Chapter 10. Lost and found

Sarah felt the sensation of flight, and looked at the sphere that seemed to cover her. "Not again." She vowed. "I won't do this again." The sphere didn't hear her words, nor would it have cared if it could. The sphere only obeyed the King's commands. Sarah reached out a hand to touch the surface of the bubble like sphere. Only then did she take notice of how she was dressed. She had half expected to find herself in the mother of pearl sugar plum fairy confection that he'd dressed her in the last time. This dress was a far cry from that.

It was forest green silk jersey, and it clung to her womanly figure showing it off attractively. It was slightly off her shoulders, with a peek a boo opening that showed the soft curve of her full firm breasts. Beautiful golden crystals decorated the opening and shoulders as well as the long sleeves that covered her wrists. The gown was floor length, and flared out to a full skirt just below her hips. This was not the gown of a child; it was a woman's gown.

Sarah felt the sphere dissolve, and she found herself free to move. She could hear music on the air, the soft sounds of a tune that was vaguely familiar and yet not. Squaring her shoulders and holding her head up high she advanced forward to the sound. There was a pair of handsomely carved doors ahead of her, and she knew what ever awaited was beyond them. He'd had her at a disadvantage the last time. She'd been a child thrust into an adult situation, and had not been able to cope with the stares and jeers. She told herself she was no child this time.

When Sarah was within a few steps of the doors they separated and opened. Sarah prepared herself to have her senses again assaulted by the dancing figures. As she passed though the door entry she found herself in a room as far different from the Crystal Ballroom Jareth had created as the gown she now wore was from the white one. Instead of the spherical ballroom she was now in a room with ivy covered terraces. Lanterns lit the area instead of crystal chandeliers, and there was a beautiful fountain in the center instead of a cushioned pit with men and women wrangling away. She was the only person present.

The levels of the terraces were many, not unlike the Escher like room that Jareth was so fond of. Sarah descended the stairs and moved toward the fountain. This was not what she'd expected, and she was finding it hard to keep her resolve. The music filled the air, just as the night covered her with a blanket of stars. Sarah put her hands on the edge of the fountain and felt her desires to be at war with Jareth waning.

She left the fountain, moving about the level of the terrace freely. The last time she'd been transported to an enchanted room she'd been forced to play a kind of game of hide and go seek. This time there was no one else here. No whirling bodies, no lovers, no pranksters, no ladies giving her looks of distain…NO one. She looked about, feeling desperately alone, and then spotted him.

Standing at a rail, on a level above her stood the Goblin King looking down at her. Gone was the long midnight blue frock coat. Gone were the streaks of color in the pale blonde hair. Gone too was the mask. He was dressed very different from the last time. Tonight he wore a russet colored silk tunic shirt that was belted at his slim waist with a wide leather belt from which hung a sword. Black slim fitted breeches tucked into a pair of black leather knee boots that looked well worn and loved. He wore a long flowing cape of satin one shade darker than his shirt. On the collar of both the shirt and the cape there was bluish piping. His hands were covered in black kidd leather gloves that fit like a second skin.

Jareth moved away from the rail, he moved quietly toward the stairs that would lead him to her. He moved unhurriedly, with confidence and purpose. Though he didn't smile, he didn't frown either. His face showed little emotion at all. He moved closer, then stopped and looked at her with his head cocked to one side, waiting.

Sarah lowered her eyes, and curtseyed to him. "Your majesty." She said softly.

Jareth let out a long held breath, bent forward and extended a hand to her. "Sarah." He greeted her softly waiting for her to accept his hand.

Sarah looked at the leather clad fingers for a long moment before slipping her hand into his. She looked up into his eyes as she rose again.

Jareth tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. "Do you like the terrace?" He asked softly.

"It's very nice." She tried to keep her tone polite, yet not overly animated.

Jareth looked down at her as he led her to another level. "Not what you expected, Sarah?"

"No." She said curtly. "It's not. The last time you pulled this stunt, you stuck me in a room full of masked dancers. You had me dressed like the sugar plum fairy! This is a far cry from that."

"The last time you were a child on the verge of becoming a woman." Jareth reminded her. "The last time was actually more your doing than mine."

Sarah looked at him with accusing eyes. "You're telling me I dreamed up that ballroom and the lewd people?"

