AN: Thank you to everyone who reviewed and my beta reader, who is fabulous.
Disclaimer: I do not claim to own Labyrinth, no copyright infringement intended.
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Strangely Devine Chapter Three: The Feast
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"Ready to go?" Jareth spoke softly. Gwendolyn and Sarah both jumped at his unannounced presence and turned to glare. He fought back the urge to grin. It gave him some sick pleasure to torment this girl, and he knew exactly why. After nearly five years she was back in his territory, but not at all under the circumstances Jareth would prefer. No, after relentless brooding following Sarah's initial win he quite would have liked for her to go through the labyrinth once more. If she made it once there was hardly any chance of her going through again, was there?
Gwendolyn said this was born out of his almost obsessive need to dominate and rule superior, a character trait (Some would say flaw) that ran in the family. Whatever it was, this girl had sorely put him out. No one had ever made it through before, what on earth was so special about this one. Nothing, as far as he could see.
She was tenacious, it was true, and spoiled and stubborn, none of which seemed to fit the mould for one to best his Labyrinth. In any case she had, and it drove Jareth mad that he couldn't figure out why. To a more extreme point it drove him to want to prove it all an accident.
Gaeton had only joked about a little girl beating him once, and it had been the last time after seeing Jareth's reaction to his teasing. A reaction involving threats that were so creative, Gaeton didn't doubt he wouldn't try at least some of them.
"Why don't you just knock on the door like a normal person?" Sarah asked, glaring at him as she buckled her left shoe. At least she and Gwendolyn shared the same shoe size.
"Because his majesty finds it ever so dramatic to go poofing about the castle when he could just walk" Gwendolyn snickered
Jareth ignored her and folded his gloved hands "Sarah, I am not a normal person"
Gwendolyn and Sarah exchanged a look and suddenly Jareth wasn't so sure he wanted them getting so close. Gwen was the only girl he dared to call a friend, and she was bad enough. Sarah's temper combined with Gwendolyn's lack of fear for him could possibly be quite disastrous.
"It's daft, if you ask me" Sarah muttered
"Yes, well, no one did ask you" Jareth held out his arm and she rolled her eyes at it. He gave her a sharp look across the room "Sarah" he snapped warningly
Sarah sighed, for some reason Gwendolyn instilled some amount of courage in her that didn't make her fear him quite so much. Shoulders squared and chin held high, she strode across the flagstones to his side.
"You look lovely" he said in a voice that couldn't have been less sincere as he held out a hand to her. Sarah glanced at Gwendolyn who nodded for her to take it and then vanished herself away. A cold dread filled Sarah. Oh no, the last thing she wanted was to be left alone with him.
Her panic must have appeared on her face because Jareth lowered his hand and was suddenly standing very close behind her. One of his arms came around her waist. "What's wrong, Sarah" he breathed against her throat. "You're not still afraid of me are you?"
She went ridged and felt her pulse quicken so that her heart felt as if it were about to beat out of her chest. She bit her lip. "Of course not" it had been meant to make her sound sure of herself but her voice cracked nervously and Jareth laughed softly, his warm breath sliding against her cheek.
He pulled her closer still. "Really?" he said, fingering one of the satin pleats in her dress. Sarah's head jerked back but she found she couldn't move out of his grasp. His fingers brushed over her pelvic bone and against her stomach and along her ribs. Sarah was aware that while she was scared stiff, it was only half out of her fear for him, and half out of her reaction to him. She already knew he was quite attractive, and it was obvious he knew this as well. It would be a bad thing if she were attracted to him. And having him touch her was not helping the case.
She attempted to wriggle away again and then grasped at his hands and held onto tight to keep them from roaming further. Much to her surprise he twisted them off her body and held tight to her own hands. Sarah squeezed her eyes shut and in the next instant she was standing in a large mahogany panelled room with many portraits of beautiful blonde people hanging on the walls and deep brown leather couches and overstuffed chairs. She was sure that had this been the above ground the only thing missing was a pool table and a deer's head mounted on the wall. There was indeed some kind of creature she couldn't identify mounted on the wall. Glancing around a bit further she saw there was also a bar, and behind it stood a man in a costume that looked like a cross between a gypsy peasant and a some Tudor style costume. He was pouring amber liquid from a decanter onto a tray full of goblets.
"Where are we?" she asked, very much aware that unlike her bedroom the floor was not flagstone but solid shiny white marble. This did not look like a castle at all. "Drinking room" Jareth whispered. He was still, to her shock, holding onto her hands and standing quite a bit too close for her liking.
"Your majesty." Gaeton and Gwendolyn were coming over from the bar. They both bowed to Jareth and then gave Sarah a strange look. She blinked and twisted out of his grasp to hide behind Gwendolyn.
"That won't do" Gwendolyn sighed "You are his date for the evening, you must stay on his arm."
