Hi all, and welcome to another update (long in coming, I know. Damn you college! Damn you and your miserable demands on my time!) of this Laby fic. Very sad news...something horrible happened to my Labyrinth DVD! And now I have no Laby love. More fan fiction for me, I suppose.
To Alkalphiel, a fabulous friend. May we always eat chocolate and never gain an ounce. And to wintercreek, the best beta in the whole world.
READ THE FOLLOWING!!!!
And now for the fabulous and fantastic warning. Currently, this fic's rating is PG-13, but I am considering upping it to R. Why, you may ask. Well, due to the vast number of young ones running around the net, I am concerned about the turn that this fic has taken. Right now, it is **PG-15** Sadly, this is not an option afforded me by ff.net. Thus, I include a warning. So that no one can say I didn't. So I have spoken and so it shall be.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of any interest or value. Honest.
Between Dreams and Reality
By Lyra Matsuoka
Rated PG-13
Chapter 9 : The Thrones of Fire and Light
Sarah was wandering down the hallways, nodding politely to magical beings that passed as she walked to her room, when a hand snaked out of an alcove and yanked her into the shadows. Sarah let out a muffled shriek.
"Sarah, it's me."
Sarah tried to calm her racing heart and summon furious indignation at the same time.
"Luster! You scared the hell out of me."
"I apologize. But I had to know what Jareth told Kemal."
"Jareth told him that you might be in the gardens."
"Excellent. A place to avoid at all costs. Thank you," and with that said, Luster turned to go. Sarah reached out and tapped her on the shoulder before she had the chance to pull an amazing vanishing act.
"If you don't mind my asking, why are you avoiding Kemal? Granted, he seems a little arrogant but I doubt he'd try to hurt you while your on Jareth's territory."
"It isn't Kemal I'm worried about," Luster said, folding her arms across her chest. "It's me."
"You're worried about you," Sarah said, unimpressed. "Like, afraid that you might rip his head off, or afraid that you might throw him on the ground and have your way with his body?"
"At this point, I wouldn't rule anything out."
Sarah blinked. And blinked again. "Sorry. I don't quite understand what you're saying."
"No, you wouldn't." Luster sighed, running a hand through her hair. "And I'm sure that Jareth refused to fill you in on the grounds that it's my story and he has no right to tell it. Admirable, but misguided. You'll find out soon enough, and I'd rather you heard it from Jareth or me. Sadly, I have to make my getaway in a rather undignified hurry. So ask Jareth to tell you about the Thrones of Fire and Light. I'll let him know that I approve."
And just like that, Luster was gone. Sarah rolled her eyes and continued down the hall. Didn't anyone do things normally around here?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After her brief discussion with Sarah, Luster retreated to the only place she was certain she would not be bothered. The Bog of Eternal Stench was not the ideal place to think, as the smell tended to drive all other thoughts from ones mind, but a brief spell enclosed her within a sphere of fresh air and she was reasonably certain that no one would trail her here.
It was not, after all, an ideal spot.
Luster watched the burbling and spitting of the Bog for a while without thinking of anything in particular. She was delighted that Jareth and Sarah were on their way to an interesting and passionate relationship. Her friend was so happy now that his love was in residence that Luster couldn't help but smile just thinking of them. There was her proof, if she ever needed any, that true love did and could exist.
Luster picked up a pebble and tossed it from hand to hand. There were many things to be decided, and Kemal's unexpected presence had forced her to realize that they weren't going to go away simply because she ignored them. Kemal was here, and just wishing wouldn't change the facts. He wasn't going anywhere, and she knew why. Their brief encounters were taking their toll on her. The incident in the courtyard and in the hallway had caused a long dormant part of her consciousness to awaken and begin to work its magic upon her. She was nervous, walking on pins and needles. This newly awake part of her mind was a power she was helpless to control.
Through no fault of her own, Luster was drawn to the matching half of that power.
Taking a deep breath, Luster focused on calming her nerves. Kemal was not known for his subtlety. He had never been one to beat around the bush, so to speak, and now would be no different. Luster looked around her and laughed at herself...the lengths to which she had gone to be alone were simply astounding. Luster found the quiet and the utter lack of living things to be a wonderful break from the business of palace life. It was trying, playing hostess to a group of magical beings who whispered and pointed everywhere she went.
"The palace gossips are having a field day with our predicament. Can't blame them, really. It is quite the story."
Luster whirled around and groaned audibly. Kemal stood not three feet away, surrounded by his own sphere of clean air. At her groan he smirked broadly. The last person in the world she wanted to deal with, and here he was. His long hair, unbound for the occasion, fluttered in an invisible breeze and his stance was calm and relaxed. She envied him that.
