AN: To everyone who reviewed, thank you very very much. I so love getting
feedback. This chapters still a bit slow but the next ones should start
speeding up a bit with the J/S. :D
Disclaimer: I do not own labyrinth, no copyright infringement intended.
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Strangely Devine Chapter Four: Lessons
*
Sarah stepped away from the door and gave a shuddering sigh. She turned to look around her bedroom and saw that the dresses had been cleared off the bed and hung neatly in the large wooden armoire that loomed in the corner. All the drapes on the bed had been pulled closed except for one, and the silky sheets folded down. A white nightdress was over the arm of the chair in front of the vanity.
Sarah wanted to do nothing more then to throw herself down on the huge bed and sob over this tragic turn. But she was wearing a dress that was probably worth more then her life even though Gwendolyn played it down. She removed the dress and hung it next to the other dresses in the armoire and put the corset and under shirt in the top drawer of the dresser. To her horror there were rows of ruffled pantaloons filling a whole drawer. On further inspection of the chest, it contained several more cotton nightgowns, more frilly under things, and stark white blouses made of silk and lace.
Running a hand over her face, Sarah set down the corset and slipped into the nightdress. She pulled the pins out of her hair and brushed it with the ivory comb on the vanity.
Then she threw herself on the bed and sobbed.
*
"It's too bloody early" Jareth mumbled, rubbing sleep from his eyes as Gwendolyn handed him a cup of tea. He took with a slight murmur of thanks and looked to Gaeton. "How are things back at the castle?"
Gaeton's eye slipped shut and a moment later they opened again. "Fine," he said, smirking wryly "I believe Henry is keeping things in order"
"Poor Henry" Gwendolyn sighed, picturing the poor old gatekeeper all alone in the Goblin castle "You really shouldn't leave him alone, your majesty"
The three Fae were sitting around a low wooden table in overstuffed chairs and Gwendolyn on a deep red coloured chaise lounge. A maid had brought in a tea tray with delicately fine china earlier, in an attempt to rouse the high prince. Jareth, who had spent most of the night prowling about the castle, unable to sleep, had thrown one of those delicate teacups at the poor woman's head.
Not long after, Gaeton and Gwendolyn had sauntered in, ignoring Jareth's half asleep yet colourful threats of throwing them in the dungeons if they didn't leave him. He was not exactly known for being the best company early in the morning.
"Yes, well, it is his job to watch the place when I'm gone" Jareth said, setting his cup down on the tray. He was dressed in a pair of breeches and little else. His blonde hair was tousled from sleep and bluish smudges had formed under his eyes from lack of sleep.
Gwendolyn cocked her head to the side and sipped her tea. "Why so tired, majesty?"
He shrugged "I was up half the night, thinking about that bleeding mortal" It was obvious to both twins he was trying to appear callous and was rather failing.
"Uh huh" said Gaeton, unconvinced.
Gwendolyn sighed "Really, do you think you could make a bit more of an effort? I mean I know you have had your pride wounded and all, but she really didn't mean to. She just wanted her brother back after all" at the dark look he sent her way she deterred onto another path "And she doesn't much want to be here. Poor girl"
"Poor girl?" Jareth asked, disbelievingly
"What are you going to do, your highness?" Gaeton said carefully "Besides plotting ways to get her back to the Labyrinth and beating her, for months on end after she left the first time, I had thought you were over it."
Jareth glared at his advisor "You are very wise Gaeton, but not so wise as to tell me what I feel towards this human."
"You were brooding for months" Gwendolyn snapped "And anyway, the only reason you have for disliking her is that she was the first to beat your labyrinth!"
"Dreadfully sorry," Jareth said, his voice dripping in scathing sarcasm "I'm just irrational like that"
"Jareth" Gaeton spoke in a low tone that caught his King by surprise "She's frightened, all right? She wants to go home and she is truly afraid. Take that as your revenge for now and leave the poor girl alone"
Jareth looked at Gwendolyn for a long moment before he spoke "I have no idea what you're talking about." He said softly "I was planning no revenge, nor have I anything in store for Sarah"
"Bugger" Gwendolyn mumbled, "I'm supposed to bring her breakfast, aren't I?"
*
When Sarah woke up and looked around the strange room that wasn't her own she felt a certain amount of dread hit her. Perhaps if she just stayed in bed all day eventually she'd wake up and find it was all another dream.
