"Sky's Eclipse"
Chapter 43
By Aiijuin

*Disclaimer: I don't own anything Jim Henson or Labyrinth. Gröeg was originally designed by Brian Froud and catalogued by Terry Jones in Brian Froud's "The Goblins of the Labyrinth". This fanfiction is rated M for some harsh language and adult situations. Gavin King is Jareth, the Goblin King, for those who have jumped into the middle of the story. Jeremy Eden is from the original Henson script of "Labyrinth" as the man who wrote the "Labyrinth" playbook that Sarah was reading from, in the beginning of the 1986 movie.
Be warned! Although this is a Sarah/Jareth romance story, it is also a profoundly dark fairytale!
**NOTE: Story numbering is behind by 1 chapter, because there is a prelude, which is not considered a chapter. Fanfiction . net automatically assigns numbers to the chapters by default, which I have not control over. Thank you!

Chapter 43: The Quest for Eden

It happened rather quickly.

Suddenly, without warning, Toby arrived at the front door of his house. Gavin turned the doorknob and walked into the entrance, while Toby scratched his head outside in confusion.

"Um," Toby began, "how did I get here… when did I get here?… What the hell?!"

Gavin wiggled his index finger and chided, "Dear, dear… poor Toby. The spider's venom must be affecting you again. Go in and take your medicine, and then we'll look up Jeremy Eden's name on that Giggle-thingy when you're done."

Toby snickered, "Uh-huh, you can remember that French Lady's full name, but you can't remember a simple word like 'Google'."

Gavin laughed back and said snidely, "At least, I didn't forget the trip home. Now that's pretty bad, I would say…"

"You win," Toby smirked. He darted around the corner and into the kitchen, where he took his medicine and then ushered Mr. King upstairs to his father's computer office. Toby continued, "I'd let you use mine, but its takes for ever to boot up, and dad's computer doesn't have half-naked pictures of Megan Fox on the wallpaper either. I figure you've had enough heart-attacks for one afternoon with all of the bad news happening at the hospital."

Toby paused as his face dropped. It hurt him to actually think about losing his sister. He was hoping that the doctors would find a cure for her disease. He turned to Gavin and asked, "Hey, Mr. King?"

"Yes, Toby," Gavin replied as the Windows Logo appeared on the screen.

Toby turned around in his father's swivel chair and asked, "You want me to look this stuff up, 'cause you think that Jeremy-guy might have some answers on how we can help my sister, right?"

Gavin rubbed Toby's shoulder and said endearingly, "Well, Mr. Eden couldn't be alive after four hundred years, but I believe there may have been notes and clues left behind that could help us further understand what your sister is suffering from."

"Yeah," Toby began, "that's really weird that all of the women that this disease has killed are named 'Sarah'. Maybe it's a fluke?"

"Toby, in my homeland we are taught that nothing ever is as it seems and sometimes things are more than what they seem," Gavin raised his eyebrows.

"In Philosophy-land?" Toby asked sarcastically as he tapped the name 'Jeremy Eden' unto the Google homepage. "Ah! Here it is! Wikipedia has some info and a few other sites. Mmm, okay… Alps Cootee dee Azur Province, Southern France… or something like that… in 1606, Sir Jeremy Eden inherited the estate of blah-something Lady Sarah blah, blah… sorry, I can't pronounce these words and I don't speak French. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth and given several prestigious titles for his bravery….something about being one of the youngest knights. Mmm, no pictures anywhere. I guess you're going to have to get a map of France, Mr. King and book a trip if you want to find out anymore."

Gavin clapped his hands and his face lit up as he asked Toby, "So, how would you like to take a trip with me to France?"

Toby's rolled his eyes as he chuckled, "Oh, yeah, right! I'm just sure mom and dad will let me stop going to school, drop everything, and fly off to Europe for an unannounced vacation. C'mon, Mr. King…get real!"

Gavin tilted his head and replied, "Don't fret about Robert and Karen… I'll work my 'magic' on them and they'll be waiving us out the door with roses and whistles. As to your education… well, we shan't be gone that long… Besides it's not a vacation, it's research for you sister."

Toby shrugged, "Okay, then. Sure. I mean, if you can actually get my mom to say 'yes' then you've earned my respect. Why not ask my dad, though? He is your employee…"

"Toby…," Gavin began, "Here… forget it. Let's away!"

Toby blinked his eyes and suddenly it was daytime and he was standing in the doorway of a 4 passenger, private room of a train car. He looked wide-eyed out the windows to see vineyards and rolling hillsides of beautiful green country flying by.

"What the-?" Toby stammered.

