Exchange Fic #4: Someone True (4/6)
The actual identity of the writer will remain secret until all the submissions are in and posted.
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Title: Someone True, Part Four
Author: faeries_midwife
Recipient: jinx1764
Prompts: 1) A story about how J/S develop their relationship before or after their Labyrinth adventure. Can have time altering elements. Doesn't have to be romantic, can be friendship focus.
2) Fish out of water element story: Sarah's moving into the castle (married or about to be married) and needs to have internet access. Jareth doesn't understand what it is, nor does he care to. Can the Underground even get wifi?
3) One of the major characters tries a new food (doesn't have to be Aboveground food) and either loves it or hates it.
Rating: PG-13
Plot Summary: Jareth makes a rash decision after Sarah defeats him and uses a spell to erase her memories of her time Underground, upsetting everything the Labyrinth had set in motion.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
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Jareth looked around the park, disappointed. This was the third day in a row that Sarah had failed to show up. Was she on some sort of restriction? Perhaps she had given her stepmother trouble and this was her punishment, to stay away from the park. It was nearing evening, though, and he knew she wouldn't show up now. Turning to leave, he nearly collided with Agnes.
"Looking for your young bride, Goblin King?" she asked, shaking her head.
Jareth glowered at her. "Has your addled mind forgotten that I am your king, Junk Lady? Perhaps the threat of a bog-dipping will garner some respect."
"Can't make good on such a threat now, can you, Highness?" she pointed out, but had the grace to look slightly sheepish.
Rolling his eyes, Jareth decided to overlook her cheekiness -- for now -- and said, "What of Sarah?"
"You're not going to find her. Your brother grew weary of your subjects and wished to expedite your return... He enchanted the waters and gave your Sarah a show."
"Explain," Jareth demanded.
Agnes flinched, seeing a glimpse of her king's temper in the man before her. "The girl knows all. Markus provided her with a visual memory of her time in your Labyrinth... her first meeting with you, in fact... and her memories have been restored in full. She remembers everything, Sire."
He closed his eyes. Everything was ruined now. All his time and effort these many months to gain Sarah's trust and friendship... for naught. "Why am I still here?"
Agnes snickered, then drew herself up, sobering. "The Council has informed Markus that in punishment he will serve penance of another hundred moons as the Goblin King's Vassal for deliberately going against their decree. You are to remain here and attempt to repair the damage done."
Frustrated, Jareth shook his head. "She will never forgive me."
"You must try," the junk lady said simply. "The Labyrinth is set on having her as Queen; she will accept none but Sarah. Use the foundation of what you have thus far accomplished, Sire."
He ran a hand through his hair. "Is there nothing I can do to persuade the Council to allow me to return home?" he asked in frustration as he sat on the bench he'd shared with Sarah so many times. He looked back at Agnes. "I grow weary, Agnes. The very idea of attempting to regain Sarah's favor -- of trying to explain the reasons for my being here and somehow convincing her of my honorable intentions when her memories will do nothing but call to mind why she shouldn't trust me..."
"Sire, we have agreed that the Lady Sarah is a most extraordinary girl. Give her -- and yourself -- a chance," Agnes said with uncharacteristic kindness.
Jareth looked up with exhausted eyes. "I hadn't made very much headway as it was, Agnes, and now I've got to start all over again. Damn Markus' sorry hide!"
Smiling cryptically, the old woman shrugged. "I believe, Sire, that you may be wrong."
"Pardon?" he asked threateningly.
"You may be wrong," she said again, and faded from sight. "You must give her time," her voice echoed in the air.
Jareth stood for a long moment, lost in thought. Perhaps he could try to speak with Sarah, after all. If he could only explain to her... explain what? She would never understand why he had erased her memory without revealing his selfishness. She would never forgive him for coming here and concealing his true identity, even though she didn't remember it. And how could he ever tell her what he was doing here without revealing that she was to become his bride?
He would have to feel his way very carefully, if she would see him at all. Glancing at his watch, he realized that he just might catch her at home alone. There was no way he could talk to her with her father and stepmother there. He began walking toward her house, rehearsing what he might say, looking for ways to keep the full truth obscured for a while longer.
Sooner than he would have thought, he was standing at her door. Taking a deep breath, he knocked. After a moment, Sarah's stepmother opened the door, Toby trailing behind. "Yes, may I help you?"
Jareth's mouth went dry. "Hello," he began. "My name is Jarrett, I'm a friend of Sarah's--"
Her eyes widened in surprise. "You're Jarrett? Or is it Jareth?"
"I actually go by both," he replied. "I was wondering if I might --"
She shook her head. "Sarah's not home, she's... out of town. She left something for you. Let me get it."
Jareth watched the door close and wondered where Sarah had gone, and for how long. Swallowing over the sudden lump in his throat, he waited. A moment later, the door opened again.
"I'm sorry," the woman said, handing him an envelope. On it was scribbled "Jareth", in Sarah's hand. "When Sarah told me you'd be coming by at some point, and asked me to give you this letter, I assumed you were... um..."