But this wasn't a dream. she remembered her brief words with Jareth the night before. Dreams don't ask intelligent questions and look so utterly real. Never the less, Sarah shut her eyes and ignored the knocking at her door.
"Sarah?"
Gwendolyn was standing over her, a worried look on her face as Sarah's eyes snapped open. She sighed and set a tea tray laden down with breakfast and morning tea on the bedside table. With a wave of her hand, all the drapes pulled themselves back around the bed as well as the one's on the window. Sarah laid where she was, staring straight ahead as she listened to Gwendolyn bustling around the room.
"Did you sleep well?"
Sarah mumbled something incoherent in response, and tightened her grip on the duvet, pulling it up close to her chin.
Gwendolyn sighed and came over to the bed. "Sarah, are you all right?" she asked, touching Sarah's ebony hair, her face etched in concern.
"Did you know that I can't go home?" Sarah bit out and Gwendolyn looked surprised "Well, I can't. I'm here forever it looks like" she looked down at her hands.
Gwendolyn chose her words carefully "I wasn't sure whether you'd be able to go back to the above ground or not, Sarah. And I'm truly sorry about it. I couldn't imagine being pulled away from my home and my family into a strange world. It must be terrible"
"Oh, it's all right, really" Sarah said sardonically "They serve great food and are ruled by a load of blonde supermodels."
Gwendolyn shook her head. "I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do but keep you busy." She hesitated "How do you feel about children?"
Sarah struggled to a sitting position and gave her a weary look. "Why? They're all right, I suppose"
Gwendolyn laughed "I tutor Cymboline's children. Keely, their nanny will usually help me. You know, it's rather difficult keeping track of six little Fae children all at once."
Sarah felt her eyebrows raise "Six?" she repeated.
*
After Gwendolyn had helped Sarah dress in another of her dresses, this time a soft pink confection, complete with high lace collar and a satin ribbon around her thin waist, they went out to the royal gardens to meet Keely and the children.
"You call this day wear?" Sarah asked incredulously, and then took in the Sage and gold dress Gwendolyn was wearing with impossibly huge skirts and decided it possibly was.
The gardens were too magnificent for Sarah to even begin. It was vibrantly in bloom, a haze of colours every shade of the rainbow. The lawn path wound among the flowers and trees towards a large circular area with a gazebo situated picturesquely near the edge and a small brook running through the centre. A pair of little girls with strawberry blonde hair and wide blue eyes played in the steam. They were dressed much in a way Sarah would expect a little princess to dress, silk dresses the colour of the flowers around them with lace petticoats and white stockings underneath. The girls had pulled off their shiny black buckle shoes and set them next to the bank and were preparing to pull off their stockings as well.
"Rhian! Morawen! Don't you dare take those off!" A short woman shouted from the gazebo. She had frizzy black hair pulled back in tight bun and wore a stiff black wool dress. As they got closer Sarah realized she was about the same height as the other children and was not in fact a young girl, as she had thought, but a very short middle-aged woman.
The girls whined and put their shoes back on. One of them looked up and spotted Sarah and Gwendolyn. "Gwen!" she shrieked jumping to her feet, her shoes forgotten.
Her sister looked up as well and gave a shriek of laughter. "We didn't see you at diner last night, why didn't you sit with Uncle Jareth as usual?" she asked, tucking a curly strand of Strawberry hair behind her ear. Two pairs of shiny blue eyes turned to Sarah then. "Oh," the second twin said "You were at diner last night, I saw you. Grandma says you're the Marquis de Lexelit's daughter."
Her sister sighed dreamily. "Tell us about Lexelit. Is it a very small village on the water where very romantic things happen? Are you going to marry Jareth?"
"Erm no" Sarah said before she could stop herself. They reached the edge of the creek and Gwendolyn pointed to each of the girls. The one in purple was apparently "Morawen" and the one in pink was "Rhian". Gwendolyn beamed "Twins, just like Gaeton and I. Now, put your shoes on girls, it isn't proper for young princesses to run around with out proper attire on"
"Yes Gwendolyn" both girls chorused and sat down to buckled their shoes on.
Sarah and Gwendolyn crossed the brook in one large step and started for the gazebo. Keely, the nanny was looking quite harassed. She held a baby with a tuft of red hair on its otherwise baldhead in her arms and looked at them with pleading eyes.
