Jareth woke with Sarah in his arms, sleeping peacefully for once. He smiled, and closed his eyes to go back to sleep. He didn't want to ruin Sarah's sleep by moving. All of a sudden, one of the remaining goblins came into the room, tiptoeing as quietly as a goblin could manage.
"King Jareth…" the goblin whispered. "King Jareth…" The goblin waited now, afraid to wake the king, but not wanting Jareth to be angry with him for not telling him what he was sent up here to tell. Finally the goblin battled out his inner war and poked Jareth in the shoulder… and again… and again, not realizing the king was simply ignoring him. Finally, the King rolled lazily over and inquired as to what the pipsqueak creature wanted.
"Someone to see you in the hall." The creature replied, shaking. Jareth growled, but got up carefully so as not to disturb Sarah, and walked out of the chamber, apparently, fae don't get bedhead or tousled clothes because he appeared in the great hall looking perfect. There was a man standing by the door, waiting. He looked up and saw the goblin king, and straightened.
" Jareth!" The man said cheerfully. "I don't suppose you remember me…" This was followed by a laugh at Jareth's calculating and somewhat blank look. "Of course you wouldn't… you were very, very young when you last saw me, but still, it's saddening that you don't remember your own brother." At this, Jareth started visibly. How could this man be his brother? He never was told he had a brother, he never met him…. But apparently he had when he was too young to remember… and this man was the complete opposite of him, Dark, short, tamed hair where Jareth's was light, long and wild. Olive skin where Jareth was fair, large and bodybuilderish where Jareth was lean, with hidden strength in his smaller looking muscles. This man could not, by any stretch of the imagination be Jareth's brother.
Jareth eyed the man suspiciously, and when the man came towards him to give him a giant bear hug, Jareth had flew back and put up a defensive wall of magic. The man looked slightly confused and hurt, and in that look, he could see slight resemblances… one very distinct one… the man's eyes were ice blue… and aquamarine just like Jareth's. Jareth's wall suddenly dropped, and he took a step toward the man. When the man smiled wider, and put Jareth into a bear hug, Jareth stood stiff, but then he relaxed and hugged the man back. Jareth felt awkward… he was sure this man was his brother… he could feel it, his labyrinth could feel it, it's magic humming at the arrival of another of his blood, but he didn't even know this man's name.
"Well, it's wonderful, seeing another of the blood." Jareth said after a slight pause. "I hate to break this happy moment, but why, exactly are you here, after all these years… and… well… this is kind of strange to ask your own brother, but… what is your name?"
The man laughed, but it became tired as his reasons for being here came back to him. He looked at Jareth wearily and replied. "There is terrible danger in the land of the underground. News has gotten around that your mortal is back, and some…. Don't like the fact that you have fallen in love with… well… I don't think this way meself but this is what the others say… they think your affections are wasted on a mere mortal, and there are others much more worthy, that actually belong here… but it's not just the general dislike that I'm concerned about… things have been happenin… strange things Jareth… things that'll make yer skin crawl… I saw something just on my way here… many somethins on my journey… Somethin terrible is happenin to this land and the people Jareth… somethin's killin them all, and ain't none of it pretty neither."
This said, the man slumped into a chair, spent. "A room, and food for our guest." Jareth ordered the creature standing next to them. "Oh… and by the way…" the man said "Me name's Adaricus."
SOOOOOOOOO sorry guys. Me muse has taken a paid leave, but I try me best. Don't give up on me! I'm still writing! Luv all yous! Disclaimer first chappy.
Adaricus. The name brought back a rush of feelings. Not necessarily memories, but close. It brought back love, the kind for family. It brought anger and laughter and jealousy, and finally pain, all these emotions were normal to Jareth, but these…. These had an undertone. Something different. He stared at the man, contemplating these feelings, and the recent happenings in the kingdom.
"What do you know of these killings?" He asked the man. "And what do you know of this dislike of Sarah?"
"Not much, brother. I know the killin's be of a very gruesome nature. Victims always near unrecognizable. And this dislike of Sarah…. It be mostly in the royal families, expectable of course, and some titterin' among their subjects, but it's awful fierce titterin' to the degree that would put a man uneasy. I'm worried Jareth, I may not know you much anymore, but you still be me brother, and Sarah still be your lady."
"Thank you very, very much for your concern Adaricus. I'm sure you are tired from your journey. Please, rest, and stay in my castle with me a while. I have another person you should meet…. Her name is Chaise…."