Jareth took her arm and they ran together under the umbrella and managed to get to the car without getting soaked. Once buckled in Sarah started the wipers and turned on the radio, Red Barchetta was playing. She got on the main road and tapped the steering wheel to the beat. She noticed Jareth discreetly tapping his thigh as well, when an ad came on he began playing with the knob.
Sarah smiled. "If you liked that song, open the little drawer in front of you."
He opened it and found a small collection of cassettes. She grabbed her favorite mix tape and put it in, the opening notes to Bravado filled the car. Jareth began to leaf through the cassettes. "Hmm... interesting."
The traffic was not too bad and they were making good time. Outside the scenery changed from crowded city streets to highway. After a few songs Sarah cleared her throat. "About last night, I'm sorry for invading your privacy, even if it was accidental.
His lips quirked up slightly. "I truly do not mind you visiting Sarah." His expression sobered. "It is the fact that it was accidental that worries me. You need to learn how to control your abilities. Your fatigue these past couple of days is more than likely because of your transporting."
Sarah sighed. "But how do I controI something that I don't even realize I'm doing?"
"Perhaps if we discuss how transporting generally works it could help you visualise."
She shrugged. "I always figured that it was like opening a door."
"To use that parallel, it is more like creating the opening, creating the tunnel, creating the door. It requires envisioning clearly where you are and where you want to be and tethering them, so to speak. You however are transporting instinctively. When you consciously decide where you want to be you arrive at that destination, such as when you appeared in my throne room. It seems that when you travel unconsciously you arrive at a location that snagged your memory, like the tunnels."
"Makes sense... but what about last night? I had never been to your chambers before."
"It is possible that in that case that your subconscious somehow latched on to my location, especially if you had been thinking or dreaming of me."
Sarah blushed but sobered. "So the danger is that when I transport unconsciously, I'm jumping blind."
"Yes... you could land in the wrong location, or a dangerous situation... or even fall between." Something in his tone of voice was ominous.
Trying to wrap her head around the concept of teleportation in the Underground was already giving Sarah a bit of a headache. The thought that she could be lost in the abyss terrified her, she frowned, "But how is it that I can transport at all? I never could before."
Jareth paused a moment. "Technically it seems that you have had the power since you ran the Labyrinth."
"What?!" Sarah forced herself to keep her eyes on the road.
"I am the guardian of the passages to and from the Labyrinth. After you left last night I examined all of the existing portals. I noticed one I had never seen before, it seems that your declaration at the end of your run had blocked me from seeing it. You created a portal in your mirror for your friends to visit you."
Sarah's eyes bulged. "I did that?"
"None of your friends have the ability to do it themselves and the portal bears your mark. You have had the power to return from the moment you left."
"Oh..." Sarah began to feel light headed from absorbing all of this. She blinked and tried to concentrate on her driving. After a few moments she resumed her questions. "Are there many that can travel between worlds?"
He shook his head. "Relatively speaking, no. In most species there are occasionally born individuals with the ability, the goblins are the only species where it is more common than not."
"So, about that... from what you said yesterday, I'm guessing that the former Goblin King adopted you."
"Correct."
Sarah hesitated to ask her next question. "Did... did one of your parents wish you away?"
Out of the corner of her eyes Sarah saw Jareth shake his head, a sad smile on his lips. "No, my mother tried her best to care for me. It wasn't easy for her, a woman alone with a child, but she would accept any honorable work, no matter how lowly or difficult. We would sometimes be forced to move because someone didn't approve of us. Eventually she found steady work as a scullery maid at an inn.
When I was six years old she fell ill with a fever, the harsh working conditions and the meagre rations had weakened her. As young as I was I tried to take care of her... but it wasn't enough."
He hung his head, as if the memory still pained him, Sarah took his hand and squeezed it gently, Jareth gave her an appreciative glance and continued. "The innkeeper took pity on me and for a time allowed me to stay and work to earn my keep, but he would lose patience with me often, regularly threatening to wish me away to the goblins.
One very busy day I was washing the dishes and I dropped a large serving platter. Enraged, the innkeeper struck me, raging that I was worthless and that he wished the goblins would take me away forever. Clutching my injured face I screamed that I wished the goblins would take me away from there too."
Jareth's eyes had a far-away look, Sarah squeezed his hand again, not sure what to say. He glanced at her and squeezed back before continuing.
"The next thing I knew I was in a pit in a stone throne room, surrounded by frolicking goblins. Upon the throne sat a goblin in long robes, rising he introduced himself as Throk. He asked me to come forward, when I did he gently wiped my tears and informed me that I was the first ever to have been doubly wished away. I looked around warily and asked if he was going to send me back. He shook his head and explained that either I could run the Labyrinth to attempt to buy my right to return Above, or I could choose to stay to be adopted by a family in the Underground. Considering my prior situation, I chose to stay.
A goblin nurse arrived and checked me over and I was given a room and clean clothes and free run of the castle. A short time later a goblin page found me in the kitchens and I was brought to Throk's office. He sat me down in a big chair and said that it was time for me to be adopted. I asked if he was going to adopt me, he seemed surprised by my request. Carefully he asked if that was what I wanted. I replied that I liked the castle and the goblins and hoped to stay. He smiled and filled out a parchment, officially adopting me and naming me his heir presumptive.
I received a prince's education and training and at Throk's death I was called on to run the Labyrinth to validate my claim to the throne. In my twenty-second year I was crowned the new Goblin King."
Sarah's brow crinkled. "I didn't know that creatures of the Underground could die, your goblins always seemed indestructible."
