I apologize for the abnormally long wait for this story. Over the summer, I live like a nomad, going from house to house within my family. I've just spent a week at a house without internet, and moved to another again. So, here is the next chapter, and I hope I've stayed well enough in character for both of them. Sarah is irrationally fond of him, and trusting, because she remembers loving him when she was younger. He is fond of her, but he isn't exactly the fluffy, cheesy sort. And when it comes right down to it, she barely knows him.
I don't own Labyrinth, but I do own the OC character introduced in this chapter. I don't usually care for OCs, but she is a reoccurring one in my FF for Labyrinth simply because the movie doesn't give us many characters to work with. Especially not in Jareth's castle. If I post any other stories with her in it, she's the same person every time. Maybe slightly different roles, but same person.
Hope you like it!
The library didn't take but five minutes to find, and upon realizing that most of the books were written in an unfamiliar language, I searched for an English section. Oh, how cruel it would be to have found a library full of books that I can't read!
"Dang." I sighed, having looked briefly down each aisle.
"Excuse me?" A voice asked behind me. I jumped, turning around quickly.
"Oh, hello there." I greeted a small creature, not goblin but also not human or fae. She carried an armful of books, and stared at me as if I weren't supposed to be here.
"Where did you come from?" She asked. Maybe she's a dwarf like that Hoggle?
"The throne room. Aren't any of these books written in English?" I asked.
"No, ma'am." She shook her head, still staring at me. "How did you get here? Does Sire know you are here?"
"Jareth summoned us." I brushed it off. "There isn't a one? He gave me a book once, and it's written in English."
"Peach Girl?" I heard a gasp under her breath. What about peaches? I like them... "I'm sorry, my Lady, but there aren't any books left written in your tongue."
"Well that's nice." I crossed my arms. I'm going to have to get him to teach me to read this stuff then, because this is a deal-breaker. When I agreed to stay here, I was under the impression there'd be sufficient reading material. "Well, who are you then?"
She stumbled slightly with the books, rushing to curtsy. "Aurea, My Lady. Keeper of this Library and..." She stopped there, staring with wide eyes.
"And?" I raised an eyebrow. She shook her head.
"Nothing of consequence. Do you want help returning to the throne room, or your quarters?" She asked politely.
"How'd you know I was staying here?" I asked, immediately suspicious. I crouched before her, waiting for an answer while she backed up, startled.
"Oh, I apologize, My Lady-"
"Stop with that 'My Lady' stuff. I'm not that fancy." I insisted. "Just Sarah."
"Lady Sarah." She curtsied again, awkwardly since she was holding all those books. I sighed, rolling my eyes. Alright, call me whatever you want. I don't really care that much.
"Well, how'd you know? Did Jareth somehow already tell all the staff I'd agreed?" He'd left very abruptly during out conversation, and wherever he'd gone, I'd doubted it wasn't pressing enough for him to make any announcements beforehand.
"No, I haven't seen Sire since last Moon. He has been very preoccupied..." She trailed off.
"You aren't going to answer my question, are you?" I sighed, realizing I was getting absolutely nowhere with this girl, Aurea.
"I'd rather not say, as of yet, Lady Sarah." She bowed her head. "I apologize."
"Whatever." I sighed. "You've already told me plenty, thought."
"I- I have?" She squeaked, startled. I nodded, standing again.
"Yup. You've told me that people here already know who I am, which I'm not too surprised to be honest. And you've told me that Jareth is overconfident in his abilities of persuasion." I laughed. "It doesn't matter though, because I'll find out what you're hiding soon enough. I'll probably be here a while, after all."
"Of course, Lady Sarah." She curtsied again. She nearly dropped one of the books this time, and I reached forward to catch it.
"Do you want some help with these? I can't read them yet but, I haven't anywhere else to be as of yet."
She beamed up at me. "That's very kind of you, Lady Sarah. But this is my duty here, and I can very well take care of all ninety-eight-thousand-two-hundred-forty-six books in this library, and all eight-hundred-twenty regal documents. It's my duty, My Lady." She puffed out her chest proudly. I smiled, but held onto the silver-covered book.
"And you're obviously very good at it. But surely you wouldn't mind a little help today? I don't have anywhere else to be right now, and libraries have always been a bit of a second home to me. If I can't read them, I can at least work with them."
