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Makes No Sense at All
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Pain and cold were his first physical sensations followed directly by hunger. Not the type of hunger one experiences after skipping a meal or five. No, this appetite would be better described as the starvation one might feel after missing a lifetime of meals without the actual forgiving release of death. His fourth sensation, virtually masked by the third, was a strange, non-physical, gaping hole left in the vicinity of his chest, as if his heart no longer took up residence even though he felt its rapid thumping. Could one feel pain with the emotional absence of a heart?
Jareth awoke with a deep, gasping inhalation which burned the insides of his atrophied lungs. His body's first true breath in a mortal's short lifetime, the usually instinctive act of respiration took several minutes to relearn without triggering coughing fits. Sometime later, he didn't know how long, nor did he care, Jareth realized he lie on his bed within his personal chambers. Odd, he last remembered being in the Escher room speaking with...someone...a young, mortal girl.
Acute pain ripped through his skull and he cried out, shocked, as tears collected in his eyes. What happened? How did he get here? Why could he not remember? Nausea roiled his stomach; he leaned his head over the side of his bed as he dry-heaved for several minutes. Great buggering, bloody hell...what was wrong with him?
Returning to his back, Jareth noticed he also still wore his white feather cloak and suit, now more dark gray than white and extremely tattered and...
Moth eaten? Removing his gloves to examine his hands, he raised his head and noticed how sallow and dry his skin appeared. He felt so weak he didn't wish to be upright, and laid his head back upon his pillow. Glancing about his chambers, he saw various changes to the décor: excess dust and cobwebs, and more evidence of moth infestation to his drapery.
Fear lanced through him as he considered the possibilities. Twisting his wrist, he attempted to conjure a crystal, but his hand trembled uncontrollably. He felt how the weakness permeated to his bones, sapping his strength and magic. No crystal materialized, his lips and brows furrowed in a scowl.
'
What happened to me?' He thought with building anger interrupted by a vicious stomach growl. Food...he must eat and drink, regain his strength then solve the mystery of his current situation.
"I expect you'll be ravenous right about now." Jareth sat up abruptly to the sound of a woman's voice which made him extremely light-headed and dizzy, and he nearly slipped off the edge of his bed.
"G—!" He attempted to curse, but his vocal cords failed and he struggled to regain his balance at the edge of his bed, his head swimming with vertigo.
"Let me help you with that." The woman, a stunning blond wrapped in an azure blue and gold body cloth, stepped closer and grasped his shoulder before his poor equilibrium caused him further humiliation. This unknown woman so boldly handling him whilst in his private room caused Jareth all manner of internal discomfort. He forcibly restrained his urge to jerk from her presumptuous contact. He sensed the waves of power radiating from her, power possibly far greater than his own even without this current infirmity. And her hands did counter-balance his lack of control presently, not very regal to tumble from one's own bed to sprawl in a heap upon the floor.
"So, are you hungry?" Embarrassed, he wanted to curse at her specifically, but his vocal cords clearly plotted against him as nothing emerged from his cracked and burning lips other than a degrading croak. He settled for a stern glower up at her from his seated position leaning against her. How had she the advantage of him? Who was she? Why was she here?
Seemingly unfazed by his glare, the blond beauty waved her hand towards his small dining table and a delectable assortment of foods appeared. Instantly his mouth filled with saliva and his stomach howled louder as the aroma of fresh food hit him. Swallowing, he fought his desire to rush passed her and devour every bit of edible item in sight. A larger part of him compelled his body to fight its primitive urges, remain cool and collected. He was a king, blast it all. He would not debase himself further by forgetting before this woman, whoever she was.
"It's alright, Jareth," she said with a gentle smile, and he started at usage of his proper name. She knew? Names held power. His sense of foreboding increased. "I know how hungry you must be. No need to stand on formalities." She moved away, giving him space. "Eat first then we'll talk."
He tried to speak, but his voice, so long disused, failed again and he opted to nod instead—too starved to be properly embarrassed anymore. Taking it slow, Jareth slung his legs off the side of his bed; his boot heels contacting the stone with a tap. He eased his way to the table, holding onto anything en route for stability as his legs shuddered beneath his presently slighter than normal weight. Gaining the upholstered chair, he counted it a victory and sighed.
"Feeling weak, hon?"
