A/N: *random aside* Has anyone heard American Hi-Fi? If not, I recommend downloading "flavor of
the week" sometime. They're pretty high
up there on my fave musicians list, right in between Nine Days and Kermit the
Frog. *end random aside*
Disclaimer: I've said this
what, ten times?
For You
Part Eleven
"And now you want me to come back, is that it? If I recall correctly, father, it is you that banished me!" Jareth was yelling, and quite loudly. It wasn't hard for Sarah to follow his voice, as she hurried up to the castle from the society's meeting place. She listened hesitantly just before the doorway of the throne room, curious.
"I banish a lot of people. I didn't actually mean it."
"Oh you didn't? Perhaps you should of thought that through a little more carefully before you sent me to be King of the bloody goblins!"
"You're the one who created this life Jareth, not me." The other voice was soft and calm, with a hint of possible restraint.
"You make it sound like I wanted to be trapped in this wasteland."
"You designed it, you built it, the emphasis being on you."
"Yes, but I thought I was making a test, not a god-forsaken summer home! You exploited the ignorance and foolishness of my youth. Admit it!" Sarah heard a slam, most likely Jareth pounding his fist against a table or any other formidable object that happened to be in his way.
"I did no such thing. Sooner or later you will see, Jareth, I only did what I did to help you." After a pause, the second voice continued. "Perhaps we ought to forgo our dispute for the moment. I believe your lady friend needs something."
Sarah came in, blushing quite heavily both from her intrusion on what seemed like an important argument and from running at top speed through the Labyrinth for a few miles up to the castle. The fury that had creased Jareth's features quickly melted into a look of concern, as Sarah came slowly up to him with troubled eyes.
"Sarah? Is everything all right?" He asked, putting his hands on her shoulders.
"Yes. No. I mean, can I talk to you? And who's that?"
"He," Jareth began, casting a seething glare in the kind-looking fae's direction, "is no one of importance." The fae, however, would not stand for this.
"I, fair lady," he interjected, taking Sarah's hand and bestowing a light kiss upon it, "am Dantriven. King of the Fae realm, and father to the stubborn little sprite before you."
"You're Jareth's father?" Sarah repeated, while sweeping a dignified curtsy. "What a pleasure to -."
"Yes, yes, it's fabulous." Jareth interrupted with a wave of his hand. "I believe there was something you wanted to tell me."
"Well," Sarah said, lowering her voice a little, "it's about the secret society."
"Interestingly enough, that's what Jareth and I were discussing before you came in." Dantriven interrupted with a disarming grin.
"Oh, do you call that discussing? I would call it you lecturing me on how to run the kingdom you so graciously disposed upon me." Jareth drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Must we go through this every time we are together?" Dantriven sighed. "From what I have heard, your kingdom seems to be in need of a bit of help. I am here to offer that help."
"Trying to repent, now are we?"
"Your kingdom is facing serious social revolution!" Dantriven shouted, obviously unable to remain control of his emotions any longer. "Why do you let an old grudge prevent you from protecting your people?"
"They are not my people. They aren't even people!"
"Jareth!" Sarah cried suddenly, drawing the attention of both fae. "You can't possibly pretend like you don't care about those dwarves and things out there, because I know you do. I've no idea what's going on between you two, but whatever it is you've got to ignore it for the time being and stop being such a selfish child. You and I both know that something big is happening here, and I can't stop it, and neither can you, so let me tell you what I heard today and then accept your father's help before this thing gets too out of control for anyone to stop."
Jareth paused, and a slight smirk crept across his face. "You would make an excellent politician, my dear."
***
Sarah paced in her room, back and forth, back and forth, until Cara complained that Sarah was making her dizzy, so she flopped onto her bed in defeat. This was bad, very bad.
True enough, she hadn't told Jareth all the details. She had described every aspect of the reports given by various traitors, and told him all she could about this Abien character – which wasn't much. After all, she had only heard the guy's voice and seen his boots. That wasn't a whole lot to go by. There was that slight omission on what Sarah had heard about herself, but she didn't want to trouble Jareth more than necessary.
As it was, he had practically exploded when she told him of her little undercover mission, and had dismissed her to her room like a small child so he could "discuss" what to next with his father.
"Just promise not to kill anyone or break anything." She had said, trying to ignore his bossy behavior as simple overprotectiveness.
"Stay out of trouble." He had warned, acting more like a father than, well, whatever it was he was supposed to be to her.
"Me stay out of trouble? You stay out of trouble. Besides, usually when I'm in trouble it's your fault."
"What's taking them so long?" Sarah asked dejectedly, looking up at the clock on the wall, which was not much help, as it had twenty-seven hours and was spinning backwards.
