Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth and I do not own the song lyrics in the chapter either.
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Chapter 21
An Enemy Emerges
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"Answer the Door Gavin!" Midge called to her son as she finished braiding Lily's hair.
Gavin opened the door, a mysterious man stood there. Dressed all in black, he wore a long cape and a strange sort of jacket and scarf that covered the bottom half of his face. Only his piercing blue eyes could been clearly seen. "Can I help you?" Gavin asked hesitantly when the man did not say anything.
The man swept aside revealing a carriage much the same as the one that Sarah used. "The Carriage awaits to take you to the Marquee's" the man's deep but somewhat muffled voice announced.
"We will be out momentarily." Gavin said to the man. The man bowed slightly and returned to the Carriage. "Strange." Gavin thought to himself. "The Carriage is here." Gavin announced. In moments they had all climbed into the carraige and were headed towards Sarah. Or so they thought, for the carriage driver had much different plans.
The man driving the carriage smiled impishly to himself. "I'm going to make the next few years slow and painful for my dearest cousin...and Sarah shall be mine." he thought to himself and was unable to contain a round of laughter.
"They employ strange carriage drivers..." Gavin whispered to the rest of his family, as they were all wondering what the myserious driver had found so funny.
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The Goblin Castle
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Priya had come back the afternoon of the Ball as she had promised. "I'm not going." Jareth stated when he noticed Priya staring at him. Priya said nothing and walked past him to a small table that held various liquers and wines. Making sure Jareth had his attentions on his paperwork she pulled on the small blue vial and poured it into Jareth's goblet, filling the rest with a deep red wine. Priya fought to remove the smirk from her face before presenting Jareth with the goblet.
"Thank you." Jareth mumbled and took a deep draught of the wine. Priya held her breath, waiting to see if Jareth would detect the potion. Knowing that even she wouldn't escape some serious consequences if he caught her drugging him. Jareth said nothing and took another long draught.
Smiling sweetly she asked. "Are you sure you wont go?"
"Hm? Go where?" he asked distracted by the paperwork infront of him.
"Jareth please come to the Ball, its the last of the summer and I will be singing." she pouted.
"But I hear you sing almost everyday Priya." he argued as he signed some paperwork.
"Damn potion isn't working." she cursed in her mind. She sat and waited for Jareth to finished the rest of the wine in his goblet before trying to persuade him further. "Jareth I insist that you attend the Ball, it will do you good. I promise..." she said somewhat forcefully.
"Perhaps you are right." Jareth said in a dreamy voice that was very odd for him. Priya fought to supress a giggle. "I haven't been to a Ball in a long time." he said standing.
"And think of all the beautiful women that will be there...I heard there are some lovely mortal women working for the Marquee." she said with a smile.
"How lovely." he smiled and left the room. Priya followed Jareth to his bedroom chambers, when she saw him pulling out his best clothing she was satisfied that her work was done.
"I'll let the Marquee know to expect you." she called before vanishing.
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The Marquee's Estate
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"A letter for you Lady Christine." Chamberlain sneered as he handed the letter to Sarah.
Sarah rolled her eyes. "I really don't know why you have a problem with me Chamberlain." she sighed as she took the letter from him.
"I have no idea what you speak of." Chamberlain snapped with his nose in the air as he rushed off.
"Whatever." Sarah muttered as she opened the letter. Sarah's heart sank as she read the letter, it was in her father's messy handwritting.
'Dear Christine,
Some things have come up at the farm. Nothing to worry yourself over but we will be unable to
make it to the Ball. We love you and hope to see you soon.
Love
Dad'
"Dear Christine! Whatever is the matter?" Sarah looked up and saw her newest friend approach her, and she tried to manage a small smile.
Sarah handed the letter over to Priya and let her read it. "Well that puts a small damper on my plans." Priya thought to herself. "What a pity!" Priya exclaimed.
"What?" Sarah asked, the hairs on her neck prickled.
