Five minutes passed, then ten. Sarah was starting to get impatient. She
paced around the living room chewing on her thumbnail. After making several
rounds of the carpeted floor she was near growling with frustration. She
wanted to get this over with. "Where are you Jareth. I wish you'd hurry up
and get your skinny ass here."
"Well it's about time, and what business is it of yours what the dimensions of my ass are?"
So much for him being nice. "What do you mean it's about time? I've been waiting here for," she looked up at the clock, "for the past twenty minutes."
He walked across the living room and dropped lightly into the chair. The cat which had been lounging there jumped out of the way at the last second, diving over the back of the chair. He glared up at this person who dared disturb him. "I was waiting for you to...invite....me. I should say, your last invitation of me was more of what I was expecting." He draped one leg over the arm of the couch, his elbow propped on the other arm and he rested his cheek against his fist. "Really, this is the first time I was summoned by some one wishing for my ass. Most girls request the body it's attached to as well."
Sarah glared at him and folded her arms across her chest. "You mean there's more to you than being an ass? I hadn't noticed."
She walked over and sat on the couch. She didn't like standing while he sat like that. Even in the simple chair, his presence proclaimed that he was a king, and he turned the modest piece of furniture into a throne. Standing in front of him, she couldn't help but feel that she was the one petitioning him. He's the one that needs my help, she reminded herself. I've got the upper hand right now, let's try to keep it that way.
"So," she looked at him, putting on the sweetest look she could muster. "Are you actually going to talk to me this time, or are you going to run away again?"
He tensed, his eyes narrowing at her. He swung around on the chair, putting both feet on the floor and leaned forward to speak to her. "I came here to make a request of you, in return..."
She cut him off. "Request of me? And what sort of request is this?"
She had intentionally interrupted him because she knew that he was used to always being heard out, and this would irritate him. She was right. She watched as a muscle in his jaw twitched as he bit back a comment.
"I have been asked to go through someone else's version of the labyrinth, and I want you to go with me." He forced his voice to keep a neutral tone to it and not betray his own frustration.
"Now why would I want to do that?" She asked. One look at him trying to control his temper and she couldn't resist taunting him a but. "After all I already beat it one labyrinth."
Jareth glared at her a moment, then stood. With a twist of his wrist, a crystal appear, rolling up his palm to settle at the tips of his fingers. He held it out to her in a gesture of offering. "Before I offered you your dreams if you would decide not to run the labyrinth, this time," his voice softened, "I offer them again if you would accompany me in this labyrinth."
Sarah was tempted. All she had to do was reach out and take that glass bubble and she could live a dream. Her mind though shook itself free of the temptation. While a dream seemed a pleasant idea, she'd rather have the reality of the dream instead of the illusion.
She rose off the couch and took a step forward towards him. She reached out her hand as if to touch the shinning bubble of magic, only to flick it back at him. "No." Her voice was just a little above a whisper.
Surprised, Jareth didn't catch the crystal and it fell to the floor. It made no sound as it landed on the carpet and rolled a few feet. "No?" He had thought....she had agreed to listen to him, he offered her her dreams, and she was going to refuse him. He should have known. He steeled himself and got ready to leave but was halted by her hand on his arm.
"I don't believe life can be a dream anymore. If you want my help, first of all, you have to say so. Don't hide the request behind pretty words or offers either, that doesn't count."
Jareth looked at her. The little whelp was going to make him beg! A flash of rage flooded through him. His first instinct was to walk away. He did not beg anyone for anything, especially not of some little girl who thought to much of herself. Then his rational mind took over again. She was right, he did need her help, and there was to much at stake here to let his pride get in the way. Not now at least.
"Sarah, will you please assist me on the journey through this labyrinth?" He forced the words out through clenched teeth. He watched she raised an eyebrow at him in expectation. "...please." He added.
She looked at him for a few minutes in silence before answering him. "I'll go with you Jareth, but only under certain conditions. First, I'm not your subject, I can do as I want. If you think otherwise, I'm gone."
He nodded. "Yes, I remember." He smirked at her. "What was that phrase again, 'you have no power over me.' Something like that at any rate."
She nodded. "Exactly. And the other thing I want. Last time I went through a labyrinth, it was to get my baby brother back from you. This time, if we make it to the end, start treating Hoggle with some respect. If he says he doesn't want to do something, you don't get to threaten him with the bog or anything else. He's earned that much from you."
It was Jareth's turn to be silent. He was a king, he was used to being obeyed. Giving this to Sarah, he would be weakening himself to scrutiny if he were to let one dwarf get away with disobeying him. Looking at her face, so defiant against him, her green eyes so intent on getting what she wanted, such matters didn't really seem that important to him. He did need her help, and if he could get her help and make her happy at the same time, it would be worth it. "Alright. I will not bother Hoggle anymore. Do not ask more of me though."
Sarah nodded. "Alright that's fair. I'll help you then."
They stood in awkward silence for a few minutes before Sarah realized that she still had her hand on his arm. She let her hand drop back to her side and took a step back. "Have a seat, I want to grab a few things before I leave."