"Young," he supplied. "A boy of Sarah's own age."
She nodded. "Well yes, actually. I'm a bit concerned, though, now that I see you."
"I understand," Jareth replied, touched by the woman's concern for her stepdaughter. "Let me assure you that Sarah and I are nothing but friends. I would never take advantage of a young woman."
Karen Williams studied him for a moment, then nodded. "I don't know why, but I believe you."
"Thank you. May I ask... where did Sarah go, and when will she be coming home?"
She gave him a small smile. "Sarah asked us not to tell anyone where she went," she said almost apologetically. "She said she needed some time away and wasn't sure when she would be ready to come home. She... even enrolled in a new high school."
He swallowed, sensing just how difficult his task was becoming. "Please... It's urgent that I speak to her, explain some things. She left, I believe, because she felt betrayed by me. But it was a misunderstanding."
"What kind of misunderstanding?" she asked.
"I can't tell you that," he said ruefully.
She frowned slightly. "Well, I can't tell you where she is, either."
He had known she was going to say that. "Thank you for the letter," he said, holding it up. "Might I compose a reply and ask that you forward it to her?"
Karen's eyelids lowered. "I'm really very sorry, but she asked that we not do that," she told him. "Look... I believe you when you say there was a misunderstanding, and I believe you when you say that you would never hurt Sarah intentionally. But she's our daughter, and we have to honor her wishes, which were explicit. You have to understand our concern over her being involved with you, whatever the relationship. She was pretty shaken up when she asked to go away and insisted on leaving the very next day, as soon as arrangements could be made."
He nodded. What more was there to say? "I thank you for your time."
Jareth sighed as the door closed once again. Slipping Sarah's letter into his pocket, he headed back to the park to read it. He walked slowly, both anticipating and dreading its contents. What if she never wanted to see him again? What if she never came home? He could try to find her, but if he were successful, it would only infuriate her, because she clearly didn't want him to find her. The least he could do was respect her wishes and hope she didn't stay away too long. And hope that she would give him a chance to explain.
Arriving at a bench near ‘their' bridge, he sank down heavily and pulled the letter out of his pocket. He stared at his name in her writing for some time before opening the sealed envelope. The page inside was folded neatly, and he took his time straightening it, his heart in his throat.
"Goblin King," it began. Jareth flinched at her use of his title.
"I remembered everything. I saw the reflection you sent me, in the water of the duck pond (cowardly way to come ‘clean', by the way). Why did you deceive me? You led me to trust you and consider you a friend, all while you knew exactly what happened and that I didn't remember any of it. Why did you make me forget in the first place? What an elaborate game... well done. You definitely beat me this time, so you've gotten even.
I don't want to see you. I'm going away. I don't know for how long. Please don't try to find out from my family or by any other means where I am. If you have even a small amount of humanity in you, leave me alone. I need time to think about what has happened, and I need time away from you.
You should go home... I can't understand what you're doing in my world. I can only imagine it had something to do with revenge. Well, mission accomplished. Just... just leave me alone, Jarrett, my heart can't take any more.
Sarah"
Jareth read the letter through three times. One phrase stuck out more than any other: ‘my heart can't take any more.' Had it been her intention to reveal something of her feelings, or was she merely speaking as a dramatic teenaged girl? If he had to guess, he'd guess the former, though now those feelings were surely obliterated.
He had no choice but to wait for her return and bide his time. If the Labyrinth and Council didn't decide to bring him home, he was stuck here until she came home and hopefully gave him another chance.
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Thirteen months later
Sarah stood in her bedroom unpacking after a joyous reunion with her family. She couldn't believe how much Toby had grown, and how much she had missed them all. They had talked every weekend by phone, but it wasn't the same. She had enjoyed spending time with her Aunt Jessie and Uncle Mike in California. It had been hard to make friends at the school she'd gone to, but she had managed to meet a few good ones. The time had gone by quickly, and she had often been too busy to think about her broken heart.
But she had thought about it a lot, especially at night, waiting for sleep. It had weighed heavily on her, and though she had come to grips with the Goblin King's betrayal, she hadn't been able to get over her feelings for him. She knew now that she had been a fool to fall for an older man feigning interest in her, acting as if he wanted to be her friend. That should have tipped her off from the very beginning.
All she could do was hope that he had gone back to the Underground, back to his castle beyond the Goblin City. Maybe he had forgotten all about her, and about his plan for revenge. Or maybe he'd already accomplished what he set out to do... make her think he was her friend and then reveal exactly who he was. Now that she remembered everything -- and she had replayed every moment in her mind many times over -- the game was forfeit, if not over, wasn't it?
Sarah had also read the book -- The Labyrinth -- several times, underlining key phrases and making notes in the margins, trying to figure out why he had done it, and if there had been any way for her to avoid what had occurred. The line about the Goblin King falling in love with the girl always gave her pause.
In love? So many elements of the book rang true, but this one bothered her. How could he have fallen in love with her? All he did was torture her, tease her, and steal from her. He stole her brother, her time, and her memories. Still...
