For Shireen and my other lovely guest reviewer who both read all 16 chapters in a day, you inspired me to write you another.
nothingnothingtralala licked this chapter, she now has part ownership.
Time to break with tradition...
For some reason the necklace hanging round his neck made her angrier than when it had been her own cruel reminder. It was an unwanted item after all, just as he had required, but somehow it seemed an insult that he should wear it and seem so pleased with himself about it. Perhaps he had earned it: he might not have spun straw into gold, but straw had disappeared and gold had replaced it. She supposed it probably would have irritated his sensibilities to actually use the spinning wheel, peacock that he was, but at least the task was completed.
Serra didn't know where the gold had come from; she did not much care either, since it was unlikely to have any repercussion on her. All she knew was that someone, somewhere, was severely out of pocket and no doubt regretting it.
She, however, was very pleased with herself, at least as pleased as the king had been upon finding a room full of gold when the guards had reported to him. Witch or not, she had something he wanted, and finally he was treating her equal to the value she had suddenly acquired.
She leaned back on the sun lounge with a sigh. Platters piled high with delicacies had been left in the small secluded chamber she had been moved to, foods she had never seen or tasted before. They had washed her and scented her skin, oiling her hair and dressing her in fine silks once she was dried. All this luxury was darkened by the Goblin King's mood, no matter that they had come to an uneasy truce; he was a sullen figure despite the wealth her wish had brought about.
"I don't see why you're so sullen. You had a hand in this, just try to enjoy it."
"I don't need the courtesy of other kingdoms, thank you. My own has plenty to offer me, and you I might add," he grumbled.
Pity about the freaks that come with it, she mused. She would not tell him that this one day had been more wonderful to her than all the weeks she had spent with him in the Labyrinth; he could never understand her need for human company. The comfort she felt being tended to by her own race, not to mention the way they fawned over her, not like the cold reception she had received in his home. His creatures might have their own reasons for their actions, but she didn't have to like it, and she certainly didn't have to put up with it.
"Suit yourself," she smiled, taking a pastry from the tray and slipping it between her lips. "It's your loss."
"You have no qualms accepting all this generosity over a trick?" he drawled.
"I am a poor girl of low birth and with little upbringing. What would you have me do?" she snarled. "I'd be an idiot to spit in the face of any luxury. Do you honestly think I could ever experience any of this naturally?"
"Did I offer you anything that was less than generous in my own kingdom?" he snarled.
"You confined me! Wasn't that a trick that was less than generous? You fooled me into wishing myself to your kingdom where I would be lonely and despised." She listened to his harsh intake of breath.
"What would you have me do? It was no trick. I wanted to save you and I believed you would be happy there. I had seen us, together in the Labyrinth and we were happy… we will be happy."
Serra sighed. "I don't even know who you are; I don't even know your name. How do you expect this to work? Shouldn't we trust one another?"
"Trust you?" the Goblin King bristled. "Isn't it you who trapped me into breaking the laws of time and space?" He approached her angrily, pointing to his blown pupil. "Isn't this the badge of your trust right here?"
Serra looked away nervously. "I'm sorry."
The Goblin King hissed through his teeth. "Don't apologise, just hurry up and fall in love with me."
Serra ran her fingers through her hair. He didn't get it, he didn't understand at all: couldn't he just admit that he'd seen it wrong? Her heart was beating fast in her breast again and it was infuriating, it was like part of her was in love with him; it made no sense at all. "I'm sorry," she said again, and stood to leave the room.
"Serra," he sighed, "I don't want to argue."
"Then stop calling my name so familiarly when you're not willing to share your own," she replied coldly.
She walked into the dressing chamber and sat in front of the vanity angrily. Today had been so wonderful but he was doing everything he could to ruin it for her. So he couldn't see his future anymore, he'd said he didn't want to look at that anyway! It was unfortunate that he couldn't look in on his blood relatives but then, hadn't they thrown him away? No loss there then, she knew a little bit about that sort of thing herself.
