Disclaimer: Do I look rich? I don't own the Labyrinth or anything to do with it.... except thecharcters I made up.
Ok, this chapter is…quite long. Once again the whole this gets off to a bit of a creaky start. I hope you all like it. And thanks to Moonjava for reviewing this and my other one shot.
December 13th
Well, Steve had been right. It was a really nice hotel.
Sarah gazed up at the castle. Ivy crawled up the wall around the massive wooden doors that apparently lead to reception. Steve walked straight in leaving the bags outside. Sarah shook her head. This didn't look like a place that had a bellboy. A man opened the door and motioned them to come in.
"Beatha agus Sláinte."
Steve gave him a strange look and pushed past him towards the reception, which was situated, in the huge hallway. Sarah gave the doorman an apologetic look and began to lug the two large suitcases in the door. The man grabbed one and held the door for her.
"Thanks very much."
"Think nothing of it miss." She nodded to him and hurried over to where Steve was standing, impatiently rapping his knuckles on the counter top. A pretty woman with long black hair and striking green eyes hurried out the door and smiled at the couple. "Dia Duit."
Steve leaned over the counter close to the woman and spoke very loudly and slow. "Do. You. Speak. American?"
Sarah caught the anger that flashes through the woman's green eyes. She grabbed Steve's wallet out of his hand.
"Steve, Hunny. Go get the bags would you?" Steve looked angry but turned away sullenly.
"Sorry about that. I'm Sarah Williams." She held out her hand.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Etáin."
She took Sarah's hand and suddenly they both felt a jolt like lightning run up their spines. Etáin blinked and drew her hand away slowly.
"…myself and my husband Nadír own this place. Your most welcome."
Sarah had an odd feeling in her stomach but felt it best to it…for now. Etáin took a credit card from Sarah and presses a button on an intercom.
"Cian, cá bhfuil tú?"
A crackeling and than voice was heard. "Cistin."
"Well come up here there's a lady that need to be shown to her room."
"Cárb as di?"
"Meiriceánach." A groan was heard. "Tá sí an-deas."
"Ceart go leor. I'll be up in a sec."
Etáin turned. "I'm sorry. That was my son. He does not have a particularly high opinion of Americans."
Sarah smiled. "That alright. He's probably just met some like Steve. That would put me off Americans and I am one."
Etáin raised a sculpted eyebrow. "Then why are you here? With him?"
Sarah opened her mouth to reply when a boy of about eighteen burst through the door that Etáin had come through earlier. Sarah had no doubt that this was Cian. He had his mothers piercing green eyes, but his hair was a golden blond.
"Hey mum. This the chick?"
Etáin smacked the back of his head. "You will refer to our guests with respect." "Aww mum." He rubbed the back of his head. "I could have you done for abuse you know."
"Yeah, and I could have you done for being a no good delinquent. What's your point? Get the bags, anois díreach."
"Ok, ok. Im going." He hopped over the counter top and landed in front of Sarah. He wiped his hands on his flower stained Thin Lizzy t-shirt and held it out.
"Hi, I'm Cian."
"Sarah Williams." She felt the same jolt again but slightly less with Cian. She turned and hurried to where Steve was standing by the stairs with the bags looking decidedly annoyed.
Cian turned to his mother, his eyebrows around his hair line. Etáin shook her head. Cian frowned but nodded and ran over to where Sarah was talking heatedly with Steve.
"What the hell took you so long? You looked pretty chummy. I thought you'd never been to Ireland before!"
Sarah shook her head angrily. "I haven't. Etáin is just a nice person."
They both stopped when Cian came jogging over. "Hey guys. Just follow me." He lead them up the giant staircase and through the maze of corridors. Sarah had one of the bags and Steve trailed behind, complaining of the weight.
"It's really quiet." Commented Sarah as the turned another corner.
Cian nodded. "Yeah. Well, you guys are the only one here at the moment. We have a large group of guests coming over the next few days. It's a reunion of sorts."
"Oh. Are they all Irish?"
"Nope. From everywhere. All over Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Russia, North and South America. Well originally anyway."
