Mortal Beloved.
(Chapter 1)
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANY OF THOSE CHARISMATIC CHARACTERS, THEY ARE ALL JIM HENSON, I JUST BORROWED THEM TO WREAK A LITTLE HAVOC IN THEIR LIVES!
PLEASE REVIEW and let me know whether or not it's a good fic. (It's my first time you see!)
Thanx.
Emma. ^_^
Sarah sat in the park and fingered her costume lovingly. She remembered all to clearly her adventure throughout the labyrinth and especially the mind numbingly romantic ballroom illusion that Jareth had created especially for her.
She thought of the Goblin King more than she liked to admit and although it had all occurred over two years ago, Sarah couldn't help but recall, the sharp, suave sexy fey, all angles and curves, nooks and crannies, cruel, cold and manipulative. She knew that Jareth couldn't, wouldn't ever change not for her at least.
She had known this when she had made the choice, the decision of whether or not to snatch Toby away from him and return to Aboveground or to let him control her, to do as he said.
Sarah had made the only possible choice and now, thought that she had indeed moved on with her life. Yet it was though he was always there, ever- present, lurking in the shadows of her mind, daring her to think of him. Jareth and the adventure that he had provided took a quiet part of her that she suppressed and kept just below the surface of her consciousness.
Sitting here, now where it all had begun where she had ran home after her drama rehearsal, a flood of memories returned threatening to drown her.
Ringing in her ears were the words that he had sung to her, words that then, holding no meaning were merely something she had to endure to complete her quest. It was later, now, that she saw the emotions behind those words and wondered what had prompted them.
Sarah knew that she had angered, humiliated and hurt the Goblin King beyond measure when she had bested both him and his Labyrinth, seizing the child and returning victorious to her own realm. Sarah knew that nothing could ever come of any thoughts that she may have about Jareth. Sarah knew these things, yet her heart and body knew differently. She could no longer deny that the masked stranger that frequently appeared in her dreams was indeed her adversary Jareth.
At 18 Sarah had reached a point in her life where it was necessary to abandon her wild fantastical streak and reside in the real world. Now a senior at school, Sarah felt that instead of studying all she had been doing lately was dreaming about things that would never be. Her grades had been suffering and as the heavens opened up and bathed her with rain, she resolved to put the Labyrinth book in her closet and up and away from the rest of her room.
* * *
Jareth slouched elegantly against a wall, in the tallest tower at the very top. He was in a small room that he had cynically nicknamed the "sarah" room. Although Jareth had watched Sarah from the time she was born and he had felt her uniqueness and significance, he had come here to observe her today because he sensed a shift in her character. He felt her distancing herself from the world of the Fey and the Underground. He watched with a bittersweet scowl etched onto his sharp crystalline features and observed her sitting the park. He knew that she would be thinking that that was how it was all started yet he knew that she was wrong, that Sarah was meant to fulfil a purpose, that she was more in tune with the world of the fey instead of the mortal one, even if she didn't know it yet.
Jareths gut told him that Sarah hadn't filled her purpose yet, and that she would play an integral part in the future of his land. *And Jareth knew his gut never lied*.
Damn mortal, why did she have to go and be so beautiful, and intriguing? He questioned himself, as he had done on numerous occasions after his defeat.
He was still touchy about the fact that a mere mortal had been able to navigate his Labyrinth and beat him in his own city in his own castle.
She had won fair and square, Looking down at the crystal and seeing her soaked to the skin and walking home, he wasn't finished with her, not even close.
His laugh reverberated through the castle and into the city below giving those who heard shivers down their spine.
* * *
Sarah slid down the shower and let her tears fall freely. As soon as she had gotten home, (late as usual) she had faced a barrage of questions from her Dad and Karen. To add to that, as she was coming down the stairs she caught a snatch of the conversation that was going on, "David, please..See it from my perspective! She's a bad example for Toby and when I meet my friends there is always speculation about my "outcast" stepdaughter! I just think that it would be better if we sent her away for college" intoned Karen.
