I have time right now, so I decided to post

I have time right now, so I decided to post. Besides, with all that's going on in the world today, I figure we could all use something a little more trivial. Let's see. . . Kudos to WildRose04, who recognized the quote from waaay back when and double kudos to my friend Cat, who figured out what I was driving at with the characters Maria, Carlos, and Adrien. All will be revealed about them (though I hadn't intended to) in the epilogue, which is about a third done. Note: this is not the epilogue. Neither is the next part. As for the questions about Jareth's "curse shirt," feel free to use the quote. I would say just add a little "--The Goblin King" at the end. Just a suggestion. It _is_ his shirt. (Now don't you wish you had the original?) Oh! and before I forget, I've got pics on my website (www.geocities.com/ladymage_s)! Illustrations of Jareth, Libertad, and the Reshephim are up along with the story in the Labyrinth fanfic section. Go see them! Comment on them! Whatever! Have fun!

Ladymage ;)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To the Victor Go the Spoils

Part 37 ~ Philosophy and Politics

It was Monday afternoon, which, for Sarah and a few of her friends, meant a free period at the end of the day. And so two o' clock found Jareth lounging on the grass in the quad with Sarah asleep in his lap. Matt sat against a nearby tree, Celi stretched out on the grass beside him, her pencil sketching rapidly.

"So what's next for you two?" she asked quietly, watching Jareth's fingers sift through the dark strands of Sarah's hair.

"It's difficult to say," Jareth replied slowly. "There is much to decide, so many paths we might take. Our magic is stable now, but we know so little about it. We need time to discover our limits. But when? Do we remain in this world or return to the Underground? There are laws here that would prevent our being together for several years, but this is where Sarah's family, where her life is. Also, one of us must return to the Underground at some point. The fact remains that Sarah has responsibilities there, now. I am perfectly willing to go myself, but she must instruct me to do so. Without her consent as Goblin Queen, I cannot enter the realm."

"How does that work?" Matt asked curiously. "You asked Sarah to put you back as Goblin King, but you were able to come back after the limit she'd put on you."

Jareth looked at him. "This world has very little magic and, consequently, no magical barriers. The very fabric of the Underground is magic, and so its barriers are very powerful, to prevent its ordinary denizens from getting out and creating havoc in other worlds, at the very least. The Fae created barriers to prevent anyone from entering the realm, with just cause."

"'I do not understand the human race,/ that has so little love/ for creatures with a different face,'" Cecilia softly quoted. "'I do not understand the human race.'"

He said nothing in reply, continuing, "Anyone with enough magic can cross out of the Underground, and anything can cross into this world, though without the level of magic of other worlds, few of us like to. But to enter the Underground, one must possess the key, which means one must be a ruler."

"What happens if you cross out of one world and cannot enter the other?"

"You must find a realm to enter," Jareth told him, "or else you remain in limbo. The Realm Beyond Worlds is an. . . unpleasant place, to say the least."

"C.S. Lewis created a 'Wood Between Worlds,'" Matt persisted. "Are they anything alike?"

"The wood exists, certainly," he replied. "But it is a world in itself, like a kingdom in the center of numerous kingdoms. The Realm Beyond is outside of the dimensions, outside of reality as we conceive it. It is a place of absolute nothingness. A place of absence."

"Sounds marvelous," came a groggy, sarcastic voice.

"And good morning to you," Jareth greeted her.

"Whatever," Sarah said as she sat up, scooting closer to him. "What are we talking about?"

"At the moment," Celi told her, "we're grilling your fae for information. But for the next fifteen minutes, Matt and I are going to go do something else."

"Why?" the boy complained. "This is getting interesting."

"And I'm sure it'll be just as interesting later. But now," Celi pulled Matt to his feet, "Jareth should discuss with Sarah that first question I asked him. Now, come on. Try to be tactful for once. Oh," she said suddenly, turning back, "before I forget. The law says you two can get married any old time you want to--as long as her parents consent. If not, I'm afraid you two'll have to wait till she's eighteen."

"Celi, how do you know that?" Sarah demanded.

"Hitoshii," the girl called as she and Matt disappeared around a corner.

"Honestly!" Sarah exclaimed. "I had no idea they were getting that serious! Now," she twisted to look at her fiance, "what was that question she was talking about?"

"You know, I don't think I'll tell you," he said thoughtfully.

"You better."

"Hmm. . ." He kept her hanging for a long moment. "All right. Cecilia wanted to know what we are going to do with our future. I told her that there are too many questions to be decided upon."

"Like what?"

"Do we want to live here, or in the Underground? Do you want to continue as the Goblin Queen, or do you want me to reign? Do you wish to continue your life here as it is, do you want to marry right away. What role do I play in your life, what role do you play in mine? There are so many roads before us. Which do we take?"

