Jareth/Sarah [LADYONYX04 and BOWELS]

[bowels]

Sarah hadn’t eaten a peach in five years.

She wanted to say because she just woke up one day and realized how disgusting they were, but that wasn’t it. It wasn’t that she’d never liked them in the first place, either—because they’d once been her favorite fruit. Neither of those reasons were it, and she knew it; deep in her bones, she knew why she hadn’t been able to touch a peach for five years.

Disbelief. Trauma. Anger. Resentment. Regret. Sadness. Insubordination. Many reasons, all lumped together to form a peach she refused to have again.

This self-made oath, unspoken to even herself, was now being violated, as she sat on her bed, in her childhood room.

Pensively, her pale green eyes coasted the fruit as she lamely rolled it in her grasp. The last time she remembered eating one of those, it had been in a dream—a painfully realistic dream, that in a nightmarish way brought all she ever wanted true. After many failed attempts to resurrect her friends in the real world, though, she lost hope in its credibility. It was an entire year after the incident before she realized how ridiculous it all seemed, and left the childish dream. She had boxed away all of her favorite things and stored them in the far bowels of this large home, never to be seen again.

In fact, she’d never planned on seeing this house again, but her father had called her, and informed her of the grim news. Ever since her step-mother came into the picture, there had been friction in the house, and it only got worse when Toby was born—and even though the conflict drove her away from this place, Toby was her little brother, and she loved him. She loved him enough to come back to this hellhole, and when she was desperate enough for answers, revisit a long-lost hunch.

On that day, after at least a week of him being missing, she found a peach on her bed—obediently resting on her pillow. And now, here she was, contemplating doing something that seemed childish, stupid and absolutely terrifying.

After at least an hour had passed (with her mind on plenty of other things besides this peach), she decided it had been long enough. It seemed so terrifically idiotic, but she had to do it—just to get that possibility out of her head, and she could banish the theory overall.

Slowly, she raised it to her plump lips, and opened her mouth. All she needed was one bite… just one… and then years of doubt would be solved, and she could refocus on finding…

It slid down her throat like battery acid. On the back of her tongue, it tasted like vomit, and it burned the walls of her esophagus more than any fire could. Suddenly, her body had drifted into a complete numb, and she had no idea what her body was even doing. The room went hazy, and things began to spin. Her tongue felt too big for her mouth. Her head was compressed. Her eyes felt like they were going to pop out of their sockets.

A great tidal wave of white noise came over her head, and then, nothing. Then, water—water weakly bubbling nearby.

Her eyes shot open, and she burst upright. Sarah’s heart gave thick, empty throbs in her chest as she looked around her and recognized everything she’d believed to be a figment of her imagination. There was a small square filled with water, lightly rippling, and there was an opening in the hedges. It wasn’t nearly as lush as she’d remembered (these plants were thin and lame), and it seemed much emptier than before, but she knew what it was: it was the labyrinth, which had haunted her for years in mystifying ways.

It didn’t take her long to readjust. Rather than sitting and dwelling on it, she leapt to her feet, and set to tearing through the corridors of the winding maze. A million questions a minute popped into her head as she raced through, noting all the dead and desolate nooks and crannies, but she didn’t stop and try to find answers. She didn’t even stop and try to find her long-lost friends. There was no doubt in her mind that Toby was with Jareth the Goblin King, and she was determined to get him back, above all else.

Doors that had once been locked were now left unattended and wide open. This made her mad dash much less disrupted, and helped her cut time. It was maybe an hour of straight running before she could see the castle in the distance, calling her name. Since she had last seen it, it looked as if it had aged significantly—faulted, dry, and discolored from loose soil drifting through the breeze—as did everything else around it. It only made her want to get there faster.

Sarah didn’t pace herself until she reached the large, heavy doors of the Goblin City. At that point, she gave a few heavy pants, and pattered to a complete stop. There wasn’t anyone at the gate; the door was partially open. Were all of the kingdom’s inhabitants on vacation? Where had they all gone?

She shook her head and slipped through the welcoming crack, resuming her speeded jog.

