A Prophecy Speaks
Author's Note: I still do not own Labyrinth. I still wish I owned Bowie. I still own all the characters I created.
Chapter 15 –or- Going Under
Sarah retired to her room after the guests had arrived for a bath and a nap before dinner. It had been about a week since Jareth stopped conjuring her dresses, and she now had dressmakers at her disposal at all times to bring to life the creations she made in her head. Tonight's dress was lavender, and made of silk. It had spaghetti straps and an empire waist. The a-line skirt fell to the floor. She had opera length gloves made in the same shade of lavender. As always, she would wear the emerald necklace around her neck, and a new pair of emerald earrings at her ears. Her hair would be down, and curled elegantly.
Jareth had also recently gifted her with a short black cape made of silk that she adored.
Sarah contemplated the day's events while Agee ran her bath. She carefully removed the sapphire dress she had worn for today's introductions and laid it carefully on the bed. She wiggled her toes after taking off the delicate satin slippers and wished for a pedicure. It was the first time she found herself wishing for something from the mortal realm in a long time. She put on a fluffy white robe and sat to wait.
She had joked with Jareth about the things she missed from the mortal realm. Fast food, pizza, pedicures, soda pop, movies and cheesy love songs were all things she joked about missing. She would have to tell Toby about that when she spoke with him.
"Miss, the water is ready," Agee told her.
"Thank you, Agee," Sarah said as she walked into the bathroom.
Sarah disrobed and stepped into the steaming tub. She laid back and closed her eyes. After a little while she relaxed and let her head sink below the surface. It was peaceful, and quiet. She let her mind dwell on the peaceful things, and tried to forget the dwarves and the fact that Jareth would have to leave not long after their betrothal.
Suddenly, it was not so peaceful and not so quiet, when two rough hands reached into the water and held her unprotected body down. The face of her attacker was blurred, but it was male. She struggled and thrashed. She bit the hand holding her down and managed to scream Jareth's name in terror before she was pushed back down. She found herself believing she would die before she blacked out.
Jareth was talking to King Mephis when he heard the most frightful sound he had ever heard. Sarah's scream echoed with pain and fear. In a moment he was there, and saw the dwarf holding his beloved down. With a roar Jareth send the dwarf to an oubliette and lifted Sarah's limp and naked form out of the tub. He called in a thick blanket and wrapped her in it as tight as he could before hurrying to her bed.
With a desperate wish in his head he conjured a healing crystal and dropped it on her head. She started to cough and cry, and Jareth turned her on her side. He realized his face was covered with tears. The coughing and crying was a good sign. She would survive. With a thought he dried everything from her to her bed. He blinked and she was in the warmest pajamas he knew she had. He crawled onto the bed and gathered her into his arms. Her crying had lessened a little. His had not. He had almost lost her. But his Queen would survive.
Jareth sent out a sphere and Agee came running. She gasped when she saw Sarah's pale form. Jareth sent out another thought and his healers came also.
"I must get to the bottom of this, much as it grieves me to not be here while she recovers. I have no time to lose. Heal her, keep her warm, and let no one in until I come back. Notify me immediately if things get worse," Jareth told them. They bowed and curtsied. Jareth disappeared.
Jareth wasted no time calling the kings and queens into his audience chambers. Without even thinking he had clothed himself in his most fearsome Goblin King regalia. He did not even bother to call in chairs for his guests, as he was pacing like a lion in a cage. The torches were brighter than usual, and he found himself wanting to smash things.
The nobles filed in, and Jareth began without preamble.
"Do any of you have dwarves in your service?" Jareth asked the group gratingly. He was met with shaking heads.
"Jareth, what is going on?" Queen Carys asked him worriedly.
"This does not go beyond this room", Jareth warned. The nobles nodded their heads in agreement.
"Just a few minutes ago there was an attempt on the life of my future bride and future Queen. A dwarf tried to drown her in her baths, and he very nearly succeeded. I dropped the dwarf in an oubliette for now, but I plan to go interrogate him in a moment. Please, check your retinues and report to me if you see anything suspicious. Watch your princesses closely. I will see all of you at dinner." Jareth dismissed them. King Danol approached him after a moment.
"Jareth, I would like to go with you to see this dwarf," Danol said.
"Very well. Maybe you can find out more than I," Jareth said as he grabbed Danol's arm and transported them to the oubliette.
What they saw when they got there was something that made Jareth spit epithets and scream in frustration.
The dwarf was dead.