Chapter fifteen: Revelation

AN: WOW! I just got caught up on all of the wonderful reviews you've been posting and I'm speechless. Thank you all sooo much for your support and comments! Of course the only problem is that now I'm nervous about living up to you expectations. I will try, but I find I have little control over this story. So, to answer the question of D'Vinnian being an enemy….not now…at least I don't think so. This just started as a small idea for a romance story…. But, don't be fooled by my insecurities. Please, keep the reviews coming!!! Ideas, comments, suggestions, criticisms (as long as they're not too harsh)…I'll take them all! In the meantime, enjoy…. ~Saphire

Chapter fifteen: Revelation

Sarah kicked the blanket from around her. The sun was almost fully in the sky now and the cool night air had warmed considerably. Between the warm sun, soft blanket, and crackling fire, Sarah was beyond toasty. She breathed in deeply, the smell of magic and musk filling her nostrils from the fluffy pillow she clung to. Suddenly, an eye popped open. Fire? Blanket? Pillow? Magic? Sarah had stayed awake last night until the fire had died down, then she had just lain back, not knowing what else to do with herself, and let her exhaustion carry her to sleep. There had been no blanket, no pillow, and definitely nothing that smelled like Jareth. Jareth? Had he been the one to do this for her? 'Of course you idiot! Who else around this camp can do that?' she mentally yelled at herself. After a moment, a smile crept up on her face and she snuggled back down into the pillow, closing her eyes lazily and breathing deeply again. She'd have to find Jareth later and thank him.

D'Vinnian looked around him in awe. "Explain how this happened again."

"I'm not sure. A few nights ago, Sarah had a dream of this place and myself. I thought nothing of it until a goblin started to stammer something about a live tree. I followed it, and the area had been restored. At first, I couldn't believe it, but it's true. The Labyrinth is getting power from her somehow."

"But she's human. She has no magic," D'Vinnian protested as he examined the section of wall.

"I know, but it's her. Somehow, it's her. I'm determined to get to the bottom of it," Jareth stated, content for the moment to just feel the magic of the spot flow around him, into him.

"What about you?"

"What?" Jareth asked, confused.

"Are you certain that you aren't the one doing this? Love, Jareth, is a powerful force and I know you do love her, despite what you say."

Jareth shook his head, "It's not me, Vin, it's her. Whatever it is she's doing, it affects me too. And, Vin, I no longer love her. That has no place here."

D'Vinnian regarded the king skeptically, "Does it bother you that she did this?"

Jareth hesitated, then spoke quietly, "Not exactly. Sarah thought I hated her, but I don't. I've tried to, but I don't. Besides, she is here to correct her mistake. I'm just angry that she did not see the way around what she did."

"You mean you're angry that she didn't know you loved her?" The king gave D'Vinnian a warning look that D'Vinnian decided to ignore, "Does she see it now?"

Jareth glared at his cousin, but found he couldn't intimidate him. "No," he finally answered grudgingly.

"Then she's not really fixing her mistake, is she?" D'Vinnian pointed out.

Seeing Jareth standing rigidly still, he knew he had hit a nerve.

"Vin," Jareth growled, "Drop it. The past is the past and I have more important things to concentrate on."

Before D'Vinnian could think of another probing question, he was interrupted by someone clearing their throat. He looked and, for the first time since he had appeared as a masked courtier in Jareth's illusion, he saw Sarah Williams. Jareth also heard the noise and spun on his heel, ready to scare away the intruder, but stopped short upon seeing Sarah. Everything stopped, his breathing, his heart, his thought process. When, after a brief moment, he regained the power to think, only one thing came to him. How much had Sarah over heard?

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After lying for a few moments, Sarah finally decided against falling back asleep. Still, she sighed and buried her face in her pillow, groaning in protest as if her alarm had woken her. It wasn't that she was tired, it was just that she was so comfortable. And Jareth's pillow smelled so good. Despite herself, Sarah giggled like a schoolgirl with a crush would. The realization of the comparison startled Sarah suddenly wide-awake. She sat up and looked down, seeing her engagement ring. She just stared at it, recalling Jareth's harsh words.

