4

Back in the Underground, Jareth leapt from his throne where he was watching Sarah from one of his many conjured crystals. This was not foretold, it was not even hinted at to him. The crystal now dropped on the hard floor with a crash at the same time he disappeared in a frantic flash of glitter.

Upon arriving again in Sarah's kitchen, Jareth surveyed the scene. The water was still running in the sink and Sarah lay still and unmoving. With a wave of his hand Jareth had the kitchen back in sparkling condition. In a second, smooth motion, he scooped up Sarah's form and retreated back to his castle.

"Call for the healer!" he shouted and various goblins ran in every direction. Jareth then strode the short distance to his bedroom and laid Sarah's form on the enormous bed. He tore his shirt sleeve in half and pressed it to the back of her head, effectively stopping the free-flowing blood. He pulled a chair from his desk and began to set vigil by her side until the healer came. He took one of her small hands in both of his own and examined her face.

It was gray now from lack of blood. Jareth's lips formed a thin line as he looked her over worriedly. It was then that the healer entered.

"Her head, it is bleeding from the back, can you repair the damage?" Jareth's tone demanded an answer.

"I-I can sew the wound, but the rest is up to the girl. I can neither make her to live or to die. Head wounds can be very unpredictable."

"Then do your best, man."

"Yes, your majesty," replied the elderly, bespectacled man, "but, Your Majesty, may I have a little space?" begged the kindly old man, a one Lord Clifford, if Jareth remembered rightly, memory was such a tricky thing. He took the old healer's meaning and vacated the immediate premises of his royal chambers. Lord Clifford had been in his service for many years and was a very capable physician. His limited amount of power granted him the status as Lord. He was highly respected at court as he didn't let anyone take advantage of him in their plotting. His centuries of experience also made him a wise aand respected nobleman. Though he sometimes acted timid, he could be bold when so required.

After many minutes of pacing, Jareth saw the healer back out of his chambers and shut the doors gently. He turned.

"She sleeps now, but may have a headache when she awakens. I used some magic to dispel the pain, but you yourself know my limitations, Majesty."

"Yes," Jareth nodded, "thank you, you have done what you can, I will sit with her now until she awakens. She will be in for quite a surprise."

Sarah awoke feeling groggy. Something warm was holding one of her hands. She looked down to them to see a blonde head laying cradled in an arm connected to the hands that held hers. This wasn't home. Someone had tucked her into an enormous bed, and now her head was beginning to throb. That someone was Jareth? She moved her hand from Jareth's grasp to feel the back of her head. It had been stitched. The scene before her now had heavy meaning. Jareth had saved her life somehow. He wasn't a cold and evil person that she had always assumed he was. It was then that he stirred and woke.

"You are awake," he said quietly amazed, then the mask of arrogance slid neatly back into place.

"I will se to it a room is made up for you immediately and send someone with victuals for after you have rested." He got up to go. Now that he knew she would live, it would be safe to leave her for a time. He was sure she didn't want him here anyway, she had already made that perfectly plain on his first visit. She needed time to get used to the idea of his being around. Though as he turned to go he heard

"Jareth, wait-" he paused, "um thank you, I don't know exactly what happened, but thank you."

"We will discuss it at a later date," he said not unkindly. He was trying hard to keep all emotion out of his voice.

"For now you need your rest." He left Sarah and went to summon assistance.

When Sarah woke a second time she saw a maid, she guessed, lighting candles, there was already a blazing fire in the fireplace.

"Excuse me," Sarah began, "where am I?"

"Oh miss, you are awake! I'm so glad," she paused in her work to sit in the chair that Jareth had earlier vacated.

"This is the royal bedchamber." Sarah looked around at the dark blue-ness of everything, even the bedclothes. Here eyes widened.

"The royal. . .you mean Jareth's own room?"

"The very one. It's closest to the throne room and he so wanted to get you taken care of that he didn't give half a thought to giving up his bed."

That severely changed Sarah's view of things. This didn't mesh with the evil, child-taking Goblin King villain that she pictured in her head.

"But what about Jar- uh, the king?"

"Oh he often gets restless and won't even catch a single wink some nights."

"Oh dear, I feel so awful!" The guilt weighed on her more than a little.

"Aw," the maid waved her hands, "the King will do anything for those he truly cares about. There was this one time-"

"Wait, what did you say?" Sarah interrupted. Truly cared about, huh?

"Oh, my I do prattle on sometimes. I should be getting' on t'other things." She got up and began to go.

"But-at least, do you have a name?" Sarah thought furiously to keep the maid from leaving.

"Joselle be my name. I'll be in your service Lady-"

"Sarah. My name is Sarah, nice to meet you, Joselle."

"And you lassie seem like a very nice girl. His majesty would do well to find himsel' a good'n like you, but oh there I go again rambling. . .rest yoursel' dearie, I'm sure his majesty will be in to check on you soon." With that, the strange maid left. Sarah's head began to ache again and she decided that rest would definitely be the best course of action right now.

When Sarah awoke next, she found that Jareth was not there as she hoped. After what he'd done for her the least she could do was raise the flag of truce, shake hands, and start over. Looking around the room, she noticed a rather large bowl of fruit filled to the brim with all sorts of summer fruits. She was pleased to see that strawberries were among them. Ever since she was little strawberries had always been her favorite fruit. She felt well enough to rise and did so, picking several strawberries to eat first. Joselle entered to check on her.

"Now Missie, are you feeling better?"

"A little, my head still feels sore."

"There's a good lassie, eat up. Today's the day we moves ya to your new quarters, ta be sure.

"Oh yes, of course, is there any way I'd be able to speak to his majesty today?"

"No one's to say for sure and certain. He's always been one to keep to himsel' he 'as."

"That sounds like the Jareth I know," Sarah muttered.

"Oh so you're familiar with his majesty?" Joselle asked with delighted surprise.

"Yeah, I suppose you could say that. Perhaps there's someway you could sneak up on him, or maybe surprise him?"

"Not very likely, but yer welcome ta try. I'll be long to help yer to dress later. I'm sure you'll be wantin' yer privacy."

She said and opened the doors to the royal bath. The bath itself wasn't as big as Sarah had expected, perhaps three times the size of a normal tub. A natural spring it appeared had been created in the space with smooth walls in the rotund room.

Ledges stood out as benches, and bathing crystals in an array of colors stood in fist-sized clay pots on shelves made the same way as the benches. Everything appeared natural; as though it had simply eroded to this specific design. Joselle left linens on the benches for her to try herself when she was done. In addition, a linen shift hung on a stone peg near the other items to slip into when she had dried off.

Sarah slipped into the hot water. It felt so good to bathe, her joints ached a little from the fall, at least that's how she assumed she'd hit her head. She let her mind wander and soon, she was drifting.

……..

Jareth picked up a scrying crystal and was pleased with what it showed him this time. He was able to get a full view of her from behind, just before slipping into his own royal bathing chambers. That mental image would definitely stay with him, when it was time for him to bathe. His pants suddenly felt too tight. He got up and paced, staring at the clock instead. When the hell was it going to be time for the evening meal?

An hour later, Joselle was true to her word. Sarah was glad of the help to dress. She had no idea how to even fasten the dress by herself. The soft velvet slippers that matched the dress were a marvelous change on her feet. Joselle was leading her out of the room, lending an arm for support. When next she looked up, Jareth stood in the doorway, tall and imposing.