Chapter 4: What Have I Done
A/N: I'm sorry this took so long but school got in the way. Be thankful that we got 8 inches of snow last night otherwise this wouldn't be written or posted. Let's hope that we get the forecasted ice too. Then maybe chapter 5 will get written. I really appreciate all the wonderful comments from reviewers.
In the castle
Jareth rested comfortably in his study, idly watching Sarah's still form in the glass ball in his hand. Things were turning out better than he'd planned. Sarah was here, in the Underground, of her own free will and she was at his mercy. Now, all he had to do was convince her that this was what she wanted. That he was what she wanted, what she needed. Jareth sighed and let the ball hang in the air and turned to see Sebal waiting for his attention. "Yes?" "My Lord, I was wondering how.when." Sebal sighed and let the question hang awaiting an outburst of anger from his king. Instead Jareth only laughed at his nervousness. "Sebal, how long have you been my chamberlain?" "A long time, Your Majesty." "Then why don't you just tell me what's on your mind. I promise I won't punish you for it, much." Sebal eyed him warily and then spoke quickly. "My Lord, we both know why she came back. It's the same reason why we all came back. You know what putting her in the oubliette will do. I just don't think you'll be happy with the results when she figures everything out." "I know exactly what will happen and I'm looking forward to it." Jareth returned equally and continued to watch Sarah through the crystal.
In the oubliette
It was a slow and painful rise into consciousness for Sarah. For once she was grateful for the darkness the oubliette afforded. Her right temple ached tremendously from striking a rock and her legs had started to cramp. Sarah carefully pushed herself up on the rock outcropping she'd used before. Propping her pounding head in her hands, Sarah quietly berated herself for rash decisions, trusting handsome men, and bad clothing choices because it was damn cold in that dark hole. I should have known, should have expected this, she thought. The only highpoint was that the dull ache that had resided in her chest for the past eight years was gone. The tightness that usually accompanied her seemed to have vanished. In its place was a wonderful lightness.
What to do now, she thought. I can't stay in this miserable hole forever. Maybe this is Jareth's idea of a joke. Maybe he'll pop back in and take me to the castle. Yes, that makes sense. Jareth would be the master of the not funny practical joke. So she settled down for what was sure to be a short wait and watched for the puff of glitter that would announce his arrival.
And she waited..
And waited..
And waited.
When Sarah's stomach started to rumble she figured she had been perched on that rock for several hours. Anger started to fill up the pit of her stomach and she pushed herself off the rock to curse at the darkness, Jareth, and herself.
In the castle
Jareth sat bemused as Sarah's outburst continued. He never thought she could be this entertaining. His laughter must have filtered down through the crystal for Sarah suddenly stopped pacing and looked unerringly up into his eyes. "You," she said menacingly. "You've been watching me the whole time. It was always you. Well I've had enough of your creepy, spine-chilling looks. Go away!" The last two words were filled with anger, and force, and inexplicably with power. Suddenly the crystal darkened and then shattered in Jareth's hand. He quickly called another crystal to his palm but it too darkened and shattered. His hands slapped lifelessly on his desk and dismay filled his features. The little twit had blocked him. Things were moving far too fast for Jareth's liking. It usually took people years to learn how to block him and even then it was quite a feat to do so. This was not good at all.
In the oubliette
The eyes that were watching her disappeared abruptly. A deep sigh fluttered through her lips and she relaxed against the uneven wall. Her heart pounded unevenly in her chest. The knowledge that it had been Jareth watching her this whole time unnerved her. How dare he think he could drop in and watch her whenever he wanted. But what else would you expect from him? He probably thought that I'd never figure it out, she thought bitterly. Well I proved him wrong didn't I? Squaring her shoulders Sarah stood up and muttered aloud. "Okay. It's time to get out of here and have a few words with my gracious host. But how? I can't see a damned thing much less find that door. What I need is light." A brief flicker burned her eyes and Sarah flinched away. "Crap. Where did that come from? Jareth, is that you?" Silence greeted her question. "Okay, just my over active imagination. Try again. I need to make a light." Again a light flickered but instead of burning out a small ember of light floated above her hand. "Oh my God. I'm doing this? No fragging way. Light?" Sarah said in a small voice and the ember pulsed brighter to illuminate her whole hand. "I am doing this." She said with a satisfied smile. "How is this possible? Is it or am I losing my mind? Let's go with option A for a while. How can I do magic? Think Sarah. What was in the story? Think! Now is not the time to have a senior moment." Sarah growled in frustration and snapped, "More light!" The whole oubliette pulsed with a faint light and Sarah smiled happily. I remember, Sarah thought. There was something about the girl getting gifts or powers or something. There had to be a way to use this. Her stomach rumbled in agreement. A smile again lit up her face and holding out her hand she said, "Apple." And a glossy red apple appeared in her palm. Biting into it, she laughed as the sweet fruit put a dent in her hunger. She started to pace the confining area. There had to be a way out. I can make light and get food there is no reason I have to stay here. Plus, if it doesn't work, she thought, no harm, no foul. "I want to be in the throne room now!" She practically shouted. And then she was.
A/N: I know I tend to switch from 1st to 2nd person and stream of consciousness but I write how I talk. I also know that I write in fragments and with comma splices out the wazoo. But I figure if great writers can write like that then so can I. Please review. I'm feeling lonely.
