Chapter 4
Here it is Chapter 4! Thank you everyone for your reviews you're all such lovely people!
Lovely people- annependragon, LDeetz, Ginabella59, notwritten, aserene, hazlgrnLizzy, elentirgirl, helikesitheymikey, CoffeeKris, futrCSI1490, the Mouse in the Opera House.
If you're not on the list you may have reviewed after I wrote this chapter sorry.
By the way I've seen people spell fay, Fai, fae and fey. I'm not sure which is right so ill be saying fey.
I don't not own Labyrinth or any of its characters this is a work of fiction based on the film by Jim Henson.
Entering the bedroom which had become hers for the duration of her stay Sarah called hesitantly "Demetria?" Suddenly the Goblin maid was standing before her. Falling back Sarah was stunned "How did you..." Demetria smiled. "Magic dear, is there anything you need?"
"Um, well yes I suppose." Sarah grinned "His majesty said that I would be able to visit my friends here in the Underground but I haven't any idea where to find them." Walking over to the window Sarah gazed out at the Labyrinth. Looking from the outside it looked easy to navigate.
"Friends? Who would they be then?" Bustling around Demetria cleared the breakfast tray with a wave of her hand and started straightening the bedcovers on the four-poster.
"Hoggle, he's a dwarf, Sir Didymus, a feisty fox with a noble steed called Ambrosia and Ludo a...well I'm not sure what he is but he's big orange and furry." Sarah smiled as memories of the four re-entered her mind. "It's been so long I'm sure they won't recognise me." Coming away from the window she sat down on the sofa and observed Demetria going about her work. "Couldn't you just use magic for everything?"
Demetria chuckled "Oh no my powers aren't that strong. I have just enough to do simple things like appear when I'm called and clear away breakfast trays." Taking Sarah's watch and necklace from the bedside table she put them carefully on the dressing table and turned to look at Sarah. "Hoggle I certainly know. He's an old family friend, at this time he'll be on the outskirts of the Labyrinth spraying fairies. Ludo also rings a bell. Great big hairy fellow, spends his time with Sir Didymus and his dog these days guarding things that don't really need guarding." She chuckled again. "Many a time I've been stopped by those two on my way to visit relatives on the other side of the bog."
Sarah leaped to her feet "Then how do I get there? I don't have to go through the Labyrinth do I?"
"Well I suppose you'll have to ask his majesty, you can't go running around the Underground looking for them." Smiling she continued "You'll have to change first of course. Trousers will be much more suitable. In fact I have just the thing." Going over to the wardrobe she pulled out a pair of black breeches, riding boots and a white dress shirt with bell sleeves and a dark green waistcoat. The outfit was very similar to what Jareth was wearing.
Changing into the more comfortable clothes Sarah gazed at herself in the mirror. Giggling she turned to Demetria "I look like a certain grumpy monarch; perhaps I should prowl around the Labyrinth and grumble every so often."
Demetria laughed with her "Yes, yes now off with you I have more important things to do without you scampering around." Demetria smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. "Now you go down into the garden, that's where he is at the moment, and ask nicely if His majesty will take you to see your friends." With that she disappeared and Sarah was left standing alone in her room.
Feeling the blood rushing to her face at the thought of seeing Jareth again, especially after she had impulsively thrown her arms around him Sarah checked her reflection again. She had to admit she looked rather fetching in the strange attire. Leaving most of her hair loose she clipped part of it back with a silver clip she found on the dressing table. Giggling to herself she called Demetria once more. The Goblin maid appeared before her once again and raised an eyebrow enquiringly. "Yes." Sarah giggled and explained her plan.
"Oh Sarah, surely His Majesty will be angered by your teasing." Going to the wardrobe and firstly finding a pair of gloves she then went to a drawer and pulled out a makeup case.
"Well if he is then he has no sense of humour whatsoever."
Also going to the wardrobe Sarah changed until she was wearing the exact same clothes, but made for a female of course, that Jareth had been wearing earlier. Pulling on the gloves and sitting down for Demetria to do her makeup she tried to imagine his reaction. She was taking a risk of course behaving like a child but earlier, when they had engaged in their battle of wits, she had sensed a playfulness that she was eager to see again. A happy laughing fey was something amazing to behold and, considering that Sarah was completely at his mercy, Sarah had resolved to keep him in the best mood possible.