With a quirked brow at her use of a silly nickname, he nodded, before finding a plate and piling with foodstuffs. The woman offered him a large goblet filled with fresh tasting water which he accepted, eagerly gulping its entire contents down. She refilled it with a hand wave; he took another generous drink then settled it next to his plate.
"Well, your body's been through a lot, so I'd imagine you would feel deprived," she stated walking towards the other end of the table.
"Wh-"he coughed, started again, "What happened?" His voice sounded raspy and off, and hurt to use, but getting back to normal. At least fae healed quickly with proper nourishment and care.
"
That...is a very interesting story, Jareth," she said taking the seat across from him and helping herself to a few red skinned grapes. He felt he should be surprised and possibly insulted that she used his proper name so casually, but he suspected she knew a great deal regarding his plight which she would reveal in her own time.
"What's the last thing you remember?" she asked, her head tilted and her lavender eyes bright. He sensed her interest was more than casual manner indicated.
He frowned, the laden fork pausing part way to his lips, "The Escher room."
"And what happened in the Escher room?"
Another frown with brow furrow, "She...
she defeated me."
"That's right." The woman nodded, "Do you remember who she is?"
A gulp and a deeper furrow, "She's," he looked up from his plate with a gasp, "She's Sarah Williams, she defeated and refused me. I remember being offered a gift by an Old One." His fork clattered to the table, his eyes sharpening with returning memories, "Did he lie? Did he not give me another life?"
"Oh, hon," she gave him a sad smile and slowly shook her head, "he did a whole helluva lot more than that."
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Belief still eluded him. He stared at the woman calling herself Dee, who claimed to be the ancient goddess Aphrodite, after she explained the twisted path his soul traveled only to return to his original fae body currently in deteriorated but functional condition. For the past few hours she detailed everything regarding her initial plans for him and Sarah Williams, how Zeus interfered, and how Jareth's soul reincarnated to become the mortal Gerard Scott.
"I think I may be unwell," he said pushing from his empty plate. A faint sheen of perspiration misted his pallid face. His hands trembled as he brought them to his temples to cradle his migraine infused skull.
"I get that reaction a lot these days."
"You mean to tell me that had I waited, been patient, Sarah and I would've been reunited after she defeated me?" He dropped one hand from his forehead, brushing his dull, lifeless hair from his mismatched eyes. Dee met his pleading gaze.
"That's exactly what I'm saying, hon."
"And she was my soul mate?" Jareth added. She heard the fine balance of disbelief and hope quivering in his rusty, but still rather sultry voice.
"Actually, she still is."
"Bloody hell," Jareth stood, wavered then sat back down, "that's why," he whispered. Then he faced Dee and repeated it louder, "That's why, isn't it?"
"Why what?"
"Why I felt so strongly for her though I barely knew her...she was just a child," he said softly, his eyes distant and thoughtful. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes with one bare hand.
"I buggered my proposal to her all to hell. I was so flustered; I just couldn't fathom why I felt such desire for a child. I felt as though I was losing my grip on reality, thought too much loneliness finally cracked me," he said with a bitter laugh. "But I couldn't resist her. I needed her, child that she was."
"She's a grown woman, now, and quite beautiful, smart, resourceful, and kind. I'm sure you'll like her even more." Jareth gave her an oddly insightful look, and Dee reach over the piles of food and patted his arm, "Don't worry, hon, I would never have condoned a relationship while she was too young. Things were being arranged."
His mismatched eyes darkened to match his deep voice, "And what other things have you arranged, Aphrodite?"
She laughed a bit uncomfortably, "Funny you should ask, but I do believe in full disclosure." He didn't speak. "So about that...I told you Zeus granted your request right?"
"Indeed, you say my soul reincarnated as the mortal Gerard Scott, but I do not remember it."
"No, well, you wouldn't." Her hand fluttered nervously over her neckline, smoothing non-existence wrinkles. "He lived his own life, a mostly full life with his own free will and memories. The whole she-bang, really."
"I see..."Jareth blinked several times. He seemed to recall asking to forget his life as the Goblin King; apparently Zeus granted his wished afterall. "How long?"
"Forty years."
"Oh...indeed..." Jareth slumped in his chair, dumbfounded. His soul lived forty years in the mortal realm? That would explain the condition of his body and his chambers. He knew his physical fae form could exist indefinitely without food or drink; however it did not explain how he came to be reawakened as a fae. Nor did it explain why he did not remember anything of his mortal existence. He only asked to forget being Goblin King not the reverse.
