Irresistible Force Meets Immovable Object
Dry humor of the English
Englishman 1 Owh, I say ol'chap, how's the missus?
Englishman 2 Owh, I suppose all right, dead you know
Englishman 1 You don't say.
Enacted by Emil
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Cathy: Oh it's a wonderful castle. Heathcliff, let's never leave it.
Heathcliff: Never in our lives. Let all the world confess, that there is not in all the world a more beautiful damsel than the Princess Catherine of Yorkshire.
Cathy: (She curtsies down to serve him) But I - I'm still your slave.
Heathcliff: No Cathy. I now make you my queen. Whatever happens out there, here, you will always be my queen.
Wuthering Heights
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The Goblin King was not the only entity still awake this long night. Beyond the castle walls, beyond the Goblin City, the Labyrinth also stirred. Choking vines receded, walls healed and dead overgrown branches began to reshape and turn green as they once were. The Labyrinth was responding to Jareth's wordless commands spoken by his feelings and inner being. If Jareth possessed greater insight he would have understood that his connection to the Labyrinth went far deeper than he realized; for he and the Labyrinth were one.
Whether his majesty chose to recognize it or not Sarah proved herself worthy to be the bringer of light to duel the cruelty of his nature. Her love for her brother gave her that power, so when she made it to the Escher room deep down he knew the game was over. Watching Sarah fight to get to Toby pierced his calloused heart and made him acknowledge that his darkness could not live within her. The Goblin King only understood games of power, winning and losing, deceit and betrayal – this game he did not understand. Jareth refused to accept the truth in those final moments, instead he insisted on trying to change Sarah into someone he could rule. It could be said he missed the point.
Allowing himself to feel anything for Sarah was a big step for the Goblin King - lying back in bed he hoped she would be well enough to have dinner with him the following evening. He might even decide to be charming. With a plan of action firmly established Jareth finally fell fast asleep.
Dimly lit by the dying fire the royal bedchamber grew cold as a silent shadow slowly grew over Jareth's still form. Sarial stood at the foot of the four postered bed with a slight smile on his perfect lips. "Sleep, King of the Goblins, sleep without disquiet for I shall watch over thee."
Sarah woke up to the sound of loud snoring. Orange colored morning light was just coming through the French doors giving the room a rosy red hue. Scanning the room she spied the source of the annoying discordancy, it was coming from the goblin nurse curled up on the couch. How could such a little thing make so much noise?
Fully awake now she was bored and thirsty for some tea. Restless she found she just couldn't lie around in a bed anymore so she decided to steal her way to the kitchen and start some water boiling. As quiet as a mouse she slipped out of bed and moved noiselessly to the door. Slowly turning the knob without a sound she opened the door and moved into the hallway. She pulled the door behind her but did not close it and stealthily padded down the corridor.
She didn't know where she was in the castle but she figured if she could solve the Labyrinth she could find the kitchen…. eventually. As she made her way down the long hallway with closed doors on each side she imagined they led to other guestrooms, she would have been shocked to know the doors on the left she just passed were Jareth's chambers.
The hallway ended in a landing into which several other corridors converged. Off the far right side of the landing was a grand stairway leading down onto the main floor. As she walked towards the staircase the right side opened up and balconied over a large receiving area that was as austere and magnificent as her bedroom. A huge iron wrought chandelier with impossibly large candles hung over a round receiving table. Gothic designs and stone Goblin faces intermittingly decorated the walls.
Moving forward she heard more snoring up ahead. Reaching the top of the wide winding staircase she saw several goblins sprawled sleeping on the steps, chargers in hand. She silently slipped down the stairs past them and reaching the bottom she surveyed the area looking for a clue as to which direction to take. Straight in front of her was an alcove she thought probably led to the outside castle grounds. To her right was double doorway that opened into what looked like a library. Looking to her left she saw a hallway of some sort that led past and behind the stairway, so she chose left.
She was chilled in only her flannel nightgown and booties, but she determinedly wanted that cup of tea. Shivering a little and hugging herself she crept down the short hallway to a large door barely cracked open and pushed it open a little further. Using it as a shield to peek past she saw she was at one of the side entrances to the throne room. The room was deserted and silent so she braved quietly forward into the large open area. Sarah imagined the kitchen or dining room might lead off through one of the doors on the other side and moved in that direction. She was almost in the center of the massive room when a loud screech and a flapping of wings above the throne made her jump. Looking up she saw Jareth's vulture peering down at her dancing anxiously, then it screeched again louder this time.
She moved to make a shushing motion towards the agitated bird when she heard a deep voice behind her, " And what have we here? Really Sarah, can't you try and behave yourself? Sarah turned to sheepishly face Jareth and saw he was dressed in his bedclothes with bare feet. He had not taken time to change, just transported himself directly from his bed to see what set off his vulture alarm. Sans his royal tailored clothing, gloves and boots the Goblin King didn't look at all imposing, in fact right now he couldn't intimidate a flea. Sarah couldn't help it and started laughing and pointing at him. This caused him to look down at himself and give her a look like, "What?" The fact that he didn't get it made it all the funnier and holding her stomach she doubled over laughing.
