Author's Disclaimer: I still don't own Labyrinth, or anything else referenced. I'm just here to celebrate kiyomi-chan16's birthday with a new chapter! Sorry about the long wait. I hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 3: Ludo
Sarah couldn't get the image of the red aura entering Jareth out of her head. She never saw Didymus so happy, and this odd magic unsettled her. Skipping dinner, she ventured outside, needing fresh air to clear her mind, as well as to look for a letter from her family. Walking around the school didn't help, though, and after making a full turn, she was still restless.
As she walked up the sidewalk to enter the school, she heard something she never had before: singing.
The man singing had the most beautiful, nay magical, voice she had ever heard. Caught up in it, she headed toward the hedges of the Labyrinth, until she came to the opening. The golden tendrils of the late afternoon sun showcased the crimson and ivory roses that dotted the tall hedges, filling the air with the sweetest fragrance. She wanted to enter the shrubberies, if only to inhale the blooms' scent fully and immerse herself in the gorgeous baritone.
It was then she remembered herself and the warning the headmaster had given her: the Swan King was trying to lure naive maidens to their death by giving him their hearts.
She hadn't believed the legend, but now hearing his heartbroken strains, she did. Her heart beat a little faster that the story was real, that magic did exist. She had always known it had in those odd flashes of faces that she glimpsed, but this was something else entirely. This was a grand mystery. Who was the Swan King? Was he a real person since he didn't have a heart?
He had to exist...Hoggle implied that he had talked to him, which was strange for such a young kid.
All thoughts of Hoggle fled as the sorrowful singer sang his siren song. Her feet still yearned to follow, but If she entered that Labyrinth, she was liable to get lost. She dragged herself to an outside edge, leaning against the greenery to listen raptly. At first, she couldn't make out the words, but the more she fell into the bushes, the more she could understand. It was as though the branches retracted their thorns, their helping hands urging her deeper into the Labyrinth.
"There's such a sad love
Deep in your eyes, a kind of pale jewel,
Open and closed
Within your eyes.
I'll place the sky
Within your eyes."
Whatever restlessness that was there melted away the longer she listened. It soothed and spoke to her heart in a way no one ever had. Yes, she knew that sad, lonely existence, devoid of love. She longed for love, the same way he seemed to long for a heart. She knew that pain from searching.
It wasn't until the sun set that he finally stopped singing, his voice slowly fading away. Sarah remained, caught up in it. When he stopped, she came to her senses, realizing the hedge had completely engulfed her, the tips of her shoes barely visible on the sidewalk. When she finally left, she felt a sense of peace she hadn't known in a long time, that this was where she needed to be.
If only she knew the song … she would sing with him and complete the haunting lullaby.
The next morning, she woke up refreshed, eager to learn the full routine with Jareth at last. Pinning her hair in her normal bun and tying on her favorite ballet shoes, she met him at the appointed time, and she was surprised by his appearance. He seemed to transform overnight, his short hair several inches longer and his clothing no longer the same few colors. Now he wore a maroon leotard with cream tights. His sparkling blue eyes captured hers as his half-smile beckoned her closer, and she didn't know how she managed to walk so quickly.
"Good morning, Sarah. You look as fresh as I feel; I haven't felt this alive in a long time," he said, his eyes noting her white leotard and pink tutu.
As he began to stretch, she followed suit, mirroring his motions to warm up. She loved seeing him smile, as this time it felt genuine and encouraging. Still, something bugged her.
"I'm glad. Why the sudden change?" she asked, curious to know if he was allowed to speak of whatever had occurred the day before.
He stopped moving, and so did she, alert to his every movement.
He drew closer with light, catlike steps, his gaze never leaving hers. "I'm being generous."
She scoffed in disbelief. "Generous. What have you done that's generous?"
His nose twitched. "Everything. You've given me hope, Sarah. Not many have." When she tilted her head, trying to understand, he added, "You've earned the trust and devotion of one of my fiercest supporters, and you've proven yourself to be a good teacher. I feel more endeared to you than previously, and now I'm inclined to trust you a little. Isn't that generous?" he asked, carrying himself more like a benevolent monarch bestowing a gift upon her.
She was less than impressed. Arching an eyebrow, she went back to stretching. "No."
His body straightened, eyes narrowing on her. "Why not?" he shot back, voice tight with annoyance.
She paused again and gave a long-suffering sigh. "Because I'm your co-teacher, and you should already trust me if I've been hired," she retorted, crossing her arms.
He didn't flinch, the barb bouncing off of him. "The head of this school is old and senile. He's been wrong before, so excuse me if I put no stock in you yet," he said, noting her sour look. "Would you rather I lie to you?"
Her frustration simmered, and she fought to keep her emotions in check. "No. I'll prove myself yet," she returned, standing as she finished. "I'm ready to learn the full choreography. After that, we discuss when I teach. We split it evenly."
He broke eye contact, his cold gaze setting her on edge. "I recall your conditions, and you've held up your end of the deal. Now it's my turn," he said, standing and putting on music.
She approached him confidently. "It'll be a piece of cake to learn based on what I've seen so far."
Extending a hand to her, he smirked and said, "So this dance is a piece of cake, is it? Let's see how you deal with this little slice, if you can conquer it as you have every other challenge so far."
Her open palm touched his, and a ripple of awareness coursed through her. Even he was affected, hand shaking momentarily. For a moment, the red of Jareth's clothes seemed to pulse and expand in time with her shallow breaths. In a blink, he looked normal, and they were still holding hands.
They seemed to realize that fact at the same time, as they both yanked their hands away. Fixing him with her most determined look, she said, "I can."
He smiled, his canines showing, and she wasn't sure how to feel. It seemed like an odd response to have.
"Your attitude is infectious. I'll be feeling like my old self in no time if you keep up like that." The levity in his voice vanished. "Besides, you look quite fetching when you're defiant and angry. Come closer, Sarah."
The way he said her name just then sounded almost...intimate. She stepped in, not sure where he wanted her. Soon he was moving until he stood directly behind her. "Assume the starting position. We'll stop when we reach the end of the lessons." As soon as her feet moved in and hands rose above her head, he hummed. "Good. Let's dance."
Sarah and her red shoes flowed with the music, each movement smooth. At first, it was hard to concentrate, as distracted as she was by Jareth being so close behind her. After taking several steps and a turn, though, she became lost in the rhythm of the music. When she stopped, arms straight and hands held close in front of her with feet en pointe, the music stopped.
"Very good. I can see you practice."
Sarah turned to see him kneeling beside the music player before he approached her. His eyes danced with excitement, and she found herself getting pulled in by the passion he had for dancing.
He moved into the same position as her. "I'm going to tell you the steps verbally before demonstrating them all to you."
After he explained it to her, Sarah was incredulous. After showing the half a dozen steps left, Jareth stopped expectantly, waiting to see her reaction to the end of the dance for the beginner class.
"It incorporates several more new moves, and they'll end it by holding hands with another student. There's a slight variation for the oldest students. There's an even number of each, and it'll be much easier to show it now that you're here. What do you think, Sarah?" he asked, sounding self-assured. "Is it not brilliant?"
Her eyebrows jumped. "That's it?" she asked, still in disbelief. "They're so close to being done!"
His nose wrinkled in indignation. "So? It'll need at least a couple weeks to practice the new moves-"
"Oh, it's beautifully put together with a good ending," she said, placating him somewhat. "But what comes after?"
