Hi there all! Welcome back to the Labyrinth fic that ties a whole bunch of
crazy stuff together. Aren't you glad you came? I knew you were.
So, here I sit on finals week, wishing that I didn't have to study. So I'm writing this instead! You all benefit from my procrastination!
Thanks to all who reviewed. You know I love you all. And to prove it, there will be a big old thank you section at the end of the story. WOO HOO!
Disclaimer: All I want for Christmas is the Goblin King, the Goblin
King, the Goblin King! All I want for Christmas is the
Goblin King, cause he's a total babe!
I don't own Labyrinth. But that song was lots more fun to write than a boring old Disclaimer.
Between Dreams and Reality
By Lyra Mastuoka
Chapter 5: The View From The Glass
Rated PG-13
Jareth and Sarah stared at the door for a few moments. Sarah was too horrified to speak, and Jareth looked like he was two seconds from blowing the entire Labyrinth into the next century. With a snarl and an impatient twist of his hand, Jareth conjured a crystal and spoke into it.
"Luster! I want a word," he snapped, his grip on the crystal tight enough to shatter the crystal. That it didn't break only reinforced that this was a very magical place, one in which Jareth made the rules. Sarah frowned, and then blinked. The mirror above her vanity was glowing with a soft blue light. Surprised, Sarah walked over to it, enchanted by the amazing color. She gazed into the mirror.
It seemed as though smoke were whirling just below the surface of the glass. Shapes formed; the Labyrinth, a goblin chasing a chicken, Hoggle...
"Hoggle!" Sarah gasped, stretching out a finger to touch her friend, and met the cool, smooth mirror surface. Jareth walked up behind her, but Sarah hardly noticed. The smoke was changing once again. This time is formed into a horse shape; a horse with a spiraling alicorn on it's forehead.
"Unicorn," Sarah breathed, watching the graceful creature. The unicorn shape bent, twisted and reformed into a human shape.
Luster's image smiled back from the mirror. Her silver hair hung loose, and her amazing blue eyes matched the glow surrounding the mirror.
"Hello, Jareth. Sarah. How are the two of you? Still alive, I see."
"Luster," Jareth muttered, his voice dangerously pleasant. "What do you think you are doing?"
"Can't imagine what you mean, darling. I'm overseeing the cleaning of the castle, organizing the city and in general performing your duties. You need not do anything but relax and enjoy yourself. It's time you had a vacation."
"Luster..." Jareth growled, but the silver haired beauty cut him off.
"As your best friend, I feel it my duty to inform you that it is high time you had a break. Everyone agrees, and what better way to spend your time off than really getting to know the young lady standing next to you?"
"Luster..."
"You needn't worry about a thing. I've even begun preparations for the Midsummer Night Ball that you agreed to host."
Sarah saw Jareth's frustration and realized that his tactics were getting them nowhere. Sarah resisted the urge to laugh at the expression on his face. In Sarah's experience, though it was admittedly limited, the Goblin King was not used to being out maneuvered. And Luster appeared to be something of an expert at it.
"If there's anything you need just call my name to the mirror, and tell it what you require. I'll see that it arrives. Have a good time you two. Play nice!"
With a trilling little laugh, Luster was gone. Sarah stared at the glass. Jareth's mouth twisted, and he turned to throw the crystal in his hand out the open window.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Sarah jumped. Luster had reappeared in the mirror, and had a flinty look in her eyes. Jareth rolled the crystal over his hand and held it up to one ear. Sarah watched him for a moment, and turned back to the now normal mirror, fascinated by the images she had seen.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"What are you playing at, Luster?" Jareth growled.
"Giving you the chance you wanted, oh mighty Goblin King. You wanted to get to know her. I give you that chance. You want her to see you as you are, not as her childish fantasy made you out to be. I'm handing said opportunity to you on the proverbial silver platter."
"I believe I could have done so without your interference."
"If it makes you feel better to think that, go right ahead. But you were two seconds from storming out of this room before I decided to change the rules of the game. This was your idea. Are you Fae enough to play it out?"
Jareth smiled at the gauntlet Luster had just thrown down. She was right, as unicorns had the annoying tendency to be.
"And you're very welcome, dear."
"I can't imagine what you are referring to."
"That little REVEAL I worked in with the binding."