Sarah looked puzzled. "What do you mean originally?"
"Oh, well everyone kinda scattered after this big thing happened. You'll see what I mean. You wont even be able to guess where most of them are from. Here we are." Cian opened a large oak door to reveal one of the most beautiful rooms Sarah had ever seen.
Cian walked in and leaned against the four poser bed. "This is the first floor east tower room. Mum must really like you. Bathrooms through that door, phone rings down to main reception for anything you need. Em…oh, and if you just hang a left right outside there's a back stairs that will take you to the Drawing room. Dining room's through the mahogany doors. We eat at about eight. See you there?"
Sarah nodded. "Sure. Thanks Cian."
"Ok, well slán." He ran out the door.
Steve dumped the bags and fell on the bed. "Dinner with the workers. Maybe this isn't such a good hotel. There isn't even a TV."
Sarah pushed the bags into a corner and glared at him. "God Steve. They're the owners. There's no one else to eat with. And I'm guessing there's no TV because they don't want to ruin a Norman castle by getting cable."
Steve got up and rubbed her arms. "I'm sorry Hunny. But tomorrow we'll go and see The Hill of Tara and it'll be great. You'll see. Magic." He kissed the side of her neck. "Hmm, ok." Yeah, magik. I remember what real magik is. She thought distractedly as she gazed out the window.
The view was spectacular. It looked over a forest that spread across the land and the gardens of the castle were right below the window. Suddenly Steve spun her around as his kisses became more feverish and he worked his way down her throat.
She pushed at him. "Steve. Not now…" He looked at her. "Why not Sarah? Come on don't spoil the fun."
She gave in. She knew it would take to much energy to try a deter him.
"Oh yeah." Steve groaned as he collapsed on top of her. "That was good baby." He kissed her ear but didn't move.
Sarah pushed him off and got up. He reached out a hand and fondled her breast. "Come on Hunny. Where you going?"
"I'm going to have a shower and get ready for dinner. Its in an hour." She headed for the bathroom and locked the door in case he got the inclination to follow. Though she knew he didn't have the…stamina, it wouldn't stop him trying. Sarah proceeded to finish herself off in the shower. Even sex with Steve was boring. Methodical, straightforward and very short.
Right, that was it. She had to break up with him. Not here. That was just cruel, but as soon as they got home. Sarah towel dried her hair and unlocked the door. Steve pushed past her.
"Hey, I'm going down early. I want to talk to Etáin about something. Just follow on down."
"Yeah sure." She just caught his reply as he slammed the door shut.
Sarah pulled on some jeans and a black silk string top. She slipped her feet into some Chinese flip-flops and hurried out of the room.
Etáin was sitting on a sofa in the Drawing room when Sarah appeared. She looked up from her book as Sarah entered the room.
"Oh sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you."
The woman smiled and put down her book. "Don't worry about it. I am sorry to report that dinner will be about an hour late due to the fact that Fionn, our wolfhound, ate it." Sarah laughed. "Oops. Well, um…I guess I'll just go back the room an…"
Etáin stopped her. "Sarah. You don't mind me calling you that do you?"
She smiled. "Of course not."
Etáin smiled back. "Well then, Sarah. Would you like to go for a walk? See the gardens?"
"That would be lovely."
The pair walked through the gardens, Sarah looking around in wonder. "These gardens are beautiful. They remind me very much of a place I went as a teenager." They walked into a walled rose garden and Etáin sat down. "Where did you go?" Sarah paused trying to think how to answer. The gardens reminded her forcefully of the Labyrinth but before she even opened her mouth she felt a sharp stinging sensation in her hand.
She let out a cry and looked at her hand. A fairy clung to her, sinking its teeth deeply into her hand.
"Ouch. Bloody pests." She shook her hand and the fairy hit the wall and slid to the ground. It slowly got to its feet again, shaking its tiny fist a Sarah it took off in a whirl of glitter. Sarah sucked the small cut on her hand and turned to Etáin.
"You should really get them exterminated you know. I…hold on. You have fairies. Here, Aboveground." She took a step back, growing suspicious. "Who are you?" Etáin smiled but did not move. "I'm still Etáin."
