Hi everyone! I got a ton of reviews, and that makes me happier than you could ever know, but anyways, I hope this story is being more climatic in a way, as I have planned it to be. Only seven more chapters after this! Don't forget to send me ideas for the Talenti Jar Challenge. If you don't know what that is check the bottom of my profile, and it will explain everything for you, so please PM me for any ideas that you have, and I will be more than happy to put your idea in the jar. Anyways, let's get on with the story! I do not own Labyrinth in any way, shape or form. If I did, I would make this a real thing, the glitter and everything…..
I Need You
Chapter thirteen: Tempting Fate
"Then let's do this thing." I grasped his hand tightly in mine." Together." I told him, giving him a confident smile. He sent the smile back to me before I turned my head to the left, watching the enjoyable show that Kylie and Sir Didymus were putting on unknowingly. They both stood outside of a giant checkered square, giant sticks in their hands. I then heard Sir Didymus scream out.
"I am the master of scrabble! There's no one in this kingdom, who has yet to beat me, fair maiden, so tell me why you think that you could beat me?" He asked Kylie in a prideful tone, puffing his chest out to emphasize that he was manly in a way. Kylie then pointed the stick at him, but did not dare to jab him.
"I know I can win…. Because you have no power over me!" Kylie screeched back to the fox-terrier. Sir Didymus slowly backed up and she advanced closer towards him, the stick threateningly sharp, and that was when I called out.
"Kylie, don't do anything rash!" I paused for a second to think of a punishment if she did jab him. A light bulb then went off in my head.
"If you jab him, I will not ask daddy to make brownies with me, and I know how much you love them…." I said in a threateningly sweet voice to our daughter. I watched as a nervous smile formed on her face and she walked backwards until she reached the giant dirt squared checkered board. She then looked up at him.
"Aren't you going to play with me?" Kylie asked sweetly, giving Sir Didymus the puppy dog eyes and the fake unshed tears, scrunched up nose, and wobbly lip. I heard him cry out a very loud "yes!" before he walked over to her, picking up the stick that had been long forgotten on the ground. They then began to draw little papers out of a pouch that Sir Didymus had, beginning their game.
Over near the wall I watched as Hoggle shot fairies with his little air compressor, or whatever the hell it was. I didn't like the fact that Hoggle was doing that near my daughter, but it was better than the first thing I had seen him do when I entered the labyrinth. I shuddered quickly, pushing the memory out of my mind. I then turned my attention back to Jareth, who had an amused smile on his face as he watched our daughter play with the fox-terrier, moments like these could only go by too fast.
""Hey Jareth, can you tell me more about this Alastair guy? You said that he might have information about Garrett, but I would like to know how he would have information about him if Garrett was born in the Aboveground in the first place, as well as you." I questioned him quickly, hoping that he understood my rushed words. He nodded and looked up at the sky, as if trying to remember something that had been misplaced. But his gaze came back down as quickly as it had darted up. His gaze landed back on me.
"Growing up, I didn't tell you this, but Alastair was what you would call in the Aboveground, a lab teacher, which in this case, was Alastair. If for any reason my father took an illness, I would be practicing potions with him all day instead of other topics, mathematics and such. Alastair is, in a way, an uncle figure to me, and a brother figure to my mother, which he had deep respect for, and we could all see that. Getting to the point, when I was taken under both the Goblin King and Goblin Queen's supervision, or became their son in other words, I became a member of the royal family. This means, that Garrett is a prince. Being a prince he had duties, but only for the Aboveground, for he was too much of a danger down here." Jareth paused for a second, thinking of what to tell me next.
"So, being the royalty that he was, he got special teachers as well, just as I did. He was taught about the Underground, the royal family and throne. But most of all, he was taught magic, magic that he began using selfishly after he had convinced his potions teacher to get him one of the spell books from our library here in the castle, which only contained magic that could be used for defense. My father tired to warn him, but that blasted old man had to just shrug my father off and give that book to my bastard of a brother!" Jareth seethed, his nostrils flaring like a charging bull. I rubbed my hand over his softly, urging him to take his time and continue, and so he did.
"My brother did not deserve anything that he was given. All because of my damn royalty he got what I got, only I had it better. Soon after Garrett had received the book of defensive spells, ironically, the Troll and Fae war began. Yes, the trolls had always had a grudge on us, but we did not do anything else to engage in war with them. Alastair visited us shortly after the war ended and my father on his death bed, telling me that he thought that Garrett had something to do with it, considering that this had all happened after he had gotten that damned book! I do not know the rest, but I swear to god that if he hurts Kylie or you, I will decapitate my damnable brother, and make him suffer in hell." Jareth finished, a dark and menacing look creeping into his eyes.