With a trilling laugh, Luster's voice was gone. Jareth lowered the crystal and looked at it. An image appeared: Luster directing goblins with wash pails and mops. She turned slightly and snapped her fingers, looking straight at Jareth as she did so. The picture winked out.
Laughing slightly, Jareth banished the crystal and looked at Sarah. She was sitting at the vanity, enchanted by the pictures the mirror had shown.
"Does it work for other people?" Sarah inquired.
"What?" Jareth asked, his voice as cultured as ever.
"Does it work for others? Could I see other people in the mirror?"
"Yes, of course. Just tell the mirror who you want to see and they will appear."
Jareth walked discreetly to the other side of the room, examining each and every one of the doors. Sarah ignored him, looking at the mirror. He knew she wanted privacy, and he was determined to give as much of it as possible...at first. A gorgeous smile on his face, Jareth turned to lounge against the wall and watch Sarah discover the magic of the Labyrinth all over again.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sarah barely felt the touch of Jareth's eyes upon her. If she hadn't been so fascinated by the mirror, she would have found this odd and a little disconcerting. As it was, however, she was much more interested in finding out as much as she could about this mirror and how it worked.
"I'd like to see Hoggle, please."
A blue film slid quickly and brightly over the glass, and left a picture in its wake. Hoggle stood outside the gate, tending to his duties. His face held a tired sorrow she did not remember being a part of him. Sarah wanted to hug him, to tell him she was here...but that was impossible. Tears forming in her eyes, Sarah called another name.
"Ludo," she whispered. The mirror glazed and revealed Sir Didymis and Ludo standing together. A tear slipped down her cheek. She had forgotten her love for these three, the friendship she had never replaced.
"Sarah," Jareth whispered. Sarah's eyes focused on his, and she was surprised to see him standing so close to her. He placed a leather clad fingertip on the mirror surface.
"Reveal no more."
The mirror glowed brightly blue for a moment more and then dimmed to show an ordinary mirror. Sarah hurriedly wiped the tears from her eyes and cleared her throat.
"What is that?"
"Just a mirror. Nothing more. But if you speak to it in the right tone, it will show you all you wish to see."
"My dreams?" Sarah quipped, her old resentment rising to the surface for a moment. But far from being insulting, Jareth looked speculative.
"I'm not sure. I've never asked. You might try sometime, and let me know how it turns out."
Sarah stood and walked to the window.
"So now what?"
"We are trapped in this room until such time as that darling girl decides to release us. Which could be tomorrow or ten years from now. It all depends on what she feels we should accomplish while in this room, and how much of it we complete to her satisfaction."
Sarah stared at him. She was in a nut house. Of course, she wasn't sure why that surprised her so very much. This was, after all, the Labyrinth.
"This is insane. I want to go home!"
"I'm afraid that's impossible. More now than ever."
"Meaning?"
"Luster brought you here. That means that only Luster can take you back without any complications. Still, it might have been possible for me to send you back to your world without Luster's help."
"Why do I hear the inevitable 'but' on the end of that statement?"
Jareth continued as though she hadn't spoken, which annoyed Sarah more than she could say. Aware that he wasn't going to stop until it suited him to do so, Sarah made herself comfortable.
"Now, however, Luster has sealed us into this room. Unicorn magic flows from the environment they are in, as well as from the places they have traveled and the place of their birth and rearing. And Luster is something of a wanderer."
"So she can use all sorts of magic?"
"Something along those lines. It has more to do with the magic of the place itself, and how it works through a unicorn...few understand it and I've never bothered to try. Suffice it to say that Luster has spent many, many years gathering information, knowledge, and stories."
Sarah placed three fingers on the bridge of her nose.
"That's all fascinating. It really is. I suggest you write a book. What does this have to do with me?"
"Luster has made it impossible for us to leave. She has also prevented anyone else from coming in and magic from entering or leaving."
"And that means...what, exactly?"
"That we, my dear, are locked in. In every possible sense of the phrase."
Sarah dropped her head into her hands.
"First I'm kidnapped, then I'm locked in. This is shaping up to be a hostage situation. I think I'll sue."
"If it makes you feel better to consider that option, feel free to do so. But that doesn't change the fact that we are locked in this room together."
"Okay, fine. So what now?"
"Now," Jareth began, "we talk."
"Talk?"
