Disclaimer: Do I look rich? I don't own the Labyrinth or anything to do with it.
Ahh, we have returned.
Kaz: And not a moment too soon. I was bored! All that studying.
Which is what I should have been doing instead of entertaining your wishes and writing.
Rayne: Pshaw.
To the reviewers, I give my thanks:
theshadowcat: Unfortunately, I'm not very good at bedroom scenes. This is my peak in that department. Sorry and thanks.
Avalon-blackandgreen: Heehee, I'm sorry. I put more Alice references in this one, thinking of you.
angelwingz202: Interestingly, I first came upon Pablo Neruda in a Harry Potter fan fic. That is one of my favourites.
Acantha Mardivey: Well she doesn't end up unconscious in this one. I've seen the show twice, once in New York and once in Dublin but I still haven't seen the movie.
lyn: Will do.
jazzy021: Yeah, we all need cold showers. Hehehe, thanx hun.
Eleanora Rose: Thank you. The language is Spanish. Pablo Neruda was a Chilean poet.
Relyan: Thank you, thank you and thank you. Gee thanks.
LadyLuck312: Thanks. It's not so tough with three really. They all just represent different aspects. They help me keep perspective and balance. Thanks for the hugs and kisses, they work. I'm familiar with Connor. All muses seem to be alike in that respect.
janine: Peeps? Cool. Glad you like it darling.
Felt-tip-pen101: Heehee, thank you. I'm glad you liked it.
VividWhiteLove: Uhh oh. Your gonna throw things at me after this.
Anyway, here's where it starts to get interesting folks.
C.C: Yea, my kind of interesting.
Rayne: So the bad way then.
Shut up all of you. Go avail of LadyLuck's e-hugs and kisses. Any way, if any of you get the Rocky Horror Picture Show reference I'll give you a Jareth clone and a cookie.
December 24th
When Jareth woke up, the first thing he noticed was the conspicuous lack of Sarah. He glanced quickly around the room and heaved an internal sigh of relief when he located her. Gloriously nude, he noted happily, she was standing by the large ornate mirror staring out over the gardens as the sun rose. Jareth came up behind her and they both watched as the shadow of the castle grew and stretched out before them. Sarah gave a languorous stretch and smiled slightly as Jareth's hands came up from behind her to cup her breasts. She turned slightly in his grasp and he caught her lips in a searing kiss. She smiled against his mouth. "I'm trying to think. You're distracting me."
"Well my dear, you are rather distracting yourself. Lucky me."
"Lecherous old man."
"You know, I'm quite young for a fae love."
Sarah shivered as he kissed his way down to her collar bone, nipping and sucking on the way. "What does that make me? A foetus?"
He growled as Sarah's own hands wandered lower. "Enough talking."
She gasped in pleasure and braced herself against the windowsill as he filled her and soon they were both immersed in pleasure.
Sarah banged on the door again and sighed. For a man, Jareth spent an absurd amount of time in the bathroom. Finally he opened the door and eyed Sarah in amusement as she slumped in a chair. She raised an eyebrow as he wrapped a towel around his lower half and opened the wardrobe.
"You know, you were free to join me anytime you wanted." He commented as she made for the bathroom.
"Not if you locked the door."
"Do you have magik or not? By the gods woman, all you had to do is wave your hand."
She frowned at him. "And risk burning down the room at the same time? No thank you."
Jareth, for lack of better word, pouted. "Well, if that's how you want to play."
Sarah grinned wickedly, reached over and removed his towel, dancing out of reach. "Game's not over Jareth." She disappeared behind the door and giggled slightly as she heard him grumble something. When she finally emerged from the bathroom, Jareth was gone but had left some clothes suggestions. Sarah grinned and threw aside the skimpy dress as she glanced out the window. She preferred warmth, thank you very much. The weather had changed quickly from blue skies to high winds and angry dark clouds. She could see the haze of heavy rain in the distance. It wouldn't be long until it reached here, so she decided to take her walk before breakfast. She pulled on a pair of jeans and a warm sweater before grabbing her jacket and heading down stairs.
