A/N: Again, million thanks to my fantastic beta, Anaknusan, and all of you for your encouraging comments. I'm finally returning my full attention back to the story in the hope of finishing it soon. You can expect updates more often in the future. No, I still don't own the Labyrinth.
The Land That Is Not
Chapter Eleven
As she leaned backwards, raising her head, Phaedra's lips quivered and eyes twinkled briefly. Slowly, she ran her tongue across her lower lip and brushed a lock of dark curly hair behind her ear, exposing the slender neckline and a thin line around her neck – a barely noticeable scar. The light coming from behind danced on her shiny bracelets, snaring Sarah's attention.
"Oh no. This won't do." Phaedra clicked the roof of her mouth with her tongue and locked eyes with Sarah. Oddly, only an echo of the previous amusement remained. With a deliberate shake of her head, Phaedra measured Sarah up, stretching out her hand. Before Sarah could retreat, Phaedra touched Sarah's collar.
The touch of her fingers cooled and burnt at the same time as Phaedra trailed her fingers slowly along Sarah's collar to her shoulders.
"Hey! Just keep your hands at yourself!" Hastily, Sarah snatched her arm away and her skin prickled at Phaedra's expression. Half-concealed darkness shimmered in the depth of her eyes, and with pale skin luminous in the soft morning light, she reeked of magic and danger.
"You should watch out for your tongue, my girl. In this castle, many have lost one if not mindful of their words." she said almost lazily.
Sarah bit her tongue, swallowing down the angry snap. "Forgive me, ma'm." She curtsied, lowering her gaze.
"Phaedra," the woman corrected. "No one has called me ma'm for eons, and I damn well shall keep it so. You call me Phaedra, and I call you Sarah. Understood?"
Sarah only nodded curtly, her gaze fixed on the floor and the golden delicate ornaments woven within the rug.
"I understand you've been here, in the castle, some time by now. Am I right?"
"Yes," Sarah grunted. She felt the woman touching her arm and flinching, she raised her gaze and started to back away. Before she could, Phaedra's grip hardened, preventing her from moving.
"What are you doing?" Sarah gasped, feeling her heart race yet again.
Phaedra tsked and muttered, frowning, "This just won't do. For the sake of the gods, he didn't even provide you with decent clothes…" She inspected Sarah's outfit with a disdainful expression, and suddenly let her go, wiping her hands together.
Sarah could feel a blush creeping up her face and glanced down. Her dirty toes greeted her sight, curling against the soft rug.
"I won't allow another human being to walk around in such scratch of clothes!" Phaedra ranted angrily, shaking her head. "Where ever you found those rags, from the junk land?"
Sarah's blush deepened. Biting down an angry retort, she raised her chin and leveled Phaedra's gaze. "The goblins gave them to me."
"Precisely!" Phaedra sneered. "Vile and disgusting creatures. I'm every time amazed of how dirty and malevolent beings they are." After awhile she added, "I would have expected Jareth to realize by now that humans and goblins don't mesh together."
"Truly, you're being a bit unfair." Sarah's replied before she even realized doing so, annoyed by the woman's attitude. "The goblins have been very friendly to me."
"Oh, really?" Phaedra arched her brown. A knowing smile played over her face and she tilted her head. With a burning face, Sarah snapped her mouth shut as the images of her first days in the castle returned to her mind. Still smiling, Phaedra turned around and returned to her seat next to the window. She inspected Sarah, patting the cushion next to her.
"Come here, Sarah. I wish to speak to someone sensible other than his majesty."
"I'd rather stand, thank you." Sarah hesitated, glancing desperately in the direction of the door. "I'm sorry, but I need to return back to work. I have some, err, urgent tasks to do before midday."
Phaedra's stare glazed, and she looked at Sarah with her smooth skin in sudden furrows. "Sit here!" the woman ordered in a dark voice.
