Author`s note: Hey guys! I know it's been like forever since I last updated…..sorry. Just wait….the parents will be here next chapter. But Sarah gets a little surprise….it`s so…oh you know what just read the chapter. And please remember to review. I love your reviews. And so do Jareth and Sarah. So if not for me, review for them.
Love without your heartbeat
Chapter 8
After making Rufus promise he would never steal again, Sarah left the Goblins to do some other chores around the castle. Durza had already become Sarah`s personal maid, accompanying her around the castle to make sure she didn`t get lost. Durza quickly rejoined her in the entrance hall, carrying the scroll with her, listing off the items that needed to be done that day. "Your majesty needs to approve a table setting for the Luncheon as well as the food selections." Sarah wrinkled her nose.
"A table setting?" Durza nodded.
"It is the King and Queen of the entire Underground." Sarah rubbed her forehead.
"I know. I know" She groaned. Durza awkwardly took her hand and patted it.
"It`ll be all right miss. I`m sure they`ll like you very much."
"I hope so, Durza. I hope so."
Durza and Sarah went down to the Kitchens first, to test-taste/approve the food. Sarah sighed with pleasure as she smelled fresh bread. Sarah quickly found a second home in the Kitchens – the smells reminding her of cooking with her mother when she was young. It was her favorite place in the castle, aside from Jareth`s chambers, his private library and his study. The Goblins greeted Sarah kindly, ushering her in.
"Out of my way! Move! If the future Queen is in my kitchen – I want to know about it!" A chubby female goblin stepped through the crowd. "My Queen. My name is Lena. Chef Lena, that is. If you`ll just come this way, the food is all ready for tasting." Sarah had a great time tasting all the food – it was all delicious. She was very curious about the ingredients, so the cook showed her the different herbs (Sarah had never seen any of them before) and told her about preparing the dishes. Sarah got so caught up in all the new things she was learning, she completely lost track of time. Before she knew it, it was ten o clock. Sarah jumped as she heard the clock bong through the castle.
"Oh my gosh! It`s ten o clock already! Thank you so much, Lena for sharing your cooking secrets with me." She inclined her head.
"I may have misjudged you, my Queen. You certainly know your way around a kitchen – but you have a lot to learn. We don`t cook like humans here. I`ll be happy to teach you in time. But it looks like you have to get to the King. He`s been very diligent all morning, with his paperwork and things. He even paid a visit to the orphans. I figured you might have had something to do with that. When a man acts like that, there`s always a woman behind it, I always say."
"Jareth`s been very good. I`ll be breakfasting with him in his room. Would you do me a huge favor and bring us up some of those eggs with….what was it?"
"Frost flowers, my lady."
"Yes those."
"Yes, of course my lady. Those are Jareth`s favorite, and I already had your breakfast made." Sarah smiled.
"How considerate. Thank you so much. You`re sure it`s not too much trouble?" Lena chuckled and shook her head.
"You have a lot to learn about being royal, my Queen."
Sarah left the kitchens after saying a hurried goodbye to Lena and the others. She hurried up staircase after staircase. Where was Jareth`s chambers again? Darn. She didn`t know. She had always gone through the mirror. For that matter where was her room? If she could find her room, she could almost certainly find Jareth`s chambers. In her rush to get to Jareth, she bumped smack into Durza coming down the stairs.
"My lady!" She exclaimed. "I`ve been looking for you everywhere! Didn`t I tell you to wait for me?"
Sarah shook her head. "No you didn`t." Durza smacked a hand to her forehead.
"I`m sorry my lady. I meant to. It`s just there`s so much to do. With the –wed…er….."
"What?" Durza coughed.
"Webbing. I said er – webbing. The spider-webbing. Needs to be removed. The whole place needs to be dusted." She smiled hugely at Sarah`s puzzled face. "Oh my gosh! Is that the time? Come along we`ve got to get you to Jareth before he throws a fit! Come on, this way!" She trotted off, up the rest of the stairs and down the corridor. Sarah struggled to keep up, thinking all the while that something fishy was going on. As if everyone was trying to distract her, or were all hiding something from her. Sarah smiled hugely in anticipation as they came to Jareth`s door. Durza curtsied and winked. "I`ll leave you two be." Waggling her eyebrows suggestively, she trotted off and was gone.
"Jareth?" Sarah knocked lightly on the door. "I`m using the door this time" She teased. He practically flung the door open, grabbed her around the waist and pulled her inside.
"That`s too bad. I think I prefer it when you use the mirror. So much more convenient. Especially if you wished to visit my chambers in the evening. I would hate for you to be lost in the dark." Sarah rolled her eyes and smiled.
"What is it with everyone? I have a great sense of direction." Jareth laughed.
"Whatever you say darling. Whatever you say" Sarah huffed playfully.
"I suppose you never get lost." Jareth`s eyes gleamed.
"Lost? In my own castle? Sarah, Sarah, Sarah. What kind of King would I be if I got lost in my own castle?"
"You didn`t answer the question. Have you ever gotten lost in your own castle?"
"Sarah…."
"Hmmmmm?"
"Yes. Once I lost my private library. But that was because it moves around the castle." Sarah laughed.
"And yet I am the champion of the Labyrinth." She laughed into his chest, and felt it rumble with his laughter.
"Yes that is quite remarkable." She looked up at him, smiling.
"I heard you worked hard." He gave her a mischievous smile.
"I worked very hard" Sarah narrowed her eyes playfully.
"Did you?" He nodded, his hands tightening around her waist. She walked two fingers up his chest. "Well, luckily for you, I have Lena`s word for it as well as yours." She kissed him. He responded eagerly, almost desperately. Jareth broke away first, tilting his head to look into her eyes.
"Precious, as I recall I asked you to trust me."
"Yes, well, with you around it`s hard for me to keep my wits about me." He smiled and kissed her deeply, stroking her sides and skimming lightly over her breasts.
"Jareth….." She kissed him again.
"Hmmmmmm?"
"I love you."
"All those years….of my life I wasted. When I could have been spending them with you."
"Jareth you can`t blame yourself. You didn`t know me then. It just breaks my heart to think of you all alone."
"Sarah…" He took her hands. "Time goes by differently in the Underground. The 3 weeks are almost up. That`s the real reason my parents are coming. I know this may seem rushed to you, but I am afraid I can`t wait any longer. I am dangerously possessive when it comes to you Sarah. I love you with my heart and soul. I live for you. I burn for your touch. I want you by my side as my Queen. That is why….I have a question for you Sarah." He knelt and Sarah put one hand over her mouth in surprise, as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. He opened it, and said softly "Sarah, will you marry me?" Tears streamed down Sarah`s face. "Sarah. Darling, what`s the matter?"
"I`m just so happy. Yes! Yes!" She threw her arms around his neck, kissing his cheeks, his nose, his eyelids and finally his lips. He broke out in a smile. He stroked her face.
"Sarah. I love you so much." They embraced and held each other, lost in happiness.
Unknown to the couple, they had an audience.
"Shhh."
" Ow! I can`t see.
"Stop shoving."
"Quiet all of you!" Durza scolded with her ear to the door, breakfast entirely forgotten. As she listened, a broad smile slowly spread across her face. "Sarah is the new Goblin Queen!" The Goblins cheered. Sarah was here to stay.
