Chapter 3- Truth Be Told
Sarah tried hard to fight back a giggle but failed miserably. "Do you really hate jeans that much?" she asked.
"They are more desirable on you than on me, precious. On me, they feel like…like cardboard boxes previously dampened and dried around my legs," Jareth groaned.
"This coming from the man who wears such tight breeches that they have to be modified in children's books. And you probably magicked the wrong size or something," she replied, adjusting his brown leather jacket as they walked out of the alleyway.
"Glamour, precious. Though, I could grow used to the term "magicked". And I did not change the size, they are the very same size I would wear in my breeches."
"And with that, I rest my case," Sarah smiled, taking his arm and pulling him through the entrance to the House of Books Publishing Company building.
The minute she walked in, Sarah started getting a million and one looks from everyone she knew. She had counted on it though, seeing as she had been in the Underground for a week. But self-consciously, she felt for the magick on her face to make sure the marks of betrothal on her eyes were still hidden, which they were. They got into an empty elevator, which Jareth couldn't get out of fast enough (too much iron) once they made it to the floor of the Children's Books Department. The minute they stepped off, almost everyone came running.
"Sarah?"
"Sarah, you're okay!"
"Where have you been, everyone's been worried sick!"
"We didn't know what happened."
"Oh, Sarah, who's the cute guy, huh?"
"You know Marie's going to kill you, right?"
And just then, said best friend Marie came pushing through the crowd and threw her arms around the published author.
"Sarah! Oh my God, I thought someone had kidnapped you or something, you had me worried sick!" Marie mumbled into Sarah's jacket.
Sarah hugged her back warmly. "Oh Marie, I'm so sorry I worried you."
Marie pulled back a little to look her over. "Are you okay? I mean, what happened? Your parents and I have been looking all over for you, and…" Marie stopped when she noticed Jareth. "Sarah…" she spoke slowly, her eyes locked on him.
Jareth and Sarah looked at each other, then back at Marie. He still looked vaguely similar to the Goblin King sketches from the presentation Sarah had made the week before, except that his hair was tame for once, pulled back in a gentleman's tail, and the Fae markings were missing. Not to mention his human attire; skinny jeans, button-down shirt, leather jacket and all. Everyone else seemed blinded by the disguise. But Sarah could see from Marie's face that she knew.
"Don't say anything," Sarah whispered into her friend's ear. "I have a lot to tell you, but it'll have to wait, okay?"
Marie nodded, her eyes still on Jareth, before she shook herself. "Uh, yeah, yeah. Uh, okay, alright everyone, Sarah's back, she's alive, so you can go back to work now. Come on, you know books don't publish themselves around here," she said, shooing all the people back to their desks.
Sarah sighed with relief, before taking Jareth's hand and heading to the office of the Heads of the Department.
After a sturdy knock on the door, Sarah heard a girlish yelp and quick shuffling movements inside, before a male voice shouted for her to come in. Opening the door, it was obvious from the ruffled papers on Alex Candor's desk and the flushed look of Mindy Rollins' face who Mindy had been "negotiating" with for her current position. And to Sarah's satisfaction, Mindy's face flushed an even deeper red when she saw who had walked in.
"Sarah! My God, we were frantic about you around here!" Alex stated, coming from around his desk to greet her.
"I'm fine, Alex. I just…went away for a while. I, uh," she looked back at Jareth with a smirk, "needed some inspiration to finish the next set of stories. But, I'm back, and there's something important I need to talk to you about."
"Excuse me?" Mindy said, rising from her desk. "You disappear after that little show you put on at the presentation, come back in here after a week and give that as an excuse? That is not acceptable, Ms. Williams. We need more than that. And who the hell is this? He doesn't belong in here. This is a private matter."
Sarah set her jaw and gave Mindy a look that made her as pale as lace. "Not that it's any of your business, Mindy, but this is my boyfriend, Jason Kingsley. He's also who I would like to have as a model for what the Goblin King should look like." She turned to Alex. "Marie already has an idea of what I want for it, so I'd like her to draw it, if that's okay."
