Notes: Wooooo, chapter two. Pronunciation note: Medb is pronounced 'mave' not mab just thought you should know. And no, the chapter title is not an innuendo.
Chapter 2: Down where it's wetter
Sarah came back to the world pf the living slowly. When she finally opened her eyes the first thing she saw was a stone ceiling. She tried sitting up but a gentle hand pushed her back down. Turning her head, pain flared up in her right shoulder and she winced, she saw a middle aged woman with the beginning of salt-and-pepper hair and bright blue eyes.
"Where am I?" she rasped. The woman smiled and gave her a few ladles full of water before replying.
"You're in the labyrinth, my dear. And his majesty wanted me to tell you that he did not kidnap you, but thought it would be better for you to receive care from his healer than from your human healers." "Oh" Sarah said softly. It felt like her brain was short-circuiting how do you hold a normal conversation again? The woman looked up from the knitting she'd gone back to as if sensing Sarah's confusion. "My name is Valdis, the king assigned me as your maid." "That was nice of him." Sarah muttered sleepily. Valdis gave her a strange look and went back to her knitting. The rhythmic clacking of the needles soon sent Sarah back to sleep.
When she awoke Valdis was gone and in her place was a table with two covered dishes. Sarah pushed herself gingerly, worried about the pain that might come. Finally upright she removed the cover of the larger dish revealing a bowl of some sort of stew. Her stomach growled at the smell and she eagerly began eating.
Feeling full she ignored the other dish in favor of exploring her room (Except her room wasn't very well lit). The only light came from the fire crackling merrily in the fireplace by the foot of her bed. Next to it was a vanity table, wardrobe, and a door. Opening the small door she discovered a dimly lit bathroom with a luxurious looking tub (and a dubious looking toilet). The wall across from her bed was covered with a tapestry, but she couldn't make out what was on it. Suddenly bored with her exploration she went straight to the other door in her room.
On the other side of this door was a large sitting room. It was well lit, with candles and oil lamps hanging from the ceiling (as well as on almost every flat surface in the room), as well as a wall of glass windows (one of which was open to a balcony).
Valdis was curled up asleep on a chaise lounge next to the open window with a tall man standing next to her covering her with a blanket. He looked up and motioned for Sarah to be quiet. He then pointed at her and then to the open window, nodding in understanding, Sarah crept past them and onto the small balcony. Moments later she heard the window click shut and turned to get a good look at the tall man.
He had dark hair and eyes (she couldn't tell if they were black or dark brown) and had well tanned skin. She turned back around as he took the few steps needed to stand next to her. They stood side by side staring at the snow covered labyrinth for a few seconds before he finally spoke.
"I'm Black-Feather. His Highness has charged me with guarding you during your stay." He sounded vaguely like a large dog's bark.
"Guard me?" Black-Feather nodded, "you were attacked while you were aboveground and His Majesty would prefer it did not happen again." Something in the way he said it didn't sound right and she decide to question him further. "Do you know who attacked me?" He shook his head and Sarah realized he had feathers in his hair (how odd). "But I do know someone or something shot at you with some sort of rifle." Sarah raised an eyebrow, "that's all you know?" He turned slightly and glared at her. "M'lady I was told to guard you, that's all." His voice turned gruff, "and in that respect I suggest we go back inside." He turned and opened the window for her. She walked straight past him and went back into her bedroom. Quickly shutting and locking her door Sarah let herself take a few deep breaths, this wasn't happening. Curious, she went and sat at the vanity, examining herself in the mirror.
She didn't look any different, except for the gauzy nightgown and the bandage on her shoulder. Poking at it gently she decided to unwrap it and see what it was hiding. Raising her left hand she fumbled around for the knot on the bandage. Once it was untied she began to slowly unwrap it. About halfway through her fingers came into contact with something slick and slippery, realizing it was blood she suppressed a gag and hastily wrapped her should back up.
