When the two arrived in the Underground, the Goblin City was still bustling with celebration. Jareth honestly did not know what he expected. Part of him thought that they would just stop as soon as Sarah came back. That thought brought him back to the girl he had momentarily forgot about.
"What's that noise?" Sarah questioned. She obviously meant the somewhat joyous shouts and screeches from the city below.
Jareth couldn't help but to smirk. Now she was aware of what he had been dealing with. He wasn't sure if he should tell her the truth, or if he should make up another part of his elaborate story. He decided both.
"They're celebrating you, Sarah." He stated.
"Me? Why would they celebrate me?" She asked with confusion lacing her voice.
"Because the Goblin Kingdom now has a queen."
He dared not tell her that they were actually celebrating the fact that she defeated him. He figured there was a chance she may find out, but it wouldn't be soon. By now he was practically an expert at spinning his stories. Even if she did find out the truth, she would have to gain back her memory from her prior visit to the Underground before she would understand anything. Sarah wanted to ask how they knew, but did she really care. The reality of her situation was now settling in. Part of her was in awe. Some part of her had always believed in magic and fairytales, but never to this extent. She never imagined she would be stranded in some kingdom with a deranged king.
Admittedly, a very handsome king. He seemed so familiar and somehow, Sarah foresaw his actions before they took place. Like how she knew he was currently smirking, without even having to look at him. She hated that know-it-all smirk, and she didn't even really know him. She wanted to hate him for taking her away, but she couldn't. Sarah knew she needed to get to the bottom of all this. Clearly she didn't remember a thing about stealing an heir. Especially since that heir was Toby. She turned to see the king staring intently at her. His eyes were focused on her, but he seemed distant. Almost like his mind was in a different realm. Sarah mentally laughed at the thought. His mind very well could be in a different realm.
His smirk widened. "What's wrong precious? You seem confused."
She knew he was toying with her, but she replied anyways.
"I am confused! I have no idea what's really going on. I don't even remember being here before. Can't you fill me in on what's happening?"
"I've already 'filled you in'. In fact, I have supplied more than enough information. You stole my heir, I went back to claim him, instead you offered to become my queen. Isn't that clear enough?" His words were short and concise. Sarah knew he didn't wish to continue the conversation, but she needed answers. He set his jaw, and it became clear that he was finished with their discussion.
"What about my family? Won't they realize I'm gone? I have school and my job to worry about too. What's going to happen?"
"Correction, you had your schooling and work. They are no longer. As for your family, it will be as if you never existed. They will go on with their lives, as you should."
His words cut Sarah deeply. The unselfish part of her was glad that her family wouldn't worry about her. However, the selfish part didn't want them to forget her. It wasn't fair. Sarah wished she would have seriously thought about her decision before running off with some strange man. She should have asked these questions before. She could have come up with some sort of conditions. Obviously, she wouldn't have let him take Toby, but she didn't realize what she was committing herself to. She tried to keep the tears from falling, but it was no use.
It was like her old self had died, and she couldn't help but to mourn. She turned away so that he wouldn't see her crying. The last thing she needed was for him to think she was weak. Jareth moved, as if to comfort her, but he quickly thought better of it. He stepped back and gave her a few moments to compose herself. Why was she acting like this? She wasn't quite like this when she was here before.
"When you're ready, I can show you to our chambers." He said, hoping it would cease her crying.
Sarah jerked her head up. 'Our chambers'? There was no way she would be sharing a room with him.
"No, that's where I draw the line. I'm not sharing a room with you. I never agreed to that." She gave him an incredulous look.
"Sarah, you will be my queen. You offered to produce me an heir. Do you have any idea of what that entails?"
Sarah's face paled. Obviously she knew what it meant, but this was the first time she actually considered it.
"We are to be married, and as such, shall have to consummate our marriage. Or did you forget?" He continued.
Fresh tears threatened to spill from her eyes. Seeing this, Jareth stepped forward. He didn't know why exactly, but he didn't want to see her cry. In fact he hated it. He had watched her so often during the years, and each time she cried, his heart ached. He placed a hand on her shoulder, but she quickly shrugged it off. He mentally smiled. That was the Sarah he knew.
"I can see you are distraught. I originally planned for our vows to take place right away. However," He paused, trying to come up with the words. "I shall give you one week to adjust to your new life. Until the end of that week, you may have your own chambers. Although, after we are wed, you will move to my chambers without so much of a complaint. Do you understand?"
Sarah nodded. She didn't quite agree with it, in fact she believed she needed more than a week to adjust, but his offer was better than his original plan. Jareth suddenly remembered that she had never been with a man before. Of course she would be upset with the idea of it. He couldn't help but to chuckle. She had never even been courted before. How could he forget something like that? It wasn't something trivial that could easily be forgotten.
"Sarah, I promise, this won't be as horrid as you're imagining. I will be sure that you're comfortable and tha-"
"Be sure that I'm comfortable?" She started, cutting him off, "Of course I won't be comfortable. I'm being forced to marry someone who probably cares less about me than they do the ground under their feet. Sure, I'll be comfortable." She practically spat the words.