The way he had talked to her, telling her things as if he really wanted her to know them, and asking questions of her and then listening as if he really wanted to hear her answers... he had seemed genuine. She had never detected any malice or ill-intent; quite the opposite, actually. Was he really that good of an actor? Or was there more to the story than she knew?
Even when she had questioned him about saying she had ‘no basis for comparison' as to what was fair or not, his response had been ‘I don't believe I've said that these last few months, Sarah.' She understood now why he had answered the way he had. He hadn't said it in the last few months, but he had said it to her. He had seemed to be making an attempt at honesty.
Sarah had done a lot of growing up in her year away. She had even confided, vaguely, to her aunt about a ‘guy' she had gotten to know. Her aunt had sagely suggested that maybe Sarah had been remiss in not seeking him out to allow him to explain himself. ‘There are always two sides to every story, my dear, and it's not a good idea to make a judgment until you've weighed all the evidence.'
Sarah had even thought about what she had seen in the water at the park, her first meeting with the Goblin King. What if he hadn't been responsible for that, as she had accused in her letter to him? She'd been having small breakthroughs in her memory, after all... what if that was just another product out of her own mind?
Time had given her insight, and she now wondered if perhaps things hadn't totally been in Jareth's control. What if he had someone to answer to? She had never seen him use magic in their time together; he had looked like an ordinary human. What if that's all he was? Was he trapped here? Was he being punished by someone for allowing her to win? Is that why she hadn't remembered it?
Sighing, she sank down onto her bed and stared at her empty suitcase. The bag of gifts she had brought for her father, Karen and Toby sat on her dresser; she wanted to wrap them up before giving them out. In addition, there was a gift for Jareth as well, though she didn't know if she would ever see him again to give it to him. She hoped she would; she felt sure he would like it.
Was he still here? Or had he gone home? In a way, she hoped he had, because then she would never have to face him. She would never have to find out if she was correct in her initial suspicion that he had been planning some elaborate and cruel revelation of his revenge.
But could she live with never knowing? And would she ever forgive herself for not giving him a chance to explain if there was something more to the situation than she was aware of?
She had, in a moment of madness, mailed him a postcard from California letting him know that she was coming home. Had he even cared? Or had he laughed in derision and thrown it into the trash?
Her hand shaking, she picked up her telephone and made sure no one else was on the line. Then she dialed Jareth's phone number.
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Jareth pulled his headphones off and set them on the patio table, grimacing to see that they had paint smudges all over them. Shrugging, he studied his work, an oil painting of Sarah. It wasn't half bad, though it wouldn't be winning any contests. The best one he had done, he hated to admit, was of Didymus and his loyal steed Ambrosius. He had grown so bored in Sarah's long absence that he had taken up painting, a hobby he had practiced as a young lad. Surprised to find that he hadn't entirely lost his skill, he had begun painting things from home -- his castle, the Labyrinth, the room of stairs. Even Hogsnout.
His stomach growled, reminding him that all he'd had all day was a cup of coffee. It was rare for him to feel hungry at all and so he often skipped meals, to the consternation of his willful housekeeper. She complained about all the food she cooked him that went to waste and called him rude names like Thin Man.
Jareth chuckled... Mrs. Jameson reminded him the slightest bit of Agnes... only cleaner and with more manners. The woman had been very kind to him. It certainly wasn't one of her duties to attempt to convince him to eat, or keep him company on various lonely evenings. She seemed to know when the waiting was at its worst, and when his spirits at their lowest -- she complained a bit, cooked, and fussed over him and it was rather... nice. He sauntered into the kitchen to rummage in the fridge, satisfied when he found a leftover plate of roast beef and mashed potatoes. While it was heating in the microwave, he went through the mail, which Mrs. Jameson always left in a neat pile on the counter. There was quite an accumulation, as he had neglected it for about a week.
Bills and junk mail, same as always. But a brightly colored photograph caught his eye from near the bottom of the stack. It was a postcard from California, a beautiful beach scene with glistening waves dotted with young people standing on brightly colored floatation devices. Frowning slightly, he turned it over and recognized the handwriting. The postcard was from Sarah!
"Jareth,
I don't know if you'll even get this, maybe you've gone home already. I debated whether to send this card to you, but I wanted to let you know that I'll be home soon. If you're still there, then maybe we should talk. I'll call you when I'm ready.
Sarah"
When had this arrived? He cursed himself for not checking the mail more often. The microwave beeped but he stood with the postcard in his hand, reading it over and over. She wanted to talk; she was going to call him! Was she home yet? How long would she wait before calling him? His heart felt as if it would explode out of his ribcage.
His food all but forgotten, Jareth paced his kitchen in a nervous fit. There was no way he had even allowed himself to hope for Sarah to willingly contact him upon her return. He wondered how he would survive until she did so.
Agitated beyond belief, he moved out of the kitchen and into the hallway where the phone was. Perhaps he could stare at it and will it to ring. To his surprise, however, he saw the little red light blinking on his answering machine, indicating that he had a message -- a rare occasion indeed. If it was an advertisement or solicitation, he was going to scream. With a trembling finger, he pressed ‘play'.