Sarah shook her head furiously "No way" she said glaring at Jareth who shrugged and grinned slyly.
Gwendolyn fixed him with a glare, and Sarah was sure if she had anything heavier then a goblet she would have beat him over the head with it. "What is your problem? Why can't you just be nice to her, instead of scaring her?"
"I'm not scared" Sarah said defiantly
"There you go" Jareth shrugged, gesturing to Sarah "She's not scared"
Gaeton laughed but quickly pretended to be coughing and turned into his sleeve
"That doesn't mean you aren't being horrible" Sarah said as she attempted to put even more distance between herself and the Goblin King
"Look Sarah," said Gaeton, clapping her on the back while his blue eyes twinkled "He doesn't mean any harm, he's just a sore loser. Ignore his majesty's blatant attempts to feel superior and tell him he's being an arse" He grinned at Jareth whose face was blank "Someone has too"
Sarah opened her mouth and Jareth cut her off "Say it, and I'll have you thrown in the dungeon" he said coldly, his mismatched eyes glowed in a way that Sarah didn't doubt he would. He grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her back to his side. "You forget yourself, Sarah. While these two are exempt from such things being my oldest friends, you however, are one of my dearest enemies"
"She's not though Jareth, she was just-"
"Close your mouth Gwendolyn" he said in a deadly voice.
Gaeton made a frustrated sound and bowed deeply, Gwendolyn followed suit, glaring from under her eyelashes. "We're ever so sorry, you're majesty" Gaeton said from his humbled position "Please, take pity on us, we meant no harm and are not worthy. By telling this girl your true nature we did not wish to start a riot, only make her feel more comfortable. Please have mercy" And with that brother and sister rose and vanished from the room.
Jareth's face was still blank and he gripped Sarah's arm tighter. She was relatively sure she had just seen the Goblin King have a row with his best mates, but she wasn't quite sure. It was still difficult to grasp him having any friends.
The icy look on his face broke only by a squeal of laughter. Jareth turned around, dragging her with him. Something that might have been a joyous smile broke out across her face. Again, Sarah wasn't sure. They were facing a short round woman with delicate features set in a pudgy face. She wore a misty rose coloured dress that matched her rosy cheeks. Next to her was an equally plump man with curly red hair on his wide brow. They were the happiest looking people Sarah had seen her whole time in the underground.
Jareth let go of her arm and held his arms out to hug the woman. She kept squealing and laughing his name, while the man, her husband Sarah presumed watched with some giddy look on his face.
"Ooh," she squealed "Jareth, how I've missed you. You know, Rhian and Morawen, they do nothing but talk about when they'll get to see you next. I think they've a bit of a crush. And Gareth, oh he's dying to spend some time with you. He says he's going to stay the summer at the Goblin castle and have you show him how things go. OH! Rhian and Morawen are so jealous! But you Jareth, you look the same, haven't found the right girl yet? Oh, don't worry, brother, you will" she caught sight of Sarah over Jareth's shoulder and she patted his arm. "Or have you!"
Sarah found herself locked in a crushing embrace. "Oh, you're simply gorgeous, you know I had your figure before I had my babies. I am Cymboline, by the way, dear. That's what children do to you, don't they. Well, perhaps not quite the figure, I do love food. Tell me, how on earth did you meet my brother? Are you in love? Have you set a date for marriage?"
Sarah looked franticly to Jareth. She was surprised to see he looked just as alarmed as she felt. Cymboline's husband clapped him on the shoulder. "She's a lovely girl, Jareth. What's her name then?"
"Yes, darling, what is your name?"
"Sarah" she squeaked out.
"Oh, are you shy, dearie?" Cymboline bubbled and put her arm around Sarah "I must say, he's never dated a shy girl before. Like that Kiara," she pulled a face "Dreadful girl, sure she was noble, but she had no grace. You darling, you have grace. And poise, poise makes an excellent Queen. What was the last one's name Jareth? Bella? That Bella, she had no poise"
Jareth's feature became grim as he explained to Sarah "My sister refers to all of my past. acquaintances as 'that' whatever their name was"
"Oh, well, er" was all Sarah could mumble. People were getting the wrong idea.
"Mother!" Cymboline gushed suddenly letting go of Sarah in favour of a tall statuesque blonde woman. She was perhaps fifty to Sarah, and looked infinitely beautiful. Her blue eyes were cold but held a spark of something behind the icy surface. She embraced her daughter in a tight hug while several other people milling around dropped into deep bows with mumblings of 'Your highness' and 'majesty'. She simply waved them off and smiled proudly at her daughter.
"And where are my gorgeous grandchildren?" she asked
Cymboline's husband stepped forward and bowed "Their nanny is bringing them along to the feast shortly, your majesty"
"Goneril, how are you?" The High Queen and Goneril exchanged air kisses and Cymboline practically bubbled all over her pink dress.
