Disclaimer: I do not own the Labyrinth or any of the characters, but if I did, I would share…
Chapter Seventeen
King of Darkness and Daughter of Light
Over the next few days, Jareth disappeared often, much like he had when preparing for hte fight against Verdant's army. He made sure to devote time just for Sarah, and his planning gave her a chance to catch up with Hoggle, Ludo, and Dydimus.
Apparently Jareth had them running back and forth from the library during her absence, thinking they would have to solve the curse before she could return home. Sarah talked and laughed with her friends for a good while, always leaving them at dinner time to be with Jareth.
On the day Jareth sent his letter to Verdant, he sent one to Eve and Feyore. Days later they received a letter from not only their light Elf comrades, but Verdant's as well.
"Why did you write to Eve and Feyore?" Sarah asked. She recognized the familiar writing on the second roll of parchment as that of the light elves, and on that of the other paper, Verdant's hand writing.
"I asked if they would bring Selina," Jareth replied.
"Who is Selina?"
"Their daughter," Jareth said as if it was something Sarah should have known, but smiled gently to her.
"Why didn't I know about this?" Sarah looked slightly alarmed, as though she had missed some bit of really important information. Jareth chuckled slightly.
"Don't worry, Sarah. You'll get to know her. I think you two will get along well. I can't imagine the strategy meetings will be very interesting for you, so I asked them to bring her to keep you company."
"How old is she?" Sarah knew that to be their daughter, she could still be a lot older.
"Hmmm I would say about 540 years," Jareth said with a sigh.
"What?!" Sarah looked even more alarmed.
"Sarah, that's about your mortal age of 18," Jareth explained.
"Oh, well I suppose that sounds right," Sarah said watching Jareth open one of the letters.
"Ah, of course, Selina would be more than happy to come. I don't imagine she gets out very often." Next Jareth opened Verdant's letter, read it once and then handed it to Sarah to read for herself. She really needed to find someone for him, someone like herself in the sense that physical appearance was not so important. Someone more mature, let's face it, she knew she still had it in her to act like a brat about things.
Tomorrow was the meeting between the allies, and Sarah couldn't help but feel a little nervous. She was excited to see Verdant again, but not to be in a room of people with much more authority than her.
After dinner, Jareth escorted Sarah back to their room, saying he had some final planning to finish up before tomorrow. With a sigh, she took a hot bath and dressed for sleep.
Jareth had not returned by the time Sarah walked up the black marble steps to crawl into the comfortable dark blue covers. Sighing contentedly into her pillow, she found sleep came easy. The last thoughts before slumber claimed her were of Irene, Toby, and her Father. She missed them dearly at times like these when she wasn't worried, maybe not so much of Irene, but still. Maybe after all this was settled, Jareth would take her to see them. How would she explain her absence, or what she had been doing? Wasn't part of the deal they forget about her? It had been awhile, she made a mental note to ask Jareth about it later.
The next morning Sarah was awoken, not by Jareth, but by Elda hurrying about the room and throwing the blinds that covered the balcony doors open. Such terrible memories lay beyond those glass doors, of the night she thought she'd lost him for sure. Chasing the thought from her mind, she saw Elda already had a dark blue gown picked out for her. The dress had silver embroidery all about the bodice, and a puffy silken skirt that she would imagine would be hard to drive a car in. Not that it would much matter, she wouldn't be driving a mortal car anytime soon.
Sarah dressed quickly with a little help from Elda, she normally didn't like to dress so formally, but since it was an important meeting, she saw the necessity.
Looking out the glass doorways, the sun was just beginning to rise, but Sarah had gotten used to rising with the sun. Her internal clock had adjusted itself to her new life. After a harsh tug of her hair from Elda, Sarah resumed looking forward, making it easy for the goblin maid to fix her hair up for her.
By the time Elda was finished, Sarah's hair was pulled half up, curls pinned and flowing down. She curled a few loose strands around Sarah's face and picked out matching silver jewelry and tiara to rest lightly upon her head. Lastly, Elda applied a little make up to enhance Sarah's already beautiful face.
With this done, Sarah slipped on a pair of dressier silver laced shoes. No sooner had she done this that Jareth appeared.
"Ready?" Jareth asked. Sarah smiled to see him dressed all in black. He did look quite good in the color.