"What are you doing here?" Luster asked, her tone tired. She stood, waiting for Kemal to make his reasons known.
"Is it so hard to believe that I was merely taking a walking tour of the Labyrinth? That I was curious about this land that has kept you away from Summerhaven for so many months?"
Luster tensed at the mention of Summerhaven. The taunting tone in his voice was reminding her of all that she had lost...and all that she could not regain without a terrible cost.
"Curious about the Labyrinth, Kemal? Or curious about Jareth?"
As a barb it hit the mark. Kemal stiffened and his dazzling face hardened into a mask of cold impartiality. Luster sighed and turned her back on him.
"Go away, your Highness. I have no desire to see or speak to anyone, most especially you."
"And that is the crux of the matter, isn't it my dear? You refuse to speak to me, to dance with me; indeed, you refuse to be in the same room with me. You seem to have no desire be within fifty miles of me."
"I've never known you to state the obvious, Kemal. It doesn't become you," Luster drawled, turning to face him. She rose to her feet with a boneless grace that drew Kemal's gaze from her face to her figure. The possessive stance of his body was disturbing, and Luster took an instinctive step back.
"So true, Princess. You don't know me. You don't know me at all."
"And that suits me just fine," Luster said, turning to go.
"But it doesn't suit me, Luster."
The sound of her name made Luster tense. With an effort born from years of practice, Luster forced her body and voice to relax. "You never were a sparkling conversationalist, Kemal. I have many duties to attend to. If you will excuse me?"
A deep chuckle rumbled across the open space between them and Luster rolled her eyes before walking in the opposite direction. The man was insufferable. But the sparkling tickle in her mind warned her that she had to get away from him. She couldn't stay here any longer than necessary.
It was the tingle of magic along her skin that first alerted Luster to the possibility that something was amiss. Sending out a short probe of her own magic, she was surprised to find that the bubble she had created had been coated from the outside with someone else's magic. Luster hummed a quick tune, trying to break through this new barrier. It held fast, and Luster cursed under her breath
"What are you playing at, Kemal?"
"Playing at? Luster, you and I both know that this is not play. This is something far more serious than play could ever be."
Luster stood her ground as Kemal walked toward her. His silver hair gleamed in the sunlight and the silver sigil on his forehead danced across her vision. She was drawn, un-willingly, back to the first time she had seen him. He had been so much like Jareth. Arrogant, powerful, stunningly handsome and flamboyant in his display of all his qualities; Luster remembered being overwhelmed by his presence. A touch on her bare arm brought her sharply back to reality. Kemal stood before her, one finger tracing a line down her limb. While she had been daydreaming, Kemal had joined their spells - and it didn't take much to ascertain that the spell was two-fold thick, and his spell formed the outer layer. She was neatly trapped.
"Luster, do you remember when we first met?"
His voice was low, silky, like chocolate. Luster shuddered and nodded, looking up into his face. His eyes were silver. She'd forgotten that.
"You came with your father to pay your respects on my grandmother's birthday."
"You were standing beside her. So tall, so proud," he brought a hand up as if to stroke her hair but pulled back. His eyes scanned her face. "So beautiful."
"Flattery, Kemal? I wouldn't have thought you were capable of it," Luster snapped, turning her back on him. She reached out a hand and shattered her barrier, gasping as her magic was absorbed into his, making his bubble of power all the stronger. She whirled around, blue eyes flashing in anger.
"Stop this! I am not amused."
"It is long past time that we talked, Luster. And if you will not facilitate the conversation willingly, then I must create the circumstances that will allow us to discuss our future."
"There is no 'our' about the future, Kemal Mountainwalker. You have what you wanted. I have left Summerhaven of my own volition and given up my claim to the Throne of Light. You have filled the vacancy I created, much to the satisfaction of your people. I asked for nothing in return, save that I be left in peace. And I insist that you and Queen Amalthea hold up your end of our bargain!"
"It was your bargain, Luster. Not Her Majesty's and certainly not mine. You laid down your terms and your concessions of your own free will, and the Queen accepted them in order to give you the space that you so obviously required. But the time for childish games has come to an end, Luster. You and I are both aware that only a matched couple chosen by the Gods can hold the Thrones of Fire and Light."
"That is a superstition, and you know it!"
"Do I? You would know better than I. You are already bound to the will of the Throne of Light, Luster. It was decided on the day that you were born and all the unicorns heard the song it sang. You, and only you, can sit upon the Throne of Light."
