Heya everybody,
Well this is part Two of Labyrinth Christmas Carol. I have taken some licence with the story so like please don't hate me for it. Um hey comment
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Chapter Two
Jareth finally fell into a listless sleep at around ten to thirteen. Suddenly the sound of dim chimes burst through his dosing. One eye was half opened in an attempt to look around slowly. And he saw.... nothing. Suddenly just out of the corner of his eye he saw it. A great blue ball of light appeared at the window just seconds before it burst open. The blue blankets were pulled quickly up over his eyes and he wondered if he was going to have to go to earth for medication again.
Without his seeing it the ball of light grew into a beautiful raven haired woman dressed in a long medieval type of white gown. There was holly and red ribbons braided into her hair as silver sparkles stood out on her cheeks. She had thought about wearing wings but hey that would have been overkill. One long naked fingernail was placed to Jareth's cheek and she spoke in her soft accented voice. "Jareth wake up it's thirteen o'clock."
Jareth bolted forwards staring at the woman who stood before him. She was familiar oh very familiar indeed. Now he knew he had to be dreaming. Those blue eyes searched her emerald ones and her name came out in a soft hiss and was followed by a vocal sneer. " Morgan? Morgan what the hell are you doing here in that getup?"
"Well J." She announced slowly as she settled herself on the bed next to him long slender digits spreading the silk of the dress about her. " I have been send here for your welfare."
Jareth sneered. "My welfare? A night of unbroken rest would better benefit my welfare." Morgan offered a shrug of her shoulders as her eyes peered into his.
"Your salivation then. I am not here as Morgan I am here as the Ghost of Christmas Past."
At this point Jareth laughed outright. "The Ghost of Christmas Past? Morgan La Fae I fear that all those lonely nights on Avalon have muddled your brain. What do you think you are doing here? Who the bloody hell sent you? Just because I ended our affair doesn't give you the right to haunt me like this."
Jareth was almost on his feet, erect at his speech. Hooded eyes strained around the dark room half expecting applause for his little speech. Morgan stood up and offered a low mocking clap as her magic tipped him out of bed to appear at her feet. She offered a small but dazzling smile as she peered down at him. Her voice was sugary sweet as she spoke to him. "Now Jareth what ever are you doing groveling at the floor at my feet. Well, I must say, this certainly brings back a whole wagon load of memories now doesn't it."
Jareth rolled quickly to his feet, a silken encased family of five outspread to create a crystal. To his great shock it didn't appear. Now Jareth the arrogant brat that he is just seemed to stare at his vacant hand astonished. Morgan placed a silken finger upon his stuttering lips. Her voice was soft but not exactly what one would call gentle at this point.
She stood up quickly a shake of head sending her silken raven waves tumbling back over her silk encased shoulders. "Now I see that got your attention. You see Jareth I am here at a higher power's bequest not just my own. And your magic has been taken from you. Now just how long is lasts is tied directly into how well you behave tonight. Now take hold of my hand there is so much to see."
She didn't await his choice. She simply picked him up by the scruff of his neck and pulled him towards the open window framed. At this point Jareth was really angry. Quick kicks were given to Morgan's feet as she pulled him out the window. Amazingly enough they started to fly. Jareth fought her every inch of the way.
Whomever this higher power was, he decided, if they wanted to put him through this then they would have to deal with him their selves. The kicking and punching at Morgan continued and suddenly she let him go.
He started to fall. No magic came to stop him he held his own form as he looked at the ever approaching ground. The rushing air ripped the scream from his throat. This was ridiculous they couldn't just let him fall but, heh, they were. Morgan's voice rang out calmly inside his head.
"So Jareth are you ready to behave like a good boy now?" Her voice was warm and amused as she spoke in that condescending tone. As the ground continued it's rush towards him he realized he had little choice indeed. Being as he couldn't yell he simply said yes inside his head and hoped that Morgan would hear him.
And she did, heck she had to we couldn't kill Jareth yet could we now. Well yes I suppose I could kill Jareth but then were would all the listians in the story be? Now wait were was I? Oh yes now I remember...
