DISCLAIMER - I don't own Sarah or Jareth or the Labyrinth (unfortunately) they belong to Jim Henson & Co, and I'm definitely not making a profit from this. (Bummer) All other NPC's are a figment of my own imagination.
Chapter 19 – To Be A Queen
They left Jareth's study together and reappeared not in the glowing city, but in a small chamber just off the flowing spiral passageway that lead up to the High Kings throne room. Sarah clamped down on her fear and apprehension, not wanting to affect Jareth with her silly thoughts and blanked out her mind, thinking only of stillness and calm. He nodded at her as the guards opened the door from them and placed her lace-covered hand on his arm. Theo grinned at her as he took Lucia's hand and gave her a thumbs up sign. Sarah rolled her eyes at the plainly human sign and concentrated on keeping her thoughts blank.
"Isenith." Jareth said quietly as they made their way up the spiral passageway. The Darkling appeared next to them and continued walking speaking quietly to Jareth who nodded and frowned. As they reached the grand doors Isenith handed him a large roll of documents and disappeared.
"Don't worry, you probably won't need to say anything." Jareth said turning to Sarah who looked white beneath her tan. She nodded numbly and followed him into the room. The High King was sat again in his throne, but this time there were many more people in the throne room. Stood to either side of the High King stood 3 masked and robed figures all in white. They were tall, almost impossibly tall, and as Sarah watched they seemed to float, their robes moving as though caught in a soft breeze. She thought the question silently in her head, wondering if Jareth would answer her as he occasionally did.
"You don't have to shout. They are the Seelie Court, the true Seelie Court, most people just call them the watchers."
"There you are Jareth, late as usual. Let us begin this hearing then we can get on with getting drunk." The High King said waving his hand in their direction. The Seelie Court fluttered a little in agitation at his words but settled quickly. Sarah hid a snigger.
"Your Majesty." Jareth said bowing, and nodding slightly as Sarah curtseyed next to him. The High King grinned and moved in his chair.
"Why do you always hide your sister Jareth, she's much prettier than you, Lucia is that young cub still clinging to your skirts?" He asked as Lucia came forward and curtseyed.
"Unfortunately Your Majesty, I fear he is much too clever for his own good, and any self respecting woman would rather die a maid than have to put up with him as a husband." She said smiling fondly at Theo.
"Good man Theo! Never let them tie you down!" The High King laughed. Theo smirked at his mother before leading her to some chairs on one side of the room.
"Do you still like my city, Sarah?" Sarah blushed again and tore her eyes away from the glowing lights in the sky much like the Northern lights she had seen with her father as a child.
"Yes Your Majesty, I was just wondering though, do you only ever hold court at night?" She asked ignoring Jareth's unspoken reprimand in her head.
"Why child, it is always night in this city. It means that we never have to stop dancing and getting drunk and doing naughty things. It keeps us occupied and out of trouble, well, too much trouble." He laughed again. The tallest of the Seelie Court bent slightly and muttered something in the High Kings direction.
"Yes, yes, I was just getting to that bit." He sighed, waving the hooded figure away. "Come Jareth, release her and let's be done with it. We've already seen all the documents and your testimony. Sometimes I wish we could lie. Everything would be much more exciting." Jareth rolled his eyes and turned to face Sarah, who looked up into his eyes and saw the hidden sadness.
He muttered something in a completely different, ancient language than Fae, and as he completed the working, he removed a glove and touched her cheek with his hand. Sarah gasped and clutched at her head. It was as though she had just been thrown into a swimming pool full of ice. Her heart stopped beating, and her lungs refused to take in oxygen as her mind was suddenly empty, completely and utterly empty, she was alone, so alone that her fear rose up from the darkness and threatened to drown her. She searched blindly for the beacon of power and strength that was Jareth in her mind and felt nothing, she couldn't even cry, or scream.
"Sarah." Jareth said picking her up off the floor. She opened her eyes and stared at him, wanting desperately for him to touch her again, to make her belong to him. He shook his head slightly and turned back to face the High King and the Seelie Court. She concentrated on trying to understand what they were talking about and almost backed away from the tall robed creature that suddenly came towards her.
"Take your glove off and hold out your hand." Jareth whispered to her, holding her in place. The white robed creature floated in front of her and waited whilst she numbly pulled off the lace glove and held her shaking hand out.