Danu's gift had slipped out during the rewrapping and Sarah removed it, remembering Danu's instructions. The owl gently swung from side to side as she examined it. The door rattled, giving Sarah a start. It rattled again and she realized someone was trying to get in. A split second later she smashed the owl's crystal on the vanity, sending shards everywhere. Suddenly it felt like the worlds largest vacuum was at her back sucking, and Sarah closed her eyes as she was pulled backwards
Medb's eyes snapped open as a 'woosh' of displaced air rushed past. Her eyes went straight to the woman sprawled ungracefully on the floor. Wondering if she was dead Madb sent a small tendril of power to the girl. Alive, she cursed, why can't they ever be dead. Realizing she'd have to talk to the girl she sighed
"Hello. And who might you be?" Medb quirked her head to the side as the woman gaped at her. Getting up Medb waved a hand in front of the woman, "hello—o!" The woman blinked, then shook her head a few times.
"Sorry, it's just I've never done that before. I'm Sarah by the way." Great, a rambling crazy woman (maybe she should just kill her now (she'd been wanting a new toy for a while now)). "Ummm. . .There wouldn't happen to be a woman named Danu here would there?" Medb mentally cursed again, nodded, then rushed to the door. "Wait right there" she told the Sarah-lady before rushing to get her nan.
Sarah blinked as the odd looking girl ran out of the room; well that was a strange encounter. A hysterical giggle bubbled up as she wondered what the girls parents must look like to produce a child with flame colored hair that put a Bunsen burner to shame and eyes that had rings of alternating gold and white. Suddenly realizing she was still on the floor she used the table she'd landed next to to pull herself up. Danu burst in the moment she'd let go of the table and almost knocked her over again.
"Sarah!" Danu gave her a hug "it feels like I haven't seen you in ages, and dear Lady! You look like death warmed over. Sit down before you faint." Sarah gratefully took the offered chair. "Medb," Danu had turned her attention to the strange looking girl. "Can you go get the healer and go see if the cook has any chocolate to spare." The girl nodded and once more rushed from the room, Danu turned back to Sarah.
"What happened to you?" Sarah shook her head "I – I'm not sure." Danu patted her clenched hands and made an odd crooning sound. "Well why don't you start from the beginning, ok." Nodding Sarah told Danu everything she remembered. By the time she'd finished Medb had returned a mouse-like woman in tow. The mouse woman rushed over to Sarah the moment she finished speaking and inspected her critically.
"Who wrapped this bandage?" Sarah blushed, "Um. . .I didn't do it but I did unwrap it about halfway," the woman looked at her sharply but didn't speak. "I got curious." She finished lamely. The woman 'tuted' her. Soon after a sharp tingling sensation shot through her shoulder. "Ow." Rolling her eyes at Sarah's complaint the woman stood up. "Well I've done the best I can for the moment, but I want you to see me again tomorrow if possible. And don't use that shoulder." Sarah nodded meekly; the woman turned and curtsied to Danu before leaving.
Danu was suddenly in front of her with a half bar of chocolate in her outstretched hand. "Eat." She commanded, "it'll make you feel better." Taking the proffered piece of chocolate Sarah nibbled on it daintily, not feeling very hungry (though she did feel a bit better once it had hit her stomach). Hugging her again Danu gave Sarah a small smile. "It's so good to see you again, but duty calls. When you're ready Medb will show you around the palace and help you pick a room."
Sarah managed to get a 'thank you' out before Danu left, but she had left in such a rush that Sarah was certain that she hadn't heard her. Awkward silence filled the room as Sarah kept nibbling on her bit of chocolate bar and Medb, Who really was the oddest child she'd ever met, picked up a book, read for a little while, then snapped the book shut and put it back where she'd found it, and then repeated the process with another book.
"Will you stop that!" Sarah snapped after Medb put down her fifth book. Medb pouted, "would you please finishing eating your chocolate," she mimicked. With an aggravated sigh Sarah threw the uneaten chocolate on the table, "fine. I'm done." Medb brightened and grabbed Sarah's hand. Sarah let herself be pulled along as Medb told her about the palace.
"The palace's name is Gower." Medb wrinkled her nose, "Grandfather refuses to tell me how old it is. He says he'll tell me when I'm older. We're about 30 meters above the city of R'lyeh Ulaid, you can also reach the city of Mag Mell through the temple," she flashed Sarah a grin. "But no one's supposed to go there." The passed quickly through a large cavernous room. "That was the throne room. Do you mind if I ask you a question?" Sarah raised an eyebrow and shrugged "sure."
