Hello! Thanks for the reviews! They make me so happy! I know, my story moves slowly -_-;; and I'm sorry for mistakes, etc. I've tried to fix some of the weird things, but I don't know how well I succeeded.
I don't think there is anything else I need to say, so I hope you like chapter two! Comments/suggestions/whatever always welcome! ^_^
Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth, any characters, etc. (sigh) but I do own the ones I created, so please do not use them without permission. Thank you!
Chapter Two: An Elfish Princess
Ada walked in before Sarah and announced, "Lady Sarah." Then she curtsied and left, giving Sarah's arm a pat as she went by.
When Sarah walked in, she was met by none other than the Goblin King. He picked up her hand in his and raised it to his lips, not taking his eyes from hers. Sarah blushed in return. His gloved hand was comfortingly cool in her hand and his lips soft.
Jareth observed Sarah for a moment. The dress looked absolutely beautiful on her. Not that she is not beautiful otherwise. He had to keep himself from smiling at her.
While Jareth quickly looked her over, she returned the favor. He looked wonderful, just as he always did. He wore black tights, boots, and gloves. His usual white poet's shirt had a dark red vest over it with dark red embroidery. A matching cape was fastened at his shoulders with gold broaches. The design etched into the broaches was the same sickle shape as the pendent around his neck.
Jareth offered Sarah his arm. Sarah looked from the offered arm to his face, eyes curios. Jareth gave the tiniest of smiles, but she still hesitated. He's supposed to do this to any lady guest, right? I'm sure he does it for this Princess Jemima too. That thought saddened her slightly. Determined, she shook it off. She met his eyes and slowly put her arm in his, and his smile got just the tiniest bit bigger. He led her to the table and held out her chair for her.
Sarah ate little and sat pushing her food around her plate with her fork, a thoughtful look on her face.
"Is it not to your liking?" Jareth asked, watching her.
Sarah looked up at him, as if she hadn't known that he was there. He hadn't talked to her at all before now. She quickly recovered and answered, "It's fine, I'm just not very hungry right now." She looked back down at her plate.
Jareth frowned. "There is something bothering you, might as well be out with it."
Sarah sighed, wondering if she should voice her thoughts to the man before her. What could it hurt?
"The Princess. I don't understand why you would kidnap her," Sarah started, not looking up. Jareth's frown deepened. Perhaps he should not have been so quick to trust Ada.
"And I," Sarah looked up at him. "I'm not really sure why I'm here either. Why am I here Jareth?" She asked, almost to herself, not really expecting an answer. "May I be excused?" She didn't wait for an answer, she simply got up and left.
"Ada, come here," Jareth said, sternly to the maid at the door. She walked to him and curtsied.
"Your Highness?"
"Ada, you talk much too much," Jareth said, looking down at her, but he wasn't really as mad as he sounded. Ada frowned at him as if he were a child.
"Do not look at me like that, Ada. You told Sarah about the Princess' so called 'kidnapping' and I believe she is starting to think that she was kidnapped also."
"Well Jareth, you did kidnap Lady Jemima. And the way it sounds to me, you kidnapped Lady Sarah also."
Now he was getting frustrated. "I only took the Princess to teach Xavier a lesson. Other reasons I may have for doing so are not really your concern. I did not capture Sarah."
"By not giving her a choice? Sounds like a kidnapping to me, it is just that you told her you were going to!"
"Now listen," Jareth's voice was dangerously low. "I would never kidnap Sarah without need and I would never wish harm upon her."
Ada quieted down and chose to ignore his almost confession. "What are you really trying to say, Jareth?"
She knew him too well. "You want to know?" he hissed. "Perhaps she is important. Perhaps she is important to me. She changed after solving the Labyrinth and the Labyrinth changed with her. I need her here. Satisfied?" he instantly regretted not thinking it through before he spoke. He sighed and sat in his throne. "Perhaps I went about it all the wrong way," he said quietly.
Ada was shocked, but she managed to walk up and stand beside his throne.
Jareth rubbed the bridge of his nose, eyes closed. "What do you think?"
"Think of what, Highness?"
"Everything. Sarah." He sat up straighter. "You talk to her? What does she think of this place, what did she say?"
Ada bit back a smile. "So many questions! Perhaps you did go about it the wrong way. Maybe you should be honest with her." He raised his arched eyebrows at her and she shrugged. "Sarah seems," she paused, looking for words to describe her. "Different. She's kind and gentle and yet, she still seems like a young girl. She said that this place was magical, as I recall." Ada looked at Jareth side-long. Jareth himself was listening intently, but trying not to look it. That made her smile.
