Penelope ran upstairs to her room with the large black bag her uncle had thrown at her with a dismissive wave. Tearing it open, she was stunned to find only a single page of parchment tied with a red ribbon. Confused, she pulled it out, slipping the ribbon off quickly. There was a single sentence in flowing cursive writing.
As you need it, is shall be given.
More Troll magic, she mused. She never understood the magic that surrounded her family because she never had access to it. Every time she'd ever tried to do a spell before, a searing pain had consumed her - as if someone was trying to stop her from using power. But if her uncle was giving her this magic, he must trust her to use it wisely, wouldn't that be so? Her mother had wanted her to be a great sorceress, had taught her a few things before she'd died. But she'd never been able to work the spells after her parent's death. It was because she wasn't worthy, her uncle had told her. She was not someone to be trusted with such magic.
Her brothers had worked their magic in front of her, gloating about their abilities. They were older and joined her uncle's military. She'd been seven when her parents died, too young to be useful to her uncle's quest for more power, more gold. They'd laughed as she was made to scrub floors and wash linens to earn her keep. Long hours spent fetching wine at parties for drunken men. Longer hours working in the hot kitchen peeling onions and burning her young hands on iron pots as the cook laughed. She'd been nothing to Famish until she'd hit her teens, when she blossomed into a lovely young woman. "So like your mother," her uncle said, eyes glittering, and it made her uncomfortable when he'd look at her, plotting in his gaze.
She thought back on her few weeks being courted by Jareth. She'd been so young and stupid thinking love could be given freely and trusted blindly. Until the day Jareth had told her she was a pleasant enough diversion but she was free to take her charms elsewhere. Somehow she'd ended up at a party and had too much to drink. When she'd awakened, she'd found herself in bed with dwarves and a drunken centaur.
Jareth was standing at the foot of the bed, amused. "This is how I find my intended when I tell her to go away. Really, pet - this is beneath you. Or more to the point, that third dwarf seems to be beneath you - what exactly is he trying to do down there?"
"Jareth, I didn't expect to see you here," she sputtered, trying to make sense of things. Was she supposed to be shamed? Her father had had lovers, her uncle had told her so. Wasn't she supposed to enjoy herself as much as a man could? Wasn't she just as worthy to find pleasure? Nothing made sense. Jareth had just shaken his head and left her there to fend for herself, grabbing some lingering wood nymph as his plaything for the night.
"You can consider our courtship ended, pet. Women are such fickle creatures, never satisfied with what they have," he'd said as he walked out of her life, taking her shredded dignity with him. And when she'd told her uncle - well, things best not remembered had happened. Things that tore at her soul late at night even now, she realized.
At that moment, she knew how the world worked. Men held the power, men controlled the fates of others. Penelope knew that if she controlled a strong man, she would have power. And then no one could ever use her as entertainment again. Something snapped inside of her. Jareth had power, more than he'd ever need. And she wanted that power. She was tired of being told that she was meant to be an ornament for a man, that she had no other purpose than to compliment the men around her as if she had no thoughts of her own. She would have Jareth yet, she vowed. If it meant using every mean spirited, vindictive plot she could think up - she would have her king.
And then no one would be able to hurt her again.
JSJSJS
Sarah and Jareth weren't getting much sleep, and somewhere in her private sanctuary, Rinna laughed to herself. Trying to keep those two away from each other would be impossible. Rinna sent out the call to Clarice, captain of the Fairy Militia, and leader thus far of the Under Ground fairies. Moments later, the fairy flew into view, hovering at a respectful distance.
"You sent for me, my lady," the red haired fairy bowed in flight. Rinna nodded, sitting on her silver throne, watching birds fly overhead. She was silent for a long time, but Clarice did not speak. The lady would speak to her when ready. Finally, Rinna sighed and looked at her guest hovering nearby.
"I did. You will have a visitor when the sun returns. A very special visitor. You know I cannot tell you how to treat her, but I ask that you receive her with courtesy."
The tiny fairy regarded the lady warily. Rinna never asked favors, never requested loyalty - which is why the fairies respected her so much. Rinna could not command them, but she could destroy them on a whim. Centuries ago, she was a fearful warrior, protecting her realm, inviting all who were persecuted to come live within the Labyrinth. But soon the creatures seeking sanctuary there found that the lady loved every creature in her Labyrinth. And so they loved her as well.
