Sarah took a step closer to the window and looked out over the goblin city that was below. She could see the steps leading down from the castle, and the fountain in the center before the houses spread out around. She smiled as she remembered running through the city with Ludo, Sir Didymus, and Hoggle. "Did you really send your goblins to try and kill us?" Sarah asked with a smile from her memory.
"No." Sarah jumped and glanced over her shoulder when Jareth sounded closer than she thought. "They were merely a road block, just trying to stop you before you succeeded. If you remember no one was hurt, they were just in the way. Trying to make things…not fair." He smiled and looked down at Sarah from his position right behind her.
Sarah blushed and quickly glanced back out the window. With him so close behind her she could almost feel him touching her. He chuckled and took a step back. "Come Sarah. Let me show you to your rooms." He then offered his arm to her.
Sarah nodded and took Jareth's arm and let him lead her through the castle. Neither spoke as Jareth led her to where she will be staying. He opened the doors for her and Sarah stepped into a large bedroom. Sarah wasn't sure what she was expecting, but this room seemed to fit a castle guest room. It had a large canopy bed, vanity, wardrobe, fireplace, tea table, and some chairs. There was an opening that led to a little balcony and Sarah walked over to see that the view from this room showed some of the hedge walls of the labyrinth past the city walls.
"I hope you find this room comfortable, however, if there is anything not to your liking feel free to let me know and we will accommodate." Jareth spoke from the doorway still.
"Oh no. This will be just fine. It's kind of like stepping back in time."
Jareth smiled and watched as Sarah walked back into the room and placed her bag down and sat on the bed. "Would you like to join me for supper or would you like to turn in?" He asked after a minute.
"Honestly, this is a lot to take in and I am tired. But I also haven't eaten. Is it possible to just have something small sent to my room?"
"Of course." Jareth conjured a crystal in his hands and then blew it out of his hand where it floated down the hallway like a bubble.
"What did you do?" Sarah asked as she got up and watched the crystal float out of sight.
"That's to let the kitchens know to prepare a light meal to bring to your room."
"Oh." She looked down at her hands and turned them over. "You said I have her magic now, does that mean I will be able to create crystals like you?"
"I'm not sure. Not all magic is the same. We all have our talents. Adella was able to create crystals, but she said it was a struggle."
"Talents? Like when you said Addy was a seeress? Her talent was seeing the future?"
"Correct. She was able to do more than see the future, but that is what came easiest to her and what she focused on. Her mother was a seeress as well."
"What about you, what's your talent?"
"Illusions. I can make people see things differently or things that aren't really there. Like the staircases you went through to save your brother, just an illusion."
Sarah sat down on the bed and thought about her time in the labyrinth and all the times that things didn't appear as they seemed. Then flashes of a ballgown and dancing figures came to mind. "Like the peach?"
Jareth sighed and sat down on the bed next to her. "Yes, the ball from the peach you ate was an illusion as well. And I'm sorry for having to trick you like that, it's part of the game I play with the labyrinth and it's runners."
"What is it that you actually do?"
"That is a complicated story. I will gladly try to explain it, but another time." Jareth stood back up and stepped towards the door before turning around. "The goblins should bring something from the kitchens shortly. Try to get some sleep tonight. I will be by in the morning to escort you to Adella's service." He bowed his head and shut the door behind him as he left.
Shortly after he left, a tray of food appeared in her room. Sarah walked over and saw breads and cheeses and fruit. She picked at the food before giving up. She felt a breeze and glanced at the doorway to the balcony and the setting sun. She got up and walked out and sat down on the ground and watched the sun set.
Some time after the sun had disappeared into the night, Sarah got up to go back inside when something caught her eye. Something was moving down by the hedges just outside the city. Sarah stopped and stared, trying to see if she could determine what it was. The more she looked, the more it looked like Jareth. What was he doing outside the castle walls and why was he staring in her direction?
Walking back inside Sarah told herself she would ask Jareth about it later and went to bed.
Sarah awoke early in the morning and saw a note left on the table. It was a short message from Jareth requesting her to dress in one of the dresses inside the wardrobe for the service for Addy. She opened up the wardrobe and was in awe at the amount of fabric and colors within. None of the dresses looked to be black in color, so Sarah went with a deep dark blue color dress. She was still struggling to get it to fit properly, when Jareth knocked on her door.
"Come in," she called.
"Good morning Sarah, I hope you slept well." Jareth greeted with a slight bow.
"I did, thank you."
"Are you ready? The pyre will be starting shortly."
"Um…."Sarah started and then blushed with the thought of needing to ask him for help."
Jareth smiled as he understood. Without saying a word, he motioned for her to turn around. He stepped closer and started to help tighten the fastenings. When he pulled the knot tight, he left his right hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry Sarah. I didn't think that you would need help with the dress. While we are in the kingdom, I will request someone to come and stay here to assist you."
He stepped to her side and offered his arm. She took it and they turned around, and Sarah found herself in a beautiful garden. "This is just so surreal. Being in one place and instantly in another."
"Magic does have its perks." Jareth smirked as he faced Sarah.
"Is this something I will be able to do? Just go anywhere I want?"
"It may look simple, but it's more complicated than that. And honestly I don't know if you will be able to. We don't have many accounts on humans having Fae magic, so we will have to see how things go when…." Jareth trailed off as his eyes looked past her. She heard the sound of footsteps approaching quickly and turned just in time to see a fist connect with Jareth's jaw.
"Jareth!" she yelped in surprise and reached out to help support him before he could fall. "Are you ok?"
He straightened back up and was rubbing his jaw. "I'll be alright Sarah."