"I mean to say, I'm ever so sorry. I was looking forward to meeting them." Priya smiled and Sarah relaxed again. Putting her arm around Sarah's shoulder she led them back to Sarah's room. "Well I know you were looking forward to having your family here, but there will be plenty of other events to invite them to. You shouldn't let this ruin your night." Priya lectured her.
"I suppose you're right." Sarah admitted, sitting down in one of the chairs in her room.
Priya sat in the chair opposite of her before announcing, "I've brought you a gift." she smirked.
As much as Sarah liked Priya, the elf gave her the creeps sometimes. "She can be so much like him at times..." she thought to herself. Shaking the feeling, Sarah replied, "Oh you shouldn't have Priya."
"Hm, I know..but I did." the elf smirked again. Priya pulled out the little charm, it was shaped like a cresent moon and was tied to a thin black ribbon. "It's a good luck charm!" she lied as she tied it round Sarah's wrist.
Sarah laughed. "You think I need some luck do you?" she teased.
"Everyone needs luck my friend, everyone." Priya advised. Noticing the way Sarah's cheeks suddenly flushed and the faint violet rim that appeared around the irises of Sarah eyes, Priya knew the charm was working. "Perfect...now all we have to do is wait for the Ball to begin." she mused, very pleased with her work."Although I was hoping Jareth would be able to make a good impression on Sarah's family...that would really help him win her over if he was in her families good graces...oh well another time." her mind was else where as Sarah chatted to her.
"Priya! Are you listening?" Sarah snapped at her friend when she didnt respond.
"Sorry!" Priya snapped back, pushing her thoughts away.
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On the Road...
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"Remind me to complain about the driver when we get to the estate." Midge said between clenched teeth as the carriage hit another large bump.
"Do you think you'll need reminding love?" Robert asked his wife.
"Why is he driving so fast anyways, we have plenty of time to reach the estate for the Ball." Gavin stated.
"He's a mad man!" Lily and Toby giggled.
Robert and Midge had made plenty of attempts to get the driver's attention but he either could not hear them or was intentionaly ignoring them. The driver had taken off as fast as the horses could carry the carriage. They flew over bumps in the road and it amazed them that the carriage remained in one piece. The scenery was passing by in a blurr, it was not enjoyable to view and they had closed the window curtains. If they had not closed the curtains, they may have noticed that the driver had taken the left fork, which did not lead to the Marquee's estate.
"He's slowing." Gavin announced the obvious, gratefully. Then the carriage came to a complete stop. "Could we be there already?" he questioned. Pulling back the curtains the family let out a collective gasp when the realized they were in the wastelands.
"What's going on here!" Robert demanded, climbing out of the carriage, the rest of the family in tow.
The mysterious driver was unhooking the frightened black horses from the carriage. He smacked one hard on the rear and they all fled.
"What in the name of the gods are you doing!" Midge bellowed.
The man laughed heartily. "I'm afraid I've pressing engagements." his eyes twinkled. "Farewell!" with a flourish of his cape the man vanished, leaving Sarah's family bewildered and stranded.
After the family had argued amongest themselves as to what they should do, they finally agreed to climb to the top of a nearby hill and see what they could see. Upon reaching the hill, the family let out another collective gasp of shock.
"The Labyrinth!" Toby finally broke the silence in awe, it was bigger than he had ever imagined it.
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The Feast
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Jareth sat to the right of the Marquee, who had been very shocked to see that the Goblin King had actually come. Sipping his wine, Jareth tried to figure out why he had ever come in the first place. The whole dinning hall was silent, waiting for the Marquee to speak.
Derryth stood with his wife, "Thank you friends! We are honored to host the last of the Summer celebrations. Tonight we have a special treat! Not only will you be delighted to hear the wonderful talent of the Lady Christine, her talent preceeds her I am sure you have heard of her if you have not heard her voice." he paused, smiling. "We also have the honor of having the Lady Priya with us this eve! Everyone knows of her masterful teacher, who has also graced us with his presence! She shall now open for our feast and celebrations." The Marquee and Marchioness sat, concluding their speech.
