A/N: As usual, I don't own the Labyrinth, and thanks, Anaknusan!
The Land That Is Not
Chapter Seven
"Oh-la-la! Isn't this just precious!" Jareth sneered. Hunched atop the head of a crumbled statue, and swinging his booted leg, he looked down at Hoggle and Sarah. The early sun's light glimmered on his fair unruly hair, errant strands framing his lanky face. The ruffled white shirt underneath his dark leather jacket hung loosely on him exposing his white skin as well as the odd half-moon crest resting on his lean chest. Sarah swallowed down a lump, and Jareth glowered as if tasting something sour when their eyes met. Tapping his chin with his finger, he moved his attention to Hoggle and shook his head. "Tsk, tsk, and right after my warning."
"Yer Majesty!" Hoggle gasped, back-stepping. "I…" The hot wind arising suddenly stirred the leaves of the hedges. Their loud rustle echoed his frightened gasp.
"Silence!" Jareth snapped, jumping off the statue. "I didn't ask you to speak!" He pulled himself straight, eyeing the dwarf coldly, and frowned. "And I don't like to have to repeat myself, Hoggart!"
"Hoggle," Sarah corrected, lifting her chin courageously as the King spun around.
"Oh, yes. Still defiant, I see," the King spat vehemently. "Apparently, unsurprisingly, nothing has changed." With a disgusted frown plastered on his face the King inspected her. His gaze didn't fail to perceive her tattered clothes and dirtied appearance, and, involuntarily, she fidgeted with the hem of her pullover. The movement didn't go unnoticed. Her cheeks flared crimson at the arrogant quirk of his brows.
"So, you returned after all," the Goblin King stated coldly after awhile. "Older maybe. But more mature?" In the pale morning his eyes shimmered with a glacial gleam and fixed on Sarah as he slowly shook his head. "Sadly, I don't think so."
"Jar…"
"Don't you even dare!" the King growled. "I didn't grant you permission to speak; didn't give you permission to come; and most certainly didn't want to find you here."
"But…"
The King threw up his hand, silencing Sarah.
"Happily, it'll be simple enough to send you back to where you came from." He bared his teeth. "Count yourself very lucky, Sarah." He briefly glanced at Hoggle. "Unlike your little traitorous friend here."
"She had no choice! She had to come!" Hoggle yelped as Jareth spun to him.
"And you," the King strode closer to the frightened Hoggle, who scrambled hastily out of his way, "my disloyal subject. Once again I find you plotting behind my back, even when I deliberately told you what would be the consequence."
"Don't blame Hoggle!" Sarah stepped up between the dwarf and the King. "He had nothing to do with this!"
Jareth twirled his head, his attention snared back on her. He took a step forward, and brought his face so close to Sarah's that their foreheads almost touched. The wind changed its direction flailing his ragged cape around both him and Sarah as if embracing them.
"Oh?" Arching his eyebrows, he looked at her down his nose. "Rather convenient for him to be here, wouldn't you say?" The words were more of a hiss, his lips curved in a warped sneer. He looked into her eyes, challenging her to answer.
"What?" Sarah raised her chin, leveling his mismatched gaze. "To find the gardener in his garden?"
Something fleetingly appeared on his face; and was gone. "Don't try to be funny, Sarah!" Jareth snarled, taking a step backwards. His eyes flickered and gleamed with dangerous light as he measured her. "For I'm not amused."
"I wouldn't even dare wishing that," the moment the words fled her mouth, Sarah wanted to cut off her tongue.
"At least something has been learnt," Jareth spat, his eyes crinkled in narrow lines, as he pulled himself straight. "Too bad not enough."
Sarah frowned. "Just because you're a king doesn't mean you can go on judging others as you please."
"I would take care of my words, were I you," Jareth's answered smoothly. "As you said, I'm the King of this land, you're the trespasser, and your little friend here..." He glanced at the trembling Hoggle behind her back, "will soon find out the price of crossing me twice..." He smiled cruelly.
"You leave Hoggle alone!" Sarah cried. "If you want to punish someone, then, be it me!"
"I'd be more than happy to obey this time. Too bad you're not denizen of this land, and I have to save my revenge for my gardener." He snorted, "It should teach him not to double-cross me and you to consider whom to involve in your petulant games." Casually, he waved his hand, and sparks of glimmering flock appeared at the move of his hand. "Goodbye, Sarah. Don't try to return back."