Jareth snickered. "No, Sarah… I did the ballroom and the subjects…well... they do come on strong at times…No I mean the gown you wore last time came from your mind, your dreams…parts of the ballroom were created by you, my dear. This," he waved his hand at the terrace and its ivy and topiaries. "This is my doing. As is the gown you wear now."

Sarah looked down at the gown and could not miss how the peek a boo hole showed a good deal more of her ample bosom than she cared. "A little discretion would have been nice." She quipped curtly.

"The gown is very discreet." He defended. "And charming," he complimented in a tender voice.

Sarah reminded herself he could be charming, but so was a cobra! "Thank you, kind sir." She said without enthusiasm.

"Sarah," He turned her to face him. "Must we always duel with one another? Could we not just enjoy each others company?" he placed a gloved hand under her chin. "I've missed you." He said in a deep low tone, filled with more longing than he'd wanted to show.

Feeling her lower lip tremble, Sarah wanted to look anywhere but in those eyes. Those wonderful mismatched eyes. "I've missed you as well." She said at last.

"Let us call a truce for now." He offered, stroking her cheek with his gloved hand.

Sarah looked up at him with a forlorn look. "How can we? You've kidnapped my brother and my students. Or had you forgotten?"

Jareth smiled slightly, his lips parted slightly, invitingly. "No." He moved closer. "I've forgotten nothing."

Sarah felt him moving closer, pulling her into his embrace. She looked away, afraid to let her eyes meet his. "There can never be a truce between us." She swallowed.

"Never?" he asked as his lips touched her temple. "Never, my Sarah?" His voice was like the buzzing of a bee. He felt her shiver, and heard the catch of her breath in her throat. Confidently he used gentle pressure to turn her face back to his. He didn't kiss her, not right away; he looked down into her beautiful green eyes, wanting to see his own reflection in them. "Such pale jewels." He commented as he gazed down. "Does your heart still beat as fast as it did?"

"Jareth." Her voice shook with emotions she had long ago buried.

"Has the moon kept your heart safe? Is it still mine?" He asked as his lips finally took hers. The kiss was soft, tender and like a butterfly's touch. He sighed deeply as he felt her lips move under his. "Oh my Sarah." He moaned softly. "You are mine you know. You have been for ten long years." His mouth became demanding, and she opened hers to him. As his tongue slid into her, his hands began to move over her with tenderness. He pulled his head back and smiled down at her. "You are mine, and mine alone sweet heart."

"No." She shook her head. "No."

"I could prove you wrong," he cautioned. "However," He sighed cuddling her. "You will soon enough see the truth for yourself." He kissed her brow. "I've no wish to war with you, Sarah. I want only to welcome you home."

"This is your home, not mine." She pulled free, backing away. "You're a charming man, Jareth. But this is not my home."

"Sarah this is more your home than you know." He told her stiffly. "You've no idea of how you've changed the shape of my kingdom…of how you've changed me."

"Oh you don't steal children any longer?" she asked with more than a hint at sarcasm.

Jareth cleared his throat, "Sarah, I never stole a child in my life." He walked past her with his hands clasped behind his back. "I told you, sweetie, I can not take what is not offered."

"You took my brother, not once but twice, and you've also this time taken my students."

Jareth took a seat on one of the rails. "Let's clarify that shall we?" He placed a long finger to his nose. "I didn't take your brother, you wished him away! And it was my Goblins who brought him to me the first time. This second time, I merely collected my missing property… and you had the decency to deliver him to one of my addresses yourself." As she began to protest he continued. "Not only did you deliver to me my missing heir, and yes, I did name him my heir…but you bring with you six other young people… I figured that was..what is it your people call it..ah yes…Interest on the loan of my heir."

Sarah shook her head. "That's the most convoluted, elaborate and crazy thing I've ever heard."

"Crazy but true." He teased. "Of course getting you here, that you did on your own."

"No I didn't." She argued. "Mr. Davis had an accident or I wouldn't be here at all."

Jareth let his eyes rake over her. "Sarah, darling… do you remember the little storybook about…The King of the Goblins and the mortal girl he'd fallen in love with?" She nodded with tight lips. "Well precious, do you recall the line about …what no one knew?"

"Yes," Sarah swallowed the lump in her throat. " The King of the Goblins had fallen in love with the girl and had given her certain powers."