From the depths of the white robes the creatures hand appeared, white fleshed and so thin that it was hardly more than bones with a layer of skin holding them together. It took hold of Sarah's own clammy hand and entered her mind. She was one with the creature, knew it, like she knew herself, all the questions she had ever wanted to ask were answered in a heartbeat. It flicked through her memories like pages in a book, and before she even had a chance to breathe it suddenly filled her mind with the history of her true family, every single Fae who had ever been associated with Shayene, its foundations and its rise to glory were all thrust into her already aching head. Abruptly, as it announced to her that she was the true heir and queen of Shayene it released her hand and returned to its place by the High King.
The High King stood and walked towards her, his face suddenly old and tired without his grin.
"Who are you?" He asked standing before her.
"I am Selindé Al'Shayene." She said looking up at him without hesitation.
"To whom do you belong?"
"To Shayene, to the mother, to my land, to my people who were unmercifully slaughtered by my enemy."
"To whom do you swear fealty?"
"To the Seelie Court, to the High King, to myself, to my land, to my allies and to the Labyrinth." The High King paused and looked at Jareth questioningly as she added the last, Jareth shrugged just as confused, or impressed.
"Do you swear, aver and affirm that you will guide your lands and people in peace and prosperity?"
"I do so swear."
"Then I return to you your birthright, your name, your title and your land. You are Queen Selindé Al'Shayene. Your nobility and bloodline are unquestionable by order of the Seelie Court, and your lands incontestable by order of the High King." He said placing a beautiful and delicate crown on her head, encrusted with black diamonds and sapphires amongst the silver and platinum.
"Welcome home Selindé, we have missed you." The High King said bowing to her slightly as she curtseyed first to him, and the to the Seelie Court who all bowed back at her. "Now, let us join the gathering and get drunk!" The High King crowed clapping his hands together and calling his attendants to him.
"Your Majesty." Jareth said, as everybody started moving towards the doors.
"Jareth." The High King said cautiously pausing as his attendants and councillors made their way past them and through the doors.
"You will announce my contract will you not?"
"As soon as I have everybody's attention. This was the easy bit. I expect fireworks from my daughter and tantrums from Tilingdor and Magénne. They both want Shayene and have already contested your guardianship of the kingdom."
"I will not let them have her. She belongs to the Labyrinth, Gadréd, not to anybody else. She gave herself to me."
"I won't let them have her. So long as you can stop her from opening her mouth, she's a real handful Jareth, you sure you can handle her? Elindah still hates her with a passion and she's more dangerous than her mother, and we all know how that ended up, this is my repayment to you Jareth, I hope this sets things right between us. Well, as right as they can be. The Watchers tell me the Unseelie Court are still hoping for war."
"Set this right Gadréd and your life debts for my brother and Selindé's family are repaid in full." Jareth nodded, silently watching his childhood friend. "You need to get out more. You look ill Gadréd, stop drinking so much ale, and don't worry about me being able to handle her, that's easy." Jareth smiled to himself as they both watched Sarah walking in front of them by Lucia and Theo.
"Its my only amusement these days. That and annoying the hell out of Elindah." He smirked and the boy he once was shone though, making Jareth grin back at him.
"I'm never going to forgive you for letting her even think she had a chance." He said slyly as the High King moved away from him. They all waited impatiently behind the huge carved wooden doors at the bottom of the spiral corridor for the Fae court to be silenced and for the young functionary to announce them one by one. The High King would be last with the Seelie Court, and Jareth and Sarah before them.
"King Jareth of the Goblin Realms and Keeper of the Labyrinth…" The Fae paused and re-read his sheet of names before continuing. "Escorting Queen Selindé of Shayene." The half rowdy Fae court suddenly went very silent, as they all turned to watch them enter. Sarah fought against a rising wave of nausea, and repressed the urge to check to see if her crown was falling off.
"Its fine. Leave it." Jareth muttered as he made her follow his lead into the grand ballroom. They stood and waited as the High King was announced and the Seelie Court took their place in an identical setup to how they had been in the smaller throne room.
The High King rose and began speaking, several times pausing in his list of announcements as Fae stepped forward to answer his call or to receive documents. Finally he called a young Fae woman to kneel before him, before asking her if she would accept the marriage petition she had received from a Count. The young woman nodded and stood as her suitor joined her before the throne. One of the Seelie Court floated forwards towards them and as they joined their unclad hands together it intoned a spell over them. She could feel the magical flux entwining itself around their joined hands and blinked as it suddenly snapped tight around them and disappeared. The creature floated away from them both and the High King announced them married for the requisite 10 years to produce heirs for both.
