A/N: Here is the third chapter to May Eve. I do hope you enjoy this one as well. Please R&R so that I know what you all think. I own nothing, I just play with the characters. This story is rated T, but may eventually have mature content. When it does I will put a huge warning up for those of you who do not like such content. Thanks for all who've been with me so far with this story and welcome all new readers!
MAY EVE
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.
~William Butler Yeats, "The Stolen Child"
Chapter 3: Wish-Away
Sarah was unaware of the spinning and pulling in her stomach as the three of them left Aboveground to the Castle at the center of the Labyrinth, Underground. She had given up on all that was left of herself and was barely alive when she softly landed in the King's bed.
Toby, on the other hand, embarrassed as much as he'd ever been, vomited on the Goblin King's shiny leather boots. "Oh, God. . ." He mumbled as he plopped down on the floor.
"Master Toby, what am I going to do with you?" Jareth grinned as he flicked his wrist and everything was as if it wasn't.
"I am so sorry!" He grumbled. Jareth offered his hand to help the young boy up and with a blush Toby was now standing. They both turned to look at Sarah and frowned at what they saw there. Pale, thin, and unconscious. "Oh no! Sarah!" Toby was at her side instantly shaking her lightly. "Wake up, sis! Come on!"
"Toby, stop jostling the poor girl." Jareth demanded as he conjured a crystal and tossed in the air. Before it could disappear a knock was heard at the door of the King's Chambers. "Enter."
"Your Majesty, how may I serve you?" A thin, wispy woman bowed in the doorway. Her hair was long and very red, her eyes a beautiful green that seemed to change slightly from dark to light and back again. She wore a flowing pale blue gown and had a brown leather bag resting on her hip.
"Ah, Reaywen, do come in. I need you to tend to the Lady of the Labyrinth, she's gravely ill." Jareth stepped away from the bed, bringing Toby with him so that she could get a better look at Sarah.
"What is she?" Toby whispered in awe. She was the prettiest thing he had ever seen in his young life.
"She is the Royal Healer. She's an Elf, and yes, they are quite beautiful aren't they?" Jareth smiled down at the boy. "Now, come sit. I will get you something to eat, seeing as what you've had ended up on my boots." Toby blushed deeply again, but sat at the tiny table near the fireplace in the room. Before he could protest a large silver platter appeared there with an unnaturally large peanut butter and jelly sandwich and mixed fruit. A glass of milk was set to the side.
"Wow!" Toby gasped. "That's so cool!"
As Toby occupied himself Jareth slipped to the bed where Raeywen was bent over her patient. She tsked at him but did not break her ministrations. "How could you allow this, Goblin King? The poor girl is ill from the Fae sickness. You've caused her to suffer, and by the looks of her it's been for a long time. And who is the boy? Another wish-away? Honestly, Jareth, from the stories told I'm shocked at the maltreatment of the only person to best you, and if I'm not mistaken, the only woman you've ever loved."
"Raeywen, we have been friends a long time, do not throw that all away by disrespecting my position." Jareth snarled. "The girl didn't want me, what was I to do? I have no power over her. And the boy? He is her brother, the one she wished away all those years ago."
"Look at this woman and tell me of lack of power. You're lucky the boy was too young to be affected as well." She grumbled as she lifted Sarah's head and poured a horrid looking and smelling thick liquid down her throat. She massaged her neck making sure it all went down properly and then she tapped her forehead three times. "The girl will live - as long as she rests properly - do not mess up a second chance. Most aren't granted them."
Without another word she walked over to the boy. "And young man, she must drink this three times a day for three days. She is not to move from that bed. The magic I have put on her will remove any need for bathroom needs until the three days are up. Don't let her fool you." And with one more glance at Jareth she nodded. "And you - if she tries to move, restrain her." And she was gone without another word.
"Uh, Jareth? What's Fae sickness?" Toby asked, studying his shoes. Jareth raised an eyebrow. Usually he didn't allow for anyone to call him by his given name, of course Sarah could, but that was different. Seeing that this boy was once going to be his heir, he allowed it. In private of course.
"It is when a human is near fairies for an extended time and then kept from them. Some don't have any affects from it, others, like your sister become deathly ill." Jareth tittered off as he conjured another crystal. "Perhaps, Master Toby, you'd like to go lay down for a bit. That bed is large enough for ten people, why not rest?"
"I'm not. . ." Jareth tossed the crystal at the boy and suddenly he was wrapped up in the bed asleep.
"Yes, you are." He smiled.
Jareth began occupying his time with staring at the now peacefully sleeping beauty in his bed. How often had he dreamed of her being there with him, bodies tangled together, enjoying their love of each other? Now, she lay there so close to Death he swore the bastard was lurking in the shadows of the room. She beat the labyrinth, she can defeat this as well, he thought positively and then frowned. He helped her in his own way, through the maze. How in the Underground was he to help her this time? He soon had to resign in the fact that he had done all he could. She was here now, in the castle, with him. The healer did all she could, now it was up to his love to come around.
Of course, being Jareth the Goblin King, he had absolutely no patience whatsoever. Producing yet another crystal he turned it this way and that until he saw his beloved sitting up in bed with a smile on her face. Nearly back to normal. With a smile spreading across his face and the proof that she would be well soon, he left the siblings to rest.