"I am well, your majesty" he nodded and stepped aside so the Queen could speak with Jareth and Sarah. "Your son has a very charming friend" he continued, which Sarah found rather strange as she had not yet opened her mouth in order to say one such charming thing.
The high Queen raised her eyebrows at her son and then took Sarah's hands in both of hers. "I did not know my son was being accompanied by such a beautiful friend," she said, kissing her cheeks. Sarah froze, unsure what to do. Did she bow? Kiss her feet? Beat her chest and grunt?
Luckily Jareth stepped forward "Mother" he said and she kissed his cheeks as well. "This is Sarah"
The queen did not look at Sarah again. "I thought you were bringing the human so I may speak with her" she said in a low voice.
Jareth grinned crookedly and caught Sarah's eye "This is the human, Mother"
The Queen's icicle eyes went as round as saucers and she took in Sarah from head to toe. "I must admit..." she trailed off before she could admit anything though. "Sarah, it is a pleasure to meet you, I thought perhaps we could discuss the terms of your stay here with us over dinner"
"Erm, yes your majesty" Sarah said, doing her best to bow her head slightly. She caught Jareth's eye and he nodded encouragingly "It would be an honour"
"Well" said the Queen, her stiff smile melting into a more natural one as she took in Sarah's face. "I must say, you are indeed the most charming human I have ever met" she nodded graciously "And indeed, Jareth, she is also the most beautiful human I have ever met. If didn't know better, with those eyes I would say she was Fae"
Jareth continued to hold Sarah's gaze "Yes, Mother, she is quite beautiful"
Sarah felt her heart sink to her feet.
*
The feast was a very grand affair. What Sarah supposed was a ballroom held many long tables dressed in expensive linens and shining silver cutlery. The people seated at these long tables were all very beautiful and strange at the same time. Sarah spotted Gaeton and Gwendolyn at the table nearest the entrance, they were sipping wine from their goblets and talking to what looked like a troll.
Jareth gripped her arm tightly as they followed Cymboline and Goneril into the hall and took their places at the highest table in the room.
To Sarah's left sat a woman so utterly blonde and gorgeous, Sarah was sure she would be some jet setting model in the Aboveworld. She looked at Jareth, and much to his amusement inclined her head curiously.
"My sister, Aislinn" he said softly and he pulled a face. "Queen of the Elves, soon, you know"
"Gwendolyn told me" Sarah nodded, not looking at him.
"Ah" he said. There was a long period of silence during which Sarah began to think maybe she would just eat her dinner in silence and go back to that room and sleep, then in the morning she would be transported back to the Aboveworld. Much to her dismay Jareth put his arm around her and twisted her to face Aislinn.
"My gorgeous, darling, elf infested sister" he said in overly sweet tones. Aislinn looked up, cocking one eyebrow with something like amusement flashing across her pretty face. Jareth drummed his fingers on Sarah's bare shoulder and looked at her shortly before continuing. "I would like you to meet Sarah. Sarah, this is my sister Aislinn, she's married to Prince Egeus, who is waiting with baited breath for his father to kick it so he can be King. In the meantime Egeus and Aislinn have sex with everything that moves."
"Hello Jareth, still king of the Goblins?" Egeus said pleasantly. He was one of the men from the room Sarah had.... Appeared in. His face echoed concern when he looked at her. "Feel better, luv?"
"Oh, yes" she nodded.
"So, how are you really, Jareth?" asked Aislinn, her expression was stiff but there was belying tenderness for her younger brother. Tenderness, Sarah was faintly sure he didn't deserve. She looked up at him and his face was that blank mask of control she saw so often. Honestly, did he really think he was fooling anyone? "We hadn't the chance to speak earlier, what with you being how you usually are"
Sarah shuddered when his fingers brushed over her shoulder and then was ashamed to admit to shivers extending in every nerve as he carelessly traced her prominent collarbones with his index finger.
"All right" he said softly looking down at the table cloth. He looked bitter for a moment. "Better, as far as the Goblin's are concerned, worse as far as the usual is concerned" he frowned and Aislinn nodded, understanding flashing in her frozen eyes.
"And." she said
"Even worse" he answered immediately.
Sarah attempted to shrug away from Jareth's hand but it continued to trace the same path, slowly and deliberately. She tried not to think about what would happen if it had been his mouth.
A hush fell over the room as the High King and Queen entered and took their place between their son and daughters. The King made a toast and it looked to Sarah like everyone except those at the high table were paying attention. Egeus and Aislinn muttered things to each other out of the corner of their mouths; Cymboline and Goneril fussed over a pair of identical twin girls while a young dwarf girl tried to control four children at once. The Queen was staring at Sarah and Jareth and neither noticed. Sarah was, for the most part, attempting to ignore him but the goblin king was making it quite hard. She kept wriggling away and he would keep pulling her back by the elbow and whispering some threat in her ear.