Ionnina laughed softly at something her husband had whispered and Sarah smiled at the scene that was presented to her from the door. Etáin was standing at the sink, speaking low to Nadír and blushing as his hand wandered over her back, Cian was leering comically at Fiona as she laughed and slapped him playfully. Andre and Jareth were engrossed in what seemed like serious conversation, but Sarah could see the silent laughter in both men's eyes. It seemed odd to here that, what a few days ago would have been a room in turmoil, was now full of relatively happy and, if a bit stressed, content people. How quickly things change. She smiled again as she observed from the shadows. Who ever said change takes time was talking bull.
Suddenly Andre noticed her and called her over. "Ahh, my dear. Myself and the most esteemed Goblin King here," Sarah snorted and Jareth glared. "Were just discussing whether or not to keep the fairies in the garden around or not. What do you think?"
Sarah leaned over and plucked a piece of fruit from the bowl in front of Jareth and he glared again. He shook her head internally. He may be all poetry and love confessions in private, but he's good old Goblin King in public.
"No contest really. Those things drive me nuts. Why would you entertain keeping them around?"
Andre grinned at her and got up, heading for the stove. "Jareth here thinks they're good for keeping mortals away."
Sarah feigned offence and shook a finger at him. "Really Jareth. Just a week ago and that would have been an insult to me."
Jareth simply rolled his eyes and looked at the paper in front of him. Sarah smiled a little and looked up. "I'm heading out for a walk now. Does anyone want to volunteer as babysitter?"
They all looked at her and she sighed. "Rain's coming." She said by way of explanation.
Nadír looked over at her. "I'll go with you. I need some air."
Sarah nodded and trailed her fingers over Jareth's shoulder as she left by way of farewell. She could feel his eyes on her back the whole what to the door and smiled softly.
Sarah and Nadír walked in amicable silence for a long time before either of them spoke. Sarah paused and looked around her. "Oh, it seems we've gone further than anticipated."
They were at the edge of the woods. The one Sarah had gone far into the first time she'd run off. Run away from Jareth. Yes how things had changed.
The rabbit hole had tapered out and she now found herself in wonderland, full fledged. She suddenly expected the Mock Turtle to turn up, telling her stories more fantastical than what she was experiencing and personally, she thought Etáin might be the Cheshire Cat in disguise. She was fond of telling her odd bits of information, smiling, then disappearing.
Nadír's voice suddenly jolted her from her thoughts. She smiled at him. "Sorry. I was in another world." He grinned at her. "That's ok, do it myself."
She tilted her head slightly as she looked at him and he eyed her. "What?"
"It's just, ever since I've been here, I've never seen you smile like that."
"Oh. Well, it takes a while for me to trust a person, even if I know they're fully trust worthy. Etáin accuses me of being anti-social."
Sarah shrugged. "Some call it internal, I call it private."
"Exactly. You know, I've been trying to explain it to Etáin for years, she just can't seem to understand it. Maybe you could explain it to her. She listens to you more than she listens to me."
"Ahh, yes. The ancient and unbreakable bond of girl talk. We have a club you know."
"And what do I need to gain entrance, if it'll make her listen to me."
"Oestrogen."
"You can keep it. I don't want anything to do with it. She can ignore me all she wants."
Sarah laughed and sat on a felled tree stump. She sighed as she looked back over the fields, towards the castle. "Even on a grey day like this, it really is beautiful here."
Nadír nodded and sat beside her. "Yes, but this is Irelands unique beauty. Everywhere has it. You just have to look. You go anywhere, where nature is still prominent and you will find beauty. India, America, Japan, Russia, Chile. Everywhere."
"That's a good way of putting it. Though, I feel that since I got my magik, I've been able to appreciate it, feel it, more."
"That makes sense. You are now bonded with nature in a way no one else is. Even Fae. Some Fae even believe that they are above nature which is transient. But you, you are, for lack of a better phrase, born of the earth. You have experienced the passage of time and you are about to experience timelessness. You will have a unique perspective on things."
"I think it might take a while to find that perspective. At the moment all I see are colours, blurry shapes. It's like a painting. You stand to far back there's no detail. Right now, I'm standing a little to close to see the entire picture."
Nadír placed a hand on her shoulder. "For someone so young, you are very wise."
Sarah grinned and shook her head. "No. I'm just looking at things from a different perspective."