Jareth was brought gently up to Morgan's hand by an upward drift of air. She gave him a small smile as she reached for his hand this time. She wasn't a monster after all. Suddenly all to soon for his tastes the Labyrinth disappeared from beneath them. There in the distance a bright light appeared. Jareth's low worried voice rushed into Morgan's ears. "Um hey Morgan? Morgan? Morgan?! What is that light up there it cannot be dawn!"
"No Jareth that is the past."
"Oh yes the past. What a minute the past?! We can't go into the past it breaks all the rules." Suddenly they entered the light and tore through it time breaking in vibrant colors around them. Jareth watched breathless but a small smile came across thin lips. Well this time they were doing something wrong and it wasn't his fault. Morgan was gonna get into trouble now. He was just about to blurt out something not very nice along the lines of *Nah Nah Nah boo* but at that moment they landed in a place that Jareth knew oh very well indeed.
It was the village were he had been born. Of course it was a long time ago what kind of silly question is that? Jareth is immortal they went back to past remember? Now hush and listen to the story.
Jareth had been born on a snowy night were the moon broke through the colds just right. It was a magic snow you see for only magic nights can bring magic children. His Mother was a pretty maid indeed but had sadly died giving birth to him or else I know his life would have turned out very differently indeed. No one ever seemed to know who his Father was. And when he was born with two mismatched eyes and on A Midwinter's Night, everyone in the village assumed the worst about him.
The children were cruel but it wasn't as if they could throw the child into the snow not matter if he could make crystals come to his cradle. Who was to say what Fae lord could be his Father? No one in that sleepily little village was willing to risk vengeance to try to do so. Before his Mother's death her last word was "Jareth" And everyone assumed that it was her choice of name for the child.
So Jareth he became. The children taunted him mercilessly and always threw stones and sticks whenever he passed by. And the night of the Solstice was the worst night of the year by far for him. That was the night that Jareth was teased and tormented by all the village and they built the fire outside his tiny hut to keep him away.
Jareth stood next to Morgan as he watched the steady stream of memories in this tiny place. A calming hand was placed slowly on his shoulder as she watched him struggle with the inner turmoil. "So much heart ache for such a little boy Jareth. I am sorry I never knew."
He shrugged off her pity with a sneer as he watched the villagers scurry around as those first eight years danced by.
She looked at him calmly "There was another Christmas in this place do you remember that as well?" A quick nod was given as the picture shifted like a kaleidoscope. The snow once again floated down about their head as a bright light was spread across the sky.
Oberon appeared in his sleigh pulled by 4 sparkling horses easily the size of large cars. He landed right on the fire and he menaced the villagers. His voice was a mighty roar that carried easily to the child Jareth hiding under the bed. "You monster terrifying a small boy for sport! You should be ashamed of yourselves! I want all of you go home and think of ways you'll beg forgiveness for what you've done!"
At this the villagers fled from the scene in terror. Oberon stepped down off of his sleigh and entered the tiny house. He gave no ceremony, he only pulled the scared Jareth from out from under the bed trying to ignore the wetness that was now sliding down his leg. Oberon gave him a slow shake which outfitted him in cleaner and well much nicer clothes.
When he spoke it was much more tender and he almost seem to absorb the boy into a hug. "Well now my boy how much you've grown up! Well I remember when your Father met your Mother may she rest in peace. Now she named you Jareth wasn't it? A good name a fine name for a fine lad like yourself. Sorry to leave you here for so long lad but it couldn't be helped with the war and your father and all. But that doesn't matter now cause your gonna come home to Fae with me. Would you like that lad?"
For a few moments Jareth didn't no exactly what to say. He had no idea who this man was why he was hugging him or just where exactly this Fae place was. But truth be told he wasn't a dumb boy by any stretch of the imagination and he knew that he had to get out of the village. Anywhere but here was better her supposed.
Oberon noticed his silence and took the boy at arm's length. "Now Jareth I know all this has been hard on you having no family and all but those days are long gone boy cheer up! I'm to take you home and there are other kids with yer types of power so don't be scared. You'll be home safe and sound soon enough."
