welcome to chapter 4!! woo! sorry for not updating very much, its just im so busy. anyways, if you have questions about the upcoming chapter, dont bother asking! the anwsers should be all right here! so R&R people! rated PG-13 just to be safe
Disclaimer: *sob* i have come to realize.....i cant take it..i can DENY IT NO LONGER! Jareth is not mine....*sniff*
A/N: Thanks for your reviews, and now its time to thank you all individually
angyl-devyl: thank you so much for your kind review! the nicest i recieved. please continue to review for other chapters
it burns: don't worry! read this chapter before you keel over!
JaMiEdOuB1Eo7: more is on the way!
LabyLvrPhx: Thanks. i hope you continue to read
Sar-lii: meh, its ok, confusion is my middle name! Jareth: its Rose, you idiot.
shutup, Jareth! anyways, it gets interesting, dont worry
Mevneriel: i cant wait either!
Chapter 4: Preparing Sarah
Rating: PG-13
~*~
Sarah woke up, looked around for a clock. "7:30am Underground hours", she thought outloud. She sat up and found herself in the room she was led to earlier. Rubbing her head, she remembered all that had happened. She didn't know long she's been sleeping, she didn't even know how she got there. She looked around for a minute and jumped when she saw a stout figure next to the bed. It was Hoggle.
"Hoggle!", Sarah shrieked, surprised more like.
"Oh, good, your awake", he said setting a glass of water on the bedside table,"I was told to look after you until you awoke, and since ya did, I must inform his Majesty, excuse me", he bowed to Sarah and looked at her once before leaving and shutting the door behind him. She threw the covers aside, got up and walked over to the vanity mirror. The reflection of the bed in the mirror shown that the bed was automatically made. She smirked slightly and began brushing the tangles out of her hair with a wooden brush with golden engravings. She stopped suddenly when her small hand-held mirror began to glow.
She looked over at it and saw the reflection of Hannah. She smiled,"Hey there, Hannah"
Hannah waved to her,"Hey, just thought I'd talk to you for a bit before the next couple of classes", she said.
Sarah decided not to tell Hannah about the ballroom dance or Jareth, though she told her of Diamond, she knew nothing else, and Hannah told her about some new students and that her story of the Labyrinth was loved very much by the teacher. Hannah looked over to the door then back at Sarah,"Hey, I have to go for now, I'll see you later, keep me posted on the happenings Underground!", she said, and with this the reflection in Sarah's mirror vanished. She set it down and when she looked back in the mirror Jareth was standing right behind her. She looked back and saw the face of the man she loved. She smiled,"Why hello, kind sir, care to tell me why I'm back here?"
"You were transported back here when you fell asleep", he said simply.
"D'you need anything?", she asked.
"I need you to come with me", he said, taking her hand,"There's a few things you need to learn before the attack". She nodded and followed him out of the room and he led her down a maze of halls. For what seemed...like forever to her, Jareth stopped in front of two black doors. He led her inside slowly, she looked around and saw that there was nothing in the room accept a tall, round table with a piece of cloth over a round object. She figured it was the crystal she was bound to. Jareth gave Sarah's hand an encouraging squeeze,"You must remove the cloth and take it in your hands. Now it may hurt a little, but that's only because you need to get used to its power and it needs to get used to you. I know it didn't hurt you before but that's because its power is useless Aboveground and the spell was countered, only It did manage to show you past images. Now, on the count of three, remove the cloth. 1...2...3!"
Sarah removed the cloth quickly after Jareth's count. It glowed brightly, causing Sarah to sheild her eyes for a few seconds. After the crystal was used to the surroundings and people in its presence, it calmed down a bit and appeared as a harmless crystal. Sarah took a step forward and gulped slightly. Slowly she moved her hand toward its surface. Wanting to test the pain, she lightly tapped it with her index finger and she removed it with a slight shriek. It sent an electric pulse through her hand and the place Sarah touched it was beaming with light. Sarah looked at Jareth and he sighed and turned away, knowing he could'nt save her this time. She sighed and took a few more steps towards it. She then put the tips of all her fingers on it, each finger feeling an electric pulse so painful Sarah had to fight back tears. With a loud scream the took it in both of her hands, the crystal beaming as bright as it did before. Sarah fell to her knees, the crystal still glowing, the pain not stopping. Sarah tried to set it down, but the crystal was stuck to her hands like glue, and she knew there was no way to stop this. Without realizing it tears flowed freely down her face from the electric shock traveling through her body. After about 5 minutes or so, the crystal became familiar with Sarah and set her free. Sarah dropped the crystal and it landed with a small tap before floating itself back up on the table. Tears formed Sarah's eyes from the pain in her hands and she was rolled on her side. Jareth nealed by her.
