Chapter 27

Bad Memories

A/N- Quote for the day; Daniel Cleaver, Bridget Jones's Diary:

'Christ is that blue soup?'

Ramona walked into the dining hall. 'It looks like we're both early', she said.

Sarah nodded. She looked around at Finnely, only to find that the little Brownie had vanished. It was then that Sarah registered the side door to the dining hall swinging shut.

'I've been meaning to thank you for what you did this morning, the way you broke up the fight', said Ramona.

'Don't worry about it.'

'J-Bear's been a lot happier lately', said Ramona conversationally.

'Who?' asked Sarah.

'Jareth', said Ramona.

'Oh. Is that what you call him?' giggled Sarah.

'Yeah, he hates it!'

Sarah grinned. 'He's fun to annoy, isn't he?'

Ramona laughed. 'And to think I thought we had nothing in common.'

0o0o0o0o0o0

Jareth strolled up the corridor to Sarah's rooms. He hummed a tuneless song that ended up turning into Perfect Day.

Yep, she has that successfully lodged in my head now, thought Jareth.

He was so cheery that he didn't even mind.

Fenrir was gone, as was Jolungus, as the Summit of Neighbouring Kingdoms had drawn to a close about an hour ago.

Jareth was glad that it was all over.

Until next year, I suppose, he thought.

Jareth stopped in front of Sarah's door and rapped his knuckles upon it. He waited a few moments and when he didn't hear any sound from within the chamber and neither did the door open, he decided that Sarah had probably already gone down to the dining hall. So Jareth made his way down to meet her.

I hope Legolas has not hatched any ideas about her, he thought as he walked. I might just have to remind him who she belongs to- er no, she doesn't belong to me... well- she does technically belong to me... but... I won't be enforcing that ownership... I'll stop thinking about this now... he thought finally as his mind created a knot of his thoughts.

When finally Jareth reached the dinning room, he opened the door to find Sarah and Ramona deep in conversation.

They looked up at him and grinned evilly.

Jareth saw their sinister smiles and immediately backed away. He backed all the way out the door then turned around and ran down the corridor.

The dinning room exploded with hysterical laughter.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Jareth burst out of his castle and ran into his gardens at top speed, exhausting all of his energy.

'Jareth?'

Jareth looked around and Legolas jumped down from a tree branch, landing sure-footedly on the grass.

'Why are you huffing and puffing?'

Jareth wheezed a little and clutched a nearby bench for support. 'Sarah' (gasp) 'and Ramona... in the dinning room... together.'

'Oh, mutiny, you think?' asked Legolas.

Jareth nodded.

'The only way to combat this is to go in with no fear,' said Legolas. 'And a healthy backup.'

'You're insane.'

'At least I wasn't stupid enough to put my oldest friend in the company of the great Sarah Williams,' said Legolas derisively.

Jareth finally caught his breath and sat down on the bench. 'Good point. Okay, I'll face them.'

0o0o0Ten Minutes Later0o0o0

'I don't want to go in,' hissed Jareth to Legolas as they stood outside the dinning room.

Legolas massaged his friend's shoulders encouragingly. 'Yes you do.'

'I can' do it, they'll TORTURE me!'

Legolas stopped rubbing Jareth's tense muscles and folded his arms. 'Every second that those two are alone together is more ammunition that they're pooling to use against you!'

Jareth breathed out. 'You're right. I have to do this. I can hear the cheesy inspirational music- no, wait, I can really hear it.' Jareth turned around.

Legolas guiltily stopped playing his flute. 'I thought it might help.'

Jareth opened the doors and strode fearlessly into the dinning room.

Sarah and Ramona leapt into action; they linked hands and made a circle around Jareth.

'Ring-a-Ring-a-Rosie!

A pocket full of posies!

A-tissue a-tissue!

We all fall down!'

As the two sang it again, Jareth hung his head. 'You told her,' he said tonelessly.

Sarah and Ramona broke their circle and laughed.

'Yes I did. Sarah has a right to know what happened in your childhood,' said Ramona primly.

Jareth looked daggers at his tormentors. 'I bet you didn't even tell her the full story, just that I was walking around in dirty pants.'

There was a suppressed chuckle from the doorway and Legolas approached the distraught king and his abusers. 'I hope you aren't talking about the time we let go of him.'

Ramona nodded mutely.

Legolas burst into laughter.

Jareth glared holes in the elf. 'So you BOTH conspire against me!'

'Oh, great,' said Sarah, 'now we've got him all paranoid.'

'I am not paranoid!' exploded Jareth.

'Are you sure? You LOOK paranoid,' said Sarah.

'WILL YOU ALL PLEASE STOP MESSING WITH MY HEAD!' shouted Jareth, completely losing all of his composure.

'Geez, chill,' said Ramona. 'If you're so sure we've wronged you, then why don't you tell us what really happened that rainy afternoon?'

Jareth drew himself up. 'Yes, I think I will. Over dinner.'

Everyone took up seats at the dinning table.

Jareth, as always, took the head seat. After Ramona insisted, Sarah took the seat on his right hand. Legolas sat next to her and Ramona sat at Jareth's left hand.

Jareth didn't call for the maids this time.

'They have the night off,' he explained after Sarah asked after them. 'So this meal is BYO.'

Sarah looked around. Okay, I have no idea what that means...

Ramona nodded and waved her hand over the bare table in front of her. Immediately, a bowl of what seemed to be blue soup materialised into being complete with cutlery and a goblet full of water.

Legolas put his hand on Sara's shoulder. 'Don't worry; I'll get yours.'

His manner reminded Sarah of what a guy says to you on your first date to the movies. You get your purse out to buy your ticket but the guy says, 'Don't worry, I'll get yours.'

So where have I heard that before? she thought. Well, I don't want to sound rude, but this isn't a date. I hope he doesn't think I'm interested in him... because I'm not...

'Sarah, are you alright?'

Sarah blinked and found that everyone was staring at her. 'Oh, sorry, I must have spaced out.'

'So what should I get you?' asked Legolas.

'That's alright, Legolas, I can take care of Sarah,' said Jareth a bit less than good-naturedly.

Okay, thought Sarah, now I feel like I'm with two guys on a date.

It has to be said for Legolas that he knows when to quit; the Elf Prince simply shrugged and conjured his own meal.

'What will you have?' asked Jareth.

'Um... would you like to share a pizza with me?' asked Sarah

Jareth grinned. 'What a marvellous idea. What kind?'

'Hawaiian please and thankyou.'

Instantly, a huge plate of steaming pizza appeared between Sarah and Jareth. Ramona and Legolas looked at the dish with unrestrained curiosity.

Sarah didn't bother explaining the concept of pizza to them and instead merely ate her way through two slices without pausing for breath, glad to have something in her stomach besides air.

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PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! I'M SORRY! OK? IM SORRY! I'm also co-writing a fanfic with my friend Sara (isn't it cool? I made a friend!) under the penname Emara-Lou and the story is called The Tome of Unreachability if you wanna check it out. Ideas for spells are welcome.

Please have mercy...