Alice woke with a start.
She attempted to straighten herself out from the knot she'd wound herself in, to no avail. Her tired body refused to move without some complaint; fatigued from everything, the dancing at the beginning of the night, then the running, it seemed as though every part of her was simply frozen in place. The worst though, were her eyes. After peeling her face off of the wall she'd propped up against at the conclusion of her last encounter with the Goblin King, she'd tried to open her eyes, and found that task nearly as painful as moving. The tears had been soothing, calming her enough to finally slip into sleep, but they'd left her eyes swollen and heavy, rendering her sight temporarily useless. But this was the least of the things concerning her. The nightmare she had experienced was worse than the ones she'd had in the last few weeks, it was bad enough that she was here in this place, the thought of the dreams getting worse was something Alice wasn't sure she could handle.
Shuffling somewhere to her right drew Alice out of her disorganized thoughts.
"Oh dear, you're awake now, that's good." the voice was a familiar one. The woman from last night.
"I was a bit worried there for a moment, I was certain you'd be tired but I hadn't expected you to have slept this long." Alice heard Nanny sigh as she approached her. "Come now, let's get you cleaned up. Up you get."
"I can't..." Alice croaked after a moment, her throat scratchy from her "conversation" with the Goblin King. Nanny gave a simple snort of disapproval as she, for the second time since they'd met, scooped her arm around Alice and pulled her to her feet. It was a few short steps to a chair that Alice was certain had not been in the room before she'd fallen asleep, but the cushioned seat felt miraculous compared to the stone floor so she wasn't going to contest it. Alice listened as Nanny bustled around her, humming to herself; with no warning she felt something damp pressed into her hands.
"Put that over your eyes, it will help bring down the swelling." Nanny patted her lightly on the shoulder as she complied. Whatever the cloth was soaked with felt heavenly on her face, immediately taking the sting away. Nanny appeared again, patting the side of her thigh.
"Lift up your feet now." One by one, Nanny directed her feet into a basin filled with warm water.
"What's in this?" Alice croaked.
"Just a few medicinals mixed in with the water. They'll help heal up all of the marks left from cuts and scrapes on your feet. In a minute I'll mix you up some tea and honey, that'll clear up that squawk you've got there."
"Oh," Alice removed the cloth, getting the first clear look she had at Nanny since she'd woken up. "I don't think-"
"Put that back on your eyes. You don't need to take it off to talk."
"I was just saying," Alice began again, after replacing the cloth quickly. "I don't, I won't need any tea. I'll be fine."
"Nonsense. You'll drink it straight down, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. It'll also help get something on your stomach, especially after not having eaten for so long, it'll do you some good to start out with something light than trying to eat a whole meal."
"What do you mean, I ate last night." when she received no response, Alice ventured a peek from behind the cloth, to find a blurry room and no sign of Nanny anywhere. Then some of the blurs began moving in short bursts around the room. "What in the-"
"You'll be able to see better if you leave that on for a little longer." Alice jumped as Nanny's hand came down on her shoulder, her voice startling her from behind. Nanny laughed lightly to herself as Alice snapped the cloth back to her face. Patting the girl's shoulder again she made her way around the room.
"I'll have a bath drawn soon, which will help you with those aches. And some fruit is being brought up with your tea so you can have something simple to nibble on. Later on if you're feeling up to it I'll bring around a nice hearty soup. Alright, try looking around now."
Alice removed the cloth and after a few blinks the room came into focus, the strange blurs were actually creatures, moving about the room carrying things to and fro, wherever Nanny directed them.
"Goblins." Nanny heard Alice breath out, a slight hint of amusement in her voice. A few of them brought forward a small table and placed a platter laden with fruit, a teapot, cup, saucer, and a tiny vial of what Alice could only assume had medicine in it. The little goblins scurried out of the door that also seemed to be a new addition to the space, a tall figure stepping over them and into the room before the entrance melted away fading back into stone bricks.
"Here you go." Nanny replaced the cloth in Alice's hands with the tea cup, which she promptly placed back on the table as Nanny turned around to greet the person, who looked vaguely familiar. "Ah Derrick. I was just going to send someone to find you."