"Jareth? It's Sarah. I guess you're not there right now, or you're busy. Or maybe you're gone for good. Did you get my postcard from California?"
He could hear the tremor in her voice; she was clearly as nervous as he was.
"Well, um... I'm home now. I guess we have some things to talk about. I'd really like to know why you're here, and why I didn't remember being Underground... lots of things. If you want to meet me, I'll be in the park around four. But I can't stay long, so if you're not there, I'll just go home and... and I don't know. Please just be there."
Jareth glanced at the clock, it was three fifty-seven. With a muttered curse, he grabbed his jacket and rushed out the door. Once outside, he set off in a sprint and didn't slow down until he reached the park. Arriving at the bridge, he didn't see Sarah, and panicked. His watch showed that it was four-o-two. Surely she would have waited two minutes!
Disappointed, he leaned over and placed his hands on his knees, and tried to catch his
breath. After a moment, Jareth sensed that he wasn't alone. Straightening, he came face to face with Sarah, who stood a few feet away watching him warily. She looked different... a little older, much less like a teenager. Even her manner of dress was that of a young woman and not a girl. Her hair was slightly shorter and blunt cut, hanging in gentle waves about her face, devoid of barrettes or other ornaments. Her features were softly enhanced by cosmetics. In short, she took his breath away.
"Sarah," he said simply.
"Hi," she replied. "Are you okay?"
Nodding, he said, "I only just found your postcard in a stack of mail, then noticed that you had left me a message. I ran all the way here."
A faint smile played about her lips. "You ran? Why?"
"I was afraid I'd be late, and I didn't want to miss you," he said candidly. "I've been missing you enough these last thirteen months. Interesting number, by the way."
Shrugging slightly, she said with a slight smile, "I thought it was fitting."
"I'm very glad you're back," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, gazing at her intently. He drank in the sight of her, well aware that it might be one of the last times he saw her.
Sarah's eyes widened, and he knew she was affected by the sudden tension in the air around them. "Me too," she replied simply. "I was ready to come home."
"Sarah... I'm sorry things happened as they did. I wanted so badly to explain myself to you, but you left so fast and without a word. Please believe me when I say I never meant for you to be hurt in any way."
She nodded. "I did wonder if it was some elaborate scheme for revenge. It didn't seem like it, but then... I had no way of knowing for sure. And, well... I had no other explanation for why you would be here, why you would seek me out. I have to admit that I thought we really were friends, and I couldn't reconcile that with the thought of you getting even."
"Please believe me when I say it had nothing to do with revenge," he said with conviction. At the very least, he wanted her to understand that. "And we were... we are friends. The real reason I'm here is a story that will take some telling. I know you said your time is limited today. Perhaps we can meet tomorrow, and I will reveal everything. Then... you can decide what you want to do."
Sarah frowned. "What do you mean, decide what I want to do?"
"Everything hinges upon my reason for coming Above and staying here all this time," he explained. "I fear that if I answer only partially, you will not return to hear me out. And at the very least, I owe you the entire truth."
Her eyebrows rose. "That bad, huh?"
"It depends on your perspective," he replied, knowing that he sounded cryptic. But it was true. If he merely told her she would have to decide whether or not to accept his hand in marriage and return with him Underground, she would probably run as far as fast as she could. He must explain everything, especially that the decree from the Labyrinth and Council were preceded by his falling in love with her. She had to understand that he wanted her for himself, that he wasn't merely following orders. More than anything, he knew Sarah would detest a marriage of convenience.
She looked as if she was going to pursue the matter, but then she glanced at her watch and sighed. "Okay, tomorrow it is. Should we meet here?"
"I would prefer that we talk somewhere that there will be the least chance of interruption. Would you be willing to come over and meet in my garden? It's very peaceful and quiet," he said, trying to gauge her reaction to being truly alone with him. "I could... whip up something for lunch."
Sarah appeared to mull this over for a moment. "You cook?"
Surprised that she asked this rather than expressing concern over meeting somewhere so secluded, he nodded. "I do. Not that I do so often. But yes, I am capable."
This seemed to please and amuse her. "How can I resist an offer to have my lunch made by a king?" she said teasingly.
"Well, technically... I'm not a king here. I have no magic... I'm afraid I'm just an ordinary man," he said.
She studied him for a long moment. "I suppose the reason for that is also tied up in your story," she said wryly.
"Yes."
"Sounds like one heck of a story," she observed, looking a little wary.
He nodded. "It is."
"Okay, then," she said. "Until tomorrow. What time?"
"Whenever you're ready. I have no doubt that I'll be up with the sun, if I sleep at all, anxiously awaiting your arrival," he replied, gazing at her. She was even more beautiful than he remembered, and he wished he could kiss her lips, hold her in his arms.
She blushed under his intense stare and at his words. When she spoke, her voice was charmingly breathless. "C-can I bring anything?"
