These Dangers Untold

Chapter 5-Undercover

Hoggle squeaked in terror. Although he had stayed silent during Sarah and Jareth's bickering, Hoggle had let the sound slip out. He was sure something bad was going to happen now that Jareth had said the woman's name.
Sarah had no such misgivings. Looking stunned, she stared at Jareth for a while before asking, "You have a sister?"
Jareth nodded. "Yes, I do. She is the Queen of the Fae, Gwyneth of the Regium- the royal family. I advise you not to say her name, however, because you have no magical protection in your words."
Sarah didn't bother asking him what sort of magic could protect words."Alright then. But what does history have to do with now?" Sarah was interested in learning about Jareth's past- she was a naturally curious person- but if they were in such a rush, why would he bother telling her? He had shown no signs that he cared about how she felt before, and she had just insulted him, for goodness sakes. Maybe that's part of being a Goblin King, she thought bitterly. Having to act convoluted, contradict your own behavior, and annoy everyone around you.
Sarah hadn't noticed that Jareth had started talking. "Sorry, Jareth," she interrupted, mortified, "But can you start again?"
Jareth shot her an irritated glace, mismatched eyes turning to slits. "It is wonderful to have you back, Sarah. I have so missed  your sheer determination to inconvenience me, and your lack of concern for anyone other than yourself."
Sarah exhaled slowly through her nose, not wanting to rise to his jibes. "Apologies, Your Majesty. Please continue."
Jareth tossed his head and snorted. "Of course. As I was saying..." He went on to tell the story of his childhood, and of his older sister.
Gwyneth had been born thirteen human years before him. By human standards, however, she was barely four when Jareth was born. She had been raised from birth to be the Fae Queen. In this world, called the Underground by some, the eldest child always got the Fae Kingdom, and the second child had the option of becoming ruler of the Goblin Kingdom. When Jareth was born, the previous Goblin King was on his deathbed. If he had a child, Jareth could have dueled for the throne or lived as next-in-line for the Fae throne. Since this was not the case, however, Jareth didn't have to worry about that. It had always seemed like a perfect fit, he said, that Gwyneth got the strict, sophisticated, larger kingdom and he got the wild lands that had yet to be tamed. "The Labyrinth was a living, magical organism. It grew freely, until I added a little bit of specialized magic to it to make it a barrier around the Castle. But of course, that is not the main issue. More on that later," Jareth added when he saw Sarah's amused expression. He and Gwyneth had been close as children, and often had mock duels with magic. She was always better than him, apparently, which only made her ruling the Fae lands more sensible. Jareth had always relied upon the crystals as a host for magic, unable as he was to conjure it from himself and his surroundings as Gwyneth could. No one had ever dreamed that she longed for the adventure of the wild Goblin Kingdom. "I didn't know myself, and would have never found out if it weren't for a party," Jareth confessed. At Gwyneth's coronation to be queen, she had gotten quite drunk and told Jareth her secret, and deepest, desire. "She had resented the rigidness of her upbringing, as opposed to my very lax one in comparison. She often was stuck inside, learning economics or practicing magic while I played." After Gwyneth had told him her feelings, Jareth had fled to the Goblin City, fearing what she would do to him in order to fulfill her wish. If Gwyneth wanted something, she always got it. Even if she had to work for years to get it.
Sarah's guilt was back. "So when you were exiled, she had a perfect chance to seize the kingdom."
"Not exactly. I had foreseen this, and have always left little, ah, precautions in the castle in case she ever tried anything." Jareth grinned, too cockily, she thought, at Sarah. "Do you take me to be as foolish as you are when it comes to belongings?"
Breathe, Sarah thought, as the smile took the air right from her lungs. I am angry, that's all, she told herself. Angry, not...no. Don't even think it. To distract herself, Sarah glared at Jareth. "What now, then?"
Puzzlement crossed his face. "What now?"
Hoggle interrupted Sarah before she could answer. "What the little lady means is, what are we going to do about the, well, the Raven?"
"Oh. Quite. Yes." Jareth was surprised to find it difficult to look away from Sarah's face. Not that she was unpleasant to look at, just that Jareth had never truly noticed before. You are going mad, he chided himself. Sarah is the most irritating girl in all the realms. Well, I suppose she is a woman now... Shaking his head, Jareth continued, "I want you to go to Gwyneth's palace, and  go undercover as a maid there. Earn her trust, become her confidant. I need to learn a few things about her."
"What sort of things?"
"Anything that could be deemed even slightly important. Secrets, passwords, nervous tics, habits, her schedule, her favorite places to be alone. What she likes eating, if she is romantically involved with anyone, magic markers-"
Sarah interrupted his list. "Magic markers?"
