Chapter Twenty Five - Reconciliation
()()()()()()()()()()
A/N - Thank you for the reviews guys they were very nice and constructive. I honestly
didn't think anyone would like this idea. Special thanks to Mab, Queen of Faerie and
Daemon Faerie Queen (gosh your names are so similar). I will try to improve the last
chapter but I also wanted there to be an element of withdrawal between the characters
by keeping the conversation blunt.
This is the second to last chapter, people! But I do have some ideas for a sequel if you're
interested.
()()()()()()()()()()
Jareth looked down at the sobbing girl in his arms. He hadn't seen her cry for almost
ten years now and the shock of her outburst had caught him off guard. Then he
noticed that she was taking comfort from him. That hadn't happened in a long time
either. In fact it hadn't happened at all since he had found out the truth... But now
everything was out in the open, it was like they had regressed back to where they
started. Arian was the crying infant and he the loving parent removing the fear of a
bad dream or the pain of a cut or a fall. But now the feeling was so much stronger in
its absence and the anger at those past deeds was so real. He finally had someone to
share it with.
Arian slowly came back to earth after fit of crying. Her head felt like it would explode
from the pressure of her thoughts. She was an experiment! Someone's sick creation!
Technically, she probably wasn't even human! That was the most crushing thought of
all. Secretly, Arian had always felt out of place when she was growing up and those
rare occasions when she met fae children her own age were always painful reminders
that she was different. Then for a few glorious days she had explored all the wonders
of the human world and for the first time in her life had felt truly at home, only to
have it snatched away again. This modern metropolis wasn't where she belonged
either. Again her vision was fogged over by another onslaught of tears and she buried
her face deeper into the shoulder she'd been crying on. She was surprised at how much
she had missed these moments of comfort and wondered how on earth she had
survived for so long without them.
"Please say you're lying!" she pleaded through muffled sobs "Say its just a trick to get
me to go back with you."
Jareth sighed "I can't, Arian. I wish I could, but it's the truth."
"How long have you known?" Arian whispered, trying to calm herself.
"Far too long. I found out two years ago when the peace treaty was signed. It was
prophesised that a child born of science and raised in magic would unite or destroy
our world as she saw fit. She alone would bring our destiny through her God-like
power and either create a golden age or total destruction. I learned with the help of my
mother and the other Seers that it was you." He looked across at his daughter. He had
tried to think of a way of telling her for so long and she had found out in the worst
possible way. He had never felt so guilty before. "I wanted to tell you, Arian, but I just
couldn't bring myself to do it. And the longer I left it the harder it became. Eventually
I couldn't face you anymore."
Arian's eyes widened "Is that why you stayed away?"
"I'm so sorry." The apology sounded pathetic but he was seriously out of practise in
that area. Arian looked up at him searchingly with her large black eyes now red
rimmed from crying. She had never heard him say that before and she felt quite
pleasantly shocked by it. Finally she forced a small smile and looked away to focus on
the ducks on the river. She immediately felt a lot better.
Jareth carried on, still thinking that she wasn't convinced. "I swear I'll make it up to
you. You're my daughter and I love you even if I don't say it enough. Always
remember that. And don't think for one second that you're alone when you take over
the kingdom because I'll help you every step of the way. Just you and me against the
world."
Arian smiled "I've missed you." she whispered "I miss the way we used to be." she
paused for a moment, thinking to herself "It looks like I have a decision to make." she
said finally. "To save the Underground or stay here and let it die. Not much of a
choice really, is it? I love this place but not seeing it again is a small sacrifice for
saving a world."
"I never said you couldn't see the Aboveworld again." said Jareth, realising that she
had misunderstood.
"But I thought that was the way it was done." said Arian uncertainly. "So I can come
back then?"
"To visit, yes." said her father. "You have the unique ability to jump between worlds
without being called upon. The rules obviously don't apply to you."
"But you came yesterday and no one called you." Arian was getting confused now.
"I'm allowed to follow people who were wished to me if they escape."
"You're making me sound like your prisoner, father." Arian laughed and stood up
from the bench. Suddenly it felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
She could do what was right and still live her own life. It was such a sweet deal. "So
it's settled then. I'll come home with you if I'm allowed to visit Sarah."
Jareth scowled. "What do you want to see her for?"
"She's my friend." Arian protested.
"She defeated me and she nearly destroyed the Labyrinth!"
"It was only a game, father, get over it! I'm not coming home if you won't let me see
her." said Arian trying not to let it escalate any further by resorting to good old
blackmail.