"Sarah! Sarah! Sarah, are you alright?", Jareth asked, not knowing how affective the crystal really was until that moment.
"Jareth...? I'm sorry, I probably look like a fool", she said wiping the salty liquid from her eyes, "I hate to look like this" "It's ok, my love,", he said stroking her hair,"You put up a good fight", he said. Jareth looked down at her shaking hands and stroked them gently. Jareth pressed her hands to his mouth and he muttered something she couldn't understand and the pain from her hands, even her whole body was gone. She smiled up at him and he helped her up. Jareth sighed in relief,"Ok, hard parts over", he said. "Now on to the next step, pick it back up". Sarah looked at him like he was the craziest man in the world. He laughed. "My dear Sarah, don't worry, it won't hurt you anymore know that it knows who you are and knows your touch. Just pick it up, I promise nothing will happen", he said. Despite mumbling under her breath and the urge to slap his face, she picked it up and shut her eyes forcefully as if expecting the pain again. To her surprise though, there wasn't, she opened one eye, seeing a laughing Jareth in front of her,"Thought I was lying, did you?", he said, smirking. "It's hard to tell with you", she said wyrly. She looked down at the crystal and it had a soft glow in the middle.
"Now...", Jareth started,"For a little practice...", he conjoured up a few crystals and they turned into a few everyday things, a vase, a few glasses, a mirror, and a few other things,"Tell the crystal in your mind to destroy one of these objects and a beam of light will errupt and destroy that object which was requested", he instructed,"This takes much concentration, Sarah, just trust the crystal and it will do as you say."
Sarah sighed loudly and looked into it. It seemed as if there was something alive inside because the lights and the colors moved around exploring its space, as if trying to escape from this glassy prison. She closed her eyes and thought in her mind what she wanted to hit. She instructed to the crystal to destroy the vase. She opened her eyes and looked at the crystal. Nothing happened. Jareth sighed, "Sarah, you need to concentrate harder, your mind isn't clear enough for the crystal to respond", Jareth said unaware of the irritation in his voice, Sarah hearing it loud and clear. Sarah looked at him angrily,"This isn't easy for me, you know! I hold the responsibility of saving the entire Labyrinth from some evil villain, I've just gone through the worst pain in my life, I'm going through a whirlwind of emotions and I'm STILL expected to do everything perfect! I'm half mortal, after all", Sarah yelled, turning her back to him.
Jareth's face softened at the hurt in her voice. Jareth knew she was having a hard time, and he was willing to give up his whole life for hers. Somehow though, he couldn't help her as he wanted to, and this stabbed him like a knife. He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I apologize, Sarah, I know you must not be enjoying this as much as I, and I'll try not to be anymore of a burden than you already bear. Forgive me?", he asked humbly.
She looked back at him,"How couldn't I?"
He smiled then turned his attention back to the crystal,"Ready to try again?", he asked, a little concerned, expecting her to say no.