"Distinct signs of Gwyneth using magic. She does it often, as a Fae, and it is a present force around her always. You have noticed mine, I'm sure. A humming in the air, the faint shimmer on everything I pass. Gwyneth's are different. As a female, her markers are more likely to be scents or temperature changes. They will be subtle, because she has astonishing control over her magic. Be on high alert around her, and take note of everything she does. Report back to me with this." Jareth twirled his hand, and a crystal appeared, glowing, on his fingers. Sarah eyed it warily. "What do I do with it?" She took it from his hand, ignoring the thrill igniting in her fingertips where her skin brushed his gloves. "Twirl it this way-" She made a weak attempt of mimicking Jareth's sleight-of-hand- "And look into it?" Sarah used the words he had spoken all those years ago, trying to imitate Jareth's low voice and failing terribly.
Jareth smirked and rolled his eyes. "Don't fret, Sarah. Nothing that complicated. Just speak my name, and I shall be able to reach you."
"Yessir." Sarah matched his smirk. "Where is this castle?" She imagined a grand affair, with turrets, balconies, and gardens. Fae scurrying about, and a tall, blonde woman ruling over it all. Her long, gloved hands reaching out, plucking a rose. Those boots, shining, clacking along the cobblestone paths. Kicking Sarah onto the ground, pressing her into the dirt. The cruel laugh ringing in her ears as a dark magic poisoned Sarah's body. Laughing as she mocked her. You are as weak as a babe. Not worth my time.
"Sarah?" Hoggle was looking at her, concerned. Sarah realized she had been crying, shoulders hunching inward, hands tearing at her hair.
Jareth leaned over and gently untangled her fists from the tangled, dark locks. "What did Gwyneth do to you?"
"N-n-nothing, really," Sarah whispered. "Just a small thing. It's fine." Her voice became stronger. "Really. It's fine." She shot Hoggle a reassuring glance, which clearly had no affect at all. To distract the both of them- Jareth was scrutinizing her with a strange expression, not anxious, but more possessive- she leaned over and picked the crystal up from where she had dropped it. Sarah asked, "So what's my cover? Just a random maid, magically come over from the human world, or something less ostentatious?" Sarah did not want Gwyneth to recognize her, fearful as she was of the dark magic she had felt- only a few hours ago, now.
"You shall be under a glamour, posing as a young Fae, eager to prove herself the the Queen. Be obedient but not a pushover. Always stand tall, speak clearly, and make no references to me or the Goblin Kingdom. Do not give Gwyneth any reason to suspect you. Here is your disguise." Jareth flicked his hand as if splashing her with water, and Sarah found herself to now be wearing a black, mid-calf length dress, and an apron that was so white it almost hurt to look at. A small leather pouch was concealed, almost like a pocket, in her skirt. She slipped the crystal inside, and drew the stings tight. Raising her hands to her face, Sarah frowned. It felt as if she had been sweating, her whole face wet and warm. The glamour, Sarah realized. It feels a little obvious. Anyway, couldn't Gwyneth just sense the magic and tell that I am a spy? She voiced this concern, and Jareth reassured her that Gwyneth would be used to her servants having magic on them. "Keep in mind, Sarah, these are Fae we are dealing with. Vain by nature, skillful with enchantments, but not so attentive. That is your advantage here. Your senses are not muffled by magic."
"Okay." Another question was bothering Sarah.  "Don't you know Gwyneth's magic markers already? You grew up together. And then won't she be able to tell that it's your magic on me?"
Jareth shook his head, blonde hair cascading around his shoulders. "We were children, and this meant our markers had not properly manifested yet. Sometimes I would smell of lemons and mint, and the air would turn purple around Gwyneth. Other times any musical instruments around Gwyneth would begin to play, without a musician. Her magic markers are now fully fledged, so they don't change. Be wary, as she will have practice at concealing them."
Sarah nodded. "You never answered my first question. Where is the castle?"
"It's a palace," Jareth corrected her. "It's right...here." He walked to Hoggle's door, and summoned another crystal. Jareth placed it on the opposite side from the real doorknob, turned it, and opened the door.
A green meadow, studded with flowers, stretched out to the horizon, only interrupted by a glowing white palace, with a clear, blue moat and magnificent gardens around it. Sarah could make out small figures bustling about, and faint laughter drifted towards them on the breeze. "It's so beautiful." Sarah couldn't imagine any evil living here. Jareth's castle had been as she had expected- dark, gloomy, full of nasty magical twists, and weapons were the most common object around. This place looked like something from a fairytale.
Jareth chuckled. "Perhaps. But keep in mind, Sarah, lilies are poisonous as well as appealing to the eye. And the infamous durian fruit has a sweet flavor once bitten into."
Sarah countered, "Yes, but rose petals are edible, and the corpse flower is toxic as well as having quite the, how shall I put it, eternal stench."
Jareth rolled his eyes. "Very well. I see your point. Just be careful, Sarah. I need to make sure my kingdom stays safe. Good luck to you." With that, he was gone, leaving only a glittering dust on the roses climbing the wall to prove he was ever there.
Sarah turned back to Hoggle. "Good-bye, Hoggle. Tell Ludo and Sir Didymus I love them." They hugged each other tightly, and Sarah walked into the sunlit field.