Luster closed her eyes, shaking her head slowly. Without meaning to she reached for the power that was always lurking in the back of her mind, the power of the Thrones. She heard the soft click of his boot heels as he approached her. From a great distance she heard Kemal speak again.
"From the dawn of Time two thrones have existed. One of purest opal," Kemal began.
"One of flawless diamond," Luster continued, despair creeping into her voice.
"They are the Thrones of Fire and Light, and they are a pillar of Summerhaven and a beacon to her people."
"Since the time before Time they have stood vacant, awaiting the two who would awaken their power. And when these two arrive," Luster choked on the words, a single tear sliding down her cheek. She heard Kemal's approach and felt his hands on her shoulders. She felt one arm steal around her waist and pull her back against Kemal's iron hard chest. His breath feathered along her cheek as his other hand trailed down her arm.
"When these two arrive...what?" he asked, nipping at her earlobe.
"You know," Luster whispered, her head falling back against his chest. The Throne of Light sang for joy in her mind and she felt a scorching heat where his body touched hers. She wanted to pull away, oh how she wanted it, but for some reason she couldn't force her body to move. A delicious languor spread through her limbs and she sagged in Kemal's embrace.
"Tell me," Kemal breathed, trailing kisses slowly down her exposed throat, supporting her body without effort.
"When these two arrive the power of the Thrones shall be awakened and made incarnate in their bodies and the magnificence of Summerhaven and the immortality of the unicorns shall be confirmed throughout the ages," Luster finished in a rush. She felt Kemal smile against her shoulder.
"Precisely."
Kemal's spare hand had traveled to hers and he brought her arm up to curl around his neck. Luster gasped softly as his hand trailed down the side of her body to rest in the curve of her hip.
"I feel it too. The Thrones are singing for us, for the two of us together, Luster. You and I are one. There is no fighting it. I was made for you, sweeting, and you are mine. Now and always, you are mine!"
Another tear slid from her eyes and Kemal turned her head to catch the tear with his tongue. Luster lifted her dazed eyes to Kemal's face and heard him growl low in his throat.
"How long has it been, Luster, since the two of us have stood together like this? Do you remember the last time? I do. I remember all too well. You and I, drawn to the Crystal Room in the middle of the night, the thrones ablaze with power and shining with magnificence meant just for us. Do you remember? Do you remember the power, and our mutual acceptance of that power? Do you remember how we yearned toward each other, drawn by a force that neither of us understood? It has been a long time since that night, Luster, but I remember clearly. And so do you."
Luster tried to wrench her eyes away from his, but it wasn't possible. It had been so long, too long, since she had stood in close proximity to another unicorn, to another of her race, and felt the ebb and flow of Summerhaven in his blood answer the magic that flowed in hers. And with Kemal there was more, so much more. She felt his large, strong hand moving in soothing circles across her stomach and closed her eyes. Through their close physical proximity came the Power of the Thrones. The Throne of Light sang for joy in her mind as it was connected to the Throne of Fire. Desperate for more, craving that connection beyond all others, Luster turned in Kemal's arms and raised her face to his, knowing that her eyes were empty of anything but power and longing as the power of the Throne of Light filled her body.
His response was instantaneous, and overwhelming. Kemal eased his lips over hers, his arms tightening around her. Each part of their bodies sang with contact as the power of the Thrones raced through the two of them.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Jareth, what are the thrones of Fire and Light?"
Jareth looked up from his meal and gazed across the table at Sarah. Her eyebrows rose questioningly as the pause stretched before them. Finally he nodded, reaching out a hand for hers. Lunch abandoned, the Goblin King looked across the table at his soul mate and sighed.
"Luster told me that you would ask. And she gave me permission to explain, though I do not feel entirely comfortable doing it."
"Because it is Luster's story."
"Indeed. However, since she has given permission, I will tell you what I know. For as long as anyone can remember, there have been two thrones in Summerhaven. They stand in the Crystal Room and they have stood empty for age upon age. Their power is legendary, and it is concealed beneath a gemstone veneer. The Throne of Fire is carved of purest opal, and contains the power to lead, to guard, to shelter and protect. The Throne of Light is made of flawless diamond, and it contains the power to heal, to restore, to guide, to revitalize and renew. But this power has never been unlocked. Legend says that there are two unicorns born into this era who will assume the power of the Thrones and revitalize the Underground."
"And Luster is one of these two."
"She is heir to the Throne of Light. And Prince Kemal, whom you met earlier, is..."
"Heir to the Throne of Fire. That explains his charming personality."