"Hello Nanny." The young man smiled as Nanny quickly spoke with him in a hushed tone. He was tall, brown hair pulled back from his face, collected smartly at the base of his neck. His green eyes smiled along with the rest of his face as he chuckled lightly at something Nanny had said. He seemed familiar, but Alice wasn't sure how. Turning, he caught her staring and graced her with a kind smile.
"Well I'm glad to see you've finally woken up, you had us a little worried there."
"I… I'm sorry do I know you?" his laugh filled the room as he made his way over to a seat that now appeared opposite of her.
"I suppose, no, formally we haven't met. I am the Lord of Rosebriar, cousin to the Goblin King, but you may simply call me Derrick." his smile was kind, and as he spoke small bits and pieces came back to her, of that one figure off to the side when she'd arrived.
"Lord Derrick?"
"Between you and me, Derrick is just fine. I see no reason for such extreme formalities at the moment."
"Okay." Alice nodded. A lord? And cousin to the Goblin King as well? "If you don't mind me asking, why are you here?"
"I've been checking in on you from time to time. As I said we were a little concerned when you didn't wake up again at first." he gently pushed her cup towards her as Nanny made him his own.
"What do you mean, didn't wake up at first?" she asked, pushing the cup away yet again.
"Well," he began, sitting his cup and saucer down, but Nanny silenced him with a gesture of her hand, before turning her keen eyes on the girl.
"Alice, how long do you think you've been asleep for?"
What kind of question was that? "One night? I fell asleep after Captain Tight Pants dumped me in here!"
Derrick stifled his laughter at this new nickname for his cousin, picking up his cup once again and looking away when Nanny shot him a look that showed her disapproval. Noting their behavior Alice suddenly became weary of their questions.
"... Why?"
"Child," she began again turning her attention back to Alice. "You've been asleep for a little over a month."
A month…
"Tell me, when you were in the Above, did anyone tell you any of the old stories, the old fables about our kind?"
A month? Alice nodded absentmindedly.
"Is that why you're refusing to eat? I'll tell you this now dear, your body has already in its own way become accustomed to the magic in this place; it doesn't matter now if you eat the food given to you or not, you are bound to this world, you cannot leave it."
A MONTH!? When had her hands begun shaking like that? The tremors spread to the rest of her body as her brain tried to grasp what she'd just been told. A month, a whole month, no more than that, "... a little over a month. …" that's what she had said. Over a month, "... accustomed to the magic… … you cannot leave…."; she couldn't believe it, she didn't want to. Her breath was coming in short gasps as the shaking worsened.
"Alice are you listening to me?" Nanny's voice came from somewhere… where was it? From her right? Her head turned slowly as her eyes tried to focus on the woman now kneeling in beside of her attempting to regain her full attention. "Alice, I need you to calm down and just-"
"...Calm down?" her grey eyes came into piercing focus as they gazed down into Nanny's. "Calm down, you want me to calm down!? I wake up, you tell me I've been asleep for a month! And you expect me to calm down! Then you tell me, I can't leave! And you still expect me to 'calm down'! I don't want to 'calm down'! I want to go home!"
She wasn't sure when she'd gotten to her feet, when the chair had been knocked over, but now she backed away from the two of them, needing space… space to… to what? To think? To breath? No, no just space.
Derrick had expected a reaction, maybe not one as explosive as this, but he wasn't surprised to see her panic and move away. His thoughts went back to the day he'd caught Jareth behind her house, wondering if maybe he'd just let him trick her, convince her to come on her own would it have been better for her. He dismissed this doubt, he knew he'd been right to stop him, that he knew for certain, it just seemed so unfortunate now that after that it would lead to nothing because, as it would seem, fate had something else in mind.
Nanny stood, not moving any closer to Alice than she already was, dusting off her skirt she found herself thinking back to all of the messes Jareth had gotten himself into when he was younger, how she would often find Derrick and himself neck deep in some sort of mischief. It would seem that these old habits would die hard, as she thought of what to say to the panicking girl to her left, there would be no easy fix for this one.
"Alice. Alice look at me." the girl's gazed turned back towards Nanny. "Tell me has anyone here that you've met harmed you? In any way?"
"What does-"
"Has anyone harmed you?"
