AN: Wow…It's been a while since I posted. I'm sooooo sorry about that. I haven't even been on the website since the 20th or so (of July that is). On Friday (the 27th), I was 8 rows from the stage at THE Bon Jovi concert, the one taped for VH1 (shown the 29th). I'm from New Jersey, and so's he…..I tell you, it's fate… He's my personal sex god…I love his music….and I was only 8 rows away!! But enough of that, that's not an excuse I know. But, on Saturday morning, when I went to finally update this story, my computer said the site couldn't be found. This is the first success I've had. And, because I've made you wait so long, I'm putting up chapter fifteen tonight. I think that fifteen is one of the more interesting chapters myself. Once again, this story is writing itself, even I'm surprised. I hope Jareth approves, but I hope more that you all approve. Show your forgiveness of my lapse in updates….please R & R!! Enjoy! ~Saphire (PS, My timing really leaves something to be desired. It figures that I got this all ready to be posted at the same time as FF.net had the outage. That's why this AN is so out-of-date. Anyway, my apologies.)
Disclaimer: It occurred to me that I haven't posted one of these in a long time. So, there, I posted one. Anyone, anyplace, anything directly from the movie isn't mine. D'Vinnian is, Kajna is, Peake is, and (I totally forgot this one) Drathsar from chapter 8 is. If you want to use any of them, just let me know and stick my name in somewhere. Thanks.
Chapter fourteen: Family Reunion
Jareth was up unusually early, rising with the sun. He felt more rested than he had in the past ten Aboveground years. He smiled to himself. It was only a matter of time before the Labyrinth would be what it once was…before he would be what he once was. And, in some twisted way, he had the very person who defeated him, who caused this, to thank for it. The king sighed to himself as he walked around the camp, a handful of the inhabitants beginning to stir. Sarah. Last night had been a shock. He had felt Sarah's presence behind him a few moments before she'd approached. His first reaction had been to cringe. He had wanted peace and was certain that was impossible around her. Sarah's sudden change in attitude seemed to surprise her as much as it surprised Jareth. They had actually agreed to be friends. The idea pleased Jareth more than he thought it would, more than he thought it should. Ah, well, he pondered, maybe the Labyrinth would be rebuilt quicker with them being friends instead of foes. He stopped walking, looking at last where his feet had lead him. His gaze wandered down to the sleeping figure resting peacefully at his feet. Her lips were full and slightly parted as she breathed deeply. Her long hair fell around her shoulders in dark, silky waves. Her plump eyelashes fanned across her milky cheek. His eyes ran over her body much the same way they did when he had watched her in his crystal. She looked beautiful, innocent, as she slept, despite lying on the ground. She shivered slightly in the cool morning air and the small grin that had been on the king's face left. Jareth hoped she had not been cold all night. With a wave of his hand, the extinguished fire blazed to life. Squatting down, Jareth opened his mouth to wake Sarah, his hand hovering just above her shoulder. His actions were stopped as something hit him square in the back. The Goblin King stood up quickly and spun around, glaring down at the little goblin that sat on the ground shaking her head to clear it of the dizziness from her impact.
"What is it?" Jareth asked quietly, but with impatience.
The goblin scrambled to her feet and looked up at the king.
"Kajna," Jareth said, recognizing the messenger he sent in search of Lord D'Vinnian.
"Lord D'Vinnian has arrived, Sire. We's found Peake at a camp and they're here too."
Jareth nodded, "Good. Take me to D'Vinnian."
Kajna nodded and began to scurry away, Jareth in tow. Suddenly, he paused and turned back to Sarah's sleeping form. With another wave of his gloved hand, a blanket appeared over Sarah and a pillow appeared under her head. Jareth smiled as Sarah snuggled into the pillow and sighed contentedly. At least his weak magic was good for something.
Jareth found Lord D'Vinnian near the edge of the camp, looking over the plans for the castle with Hoggle.
"Lord D'Vinnian," he announced as he approached.
