Mortal Beloved.
Chapter 6.
(Battles won and lost)
DISCLAIMER: NOPE, NO OWNERSHIP OF LABBY CHARACTERS HERE!
PLS DON'T PLAY WITH MY CHARACTERS B4 ASKING.
NOTE TO ALL!
IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT SOME READERS READ MORE INTO JARETH CALLING ALANYA MOTHER THAN WHAT WAS INTENDED.
Jareth calling Alanya mother, (in chapter 5) was meant to be him teasing her! **For her sending him to bed**
Please for a moment don't think that I would include something as ewwy as incest in my story. There is such a thing as going TOO far. *and thats definitely it*
SO, JARETH AND SARAH ARE IN NO WAY RELATED!
*phew*
Eve Lindsey.
THANX FOR THE REVIEWS, YOU KNOW THE DRILL, KEEP REVIEWING, AND I'LL KEEP ON POSTING. (
Jareth felt his breathing slow, and his heart quiet. He was unsure at why suddenly he had gained this insight into Sarah's psyche, yet was pleased because he now knew what he was dealing with.
Remembering the image of the fey, he had seen, Jareth conjured a crystal with a still of the face in it. He walked to the window, and opened the palm of his hand. Blowing gently the crystal became airborne, and made it's way to Findlay. He had sent a small message along with it and knew that he would hear from Findlay as soon as it was light.
Jareth knew that the only way to convince Sarah that it was indeed not him who had hurt her, was to capture the culprit and gain a confession out of him. He also knew, that she would need reassurance from him. She would probably even need to hear that he loved her, it was a big deal to Jareth, he had never said those three words to anyone, after he had grown from being a feyling.
Jareth sat on the window ledge and pondered the dream sharing situation. Secretly he hoped that it was a one off experience, because the only way such a power could exist between two feys was to have it going both ways, and he didn't want Sarah seeing what he dreamt. Not that it was sexual, well it was at times, he acknowledged, but he mostly danced with her, kissed her, touched her hair. It was the dreams of these basic demonstrations of affection that warmed Jareth at night.
Jareth knew that the ability to dream simultaneously with Sarah, Although he could appear in her dreams, was not one that he as the Goblin King could possess but figured that as he had not been able to heal Sarah, some justice was being enacted and was at least allowing him to see why. Either that or his heightened senses had just tuned in on the pain emanating in waves from Sarah's dreams and had been trapped.
Jareth returned to bed, he hoped that he would receive no more of Sarah's dreams, not because he didn't enjoy the insight they gave him into her, but because he felt that the insight was not really his to have, and that it was an invasion of her privacy. Jareth could watch her all day long with his crystals, yet this was not the personal side, this was merely the body and not the subconscious.
* * *
Findlay awoke the next morning and nearly jumped out of his skin. Hovering above him was one of his best friends crystals. He grasped it down from where it had been levitating and looked deep into its depths. As soon as he did this, Jareth's face superimposed inside the sphere.
It delivered the message that the Goblin King had recorded last night, briefly explaining the dream and who the stranger was. Then, there were instructions for Findlay to use the image of they Fey he would give him, take his forces and search the Labyrinth and it's surrounds for him. Jareth warned Findlay against the powerful fey, and then an image of the young fey came across the crystal and stayed there.
Findlay dressed quickly, and teleported to the castle to speak with Jareth.
* * *
Toran, sat in his tower and watched Sarah sleep, He realised with a shock that he had been doing that a lot lately. Toran knew that he would indeed make it up to this beautiful mortal, and even though he was going to kill Jareth, he saw no reason for her not to forgive him.
Remembering that last night he had started his plan, he decided that soon it would be time to complete it.
Toran was indeed a powerful Fey, and he was a wealth of knowledge he had gained by reading books of spells and incantations that his race could perform, when Ragan wasn't looking.
Thinking back over what had occurred the night before, his idea, and then the rush of actually achieving what he needed to begin his plan.
