Adult-FanFiction.org : Movies

A Time for Reaping	By : jinx1764 Category: G through L > Labyrinth Views: 2179 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Labyrinth, don't make any money, this is a work of fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
CHAPTER 3

.
.
Lizzie read through the book of spells Jareth gave her and realized that she already knew the majority of them; unbeknownst to Jareth or her mother she been sneaking peeks at the advanced spell books and practicing them on her own. She'd never tell them; they'd kill her. Study of advanced spells was supposed to be only with their knowledge and then hours of supervised practice before she was allowed to perform any new spell independently; which meant she'd have to fake her way through the 'new' spells for several weeks until she surpassed the level she wasn't supposed to know. Hopefully she wouldn't be discovered.
Living in the Castle Beyond the Goblin City initially was a dream come true for her. But as she reached adolescence and began chafing at the relatively small world controlled by The Labyrinth; Lizzie realized that her dreams consisted of normal life in different wrapping. She'd explored every inch of the Goblin Kingdom that Jareth deem appropriate; which to his credit was extensive. As she matured she earned the right to travel parts of the Kingdom unescorted but she was never allowed in The Labyrinth proper alone. Ever since the traumatic experiences seven years earlier her mother became ultra-protective.
Her mother still fought with The Labyrinth but their battles seemed less severe as the years passed. At least, that what Lizzie thought but her mother rarely confided the secrets of The Labyrinth to her; probably out of some parental attempt to protect her as usual. Frustrated with the spell book Lizzie tossed the antique leather tome on her desk with a loud thump and flopped onto her bed; her loose, black linen pants and tunic drifting with her.
"Gods, I'm so bored. This is the part in the travel brochure where they forgot to mention that the fairy tale princess gets a bad case of Rapunzelitis." Lizzie stared at the mural painted on her ceiling for the millionth time. She'd memorized it years ago. In a fit she suddenly conjured a crystal and tossed it at the ceiling where it exploded in a quiet shower of light, altering the Underground scene of mermaids and naiads from soothing pastels to vivid neon shades. Lizzie giggled at her new artwork, imagining what her mother would say.
"I don't think the Queen will approve, Your Highness." A high pitched voice announced from across the room causing Lizzie to raise her head, seeing her friend Alia perched on the top of her hand carved, Elven walnut bookcase.
"Whatever..." Lizzie shrugged. "Next time she comes in here she can change it back herself." Alia 'tsked' reproachfully before alighting down to the princess's bed, her delicate, diaphanous wings shimmering iridescently in the evening light bathing Lizzie's chambers. Alia strolled lightly from the foot of the bed towards the headboard; all six inches of her misty robed, diminutive form barely denting the rose damask duvet, her wings still flitting occasionally as she resettled them.
"Whatever is the matter, my friend?" The pixie asked as she finally reached Lizzie's face and placed a tiny, comforting hand upon her cheek.
"Oh...Lia, it's everything...nothing. I don't know." Lizzie frowned and turned her face towards her friend, careful not to displace her weight too much. "They never let me do anything interesting and I'll probably die an old maid in this drafty, old castle."
Alia's chiming laughter tickled Lizzie's ears, "Oh, Lizzie, you shan't die an old maid! You have many, many years before you and I'm sure they're to be filled with pleasing suitors vying for your attentions. "
"When? I'm sick of reading about great romances and dashing suitors and wondrous adventures. I want to experience them, meet them, anything of the above outside the safety of this Castle." She opined with great melodrama, placed one hand over her heart. Lizzie felt her emotions rising with her desire to fly into the world; thought her physical form might dash apart into pieces if she didn't escape soon.
"Patience, my princess, your time shall come." Alia stroked her friend's face lovingly and placed a tiny kiss upon her cheek; the pixie's short, bright, sky blue hair barely brushing Lizzie's skin. Lizzie reached over and cautiously stroked the edges of Alia's wings making the pixie shiver.
"Thanks, Lia. I'll do my best to be patience."
.
.

