Hello, everyone! I won't take up much of your time. I just like to thank everyone who reviews (and if I've ever skipped you, I'm sorry!). My last chapter had a particularly kind review by a guest user named DianaWolf. Thank you! I am so glad you stumbled across the story again, and I promise not to forget you guys.
Thank you all for reading! You can even ask my husband- I get so excited to check my messages after posting a chapter.
By the time Sarah had gotten to the part of her story where she returned home, Mark's brow was unusually furrowed.
"You mean to tell me that this guy kidnapped Toby, put you in danger, and sent an army after you as a teenager and you want to help him now?"
"Hmm, dangers untold," Sarah stated almost fondly. "Just listen; I'm not done."
Sarah told him about Jareth's father and the events that unfolded because of Jareth's loyalty. As she got to the part about the shackle, Mark looked skeptical.
"I'm sure he told you that was what went down, but you don't know. You weren't there."
"Just listen!"
She continued through the most recent events: the wish, the oubliette, the crystal, her escape, and her rescue. She carefully guaged Mark's reaction, knowing that she had asked a lot of him lately. She knew he wanted to make Jareth into the ultimate villain of this story, but life is not that simple. It's often not fair. Mark did not interrupt this time, patiently taking in each part of the story. His expression, however, only changed when he heard the part about Jareth sleeping in the bed with Sarah. After the shock, he remained unmoved.
Encouraged by his attention and lack of judgement, Sarah continued to when Mark had left. She told him about her mourning, her realization, and her and Jareth's search through the Labyrinth. She still left out the life depts and the cost of this trip. A knot formed in her stomach any time she tried to come up with the right words.
Jareth was walking through his labyrinth with purpose in his step. It was truely his labyrinth despite who sat on the throne. He had created it with magics directly from his soul. Each turn and twist within it was a path to his heart. A form of self sacrifice, a protection for his kingdom, and a test of worthiness for any who traveled it.
He thought back to Sarah as a girl- the girl. Every step closer to the heart of the labyrinth brought her into his heart and affection. He had watched with a sense of fear and amazement as her kindness and cleverness has brought her farther than any before her and any since. His devotion to her was not only seated it his admiration but in a deep magic that few could comprehend. He did in every way love her.
That is why, despite her betrayal, he had already forgiven her. He was beginning to understand, however, why Sarah placed so much value in whether or not she could trust him. Betrayal hurt.
He had a solution to that, though. An plant that grew to the west in his labyrinth. It was called verdade- the truth. If one were to eat it raw, they would be shouting every thought that entered their head, unfiltered and honest. However, if- as Jareth planned to do- it were diluted in a tea, the drinker would only speak truth to the person he or she saw next and in a more civil manner. They would not be forced to talk, but when they did they could not speak a lie. The effects were temporary, but Jareth was willing to brew tea for the next one thousand breakfasts if it meant keeping his Sarah.
Jareth's father was also on the move but only in a circle. He paced around the throne room, sporadically conjuring a crystal glancing into it and then smashing it on the floor. The goblins cowered in the corners or behind archways, shuddering when the crystals met the stone floor.
"What to do with this...anomaly. It vexes me so," he growled.
One brave (or stupid) goblin spoke up, "but you were so pleased when you learned she had the magics."
"Yes," he hissed, turned rapidly towards the one who had spoken. Every goblin held their breath in anticipation of violence, "but that's when I wrongfully assumed she was some hidden fey."
When he went back to pacing, everyone let out a sigh of relief.
"I've checked every avenue. I've dug through her history, from birth to now. Nothing!" He smashed a crystal holding the image of Sarah's mother leaving the house. "Absolutely human! Still a stain and a shame on the entire family for my ponce of a son to be intertwined" his face twisted in disgust, "with her."
He stopped, "and yet, she does have magic, and that is a mystery and a problem." He conjured a crystal and sought out Sarah. "Ah, it seems as if she has been abandoned."
Sarah was reaching the end. She told Mark about how they found the wanted posters and had just reached her decision to put the bracelet on Jareth, when she heard a familiar groan.
"You can figure out the rest," she stood up with a smile, "follow me!"
Mark obediently followed her, still reeling from the mental journey he had just taken.
"Ludo!" Sarah called, "are you there?"
The groaning sound ceased and a slow but joyful, "Sarwah!" could be heard from around a corner. Sarah ran ahead and out of sight from Mark.
He could still hear them, though.
"Oh, Ludo, it's so great to see you!"
"Sawah, friend!"
"Woah, careful there."
Mark caught up to them and took a hesitant step back. He had just heard the entire story and he knew that this beast was friendly, but he was not prepared to see a giant shag rug practically engulfing his fiance in a hug. She was bent back in an attempt to keep from falling over.
"Ludo," Sarah said, pulling out of the hug, "want you to meet someone."
"Friend?" Ludo said. Mark was still a bit uncertain about that giant mouth.
"Yes, a good friend. Ludo, this is Mark." She gestured towards her fiance. "Mark, Ludo."
Mark swallowed and stepped forward, extending his hand to shake. He gave a small gasp as Ludo embraced him tightly. His furry arms like a thick blanket that probably needed to be washed. Mark returned the hug with arms only, pulling his core at a safe distance.
"Um...nice to meet you, Ludo. I've heard so much about you."
"Mark! Friend!"
"Exactly, Ludo!" Sarah chimed in. Mark saw the smile on her face: pure delight. He could not remember a time when she had been this happy. His shoulders sagged.
"Shouldn't we go back to the clearing, babe? In case Jareth returns."
He was answered by the angry yells of Ludo. Thinking he had done something to enrage the beast, he took several steps back only to bump into a tall figure.
Jareth bent down and carefully collected the leaves of verdade. He picked them one by one and then stacked them and placed them gingerly in his waistcoat pocket. He gave a satisfied smile, allowing crooked teeth to show between his lips.
Conjuring a crystal, he checked on Sarah. He almost dropped it. The image that met his eyes was that of a battle. One of Sarah's companions was controlling small boulders that rained towards his father. The fey was easily swatting them away with a magical flick of his fingers. They were nothing more than flies to him, annoying yet harmless. Sarah was staring at her hands and biting her lip. She must be trying to recreate what had happened before, Jareth realized. Mark, to his credit, had found a large stick and had it brandished before him. None of them stood a chance.
Jareth made the decision to appear at the castle where they would inevitably be taken.
Only a few chapters left!