Chapter 17: A Humane Heart?

It took several moments for Jareth to collect himself once more. "Ione. You've kept our secret for years only to break it now? To this mortal no less who stands in no great favor of mine!" Lorien was amazed, but Sarah was particularly astounded. Not only had Jareth refrained from erupting in anger, he still spoke to the knight in a familiar and almost gentle tone. But they were only further amazed when he permitted Ione to talk back to him.

"Jareth, can't you see that Sarah is more than a mere mortal? She was the first to ever defeat your Labyrinth! This feat should've won your respect not your ire! Can you not see that she is the only wonder that could ever return to the Labyrinth? She was the only one who left!"

"Ione, do not cross the borders to disrespect," Jareth warned yet even when warning he did not get overly cross.

Ione visibly checked herself. Her head lowered in submission as she replied. "Your Majesty, you know I could never disrespect you."

Jareth raised one gloved hand to lift Ione's chin. She looked him unwaveringly in the eye. Lorien and Sarah could not believe their eyes! Leaning in closer his every word held emphasis. "Yes, I know, Ione. But the fact remains that I wish you had not spoken of our little secret to anyone."

"Jareth, we are losing you. I cannot understand these changes in you. You are not all gone, Milord, but the Kingdom is losing you. Jareth what has happened to you?" Her delicate hands gently framed his handsome face. Her eyes closed briefly. "I cannot see your mind!" The tone with she used was heartbreaking. There was the hopelessness of a first time loss. Yet there was a speck of hope that her pleas might be heard.

Jareth sighed pulling away first. "Go home, Ione." Briefly his hand grazed her cheek before his demeanor straightened and he pulled completely away from her. "Dismissed!" He watched Ione's exit then turned lethal eyes upon Lorien and Sarah. Sarah got the distinct impression of a slammed door for his attitude could not have changed more rapidly. The eyes turned upon them were cold and hard. "You both would do well to forget completely every word spoken here this day," Jareth warned in a dangerous voice. "If word of this spreads, even rank will be no protection for you!" In a shower of glitter, Jareth was gone.

"Well, I don't know about you, Mother, but I've had my share of strange events for the day!" Lorien could only nod. Together, mother and daughter set out to find the boys.

Sarah sat in her room reading a book her mother had given her. But upon closer inspection, one could see she'd been on the same page for the past half-hour. All Sarah could think of was the tender moment she'd witnessed. So there was some good left in Jareth. Why was Ione the only one who triggered it?

"It's almost as if he's a different person with her."

She couldn't think of a logical reason for it. It could not simply be because they'd slept together a few times. Jareth had used all the Terrified Ones, yet he was downright cruel to them! Perhaps it was because she had mothered three of his children. It was the only option that made any sense

"I wonder what on earth possesses him the rest of the time."

The thought made her pause. Possess... Was that the reason. Was Jareth possessed somehow? She thought back to everything she'd ever known of the man. Did he show signs that his actions were not his own? She thought especially on her first visit to the Labyrinth. He had certainly tempted her, but the method he used had seemed unfamiliar to him. She compared his composure to that of the many guys Elaine had attempted to pair her with. While there was no question that he was no innocent lamb, the role he had chosen was unfamiliar to him. He was perfectly comfortable with displays of power, which he would have to be as a King. It was the way he had attempted to seduce her that she always got stuck on. It now seemed unusual to her. Now she knew that he'd been in a relationship with Ione.

"How could he be unfamiliar with seduction?"

The question rang again in her mind even after it was spoken. He'd already had three children with the centauress by the time she had entered the Labyrinth. Was he only unsure of how to go from terrifying her to seducing her? Surely this was the missing piece between her and Ione. Ione was a knight of Labyrinth, and although Jareth remained authoritative with her, he was not trying to frighten her. Sarah had wished away her brother, and Jareth was trying to best her from the beginning. Now she knew that Jareth would not have harmed her brother although she did begin to wonder what her fate would have been if she had failed.

"How is he changed?"

Sarah considered this carefully. His seduction now was knowing and more brazen. He knew well his position as King compared to their position. Jareth also displayed much less respect for humans as people. The first time she had come to the Labyrinth, Jareth had treated her like a child. His manner had been very condescending, and even though she had acted like one throughout most of her journey, he had respected her in the end as very near his equal. His reaction now had been one close to disgust of her kind. His tone dripped with annoyance ever time he spoke the word 'mortal'. It seemed he threw it in her face that she would only live a short time. She had learned that the atmosphere of the Underground kept humans alive for hundreds of years, but even this life span would seem short to Faye who lived until they were killed. He seemed to hate her with a passion. This was the only thing about him that made a little sense. But the intensity of that hate was unreal. She could understand he was annoyed at her defeat of him, but why was he so vehemently against her?

"What of the Lady Ione?" it almost seemed a voice not her own had begun asking her questions.

Why indeed had the centauress been so anxious to get her to look beyond the evil she saw in Jareth? True the centauress loved her King, but it seemed deeper than that.

"Perhaps she only wished for you to see the King as she did."

"That wasn't me," Sarah said aloud.

"No, you're right. It wasn't you."

"Who is this?"

"It is me, Sarah. Lady Ione."

"How are you talking to me? You are in the Labyrinth!"

"I have long been held as the authority in the Labyrinth in all matters concerning the mind Sarah. I'm am telekinetic and telepathic. I hope you'll pardon the intrusion, Lady Sarah, but I wanted to be there for you as you considered what had been said today."

"Then why not just visit me again?"

"Because Jareth monitors the roads in and out as well as all magic going in and out. If I come to you in person, Lady Sarah, Jareth will know. But Jareth is not telepathic so he cannot monitor me in this communication."

"Then why not just speak to me this way the first time?"

"Because I wished to give the Lady Lorien hope as well. She was once a good friend of Jareth's, but she'd given up hope. I knew Jareth would not yell at me even in front of you."

"Perhaps you can tell me then. Is he possessed, Lady Ione?"

"Possession is hard to find, Sarah. It is always very subtle until the vessel is destroyed or released. However, Jareth was bitter and angry over your defeat of him, which would have left him ripe for possession. So if you were asking me if there's any chance of it, I would say a most definite yes!"

"And yet you find the good in him."

"Can you not see, Sarah! Jareth is still there beneath this evil that is sweeping through him."

"Even when I first came, he was still cruel to his subjects. Why should I wish to help a King who might make a tyrant?"

"Oh, Sarah!" she could almost feel the centauress' frustration. "I shall show you the King as he was! I shall show you Jareth without his mask not trying to frighten and not under the influence of evil! You shall see through my eyes the King as he was before these events!"

Sarah felt a jolt then suddenly she was in another place in another time. She was in an enclosed garden and she felt anxious over something. She kept looking around. She was waiting for someone! Then he appeared. Looking more handsome than she ever remembered, Jareth entered the garden.