"If I was transformed then why do I not remember anything of being mortal?" Dee bit her lip for a moment. Oh dear, he wasn't going to like this. He
really didn't comprehend what he requested from Zeus and what his decision altered for everyone.
"You see, hon," Dee sighed, "it's complicated. Gerard's mortal body had no physical connection to you or your soul. His life, his mortal memories, and his free will were all his own, except for his soul which was truly yours but granted him life. He would've continued his mortal life until he died and your fae soul faded except..."
"Go on..." he prompted at Dee's pause.
"Except I sort of, maybe, forced him to meet Sarah and violate your agreed sacrifice to Zeus," she blurted. She really needed Jareth on board with this, but once his full strength returned his powers might rival hers, and then...hell to pay from a person uniquely suited to mete it.
"
What?" His voice, no longer as raspy, thundered in his chambers. His fists banged on the tabletop making the dishware jump and clatter.
"After a long chain of events that I engineered, Gerard met, fell in love with Sarah, died, released your soul and, voila, here you are." Dee grinned sheepishly, "Your soul is where it rightfully belongs and your kingdom is on its way to safety."
"My soul? My kingdom? Safety? What are you on about,
woman? How dare you interfere in my life!" Jareth desperately wished to be able to pace, or at least conjure his swagger stick. Gritting his teeth had to suffice. "You had no right!"
"You really didn't understand the ramifications, did you? I had every right!" With another wave of her hand, Dee created a screen above the table and showed Jareth the state of his kingdom. A few subjects stirred awake, but overall most remained immobilized and the overall colors of his realm looked gray and wane. The scenes flipped through the labyrinth and city until he turned away, unable to bear more. His face twisted in grief and self-recrimination.
His anger dissipating at the scene before him, Jareth crumpled, his bowed head held in his hands near his knees, "No, I didn't know. How long?" His low voice mumbled from beneath his hands. Releasing her spell, the screen faded.
"Since you left them that day in the Escher room."
"Great Danu, forgive me..." Certain she heard a faint hitching breath, Dee saw Jareth's shoulders convulse suddenly. "I didn't know," his faint voice said. "I swear I didn't know."
Waiting for a bit, she kept her silence and allowed him time to regain his composure. Eventually he withdrew his hands from his tear stained face and sat upright. He didn't bother hiding his shame from her, all attempts and regality and arrogance gone. She knew so much more then he, obviously. Why bother acting the part of a trumped up monarch when he nearly destroyed his kingdom through faithlessness and despair. Meeting his swollen, bloodshot eyes, Dee took pity on him and said in a gentle tone.
"All is not lost, Jareth. Now that you are whole once again, your kingdom will start to reorder itself, and its long term vitality can be secured through your soul mate connection with Sarah."
"What do you mean?" he asked in a dejected voice. Dee remembered Sarah's voice sounding much the same only hours ago.
"You must do what should have been done almost fifteen years ago, and claim your rightful queen." Leaning forward onto the table, Dee grasped his wilted hand, "You must claim your queen, your soul mate as I originally ordained it." His fingers didn't even twitch at her proposition. To have both halves of her soul mate bond so shattered...It did not bode well. Dee disliked this. His icy eyes bored into hers.
"She did not want me the first time, goddess. Why should that change now?"
"Many things have changed, Jareth."
He shrugged, pulling his hand from hers. "What does it matter?"
"It will ensure the survival and prosperity of your realm."
"We are all dying, have been dying for years. Perhaps it's best to leave be," he said as his head drifted low, his chin resting on his chest. "Our time is past."
Well! Time for plan B it seemed. Dee rubbed her hands together, producing a perfect red rose in full bloom. Standing, she walked around the table and stood before the Goblin King with the rose presented.
"I have a gift for you, will you accept it?"
"I have no need of gifts." He turned his head to the side, his eyes downcast. "Please leave, I wish to be alone."
"This is a very special gift, Jareth. The goddess of love doesn't offer such things to just anyone." She pressed the flower closer to the side of his face until merely centimeters separated the petals from his skin.
"I told you," he said in a sterner tone and turned to face her, his nose brushing the petals. As he began to speak further, he involuntarily inhaled the rich fragrance of the classic bloom activating Dee's remembrance spell. Her magic instantly traveled throughout his body, soul, and mind, connecting all three and unburying the suppressed memories of Gerard's entire life, including events even Gerard could not fully recall.
