'Excaliber!? Is she crazy?' Jareth wondered as Sarah wrung her hands nervously. He knew that she knew what she was asking. In the hands of someone truly evil the entire Underground could be destroyed, and only a human could wield the magical sword of power.
"Why do you seek out the sword?" Merlin asked coolly.
Jareth didn't know what Sarah would say. He knew she was only asking for Lee's sake, but also realizing that her survival and his depended on Caleb's fall. If the monster didn't fall, Sarah would end up being Caleb's personal slave. That made Jareth burn in rage. But if Caleb got his was Jareth wouldn't be around to be angry at the fact that the woman he loved was being manhandled by that scum.
"I do not ask for selfish reasons." Her queenliness coming through. Jareth smiled in admiration. "A dear friend of mine has been captured by Caleb of Shadow. I wish to save him and stop Caleb to prevent war between goblins and shadows."
Silence stretched as the Teacher pondered Sarah's words, weighing her sincerity. If Sarah spoke true and from the heart Merlin would grant her request. 'Please let this work.'
Sarah stood silent, waiting for Merlin to speak. She had never been so nervous in her entire life, except once. When she had faced Jareth for the last time all those years ago, knowing she would lose either way she chose. She felt Jareth's presence at her back, giving her strength and faith. With a small movement she reached back her hand and felt warm leather come into contact with her skin, fingers lacing into hers. Power flowed into her, full of love and security. What did she do to deserve and man like Jareth? Sarah didn't know, but was glad she had him.
"Wise answer Queen Sarah." Merlin replied wit ha nod. "I will lend you Excaliber on one condition."
"Yes?" She repiled, tightening her grip on Jareth's hand. He squeezed her fingers in return. She would do anything to save Lee, he having done the same for her before.
"Love Jareth, rule by his side and accept destiny." The wizard stated firmly.
"I swear." Sarah answered without hesitation, trusting her heart. Arms wrapped around her waist from behind, pulling her back against a strong chest. Smiling slightly she snuggled back against him. She could feel the love radiating off Jareth, sweet and powerful. She couldn't help blushing slightly at his words.
"Good answer." He murmured in her ear, breath warm. She trembled in pleasure, unable to keep her mind from creating possibilities that would happen if they were ever alone.
"Extend your hand." Merlin commanded and Sarah did so, Jareth still holding her close, savoring every moment.
Jareth felt ancient magic crackle in the air, raising the hair on the back of his neck. Blue-green, pearlecent lightning gathered in Sarah's outstretched palm. Slowly the liquid magic shaped itself into a broadsword. It's pommel and hilt were of gold and silver braid, all sorts of jewels sprinkled into the valuable metals. The blade was exceptionally rare. Made of bluish-silver metal and shined to a mirror finish the edge was deadly sharp and beautiful. Excaliber.
Jareth had never seen such a weapon in his existence, and it scared him beyond belief. Excaliber could easily destroy his kind with it's invincible magic. He hugged Sarah closer and shuddered. He knew she would be able to control it's power, but he was still frightened by the swords possible uses.
Sarah knew that she was only to use the tome to the purpose expressed, otherwise… she didn't want to think about it. She felt Jareth shudder, sensing a deeply ingrained fear. Sarah knew that iron was deadly to Fae, but she didn't think the blade was made of any Earthbound materials. But, she reminded herself, she was quite new to the world of the of the Fae in the sense that she was one. She made a mental note to ask Jareth about it later.
"Thank you Old One." She bowed slightly, pressing the flat of the blade to her forehead.
"Linger not in your purpose, return the sword in due course. It is not meant to be free for long periods of time." Arthur's downfall. The last part remained unspoken but ever clear in Sarah's mind.
"As I swore before, I do so again." Merlin nodded and Sarah found herself in Jareth's throne room, all goblins having disappeared. With a weary sigh she collapsed into Jareth's throne, Excaliber across her lap. Jareth simply stood looking out a nearby window, the breeze playing with his soft hair. Her fingers itched to bury themselves in those light tresses, to forget the world for the time being.