"The Underground and its magic imbues all of its residents with extraordinarily long lifespans, but we are not immortal."
"How long do you live?"
"Age when you arrive as well as your natural constitution can cause variations. King Throk was about three thousand years old. I have heard of some creatures living several thousand years. The wiseman is the oldest creature in my kingdom."
The idea of living so long was making her head spin. "So, you never did tell me how old you are."
"I was born in 1647, according to your calendar."
Sarah quickly did the math in her head, I'm dating a man 323 years older than me! Daddy would freak! "So, if I were to stay, I would also be affected?"
Jareth was pained by the word 'if' but he shrugged it off. "Everyone who stays for an extended period of time. Ageing slows, imperceptibly at first but eventually almost stalling."
"I've never seen anyone who looks like you or me in the Labyrinth. Are you the only human in the Underground?
"The Goblin Kingdom is but one of many in the Underground. There are several humanoid species, the fae, the elves, the dwarves. There are very few humans. In my kingdom currently I am the only one.
"Do you have to deal with the other kingdoms very much?"
"Due to the goblins we are mostly left to ourselves. There are scheduled court sessions, other than that the only time they contact me is when there is a wished away or if someone wants to try the Labyrinth."
"Why do they care about the wished away?"
"Some species in the Underground have difficulty bearing children. As you have seen with Fluffy, we cannot create new life from nothing, only transform it. When a child is wished away he is often transformed according to the species of the adopting family."
"But not always. Why?"
"Some families want a child that resembles them, others enjoy variety. If the child is old enough to have an opinion on the subject he may also have a say in the adoption proceedings."
"You said that you had planned on adopting Toby."
"Yes, just as Throk, I have the right to claim my heir from the wished away. I had planned on raising him as my son."
Sarah became quiet. She finally spoke up. "Why? I mean... why adopt at all? There must be many prospective brides in the Underground who would be willing to give you an heir."
"Not as many as you would think, any prospective bride would have to have successfully traversed the Labyrinth as well as be willing to live among the goblins. I have no use for a marriage of convenience. I would rather adopt an unwanted child and give them a home. When you wished Toby away I decided that I wanted to adopt him as my heir, since he resembles me and I hoped that he shared your capacity for imagination. Then quite unexpectedly, as I watched you fight to get him back, I don't know how to explain it other than that when you ran the Labyrinth, you belonged. You adapted and won over many of my subjects. I saw many qualities that would make a fine queen and partner."
A small huff of laughter escaped her lips. "I was just a bratty kid."
Jareth flashed a teasing smile. "You were stubborn and determined... but also kind, resourceful and brave." His voice became softer. "I knew that you were too young, but I feared never getting another chance. I wanted you to stay, take the time to grow up, get to know me. But I was bound by my role as your villain. In the end I botched both."
Sarah squeezed his hand again. "I didn't understand what you were offering. And even if I had, I was too young to truly make that choice."
"And now?" The king raised an eyebrow, eyes smouldering.
She raised her eyebrow right back. "And now I'm taking the time to make an educated decision."
"And...?" Jareth's gaze was giving her butterflies again.
A honk surprised them both, and Sarah realised that she had begun to wander from her lane.
"And... I'd better keep my eyes on the road if we want to arrive in one piece." Sarah glanced at the clock. "Good, we'll get there a bit early so that they can meet you before they leave."
Jareth looked thoughtful. "Did you have any plans for your time off?"
"Not specifically ... I can't afford to go anywhere. I had just been planning on taking it easy, going hiking a few times and spending time with Toby. His summer vacation starts Friday."
"I propose that you spend at least a few days of your vacation in the Underground."
"Really?" Ever since her run she had wanted to return, to revisit that fantastical world, but had been afraid that it would give him power over her.
"I would be honored to be your host. You may rest, hike, visit your friends and explore the kingdom."
"I... would love to!" Sarah felt giddy at the thought.
Jareth grinned at her enthusiasm and formed a crystal, he spoke into it "Edgar, we are to have a distinguished guest, begin preparations."
A warm deep voice answered. "Yes your majesty." The crystal disappeared.
Sarah flustered. "You don't have to go to any trouble, I would've been happy to just camp if I had too."
A smirk teased the corner of his mouth. "I know, and you are free to camp if that is your wish. I would ask though that you verify with me first to make sure your location is safe."
Sarah had a flash of waking up to find fireys surrounding her tent and shuddered. "Deal."
The scenery changed from highway to quaint and comfortable houses. They passed the park and shared a secret smile.
Once parked in front of her childhood home Sarah took a deep breath. "Ready?"
Sarah was sure that she saw a flicker of nervousness pass over his face before a look of confidence took it's place. She lifted her hand and swept his hair out of his eyes. She kissed him quickly. "We can do this."
...
Author's note
I had to practically rewrite this chapter completely so it took longer than expected. I also slightly revised the last chapter.
(Edit Feb 2023: This chapter has been edited from its original version, Jareth's backstory in this chapter has been changed. When I first wrote this chapter I had hesitated between two possible versions of Jareth's story. When I first posted this chapter I opted for him being taken by the goblins as an infant but on reflection I have decided to revert it to my original idea of him wishing himself away as a child.)
Thank you to Guest 2019 and Mae-E for the reviews and to all those who have faved and followed. I appreciate it so much!
I don't own Labyrinth or its characters or the songs mentioned in this chapter. Both are by Rush, Red Barchetta is on their album Moving Pictures and Bravado is on Roll the Bones. Rush's drummer and lyricist Neil Peart died of brain cancer on January 7th. The first CD that I ever bought with my own money was a Rush album.