A Prophecy Speaks
a/n: I do not own labyrinth.
Chapter 31 –or- The Mission
Sarah awoke up to find that she and Jareth were a mess of tangled limbs. Her husband was snoring still. The fire had gone out, and she brought it back up with a wave of her hand. She sent a crystal out of the room and knew Agee would be bringing Their Majesties breakfast soon. She knew she had time for an actual bath, since last night's bath had turned into a sexual romp. The memory of Jareth covered in bubbles from head to toe made her laugh.
Sarah could do almost anything with magic, but felt that sometimes it was good to remind herself that some things could be done without wasting magical energy. Of course, when she got so big with child she could hardly bend over the magic would come in very handy. She turned the taps on the bathtub and chose an outfit while it filled. She chose a crepe and chiffon dress in a shade of blood red, and noticed her belly was already beginning to swell a little. She would need to design maternity gowns. It was off the shoulder and had long sleeves that came to a point at her wrists. The empire waist was flattering. She decided she would wear her hair straight and down today.
As Sarah sank into the steaming water her thoughts processed the situation with Xandra. She would notify the other nobles of her suspicions. Xandra had been nothing but a good friend, but her disappearance was troubling. As was her non-response to Sarah's note. The day was just beginning and was already full of problems with no solutions.
As Sarah had suspected, their breakfast was steaming on the table after she had gotten dressed and done her hair. She hardly remembered what it was like to wear blue jeans or sweatpants. She knew she was coming home when she came back here with Jareth. She had never fully realized how ill-suited to the mortal world she had been. It was like a bad dream. She briefly wondered what people had thought happened to her and what happened to Toby. The thought made her laugh. The manuscripts of a missing playwright must be worth thousands!
Sarah opened the doors to the balcony and let the fresh air in. Then she walked to the bed and laid her hand on Jareth's forehead. She decided to be funny, and let a feeling of ice flow from her palm to his skin. He jumped up and swatted her hand away. She looked him up and down appreciatively while laughing. The Goblin King just glared at her.
"Want to feel?", Sarah asked him, and put his hand on her stomach. He rubbed it gently.
"Just a little swell, and so soon", he commented while putting on a robe.
They sat down to eat. This morning it was fresh fruit, toast, and tea. Sarah preferred coffee, but Jareth liked tea. She could always have some coffee when they got to conference room.
"Xandra did not respond. Something feels tainted about the whole situation. It feels wrong", Sarah told her husband, helping herself to a piece of toast.
Jareth swallowed before answering her, "What are you thinking?", he asked her with curiousity.
"Could Xandra be the mole? Could she be the assassin?", Sarah asked him. Jareth shook his head.
"Xandra has been my friend a very long time. She is a wise queen. She has been a great help to us", Jareth pointed out.
Sarah let the matter drop. She had her own ways of looking into things.
"Jareth, I need to go into the labyrinth for a bit. I will see you in the conference room in a bit. Okay?", she gave him a kiss before leaving.
Sarah walked down the pathways she knew and loved. She felt the Labyrinth around her. She rounded a corner and saw the little hut her friend Hoggle resided in. It was a bit ramshackle, but she knew it was sturdy enough. She could hear Hoggle bustling around inside.
"Hoggle?", she called.
"Your Majesty?", Hoggle called from inside. He came out the door and gave her a bow.
"Hoggle, I will kiss you if you keep bowing to me when we are alone. I am Sarah. Remember? The girl who ate the peach and forgot everything? Your friend?", she teased him.
"I know Sarah, it is just that you look so much like a queen", Hoggle told her. She snapped her fingers and was in jeans and a white shirt.
"This better?", she asked him.
"No, you still look like a queen", Hoggle told her.
"Well, I am here as your queen this time", Sarah told him as she snapped herself back into the red dress, "I have a mission for you. I need you to travel to the Tree kingdom. I need information. Get as close to Queen Xandra as you can, while still staying hidden. I think Xandra may be in league with Nogrod, but I want proof before I go the other nobles with it. You are my proof. Will you do it?", Sarah asked him.
"That's very dangerous to do Sarah", Hoggle pointed out.
"I will put a spell on you to make you look like one of Nogrod's dwarves. I have seen drawings of what they look like. It will only last while you are outside our borders. I will give you a sphere you can use to get back to your hut here in an instant, but it a one time thing. But this may be a way of finding out who tried to kill me. I think it was Xandra", Sarah told Hoggle and his eyes widened. He nodded.
Sarah put her hands on Hoggle's head and cast a spell that would change his appearance when he left the borders. She conjured a spelled crystal that would allow him to come back in an instant.
"Tell the crystal these words when you want to leave: 'Hoggle is Hoggle's friend'. It will take you back here in an instant", Sarah told him.
"I will pack a knapsack and will be out of here as quickly as I can", Hoggle told her.
"I will wait. When you are ready I will transport you to Willowsbark, Xandra's capital city", Sarah told him. She conjured a soft chair to sit in while the dwarf packed. It only took a few minutes.
"I'm ready Sarah", the dwarf told her.
Sara stood up and brushed off her dress. She blew a crystal at Hoggle and he was captured inside it. It would pop near Willowsbark. She hoped he would be back before dark.