AN: Beta Reader needed, quite badly. Please E mail me. Please!
Disclaimer: I, in no way own Labyrinth.
*
Strangely Devine Chapter Two: Gwendolyn
*
"Sarah" Emily groaned, and kicked the apartment door with her heavy soled boot. "Get up off your arse and help me!" She shifted the many grocery sacks she'd piled herself down with and kicked the door again. "Sarah!"
Grumbling to herself about her useless friend, Emily set down the packages carefully and struggled to find her key in her handbag. The door clicked open and she prepared to start ranting, expecting full well to see Sarah sitting on the couch with a spoon in her mouth while she watched with glazed over eyes as Erica Kane slapped her traitorous lover.
There was no Sarah though. The ice cream sat melting over the coffee table while the telly blared on. Emily flicked off the television and the flat was immersed in silence so thick she felt compelled to turn it back on. Everything was still.
"Sarah?"
*
"She said she knows Jareth?"
"That's impossible, she's a human."
"I wonder how well she knows him"
"Don't be daft, Gaeton"
"How else would she know him?"
"Is she going to die?"
"Of course not"
"You're not a healer, Gwen, how exactly would you know?"
"Where's an elf when you need one?"
Sarah started to come too as the sounds of voices started crowding through her foggy headache. She felt a bit as if she'd mixed the wrong kinds of alcohol and was now suffering the consequences. She tried to open her eyes but even that small movement felt impossible.
"Is she waking up?"
"Shh, shut up Gaeton!"
A soft and pleasantly cool hand rested on her forehead and pushed her hair back. Sarah leaned into the touch and sighed, it felt lovely against her pain-fused brain.
"Are you all right?"
Sarah attempted to open her eyes again and she saw a kind round face staring into her eyes. It was a woman she'd never seen before in her life. She had large blue eyes that looked soft and concerned and mousy brown hair swept back in a loose bun. Her clothes were very strange, a lacey blouse buttoned up to her neck and a full black skirt that spilled over the side of the bed and looked as if many petticoats held it in shape underneath.
Sarah squinted at her. She wasn't beautiful by any means, rather plain, but her eyes were quite lovely. "Mmm. where am . I" she mumbled, trying to make her mouth work; it felt like sandpaper.
The eyes released some of the concern. "Oh good, you can talk. My name is Gwendolyn, where did you come from? What is your name?"
Sarah blinked and tried to take in the rest of her surroundings. She was laying in a large bed four poster bed made of some rich dark wood. Heavy velvet curtains draped from, the frame of the bed, for privacy of some kind, Sarah expected, but they were drawn back with golden tassels right now. The pillow felt like satin under head and the duvet like some lux fabric she couldn't identify. The walls were made of stone as well as the floors. What she supposed was meant to be a window, but was really a large square cut into the rock was draped in the same heavy maroon velvet as the bed.
It looked, in short, like she was in a castle.
"Where" she mumbled, looking back to Gwendolyn "where am I?"
"You're at Calais" said the woman softly "Where did you come from"
Sarah blinked and frowned "Soho" she said
Gwendolyn's eyebrows shot up "Soho?" she repeated "Is that in the aboveground?"
Sarah gave her a weary look "Yes, is this the Underground?"
"Yes" said Gwendolyn. "Now, what is your name"
Sarah contemplated not telling her but then caught sight of two men standing behind Gwendolyn. They didn't look particularly threatening. One had had the same mousy brown hair and large blue eyes as Gwendolyn; he wore breeches and a billowing white shirt. The other man had curly brown hair that was a bit long. He looked like the sort of guy you would see on the cover of a romance novel taking place in the south of France or the Mediterranean somewhere.
Sarah looked back to Gwendolyn. "What are their names?" she asked pointedly
The woman had the grace to look surprised "Why, this is my brother Gaeton, the High Prince's advisor" she said gesturing to the man who looked a lot like her self and then to the curly haired man "And this is the Captain of the Royal guard, Ilareo"
"Ilareo, the brave" said Gaeton, grinning mischievously
"Shut up" Ilareo warned sharply.
Gaeton didn't look remotely frightened and strode over to the bed. "What's your name then?"
"Erm. Sarah" she said slowly sitting up. "I'm. I. how did I get here?"
"Dolan says you appeared after he performed the peace spell" said Gwendolyn. "He doesn't know why"
"Can I talk to Dolan?" asked Sarah, her eyes narrowing.
"No, he had to return to the throne room for more bleeding peace talks" said Ilareo sourly. He still stood away from the bed as if afraid he would catch a disease Sarah was carrying.
"Oh" she nodded as if she understood "Peace talks for what?"
"Trolls and Nosferatu" Gwendolyn explained carefully "That's why all the royal family had to be present. That's also what the peace spell was cast for. We have no idea how you came out of that" she looked pensive "Perhaps you're the answer to the peace problem?"
"Me?" Sarah asked "How on earth could I do anything?"
"If you are" mused Gaeton "It will just come to you, I wouldn't worry about it"
"I'll keep that in mind" Sarah said leaning away from Gaeton.
A silence fell over the room then. Sarah swallowed and looked back at Gwendolyn. The kind woman raised her eyebrows in surprise at Sarah's desperate face.
"This isn't my first time here" she said in a low voice "To the underground I mean, I. I wished away my younger brother once. and ."
Gwendolyn's eye's glowed with understanding but her brother spoke "Ah, you went through the Labyrinth" said Gaeton "Well, that will be uncomfortable, I reckon. If your brother's still here, I mean."
Sarah shook her head "No, that's not it" she sighed, deciding it wasn't worth going over details. Right now, she wanted to go home. As nice as these people were to her Sarah was out of place. "Look, when can I go home?"
"That all depends on what you're doing here" an icy voice replied from the doorway.
Sarah looked over in shock and surprise as the Goblin King strode over to her bed, his mismatched eyes glinting as he looked her over suspiciously.
She felt like she had been doused in ice-cold water as he got closer. That sparking of electricity ran down her arms again but this time it was just from fear. Although Sarah would never out right admit it, when she had been here the first time she had been terrified out of her mind by him. Of course, anyone would be. Just the title, King of the Goblins, was frightening enough to give one nightmares for a month.
