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Chapter 4:

It was another week before I heard her voice calling my name.

This time, she shyly held a bowl of popcorn in one hand and a box of some sort in the other. Her cheeks reddening prettily, she asked if I would watch a "movie" with her.

"I wanted to show you how much I appreciated what you did- he hasn't bothered me since you showed up, and this was the best I could come up with..." I could refuse those imploring green eyes nothing. For the first time, she shared the couch with me, albeit on the opposite end. Her long, lean legs curled in front of her as she carefully angled her body away from me. I couldn't help but notice how much space she left between us.

She discussed the basic introduction, explaining a few human things that she thought I may not understand. I dared not contradict her, but I was well-versed in the human world. I watched with half-hearted attention. It seemed to be some sort of action movie, set in medieval times. It was quaint, seeing how people of this world imagined magic and dragons. Sometime I would have to show Sarah real dragons. They were certainly not the smiling, friendly sort of creature working along side the human in the film. It was partway through the movie when I slid my gaze to her form, wondering at her sudden quiet.

To my amusement, she was apparently asleep. Gently reaching out, I touched her arm to be sure. I couldn't imagine her being comfortable as she was, and I could not ignore this opportunity. Carefully, I pulled her to me, using my magic to ensure that I did not disrupt her sleep. Her head fell lightly on my shoulder as she relaxed against me. I pressed my lips to her dark satin hair, savoring the sweet scent of her, the characters on the screen no longer holding any interest for me. She shifted until she was curved against me, so much of her body pressed tightly to my side I could scarcely breathe. I would rather cut my arm off than wake her. I loved seeing those lips smiling innocently, those fingers curling into my white shirt. Sarah murmured in her sleep, nuzzling closer, breathing a contented sigh. Never in all my centuries had a woman ensnared me so. Her thick lashes rested lightly on her cheek, her soft, relaxed breathing soothing and rhythmic. I felt that primal stirring again, different somehow than before. It felt...protective. Of Sarah.

I could not remember a time when any woman slept in my presence. I would send them away after they had served their purpose, preferring to spend my nights alone after my body was satiated. But in this moment, with Sarah's warmth against me, I wanted nothing more for her to remain pressed close to me for as long as possible. My heart beat a hard rhythm against my ribs, almost painful. There was this sensation of swelling, a foreign, unfamiliar warmth spreading throughout my chest. This strange sensation filled me, softened me. My fingers brushed over her cheek, marveling at the soft texture of her skin. It was long after the credits rolled when she finally awoke, blushing hotly and sputtering apologies.

Her scarlet face was irresistibly adorable. I brought her hand to my lips and told her there was no need for apologies, that it was perfectly all right.

I couldn't resist teasing her about her snoring (though she hadn't been), and her face burned ever-brighter. She fumed while I laughed, but I wanted nothing more than to pull her back to me, to feel her warmth next to me again.

After some awkward fidgeting and fuming on her part, she made us a bit of coffee in the kitchen. Over her small table, she asked to know more about the other creatures in the Labyrinth. The ones besides her friends, and about the other creatures she'd seen. I supposed she couldn't help but wonder what else there was and how the kingdom was run. As we spoke, I discovered she had a sharp mind for politics, and we spent the next couple hours over coffee discussing laws and drawing comparisons between the old monarchies of England and my present-day Fae courts.

These were safe, easy topics for me. While I had no patience for intricacies of Fae etiquette, it was remarkably easy for me to relay the details to another. Plus, I adored the light in her eyes. The sparkle of interest and delight as we spoke of the dances and the varying alliances was truly beautiful. It brought a lovely, soft smile to her pretty lips.

Finally, those conversations ran dry. Feeling a bit more relaxed, I asked her a question that had been plaguing me. "Why did you summon me, Sarah? Was it truly to show simple appreciation?"

She hesitated. "...you know...I'm not sure... I just didn't want to be alone and I thought of you..." Her fingers toyed with the necklace I'd given her. It looked like she was struggling to understand it herself. I could feel my heart beating a little harder, my chest squeezing. Words failed me, a phenomenon that seemed to happen frequently when I was in her presence.

After a long silence, I stood and knelt before her. I lifted her hand to my lips. "You are never alone, precious thing".

Her eyes were wide and conflicted as I rose and stepped away. Politely, I excused myself as it was quite late. I returned to my castle, as confused by my actions as surely she was.

