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Spider and the Fly	By : RitualKitten Category: G through L > Labyrinth Views: 6214 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Disclaimer: I only wish I owned this. All rights go to Henson & Co., and the respective musicians and music labels who's songs I've used.

A/N: Sorry about the lapse in updating, darlings. I've been clumsy and haven't been able to write like I've been wanting. Stupid writer's block. Anyway, I'm getting close to the end of the story now, only a few more chapters to go. I honestly wanted to make it 13 chapters, since 13 is a lucky number for me, but unfortunately I'm not quite sure it'll last to that. Maybe 10 or 11 if I'm lucky. I could fill the last two or 3 with fluff, but I'd rather drink a scalding cup of bilge instead. I'm not a fluff-type girl, and I only get that fluff-brained around my boyfriend (who doesn't know I have an account on here, and I'd prefer to keep it that way. He already knows I'm a bit of a geek, and the endless teasing that would come next would just be, well, catastrophic. And possible painful, assuming I get my hands on a pillow- which would be connected to his face). We'll see how long it'll go on.

And thanks to Madame Laby for reminding me to put this in. The song at the end of the last chapter was "Remember" by Emilie Autumn. Sorry about that, dears, I thought I had it in there. Silly me.

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Jareth returned from Above, disgusted with the mortal who wished his child away. A disgusting unkempt man, it didn't take long to see that the man only kept his daughter to keep his divorced wife at bay. The woman adored her daughter, but the man only had spite for her. He kept the girl because of hatred for his ex wife. No more of that. Jareth thought tiredly. He was about to go into the throne room to collect the little girl and put her to bed when he heard singing.
He opened the doors of the throne room to see Sarah sitting in the window, singing to the goblins, the child asleep in her arms. They were all sitting on the floor, staring at her as she sang songs from Above as if spelled. Jareth had to admit, the sight of her in that white gown and singing was quite fetching.

"I remember you
And I want you to say my name
I remember you
And I want you to say my name
Say my name
Say my name
Say my name...I remember."

Jareth moved into the room as she finished the song. He stopped still as a small goblin crept over to Sarah.

"Lady..."

Sarah looked down at a goblin tugging on her skirt. "Yes?" she asked it kindly, smiling.

"Will... will you sing more?" the goblin seemed shy, asking her that.

"Of course, but I think Abby needs to sleep. And probably a new nightgown." Sarah sighed, looking at the sleeping girl. "Poor child... she doesn't seem well cared for, does she?"

"We show you!" the goblins seemed excited now. "Nursery! We show! We show pretty lady!"

Sarah smiled beautifully at the goblins, before looking up at Jareth. She caught his eye and smiled, making a "Shhh" motion with her finger on her lips. "If you'll excuse me, I think the King would like to make sure his new charge is alright." She said gently to the goblins. They all nodded and moved aside, forming a path for her to leave the room. The goblin that had asked her to sing walked in front of her, excitedly showing her the way to the nursery.

Sarah stood up and carried Abby out of the room. Jareth followed them quietly, his hand on the small of Sarah's back.

"You have a beautiful voice." He whispered in her ear.

"Beautiful to the goblins, perhaps." She laughed. "Emilie's voice puts mine to shame."

"Emilie?"

"The singer who performs that song Above." Sarah explained, smiling at him.

"I doubt anyone can put you to shame." Jareth smirked.

"Jareth... what will happen to Abby?" Sarah asked softly, concerned. She began to walk after the goblin.

"The child?" he asked, following her.

"Yes."

Jareth was silent as they followed the goblin down a few hallways to a room filled with beds. There were bookshelves along one wall, and comfy chairs for reading nearby. Gently depositing Abby in a bed, Sarah smoothed her hair away from her face and shut the door softly.

"Lady sing now?" The little goblin said hopefully.

"Of course." Sarah smiled at him, kneeling down to his level. She lightly touched his head, and the goblin began making noises that could have passed for purring. "Why don't you go and tell the others? I'll even tell you all stories from Above, but I need to get something to drink before I do."

"Okay!" The goblin nodded excitedly and scurried off to tell the other goblins.

Sarah watched him go before she looked up at Jareth, her eyes sad. "I know the goblins aren't so bad now, they're like children, really. I spoke with some of them while you were gone, they love it here. They adore you, really. It won't be so bad, to have her turned into a goblin. None of them remember what their lives used to be like before they came Underground. It's just... she has a mother." Sarah looked back at the nursery door and sighed. "One who cares for her."

