Lost and Lonely
8
My heart pounded as I dodged trees, running through the woods. My paws beating down on the forest ground, like the sound of cannons. I hear their shouts as they gained on me. The hunters. I looked around, but all the other wolves had abandoned me. Only one was left. The leader of the pack. He looked at me, concerned. I felt my foot slip and suddenly I was under a net. He stopped and looked at me, howling. I howled back, my small howl. The hunters came over to me and readied their guns. Suddenly, HE left. My leader. My father left me, his young pup for them. I watched in horror as the hunter pulled the clasp, and gripped the trigger.
I hurtled myself up, screaming at the top of my lungs. Looking around, I noticed I was still in my room. In bed. My forehead was drenched in a cold sweat, my heart was beating insanely. I screamed as someone grabbed my shoulders.
"Shhh shhh! It's just me, relax." Jareth said as he shook me to stop my screaming. I looked at him, frightened. "Why are you screaming?" He asked me, putting his ungloved hands on both sides of my face. I shook my head frantically back and forth, crying.
"He left me," I said over and over. "Left me to die. He left me there. He left me." I was so scared and still sweating. Jareth, who was wearing an unbuttoned poets shirt and his normal tight pants and a pair of older boots, stroked my hair.
"Love it's alright your right here with me no one's going to hurt you." He said soothingly as I bawled my eyes out. He put my head onto his chest as I poured tears onto his shirt. After about five minutes of crying and soothing, I looked up at him.
"Sorry to make your shirt soggy." I said sniffling. He just stroked my hair.
"Forget about the shirt, Dear. Why are you so upset?" He asked me, as I was crying a little.
"It was just a dream…." I muttered through sob filled breathes. "Just a dream."
"Just a dream," Jareth scoffed, "Not just a dream would have you screaming bloody murder." I thought about it for a second.
"Alright, Nightmare." I said, "I'll give it was bad."
"Bad?" He scoffed again.
"Alright it was terrifying from the point of view I was in." I explained the dream in full detail. Jareth nodded.
"Seems to me like this is a nightmare based off of emotional issues." He asked, raising a brow.
"Don't look at me like that I cleared it all up last night." I said, folding my arms.
"Not all of it apparently." Jareth said, still looking at me funny.
"Yes. All of it." I said, turning away. I looked back to see he was gone.
"I'll tell you what I think it means." He said, suddenly standing in front of me, by the edge of the bed. "Your afraid that everyone has abandoned you, and the one person you trust will, eventually, one day leave you. Abandone you. And leave you to trouble."
"Well thanks for the interprutation." I said sarcastically. "It's just a dream. I have dreams all the time."
"Not like that one." Jareth said, in a cocky tone.
"I'm a lucid dreamer, but…I lost control that's all." I said.
"lost control?" Jareth asked. "More like lost your pretty little head."
"I'm haven't lost my head!" I snapped.
"Calm yourself."
"Well if you would stop stereotyping my dreams-"
"Just trying to help."
"Well it'd help if you weren't so sure of yourself all the time."
"It'd help if you would keep your temper." Istared at him, shocked.
"My temper? The only reason I'm freaking out is because your telling me how I feel when obviously I know that I am scared to be left alone without help when Im in need and that I will be hurt by someone I love.Z" I stopped and notcied Jareth was smirking. "What? What is so amusing?"
"You just admitted your feelings." He said, chuckling. I frowned.
"Oh." I said, realizing I was being bitchy. "Sorry."
"Oh I understand your problem." Jareth said. "You don't like to come to reality with your emotions."
"Yeaaaah I don't." I said, groaning.
"Well now that you know why you had that dream I guess it's safe to say goodnight." He said, looking at me. I nodded.
"Yeah, I guess." I rubbed the back of my neck.
"Unless, you don't want me to go." He suddenly said, standing upright.
"Nah it's…it's fine just go back to bed." I heard him snicker.
"Sleep?" He said. "No I'm much to busy to sleep. I'm a fae, I don't need much sleep."
