Ѕђαŧŧəŗзđ Ðŗəαmş
By: Jennifer Shi
Chapter 2: Life After [Part 2]
It has been…
12 months…
29 days…
6 hours…
48 minutes…
&
35 seconds…
since he had last seen her. Or at least that was what he had let everyone believe. Even his all mighty father, Oberon who had forbid him from seeing or having any type of contact with her for thirteen long and torturous months had no clue that he had found a way around that. Or at least a part of it… Though he was unable to have contact with her in any form, he had been able to watch…
And so watch her he did, in the endless nights where the land of dreams were worlds away, keeping tabs on the two years of her life that he could take no part in. Of course, his time wasn't as completely wasted as he had cleverly let people to believe. To those on the outside he would sulk and let his raging emotions get the better of him, which wasn't too hard, because he really did want to make everyone as miserable as he was. And, so he caused mischief and mayhem during the thirteen months of his confinement.
Then away from the prying eyes of nosy courtiers, he had schemed and planned. He had looked through countless of books, gone over countless of possibilities and variables to his plans. Coming up with backups to every scenario he could think of, trying to be prepared for the wild cards that he could not control. He worked tirelessly, trying to perfect his plans so that there was no chance of failure, because this time he couldn't afford to lose.
On the endless sleepless nights when he needed to get away from it all, he watched her, sitting alone in the Escher room. She had grown into a beautiful young woman, someone selfless, loyal, courageous and filled with compassion and love of the world around her. Her auburn locks had grown longer, just reaching her mid back and she had filled out in places as well, but through the time they had been apart her eyes, those fiery pools of emeralds stayed the same. Her passion, her fire and her love of the world beyond remained as well. Now, she was more beautiful than ever… Jareth mused as he stared into the crystal hovering in the air, looking intently at the green eyed beauty waking up within the crystal.
A rumble sounded through his mind, a plea and a demand from the labyrinth, who wished for their champion and Queen to be with them. Soon…promised Jareth silently, calmly trying to sooth the raging beast of the labyrinth, promising both it and himself that this time he would not lose.
The last game they had played had honestly left him exhausted. It was quite difficult and complex trying to protect her and win the game at the same time. The strain on their incomplete bond was also taking its toll on him, since he was shouldering all of the burdens of it. The constant tugging of his soul and the pain in his chest often left him sleepless, wondering the endless halls and stairs of the Escher room and of course watching her. Always watching, but never touching. He knew he was torturing himself by looking, but he couldn't help it. He was drawn to her like a moth to a flame. It made the pain better when he saw her, but worse as well because she was out of his reach. So close yet so far…
Sarah…sighed Jareth as he looked back into the glowing star shaped crystal, waiting for the arrival of dawn, the first rays of light that would signal the end of his confinement. For what seemed like eternity he sat there watching and waiting. Running a gloved hand through his unruly hair, Jareth sighed and threw the hovering crystal into the air. Sighing once more as it vanished, into a rain of glitter. Standing up to his full height as he turned towards the window, watching as the first rays of the sun began to touch the cool surface of the earth.
The once ocean blue sky began to lighten, blotches of sea green blended with sky. Soon like rose pedals, shades of oranges, pinks and reds filled the sky as well. Slowly, but surely the sun began to rise from the horizon of the vast labyrinth. Finally the rays of the sun chased away the shadows of the night…
Sighing once more, Jareth never once turned away from the sight in front of him greeted his companion. "Hello, father…"
"Jareth," acknowledged Oberon. "I suppose now that the thirteen months are up, you are free to go."
"Thank you, father," replied Jareth half-heartily as he turned around.
"Oh, stop sulking Jareth. It was all for your own good. You and I both know that if had let you go right away there would be no telling what you would have done." Oberon shot Jareth a look just as he was about to interrupt. "No, Jareth in your state you could have made things 10 times worse. Your mother and I were only looking out for you. We are happy that you have found someone who you find joy in, but it was the wrong time and place which is one of the reasons you lost."
"And what, two year later without contact what so ever makes it the right time? For all you know she could have forgotten everything and told herself that she dream it all!"