"Right" said Gwendolyn just as the twins scrambled up the short steps to the Gazebo. "Introduce yourselves to Lady Sarah. She is the daughter of the Marquis de Lexelit."
The Children all scrambled into a line from oldest to youngest and Sarah was strongly reminded of 'the Sound of Music'. All of the children had wide blue eyes from their mother's side of the family as well as incredible beauty. The red hair, Sarah could only assume, was from the Father.
The eldest boy stepped forward and took Sarah's hand. He kissed it and bowed causing Sarah to giggle and him to blush. "Good morning Lady Sarah, I am Taliesin, Prince of Hallyland"
"And future king of the Dwarves" said Gwendolyn, nodding. Sarah nodded as well and then when Gwendolyn nudged her in the ribs she curtseyed awkwardly.
The next boy stepped forward. He bowed shortly. "Lady Sarah, I am Gareth, Prince of the Nhienland"
"Gareth" continued Gwendolyn, a wide smile on her face "Will be King of the Goblins once Jareth become High King"
At this Gareth practically exploded with pride and nodded his head rapidly "Oh, yes and I may get to stay the summer at the Goblin castle next summer! Isn't that great! Have you seen the goblins? Aren't they cool! And my Uncle promises that when I turn sixteen I can come and live with him in the castle!"
"Er. wow" Sarah said for lack of anything better. "You like your uncle, then?"
"Ohmigods,he'ssocool" Gareth said in one long breath, nearly turning red.
The twins formally introduced themselves and then a small girl of about five squeaked that she was "Princess Awen"
Sarah kneeled down an kissed the little girls pudgy hand "Hello, I'm Sarah"
Arwen giggled and stuffed her hands in her mouth. "No, silly! You aren't a man! Only men are allowed to kiss a lady's hand." She raised her chin and then busted up into compulsive giggles. Sarah laughed too.
The lessons mostly were about the geography and history of the Underground. The children seemed anxious to be playing in the stream rather then listening to Gwendolyn talk about some battle that happened a millennia ago. Keely handed Baby James over in order to place herself between the twins so that they might stop talking during the lesson.
Sarah looked down at the baby's sleeping face and wrestled with the urge to coo and babytalk to him. Taliesin nudged her and whispered "All the ladies at our court back home think James will grow up to look like Uncle Jareth"
"Except with red hair," Sarah whispered back, rocking the baby softly. Toby was only seven now but it seemed like a lifetime ago that he was this small in her arms. She cast a glance at Taliesin and found he had been staring at her. She giggled and shook her head. "So why do you all obsess over your uncle?" she whispered, "What's so great about him?"
Taliesin's eyes went wide "Well," he said softly "All the girls like him because he's so good looking, I guess. And he is going to be high King" he added thoughtfully "Plus, he's really good at a load of stuff, like magic and swords and getting out of trouble. Mum says that they used to play tricks on the stable masters when they were small, and she would always get caught and Uncle Jareth would always get out of it. Oh, and he has a Labyrinth under his control, which means he's really powerful and he's got that whole thing to himself." Taliesin took a deep breath "Besides that, he's really good ay annoying Auntie Aislinn, and it's so funny to watch. I don't know."
"Hmm" said Sarah.
He glanced at her sideways "So, are you his girlfriend then? Are you courting?"
"Why does everyone seem to think that?" Sarah laughed softly
"Because you sat next to him at diner last night, and what else would you be doing here?"
"I came to visit Gwendolyn" Sarah lied
"Oh" Taliesin said, but she could tell he still didn't believe her "So why wouldn't you want to court my uncle?"
"Maybe I'm all ready courting someone else" she shrugged "Someone back in Lexelit"
Taliesin gave her a disbelieving look "If you were he would have come, or you wouldn't have gone to the feast with my Uncle. The proper code of conduct wouldn't allow it"
Sarah frowned "Your uncle and I may just be friends."
Taliesin shook his head.
"Oh," was all Sarah said, she tried changing the subject "So how old are you?"
"Fifteen" he beamed.
"Fourteen and a half" said an all too familiar voice.
Sarah and Taliesin turned around and saw that Jareth was leaning against the wide entrance to the Gazebo, smirking coolly. Sarah didn't miss the way Taliesin's eyes lit up as his hero approached. Rhian and Morawen both shrieked "Uncle Jareth!" and ran towards him. He laughed as they both hugged him around the middle.
