Title: Whispers of Magic
Author: Kathea
Pairing: Jareth/Sarah
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Time will tarnish your memory but some things will never go away even if they are only whispers.
AN: Set at least 10 years after the movie with a very grown up Sarah and a Jareth that hasn't changed one bit.
Disclaimer: This story was written for my entertainment, if by some miracle you were also entertained then I am honored. I obviously make no money from this artistic venture.
Reviews: Jhesy: Well I'm glad you were able to get into my story. Wicked Game: Thanks! Jumping-Jo: I'm not gonna tell you what his wish is, you'll find out in the end. Lyn: Here's more Lady of the Labyrinth: You're review cracked me up. It is a foolproof excuse, too bad you only get one use out of it. ItsACrystalNothingMore(Tez): There's no need to beat yourself up about it. Thanks for the congrats and constant support.
Chapter 7: Kept in the Dark
Where ever they were it was very dark and it smelled funny. It reminded Kevan of the back corner of the basement next to the hot water heater. Unlike the basement there was no light at the top of the stairs or toys to play with. Kara huddled, shivering next to him. He had known this was a bad idea. Kevan had been more than content to wait the two weeks for Sarah's return but Kara had bullied him into it. Now, they were in a strange place, in the dark, and danger certainly lurked in the shadows. Fortunately for Kara, her brother's softer side reigned supreme and he began to speak to dispel some of the fear.
"Sissy, are you okay?" he asked timidly.
"Yeah, Kev, I'm okay. Just kinda cold." She replied tiredly.
"Where do you think we are?"
"I dunno. Maybe we're just asleep."
"We're dreaming together?"
"Shut up Kev." Kara replied petulantly.
"What? This was your idea."
"Children, children, there's no need to argue." A softly accented voice chided from the darkness.
"Who's there? Where are you?" Kevan said bravely while gripping his sister's hand tightly.
"My dear boy, you know who I am, you called me by name after all." The voice laughed in the darkness.
"The Goblin King?" Kara whispered.
"What smart children you are but whatever shall I do with you? Hmmm? You are much too young to run the Labyrinth and the Bog of Eternal Stench is full to capacity right now. What do you two suggest?"
The twins were silently both searching in vain for the source of the voice.
"Ah ha!" the voice said suddenly. "I have it. I'll just turn you into goblins." The voice sounded pleased with its decision.
"No, that's not fair. Sarah said you didn't do that, you can't." Kara blurted out. Light suddenly blossomed around the children and looking up they found themselves at the feet of the Goblin King.
"Kara, Kara, I can do whatever I want. But perhaps we can make a deal."
"We want to see Sarah." The twins said simultaneously and Jareth had to try very hard not to laugh.
"What makes you think she is here?" The king asked in a dreadfully quiet voice.
"We know you took her." At the raised eyebrows Kara pushed on. "We just know."
"We can run the Labyrinth to win her back, we can!" Kevan interjected.
"You could try but Sarah would become vexed with me if I let you. Here is the deal, you must take it as you have no other choice. I will allow you to visit with Sarah for a little while but after that I will send you home and you must wait for her to return." Jareth finished, tapping one booted foot expectantly.
"We'll do it." Kara answered impulsively. Kevan looked sharply at his sister he knew they were in for it now.
"Well come along then." Jareth said waving a gloved hand at the wall where a door now clearly stood.
Sarah woke to a quiet, dimly lit room. Thankful to be alone, she gingerly sat up hoping that her body was going to cooperate. Memories flashed through her brain as she struggled to sit up. Meeting with the Labyrinth, flashes of light, the heat of the sun and finally a sudden surging pain in her abdomen reminded her of what had occurred. Finally propped up on fluffy pillows, Sarah ran a tentative hand across her stomach. Something had happened, something had changed that much she was sure of. Certainly the dull ache was different but instinctively Sarah knew that the Labyrinth had done something.
Knowing that Jareth would probably appear out of no where Sarah pulled the heavy comforter around her and settled in to wait. She didn't have to wait long for two polite taps on the door and the sound of excited giggling.
"Come in." Sarah called wondering who could be visiting her. Two blonde heads barreled through the door and raced towards the bed. Kevan pulled his sister to a stop before she could jump upon the bed. Jareth waited quietly in the door, watching the scene with carefully hidden jealously. Sarah's face was glowing with happiness. She was smiling at the two kids and holding out welcoming arms. Their headlong rush began again the twins jumped onto the high bed.
"What are you doing here?" Sarah asked in a deceptively light voice all the while watching Jareth with steely eyes.
"Miss Sarah, we missed you so much. We wanted to visit you and so we asked for the Goblin King to come get us and he did. Can you believe it?" Kara said from where she was snuggled against Sarah's side.
