*
AN: Thanks for the great feedback everyone. I love reading the reviews so keep on! Disclaimer: I do not own labyrinth or Thestrals, whish are J.K. Rowling. No Copyright Infringement intended.
*
Strangely Devine Chapter Seven: Gavelsy
*
The next few weeks passed much the same as Sarah's first days in the Underground. She found that besides the obvious down points in the place, no one was really too fussed with the fact that she slept in or lounged about her room until after noon. After rising and struggling into the horrible corset and some huge sweeping dress of Gwen's, she and her new friend would read in the library, take walks around the gardens, or spend time with the children.
Diner was the highlight of the day. A parade of political leaders and advisors circulated through the high table, all of them boring Sarah to tears. Most of the time she would find herself talking to the Goblin King in a civil manner, as if they had no history that didn't call for civility. He explained about the Underground and the Fae and seemed generally interested by the Aboveworld.
Sarah found that Jareth was becoming less and less insufferable as time went on. This wasn't to say that he had changed in any way. That insolent icy demeanour was still permanently in place along with the biting sarcasm he used so well. Only replaced, of course, by that smug amused look every now and again. Sarah was simply getting used to it. Instead of brisling at every comment out of his mouth, she would ignore the connotations and continue on with the conversation.
Jareth was most pleased that she didn't seem so offended by merely his presence anymore. It was hard to talk with someone who cringed and leaned away from you all the time. She didn't even fight him when he teleported her places.
Granted, this was new tolerance was mostly due in part to the fact that the pair only saw each other at Diner for two or three hours at most.
*
One morning while Gwendolyn and Sarah nibbled on breakfast on Sarah's bed, a servant knocked on the door. Gwen rolled her eyes but got up and answered anyway.. Sarah was much too slothful and would have let the poor man continue knocking all day.
"Yes?"
The servant bowed low. "My Lady, Princess Aislinn wishes to know if you and Lady Sarah will be joining her on her shopping trip to town today?"
Gwendolyn looked back at Sarah. The girl had already gone through half of her own wardrobe and they couldn't keep sharing and refitting clothes forever. "How do you feel about getting some dresses of your own?" Gwen grinned.
Sarah shrugged and leaned back against her pillows. "I don't like to keep putting you out, but I don't really need that much"
Gwendolyn turned back the servant and nodded "You may tell her highness that Lady Sarah and myself will accompany her to town." She nodded and the servant bowed again "Are we to act as part of her retinue?"
"No, my lady, I believe the Princess is travelling with only her brother, the High Prince and the captain of the guard today."
Sarah was sure she saw Gwendolyn's eyes lit up at hearing that Ilareo would be joining them. After she shut the door Sarah teased her about it.
"Oh--- well" she muttered, "We have to get you dressed Sarah, come on, out of bed"
Sarah giggled and covered her mouth with her hand "I didn't realize you had a town. who lives there? Dwarves?"
"Dwarves?" Gwendolyn repeated, her eyes wide with amusement "Of course not, we're not in the kingdom of the Dwarves. This is the Kingdom of the Fae, honestly Sarah."
Sarah rolled her eyes "So it's Fae people then?"
Gwen nodded and wielded the corset "Very minor nobility, artisans, tradesmen, a few beggars, that sort of thing. Now come on, get up, you haven't got all day"
*
"This is ridiculous" Jareth muttered as he ran his hand over the Thestral's mane.
Aislinn sneered distastefully at the animal from her seat inside the carriage. "Don't *touch* it Jareth, for Zeus's sake"
Jareth made a show of touching all the Thestrals that were attached to the carriage as he made his way over to his sister. "Why not? They're perfectly harmless, dear sister. In any case, I can't understand why we just don't magik ourselves to Gavelsy. This whole Thestral and carriage thing is a bit. mortal"
She sent him a disapproving look. "Honestly, Jareth. I don't know how you will survive as the High King. You can't just hole up in the castle like you do with the Goblin Kingdom. Our people need to see their rulers, they need to know that we are devoted to them and that we would anything for their safety"
He pulled a face "But we wouldn't."
"That doesn't matter, so long as they think it" Aislinn said, waving him off.
Jareth sighed and opened the carriage door. "I happen to think that being High King is a lot more then social responsibility. There is that whole keeping peace within the underground thing," he said dryly.
