Alchemy - The beginning of the work is the blackening. Symbols associated with this phase are the Black Crow, Raven, Toad, Dragon and Massa Confusa. Heat or the fermentation of decay is brought to act as the catalyst on the substance to be transmutated The academic world believes alchemy to be the mythical process of turning base metal into the fabled philosopher's stone. Perhaps, as Jung suggests, it is the darkness of a spiritual journey that begins with touching the unconscious, touching the untamed hell within. Nugrey
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Jesus said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? John 3:5 - 3:10
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In the privacy of his chambers the Goblin King nonchalantly leaned against the window alcove watching the glorious red dawn break over the Labyrinth. He wanted to capture and memorize this time, this moment, to reflect on for the rest of his life. No matter where his decision led him or what changes the future might bring he would forever remember watching the blazing streams of light reveal themselves over his kingdom.
He knew that it was his time to grow and evolve, like a caterpillar that spins its cocoon he was on the cusp of becoming. By facing his feelings Jareth had changed more in the past few days then he had in hundreds of years. Sarah's presence had been the catalyst; it was ironically true that she had turned his world. Jareth realized she had been sent to open his heart so he could follow it when making his choice. The Almighty had provided what was needed when it was needed.
Jareth examined his feelings for Sarah more closely. He found her to be willful, stubborn, sarcastic, and didn't know her place. The paradox was that he was attracted to her because these imperfections made her real. When he was with Sonya he was dealing with a graceful, gracious, beautiful creature that he felt was - well, boring. Sarah on the other hand kept him on his toes, he was never sure what may happen or who would win their next battle. Sarah challenged him and he definitely needed his sense of humor when dealing with her. Yet there was something she possessed that made her unusual, the very thing that defeated him, her ability to love. With that light came loyalty, honesty, determination and a string of other qualities too numerous to list.
Did he love her? He didn't think so. He cared for and about her but he didn't know even know what love was and doubted he would know in the next thirteen days. There was one thing he felt for her though, one thing he rarely gave, his trust. Sarah had broken through his isolation and seized his trust when she sacrificed her dreams for one little boy she truly loved. Jareth wanted Sarah's trust in return and knew he would have to be honest with her to earn it. He concluded that keeping his emotional distance from her until he knew how he was going to choose would be the correct course to follow under the circumstances. He pushed off the alcove and as he raised his arm behind him an ornate silver clock appeared suspended in space. The face had 13 markings but they weren't for hours, they were for days.
Sarah's eyes opened as soon as the first beams of light hit her face. It never ceased to amaze her that somehow she could program her mind to wake up at a certain time or event, yet she could. She jumped out of bed and hurried to the open French doors as dawn greeted her. The light stung her still puffy eyes from all the crying she did last night. A few cold compresses would soon make that better she thought as she quickly padded to the bathing room. Time to get ready; the proverbial clock was ticking.
Jareth turned from the window and went to the throne room. No longer was the room empty, it contained dozens of snoring goblins and clucking chickens. Jareth smirked, "It didn't take them long after Sonya left." He reached down and grabbed a little goblin by the scruff of his neck. Holding it up in front of his face he murmured, "What have we here? Sleeping on the job eh?" The goblin opened its eyes wide and shook its little head. "No..no, yer majesty..I wouldn't do that." Jareth locked eyes with him, "I have a mission for you, wake up the girl and tell her to ready herself and meet me in the royal dining room." The tiny creature nodded his head happy the king didn't say the word "bog." When the goblin skittered away Jareth went to his dining room to mentally plan for meeting with Sarial and Ishmial. He expected he would have an hour or so to himself to map out what he thought would be a logical approach.
The little goblin with very big eyes knocked on Sarah's door and was stunned when within seconds she opened it fully dressed and wide awake. "His..his majesty sent me to wake you but ....." Sarah impatiently said, "Yes, I'm ready. Take me to his majesty." The little goblin blinked trying to catch up with the fact it had come with one mission and now had to quickly change it to another one. After a slight pause it said, "Follow me."
Sarah was shown to the same dining room as last night only it looked much more cheerful this morning. The large window was open letting in ample natural light and giving the room an airy feel. Jareth was seated at the table with his back to her when he asked, "Well, did you wake the girl?" Sarah answered, "The girl is awake." Jareth stood and turned almost in surprise, but caught himself. Impassively he said, "I didn't expect you here yet." Disappointed in his cold expression and tone Sarah replied evenly not letting him know he ruffled her feathers. "I'm an early riser." She confidently walked up to the table and quickly seated herself before Jareth had a chance to help. She wasn't going to play Duck Duck Goose Goose with him and his pompous manners.
"Yes, well so am I.," the Goblin King sniffed abruptly seating himself. He also wasn't going to let her know she irritated him. Jareth was just about to order breakfast when Glasis breathlessly walked into the room carrying "Sarah's potion." "Young woman, don't make me chase you all over the castle to give you your medicine." Sarah and Jareth couldn't help it and started chuckling; neither had the heart to tell him it was all a sham. Sarah took the offered glass from the annoyed healer and asked, "Don't you think I'm cured yet?" Glasis shook his head, "A few more potions perhaps, I don't want to stop treatment until I'm satisfied." Sarah, like Jareth, knew better than to argue with Glasis so she pinched her nose and drank the glass as fast as she could.