Alex was about to speak when Mindy cut him off. "He's supposed to be your model for the Goblin King? He doesn't even look like a King. His face is all wrong for it. Besides, the sketch you had the last time looked like a 70's rock band reject, and this man looks much more decent than that. You'd be doing such a handsome thing an injustice, Sarah," she said, blatantly switching from insulting to flirting.
Jareth squeezed Sarah's hand as he felt her magick bristle, then gave Mindy a wan smile. "Ms. Rollins, I assure you that I am honored that Sarah has asked me to model for such a character as the Goblin King. He seems quite a decent creature to me, not at all 70's rock band. And I'm fairly sure that few reading this will be old enough to recognize a 70's rock band as well as you would," he smirked.
Sarah felt the greatest thrill at seeing Mindy grind her teeth. "Well, do you know what I think?"
"No, Mindy, and I don't particularly care, because as far as I'm concerned, you aren't worthy of the chair you're sitting in, and you're certainly not worthy of giving any kind of critic for my works. So do the world a favor and shut up!" Sarah snapped.
Both Mindy and Alex looked openly shocked, while Jareth's face was more than pleased with his fiancé.
"Ho-how dare you!" Mindy sputtered. "Consider yourself fired, Sarah, once I tell the higher-ups about this!"
"Don't bother. That's what I came to talk to you about. This will be the last set in my Labyrinth series. I've already finished the written part and the sketches for Marie to follow with the pictures, and I plan to mail them to you within the next few days."
"Wait, Sarah." Alex reached out to grab Sarah's arms but the look on Jareth's face made him think twice. "Sarah, you can't go. Look, if you're worried about last week between you and Mindy, I—"
"Alex, I'm leaving because I have to. Because I'm not going to stay and pretend that it's okay for people like you to let people like Mindy into a place where only real writers and editors deserve to be. I write because it's what I love to do, and I've stayed because of that, but now," she looked at Jareth behind her and smiled, "now I have something I love more."
Alex's face was tense. "I won't allow this. You have a contract, Sarah—"
"A contract my father read through very well for me. I have to provide you with whatever works you request of me once I've received the royalties that go into making it, and if I don't, I have to pay the royalties back in full or you can take me to court. I'm sending you everything you'll need within the week. If you don't get it, feel free to hunt me down, you know where I live. But once it's in your hands, my obligations are null and void. And if I choose to end the contract, I can."
"You—"
"Alex." Sarah put a hand on his shoulder. "You and I have been friends for years. I don't blame you for anything, and I certainly don't want to end on bad terms. But you have to let me go. I could've just run and not come back, but I didn't want to do that to you or Marie. This is the way things are done, and this is the way I'm doing them. So please, let me go on a good note."
Alex stared at her for a time, then sighed. "It's not fair, you know. You're one of the best writers we've got."
She smiled and shrugged. "That's just the way it is."
As Sarah and Jareth turned to leave, she saw Mindy open her mouth to say something, but Sarah shot her the most gloriously evil glare in existence and shut her right up. The minute they were outside, she saw several people walking around nonchalantly, but she could tell they had been eavesdropping at the frosted door. Marie stood by her desk near the front as the two approached her.
"Marie, I need you to draw an illustration of the Goblin King based on him," Sarah pulled Jareth in front of her. "Could we do it now?" she asked, giving her a "somewhere private so we can talk" look.
"Uh, yeah, sure. I'll get my supplies," she replied, still looking at Jareth strangely. They all went over to an empty meeting room, Marie locking it behind them. "Okay Sarah, what the hell is going—Ah!" Marie yelped as she turned around.
Standing beside Sarah was no longer Jason Kingsley, but the Goblin King himself, standing in the same regalia he had worn the first time Sarah met him. The two looked at each other knowingly and smirked at Marie's face.
