Greetings, readers! Thanks for waiting…again. I hope you all enjoyed our little underwater adventure, 'cause this is where the rescue starts to kick in! So buckle your seatbelts! And by the way, I DON'T OWN ANY OF THE SONGS IN THIS CHAPTER.
Also: THIS CHAPTER IS SPECIALLY DEDICATED TO WHOEVER MADE THAT LABYRINTH VIDEO ON YOUTUBE OF THE LIVE VERSION OF "BEAUTIFUL DISASTER." IF YOU KNOW WHO DID IT OR YOU ARE THE ONE WHO MADE IT, PLEASE TELL ME SO I CAN FAVORITE THE VIDEO, 'CAUSE I CAN'T FIND IT! That is all.
"Hell has not seen nor Heaven created the one who can prevail against me."—Don Quixote, Man of LaMancha
Chapter 13: Sarah Runs the Gauntlet
The ferry boat was almost to the shore now, and Sarah started to focus more on her task.
'Where would I keep a unicorn in a castle like that?' she wondered, 'And what will I have to do to get to her?'
"Sarah." The voice was so young that for a moment, it sounded like Toby; she looked and saw it was only Addie, her mermaid friend.
"I…" said Addie, "I want to give you this…you know, should you happen to fall in the lake again."
"Oh?" Sarah moved over to the side curiously. Addie revealed her left wrist, around which was a seaweed bracelet with about five or six pearls on it a few inches apart; several mermaids were wearing similar accessories. She removed it and slipped it around Sarah's left wrist.
"Here," she said, "It's a mermaid's gift to a mortal, so it'll protect you from danger in the water! I want you to keep it in case…I'm not here to protect you again." Sarah smiled adoringly at her and held her hand.
"Thank you, Addie," she said sincerely, "I'll keep it forever."
"You're welcome!" Addie brightened, "I'll swim around the island and keep watch for you if you need me, 'kay?"
"Thanks," Sarah beamed, "but don't get yourself hurt, okay?" Addie nodded and held Sarah's hand back.
"This is as far as I can go, Sarah," she said sadly, "but I'll be watching and praying for you, I promise."
"Don't worry about me, Addie," Sarah replied gently, "I've got my friends with me."
"And the Goblin King," Addie softly reminded her. She stopped moving with the boat and their hands slid apart; Addie stayed where she was with some of the other mermaids dotted behind her and Sarah leaned over the side with her hair hanging over the water.
"Come and see me, okay?" she called as the boat left the mermaids behind, "I'll invite you to my prom!"
"I will!" Addie waved, "I promise!"
Sarah waved a bit more and looked at the bracelet she'd given her; each pearl was as luminous as the moonlight it reflected. A gloved hand closed around hers gently; she half-turned to see Jareth and he surprised her by hugging her sideways with a slight fierceness.
"Jareth, what's wrong?" she asked, stunned.
"I'm sorry, Sarah," he whispered into her hair, "I've come all this way with you and now I'm useless."
"What are you talking about?" she asked lowly, aware of how incredibly close together they were. Her forehead was nestled snugly against his throat; she was sure he felt the fever she was getting from this closeness…but was too preoccupied to acknowledge it.
"I can't come with you," he answered, tightening his hold on her, "My brother has summoned me to his castle. I'm afraid I can't refuse him." His hand wove its way into her hair, at the back of her head.
'Huh?' she thought confusingly.
"Why not?" she asked, watching as the island came closer to them.
"You might not understand," he said, "but let's just say it goes against my instincts."
Her fist instinctively clutched his shirt sleeve; this did not feel good!
"I don't want you to go," she blurted, "He's going to do something to you, I know it!" She felt his throat move with his chuckle.
"I don't doubt it," he smiled, "but I'll be all right, and so will you. I'll be watching you, Sarah."
He pulled her face back and met her eyes softly; he was close enough to kiss her and he wanted to so badly. He wanted to wrap her up in one arm, summon a crystal, and take her back to his castle, where she'd be safe (well…safer) with the goblins and the Labyrinth, away from his vindictive brother and his macabre surroundings. Instead, he was forced to content himself with holding her for one moment and drink in her presence as much as he could.
His hands moved to the sides of her hand and the ridge of his nose to her forehead. His eyes closed.
"I'm always watching you," he whispered slowly before kissing her forehead with as much tenderness as if he'd kissed her lips. Now Sarah knew: There was no point in asking him to stay.