The night before, in the wee hours of the morning when all fey should rightfully be showing their bodies respect, and sleeping, Toran was up and about. He had sat in the middle of the floor, eyes closed, focusing on the image of Sarah and had then focused on her subconscious, her psyche, the place where her sleeping dreams occurred. When he saw this within his grasp, Toran felt a drain in his powers as he successfully opened up the realm of her dreams, allowing him admittance at any time. It vexed him, that he had had to go to such an extent to achieve what the Goblin King could do in a heartbeat, yet he knew that he had done it and that appeased him. Toran knew that now he would be able to walk talk and interact with Sarah while she was in her dreams.
He was not ignorant, and Toran knew that opening the girls dream realm was not just exclusively for him, that any creature would now be able to gain admittance, so he cast a protective spell, placing a barrier around the realm. Anyone could indeed enter the realm, yet as soon as they did, they would discover that they would not be able to move, talk or commit violence. It even went as far as to prevent Sarah from seeing any creatures that might decide to take advantage of the condition.
He smiled as he teleported down into the Goblin City, determined to find out what was known about last nights attack.
* * *
Jareth met an anxious Findlay in his throne room and told him to sit, after the nightmare; Jareth had slept unusually well and was now feeling fresh and full of renewed energy. Findlay joined Jareth in his pacing.
"Tell me everything Jareth, your message only gave the briefest of details" he stated. Jareth continued to pace, meeting Findlay as he turned to go back the other way.
Jareth told Findlay all that had happened in the dream, and how technically Sarah had inflicted the injury upon herself because she had not been pushed from the cliff but had fallen. He then told Findlay and how he wanted him to distribute the image to his men and locate the fey. Findlay nodded his assent to this request and they proceeded to discuss exactly how it was that Jareth had been able to co-dream with Sarah. Jareth told his friend of his theories about this. But, much to the surprise of the Goblin King, His second in command and best friend all in one, shook his head. "Something isn't right about that Jareth, it's too simple, there is something we're not seeing" he intoned. Jareth realised that he should hear his friend out so he motioned for him to continue, sitting down on his throne to listen.
"I think it is quite possible that you are right, but why then would you have been restrained in the dream. There was no way you could have changed what the outcome would be, not if it was a memory" mused Findlay to himself. Jareth sighed, patience at breaking point. "What's your theory Finn?" he demanded.
Finn stopped pacing and stared past the Goblin King deep in thought.
"Back in the Civil war, there were a special race of Fey with the ability to open ones subconscious and enter their dreams, You being the Goblin King possess this power because it is one you were destined to have, it comes with your mantle." Findlay took a deep breath and continued. "But the Fey's I am talking about were rare, they were usually female and used to visit Feylings nightmares, easing them away and replacing them with dreams of sunshine and beauty, yet occasionally, when one of these feys bore children, the ability would be passed on. Even if a relative from many generations ago possessed the gift and no one in that family had for centuries after, it was still possible for a newborn child in that line to receive the power.
Throughout the civil war, all of these creatures perished, Some no longer able to suppress the dreams and nightmares that came with such evil times. Some slaughtered. I know it's a long shot but….." Findlay trailed off, looking at his friend. I don't know" he faltered, continuing. Jareth wondered how Findlay had come to know about the race of fey's that only few in the underground knew of.
He rose gracefully and walked to his friend, Black leather trailing behind him and Platinum hair falling in rebellious ways at different lengths around his face.
"How did you come to know of these fey? Only few, and those were Kings and nobility knew of their existence" Jareth spoke harshly. He wanted to know, who if anyone had led to the knowledge of the creatures existence coming out and subsequently causing their destruction, by the hands of the enemy.
Findlay looked Jareth straight in the eye feeling pain steal his breath and threaten to stop his heart. Findlay turned and walked toward the door, yet he turned when he reached it, and with a voice as cold as steel, he replied,
"My wife was one"
* * *
Toran wove his way gracefully through the busy streets He let himself be immersed and swept away by the simplicity and happiness of these creatures lives. Little did they know that soon his father would seize their precious Labyrinth and they would be bowing before a new king, a better king.
