Sarah relaxed in a hot bubble bath, trying to relax. Finding rooms for her friends had been fun, especially since Jareth had taken every opportunity to mentally flash images of their shared bath into her mind. She lathered her hair and closed her eyes. Somehow doing this without Jareth didn't feel the same. Sighing, she toweled off and put on a nice fluffy robe, settling into her bed to read Jordana's journal.
"Today I saw Abilena and Jareth talking in the gardens. They looked serious, almost afraid. I believe they are planning something to stop me. I never wanted to kill anyone, but the deed is done. I only hope that Aberdon can forgive me someday." Sarah frowned. Who did she kill and why would Aberdon in particular be hurt by it? She continued to read.
"Finding Carman's library has given me a greater purpose. No one can understand how the Above Ground must be ruled. But I do, I must prove to them that I'm just as smart as their precious Abilena. But I cannot do it alone. Lithos, fool that he is has pledged his loyalty to me and Magda as well. She knows the darkness now, I've initiated her into Carman's fold. She willingly gave her son the herbs to transform him and now he is no more. All will be done as Carman wills it. I will wed Jareth and combine the two kingdoms. Then the darkness can overcome the world and I will prove to everyone I am the rightful Queen."
Sarah stretched, lost in the journal. She looked up, startled. She had just felt Jareth walk into his rooms to get ready. She could see him in her mind's eye but he was not pushing the thoughts to her. She just knew. Fascinated, she watched him undress for his bath. She knew she shouldn't watch him when he was unaware, but she couldn't stop the thoughts. Part of her didn't want to stop. He stretched in front of his mirror, admiring himself and she smiled. He was gorgeous and he was hers.
He went into his tub and slowly washed his chest, his hand going lower beneath the water, eyes closing, hand moving up and down in a slow motion.
"Sarah," his voice purred and for a moment she thought he knew she was there. The rhythmic strokes of his hand showed that he was merely thinking of her touch and she became hotter, watching, waiting. He was so close now, sweat glistening on his brow, his body tensing -
There was a knock on her door and Sarah jumped as if she'd been caught doing something wrong. Calming herself, she went to open it. Annie and Lydia came into the room, carrying dresses and makeup kits. Sarah laughed as Sir Didymus came into the room, fascinated by the sparkly gowns.
"Sir Didymus, how do you like your room?" Sarah asked quickly, seeming to concentrate on picking out shoes to go with her gown. Her face felt hot and she hoped no one would notice. Thankfully the little knight merely bowed deeply and then stood at attention.
"It pleases me greatly my Lady to be near to your own chamber. I will remain diligent in my quest to keep you safe."
"That is very sweet, dear knight, but I am very safe within my grandparents' castle. I'd like you to consider yourself a guest. Ludo and Hoggle too, no worries. Can you do that?"
"I will try, my Lady, but we can still watch over you at the ball, can we not?" Sarah smiled.
"Of course, Sir Didymus - I'll feel extra safe with you all there protecting me. But we have to get dressed now, so if you wouldn't mind?" Sir Didymus seemed to realize that the women needed to change clothes and sputtered embarrassed.
"Oh my! Of course I will leave you lovely maidens to your enchantments. I look forward to seeing all you shine like stars at the ball this evening." With a deep bow, he left the room and the three girls dissolved into giggles.
"So, I heard from one of the kitchen maids that Talon came into the kitchen soaking wet," Lydia said as she stepped into her glittering gold dress. Sarah rolled her eyes.
"Grandmother accidentally spilled some hot water on him," she said calmly, but her eyes gave her away. Lydia grinned but Annie seemed worried.
"Talon is crazy," Annie said grimly. "I don't want you near him."
"I'm not happy about it either, but he hasn't really done anything and I have to be pleasant to him," Sarah said as she shuddered. "Jareth said Talon had killed your cousin, Lydia?"
Lydia growled low in her throat. "Our cousin Kerilyn was a beautiful girl. Talon wanted her as his mate but was refused. One night, about a week before your grandparents' kingdom was attacked she ran off with Talon. Jerath thought she'd been kidnapped and ran after them. When he found them, Kerilyn was beaten and near death. Talon went to run away and Jareth shot him."
"Oh my god," Annie breathed. "What happened then?"
"Kerilyn's injuries were too great. She died in Jareth's arms. He disappeared then into his Labyrinth for a long time. Your mother was the only one who could talk to him, she got him to come back to us slowly. But a part of him was dead, blaming himself for the girl's death."
"But he tried to save her, it wasn't his fault," Sarah said hotly. "And why wasn't Talon dealt with then?"
"Because no one could prove she hadn't gone willingly. And after she died, her body disappeared."
"Excuse me what?" Annie asked, stunned. Lydia sighed, fingering the lace on her dress, lost in memory.
