Chapter Ten
An Offer
"Wake up, my dear."
Sarah blindly groped for Jareth's hair. When she found it, she twined her fingers through it and smiled.
"Sarah, my love. You have work to do."
Her eyes flipped open. She was face to face with Jareth, and his voice was so seductive she could have just-
"Patrick has fallen into an oubliette with Hogwash. You need to go make an appearance and keep them from Erick's oubliette. The dwarf doesn't know where he is yet so we must protect them."
"Alright, I'm getting up. Will you go take care of Kathy?"
"She's still sleeping. I'm going to relax here until you come back."
Jareth laughed as Sarah threw him a sarcastic look. She dressed herself manually to help engage her senses. In a few minutes Sarah emerged from the closet and sighed dramatically.
"Whoa," Jareth sat up a little bit and gave Sarah the once over. "You aren't really going out in that are you?"
She was wearing a tight leather corset with tight leather pants. As he stared she slipped on one of his black silk blouses over the corset and wrapped herself in a large cape. "Yes." Sarah made a purring noise in the back of her throat and disappeared.
"I'm not sayin' we're lost, I'm only sayin' I'm not sure where we are."
"Doesn't that mean we are lost?"
Hoggle sighed. "There's a difference! See, bein' lost means I can't find my way-"
A glistening crystal rolled down the path and around Pat's feet.
"What's that?"
In front of the two travelers now loomed a dark and foreboding figure. The crystal rolled to a stop at it's feet.
"Well, if it isn't Pat and Hoggle. Hopelessly lost, I see."
"We aint lost, we's just in the wrong place," Hoggle tried his best to sound intimidated.
"Really. Are you sure you haven't given up yet?"
Pat stepped forward boldly, "No. And I wont give up until I get her back."
"So be it. Do you really think you can solve the Labyrinth?"
The boy hesitated for a moment, "Of course I can."
"Do you really believe it will be that simple?"
"Easy." Pat sounded defiant.
"Easy, is it? Let's see how you get out of this one-" Sarah summoned the crystal to her hand, twisted it once, and threw it down the way they had been traveling. The familiar whine of the cleaners began to creak in the distance.
"The cleaners!" Hoggle sounded irritated and exasperated at Sarah's choice, but she disappeared again before he could attempt to question her. If they had continued their path, they would have broken right into Erick's prison. She would have to remember to warn Hoggle to stay clear until they stationed guards.
With a quiet puff of smoke and glitter, Sarah appeared at the foot of the bed. Jareth had fallen asleep again and was breathing deeply.
"Alright dear, time to get up."
"Mmmeh-" Jareth pulled the covers over his head and rolled away from her. His hair puffed out the top of the blanket.
"Jaaa-reth, come on. Let's get going." Sarah sat on the bed and tugged his hair playfully. He withdrew his hair like a sea anemone and tucked the blanket under his body so that she couldn't reach him.
"Jareth!" She shook him a bit until he stuck half his face out from under his warm cocoon. His sleepy eyes blinked once, then he started to curl up again. "Not this time, let's go!" Jareth reluctantly obliged and let Sarah pull him from the bed. He mumbled a little and kissed her forehead as he shuffled to the closet to change clothes. "Finally," Sarah muttered.
The two walked arm-in-arm to the throne room, where Jareth stirred up the crystal of Patrick in the Labyrinth. It was nearing eleven: only two more hours for the boy to solve the Labyrinth. It was clear that he would not be able to make it. Patrick was still rather young to be in the Labyrinth, so the fact that he had made it to the oubliettes was impressive.
Sarah leaned on Jareth's shoulder. "What do you think? Should we wake Kathy now?"
He heaved a great sigh, "I suppose so. I feel sorry waking the little creature, don't you?"
"You go relax. I'll take care of Kathy until the time runs out."
Jareth smiled and bowed in thanks. She turned and walked toward the door leading into the hallway. Before she reached the arc, she turned back to Jareth.
"What will happen when the time runs out and Patrick has not solved the Labyrinth?"
Jareth gave her a puzzled look and then his features melted into a laugh, "I forgot. You are the girl who bested me, you have never seen a loss in the Labyrinth." Sarah blushed, "The magic that brought him to the Underground will also bring him to the throne room after the thirteenth hour. We will wait here with Kathy and then explain his options. Brother and sister must decide what they want to do. I think in this case we may leave the decision to them."
Sarah stood for a moment, thinking about the children, then nodded and left for Kathy's chambers.