Jareth felt better when he saw Ada grin. He nodded to her. "You may go, Ada. Do not tell her of our conversation."
That was as much thanks as she was going to get from him and it would be coupled a dismissal. We will just have to work on that.
Ada found Sarah in her room, looking out her window over the Labyrinth.
"How are you doing, Sarah?" Ada asked quietly, shutting the door behind her.
"Okay," Sarah said softly, not looking at Ada. "It's so beautiful when you look at it like this."
"The Labyrinth? Yes, quite. Though, I don't know how you managed to get through it all." She shook her head and walked over to stand beside Sarah.
"Why am I here, Ada?" she whispered. "He can't want revenge, he probably would have come before this, and if so, I would more likely than not, be in an oubliette." She sighed. "I'm so confused."
"My Lady?"
"Oh, I don't know. I guess I just want to know why I am here, why now. It doesn't really make sense unless..." her voice trailed off and she shook her head.
"Unless what, dear?"
"I don't know." Sarah finally looked at Ada and smiled faintly. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be complaining."
"You have every right to complain, Sarah. Tell me, what do you think of this place?" Ada motioned all around her, including the window.
Sarah glanced out over the Labyrinth again, her eyes almost dreamy. "Oh, it's beautiful, and so magical. Now that I'm not here trying to rescue anyone, I can really appreciate it." A wistful sigh escaped her lips.
There was a moment of silence. "Forgive me for asking, Lady Sarah, but what do you think of," Ada paused and Sarah looked at her. "What do you think of the King?"
Sarah thought for a moment. "I'm angry with him We began as enemies, and I have a difficult time figuring out if he still is or not."
"Really?" Ada asked, shocked.
Sarah frowned, thoughtfully. "No," she whispered, then quickly, "I mean, of course I'm a little angry, who wouldn't be? But, oh, I don't know. He has me all mixed up."
"He clouds everyone's thoughts a bit, my Lady. I do not think he wants to be understood by anyone."
I'm guessing he does the same clouding trick for one's emotions. The way he looked into her eyes and kissed her hand was so different from the way she had first seen him. He was acting like a, well, like a gentleman. Something occurred to her. "You aren't doing this so you can report it back to him, are you?"
"I would never think of it!" Ada assured her. After what was being said here, she wouldn't go and tell him everything, King or not!
"I'm sorry, Ada. I didn't mean it, it's just, I don't know who I can trust, but I think I can trust you anyhow. Thanks for everything."
"Sarah, you need not apologize, I don't blame you at all. If you will excuse me, I must go tend to Lady Jemima. What do you plan to do this morning?"
"I think I'll explore a bit around the castle, but I won't go too far. If I have to stay here, I mind as well find something to entertain myself."
Ada nodded. "I will come back here for you at mid-day," and with a curtsy, she let herself out.
Jareth didn't need Ada to relay her conversation with Sarah to him, he was watching the whole conversation in a crystal ball balanced easily on his finger tips. With a smile, he popped the crystal as if it were a soap bubble and got up out of his throne. So, Sarah is going for a walk? I should go and make sure she doesn't get lost, he thought with an inward chuckle.
Sarah walked out and closed her door behind her. She turned to face the hall and started to make her way through the winding corridors, lost in thought and barely registering what she passed. She opened doors and peeked through, finding mostly guest quarters and small studies. After following some unfamiliar stairs up and down and around, she found kitchens and lesser dining halls. By the time she was discovering a small ballroom and a nearby broom closet, she was hopelessly lost.
As she tried to find her way back, her thoughts drifted towards home. Did anyone know that she was gone? Beth must know; Sarah was supposed to have been back at their apartment. Maybe Jareth figured something out, a note saying she went back home, a phone message. Who could say? And her parents, she guessed, thought that she was back at her apartment.
She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice Jareth until she almost ran into him.
"You should not wander around my castle, you may get lost," he said with a smirk as she glared up at him. He looked straight into her green-gray eyes until she looked away. It was so hard to stay mad at him when he looked at her that way.
"What is it Jareth?"
"You are lost."
"So?"
"So I have come to show you back."
"If I solved your precious Labyrinth, I think I can manage your castle." Her tone bit into his pride, but he pushed it away.
"There is also a room that may be of interest to you," he replied as though she had said nothing.
He turned and started walking down the hall. Since Sarah had no choice and nothing better to do, she followed him. He led her down winding corridors: a left turn here, rights turn there; up a set of stairs.