She looked out over the fields again. "Can we stay here for a while?"
Nadír nodded. Sarah settled herself against a tree and made a fire from some dry wood to keep them warm. After an hour the rain came but they erected a small shield. They sat in silence as the rain fell in torrents around them. Sarah liked to watch it fall through the trees. Going in a million different directions before it hit the ground, in stark contrast to the rain in the fields, which fell in hard sheets, driven by the wind.
After a while Nadír broke the silence again. "Sarah, how are things going with Jareth?"
She looked at him curiously. "Why do you ask?"
"Enquiring minds…"
"Oh, well, I said I love him, he's said he loves me."
"So, it's all going well then."
"Well, yes but it's still such a young relationship that even though we do love each other, have no doubt, it's still fragile."
"Ahh."
They once again fell into silence. Nadír stretched his hands to the fire from his stump while the both watched a small robin that had hopped into their small circle. It looked at the pair for a moment the shook itself off and settled beside the fire, waiting for the rain to pass. They continued to watch the rain until Jareth suddenly appeared beside them. Nadír swallowed a laugh and Sarah looked him over. "You're wet."
"Yes. It's raining."
Nadír stood up and expanded the shield slightly to accommodate the soaked Goblin King. He glared down at Sarah. "You know you've been gone for over three hours?"
"We were watching the rain and observing nature."
"Yes." Chimed in Nadír. "From several perspectives."
Sarah giggled at the expression on Jareth's face. "How did you find us?"
He reached forward and removed his crystal from Sarah's coat pocket. "Oh yeah. Join us Jareth. Just for a few more minutes."
"Very well."
"Oh, don't be so annoyed about it. It has quite a Zen effect, doesn't it Sarah?"
Sarah nodded but objected as Jareth sat down beside her. "You're wet!"
"Well dry me."
Sarah held out her hand, but hesitated.
"Really Sarah, if you cant even trust yourself enough to perform a simple task like that you will never be confident enough to convince the court you are able to hold your powers well, which we all know you are."
She waved her hand and Jareth was once again dry. He pulled her against him and she rested her head against his shoulder. "There, that wasn't so hard now, was it?"
"Jareth?"
"Yes?"
"Stop being such a patronising git."
"As you wish."
Nearly an hour later they left, all disappearing in whirls of glitter, fire and wind. The little robin was suddenly subjected to the harsh rains again and hurried into the safety of his wood.
Etáin frowned at the three as the entered the drawing room. "And just where have you two been? And you, you were supposed to bring them back, not keep them for another hour. Do you know how much work there is to be done? Nadír, guest list. Jareth, security. Sarah, music programme."
She handed Jareth and Nadír their respective to-do lists and hurried them out the door. She turned to Sarah.
"Here. This is a list of all the music appropriate to play. It's all mortal, don't worry. If you haven't figured it out yet, we have a soft spot for it. We have a Fae performer coming in for the war ceremony so don't you worry your pretty little head about that. Work up a programme of both vocal and instrumental to fill a few hours at least. Check the library for the music, if it's not there order it off the internet. There's a computer in my office which you can get to by pulling Z in the Encyclopaedia Britannica section."
This was all said in such a rush, Sarah was having trouble keeping up. Suddenly Taranga, who was sitting with Eurydice and Persephone across the room, spoke up.
"We better hear a performance from you my dear."
Etáin whipped around and glared at the three woman. "Did I say you could talk? If I don't see a theme and decoration schemes by the end of today there's going to be hell to pay."
She turned back and hurried Sarah out the door. "Come on. Lot's of work to be done."
"Oh joy." Muttered Sarah as she made her way to the library.
It was going to be a long day.
A few hours later Sarah sat in the music room, surrounded by towers of sheet music and books. She had the list narrowed down but with a good selection, but enough music to fill almost six hours, it was still a hell of a lot. Etáin had occasionally checked in on her, passing through in a whirlwind of orders, guest lists and menus. She liked Etáin, especially after everything the woman had done for her, but there was no denying it, the woman was frightening. She hadn't seen Ionnina or Cyros since the morning and had been informed that they had been sent on errands. Though, the low voice Fiona had used made these 'errands' sound more like dangerous quests. It was already getting dark out and Sarah had surrounded herself with candles, more for company than light. A sheet of music fell from the top of one of the piles and she smiled at the title. She sat at the piano and began to play. It was the theme to the movie "Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence." As she finished the room was extremely still, even the flames didn't move. "You are talented, I suppose. For a mortal."
