Disclaimer: Not mine... sigh... but i do own a packet of pocky, but i don't think its going to last very long.
Sarah was pissed. Really pissed. How dare he! HOW DARE HE! That smug arrogant bastard somehow got in my head. He's the reason I've been having all those dreams. Who the hell does he think he is? Sarah looked over to the door as she heard knocking.
"My lady? Its Maria. May I enter?" The young fae stood outside the door waiting for a reply. She swore she could feel the humans anger seeping under the door. What has master done? She thought
"Come in Maria." Sarah sighed. What was she going to do with herself? She was stuck here, in a strange world she knew barely anything about. To make matters worse, she was stuck in the one place he was. Maria slowly let her self into the room and noticed glass all over the floor. Looking above them, she noticed the large window overlooking the great maze had been broken.
"Good Morning to you my lady," She bowed down, and then motioned to the window. "What caused this?"
"You can blame His Majesty for that." Almost spitting out any reference to him, Sarah continued. "He, he, well I'm not entirely sure what it was he did last night but he bloody well shouldn't have invaded my head like that and I sort of threw the first thing I found at the window." Admitting her guilt calmed her down a lot. Plus, there wasn't any reason to be angry with Maria, she had been nothing but nice to Sarah. Bowing her head, she added "I am very sorry"
"Nothing that cant be fixed. But may I suggest that ladies of your age shouldn't be having temper tantrums?" Sarah blushed. Still sensing that her charge was tense, Maria made an offer she knew Sarah wouldn't refuse. "Would you like me to run you a bath? Its bound to help your mood. After all a bath cleans the body and the soul." Quickly nodding, Sarah accepted. "As you like my lady." Maria opened a door opposite the bed and entered a en-suite Sarah hadn't known was there. Slowly the scent of blossoming roses filled the air. Walking into the bathroom, Sarah saw a huge marble bathtub filled with with sweet smelling water, topped up with bubbles. "Your bath my lady."
"Please, call me Sarah."
"Sarah then." Maria left the room while Sarah undressed and slipped into the warm water. "May I re-enter Sarah?"
"Yes." She entered with a simple green dress and two towels. Placing these on a nearby stool, she sat down on another near the head of the bath. Dipping a jug into the bath, the then poured it on Sarah's head as she started washing her hair. "Maria, what is this world like?
"How do you mean?"
"Well, I know almost nothing about this place, save what I learnt last time I was here. But I get the feeling this place is much more then just the Labyrinth." Maria had been right about the bath. This was very relaxing.
"Yes, there are many 'parts' to the fae world. This is the Goblin Realm, as you may have guessed. I myself am from the Faerie Realm. But there are many more. There is a Library in this castle with plenty of books that would assist you in your knowledge Sarah. I can show you later if you wish."
"Please!" The news of a library was great to Sarah, she could spend her days reading up on this place and avoid Jareth at the same time. "Does that make you faerie Maria?"
Maria laughed. "No sorry. I'm pure fae, just as His Majesty is. The name of the realms refer to what each is charged with looking after. I've read a little on Aboveground, so its like, say you having a cat realm and a dog realm and a bird realm, and all of those being overseen by humans. Except in this world, the Realms are overseen by Fae." Rinsing the last of the suds from Sarah's hair, Maria pinned it up with a clip she had attached to her apron.
"So how did you get be stuck here then, wouldn't the Fairy Realm be nicer?"
"I don't have much memory of it really. I was..."she knew this would be a touchy subject for Sarah "..wished away when I was three, and have never been back."
"Wished away? How does that work?" Sarah looked confused more then anything. Relived, Maria explained.
"Anyone, Aboveground or Underground can wish a child away. It just happens much less from the Underground because we fae realise the power that the words have. I hold no resentment for it though, I'm treated well here. My mother obviously didn't want me. She wouldn't even run the Labyrinth like you Sarah. Although I do wish to return there to visit someday, I believe this is the better life for me." Sarah looked up.
"How do you know I ran the Labyrinth?"
"Everyone knows you ran the Labyrinth. You bested it and its master. That makes for very impressive tales which are passed around quickly in this Realm. Even faster with the rumours of how His Majesty felt for y..." Maria mentally kicked herself for saying that. Her master did not need Sarah knowing this of information just yet.
"How he felt for...?"
"Nothing my lady, forget I said anything."
What he felt? Sarah wasn't sure what to make of this. She felt her stomach churn "...sure. Maria, I think I would like to see that library now." Maria left the room while Sarah dried herself and dressed. What he
felt for me?
----------------------------
Jareth sat alone in his study, pondering the events of last night. She had called to him again, but this time, her conciousness had risen up and taken over from her sub-concious. And she had not been happy. Sarah obviously had no idea how to deal with this dream scape. From what she said last night, she had control over other lucid dreams but this was no ordinary dream. Sooner or later he was going to have to tell her what was happening, and then maybe she would stay calm enough to let him teach her how to morph that world to her liking. Jareth massaged the bridge of his nose.
"Sarah you wound me so." He mentioned to no-one in particular. I may as just get this over with. If he went and saw her now, or later, Sarah was still going to rip his proverbial head off. Jareth summoned a crystal to his hand. Show me Sarah. Slowly an image of her appeared in his sphere. She was following Maria down a long corridor that He knew to be the east wing. What does she want down there? Maria stopped by a door.
"The Library, Sarah."
Ah, she wants to read. Well, that should keep her occupied for most of the day. The great Goblin King was procrastinating. I will do my duties to my kingdom now then, and go see her later. My duties will me much easier with my head firmly attached I believe.
With that, Jareth went about his day.
Sarah however, was looking for a way out.
A/N: I was right, that pocky is all gone now. le-sigh. Thanks so much again to my wonderful reviewers. i love you all! Big thanks to Anastasia Rayne who gave me some great advice. Im trying tobe more descriptive, its just not my strong point.
