...Though We're Strangers Till Now

by Jacqui

Note - All the original characters do NOT belong to me, although the rest of them do. Last names of those characters who didn't or don't have them are entirely fictional. This is my first attempt at Labyrinth fanfiction, so reviews would be really nice and appreciated. This story is mostly based on the movie, but there's a few elements from the book thrown in here and there. I read Labyrinth analyses, various fanfiction, and also came up with my own conclusions and ideas. So, this entire story will entail all three of those sources of information. It may be weird, it may be good, either way, as I mentioned before...feedback is always appreciated and adored. :) Oh yeah, Jim Henson, Brian Froud, and everyone who had a hand in creating this movie are geniuses.

Chapter 7: Getting To Know You

When the two finally arrived at Jareth's castle, he wasted no time in beginning to berate her on everything she had apparently done wrong that night. They were back in Jareth's study. Sarah was standing in front of Jareth as he leaned against his desk. While his eyes were concentrating on her, she refused to look directly at him. She knew he was angry with her, but she didn't know why. Although, she suspected she would soon find out as he began to speak.

"Why did you allow him to touch you, Sarah?"

"What? What are you talking about, it was just a dance!"

"To you, maybe. But I saw more to it. He was trying to seduce you, and it was obviously working." Jareth's eyes examined her features, waiting to see if she would confess.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Jareth!" Sarah began to raise her voice unknowingly. Suddenly, Jareth stepped forward and was now only inches from her.

"This is what I am talking about," he whispered as he slid his hands around her waist, pulling her close. Sarah's heart began to pound slowly, then its pace quickened as he softly trailed his fingers up her back. Sarah's hands were pressed against his chest to keep him from getting any closer than he already was, but she felt herself wanting to give in to him. She felt insane for having such a feeling rush over her, she had only just begun to like this man, and already she felt such overwhelming feelings. Why was she feeling like this? Before she had time to think more, Jareth's hands dropped back to his sides. "You see? I could feel your heart pounding from miles away Sarah, you are a complete giveaway when it comes to your emotions. My practice seduction has been successful."

"W-What?" Sarah replied, completely confused as her mind was reeling with thoughts.

"Do not feel ashamed, you are not the first one I have ever seduced." Jareth folded his arms in front of him as he stepped back slightly, letting Sarah recompose herself.

"Jareth..." Sarah sighed, placing her fingers to her temples, still slightly bewildered. "What are you aiming for here?"

"I am making the point that you were easily seduced. Saerin is not really someone I would trust, especially when--it is not important. What is important is that you let him try and seduce you, and seduction within the Underground can be a very dangerous thing, Sarah. This is probably what you would call a form of concern. Although it might not be the same as what you are used to." Jareth inclined his head as he awaited her response.

"So you're not angry with me?" Sarah asked hesitantly.

"I am actually quite impressed that you were able to control yourself around Phaedra. She was rather uncouth in her actions toward you."

"Oh yes, speaking of Phaedra..." Sarah began, but stopped as Jareth's hand went up to quiet her. Jareth had felt her angry disposition before hand, and he didn't feel like being scolded about anything tonight.

"Do not worry yourself with her. She is quite harmless, really. If you must know anything about Phaedra and I, we had once engaged in intimate relations in the past. I found that it could not work out between us due to her inability to prove her worth to me." Jareth lowered his hand, and once again folded his arms in front of his chest. Sarah couldn't help but notice that he was looking her up and down, this time she allowed him the privilege, because she still felt quite beautiful--not to mention she still felt a little of his earlier seduction playing tricks with her. She looked over Jareth's shoulder and realized that it was 13 o'clock Underground Time. Sarah cleared her throat and began to make her request to leave.

"I think I should get some rest, Jareth..." she said quietly. "May I be excused?"

"Of course, but Sarah," he replied, walking over to her. "I would like your company tomorrow evening."

"Again? What for this time?"

