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Perchance To...	By : Rhondda Category: G through L > Labyrinth Views: 5268 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth or any of the characters seen in the movie. There is no money being made by this story

Chapter List
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There was a quiet knock at Sarah's door as she was about to get ready for bed. Peering into the hall she discovered it was Sai.
"What's going on, Sai?" She opened the door to allow the other woman in.
Sai shook her head. "A lot of trouble. You saw most of it. Jareth has been summoned to court for the first time in ages. So you, Col and Ian must go with him. Where Ian goes, I follow."
"Why do we have to go?" Sarah frowned at this little disclosure, not caring if she sounded petulant.
"Because a full court Rade will last at least four weeks. The average goblin can't remember most things longer than two weeks without constant reminding. Meaning any time the King is away for longer than that things around here get insane. That is one additional dig the whole situation was designed to achieve. They will not remember they were ordered not to hassle, molest or in any way harm the humans. They'll treat each other and their own families well enough, but anything not goblin is in for trouble. To be honest, I'm not sure you would survive. The only one with half a chance of making it would be Col, as she feeds them."
"Four weeks?" Sarah almost shouted. "No way am I sticking around here for a month. Jareth can either explain what he feels it so important I learn or he can send me back ignorant and blissful. I have a life. And it doesn’t involve him."
"If he is not willing to oblige, what choice do you have?" Sai was not surprised by the younger woman’s explosion. She simply crossed her arms.
"If you put it that way..." Sarah groaned. "But I don't have to like it."
Sai folded hands together and on opening them brought forth the crystal Jareth had given her. "This is for you."
Tossing the orb to the floor there was a flash of light and Sarah found her room filled with trunks, rolls and baskets. Fabrics of incredibly rich textures and designs spilled over the edges of each container. Silks and velvets, brocades and sheerest gauze spilled from trunks.
"Whoa, what's all this for?" Sarah reached out to touch a section of velvet in the richest midnight blue, with tiny crystals sewn as a sea of stars.
"Clothing, jewels and accessories. Col will be acting as your ladies' maid and I'll ride with you as your friend," Sai stepped forward to pull out a dress of antiqued mint silk with an inverted triangle of dark green velvet overlaid with gold lace. The full skirt alternated with silk and lace-covered velvet of the same pattern. Layers of black-gold lace ruffled from the sleeves. "This should do for the ride tomorrow."
They were interrupted by another knock at the door. Sai opened it and allowed a plump female goblin inside. The goblin had her wispy black hair up in two uneven ponytails and she held a bundle close to her chest.
"Hello, Nema. You help me pack up this stuff?" Sai smiled indulgently at the goblin who had obviously been sent.
The goblin girl nodded vigorously and shoved her bundle at Sarah. Sarah gasped as she took it, looking down to see a tiny goblin infant. Its nut-brown face sported huge, dark eyes that looked up at Sarah with interest. It was actually quite adorable. Goblins had babies? She had thought they repopulated through Jareth's acquisitions. But then, those two in the hallway the hour she arrived had proven they had the mechanics of it down.
"That's Kobol. Nema's youngest. She's a wonderful mother and one of the neatest goblins around."
The goblin woman beamed under Sai's praise as she began carefully folding dresses and fabric.
"Hello, Kobol." Sarah rocked the baby gently. “You’re so cute." She looked back over the piles of clothing and baubles. "It's all very lovely. But I don't need all this." Sarah held the baby close and indicated the trunks with her chin.
"You do. Unless you wish to be thought of and treated as a servant, meaning you will be at the mercy of any Fae lordling wishing to order you about or do worse. You must appear the doted upon lady." Sai laid the dress she was holding aside and started rummaging through the trunks. Nema following behind to pack things up in some sort of order.
"Excuse me? Doted on lady? Why don't I like the sound of that?" Sarah would have crossed her arms had they not been full of goblin infant.
Sai produced a pair of dark green riding boots trimmed in gold. "Because it means what you are thinking. For appearances 'sake you must act the part of Jareth's mistress. That way you will be treated with respect by ninety percent of the court. The other ten percent will either hate you out of jealousy or seek to use you as a pawn for political maneuverings while being polite and respectful to your face. However, it is the safest position for you at this time. If you were to be mistaken for an unwed servant you could be seen as something to be bought or traded, or simply ordered to accommodate whomever shows an interest, in any way they please."
