A huge thanks the sadandlonely. Every chapter you encourage me to write more. Thank you soooooo much!
Regular Disclamer: I own Jamie, nothing else sob
Emancipation or Anarchy
Chapter Five: Juggling Master
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Jessie signed the papers. "Yes, I have good reason to believe that Sarah is withholding my daughter without my notification" he nodded solemnly as the head of police replied. Seriously he continued "Thank you, I would be eternally grateful if you could bring her in and punish her to the full extent of the law." He pushed a fake tear out. "I just want my little girl back" as the officer turned, Jessie covered a smile. If this went ahead well he could get away with losing the girl scott free. It had been sooo easy to shift all blame onto Sarah. In truth, he was quite glad the two of them had vanished. Now he could get away with not having to pay expensive court and lawyer fees, not to mention he had never liked the girl remotely. Now, when Interpol caught up with the two dreamers Sarah would go to prison. Who knows about Jamie? He could just put her in an orphanage, but that would be unoriginal. After all, there were more than one ways to make pesky five year-olds vanish.
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The Goblin king couldn't sleep. He wasn't usually an insomniac. He just had too many questions that desperately needed answered and having the subject of most of these musings so close, with only a wall dividing them wasn't helping at all. There was so much that had happened in the ten years since he had stepped out of her life that he was oblivious to. Why had she gotten married? Why was Jamie so like her, with what seemed to be practically none of her Fathers gene pool? One of the biggies; why had he bought her here? She was going to merge earth and most of the underground ignorantly, obliviously blissfully, blindly, unknowingly…… what other choice had he possessed? And how in the name of Demeter had she become connected with Labyrinth. He didn't know if this was a one off, because no one else had defeated the great maze during this family's careful rule. Technically, that statement was politically incorrect. Labyrinth was simply within his kingdom and decided it would be interesting to work with Jareth. The king had no illusions about his power over the physical and physiological entity. Whatever magical abilities she now wielded, one thing was certain. She needed to control it before it controlled her, and she might not be able to do it on her own. He had been born Fae and it had taken a good 200 years to fully harness his magic. He was quietly surprised that she had not caused more havoc on earth before now actually. Then again, if he had been a hair slower getting that shield up he would have lost his hair entirely. As it was he was coming to grips with spending the next few days without eyebrows. Great. More make-up. Using a crystal as a mirror he winced. He also had been cut, grazed and generally exhausted. He couldn't even be bothered healing himself, but instead thought 'She managed to do all this in under ten minutes. I am not even going to think about spending the day with her tomorrow!' He winced again. He was also going to have to rethink his plan… and explain the letter. He winced and stopped himself. This could become a wrinkle forming bad habit. How was her mental health? Earlier she had actually laughed. Okay, so it had been at his expense. He could live with that. Painfully. What exactly had she said? He had spent many a bored moment contemplating what she would say when he reappeared in her life but "its good to see you too, Jareth" had not been one of them. Jareth? She had called him by his name, not his title. Temporary shock from flight impact or something more? What ever it was it sounded so sweet from her lips…. Snap out of it! Not a good line of thought to follow with only one cursed dividing wall. Definitely not good.
As the sun spread over the dry land Jareths waning self-control vanished. Self-control had never really been his strong point anyway. Muttering that he was not in anyway obsessed with either of the females in the next room he hastily dressed. Shrugging a cape on, he walked with animal like grace and stealth into the hall and ever so gently opened one of the great oak wood doors. Walking in he noticed Sarah stir. Standing so close he could reach out to touch her he marvelled at the peace that radiated her face, lips open so slightly. How he wished… Sarah stirred again and Jareth turned his back to sit in one of the large chairs. He shifted the colours of it to make it seem that the chair was unoccupied. He had no doubt the aura of peace would vanish the instant she became fully conscience of his presence. She lay on her side toward him and he stared unashamedly at her.
Any traits he could have described as undesirable seemed to had been worn away by the years that had separated their last meeting. Her silky long chocolate hair settled behind her, one slender arm holding Jamie tight, protective even in her sleep. He had never imagined Sarah as a mother, but then again Jamie wasn't a normal kid. Jamie seemed so trusting, and Jareth noticed that their breath came as one. He couldn't help but feel envy toward Jamie, but he was the first to admit, he had never given Sarah a reason to trust him. Quit the opposite in fact. Slowly the sun rose, filtering through the giant windows facing Labyrinth.