"You owe me a dance. Good night, Sarah." He grinned as he answered her question. Then, he quickly bowed before her in dismissal. Sarah curtsied, partially confused. And, instead of asking anymore questions, she left the room. As she headed for her room, she had a sudden idea flash through her mind. What if she had tried to seduce him this time? He had successfully seduced her, she thought it was only fair that she got her revenge. After all, she had her own imperceptible charms as well. She mentally plotted and schemed all the way to her room. As she slipped in through the door and closed it behind her, she snickered to herself, unable to wait until tomorrow evening.

Sarah awoke the next day to find that Helori wasn't trying to pull her out of bed. She had awoken on her own. It felt strange to her, eerily strange. But, Sarah pulled herself up as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Yawning, she crawled to the side of her bed and threw her feet over the side. She had only just pulled herself out of bed to begin freshening up when she heard a knock outside her door. Sarah jumped, and she pulled a blanket from her bed and wrapped it around her as if she were naked and someone was in the room with her.

"Y-Yes...Who is it?"

"It is Jareth, Sarah. May I have a word with you?" came the familiar accent.

"Hold on, I just need to get dressed!" Sarah replied, snatching the brush from her vanity and quickly brushing out the small tangles. She had found a white dress that Helori had apparently left for her. She had never seen it before, but she snatched it from the vanity chair and slipped into it. The fabric was silky against her skin, as she straightened it out, she took a quick look in the mirror. Then she darted across the room, wrapping her fingers around the handle.

"Sarah?" Jareth called to her.

"Yes?" She replied sweetly, opening the door just as he finished speaking. Jareth smiled, beckoning her to step outside. When she did, he offered his arm to her as she closed the door behind her.

He wore basically the same thing he had worn the day before, only this time his shirt was a beautiful shade of white. He wore a vest over it, which was black leather, and she saw that he wore the same amulet that he had worn during her last visit. His pants and boots were black. Almost everything he wears is black! she thought to herself.

"Come with me. We have a conversation to finish," Jareth said softly. Sarah nodded, wondering what he meant exactly. She slipped her arm through his, and he began walking her toward the back portion of the castle.

"Where are we going? And what do you mean we have a conversation to finish?"

"The gardens. Our conversation lasted just briefly, I wanted to finish it. I have no pressing business to attend to until tomorrow."

"Oh," Sarah said quietly, still following his lead. "I've been meaning to ask you, where is Helori?" Sarah looked at Jareth as she asked the question.

"I have requested her to take kitchen duty, today. There is a shortage of help since--well that is not important. She simply has the day off as your maid." Jareth led her through the back doors of the castle, the only back doors, and out into the maze of flowers and bushes. As Sarah stepped outside with him, she felt the warm heat of the sun hit her skin. Sighing dreamily, she felt a sudden concordance around her. The garden was beautiful, and she enjoyed just being able to lose herself within that beauty. She felt safe there, especially when she was with Jareth. They passed several different colored rose bushes, along with jasmine and white lilies. When they had reached the same spot they had been in the day before, Jareth released her arm, but took her hand into his. Jareth held her hand as she sat down on the small stone bench. He seated himself afterward, letting her hand slowly drift down to her lap.

"Jareth," Sarah said softly, "what exactly are you? I mean...I've read about fairies and goblins, even witches and sorcerers. Do you fit into any of those categories? It is quite obvious that you aren't mortal and...well...I was just--"

"Leanan Sidhe."

"What?"

"It is my race. Leanan Sidhe is the bloodline I come from. Well, and sylphs of course. I am what you might call a mixture of two different races."

"A hybrid! Now it's all becoming clear. I've read about the Leanan Sidhe, they have an overwhelming ability to charm anyone they choose..." Sarah nodded slowly, smirking at Jareth as she did so.

"Yes. That is why you went soft for Saerin as well, he is full-blooded Leanan Sidhe. Although, the pure bloodline gives him slightly more power over seduction. I, on the other hand, coming partly from the sylph bloodline, I have power over the wind and air--but moreso with seduction. Saerin is more limited than I, but he is not at the same time."

"I see, well that explains a few things," Sarah said, a puzzled look crossing her face.