"Well I hope you'll be able to live with yourself after you condemn us all to death!"
said Jareth trying his best to win by resorting to the good old 'dad guilt' tactic.
Arian hesitated a little but realised it was a trick. "Sure I'll fell a little guilty. But this
world has so many great things to do that I'll hardly have the time to think about it."
she said triumphantly.
"Fine! You can see Sarah." Jareth caved in. "As long as it doesn't interfere with your
duties. And as long as you tell me beforehand." They were quickly falling back into
the old routine.
"Done." said Arian happily and leaned over to hug him again. And they both left the
riverside to carry on their walk, oblivious to the strange looks they were getting from
passing joggers. Soon they came to Richmond's main highstreet and Arian took great
pleasure in pointing out and explaining what all the different shops were for and how
the bus timetable worked. Jareth pretended to understand but really didn't have the
foggiest idea what she was on about. But from the disaster of the previous morning
and their talk the next day they were both able to relax and enjoy the day.
The afternoon drew in as the unusual pair wandered aimlessly around Kew Gardens,
reliving old memories and chatting about nothing in particular.
"So what do you think the Goblin City needs to ensure its progress?" asked Jareth
following a short argument about what a dump it was turning into.
"Well it needs public health, that's a must." said Arian "And it needs houses that don't
burn down as soon as you look at them and schools and a better form of law
enforcement. I don't like those guards, their a bunch of thugs."
"You can't civilise Goblins, Arian. It's impossible."
"That's just because no one's tried." said Arian "And they need proper dentists, that
goes for you too."
"What's wrong with my teeth?" Jareth protested.
"They're freaky looking."
"Good Lord! What am I getting myself into?" the Goblin King sighed.
"Well if I'm going to create a golden age, shouldn't everyone have the same rights to
education and health?" said Arian.
"Yes, your majesty!" her father said sarcastically. Damn it! She was already turning
into a better ruler than he was. Arian laughed at him and he smiled back. "Shall we go
then?"
"Can I say goodbye to Sarah first?" said Arian hopefully.
"Don't see why not." said Jareth and held out his hand which Arian gladly accepted
and they both faded away in a shower of glitter causing a small poodle to have a heart
attack.
()()()()()()()()()()
A/N - Thank you for the reviews guys they were very nice and constructive. I honestly
didn't think anyone would like this idea. Special thanks to Mab, Queen of Faerie and
Daemon Faerie Queen (gosh your names are so similar). I will try to improve the last
chapter but I also wanted there to be an element of withdrawal between the characters
by keeping the conversation blunt.
This is the second to last chapter, people! But I do have some ideas for a sequel if you're
interested.
()()()()()()()()()()
Jareth looked down at the sobbing girl in his arms. He hadn't seen her cry for almost
ten years now and the shock of her outburst had caught him off guard. Then he
noticed that she was taking comfort from him. That hadn't happened in a long time
either. In fact it hadn't happened at all since he had found out the truth... But now
everything was out in the open, it was like they had regressed back to where they
started. Arian was the crying infant and he the loving parent removing the fear of a
bad dream or the pain of a cut or a fall. But now the feeling was so much stronger in
its absence and the anger at those past deeds was so real. He finally had someone to
share it with.
Arian slowly came back to earth after fit of crying. Her head felt like it would explode
from the pressure of her thoughts. She was an experiment! Someone's sick creation!
Technically, she probably wasn't even human! That was the most crushing thought of
all. Secretly, Arian had always felt out of place when she was growing up and those
rare occasions when she met fae children her own age were always painful reminders
that she was different. Then for a few glorious days she had explored all the wonders
of the human world and for the first time in her life had felt truly at home, only to
have it snatched away again. This modern metropolis wasn't where she belonged
either. Again her vision was fogged over by another onslaught of tears and she buried
her face deeper into the shoulder she'd been crying on. She was surprised at how much
she had missed these moments of comfort and wondered how on earth she had
survived for so long without them.
"Please say you're lying!" she pleaded through muffled sobs "Say its just a trick to get
me to go back with you."
Jareth sighed "I can't, Arian. I wish I could, but it's the truth."
"How long have you known?" Arian whispered, trying to calm herself.
