AN: Here I said I was going to be updated more regularly, and, what happened…well, it's been a while to say the least. As compensation, expect the next chapter to be out tonight…FOR REAL… Just so you know, you can all blame Cogitare for this. He is my muse, the wonderful one who finally gave me the ending to this. So, what happens, I sit down to write it, and the beginnings to five other different stories come out. So, I took a short two day break, and finally I'm back. I'm also very happy because I finally can watch the videos for Underground and As The World Falls Down in my own home! I went to amazon.com and got the Bowie Video Collection (I'm a big DB fan). They're great, let me tell you!! OK, enough rambling. I have Italian to finish before class, then another chapter to write. Oh, just so you know, cogitare is a real word. It is the Latin infinitive form of the verb for "to think." Cogito, as I sometimes call him, it the "I" form of the same verb. Little Latin lesson for today. Want another phrase?? "Cogito ergo sum." "I think, therefore, I am." Enjoy, read, and review!! ~ Saphire
Chapter eighteen: Failed Dreams
D'Vinnian gave an exasperated sigh as he saw his cousin and Sarah approaching the camp. The plan he and the others had thought of would be perfect…however it hinged on Sarah being able to trust him. He realized too late that his first impression might not have been the best. Grumbling, he came to terms with the fact that he would have to apologize. Apologize to the same little idiot who destroyed the place to begin with. He shook his head, no, that train of thought would not help him. He stared at the ground and tried again, I have to apologize to the woman that my cousin loves. I have to apologize to the woman that will help rebuild the Goblin Kingdom. I have to apologize to the future Goblin Queen…despite what Jareth may deny now. I have to swallow my pride. Forgive and forget. I have to - His thoughts were suddenly interrupted when someone cleared their throat and a black leather boot entered his field of vision.
"Have you found anything interesting, Lord D'Vinnian?" Jareth asked, his tone sarcastic, but still clipped enough to let his cousin know that all was not forgiven from the earlier scene with Sarah.
Doing his best to look humble before the girl, D'Vinnian raised his eyes, "Just thinking, cousin."
"Oh? And what about, may I ask?"
Taking a breath, D'Vinnian reached forward and grabbed Sarah's hand. Jareth raised a wary eyebrow. He had an idea that Vin was about to apologize, but he knew also his cousin wouldn't do so without an ulterior motive. Seeing as he could do nothing about it now, he consoled himself with the thought that an apology, if believable enough, might make Sarah a little more comfortable. For her part, Sarah had two urges to resist. The first was to snatch her hand back. The second was to lean into Jareth for protection. She took a breath and clamped down on her "urges", waiting to see what the fae before her had to say.
D'Vinnian swallowed a grimace and finally began, "I was thinking, Your Highness, that I owe Miss Williams an apology."
Sarah looked at him with disbelief, "What?"
"I wanted to apologize, Sarah. I was completely out of line earlier, and I feel bad. You are, after all, here to help. Maybe we can begin again? Be friends?" D'Vinnian asked, giving her his best "sad puppy" face.
Sarah sighed, there was that word again…friends. Lately, she seemed to be making quite a few "friends" out of the oddest of people…fae…whatever.
Finally, she shrugged, "Sure, why not? Friends."
D'Vinnian smiled seeing Sarah had believed his apology, but it fell when he spied Jareth's face. Dammit, my cousin always could tell when I was lying, he thought wryly. Ignoring the look that Jareth was giving him, D'Vinnian turned back to Sarah.
"Why don't you go get cleaned up and changed? It will make you think clearer, I'm sure."
"Where?" Sarah asked, realizing that she was still in yesterday's outfit.
She felt suddenly grungy, and ran a hand through her hair. D'Vinnian gestured off to the left where a white tent stood that Sarah had no recollection of from last night. Unsure of the sudden change in the Goblin King's cousin, Sarah turned and looked towards Jareth, almost for his approval. When the Goblin King gave a slight nod of his head, Sarah headed off to the tent.
After she had entered, Jareth turned towards D'Vinnian, "What are you after, cousin?"
"Nothing, Jareth. Don't be so paranoid."
"Do not toy with me, D'Vinnian. I warn you. Do not toy with Sarah, either," Jareth warned, his face hard, his eyes cold.
"I'm not toying with either of you, Goblin King. I wouldn't risk your temper where the girl is concerned. I thought you would be pleased that I was offering her some comfort."
Jareth watched him carefully, knowing full well that something was going on inside of D'Vinnian's head that he probably wouldn't approve of. Unfortunately, he had no way to find out what it was. And, he couldn't get too angry with D'Vinnian for giving Sarah someplace to bathe and a change of clothes. The king supposed he could have done it himself, but, even with the power he was gaining from the slow rebirth of the Labyrinth, he was probably too weak to risk it. The fire, blanket, and pillow had been enough from him. He sighed, one day. One day he'd be able to use his magic without thought…as though it were a part of him, an extension of himself. It used to be like that. Only, he would never again take his magic, his kingdom, his life, even his minions for granted. Grudgingly, he decided to let the subject go, for now.
"When Sarah is ready," he continued instead, "I will try to get to the bottom of this. I think the key lies with her dreams. It's one of the few free sources of magic the Labyrinth could use, especially from a mortal."
D'Vinnian nodded, but chose to say nothing. He had his own plan to think of, knowing that Jareth's would fail. Seeing that there was nothing more to be said between them, D'Vinnian turned to find Sarah's three friends. They had plans to finalize. Still, even as he turned away, he could feel his cousin's glare boring into his back. Vin sighed, he had just entered into dangerous territory.