Jareth had to actually remove her hands from him now; she'd let herself get to a point where she felt like she wouldn't be able to breathe without him. His absence would be tantamount to an abrupt cut-off of her oxygen; what she didn't know was how painful it was for him as well. Every step he'd have to take away from her would be like walking on live coals; every ticking of the clock would be a razor sharp stab in his heart. The fact that he'd be with his brother didn't help, either.
Without warning or another word from him, Sarah's hair blew across her face in a sudden gust of wind. She quickly moved it away just in time to see a beautiful owl flying toward the top towers of Castle Oblivion. A few feathers drifted down to her like a protective charm; she reached out and caught one. Natella caught another one. Sarah turned to her; she was chuckling.
"Lord Jareth has style, I'll give him that," she said, "And he hasn't stiffed me on your fee, either." She held up her feather; it was golden brown and dusted with starlight.
"Paid in full," said Natella, "Now go, Sarah. And be careful."
"Thank you, Natella," Sarah replied, "I will. Come on, guys! Let's save ourselves a unicorn!"
To have said the island sand was soft and fine would have been a gross understatement; it was more like sand that had gone through a coffee grinder or a flour sifter. It was black inside and ashen gray on top and made no sound as the boat dropped up on it. There was a silence all around that made Sarah depressed. She felt Ludo's fur brush behind her and heard him whimper. She turned and held his arm.
"It's okay, Ludo," she smiled, "We'll be all right as long as we stay together. Right, guys?"
"Right!" beamed Hoggle.
"Verily!" cheered Didymus from his steed, "We are with thee to the very end, my lady!" Sarah nodded and took her first steps on the Island of the Gargoyle City.
At first there was nothing but the dark soft sand and a terrain of jagged black stone that shone like deadly polished daggers, as if the gargoyles had sliced them themselves fro their king's castle. They made Sarah think.
"The only surefire way to kill a gargoyle is to either stab him in the heart with a knife of stone…" she remembered Jemna's words. She trotted over to a normal sized-looking pile of the sharp black rocks and chose one that was halfway between a sword and a dagger; it felt good in her hand and handled well when she tried it out. Its bottom made an excellent hilt, too!
"Hey, that's not a bad idea!" said Hoggle as he hopped over to choose one for himself. He turned it over and gnawed around the bottom to make a hilt.
"Doesn't that hurt?" Sarah asked amazingly.
"About as much as a baby with a teething ring," he chuckled.
"Well met, Sir Hoggle!" Didymus chirped, "Now that we are well-armed, onward and upward!"
Sarah led the way uphill with Hoggle and Didymus flanking her and Ludo bravely lumbering behind.
Soon the barren land began to look almost civilized as they passed many crude enclosures of black stone with boundaries drawn, jagged rocks side by side to make fences, and a strange symbol carved over each "house" that looked like ancient Norse runes. No one was around.
"Where is everyone?" Sarah whispered nervously. Hoggle patted her arm.
"Look," he pointed quietly. Straight ahead was a massive wall of smooth, shiny, very pointy black marble. Sarah guessed this must be the city wall.
The black clouds parted and the moon cast a beam on the topmost peak; it shone with a "sheen!" sound that got louder and brighter. Sarah gasped.
"Look out!" she exclaimed as a shower of black rocks rained down toward them. They quickly ran to an overhang for shelter from the bombardment.
"What's going on?" Sarah shouted.
"It was a signal!" Hoggle answered, "They somehow knew we were coming!"
The rocks continued to fall; Ludo was getting more and more frightened by the minute until finally, he howled in fear—loud and long. Sir Didymus gasped.
"Look yonder, my lady!" he shouted above the noise. Sarah looked and also gasped in amazement.
The gargoyles that were throwing rocks were falling! Ludo's howl was calling them down, pulling them to the earth! The rocks they'd thrown were tumbling to the goblins and building a fence around them!
"I've got an idea!" Sarah said as she climbed over the rocky fence, "Ludo! Every time you see a gargoyle, howl at him, okay?"
"A most fortuitous plan, my lady!" chirped Didymus as he hurtled the rocks on Ambrosious.
"Hoggle," she continued, "when a gargoyle comes at us, we'll destroy it with our swords, okay?" He nodded and stood by her with his crude sword at the ready.
"Everybody keep close to Ludo, all right?" said Sarah. They nodded.