With that Sarah ran back upstairs and locked her door behind her, flopping onto the bed she grabbed Lancelot and hugged him to her. "You're the only one that understands me" she had stated. Finally about an hour later, her friend had rang and explained tactfully that she had been asked to un- invite Sarah to the party they were supposed to be going to on Saturday night.
With that, all the rejection she could take, Sarah walked into the bathroom and quickly stripped of her clothes. She turned on the taps and stepped beneath the scorching beams of water. As the water beat down on her bare back, Sarah felt the tension that usually permeated them, subside. She relaxed and upon thinking about her situation and how she seemed to fit in less and less lately. She let her head flop into her hands and slid down into a foetal position feeling the tears fall.
Sarah knew that she couldn't go on like this but she could see no other option.
* * *
Jarred stared at Sarah in the crystal and knew that now she was feeling the sharp pain of rejection that left you gasping for breath. He stared out of the window and down on the castle grounds. Since being conquered by the child-heroine the Labyrinth had become a significantly nicer place, with plants and wildlife springing up everywhere. There were boundless fields of cornflowers and daisies and the courtyard, garden and Goblin City had all been re-modelled. Jareth knew that if he wanted to have a chance with Sarah then he would have to demonstrate, *although he had already changed for the better*, that he and his kingdom were worthy of her.
Jareth knew, that as the most powerful and influential king of the the underground that he could be liable for some slander and gossip about why he had effected these changed but he didn't care. He knew what had motivated them and that was all that mattered. Not that he would ever tell Sarah this, he woudn't be able to bear it if he placed his heart on the line again and she refused him.
Jareth had barely puled himself out of the depression and fiery irrational anger he had felt after their first round had left him, an empty king here in his world of twisted delights. He wanted desperately to make a world for Sarah, for his Sarah and he vowed that when she fell through the thin barrier between the mortal world she occupied and the one he knew she belonged in, he would be the one to catch her.
* * *
The water ran cold as Sarah still sat there an hour later, frigid with cold, body racked with sobs. Sarah was beginning to realise that she never truly had fit in after she had returned from the Underground. Sitting there now, her thoughts strayed to Hoggle, Sir Didymus and Ludo, her loyal companions as she traversed that complicated Labyrinth. But she had not yielded to it's king and thinking now, it occurred to her that maybe she could have handled it better, that their could have been other options. She had been naïve then, and she refused to entertain this notion now that she was older, wiser.
Sarah rose and shivered in the cool air of the bathroom. She wrapt a soft large towel around her frail body. It had not gone unnoticed that she had been losing a lot of weight, there were constantly black smudges beneath her cosmic eyes, her face had gained a haggard feel that was premature to her age. Reminding her mockingly of how the Goblin King had looked after she had defeated him. An image emblazoned it's way across her consciousness, She saw herself at the ball, dancing in Jareth's warm embrace and enjoying the heat of his gaze. She could hear him singing,
"As the world falls down…I'll be there for you". Shaking her head to disperse the image, Sarah felt as though his touch had sizzled her skin, odd that she should still feel it though. She thought. "Well, my world is falling down Jareth, are you happy?" she asked out loud. Fresh tears beginning their decent down her flawless ivory cheeks.
* * *
At the sound of his name spoken from Sarah's soft lips, Jareth sat up and took notice. He was no longer in the tower, deciding that he preferred to brood while sitting, one leg over the arm of his thrown. He conjured a crystal, and commanded "Show me Sarah" The crystal obliged and he saw that it was happening sooner than he thought it would. Realising that she had not actually *called* him, he sat back restless and knew that if something didn't happen soon he would be forced to look for other entertainment, such as a game of kick to kick with the bog and a goblin as the ball. He was about to call for a goblin when he caught a sight of her vision. He knew that she felt pain having to relive her dream and yet again endure the same outcome.
Yet the thing that puzzled him was the aura of energy he could see around Sarah, he knew when he first saw her that she was someone to be reckoned with but this was different. The energy had a distinctly Fey quality to it and it seemed much stronger than that of what he saw she had previously possessed. This puzzled him greatly and he retired to his chambers to mull over it more thoroughly.
