Chapter 16! Man that goes fast, only two moth ago I was happy with 10 chappies, and now already 16! Though the title of this chap gives the impression of a funny and cheerfull chap (I'm actually thinking of a story with that title) it isn't, well....sort of. Jareth and Sarah's confrontation is kinda emabarasing/funny. But you'll read about that. Everybody is going to kill me for the end of this chap (evil grin).
theshadowcat: man,oh man. I'm really crappy. Could you point those axactly out please? Again, I didn't have a clue. What's the difference actually?
Rosakara13: I konw, the only problem is that I'm not laying in his arms. (drool) sweet dreams kaori :P
I just realise I haven't had any disclaimer yet (yes, a 'y') here. Better do before will start terrorizing me.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything of the original Labyrinth characters, but I do own Markla and Kranlar, and I wish I owned Jareth...
Chapter 16. 'Underpants and hurt Love'
They sat there for several hours, telling each other what had happened and what could happen. The dark night sky became light then slowly gave way to a bright spring morning. Sarah and Jareth had moved from the bed to the window and together they watched the azure sun rise into the sky. The longer they sat there, the closer they moved to each other until Sarah lay in Jareth's arms once more.
"But why did you come to rescue me? I mean, did you meant to rescue me," Sarah asked. Her head lay against Jareth's torso and she gazed at the magnificent Labyrinth in its full glory in the blue sky. Jareth blushed, and was happy to know that Sarah couldn't see his face.
"Well?" Sarah pushed him. Jareth sighed deeply.
"I'll tell you why, but only if you tell me first why you came after me," he said.
"That's not fair!" Sarah answered with a smile. The Goblin King just smiled back at Sarah, who had looked up to see his face, never saying a word...
"I know, I know. You have been fair," she said with a theatrical deep sigh and rolling eyes.
"Come again?" Jareth said teasingly, pretending not to have heard her. Sarah gave him a teasing push and laughed. Jareth joined her, and they both realised that it had been a while ago since they laughed that hard. After a while they calmed down again and Sarah got back to the subject.
"Will you really not tell me why you wanted to help me?" Sarah tried again, still smiling. Jareth shrugged.
"Because I knew what Kranlar could do. With you he could make me do things I didn't want to, and I don't like that," he said simply. Sarah's smile faded like snow on a warm spring morning.
"Oh," she said short, definitely not expecting this answer, and not really pleased with it.
"Why did I say that? Why!?" Jareth cursed himself and would have liked to jump down from the window. He felt like such an idiot. He, the master of trickery and deceit, didn't know how to say he loved her. Stupid, stupid, stupid. How could he possibly make that good again? He stared blankly at the Labyrinth at a lack of words to say. They looked away from each other and sat like that for a long while, covered with an uncomfortable silence.
A loud, but urgent knocking at the door made them both turn around. Jareth jumped off the window sill and walked gracefully to the door, opening it by hand, so that he could close it quickly if it was a foe. Jareth slowly opened the door, seeing Markla standing on the porch. She looked anxiously around her and then snuck in. Jareth quickly closed the door behind her.
"What's the news?" he asked immediately.
"Your subjects have been informed about your sudden return Your Majesty. Not all believed, but Ludo convinced them anyway," she said strictly, giving Sarah a little wink at Ludo's name. Jareth nodded.
"All we have to do now, is wait," Markla ended her story. Jareth turned around and walked to the open fire. He stood still and leaned against the stone wall with his eyes fixed on the small fire in it.
"Yes, just wait for our confrontation," he mumbled.
"In the mean while," he said suddenly after a short break. "Could you provide some new clothes for Sarah, Markla? She needs them," Jareth said.
Sarah looked slightly insulted, but then noticed the terrible state of her t-shirt and trousers. There were several cuts and spots on her shirt, and the knees of her jeans were covered with dust and mud from falling into the oubliette. She blushed uncomfortably. Markla bowed to her King.
"It will be done Sire," she said loyally. She beckoned Sarah. The girl stood up from the window, following Markla out of the Royal chambers.
"Wait!" Jareth said suddenly. Sarah halted right before the door, hoping he would tell what she expected him to have said earlier. She turned around and saw the King coming her way. Jareth conjured a crystal and gave it to Sarah.
"If something may happen, shout my name in it and I will come," he said softly.
Sarah was disappointed with the reason for stopping her, but took the crystal anyway and nodded. Without saying any more she left the room and closed the door behind her.
Jareth let him fall on his bed, sighing deeply. This was just great: There was an old enemy standing on his doorstep, waiting to strike. The same enemy knew he loved Sarah, and Sarah was angry at him for telling her such a weak excuse for rescuing her. Jareth clenched his fists and tried to ignore the strong desire of throwing some Goblins into the Bog of Eternal Stench. He needed to cool down a little, maybe take a shower or a hot bath, but Jareth didn't want Samuel to attack him while he was in bath, so he ignored that as well. Instead, he took satisfaction with throwing some water in his face in the bathroom and changing his clothes. He got stripped and stood half naked before his wardrobe, deciding what to choose. Someone knocked on the door.
"Come in," Jareth said, still turned to his closet. It would probably be Markla, giving him the latest news of the situation. He did not find it necessary to got properly dressed for Markla, as she wouldn't mind and would ignore it.