"You have another question?" Jareth looked over at her, raising a brow.

"...But what would you call yourself? What is the most general name for your race?" Sarah crossed her legs, resting her arms on them.

"Fairy, fae, it really is all the same. From my own research, people from your world tend to call beings like me a fae. Which, in fact, is one of the only things they have done correctly in learning anything about us." Jareth turned toward her, crossing his arms in front of him.

"Now I understand a bit better," Sarah smiled, "your turn."

"Your dilemma. The one you were in before you had called on me," Jareth began. He watched Sarah's composure become uneasy, her body tensed up and she began to fidget with her dress. "What exactly was it all about?"

"Yeah...my dilemma. Well," Sarah swallowed hard as she prepared to fill him in. "As I told you a few days ago, my stepmother and dad were getting a divorce. He let her have Toby," she stopped playing with her dress and began rubbing her hands together. "Toby didn't want to go, but she made him come with her, I had no choice...I had to let him go. I told him that I loved him and that he should never forget that..." Her eyes dropped all the way down to her hands, and she closed them tightly, feeling tears spring up behind her lashes. "I guess they just weren't getting along, they tried to work things out but...it just wouldn't work. Then I found that my script was rejected...and I..." She shrugged it off as she turned away from him, not wanting him to see her cry. She was tired of crying, she just wanted peace. She had not thought much of the problems she had left behind her recently, and now they were suddenly pressed upon her again. "Jareth...can I just...stop there?" she pleaded.

"Sarah, I am trying to understand why..." he stopped himself. Why was he asking her about her problems? He wanted to get to know her better, that's why. He wanted to know more about her than he knew the last time she had summoned him.

"Why what?" She said, her voice breaking bit by bit.

"I am not sure, Sarah. All I can see is that this situation is deeply affecting you, and to be honest, if we are going to have a friendship, It is from my experience that friends have concern and compassion if one they care about is troubled or in pain." He finished, his hand reaching toward her. She shivered slightly as his fingers wrapped around her hands, stopping her from rubbing them so hard.

"I know, Jareth...and I-I thank you for your concern, but there really isn't anything that can be done from where I am now, nor is there anything that could be done if I were to go back...I just..." Jareth tightened his grasp on her hands, and she looked toward him as if he was silently asking her to do so.

"I am sorry, Sarah. I wouldn't wish your pain on anyone, I would take it away if I could..."

"My turn," Sarah said softly, sniffing away the remainder of her tears. "You didn't want to be friends before...why do you want to now?"

"Well, you were not going to be here for a long duration and we both knew it. And, you had only come here for one thing, and that was what your heart was set on. Nothing else. I also did not see in you then, what I see in you now.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sarah asked, feigning offense.

"I mean, you were just a child then, Sarah..." his eyes looked up at her, "...you are a woman now." Sarah was shocked at his reply. He was the first one in a long time to notice how much she had grown up and matured. She didn't think twice about how appropriate or proper it was as she wrapped her arms around him.

"Thank you, Jareth..." she whispered as she felt his arms slowly envelope her in response. Sarah smiled, and Jareth did as well. "I haven't heard that from anyone for a long time."

"May I ask a question now?" Jareth asked as they pulled apart.

"Oh, wait! No, I have just one more, I know I'm going out of turn but I really want to know, I've wanted to know for a long time..." Sarah blurted out.

"By all means," Jareth answered, waving his hand as if to signal her to continue.

"How old are you? I mean, in fae years?" Sarah heard Jareth chuckle to himself as he prepared to reply.

"The fae really have no definite age, Sarah, but..." he hesitated for a few moments, rubbing his chin as if he were in deep thought. "If you must know, I would suppose I am a few centuries old..." Jareth's brows rose as if he was surprised at his own age.

"300 years! Wow, you definitely don't look your age, Jareth. I would have guessed you to be in your late thirties." Sarah found it hard to believe how old he was, but yet he looked so good!

"Now it is my turn," Jareth said, smiling at her innocent surprise.

"Go ahead," Sarah said plainly, turning towards him as if she were being interviewed.