"I'd rather face the goblins," Sarah sat on her bed, not amused at THIS turn of events. "I'm not THAT good an actress. I'd need an academy award performance to act like Jareth's whore."
Sai smiled slightly, "A mistress is not a whore, Sarah. Well, most of them are not. There is a wealth of difference between the two among the Fae. They are often considered pre-engaged. Sometimes when a political marriage is needed they are the ones the noble truly loves. As for the rest... you must be a better actress than you think. Truth be told there is no time for arguments. We must leave by first light to make it to the gate by noon. If we are not among the court by nightfall it will be seen as an insult to the Queen. She arranged it this way, so there is no opportunity to come up with excuses."
"Gee, taking away someone's choices, manipulating situations, now who do I know who operates like that?" The anger had faded to a mild headache behind Sarah's eyes. She realized she could not remain furious forever. Disgusted maybe, but not furious.
"Don't let him hear you say that. He likes to pretend he is nothing like either of his parents. In reality he's too much like both of them for a peaceful co-existence." Sai smiled and started to straighten the trunks and bundles, packing things neatly.
"If this is such a big hassle he's free to send me home. One less human to fuss over," Sarah wanted to help Sai pack things up if only because watching her and Nema work while she stood about with the baby made her feel guilty.
"Whether you choose to believe so or not, I do not believe any harm was ever intended toward you. This is a complication to whatever Jareth is planning. I am not certain what those plans are, but I have never seen him give up and he's certain to find a way to bend this matter to his advantage." Sai looked at Sarah, a tiny crease between her brows. "Have you ever ridden sidesaddle?"
Sarah shook her head. "On a horse? The closest I've come to a horse was sticking a tail on my bicycle. Or riding a merry-go-round."
"With the role you will play you have two choices. You can either learn as you go on the most placid steed Ian can find, or you can ride before the King on his steed." Sai tied the last basket closed.
"What color is my horse?" Sarah stood.
Sai giggled, expecting such a reaction. Nema let out a barking laugh as well, although Sarah wasn't sure the little goblin woman understood the joke.
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Later that night Saishoku had changed into her loose white workout clothes. Ian would be up all night preparing the horses and overseeing the packing if Jareth had his way. For that alone she was in an unforgiving mood.
Jareth was waiting for her in the middle of the circle. He never dressed traditionally for a practice session. Tonight he wore black tights and a very loose black shirt. Sai shook her head. The tights would give his leg movements away every time. To an experienced opponent that would give the entire move away.
He wanted to work out his anger at the current developments. She was not going to be easy on him.
Sai fingered the hilt of her katana. "Your guest is less than pleased with the current situation." She entered the circle with a bow.
"She’s been less than pleased since arriving. I expected nothing less about this little spin in the dance. However, the current circumstances have their advantages," he bowed in return and drew his own katana.
"There are many times I don't like you very much, kyuushiki," she allowed the bitterness in her to flavor the ancient word for old friend. "Hajime," she ordered the practice to begin.
They circled one another carefully, each looking for signs of the other's first move. Sai saw the tightening of Jareth's thigh muscles a half second before he moved and she blocked easily. Their swords rang together loudly, the sound reverberating off the stone walls.
He insisted on true and naked katanas. In this he was unusual amongst the Fae she knew. Most Fae used weapons forged of elfshot. A wound caused by cold iron was not easily healed by magic. The more of the death metal that entered the bloodstream the more it affected one's magic as well as physically weakening the body. With enough iron in the body or with a long enough exposure to that iron, death was imminent.
Most Fae feared iron. Jareth refused to fall prey to that weakness. He used a katana when he was forced to fight, making any Fae opponent a nervous wreck from the start. Then he took the stinging cuts from Sai during practice in stride, building up a slow immunity and stronger resistance to the metal.
Sai admired this. He was a worthy opponent even if he preferred to avoid physical battle in life. Like most of his kind he preferred manipulation, trickery, diversion and magic. Sai recognized that such were also the traits of her people.
The swords flashed in a flurry of rapid moves. There was no unnecessary showing off. Both opponents moved with an economy of movement and strict focus. Within twenty minutes they were both breathing hard, neither having drawn first blood.