"Hold on, ladies, it isn't proper etiquette" he said, throwing a sarcastic look at Gwendolyn as he touched Rhian's hair and winked and Morawen. Both girls dropped into deep curtsies although they were giggling madly.
"Your highness" Morawen and Rhian giggled. The High Prince kissed both of their hands, making them giggle harder
"I must say I have never seen such pretty princesses in all my life" Jareth grinned. Despite herself, Sarah couldn't help but smile as the girls went ballistic. He looked up and caught sight of Awen, she was bouncing on her bottom with her arms held out to him, chanting his name.
"Did you miss me?" he asked, scooping her up in his arms and making her squeal.
"You're interrupting a lesson, your majesty" Gwendolyn said firmly, although she was smiling
He waved her off and tickled Awen. "I know Gwen, etiquette, blah, blah, manners, blah blah, I'm so stuffy, give me a scone"
Sarah laughed and he turned to look at her, his mismatched eyes were sparkling and when he saw her smiling at him they seemed to glow a bit brighter. "Hello Lady Sarah" he said bowing and taking Awen with him so she howled with laughter. "You're looking particularly beautiful today" he smirked knowingly while she blushed
"Thank you your highness" Sarah fought to keep the sarcasm out of her tone of voice and nodded her head pleasantly instead. Jareth's behaviour towards his nieces and nephews was not what one expected from the feared goblin king to say the least. It was just too bizarre.
He smiled at her for a long moment until Sarah look looked away, mentally berating herself for blushing so furiously. James woke up at all the commotion and made a soft cooing sound so she rocked him for a bit and hushed him.
"Your majesty, I really must get on with the children's lessons" Gwendolyn said grinning.
"Oh and I'm sure it's all very interesting" he said, giving her a sly grin as he placed Awen on her feet. "Ladies," he addressed the twins and their sister "I shall see you at diner tonight" he bowed and with a graceful turn of his wrist, vanished.
Sarah sighed. She didn't know what to make of him.
*
The High Queen of the Underground and the Queen of the Nosferatu sat down for tea at exactly a quarter past thirteen. The High Queen wore a gown of shimmering blue green material. Her blonde hair was held back in a high bun with only a tiara adorning her head. The Queen of the Nosferatu wore robes of heavy maroon velvet. She was quite beautiful with pale opalescent skin and beetle black eyes. Her hair was pulled back as well, but her sign of royalty was in the ring on her left hand's fourth finger. With the crest of the Nosferatu set into a bloodstone.
"Your majesty" she said in a husky voice
The High Queen raised a hand, stilling her "Please, you must call me Mariead if we are to be friends"
"Yes, then you must call me Moria, my lady"
The High Queen nodded "Of course"
"Mariead, how fares your son?" the woman asked, her dark eyes resting heavily on Mariead's face as she spoke. "The last I heard of Prince Jareth, he was preparing ot take a wife so that he might become high king in the event that you and your husband should pass on the title"
Mariead nodded "This is true, Moria" she said, her tone grave "My son's affections with young women tend to sway. He attracts both the very beautiful and the very crass of the crop, so to speak"
"Yes" Moria nodded, "I am afraid my Dacian is much the same" she sighed and lowered her eyes "It is unfortunate that he looks for love, as that will not help him to rule our lands"
"Aye, that is true. But I have a daughter in a marriage of love and also one in a marriage of politics. Which one is happier, well, that is obvious. But it is also obvious that political bonds were made that will undoubtedly help our empire in the long run"
Moria nodded "I would that my Dacian be happy." She said softly and then looked up "I am not one to gossip, Mariead, but it is the talk of your castle among servants that Jareth is courting that beautiful young woman who accompanied him to the feast"
"Courting?" Mariead repeated. Her first instinct was to defend her son against gossip. But then. there was no harm in letting loose a few secrets. She always found that the best gossip always turned out to be true. And indeed, if Sarah was to remain in this world, perhaps she and Jareth would find use for one another, despite their laments of the other. "Why, no, not officially" she said leaning forward slightly "But you know how these young people are. I have no doubt that soon it will indeed be made quite official"
Moria beamed "Do you think perhaps she is the one? That he has finally found love?"
Not by a long shot, Mariead couldn't help thinking, but she kept her smile in place as she said "Perhaps"
*
Thank you to everyone who reviewed, you are all fabulous. For those who think that I'm being original, you're just the best. I intended to make Jareth a bit less serious then he usually is. A bit more sarcastic. However he comes off more like Pa from little house on the parie in this chapter, unfortunately. Sighs
Remember to Review!
