Sarah still didn't know who it was who'd grabbed ner, but when the world slid back into place, she found herself in an Underground forest and knew whoever it was had to be of Jareth's ilk. She started struggling once her feet were safely on the ground, managing to elbow her assailant in the stomach. He gasped out, "Knock it off! I mean you no harm! I swear on my name I will not knowingly harm you!" Sarah stopped attacking him, but kept trying to pull away from Mr. Whoever-the-hell-it-was.
"I am Fletcher, Jareth's brother. I have a message for you. Will you listen?"
Sarah gave Fletcher a long, hard stare, trying to decide whether or not to oblige him. She made her decision quickly, respnding with another sharp elbow.
Jareth felt the shift of magic in the house; he knew the exact moment Sarah was gone, and it did not sit well with him. He excused himself politely and hurried off to Sarah's room, where he set about putting together a tracing spell.
"Damnit, that hurts!" Fletcher gasped. Who knew a mortal teenager could be this... this... OUCH! Sadistic comes to mind, Fletcher noted even as he slid to the forest floor. I'm pretty sure I won't ever be having kids now...
"What the hell do you want?" Sarah demanded as she backed away from the fallen Fae ((A/N:: Hey! That rhymes! Yay! ...Sorry, I'm a little hyper...))
"Told you," Fletcher wheezed. "'M just delivering a message. Don't have much time, tho'."
"Why not?" Sarah's eyes narrowed and she glared suspicously at Fletcher.
"Jareth's on his way," he managed. "He's not s'pposed to find out about this." Fletcher staggered to his feet, and waved a hand absently. An envelope appeared and winged its way to Sarah, who caught it tenatively.
"What is it?" Fletcher shook his head. She's really nothing but questions, he mused. Aloud, he responded,
"A letter, adressed from her Majesty, the Unseelie Queen to the Mortal, Sarah the Champion of the Labyrinth. Don't let Jareth see it, after you read it, get rid of it." He saw the confusion on her face and grinned. "It'll all make sense after you read it," Fletcher told her.
"And now, I'm off. Jareth will be here soon, he'll take you home, and remember, not a word of this to him!" Fletcher transformed into a red-tailed hawk and flew off hurriedly.
It had taken him far longer than he was comfortable with for the spell to find Sarah, and Jareth was not amused by what had occured, even though he didn't know the entire story yet. As soon as the tracer located Sarah (in the Underground, he noticed worriedly) he Shifted into one of his many battle forms and launched himself between the two worlds.
Sarah inspected the envelope. What harm could there be in opening a letter from a strange Fae? Surely, if it were enchanted, I could tell... And she really could. Ever since her trip through the Labyrinth, Sarah could sense magic in creatures and spells. Enchantments, depending on what they did, either felt protective or mildly offensive. The letter felt, if anything, to be a soothing weight, as if whoever had written it was calm and kind. So it must be relatively safe... The cry of a raptor cut her off, and then-
-SARAH!-
She had to have jumped three feet when Jareth's roar echoed in her head, and she hastily shoved the letter in the pocket of her jeans. "Jareth?" Her call was confused and reluctant; if she hadn't heard him so clearly she'd have thought herself mad.
Then she caught sight of the beast flying towards her and hastily stepped back several paces. The creature was huge, as tall as a Clydesdale at the shoulder, and even taller than one if you measured the crested bird's head. Ash-grey feathers melted seamlessly into pale gold fur just past the wing joint, the front legs had an eagle's clawed feet but the hind legs were lion's paws. Wings stilled, stretched to catch air as the griffin glided down to meet her, the wingspan at least fifteen feet, if not more. Sarah saw the tail, a lion's tail with the same grey as the feathers coloring the tuft of fur, lash in irritation as the griffin landed. As she stared at its face, she realised that the eyes watching her from above the wickedly curved beak were two different colors of blue, one darker, one lighter, both clear and majestic and magical.
"Jareth?" His name was a gasp this time, and she could only gape when the griffin bowed in affirmative, folding its- his- wings across its-his- back and it- he, damnit, why can I accept him as an owl and not a griffin? Well, gee, Sarah, maybe it's because owls are a lot smaller...- straightened again to tower over her.
-What the bloody hell happened to you?- Jareth's words were clear in her head, but aloud it sounded like the griffin- Jareth, it's Jareth, c'mon, I know I can wrap my brain around this if I really try- growled and snapped his- yes! I'm finally getting somewhere!- beak together.
"I sure as shit wish I knew," Sarah told him, and was proud that she'd managed a normal response. "I'll let you know if I figure it out. All I know is someone grabbed me, and then we were here, and..." Sarah trailed off, uncertain of whether she should tell Jareth about Fletcher. He seemed trustworthy, but how could she know? Well, I could always tell him later if this dude turns out to be evil, Sarah decided. She took a deep breath and continued, "... and it's all very confusing. You seem upset. Are you alright?"