He smiled at the pretty elven women that stopped working as he passed and smiled openly at him. Coming quickly to an alley, he found what he was looking for. One of the few bars in the Goblin city, indeed in the underground. He paused before entering the bar, he thought about transforming himself into a different form in case of the off chance that someone might recognise him, from the attack. Toran's arrogance won through though, as he entered the small establishment, quickly dismissing his fathers previous words that rung in his head like a death knoll. "Believe me..You WERE seen" "Do you think that if I could find out it was you than Jareth couldn't?" The words mocked as he sat down on a stool close to the counter. And ordered a glass of feyan grape wine. As he looked around Toran observed that there were several character's of dubious nature huddled at a table. Thinking it safe, he walked over and sat down, eager to hear what had been discovered.
* * *
Sarah pulled her body up to a sitting position, and took a sharp intake of breath as the pain registered. She had awoken last night to find her mother, yet when she looked for her a second time, the woman was not there. She swung her weight over the side of the bed and gingerly tested her ankle to see of she could walk. Finding that she could indeed, She rose unsteadily to her feet, wobbled a little and then walked out of the room, deliberately ignoring the beautiful aqua dress that had been laid out on the bed. It was Jareth's doing, and she wanted no part of him anymore. She had been told by him in no uncertain terms that he did not love her, that he despised her. As far as she was concerned the sooner she was out of his castle the better.
Walking slowly down the long halls to the throne room she wondered what he would say when he was confronted. More words of hate, loathing and disgust. Sarah knew that this was one wound she could not bear to have inflicted once again, and she knew that she must put on a brave face and tell him, the man she loved, that did not return her sentiments, that she was leaving. Never to darken his doorway again.
Sarah knew that deep down she wanted to be told that it had been a dream, that Jareth had not spoken those words and that the man she loved had not deigned to be so cruel. Yet the pain, both physical and emotional told her otherwise. Walking into the throne room, Sarah took a deep breath and steeled her heart.
"Jareth!" she yelled.
The Goblin King appeared instantaneously, before her, stealing her breath and as she would now not ever admit, her heart.
"I just wanted to let you know, that I am leaving. Understand me Jareth, I am not a coward, and would not have just snuck out. I want you to know that I will never ever return to you or your twisted Labyrinth again!" she finished. Short of breath and chest throbbing wildly with pain.
Jareth walked towards her and beckoned her to sit. "Not a chance!" she retorted, heading for the door that lead outside of the castle.
"I'm afraid I can't let you leave" the Goblin King spoke up as she reached for the great iron handle.
"Try and stop me" she spat, furious.
* * *
Feeling raw pain tear at him Jareth fought to keep his composure.
"You are in no state to travel" he retorted measuredly. Sarah whirled to face him. And he caught sight of the pain building within her threatening to overflow.
"Since when do you care Jareth?" she demanded. Not letting him answer she went on. "You are nothing but a hollow king who toys with others emotions and lives for his own benefit and entertainment." She continued, voice reaching a dangerous low. Jareth knew that he had to calm her down before she hurt herself.
Jareth had no forthcoming answers and Sarah, overtaken by the urge to vent all of her pent up emotions raged on. "There is no way you can stop me from walking out that door right now" she lashed out.
Jareth saw that if he was to protect her from herself he would have to fight fire with fire.
Smirk sliding easily into place, he teleported quickly and stood toe to toe, directly in front of her. "On the contrary my dear, You can no longer leave this castle without my consent, you were the one who gave up your mortal rights and handed yourself to me on a silver platter, remember?" he snapped, voice cold. He let a mocking smile lace across his thin lips as he teleported yet again and this time lounged arrogantly on his throne. With a snap of his fingers, Sarah was propelled backward into the chair behind her, and silver manacles appeared and closed over her wrists and legs binding her to the chair. Sarah cried out in a mixture of shock and pain and the sound tore at Jareth's very soul. Yet he would not let himself stray from his purpose. She looked up at him, the old defiance flashing in her eyes. "You forget, I am also a fey, and therefore have magic just as you do" she said, voice deadly calm.
Jareth smiled outright at this and walked to her side. "I think you will find ..My dear sweet Sarah, that your body and it's as yet juvenile stage powers, will be consumed in the task of healing itself." He stated, grinning sardonically.