His eyes widened when nothing happened. Only the gently wind softly caressed Sarah's cheeks and swayed the Goblin King's dark cape like the tattered wings of a bat. He stared at her, narrowing his eyes, and then graced her with a calculative smile. "Well, well," Jareth sneered. "This is interesting..."
Nervously, Sarah backed away from the King, nearly stepping on Hoggle.
"Sarah!" the dwarf gasped, grasping her sleeve. "Ye didn't! Not after what I told ye!"
Sarah couldn't find the strength to look at him, transfixed by the gaze of Jareth's curious mismatched eyes.
"This changes the situation," Jareth's lazy words strained Sarah's nerves, his voice carrying a sinister undertone. "Apparently, you have no true - desire to leave after all." He sounded smug, stripping her with a calculative stare. Sarah's face heated; the Goblin King almost seemed to see through her clothes.
"Don't count on it!" Sarah snapped, pulling herself from her reveries. The blood gushed in her ears, and she furiously blinked her eyes driving away the earlier disorientation.
"Insolent brat," Jareth hissed, his previous amusement waning as he pulled himself straight. "Luckily, I have just a right place for your kind of criminals!" He frowned. "We'll see soon enough, Sarah," he promised dangerously. "Your friend, though, may not be as lucky as you are."
The Goblin King snapped his fingers before Sarah had time to protest. Yelping, she felt the world starting to shift around her; the warm shafts of the morning sun melted away; and the impenetrable darkness surrounded her. The damp coldness seeped through her bones as she remained in her place, bewildered, blinking her eyes. Sarah's shoulders sagged when she realized where he had sent her.
Not so surprisingly, Sarah found herself in an oubliette.
Both the coldness of her present whereabouts as well as the memory of the Goblin King's final words caused her to shiver. Wrapping arms around her torso, she sighed loudly.
"Well, that went well."
The dripping sound of the falling water and her own breathing as her only companions, Sarah remained seated on the cold ground, hoping the King would allow Hoggle to explain the reason for her arrival and his actions. She sighed another time, the white angered face of the Goblin King flashing in front of her eyes, and buried her head in her hands. Sarah rather doubted that trusting in her hopes would be right. She shuddered from the cold, blowing warmth to her locked fingers, thoughtful.
Despite the fact that she had anticipated it, Sarah jolted, letting out a frightened gasp when the silent darkness was suddenly broken, "And now, Sarah."
Hastily, she scrambled to her feet, turning towards the sound. At first, her eyes saw nothing. Then a small light kindled and cast the impenetrable darkness away, revealing the Goblin King in his regal appearance. He was leaning against the moist stonewall of the oubliette and holding a crystal in his gloved hand, playing it back and forth in his fingers with a bored expression. He looked up, and Sarah's mouth dried as she forced herself to stay still, meeting his gaze.
The Goblin King lowered his hand, but the crystal he'd been toying with remained in the air. Its shine turned brighter until it illuminated the entire oubliette, revealing the dark moist walls curving around them. The magical glow left half of his face in the shadow, emphasizing the shape of his sharp nose and his gaunt features. He smiled as he noticed Sarah' defiant posture. His white-teethed smile flashed in the shadows.
"Now you tell me what exactly are you doing in my Labyrinth," the Goblin King ordered.
Sarah gulped down a lump in her throat, resisting the urge to enquire about Hoggle. Enfolding her fingers, she breathed deep, trying to calm her trembling heart. Despite the forest-creature's words, Sarah wasn't too confident the King would help her. A predatory-like expression lurked in his eyes, an unfamiliar threat she didn't remember existing earlier.
"I'm waiting, Sarah!" Jareth's voice severed her deliberations.
"Toby's disappeared," she quietly confessed. "Someone snatched him from me."
"What?" Jareth jerked up at her words, and something – a frightened expression fleetingly ran over his visage. "Toby's here?" Sarah cringed at his accusing tone as if he were blaming her.
Hastily, Sarah shook her head, and her hair flung around her face like a dark fan. "That's what I thought at first," she hesitated, pushing the errand strands of hair behind her ears and deciding otherwise than to accuse him. "But…" she fell into uncertain silence unwilling to reveal her meeting with the forest-creature.