"You-you're the-the…but it can't be you…you-you don't exist! It was just Sarah's—"
"—I can assure you, Ms. Marie, that I am no illusion," Jareth said. Suddenly, he was by Marie's side, her hand in his, and he lifted it to his lips and placed a kiss on it. "I am Jareth, King of the Goblins and heir to the throne of Faery. It is a pleasure to finally meet you."
Marie's face was priceless; a mix between the face you get when someone pops out behind something and scares you, and awe at meeting someone famous. She looked over at Sarah with confused brown eyes and Sarah shrugged, still grinning.
"I told you so."
~LLLLLLLLLLLLL~
Sarah's car was still at her apartment, since Jareth had transported them to the building with magick. So, after a little convincing and a few summoned crystals and Goblins, Sarah got Marie to drive them to her parent's house. Well, Sarah actually ended up driving, since Marie was so focused on asking Jareth a million questions that she almost drove them into another car before they even got out of the parking garage. The ride was comical, holding Jareth's hand as he sat rigidly in the passenger seat of the iron vehicle and listening to Marie distract him with question after question, all of which he answered as truthfully as he could. The funniest part was when Jareth slipped up and called Sarah his betrothed.
"What?" Marie had shouted.
"Jareth! We were supposed to wait until we got to my parent's house so we could tell all of them," Sarah reprimanded.
"I am sorry, my love, but it's just not every day that I get to say that, you know."
"You've said it to seven other women before me!"
"Five, thank you, and I wasn't happy about it, I assure you. Besides, you act as if you haven't had beaus of your own."
"I haven't, not fiancés anyway. And Goliath doesn't count, he was—"
"What did you say?"
"…Nothing."
"No, as in Goliath the man we just destroyed, Goliath?"
"Purified!"
"What the bloody hell ever, he asked you to marry him?"
"Not in those words, and obviously I said no! Why are you getting so worked up over it, he's dead!"
"Well, I feel I should know when my Queen-to-be receives an invitation of marriage from someone other than me."
"Oh, like how you should've told me about the seven women you came close to marrying?"
"Five!"
"Hey!" Marie shouted, silencing the two. "Can we slow it down for the clueless one in the back please?"
As Sarah pulled up to the house, the first thing she saw was Toby's face in the living room window. His chin rested on his arms, a gray, worried look on his face. Like he was waiting for something, or someone, but wasn't sure they were coming. She watched the confusion flash on his face as she drove Marie's car into their driveway. He had met Marie before, but she only came when Sarah was around. But the minute Sarah emerged from the driver's side door, his whole face lit up and chased away the gray. She smiled as she watched him disappear from the window and reappear at the door.
"Sarah!" he screamed in his little voice, running in bare feet down the walkway and straight into her legs.
Sarah picked up the little boy and hugged him fiercely, swinging him around. "Toby! Oh, I missed you so much!"
"I knew you'd come back! I knew it, cause the Goblins told me, Sarah!" he chattered in her ear excitedly.
"They did?" she smiled, shooting a grateful look at Jareth. "So you know what's going on for the most part?" Toby nodded his little blond head. "Well, I'm glad they told you, cause I didn't want you to worry about me."
"Mommy and Daddy were worried though. They didn't believe me when I told them."
"Sarah?"
Sarah looked up to see her stepmother in the doorway, followed by her father. The two came running down the walkway, embracing Sarah and Toby in a group hug.
"Oh Sarah, we were terrified something had happened to you!" Karen cried into her stepdaughter's arm.
"Sarah, where have you been? No one's seen you in a week, we even called the police!" said her father.
"I'll explain everything, but let's go inside first, okay? There's someone I want you to meet," she replied, looking over at Jareth.
~UUUUUUUUUUUUU~
Jareth and Sarah had decided ahead of time that the best thing to do was tell them the truth. By Fae law, because they were Sarah's family and friends, as long as she knew she could trust them, they were allowed to be told. Though Sarah could have had Jareth erase everyone's memories of her, which he did for any children that wound up in his care, they both knew she'd never be able to live without ever being able to see Toby again.