* * *
Sarah closed her eyes, willing the Goblin King to be wrong, for once. She concentrated on undoing the manacles, concentrated every fibre of her weakened being on the task. Sarah peeked open an eye and looked at her wrists, true to his word, they were indeed still bound to the chair. Feeling the frustration growing she pulled at the bonds knowing the futility of it. Regaining her cam, she looked him in the eye, and said.
"Whatever it is you want from me, be assured now that you will not get it!" she broke off, and inhaled, the pain in her midsection coming back in full force.
* * *
Toran had sat down at the table only moments ago, yet soon after he did, he realised his mistake. The largest of the group had looked at him and then muttered something to his companions. They all jumped up from where they had been sitting, surrounding him and flipped open their coats to reveal that they were indeed members of the Goblin Kings army. Toran immediately went to conjure a way out, yet as he did so, he wrist was caught, looped and held by a thin silver rope. Other ropes the same as this one looped around his other wrist and his neck. Thinking nothing of the pathetic bonds that held him, he focused and sent out an enormous flame that should burn the rope, set him free and injure hiw would be captors. Yet as he opened his eyes, all he saw were the smug looks of the warriors. Toran felt a significant drain in his energy and realised that after he had sent out the power, the rope had merely absorbed it and clung more tightly to him as if eager for another taste. With horror, Toran realised that he was now in serious danger.
The four warriors merely laughed. "So this is the one that dares to harm the Fair Lady" One of the warriors stated. The leader spoke up just then and effectively silenced the other three. "Our Commander, Lord Findlay gave us, along with all his troops, this rope that he designed himself, to hold Feys, and dispersed us throughout the Labyrinth to capture you" he stated simply.
"My Lord" he called to the open air and Findlay materialised in front of them. "Well done for capturing the scoundrel" he said solemnly to the group, and turned to face Toran.
The Fey's youth was what struck him as he took in the sight of the being that had caused such damage to Sarah. Instructing the feyan warriors to take the ropes and follow him to the castle, Findlay disappeared, quickly followed by the fey's.
* * *
"What do you hope to achieve by doing this Jareth" asked sarah, with more energy than she felt. Jareth spun on his heel and turned back towards her. Knowing that he needed to tell her the truth but easily predicting what her reaction would be.
"To show you that you have been set up and it wasn't me on that cliff" he stated simply. Sarah laughed mockingly, "Well if it wasn't you then how do you know what happened?" she asked mirthlessly.
Jareth frowned, "I saw your dream Sarah, I witnessed it, the memory, the voices, the taunting, the harsh words and yes, the fall" he explained. Sarah tilted her head to the side, her face unreadable. "Convenient that, now isn't it" she stated.
Conjuring a crystal, Jareth held it out to her. Sarah couldn't move to slap it away as it was held up to her eyes by the one man she detested most.
She watched noncommittally as her dream/memory came into focus and replayed itself. She saw what she had not seen on the cliff, as a young dark man, took Jareth's form. After it had played out in stunning clarity Sarah felt a glimmer of hope touch her, yet it was soon doused by reason.
"Do you honestly think that I would be fool enough to believe anything you say just because you show it to me in one of your stupid crystals?" she demanded harshly.
Jareth felt her words slice through him as even the sharpest blade could not and knew that he had to find a way of convincing her. Before it was too late.
"My crystals never lie" he stated softly, voice revealing more than he had intended it to.
He kneeled before her, reaching out to her, eyes pleading. But she jerked back violently, at his attempted touch.
* * *
Findlay entered the throne room with his quarry, still bound behind him, held by his soldiers. He took stock of the scene before him and quickly looked from Jareth to Sarah, a slight, amused smirk crossing his rugged features.
He cleared his throat. "Am I interrupting?" he asked. Jareth immediately rose to his feet and walked over to Findlay. "What of the search?" he asked wearily. But Findlay merely stepped aside to reveal the fey behind him. Jareth looked the fey in the eye, and met his wildly defiant gaze with his own cold, cruel one. "My, my..look what the cat dragged in" he mocked, eyes raging with unchecked furore.
