Yet another chapter done!!! (happy dancing around my computer). I hope you enjoy!!
Standard Disclaimer: If you recognize it, I don't own it
Chapter 7--My Lady's Chambers
"I should have known all he was really after was revenge...." He voice trailed away on the last word as she looked into the chamber. Shock and amazement fought on her face at the sight before her and she was rendered speechless by it.
It was her room on Earth. Or rather a Goblin King's version of her room. It had a canopy bed; hutch with cubbyholes for stuffed animals, that poster with the stairs, a vanity with a large mirror and her books.
But that is where the resemblance ended. The bed was a heavily carved four poster canopy bed with richly embroidered bed curtains. Not *that* large, just big enough for Sarah and a mere three or four of her closest friends.
Sarah, stunned, walked over to the bed. Running her hands over the carvings of dragons and unicorns on the posts. She pulled one bed curtain across the side of the bed as a flash of gold caught her eye. It was embroidered with gold, silver and brightly colored threads to show different scenes. Most showing Jareth directly, in the throne room, the Escher room. But also the view of the Labyrinth as seen from the hill and an owl flying over the hedge maze.
Next the hutch caught her eye; it was also heavily carved, matching the bed. Instead of the usual stuffed animals that she had at home, they were all creatures from the underground.
It contained fireys, goblins, fairies, and other creatures that she didn't even recognize. In the center cubby, which was larger than the others, was an owl.
She next turned to the vanity, which also matched (in fact all the furniture matched). On the vanity table were the usual things, but what she really noticed were the pictures in heavy silver frames. Her mother, Toby, her and her father, and even a family portrait containing Karen that she found behind a large vase of flowers.
To one side of the vanity was her Escher print of stairs. It was in a carved wooden frame on a free standing easel.
The room was carpeted with deep, rich room rugs. One area of the wall bowed out making a tiny room. It had bookcases in the walls and two comfortable chairs on either side of the window facing a garden and a small table between them.
Chairs also flanked the massive fireplace on once side. On the other, a very large dog bed and bowl. Both having the name "Merlin" decorating them.
A few other assorted chests and cupboards completed the furnishing of the room.
Sarah just stared. "This is like my room at home. I knew it. It's his revenge. He planned it to remind me of everything he took away." Sarah then angrily flops herself into the bed in the way that only a teenage can.
Hoggle was amazed at her reaction. Far too much effort had been put into this room for it to be simply revenge. If that was the case he would have used magic to create and *identical* copy of her room. Rather than hire nearly every artisan in the Underground. He was obviously trying for 'comfortably familiar' yet appropriate for her new rank.
Hoggle remembered after she had won. Jareth was in the worst temper that anyone had ever seen him. For several weeks he seemed to delight in tormenting him with various possible ways to punish (some so far as to be executions) for his disloyalty.
Then suddenly he was sent back to his old job of tending the area around the entrance of the Labyrinth, with no further word of punishment said.
About a week later, the artisans began to arrive. Nobody knew why, but lots of gossip floated around.
Hoggle stomped over to a chair in a huff and lifted himself into it. "Bah, the sooner you is convinced you're property the better, I say."
Sarah looked up at him from the bed, astonished. "What!!!"
"You is property, just the same as the rest of us. And a lot worse things he could have done that put you in here."
Sarah rolled over onto her back, putting her arm over his eyes and pouted. "Like what?"
"He could have put you in the kitchen or have you be a maid. Let me tell you missy, this ain't no servants quarters. He put you in a Lady's room, so everyone is below you and you only have to answer to Jareth. If he wanted revenge, he could have put you below the goblins. Would you rather have goblins pushing you around. They don't like humans much, it wouldn't be very pleasant, I can tells you." Hoggle crossed his arms and stared at her.
Sarah thought about what Hoggle said, looked around the room again. "I guess your right. I'm sorry Hoggle. I'm still upset about what happened. It's not your fault I shouldn't take it out on you."
"Good, cause I promised to look after you. And this is a promise that I intend on keeping." Hoggle told her. "And don't go getting any ideas that anyone else can help you go home. Only the Fae can come and go."
Sarah perked up at that. "You're sure none would help me?"
Hoggle jumped off the chair and stomped over to the bed, climbed up into it. He looked her nearly in the eye and shaking his finger at her told her. "None of the Fae can be trusted. But most are a lot worse than Jareth." As Hoggle explained his hand unconsciously rubbed his back.
"I find that hard to believe. He steals my brother, make me go through his maze and after I beat him he then steals me!" Sarah said in a huff.
Hoggle puts a hand on Sarah's arm and speaks softly. "Sarah, most would have done a lot worse to me for what I done than Jareth. And for a lot less most likely."
"What did you do?"
Hoggle looked down at his feet as he spoke. "I was disloyal and rebelled. Not that I'm ashamed of what I done. But he's got the right to punish me any way he wants."