"Thank your lucky stars if Jareth and Lord Dantriven reach any sort of agreement by nightfall." Cara answered absently, who had also turned her attention to the strange clock, apparently also baffled by its reinvention of time.
"Why do they fight so much anyway?" Sarah pressed.
"It's rather sad. Jareth used to adore his father. Thought he was the most perfect man in the world. And Dantriven, oh, you should have seen how much he dotted on that young'un. But then…"
"Yes, yes, what then?"
"Well," Cara started reluctantly, but to Sarah's extreme annoyance, Jareth chose that moment to appear in her room. "If you'll excuse me, Sarah." Cara said quickly, and hustled out of the room.
"So?" Sarah demanded. Jareth, however, did not seem too keen on answering her, as he was more interested in kissing her quite soundly on the lips.
"What was that for?" Sarah asked smiling a little, after they broke apart.
"I needed a reminder as to why I love you so much."
"Why?"
"Because now we have to go to the fae court, and it, my dear, is all your fault."
***
Hoggle paced back and forth in some dark reccess of the Labyrinth. What was he to do? Dejectedly he fingered the key on the somewhat rusty golden chain around his neck. His original jewel. His prized possession. The bane of his existence.
"Damn. Leave it to Dantriven to remember everythin'." He muttered to himself. "I should tell 'im, that's wot I should do. He may toss me in a oubliette fer a thousand yeers, but it'd be better." Seemingly have made up his mind, Hoggle headed toward the lighter of two passages that faced him.
"But wot about Sarah?" He asked himself suddenly, turning around. "If I tell Dantriven, then Jareth'll know, then Sarah'll know, and…she'll hate me. Fer good this time." Now Hoggle walked decidedly down the second, dismally dark path.
"No. I can't give it to them." Hoggle said quickly, changing his mind again. "I've caused enough death recently." He murmured.
"Arghhh! Damn you!" He shouted at the key, yanking it off his neck and throwing it on the ground, and quite nearly stomping on it for good measure. "Damn it all! What am I supposed to do?"
He threw himself down on the ground next to the key, picking it back up and brushing the dirt off of it, making it glow a soft white. He looked first at his key, then down the darkened pathway, and then up the lighted one. Sighing, he pulled the chain back over his neck, and whispering softly, tucked the key back under his shirt.
Finally he stood, and started down the sunlit hall, at the very least knowing he was doing the right thing, whatever the consequences. That was his intent, at any rate.
"How are you this fine day, Hoggle?" Asked a highly sophisticated voice.
Hoggle spun around, and silently cursing every deity he'd ever heard of, replied with a shaky bow, "I'm fine, Lord Abien. Yourself?"
***
"Wait!" Sarah demanded, as Jareth pulled her by the hand down one hallway after the next of his castle, to the point that she was in some wing she had never seen before. "Where are we going? And what's the fae court? And why is it my fault?"
Jareth stopped, and smiled gently. "I'm sorry, love." He started. "Whenever I'm around my father I loose my head. Forgive me?" Resuming a more amicable pace, Jareth began again.
"We are going out to the carriage house, because it is considered unseemly to simply arrive, unheralded, at the fae court. And the fae court," Jareth continued, before Sarah could interrupt, "is the center of the Underground. All the lords and ladies and such spend a great deal of time their, visiting my parents, King and Queen of the Underground." Draping one arm around Sarah's shoulder, he pulled her closer to him, adding, "And it is your fault because, as my father so tactfully put it "If mortals can sense a danger, than it is quite a problem indeed.""
"Well I think your father's right. Besides, he seemed all right to me."
"That's because you haven't disobeyed any of his grand plans yet. Just wait." Jareth said, more for his own benefit than Sarah's.
They reached a large set of double doors, which were instantly pulled back by two goblin doormen. Sarah found herself outside, and directly in front of her was a grand, Cinderella-esque carriage. Made of shimmering silver quite akin to Jareth's eye shadow, Sarah had little time to marvel at the matching silver horned unicorns that were harnessed to the carriage before Jareth ushered her inside.
"It's getting late." Jareth said softly as Sarah drew up close to him, using his chest as a pillow. Shivers ran down her spin as he gently smoothed her hair; she never failed to quail under his touch. "I thought you might see some of the countryside, but perhaps…" He smiled. Sarah had fallen asleep. Wrapping her up in his arms, Jareth lightly kissed her brow. At least Dantriven could never take his Sarah away.
***
A/N: Ha! I just know realized that the name I picked for Sarah's handmaid/confident, Cara, rhymes with Sarah! Sorry to be confusing!