A team of Goblins skipped behind Kathy as Jareth and Sarah watched on from the throne. Jareth was turned sideways with his legs thrown over the arm of the chair and Sarah resting on pillows by his head. She leaned against the throne and snaked a hand into the hair that fell over the side of the chair. Jareth glanced down at her, an absent-minded smile across her lips as her eyes followed Kathy round the room. For the past few hours the child had played Wizard of Oz with the goblins playing all the supporting roles. Sarah had made a brief appearance as Glenda, then was left to lounge with Jareth.
"It is almost the thirteenth hour. Have you decided what to tell the boy?" Jareth murmured lazily, his gloved fingers tracing the patterns in the wood.
"Yes. I know what I must do." She knew that revealing herself as a caring sister and friend would be a bizarre shock to the boy and that he would have trouble learning to trust her.
Jareth blinked his eyes and fell pensive once more. Three minutes. He knew exactly what he would tell the boy, but he had no idea what Sarah would say. He was also unsure what Patrick would think of their idea; not many children his age could consider leaving their parents, but he might be one of the rare exceptions.
A clock somewhere began to strike. The sound seemed to fill the room and yet come from nowhere. Sarah rose to her feet and Jareth went to Kathy, shooing the goblins from the room.
"Take my hand, Kathy. We will hide ourselves while Sarah speaks to your brother." She took his hand and grew somber. Even at her young age she could understand the seriousness of the moment.
Sarah gave a last look to Jareth before he and the girl were cloaked by a crystal. As the thirteenth chime rang, a disheveled Patrick appeared in a gust of wind and swirl of green.
"No! Please, I have tried my hardest! My time can't be up!"
Sarah felt his panic, but calmly strode toward him. "You will find that effort and time have little in common."
"I can't leave Kathy here! Let me take her place instead. Please!"
"I am afraid I can't do that," Sarah stopped in front of the boy, tears now streaming down his face. "However, I am not as cruel as I seem."
Patrick stifled a sob and tried to make sense of this statement.
"I will not take you in the place of your sister, but I also will not take your sister," Sarah watched as the boy's matured brain processed her words and a new light shone through his eyes.
"You mean that you will let us go? Both of us?"
"I mean what I say; yes, each of you may go home. You have proved your true devotion to your sister and I am sure you will learn to be more careful what you say."
Patrick threw himself to the floor at her feet and began thanking her repeatedly. "Please, there is no need for that. I am not a cruel person, I only play the part of an evil queen to teach children a lesson. But you are not an irresponsible child anymore, you are a responsible young man. I can see it in your eyes." The boy blushed and turned his auburn lashes down in modesty. There was a brief moment of silence where he wondered what would happen next. One could never expect anything in this place. Nothing was what it seemed.
"Patrick," Sarah knelt and placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked at her with surprise. "I have seen what it is like in your home. I understand that you feel responsibility to bring your sister home, but it may not be the best place for either of you." A troubled look crossed the boy's face. "If you like, my King and I can find you a home here in the Underground. King Jareth's sister has been wanting to adopt a few children, and I promise you that she will offer you a safe and caring home."
Patrick seemed to be drawing courage together to respond to her offer. "I respect your insight on this, your highness," he faltered slightly, the corner of his eye twitched slightly, "and I agree with you. I love my dad, but he is a different man from what he once was." He watched as Sarah rose to stand before him. Sensing no threat, he dared to continue. "However, this is not a decision I am willing to make this rapidly. I don't want to desert my dad, even though he may have his problems." Sarah noticed his hand slide to a spot on his scalp, touching it tenderly but with a trace of betrayal in his eyes. "I also do not want to speak for my sister. If I am to stay here with Kathy, then she must agree to remain as well."
Sarah nodded, and with a motion she revealed Jareth and Kathy, still in their corner of the room. Patrick stepped toward his sister protectively when he saw that she was with a grown man, but relaxed as Jareth nudged Kathy toward her brother gently. The girl ran across the room and hugged her brother tightly. Patrick fell to his knees and apologized to his sister while checking her for any wounds. Satisfied that she was quite alright, he looked her right in the eyes, "Can you ever forgive me?"
Kathy giggled, "I forgive you. I love you. And I like it here. It's more fun with Sarah and Jareth." Pat looked with shock at the royal couple, afraid that his sister had violated some unspoken rule by addressing the King and Queen so casually. Jareth smiled reassuringly at the boy as Sarah slipped her arm through his and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Come on! You haven't met Jareth yet. He's really nice, and so is Sarah. They played with me while you were out in the maze." Kathy dragged her brother to the King. Patrick glanced between the couple, not sure which one had more authority.