"Mmmhmm. Guys, you knew I would be gone for two weeks. We talked about this remember?" Sarah said softly.
"We know." Kevan said from her other side. "But we thought that something might be wrong and we thought…we wanted to make sure you were okay."
"I appreciate you guys checking on me but won't your parents be worried." Sarah asked hoping that the children would understand the gravity of their choice.
"Sarah, these two are very perceptive. Time is stopped aboveground so you needn't worry about that. I would like to know how they knew how to get here."
"Sarah told us a story the other day." Kara piped up. "And then we just knew she was here."
"Jareth, how would they know? How is that even possible?"
"Sarah, you've experienced the power of the Labyrinth. Who is to say that it wasn't somehow involved."
"Miss Sarah, are you okay?" Kevan asked in a worried voice. Sarah immediately turned her full attention to him. Jareth grimaced as Sarah's attention was turned away from him. It was like standing in the sun only to have a cloud pass over you.
"Of course, I was just resting. The king was nice enough to let me visit for a while." Sarah said with a surprisingly genuine smile on her face. There was no change to his face but inwardly his stomach lurched at the sight of Sarah smiling at him so radiantly with children in her arms. It was almost a scene stolen from his own dreams.
"I am always generous with you, Sarah." Jareth's cultured voice said in a silkily sweet tone.
"Indeed you are, your Majesty. Ok, my munchkins, the King and I need to have a little chat so why don't you go see what interesting things you can find in the hallway but stay together." The two bundles of energy slid off the bed and headed for the door, carefully skirting around the still imposing figure of the Goblin King.
Jareth shut the door behind him and moved with cat-like grace to lean against one of the bed posts. With his arms negligently crossed he watched Sarah with curious eyes.
"Exactly what do we need to chat about?" Jareth asked with a smirk.
"I need to go home." Sarah said simply.
"If you feel that is necessary." Jareth replied in an injured tone.
"Oh no, it's not that I want to leave." At Jareth arrogant smile Sarah realized her misstep. "That's not what I meant. I mean that aside from my fainting spell this hasn't been an entirely unpleasant experience." Sarah finished rolling her eyes at the king.
"So why are you leaving then?" Jareth asked.
"Because something's wrong with me."
"Are you okay?" Jareth asked instantly concerned and moved to sit on the bedside near her hip.
"I think so but I want to see my doctor. I think…I think something has changed…inside of me." Sarah's fingers twitched against the covers and Jareth captured them in his gloved grasp.
"I sincerely hope that nothing you have experience here has caused you any pain." Jareth said hoping Sarah would see the emotions he usually hid. Sarah squeezed the hand that was holding her, not quite knowing how to respond to this side of the Goblin King.
"I just want to make sure that everything is okay, that's all. And I need to get the kids back to their house." Sarah shook her head at the kid's antics. Sarah pushed the covers back and Jareth smoothly rose to help her from the bed. Thankfully her legs didn't buckle and Sarah stretched, much to the delight of the Goblin King, and paced the floor a bit. "So, can I go back?" Sarah asked tentatively as Jareth watched her.
"Of course, you were only visiting. I have no right to keep you here. I do have one condition on your release." Jareth said with an arched eyebrow.
"Oh really?" Sarah said propping her hands on her hips.
"Yes, really." Jareth replied advancing on her until his body came within inches of hers. "The condition is that you must have dinner with me, here, after you have visited your doctor. I want to know the outcome of your visit."
"Why should you need to know that?" Sarah asked archly.
"Because I am concerned for your wellbeing." Jareth replied equably but inside his mind was saying because I care about you.
"Far be it for me to turn down free dinner. I accept your invitation." Sarah said smiling up into the mismatched eyes of the king.
"In that case, I look forward to seeing you again." Jareth stepped back and suddenly Kevan and Kara were standing next to Sarah. She instinctively grabbed for their hands and smiled encouragingly at them. A crystal appeared on Jareth's palm and began to float towards the little group. Just at the crystal was about to pop against Sarah's chest, Jareth whispered in a voice only she could hear. "Remember, Sarah, should you ever need me…"
Then the bubble popped and Sarah and the kids were aboveground and Jareth was alone in his kingdom again. He stared about the room somewhat forlornly before transporting himself into the great maze that was his kingdom. This time an incandescent ball of light greeted him. He watched the formless entity carefully; a sinking feeling in his stomach telling him that the Labyrinth had once again meddled in his affairs.
Little does he know, the Labyrinth thought. I had very little to do with this.
AN2: Okay, so what do you think? I have once again outlined the story. Hopefully, I can write is more quickly than I wrote this chapter.