Oh God Not Again

By: Tal J. Smith

I do not own the Labyrinth, or any other Jim Henson character creation.

Thank youSerena24 for helping me beta!

Chapter 7

Jareth angrily hurtled the ink bottle against the wall with a growl of frustration and leaped out the window into the sunset.

¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤

'What is the point of being a king if you can't have what you want?' Jareth thought angrily as he circled over the kingdom, basking his wings in the red and orange heat of the sky. 'Would Sarah have agreed to his proposal back then if I was simply a fae she met while in the Labyrinth? This is the first time I've resented sacrificing my wants and needs for the good of the kingdom, and possibly to keep Sarah from harm. But I want her. I want every part of her.'

Pursuing a purely sexual relationship with her now would be dangerous he knew, especially while under the marriage edict. The fae high council would have a field day if he took on a lover now. Would Sarah agree to be just a lover? The council could send others to assassinate her if he wasn't there to protect her. She'd be completely vulnerable.

'No, I would not….could not do that to Sarah. I would ..….gah!' A person could go insane trying to deny their attraction. He wanted nothing more then to take Sarah deep and slow, showing her the joys of a fae king's magic touch. 'I should have done that in the tunnels and not given her a choice. Why had I made that offer anyway…even to a spoiled, beautiful, brave, and valiant human? She'd had no idea what she was doing when she refused him. Should he have told her Toby was already safe, that he was not part of the offer?'

To add to things, we can mention the fact of her little "wishing" gift…the council would fillet him if they knew about it. Thankfully it hadn't manifested itself much to Sarah or she'd have confronted him long ago. He tried to clear his head of his raging emotions.

His thoughts kept spiraling further, 'Damn, I need to get her out of my mind! Why can't I stop thinking about this one girl? One who turned me down no less? Why can't I get over her and move on? My kingdom is at stake! There are more important things I should be concerned about, but this will not leave my conscience.'

Since the edict, there were plenty of beautiful fae ladies vying for his attention, and with his status, more than a few of them would become his lover if he so desired to scratch that itch. But he would not do that to Sarah, to have her watch as he entered his room with another woman…no, that would not do. That would not do at all.

He flew back to the castle and found himself in his chambers very much needing a cold shower.

¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤

As Sarah was about the exit the shower, she swore she heard water running in the next room. She tried to suppress a blush and her body's reaction to the thought of Jareth wet and naked. What did his shower look like? Was it big enough for two?

She smiled deviously at the mental image of her and the king in an erotically compromised position against a wall in a spa-like bathing area, but then had a sobering thought. What happens when he marries next year?

'If I can hear his shower going, perhaps I could hear other things as well. As much as I love this room, I'd have to get another.' She blanched at the thought of seeing another woman come from Jareth's room. She shivered.

She wrapped a towel around herself, "Well we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. At least I can enjoy his company for a little while longer."

Sarah mused at her wardrobe wondering what to wear to dinner, she was actually a bit nervous. 'I'm a grown woman, what is it about the man that makes me feel like a teenager?'

Her cheeks, shoulders, and chest had a slight sunburn on them, and she didn't want to cover her skin with some scratchy material. The young woman found a goblin roaming the halls and asked him to send for Seeta.

When Seeta arrived Sarah had not found any dresses without a collar that weren't for ballroom dancing.

"Seeta, I need something nice to wear for dinner but without a collar," Sarah pointed to her sun burnt chest, "I dunno…something off the shoulder maybe, but nothing as ritzy as all these. I just want to look nice for dinner." Sarah pointed to the ball dresses in her wardrobe. "Do you know where I can find something like that?"

Seeta scrunched her nose, looked at the other dresses, and smiled. "Wait here my Lady and I'll be right back."

Seeta returned in about 10 minutes with a soft cotton green and lavender off the shoulder gown. It had a low cut neck line, but not so low as to be imprudent or embarrassing, but enough to provide some comfort for her sunburn. Sarah touched the soft fabric and admired the swirling designs in the bodice. "This is absolutely perfect Seeta, thank you so much! Where did you find this?"

"Oh here and there. Now you must be getting ready for dinner. I'm trying one of your new recipes!" Seeta bowed and skipped out.

¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤

In the library where Jareth was brooding, a knock came on the door. He looked up to see Seeta strolling toward him. "Yer Majesty, begging yer pardon, I need a dress for Sarah."