She hesitated, before nodding. "If that's what you wish, Lady Sarah. That book goes fourth in the series, second shelf from the top, row 'XXI'." She pointed from memory.
"You use Roman numerals here?" I noticed the markings at the base of the spine on each of the books. I hadn't before.
"Oh, yes. We invented it, here in the Underground." She answered smugly. I laughed, walking along to find 'row XXI'.
For what seemed like hours, I helped her put books away and shift an entire shelf to make room for a new series she'd just gotten in, which had to fit in one particular spot. She had the entire library memorized, and I worried that the shift, which ended up shifting half the library over a bit, would mess with her memory. But, she adapted quickly to the new system. It was amazing, the way she could do that.
After she ran out of duties for the day, we sat and talked. Apparently, they'd known about my existence all the while Jareth visited me at night. But she still wouldn't tell me how she knew I was going to be staying here, or how she recognized me as 'Sarah'. Because not many of them had ever actually seen me when I was younger, and even fewer since.
"Could you read me any of these books?" I wondered. "Show me how to read them, at least? What language are they written in?"
"Faethen." She answered easily. "It's the natural language of the Underground."
"Is it easy to learn?" I wondered.
"I wouldn't know, My Lady. I knew no other readings before I learned this. It may be far more difficult for Abover than for a child naturally born here. But perhaps easier for you than I'd expect."
"And what's so special about me, hmm?" I asked, jumping on her slip-up once again. I kind of felt sorry for her, having me attack her verbally for answers she obviously either didn't want to or wasn't supposed to give. But if it concerned me- the way it seems to -then I believe I've got a right to know.
"Many things." She went on without hesitation, which meant she'd found a way around telling me the secret while still stating how I was different from others. "It isn't often Sire shows an interest in any sort of Abover, let alone a human."
"What other sort of Abovegrounders are there?" I scoffed.
"There was a time when he'd found enjoyment in flying with a family of owls in Ireland. But that was long ago." She shrugged. Right. Owls. I'd forgotten he could turn into one. She shook her head quickly. "Oh, I don't like talking about the Sire while he isn't here."
"That's alright." I caved easily. "Then just talk about me. What do you know about me?"
"No, no, Lady Sarah. You already know I mustn't." I sighed and smiled.
"Right again." I've already got questions aplenty when Jareth returns. Looking to the thirteen-hour clock, I realized that I'd been here two hours already. It seemed rather cruel to leave my family alone with goblins for so long. "I think I'd best go back now. But I'll return again."
"Fare well, Lady Sarah." She bid.
"See ya." I tried to remember the way back to the throne room, and it seems like it took longer to get there than it had to get to the library, but I found it nonetheless. Dad and Irene were still on the far side, but had grown more used to the goblins to the point of not stopping Toby from running after them. They looked exhausted, sitting there.
They didn't even notice me at first, until I'd walked halfway towards them.
"Where have you been?" Irene asked, with less of her usual malice.
"The library." I thought they knew that already.
"For two hours?" She complained.
"Yeah. Making friends, what can I say?" I shrugged it off. "Jareth still isn't back?"
"Oh, he is." Dad sighed, looking past me.
"Your observation skills are lax a bit, Precious One." Jareth was smirking at me from the throne when I turned to follow Dad's gaze.
"No, you weren't there." I pointed at him, thinking back to when I first walked in, rushing past the throne. It was empty, wasn't it?
"Present the entire time." He spread his arms. I narrowed my eyes, noticing how amused he was.
"As an owl, I bet." When no reply came, I scoffed in confirmation. Goblin Kings and messing with my mind... "How come you haven't sent them back yet?" I wondered, turning fully to talk with him rather than my own family. Well, I like talking with him better.
"We've been talking." He answered more seriously, sitting up a bit.
"What about?"
"You." Jareth answered cryptically, letting my mind come up with several fictional conversations.
"Oh, and what about me?"
"Where you're staying." Dad cut in, obviously not happy with whatever was going on. I could guess, however. "And it's not here."
"Yes I am." I blinked.
"No, you aren't." Irene backed Dad up rather quickly. He gave her a look, but didn't object. "We are your legal guardians, and we certainly don't condone this change of address. You aren't eighteen yet, you've got to listen to us."