"You never said you found him charming," Jareth growled, standing up. Giggling, Sarah pushed her chair back and moved to put the table between them.
"Charming, good looking...what's not to like?" Sarah teased. Jareth lunged around the table and Sarah shot toward the window with a shriek. Realizing she had nowhere to go, Sarah turned to run in the other direction just as Jareth's arms closed around her waist and she was lifted off her feet.
"No fair!" she said, laughter glittering in her eyes.
"I know," Jareth said, laying her down on the window seat. "And neither is this."
Sarah looked down. "Did I always have a window seat?"
Jareth smiled briefly just before his mouth closed over hers and Sarah let her mind fall into the starburst of sensation that raced through her veins. His hair brushed her cheek and she tangled one of her hands in Jareth's hair.
A shriek brought them to their senses. Neither moved too quickly, but their eyes were drawn to the goblin woman who had interrupted their interlude. Strangely, the little goblin wasn't watching the two of them. Her eyes were fastened on something out the window. Sarah turned her eyes toward the view and her jaw dropped ever so slightly at the sight of a pillar of blinding silver rising to the left of the Labyrinth. Leaning out her window to get a better look, Sarah noticed that a great many people were watching the light.
"The Thrones of Fire and Light have been united," came the answer to her unformed question. Jareth was watching the pillar as well, his expression caught between regret and overwhelming joy.
"Is that what it means..." Sarah asked, but she was just as awestruck as the rest of the castle seemed to be. The light dwindled and shrank to a mere gleam on the horizon. Sarah made a small sound of disappointment in the instant before the spark exploded and silver covered the distance between the spark and the Goblin City. Gasps and screams were heard, but Sarah ignored them. The silver light washed over her and Jareth, and the feelings of love, peace, unity and completeness were overwhelming. Sarah turned in Jareth's arms and looked up at his face in wonder.
"It's...happy?"
"Yes, yes it is," Jareth murmured. "And so am I."
Sarah smiled as Jareth leaned down to brush his mouth against hers. His hands ran lightly up and down her sides. Sarah's other arm crept around his waist. The silver light grew fainter and fainter, fading away around them and leaving a song in the air that spoke of love and longing, leaving behind an echo few could understand.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The power rose within Luster, streaming into Kemal and remaining, circling through his body, stroking along the power that his own flesh held at bay. She whimpered at the feel of it and Kemal ran his fingers through her hair, urging her head from one side to another as his kisses became more urgent, more desperate. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, her fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer, closer, as close as they could get. Slowly, slowly, their urgency calmed and Kemal's hands became softer, more seductive as they roamed over her body. Luster tensed as one of his hands slid between their bodies. She pushed it out of the way, feeling his smile of triumph against her mouth.
She wanted to be angry, wanted to strike out at him...but it had been too long. Everything she had feared was coming true. Fifty years of running, of avoiding, of roaming the Underground and the Aboveground and here she was, back at the beginning. It was Kemal who broke the kiss, dropping his mouth to her shoulder, the line of her jaw, her collarbone...while she held him tightly against her.
"Open your mind to it, Luster. Accept it. The Throne of Light is yours, its power waits for you. Let it in, stop fighting. Stop running," Kemal said, looking her in the eye. One of his hands cupped her face and she leaned into the touch, closing her eyes as she reveled in it. The power of the Throne of Light consumed her, but Luster began forcing it down and away. Away from her conscious mind, away from this situation where it could do no more damage. The power fought, pushing back up until, with a choked cry, Luster fused her mouth to Kemal's once more. But even as they embraced, Luster forced the power down, down, down. Farther and farther away from her.
The Throne of Fire screamed a denial, and Kemal's grip on her tightened in response. The Throne of Light sang sadly to its mate as Luster pushed it away. And when the power subsided, Luster opened her eyes.
With a twist of her body and magic that was unexpected, Luster shattered Kemal's barrier and flung herself away from him.
"You are a slave to your Throne, Kemal. I will not be so controlled."
Kemal recovered, regaining his balance and his composure swiftly.
"The Thrones cry out for completion, Luster. Their powers were separated long, long ago and they desire to be as one. The Thrones know that when we join completion is at hand. That is why they sing and flow through us."
"If you wish to revel in the Throne of Fire, Kemal, then do so. But do not seek me out again."
"Are you afraid of me? Or of yourself?" Kemal asked, smoothing his hair back into place. Luster blushed as he did so, and smoothed her dress quickly.
"Stay away from me, Your Highness." And Luster was gone.