Chapter 6.
(Battles won and lost)
DISCLAIMER: NOPE, NO OWNERSHIP OF LABBY CHARACTERS HERE!
PLS DON'T PLAY WITH MY CHARACTERS B4 ASKING.
NOTE TO ALL!
IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT SOME READERS READ MORE INTO JARETH CALLING ALANYA MOTHER THAN WHAT WAS INTENDED.
Jareth calling Alanya mother, (in chapter 5) was meant to be him teasing her! **For her sending him to bed**
Please for a moment don't think that I would include something as ewwy as incest in my story. There is such a thing as going TOO far. *and thats definitely it*
SO, JARETH AND SARAH ARE IN NO WAY RELATED!
*phew*
Eve Lindsey.
THANX FOR THE REVIEWS, YOU KNOW THE DRILL, KEEP REVIEWING, AND I'LL KEEP ON POSTING. (
Jareth felt his breathing slow, and his heart quiet. He was unsure at why suddenly he had gained this insight into Sarah's psyche, yet was pleased because he now knew what he was dealing with.
Remembering the image of the fey, he had seen, Jareth conjured a crystal with a still of the face in it. He walked to the window, and opened the palm of his hand. Blowing gently the crystal became airborne, and made it's way to Findlay. He had sent a small message along with it and knew that he would hear from Findlay as soon as it was light.
Jareth knew that the only way to convince Sarah that it was indeed not him who had hurt her, was to capture the culprit and gain a confession out of him. He also knew, that she would need reassurance from him. She would probably even need to hear that he loved her, it was a big deal to Jareth, he had never said those three words to anyone, after he had grown from being a feyling.
Jareth sat on the window ledge and pondered the dream sharing situation. Secretly he hoped that it was a one off experience, because the only way such a power could exist between two feys was to have it going both ways, and he didn't want Sarah seeing what he dreamt. Not that it was sexual, well it was at times, he acknowledged, but he mostly danced with her, kissed her, touched her hair. It was the dreams of these basic demonstrations of affection that warmed Jareth at night.
Jareth knew that the ability to dream simultaneously with Sarah, Although he could appear in her dreams, was not one that he as the Goblin King could possess but figured that as he had not been able to heal Sarah, some justice was being enacted and was at least allowing him to see why. Either that or his heightened senses had just tuned in on the pain emanating in waves from Sarah's dreams and had been trapped.
Jareth returned to bed, he hoped that he would receive no more of Sarah's dreams, not because he didn't enjoy the insight they gave him into her, but because he felt that the insight was not really his to have, and that it was an invasion of her privacy. Jareth could watch her all day long with his crystals, yet this was not the personal side, this was merely the body and not the subconscious.
* * *
Findlay awoke the next morning and nearly jumped out of his skin. Hovering above him was one of his best friends crystals. He grasped it down from where it had been levitating and looked deep into its depths. As soon as he did this, Jareth's face superimposed inside the sphere.
It delivered the message that the Goblin King had recorded last night, briefly explaining the dream and who the stranger was. Then, there were instructions for Findlay to use the image of they Fey he would give him, take his forces and search the Labyrinth and it's surrounds for him. Jareth warned Findlay against the powerful fey, and then an image of the young fey came across the crystal and stayed there.
Findlay dressed quickly, and teleported to the castle to speak with Jareth.
* * *
Toran, sat in his tower and watched Sarah sleep, He realised with a shock that he had been doing that a lot lately. Toran knew that he would indeed make it up to this beautiful mortal, and even though he was going to kill Jareth, he saw no reason for her not to forgive him.
Remembering that last night he had started his plan, he decided that soon it would be time to complete it.
Toran was indeed a powerful Fey, and he was a wealth of knowledge he had gained by reading books of spells and incantations that his race could perform, when Ragan wasn't looking.
Thinking back over what had occurred the night before, his idea, and then the rush of actually achieving what he needed to begin his plan.
