CHAPTER ELEVEN
Max looked around before pushing aside the cut section of the cyclone fence and slipping through the gap. Straightening, he shoved his hands into his jacket pockets as he warily walked towards the milling group of people. They were people that weren't quite human. Some, you had to look twice or even real hard to see it. Not so with others that you'd ask yourself how you could have missed it. Some were hybrids like Max. A few hadn't even known they were something other than one hundred percent human until they had been told. Most were those that had been driven Aboveground for one reason or another.
The one who said he could help Max retrieve Seth and get even with the Goblin King, had also convinced these others he could help them too. He could return those that had been exiled from the Underground. Convinced and swayed the half-breed children that he could help their sick and/or dying
magical parent get well again. They were assured that the magic of the Underground wouldn't affect them; the blood of their magical parent protected them.
Swallowing the lump of apprehension and anxiousness he felt, Max couldn't suppress the shudder the ran down his back. Looking around at all the faces, the different emotions on each person, he couldn't help but wonder if any of them came up with the same thought he had. Max may not have ever been on the honor roll in school, but even he knew you didn't gather this many people for no reason. Especially if you gave them assurances you'll fulfill your promises and get them hyped up. That man was planning on a war, a takeover. And Max and the others were his pawns. They had lined up to the slaughter voluntarily without resistance.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Jareth had flown over the maze but his sharp owl eyes did not see any change nor had anything felt different than it had. Returning to the castle he opened the passage that would lead him below it. He never really liked being down here. He preferred open spaces and being able to see the sky. Being underground was like clipping his wings. He could tolerate it in short doses, but not over long periods of time.
The passage to the Tomb was especially unpleasant. He did not like how the magic felt down here and it always made him feel as if he was being watched. Not to mention it was a tomb. It was unnatural.
Entering the spacious cavern he frowned. Something wasn't quite right. It didn't feel the same as it had the last time he had been here. In fact, the sensation of being watched wasn't present at all. That was when Jareth noticed two things. The first was the absence of magic that usually radiated out and around the stone coffin in the middle of the cavern. Not even the faintest whispers of magic was left. It was gone as if it had never been.
The second thing he noticed had made his eyes widen in shock and disbelief. There was a spiderweb of jagged cracks centering from the stone lid of the coffin outwards. There were fine crisscrossing cracks along the wall as well. The only thing that could do that was a backlash of magic. Very powerful and an abundant amount of it.
He approached the coffin and reached out with shaking hands to push the damaged lid off, but halted his movement. He did and yet did not want to see what had layed beneath for so long. As a child he had often thought about what lay under the castle. When he first heard about he tomb, he thought it may have contained the remains of the first Goblin King. Of course his ideas of whom was entombed changed as he grew older. At one time he wondered if it was the creator of the ever changing Labyrinth. So it went until he no longer thought or cared about it.
Bracing himself mentally and physically, Jareth pushed the stone lid off, wincing at the grinding noise of stone against stone. The lid crashed to the ground and shattered when it hit the cavern floor. Peering inside, he felt disappointed, relieved, and a bit bewildered. After all these years, he expected and envisioned all sorts of things but what he found; or rather lack thereof. The coffin was empty. There was no dust, ash, mildewed scraps of disintegrating clothing, no decomposing corpse. There was nothing to prove it had eve held anything, let alone a body. Besides, the sudden disappearance of the magic that had been a constant for as long as Jareth could remember, the empty tomb left him more uneasy than he had been.
Going to the closest keystone, he peeled a glove off one hand and touched his bare hand against the rock, splaying his fingers. His brows drew together, mouth frowning in puzzlement. He could still feel the magic thrumming trough the stone and throughout the Labyrinth. Like the coffin though, the magic that flowed wasn't all there. It was as if a layer had been stripped away.
Jareth closed his eyes and tried to commune with the maze. Ever since he was able to understand the Labyrinth as a child, he had come up with a theory that no one could dissuade him of. He believed that after the thousands of years the maze had absorbed the magic of the Underground, it had turned the maze sentient. Possibly that had been the intention behind the design of whomever created and shaped the Labyrinth.