He gave her a hard look. "Of course I have another sequence ready-"
"We're designing one together," she interrupted, stepping closer with a tone that brooked no arguments. "We're co-teachers now."
He heaved a sigh through clenched teeth. "I already have a dance choreographed-"
"Which we'll blend with my ideas," she insisted, taking entirely too much delight in interrupting him at every turn. He kept getting more irritated.
He stepped closer. "Sarah, this is-"
"How it should be since we work together now. Get used to it," she retorted, her eyes daring him to say otherwise in her own stubborn way.
He threw her for a loop and instead said, "Are you going to interrupt me like this the rest of today?"
"Only until you learn to show me the respect owed me and not interrupt me as much as you have previously," she returned, noting how his eyes widened in surprise.
His jaw ticked, but he said nothing as he looked her up and down. Finally he admitted, "No one's called me out like this in a long time. I'm too used to having my own way...thank you for keeping me in check."
"You're welcome. I can do this all day," she replied glibly, making his lips quirk slightly.
He neared her, and her light heart stuttered when he circled her like a predator. "I wonder if you would treat me differently were I someone more important."
"Doubtful," she said dismissively, pressing a hand against his chest and momentarily forgetting how to breathe as he leaned in. "I'll always stand up to bullies who ignore other people's feelings and do as they please."
He took a long breath, his ire reflecting in his eyes for a moment before he banished it. "Touche, Sarah. I think you have more to teach me."
"Much more, but not right now," she said, smiling softly before she pulled away reluctantly and turned more businesslike. "I have a routine to learn. Now, I think I've got these last few steps. Am I doing it right?"
He sighed. He sounded almost sad for her to end their contact. "Let me see."
She danced fluidly, owning the steps after her little victory with Jareth. After ending with one foot in the air, foot en pointe and right arm extended, she sought his approval.
Admiration shone in his eyes as he came forward. "It was almost flawless. Your arm was-go back to the position before this, leading into reaching out for me."
She hadn't expected that turn of events, but she complied, curious what he would do. She moved so her right arm angled downward, and her left foot was poised in the air similarly, resting lightly against her right knee.
He shifted behind her so she could feel his body heat radiating close to her all over. With dawdling hands, he adjusted her arm's angle so it was sharper to match her leg. "It won't be symmetrical with your leg unless it's here."
"Got it," she breathed, not used to him being so close to her.
His bare hands were soft against her skin, firm as he held her hips in place and moved her arm, resting there. She heard him take a shuddering breath, and she could feel her own breathing sync with his as she grew comfortable with him there.
She felt almost bereft when he departed suddenly. Her head turned at his quick departure, and she saw him shake his head, as though waking himself up.
"My apologies. I don't normally adjust like that, but after you suggested it previously, I wanted to try it once. I won't do it again," he said, face carefully blank.
She threw her hands out. "No!" She calmed down to help him understand when he gave her a taken aback look. "That was … good. Very good," she said softly before beaming. "I needed that. Thank you."
He blinked rapidly. "Really? You liked it?" he asked, uncertain for once. "I thought I lingered too long."
"Oh no. Never too long," she replied, her smile growing wider. "It helped cement the placement, and …"
"And what?" he asked doggedly, drawing closer when she trailed off, like a bloodhound who had caught the scent.
Her cheeks flushed with heat, and she stared at her shoes. She was sure her cheeks were as red as her slippers. "I liked it."
He narrowed the distance between them. "If you liked it, that's another story entirely. I thought you'd hate it since you hate me."
She met his gaze. "I don't hate you," she admitted reluctantly. "I just want you to give me a chance so I'm not fighting for everything. All I want is to do is what I've always dreamed of doing: teach."
His eyes held hers a moment too long before he cleared his throat, eyes softening before murmuring, "So do I, Sarah. So do I." She fixed him with a skeptical look, and he laughed. "You'll see in time; you're still too young to understand." She pursed her lips at his saying that, but it turned to concentration when he requested, "Now, show me the whole sequence, and then we'll practice it together." After she nailed the corrected step, Jareth stood opposite her with pride. "You're ready."
"Finally," she muttered, still smarting from the earlier comment.
With ruffled feathers, he said coldly, "I want to teach our students respect, not disrespect and sass."
"Then treat me with respect and don't look down on me because I'm young. I will do the same," she returned, making him shut his mouth.
"I'm working on it. Let us begin."
The rest of the time before the students arrived - Ludo was strangely listless today, she observed - was spent matching their steps and rhythm together until they could perform it in-sync. By the end, she felt confident she could perform the routine, and he was impressed.
"No one's ever taken to the routine so easily before," he remarked as students filed in.
"That's because I've been trained before and am actually mature, unlike the rest here," she said, remembering how few teachers there were. "Who do you talk to here to relax? The headmaster?"
Giving her a look of revulsion, he walked off. "Not if I can help it. I prefer to keep my own company."
As he stood at the center of the class, she followed, determined to assert her place. Once she was settled beside him, she added, "You know you could talk to me now. I'd appreciate the company, and it might even help us to get along better."
He regarded her carefully before responding, "I would be amenable to that."
She felt like dancing when he agreed, but her celebration was short-lived as he immediately threw her into the teaching, managing to give her exactly what she wanted while still messing with her. "Now that Sarah is not working with Didymus, she'll be teaching half of our classes. Sarah, please start us off together."
All eyes turned on her, and her mind went blank, not expecting this turn of events. Glaring at him briefly, she led the stretches, and the day went on from there. By the end of it all, Sarah was pleased. True to his word, Jareth switched every hour with her in teaching, and despite not knowing what he wanted to do or planned, they still managed to introduce the students to the next step in the dance.
When the students left, she marched up to him. "I'm not a mind-reader, you know. You could at least have warned me what you wanted to do."
"I thought you'd have ideas of your own you wanted to do," he said stiffly. "It all worked out in the end, did it not?"
"No thanks to you," she said, drawing closer. "Just because I want to teach in my own way doesn't mean I don't want to do justice to your vision here. I'm sure it's beautiful. I'm not petty, unlike you, and I'm willing to listen to what you have in mind to finish this."
She stormed out after that, leaving him speechless. As she passed a window, she saw Ludo wandering aimlessly near the mailbox outside but kept on going.
When she came back in the morning, Jareth was again in a good mood. He approached her immediately. "I thought about what you said."
"And?" she asked, sitting down to stretch.
He straightened, not meeting her eyes. "Perhaps there's some grain of truth to what you insinuated at the end. However, you're a very infuriating, strong-willed woman. You can't blame me for being unwilling to cede control to you so easily, especially after going so many years without a partner."
She smiled ruefully. "I've been told I'm a little bit of a handful."
"A little?" It was his turn to quirk an eyebrow skeptically.
She shrugged. "A lot."
"That sounds more like it," he said, mirroring her movements.
After stretching, he explained what he planned to do for the next few weeks, or however long it took the students to finish learning and put on a recital. After several slight changes from Sarah, they had a plan, and when the students appeared, all were shocked.
"What's going on?" asked Hoggle, eyeing them both. "You're both smiling."
Ludo stayed back, face withdrawn and barely noticed because of the new development with the teachers.
"Isn't it obvious? They're getting along better," replied Didymus, bowing to Jareth before going up to Sarah. "My Lady, your smile is more brilliant than the rising sun. Thank you for sharing it with us."
Her smile grew warmer as she bent over to clasp one of his hands with both of hers. "Thank you, Didymus. You're too kind."
"There's no need to go so heavy on the flattery with her; she's not your only teacher anymore," interrupted Jareth, voice taut.