Kemal stayed quite still for some time, calming the power that crawled through his body seeking its mate. As he did so, his eyes turned toward the castle with a speculative gleam.
"She brought the mortal here."
To Alkalphiel, a fabulous friend. May we always eat chocolate and never gain an ounce. And to wintercreek, the best beta in the whole world.
READ THE FOLLOWING!!!!
And now for the fabulous and fantastic warning. Currently, this fic's rating is PG-13, but I am considering upping it to R. Why, you may ask. Well, due to the vast number of young ones running around the net, I am concerned about the turn that this fic has taken. Right now, it is **PG-15** Sadly, this is not an option afforded me by ff.net. Thus, I include a warning. So that no one can say I didn't. So I have spoken and so it shall be.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of any interest or value. Honest.
Between Dreams and Reality
By Lyra Matsuoka
Rated PG-13
Chapter 9 : The Thrones of Fire and Light
Sarah was wandering down the hallways, nodding politely to magical beings that passed as she walked to her room, when a hand snaked out of an alcove and yanked her into the shadows. Sarah let out a muffled shriek.
"Sarah, it's me."
Sarah tried to calm her racing heart and summon furious indignation at the same time.
"Luster! You scared the hell out of me."
"I apologize. But I had to know what Jareth told Kemal."
"Jareth told him that you might be in the gardens."
"Excellent. A place to avoid at all costs. Thank you," and with that said, Luster turned to go. Sarah reached out and tapped her on the shoulder before she had the chance to pull an amazing vanishing act.
"If you don't mind my asking, why are you avoiding Kemal? Granted, he seems a little arrogant but I doubt he'd try to hurt you while your on Jareth's territory."
"It isn't Kemal I'm worried about," Luster said, folding her arms across her chest. "It's me."
"You're worried about you," Sarah said, unimpressed. "Like, afraid that you might rip his head off, or afraid that you might throw him on the ground and have your way with his body?"
"At this point, I wouldn't rule anything out."
Sarah blinked. And blinked again. "Sorry. I don't quite understand what you're saying."
"No, you wouldn't." Luster sighed, running a hand through her hair. "And I'm sure that Jareth refused to fill you in on the grounds that it's my story and he has no right to tell it. Admirable, but misguided. You'll find out soon enough, and I'd rather you heard it from Jareth or me. Sadly, I have to make my getaway in a rather undignified hurry. So ask Jareth to tell you about the Thrones of Fire and Light. I'll let him know that I approve."
And just like that, Luster was gone. Sarah rolled her eyes and continued down the hall. Didn't anyone do things normally around here?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After her brief discussion with Sarah, Luster retreated to the only place she was certain she would not be bothered. The Bog of Eternal Stench was not the ideal place to think, as the smell tended to drive all other thoughts from ones mind, but a brief spell enclosed her within a sphere of fresh air and she was reasonably certain that no one would trail her here.
It was not, after all, an ideal spot.
Luster watched the burbling and spitting of the Bog for a while without thinking of anything in particular. She was delighted that Jareth and Sarah were on their way to an interesting and passionate relationship. Her friend was so happy now that his love was in residence that Luster couldn't help but smile just thinking of them. There was her proof, if she ever needed any, that true love did and could exist.
Luster picked up a pebble and tossed it from hand to hand. There were many things to be decided, and Kemal's unexpected presence had forced her to realize that they weren't going to go away simply because she ignored them. Kemal was here, and just wishing wouldn't change the facts. He wasn't going anywhere, and she knew why. Their brief encounters were taking their toll on her. The incident in the courtyard and in the hallway had caused a long dormant part of her consciousness to awaken and begin to work its magic upon her. She was nervous, walking on pins and needles. This newly awake part of her mind was a power she was helpless to control.
Through no fault of her own, Luster was drawn to the matching half of that power.
Taking a deep breath, Luster focused on calming her nerves. Kemal was not known for his subtlety. He had never been one to beat around the bush, so to speak, and now would be no different. Luster looked around her and laughed at herself...the lengths to which she had gone to be alone were simply astounding. Luster found the quiet and the utter lack of living things to be a wonderful break from the business of palace life. It was trying, playing hostess to a group of magical beings who whispered and pointed everywhere she went.
"The palace gossips are having a field day with our predicament. Can't blame them, really. It is quite the story."
Luster whirled around and groaned audibly. Kemal stood not three feet away, surrounded by his own sphere of clean air. At her groan he smirked broadly. The last person in the world she wanted to deal with, and here he was. His long hair, unbound for the occasion, fluttered in an invisible breeze and his stance was calm and relaxed. She envied him that.
