Laura stood outside the door to the throne room, last time he hadn’t been in there but she was certain that this time he would and that he would know already that she had defeated him again.
Come on Laura, you faced the Labyrinth itself, even if you can’t remember what you did!
She pushed open the door of the throne room and peered inside expecting it to be full of goblins but it wasn’t, the only occupant was Jareth seated not on the throne but on the windowsill looking out over the Labyrinth with his back to her.
Jareth heard her enter the room of course, the door squeaked like it hadn’t been oiled for several decades – probably because it hadn’t, and he knew what he was supposed to do. Contrary to common interpretations of his personality he was not so arrogant as to believe that a mere mortal girl could not defeat him nor did he find it difficult to believe that it was possible, though unlikely, for someone to be able to defeat the Labyrinth in the way that she had. No, he was just waiting for…something and it irritated him that he wasn’t sure what. By tradition she should speak first anyway but then she might not know that.
Laura was supposed to say something but she couldn’t think of a single word that seemed appropriate. She had expected him to sneer at her, mock her maybe, do something that fit in with her perceptions of him. Instead he stood there with his back to her, looking out at the Labyrinth.
And why not? The view of the outside is infinitely preferable to this room.
Say something.
It took Laura a moment to realise that the last two words came from a voice that wasn’t quite her own internal voice, it was one of the ones from earlier.
Like what? ‘Hi Jareth, I just defeated you again and this time you have to acknowledge it?’ I’m sure that would go down wonderfully!
Do try and act your age for ten minutes in a row. Say something formal… Better yet let me do it.
Oh sure, like I’m going to you talk for me; I barely know who you are!
Yes you do, you’ve just forgotten it.
Well I…I can’t very well know if you’re telling me the truth if I’ve forgotten it now can I?
Fine. There’s a sort of unwritten rule where the person approaching a Fae Royal has to speak first even if, as in this case, they are the one who is going to be… saying something that would suggest that they are your inferior in some way. Don’t ask me why it’s just what they do.
Any suggestions as to what I should say?
You could apologise… Well no, not quite apologise, almost apologise for entering his throne room without being invited. Explain that this is where you were sent after your trial finished.
I don’t think I can…I mean it’s Jareth, you know big scary intimidating Goblin King!
He doesn’t scare me. Let me talk to him…I won’t embarrass you, I promise.
I don’t even know who you are!
I’m you, Laura, just a bit older and wiser… It’s a magic thing. And if you can’t trust yourself who can you trust?
You’re me… I think I almost remember you – from before… Okay, you talk to him.
“Your majesty. Please pardon my uninvited intrusion upon the privacy of your throne room, I am afraid I was given little choice in the location of my arrival.”
As she spoke Laura experienced the peculiar sensation of hearing herself speak, without knowing beforehand what she was going to say.
Jareth turned around slowly; he was slightly surprised to be addressed, by a mortal girl, in the formal tone of the Fae Court.
“The intrusion is pardoned, I am aware of the circumstances of your arrival.”
“You must also be aware of the purpose of my presence here. I am, perhaps, abrupt in speaking so soon of it but my day has been long and I have little inclination to exchange false pleasantries or sincere insults with you.”
“And what if I decide to, shall we say, prevaricate.”
Laura shrugged and replied.
“It is your kingdom, do as you wish.”
Actually, I’d rather get out of here as soon as possible.
If he thinks that he’s going to mess us around for ages. He has other things to be concerned with, there’s a messenger on the way.
How do you know that?
The labyrinth told you, you just forgot in all the excitement.
Oh.
Jareth was about to make a typically scathing reply when a goblin rushed into the room.
“A messenger has arrived, your Majesty, a messenger from the Lady Aereythi! She says it is very urgent that she speak to you.”
“Take the messenger to the formal room on the second floor and inform her, politely, that matters of state keep me occupied for the moment but I shall be there as soon as possible.”
“Yes, your Majesty!”
The goblin scurried out of the room and turned to face Laura.
“It seems neither of us have the time to amuse ourselves with petty insult. So be it.”
The King’s voice took on formal tone as he continued.
“Laura of the mortal realm, you have faced the Labyrinth itself and passed the tests it set before you. Your reward is the return of yourself and the taken child to your own realm. The child has already been returned and will be there when you arrive.”
Jareth fell silent for a moment and when he addressed her again it was in a less formal tone.
“I confess myself extremely surprised that you managed it and I want you to know that I am sincere in my congratulations. That challenge is normally reserved for my kind and they find it much easier than I would expect a human to. Of course you are the first human to ever return to the Labyrinth voluntarily.”
“I would not call it ‘volunteering’ myself, what other action could have I taken?”
Laura lifted one hand slightly, to indicate that it was a rhetorical question and required no response.
“Truth be told…”
Don’t you dare tell him that!
“Truth be told…” she began again after clearing her throat. “I missed this place despite all that has happened here and had to happen for me to be here.”
Before Jareth could reply or even speculate the meanings of her comment a goblin, the same on from before, came running back into the throne room.
“I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty, but the Lady’s messenger insists that she must speak with you as soon as possible and sent me to hasten your presence to her company.”
“I will leave you to speak to Lady Aereythi then,” said Laura.
“Lady Aereythi’s messenger,” Jareth corrected her, his mind already occupied with the implications of an urgent message from Aereythi.
“Of course,” agreed Laura politely. She couldn’t understand why the other voice was making them stay so long, she couldn’t wait to get home… And yet she felt some of the same reluctance to leave.
It’s the Labyrinth, the magic that makes me feel this way not him.
Self-delusion is terribly habit forming; you probably shouldn’t do it too often.
Who asked you?
Well technically you did, not very long ago either, but that is a discussion for another day. Let’s finish up here and get you home.
He doesn’t look like he’s in a hurry.
In fact it quite seemed like Jareth had almost completely forgotten the presence of the human interloper in the face of far more serious concerns and when he did realise she was still there he didn’t bother to say another word but used his magic and a lazy hand gesture to return the girl to her own Realm.