"This time of year is full of memories for me. In winter at home, by the fire. Frost on the window, and snow. Snowballs and making snowmen. One winter, I made a really big snowman. That winter brought the heaviest snow I'd ever seen. The snow fell steadily all through the night. And when I woke up, the room was full of light and silence, and I knew then it was to be a magical day."
Jareth
It was coming on winter. A soft blanket of snow covered the kingdom, muffling sound everywhere and creating beautiful snowscapes. Right now soft, fat flakes were falling lazily past the window of the sitting room.
Sarah and Jareth were on the green velvet sofa in front of the fire. Sarah was lying down, her head in Jareth's lap. He was absentmindedly playing with her hair while talking to their unborn daughter.
"And the kind, wise, and patient Goblin King took pity on the willful girl, generously using his magic and his Labyrinth to teach her valuable life lessons before giving her back the babe she had so cruelly wished away – "
"What?" Sarah snorted. "Don't listen to your father, baby girl. Mommy was never that awful and your Daddy has an over-developed sense of his own prodigiousness."
"Daddy deserves to feel that way," Jareth said smugly. "He is a wonderful and powerful king, wise and judicious!"
"Tra la la! I'm Jareth, the vain and temperamental! Don't piss me off or I'll bog you in an instant!" Sarah mimicked Jareth's accent perfectly.
"You have a very mean Mommy. She thinks hurting Daddy's feelings is funny," Jareth pouted.
"Oh, no!" laughed Sarah. "I'm sorry, love!" She reached up with one hand and stroked his cheek.
He took her hand and kissed it. "Even now, I'm thinking up ways that you can make this up to me. Hmmm…."
"Make what up to you?" asked Finn. He had strolled into the library, looking for Jareth, and found both of them there. Sarah, her head still on Jareth's lap, turned her head to him and smiled. Finn sat down in a wing-backed chair across from them.
"Oh, just mimicking his Highness," she told him. "Listen to this one: 'Where in bloody hell did someone put my crop? If those damned goblins have been playing with it again, I'm going to create a goblin soup! Oh, wait. Here it is. Right on my throne where I left it.'" she snickered. Jareth covered his eyes with one hand, shaking his head.
"That was brilliant!" admired Finn. "And who says a Yank can't do an accent like that? I've got one too: "Finn, you drink like a bloody fish. You've got yourself absolutely pie-eyed. You'll never catch me sloshing about like that!"
"That was good! You sounded just like him!" She cackled.
Jareth, his eyes still covered, said, "You know, I had quite a nice outing planned for today, but if all you two want to do is sit there and make fun of me…"
Sarah's interest was piqued. She sat up and looked at Jareth. "What sort of outing?" She glanced at Finn, who looked curious as well.
"Oh, just a nice walk through town, looking at the shops, enjoying the snow, having mulled cider and I'll treat to a lovely lunch in front of the fire at one of the pubs. And some music. Nothing special really. I just thought, with Yule coming on…"
Sarah bounced up and down on the sofa like a small child. "Ooh! Count me in! I would love that!"
"That sounds absolutely splendid," added Finn. "I'm assuming we're asking Ixonia and Eimile as well?"
"Only if you're more kind to me," replied Jareth. He was going to milk this one.
"Well, how's this for kind?" Finn asked, producing a bottle of MACALLAN NO. 6 Highland Single Malt Scotch.
Sarah stared at the bottle, then at Jareth, then at Finn. "How the hell am I supposed to compete with a $6000 bottle of fine scotch in Lalique crystal?" She asked. "That's ridiculous! Finn, what sorts of things do you buy Above?"
Jareth gave her one of his winsome Jareth smiles. "Well, that is a fitting tribute to your King. What have you, my wife?"
Sarah slitted her eyes at Finn, knelt on the sofa and whispered into Jareth's ear.
"Hmmm." mused Jareth. "And what else?"
She gave an exasperated sigh and whispered again in his ear.
"With chocolate sauce?"
She nodded.
"Done!" He exclaimed.
"That's not fair!" Finn sulked. "Just because I don't have the necessary girl parts…"
"Not to mention the fact that you are my cousin," Jareth reminded him. Sarah smiled, adorably smug.
"Plus he's mine," and she pulled his head to her breast. Jareth smirked at Finn.
"I've told you, Finn. Get yourself a wife. The right woman…"
Jareth knew that Finn had been actively courting Ixonia for a while now. They had yet to speak of wedding plans, however, and this was a sensitive spot with Finn. Jareth knew this.
"Bugger off. I'll go tell the others. Are we leaving straightaway?" And he turned toward the door.
"Let's say an hour," smiled Jareth. "I have a tribute to collect." He turned his smile to Sarah. She grinned back and purred at him.
Finn just silently shook his head and left.