"May I ask who this visitor will be, Lady?"
"Her name is Sarah and if all goes well, she shall be your queen."
"The legend has a name at last," Clarice mused, almost to herself. The fairies would have to test her harshly if she thought to be Queen of Wishes. It was their way. "What manner of fairy is she?"
Rinna smiled. "She is Fae now but was human born. She is the Champion of the Labyrinth returned to us. She has accepted the challenges for her throne. So, prepare your warriors, tell them to be ready. And Clarice - another will arrive to contest Sarah's place here. Do not tell the others of her as it will be part of the challenge Sarah must win. However it does not harm the future for you to be aware of the situation." She told the fairy all of what she had seen in her visions. Clarice gasped at some of it, laughed at most of it, and smiled sadly at the end.
"Thank you Lady for entrusting me with this knowledge. Both women are vital to our future in very different ways. Both shall be tested it seems."
"Yes, and both face great danger. One of them may not survive. So you see, I will need your help Clarice. And in return," she said. Clarice shook her head.
"In return all I ask is that you continue to trust me, my Lady - I can ask for no greater reward."
Rinna stood and bowed gracefully towards her closest friend. "As you wish, Clarice. But someday you may reconsider that outlook."
JSJSJS
"Tell me again why I have to get out of a nice warm bed as the sun isn't even in the sky?" Sarah groused. Jareth handed her a pair of riding boots and smiled as she tugged them on over her tight riding pants. With a fitted white blouse with ruffles on each cuff, she looked like an adorably cranky pirate.
"Fairies rise with the sun. Their queen must learn to do so as well." Sarah looked at him open mouthed. He could not be serious.
"Every day?"
"When necessary. Mostly though you would only do it in times of war. Or when autumn arrives and you have to go out to hand paint the forest in red and gold. Sometimes the fairies run out of those colors and the trees end up purple." Sarah stared at him, not certain whether to believe him until she saw the smirk cross his face.
"When I become queen, you are so being punished for that," Sarah threatened, laughing at his innocent expression.
"Why wait?" Jareth asked, pushing her back onto the bed, looking at her as if she was already naked. "I've been bad, punish me my queen. Make me beg."
Sarah laughed, pushing him off of her. He pouted until she leaned down and kissed him sweetly. Before he could deepen it, she was on her feet again, smoothing her hair.
"Fairy pep talk first, Goblin King begging second."
"Fine, but don't blame me when you're running from them with your hair on fire, and could have been on fire in a much better way."
She pulled him up and kissed him until they were both breathless.
"You're cute when you're pouting."
"Goblin Kings do not pout," he protested as she walked out of the room. Seeing that she did not stop, he ran to catch up with her.
JSJSJS
Rinna watched as Jareth and Sarah materialized into her sanctuary. Sarah bowed to Rinna and the older woman smiled.
"I felt magic coursing through our world last night. You two take instruction well." At Sarah's blush, the Lady Guardian laughed. "It is all right, none can stop blood lust and I'm certain my grandson is corrupting you."
"Why must I always be the villian?" Jareth asked, wounded. Both women gave him skewering glares and he smiled, proud of their reaction.
"Sarah, are you ready for your first challenge, dear?" Rinna asked. Sarah nodded.
"Yes, do I have to go alone?"
"Not at all, you must have a royal witness to your success or defeat. I'm sure my grandson would be more than happy to sponser you in this," she looked at Jareth who nodded wildly.
"Sarah against a raging band of sharp toothed fairies? Sounds thrilling, tell me, do they still like setting people on fire with their magic glare?" Sarah shuddered and Rinna shook her head at Jareth.
"Stop scaring the girl, and let us be on our way," she smiled.
"If I'm to be the villian, you will have to allow a bit of mayhem," Jareth said, grinning. Sarah sighed.
"Are you sure Jareth is my prize and not my punishment?" she asked. As Rinna laughed outright, Jareth put his arms around Sarah, kissing her with such passion that she had to hang onto him or fall to the ground. Staring down at her with lust clearly on his face he grinned again.
"Who says I cannot be both, Princess?"