"Social obligation is one way to keep peace"
"Do you remember Marie Antoinette? We learned about her when we were young" Jareth said snidely. "Right there is a case in which the social 'obligations' get in the way of ruling a kingdom properly"
Aislinn sniffed "She was mortal"
Jareth grinned crookedly "She was beheaded"
Gwendolyn appeared with her arm linked through Sarah's just then. Sarah was dressed in another of Gwendolyn's gowns and seemed about to open her mouth to say something but thought against it.
"Ladies" Jareth said, his voice once again dripping in heavy distain.
Sarah gave a short exasperated curtsy that made him grin while Gwendolyn sunk deeper as usual, murmuring 'your majesties" as she stood up.
Sarah coughed, looking uncomfortable and then mumbled the phrase as well.
Aislinn looked rather offended "Sarah, we shall have to work on that greeting" she looked to Gwendolyn "You shall ride with me as I have much to discuss with you of your---" the princess looked sideways at Sarah before continuing "Charge"
"Yes, your highness" Gwendolyn curtsied low again, perhaps lower then usual to make up for Sarah. With the help of the footman, she climbed into the carriage beside the Princess.
"What of Ilareo?" Jareth asked wryly "Should he ride with myself and my lady"
Sarah cocked an eyebrow at him but he ignored her. It was just an expression, but it was one of respect that Aislinn certainly didn't think she deserved.
Aislinn looked scandalized "Why, he shall ride with us, of course" she shuddered and Sarah rolled her eyes "What if we were stopped by bandits? Who would protect us?"
Jareth highly doubted much would prove threatening to his sister. At least in that she wouldn't let anything come between her and her jewels. He waved it off and held his arm out for Sarah. She took it carefully and let him lead her over to the second carriage.
As the footman helped her in he caught her staring at the Thestrals. "Nice aren't they?" he said, his mismatched eyes glinting in amusement.
Sarah cringed "What are they?"
"Thestrals?" he sat next to her and she made an annoyed sound when he sat on her dress. "Sorry, my dear lady Sarah." The sarcasm was so thick in his voice she wanted to slap him. "They're just like your Aboveground horses only with wings and they drink blood. Oh, and you can only see them if you've seen death"
"Oh, only that different" she said sarcastically.
He shrugged and stared out the window. Ilareo was running down the green slope from the castle, looking quite frantic as his dark curly hair flew out behind him. He suspiciously held two dark wood boxes under his arm. The High Prince cracked the slightest of smiles and rolled his eyes at his friend.
"Why couldn't we just-you know-blink ourselves there?" Sarah asked
He looked at her wearily "My dear sister thinks to simply pop in and out of Gavelsy isn't enough. We need to make a public appearance"
"*I* don't have to, do I?"
He snorted "No, you and Gwen can go on with your shopping"
"Good" She nodded. To be honest, as much dread had filled her stomach at the thought of being alone with him for the whole trip into town, she was surprised how mild he was being. Surely this was better then sharing an enclosed space with Aislinn. Poor Gwen.
Ilareo came panting up to the carriage window and gave a short bow to Sarah. "My Lady" he puffed, and then gave a bow to Jareth. "Your Highness, the princess wishes for you to wear your royal ornamentation"
Jareth's eyes went wide. He gave a horrified groan and let his head drop back against the seat cushion "No-" he whined. Sarah giggled in her utter surprise. He was acting a bit like a spoiled child at this 'ornamentation' thing. She wondered what it could be.
Ilareo laughed dryly and produced one of the darkly lacquered boxes. He bowed his head and opened the box while muttering "My Lord"
Sarah gasped involuntarily. The box was lined with deep purple velvet and in the middle of it sat a platinum circlet with intricate jewels fastened into the metal. It glittered silver and icy blue in the sunlight and was utterly beautiful.
"My lord?" Ilareo implored
Jareth growled something unintelligible and grasped the circlet out of its box and slammed it on his head. "Is it so much to ask!" he shouted out the window in the direction of his sister's carriage "That I not be paraded about like some kind of Royal whore?"
Sarah fought desperately not to laugh and succeeded in only biting her lip and casting her eyes down at her skirt. Didn't he realize just how silly he was being? Obviously not. Ilareo bowed again and took off with the now empty box.