Hoggle hobbled back to the fire, not surprised at the small comforts the king had given Sarah. Maybe the Goblin King wasn't the nicest fae in the Underground, but he had always had a soft spot for Sarah. It had been that soft spot that had saved Hoggle and his comrades from Jareth's wrath. Hoggle knew the rules well enough to know that that last thing he was supposed to do was befriend Sarah. He should have vanished on the spot into who knows what kind of punishment. His only role was supposed to be showing Sarah the entrance. He had been beyond shocked when, after Sarah had fallen into the oubliette, Jareth had appeared before him, telling him to go help the girl. Of course, it had been under the guise of leading her back to the beginning. And Hoggle had been so wrapped up in his own fear and cowardice that he hadn't even guessed the king's true feelings. Looking back on it, Hoggle was sure that even Jareth wasn't aware of his own true feelings. By the time Jareth realized it, he was already too far into the role of villain that Sarah had given him to ever redeem himself. Hoggle wondered if Jareth had known it was a lost cause. There were plenty of things that Hoggle wondered about now. He had seen the owl outside of Sarah's room the night they so foolishly celebrated the king's defeat. What exactly had Jareth been doing there and what happened to him after he flew off? For that matter, what had happened to the Labyrinth? It had been fine when Hoggle left to visit Sarah, and, when he and the others returned, it was gone. Hoggle sighed, then forced his thoughts back to the present.

"Mornin' Sarah. Slept well?"

His gruff voice seemed to startle Sarah from her apparent trance.

"Oh, Hoggle. Yes, I slept well."

"The king sent me to tend the fire," Hoggle explained, wanting to gauge Sarah's reaction at the mention of Jareth.

Obviously, with the sun almost fully risen, there was no longer the need for the fire. But it was the only excuse he had to mention Jareth.

Sarah blushed, "It was - kind of him….the pillow and such."

Hoggle nodded, "Yeah, whoever could imagine His Majesty could be kind? He's too arrogant. And cruel."

Sarah shook her head, "He's not that bad, Hoggle. I mean, of course Jareth's arrogant. But, he's not cruel," seeing Hoggle's look, Sarah decided to clarify, "Well, he can be cruel, but so can I…so can anybody. If you would just talk to him, I - "

Hoggle looked at Sarah as she stopped abruptly, "What is it, Sarah?"

"I - I - why am I defending him?"

Hoggle shrugged, "Only you know."

Sarah looked sharply at Hoggle, "And what is that supposed to mean?"

The dwarf sighed and shook his head, "Well, do you ever plan on telling Jareth you love him?"

Sarah flushed, "What are you talking about? I haven't even thought of him since I left the Labyrinth. This is ridiculous; I don't even know why I'm bothering to answer you. Hoggle, I'm engaged for goodness sake!"

"So what?"

Sarah stood up, flustered, "So I'm not sticking around here any longer."

"Off ta find Jareth?" Hoggle asked flippantly.

Sarah glared at him, then left.

After deciding that the king was no longer at the camp, Sarah was left once again with the decision of where to go in this barren land. After a brief moment of contemplation, Sarah decided to go back to the spot she found Jareth at last night. After agreeing to be friends, Sarah and Jareth had just lain there, sometimes talking quietly of lighter subjects, mostly silently enjoying the night. It had been, without a doubt, the best night of Sarah's life. Even better than when what's-his-name proposed. Sarah stopped, "What's-his-name? Ben. Ben. My fiancé, Ben. The man I'm engaged to. Ben, the man I - the man I - I love…" somehow, she didn't seem convinced. Before she could worry about it further, the chasm came into view and Sarah's mouth dropped. Last night, the silvery light from the moon had made even the naked land seem beautiful. But this was - amazing, breathtaking even. Sarah forgot about Hoggle, forgot Ben, forgot that she was still wearing yesterday's clothes, forgot even Jareth. The once stony ground now had a thick carpet of lush green grass. The blades almost had a shimmery quality, as if they were wet, but they were warm, soft, and dry. In between the blades of grass, tiny flowers grew, like none Sarah had ever seen. They grew in every hue that could ever be imagined and more. When the warm breeze whispered over the area, it created a fluid, glittering rainbow that came in a delicate wave towards Sarah. Hearing the sound of running water mixing with the breeze, Sarah walked further until the edge of the abyss came into view. Her wonder grew exponentially and she was left breathless again, coming to stop at the chasm's edge. There, on the other side of the wide crevice, as far at the eye could see, was a sea of silvery water that fell gracefully over the edge. Yet, unlike Niagara Falls, there was no angry thundering of the water, just a soft rushing. Sarah looked over the edge. She couldn't see the bottom, where the water would hit, so maybe, she figured, that was why it was quiet. The whole wall of the chasm looked like a moving mirror that absorbed the colors of the flowers, making them it's own and then reflecting them back out. Judging by the colors dancing on the water's surface, the flowers and grass continued all the way down the wall of her side of the gorge. The perfection of the image was broken only occasionally by a small wave of white foam on the water, perhaps caused by a rock on the ravine's wall.

"I have to show Jareth," she whispered and ran to the only other place she knew he could be, the spot from her dream.

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To say Jareth seemed surprised to see Sarah was an understatement. He seemed to have paled considerably. Sarah expected him to keel over any second, but he did not. Well, it was no wonder, really. Judging by what she heard, the conversation had definitely no been for her ears. 'Jareth loved me?' Sarah thought. Well, if this didn't just make things a tad bit more complicated.