"I know, Sarah." Jareth said quietly. He had been afraid this would happen.

"The goblins told me that her father was the one who wished her away, and he didn't run for her." Sarah turned to look at him. "Could... could you send her to her mother?"

"Sarah..." Jareth looked at her.

"Jareth, please!" Sarah begged him. "She loves her mother, and from what I understand-"

"Her mother loves her." Jareth smiled tiredly at her. "I know. He took his daughter to make his wife suffer. While she loved the girl, there are still the laws to consider. Her mother did not wish her away, her father did, and her father refused to run. She can be turned into a goblin, or..."

"Or what?"

"Most of the Tuatha De Danann race has problems conceiving. Too much intermarriage to preserve the magic... inbreeding, you might say. Human children are sometimes given to Tuatha parents, who raise them as their heirs."

"But... what about her mother?!" Sarah cried. "Would you like to lose your child like this?!"

"Sarah." Jareth pulled her into his arms. "Hush. I can't do much in this situation. Unless the goblins say no to having her, and there are no Tuatha seeking a child, then I might be able to return her."

"Okay." Sarah nodded, that tentative promise was all she had to cling to. "How do I look? I don't want to frighten the goblins anymore."

Jareth smiled and kissed her forehead. "They won't frighten. If you could charm the goblins into stupors before, you can do it again. I believe you would say it's 'a child is a piece of cake', or something similar to that."

Sarah smiled weakly at the use of her own words and took his arm. "Well, no use in keeping them waiting. Do you think you could magic up a goblet of sweet tea for me?"

"Of course, my dear." Jareth flourished his hand and presented her with a silver goblet, full of her favorite blend, mint with sage.

Sarah took it and sipped, smiling at him. "Perfect."

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The next morning, Sarah woke up with a sore throat. The goblins had kept begging her for more and more stories and songs whenever she stopped to take a sip of tea. She had been extremely reluctant to disappoint them, so she gave in every time. Jareth had seemed equally rapt, but after three hours he told them to let her rest for the night.
Sitting up, Sarah ignored her pounding headache and slipped out of bed. Jareth had gone to sleep holding her last night, wearing only a pair of silk pants. He knew she was tired, and had done nothing more than hold her, for which she was grateful. The amount he made her cry out was damaging enough to her vocal cords. Finding a light green dress with a dark green shawl, she got dressed quickly. She wanted to check on Abby.

Sarah managed to find her way to the Nursery

"Abby?" she called softly, flinching at the sound of her voice. "Are you awake?"

"Sarah?" a little voice called. Abby crawled out of bed and ran over to Sarah. Smiling, she knelt down and hugged the little girl. Abby smiled up at Sarah, but then her eyes got wide as she stared over her shoulder. Turning her head, Sarah noticed Jareth was lounging in the doorway, watching them. Abby continued to stare as she whispered, "Who's that?"

"This is Jareth, Abby. He and I are going to watching over you for a bit." Sarah explained, her voice scratchy. She winced inwardly while she spoke; it felt like she was scratching her throat with red hot wires.

"Until Mommy comes, right?" Abby asked, excited.

"Right." Sarah swallowed past the lump in her throat, willing herself not to cry. "But you need to look your best for when your Mommy comes, so let's get you in a bath and give you some new clothes, okay?"

"Okay!" Abby smiled and took Sarah's hand. Jareth walked past them and opened a door at the side of the nursery, which turned out to be the bathroom.

"I'll leave you two be." He said, bowing out graciously. "There are clothes for her in the wardrobe outside."

Sarah helped Abby pick out the towels she wanted and the soaps that smelled pretty, and then drew the little girl a bath. Sarah washed Abby's hair for her, careful to not get any in the little girl's eyes. Abby was quick in the bath, and didn't splash Sarah at all. That immediately told her why Abby was so filthy when she came to the castle. Her father must not have cared for her splashing around in the tub.

Abby was insistent on wearing a blue sundress with a pattern of pink flowers all over. "Mommy said blue and pink were the best colors for me! When she comes, she'll see that I remembered!" Abby told Sarah proudly.

Sarah smiled at the little girl and took her hand, walking with her to the Nursery door. "Let's see if we can find Jareth. I'm hungry." Sarah confided to Abby. The little girl giggled and Sarah smiled at her. And maybe find something for my throat and head. This is ridiculous. Sarah thought to herself.