"But what?" Jareth impatiently demanded and clenched his teeth together. Multiplied, the sound echoed in the silent oubliette. "My patience is waning quickly, Sarah!" he warned.
"A creature I met after arriving told me he's not," Sarah quickly continued, shuddering, the relentless grasp of the wooden arms still aching her throat.
"Oh?" Jareth quirked up his eyebrows. "Pray, tell more," he said smoothly. "Someone in the kingdom knows something I, the ruler of all there is, don't?"
Sarah felt the embarrassment burning her cheeks. "Don't mock me!" she snapped. "I don't know what or who it was, but it knew you!" Her voice faded at the angry look on his face. She glanced at her feet. "It told me to find Toby and tell you."
He crossed his arms across his chest. "I'm still waiting."
Sarah shrugged her shoulders, feeling embarrassed. "It said that the wind blows too hard and birds have a foul voice." She brought up her face, forcing herself to unflinchingly meet his stare. "And unless we find Toby, all's lost."
His expression remained unchanged, his voice flat. "And what kind was - this creature?"
Sarah dampened her lip, "Odd, unfamiliar," she muttered grudgingly. "It came from the forest as it was part of the forest and land itself. The trees obeyed it." She prayed the King wouldn't inquire more.
His countenance changed. "You met it?" he asked dubious while detaching from the wall he leaned against.
"It?" Sarah repeated, perplexed, as she stepped backwards.
His brows furrowed. "The Labyrinth," Jareth sounded reluctant, and a small gasp escaped from Sarah's lips after hearing the revelation, "or some part of it at least…" Thoughtfully, he glanced into the darkness before turning to Sarah. "Assuming, I believe you…"
"But I told the truth!" Sarah exclaimed.
"So you say," Jareth retorted. "And even if you did, I'm still to decide what to do with you." He glared at her. "Don't think I'm thrilled to both find you in and be unable to throw you out of my Kingdom."
"You think I didn't realize that?" Sarah hardly hindered from snapping. She hastily continued, "Just believe this wasn't my intention."
"Yet the truth remains," Jareth scowled, "I can't be rid of you." He clasped his hands behind his back, inspecting Sarah. He sighed more to himself than to Sarah, "And now you tell me Toby's disappeared…" His expression turned thoughtful.
"So?" Sarah licked her lips, asking in a small voice. "What will you do?"
He stole a sharp glance at her. "Me?" Jareth repeated. "The question is what will you do?"
"Me?" Sarah stammered. "I don't understand."
"Yes. Apparently," Jareth replied angrily. He plummeted into silence, reflecting on his thoughts. "Oh, I guess it can't be helped," the man finally muttered while running his fingers through his hair and glancing at the black oily stones above.
"What?" Sarah looked at him, suspicious of his sudden mood-change.
The small stones rattled under his boots as he sauntered closer to Sarah. "You'll be coming with me to the Goblin Castle," Jareth told her crossly while closing the distance between them. The man stopped right in front of Sarah, his clothes glimmering and glittering in the blue-tinted glow of the hovering crystal behind him. Everything about him, from his pale bony face to his dark fluttering cape, looked otherworldly and eerie, but the tone of his voice was harsh. "You'll tell me all that transpired with regards to Toby's disappearance, and only then I decide if I'll help you." After saying so, he offered his hand, and when Sarah didn't move to accept it, snapped, "Or do you prefer staying in the oubliette instead?"
"No." She shook her head.
"Then take my hand," Jareth ordered exasperatedly, "before I change my mind."
That was all Sarah needed to hear. Hastily she reached out, grasping his outstretched palm. The leather of his gloves felt cold and smooth, and his fingers wrapped around her fingers, squeezing her hand gently. Surprised, Sarah looked up. Eyes flashing, expression turning sour, he clasped his mouth tightly shut.
Sarah didn't even have time to gasp as Jareth yanked Sarah closer. She stumbled forward, seeing the world swirl in front of her eyes. The darkness was smeared with different colors; the silence of the oubliette was replaced by a cracking sound and rushing of the wind. The blood throbbed loudly in her ears, and she whimpered. The shifting of her surroundings left her breathless and light-headed, and, unnoticing, she grasped more tightly to the Goblin King's hand, clinging to it with all her might, afraid he might let her fall.
