28Quick reminder - I don't own anything related to Henson and Labyrinth.
A Syncopated Groove
Chapter 14 –
Feel the heat below my feet
I have to go, no time to sleep
Can't believe the things you say
I turn my head and walk away
You make me sick; you make me nervous
Times had gone when you would say
This is the one and seize the day
Times had gone for honesty
My victory is your defeat
Can't you see you've been mistaken?
In my life, I decide! And it turns me on
How I am, how I live, who I love, yeah
In my way, I feel strong! And it turns me on
In my life, I decide, I decide!
- "In My Life" - The Rasmus
Madison's head was starting to pound. She was sure she needed to accept the crown. She couldn't let this world fall apart, even if it was Jareth's fault that her choice of not being Queen was taken from her. But what she was waffling on were the remaining options of marrying Jareth, ruling alone, or just having him as her advisor and possibly marrying him later. Though by not getting hitched to him right away, maybe she would meet someone else that might actually respect her and she would enjoy ruling with. She was sure there would be a lot of bumping of heads with obstinate Jareth.
When they returned to the throne room, they found Madison leaning against the stone wall staring out the window, perusing the Labyrinth.
"How goes your decision, my Lady?" Sir Didymus asked, alerting her to their presence.
She blew out a breath, "Honestly? Confused. This is a lot to take in to begin with and then trying to decide on how the rest of my life will be, is somewhat terrifying. Especially when it's not just my future at stake but also a whole Kingdom's."
Didymus inclined his head, "Verily, your irresolution is understandable."
"Sarah, there is something more you should know," Jareth stated quietly. He seemed quite subdued compared to before.
"And what is that?" Madison tried to keep the frustration of additional information to muddle things even more, out of her voice.
"Sir Didymus didn't want to tell you this as to put more pressure on you, but you should know that choosing to marry me while learning your magic, would allow you to reorder time so it would be as if you missed very little Above. Then if you choose to leave me in charge of seeing to the day to day affairs and go about your life as before, there would be no questions from those you are acquainted with of where you had gone for however long it takes you to master your magic. "
"Why do I need to marry you for that though? Couldn't I just do that myself once I get to that point?"
"Not for what is most likely to be a significant interval. You can reorder a small increment of time, but not what will be months or possibly years. For that you would need my help as your husband and King."
"But why does it have to be you? What if I find someone else to marry?"
"You could take that chance, My Lady. Perhaps you would find someone suited for you. But given that the male in question would have to be at least as powerful as Jareth is even without the Goblin throne to enhance his magical abilities, which I must be candid with you, I do not know of many that fit that qualification. Also you would have very limited time to find such a match, as the longer you go, the more difficult it is to reorder. Jareth has had mastery of that for centuries and would be an easy first choice," the knight explained.
"Great. Well this throws yet another wrench into the works. I really don't know what the right option is for me," she ran her fingers through her hair as she started pacing the room. After a moment, an idea came to her and she stopped in front of Sir Didymus, "Is Christian still here or was he returned yet?" With everything that had been happening, she had totally forgotten about her ex.
"He was returned Above with no recollection of what happened as soon as you defeated me," Jareth was the one to answer.
"So there's no way to get in touch with him then?"
"Unfortunately not, My Lady. I am sorry that you were unable to bid him farewell," Didymus replied. Jareth rolled his eyes.
"No..no.. it's not that. I just thought he could give everyone a reason why I'd be missing for awhile. But if there's no way to reach him now.." she trailed off, looking at the knight hopefully.
He slowly shook his head, "Regretfully there is nothing more you can do as of this moment."
"However, there is something I could possibly do to aid you in that," Jareth added on, with a slight quirk of his lips.
Madison looked at him suspiciously, "And what is that?"
"The Goblin monarch can contact a wished away. They can't harm them, but they can communicate. If my former seat of power was restored to me within a timely manner, I could aid in changing his memories to an explanation for your future extended absence."
"I suppose this is also a situation where I wouldn't be able to do myself until I had control of my magic?" she raised an eyebrow at him.
He inclined his head slightly, "Correct."
"So, yet another way that benefits you but doesn't really give me an option out of marrying you, unless I want to have to come up with a reason why I'm gone for a long time," she glared at him.
He shrugged, "I am just trying to give you all possibilities."
She assessed him for a moment, but he remained resolute. No fidgeting from the pompous former King. "Sir Didymus, if I would marry Jareth, is there anything stating I have to be faithful to him?" Her gaze remained on the potential husband to be until she finished her question. Once she noticed he had lost his smirk, she turned to the knight.