"Going to a funeral?" Sarah smirked slightly at his choice of color for the day.
"Not at all love," Jareth replied. "I am just in a dark mood." Sarah rolled her eyes; it was either because of impending War or seeing Verdant in a few minutes, probably both.
Once out of the castle gates, Jareth wrapped his arms tightly around Sarah and transported them both just outside the gate to the mountain castle of the dark elves.
Already awaiting them was Verdant, in fine dark red robes. A hood was pulled up about his face, his horns sticking through the silky fabric. A golden crown rested upon his head. His deep red eyes seemed to smile as Sarah waved excitedly, walking over to him quickly.
"Sarah, so good to see that you are well," Verdant said, his dark, growling, metallic voice just the same as Sarah had remembered.
""It's good to see that you are doing alright," Sarah replied. She could almost see the tension emanating from both of them.
"Shall we go?" Jareth asked, doing his best to keep his glares in check. Stupid jealous men… Sarah thought vaguely before offering her arm to Verdant. He walked forward and accepted it, while she grabbed Jareth's outstretched hand. In moments they were before the court house, having arrived a little early.
"Sarah?" Hearing her name, Sarah turned to see a beautiful girl walking out to them. She had long light brown hair that was poker straight. It fell well past her waist, and was cut to frame her beautiful oval face. Her pointed ears could be seen from underneath her hair. Her eyes were a mix of blue and green, more one or the other depending on what color robe she wore. She was dressed in elegant purple robes.
"Selina," Jareth was the first to acknowledge her. A small "Oh" formed at Sarah's lips, so this was Eve and Feyores' daughter. She was freaking gorgeous, but no more than the already obnoxiously beautiful Fae that in habited this world.
"Hello," Sarah said brightly. Selina's features seemed bored, cold almost as if there was something bothering her perpetually, but a smile came to her face. It changed her demeanor from a figure of authority to a welcoming friend.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Selina replied moving forward to kiss Sarah lightly on the cheek in greeting. Eve and Feyore came to stand at the doors of the building, smiling at the two girls as they began talking animatedly to one another.
Jareth smiled, but it quickly passed into a look of indifference, as he remembered he was not in the comfort of his own private room. Verdant seemed enthralled by Selina, but as soon as they had come; he shot down any thoughts of being able to speak to her as Sarah was now.
Clearing his throat, Jareth motioned for Verdant to walk up the stairs, and he introduced the dark elf king to Eve and Feyore. The couple greeted him kindly; seeming un-phased by his appearance, though they had not yet seen what lay under the hood.
Sarah and Selina sat outside on the steps outside the building while one by one the allies filed into the hall until they were all present. Sarah watched as the doors closed behind the last couple of allies.
"What was it like to be kid knapped by the dark elf king?" Selina asked. Sarah could tell it was hard for her to naturally show enthusiasm. She seemed like a calm laid back person, one who could easily deal with a lot and make it seem like nothing. A plan began to form in Sarah's head.
"It wasn't that bad. King Verdant was very kind me actually."
"Have you seen him with out the robes?" Selina was asking out of curiosity. "Not that it really matters to me what he looks like. This is the first I've been able to leave the castle, I'll take whatever company I can get." Both girls chuckled at this statement, becoming fast friends.
Sarah talked excitedly about her stay in the Dark Elf kingdom, and of Verdant's true appearance. Selina perked up a little, becoming more animated as she added her own comments. Sarah thought perhaps Selina would be cold, or even boring from her first impression, but talking to her now she'd never have guessed that she had this side to her.
In return, Selina talked of the Light Elf kingdom. Sarah was hanging off of her every word. She so loved to hear about the other kingdoms.
"You know, I wish I could find someone," Selina said wistfully. "Like you have Sarah, someone who loves me. I know Jareth looks a bit cold, but even in the company of others, it's easy to see how much he loves you." Sarah blushed and shook her head with a grin.
"Don't worry Selina; I'm sure you'll find the perfect person. Someone who will take care of you," Sarah said, her mind drifting. Verdant was protective, and a king no less, he could take care of Selina easily. If only Sarah had seen the way Verdant looked at Selina when he had first seen her, she would have been set on a mission already.
"What are you thinking Sarah?" Selina asked, noticing her new friends far away look.
