FireShifter: thank you and don't worry, this story is already finished I'm just updating a bit at a time or changing it to how I see fit so you'll see daily updates or so!
Little China Girl/Bowieology: thank you so much for reading my stories and enjoying them! I look forward to more of your reviews and anything specific that you like. Lots of love!
MiNamPigRabbit: thanks and I'm glad your loving the story! I look forward to also showing how Jareth can be a jerk and so will sarah. Neither are perfect and while they're both good people, don't we all have our own issues? That's what I'll be getting at in the next few chapters or so. Maybe not as much "jerk" but more "idiotic" and Sarah will be kind of unfair and bratty too. You'll see both their reasonings for it. It never excuses meanness but I find that because we all snap and make mistakes, while we don't excuse behaviors, we should always seek to understand. Can't wait to see what you think of those later chapters! Hang on tight!
Telcontarian: ah thank you! Well people in Jareth's kingdom all know who he is, and nobles from other kingdoms but not commoners. Like, imagine if say, a Japanese prince or princess is in America. I don't know about you but I'm not Japanese and even with the internet I wouldn't recognize them but I bet you Japanese people would recognize them instantly. It's like that with Jareth and Sarah, and I'm glad you find it refreshing! I wanted to show what a normal friendship/relationship would look like if it unfolded between them. As in the last chapter, Jareth presented himself to Robert just as he was. He was able to see how people thought of him just by being himself but without a title born to him.
I hope you all will enjoy this chapter! Leave another review!
For weeks then months after, she and Jareth got to know each other more every single time. Sometimes they'd talk ideas. Sometimes they'd talk books.
Sometimes, he wasn't there. He told her that it was because he was a castle worker and sometimes he had to leave on the weekends. Once, he even unexpectedly went away, giving her the excuse that it was his magic that called to him for his presence. Jareth wished he could tell her it was because another child was wished away but he couldn't. He didn't want to scare her away or to risk his own job.
Their birthdays came and went. Sarah baked him a chocolate cake for his birthday and he gave her a journal for her 16th birthday, the age of adulthood in his kingdom. Sarah thanked him and promised to write in it. He learned more about her family, she learned more about his. Robert met Jareth a few more times and so did Toby. Jareth had yet to meet the stepmother and stepsisters. He was eager to, just to size them up but Sarah was adamant for them not to meet him. He was too special for that.
He read her book of poems (that she had now given to him) and found something odd. There was a small section about his kingdom. And a labyrinth. And a brave heroine.
Hmm.
He kicked a few goblins that were in his way and made to his tutor. He didn't need a tutor anymore, but as he was always curious and the Above changed so much, he needed someone to help him to understand what was happening.
He approached the gnome in his study. "Professor Dara."
"Your Majesty." The gnome was about half his height, much like a dwarf but smaller and much more intelligent than many dwarves. "You didn't tell me what is it that you'd like to be learning about today so I have come without anything ready."
"That's because this is a little more difficult than that." Jareth slung one leg over his arm chair to make himself comfortable.
Dara rolled his eyes at his pupil's manners, but at least Jareth was always learning and if he wasn't going to give him a hard time about that, he wouldn't worry too much.
"Oh?" Dara quirked an eyebrow. "What's happened now?"
Jareth had his riding crop and was hitting the side of the chair. "Tell me, have you heard of a little book called The Labyrinth? Some tale about a girl defeating the goblin king?"
Dara scratched his head. "The prophecy?"
Jareth's head snapped up. "Prophecy?"
"Well, that depends on whether you believe in them." Dara conjured a book to him. "It tells a tale of a goblin king destined to be defeated by a girl, a girl he falls in love with."
"What happens to the king after that?" Jareth was intrigued.
"We have no idea, probably just his heart being broken." Dara said. "Why the curiosity?"
"I'm a king, I hear lots of stories of my kingdom and it's rare there's one I haven't heard before. Especially if it's published in book form." Jareth said indifferently. "And I don't believe in prophecies."