Didymus's face fell before he retreated, and Sarah turned on her teaching partner, her words for him alone. "What was that for? That was harmless, not flirting or anything."
"Could have fooled me," Jareth said quietly, his head leaning in. "The way you smiled and encouraged him-"
"I'd do that with every student, and you know it," she shot back, poking his chest. "I think you're jealous."
His mouth opened and closed, but he never refuted it. Finally he said, "What reason do I have to be jealous of a student?"
"Because I smile at him and don't fight him every step of the way," she said before turning and beginning the day.
Jareth's narrowed gaze never left her that day. She felt his eyes upon her always, especially when she helped students. He was being ridiculous, and she didn't understand why. They didn't speak at the end of that class, and they maintained their icy silence the next day, even if their locked glances were anything but cold. All of the students knew better than to ask questions or goof off that day, as tense as things were between Jareth and Sarah.
Still, despite the silence, she was respectful toward him and never talked back to him in class. She taught everything in the order he wanted, and she took every opportunity to help her students. The children and teens were slowly warming to her, especially since she was always willing to show them exactly what they did wrong.
She had hoped that he would be ready to talk after that day since their last day of class for the week was on the morrow, but Jareth almost beat the kids out of the main practice area that day, leaving her frustrated and alone. Clearly, he was determined to wait until she apologized or took back what she said, but she refused. He had reacted poorly, and the sooner he realized it, the better.
As she walked back to her quarters, she groaned. "I wish there was some way I could get him to talk to me."
"What did you say, young woman?" asked a elderly woman with a shock of pastel green hair, suddenly appearing from around a corner, all of her cleaning supplies carried on her hunched-over back.
"Oh, it's nothing-"
"I doubt that," said the woman, giving her a toothy grin amid her many wrinkles. "My name is Edel; I'm the janitor for this boarding school."
"Oh! I appreciate all your hard work. It's always so clean, even if the gym could smell fresher," said Sarah, making Edel laugh.
"If you have ideas to get rid of that stench, I'm all ears, Ms.-"
"Sarah Williams. Please, call me Sarah." The women shook hands before walking toward Sarah's room with her. "As for the smell, do you have anything lemon-scented?"
"Yes, but it won't do a jot of good. I've tried, and nothing helps," insisted Edel, her curly locks staying in place despite her head shaking. "It's like a bog of eternal stench."
Scrunching her nose, Sarah thought back to her dancing days in high school and college until she happened upon something. "I've got it. Baking soda!" she cried, pounding her fist into her palm. "Place containers of it all around the edges of the room, and with several on top. It kills bad odors."
Edel's face lit up. "That's a marvelous idea! Thank you, Sarah." She leaned in, her gaze becoming soft. "Now, is there anything I can do to help you? You seemed distressed when I first saw you."
Sarah glanced away, not wanting to burden her. "I'm doing okay."
Edel patted her hand. "Of course you are. But it gets a lot worse from here on in. You can tell me anything."
Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Why are you so concerned about me?"
"I am. That's all," said the older woman evenly, even if her eyes sparkled with some hidden knowledge. "Whenever I see new young ladies, I naturally worry. Nice, young girl," she said, pointing to Sarah before gesturing at the building. "Lonely, dark boarding school with no one to talk to. You're so far from home, just like we are. We've lost so many teachers already, and I worry I could've done more."
Relieved to find someone who genuinely seemed to care about her, Sarah admitted, "It's several things really, but yes, I am homesick. These past few weeks have been hard, and I sent a letter to my family so they had my address since cell phone service doesn't exist out here." There was no way Sarah was going to mention the red aura surrounding Didymus and Jareth. When Edel's eyes continued to penetrate her, as though she already knew something was more pressing, Sarah confided, "Mostly, it's related to Jareth. I need to talk to him, but he won't speak to me."
"Say no more," said Edel with a smirk before pulling out her keyring. "Here's the key to his quarters. Pay him a visit."
The thought of invading his privacy like that horrified Sarah. Face turning red at the thought of seeing him without a shirt, she stuttered, "Sh-should you really be suggesting that? That's a breach of trust. No thanks. I don't want to do that."
The janitor grinned. "Good girl. Then perhaps you'd like me to tell you which room is his, so you can confront him as you should?"
"That would be helpful, yes," agreed Sarah, calming down a bit. "We're still at odds with one another when we need to be united. I don't like this. I want to be a good teacher."
"Of course you do," affirmed Edel, leading Sarah to a window and handing her a different key. "He's there, in the men's dormitories. Third floor, above the main entrance. Here's a key to get in that building, should you ever need it. I trust you."
Sarah whirled on her. "You're too kind. But-"
"I think you're trying to help us because you care, and you've already done a world of good. Please let me help you," insisted Edel, closing Sarah's hand around the key. "You and he both deserve much better things, and I think it can only be done if you work together."
"I agree. Thank you," said Sarah gently, bending to be at Edel's height.
To her surprise, Edel's face flashed into something else entirely. Her wrinkles deepened, and her pasty, white face turned into worn ,tan leather with her sagging jowls and loose, frizzy hair that was now white. The woman winked at her in understanding. "No. It's me who should be thanking you. Good luck, Sarah. If you ever have questions, come find me."
"I will!" Sarah backed up, not sure how to take yet another flash of an otherworldly creature. "Until later."
Sarah jogged down the hall and stairway until she was outside, still puzzling about what she had just seen and discussed. Was everyone here different? As she stepped into the bracing twilight air, she noticed Ludo wandering in circles, letting out a mournful little sigh every now and then as he stared at the ground. Occasionally he would pick up pebbles and rocks that he deposited in his many pockets.
Not liking seeing her normally smiling, affectionate student looking so down in the dumps, Sarah cautiously approached him. "Ludo, are you alright?"
He shrank away, glancing nervously at her as he hid his rocks. "Yes. Fine. Just need air."
"Sure. I like walking outside, too," said Sarah, forcing herself to sound peppier than she felt by smiling. "But, should you need me, for any reason at all, just call. I'm here and happy to help."
His face turned pink. "I know. You already have. Thanks."
He scuffed his shoes in the dirt and wandered off, worrying Sarah even more. He never acted like that, so she decided to ask Jareth about him when she found him. Thankfully, the main door to the boys' dormitory was unlocked, so she slipped in and found Jareth's room quickly. Another puzzle piece fell into place upon seeing his name printed on the door, along with "The King" in smaller letters below his name. The nickname made slightly more sense now.
When she knocked, Jareth answered. "What is it at this hour?" His initial hostile expression turned blank upon realizing it was her. "What do you want?"
"I think it's fairly obvious. Are you going to keep ignoring me, or are we going to discuss our last argument like adults?" asked Sarah huffily, hands going to her hips.
He snuck his head into the hallway, and when he saw that it was empty, he pulled her into his room and shut the door. "I don't want them hearing all this."
"Nor I, but I want to actually talk about it," said Sarah, leaning against the door. "What's with this sudden appearance of jealousy? It's your own fault since you refuse to play nice with me." He tipped his head down, and she met his gaze unflinchingly. "I just don't understand why when we barely talk."
Jareth scowled darkly. "To be honest, I have experienced a wide range of emotions that I haven't felt in many years thanks to you. Not many have infuriated and humbled me as you have."
She wanted to lay hands upon him, whether out of frustration or some other feeling, she knew not. "While I appreciate that, you didn't answer my question. Do you feel it?" she asked impatiently.
"Do I feel what?" asked Jareth, smirking.
