Chapter 3 The Arrangement
Sarah had forgotten how much driving always managed to soothe her nerves and calm her temper, so she was significantly calmer by the time she unlocked the apartment door. Holding it open, she allowed Toby and Jareth to enter first.
Setting down the mesh bag with hers and Toby's things inside, she spoke up "Toby, if you don't mind Jareth and I have some things we need-" Toby cut her off as he called over his shoulder, "Don't worry sis, I'm going to play with my computer a while," as he headed down to the spare room.
Sarah was about to play perfect hostess, when she frowned at herself and thought: who am I kidding? This isn't a friendly visit-as much as Jareth tried to make it one. Let him ask if he wants something to drink. With that decision, Sarah pulled a glass from the cabinet, popped some ice cubes into it, and then filled it with water from the tap.
She cleared her throat as she stretched out on the sofa, leaving Jareth one of the smaller swivel seats or the bean bag chair Toby often preferred. "Jareth, I'm not going to beat around the bush, you are going to fix this come hell or high water-bog water, I should say." Sarah smiled icily.
"Sarah, it would take too much time and, and well too many of the Fae people to accomplish something of this magnitude. You've been happy. You've obviously done well, and up until now, you've loved your life. Why don't we just leave it at that?" Jareth suggested as he sprawled on the swivel chair in one of his favorite positions.
Sarah kept her eyes on Jareth's face rather than focus on any other part of his body, even if she could barely look him in the eyes. "Jareth, this life.it just isn't fair." Sarah winced slightly as he raised an eyebrow. She frowned. "When it fits, I still use it-though sparingly, I will admit." She sighed and then continued on. "Jareth, we.mortals, we do want to achieve our dreams in our lifetimes, but to have them just handed to us without ever having to work for it, or put effort into it just takes away every feeling that comes with making our dreams reality." Sarah paused and looked over at Jareth. He looked deep in thought. She was just about to say something else, when he started to speak. "Sarah, you were very young when you traveled through my Labyrinth, yet you could not be dissuaded from your goal. You defeated me. You had managed what I'd thought to be impossible. No other mortal had surpassed me since the time when I'd first began my rein over the Labyrinth. I had misjudged you. You were such the dreamer that I had thought when you were offered your dreams, you'd just take them. "Yes," Jareth nodded at Sarah, "You had surprised me from the first, and you kept on surprising me turn after turn. You befriended all of my minions as only you knew how, you turned my world upside down, and yet I'd done it all for you." Jareth paused, drawing in a deep breath. "I'm not sure how long it will take, or if it will even be possible, but I will rearrange things so you reach your goals with.with no help from me." Jareth finished, looking directly into Sarah's eyes. Sarah's eyes, which had an understanding gaze in them up until that moment, narrowed a bit and turned to a cold, flat, stony gray stare. "No, Jareth." Sarah began as she stood. "That's not enough. I endured your torture. I ran your Labyrinth, I played your games, and in the end, I still managed to do what I needed to do before the time ran out and I lost Toby." She held up a hand when she noticed Jareth wanting to interject. "Granted, I had wished Toby away in the first place, but even as much as I had deeply wished it, I had never intended for him to really have been taken. And I know you know that." Sarah ran a hand through her hair as she exhaled and then drew another breath. "What I want from you, Jareth, is a fresh start. I want things to be as if you had never existed in my life. Do whatever you need to do to fix this the way I want things. Then I want you gone from my life, forever. Do you understand me?" As she'd been speaking, she had crossed the short distance to stand directly in front of Jareth, who had automatically stood. She looked up into his face as she waited for his response. Jareth looked down at her in silence, communicating with his eyes as he worked through her demands in his mind. Jareth moved around her, needing space as he played over the intricacies through in his head. Facing her once more his eyes met and held hers again. "As you wish." And with that, and a shower of glitter and magic, he was gone. Sarah sighed and dropped into the chair Jareth had just vacated. "What a relief!" She muttered, even as she went back over the events leading up to his departure. Why do I feel so lost? So.incomplete? Sarah shook herself. Oh please! Sarah, get a grip on yourself! Jareth had orchestrated your life from the moment you left the Labyrinth. Your request wasn't unreasonable. He never should've messed with your life regardless of what the 'rules' of the Labyrinth were in dealing with those triumphant over it. Shaking herself once more, Sarah stood and went to Toby's room. "How about pizza tonight?" She asked. "Are we ordering in?" Toby asked, face falling. "No, we'll go out for pizza." Sarah smiled even as her mind protested. "Great!" Toby leapt up and hugged his sister as his eyes sparkled. Eyes so like.his. "We'll leave in about an hour. Just have yourself ready. I'm going to go soak in the tub until then. Be thinking about what you want on your pizza and how you're going to have to beat me at Rock, Paper, and Scissors to get it!" Sarah chimed over her shoulder as she walked to the bathroom. As she drew the bathwater her mind was on going out for pizza and the stalker that kept following her. Stepping into the tub, she forced a confident smile. I'll be in a public place, with lots of people around. If I'm very careful and keep my wits about me, I should be fine. Right? Right.