"Hmm? Oh, I was just thinking about finding you someone," Sarah replied with a devious grin coming to her face. Selina could guess that seeing this look wouldn't be good for her.
Smiling nervously, Selina watched Sarah formulate a plan. They remained in a companionable silence until the doors of the court house opened with a fuming Jareth quickly walking down the stairs. The goblin queen sighed and followed after her moody king.
"Jareth! What's wrong?"
"Your friend is insufferable," Jareth replied, relaxing slightly. Selina watched in confusion as the Goblin King and Queen conversed.
"Don't be ridiculous, that's just because you hate him," Sarah said rolling her eyes with a smirk, a trait she picked up from Jareth.
"Right, well Eve and Feyore just love him, so they can take him back," Jareth spat, though it was obvious his distaste was no directed towards her. Sarah sighed.
"You can't just dump that on the-…" Sarah trailed off mid sentence thinking about Selina. Jareth raised a brow, catching on that his Queen was up to something. "Well if they won't mind, but I don't want Selina to leave just yet!"
"Sarah, I'm sure Eve would love to have you over whenever you want." Jareth's eyes darkened. "I on the other hand do not wish to share you again just yet." Sarah smiled, as he wrapped his arms around her. She automatically tried to sweet talk him.
"Please?" Sarah wrapped her arms around his neck, and gave him her best pout. "It's the first relatively human girlfriend I've had here. I just want to spend time with her," she said. Her deep emerald eyes burning, knowing Jareth wouldn't be able to resist. He sighed and she knew she had won.
"Fine, clear it with them," Jareth replied, gently running his fingers through her hair. "Don't stay away too long. If you need me, just call, I'll come running," he said kissing her upon the forehead. This was very unusual for public behavior as far as he was concerned.
"I won't be long," Sarah replied as she leaned up to meet him in a kiss. Smiling with glee, she gently pulled from his embrace and hurried over to Selina.
"Do you think your parents would mind me tagging along?" Sarah asked. She hated to just invite herself like this, but it was impertinent to her plan. Selina's normal cold, bored look that had some how returned while Sarah was talking to Jareth, disappeared as she grinned.
"Mind? My mother talks of you endlessly, she'd love it! My father has no complaints so I don't see why not," Selina replied, quickly bounding up to her parents. Sarah couldn't help but feel like she was ten years old again, asking to go over to a friends house.
Selina walked back over to Sarah smiling saying it was a go. Sarah turned and smiled at Jareth and gave him a little wave. He smirked before disappearing in a cloud of glitter. Verdant walked out behind Eve and Feyore, waiting quietly. He felt like such a young boy, always having to be escorted everywhere. It was embarrassing. His eyes quickly scanned out Selina talking to Sarah, and he couldn't help but grow nervous as he watched his friend bring the beautiful light elf his way.
"Verdant," Sarah almost sang out. "I'd like to introduce you to my new friend Selina. Selina, this is King Verdant of the dark elves." Eve and Feyore talked to the other couples of allies before they departed to their home kingdoms.
"It's a pleasure to meet you my lord," Selina said politely going into a graceful curtsy. Sarah mentally groaned, wishing she had acquired that grace. Upon tripping up the stairs on many an occasion, even weeks after she had turned Fae, it was obvious grace was not apart of the immortal package.
"The pleasure is all mine, milady," Verdant replied sweeping into a low bow.
"Why don't we spend the day together?" Sarah looked between the two, and almost laughed at the expression she saw in Verdant's eyes. "Oh come on! I haven't seen you for a week or so, surely you've missed me!" Sarah didn't know how right she was as Verdant painfully recalled how lonely it had been without her there.
"I wouldn't mind the company," Verdant replied.
"So it's settled! Eve and Feyore will take us to your kingdom and we'll just hang around!" Sarah could see her plan unfolding already. Oh this plan was genius! Surely Eve and Feyore wouldn't mind as long as they knew Selina was with Sarah.
Author's Note:
So, Sarah didn't have to be bored out of her mind with strategy plans. It seems that Selina has become a fast friend, and Verdant may not be so lonely from now on. Oh come on, it was either kill him or find him a girl. Goodness! Or I could be terribly, horribly, awfully evil and well… You'll just have to wait and see! As always thank you so much to all my wonderful, amazing, reviewers! Keep on letting me know what you think!