She moved away from the door with a hard stomp of her foot. "Jealousy."
"What jealousy?" asked Jareth playfully, widening his stance.
She grunted in frustration, going toe to toe with him. "It's hopeless asking you anything."
"Not if you ask the right questions," responded Jareth, dipping his head so their breath could intermingle.
She inhaled and exhaled deeply to clear her head. In a whisper, she asked, "Are you jealous of Didymus right now?"
He silently hemmed and hawed as he stared at her. When she won the staring contest, he folded his arms in front of him. "Yes," he admitted reluctantly. "I didn't think I'd ever feel this emotion, to be honest." His eyes became troubled as her breath hitched. "I pride myself on acting rationally, and that behavior surprised me as well. I didn't recognize what it was until you named it. I never had a reason to feel it before now."
The air became heavy with implication, and Sarah tried not to be aware of how close they were.
"Why are you jealous of Didymus, though?" she asked quietly, almost afraid to speak after such an honest confession.
He surprised her by not getting angry, instead holding that thoughtful, respectful tone. "I already told you. You've done things no one has done before, and I like being at the center of your attention, especially those bewitching green eyes of yours," he replied, a note of amusement entering his visage and voice when he added, "However, I'm also fond of riling you up." His eyes delved into hers before landing on her lips. "I can't decide if I enjoy seeing you defiant or smiling more."
Her heart sped up, and she felt her cheeks warm. This was the absolute worst time to catch feelings for him. "You're ridiculous," she said, stepping back to put some distance between them. "You know you could try being nice for once, not difficult. I wouldn't mind."
"If it throws you off, just like my close presence does, then I will. When you least expect it," he said, giving her a lopsided smile. Had he known how his smile affected her, he would do it constantly, as it was making her heart thump madly. "Do we understand one another?"
"Yes. It's still not right, though. You don't trust me," she said, making him pale and recoil. "I don't want you to be jealous, as it could hurt our dynamic and the students. The jealousy is misplaced, especially since I'm trying to talk to you outside of class, unlike anyone else," she said, taking his hand.
Electrical shocks of awareness danced across her fingers wherever she touched him, and he drew his hand away, as though burned. "You've given me much to think about. I'll ponder it further. Was there anything else you wished to discuss?"
"As a matter of fact, yes," she said, pointing to a window. "Is it me, or has Ludo been acting strange lately?"
"So it's Ludo this time? Oh, now why the concern?" asked Jareth, ambling toward his window.
"Because he's one of my students, just like he is yours. You should be concerned anytime someone acts off," reprimanded Sarah harshly. "Where is your compassion?"
He unsteadied her with the violence of his movements, turning and stalking toward her. "It doesn't exist within me anymore. It hasn't for a long time. You're more than making up for me, though."
She groaned in exasperation. "If he keeps acting oddly, I'm going to approach him and help him. Don't mistake it for anything else."
"I won't," he said, looking pleased. "What is peculiar about him right now?"
"He seems sad, listless. Almost restless. He's not being as affectionate as usual," said Sarah, remembering what she had seen lately. "Did he ever act that way before?"
He clucked his tongue. "He did, when he first came to this school. He complained about missing his family. It's been many years since then, and we all left someone or something behind in coming here. Even you did," he said, giving her a quizzical look. "Why does it matter?"
"Because it clearly hurt him more, and you can't disregard that," she said, annoyed with his flippant attitude. Heading toward the door, she said, "That's all that was on my mind. I'll leave now."
"Did you mean it?" he asked, following closely behind her. She turned to face him, surprised by the naked vulnerability there in his eyes. His hand reached out and froze several inches from her, as though he had done it without thinking. "Wanting to talk to me?"
His shoulders tensed, and just as he started to pull his hand back, she snatched it. "Yes, I did. I'd like being able to talk about something other than our classes and students for a couple hours while we have a few days off."
"Then we will," he said, tightening his hold on her.
She almost didn't want to let go. This new, tentative peace between them felt good, and she couldn't deny that she loved holding his hand. However, after several minutes, it was starting to turn into an awkward silence as they stared at one another, his unreadable look giving her much to think about later. Gently as she could, she let go of him and gave him a small smile before leaving.
When she left, he was smiling back, eyes warm and body relaxed, and she didn't understand why it tugged at her heartstrings so much. As she walked across the courtyard, she couldn't help but think of the song that the Swan King had been singing not long ago. New words bubbled on her lips, unbidden.
"There's such a fooled heart
Beatin' so fast
In search of new dreams,
A love that will last,
Within your heart."
Were those the words? They felt appropriate for her, and so natural after seeing Jareth. She didn't know what that meant about Jareth and the Swan King, but it was fishy in her mind. As she tossed and turned in bed to figure out what all of it meant, as well as repeat certain moments alone with Jareth, she didn't sleep well and barely arrived with time to stretch with Jareth before their class came. As soon as he noticed the bags under her eyes that she couldn't hide, he approached her, keeping a respectful distance between them.
"Sarah, are you well?"
He sounded genuinely concerned. She nodded, placing a comforting hand on his wrist. "I'm a little tired, but well otherwise. I'm glad to be here with you."
His whole mood improved before he commenced warm-ups, but their quiet peace was soon interrupted by the students. In particular, Didymus was persistently wheedling Ludo for something, who wasn't having any of it as both their voices grew in volume.
Sarah wrote it off as silly teen things until Didymus appealed to Hoggle, who asked Ludo, "Why don't you want to?"
Ludo's face scrunched up in a frown before he shouted, "Because I don't feel like it!"
Didymus cringed as his face fell, and Hoggle looked crushed as well on his account. Ludo left both their sides and sat on the opposite of the room sullenly, his hair more askew than normal. Sarah gave her co-instructor a significant look, and he nodded, later admitting that Ludo had never yelled before. As soon as class for the day ended, Ludo rushed out, and Sarah called Didymus and Hoggle forward.
"I didn't do it," said Hoggle immediately. "Ludo is upset, and it's not my fault. I just tried to suggest he do his favorite thing and hug Didymus."
"He's always been willing to hug me previously. I don't understand why not now," said Didymus, eyes hurt before he looked into Sarah's. "What did I do wrong?"
"I suspect neither of you did anything," said Sarah kindly, kneeling down and rubbing their shoulders. "Ludo's been acting odd for a couple days now."
"It's true. He has since-ow!" cried Didymus as Hoggle elbowed him. "What?"
"Since you danced with Sarah," said Hoggle, causing Didymus to hide his face. "Do you think he's jealous or something?"
"No. That's not it," interrupted Sarah, surprising both as they gave her wide eyes. "He seems sad, lonely, and a little restless. Has he ever acted like this before?"
Both nodded, and Didymus explained, "When we first came to this school, Ludo hated it here. He missed home and his family."
"But we all did, too, and we've dealt with it. Why is it a big deal now?" asked Hoggle of his friend, pointing between them. "We've all lost something, but we agreed to it."
The smaller teen nodded. "Verily we did, but we all know that Ludo was closest to his family. They were all very close, and the only reason he came was because of us."
"So Ludo is homesick?" asked Sarah, trying to understand what they were saying as her eyes darted between them. "And you were all friends before coming here?"
The pair agreed. "The best of friends, which is why I'm concerned about him now," said Didymus. "I'm not sure what would have triggered it. We'll have to find out."
"Please do. I hate seeing Ludo unhappy," urged Sarah, giving pleading looks to both. "You're all very talented, and being homesick is the worst."