"No…" Alice grumbled, other than Jareth grabbing her arm she could think of nothing that hadn't been self inflicted, like the fall from the window or the unexpected tumble down the hill.
"Have I or Derrick harmed you?"
"No." she stated her sour expression not leaving her face.
"I understand you're upset, and you don't wish to be here. I'm not sure of any, who in your situation, would be standing where you are, happy. But as you've confirmed yourself, no one here, in this room, or for that matter within this castle means you any harm. That being said, however, there are those out there who could and would harm you if given the chance, if you choose to trust no one else while you're here, at least learn to trust us."
"Why-"
"Alice it can be very dangerous here-"
"No I know that." Alice interrupted Nanny. "Why would anyone want to hurt me? I haven't done anything to anyone. I didn't even believe this place existed a few hours … back then, that night..." her voice trailed as her shoulders sagged.
"Things are different here in the Underground than they were in the Above, and, I'd be more than willing to tell you more and teach you, but first you have to be willing to trust me." with that Nanny righted the fallen chair, waiting for Alice to come back and take her seat. After a moment longer of hesitation, Alice slowly made her way back to the chair, sitting silently, staring at her hands in her lap.
"... A whole month?"
"I'm afraid so." Derrick spoke up now as Nanny busied herself around the small space once again.
"How? How could I have slept for that long?"
"It would seem that after your ordeal, your run through the Labyrinth and so on, your body was simply exhausted. The Labyrinth itself probably sensed this, and deepened your sleep as a result, until your body was restored. However that is mostly speculative on my part I'm afraid." Derrick plucked an apple from the tray, Alice watched as he summoned a small knife out of thin air, and began to cut wedges out of the apple, the first one he handed to her.
"Why is that?" she stared at the offered slice her brain seemingly unsure of how to process moving to take it.
"Well my cousin would be the one to know, he being the one with the actual bond to it, as he is Goblin King, so he would know more of it's intents. Alice, take it, it's not going to bite." her eyes moved back to his face, where a kind smile greeted her, before looking back at the apple piece, finally taking it and biting off a small piece. His smile grew wider, as he cut himself a wedge and promptly devoured it in two bites.
"You talk about it, the Labyrinth, like it's alive." she glanced back at him as he placed another apple wedge in her extended hand.
"Well," he chuckled. "I suppose that's because-"
"It is." the bits of apple in her mouth seemed to go dry as she looked up to find Jareth standing with his back against a door that was once again fading away.
When did he get here? I didn't even hear him come in.
Speak of the devil. Derrick thought as he sliced off another portion of apple for himself.
"What are you doing here?"
"This is my castle, I may go wherever I please, little girl." Jareth grinned making his way over to where his cousin and his Alice sat in the center of the room.
"'Little girl'?" she hissed, glaring up at him. She wasn't happy to see him, that much was obvious, after their last go round she was hoping to not have to deal with him for quite some time.
"I'm not a 'little girl', my name is Alice."
"Oh I know your name, rest assured I haven't forgotten. However with all your tantrums 'little girl' seems to fit just fine."
"What do you want?" she shot back, standing now, rounding the table to stand toe to toe with him.
"For you to remember our last discussion about your tone when addressing me." he stated blandly staring down at her, one eyebrow raised and that ever present smirk playing on his lips. "Also, if you must know, I was coming to see how you were fairing, though it would seem my cousin has beat me to it."
"And I will leave you to it." Derrick added as he stood having finished the remainder of the apple whilst watching their banter.
"Oh?" Jareth turned as he watched his cousin ready to take his leave. "And where are you off to in such a rush?"
"I have some matters I must attend to, I have a meeting with one of the Clan diplomats this afternoon at Rosebriar, and I have a few more things to arrange before they arrive. So I'll be off now." Turning to Alice, he took her hand and placed a light kiss on the top, smiling as he did so.
"I hope to continue our conversation some other time Alice."
"Oh." Alice stood rather stunned, Jareth watched as the faintest dusting of red came to her cheeks as she looked from her hand to his cousin before she muttered. "Uh, sure Derrick."
"'Derrick'?" Jareth's eyebrow shot up again as he turned to his cousin, questioning the lack of titles in their parting.
