Hey! This took a while, I'm sorry but it's pretty long and the next chapter is almost finished and is the last one :( This was originally thought to be a longer story, maybe it was too long, so I'm shortening it. If you like me to continue please say so. I could do some one-shots about what happens next. I hope you are enjoying this as much as I loved to write it. Please forgive the mistakes I surely made ( I seem to keep skipping typos and wrong tenses no matter how many times I read it). Finally but not least important, I want to give all of you who read this a big THANK YOU! Thanks for reading, adding to your alerts/favourites and thank you for taking time to review!
Disclaimer, I certainly do not in any way own the Labyrinth, Jareth, the Underground and the goblins (and I wouldn't want those little filthy beast if I could :P ) All the rest is the fruit of a mad mind: mine :D
Life in the wild
The cottage, was made in wood and rock near a silvery steam of water. It was big enough for two people, it had one big room with the kitchen and the living room and stairs, then it was the bathroom and the second floor was actually a mezzanine -just the floor that didn't covered all the area of the cottage with no walls, -a sort of inside balcony if you prefer- where there were two big beds and a big wardrobe. From all over the roof, transparent and glittery fabrics in shades of green, hung as ethereal walls.
It was night already, the sky was brightly lit by millions of stars and a big full moon. It was cold, though, but the fire provided more than a pleasant heat. Rose traveled around the house exploring.
'Jareth are you hungry?' She asked casually. He was sitting by the fireplace. Watching how the fire consumed passionately, his hands resting at his sides, his breath low. Rose was now concerned and afraid.
'Jareth' She called from behind him sweetly and softly, as if trying to caress him with her voice. He did not respond. So she proceed to put herself between the fireplace and his eyes. Her figure was not wearing the leathery riding outfit but a simple and elegant black silken night gown, her back exposed to the flames, her legs entirely covered, her seductively low V neck and all the hem adorned with black lace. Her feet covered with ballerina-like black slippers. Rose's hands were resting on her hips, she inclined her upper body towards Jareth, with inquisitive stare. Nothing, it happened nothing. She sigh deeply, what she was about to do was bold but she could not stand anymore his attitude.
Slowly she lifted her skirt enough so she could sit astride on Jareth lap. Carefully not to show too much skin she sat as far from his torso -and other parts, if you get what I mean- as his legs let her, her knees at each side of him. She rested her hands on his shoulders and her eyes sought his.
'Jareth, look at me' She said softly as she lifted his head with her hands. 'Are you still angry at me?' She asked him. His gaze was locked in hers, his hands traveled caressing everything on their path from her knees to her hips, slowly.
'No' He said almost inaudible.
'Are you hungry?' She asked again, now not sure of what did she meant. His eyes dark but before either of them could make a move a wolf's howl broke the silence of the night and all the lights -including the fireplace- went out. It seemed impossible to Rose that the fire did extinguish out of the blue but the sound of the howl, painful, angered and pleading, startled both of them and Rose's body slid all the way down Jareth's legs, his hands were now on her bare back hand hers around his neck. Their upper bodies touching in the darkness of the cottage. She could feel him beneath her, through the fabric of her under garments, the fabric of her night gown, the fabric of his tights... She felt breathless. Her heart was rising so was his, she could tell.
'What was that?' She said gasping, trying to avoid stating about the position there were in, not to mention that it was dark and they were alone. The fire place lit again.
'A wolf' He said grinning smugly and pressing Rose to his chest.
'Ja..Jareth' She gasped.
'Yes?' He answer smiling appealingly. "Damn he! So sexy! Stupid king that takes my breath away!" Rose cursed in her mind.
'I hate you, stupid, sexy, mischievous, mean, indecent, arrogant, ass..' He cut her with a kiss. She closed her fists and punch him as she kissed him back. His hands caressing her skin, pressing her to himself. Rose fought the King's will eventually wining control over him, she pulled his hair slightly and unconsciously moved her hips rubbing herself to him. He moaned in pleasure. Drowning in passion they did not notice the creature running towards them in the forest.
The loud noise of something smashing one of the windows, blood soaked glass pieces flew within the cold wind of the night. There, in front of the smashed window a black and silver grey wolf laid wounded in a puddle of blood. They got up of the couch immediately.
'Who's he?' Rose said.
'It's a wolf' He said concerned.
'No, HE is more than it.' She turned to face him, and saw true concern in his eyes. 'Who's he Jareth?' She demanded while she knelt to help the animal.
Jareth was about to flick his wrist when she stopped him. 'Don't!' She said. 'Come here and take a look'
'See?' She said pointing at some of the wolf's worst wounds, there was an almost imperceptible black fire inside.
'Black enchanted weapons' he whispered. She nodded.
'Do you know the balm?' She asked.
'Your uncle knows it' He stated.
'So do I but I never made one.' She answered.
'Help me save him' She heard him say, almost pleading, she nodded.
'Take him upstairs to the spare bed.' Rose said softly and patted his shoulders.
She climbed to the stairs with a bowl with a red paste inside and linen bandages. There, in the bed, was a tall young man, with thin lips, delicate nose, long silver gray and raven black hair stained with blood. His eyes were shut so she couldn't see the colour, thought she'd found him quite familiar. Then she saw Jareth expression, his concern, his opaque eyes and the way he stroke his hair.