Gavin was sitting in a seat reading a newspaper as the train jostled back and forth on the tracks. Toby looked around with a rather disoriented grimace on his face. He pointed as if he was going to say something, but a man with a strong accent finally said, "Monsieur, I suggest you close the door and have a seat. You look pale suddenly."

Toby muttered under his breath, "I….I swear I was just at home…"

Gavin looked up and smiled, "Is it time for you medication again, Master Williams?"

"I think…" Toby answered slowly, "…so."

The man with the accent stood up and grabbed a bag from overhead. He pulled out a satchel and handed Toby his medication bottle. He said, "Oui, mon Ami! There is a dining car down to the right, where you can get a beverage to wash that down with."

Toby nodded and stumbled out the door. Gavin turned to the man and said, "I'm not sure why you're accompanying me on this trip, Torok. Nobody invited you."

"Eh? I'm here to keep an eye on you, mon Frère. Sashya recommended that I follow you…" Torok replied.

"'Recommended' or did she demand it?" Gavin asked.

Torok shook his head and answered, "Whatever curse is attacking Sarah Williams has also taken hold on my queen too, Jareth. I have asked for a gathering of The Ancients, but they are too afraid that Sashya's curse is contagious and will spread to them. So, Old Grandmother Troll is caring for ma Nénette, and I have decided to come with you to help you discover anything that might save your Sarah. If found, I know it will also help my Sashya as well."

"Have you tried using your magic to heal her?" Jareth asked.

"Have you?" Torok asked back.

"Yes."

"And?"

"Nothing," Jareth responded.

"It is the same with me…" Torok muttered sullenly. After a few moments he turned to Jareth and asked in reference to Toby, "I didn't realize that Arachni's venom lasted so long…"

"It doesn't, but it was the only way to keep Toby from knowing the truth that he had accidently stumbled upon. I just keep telling him that he's having memory lapses and he believes it. It makes him more portable that way and I don't have to worry about the after effects of the peaches on his long-term memory," Jareth explained.

"Ah, okay," Torok nodded. "But aren't you worried about all of the medication he's been taking? It can't be good for him, you know, mon Frère."

Jareth laughed, rolled his eyes and replied, "What medication? He's been swallowing hard-shelled chocolate candies the whole time. I think they're called 'M&Ms' or some strange name like that. I just relabeled the outside shell and 'poof' fake prescription. It's quite ingenious actually…"

At that, Toby reentered the passenger room where Torok and 'Gavin' sat. As he took his seat near Mr. King, he asked, "So, how long until we get where we're going?"

"Yes, mon Frere," Torok also said to Gavin. "À quelle distance est Alpes-Côte d'Azur Province?"

"Oh, thank heavens!" Toby exclaimed. "You brought a French guy with you so we don't have to try and translate this language ourselves…I really suck trying to speak it, let alone understanding it… Good thinking, Mr. King!"

Torok snapped, "I am not a French-guy, idiot!"

"Well, Haitian or whatever…. Sorry, man I didn't mean to offend you, but at least you speak French," Toby apologized.

"Since when do I speak French?" Torok asked Gavin.

Gavin laughed loudly at Torok's serious inquiry and the train ride continued for another hour in its southbound direction.

When it finally stopped, the trio stepped down and the Troll King helped to procure a ride that would take them to d'Bourgeise Estate. While the cab was driving down winding roads and through a grand countryside, Torok turned to Gavin and whispered, "Why didn't we just use magic and appear directly there, mon Frère?"

Jareth whispered back, "Something is preventing me from simply flying into or appearing within the estate grounds. I'm not sure where its source is from, but it's strong enough to keep me out. Of course, if you think you'll have better luck, Trollie, then be my guest."

Torok just shrugged, but said nothing else until they began to get close to the d'Bourgeise Estate.

After a few minutes, the cab driver began to speak to the passengers, "Nous obtenons rarement des visiteurs. Les villageois disent qu'il y a une malédiction sur cette terre. Je n'entrerais pas là si je vous étais."

Toby looked at Torok and asked, "What did he say?"

Torok answered, "He said that he rarely sees tourists in this area, and then added something about the villagers holding to a belief that there is a curse placed upon these lands. He also mentioned, that if he were us… he would probably turn back, so to speak."

Toby made a face and said sarcastically, "Well isn't that comforting to know?"

Torok replied back to the cabbie and then the driver nodded and responded again in his native tongue. Torok then turned to Gavin and translated, "He says that we have just entered the Estate, mon Frère."

The car veered to the right sharply and passed beyond a thicket of trees that had lined the sides of the road up until this point. It stopped at an old pebble path that led up to some high walls, which were constructed of rock and stone. That's when the passengers of the taxi froze in shock. They couldn't believe their eyes as they walked out of the vehicle and onto the path.

Toby turned to Gavin and whispered, "Um, are we still in France?"