The Tale of the Labyrinth by Eamane-Shu

The Tale of the Labyrinth By Eamane-Shu

When dawn broke on the morning of Danae’s wedding Sarah had already been up for an hour. She had risen when she had been awoken by Jareth getting up, so she went to see the princess, who was sipping sweet tea in her chamber, waiting for the maids to come and dress her. Over the last month, preparations for the big day had been occurring at a manic rate. Every few days Jareth was visiting Elgard or Ivenan was visiting the castle, and Danae had all but given up her lessons with Aldous and Dremius in order to complete her wedding dress and attend to preparations for the ceremony itself.

Danae’s spirits were higher than Sarah had been expecting, the princess seemed almost excited by her big day. She later confided in Sarah that despite the troubling circumstances that she was happy to be marrying Ivenan. Then all of a sudden Sarah was bundled off as Danae’s maids started flurrying around the room, preparing Danae for her big day. Sarah was taken back to her own room and dressed in one of the thirteen golden dresses that Danae had decided that her bridesmaids were to wear. When the maids had finally finished putting pins into her hair and probably her scalp she mused as she touched her hair gingerly, she returned to Danae’s room to help with the final preparations.

As it was the tradition for the bridesmaids to help dress the bride for the ceremony when she returned to the princess’s room it was complete bedlam. As well as Danae’s ladies in waiting, her thirteen bridesmaids were all in her dressing room. All of them, with the exception of Sarah, were her or Jareth’s cousins, and they were all exceptionally beautiful, a few of them, Sarah noted, had the mismatched eyes that Danae and Jareth had both inherited from their late father.

Danae was sitting in the centre of the room looking increasingly irritated by the second; all the hustle and bustle was doing nothing for her nerves. It had taken her maids three hours to pin her hair back properly, and she had just been looking forward to a nice light breakfast when the bridesmaids had started to arrive. She was almost ready now; all she had left to do was dress.

Danae had spent six months stitching beads onto her wedding dress, and it was one of the most beautiful things that Sarah had ever seen. The dress was pure white, which shone silver in the bright sunlight that came pouring through the open window. The bodice was covered in beads made from tiny diamonds which sparkled gently. The skirt of the dress swept out to meet the floor elegantly, at the back there was a full train, which when extended reached fourteen feet in length and required four of her bridesmaids to carry it. The final touches to the dress were a pair of the finest silk gloves and her crown, which Sarah rested gently on Danae’s forehead, kissing the small girl on the cheek before moving away so she could see herself in the mirror. Now Danae was dressed, the bridesmaids, having played their part for now left Danae alone with Sarah and Camille watching over her, the Princess stood silently, staring at her reflection, not really knowing what to say. A soft knock on the door heralded the arrival of Aldous, who smiled at the young princess; she had never been more beautiful than she had been today.

“It’s time ‘Nae” he said softly “They’re all waiting for you downstairs” before retreating to inform Jareth that she was ready.

She looked over at Sarah nervously “I’m not sure that I’m ready to do this” she confided quietly.

“You look so beautiful Danae” she replied choking back tears, “And I know that you can do this. And you know, Jareth is so proud of you, agreeing to the match. And I’m proud of you, I don’t think that I’ve ever met a stronger person.”

A small tear rolled down Danae’s cheek before she wiped it away. “Thank you” she whispered to Sarah genuinely.

The two girls embraced gently before disappearing, then reappearing outside the temple ready for the ceremony. It was the duty of the four youngest bridesmaids to carry Danae’s train, while the others, Sarah included, followed her into the temple, where the priest was standing waiting to marry her to Ivenan, who stood next to the alter nervously. The ceremony took place in a very different room to the one that Roland’s funeral rites had taken place in, this room was full of flowers and sunlight, it was a room to celebrate life, not to mourn death.

Danae stood next to Ivenan, and they knelt hand in hand, as the priest started the ritual, he nodded to Ivenan who started.

“Come what may, I bind myself to you Danae.

You cannot possess me for I belong to myself
But while we both wish it, I give you that which is mine to give
You cannot command me, for I am a free person
But I shall serve you in those ways you require”

The princess paused for a moment before replying, her voice level and betraying no emotion.

“Come what may, I bind myself to you Ivanen.”

They placed their joined hands out to the priest who bound them together using a piece of white ribbon, as he wrapped the ribbon round their hands he spoke. “As I bind your hands, I bind your lives together. May you live and rule in peace, happiness and harmony.” Now that Danae and Ivenan were bound together they kissed softly as tradition dictated, before the priest went on to bless their union.

“Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be the shelter for each other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be the warmth for the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before. Go now to your dwelling place to enter into the days of your life together. And may your days be good and long upon the earth. Love one another, but make not a bond of that love. And stand together, and yet not too near, for oak trees will not grow in each other's shadow”

After the ceremony was complete, the wedding party returned to the castle in order to celebrate, Danae disappeared for a short time to remove the train from her dress, in order to participate in the dancing and other silly rites that were taking place. Overall Danae seemed to be having a good time Sarah mused, before her attention was snatched by the Goblin King, who pounced on her in a passionate kiss, before magicking them both away to his chambers for a short while.

When they both reappeared a short time later, their clothes and hair slightly more dishevelled than it had been before their disappearance, they were greeted by laughter and catcalls from the crowd, much to Sarah’s embarrassment, until Danae pointed out that during wedding celebrations such things were common, and to be expected. However Danae and Ivenan seemed to be making no move to disappear off together, much to many’s disappointment.

Now that the ceremony was over a great weight seemed to have lifted from Jareth’s shoulders. He seemed more carefree than he had been since Roland’s death, and the burden of the upcoming war seemed to have left him for a short while. He laughed and joked with all around him as he twirled Sarah, and occasionally Danae around the dance floor. As the night turned into early morning, and as more and more wine flowed spirits became even higher, an exhausted Sarah plopped herself down on a bed of cushions next to Danae, and a servant came, bringing both the girls more wine.

“Where’s Jareth and Ivenan?” Sarah hiccupped slowly, resting her head on the princess’ shoulder.

“They’re having a race” Danae informed her importantly.

“They wanted to see who could run around the castle fastest.”

Sarah rolled her eyes and took a large gulp of wine. Well if Jareth was going to have pissing competitions with the groom, she was going to get hammered with the bride. She informed Danae of her intentions, who agreed wholeheartedly. After the two girls had managed to down another three goblets of wine, while having an in depth chat about which gentlemen in the room they found most attractive, Jareth eventually strolled back into the room. He was panting slightly, but the cocky look of superiority on his face left no doubt that he had won.

“How about that one?” Sarah asked Danae as he approached, pointing to a red headed fae gentleman who was standing in the corner talking to three blonde women.

Jareth sat down next to Sarah and started nuzzling her neck, as Danae wrinkled her nose, “No, I don’t think so.” She glanced over at her brother distastefully “Sarah” she slurred “You have awful taste”

“So you keep saying” Sarah replied dryly, before turning to Jareth “Did you win then?”

Jareth look mock offended “Did you even have to ask?”

Sarah rolled her eyes and ignored him, resuming her conversation with Danae. “How about that one.”

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