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Sarah smiled indulgently as Toby bit into his slice of pizza gleefully. He had won his pepperoni pizza fair and square. Well, Sarah smiled inwardly, at least he thinks he won fair and square. He'd be hurt to know I let him win. With that though, Sarah's conscience perked up. Aren't you in a way doing to Toby what you just asked Jareth not to do with you? Oh, fiddle sticks! This is in NO WAY the same. Not one bit. Sarah ate her pizza quickly, looking around at everyone passing by the parlor, wanting to be ready for anything. Just as they were cleaning up, the hairs on the back of Sarah's neck prickled and stood up. I've got a bad feeling about this. Sarah grabbed Toby's hand as she left a fifty dollar bill on the table for the waiter. She didn't have time to take in Toby's wide-eyed gaze as it fell upon the bill on the table. "Hey sis, your phone number's not on that bill, is it? I mean yeah I guess you'd think the waiter was pretty good looking, but you don't need to get a date that way, I bet if-" Sarah silenced him with a look and then she explained. "Toby, I don't want to scare you, but we need to get home now, I have a bad feeling and I need to make sure you're safe." Sarah explained to Toby in a hushed voice as she led him quickly through the people walking along the sidewalk.
Jareth was busy in his castle harassing his goblins and sulking in a bad mood as he made way for fulfilling Sarah's last wish. He had been about to summon the most powerful Fae for the spell in which Sarah's teenage life would begin anew, when his gut clenched and a feeling of dread spread over him. Summoning a crystal, he stared hard into it as though the more intently he stared the quicker the image would fill the crystal. Once at last it did, Jareth gasped. Sarah and Toby were fleeing down a road in horror as a single vehicle boar down upon them. The look of sheer terror on Sarah's face turned his heart over and made it clench painfully within his chest. With the slightest thought, Jareth briefly turned his attention from Sarah and to the person bent on doing her harm. He'd assumed it was a man who'd been scorned by Sarah, and Jareth was slightly astonished to see that a woman drove the car as it sped down the sidewalk and road trying to run Sarah over. Why do you do this? Jareth thought. And as if Jareth had requested the information directly from the woman's mind itself, the woman's thoughts were known. "Let's see how beautifully you'll perform once I'm done with you, you little tramp. Always thinking you're so much better than us, with that fake smile and false sincerity as you made your 'I had no idea' speeches. Save it you little bitch! I will once again be star of this theatre and you will be little more than just a name in the obituary section of the newspaper!" Letting go of the crystal physically, Jareth held it within his mind as he hurried to his spell book. "Sarah, I do hope you'll forgive me if this doesn't go along perfectly to your wishes, but it means your life." Jareth reached out with his magic and set to work establishing the very web which would grant Sarah her wish.
Sarah urged Toby on as fast as he could go. Spotting a stonewall hedge nearby, Sarah pointed it out to Toby. "When I say jump; jump and tuck yourself up for a roll. Like in gym. Okay?!?" Sarah hollered at him as she tightened her grip on her little brother's hand. She'd fought for his life once before, but never like this. She got a second chance with him and she wouldn't loose him now. "Ready? One, two, JUMP!" Sarah cried as she did the same, holding her breath and waiting for the impact, hoping the wall would at least block them from getting run over, even if the vehicle made it over it.
( Author's note: I've never done these type of scenes in a story before, so I hope they're not only smooth flowing, but also somewhat realistic. When I'd originally thought about a stalker for Sarah-as most famous people have encountered them-I'd originally thought it would be a male stalker which would force Jareth's hand. However, as it came time to write this chapter, I decided against a man, and for it to be woman. Now, I guess it's up to Sarah and Jareth if they will get back together. Maybe they will and maybe he's gone out of her life for good. We shall see, shall we? I hope you're enjoying this story as much as I'm enjoying writing it, and I hope it's original enough to not be the same J/S story told over and over. So please read and let me know what you think of the story up to this point. It really keeps me motivated and I'm told I "glow" after getting another review. It makes me feel so special and so talented. Thanks bunches! Xi )
Sarah had forgotten how much driving always managed to soothe her nerves and calm her temper, so she was significantly calmer by the time she unlocked the apartment door. Holding it open, she allowed Toby and Jareth to enter first.