"Just you," he said softly.
Part Five
Part Six
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Title: Someone True, Part Four
Author: faeries_midwife
Recipient: jinx1764
Prompts: 1) A story about how J/S develop their relationship before or after their Labyrinth adventure. Can have time altering elements. Doesn't have to be romantic, can be friendship focus.
2) Fish out of water element story: Sarah's moving into the castle (married or about to be married) and needs to have internet access. Jareth doesn't understand what it is, nor does he care to. Can the Underground even get wifi?
3) One of the major characters tries a new food (doesn't have to be Aboveground food) and either loves it or hates it.
Rating: PG-13
Plot Summary: Jareth makes a rash decision after Sarah defeats him and uses a spell to erase her memories of her time Underground, upsetting everything the Labyrinth had set in motion.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
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Jareth looked around the park, disappointed. This was the third day in a row that Sarah had failed to show up. Was she on some sort of restriction? Perhaps she had given her stepmother trouble and this was her punishment, to stay away from the park. It was nearing evening, though, and he knew she wouldn't show up now. Turning to leave, he nearly collided with Agnes.
"Looking for your young bride, Goblin King?" she asked, shaking her head.
Jareth glowered at her. "Has your addled mind forgotten that I am your king, Junk Lady? Perhaps the threat of a bog-dipping will garner some respect."
"Can't make good on such a threat now, can you, Highness?" she pointed out, but had the grace to look slightly sheepish.
Rolling his eyes, Jareth decided to overlook her cheekiness -- for now -- and said, "What of Sarah?"
"You're not going to find her. Your brother grew weary of your subjects and wished to expedite your return... He enchanted the waters and gave your Sarah a show."
"Explain," Jareth demanded.
Agnes flinched, seeing a glimpse of her king's temper in the man before her. "The girl knows all. Markus provided her with a visual memory of her time in your Labyrinth... her first meeting with you, in fact... and her memories have been restored in full. She remembers everything, Sire."
He closed his eyes. Everything was ruined now. All his time and effort these many months to gain Sarah's trust and friendship... for naught. "Why am I still here?"
Agnes snickered, then drew herself up, sobering. "The Council has informed Markus that in punishment he will serve penance of another hundred moons as the Goblin King's Vassal for deliberately going against their decree. You are to remain here and attempt to repair the damage done."
Frustrated, Jareth shook his head. "She will never forgive me."
"You must try," the junk lady said simply. "The Labyrinth is set on having her as Queen; she will accept none but Sarah. Use the foundation of what you have thus far accomplished, Sire."
He ran a hand through his hair. "Is there nothing I can do to persuade the Council to allow me to return home?" he asked in frustration as he sat on the bench he'd shared with Sarah so many times. He looked back at Agnes. "I grow weary, Agnes. The very idea of attempting to regain Sarah's favor -- of trying to explain the reasons for my being here and somehow convincing her of my honorable intentions when her memories will do nothing but call to mind why she shouldn't trust me..."
"Sire, we have agreed that the Lady Sarah is a most extraordinary girl. Give her -- and yourself -- a chance," Agnes said with uncharacteristic kindness.
Jareth looked up with exhausted eyes. "I hadn't made very much headway as it was, Agnes, and now I've got to start all over again. Damn Markus' sorry hide!"
Smiling cryptically, the old woman shrugged. "I believe, Sire, that you may be wrong."
"Pardon?" he asked threateningly.
"You may be wrong," she said again, and faded from sight. "You must give her time," her voice echoed in the air.
Jareth stood for a long moment, lost in thought. Perhaps he could try to speak with Sarah, after all. If he could only explain to her... explain what? She would never understand why he had erased her memory without revealing his selfishness. She would never forgive him for coming here and concealing his true identity, even though she didn't remember it. And how could he ever tell her what he was doing here without revealing that she was to become his bride?
He would have to feel his way very carefully, if she would see him at all. Glancing at his watch, he realized that he just might catch her at home alone. There was no way he could talk to her with her father and stepmother there. He began walking toward her house, rehearsing what he might say, looking for ways to keep the full truth obscured for a while longer.
Sooner than he would have thought, he was standing at her door. Taking a deep breath, he knocked. After a moment, Sarah's stepmother opened the door, Toby trailing behind. "Yes, may I help you?"
Jareth's mouth went dry. "Hello," he began. "My name is Jarrett, I'm a friend of Sarah's--"
Her eyes widened in surprise. "You're Jarrett? Or is it Jareth?"
"I actually go by both," he replied. "I was wondering if I might --"
She shook her head. "Sarah's not home, she's... out of town. She left something for you. Let me get it."
Jareth watched the door close and wondered where Sarah had gone, and for how long. Swallowing over the sudden lump in his throat, he waited. A moment later, the door opened again.
"I'm sorry," the woman said, handing him an envelope. On it was scribbled "Jareth", in Sarah's hand. "When Sarah told me you'd be coming by at some point, and asked me to give you this letter, I assumed you were... um..."
"Young," he supplied. "A boy of Sarah's own age."