"Once we die, our spirit is released and our physical form is gone. There was nothing to prove that Talon had harmed her. In fact, if Jareth hadn't found her, most would have believed she'd run off to be with Talon."
"And why would he come to propose to me? I don't even know the man?" Sarah asked, disgusted. Lydia stared at her.
"You may not be first in line to the throne, but you are in line. Talon is a man who craves power. If he had married Kerilyn, he would have been king eventually of her father's realm. There are some who believe he did marry her before her death, but as he says she never met with him that night, we'll never know."
"Well both of you stay close to me tonight," Sarah shuddered, remembering how Talon had seemed to look through her clothes. It scared her.
"I'm sure Jareth will be even closer than we will be," Lydia replied, putting her makeup on and patting her hair. Satisfied with the results she looked over at her friends.
"Well we all look suitably beautiful. Shall we go to the great hall and await our escorts?"
The three friends smiled and put all thoughts of Talon and his plots from their minds. For the most part.
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The ball was in full swing and Sarah laughed as Jareth swirled her around the dance floor. She pretended not to notice Talon watching her closely from the edge of the room but Jareth could see she was nervous.
"I will not let him harm you, Sarah." His eyes were hard as they glared at the other man. Sarah held him tighter and kissed his chin. He looked down at her and his anger melted. "You are my heart, you know that don't you? My life would end without you," he said softly.
"I'm not going anywhere, Jareth unless it's with you," she promised, kissing him fully on the lips. Their chaste kiss quickly turned more passionate as they held each other. Other dancers laughed softly, approving of the display of love before them. Someone tapped Jareth on the shoulder.
"Mind if I cut in?" Jareth was about to object when he saw it was Tristan. He bowed to the older man and gave Sarah a quick kiss.
"I leave her in your safe hands, sire," he said, crossing the room to greet Alyssa who had just entered with Teramin at her side.
"Grandfather, thank you for this party - I mean I know it's partly for Lithos too, but it's just wonderful." Her eyes shone with glee as he swirled her expertly around the blue marble floor.
"Your grandfather still can move pretty well for an old man," he grinned. She grinned back at him.
"You sir, will never be an old man," she assured him and he laughed.
"You are a charmer, sweet Sarah - I can see how you have the Goblin King at your beck and call. Tell me, is he truly your heart's desire?"
"More than I ever thought possible. I can't explain it, but I feel him inside of my mind now. It's more than telepathy, it's - more like he's there," she said, not knowing how to explain it. He looked at her closely and sighed.
"I thought as much. Your time is coming even faster than we had thought. Even now, your eyes burn brighter. If I'm correct, you may have to choose sooner than we'd thought."
"How much sooner?" she asked, thrilled. Jareth could be hers even sooner.
"There is no way of knowing," he answered. "It really all depends on you - how do you feel?"
"Well, I saw Jareth earlier, I mean I saw him in my mind but he wasn't sending me the thoughts. That's never happened before. He didn't even know I was watching."
"Watching?" Her grandfather grinned as her face turned red.
"Um, you know - watching him before he came to escort me to the ball. Anyway, he didn't know and I don't know what it means."
"It means, sweet girl that your time is coming and you have to make certain you know what your heart truly desires. Let no one corrupt your heart, though they may try. Be diligent."
"I will, Grandfather," she promised and he swirled her around the room again and spun her back into Jareth's arms.
"Thank you for the dance, my darling girl," he said as he bowed to Alyssa and offered his hand to her.
"You're welcome darling Grandfather," Sarah laughed and relaxed into her beloved's warm embrace once again.
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Lithos danced with his beloved, staring at her as if she was not real. She smiled at him and kissed him gently.
"What is on your mind, dear one?" Lydia asked gently. He grinned sheepishly and shrugged.
"Just looking forward to being alone with you later, in my room. We have a lot of time to make up for, you realize."
She looked at him from beneath her lashes and his heart sped up with anticipation. "And what will we be doing, in your room? Sharing stories? Discussing ancient history?"
He ended her teasing by kissing her hungrily, enjoying the way she went boneless in his arms. How he could have left her, left this love - he had been such a fool.
"I will love you this night as I should have loved you each night since we met," he whispered huskily. She shivered and pulled him towards the door.
"Then you are right, we have much to make up for - we should start now," she whispered back and his eyes grew wide. Grinning like fools they made a hasty exit from the ballroom.
Aberdon and Annie watched them in amusement. He noticed a strange expression on her face. Was it regret?
"You loved him," he said, watching her eyes. She nodded.
"I did - but not the way he was meant to be loved. I couldn't love him like that," she said lightly. He tucked his hand under her chin, forcing her to look up at him.
"And why is that, little one?" His silver eyes stared into her soul and she lost herself in his gaze.
"Because that's the way I love you," she admitted, and time stood still.