Just as he had before, all Jareth got from the Labyrinth was a jumble of gibberish. The only words that repeated that he could make out were; back, returned, damaged, fix. The fluctuating emotions connected to the words did little to clear up what the maze meant. Confused and frustrated, he left the Tomb and and changing into his owl form flew above his kingdom to survey the rest of it.
0o0o0o0o0o0
Toby stared at the spot his sister had been scant seconds before. The glass orb he'd been clutching had disintegrated into shining particles when he pulled it out of his pocket.
"Toby?" Cammie called coming around a display. Toby jumped and tried not to look as guilty and confused as he felt.
"Where's Sarah? I could've sworn I heard her."
Mutely, Toby shook his head and got out, "I don't know?" It technically wasn't a lie. He didn't know where his sister was. Just possibly who or what she could be with.
Cammie murmured something abut 'nerves' and headed for the restrooms. Toby sighed in relief that she believed him, but also felt his stomach churn in anxiety. What was he to say when Cammie realized that Sarah wasn't here? Toby had no idea how long Sarah would be gone or even if she was coming back. The more he thought about it, the more Toby realized what an incredibly stupid thing he did. How was he to know it would work though? And Sarah was probably so mad at him right now. She was always telling him about once you said something, it was out there; you couldn't take it back.
Toby continued to fret until he came up with a plausible lie. He rehearsed it in his mind so he'd be ready when Cammie came out. Toby already felt bad for doing what he had to his sister and now he was lying atop that. Silently he made a promise to himself that he would make up for it when his sister came home.
When Cammie came back without Sarah, Toby stated, "I think Sarah said something about forgetting something. That Tristan guy was here and offered her a ride."
Cammie sighed, shaking her head. "Sometimes I wonder what goes on in your sister's head."
Toby gave her a weak nervous smile and shrugged. He wished he could tell her the truth, but as cool as Cammie and Daffyd were, he didn't think they'd believe him.
"I'll take you home then. I'm sure Daffyd's about ready to tear out his hair."
Casting a last nervous, guilty, and desperate look around, Toby silently pleaded, 'Please come back, Sarah.'
0o0o0o0o0o0
Returning to the castle and going to his study, Jareth found Mícheál looking equally frustrated but amused as well. Sometimes that irritated Jareth; how easily Mícheál could find amusement in situations. Since his study was in one piece and nothing appeared to be amiss, he arched an eyebrow querying, "What happened?"
"Ah, you know me so well." Mícheál's mouth quirked, eyes laughing. "It appears you've made no headway."
Jareth disliked that smug tone. "And you have?"
"Naturally." He smiled at his friend's irritated look. "As a matter fact, not long after you me in your study. You have a visitor."
Have not had, Jareth quickly noted the present tense. He sincerely hoped it wasn't either one of his parents. He was not in the mood for head games and power trips.
"A woman visitor," Mícheál answered the silent question, perfectly aware of what the other was thinking. He couldn't help but string him along. "She's quite...interesting."
"How so?"
"Well, for one thing, according to Fleeter and the goblins, 'She's a stranger, yet not a stranger.'"
Jareth frowned as he tried to puzzle that one out. He sat on the corner of his desk. A stranger, yet not. What did that mean? Is that what the Labyrinth meant by 'returned' or 'back'?
"She's in clothing from Aboveground, if it helps," Mícheál offered.
It couldn't be Vanessa, nor was it his mother. A stranger, yet not. Perhaps it was one of their kind who voluntarily went Aboveground? It couldn't be a Runner. Voicing his thoughts aloud he saw Mícheál's suppressed laughter and frowned.
"I thought the same, especially when I saw her eyes." Mícheál's voice turned contemplative. "It's very similar, but I don't think that's it. Besides, from what she says, she's the one who got Wished here."
"That's not how it works," Jareth stated. Mícheál nodded then told him of his encounter and subsequent conversation.
"Which room did you put her in?" Jareth stood, ready to go meet this person and solve the puzzle.