"Son, do not pretend that you did not find the means around your confinement. You know as well as I that she has not forgotten." Pointed out Oberon.
"I don't kiss and tell father," resorted Jareth crossing his arms.
"Stubborn as ever, Jareth," laughed Oberon merrily. "I'm curious my son-which one of you would last longer? You or the girl…"
"Wonderful, father. I am glad my troubles amuse you so," said Jareth sarcastically rolling his eyes.
"Jokes aside my boy," said Oberon seriously. "How are you feeling?"
"Been better…, but the degree of …discomfort stays," said Jareth calmly revealing nothing.
"There is little I can do to ease the discomfort. I wish you hadn't done that so soon, it would have saved you a lot of trouble," sighed Oberon.
"I have no regrets…, now if you excuse me I have thing to see to…" said Jareth coolly as he walked out of Escher room gracefully.
Sighing once more Oberon looked out the window at the glorious labyrinth that stretched endlessly, ever changing.
"I wish I am able to stop all of this and save them from all this trouble and pain,"
"That is every parent's wish, you know? To be able to shield their children from the dangers and the unknown, to be able to keep them from making the wrong choices, but we must remember that it is from those mistakes they will learn." came an enchanting voice that belonged to a woman with sparkling green eyes and long sun kissed hair that cascaded down her back. The dark purple robe made her ivory pale skin stand out even more. She should next to Oberon with a god like aura around her. Graceful, beautiful, commanding, prideful, but above all wise.
"You are as wise as ever…, but still…as you said it is every parent's wish. Although you do not seem as worried as I pictured you."
"Dear, woodland King, I too am worried. More than you know…it is a mother's instinct to worry for her son, but I unlike some prefer to find ways to help rather than mope."
"I take that you have been well?"
"It has been…fascinating, but I miss the fae realms. Perhaps it is time for me to return"
"Perhaps, that would be a wise choice especially at a time like this,"
"Yes, it would be," laughed the woman. "By the way, I take my pick with the girl,"
"After you, my lady…" smiled Oberon charmingly as he held a hand out to the woman beside him.
Meanwhile…………..
In a largely ornamented study, Jareth the Goblin King sat behind large mahogany desk littered with paper work and peculiar ornaments that seen strangely out of place, yet belonging at the same time. However his attention was not focused on the piles of paperwork before his eyes, instead it was focused on the floating crystal that hovered in front of him. Well, more like the image that it projected from within. beautiful…
A tall and handsome man appeared in the room silently in a sparkle of glitter. His hair was sliver like the glittering moon beams in the darkness night, but his eyes where the color of the sun. He was dressed as a similar fashion as Jareth; black leather breeches, a crimson red poet's shirt, black leather jacket and spiky armor made of demon bones. A knowing smile adore his angelic face as he strolled over to a comfy looking chair and sat down with grace.
"Jareth, glad to hear that you are out of trouble with the woodland king," chuckled the man; his golden eyes twinkled with delight. "So what do you plan to do now?"
"Lance, enjoying you visits to the fae realms?" inquired Jareth as he avoid answering the question, finally taking his eyes off the sparkling crystal within his hands.
"Yes, quite a beautiful place, I can see why she would miss it, but you are avoiding the question my friend," teased Lance.
"I don't understand why you insist in asking, why I am sure my sister has already told you so," sighed Jareth as he rolled his eyes at his best friend's curious nature.
"Well, it is more amusing this way," replied Lance. "And…you sister is…not exactly being compliant with me at the moment. She is infuriated with me for some reason, and would not talk to me."
"And you could not get her to talk to you?" chucked Jareth.
"Unfortunately, no," frowned Lance.
"I see, it would seems then she is angrier than usual." mused Jareth as he played with the crystal in his hands.
"So it would seem," sighed Lance. "She has been ignoring me for quite a while; and I have not an idea what she is angry with me for. I have even tried to apologize, but I think that just made her more irate at me," pouted Lance. "The only good news I can think of right now is that your father is blissfully ignorant of our little situation.