Jareth spoke to the man for the first time. Indeed it was the first time he had ever spoken to a living person. Other then his cat of course but the cat was a person to him anyway. "Where is home exactly?"
Oberon offered him another dashing smile and clapped a beefy hand on the boy's shoulder nearly driving him to his knees. "Well my boy it is a wondrous placed called the Underground. And there is a huge maze the biggest maze you have ever seen and goblins and..."
Oberon's voice trailed into the darkness that surrounded them as the went forward into the past. Morgan cast a quick look at Jareth to see how well he was holding up under all this. Jareth's face held a mask of boredom but she knew him to well for all of that bulls-- or rather baloney. Heh.
They came to a second place and it to was filled with magic snow. There before them were a group of children playing with their magic. Jareth spotted himself a young boy but older then he was before by 4 or 5 years. The past seemed so hard to judge. A quick smile was shown on Jareth's face as he waved to all the children calling them by name. Sometimes he wondered, not that he'd admit it mind you, if this was the happiest time in his life.
He pointed to the boy dressed in silver standing there his lapis blue eyes winking mischievously in the silver moon light. "Why that's Puck! He is up to something you can always tell when he was up to something because his ears would wiggle." And sure enough those ears were wiggling up a storm.
Another little girl tromped by him with an innocent smile her scarlet hair tumbling out from under her hunter green cloak. "And why it's Starlight she always did try to get Puck with a snow ball. I always thought they would end up together."
Morgan smiled as she watched him watch the children wondering why she of all people had been chosen to preform this task when there were so many others. A shrug is given putting it to the author's temperament.
Hey I resent that!
She ignored the other as she always did when she got in a mood and drew Jareth's attention to the two children on the hill. "And are they two familiar to you Jareth?" Jareth's eyes followed the line of Morgan's hand. There was a shifting in his eyes as he took in who they were. His voice was soft as he realized just who they were and what moment was about to happen.
What he didn't know was how it was hurting her too.
"Morgan you know as well as I do who they are. Must I see this? Don't you have a heart as well?" No response was made from Morgan as they drew closer to the children on the hill.
Those young voices were brought to them so easily on the chilled December wind. Voices that brought back so many memories of such childish joy. They watched younger versions of themselves.
Morgan's voice was heard first. She was the younger of the two at 14. Even then she was a beauty her long raven hair sliding back over her raven cloak. Her voice was soft as those tiny fingers were removed from her muff and wrapped around Jareth's equally small hands. "I have heard that you are to be sent home Jareth. Is that true?"
Jareth's young voice rang out in reply. It was soft and held a hint of his manly tremor. "Yes Morgan I'm afraid it is true. I am to go to the Underground for further study with my Grandfather."
Morgan's voice held a hint of tears. "But what does that mean Jareth we are supposed to marry come Mid Summer. How can we marry if you go to this place."
Jareth stood up quickly and looked over the hill casting his gaze down to castle, decorated in it's Yuletide splendor. " I am sorry Morgan but you must understand. It is my duty my whole life's purpose. The Underground is my destiny. It is my birthright." He would have said more but Morgan's angry voice cut him off.
She rose to her feet to stand before him her emerald eyes flashing in anger. " Your destiny? Your birthright? Jareth your Grandfather left you on earth with peasants just so he could continue to rule without having to explain you. Now he is sick and you're going running to his side. What about me Jareth? What about our love?" She fell to her knees her small body racked with sobs that she could hold in no longer. "Don't you love me Jareth?"
He watched her coldly. Fingers which ached to brush away her tears remained clenched at his sides. His Grandfather had warned him that this would happen. He had given him the best advice of all. Never trust a woman's tears.
"Morgan get a hold of yourself. What would you have me do be a pauper? And you be a Queen? This is my chance Morgan. This is what I was born for. I'll always have a soft spot for you of course and you are welcome in the Underground when ever you wish. Don't wreck what we have Morgan."