"Now what do we do?" He asked quietly.
Jareth heard Sarah sigh behind him, perched on his throne like the royalty she
was. Turning to look at hr he saw her slumped, eyes on the sword she now held, her pools clouded and dark. The tip of the blade was situated in a gap between two stones on the floor, hilt in Sarah's hands.
"Why are you afraid of it?" She asked instead. 'Smart girl.' In a very un-king like move Jareth seated himself on the steps at Sarah's feet. He was trying to show her that she meant the world to him without saying it yet.
"The blade is not of your world or mine." He reasoned. "It was made in the Realm of the Gods and is indestructible to anyone not of that realm."
"Oh." Sarah commented. "Wow."
"Something wrong?" Jareth asked concerned for her. She had never been the brooding type, that was him. 'If only you would let me in.'
"#1: Caleb kidnaps Lee in the hopes of capturing me in order to destroy you. #2: I'm to be your Queen because I beat you to save Toby. #3: I've met Merlin. #4: I agreed to be your queen to gain Excaliber. Shall I continue?" She said in one breath. He squashed the urge to smile. Her temperament was becoming slightly Fae as well.
Sarah was being difficult and she knew it. So what if it was a childish thing to do, especially when she needed to stop Caleb and save Lee. She deserved to be obstinate, her life going to Hell in a hand-basket. 'Why can't things ever be simple?'
*Things aren't always what they seem Sarah. You of all people should know that. Simple is complex and complex is simple.* Jareth's voice drifted through her thoughts, making her jump. The inside of her head itched and she felt as if she should open her head and scratch.
"What the Hell?"
"Telepathy. You projected your thoughts. It's a Fae talent." He answered simply.
"Fae talent?" Sarah echoed sharply, leaning on Excaliber, looking down at him.
"The longer you stay here the more you change." Jareth looked up at her with honest eyes, no easy feat for a man who was born looking malicious. "You're Queen no matter what. It's the Labyrinth's way to protect it's master or mistress."
Overwhelmed Sarah pulled a quick subject change.
"How do we stop Caleb without killing innocent people?"
"Why do you seek out the sword?" Merlin asked coolly.
Jareth didn't know what Sarah would say. He knew she was only asking for Lee's sake, but also realizing that her survival and his depended on Caleb's fall. If the monster didn't fall, Sarah would end up being Caleb's personal slave. That made Jareth burn in rage. But if Caleb got his was Jareth wouldn't be around to be angry at the fact that the woman he loved was being manhandled by that scum.
"I do not ask for selfish reasons." Her queenliness coming through. Jareth smiled in admiration. "A dear friend of mine has been captured by Caleb of Shadow. I wish to save him and stop Caleb to prevent war between goblins and shadows."
Silence stretched as the Teacher pondered Sarah's words, weighing her sincerity. If Sarah spoke true and from the heart Merlin would grant her request. 'Please let this work.'
Sarah stood silent, waiting for Merlin to speak. She had never been so nervous in her entire life, except once. When she had faced Jareth for the last time all those years ago, knowing she would lose either way she chose. She felt Jareth's presence at her back, giving her strength and faith. With a small movement she reached back her hand and felt warm leather come into contact with her skin, fingers lacing into hers. Power flowed into her, full of love and security. What did she do to deserve and man like Jareth? Sarah didn't know, but was glad she had him.
"Wise answer Queen Sarah." Merlin replied wit ha nod. "I will lend you Excaliber on one condition."
"Yes?" She repiled, tightening her grip on Jareth's hand. He squeezed her fingers in return. She would do anything to save Lee, he having done the same for her before.
"Love Jareth, rule by his side and accept destiny." The wizard stated firmly.
"I swear." Sarah answered without hesitation, trusting her heart. Arms wrapped around her waist from behind, pulling her back against a strong chest. Smiling slightly she snuggled back against him. She could feel the love radiating off Jareth, sweet and powerful. She couldn't help blushing slightly at his words.