jsjsjsjsjsj

.
.
The Labyrinth waited without anger for the first time in centuries. Not calm precisely, but it began to learn a sense of it from its new Mistress, its new Queen. Unlike any before, this Queen exposed it to a new perspective of thinking and dealt with it in an entirely unprecedented manner. This Queen asked questions, many which The Labyrinth preferred not to answer but question she did. She was the first Ruler in its extremely long memory that bothered to converse with it. She seemed uniquely and genuinely curious about it; a concept which The Labyrinth never before experienced.
At first, it refused to cooperate unless forced but over the years, as Sarah gained its own curiosity, The Labyrinth became willing to speak with her and answer questions easily. However, it still remained wary and harbored a great resentment towards the Mortal who had conquered it against highly improbable odds. And yet this Mortal showed more interest in The Labyrinth's sentience, what it thought and desired then any before. Others before her, the Fae only cared what it could do or be kept from doing. This Mortal would require more contemplation while it considered its next step in its plan.
.
.

jsjsjsjsjsjsj

.
.
Jareth and Sarah were just finishing their early dinner when Lizzie arrived in the private, family dining room. They saved the larger, formal dining room with then extended table for state functions; however, since other dignitaries rarely graced the Goblin Kingdom with their presence, they rarely used the formal dining room.
"I didn't know you guys were eating early today." Lizzie stated apologetically as she entered the medium sized room decorated in dark wood paneling and tapestries of hunting and battle scenes. The opposite end of the room from the entrance beheld a full, floor to ceiling bay window overlooking The Labyrinth proper; the rosy-golden evening sun tinting the room through the ancient glass panels.
"Don't worry, Sweetie. Jareth and I decided to have a little private time, you didn't miss anything. But we did request your favorite dessert—crème brulee, it's still warm." Sarah explained and waved her daughter to the table, placing her cloth napkin on the mid-sized round wood table. "Miruna excelled this evening, you'll be pleased."
"Well, she is the best Elven cook in the Underground, Mom, as long as the goblins are kept out of her kitchen, she always excels." Lizzie said a little sarcastically and a sudden banging from the kitchen next door punctuated her statement, followed by Miruna's harsh voice which could be heard chastising what could only be goblins.
Jareth laughed out right at Sarah's chagrined expression; this being one of the few examples of his gratitude of losing the full power of Kingship. The goblins worshiped their Queen but remained a nuisance even she tired of dealing with often. Moments after the disturbance several of said goblins ran into the family dining room; swinging door banging deafeningly against the wall and dashed as a herd under Sarah's chain and the table.
"Queen save us...we no bad goblins...we sorry..." Several raspy voices spoke in unison, begging sanctuary from their monarch, pulling on her dress and quavering in fright. Miruna being one of the few Castle residents the goblins feared besides Jareth.
"Where are they, Your Majesty? And don't try to save their worthless hides this time!" The older Elven cook stalked through the still moving swinging door from the kitchen into the dining room; rolling pin in one hand, broom in the other. Miruna's five foot, hearty, buxom figure heaved with her incensed emotions as she scanned the room for the miscreants in question.
"What have they done this time, Miruna? Surely nothing to warrant death?" Sarah turned in her seat facing her cook while Jareth and Lizzie peacefully observed the entertainment and the goblins screeched at the mention of death. Goblins being extremely difficult to kill, their monarch's decree was one of the few potential causes of death.
"They've destroyed my pies, all of them that I've worked all day on. Goblin fingers and bites in every last one!" She ranted and crouched down to glared at the offenders; her weapons a few feet away.
"We sorry...we sorry!" The six goblins cried and clutched tighter to Sarah's dress making it difficult for her to move.
"Enough you troublemakers!" Sarah pushed her chair back, forcing them into the open, "Out, all of you!" Finally able to see and identify them by name, "Skittle, Tictle, Bott, Moote, Jemmo, and Bob. I might've known it was your little group. You've been warned to stay out of Miruna's kitchen. Death, I think, is too good for the lot of you." She stood, arms crossed and gave them her most threatening glare. She looked to Jareth for advice. "My dear King, what punishment do you think harsh enough for these bad little goblins?"
