The oubliettes were never meant to be punishment, despite what the Goblin
King said to unruly runners. They were a place to regroup, think about
choices, and decide on the best course of action. They were a place to
remember what was best forgotten, but also a place to live through what
must be remembered to heal from one's private hell. Sarah had been placed
in one of Jareth's personal oubilette's for his own amusement but still –
it had served a purpose.

The Brocade Oubilette was more plush, with tapestries on the wall depicting
famed Labyrinth battles and coronations. Penelope gazed at one in
particular, the one where her parents were crowned sovereigns of what was
now the Troll Kingdoms. When they had ruled, it had simply been called the
Safe Lands, where cast off magical beings could find a home, away from dark
dreams and cruel humans who hunted them There had been stories told each
night by a huge bonfire, games played and dances held. It had been a
wonderful place then, she thought sadly.

She looked around her new prison. The room was decorated in blues and
purples, rich velvet covered chairs by a roaring fireplace. She wondered
briefly how that was possible in an oubilette, then shrugged. There was
much she didn't understand, maybe Famish had been right calling her stupid
all these years.

She turned at the sound of wings gently flapping and suddenly, Rinna was
there. The Guardian walked up to the younger woman and bowed, slightly
embarassed. Penelope didn't understand, the Guardian was never one to
apologize and she'd already done so today. Rinna cleared her throat, oddly
nervous.

"Child, I understand how you might feel betrayed by all of us and words
cannot undo a lifetime of neglect. I promised your parents I would look out
for you and in my haste to contain Famish, I trapped you in his world. I am
incredibly sorry and you have every reason to hate me. I only hope we can
work together to heal you now."

"I - I know not what to say, Guardian - I feel much confusion, like I was
someone else for the longest time. Words I would never say came from my
lips, things I would never think to do..." her voice trailed off as she
remembered Famish touching her after Jareth had rejected the betrothal. Her
face showed pain and shame.

"It was part of the enchantment. I knew of it, but due to our treaty with
your uncle - I could not interfere. I had to wait until the right
opportunity presented itself and Famish gave us that with that cursed bag
he gave you. Child - where is that bag?"

"I'm not sure - it didn't come back here with me," Penelope said slowly.
"I'm sorry, I had no time to grab it."

"No worries, dear - I'll have the fairies search for it," Rinna decided,
mentally sending a message to Clarice. "And now, we must start your healing
- if you are ready?"

"What do I have to do? Will it hurt?" Penelope asked, thinking that she
deserved pain for all she'd done. Rinna smiled gently guiding her to one of
the chairs near the fireplace. Penelope sat, her gaze haunted, as if
someone was calling to her through a thick haze. Her uncle was still trying
to reach her even now. Maybe he should take her back, she'd only bring
danger to everyone here if she stayed. Rinna sat in the chair opposite her
and took her hand, startling her out of her thoughts.

"Truth sometimes does hurt in the telling, but it is needed to move forward
and reclaim your future. Just sit back on this chair and relax. I'll talk
you through everything."

"All right," Penelope nodded. "I'm ready."

*JSJSJS*

The fairies were all excitedly talking and planning for a possible
confrontation with Famish. Clarice gathered her three best soldiers into a
secluded area to discuss strategy. They still technically did not have a
queen until the last two challenges were met, and Famish was counting on
Sarah failing somehow. Clarice would fight to her dying breath to make
certain Sarah did not fail. She had a fire inside of her and she had flown.
None had ever seen a human born Fae fly as a bird since Rinna had done so
centuries ago. It had made Clarice lose her breath watching the Labyrinth
Guardian arrive as her king's bride. Even now it made her fill with unnamed
emotion.

Trinka, a violet eyed, black haired water fairy, held up the corner of
Penelope's bag. "This is really heavy, can someone help me?"

Vellum, a blue haired fairy, smiled and helped her drag the bag over to
Clarice. "What is this thing anyway?" Her pale grey eyes stared at it
dubiously. "It had a harness in it, maybe that's all it is." She was a
fairy of light and music, and could use both as weapons. She went to grab
it, shining a bright light towards the opening. Her sister Mirium held her
breath, watching.

Clarice shook her head. "No, don't touch it; it's a dark bag, they haven't
been allowed in our realm since before Rinna came to us. It starts out
empty then fills with whatever its owner needs. But there is a price - it
takes away a bit of your sanity each time. If Penelope would have kept
using it, she would have been reduced to a blithering idiot within hours.
Wait a minute," she closed her eyes. "The Lady wants me to bring it to her."

Reaching for the bag, she was surprised to hear it growl at her. "It
growls?" The bag opened to show a large rat, yellow teeth gleaming as it
ran out to attack. The fairies screamed, each getting into defensive
stances.