"What are you?"
"Ahh, now that's a more interesting question. Did you know you have magik in your essence?"
Sarah frowned. "No. How?"
"Well either you were in contact with one of our kind or you were in Tír Na nÓg." "Who are your kind? What or where is Tír Na nÓg?"
Etáin looked at her for a beat and then smiled. "I always forget that things do earn different names. My kind, Nadír's and Cian's kind, are the Tuthá Dé Dánnan or the Fae as you might know them. And Tír Na nÓg is the Underground. Irish mythology has given them different name to what you know but we are all the same. We are the Djinni in the middle east, the Ayah in India and many other things in other places. We are the folklore of the world, in one form or another. Obviously some things get changed in the telling…" She said as she swatted away a fairy "…but it's mostly rooted in truth."
Sarah sat down beside Etáin looking dazed. "Whoa. That's a lot to take in."
"Ahh, you'll be fine."
"So, this reunion thing, is it the Fae?"
Etáin nodded. "I see Cian has been blabbing when I told him to keep his big mouth shut. Yes. It's the anniversary of a war. The war that caused us to leave our homes Aboveground and settle in the Underground. Myself and Nadír only came back here a few hundred years ago."
"What happened?"
"That my friend is a long story for another evening, I think. And besides, you still have to tell me what happened to you to give such a magically inclined aura."
Sarah frowned. "Oh that. I was a spoilt teenager and I wished my brother away. The Goblin King was kind enough to grant my request but not before I realised my folly. I went to the Underground, ran the Labyrinth and got my brother back."
Etáin looked surprised. "So you're the Sarah who defeated Jareth. Your quite famous in our circles missy."
Sarah looked equally surprised. "Really? I didn't think it was that big a deal, honestly."
"Well you should. Only three people in history have ever beaten a Fae at their own game. And your one of them. The other two were Egyptian and Greek I believe. But they both defeated Abrim Abrushiel from where is now Iraq, but he was incompetent so it didn't really count. That was over two thousand years ago. You're fresh gossip." Sarah stood up and headed back to the castle. She looked over her shoulder to Etáin. "Come on, I really need a drink."
Sarah giggled as they sat in front of the enormous fireplace sipping wine. Etáin laughed a refilled her glass.
"God. You beat Jareth. I mean, come on. The man wont even let his own mother into that castle without frisking her. And he's as sharp a tack."
Sarah giggled again. "Oh I don't know. Maybe being around all those idiotic Goblins had dulled his senses some what."
Etáin laughed and pushed the bottle of wine towards Sarah. "Filler up girl. I can't believe you turned him down too. I mean…phew…if I wasn't married I tell you…" Sarah put the bottle down and looked over too her. "Please, if you look close enough you can see the Adidas logo through those tights of his."
There was silence before the two women burst into laughter. Etáin gasped for breath. "Oh, you better not let him hear you say that for sure, or an oubliette is the least of your worries."
Sarah mock frowned. "What? He's coming here is he?"
"Don't know. Sometimes he comes, sometimes he doesn't. Depends on his mood." Sarah grinned. "Ha! His mood. He acts like he's got permanent PMS."
The two burst into bawdy laughter and Sarah began to slide sideways slightly.
"You, my fine friend, are drunk."
Sarah looked at Etáin who also seemed to be loosing her equilibrium. "Well if I am then so are you."
She gave a look of mock horror. "Excuse me. I am a lady of the Fae court. I do not get drunk."
Sarah chuckled. "Neither do I. I am an English teacher. I must give a good example to my students at all times."
Etáin raised her glass to Sarah. "To Jareth. The most good looking and pompous man we have ever met."
Sarah also raised her glass. "To socks, for giving us something nice to look at."
"Hear Hear." They said in unison and proceeded to fall about in hysterics.
A head popped around the large door way that lead to the dining room. It was a very pretty head, noted Sarah. It had large deep brown eyes, long wavy brown hair that reached well past her waist and smooth brown skin.
"Whom are we talking about?"