* * *
Sarah, after dressing and hopping into bed, had found herself snuggled in bed with the Labyrinth book that she had sworn she would not read again. Sarah couldn't get past the description of Jareth, A tall haughty Fey, with changeling eyes and wild hair. She read over the passage again and let the rush of memories claim her. Sarah lay her head down and fell asleep, the magical book still within her grasp.
That night she dreamt of a mysterious yet familiar blonde fey who held the key to her heart at his disposal. "You can't escape me Sarah" he taunted "I live within you" he smirked sardonically and laughed aloud as she wished herself away from him. "You will have to face me at some point my dear" he called after her.
Sarah jolted awake. She had had the same dream as always, she was led around the ballroom by Jareth and felt his embrace, yet this time it had been different, this time he had spoken, well taunted was more accurate she thought miserably yet couldn't help the feeling of excitement verging on the surface.
She realised now that she had lost all of connections with the mortal world. She had lost her friends, family and her sense of self. She lay back down and fell asleep.
* * *
Jareth leaped out of his bed as though he had been bitten. Now was the time, he could feel it. He dressed quickly, in Black leather tights, a metallic blue poets shirt and a silver jacket. He felt his enthusiasm peak as he disappeared, leaving a brilliant shower of glitter in his wake. He materialised in front of Sarah's bed and walked with the stealth of a cat to her bedside.
He waved a hand over her slumbering head and took a look into her psyche. "Run Sarah, Run away, flee this life to which you no longer belong!" it was screaming and Jareth counted himself lucky that he had come before that impulse had overtaken her. He felt the primordial desire to gain control of her life once again flit through her mind and dreams. It was then that he lifted her, gently, as though she were as light as a feather and returned to the castle.
When he had arrived he met a maid in the hall and smiled at the small ancient woman. Corah, would you please prepare a room for Sarah? The woman nodded and scrurried away. When the woman was finished, Jareth brought sarah, still asleep into the room, turned down the sky blue silk sheets and placed her onto the bed. No matter how tempted he was to stay there with her, he dropped a kiss on her hair and quickly disappeared into his own chambers. He lay down and tried to sleep yet the excitement of finally having Sarah back after two long, barren years wouldn't leave him. He knew that Sarah would indeed be furious when she awoke to her new surroundings but he figured that he would deal with that when it happened. After all, he had stuck to the rules that were imposed. He had released her when she had solved his Labyrinth. He had even given her the child, playing fair was a new concept to him. But it was she who, after two years had given up her links with the aboveground, therefore renewing his claim on her. Sarah had acknowledged the severance from the three things that bound her to the aboveground. Her world didn't want her, and he couldn't understand why in seven hells not but he didn't question just took her to his sanctuary, her sanctuary, their home. Yes, he thought we are one and the same. She is at the very same crossroads that I once faced.
* * *
Sarah awoke groggily and pulled the silk sheets closer around her. It was then that she sat up. Silk sheets? She thought. Leaping out of the bed. Sarah looked around her at the unfamiliar surroundings. There was a huge four-poster bed with a canopy, a vanity, a cornflower blue chaise lounge, a desk, chest of drawers. and huge opened windows that was bordered by a window seat. She walked to the window and opened the white curtains. The window behind was partially open and she could smell the tang in the air. A musky appleberry fragrance that pervaded her senses. She knew she had smelt that fragrance before and looked out at the horizon. Beyond the window, there was a garden that seemed to lead to the ends of the earth. She caught a glimpse of a city and beyond that a sight that she hadn't deigned to hope she would see again. The Labyrinth. She knew that Jareth would be around somewhere and that she should go and find him and demand an explanation. Before she did that however, she knew that she should dress; it wouldn't do to parade around in her nightgown. Turning back to the bed, she saw that it had been made and their was a stunning sapphire dress spread over it. The bodice was intricately patterned with crystals and the skirt flared out shimmering in the morning light. Sarah opened a door to which she hoped would be a bathroom. A hot bath had been drawn and she slipped out of her clothes and into it's waters. She felt the magical water soothe her as none had done before and she closed her eyes. A half hour and much soap later, she pulled herself up from the water and dried. She stepped into the sapphire dress and got a fright when she saw a small female goblin standing in the doorway. "I'm sorry if I frightenend you Mistress Sarah" she said apologetically looking at the ground. Sarah hurried over to the woman and said "Don't worry about it, come in". The woman obediently followed and then helped Sarah with her hair and slight make up.