D'Vinnian's head snapped up from the plans, and, for the first time in a decade, he saw his cousin. And he was shocked by what he saw. Realistically, he knew better than to expect the king to be the same, but he was just a shadow of the Goblin King D'Vinnian once knew and served. Still, Jareth held a commanding presence and D'Vinnian could feel the power slowly returning to his cousin. He smiled, he knew the he wouldn't be in a position of power over his cousin for long.
Jareth turned to the goblin woman, "Thank you, Kajna. You have done well."
D'Vinnian's eyebrow rose curiously at this. Since when was Jareth ever kind to his minions? But, he also knew enough to keep quiet.
"Leave us, both of you. Kajna, go and rest. Hoggle, tend to the fire," Jareth commanded crisply, but not cruelly.
Without hesitation, Kajna and Hoggle rushed away.
"Cousin, it is good to see you alive," D'Vinnian said finally.
Jareth gave him a wry smile, "It was a close call. I was saved by the simple fact of being immortal. I think that was as close to death as I could get."
D'Vinnian looked at him, "Where were you, Jareth? At first, the nobles formed a search party, but…" he trailed off.
Jareth shrugged, not really wishing to talk about it, "I wasn't really anywhere, Vin."
D'Vinnian knew enough to know he'd just have to accept Jareth's half-answer. Ten years and a near death experience had done nothing to change the Goblin King's stubbornness.
"What of you? Where have you been lodging?" Jareth asked.
"I've been living in Oberon's land, getting myself into trouble."
"You? The wise Lord D'Vinnian, getting into trouble?" Jareth mocked.
D'Vinnian smiled, "Actually, cousin, it was my wisdom that got me into trouble. Fortunately, your messenger has impeccable timing."
Jareth laughed. It felt good to do so. So far, the morning had been going very well.
D'Vinnian flashed a quick smile at the Goblin King. Something had changed in him. Jareth was different somehow. Determined to get to the bottom of the change in the king at a later time, D'Vinnian turned his attention to the plans,
"You think these plans will help?"
Jareth shook his head, "No. The Labyrinth cannot be physically rebuilt. You know that as well as I. This was just a means to distract the goblins," Jareth explained, motioning to the papers.
"So, what, then, is the key? I can tell you know already."
Jareth took a deep breath, "The girl."
D'Vinnian's eyes widened, "The girl? You mean Sarah?"
"Yes."
"You've got to be kidding, Jareth! Look at this place, look what she did! I thought you had grown more sense than -" seeing Jareth's sharp glare, D'Vinnian stopped his rant and decided to change tactics. "What makes you think she'd come back to help?"
"She's already here, Vin. She returned yester-evening. She's grown, Vin, she's changed. We're friends now."
D'Vinnian shook his head sadly. Jareth may have been a king, he may have been one of the most powerful fae in existence, he may have been wise, hell, he may even have been older, but, when it came to Sarah, Jareth was a fool. He always had been. He had made the Labyrinth easy, made it embrace her rather than strangle her, let her keep the friends she found, protected her, saved her, and loved her and look where it had gotten him. And yet he still foolishly loved her. Well, now at least D'Vinnian knew what the change in Jareth was.
"I'll say this now, when you can't banish me to an oubliette. You, Jareth, are a fool. She doesn't love you."
"Love has nothing to do with this, D'Vinnian. I've learned my lesson well. She's here strictly to help."
"If you no longer love her, then what makes you so certain that she's the key to this entire mess?" D'Vinnian asked, not truly believing his cousin's words.
Jareth heard the note of disbelief, but chose to ignore it. He didn't have to prove anything to D'Vinnian.
"If you allow me to borrow a bit of magic, I will show you," Jareth stated flatly.
The Goblin King hated - no abhorred - no loathed - no was repulsed by being weak, asking for help. Knowing this, D'Vinnian didn't move a muscle as he agreed. In a flash, the duo disappeared.