The tears froze on her cheeks. She wouldn't show her tears to him anymore. She rose quickly before bobbing a slow mocking curtsy. Her hand came out quickly in mock respect. Her voice was cold as where her eyes as they met his. "Of course Your Highness please forgive me. I had no idea what your kingdom had meant to you. Perhaps one day you can come and visit mine as well. True there aren't any goblins but I'm sure you could fit in somewhere. With the dogs perhaps. Good day to you Milord."
And with that she turned and walked out of his life as the darkness rushed around them. The present Morgan's eyes searched Jareth's quickly before looking away. They would never let each other know how much that moment had hurt them. Each watched the scene as it seemed to appear out of the darkness.
It was Victorian London, the time were the Dickens tales were all set. Before them was a house that forever lived in Jareth's memories. A worn out old woman was sweeping a dirty step as a little urchin bobbed about her sooty skirts. They were poor that much was indeed obvious by the state of the street on which they lived if not on the persons themselves. A girl scampered about chasing her little brother her teeth lacking in the front.
Her voice was high with a crockery accent. "Charlie if ye don't get back here this very minute I'll wish you away I will" The boy she was chasing replied to her threat quickly with a low laugh.
"Ye do that Mandy and I won't ever tell yer another story" The boy's age must have been misjudged as the sooty snow fell on them. He was perhaps twelve but no one knew that he would grow up to be one of the most famous people who have ever written. The girls voice rang out clear familiar words to us Laby fans. But they held her own little twist.
"I wish ta goblins would come an take yer away right now!"
And to her amazement they did.
Charles stood in the throne room of the castle having just beaten the Labyrinth. Jareth was a little annoyed. Ok he was really annoyed that this little street rat from London had beaten him and his first making of the Labyrinth. It was the stories that had done him in. One really had to learn not to listen to stories and try to trick someone at the same time. It normally doesn't work.
Well for what ever reason Charles had beaten the Labyrinth and was entitled to what ever he wished. And from Jareth he simply asked permission to spend the Christmas Holidays in the Underground then to return home. As Morgan and Jareth watched the Jareth of the past opened his mouth in shock. The words that had fallen from his Grandfather's lips for so many years fell from his own and thus a cliche was made.
"Christmas Bah Humbug. I do not make merry myself on Christmas and cannot afford to make others merry as well. I advice you take this little peach and get yourself back to London post haste." He glared the younger man into submission forcing him to take the peach and eat it.
Charles Dickens forgot Jareth and the Underground but that Bah Humbug stuck somehow in his head and thus the story that the world knows came into being.
Of course that's the way it happened? Are you calling me a liar? Look just ask Jareth if you don't believe me. Oh wait you better not I'd rather not get boged this week. I have to much to do. Now do you want me to tell you the rest of this or not. Good then sit down and be quiet. Now where was I?
Jareth and Morgan had left the throne room leaving the young king in his first year of ruling himself. Those years fled by and they were once again brought to a Christmas Party. Loud Christmas Carols were played as people in eighties style clothes proceeded to break dance around them.
Look now on that family in the corner. Do they look at all familiar to you? They don't well look again. There do you seem. Why yes it is them before the divorce. And do you see the girl standing alone staring out into the snow...
Morgan stood next to Jareth as he watched himself watch the raven haired girl staring out into the moonlit snow. Her head was pressed to the window and her mind filled with dreams and fairytales. Tonight so far had been a good night. They were Robert and Linda a couple with their outwardly perfect marriage and their perfect child. There had not been any snide little comments about Linda's co-star or about how they had spent so many late nights together.
Jeremy was around here someplace she knew. She had watched him catch her Mother's eye when he thought the girl wasn't looking. Even now they were standing at the bar close enough to touch. The girl watched them carefully through the window's reflection her hatred for Jeremy rolling off her like waves.
Morgan watched Jareth as she watched this angry raven haired girl. She must admit that this child held a great deal of promise for the future. Jareth's stance was angry his hands clenched at his back. The younger image of himself watched the girl as well before following her line of sight to her Mother.
