-Revised chapter to correct a plot error! Ignore this note if this is the first time you're reading this chapter
So, I guess I forgot to say this in the last chapter. I intentionally made Toby about five or six years younger than Sarah rather than about fifteen for the purposes of my story. Still a spoiled little brother, but old enough that she's still affectionate towards him because she knows he has no idea that he's got it way better than her. I wanted her to like him, but still resent him at the same time.
Another thing, I never read the novelization, and never got past the blurb on the back of the manga sequel. The names I use for her father and stepmother, Roger and Irene, are because those are the names used most in the fanfictions I read. I rather like Irene better than Karen, and I've got a habit of using it. I have my own reasons for not using Robert...
Just a peek into my mind while I'm writing this, if you're interested. If not, then keep doing what you do best. ;)
I don't own Labyrinth, Jareth, or Sarah, or anyone/thing else in it. Jim Henson made it perfect. Hope you like it!
Monday, when Mrs. Grager called home to ask why no one showed up for parent-teacher conferences, I was grounded. Confined to my room for the whole day, save for meals.
"You were wrong! It was a terrible idea." I cried, jumping on the bed.
"Was it?" A voice answered. I knew he'd be there, because when I manage to come up here alone for a while, any time, he usually came to sit with me. "Why does it matter to where you are confined?"
"I'm grounded, Jareth. And it's your fault." I glared.
"And let me ask you, Sarah." He folded his arms, "If you were not grounded, where would you be right now?"
"In my room, but-"
"Doing what?"
"Probably a puzzle, or reading a book, or playing some game with you, but-"
"And can you not do this either way?" He pursued.
"But-"
"What is the difference? This way, your parents show their ignorance in administering an appropriate punishment while you have successfully negated a hurtful situation. Would it be worse to watch your father and stepmother argue about who has to go to your conference, or to sit where you would be regardless?"
I glared at him. "I hate your logic." He chuckled. "And you approve of teaching children to lie?"
"I'm not teaching you to lie, Precious." He held up a hand. "We must never lie. The power of words is far too powerful for lies, spoken by people like us."
"What do you mean, 'people like us'?" What do we have in common? I couldn't think of a single thing.
He grinned at me and conjured a crystal like the one in my pocket now. "We who are so intuned with magic. Words have power, dear Sarah. To lie would be to invoke magic with a rather undesirable effect."
"I can't do magic." I scoffed. He raised an eyebrow. "Humans can't do magic!"
"But you are still in tune with it. You are a special child, Precious One. Your words influence magic as only one who believes can. That is why I heard your wish, oh so long ago."
"Really?" He's finally answering some of my questions. He nodded.
"So you mustn't ever lie. The only thing I've demonstrated in this situation, instructed you to do, was to merely withhold the truth. Those are two very different things."
"Wow." I blinked, trying to decide on one specific question to ask now. If he's giving answers, I can't pass this up! I opened my mouth to ask what he is, when the door opened.
Jareth looked up quickly, taken off guard for the first time. But then, before I could blink, he was gone.
"Sarah?" Dad blinked, staring at the place where he'd seen Jareth for only a split second. "What... oh, never mind." He shook his head, obviously playing that off. "Would you like to talk about what you did?"
"Not really." I admitted, telling the truth as Jareth had instructed.
"You don't have a choice." He gave me a hard look. "This was wrong. You know we're supposed to go and talk with your teacher, and you intentionally withheld this information. What have you got to say for yourself?"
I hesitated, wondering what would be a lie and what wouldn't be.
"I didn't think you'd want to go." I chose carefully.
"Why would you think that?" He was confused now, but kept a stern expression. I hesitated again; I don't want to tell him that I know he doesn't care for me like he does for Toby, or that Irene hates me. I've kept that a secret for so long, pretending to be oblivious to everything just to make it easier. I don't want to lose that. So what do I say? Jareth says I can't lie, so what do I say?
"Because... I haven't gotten in trouble or anything. I've got great grades, you've seen my report card. It'd be boring." I smiled triumphantly.