"Okay!" she shouted, "Charge!" They ran out from the overhang toward the city walls. The rocks kept coming, but Ludo's howling virtually shielded them. He set his sights on a gargoyle and howled at him; he came flying at them against his will, flailing and screaming.
'Stab him in the heart…' Jemna's words replayed again in her head, then her own thoughts. 'I have to hit him straight in the heart.' She drew back, focusing on her target; when he was close enough, she thrust forward, putting all her weight into her sword as it made a clean cut into the middle of his chest. He made a slight gagging sound and his limbs flew forward shortly before Sarah sent him arching over her head, yanking her sword out as he went. She turned back her head briefly to watch his body turn to dust as he rolled across the ground.
"Nice shot, Sarah!" said Hoggle as he jumped and killed a second one, "Heeyah! Woo-hoo!"
"You too, Hoggle!" she smiled. They continued to proceed in this fashion and finally made their way to the wall. They could see no door, no drawbridge, nothing but gargoyle guards at the tip top.
"Look, my lady!" said Didymus, "The guards have withdrawn!" Sarah craned her neck and looked up the sheerness of the wall; sure enough, they were gone. Ludo must have scared them.
"Now what?" asked Hoggle.
"I guess we knock," Sarah shrugged simply and knocked on the wall like it was someone's door. A hole appeared and widened to Ludo's size; they stood back. Sarah gasped when an almond-shaped pair of exotic, electric green eyes slit open in the dark with cat's pupils. Sarah straightened up, narrowed her eyes, and took a big breath, summoning all her courage.
"My name is Sarah," she said clearly, "I wish to enter the Gargoyle City!"
A strange sound answered her, a sort of purring sound, and the eyes squinted as if their owner was smiling.
"How droll," said a sultry female voice. A lion's paw stepped out of the darkness and Sarah's heart jumped back in her throat when she saw a lion emerge from the wall as high as her head with a beautiful woman's face and honey blonde hair shaped like a mane and, tucked neatly behind her strong shoulders, a beautiful pair of huge, powerful wings with each feather in place. She was beautiful for a sphinx…or a griffin, whichever it was. Sarah wasn't sure if she was more awed or terrified. She sat gracefully on her haunches.
"Welcome, Sarah," she smiled warmly, "My name is Lea. I am the gatekeeper of the Gargoyle City." Sarah blinked.
"You mean you work for Jathan?" she said, perplexed. Lea nodded.
"It's not such a bad job," she said, "not if you don't mind the years of isolation, the stifling darkness, the endless tormenting and mistreatment of the gargoyles, not to mention the lousy pay. (…) But other than that, it's not bad!"
"Uh…" Sarah said awkwardly, "So, what do I do to pass through your gate…Lea?"
"Sing," she answered simply.
"Oh!" Sarah perked up, "Really? Is that all?"
"Not so fast," Lea lifted her tail, "You must sing three songs, and each must apply to the criteria I give you. Does it still sound easy?"
"Yeah," Sarah replied, fake-sure, "Sure! Why not?"
"Very well," Lea nodded, "You will sing three songs for me from the very core of your heart and I will admit you into the Gargoyle City. Are you ready?"
Sarah cleared her throat and hummed a few times, then straightened up.
"Yes," she lifted her chin, "I'm ready."
"Good," said Lea, "First: Sing me the song that most reminds you of the first person who ever loved you."
Sarah thought for a moment; who had loved her before anyone else? Then it hit her.
'Mom.' Of course! The strong image of her mother flashed in her memory, the first face that had greeted her with a true smile, the first one to welcome her into the world with open arms.
Sarah gently closed her eyes and laid her hands over her heart, remembering her mother's favorite song, the one that always made her think of her.
Memory
Turn your face to the moonlight
Let your memory lead you
Open up, enter in
If you find there
the meaning of what happiness is,
then a new life will begin
The hand directly over her heart gripped her shirt with inner strength and her hair seemed to float, despite the lack of wind.
Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then
Sarah remembered the days with her mother and spoke them in the song.
I remember
a time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again
Now she put in the memories of the harshness of her mother's acting career, the pressures of the theater and how they affected her marriage and her health.
Burnt-out ends of smoky days
The stale, cold smell of morning
Her voice strengthened with the drama of the ballad.
The streetlamp dies
Another night is over
Another day is dawning!