While Sarah had grown out of her awkward teenage years and become a young woman, the Goblin King looked exactly the same. Coldly beautiful, his milk pale skin stretched over high and delicate bone structure, his white blonde hair was still as fluffy and dramatic, casting shadows across his face in its eccentric glory. His lips were thin and drew back into an odd smile that reviled gleaming and sharp teeth. He was, Sarah thought, one of the most beautiful creatures she had ever beheld. Yet the very thought of him made her shiver and recall nightmares in which she was locked in a maze, or a room of stairs with no way to get to her brother.
He rested his gloved hands on the edge of the bed and he met her gaze. "Hello Sarah"
Gaeton's face suddenly registered recognition "That Sarah?" he asked incredulously
Jareth shot him a dark look "Yes, that Sarah" he sneered
Gaeton gave her an appraising look "Well you certainly grew up"
Sarah blushed for a moment and the Goblin King gave an amused smile at this. However, Gwendolyn quickly slapped her brother with a nearby pillow. "Don't be such a pig" she snapped
Sarah was aware her mouth was hanging open and she quickly shut it. When she looked back at him, Jareth was staring at her with a measured gaze. She raised her chin "Why am I here?" she asked
He sneered "You think I know?" he shrugged "It isn't my doing"
Gaeton looked pleased "Defiantly not his doing. It was bad enough the first time you were here, first person to ever get a wished away child back" he gave a barking laugh "No, not Jareth's doing at all. He hasn't a clue why you're here"
Sarah looked to Gaeton "You don't honestly think I'm some sort of like. embodiment of what the ..the. trolls need for peace"
"Does he think that?" Jareth asked, turning his gaze to Gaeton now too.
"Yes" Gaeton shrugged "It makes the most sense"
"Unless of course Dolan made a mistake" Jareth said darkly.
Gwendolyn glared at Jareth "You're really not helping the situation by being here" she said "Don't your parents need you too sit on your High Princely throne and look pretty?"
Sarah felt shocked and suddenly felt a rush of gratitude towards Gwendolyn. But even more to her surprise was Jareth's response.
His sneer melted into a crooked grin that made his eyes crinkle up "Oh, you think I'm pretty, Gwen? Will you marry me, then?"
"No, you're an arse" she said in a sing song voice.
Jareth shrugged "It's a very nice arse" he smirked, causing all males present to snicker while Gwen rolled her eyes. "And anyway" he continued "The talks are over, the Nosferatu want to convene at a later date"
He looked back at Sarah, "You honestly don't know why you're here?" he asked
She pressed her lips together and shook her head.
"Pity" he shrugged again and pushed off from the bed. "Well I suppose if you are going to help with peace we might not throw you out among the commoners" he grinned slyly at her furious expression and decided to press a bit further. He let his gaze flick over her body slowly. "Perhaps you will serve some purpose" he said softly.
Gwendolyn looked like she wanted to hit him as well but restrained herself.
"Gwen, get her some decent clothes. Some of yours will do for now, and she can stay here until we know what to do with her" he made an elegant gesture with his wrist and a crystal appeared. He bounced it around for a moment and then tossed it on the bed next to Sarah.
She picked it up tenderly, almost afraid it would explode on her "what's this?" she asked
He sneered again and drawled, "If you need anything". And with another brief gesture he vanished.
*
A few hours later Sarah found she was still in shock and further more, had been confined to her bed for a few hours by the healer that had come around soon after Jareth's dramatic departure.
Gaeton and Ilareo left sometime ago, having business matters to attend to. This left Sarah in the care of Gwendolyn, possibly the only person here she had any scrap of trust for.
They had talked for well over an hour, mostly about the Above ground, Sarah could see that Gwendolyn was trying to make her feel comfortable and was incredibly grateful. In turn, she asked about the Underground and how it worked. Gwendolyn described the court of Calais, and Jareth's parents the High King and Queen. She explained how in a few years time, the King and Queen would retire and Jareth would become High King.
"He makes a point to remind me every day" she said dully, but then grinned "Fortunately, the way he's carrying on, he'll be Goblin King for a bit longer"
"How do you mean?" asked Sarah, she folded her hands in her lap and watched Gwendolyn intently.
"Well, he needs a wife and he needs an heir before he can take the throne" she explained, "It is required. Prince Gareth, Jareth's nephew" she made a face at the rhyming "Will take over the Goblin Kingdom when he does get around to it all." She laughed "I don't think it'll be anytime soon, anyway."
"Why?" Sarah asked. She was curious to this side of the Goblin King. For years he'd been a nightmare in the back of he mind, a villain whose only purpose was to frighten her. Thinking of him as a member of a large family with sisters and nieces and nephews and friends was a bit strange. Indeed, thinking of him at all in any respect other then scary bad guy was very strange.
"Because" Gwen shrugged "He hasn't been in love yet. Sure, he dallies around with just about every attractive noble woman in the whole court and then some. But he's not been in love. Doesn't think he ever will be in love either" she grinned maliciously and Sarah unconsciously leaned forward "It's a bit silly really, all those gorgeous woman are gagging for him to propose. He doesn't want any of them"
"Why did he ask you then?" Sarah asked, despite herself
Gwendolyn looked surprised and then flushed "Ah, well. His majesty was joking, of course. Once about ten years ago he asked me to marry him. Mostly because I'm not a vicious she devil princess and we've been friends since we were small. I reckon it was a matter of finding a wife, and he couldn't find someone he loved. so he settled for someone he would be comfortable with"
Sarah touched her newfound friends arm "You're right" she said, "He is an arse"
Gwendolyn laughed "No, I love him like a brother. Nothing more, that's why I turned him down. That and well." she flushed again "I'm sort of. Ilareo and i. erm"
Sarah laughed "That's adorable" she said, and then hesitated "Gwen, er. not to be rude or anything. But if you're such close friends with Jareth, why do you call him majesty?"
