Healing Takes Patience
"You do look rather worn from your ordeal. Would you like to take a nap here?" 'Worn' was one way of putting. Besides, if she slept on the couch, he could keep an eye on her himself while he worked. Miren would just have to occupy himself elsewhere for now. Jareth threw a sly smirk over to the shadow where he knew his confidant to be and swore he heard Miren's quiet laughter as his footsteps retreated through the door hidden behind a tapestry.
"I don't want to disturb you," she mumbled, looking away from him. He loathed when she did that. How was he to guess what she wanted or needed if he couldn't see her expressive face? Until she learned to speak her thoughts, it was all he had to go on.
"Marie," he sighed, exasperated. "If I thought it would be a disturbance, I wouldn't have offered." The King stood and walked over to his desk. "Lay, sleep. You'll feel much more refreshed if you do." She gave him a skeptic look but hesitantly followed his instructions, curling into a tiny ball in the furthest corner of the couch from him.
Jareth nodded to himself, satisfied, and pulled out his work from the day before and a fresh quill. After pouring over a missive from the Dwarven Realm in the West for a few minutes, he realized he was being watched. Glancing up, he saw a pair of ice blue eyes staring at him apprehensively through a curtain of raven hair. "Is there something wrong?" She quickly shook her head and looked away.
He huffed slightly and returned to the missive, covering her with a blanket in the same motion. He smirked at her tiny gasp and tried to immerse himself once more. Ten minutes passed and he was in the middle of formulating a reply when he noticed his ward turning for the third time. "Are you uncomfortable?" He knew that wasn't the case. He'd slept on those couches many a night.
She flinched at being caught again. "N-no sir. It's very comfy."
"Good. Do try to rest." She nodded and turned again, growing still. Minutes later, he spied her trying to sneak herself down to the floor. "What are you doing, Marie?"
The girl fell the rest of the way, clearly not expecting him to notice her movements. "Ooof," she grunted. "N-nothing. Just…just going to sleep down here. I promise, I'll sleep. I won't interrupt you anymore." Jareth straightened in his chair, setting aside his work and eyeing her as she made a nest for herself with the blanket. Much like the one Relde had described seeing.
"I offer you a gilded, velvet couch, yet you prefer the stone floor. Why?" He had wanted to address the situation later, but Fate, it seemed, had decided otherwise. He was leery, but as Marie had forced the issue, there was nothing to be done except ask. He regretted it as he watched her freeze in place.
"I-I…I don't want to talk about it." Jareth was taken aback. This was the first time she had dared refuse to answer a question he posed. "Please," she begged softly. "Please don't make me talk about it."
"Relde has noticed it as well," he pressed, slowly approaching her frozen form. The last thing he wanted to do was spook her. "You do not use your bed. Is there something unsatisfactory with it?" She shook her head, and with her back still to him, she began to form herself into another tiny ball. He knelt on his knees behind the girl. "Then why?" Marie flinched. "Marie," he called gently, placing a calming hand on her shoulder.
She spun on him so fast that she ended up getting caught in the blanket and falling back. He quickly held his hands in surrender and sighed. "I don't want to have to take this route, young one, but you leave me little choice." Jareth conjured a crystal that immediately drew her wary attention. "If you do not tell me why you refuse to sleep in the bed you were provided or even on the couch you were offered, I will be forced to use this to put you into a waking slumber and you will not have control over what you do or do not say." Her clear, blue eyes flew wide at the orb resting on his fingers.
"Why?" She breathed.
"Because I cannot help if you do not tell me what is wrong. I don't want to use this but I will if I must." He could see her resolve breaking as she started rocking back and forth, tears falling down her cheeks, gripping the sides of her head, fingers tangling in her hair.
"Jareth, you've gone too far," Miren hissed in his ear, coming to his knees beside him. "Look at her. You've traumatized the poor thing."
"Would you rather I take her options away from the start?" He hissed back. "Now go before she spots you and worsens."
"They won't go away," she whispered, bringing both males up short.
"What do you mean? Who won't go away?" Miren asked gently.
"What are you doing?" Jareth mouthed, shooting his friend a warning glare. Marie whimpered, flinching.
"Yes?" Miren encouraged.