"Yes, you better hope that he does not find out, but I do not think she is angry enough to tell him…yet,"
"I'm millennias old and yet I still do not have an understanding of women completely or perhaps it is just her."
"You are not the only one."
"Women," sighed Lance. "Sometimes I think they can be more trouble than they are worth."
"You better hope she never hears or finds out that you said that."
"What you plan to do about your problem?" asked Lance.
"By doing what I do best of course," smirked Jareth, his mismatched eyes twinkling in delight and mischief.
"Ah," smirked Lance knowingly as a silent understanding pasted between the two friends. "Well, the best of luck to you Jareth. If you need any help, please do not hesitate to call."
"I might just take you up on that offer of yours," consider Jareth as he tapped his chin.
"Your, majesties," greeted a dark haired man as he bowed respectfully and interrupted Jareth and Lance's conversation
"Ah, Ren good to see you. I trust that you have completed my requests, while I was otherwise…occupied," asked Jareth as he dissipated the once hovering crystal with a wave of his hands.
"Of course your majesty, I have personally made sure that everything you have requested is ready and waiting for inspection. If fact James and some of your staff are already preparing the mansion for you arrival," replied Ren.
"Excellent," praised Jareth as he and Lance both stood up and disappeared in a wave a glitter - fading into the air.
Aboveground, Jareth and Lance reappeared in front of a large white mansion that stood majestically in the center of the estate. Behind the mansion stretched endless acres of emerald green forests as far as the eye could see.
Their eyes meet in a knowing glance and the clothing of the fae realms faded away to be replaced by 21st century clothing. Both men were now dressed in black Armani suits and shiny black leather shoes. Behind them parked in front of the fountain was a sleek back Lotus 360.
"Not bad," grinned Lance. "But don't you need to look a tiny bit younger for you trip above ground? I was under the impression that…"
"I'll worry about that later," said Jareth as he rolled his eyes and walked casually up the stairs that led to the double doors of the mansion with Lance right beside him. The doors of the mansion opened on its own accord and out stepped a tall, brown haired man dressed in butler fashion that greeted Jareth and Lance with a low bow.
"Your majesties, how wonderful to see you. I have set up everything just as your majesty has instructed. The moving crew is bringing some furniture that her highness has ordered for you," said the man as he gestured to the dressed in grey uniforms unloading sofas from the large moving truck.
"Very good, James. I take it my sister has been here?" asked Jareth as he arched an elegant bow, the gears of his mind already turning and coming up with possible reasons for why his sister was Aboveground.
"Yes, your majesty. In fact her highness has yet to leave. I do believe if your majesty does not mind me saying so, she is planning on staying for quite a while," informed James politely as he gestured for the two kings to come in.
"And what makes you say that?" inquired Jareth as he tossed his jacket to James who stood waiting and ready in the parlor of the house.
"Well, you majesty, her highness has been quite busy redecorating the west wing to her standers and liking," replied James as he moved to take Lance's jacket as well.
"I see," mused Jareth as he and Lance strolled into the lavish living room of the mansion. The two men sat down comfortably on the white leather couches that were positioned around the room, waiting patiently for their lady guest to arrive.
"Jareth, I was wondering when you were going to arrive," greeted a beautiful young women with long black hair and vibrant blue eyes as she walked into the room with elegance and grace. "But, whatever. You're here now. So, you want a grand tour of the house? I had some extra time on my hands and decided to try my hand on interior decorating. I think I still have the south wing to redecorate, although it already looks really good. It has a real vintage feel to it, so I might just keep the theme. Well, how do you like it?"
Jareth glanced around the living room, for the first time actually taking in the details and ornaments in the room. The walls were painted a soft yellow-green color that matched the decorative cushions displayed over the leather couches and layered curtains that framed the windows. The center piece of the room was the beautifully ornamented glass coffee table that shimmered in the sunlight. On the far north wall, a large 69" HDTV was mounted on to the wall. But the most attractive feature of the room was the vibrant green plant life that his sister had brought in to the room.
"It is fitting Gwen," replied Jareth as he turned his attention back to his sister, who only rolled her eyes at his comment and mumbled something about asking people who actually care about these things.