"Well rest then same thing." I said, rolling over. I felt bad for interrupting…whatever he was doing.
"Alright. If you insist Love," Jareth said, sighing and leaving. "I'm right next door."
"Ditto." I said, before closing my eyes.
That whole night I tossed and turned. I barley slept and felt terrible. Images of the nightmare from before ran through my head. I wondered if Jareth was right. Possibley he was, like most of the time. I lay on my back, staring at the ceiling. I tried to think of things to help me sleep. Oceans. The calm winter. I groaned and lay back over.
"It's time's like these I wish I had Nyquill." I said. "Insomnia's no fun." I looked over at the door that had always been in the wall, between my room and Jareth's. "Do I dare?" I asked myself. "No what if he's busy? Maybe he's not. He said if you need anything so I guess that means sleeping pills too." I sighed, rolling out of bed. I got up and walked towards the door. "Do I knock?" I asked myself, reaching for the knob. I rolled my eyes, amused at the fact I was questioning about opening a door. I turned the knob and stepped inside. It was a room much bigger than mine. The walls were a very dark grey and the floor was a spakling tile floor. The bed was huge, with black curtains over and around it. There was a huge closet and many mannaquins wearing outifts (which amused me highly), a desk and mirror, plent of shelves ful of different objects. Hell, there was even two giant windows with these black curtains in front of them and a large skylight. There were painting covering the walls and cleiling. I grinned at the sight of a makeup desk.
"I'm guessing you took up my offer." Jareth said from nowhere. I looked around, until I realized it was coming from behind me suddenly. "What is it?" I turned to face a smiling Jareth.
"Do you have sleeping pills?" I asked, groggily. He shook his head, amused almost.
"Unfortunetly no," He said, "But I do have crystals."
"Oh yeah cause I can swallow that. Just get me a glass of water." I said sarcastically. Jareth smirked, annoyed though.
"I meant, I have certain crystals that provide magical lullaby's which put you to sleep like that." He said, adding a snap at the end.
"Well may I borrow one?" I asked, yawning. He nodded, and walked off inot his closet. I stood there waiting for a good five minutes. Jareth came walking back out, holding a lavender tinted crystal.
"Here," He said, "When your ready to use it, just throw it up in the air." I nodded.
"Thanks Jareth," I said as he kissed my forehead.
"Now go." He said, slightly pushing me to the door. I staggered out the door and shut it quietly. I carried the crystal and got into bed. I threw the crystal up in the air and laid down. Expecting to hear a classical ballad, I was surprised to hear Jareth singing a familiar song.
If your lost,And you need to find some escapeOr some peace of mind,Call my nameWhen you need a friendI'll be there, I'll be thereIf your dreamsAre drenched in sweatYou can't sleepThere's too much in your headCall my nameAny time of day,I'll be there, I'll be thereWhen you can't carry on,When the road's way too longKnow that your not aloneI can carry you homeIf you hold on tonightI'll be there If you give,Till you've got nothing left,Wanted more,But you end up with less,All your friends, Have turned awayBut I'll be there, I'll be thereWhen you can't carry on,When the road's way too longKnow that you're not aloneI can carry you homeIf you hold on tonightIf you hold on tonightThe weight of the world is too much to takePulling you down like a tidal waveI can hold you, I will hold youHere and nowIf your lost and you need to find some escape,Or some peace in mind, yeahWhen you can't carry on,When the road's way too longKnow that you're not aloneI can carry you homeIf you hold on tonightWhen you can't carry onWhen the road's way too longKnow that you're not alone,I can carry you homeIf you hold on tonight,I'll be thereWhen the world seems wrongWhen you've come undoneNo, you're not aloneI'll be there for youWhen the world seems wrongWhen you've come undoneNo, you're not aloneYou know I'll be there,
As I fell asleep, I silently laughed at the thought of Jareth even knowing this song. It was a song that Erin, (big shocker) had shown me by her favorite band. Granted. He had slown it down and added some classical music in the background, but still. I felt my eyes close and everything went black.