"The clients!" She yelled suddenly. "They won't go away! That was the only time we were allowed to use a bed was when we were with them," she cried. "So now, whenever I go to bed, I can still feel them. All over me. Even when I get out and go to sleep on the floor like I'm supposed to, I still see them when I close my eyes. They…they won't go away."
Jareth went still. How could he help something like that? What could possibly be done to ease her mind? How could he even begin to convince her that all was well when she still suffered such tortures?
"And the couch?" The King whispered hoarsely.
"They l-liked to use th-those t-too," she sobbed. "Th-they would be-nd us ov-v-ver them a-and g-grab our hair-"
"I understand," he quickly interrupted, not wanting to listen anymore. He couldn't bare it. He couldn't bare those words of horror from the little girl's mouth. He was sickened and he had no idea how to help her, how to comfort her when he could barely touch her without her flinching away from him.
"Every time I wake up," she continued in a haunted whisper, "I keep expecting to be right back in that room."
Miren was at her side in an instant, bringing her into his lap. "Oh, little one," he cooed into her raven hair, "I promise you; you will never be back in that place again. You will never have to suffer at their hands and if we ever find them, I promise you, they will be the ones to suffer. Until they are driven mad, they will suffer."
"Miren. Release her at once," Jareth demanded, the air crackling around him. He was not looking at his friend however. His eyes were glued to Marie who had frozen at Miren's touch, her eyes wide with fear. Miren glanced down at the terrified girl in his arms, dropping them instantly. The moment he did, she jumped away from him, smacking her head on the gilded couch behind her, and fell close to the King, clutching at her skull. "Did I not warn you meeting too soon would have an adverse effect on her?" Jareth seethed, running his hand over her head to ease the ache before it could grow. "Did I not tell you to keep your distance?"
"Well I would have if it were not for you sending the poor girl into a panic with your empty threats," Miren defended, hotly. "She needed comfort and it did not seem as though you were going to provide it."
"Admittedly, I was unsure how, but at the very least I would not have wrapped her in my arms, knowing she still rightfully fears the touch of another," the King growled. He looked to Marie cowering on the floor and sighed. "Will you allow me to check your head?" he asked in a much gentler voice, opening his arms in invitation.
"Do you really think that's going to-" Miren stopped abruptly as Marie actually scuttled closer to Jareth's side, still staring at him wide-eyed. "How did you do that?" He demanded as Jareth scooped her up, sitting them both on the couch. The brunet was quick to follow. Jareth narrowed his eyes at his closest friend and moved with Marie to the opposing couch.
"Simple. I gave her the option of refusing. Hmm…it appears as though there is a small bump after all. Right there," he said, lightly touching the afflicted area. Marie's hand quickly replaced his, trying to feel it for herself. "The magic I placed should have already taken the pain away, do you want me to remove the swelling as well or let it go down on its own?"
"No, I'm okay," she replied quietly, still not taking her wide eyes off Miren. "Who is he?" Her voice was barely above a breath. "He's not a client or a Master, is he?" She asked, shrinking into his side.
"Him?" Jareth asked with some amusement as Miren's face dropped comically in shock and abhorrence. "Of course not. That rapscallion over there is my closest friend. He is my most trusted advisor."
"Have the Fates no compassion?!" Miren bemoaned, falling back on his couch an covering his eyes. "To think that I might have been confused for those detestable monsters! It is more than I can endure!"
Marie looked quizzically at Jareth who only rolled his eyes at his bosom companion. "He is a little impulsive and does not always think things through, but he is steadfast and loyal. He has a good heart and means well. Miren generally sticks to the shadows, preferring to watch from afar. However, since you came to be here, he has not stopped expressing his desire to meet you."
"Indeed. A desire you have no trouble refusing at every turn," Miren replied, rather petulantly.
Jareth raised an eyebrow. "And for good reason, considering what just transpired. And here I thought the Fireys were enough of an ordeal for one day."
"First those humans, now those blithering idiots? What else am I to be compared to this day?! Jareth, how could you wound me so?"
"Quite easily when you deserve it." Marie giggled quietly behind her and, only to stop abruptly, shrinking as the eyes of both males turned to her.
"Sorry," she whispered, lowering her head.
"I see no cause for apology," Jareth assured with a light pat on her head. He noted that she had yet to remove herself from his side and felt pride in her that she at least trusted him to protect her. It was progress, the King decided.