Gwendolyn shrugged mildly "Force of habit, etiquette calls for all persons not a member of the royal family or of a lower rank to refer to the royals as 'majesty'" and then she looked surprised "Oh, hell" she sighed "I forgot to get you something to wear" she shot Sarah's jeans a look "You can't very well go about dressed in that, people will just wonder if you're mad"
Sarah frowned "What am I to wear, then?"
Gwendolyn sighed "His majesty seems to think you'll do fine wearing one of my dresses but. honestly, darling you're about a third my size. Do they not feed you enough Aboveground?"
"No. I've just always been thin" Sarah said defensively
Gwen brushed her off "In any case, his majesty is a man, so I wouldn't expect him to know a few sizes difference, I'll go get a few dresses and we can try to magic them into fitting you"
Sarah nodded and was about to say something when Gwen vanished right from her spot. Oh, she would have trouble getting used to this. A few minutes later, Gwen reappeared with her arms full of different fabrics in an array of colours. Black velvets, creamy laces, soft minty green silks, ice blue satins as well as stockings in every shade of the rainbow and several pairs of shoes. Gwen dumped it all on the bed and nodded.
"This should do you for a bit until the dress maker can get you some thing better"
Sarah touched one of the silk dress, the colour of cold mint and sighed "Oh, these are lovely" she mumbled
"Yes, well, I suppose it's a step up from dressing like a man" Gwendolyn looked amused and motioned for her to stand "Come on, I don't care what that healer says."
A three way mirror suddenly was between the wardrobe and the desk and Sarah stepped over to it carefully. She half expected her reflections to talk back to her, but they only stared blankly as she did.
"Right, off with that dreadful thing" said Gwendolyn and after a moment Sarah undid the button on her jeans and slid them off. She removed her top next and stared at her bra and knickers clad reflection in the mirror. Why on earth was she so plagued to look like a nine year old boy for the rest of her life? Sure, there were some breasts, but not nearly Fiona or Emily's vast C-cup sizes.
It was then that she caught Gwendolyn giving her a strange look in the mirror. "What?" she asked
Gwendolyn pointed to her knickers, "What on earth are they?" she wanted to know
"Knickers!" Sarah said, abashed and blushing again. Honestly, they were just black cotton bikini cut underwear. They weren't even remotely scandalous. Why Gwendolyn looked shocked out of her mind, was beyond Sarah.
She pointed to her bra "And what is that?" she asked, distaste colouring her words.
Sarah smirked "A brazier" she said "The French invented it"
"The who?" Gwendolyn frowned and waved it off. She went over to the bed and picked up what looked like a corset, a night shirt, and ruffled pantaloons. "Here" she said "This is slightly less. tarty"
"Tarty?" Sarah laughed, "I the Aboveworld this is what some people wear to work" Well, people like Madonna, but it was worth it just to see Gwendolyn's scandalized face.
She sighed "Not here" she said "You're not in the Aboveworld anymore Sarah, so you can't dress like it. Here, give me those horrendous.knickers and put this on"
Sarah raised an eyebrow, "Only that?" she asked
"These are just the undergarments" said Gwendolyn, flushing.
Sarah's eyebrows raised higher "You're joking"
"Hardly" said Gwendolyn dryly "Come on, off with it"
Sarah hesitated and eyed the corset and pantaloons. "I'll make a deal with you" she said, reaching for the hooks on her bra "I'll wear the corset if you forget about the pantaloons"
"You intend to go about wearing those things?" Gwen still looked shocked
"No one will see" Sarah pleaded, "I promise, please?"
"Oh, all right" she conceded and Sarah tossed her bra onto her pile of clothes. "I suppose it won't be for long anyway"
Gwendolyn hesitated for a long moment after she'd helped Sarah into the first piece. "Why do you say that?"
Sarah shrugged "I was only here for thirteen hours last time" she said "I expect once they figure out what they need me for I'll be on my way home. A few days won't kill me and you can always reorder time"
Gwendolyn continued to hesitate. Deciding it wasn't worth sending Sarah into a fit she nodded mutely and wrapped the corset around girl's torso Much to Sarah's displeasure, she began doing up the fastenings. Sarah frowned as the first and second fastenings tightened and then as it started getting higher up her back she struggled to breathe.
"I can't breathe in this" she said, sucking in a gasp of air and letting it out "Why on earth is it so tight?"
Gwendolyn finished up the last one with a firm yank and turned her towards the mirror "That's why" she said
Sarah raised her eyebrows, surprised. What little bosom she had, was now pressed up like inflated balloons. Her normally boyish figure looked somewhat curvy. Perhaps it would be worth it. She took in another short breath and released it. Perhaps not.
Sarah was so busy staring at herself in the mirror she jumped when Gwendolyn shrieked.
"Jareth! Don't' you knock!" she shouted, furious.
Sarah turned around and Gwendolyn jumped in front of her in a mad attempt to shield her. "What are you doing?" Sarah asked pointedly
"You're in your undergarments" Gwen seethed, her arms still flung out to shield Sarah.
Sarah blinked "I'm fully covered" she said.
"Yes, no big deal Gwen" Jareth smirked at her across the room. Sarah decided she did not like the way he was looking at her one bit. Like a lecherous wolf. No, the corset was defiantly not worth it if it included that reaction.
She tossed her hair and tried to muster her courage "What do you want?"
He grinned slowly, his gaze resting on the cleavage spill over at the top of the corset before returning to her face. "You will attend the feast tonight and you will wear one of Gwen's dresses. I'm sure she can educate you on proper etiquette befitting one meeting the High King and Queen. You shall go as my." his eyes glittered in an almost mocking way "Date"
"Why?" she asked scathingly
He smirked again and walked over to the two woman with a certain feline grace. "Because darling," he drawled and reached out to touch her cheek. She flinched away, only making him look even more smug. "Mother and Father wish to speak with you and as I have no date for the evening and I am seated next to them, that is where they want you"
"Fine" she bit out, glaring at him all she could.
"Brilliant" he said and looked at Gwendolyn "Oh honestly, Gwen, you look as if I've hurt her"
"You're being obscene" Gwen snarled "That is no way for the High Prince to behave with a guest"
"Guest" he snorted and looked at Sarah with a funny light shining behind his eyes. He spoke as if he were telling her a secret joke "You must excuse Gwen, she has no sense of humour left after years of teaching spoilt princes their manners"
Sarah nodded meekly and he blew a kiss to Gwendolyn to which she told him where to go. "I'll collect you with in the hour" he said and eyed her state of undress once more, "You should put something a bit more traditional on" and with that he vanished.