Etáin looked over her shoulder and stumbled to her feet. "Ionnina! You're early. We weren't expecting you 'till tomorrow."
She woman smiled "Just thought I'd surprise you. So who were you talking about?" Etáin leaned on her as they both made their way back to the sofas. Etáin fell back on the large cushions.
"Sarah, this is Ionnina, my best friend and one of the Djinni I was telling you about. Ionnina, this is Sarah Williams. She was the one who beat Jareth."
Ionnina smiled again as her eyes lit up. Sarah liked her. Her smile reached her eyes. "Ahh. I should have guessed from the sock comment. He does appear to be very well endowed, doesn't he?"
Sarah poured her a glass of wine and handed it to her. "Yes, well if there's anything I learned from Jareth is that appearances can be deceiving."
The three women giggled. Ionnina fixed her skirts as she curled up on the sofa. "It's an honour to meet you Sarah. I knew the last two that defeated Abrushiel and I really don't think they were half as charming as you."
Sarah smiled. "Thank you. Just wait until I'm sober."
Suddenly the stair door slammed open and Steve stalked in. He walked over to her and sat beside her, apparently oblivious to the other two women. Sarah wasn't sure this was because they wished it or because he was being obnoxious.
"I can believe dinner is over two hours late. Really I expected better service from this place."
Sarah frowned. "Steve, it wasn't their fault that Fionn ate all the dinner."
"Fionn?"
"Our Irish Wolf Hound. He has quite an appetite."
He looked around as he noticed Etáin and Ionnina sitting on the other sofa. It was quite obvious to Sarah now, that they had not made themselves invisible. Ionnina broke the uncomfortable silence as she poured another glass of wine.
"So what do you two think. Adidas or Reebok?"
Sarah giggled. "Hmm I don't know. I think we might have to take a closer look." The other two women burst into hysterics and Steve leant into Sarah, peering at her suspiciously.
"Are you drunk? Really Sarah, I expected more of you."
Ionnina looked over at the pair and frowned. "Oh poo. Don't be such a spoil sport."
Steve scowled at her. "Our affairs are none of your…"
But Sarah cut in before he managed to bring the wrath of a Fae down on top of him. "Yeah Steve. Come on. Don't spoil our fun."
Steve opened his mouth to reply but a figure appeared in the door way and announced "Dinner is served."
The girls let out a cheer. "About bloody time Andre. What took you?"
"Well, if you hadn't insisted letting that dog in…"
Ionnina waved a hand in his face as she passed. "Yes yes."
Andre let out a sigh but smiled slyly at Sarah. "The thing I put up with here, eh?" Sarah grinned at him and walked past wobbling slightly as she did. Steve followed, his face dark.
Sarah took the seat that Andre held for her. Etáin stood by the head of the long table in the huge hall. Portraits hung on the stonewalls that looked like they could go back nearly a hundred year. Infact, considering who was inhabiting the castle, they probably went back far longer, mused Sarah. There was a players gallery at the end of the hall behind which there was a huge stained glass window which Sarah could now hear the rain beating upon. A huge iron candle chandelier hung from one of the massive arching beams above them.
Etáin cleared her throat. "I would like to welcome our new guests Sarah Williams and Steve Foster." The people assembled at the table all nodded.
"Sarah, Steve, we'll go clock wise. This," She motioned to a very handsome man sitting in one of the two chairs at the head of the table. "…is my husband Nadír."
He had long blond hair that was tied back at the nape of his neck. His eyes were the clearest blue Sarah had ever seen and he had fabulous bone structure. He smiled kindly at Sarah and she nodded back
"The blonde trouble maker beside him is Cian, our son."
Cian grinned. "We've already met."
Etáin continued. "The walking Irish cliché sitting beside him is Fiona, the hired help." The girl had wild curly red hair and rich brown eyes. Her round face was freckled as she mock scowled at Etáin.
"Hey! Hired? More like enslaved."
"Ignore her. She gets a good salary. Beside her is Seán our doorman and all round fix-it guy."
The man smiled and nodded. "Nice to meet you again."
