A/N: Sorry this was so late. Hope you enjoy what I do to Alec and Becka. --GF
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Reviews are welcomed, flames aren't
Chapter 22: Hour of Judgment
Looking over at his captive, Jareth smirked. "Well, it seems your friend won't be rescuing you after all. He found himself at the bottom of an oubliette."
Becka struggled against her bonds with fear in her eyes. "Oh don't worry," Jareth said standing over her. "I'll retrieve him after he's lost. He only has four hours left."
Tears formed in her eyes as she lowered her head.
0o0o0o0o0
A cloud hid the sun as the temperature dropped. Sarah shivered. "This can't be good," she whispered.
"I think my cousin is in a bit of a snit."
A goblin tugged at Sarah's sleeve interrupting her chat with Cory. "Nice Lady Sarah. The Goblin King wishes for youse presence. He's ready to judge the Wish Away. The man-boy lost."
Sarah rolled her eyes as she moved to stand. "Allow me, Nice Lady Sarah," Cory teased as he offered a hand. "We mustn't keep dear Cousin Jareth waiting. You know how grumpy he can get."
Sarah laughed as she accepted the offered hand. Together, they strolled out of the maze and into the castle.
Jareth was impatiently waiting for them as they stepped into the Throne Room. He was pacing back and forward, tapping his riding crop against his boot. Sarah's eyes strayed over to her former best friend and almost winced but caught herself. This is definitely not good. Becka looked miserable wrapped in chains and gag as she was roughly brought to her feet by several of the goblins.
'Well, she did bring it all onto herself,' Sarah thought uncharitable, checking the clock. 'Five more minutes. Where was Alec?'
Jareth nodded to both Cory and Sarah as he turned to go to the Escher Room where he would pass judgment. However, he did offer his hand to Sarah in an almost loving way. She gave a slight nod and bow as she placed her hand on top of his.
The Escher Room was just like the painting, stairs and archways leading everywhere and nowhere. Sarah looked up and up and couldn't find the ceiling. She then noticed Becka's wild-eyed expression and hid a giggled behind her hand.
When they had stepped into the room, Jareth was transformed into his white on silver persona of the owl-like Goblin King. However, he had not let go of Sarah's hand. Sarah smiled up at Jareth as she squeezed his hand. She wasn't afraid of either Fae. Jareth glanced down at her with an unreadable look in his eyes.
Unknown to her, she had been transformed as well into her outfit into her ballroom outfit from her time in the Labyrinth as well as a matching owl feather cape like he was wearing. Around her neck, was the key to the Labyrinth that he had given her so long ago.
Cory also transformed, gone was the casual dress of a Victorian gentleman, instead he was something out of Tolkien, wild and elegant. He stood behind the Fae couple as if he was one of the Goblin King's attendants, looking almost bored with everything.
Becka's eyes widen at the sight of the trio. Standing in front of them, her chains and gag fell to the ground, just as the clock started to dong. Mentally, Sarah counted each dong until she got to thirteen.
When the last dong faded away, Alec appeared. The poor college student was dirty, disheveled and angry. Becka cried out and rushed to him.
"Since he had spend several hours in the darkness of the oubliette," Jareth said to Sarah, "I would hope that he had did some serious thinking about things." Sarah raised an eyebrow. "You left him there? At least, you sent Hoggle to me when I fell in."
Jareth smirked, raising her hand to his lips.
"Alec!" Becka cried as she raced to him.
"Becka! He didn't hurt you, did he?" Alec grabbed the girl and pushed her behind him. Becka whined as she clutched Alec's arm, burying her face into the back of his shirt.
"My. My. What a pretty sight?" Jareth sneered. "Have you two finally learnt your lesson? Since you lost. Becka is mine to do was I wish."
Jareth sneered. He paused for a moment, looking at the couple, then down to Sarah as if thinking about what he should do. Sarah, of course, knew it was a bluff. She could see it in his eyes. "She's too old to be turned into a goblin," he said, looking into Sarah's eyes.
"NO! Your test was not fair! No one could travel that warren of mazes," Alec cried out, causing Sarah laughed as Jareth raised an eyebrow.
Turning his attention back on the couple, Jareth asked, "And just what is your base of comparison? No matter. Sarah not only beat my Labyrinth, she also did it in10 hours and she was only 15. What is your excuse? You are an adult. You know life isn't fair. It just is."
"But. . ."
"Enough," Jareth cut in. "I've made my decision. I want nor need either of you in my Labyrinth or Underground. You both deserve each other. You will be returned to Above. You will forget about the Fae and magic. You both will forget your little crusade of changing Sarah into your warp image of what she should be. In fact, you will forget that you were even friends with Sarah. In time, you two will marry, however, you will not be allowed to have children. The mere thought of you two procreating makes me a little nauseated. You are stuck for life, bonded together forever even if kills you both. Where one goes, the other will follow."
Jareth formed a crystal and twirled it around his hand as Alec and Becka started to protest. Having had enough of the pair, the Goblin King threw the crystal at them and the pair disappeared in a shower of fairy dust.
Sarah drew out her cheeks as she ran a hand threw her hair. Jareth turned to her and a slight smirk. "Tired, My Love?" he asked as he started to pull her into his arms.
Cory cleared his throat causing Sarah to bow her head slightly as she leaned into Jareth. She could sense that Jareth wasn't amused to being interrupted. The tall blonde Fae looked over her shoulder. "Yes Cousin?"
Sarah not willing to remove herself from Jareth's arms, turned slightly to Cory getting a bit annoyed.
"Sorry to intrude, Your Majesty. But I popped over to have a word or two with you and the lovely Sarah," Cory began somewhat amused. "All I wanted to do is invite you both to a Opening Night on Broadway. Linda is in the staring role," Cory smiled. Sarah felt a small shiver down her back. Something wasn't quite right.
"What's the catch? Did Linda put you up to this?" she asked.
"Not at all, dear Sarah. It is my treat for you and my dear cousin. Call it an early Christmas present."
Sarah looked from Cory to Jareth. Jareth's face was expressionless. He was mulling over something, she could tell. Closing her eyes, Sarah leaned her forehead against his shoulder and waited.
"We will go," Jareth said. "There had better not be any surprises, Cousin."
o0o0o0o0o0o
Sarah sat in her suite of rooms waiting for Jareth to join her. He and Cory were finalizing the details for the visit Aboveground. She didn't want to miss any classes but Cory assured her that the tickets were for the Christmas Break. No worries. She chewed on her bottom lip as she wrote in her journal.
Dear Jareth,
It's over with. Alec lost to you and Becka is finally out of my life. I wonder why I ever became her friend in the first place. Alright, I was young, rebellious and stupid. So there. She served a purpose when I was younger but now that we are in college together, I no longer desire the same things she does. I no longer want her to rule my life.
As for her and Alec, well, I must say it was a fitting punishment for both of them. I quite agree the thought of them having children is sickening.
Speaking of children. . . Am I pregnant? I'm not sure. I know I haven't been taking any precaution. Are you? Fae are notorious for having very low birth rates. Will I even become pregnant? Do you want children?
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Thanks everyone for the reviews. I'll try to update more now that I'm over a bit of writer's block on my stories. The only reason, What Is Said is getting most of my time is I have someone helping me write and we bounce ideas off each other. Dear Jareth is my own work with Frau's help. I'll try to work more about the journal entries. Until next time. --GF