Another dream haunting her sleep, intruding upon what little hours she had left in slumber. It was always the same, never really changing in anything much, but then again what did she ever want to change. He was after all, what she wanted. Silly girl didn't know it at the time, but that dark, dangerous, and mysterious man captured her hearts. Every time she found herself back in the crystal ballroom, searching for something she'd lost, when her eyes would find his. It was there in the far back corner of his jewel eyes, that she could see it; the burning intensity that he held within. How he could keep it from consuming him wholly, she'd never been able to comprehend. The same white gown fit perfectly to her frame, and the king was dressed so regally, purples and blues suited him well. Smiling at the dream, the dance, the music, the magic of it all, Sarah knew she'd always consider him to forever be her mysterious Goblin King.
Shadows cast by furniture and the trickery of light lay across the surface of every tangible object. This was it, her parent's bedroom and at one time, Toby's. "This is where it all began." Sarah's voice shook as she spoke in nothing but a harsh whisper. Her throat tightened with memories unspoken, years of waiting, wondering, wanting.
"Jareth…"
The quiet breeze picked up racking the gnarled branches along the clear cool glass of the French doors. Blackness snuffed out the points of light dotting the sky, leaving only a slight cast illuminating the room from the silvery moon.
"I've been waiting…"
Thunder crackled across the sky partnered with the lightening that brightened Sarah's face as she sat on the bed's quilted cover. Her face refused to turn away, afraid this intensity would leave; along with her one and only chance forever leaving her behind.
"I've felt you watch me these past years…"
Jareth's face jumped into her mind claiming all of her attention. Blonde hair trickling down the side of his head, pale warm skin, beautiful piercing eyes, pale pink lips, so frightfully hansom. Her heart skipped a beat just thinking about how he'd feel, how the heat radiated off his body whenever he'd stood too close.
"This is your last chance…"
Another peel of lightening streaked across her face. The wind picked up, beating heavily against the French doors on the balcony. Leaves scurrying back and forth along the window seal claimed my ears attention. 'So, much like that night, all that magic lacing the air into a dangerous cocktail.' She thought.
"Jareth."
With a crash the white doors opened, announcing the visitor into the bedroom. Sarah gasped and covered her china doll face with her hands unsure of the sudden intrusion, yet positive as to who she would see. Blonde, tall, dangerous, and magical, it's funny, she believed part of her mind never really thought she'd see him again, and another part of her mind always knew she would. The wind and the quick knocking of the doors were the only sounds intruding on the two. Slowly Sarah lowered her arms from there defensive position. There they were, one sitting, one standing, both watched the other, each waiting and wondering.
"Hello Sarah." His voice rang flat, unsure of itself. How odd she thought as she smiled then, warmth melting over her. At least he remembered her name.
"Hello Jareth. So, you finally decided to come." Her shoulders were up by her ears, as she sat totally nonchalant upon the bed. From under her dark lashes her eyes kept holding Jareth's gaze, mesmerizing him. "I wonder…"
"What do you wonder, love?" He seemed to be caught, almost in a dream like state, just watching.
"Why you waited so long to actually come back?"
"I've been watching-" He started, then stopped, as he caught the look she gave him. Sarah was no fool, they both knew that, and they both knew he'd been watching.
"I know. I saw you, but you never revealed yourself." She paused. "Why didn't you?" Crinkling her nose she furrowed her brows together in curiosity.
Jareth watched, thought hard, then a smirk transformed his face. 'Ah.' Sarah said to herself. 'Here's the Jareth I remember.' Eyebrows raised, head cocked to the side she waited. "Well love I do have free reign of the sky, and sometimes a change of scenery is nice. The Underground can get somewhat redundant and routine day in and out."
"But why visit me Jareth? I, Sarah Williams, who beat you at your own game? I, who proved to be your equal? I, who conquered the King of the Goblins?" She stood then, gaining confidence in the worlds she spoke, in herself. She wanted him to offer the world again, but mostly she just wanted him to offer his love.
"You think I have forgotten what you've done? How you turned my world upside down?" he swallowed with a nervous anger and then smirked darkly. "You think I, Jareth, King of the Labyrinth, has forgotten what you've done? The woman who-" he stopped then reigning himself in. Blonde hair bounced around his head creating a halo in the dull moonlight. Jareth was having trouble meeting her gaze, but Sarah forced him to see her, bobbing her head down, eyes finding his.
"The woman who stole my heart then left thinking nothing of it. Whose chocolate eyes haunt me daily, whose long raven hair wraps me in my dreams only leaving me disappointed in the morning , whose lips I wish to kiss more than anything else in this or any other world. Forgetting you is impossible…impossible."