"So you are the woman who has captured my masters heart" she said with pride. Sarah blushed and readily denied her proclamation of Jareths sentiments, "I'm sure he just brought me here because he wants revenge or so I can serve some purpose to his kingdom, In which case I will tell him that I shall partake of neither and if that is the case, that he will be sending me back straightaway!" she exclaimed with more conviction than she felt.
The woman smiled and Sarah took in the difference of the Goblins, they were now indeed creatures of beauty and kindness. She knew however that the Goblin King would not do without a couple of disgusting, crude little ones that used to make up the entire population, to play Kick bog with. Although Sarah objected to his treatment of the creatures, she did see that Jareth would never truly desire to inflict harm upon his beloved subjects.
"I'm Corah" stated the woman simply and sarah took the outstretched hand.
"I'm sure Jareth has already told you who I am" she replied and they laughed.
"Indeed he has, he is expecting you in the throne room mi lady" finished the goblin who then curtsied and exited the room.
* * *
Jareth stood nervously in his throne room and thought ironically, that no other woman apart from Sarah had ever made him wait for her. He smiled, he didn't know why but he was pleased.
Turning toward her as he heard her footsteps entering the room. He stood breathless as he took in the sight of her after so long. He knew that her guard was up and that she didn't know his motivation. And he wanted desperately to break through the iron ore he saw glinting in her eyes.
"Jareth," she said an edge to her voice. "I'd like an explanation" she continued both voice and face softening significantly. This set alight a tiny spark of hope within the Goblin King as he thought, perhaps this will go better than expected. With that he held out his arm, and after she took it, he escorted her to breakfast.
When they entered the great hall, Sarah gasped and almost fell to the floor. She gaped at the woman seated there and felt her heart pump in her chest.
"Mother.." she said, voice raw with emotion. "What are you doing here?"
(Chapter 1)
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANY OF THOSE CHARISMATIC CHARACTERS, THEY ARE ALL JIM HENSON, I JUST BORROWED THEM TO WREAK A LITTLE HAVOC IN THEIR LIVES!
PLEASE REVIEW and let me know whether or not it's a good fic. (It's my first time you see!)
Thanx.
Emma. ^_^
Sarah sat in the park and fingered her costume lovingly. She remembered all to clearly her adventure throughout the labyrinth and especially the mind numbingly romantic ballroom illusion that Jareth had created especially for her.
She thought of the Goblin King more than she liked to admit and although it had all occurred over two years ago, Sarah couldn't help but recall, the sharp, suave sexy fey, all angles and curves, nooks and crannies, cruel, cold and manipulative. She knew that Jareth couldn't, wouldn't ever change not for her at least.
She had known this when she had made the choice, the decision of whether or not to snatch Toby away from him and return to Aboveground or to let him control her, to do as he said.
Sarah had made the only possible choice and now, thought that she had indeed moved on with her life. Yet it was though he was always there, ever- present, lurking in the shadows of her mind, daring her to think of him. Jareth and the adventure that he had provided took a quiet part of her that she suppressed and kept just below the surface of her consciousness.
Sitting here, now where it all had begun where she had ran home after her drama rehearsal, a flood of memories returned threatening to drown her.
Ringing in her ears were the words that he had sung to her, words that then, holding no meaning were merely something she had to endure to complete her quest. It was later, now, that she saw the emotions behind those words and wondered what had prompted them.
Sarah knew that she had angered, humiliated and hurt the Goblin King beyond measure when she had bested both him and his Labyrinth, seizing the child and returning victorious to her own realm. Sarah knew that nothing could ever come of any thoughts that she may have about Jareth. Sarah knew these things, yet her heart and body knew differently. She could no longer deny that the masked stranger that frequently appeared in her dreams was indeed her adversary Jareth.