It was Jareth's turn to nod. He watched as she started to head back to her work room. "Oh and Sarah?"
She stopped and turned back towards him. "Hmmmm?"
"Thank you."
Sarah walked down the short hallway, passing by her work room and went into storage room. This room was the most disorganized in her place. Since there hadn't been much closet space when she purchased the place, she had turned this one room into something of a giant closet.
There was a portable rack for hanging clothes, and several drawers and chests with her clothing in it. One side was a pile of gear that she had used for camping trips and various sports activities that she had tried to get involved with. From this pile, she dug out a sturdy back pack that the sport store had guaranteed her would stand up to the rough elements and come through the most haggard of conditions. The main reason why she took it now was because it had a lot of space for putting stuff in.
Into this, she packed two pairs of jeans, a two tee shirts and a zippered sweatshirt in case it was colder there. Then she began to pack other items that she thought she might need based on her last trip to there. A length of rope that she had gotten when she had decided to try mountain climbing, right before discovering her fear of heights. Next she added two flash lights and some spare batteries. Remembering what Hoggle said about this possibly being more dangerous, she also threw in a first aid kit, and after a moment's hesitation, a sewing kit as well. Her notebook and a handful of pens went into the front pocket where she would be able to find them with out having to dig through everything else. She always took a notebook with her when she went somewhere incase she got a new idea. Thinking of working, she also grabbed her digital camera, a spare battery and a box of discs. Maybe if she could get some good pictures, her next book could be illustrated with life like pictures.
Her last stop was in the kitchen. The peach still sat on the table there. It was because of that reminder that she would not make this mistake again. She had originally eaten the tainted peach because she had been so very hungry and it was the only thing that she could identify as edible on her trip. This time, she made a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, some fruit which she placed in a brown paper bag, and a package of Oreo cookies. On either side of the pack there was a pouch for water bottles. She took two bottles from the fridge and slipped them in.
She started to leave the kitchen, then stopped and returned to the counter. Opening a drawer she took out a large butcher's knife. It was the closest thing she had to a weapon. "Just in case," She muttered to herself. Wrapping it in a dish towel to protect the blade, she slipped that into her bag as well.
She stepped back into the living room and slipped her arms into the straps. "Alright, I'm ready, let's go."
Jareth looked at her and then looked at the bag. "Do you really need all that?"
She shook her head. "Probably not, but it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. One of the few good words of advice that Karen gave me." She stepped close to him. "so yes, it's all going with me, and no you can't talk me out of it."
Jareth just sighed. "You are trying mortal."
Sarah grinned as he took her hand and the world around them started to fade away to be replaced with the underground. . "You're wrong Jareth, I don't even have to try."
"Well it's about time, and what business is it of yours what the dimensions of my ass are?"
So much for him being nice. "What do you mean it's about time? I've been waiting here for," she looked up at the clock, "for the past twenty minutes."
He walked across the living room and dropped lightly into the chair. The cat which had been lounging there jumped out of the way at the last second, diving over the back of the chair. He glared up at this person who dared disturb him. "I was waiting for you to...invite....me. I should say, your last invitation of me was more of what I was expecting." He draped one leg over the arm of the couch, his elbow propped on the other arm and he rested his cheek against his fist. "Really, this is the first time I was summoned by some one wishing for my ass. Most girls request the body it's attached to as well."
Sarah glared at him and folded her arms across her chest. "You mean there's more to you than being an ass? I hadn't noticed."
She walked over and sat on the couch. She didn't like standing while he sat like that. Even in the simple chair, his presence proclaimed that he was a king, and he turned the modest piece of furniture into a throne. Standing in front of him, she couldn't help but feel that she was the one petitioning him. He's the one that needs my help, she reminded herself. I've got the upper hand right now, let's try to keep it that way.
"So," she looked at him, putting on the sweetest look she could muster. "Are you actually going to talk to me this time, or are you going to run away again?"
He tensed, his eyes narrowing at her. He swung around on the chair, putting both feet on the floor and leaned forward to speak to her. "I came here to make a request of you, in return..."
She cut him off. "Request of me? And what sort of request is this?"
She had intentionally interrupted him because she knew that he was used to always being heard out, and this would irritate him. She was right. She watched as a muscle in his jaw twitched as he bit back a comment.
"I have been asked to go through someone else's version of the labyrinth, and I want you to go with me." He forced his voice to keep a neutral tone to it and not betray his own frustration.
"Now why would I want to do that?" She asked. One look at him trying to control his temper and she couldn't resist taunting him a but. "After all I already beat it one labyrinth."
Jareth glared at her a moment, then stood. With a twist of his wrist, a crystal appear, rolling up his palm to settle at the tips of his fingers. He held it out to her in a gesture of offering. "Before I offered you your dreams if you would decide not to run the labyrinth, this time," his voice softened, "I offer them again if you would accompany me in this labyrinth."
Sarah was tempted. All she had to do was reach out and take that glass bubble and she could live a dream. Her mind though shook itself free of the temptation. While a dream seemed a pleasant idea, she'd rather have the reality of the dream instead of the illusion.