Sarah sat in a trance as she listen to the sweet melody of Priya's voice. "Gee I sound like a toad compared to her!" she thought. "And I'm going to have to sing after that performance..." she sighed, wishing her family was there. She had made many friends at the estate, but often she still felt very much alone. Sarah woke from her reverie as the room burst into a thundering applause. Sarah stood and applaused her friend "I'd really love to meet her teacher..." she smirked.
Sarah had been offered a seat at the Marquee's table but she prefered to sit with her other musical companions. "I'm so surprised that your get along with Priya." Lena the Harpist stated to Sarah.
Sarah raised a brow, setting down her goblet. "And why is that?"
"Hardly anyone get's along with her." Lena laughed. "She's quite disagreeable."
"Hmm, I haven't noticed." Sarah shrugged.
"Well who doesn't get along with Lady Christine?" Edmund teased.
"I could name one..." Sarah thought to herself dryly. "Ugh, why do you keep thinking about HIM." she complained to herself, taking another sip from her goblet.
"Slow down on the wine Christine, you don't want to slurr your song." this time it was Eagan who teased her.
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Do I really have to perform after Priya?" she pleaded.
"Yes!" Lena snapped. "And everyone will love you as they always do."
"Everyone except old man Chamberlain." Edmund laughed and Sarah was tempted to throw something at him. "Ah I think that's our que." The group stood and took their places on the dias. Whispering rumours about the Lady Christine swept through the room before all fell silent and waited for her song. The only one who wasn't paying attention at all was Jareth who was staring boredly into his wine goblet.
"Think of me
think of me fondly,
when we've said goodbye.
Remember me
once in a while -
please promise me you'll try.
When you find
that, once again, you long
to take your heart back
and be free -
if you ever find a moment-
spare a thought for me
We never said
our love was evergreen,
or as unchanging as the sea -
but if you can still
remember
stop and think
of me . . .
Think of all the things
we've shared and seen -
don't think about the things
which might have been . . .
Think of me,
think of me waking,
silent and resigned.
Imagine me,
trying too hard
to put you
from my mind.
Recall those days
look back on all those times,
think of the things we'll never do -
there will never be
a day, when
I won't think of you . .
We never said
our love was evergreen,
or as unchanging as the sea -
but please promise me,
that sometimes
you will think of me!"
As Sarah finished her song the room lit up in another deafining roar of applause, louder even that Priya's response. Not because Sarah was a better singer but because there was so much mystery behind her, she had everyone curious and enchanted.
"Really, it wasn't all that good." Jareth muttered to himself. However his curiousity was perked and he stood so that he could see the Marquee's new singer. Jareth's jaw droped, he could not believe his eyes. "Sarah...it can't be." he all but gasped, trying to maintain his composure. He stood transfixed as a battle of emotions raged inside him. One part of him wanted to grovel at her feet and beg for her love, another part of him wanted to blast her into oblivion and a third part wanted to take her and lock away, and do everything he could to make her suffer as much as he had.
"Quite Charming isn't she?" Jareth put on his kingly mask, pulling himself together when the Marquee spoke to him. "That is the Lady Christine, I had been telling you about."
"Christine did you say?" Jareth mused. "And how long has she been in your service?"
The Marquee looked thoughtful for a moment. "Few months from a year now...I couldn't be more pleased with her."
"I see..." Jareth looked at his goblet before emptying it and refilling it again.
Jareth was not the only man whom Sarah had attracted a keen interest from. "Sweet Sarah...tonight you shall be mine..." the tainted voice whispered to himself.
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Author's Note: Okay, I worked very hard on this chapter. Just for yodeladyhoo wink and of course for the rest of my devoted reviewers :-) I hope you all like it. If you don't know already the song lyrics are from 'Think of me' a phantom of the Opera song. I was trying to find an appropriate song for Priya's performance that would tie into the whole plot but I couldnt find one. So if you have any suggestions for that I may add one in at a later time. I hope you like this chapter. In the next chapter you will all get your JarethxSarah confrontation.