All six leathery, greenish goblins swiveled at once to look at their former King; eyes agog at his impish air as he appeared to contemplate the question.
"Well, my Love, it is a most serious crime, tampering with the cook's victuals is in actuality tampering with the property of the Crown." Jareth leaned forward in his chair closer to the goblins as he explained his logic, "Therefore, my bad little goblins, you've destroyed articles belonging to the Goblin Queen and you do understand how little she enjoys the destruction of her property." Jareth added his vicious smirked showing his sharp teeth to the six goblins causing them to gasp and lean away from him until they realized they were leaning towards their Queen. They craned their heads up to her face and saw her stern expression and quickly leaned en masse back towards Jareth.
"I suggest the Bog." Jareth stated simply and leaned casually back into his chair. Lizzie kept her face carefully neutral, used to this game her parents enjoyed playing with the simple minded goblins who never quite figured out the trick.
"No...No Bog...we sorry...we sorry Queen no Bog!" They all cried as one, jumping up to grasp at Sarah. Miruna watched silently scowling nearby. She knew the Bog would only be a temporary deterrent. Goblins didn't possess the brain power to learn any lesson for long.
"Yes, I agree, my Dear. The Bog it is!" A single majestic wave of her right hand and all six of the offending goblins vanished with a pop; leaving the dining room blissfully peaceful once again. Sarah resumed her seat at the table and Miruna continued scowling.
"If Your Majesties could keep them out of my kitchen as I requested when I agreed to be your cook this wouldn't be such a regular occurrence and perhaps your meals would be more satisfying."
"We've set wards against their entering, Miruna, yet somehow the little pests find loopholes around our magic. We've yet to discover their methods; however I suspect the simplicity of goblins undermines most wards as they are blatantly ignored as being non-threatening." Jareth stated, sounding as exasperated as their cook. Sarah nodded in agreement as they both looked to Miruna.
"Well, I've got what little magic as I possess, so if your meals are ruined it's all I can do for you." Miruna expressed haughtily and stomped from the dining room back to her kitchen, leaving the three to laugh quietly amongst themselves. Ever since convincing Miruna to work for the Goblin Kingdom five years earlier they'd eaten quite well and Miruna, while gruff, remained loyal and hardworking so any incidents were quickly forgotten until the next. They knew the cook lived better with them than at any previous employment; she just hated showing public displays of affection. The more gruff she became usually the more emotional she felt; she reminded Sarah of Hoggle in this manner.
.
.
The goblin interlude forgotten, the Royal family preceded with dinner; Lizzie beginning hers while Jareth and Sarah leisurely finished. Sarah gazed at her daughter over the low fresh flower centerpiece; the exotic Underground flora no rival to her Lizzie's innate beauty. She admired her warm, wavy brown hair which Lizzie wore loose in the back and braided at her temples. Light Fae markings dusted in gold and chestnut surrounded her light, green eyes; already Sarah saw the young woman she would become peeking out from the planes of her adolescent face and body. Lizzie was almost of a height to her now, another year or two and she might be taller; a thought which triggered a slight twinge of envy for Sarah which she quickly quashed.
"Lizzie, we have something we'd like to discuss with you." Sarah announced and reached for Jareth's hand, needing the moral support; he smiled at both Lizzie then Sarah reassuringly.
"Look, Mom, I told Jareth I understood—no more sneak attacks. We don't have to talk about some more, okay?" She pleaded. "I'll study the new spell book 24/7, promise." She said between a bite of food.
"No, that's not want I wanted to discuss. Although I'm glad to hear you've agreed to restrain your extracurricular activities. The goblins provide enough entertainment value; I really don't need you helping out in that department." Sarah sighed before continuing. "No, this is something else. Something I think you'll like." Her daughter's brows arched at the last comment and her chewing ceased.
"Okay." She said warily. Anything her mom liked or thought she liked was usually an item best categorized as 'educational', i.e. boring.