At 18 Sarah had reached a point in her life where it was necessary to abandon her wild fantastical streak and reside in the real world. Now a senior at school, Sarah felt that instead of studying all she had been doing lately was dreaming about things that would never be. Her grades had been suffering and as the heavens opened up and bathed her with rain, she resolved to put the Labyrinth book in her closet and up and away from the rest of her room.
* * *
Jareth slouched elegantly against a wall, in the tallest tower at the very top. He was in a small room that he had cynically nicknamed the "sarah" room. Although Jareth had watched Sarah from the time she was born and he had felt her uniqueness and significance, he had come here to observe her today because he sensed a shift in her character. He felt her distancing herself from the world of the Fey and the Underground. He watched with a bittersweet scowl etched onto his sharp crystalline features and observed her sitting the park. He knew that she would be thinking that that was how it was all started yet he knew that she was wrong, that Sarah was meant to fulfil a purpose, that she was more in tune with the world of the fey instead of the mortal one, even if she didn't know it yet.
Jareths gut told him that Sarah hadn't filled her purpose yet, and that she would play an integral part in the future of his land. *And Jareth knew his gut never lied*.
Damn mortal, why did she have to go and be so beautiful, and intriguing? He questioned himself, as he had done on numerous occasions after his defeat.
He was still touchy about the fact that a mere mortal had been able to navigate his Labyrinth and beat him in his own city in his own castle.
She had won fair and square, Looking down at the crystal and seeing her soaked to the skin and walking home, he wasn't finished with her, not even close.
His laugh reverberated through the castle and into the city below giving those who heard shivers down their spine.
* * *
Sarah slid down the shower and let her tears fall freely. As soon as she had gotten home, (late as usual) she had faced a barrage of questions from her Dad and Karen. To add to that, as she was coming down the stairs she caught a snatch of the conversation that was going on, "David, please..See it from my perspective! She's a bad example for Toby and when I meet my friends there is always speculation about my "outcast" stepdaughter! I just think that it would be better if we sent her away for college" intoned Karen.
With that Sarah ran back upstairs and locked her door behind her, flopping onto the bed she grabbed Lancelot and hugged him to her. "You're the only one that understands me" she had stated. Finally about an hour later, her friend had rang and explained tactfully that she had been asked to un- invite Sarah to the party they were supposed to be going to on Saturday night.
With that, all the rejection she could take, Sarah walked into the bathroom and quickly stripped of her clothes. She turned on the taps and stepped beneath the scorching beams of water. As the water beat down on her bare back, Sarah felt the tension that usually permeated them, subside. She relaxed and upon thinking about her situation and how she seemed to fit in less and less lately. She let her head flop into her hands and slid down into a foetal position feeling the tears fall.
Sarah knew that she couldn't go on like this but she could see no other option.
* * *
Jarred stared at Sarah in the crystal and knew that now she was feeling the sharp pain of rejection that left you gasping for breath. He stared out of the window and down on the castle grounds. Since being conquered by the child-heroine the Labyrinth had become a significantly nicer place, with plants and wildlife springing up everywhere. There were boundless fields of cornflowers and daisies and the courtyard, garden and Goblin City had all been re-modelled. Jareth knew that if he wanted to have a chance with Sarah then he would have to demonstrate, *although he had already changed for the better*, that he and his kingdom were worthy of her.
Jareth knew, that as the most powerful and influential king of the the underground that he could be liable for some slander and gossip about why he had effected these changed but he didn't care. He knew what had motivated them and that was all that mattered. Not that he would ever tell Sarah this, he woudn't be able to bear it if he placed his heart on the line again and she refused him.
Jareth had barely puled himself out of the depression and fiery irrational anger he had felt after their first round had left him, an empty king here in his world of twisted delights. He wanted desperately to make a world for Sarah, for his Sarah and he vowed that when she fell through the thin barrier between the mortal world she occupied and the one he knew she belonged in, he would be the one to catch her.
* * *
The water ran cold as Sarah still sat there an hour later, frigid with cold, body racked with sobs. Sarah was beginning to realise that she never truly had fit in after she had returned from the Underground. Sitting there now, her thoughts strayed to Hoggle, Sir Didymus and Ludo, her loyal companions as she traversed that complicated Labyrinth. But she had not yielded to it's king and thinking now, it occurred to her that maybe she could have handled it better, that their could have been other options. She had been naïve then, and she refused to entertain this notion now that she was older, wiser.