There was a sudden blinding flash of light before Sai's face, stealing her vision for a second and breaking her stance. She felt the shiver of razor sharp steel at her throat.
"Yame!" Sai called out the order to stop and both stepped back with a bow of respect.
"You cheated," Sai looked at Jareth accusingly.
"I used an advantage. A true opponent wouldn't hesitate or hold back such an opportunity. Besides, it allowed me to cast a spell in the presence of steel. I was trying for something a bit brighter, but the blades warped it."
The kitsune had to agree and did not raise any further argument, "I also thought you would be slower from lack of practice." She pulled two towels from thin air and tossed one to the Goblin King.
"Wasn't it you who taught me to never underestimate an opponent?" Jareth used the towel, then made it disappear.
"Since when did you start listening to me?" Saishoku smiled. "However, since you are in the mood for listening, I would like Ian to get some sleep tonight if he is to be riding all day tomorrow."
"If he gets everything ready he can catch a few hours of sleep. If sleep is what you really have in mind." Jareth hung his sheathed sword on the wall with a sneer yet still managed to score a cut.
"Stop being an ass. If you would not keep adding to his duties he'd be done by now. It was my decision, Jareth. Stop punishing him for my love," Sai snapped. She was sick of all the little unpleasant duties slowly added to Ian's plate.
She had turned down the Goblin King's advances because she did not play games of the heart lightly. She refused to be a passing fancy, no matter how skilled rumors claimed the lover to be. Jareth was a friend and she simply did not feel anything but brotherly love for him.
With Ian she had found silent devotion and lasting love. The passion had been a bonus.
Jareth did not take being rejected in favor of a servant with grace. He was used to getting what he wanted. If they had not been such close friends Sai knew her choice could have turned them into enemies.
"Love, what an over-used word. Love makes fools of those who claim to experience it and makes those who witness it sick to their stomach. Give it a few centuries, you'll get over it," Jareth sneered.
"So speaks one so wise in the matters of the heart. You have yet to get over your love of yourself, so why should I bore you with my husband? Good Night, oh loveless one," Sai answered his sneer with one of her own. "Ian will be sleeping by midnight. End of discussion. I will see you an hour before dawn."
Sai turned to leave only to run into Sarah, standing in her nightgown and robe in the doorway.
"Sorry. I couldn't sleep and I thought I heard voices." Sarah chewed on her bottom lip nervously.
"We're finished for now. Unfortunately, I must go help Ian so he may get some sleep tonight." Sai looked back at Jareth, standing imperiously in the middle of the practice room. She smiled at him pointedly. "Besides, I feel the beginnings of a stomachache."
She strode past Sarah, disappearing into the darkness of the hall beyond.
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"I can help you to sleep," Jareth offered, walking toward Sarah.
"No thank you. I prefer a more traditional cure. I was going to get some warm milk from the kitchen," Sarah turned to leave.
"Why must you fight me on even the most simple things?" She heard the cultured voice behind her. There was a note of sadness there she had not heard before.
"You chose our positions the moment you snatched me away without my permission," Sarah responded quietly, over her shoulder, with a hint of regret.
"Oh really? Without your permission? I seem to recall you willingly giving me your hand."
Sarah spun to face him. "How was I to know what you planned on doing?"
Jareth smiled slightly. "It was plainly an invitation offered and accepted. Besides, offering me your hand denoted a certain amount of trust. Where is it now?"
"Trust has to be earned. I'm feeling more than a little betrayed right now. And since first meeting you, I’ve never been given a single reason to trust you." Sarah started back down the hall.
"Than I shall have to work on rectifying that," the sound of his voice followed after her, lingering in her mind.
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Sarah did not sleep well, despite the warm milk. She wasn't really asleep when she heard a soft knock on her door in the wee hours of the morning.
She let Colleen inside while stifling a yawn.
"I'm to be your ladies' maid for the next few weeks. They don't need a cook when with the court, now do they?" Col looked over the dress Sai had chosen the night before. "Oh, aye, this will be most fetching with those hazel eyes of yours."
Sarah winced, "She said I'd have to ride a horse, sidesaddle."
