Labyrinth: Herbs and Birds
Chapter 3
I sat there with a shocked look on my face, I glanced at the man and saw Gareth continue to glance out the window and Jareth had a concerned look on his face at his beloved.
"Sarah, you know I love you and support you Precious, but you are going to have to tell Tody someday."
I watched Sarah rest her head against his in such a loving gesture that made me get goose bumps, it was such a beautiful picture they naturally made. Darn I forgot my sketchbook!
Sarah spoke, "I know, I'm…just not ready to tell him the truth, I the horrible sister wished him away!"
My eyes widened as Jareth stroked her face with a gloved finger gently, "Precious, he was a two year old babe back then and even now he adores you as his loving sister. I'm sure he'll forgive you as I have."
I didn't know whether to be in awe of Sarah's fiancé for being comforting and mature, or sickly awkward over their display of affection I missed having in my past. So I chose to look away as they were obviously lost in their own little world. But I was very happy for Sarah, she's in love, she's respected by an honorable man, and in a way she was getting her fairy tale ending she always secretly wanted. It wasn't until both voices on the throne were lowered to whispers that I decided to sneak away to the other stone window on the other side of the room.
I always loved ancient stone castles, this window had a wide ledge so I was able to sit on the side of the edge and still be able to look out into the infamous Goblin City. The movement of the people below us indicated that this city held more creatures than just goblins. I enjoyed watching the citizens as they carried on their medieval lifestyles without a care in the world, it was fascinating that this realm was actually real instead of a storybook. I really began to regret not bringing my sketchpad with me! As I pondered my thoughts, I didn't notice Gareth sneak behind me again to look over my shoulder.
I turned around quickly when I felt his hot breath against my neck, my fist aiming for his face. He easily caught my small fist in his giant of a hand with a calm look on his face as if he were just catching one of his bubble crystals.
"How long were you standing there behind me? Quit freaking me out!"
He raised an elegantly glittered eyebrow at me as he stared me down, "Freaked you out? I recall you not being afraid to hit me in the nose forcefully…"
"Again, I apologize for that, but you can't just sneak up on girls like that and expect them to react to you warmly! I've been stalked before mister, and it has taught me to always be on my toes to defend myself and run away. Just give me a warning next time OK?"
His sharp eyes seemed to narrow as if I had said something that was offensive, I felt his grip on my fist soften as he used a gloved thumb to rub the back of my hand in a soothing motion.
"Where you hurt?"
My eyebrows raised, did he sound concerned? I felt my skin get that same electric sensation when he touched me before, I pulled back my hand.
"I don't break that easily your highness."
"Lady Alexandria, I'm not implying-"
I gently interuped him, "Just Alex please, we'll be family soon, remember?"
He bowed his head and gave a some-what gentle smile, "Of course, Alex, allow me to escort you to your room."
"My room? What are you saying?"
Gareth sighed and rubbed his forehead, "Lady- I mean, Alex, I've already explained this to you before and I thought that I made it clear, your cousin needs you to help her prepare for her marriage."
I took a deep calming breath to remind myself to remain calm, I can put up with people when they are annoying and infuriating but this man, this prince(or was it King or both?), this Fae, whatever he was, seemed to bring my old Irish temper (as my Dad called it growing up) back. I used to have a fiery temper in high school but only when I was extremely angry. I was forced by the school to take counseling on a weekly basis because they thought I had anger management issues, I don't have anger issues people! It's just another family trait I inherited! Sarah and I both have the long names and the freckles!
"Look, I understand that that Sarah needs help, and I do want to help her, it would be an Honor as family and her best friend to help her. I understand your brother has put you in his position and you are obviously devoted. But I can't just disappear from the real world, from my family and school life just for a few months-"
"Actually, time here is slower than above due to our 26 hour days, whereas yours are 24 hours. A weekend would feel longer than what is normal for you."
My eyes widened, this place is just like the book!
"Listen I love Sarah, but I thought I already explained it before! It took me years to get into that RN program, I'm talking about my future career here!"
"Your still young, Alex, you have all the time in the world-"
"No! it's not like that! If I drop out, I'll have to wait years before my name is drawn again from the raffle…"
"Pray tell, what is a raffle?"
I inwardly groaned, "A raffle is, well, Oh never mind! The point is I cannot live here! I am needed back home! I can't give up this opportunity, I'm almost done, and I've been in that program for already over half a year! I'll finally be finished with this challenge of sorts in 3-4 months (if I'm lucky to survive the semester). No offense to anyone, but I really NEED to get back and study!"