It seemed as though she felt something towards me, but exactly what, I could not tell. Seeing her made it even harder for me to stand the uncertainty. I am a King, and never before faced with my equal. This simple fact left me unsure how to proceed with Sarah. With most women, they were all too eager to enter my bed, never really posing a challenge. The slightest encouragement from me was all it took to coax them to my chambers. The tilt of a head, the light brushing of fingertips against the nape of a neck, and they would meet me in the silk of my sheets later in the evening. Sarah was different. She would not fall so easily into my bed, but then again, I needed more from her than simply sex. I needed her. I needed her smile, her warm laughter, the passionate fire in her eyes, her defiance and sharp tongue. I needed all of her. With Sarah, it would be more than a simple meeting of bodies.

It would be her acceptance of her role as Queen, a claiming of her title. It would be her yielding, mind, body, and soul, to her King. She would meet me as an equal, and I could not deceive her into my chambers. She had to come to me, on her terms, ready to accept her title. This was the ancient binding the Labyrinth insisted upon.

I paced in my castle, waiting for her summons. How was I, the Goblin King, forced to wait upon the whims of a human female? But I knew the answer to that. This was not just any female, this was the one who had defeated me. The one that my soul craved with an ache that burned me deeper than any sensation I had ever known. It was harder and harder for me to contain the instincts clawing at me, the desire that swelled to take her.

When Sarah finally called on me two weeks later, she was ready with some excuse for why she wanted to speak with me. This time, she wanted to know more about something Higwish had said and a story Didymus had told her about the guard.

I could not resist teasing her by saying "You know precious, I'm beginning to think you enjoy my company."

She'd blushed hotter than I had ever seen and stomped off to make tea, leaving me smiling uncontrollably behind her. She yelled some nonsense about just wanting to learn more about the underground and thinking I was an obnoxious, pompous jerk.

But I'll be damned if she didn't offer me cream and sugar for my Earl Grey, still blushing profusely. Conversation began with the stories her friends had told, but quickly branched into broader topics, ranging from politics to mannerisms of the court. We talked for a few hours in her small living room before I took my leave. I left a chaste kiss on the back of her hand, her blushing warmly.

I spent the week after that in high spirits. Sarah was clearly attracted to me, no matter how she tried to hide it. Perhaps, just perhaps, she was beginning to see me as more than just the villain who stole her brother away.

This thought in mind, I didn't resist the Labyrinth's push for me to fly to her. Appearing at her window as an owl, I gently tapped the glass. Startled and adorably disheveled, Sarah acted displeased at my sudden arrival.

"I didn't call you!" she groused as she opened the window. Self-consciously, she attempted to smooth her hair out. She clearly had not been expecting anyone.

"I was rather bored and assumed you might be missing my rather fascinating company".

She rolled her eyes at me, but couldn't hide the smile that she fought to keep back.

"I guess needed a break anyways..." She muttered. "I know you just flew in, but I could really use some fresh air. Don't suppose you'd be interested in going for a walk?"

This seemed an odd request. "If that is your wish, then yes."

"Let me grab a book. The weather is really gorgeous and I'd like to do a little reading if you don't mind."

I raised an eyebrow. Although I knew Sarah had a brilliant mind, I had not quite expected her to want to read in my presence. However, I enjoyed books myself and had an extensive library of my own. I could not resist asking her what she would be bringing.

"I was thinking Pride and Prejudice- it's a classic, after all."

My lips quirked up. Oddly appropriate novel, considering her own conflicted opinion of me. Sliding the slim volume from the shelf, she led the way. With a quick glamor, my appearance changed to fit in with the fashions these humans wore. Short hair, leather jacket, and jeans replaced my usual attire. I caught Sarah's appreciative gaze before she looked away, a slight reddening on her face. I enjoyed watching her deny her own physical attraction to me far too much.

She took me to a park nearby, one that was similar to the carefully manicured grounds I had watched her performing her play in the day she had wished her brother away. What startled me, was the subtle, gentle brush of her hand against mine as we started down a trail. This was followed by a careful looping of her arm through mine as we walked together in the sunlight. I stared at her, eyebrow raised, but she avoided my gaze, a light blush on her face.

Each touch shot straight to my groin, despite my best efforts. I wanted her, and the pain of not having her tormented me. My Fae instincts were becoming troublesome. My free hand covered hers and gently squeezed, bringing her eyes to mine. Sarah looked so conflicted and confused, as if she was unsure of herself. Gently, I stroked her cheek.