Rounding the corner, Sarah walked right into Jareth. She made an "oomph!" noise and almost fell. If it wasn't for his quick arm around her waist, she might have.

"I was just coming to fetch you. It's time to eat." Jareth said, offering his arm to Sarah and his hand to Abby. Watching his face closely, Sarah saw a shadow pass over Jareth as the small girl took his hand and smiled at him. It was gone almost immediately, but in a flash Sarah knew why.

So the great Goblin King longs for a child... Sarah mused, not really paying attention to what Abby was chattering to Jareth. He could take any of the children that are wished away, but he doesn't. Does that mean he wants his own? Can he have his own? She suddenly remembered what he said about Tuatha De Dannon having problems conceiving. Has he tried before?!

The thought of Jareth with another woman made her flush.

Jareth watched Sarah out of the corner of his eye. She had gone quiet, and seemed lost in thought. When she flushed suddenly, he let go of Abby and felt her forehead. The resulting flash of her thoughts left him stunned- and pleased that she was so jealous. However, he covered it well. "Sarah, you're ill."

"I am?" she asked idly, still thinking.

"Yes, you are." Jareth smirked as he tilted her chin up to look in her eyes. "And if you're sick, you shouldn't be out of bed."

"I haven't eaten!" Sarah protested, then winced in pain from her throat. "I need my strength to recover." She continued after a minute, quieter.

"I'll have food sent to your room, and a healer to administer a draught for your throat."

"But-"

"Sarah." His tone was final.

Sighing, Sarah knelt down and looked at Abby. "Jareth's going to take care of you until I get better, okay?"

Abby nodded, watching her with wide eyes.

Sarah smiled weakly at her. "I'll be fine, Abby. And so will you. If not, he has to answer to me." She said the last part in a stage whisper, so it carried to Jareth but Abby thought only she heard.

"Okay." The girl whispered back.

Sarah smiled and held out her hand, closing her eyes. A cool weight dropped into her hand, and she opened her eyes to an astonished Abby and a surprised Jareth. "This will turn into something special for you Abby. Just close your eyes, think of your favorite thing, ring the bell, and you'll have it. Thing, not person." Sarah instructed, handing Abby a small silver bell. Standing up, she swayed on her feet. "Oh... I don't feel so great..." she murmured before sagging against a wall.

"Sarah..." Jareth was there, steadying her. "You shouldn't have done that." He whispered in her ear. "You weakened yourself."

"Save it for later." She shot back. "Can I go lay down now?"

With a concerned kiss to her temple, Jareth sent her back to bed.

Turning to Abby, Jareth smiled at her. "Well Abby, that's a lovely gift Sarah gave you. What are you going to ask for?"

Abby thought for a moment, before closing her eyes. As Jareth watched, she rang the bell and it disappeared before his eyes. Abby smiled at him as she handed him a storybook. "Mommy used to read it to me all the time. Will you read to me?"

"Of course, dear girl, of course."

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Sarah woke up when the healer knocked on the door. "Hello." She said groggily.
"Didn't expect to see you so soon." The healer said gruffly, placing a bag on the table. "All right, what ails you?"

"My throat and head. I conjured a spell earlier too, and I almost fell over." Sarah answered. Her head felt like it was stuffed with cotton.

"Humph." The healer reached in and pulled out a blue crockery bottle. "Drink this and sleep."

Sarah was still half asleep and drank the potion he gave her without complaint, even though it tasted disgusting. She lay back down as the healer left, falling into a deep sleep filled with dreams.

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Fragments of haunting songs rang through her head, songs and voices she had heard before but couldn't recognize...
Masked dancers swirled around her...

Moonlit nights with stars and the smell of flowers heavy in the air...

A man with golden hair and laughter... crystal orbs and silver bells... a crescent pendent on a chain... lips pressing against hers...

Children with eyes shining like the sun, and laughter than rang like bells at night...

Magic, magic and the smell of thunderstorms and summer... magic was wrapping around her, like a lover's caress...

Jareth...

The smell was dizzying in its strength... always there, never far from her memory.

JARETH...

A crown of amethysts and diamonds... and the cool metal of a ring against her finger...

A bed of magic and thunder, of love and of dreams...