She rose off the couch and took a step forward towards him. She reached out her hand as if to touch the shinning bubble of magic, only to flick it back at him. "No." Her voice was just a little above a whisper.
Surprised, Jareth didn't catch the crystal and it fell to the floor. It made no sound as it landed on the carpet and rolled a few feet. "No?" He had thought....she had agreed to listen to him, he offered her her dreams, and she was going to refuse him. He should have known. He steeled himself and got ready to leave but was halted by her hand on his arm.
"I don't believe life can be a dream anymore. If you want my help, first of all, you have to say so. Don't hide the request behind pretty words or offers either, that doesn't count."
Jareth looked at her. The little whelp was going to make him beg! A flash of rage flooded through him. His first instinct was to walk away. He did not beg anyone for anything, especially not of some little girl who thought to much of herself. Then his rational mind took over again. She was right, he did need her help, and there was to much at stake here to let his pride get in the way. Not now at least.
"Sarah, will you please assist me on the journey through this labyrinth?" He forced the words out through clenched teeth. He watched she raised an eyebrow at him in expectation. "...please." He added.
She looked at him for a few minutes in silence before answering him. "I'll go with you Jareth, but only under certain conditions. First, I'm not your subject, I can do as I want. If you think otherwise, I'm gone."
He nodded. "Yes, I remember." He smirked at her. "What was that phrase again, 'you have no power over me.' Something like that at any rate."
She nodded. "Exactly. And the other thing I want. Last time I went through a labyrinth, it was to get my baby brother back from you. This time, if we make it to the end, start treating Hoggle with some respect. If he says he doesn't want to do something, you don't get to threaten him with the bog or anything else. He's earned that much from you."
It was Jareth's turn to be silent. He was a king, he was used to being obeyed. Giving this to Sarah, he would be weakening himself to scrutiny if he were to let one dwarf get away with disobeying him. Looking at her face, so defiant against him, her green eyes so intent on getting what she wanted, such matters didn't really seem that important to him. He did need her help, and if he could get her help and make her happy at the same time, it would be worth it. "Alright. I will not bother Hoggle anymore. Do not ask more of me though."
Sarah nodded. "Alright that's fair. I'll help you then."
They stood in awkward silence for a few minutes before Sarah realized that she still had her hand on his arm. She let her hand drop back to her side and took a step back. "Have a seat, I want to grab a few things before I leave."
It was Jareth's turn to nod. He watched as she started to head back to her work room. "Oh and Sarah?"
She stopped and turned back towards him. "Hmmmm?"
"Thank you."
Sarah walked down the short hallway, passing by her work room and went into storage room. This room was the most disorganized in her place. Since there hadn't been much closet space when she purchased the place, she had turned this one room into something of a giant closet.
There was a portable rack for hanging clothes, and several drawers and chests with her clothing in it. One side was a pile of gear that she had used for camping trips and various sports activities that she had tried to get involved with. From this pile, she dug out a sturdy back pack that the sport store had guaranteed her would stand up to the rough elements and come through the most haggard of conditions. The main reason why she took it now was because it had a lot of space for putting stuff in.
Into this, she packed two pairs of jeans, a two tee shirts and a zippered sweatshirt in case it was colder there. Then she began to pack other items that she thought she might need based on her last trip to there. A length of rope that she had gotten when she had decided to try mountain climbing, right before discovering her fear of heights. Next she added two flash lights and some spare batteries. Remembering what Hoggle said about this possibly being more dangerous, she also threw in a first aid kit, and after a moment's hesitation, a sewing kit as well. Her notebook and a handful of pens went into the front pocket where she would be able to find them with out having to dig through everything else. She always took a notebook with her when she went somewhere incase she got a new idea. Thinking of working, she also grabbed her digital camera, a spare battery and a box of discs. Maybe if she could get some good pictures, her next book could be illustrated with life like pictures.
Her last stop was in the kitchen. The peach still sat on the table there. It was because of that reminder that she would not make this mistake again. She had originally eaten the tainted peach because she had been so very hungry and it was the only thing that she could identify as edible on her trip. This time, she made a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, some fruit which she placed in a brown paper bag, and a package of Oreo cookies. On either side of the pack there was a pouch for water bottles. She took two bottles from the fridge and slipped them in.
She started to leave the kitchen, then stopped and returned to the counter. Opening a drawer she took out a large butcher's knife. It was the closest thing she had to a weapon. "Just in case," She muttered to herself. Wrapping it in a dish towel to protect the blade, she slipped that into her bag as well.
She stepped back into the living room and slipped her arms into the straps. "Alright, I'm ready, let's go."
Jareth looked at her and then looked at the bag. "Do you really need all that?"
She shook her head. "Probably not, but it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. One of the few good words of advice that Karen gave me." She stepped close to him. "so yes, it's all going with me, and no you can't talk me out of it."
Jareth just sighed. "You are trying mortal."
Sarah grinned as he took her hand and the world around them started to fade away to be replaced with the underground. . "You're wrong Jareth, I don't even have to try."