Jareth seemed to be pouting.
The carriages started moving and Sarah ventured into conversation again. "So-you don't like your--- crown thingy, I take it?" she tried.
He gave her a deadly look "Whatever would give you that idea?" his voice was scathing and Sarah laughed.
"I think it's quite fetching," she said, before thinking the connotations of it out thoroughly. She felt him look at her in surprise and that bloody amused, smug and so damned insolent look was back on his face. He shifted closer to her, draping his arm over her shoulders, his lips curling back in a grin that showed his pointed teeth. Sarah's heart started up immediately and she wished that she didn't get so excited by him being so close.
"Do you really?" his voice buzzed against her ear and she swallowed heavily.
She would be defiant "Yes"
He laughed lightly, his warm breath fanning across her face. "I think that's the second time you've complimented me, Sarah. Keep it up and we might be-friends". The word held hidden meaning that she knew she was to take in more then just a friendly manner.
"That would be horrible" she said, trying to keep her voice even but it shook terribly "If we were --- friends"
Jareth met her eyes and she saw that his pretty face was twisting into a self satisfied look that said he knew her secret. Well, she didn't even know her secret. "You don't want to be my friend?" his vice was soft, and airy against her ear. Sarah caught her breath.
"That," she narrowed her eyes. Then they unconsciously dropped to his lips and her conscious started screaming at her. "Isn't-" she trailed off, unable to form words in such close proximity.
"Isn't what?" he asked, his grin was feline and predatory. He knew she was attracted to him. It was deadly obvious.
"Isn't," she continued and pulled away, trying to regain her senses " Going to happen"
Jareth pulled back too, but let his arm hang over her shoulders still. "Oh, you're quite right" he said icily, as his fingers traced a pattern on her collar bone. "Never"
Sarah nodded and stared straight ahead for the rest of the journey. She couldn't want him. She couldn't, she couldn't, she couldn't. Sure, the Goblin King was attractive, but that was just something anyone with eyes would agree on. Hadn't he said that the Fae were extraordinarily seductive? Was he trying to seduce her? Why was he trying to seduce her? Did she want him to? NO!
"Oh hell" Jareth muttered, he was staring out Sarah's window and she realized with a start that the head turned off the dirt road and onto a rocky cobblestone one. The carriage began to jerk and shake about madly on the uneven street. Jareth managed to look cool and composed, biting the inside of his cheek, as they were jarred about. Sarah grabbed his arm in alarm and he looked down at her in surprise.
"Haven't you people heard of concrete?" she asked scathingly, as with a rather nasty bump the she bounced into him.
Jareth straitened his circlet "No" he answered calmly and looked out her window again "Oh, here we go then" he moaned but plastered a fake smile on his face and elbowed her "Smile, darling"
"Why?" she asked incredulously
"My subjects want to know everything is all right, so smile"
She smiled widely, almost comically, but it started to hurt her jaw after a bit and she took to simpering. She soon realized why there was so much smiling involved. Several children ran up to the carriage and handed her flowers. Although taken a back, Sarah set them in her lap and thanked the children.
It was like this all the way down what Sarah could only assume was the High Street of Gavelsy. As soon as they reached a large stone and wood building the carriages rolled to a stop.
"Where are we?" Sarah asked, peering out the window past Jareth.
He shrugged "Just some offices"
She nodded and watched as the footmen helped Gwendolyn out of the carriage. She took Ilareo's arm and he led her into the building. Next Aislinn was escorted in and then the footmen came to help Sarah out.
"Honestly" she muttered as her feet connected with the uneven and muddy cobblestone. "You would think that I don't-"
Jareth grabbed her elbow "Shut up" he said pleasantly, and looking quite amused. He waved his hand and the muddy filth sloshed to the side, clearing a path for them into the building.
*
Thanks:
Draegon-fire: Well you're basically right on all counts. Hmm. am I that transparent? Missy4: Tee hee, why thank you. I hope the continue to get better, *beams* Jester3: Ooh. I love your stories! She likes my dialogue? She likes my dialogue! *does the happy dialogue dance* Skye Haerrington: Ooh yes that portal thing will be really important, erm, somehow. I'm writing as fast as I can, here :D
I didn't forget anyone did I? Fanfiction.net is weird with it's reviews.
Remember to Review!