"Yes, yes I am", she said, grinning at him. She grasped the crystal and closed her eyes. She opened them and focused on the vase. She shut them again, memorizing her target, and told the crystal what needed to be done. After a few moments Sarah felt the heat in the crystal grow. She was afraid she'd have to go through that ordeal again, but noticed it wasn't hurting her. She opened her eyes in time to see a beam of light from the crystal hit the vase in blurred speed and shattered it into a million pieces. Jareth grined a her, his two pointed teeth in view. "My love, you are now officialy bearer of the crystal", Jareth said. Sarah put it back on the table and the cloth floated off the floor and landed gracefully on top of it. Sarah, feeling most proud of herself, jumped up and shrieked merrily and threw her arms around Jareth's neck. A little surprised, he lifted her feet off the ground and twirled her. Finally regaining her balance,"Thank you so much, Jareth, I couldn't have done any of this without your help, your the greatest", she said, looking into his mismatched eyes and then pressing her lips to his. When she kissed him it was as if nothing in the world mattered, nothing in the world existed, only the two of them. She regretfully pulled away from his tasteful mouth and let herself drown in his embrace. She sighed in happiness. Could life get any better?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Diamond was in her private chambers, still admiring the lovely couple in her crystals. She sighed happily. She couldn't be happier for her best friend and future queen. Twirling the shiny orb like a basketball on the tip of her index finger, she heard shuffling outside in the halls. She banished the crystal and sighed,"Now what?", she asked to no one in particular, half expecting an answer. She opened the door and looked down each hall. Down the left hall was the little goblin, Esmarelda, trying to put a key into some black doors. Remembering what was behind those doors, she rushed out, about to backhand the stupid little thing,"And just what do you think your doing, little one?", Diamond asked the waist-high creature. Esmarelda hid the key behind her back,"I...I...I um...", she stuttered, trying to figure out how she was gonna twirl her way out of this question. "Oh, save it", Diamond said in annoyance, the little goblin looking at her innocently,"You march yourself back to the kitchen or I'll have Jareth personally throw you into the Bog of Eternal Stench before you can take another breath", Diamond said coldly. The small creature shrieked and sped off in a flash. Diamond felt something strange was going on, and she took a few moments to ponder why Esmarelda was so different from the other goblins. There was only one difference, however, that caught Diamond's attention. The black, four-pointed star in the centre of her forehead. It seemed like some sort of symbol, the marking concerned Diamond because goblins don't have markings like that. She decided she was just thinking too hard and chose to let the matter drop for now. She looked up just in time to see Jareth and Sarah walking out of the black doors hand in hand. Diamond smiled at the two,"Well hello there, Sarah, Jareth", she said bowing to each of them,"I'm quite proud of your progress, Sarah, I believe you can do this."
"Thank you.", said Sarah, nodding her head once.
"Jareth, may I see you alone for a moment?", looking at the two. Sarah nodded and gave him a quick kiss before heading to her chambers for a nap. Jareth took a few steps towards Diamond, "Yes, Diamond, what is it?"
"Well, see, this sounds odd, but I'm having a difficult time trusting that goblin, Esmarelda I think is her name. It's the mark on her forehead I am worried about, the four-pointed star. I feel evil among us, Jareth", she said,"I am even more concerned that she is servant goblin for Sarah, I think you need to be more secure of her safety."
"Oh, Diamond, no need for the concern, I have Sarah in very good hands. If there was 'evil among us' I would have forseen it.", he said.
"There are ways around your powers, your 'Majesty' ", she said, annoyed,"The dark forces beyond this castle are far more intellegent, as are Moroviel's allies, please Jareth, take heed", she said placing a hand on his shoulder. Jareth removed it quickly, a little surprised at her seriousness.
"I shall hear of this no more. I will keep further watch on Sarah, but I will not jump to conclusions about Esmarelda. Now, I am going to focus my attention at my upcoming masquerade ball tomorrow night", he said as a small goblin passed by,"You there!"
The tiny goblin looked up at his king,"Yes, your Majesty?"
"I'm holding a masquerade ball tomorrow evening, prepare the guest list, and I need invitations sent out immediatly", he ordered.
"Right away, your Majesty", he said before bowing to him and rushing off. Jareth turned back to Diamond. "Do not burden yourself, you have done quite enough for me, more than I could ask for", he said sweetly.
She nodded,"Very well, Jareth."