"You were expecting something else?"
"An escape attempt crossed my mind."
"That's what we are trying to accomplish. Luster is being subtle right now."
"Subtle? You call locking us in together subtle?"
"Of course. If she were being pointed, she'd put us somewhere far less comfortable, and with a lot less space."
Sarah sighed.
"Fine. I'm too tired to fight with you just now. So go ahead and talk."
"I believe a conversation would be preferable."
"Fine. What do you want to talk about, Your Majesty?"
Jareth grimaced.
"Let's start with that. Why is there such disdain in your voice when you say my name and title?"
"You stole my brother, put me through hell, and twisted my views of magic and the fantastic. It was cruel."
"You wished your brother away, forced yourself into my Labyrinth, complicated my life simply because you were resentful and bored. That wasn't cruel."
"I didn't know it was real!"
"No excuse."
They faced off for a moment, neither willing to admit that the other had something of a point. Finally Jareth sighed and walked over to the window, sinking into a chair. Without considering her action, Sarah moved over to sit on the window seat and look out over the Labyrinth. Questions that she had formed years ago came to the fore, and the beauty of Jareth's creation took her by surprise.
"It seems less threatening from here," she mentioned.
Jareth looked at her with an odd smile on his face. Sarah pretended to ignore it, certain that he was about to mock her. Quite the contrary, Jareth was stunned that she was showing interest in the instrument of her 13 hour ordeal.
"You are older. You see the Labyrinth differently, as everyone does. It is still dangerous, full of traps and dangerous situations, but if you tried to solve it once more, the Labyrinth would adjust to your expectations."
"Is that really how it works?"
"Not always. But you are different."
"Why is that?"
"Because you won, of course."
"What does winning have to do with the structure of the Labyrinth?"
"When someone attempts the Labyrinth for the first time, the Labyrinth behaves according to my will. But when someone wins, as you did, the winner gains control over the Labyrinth, as it applies to them."
"Meaning?"
"Walls might move for you, creatures might give you safe passage, and even point the way."
"Might?"
"No one has ever successfully completed the Labyrinth before you. And you never returned to attempt it again."
"Oh."
"But in theory, you could bend the Labyrinth to your will. Of course, it would be for you alone."
"I couldn't take others with me."
"No. For an easy time of it, they must complete the Labyrinth themselves. According to my rules."
They lapsed into silence again, Sarah looking out the window, and Jareth looking at her, a slight smile on his perfect face. The minutes passed in a silence that was becoming more and more comfortable. Finally Sarah stood and walked to the bathroom, shutting the door. Jareth smiled, seeing that she felt she owed him no explanation as to where she was going or what she was going to do while there. He had a fairly good idea though, and conjured a crystal.
"Luster, is the bath water still warm?"
"Naturally," came the slightly sarcastic reply.
"Excellent. Be a dear, and make those awful clothes vanish when she takes them off."
"Three steps ahead of you dear. A dress with accessories is already laid out for her, and the clothes will be gone in 3...2...1..."
Luster's voice faded. Jareth stood and walked to the window, idly rolling a crystal around his fingers and arms as he waited for Sarah to reappear.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Luster lounged on Jareth's throne, gazing into the crystal that was floating in front of her face. It seemed to have begun fairly well. Sarah was curious about the Labyrinth, and who better to question than Jareth himself? Soon the conversation would turn to Sarah, and when they actually began talking, they might see just how much they truly had in common.
Luster shook her head and hummed a few bars of her favorite song. The power in that song made her shudder. These two were going to be a trial, and there wasn't much time left. Soon, the future would depend on the couple locked in a bedchamber together.
Luster shook her head, and glanced out the large throne room windows in apprehension. She reached for the parchment sitting at her elbow and read the guest list again. Everyone invited was attending, naturally, and that meant she would need to magically enhance the ballroom. Her eyes fell on the bottom of the list and narrowed, becoming hard sapphires. She handed the list to a goblin.
"Make certain we have rooms enough for all these people. If we do not, tell me so and I will create some temporarily."
With a spray of silver glitter, Luster was gone. The goblin crabbed the list and walked off to perform the task, his eyes scanning the numbers. At the last name he paused and frowned.
'Attending: Her Royal Majesty, Queen Amalthea Cloudsculptor, Queen of Summerhaven. His Royal Highness, Prince Kemal Moutainwalker.'