The candles flared and Sarah frowned as she observed Lorkán, who was leaning against one of the settees. "What do you want?"
He grinned at her. "Just thought I'd drop by, see how you were feeling."
"Like you care." Sarah grabbed a stack of music sheets and moved them to a table. "Would you please leave. Etáin wanted me to sort this and I think she wouldn't appreciate you distracting me."
"I'm sure I can find other ways of distracting you." He leered at her.
The flames flickered angrily but Sarah remained calm. She marched over to him. "I seriously suggest you leave, before I loose my temper."
"Or what? Can't I spend sometime with my favourite mortal whore?"
Sarah growled and the candles flared but then suddenly went out completely. The two were plunged into the grey light of evening. Sarah could barely make out the expression on Lorkán's face. She attempted to call on her inner flames light but found she couldn't.
"Aww, can't use your new powers? Sorry. Little trick I learned about three centuries ago."
"Fine. You've made your point, what ever it was. Now get out."
He gave a sinister laugh. "I don't think so." And then he was on her.
Sarah found herself bent back over a sofa, his lips on hers. She struggled but he held her wrists in an iron grip. He protests were muffled under his mouth. He was much stronger than her and he obviously was using his magic as she found herself unable to fight back with any real effect.
"Sarah? Where are you?"
Sarah heard Jareth's voice and closed her eyes. She could feel Lorkán smile against her mouth. This is what he wanted, the bastard. The lights were flicked on and Sarah struggled against Lorkán again but he held her still. She heard the door slam and suddenly he was off her. Sarah sank to weak knees and looked up at the laughing Lorkán.
"Well, that was worth it, I must say. I can see why Jareth uses you."
She got to her feet and ran out the door. She had to explain. She found him in the corridor, heading for their… his room.
"Jareth." He stopped but did not turn around. "Jareth. That was not what it looked like. Lorkán…"
"He what?" Sarah shivered at his low, cold voice. She stayed silent. "He what Sarah? Charmed you like I did? Or was it the other way around?"
"No. You have to understand. He… he was using magic. I didn't want to…"
Sarah was vaguely aware that some people had paused in the corridor to witness the argument, though it was far from screaming and shouting. Jareth turned to face Sarah and she blanched at the steely look in his mismatched eyes. Suddenly he was in front of her and she flinched as he grabbed her wrists, where bruises had formed from where Lorkán had held her down.
"You know Sarah, in the Underground, women are imprisoned for false accusations of rape and they are outcasts if they lie over love."
"But, I didn't lie. I really meant it."
"Well, your actions have proved otherwise I think."
"I didn't lie."
"Well maybe I did."
Sarah sucked in a breath but couldn't prevent the tears from falling.
Jareth gave her a disgusted look. "You are a manipulative, cruel creature. I can't believe I ever…" He looked her up and down and stepped back.
"Sarah, I do not love you."
She let out a choked sob as he disappeared in a whirl of glitter. Yes, how quickly things can change. Sarah leant against the wall, sobbing softly.
Suddenly Ionnina was at her side. "Oh, Sarah. Here come with me. Come on."
Ionnina led Sarah to her old room. All the things that she had left in Jareth's room had been thrown on the bed. Ionnina moved some things aside and sat her down.
"Ok, I'll be back in one second with some tea. Ok? Don't move."
Sarah looked up at her. "Where would I go?"
Ionnina shuddered at the look of desolation in the young woman's eyes.
Sarah's tears increased once she had been left alone. A fire sprang up of it's own violation and all of the rooms candles lit. Sarah could feel the comforting warmth and sympathy of the fire but it was of little consolation. She stared absently at her hands and she gasped slightly in surprise when she saw that the bruises on her wrists were gone.
Jareth? Did he…
She looked on the bed for her jacket. When she located it she reached over and removed Jareth's crystal from the pocket. She watched as it began to float. She reached out and was devastated when it disappeared just as it had when she reached out for it at the end of her original adventure. She waved her hand and her things vanished, put back in their proper place.