Sarah didn't even realize the land beneath her feet had stabilized as she adhered to Jareth's hand, eyes squeezed tightly shut.
"We have arrived. You can let go of me now," Jareth's mocking voice made her jolt. Blushing, Sarah opened her eyes and quickly released his hand. She took a step backwards, her gaze darting around. Her heart pounded loudly and nervously in her chest at the sight of an unfamiliar room. Limestone walls, emitting coldness even the warm summer's sun couldn't banish, surrounded them. Further away arched windows revealed the sight of the blue sky, allowing the yellow shafts of the sunlight to enter the room. The decoration was ascetic, only a gilded mahogany table and few chairs leaning against the wall adorned the space. The room was as silent as it was empty.
She moved her gaze at Jareth, dampening her lip. "What?"
"I handle the questions, if I may!" Jareth snapped, spinning around and walking away. He stopped next to the table, dusting the cover with his hands, his back turned to Sarah. "You said someone kidnapped Toby." The King spoke to the air.
Sarah pursed her lips tightly together, and stared at his back with fiery eyes. "Yes," she clenched her teeth together.
"Tell me, Sarah," the King asked, his voice trembling with veiled fury as he turned to look at her and leaned against the table, folding his arms, "how's that possible?"
"How am I supposed to know!" Sarah exploded. "My life's as normal as it can be aside from my Underground friends. I doubt anyone I've worked for would be a baby snatcher! The only one doing that as his job is you!"
He narrowed his eyes while inspecting her, "Carefully, precious…"
She let his remark pass, rubbing tiredly at her eyes. The resentment faded just as fast it arrived, leaving her only drained and numb.
"I, seriously, don't know what happened. We had…an argument," Sarah shook her head, looking at Jareth, "but nothing dangerous. Toby went in my room, and when I followed him, he had vanished…" She looked at him worriedly, her earlier terror making a return. "The windows were open, and I swear I saw a bird flying away. I thought…" her voice died.
"…that it was me," Jareth completed the sentence, frowning.
Helplessly, she shrugged her shoulders. "Yes."
"I see," Jareth muttered, placing his finger on his jaw and regarded Sarah coldly. "So as only a true heroine can, you immediately called for my traitorous gardener and lured him to help you to return to Underground." Disgusted, Jareth shook his head, pulling himself straight. "To rescue your helpless little brother from the clutches of the vile Goblin King…"
"I thought it was you," Sarah defended lamely, blushing. "How was I supposed to know?"
Jareth snorted. "Just as reckless and careless as earlier." He sauntered closer, stopping only inches away from her, and something hungry flashed in his eyes as he leaned closer. "Tell me, Sarah Williams," his voice was barely a hushed whisper. "Whatever compelled you to eat anything growing in the Labyrinth? Rash you might be but not so stupid. Surely you remember what happened last time you ate provisions of my land."
The words brought a sour taste to her mouth, like a memory of over-aged peach. "That's not your business," she sulked.
"On the contrary," the King murmured softly. "Since, it changes this whole situation rather effectively."
"Yes, I know about that!" Sarah snapped, refusing to allow him to intimidate her. "I can't leave this wretched place ever again."
"Oh, not only that," the Goblin King leered, his eyes glimmering. "You see, Sarah, by doing so, you, in truth, gave up your right as the defeater of my Labyrinth, and subdued yourself under it." He smiled, yet the smile didn't reach his eyes. He continued, "Since I'm the ruler of the Labyrinth that gives me certain powers over you..." The Goblin King took a step closer, and, startled at his words, Sarah backed away staring at him wide-eyed. "And I'm not very satisfied with the end results of that little incident we shared a few years ago."
Unbelieving her ears, Sarah gaped at the Goblin King. Finally, she succeeded to stutter, "But, but Toby."
"Don't you worry," Jareth spat. "I haven't forgotten him. Ever. You kept a very good care of that, Sarah."
The words had an opposite effect on her. The sudden panic ravaged through her body, and she stiffened. "You, you, cheat!" Sarah cried furious. "You cheated me! He's here, isn't he?"