Medb stopped and turned to face her "what are you?" Sarah blinked, "what do you mean 'what am I'?" Medb gave an exasperated sigh. "I mean what are you? You're not one of the de Dannan; else your shoulder would've healed already. And you don't look like any lesser fae I've ever met, so I think it's a pretty valid question." She tilted her head to the side and waited for Sarah to answer. Well this is the strangest day ever, Sarah thought wryly before replying.
"I'm a human." Medb eyes widened and she rushed forward and grabbed Sarah's left hand. Shocked, Sarah watched as Medb's translucent (how had she not noticed that before?) hands began to poke and prod at her hand and arm, moving steadily upwards. A strange coldness began to seep into her arm, instinctively Sarah pulled her arm away.
Medb pouted and tried to grab Sarah's arm again. Quickly pulling herself away Sarah started backing away. Medb started moving towards her but then froze, her strange eyes glowing faintly. The young girl shuddered and the glow vanished. "I'm sorry." Medb's voice sounded stiff, "I'll take you to the family quarters." A few seconds after Medb had turned and started walking again Sarah followed, suddenly regretting smashing that orb.
By the time they reached their destination Sarah was lost (all the hallways looked exactly the same). "All the rooms on the right side of the hall are taken. But feel free to look around on the left." Sarah nodded and started opening doors and peering into rooms. She was looking around the third room when a discordant noise suddenly filled the hall. Peering back into the hall she saw Medb opening the door across from her.
Medb turned at the sound of the door and saw Sarah giving her a curious look. "Don't worry, I'll deal with it." She could barely hear her own voice above the din. After Sarah had gone back into the room Medb rushed into her grandparent's room. With a flick of her wrist the noise stopped and the large mirror cleared revealing Jareth lounging on his throne.
"Greet—" he stopped, realizing her wasn't talking to who he thought he was. "Medb! What are you doing answering the mirror?" She made a grimace of annoyance, "Our grandparents are in negotiations right now." Jareth growled. Realizing this was going to take a while Medb sat down and tilted her head up to stare at the mirror. "Is there a woman named Sarah there?" There was a thread of panic in his voice Medb had never heard before. Raising an eyebrow she replied "yes, she's here. I didn't know you liked a human, she's very pretty though." "Medb." Ignoring the warning in his voice (she was far to used to it) she flopped back and talked to the ceiling. "She's too clever. She's on the other side of the hall choosing a room." Jareth's nod (and look of relief) went unseen.
"Can you tell grandmother that I'll be sending the maid and guard I assigned her tomorrow morning?" Medb propped herself up on her elbows and nodded. "Of course. Are you still coming to dinner tomorrow?" He gave a half-smile "wouldn't miss it." She giggled. They were silent for a few moments, Medb's eyes suddenly shone with expectation, "is Nax coming?" A breathy note had found its way into her voice. Jareth shook his head, "sorry sister mine. Someone has to run the city while I'm not here." Something she couldn't see (it was most likely Nax though and she wished he'd walk a few more steps forward), "I must go." The mirror blanked. Pouting at the now empty mirror Medb stood up and went to go find Sarah.
She found Sarah on the balcony of the third room. Medb had never seen such an expression on anyone before and was curious, "are you alright?"
Sarah turned at Medb's question a shocked expression on her face.
"What's that?" she asked, pointing at the dark, murky, sky a few yards away. A brilliantly white fish swam by. Medb suddenly started laughing. "Don't you know where we are?" Sarah rapidly shook her head, why were their fish in the sky? Medb's laughter rapidly subsided into girlish giggles. "You're in R'lyeh Ulaid, the city of the deep, 152 meters below the Irish Sea." Sarah just gaped as Medb started tugging at her hand, "come on! I'll show you the city."
Bet you weren't expecting that.
Thanks to hazlgrnLizzy, Flame Wightstar, and Sculder the Goblin Queen (especially her) for reviewing last chapter.
Chapter 3 might take a while, I've got a huge paper due next week and I haven't started it yet. . .(but it shouldn't be that hard to write, it's mostly going to be just BS)
Also please, please, PLEASE check my bio. I've started a monthly prompt challenge at a labyrinth LJ comm. I'm part of, and want as many people as possible to participate. So click the link, write some stuff, tell all your labyrinth friends. I hope to be doing it for a long time, but it all depends on you.