"You can't go riding astride with a dress such as this, now can ya?" Col found the undergarments to go with the dress. "You're lucky you don't need a farthingale with this, it's nigh impossible to ride in hoops. Now go wash up and we'll get started."
The process of getting into the dress was interesting and explained the need for a ladies' maid. It had no zippers but what was not laced up was managed by tiny gold buttons. Sarah felt as if she were being sewn into the thing. The end result rustled as she moved to the mirror. She took in a breath. It was beautiful. Col approached and buttoned a green velvet cape to her shoulders.
"I look like a princess." Sarah had to smile in spite of herself.
"Aye, that you do. No one will be able to insult your style or appearance, that's for sure." Col began twisting Sarah's dark hair into some sort of two-strand braid, weaving in a gold cord then clipping in tiny emeralds randomly. "Now for the finishing touch."
Sarah looked at the tiny emerald earrings and single emerald necklace. They were simple, yet lovely.
"Now what?" Sarah took in her appearance and held her hands out to her sides.
"Now we go to the stables. The goblins will collect the trunks and such and load them on a wagon," Col smiled and led the way.
Outside the castle the courtyard was swarming with activity even as the sun began to make its appearance. Goblins darted about laden with burdens or looking lost and confused. Eighteen horses and one - something else, stood silently.
The horses were stunning examples of their kind, graceful and tall, impeccable coats and high tails, arched necks and little to no fidgeting.
The beast at the head of the line resembled a horse, black as night. However, its eyes glowed with a ruby glint and it sported two wickedly sharp curled horns on either side of its head. As one goblin sped past it the creature snapped, revealing very sharp teeth.
"What is that?" Sarah turned to ask Col, only to find her new friend had moved away to survey one of the wagons.
"It's a Nightmare. Her name is Diabolique. Don't go near her unless the stable master, the King or I introduce you. She eats meat, and her favorite snack is raw beef, or the flesh of anyone who gets too close," Ian answered her question as he tugged her sleeve to guide her to a soft-eyed mare of pure white. Sarah thought it might be Arabian. "This is Starshine. She's the calmest beast in the stable and next to Diabolique, the most intelligent."
Sarah eyed the strange saddle warily. "Let me guess, you hook your knee over that saddle horn and the other foot goes into the stirrup. It looks uncomfortable."
"Sai says it is. Sorry. The seat is well padded, though. I'll help you up." Ian cupped his hands.
Sarah figured out how to get in the saddle on the second try. "Well, that was embarrassing." She looked down at Ian her face warm with the blush she just knew was flaming there.
"Actually, you did pretty well." Ian stifled a yawn and pointed to the back of the line. Four of the beasts were hitched in pairs to two wagons. Sarah recognized some of the trunks from her room being loaded onto the last wagon. "I'm driving the first wagon. I'll most likely talk to you on the way."
"Unless he's asleep." Sai urged her horse forward. She wore pants, the cheat. Her clothing was the picture of an English riding outfit, except for the three foxtails poking out from under the red coat tails. "Like it? I decided I was feeling ironic this morning."
"Have to ride sidesaddle, huh?" Sarah made a face of distaste.
"My people are known tricksters. We're usually impertinent, impudent and generally troublemakers. And since this isn't MY court, I can be as saucy as I wish." Sai bent to ruffle Ian's hair. "Unless Ian smacks me back in line."
"Smack, never. Muzzle you? Now that has appeal," he grinned up at her and tugged on the tail nearest him. Sai laughed.
The courtyard become deathly silent as Jareth strode through the doors of the castle. He was dressed the same as when Sarah first saw him eight years ago. A goblin knelt beside the Nightmare at the head of the line and Jareth used the creature as a stool to mount. Sarah had to admit to herself that man and beast made an impressive sight. The deadly mount pawed at the ground with clawed hooves, digging furrows in the ground in its impatience to move. It appeared only Jareth's strength and will kept it from surging forward or taking a bite out of the nearest goblin.
A dozen of the horses bore some of the larger goblins, dressed in matching armor and bearing several kinds of deadly and wicked looking weapons, not at all like the comical and rusted armaments used to pursue Sarah on her first visit. These large brutes looked very deadly, indeed. Two goblins rode before their King, four rode after, with the remaining six behind the wagons.
With a hand signal from Jareth the whole troop moved forward in the early morning light.
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