Sarah found that instead of being terrified to her core this time, she was more flushing with embarrassment.
"That crass bastard" Gwendolyn muttered "I should tell his mother"
Sarah looked at her "Do you really teach manners?" she asked
"What? Oh, yes" Gwen nodded, looking distracted "I'm the tutor of Princess Cymboline's children. Well. she's Queen of the Dwarves now but she's still technically a Princess and Jareth's sister at that"
"He has a sister?" Sarah asked, surprised
"Oh yes, Cymboline and Aislinn" Gwen nodded "I expect I'll teach her children manners as well, she's to be Queen of the Elves soon. And probably Jareth's children too"
"So. did they just marry them all off then?" Sarah said slowly "The high King and Queen, I mean"
"Oh well, a bit" Gwendolyn looked flushed "His majesty took the Goblin throne because he had nothing better to do, he's sort of lucky in that way. Aislinn married the Elf Prince for political reasons. it's true. But Cymboline, she and King Goneril are really in love. They have six children" she put up her hands "Any road, they're all here for the peace talks, I expect you'll meet them at the feast. Right now we need to dress you"
Sarah watched as she went over to the bed and picked up the icy blue dress that looked as if it were meant to hang off one's shoulders. "First of all" she said as she helped Sarah put it on. "This is a formal dress, the others are all daily clothes. There are very strict conduct rules as far as clothing is considered at the Calais court." She then went on the list what one should wear to various functions or situations. By the time she was finished, Sarah was swimming in a sea of satin. The hem of the dress was just a bit too long and virtually every part of the dress was too big.
Sarah moved her arms a bit and Gwen frowned "I knew it, I'm much bigger then you. You're practically drowning in that thing, it looks all wrong," she ranted.
Sarah sighed and Gwen set about making it fit. To Sarah's amazement all she did was place her hands on the waist of the dress and it shrunk up until it fit like a glove. Sarah gaped, well now, she thought, it looked bloody fantastic.
"There's something wrong still" Gwendolyn said, disgruntled
Sarah turned in the mirror. "It's fabulous, what do you mean?" It looked great to her, her arms and torso were snugly swathed in light blue satin. It had a low seem just under her narrow hips, holding sever pleats in place so that with every move she made the dress swished fluidly around her legs.
"Oh, Gwendolyn, are you sure you don't mind me borrowing it" she asked, clutching at the dress's skirt. For a moment she forgot that she was going to sit next to the Goblin King for dinner, and that she was back in a place that haunted her nightmares. Right now, she let that go. She had a new friend and a new dress in a magnificent bedroom. It would have been like a fairy tale, had she been there by her own choice rather then a backfired spell. No, she would just have to look on the bright side of things for the moment. She would be stubborn and difficult later.
Gwen shrugged, still looking her over critically "You can have it, I have a load of dresses." She fingered the skirt softly "This was one of my favourites when I was much younger, but it's too young for me now."
"You can't be much older then I am" Sarah laughed
Gwendolyn sniggered "How old do you think I am?"
"Twenty-five, maybe?"
"Huh, Sarah, we're." she trailed off and sighed at Sarah's confused expression "We'll have this discussion later" she said softly. With an exasperated sound she waved her hand and a comb appeared in her hand. She gestured towards the vanity table and Sarah sat awkwardly as Gwendolyn did her hair up for her.
"There" said Gwen, touching her cheek softly "Lovely"
*
The High Queen appeared to be having a fit. She was sitting on a chaise loung iin she and the High King's bedchambers, allowing her maid to do her hair up in an elaborate updo while the Captain of her Royal guard explained about the unexpected visitor.
"She's staying in the North Wing" said Ilareo solemly "She has no idea why she's here"
The Queen looked down at her hands. "I shall speak with her at dinner" she said and then with a quick glance at the maid she said "Well, how is she?"
"Beg your pardon?" said Ilareo
The Queen clarified her self, while attempting to subside the twitch in her forehead. "I mean she is not some savage troll is she?"
"Er.no, she seemed to have some control over her tongue" Ilareo grinned
The Queen gave a dramatic sigh "She is not Fae? Then what is she?"
"Human, from the aboveground"
At this she started running her index finger between her eyebrows, in a mad attempt not to further the slow coming age lines. "How on earth has this happened? We know nothing of her. Humans can be so vulgar."
"This one's not, mother"
She jerked her head up in the direction of her son. Jareth was leaning against the extensive mantle over the fire place, fingering the tassels on one of the many decorations. Over the fire was a large portrait of the royal family. One of many throughout the castle, this one depicted a much younger High King and Queen with their three children. One little boy with wild blonde hair and mismatched eyes was staring stoically while he held one of his two blonde sister's hands.
"Oh, Jareth" she said dramatically and held her hand out.
Sighing, Jareth walked over to her and held her hand. "Mother, I would not worry. The Humans are quite a bit more advanced then they were a few centuries ago when you encountered King Henry."
"Dreadful man" she said, closing her eyes, as if the memory was too horrible.
Jareth rolled his eyes "Sarah is coming to the feast on my arm tonight, mother so that you and Father may speak with her. I think you will find her not so offensive that you are unable to eat your meal."
The Queen's eyes narrowed "You don't feel anything for this girl do you?"
Jareth looked briefly alarmed much to Ilareo's glee, but then regained himself. "No, I only know her from when she wished away her younger brother and." his eyes turned dark "She safely got him back after completing the Labyrinth"
"Oh, this is that very same girl?" the Queen looked presently surprised "Well, perhaps we shall have something to discuss other then her unexpected arrival"
Jareth sneered and gave her hand a reassuring pat "Perhaps"
*.
AN: Erm. any criticism at all. any? Is anyone reading this? Or shall I just bin it? More Jareth next chapter, I promise, Beta reader would be hugely appreciated. Thanks to Emerald Skye and Ootari, for being the first with feedback.
