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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
- 7
- 8
- 9
Sarah entered the tent to find the front half made into some sort of public area. She could not imagine all of this stuff fitting on two wagons. More than likely, magic was involved. These people apparently could not breathe properly without it.
Against the back canvas wall facing the entrance was a replica of Jareth's throne, seemingly made of marble. The area before it was clear. Next to the throne was a low, cushioned divan of gold trimmed in green velvet. To the left was a table laden with fruits, breads, bottles of wine and ale, glass and silver goblets. To the right was a vast collection of rich-looking pillows and cushions surrounding a low table.
There were two apparent flaps leading to the back of the tent, one on either side of the throne. Col popped through the left one. "There you are! Come along, child, I've got a bath ready."
Sarah took a breath and ducked into the opening Col held for her.
She realized the tent was divided into three areas. There was another tent flap in the middle of the 'wall' dividing the back into two more areas.
Looking around, Sarah found this half decorated with silk hangings with Celtic knotwork in gold and silver woven into them. Braziers gave off light, but no heat, in all four corners. The bed was a giant pillow covered in silks, velvet, and fur. The trunks, baskets, and rolls she'd seen in her room were piled neatly against the back wall.
In the middle of all this was a copper tub, one end markedly higher than the other was. From this emanated a wonderful aroma of lilacs and roses. A high table full of bottles, soaps, vials, sponges and fluffy towels sat beside the tub.
"This is for me?" Sarah's eyes darted around the room in wonder.
"Aye, nothing but the best. Himself cannot be faulted for his hospitality." Col had already descended on her and was undoing the hairstyle she had done earlier that morning. "An' I picked just the dress for you tonight. It's sure to make an impression. While you bathe I'll see if His Majesty needs anything."
Sarah found the scented bath water most inviting. It looked hot enough to soak the tension away. And were those rose petals floating on the surface?

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Saishoku flopped onto a pile of cushions and covered her head with the nearest pillow, as if to hide from the world.
"Have a nice time with the aristos, m'love?" She felt Ian flop next to her.
"What do you call ten members of the Fae court stuck in an oubliette?" The pillow muffled her voice, she knew, but Ian understood.
"A good start," he answered for her. "While you were living the high life I was setting up camp and rubbing elbows with the other servile members of this little party. Guess what I found out."
Sai tossed away the pillow and rolled onto her side. "Oh, do tell, I know the servants always know more than the courtiers." She wiggled her eyebrows comically.
"Queen Jaliana of Killcair and Duchess Kyrin of Caer both have had babies in the past year. A rarity indeed for the Fae." Ian toyed idly with a plain white ball, rolling it up and down his leg.
Sai growled; he should know better then to play with that.
"Yes, it is. Good for them. The children can grow up with someone their own age around." Sai plucked at Ian's pant leg and held out her hand for the orb.
"Both are Ladies-in-Waiting to Titiana," Ian handed the object over. "And the queen has repeatedly commanded the children be brought to her presence. She seems to like mothering them."
Sai, who had been cuddling the white ball, stilled, then paled. "Oh no!"
"Oh yes. Reports through the royal housemaids are that she has been trying to conceive again." Ian lay back on the pillows. "So far no luck. But the woman is in the mood for babies."
Sai sat up. "If they have another baby, with the King still unhappy with Jareth, they'll name the new child as heir."
Ian nodded. "That's what I was thinking. Plus... considering just HOW Jareth got their Majesties so angry, and how he gained his current position, it doesn't bode very well for any future offspring, either."
Sai smacked her hand against her head. "Of COURSE! That explains Titiana's unexpected interest in Sarah! Ian, she didn't much care for the actual pregnancy and childbirth part of bearing Jareth ,from what I have heard. I think she'd be just as happy with a grandchild to coddle and spoil."
"It would solve the problem of Jareth's position. If he produced an heir, no one would doubt his place in the ascension." Ian folded his hands over his knee, meeting Sai's eyes. He looked dead serious. "Do you think he's already gotten wind of this?"
"I doubt it. Who would he hear it from? Those who attend his feasts and balls would never listen to the babble of servants. This is obviously news to you and Col, so he can't have heard it from you. Why?" Sai frowned.