"Yes cousin, 'Derrick'." he stated flatly. "Question though before I do go cousin, you have seen about your other guest as well, right?"
"I don't see how it's any of your concern, cousin." Jareth shot back. "But if you must know, yes, everything has been taken care of."
"What other guest?" Alice jumped in not for a second missing a beat.
"This matter doesn't concern you." Jareth turned his attention back to her now. Peaking around him, she watched as Derrick stood before the wall as it shifted once more into a door before stepping through, the door disappearing once again once it was shut.
"Why does it keep doing that?" unaware she had voiced her musings aloud she was caught off guard by Jareth's response.
"To make sure you stay put. Seeing as how last time, you took advantage of my generosity and ran off."
"'Generosity'!?" her full attention back now. "You, you kidnapped me! You call that being generous!?"
"I didn't kidnap you. You were wished away." he hissed through clenched teeth his temper rising. "And the sooner you come to terms with that the better it will be for everyone involved."
"I-" Alice stalled when she heard Nanny clear her throat, glancing over the woman gave her a meaningful look coupled with a faint shake of her head; remembering Nanny's words from just a brief moment before Alice chewed her lip for a moment before turning away from Jareth, making her way back to her chair, letting herself fall into it's cushiony surface with a small grunt of annoyance.
Jareth watched as she walked away from him, he opened his mouth to comment on the proper manners when in the presence of a king, but the sharp look and slight shake of the head he received from Nanny stilled any snide remark he had. Instead he chose to take what had been Derrick's seat across from her, choosing to conjure himself a peach instead of plucking a piece of fruit from the table in front of him. They both sat there silently, waiting, watching each other, the only sound seemed to come from Nanny bustling about the room.
"So… what are you really doing here?" Alice broke the silence, the edge in her voice still evident, as she reached for a small bunch of grapes from the tray in front of her.
"As I said, I merely came by to see how you were fairing."
"How'd you know I was awake?"
"I didn't." he answered, his face and his voice gave off the impression of being rather disinterested as he turned the peach in his hand before taking another bite. "Whether you're inclined to believe it or not, I have been checking on you as you've been asleep to see how you were doing. I must say though, after the 'greeting' I received this visit, I miss the silence."
Alice's gaze flicked up towards Jareth's face, her grey eyes burning at the jab. "You know, you make it really hard to want to like you, let alone be 'okay' with you. Also, never once, in any of your visits, did it occur to you that maybe picking me up off the floor and putting me on a bed would have been a 'generous' thing to do?"
"Oh it occurred to me." Jareth stated looking at her now, his expression still reading bored. "However considering how well things went last time, I didn't think they'd be appreciated, seeing as how quickly you vacated your quarters prior." He didn't bother addressing her comment about liking him, though her words may have been true enough for the moment, within time he was sure that things would certainly change.
"So, what, you're going to leave me with no bed or anything while I'm here because I did the most natural thing and tried to go home? Yes, you're oh so generous." Alice rolled her eyes as she sat back in her chair. The silence made its way back between them as it seemed Jareth patiently sat while Alice simply refused to speak. Behind her crossed arms and sour expression, however, her mind was ticking away, firing up a storm of thoughts and scenarios, as she muddled through what she thought she'd known and what she now knew as she tried to take stock of everything that had happened to her. Jareth silently watched as her body slowly relaxed as she became lost in thought, until her arms unfolded themselves and her shoulders unhunched, her sour expression relaxing into a more thoughtful stare; sitting like this she almost looked the same as the days he'd secretly watched, when she was back at her school in one of her classrooms, staring off into space instead of paying attention.
"I… apologize…" Jareth's attention ceased its wandering as Alice finally broke their silence, her voice was low, not in a begrudging sense as she made her apology, simply still contemplative. "I apologize for calling you a 'bastard', that was uncalled- I shouldn't have called you a bastard."
"I accept." Jareth stated after a brief moment of quiet.
