Wait for the Dawn

Chapter Four


"KINGY!"

Sarah nearly fell in the shower when the raspy voice sang out in her bathroom, reverberating off of the tiled walls and sinking into her spine, where it made her tremble. She poked her head out the glass door and saw Tric, one of Jareth's dumber and more obnoxious Goblins standing on her clean bathrobe with muddy feet. "AH!" She shut the water off and nearly fell out of the tub all together trying to grasp a towel that she knew was going to be all together too short. But her robe was ruined and this little creature was going to wake up the entire house, and their cover would be blown too soon.

"Tric!" She snapped, swiping blindly at him, trying to throttle the little bastard. "Tric, Jareth isn't in here! Get out! And don't you make a peep in that hallway!" The little goblin bounced out and Sarah fumbled to wrap a towel around herself, the little white terrycloth barely covering her all the way, without and room to tie it. She'd have to hold it in place. She darted into the hall and shoved Tric into her room, where Jareth had just dressed from his own shower, and he looked down at the goblin with a disappointed expression.

"What are you doing here?"

The goblin saluted his king. "Kingy H sent me, saids you need to come back RIGHT NOW."

Jareth crossed his arms and the room suddenly grew warmer. "And why is that, Tric? What on earth could you buggers have done in ONE WEEK that would warrant my return this early?"

"Uhhhh." Tric scratched at his ear. "I aint do nothing' bad, Kingy. It was all Gallumph."

"And what exactly did he do?"

"Oh, y'know." Tric waved it off. "Just setta Pristine Field on fires and…"

Jareth picked him up and he shut up instantly, which was clearly the idea. Sarah, meanwhile, shook off her curiosity to grab at clothes, hurrying back to the bathroom to dress. "How. Bad. Is. It?"

Tric blinked, too terrified to answer, and instead, presented his master with a scroll. Jareth took it and promptly sat on the bed, glaring at the little fiend in front of him before he unrolled it and began to read. As he reached the end, his face was about three shades more red, and his free hand was clutching the bedspread, trying NOT to kill the goblin that was obviously lying about his involvement. Sarah returned and froze immediately upon seeing him.

"Is it that bad?"

Jareth rolled his gaze to her and tried not to lose his temper just because he was angry. "It's worse." He said shortly, pointing at the window. "Tric, you have about thirteen seconds before I destroy you on the spot. Go tell Father I am en route."

Tric muttered a 'yes Kingy' and hurried to scamper out the window, leaving Jareth to collapse back onto the bed with frustration. "This is exactly what I didn't need to happen." An elegant hand moved to rub at his forehead and she watched him cautiously, her hands frozen, halfway in the air where she had been rubbing at wet hair with a towel.

She slid to sit next to him and looked down at him. "You know I understand if you need to poof back for a little while."

One of his eyes popped open and he grimaced slightly. "That's beside the point." He didn't elaborate however, simply sighed and continued to rub at his brain as best as he could through his scull. Jareth didn't talk much about his duties as king. He never had, not when she had been in the Underground, not in their shared dreams, and he hadn't since he had broken the surface to keep up his end of the bargain. He had skimmed bits briefly, mostly his personal history. The basic line of the hierarchy. The High King and Queen, their children, including Jareth, who was High Prince of the Underground as well as Goblin King, which his son would inherit upon his ascension to the High Throne.

That was the extent of Sarah's knowledge of how things worked, and she realized she'd have to learn more if she were going to be Queen. She reached to run her fingers through his messy, shortened hair. Caressed his cheek slightly. "Do you like doing it?" Once again an eyes popped open to peer at her, gauging her, and she wet her lips nervously, hoping not to upset him. "I mean, you have all this responsibility but you don't seem to love it."

Jareth remained quiet for a moment and he sighed, "Not especially," He confessed. "No, I don't. I never had a choice, and if I had one I'd probably stay up here. I'd live a normal life." The idea was oddly thrilling and his gut exploded with butterflies. Sarah saw the wonder that briefly flashed in his eyes and she lay next to him, nuzzling into his neck, his happiness like a drug that was drawing her in. "I'd live a normal life with a job with you. You'd never know that wretched place."

She pressed a kiss to his jaw and smiled at him, tilting her head to speak against soft lips. "Jareth, then who's to say we can't have that?" His eyes snapped open at that and he stared at her as she stroked his skin tenderly. "If you're not happy there I certainly won't be. And you said you have brothers there, they can take over your duties and you can be here. With me."

He shook his head, his brow furrowing in pain. "Sarah, Precious, don't say such dreadful things. They cannot come to pass."

She sat up slightly. "Why not? If I can give up everything to go live in the Underground and be your Queen, you can give up everything and live in the Aboveground and be my husband."

The word shook him to the core. Husband. Married to her. A lifetime with her, even if it were so much shorter than forever. He couldn't even argue with her, for the love he felt when he heard her say it. He just leaned in and pressed a feverish kiss to her mouth, drawing her warm and pliant body closer to his. She was fresh air. She was a different sort of magic all in and of herself and she made him drunk. He broke the kiss when he felt her getting lost in it. "Sarah you must understand if I….if I were to do that…"

"Yes?"