Jareth stopped and opened a door to his left and let Sarah walk in. She gasped at what she saw. It was a huge room, full of bookshelves that were brimming with books. There were a few small desks and fireplaces, along the walls with comfortable chairs to sit in to read. To her right long doors opened to what could only be a balcony. She could not even see the back wall due to the free-standing bookshelves covering most of the floor space. I certainly wouldn't mind being lost in here! I could spend weeks here! She inhaled the musty smell of old books and smiled.
She turned back to Jareth. "It's amazing! I didn't know you had such a large library. But, why are you showing this to me?"
Jareth shrugged. "You may come here anytime you like, but now I will escort you back to your room. Mid-day meal will be served shortly. Any of my servants or even Ada can show you the way back here later."
With that, he turned and started walking down the hall again. Sarah hesitated, looking around at all the books... She mentally kicked herself and caught up with Jareth. I must have spent a long time wandering! It seems that breakfast ended only moments ago!
They walked in silence all the way to Sarah's door, and then Jareth turned to her. "Next time you go walking, take someone with you," he said. Then with a mocking grin he added, "Loosing my special guest would not be acceptable."
Sarah frowned at him but then he stepped closer, the grin wiped off his face. "Sarah," he said quietly, but he didn't say anything else. Instead, he lifted her chin with his gloved finger and softly, slowly, pressed his lips to hers.
Sarah was shocked, more shocked than she'd ever been. Her hands went to rest on his chest, and she wasn't sure whether she should push him away or pull him closer. Just as she was deciding that she probably ought to push him away, he ended the kiss and pulled away. She looked up at him, her face frozen in that surprised expression. He nodded to her and disappeared.
Sarah walked into her room, dazed, and leaned against her closed door, putting her fingers to her lips. What was he doing? He's must be playing at something, she thought, but her heart wasn't in it.
Just then Ada walked out of the bathroom. "Sarah, I was just looking for you and I was..." She drifted off, looking at Sarah who seemed to be in a trance. She walked up and stood by her. "Sarah?" she asked quietly.
Sarah looked at Ada and forced a smile, dropping her hand. "Hello, Ada. Sorry, I wasn't paying attention. Did you say something?"
"Are you all right, M'Lady? What's happened? You look flushed."
Great, how do I explain this? And to make it worse I'm blushing! Like some silly school girl!
"I'm fine, Ada, just tired is all. I was walking all morning." It was the truth, just not the whole truth.
Ada knew she was hiding something, but went along with it. What did Jareth do? "Well, let us go. I wouldn't want you to be late for mid-day meal."
Sarah nodded and walked with Ada to the main dining hall. When she got there, she saw another woman waiting to be announced in. Well, she was not a human woman—it was the elfin Princess, Jemima.
Ada walked in and announced, "Princess Jemima and Lady Sarah." Then, with a curtsy, she stood aside to let Jemima, followed by Sarah, pass. Jareth met them at the door, bowing to Lady Jemima and then Sarah in turn. Jemima curtsied in return and Sarah wobbled a curtsy as well. He let Jemima go first to the table and as Sarah walked by after her, he gave her an odd look. She looked away from him. Jareth first held out Princess Jemima's chair, then held Sarah's for her. She could feel her face heating up as he got her settled. Ada curtsied again and was about to leave.
"Wait Ada. Won't you join us?" the Princess asked. Her voice was musical, like soft chiming bells.
"Yes, that's a good idea. Won't you, Ada?" Sarah asked.
Ada shook her head. "That is very kind of you, Thank you, but I have work to be done." And with that and a last curtsy, she left.
While Sarah ate—and she was hungry after barely eating breakfast—she studied the Princess as subtly as possible. She was taller than Ada, but still shorter than Sarah. She had thick, red-brown hair that was coiled into a beautiful, tight knot at the back of her head but her thick hair looked as though it would break free of its bonds any minute. Loose strands curled artfully about her face and full bun. The Princess herself was beautiful, slim, and fine-boned. Her hands and face were delicate and soft. She wore a nice dress of a violet shade with dark blue hemming. Deep, soft brown eyes seemed to radiate kindness and demand respect at the same time.
Jareth had changed his clothes since that morning. He had traded his black tights for gray and his white poet's shirt for a dark red one. As simple as it seemed, he looked wonderfully handsome. He is quite attractive. Sarah forced her eyes from him. What did that kiss mean? Anything? I wonder...
Sarah was so lost in her thoughts, that she didn't realize that the Princess was talking to her.
"Lady Sarah? Lady Sarah, are you all right?" Jemima asked with a concerned frown.
Sarah blushed. "I'm sorry Princess Jemima, I wasn't paying attention. What were you saying?" Now she was embarrassed. I must be making a horrible first impression! She stole a glance at Jareth who was looking at her as if he knew exactly where her mind was. Thankfully, he said nothing.