'Damn it, if he has a book of defensive spells then I am weak, I cannot protect Kylie unless I have more training with controlling my powers. Hopefully though, I might just have a chance when we go to Alastair, just to at least be of some help fighting Garrett.' I thought to myself silently, a little piece of hope hung down in my heart while the rest was doubt, knowing that it would be too hard for me to control if all I did was exert it too quickly.
"Jareth, you told me a few minutes ago that my own magic could kill me, and that you saw blue and black sparks fly off of my body. What does this mean?" I inquired to him, shivering at the thought of my death being my own cause. He glared at me with sad eyes, which were no longer deep in their tones with menace.
"Your crystal is a flaming blue ball, and that is your trademark, just as mine is a simple crystal. Blue sparks, in this case, is the fire that hovers over your crystal, and when it sparks with black, which would be fear or darkness-"Jareth paused, trying to form words on how to explain it.
"Magic always comes with a price, and I have studied fae magic for years. This is very common for people who are just getting a hold on their power, but can't control it. You let the fear consume you in that dream and the fear were those black sparks. The more that you let your fear consume you, the more blue sparks die out, and when they are all gone…" Jareth's voice trailed off, now wanting to say anymore. I nodded in understanding.
"I would die, or fall into oblivion." I finished his sentence, not wanting him to say the words. Jareth nodded and pulled me into a tight embrace, which I welcomed gladly. I felt little spots of wetness impact with my hair and scalp, cooling the area tremendously. Jareth was sobbing softly into my hair, his nose nuzzling my forehead. I buried my face into the crook of his neck, inhaling the sweet scent of peaches and tree bark, which I had come to enjoy so much. I then spoke up, my voice muffled slightly by the skin of his neck, but he could still hear me clearly.
"Please, teach me how to control my magic, even if you can only help a little." I pleaded to Jareth, hoping that he would consider my suggestion. I heard him inhale a deep sigh and release it slowly the cool air contrasting with the wet tears that now dampened my hair. Jareth pulled me away from him and I wiped away the remainder of his tears, giving him a sad, but loving smile. He slowly returned the smile within some time, but he still felt uneasy. I quickly pecked him on the lips and I stood up, taking him with me as our hands were still entwined with each other's.
I pulled him away from the bench that we sat on and I trekked up the hill where it all started. I slowly let go of his hand and I walked several feet away from him, where I then turned towards him, waiting patiently for us to begin the little that we could do.
"Okay Sarah, if you want me to help you control your magic even in the slightest, you have to do exactly as I say, do you understand?" He asked me gently. I quickly nodded at him, waiting for what he was going to say next.
"I need you to close your eyes and picture a simple crystal, one of such that I hold with my magic." Jareth told me, his voice ringing loud and clear. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, picturing a simple crystal as Jareth would have in my mind. I gave him a quick thumbs up, signaling for him to continue as I kept my eyes shut.
"I now want you to tap into your magic and look directly in the center of the crystal, but do not open your eyes; you should have a reaction when you do this." He stated plainly. I did what he said and pulled the magic that slept deep below somewhere in my mind out, now focusing it into the center of the crystal ball. I furrowed my brow in concentration until I heard a click, and with that the simple crystal evolved into a blue blazing inferno, the round shape not changing in the slightest. I felt a successful smile grown on my face.
"Jareth I did it!" I squealed, not opening my eyes just yet. He then spoke again.
"I am very proud that you have accomplished this so fast. Now for the next step, diminish the ball, imagine it gone from your mind." He praised and spoke simply. I nodded and I made the picture disappear from my mind. All of a sudden I felt as if a heavy burden had been taken off of me. A burden that I never even knew was there.
"I did it!" I shouted out to him in confidence. I felt his gaze on me. "Can I open my eyes now?" I asked him.
"Yes you may, you have successfully learned how to store your power and refrain it from getting out as easily." He praised once more. I opened my eyes quickly, the light from the Underground's sun shining brightly in my eyes compared to the darkness that was behind the blue blazing inferno.
I ran over to Jareth and I kissed him. Hard. The feeling of accomplishment was so strong that I just had to let it out, and that's exactly what I did; I let it out on him. But he didn't mind, as I felt him kiss me back just as fiercely. I clutched onto his shirt tightly, my fingers forming small indents on the soft cloth of his poet's shirt. I felt his tongue swipe across my bottom lip quickly and I obliged to him. Moans and groans came out of our mouths involuntarily, as if it was just what we had to do. We weren't like teenagers who would just make out because they thought it was actual love.