"Indeed, young one. If anyone should apologize, it would be Jareth here for insulting me."
"Or you, for frightening her in the first place? A girl who fears touch and you think to wrap her in your arms and pull her into your lap as though it were nothing."
"Spare me. I only wanted to soothe her fears and reassure her that she was safe."
"By making her even more afraid and feel even more unsafe? That seems rather counterproductive. Wouldn't you agree, my dearest friend?" Miren seemed to have no retort, which suited Jareth just fine. "Now then," he continued, looking down at his young ward still clinging to his side. "What to do about ensuring your rest." He frowned slightly as her face fell at the reminder but it couldn't be helped. It needed to be discussed now that he was collected enough to do so. "You need your sleep, little one," he said apologetically. At her further silence, he continued. "I suppose I could have you start drinking a tea laced with Calming Sense just before bed." At her sharp gasp, he placed his hand gently on her head. "Ease yourself, little one. It would do nothing more than relax your mind and body enough to encourage slumber." Jareth watched her bite into her lip, uncertainty written all over her tiny face.
"Is there anything in particular about your bed that reminds you of…that place?" Miren asked, helpfully. Marie jumped at the sound of his voice, cringing further into Jareth's side.
The King sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Miren, do you have nothing better to do than startle and frighten my ward?"
"My apologies, young Marie."
She looked up at Jareth who nodded encouragingly before muttering a quiet "'s okay" and scrunching her face in contemplation. "Not really. The colors are all different and the blanket and sheets are softer too. But…"
"You're not used to a bed anymore," Jareth completed when her words faltered. "You have come to associate beds with those…acts. We understand now."
"How about putting a cot in her room instead?" Miren suggested. "Like the ones we used when we wanted to sleep outside as children. It need not be a permanent fixture, only until she grows comfortable with the idea of sleeping in a proper bed again."
"The idea has merit. What say you, Marie? Do the tea and the cot meet with your approval?" She bit her lip again, but nodded slowly. "Then it shall be attended to at once. Miren?"
"Already going, my King," the brunet replied, rising. He bowed low to the little girl. "Until we meet again, young miss." She stared at him until the study door shut behind him.
"See? He's a harmless one," Jareth said, gazing fondly after his friend. "A little quick to act without thought at times, but harmless."
"I believe you," she replied quietly.
"I am glad to hear it. I fear now that he's met you, he will press his company more frequently. If he ever becomes too troublesome, let me know and I shall ensure his retreat."
"I don't want to get anyone in trouble…"
"Nonsense. If you are made uncomfortable in any way, I must know. Misery has cast its dark shadows heavily upon you, Marie, but no more. This is your home now and I will not have you be made uncomfortable in your home. Understood?" He felt, rather than saw, her nod. "Good."
"But why?"
Jareth pondered. Why was he going so far out of his way to ensure her increased health and smooth transition into his Realm? It was not simply due to her importance to those events the Labyrinth hinted at. Did he genuinely care for the girl after so short a time? Was he so disgusted by the life she had led at the hands of those humans that he was determined to make up for it? Perhaps it was a combination of answers? "That is a difficult question to answer, child," he said softly.
When she didn't respond, he looked down again, only to find her sleeping against him. It appeared as though the stress of the day alongside her lack of sleep had caught up to her at last. The corner of his mouth quirked as he conjured another blanket to replace the soiled one on the floor and tucked it around her. Jareth also cast a Silencing Charm on the door to his study for good measure before placing his hand to her forehead, guaranteeing her dreams would not disturb her slumber.
Miren re-entered the room a short while later with Relde trailing behind him. Both opened their mouths to speak and surprise settled over them when they could not so much as voice their names. When Jareth pointed to the sleeping child next to him, they both nodded and the King lifted his enchantment from the two. The goblin attendant wasted no time, immediately rushing to her charge's side.
"I'm so glad the young miss is unharmed," she whispered, brushing some errant hairs away from Marie's face. "What happened to her?"
"The Fireys heard about her and decided to investigate," Jareth answered just as quietly. Relde's face darkened at the mention of the former spies. "I have seen to it they will not return."
"Good. Stupid birds," she grumbled, backing away. "Shall I bring the evening meals in here then?"
