AN: I dont own anything, except this keyboard I am typing upon.
Chapter 51
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The Beginning
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Sarah woke from a bump on the road. They had ridden all night and morning and the Castle of the High King was approaching. Sarah had lived in the central kingdom with Midge and even the Marquee lived on the outskirts of the central Kingdom. From her room at the estate she could see the Grand Castle far off in the distance but she had never a reason to visit until now. Sarah frowned out the window of the carriage as she looked on at the Castle that loomed ahead of them. She had always been under the impression that the High King had vanished mysteriously and that the High Council ruled in his stead, she never knew there was any connections to Jareth. The worst part was that everyone else seemed to know about it, "Why did no one tell me?" she thought frustrated.
A gentle hand on Sarah's shoulder frightened her. "Be at ease Lady Sarah." Caleb smiled at her in his warm and reassuring manner. His kindness made Sarah feel a bit better. Sarah offered him another weak smile before pulling away from the window.
"Thank you Caleb. You have always been kind to me."
"It is my pleasure." Caleb smiled.
Before long they halted and some footmen scurried to open the door and assist Sarah out of the carriage. Once inside the Castle, Caleb took his leave with a small bow. "I hope to see you again soon my Lady." Sarah nodded but felt more apprehensive as the only familiar face left her side.
Sarah saw someone rushing towards her. "Lady Sarah." the man called and as he got closer she recognized him.
"Chamberlain Hywell?" Sarah wondered why the Marquee's housekeeper was here. The Chamberlain bowed deeply to Sarah, something he had never done before. Sarah raised her brow at his odd behavior, suddenly he seemed to respect her.
"My sincerest sympathies to you my Lady Sarah." Chamberlain said as he rose from his bow.
Sarah was at a loss for words, she figured that he knew of Jareth's death and her predicament with the Duke. "I suppose to whole of the Underground knows by now. Word does travel fast in this place." she frowned. "Is the Lord Marquee here?" Sarah said looking around if she could see Derryth or Fionna.
"Yes, perhaps you shall see them soon, however right now I have been asked to escort you to see his Majesty Galdor." Chamberlain explained quickly.
Sarah's lips formed an 'O' and her throat went dry. This was why she was brought here, she knew this, but now that she was going to meet him the panic was rising within her. Chamberlain seemed to sense Sarah's nervousness which made him uncomfortable. "This way please." he beckoned her to follow. Sarah hesitated only a moment before following quickly.
Sarah was distracted by the largeness and beauty of this Castle. By far is was the most grand, but unlike other Castles she had visited this one was not cluttered with gaudy ornaments at every turn. There was a friendly and open atmosphere that helped ease Sarah's soul as she followed Chamberlain down many hallways. "Surely finding ones bedroom would be as challenging as solving the Labyrinth?" Sarah thought to herself.
Chamberlain halted at a large pair of doors, opening them he ushered Sarah into another hallway, but this one was smaller and more private. The Walls were lined with the portraits of all the High Kings that had ruled. They slowly made their way to the end where another set of doors waited. "Wait here my Lady." Chamberlain said with a slight bow before slipping into the room, leaving Sarah alone in the hallway. Sarah's eyes were glued to a portrait of Jareth.
Despite the fact that he was 10,000 years younger when the portrait had been painted, he only looked as if five or ten years had been erased. His hair was just as platinum and unruly as ever, and his mismatched eyes pierced Sarah as she gazed into the portrait. She found her self being drawn towards it, her finger softly brushed the canvas. Sarah noted that in this painting Jareth seemed light hearted, even joyful. There was no stony mask of indifference, no lines of cruelty. "I'm sorry Jareth." she whispered tears welling once more in her eyes.
The sound of the door opening tore Sarah away from the painting. "His Majesty will see you now." Chamberlain stood aside so that Sarah could enter. Sarah entered the room slowly, it was a small but comfortable room with lavish seating and a grand fireplace. There were bookshelves and little decorations here and there, the wood was dark and the fabrics were rich greens and blues. There was one tall stained glass window in the room, and before it with his back turned to her was Galdor, Jareth's father. Sarah remembering herself knelt and bowed deeply, her skirts flowing out around her.
"Rise child." Sarah took a sharp breath, his voice was so much like Jareths. Slowly she rose and Galdor turned to face her, a smirk played on her lips. Sarah stood and gawked, so many emotions and thoughts running through her mind.