His chest was heaving in and out, face blushing crimson at the confession he'd allowed him-self to make. Unable to stand still Jareth began to pace before her, babbling on, deciding he might as well jump all the way in.
"Sarah, I fell in love with you long before you called upon me to take Toby. Watching you and your wild imagination was refreshing outside of a world of commonplace magic. You were innocent, yet touched by hardships already, I loved you then, and I love you now."
Her face glowed, happy that he'd finally said those three words. It was like her world finally found color in a black and white universe; however, it fell just as quickly.
"I will not ask you again Sarah, those things that I promised you once before." He watched her studying every emotion that passed. "But…"
Sarah's watery eyes latched on to his, hearing that amazing word.
"But?" Her voice whispered into the darkness of the room. Silence. Blue meant brown as they searched each others eyes.
"But I do have a new offer. Sarah?" His voice velvety soft.
"Yes Jareth?" she inched closer to him holding onto every syllable, word, phrase. A crystal appeared in his hands, they both watched it as he moved it around his long graceful fingers. Jareth caught it in a fist, threw it up into the air, and when it came down the crystal was no more, instead all Sarah saw was him moving closer to her.
"All I can offer you now is the most important, most equal, most loved and cherished position in my heart as well as kingdom. Would you Sarah Williams do me the honor of being my Queen?" Something warm slid itself over her ring finger. She gasped at the beauty wrapped around her finger. The band was a delicate white gold with a very intricate string of ivy carved along it. Among the ivy perfect diamonds, wrapping all the way around. Sarah looked up, finding the answer in his face.
"Well Jareth, I think it's time you got yourself a Queen, and I would be more than happy to get that honor."
He grinned leave it to Sarah to not just say yes like any other normal human; then again she was never really normal, and that's one thing he loved. Pulling her close Jareth enfolded her in his arms, smelling the beautiful scent of Sarah. Finally as both knew would happen, what they wanted to happen, their lips meant. Electric currents burned down Sarah's body leaving her breathless, wanting more, but scared of the never before discovered feeling.
The storm outside still raged, un-quieted by the fateful event unfolding within the house. Darkness held the day captive as it craved every minute ticking by. There within those swelling clouds silently waited a patient enemy. He chuckled as he spied on their intimate moment, "Oh Jareth. How long do you think you can hold onto that precious love of yours? You are not the only one to have noticed her." The wind carried away his warning, leaving only the laughing figure to watch.
Sarah woke to a beam of light falling across her face. The morning contrasted the night before so dramatically. Light swelled in and a warm soft breeze danced through her room's window. Stretching hard, and climbing out of bed, Sarah sighed in contentment, than froze. As she turned from the open window to face the large vanity mirror opposite her bed she saw a glint of metallic on her finger.
"None of it was a dream?" Open mouthed she examined the ring encasing her finger. Confused even as the events of last night unfolded in her mind's eye, she called out, "Jareth!?"
Silently behind her Jareth appeared out of nowhere, he too just seemed to have awoken. He was in loose gray pants and a tight white tank top his blonde hair looked exactly the same, messed up. Sarah liked what she studied in the mirror, a lot. "So, I didn't imagine it all?" The statement came off more like a question to both set of ears.
Confusion danced on his face, flitting off quickly once he realized what Sarah spoke of. Then a rumble musically chimed out of his mouth as he laughed. "Yes love, last night did indeed happen. You are engaged to a king." He moved forward watching their reflection in the mirror as he did so. Wrapping his strong arms around her waist he bent down whispering in her ear. "My beautiful, just awake looking bride, oh! I even get a blush." He laughed again only punctured with silence when he'd place a kiss on her neck.
She turned in his arms, smiling at her king. Five years and he hasn't aged a bit. Thrusting her head forward and up she caught his lips in a kiss, which he returned most happily. "So, lovely, when will you tell your parents?"
"Hmmm? Oh. Oh! I suppose they should meet you first. Damn. How do you even explain that? 'Hi dad, Karen, so I meant this Goblin King when I was fifteen, yeah, anyway we fell in love, now we're getting married.'" Sarah burst out laughing at her own impersonation of herself. "That's a hard one. What should we say?"
"That I'm an old friend who you have secretly been dating for over a year, and that we have fallen head over heels for each other." He grinned at her again this time seeing only his face in the mirror. 'This is perfect, fate even.' The Goblin King thought as he snuggled his chin softly into the delicate part between her neck and shoulder. 'Nothing can ever change this. Nothing.'