Jareth froze; his body rigored as forty-five years worth of a mortal man's life, his happiness and disappointments, raged as a bonfire through Jareth's mind. All Gerard's experiences and emotions, especially his search and discovery of true love with Sarah Williams, imprinted within Jareth's consciousness.
Watching Jareth learn of Gerard's life, Dee's heart constricted as a single tear trickled from his wide, staring eyes; eyes which continuously drilled upwards into her own as she forced Gerard's memories into his mind. She had not wanted to do this to him, had preferred he listen to reason, but there was no time. The Fates and she feared his reaction when he awoke, his overly liberal usage of freewill and orneriness. His original poor choice began this mess; he would not be allowed to do so again. Jareth would comprehend the love of Sarah Williams, one way or the other.
A long time later, Dee removed the spent and faded rose from Jareth, its spell dispersed. She closed it within her fists and it disintegrated, becoming dust upon the floor. Several moments later, Jareth returned to himself with a shuddering gasp, his hands white-knuckling the arm rests of his chair, and his lips carving his face into a violent visage. His once sad eyes hardened with fury as he rose to his full height.
"What have you done to me,
goddess?" He spat her title as an insult. His body shook with anger, and Dee rapidly stepped back several feet. She knew how weak he remained, so the fact he stood without assistance was a testament to his surge of adrenaline.
"I did what was necessary for you to understand."
"You dare tamper with me?
With my mind?" Stepping closer, he wavered slightly but didn't fall. "I understand nothing, but that you filled my head with nonsense!"
"It'll all make sense," Dee backed away towards his balcony while keeping her voice apologetic. Truly she hated this option. "Eventually," she added.
"
Get out!" He pointed; another faltering step as they both worked their way closer to his balcony, "Take yourself far from my sight and do not return!"
"Now, Goblin King...Be reasonable..." Dee shoved the musty, velvet drapery aside and shimmied through backwards.
"
OUT!" He shouted, pushing through the drapery onto the balcony before she vanished at the end of his grasping hands. Overextended, he stumbled and landed with his hands on the railing, breaking his fall to the balcony floor. With a preemptory glance over his desolate kingdom, its atmosphere awash in grays and lifelessness, Jareth closed his eyes and released a howl to challenge any great predator within his realm.
His scream echoed over his land in succeeding, crashing sound waves. It lasted for an impossible length of time as its reverberations piled upon each other and extended. The throbbing pain permeated every corner of his realm and stirred its occupants to consciousness. Every being from the largest rock caller to the smallest fairy awoke. The sun brought warmth and color to the labyrinth. Life stirred once again in the Underground. The king returned, as did his realm.
His grief-stricken cry at an end, Jareth collapsed to the cold floor of the balcony. He felt as well as saw his kingdom awaken, but it delivered no consolation. It could not assuage the welling ache within his heart and soul. To possess knowledge of this magnitude would be his final undoing.
To have loved and lost her, to have been loved by Sarah Williams and be reduced to...this... He thought being rejected by her the first time created a raw wound. This surpassed all previously known pain. To have all he desired torn away, to live with the knowledge that she existed and...He sobbed harshly at the thought...that she loved another.
Curling in on himself against the railing, Jareth tucked his head to his knees uncaring who might spy him. What care he for pompous displays now? His love,
his soul mate, loved another. She made love with another, crying
his name in ecstasy. The horrid memories jumbled in his mind, one upon the other.
Sarah, gloriously naked, writhing beneath him...no, not him...HIM...the other; she screamed his name. 'Gerard, Gerard, Gerard,'...It echoed insistently between the layers of his cerebellum. He wanted to bash his skull open if only to end this torture. Sarah smiling at him over a dinner, how she touched his face and flirted. Every emotion and physical sensation HE felt when he thought of her, when he touched her, when he thrust into her. Her voice telling Gerard she loved him in a broken sob. That she would always love him.
"Oh, Danu...why...why," Jareth moaned and banged his head against the stone railing. He felt his own straining erection pressing into his belly as his body responded to his mind. Ironic that his wasted physique still wanted Sarah regardless of its disability, soul mate indeed. He was forever doomed. She would never love him. How could she? HOW COULD SHE?
HOW COULD SHE?
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Thank you for the wonderful reviews and 5 stars! I seriously could not have done any of this without being inspired by all the amazingly dedicated readers/reviewers! I LOVE YOU GUYS!
Jinx
:o)