I yawned as I got up, stretching. I took a shower, brushed my teeth, etc. I realized I was shivering like crazy and it was surprisingly cold. I threw on a pair of jeans, boots, and a big black sweatshirt. I balled up the sleeves in my hands and folded my arms as I walked down the hall. I walked into the dinging room to see Jareth sitting there, playing with a crystal.
"Morning, Love." He said as he saw me.
"Morning. Is it just me, or has the temperature dropped increasingly over the night?" I asked, warming up by the fire that was going. "I mean granted it was chilly before but now it's just…brr."
"It snowed." Jareth said as he walked over to me.
"I didn't know it snowed in the underground." I said, surprised.
"Of course it snows in the underground!" Jareth said. "Unfortunetly it's colder in the underground."
"Aw nuts." I said, rubbing my arms. Jareth put his arms around mine.
"That doesn't mean we can't go and show you what the Labyrinth looks like covered in a white snowcap." He said, whispering almost.
"It must be beautiful." I sighed, looking at him.
"It is." He agreed. "But first!" He led me to my chair.
"I'm actually..not hungry." I said, sitting.
"Well you must eat something." Jareth snapped his fingers.
"I'm just thirsty Jareth I'm not really hungry. I go without breakfast most days."
"That…it a lie," He said, amused, "you have had breakfast every morning."
"To be polite." I said. "I was new. So I'm not gonna say 'thanks but no thanks your majesty after all your being so polite letting me stay here but I'd rather not eat your food' cause how rude does that sound?" Jareth smirked and snapped again.
"Alright I'll admit that is true." I grabbed the glass of orange juice and pretty much chugged it down before Jareth couldn't even start eating. He looked at me, dumbfounded.
"I said thirsty," I laughed, "I meant it too." Jareth just shook his head, laughing.
"Well you are something aren't you?" He said, snapping as the glass filled up again.
"Yes. Yes I am." I said, grabbing the glass. I drank slower this time. When Jareth had finished, after yelling at a goblin for running in with a chicken wearing a bonnet (The chicken not the goblin) we got up and got ready to go outside.
"Your Majesty," A goblin said, handing him a leather jacket and his riding crop. Jareth snatched it from the goblins hand and snapped. I was wearing a big black coat and gloves now. And a hat. We walked out and into the labyrinth.
"Oh it all looks so beautiful!" I exclaimed, touching nsow covered stone walls. "Sparkling like one giant crystal."
"I do love the way it looks." Jareth said. "There's only one problem."
"What's that?" I asked, right before tripping over a snow covered branch and falling down.
"That." I heard Jareth say as he laughed. I got up, brushing myself off.
"It's all good." I said, laughing. I couldn't help it, it was funny.
"Come on, there's a certain spot I particulary like during the winter." He said, grabbing my wrist. I shovered in the cold and followed Jareth's footsteps. We came to a pat that reminded me of a park, that had a fountain, which water had froze as it came out, the plants were all frozen and crystallized with snow, blanketed in white. Jareth led me over to a bench and sat down next to me.
"Wow," I said, watching my breathe come out of my mouth like smoke, "It's just so amazing." I shivered a lot more and I felt my teeth start chattering.
"Cold?" Jareth asked.
"A t-tad." I said, chattering. Jareth just chuckled and took one arm out of his jacket, wrapping his arm and that side of the jacket around my shoulders.
"Better?" He asked. I nodded, shivering still.
"A-anyways I think I-it's safe t-to say that w-winter is still j-just as b-beautiful." I chattered, giggling at the fact that I stuttered so much. Jareth moved me closer and smirked.
"Oh you think so hm?" He said. I nodded. I watched as some strange creature rolled through the snow and disappeared under it. I looked around us for a second, watching the snow fall.
"You know," I said breaking the silence, " I've always wondered what winter was like somewhere other than….you know."
"Well wonder no more." Jareth said, "besides, you've been here, ten days, and frankly you've been inside mostly. I decided it was time you got out. And hopefully this time you wouldn't get yourself in trouble."