"I'm not going to apologize for running away, or saying you kidnapped me, as far as I'm concerned you did and nothing's going to change that. There's really nothing you can say or do that will change that in my mind, that being said, I suppose if I'm to spend the rest of my life here, I guess I could at least attempt to be civil." Alice glanced over at Nanny as she spoke. In all honesty, Alice knew she was doing this for Nanny more than anything, the older woman had been right after all, and if things were as potentially hazardous as she had claimed they might be, it would be best to have a few people she knew she could trust to some extent. That being said, she did have one ulterior motive; castles were huge, somewhere within this castle there had to be a library or some sort of information or documents room, if she could manage to get in there she would really be able to see if she really was stuck here for the rest of her life or if there was still a chance to get home. It was a small sliver of hope, a very small sliver, but it was enough for the moment for her to be willing to try and get on with the git who sat opposite of her.
Nanny watched as the two seemed to slowly be coming to some sort of terms, she wasn't expecting a miracle, and at the moment since it seemed that things were resting on what Jareth's response would be she wasn't really expecting this temporary peace to last much longer. So to say she was surprised when Jareth responded would be putting it mildly.
"Understandable. You are entitled to your opinion on the matter." he stated simply as he broke his gaze with her and finished off his peach, sending the pit away with magic. "Now, there is something I need to attend to, so I will be taking my leave. Nanny will be with you throughout the day, I will send her back up after she has selected the proper linens for your quarters." he added matter of factly as he stood.
"Linens? You mean I get a bed now?"
"Yes and other furnishings, and you'll get to keep them this time, unless you plan to use them in another attempt at escaping." he gave her a pointed look as he finished his sentence. "As I said I will be off, but I will be stopping in later to see how things are going. Until then." with that Jareth gave a faint nod of his head before summoning the door, letting Nanny step through before he did the same allowing his magic to close and disappear the door again as he left.
As they walked down the hall Nanny found herself stealing glances at Jareth as she tried to piece together all that had just transpired.
"Have I got something on my face Nanny?" Jareth teased as he walked down the hallway hands clasped behind his back.
"You seemed to have given in to her rather easily back there. Not that I'm complaining, by all means I'm glad you're both not trying to kill each other, but I was expecting a bit more stubbornness out of you, especially when it comes to her sticking to her guns about you being a kidnapper."
"As I said Nanny, she is entitled to her own opinion. And eventually, if things continue that too shall change."
"I'm not so sure about that dear, she seems pretty set on it and I can't say I blame her."
"It matters not what she thinks now Nanny, she's a wished away. Give it some time, the Labyrinth will do as it always does with every wished away. They soon forget their old lives and embrace their new ones, she will be no different, especially with the way the Labyrinth seems taken with her. Soon enough the night of her arrival will be naught but a distant echo, lost in the vastness of time, and all I have to do is wait and she'll be mine." Nanny wasn't sure when she'd ceased walking, but she found herself a few steps above Jareth, standing completely dumbfounded as the weight of his words began to sink in, the bulk of it driven home when he stopped and glanced back up at her over his shoulder, a smirk painted across his face and mischief in his eyes but also the same determination she'd seen so many times before. Facing back around Jareth continued descending the stairs ahead of Nanny leaving her flabbergasted where she stood as his smirk widened as he became more pleased with himself and his plan. Yes all he had to do was wait. After all forever was not that long at all.
Rosebriar, home.
Derrick was more than happy to be back, what with all of the nonsense that had been going on with his cousin he was glad when business called him away, back to his hideaway. As much as he cared for his cousin, Jareth could be a bit much to handle at times, so Derrick took to these escapes as well deserved vacations where he could take his time to get back to a sense of normality before going back into the chaos that usually surrounded Jareth.
Everything was bustling at Rosebriar as per usual, the moment he set foot back into the place he was greeted by Quinn who took no time in reminding him of what had called him home in the first place.
"You're running a bit behind, sir." Quinn stated matter-of-factly after bowing slightly.
"Yes, yes I know. I got tied up a bit with the King, so it took me longer to leave. The Clan's diplomat is here already I take it?"
"Yes and no." Quinn kept pace beside Derrick as they both made their way to his study where he usually had these meetings.
"Come again?"
"The Clan's diplomat, it would seem, has been called to deal with another matter, however there is still someone for you to meet. The Diplomat's daughter is here in her stead, it would seem that they have decided since she will eventually be taking over her mother's duties a meeting with you would be a proper proving ground as it were. I have already informed her that you were held up with another matter, she's been offered tea and refreshments, all that's left is for you to actually show sir."