She nodded. "Well yes, actually. I'm a bit concerned, though, now that I see you."
"I understand," Jareth replied, touched by the woman's concern for her stepdaughter. "Let me assure you that Sarah and I are nothing but friends. I would never take advantage of a young woman."
Karen Williams studied him for a moment, then nodded. "I don't know why, but I believe you."
"Thank you. May I ask... where did Sarah go, and when will she be coming home?"
She gave him a small smile. "Sarah asked us not to tell anyone where she went," she said almost apologetically. "She said she needed some time away and wasn't sure when she would be ready to come home. She... even enrolled in a new high school."
He swallowed, sensing just how difficult his task was becoming. "Please... It's urgent that I speak to her, explain some things. She left, I believe, because she felt betrayed by me. But it was a misunderstanding."
"What kind of misunderstanding?" she asked.
"I can't tell you that," he said ruefully.
She frowned slightly. "Well, I can't tell you where she is, either."
He had known she was going to say that. "Thank you for the letter," he said, holding it up. "Might I compose a reply and ask that you forward it to her?"
Karen's eyelids lowered. "I'm really very sorry, but she asked that we not do that," she told him. "Look... I believe you when you say there was a misunderstanding, and I believe you when you say that you would never hurt Sarah intentionally. But she's our daughter, and we have to honor her wishes, which were explicit. You have to understand our concern over her being involved with you, whatever the relationship. She was pretty shaken up when she asked to go away and insisted on leaving the very next day, as soon as arrangements could be made."
He nodded. What more was there to say? "I thank you for your time."
Jareth sighed as the door closed once again. Slipping Sarah's letter into his pocket, he headed back to the park to read it. He walked slowly, both anticipating and dreading its contents. What if she never wanted to see him again? What if she never came home? He could try to find her, but if he were successful, it would only infuriate her, because she clearly didn't want him to find her. The least he could do was respect her wishes and hope she didn't stay away too long. And hope that she would give him a chance to explain.
Arriving at a bench near ‘their' bridge, he sank down heavily and pulled the letter out of his pocket. He stared at his name in her writing for some time before opening the sealed envelope. The page inside was folded neatly, and he took his time straightening it, his heart in his throat.
"Goblin King," it began. Jareth flinched at her use of his title.
"I remembered everything. I saw the reflection you sent me, in the water of the duck pond (cowardly way to come ‘clean', by the way). Why did you deceive me? You led me to trust you and consider you a friend, all while you knew exactly what happened and that I didn't remember any of it. Why did you make me forget in the first place? What an elaborate game... well done. You definitely beat me this time, so you've gotten even.
I don't want to see you. I'm going away. I don't know for how long. Please don't try to find out from my family or by any other means where I am. If you have even a small amount of humanity in you, leave me alone. I need time to think about what has happened, and I need time away from you.
You should go home... I can't understand what you're doing in my world. I can only imagine it had something to do with revenge. Well, mission accomplished. Just... just leave me alone, Jarrett, my heart can't take any more.
Sarah"
Jareth read the letter through three times. One phrase stuck out more than any other: ‘my heart can't take any more.' Had it been her intention to reveal something of her feelings, or was she merely speaking as a dramatic teenaged girl? If he had to guess, he'd guess the former, though now those feelings were surely obliterated.
He had no choice but to wait for her return and bide his time. If the Labyrinth and Council didn't decide to bring him home, he was stuck here until she came home and hopefully gave him another chance.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Thirteen months later
Sarah stood in her bedroom unpacking after a joyous reunion with her family. She couldn't believe how much Toby had grown, and how much she had missed them all. They had talked every weekend by phone, but it wasn't the same. She had enjoyed spending time with her Aunt Jessie and Uncle Mike in California. It had been hard to make friends at the school she'd gone to, but she had managed to meet a few good ones. The time had gone by quickly, and she had often been too busy to think about her broken heart.
But she had thought about it a lot, especially at night, waiting for sleep. It had weighed heavily on her, and though she had come to grips with the Goblin King's betrayal, she hadn't been able to get over her feelings for him. She knew now that she had been a fool to fall for an older man feigning interest in her, acting as if he wanted to be her friend. That should have tipped her off from the very beginning.
All she could do was hope that he had gone back to the Underground, back to his castle beyond the Goblin City. Maybe he had forgotten all about her, and about his plan for revenge. Or maybe he'd already accomplished what he set out to do... make her think he was her friend and then reveal exactly who he was. Now that she remembered everything -- and she had replayed every moment in her mind many times over -- the game was forfeit, if not over, wasn't it?
Sarah had also read the book -- The Labyrinth -- several times, underlining key phrases and making notes in the margins, trying to figure out why he had done it, and if there had been any way for her to avoid what had occurred. The line about the Goblin King falling in love with the girl always gave her pause.
In love? So many elements of the book rang true, but this one bothered her. How could he have fallen in love with her? All he did was torture her, tease her, and steal from her. He stole her brother, her time, and her memories. Still...