~~~Ó~~~
Sarah had gotten out of the shower and was drying her hair. She was so grateful for the electricity that Jareth had been able to run through most of the castle. Eventually, they hoped to run it to the entire village. Sarah was leaning toward solar energy, Jareth wanted wind power. Neither of them wanted the coal smoke pollution that had to be dealt with Above.
Jareth stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around his waist. His skin was glistening, and Sarah was finding it difficult not to look at his chest. They had to get going if they were going to meet the others soon.
Not looking at him, she stepped into the bedroom and seated herself at her boudoir table. She began to apply a small amount of makeup. Jareth passed behind her, whistling. Again, she made an effort not to look at him. She thought about him all the time, those hormones were unbelievable, and they really had to get ready now.
She heard him dressing, then he headed back into the bathroom to do his hair and eye makeup. Standing, she slipped on the everyday petticoat she was becoming more used to, although this one had been created to accommodate her pregnancy. She was wondering what the proper attire would be for an afternoon like this.
As if he read her mind, (and he probably did, without permission,) he stuck just his head out and nodded to the back of her armoire door. She peeked around it and saw a gorgeous dress and cape, exactly like something out of Dickens.
It was of fine dark red taffeta, with a Victorian lace up bodice, Victorian skirt (of matching taffeta) a matching bustle skirt attachment with button fastening,a matching apron swag bustle attachment with button fastening in back, and a matching ruffle neck choker. A pair of black, pointed toe, button up boots stood to the side.
She stepped back and gasped. This was like stepping back in time to the Victorian era! It was so elegant, so lustrous, so feminine, and so over-the-top!
Jareth ducked his head out of the bathroom and looked at her. "Well?" One eyebrow rose.
Sarah's eyes were huge, and there was a blush to her cheeks.
" I thought you might like that. I had it made to go with your hair and eyes, and the season, of course." He ducked back into the bathroom.
"But — I mean, this is gorgeous, I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but it has hoops! And hundreds of buttons! And I don't even know how many petticoats! I don't know how – "
"How to put this on?" Came Eimile's voice. "It is no small endeavor, trust me. But we've been doing this since I was a little girl, so I can help you dress."
Sarah turned around and saw her sister-in-law dressed similarly but in a deep forest green taffeta that was just stunning with her red hair.
While Eimile was helping her, Sarah kept trying to peek into the bathroom to see what Jareth was wearing. His sense of fashion was impeccable. It had to be something wonderful.
She did not get to see him until Eimile was done with her, but then he stepped out of the bathroom. Sarah's breath caught.
His clothing was similar to hers in color so that they would clearly appear as a pair. He was wearing a tightly fitted velvet black frock coat which hung to his calves. The frock coat was lined with dark red silk, the same color as Sarah's dress. Underneath was a matching double breasted waistcoat of silk, a ruffled white shirt with a dark red silk cravat and bow tied around his neck. He wore black straight stove pipe pants with black pointed boots. In his hand was a beautiful black silk top hat.
She just stared at him until she remembered to breathe. "Ohhh — "
He was smiling. "Precious, you are a jewel. Absolute perfection. I cannot wait to be seen with you on my arm."
Eimile had stepped back next to Sarah to look at her brother. She elbowed Sarah gently in the ribs. "He can clean up pretty well, can't he?"
"As can you, dear sister. You look beautiful. Remember that compliment because I won't give you many more." He winked at Sarah.
He draped a black taffeta cape over her shoulders, lined with black mink. As soon as Sarah felt the mink, she started to protest. Jareth knew she didn't wear fur. "It's not real, sweetheart. I am very good at creating fake fur, remember?" He whispered into her ear before kissing her cheek. He handed her a beautiful set of kid gloves, which she also reassured her were not real, and they made their way downstairs.
From the top steps they could see Finn and Ixonia waiting for them. Their clothing looked just as wonderful. Finn was also mostly in black, as was customary in those days, and Ixonia wore a lovely dress of cream colored velvet. All three women more capes, and both men sported silk top hats.
The group had decided to walk into town, as it was just outside the castle grounds. It was a lovely day, warm enough not to become too chilly but cold enough to allow the beautiful snow.
Finn had brought a flask, and everyone but Sarah was partaking. They were all laughing as they set out. Not even Jareth was aware of a set of malevolent black eyes watching them from above.
~~~Ó~~~
I neglected to give credit to the book Jareth was reading to the baby last chapter. It was Winnie thePooh, by A. A. Milne.
The quote that I used of Jareth's at the beginning of this chapter was roughly taken from the Raymond Briggs animated film, TheSnowman. Initially, the film had a brief narrative at the beginning, done by the author. Later, it was decided that a better opening would involve someone famous – hopefully David Bowie, who had always liked Briggs' work and who agreed.
The film has become a holiday classic, but unfortunately, David Bowie's part at the beginning didn't make it into the films sold in the States. It can be found online, however. I highly suggest that you look for it, it's only about a minute and a half long, and it is especially poignant to see and hear David at this time of year.