"Well it would be difficult to imagine how the labyrinth would be defeated by a human girl." Dara chuckled. "It would mean that she defeated you of your own game."
"Indeed." Jareth agreed. On his 18th birthday, he proved his ability to control the labyrinth by running through it in 13 hours. A difficult task for anyone and only those in line to the throne had defeated the labyrinth. Anyone in the line of succession had to learn the labyrinth for it was the king's or queen's sacred duty to control it and to give the runners a chance to win their wished away back.
Even though no one ever won.
The purpose of it was more so people would learn their lesson and change them to be better. Jareth had many forfeit and he scoffed at the idea that anyone could defeat it.
"Do you want to hear the tale of it, Sire?" Dara asked him.
Jareth shook his head. "No need. I was just curious as to why I haven't heard of it. When did this story start?"
"Oh many eons. It's almost a forgotten legend."
"I see." Jareth gave a nod. Maybe someone had written it down in book form. Maybe Sarah heard it by word of mouth. She had mentioned the book to him but he had yet to read it. He wasn't really curious anymore about it though. "That will be all on the subject. I do have a question about the ogres though..."
Sarah and a few of the workers were hammering up the side of Anastasia's room. An awful storm had hit and broke her window as well as made a hole in the wall. Lucky for everyone, Anastasia's room was the only room on that side of the house.
"What will I do now that my room is gone?" She wailed.
Sarah didn't really see the problem. Her belongings were all fine and she was safe. It was an inconvenience but nothing too bad.
Irene tried to console her stepdaughter. "We will get your room fixed in no time. What would you like done?"
Anastasia sniffed. "I want Sarah's room."
Sarah was taken aback. "Why not share with Drizella instead of me?"
Anastasia scoffed. "I don't mean share with you. I WANT your room as mine."
Sarah pursed her lips tightly. The room she stayed in was her mother's old room. Normally, Linda had slept with Robert of course in the master bedroom but as she got sick, she needed a room downstairs. Robert and Sarah would take turns sleeping with her to keep her company. That room now was her sacred sanctuary with her mother's photos and little knitting's she made over the years.
Irene knew of this too. Which was why her next words angered Sarah to no end.
"What a wonderful idea! Sarah, you wouldn't mind giving up your room, would you?" Irene had another fake smile plastered on her face.
Sarah folded her arms. "Drizella and Anastasia have the biggest rooms in the house. Drizella's room is twice the size of mine, why can't Anastasia stay with her?"
"Oh Sarah. She's the daughter of a countess! I'd give up my room, but you know I share it with your father." Irene's eyes betrayed the anger she felt inside, her body language like a snake, full of emotional manipulation.
Sarah narrowed her eyes, trying to not scream. "Then where would I stay? With Drizella?"
"No way!" Drizella yelled. "I will NOT share with Sarah! Just because Anastasia is older doesn't mean she gets to have a room to herself!"
"Shut up." Anastasia whirled on her sister. "You can have the bigger room. I'll have Sarah's room as its on the side facing the flower garden."
"Hush, my girls." Irene commanded them. She put a finger to her lips and thought of the answer. "Ah! I know. Sarah, you can stay in the attic!"
"Excuse me?" Sarah raised an eyebrow. Irene couldn't be serious, could she?
"Just temporarily." Irene said. "You can have your room back once Anastasia's is fixed." She leaned into Sarah's ear while her daughter's were still fighting. "Please, you know how they get when they don't get their way."
Sarah was tempted to argue back, but one look at the clock and she sighed. She didn't want to be late to see Jareth today.
And it was only temporary, she'd get her room back later.
"Alright." She conceded. "Give me an hour to move my things out before I go to the market."
"Wonderful." Irene praised her. "Such a good girl you are."
Sarah snorted when she wasn't looking. Too bad her father was on another trip again. She couldn't wait for him to come back.
Jareth paced back and forth. Where was she? She wasn't always this late?
"I'm sorry I'm late!"