Sarah rose and shivered in the cool air of the bathroom. She wrapt a soft large towel around her frail body. It had not gone unnoticed that she had been losing a lot of weight, there were constantly black smudges beneath her cosmic eyes, her face had gained a haggard feel that was premature to her age. Reminding her mockingly of how the Goblin King had looked after she had defeated him. An image emblazoned it's way across her consciousness, She saw herself at the ball, dancing in Jareth's warm embrace and enjoying the heat of his gaze. She could hear him singing,
"As the world falls down…I'll be there for you". Shaking her head to disperse the image, Sarah felt as though his touch had sizzled her skin, odd that she should still feel it though. She thought. "Well, my world is falling down Jareth, are you happy?" she asked out loud. Fresh tears beginning their decent down her flawless ivory cheeks.
* * *
At the sound of his name spoken from Sarah's soft lips, Jareth sat up and took notice. He was no longer in the tower, deciding that he preferred to brood while sitting, one leg over the arm of his thrown. He conjured a crystal, and commanded "Show me Sarah" The crystal obliged and he saw that it was happening sooner than he thought it would. Realising that she had not actually *called* him, he sat back restless and knew that if something didn't happen soon he would be forced to look for other entertainment, such as a game of kick to kick with the bog and a goblin as the ball. He was about to call for a goblin when he caught a sight of her vision. He knew that she felt pain having to relive her dream and yet again endure the same outcome.
Yet the thing that puzzled him was the aura of energy he could see around Sarah, he knew when he first saw her that she was someone to be reckoned with but this was different. The energy had a distinctly Fey quality to it and it seemed much stronger than that of what he saw she had previously possessed. This puzzled him greatly and he retired to his chambers to mull over it more thoroughly.
* * *
Sarah, after dressing and hopping into bed, had found herself snuggled in bed with the Labyrinth book that she had sworn she would not read again. Sarah couldn't get past the description of Jareth, A tall haughty Fey, with changeling eyes and wild hair. She read over the passage again and let the rush of memories claim her. Sarah lay her head down and fell asleep, the magical book still within her grasp.
That night she dreamt of a mysterious yet familiar blonde fey who held the key to her heart at his disposal. "You can't escape me Sarah" he taunted "I live within you" he smirked sardonically and laughed aloud as she wished herself away from him. "You will have to face me at some point my dear" he called after her.
Sarah jolted awake. She had had the same dream as always, she was led around the ballroom by Jareth and felt his embrace, yet this time it had been different, this time he had spoken, well taunted was more accurate she thought miserably yet couldn't help the feeling of excitement verging on the surface.
She realised now that she had lost all of connections with the mortal world. She had lost her friends, family and her sense of self. She lay back down and fell asleep.
* * *
Jareth leaped out of his bed as though he had been bitten. Now was the time, he could feel it. He dressed quickly, in Black leather tights, a metallic blue poets shirt and a silver jacket. He felt his enthusiasm peak as he disappeared, leaving a brilliant shower of glitter in his wake. He materialised in front of Sarah's bed and walked with the stealth of a cat to her bedside.
He waved a hand over her slumbering head and took a look into her psyche. "Run Sarah, Run away, flee this life to which you no longer belong!" it was screaming and Jareth counted himself lucky that he had come before that impulse had overtaken her. He felt the primordial desire to gain control of her life once again flit through her mind and dreams. It was then that he lifted her, gently, as though she were as light as a feather and returned to the castle.
