Disclaimer: I don't own the movie Labyrinth or anything you recognize.
We finally get to a real plot in this chapter!! YAY for plot!!
The real story starts here.
"She's… nice." Jareth turned to look at her, eyebrow raised. He turned to go, but Sarah found herself engaging him in conversation, some part of her didn't want him to go. Why not? "Why did the Labyrinth want to discuss Dragonesses with Ake?" The King turned back to Sarah.
"Who else would the Labyrinth ask? Ake's the Dragon Queen."
"Oh. This may be a stupid question, but aren't dragons sentient?" He nodded and gestured to a newly appeared couch, Sarah took the offered seat.
"Oh, yes, but so are the goblins," He sat. "To an extent."
"So the dragons are similar to the goblins in intelligence?"
"Oh, gracious, no. The dragons are far superior to the goblins, maybe even to us. However, because their intelligence is different, not lesser, they do not understand the movements of our courts, or the intricacies of Fae politics. They can't very well avoid us, we live in the same world, so a Fae is chosen to lead them in the dealings with the courts. Ake possesses the strongest mental power apart from the dragons, thus they asked her to be their 'Queen'. Though she does wield quite a bit of power in the dragon's wyers, the title Queen means little within the borders of their kingdom. Her true power originates from her personality, and understanding. I doubt that the dragons have ever had an ambassador who understood them nearly as well as Ake does."
"That makes sense, but why did the Labyrinth ask about adding a dragoness, don't they all live in the dragon kingdom?" No matter how interesting the conversation, Sarah was well aware of how close he was to her, the couch was not all that large.
"Ahh, yes, most mortals get that mixed up. The term 'dragoness' does not make reference to the female dragons, as most in your world think, but to the females of other species who are chosen by the dragons to be among their number, and be messengers of sorts to other kingdoms and to the mortal realm."
"But didn't you say that Ake understood the dragons greater than anyone before her?" This is a real conversation; he hasn't hit on me once. If you could call what he does 'hitting on'. I would think it would be more accurate to call it 'flirting with extreme prejudice'.
"Well, yes, but that isn't hard considering all of the ambassadors they have gone through. The courts will only accept a Fae or Elvin representative, and we aren't known for our, as you might say 'people skills' when it comes to other races. There has never been a Fae or Elvin dragoness, even among the Queens, until Ake." Sarah noticed something in the king's description of the kingdom.
"You only mention girls, Queens, dragonesses, what about guys?"
"The dragons have a matriarchal society. Everything revolves around the females. Unlike humans, Fae, and Elves the females are larger, and as a general rule, more powerful." He stood and offered his hand, Sarah accepted. He had been extremely gentlemanly during the conversation. Thus she was not expecting him to pull her against him when he helped her to stand. "That was a fairly stimulating little chat, don't you think? Perhaps we can get into other stimulating things." He had one of her hands; she pulled the other back as though to punch him. "You won't hit me Sarah, you know what happens when you hit me." She paused and took on a contemplative expression, and then she socked him. "But maybe you like that." And with the kind of realization that comes out of nowhere and slams you like a tidal wave, she realized that she did. She liked making him mad, she liked how she could affect him though simple defiance, she liked not being able to predict what he would do next, she like knowing that he did have power over her, she liked the power she had over him; she liked him. Just before he could carry out whatever punishment was on his mind, his eyes glazed over again.
"Damn! Sarah, I have to leave you again. Ake has scared another set of goblins, I believe she may have actually hurt one this time." She simply nodded in acknowledgement, he disappeared.
"So, have you done him yet?" A voice came from behind her.
"What?" Ake stood against the wall across the room.
"Have you done him yet? It's a fairly simple question."
"No...I haven't 'done him', nor do I plan to, less than two days ago I hated him." Sarah's voice rose and she glared at the Queen.
"Psscha, you liked him well enough when he was a character in a book." The conversation was heading somewhere that she did not want it to go, so Sarah changed the subject.
"Is there something special about being a dragoness? Something that makes you different?" This seemed to distract the other girl; she took a seat on her brother's bed and crossed her legs.
