Once a safe distance from the griffon, Sarah couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Did you see his face?!" She laughed, turning around to her companions, "Oh, the poor thing was about ready to cry!"
"Aye!" Hoggle agreed with a chuckle, "'I simply don't lie!' That'll learn 'em for bein' so uppity!"
"That was the most fun I've had in a while," Jareth said, a grin parting his lips, "And my dear Sarah! Where did you learn to be so deliciously devious? I never thought you had it in you."
Sarah beamed, flipping her hair coyly.
"Oh, I have my moments…and speaking of not thinking someone had it in her, Leija, you were awesome! That sent him right over the edge!"
"I must agree," Jareth added, gazing warmly down at his servant, "Well done. I couldn't have done better."
"T-Thank you, milord," Leija managed, blushing from the praise. Sarah bent down and held up her palm for a high five. The gnome gently returned it.
Ambroisious panted happily, wagging his tail and darting between everyone's legs. The only one who was silent was Turnok. A few minutes later, it finally sunk it.
"You…you mean…you knew he was telling the truth the entire time?!" He cried out, "That was just a ruse?!"
Everyone paused long enough to stare at him. Jareth didn't settle for that; he grabbed the goblin by the scruff of his cape and held him up to eye level so he could fix him with a withering glare.
"Yes, you fool!" He hissed venomously, making Turnok tremble, "And you nearly blew the whole thing! Next time you choose to voice your stupidity, not only will be enjoying a full-body dip in the Bog of Eternal Stench, but I'll have you demoted to Captain of Oubliette Scrubbing! Is that simple enough for your thick head to comprehend?"
"Y-Y-Yes sire!" The goblin squeeked.
"Good!" Jareth replied. Without so much as a moment of consideration, he carelessly threw the goblin over his shoulder. Leija hurried over to assess the damage, and helped the groaning and overly-abused minion to his feet.
Deep within the bowels of the castle, Edorin was growing restless. Jareth was progressing through the Labyrinth faster than he had originally anticipated. Too fast. He was bypassing most of the traps, leaving the Troll Lord unsatisfied. He had expected the fool to squander the majority of his magic by the time he reached the castle, but now, it seemed quite unlikely that that would happen. Unless, of course, he was forced to use his magic. Behind his long black hair, Edorin's icy eyes gleamed unpleasantly.
"You've kept me waiting too long, Jareth," He breathed, rising from the throne, "Now I shall have to come to you."
Not fifteen minutes had passed before they came to a fork in the road. Jareth paused for a moment, before leading them left. The path widened and soon, they came upon a beautifully engraved gate.
"Aw, great," Hoggle grumbled, eyeing the archway suspiciously, "What fresh hell do we gotta go through now?"
"Cease your incessant whining, Hogwart," The Goblin King replied, "The only way you could possibly harm yourself in here is by choking on a piece of fruit."
Sounds like a nice change, Sarah thought. She could deal with fruit. By the way her stomach was growling, she could deal with a lot of fruit. Once inside, the girl felt her jaw drop.
Inside was the most beautiful orchards she had ever seen. Trees with branches laden with fruit and nuts spread out, nearly glowing with health. Bushes of plump, juicy berries lined the walkways. Vines of ripe tomatoes and shiny green and yellow peppers festooned the walls like ivy. Faeries flitted amongst the branches, curiously watching the intruders.
"If only I had me spray can," the dwarf mumbled, shooting a glare at a particularly brazen pixie who was mocking him.
"What is this place?" Sarah asked in wonder.
"This is the Dream Garden," Leija replied softly, "All the plants here have been enchanted so that they bloom eternally. Beautiful, isn't it?"
Turnok clomped behind them, barely glancing at the scenery.
"Bah! What's so special about a bunch of trees? A real goblin wouldn't be so sentimental."
Leija's gaze fell in embarrassment. Jareth prepared to punish his subordinate for his thoughtless remark, but he was beaten to the punch. Hoggle had tripped the goblin with the blunt end of his hoe, sending him plummeting to the ground face-first into some rotten fruit. Sarah didn't notice; she had fallen behind. A particularly beautiful apple tree had caught her eye. Seeing all the wonderful fruit had reminded her that she hadn't eaten for a whole day. Her stomach rumbled longingly. Sarah reached out to pick one of the bright crimson apples.
A hand caught her wrist.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, my dear Sarah."
She turned to find that Jareth had appeared at her side. He gently pulled her arm back to her side.
"That apple wouldn't agree with you well. One bite and you wouldn't be able to remember even your name."
"Oh! Uh, thanks," The girl replied, embarrassed. A few moments later, she asked, "Why would you even grow something like that?"
"You'd be surprised how useful they can be," The Goblin King said smugly, "Say, a gift basket for a council member you've insulted, or a peace offering to a warlord."