When he had arrived he met a maid in the hall and smiled at the small ancient woman. Corah, would you please prepare a room for Sarah? The woman nodded and scrurried away. When the woman was finished, Jareth brought sarah, still asleep into the room, turned down the sky blue silk sheets and placed her onto the bed. No matter how tempted he was to stay there with her, he dropped a kiss on her hair and quickly disappeared into his own chambers. He lay down and tried to sleep yet the excitement of finally having Sarah back after two long, barren years wouldn't leave him. He knew that Sarah would indeed be furious when she awoke to her new surroundings but he figured that he would deal with that when it happened. After all, he had stuck to the rules that were imposed. He had released her when she had solved his Labyrinth. He had even given her the child, playing fair was a new concept to him. But it was she who, after two years had given up her links with the aboveground, therefore renewing his claim on her. Sarah had acknowledged the severance from the three things that bound her to the aboveground. Her world didn't want her, and he couldn't understand why in seven hells not but he didn't question just took her to his sanctuary, her sanctuary, their home. Yes, he thought we are one and the same. She is at the very same crossroads that I once faced.
* * *
Sarah awoke groggily and pulled the silk sheets closer around her. It was then that she sat up. Silk sheets? She thought. Leaping out of the bed. Sarah looked around her at the unfamiliar surroundings. There was a huge four-poster bed with a canopy, a vanity, a cornflower blue chaise lounge, a desk, chest of drawers. and huge opened windows that was bordered by a window seat. She walked to the window and opened the white curtains. The window behind was partially open and she could smell the tang in the air. A musky appleberry fragrance that pervaded her senses. She knew she had smelt that fragrance before and looked out at the horizon. Beyond the window, there was a garden that seemed to lead to the ends of the earth. She caught a glimpse of a city and beyond that a sight that she hadn't deigned to hope she would see again. The Labyrinth. She knew that Jareth would be around somewhere and that she should go and find him and demand an explanation. Before she did that however, she knew that she should dress; it wouldn't do to parade around in her nightgown. Turning back to the bed, she saw that it had been made and their was a stunning sapphire dress spread over it. The bodice was intricately patterned with crystals and the skirt flared out shimmering in the morning light. Sarah opened a door to which she hoped would be a bathroom. A hot bath had been drawn and she slipped out of her clothes and into it's waters. She felt the magical water soothe her as none had done before and she closed her eyes. A half hour and much soap later, she pulled herself up from the water and dried. She stepped into the sapphire dress and got a fright when she saw a small female goblin standing in the doorway. "I'm sorry if I frightenend you Mistress Sarah" she said apologetically looking at the ground. Sarah hurried over to the woman and said "Don't worry about it, come in". The woman obediently followed and then helped Sarah with her hair and slight make up.
"So you are the woman who has captured my masters heart" she said with pride. Sarah blushed and readily denied her proclamation of Jareths sentiments, "I'm sure he just brought me here because he wants revenge or so I can serve some purpose to his kingdom, In which case I will tell him that I shall partake of neither and if that is the case, that he will be sending me back straightaway!" she exclaimed with more conviction than she felt.
The woman smiled and Sarah took in the difference of the Goblins, they were now indeed creatures of beauty and kindness. She knew however that the Goblin King would not do without a couple of disgusting, crude little ones that used to make up the entire population, to play Kick bog with. Although Sarah objected to his treatment of the creatures, she did see that Jareth would never truly desire to inflict harm upon his beloved subjects.
"I'm Corah" stated the woman simply and sarah took the outstretched hand.
"I'm sure Jareth has already told you who I am" she replied and they laughed.
"Indeed he has, he is expecting you in the throne room mi lady" finished the goblin who then curtsied and exited the room.
* * *
Jareth stood nervously in his throne room and thought ironically, that no other woman apart from Sarah had ever made him wait for her. He smiled, he didn't know why but he was pleased.
Turning toward her as he heard her footsteps entering the room. He stood breathless as he took in the sight of her after so long. He knew that her guard was up and that she didn't know his motivation. And he wanted desperately to break through the iron ore he saw glinting in her eyes.
"Jareth," she said an edge to her voice. "I'd like an explanation" she continued both voice and face softening significantly. This set alight a tiny spark of hope within the Goblin King as he thought, perhaps this will go better than expected. With that he held out his arm, and after she took it, he escorted her to breakfast.
When they entered the great hall, Sarah gasped and almost fell to the floor. She gaped at the woman seated there and felt her heart pump in her chest.
"Mother.." she said, voice raw with emotion. "What are you doing here?"