AN: Thanks for the great feedback everyone. I love reading the reviews so keep on! Disclaimer: I do not own labyrinth or Thestrals, whish are J.K. Rowling. No Copyright Infringement intended.
*
Strangely Devine Chapter Seven: Gavelsy
*
The next few weeks passed much the same as Sarah's first days in the Underground. She found that besides the obvious down points in the place, no one was really too fussed with the fact that she slept in or lounged about her room until after noon. After rising and struggling into the horrible corset and some huge sweeping dress of Gwen's, she and her new friend would read in the library, take walks around the gardens, or spend time with the children.
Diner was the highlight of the day. A parade of political leaders and advisors circulated through the high table, all of them boring Sarah to tears. Most of the time she would find herself talking to the Goblin King in a civil manner, as if they had no history that didn't call for civility. He explained about the Underground and the Fae and seemed generally interested by the Aboveworld.
Sarah found that Jareth was becoming less and less insufferable as time went on. This wasn't to say that he had changed in any way. That insolent icy demeanour was still permanently in place along with the biting sarcasm he used so well. Only replaced, of course, by that smug amused look every now and again. Sarah was simply getting used to it. Instead of brisling at every comment out of his mouth, she would ignore the connotations and continue on with the conversation.
Jareth was most pleased that she didn't seem so offended by merely his presence anymore. It was hard to talk with someone who cringed and leaned away from you all the time. She didn't even fight him when he teleported her places.
Granted, this was new tolerance was mostly due in part to the fact that the pair only saw each other at Diner for two or three hours at most.
*
One morning while Gwendolyn and Sarah nibbled on breakfast on Sarah's bed, a servant knocked on the door. Gwen rolled her eyes but got up and answered anyway.. Sarah was much too slothful and would have let the poor man continue knocking all day.
"Yes?"
The servant bowed low. "My Lady, Princess Aislinn wishes to know if you and Lady Sarah will be joining her on her shopping trip to town today?"
Gwendolyn looked back at Sarah. The girl had already gone through half of her own wardrobe and they couldn't keep sharing and refitting clothes forever. "How do you feel about getting some dresses of your own?" Gwen grinned.
Sarah shrugged and leaned back against her pillows. "I don't like to keep putting you out, but I don't really need that much"
Gwendolyn turned back the servant and nodded "You may tell her highness that Lady Sarah and myself will accompany her to town." She nodded and the servant bowed again "Are we to act as part of her retinue?"
"No, my lady, I believe the Princess is travelling with only her brother, the High Prince and the captain of the guard today."
Sarah was sure she saw Gwendolyn's eyes lit up at hearing that Ilareo would be joining them. After she shut the door Sarah teased her about it.
"Oh--- well" she muttered, "We have to get you dressed Sarah, come on, out of bed"
Sarah giggled and covered her mouth with her hand "I didn't realize you had a town. who lives there? Dwarves?"
"Dwarves?" Gwendolyn repeated, her eyes wide with amusement "Of course not, we're not in the kingdom of the Dwarves. This is the Kingdom of the Fae, honestly Sarah."
Sarah rolled her eyes "So it's Fae people then?"
Gwen nodded and wielded the corset "Very minor nobility, artisans, tradesmen, a few beggars, that sort of thing. Now come on, get up, you haven't got all day"
*
"This is ridiculous" Jareth muttered as he ran his hand over the Thestral's mane.
Aislinn sneered distastefully at the animal from her seat inside the carriage. "Don't *touch* it Jareth, for Zeus's sake"
Jareth made a show of touching all the Thestrals that were attached to the carriage as he made his way over to his sister. "Why not? They're perfectly harmless, dear sister. In any case, I can't understand why we just don't magik ourselves to Gavelsy. This whole Thestral and carriage thing is a bit. mortal"
She sent him a disapproving look. "Honestly, Jareth. I don't know how you will survive as the High King. You can't just hole up in the castle like you do with the Goblin Kingdom. Our people need to see their rulers, they need to know that we are devoted to them and that we would anything for their safety"
He pulled a face "But we wouldn't."
"That doesn't matter, so long as they think it" Aislinn said, waving him off.
Jareth sighed and opened the carriage door. "I happen to think that being High King is a lot more then social responsibility. There is that whole keeping peace within the underground thing," he said dryly.
