The Forbidden Story

Chapter 2.

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Sarah felt herself waking up slowly.

Her sleep had been unusually heavy. She stirred a bit under the covers but didn't open her eyes, she didn't want to leave the warm, fuzzy feeling behind. The sheets were soft and she felt like she could just melt right into them.

Her mind was in a serious haze this morning.

It almost felt like she was still in a dream but something was interrupting it, pain was filtering through to her consciousness. Sunlight was making its way through the curtains and hitting her eyes in an uncomfortable manner. Opening them slowly she realized she was drooling on her pillow. The brightness in the room blinded her temporarily making it hard for her to make out the room, slowly her eyes adjusted and as the room became clear she sat up with a start and the night before came rushing back to her.

Everything from the hot seductions of the Goblin King to her embarrassing moment of truth was burning fresh in her memory, making her half wish she hadn't woken up at all.

She sighed and clasped her forehead, the painkillers had really knocked her out good.

Spinny had really meant it when she'd told her to ask for anything she wanted, she'd provided her with everything she needed from her apartment to get her through this no matter how long she'd be staying… and that was the first question Sarah wanted an answer to. Why was she still there? Why hadn't he just sent her home?

Her stomach growling interrupted her thoughts however as she realized she hadn't eaten anything since before this little adventure began. She didn't feel right with causing trouble so early, even though Spinny had told her to ask for whatever, whenever, so she decided the best thing to do was to go search for some food herself. There had to be something edible in a castle of this size.

She found a dressing gown in the closet and put it on. Slowly she opened the door to her room and stepped into the hallway. It looked very different in the morning light. The warm glow lit up beautiful artworks and tapestries she'd never even noticed before and somehow she felt she had to step very lightly as if not to disturb the peaceful atmosphere. Outside the window she could hear birds chirping and she wondered if every morning felt this beautiful in the Labyrinth.

Carefully she made her way down the hall until she reached the doors to Jareth's bedchambers. She tried to will herself to pass but couldn't. Her time in there had been cut painfully short. She couldn't help wondering what he was doing, was he still sleeping? Did he even sleep? He had a bed so he had to sleep... right? She blushed a bit as multiple uses for the common bed came to her mind and her curiosity grew... she had to find out.

With her heart thundering in her chest she reached for the handle and turned it, her excitement doubled when she found it was unlocked. She pushed it slightly and with a low creak it opened. She peeked inside carefully, hoping with baited breath he hadn't heard the door opening.

The room was dark, the morning light being kept out by the heavy curtains covering most of the windows. One of them was open a crack however letting in a small gleam of light and after her eyes had adjusted for a moment her heart skipped a beat as she saw him lying on his side in the bed, clearly fast asleep. She almost squeed at the sight, seeing that strong powerful man in such a state of vulnerability thrilled her, he did sleep! She felt a huge grin form on her face. Triumphantly she slowly backed out into the hallway and closed the door. She breathed a sigh of relief and rested her back against the door for a moment.

That man… he really had a weird effect on her. He'd gotten her to agree on a one night stand with him and now she was pushing her luck entering his bedchambers uninvited.

Finally her giddy mind reminded her of why she was out of bed so early in the first place and she made her way down the hall, continuing her search for food.

When she reached the kitchen she found Spinny already in there busy making breakfast. The sight of her reminded her of a cartoon, she was making toast, cutting up fruit and making tea all the while ordering around other goblins on many different tasks in the meantime. The platter she was preparing looked delicious, with melons, toast, pastry and some things she'd never seen before delicately arranged on beautiful silverware… and she could only assume it was all for Jareth. Her mouth watered at the sight and her stomach growled louder.

Before she had a chance to open her mouth Spinny had turned around and spotted her.

"Oh, my Lady what are you doing here! I must not have heard your call, what can I do for you?"

"Oh no, no, Spinny, I was just hungry and didn't want to wake anyone."

"No No! You're his majesties guest! You shouldn't get your own food! Come with me!"

Spinny grabbed Sarah's arm before she had the time to protest and mention all she really needed was perhaps a piece of toast and a glass of orange juice but this time Spinny lead her through the kitchen and into a large dining room with a huge table in the middle.

"Please sit here, and I'll bring you some food as soon as I've sent his majesties breakfast to his room."

Spinny left the room with a loud clunk of the door, leaving Sarah in the huge dining room by herself.

It must be nice to have someone take care of you like that. She thought to herself as she tried to remember a time she'd ever gotten breakfast in bed. She still wasn't able to justify waking someone else up just because she was hungry though.

Sarah shrugged her shoulders and looked around room, again taken aback by the beauty of the place. The room was lavishly decorated in green and gold, almost too beautiful for a simple meal like breakfast. She could only imagine the fine dinner parties that must have been held there. While examining the walls a painting on the far wall captured her eye.

It was a beautiful scene of a forest clearing and in it an image of a man with wild blond hair, sitting up against a tree. Sarah felt herself drawn in until she was standing right against the painting. Examining it further she noticed the head of the man was angle towards the side of the tree hidden from view and by squinting she could almost make out a woman sitting there.

How odd. She thought to herself. Wouldn't it have been better to paint the woman so she could be seen?

Behind her she heard the door clunk again. Spinny had returned, she thought. She didn't take her eyes of the painting right away however still examining the woman sitting behind the tree. She turned around to ask Spinny about the painting but right before opening her mouth she was stopped dead in her tracks, surprised. It wasn't Spinny who'd enter the dining hall… it was Jareth.

"Good morning, Sarah." Jareth smiled at her and made his way towards the table and sat down at one end of it. "Joining me for breakfast?"

She stood there for a moment, not sure what to do, but then made her way to the table and sat down on Jareth's right hand side.

As soon as she settled the doors flew open and a group of goblins brought the kings breakfast tray in and placed it ceremoniously before him on the table. Shortly after another group of goblins followed with another tray and set it on the table before Sarah. Now each bowing and curtsying, stumbling across each other the goblins made their way out the door and left the two off them alone again.

Jareth made with eating his breakfast but Sarah, staring down at the food before her, occasionally slipping Jareth a look from the corner of her eye, suddenly wasn't very hungry anymore.

His reaction to seeing her again after last night wasn't at all what she'd expected.

Honestly, she wasn't quite sure what she'd expected because she hadn't really thought it through, but she was sure there should be at least an awkward silence or two in situations like these… and he didn't seem bothered at all… He'd even smiled at her when he'd entered… he was even smiling at her now.

She looked away blushing when she realized she'd been staring at him.

"You don't like melons?" Jareth asked, motioning towards her plate, still grinning.

"Oh… yeah, I like them fine." She blushed again and reached for her fork, setting to eating her food.

Should she mention what happened… She needed to at least know why she was still there…

She took a bite of her toast and suddenly realized how hungry she was. The food tasted every bit as good as it looked, in fact she hadn't had food this good in a while… and there was no sense in spoiling a good meal so she decided she'd put off the matter until at least after breakfast. Besides he wasn't going to send her away in a cloud of glitter without so much as a goodbye first was he?

Once they'd finished eating Jareth stood up and headed for the door. Sarah felt the urgency to jump up and say something but found herself glued to her chair. Why was she so intimidated by him? She had to say something…. Anything!

She felt the words building up inside her and knew she was just about to say something she'd probably regret… but right before he reached the door Jareth turned around and looked at her questioningly.

"Well? Are you coming?"

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