"How old would you be?" Sarah's brows shot up as she looked at him, then they lowered and she snorted playfully.

"That isn't a proper question to ask a girl," she said.

"But you are not a g--"

"Girl, woman, lady, same difference, Your Majesty..." Sarah shot back before he could finish.

"I could seduce you into telling me, that approach always works for me..." Jareth grinned as he teased her.

"Ah hell, I'm 22." Sarah folded her arms, rolling her eyes at his meaningless threat. Jareth chuckled once more, tilting his head slightly as if he were satisfied with her answer.

"I thought so."

"Now me," Sarah began.

"Not so fast, you have gone twice already, I have one more question..." Jareth cut in, his face suddenly becoming serious.

"Okay okay..." Sarah cleared her throat, waiting for his question.

"Why were you drinking the night I had come for you?" His features had gone solid, as if he weren't asking just a silly question, but one that he silently demanded an answer to.

"I already told you, Jareth. My life was going okay, but it didn't last for long...and when my world fell down around me...no one was there for me. It's simple really...the alcohol helped to drown out my problems and emotions to a point where I was just impassive to everything..." Jareth noticed that her skin had turned to an ashen color, and he became worried that she did indeed have a serious problem on her mind.

"Let me see if I understand you completely, Sarah. Your world was not going as you wanted it to, therefore it was completely unfair. Then," he thought for a second, then continued. "Then you sought clemency from a bottle of alcohol, which it gave to you. Am I correct so far?" Jareth asked, his eyes flashing signs of growing disbelief.

"Nothing was unfair...my life just fell apart, Jareth...I never mentioned anything being unfair," Sarah shook her head as she kept her eyes on him, not wanting to allow herself to sink into a crying fit again.

"Your world has help for those kinds of problems does it not? he replied.

"Of course, I was just too stupid to seek that kind of help until Toby came to me and asked me to do it. He was the reason I wanted to improve my life at all..." God how she missed them right now, even that ice-queen step- mother of hers.

"I can see that you do not like discussing it, Sarah, but may I request one thing of you?"

"Yeah, I mean I guess...sure..." Sarah shrugged, turning her eyes toward the rich green grass beneath her feet.

"With your permission, would you allow me to help you?"

"How can you do that? You have no credentials in psycho-therapy or alcohol abuse or anything..." Jareth sloughed off her apparent doubt.

"You are forgetting that I am not mortal like you, Sarah, I have ways of helping others without these so-called credentials."

"You can't use magic to cure me, Jareth...what if the spell could be eventually broken? Anyone could find a way to do it and I would fall back into my old habit. No, it takes patience and time to get through problems like mine...I don't have either of those in my possession right now." Her voice had become a light whisper, but Jareth heard her clearly.

"What do you think I have had this entire time? I have had patience with you, Sarah. I have not rejected you, nor have I abandoned you. Again, I thought this is what friends did for one another...maybe I have--"

"No, Jareth. You're right. I'm sorry." Sarah still didn't look at him, but she admitted her doubt and apologized for it. He was being a good friend to her.

"Well? Will you let me help you? Jareth asked once more, this time reaching his hand out to touch her face and pull her eyes back to him.

"Alright, Jareth," Sarah smiled, giving in to him finally.

"Good." Jareth whispered, smiling at her in reply. Sarah had had enough of beating around the bush with question after question, she rather felt like saying things instead of getting to know him by questioning so much.

"Jareth, at that ball the other night..."

"What of it?" Jareth answered, clasping his hands together as he placed them in his lap.

"Your mother looks like a female version of you." She giggled as she continued, "And your father is a dead give away as to where you got your temper from!" Jareth smiled, laughing at her comment.

"I suppose you are right, although..." he began as he stood up. "I can see where Toby received his excessive whining from..." he finished in a humorously sarcastic tone.

"I resent that statement, Jareth!" Sarah exclaimed as she stood up and placed her hands on her hips in retaliation.