"What are you doing here?" Luster asked, her tone tired. She stood, waiting for Kemal to make his reasons known.
"Is it so hard to believe that I was merely taking a walking tour of the Labyrinth? That I was curious about this land that has kept you away from Summerhaven for so many months?"
Luster tensed at the mention of Summerhaven. The taunting tone in his voice was reminding her of all that she had lost...and all that she could not regain without a terrible cost.
"Curious about the Labyrinth, Kemal? Or curious about Jareth?"
As a barb it hit the mark. Kemal stiffened and his dazzling face hardened into a mask of cold impartiality. Luster sighed and turned her back on him.
"Go away, your Highness. I have no desire to see or speak to anyone, most especially you."
"And that is the crux of the matter, isn't it my dear? You refuse to speak to me, to dance with me; indeed, you refuse to be in the same room with me. You seem to have no desire be within fifty miles of me."
"I've never known you to state the obvious, Kemal. It doesn't become you," Luster drawled, turning to face him. She rose to her feet with a boneless grace that drew Kemal's gaze from her face to her figure. The possessive stance of his body was disturbing, and Luster took an instinctive step back.
"So true, Princess. You don't know me. You don't know me at all."
"And that suits me just fine," Luster said, turning to go.
"But it doesn't suit me, Luster."
The sound of her name made Luster tense. With an effort born from years of practice, Luster forced her body and voice to relax. "You never were a sparkling conversationalist, Kemal. I have many duties to attend to. If you will excuse me?"
A deep chuckle rumbled across the open space between them and Luster rolled her eyes before walking in the opposite direction. The man was insufferable. But the sparkling tickle in her mind warned her that she had to get away from him. She couldn't stay here any longer than necessary.
It was the tingle of magic along her skin that first alerted Luster to the possibility that something was amiss. Sending out a short probe of her own magic, she was surprised to find that the bubble she had created had been coated from the outside with someone else's magic. Luster hummed a quick tune, trying to break through this new barrier. It held fast, and Luster cursed under her breath
"What are you playing at, Kemal?"
"Playing at? Luster, you and I both know that this is not play. This is something far more serious than play could ever be."
Luster stood her ground as Kemal walked toward her. His silver hair gleamed in the sunlight and the silver sigil on his forehead danced across her vision. She was drawn, un-willingly, back to the first time she had seen him. He had been so much like Jareth. Arrogant, powerful, stunningly handsome and flamboyant in his display of all his qualities; Luster remembered being overwhelmed by his presence. A touch on her bare arm brought her sharply back to reality. Kemal stood before her, one finger tracing a line down her limb. While she had been daydreaming, Kemal had joined their spells - and it didn't take much to ascertain that the spell was two-fold thick, and his spell formed the outer layer. She was neatly trapped.
"Luster, do you remember when we first met?"
His voice was low, silky, like chocolate. Luster shuddered and nodded, looking up into his face. His eyes were silver. She'd forgotten that.
"You came with your father to pay your respects on my grandmother's birthday."
"You were standing beside her. So tall, so proud," he brought a hand up as if to stroke her hair but pulled back. His eyes scanned her face. "So beautiful."
"Flattery, Kemal? I wouldn't have thought you were capable of it," Luster snapped, turning her back on him. She reached out a hand and shattered her barrier, gasping as her magic was absorbed into his, making his bubble of power all the stronger. She whirled around, blue eyes flashing in anger.
"Stop this! I am not amused."
"It is long past time that we talked, Luster. And if you will not facilitate the conversation willingly, then I must create the circumstances that will allow us to discuss our future."
"There is no 'our' about the future, Kemal Mountainwalker. You have what you wanted. I have left Summerhaven of my own volition and given up my claim to the Throne of Light. You have filled the vacancy I created, much to the satisfaction of your people. I asked for nothing in return, save that I be left in peace. And I insist that you and Queen Amalthea hold up your end of our bargain!"
"It was your bargain, Luster. Not Her Majesty's and certainly not mine. You laid down your terms and your concessions of your own free will, and the Queen accepted them in order to give you the space that you so obviously required. But the time for childish games has come to an end, Luster. You and I are both aware that only a matched couple chosen by the Gods can hold the Thrones of Fire and Light."
"That is a superstition, and you know it!"
"Do I? You would know better than I. You are already bound to the will of the Throne of Light, Luster. It was decided on the day that you were born and all the unicorns heard the song it sang. You, and only you, can sit upon the Throne of Light."