"That is acceptable. I doubt Marie will feel up to the Great Hall tonight." Relde bowed out of the study.
"She's a good one, that one," Miren mused softly. "Well-spoken, takes initiative, respectful."
"Indeed. More importantly, she seems to genuinely care for Marie and the girl responds well to her," Jareth replied. He carefully picked the child off his person and stood, gently laying her out on the velvet couch. "Shall we attend to the business of the day?"
For the next few hours, the pair poured over the Dwarven missive and carefully devised a response until the evening bell rung sharp and clear. This caused rustlings as Marie groggily sat up, rubbing her eyes. She gazed around in confusion before her ice blue eyes settled on Jareth and Miren at the desk. The King watched momentary fear give way to deepened confusion. Her brow furrowed and her lips turned down.
"What troubles you, Marie?" He asked carefully.
"I…never mind," she replied, biting her lip and looking away. Jareth sighed, exasperated with the girl.
"I do recall explaining that I cannot help unless you tell me what distresses you." She lowered her head, fiddling with her fingers. "Marie…" Her eyes rose to meet his and he was displeased by the fear and uncertainty he found in them. He knew it was not her dreams that upset her so. No vision of the night was too strong for him to control and he made sure hers were peaceful.
"I just…" She bit her lip again.
"Go on."
"You're both over there." Jareth nodded, encouraging her to continue and watched her look over herself. "But I'm still dressed. And I'm not hurting anywhere. So that means…"
"You thought we would…" Miren whispered, appalled and disgusted. Understandably so. Jareth felt no less sickened by her train of thought. "…to you…"
"No, Marie. You will never be touched like that again by anyone. Not until you wish it," the King replied, more serious than he could ever remember being. It infuriated him that she was so accustomed to such actions that she expected them wherever she went. "Those clients who did those things to you...there are no words to describe how they've wronged you."
"It…wasn't just the clients," she said, so quietly he had to strain his hearing just to make it out. He stood and walked towards her, stopping with his hands held in surrender when she backed away.
"I am going to sit on that couch so that we can talk. Is that alright?" He asked, pointing at the vacant seat. She bit her lip and nodded, never taking her eyes off his as he slowly made his way to the spot he'd indicated.
"Is it alright if I come and sit next to Jareth as well?" Miren mimicked. Once again, Marie nodded and scrutinized his every move as well until he was seated across from her.
"Now, what was it you were saying?" The King asked gently. He knew he did not want to hear what she had to say. It would enrage him. Sicken him. Chill him. Yet it seemed she needed to talk about it and, if discussing would help her, he would not refuse to listen. She drew her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around them.
"It wasn't just the clients who did those things. It was mostly them but sometimes the Masters did it too. Even Lord, but he only did it to Mira and Big Sister. They're his favorites."
"I see. That's why you assumed Miren would be no different." Marie nodded, her blue eyes downcast.
"Did she ever mistake you for them?" His friend asked.
"Briefly, though not in this context," he answered, recalling that first breakfast, before turning his attention back to his ward. "Why did the…Lord," he all but spit the undeserved title, "only take your Big Sister and Mira?"
"Mira said it was because she pretended to like it and Big Sister just never fought it. Mira said they like it when you pretend. I tried that once but it hurt too much. It always hurt. Even the clients that Big Sister told us weren't as bad as the ones she tried to take. Even they hurt."
"Let me make something clear to you, Marie," Jareth said, holding her gaze. Never did he think he would be forced to have this conversation with anyone, let alone a small child, but she needed to understand and at the moment, he was the only one she trusted. "That is not how it should be. When done right, and both are in agreement, it does not hurt and neither will need to pretend to like it. You should never have been forced into that. It should have been your choice to give it freely in love instead of having it taken from you in fear and pain."
"That's kind of what Big Sister said, too. She said that when they were forcing us to do those things, it was called rape and that it wasn't normal, no matter what they told us."
Rape. Now he had a name to put to the act of forcing a child into lovemaking. He considered the word with a sneer. It was as repulsive-sounding as the act it described. "She was right. It is not normal."
"Lovemaking is a beautiful thing, Marie," Miren explained further. "Make no mistake. When both partners are in agreement, it is fun for both of them. What they did, those abominable humans, they took something beautiful and destroyed it. They turned it into a revolting mockery of what it should be. I would understand if you are afraid and never want anything to do with the art of lovemaking again for the rest of your life, but I implore you not to give up on it entirely. When you have come of age and are wise enough to accept it, you may find that you enjoy it too. But only when you are of age and can accept it freely."