A land of magic were-

Sarah slowly opened her eyes. "Nothing is what it seems." she said slowly, sitting up. She didn't notice her headache was gone, or that her throat was fine. "Nothing is what it seems... why is that so important... I don't understand... unless... unless it's not!" Sarah suddenly understood with blinding clarity. "It's not!" She turned and ran out of the room, gathering her skirt so she wouldn't trip. "JARETH!" she screamed.

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Jareth was in his study, reading over the adoption applications for that the Tuatha had submitted. Over the past 50 years, 22 children had been wished away. Only Sarah had succeeded in reclaiming Toby. 13 of the children had been turned to goblins due to physical or mental deformities that made them undesirable to humans and Tuatha alike. The other 8 had all been adopted by loving families. Over the past 300 years Jareth had been King, there had been almost 1000 requests- or demands, he though ruefully- for children. Out of those, 831 had been denied on the grounds that those families were not fit to raise a human child. Simply because a Tuatha house wanted or needed an heir did not mean Jareth would give a child to their care. Many of the families were cold, uncaring, and known to be cruel to servants and lesser families. Out of the 169 families left, almost all had adopted or successfully bore a child of their own blood.

When Toby had been wished away, there had been only 3 requests for adoption. Reading over the files again, Jareth noted that two families had successfully had children of their own, and the third died out and the holdings divided.

Jareth leaned back in his chair and sighed. The goblins had been smitten with Sarah, and knew she didn't want Abby to stay in the Underground. The leaders of the goblins had come to him that morning, and told him they did not want the child. Since there were no adoption requests, Abby was free by the laws of the Underground. She would be given to her mother, and her father had taken his dreams over the child. He would never be allowed to go near her again, simply because environments of naked teenage whores and drugs were not things allowed Above.

Jareth looked over at the child sleeping on a couch. She was clutching the storybook her mother had given her, and sucking on her thumb. Jareth gently picked her up, and with a thought, they appeared in her mother's house Above.

The woman seated at the table in front of them didn't notice them at first, but when she looked up from her bills and saw a strange man holding her daughter, she let out a piercing scream that woke Abby.

"Mommy!" she said happily, and Jareth set her down. Abby ran over to her mother and hugged her tightly. "Mommy mommy! I don't ever have to leave you again!"

"What's going on, baby?" Abby's mother asked her, holding her close. "Who is this man?"

Jareth smirked at her. "Let me explain..."

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Jareth returned Underground, satisfied with himself. Abby's mother was understandably thunderstruck at first, but when Jareth conjured several crystals and a bag of gold coins for the woman and her daughter, she burst into tears. "How can I ever thank you?!"

"Love your daughter, and teach her to love as well." He had answered before disappearing. The bag of gold would be enough to keep the little family well provided for. He smiled to himself at the thought of Sarah opening her arms to him when he arrived back at the castle. He knew she would be extremely pleased with how it turned out.

He, however, was not. He arrived in his bedroom and found it empty, the bed cold. He quickly summoned a crystal to seek her out, but the only image that he could see was that of the full moon, shining brightly. Cursing her hard head, Jareth stormed out into the castle to search for her.

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Sarah was unable to find Jareth anywhere in the Castle, although the goblins offered to help. After the 6th goblin in a row came up to her and told her the King wasn't hiding in the mouse hole in the dining room, she thanked them and went off on her own.
And subsequently got lost in the Labyrinth when she took a wrong turn.

"Dammit!" she stomped her foot and was rewarded with a stab of pain for that childish gesture. "Figures. I go looking for someone to tell them something and get lost instead."

Looking around, Sarah noticed that the Labyrinth seemed... different. There was a shimmering haze that flowed around the walls and floor, almost like water in a stream. A small flash of light caught her eye, and she began following it as it swirled and danced through the Labyrinth. Through twists and turns, down long passages and walkways, over oubliettes and traps set to ensnare runners, Sarah followed the silver bit of light. She passed through the Labyrinth as if she were made of smoke. Eventually she stopped as the light flashed through a solid wall.

"How am I supposed to go through that?" Sarah called after the light. She didn't expect an answer, and nearly jumped out of her skin at the roar that answered her.

"What are you doing?!"

"Jareth?" Sarah turned around in surprise, then shrank back as she saw his black expression.

"What are you doing here!" he yelled, grabbing her arms painfully tight and shaking her.

"Let me go!" She yelled back, her magic building in response to her roiling emotions. She felt dizzy and her chest was tight, as if a bubble were trapped.

"Answer me, Sarah! What are you doing here?!"

"LET GO!" Sarah screamed, and the world disappeared.