Sarah opened her mouth to decline but snapped it shut, realizing that her feet had already started to move on their own. She clutched her fists, trying to prevent herself from walking, to no avail. Helplessly, trembling with the effort, Sarah felt how her steps took her closer to Phaedra. Her body moved as if conducted by a puppet master, forcing Sarah's limbs to move without her content. She reached the windowsill, spun around and sat inelegantly next to Phaedra.
"That's much better." Phaedra nodded satisfied and patted Sarah's knee.
Sarah jolted and moved further away. "Look. It's not that I wouldn't enjoy meeting other people but, truly, I have work to do." Sarah tried to reason with the woman. "I don't know how much you've talked with the Goblin King, but I need to correct one assumption. We're not on what someone might call…the best terms."
Instead of answering, Phaedra only bent her head and stared at Sarah, expressionless. "I heard you let your brother be stolen."
"How do you know about Toby?" Sarah cried in alarm, trying to rise to her feet, freaked out by this odd woman, but whatever spell Phaedra had used on her lasted and kept her confined against the bench.
"It's a serious thing, to lose the game. It happened before, of course." Phaedra gazed absentmindedly towards the front door. She turned abruptly to Sarah and her expression turned oddly sour. "But never like this, and he is worried. More than you could know."
"What? The Goblin King?" Sarah asked perplexed.
Phaedra only nodded with her eyes remaining veiled.
Sarah grimaced, unwarily fidgeting her skirt. "He has a funny way to show it. Sending me to an oubliette, humiliating me and putting me through all this with the goblins isn't something I would define as an act of concern."
"He can be a very disagreeable man," Phaedra agreed easily. "Yet, who else to blame?"
She gritted her teeth together, "I find it rather rude that everyone insists it was my fault. I had no reason to think some freaked librarian could break through locked doors and steal my brother."
Phaedra gave a sound, slightly like a snort. "Librarian, indeed. As if bolts would be of any help against to his - our kind."
"Sarah stared at her, her heart suddenly racing in her chest. "Your kind? Who exactly are you? And what do you mean by saying that he wasn't a librarian?"
She smiled slightly. "Someone time has forgotten but hasn't forgotten the time." Her dress let out a loud hiss as she changed her position and turned face to face with Sarah, eyeing her curiously, appearing almost troubled. "You called the messenger god to take you to the Underground. I can see his touch on you."
"I'm not quite following you," Sarah found herself blushing, glancing at her hands she had folded on her lap.
"One shouldn't accept too eagerly god's gifts. They have tendency to go awry."
"I try to keep that in mind next time. Not that I had too many options over the matter anyway," Sarah answered stiffly. "And honestly, your king is far more generous in bestowing rotten gifts than any other god I've met."
At her words, Phaedra started to chuckle. "As much as it grieves me, I have to admit Jareth's not my king. But you do give him far too little appreciation, albeit I admit he'd behaved rather savagely in your case." She swung her hand flippantly. "Well, that's nothing we couldn't fix, I guess." That same alarming gleam appeared back in her eyes as she measured Sarah closely, reaching out her hand.
Recoiling, Sarah leaned back. Her hands clutched on the fabric of her dress, and she forced the words out of her mouth. "Speaking about his majesty, I don't think he'd be happy to find me here. It'd be, truly, a lot better if I could just leave before he notices."
However, it wasn't Phaedra who answered next. Sarah's stomach lurched at the familiar tone speaking up, "That, I fear, is already too late."
Jolting, she turned to look toward the door. Swallowing nervously, she met Jareth's mismatched stare. As annoying as it was, she felt her face heating and her heart to flutter nervously.
"I hope it wasn't your idea to leave this little havoc by itself on my private wings." He said, raising his hand in which he dangled a familiar looking goblin.
"Itys!"
"Stay where you are, Sarah!" Jareth barked angrily, unaware of Phaedra's spell.
A cool touch on her arm silenced Sarah, and then Phaedra swept pass her. The light and soft fabric of her gown fluttered and swayed as she made her way across the room. "Jareth. I was hoping you'd grant us your presence." She sounded amused.