Jareth frowned. Normally his head chef did not seek him out to procure dresses for his guests. "I see, and what is wrong with the ones she has?"

"She needs one that's soft, and don't cover her shoulders cause they are red from the sun. And she don't want one that's too….um, ristky, I think she said." Seeta looked determined.

Jareth was amused. "And she sent you to ask me did she?" He imagined Sarah's lovely blush while asking for clothing. He was disappointed she didn't come herself.

"No yer majesty, she just wondered if I knew where she could find something like it." Seeta started getting nervous.

"Well then," Jareth sighed, "We wouldn't want our guest to be uncomfortable at dinner, would we?"

Seeta visibly relaxed at the lack of angry retort. Jareth concentrated on a mental image of the soft green of Sarah's eyes and the other lavender gown he saw her wearing in the library that first night, making sure it was the softest cotton. He had the perfect idea in mind. A crystal in Seeta's hand revealed a long soft cotton gown with swirls of color.

"Oh yer highness, she'll look beautiful in this." Seeta was so excited she didn't wait for Jareth's dismissal, she just ran out the door with the pretty dress.

Jareth sat back and mused. 'It seems more and more of his subjects want to please Sarah. Soon she'll be the one running the castle.'

His thoughts came to an abrupt halt at the thought. It would be the perfect job for her. She's shown herself to be a quick study…perhaps she could be his steward: he'd never had an assistant, and he'd be able to spend more time with her. He grinned wickedly. This would keep her in close contact, and since he must sacrifice his desire of a more intimate relationship with her, he could certainly cultivate a great friendship as peers.

His inner voice mewled 'And while you get to see her everyday, do you think you'll be able to bear the sexual tension she causes without an outlet?' He shook his head determined, 'she'd be a friend, no more'

He put down the book he was reading and searched for another book on fae protocol for Sarah. He'd ask her during dinner what she thought of the idea of a chatelaine for the castle and oh, how he'd love to do less paperwork!

With several books gathered the fae king magiced himself into a dark purple jacket and skin tight cream colored breeches, which coincidentally enough would match splendidly with Sarah's gown. He looked down at himself pleased.

'Friends huh…right.' His inner voice laughed.

¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤

Sarah looked at herself in the mirror; she could not wait until dinner with a certain Goblin King. The reflection of the young woman smiling back at her had a slight pink face already starting to brown a bit, making her green eyes pop that much more. Her hair, now dry, was left down in black waves to fall over her bare shoulders. Twirling a bit and feeling the soft fabric Sarah felt like a princess, this was now her new favorite dress. She found some soft purple and grey slippers in her wardrobe to match the dress. No heels tonight. She was just set on being comfortable after yesterday's ball and today's festivities.

Even though she felt beautiful, the young woman was still apprehensive about being around the king. Now that her hormones were pretty much screaming at her to make a move….and in a normal situation she probably would have, but this was not a "normal" situation by any means.

"Well let's get this show on the road, shall we?" she turned to Seeta, "How do I look? Suitable?" Sarah spun on a heel, and did a mock bow flaring her dress over an extended leg.

"King will love it." Said Seeta, as she backed out the door, smiled, and left.

Sarah's eyebrows furrowed noting the little goblin must have known her question was more of a "What will Jareth think?", than the question that was asked.

"Yup, Seeta misses nothing, does she?" Sarah chuckled.

¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤

A very pleasant smelling and exhausted Piepah met Sarah at her door ushering her to dinner.

"Vacation was good Lady," he had a grin from ear to ear. "More soon?"

Sarah chuckled, "I'll ask the King, but I have a feeling there will be more."

"We like you Lady, we ask king to keep you." Piepah nodded to himself seeming certain it was a genius idea.

They walked a short distance from the royal wing to a dining area Sarah was not familiar with. The door opened and there was a small table with two place settings. It was very intimate looking. Sarah looked around.

"Piepah, are you sure this is where dinner is being served tonight?" Sarah looked confused. What about the rest of the staff?

Piepah turned to her, "This is where King eats." The little goblin closed the door and left hurriedly.