"Because a quite beautiful and innocent young lady just happened to show up out of nowhere. Because you'd have to be blind to miss the way Jareth looks at her, and there's more than a little interest on her part, as well. Even if they both disguise it in sniping at each other like children. Because Jareth is a manipulative son of a bitch who is used to getting what he wants by hook or by crook. And it never occurs to him that there might be some other way! Because, dear wife, he can be a damned seductive bastard when he wants to be. I've seen him in action before." Ian had ticked off each point on his fingers, his ire rising with each item.
"No," Sai shook her head and lay a calming hand on Ian's leg. "I've known Jareth for four hundred years, beloved. He has no idea of this. At least not yet. You've noticed how he looks at Sarah, but have you REALLY noticed his eyes? There is more there than a desire for a brood mare, I'll wager."
Ian looked shocked. "Are you serious?"
Sai laughed, "Ian, he was unbearable for months after losing her. His words, not mine. Losing her, not losing TO her. She was only a child then. Now she's a very desirable woman. She's matured, she's gained more depth, and she doesn't back down from him. He's never faced someone who won't take his crap. Except for me, of course. Oh, he's in love, all right. He's just having a hard time admitting it to himself. Darling, he looks at her the same way you used to look at me when I'd come to visit years ago."
"If this is true, then we are facing some complications. Sarah isn't stupid. If she hears these rumors, and comes to the same conclusions I did..." Ian looked his wife in the eyes.
"Then she may suspect what you did and close herself off to him, or carve his heart out with a spoon. Oh, Ian, this is a disaster! After all this time Jareth deserves a little happiness, AND someone to smack him around a bit. We have to make sure Sarah never finds out." Sai sat up and walked her fingers up her husband's chest. "You are going to start a rumor, beloved."
Ian gulped, "I am?"
"Yes. We are going to use Jareth's reputation for his own good, for once. You are going to tell the servants that Jareth has heard the rumors and that if any servant ruins his plans by mentioning anything at all to Lady Sarah, they'll wish they had never been born." Sai leaned in to kiss Ian's mouth, chastely.
Ian flipped her over, pinning her to the cushions. "I'll spread your rumor in an other hour or two. Other plans just came up."
Sai looked down between them and giggled. "You really should get better control of those plans, they come up quite often."
"Are you complaining?" He kissed her.
"No. Just observing." Her eyes, quite literally, glowed.
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Sarah tried to ignore the sounds outside the tent as she pinned up her wet hair. Looking over the side of the tub to survey the array of small bottles and decanters on the table beside her, she opened one and sniffed. As she expected, the fragrance of scented oil teased her nose. She found one that smelled of lilacs and poured a little in the water, swirling it around with her other hand.
Sinking against the raised back of the tub, she tried to relax and let the bath soothe her frayed nerves.
What had Sai said? Try to examine why Jareth had been so upset. Well, he didn't want to be here. He obviously had a warm and loving relationship with his parents. Sarah snorted softly.
He was mad at her for getting cornered by Gwyn ap Nudd. No, that really made no sense. She obviously didn't want to get cornered and Sai had intimated that the King of Annwn had used a spell to separate her from those who could guard her back. She WAS thankful Jareth had shown up when he did. She wasn't sure what the penalty was for giving a King a black eye, but she'd been pretty close.
And that's when she'd noticed Jareth to be really angry. Royally pissed off would be the correct term. But that anger was directed at Gwyn, not her. He was angry that Gwyn had cornered her and practically assaulted her.
She sat up in the tub. Had the jerk actually been concerned for her? If he was, he needed to learn to direct his anger in the right directions. Yelling at her about it was not the way to go. It was irrational.
Maybe she would forgive him after all, she decided, as the water became tepid.
She climbed out of the tub and wrapped herself in a huge, soft towel. What she couldn't figure out was WHY Jareth would be concerned about her. Just because the laws of hospitality put her under his protection? Why had he even bothered to bring her back to the Underground? And while she was in the mood for wondering, why did he care how she was treated? Setting her up in this ridiculous role, while humiliating, WAS a form of protection. Besides, it was sure to cramp his style if he planned on getting any female company over the next few weeks.