Setting down the mesh bag with hers and Toby's things inside, she spoke up "Toby, if you don't mind Jareth and I have some things we need-" Toby cut her off as he called over his shoulder, "Don't worry sis, I'm going to play with my computer a while," as he headed down to the spare room.
Sarah was about to play perfect hostess, when she frowned at herself and thought: who am I kidding? This isn't a friendly visit-as much as Jareth tried to make it one. Let him ask if he wants something to drink. With that decision, Sarah pulled a glass from the cabinet, popped some ice cubes into it, and then filled it with water from the tap.
She cleared her throat as she stretched out on the sofa, leaving Jareth one of the smaller swivel seats or the bean bag chair Toby often preferred. "Jareth, I'm not going to beat around the bush, you are going to fix this come hell or high water-bog water, I should say." Sarah smiled icily.
"Sarah, it would take too much time and, and well too many of the Fae people to accomplish something of this magnitude. You've been happy. You've obviously done well, and up until now, you've loved your life. Why don't we just leave it at that?" Jareth suggested as he sprawled on the swivel chair in one of his favorite positions.
Sarah kept her eyes on Jareth's face rather than focus on any other part of his body, even if she could barely look him in the eyes. "Jareth, this life.it just isn't fair." Sarah winced slightly as he raised an eyebrow. She frowned. "When it fits, I still use it-though sparingly, I will admit." She sighed and then continued on. "Jareth, we.mortals, we do want to achieve our dreams in our lifetimes, but to have them just handed to us without ever having to work for it, or put effort into it just takes away every feeling that comes with making our dreams reality." Sarah paused and looked over at Jareth. He looked deep in thought. She was just about to say something else, when he started to speak. "Sarah, you were very young when you traveled through my Labyrinth, yet you could not be dissuaded from your goal. You defeated me. You had managed what I'd thought to be impossible. No other mortal had surpassed me since the time when I'd first began my rein over the Labyrinth. I had misjudged you. You were such the dreamer that I had thought when you were offered your dreams, you'd just take them. "Yes," Jareth nodded at Sarah, "You had surprised me from the first, and you kept on surprising me turn after turn. You befriended all of my minions as only you knew how, you turned my world upside down, and yet I'd done it all for you." Jareth paused, drawing in a deep breath. "I'm not sure how long it will take, or if it will even be possible, but I will rearrange things so you reach your goals with.with no help from me." Jareth finished, looking directly into Sarah's eyes. Sarah's eyes, which had an understanding gaze in them up until that moment, narrowed a bit and turned to a cold, flat, stony gray stare. "No, Jareth." Sarah began as she stood. "That's not enough. I endured your torture. I ran your Labyrinth, I played your games, and in the end, I still managed to do what I needed to do before the time ran out and I lost Toby." She held up a hand when she noticed Jareth wanting to interject. "Granted, I had wished Toby away in the first place, but even as much as I had deeply wished it, I had never intended for him to really have been taken. And I know you know that." Sarah ran a hand through her hair as she exhaled and then drew another breath. "What I want from you, Jareth, is a fresh start. I want things to be as if you had never existed in my life. Do whatever you need to do to fix this the way I want things. Then I want you gone from my life, forever. Do you understand me?" As she'd been speaking, she had crossed the short distance to stand directly in front of Jareth, who had automatically stood. She looked up into his face as she waited for his response. Jareth looked down at her in silence, communicating with his eyes as he worked through her demands in his mind. Jareth moved around her, needing space as he played over the intricacies through in his head. Facing her once more his eyes met and held hers again. "As you wish." And with that, and a shower of glitter and magic, he was gone. Sarah sighed and dropped into the chair Jareth had just vacated. "What a relief!" She muttered, even as she went back over the events leading up to his departure. Why do I feel so lost? So.incomplete? Sarah shook herself. Oh please! Sarah, get a grip on yourself! Jareth had orchestrated your life from the moment you left the Labyrinth. Your request wasn't unreasonable. He never should've messed with your life regardless of what the 'rules' of the Labyrinth were in dealing with those triumphant over it. Shaking herself once more, Sarah stood and went to Toby's room. "How about pizza tonight?" She asked. "Are we ordering in?" Toby asked, face falling. "No, we'll go out for pizza." Sarah smiled even as her mind protested. "Great!" Toby leapt up and hugged his sister as his eyes sparkled. Eyes so like.his. "We'll leave in about an hour. Just have yourself ready. I'm going to go soak in the tub until then. Be thinking about what you want on your pizza and how you're going to have to beat me at Rock, Paper, and Scissors to get it!" Sarah chimed over her shoulder as she walked to the bathroom. As she drew the bathwater her mind was on going out for pizza and the stalker that kept following her. Stepping into the tub, she forced a confident smile. I'll be in a public place, with lots of people around. If I'm very careful and keep my wits about me, I should be fine. Right? Right.