The girl's Mother had left the man called Jeremy and waved the girl over. The younger version of Jareth stepped closer to the girl as well. The conversation was barely audible but Morgan moved closer to hear what was said. She heard Linda's well trained actor's voice ringing out loud and clear. Her timber was rich and clean, it was no wonder the audience loved to listen to her.
"Alexander, I would like you to meet my daughter. Honey this is Alexander he is one of the producers of the play."
Jareth was scarcely knowable in the dark hair and large glasses her wore. Morgan wondered why he was disguised and why he was giving a false name so different from his own. Now she had no doubts that it was indeed Jareth for she could feel his magic upon her skin like a ultra violet light in the room. She pulled herself away from those thoughts choosing instead to watch Jareth interact with this girl and her Mother.
"Well Linda if I had known your daughter was this pretty I would have asked to put her in the play somewhere. Tell me my dear have you ever thought of acting I am sure you would be very good at it. After all talent like your Mother's I am very sure has been passed down."
The girl's cheeks filled with a blush as she listened to the man gush on about her like that. Her voice was soft as he voiced all her greatest dreams to the wind. " I do so hope to be an actress someday. I know I can be good by never as good as my Mom." A soft smile was given to her Mother and Linda returned it quickly giving her daughter's arm a quick squeeze.
Jareth offered a smile as well. "Well my dear I have something for you that I do hope you'll like. I found it in a second hand shop in the Village and from what your Mother has told me about you I am sure that you will like it." A small wink is given as the elaborately wrapped package is presented to her. She was quite sure that she hadn't seen anything so beautiful in her life.
The girl gawked at him as he pressed the package into her waiting fingers. His voice was warm and gentle and he whispered to her softly. "Well open it my dear girl and tell me what you think. The gift isn't the wrapping you know."
Slow delicate motions were made in order to save the pretty silver paper and bow. A soft smile was given as she pulled out the leather bound red book. The title was enstamped in gold on the background and she read it out the words hovering on the air as the darkness was closed in around them. Jareth kept his eyes on the girl to the last.
"The Labyrinth"
Morgan's voice cut in on his brooding thoughts. "There was of course another Christmas with this girl."
Jareth's voice was an angry cry of despair, " No Morgan not that Christmas! Isn't it enough that the pain of that moment is played on a hundred televisions a day? Please Morgan don't show me that Christmas!"
His words fell upon her sympathetic ears. But there was nothing she could do. This was a vision of a past Christmas and it must be viewed no matter how painful it was for him.
Ok I know that the Labyrinth doesn't look like it takes place at Christmas but I have changed it for dramatic purposes. Hey my story my rules. Anyway I say it was Christmas in the Underground cause time passes more quickly there then it does here on earth. Hey if you have a problem with that email me at Lilaclouieee@aol.com and we'll have a conversation about it.
They stood before each other in that now so famous pose. The older version of Jareth yelling at his younger self. " Don't say that you fool! That is not the way to win her love! Let her go home and try it in a few years from now! Don't try to force her you ass!"
But the younger Jareth couldn't hear it. All he could hear was Sarah's soft voice ringing in his ears. The Jareth's were untied in that instant the pain that spread between them like bridge. Once again they faded into the darkness to stand at the hill over looking the Labyrinth. Jareth never good at holding his grief whirled quickly around to Morgan her being the closest person to vent his anger on. His voice rang out over the Labyrinth.
"Why do you delight in torturing me so Morgan? I always thought you had a heart!" For the first time in her life Morgan let it go. She stepped calmly away from Jareth her voice soft and sad.
"This are the shadows of the past Jareth. They are what they are and I cannot change them. I would never use something like this to attack you."
Jareth heard nothing of her words. He was alone in his mind. His pain. He couldn't bare to look at Morgan. His eyes were locked on the Labyrinth before him her voice ripped with pain. "Leave me Morgan! Leave Me! Go back to Avalon and leave me with my pain!"
Morgan offered a sigh as she left him huddled safe in his bed. And somewhere the clock ticked off the hours til one.
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~Kim, The Manipulative Little Monster