"Why only 10 years?" Sarah whispered leaning closer to Jareth.
"It is the normal period for marriage. Only exceptional circumstances are the time requisites changed, though many only choose a 2 year joining to produce a single heir depending on the family." He told her.
The High King stood and bade the couple good fortune as the Count escorted away his pale and shaking new wife.
"I have the greatest honour to announce a further petition for the Queen of Shayene's hand." The High King continued, looking across at Sarah who suddenly froze.
"Go. Kneel before him." Lucia whispered from her other side, pushing her forwards. Sarah straightened herself up, and walked proudly to the High king, her head held high, but before she could kneel several Fae were walking forwards, furiously arguing.
"I forbid this! This is his doing! You must forbid this petition from going through Your Majesty!" A tall sandy haired young Fae declared ignoring Elindah who was trying to out shout him.
"How can you declare that she is Queen of Shayene? She is a mortal whore! My petition for Jareth should take precedence!" Elindah screamed walking right up to her father who stood and looked at her.
"Selindé, if you truly are Fae and heir to the Shayene throne, then I demand that you refuse that bastards petition. He has manipulated you and coerced you into thinking that you owe him for Shayene. It is I who have kept Shayene safe from the others. It is my army who have protected Shayene's borders from this goblin scum!"
"She's not Queen! Look at her, she's nothing but a mortal in Fae clothing!" Elindah spat walking over to glare at Sarah. Sarah realised with some satisfaction that she was actually taller than Elindah and moved slightly so that it was more evident enjoying the fact that she could look down her nose at the furious woman.
"I am just as Fae as you are." She said quietly, never once looking away from her glare.
"Don't you dare talk to me, bitch!" Elindah screeched, swinging her hand to slap Sarah. Without blinking, Sarah grasped hold of Elindah's wrist before she could slap her face and began to squeeze.
"I take offence at your remarks Princess. I would like an apology." She so quietly that she could feel the crowd of Fae around them lean in so that they could hear her.
"I'll never apologise to you Whore!" Sarah smiled slightly as she continued to tighten her grip on Elindah's wrist.
"Wrong answer." She said as tears formed in Elindah's eyes and she began to squeal from the pain. "Apologise or I will have to show you just how much of a bitch I really can be." Sarah said mildly as she felt bone scrape against bone.
"Release her." Jareth said placing his hand on Sarah's shoulder.
"As you wish Your Majesty." Sarah said mildly as she released Elindah's broken wrist.
"I demand that she be punished!" Elindah wailed backing away from them and holding her hand.
"You can demand all you like Elindah, but you won't get what you ask for." The High King said sighing. "Queen Selindé has every right to demand an apology from you for attacking her and placing her birthright into question."
"You may have denied Princess Elindah's petition, but you can not refuse mine. Shayene should be mine in payment for the years I have spent protecting its borders. Queen Selindé should be made to accept my petition and not his!" The sandy haired Fae cried striding past the sobbing Elindah and pointing his finger at Jareth.
"I have just as much right as you to petition for the Queen's hand!" Another shorter white haired Fae said walking up to them and glaring at the younger lord.
"Tilingdor has more land that borders Shayene than Magénne. Shut up Hálverd."
"You are Tilingdor?" Sarah asked turning to look at the sandy haired Fae.
"I am King Joránn of Tilingdor. Will you accept my petition? Shayene owes Tilingdor fealty for the protection I have given over the years."
Sarah laughed and stepped closer to him. Before anybody realised what she was about to do she rammed her fist into the side of his face. He fell like a sack of meat to the floor, knocked unconscious. She wriggled her hand to get some feeling back into it and told herself to not hit Fae men since they were way too bony. She ignored Jareth as he took hold of her hands and held them behind her back pulling her away from Joránn before she could kick him.
"Sarah, stop it." He snarled into her ear as she struggled against him.
"Wake him up." She said standing still and glaring at Hálverd. The King of Magénne knelt and shook Joránn until he woke, cursing her for ruining his face as he wiped blood from the cuts across his eye and cheek.