He seemed surprised by my logic, and disturbed by something. He shook his head. "Where did you learn to think like that?"
I merely shrugged, the universal gesture of pretty much anything.
He looked around my room, eyes lingering on the spot where he'd seen Jareth, before he stood from my vanity stool.
"Alright, well..." He looked at me again. We hadn't had a conversation since before I could give a somewhat mature conversation, so he had no idea how to deal with me. "Stay up here until diner. Then you're marching right back in here. We'll discuss this more in the morning."
I stayed quiet, watching him leave. After the door shut, I waited.
And I waited.
And I waited. But Jareth didn't came back. I only found a new book on my shelf. It was red leather cover, with no author or legal page. I lounged on my bed to read it for the rest of the day, up until bedtime when I heard Toby scampering down the hall to his room across from me.
"Lights out." Irene stuck her head into my room, flipping the switch off and shutting the door again. I dropped the book and felt my heart skip a beat. No, no! I haven't even changed yet! And the creatures are already coming back!
"Jareth." I hissed, on my knees on the bed. He was already walking in from the shadows of behind my closet. "Where did you go?" Was my first, curious question. He spread his arms before crossing them, banishing the creatures from their proximity to my bed.
"To attend to neglected matters at my own home." Was his cryptic answer. I remembered that stone room and the odd chair, and the goblins. That was the only time I heard or saw anything about his life outside of keeping my wish.
But I guess I can't expect him to spend all his free time here.
"Sarah," He seemed to notice my attire now, "You aren't at all ready for bed."
"No, I'm not. Irene shut the light out." I panicked. "What am I supposed to do? I can't go down there."
"Why not?" He questioned. I looked at him in terror, but bit it back. I haven't been terrified of these creatures in weeks. Stop it, Sarah. "Come on, I'm here to keep your wish. They won't hurt you." He held out a hand to help me down.
I hesitated, but trusted him and stepped down.
The creatures went crazy, wanting to strike out so badly and attack. But they didn't dare come closer. I took a shaky step towards my closet, and another. Jareth remained by my side, insuring they didn't come closer.
Halfway across the room, after what felt like forever, one of the creatures either got brave or desperate. It flew at me, and scratched my cheek before Jareth acted. He flung the creature back and growled. He actually growled- furious! I blinked, backing away from Jareth as he sneered at the creatures that had dared come too close.
If there was ever any doubt, there was none now. He was not human. His pointy ears stuck up under his hair, different colored eyes just as dark and threatening as the creatures that stalked us in my own room. The growl that ripped through his throat was vicious, and frightened me. But it was also only then that I realized his teeth were all rather sharp, like a sharks or something.
As his growls quieted, the other creatures had given us a berth wide enough for his approval. He stood up right, still glaring at the whimpering creatures in a way that even they didn't talk back to.
He turned to me. I took a step back, unable to speak or look away. He was terrifying! He met my eyes for a moment, his glare completely gone without so much as a trace. He looked down at my cheek, before turning his attention to his hands. I was unable to look away from his face, trembling and wondering, do I really actually know him well enough to trust him? What is he?
He looked back to me, raising a bare hand- I'd never seen him remove his gloves before -and I flinched back. His expression was hurt, and he retracted his hand.
"Precious One, I will not bite." He repeated the very same assurance he'd uttered when we first met. I stared with wide eyes, forcing myself not to flinch away when he raised his hand again. I did flinch, however, when his thumb swept over the fresh scratch. He pulled away and I raised a hand to feel my cheek quickly. What did he do? I didn't feel any sort of bump or blemish whatsoever!
When I looked back up, I swear I saw him lower his hand from his mouth before slipping the glove back on.
"I apologize. I hadn't expected them to be quite so," He held a formal tone; he knew I feared him in that moment, "...adventurous." He gestured the rest of the way to my dresser.
I looked back over to it, and back to him. But he didn't follow as I walked towards it this time. Neither did the creatures, still whimpering with their tails between their legs. He shifted to the other half of the room, clearing out a path for me to the door so I could go to the bathroom and change, where the light would keep the creatures at bay while I was alone.