Remember to Review!!!
*
Strangely Devine Chapter Two: Gwendolyn
*
"Sarah" Emily groaned, and kicked the apartment door with her heavy soled boot. "Get up off your arse and help me!" She shifted the many grocery sacks she'd piled herself down with and kicked the door again. "Sarah!"
Grumbling to herself about her useless friend, Emily set down the packages carefully and struggled to find her key in her handbag. The door clicked open and she prepared to start ranting, expecting full well to see Sarah sitting on the couch with a spoon in her mouth while she watched with glazed over eyes as Erica Kane slapped her traitorous lover.
There was no Sarah though. The ice cream sat melting over the coffee table while the telly blared on. Emily flicked off the television and the flat was immersed in silence so thick she felt compelled to turn it back on. Everything was still.
"Sarah?"
*
"She said she knows Jareth?"
"That's impossible, she's a human."
"I wonder how well she knows him"
"Don't be daft, Gaeton"
"How else would she know him?"
"Is she going to die?"
"Of course not"
"You're not a healer, Gwen, how exactly would you know?"
"Where's an elf when you need one?"
Sarah started to come too as the sounds of voices started crowding through her foggy headache. She felt a bit as if she'd mixed the wrong kinds of alcohol and was now suffering the consequences. She tried to open her eyes but even that small movement felt impossible.
"Is she waking up?"
"Shh, shut up Gaeton!"
A soft and pleasantly cool hand rested on her forehead and pushed her hair back. Sarah leaned into the touch and sighed, it felt lovely against her pain-fused brain.
"Are you all right?"
Sarah attempted to open her eyes again and she saw a kind round face staring into her eyes. It was a woman she'd never seen before in her life. She had large blue eyes that looked soft and concerned and mousy brown hair swept back in a loose bun. Her clothes were very strange, a lacey blouse buttoned up to her neck and a full black skirt that spilled over the side of the bed and looked as if many petticoats held it in shape underneath.
Sarah squinted at her. She wasn't beautiful by any means, rather plain, but her eyes were quite lovely. "Mmm. where am . I" she mumbled, trying to make her mouth work; it felt like sandpaper.
The eyes released some of the concern. "Oh good, you can talk. My name is Gwendolyn, where did you come from? What is your name?"
Sarah blinked and tried to take in the rest of her surroundings. She was laying in a large bed four poster bed made of some rich dark wood. Heavy velvet curtains draped from, the frame of the bed, for privacy of some kind, Sarah expected, but they were drawn back with golden tassels right now. The pillow felt like satin under head and the duvet like some lux fabric she couldn't identify. The walls were made of stone as well as the floors. What she supposed was meant to be a window, but was really a large square cut into the rock was draped in the same heavy maroon velvet as the bed.
It looked, in short, like she was in a castle.
"Where" she mumbled, looking back to Gwendolyn "where am I?"
"You're at Calais" said the woman softly "Where did you come from"
Sarah blinked and frowned "Soho" she said
Gwendolyn's eyebrows shot up "Soho?" she repeated "Is that in the aboveground?"
Sarah gave her a weary look "Yes, is this the Underground?"
"Yes" said Gwendolyn. "Now, what is your name"
Sarah contemplated not telling her but then caught sight of two men standing behind Gwendolyn. They didn't look particularly threatening. One had had the same mousy brown hair and large blue eyes as Gwendolyn; he wore breeches and a billowing white shirt. The other man had curly brown hair that was a bit long. He looked like the sort of guy you would see on the cover of a romance novel taking place in the south of France or the Mediterranean somewhere.
Sarah looked back to Gwendolyn. "What are their names?" she asked pointedly
The woman had the grace to look surprised "Why, this is my brother Gaeton, the High Prince's advisor" she said gesturing to the man who looked a lot like her self and then to the curly haired man "And this is the Captain of the Royal guard, Ilareo"
"Ilareo, the brave" said Gaeton, grinning mischievously
"Shut up" Ilareo warned sharply.
Gaeton didn't look remotely frightened and strode over to the bed. "What's your name then?"
"Erm. Sarah" she said slowly sitting up. "I'm. I. how did I get here?"
"Dolan says you appeared after he performed the peace spell" said Gwendolyn. "He doesn't know why"
"Can I talk to Dolan?" asked Sarah, her eyes narrowing.
"No, he had to return to the throne room for more bleeding peace talks" said Ilareo sourly. He still stood away from the bed as if afraid he would catch a disease Sarah was carrying.
"Oh" she nodded as if she understood "Peace talks for what?"
"Trolls and Nosferatu" Gwendolyn explained carefully "That's why all the royal family had to be present. That's also what the peace spell was cast for. We have no idea how you came out of that" she looked pensive "Perhaps you're the answer to the peace problem?"
"Me?" Sarah asked "How on earth could I do anything?"
"If you are" mused Gaeton "It will just come to you, I wouldn't worry about it"
"I'll keep that in mind" Sarah said leaning away from Gaeton.
A silence fell over the room then. Sarah swallowed and looked back at Gwendolyn. The kind woman raised her eyebrows in surprise at Sarah's desperate face.
"This isn't my first time here" she said in a low voice "To the underground I mean, I. I wished away my younger brother once. and ."
Gwendolyn's eye's glowed with understanding but her brother spoke "Ah, you went through the Labyrinth" said Gaeton "Well, that will be uncomfortable, I reckon. If your brother's still here, I mean."
Sarah shook her head "No, that's not it" she sighed, deciding it wasn't worth going over details. Right now, she wanted to go home. As nice as these people were to her Sarah was out of place. "Look, when can I go home?"
"That all depends on what you're doing here" an icy voice replied from the doorway.
Sarah looked over in shock and surprise as the Goblin King strode over to her bed, his mismatched eyes glinting as he looked her over suspiciously.
She felt like she had been doused in ice-cold water as he got closer. That sparking of electricity ran down her arms again but this time it was just from fear. Although Sarah would never out right admit it, when she had been here the first time she had been terrified out of her mind by him. Of course, anyone would be. Just the title, King of the Goblins, was frightening enough to give one nightmares for a month.