"Is it because you helped me?" Hoggle just nodded and Sarah hugged him.
"That's why you can't trust them. Jareth will keep you safe, he has to. But the others, no. At best they try to sell you back to him and that's his allies. His enemies..." Hoggle just shivered in her arms at the thought.
"What do you mean, have to keep me safe?" Sarah asked as she gently rocked Hoggle.
"He's made such a fuss about your arrival that he would lose honor in the eyes of the other Fae if he didn't. The rules of honor are very strict and very important."
Hoggle was becoming embarrassed. He was supposed to look after her, and she comforting him. "Ah, well, umm, you needs to change." He climbed off the bed and went to a chest, from a bottom drawer he pulled out a fine chemise. Then he opened the doors at the top. "Pick yourself a nice dress to change into and I'll, ah, get you some water to wash up with." Hoggle then crosses to the small door at the other side of the room from the window.
Sarah changes into the chemise and then looks over the various dresses. Some are extremely fine in the use of embroidery. Some have none at all. But all are very finely made. Sarah chose a deep hunter green dress. It was plain with a modest square neck and long, tight sleeves. It also laced up the back, starting at the tailbone and running right up to the nape of the neck. About at mid-back she found it extremely difficult to lace. Just before she called to Hoggle she felt someone behind her pulling the laces tight on her dress. "Thank you, Hoggle."
But instead of hearing Hoggle's voice, she heard a deep, soft voice in her ear. "That dress suits you."
Sarah tried to look at him but couldn't turn around while he was lacing her dress. "Don't you knock?"
Sarah could hear the smile in his voice. "What would you have said if I had?"
"No."
"That's why I didn't ask," he said chuckling. "Finished." He then leaned against the dress cupboard, smiling. "Is the room to your liking, if not it can be changed."
Sarah tried to smile but took a half step back. "No, I like it. Thank you."
"Good, come." Jareth took her hand and led her over to the tiny window room. A light lunch awaited them on the table. They sat looking out over the garden.
Looking down into her fruit juice, "Could you tell me what happened when my father came?"
Jareth took a sip of his drink and settled into to tell a story. "It started when your father wished away his sister Janie."
***
Little Bobby stood anxiously holding a small bag and sleeping bag as his mother talked on the phone. "Mom, we gotta get going. Joey is expecting us."
Amanda hung up the phone, before turning to her son she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Bobby, I'm sorry, your Uncle Mike is in the hospital and your father and I with have to go stay with your aunt. I'm already called Joey's mother to let her know that you won't be able to come over."
"Is Uncle Mike going to be all right?" Bobby asked as he dropped his bag and sleeping bag. "When are we leaving to go to the hospital?"
"Your father and I will be leaving shortly, but Janie is too little to visit so you're going to have to look after her."
James walked in carrying Janie in his arms. "Bobby, we'll be leaving now. Look after Janie. We're counting on you. We'll be home very late so don't wait up for us."
"I wanna go with you." Janie pouts as her father puts her down by Bobby. She glares at Bobby, "Don't wanna stay with dumb old brother." And promptly kicks him in the ankle.
"MOM!!!"
"Bobby, don't fight with your sister." His mother scolds him.
"But Mom...." He tries to explain.
"No 'but Mom's' young man." His mother tells him as she and his father leave. She bends to kiss him and Janie. "Now be good little children or the Goblin King will come and take you away. I love you both."
After he hears the family car drive away Bobby throws himself on the couch and pouts. 'I could be over at Joey's having fun but instead I have to watch my dumb sister. She is such a pain. She is always getting in trouble and I'm the one they blame because I'm older. It's not fair.' he thought to himself.
Meanwhile Janie wanders into the kitchen.
Bobby sits for awhile on the couch, thumping the back of his heels against the frame and pouting. He suddenly realizes how quite the house is. "Janie!" he calls out only to hear giggling from the kitchen. He goes to the kitchen yelling "Janie, your gonna get it."
In the kitchen, Bobby stops dumbfounded. There Janie is in the middle of the floor, happily playing. She is totally covered in flour: as well as the floor, part of a counter, two chairs and the small table that is in the kitchen.
"Janie, why don't you behave. You're gonna get me in trouble." Bobby glared at her but she only gave him a floury smile. "I wish the Goblin King would take you away -- right now!!" and turned to the cupboard to get out a mop to clean up the mess. As soon as he turned thunder crashed right outside the kitchen window then the lights went out.
Bobby turns around but the kitchen is very dark. "Janie, don't worry I'll be right there." He goes to where Janie was but only a mound of flour remains.
"Stop hiding, Janie." Bobby was impatient, he hated the dark. Suddenly another lightening bolt momentarily light up the kitchen and he could see in that instant many strange white footprints all over the floor.
Before he can even wonder about the footprints, the kitchen door crashes open and an owl flies straight toward him.