"Serra," he called reproachfully from the doorway. She hated that; he always managed to make her feel guilty at the sound of her name.
She avoided his eyes in the mirror, hearing him come up behind her. He picked up the brush from the counter and tentatively ran it through her hair. As he continued the strokes she relaxed, lulled by the motion of the brush across her scalp.
"Is it Edward?" she asked. This time she caught his look of confusion in the mirror.
"Is what Edward?"
"Your name," she grinned.
"No," he replied, his mouth quirking slightly.
"Benjamin?"
"Are we playing a guessing game now?" he asked.
"That depends," she smiled. "Will you tell me if I get it right?"
"I can't lie," he admitted.
"That's not a real answer," she pointed out.
He smiled. "No, it certainly isn't."
She rolled her eyes. "Benjamin?" she asked again.
"No."
"Conrad, Damien?"
"Definitely not."
"Is it Eric?" she asked.
"It isn't."
"How about Wickerjin, Boblohat, Snackelfur?" she smirked.
"Are those real names?" he asked, aghast.
"Rumplestiltskin?" she snickered.
"Seriously?"
"Always, precious," she drawled, imitating him. "In fact, until you tell me your true name I'm going to call you that."
"Call me what," he murmured, running his fingers through her hair.
"Rumplestilt…"
As she turned her vicious smile towards him she caught sight of herself in the mirror, and froze. It was… wrong. Long dark hair, yes, that was right… but… was the face shape just a little off? Were the cheeks a little bit higher, the chin a little pointier, just a fraction? And those eyes, brown… but weren't they supposed to be hazel? Or had her eyes always been brown? Of course they had always been brown… so why did the reflection look so very wrong?
This wasn't the first time either… hadn't there been another time with a mirror? Someone else looking back, a friend? She had a scar and… or was that a dream?
Serra felt dizzy and swayed in her seat.
Strong hands steadied her. "Serra?" His voice was full of concern. It irked her, the way he said her name was wrong and it felt painful.
"Don't call me that," she growled.
He lifted his hands in a peaceable gesture. "Then if neither of us are allowed to use names what shall I call you?" he asked.
He didn't understand. It wasn't her name, it was the way he said it, the inflection was just slightly wrong, like he wasn't talking to her at all. Or was it? If she thought about it the enunciation was familiar enough… had she just imagined it?
"No, never mind," she said, wiping her hand across her forehead. "Sorry, I just felt a bit out of sorts for a moment."
He studied her in the mirror for a moment, placing the brush back on the stand. "You were right, you know… you are all I have left now."
"I know," she agreed.
"I believe that makes us a pair?"
Serra turned to face him properly; her eyes had lost their warmth again. "I think that makes us leftovers."
She couldn't deny it: she needed him. His power was useful, but she didn't think he was all she had; she wouldn't let it come to that. They were outcasts who had found each other, but while he might be content to remain so, she was not. She would rise above this, she would be something, she would be important.
"Well, Rumplestiltskin," she said. "At least we are safe; I do have you to thank for that."
As if to belie her very words, the door of the solar flew open and two young guards marched in. Not finding her in the immediate room they seemed to falter, and Serra watched them through the dressing room door, her heart in her mouth. The Goblin King looked slightly amused by the sudden intrusion and Serra stiffened. It was always awkward to have company in his presence; she always felt this odd foreboding that he might become visible to them unexpectedly.
One of the young guards cleared his throat. "Lady Serra?" he called.
Serra hesitated for a moment, realising it would do her no good. "I'm in here," she called. If the king wanted her found it was his castle. Short of another trip with the Goblin King – which was not happening – there was nowhere to hide.
"Ah," muttered the same guard, eyeing the dressing room as if it were an abominable beast. "Could you come out here please?"
Well, fair enough, it was ladies' quarters, and it was good to be treated like a lady. The second guard coughed awkwardly, muffling it with the back of his hand; a poorly hidden laugh.
The Goblin King had disappeared, but Serra was long used to those antics. Casually, she sauntered out and stood in the doorway, looking both guards up and down.