Sarah took the time to look around the candlelit room. It was a very small room compared to the main formal dining hall, as well as the goblins eating area. It was decorated in golds and browns with an ornate looking mahogany table with seats enough for four people. The tapestries and artwork displayed children playing and families on outings. The place settings on the table were of fine china and crystal goblets matching the glass of the chandelier and candelabra.

She pulled out a red velvet lined chair and sat down. She stared into the flame of the candle wondering what Jareth had up his sleeve. Was this a continuation of her holiday, or was something more going on? She hoped…

Jareth came into the room in a soft purple velvet jacket with silk lining and his signature cream colored tight breeches. He could see the profile of Sarah's face in the candlelight. He'd give anything to know what she was thinking at that moment. She looked completely stoic, showing no emotion but intensity as she gazed into the flame.

"You look wonderful my dear." He said softly as she jumped a bit while her eyes locked with his. He took in her dress and noted how the cut showed off her shoulders. Her hair hid some of the pinkness of her skin, but her bathing suit had left a nice white and pink tinged line in her skin which went up and around her neck.

"Thanks," She took in his attire, "I wasn't sure how formal dinner would be…maybe I should have worn something different." Sarah watched him pull out a chair next to her and sit down. She took in his lithe form and her eyes strayed from his. She knew she started blushing.

"Nonsense, your attire is more than adequate. I especially adore this color on you." He reached out and stroked her chin, her eyes darting to his. Sarah blushed and shivered involuntarily, her cheeks turning even redder than her sunburn made her.

"I had wanted this dinner to be less than formal, a more intimate occasion if you wish." Jareth waved a hand and the door opened to a row of goblins with serving dishes.

A large tray with a cheese filled lasagna was placed in the center of the table. Sarah smiled.

"I assume this is one of your newest additions to our Underground cuisine?" Jareth poured her a glass of wine with a grace she could only admire.

"It's lasagna, an Italian dish. Seeta knew it was my favorite back home. I secretly think they are making these dishes to keep me from being homesick. It's sweet of them really." Sarah was not sure if the king was waiting for something, so not knowing what protocol was to be, took the king's dish and started putting a plate together for him. It's what she would have done if she was back home eating with her family.

Jareth lifted an elegant brow at her bold move. "And are you homesick Sarah? Do you miss your aboveground life?"

Not knowing where this was going, Sarah replied tentatively, "I miss certain aspects your majesty. But I'm not unhappy here if that is what you are wondering."

She placed a good portion of lasagna on a plate in front of him before making her own. "It's Jareth please." He put a fork into the dish and lifted a bite, the cheese forming a long string form the plate to the fork. He looked frustrated. "Which aspects from home are you missing Sarah?"

She took a bite as well showing the king that you could spin the bite and wrap the cheese around the fork, or just lap it up with your lips. He did the same. She couldn't stop watching him eat. He was even graceful when eating.

She shook her head remembering he'd asked her a question. "Well I had a job, some friends, and my own apartment; but I was at my parent's place almost everyday for Toby. I guess what I miss mostly was being productive, and earning my way. Here I am just a student living rent free. I feel ….I don't know, almost like a moocher." She savored another bite. "Man this is good. Seeta made it perfect." She moaned a bit and closed her eyes savoring the warm cheesy bite.

Jareth was amused at her eating style, and again he thought her above ground dish was delicious. But watching her eat was even more entertaining. "Well precious," the king put down his fork, "I have a proposal for you. Well a request actually." He looked very serious now.

Sarah's breath hitched and she held it. "A proposal?"

Jareth mentally cursed at his choice of words. "I am in need of a castle chatelaine, someone to help with the paperwork and castle duties." Jareth took a sip of wine at Sarah's confused look. "I hadn't until you, had a subject whom had no political agenda and whom I could trust implicitly." He set down his drink. "What say you Sarah? Will you help me? You would most definitely be earning your keep. I can safety attest to the insurmountable amount of work involved in running this castle."

Sarah mused, 'Oh is that all? Well not what I expected, but still a huge responsibility.'

"Um what exactly is a chatelaine? I am unfamiliar with the term." Sarah was all business now, but showed a smile, being flattered as she thought of the complement Jareth gave her about his trust.