"If I ever see you again Joránn, I will kill you. If you ever enter Shayene again or any of your subjects, I will return them to you piece by piece in very small boxes. You will forfeit 10 leagues of land from the borders of Shayene into which you will not ever cross. This is payment for the murder of my family and of my people. You will return every single item in your palace that belongs to Shayene that your father stole from my family, and you will do it immediately. If you do not submit to my demands, I will declare war on you and kill every single living thing within Tilingdor's borders, and any who ally themselves with you."
"Preposterous! I refuse these ridiculous demands!" Joránn shouted climbing to his feet and staring at the High King.
"Then you will die Joránn." Sarah told him bluntly.
"You will accept these terms Joránn, King of Tilingdor. They are fair, and what is deserved to bring peace to Shayene's borders. We also stipulate that Magénne also forfeits 10 leagues of land from Shayene's borders for your own part in the slaughter." The tallest of the Seelie Court said in a booming voice that cut through the complaints and babbling. Both kings could do nothing but agree, falling back in shock as the High King returned to his seat, ordering a court physician to see to Elindah who was still sat on the floor cradling her hand.
"This isn't over." She snarled as she was helped to her feet and taken from the ballroom, Sarah sneered at her and turned away deliberately.
"Queen Selindé." The High King said turning once more back to Sarah who managed to release herself with some dignity from Jareth's crushing grasp. "Will you accept the petition of marriage from Jareth, King of the Goblin Realms and Keeper of the Labyrinth?"
"I will. Though I request an amendment to the terms." She said ignoring Jareth again who was growling at her to shut up.
"What are the changes you wish to make?" The High King asked after he had looked at the Seelie Court who had nodded.
"The term shall be for life. Shayene requires peace in order to repair itself and re-grow. I request that the marriage be permanent until one of us dies." Jareth shut up and stared at her as though she had grown an extra head.
"I also request that the first child of our marriage be made heir to the throne of Shayene to protect my bloodline. Will these terms be acceptable?" She asked looking up at the Seelie Court. They muttered amongst themselves and then as one they turned and nodded.
"Will you accept these terms Your Majesty?" The High King asked turning to Jareth, trying not to laugh at his friend's ashen face.
"I will." Jareth replied faintly.
"Then be joined." The High King said stepping back from them both as the Seelie Court moved forward, not just one of them, but all six, surrounding them and raising their skeletal arms.
"Take off your gloves." Jareth told her, removing his own. "This will be… different from anything you have yet experienced. Do not under any circumstances speak unless spoken to." She looked up at him as she let her gloves drop to the floor and saw the suppressed rage in his eyes.
"Why are you angry? I did what you wanted me to do." She whimpered as he snatched hold of her hands and entwined his fingers with hers.
"I didn't want you to declare war." He grated. "You should have shut up and let the High King sort it out."
"He would have given into them." She whispered looking away from him in fear. Through their renewed contact she could feel his anger, smouldering in the darkness that wrapped itself around them, then the ballroom disappeared.
They were stood in nothingness, surrounded by the Seelie Court who glowed as they floated, rippling in the none existent breeze. They were chanting, but she couldn't understand what it was they were saying, and it went on for what felt like hours to her pounding head. The tallest of the Court billowed towards them and began to intone another spell.
"What do you give?" It asked her.
"All that I am."
"What do you take?"
"Nothing."
"What will you pledge?"
"My soul."
"What do you expect?"
"Nothing."
"What will you sacrifice?"
"Everything." Sarah felt tears flow down her cheeks but could not take her hands from her Kings to wipe them away. The creature turned to Jareth who continued to watch her.
"What do you give?"
"Safety."
"What do you take?"
"All that she is."
"What will you pledge?"
"My heart."
"What do you expect?"
"Honour and respect."
"What will you sacrifice?"
"Nothing."
He damned the ritual words to the deepest level of hell even as he answered the questions. He could feel her fear, and her heart breaking as she listened to his answers, felt the uncertainty in her soul as she gave her very being to him. The magical flux around them flowed and swirled as the Seelie Court completed their rituals. She looked up at him though her tears, and just as the ritual ended, the magic snapping tight around them, she watched him smile sadly. The roaring noise in her head tore through her very veins making her want to scream in agony, when he had bonded her the first time, it had been painful, but this was a whole new level of pain. She wanted to be sick, but knew that in this place it was impossible. She felt her skin being torn away, muscles and bones disintegrating, her beating heart turned inside out as her lungs turned to blood.