"That must've been the reason that this little annoyance was guarding your door," the Goblin King dryly retorted, shaking Itys carelessly in his grasp.
"Truly, Jareth. You wound me. Itys was following my instructions," Phaedra replied calmly. "I asked him to bring Sarah to me and wait until I was done. He's quite harmless, as you know. Let go of him, would you?"
Slowly, Jareth lowered his arm and finally loosened his grasp on the goblin. The moment Itys' feet touched the ground he scurried quickly to Sarah and hid beneath her hem. Sarah touched his head soothingly, her gaze fixed on Jareth and Phaedra.
The King moved, taking a step closer. His eyes never left the white-clad woman in front of him. "Phaedra. If I didn't know better I would think you're scheming something."
"You should think better of me, I would never do such a thing. I was only," Phaedra flipped her shoulders elegantly, "trying to find myself some company."
He stopped, arching his brows. "I don't count as one?"
"Female company! I could hardly describe you as one." Phaedra laughed frivolously and placed her arms on her hips. "And by the look of the poor girl I think I did the right thing to ask her to me."
"Phaedra." Jareth gritted his teeth together, the wind blowing through the windows, ruffling his hair and his dark cape. The colors appeared to darken around him, shadows growing taller, and his curbed pale face was as if carved of stone. "What are you implying?"
"She should be clothed properly. Just look at her! That's no way to let any sensible creature wander in the castle."
Sarah's cheeks burned bright red. She was painfully aware of the look the Goblin King gave her behind Phaedra's back.
"I fail to see your point. She looks like the rest of my goblins." The words hurt but Sarah forced herself to keep her mouth tightly shut and hold his gaze with her chin proudly raised. She heard Itys's soft squeak, and released her hands quickly from the goblin's fur she'd been clenching.
"But she's not a goblin."
An unfamiliar expression lingered on his face, the corners of his mouth twitched at the words. Finally, Jareth sighed, and his posture changed slightly as in defeat. "No, she's not." He said softly, still looking at Sarah. "But it doesn't explain your sudden concern for her."
Phaedra stepped closer, snatching back his attention; and Sarah saw her leaning towards him. Rising on her toes, she murmured something in a low voice in his ear. Try as she might, Sarah didn't hear even a word she spoke.
Jareth stared at Phaedra as she stepped away. "Really?" he confirmed evenly.
"Yes, Jareth. That is my request." Her voice sounded odd, and alerted, Sarah tried to imagine what they were saying about her in their odd conversation.
His mouth tightened into a thin line as he inspected Phaedra for some time, face unreadable. "Very well," Jareth finally replied. "I'll let Ron know so he can see that her things are moved here." He turned to look at Sarah, forehead in deep furrows, and a nagging feeling clutched Sarah's throat as she returned his stare. It occurred to Sarah only then that there wasn't even a trace of his previous playful arrogance in him since her coming to the Underground. Instead of the teasing glint Sarah remembered from years ago, the Goblin King's eyes were haunted and full of unbecoming unease.
"I'll talk to you later today, Sarah." Jareth said darkly before turning and striding away with his cape fluttering around him like a ragged storm cloud.
Sarah kept on staring at the door somewhat bothered by her sudden insight into the Goblin King, unable to cast away her own uneasiness. Whatever made the Goblin King so tense couldn't be good. Devoured by her own worry, Sarah didn't even notice Phaedra had walked next to her and was now standing in front of her.
"I guess it cannot be helped," Phaedra tappedher mouth with a finger, her head tilted, and gave Sarah a peculiar look. She sighed. "As if one sulking child in this castle weren't enough. Well, come along."
Hesitantly, Sarah obeyed and found, to her own relief, she was able to move. Phaedra grabbed her arm and pulled her forward. Sarah had hardly time recognize all of the expensively decorated and furnished rooms Phaedra led her through, entering finally into a smaller room with a dark wooden vanity and glass bottles and jars placed on it. In the center of the room, a pile of cushions lied atop of a divan, and an open door at the furthest wall revealed a closet full of clothes.