Marie's brow furrowed as she processed this new information. Jareth was content to let her think in silence as his own thoughts were similarly preoccupied. The Labyrinth had mentioned there would be others. By this point, he would think himself a fool if he believed they would not be akin to little Marie. The others were likely to be just as abused and ill-informed. Was he to have this same conversation with all of those who followed his current ward?
He was grateful to this mysterious sister that she seemed to know what was being done to them, however it also seemed she was just as unaware of the true nature of sex. This led him to believe her maidenhood was stolen just the same. Was the girl, Mira, aware? That one seemed to at least have an idea that it was supposed to be enjoyed. Whether she was forced into womanhood as well or was able to give it freely, he had no way of knowing. That he had to consider any of this at all was enough to churn his stomach but he forced himself to continue reflecting until her soft voice pulled him from his morose thoughts.
"Am I worthless?"
"Are you…what?" Jareth repeated, caught off guard. A quick glance to the side told him his closest friend was likewise unprepared for such a question.
"That's what the Masters tell us," she said tonelessly. "They said all we're good for now is 'used merchandise'. That's what Lord calls us. When we first arrive at The House, Lord meets us. He tells us we're his merchandise now. He tells us we're worth a lot to the first client. He makes it sound like a good thing. But after the first client rapes us, the Masters tell us we're worthless. They say that when they punish us too. That we're 'nothing more than damaged goods'. That making them and the clients happy is the only thing we're useful for and when we stop being useful, Lord takes his gun and shoots us because no one else will ever want us. Even Big Sister thinks she's worthless. So, am I worthless too?"
Jareth was shaking. His blood ran cold. How did one even respond to such a thing? He was at a complete loss for words. His mind ran blank. All he could do was feel. And what he felt was helpless fury. It was rage with no outlet. Wrath with no target. The air crackled around him as his magic surged through him, searching in vain for an escape. He had to regain control. It would not do for Marie to witness the reason he was known throughout the Nine Realms for his infamous temper. It would not do at all for her to learn why no one but she and the mysterious sister thought him to be kind and generous. But closing the lid on his ire proved more difficult than usual. "You are not, nor have you ever been without worth, Marie. And you are certainly not unwanted. Never doubt that." It was taking everything in him to hide the raw savagery from his voice.
"How do you know?" She whispered. His ice blue eyes never left hers.
"Because I want you," he assured. "Do you think the King of the Goblins and the Labyrinth would surround myself with those whose company I do not find worthy?"
Her shoulders hunched in. "I guess not."
"There you have it, then," he replied, forcing a satisfied smile. "I do not want to hear you thinking anything less of yourself again, do you understand?" It was such a simple explanation. Far too simple in his opinion, yet the girl seemed to take his words to heart and he could even see a tiny, hidden smile causing her cheeks to rise as she nodded. Inwardly, he winced, knowing this would not be the last time he had this conversation. A knock sounded at the door. "Enter." Relde and Grybar came in pushing a cart loaded with their dinners. As soon as Marie spotted her, she leapt off the couch in an exuberance Jareth didn't even suspect her capable of.
"Relde!" She shouted, launching herself at the unsuspecting goblin and sending them both tumbling to the floor. "Oops," she said with a tiny giggle. The sound did wonders to sooth Jareth's ire and he even found a genuine smile on his own face at the sight. "Sorry, Relde."
"It's okay, young miss. I'm glad to see you well. I was worried." That brought Marie up short.
"You were worried? About me?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Never mind," she muttered. The goblin patted her cheek, smiling.
"Are you ready for your evening meal, young miss?" Marie nodded shyly. Relde and Grybar immediately began setting the table between the two couches, bowing out when they were finished.
"Come, Marie, before it grows cold," Jareth called. The girl squeaked and darted back to her place and knelt on her knees in front of her plate. "Are you really more comfortable there?" He asked.
"Oh, sorry." She clambered back on the couch, for once not burrowing into the furthest corner away from him. Jareth's mouth twitched as he attended his own meal. Much progress had been made this day and he hoped it would be a turning point for his young ward.