Caveats And Cliches (A Labyrinth Fanfiction)

Chapter 10: Keep Your Eye On The Ball

The comment breaks the tension and I sidle up to his bedside, pretending not to feel self conscious under his appraising gaze.

"I could say the same about you, it's nice to see you in something other than frills and feathers."

Jareth looks down at the bland tunic covering his chest and shakes his head slightly.

"Don't get used to it." He says with a smile.

As much as I'm enjoying our casual banter, my guilt is getting the better of me.

"Jareth...on the way here...when you were so sick..."

I can't seem to find the words to sufficiently apologize for dragging him out of a poison induced coma by hammering on his excruciating wound and bleeding him like a stuck pig. Hallmark really let me down on this one.

"I apologize." He says suddenly.

My head snaps up and I frown at him, deeply confused.

"You're apologizing? For what?"

"For whatever I feverishly said or did that's upsetting you."

"That's not... wait, you don't remember?"

He furrows his brow, trying to think back.

"Most of our journey after leaving the garden is unclear... the poison was very strong."

I take his hand in mine. For some reason, I feel more determined to atone now that I know he doesn't remember.

"Just before we arrived here, you were barely able to stand and you were having trouble staying conscious. Then you passed out completely. I couldn't wake you, and I couldn't carry you. I was really desperate, so I did the only thing I could think of... I hit you. Right where the thorn had punctured your side. I hit you hard."

I dare to look up, unsure of how he will react. But he's watching me calmly, waiting for me to finish. I shrug a little.

"It worked, you woke up because you were in horrible pain, and I forced you to your feet and marched you the rest of the way. I was so focused on getting here that I didn't even realise you were bleeding out until we got to the front door... and I... I'm just really sorry for what I did to you!"

I exhale roughly as I finish, shamed into silence. But Jareth isn't the least bit perturbed.

"Of all the people who have ever hit me, I don't think anyone's ever been so broken up about it."

He's teasing me! I groan in aggravation and try to pull my hand away, but he keeps hold of it.

"If there hadn't been anyone here to help us...what I did...I would have literally killed you with my bare hands!" I huff.

Finally taking my distress seriously, he turns sober (though I'm sure there is still a glint of humor in his eyes) and his grip on my hand tightens.

"Sarah, you saved my life. I would feel much better if you would stop regretting it."

I don't regret it. I would have been devastated. But you don't remember our confessions and near intimacies on the way here, so I can't tell you how alone I would have felt without you...
I switch subjects.

"Have you been here before? It seems like you and Davina know each other."

"I have been here before, but it was long ago, and I did not have to traverse an imposter's labyrinth in order to reach it." His voice colors with anger for a moment, but softens as he moves on.