All through dinner this continued. Sarah bit her tongue to keep from saying anything besides the usual stubborn show of wills every now and then. At last The High Queen set down her knife and fork and asked if Jareth would please allow Sarah to take his seat. There was a big elaborate show of him pulling her chair out and Sarah standing and taking his seat and then Jareth disappeared for a few moments only to come back and seat himself next to his sister. They bent their blonde heads together and started talking in low clipped tones.
"Sarah" The Queen said, fixing the girl with an odd look "I must admit, you are not what I expected"
"I beg your pardon, your highness, but I hardly expected to be here"
"Then you have no idea why you are at this place?" the Queen folded her hands gently in her lap.
Sarah shook her head sadly "I'm very sorry, but I don't"
The older woman sighed raggedly and looked over at her husband. He was deep in conversation with his youngest granddaughter and had her propped up on his knee. She gave a wistful kind of sigh "As I said, you are not what I expected. And since no one outside of our family, except of course, for the healer and my son's good friends know what you are, then I should think that for your time here, you shall be Lady Sarah" she smiled "The daughter of the Marquis of a little fishing village up north"
Sarah nodded "Yes, your highness. But how long do you expect me to be here?"
The woman looked surprised "Well, to be honest, my dear. I really do not know."
"Yes, but" Sarah felt agitation creep into her voice. "I do have a life in the Aboveworld that I need to get back too. can't Dolan send me back?"
The Queen gazed at her for a long time and then looked down at her hands. "Sarah, the only humans that go between our two worlds are those children who are wished away to my son." A creeping sense of dread started spreading through Sarah's stomach. "There was only one case in which a human went back; and that was when you solved the Labyrinth and retrieved your brother"
Sarah leaned against the hard high back chair she was sitting in and folded her hands "A human has never gone back before?" she heard herself ask faintly. She was imagining never seeing Emily or her Family and Toby again. Being stuck in this world where the being who infested her nightmares when she was younger actually walked and had friends and family.
"You didn't realize this?" The queen said softly and Sarah shook her head slowly "Dolan will do what he can, my dear. For now. you should just. accommodate"
The rest of the evening went by in a blur. Sarah didn't eat any of the food placed in front of her; she simply pushed it around her plate and sat quietly. Jareth apparently grew tired of toying with her for he let her alone to talk to his sister and mother. From what Sarah heard it was mostly political dealings with trolls and Nosferatu, she failed to notice the wary looks the Goblin King continued to send her way. It didn't matter.
As the night drew to a close, he shot her one last look before apologizing to his parents and explaining that he and Sarah were 'far to exhausted to be of any amusement to you further'. He gripped her hand and she let him, still feeling dazed. Had she been a bit more aware, Sarah would have realized he teleported them to her bedroom door instead of right inside. He was being courteous, something she would have never expected.
Sarah moved to open the door but it was locked. Sighing, she made a sight movement, indicating he should let her in. With a wave of Jareth's hand the door blew back and Sarah stepped into her chambers. With a last fleeting look she began to shut the door but Jareth stopped it with his hand.
"Wait"
She stared up at him. "What" her tone was dull and tierd.
"Gwen will bring you breakfast and help you dress" he said softly, "Are you all right?"
"What's this?" her voice rose with sarcasm "Concern? Well, from the mighty goblin king himself"
Jareth's eyes darkened and he looked on the verge of slamming the door shut and locking her in, but restrained himself. "Don't forget your place, Sarah"
"Begging your Pardon, majesty" she said shortly and moved to shut the door again but he stopped it again. With a frustrated sound she looked at him pointedly "I'm stuck here and no one knows why. I don't get to go home, and I have to wear a corset. To make it all the more worse, it's all taking place in a world I'd convinced myself was s dream"
Jareth's eyes softened "You thought it was a dream?"
She frowned "Of course not. I didn't want to believe it was real. You don't understand how it is up there, they don't believe in anything, and trolls and pixies and Goblin Kings is sort of a stretch of the imagination" she sighed "So I told myself it was all a very strange dream"
There was a long pause and then Jareth said "But you never really thought I was a dream, did you"
She gazed at his perfect face for a long moment and one of her slim hands rose to touch him but she stilled it just in time. "You were the part I convinced myself was a dream" she said, her voice soft and floaty. Then she frowned "Or the nightmare" she paused for a long while and then shut the door. He let her this time.
"Goodnight, Sarah"
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AN: Well, now all that intro stuff is out of the way we can get on to more interesting things, bruhaha. Thanks: Emerald Skye: *bows* thank you very much, I'm glad you like it, Ootari: I'm going as fast as I can! :D Gwenevire: *while munching a cookie* I'm glad you think it's original, I'll try to live up to that Kristin; *runs away from the wet noodle and sits down to write faster*
Remember to Review
Disclaimer: I do not claim to own Labyrinth, no copyright infringement intended.