-I am fine. I happen to be immortal. You, on the other hand, are mortal and much too fragile for my liking. I do have my enemies, Sarah. I should have expected them to come after you.- Jareth sounded remorseful, and Sarah shook her head.
"Why would they go after me? It doesn't make any sense, Jareth."
-It makes perfect sense. Those who befriend a king are always in danger and you, little mortal, are a friend of mine, something that is well known.-
"Friends, huh? I suppose you mean the whole 'me-not-killing-you-when-you're-annoying' and the whole 'you-not-taking-revenge-on-me-for-beating-the-Labyrinth' thing, hmm?"
-If that is how you'd like to put it.- The griffin was making a musical purring sound, and Sarah realised Jareth was laughing. She made a face at him before pointedly looking away, and was immediately enthralled by the settng. Especially that plant over there...
"Jareth? That shrubbery just turned into a larch," Sarah told him. "Is it supposed to do that?" The griffin regarded the shrubbery-turned-larch for a moment.
-Yes, of course. It is a Possibili Tree, it changes every two hours or so, depending on the environment around it.-
"A Possibili Tree? Wha-? No, wait, I have a better question. Where are we?"
-Wolfsmoon Wood. Just to the south of my kingdom. We are actually intruding upon the Woodland King's territory, but he's a cousin of mine and won't mind. However, it would be best to get you back home. Come here.-
Sarah, thankfully, obeyed him with only the slightest pause. When she stood next to him, she craned her head up to look at him and asked, "How are we getting back?"
-We fly, of course.- With that, Jareth crouched as low to the ground as he could, shifting his wings out of the way to accomadate a rider.
"You are out of your cotton-picking mind! There is no way on earth-"
-It is a good thing we are Underground, then.- Jareth was laughing again. -If you choose not to ride, I will carry you in my claws. It will be no problem for me, but I think you would find it a but uncomfortable. Make your decision.-
"Jareth, I really, really don't like heights..." Sarah muttered rebelliously.
-Hey, if that Potter kid could do it, then so can you.-
"'That Potter kid'? Are you talking about Harry Potter? How did you-?"
-One of the children wished away recently had a copy of the first book,- Jareth admitted. -I started to read it out loud for the child and the goblins and got hooked. The goblins and I were about halfway through the fifth book when the Bog flooded. Hop on, girlie. I'm not staying like this all day.-
Sarah clumsily climbed onto Jareth's back. He stood up- and up and up and up, Sarah thought, looking at the far-away ground.
"Are you sure this is safe?" She asked Jareth nervously.
-Of course. Hold on tight with your legs, like you were riding a horse. And kindly sit behind my wings, it's easier to maneuver that way.- Sarah quickly moved behind the giant wings to make it easier for Jareth. -Thank you.-
"Gasp! Jareth, you thanked me? Are you sure you're feeling alright?"
-I am, and I rather hope you don't get airsick. If you do, you will be cleaning my feathers. Speaking of which, wrap your arms around my neck... Good. Now hold on tight.- Jareth set off at a fast lope, gaining speed as he raced around the clearing and then making a running leap, unfurling his wings at the height of the jump and soaring easily upwards. He heard Sarah's exclimations of suprise and then, as they gained altitude, of awe; the noises made him laugh softly. Though he was sure Sarah couldn't hear him over the rush of the wind, she must have felt the vibration the sound cause, since she poked him lightly on the shoulder.
There was a slight tearing in the fabric of existance; it shimmered around the duo before they disappeared.
Oro: Wow, the first chapter that takes place in the Underground. I like the way it came out! You people simply must review and tell me if it was good. Quill: I came up with it, of course it's good.
Oro: And everyone put a hand together for our characters, who did an excellent job of acting out the script, despite still not knowing what the hell is going to happen!
Jareth: Aw, thanks. Such a wonderful introduction.
Sarah: You are so taking me flying again later.
Jareth: I though you didn't like heights!
Sarah: So did I, but man, flying griffin-back? Amazing. A wonderful performance, feather-head.
Quill: She is, of course, talking about Jareth being a feather-head, as I control the story and it would not be a good idea to piss me off.
Oro: Never stops me.
Jareth: Wolfish Oro doesn't own Monty Python.
Sarah: Or Harry Potter.
Jareth: Right, Oro doesn't own Monty Python or Harry Potter.
Quill: Or Labyrinth.
Jareth: Alright, Oro doesn't own Monty Python, Harry Potter, or Labyrinth.
Oro: Or its characters.
Jareth: Damnit, we'll have to start all over again!
Quill: No, we won't. Good night, all. Now go away.
Oro: Quill! Be nice. (to readers) Please ignore him, he's just cranky.
Sarah: All the time?
Oro: Yup.