"Undine's." At Jareth's expression, Mícheál gave him an innocent look that was ruined by the laughter clearly visible in his eyes. "It's not like she's used it recently or will do so."
"That is beside the point, which you clearly know."
"Of course."
"Then why didn't you place her in one of the other rooms? Any other room, the Rose Room even?"
"Where's the fun in that?"
Mícheál laughed at Jareth's expression and as the king headed for the door, called, "So you know, the woman's name is Sarah."
Jareth nearly stumbled and spun to pin the other with a sharp disbelieving look. "What did you say?"
Mícheál repeated, "The woman's name is Sarah. Didn't get a last name."
He was fascinated to see the blood drain from Jareth's face. Conflicting emotions and expressions warred for dominance in his eyes and on his face. Today was proving to be quite entertaining! Mícheál was glad he decided to come visit his friend. He couldn't wait to see how this played out.
"That name obviously means something to you."
Jareth leveled a cold glare at him and his voice was deadly soft and held the hint of threat. "Leave it alone, Mícheál."
The younger man's eyes widened in surprise before he hid his grin. He was even more interested in was going on now!
Jareth left him there, walking slowly towards the living quarters, mind whirling with thoughts. It couldn't be, could it? It couldn't be a coincidence; Jareth didn't believe in those. Stopping outside the door to Undine's now occupied room, he hesitated to reach out and see for himself. As he had in the tomb, he both did and did not want to open the door. Part of him wanted to, the other part wanted to flee.
Angrily, he stomped the idea of flight, down. King's did not runaway or admit defeat. Well, at least not easily. Jareth donned his courtly demeanor, knocked, and entered saying, "Sarah?"
0o0o0o0o0o0
Sarah had been too exhausted and drained to fully appreciate the beauty of the room at first. Now however, as she looked around she knew she would have loved to have had a room like this when she was fifteen. All the furniture was made of beautiful cheery wood; from the teester above the headboard to the bedsteps and wardrobe. The teester had ivory colored shears to match the bed sheets. The pillows and bedspread were a teal mist. The bedstand held an ivory and gold case filled with waterlilies, ivy, and cattails.
By the full bookcase was a chaise lounge with a cream and teal mist colored lap robe folded and neatly draped across the back. There was also a fifteen inch mirror that had a keylock on the side. Sarah was curious about that.
Going to the window, she pushed aside the cream colored window treatment. The window overlooked an orchard laden with fruit she'd never seen before. There was a large fountain which a couple of children were playing around. They were dressed as if they were attending a Renaissance fair. As she gazed at them, Sarah wondered if they were the children Mícheál told her about. Those like him that had been Wished Away. They looked happy and were laughing.
Sarah barely registered the knock on her door before it opened, a regal voice saying, "Sarah?"
She turned to see a man about five foot ten, four inches taller than herself. The way that pale hair fluffed out made her itch to touch it, to see if it was as soft as it looked. His face held no expression, yet his odd eyes displayed a look she couldn't fathom. She had heard his indrawn breath when she turned but dismissed it, too busy with taking him in. There was an air of familiarity about him that she couldn't place.
"You must be Jareth?"
Something flickered in those mismatched eyes but died when she continued, "Mícheál mentioned your name."
"I am Jareth."
Neither moved from their positions. Seeing his eyes, Sarah canted her head and couldn't help but wonder if a white cat with a blue and green eye was good luck, was Jareth being of the same description? She shook her head of those thoughts.
"The goblin woman said you would probably know how I got here and how to send me home."
"Perhaps."
Sarah began to get irritated with his staring. She didn't care about that strange expression he wore. She was tired and wanted to go home and really yell at Toby. It wasn't her brother's fault but hadn't she told him he should really watch what he says? Hadn't Crispin even told him that what's said is said? She frowned. Why did that almost seem like dejá vù? She turned to stare back out the window at the playing children.
"The goblins said I was wished here? Mícheál found that rather funny and says I'm the first adult to be wished here."
"You are. And Mícheál finds humor where most would find none."
Sarah smiled faintly. "Crispin was like that too."
