Chapter Eleven
Gertrude became obsessed with Jareth, she knew that he would never forget Sarah in his heart. His mind was under a spell but his heart was not included. Jareth was nothing but a puppet in her hands now, the Labyrinth became her play ground and all things were changing, all of the Underground could see the changes in the Goblin King’s kingdom, most of it’s beautiful strangeness began to become plain and boring, no more singing creatures, no more moving walls, even the Bog became a more cleaner place with walls covering it’s surroundings.
The Labyrinth became a usual place, not a place where dreams can come true and strangeness ruled. That is what the Labyrinth was all about, it’s mystery and chaos made it unique, it made it what it was.Gertrude came and changed all that with her selfish ways, Jareth became her slave as he had once offered Sarah. He did as she wished. Gertrude was arising quickly in the social scales of the Underground. Being invited to all the King’s and Queen’s events. She had become one of the favorite royals.
Fame and fortune became her new love, she now realized why she had loved Jareth so much, it was his power and not really him that she had desired. At times she almost even forgot she was supposed to be pregnant and if it weren’t for Jareth being so stupid under a spell he would have noticed sooner.
After all the pregnancy time being completed, Gertrude knew she had to go visit the witch again to see what was the next step to their plan. But what Gertrude did not know was that the witch had been following her every step and noticed how fame had become her new love. While jealousy and anger ruled the old witch after seeing Gertrude’s fiasco all over the Underground.
“That stupid arrogant woman, does she not think straight or does she even think at all. Calling all that attention on her and that fake belly, ready to expose herself with all that dancing and activity. She will spoil my plans if she continues on this way! Fortunately, the time has come to find the baby we shall be taking. A changeling is needed soon.” She said as she looked into an old mirror looking for a human baby to steal. She would place a changeling in it’s place.
Aboveground………….
The wedding day was very near and Sarah thought her trip to her parents house would calm her jitters but she was wrong, it only made her think of Jareth even more. But she remembered her promise and she would keep it. The time had come for their rehearsal dinner, Sarah could not turn back now, all the invitations had been sent, the dress was ready, unfortunately! And all the wedding preparations were set. In one week she would be Mrs.Ryan Dawson. She hated to even think of it, but it was a fact she would have to accept soon. Jareth was now part of her past and Ryan was now her future.
Ryan had bought her that red dress he so wanted her to wear to the fund raiser. So this time she would without a doubt wear that one instead. As she looked into her closet she saw the burgendy dress looking as beautiful as the day Jareth gave it to her. She sighed but decided she would not make herself sad, she needed to for once in her life feel completely happy even if it was a fake happy, atleast there was comfort in the idea that Ryan loved her truly and that he would not harm her in any way as Jareth had already done so more than once.
She placed on the revealing red dress and placed her hair up in a french roll and did her evening make-up. She wanted to look flawless cause somehow Ryan’s mother always found a way to make her feel awful.
“Ok Sarah, you’re a big girl now and you can handle this. It’s time for your fantasies and dreams to go away. You need to come back to earth and face up to what reality is once and for all, no more dreams Sarah grow up!!!!” Sarah said as she scolded herself in the mirror. Her reflection became one of a stern woman who knew no happiness.
She grabbed her beaded red purse and and black coat and went on her way to her own rehearsal. Every inch of her began to die to what she thought of being reality when what it really was was comformaty.
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Underground………
The witch already had an eye on a baby boy, he was ready to be born any minute. She knew the human lady was having a boy, her gifts as she called them let her know about these things. She so wanted revenge on them all. As soon as Gertrude would arrive they would both travel Aboveground and grab the human child after it was born. She had the changeling ready. Gertrude carried the blue blanket and the pendant ready to place on the baby they would steal.
Jareth was fooled to believe Gertrude was in labor, she had already paid some goblin nurses to lie to him and let her out when he was not looking. She told them to tell him that she did not want him present in the birth for she could not bear it. Jareth did as she commanded. The news spread through the kingdoms, that their was to be an heir to the Goblin King’s throne. Jareth would soon be a father or so he thought.