"How can he stand there with that smile on his face when his son is dead?" she thought bitterly. His mannerism so like Jareths, or more appropriately Jareth's had been so like his Father. Galdor looked much older than Jareth, but still not old enough to be Jareth's Father. His hair was the same platinum blonde but if you looked very closely you could see strands of white here and there. It was not unruly as Jareths, but all one length and tied back with a black ribbon. His garb was very similar to what Jareth might have worn on a casual day, his eyes were a piercing blue like on of Jareths. They stood and evaluated each other for a moment, neither speaking.
"You're very strong, you've been through much. I see now why my son is so enamored by you." Galdor finally broke the silence.
"Was enamored." Sarah thought to herself bitterly. "Thank you, your majesty." Sarah responded softly.
Galdor laughed, which was very startling to Sarah. "Please, I have not been a King for a long time now. Call me Galdor." he smiled charmingly.
"But -" Galdor held up a hand before Sarah could protest further.
"Come now Sarah. Don't be quick to believe court gossip." he winked at her. Sarah only looked at him confused. "Come." Galdor held his hand out to Sarah. Sarah closed the gap between then and took his hand, a balcony that had not been their early now appeared. "I believe I was informed that you wanted to meet the Dragon that interrupted your ceremony?" he smirked again. Together they Stepped out onto the Balcony, in the court yard below was the Dragon. Despite everything Sarah found herself smiling when she realized the Dragon was on his back, bouncing a large ball up and down with its massive paws.
"That's enough now." Galdor called down to the Dragon. The Dragon turned it's head and leapt up when it saw Galdor and Sarah staring down at him. Standing to it's full height it's head was level with the balcony. Sarah stepped back, slightly frightened. The Dragon seemed to be smiling at her, if Dragons could smile. It was then that she noticed that only one of the dragon's eyes was a brilliant blue and the other was darker, almost brown. Sarah's heart pounded against her chest, "Could it be?" she thought to herself.
"Reveal yourself." Galdor commanded the Dragon. The Dragon's short arms reached up and took hold of the balcony railing. Before Sarah's eyes the dragon morphed until all that was left was a small boy clutching onto the balcony lest he fall to the ground.
"Toby!" Sarah cried and rushed forward to pull him over the balcony. She held her little brother close to her. "Don't you ever do that again! You could have fallen." she scolded him. Galdor laughed at her mothering nature.
Toby squirmed against her, "Can't breathe." he muttered.
"Sorry." Sarah replied and released her hold on him. "I'm so confused." she said in a tired voice, standing to her full height again. Galdor guided Sarah back inside and sat her down on a very comfortable couch. Sitting beside her he conjured a crystal much like Jareth's.
"Let me answer your questions." he smirked and twirled the crystal nimble on his fingers. Sarah was drawn into the hypnotic motion of the crystal and images began to unfold, the room around her blurred. She found herself standing next to Galdor, they were in the Goblin Castle. Jareth was sitting in his throne after his transformation.
"Jareth!" Sarah gasped and moved to go forward. Galdor stopped her and pulled her to his side, wrapping an arm comfortingly around her shoulders.
"This is the past Sarah." he whispered in her ear. She nodded in understanding as she watched the events unfold. She watched as her own self came rushing into the room just in time to see Lasair murder Jareth. She turned away into Galdor's chest, weeping.
"I was too late, I was too late." she cried. "Why do you punish me this way?"
"You're love was not too late, Sarah." Galdor told her and forced her to turn and watch the scene. Lasair had dragged herself from the room and all was still in the Goblin Castle, she stared at Jareth's lifeless body. Goblins came creeping out of the shadows of the room, they began to wail and mourn the loss of their King. Suddenly there were two brilliant bursts of light and two fae women appeared in the room. Sarah glanced up at Galdor in question, "They are the enlightened." he whispered. Sarah nodded in understanding.
Sarah noticed that one of the women looked very young and beautiful, she radiated a beautiful inner light. The other seemed dark and dreadful, yet equally beautiful in her own way. They both radiated a power that Sarah had never encountered before. "Stay back! My curse is complete and his life is gone." the dark one hissed.
The lighter woman ignored the other and smiled down in almost a loving manner, at the dead Goblin King. Then she turned to the rage filled one and spoke gently. "Uma you have wronged your own kin. The magic of your curse was broken, you hold no power here."
