CHAPTER 5
Sarah asked, "So, Jareth, do you think my friends will be angry at me for not contacting them all these years. You didn't understand what happened until I told you and I hope they will be just as forgiving."
He said, "I think it will be fine once you explain things that happened."
She asked, "You didn't punish them for helping me through the labyrinth, did you?" They plodded along together down the road.
He said, "I thought about it, because I was angry that you turned down my offer and left, but no I didn't. It was a bad time for me after that. The neighboring kingdom was trying to manipulate the produce negotiations and withheld the goods in a set prearrangement. The goblins blew up a section of the junkyard because they launched a flaming chicken into a spot there. It ignited some oil like chemicals. Then my father was pressing hard to make me marry, but I resisted all his attempts and threats. It just was a bad few months and I was not in a good mood to deal with it."
Sarah said, "I'm sorry. Something happened to me after I went home. I woke up a few days later with an eidetic memory and many talents surfaced. The oddest part was my appearance altered. My eyes became greener, my hair shinier and my ears started to taper but not enough to have anyone notice. I did though. I had a deep drive to learn all about your people and mine back then. I am three quarters Irish and one quarter English, my mother was born there in Ireland. So, I applied for citizenship at 18 years old. In my world you can have dual citizenship between allied countries." He listened to her talk.
She had been touched by the fae. She doesn't know that being exposed to magic, plus she was connected to the Labyrinth itself would make her part of his world. She was turning into a fae though. That is very odd and he would have to investigate that when they got to the castle. No wonder why she had multiple talents and higher intelligence. Perhaps she is part fae and his world and magic was enhancing it to bring out that aspect.
She told him of her relationships with her family and about the years in British Isles. She said she researched the ancient Gaelic languages. He wanted to know how well she could understand it.
He said, in Scottish Gaelic, "Mar sin, a bheil thu a' tuigsinn an dualchainnt seo? A bheil thu a' tuigsinn na Gaeilge agus na Cuimris cuideachd?" ( So, you understand this dialect? Do you understand the Irish and Welsh too?)
Sarah said, "Tuigim go leor rudaí, Goblin King. Bhí súil agam go bhféadfá do theangacha a mhúineadh dom i fae freisin?" (I understand many things, Goblin King. I was hoping you could teach me your languages in fae also?)
He chuckled and said in Welsh Gaelic, "Rydych chi wir yn fenyw chwilfrydig. Mae'n debyg y gallwn ddod o hyd i'r amser i wneud hynny." (You truly are a inquisitive woman. I guess we can find the time to do that.)
She smiled at him and said in an ancient Celtic dialect, the oldest one she knew, "Go raibh maith agat, Jareth. Ba mhaith liom é sin go mór. Tá áthas orm gur féidir linn a bheith inár gcairde anois go bhfuil muid tar éis teacht le chéile arís i gcás i bhfad níos fearr." (Thank you, Jareth. I would like that very much. Im glad we can be friends now that we have met again in a much better situation.)
He chuckled and smiled at her and said, "That was close. I'm surprised you can go that far back in the ancient tongue of your people."
Sarah giggled and said, "It's the oldest one I could find."
Three hours later, they came to the Labyrinth's entrance. She asked, "Where is Hoggle?"
Jareth said, "Oh he is the royal gardener now and is mostly in my gardens."
Sarah smiled and said, "I'm sure he is happier doing that."
Jareth said, "On some days. When is he never complaining, really Hogsbreath is always growling about something." He flapped his hand back and forth in a pretentious way. Sarah laughed out loud.
She knew he was right on that fact and said,"You know his name is Hoggle and you always mispronounce it. You do that deliberately to antagonize him. Don't you?" She giggled. "You big meanie."
Jareth grinned and said, "I can't tell you all my trade secrets, Sarah." She smiled at him. He led her through the shortcut to the castle.
Sarah said, "That darn little worm told me to go right instead of left. I'm gonna have to have a little talk with him."
Jareth said, "That's his job. Misdirection of all runners. Besides, he's just a worm and he'll tell you that." She laughed.
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They got to the castle an hour later. Jareth had the goblins take all of Sarah's belongings to the guest room and prepare the guest room for her. He whispered in a goblin's ear to prepare the Queen's suite. He had one goblin take the horses to the royal stable and board the horses. The goblins scattered to do his bidding. The rest just stood around staring at her.
He said, "Come Sarah, let's go find some lunch while the goblins settle your room."
She turned, smiling at him and said, "Lead the way, Goblin King."
He led her to the dining room and had the goblins prepare lunch for them. They brought hot tea and wine to the table. She made a cup of hot tea and was sipping on it.
Jareth was still surprised at her demeanor. He was so sure she hated him all these years. He knew she still didn't trust him completely but he hoped to change that in time. He was so deeply attracted to her that just being in a room or in close vicinity, it felt like his skin was coming alive. He desperately wanted to touch her, but was afraid to offend her because he knew it would not end with just a mere touch. He would lose control of himself. It had been three months since she had taken a lover to his bed and that was like going through the motions for release. The maid in his castle was efficient and convenient in relieving his sexual needs but she meant nothing more to him and he made a point to tell her that.
He and Sarah had a hearty meal of roasted vegetables, pot roast and fresh bread. Sarah said, "Do you have a small chest or lock box I could use to put my gold in while I'm here?"
Jareth waved his hand and a crystal appeared. He handed it to her. He said, "Just make a pile of your gold and toss this at it and it will make the appropriate size chest for your amount of gold." She took it and thanked him.
