This little nugget sprang to mind after the Rumor(and story by Maed) that Jareth had to fake his own death...couldn't help myself....<mwahahahah>

Dreamspinner, the Wild Hunt, Gwydion, Finn and all other things of Elven nature which appear (little did they know I was taping this<eg>) in this piece belongs to and are copyrighted by Dreamspinner 1997.

Jareth 'belongs' to no one except Jim Henson Inc...and no one is trying to deprive anyone of their due.

In Honor of Mead....uh..Maed....*urp* <grin>, who made me laugh on a Difficult Day.

In the Twilight Realm...Whilst in the Great Hall...

I glanced at the now-empty bottle of meade that lay haphazardly upon the floor along with the other dead soldiers(they died in a glorious battle...with great honor and in great victory). I realized that my perspective had shifted from earlier that eve(where did my chair go?), and turned slowly to gaze directly above myself to stare at the painted ceiling ...the silver stars were twinkling and I could see the whole cosmos swirling...uh-unh...noooooo....so I sat up...causing the room to spin merrily while I tried to play catch-up or throw-up. The black lace-lined invitation to the funeral was now ashes in the giant hearth (burned in dubious honor of the guest...in his stead, you see)...and a few drunken Huntsmen sang tunelessly while I cringed, head in my hands, at the onslaught of noise. Aidian snored loudly with his mouth open, and two intrigued members of his brethren were dropping hazelnuts into his open mouth to see how many would fit before he woke up(or started choking...). Yet another two interested miscreants were up to naughtiness- one filling Gawain's hands with whipping cream as the other tickled his nose with a peacock feather.

I felt a tugging on my tunic, and glanced toward my beloved, if totally snocked, mate(who was sprawled out beside me)....he was smiling foolishly...a big happy grin...reveling in the fact that Jareth had to play dead to escape the repercussions of revealing himself to two artists in the early 1970's....everyone in the Underground found the whole thing right damned funny. We all had laughed ourselves sick, then Gwydion had proposed a toast to our "dead" not-so-dearly-departed-for-a-much-needed-vacation Resident Bad Ass. That's when it got a little fuzzy around the edges...as the meade bottles flew from the tables empty to roll into heaps upon the once shiningly golden(somewhat sticky) oaken floor. The toasts got wilder, mightier, and more imaginitive...THEN the subject of PACKAGES* entered the fray.....and well, to be totally honest,...Chaos ensued...ending up with Bane being escorted out by a few belly dancers and something about a Dodge(how ever did they end up in that tree?). I tried to remain still but a floating white feather caught my eye. I tried to concentrate, even shutting one eye to see if that would help- it didn't....as it floated on over to me, turning itself into a crystal bearing the scowling visage of one Lord Jareth.

"So...this is how you remember me?" he stated icily.

I couldn't help it- I lost it totally and giggled. "Play dead! ahhh! Roll over! BEG! wahahahahahahahah!!!!!"

"What have you been into, my dear?" he asked with a confused expression on his face.

"Oh...nothing...tra la la!!!!" I couldn't stop laughing....which set off the warm bodies of those lying next to me off like a group of wild heckling hyenas....The image of Jareth sulked as he waited for me to regain my composure...which took quite awhile...a few lace hankies to dry my tears...and another swig from the ornate silver flask which was in my hand.

Finally- I managed, "Heheheh...a funeral....only you."

"There have been others who have had to resort to this." he retorted, eyes gleaming, perfect jarenthian scowl.

"Oh yeah. But none as pretty as you...*giggle* Maybe he's born with it, or maybe it's Maybelline...." I sang the catchy tune...he obviously wasn't in the mood...the spoilsport. And it was his own damn party too...well...a Wake, in the Grand Old Faerie Style! He should have felt honored...but then we were always ready for another reason to party. I watched a particularly strikingly blue-violet (very fershnickered) faerie try to water Finn's hair- encouraging it to blossom for her. Her pleas to the Earthmother were getting an amazing response, and a large silvery-green rose blossomed right above his ear.....Finn was unconscious, having tipped over his chair- lying sideways in fetal position with his thumb in his mouth, holding onto the cat(gabriel) as if he were a toy.

Gabriel was amused, and his rumbling purr was shaking the entire Hall, I was sure....but Gabriel was eyeing that faerie, his tail flicking from side to side in a somewhat frisky manner...

"It's useless talking to you. I'm going....Hey! Don't you even care?" he screeched as I nodded off.

"Huh? Wha?" I looked around. Gwydion pointed to the annoying bubble, the called for someone to shoot it. An arrow came whizzing by before I could blink and caught the thing straight through- the arrowhead burying itself in the opposite wall. I sighed contentedly and collapsed backwards onto Gwydion's stomach, causing him to utter a startled, "OOOF! Hey, Bright-one...there you are. I was worried about ya..." he said sleepily. I maneuvered myself into the Place of Safety under his arm, and rested my head on his chest...vaguely hearing someone ranting and raving in the far distance....then of a faerie singing sweetly to itself as it was making a nice soft nest in my abundant fiery red-gold tresses.

Upon awakening, we all looked about- the entire Hall had cleaned itself as we slept- such was the nature of the magicks I had put into place there. (what do you expect with 40 elven huntsmen running about the place???) The bubble still was stuck through by the arrow- and Jareth was huddled into a miserable little ball as far away as he could get from the wooden shaft which had split his world in twain. He threw me a pleading look(one which also bespoke his desperate hope that I was sober) and I made as if I was Contemplating Something of Great Importance. When he beat his little fists against the walls of his crystal prison to gain my attention, I decided that it was time I pulled it free from the wall. The bubble popped with a sigh and the Jareth faded from view. I shrugged and went to see if Finn's hair was still in full bloom.

=D

I wish you dreams of joy...

*Dreamspinner*