Luster closed her eyes, shaking her head slowly. Without meaning to she reached for the power that was always lurking in the back of her mind, the power of the Thrones. She heard the soft click of his boot heels as he approached her. From a great distance she heard Kemal speak again.
"From the dawn of Time two thrones have existed. One of purest opal," Kemal began.
"One of flawless diamond," Luster continued, despair creeping into her voice.
"They are the Thrones of Fire and Light, and they are a pillar of Summerhaven and a beacon to her people."
"Since the time before Time they have stood vacant, awaiting the two who would awaken their power. And when these two arrive," Luster choked on the words, a single tear sliding down her cheek. She heard Kemal's approach and felt his hands on her shoulders. She felt one arm steal around her waist and pull her back against Kemal's iron hard chest. His breath feathered along her cheek as his other hand trailed down her arm.
"When these two arrive...what?" he asked, nipping at her earlobe.
"You know," Luster whispered, her head falling back against his chest. The Throne of Light sang for joy in her mind and she felt a scorching heat where his body touched hers. She wanted to pull away, oh how she wanted it, but for some reason she couldn't force her body to move. A delicious languor spread through her limbs and she sagged in Kemal's embrace.
"Tell me," Kemal breathed, trailing kisses slowly down her exposed throat, supporting her body without effort.
"When these two arrive the power of the Thrones shall be awakened and made incarnate in their bodies and the magnificence of Summerhaven and the immortality of the unicorns shall be confirmed throughout the ages," Luster finished in a rush. She felt Kemal smile against her shoulder.
"Precisely."
Kemal's spare hand had traveled to hers and he brought her arm up to curl around his neck. Luster gasped softly as his hand trailed down the side of her body to rest in the curve of her hip.
"I feel it too. The Thrones are singing for us, for the two of us together, Luster. You and I are one. There is no fighting it. I was made for you, sweeting, and you are mine. Now and always, you are mine!"
Another tear slid from her eyes and Kemal turned her head to catch the tear with his tongue. Luster lifted her dazed eyes to Kemal's face and heard him growl low in his throat.
"How long has it been, Luster, since the two of us have stood together like this? Do you remember the last time? I do. I remember all too well. You and I, drawn to the Crystal Room in the middle of the night, the thrones ablaze with power and shining with magnificence meant just for us. Do you remember? Do you remember the power, and our mutual acceptance of that power? Do you remember how we yearned toward each other, drawn by a force that neither of us understood? It has been a long time since that night, Luster, but I remember clearly. And so do you."
Luster tried to wrench her eyes away from his, but it wasn't possible. It had been so long, too long, since she had stood in close proximity to another unicorn, to another of her race, and felt the ebb and flow of Summerhaven in his blood answer the magic that flowed in hers. And with Kemal there was more, so much more. She felt his large, strong hand moving in soothing circles across her stomach and closed her eyes. Through their close physical proximity came the Power of the Thrones. The Throne of Light sang for joy in her mind as it was connected to the Throne of Fire. Desperate for more, craving that connection beyond all others, Luster turned in Kemal's arms and raised her face to his, knowing that her eyes were empty of anything but power and longing as the power of the Throne of Light filled her body.
His response was instantaneous, and overwhelming. Kemal eased his lips over hers, his arms tightening around her. Each part of their bodies sang with contact as the power of the Thrones raced through the two of them.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Jareth, what are the thrones of Fire and Light?"
Jareth looked up from his meal and gazed across the table at Sarah. Her eyebrows rose questioningly as the pause stretched before them. Finally he nodded, reaching out a hand for hers. Lunch abandoned, the Goblin King looked across the table at his soul mate and sighed.
"Luster told me that you would ask. And she gave me permission to explain, though I do not feel entirely comfortable doing it."
"Because it is Luster's story."
"Indeed. However, since she has given permission, I will tell you what I know. For as long as anyone can remember, there have been two thrones in Summerhaven. They stand in the Crystal Room and they have stood empty for age upon age. Their power is legendary, and it is concealed beneath a gemstone veneer. The Throne of Fire is carved of purest opal, and contains the power to lead, to guard, to shelter and protect. The Throne of Light is made of flawless diamond, and it contains the power to heal, to restore, to guide, to revitalize and renew. But this power has never been unlocked. Legend says that there are two unicorns born into this era who will assume the power of the Thrones and revitalize the Underground."
"And Luster is one of these two."
"She is heir to the Throne of Light. And Prince Kemal, whom you met earlier, is..."
"Heir to the Throne of Fire. That explains his charming personality."
"You never said you found him charming," Jareth growled, standing up. Giggling, Sarah pushed her chair back and moved to put the table between them.