"Then there's Andre, our cook, who you've already met. Then you know Ionnina another guest and…where is you obnoxious husband any way?"
"I'm here." Sarah turned to see a man in the doorway.
Is it just me, or are all the Fae absolutely gorgeous?
He had the same air as Jareth, she noted. The air of royalty. His brown skin matched his wife's. His black clothes were loose but still managed to show off a well-toned physique. He took Sarah's hand and touched it lightly to his lips.
"Lady Sarah. It's a pleasure to meet you at last. I am King Cyros of the Lonely Deserts. I have often heard Jareth speak of you."
Sarah gulped softly. "You know Jareth?"
He smiled at her, his teeth a dazzling white against the black of his beard. "I should say. The egotistical bastard wouldn't stop complaining about you for years. 'Me, defeated by a mortal? Unthinkable. Impossible.' You really got his attention."
"So I've been told."
She glanced at Steve to see what his reaction would be to this interesting turn of conversation but he seemed highly fascinated by his plate. Ionnina gave her husband a disapproving look as he took his place at her side.
"Really Cyros, you shouldn't go around playing with ignorant mortals minds like that."
He smiled at his wife. "Oh my love, you would have done the same." He leaned in and kissed her softly.
"Yes…well…don't do it again while we're her unless its necessary. You know perfectly well that could have waited till later…yes…"
There was a pause and then the whole table with the notable exception of Steve burst out laughing.
Nadír grinned at his friends. "Oh, Cyros. You still have her."
Ionnina smiled good naturedly. "Well, I can still have my way with him if needs be. Don't think he has all the power in this relationship."
There was another laugh before the group began to dig in to the food. Steve leaned into Sarah. "What was so funny?"
Dinner was a good natured affair with many laughs and stories of a perfectly normal variety. When dinner was ended the entire party found themselves in the drawing room once again, a roaring fire in the huge fireplace.
Sarah sat on the rug in front of the fire while Steve chose to sit on the edge of the party on an armchair. Fiona, Cian and Andre took up one sofa, while the two couples took up the other.
Sarah glanced at a side table and gasped. "That board is beautiful." The sliver chess board glinted in the fire light. The pieces were made from white and black marble. Ionnina looked up. "Sarah, do want a match?"
Sarah smiled. "Sure. I'll kick you ass you know."
She smiled back, dazzling the room with her smile. "Hey, I'm not Jareth."
Steve frowned. "Who's Jareth?"
Sarah shrugged as she moved the chess set to the floor. "Just an old friend. It turns out Ionnina knows him too. Small world."
"Right."
Sarah let out a cheer as she knocked over Ionnina's king. "Checkmate."
Ionnina scowled. "Hmm, that shouldn't have happened."
Steve snorted from his chair. "Beginners luck."
Sarah rolled her eyes so far back she was sure she could see her roots. Steve obviously never listened to her or he would have known she had been playing chess since she was a child.
She turned to him. "Oh, you think you could do better?"
"Of course I could. I was a pro as a teenager."
How fascinating. I take it back. He's not nice. He's an asshole. Still boring as hell though. She thought acidly.
Nadír looked up from what he was saying to his wife. "I'll play you Steve."
He hesitated slightly but his face was the picture of determination. "Fine. Let's do it." Etáin patted the spot beside her as Sarah got up and Ionnina returned to the arms of her husband.
Etáin leant into Sarah and whispered in her ear as they watched the two men play. "Nadír saved me and brought back my memory by winning a game of chess. I really don't think your boyfriend stands a chance."
Sarah smirked. "I don't think my boyfriend would know strategy if it stripped naked and did a chipmunks dance right there on that table." Etáin giggled and Steve glared at the pair before returning his attention to the game.
The match came to a swift finish with Nadír emerging victorious. Steve stood swiftly and grabbed Sarah away from a conversation she was having with Cyros.
"Thank you. We're going to bed now. We have an early morning. Good night."
Sarah glared at Steve's back as they walked up the stairs. "We have an early morning? What the hell was that about?"
Steve kept walking but glanced over his shoulder. "We do have an early morning. We're going to Tara tomorrow."