"Okay, I'll take that as an, I love it and a request for me to continue to remodel the house," said Gwen as Jareth shrugged to communicate his answer.
"So are you planning to stay aboveground too?" asked Jareth as he turned his full attention to his sister.
"Yeah, I wanna see some drama," grinned Gwen as she moved to sit down on the couch farthest away from her fiancé. "And a change in scenery if you know what I mean."
"I am glad that my problems continue to amuse my family members," said Jareth sarcastically as he rolled his mismatched eyes in annoyance.
"Thanks, Jareth! Glad to know that I'm fulfilling my duty as a sibling," laughed Gwen, her laughter tinkling like silver bells.
"Seeing as my sister is staying, I presume it is safe to say that you will be staying as well?" asked Jareth as he turned his attention to the man seated next to him.
The only response he received was a shrug. "If milady had no objection," replied Lance impassively. His amber glaze resting on the said objector; Gwen.
"Pardon me, Jareth. But is that the wind I hear?" exclaimed Gwen as she glided towards the window, refusing to acknowledge Lance. Completely set on ignoring her fiancé for as long as she could.
"Oh, no you two are not dragging me into your little quarrel, "snickered Jareth as he watched the scene unfold with amused mismatched eyes.
"Child!" It was a response, but it came a barely noticeable whisper, well for human ears that is. Of course, everyone who was in the room was definitely not human, which lead to the fact that Gwen did hear.
"Arg, I am NOT a child!" countered Gwen as she turned her blazing blue eyes at her fiancé Lance. Her hands clenched into fists at her side as she with held her anger.
"Could have fooled me," said Lance calmly, not even batting an eye, where as any other person would have hit the hills running out of fear. But then again, Lance wasn't you average uh…person. No Lance was much more and god in his own right, but then same could be said for his beloved fiancé, who was currently wishing a whole lot of ill things upon him.
"You, Bastard!!!" yelled Gwen, who looked like she was about to hit him, when suddenly both their attentions were diverted to the other occupant of the room, who had been awfully quite during their little lover's quarrel and was now the cause of the disturbance in the air.
An eerie red aura surrounded Jareth as he floated inches above the ground. The air around him pulsed rhythmically with each beat of his frantic heart, while electric like magic sparks sizzled and cracked in the air around them as well. Waves upon waves of energy surged through the fae king, whose face was masked with pain and anguish. The other occupants of the room watched helplessly as Jareth's aura turned darker with each pulse of energy, with each beat of his frantic heart. Then as sudden as the aura appeared, it had disappeared, spiraling back into Jareth. Softly, Jareth landed with a thud on the hardwood floors of the room, still unconscious.
The argument, between the two, forgotten as Lance snapped his fingers and transported all three of them into well furnished bedroom upstairs. The room was decorated in a similar fashion as the previous room. It held an air of freedom and nature; vibrant plant life decorated the walls, spiraling vines intertwined with the white curtains that framed the windows.
Gently, Gwen placed Jareth on the large bed that was pushed against the far wall of the room. She carefully placed the white silk blankets over him and brushed the stray locks of blond hair from his face. Content with his now siren expression she sat down at the chairs placed around the fire place. Immediately the logs in the fire place burst into flames. Her expression was worried as she looked to Lance, her fiancé.
"He should be stable now," sighed Lance as flopped down in a seat next to Gwen, running his hands through his long silver mane. His sun kissed golden eyes, reflected unusual concern for the currently unconscious Goblin King.
"That's good," sighed Gwen as well, as she turned her worried stormy blue eyes to Lance.
"He is getting stronger…" commented Lance, his eyes trained on the flickering ambers of the fire.
Gwen expression twisted into a frown as she produced a diamond shaped crystal with a wave of her hands. Twirling it on her index figure much like on would with a basketball, she threw the crystal into the air. Held up by magic and defying the law of gravity, the crystal drew a circle in the air before bursting into glitter. An image of a girl appeared in the bubble.
"He will continue to do so, if their bond is not complete."