It took about an hour and a half to explain the full story of Sarah's adventures to them, Jareth changing form and Sarah removing the cover from her marks so they would believe. Toby was ecstatic to have the Goblin King as his big brother-in-law, while her parents sat on the couch trying to take everything in. Jareth suggested Toby take he and Marie outside to meet Arthur, the new dog, which Toby happily agreed to, latching onto his hand as Marie followed behind. Sarah looked over at her parents pensively from her chair.
"I-I know it's a lot to take in—"
"—A lot to take in? Sarah, yo-you were a single, normal adult woman with an apartment and a job when you left here. And yo-you disappear for week, come back with a-a magical King who is suddenly your fiancé, and you're to be a Queen and…th-this is more than a lot to take in, sweetheart," her father said, his face rather flustered.
"Sarah, he-he isn't making you do any of this, is he?" Karen asked.
"No, of course not. I promise. I didn't plan for any of this either, guys. This started years ago, and I hadn't seen him in years because of what Goliath did. But, I do love him. Very much so. I feel more like myself around him, around the Goblins and the people of the Underground. And I can't imagine not having him or them in my life now.
Her stepmother's face softened. "You're happy then?"
A sweet smile came over Sarah's face in answer.
Karen nodded understanding, then took her husband's hand. "Robert, this…it's going to take some getting used to this, but if she's happy, then…"
Robert sighed, rubbing his free hand over a tired face. He looked at his daughter, the little girl who used to love being swung around in his arms. "You're not so little anymore, are you?" he muttered to himself. "This-this isn't something I can accept right away, Sarah. It's…there's still so much to take in. But…it seems we owe this-this Jareth for a lot more than we knew. So, for you, we'll give him a chance."
"But, but," Karen began, raising her hands to stop Sarah as she moved forward to hug them. "If we allow this, we have to be allowed to come to this-this Underground and see for ourselves exactly where this man is taking you."
"Uh, I don't think—"
"—you'll want to come just yet. I'll need a day to have my Goblins set up the guest wing for you," Jareth broke in, standing in the doorway to the kitchen.
"Jareth?" Sarah raised an eyebrow, questioning him silently.
He only smirked and continued. "I apologize. Toby, Ms. Marie and I were just heading in when I overheard."
"'Overheard' my butt," Sarah thought.
"As it is, our laws in Faery prohibit humans from being in the Underground unless they are running the Labyrinth, or living in the castle of a ruling family, thereby under their protection."
"You mean they can come live with us?" Sarah gasped.
"Only if they wish it so."
Sarah looked to them expectantly, but the look on her parents' faces stamped on her own excitement.
"Sarah, we'd love to be with you wherever you go, but we have lives here sweetheart. I can't just up and leave my firm, and Karen can't leave her job either," said her father.
"And Toby has friends here, we can't just uproot him," added Karen.
"But I wanna go with Sarah! I wanna go to the Underground!" Toby cried, running into his big sister's lap.
"Oh Toby," Sarah cooed, comforting him.
"If we can't come see you, can't you just come visit us?" Marie asked.
"We will have little time for it, preparing for the wedding and the coronation. That and time can run differently in the Underground, depending on its mood."
"Wait just a moment," Robert snapped, standing up. "Are you telling me you're taking my daughter away to a place where I can't see her because time is moody?"
"Dad," Sarah began, knowing who he was talking to.
"It's alright, Sarah. No, Mr. Williams, I am merely saying that if you can't live with us in the Underground, then you can't see her by legal means. So, we'll have to do things my way."
The King regally pulled a crystal bubble out of the air. Then, looking around, he moved to the first mirror he saw, the one beside the front door, and pushed the bauble into it. The mirror's surface shimmered like lake water. The Labyrinth's expansive mass flashed in the surface briefly, before the mirror stilled itself and returned to normal.
"Sarah, you remember this little trick, don't you? Care to explain?"
Sarah smiled appreciatively at him as she walked over. "This is how I used to call Hoggle, Ludo and Didymus."