"Yeah, but…"
"But what? You were having a good time?"
"As s matter of fact I was."
"Well, I think you were having too much of a good time."
Sarah stopped halfway down the corridor. "Too much of a good time? Excuse me? What? This is your trip so the only fun I'm allowed is with you?"
Steve scowled at her. "…no…yes…no…It's just…who's this Jareth guy anyway?"
Sarah threw her head back in frustration. "I told you, on old mutual friend."
"An old friend or an old boy-friend?"
Sarah stared at him and laughed. "An old b…No. God no. Never."
"You sure?"
Her face hardened again. "For the love of the goddess Steve, what do you want from me? A signed statement?" She threw their door open and stormed into the room as Steve followed sulkily.
"You know, you've really changed since we came to this stupid country." The door closed behind him and the corridor was silent.
"Well, something has to be done. I really don't think he's right for her." Ionnina stepped out from behind a corner and looked speculatively at the closed door. Etáin followed closely and leaned against the wall.
"I don't think he's right for anyone. What do you think?"
Ionnina grinned at her. "What about sock boy?"
Etáin laughed softly. "Yes, she does seem to have a soft spot for him. But I still don't know if he's coming. Jareth never has been the most social person."
"True, but I'm sure there's a way my dear husband can lure him here."
"Yes, just tell him there's going to be a ball and he'll be here in flash."
"Do you have a ball planned?"
"Of course."
"Then there's no need to lie to him then. I'll go talk to Cyros. I'm sure he'll relish the chance to have another male that isn't of the over-stuffed court variety."
"Benefiting everyone then, are we?"
"Etáin, you always were so generous."
She sighed as she watched her friend go. "I do try."
Sarah lay as far away from Steve as she could in the massive bed but she could still hear his soft snoring.
She couldn't sleep.
Too much had happened in the last five hours. Her mind was whirling. There was a chance Jareth might come here. She didn't know what she was going to do. If he came there was a chance she would run screaming from the country or she would throw something large at him and start shouting. Of course there was also a good chance that she would jump on him and try and find out if he really did use socks. Sarah blushed in the darkness.
No, that would never happen.
No way.
Ok, lets stop thinking about the Goblin King's crotch and go to sleep…
She groaned as she heard a soft tapping at the door. She grabbed her black robe and stuck her head around the door.
"Etáin…what time is it?"
Etáin raised an eyebrow. "Stop acting. I know you cant sleep."
Sarah sighed and stepped outside, closing the door behind her. "What's up?"
Etáin shrugged. "Just thought we could talk. Come on." She pulled back a tapestry on the wall. "This is a secret staircase that leads to the kitchen. Feel free to use it any time."
Sarah followed her down the winding stair until they came out in a giant stone kitchen. It reminded Sarah of the kind you see in period dramas. There were large copper pots and utensils hanging from the ceiling and there was another giant fireplace. A large Aga stove took up a good part of the far wall.
Etáin sat on the counter and motioned for Sarah to take a seat. They sat in silence for a while before Sarah broke the quiet.
"So tell me more of…um…here. What's this Tír Na nÓg?"
Etáin smiled slightly, a nostalgic look in her eyes. "Well, I should probably correct my earlier statement. Tír Na nÓg was originally a land off the west coast of Ireland. The Land of Many Colours as it was knows to many even though that is not the correct translation. It actually means the Land of the Young."
Sarah nodded. "I think I see the reasoning in that."
Etáin smiled again. "Yes, well the Fae eventually left the Land of Many Colours and settled in Ireland but we had to retreat to the Underground when the Celts invaded the country. It was part of the great war I told you of earlier though its not recorded in any Aboveground history books, though I think there's a dusty old tome somewhere in our library that probably holds some record of it."
Sarah looked up from her mug. "You have a library?"
Etáin laughed. "Hmm, like books do you?"
Sarah looked down at her tea again. "Yes, but one particular on got me in quite a bit of trouble at one stage."
Etáin frowned at her. "You are still beating yourself up about that aren't you?" Sarah said nothing and Etáin sighed.