"Hmm, let me look," Phaedra muttered, measuring Sarah thoughtfully while walking around her. She touched Sarah's pony tailed hair, and Sarah hardly had time to cry in protest as Phaedra pulled the knot off and let her hair loose.
"Just hold on a minute! You can't do that!" Sarah tried to resist. Phaedra paid no heed to her but instead called out. "Eudes, Kylos! Oh, good, Itys you're here already. I'd like you to…"
While Phaedra gave Itys a list of tasks Sarah suspected the poor goblin wouldn't remember longer than a few minutes, two smaller goblins crept in the room from the shadows. Phaedra sent Itys away and gave a few strict orders to her servants. One of Phaedra's personal assistant goblins – Eudes? – took her by the hand and dragged her through and down the castle to the lower level where the bathing areas were located. Dazzled by her odd experiences, Sarah didn't find her voice to protest before the goblin had already stripped her half-naked. Exasperated, she assured him she was able to undress by herself, thank you very much, and drove him gently but firmly away. Hesitantly, she looked around in the steaming surroundings, making it sure she was by herself before stepping down to the hot steaming water that gently swayed by her feet.
Despite the fact that she had yearned for a chance for a decent bath, Sarah couldn't properly enjoy the experience. Phaedra's goblins popped in and out the room without her permission, making her yelp every time in suprise. They brought different items, making a terrible fuss of each of them. The items must either belong to Phaedra or she had ordered the goblins to go in search of the items, a long white gown, archaic large pins and sandals, for her.
The gown was actually two rectangular pieces of soft cloth that she pulled over her head and fastened at her shoulders with the pins, forming a sleeveless dress; she then tied a belt under the folds and slipped the sandals on her feet. The costume felt odd but not uncomfortable, and it didn't look bad. Sarah thought rather dryly while glancing at the mirror and combing her tangled hair with her fingers that she looked more like a woman from ancient Rome than a 21st century woman.
She didn't have time to admire her changed appearance as Eudes urged her to leave the bathing area and led her through the castle corridors yet again. Sarah felt the curious glances of the goblins as she passed them and gestured at them helplessly; she was just as clueless. Despite her expectations, the goblin didn't take her to Phaedra. Jolting, Sarah recognized the castle area as part of Jareth's reception hall. She banished her anxiety, taking in a deep breath and stepped through the doorway.
The room was crowded with goblins that waved at Sarah, recognizing her. She attempted to make a feeble smile but her eyes were attached to a figure she saw lounging on his stone stead. Jareth the Goblin King stared at Sarah, softly tapping his riding crop against his knee.
"Your majesty," Sarah curtsied, feeling very uncomfortable under his scrutiny.
His nostrils flared, and he swung his legs down, his eyes transfixed on Sarah. "Phaedra didn't waste time, it appears."
She attempted a smile, involuntarily caressing the soft fabric of her dress. "No, not really. But what does this all mean?"
"You're to act as her lady-in-waiting," Jareth told Sarah in a matter of fact tone, resting his elbows on his knees.
"What?"
"Lady-in-waiting," Jareth repeated. "You work as her personal assistant from now on."
Sarah shook her head. "I know what a lady-in-waiting is, mind you," she blurted annoyed, crossing her arms on her chest. "However, I'd like to object to this treatment you've both put me through. "
"Really? To what treatment exactly are you referring?" Jareth inquired in a silky tone, and Sarah gulped nervously. She shoved the feeling away, raising her chin.
"For once, I'd liked that my opinion would have also been asked. I'm not her lapdog she can order however she likes. It's…depriving."
Jareth leaned backwards in his chair, glancing at the ceiling. "You say so?" he asked indifferently.
"Yes! And I won't do her any creepy services!"
"Creepy services?" Curious, he lowered his gaze, arching his brow at her.