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sarah relaxed in the soothing bathwater. It was the perfect temperature, and it never seemed to cool. Fabulous. With a smile, Sarah tipped her head upward. The ceiling was high, and covered with a mural. There were creatures she recognized, others she had only seen in her imagination. Ogres and trolls, faeries and elves; they were all dancing together, fighting together, against a common enemy. Darkness and evil were present only on the fringes of the painting, as if to show that the magic of the creatures shown had banished evil.
Now that she was alone, Sarah reflected on the events of the past hour. She had been transported to the Labyrinth, locked in a room with Jareth, and kissed by the Goblin King.
Sarah felt her lips begin to tingle and attempted to banished the feeling. It wouldn't fade, and Sarah frowned. She had enjoyed the kiss, naturally. She wasn't dead, and Jareth was a good kisser. All right, a great kisser. But that wasn't the issue. The issue was that she was not allowed to like him or enjoy his attention.
The images she had seen could easily be pushed aside, but the emotions that had come with it could not. Sarah closed her eyes and remembered the ballroom; the music, the dancing, how wonderful Jareth had looked. It had been the stuff of fairy tales, and Sarah had loved every minute of it. Jareth had given her that.
Sarah sighed and stood, reaching for her towel. She couldn't worry about this anymore. The pendant had not come off, but she hadn't really expected it to. Wrapping the fluffy towel around her, Sarah looked for her jeans and shirt, hoping they weren't too wrinkled.
But they were nowhere to be seen. Sarah scanned the floor, certain she had dropped them there, but no trace could be seen. Sarah snapped her eyes around the room and same a lovely silk gown of deep green curled over the back of a chair. She sighed again. She wasn't even going to be allowed her own clothing.
Resisting the urge to break things, Sarah donned the lovely creation. It was simple, with golden ribbon crisscrossing the long straight sleeves and bodice. It had a fairly low neckline, but nothing indecent, and it set the pendant off marvelously. Sarah reached for a brush and found her hair braided and laced with a green and gold ribbon. Shaking her head mildly at the service, her annoyance fading gradually, Sarah emerged from the bathroom.
Jareth stood where she had left him, looking over the Labyrinth. Sarah cleared her throat and Jareth turned quickly. His eyes scanned her form and Sarah felt the blood rushing to her face. His perusal did what few other men had managed.
"Sarah."
One word, and Sarah jerked her eyes up to his. Jareth had come nearer to her. Much nearer.
"You look lovely."
"Thank you."
"All grown up," Jareth said, and Sarah flushed again.
"What is that supposed to mean?" she snapped.
"I didn't feel comfortable doing this when you were merely fifteen. I was willing to wait. And I believe I have waited long enough."
Sarah coughed nervously.
"I thought we were supposed to talk."
"Somehow, I think this will be more effective."
Jareth slid his arms around her waist. Sarah couldn't believe this was happening. This was Jareth, the villain who had kidnapped her brother, forced her to run the Labyrinth and drugged her. Their pendants touched once again, and Sarah was drowning. She felt passion, heartbreak, and desperation...and under all these things was hope. She felt a hand at the back of her neck, urging her face closer to his, and she didn't resist. The two crescent moons began to glow softly as Jareth and Sarah grew closer together.
Blue and brown eyes looked into green, and Sarah took a deep breath. They were only inches apart. Questions ran through Sarah's mind, but she didn't think they were important right then. She smiled slightly, and Jareth closed the distance in an instant.
Sarah sighed gently and allowed her eyes to drift shut. The feel of Jareth's mouth on hers was intoxicating and wonderful. Desire poured through the pendants from Jareth into her and back again. It was a wonderful, never ending cycle. Sarah wrapped her arms around Jareth's neck as the moments passed, knowing now what Jareth had meant. She had turned away at 15. But she would not turn away now.
The moments passed, and neither of them noticed. If they had been aware of anything, they would have seen the mirror flare to life, bringing with it a picture of a very satisfied unicorn. A smirk on her face, Luster withdrew.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Well, there you are all you Laby fans! Chapter 5 in all its glory. I hope you enjoyed it! Pretty fluffy, I'll admit. But hey, sometimes fluff is needed. Gotta love pure fluff.
Review! It's good for the heart! Okay, my heart, but you get the picture...