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Strangely Devine Chapter Four: Lessons
*
Sarah stepped away from the door and gave a shuddering sigh. She turned to look around her bedroom and saw that the dresses had been cleared off the bed and hung neatly in the large wooden armoire that loomed in the corner. All the drapes on the bed had been pulled closed except for one, and the silky sheets folded down. A white nightdress was over the arm of the chair in front of the vanity.
Sarah wanted to do nothing more then to throw herself down on the huge bed and sob over this tragic turn. But she was wearing a dress that was probably worth more then her life even though Gwendolyn played it down. She removed the dress and hung it next to the other dresses in the armoire and put the corset and under shirt in the top drawer of the dresser. To her horror there were rows of ruffled pantaloons filling a whole drawer. On further inspection of the chest, it contained several more cotton nightgowns, more frilly under things, and stark white blouses made of silk and lace.
Running a hand over her face, Sarah set down the corset and slipped into the nightdress. She pulled the pins out of her hair and brushed it with the ivory comb on the vanity.
Then she threw herself on the bed and sobbed.
*
"It's too bloody early" Jareth mumbled, rubbing sleep from his eyes as Gwendolyn handed him a cup of tea. He took with a slight murmur of thanks and looked to Gaeton. "How are things back at the castle?"
Gaeton's eye slipped shut and a moment later they opened again. "Fine," he said, smirking wryly "I believe Henry is keeping things in order"
"Poor Henry" Gwendolyn sighed, picturing the poor old gatekeeper all alone in the Goblin castle "You really shouldn't leave him alone, your majesty"
The three Fae were sitting around a low wooden table in overstuffed chairs and Gwendolyn on a deep red coloured chaise lounge. A maid had brought in a tea tray with delicately fine china earlier, in an attempt to rouse the high prince. Jareth, who had spent most of the night prowling about the castle, unable to sleep, had thrown one of those delicate teacups at the poor woman's head.
Not long after, Gaeton and Gwendolyn had sauntered in, ignoring Jareth's half asleep yet colourful threats of throwing them in the dungeons if they didn't leave him. He was not exactly known for being the best company early in the morning.
"Yes, well, it is his job to watch the place when I'm gone" Jareth said, setting his cup down on the tray. He was dressed in a pair of breeches and little else. His blonde hair was tousled from sleep and bluish smudges had formed under his eyes from lack of sleep.
Gwendolyn cocked her head to the side and sipped her tea. "Why so tired, majesty?"
He shrugged "I was up half the night, thinking about that bleeding mortal" It was obvious to both twins he was trying to appear callous and was rather failing.
"Uh huh" said Gaeton, unconvinced.
Gwendolyn sighed "Really, do you think you could make a bit more of an effort? I mean I know you have had your pride wounded and all, but she really didn't mean to. She just wanted her brother back after all" at the dark look he sent her way she deterred onto another path "And she doesn't much want to be here. Poor girl"
"Poor girl?" Jareth asked, disbelievingly
"What are you going to do, your highness?" Gaeton said carefully "Besides plotting ways to get her back to the Labyrinth and beating her, for months on end after she left the first time, I had thought you were over it."
Jareth glared at his advisor "You are very wise Gaeton, but not so wise as to tell me what I feel towards this human."
"You were brooding for months" Gwendolyn snapped "And anyway, the only reason you have for disliking her is that she was the first to beat your labyrinth!"
"Dreadfully sorry," Jareth said, his voice dripping in scathing sarcasm "I'm just irrational like that"
"Jareth" Gaeton spoke in a low tone that caught his King by surprise "She's frightened, all right? She wants to go home and she is truly afraid. Take that as your revenge for now and leave the poor girl alone"
Jareth looked at Gwendolyn for a long moment before he spoke "I have no idea what you're talking about." He said softly "I was planning no revenge, nor have I anything in store for Sarah"
"Bugger" Gwendolyn mumbled, "I'm supposed to bring her breakfast, aren't I?"
*
When Sarah woke up and looked around the strange room that wasn't her own she felt a certain amount of dread hit her. Perhaps if she just stayed in bed all day eventually she'd wake up and find it was all another dream.
But this wasn't a dream. she remembered her brief words with Jareth the night before. Dreams don't ask intelligent questions and look so utterly real. Never the less, Sarah shut her eyes and ignored the knocking at her door.
