"Just a Wish"
by
*Dreamspinner*
Chapter 1/3

'It was just a stupid wish...like anyone would ever listen to it!' The boy thought as he paced the room furiously, kicking his mother's precious artist pencils and sketchbook out of the way. He bent down to survey a very realistic portrait of a faerie resting on the windowsill, then resumed his tantrum with a huff. She wasn't there- and he knew why. She had been sitting on the floor sketching away when he had come home from another rotten day at school in this new town...not new to her, but new to him. After Dad died, she seemed to want to go home, and home meant a long trip to a forsaken, abandoned house out in the middle of nowhere. She seemed so happy as she gazed longingly at the huge Oaks...happier than he'd ever seen her since....no...he didn't want to think about that night. After carefully watching her expression of sheer joy, he thought she would try to climb one of those tall oaks- and in her present condition, that would have been disastrous. Her eyes...he'd never forget the look in her eyes when he said the words along with the many other words designed to hurt...she was so sad, so resigned. He had slapped a hasty hand over his mouth to prevent anything more, but it was too late....she had vanished instantaneously- softly and without a word of protest. And in her stead stood the enemy.

The man looked like a fashion reject from the late 1800's- and Alan told him just that. The stranger had just smiled in smug satisfaction, gazing into Alan's eyes until he could not bear the scorching heat of the creature's gaze. 'It's your fault...your fault...all yours....' kept swimming around in his head. Alan gritted his teeth and demanded to know how he could get his mother back.

"It will not be easy, Alan...why don't you just forget all about this little mishap and we shall call it even, hmmm...?" the strange man said in his faintly lilting brogue.

"No- never! She needs me. I need her. I should not have said the words. I didn't mean it!" Alan stonily stated.

"What's said is said. You cannot undo the past. She is mine now." the man said softly, but his voice carried the weight of authority and bold magics.

"Never! She'll die there and you know it. Let her go! You're only supposed to steal babies anyway!" Alan snarled as he circled the tall man, looking like a kitten stalking its prey.

"I take whatever I wish, bratling. Enough of your foolishness. You know the rules to this game- and you know what will follow. You have a limited amount of time to solve the labyrinth...I suggest you get going." the stranger said with disgust as he waved away Alan's reality and replaced it with something other. Alan looked up to see the walls of the labyrinth stretching for miles and miles- as far as the eye could see.

"Care to give up now? I can make it worth your while." the strange man gloated.

"No. I must do this...for Her, for me...and for my father." Alan sighed.

"As you wish. But I must warn you- this one will not be so easily found. How do you know she will want you after what you did? Think on that, bratling. You don't deserve her." the man swirled his cape about himself and met Alan's stare with his own piercing icy blue gaze.

"Neither do you. No one does. That's the problem." Alan stated grimly, which caused the man to almost smile.

"We shall see that now, won't we?" his voice slid about Alan like the cold reptilian sound of scales on stone as the creature shimmered away.

************

She did not know how she had gotten here...she barely remembered anything, and this frightened her. She found herself resting safely in a sumptuous bedroom, the comforter carefully pulled up about her and neatly tucked in for her maximum comfort. She looked at her pale white hands resting atop the shimmering blues of her bedclothes- wondering briefly where the ink stains that were upon her fingers had gone to...this thought to be mildly replaced by gentle surges of tranquility, and she tried desperately to remember more. 'A wish!' she thought suddenly as she bolted upright to glance warily about the room....a wish had gotten her here. Oh no...no...please, no....she felt the surges of overwhelming grief and the rending pain of a soulwound as she remembered...oh the callous strangeness in her son's eyes...ohhhh...he had ripped her heart out and shredded it while she watched. No...no..no more...I cannot bear it! She collapsed backwards to sob into one of the many pillows, curling up in fetal position and burying her face in the downy softness. Her grief was not easily abated, no matter what her unseen attendants did- she ignored the glass of mead which had mysteriously appeared upon her night stand, ignored the fluffy teddy bear which had poofed into existence to land regally upon the bed beside her....she clung to the pillow weeping as if her heart was broken...and those who watched were certain it had.

Jareth watched the frail woman sob herself into an uneasy slumber, then shimmered into the room to look over his newest guest. He paused to move a silky tendril of her hair from her face, marveling at its brightness and colour. He pulled off his gloves to run his fingers along her smooth cheek and jaw line, sensing everything he would need to know in that deceptively simple touch.

He sighed, "A true innocent...what a waste on such a barren world. You never understood humanities' dishonor...and you were betrayed by your own son. Such a pity..." he said with undertones of regret, bending down to kiss her soft lips before leaving...but she sighed contentedly, and he found her arms had wrapped themselves about his shoulders, holding onto whatever dreaming she was apart of now. Jareth smiled sadly and sat down. Not missing the opportunity, she snuggled in, safe and content in his arms for the moment. He briefly wondered what her reaction to him would be upon awakening...secretly hoping fear would not be among the emotions she would certainly display. He gently wiped the tears from her face with a soft silken handkerchief, also smoothing back wayward strands of her bright hair from her face. Her eyelids flickered, and she opened them to find herself in the arms of a...what was he? He had to be Fae...the stories her Gran had told her about the Underground rang too true now. She was spellbound, like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. He tried to ease her mind by smiling gently and placing the handkerchief into her hands. She slowly sat up on her own to regard him intently, and it was he who found himself unable to meet her twilight eyes.

"So. I am here...it was not a dream, and yet again I am unwanted." she said so softly, his hands were now upon her shoulders- and he reflexively tightened his grip in answer.

"Unwanted? Childling...if you only knew...do not ever say that again. I will not tolerate such ridiculousness." he said sternly, but smoothed the harsh words with a smile. He watched her jaw clench as she tried to fight the pain, but the pain won out and she pulled away from him to bury her face into a nearby pillow. Right now, he was at a loss for what to do and sat by helplessly as she wept. He attempted to console her by stroking her lovely tresses, humming a long-forgotten tune in the ancient way of the Bard. Slowly, she relaxed, seeking solace in the melody...solace which she found. He whispered a sleeping spell upon the breeze which wrapped itself about her, and soon she was asleep. He stood and watched her peaceful breathing for a moment, then left the room to tend to the business at hand.

****************

Alan had already made it farther than the Goblin King expected- and he cursed himself for not keeping a better watch on the boy. The child was gifted at least- and this sort of thing seemed to come too easily for him. Jareth had the nagging suspicion that a Faerie Godmother was somehow involved- for no matter how complex the area the boy was in, he unerringly found his way out. How infuriating. This called for special measures. With a mental command, he sent for two separate parchments, and upon each, quickly penned rules for a contest- with the Lady as the prize, knowing full well that the King of the Faeries was indeed seeking a bride, as was the Elven King...and a lovely woman which had already born a son was worth more than the three kingdoms tied together...so rare was the simple act of birth here. He sealed the parchment scrolls with sealing wax stamped with his royal signet, then mentally sent them onward to their destinations. Now the web he had woven would get a little more tangled...and he was certain he would enjoy anything that came of it. He smiled knowingly, hands clasped behind his back as he paced down the corridor to await the anticipated responses.

on to Chapter 2