Sarah's face suddenly grew sullen, and she looked away.
"Like a peach offered to an unsuspecting girl?"
Jareth halted. Sarah stopped as well, and looked back up at his face. His silence made her wonder if she had angered him, and was expecting another snide comment about humans. Instead of anger, though, his face looked apologetic.
"I am…regretful…about that particular affair," He said quietly. The blond Fae had chosen his words carefully, but the fact he had offered any semblance of apology caught her off-guard. She found herself starring into his mis-matched eyes; at first, she had found them unsettling, but now, the girl thought that they truly must be the most beautiful eyes in the world.
Sarah forcefully tore herself away, and resumed walking. The Goblin King followed.
"Is there anything in this garden that won't give me amnesia?" She asked.
"The persimmons won't," Jareth replied, "And the strawberries will actually make you remember."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Make you remember what?"
"A memory you've forgotten. Nifty little things, really. My subjects are willing to spend mounds of gold on a single one. I myself have lost my taste for them."
"Why?" Sarah said curiously.
"There are…certain things that are best left forgotten," The Goblin King said quietly, turning his head. A few moments later, he stopped and plucked a peach from a bough above their head. He held it out to her.
"You're fond of them, aren't you?" Jareth said. There was an uncommon gentleness in his voice.
Hesitantly, Sarah took the peach from his hand.
"It won't…do anything to me, will it?" She asked, fingering it nervously.
A smile spread over the Goblin King's face.
"No. No tricks this time. I promise."
It wasn't his normal smug grin, or even a condescending sneer. It was a real smile. A pure, warm smile. The girl realized she had never really seen him smile before. In fact, he never really looked happy. The Fae's face was more commonly contorted in anger, or resentment. On a rare occasion, even sorrow. But not happiness.
But why? Sarah wondered, Why wouldn't he be happy? He's a King! He rules over the whole Labyrinth!
She dismissed the thoughts and scolded herself. She was reading too much into it. Sarah bit into the peach and chewed. It was actually delicious. And no strange magical aftertaste. Jareth's eyes stared deeply into her own, as if searching for something. She swallowed uncomfortably.
"Um…thanks," she managed, turning back towards the path to hide the darkening crimson of her cheeks. Whatever trance Jareth had been in was broken. He strode ahead gracefully, his tattered cloak billowing behind him.
"Not at all. Now, come along, Sarah. If we don't rejoin them soon, that dwarf of yours may throw another tantrum."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a shrill scream rang out in the orchard.
"Leija!" Sarah cried, rushing towards the sound. Jareth arrived at the scene first. In their absence, the few faeries scattered about in the trees had grown into a massive swarm. Three small figures were barely discernable in the cloud. Sarah ripped off her raincoat and began beating her way towards them. Vicious pairs of small jaws stung her bare arms as the faeries latched onto her. She gritted her teeth in pain, but kept digging deeper into the swarm. Suddenly, she was engulfed in black fabric. The girl looked up to find that Jareth had wrapped his cape over her, and was using it to shield them from the hoard. But the more they attempted to push their way through, the more impassible the cloud became.
"This isn't working!" Sarah yelled, "They'll be dead by the time we get to them!"
"No they won't!" Jareth roared, plunging his left arm deep into the swarm. A large burst of blue magic radiated from his palm, and the vicious faeries were sent sprawling to all corners of the orchard. Jareth bent down, scooping Leija's limp form into his arms.
"Now run!" He shouted. Together, they sprinted towards the orchard's exit. A bloodthirsty howl rang out behind them. Sarah glanced over her shoulder to find a great black wolf at her heels, bearing its fangs. She gave a terrified shriek, forcing her body to run faster. Jareth saw the beast as well, and realized immediately what was happening.
"Stop! It's a trap!"
Sarah saw it too late; an enormous hole had opened up in front of them, and she was going too fast to stop. The Goblin King seized her wrist, digging his heels into the ground in an effort to stop them from going over the edge. Furious that his plan had been discovered, the wolf snarled and launched itself at Jareth, digging its fangs deep into his leg. He cried out in agony and stumbled, falling into the black pit, and unintentionally pulling Sarah along with him. Edorin watched in cruel delight as they fell deeper and deeper, until they were swallowed up by the black abyss.
*The door bursts open, and AnimeRANDOMNESS steps out, looking healthy and triumphant* BWAHAHAHA! I'M BAAAAACK! It's been a heck of a battle, but I've finally trumped whatever evil mojo was running rampant through my immune system, and added another chapter to my fanfic! Sorry for making you wait this long, but I hope this chapter was worth it! It took three days to get it the way I wanted it! (Yes, I know, I'm pathetic T_T) As always, please please please review, and thank you to my devoted readers for the healing cookies of righteousness!