He smiled at her before leaving. She stared at him for a bit before leaving herself. She conjoured up a crystal and kept very close watch on the mysterious goblin female. She looked into it and noticed something so shocking she thought she would lose her balance.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Muahahahaha! End of the fourth installment! im still lacking in the review department, and only YOU readers can fix that! just click the little box on the lower left corner. don't you love cliffhangers? i do! hope you liked this chapter, i know for sure theres gonna be much more in the future ;)
xoxo
~Stacy
Disclaimer: *sob* i have come to realize.....i cant take it..i can DENY IT NO LONGER! Jareth is not mine....*sniff*
A/N: Thanks for your reviews, and now its time to thank you all individually
angyl-devyl: thank you so much for your kind review! the nicest i recieved. please continue to review for other chapters
it burns: don't worry! read this chapter before you keel over!
JaMiEdOuB1Eo7: more is on the way!
LabyLvrPhx: Thanks. i hope you continue to read
Sar-lii: meh, its ok, confusion is my middle name! Jareth: its Rose, you idiot.
shutup, Jareth! anyways, it gets interesting, dont worry
Mevneriel: i cant wait either!
Chapter 4: Preparing Sarah
Rating: PG-13
~*~
Sarah woke up, looked around for a clock. "7:30am Underground hours", she thought outloud. She sat up and found herself in the room she was led to earlier. Rubbing her head, she remembered all that had happened. She didn't know long she's been sleeping, she didn't even know how she got there. She looked around for a minute and jumped when she saw a stout figure next to the bed. It was Hoggle.
"Hoggle!", Sarah shrieked, surprised more like.
"Oh, good, your awake", he said setting a glass of water on the bedside table,"I was told to look after you until you awoke, and since ya did, I must inform his Majesty, excuse me", he bowed to Sarah and looked at her once before leaving and shutting the door behind him. She threw the covers aside, got up and walked over to the vanity mirror. The reflection of the bed in the mirror shown that the bed was automatically made. She smirked slightly and began brushing the tangles out of her hair with a wooden brush with golden engravings. She stopped suddenly when her small hand-held mirror began to glow.
She looked over at it and saw the reflection of Hannah. She smiled,"Hey there, Hannah"
Hannah waved to her,"Hey, just thought I'd talk to you for a bit before the next couple of classes", she said.
Sarah decided not to tell Hannah about the ballroom dance or Jareth, though she told her of Diamond, she knew nothing else, and Hannah told her about some new students and that her story of the Labyrinth was loved very much by the teacher. Hannah looked over to the door then back at Sarah,"Hey, I have to go for now, I'll see you later, keep me posted on the happenings Underground!", she said, and with this the reflection in Sarah's mirror vanished. She set it down and when she looked back in the mirror Jareth was standing right behind her. She looked back and saw the face of the man she loved. She smiled,"Why hello, kind sir, care to tell me why I'm back here?"
"You were transported back here when you fell asleep", he said simply.
"D'you need anything?", she asked.
"I need you to come with me", he said, taking her hand,"There's a few things you need to learn before the attack". She nodded and followed him out of the room and he led her down a maze of halls. For what seemed...like forever to her, Jareth stopped in front of two black doors. He led her inside slowly, she looked around and saw that there was nothing in the room accept a tall, round table with a piece of cloth over a round object. She figured it was the crystal she was bound to. Jareth gave Sarah's hand an encouraging squeeze,"You must remove the cloth and take it in your hands. Now it may hurt a little, but that's only because you need to get used to its power and it needs to get used to you. I know it didn't hurt you before but that's because its power is useless Aboveground and the spell was countered, only It did manage to show you past images. Now, on the count of three, remove the cloth. 1...2...3!"
Sarah removed the cloth quickly after Jareth's count. It glowed brightly, causing Sarah to sheild her eyes for a few seconds. After the crystal was used to the surroundings and people in its presence, it calmed down a bit and appeared as a harmless crystal. Sarah took a step forward and gulped slightly. Slowly she moved her hand toward its surface. Wanting to test the pain, she lightly tapped it with her index finger and she removed it with a slight shriek. It sent an electric pulse through her hand and the place Sarah touched it was beaming with light. Sarah looked at Jareth and he sighed and turned away, knowing he could'nt save her this time. She sighed and took a few more steps towards it. She then put the tips of all her fingers on it, each finger feeling an electric pulse so painful Sarah had to fight back tears. With a loud scream the took it in both of her hands, the crystal beaming as bright as it did before. Sarah fell to her knees, the crystal still glowing, the pain not stopping. Sarah tried to set it down, but the crystal was stuck to her hands like glue, and she knew there was no way to stop this. Without realizing it tears flowed freely down her face from the electric shock traveling through her body. After about 5 minutes or so, the crystal became familiar with Sarah and set her free. Sarah dropped the crystal and it landed with a small tap before floating itself back up on the table. Tears formed Sarah's eyes from the pain in her hands and she was rolled on her side. Jareth nealed by her.