"Truly, most Underground Kings and Queens are not faithful to each other and while not common, there are circumstances of illegitimate offspring. They can't be recognized as heir to the throne, but there is nothing against it. Taking lovers is most often the path chosen. Most marriages of that station are for power and military gains. Since the Fae live almost immortal lives, they would not suffer being unhappy with one partner they did not choose. As long as there are also legitimate heirs born to succeed the current rulers, it is accepted, yes."
Madison smiled for the first time in what felt like forever, "Interesting. That may be the first helpful thing I've heard."
"Sarah.." Jareth said warningly.
"Don't you 'Sarah' me. This whole situation is your fault. Your interference cost us both a lot. So now you can live with my decision," she had walked up to him and poked him in the chest. Before he could react, she continued, "And what is with you always calling me Sarah anyways?" She took a step back and crossed her arms.
"Your name is Sarah, is it not." It was more a statement than a question.
"It's my first name, yes. But I don't ever go by it. I always use my middle name. It's the way it's always been."
"Perhaps in your circles that is the way it is done. But in the Underground, names carry weight. By calling what was to be my future wife by anything but her first name, would be seen as disrespectful. The Goblin Queen's name was fated to be Sarah, not the other."
"But why is it disrespectful if that's what I want? Isn't it worse to not adhere to my wishes?"
"My Lady, by using your first given name, Jareth was acknowledging you as his Queen. As you have come to find, words have power here. It is very important to choose the correct ones," Sir Didymus explained.
Madison sighed, "I get it. What's said is said and all that." She waved a hand, then continued, "So I won't be able to go by the name I've been used to being called all my life if I choose to accept the crown?"
"Correct. But I would say that is the least of your concerns," Jareth remarked.
She turned to him, "Is this how it would be if you were involved in my life at all as advisor or husband? You can't even communicate without sounding arrogant. I can't live like that."
"While we were gone, I made him aware of the changes he would need to make if you kept him by your side in any capacity. It is something he will need to work on," the little dog interjected.
"And has he agreed to actually work on it?" her eyes didn't leave her possible husband to be.
"I don't see what is wrong with how I speak, but yes I understand for us to work together in any form I will need to.. adjust my interactions with you."
"I will also be at your disposal, should you need a mediator of sorts," Didymus added.
She looked at him and smiled, "Thank you, I'm quite sure you will be needed. A lot."
Jareth frowned, "I don't see why we will need intervention in simple conversation."
"Because with you it's not simple conversation. You don't like being told what to do or even to presume you're wrong. I'm damn sure you don't know what a compromise is either. Also after hearing your views on what you think a wife is to her husband, if you were a normal guy and this was a normal situation, I would've kicked you to the curb after that."
"Perhaps you should look inwards in regards to our exchanges. You have held nothing but anger towards me. It doesn't make for a pleasant experience."
"My Lady," Didymus interjected, "What he is trying to say is, you both may be at fault? Even if not intentionally, just as your world and experiences shaped how you interact, so did his. You both have walked very different paths and now need to find a way to merge them."
Madison was about to open her mouth to give a haughty reply, but then the knight's voice of reason penetrated her highly emotional state. She realized he was right and both of them constantly knocking heads wasn't going to get them anywhere. Yes, he would have to bend considerably, but so would she. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out, then said calmly, "Fine Jareth, if you will make the effort to not look down on me as less than you, I will try to be civilized towards you. Sir Didymus is right, we both need to figure out how to work together."
"Indeed, indeed. You are correct, you both must be allies. Being enemies will not aid either of you," Didymus concurred.
What looked like was going to be another arrogant remark, died on the slender man's lips. Instead he sighed and slowly nodded his head, "As much as I don't want to agree, I do see the wisdom in this. Both of us shall have to put our pride aside."
"Yes, I think so," Madison tapped her lips with an index finger, her forehead creasing in thought, then continued. "In light of that, I have a question for you Jareth. I know your views on what your Queen is to you and what is expected of her, but do you believe in hitting her or anything abusive?"
His stoic features actually looked appalled at this, "Of course not. That is barbaric. I would never lay a hand on any woman in such a manner."
"Hmm.. since Kings tend to dole out orders, would you order someone else to do so?"
"Absolutely not."
"My Lady, I understand where you could come to these conclusions, as in your world I have heard it is fairly common. But this is another example of where you need to keep in mind that Jareth has never been human. While his views of marriage may not fit the ideal Above, it does not go hand in hand with violence," Sir Didymus explained.