A/N: I'm sorry this took so long but school got in the way. Be thankful that we got 8 inches of snow last night otherwise this wouldn't be written or posted. Let's hope that we get the forecasted ice too. Then maybe chapter 5 will get written. I really appreciate all the wonderful comments from reviewers.
In the castle
Jareth rested comfortably in his study, idly watching Sarah's still form in the glass ball in his hand. Things were turning out better than he'd planned. Sarah was here, in the Underground, of her own free will and she was at his mercy. Now, all he had to do was convince her that this was what she wanted. That he was what she wanted, what she needed. Jareth sighed and let the ball hang in the air and turned to see Sebal waiting for his attention. "Yes?" "My Lord, I was wondering how.when." Sebal sighed and let the question hang awaiting an outburst of anger from his king. Instead Jareth only laughed at his nervousness. "Sebal, how long have you been my chamberlain?" "A long time, Your Majesty." "Then why don't you just tell me what's on your mind. I promise I won't punish you for it, much." Sebal eyed him warily and then spoke quickly. "My Lord, we both know why she came back. It's the same reason why we all came back. You know what putting her in the oubliette will do. I just don't think you'll be happy with the results when she figures everything out." "I know exactly what will happen and I'm looking forward to it." Jareth returned equally and continued to watch Sarah through the crystal.
In the oubliette
It was a slow and painful rise into consciousness for Sarah. For once she was grateful for the darkness the oubliette afforded. Her right temple ached tremendously from striking a rock and her legs had started to cramp. Sarah carefully pushed herself up on the rock outcropping she'd used before. Propping her pounding head in her hands, Sarah quietly berated herself for rash decisions, trusting handsome men, and bad clothing choices because it was damn cold in that dark hole. I should have known, should have expected this, she thought. The only highpoint was that the dull ache that had resided in her chest for the past eight years was gone. The tightness that usually accompanied her seemed to have vanished. In its place was a wonderful lightness.
What to do now, she thought. I can't stay in this miserable hole forever. Maybe this is Jareth's idea of a joke. Maybe he'll pop back in and take me to the castle. Yes, that makes sense. Jareth would be the master of the not funny practical joke. So she settled down for what was sure to be a short wait and watched for the puff of glitter that would announce his arrival.
And she waited..
And waited..
And waited.
When Sarah's stomach started to rumble she figured she had been perched on that rock for several hours. Anger started to fill up the pit of her stomach and she pushed herself off the rock to curse at the darkness, Jareth, and herself.
In the castle
Jareth sat bemused as Sarah's outburst continued. He never thought she could be this entertaining. His laughter must have filtered down through the crystal for Sarah suddenly stopped pacing and looked unerringly up into his eyes. "You," she said menacingly. "You've been watching me the whole time. It was always you. Well I've had enough of your creepy, spine-chilling looks. Go away!" The last two words were filled with anger, and force, and inexplicably with power. Suddenly the crystal darkened and then shattered in Jareth's hand. He quickly called another crystal to his palm but it too darkened and shattered. His hands slapped lifelessly on his desk and dismay filled his features. The little twit had blocked him. Things were moving far too fast for Jareth's liking. It usually took people years to learn how to block him and even then it was quite a feat to do so. This was not good at all.
In the oubliette
The eyes that were watching her disappeared abruptly. A deep sigh fluttered through her lips and she relaxed against the uneven wall. Her heart pounded unevenly in her chest. The knowledge that it had been Jareth watching her this whole time unnerved her. How dare he think he could drop in and watch her whenever he wanted. But what else would you expect from him? He probably thought that I'd never figure it out, she thought bitterly. Well I proved him wrong didn't I? Squaring her shoulders Sarah stood up and muttered aloud. "Okay. It's time to get out of here and have a few words with my gracious host. But how? I can't see a damned thing much less find that door. What I need is light." A brief flicker burned her eyes and Sarah flinched away. "Crap. Where did that come from? Jareth, is that you?" Silence greeted her question. "Okay, just my over active imagination. Try again. I need to make a light." Again a light flickered but instead of burning out a small ember of light floated above her hand. "Oh my God. I'm doing this? No fragging way. Light?" Sarah said in a small voice and the ember pulsed brighter to illuminate her whole hand. "I am doing this." She said with a satisfied smile. "How is this possible? Is it or am I losing my mind? Let's go with option A for a while. How can I do magic? Think Sarah. What was in the story? Think! Now is not the time to have a senior moment." Sarah growled in frustration and snapped, "More light!" The whole oubliette pulsed with a faint light and Sarah smiled happily. I remember, Sarah thought. There was something about the girl getting gifts or powers or something. There had to be a way to use this. Her stomach rumbled in agreement. A smile again lit up her face and holding out her hand she said, "Apple." And a glossy red apple appeared in her palm. Biting into it, she laughed as the sweet fruit put a dent in her hunger. She started to pace the confining area. There had to be a way out. I can make light and get food there is no reason I have to stay here. Plus, if it doesn't work, she thought, no harm, no foul. "I want to be in the throne room now!" She practically shouted. And then she was.
A/N: I know I tend to switch from 1st to 2nd person and stream of consciousness but I write how I talk. I also know that I write in fragments and with comma splices out the wazoo. But I figure if great writers can write like that then so can I. Please review. I'm feeling lonely.