"Lizzie, how would you like to travel with us to Camlann next month for the Council meeting?" Sarah asked in a serious tone, at least Lizzie thought she sounded serious. Her mother didn't sound sarcastic. Lizzie thought for a moment and confirmed that it wasn't April 1st, Above or Below.
"You're serious? " She put her fork down, giving her full attention to the two adults staring at her. Jareth looked serious, too; his piercing ice blue eyes expectedly watching her for a reaction while her mother's hand white-knuckled his until Lizzie thought he might protest the abuse.
"Utterly, we'd be gone for at least a week, possibly longer but that all depends on the Council's answer. Jareth and I would be busy most of the time preparing and meeting with the Council and we'd expect you to sit in on much of that to learn the required behavior for your position." Sarah paused to see her daughter's reaction which continued to be stunned but positive. "However, you would have free time to explore the grounds without our interference..."
"Yes!" Lizzie bolted upright in her chair a look of victory on her face.
"But...you would have a guardian with you at all times!" Sarah added rapidly before she got too many ideas about her level of freedom. "Camlann can be dangerous and you have yet to learn how to deal with the time slips."
"Oh, Mom..."
"No...That's the deal. Either one of us or a guardian present at all times or you stay here." Lizzie slumped back into her chair, her lower lip extended.
"Well, I guess I chose guardian then cause I'm not staying here." She boldly pronounced which earned a light chuckle from Jareth while Sarah scowled at him in disapproval.
"What, my Love? She's her mother's daughter and while she knows when she's defeated she most certainly doesn't enjoy it."
"You are no help what so ever." Sarah protested trying to hide the smile threatening to erupt. Suddenly Sarah's body became rigid; her hands gripped the chair's arms and her eyes rolled back as her entire countenance altered from relaxed mother and queen to formal Goblin Queen. Seconds later her black leather Royal Goblin Regalia attire replaced her casual day dress and her expression harden into that of the ceremonial Queen of the Goblins.
Jareth's smirk instantly evaporated as soon as he felt the Summons through their Bond and witnessed Sarah's physical transformation; which she did not control, as he did not when he was officially King. Over the years they had become adept at communicating these moments through the Bond, allowing him a level of control in which to accompany her during the Summons without Sarah needing to constantly call him directly. Immediately he altered his own clothing to match her Goblin Regalia, looking as he did when he first met his Sarah so many years ago. Whenever possible they answered Summons together.
Sarah gasped as transformation concluded; not painful but always uncomfortable and abrupt; she disliked this portion of the job description. "I'll never get used to that." She complained and concentrated on the information transfer via magic into her consciousness allowing her to instantaneously know everything about the wisher and wished away. Sarah compared it to a virtual H.U.D or Heads Up Display of data filtering at light speed into her brain. Anything and everything she wanted to know about said persons' private information appeared before her internal eyes to be read upon cue; only the proper question required asking mentally. A useful and migraine inducing trick; she also found that she tended to retain most of the information even after its usefulness passed.
"Mom, isn't this the third Summons this month?" Lizzie asked quickly before she disappeared.
"Yes, it is." Sarah said and rubbed her temples as the Summons clamored for a response.
"And there were six last month," Jareth supplied understanding Lizzie's concern.
"Look, we'll talk about this later." Sarah stood from the table, eager to be gone, the information migraine causing her to be short with them both. "Jareth." She reached for his hand as he stood next to her and with a subtle twist of her left hand they winked from the dining room; tiny motes of glitter floating in the air reflected the rose-gold setting sun marking their passage.
Lizzie rested her elbows on the table and rested her chin her hands, now markedly, quite alone in the room. "Well, don't mind me. I'll be fine by myself. I'll just wait here 'til you get back...whenever that might be." She pronounced sarcastically to the empty room and sat staring off into the sunset for awhile, acutely losing her appetite.
.
.