"You must know what I mean," Sarah stammered flustered, blushing. She was acutely aware that at least a dozen curious ears pried on their conversation at the moment, and being aware of that fact didn't make her feel very much better.
"Frankly, my darling. I do not." Jareth stated pokerfaced but Sarah could have sworn she detected a mischievous glint in his eyes. "But maybe you could enlighten me further in this case?"
"Fine," Sarah snapped. "She kissed me, and as far as I know that's not very usual behavior."
"Oh, dear." That something in his eyes was most certainly akin to amusement. "She did now, did she?"
"Yes! And she keeps on ordering me around, patting and touching me all the time," Sarah snapped. "I might be a servant but there's a line on what I'm willing to do! I will not, I won't…"
"Sarah, relax. She's not, as far as I'm aware, trying to seduce you." He quirked his brows again. "Although it would be an interesting thing to see."
"You - you." Sarah stared at him mouth agape. "You can't be serious." Only by a great effort, she sustained herself from stomping her feet on the ground, forgetting the surrounding goblins. "I don't find this funny at all! I'm not here to offer some erotic services to any of your…"
"No, I think you're quite right on that. I rather reserve that pleasure for myself," Jareth agreed amiably, getting up from the throne and descending the few stairs separating him from Sarah. "However, I'd preferred continuing this conversation in private. So, if you wouldn't mind?" He offered her his gloved hand, and after some hesitation Sarah accepted it.
The feeling of being transported left her, as usual, disoriented. Sarah blinked her eyes, trying to focus and finally recognized the room as the same small one she had pledged herself to Jareth's authority. The coldness seeping through the thick stones raised her skin on gooseflesh. Her stola, though comfortable, hardly provided her any warmth. She shivered, stroking her bare arms, and unable to hold back her tongue, asked. "Jareth. Do you think Toby's still alive?"
The amusement disappeared from his face for a moment, and he sighed. "Yes, Sarah. I think so."
"How do you know? As far as I know, anything might've happened to him. And it's been already over a week since he disappeared. He might be hurt," Sarah whispered in a strangled voice. "He must be afraid."
"Yes," Jareth agreed slowly, something akin to pity in his voice. "It might have - happened. I can't deny that but trust that Toby's still alive. I will find him. I promise."
Sarah nodded absentmindedly, muttering while staring out the window behind Jareth's back. "Phaedra mentioned this has happened before, did she speak the truth?"
She heard Jareth's sharp intake of air. "Sarah, before allowing you to return to Phaedra, I need to give you a word or two of advice."
"Oh?" Sarah glanced at him sharply, recognizing the concern in his voice. He was regarding her carefully.
"As her lady-in-waiting, she expects you to spend a lot of time with her - share secrets, memories, and so on." Jareth made a small gesture with his hand. "However, you're not to talk about your trip through Labyrinth, Toby, or his disappearance with her. Is that understood?"
"But she knows already," Sarah resisted faintly, remembering that Phaedra had said she could see Hermes' gift on her. "She even knew about Tereus." Silently, she wondered how much Jareth did share secrets with his mistress. At least, Sarah thought bitterly, her life didn't seem as a secret.
"Despite." Jareth wrinkled his forehead. "Phaedra isn't part of the Underground, and I plan to keep it that way." He ruffled his wild hair, troubled. "I don't want to involve her -" he stopped suddenly. "She comes from an old and respected family and is used to polite behavior. She is very dangerous, don't forget that, Sarah."
"And you tell me that now? What do you expect me to do if she demands an answer from me?" Sarah frowned at him.
"She's not stupid. She knows you're my subject," he replied cockily. "Be careful. She has her own agenda, and you would do well to remember not to trust in her."
"I'm touched by your concern," Sarah retorted, eyeing him darkly. "But I'm a big girl, and I've already learned my lessons regarding accepting certain advice."
He gave her a sour look. "For your own good, you'd better keep this one in mind still." Jareth took a step closer and leaned toward her. "She doesn't do anything without motive, and whatever she expects to gain through you, I can only guess."