I suppose, in a way, I'm flirting with him. Demetria had finished with her makeup and stood before her. Standing to look in the mirror Sarah grinned. Sure she looked like him but... passing her hand over her hair she thought about his blond mane. Demetria gasped as did Sarah. Her long dark curls had transformed into slightly shorter, messier blond ones.
"How did I..." Sarah stood her mouth hanging open staring at her new hair.
Demetria chuckled. "You never told me you had magic miss, sneaky thing, now you look almost exactly like him. Apart from your features of course and the shape of your body but I don't doubt he'll get the joke. Off to the garden with you, tell me how it went later." Demetria disappeared without a sound leaving Sarah staring in the mirror.
She really did look like the Goblin King, or in her case a Goblin Queen. Her blond mane was longer than Jareth's but it was pretty impressive. Giggling she ran down the sweeping staircase the heels of her boots clicking on the stone. Glancing round she saw Demetria walking along the hall. "Demetria" she called quietly. The Goblin maid was at her side in an instant.
"Dear you really do look like him, it's quite amazing!" Sarah put a finger to her lips and smiled.
"I don't really want to go outside like this; it would probably make him even angrier. I would look like I'm being openly disrespectful" she whispered. Looking around her she saw the door to his office. "Tell you what, you go out and tell him I'm waiting for him in his office."
Rushing through the door she found his office deserted and so grabbing a crystal from a pyramid of them on the coffee table she sat in his chair behind the desk and twirled around so the back of the chair faced the door.
Feeling like a young child again she waited nervously for him fiddling with the crystal in her hands. To her surprise she found herself manipulating the orb just as Jareth had. Ah ha! She thought it's a piece of cake. What a show off it always looked so hard. Twisting the crystal around her fingers she heard the door open and close. She ran her fingers through her messy blonde mane, ruffling it with her gloved fingers.
"Sarah?" she heard Jareth call as he came further into his office. Spinning around to face him she saw his eyes widen in shock as he took in her appearance. Sarah couldn't help but grin at his surprise. Standing, she walked out from behind his desk and stood in front of him sliding the crystal around her hands.
Her grin was mirrored in his face as he snorted with laughter covering his mouth with a gloved hand.
"I've brought you a present." she said rolling the crystal up into her hand and holding it out to him.
"What is it?" he smiled playing along.
"It's a crystal, nothing more but if you turn it this way and look into it, it'll show you your dreams."
Taking the crystal from her hand he looked into her silver rimmed eyes. "You remember my every word? I really must have had a dramatic effect on you."
Feeling a blush rising to her cheeks she looked away from his gaze. "It's not every day that a handsome Goblin King bursts through your parent's bedroom window."
Jareth raised an eyebrow "Handsome?" he asked.
Putting a hand over her mouth she felt her face grow hot. Stepping back she forced a laugh "I'm an actress. Of course I can remember lines."
Jareth reached up and ran a hand over her blond mane. "Very nice. Who did it for you?"
"I...I did it myself, I don't know how...I just did." His hand stroking her hair was very distracting.
He frowned as she changed her hair back to long brown waves and with a sweep of her hand removed her makeup and changed her clothes so they weren't identical to what he was wearing.
Stepping away, to Sarah's relief and disappointment he sat on one of the sofas they had occupied earlier and motioned for her to do the same.
"Though you may not be aware of it you do have magic" he paused as she sank back into the sofa "My magic in fact."
"Yours?" she queried looking confused.
"Yes mine. On your previous visit to the Labyrinth you had quite an effect on me, I'm afraid and I gave you certain powers."
An effect on him? So he really did have feelings for me. Sarah thought but Jareth hadn't finished.
"My magic seems to have...well I suppose it accentuated your slight amount of mortal power and now you have magic of your very own."
"Right" Sarah mumbled feeling sombre and serious "I suppose you want your magic back then."
"Yes that would be very helpful I can't have mortal girls running around with the power of a Goblin King. That's another thing we're going to ask the Elders about. There's another thing."
Standing abruptly Jareth strode over to the window and looked out of the window.
"Before, in the Labyrinth, you told me I had no power over you and you were right. By defeating me it now means that I can't use magic on you. I could only bring you back here because it was a wish you made. To get to the Elders it will take a week's journey without magic as you cannot transport yourself."
"Then can you not take me to see my friends then without me having to go through the Labyrinth?"
He smiled "I still have power over everything else so while you're with me it shouldn't take long at all to get to certain places. The Labyrinth moves to my will. It's easier than it looks."
Sarah smiled. "So can we go now?" she asked excitedly jumping to her feet. "I can't wait to see Hoggle and the others."