"Erm, sorry but…" a female voice said from behind him. The sentence was cut short and Jareth turned around to see what was wrong. Then he saw it was not Markla, but Sarah standing in the doorway. She blushed and looked at Jareth, who stood in only his underpants on the other side of the room. She mumbled something and began to stare at her feet, her cheeks growing even redder.
Jareth wasn't any better either. He felt a drop of sweat running over his forehead. Yet he quickly got control again.
"What is it?" he said with a strong voice, trying to sound like standing half naked in front of someone was the most common thing in the world. He put his hands on his hips and gave her a strict look.
"I realised I haven't thanked you for rescuing me," Sarah said in a weak voice. She tried to avoid looking at Jareth, and finding the floor suddenly highly interesting.
"So…well, thanks," she continued. 'Say it; tell her that you love her. This is the perfect moment. Say it now!' Jareth's mind said. But he decided it was not very convincing if he would declare his undying love for her in nothing more then his underpants, so he just nodded.
"You're welcome," he said, his voice no longer strict. Sarah mumbled something that Jareth couldn't hear and then left him alone again with his fierce wish he hadn't decided to change his clothes.
-
Markla began to walk again when she saw Sarah running to her from the King's chambers.
"Thank you for waiting," Sarah said. Markla bowed in response and together they walked along the halls. Though Sarah had the feeling she was completely lost, Markla seemed to know where they were going, so Sarah followed her like a young puppy would follow his mother. After having walked a while, Sarah broke the silence.
"Where exactly are we going?" she asked Markla, who walked in front of her.
"To the city. I know a good dressmaker there who could provide you with a couple of decent dresses," Markla said. She moved on with an incredibly high speed for such a little woman, and Sarah had to walk quickly to keep up with her. As they climbed more stairs, Sarah's mind wandered off to Jareth.
She was all confused now. She thought he loved her, like she loved him, but now he said he only helped her for his own benefits. She clenched the crystal she had in her hand. If she only would have told him, just a while ago, when she was in his room. But the unexpected sight of Jareth in his underpants hade made her forget everything, and she had just thanked him. Maybe she should ask Markla what to do with…
"Hoggle!" Sarah yelled. The dwarf, fox and beast had just appeared from behind a corner, chatting busily. They looked up as Sarah ran over to them and gave them all a big hug.
"Sarah, are you alright?" Hoggle asked concerned.
"I feel great, especially now I've seen you guys," she smiled. Hoggle beamed and began to play with his jewels again.
"My Lady, what had happened to thee? The Goblin King had saved thee from certain death, but what had happened?" Sir Didymus asked, in his usual polite voice.
"I dreamed that a huge fire was closing in on me and I had to jump out of the window to save myself, and apparently I sleepwalked," Sarah explained, not wanting the trio to know about Jareth's death in her dream.
"Sawah safe," Ludo growled. Sarah petted him with a smile.
"Anyhow, Jareth saved me in the nick of time as you already know," Sarah continued.
"It took you a very long time to recover from that smack against the floor," Hoggle remarked.
"It took quite a while before I woke up again, and my head was all foggy and it took Jareth some time to help me realise there was no fire and stuff,"
Sarah said quickly as an excuse. Apparently it was enough, because the three friends nodded in understanding.
"Lady Sarah?" Markla said. Sarah turned around and saw Markla standing behind her.
"We should get moving now," she said. Sarah looked disappointed.
"Can they come as well?" she pleaded.
"Very well then, but hurry now. We haven't got all day," Markla said strictly. Sarah cheered up. The five of them walked along the hallways and up and down stairs. Then they finally reached the Throne Room, which they needed to cross to get to the gates. Markla ahead, followed by Hoggle, Sir Didymus,
Ludo and as last Sarah, they entered the great room. When Sarah was walking through the wooden doors, they all of a sudden closed with a loud bang.
Sarah was pushed forward and fell to the floor. The crystal she still held in her hand flew out and scattered on the stones.
"No!" Sarah cried, but it was already too late. The tiny fragments of the once perfect, round crystal lay on the hard stone, shining in the light of the yellow sun. Sarah picked several pieces up and tried to put them together again, but was disturbed when the other doors closed as well, leaving the five alone, in a completely locked room.
"What is going on?" Hoggle yelled.
"Open this door at once!" Sir Didymus demanded, knocking with his staff against the heavy wooden doors. Ludo tried to push them open, but failed.
"What is this?" Sarah mumbled. A maniacal laughter was suddenly heard from behind. Hoggle, Didymus, Ludo and Sarah turned around. In the middle of the room stood Markla, her hands spread above her head. Her eyes turned black as the Raven, and her motherly face had turned into the wicked face of an evil being. She chanted in a language, unlike Sarah had ever heard before, and her voice was croaky and deep. The room grew dark, because grey thunderclouds had moved before the sun. A strong wind blew across the room. The four friends had to brace themselves to stand ground, but Markla stood still. She suddenly stopped chanting. She laughed loudly.
"Fools!" she yelled, her voice croaky. "The King will pay for what he did to me!" and as she stretched her arms in the direction of the four, the wind changed direction and blew them across the room. They were pushed with great force against the walls. Sarah screamed, as a lance that stood against the wall pierced her shoulder.
"Jareth! Help!" she yelled between her screams of pain.