When I returned, I was fully convinced that I was being ridiculous; of course he isn't human. Therefore, I can't expect him to act completely human. Whatever he is, I didn't know. So I can't have any expectations he had to fit, and if he didn't I wouldn't trust him any longer.
I still trust him. He's my closest friend, and he did protect me from those creatures. That's what he'd done, no matter how frightening the manner. So I slipped back into my room and looked around for him. He stood by the door, insuring a clear entrance for me. He looked down at me, nervous. I hugged him.
"Thank you, Jareth."
"Excuse me?" He was surprised.
"Thank you for everything. Protecting me, listening, helping me."
He crouched and wrapped his arms around me with a smile. "You're very welcome, Precious One."
When I pulled away, we were right beside the bed. I climbed up, and looked over at him.
"Goodnight, Jareth."
"Goodnight, Sarah." He smiled sadly to me before moving to sit at the end of my bed.
The rest of school went by quickly. Summer break was upon us, and another whole several months of freedom.
Irene signed me up for a local wildlife club at the park just to get me out of the house for most of the week. But, I actually really liked it. I loved going to the park, and wondered why I'd never come here before. I'm nine now, I can go by myself. Right?
The meeting for today was canceled, because of the rain. But Irene and Dad were just too unbearable to stay home with all day. Toby went to a day care for the same length of time he'd gone to preschool, so he was gone for a while most days.
I decided to go out to the park anyways. Dad and Irene didn't even care, delighted that I'd found something I truly enjoyed, rather than moping around the house and wasting space. Oh, it doesn't look like it will rain for a while anyways.
Last week, we learned how to climb up trees. I rather liked that, but, I wanted to finish reading my book first. I'd read it so many times already, I acted out the last few lines about half an hour after getting there.
"Through dangers untold, and hardships unnumbered," I looked down at the book, and took another step through the dirt towards the tree I planned on climbing. "I have fought my way through to the Castle, beyond the Goblin City, to take back the child that you have stolen." I looked at my lines again. Jareth left this for me, saying it was written by someone he used to know, but was completely fiction. "For my will is as strong as yours, and my Kingdom as great!"
I was three feet from the tree, and frozen in place. Kingdom as great... Kingdom as great... What was the next part?
I looked back at the book for a final time before grinning widely and looking back into the branches. "You have no power over me!" I laughed, and dropped the book on the bench as I ran past, launching myself into the tree. It isn't too hard! I can totally do this by myself. The first branch was just the hardest to reach. After that, it was easy to keep climbing; going up and up. The wind on my face, I was so high up! It was wonderful! Almost like flying!
I closed my eyes and turned my face upwards. Ahhh!
One raindrop fell dead-center on my forehead. I opened my eyes, just in time to see lightning flash overhead, and hear thunder quickly after.
Another drop fell through the remaining branches above me, hitting me on the arm this time. It's raining? Now? Can't it wait?
"Oh." I moaned, and started to climb back down, only to find it a bit harder. The clock tower sounded in the distance, telling me it was already five. I've got to be home by six, so, I better hurry down. It's half an hour's walk home, and I've still got to get down safely!
Careful, careful, careful, oh. The next branch was too low, I had to let go with one hand in order to reach down far enough.
Kraaaak-kaaa-boooooom!
I screamed and lost my footing as the rain started down full-throttle. I was still several feet in the air, and caught my leg on the branch I'd been attempting to reach.
I hit the ground, and my brain got foggy for a moment. I couldn't hear anything, dizzy. By the time I got my bearings again, I realized I was sitting in a puddle of mud, completely soaked. I could barely open my eyes, the rain was coming down so hard.
And... my arm felt hot. I suddenly got scared, and looked over at it... My shirt was already stained red, and it was dripping down past my elbow now.
"Ahhhh, ohhh." I was freaking out; what do I do?! No! Oooow! Tears in my eyes, I struggled to my feet, clutching my arm so I didn't move it, I ran for home as fast as I could.