Sarah sighed. "It seemed so much simpler when we were with my grandmother."

"True. But we need to consider all of the possibilities. What do we want from our lives? What do you want?"

"What do I want. . ." Sarah stayed silent for a long time. "I guess I don't know anymore, Jareth. You've made my dreams come true. I found a land of myth and magic. I've become the fairy princess. I have you. Somehow, it seems like the tale is ended. We've reached the 'happily ever after.' What happens next?"

"That is the one thing that life cannot hold for anyone, love," Jareth said with a half-smile. "There is no 'happily ever after.' I cannot imagine being anything else from now on, but every life contains both the bitter and the sweet. The fairy tale is ended; we have played our parts. Now we begin to live."

"But how? What do we do?"

"Let us take one issue at a time, shall we? When do you wish to marry me?"

Sarah laughed. "I wonder why you chose that first!" she teased. He smiled, his eyebrow raised. "Well, I guess as soon as possible. I don't see why we should wait." She fingered the scar on her arm. "We're already bonded."

"Well, we agree on one thing, at least. I would imagine, then," he said, rising, "that my first task will be to win over your father. In the here and now, according to Cecilia, we need his consent. As the old-fashioned type, I would wish it in any case." Jareth extended his hand to the girl just as the bell rang. She stood, ending up leaning against him.

"I love you," she said seriously. "I want this all to go well."

"So do I, my love." He leaned to kiss her forehead. "Come, let us go home."

"Sarah! Jareth!" Lily called, waving, from across the quad. "Sarah, Mr. Cantiello wants to see you. You, too, Jareth. I just came from his class."

"About the play?"

Lily nodded. "You better hurry, though. He's ready to leave. He only stayed cause he heard you were back."

"Thanks, Lil. Talk to you later?"

"You better," Lily told her before making her way to her locker.

Looking at the students who were flooding out of the classrooms, Sarah sighed. "I guess we'd probably better walk."

"Lazy bones," Jareth teased as they began to thread their way through the multitudes of students.

"Sarah," Mr. C. began. "It has always been against my better judgment to allow inexperienced actors play leading roles. In fact, I had almost positively decided on Andrea McClellan and Grant Hazard as the leads for the play next fall. As a freshman, I felt you would be better suited playing a goblin or some other small part so you could gain experience without the demands of a large role. Excuse me, did you say something, Jareth?"

"No, I did not," Jareth answered tightly. And he hadn't said anything. He had growled.

"Now, though, having seen you and Jareth perform last week, I think you would be perfectly suited for the lead in "The Labyrinth." As long as Jareth performs opposite you. The two of you have a chemistry that is astounding at your age. . . Sarah, are you all right?"

Sarah hid her laughter with a series of coughs. "Yes, Mr. Cantiello," she choked out. "Just something caught in my throat." She studiously avoided looking at Jareth, for otherwise she would not be able to control herself. 'At your age,' indeed!

"Well. Hem. I know Jareth is not a student here, but that is my offer. The two of you in the lead or, Sarah, you can play a goblin."

"I--" Sarah stared at the short, balding man in front of her. "Jareth?" She looked up at her fiance, eyes pleading. He closed the distance between them, pulling her into his embrace.

"Cantiello," he said firmly. "Much has happened these last few days. We need time to make a decision. Sarah may or may not be returning here next fall."

"What?" Mr. Cantiello exclaimed. "Sarah, you must return! I need you for the play!"

"I would say otherwise," Jareth remarked coldly. "My impression is that while we are ideal for the roles, we are not altogether irreplaceable."

"But-- but--"

Jareth held up his hand for silence. "I did not say that we would not, only that it may not be feasible. There are many issues under consideration here, of a much more imperative nature. I believe they will be decided by the end of the week. We will inform you of our decision then. Is that clear?"

"Uh, of course," he replied uncertainly.

"Now, if you will excuse us, there are many things that must be done. Good day." With that, the Goblin Lord swept out of the room, guiding Sarah gently and leaving behind a thoroughly demoralized teacher.

"That was certainly--kingly," Sarah gasped. "You were-- You were--"

"Yes, I was. The man was belittling you, Sarah. I do not take kindly to people who underestimate or undermine my beloved. His words were uncalled for. Mine were not. I simply reminded him of his place. Your participation in his endeavors is entirely at your own discretion. Which, at the time being, is applying itself to other matters."

"Like you?" she grinned.

He gave her a quick kiss. "Like me," he replied. "Come. Let us go home and see if I can convince your father of my sincerity."

"Good luck," muttered Sarah as they disappeared from view.