After Glasis left Sarah brought up a practical matter. "Your majesty, I would like to know if I could go home and tell my parents not to worry about my extended absence and get a few more clothes. I am staying far longer than expected." Jareth involuntarily clenched his teeth when she said "go home" although if asked he would not have known why. All he knew is that he did not want her to go home, he wanted her here until this was all settled. The truth be known Jareth had a possessive streak and right now he considered Sarah as his subject. He wasn't so easy to let go of what was "his." The Goblin King waved his hand in a dismissive gesture, "I will send Hoggle with a note for your parents and my seamstresses will make you what you desire. Jareth might as well have waved a red flag in front of a snorting bull, "You mean I can't go home?" With a stoic look he answered, "I would prefer you remain here for the time being."
To Sarah that wasn't an answer, it was a challenge, "Why?" Jareth started to get a bit uncomfortable because he didn't really have a good reason, "For your safety of course." Sarah tried to remain calm, "Thank you for looking out for me but I am in no danger. I want to go home." The Goblin King could not give her guest status and force her to remain against her will so he came up with a compromise. "Let's be reasonable, I will accompany you home to insure your safety and you will promise not to go home again until the thirteen days are concluded." Sarah was caught off guard by not having to argue with him and quickly agreed. She didn't know he had it in him to compromise and neither did he.
After breakfast Sarah and Jareth started to plan how to conduct the questioning of Sarial and Ishmial. "I think it would be logical to call upon Sarial first," the Goblin King stated in a "the matter is settled" tone. Sarah, who would not sit still for what she considered arrogance, replied, "And just what is so logical about that?" Jareth looked down his nose and drawled, "After all, I would like to know what happened to Sonya." A little jealous and deflated Sarah quietly replied, "Oh, yes of course."
Recovering Sarah then asked, "Do you know what exactly you want to ask him." In a sweeping motion Jareth rose from his chair indicating his irritably with her implication that he didn't know what he was doing. "You don't imagine I would call him and not know what I was going to ask do you?" Perceiving she had unintentionally kicked his ego she managed, "Oh no, I wanted to make a list for my benefit. Sometimes I forget to ask things when an opportunity presents itself." Jareth knew that he did that too but wasn't about to admit weakness. He cunningly replied, "By all means then, we will make a list for you."
At the wave of his hand a pen and parchment appeared in front of Sarah. Taking the pen she bent over the paper and looked at the Goblin King expectantly. Jareth lifted his head, "First, what happened to Sonya?" Sarah wrote, "What happened to" and had to make herself write "Sonya" instead of "the witch'. Then she started writing as she said, "What happens to the kingdom and the goblins?" Jareth strode up to her irritably, "I thought I was dictating and you were the scribe." Sarah narrowed her eyes at him; this was not a good thing, "We are dictating for my list, remember?" Jareth sighed; the girl just didn't know her place.
They finally finished the short list of questions after much wrangling, not over the questions but over who was in control. By the time they were done Jareth was again seated rubbing his eyes with his gloved hand and Sarah was massaging her temples. Without saying a word Jareth motioned for lunch to be served. He hoped that food would keep Sarah quiet for a little while and get rid of the ache that threatened to form in his head from bashing it with hers. Sarah was glad to see food being served to end the torture of having hold her own with the haughty Goblin King every inch of the way. Needless to say it was a silent lunch.
Once the last plate was cleared Jareth stood, "We will meet with Sarial in my throne room." He politely offered Sarah his arm and she graciously accepted it On the way Sarah asked, "Isn't the throne room going to be full of goblins?" Jareth smirked, "Not for long."
Jareth and Sarah stopped on the threshold of the noisy, messy throne room. Jareth yelled, "Out, out, everybody out!" Goblins took one look at their king and started filing out as fast as possible. Behind them he commanded, "And I don't want to be disturbed under any circumstances!" Quickly the room was empty except for the mess and a few scattered chickens. Jareth waved his arm and the room was cleaned of dirt and fowl. Sarah whispered, "You have to teach me how to do that." Jareth smirked down at her catching her eye, when she looked up again the throne room now had a split-level dais raised above the floor. Jareth's throne was on the highest level and an ornate velvet chair sat on the second level. The floor level held a comfortable circular chair.
Jareth strolled Sarah to the velvet chair, "For these proceedings I consider you my special advisor," When she sat down he continued to the throne and gracefully reclined on it saying, "Sarial, we wish to speak with you."
A relaxed and languid Sarial immediately appeared in the circular chair, "Your majesty and Sarah, how good to see you again, and so soon too. I must give you points for organization." The Goblin King regally demanded, "What happened to Sonya?"
Sarial insolently swung his legs over the side of the chair. Sarah could not take her eyes off of him, he was memorizing in every sense of the word. Sarial caught her staring at him and held her eyes as he replied, "I wonder why you should care when you have such a interesting companion right here." Then he shifted his eyes to the Goblin King, "Very well, a picture is worth a thousand words."
Sarial twirled his wrist and a heavily veiled misshapen form appeared on the floor by his side. The figure moaned, "Noo, nooo." Jareth stood, "Sonya?" The figure shrunk further into itself, "Nooo." Jareth stepped down to the form and raised the veil as the figure snatched it away from him, but not before he glimpsed what was underneath. The Goblin King spat, "Devil, monster, abomination, how dare you destroy her?" Sarial waved his hand and the withering Sonya vanished, "But my dear king, I did not destroy her, she destroyed herself. We had a deal and she lost, nothing more. She very well knew the price, her pride got the better of her."
Jareth calmed down, he knew what Sarial said was true. Sonya was not a victim, she was a powerful witch who had overshot herself – her cruelty and overconfidence was to blame. Still as he stepped back to his throne he felt pity for the once beautiful Sonya. Frowning Jareth got right to the point, "What do you offer me dark one?"