Standard Disclaimer: If you recognize it, I don't own it
Chapter 7--My Lady's Chambers
"I should have known all he was really after was revenge...." He voice trailed away on the last word as she looked into the chamber. Shock and amazement fought on her face at the sight before her and she was rendered speechless by it.
It was her room on Earth. Or rather a Goblin King's version of her room. It had a canopy bed; hutch with cubbyholes for stuffed animals, that poster with the stairs, a vanity with a large mirror and her books.
But that is where the resemblance ended. The bed was a heavily carved four poster canopy bed with richly embroidered bed curtains. Not *that* large, just big enough for Sarah and a mere three or four of her closest friends.
Sarah, stunned, walked over to the bed. Running her hands over the carvings of dragons and unicorns on the posts. She pulled one bed curtain across the side of the bed as a flash of gold caught her eye. It was embroidered with gold, silver and brightly colored threads to show different scenes. Most showing Jareth directly, in the throne room, the Escher room. But also the view of the Labyrinth as seen from the hill and an owl flying over the hedge maze.
Next the hutch caught her eye; it was also heavily carved, matching the bed. Instead of the usual stuffed animals that she had at home, they were all creatures from the underground.
It contained fireys, goblins, fairies, and other creatures that she didn't even recognize. In the center cubby, which was larger than the others, was an owl.
She next turned to the vanity, which also matched (in fact all the furniture matched). On the vanity table were the usual things, but what she really noticed were the pictures in heavy silver frames. Her mother, Toby, her and her father, and even a family portrait containing Karen that she found behind a large vase of flowers.
To one side of the vanity was her Escher print of stairs. It was in a carved wooden frame on a free standing easel.
The room was carpeted with deep, rich room rugs. One area of the wall bowed out making a tiny room. It had bookcases in the walls and two comfortable chairs on either side of the window facing a garden and a small table between them.
Chairs also flanked the massive fireplace on once side. On the other, a very large dog bed and bowl. Both having the name "Merlin" decorating them.
A few other assorted chests and cupboards completed the furnishing of the room.
Sarah just stared. "This is like my room at home. I knew it. It's his revenge. He planned it to remind me of everything he took away." Sarah then angrily flops herself into the bed in the way that only a teenage can.
Hoggle was amazed at her reaction. Far too much effort had been put into this room for it to be simply revenge. If that was the case he would have used magic to create and *identical* copy of her room. Rather than hire nearly every artisan in the Underground. He was obviously trying for 'comfortably familiar' yet appropriate for her new rank.
Hoggle remembered after she had won. Jareth was in the worst temper that anyone had ever seen him. For several weeks he seemed to delight in tormenting him with various possible ways to punish (some so far as to be executions) for his disloyalty.
Then suddenly he was sent back to his old job of tending the area around the entrance of the Labyrinth, with no further word of punishment said.
About a week later, the artisans began to arrive. Nobody knew why, but lots of gossip floated around.
Hoggle stomped over to a chair in a huff and lifted himself into it. "Bah, the sooner you is convinced you're property the better, I say."
Sarah looked up at him from the bed, astonished. "What!!!"
"You is property, just the same as the rest of us. And a lot worse things he could have done that put you in here."
Sarah rolled over onto her back, putting her arm over his eyes and pouted. "Like what?"
"He could have put you in the kitchen or have you be a maid. Let me tell you missy, this ain't no servants quarters. He put you in a Lady's room, so everyone is below you and you only have to answer to Jareth. If he wanted revenge, he could have put you below the goblins. Would you rather have goblins pushing you around. They don't like humans much, it wouldn't be very pleasant, I can tells you." Hoggle crossed his arms and stared at her.
Sarah thought about what Hoggle said, looked around the room again. "I guess your right. I'm sorry Hoggle. I'm still upset about what happened. It's not your fault I shouldn't take it out on you."
"Good, cause I promised to look after you. And this is a promise that I intend on keeping." Hoggle told her. "And don't go getting any ideas that anyone else can help you go home. Only the Fae can come and go."
Sarah perked up at that. "You're sure none would help me?"
Hoggle jumped off the chair and stomped over to the bed, climbed up into it. He looked her nearly in the eye and shaking his finger at her told her. "None of the Fae can be trusted. But most are a lot worse than Jareth." As Hoggle explained his hand unconsciously rubbed his back.
"I find that hard to believe. He steals my brother, make me go through his maze and after I beat him he then steals me!" Sarah said in a huff.
Hoggle puts a hand on Sarah's arm and speaks softly. "Sarah, most would have done a lot worse to me for what I done than Jareth. And for a lot less most likely."
"What did you do?"
Hoggle looked down at his feet as he spoke. "I was disloyal and rebelled. Not that I'm ashamed of what I done. But he's got the right to punish me any way he wants."