"Sarah! Sarah! Sarah, are you alright?", Jareth asked, not knowing how affective the crystal really was until that moment.
"Jareth...? I'm sorry, I probably look like a fool", she said wiping the salty liquid from her eyes, "I hate to look like this" "It's ok, my love,", he said stroking her hair,"You put up a good fight", he said. Jareth looked down at her shaking hands and stroked them gently. Jareth pressed her hands to his mouth and he muttered something she couldn't understand and the pain from her hands, even her whole body was gone. She smiled up at him and he helped her up. Jareth sighed in relief,"Ok, hard parts over", he said. "Now on to the next step, pick it back up". Sarah looked at him like he was the craziest man in the world. He laughed. "My dear Sarah, don't worry, it won't hurt you anymore know that it knows who you are and knows your touch. Just pick it up, I promise nothing will happen", he said. Despite mumbling under her breath and the urge to slap his face, she picked it up and shut her eyes forcefully as if expecting the pain again. To her surprise though, there wasn't, she opened one eye, seeing a laughing Jareth in front of her,"Thought I was lying, did you?", he said, smirking. "It's hard to tell with you", she said wyrly. She looked down at the crystal and it had a soft glow in the middle.
"Now...", Jareth started,"For a little practice...", he conjoured up a few crystals and they turned into a few everyday things, a vase, a few glasses, a mirror, and a few other things,"Tell the crystal in your mind to destroy one of these objects and a beam of light will errupt and destroy that object which was requested", he instructed,"This takes much concentration, Sarah, just trust the crystal and it will do as you say."
Sarah sighed loudly and looked into it. It seemed as if there was something alive inside because the lights and the colors moved around exploring its space, as if trying to escape from this glassy prison. She closed her eyes and thought in her mind what she wanted to hit. She instructed to the crystal to destroy the vase. She opened her eyes and looked at the crystal. Nothing happened. Jareth sighed, "Sarah, you need to concentrate harder, your mind isn't clear enough for the crystal to respond", Jareth said unaware of the irritation in his voice, Sarah hearing it loud and clear. Sarah looked at him angrily,"This isn't easy for me, you know! I hold the responsibility of saving the entire Labyrinth from some evil villain, I've just gone through the worst pain in my life, I'm going through a whirlwind of emotions and I'm STILL expected to do everything perfect! I'm half mortal, after all", Sarah yelled, turning her back to him.
Jareth's face softened at the hurt in her voice. Jareth knew she was having a hard time, and he was willing to give up his whole life for hers. Somehow though, he couldn't help her as he wanted to, and this stabbed him like a knife. He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I apologize, Sarah, I know you must not be enjoying this as much as I, and I'll try not to be anymore of a burden than you already bear. Forgive me?", he asked humbly.
She looked back at him,"How couldn't I?"
He smiled then turned his attention back to the crystal,"Ready to try again?", he asked, a little concerned, expecting her to say no.