She felt her emotional energy beginning to drain as she thought of her mother's death—the car crash, the hospital, the tears—and she sang to the moon.
Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I mustn't give in
When the dawn comes,
tonight will be a memory, too
And a new day will begin
Her strength was gone and she fell to her knees, leaning on her hands and trying to breathe.
High in the prison tower, the unicorn/maiden was kneeling in the barred square of moonlight from her 20-feet high window when a strong breeze flew down to her. She smelled on it the scent of mountain waterfalls, lush green forests, and vibrant spring flowers.
The scent of a virgin!
She felt distress from her and her eyes shimmered and her horn glowed; she sent her voice to her on the wind.
Suddenly, Sarah felt power and strength returning to her on the wind, and a young woman's voice was singing!
Sunlight through the trees in summer
Endless masquerading
Sarah joined it.
Like a flower as the dawn is breaking
She smiled and finished on her own.
The memory is fading!
With the wind blowing in her hair and her strength returned, Sarah rose to her feet and belted out the rest of the song, again, to the moon.
Touch me!
It's so easy to leave me
all alone with the memory
of my days in the sun
She held the feather she'd caught up to the moon and almost felt she was speaking to Jareth himself.
If you touch me,
you'll understand what happiness is
She looked toward the castle.
Look
A new day has begun
Lea let the human's voice linger in the air before purring her approval.
"That was beautiful," she said while bowing her head, "For your second song, sing to me what most reminds you of the truest friend you've ever had."
Sarah turned her face up thoughtfully with her hands pressed together against her chin; she didn't have too many friends at school except Ruby, a real sweetheart of a girl. She was true, but not that deeply. Who was the one friend she always had, no matter what? Who was there to stay when the goblins went away?
'Oh!' she clicked, 'Toby!' Just thinking about her precious little brother made her smile like the sun: His bouncy hair, his bright eyes, his easy smile, his refreshing innocence with a pinch of magical wisdom, everything about him that attracted people to him. She sang.
Why do birds suddenly appear
every time you are near?
Just like me, they long to be
close to you
She smiled at Lea in spite of herself and shrugged her shoulders with her hands in her pockets.
Why do stars fall down from the sky
every time you walk by?
Just like me, they long to be
close to you…
She held out the "you" and stretched her arms out and up; then she started dancing around on her toes like a ballerina with baby Toby in her head.
On the day that you were born,
the angels got together
and decided to create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moondust in your hair
and golden starlight in your eyes of blue
She twirled around once and leapt backwards to stand by Ludo and she leaned on his arm and swayed to the next stanza.
That is why all the girls in town
follow you all around
Just like me, they long to be
close to you
She hummed the short instrumental break while dancing around her friends, grabbed Hoggle's hands, and danced in a circle with him.
On the day that you were born,
the angels got together
and decided to create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moondust in your hair
and golden starlight in your eyes of blue!
Still holding Hoggle's hand (and obviously getting carried away) she went back to Ludo and held his other arm, making both of them sway with her.
That is why all the girls in town
follow you all around
Just like me, they long to be
close to you!
She looked forward with an expression of pure and genuine sisterly love for Toby and Lea was able to see the spark in her human's eyes.
Just like me, they long to be…
close to you
Lea waved her forepaws up and down like a kitten batting at a string.
"Good job, Sarah!" she cheered, "That was adorable! And I could tell it came from your heart. Now if that came from the heart, I can't wait for the third!"
"Bring it on!" Sarah smiled confidently.
"Very well," Lea smiled back slyly, "For your third and final song, sing to me that which most reminds you of the one you love more than anyone else."
Sarah froze and her face flared up; Lea had an evil smile on her beautiful face—not like villainous evil, but like a close girlfriend asking about a crush.
Sarah turned away for a moment, trying to collect her thoughts. Who did she love? Her parents, Toby, her goblin friends…
And Jareth.
She gasped softly with wide eyes and whipped her head up.
Is that what had happened to her? Had she fallen in love with the Goblin King? Every encounter they'd had flashed across her memory, from when he took Toby away to when he'd left her on Natella's boat. She thought of his eyes, so beautiful and sad…his hair, so soft and wild…his voice, dark and melodious. He'd done so much to protect her, to make her happy. She wondered why he bothered with her when he was so tortured himself.
She reached in her shirt pocket and removed the golden brown owl feather; the moonlight made it burn in silver.
'Jareth…'
He drowns in his dreams
She lightly fingered the feather.