While Sarah had grown out of her awkward teenage years and become a young woman, the Goblin King looked exactly the same. Coldly beautiful, his milk pale skin stretched over high and delicate bone structure, his white blonde hair was still as fluffy and dramatic, casting shadows across his face in its eccentric glory. His lips were thin and drew back into an odd smile that reviled gleaming and sharp teeth. He was, Sarah thought, one of the most beautiful creatures she had ever beheld. Yet the very thought of him made her shiver and recall nightmares in which she was locked in a maze, or a room of stairs with no way to get to her brother.
He rested his gloved hands on the edge of the bed and he met her gaze. "Hello Sarah"
Gaeton's face suddenly registered recognition "That Sarah?" he asked incredulously
Jareth shot him a dark look "Yes, that Sarah" he sneered
Gaeton gave her an appraising look "Well you certainly grew up"
Sarah blushed for a moment and the Goblin King gave an amused smile at this. However, Gwendolyn quickly slapped her brother with a nearby pillow. "Don't be such a pig" she snapped
Sarah was aware her mouth was hanging open and she quickly shut it. When she looked back at him, Jareth was staring at her with a measured gaze. She raised her chin "Why am I here?" she asked
He sneered "You think I know?" he shrugged "It isn't my doing"
Gaeton looked pleased "Defiantly not his doing. It was bad enough the first time you were here, first person to ever get a wished away child back" he gave a barking laugh "No, not Jareth's doing at all. He hasn't a clue why you're here"
Sarah looked to Gaeton "You don't honestly think I'm some sort of like. embodiment of what the ..the. trolls need for peace"
"Does he think that?" Jareth asked, turning his gaze to Gaeton now too.
"Yes" Gaeton shrugged "It makes the most sense"
"Unless of course Dolan made a mistake" Jareth said darkly.
Gwendolyn glared at Jareth "You're really not helping the situation by being here" she said "Don't your parents need you too sit on your High Princely throne and look pretty?"
Sarah felt shocked and suddenly felt a rush of gratitude towards Gwendolyn. But even more to her surprise was Jareth's response.
His sneer melted into a crooked grin that made his eyes crinkle up "Oh, you think I'm pretty, Gwen? Will you marry me, then?"
"No, you're an arse" she said in a sing song voice.
Jareth shrugged "It's a very nice arse" he smirked, causing all males present to snicker while Gwen rolled her eyes. "And anyway" he continued "The talks are over, the Nosferatu want to convene at a later date"
He looked back at Sarah, "You honestly don't know why you're here?" he asked
She pressed her lips together and shook her head.
"Pity" he shrugged again and pushed off from the bed. "Well I suppose if you are going to help with peace we might not throw you out among the commoners" he grinned slyly at her furious expression and decided to press a bit further. He let his gaze flick over her body slowly. "Perhaps you will serve some purpose" he said softly.
Gwendolyn looked like she wanted to hit him as well but restrained herself.
"Gwen, get her some decent clothes. Some of yours will do for now, and she can stay here until we know what to do with her" he made an elegant gesture with his wrist and a crystal appeared. He bounced it around for a moment and then tossed it on the bed next to Sarah.
She picked it up tenderly, almost afraid it would explode on her "what's this?" she asked
He sneered again and drawled, "If you need anything". And with another brief gesture he vanished.
*
A few hours later Sarah found she was still in shock and further more, had been confined to her bed for a few hours by the healer that had come around soon after Jareth's dramatic departure.
Gaeton and Ilareo left sometime ago, having business matters to attend to. This left Sarah in the care of Gwendolyn, possibly the only person here she had any scrap of trust for.
They had talked for well over an hour, mostly about the Above ground, Sarah could see that Gwendolyn was trying to make her feel comfortable and was incredibly grateful. In turn, she asked about the Underground and how it worked. Gwendolyn described the court of Calais, and Jareth's parents the High King and Queen. She explained how in a few years time, the King and Queen would retire and Jareth would become High King.
"He makes a point to remind me every day" she said dully, but then grinned "Fortunately, the way he's carrying on, he'll be Goblin King for a bit longer"
"How do you mean?" asked Sarah, she folded her hands in her lap and watched Gwendolyn intently.
"Well, he needs a wife and he needs an heir before he can take the throne" she explained, "It is required. Prince Gareth, Jareth's nephew" she made a face at the rhyming "Will take over the Goblin Kingdom when he does get around to it all." She laughed "I don't think it'll be anytime soon, anyway."
"Why?" Sarah asked. She was curious to this side of the Goblin King. For years he'd been a nightmare in the back of he mind, a villain whose only purpose was to frighten her. Thinking of him as a member of a large family with sisters and nieces and nephews and friends was a bit strange. Indeed, thinking of him at all in any respect other then scary bad guy was very strange.
"Because" Gwen shrugged "He hasn't been in love yet. Sure, he dallies around with just about every attractive noble woman in the whole court and then some. But he's not been in love. Doesn't think he ever will be in love either" she grinned maliciously and Sarah unconsciously leaned forward "It's a bit silly really, all those gorgeous woman are gagging for him to propose. He doesn't want any of them"
"Why did he ask you then?" Sarah asked, despite herself
Gwendolyn looked surprised and then flushed "Ah, well. His majesty was joking, of course. Once about ten years ago he asked me to marry him. Mostly because I'm not a vicious she devil princess and we've been friends since we were small. I reckon it was a matter of finding a wife, and he couldn't find someone he loved. so he settled for someone he would be comfortable with"
Sarah touched her newfound friends arm "You're right" she said, "He is an arse"
Gwendolyn laughed "No, I love him like a brother. Nothing more, that's why I turned him down. That and well." she flushed again "I'm sort of. Ilareo and i. erm"
Sarah laughed "That's adorable" she said, and then hesitated "Gwen, er. not to be rude or anything. But if you're such close friends with Jareth, why do you call him majesty?"
Gwendolyn shrugged mildly "Force of habit, etiquette calls for all persons not a member of the royal family or of a lower rank to refer to the royals as 'majesty'" and then she looked surprised "Oh, hell" she sighed "I forgot to get you something to wear" she shot Sarah's jeans a look "You can't very well go about dressed in that, people will just wonder if you're mad"
Sarah frowned "What am I to wear, then?"