"We'll take care of it. No need for you to interfere," insisted Hoggle, "seeing as he's our friend and all, not yours."
Sarah flinched internally at that, but refused to let it show. She hated being reminded that she was still the outsider, and Hoggle seemed particularly protective of his friends.
"We'll do our best. Thank you," said Didymus before the two left.
During the weekend, Sarah watched Ludo run away multiple times from his friends, and she told Jareth of her fears.
"I wouldn't be too worried. Those two will reach him eventually," assured Jareth as they sat on a bench in the garden, away from prying eyes. "They know him best."
They sat on the same stone bench, surrounded by roses and the fountain. Despite the short length of the rough, white-washed stone, they still sat on opposite ends, Jareth silently insistent that they remain far apart. If Ludo understood and loved affection, then Jareth was the opposite of him, unwilling to initiate, nor seeming to see how valuable it could be in certain situations.
In this instance, Sarah craved it as she gazed longingly at the distance between their spread out fingers. "I hope so. If they don't make better progress within a week, then I'm talking to Ludo myself."
"That's reasonable," said Jareth, his eyes traveling up and down her person.
If she hadn't been doing the exact same thing to him when she saw him in something outside of a leotard and tights, she might have been concerned. However, she was wearing jeans and a loose, flowy white top with a vest while he had somehow managed to also get the memo and wear a white shirt, even if his showed more of his pale chest.
His pants were just as tight as ever, but she wasn't terribly surprised by that. She kept her eyes trained above, which was fine with her since he looked good in other, more normal clothes.
"It'll be a week. Plenty of time," she said, glancing at the fountain and sighing as she worried.
"Why are you so concerned about this student and his problems?" asked Jareth, drawing her out of her head. "Do you know what you're going to do or say to him?" Drawing her head back, she was unprepared for him to show an interest in her worries or Ludo, and he chuckled. "Surprised you, did I? I'm trying."
"You are, and I appreciate it," she said, sliding closer to him and letting their fingertips touch barely. "I don't know what I'll say yet, but I'll figure it out. I guess...I'm homesick as well, so I know how he feels. I want him to know he's not alone."
"He'd like that. We all are homesick, even if we've all learned to push it away," said Jareth, eyes far away. "I miss my old duties," he said until he snapped his attention back onto her. "You're not considering leaving me, are you?"
As much as Sarah wanted to get back to him discussing his life before this school, she knew she had to assuage him at once. "No, not at all! Did I ever give that impression?"
That time, he took her hand, as though that could keep her there forever. "No, but if you're homesick, you could leave now. We can't."
As much as she wanted to ask him if he would miss her, she was afraid of his answer.
"We? Who's we? The students? The headmaster? Why can't you leave?" asked Sarah, tugging him closer to try to understand him.
Jareth bit his lip, and his grip became nonexistent as his hand grew clammy. "It's hard to explain. You're better off asking the headmaster."
He closed himself off from her just like that, and she didn't understand what she had done. "Okay," she said softly, causing him to jolt and sneak a peek at her. When she continued to give him an encouraging smile, he brightened considerably. "I'll ask next week. Should we head back since it's getting close to sunset?"
"Yes." He stood up and motioned for her to follow, his eyes never straying from her as they walked out from the series of rose bushes. "I'd hate for the Goblin King to steal you away from me."
"So you believe in that legend, too?" asked Sarah curiously as they approached her building.
"Yes," he answered seriously. Placing himself in front of her, he added, "You should, too. You're exactly what he wants." She shivered at how he just knew. His tone changed to one of fear, as though he refused to let it happen in the same breath that he imagined it happening. "If he takes your heart-"
She silenced him by resting her hand against his chest, over his heart. "What if I were to give it to him willingly?"
He blinked in awe. "Why?" he asked, slightly befuddled. Gathering his wits about him, he placed his hands on her shoulders, saying loudly, "Do you realize what that'd do to you? You'd be without feeling or compassion. Do you want to live like you're dead?"
She shook her head, melting under his concern. "No, but I could love him. I could give him my heart, and still feel deeply. His song awakens something in me that I've never felt before," she admitted, hoping he understood.
His mouth gaped, and for a moment, he stared at her lips. Remembering himself, he shook his head definitively. "No one could ever love such a monster, not even you," insisted Jareth, leaning in. He seemed to realize he was doing something horribly wrong a second later, as he backed away, no longer touching her and making her feel the loss keenly. "Don't fall for him and his beautiful singing," he scolded, eyes drilling into hers. "You deserve better."
"I'll be the judge of that," she said breezily, opening the front door. "I can do as I please. I'll see you in the morning for stretches."
Humming the Goblin King's song as she entered the building, she waltzed upstairs, not thinking anything of it. When she got to her room, she happened to pass the window, and when she looked down, Jareth was still glued to the spot, staring at where she had been. As if by magic, he woke up, making eye contact with her and grinning like a schoolboy before he hurried back to his own chamber. He continued to confound her with his hot and cold actions, not to mention his changeable moods. However, she slept well that night, replaying all of her favorite moments with Jareth.
In class, she continued to deal with Jareth's distance from her and Ludo's silence. She decided not to worry about Jareth and instead focused on Ludo, who still hadn't gone back to his normal self by the appointed day she had in mind. If anything, he had gotten worse, spending all his time outside class in the outdoors. During class, he started snapping at the younger kids, in addition to his friends. When Didymus gave her a hopeless hand gesture to show he didn't know what else to do, she glanced at Hoggle, to see if he also gave up. He doggedly refused for a couple more days, at least until he, too, admitted defeat when Ludo yelled at him again. She still didn't know what to do about Ludo, so she went to her last resort: the headmaster.
"Sarah, it's good of you to visit me. How are you?" asked the headmaster as he poured some Earl Grey for them both.
"I'm distressed," she answered honestly. "There have been strange happenings at this school, which I think are related to the legend of the Swan King, and Ludo is upset. I don't know how to help him since no one else can."
"There there. The answer is quite simple regarding Ludo," said the old man, handing her a teacup. "You want to help your student. So, young woman, the way forward is sometimes the way back."
Her brow wrinkled. "I don't understand."
He patted his knees, sounding like a kindly, old grandfather in his tender tone of voice. "Quite often, young lady, it seems like we're not getting anywhere when in fact we are."
"I'm certainly not getting anywhere at the moment," said Sarah, resting her elbows on the table. "Can you elucidate further?"
"To understand the present, we must understand the past. That is the only way forward," he said, taking a long sip of his steaming liquid. As understanding dawned in her eyes with a solution, he smiled. "Good. Now, as for this legend, there's more I didn't tell you."
"What else is there?" she asked, leaning across the table with avid interest.
He sat back, arms wide and hands expressive. "Some say that there is another way to break the spell on the Swan King. Since he shattered his heart for others, then the lost, broken pieces could be returned to the lonely, brokenhearted king if someone selflessly helped him. In doing so, the king would fall in love with the girl because she knows all parts of his heart and soul. Does that help?"
Images of the red aura floating from Didymus to Jareth sprang to mind, and she wondered if that could possibly be true. It seemed too fantastical to be true, even if she believed the Swan King was real.
"It does. I still have one more question, though. Why can't any of you leave this school?" asked Sarah, panicking when she saw the smile leave his face. "I think Ludo is homesick, so why couldn't he just go home?"
"It's a very complicated agreement between him, his family, and this school, one I'm not at liberty to discuss with you," he said, standing up. "I'm sorry I can't give you a more satisfying answer without going against the rules." Pausing to breathe, he then added, "I think that's your lot. I have much paperwork to attend to, so I must ask you to leave. You understand, of course."
