Slow Burn
Chapter 21: Run Away Queen!
Sarah was in disbelief when she'd found out about Jareth and Adriana. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to do, or how she was supposed to react. Two years ago, she would have fought it with all her might. But that was before... Now she had a cold air of gradual, grudging, dreadful acceptance about her that just wasn't right.
She had asked Adriana what she should do, but the Faerie wasn't offering any advice. It was just as well that she didn't. Would Sarah have listened anyway? No. No, she wouldn't. Sarah just ran off to her room, her pink dress trailing behind her, leaving Adriana standing in the gardens, pretending to fidget nervously, as if she didn't know what to do either. But it was all a lie.
"Sarah?" She heard the unmistakable voice of the last person she wanted to see- 'No,' She thought of the young Faerie girl who was probably still waiting in the garden. 'Make that the second to last person.' His untielding beckoning continued. "Sarah, are you in here?" Jareth opened the door and came in. "What's the matter with you?"
"Nothing," She wiped a stray tear from her eye, before he could see it. She sat up bravely and turned to face him. "I'm fine."
"You don't act fine. You act as if Adriana's presence here bothers you, somehow."
Why did he have to be so damn perceptive?! But she couldn't admit it. The girl was pregnant, she would never be so mean as to turn her away before she even got the chance to tell him. She would leave that decision up to him, but not until he learned of all the facts first. "No, whatever gave you that idea? I think it's nice of you to offer her a place to stay while her mother is being a pain. Did you find out why she got thrown out?"
"Not yet."
He coldly turned and left. Sarah seemed just fine, so why worry? All in all, this morning was probably only a display of slight possessiveness becuase of what happened between them last night. Surely it wasn't anything more than that.
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Sarah and Jareth didn't seem to talk much that day. He decided it was best to leave her to the confines of their room, and not bother her. Adriana was keeping to herself too. But he supposed that was normal, because she was still settling in the room he had given her. And getting acquainted with all her new clothes. She hadn't brought any with her from home.
At dinner, Sarah was in one of her quiet, thoughtful moods. He made an effort not to bother her, making conversation with Adriana instead. He was nice to both of them, however. At last it was time for he and his wife to retire to their room for the night. He barely muttered a polite goodnight to Adriana, and linked arms with Sarah. She held her head down while they walked, not wanting to face him knowing the truth.
Don't tell me truth hurts, little girl... 'Damn it, shut up!'
Jareth closed the door behind her. "Alright," He sighed. "What is it?"
"What is what?" She spoke as coldly to him as possible.
"You know what I am referring to. Why are you acting this way? Is it because of what happened betwen us last night? Or is it something Adriana said to you?"
She shuddered. "Please, I'd rather not discuss this with you now."
He didn't know what to say. Why couldn't she talk to him? Jareth knew something was bothering her, but he had no idea what it was. No matter, surely it would wait until morning. "Then perhaps we can talk more tomorrow? Forgive me Sarah, but I really am exhausted, so..." He gestured toward the bed.
"It's alright," She smiled warmly, trying her best to act as if all was well. It was harder than it looked. On the outside she was calm and placcid, but on the outside she was burning in a turmoil so sinister that she alone must bear the burden. "Let's just get some sleep. Maybe we'll all feel better tomorrow." And she intended for them to. She wouldn't bother anyone ever again!
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Sarah refused to get in the way of their happiness. If Jareth had no interest in her, why would he let her stay? And why would he get the girl pregnant in the first place? She had read somewhere that Fae and the like had trouble producing offspring. That was probably the only reason he had married her in the first place! Carefully, so as not to disturb her sleeping husband, she made her way off the bed, and she was across the room in a matter of minutes, even if they did feel like hours.
Under the cover of night, she walked out to the balcony, and let her silent tears fall freely. She needed to find a way out of their soon-to-be broken marriage, and quick. As the new Queen's eyes rose to meet the distance, she knew what she had to do. Quickly packing a few items of clothing and necessities into a bundle, she slipped out of their bedchamber. A haunting melody pounded in ehr ears, as if by magic. And she ran. She ran away.