"Lady Serra, we're here to escort you to your room for the night," pronounced the second guard. Another room? But she had been given these chambers… unless something even more magnificent had been arranged? She felt slightly excited by that prospect.
"Of course," she smiled graciously, as if their interruption had been expected. "Let us go at once."
It was only when she was back in her small stone prison cell that she realised something must have gone very, very wrong.
She didn't fail to notice the spinning wheel, or the fact that there was now twice as much straw in the room as there had been the night before.
"What's going on?" she shouted at the guard, but received no reply.
It wasn't until hours later that the king's steward finally arrived to fill her in. He was such a bland looking man, rake thin, with hair receding far too early on his sweaty brow. He held his proclamation before him and refused to make eye contact with her.
"To the witch, Serra," he started.
Well that's a downgrade from Lady…
"The king is most angered by your thievery and does not appreciate the poor taste of your jest. As he is a wise and generous king he will give you a second chance. Spin all of this straw into gold by morning, without repeating the prior offence, or he will have you beheaded."
Serra blinked. It was obvious that he wanted more gold from her setup, but what had happened that she had suddenly earned his anger?
"What offence?" she asked.
The steward continued to avoid her eyes, staring fixedly at his edict. Once more, he found no answers there.
"Stealing from the treasury," he finally squeaked, all the power gone from his voice now that the king's sturdy pen was not backing his words.
"Stealing from… what? How could I?" she yelled.
The steward's eyes slipped over her again, never finding an anchor. "When the gold in this room was delivered to his treasury this afternoon it was found to be nearly empty. Further investigation showed that the gold you offered was from the treasury, every coin, ring and brooch of it."
Serra's head swam.
"Oh," she said, and then nothing else came. Instead she stared at the four marks she had made on the wall. The Goblin King had her necklace now, how would she add to her tally?
Nervously, the steward shuffled from the cell and she was alone, but not for long.
"He figured it out pretty quickly; perhaps I didn't give him enough credit?" mused the Goblin King.
Serra stared at him uncomprehendingly. "What the hell have you done?" she whispered.
He grinned, nastily. "Why, I granted your wish, precious. Was there something you didn't like about it? Weren't you just lavished by spoils today?"
Serra felt an overwhelming panic wash over her, followed by murderous rage. "You took his gold and used it?"
"Was that wrong, pet?" he asked innocently.
"Wrong?" she flustered. "Are you serious?"
"When it suits me," he smiled lazily.
"What sort of a crazy, idiotic trick is that?" she exploded.
He grinned. "Why just that, love, a trick; I'm fae, didn't I mention it? It's sort of what we do."
"Do you have any idea what you've done?" she whispered.
His face became cold and serious at her question. A chilling smile twisted his features and he leaned in towards her, tucking a piece of straw into her hair. "Why, I remember reciting those very words to you last night. Do you have any idea what you've done? Do you remember? What you forced me to do? Do you think you can play with me? Do you think your lesser king can play with me? Do you have any idea what I sacrificed to come here and get you? Do you?" The Goblin King pulled the straw slowly through Serra's hair, scratching the blunt cut end along her scalp as it travelled.
"You will love me. I have perverted time and space for you, lost my home and my people. I have given up so much already, do you really think I would give you power over me as well?" As he twisted the straw from the end of her hair he flicked it, and right before her eyes she saw it transform into a beautiful golden strand. "Make a wish," he smiled. "We can do this as many times as it takes. I have all eternity to play this game."
Serra shuddered. She had thought… no, she wasn't wrong. He wouldn't let anything happen to her, but not because he loved her, because he was obsessed with the idea of her.
"You don't love me," she whispered. "You want to rule me, to dominate and oppress…"
"What else is there?" he yelled.
"That's not love, it's monstrous."
"It's all I know," he hissed. "How can I keep you if I do not confine you? How can I make you stay with me? Tell me, Serra, do you love me?"
Serra shook her head forcefully.
"See? Even though I know we will love each other you deny me, you force my hand in this."
"You're sick," she laughed. "I will never love you and you will never know love."