"I'd become mortal. I'd die. If we went under, we'd live forever…"

She brushed his hair out his eyes and shook her head. "What on earth would we do for forever, Jareth? Rule people? Maybe have kids? Wouldn't your odds be better if we were both mortal?"

Gods, now she was talking about children. It was true, they were rare to a Fae couple. Things didn't always work. Not the way they so much more frequently did for human couples. The idea of Sarah swollen and lazy with a gallon of ice cream and sleazy tabloids spread around her made his heart throb oddly. He cupped her face and held her forehead tight to his. "I'd give you anything, Sarah. If you want this, I'll do this for you." He paused, searching for words. "But my love, we don't know what all will happen. I have never personally known a Fae who has fallen…"

She nodded. "We'll find out, Jareth. It'll all be all right as long as we have each other." Their eyes met and Sarah knew that he was going to do it. And all the same, she couldn't shake his gaze and the pure love in his eyes. She reached her hand to lay on his chest, felt his pounding heart and she smiled, taking one of his hands to lay over her own. "Do you feel that? How synchronized they seem?" He smiled softly, not really understanding the strange gesture, but finding it sweet nonetheless. Sarah grew solemn, and bent to kiss his mouth softly. Just a swipe of her lips. Then she kissed him a little longer. And a little longer still and suddenly she was kissing him like she hadn't ever kissed anyone. Felt connected to him, like their souls had been created at the exact same moment, but only just recognized one another.

Jareth pressed against her and rolled her onto her back, climbing to bend over her, their mouths never breaking apart for more than a second to breathe. She was his life, she was his immortality, even, and she was much more important than any title or kingdom. He knew that. And he kissed her with the intent of letting her know that as well.

But suddenly she pulled her mouth from his and used her fingers to keep them separate despite the way he whined and kissed at her fingers, enticing her further. She laughed at the sharp sensations but she needed to continue before it went any further. "Jareth, please. I need to tell you this." He sighed and gazed down at her expectantly. She smiled sweetly. "I love you, you know." His face lost it's annoyed features and grew both surprised and serious. "I do. I love you. I want to be with you all the days of a mortal existence."

She swore there were tears in his eyes, but they remained unshed. They stared at one another and Jareth sighed happily. "Then marry me. Don't make me wait months and months, marry me soon. Marry me tonight."

"Not tonight," He looked disappointed and she smiled. "I need time to get things ready. But I don't need months, just give me the week."

"Say yes," He demanded, staring at her like he expected she wouldn't. Before she could, he hurried to grab her bedside table drawer and opened it, withdrawing a small, old box which he opened to reveal his Grandmother's ring. "Say yes." He insisted, the little gold band with emeralds and diamonds shining gleefully at her.

"Yes." She murmured, and in a few quick movements the ring was nestled on her hand and Jareth had clasped her mouth in a fierce kiss, and pressed his body to hers with the intention of making her his in the most basic of ways. She didn't fight him on that, the pain of the last couple of weeks finally dulling and the prospect of a new life with him burning through her resolve. For once, finally, life was perfect.


Jareth never responded to his summons and the ones that followed it. He spent the next several days using his magical connections, while he still had them, to create his identity. Created a background and everything. Birth certificate, driver's license, history from his first license at 16, a high school diploma and a degree in music theory. Photos from his entire life that no one would ever guess had started just days ago. He even picked up a human vice, cigarettes. He had smoked plenty of magical substances in his youth so it wasn't too foreign of a thing for him.

Sarah demanded he do it outside if he were going to, and lectured him on the health risks. Jeremy was quick to befriend him so he had someone to smoke with on the porch. He even took him to the mall to buy tuxes for the up and coming nuptials. Sarah and her mother had secured dresses and they had agreed on a small little church very nearby.

So with the bulk of their tasks taken care of, Jareth had insisted they spend the last couple of days of the week enjoying themselves. They took in a play, she took him to the Rock Hall, and the Science Center. They ate street meat and Po' Boys and at night they sat in the back by the fire and gazed out onto the backyard, which overlooked an industrial parkway. At night it was silent, and still, and the sky was full of stars.

The day before the wedding, Jareth finally sent his family a scroll, detailing his plans to stay above with Sarah, and his personal recommendation for his brother in law to take over the Goblin Kingdom while he brother was too young to reign. He was finally ready, and once the scroll had been sent, Sarah and given him a hug and a kiss and left him in the room for the night so she could go sleep at her parents' house. Neither slept, that night apart. He lay in her bed surrounded by her scent and stared out the window, pining for her warmth, and she lay in bed twisting the ring with a soft little smile, thinking about the adoration that was always on his face when he set his eyes on her.

Morning crept up on them and both hopped out of bed to get ready. Linda arrived to help her daughter, as well as her trusted makeup artist/hairdresser. Sarah insisted on simplicity, she didn't want to look like Madonna on her wedding day, and with a little fuss, she got her way. They drove to the little chapel in silence, with Sarah breathing deeply past the odd sensation her nerves was pumping through her body. She had to calm down. She had to.