"Sarah?"
Gwendolyn was standing over her, a worried look on her face as Sarah's eyes snapped open. She sighed and set a tea tray laden down with breakfast and morning tea on the bedside table. With a wave of her hand, all the drapes pulled themselves back around the bed as well as the one's on the window. Sarah laid where she was, staring straight ahead as she listened to Gwendolyn bustling around the room.
"Did you sleep well?"
Sarah mumbled something incoherent in response, and tightened her grip on the duvet, pulling it up close to her chin.
Gwendolyn sighed and came over to the bed. "Sarah, are you all right?" she asked, touching Sarah's ebony hair, her face etched in concern.
"Did you know that I can't go home?" Sarah bit out and Gwendolyn looked surprised "Well, I can't. I'm here forever it looks like" she looked down at her hands.
Gwendolyn chose her words carefully "I wasn't sure whether you'd be able to go back to the above ground or not, Sarah. And I'm truly sorry about it. I couldn't imagine being pulled away from my home and my family into a strange world. It must be terrible"
"Oh, it's all right, really" Sarah said sardonically "They serve great food and are ruled by a load of blonde supermodels."
Gwendolyn shook her head. "I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do but keep you busy." She hesitated "How do you feel about children?"
Sarah struggled to a sitting position and gave her a weary look. "Why? They're all right, I suppose"
Gwendolyn laughed "I tutor Cymboline's children. Keely, their nanny will usually help me. You know, it's rather difficult keeping track of six little Fae children all at once."
Sarah felt her eyebrows raise "Six?" she repeated.
*
After Gwendolyn had helped Sarah dress in another of her dresses, this time a soft pink confection, complete with high lace collar and a satin ribbon around her thin waist, they went out to the royal gardens to meet Keely and the children.
"You call this day wear?" Sarah asked incredulously, and then took in the Sage and gold dress Gwendolyn was wearing with impossibly huge skirts and decided it possibly was.
The gardens were too magnificent for Sarah to even begin. It was vibrantly in bloom, a haze of colours every shade of the rainbow. The lawn path wound among the flowers and trees towards a large circular area with a gazebo situated picturesquely near the edge and a small brook running through the centre. A pair of little girls with strawberry blonde hair and wide blue eyes played in the steam. They were dressed much in a way Sarah would expect a little princess to dress, silk dresses the colour of the flowers around them with lace petticoats and white stockings underneath. The girls had pulled off their shiny black buckle shoes and set them next to the bank and were preparing to pull off their stockings as well.
"Rhian! Morawen! Don't you dare take those off!" A short woman shouted from the gazebo. She had frizzy black hair pulled back in tight bun and wore a stiff black wool dress. As they got closer Sarah realized she was about the same height as the other children and was not in fact a young girl, as she had thought, but a very short middle-aged woman.
The girls whined and put their shoes back on. One of them looked up and spotted Sarah and Gwendolyn. "Gwen!" she shrieked jumping to her feet, her shoes forgotten.
Her sister looked up as well and gave a shriek of laughter. "We didn't see you at diner last night, why didn't you sit with Uncle Jareth as usual?" she asked, tucking a curly strand of Strawberry hair behind her ear. Two pairs of shiny blue eyes turned to Sarah then. "Oh," the second twin said "You were at diner last night, I saw you. Grandma says you're the Marquis de Lexelit's daughter."
Her sister sighed dreamily. "Tell us about Lexelit. Is it a very small village on the water where very romantic things happen? Are you going to marry Jareth?"
"Erm no" Sarah said before she could stop herself. They reached the edge of the creek and Gwendolyn pointed to each of the girls. The one in purple was apparently "Morawen" and the one in pink was "Rhian". Gwendolyn beamed "Twins, just like Gaeton and I. Now, put your shoes on girls, it isn't proper for young princesses to run around with out proper attire on"
"Yes Gwendolyn" both girls chorused and sat down to buckled their shoes on.
Sarah and Gwendolyn crossed the brook in one large step and started for the gazebo. Keely, the nanny was looking quite harassed. She held a baby with a tuft of red hair on its otherwise baldhead in her arms and looked at them with pleading eyes.
"Right" said Gwendolyn just as the twins scrambled up the short steps to the Gazebo. "Introduce yourselves to Lady Sarah. She is the daughter of the Marquis de Lexelit."