"Yes, yes I am", she said, grinning at him. She grasped the crystal and closed her eyes. She opened them and focused on the vase. She shut them again, memorizing her target, and told the crystal what needed to be done. After a few moments Sarah felt the heat in the crystal grow. She was afraid she'd have to go through that ordeal again, but noticed it wasn't hurting her. She opened her eyes in time to see a beam of light from the crystal hit the vase in blurred speed and shattered it into a million pieces. Jareth grined a her, his two pointed teeth in view. "My love, you are now officialy bearer of the crystal", Jareth said. Sarah put it back on the table and the cloth floated off the floor and landed gracefully on top of it. Sarah, feeling most proud of herself, jumped up and shrieked merrily and threw her arms around Jareth's neck. A little surprised, he lifted her feet off the ground and twirled her. Finally regaining her balance,"Thank you so much, Jareth, I couldn't have done any of this without your help, your the greatest", she said, looking into his mismatched eyes and then pressing her lips to his. When she kissed him it was as if nothing in the world mattered, nothing in the world existed, only the two of them. She regretfully pulled away from his tasteful mouth and let herself drown in his embrace. She sighed in happiness. Could life get any better?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Diamond was in her private chambers, still admiring the lovely couple in her crystals. She sighed happily. She couldn't be happier for her best friend and future queen. Twirling the shiny orb like a basketball on the tip of her index finger, she heard shuffling outside in the halls. She banished the crystal and sighed,"Now what?", she asked to no one in particular, half expecting an answer. She opened the door and looked down each hall. Down the left hall was the little goblin, Esmarelda, trying to put a key into some black doors. Remembering what was behind those doors, she rushed out, about to backhand the stupid little thing,"And just what do you think your doing, little one?", Diamond asked the waist-high creature. Esmarelda hid the key behind her back,"I...I...I um...", she stuttered, trying to figure out how she was gonna twirl her way out of this question. "Oh, save it", Diamond said in annoyance, the little goblin looking at her innocently,"You march yourself back to the kitchen or I'll have Jareth personally throw you into the Bog of Eternal Stench before you can take another breath", Diamond said coldly. The small creature shrieked and sped off in a flash. Diamond felt something strange was going on, and she took a few moments to ponder why Esmarelda was so different from the other goblins. There was only one difference, however, that caught Diamond's attention. The black, four-pointed star in the centre of her forehead. It seemed like some sort of symbol, the marking concerned Diamond because goblins don't have markings like that. She decided she was just thinking too hard and chose to let the matter drop for now. She looked up just in time to see Jareth and Sarah walking out of the black doors hand in hand. Diamond smiled at the two,"Well hello there, Sarah, Jareth", she said bowing to each of them,"I'm quite proud of your progress, Sarah, I believe you can do this."
"Thank you.", said Sarah, nodding her head once.
"Jareth, may I see you alone for a moment?", looking at the two. Sarah nodded and gave him a quick kiss before heading to her chambers for a nap. Jareth took a few steps towards Diamond, "Yes, Diamond, what is it?"
"Well, see, this sounds odd, but I'm having a difficult time trusting that goblin, Esmarelda I think is her name. It's the mark on her forehead I am worried about, the four-pointed star. I feel evil among us, Jareth", she said,"I am even more concerned that she is servant goblin for Sarah, I think you need to be more secure of her safety."
"Oh, Diamond, no need for the concern, I have Sarah in very good hands. If there was 'evil among us' I would have forseen it.", he said.
"There are ways around your powers, your 'Majesty' ", she said, annoyed,"The dark forces beyond this castle are far more intellegent, as are Moroviel's allies, please Jareth, take heed", she said placing a hand on his shoulder. Jareth removed it quickly, a little surprised at her seriousness.
"I shall hear of this no more. I will keep further watch on Sarah, but I will not jump to conclusions about Esmarelda. Now, I am going to focus my attention at my upcoming masquerade ball tomorrow night", he said as a small goblin passed by,"You there!"
The tiny goblin looked up at his king,"Yes, your Majesty?"
"I'm holding a masquerade ball tomorrow evening, prepare the guest list, and I need invitations sent out immediatly", he ordered.
"Right away, your Majesty", he said before bowing to him and rushing off. Jareth turned back to Diamond. "Do not burden yourself, you have done quite enough for me, more than I could ask for", he said sweetly.
She nodded,"Very well, Jareth."
He smiled at her before leaving. She stared at him for a bit before leaving herself. She conjoured up a crystal and kept very close watch on the mysterious goblin female. She looked into it and noticed something so shocking she thought she would lose her balance.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Muahahahaha! End of the fourth installment! im still lacking in the review department, and only YOU readers can fix that! just click the little box on the lower left corner. don't you love cliffhangers? i do! hope you liked this chapter, i know for sure theres gonna be much more in the future ;)
xoxo
~Stacy