He could always make her laugh and cheer her up when she was sad and just wanted to cry. He could always find that silver lining when Sarah believed there to be none. There wasn't much that could bring Crispin down. She blinked back tears, angry with herself. She had already told herself that she was done crying and wouldn't do it anymore. She couldn't fall apart. Toby still needed her.
Turning, she was surprised to see that Jareth had moved closer but had stopped before actually reaching her.
"You'll be able to return me home, right? I have a brother who needs me."
A flash of irritation and anger briefly flashed in his eyes but was quickly hidden. "I will do what I can to ensure your returned to your home."
Sarah could tell his voice held the tone of a promise. "Thank you."
Jareth cleared his throat. "In the meantime, you may borrow clothing from the wardrobe. Terrance shall fetch you to show you to the dining room."
Without waiting for her to say anything, he turned and left the room. Sarah went to the wardrobe, opening it to find clothes a Renaissance junkie would do anything to have. Jareth had seemed confident the clothes would fit, so she perused through them. She decided upon a top and skirt rather than a dress.
The top was a forest green with an empire waist and ruched front. It had a velvet-flocked top, satin ribbon trim, and purl-stitched hankerchief hem. A Chantilly lace neckline with metal rosette and seed bead accents. The skirt was brown with 'tree bark' tailoring. Shot through it was tendrils of ribbon and trails of lace. She also found a pair of black boots that looked touch but were incredibly soft.
Carefully folding her jeans, t-shirt, and sweater, Sarah set them atop her sneakers on the bedsteps. Looking at herself in the mirror, she thought about what she could do with makeup and her hair that would make this perfect.
A knock on the door distracted her from her musings and a boy's head peered around the door. Seeing Sarah already attired, he bowed. "Lady Sarah, I'm Terrance. His Majesty asked that I escort you to the dining room."
"Please, just call me Sarah." Something about the word Lady in front of her name felt strange.
Terrance shook his head with an apologetic smile. "Sorry, milady, but it's Lady Sarah unless his Majesty says otherwise."
The teen led her through the castle and Sarah once again had to rethink about how she thought of this place. It was very much different from what she had envisioned when reading about goblins and their kingdoms. Then again, she recalled Crispin's laughter as he read her different books on fairy tales, myths, and folklore. He'd stated that the person who had come close to what things were actually like, were the unedited versions of the brothers Grimm work.
"Jareth will be there, right?" She asked to sidetrack her thoughts.
"Yes, milady. As will Councilor Mícheál."
"Councilor?"
The boy nodded. "Councilor Mícheál represents the goblins on the Fae Council. He also shares the Dryad seat."
"Why is that?"
"Well, the Children's Forest is right on the borders of the Goblin Kingdom and the Dryad wood. The Nymphs reside there as well."
Sarah would love to just ask Terrance everything she'd been curious about since she was a child regarding such things. She knew however that she had to curb the desire, for now. Maybe Jareth or Mícheál would tell her.
Terrance opened a set of double doors and gestured for her to enter. The room was impressive with walnut wood table and chairs. It was a lot smaller than she thought but still grandiose. Seeing her expression, the page smiled. "This is the dining room. This is where his Majesty usually eats when he has guests. The Dining Hall is only used for large functions, a great many guest, or a call to impress."
Jareth and Mícheál entered from another entrance and both paused briefly seeing them. Jareth's face was once again carefully neutral while Mícheál smiled, eyes alight with mischievousness and amusement. He glanced at his companion before going up to Sarah and pulling her chair out for her. "These clothes suit you. Brings out the green in your eyes."
Mícheál's smile grew seeing the twitch in the king's temple. He felt like laughing as he happily sat down across from Sarah. He asked her what she did Aboveground and was interested to hear she was an artist. A painter mostly, but she did sketches and sculpted as well. When dinner was served, Mícheál showed her which utensils to use. He also told her what each dish was and described the recipes.
"Do the goblins do the cooking or..." She trailed off as both men stared at her. Mícheál then threw his head back and laughed, tears coming to his eyes. The image of Jareth's goblins in a kitchen was just too much.
