Chapter 5: It's a piece of cake
It must have been at least an hour later when Sarah reached the edge of the forest and found herself staring across a huge meadow at the other side of which was the castle. Er…where was the bog and the trash heap? Cub yipped and ran up to an old man who was sitting on some sort of blanket. Sarah spotted a picnic basket like object next to him.
"Well, what have we here?" The man looked up from stroking Cub.
"Hi, I'm Sarah," 'might as well be friendly' she thought.
"I know, he told me," he replied patting Cub fondly.
"You can talk to him?" Sarah was amazed.
"We're old friends," he smiled, "I was there when he was born." There was a short pause and Sarah's stomach growled. Cub growled back (Aww, isn't he cute?).
"You sound hungry, I've got a picnic here, why don't you eat something?"
Sarah hesitated, "I don't know…I've got to get to the castle and I'm not sure how much time I have left…"
Cub barked three times.
"Three hours?" Sarah considered it, "I still don't want to risk."
"Very well but at least take something to eat as you walk." He went into the picnic basket and held out a wrapped packet to her.
Sarah took it tentatively, "What is it?"
"It's a piece of cake."
Sarah looked at him sharply but his face was a picture of innocence. She glanced at Cub, who was sitting next to the man, happily wagging his tail. He yipped. 'Well if Cub thinks this guy's ok…' She unwrapped a delicious looking sponge cake with a vein of oozing jam running through the centre. Her mouth watered and she took a bite. It was the most scrumptious cake she'd ever tasted. It was when she swallowed a familiar aftertaste swamped her senses.
"It tastes strange," she gasped dropping it.
The old man stood up and the illusion shattered revealing Jareth (Yes you all knew who it was) dressed in the same outfit she'd seen when in the tunnels. Sarah felt dizzy but refused to surrender to the drug or whatever the heck it was. "Not…this…time."
She struggled to keep the world upright. She glared at Jareth then at Cub who was whimpering.
"I…thought…"
"You still take too many things for granted. Cub lives in my kingdom. Just because he's your friend doesn't mean he's not mine. It was true what I said before. I was present at his birth, which was why I was a little put out by his betrayal at the duel," he cast Cub a disappointed glance.
"Bastard!" Sarah spat.
"Now, Sarah, language."
"Get lost," she hated the fact that she knew she was going to be completely helpless and he was there. He could do anything. To her horror she felt her legs give way but she never hit the ground. Strong arms caught her and she saw Jareth's face above her. She tried to struggle out his arms but they just held her tighter. The mismatched eyes reflected amusement at her fight yet was that also concern?
Jareth was concerned. The more she fought this thing the worse it would be for her. Why did she have to be so stubborn?
A suffocating helplessness swamped Sarah's body and she panicked.
"Relax," Jareth whispered, "Trust me. Give in."
As much as Sarah was disinclined to do either her body reacted to the soothing tone in his voice and she slid into darkness.
Xxxxx
Jareth held her silent form in his arms. Her breathing was deep and even. The air glittered and he dissolved with her.
Re-materialising in his room he laid her sleeping form gently on his bed and brushed a strand of hair from her face.
"Beautiful," he breathed and slid from the room.
Sorry it's only short. Also, just to be clear, Cub did not betray Sarah because a) he can't speak to her and b) all he did was be friendly with Jareth. It was Sarah who assumed this meant the cake was safe to eat. All the same if anyone's angry blame Pie, it was all his idea and Fang may have also had something to do with it.
Moonjava: Thank you
Solea: I really appreciate your comments and thank you for being honest.
Miss Mary Lou: LIGHT SABRES! Are you completely insane? And since when do I have a crazy beard? Just to stop you from moaning, Fang attacked Sarah but Cub got in the way and killed him. There! Happy now? Ouch! See what I get for my pains, Fang just bit me.
(Everyone else, don't worry this is just for Mary-Lou's benefit. I haven't really killed Fang.)
Lady-Seoh-Phoenix: Pie says he's sorry if he scared you.
lyn: Here's more
jumping-jo: Thank you, I was a bit worried about that.
Angela: Thank you for the really long review. I was really encouraged.
Faerie in Combat Boots: If I told you that it would ruin the suprise
Lady of the Labyrinth : Yes Pie is a wolf cub and Fang better not be mean to Cub. You hear that Fang (Fang looks put out)
sparkling silver angel wings : I wouldn't advise hugging Fang. He may bite. Or maybe that's just me...