The Children all scrambled into a line from oldest to youngest and Sarah was strongly reminded of 'the Sound of Music'. All of the children had wide blue eyes from their mother's side of the family as well as incredible beauty. The red hair, Sarah could only assume, was from the Father.
The eldest boy stepped forward and took Sarah's hand. He kissed it and bowed causing Sarah to giggle and him to blush. "Good morning Lady Sarah, I am Taliesin, Prince of Hallyland"
"And future king of the Dwarves" said Gwendolyn, nodding. Sarah nodded as well and then when Gwendolyn nudged her in the ribs she curtseyed awkwardly.
The next boy stepped forward. He bowed shortly. "Lady Sarah, I am Gareth, Prince of the Nhienland"
"Gareth" continued Gwendolyn, a wide smile on her face "Will be King of the Goblins once Jareth become High King"
At this Gareth practically exploded with pride and nodded his head rapidly "Oh, yes and I may get to stay the summer at the Goblin castle next summer! Isn't that great! Have you seen the goblins? Aren't they cool! And my Uncle promises that when I turn sixteen I can come and live with him in the castle!"
"Er. wow" Sarah said for lack of anything better. "You like your uncle, then?"
"Ohmigods,he'ssocool" Gareth said in one long breath, nearly turning red.
The twins formally introduced themselves and then a small girl of about five squeaked that she was "Princess Awen"
Sarah kneeled down an kissed the little girls pudgy hand "Hello, I'm Sarah"
Arwen giggled and stuffed her hands in her mouth. "No, silly! You aren't a man! Only men are allowed to kiss a lady's hand." She raised her chin and then busted up into compulsive giggles. Sarah laughed too.
The lessons mostly were about the geography and history of the Underground. The children seemed anxious to be playing in the stream rather then listening to Gwendolyn talk about some battle that happened a millennia ago. Keely handed Baby James over in order to place herself between the twins so that they might stop talking during the lesson.
Sarah looked down at the baby's sleeping face and wrestled with the urge to coo and babytalk to him. Taliesin nudged her and whispered "All the ladies at our court back home think James will grow up to look like Uncle Jareth"
"Except with red hair," Sarah whispered back, rocking the baby softly. Toby was only seven now but it seemed like a lifetime ago that he was this small in her arms. She cast a glance at Taliesin and found he had been staring at her. She giggled and shook her head. "So why do you all obsess over your uncle?" she whispered, "What's so great about him?"
Taliesin's eyes went wide "Well," he said softly "All the girls like him because he's so good looking, I guess. And he is going to be high King" he added thoughtfully "Plus, he's really good at a load of stuff, like magic and swords and getting out of trouble. Mum says that they used to play tricks on the stable masters when they were small, and she would always get caught and Uncle Jareth would always get out of it. Oh, and he has a Labyrinth under his control, which means he's really powerful and he's got that whole thing to himself." Taliesin took a deep breath "Besides that, he's really good ay annoying Auntie Aislinn, and it's so funny to watch. I don't know."
"Hmm" said Sarah.
He glanced at her sideways "So, are you his girlfriend then? Are you courting?"
"Why does everyone seem to think that?" Sarah laughed softly
"Because you sat next to him at diner last night, and what else would you be doing here?"
"I came to visit Gwendolyn" Sarah lied
"Oh" Taliesin said, but she could tell he still didn't believe her "So why wouldn't you want to court my uncle?"
"Maybe I'm all ready courting someone else" she shrugged "Someone back in Lexelit"
Taliesin gave her a disbelieving look "If you were he would have come, or you wouldn't have gone to the feast with my Uncle. The proper code of conduct wouldn't allow it"
Sarah frowned "Your uncle and I may just be friends."
Taliesin shook his head.
"Oh," was all Sarah said, she tried changing the subject "So how old are you?"
"Fifteen" he beamed.
"Fourteen and a half" said an all too familiar voice.
Sarah and Taliesin turned around and saw that Jareth was leaning against the wide entrance to the Gazebo, smirking coolly. Sarah didn't miss the way Taliesin's eyes lit up as his hero approached. Rhian and Morawen both shrieked "Uncle Jareth!" and ran towards him. He laughed as they both hugged him around the middle.
"Hold on, ladies, it isn't proper etiquette" he said, throwing a sarcastic look at Gwendolyn as he touched Rhian's hair and winked and Morawen. Both girls dropped into deep curtsies although they were giggling madly.