"Yes," she said, finishing her tea and leaving. "I've learned much today."
She decided to put the revelation about the heart pieces of the Swan King out of her mind, as she wasn't ready to tackle that. Instead, she went in search of Ludo, who, true to form, was outside.
"Ludo?"
"I don't want to hug anyone. Please leave me alone," he requested, eyes downcast and his messy mop of hair frazzled.
"That's okay. You don't have to hug if you don't want to. Are you expecting mail from your family?" she asked, smiling slightly when he jerked his head up.
"No. Why do you ask?" he asked, narrowing his eyes warily.
"Well, you're acting like me as I wait for a letter from my family. Are you homesick like I am?" she asked, taking one step closer.
He eyed her movement but said nothing of it. "Yes, I am. I miss my family."
"Do you want to talk about them with me?" she offered. "We can each share stories of family members and what we miss about them."
The watery eyes he gave her almost made her take his hand anyway. He opened and shut his mouth repeatedly, unsure what to say until he finally said, "Not right now."
She tried to hide her disappointment. "Well, if you change your mind, I'm happy to talk anytime. I don't like seeing you so sad. Sometimes, it also helps to talk about it."
"Maybe later," he evaded, glancing at his dormitory. "I don't know if it's smart to do so."
"It is," she asserted, more confident on this aspect. "Isn't it good to know that you aren't alone in feeling like this? I don't have to understand everything, either. I can just listen, or I can talk, too."
He yawned loudly. "Another night. See you."
"Sure." She stepped closer. She tried to take his hand, but he pulled away. "I just want you to know that you're not alone in feeling like this. I bet many others around here feel the same way, but they're unwilling to think about it." She patted her heart. "I care deeply about my family, so I always want to talk about them. I'm here for you anytime."
He smiled. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."
Sarah counted it as a win, as he hadn't dismissed her. For the next couple days, she made a point to smile at him, and when she happened to go for a stroll through the rose bushes, she found a rock shaped like a heart. Picking it up, she raced back to the courtyard, where Ludo stood.
"Ludo! Look over here!" she called with a frantic wave of her hand. "I found something really cool that I think you'll like! It's a rock!"
At first, he had seemed ready to bolt, but the moment he heard that it was a rock, he jogged over. "What kind of rock?"
"It's a heart-shaped rock," she replied, holding it up for him until he was right in front of her, staring at it intently. "Would you like to hold it so you can study it better?"
"You don't mind?" he asked bashfully, his fingers inching closer to the rock.
"Not at all. You can keep it if you really like it," she said proudly, rejoicing when he took the smooth stone and ran his fingers across it.
He got lost in his new rock, testing how sharp it was on the edges and looking for designs swirled into it. When he was satisfied, he asked, "Are you sure I can have it?"
She nodded. "Absolutely. You seem to love rocks a lot more than me," she said, grinning.
"Rocks are my friends. They always listen to me," he said by way of explanation as he cupped the rock, eyes still fixated on the new friend. "My whole family loves rocks. We play with them, and now I collect them."
"That's a really cool hobby to have! Do you know all the different types there are?" she asked, patting herself on the back when he met her gaze and began firing off every type of rock there was.
For three hours he told her all the things he knew about each type of rock. By the time it was dark, there was still much more to learn.
"I'm getting a little sleepy, Ludo. Could we continue this conversation about igneous rocks tomorrow?" she asked, relieved when he agreed.
The next several evenings, he told her more random facts about rocks, occasionally throwing in a story of what kinds of rocks each of his family members preferred.
"Does your family do anything with the rocks when they collect them?" she asked another time, and she was rewarded with several humorous stories about the rock pyramids and piles his family had created over time, as well as the different ways others messed with them by removing particular stones from the piles. Which of course led to him telling her about the rock wars the family members had, and both were laughing-crying by the end.
"Your family sounds absolutely wonderful, Ludo! One day, I hope I can meet them," she said after both had wiped the tears from their eyes and calmed down. "Perhaps you will meet mine if they ever visit us here. I'm expecting a letter from them anyday."
He perked up. "They actually send your mail?"
In response, the headmaster opened a window and called, "Sarah! I got a letter here addressed to you from your family."
Her eyes shone with anticipation. "Thank you! Throw it down."
He did, and Sarah read it as soon as she caught it. When she was done, she showed it to Ludo. "Yes. They do send mail. They promised to write before. Have you ever considered writing to your family? Maybe they would write you back so you can hear from them?"
His face fell. "Probably not."
"I think they would." She patted his shoulder out of habit, and she grimaced when she remembered that he didn't want affection. However, he gave her a smile and didn't push her away. Wanting to keep him smiling, she added, "Your family sounds as devoted as mine. Let me tell you what my father said when I told him I was coming here…"
The rest of the night, she told him stories about Irene, Robert, and Toby until they were old friends to Ludo as well. They walked together toward the men's building, and just before he went inside, Ludo said, "Your family is so nice. Why would you leave them?"
"Because I know I'll always have them, and I know I'm destined for somewhere else. Something bigger. I'm hoping that it's here with you all," she said, tilting her head. "I really like it here."
"I'd want to go back to my family if I could," he insisted, leaning his back against the door.
"One day, you will. I believe that," she said confidently. "Until then, however, why don't you try writing a letter to them? Maybe they don't write because you haven't written to them."
His eyes got big as he considered that. "What would I say to them?"
"Tell them how you feel. Tell them stories of your time here, or what you've learned. There's so much. I'll tell you what: I'll bring letter writing supplies with me tomorrow, and we'll each write a letter to our families together. Okay?" she asked hopefully.
He nodded, his gaze warm. "Sure. I can't wait."
Sarah did a victory dance on the way to bed, and when she came in for teaching in the morning, she was bright-eyed with a spring in her step. Jareth was waiting with a small smile of his own.
"Sarah, it seems you made progress with Ludo last night. I saw that precious little dance of yours as you left."
Blushing, she covered her face. "I didn't realize I had an audience."
"I watch every night. I'm curious how you get on with him, and you amaze me each night with your ability to draw him out of himself in a way no one else has in some time," said Jareth, chuckling when she dropped her head. "Why are you hiding now?"
"Because you saw that silly dance," she said, voice muffled.
For whatever reason, his compliment unnerved her. She wasn't used to hearing them from him, even if she appreciated it. She was still just relieved that he didn't seem jealous.
"Now, now, none of that. I earned a chance to see this," he teased, his long fingers slowly peeling away her hands. "Sarah, up," he coaxed softly, his whole face breaking into a wide smile when she showed him her heated cheeks and smile. "Much better."
She lost herself in the blue of his eyes, deep pools of emotion that she wanted to drown in. They held one another's gaze, hands still entwined until the sound of students woke them up, and they separated quickly. What Sarah didn't understand was why he wouldn't make eye contact with her after that.
It was all she could think about during class, and it almost made her miss a step at one point. As she mentally scolded herself for it, she wondered why she was so worried about it. When he happened to smile at the antics of two kids chasing one another, she realized the truth, plain as day: she liked Jareth.
Once she accepted that, things made a lot more sense internally. From there, she worried about him. Did he still not believe that she wanted to touch him?
"Best to disabuse him of notion," she murmured, following him when he bent over to put on the music. He froze when she placed a hand on his left shoulder, not daring to move as she leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Thank you for the compliment earlier. Do you have your own version of a victory dance?"
