I realized one very important thing today: I have even less of an idea where this story is going than I usually do. So bear with me folks, I'll try to make sure everything is cleared up in the end. I'll try. Thanks to all the reviewers so far! You're the reason I keep going!
As always, I don't own any Labyrinth rights. But I'm willing to bargain.
Have fun!
Ladymage Samiko ;)
[. . .] think voice-over
. . . are thoughts
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To the Victor Go the Spoils ~ Part 3
Snow White You Ain't
It is well known that, while physically tiring, house cleaning leaves quite a bit of space for thinking. Jareth was busy concentrating on developing his dish-washing skills, so, interestingly enough, he wasn't thinking about too much else. Except for a few grumbles.
Sarah, on the other hand, knew exactly what she was doing, so she could space out releatively well. She checked on the still-sleeping Toby, then let her mind wander as she sorted clothes.
Okay, let's think this through. I defeated the Goblin King. Therefore, he is no longer the Goblin King. I am. Well, the Goblin Queen, anyway. It sounds like a lot of work and goblins aren't exactly my favorite creatures. So it'll probably be better if I just send him back to take care of it. At least he knows what he's doing. She thought of the trip through the Labyrinth and how smoothly he had handled her in the ballroom. Yeah, she thought sourly. He certainly does know what he's doing. Sarah became more and more irritated as she continued to mull it over. Words that came to mind were: selfish, self-centered, smug, arrogant, bastard, damn, and manipulative little git. Sarah was not a happy Fae mortal. And it showed.
[Sarah!] The voice that thundered in the laundry caught her attention, but didn't exactly improve her mood.
"What!" she snapped back.
[Control youself! Unless you want to set the house on fire with a bolt of lightning.]
"I what?!" Her anger died instantly as her jaw dropped.
[Come on up and see the tree outside the front door.]
Sarah dropped the bundle of clothes she was putting into the washer and raced up the stairs. Yanking the front door open, she stared out in shock. The large elm that had stood next to the front door since before she could remember was now crackling merrily. The sky was perfectly clear.
"Jareth!" she screamed.
"Hmm?" He winked into being next to her, his hands still dripping soap suds. The girl took time from gawking at the tree to stare at the former king. To protect his elaborate outfit, she had pulled out an apron, which he was now wearing. By chance, she had chosen her own, so it didn't have the ruffles Karen's did, but it _did_ happen to be a fantastic shade of lavender covered with a pattern of unicorns, fairies, and rainbows. And he was wearing it with perfect aplomb.
She broke into near hysterical giggles.
"Sarah," he said warningly. She was only able to laugh harder, leaning on the door frame for support.
"I--I'm--sorry--Jareth," she gasped. "You--just--"
"The tree, Sarah?" The barest hint of irritation crept into his voice.
"Yes, yes," she wheezed in between chuckles. "Put it out, Jareth. Put it out."
It was somewhat sobering to see the blackened remains of the tree once the fire was out. "I'm sorry," she whispered, placing her hand on the ruined trunk. "I didn't realize--"
"No, Sarah, you never do," Jareth cut in harshly. "Stop wasting time and get back to whatever you were doing." He turned on his heel and stalked back into the house.
"No! It's not fair!" Sarah cried. "This shouldn't have happened! I won't let it. . ." She pulled on her power as Jareth had shown her and began to pour it into the tree.
Back in the kitchen, Jareth felt the near explosion of magickal power. "Sarah! No!" He ran back to the front of the house.
It was his turn to stare as he watched the tree respond to her power. He had been certain it was dead. And no Fae magick could bring things back from the dead. That was why he never killed. Even the High Fae couldn't reverse death. And now this girl-child, who had only today gained her powers, was doing just that.
Sarah was halfway to healing the tree when she reached the limit of her magick. The world began to tilt and spin. For the second time that day, she felt Jareth standing solidly behind her, this time feeding her his own magick to augment the pathetic trickle coming from herself. The power felt dark and pleasantly cool as it flooded through her. Within seconds, it was finished, the elm restored to its former glory. Sarah fell back against Jareth as his power left her and lapsed into unconsciousness.
"Enough of this," he growled as he lifted the girl easily into his arms and carried her into the house.
When Sarah awoke, she was in her bed. The sun was just beginning to hide behind the horizon. Seeing the red numerals of her desk clock, Sarah leapt to her feet. "Damn!" She thundered down the stairs. Her parents would be home any minute, she hadn't finished her work, hadn't taken care of Toby, and had an ex-Goblin King wandering around the house. They wouldn't be happy.
Sarah stopped dead as she entered the living room. It was spotless. The carpet was vacuumed, the wood and glass glistened. Dazed, she wandered down to the basement. Two baskets of laundry lay neatly folded by the door. Another load was spinning in the dryer. "Jareth?" she called uncertainly.
[I'm in the kitchen, dear one,] his voice sounded. Dear one?!! Sarah's eye's couldn't get any wider as she made her way back up.
She poked her head nervously around the door. Toby was crooning happily in his high chair, with a dish of baby food in front of him, the tray miraculously clean for once. And Jareth? Well, Jareth was finishing the last of the dishes.
He no longer wore the apron. Or his shirt. They both lay neatly folded across the back of one of the chairs. Sarah had a _very_ good view of his lean, pale back and the full effect of how close-fitting his breeches really were. The concept of breathing suddenly became alien.
"Sarah," he said pleasantly, drying his hands on the towel tucked into his waistband. "You're awake."
"Ga--ah?" was all Sarah was able get out.