Peace, Love and All That Jazz,
Lyra
So, here I sit on finals week, wishing that I didn't have to study. So I'm writing this instead! You all benefit from my procrastination!
Thanks to all who reviewed. You know I love you all. And to prove it, there will be a big old thank you section at the end of the story. WOO HOO!
Disclaimer: All I want for Christmas is the Goblin King, the Goblin
King, the Goblin King! All I want for Christmas is the
Goblin King, cause he's a total babe!
I don't own Labyrinth. But that song was lots more fun to write than a boring old Disclaimer.
Between Dreams and Reality
By Lyra Mastuoka
Chapter 5: The View From The Glass
Rated PG-13
Jareth and Sarah stared at the door for a few moments. Sarah was too horrified to speak, and Jareth looked like he was two seconds from blowing the entire Labyrinth into the next century. With a snarl and an impatient twist of his hand, Jareth conjured a crystal and spoke into it.
"Luster! I want a word," he snapped, his grip on the crystal tight enough to shatter the crystal. That it didn't break only reinforced that this was a very magical place, one in which Jareth made the rules. Sarah frowned, and then blinked. The mirror above her vanity was glowing with a soft blue light. Surprised, Sarah walked over to it, enchanted by the amazing color. She gazed into the mirror.
It seemed as though smoke were whirling just below the surface of the glass. Shapes formed; the Labyrinth, a goblin chasing a chicken, Hoggle...
"Hoggle!" Sarah gasped, stretching out a finger to touch her friend, and met the cool, smooth mirror surface. Jareth walked up behind her, but Sarah hardly noticed. The smoke was changing once again. This time is formed into a horse shape; a horse with a spiraling alicorn on it's forehead.
"Unicorn," Sarah breathed, watching the graceful creature. The unicorn shape bent, twisted and reformed into a human shape.
Luster's image smiled back from the mirror. Her silver hair hung loose, and her amazing blue eyes matched the glow surrounding the mirror.
"Hello, Jareth. Sarah. How are the two of you? Still alive, I see."
"Luster," Jareth muttered, his voice dangerously pleasant. "What do you think you are doing?"
"Can't imagine what you mean, darling. I'm overseeing the cleaning of the castle, organizing the city and in general performing your duties. You need not do anything but relax and enjoy yourself. It's time you had a vacation."
"Luster..." Jareth growled, but the silver haired beauty cut him off.
"As your best friend, I feel it my duty to inform you that it is high time you had a break. Everyone agrees, and what better way to spend your time off than really getting to know the young lady standing next to you?"
"Luster..."
"You needn't worry about a thing. I've even begun preparations for the Midsummer Night Ball that you agreed to host."
Sarah saw Jareth's frustration and realized that his tactics were getting them nowhere. Sarah resisted the urge to laugh at the expression on his face. In Sarah's experience, though it was admittedly limited, the Goblin King was not used to being out maneuvered. And Luster appeared to be something of an expert at it.
"If there's anything you need just call my name to the mirror, and tell it what you require. I'll see that it arrives. Have a good time you two. Play nice!"
With a trilling little laugh, Luster was gone. Sarah stared at the glass. Jareth's mouth twisted, and he turned to throw the crystal in his hand out the open window.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Sarah jumped. Luster had reappeared in the mirror, and had a flinty look in her eyes. Jareth rolled the crystal over his hand and held it up to one ear. Sarah watched him for a moment, and turned back to the now normal mirror, fascinated by the images she had seen.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"What are you playing at, Luster?" Jareth growled.
"Giving you the chance you wanted, oh mighty Goblin King. You wanted to get to know her. I give you that chance. You want her to see you as you are, not as her childish fantasy made you out to be. I'm handing said opportunity to you on the proverbial silver platter."
"I believe I could have done so without your interference."
"If it makes you feel better to think that, go right ahead. But you were two seconds from storming out of this room before I decided to change the rules of the game. This was your idea. Are you Fae enough to play it out?"
Jareth smiled at the gauntlet Luster had just thrown down. She was right, as unicorns had the annoying tendency to be.
"And you're very welcome, dear."
"I can't imagine what you are referring to."
"That little REVEAL I worked in with the binding."