The night before, in the wee hours of the morning when all fey should rightfully be showing their bodies respect, and sleeping, Toran was up and about. He had sat in the middle of the floor, eyes closed, focusing on the image of Sarah and had then focused on her subconscious, her psyche, the place where her sleeping dreams occurred. When he saw this within his grasp, Toran felt a drain in his powers as he successfully opened up the realm of her dreams, allowing him admittance at any time. It vexed him, that he had had to go to such an extent to achieve what the Goblin King could do in a heartbeat, yet he knew that he had done it and that appeased him. Toran knew that now he would be able to walk talk and interact with Sarah while she was in her dreams.
He was not ignorant, and Toran knew that opening the girls dream realm was not just exclusively for him, that any creature would now be able to gain admittance, so he cast a protective spell, placing a barrier around the realm. Anyone could indeed enter the realm, yet as soon as they did, they would discover that they would not be able to move, talk or commit violence. It even went as far as to prevent Sarah from seeing any creatures that might decide to take advantage of the condition.
He smiled as he teleported down into the Goblin City, determined to find out what was known about last nights attack.
* * *
Jareth met an anxious Findlay in his throne room and told him to sit, after the nightmare; Jareth had slept unusually well and was now feeling fresh and full of renewed energy. Findlay joined Jareth in his pacing.
"Tell me everything Jareth, your message only gave the briefest of details" he stated. Jareth continued to pace, meeting Findlay as he turned to go back the other way.
Jareth told Findlay all that had happened in the dream, and how technically Sarah had inflicted the injury upon herself because she had not been pushed from the cliff but had fallen. He then told Findlay and how he wanted him to distribute the image to his men and locate the fey. Findlay nodded his assent to this request and they proceeded to discuss exactly how it was that Jareth had been able to co-dream with Sarah. Jareth told his friend of his theories about this. But, much to the surprise of the Goblin King, His second in command and best friend all in one, shook his head. "Something isn't right about that Jareth, it's too simple, there is something we're not seeing" he intoned. Jareth realised that he should hear his friend out so he motioned for him to continue, sitting down on his throne to listen.
"I think it is quite possible that you are right, but why then would you have been restrained in the dream. There was no way you could have changed what the outcome would be, not if it was a memory" mused Findlay to himself. Jareth sighed, patience at breaking point. "What's your theory Finn?" he demanded.
Finn stopped pacing and stared past the Goblin King deep in thought.
"Back in the Civil war, there were a special race of Fey with the ability to open ones subconscious and enter their dreams, You being the Goblin King possess this power because it is one you were destined to have, it comes with your mantle." Findlay took a deep breath and continued. "But the Fey's I am talking about were rare, they were usually female and used to visit Feylings nightmares, easing them away and replacing them with dreams of sunshine and beauty, yet occasionally, when one of these feys bore children, the ability would be passed on. Even if a relative from many generations ago possessed the gift and no one in that family had for centuries after, it was still possible for a newborn child in that line to receive the power.
Throughout the civil war, all of these creatures perished, Some no longer able to suppress the dreams and nightmares that came with such evil times. Some slaughtered. I know it's a long shot but….." Findlay trailed off, looking at his friend. I don't know" he faltered, continuing. Jareth wondered how Findlay had come to know about the race of fey's that only few in the underground knew of.
He rose gracefully and walked to his friend, Black leather trailing behind him and Platinum hair falling in rebellious ways at different lengths around his face.
"How did you come to know of these fey? Only few, and those were Kings and nobility knew of their existence" Jareth spoke harshly. He wanted to know, who if anyone had led to the knowledge of the creatures existence coming out and subsequently causing their destruction, by the hands of the enemy.
Findlay looked Jareth straight in the eye feeling pain steal his breath and threaten to stop his heart. Findlay turned and walked toward the door, yet he turned when he reached it, and with a voice as cold as steel, he replied,
"My wife was one"
* * *
Toran wove his way gracefully through the busy streets He let himself be immersed and swept away by the simplicity and happiness of these creatures lives. Little did they know that soon his father would seize their precious Labyrinth and they would be bowing before a new king, a better king.