"He has he's work cut out for him," replied Lance. "But Jareth will manage I am sure. In the mean time we will keep an eye on him." Lance's voice was calm and soothing as he wrapped his arms around Gwen offering his support. Gwen immediately felt herself calm down as well and laid her head on his chest listening to the rhythmic beating of his heart. Her blue eyes fixed on the image in the bubble; the image of the teenage girl that her brother was in love with.
"But I still can't help but worry. There are so many ways things can go wrong…" whispered Gwen as she moved her worried glaze to the light haired fae king that lay asleep in the massive bed.
"There is little we can do other than watch and wait. It will only be a matter of time now," said Lance, as he ran his hands through the silky black strands of Gwen's tresses. Despite his calm and cool demeanor, Lance too was worried about the outcome of this whole scenario and about his best friend that was in possible danger. And that's one of the good case scenarios… Lance mentally pushed away his troubled thoughts and focused on his tired fiancé who had slowly begun to fall asleep. Gently picking her up, he turned and disappeared without a sound.
Lance being too preoccupied with the slumbering cargo in his arms as he disappeared that he failed to notice the soft, almost non-existent pulses that once again was coming from sleeping fae king. Slowly a blue dome like barrier formed around the fae king expanding outward as the pulsing grew stronger. Sparks of magic seeped into the barrier making it look as if multiple electric currents were running through it while inside a barrier it looked like a storm was brewing. Jareth's face was once again a look of pain and anguish as his head thrashed from side to side while his body was immobile as if held by invisible bonds. An agonizing scream tore through his throat that no one was able to hear because of the electrified blue barrier that was surrounding him. Suddenly, he bolted upright and sat up on the bed. His chest heaved as he breathed harshly feeling his lungs expand and contract. Slowly he unclenched his hands from the silk blankets and ran a hand over his face and through his hair. Sighing, he slowly opened his eyes and looked around the room for the first time.
Author's Note
HI Everyone!!! I realized it has been a very very VERY long time since I've updated, but school has been keeping me real busy so my regrets and much to all my friends dismay I've sighed up for summer school as well so my time is limited. *sigh* Lol but I really do hope to keep this story going and I know it really really as been a long time and this chapter has really sort of been sitting there waiting for me to come up with a fitting ending for it since pretty much January. So now half a year later [time really flies] I've came up with something finally. LOL I hope everyone like the story so far and sorry if the style of writting is a bit off since it's been so long. I'll be trying hard to get the next chapter ready soon. There will probably be more updates in augest [next month ^.^].
Once again thanks to everyone that reviewed. Love you so much! Thank you for all you positive support.
Review Responses:
notwritten : I'm glad you thought that last chapter was an interesting read I hope this chapter does not disappoint you. LOL Keep smiling too!!! ^.^
HazlgrnLizzy: LOL I am honored that you liked the imegry of sarah's dream. ^.^ It was somethign that I was going for and I'm very happy to have achieved it to some degree. Thank You so much!!!
Regnig-oftheblackforest: Yeah!!! People think it's interesting!!! LOL and as for the title I just used symbols from MS word because I got bored one day. Sometimes bordom can leaded to the best inspiration. LOL Thanks for reviewing.
Elfique: Yes!!! LOL I hope this chapter does not dissappoint either. LOL
Alexandraya: LOL Coool!!! Haha must be interesting having a twin!!! And both your names rock! ^.^ LOL I can definately see you are a true Labyrith fan. I am so glad that you are reading my story and please point out any thing that maybe in accurate or off. Thank you so much for sharing with me Draya!
Ava: HI! ^.^ Thanks for the suggestion! I'll keep that in mind when I write the next chapter.
Michyyy: LOL Sorry it's not soon but please keep reading!!!
Selene: Glad u like the forshadowing and your names means moon right ?
MeganG45: Can't wait to write more!!!
UndergroundValentine: LOL I'm glad you think that Sarah is more open to lots of things that she was before. I was aming for that because I think that anyone would change if only a little after an experience like that LOL. And I'll keep writing if you keep reading.. LOL ^.^
Once again that you all for reading and keep giving me your comments on how to make the story better.
Lots of Love
Jennifer
Author's Note