All of a sudden Ionnina swept back into the room with a trey of tea four people in her wake. Sarah was swept up into the oddly motherly embrace of Taranga.
"Oh, my dear. I saw everything. It's so terrible." She pulled back and gave her a soft smile. "Haven't you been through enough. And now this."
She shook her wild head and took Ionnina's proffered cup of tea.
Cyros sat in a chair, fingers steepled, deep in thought. "I just can't think what might have made Jareth act in this fashion. It's very unlike him."
Sarah sighed and took a sip of tea. "Well, he did see Lorkán making out with me."
Ionnina dropped a cup and everyone looked at her, shocked. "Don't look at me like that. It wasn't voluntary."
Taranga was outraged. "You mean he forced himself on you?"
Sarah nodded. "He managed to negate my Fire some how. Held me down, used his magik to stop me fighting back. What is his magik?"
"Gravity."
"Oh. Well, that explains it."
They all jumped when they heard a crash. Nadír had smashed his cup. He apologised quietly and repaired it. "Do we have to keep that fucker in our castle?"
Etáin sighed and nodded. "He's here on official order from Ferdia. That's on of the court council members." She added for Sarah's benefit.
Cyros nodded. "Lord knows he means well, but the old fool is not what you might call a good judge of character."
"Indeed."
They spent a hour or so in Sarah's bed room before she managed to get them all out.
"Etáin, you have a ball to plan. Really, I'll survive. Just go. I'll be back down to help soon. The music programme is on the piano."
"But…"
"Go!"
She sat on the bed and cried quietly. In the space of two weeks her whole life had been torn apart and put back together again. And now, well now the sky was falling and she didn't have an umbrella.
She wandered down to dinner later that evening to a quiet reception. Etáin glanced up from some list or another.
"Hey. How are you feeling?"
Sarah chanced a weak smile. "As well as can be expected, I suppose. How're the preparations coming? Do you need help?"
Etáin shook her head and raked a hand through her loose dark hair. "No. I think we've all done enough today. Do you want to stay down here for dinner?"
"Is Jareth back yet?"
"Haven't seen him. Cyros went after him but neither of them have turned up since."
"Well, up we go then."
"Over the trench tops."
Ionnina glanced up at the two with a grim smile. "Into battle we charge."
The three women arrived to the dinner table which was engaged in vibrant debate about Underground politics and they went unnoticed. Afterwards Sarah helped clean up but was distracted as Lorkán entered the room. He had been absent from dinner and Sarah growled as the others looked up. Etáin stepped forward, no doubt about to shove the bottle she was holding firmly where the sun don't shine but Sarah stopped her.
She walked slowly up to Lorkán who had a sickly grin on his face. "You have some balls coming near me after today." She said in a low, dangerous voice.
He sneered at her, reminding her of the Goblin King's trademark scorn. "You have no king to protect you now. Do you really think you can frighten me?"
Sarah laughed slightly, Lorkán raised an eyebrow and she burst in to towering flame. Etáin noted with satisfaction that, even though the angry fire licked her walls and ceiling, not even a soot mark was left. Lorkán took a step back from the violent heat that emanated from the young woman in front of him who stood before him with an overwhelming surge of power.
"I am warning you now, you ever come near me or anyone I care about ever again, council or no council, they won't even find your ashes after I'm done with you! Now. Get. Out."
Lorkán retreated from the room and Sarah turned back to her friends, brushing some imaginary lint from her sweater. "So, are we all done here?"
Ionnina let out a kind of shocked laugh. "So, uh, you've got the hang of your fire then?"
Sarah glanced at her. "Yeah. I think so. No more lessons needed."
Etáin nodded. "Yea. I'd agree with you there."
Sarah looked out the window. "I'm going to bed, ok? It's… It's been a long day."
"Sure. G'night."
"Good night Sarah. Sleep well."
"Can't make any promises there."
End chap.
Kaz: Oh lord.
Rayne: She keeps managing to do that.
C.C: Heehee, here's the mob.
I'm gonna run away now. Rate and review…..please
Slán.