He faced her with a wide grin. "I do. Another time I'll show it to you."
"I look forward to it," she intimated, squeezing his shoulder.
He stood much closer to her after that. The rest of the day flew by, and the evening did as well as she and Ludo both wrote a letter in the common room of the boys' dormitory. After reading over and promising to deliver his letter to the headmaster for posting, Sarah bid him a good night. To the collective shock of the whole school, Ludo came in the next day with a smile on his face, and he apologized to Didymus and Hoggle, ending with hugging Didymus.
In the days to come, he became quieter and more like his usual self. Jareth continued to give her disbelieving looks as Ludo improved. Sarah still talked to Ludo after class occasionally, but soon he was spending more time with his friends.
After a week of him being with his friends, Sarah was ready to call her mission a success, which corresponded nicely with them working on the final steps of the routine. Ludo was smiling at her and occasionally giving her a side hug as he left class, which felt like a good accomplishment. However, it didn't feel the same way as it did with Didymus. The problem was that she felt as though there was still more to go. However, since good and bad things tended to come in threes, she felt a change in the air when Hoggle cornered her right after lunch one day.
"I don't know what you did or said to him to make him so happy, but thank you. I've been really worried about him," confided Hoggle, taking off his cap and wringing it in his hands. "But whatever it was, can you do it again soon? He's looking at the outdoors again at odd moments."
"He's waiting for a letter from his family. I don't know how long that'll take to come," she informed him, taken aback when his face turned thunderous.
"Now why would you go and do a thing like that? None of us ever communicate with whom we left behind," stated Hoggle as though it were obvious.
"Because I didn't know any better," she retorted, giving him a look to calm down. "I haven't lived here as long as you all have."
"That's for certain," said Hoggle, beginning to pace. "This is bad. Really bad."
"Why?" she asked, causing him to stop. "Because I gave him hope?"
"Because you got his hopes up for nothing! He'll never receive a letter back. Not ever!" said Hoggle, throwing up his hands as Sarah deflated slightly. "You do this to him now, and when he doesn't after a while, he'll be even worse. Then he'll never trust anyone ever again-"
"Oh, Hedgewart."
"It's Hoggle," intoned the teen with exasperation as Jareth came forward.
Sarah had heard Jareth called him odd names occasionally, and she had asked both about it. However, they both shrugged it off.
"Ah, what have we here? What are you discussing so animatedly with Sarah? You seem to be reprimanding her, when she is the adult in this particular instance," said Jareth, standing beside her.
His little show of support meant the world to her, and Hoggle clearly saw it as his cue to leave. "Oh, uh, nothing."
"Nothing? Nothing? Nothing? Nothing, tra la la?" said Jareth playfully, the dangerous glint in his eyes belying the smile on his face.
"It's nothing," repeated Hoggle as he walked away in disgust.
She turned to face him, concerned. "Jareth…"
"Yes?" he asked, standing between her and Hoggle. "Forget about the teen. Whatever it was, I'm sure he's wrong."
"I hope so," she said wistfully. "I don't want to have messed things up with Ludo."
Jareth was about to respond, but all the kids came back, making it impossible to hear anything. For a couple days, Sarah watched in fear as Ludo did look outside more frequently, but he stayed with his friends. Better yet, Jareth continued to remind her that she had done well, even if Hoggle still gave her nervous looks.
All her worry was for naught, though, when the headmaster came barreling into the classroom, waving two envelopes in his hand. Jareth paused as he stared with a pale complexion at the thick, cream-colored envelope that had a very official looking red seal on it. Ludo, meanwhile, was grinning ear-to-ear at the other hand, a gigantic, gray envelope held there.
"I have news to deliver," announced the headmaster after clearing his throat. "First, Ludo, you have a letter from your family that was delivered along with this note, which I have waited to open until you were all present. As everyone knows, it's from our esteemed elders."
Sarah watched Ludo rip open his letter, Hoggle looking at him with utter shock, but her ears were focused on the elders' letter, doubt and fear beginning to swirl in her stomach.
The old man projected his voice after ordering everyone to pipe down. "It is hereby announced that the elders expect to visit the academy within three days of receipt of this letter. During this visit, select students and all instructors will be interviewed, and the elders would like to see a recital. Until then, we are your humble gang of elders." After an initial spike of voices whispering or exclaiming about it, he called, "Quiet! You heard the letter. You have three days in which to plan a recital before our elders come, seeking to see our progress. We must begin the cleaning protocols. Sarah, Jareth, come see me after class."
Both nodded, and so began three of the most chaotic days that Sarah had ever had. Between inspecting all of the girls' room for cleanliness, going over the routine with Jareth to determine costumes, and perfecting the movements of all the students, she didn't have time to rest or talk to Ludo.
Thankfully, Ludo's radiant smile said everything for him. He was hugging everyone in sight, even giving pointers to some of the younger students. On the day that the elders were to arrive, Sarah was running about to each student, and by the end of the day, no one had come.
Jareth seemed relieved, but she wasn't. She didn't want to draw out the craziness, as she liked the unhurried pace of things before. It all felt like a waste. As they finished that day, Ludo approached her as she finished a final stretch. Most of the others had left by then, but Hoggle and Didymus were still there, chatting with Jareth about costume needs since both could sew.
As soon as she finished, she exhaled heavily and flopped down in front of her. "Did they come yet? Is it over?" she asked the floor and her leg.
Ludo chuckled. "No, but you're ready. You look tired."
"I am tired," replied Sarah, letting him see how exhausted she was before she stood up.
"Then I know just the thing to pep you up," said Ludo, taking a step forward. "A hug."
Excitement raced through her body, the thought of finally having one of his huge hugs making everything worth it. As soon as he opened his arms wide, she threw herself into them, and he lifted her off the ground as he squeezed her hard enough so she couldn't breathe. She embraced it, though, enjoying the warmth and joy he radiated.
As he finally set her down, he said, "Thank you for encouraging me to write. My family was afraid I wouldn't want to be reminded of them, so I made sure to tell them I want to be reminded of them every day until I can return."
"I'm so proud of you," sniffed Sarah, ruffling some of Ludo's hair. "And happy."
"Not as happy as me. My heart feels kinda funny right now," he said, glancing at Jareth. "Like my heart wants to leave my chest."
"I think you're happy as well," she told him, patting his shoulder and thinking nothing of it.
"It's more than that. I'm restless. I've got a lot of energy, and my heart keeps telling me to dance for some reason," said Ludo, causing Sarah to gasp.
It was too much of a coincidence. She had helped him, just as she had Didymus, so it was possible. Could this really be her uniting the shards of the Swan King's heart? Could Jareth be the Swan King? Her heartbeat sped up as she imagined the possibilities.
There was only one way to find out. Stepping back, she offered him a hand with more courage than she felt. "Would you like to dance with me? We could practice your new routine."
He grinned, pushing back his shaggy hair before touching hers briefly. "Yes, I'd like that."
As soon as their hands met, the air changed around them, and she could feel eyes upon her, watching her every move. Even their audience knew that this was imperative that she do this with Ludo.
"I'll count down for us," she said as they both moved into their starting place facing one another, their limbs in the fourth position. Their legs matched, each right leg out front and pointing outward, while the left foot flat and pointed in the opposite direction. It balanced her, preparing her for the flurry of steps to come, and her nerves melted away as she did the main thing she loved. She curved her right arm up, feeling like an almost perfect straight line until she let the left one lay out straight.