The way he had talked to her, telling her things as if he really wanted her to know them, and asking questions of her and then listening as if he really wanted to hear her answers... he had seemed genuine. She had never detected any malice or ill-intent; quite the opposite, actually. Was he really that good of an actor? Or was there more to the story than she knew?
Even when she had questioned him about saying she had ‘no basis for comparison' as to what was fair or not, his response had been ‘I don't believe I've said that these last few months, Sarah.' She understood now why he had answered the way he had. He hadn't said it in the last few months, but he had said it to her. He had seemed to be making an attempt at honesty.
Sarah had done a lot of growing up in her year away. She had even confided, vaguely, to her aunt about a ‘guy' she had gotten to know. Her aunt had sagely suggested that maybe Sarah had been remiss in not seeking him out to allow him to explain himself. ‘There are always two sides to every story, my dear, and it's not a good idea to make a judgment until you've weighed all the evidence.'
Sarah had even thought about what she had seen in the water at the park, her first meeting with the Goblin King. What if he hadn't been responsible for that, as she had accused in her letter to him? She'd been having small breakthroughs in her memory, after all... what if that was just another product out of her own mind?
Time had given her insight, and she now wondered if perhaps things hadn't totally been in Jareth's control. What if he had someone to answer to? She had never seen him use magic in their time together; he had looked like an ordinary human. What if that's all he was? Was he trapped here? Was he being punished by someone for allowing her to win? Is that why she hadn't remembered it?
Sighing, she sank down onto her bed and stared at her empty suitcase. The bag of gifts she had brought for her father, Karen and Toby sat on her dresser; she wanted to wrap them up before giving them out. In addition, there was a gift for Jareth as well, though she didn't know if she would ever see him again to give it to him. She hoped she would; she felt sure he would like it.
Was he still here? Or had he gone home? In a way, she hoped he had, because then she would never have to face him. She would never have to find out if she was correct in her initial suspicion that he had been planning some elaborate and cruel revelation of his revenge.
But could she live with never knowing? And would she ever forgive herself for not giving him a chance to explain if there was something more to the situation than she was aware of?
She had, in a moment of madness, mailed him a postcard from California letting him know that she was coming home. Had he even cared? Or had he laughed in derision and thrown it into the trash?
Her hand shaking, she picked up her telephone and made sure no one else was on the line. Then she dialed Jareth's phone number.
JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ
Jareth pulled his headphones off and set them on the patio table, grimacing to see that they had paint smudges all over them. Shrugging, he studied his work, an oil painting of Sarah. It wasn't half bad, though it wouldn't be winning any contests. The best one he had done, he hated to admit, was of Didymus and his loyal steed Ambrosius. He had grown so bored in Sarah's long absence that he had taken up painting, a hobby he had practiced as a young lad. Surprised to find that he hadn't entirely lost his skill, he had begun painting things from home -- his castle, the Labyrinth, the room of stairs. Even Hogsnout.
His stomach growled, reminding him that all he'd had all day was a cup of coffee. It was rare for him to feel hungry at all and so he often skipped meals, to the consternation of his willful housekeeper. She complained about all the food she cooked him that went to waste and called him rude names like Thin Man.
Jareth chuckled... Mrs. Jameson reminded him the slightest bit of Agnes... only cleaner and with more manners. The woman had been very kind to him. It certainly wasn't one of her duties to attempt to convince him to eat, or keep him company on various lonely evenings. She seemed to know when the waiting was at its worst, and when his spirits at their lowest -- she complained a bit, cooked, and fussed over him and it was rather... nice. He sauntered into the kitchen to rummage in the fridge, satisfied when he found a leftover plate of roast beef and mashed potatoes. While it was heating in the microwave, he went through the mail, which Mrs. Jameson always left in a neat pile on the counter. There was quite an accumulation, as he had neglected it for about a week.
Bills and junk mail, same as always. But a brightly colored photograph caught his eye from near the bottom of the stack. It was a postcard from California, a beautiful beach scene with glistening waves dotted with young people standing on brightly colored floatation devices. Frowning slightly, he turned it over and recognized the handwriting. The postcard was from Sarah!
"Jareth,
I don't know if you'll even get this, maybe you've gone home already. I debated whether to send this card to you, but I wanted to let you know that I'll be home soon. If you're still there, then maybe we should talk. I'll call you when I'm ready.
Sarah"
When had this arrived? He cursed himself for not checking the mail more often. The microwave beeped but he stood with the postcard in his hand, reading it over and over. She wanted to talk; she was going to call him! Was she home yet? How long would she wait before calling him? His heart felt as if it would explode out of his ribcage.
His food all but forgotten, Jareth paced his kitchen in a nervous fit. There was no way he had even allowed himself to hope for Sarah to willingly contact him upon her return. He wondered how he would survive until she did so.
Agitated beyond belief, he moved out of the kitchen and into the hallway where the phone was. Perhaps he could stare at it and will it to ring. To his surprise, however, he saw the little red light blinking on his answering machine, indicating that he had a message -- a rare occasion indeed. If it was an advertisement or solicitation, he was going to scream. With a trembling finger, he pressed ‘play'.