jsjsjsjsjsj

.
.
Sarah teleported them both to the location specified by the Summons in her mind; a place within the city limits of Nome, Alaska and arrived in the afternoon to find two adolescences; a boy and girl who did not appear to be siblings. Kneeling of the floor of a feminine bedroom; both were partially dressed, clinging to each other and sobbing. Sarah brought early darkness to the immediate location, better to enhance the atmosphere and a lovely trick Jareth recommended when Summons occurred during daylight hours.
Revealing themselves swiftly to the youths in their severe Goblin Regalia, windows slamming opening and isolated thunder and lightning setting the grave mood; they towered over the huddled forms; their eerie features baring harsh and uncompromising expressions. The clothing so black it absorbed any surrounding light. Goblins twittered and sniggered in the background; their small shadows shifting and changing, causing the youths to jump.
The boy, no more than fourteen, braved the two strangers looming above them and spoke. "You're them aren't you? The Goblin King and Queen, "he tightened his hold on the girl in his arms that shivered and refused to look in their direction, "Well, I won't let you take her!"
"Now, Charles, it's too late for that. You should have considered wanting to keep your girlfriend, Beth, before you wished her away to the goblins." Sarah proclaimed her voice rich and slightly menacing. At her name, Beth sobbed aloud and gripped Charles tighter. Jareth stepped forward, twisted and twirled his hand until a crystal appeared and spoke in a seductive tone.
"Charles, we've brought you a gift. " He knelt down eye level with the boy, rolling the crystal over the backs of his hands until Charles' eyes followed it greedily. "Do you want it?"
"I-I mean...what does it do?" The boy asked his eye alight and Beth raised her head from his chest with a shocked and strangled huff.
"Charlie, what's wrong with you?" She exclaimed tears pouring down her cheeks and Jareth grinned at the avarice of Mortals, especially immature ones. Sarah cringed internally; when she could she left the temptation aspect of the job to Jareth. She hated collecting wished aways and tempting them to stray was worse. However, if they challenged the risk another potential Champion increased and The Labyrinth could regain partial freedom from Sarah's control; which neither Sarah nor Jareth wanted. However, Sarah remained conflicted regarding not allowing wishers a chance to right their wrong, she couldn't in good conscious remove the option—although the Council cared not as long as they kept the wished aways.
It was all very irksome; and all because the dame Fae Council refused to allow them to dismantle the Game. If they could just end this nonsense Sarah could direct The Labyrinth's powers to more constructive uses. What, she didn't know, but she'd figure something out eventually.
Meanwhile, Jareth continued tempting the young Charles with his dreams, "It's a crystal, nothing more, but if you turn it this way it will show you your dreams." Jareth leaned in, the crystal just inches from Charles' face and the boy's eyes glowed with the crystal's internal light.
"It's beautiful..." Charles whispered and started to reach for it when Beth slapped him soundly across his cheek; her palm leaving a flushed imprint on his skin.
"You asshole!" She stood upright backing away from her boyfriend and the weirdly, creepy man crouching entirely too close to her. Beth looked to the just as strange woman hovering quietly a few feet away, "You're the Goblin Queen?"
Sarah nodded regally at the young girl. "I am."
"Look, my boyfriend is a douche. I want to challenge you myself." She stated and Sarah wanted to cheer her on but was required to deny her.
"That is not allowed, Beth. Charles wished you away, Charles must challenge The Labyrinth to win you back or forfeit his claim for his dreams." Sarah leveled her piercing green eyes on the boy in question who sat rubbing his cheek with one hand; Jareth's crystal temptation continuing.
"What say you, Charles? Run or Forfeit?" Sarah demanded sweeping her arm between the crystal and Beth; her midnight cape trailing in its wake, her voice as crystalline as the tempting orb. Beth swore tenebrous silhouettes twisted in the depths of the Queen's cape; if she stared too long she feared they might absorb her.
"Your dreams, Charles." Jareth added in his seductively voice.
"Charlie? Baby?" Beth begged running back to his side, glad to distance herself from the Queen, and she watched him reach for the crystal as if entranced. Charles' fingers brushed the edges of the crystal which flared to a brilliant, white light.
"It is done." Jareth stated blandly and reached for Beth, his grip on her wrist vise-like as he pulled her away from Charles.
"No...Charlie...you promised...you said you'd Run for me..." Beth mumbled to herself in shock at the turn in her fortune. Jareth drew her sharply away from the boy who no longer noticed any others in the room and returned to Sarah's side. Sarah looked the young girl over; she wore only pants and a bra, Sarah snapped her fingers producing a t-shirt for Beth to wear and handed it to her.
"Put this on." Sarah commanded and the girl complied without question, her eyes dull. "How old are you, Beth?" Sarah gazed down at the girl taking in her stunned expression. Sarah already knew her age, but she wanted established a connection with the child, smooth the transition.
"I'm thirteen." Beth answered in a shaky voice as she adjusted the shirt. "You're really taking me away?" She asked.
"Yes, Beth. You belong to the Underground now. You will be well care for; close your eyes." Sarah draped her arm and cape around Beth's shoulders and pulled the quivering girl close while placing her other hand over Beth's closed eyes, casting a sleep enchantment over her. Beth fell boneless into Sarah's arms and Jareth leaned over to assist catching her. He easily picked the young girl up, wrapped her in his arms and stood in front of Sarah. His gazed into his Queen's eyes and saw the veiled compassion. This girl was unusually old for a wished away but still just a child; the transformation and forced amnesia would be difficult for her but they were as bound to the archaic magics as the ill-fated Beth. Sarah twitched her hand and once again they vanished into the Ether and through the Void to the Castle Beyond the Goblin City.
.
.
A/N: I'm very familiar with the time structure in canon but as the movie only alluded to it and never made it absolutely clear when or where the Underground took place I've put my own twist on it. Most stories don't even address the time issue and J/S travel between w/o any problem.
- 2
- 3
- 4
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

A Time for Reaping