Jareth nodded at the boy. "Sarah has not given you all your options yet. You must forgive her, it was her first time guiding anyone through the Labyrinth. I believe I taught her well though."
Patrick gave a small sarcastic laugh. Some guide; she hadn't really led him anywhere. But he quickly tried to disguise his laugh as a cough. Sarah had seen through the feeble attempt and smiled at his rebelliousness. She would have done the same thing at his age.
If Patrick doubted Sarah's authority because of her apprenticeship to the King, he did not show it. He looked expectantly between Sarah and Jareth, curious about his newfound choices.
Jareth conjured some large poufs and gestured for the boy to sit. The couple arranged themselves on an oblong and ornate pillow, still arm in arm. "If you want to leave, then I shall allow it. But you will never be able to return to the Underground unless there is a serious reason that causes you to say The Words." Kathy let out a sound of dismay and tugged at her brother's pant leg. Jareth held up a hand and she quieted. "Or, you may remain in the Underground. Because the rules allow you a choice, I can let you remain for a few days before you make your final decision. In that time, I can introduce you and your sister to my sister, Queen Corsicana, and King Kade. I can assure you now that they are very kind and will see to it that you are happy here. If you decide to stay, then the Aboveground will shift so that you and your sister are only a vague memory, like a dream or deja vous. If you chose to return, then you will be taken back to the same time and place where you wished your sister away."
Patrick nodded slowly and watched his sister chase the goblins that had snuck back into the room. Kathy paused and exchanged a look of assent with Pat. "Alright. I see no harm in your offer. Kathy seems happy enough with you, so I'll trust her judgment."
So Patrick and Kathy were shown to their own spacious chambers and given clothes to last them a while. Sarah and Jareth said goodnight and Patrick warily acknowledged. Jareth steered Sarah from the room and down the hall to their own chambers.
"I'll contact Corsicana in the morning. I am sure she will be happy with these two should they choose to stay."
Sarah sleepily agreed. "I hope that Patrick will forgive me for traumatizing him," she laughed a little.
"You did a wonderful job today," Jareth turned to face her. "I think you would make a perfect queen."
Sarah heard the meaning in his voice and felt her stomach tighten with suppressed adrenaline.
Jareth took her hand and she held her breath. His eyes were serious and gentle, "Do you want to be the Goblin Queen?"
Sarah stuttered, "I- I'm not entirely sure what you mean."
"I mean what I say. Would you become my queen, my slave, my ruler," he conjured a crystal and swallowed. "Would you become my wife?"
Sarah felt her insides melt as she gazed into his pleading eyes. The last time he had looked at her that way, she had rejected him.
Jareth watched her stammer for words. "Jareth, I- yes!" A silent tear of joy welled in her eyes as Jareth's face broke into an elated smile. He seemed to breathe for the first time. A swift and deft hand motion created a crystal that seemed to shimmer with light. Sarah reached forward and placed her fingers on the orb, expecting it to burst like a crystal. Instead, light erupted from its center and engulfed their hands. Sarah felt as though she were being suspended in a weightless fluid, then it ebbed away and the light died down. On their hands remained a silvery and ornate leaf design. It curled around their wrists and swirled up their index fingers. The crystal had melted away and left shimmering magic dust sprinkled over their hands and stuck to the design. Their hands had come together and been left joined, the pattern twisting from hand to hand creating the illusion of binding them together in vines.
Sarah gave a small gasp of surprise as she examined the henna-like tattoo. "Jareth, what is this? It's beautiful!"
"I suppose they don't have magical wedding bonds in the Aboveground, do they?"
"No, is that what this is? Like a ring?"
Jareth cocked one eyebrow, "A ring?"
"Yes, couples exchange rings at the wedding ceremony. It is a symbol of devotion."
"How interesting. The magic does a similar thing by painting the leaves on our hands. It is a symbol of unity. As long as we are faithful to one another, our symbols will not disappear."
Sarah didn't think she would ever have trouble with fidelity. "Are we officially married now, or is there some sort of ceremony?"
Jareth laughed, "We will hold a large banquet publicly acknowledging our union sometime in the near future. At that time we will have a traditional ceremony. It will be the grandest ball in a century! We will invite all the important members of the Underground-"
Sarah interrupted him by pressing her lips to his. It was another magical moment, their illustrated hands twining through the other's hair.
Later, as Jareth drifted to sleep, Sarah thought about the day's events. She studied her hand and Jareth's, which was wrapped around her. Seeing Patrick run through the maze reminded her so much of her quest to rescue Toby. She wondered if Toby could come to the wedding. "I wish I could see Toby again," she whispered quietly into the still air.
Outside the wind shifted directions.