"Charming, good looking...what's not to like?" Sarah teased. Jareth lunged around the table and Sarah shot toward the window with a shriek. Realizing she had nowhere to go, Sarah turned to run in the other direction just as Jareth's arms closed around her waist and she was lifted off her feet.
"No fair!" she said, laughter glittering in her eyes.
"I know," Jareth said, laying her down on the window seat. "And neither is this."
Sarah looked down. "Did I always have a window seat?"
Jareth smiled briefly just before his mouth closed over hers and Sarah let her mind fall into the starburst of sensation that raced through her veins. His hair brushed her cheek and she tangled one of her hands in Jareth's hair.
A shriek brought them to their senses. Neither moved too quickly, but their eyes were drawn to the goblin woman who had interrupted their interlude. Strangely, the little goblin wasn't watching the two of them. Her eyes were fastened on something out the window. Sarah turned her eyes toward the view and her jaw dropped ever so slightly at the sight of a pillar of blinding silver rising to the left of the Labyrinth. Leaning out her window to get a better look, Sarah noticed that a great many people were watching the light.
"The Thrones of Fire and Light have been united," came the answer to her unformed question. Jareth was watching the pillar as well, his expression caught between regret and overwhelming joy.
"Is that what it means..." Sarah asked, but she was just as awestruck as the rest of the castle seemed to be. The light dwindled and shrank to a mere gleam on the horizon. Sarah made a small sound of disappointment in the instant before the spark exploded and silver covered the distance between the spark and the Goblin City. Gasps and screams were heard, but Sarah ignored them. The silver light washed over her and Jareth, and the feelings of love, peace, unity and completeness were overwhelming. Sarah turned in Jareth's arms and looked up at his face in wonder.
"It's...happy?"
"Yes, yes it is," Jareth murmured. "And so am I."
Sarah smiled as Jareth leaned down to brush his mouth against hers. His hands ran lightly up and down her sides. Sarah's other arm crept around his waist. The silver light grew fainter and fainter, fading away around them and leaving a song in the air that spoke of love and longing, leaving behind an echo few could understand.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The power rose within Luster, streaming into Kemal and remaining, circling through his body, stroking along the power that his own flesh held at bay. She whimpered at the feel of it and Kemal ran his fingers through her hair, urging her head from one side to another as his kisses became more urgent, more desperate. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, her fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer, closer, as close as they could get. Slowly, slowly, their urgency calmed and Kemal's hands became softer, more seductive as they roamed over her body. Luster tensed as one of his hands slid between their bodies. She pushed it out of the way, feeling his smile of triumph against her mouth.
She wanted to be angry, wanted to strike out at him...but it had been too long. Everything she had feared was coming true. Fifty years of running, of avoiding, of roaming the Underground and the Aboveground and here she was, back at the beginning. It was Kemal who broke the kiss, dropping his mouth to her shoulder, the line of her jaw, her collarbone...while she held him tightly against her.
"Open your mind to it, Luster. Accept it. The Throne of Light is yours, its power waits for you. Let it in, stop fighting. Stop running," Kemal said, looking her in the eye. One of his hands cupped her face and she leaned into the touch, closing her eyes as she reveled in it. The power of the Throne of Light consumed her, but Luster began forcing it down and away. Away from her conscious mind, away from this situation where it could do no more damage. The power fought, pushing back up until, with a choked cry, Luster fused her mouth to Kemal's once more. But even as they embraced, Luster forced the power down, down, down. Farther and farther away from her.
The Throne of Fire screamed a denial, and Kemal's grip on her tightened in response. The Throne of Light sang sadly to its mate as Luster pushed it away. And when the power subsided, Luster opened her eyes.
With a twist of her body and magic that was unexpected, Luster shattered Kemal's barrier and flung herself away from him.
"You are a slave to your Throne, Kemal. I will not be so controlled."
Kemal recovered, regaining his balance and his composure swiftly.
"The Thrones cry out for completion, Luster. Their powers were separated long, long ago and they desire to be as one. The Thrones know that when we join completion is at hand. That is why they sing and flow through us."
"If you wish to revel in the Throne of Fire, Kemal, then do so. But do not seek me out again."
"Are you afraid of me? Or of yourself?" Kemal asked, smoothing his hair back into place. Luster blushed as he did so, and smoothed her dress quickly.
"Stay away from me, Your Highness." And Luster was gone.
Kemal stayed quite still for some time, calming the power that crawled through his body seeking its mate. As he did so, his eyes turned toward the castle with a speculative gleam.
"She brought the mortal here."