"Thank you Quinn," Derrick halted outside of the door to his study as he turned to his manservant. "What would I do without you?"
"Probably die in a fire of your own causing, I'm sure." pushing the frames she wore up on the bridge of her nose, Quinn pushed the door to the study open and strode inside. Giving a polite bow, she spoke, once again matter of factly, announcing Derrick. "My lady, the Lord of Rosebriar. Sir, the Head Clan's Diplomatic Apprentice, Lady Ilex." With that Quinn bustled out of the room closing the door to the study behind her.
"I would like to thank you for coming as well as for your patience, my lady, I was held up by an unforeseen- You!" When he had turned from Quinn shutting the door to the rest of his study he'd found his guest with her back to him, looking out the large picture window. She had turned at his voice and both now stood dumbstruck as they stared at each other. It -It couldn't be! It wasn't possible, was it? His brain tried to wrap itself around everything that it was seeing just now, how was she here?
"You.. you were the girl.. from the dance… How are you here- Wait you're the diplomat's daughter!?"
"You!" she closed the gap between them in no time, keeping a respectful distance between them as they confronted one another. The last thing she had expected was to see him of all people. "You're the party crasher! The one who just came and left- You- You're Fae?"
"I didn't 'crash' anything!"
"Well I certainly don't think you were invited! It was a school dance! Weren't you a bit old to be partying with people that age?"
"'Old?' I'm not old." Derrick grumbled a bit taken aback at her comment. He certainly wasn't old, not by a long shot, certainly not by Fae standards. "And what about you? You were there-"
"I went there. That doesn't matter. What were you doing in the Above? Actually no, no I don't want to know."
"Wait what do you think I was doing up there?"
"Certainly nothing I am interested in knowing presently I'm sure."
"I could ask you the same question."
"Simple, I live there, as well as here. Some people actually live in the Above, and enjoy it. They don't just go there for 'recreation'."
"What I-" Derrick paused. What was he doing? Honestly, that night when he'd come back after Jareth had disappeared he'd been disappointed that he hadn't gotten to know more about the very girl, well young woman who now stood in front of him. Now he risked ruining the opportunity in front of him by having this odd banter go off the deep end.
"Please have a seat." he conjured two chairs for them next to the picture window. She hesitated for a moment before taking the offered seat. He followed suit, using his magic to transport the tea service from the other side of the room to where they sat now, offering her a clean cup as he took one for himself.
"Let me apologize again. I wasn't expecting to ever see you again, after that night. So you can imagine my surprise when I walk into my study and happen to see you here."
"The shock is mutual, I can assure you. Especially after such a lapse of time, that dance was practically ages ago." finally accepting the cup of tea she took a sip, as her gaze moved from the teacup to the view from the window.
"Ah yes the time difference between the Above and the Underground, it's quite different, it must be rather jarring going back and forth as you do."
"Not as much as you might think. It's something one gets used to." Ilex stated rather matter-of-factly before placing her teacup gently back down and arranging herself in her seat to better view Derrick. "Though I am enjoying the turn our conversation has taken, there is the matter of business that I think we should to sort out first before we get 'caught up' as it were."
"Yes of course! You're correct." Derrick nodded, placing his cup down as well he steepled his fingers as he met her gaze. "So what business does the Clan wish to discuss?"
The chapter's title seems to be oddly fitting, don't you think? Decided to just sort of jump right into things since it's been literal eons. Hello~~ everyone! It's certainly been some time. Life and such and blah blah blah blah, you know how it is. This story has been on my mind the whole time and frankly I've toyed with rewriting it or just putting it on a complete hiatus and so on. This chapter has actually been sitting around on my computer since before my disappearance, well it was started back then, and I've fussed with it and frankly finally just decided I'd post it because heck why not? It's not bad, not award winning but not bad. Anywho I want to thank all of you for your patience, I will try to do more but I frankly don't want to make any promises. I do thank you all though, I've seen all of the favorites appearing in my email and though I haven't personally dropped in to say thank you, it's meant a lot and is actually part of the reason I ended up coming back. Hopefully more chapters will be swift in coming but we shall see. I will say it does feel kind of good to be back. :)