"I asked if Sarah was your name and how long you'll be here," Jemima said, without even a hint of annoyance. She looked... amused! Sarah had expected someone more stuck-up. She smiled at the Princess.
"Oh, yes, Sarah is my name, Sarah Williams. I am here for a," she looked at Jareth, "A month?" she finished uncertain. Jareth nodded and Sarah looked back at the Princess.
Princess Jemima nodded and smiled. There wasn't any more conversation for the rest of the meal. This did not seem to faze her meal partners, but Sarah was unnerved by the end.
When they had all finished eating, the Princess stood and smiled at Sarah. Sarah got up and smiled back. Princess Jemima glanced at Jareth and took a hold of Sarah's arm.
"Come with me, Lady Sarah," she said happily, dragging Sarah out of the room.
Sarah, surprised, looked back at Jareth over her shoulder. He was standing and had an amused smile across his face.
When the Princess had taken Sarah out into the hall, she turned to face her.
"It is nice to be out of that room, he is such a stiff!" she said, shocking Sarah even further.
"I must say, Princess, you aren't really what I expected you to be," Sarah said with a friendly smile.
"Really? I seem to hear that a lot. And please, call me 'Jemima'."
"All right, Jemima. What are we doing?"
"I thought we might go see the gardens. What do you think?"
"Sounds nice. You know where they are?"
Jemima turned. "Of course! I go there as often as I can. They are my favorite places in this castle. They are beautiful, you'll love them!" Jemima said taking Sarah's arm again and leading her out of the castle and around the back.
Sarah gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. I didn't know that something this magnificent could even exist in the Underground! There were millions of wonderful flowers everywhere in all colors and shapes imaginable. Fountains were scattered around and tucked into nooks created by the bordering hedges. She inhaled deeply and took in what seemed to be a thousand different scents. She let the breath go and inhaled again. A new buffet of scents bombarded her nose. The sound of the fountains soothed her mind. How peaceful! She also felt a queer sensation throughout her body that she could not identify. Since it was not an unpleasant feeling, she ignored it. Over the fountains, she heard the noises of birds and other creatures scurrying around. She thought she caught a glimpse of a fairy wing.
"Don't worry about the fairies, the ones that dwell here are quite friendly," Jemima said quietly, so as not to disturb the peace. "Can you feel that? The magic? It's everywhere in here. That's part of what I love."
The two walked in silence for a while, enjoying the sights and scents before they started in on polite conversation. As they talked, they found that they enjoyed each others' company as well. Conversation turned to more personal items and they traded story for story about their childhoods and families and the like.
"So you are visiting for a month?" Jemima asked.
"I guess, I mean, I don't even know why I am here really. Jareth showed up at my apartment in New York, after I hadn't seen him for about five years. In my time, that is, and he brought me here."
"Oh yes! Ada told me that you were the one to defeat our dear Goblin King. It must have been awfully hard."
"It was. Well, I had always dreamed of having such an adventure, and going to a place as magical as this. Still, it wasn't quite how I'd imagined it, and he did make it difficult," Sarah said thinking about the oubliette and the peach. She sighed. "Ada told me a little about your," she paused, looking for the right words. "situation."
Jemima nodded, a serious expression on her face. "Yes, but I guess it was for the better, at least, I assume so. I really don't know much about the whole thing, but Jareth almost always has a good reason for doing something."
Then what's his "good reason" for bringing me here? Sarah asked herself. It all came back to that, didn't it? "Ada told me that he would let you both return, do you know when?"
"I suppose when he thinks Lord Xavier has been taught a lesson," Jemima said. "I am not entirely sure of the conditions of my being here."
Sarah nodded and then both were silent, thinking their own thoughts.
"Jemima, Sarah," Ada called, walking quickly out to them. "Are you two alright?"
Jemima and Sarah smiled at each other. "We're fine, just talking," Sarah answered and Jemima nodded.
"It is good that you are getting to know each other, you can be company for one another, since you do not have much else to do, besides explore," Ada said. "Well, I just wanted to make sure you both were here and all right." She turned to go back to the castle.
"Why don't you walk with us, Ada?" Sarah invited.
"You cannot have that many chores to do, and they can wait. You could use a break anyway," Jemima said. "Come enjoy the sunshine, the flowers, and the fountains. We would be glad of your company."
Ada chuckled to herself. "It is quite beautiful out here. I think I will join you, thank you."
The three walked through the gardens talking and laughing, and becoming friends until they had to return to the castle to get ready for supper.
What do you think? Too cheesey? Anyway, let me know ^_^