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Strangely Devine Chapter Three: The Feast
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"Ready to go?" Jareth spoke softly. Gwendolyn and Sarah both jumped at his unannounced presence and turned to glare. He fought back the urge to grin. It gave him some sick pleasure to torment this girl, and he knew exactly why. After nearly five years she was back in his territory, but not at all under the circumstances Jareth would prefer. No, after relentless brooding following Sarah's initial win he quite would have liked for her to go through the labyrinth once more. If she made it once there was hardly any chance of her going through again, was there?
Gwendolyn said this was born out of his almost obsessive need to dominate and rule superior, a character trait (Some would say flaw) that ran in the family. Whatever it was, this girl had sorely put him out. No one had ever made it through before, what on earth was so special about this one. Nothing, as far as he could see.
She was tenacious, it was true, and spoiled and stubborn, none of which seemed to fit the mould for one to best his Labyrinth. In any case she had, and it drove Jareth mad that he couldn't figure out why. To a more extreme point it drove him to want to prove it all an accident.
Gaeton had only joked about a little girl beating him once, and it had been the last time after seeing Jareth's reaction to his teasing. A reaction involving threats that were so creative, Gaeton didn't doubt he wouldn't try at least some of them.
"Why don't you just knock on the door like a normal person?" Sarah asked, glaring at him as she buckled her left shoe. At least she and Gwendolyn shared the same shoe size.
"Because his majesty finds it ever so dramatic to go poofing about the castle when he could just walk" Gwendolyn snickered
Jareth ignored her and folded his gloved hands "Sarah, I am not a normal person"
Gwendolyn and Sarah exchanged a look and suddenly Jareth wasn't so sure he wanted them getting so close. Gwen was the only girl he dared to call a friend, and she was bad enough. Sarah's temper combined with Gwendolyn's lack of fear for him could possibly be quite disastrous.
"It's daft, if you ask me" Sarah muttered
"Yes, well, no one did ask you" Jareth held out his arm and she rolled her eyes at it. He gave her a sharp look across the room "Sarah" he snapped warningly
Sarah sighed, for some reason Gwendolyn instilled some amount of courage in her that didn't make her fear him quite so much. Shoulders squared and chin held high, she strode across the flagstones to his side.
"You look lovely" he said in a voice that couldn't have been less sincere as he held out a hand to her. Sarah glanced at Gwendolyn who nodded for her to take it and then vanished herself away. A cold dread filled Sarah. Oh no, the last thing she wanted was to be left alone with him.
Her panic must have appeared on her face because Jareth lowered his hand and was suddenly standing very close behind her. One of his arms came around her waist. "What's wrong, Sarah" he breathed against her throat. "You're not still afraid of me are you?"
She went ridged and felt her pulse quicken so that her heart felt as if it were about to beat out of her chest. She bit her lip. "Of course not" it had been meant to make her sound sure of herself but her voice cracked nervously and Jareth laughed softly, his warm breath sliding against her cheek.
He pulled her closer still. "Really?" he said, fingering one of the satin pleats in her dress. Sarah's head jerked back but she found she couldn't move out of his grasp. His fingers brushed over her pelvic bone and against her stomach and along her ribs. Sarah was aware that while she was scared stiff, it was only half out of her fear for him, and half out of her reaction to him. She already knew he was quite attractive, and it was obvious he knew this as well. It would be a bad thing if she were attracted to him. And having him touch her was not helping the case.
She attempted to wriggle away again and then grasped at his hands and held onto tight to keep them from roaming further. Much to her surprise he twisted them off her body and held tight to her own hands. Sarah squeezed her eyes shut and in the next instant she was standing in a large mahogany panelled room with many portraits of beautiful blonde people hanging on the walls and deep brown leather couches and overstuffed chairs. She was sure that had this been the above ground the only thing missing was a pool table and a deer's head mounted on the wall. There was indeed some kind of creature she couldn't identify mounted on the wall. Glancing around a bit further she saw there was also a bar, and behind it stood a man in a costume that looked like a cross between a gypsy peasant and a some Tudor style costume. He was pouring amber liquid from a decanter onto a tray full of goblets.
"Where are we?" she asked, very much aware that unlike her bedroom the floor was not flagstone but solid shiny white marble. This did not look like a castle at all. "Drinking room" Jareth whispered. He was still, to her shock, holding onto her hands and standing quite a bit too close for her liking.
"Your majesty." Gaeton and Gwendolyn were coming over from the bar. They both bowed to Jareth and then gave Sarah a strange look. She blinked and twisted out of his grasp to hide behind Gwendolyn.
"That won't do" Gwendolyn sighed "You are his date for the evening, you must stay on his arm."