~M*E~
Stretching in the morning sunlight he startled once he realized it wasn't all a dream and his sister was still alive, though sleeping, in the castle. Toby could barely contain his excitement as he leapt from the bed and silently snooped around. He prided himself at being quite the ninja, after all, sneaking around was his profession as a younger brother. He probably new everything there ever was to know about his sister just by what was in her diary and what was in her room. 'Oh Jareth, why haven't you come to me?' 'Oh, Goblin King, I love you.' Yeah, well she sure didn't show it when the man was finally around.
Unless that's how they did things now? Toby shook his head and walked over to a large wardrobe and threw the doors open. Inside were all the clothes he could ever want. Grabbing out a pair of jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt, socks and a plaid short sleeved button down he ran to the other doors in the chambers. He stumbled upon an office that he snuck back out of and finally found the bathroom.
His jaw hit the floor when he saw the giant claw foot tub that suddenly was filled with steaming water that smelled a lot like honey. "Thanks for the hint, Jareth!" He giggled as he disrobed and plopped into the water, submerging himself gleefully. "I am so going to love living here!"
"'Allo, Sir. Can I gitcha anything?" Came a gruff little voice from outside of the tub. Toby couldn't see who was speaking so he peered over the tub to see a stout little goblin in what strangely looked like a pirates costume.
"Uh, I'm Toby, who are you?" Toby asked shyly. The little man bowed so low his long nose touched the ground. Though he was gnarly and hairy, Toby found him sort of cute. Like one of those real ugly dogs that you can't help by like, he thought.
"Oh, Sir Toby, me name is Groff and I'm here to serve ya." The little man smiled. His teeth were quite sharp, but as friendly as the goblin was, Toby couldn't find it in him to be frightened.
"Well, I didn't think to grab a towel before getting in here, and I could use some soap?" Toby wasn't sure how to address his helper. Clearly this was the goblin's job, but he didn't want to be rude either.
"As you wish." The man skipped around the large bathroom and was back in a wobbly flash with a big towel draped near the tub and a large bar of what looked like homemade soap. "Tis Kingy's special soap. Don't breathe a word." Groff winked. "Now, if yeh need me, just call me name and I'll come runnin'."
"Thanks, Groff." Toby grinned and off the little goblin went.
~M*E~
Meanwhile, Sarah was unsure as to why she was in a field of flowers that talked. Perhaps she was dreaming and she was in Wonderland. But, then again, being Underground proved that a lot of things she felt weren't real truly were. Even so, she ignored the little flowers who were calling to her. Something was never right when the things that should talk, do.
What had Jareth done to her now? What part of the labyrinth was she in? It was obvious that she had never seen anything like this Underground before, but she was certain he had something to do with this.
And what the heck was Toby doing wishing them away like that? Where was Toby, anyway? Or Jareth, for that matter? Why was she once again all alone? Once she had finished cursing both of the men in her life she realized she felt fantastic, as if nothing had been wrong with her in the first place.
I must be dead! That's it, I'm dead and this is Heaven. She smiled to herself, spinning and taking everything in again, but this time with new eyes. The sky was bright blue with the sun shining golden in the sky. Strange birds flew over head, and small odd creatures skittled about here and there. The air smelled sweet, like peaches.
As she began to walk around she found herself standing at two doorways. She thought back to her time in the Labyrinth and how there were two goblin knockers and one led her to the forest with the Fire Gang. She shuddered thinking of those terrifying creatures. She hoped to never run into anything like that ever again, so she walked up to the doors cautiously, just in case this wasn't heaven.
"Lady of the Labyrinth, what a pleasure it is to meet your acquaintance! You didn't make it to my side of the labyrinth last time, what luck to meet you!" The first goblin knocker smiled. His knocker was in his nose, so it could hear and talk, unlike the others. The other knocker did not speak. It's knocker was through its head. Sarah grimaced at the lifeless face.
"What do you two represent?" She was afraid to ask, assuming she already knew the answer.
"Life and Death M'Lady." The knocker replied. Sarah swallowed hard. "Course, as always, tis your choice which way you go, but I must urge you to choose life. The Goblin King has been quite belligerent since you've been gone, and if you're gone for good, well. . . You can imagine what that will be like for us Underground. And, you're such a pretty young thing, you have so much life left, deary."
"Well, certainly I don't wish to die! Gods, if it was this easy then I wouldn't have minded coming back! Of course I chose Life!" Sarah replied exasperatedly. "Have others chosen Death?"
"Quite a few, how else would we have so many of us goblins around here? Most all the Wish-Aways don't never go home! Their Wishers give up, and find his door is the easiest way out." The goblin knocker replied somberly.
"Well, I didn't give up before, and I sure won't give up now! What do I need to do?" She asked.
"Simply knock, M'Lady." He smiled. Sarah took a deep breath and stepped forward taking the knocker in her hand.
"It was nice meeting you." She smiled, and then knocked.
"You too, Lady of the Labyrinth." The knocker replied before slamming the door. Everything suddenly went fuzzy and as quickly as it did, her sight was back to normal. The only thing was, she was no longer standing in the outdoors, she was lying in a bed, and looking around it only took her seconds to realize she had woken in His chambers.
"Well, damn. . ."