"Far too long. I found out two years ago when the peace treaty was signed. It was
prophesised that a child born of science and raised in magic would unite or destroy
our world as she saw fit. She alone would bring our destiny through her God-like
power and either create a golden age or total destruction. I learned with the help of my
mother and the other Seers that it was you." He looked across at his daughter. He had
tried to think of a way of telling her for so long and she had found out in the worst
possible way. He had never felt so guilty before. "I wanted to tell you, Arian, but I just
couldn't bring myself to do it. And the longer I left it the harder it became. Eventually
I couldn't face you anymore."
Arian's eyes widened "Is that why you stayed away?"
"I'm so sorry." The apology sounded pathetic but he was seriously out of practise in
that area. Arian looked up at him searchingly with her large black eyes now red
rimmed from crying. She had never heard him say that before and she felt quite
pleasantly shocked by it. Finally she forced a small smile and looked away to focus on
the ducks on the river. She immediately felt a lot better.
Jareth carried on, still thinking that she wasn't convinced. "I swear I'll make it up to
you. You're my daughter and I love you even if I don't say it enough. Always
remember that. And don't think for one second that you're alone when you take over
the kingdom because I'll help you every step of the way. Just you and me against the
world."
Arian smiled "I've missed you." she whispered "I miss the way we used to be." she
paused for a moment, thinking to herself "It looks like I have a decision to make." she
said finally. "To save the Underground or stay here and let it die. Not much of a
choice really, is it? I love this place but not seeing it again is a small sacrifice for
saving a world."
"I never said you couldn't see the Aboveworld again." said Jareth, realising that she
had misunderstood.
"But I thought that was the way it was done." said Arian uncertainly. "So I can come
back then?"
"To visit, yes." said her father. "You have the unique ability to jump between worlds
without being called upon. The rules obviously don't apply to you."
"But you came yesterday and no one called you." Arian was getting confused now.
"I'm allowed to follow people who were wished to me if they escape."
"You're making me sound like your prisoner, father." Arian laughed and stood up
from the bench. Suddenly it felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
She could do what was right and still live her own life. It was such a sweet deal. "So
it's settled then. I'll come home with you if I'm allowed to visit Sarah."
Jareth scowled. "What do you want to see her for?"
"She's my friend." Arian protested.
"She defeated me and she nearly destroyed the Labyrinth!"
"It was only a game, father, get over it! I'm not coming home if you won't let me see
her." said Arian trying not to let it escalate any further by resorting to good old
blackmail.
"Well I hope you'll be able to live with yourself after you condemn us all to death!"
said Jareth trying his best to win by resorting to the good old 'dad guilt' tactic.
Arian hesitated a little but realised it was a trick. "Sure I'll fell a little guilty. But this
world has so many great things to do that I'll hardly have the time to think about it."
she said triumphantly.
"Fine! You can see Sarah." Jareth caved in. "As long as it doesn't interfere with your
duties. And as long as you tell me beforehand." They were quickly falling back into
the old routine.
"Done." said Arian happily and leaned over to hug him again. And they both left the
riverside to carry on their walk, oblivious to the strange looks they were getting from
passing joggers. Soon they came to Richmond's main highstreet and Arian took great
pleasure in pointing out and explaining what all the different shops were for and how
the bus timetable worked. Jareth pretended to understand but really didn't have the
foggiest idea what she was on about. But from the disaster of the previous morning
and their talk the next day they were both able to relax and enjoy the day.
The afternoon drew in as the unusual pair wandered aimlessly around Kew Gardens,
reliving old memories and chatting about nothing in particular.
"So what do you think the Goblin City needs to ensure its progress?" asked Jareth
following a short argument about what a dump it was turning into.
"Well it needs public health, that's a must." said Arian "And it needs houses that don't
burn down as soon as you look at them and schools and a better form of law
enforcement. I don't like those guards, their a bunch of thugs."
"You can't civilise Goblins, Arian. It's impossible."
"That's just because no one's tried." said Arian "And they need proper dentists, that
goes for you too."
"What's wrong with my teeth?" Jareth protested.
"They're freaky looking."
"Good Lord! What am I getting myself into?" the Goblin King sighed.
"Well if I'm going to create a golden age, shouldn't everyone have the same rights to
education and health?" said Arian.
"Yes, your majesty!" her father said sarcastically. Damn it! She was already turning
into a better ruler than he was. Arian laughed at him and he smiled back. "Shall we go
then?"
"Can I say goodbye to Sarah first?" said Arian hopefully.
"Don't see why not." said Jareth and held out his hand which Arian gladly accepted
and they both faded away in a shower of glitter causing a small poodle to have a heart
attack.