'We will need hot water to clean his body, and a soft cloth.' She said to him, with magic he produced what he was told. Gently, both of them cleaned the wounds, the worst was a diagonal slash that went from his left shoulder all the way down to his last right rib, it was deep and covered in black flames. He had several cuts in his limbs and the back, some of them contained pieces of glass. When the wounds were cleaned she applied the red balm and the bandages.
'I made this' She said tossing Jareth a vial with a blue liquid, 'It should help him to recover the blood and I put something for the pain as well. I leave it to you, I'll be expecting you downstairs' She smiled and went down.
In her eyes he was just a five years old kid coming down the stairs while dragging careless his blanket behind him, just to sit in the couch and watch television after a horrible nightmare holding onto the blanket as it was the last remaining thing in his world. Although, he wasn't a kid, he wasn't watching TV and most importantly there were plenty of things left in his world. He was sitting in the large sofa directly in front of the fireplace, watching emotionless the fire consuming. She sat beside him, put down the tray next to her and stroke his hair gently.
'Eat Jareth' Her command was a whisper in his years, a soft caress that must be obeyed. She caressed him slowly, gently, she touched his skin trailing all his features. Then she kissed him innocently, chastely on his lips and placed the tray on his lap. He wasn't paying attention. He didn't even saw her throwing a pillow in the floor, between the fire and him. He didn't saw her sitting there, facing him, obstructing his sight.
'Eat Jareth' She said now imperatively. He looked at her. He ate. Soundless.
Jareth was cryptic, silent, absent but aware of the surroundings, as if he just was sleepwalking. He was falling asleep when Rose took his hand and whispered something in his ear making him get up of the couch and follow her upstairs.
Rose awoke few hours before dawn. Jareth felt warm against her bare back, burning her skin gratifyingly, one of his arms wrapped around her. There, in the other bed laid the mysterious werewolf. He moved his head, his eyes were opened, and were blue, like Jareth's, well, not exactly the same, but very much alike. He smiled at her and she smiled back. She felt relieved, though, she could see he was exhausted. Carefully Rose get off the bed and walked towards him, she lit up some candles manually, she didn't feel like using magic for everything.
'I'm Rose' She whispered.
'I know' He smiled 'At least he has good taste I was afraid he liked boys better' He chuckled, so did she as she took off the bandages with the dried red paste. The slash on his chest wasn't getting any better, though, the bleeding had stopped and the black fire was completely gone. The flesh all around was redder and the inside was dry and white, it wasn't healing properly. She sighed and gently touch a purple spot on the center of the wound.
'Ouch!' He said. She apologized and bit her lower lip.
'This may hurt a little' She whispered as she gathered her hands on his chest and concentrated.
'Thanks. I'm Lhoki by the way. Jareth's twin.' he grinned.
'I guess your eyes were sort of familiar' She rolled her eyes 'Get some sleep and may be in the afternoon you'll be completely healed' She grabbed a thick wool robe form her bed and headed to the stairs but before she started climbing down she turned to Lhoki. 'If you behave and rest I may bring you breakfast later' She winked and disappeared.
Jareth woke up after dawn, and found himself alone. He panicked, threw himself out of bed and rushed downstairs. If he had paid attention he would have realized that there were two other people in the house, their presence was, hard to avoid, since magic flowed all around.
'Good morning brother' Lhoki's casual voice greeted him.
'Tea, coffee, juice?' Rose asked smiling.
'Tea' He said simply. She poured it for him diligently.
'You know what I brought you here Rose?' He asked after the first zip of tea.
'Because of your bad temper?' She said mockingly. Jareth gave her the most menacing glare. Lhoki swallowed, his brother could be quite the villain sometimes.
'No, because of your training' Jareth said. Rose exhaled quite dramatically, as if a big weight was lifted from her as he said those words.
'What was that for?' He asked inquisitive. Lhoki swallowed again, those two were quite the spectacle and he was growing uneasy as they little "chat" progressed. Rose's eyes sparkled with mischief as they locked Jareth's.
'I thought you had brought me here to rape and torture me while you laugh as a mad old king in all its splendor' She answered.
'You are quite the imaginative type' He replied, as if it wasn't of importance and Rose felt disappointed she hoped for his rage to come out, she wanted to beat him down for one. 'Nice try, Precious, but no more games for today, you'll need all your magic.' She rose of the table after his words and excused herself. She had gone to change her clothes.
'What on the Gods did you do to be harmed by black enchanted weapons Lhoki?' Asked Jareth serious.
'Nothing' Lhoki responded.
'Do not lie to me!' He spat as he hit the table with his palm.
'Fine brother' Lhoki sighed. 'I was at the tavern, pretending to be the wolf of an old blind thief when five black and red leathered humans came in. I felt curious, as you imagine, followed them but they -by a reason I am still trying to figure out- discovered me and hunted me down with those damned black enchanted axes. Happy now?' He crossed his arms in his chest pissed off.
'Not quite brother, not quite' Jareth replied pensively.
'Why the long faces? Did you two had a fight?' Asked Rose now changed in a practice outfit, tights, a loose shirt and a pair of boots.
'We found trouble, Precious' Jareth's eyes sparkled playfully.
'This is going to get interesting little sis' Winked her future brother in law.
-.-.-.-.-.-
P.S I had this finished three months ago, but some lowlife thief stole the phone wires of all my neighbrood and I was without phone or internet for a while until they replaced the wires. What angers me the most it's not that it took the company two months to replace it but the fact that the police captured the thief and then released him after a few hours because they "didn't have a place to put him in" Unbelievable!