completely under his control, but for some reason it didn't bother her as much as it should have.
The notion that Jareth had put some sort of spell on her to make her so submissive crossed her mind, but she decided that if he was going to go through all that trouble he would just render he completely within his power. Yet she still felt like the same old Sarah, with the same conflicting feelings about the man at her side.
As they walked, the streets became sparser of people. They were headed towards one of the largest castles Sarah had ever imagined, let alone seen. Yet it was still a distance off; a great expansive garden lay between Sarah and Jareth and this new castle.
Jareth led her to the garden entryway. A delicate stone passageway wound around exotic trees, bushes, flowers, vines and some genres of foliage Sarah could not give a name to. Yet all of the wildness surrounding her could not distract Sarah from something that was even more alluring.
Jareth had begun to hum.
It had started out as a mere whisper of sound that Sarah could not actually be sure she heard. But as they drew deeper into the gardens, the sound had grown louder and steadier until she was certain it was coming from Jareth's pale throat.
It was a soothing tune, something Sarah all at once knew and had never heard before. For several minutes, she closed her eyes, allowing Jareth to simply lead her wherever he intended.
His right hand was still resting around her waist, his left hand entwined with her right. It was an intimate embrace that remained proper, reminding Sarah of the covers of her historical romance novels she kept hidden under her bed. His left thumb had begun to move in slow circles over the tenderness of her wrist, sending rhythmic waves of pleasure shooting directly into Sarah's heart.
Some coherent part of Sarah's mind screamed against the entire situation, but that voice was being drowned out by a slow, steady hum that was the only constant in a land where nothing made sense.
"Sarah," Jareth whispered her name. Slowly, Sarah opened her eyes, realizing that they had stopped walking.
They stood a few hundred yards from the end of the gardens. Currently, a tree with enormous silvery leaves blocked out the world around them.
"Where are we?" Sarah asked.
"This is the home of my parents," Jareth said. "Timmius and Rosalind."
"Your parents?" Sarah squeaked. "Why are you bringing me to meet your parents?"
"The High King and Queen must meet any mortal that returns to the underground for a second time," Jareth said lamely. "This is strictly protocol."
"Oh," Sarah said, unable to hide the surprising disappointment of realizing that this trip had been business all along.
Jareth's heart wrenched as he watched Sarah's face redden and turn down to look at her feet.
She couldn't be disappointed, could she?
It wasn't a lie; the High King and Queen did like to meet most mortals spending an unusually long amount of time in the Labyrinth, but that was mainly for trade purposes or to determine trustworthiness.
But Timmius and Rosalind hadn't mentioned meeting Sarah.
And while his mother and father had been aware of Jareth's presence since he first arrived back in Setanta thanks to their omnipitent crystals, the choice to bring Sarah to his childhood home had been completely Jareth's decision.
"Timmius!" Rosalind motioned aggressively from the window she was peeking out of. "Timmius, I see them!"
"Come away from that window, you crazy woman!" Timmius said, shuffling towards his wife. "You'll frighten him away."
"I just can't believe he brought her here," Rosalind said, ignoring her husband and continuing to spy on her son. "It's been years since he's come home," she pointed out. "And now he comes home…and brings a woman! A mortal woman!"
Timmius sighed, lighting his pipe. "You're worse than a teenager," he informed his wife. "I don't know if you're happier that Jareth is in love or that you'll have something to gossip about with the ladies at tea tomorrow."
Rosalind turned and put her hands on her hips. "Put that out!" She said. "You're going to kill yourself."
Timmius sighed. "Horrible wench," he muttered.
"I heard that," Rosalind said, peering out the window again. "Honestly, Timmius. Why do you suppose he's here?"
Timmius tilted his head, much like the way his son did when considering something. "Perhaps he's seeking our approval of Sarah," he said. "Or perhaps this is simply an elaborate plan to defeat the mortal."
Rosalind's eyebrows shot up. "I'm sure that's not it," she said, sounding completely unsure.
"Well, either way," Timmius said, taking one more puff of his pipe before putting it out with a sad face, "I'm sure whatever's about to happen will feed the rumor mill for months."