This was actual love. This was the man I had a child with. This was my home, no, our home, as it always will be.
We pulled away a few seconds later, breathing in and out rapidly before Jareth caught my chin to bring me in for another kiss, but a loud roar rang throughout the valley before he could. I looked to my left where the sound had originated from, and a giant red and orange figure with dark brown horns that curved outwards and made loud noises as it walked. On the left of the giant furry figure Ambrosius strutted, the saddle on his back swaying left and right. I quickly pecked Jareth on the lips one last time before I sprinted down the hill and into Ludo's arms.
"Oh Ludo, it's been too long!" I squealed to him, embracing him tightly.
"Sawah?" Ludo asked, an adorable and irresistible look on his face. I patted his back.
"Yup, that's me Ludo!" I told him happily; glad to see another friend that I hadn't talked to in god knows how many years.
"Sawah fwiend." Ludo stated pulling me into a death-grip tight hug. I quickly tried to pry him off of me after a few seconds.
"Ludo... can't breathe…" I choked out, desperately trying to get his arms out from around me. Ludo soon got the message and let me go. I grasped my throat, coughing slightly from the lack of air, with the new air that was now infiltrating my lungs.
"Ludo sawrry Sawah." Ludo apologized, bowing his head down. I put my hand on his shoulder and he peered back up at me.
"It's okay Ludo; just don't squeeze so hard next time." I told him politely, not wanting to come off as rude. I motioned with my hand for Ambrosius to come over to me, which he did obediently, despite me not being his master.
"Good boy Ambrosius." I praised him, giving him a treat that sat in the satchel on his side. I quickly handed him the treat and I walked back over to Ludo and grabbed his hand, walking him over the hill where Jareth stood, watching me with a careful eye. I then decided to send him a little message of my own.
"You don't have to worry about me, just watch over Kylie and Sir Didymus; I still don't exactly trust her with that sharp stick of hers." I told Jareth honestly, watching as he now switched his gaze over to the two of them.
"No blood yet, precious. By the way, what are these "brownies" that you spoke of earlier, they sound very intriguing." Jareth inquired, sending a smirk on his face. I blushed.
"They are an Aboveground dessert that is enjoyed by many. It has chocolate fudge mix, butter, eggs, vegetable oil, and a few other things needed to make the recipe, but you would love it. Kylie loves it because of how I make it, and I'm sure you would too if you help me make them tonight." I sent a suggestive, and yet innocent smile his way. A playful and yet evil glare formed on his face.
"You little minx." Jareth growled huskily. I laughed; this was just a little game of persuasion that I liked to play on my part with him.
"So I'll take that as a yes? Thank you!" I responded in the message quickly before I began to pull Ludo along faster. As we trekked up the hill together we passed Jareth, who still had the playful glare on his face.
I waved to him as we walked by, giving him a great big sarcastic smile.
Once we descended down the hill everyone's' attention was focused on us. I then heard a loud and high-pitched voice ring out in the valley.
"How many friends' do you have mommy?" Kylie shouted up to me, both of her hands cupping the sides of her mouth to emphasize the point that she was trying to shout at me or get my attention in some way. I then spoke up.
"More than you can count." I stated to her simply as we neared closer to Sir Didymus and Kylie, who both still held their sharp sticks in their hands, the dirt on the ground behind them messed up with different shapes and letters. It was the oddest game of Scrabble that I have ever seen. I watched as Kylie peered at Ludo, who was currently petting Ambrosius, and she dropped her stick, grabbing everyone's' attention unknowingly.
Kylie ran over to Ludo and almost jumped on him, practically squeezing him to death with the squealing of the name of "Fluffy." I laughed, she did this to every strange and unnamed creature with fur, as well as dogs and cats. Kylie pulled away after I managed to pull her out of the grip that she had on him. After she was detached from Ludo he swept his gaze down at her facial features, were undeniably just like Jareth's. Ludo then peered up at me, tilting his large head towards the side.
"Sawah, child?" Ludo questioned slowly, inhaling and exhaling deep breaths as he spoke. I nodded slowly, putting my hands on Kylie's small shoulders, my back now hunched over slightly, but I still kept my gaze up at Ludo.
"Ludo, this is Kylie, King Jareth and I's daughter. Kylie, this is one of my friends that I met in the labyrinth, Ludo." I introduced them both to each other, curious looks crossing both of their faces as they continued to examine each other. Once Ludo was finished looking at Kylie he then spoke up loudly, nearing just a bit closer to her.