"Everything I've done, I've done for you. I move the stars for no one"
His voice echoed back across the years back to the present. Would he move the stars for her? Once it had seemed so simple. Now he wasn't so sure. Turning away from these thoughts he came back to the tantalising things he could change, manipulate and act upon. Why had he given her this room? Looking back, his logic seemed dubious. As he saw it, she could view it one of two ways. She might be awed and amazed at the beauty that surrounded her, glad to be back. Or she could take insult and accuse him of manipulating her and showing off his 'oh sooo high and mighty power'. Something he couldn't exactly deny. Either way he could guarantee she would be suspicious. Either way he was liable to be interrogated by the two fiery brunettes. He winced before he could stop himself. He was going to enjoy being in the same room with them in silence as long as he could.
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Sunlight touched Sarah's face and she stirred. She must have left the curtains open. She groaned, I have to get Jamie to school, order some groceries to be delivered home…. She felt Jamie complain beside her at her movement. In seemed unusually warm…She opened her eyes and jumped. She was in an enormous cream and emerald room that oozed glamour and respectability. Leaning back she investigated it closer. It was also light, airy and welcoming in the cool early morning light. She looked at her watch. Apparently 11:30 pm was early morning in the underground. Letting her eyes rove she was amazed at the fantastical carvings and frescos that lined the walls and ceiling tastefully. Why had Jareth bought her here? She remembered what he had told her fractional moments before he had bought her underground. "Sure, but you may not enjoy the consequences" She also remembered his shock when she wielded magic against him. Was that why she was here? To be watched like a test Ginnie pig?
Sarah felt Jamie yawn and climb on her lap. "Mummy, can you do the bottle thing?" she sounded seventy percent still asleep. Sarah thought about this request. Would it hurt to perform magic in the underground? Usually Sarah would withhold from this, scared it would draw undesired attention from a certain individual. Now however that didn't seem to be much of an issue. She was in the Goblin kings palace, facing an uncertain future. If she caused turbulence and aggravated him while she was here… well that was okay too. She'd hate to think of her stay as non-eventful.
She looked around the room for suitable crockery and found three glass bottles. Red, green and blue oddly formed translucent (not to mention delicate looking) bottles. The Red one in particular seemed dazzling, throwing out spectacular hues of ruby, magenta and vermilion. Reaching for it with her mind she felt a slight tug as they obediently dislodged their present positions and glided toward Sarah. When they got close enough to touch she mentally flicked them in the air. Imitating catching and throwing gestures she skilfully moved them in and out. Pretending came so easily to her. As light passed through the crystalline surface a brilliant show of merging and moving colour was reflected in the cream, alabaster wall. Jamie laughed and clapped her hands in delight. Sarah felt a smile distantly reach her lips. Maybe it wasn't so bad to have these abilities after all.
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Jareth watched on as the light creped up, sinking into Sarah's pale skin, warming it to a rich cream. She stirred and mumbled, wiping fine strands of hair from her face. He just caught the words 'shopping' and 'school' when her eyes snapped open and she jumped, eyes widening. How he loved those eyes. He gritted his teeth. His illusion held as Sarah looked right through him. Regaining her calm she sat up fully, blinking sleep from her eyes. Jamie muttered something incomprehendable and Sarah nodded. He watched as she focused her concentration…. And three heirloom bottles floated toward her. Jareths eyes bulged and he lost his illusion for a moment. He could have sworn Jamie had seen him, but when she didn't say something he relaxed again. Well as much as he could relax when three invaluable heirlooms were hanging in the air by someone unaccustomed with magic. Suddenly as they reached the bed she flicked them into the air, pretending to catch and throw them like one of those earthling jugglers. Faster and faster as a kaleidoscope of colours illuminated the wall opposite the window. It was beautiful. Jamie clapped in delight. Jareth just couldn't resist. With a smile he articulately exclaimed. "Very nice." Big mistake.
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Jamie loved it when mummy did this. She was so special! She looked at the Goblin king in the corner. He seemed surprised. She clapped her hands. Did Mummy know he was there? He smiled and said clearly "Very nice." Mummy screamed and hurled one of the bottles at him. He only just got a shield up in the nick of time. It bottle shattered satisfyingly. Yup, she knew now. Who needed 4:00pm -6:00pm cartoons when your life seemed to be a prime time sitcom?
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Add getting a heirloom bottle nearly smashed open on my head to yesterdays list, he grouched. Would he survive the day ahead intact?
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A/N Sorry it took so long. Please read and review. All comments extremely welcome!