She nodded, "Ok, well good to know and kind of a relief. Sir Didymus, will he lose his magic as he turns human?" Her mind was flipping from one subject to another, trying to absorb every possible circumstance.
"Over time, yes. It will slowly start to fade."
"How long will that take?"
"I do not have a sure answer for that. Most likely a few years since he was King and is powerful even without the crown."
"Would he be able to get back any magic he loses if we do end up getting married?"
"That is another unknown, I would wager it would depend on how much he has lost. If he is closer to full mortal than Fae, it might be too late."
"I see... Jareth exactly how far back can you reorder time?"
"While I don't make a habit of doing more than the thirteen hours needed for a Labyrinth run, I have done a few years. The further back into the past, the more you have to tread carefully to make sure all seconds are woven back together without error. It isn't a practice to be done lightly."
"I understand," she walked back over the window, looking out over part of the Labyrinth. This would all be hers if she said the right words. "I just wish I could have more time to think. But at this point in time there really is only one logical option for me. I suppose since I need to decide now, my choice is pretty clear."
"And that is?" Came from her possible husband to be.
"I don't want to rush into marriage with someone I don't know and probably wouldn't even get along with in normal circumstances, but I don't want this world to collapse. So that leaves you being my advisor and since we'll be spending a lot of time together until I master my magic, we can get to know each other. I know you don't want to be human, but at least by staying here you won't age as quickly and can still be involved with running the Kingdom. If you can show me we may end up being a good match, then marriage may happen down the road. Maybe it'll give you some incentive to think differently too, since you'll only have limited time to return back to immortality."
"What of the time you are going to miss Above?" Jareth asked with a frown.
"Depending on how long it takes me to learn how to control my magic, I might be able to come up with something. If it takes longer, well I'll make another decision at that point."
"If I lose my magic I won't be able to return to being King and you won't have me as an option, is that what you're hoping for?" Jareth accused.
"That didn't even cross my mind! Didymus is right, you do think of yourself first more than you can imagine. I'm beginning to see why you have been dethroned," she huffed and glared at him.
"This is now an example of something you need to learn, Jareth," the knight said quietly. "I also agree that having to prove yourself to Sarah as a possible spouse, may aid you in being more willing to be open about different views than your own."
"I don't see what I even need to prove, this has all gotten out of hand. Mortals make things so much more difficult than they really are. It's a marriage, nothing more."
Madison laughed, "The fact that you don't even see why that statement is so wrong, is exactly why you need to learn quite a few lessons. It also makes me feel even more right about my decision."
Jareth scowled, "I have had enough of this absurdity, I will take my leave of you, Your Majesty. Call if you have actual need of me." He gave a mock bow and stalked out of the room, his boots clicking the entire way.
Madison looked at Sir Didymus, "Well, this is going to be a blast."
"Please be patient with him. As you have been asked to give up everything you've ever known, he also has to adjust that all is not under his control anymore. I foresee a lot of conflict between you, but in the end it will be worth all you both will need to endure."
She sighed, "I'll try. It's all I can promise. I have a feeling him being my advisor will leave me even more alone. But in the mean time, I'm tired, sore, and dirty. Do I have a room in this castle now or do I need to pick one?"
"Ah, you will have the ruling monarch's suite. It should have been made ready for you by now so you may wash off the day's challenges and seek your rest."
Just as he finished explaining this, Jareth reappeared in front of them, looking very agitated.
'Still has his magic. Which means he purposely decided to walk away before, probably to show his irritation,' she noted to herself.
"Yes?" she inquired as civilly as she could muster at the moment.
"I can no longer enter my rooms. What is the meaning of this?"
"Regretfully you will have to seek other accommodations in the castle. That wing is for our Queen now, you no longer have access."
She swore his face was actually turning red, but before she could get a good look he vanished in a shower of glitter.
"Well, that was unnecessary," the knight waved a furry paw and the offending sparkles disappeared from both of them. "Now then, let me show you to your rooms."
A/N - These last few chapters have definitely been dialogue-heavy. A lot of information and explanations to get out. Hopefully they weren't too bogged down.
Are you all awake out there? lol It's crickets in the little box. *shakes it*
Work is picking back up, so not sure when my next update will be. I got promoted (more money, yay!) which means less down time (boo!). Plus now that I've updated this fic 3 chapters in less than a month, I should shift my attention to Makes No Sense At All.
I have a feeling I told a lie a few chapters ago and that we are nowhere near done. lol Guess these characters want a longer story. Hang on for the ride!