…I think of you each morning
And dream of you each night
I think of your arms being around me
And cannot express my delight
Never have I fallen
But I am quickly on my way
You hold a heart in your hands
That has never before been given away

-Rex A. Williams, Never Have I Fallen

Juncture

Chapter 7: Attainture

"Jareth!"

Something wrapped itself around her waist and she began to writhe even harder (if possible) before she realized what exactly it was.

A strong arm that was eventually joined by another.

The pressure of the sand that pushed against her body in all angles slowly began to fade away but her panic did not ease. When she could tell she would be able to move her head, she did so to look at her "rescuer".

Jareth regarded her with a hard stare that somehow also seemed slightly worried. Sarah could tell, however, that the concern was not by choice.

That bothered her and she fought to free herself from his grip. He let her go without hesitation, as if her very being was plagued in disease.

For a moment, Sarah feared she may fall through the perpetual darkness but found that her feet landed solidly on a hard surface. She didn't question this; she learned a long time ago that nothing was as it seemed.

With a shaky hand she gripped her chest. Her breathing was not steady in the least bit.

"Why the hell-"

"You called me." Jareth cut her off. This seemed to be a reoccurring thing, Sarah realized. Were her words not even worth his time?

"Stop interrupting me," She said, and she hoped she sounded convincing. A near death experience (whether it really was or not) didn't really give a person much time to strengthen their voice. "It's getting annoying."

His face did not twist into anything that one would consider a reaction to her demand. Jareth stared and only stared.

Quite frankly, it made her uncomfortable. Sarah didn't exactly liked to be scrutinized so heavily.

With a tight swallow, she nodded.

"Yes, I did call you."

"And why is that?" He spoke.

"Because you sent me through-" her hands made rapid movements to express the emotions she couldn't really get across. "Whatever that exactly all was!"

"You turned it into a nightmare, dear Sarah."

"I did?" She asked incredulously. How dare he accuse her of causing her own torment? He was the one with all the magic here! Not her.

"You dared your dream to be so much more," He sounded exhausted yet his eyes gleamed in excitement. Only Jareth could be so contradictory. "And that was the result. Now, why did you call me?"

"I just said-"

"That was not the correct answer." There he went cutting her off again!

"I told you to stop doing that!" Sarah snapped, thoroughly pissed off at the Goblin King. "I called you because I was scared, alright? Is that what you wanted to hear? Does that give you some sick satisfaction?"

My, my, my. The fire was growing hot.

"I haven't even been home a week and you're already causing trouble! You were supposed to stay away, Jareth. I might have made you the enemy but you make it so damn easy."

Before she could continue, before she could say that he was the type of memory that should remain locked away, she was being pulled by him.

He wrapped his arms around her once again, but this time in an embrace.

"Your sharp tongue hurts," he said, though she could tell he was smiling. "But hearing you properly say my name when you haven't in so long-"

"Let me go." Now it was her time to cut him off.

"I've watched you for six mundane years. You never said my name, never hinted at it. Not even once." Jareth ignored her and simply squeezed her tighter as he went on.

She fought against him, pressing her hands firmly against his chest.

This wasn't normal. This wasn't like him.

No, she only knew parts of him. The exact parts she made and that he lived up to per her wish. In other words, he was uncharted territory all over again and this set her on edge.

"What do you mean 'watching'?" She asked and looked up at him as his grip lessened.

All he did was look at her. How much of that had he done these past years?

It wasn't long before Sarah realized that he was fading once again and her black surroundings were closing in on her.

He had given her another piece to the answers she wanted, thus it was time to wake up.

Jareth felt her all over, both physically and mentally.

He had been angry, he acknowledged bitterly, when he sent her tumbling down into a grainy abyss. She had said it so easily that Jareth was unwanted in her presence. That he was a nightmare. In his defense, he merely gave her what she wanted. That was his thinking until her desperate plea reached him and he was consumed in guilt.

When Jareth pulled her from the sand, he had been worried. Not for her well-being (he would never allow real harm to come her way, that had been his aim for the past six years) but for his own. He responded so quickly to her that he did so without even thinking. Jareth knew he was in deep, but then again he realized that a long time ago. The mere fact still shocked him, however.

What was even worse was the way he reacted to her saying his name for the second time. She didn't need to, but she did. It was mixed in with a string of hurtful phrases, he knew, but also realized he didn't really care. Sarah hadn't dared to say his name in the amount of time they had been separated and it slightly pained him. So when she did, he couldn't help it.

Jareth had to hold her. And damn her, it was invigorating.

She pressed and molded against his body in the best ways and he barely acknowledged her struggling.

But time was running short and her wish commanded him to give her something before she awoke. And when he did, Sarah didn't skip a beat in questioning it. There was no chance to respond, though, for consciousness was calling her.

Then she was gone and Jareth was left standing alone, his arms limply returning to his sides.

How long could he keep this up? Merely visiting her in her dreams yet never truly being there in her physical presence was becoming more painful than watching from afar.

Jareth hated what he had become. Desperation painted his body in such ugly colors.

This was not him, yet when it came to Sarah it wasn't surprising. Of course the subtle drive of want would increase tenfold once she acknowledged him.

Soon enough, Sarah Williams would be a permanent resident of the Underground. That was her fate, something Jareth didn't decide but ached for.

The Labyrinth's reckoning was selfish.

AN: I completely forgot to update this on time today! It's 1 AM now on Sunday, aha. I was reading and suddenly remembered "Oh no, I haven't updated" and raced to my laptop. My bad!

Sarah finally realizes that just maybe she hasn't been as alone as she thought these past years.

In regards to Jareth's reaction to his name being said: The first time she said his name it was in desperation. The second time she didn't have to say it at all but she did. Considering Sarah hasn't announced his being at all since her departure, it's a big deal to him that she was finally able to say it so casually.

Gosh Jareth, clingy much?

Reviews are appreciated!