Lucky for me, I didn't pass any cars, because I sprinted the entire way. It hurt, it hurt sooo much. I'm so stupid! I should never have done this. No... I'm so stupid...
I burst into the door, slamming it behind me.
"Sarah! You should have come in before it started raining! You better get up there and take a shower." Irene shouted at me angrily from the kitchen. I hesitated, knowing I had to get to the doctors or something. This had to be bad.
I felt a tear, or rain, drop down my cheek and I suddenly remembered something else.
Without saying another word, I tore upstairs.
"What was that about?" I heard Dad ask.
"She's soaking wet. I'm going to have to clean the floors now." Irene answered, just reaching the bottom of the stairs. But I was already at the top, and turning down towards my room.
"Sarah?" I heard Toby's voice from his room. "Why are you so wet?"
I ignored him and slammed my door shut, rushing around. What do I do? I've never summoned him. I've never had to talk to him or anything when he wasn't already here!
"Jareth, I need you!" I cried out, glancing into the mirror of my vanity at my pathetic look. I was soaked to the bone, and I could see the gash under my hand properly. My entire right arm felt numb, and my left hand wasn't large enough to cover it. Or is that just because I'm shaking so much?
Hands clamped down on my shoulder, and a familiar figure materialized behind me in the mirror.
"Calm down." He insisted, looking rather disturbed. "Calm down, Precious. Let me see, now." He cooed in a calming voice, still talking under his breath in the same tone until I took a deep breath and stopped shaking. He snapped his fingers, and I was dry, but not warm. I was still cold and shivering.
"Sarah, let me see." He insisted, grabbing my left wrist to gently pull the hand away. His face hardened when he saw the gash, and I cried out, going to cover it again. But he held my hand back. "No, no. Let me take care of it. Come here, Precious. Come here." He insisted, having my sit on the edge of the bed.
"C-c-can you fix it? Jareth." I was still crying.
"Calm down. I can fix it." He was removing both of his gloves, setting them beside me on the bed as he crouched before me. I angled my arm towards him, unable to look at it myself. "Just stay with me. I'll take care of it." He repeated, hovering his hands over it unsurely. "I can take care of it, Precious One."
"Jareth," I opened and closed my mouth. "I'm sorry." This obviously disturbed him greatly. I remember how he freaked out when one of those creatures scratched me, he must be having a terrible time to see this.
"You're apologizing?" He scoffed, then shook his head. "You should be. Giving me a heart attack. Never, ever do it again." I clutched my eyes shut when his hands came down over the gash, pulling the skin back together and just holding his hand there. My skin got warmer, and a tingling sensation filled my entire arm. I flinched away, and he shifted his grip to hold me still.
"I'm so sorry." I shook my head.
"You'll be alright." He was getting a better hold of himself. "That was just... just foolish of you. Never scare me like that again, Sarah."
He was scared? For some reason, I never expected him to be scared of anything.
"Be careful with this arm for a few days." He insisted, lifting his hands to reveal a barely sealed wound with no scab. He put his hand back there, and turned his attention back to me directly. "What were you thinking, Sarah? You're so very lucky this was all that you hurt."
"I-I-I..." I just didn't know what to say. He sighed and shook his head. The tingling went deeper in my arm, and when I twitched my arm again, it stabbed with pain. I hissed and ducked.
"You'll be alright." He repeated, if only for meaningless comfort words. "Look here, you're alright." He pulled his hands away. It looked perfectly healthy now. But when I tried to lift it, it still stung with pain. He quickly replaced his hands again and let out a shaky breath.
"Thank you, again." I muttered. "I'm so stupid. I knew it was going to rain today..."
"No you aren't." He insisted. "You're a child. Every child makes mistakes. You learned from this, though, right?"
"No climbing trees in the rain?" I looked up, cautious.
"Never get hurt like this again at all!" He shook his head. "Climbing trees in the rain, you could do that. Just, never scare me like that again." I twitched my arm once more, and there was only an uncomfortable pinge in it. "That's it, now. Try not to use it for a few days, Precious One. It will heal completely, but don't strain yourself."