With a trilling laugh, Luster's voice was gone. Jareth lowered the crystal and looked at it. An image appeared: Luster directing goblins with wash pails and mops. She turned slightly and snapped her fingers, looking straight at Jareth as she did so. The picture winked out.
Laughing slightly, Jareth banished the crystal and looked at Sarah. She was sitting at the vanity, enchanted by the pictures the mirror had shown.
"Does it work for other people?" Sarah inquired.
"What?" Jareth asked, his voice as cultured as ever.
"Does it work for others? Could I see other people in the mirror?"
"Yes, of course. Just tell the mirror who you want to see and they will appear."
Jareth walked discreetly to the other side of the room, examining each and every one of the doors. Sarah ignored him, looking at the mirror. He knew she wanted privacy, and he was determined to give as much of it as possible...at first. A gorgeous smile on his face, Jareth turned to lounge against the wall and watch Sarah discover the magic of the Labyrinth all over again.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sarah barely felt the touch of Jareth's eyes upon her. If she hadn't been so fascinated by the mirror, she would have found this odd and a little disconcerting. As it was, however, she was much more interested in finding out as much as she could about this mirror and how it worked.
"I'd like to see Hoggle, please."
A blue film slid quickly and brightly over the glass, and left a picture in its wake. Hoggle stood outside the gate, tending to his duties. His face held a tired sorrow she did not remember being a part of him. Sarah wanted to hug him, to tell him she was here...but that was impossible. Tears forming in her eyes, Sarah called another name.
"Ludo," she whispered. The mirror glazed and revealed Sir Didymis and Ludo standing together. A tear slipped down her cheek. She had forgotten her love for these three, the friendship she had never replaced.
"Sarah," Jareth whispered. Sarah's eyes focused on his, and she was surprised to see him standing so close to her. He placed a leather clad fingertip on the mirror surface.
"Reveal no more."
The mirror glowed brightly blue for a moment more and then dimmed to show an ordinary mirror. Sarah hurriedly wiped the tears from her eyes and cleared her throat.
"What is that?"
"Just a mirror. Nothing more. But if you speak to it in the right tone, it will show you all you wish to see."
"My dreams?" Sarah quipped, her old resentment rising to the surface for a moment. But far from being insulting, Jareth looked speculative.
"I'm not sure. I've never asked. You might try sometime, and let me know how it turns out."
Sarah stood and walked to the window.
"So now what?"
"We are trapped in this room until such time as that darling girl decides to release us. Which could be tomorrow or ten years from now. It all depends on what she feels we should accomplish while in this room, and how much of it we complete to her satisfaction."
Sarah stared at him. She was in a nut house. Of course, she wasn't sure why that surprised her so very much. This was, after all, the Labyrinth.
"This is insane. I want to go home!"
"I'm afraid that's impossible. More now than ever."
"Meaning?"
"Luster brought you here. That means that only Luster can take you back without any complications. Still, it might have been possible for me to send you back to your world without Luster's help."
"Why do I hear the inevitable 'but' on the end of that statement?"
Jareth continued as though she hadn't spoken, which annoyed Sarah more than she could say. Aware that he wasn't going to stop until it suited him to do so, Sarah made herself comfortable.
"Now, however, Luster has sealed us into this room. Unicorn magic flows from the environment they are in, as well as from the places they have traveled and the place of their birth and rearing. And Luster is something of a wanderer."
"So she can use all sorts of magic?"
"Something along those lines. It has more to do with the magic of the place itself, and how it works through a unicorn...few understand it and I've never bothered to try. Suffice it to say that Luster has spent many, many years gathering information, knowledge, and stories."
Sarah placed three fingers on the bridge of her nose.
"That's all fascinating. It really is. I suggest you write a book. What does this have to do with me?"
"Luster has made it impossible for us to leave. She has also prevented anyone else from coming in and magic from entering or leaving."
"And that means...what, exactly?"
"That we, my dear, are locked in. In every possible sense of the phrase."
Sarah dropped her head into her hands.
"First I'm kidnapped, then I'm locked in. This is shaping up to be a hostage situation. I think I'll sue."
"If it makes you feel better to consider that option, feel free to do so. But that doesn't change the fact that we are locked in this room together."
"Okay, fine. So what now?"
"Now," Jareth began, "we talk."
"Talk?"
"You were expecting something else?"
"An escape attempt crossed my mind."