Jareth turned to see Sarah and smiled brightly. She looked a little haggard, her hair a complete mess and some soot at the hem of her dress. And still, he thought her so beautiful.
"I thought I'd have to find a search party for you!" He teased her.
"With magic it should be easy, no?" She teased him back.
"Well yes, but it would be kind of a violation. For me to go spying on someone would be quite rude and my magic has laws to keep them bound depending on the kingdom I'm in." He explained to her.
"So many rules for magic. Sometimes I wish I could do magic." She said.
Jareth offered his arm to her and she took it, something that was common for them now. They decided to walk around the rose garden. "Be careful what you wish for Sarah. Words can be binding. Especially wishes."
"Can't the king grant wishes? Like a genie?" Sarah asked him.
"You're so interested about the king." Jareth told her. He wondered how she'd react if he told her the truth of the king.
"Answer the question." She poked his nose playfully.
"Not all wishes, it depends on the context and usually it involves a wished-away. The real details are quite muddy and I bet only a few know so the could protect the king himself." Jareth said.
Sarah nodded. Jareth couldn't tell her everything about his line of work, just bits and pieces. She came to accept that. He did work for the king after all.
"What's he like?" Sarah asked. "The king I mean."
Jareth leaned into her and gave a toothy grin. "If I told you, I'd have to kill you."
"Be serious now." Sarah rolled her eyes.
"He eats children and pretty girls like you." Jareth licked his lips and made a slurping noise.
"Why can't you answer a simple question?" Sarah took her arm away from his and shoved him.
"Why are you so interested in the king?"
"Are you jealous, Jareth?" Sarah made a pouty face. "Afraid he'd sweep me off my feet and I can't be friends with you anymore?"
Jareth frowned. Though she had no idea she was talking about him, he didn't like the idea of another man coming in to sweep her off her feet. Even if they were just friends, he wanted her smile for him. He wanted her blushed face for be for him and him alone.
Sarah's mouth opened wide and she laughed. "You are! You're jealous!"
"I am not!" He pouted. "Why would I be jealous of some girl being swept off her feet?"
"But I'm not some girl. I'm Sarah, your best friend. And you're afraid you won't be the center of attention anymore." She skipped around him and threw some flowers in his hair.
Jareth blew some glitter at her but Sarah backed away. "No way! I'm so sick of finding glitter all over me!" She took off running.
But she was no match for Jareth. Even without using magic, his long legs gave him an edge and he easily caught up with her, wrapping his arms around her waist and both falling down the hill.
"Ah!" Sarah tumbled, holding onto Jareth for dear life.
When they reached the bottom, Jareth pinned her by the shoulders. "Gotcha!"
She stuck her tongue out at him. "You're awful."
"You used the fact that I told you you're my best friend against me. That's terrible, Precious." He let go of her and allowed her to sit up.
When Sarah least expected it, he blew glitter over her, grinning like a fool.
"I hate you!" She play punched him.
"So violent. Are you always this violent?" Jareth gave her a pitying look.
"Only with you. You infuriate me more than anyone in the world." Sarah put her hands on her hips and then tried to straighten her hair.
"Here, let me help you." Jareth offered.
"Oh no glitter boy. I'm not falling for that." Sarah evaded his touch.
Jareth grabbed her arm. "Glitter boy? Need I remind you that I'm a man?" He winked at her.
Sarah stayed still, letting him comb his hands through her hair, using his magic to straighten it out. Unknown to her, Jareth kept on weaving his fingers through her silky tresses even when they were straight. He liked the feeling of her hair on his fingers. And honestly? So did Sarah. So much so that she almost closed her eyes in relaxation.
"Reminder? Your pants are a reminder enough." She mumbled. When she realized she said the words out loud, she covered her mouth in horror.
Jareth threw his head back and laughed. "You seem to like my pants quite a bit."
"Shut up." Sarah glared at him. She swatted his hands away. "Are you done touching me?"