"Sarah listen to me. Every thing happens for a reason, as cliché as it sounds, its true. You were meant to travel to the Underground one way or another I'm sure. It just happened to pass that you went by way of wishing your brother away."
Sarah looked up at her. "It still puzzles me how I could have been so selfish, so stupid."
Etáin laid a hand on Sarah's shoulder and they both felt another jolt. "Sarah, all teenagers are silly. They make rash choices and do thinks without thinking. It happens. You just happened to make a rather unusual rash decision. That's all."
Sarah seemed to relax at that and she put down her mug. "Etáin, what's that shock I feel when I touch a Fae. I get it with you, Cian, Cyros and Ionnina. What's it mean?" "Ahh I was just coming to that. When you were in the Labyrinth did you make any close ties with any of the inhabitants?"
Sarah nodded "Yes three of them."
Etáin looked thoughtful. "Yes, that might explain it. This might take a while, get comfortable."
Sarah moved on to a cushioned window seat. "Are you going to spring more surprises on me?"
Etáin grinned. "Yup."
"Great."
"Shut up and listen."
"Fine, fine. Start talking'."
"Thank you. Well, when the Fae shared Aboveground with mortals before the war, often the inevitable happened and there were inter marriages. When the war came many of these couples were forced apart with the human partner loosing the immortality that comes with being joined with a Fae. The children who were half-breed for lack of a better term were also forced to stay with their mortal parents. As a result much of the worlds population is now distantly related to a Fae of some variety. This gives them some latent magikal power but in most people this lies dormant, but if you come into contact with some kind of magikal entity it's activated, so to speak. And if you form a bond with a magikal creature of person, well, your own magik becomes even stronger."
Sarah looked at her for a few moments. "Wait, let me guess. I am one of these Fae relations and being in the Labyrinth and making friends with Hoggle, Ludo and Didymus has awakened my magikal powers, hmm?"
"You're a smart girl."
"Spare me."
Etáin scowled. "You don't believe me. Here, give me your hand."
Sarah held out her hand and Etáin took it, turning it palm facing up. "Now, think of the strongest emotion you felt today. Anger, sadness, whatever."
Sarah thought about how angry Steve had made her today. "Ok."
"Now, concentrate really hard on that feeling. Try to give it form."
Sarah's eyes widened as a small flame appeared in her palm, dancing across her hand but not burning her. It felt kind of tingly.
Etáin nodded. "Ok, that's good. Now, think harder about that emotion. Make it stronger."
The flame in Sarah's palm grew, turning a dark red colour. It flickered violently, leaping off her hand before returning to grow even bigger.
"Ok, now before you set my kitchen on fire lets think of something less violent. Think of something happy."
Sarah thought of the fun she had had that evening with Etáin and Ionnina and the flame changed colour to a vibrant purple. The flame smoothed out and waved gracefully along her fingertips.
"Ok, one more. Think of something sad."
Sarah thought of her old dog Merlin, and how devastated she had been when he died. The flame shrank considerably and turned a pale blue colour. It was very still as it stood on Sarah's hand.
She could feel it as it stood there. It was very cold. The curled her fingers into a fist and she felt the flame disappear. "Whoa. Intense."
Etáin grinned and handed Sarah a fresh mug of tea. She nursed it and took it warmth with gratitude. "That was amazing Sarah. You must have some bond with those friends of yours."
She smiled sadly. "I guess I do…did. Hey, talking about my friends. Hoggle's a great fairy exterminator if you want to get rid of your problem."
Etáin looked at her. "I'll think about it. Sarah, for someone who just found out that they had magikal powers, you seem to be rather adept. Do you know why that is?"
Sarah shrugged. "No idea. I've always been one to adapt to things quickly I suppose." "You have a very rare form of magik you know."
"What do you mean?"
"Well there are many forms of magik. The most rare are Smoke, Crystal and Fire. I have Water magik, Nadír has Air, Cyros has Sand, Ionnina has Smoke, Jareth has Crystal and you have Fire. No wonder it's so strong. There's nearly no one else for you to share it with."
"Why are some magiks so rare?"