Jareth was relieved to see Sarah was better but irritated at being pulled out of his bed for no reason, he was not in a good mood. With his face impassive he crossed his arms over his chest and all too patiently asked, "Why are you sneaking around the castle at this time of the morning?" Getting control of her laughing fit and wiping her eyes Sarah breathless said, "I wanted a cup of tea." Jareth nodded his head at her as if this explained everything. "So you decided to roam my castle at the crack of dawn in hopes of somehow finding the kitchen, eh? Wouldn't it have been easier to ask the nurse to get it for you? But, oh no, I remember now, this is Sarah, she doesn't play by the rules."
Sarah immediately bristled at his version of her intentions. She lifted her chin in defiance and coldly said, "I didn't mean any harm, the nurse was sleeping and I didn't want to wake her up." Jareth remembered that look, the "It's a piece of cake." look. He taught her a lesson then and he would teach her one now. With a snap of his fingers Sarah found herself back in her bed with a cup of steaming tea on a tray in her lap. A second later the fireplace roared to life on it's own. "Smartass." She cried out to the air. "I wish the goblins would come and take you away, right now!"
Well, the Goblin King was wide-awake now. Cursed girl, making him get up at this hour, and on top of it all his feet were cold. Knowing he could not go back to sleep he grumpily padded to his chambers to dress and start his day. With a high mimicking voice Jareth batted his eyes and waved a limp wrist like a girl, "Oh, tee hee, I just wanted a cup of tea, tee hee" Dropping the imitation his voice grumped, "I'll give her a cup of tea, the little upstart."
Sonya was huddled in a shadowed corner of the elaborate room. She had successfully destroyed enough mirrors and doused enough candles to create a space without light or reflection, a prison of darkness. Sarial walked through the doors and stood in the blazing light. "I came to tell you that I am bored with Lydia, I need a new companion…someone young, bright and strong. Can you think of anyone?" Sonya didn't answer. Sarial paced the room mindlessly touching objects as though lost in thought. "I have it, what about that young human…oh, what is her name? Sally, Sheila…Sarah."
The shadowed form shifted as Sarial continued, "Yes that's her name, Sarah. Kind of rolls off the tongue, wouldn't you say?" Sonya rasped, "She's not worthy of you." Sarial stepped up to the edge of the darkness, "Of course not, but then again who is?"
As Sarial was thinking of Sarah, she was thinking of Jareth, but not in the same vein, "He is a conceited, pompous, arrogant and insufferable peacock! I don't know why I agreed to try and talk him into sense, which is impossible! Let the wicked witch fry him for the rest of his life, they deserve each other!" But as soon as her internal tirade was over Sarah realized her statements were only half true, and total truth be known, she liked and was attracted to the Goblin King. Sarah buried her face in her hands, "That's it, I've finally lost it, I'm attracted to a freeze pop."
Glasis knocked on Sarah's door and breezed in carrying her "medicine" "How do you feel?" Sarah's eyes blazed, "Like I could kill Jareth." Glasis smiled, "Much improved, good girl." After he left Sarah contemplated the remainder of the day and hoped Hoggle would arrive soon so she could take a warm bath and change into her own clothing. Still seething from not being allowed some semblance of freedom this morning she felt she and Jareth needed to have it out. Since she couldn't go to him in her nightgown he would just have to come to her.
She got out of bed and called down the hallway for the nurse and told her to let the Goblin King know she wished to speak with him. A few moments later Jareth knocked and strode in to the side of her bed without fanfare. "You wished to speak with me?" he stated monotone. Sarah wanted to knock the arrogant look off his face and decided to irritate him with some snottiness of her own, "Yes, Goblin King, I don't like being whisked anywhere you please like an errant child. In the future I expect you to treat me with the appropriate amount of respect and consideration."
"So the duel has begun'" Jareth thought, lifting his head and peering down his nose at her,. "Young woman, you are under my hospice and care and I expect you to do your part to aid in your recovery, and I don't whisk, I transport." Sarah's hackled at his disdainful attitude and was ready to draw first blood when there was a knock on the door. Tearing her mental claws back from around Jareth's throat she said sharply, "Oh, come in!" The door cracked open and Hoggle hesitantly put his head in the room, "Can I enter?"
Staring at Jareth, Sarah said pointedly, "Of course, Hoggle, his royal highness was just leaving." The dismissive tone directed at Jareth did not miss its mark. Jareth gracefully stepped back to the center of the room and sneered, "Yes, I grow weary of attending this irritable female, see what she is chirping on about Huggle" then vanished with a cock of his head. Sarah shouted to empty air, "Jareth, you'd better pray I never learn how a transportation spell works, I hear the moon is nice this time of year."
Hoggle shuffled in with her case, "Sarah, you are supposed to be on good terms with em, not clawing his eyes out." Sarah frowned and in a conciliatory gesture raised her hands, palms upward. "I know, I'm sorry Hoggle. Keep reminding me of why I'm here so I stay on track. I'm going to take a quick bath and fix up. Will you please wait a few minutes?"
Hoggle nodded and sat on the couch looking into the blazing fire as Sarah picked up her case and went into the bathing room. The was another knock on the door and Hoggle said, "Enter." A goblin with a tray of fruits, meats and steaming soup entered the room. Grunting under the weight of the tray he carried the goblin placed it on the table in front of Hoggle and marched out of the room. As Hoggle started eating he thought. "Cor. I hopes Sarah doesn't lose her temper again. Those two are a match in being bold, but Jareth's got the oubliette on his side so she'd better be careful."