"Now is that any way to thank me for fixing your hair?" Jareth smirked. "Why were you in such disarray when you came to the market today?"
"First off, you don't tell a girl that she's in such a disarray when you want her attention." Sarah folded her arms at him in annoyance but her eyes betrayed her amusement.
"Haven't I told you that you're different from any other person I've met, male or female? Or really of any other species?" He scoffed. "I think I can and have been more blunt to you than I usually am."
Sarah rolled her eyes. "To answer your question, I was moving to the attic."
Jareth gawked at her. "What?"
"The storm, it ruined a side of the house. And then Anastasia's room was ruined. She's saying in my room instead of sharing with Drizella. It's only temporary."
"That doesn't seem right." Jareth frowned even more. "Didn't you tell me you had the smaller room?"
Sarah shrugged. "Sometimes you have to pick your battles. I didn't feel like arguing. And besides, the attic is away from all the bickering."
Jareth still didn't like that. "And your father?"
"He's gone on a trip for now, it'll be a long time before he's back." Sarah sighed. "Irene said something about the fact that her daughters are of noble birth."
"I see. So she's an elitist who thinks she's better than everyone else." Jareth said.
"Maybe one day I'll get so sick of it that I'll fight. For now, I wasn't really ready to." Sarah said. "No one was on my side. The workers are but they listen to Irene as she's the head of the house."
"No one?" Jareth held her by her upper arms. "Don't ever say that. I'm always on your side. If you let me-"
"You're not some knight in shining armor or a Prince Charming, Jareth." Sarah touched his cheek. "You're so kind but what can you do?"
Never before did Jareth want to tell her that he was a king and not a "Prince Charming". It would cost him, but he would make them stop treating her badly.
"They're just mean. It isn't that bad." Sarah said, though her body betrayed her. "You don't have to be the hero. I can take care of myself."
Jareth leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "I'm aware, Precious. You are a heroine indeed. But that doesn't mean you can't accept help."
"I know." Sarah smiled. "But again, what will you do? Barge in and demand that they stop? Use magic?"
"Can't you move out somewhere?" He pleaded. "You keep serving and serving your family."
"I have a happy life." She said truthfully. "It can be trying but that's life for everyone. I'm so fortunate to have so many blessings. Friends, a loving father and brother, once a lovely mother, and you." She took one of his hands. "I'd like to be independent. Maybe work in a library. Become a scholar then professor. Who knows? I am immortal. But for now, I'll stay to be with my family. I have no inheritance yet and will care for Toby."
"You are incredible." He smiled.
"I wish." Sarah said. "I try to be. I feel resentful of my family at times, even with Toby. But I try to do the right thing. Even when the world doesn't. Even when my stepmother and stepsisters don't."
Jareth let go of her hands and wrapped her in a tight embrace. "Oh Sarah. You really are a Precious thing."
So in this chapter, there's some skipping as they've been friends for a long while now and feel very comfortable together. We see a bit of foreshadowing too.
We also see Sarah's stepfamily be a jerk to her, the attic scene is based off the 2015 Cinderella movie. I haven't seen the movie in a while but I thought that scene was genius because it shows how people are slowly manipulated into catering for others and can be guilt tripped so I just used that scene instead of making a new one. I feel like Cinderella gets a lot of blame ("why didn't she just leave?") and while it's true she could've done more, it's a story of resilience and also of victim blaming. We have people all over, men and women and everyone in between stuck on abusive cycles who feel they cannot speak up or escape for whatever reason.
However, I want Sarah to be true to her character as well. We will see how she evolves, how and why she deals with all this crap thrown at her.
A bit of a spoiler, but this will be a last happy chapter for a while. Every story needs some kind of conflict or problem and this chapter sets that up. So enjoy these chapters of Sarah/Jareth cuteness because it's about to get crazy!
It will end happy and there will be more cute scenes I promise. But that's just a warning for you all.
As always, please leave a review! Thank you for those who have already and I look forward to keep hearing your thoughts!