A few people had come, mostly her co-workers, a few friends and several cousins. Toby was in his best tux, and he seemed happier than he had in a while. Linda sat up front and Linda dabbed delicately at her eyes, having hired a photographer from People to capture the wedding (little did Sarah know). She truly was happy for her daughter, but a little publicity was always a good thing for a working actress her age.

Jareth was left to stand up at the front, cool as a cucumber and debonair as ever. The tux fit him perfectly, and wasn't too tight unlike his clothing in the Underground. It was dark and the material crisp and wrinkle free. The shirt was starched and spotless and there was just something about the way he carried himself that made him seem like royalty. The humans scattered before him, of course, would have no idea. He was just an English gentleman who had very good taste.

It seemed like an eternity standing there not looking nervous when the music finally signaled that Sarah was coming in. He lost his cool the moment the doors opened to reveal her. Her arm was hooked into Jeremy's, and her stepfather kept smiling proudly over at her as he slowly walked her down the short little aisle. Her hair was curled softly, more wavy than big and curly and her face was flawless but tastefully done, with a little mascara and pink lipstick that was close to the color of her lips. As much as his own fantasy of her for the ballroom had pleased him, he found her exceptionally stunning this way.

The dress was sleeveless in a with a sweetheart neckline and a-line skirt. It was fairly simple, the bodice was slightly pleated, and the skirt featured a bubble hem with a small train. There was a little broach on the left side of the bottom of the bodice where it met the skirt, that resembled a rose made of silver and strange stones that he had never seen before. She did not wear a veil, but her hair was swept back under a small, glittering tiara. It was a bit frightening to see how very much she seemed to resemble the Queen he had hoped she would be, and ultimately denied taking.

She reached him in a few short strides, and Jeremy kissed her forehead before placing her delicate little hand in his. He couldn't help but stare at her, for a long moment as the pastor spoke, and blinked to realization when they began reciting their vows. They were not all too different from the things said in the Underground, if not a little simpler. Nicer. He liked that they were equals in that moment, and felt that everything he said was something he could truly vow to her. As she repeated her own, he saw in her eyes that she could do the same.

The rings came, and Jareth fumbled with this a bit. It was odd for him to wear a ring, but he would do anything to promise himself to Sarah and Sarah alone. She accepted her ring with tears, and he quickly reached to brush them away. The pastor said a few things about the human God and love and such, and Jareth tried to listen out of respect, but wanted nothing more than to kiss her. Finally, he was granted that opportunity.

As they kissed, everyone stood and began clapping, and Jareth was lost in her. Now his wife, now the only care that he had in any world. He scooped her up closer and relished the small giggle against his mouth before demanding entrance, deepening the kiss so they were both lost in one another. The photographer was having a field day, and Linda had broken down into tears, hugging Jeremy who was patting Toby's shoulder. The pre-teen was smiling wistfully, and as everything carried on around them, he glanced up at the ceiling, hoping his parents were not missing this momentous occasion in their daughter's life.


"Damn!"

"Haronius, dear, there is no need for that language." Olanea was giving him that look, the narrowed eyed 'I dare you to cross me' look that had haunted him for nearly a thousand years. At present, the High Queen of the Underground was seated by a window with her favorite book, but her attention was on her husband, who was pacing the room and causing wear in her favorite rug. They were not very alike. She was calm and collected pretty much at all times, he was a bumbling mess. Sometimes she didn't know why she had chosen him for a husband.

"Don't look at me like that, Lana, what are we going to do?" He waved his hands dramatically. "Our son, our ELDEST son has abdicated the throne and thrown away his birthright! That ungrateful, cowardly…!"

"Haronius," She cut in. "Did you read his letter? He's in love. He always has been. You know we cannot interfere."

"That GIRL!" Haronius tossed himself into a chair, clenching his fists. "He could have brought her here and made her his Queen but NO…What am I going to do? What do we tell those things that he used to govern? Bartold does not wish to become their King!"

"But as his King," She responded cooly. "You are in charge of him, if you order him to take the post, he must. Eowni will take your throne when he is of age and everything will be fine."

He sighed, staring at her with envy. "How can you not be upset?"

"Because I'm happy he found love. And if he wants to live an Above life with her…"

"You mean, if he wants to die."

That clearly affected her, and she looked over at him, sucking past a sharp breath that nearly seethed between her teeth. "Haronius, I do not wish to see one of my children die. But even though I gave him life, it is his choice as to what he will do with it. I would rather him die naturally up there than be slaughtered in war down here."

Haronius realized he had no valid argument against that sentiment and he sighed. "He may not even survive the transformation."

"If he needs our help, he'll call." She assured him, smiling sweetly. "And once it's over we can visit above and sooner than later we'll have grandchildren up there and you won't even remember how angry you are today."

"I certainly hope not, Lana. I hope not."