"The half breed did not arrive in time, he is dead. You have no right to meddle Midna!" Uma hissed.
Midna tilted her head as if curious of the rage that existed inside her peer. "You know as well as I that her love arrived before her body. The Curse has been broken."
"He is already dead!" Uma ignored Midna. "The law prevents you!"
Midna laughed, it was not cruel or mocking, but truly amused. It sounded like wind chimes in a garden to Sarah. "Uma since when do you abide the Laws? I never gave my blessing at the birth ceremony. I still have a gift to give the young Prince." she smiled.
Uma was shuddering in a rage before she disappeared from sight, knowing that Midna had out smarted her. Sarah watched as Midna knelt by Jareth's side. "You shall have a second chance, dear Prince." Midna bent and kissed the forehead of the Goblin King, Sarah could not help feel a thrill of jealousy course through her. She watched amazed as Jareth's body shimmered and shifted into his former beautiful self, he wore no gloves and for the first time she saw his real hands, they were perfect as she had imagined them to be. The wound was healed and she could see the steady rise and fall of his chest. "He's alive!" her heart pounded so heavily she thought she may faint.
Midna stood and seemed to look straight at Galdor and Sarah, even thought Sarah knew that to be impossible. Midna looked back down at Jareth, "At True love's kiss shall you awake and your power's be restored." and then she vanished in a blink of light.
As Galdor along with several guards appeared in the room and lifted Jareth's slumbering body, the room began to blur and Sarah found herself sitting on the couch with Galdor her eyes glued to a crystal that had gone dark. Sarah was still a moment and let everything sink in. "Jareth's alive!" she shouted, standing suddenly and feeling a bit dizzy. "Why did no one tell me? Why drag my misery on!" she shouted, forgetting who's company she was keeping.
Galdor was wise and old enough to know not to try to rationalize the situation to Sarah. "Well, Let me keep you waiting no longer." he smirked. The room dissolved and was replaced by another. She could tell by the style of decorating that this was Jareth's room and then she saw him, "Just sleeping, not dead." she told herself before rushing to his side. "Only true loves kiss." she reminded herself. She sat on the bed next to him before leaning down, she felt a blush on her cheeks know that Jareth's father was in the room with her. She could hesitate no longer and pressed her lips softly against Jareths. Pulling away she saw Jareth's eyes flutter open.
"Sarah?" Jareth's voice was barely more than a whisper. His eyes were full of confusion, he felt as if he were dreaming. Jareth lifted a hand and caressed Sarah's cheek, she titled her face against his hand lovingly. "Is it really you?" his eyebrow went up and he sounded more like himself.
Sarah smiled and could tell he was reviving quickly. "I'm so sorry Jareth, I'm sorry I did not get their sooner." she began but was silenced when he brought a finger to her lips.
Jareth sat up and wrapped an arm around Sarah's waist, he looked at her seductively. "I am sure I can think of many ways for you to make this up to me." he raised his brow and smirked. Sarah felt she should be upset at his boldness but could only manage to smile.
"So, when is the wedding then?" Galdor laughed. Sarah startled a bit, forgetting that Galdor was in the room with them.
"Father?" Jareth was also caught by surprise.
"Yes my son, as much as I would love to embarrass to two of your further I believe I have a nephew to punish and a re-instatement coronation to plan, and perhaps later a wedding?" he wiggled his brows again at Sarah who blushed once more. Galdor vanished then and Sarah felt herself being pulled back into Jareth's arms.
"Now that I have you again." Jareth started to speak but Sarah cut him off.
"You'll never let me go again?" she questioned her brow raised.
"Why yes, you're catching on you foolish girl." he smirked before planting another kiss on her lips that soon turned very passionate.
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Author's Note: Woot! There you have it! There will be a small epilogue and maybe some last notes etc. So if there's anything you feel that I have not covered or you're still confused about, let me know and I will cover it in the epilogue and/or notes. Thanks again to everyone who has reviewed. You're all super awesome. I hope everyone is Satisfied and will stop pointing their pitchforks at me now.
Again I started a new Labyrinth fic called 'Keeper of Portals' and thanks to everyone who has read the prologue already and left a review.
Thanks to these people who reviewed last chapter:
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