"Definitely not. We would all keel over before finishing the first bite!"
"Does he do any cooking of his own?"
Once again that sent Mícheál into convulsions. Wiping away a tear and clutching his sides, he shook his head. In a stage whisper he replied, "From personal experience, Jareth's is worse than the goblins!"
Jareth had been taken aback when he entered Undine's room to see an adult Sarah. Her hair was shorter, falling just below her shoulder blades. When she'd turned to face him any hope or denying it wasn't her, fell away. When she'd said his name questioningly he had hoped she retained something, but that hope too was quickly dashed as she told him of Mícheál informing her of him.
He hadn't known what to feel when she'd canted her head the exact same way as Seth did with that same look. There was no denying he was her child.
His heart constricted with pain when she'd mentioned Crispin. There was also that little bubble of jealous that he tried to push aside. He felt guilty for that as well when Sarah looked like she was about to cry. His body had acted of its' own accord, moving forward before his mind told it to stop.
When she stated her need to go home, Jareth immediately became irritated and angry. Once again she was using her brother as an excuse! But then he saw the look in her eyes. Those were not happy eyes. He had a feeling her younger brother was the only reason she was still going. That thought both enraged and saddened him. The Sarah before him was a pale imitation of the Sarah he had come to admire when she ran his Labyrinth.
She had challenged him and would not admit defeat. There was nothing but defeat in her now. The fire and defiance was gone. That iron will and determination had become warped. The spark in her eyes as she rushed headlong into things. What Jareth saw was a weary, tired, and disconnected person. Her eyes once full of life and dreams, were now dull and blank.
Jareth wanted to escape that gaze so told her about dinner and quickly left. A part of him was in a rage at his brother for allowing this to happen. Most of what he was feeling was directed at Vanessa however. He would definitely make sure the woman paid dearly for what she had done. To calm himself, Jareth had went for a flight and checked on his heir. The boy was asleep, having eaten earlier for which Jareth was grateful. He had then collected Mícheál for dinner.
Jareth watched as Mícheál did what he did best. He got a smile or two from Sarah, a genuine flicker of life lit up her eyes. He also was extracting information without Sarah realizing it. At the comment about his lack of culinary skills, Jareth arched a brow. Dryly he stated, "Pot, meet Kettle."
Mícheál grinned unabashedly. "I admit it without shame. My cooking would poison you."
Over the course of the dinner Mícheál noted the signs of Jareth's growing irritation and edginess. Jareth went still and growled in annoyance. Standing, he excused himself and stalked out of the room. He could almost hear the goblins becoming rambunctious. Another person wished he would come take their child.
Sarah could feel the mood shifting and the king's cold look before he excused himself. Wondering if she had somehow offended him, she turned to Mícheál hoping for answers. She was curious to see sadness and sympathy on Mícheál's face before it quickly changed to boredom when he caught her watching him. He sighed theatrically and good naturedly stated, "I guess its a good thing I"m not opposed to staying the night."
She gave him a questioning look and he replied with, "Someone's either just Wished Away their child or is going to."
"You can feel when it happens?"
Mícheál nodded. "Jareth can because he's the Goblin King and it's his job. I however believe that us Wished Away can fell whenever the Labyrinth's upset because we spent so much time around it."
"How can the Labyrinth be upset?"
"Because, it's alive. It also knows how much this upsets Jareth. Whenever someone Wishes a child to him, he is forced to answer the call. Sometimes its as harmless as a selfish teen not wanting to taking responsibility for babysitting. Sometimes it's worse. Sometimes, its for the child's best interest to be brought here. Either way, Jareth despises having to change a child into a goblin and take away any chance of life they would have had.
0o0o0o0o0o0
Jareth returned in a foul, hostile mood but made sure nothing showed on his face or in his demeanor. He went to the Audience Chamber that was only used when he had a Runner in his Labyrinth. The child was scared and crying, surrounded by goblins. Shooing them away, he squatted and picked the child up. He wiped the tears off the chubby cheeks as he softly soothed the toddler. He then altered the child's memories and physical appearance. Taking the new goblin to the most sensible goblin in the Goblin City, Jareth handed it over.