"Of course." He walked over to the door beckoning for her to follow, which she did eagerly.
Walking through the castle with her at his side Jareth noticed several Goblins watching them. Sarah noticed it too and felt herself growing uneasy. "Don't worry." Jareth said noticing her looking anxious. "They're just surprised to see a mortal."
Sarah nodded and followed him out the doors and into the bright sunlight. Taking a left Jareth led her round to the stables. "Have you ridden before?" he asked as he called to his groom to get two horses ready.
"A little, but not much" She replied truthfully. The groom led out two huge horses both saddled and snorting expectantly.
"This is Pasha Miss." The groom told Sarah as he gave Jareth the other horse and led the brown mare over to her. "She's a lovely gentle horse, perfect for beginners though she can be a bit jumpy." Sarah held out her hand and Pasha snuffled at it.
"She's lovely" Sarah said scratching Pasha's nose and turning to look at the groom. "I'm sorry I didn't get your name."
"It's Benson Miss." He gave her a leg up and she clambered onto the horse who snorted in alarm.
"Please call me Sarah." Holding tightly to the reins and the front of the saddle she looked over at Jareth who had mounted with ease and was now sitting atop the huge black stallion that Benson had handed him moments before. He raised an eyebrow as if to enquire if she was ready.
Sarah felt more than a little nervous as she looked down at Benson from the great height of Pasha's back.
"Don't worry she won't give you any trouble" Slapping Pasha on the rump to cause her to go forward in a steady walk he disappeared back into the stables.
"Right follow me." Jareth called tapping his horse with the riding crop he held and surging forward into an easy canter. Pasha followed the larger horse's example and also broke into a canter. Sarah fought to stay on her back as
they passed through the Goblin city and, to her surprise went around the outside of the Labyrinth. "Where are we going?" she called to Jareth in front her dark hair whipping around.
Choosing to answer her question with actions he suddenly made a sharp left and seemed to dive through one of the Labyrinths walls. Following behind Sarah saw to her amazement that there was actually an opening which unless you looked closely was completely invisible. In front of her stretched one long passageway. Jareth pushed his horse into a gallop, which Sarah also did, and they raced down the straight path. After ten minutes hard riding Sarah found herself exhausted and rather sore.
They reached the end of the corridor and passed once more through an invisible exit. Pulling his horse to a walk and then a standstill Jareth turned to face her. "None of the people ever made to run the Labyrinth has ever thought that there might be a path straight through." He laughed. "They always accept the entrance I present to them. Then again it would take two hours to walk from the starting point to this entrance." The ride had put him in a good mood. There was nothing better than the feel of the wind on your face as the sun beamed down.
Sarah felt rather frazzled as, though the ride had been exhilarating, her hair was in a tangled mess and her whole body was stiff and sore. Looking around her she gasped as she saw a familiar short figure tramping along spraying fairies and grumbling to himself. Jareth jumped down from his horse told it to stay and helped Sarah down from Pasha.
Even in her hurry to run to Hoggle who was still unaware of her presence she felt her face burn as she became aware of Jareth's hands on her waist as he helped her down from the horse. Smiling her thanks she flew off to greet her old friend.
"Hoggle!" she cried as he turned, surprised to see the woman rushing towards him with the Goblin King standing behind her tending to the horses.
"Sarah?" he said hesitantly as she ground to a halt in front of him and crouching flung her arms around him.
"Hoggle it's so good to see you." Sarah croaked wiping her eyes with her sleeves as she released him from her arms.
"What in the Underground are ye doing here?" he asked incredulously spraying a fairy without even looking at it.
"I missed you all so much!" she hugged him again and stood grinning through her tears.
"Have you seen the others?" he asked taking out a slightly grey, rough handkerchief and giving it to her.
She shook her head accepting the handkerchief and drying her eyes. "You're the first one I came to see."
"Well I should be, first one to meet ye when you arrived, first one to greet ye when you come back." He looked back towards Jareth who was still with the horse. "Apart from that Jareth back there, not giving you any trouble is he? Tell me if he is and at the first chance I get I'll boot 'im into the bog. " Sarah smiled and glanced back at Jareth who at that moment also looked up and met her gaze aware they were talking about him.
"No he's been very courteous. Well, as courteous as is possible for him I suppose." Crouching down once again she looked into Hoggle's eyes. "Hoggle why didn't you come when I called for you, it's been years."
Hoggle looked down and shuffled his feet. "Well I wanted to Sarah but I jus' couldn't. My magic's not that strong and you needed us less and less as you got older. I hope ye can forgive us."