"I promise." I sniffed, and this time, he initiated the hug. I hugged back with one arm, laying the other one just over his shoulder.
"Thank you, for coming to me rather than those human healers." He whispered to me. "You would have been far worse by then." He pulled away and summoned a crystal, handing it over to me. "Eat these, they'll help with the dizziness."
"What dizziness-" I stopped, clutching my eyes shut when I looked up quickly. "Oh."
He chuckled and pat the hand that held the crystal-now-box-of-chocolates. "I'll return tonight, Precious. But, I have to return to prior engagements now. If you've strained your arm, I'll know." He warned me.
I smiled and popped a piece of chocolate into my mouth. He chuckled again and slipped his gloves back on. "Be safe."
The instant he left, I heard footsteps running upstairs.
"Sarah! Sarah, is this blood?" Dad burst into the room. I looked at his hand, which was covered in the rain water I'd tracked in, and a little red on his fingertips.
"Where did that come from?" I asked innocently.
"The banister. Irene's raving down there, vacuuming the carpet. Are you alright?" He walked closer.
"I'm fine. Perfectly fine!" I smiled, popping another chocolate into my mouth.
"This isn't blood?"
"I'm perfectly fine." I insisted, spreading my arms and ignoring the twinge in my right arm. I dropped it again. I hadn't lied, because I am fine now. I never said that wasn't my blood.
He looked me over cautiously, obviously suspicious of my dryness, but didn't comment on it. "Alright. Alright, Sarah. I'll go down and help Irene clean up. As long as you're alright."
He still couldn't handle being in a room with me alone. He has no idea how to handle me. But, that's fine by me; I was perfectly content to sit here munching on chocolates. I don't know what I'd ever do without knowing Jareth.
When I turned out the lights and rushed to bed, he was sitting there, leaning against the wall, looking at a point in the air for no apparent reason. I crawled in, under the covers, to sit beside him and tried to see where he was seeing. But all I saw was the ceiling.
"Are you alright?" I asked.
"The question is, are you?" He looked down at me. "Come on, let's see it."
"It's fine now." I insisted. Nevertheless, I shifted to expose my right arm to him. Keeping his gloves on this time, he pulled up my sleeve to inspect the wound. He poked in one spot, and I flinched away. "Well it was."
"I'll give it three days, and you'll be as good as new." he ignored my comment. "You will be more careful from now on?"
"Oh, yeah." I mused. "Definitely."
"I'm very serious, Sarah. You are very lucky that I am here to care for you." He watched me closely, wiggling under his gaze. "What would you do if I wasn't there?"
"Probably go to the hospital."
"Where it would take far longer to be treated. After however long it takes for an ambulance to come, to get you to the hospital, and for them to take you to the necessary room and be prepared, far worse damage would have been done."
I gulped and looked away.
"You must be more careful."
"Do you mean, you won't be here if it happens again?" I asked, not missing anything here.
He didn't answer for a moment. Then, "I won't be here forever."
I didn't pursue the subject, because I didn't want to know. Why wouldn't he be here? When will this happen? Does that mean those creatures, which obviously smell my blood from hours ago, will also be gone? How much longer do I have with my best friend?
"Do you want to play a game of cards tonight?" I asked curiously.
"Not tonight, Precious." He shook his head. "The best thing for you now is rest. You'll sleep well tonight. You need it."
"You're always saying that." I muttered, rolling over to the pillow, remaining under the covers.
"That's because this is when I am with you; at night. If I were with you at noon every day, I would pester you with lunch, and if I were with you an hour before that, I would pester you with your lessons. Now sleep. It would make me feel just as better, to know you've had sufficient rest after such an ordeal."
"Alright, alright." I sighed. "Goodnight Jareth."
"Goodnight, Precious One."
Jareth rather likes this little human, doesn't he? Did I do better with grammar this time around? I'm constantly improving, and the only way to get better is to practice. Hence, I write a lot of fanfiction.
So... I'd love some more feedback. R&R please.