The Goblin King's lips became a tight line of displeasure. "You don't know that," he snarled.
"And neither do you anymore," she spat, pointing to his unusual eye.
The room became frigid. Serra watched the golden thread in his fingers thicken with frost before the Goblin King snapped it between them, like a matchstick.
"Make your wish, Serra, but know that I am far more experienced in this game than you."
She shivered. What did he want from her? To wish herself back to the Labyrinth again, to remain his prisoner? Never. Perhaps she should pity him, this creature who did not know what love was, only possession, but he terrified her. So what wish could make her safe? Could she ever be safe from him? She looked at the spinning wheel in the centre of the room and turned to the Goblin King.
"I wish you would turn all this straw into gold," she challenged. She needed time to think, time to formulate the perfect wish. In the meantime revisiting this one was a safe alternative, she could call his bluff, he wouldn't take gold from the king again as that would endanger her, and that wasn't his game plan.
His smile was sharp. "What will you trade precious?"
Serra considered and pulled the diamonte drop earrings the king had given her from her ears, offering them.
"No," he said.
Confused, Serra slipped a sapphire ring off her finger and held it out to him.
"Not that one," he drawled.
She frowned and started unpinning the golden sun brooch the king had bestowed on her.
"Not that one either," he sighed.
"What?! Since when were you so fussy!" she yelled, "something broken or something unwanted – isn't it?"
"Exactly so," he agreed.
"So what's the problem?"
The Goblin King raised his eyebrows at her. "That is the problem, love, nothing you are offering me is either."
Serra looked down at the riches in her hand. "That's not true", she said, "I don't… I don't w…" but she couldn't even say it. It was true. She wanted all of this finery, the jewels, the silk, she deserved it. Even if she broke it… but she didn't want to do that either, she wanted these things too much.
Alarmed, she started to search for something else, anything which fulfilled his conditions. All she had were the gifts the king had given her… and her mother's ring. It was tarnished and ugly: nothing more than the memento of a dead woman. Pursing her lips, she yanked it from her hand and waved it before the Goblin King.
Running a finger across his lips, he watched it circle in the air.
"Why is this one different?"
Serra sighed. "It's a cheap gaudy thing. It was my mother's wedding ring."
The Goblin King stiffened. "A sentimental item then," he paused, "this is worth less than all the other jewellery?"
"Obviously," drawled Serra, "just look at it."
He did, taking it from her and admiring it from several angles. "Are the riches really worth more to you than this?"
"You know it yourself, isn't that why you accepted it?" she sniped.
He considered her for a moment, and then slipped it onto his own finger.
They both felt the change at once.
The Goblin King, his eyes unfocused and gasping heavily, sucked in a desperate breath. Serra fell to the floor, clutching at her pounding head.
"What was that?" gasped the Goblin King.
Serra shook her head, not knowing herself what the odd, unsettling wave was.
"I said what is it!" roared the Goblin King, shaking his fist at her, and she realised he was referring to the ring.
"It's a ring, just a ring. My mother's wedding band," she whimpered.
"But what does it mean? What is its purpose?"
"Purpose?" repeated Serra. What was a ring's purpose? Proof of fidelity, marriage? "It's…" Serra hesitated, "it's a bond," she muttered.
He was trying to pull at the ring now, but it would not budge, stuck, and he laughed manically as he clawed at it.
"A bond? Of course, you must have known. A bond." He let out a furious scream.
Serra backed away. He was mad, he had gone mad… but no… he hadn't because… she could feel him. He was… angry. He was angry because of a bond, the ring? Now he was bound to her, to the human realm she lived in, and she watched through his mind's eye as the other realms were closed off from the Labyrinth forever. Now no one could travel there, there was no chance that he might ever encounter his own kind, no chance that his family might visit and no chance to hear that the exile was revoked. Only now was he truly, truly alone. Yet he would never to be completely alone again, because they were bound together now, by accident, by fate. He was an open book. She could see his pain, his self-hatred, his desire to know what love was; but more importantly, she could see his name.