He then looked back over her shoulder. She turned and saw a man looking down at his hand and flexing his fingers. He was about the same height as Jareth and had short brown hair. He looked back up and his brown eyes glared at Jareth. "I'm sorry Jareth, but you deserved that."
"Leander, I am deeply sorry about Adella." Jareth started.
"You're sorry? Not sorry enough to have been here. Not sorry enough to have helped with the arrangements. Not sorry enough to have the decency to tell me yourself. I had to hear about my sister through one of the castle messengers."
"I know I should have told you and that I deserved that. But there were pressing matters to attend to."
"More pressing than making arrangements to place Adella in the royal family crypt?"
"I spoke with my brother about that. And if you will excuse me I will try once more before the pyre begins." Jareth turned to address Sarah. "Leander, let me present to you Sarah. She was friends with Adella in the aboveground. Sarah, Leander is Adella's brother. He will be your escort until I return." Jareth then walked off.
"Sarah? You are not the same Sarah as the one who defeated Jareth and his labyrinth years ago, are you?" Leander spoke up after a minute.
"I am. I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thank you." Leander then reached for Sarah's hand and brought it to his lips and kissed the tops of her fingers. "A pleasure to meet you Sarah, I wish it were under better circumstances." He then placed her hand in the crook of his elbow and led her through the gardens until they reached an opening.
Beautiful white flowers surrounded the area and in the middle was the set up for the pyre. There were many others within the area, all here Sarah assumed to pay their respects to Addy.
Sarah spotted Jareth standing by two very beautiful women and a handsome man. The older woman wore a gown that was very regal with her brown curls done up. The younger woman wore a simpler dress with her long blonde curls cascading down her back. The man wore a deep purple tunic and had his long brown hair pulled back with a bow and a crown on his head. She couldn't hear what they were saying but Jareth didn't look pleased. He then stepped away and walked around the corner and out of sight.
The man with the crown then stepped forward in front of the pyre set up. He lifted his arms in welcome. "Thank you all for gathering here today. It is with such sorrow that we gather for the passing of our own dear Lady Adella. She was to be a welcomed member of the royal court and family. It is tragic what transpired and we are saddened to see her time here has ended. We now will say goodbye to Lady Adella as her spirit is released so she may rest in peace."
He turned slightly and from the corner Jareth had walked around, he reappeared leading a group of fae who were carrying Adella out to the pyre. As they were placing Adella, Sarah saw a slight shimmer coming from Adella. Sarah looked around to see if anyone else saw it and was disappointed to see that no one seemed to notice. 'Great I'm seeing things." she thought. She chanced a glance at Leander, who was still next to her, and saw that he looked confused. Maybe he saw it too?
Jareth had just returned to her side, when Leander quietly said, "Jareth…..that isn't…"
"Not now, Leander." Jareth interrupted in a tone that held authority.
Sarah chose to look down rather than watch, and let the tears fall as she said goodbye to her friend.
After the pyre, drinks and food was served as everyone celebrated the life of Adella. Leander ended up not staying and left without a word.
"Forgive Leander, he lost his mother a few years ago and now his sister. He needs time. If you are feeling up to it later I can invite him to the castle so you two may share stories about Adella."
"I'd like that."
"Come, there are a few Fae I would like you to meet." Jareth took her hand and led her to the 3 she saw Jareth talking to early. "Sarah, I would like to introduce to you my mother, Queen Celeste." Sarah did what she thought would be an acceptable curtsey.
Celeste took Sarah's hand in both of hers and smiled warmly. "It is such a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sarah. You are quite beautiful and it's wonderful to have a face to match the name."
"Thank you."
"Oh I am so happy to meet you! To think that you solved the Labyrinth and went up against my brother! He's very impressed that you did so, he brings it up often." The younger fae squealed as she moved forward and hugged Sarah. She pulled back and smiled brightly. "I hope we become good friends!"
"Sarah, this is my younger sister, Princess Selina." Jareth spoke with a smile. He then turned to the male. "And this is my brother, his majesty Amir, King of the Underground."
Amir took Sarah's hand and bowed. He brought her hand to his lips, just like Leander did, but did not leave a kiss. Sarah did another curtsey. "It's wonderful to meet you all."
"The pleasure is ours dear Sarah. "Amir spoke. "I hear that Lady Adella left her magic to you. It's rare that a Fae would give their gift to humans. I look forward to hearing from Jareth how your magic training is going. I would like to have a recording done of it, so we can have a guide for if this ever happens again in the future."
"Of course." Jareth agreed. "Mother, may we request one of your ladies in waiting. I would like to have someone at my castle to help assist Sarah while she stays with us."
"Oh! I will do it!" Selina spoke up excitedly!
"Selina, you are a princess. You shouldn't be…." Amir started.
"Oh please brother! I am bored and would love to be able to do something. Besides, this way I can get to know my new friend!" Selina wrapped her arms around Amir's left arm. "Please?"
Amir looked down at her before sighing. "Alright, but please stop playing with my emotions. You don't need your magic to convince me."
Selina smiled! "Thank you!" She then hugged her brother and gave him a kiss on his cheeks. "Sarah, come keep me company while I pack!" WIthout waiting for an answer, Selina grabbed Sarah's hand and pulled her towards the castle, ignoring Jareth's protests.
Sarah soon found herself sitting at a small table in Selina's large chambers, listening to her go on and on about being able to spend time together. Sarah couldn't help but smile. She thought after Addy leaving that things wouldn't get better. But here she was in a magical world full of wonderful sights and Fae. She couldn't help but be a little excited to see where this new adventure of magic will lead her.