He smiled at the pretty elven women that stopped working as he passed and smiled openly at him. Coming quickly to an alley, he found what he was looking for. One of the few bars in the Goblin city, indeed in the underground. He paused before entering the bar, he thought about transforming himself into a different form in case of the off chance that someone might recognise him, from the attack. Toran's arrogance won through though, as he entered the small establishment, quickly dismissing his fathers previous words that rung in his head like a death knoll. "Believe me..You WERE seen" "Do you think that if I could find out it was you than Jareth couldn't?" The words mocked as he sat down on a stool close to the counter. And ordered a glass of feyan grape wine. As he looked around Toran observed that there were several character's of dubious nature huddled at a table. Thinking it safe, he walked over and sat down, eager to hear what had been discovered.
* * *
Sarah pulled her body up to a sitting position, and took a sharp intake of breath as the pain registered. She had awoken last night to find her mother, yet when she looked for her a second time, the woman was not there. She swung her weight over the side of the bed and gingerly tested her ankle to see of she could walk. Finding that she could indeed, She rose unsteadily to her feet, wobbled a little and then walked out of the room, deliberately ignoring the beautiful aqua dress that had been laid out on the bed. It was Jareth's doing, and she wanted no part of him anymore. She had been told by him in no uncertain terms that he did not love her, that he despised her. As far as she was concerned the sooner she was out of his castle the better.
Walking slowly down the long halls to the throne room she wondered what he would say when he was confronted. More words of hate, loathing and disgust. Sarah knew that this was one wound she could not bear to have inflicted once again, and she knew that she must put on a brave face and tell him, the man she loved, that did not return her sentiments, that she was leaving. Never to darken his doorway again.
Sarah knew that deep down she wanted to be told that it had been a dream, that Jareth had not spoken those words and that the man she loved had not deigned to be so cruel. Yet the pain, both physical and emotional told her otherwise. Walking into the throne room, Sarah took a deep breath and steeled her heart.
"Jareth!" she yelled.
The Goblin King appeared instantaneously, before her, stealing her breath and as she would now not ever admit, her heart.
"I just wanted to let you know, that I am leaving. Understand me Jareth, I am not a coward, and would not have just snuck out. I want you to know that I will never ever return to you or your twisted Labyrinth again!" she finished. Short of breath and chest throbbing wildly with pain.
Jareth walked towards her and beckoned her to sit. "Not a chance!" she retorted, heading for the door that lead outside of the castle.
"I'm afraid I can't let you leave" the Goblin King spoke up as she reached for the great iron handle.
"Try and stop me" she spat, furious.
* * *
Feeling raw pain tear at him Jareth fought to keep his composure.
"You are in no state to travel" he retorted measuredly. Sarah whirled to face him. And he caught sight of the pain building within her threatening to overflow.
"Since when do you care Jareth?" she demanded. Not letting him answer she went on. "You are nothing but a hollow king who toys with others emotions and lives for his own benefit and entertainment." She continued, voice reaching a dangerous low. Jareth knew that he had to calm her down before she hurt herself.
Jareth had no forthcoming answers and Sarah, overtaken by the urge to vent all of her pent up emotions raged on. "There is no way you can stop me from walking out that door right now" she lashed out.
Jareth saw that if he was to protect her from herself he would have to fight fire with fire.
Smirk sliding easily into place, he teleported quickly and stood toe to toe, directly in front of her. "On the contrary my dear, You can no longer leave this castle without my consent, you were the one who gave up your mortal rights and handed yourself to me on a silver platter, remember?" he snapped, voice cold. He let a mocking smile lace across his thin lips as he teleported yet again and this time lounged arrogantly on his throne. With a snap of his fingers, Sarah was propelled backward into the chair behind her, and silver manacles appeared and closed over her wrists and legs binding her to the chair. Sarah cried out in a mixture of shock and pain and the sound tore at Jareth's very soul. Yet he would not let himself stray from his purpose. She looked up at him, the old defiance flashing in her eyes. "You forget, I am also a fey, and therefore have magic just as you do" she said, voice deadly calm.
Jareth smiled outright at this and walked to her side. "I think you will find ..My dear sweet Sarah, that your body and it's as yet juvenile stage powers, will be consumed in the task of healing itself." He stated, grinning sardonically.