"Didus?" Toby asked, wandering behind her.
"Didymus, squirt. You'll get it one day," Sarah laughed. "All you guys have to do, when I go back, is call for me, or Jareth if I don't answer, while standing in front of the mirror. I know I can come through this way, but how are they supposed to come to me, Jareth?"
"It's always worked both ways, Sarah. You and your friends just never tried it. All you have to do when they call is tell them that you need them, and the mirror's magick will transport them to you."
"What if someone who isn't them accidentally says my name?"
"It will only respond to their voices, the way I made it. And Marie, a matching mirror has been sent to your home as well."
Suddenly, Jareth felt small arms wrap around his leg.
"Thank you, Mr. Goblin King!" Toby smiled up at him.
Jareth picked his mini-me up and smiled back. "You are quite welcome, Mr. Toby."
~JJJJJJJJJJJJJ~
Jareth was expecting happiness at the surprise he had given the Williams family. He was expecting Sarah to be overjoyed that they could visit, that she wouldn't have to give them up to be with him (though he was sure she thought she'd have to and had already made the choice). He was hopeful even for a kiss. Instead, he was punched in the arm.
"Sarah, I do expressly recall stating how little I enjoy that the last time you attempted it. Especially when it's uncalled for," he said, closing her apartment door behind him. Jareth had transported them to Sarah's place so they could pick up the last of the series to the Labyrinth children's books and send them by magick to Marie's house.
"Oh, you deserve it. Why didn't you tell me they could come see us, Jareth? I would've liked to know that little tidbit of information," she replied, disappearing into her bedroom for a moment before coming back out with a wide, brown leather bag.
"I didn't realize it was cruel of one to provide a surprise to someone they love. I'll make sure not to do it again."
She glared. "That's not fair, you're guilting me."
"The only guilt I'm causing you to feel is the guilt that already exists beneath the surface," he smirked, taking hold of the bag.
She laughed. "Yeah, yeah."
Then, with Jareth's help, the two sent the bag off to the little brick red house with the blue and white dining room table Sarah remembered from her many visits. Once it was gone, she wrapped her arms around Jareth's waist and held him.
"So I suppose I should thank you now and tell you what a wonderful fiancé you are and how incredible you look in jeans."
"That would be quite enjoyable, but out of character for one as stubbornly smart as you."
"Damn straight," she giggled.
Jareth loved hearing her laugh, especially when he caused the sound. He stole a kiss from her happy lips, reveling in their velvety feel until she pulled away.
"This could be dangerous, you know. Especially if we're not supposed to consummate the marriage until after the wedding," she hummed seductively into his ear.
"Well, we'll just have to make sure it doesn't get that far, won't we?" he replied, before kissing down the side of her throat.
He could practically hear her purring from the attention, her nails sliding lightly over the skin at the back of his neck. When he licked at the lobe of her ear, he heard her choke back a moan. When he bit it, it was forced up like flames from a match. Then, she bit his ear back…at the tip. That was all she wrote.
Sarah found herself on the couch again, Jareth looming on top with a lusty look in his eyes. He took her lips to his, stealing her breath away with the passion in his kiss. She opened her mouth to let his tongue slip past and play tongue war with him. Her chest heaved into his, her body demanding more skin, more contact. Just as Jareth's hand slipped up her shirt and Sarah's fingers had unbuttoned three of the buttons on his shirt, a blast of wind from out of nowhere pulled the two apart, planting Jareth gracelessly on his ass over in the kitchen area and Sarah near the closed balcony door.
Sarah pushed herself up, blowing hair out of her face. "Jareth. I love you, but I may kill that woman if I ever get the chance."
She heard Jareth right himself behind the island in her kitchen and stand. "Not before I throw her headfirst into the Bog."
A/N: Haha! Oh goodness, what drama ensues when you have the Goblin King as a fiancé.
Just for the record, I don't claim to know anything about the contracts between a publishing company and an author, so if I have it wrong, tough cookies.