As she came up to the castle, she wondered if he’d recognize her. Surely he’d remember her, but how? Had he been watching her? Had he even looked at her since the day she outwitted him? It wasn’t entirely impossible to see it as her, but things had certainly changed; after all, she’d been only fifteen when she first ventured through the labyrinth. She hadn’t gotten much taller, perhaps an inch or so, but her body had certainly filled out. She had the waist and hips of a woman, but her bust still wasn’t anything to get too proud over. She still kept her thick brown hair long, and she still had that distant quality to her expression, as if she were always dreaming of something better or different. But, in relation to her face, she’d lost some of the baby fat and grew into it more.

Overall, she’d just… grown up.

When she reached the castle’s doors, she stopped once again. Her first instinct was to open it, but of course, it was locked. Her eyebrows knitted together, and after taking a deep breath, she began to violently pound against the door.

“Goblin King, give me back my brother!” she hollered. Her voice had also changed; she was twenty, after all. “So help me, if you don’t open this door, I will break it down!”

Somehow, she thought.

[ladyonyx04]

"Two million, one hundred and two thousand, and four hundred minutes." A soft voice counted. It was very masculine as the being who spoke watched the time on the clock to his right, his black eyes being forced away by the banging of a door. A gloved hand stroked the head of the boy sitting on the floor in front of him. Couldn't be more than five, the man thought to himself. But then again, what did age matter to a being who was ageless? He shook his head of white blonde hair shaking the thoughts out of his head. He couldn't be distracted. Not this time. That cursed girl. This was all her fault. Had she but taken his offer those four years ago, when she had been...fifteen, sixteen? Well he wouldn't be in this bloody mess. His cold onyx eyes went to the door. Had it been anyone else but her, the person in the front of the door would have meet with opposition. But he had no wish to extend his army's efforts that much. They were already being extended for this battle. He rubs his temple with his left hand, the one currently not on top of the boy's head. "What deplorable manners your sister has." He said softly to the boy as if sharing a secret. The man stood fluidly, still being able to move with grace despite his weakness. He was a tall man, with a slight muscular build. He had also slightly changed during the years. Although still handsome, his features now bore more coldness than before having been in too many battles for this labyrinth. Stupid fools. Only he had the ability to change them as he willed them to. And now, his decedent. Oh, this was going to be fun! He smiles in enjoyment of his visitors surprise when she learns that her precious brother can't leave any longer. He wondered for a moment if the human girl could. It was a very strong door after all, and could break her foot if she tried. And try as he might, he still couldn't believe what power this girl could wield in her. He had done everything he had known she secretly wanted, even bent time for her, just to make her stay. And she still threw it in his face. He was morbidly still in love with her. Too bad she wouldn't find out this time during her permanent stay in the Labyrinth. He'd be sure that she wouldn't even doubt his cold emotions. "Amuse me and try it Sarah." He calls enforcing the door even more so. At least he still could do this. He still had a bit of powers left in his realm. He was the Goblin King after all.

[bowels]

Temporarily, her anger died down, and her lungs compressed. Oxygen left her, and her emerald eyes grew big.

She heard his voice. On the other side, she heard a sound she hadn’t heard in five long years, and it was something that had haunted her to the very day. Whether or not it’d all been a dream, or if it had ever really happened. Pieces of her had wanted her time in the Labyrinth to be reality, and even tinier fragments had wished to hear that voice again.

And now, she was—on the other side of the door.

Soon, she registered that he’d challenged her, and she growled. He’d stolen Toby again; she had to remember her brother.

“Fine!” she snapped, and as hard as she could, she kicked the door. Unfortunately, it’d grown stronger, and she gasped, then hissed.

“Ouch!” she seethed, and grabbed onto her foot for a moment. It hadn’t been broken or majorly harmed, but it definitely smarted.

[ladyonyx04]

Jareth chuckles softly hearing the human voice her pain. It did amuse him to a level yet the other part of him, the one he was determined to hide, winced along. "You didn't change much. Rushing ahead without thought." He said so she could hear him again.