Sarah's powers manifested themselves in a powerful blast that knocked the two apart � and sent Sarah flying through the wall behind her. It felt like she fell into a pool of water, and the last thing she saw was Jareth's horrified expression before the darkness closed over her.

Jareth scrambled to his feet and tried to follow Sarah through the wall, but he couldn't. It was mere stone.

"Give her back!" he shouted, slamming his fists against the bricks. "Give her back to me! You have no right!"

Hush, my King. The girl must be taught if she is to become our Queen. A deep voice resounded around him.

"And who better than the Goblin King!" Jareth rallied back at the voice echoing around in the stone corridors.

Who better than the Labyrinth itself! The voice roared in his head, causing him to stagger in pain. Do not forget your place, Goblin King. You may rule over the subjects, but I am the land. I taught you, and I will teach my future queen. Return to your palace and leave me to my will!

Jareth growled, knowing he was beaten. "Do not harm her." He warned. "You may be the land, but I am the man that loves her."

Go in peace, Goblin King. No harm will come to my Queen. You have my word.

Jareth disappeared in an angry flash and reappeared in his throne room. He sank into his seat, worried about just what the Labyrinth was teaching his beloved.

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"Where am I?" Sarah tried to sit up but couldn't move. "What's going on?!"

Peace, my Queen. A melodic voice murmured soothingly. I mean you no harm.

"Who are you? Where's Jareth?!" she panicked. "Why can't I see? Why can't I move?"

You are Between, my Queen. Peace.

"Between? Between what, exactly!" Sarah's voice rose shrilly.

You are Between your World of Above and your love's World of Below. I brought you here because there is much you must learn, my Queen, and so little time.

"Who are you? Why do you keep calling me 'my Queen'? I'm not the Queen!"

I am the Labyrinth, and you are my Queen. You have been gifted with part of my magic, part of my soul. You are worthy to rule by my King's side.

"Powers?" Sarah asked, thinking. "Is that what Jareth meant by saying I took a piece with me?"

Yes. And I must teach you how to use those powers to heal me.

"You're dying, aren't you?" Sarah half-stated, half-asked.

The voice was silent, and then Sarah knew she was right. Yes, I am dying. You know, then, what you must do?

"Yes. I saw it earlier. I know what we have to do to heal you."

Then we must hurry. The Eclipse is only a few days away, and there is much for you to learn.

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Jareth was still in his throne, alone and staring at the wall. It had been 3 days since Sarah had left. They only had less than half a day before...

"Jareth."

He turned at the sound of her voice. She stood before him, gowned in brilliant silver and white, with purple gems at her throat and crown. She was a pale beauty, snow and ice reflecting all light cast at her. Reflecting like the Moon.

"Sarah?"

"Jareth." She said again, holding out her hand. "Come. There is little time, and we have such a task ahead of us."

"Sarah... what have you seen?"

"I have seen what we must do. I will explain, but we must hurry." She turned and began walking down the hall, leading out to the Labyrinth. Jareth followed her, unnerved by this new, cold Sarah. She seemed devoid of all life, empty, like she was waiting for life to be breathed into her. Her gown whispered over the stone floor, but remained pristine and white. Jareth finally caught up with her, but she didn't seem to notice. Her eyes had gone completely violet, and her skin had once again obtained the silver glow that the Moon possessed.

"Sarah... what has happened? What did it show you?" Jareth demanded of her.

Sarah didn't pause or skip a beat as she answered him. "We are dying, Goblin King. All of us. You, me, the Labyrinth. We have but once chance to survive, but it is not guaranteed we will survive."

Jareth's throat went dry. "Sarah..."

"The Labyrinth feeds off of dreams, you have said so yourself. But the land of dreams is dying as the dreams die. The magic is fading, and we will suffer. There is a way to save the Labyrinth. The price, however, is high."

"Sarah. What is the price?" He asked her, his voice low. She didn't answer him, merely kept walking. Jareth grabbed her arms and forced her to look at him. "Sarah, answer me!"

She gazed into his eyes. "We must die."

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Well, that's a pretty little dilemna, isn't it? I'm evil, I know, but that's part of my charm, darlings. And if you don't love me for my writing, well... love me because I make excellent tea. Which actually sounds very tasty right about now, and I am parched. I'll be updating soon, probably right after I make my tea. I'm writing the next chapter now, so it won't be too long. Two chapters to make up for my goof, I do hope it makes up for it.

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