I hadn't realized it at the time but while I was babbling my case to Gareth, both of us had gotten caught in silent staring contest of glares. Then I heard, snickering? Both of us turned our heads towards the throne to see Sarah and Jareth holding each other and trying to submerge their amusement.
"What pray tell amuses you both?" Gareth answered calmly as his mismatched eyes continued to glare.
Sarah lost it first before her fiancé joined her in roaring laughter. If I didn't know any better I'd say they were close to falling off that throne if they were not holding onto each other.
Sarah tried to stop laughing but got the hiccups instead, "…was I (hic)…that…hee hee…(hic)…that bad! (Hic!)"
Jareth gave her an evil grin before pulling her into a scorching hot kiss to remove her hiccups. I tried to avert my eyes out of respect, but I began to feel warm inside just listening to those two make out like crazy.
Gareth rolled his eyes and cleared his throat loudly.
Jareth and Sarah separated, her hiccups gone, Jareth gave her a knowing smirk,
"You were a challenge to begin with Precious, but your constant defiance to me keeps me amused and on my toes. I love everything about you, even when we fight."
It looked like they were close to kissing again till Gareth interrupted them, "I don't see how petty squabbling is entertaining to you both."
"Oh come off it Gareth! You just reminded us how much Sarah and I would annoy each other when we first met! Only Sarah's eyes have green fire instead of blue."
Sarah blushed a deep shade of red and tried to hid her face in Jareth's poet's shirt,
"Jareth…"
Jareth chuckled is a strange deep tone before giving her a quick kiss on the top of her head,
"Sorry love, but I love that adorable blush of yours-"
Gareth cut him off, much to my comfort. I liked seeing Jareth and Sarah together as a cute couple, but the words and images kept bringing back too many past memories that made me feel sick inside.
"Could you people spare us your private conversations and help us resolve the issue at hand perhaps?"
Jareth gave a smirk to his brother from his throne and rubbed his chin with a gloved hand.
"What do you propose I do Gareth?"
"Isn't there a law or tradition that guides us to help Lady Alex decide which is more important?"
I felt myself fuming, "Excuse me? Wait just a darn minute! I've already made my decision, you can't just order my life around, and I'm from a different realm for crying out loud! You, you so-called Dream King do not have any say in what I do with my life!"
Gareth whirled around to narrow his eyes at me and growl, "Of all the spoiled and selfish-"
"Oh shut up Gareth before you say something you'll regret later!"
Jareth barked from his throne, and then raised an eyebrow at Sarah before quickly masking his features into a serious face.
"Believe me; I know when to avoid a woman's scorn. You ma need to remember that in the future with these Williams women. And to answer your question, there is an old tradition and law that both you and Lady Alex must fallow."
That brought both of our attentions back to the couple before us.
Jareth cleared his throat and flicked his wrist to create a crystal out of thin air, "Higgle, come to the throne room please and bring the book from my office desk, the one from the recent century."
He popped the crystal as if it were a normal bubble, and Sarah gave him a look.
"What concerns you my Precious?"
"Jareth, we've discussed this, will you please be nice to Hoggle?"
"He's my most trusted adviser and my head gardener Precious, I cannot help but have a little fun with him since he is so sensitive…"
"Jareth!"
Jareth chuckled and held Sarah tighly against him to prevent her from leaving his lap,
"Sarah, he's worked for my family for years and he was the most trusted until you happened along, now I only torture him to annoy him. It is more fair than the Bog of Eternal Stench don't you think?"
Before any of us could reply to that comment, an old, yet strange little dwarf entered the room carrying an old tom that looked bigger than him!
"Oh Hoggle!" Sarah tried to rise from Jareth's lap to go help her friend but Jareth held her secured.
"Jareth, we have talked about the cruelty-"
"And you love it Precious, Hogget, you can put it down now!"
The dwarf gently placed the heavy book on a nearby stone ledge then felt flat on his back breathing heavily.
Feeling concerned I rushed over to help him to his feet, "Sir, you alright?"
He gruffed at me in a similar way that my grandpa would when he would being stuborrn,
"Geez, I'll be fine Missy, that rat's just trying ta-"
His eyes widened in horror when he looked at me, "AHHH! Gets away! Gets away ya ruddy fairy!"