She screamed in her soul for release from the pain, searching desperately for something. Finding the beacon of light in the distance she crawled her way towards it, fighting off unseen claws and teeth. The beacon grew stronger as she got closer until finally she could make out the figure walking towards her. She called out to him in her heart and felt his reassuring touch as he picked her up, cradled her, soothed her and took the pain away. She sobbed in relief as the noise and pain disappeared and found herself once more standing in the great ballroom, her tears dry on her face as the Seelie court all bowed to them and floated away.
"My congratulations to you both, may you live in peace and happiness for the rest of your days." The High King said as Jareth released her hands. She would have staggered if he hadn't immediately placed his hand under her arm. He made her curtsey to the High King before turning and walking through the crowds of Fae, many of them bowing in respect and offering their congratulations as they passed.
"Not much father now Selindé then you can rest." He said in her head as they continued to make their way down the open corridor that the Fae Court created for them. They reached the far doors and as they were closed behind them Sarah felt the energy she had left draining from her. Without even pausing Jareth picked her shaking body up and carried her away into the night, revelling in the touch of her skin, the feel of her mind, and the golden pulse of her soul lying forever joined to his own.
inkie pinkie - ladyofthedragons1 is so right! They'd better get married! You're evil, not telling...grr...Write on!
A/N – All is revealed… so far, hope you like the outcome!
Jacksmybitch - dude this story is sick! I like how you brought along the love... it wasn't right away and that is good. Dude I think I know what's going to happen, but leave it to my self and let you do it up! Keep writing woman, I can't wait to see what happens...
A/N – I love your terminology, and apologise for making my plot so sick and twisted! There's more to come! Thanks for reading!
ladyofthedragons1 - wait no what... huh... update soon fix this please make less confusing!
A/N – Sorry I hope these latest 2 chapters helped clarify!
Morrigana - Wow, that was incredible. I absolutely loved it! I hate that James had to turn psycho, though, I liked him. Please update soon.
A/N – Yer, sorry about that, it was the twisted plot bunnies fault…
dragoneyes171986 - Yay! I feel so loved! I'm hoping for at least a D+ or a C at the very least I uh didn't do as much as I was supposed too :#o (blush)
A/N – I'll keep my fingers crossed that you get good grades else I'm going to feel guilty!
ItsACrystalNothingMore - Selindé... stupid question... but how do you pronounce that? great chapters! Tez
A/N – Valid question! I've added a list below here of the pronunciations, hope it helps!
crazy07 - I'm very confused, but I'm sure it will get better further in the story. any ways great chapter update soon
A/N – Again sorry for the confusion, I hope these chapters help!
theshadowcat - Wonderful chapters. Why do I have a feeling Sarah's the heir of that country that's being invaded? Just a wild thought, but hey, you never know. Any ways, great updates, and please give us some more soon.
A/N – Perhaps I was a little obvious with that bit of the plot…. Thanks for continuing to read!
angeloneous - I am enjoying your story so much! It is so original and true to the characters! Thank you so much for sharing and I hope you plan to post more and soon!
A/N – Thank you very much for letting me know! I've tried very hard to keep them true to the original characters! I'm glad its paid off!
Name Pronunciation.
Isenith is pronounced - EYE-syn-ayAth
Selindé is pronounced – Sel-yn-DA (Sarah's original name)
Gadréd is pronounced – GAI–dra-ED (The High King)
Elindah is pronounced – El-Yn-Da (silent aH at the end)
Joránn is pronounced – JOR-YNn (King of Tilingdor)
Hálverd is pronounced – HAY-el-ver (King of Mágenne)
Place Pronunciation.
Shayene is pronounced – CH-ey-ENE
Tilingdor is pronounced – TY-ling-DOR
Máyenne is pronounced – MEY-inne
Kel-Thályn is pronounced – Keel-Thay-lin (Market city in the east)
And also for those who are interested –
Che'el d' T'puuli Slyannen – Is "The City of Silver Stars" – I'm not going to explain how to pronounce that… I'd end up having to wipe down my monitor and go get a drink!
(According to JRR Tolkien's Quenya, the City of Silver Stars would be something like…
Al'osto Dal Nillé but I think the Drow version above sounds much nicer! – Not that my Fae are anything like Tolkiens elves…)
Hope these helped somewhat! Yell me if I missed any names out! Lanny xx