An exquisite extreme I know
She turned back to Lea.
He's as d—ned as he seems
and more heaven than a heart could hold
And if I try to save him,
my whole world would cave in
It just ain't right
Lord, it just ain't right
She looked up toward the castle, where she knew he was watching.
Oh, and I don't know
I don't know what he's after
She could feel the longing in her own eyes as she sang what she felt pouring from her heart.
But he's so beautiful
He's such a beautiful disaster
And if I could hold on
through the tears and the laughter
Once again, Sarah held up the small feather against the moon.
Lord, would it be beautiful,
or just a beautiful disaster?
Images from her adventure in the Labyrinth arose in her mind's eye as she sang (whichever ones the reader likes).
He's magic and myth
He's strong as what I believe
My tragedy with
more damage than a soul should see
She held the feather to her heart.
But do I try to change him?
It's so hard not to blame him
Hold me tight (She closed her eyes)
Baby, hold me tight
She could almost feel his arms around her and she wanted so badly to be with him again that she could hardly breathe.
Oh, and I don't know
I don't know what he's after
but he's so beautiful
He's such a beautiful disaster
The hand that held the feather became a fist over her pounding heart.
And if I could hold on
through the tears and the laughter,
would it be beautiful
or just a beautiful disaster?
Her singing became more passionate now.
I'm longing for love and the logical
She looked at her feather.
But he's only happy hysterical
I'm searching for some kind of miracle
I've waited so long
Waited so long
She hung her head and fought against the threatening tears. Her emotions only made his image more vivid in her mind and she remembered intensely how it felt when he held her, when she touched his face, when they danced together. She touched her red face and sang softly.
He's soft to the touch,
but frayed at the ends, he breaks
He's never enough,
and still he's more than I can take
'But I still want him!' her heart cried, 'I can't stand being without him anymore!'
She looked up at the castle again, her face the picture of torment as her eyes released the evidence of her inner turmoil, streaming with her feelings.
Oh, and I don't know
I don't know what he's after
But he's so beautiful
He's such a beautiful disaster
She fell back on her knees, but remained upright on them until she bent over and all but sang to the ground.
And if I could hold on
through the tears and the laughter,
would it be beautiful
or just a beautiful disaster?
She sat back on her knees with one hand on the ground—a little calmer, but still crying.
He's beautiful
She lifted her feather before her face.
Lord, he's so beautiful
She held it near her lips.
He's beautiful
She held it in both hands and kissed it softly. The wind blew in her face and she could swear she saw his face closing in on hers, dangerously close to kissing her, but then it was gone.
"My lady," asked Sir Didymus, "Are you all right?" She looked around at her friends and then Lea, who approached her.
"In all my years of living," the sphinx said reverently, "and in all my dealings with humans…never have I heard a song with more passion, more meaning, than what I've heard from you. Not only have you passed my test and gained admission to the city, you have won my admiration and loyalty as well." She bowed her head low to her.
"I will personally escort you through the Gargoyle City and see that no harm befalls you," she vowed.
"Thank you, Lea," Sarah bowed as well, "You're too kind."
"Not at all," Lea flicked her tail, "Shall we, then?" She stood before her hole in the wall and roared a short lion's roar that made the hole grow larger.
"Step through, worthy travelers," she said formally, "and enter the gates to the Gargoyle City."
Author's Review:
Yay, a cliffhanger! (gets smacked in head by readers) Hey, what was that for? LOL
I hope you liked the songs, none of which are mine! (sigh) And by the way, about that dedication: If anyone knows who it was that made a video of Jareth/Sarah to the LIVE version of "Beautiful Disaster" on YouTube, PLEASE TELL ME!!!! I can't stress enough how much I loved that video, or how distressed I was to not find it again! So…if any of you have any depth of emotional attachment to me or my stories, please tell me if you know!!! First one gets a chapter dedication! I guess that's not such a grand prize, but get this: The next chapter is a JARETH/JATHAN FIGHT SCENE.
If you want to hear the songs I put up, just look 'em up on YouTube or Playlist, or whatever. You already know who did "Memory" and "Beautiful Disaster," but some of you may not know that "(They Long To Be) Close To You" was done by the Carpenters (specifically Karen Carpenter).
I hope you like Lea, too! She's a cutie, isn't she? ^_^ Please review and tell me about the video thingy! And buckle up for a FAE FIGHT!!!!!