So... my downtrodden Jareth turned a bit dark Jareth again, it's hard to keep dark Jareth down, he just will not let me make him a victim sometimes...
Sorry this one is late people, one more Serra chapter and we'll get back to the our favourite couple.
Wow... there are so many reviews here that didn't hit my inbox, how exciting! Thanks for the support lovelies!
Smiles 1998: Oh yeah, couldn't resist some straw into gold trickery, way too tempting!
Aleta Wolff: Men ... toys in the hands of women, no matter how powerful they may be - so true! And so what I intended, but my Jareth just won't behave himself! Honestly it's hard to keep a good bad guy down.
Arynwy: Indeed she is, I sort of regret not making that clearer at the outset and now I can't really clarify until we leave this section, but yes, this is the past and Sarah is learning to understand modern day Jareth (well I hope she is).
DragonRose4: Aww thanks, I am also a story within a story fan (although I'm desperate to get back to the main event). Yes my intention at the outset was for Serra to be like an alternate Sarah who never ran the Labyrinth and grew as a person, although I'm not sure I've quite hit the mark since she can be quite a nasty piece of work...
qiana: Well I did have to up my Goblin King stock, he has done wrong, but he has also been wrong. Although sometimes I worry that all my character just seem really bipolar... It's interesting to see reviews swing from 'poor Sarah' to 'poor Jareth' in succession!
Obsessive360: Hehehe I think you'll like his revenge on that... I did... even though I wasn't expecting it. Is that allowed? I'm the author...
Lady Azura: Thank you! I've had a few comments in that vein, Jareth x Sarah - better than drugs
Morefindiel: But we want him broken hearted at least a little bit, don't we? Vulnerable Jareth, come now that's just adorable... if only he'd lie down and let me write him that way...
Shattered: Yay, hook, line and sinker - new chapter to chew on :)
The Phantom's Bride of Gondor: Your capitilisation is exactly how I'd exclaim too should he appear in my home 3
KaPow: There is never enough Jareth, glad the wagon is swinging towards Jareth's 'reasoning' for his actions!
Kaytori: It was very subtle, I think Serra's overreaction about the gypsy troupe leaving and crushing the wild flowers were slight foreshadowing, but like I said subtle, to the point of almost just being a reasonable way of relieving her anger/stress. It's good if it wasn't overly apparent, I wanted it to be dismissible.
Yes Jareth's family can still visit and... oh no... just broke that - sorry Jareth, I'm the cruel one. Yes they could, but now they cannot *insert evil laugh here* let's see what you think of my 'Jareth not understanding love' dynamics. Your reviews are always appreciated Kay, no matter the length, you are my longest term reviewer!
Basoongirl14: I do love to pull some heartstrings! Thanks this makes me fee that I'm making the story and its characters enjoyable.
Deer-Shifter: You quoted me to me, this is why I love you. I am an obsessive quote keeper for when something really resonates with me, so to be quoted is like the highest form of appreciation in my mind! Mmmm I do like a good fairy story, yours in turn reminded me of a version of Hansel and Gretel I once read in which the witch ripped out Hansel's eye, but his sister gives him the eye of the witches cat, which allows him to see the unseen for the rest of his life.
Yes poor Jareth, I always liked the concept that the fae didn't understand love (except for in rare cases) and how exactly they would interpret and emotion they could not comprehend, as a long lived race it's a little bit terrifying really. Thanks for you comment on ethics too, I like to slip my brain in amongst the story from time to time, or rather when I'm writing these it all seems to tumble out and get tangled together XD
JennaSoprano: Wow, thank you! I'm glad it kept you all the way through. I hope you will enjoy the last few chapters just as much!
menolikee: Ahaha I cracked up because your name was at odds with your comment, but I'll take you at your word, hope you enjoyed the new one.
Guest: Yes me too, will they ever figure each other out? The author is annoyed!
Shireen: Legend, I can't believe you both powered through these. I literally read your review and decided to move on this new chapter bgecause I'd been sitting on it for too long!