"Well, for one thing, we have dragon wings. Don't start looking for them on me though, they're retractable and they disturb the goblins so I keep them in when I'm here. Oh, you gain power over fire too. Few mortals know this, but dragons don't breathe fire, they control it. Pyro-kinesis. You also gain immortality if you did not posses it before. You have to have a certain level of telepathy to become a dragoness though, the dragon's speak using it and don't like having to talk loud enough for the Closed-minded to hear."
"'Closed-minded?" Sarah giggled.
"Of course, where did you think that the expression came from?" There was uncomfortable silence after that, well, it was uncomfortable for Sarah, Ake didn't seem to notice. The monarch was looking around the room and humming like a bored child.
I suppose that when you get to be her age short silences like this don't matter. Sarah broke the silence. "Why did the Labyrinth want to talk to you about dragonesses?"
"Oh! That's what I originally came in here to talk to you about! The Labyrinth wants you to join our ranks; I think that it's a splendid idea. I'll have to tell big brother though."
She's just like her brother, instead of being perverted and then serious, however, she's childish and then serious. "What is the problem with the kingdom? I've been here no more than three days and already find myself wishing to assist in protecting this kingdom." Ake smiled.
"That's because you belong here, why do you think that the book found you? Those meant to be here eventually find themselves here, and never want to leave. It's as much a part of you as you are of it. I was born here, so I hold some loyalty, but its not who I am, that was left for my brother." She began to giggle again. Sarah wasn't sure if she would ever adjust to this family's mood swings.
"Damn that girl, if she weren't my sister I would have strangled her long ago. The goblins are going to be in hysterics for weeks, and I'll be lucky if I can ever get them back into my study." Jareth sighed as he entered the room.
"Love you too Jekrandake." She patted the bed beside her, he glared.
"I'm not happy with you Ake." No matter what he said he laid down and let his head rest in her lap, she began to massage her brother's temples. "You could have hurt them!"
"I was in complete control and you know it, it's just the Goblins that don't. If I were a true threat would the Labyrinth let me in?" Sarah noticed that the girl was also wearing gloves and looked down at her bare hands as she listened to the conversation.
"It lets the idiots from the Council in." A pained sigh came from his throat. "We haven't had any new developments to help with that little problem, have we?" He opened his eyes and caught the head shake of his sister.
"What problem? Can I help?" Sarah had created gloves for her hands, emerald green satin that reached her elbow. Actually, I have the perfect job for you.
The king shot into a sitting position. "Labyrinth! Were you listening in my room?!!" No, there is a goblin standing outside of your bedroom door, he wants to talk to you about the arrangements for the Council members. He looked at the door, and sure enough, there was a goblin standing, waiting. "That is beside the points, I refuse to allow her to be in that position." You don't have a choice in the matter. And you are overreacting. "Overreacting, she just got here, there is no way that you can ask her to do that." She is an actress and the group comes before the individual.
"Would someone please tell me what is going on?" The king looked at her, his eyes blank.
"Very well, however, I will not be the one to tell her." Hoggle entered the room, coming from his hiding place behind the larger goblin.
"I will, your Majesty." The king saw the anger that entered Sarah's eyes at the sight of the dwarf.
"No Hoggle, I believe that Sir Didymus will do fine." The dwarf nodded and after bowing, left the room. Sarah's gaze turned to Jareth once the dwarf was gone, the elder of the siblings appeared to be daydreaming.
"Well, are you going to tell me or not?!" Her gaze shifted to Ake, hoping to get an answer from her, the queen shook her head.
"This may take a while and I must contact the Cliffs soon, even if I do not return to my kingdom. I will be in my rooms, brother, in meditation so that I may reach the Cliffs without strain. Get me when I am needed." Jareth gave a nod and the blond brunette left.
"Well, are you going to tell me or not?" The mortal recaptured the king's attention.
"I will explain the situation, but the knight shall tell you your part in this." He tossed a crystal to his right, a chair appeared. Sarah sat when he gestured to it. Once she was seated he began.