He let out an exasperated sigh, "No, Sarah. He's not here, and before you ask…Neither do I know his whereabouts. Against you beliefs, I have better things to do than snatching and watching little boys of the Aboveground."
"Yet you took Toby!" Sarah accused, and Jareth's expression turned darker.
"Only by your request," he reminded with a half-strained guffaw. "Have you seen me in your life ever since that incident?"
The words silenced Sarah, and, knowingly, Jareth flashed an obnoxious leer. He raised his hand and softly touched her chin, lifting her face. His eyes, in his sharp-angled face, bore through her. "I could always help you," Jareth stated finally, "but everything comes with a price."
"I paid my price already," Sarah whispered through her parched lips unable to rip her gaze away from the Goblin King. "I'm supposed to stay here for the rest of my life." The realization was almost too bitter to acknowledge.
"You paid your price for the land, and, frankly, I rather see you going than in my sight," Jareth dryly snorted, releasing his hold on her.
Sarah shuddered at his relentless tone and let her gaze travel to her feet, asking silently, "What do you want then?"
He didn't answer at first, and, wondering, Sarah looked up. The King stood unmoving in contemplations, and something nervous fluttered in Sarah's stomach as he shifted his attention back to her. All the previous amusement was swept away as the King opened his mouth.
"I want a compensation." His strange eyes gleamed darkly, and with his wild hair flowing around his face he looked unearthly, eerie, and scary. Sarah's stomach lurched at the hissed words that barely concealed his rage. "You defied me, you mocked me in front of my subjects, caused chaos, destroyed my city and my castle, and jeopardized the stability for all that took centuries to build."
The words didn't register at first. Sarah stared at the lanky Goblin King, mouth gaping, "You want what?" she gasped.
"You heard me right, Sarah," Jareth scowled. "I want your total humiliation."
"And only short time ago you already said I have lost my integrity by eating food of the Labyrinth," Sarah exclaimed weakly and shook her head. "As far as I know, the monarch usually has an absolute power over the people living in his country. "
"Being a citizen of Labyrinth is rather different from being subjected under my authority."
Sarah paled at the barely hidden insinuations, unwanted images flashing through her mind. She shook her head, discarding the panicked thoughts. Furrowing her forehead, she asked, "Haven't I been humiliated enough?"
"Sarah, Sarah," he laughed deridingly, flashing a warped smile at her. "Trust me. You've seen nothing yet…"
She refrained from retorting back at him and bit her lip, averting her gaze, "But you'd help me to find Toby?" she asked after awhile.
"Yes." His voice remained flat.
Sarah narrowed her eyes, turning her back on the Goblin King and chafing her temple. Her gaze wandered toward the distant arched windows. Something nagged in her mind. She shook her head, and turned slowly around. "No…" Sarah whispered, lowering her hands to her side.
He demeanor changed subtly. "No?" Jareth stood straight, inspecting her as she stood in front of him.
"As I said," Sarah repeated softly. "I won't agree to that." Swallowing, her heart beating against her chest, she met his eyes. "You'd help me even without."
"Oh, pray tell," Jareth curved his eyebrows, sounding suddenly - amused? "What makes you think so?"
"Toby's important to you," Sarah felt all the time more certain, remembering the Labyrinth's words. "You need to find him! Not only because I ask you."
He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, leveling her gaze. "You could be right," the King said softly, stepping closer. "But even if I'd help to find Toby, what makes you think I'd let him return back to the Aboveground?" He let his words sink in. "Especially, if he's important to me, as you so precariously assume…"
"You wouldn't!" Sarah gasped, back-stepping.
"Don't tempt me, Sarah" Jareth snorted. "Since you're treading on thin ice," tapping his cheek thoughtfully, the King regarded the woman in front of her. "I have a very long memory, and I quite clearly remember you being the one who offered Toby to me in the first place. And also that it was you who decide to snatch him back…" his tone turned harsher. "All I want is to have back that which you stole from me!"
"Toby's no prize!" Sarah cried, white-faced. "He's a boy who has a loving family, and whom he loves as well! You dare to steal him from them!"
"Sarah," Jareth sounded bored. "You don't get it, do you? You're in no position to make threats or demands on me." His mouth twisted into a grimace. "If you want my help and your brother returned back to the Aboveground you will accept my terms…"