Finally, Jareth found his voice, "Good morning, Sarah. I see you've finally decided to get up. Were you comfortable?"

Here, Sarah blushed, "Yes. Thank you, Jareth, for…" but she trailed off.

The king nodded in a business-like manner, reminding himself of D'Vinnian's presence.

"Think nothing of it," he said simply.

For a moment, he could have sworn he saw a shadow of disappointment cross the woman's face. Oh how he wished his cousin would disappear for a while. But, Jareth could feel Vin's eyes on him and he knew that leaving was the last thing on his cousin's list. Leave? Why would D'Vinnian do that when he could enjoy the show, watching Jareth prove himself wrong about everything he had just said….everything he'd been trying to convince D'Vinnian, and himself, to believe.

Sarah blinked. Well, that hadn't been the reaction she'd been expecting. Not being able to think of anything to say, Sara stared at the king. In return, Jareth was watching her intently, trying to gauge how much she had heard. D'Vinnian felt the tension of the moment and, had Sarah been any other girl, he would have smiled. But, Sarah wasn't any other girl. She was the one who caused this and still didn't see the true mistake she made. And, so D'Vinnian did not smile, but watched in dismay at the spark between the two. He shook his head sadly; Jareth would never learn, not when it came to Sarah. Finally, he decided to break the moment by clearing his throat.

Sarah swung her gaze to the man who was standing partially behind Jareth and tried not to look too surprised. This man - fae? - looked too much like a young Jareth for it to be mere coincidence. But, who was he and how did he get here? Sarah had never really thought about there being other fae in the Underground, even after the conversation last night. Seeing this man before her made it so much more real.

Jareth heard D'Vinnian announce his presence subtly and watched as Sarah shifted her attention to him. He almost laughed at the shocked expression that washed over her. However, he also saw the quick, appraising glance Sarah gave his cousin and he felt an emotion course through him that surprised him. Jealousy. He was jealous of D'Vinnian? Of his cousin? That was utterly ridiculous - and utterly true. Jareth did his best to squelch that emotion and comforted himself with the effect he knew he alone had on Sarah, whether or not she was engaged. Within the short moment these thoughts occurred to him, his trademark smirk reappeared.

"Sarah, allow me to introduce my cousin and advisor, Lord D'Vinnian," Jareth announced, turning to the side and gesturing grandly to the lord.

His amusement was clear now. D'Vinnian caught the quick changes in his cousin's mood and was baffled. Finally, he realized Sarah was watching him again. He nodded his head in acknowledgement, but made no other move. Jareth saw this and arched a royal eyebrow at his cousin. The king knew that D'Vinnian wouldn't be exactly friendly towards Sarah, but his reaction - well Jareth hoped that Vin wouldn't be outright hostile to the poor girl. Woman actually…but Jareth was letting his thought roam again, a dangerous thing.

Clearing his throat, Jareth completed the introduction, "D'Vinnian, this is Sarah, conqueror of the Labyrinth," Jareth added the title trying, and for the first time succeeding, in keeping the bitterness out of his voice.

D'Vinnian snorted and came forward, examining Sarah with a harsh glare, "Conqueror, cousin? Why not use her proper title? Destroyer of the Labyrinth. And all without a single thought -"

"Enough!" Jareth snarled.

D'Vinnian stopped short and his head immediately jerked around to face the irate Goblin King. Sarah had long ago given up meeting D'Vinnian's green eyes and looked instead at the dust at her feet. Her head snapped up as well.

"I'll thank you to remember that Sarah is here to help. You are to be civil, D'Vinnian, or you are to leave. Understood?"

D'Vinnian nodded once and promptly disappeared. Jareth sighed and shook his head before turning back to face Sarah.

After a moment of silence Sarah decided to speak, her head lowered once again.

"I'm sorry, Jareth."

The Goblin King looked at Sarah with a scrutinizing gaze. This wasn't right. Sarah with her head bowed and apologizing meekly. Where was that fire she always had? He crossed the distance between them and placed a gloved finger under Sarah's chin, bringing her gaze to his.

He spoke quietly, "You have nothing to apologize for, Sarah. And try not to look so surprised that I defended you. We did agree to be friends, correct?"

"Yes, but -"

Jareth arched and eyebrow, "But what, Sarah? You are being awfully calm and quiet. Where has all that spirit gone? You are not the Sarah I know."

Sarah searched the king's eyes imploringly, "Am I the Sarah you loved?"

Jareth felt a jolt go through him and dropped his finger from her chin, stepping back.

"Once upon a time, Sarah," he answered with a certain triste quality to his voice, "Once upon a time you were."