"Social obligation is one way to keep peace"
"Do you remember Marie Antoinette? We learned about her when we were young" Jareth said snidely. "Right there is a case in which the social 'obligations' get in the way of ruling a kingdom properly"
Aislinn sniffed "She was mortal"
Jareth grinned crookedly "She was beheaded"
Gwendolyn appeared with her arm linked through Sarah's just then. Sarah was dressed in another of Gwendolyn's gowns and seemed about to open her mouth to say something but thought against it.
"Ladies" Jareth said, his voice once again dripping in heavy distain.
Sarah gave a short exasperated curtsy that made him grin while Gwendolyn sunk deeper as usual, murmuring 'your majesties" as she stood up.
Sarah coughed, looking uncomfortable and then mumbled the phrase as well.
Aislinn looked rather offended "Sarah, we shall have to work on that greeting" she looked to Gwendolyn "You shall ride with me as I have much to discuss with you of your---" the princess looked sideways at Sarah before continuing "Charge"
"Yes, your highness" Gwendolyn curtsied low again, perhaps lower then usual to make up for Sarah. With the help of the footman, she climbed into the carriage beside the Princess.
"What of Ilareo?" Jareth asked wryly "Should he ride with myself and my lady"
Sarah cocked an eyebrow at him but he ignored her. It was just an expression, but it was one of respect that Aislinn certainly didn't think she deserved.
Aislinn looked scandalized "Why, he shall ride with us, of course" she shuddered and Sarah rolled her eyes "What if we were stopped by bandits? Who would protect us?"
Jareth highly doubted much would prove threatening to his sister. At least in that she wouldn't let anything come between her and her jewels. He waved it off and held his arm out for Sarah. She took it carefully and let him lead her over to the second carriage.
As the footman helped her in he caught her staring at the Thestrals. "Nice aren't they?" he said, his mismatched eyes glinting in amusement.
Sarah cringed "What are they?"
"Thestrals?" he sat next to her and she made an annoyed sound when he sat on her dress. "Sorry, my dear lady Sarah." The sarcasm was so thick in his voice she wanted to slap him. "They're just like your Aboveground horses only with wings and they drink blood. Oh, and you can only see them if you've seen death"
"Oh, only that different" she said sarcastically.
He shrugged and stared out the window. Ilareo was running down the green slope from the castle, looking quite frantic as his dark curly hair flew out behind him. He suspiciously held two dark wood boxes under his arm. The High Prince cracked the slightest of smiles and rolled his eyes at his friend.
"Why couldn't we just-you know-blink ourselves there?" Sarah asked
He looked at her wearily "My dear sister thinks to simply pop in and out of Gavelsy isn't enough. We need to make a public appearance"
"*I* don't have to, do I?"
He snorted "No, you and Gwen can go on with your shopping"
"Good" She nodded. To be honest, as much dread had filled her stomach at the thought of being alone with him for the whole trip into town, she was surprised how mild he was being. Surely this was better then sharing an enclosed space with Aislinn. Poor Gwen.
Ilareo came panting up to the carriage window and gave a short bow to Sarah. "My Lady" he puffed, and then gave a bow to Jareth. "Your Highness, the princess wishes for you to wear your royal ornamentation"
Jareth's eyes went wide. He gave a horrified groan and let his head drop back against the seat cushion "No-" he whined. Sarah giggled in her utter surprise. He was acting a bit like a spoiled child at this 'ornamentation' thing. She wondered what it could be.
Ilareo laughed dryly and produced one of the darkly lacquered boxes. He bowed his head and opened the box while muttering "My Lord"
Sarah gasped involuntarily. The box was lined with deep purple velvet and in the middle of it sat a platinum circlet with intricate jewels fastened into the metal. It glittered silver and icy blue in the sunlight and was utterly beautiful.
"My lord?" Ilareo implored
Jareth growled something unintelligible and grasped the circlet out of its box and slammed it on his head. "Is it so much to ask!" he shouted out the window in the direction of his sister's carriage "That I not be paraded about like some kind of Royal whore?"
Sarah fought desperately not to laugh and succeeded in only biting her lip and casting her eyes down at her skirt. Didn't he realize just how silly he was being? Obviously not. Ilareo bowed again and took off with the now empty box.