[bowels]

Again, she got shivers.

Gently, Sarah pressed her open palm against the front of her door, as well as her forehead. Her eyes squinted shut, and she released a sigh. Of course he’d make this difficult.

“You didn’t change, either,” she responded, with an edge in her voice. “Still stealing children.”

Sarah soon decided that she couldn’t stand there forever. Therefore, she stepped back from the front door and ran down the side of the castle. It was a long ways, but she’d run farther through the Labyrinth, and within a few minutes she was at the far end of it. There was a grand scheme of gardening in the back, and she plowed through the pathways before she was led to the backdoor—a thick, old wooden door.

Without hesitation or thought of what could be behind it, she thrust open the door and rushed in, and was glad to find this door unlocked.

[ladyonyx04]

Jareth rolls his inexpressive onyx eyes and chuckles. There was nothing within his realm that he did not know almost immediately. She stupidly ran to the back side of his palace. The goblin army, the most that weren't healing in a special place in his kingdom, look up at the human girl with expressions of first mild curiosity, then they all grabbed at her tying up her wrists and pushing her to the throne room, where the king had placed his heir. "Master, master! Lookie! We gots the girl!" A goblin said gleefully.
"I am not blind thank you." Jareth said turning his head to examine Sarah. Much like he had said, despite four years she hadn't changed beyond the fact that she had matured. His eyes starved for her took all of her appearance slowly going from head to toe, but his expression was cold almost callous. "Welcome to my kingdom...again Sarah. Have I told you the news?" He asks her knowing that he had not. And her inmate curiosity would ask him what news he could possibly have

[bowels]

Unfortunately, Sarah didn’t stand a chance against several goblins alone, and she was detained in a matter of seconds.

Begrudgingly, she trudged all the way to the throne room, and couldn’t help but pout a little when she was finally in there. But, when her eyes found Jareth, her mouth fell open just a bit.

There was the object of her dreams. For five years, he’d plagued her thoughts, and had been a force that had driven her near insanity ever since she’d gone back home. Toby was nowhere to be found (he must have been removed before she entered), but she was still in utter awe of Jareth.

The only thing different about him was how cold and tired he looked. It was strange. It also made her feel incredibly old, even though he still looked older than her.

Her eyebrows knitted together. He knew her and her undying curiosity well. “What news?” she asked slowly. “Please tell me you’re looking for new management of the Labyrinth, or something. It looks horrible.”

[ladyonyx04]

"I am not searching. I found one. It will at least assure me that this place will carry on. You've been away for quite some time Sarah, so I will explain what happened. Because of your refusal of my proposal, my powers diminished. Greedy fools saw that as a chance to attack my lands. Thankfully enough I can still do small things around the Labyrinth, but little else. It is my extreme pleasure for me to introduce....my heir. I am sure you already know each other." He said as he moved to the right showing Toby on the throne with a small crown of bones on his head.

[bowels]

Her heart sank.

“Toby?!” she remarked.

Her little brother gave a fond smile and twinkled his fingers in an energetic wave. “Hey Sarah!”

Unfortunately, his older sister didn’t share his enthusiasm, and she cast a glare toward Jareth.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she shook her head. “He’s five years old! He can barely add and subtract!”

She went to step forward, but the goblins swarmed her legs. After giving a small growl, she focused on Jareth, then felt a bit of her rage die down as more important questions came to mind.

“You can’t blame me because you’re a horrible leader,” she added a little guiltily. She’d only been fifteen years old; how was she supposed to accept such an offer, or even consciously recognize that someone felt such strong feelings for her.

[ladyonyx04]

Jareth snorted amused at that. "If I was horrible it probably because of something silly if I think on it." He knew exactly why he had been a bit troll like in attitude was because he had been jealous. She had befriended Hoggle, someone he had been certain didn't have a heart, Diddymus the protector of the permanent stink, and Bruno the thing that could call rocks. He had wanted all of her affection to himself. "Addition?" Jareth asked curiously as he had no idea what that was neither.