"That's the one!" He winked. "Sarah, did you read anywhere in the book that the King had taken his gift back?"

"No…" she admitted softly. "I didn't."

Jareth clasped his hands in front of him. "Well that's because I never take back a good gift. You still have your…powers as it were. And your being here is a direct result of you using them without thinking."

"What are you talking about? I never …." She paused. "Oh…no….did I say…did I say it aloud? Did I …" She began to think back.

Jareth nodded. "I knew it was only a matter of time…. That someday, somehow, you were going to forget yourself and say words that would open the doors to me once again."

"You mean I caused the accident that took poor Mister Davis out?" Sarah had a look on her face that was murderous.

"Not exactly…it just opened the door of possibility. You didn't push him!" Jareth said.

Sarah turned her back on him then over her shoulder said. "You said you could not take by force! But you forced me to eat that peach!"

"Did I hold a gun to your head?" He asked snidely.

She turned to look at him, "Yes, you held an emotional gun to my head."

Shaking his head he corrected. "I persuaded you."

"You're a bastard and you can't be trusted." She spat at him.

Jareth stepped away from the rail and took her chin in his fingers. "I told you before that I'm a Fae, Sarah. Were you not listening to me?"

Shivering under his touch and gaze she tried to shield herself in bravado. "You won't find me a willing victim ever, Goblin King."

"No?" He asked slowly as his lips found hers again. His arms wound about her, and she involuntarily placed her hands on him. "No, sweetheart?" He kissed her deeply. He knew the clock would chime soon. Willing or not, she was about to become a citizen of his kingdom. He also laughed, for he was not even using an ounce of magic. Sarah Williams was about to become ensnared in the web of love, and it would hold her to him forever.

Sarah felt the desires to flee wane, she felt the need to fight off his magnetism and temptations vanish. His lips drew responses from her that no other man ever inspired. Her heart beat faster with each sweet touch of his tender lips. Sarah fell limp in his arms, as the fight left her. He held her, continuing to kiss her as she capitulated to his authority and control. The clock in the old tower at the edge of the village was just finishing chiming when Sarah regained her senses. Her eyes shot open and widened in horror. "You bastard!"

"Yes, dear." He agreed as he righted her. "As I was saying…Welcome home." Sarah seethed with anger, raised her hand only to have it captured before she could swing it. "Now, my dear," His voice took on a hard edge. "As your beloved, I can forgive you a good many sins. I will not however forgive this kind of action."

"As my what?" she growled.

"Your beloved," he tapped her cheek lightly. "It sounds better than saying your lover, less crass."

"We are not lovers!" she shouted at him.

"Not yet, true," He sighed peacefully. "But we've all the time in the world now to get there."

"You tricked me!" she snapped at him with fury. "You tricked me."

"Yes." He agreed. "And I didn't even have to use an ounce of magic to do it…In fact Sarah, I'd say you were a most willing victim…you wanted me to trick you." He crooned hooding his eyes with his eye lids. "What else do you want me to trick you into I wonder?"

Sarah balled her fists and dug the nails into her palms. "Forget it!"

"Not on your life lover." He said moving closer. "You belong to me Sarah Williams, and one day you're going to admit it. Not only to me, but to yourself."

Sarah spun on her heel and walked quickly away from him down to where the fountain stood. Reaching it she took hold of the edge and let the tears loose. Jareth took a deep breath and sighed sadly as he watched her. He had been harsh, harsher than he'd wished to be, but the results were what mattered. Sarah was now a citizen of his kingdom, his subject and his beloved. She would come to accept it. He had thought having her and the boy would bring him a sense of peace. It didn't, and that was because the woman was not happy. "I will help you to see that this is the only way…" He vowed aloud. "I will help you to see how much we need each other, my darling."

Sarah wept at the fountain, feeling like a fool. She'd lost her battle the moment he began to kiss her and she knew it. Her long felt desires and need for love had betrayed her.

Jareth approached quietly and placed supportive hands on her shoulders; turning her he took her into his arms and caressed her gently. "I'm sorry Sarah. There was no other way." He whispered. "What's done is done; let us make the best of it…for the children…my dear."

Sarah looked up at him. "The children!" she gasped. "Oh my god…you can't keep them!"

Jareth sighed again. "I can…and I will…."