As soon as she finished counting, a spark of movement was inspired in both of them. They stepped out with their right foot, that arm gracefully sliding down and forward with palms up, as though they were reaching for one another. When their eyes met, Sarah saw a familiar red glow in Ludo's eyes, and she had to remind her heart to keep on beating as Ludo confirmed what she secretly hoped.
The music that accompanied the dance was faster, lighter and brighter with its rapid eighth notes in a row. With how serious Jareth usually was, it had initially surprised Sarah that he would pick something less serious sounding, but as she got to know the silly kids and watched Jareth loosen up, it felt far more fitting.
Normally, she was exhilarated when she could dance, but right now, she felt an exuberance that made her movements sharper and flow faster. They both proceeded to strike out with their right feet, legs kept bent as they landed smoothly, all the while both their arms raised to the fifth position. With both arms arched up, she fancied herself a diver, atop a pedestal as her whole body sprang for the next movement. In a beat, she bent her arms forward, diving toward Ludo and rolling her arms down and toward him once more so they could work together.
All she wanted was to hold Ludo's hand, and as she glanced at him, she sensed that he felt the same way as they extended out. It was that tension, that near-miss every time that filled her with frantic energy and a desire to push on until she could. As her arms landed dramatically, she next pictured herself a guard with Ludo, sweeping down a hallway together to announce the king. They transitioned into a series of pas de chat's with their legs, traveling sideways with each jump. As obstacles came, they leaped gracefully, overcoming all of them together. While mid-air, their legs were successively bent then brought to retiré, their feet as high up as possible with their knees apart, as though bending the knee for their leader. With each jump, their arm sailed back, then to the front, their hands continuing to just barely miss one another as they created a series of arches over an invisible hallway.
Each soaring extension of their arms pulled a little more of the red aura out of Ludo, and Sarah loved watching how naturally he shed it, his movements seeming lighter the more the glow left him. At last, they reached the end of the hallway, pausing momentarily in fifth position, arms up and feet parallel to one another. At that, both grinned at one another, for they knew the grand finale was ahead. If just this part could free Ludo like this, it animated Sarah's steps as she awaited the end. As their eyes met knowingly, Ludo's entire body was submersed in the crimson color that floated around him, and they moved so their arms curved in bras bas, hands almost touching at hip height.
A heartbeat passed. They stood in silent offering to their king, and out of the corner of her eye, she could see Jareth nod his head in time with them. It set them both into motion, a smile filling her face because she was doing the turns she so loved. Since their right foot was in front of the left one, they shot into the air in opposite directions, each performing a series of pirouettes then lunges as they kept their arms low and curved. At this point, the turns were as easy as breathing, but the hope of what would come made her chest heave excitedly.
Instead, she focused on her legs, one kept in retiré as they nimbly made each small turn within the wider circle. With each smaller circle performed, Ludo grew a little brighter, and Sarah's heart was a metronome, each steady beat bringing her a little closer to what felt like destiny. She welcomed it, whatever it would bring, each precise bend of her legs and landing in fourth position an easy flow. Closer and closer they drew, his aura rising with each step, and her blood pounded in her veins, the adrenaline pumping until at last they met, face to face.
By then, only the bottom of the aura was barely attached to Ludo as it sought a new home. As the music would swell in a grand crescendo, Sarah was ready to pay her final respects to the king and bow dramatically. She wanted to see that red go to Jareth once more, to give her more evidence. It took all her concentration to stare at Ludo and watch him carefully as they pulled themselves up into a final arabesque, their right foot en pointe as their left created a ninety degree angle going straight back. When their left arms straightened out backward to match their leg, their right swept forward, resembling a swan's graceful neck as linear as it was.
When the hazy cloud remained, Sarah's brow furrowed. She dipped forward, as though to touch Ludo's hand, and he smiled and followed suit. As soon as their hands touched, the aura broke free of him, floating through the air and landing on Jareth once more. It was as though a load had been lifted from Ludo, and even his fingers shook as he was freed from whatever it was that had been inside him. The welcoming smile on his face spoke volumes to her of how grateful he was to have finally made it to this moment.
They held there a second, fingertips barely touching, before clapping resounded in the air, coming from Didymus. Ludo moved slowly down, but Sarah did not. She dropped a little faster than she should have, as intent as she was on analyzing Jareth.
It was Hoggle she noticed first, his eyes mere slits as he glared at her, and Jareth had his eyes closed, as though meditating. Soon, the red glow dissipated, and Jareth reopened his eyes, immediately meeting hers.
He cast a spell upon her, new emotions coursing through the windows to his soul, and she tried to read them all, as drawn as she was into the current of his feelings. She would have stared for eternity, were it not for the headmaster suddenly shouting, "The elders have arrived!"
A chill entered the air, new eyes upon her, and she dragged her gaze away from her co-teacher. When she saw five older men with fire engine red hair, mustaches, and beards, all inspecting her, she pulled herself up to her full height.
"They're scaring looking, but they're harmless," whispered Ludo beside her.
Smiling in appreciation, she stepped forward. Deathly silence filled the room. Sarah could have heard a twig snap, as quiet as it was. With so much focused on her, she heard a light tapping as she approached. Everyone seemed frozen in place, all eyes upon her first meeting with the elders, and she yearned to ask what was going on that everyone felt a need to watch. Was she that big of a deal?
She was almost to them when one of them, a taller, skinnier one, shrieked suddenly, causing Sarah to jerk her head back, wondering what was up with them. He jumped forward and shook her hand before another did similarly, and she was quite certain that with the wild look in their eyes, that they were just chaotic and crazy as the kids in her class. Others around the two elders cackled, leading her to believe that the old men were all off their rocker.
As much as she wanted to ask what they wanted, that didn't feel appropriate on her first introduction. "Thank you for agreeing to be our new teacher, Ms. Williams," said the first elder, a giant grin on his face. "You show much promise from what we hear, and we're here to evaluate you accordingly." He got in her face, a crazed look there as he whispered, "You are of particular interest to us, as is your co-teacher."
"Welcome to our academy," said the second as he shook her hand. "We'll be in touch soon for interviews."
She introduced herself to the rest of them before excusing herself. All throughout, the whole group continued to eye her appraisingly. The elders weren't creepy per se, but she could smell crazy on them a mile away. They looked ready to break out in a dance number any minute with the way they jumped forward and raised their voices unnecessarily.
Ludo escorted her outside, and when the door closed, he took both her hands in his. "Thank you again, Sarah, for dancing with me today. You're a true friend to me, and to Jareth."
Eyes watering, she said, "I really do care about all of you."
At that, Ludo's height almost doubled, and his matted, rusty hair suddenly appeared all over his body, a pair of horns sitting on the crown of his head. When she blinked, his beast-like face and appearance was back to normal, smiling as always.
"I know," he said, squeezing her hands. "Now you just have to prove that to the elders. Luckily, you've got help. Should you need me…."
She grinned. "I'll call."
Author's Notes: Thanks so much for reading!
Annibale: Thank you so much! You're very kind! I'm deeply sorry you had to wait so long this next chapter! Thank you for reading and reviewing!
foxchick1: Thanks! I'm so happy you loved it! So sorry this got delayed! Thank you for reading and for the review!
Guest: Thank you! More is coming, but I regret it took a year to do it. I hope you'll love this chapter, too! Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Bookwormgirl32: If you love ballet and classical music with magical girls and a really adorable couple, I highly recommend this anime! It's amazing! I love it now. I don't think you'll regret seeing it. Thanks so much for reading and for the review!