"Well you'd be responsible for running the estate, with the help of a steward of your choosing. From dawn to dusk you may make decisions about what food is to be served, what supplies need to be bought, what crops need to be planted and harvested, how they are to be distributed, what areas of the castle need to be cleaned, what other day to day requirements come up. If I am not in residence you would have to preside over the manor court and decide on cases brought before it. You will have to ensure there was enough food to feed everyone in the castle and that we have adequate stores in the event of a siege."

Jareth watched Sarah for her reaction. "You already know most of the staff and the castle workings at present."

"So essentially I'd be your personal assistant." Sarah said matter of factly.

The king tried not to smirk as he stated, "More or less, we'd most likely be working very closely with one another." The last words seemed to come out as a purr.

She took a large sip of her wine, and felt the warmth coat her throat giving her liquid courage, "I think that would be acceptable your majesty."

"Good, I have an office made for you adjacent to mine. You will find the books and notices you need on your desk. Please feel free to ask me questions anytime you need as you assume your new role." He gave Sarah a self satisfied grin.

Then he took a stern tone, "But Sarah, if you call me your majesty once more I will think it an insult."

"I'm sorry your….Jareth." God she couldn't say the man's name without heat in it. "What about my lessons with Toby?"

"You will now take your lessons on week-ends, I will let Cavin know to change them somewhat for your new title." He leaned back in his chair, "I have every confidence in you Sarah, this would be an immense help to me."

Sarah shook her head. "But why?"

"Why what precious?" He inclined his head.

"I mean, why me, why have a chatelaine now? Why haven't you obtained one in the past?" Sarah silently berated herself for asking so many questions. Would he be mad at her questioning his decisions?

The king stayed silent for a moment, deciding how to answer. 'If I am cross at her questioning my motives she may never come to me without fear; best not to scare her away.'

"I have observed my staff following your directions without question; you get along with them better then all other fae in my employ and are extremely intelligent. You have shown you understand the benefits of keeping the peace with other lands, and that you have the Labyrinth's best interests in mind. You had also stated you felt unproductive. This would satisfy your need to be useful, would it not?"

She leaned back in her seat taking in the unexpected praise. "Well yes I guess it would." Sarah could not help but feel slightly disappointed his proposal was not a proposition for a relationship, but she turned it over in her mind. A friendship would do nicely too.

He stared into her eyes seriously, "Good, you start tomorrow. Enjoy your vacation Sarah; once you see the amount of paperwork, I feel you may need one again soon." He let out a soft chuckle and went to stand. "Allow me to escort you to your room."

"Um, I was going to go to the little library to read again if you don't mind. It helps me to sleep and calm my mind. Maybe I'll get a head start on reading about how a castle is supposed to run." Sarah stood too.

"I had suspected as much, and I understand." Jareth opened the door and held a gloved hand to her.

She took it and looked him in the eye, "I wouldn't mind if you needed to get some reading in as well." She tried to hide her amusement and embarrassment for asking for his company, so she kept her tone light.

He stoked his chin thoughtfully, "I just may."

She smiled, "Especially if you supply more of that delicious wine."

¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤

Six weeks later Jareth was busy at his desk flipping through his latest batch of mail inviting him to dances, balls, garden parties and soirées of the kingdom's most eligible women. He'd given Sarah the duties to take care of most of his manor's paperwork. It had been pleasant for a week or two, them developing a friendly rapport and the work being divided, but lately he'd been inundated with even more paperwork and mail with this marriage edict.

There was a knock at his door; the same rhythmic knock Sarah had come to favor.

He smirked, "Come in Sarah." Jareth did not take his eyes off the papers on his desk, but he knew Sarah was in her favorite soft purple gown he had created for her, purple slippers and her hair unbound.

"I've got a problem. Remember that guy from the ball from the Sunless Plains, Bronmir? Well he is still negotiating with us about the marble. But for the life of me I can't keep the goblins from playing pranks and creating chaos for the crews transporting the marble. Look what I've done so far." Sarah laid a map on the Mahogany desk over the dozens of invitations and leaned over Jareth's shoulder.

He accidentally inhaled her scent and closed his eyes, mentally trying to keep his thoughts from imagining his face buried in the crook of her neck tasting her skin, licking his way down… 'no do not got there.' His hands made a fist where Sarah could not see.