Sarah shook her head furiously "No way" she said glaring at Jareth who shrugged and grinned slyly.
Gwendolyn fixed him with a glare, and Sarah was sure if she had anything heavier then a goblet she would have beat him over the head with it. "What is your problem? Why can't you just be nice to her, instead of scaring her?"
"I'm not scared" Sarah said defiantly
"There you go" Jareth shrugged, gesturing to Sarah "She's not scared"
Gaeton laughed but quickly pretended to be coughing and turned into his sleeve
"That doesn't mean you aren't being horrible" Sarah said as she attempted to put even more distance between herself and the Goblin King
"Look Sarah," said Gaeton, clapping her on the back while his blue eyes twinkled "He doesn't mean any harm, he's just a sore loser. Ignore his majesty's blatant attempts to feel superior and tell him he's being an arse" He grinned at Jareth whose face was blank "Someone has too"
Sarah opened her mouth and Jareth cut her off "Say it, and I'll have you thrown in the dungeon" he said coldly, his mismatched eyes glowed in a way that Sarah didn't doubt he would. He grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her back to his side. "You forget yourself, Sarah. While these two are exempt from such things being my oldest friends, you however, are one of my dearest enemies"
"She's not though Jareth, she was just-"
"Close your mouth Gwendolyn" he said in a deadly voice.
Gaeton made a frustrated sound and bowed deeply, Gwendolyn followed suit, glaring from under her eyelashes. "We're ever so sorry, you're majesty" Gaeton said from his humbled position "Please, take pity on us, we meant no harm and are not worthy. By telling this girl your true nature we did not wish to start a riot, only make her feel more comfortable. Please have mercy" And with that brother and sister rose and vanished from the room.
Jareth's face was still blank and he gripped Sarah's arm tighter. She was relatively sure she had just seen the Goblin King have a row with his best mates, but she wasn't quite sure. It was still difficult to grasp him having any friends.
The icy look on his face broke only by a squeal of laughter. Jareth turned around, dragging her with him. Something that might have been a joyous smile broke out across her face. Again, Sarah wasn't sure. They were facing a short round woman with delicate features set in a pudgy face. She wore a misty rose coloured dress that matched her rosy cheeks. Next to her was an equally plump man with curly red hair on his wide brow. They were the happiest looking people Sarah had seen her whole time in the underground.
Jareth let go of her arm and held his arms out to hug the woman. She kept squealing and laughing his name, while the man, her husband Sarah presumed watched with some giddy look on his face.
"Ooh," she squealed "Jareth, how I've missed you. You know, Rhian and Morawen, they do nothing but talk about when they'll get to see you next. I think they've a bit of a crush. And Gareth, oh he's dying to spend some time with you. He says he's going to stay the summer at the Goblin castle and have you show him how things go. OH! Rhian and Morawen are so jealous! But you Jareth, you look the same, haven't found the right girl yet? Oh, don't worry, brother, you will" she caught sight of Sarah over Jareth's shoulder and she patted his arm. "Or have you!"
Sarah found herself locked in a crushing embrace. "Oh, you're simply gorgeous, you know I had your figure before I had my babies. I am Cymboline, by the way, dear. That's what children do to you, don't they. Well, perhaps not quite the figure, I do love food. Tell me, how on earth did you meet my brother? Are you in love? Have you set a date for marriage?"
Sarah looked franticly to Jareth. She was surprised to see he looked just as alarmed as she felt. Cymboline's husband clapped him on the shoulder. "She's a lovely girl, Jareth. What's her name then?"
"Yes, darling, what is your name?"
"Sarah" she squeaked out.
"Oh, are you shy, dearie?" Cymboline bubbled and put her arm around Sarah "I must say, he's never dated a shy girl before. Like that Kiara," she pulled a face "Dreadful girl, sure she was noble, but she had no grace. You darling, you have grace. And poise, poise makes an excellent Queen. What was the last one's name Jareth? Bella? That Bella, she had no poise"
Jareth's feature became grim as he explained to Sarah "My sister refers to all of my past. acquaintances as 'that' whatever their name was"
"Oh, well, er" was all Sarah could mumble. People were getting the wrong idea.
"Mother!" Cymboline gushed suddenly letting go of Sarah in favour of a tall statuesque blonde woman. She was perhaps fifty to Sarah, and looked infinitely beautiful. Her blue eyes were cold but held a spark of something behind the icy surface. She embraced her daughter in a tight hug while several other people milling around dropped into deep bows with mumblings of 'Your highness' and 'majesty'. She simply waved them off and smiled proudly at her daughter.
"And where are my gorgeous grandchildren?" she asked
Cymboline's husband stepped forward and bowed "Their nanny is bringing them along to the feast shortly, your majesty"
"Goneril, how are you?" The High Queen and Goneril exchanged air kisses and Cymboline practically bubbled all over her pink dress.