Jareth was suddenly very angry. No one talked to him like that. He was the Goblin King, not some servant or average man.
"You insolent girl! Don't you realize? I care for you more than you could realize. I've cared for you ever since you charged into my life all those years ago. I offered you my heart and you blatantly refused it!"
Jareth was practically steaming. How could she accuse him of not caring? He turned away from her and marched out of his throne room. He needed some time to cool down. If not, he was afraid he would do something he would regret later. Sarah watched in disbelief as he left. She dared not try to follow him. Instead she went over to one of the windows and sat down on the ledge. The view was actually quite beautiful. She thought about his words. He claimed that he cared for her when he barely knew her. Maybe she could understand him better if she knew what happened all those years ago.
"Hello Lady!" Sarah jumped when she heard the voice from behind her. She turned her head to see a small creature with a tuft of orange hair at the top of its head. Sarah figured it was a goblin, since she now resided in the Goblin Kingdom.
"Uh, hello?" Her words came out as more of a question rather than a statement. She wasn't sure exactly what to say.
"What's your name?" She asked and the creature's eyes seemed to light up.
"Name is Gith. Where's King-y?" The creature motioned to the empty throne.
"I'm not sure Gith," She paused as an idea came to her mind. "Do you know where his chambers are? Could you take me there?"
Gith nodded and turned to walk away. Sarah moved from the ledge and followed behind him. Maybe if she apologized she would be able to talk to him and figure everything out. She trailed after the goblin as they went through several halls and corridors until they came to an ornate set of wooded doors.
"King-y's room," Gith said while motioning to the doors.
"Thank you, Gith." Sarah said while patting his head. He nodded and was suddenly gone. For a moment Sarah was baffled by the fact that he just disappeared, but in retrospect she had witnessed stranger things.
She summoned the courage she needed and, with a deep breath, knocked three times on the doors. Moments flew by, and she feared that he wasn't in his chambers. Sarah had no other ideas as to where he would have gone. There was no way she'd be able to find her way back to the throne room all by herself. She would have to wait until someone else wandered by and ask them for directions. Just then, the doors opened to reveal a less-clothed Goblin King. Before, he was wearing a full get-up complete with a cloak. Now, he only wore a half buttoned ruffled shirt, way-too-tight-pants, and black boots. His ensemble left little to the imagination, and Sarah had to force herself to look away.
"Are you here to degrade me some more Sarah?" The king questioned. If he noticed she had been staring, he didn't say anything.
"No, actually, I was here to apologize." Her voice trailed off. Perhaps this wasn't the best way to patch things up. She was about to turn and leave when he stepped aside and motioned her through the doors.
Reluctantly, she stepped passed the king. She didn't know what she expected his chambers to look like, but they fit him very well. The room was decorated in hues of gold and crimson. A large bed took up the majority of the room. There was a fireplace on the far side of the room, and doors that looked to lead out to a balcony. For a fleeting moment, Sarah thought that this wouldn't be a bad room to wake up in every morning. She quickly shook the thought from her head and turned toward Jareth. He was leaning against the wall near the door, staring at her.
"Look," she started, "I'm sorry. I just," her voice trailed away, "You have to understand that I just left my entire life behind. My family, friends, job, everything. I'm here because I couldn't stand the thought of you taking Toby. I did what I had to for him to stay safe."
Jareth looked stoic. He didn't seem angry like before, but he wasn't saying anything. Sarah didn't know if she preferred him like this or not. His eyes seemed to stare through her and Sarah couldn't help but to shiver.
"Okay, well that's pretty much it." She stepped forward and reached for the door, but he stopped her. His fingers wrapped around her arm and she inhaled sharply. His grip wasn't painful, she just wasn't expecting it.
"Wait." It wasn't a plea, it was a command. Normally, Sarah didn't take orders very well, but she didn't want to test her luck. She expected him to let go of her, but he didn't.
"You have to believe that I am trying Sarah." He breathed. She could tell he was slightly uncomfortable. This was most likely the closest she would get to an apology, and she accepted that.
She knew she should say something, but her words had disappeared. She turned around to look at him, and his grip loosened. She took in the angular form of his cheek bones, the way his hair fell in wisps around his face, and the way his beautiful mismatched eyes searched hers. And before she could comprehend what she was going to do, her lips were on his. His body immediately tensed, and Sarah felt stupid. She tried to pull away, but then he started to deepen the kiss. Sarah felt her back hit the door, but she couldn't bring herself to care.
Her hands flew to his head and her fingers tangled themselves in his hair. She sighed and could feel him smile against her lips. He pulled away first, but his body kept hers pinned against the door. Sarah was breathing heavily now. She watched as he closed his eyes and exhaled.
"Why did you kiss me?" He asked, concern obvious in his voice.
"I don't know." Sarah breathed. "It just felt right."