Jareth seemed to be pouting.
The carriages started moving and Sarah ventured into conversation again. "So-you don't like your--- crown thingy, I take it?" she tried.
He gave her a deadly look "Whatever would give you that idea?" his voice was scathing and Sarah laughed.
"I think it's quite fetching," she said, before thinking the connotations of it out thoroughly. She felt him look at her in surprise and that bloody amused, smug and so damned insolent look was back on his face. He shifted closer to her, draping his arm over her shoulders, his lips curling back in a grin that showed his pointed teeth. Sarah's heart started up immediately and she wished that she didn't get so excited by him being so close.
"Do you really?" his voice buzzed against her ear and she swallowed heavily.
She would be defiant "Yes"
He laughed lightly, his warm breath fanning across her face. "I think that's the second time you've complimented me, Sarah. Keep it up and we might be-friends". The word held hidden meaning that she knew she was to take in more then just a friendly manner.
"That would be horrible" she said, trying to keep her voice even but it shook terribly "If we were --- friends"
Jareth met her eyes and she saw that his pretty face was twisting into a self satisfied look that said he knew her secret. Well, she didn't even know her secret. "You don't want to be my friend?" his vice was soft, and airy against her ear. Sarah caught her breath.
"That," she narrowed her eyes. Then they unconsciously dropped to his lips and her conscious started screaming at her. "Isn't-" she trailed off, unable to form words in such close proximity.
"Isn't what?" he asked, his grin was feline and predatory. He knew she was attracted to him. It was deadly obvious.
"Isn't," she continued and pulled away, trying to regain her senses " Going to happen"
Jareth pulled back too, but let his arm hang over her shoulders still. "Oh, you're quite right" he said icily, as his fingers traced a pattern on her collar bone. "Never"
Sarah nodded and stared straight ahead for the rest of the journey. She couldn't want him. She couldn't, she couldn't, she couldn't. Sure, the Goblin King was attractive, but that was just something anyone with eyes would agree on. Hadn't he said that the Fae were extraordinarily seductive? Was he trying to seduce her? Why was he trying to seduce her? Did she want him to? NO!
"Oh hell" Jareth muttered, he was staring out Sarah's window and she realized with a start that the head turned off the dirt road and onto a rocky cobblestone one. The carriage began to jerk and shake about madly on the uneven street. Jareth managed to look cool and composed, biting the inside of his cheek, as they were jarred about. Sarah grabbed his arm in alarm and he looked down at her in surprise.
"Haven't you people heard of concrete?" she asked scathingly, as with a rather nasty bump the she bounced into him.
Jareth straitened his circlet "No" he answered calmly and looked out her window again "Oh, here we go then" he moaned but plastered a fake smile on his face and elbowed her "Smile, darling"
"Why?" she asked incredulously
"My subjects want to know everything is all right, so smile"
She smiled widely, almost comically, but it started to hurt her jaw after a bit and she took to simpering. She soon realized why there was so much smiling involved. Several children ran up to the carriage and handed her flowers. Although taken a back, Sarah set them in her lap and thanked the children.
It was like this all the way down what Sarah could only assume was the High Street of Gavelsy. As soon as they reached a large stone and wood building the carriages rolled to a stop.
"Where are we?" Sarah asked, peering out the window past Jareth.
He shrugged "Just some offices"
She nodded and watched as the footmen helped Gwendolyn out of the carriage. She took Ilareo's arm and he led her into the building. Next Aislinn was escorted in and then the footmen came to help Sarah out.
"Honestly" she muttered as her feet connected with the uneven and muddy cobblestone. "You would think that I don't-"
Jareth grabbed her elbow "Shut up" he said pleasantly, and looking quite amused. He waved his hand and the muddy filth sloshed to the side, clearing a path for them into the building.
*
Thanks:
Draegon-fire: Well you're basically right on all counts. Hmm. am I that transparent? Missy4: Tee hee, why thank you. I hope the continue to get better, *beams* Jester3: Ooh. I love your stories! She likes my dialogue? She likes my dialogue! *does the happy dialogue dance* Skye Haerrington: Ooh yes that portal thing will be really important, erm, somehow. I'm writing as fast as I can, here :D
I didn't forget anyone did I? Fanfiction.net is weird with it's reviews.
Remember to Review!