"Most of the users are dead. You are born with your magik. You cannot choose it. You tap into that element. There is only one Water magik though, only one Fire. We all must share. That is why Jareth and Ionnina are two of the most powerful Fae in existence. They are the only ones to use their element."
Sarah leaned forward. "Is there anyone else that uses Fire?"
Etáin smiled. "You're getting interested now, huh?"
Sarah nodded.
"Yes, there is one other. She was from Tír Na nÓg also, but she was banished some years ago. Fuamnach. Evil woman."
Sarah sat back, curling her legs under her. "What did she do?"
Etáin looked over to her. "Do you really want to hear this story?"
Sarah nodded eagerly.
"Ok. Well, along time ago when I was still living in the Land of Many Colours I first met Nadír and we fell madly in love. Fuamnach was a spoilt and jealous woman. She claimed that she loved Nadír but he chose me. Consumed with rage Fuamnach used her magik and turned me into a golden fly."
"A golden fly?"
"The woman had a flare for the dramatic. Anyway, I was out on the sea at the time and I got trapped by the winds. I was at sea for ten years. One day I was blown to a small cottage in Galway on the west coast. I ended up in some poor woman's mug of milk and she swallowed me."
Sarah opened her mouth to interrupt but Etáin stopped her. "Remember this was long ago and it involved a hell of a lot of magik. Let me finish."
Sarah nodded. "Ok, so anyway, I got swallowed by this poor woman and then she got pregnant. After nine months, she gave birth to me. But of course I had no memory of my previous life. I grew up and I loved to play in the woods and by the sea. I always new my prince lay out on the sea somewhere. I didn't really know how right I was. One day, the high king of Ireland, Ouchí, just came riding by and saw me. Well of course he fell madly in love with me."
Sarah snorted.
"Hey! Anyway, I married Ouchí and he built the most amazing castle for me at Tara. It was incredible. It's gone now of course. Ouchí never was good at looking to the future. One day we were out riding one day and we came across a glade and suddenly a man appeared before us. He had a silver chessboard. When he looked at me my memories come flooding back, but it seemed like a dream. How was I to know what was real and what wasn't. Nadír challenged Ouchí to a game of chess, the looser was to give the winner anything they desired. The first time they played Ouchí won and he demanded fifty snow white horses. He got them. The king won the next two games also and in turn asked that four roads be built from Tara across Ireland, stretching north, south, east and west, and that the planes of Meath be cleared of stones and rocks. He got what he asked for. A fourth time they faced each other and Nadír won. Nadír asked for a kiss from me. Ouchí asked Nadír to return in a month to claim his prize. When that day arrived, the king ringed the castle with ten thousand men but this could not hold Nadír. He kissed me and we both transformed and flew to our home. When we returned we told the court of Fuamnach's treachery and she was banished from any place that the Fae resided in. Who knows where she is, but she has left us in peace ever since."
Sarah sat back. "Whoa, stormy ride. But how long have you guys been together now." A voice came from the doorway. "I stopped counting at fifteen hundred years. Though time has little consequence for us." Nadír put his arms around his wife and smiled.
"So, you are a distant relative Sarah?"
She yawned and looked at the clock. "Looks like it. I think Steve's going to wake me at an indecent hour and it's four am, so I shall leave you two at it."
Etáin nodded. "Ok. Good night Sarah. If you'd like, we can practice again tomorrow night. That Fire will be more useful than pepper spray on a dark night, I'll tell you." Sarah laughed and yawned again. "I believe you. G'night."
End Chap.
Notes: Most of the Irish is very basic : "How are you?, Welcome, Where are you? She's very nice" and the like. And for any Irish readers out there, my spelling and grammar are atrocious but I did my best to keep it all correct. Feel free to correct me.
Etáin and Nadír are taken from the Irish Legend mentioned above, but there are several variations. Cian I just made up, the same with the others.
Just about Steve, this is not a shot as Americans as my best friend is from Oklahoma but I have had the misfortune to meet someone like that. Oh, and that drunken conversation was based ona real one I'm sure a few of you must have had as well.
Well, R&R. Tell me what you think.