Gwendolyn sighed "His majesty seems to think you'll do fine wearing one of my dresses but. honestly, darling you're about a third my size. Do they not feed you enough Aboveground?"
"No. I've just always been thin" Sarah said defensively
Gwen brushed her off "In any case, his majesty is a man, so I wouldn't expect him to know a few sizes difference, I'll go get a few dresses and we can try to magic them into fitting you"
Sarah nodded and was about to say something when Gwen vanished right from her spot. Oh, she would have trouble getting used to this. A few minutes later, Gwen reappeared with her arms full of different fabrics in an array of colours. Black velvets, creamy laces, soft minty green silks, ice blue satins as well as stockings in every shade of the rainbow and several pairs of shoes. Gwen dumped it all on the bed and nodded.
"This should do you for a bit until the dress maker can get you some thing better"
Sarah touched one of the silk dress, the colour of cold mint and sighed "Oh, these are lovely" she mumbled
"Yes, well, I suppose it's a step up from dressing like a man" Gwendolyn looked amused and motioned for her to stand "Come on, I don't care what that healer says."
A three way mirror suddenly was between the wardrobe and the desk and Sarah stepped over to it carefully. She half expected her reflections to talk back to her, but they only stared blankly as she did.
"Right, off with that dreadful thing" said Gwendolyn and after a moment Sarah undid the button on her jeans and slid them off. She removed her top next and stared at her bra and knickers clad reflection in the mirror. Why on earth was she so plagued to look like a nine year old boy for the rest of her life? Sure, there were some breasts, but not nearly Fiona or Emily's vast C-cup sizes.
It was then that she caught Gwendolyn giving her a strange look in the mirror. "What?" she asked
Gwendolyn pointed to her knickers, "What on earth are they?" she wanted to know
"Knickers!" Sarah said, abashed and blushing again. Honestly, they were just black cotton bikini cut underwear. They weren't even remotely scandalous. Why Gwendolyn looked shocked out of her mind, was beyond Sarah.
She pointed to her bra "And what is that?" she asked, distaste colouring her words.
Sarah smirked "A brazier" she said "The French invented it"
"The who?" Gwendolyn frowned and waved it off. She went over to the bed and picked up what looked like a corset, a night shirt, and ruffled pantaloons. "Here" she said "This is slightly less. tarty"
"Tarty?" Sarah laughed, "I the Aboveworld this is what some people wear to work" Well, people like Madonna, but it was worth it just to see Gwendolyn's scandalized face.
She sighed "Not here" she said "You're not in the Aboveworld anymore Sarah, so you can't dress like it. Here, give me those horrendous.knickers and put this on"
Sarah raised an eyebrow, "Only that?" she asked
"These are just the undergarments" said Gwendolyn, flushing.
Sarah's eyebrows raised higher "You're joking"
"Hardly" said Gwendolyn dryly "Come on, off with it"
Sarah hesitated and eyed the corset and pantaloons. "I'll make a deal with you" she said, reaching for the hooks on her bra "I'll wear the corset if you forget about the pantaloons"
"You intend to go about wearing those things?" Gwen still looked shocked
"No one will see" Sarah pleaded, "I promise, please?"
"Oh, all right" she conceded and Sarah tossed her bra onto her pile of clothes. "I suppose it won't be for long anyway"
Gwendolyn hesitated for a long moment after she'd helped Sarah into the first piece. "Why do you say that?"
Sarah shrugged "I was only here for thirteen hours last time" she said "I expect once they figure out what they need me for I'll be on my way home. A few days won't kill me and you can always reorder time"
Gwendolyn continued to hesitate. Deciding it wasn't worth sending Sarah into a fit she nodded mutely and wrapped the corset around girl's torso Much to Sarah's displeasure, she began doing up the fastenings. Sarah frowned as the first and second fastenings tightened and then as it started getting higher up her back she struggled to breathe.
"I can't breathe in this" she said, sucking in a gasp of air and letting it out "Why on earth is it so tight?"
Gwendolyn finished up the last one with a firm yank and turned her towards the mirror "That's why" she said
Sarah raised her eyebrows, surprised. What little bosom she had, was now pressed up like inflated balloons. Her normally boyish figure looked somewhat curvy. Perhaps it would be worth it. She took in another short breath and released it. Perhaps not.
Sarah was so busy staring at herself in the mirror she jumped when Gwendolyn shrieked.
"Jareth! Don't' you knock!" she shouted, furious.
Sarah turned around and Gwendolyn jumped in front of her in a mad attempt to shield her. "What are you doing?" Sarah asked pointedly
"You're in your undergarments" Gwen seethed, her arms still flung out to shield Sarah.
Sarah blinked "I'm fully covered" she said.
"Yes, no big deal Gwen" Jareth smirked at her across the room. Sarah decided she did not like the way he was looking at her one bit. Like a lecherous wolf. No, the corset was defiantly not worth it if it included that reaction.
She tossed her hair and tried to muster her courage "What do you want?"
He grinned slowly, his gaze resting on the cleavage spill over at the top of the corset before returning to her face. "You will attend the feast tonight and you will wear one of Gwen's dresses. I'm sure she can educate you on proper etiquette befitting one meeting the High King and Queen. You shall go as my." his eyes glittered in an almost mocking way "Date"
"Why?" she asked scathingly
He smirked again and walked over to the two woman with a certain feline grace. "Because darling," he drawled and reached out to touch her cheek. She flinched away, only making him look even more smug. "Mother and Father wish to speak with you and as I have no date for the evening and I am seated next to them, that is where they want you"
"Fine" she bit out, glaring at him all she could.
"Brilliant" he said and looked at Gwendolyn "Oh honestly, Gwen, you look as if I've hurt her"
"You're being obscene" Gwen snarled "That is no way for the High Prince to behave with a guest"
"Guest" he snorted and looked at Sarah with a funny light shining behind his eyes. He spoke as if he were telling her a secret joke "You must excuse Gwen, she has no sense of humour left after years of teaching spoilt princes their manners"
Sarah nodded meekly and he blew a kiss to Gwendolyn to which she told him where to go. "I'll collect you with in the hour" he said and eyed her state of undress once more, "You should put something a bit more traditional on" and with that he vanished.