"Of course you do, which also gives you the answer as to why I said it," he grinned, pulling his hands behind his back. "But wait, I suppose that was quite unfair, right?" He couldn't help but laugh as he threw in that last line, putting emphasis on the word 'unfair.'

"You're asking for it," Sarah said jokingly as she brought her arm up to slap him across the arm. But Jareth's hand darted out from behind his back and grabbed hers before she could even get it close enough to hit him.

"Hm, your reflexes are slow," he said teasingly.

"Jareth you--" Just before Sarah could finish, they heard the bushes rustling close by. A medium sized, heavyset goblin with wiry black hair came from behind a row of rose bushes, stopping in front them. Jareth cleared his throat and straightened his stature, turning to acknowledge the man.

"Your Majesty, Lady Phaedra wishes to see you immediately," the goblin said, dropping to his knees in respect as he spoke.

"She told me she did not want to see me until tomorrow," Jareth responded.

"M'lady says it is very important, Your Majesty, and that it cannot wait. She gave specific instructions to meet her at her parents' castle." Jareth motioned for the man to stand, and as he did, Jareth nodded toward him slowly.

"Thank you, tell her that I will arrive shortly." Jareth dismissed the man, and he quickly turned to deliver Jareth's response. Sarah simply sighed, crossing her arms in front of her.

"What does 'Lady Phaedra' want this time?"

"I have no idea. I shall see to her," just as he turned to go, he turned back to Sarah. "I regretfully apologize, Sarah, this was unexpected."

"She's waiting, Jareth..." Sarah sighed again, motioning for him to go.

"Do not forget, you owe me a dance tonight. You are not excused from that." Jareth smiled faintly as he turned and left the garden. Sarah plopped back down onto the stone bench and began thinking about what to wear later that night.

"You will help me when he arrives, right mother?" Phaedra said hastily as she turned toward a short woman with wiry black hair.

"Of course, dear. Jareth is a fine catch, I would not think anyone else would be more perfect for him than my own daughter," the woman replied. She brushed her hair out of her eyes as she looked at her daughter adoringly. They looked almost identical, except Phaedra had darker skin than that of her mother. That one quality she got from her father. She sighed as her mind carried her into a pleasant, but not so pleasant memory.

Phaedra had wanted to marry Jareth since the day they were betrothed many years ago. But, he had cast her away so suddenly, and she didn't have a chance to redeem herself to him as she was called away by the Seelie Court to discuss her brother Sirion's trial. He had apparently committed an act of treason against another fae clan of the Seelie Court by attempting to kill the clan's leader. Phaedra didn't want to go, but her father thought it was too important to ignore rather than trying to land a husband. This had infuriated Phaedra, the trial had lasted for many years, and she had to take up residence in a far away part of the Underground. She hated being separated from Jareth for so long, but she had only stayed away as a duty to her brother. Unfortunately, her brother was imprisoned, which made Phaedra wonder why she had ever left in the first place. Sirion's imprisonment was inevitable, but her father made her go anyway.

"I do not want anything getting in my way again, not while Jareth is open territory," Phaedra whispered to herself as she turned away from her mother to examine herself in a mirror that hung on the wall. She felt supremely beautiful, she just hated to know that her favorite dress was about to be ruined upon Jareth's arrival. Just as she thought of him once again, she heard a knock on her door.

"Miss Phaedra? His Majesty is here, he is waiting in the antechamber," came a small quivering male voice from outside the room.

"Perfect," Phaedra grinned, "thank you, Gael." And with that, she heard the servant trot off, his duty completed. "Remember how I told you to do this, mother, it has to be perfect...and you have to believe it is true...or else he will be able to read your mind and know it is not, do you understand?"

"Of course, Phaedra, must you coddle me so?" the woman said, batting her daughter out of her chair. Phaedra stood up and walked to the door, placing her hand on the knob before turning back around.

"Grab that, it will do nicely," she whispered, pointing to an old splintered broom that stood propped up in the corner of the room. The older woman snatched up the broom and motioned for her daughter to move on. "Here we go," she whispered as she opened the door and stepped out, her mother following closely behind her with the broom raised.