Sarah grinned "There's nothing to forgive, for a while I just stopped believing."
"We have to get back to the castle for lunch so if you want to see your other friends the I suggest you wrap it up with Higgle." Jareth spoke suddenly in her ear.
"Hoggle!" Hoggle reminded him and Jareth smirked.
"Of course." He said looking down at the dwarf. "What was that I heard about the bog? Something about booting me in?" Jareth laughed shortly at Hoggle's discomfort and turning on his heel strode back to the horses calling over his shoulder for Sarah to hurry.
"Thought you said he was bein' courteous, doesn't seem that way to me." Hoggle grumbled as he sprayed another fairy.
"I better go but you must come and see me at the castle." Hoggle nodded "Tomorrow?" she asked. Hoggle nodded again.
"Sarah." Jareth called impatiently.
"Yes, yes don't get your breeches in a twist." Hoggle laughed. Surprised at her own daring she heard Jareth grumbling. "Until tomorrow then." She said hugging him once again under protests from Hoggle who thought she was being "soppy." Watching him wander away round the corner still spraying
Returning to the horses she found Jareth already seated upon his horse. "How am I supposed to get up?" she asked annoyed as Jareth smirked.
"Well I don't know, should be interesting to find out." Frowning he grumbled jus loud enough for Sarah to hear "breeches in a twist indeed."
Realising this was payback Sarah turned and looked at Pasha towering above her. The stirrup looked too high for her to put her foot in from the ground but she tried anyway. Jareth laughed from atop his horse.
"You can find your way through my Labyrinth but you can't even get on a horse." He shook his head in amusement as she stood looking at the horse trying to see a way up.
"I thought we had to hurry, surely it would be quicker for you just to give me a leg up." She turned and glared at him. He just grinned and brought his legs up so he was sitting cross legged in the saddle balancing expertly.
"Oh no. I wouldn't miss this for the world!" Inspecting his gloves he waited for her to say something when she did nothing but grumble he smirked again. "Say please."
Taking hold of Pasha's bridle and leading her to a nearby tree stump she smiled back at Jareth complacently.
"It's a piece of cake."
Raising an eyebrow he saw her clamber onto the stump and realised what she was about to do.
"Sarah I wouldn't..." too late. Sarah leaped onto Pasha's back. The horse was instantly alarmed and gave a series of bucks and cantered away. Sarah crashed to the ground and screamed. Jareth was off his horse and by her side in an instant.
"Shit, shit, and shit!" she moaned writhing on the ground clutching her arm tears spilling from her eyes. Jareth gently felt her arm causing her to flinch.
"Im afraid it's broken Sarah. Didn't you hear Benson tell you she was jumpy?" his voice was shaking.
"If you hadn't been such a prick and helped me this wouldn't have happened."
"I did try to warn you." Jareth replied his voice still shaking ignoring her insult. Putting a gloved hand over his eyes his shoulders started to tremble.
"Jareth are you... are you laughing?" Sarah asked incredulously as he moved his hand away from his eyes and clamped it over his mouth. Having been discovered his laugh burst out of him and he was soon sitting back on his heels in hysterics. Gritting her teeth at the pain she punched him in the arm with her good hand and attempted to stand. Helping her to her feet still chuckling he gave a long sharp whistle. Pasha cantered back into sight at the sound of her master's call.
"Right well it doesn't look as if you did any Pasha any damage but you won't be able to ride back."
"I didn't do any harm to Pasha?" She glared at him "If you hadn't noticed my arm is broken!" Tears continued to flow from her eyes and Jareth sighed.
Walking over to Pasha and talking into her ear briefly he then turned to his own horse. "Sparta, down" he commanded and the great black horse sunk to its knees. Placing a hand on her back Jareth guided her over to his horse.
"This is Sparta I'm afraid he's completely unpredictable and only answers to one master, me. So on you get."
Sarah glared at him angrily. "What are you trying to do? Kill me?"
Shaking his head he smoothly swept her up into his arms. Shocked into silence Sarah looked into his face bewildered. Jareth got onto Sparta's back placing Sarah in front of him so she was sitting side saddle his arms either side of her as he took up the reins.
"Now hold on to my waist unless you want to take a tumble again." Sarah did as she was told holding on lightly to his waist with one arm the other one, which was broken, resting her lap. Looking down at her he raised an eyebrow. "Up" he said simply and Sparta lurched to his feet causing Sarah to cling to Jareth more tightly groaning in pain. "And off we go" he said softly kicking Sparta into a canter as Pasha followed behind.