Sarah found that instead of being terrified to her core this time, she was more flushing with embarrassment.
"That crass bastard" Gwendolyn muttered "I should tell his mother"
Sarah looked at her "Do you really teach manners?" she asked
"What? Oh, yes" Gwen nodded, looking distracted "I'm the tutor of Princess Cymboline's children. Well. she's Queen of the Dwarves now but she's still technically a Princess and Jareth's sister at that"
"He has a sister?" Sarah asked, surprised
"Oh yes, Cymboline and Aislinn" Gwen nodded "I expect I'll teach her children manners as well, she's to be Queen of the Elves soon. And probably Jareth's children too"
"So. did they just marry them all off then?" Sarah said slowly "The high King and Queen, I mean"
"Oh well, a bit" Gwendolyn looked flushed "His majesty took the Goblin throne because he had nothing better to do, he's sort of lucky in that way. Aislinn married the Elf Prince for political reasons. it's true. But Cymboline, she and King Goneril are really in love. They have six children" she put up her hands "Any road, they're all here for the peace talks, I expect you'll meet them at the feast. Right now we need to dress you"
Sarah watched as she went over to the bed and picked up the icy blue dress that looked as if it were meant to hang off one's shoulders. "First of all" she said as she helped Sarah put it on. "This is a formal dress, the others are all daily clothes. There are very strict conduct rules as far as clothing is considered at the Calais court." She then went on the list what one should wear to various functions or situations. By the time she was finished, Sarah was swimming in a sea of satin. The hem of the dress was just a bit too long and virtually every part of the dress was too big.
Sarah moved her arms a bit and Gwen frowned "I knew it, I'm much bigger then you. You're practically drowning in that thing, it looks all wrong," she ranted.
Sarah sighed and Gwen set about making it fit. To Sarah's amazement all she did was place her hands on the waist of the dress and it shrunk up until it fit like a glove. Sarah gaped, well now, she thought, it looked bloody fantastic.
"There's something wrong still" Gwendolyn said, disgruntled
Sarah turned in the mirror. "It's fabulous, what do you mean?" It looked great to her, her arms and torso were snugly swathed in light blue satin. It had a low seem just under her narrow hips, holding sever pleats in place so that with every move she made the dress swished fluidly around her legs.
"Oh, Gwendolyn, are you sure you don't mind me borrowing it" she asked, clutching at the dress's skirt. For a moment she forgot that she was going to sit next to the Goblin King for dinner, and that she was back in a place that haunted her nightmares. Right now, she let that go. She had a new friend and a new dress in a magnificent bedroom. It would have been like a fairy tale, had she been there by her own choice rather then a backfired spell. No, she would just have to look on the bright side of things for the moment. She would be stubborn and difficult later.
Gwen shrugged, still looking her over critically "You can have it, I have a load of dresses." She fingered the skirt softly "This was one of my favourites when I was much younger, but it's too young for me now."
"You can't be much older then I am" Sarah laughed
Gwendolyn sniggered "How old do you think I am?"
"Twenty-five, maybe?"
"Huh, Sarah, we're." she trailed off and sighed at Sarah's confused expression "We'll have this discussion later" she said softly. With an exasperated sound she waved her hand and a comb appeared in her hand. She gestured towards the vanity table and Sarah sat awkwardly as Gwendolyn did her hair up for her.
"There" said Gwen, touching her cheek softly "Lovely"
*
The High Queen appeared to be having a fit. She was sitting on a chaise loung iin she and the High King's bedchambers, allowing her maid to do her hair up in an elaborate updo while the Captain of her Royal guard explained about the unexpected visitor.
"She's staying in the North Wing" said Ilareo solemly "She has no idea why she's here"
The Queen looked down at her hands. "I shall speak with her at dinner" she said and then with a quick glance at the maid she said "Well, how is she?"
"Beg your pardon?" said Ilareo
The Queen clarified her self, while attempting to subside the twitch in her forehead. "I mean she is not some savage troll is she?"
"Er.no, she seemed to have some control over her tongue" Ilareo grinned
The Queen gave a dramatic sigh "She is not Fae? Then what is she?"
"Human, from the aboveground"
At this she started running her index finger between her eyebrows, in a mad attempt not to further the slow coming age lines. "How on earth has this happened? We know nothing of her. Humans can be so vulgar."
"This one's not, mother"
She jerked her head up in the direction of her son. Jareth was leaning against the extensive mantle over the fire place, fingering the tassels on one of the many decorations. Over the fire was a large portrait of the royal family. One of many throughout the castle, this one depicted a much younger High King and Queen with their three children. One little boy with wild blonde hair and mismatched eyes was staring stoically while he held one of his two blonde sister's hands.
"Oh, Jareth" she said dramatically and held her hand out.
Sighing, Jareth walked over to her and held her hand. "Mother, I would not worry. The Humans are quite a bit more advanced then they were a few centuries ago when you encountered King Henry."
"Dreadful man" she said, closing her eyes, as if the memory was too horrible.
Jareth rolled his eyes "Sarah is coming to the feast on my arm tonight, mother so that you and Father may speak with her. I think you will find her not so offensive that you are unable to eat your meal."
The Queen's eyes narrowed "You don't feel anything for this girl do you?"
Jareth looked briefly alarmed much to Ilareo's glee, but then regained himself. "No, I only know her from when she wished away her younger brother and." his eyes turned dark "She safely got him back after completing the Labyrinth"
"Oh, this is that very same girl?" the Queen looked presently surprised "Well, perhaps we shall have something to discuss other then her unexpected arrival"
Jareth sneered and gave her hand a reassuring pat "Perhaps"
*.
AN: Erm. any criticism at all. any? Is anyone reading this? Or shall I just bin it? More Jareth next chapter, I promise, Beta reader would be hugely appreciated. Thanks to Emerald Skye and Ootari, for being the first with feedback.
Remember to Review!!!