"I am well, your majesty" he nodded and stepped aside so the Queen could speak with Jareth and Sarah. "Your son has a very charming friend" he continued, which Sarah found rather strange as she had not yet opened her mouth in order to say one such charming thing.
The high Queen raised her eyebrows at her son and then took Sarah's hands in both of hers. "I did not know my son was being accompanied by such a beautiful friend," she said, kissing her cheeks. Sarah froze, unsure what to do. Did she bow? Kiss her feet? Beat her chest and grunt?
Luckily Jareth stepped forward "Mother" he said and she kissed his cheeks as well. "This is Sarah"
The queen did not look at Sarah again. "I thought you were bringing the human so I may speak with her" she said in a low voice.
Jareth grinned crookedly and caught Sarah's eye "This is the human, Mother"
The Queen's icicle eyes went as round as saucers and she took in Sarah from head to toe. "I must admit..." she trailed off before she could admit anything though. "Sarah, it is a pleasure to meet you, I thought perhaps we could discuss the terms of your stay here with us over dinner"
"Erm, yes your majesty" Sarah said, doing her best to bow her head slightly. She caught Jareth's eye and he nodded encouragingly "It would be an honour"
"Well" said the Queen, her stiff smile melting into a more natural one as she took in Sarah's face. "I must say, you are indeed the most charming human I have ever met" she nodded graciously "And indeed, Jareth, she is also the most beautiful human I have ever met. If didn't know better, with those eyes I would say she was Fae"
Jareth continued to hold Sarah's gaze "Yes, Mother, she is quite beautiful"
Sarah felt her heart sink to her feet.
*
The feast was a very grand affair. What Sarah supposed was a ballroom held many long tables dressed in expensive linens and shining silver cutlery. The people seated at these long tables were all very beautiful and strange at the same time. Sarah spotted Gaeton and Gwendolyn at the table nearest the entrance, they were sipping wine from their goblets and talking to what looked like a troll.
Jareth gripped her arm tightly as they followed Cymboline and Goneril into the hall and took their places at the highest table in the room.
To Sarah's left sat a woman so utterly blonde and gorgeous, Sarah was sure she would be some jet setting model in the Aboveworld. She looked at Jareth, and much to his amusement inclined her head curiously.
"My sister, Aislinn" he said softly and he pulled a face. "Queen of the Elves, soon, you know"
"Gwendolyn told me" Sarah nodded, not looking at him.
"Ah" he said. There was a long period of silence during which Sarah began to think maybe she would just eat her dinner in silence and go back to that room and sleep, then in the morning she would be transported back to the Aboveworld. Much to her dismay Jareth put his arm around her and twisted her to face Aislinn.
"My gorgeous, darling, elf infested sister" he said in overly sweet tones. Aislinn looked up, cocking one eyebrow with something like amusement flashing across her pretty face. Jareth drummed his fingers on Sarah's bare shoulder and looked at her shortly before continuing. "I would like you to meet Sarah. Sarah, this is my sister Aislinn, she's married to Prince Egeus, who is waiting with baited breath for his father to kick it so he can be King. In the meantime Egeus and Aislinn have sex with everything that moves."
"Hello Jareth, still king of the Goblins?" Egeus said pleasantly. He was one of the men from the room Sarah had.... Appeared in. His face echoed concern when he looked at her. "Feel better, luv?"
"Oh, yes" she nodded.
"So, how are you really, Jareth?" asked Aislinn, her expression was stiff but there was belying tenderness for her younger brother. Tenderness, Sarah was faintly sure he didn't deserve. She looked up at him and his face was that blank mask of control she saw so often. Honestly, did he really think he was fooling anyone? "We hadn't the chance to speak earlier, what with you being how you usually are"
Sarah shuddered when his fingers brushed over her shoulder and then was ashamed to admit to shivers extending in every nerve as he carelessly traced her prominent collarbones with his index finger.
"All right" he said softly looking down at the table cloth. He looked bitter for a moment. "Better, as far as the Goblin's are concerned, worse as far as the usual is concerned" he frowned and Aislinn nodded, understanding flashing in her frozen eyes.
"And." she said
"Even worse" he answered immediately.
Sarah attempted to shrug away from Jareth's hand but it continued to trace the same path, slowly and deliberately. She tried not to think about what would happen if it had been his mouth.
A hush fell over the room as the High King and Queen entered and took their place between their son and daughters. The King made a toast and it looked to Sarah like everyone except those at the high table were paying attention. Egeus and Aislinn muttered things to each other out of the corner of their mouths; Cymboline and Goneril fussed over a pair of identical twin girls while a young dwarf girl tried to control four children at once. The Queen was staring at Sarah and Jareth and neither noticed. Sarah was, for the most part, attempting to ignore him but the goblin king was making it quite hard. She kept wriggling away and he would keep pulling her back by the elbow and whispering some threat in her ear.