"Good answer." He murmured in her ear, breath warm. She trembled in pleasure, unable to keep her mind from creating possibilities that would happen if they were ever alone.
"Extend your hand." Merlin commanded and Sarah did so, Jareth still holding her close, savoring every moment.
Jareth felt ancient magic crackle in the air, raising the hair on the back of his neck. Blue-green, pearlecent lightning gathered in Sarah's outstretched palm. Slowly the liquid magic shaped itself into a broadsword. It's pommel and hilt were of gold and silver braid, all sorts of jewels sprinkled into the valuable metals. The blade was exceptionally rare. Made of bluish-silver metal and shined to a mirror finish the edge was deadly sharp and beautiful. Excaliber.
Jareth had never seen such a weapon in his existence, and it scared him beyond belief. Excaliber could easily destroy his kind with it's invincible magic. He hugged Sarah closer and shuddered. He knew she would be able to control it's power, but he was still frightened by the swords possible uses.
Sarah knew that she was only to use the tome to the purpose expressed, otherwise… she didn't want to think about it. She felt Jareth shudder, sensing a deeply ingrained fear. Sarah knew that iron was deadly to Fae, but she didn't think the blade was made of any Earthbound materials. But, she reminded herself, she was quite new to the world of the of the Fae in the sense that she was one. She made a mental note to ask Jareth about it later.
"Thank you Old One." She bowed slightly, pressing the flat of the blade to her forehead.
"Linger not in your purpose, return the sword in due course. It is not meant to be free for long periods of time." Arthur's downfall. The last part remained unspoken but ever clear in Sarah's mind.
"As I swore before, I do so again." Merlin nodded and Sarah found herself in Jareth's throne room, all goblins having disappeared. With a weary sigh she collapsed into Jareth's throne, Excaliber across her lap. Jareth simply stood looking out a nearby window, the breeze playing with his soft hair. Her fingers itched to bury themselves in those light tresses, to forget the world for the time being.
"Now what do we do?" He asked quietly.
Jareth heard Sarah sigh behind him, perched on his throne like the royalty she
was. Turning to look at hr he saw her slumped, eyes on the sword she now held, her pools clouded and dark. The tip of the blade was situated in a gap between two stones on the floor, hilt in Sarah's hands.
"Why are you afraid of it?" She asked instead. 'Smart girl.' In a very un-king like move Jareth seated himself on the steps at Sarah's feet. He was trying to show her that she meant the world to him without saying it yet.
"The blade is not of your world or mine." He reasoned. "It was made in the Realm of the Gods and is indestructible to anyone not of that realm."
"Oh." Sarah commented. "Wow."
"Something wrong?" Jareth asked concerned for her. She had never been the brooding type, that was him. 'If only you would let me in.'
"#1: Caleb kidnaps Lee in the hopes of capturing me in order to destroy you. #2: I'm to be your Queen because I beat you to save Toby. #3: I've met Merlin. #4: I agreed to be your queen to gain Excaliber. Shall I continue?" She said in one breath. He squashed the urge to smile. Her temperament was becoming slightly Fae as well.
Sarah was being difficult and she knew it. So what if it was a childish thing to do, especially when she needed to stop Caleb and save Lee. She deserved to be obstinate, her life going to Hell in a hand-basket. 'Why can't things ever be simple?'
*Things aren't always what they seem Sarah. You of all people should know that. Simple is complex and complex is simple.* Jareth's voice drifted through her thoughts, making her jump. The inside of her head itched and she felt as if she should open her head and scratch.
"What the Hell?"
"Telepathy. You projected your thoughts. It's a Fae talent." He answered simply.
"Fae talent?" Sarah echoed sharply, leaning on Excaliber, looking down at him.
"The longer you stay here the more you change." Jareth looked up at her with honest eyes, no easy feat for a man who was born looking malicious. "You're Queen no matter what. It's the Labyrinth's way to protect it's master or mistress."
Overwhelmed Sarah pulled a quick subject change.
"How do we stop Caleb without killing innocent people?"