* * *
Sarah closed her eyes, willing the Goblin King to be wrong, for once. She concentrated on undoing the manacles, concentrated every fibre of her weakened being on the task. Sarah peeked open an eye and looked at her wrists, true to his word, they were indeed still bound to the chair. Feeling the frustration growing she pulled at the bonds knowing the futility of it. Regaining her cam, she looked him in the eye, and said.
"Whatever it is you want from me, be assured now that you will not get it!" she broke off, and inhaled, the pain in her midsection coming back in full force.
* * *
Toran had sat down at the table only moments ago, yet soon after he did, he realised his mistake. The largest of the group had looked at him and then muttered something to his companions. They all jumped up from where they had been sitting, surrounding him and flipped open their coats to reveal that they were indeed members of the Goblin Kings army. Toran immediately went to conjure a way out, yet as he did so, he wrist was caught, looped and held by a thin silver rope. Other ropes the same as this one looped around his other wrist and his neck. Thinking nothing of the pathetic bonds that held him, he focused and sent out an enormous flame that should burn the rope, set him free and injure hiw would be captors. Yet as he opened his eyes, all he saw were the smug looks of the warriors. Toran felt a significant drain in his energy and realised that after he had sent out the power, the rope had merely absorbed it and clung more tightly to him as if eager for another taste. With horror, Toran realised that he was now in serious danger.
The four warriors merely laughed. "So this is the one that dares to harm the Fair Lady" One of the warriors stated. The leader spoke up just then and effectively silenced the other three. "Our Commander, Lord Findlay gave us, along with all his troops, this rope that he designed himself, to hold Feys, and dispersed us throughout the Labyrinth to capture you" he stated simply.
"My Lord" he called to the open air and Findlay materialised in front of them. "Well done for capturing the scoundrel" he said solemnly to the group, and turned to face Toran.
The Fey's youth was what struck him as he took in the sight of the being that had caused such damage to Sarah. Instructing the feyan warriors to take the ropes and follow him to the castle, Findlay disappeared, quickly followed by the fey's.
* * *
"What do you hope to achieve by doing this Jareth" asked sarah, with more energy than she felt. Jareth spun on his heel and turned back towards her. Knowing that he needed to tell her the truth but easily predicting what her reaction would be.
"To show you that you have been set up and it wasn't me on that cliff" he stated simply. Sarah laughed mockingly, "Well if it wasn't you then how do you know what happened?" she asked mirthlessly.
Jareth frowned, "I saw your dream Sarah, I witnessed it, the memory, the voices, the taunting, the harsh words and yes, the fall" he explained. Sarah tilted her head to the side, her face unreadable. "Convenient that, now isn't it" she stated.
Conjuring a crystal, Jareth held it out to her. Sarah couldn't move to slap it away as it was held up to her eyes by the one man she detested most.
She watched noncommittally as her dream/memory came into focus and replayed itself. She saw what she had not seen on the cliff, as a young dark man, took Jareth's form. After it had played out in stunning clarity Sarah felt a glimmer of hope touch her, yet it was soon doused by reason.
"Do you honestly think that I would be fool enough to believe anything you say just because you show it to me in one of your stupid crystals?" she demanded harshly.
Jareth felt her words slice through him as even the sharpest blade could not and knew that he had to find a way of convincing her. Before it was too late.
"My crystals never lie" he stated softly, voice revealing more than he had intended it to.
He kneeled before her, reaching out to her, eyes pleading. But she jerked back violently, at his attempted touch.
* * *
Findlay entered the throne room with his quarry, still bound behind him, held by his soldiers. He took stock of the scene before him and quickly looked from Jareth to Sarah, a slight, amused smirk crossing his rugged features.
He cleared his throat. "Am I interrupting?" he asked. Jareth immediately rose to his feet and walked over to Findlay. "What of the search?" he asked wearily. But Findlay merely stepped aside to reveal the fey behind him. Jareth looked the fey in the eye, and met his wildly defiant gaze with his own cold, cruel one. "My, my..look what the cat dragged in" he mocked, eyes raging with unchecked furore.