"Jareth? It's Sarah. I guess you're not there right now, or you're busy. Or maybe you're gone for good. Did you get my postcard from California?"
He could hear the tremor in her voice; she was clearly as nervous as he was.
"Well, um... I'm home now. I guess we have some things to talk about. I'd really like to know why you're here, and why I didn't remember being Underground... lots of things. If you want to meet me, I'll be in the park around four. But I can't stay long, so if you're not there, I'll just go home and... and I don't know. Please just be there."
Jareth glanced at the clock, it was three fifty-seven. With a muttered curse, he grabbed his jacket and rushed out the door. Once outside, he set off in a sprint and didn't slow down until he reached the park. Arriving at the bridge, he didn't see Sarah, and panicked. His watch showed that it was four-o-two. Surely she would have waited two minutes!
Disappointed, he leaned over and placed his hands on his knees, and tried to catch his
breath. After a moment, Jareth sensed that he wasn't alone. Straightening, he came face to face with Sarah, who stood a few feet away watching him warily. She looked different... a little older, much less like a teenager. Even her manner of dress was that of a young woman and not a girl. Her hair was slightly shorter and blunt cut, hanging in gentle waves about her face, devoid of barrettes or other ornaments. Her features were softly enhanced by cosmetics. In short, she took his breath away.
"Sarah," he said simply.
"Hi," she replied. "Are you okay?"
Nodding, he said, "I only just found your postcard in a stack of mail, then noticed that you had left me a message. I ran all the way here."
A faint smile played about her lips. "You ran? Why?"
"I was afraid I'd be late, and I didn't want to miss you," he said candidly. "I've been missing you enough these last thirteen months. Interesting number, by the way."
Shrugging slightly, she said with a slight smile, "I thought it was fitting."
"I'm very glad you're back," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, gazing at her intently. He drank in the sight of her, well aware that it might be one of the last times he saw her.
Sarah's eyes widened, and he knew she was affected by the sudden tension in the air around them. "Me too," she replied simply. "I was ready to come home."
"Sarah... I'm sorry things happened as they did. I wanted so badly to explain myself to you, but you left so fast and without a word. Please believe me when I say I never meant for you to be hurt in any way."
She nodded. "I did wonder if it was some elaborate scheme for revenge. It didn't seem like it, but then... I had no way of knowing for sure. And, well... I had no other explanation for why you would be here, why you would seek me out. I have to admit that I thought we really were friends, and I couldn't reconcile that with the thought of you getting even."
"Please believe me when I say it had nothing to do with revenge," he said with conviction. At the very least, he wanted her to understand that. "And we were... we are friends. The real reason I'm here is a story that will take some telling. I know you said your time is limited today. Perhaps we can meet tomorrow, and I will reveal everything. Then... you can decide what you want to do."
Sarah frowned. "What do you mean, decide what I want to do?"
"Everything hinges upon my reason for coming Above and staying here all this time," he explained. "I fear that if I answer only partially, you will not return to hear me out. And at the very least, I owe you the entire truth."
Her eyebrows rose. "That bad, huh?"
"It depends on your perspective," he replied, knowing that he sounded cryptic. But it was true. If he merely told her she would have to decide whether or not to accept his hand in marriage and return with him Underground, she would probably run as far as fast as she could. He must explain everything, especially that the decree from the Labyrinth and Council were preceded by his falling in love with her. She had to understand that he wanted her for himself, that he wasn't merely following orders. More than anything, he knew Sarah would detest a marriage of convenience.
She looked as if she was going to pursue the matter, but then she glanced at her watch and sighed. "Okay, tomorrow it is. Should we meet here?"
"I would prefer that we talk somewhere that there will be the least chance of interruption. Would you be willing to come over and meet in my garden? It's very peaceful and quiet," he said, trying to gauge her reaction to being truly alone with him. "I could... whip up something for lunch."
Sarah appeared to mull this over for a moment. "You cook?"
Surprised that she asked this rather than expressing concern over meeting somewhere so secluded, he nodded. "I do. Not that I do so often. But yes, I am capable."
This seemed to please and amuse her. "How can I resist an offer to have my lunch made by a king?" she said teasingly.
"Well, technically... I'm not a king here. I have no magic... I'm afraid I'm just an ordinary man," he said.
She studied him for a long moment. "I suppose the reason for that is also tied up in your story," she said wryly.
"Yes."
"Sounds like one heck of a story," she observed, looking a little wary.
He nodded. "It is."
"Okay, then," she said. "Until tomorrow. What time?"
"Whenever you're ready. I have no doubt that I'll be up with the sun, if I sleep at all, anxiously awaiting your arrival," he replied, gazing at her. She was even more beautiful than he remembered, and he wished he could kiss her lips, hold her in his arms.
She blushed under his intense stare and at his words. When she spoke, her voice was charmingly breathless. "C-can I bring anything?"
"Just you," he said softly.
Part Five
Part Six