"Get myself in trouble?" I asked shocked. "W-what do you m-mean?"
"Well let's see, first the attack, then the poison, oh let's not forget the whole-"
"I get it." I said, coughing. "I'm…blonde."
"I find that insulting." Jareth said, gesturing to his hair.
"Not the color blond. The way of acting blonde." I said, laughing.
"Well in that case your as blonde as can be." He said before turning away to look at something. I picked up a chunk of snow and rolled it up into a snowball. I quietly got up and moved back a bit. It hit him full force as I threw it. Shocked, He turned around to me laughing.
"Sweet revenge." I said, laughing. When I felt something hit my face I staggered a couple steps, in shock myself. Jareth laughed.
"Correction," He said, "Bittersweet revenge." I grabbed another snowball, and threw it. I ran the corner laughing. I knew he'd find me, but decided to get a head start running anyways. Listening for muffled footsteps, I sat behind a bush. I grabbed a couple snowballs and readied myself. When I saw Jareth's boots through the green and white bush, I jumped out.
"AMBUUUSH!" I cried, but stopped short. No one was there. I sighed. "False Alarm." I said, turning back. Jareth was standing a few feet away, with at least ten floating snowballs around him. He grinned and raised one brow.
"Ambush." He said, as he snapped. They all flew at me, hitting me one by one. I fell back into the snow, laughing.
"Okay! Alright!" I said, as they kept coming. Jareth walked over to where I lay, and stood over me.
"I think it's obvious who won." He said, holding out a hand. I reached up for it, pulling him down into the snow.
"Me." I said, triumphantly. Jareth pushed me back down into the snow, holding me down.
"No." He said, smirking. "I win, Dear."
"Your getting snow all over your leather jacket." I said, trying to move my arm. He laughed.
"Nice try but I'm not falling for that."
"No seriously," I said, "It's all over it." He looked down and started to brush if off. I got up, pinning him down.
"I win, Dear." I said, mocking him. He just made a sarcastic smile and pushed me back over. We both stood up brushing ourselves off. I looked over at Jareth. He seemed particularly annoyed at the snow that stuck to his jacket. I giggled at the sight.
"What?" He asked. "What amuses you so?"
"It's snow," I said, "It will melt off. I know it will."
"I know but I'd like to look good when I get back to the castle." He said, brushing off more.
"You look fine." I said, grabbing his arm. "Let's go back. I can't feel my nose."
"Well it's almost….Eleven now." Jareth said, guessing. "I guess we should." I grabbed his arm and sort of skipped as we went back through the Labyrinth.
" Well go get your shovel and we'll dick a deep hole, to bury the castle. Bury the caaasttllee!" I sang as I half skipped half jumped.
"Well your in a good mood today." Jareth said, chuckling at my constant tripping. "Why so?"
"hmm." I said thinking, "Maybe it's the cold. Maybe I had cabin fever. Maybe it's cause I had two cups of OJ and a cup of coffee. Maybe it's the coffee. People aboveground would never let me have coffee but I never understood why. I guess it's a coffee shortage issue or something."
"Never again." He said, shaking his head. As we got inside, I removed my jacket and gloves, handing them to a nearby goblin. Jareth did the same. I then removed my hat, and watched as all my hair stood up in a static. I groaned and tried to pat it down. That only made it worse.
"Damn." I said, trying to fix it.
"That looks precious." Jareth said, grinning.
"Hardy har har." I said sarcastically, holding my hair down. I struggled to make it stay.
"Dear," Jareth said, moving my hands, "Let me help." He quickly waved a hand over my hair and it instantly turned normal again.
"Thank you." I said smiling.
"No problem, Love." He said, kissing my forehead and pulling me to the throne room.
"Off we go." I said as we walked there.
Thanks to readers and everyone who has critiqued, faved, alerted etc. You are the awesome people ;)
I dont own Labyrinth or Jareth D:
I own Mahself and...i GUESS the snow?