It was lucky that Sparta had such a smooth stride otherwise Sarah would have been in a great deal of pain. As it was she was doing her best not to cry out as her arm was jostled by the motion of the ride. However, the pain did not make her any less aware of the fact that she was currently practically sitting in the Goblin Kings lap holding on to his waist.
Looking down at her face which had paled dramatically Jareth was also aware of the position they were in. He could smell the fragrance of her hair and felt the pressure of her head on his chest and her arm around his waist.
Smiling slightly he kicked Sparta into a gallop and felt her grip tighten.
"Hang on were almost there" he said quietly as they came to the end of the long passageway and approached the Goblin City.
Upon entering the stables he called for Benson to take Pasha and once again ordered for Sparta to go down onto his knees so he could climb off with Sarah still in his arms.
"Jareth I can walk." She protested clutching her arm and looking up at him. He simply ignored her and proceeded up the stairs and into a room which she assumed was his bedroom. The room was certainly larger than hers, it was richly furnished and the bed was huge. Laying her down on the bed he called for Demetria who appeared instantly beside him.
"Get me the healer, as quickly as possible and tell him a mortal has broken her arm." Demetria looked anxiously behind him to where Sarah was propped up against the pillows on the large four poster bed. Sarah made a face at her before shutting her eyes and leaning her head back wincing at the pain.
Demetria disappeared and Jareth pulled a chair up next to Sarah. Surveying her pale face and closed eyes Jareth felt a strange feeling rising up inside him, shaking his head to free himself from the emotion descending on him he called Sarah's name softly. Opening her eyes she smiled weakly. "Thank you."
"For what?" he asked curiously leaning closer to her. "For one of my horses causing you to break your arm?" She raised her eyebrows at him. "Ok not the horse, me. I caused you to break your arm. I apologise." She smiled at him.
"Do you not have any painkillers around somewhere?" Jareth laughed.
"No but we do have an accomplished healer" Jareth stood "Ah Toronto there you are!" he exclaimed as a man appeared in the room.
"Mr Brime!?" Sarah gasped for the man walking swiftly over to her was none other than her friendly neighbour who spent a lot of time gardening.
"Hello Sarah fancy seeing you here." He turned to Jareth "Just a simple Capulus potion should do it I think, she'll be as good as new." Jareth nodded.
Conjuring a bottle of green liquid from nowhere Mr Brime/Toronto inspected the handwritten label then also magicing a glass he filled it and handed it to Sarah.
"I know it will taste foul but please, drink."
Sarah obeyed and grimaced at the taste. As the potion slipped down her throat she felt warmth spreading through her body. "Mr Brime, or is it Toronto, what on earth are you doing here?" He chuckled and sitting in the chair previously occupied by Jareth explained.
"Well for my potions I need certain plants that only grow in your world. That's why I keep a house and garden there. It's pure coincidence that we were neighbours." Sarah was amazed.
"Does that mean you're...not human?" she asked. He smiled.
"My mother was fey and my father was mortal. I would give you a full history of my life if that is what you desire but I'm afraid I'm a very busy man. I hope I won't see you in quite a while, unless you return home of course, I only
come to the castle when someone has received an injury." With a smile and wink he vanished. Jareth sat down once more and looked at Sarah.
"How bizarre." He said "but then Toronto has always been a little insane."
Sarah wiggled her fingers and to her surprise was able to lift her arm and move it slowly. "It's healed!" she exclaimed in delight. Catching hold of her wrist as she waved her arm around Jareth frowned.
"Not a good idea you need to give it time to set. Im afraid we can't risk going to see your other friends today the strain of riding again could cause your other arm to break."
Sarah was disappointed. "Then what shall I do for the rest of the day?"
"Well I suppose we could have our lunch here and then I have something to show you. Ok?" Sarah nodded.
He's being so kind to me although he should be since it was his fault I broke my arm. Watching him call Demetria and ask for lunch to be served to them upstairs she smiled slightly. He seems to be more handsome every time I look at him, and I'm lying in his bed!
Turning back to Sarah he raised an eyebrow. "I should warn you that the potion could make you feel a little light headed. Oh Right... she thought, is that why my heart is beating so fast?
Hurrah! At last chapter four is finished! I had planned on finishing chapter five as well today but I've been too busy. I hope you like this chapter. I had a lot of fun writing it. Please review!