"Hoggle!" Sarah called from the throne where her beloved held her captive, "This is Alex! Remember her, my cousin?"
Jareth smiled at poor Hoggle's plight, and Gareth's shoulders began shaking as he tried to hid a smile, I glared at him as Hoggle picked himself up off the floor.
"She-she's not a fairy? She won't bite me?"
"You are close to being right Hoggle…she already has the height and temper of a fairy" Gareth chortled behind a gloved hand, I glared pitchforks at him.
Jareth summoned another crystal and suddenly the book was levitating off the ledge and in midair in an upright position ready to be used!
Sarah gently punched him in the shoulder, "why did you make Hoggle go through so much trouble if you could have done that sooner?"
Jareth chuckled and reached into his vest pocket to receive a pair of old fashioned spectacles to perch on his nose before opening the old worn book,
"Precious, you would never spoil my fun would you, besides I needed to call upon Hogshead anyways."
The dwarf huffed and stomped his small foot on the tile floor, "For the millionth time its Hoggle! Hoggle!"
Jareth ignored him and pulled Sarah further up his lap so she could read the text with him, he mumbled under his breath as he flipped through the pages for the proper subject. He pointed to the section he was looking for and showed Sarah, who after reading it looked at him with a shocked expression on her face.
"You wouldn't?" she whispered, as his face made a wicked grin in her direction.
"Why not Precious? It will help solve the dilemma with Alex, make things more flexible for the wedding, and relieve us of stressful tension before the events. Trust me Precious, I have a plan, it'll be a bit of lark really."
"But that is cruel!"
Jareth smiled and put a gloved finger to her lips, "Ssshhhh, surly even my queen wouldn't mind a few amusements that comes with wisdom?"
Gareth gave a low growl, "will you two sod all the mush and get the point!"
Jareth continued to stare at Sarah as if she were the only one in the room, "What do you say Precious? Both of us do have a wicked side."
Hoggle scratched his head under his cap, "I'ms confused, what's going on here?"
A smile started to form upon Sarah's face as the idea dawned upon her mind, "If this doesn't work my love, you owe me big time!"
Jareth chuckled, "don't I always." He kissed her cheek and then became serious again as Sarah relaxed against him to nuzzle her head into his neck.
"As king, and groom of this wedding party I have found a solution in the law from the 20th century, in 1925 written by our Uncle Charles and approved by the Fae High Council. You remember Uncle Charles, Gareth?"
Gareth shrugged his broad shoulders, "of course, we both trained under his military guard in our youth, what of this law?"
Jareth cleared his throat before looking back at the text to read, "If the families of both royals live in separate kingdoms at a great distance, members of the family are to accommodate to assist the family and friends of the wedding party while the ruling monarchs continue to work and prepare in their entitled positions. The Head Goomsman (that would be Best Man in your world Precious) is naturally head of the Groom's side of the family so it would be his responsibility to prepare the Bride's party to the preparations and new customs. And in return, the Head of the Bride's Maids (Maid of Honor)is to also assist the Groom's side of the family by assisting the Head Groomsman in preparations of the Bride and Groom before their appointed day and participate as witnesses in the ceremony and follow the traditions of the Fae royals. If the kingdoms are separated at a great distance, then the Head Groomsman must show his good faith and loyalty to the Groom by the services of a gentleman to the Bride's family, by traveling as the family ambassador-"
"Wait! Just wait a firery moment there Bother!" Gareth cut him off, "What are you saying?"
Jareth closed the book and removed his reading glasses, "It's not I who appointed this law Gareth, you thank dear uncle Charles for that."
I held up a hand, "Excuse me Your Majasty, but could you please explain how this law will adjust itself for our situation."
Jareth's eyes sparkled in merriment, "Quiet simple, you don't have to live here for 3 months during the wedding preparations, just visit on occation when you have time away from your studies-"
I breathed out a sigh of relief, but I was shocked by what he said next.
"-But, Gareth is going to have to visit you on a daily basis to give you proper instruction in our customs and plan out the events with you, you are going to have to help him adjust to visiting the Aboveground again, since he obviously hasn't been there for a while due to-"
"WHAT?" Both Gareth and I yelled in unison.
Jareth and Sarah both smiled warmly at us in our shock.
"You'll be seeing each other often every day, and you'll be working together for the wedding."
OMG I thought grimly, this was NOT how I wanted the winter semester to start!
(Please rate and review to let us know how you like this idea, and thoughts would be most appreciated)
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