A Ring in the Hand
Summary: Sarah left a contribution in the little box: a ring. Unknowingly our heroine invoked an ancient rite and is now bound to the Underground and the Labyrinth's King. And then the Summer King finds out.
Rating: T (implication of sex in public... sort of... I err on the side of caution)
Disclaimer: I neither own, nor claim to own, The Labyrinth and all it's characters. I lay claim to future OC's that may or may not show up. But that is all.
**See below for Author's notes
Sarah sighed as she unpacked her last duffel before rolling it up and stuffing it above the large utilitarian wardrobe that came standard in all dorm rooms. She shuffled in a circle, moving around the small area that was all the open space in her dorm room, pleased with her moving job.
The candles that graced her desk would remain unlit as per fire regulations, but the window was bright with sunlight and fresh white curtains, salvaged from Karen's 'old' sheets, bleached and then decorated with white, appliqué flowers.
A narrow twin bed covered with a fluffy white quilt was given life by the deep red chenille throw that was artlessly thrown over it. Copious amounts of cushions made it into her reading couch.
Her computer was enshrined in its place of honour on her desk. Pictures of Toby, her friends and the ocean were scattered above her desk and the head of her bed in cheap pine frames. Shelves for books covered any space that was left over.
Yes, all-in-all, she was happy with her single dorm room. She preened for a moment, a clear sense of ruling all that she surveyed surged through her.
A new semester, no roommate, no Karen heckling, no household chores; she was gloriously and blessedly free. It had taken her several years to earn the money to attend the university of her choice, majoring in the field of her choice. As a result she was older than the majority of her peers. It didn't bother her overmuch as she'd always been a little like Kipling's cat, waving her wild tail and walking by her wild lone.(1) She did things her way and wasn't troubled by what everyone else thought.
Sarah had already gone through her first day of class and now had readings assigned. She could revel in her clean room later. Othello waited for no man. She grabbed her copy of the play and relaxed into her bed.
Life had moved on in the Aboveground.
(1) Kipling's cat is from Rudyard Kipling's "The Cat that Walked by Himself" published in his Just So Stories, originally in 1902. I've deliberately misquoted him, and simultaneously L.M. Montgomery who makes reference to Kipling's Cat in a similar way in one of her books that I've read too many times. So it's either Emily Climbs or The Blue Castle.
** If you've never read Kipling, I highly recommend him. Especially, and don't tell my profs I said this, but if you want easy stories to introduce you to complex ideas. The more you read of Kipling, the deeper his stuff gets. His prose is so clear, so concise, and breathtakingly poignant. You will weep in despair at the pure brilliance of his writing. I would recommend not starting with Jungle Book and reading other short stories of his first.
If you've never read L.M. Montgomery, what kind of Canadian are you?! I'm literally flabbergasted (and it's a not a good look for me). And also, for those of you not of the Canuck persuasion who haven't read her stuff... better get on it. Those of you that have read The Blue Castle, kudos! Best Montgomery book EVAH! Also, this just in: the world is full of published books that are sometimes/often/can be better than wading through copious amounts of fanfic!! Crazy eh?