"Kywie, friend?" He asked her quizzically, a curious expression dancing through his eyes. Kylie waved her hand at him.
"Of course you're my friends; mommy always says it's good to have more friends." Kylie stated, walking into Ludo's arms for another embrace, this time both of them hugging. Suddenly the red color from Kylie's cheeks flushed out, leaving only paleness in its wake.
"Mommy… can't….. breath!" Kylie managed to squeak out as Ludo held her in a death grip of a hug, surely much tighter than mine. Her lips then began to run a slight blue color from lack of oxygen in the body. Jareth jumped off the ground that he stood on on the hill, flying over to us at quick speed as I ran over to Kylie, pulling her out of Ludo's accidental death grip.
Jareth quickly transformed back into his fae form before Ludo, a look of fury settling in his eyes, but he managed to keep his voice calm as he spoke.
"I would like it if you wouldn't choke our daughter to death. She is only five after all, compared to your hundreds of years. Go careful on her…." Jareth warned menacingly, his calm voice keeping the hidden threat laced in his words. Ludo nodded and looked down at Kylie, who was gripping at her throat as she inhaled the new air that kept giving her life.
"Ludo sowrry" He apologized slowly, bending his head down in shame. I quickly sent a message mentally to Jareth.
"Watch over Kylie, and don't be so harsh on him, he didn't mean to hug her so hard." I asked him, watching as he turned his gaze towards Kylie. He walked calmly over to Kylie and kneeled down beside her, rubbing one of her shoulders and patting her back soothingly. I walked over to Ludo in a speedy pace, putting both of my hands on his shoulders.
"I know that you didn't mean it Ludo, don't worry, she is okay and that's all that matters. Now, give me a hug, one that won't kill me though." I said jokingly. I saw a smile form on Ludo's face as he slowly finished the distance between us and he embraced me tightly as I did, and it was not the death grip this time, but rather a very friendly and kind gesture way. We quickly pulled apart after an "ahem" was heard. We then looked over to see Hoggle standing there, his hands behind his back with a slight grin on his face.
"Aren't I part of ye celebration meeting once again eh?" Hoggle inquired to the both of us, a playful grin almost dancing in his eyes. I backed away from Ludo slowly so I could usher Sir Didymus and Ambrosius over to where we were all now standing, practically in a circle.
Ambrosius quickly knelt down and let Sir Didymus mount onto him, taking off at a fast speed once he was securely on Ambrosius. As Ambrosius sprinted over to us, his feet collided with the dirt and sandy ground, kicking up quite a bit of the dust and leaving a cloud in their path, almost like what you would see in a western movie.
"Ambrosius slow down will ye? We are to pass them if you do not slow down this instant!" Sir Didymus yelled at Ambrosius, who comically made a screeching halt sound and back up slowly, finally forming into a complete circle now.
The trio of them began to talk and catch up on new events and other happenings that involved the Underground as I walked over to Kylie and Jareth, who were doing something with each other. I then heard a deep voice ring out across the valley, and I realized that Jareth was singing to her.
I saw my baby, crying hard as babe could cry.
What could I do?
My baby's love had gone, and left my baby blue.
Nobody knew what kind of magic spell to use.
I then heard Kylie filling in the words to the missing parts of the song. Why did this sound so familiar? I felt like I've heard this song somewhere a very long time ago.
Slime and snails.
Puppy dog's tails.
Thunder or lightening.
Then baby said…
Jareth then proceeded to swing her in the air, but not letting her go as he began to chant loudly with her.
Dance magic dance. Dance magic dance. Dance magic. Put that baby spell on me.
Jump magic jump. Jump magic jump. Jump magic jump. Put that magic jump on me.
I listened as the song slowly ended and a new one came on. "Our song." I thought to myself peering down at the necklace that I wore. Realization quickly came to me as soon as I saw the my right hand was clutching the silver crescent moon tightly, the lock opening and letting the orchestra of music around is flow. I watched as Jareth's attention quickly darted to me as he placed Kylie back down on the ground, where she then sprinted off to the center of the trio that stood in the circle. Once I made sure that Kylie was safe within their little circle I hiked up to Jareth, holding my dress up to look more polite. Once I arrived right in front of Jareth he bowed, his gaze not wavering from mine for a second. I curtsied back to him and he put his hand around my waist, his hand in my other as my other hand gripped at his shoulder. He then whispered in my ear.
"If you wanted to dance with me precious all you had to do was ask." He stated to me simply, a playful tone in his voice. I scoffed.