"That's what we are trying to accomplish. Luster is being subtle right now."
"Subtle? You call locking us in together subtle?"
"Of course. If she were being pointed, she'd put us somewhere far less comfortable, and with a lot less space."
Sarah sighed.
"Fine. I'm too tired to fight with you just now. So go ahead and talk."
"I believe a conversation would be preferable."
"Fine. What do you want to talk about, Your Majesty?"
Jareth grimaced.
"Let's start with that. Why is there such disdain in your voice when you say my name and title?"
"You stole my brother, put me through hell, and twisted my views of magic and the fantastic. It was cruel."
"You wished your brother away, forced yourself into my Labyrinth, complicated my life simply because you were resentful and bored. That wasn't cruel."
"I didn't know it was real!"
"No excuse."
They faced off for a moment, neither willing to admit that the other had something of a point. Finally Jareth sighed and walked over to the window, sinking into a chair. Without considering her action, Sarah moved over to sit on the window seat and look out over the Labyrinth. Questions that she had formed years ago came to the fore, and the beauty of Jareth's creation took her by surprise.
"It seems less threatening from here," she mentioned.
Jareth looked at her with an odd smile on his face. Sarah pretended to ignore it, certain that he was about to mock her. Quite the contrary, Jareth was stunned that she was showing interest in the instrument of her 13 hour ordeal.
"You are older. You see the Labyrinth differently, as everyone does. It is still dangerous, full of traps and dangerous situations, but if you tried to solve it once more, the Labyrinth would adjust to your expectations."
"Is that really how it works?"
"Not always. But you are different."
"Why is that?"
"Because you won, of course."
"What does winning have to do with the structure of the Labyrinth?"
"When someone attempts the Labyrinth for the first time, the Labyrinth behaves according to my will. But when someone wins, as you did, the winner gains control over the Labyrinth, as it applies to them."
"Meaning?"
"Walls might move for you, creatures might give you safe passage, and even point the way."
"Might?"
"No one has ever successfully completed the Labyrinth before you. And you never returned to attempt it again."
"Oh."
"But in theory, you could bend the Labyrinth to your will. Of course, it would be for you alone."
"I couldn't take others with me."
"No. For an easy time of it, they must complete the Labyrinth themselves. According to my rules."
They lapsed into silence again, Sarah looking out the window, and Jareth looking at her, a slight smile on his perfect face. The minutes passed in a silence that was becoming more and more comfortable. Finally Sarah stood and walked to the bathroom, shutting the door. Jareth smiled, seeing that she felt she owed him no explanation as to where she was going or what she was going to do while there. He had a fairly good idea though, and conjured a crystal.
"Luster, is the bath water still warm?"
"Naturally," came the slightly sarcastic reply.
"Excellent. Be a dear, and make those awful clothes vanish when she takes them off."
"Three steps ahead of you dear. A dress with accessories is already laid out for her, and the clothes will be gone in 3...2...1..."
Luster's voice faded. Jareth stood and walked to the window, idly rolling a crystal around his fingers and arms as he waited for Sarah to reappear.
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Luster lounged on Jareth's throne, gazing into the crystal that was floating in front of her face. It seemed to have begun fairly well. Sarah was curious about the Labyrinth, and who better to question than Jareth himself? Soon the conversation would turn to Sarah, and when they actually began talking, they might see just how much they truly had in common.
Luster shook her head and hummed a few bars of her favorite song. The power in that song made her shudder. These two were going to be a trial, and there wasn't much time left. Soon, the future would depend on the couple locked in a bedchamber together.
Luster shook her head, and glanced out the large throne room windows in apprehension. She reached for the parchment sitting at her elbow and read the guest list again. Everyone invited was attending, naturally, and that meant she would need to magically enhance the ballroom. Her eyes fell on the bottom of the list and narrowed, becoming hard sapphires. She handed the list to a goblin.
"Make certain we have rooms enough for all these people. If we do not, tell me so and I will create some temporarily."
With a spray of silver glitter, Luster was gone. The goblin crabbed the list and walked off to perform the task, his eyes scanning the numbers. At the last name he paused and frowned.
'Attending: Her Royal Majesty, Queen Amalthea Cloudsculptor, Queen of Summerhaven. His Royal Highness, Prince Kemal Moutainwalker.'