All through dinner this continued. Sarah bit her tongue to keep from saying anything besides the usual stubborn show of wills every now and then. At last The High Queen set down her knife and fork and asked if Jareth would please allow Sarah to take his seat. There was a big elaborate show of him pulling her chair out and Sarah standing and taking his seat and then Jareth disappeared for a few moments only to come back and seat himself next to his sister. They bent their blonde heads together and started talking in low clipped tones.
"Sarah" The Queen said, fixing the girl with an odd look "I must admit, you are not what I expected"
"I beg your pardon, your highness, but I hardly expected to be here"
"Then you have no idea why you are at this place?" the Queen folded her hands gently in her lap.
Sarah shook her head sadly "I'm very sorry, but I don't"
The older woman sighed raggedly and looked over at her husband. He was deep in conversation with his youngest granddaughter and had her propped up on his knee. She gave a wistful kind of sigh "As I said, you are not what I expected. And since no one outside of our family, except of course, for the healer and my son's good friends know what you are, then I should think that for your time here, you shall be Lady Sarah" she smiled "The daughter of the Marquis of a little fishing village up north"
Sarah nodded "Yes, your highness. But how long do you expect me to be here?"
The woman looked surprised "Well, to be honest, my dear. I really do not know."
"Yes, but" Sarah felt agitation creep into her voice. "I do have a life in the Aboveworld that I need to get back too. can't Dolan send me back?"
The Queen gazed at her for a long time and then looked down at her hands. "Sarah, the only humans that go between our two worlds are those children who are wished away to my son." A creeping sense of dread started spreading through Sarah's stomach. "There was only one case in which a human went back; and that was when you solved the Labyrinth and retrieved your brother"
Sarah leaned against the hard high back chair she was sitting in and folded her hands "A human has never gone back before?" she heard herself ask faintly. She was imagining never seeing Emily or her Family and Toby again. Being stuck in this world where the being who infested her nightmares when she was younger actually walked and had friends and family.
"You didn't realize this?" The queen said softly and Sarah shook her head slowly "Dolan will do what he can, my dear. For now. you should just. accommodate"
The rest of the evening went by in a blur. Sarah didn't eat any of the food placed in front of her; she simply pushed it around her plate and sat quietly. Jareth apparently grew tired of toying with her for he let her alone to talk to his sister and mother. From what Sarah heard it was mostly political dealings with trolls and Nosferatu, she failed to notice the wary looks the Goblin King continued to send her way. It didn't matter.
As the night drew to a close, he shot her one last look before apologizing to his parents and explaining that he and Sarah were 'far to exhausted to be of any amusement to you further'. He gripped her hand and she let him, still feeling dazed. Had she been a bit more aware, Sarah would have realized he teleported them to her bedroom door instead of right inside. He was being courteous, something she would have never expected.
Sarah moved to open the door but it was locked. Sighing, she made a sight movement, indicating he should let her in. With a wave of Jareth's hand the door blew back and Sarah stepped into her chambers. With a last fleeting look she began to shut the door but Jareth stopped it with his hand.
"Wait"
She stared up at him. "What" her tone was dull and tierd.
"Gwen will bring you breakfast and help you dress" he said softly, "Are you all right?"
"What's this?" her voice rose with sarcasm "Concern? Well, from the mighty goblin king himself"
Jareth's eyes darkened and he looked on the verge of slamming the door shut and locking her in, but restrained himself. "Don't forget your place, Sarah"
"Begging your Pardon, majesty" she said shortly and moved to shut the door again but he stopped it again. With a frustrated sound she looked at him pointedly "I'm stuck here and no one knows why. I don't get to go home, and I have to wear a corset. To make it all the more worse, it's all taking place in a world I'd convinced myself was s dream"
Jareth's eyes softened "You thought it was a dream?"
She frowned "Of course not. I didn't want to believe it was real. You don't understand how it is up there, they don't believe in anything, and trolls and pixies and Goblin Kings is sort of a stretch of the imagination" she sighed "So I told myself it was all a very strange dream"
There was a long pause and then Jareth said "But you never really thought I was a dream, did you"
She gazed at his perfect face for a long moment and one of her slim hands rose to touch him but she stilled it just in time. "You were the part I convinced myself was a dream" she said, her voice soft and floaty. Then she frowned "Or the nightmare" she paused for a long while and then shut the door. He let her this time.
"Goodnight, Sarah"
*
AN: Well, now all that intro stuff is out of the way we can get on to more interesting things, bruhaha. Thanks: Emerald Skye: *bows* thank you very much, I'm glad you like it, Ootari: I'm going as fast as I can! :D Gwenevire: *while munching a cookie* I'm glad you think it's original, I'll try to live up to that Kristin; *runs away from the wet noodle and sits down to write faster*
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