They left the dining room and he led her to her room. He opened the door and the goblins were racing around the room, fussing about, doing little things setting up the room. When they saw the king, they bowed and left the room.
Jareth said, "Let me show you around." The room has a big fireplace with a fire burning, an armoire, windows and balcony. The furniture was in mahogany and it was all intricately carved in French Provincial and Baroque styles. The bedroom was in soft teal green and sea green colors with a huge very thick cream oriental rug covering the floors from edge to edge. No space was uncovered.
Sarah was glad to have such a big swimming tub. It had a waterfall, foliage and flowers like a small garden surrounding it on all sides. Jareth showed her how to change the temperature of the waterfall in the tub, by waving your hand over a spot and saying hot, cold or warm. He said it was always flowing in the tub and recycling, until it was used. He said it empties and self cleans after. She thought magic was so cool. Ivy climbed up on the walls and gave the bathroom a subtropical feeling along with all the rest of the plants. The fresh scent was really nice too. Everything was in white marble with gold shot through it. The fixtures were in gold. The toilet was in a curtained off corner in the room. There was a shower stall too with racks of soft green towels and washcloths. One wall was illuminated with a stained glass mural of mermaids and water lilies. It was beautiful.
Jareth said, "I hope you're comfortable here."
Sarah said, "You're kidding me right? It's a very beautiful bathroom and room, Jareth." He showed her the attached sitting room.
Jareth said, "I have noticed that you do not say my name in front of others. You referred to me as the Goblin King in front of the goblins. You know the name security of my people, don't you?"
She laughed and said, "Yes, when I got here a week ago, I trusted nothing and nobody. I introduced myself with a nickname a friend called me years ago, Sar. I did not know how deep the mistake would have been if I did use my first name. I didn't know if it only applies to the fae, doesn't apply anymore, or applies to everyone. I couldn't be sure until I found someone to set me straight."
Jareth said, "It only applies to the fae. I appreciate your care and discretion. How did you learn it anyway?"
Sarah said, "I overheard Hoggle muttering it one time during my journey through the Labyrinth. I did not realize that it was so important to not use it in front of others, until I learned it through texts I found during my education."
Jareth said, "Let's keep it that way, but Jareth is not my magical name. My magical name is the one nobody knows. It's just in private I want you to use my name Jareth." She nodded and said Ok. He left her to settle in and told her to ask a goblin wherever she would like to go and they will give her directions. She told him thank you and he left her in her room.
Sarah found her clothes already placed in the chest of drawers with lots of other clothes she did not recognize. She went into the armoire and saw her coats in front but behind them was a vast length of closet full of dresses. Where the hell did all these clothes come from? She would need to ask when she saw him again. She grabbed her blue jeans, a set of underwear, a long sleeve green t-shirt, and socks from the two drawers full of her duffle bag clothing. She sat them on the bed. She untied her hair and brushed it out and went to the bathroom and filled the tub. She stripped and got in after adding lavender oil and bubbles with the bottles in a fancy metal box next to the tub.
It was perfect and heavenly. She soaked and scrubbed the dirt from her body. When she was finished and stepped out of the tub she saw there was a soft long velvet robe hanging by the rack of towels. She felt like she was in someone else's room with their clothes in it. She got dried off and got dressed wearing her black boots from her world. She didn't have to pose as a man in their world's clothing unless traveling alone. She combed out the tangles in her hair and wore it down with two hair combs to pull it back. She put her knife in her boot and her gun on her belt under her t-shirt she left untucked.
She put her coin purse in her pocket after adding some more gold coins when she located her saddle bags. She remembered the crystal she had put on top of the dresser. She emptied both saddle bags and emptied the leather bags holding the coins into a pile in the middle of the bed. She pressed the crystal into the coins and a smaller domed lid box made of wood and fancy iron work straps appeared. It had filigree locks and hasps with a fancy little old fashioned key in the lock. It reminded her of a pirate chest. She opened it and all her gold coins were stacked inside neatly in rows going across in layers. It was the perfect size. She locked it and picked up the 47 pound box and sat it in front of the mirror on top of the dresser. She found her jewelry from her world and started going through it and made piles of sentimental, bargaining jewelry and her personal jewelry. She put the little key on a chain she had and put it around her neck inside her shirt. It rested the key in between her breasts. She put her personal jewelry she wears in one of the leather bags she emptied earlier with her sentimental pieces. She put on her emerald stud earrings. She looked through the bargaining jewelry for a few pieces she could sell that were gold.
She took her hoodie and put it on without the hood up and left her room. As she was coming out of her room, a human woman about 30 years old looked at her in disdain as she passed her in the hall. Sarah wondered what bug crawled up her ass. She stopped a goblin and asked if he could help her find the main entrance to the castle.
The Goblin asked, "Who is you? You new lady."
Sarah said, "I'm Sarah. What's your name?"
He gasped and said, "You's the Sarah? The Sarah one who beats the Labyrinth?"
Sarah said, "Yes. I'm her. I would like to go shopping in Goblin City. Will you show me to the business area?"
The little goblin said, "You's famous. I be Wendle. I take you to the shops."
Sarah smiled and said, "Thank you Wendle." She walked through the castle and out the main doors. They entered the city and Wendle took her to the shops and vendors set up with tables and booths outside in the streets against the buildings. Wendle left her and ran back to the castle. People seem to be staring at her from time to time.