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sarah relaxed in the soothing bathwater. It was the perfect temperature, and it never seemed to cool. Fabulous. With a smile, Sarah tipped her head upward. The ceiling was high, and covered with a mural. There were creatures she recognized, others she had only seen in her imagination. Ogres and trolls, faeries and elves; they were all dancing together, fighting together, against a common enemy. Darkness and evil were present only on the fringes of the painting, as if to show that the magic of the creatures shown had banished evil.
Now that she was alone, Sarah reflected on the events of the past hour. She had been transported to the Labyrinth, locked in a room with Jareth, and kissed by the Goblin King.
Sarah felt her lips begin to tingle and attempted to banished the feeling. It wouldn't fade, and Sarah frowned. She had enjoyed the kiss, naturally. She wasn't dead, and Jareth was a good kisser. All right, a great kisser. But that wasn't the issue. The issue was that she was not allowed to like him or enjoy his attention.
The images she had seen could easily be pushed aside, but the emotions that had come with it could not. Sarah closed her eyes and remembered the ballroom; the music, the dancing, how wonderful Jareth had looked. It had been the stuff of fairy tales, and Sarah had loved every minute of it. Jareth had given her that.
Sarah sighed and stood, reaching for her towel. She couldn't worry about this anymore. The pendant had not come off, but she hadn't really expected it to. Wrapping the fluffy towel around her, Sarah looked for her jeans and shirt, hoping they weren't too wrinkled.
But they were nowhere to be seen. Sarah scanned the floor, certain she had dropped them there, but no trace could be seen. Sarah snapped her eyes around the room and same a lovely silk gown of deep green curled over the back of a chair. She sighed again. She wasn't even going to be allowed her own clothing.
Resisting the urge to break things, Sarah donned the lovely creation. It was simple, with golden ribbon crisscrossing the long straight sleeves and bodice. It had a fairly low neckline, but nothing indecent, and it set the pendant off marvelously. Sarah reached for a brush and found her hair braided and laced with a green and gold ribbon. Shaking her head mildly at the service, her annoyance fading gradually, Sarah emerged from the bathroom.
Jareth stood where she had left him, looking over the Labyrinth. Sarah cleared her throat and Jareth turned quickly. His eyes scanned her form and Sarah felt the blood rushing to her face. His perusal did what few other men had managed.
"Sarah."
One word, and Sarah jerked her eyes up to his. Jareth had come nearer to her. Much nearer.
"You look lovely."
"Thank you."
"All grown up," Jareth said, and Sarah flushed again.
"What is that supposed to mean?" she snapped.
"I didn't feel comfortable doing this when you were merely fifteen. I was willing to wait. And I believe I have waited long enough."
Sarah coughed nervously.
"I thought we were supposed to talk."
"Somehow, I think this will be more effective."
Jareth slid his arms around her waist. Sarah couldn't believe this was happening. This was Jareth, the villain who had kidnapped her brother, forced her to run the Labyrinth and drugged her. Their pendants touched once again, and Sarah was drowning. She felt passion, heartbreak, and desperation...and under all these things was hope. She felt a hand at the back of her neck, urging her face closer to his, and she didn't resist. The two crescent moons began to glow softly as Jareth and Sarah grew closer together.
Blue and brown eyes looked into green, and Sarah took a deep breath. They were only inches apart. Questions ran through Sarah's mind, but she didn't think they were important right then. She smiled slightly, and Jareth closed the distance in an instant.
Sarah sighed gently and allowed her eyes to drift shut. The feel of Jareth's mouth on hers was intoxicating and wonderful. Desire poured through the pendants from Jareth into her and back again. It was a wonderful, never ending cycle. Sarah wrapped her arms around Jareth's neck as the moments passed, knowing now what Jareth had meant. She had turned away at 15. But she would not turn away now.
The moments passed, and neither of them noticed. If they had been aware of anything, they would have seen the mirror flare to life, bringing with it a picture of a very satisfied unicorn. A smirk on her face, Luster withdrew.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Well, there you are all you Laby fans! Chapter 5 in all its glory. I hope you enjoyed it! Pretty fluffy, I'll admit. But hey, sometimes fluff is needed. Gotta love pure fluff.
Review! It's good for the heart! Okay, my heart, but you get the picture...
Peace, Love and All That Jazz,
Lyra