Sarah felt a strange warmth spread through her body as she brushed out her hair. Could he actually care about her? If he did, how did she feel about him?
He was devilishly handsome, and knew it. Sarah frowned. He was arrogant, cruel, manipulative and infuriating. Oh, yeah, there was loads to like there, she sighed and put down the brush. So why did she get butterflies in her stomach every time he touched her? Maybe it's the beginnings of nausea, she brooded.
"Why didn't ya call me?" Col interrupted Sarah's train of thought. "Let's get you ready."
Col pulled out the midnight blue velvet dress Sarah had spotted yesterday. The thing looked like it would fit like a glove to the hips, then flare into an incredibly full, draping skirt. The hem was encrusted with tiny crystals. The crystals thinned out as they traveled up, disappearing completely at the waist of the gown. It only had one sleeve, cut to leave one arm and shoulder bare. The cuff of the single long sleeve was also encrusted with crystals.
"Most of the Fae woman try to dress in things all delicate and light. You will stand out in this," Col cooed.
"Who wants to stand out? Do you have anything that will make me invisible?" Sarah looked over Col's shoulder at the trunks.
"The revels are a feast with entertainment during and dancing after. You will be seated at the high table. You are going to stand out. Why not do it with style?" Col insisted as she moved to find what would work best with the dress.
---------------------------------------------------
Sarah stepped into the public area of the tent to find Jareth reclining on his throne. He was wearing blue tights, black boots and a jacket that matched Sarah's dress. Its dark blue velvet was studded with crystals at the edges, fading towards the shoulders. However, his jacket was strategically slashed in a seemingly random pattern to show the fine silk of the shirt he wore underneath.
"So, this was a setup." Sarah gestured to her dress, its clinging top making her feel self-conscious.
"Semantics. I consider it well planned. You do look ravishing." Jareth stood and offered her his arm. The way he purred the last word made Sarah bite her lip.
Sarah blushed, taking his arm with care. "Let's get this farce over with, shall we?"
They picked up Sai on the way.
---------------------------------------------------
Sarah felt awkward. She was seated at the High table, as Col had predicted. She sat to Jareth's right, and he was to the right of the Queen. To her dismay, the Queen placed Gwyn ap Nudd to Sarah's right.
Her nerves were strung so tight she was ready to snap. Jareth was tense beside her and avoided conversing with his mother by giving her a running commentary on the members of court as they moved about. Of course, turning to talk to her also put Gwyn in his line of sight. How convenient, she thought.
Sai was seated at one of the lower tables. Her sky blue kimono made her visible among the crowd.
The food was most likely superb, but it tasted like sand in her mouth. Luckily, the fact that she had to share a golden wine goblet with Jareth kept her from drinking too much. That little tradition just seemed way too personal, but she was trapped. If she demurred people would start to talk. She still wished she could have some plain old water to unglue the paste in her mouth.
To top it all off, if Gwyn 'accidentally' brushed against her one more time, she swore to herself, she would dump the contents of her shared goblet in his lap.
"What?" She missed something someone said to her.
Titania smiled patiently. "I asked if thou had yet to hear Jareth sing? He has been graced with a most remarkable voice. I honestly know not from whence it came. Not from mine family, 'tis certain."
Sarah remembered being swirled dizzyingly around, swaying to some far away music as Jareth's voice enveloped her.
"Yes." She nodded a bit. "I've heard him sing."
Jareth sighed. "I already know where this is leading, mother. I don't feel like being reduced to the part of minstrel to your adoring friends."
"Oh, come now, Jareth. Maybe you're losing that fine voice from screaming at hobgoblins all day." Gwyn smiled maliciously, then looked past Jareth. "I'd be happy to sing for you, your Majesty."
Jareth threw down his napkin. "Faced with that as penalty, bring on the lute."
He stood to circle in front of the table. Sarah glared at Jareth for leaving her alone next to the detestable Gwyn.
"Lady Sarah, attend me." The Queen patted the seat Jareth had abandoned, neatly separating her from Gwyn. Sarah gave her a smile of genuine thanks.
As Jareth tuned a lute someone had provided for him, the Queen leaned to Sarah, her voice hushed. "Has mine son ever spoken of children?"
- 7
- 8
- 9
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