"Look, see here." She leaned a bit further over the desk and pointed to a road leading to the Sunless Plains. "I've hired crews to re-route this road so the local goblins get confused and can't cause mischief while the marble is being delivered. Well, it worked for about a week." Jareth tried not to look, but Sarah was showing a goodly amount of cleavage, bent over the desk as she was. He held his breath and tried to focus on what she was saying and not the tightness forming in his breeches.

'Damn my body's reactions. Why does this always happen around her? I feel like an untried adolescent again!' He tried to focus on what she was saying.

"I've tried a few other ideas with this new route, some worked for a bit, like throwing parties in an adjacent hut at night while the caravan snuck by, but now the new road is littered with banana peels, bog water, firey's, and beer kegs." Jareth pursed his lips to bite back a laugh. This is what he'd dealt with for millennia, to find someone else who felt his pain was pure bliss.

She put her hand on her hips and straightened up, "You're enjoying this aren't you?"

Jareth cocked his head and blinked as if offended. "I wouldn't dream of it precious."

Sarah smiled shyly, she loved it when he called her that.

Their playful banter had gotten even more playful of late. Jareth allowed her the almost free reign of the castle. It had never run so smoothly. When he asked how she did it in such a short time, she would say, "It had just needed a woman's touch."

Afetr an hour of brainstorming they determined the only way to keep the goblins from playing pranks on the marble caravan was to make the crews from the sunless plains honorary goblins. Something Jareth had never thought of but Sarah's brilliant mind had suggested. However silly and destructive goblins may be, they tend to protect their own.

The two had just completed creating the royal ceremony of Goblinship and its medals to be given to the sunless plains crews; only after they had taken their vows to protect the goblin brotherhood and uphold their ways. The proclamation had the royal seal at the bottom supplied by the Goblin King himself.

Sarah grinned with glee when she was excited about an idea. "This is great! I think it will work like a charm." Jareth could not help but smile as well, a genuine smile. He found himself slipping more and more, showing emotions he should not be showing. She was absolutely wonderful. For the past several weeks, she had shown how lovely, intelligent, and useful she could be.

With the proclamation signed, she hastily turned to go. "Sarah wait." She spun, her dress flaring.

"Yes Jareth?" she said inquisitively.

"I wonder if you could help me solve another dilemma of mine." Jareth could not believe he was going to test her, but he needed to know the depth of her feelings. He needed to know if choosing a bride would cause her pain or if their new friendship would survive through it. His ego could also use the knowledge that she cared a bit more for him than friendship dictated. Maybe he could determine if she cared as much about him as he did her?

"Sure, what is it?" Sarah walked back to his desk and sat in front on a leather chair.

Jareth sighed, "I need to find a suitable bride. Could you help me go though these letters and choose?"

All mirth on Sarah's face disappeared, her eyebrows furrowed. She looked at the stack of mail on his desk and paled. She swallowed once before she spoke.

"I do not believe that is the duty of a chatelaine." She held her head high and her voice steady, but her eyes looked a bit glassy.

"But you have an alternate view to problems I find useful. Surely you could give advice on what attributes the Goblin Kingdom would require in prospective noble ladies to become an adequate queen." He leaned back, his gloved hands folded on the desk. His, "I must not show emotion," mask in place.

Sarah could not believe he was asking her this. She supposed she should get used to the idea of women around the castle, and him courting some foreign dignitary, because of that damn edict; but something twisted in her gut when she thought about it. "No, I'm sorry Jareth," she stood and said softly. "You'll have to handle this one yourself."

She walked to the door and without turning around, "And once you've chosen a queen, I'll be submitting my resignation. Your new queen can be your chatelaine." She silently went out and closed the oak door gently behind her. She wanted to scream, she wanted to run, she wanted to hit something. Putting the Goblinship proclamation document in her room, she sought out Cavin. He'd give her the fight she needed; her swordsmanship was getting rusty due to her new duties. But this, this sick feeling, this would require hand to hand combat.

¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤

Jareth watched her go amused. "Well my little Sarah, not so indifferent after all." He sobered and looked at the letters again with a frown. 'She'd leave me if I chose one of these. What would my castle be like without my Sarah?' He smiled thinking of her reaction to his questions; then mentally kicked himself.

'Damn….I think of her as mine whilst she is not.' He knew that was dangerous thinking, especially for a fae king.

¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤

AN: I may or may not try to slip in some smut next chappie. The story is taking a bit longer to develop to that point!