"Graffiti decorations
Under a sky of dust..."
She ran past the ruined Goblin city, which lie in shambles, as always. The sky was still slightly orange as night descended, like an ever-saddened soul.
"A constant wave of tension
On top of broken trust..."
How could she trust him now? He had hurt her without even knowing it! And it would only get worse when he finally did find out... She was done causing tension between the two parents-to-be!
"The lessons that you taught me
I learn were never true..."
Sarah thought back to her time in the Labyrinth, as she remembered him. She had learned alot, but now it seemed it was all a lie.
"Now I find myself in question
They point the finger at me again..."
Why did she question herself? More importantly she questioned him, and his loyalty to her...
"Guilty by association
You point the finger at me again..."
She couldn't help but feel some kind of self-blame for this whole mess... Even if it wasn't her fault. She had been the one to wish her brother away and managed to allow herself to be trapped here in this miserable world of agony that she was now a part of.
Her feet thundered across the dusty ground, as she made it to the edge of the Goblin City. She ran through the twists and turns of the Labyrinth, not really caring where she ended up...
"I wanna run away Never say goodbye..."
It was true, she hadn't even bothered to say goodbye to the Goblin King. But what did it matter anyway? 'This is for the best,' she convinced herself. 'I have to be strong.'
"I wanna know the truth Instead of wondering why..."
'And what is the truth?' Sarah wondered. Did he ever really love her? Maybe this was the only way to find out.
"I wanna know the answers No more lies..."
But she knew she loved him. 'If you love someone, let them go. And if they come back to you, they're yours, and you know...' She just couldn't stand to be in the way anymore!
"I wanna shut the door
And open up my mind..."
At long last she found the door to the Labyrinth. And as it swung shut behind her, she chose a direction, and went for it. She needed to be alone so she could think. Very, very alone...
"Paper bags and angry voices
Under a sky of dust..."
It was dark now, and Sarah could hear the sound of some angry voices arguing about something in the darkness. The rustling of the leaves was an eerie sound as she neared the forest.
"Another wave of tension
Has more than filled me up..."
Tears were still falling, even while she was racing through the branches, tossing them ruthlessly aside. Panic began to consume her, but at the same time she felt at ease here. Uneasily at ease.
"All my talk of taking action
These words were never true..."
She had never thought she would actually do soemthing this drastic to deal with her problems. Her chest heaved with the exhilaration of knowing that she was in charge of her own destiny now.
"Now I find myself in question
They point the finger at me again..."
Sarah paused to catch her breath, and in a fit of guilt, she slammed her fist into a nearby tree. She was deep within this strange forest now.
"Guilty by association
You point the finger at me again..."
Why did things have to be so hard for her?!
"I wanna run away
Never say goodbye..."
Maybe she should have said goodbye to him. Or maybe she should not have left at all.
"I wanna know the truth
Instead of wondering why..."
She faded away into the darkness, and she didn't know where she was. No one else did either. The music that had somehow filled her ears was slowing to a more steady pulse. it was like her heart beating in her ears as she ran. She ran away...
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Sarah was proud of herself. She'd made it through the Labyrinth a second time. She had been wandering through the winding forest, and feeling more and more lost by the second. But that didn't phase her, she was still so proud. And pride can be a dangerous thing.
Thirst was overwhelming her, as she noticed the dawn was breaking over the horizon, which was obscured from her view. But she still felt it. It was getting warmer now, and she started looking for a way to quench her thirst. Hindsight was always better than foresight. 'Why oh why didn't I think to bring a canteen or even just a flask or something with me? That was a stupid move...' Just then she heard the rushing of what sounded like a river...
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A/N: I know this isn't that great of a chapter. Sorry for the long wait, too. Life kind of got in the way! But the next chapter is where things start to reveal themselves a little more, so don't worry. It is unbelievably hard to find the right song for the chapter, and still make it fit into context with what is going on. I hope I did a good job! I am trying to stick with this theme through out this fic, if it's possible. Anyway, I hope you like it! Please R&R, thanks! Oh, and enxt chapter coming soon! I already have part of it done... -Kaline Reine