Hey guys! Yes, this chapter is shorter than the rest and smut-less. However, it was necessary for the plot to move forward! Thank you my loyal readers! Please, pretty pretty please read and review! I'm not a perfect writer and it's always nice to hear your comments on the story or anything! As always:

I DO NOT OWN THESE CHARACTERS!

A Flat Refusal

Sarah felt groggy and hazy when she finally awoke. Her skin was ice cold and she had a headache from hell. When was the last time she had eaten? Two days ago. That's right. Jareth had put her under a sleeping spell and gave her dreams that almost seemed tangible. Oh, they really were wonderful. And yet, something twinged in the back of her mind. It was something he had told her in the last room. She blushed as it easily replayed in exquisite detail. But before she could continue, Jareth entered her cell with a feast on a platter.

Pork, green bean casserole, stuffed chicken, peppers, broccoli, and a small plate of fruit lay out on the silver tray that he placed at the bottom of the bed. Famished and ravenous, she leapt at it and scraped some casserole into her mouth with a piece of chicken. Oh it tasted so delicious! "This is scrumptious! Oh, I'm starved!"

"Have you learned your lesson, Sarah?" she nodded and continued to scarf the food down. Very un-ladylike for his future queen, but he couldn't care any less. "No. You will speak to me!"

Sarah only stared at him, afraid to hear her own strange and unused voice.

"Well? Are you just going to sit there dumbfounded? You are to thank me for your punishment and tell me what you must never do again."

"Th-thank you, Master. I deserved to be punished for my insolence toward your goblin. I promise to attempt to never do it again, Sir." Her voice felt dusty and small rather than her more boisterous sound.

"Good enough. Now, dear, we have some matters to discuss." He pulled a chair beside her bed and took his seat.

"May I please eat more first?"

"No. If you eat too much too quickly you'll get sick. Take a break and sip some of the wine." She did as he commanded. Was it really a command or just offering? She could never tell with his strict declarative tone.

"Okay, Highness. What is it we need to talk about?" She sat cross-legged on the bed, awaiting his answer.

"Our arrangement. You've done very well this past week, dear."

"Thank you," she sipped more wine.

"What did you find likeable?"

When she blushed, he knew it was a particular aspect of the dream she just awoke from.

"Answer me, Sarah. I am not feeling very patient today."

"I found…" she trailed off.

"Do not make me ask you again. We're the only ones here, love." He leaned forward in the wooden chair.

"I liked your dick in my ass."

"I thought as much. Now what did you detest the most?"

Sarah couldn't decide between being stuffed with fruit or denied relief. Both were taunts and made her crazy. She decided against the former and chose the latter. "Denied orgasm, Sir."

"Ah. I knew that one as well. Have you any quarrels with how I run things here?"

"Other than your unfair treatment of your own disciples, no. You are a good King. Just and powerful, albeit crazy."

"Good. So how would you like to help me rule the Goblin City? Help me reach my goblins and make them happy." Jareth twiddled his thumbs, entranced by Sarah's thinking face. She scrunched her nose and raised an eyebrow.

"I don't understand. Only royalty could control your Kingdom."

"Yes. I would like to make you royalty, Sarah."

"What would you do, crown me Princess Sarah, of the Human World Aboveground?"

"No. I'd have you sit beside me as Queen Sarah, Wife of the Goblin King, Ruler of the Goblins."

This was it. The thing that felt strange to her. He had proposed while fucking her, and she only thought it was bedroom talk. Yet, here he sat asking her to be Queen of the Goblins. It was too much! Wouldn't things change between them? She'd have to think and screw up a lot to learn how to do things right. What if all of the inhabitants of the city hate her?

"Sarah? Will you marry me?" Jareth got down on one knee beside the bed. "This is how you humans do this sort of thing, right?"

She only glanced at him before turning her head away. "No. I mean, yes it is how humans do it. But my answer is no. I will not be Queen."

"We belong together, Sarah! The universe pulled us together when you wished away your brother. Why not marry me? Am I too old for you? Too ugly? Tell me!"

"I do not want to be hated or despised. Nor do I want to be neglected. I'm not cut out to be a queen of a kingdom. I'd rather keep things just as they are."

"So you'd like all of the goblins to gossip about how I've got my willy in your seaweed? How I am having scandalous hot sex with you? Abusing you? Going to kill you?"

"Well are you?"

"Am I what?"

"Going to kill me?" she asked huskily.

"Of course not! Why would I kill the love of my life?" he had finally said it. Let her know that he loved her. He cared for her. Wanted her forever.

"You love me?" she said weakly.

He sighed and nodded. "Yes, Sarah Williams. For some unsavory reason I've fallen to my knees at your charm and beauty. Though you think I have control, you have more over me than I you. I get hot and bothered just when I say your name. When I picture you, I get rock hard. When I touch you, I feel rays of sunshine cause me to practically erupt with joy." He reached for her hand and drew circles on her palm. "I hope I am not the only who feels these things."

"No. You're not. However that whole sunshine thing was a little cliché." She laughed joyously.

"Ha! Well, there's many more where that one came from. Now, Sarah, will you become my Queen? After a week of your servitude to me, I've decided that you should rule over this land with me. I swear to you that I will be the greatest man to you. Yes, I'll punish you when you're bad, but I will never stop loving you as my father did to my mother. Had her beheaded, he did. All because he fell out of love with her, and she cheated on him with a monster in the labyrinth. I would do no such thing to you, love. I want to spend the rest of my life on this throne with you beside me, and eventually have a family with you. Little handsome fey-humans. Beautiful like you. So I ask you to please re-consider?" he laid his head on her knees and waited for some kind of movement or answer. He felt her hands gently brush his hair, her fingers tangling up in it and releasing.

"You asked me to be your slave. That is all I will be, Jareth. Though I do love you, I cannot and will not be your queen. You ask too much of me." Sarah pulled her hands away from him and watched as he stood furiously from the ground.

"If you will not accept willingly, I will force you! You, Sarah Williams, will be Queen of the Goblins by the end of week! You'll be begging on your knees for mercy! Enjoy your evening, madam. Dinner will be ready in two hours. Until then, do. Not. Move." Chains on the bed reared to life and strapped her down.

Jareth's temper blew through the roof, and if even one goblin mentioned Sarah's name, he'd strike it down in less than a second.