"To the air," Clarice yelled, kicking the rodent in the face. It jumped up
to bite her leg and Mirium, a red haired rock fairy called a heavy stone to
her, whipping it at the beast's head. It turned to bite her while Vellum
conjured a burst of light to blind it as it hissed its anger. Vellum sang a
clear, pure note that shattered the rock over the rat's head, causing it to
roar in anger.

"Enough of this," Clarice spat, closing her eyes and sending a burst of
energy towards the rat. With a huge effort, she sent it to the Bog of
Eternal Stench. Settling to the ground, she glared at the dark bag in fury.
It had started to shimmer and hiss with a low, dangerous sound.

"Famish calls his bag back to him - it's evidence against him - we cannot
let him reclaim it!" Vellum cried, jumping into the bag.

"Vellum, what are you *doing*?" Mirium yelled, jumping in after her sister.
Clarice looked quickly at Trinka who was watching the bag fade quickly from
view.

"We might as well go with them, get in," she said flying into the bag.
Trinka sighed and shook her head, following her friends into darkness.

*JSJSJS*

Sarah awoke to a gentle caress of feathers. Opening her eyes, she smiled at the baby owl nestled into her neck, sleeping soundly. As she smiled, the young owl opened her eyes and seemed to smile.

"Hello little one, you found me," Sarah said, reaching over to lift the bird into her palm. Jareth smiled in his sleep and she brushed hair off his face with her other hand. He reached for it and kissed it, still in slumber. She went to pull it away and he growled, pulling her body on top of his. The owl flew up into a branch and watched her queen and the Goblin King hold each other. Merliah was well pleased. They would have many strong children and Merliah would be able to teach them to fly someday.

"Thinking to escape me, woman?" Jareth purred, running his hands up and down her back. She pressed up against him, kissing him softly.

"Never, my king. However, I think you should know - we are being watched." At his look of surprise, she pointed above them. Jareth looked up and started laughing, causing the owl to fly down to perch on Sarah's shoulder.

"I knew an owl would choose you," he said, smiling as Merliah preened her feathers.

"Because you change into one?" Sarah asked, trying not to laugh. Merliah's soft feathers were tickling her throat as the bird preened.

"Owls are the familiars of the royal family. To be chosen by one is a sign that you are a true queen. Then changing into such a bird without training - you simply amaze me, my darling Sarah. I myself had to practice a bit before transforming to an owl."

"So already, I'm more awesome than the awesome Goblin King? Hmm, a girl could get to like those sort of odds."

Jareth looked down at her, mischief in his eyes and she swallowed. That look always seemed to mean some sort of retaliation. She couldn't wait.

He flipped her onto her back, causing Merliah to fly back to her branch in amusement. Jareth held her hands above her head and kissed her throat, worrying the pulse point with his teeth as she moaned beneath him. His leg roughly separated her thighs and he bit down on the tender flesh of her throat, causing her to arch into his mouth.

"Jareth, I need you," Sarah moaned causing him to grin. He nibbled her throat, worrying the pulse point before biting into her throat. She gasped in shock and closed her eyes as he sucked the reddened skin.

"Did you draw blood?" she asked, not really caring. He bit her shoulder.

"Do you wish me to do so?" he responded, his hand going between her thighs to stroke her gently.

"I wish you to do whatever you want to do with me," the words came out before she realized what she had done and his face took on a dark, evil happiness.

"Oh hell," she muttered, right before their clothes disappeared again.

JSJS

Rinna was speaking softly, Penelope had her eyes closed and was listening. The voice was soothing, gentle, like her mother's had been. Thinking of her mother, Penelope let tears fall and did not bother to wipe them away.

"My child," Rinna said, "to purge the poisons from your soul - we must go back to when the damage started. Are you strong enough to do that? We must go to when your parents died. I will be with you, but it will not be easy."

"All - all right," she whispered and she felt her body start to shiver. Rinna told her to keep her eyes closed and Penelope complied.

"You will open your eyes when I tell you - you will be back at the beginning," Rinna said, holding the woman's hands in her own. Penelope felt a tingle then her mind flowed backwards through the years, skimming over the pain, the hurts, the injustice. Every cruel word spoke by Famish and her two evil older brothers, every cruel word Penelope herself had been forced to speak by Famish's spells. All fell away in a blaze of white smoke.

"Open your eyes, child," Rinna said slowly. Penelope felt strange. She looked down at her hands and then up at the lady. She was seven years old and would not be scared. She was a princess. She held her head up high.

"Who are you?" Penelope asked, nervously.

"A friend of your mother's," Rinna answered.

"Mommy! I have to go see her," Penelope yelled. Rinna shook her head.

"No child - your mother is gone."

"No, you lie - I'm gonna go home right now," she yelled.

"Penelope," Rinna held out a hand but it was too late. The child was gone.

"Damn," the Lady muttered. "That did not go as planned."