"Your highness" Morawen and Rhian giggled. The High Prince kissed both of their hands, making them giggle harder
"I must say I have never seen such pretty princesses in all my life" Jareth grinned. Despite herself, Sarah couldn't help but smile as the girls went ballistic. He looked up and caught sight of Awen, she was bouncing on her bottom with her arms held out to him, chanting his name.
"Did you miss me?" he asked, scooping her up in his arms and making her squeal.
"You're interrupting a lesson, your majesty" Gwendolyn said firmly, although she was smiling
He waved her off and tickled Awen. "I know Gwen, etiquette, blah, blah, manners, blah blah, I'm so stuffy, give me a scone"
Sarah laughed and he turned to look at her, his mismatched eyes were sparkling and when he saw her smiling at him they seemed to glow a bit brighter. "Hello Lady Sarah" he said bowing and taking Awen with him so she howled with laughter. "You're looking particularly beautiful today" he smirked knowingly while she blushed
"Thank you your highness" Sarah fought to keep the sarcasm out of her tone of voice and nodded her head pleasantly instead. Jareth's behaviour towards his nieces and nephews was not what one expected from the feared goblin king to say the least. It was just too bizarre.
He smiled at her for a long moment until Sarah look looked away, mentally berating herself for blushing so furiously. James woke up at all the commotion and made a soft cooing sound so she rocked him for a bit and hushed him.
"Your majesty, I really must get on with the children's lessons" Gwendolyn said grinning.
"Oh and I'm sure it's all very interesting" he said, giving her a sly grin as he placed Awen on her feet. "Ladies," he addressed the twins and their sister "I shall see you at diner tonight" he bowed and with a graceful turn of his wrist, vanished.
Sarah sighed. She didn't know what to make of him.
*
The High Queen of the Underground and the Queen of the Nosferatu sat down for tea at exactly a quarter past thirteen. The High Queen wore a gown of shimmering blue green material. Her blonde hair was held back in a high bun with only a tiara adorning her head. The Queen of the Nosferatu wore robes of heavy maroon velvet. She was quite beautiful with pale opalescent skin and beetle black eyes. Her hair was pulled back as well, but her sign of royalty was in the ring on her left hand's fourth finger. With the crest of the Nosferatu set into a bloodstone.
"Your majesty" she said in a husky voice
The High Queen raised a hand, stilling her "Please, you must call me Mariead if we are to be friends"
"Yes, then you must call me Moria, my lady"
The High Queen nodded "Of course"
"Mariead, how fares your son?" the woman asked, her dark eyes resting heavily on Mariead's face as she spoke. "The last I heard of Prince Jareth, he was preparing ot take a wife so that he might become high king in the event that you and your husband should pass on the title"
Mariead nodded "This is true, Moria" she said, her tone grave "My son's affections with young women tend to sway. He attracts both the very beautiful and the very crass of the crop, so to speak"
"Yes" Moria nodded, "I am afraid my Dacian is much the same" she sighed and lowered her eyes "It is unfortunate that he looks for love, as that will not help him to rule our lands"
"Aye, that is true. But I have a daughter in a marriage of love and also one in a marriage of politics. Which one is happier, well, that is obvious. But it is also obvious that political bonds were made that will undoubtedly help our empire in the long run"
Moria nodded "I would that my Dacian be happy." She said softly and then looked up "I am not one to gossip, Mariead, but it is the talk of your castle among servants that Jareth is courting that beautiful young woman who accompanied him to the feast"
"Courting?" Mariead repeated. Her first instinct was to defend her son against gossip. But then. there was no harm in letting loose a few secrets. She always found that the best gossip always turned out to be true. And indeed, if Sarah was to remain in this world, perhaps she and Jareth would find use for one another, despite their laments of the other. "Why, no, not officially" she said leaning forward slightly "But you know how these young people are. I have no doubt that soon it will indeed be made quite official"
Moria beamed "Do you think perhaps she is the one? That he has finally found love?"
Not by a long shot, Mariead couldn't help thinking, but she kept her smile in place as she said "Perhaps"
*
Thank you to everyone who reviewed, you are all fabulous. For those who think that I'm being original, you're just the best. I intended to make Jareth a bit less serious then he usually is. A bit more sarcastic. However he comes off more like Pa from little house on the parie in this chapter, unfortunately. Sighs
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