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Sarah smiled indulgently as Toby bit into his slice of pizza gleefully. He had won his pepperoni pizza fair and square. Well, Sarah smiled inwardly, at least he thinks he won fair and square. He'd be hurt to know I let him win. With that though, Sarah's conscience perked up. Aren't you in a way doing to Toby what you just asked Jareth not to do with you? Oh, fiddle sticks! This is in NO WAY the same. Not one bit. Sarah ate her pizza quickly, looking around at everyone passing by the parlor, wanting to be ready for anything. Just as they were cleaning up, the hairs on the back of Sarah's neck prickled and stood up. I've got a bad feeling about this. Sarah grabbed Toby's hand as she left a fifty dollar bill on the table for the waiter. She didn't have time to take in Toby's wide-eyed gaze as it fell upon the bill on the table. "Hey sis, your phone number's not on that bill, is it? I mean yeah I guess you'd think the waiter was pretty good looking, but you don't need to get a date that way, I bet if-" Sarah silenced him with a look and then she explained. "Toby, I don't want to scare you, but we need to get home now, I have a bad feeling and I need to make sure you're safe." Sarah explained to Toby in a hushed voice as she led him quickly through the people walking along the sidewalk.
Jareth was busy in his castle harassing his goblins and sulking in a bad mood as he made way for fulfilling Sarah's last wish. He had been about to summon the most powerful Fae for the spell in which Sarah's teenage life would begin anew, when his gut clenched and a feeling of dread spread over him. Summoning a crystal, he stared hard into it as though the more intently he stared the quicker the image would fill the crystal. Once at last it did, Jareth gasped. Sarah and Toby were fleeing down a road in horror as a single vehicle boar down upon them. The look of sheer terror on Sarah's face turned his heart over and made it clench painfully within his chest. With the slightest thought, Jareth briefly turned his attention from Sarah and to the person bent on doing her harm. He'd assumed it was a man who'd been scorned by Sarah, and Jareth was slightly astonished to see that a woman drove the car as it sped down the sidewalk and road trying to run Sarah over. Why do you do this? Jareth thought. And as if Jareth had requested the information directly from the woman's mind itself, the woman's thoughts were known. "Let's see how beautifully you'll perform once I'm done with you, you little tramp. Always thinking you're so much better than us, with that fake smile and false sincerity as you made your 'I had no idea' speeches. Save it you little bitch! I will once again be star of this theatre and you will be little more than just a name in the obituary section of the newspaper!" Letting go of the crystal physically, Jareth held it within his mind as he hurried to his spell book. "Sarah, I do hope you'll forgive me if this doesn't go along perfectly to your wishes, but it means your life." Jareth reached out with his magic and set to work establishing the very web which would grant Sarah her wish.
Sarah urged Toby on as fast as he could go. Spotting a stonewall hedge nearby, Sarah pointed it out to Toby. "When I say jump; jump and tuck yourself up for a roll. Like in gym. Okay?!?" Sarah hollered at him as she tightened her grip on her little brother's hand. She'd fought for his life once before, but never like this. She got a second chance with him and she wouldn't loose him now. "Ready? One, two, JUMP!" Sarah cried as she did the same, holding her breath and waiting for the impact, hoping the wall would at least block them from getting run over, even if the vehicle made it over it.
( Author's note: I've never done these type of scenes in a story before, so I hope they're not only smooth flowing, but also somewhat realistic. When I'd originally thought about a stalker for Sarah-as most famous people have encountered them-I'd originally thought it would be a male stalker which would force Jareth's hand. However, as it came time to write this chapter, I decided against a man, and for it to be woman. Now, I guess it's up to Sarah and Jareth if they will get back together. Maybe they will and maybe he's gone out of her life for good. We shall see, shall we? I hope you're enjoying this story as much as I'm enjoying writing it, and I hope it's original enough to not be the same J/S story told over and over. So please read and let me know what you think of the story up to this point. It really keeps me motivated and I'm told I "glow" after getting another review. It makes me feel so special and so talented. Thanks bunches! Xi )