When he returned to the castle, Jareth sent Terrance to Mícheál and locked himself in his rooms. For the time being it would be safer if he was not around anyone. Actually, he would have liked if Vanessa were in close proximity. If she were, he could then take all his violent impulses out on her. As is was, just about everything that was breakable in his room was destroyed, yet again.
He glared at the door when a timid knock sounded. Ready to verbally lash the person on the other side, he yanked the door open. Frowning he looked down to see a wide eyed Seth. The boy was trembling, thumb in mouth, unshed tears waiting to spill. Jareth's anger dimmed as he knelt before his heir, concerned his temper had scared the boy. It was almost like a physical blow when Seth flinched and his lip began to tremble.
Seth stared into Jareth's eyes then deciding it was okay, closed the distance, immediately his arms went around the Fae's neck. Jareth picked him up, one hand rubbing soothing circles on his back. The trembling slowed then ceased. Jareth tried to move his head enough to look at the boy but when he moved, Seth clung tighter as if afraid he would be put down.
"I did not mean to wake you with that noise." Jareth had forgotten that the boy's room was located next to his own.
A shiver ran through the small body and Seth buried his head in the hollow of Jareth's neck. Jareth continued to rub circles on Seth's back and the boy finally mumbled, "Was scared. You felt funny. Sad, angry, bad feelings."
Jareth frowned. The boy was picking up what he and by default, the Labyrinth were feeling. Seth truly was Sensitive.
"I apologize. It wasn't my intention to frighten you."
"Why you feel bad?"
Jareth pondered on how to tell a four year old about the depth and capability of human cruelty. About having to turn a child into a goblin. Sighing, he settled with, "I had to do something I don't like to do."
"Cause ya hafta?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"It's part of my job as Goblin King."
"You turneded somebodies into a goblin?"
"Yes."
"Were they bad?"
"No. Why do you ask that?"
"Cause that's what Max says. Bad children are sent wisheded away to you."
Jareth pushed aside his irritation and anger at the stupid petty teenager. Calmly he replied, "That's not true. You are not bad and neither was the child I turned into a goblin."
"How come you didn't turn me into a goblin?"
Sighing again, Jareth sat on his ruined bed and Seth sat curled up in his lab. "You are my heir. The other child was hurt too much for me to help them any other way then to turn them into a goblin. It is better for the child to be goblin."
"Then how comes your sad?"
"Because I don't like turning children into goblins."
"But if yous didn't, they wouldn't get betters."
Jareth looked away from the confused and trusting gaze. "It's complicated."
This time Seth sighed. Even at four he knew when an adult said that it was the same as 'You'll understand when you're older.' Which Seth basically took to mean, "You can't 'splain it? Is 'sokay."
Jareth gave a small smile. "Do you think you can go back to sleep?"
Seth nodded against Jareth's chest. "You 'kay, Burdie?"
Jareth let out a chuckle at the name. "Yes, I'll be fine."
"'Kay." Seth yawned sleepily and Jareth carried him back to his room. Tucking the child in, he glanced down at the sleepy face. Jareth couldn't help but think Crispin and Sarah should have been doing this, not him. That thought led to Sarah and what he should do about this situation.
As he went to leave, Seth grabbed his hand. "Don't go. Stay with me?"
Jareth couldn't say no to that pleading look. He nodded and sat on the edge of the bed. "Just until you fall asleep."
"'Kay." Seth snuggled under the covers and closed his eyes.
Jareth brushed the hair off the boy's forehead, his mind working on what he could do concerning Seth and Sarah. Maybe by exposing mother and child to each other they could get acquainted and used to each other. He could get Mícheál to help him try and jog Sarah's memories. After all, Jareth knew that ones memories were not completely forgotten; just deeply buried.
0o0o0o0o0o0
A.N. - Sorry it's not as long as I had originally planned. I stopped it here though so I'd have something to update and it seemed like a good place to stop. I'm going into sleep deprivation because of our upstairs neighbor. I have to be up in four hours. Till next chapter!