Sarah sighed as the warm water of the bath enveloped her, seeping through her skin to her very soul. To say the past two days had been trying was an understatement. Sarah felt physically and emotionally drained. After ten years, she never thought she would see this place again, and certainly not in the condition it was in. She never thought she'd see her friends, and never realized how much she had missed them until she did. And she certainly never thought she'd see the Goblin King ever again. The man was a walking enigma. He could speak the plain truth, or talk in circles to the point where her head spun. He was arrogant, and aggravating, and loathed showing weakness in front of her…in front of anybody. And, she had realized from her dream two weeks ago that had started this mess, she had missed him most of all. For that short, blissful moment, things had been fine between them. They agreed to be friends, to work with each other rather than against each other. It seemed simple enough, but it was a big step. Sarah wasn't used to working with someone she had, until recently, considered her arch nemesis. Jareth wasn't used to working with anybody. He was used to just being obeyed. But, for a night, for a few hours, that had changed, and they were friends. And then, this morning, a conversation Sarah was never meant to hear through everything back into chaos. An ironic grin slipped across Sarah's mouth, such was the way of the Goblin Kingdom. Chaos seemed to be the only constant thing here. But, this conversation hadn't just made things uncomfortable between Sarah and Jareth. No, that would be too easy, Sarah thought wryly. It had forced her to face feelings she hadn't wanted to face. Feelings she passed off as a fantasy, a dream, for ten years. Sarah sighed, there was something else too. Something locked in her memories of her first adventure here…something crucial. Something Jareth expected her to see, something D'Vinnian expected her to see, something even her friends, even Ludo, expected her to see. She couldn't deal with the feeling tugging at her heart right now. Now, she needed to remember this thing, this one piece of information….maybe that would help the Labyrinth grow faster. Sarah sighed to herself and rubbed her temples, standing from the water and wrapping the towel around herself. "Don't hurt yourself thinking," she whispered, remembering that sarcastic little quip commonly thrown around Aboveground. She had been thinking constantly since she heard Jareth's confession. She definitely felt a headache coming on.
When Sarah finally emerged from the tent, she found Jareth, off by himself, twirling a crystal in his hand. Sarah focused her attention on the orb, wondering, not for the first time, exactly how he was able to do that so absent-mindedly without dropping it.
"Magic," Jareth said, looking up at her as she approached.
Sarah was startled, "Don't tell me you're a mind reader, too."
Jareth laughed, "No, Sarah, I am not. However, your eyes always show your thoughts and emotions, plain as day. You were wondering how I do this without dropping it, correct?"
Sarah nodded. Jareth smiled, tossing the crystal to her. Sarah caught it, felt the texture in her hands again, the same as earlier that day.
"Your answer, Sarah, is magic. Magic and practice and, I'd like to think, talent."
Sarah gave him a wicked grin and he shook his head. He approached her, really looking at her for the first time. Her hair was left to flow freely over her shoulders, and the dress she had was a replica of the one she had been wearing to the park the day of her first "journey". She was breathtaking. He covered the crystal in her hand with his own, and, when he took his hand away, a wreath of small white starflowers and baby's breath sat in Sarah's hand. He took it and placed on her head, smiling at her shocked expression.
"I cannot do much, Sarah, but I am not totally devoid of surprises," he said softly.
He had been nice to her all day. More than that, he had been warm, and patient…a feat for him. Jareth found he simply no longer wished to be cold with her. He also found that the kinder he acted around her, the more the old Sarah, the Sarah he found he missed terribly, would resurface. Still, there was business to take care of. One could not afford to be too sentimental, Jareth reminded himself. Especially after everything that had happened today…especially after Sarah had discovered the truth. He wondered if she had made the connection yet…if she realized exactly what his confession of love had meant to her journey. Looking at her now, he doubted it. And again, uncontrollably, he felt that same spasm of anger and hurt that had caused arguments between them in the past. He did his best to push it aside, he needed her help too much right now to anger her. Instead, he became indifferent. It was safest. Not too weak, not too kind, not too angry.
"Well, are you ready to begin, Sarah?" he asked.
She looked up at him questioningly. He was still close enough that she had to crane her neck up to look in his face. She was puzzled when any evidence of his previous demeanor was gone. He was not upset. He was not angry. He was nothing. She shook herself from her thoughts when she realized he had asked her a question.
"Begin what? How?"
Jareth conjured another crystal in his palm, and gestured for Sarah to sit on a nearby log. He tossed this crystal to her also, but she caught a peach instead. Her head jerked up to face him and he did not miss the wary spark of distrust in her eyes.
Pushing the anger away was suddenly just a little harder for Jareth, and his voice came out colder than he meant, "It's not going to harm you. Simply put you to sleep."
Sarah continued to watch him, rolling the peach in her hands nervously, "Why?"
"I've told you that I think it is your dreams that the Labyrinth is feeding on. When you sleep, I will simply be monitoring both you and the Labyrinth. I won't interfere in your dreams, so don't worry."
For a moment, she did nothing, then, finally, Sarah raised the peach to her lips and took a bite. Jareth let out a breath he hadn't been aware he was holding.
Many hours later, Jareth reached out a hand and placed it on Sarah's knee, waking her up. Her eyes fluttered open, and she groaned inwardly as she met the annoyed look in the Goblin King's eyes.
"What?" she asked groggily.
"You slept well," Jareth stated flatly.
Sarah shrugged, "It was a drugged peach, of course I did."
Jareth saw no humor, "There were no dreams."
"What?"
The Goblin King stood and stretched, banishing the crystal he had been holding, "You dreamt of nothing. Not a single thought in your head."
"I told you I don't remember dreaming anything," Sarah reminded softly, somehow getting the feeling he was blaming this on her.
Jareth said nothing and walked away.