"Is it because you helped me?" Hoggle just nodded and Sarah hugged him.
"That's why you can't trust them. Jareth will keep you safe, he has to. But the others, no. At best they try to sell you back to him and that's his allies. His enemies..." Hoggle just shivered in her arms at the thought.
"What do you mean, have to keep me safe?" Sarah asked as she gently rocked Hoggle.
"He's made such a fuss about your arrival that he would lose honor in the eyes of the other Fae if he didn't. The rules of honor are very strict and very important."
Hoggle was becoming embarrassed. He was supposed to look after her, and she comforting him. "Ah, well, umm, you needs to change." He climbed off the bed and went to a chest, from a bottom drawer he pulled out a fine chemise. Then he opened the doors at the top. "Pick yourself a nice dress to change into and I'll, ah, get you some water to wash up with." Hoggle then crosses to the small door at the other side of the room from the window.
Sarah changes into the chemise and then looks over the various dresses. Some are extremely fine in the use of embroidery. Some have none at all. But all are very finely made. Sarah chose a deep hunter green dress. It was plain with a modest square neck and long, tight sleeves. It also laced up the back, starting at the tailbone and running right up to the nape of the neck. About at mid-back she found it extremely difficult to lace. Just before she called to Hoggle she felt someone behind her pulling the laces tight on her dress. "Thank you, Hoggle."
But instead of hearing Hoggle's voice, she heard a deep, soft voice in her ear. "That dress suits you."
Sarah tried to look at him but couldn't turn around while he was lacing her dress. "Don't you knock?"
Sarah could hear the smile in his voice. "What would you have said if I had?"
"No."
"That's why I didn't ask," he said chuckling. "Finished." He then leaned against the dress cupboard, smiling. "Is the room to your liking, if not it can be changed."
Sarah tried to smile but took a half step back. "No, I like it. Thank you."
"Good, come." Jareth took her hand and led her over to the tiny window room. A light lunch awaited them on the table. They sat looking out over the garden.
Looking down into her fruit juice, "Could you tell me what happened when my father came?"
Jareth took a sip of his drink and settled into to tell a story. "It started when your father wished away his sister Janie."
***
Little Bobby stood anxiously holding a small bag and sleeping bag as his mother talked on the phone. "Mom, we gotta get going. Joey is expecting us."
Amanda hung up the phone, before turning to her son she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Bobby, I'm sorry, your Uncle Mike is in the hospital and your father and I with have to go stay with your aunt. I'm already called Joey's mother to let her know that you won't be able to come over."
"Is Uncle Mike going to be all right?" Bobby asked as he dropped his bag and sleeping bag. "When are we leaving to go to the hospital?"
"Your father and I will be leaving shortly, but Janie is too little to visit so you're going to have to look after her."
James walked in carrying Janie in his arms. "Bobby, we'll be leaving now. Look after Janie. We're counting on you. We'll be home very late so don't wait up for us."
"I wanna go with you." Janie pouts as her father puts her down by Bobby. She glares at Bobby, "Don't wanna stay with dumb old brother." And promptly kicks him in the ankle.
"MOM!!!"
"Bobby, don't fight with your sister." His mother scolds him.
"But Mom...." He tries to explain.
"No 'but Mom's' young man." His mother tells him as she and his father leave. She bends to kiss him and Janie. "Now be good little children or the Goblin King will come and take you away. I love you both."
After he hears the family car drive away Bobby throws himself on the couch and pouts. 'I could be over at Joey's having fun but instead I have to watch my dumb sister. She is such a pain. She is always getting in trouble and I'm the one they blame because I'm older. It's not fair.' he thought to himself.
Meanwhile Janie wanders into the kitchen.
Bobby sits for awhile on the couch, thumping the back of his heels against the frame and pouting. He suddenly realizes how quite the house is. "Janie!" he calls out only to hear giggling from the kitchen. He goes to the kitchen yelling "Janie, your gonna get it."
In the kitchen, Bobby stops dumbfounded. There Janie is in the middle of the floor, happily playing. She is totally covered in flour: as well as the floor, part of a counter, two chairs and the small table that is in the kitchen.
"Janie, why don't you behave. You're gonna get me in trouble." Bobby glared at her but she only gave him a floury smile. "I wish the Goblin King would take you away -- right now!!" and turned to the cupboard to get out a mop to clean up the mess. As soon as he turned thunder crashed right outside the kitchen window then the lights went out.
Bobby turns around but the kitchen is very dark. "Janie, don't worry I'll be right there." He goes to where Janie was but only a mound of flour remains.
"Stop hiding, Janie." Bobby was impatient, he hated the dark. Suddenly another lightening bolt momentarily light up the kitchen and he could see in that instant many strange white footprints all over the floor.
Before he can even wonder about the footprints, the kitchen door crashes open and an owl flies straight toward him.