"If you want to get into politics, then you are aware you're dealing with a king, yes?" Jareth wasn't the least bit threatened. "And you are presently in my kingdom."
"And there are laws of American citizens' protected rights outside the country!"
"Take it as an act of war, I don't care." He was only amused. "Sarah could be my prisoner of war- that rather sounds like fun -or perhaps negotiation in a peace treaty. Whatever helps you sleep at night, but she will be taking up residence in my castle for the time being."
"Prisoner of war?" I walked closer to him, raising an eyebrow. He smirked.
"It sounds much more charming than 'guest of honor', don't you think?"
"It sounds more fun." I admitted.
"Excuse me." Irene cut in once more as I stood by the throne. He now half sat half sprawled over it, with one leg propped up against one arm now instead of laying over it. I decided to perch there, on the arm of the throne. "I don't care what you call her, she isn't staying!"
I heard Jareth say something under his breath, sounding suspiciously like, 'What if I call her 'mine',' and a rather random grin spread across his face. I frowned, but shook my head. No, he is a bit odd anyways.
"Do you even know why I'm staying here?" I asked, trying to defuse the situation. Obviously arguing isn't getting anywhere.
"Because of those shadow creatures, obviously." Irene crossed her arms. "But from what I understand, you," She glared at Jareth, "did a perfectly fine job of keeping her safe from our house for over a year."
"Technically, seven years." He mused.
"You aren't helping." I pointed out. He nodded and turned back to them.
"Situations change, and when someone else makes a new move, you must parry with your own." He couldn't give a straight-forward answer. No, that would be too difficult.
"Bartley himself didn't come after me back then. It's probably a bit more dangerous than just those creatures." I decided to fill in. "This isn't kidnap, you know. And Jareth isn't exactly a villain."
Jareth shifted, and looked at me quickly. What? But he didn't say anything.
"And you still expect us to leave you with a stranger with a temper?" Irene questioned. "We don't know you, we already know this place is dangerous, and we've already seen what you can do. You can't honestly believe I'd just let this go."
"The purpose of this conversation is not to debate the decision." Jareth was getting irritated. "It's to explain to you two- three -the situation. And, I believe I have. Several times." He must have forgotten Toby was here to. "Now I assume you'd rather be at your own home now?"
Jareth stood, about to send them back. Once again, I was nervous about the situation. I pushed it away.
"You can't do this." Irene objected.
"Oh? I am King, I can do whatever I want." He waved a hand towards them, and they just disappeared.
"So where did you go?" I asked immediately. I've wanted to know since I realized he was back, but I'd refrained from asking. What was that chill? Where did he go? Why did he look so... disappointed before he left?
"To the Above." He answered cautiously. "My position comes with particular duties, Precious."
"What sort?"I asked, realizing he was reluctant to tell me this.
"What you said earlier, you realize, it isn't true at all. I am a villain." He hinted, completely serious as he stepped back towards the throne.
I laughed, not believing it for a second. But as he continued to keep a straight face, staring at me, not breaking eye contact, doubt suddenly hit me. My laugh turned to a nervous one.
"I've known you since I was eight." I tried to object, and reassure myself.
"For only a year, with six more that you haven't since." He reminded plainly.
Jareth, a villain? I couldn't imagine it. But, looking around with new eyes and watching his utterly serious expression, I was starting to believe it.
So? What do you think Jareth muttered when Irene said, "I don't care what you call her, she isn't staying"? Not something I'll go into later, but I was rather tempted to make him say it out loud. Do you want to guess first? Then go ahead.
What he said was, "Can I call her mine?" I was so tempted to have him say it out loud. But I didn't, for obvious reasons.
Also, I was thinking of a certain someone saying "I do what I want" when Jareth sent the parents home. If you get it, then just yes. I went there. If you don't get it, you probably don't care.
But, if you're curious, search the phrase (I do what I want) at DeviantArt and most of the stuff that comes up is it.
Anyways, now we're getting somewhere. And, what is the notorious Goblin King getting at, being a villain? Should Sarah have been a bit more cautious? Does she have any idea what she's gotten herself into? Or is this just Jareth being Jareth? Hmmm...
R&R Your reviews are loved.