"I didn't want to ruin the father and daughter moment between you and Kylie; after all, you have a lot of bonding to do. Five years won't fix itself, it just needs healing, and that's all that we can do for now." I whispered back in his ear, trying to bring back the innocent tone in my voice. I felt him shudder against me and whisper again.
"You are just tempting fate, aren't you my precious Sarah?" He inquired to me, raising a suggestive eyebrow at me. I smacked my hand against his shoulder lightly, that so not being the case. It was true, five years of Jareth not in her life really had taken a toll on her, as well as the constant question of when her daddy would come home. I knew that I could never forgive myself for telling her that he was such a busy man, and even that he didn't have time to see us.
How could I ever forgive myself for doing something so cruel to an innocent little creature like Kylie? She was more compassionate then I could ever imagine, she had a bright heart that would put the sun to shame, and yet despite her heart always being so bright and her imagination wild, but she always had sat in the backyard of my childhood home, gazing up at the endless clouds that would rest in the sky.
I remembered the one time we went cloud gazing together in West Wycombe Park and Kylie had spotted a perfectly rounded shaped circle and pointed it out. It had reminded me of him so much; his simple crystals that could make dreams come true or be used for persuasion. She had told me that it looked like a bouncy ball that she had gotten from a grocery store vending machine, where Robert and Karen used to take her when I was busy at work, which was mostly caring for the pets at a local animal shelter near my old house, where I could just as easily walk to and from my house and work almost every day. Except weekends, I never took weekends.
That was our day.
I was suddenly jarred out of my thoughts as Jareth spun me around far too quickly for my tastes and I almost tripped over my own feet, almost sending me tumbling into his arms. I glared up at him with an evil glare in my eyes. He grinned amusedly.
"What is it precious, too quick for you to catch up?" He teased, spinning me around quickly yet again. But this time I did stumble, and almost into the patch of dirt behind me. Jareth quickly caught me in his arms, a cheeky grin on his face.
"You planned that didn't you….you….you…" I struggled to find words as he leaned in closer to me.
"Prince charming? At least as you would call it in those fairytales that you have Aboveground. Besides, it sounds like a perfectly suitable name for a man like me." Jareth said in a narcissist tone. He was playing around with me, and I could definitely tell because I was very much used to it.
'Two could play at that game glitter man.' I sent a telepathic message to him, smirking deviously. Jareth pretended to put his hand over his heart and swoon or die, I couldn't even tell which because he was such a bad actor.
"Oh Sarah precious, you wound me!" He said in a fake drama king tone. I scoffed pushing him off of me, causing me to finally fall into the dirt patch. I quickly stood up, brushing off the back of my dress with a few pats from my hand. Once I was sure it was all of I closed my necklace, ending the song as it neared the dying sounds of the orchestra. I then peered back up at Jareth.
"Thank you for the wonderful dance, but I must also ask another question. When will we be going to meet this Alastair man? He sounds like a very interesting person in mind who I would like to meet. I have more questions to ask him than you could ever think." I asked him in a quick rush of words, hoping that he had heard everything that I had said clearly so I could go check on Kylie, who I currently couldn't see due to the trio that was surrounding her. I then heard Jareth speak up again.
"It depends precious, if you want to take care of this situation right now, then we could. But I brought you here to meet up with your friends because I knew that you would eventually ask me to. And I brought Kylie here, not only because she is our daughter, but because she will be an official princess soon, and she should start to make friends here in the Underground, which I can tell that she is already getting along just fine with already." Jareth stated plainly a deep emotion wavering in his eyes. But I almost wavered at one of the words that I had caught onto as he spoke.
'Soon, what does he mean by soon?" I thought to myself quietly. I then decided to speak up again.
"Jareth, what do you mean by soon? You just said that Kylie will be an official princess soon. What do you mean by soon, and when is soon as you so put it." I inquired of him, giving him several thoughts to think about. Jareth then looked deep into my eyes and got down on one knee once more.
"I want you to marry me Sarah, and whenever you want to be married it shall be done. Just fear me, love me, do as I say, and I will be your slave, for as long as you wish it."
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Hi everyone! I managed to get this one done right before I had to get even more work done. Yay time crunches and bedtimes! I have gotten a ton of reviews, so once again, thank you so much, I really do appreciate it. Please follow, favorite or review my story, because I need more reviews for inspiration and to support in helping me continue this story. I can't believe that the journey will be over soon, but not to worry! I will have a new fan fiction in the process of being made every month! Love you all!
-Emma51020