"Lead the way, precious thing" I murmured, hoping she realized I meant more than the park. Blushing again, she pointed.

"Let's sit over there."

Where she was pointing was a large Oak tree. There were blessedly few people around.

Settling onto the grass, my fingers found the dog-eared page she must have left off on. My lips quirked as I read the first line on the page:

"From the very beginning— from the first moment, I may almost say— of my acquaintance with you, your manners, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form the groundwork of disapprobation on which succeeding events have built so immovable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry." (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice)

Sarah laughed with me, the words reflecting her own thoughts of myself perfectly. I continued the story, as naturally as breathing, knowing the conclusion of this story quite well. I could only hope that Sarah would change her mind as much as Elizabeth Bennet had towards Mr. Darcy.

I wasn't sure if she was fully aware that she was leaning on me, engrossed in the story as she was. Maybe she knew precisely the effect she was having on me. Whatever the reason, I was acutely aware of every inch pressed against me, scattering my attention and making it difficult to focus on the words. As I paused to start another chapter, she looked up at me, peering into me with an intensity I wasn't ready for. I felt heat uncurling in my limbs, and I fought against every inch of my Fey instinct at her soft lips, so close to mine. Enchanted as I was, I missed her question completely. She repeated herself, asking me again about the Labyrinth.

"Jareth, what happened when I said those words all those years ago? Everything seemed like it fell apart... I guess I never really understood it fully. I never thought much more about it until now I guess."

I winced. "Everything did fall apart, my precious thing. You won."

Her wide eyes looked at me full of curiosity. I sighed, knowing what she wanted to know. I supposed she had a right. Telling her the truth would leave me painfully vulnerable, exposing my very soul to her. But, after months of torture clawing at me, I had to know either way if she would accept her role as queen or not. Swallowing thickly in my suddenly dry throat, I began. "As I mentioned before, I designed the Labyrinth to keep people out. Do you have any idea who or what I was trying to keep out?"

The sun danced across her raven hair as she shook her head. I could tell that she hadn't given it much thought. I continued, haltingly, knowing that what I was going to say was going to leave me bare to her. She could reject me at this moment. But she needed to know, and I was too tired, too frustrated, to deny her this. "The only person who could beat the spell, would be the only person that the Labyrinth would allow to rule at my side." I paused. I was leaving out the most important reason. I looked away, clenching my jaw. But finally I forced the words past my lips. "I made the Labyrinth. The only person who could beat it would be the only person I could, or would, ever truly love."

Sarah stilled, and pulled away, sliding until she was sitting cross-legged in front of me. Watching her wide green eyes, I continued. "By denying me, you showed your will to be as strong as mine, and proved yourself fit to be Queen. Had you accepted my offer, you would have been trapped in the underground. You would not have been able to claim the title of Queen, as your will was not strong enough to deny your own desires. It may seem backwards, but that was the final test. Only by proving your will, were you able to gain the power to rule in the Labyrinth. Only by defying me do you have that right."

Her eyes widened a fraction larger, staring at me as though I'd grown a second head. I gazed back, levelly. "Yes love, you could be my Queen, if you so choose."

She was clearly shocked and confused. "...you...I..."

Uncomfortable, I looked away. There was an awkward silence between us.

Finally, she formed a response. "Is that why I could feel the Labyrinth's presence when I was there?"

I nodded. "Yes. It wants you to return and be its Queen."

Sara was silent for a moment. "The Queen..." the thought trailed off.

I shook my head. "You have not claimed that title, Sarah. Queen of the Labyrinth is not a title bestowed, but one to be received, should the one who defeated the Labyrinth so choose it. That is why the Labyrinth has not allowed another runner to pass its gates. It awaits your decision."

It looked as though she was attempting to find words. I placed my hand over her lips to silence her. I didn't want to hear her rejection of the title, and her rejection of me in turn. Neither did I want her to make this decision rashly. I stared into her eyes, the eyes of my Queen, if she so chose. If she didn't, it would destroy me from within. My gaze must have spoken the words I could not say, for she stilled. I removed my hand and without another word, I flew away. I spared one glance back at her stunned, beautiful face.

Yes, precious Sarah. I, the Goblin King, Love you. More deeply than you can possibly imagine.