Unfulfilled Desires

Chapter 10

A/N: I know several of you are hating Sarah, hahaha. She's a bitch- I know, but we'll see what happens in the coming chapters. Some new characters are coming, let me know what you think about them. =] Thanks for your continued support and feedback everyone. Call out to my new readers/reviewers, TarahW, Honoria Granger and Kaytori. Thanks! Oh and I'm still stepping up with more improvements! Thanks for pushing me to try harder!

Slivers of sunlight poured into the room, causing Sarah to grumble and fuss, her body aching as she rolled over to hide from the sudden assault to her eyeballs. "Jareth?" she mumbled, opening her eyes fully to look around. She was in her room. When did that happen? She must have passed out shortly after Jareth had in the ballroom. Nurses must have brought them both back to their rooms. The room looked a lot different than the last time she'd been in it. Sarah couldn't put her finger on it though, something was different. Wiggling her toes beneath the covers she took note that the sheets were silkier than she remembered, a quick check revealed they were completely different, a hue of dark purple surrounding her instead of the soft creams and browns of her first arrival. Was that it? She frowned, her brow creasing as she became more curious about what felt different. She sighed and sunk into her pillows, silently surveying what hurt and what didn't. Her head was aching something awful, a sharp pounding that remained right between her eyes. Her arms were bandaged with white cloth, small lines of blood seeping through, and she felt a small stinging sensation beneath the bandages. She must have been more cut up from the glass than she thought. Her muscles were achy and her chest was sore, but otherwise she felt fine to get up. Immediately her thoughts fell on Kaleb and his injury. The pain she was sure she saw in his eyes when he fell to the ballroom floor made her chest tighten. He had been hurt protecting her, and trying to do his duty to his King. Surely he would be fine, Jareth hadn't seemed to fearful the night before when she had asked about his dear friend. She would have to merely trust in Jareth's judgment and try not to fret over it too much.

Her feet slid out of the covers and onto the plush carpet beneath the bed, long fibers sliding between her toes and making her smile. A pang of loneliness shot through her as she thought about Jareth. Was he feeling any better? Or was he lying somewhere alone in pain? "I wonder if he's thinking about me…" Sarah whispered, her green eyes twinkling with curiosity. With a mischievous grin she tip-toed from her room and across the hall to Jareth's room. She knocked on his door, but heard nothing so she resorted to just entering the room. It was silent. Her eyes scanned the lush bedroom, taking note of the roaring fireplace, made of shining stone, and the dark wooded furniture. His bed was large, covered in thick blankets and soft pillows, a warm color combination of deep red and brown. His carpeting was even more comfortable than her own, and as she slid her feet through the fibers she let her eyes fall onto his form. He was lying in the center of his bed, his breathing quiet, and his face peaceful. He looked like a young boy while he slept. There were no worries creasing his brow, or anger narrowing his eyes, just smooth curves and a gentle smile resting on his lips.

Sarah stopped next to the bed and slowly lowered herself to it, sliding beneath the covers to sneak closer to him. Without a word his arms wrapped around her and held her tightly to his chest, which Sarah just noticed was bare, and extremely warm. "Jareth?" Sarah questioned in a whisper, her lips pressing softly against his chest. He responded with a content sigh. With her head pressed to his chest she listened to the sound of his heart, willing her heart to beat with his own. There were things that still scared Sarah about Jareth and about the Underground. If she could only sink into him, and learn to understand the world as he did. Perhaps then she could feel at ease in his home. She loved him, that much she knew, that much she couldn't deny any longer. But she also couldn't deny the life she left above.

They both lay comfortably in each other's arms for a while, occasionally snuggling into one another's embrace or caressing each other. They didn't speak, they had no need to. Everything was fine, and they were both safe for the time being. All they had to do was take comfort from each other and relax in the peace they had found. Eventually Jareth did open his eyes and sit up in bed, pulling Sarah with him, but keeping his arm carefully around her.

She was only mildly aware that he was reviewing her injuries, mostly because she was still stuck in her own mind. Jareth grabbed her arm and began to slowly unwind the bandages, "Jareth…" Sarah murmured, the slightest edge of irritation creeping into her voice.

"Allow me this Sarah- before you get upset or angry…" Jareth said softly, obviously not in the mood for any of her attitude. Sarah opened her lips but closed them a moment later, settling Jareth with a glare. Her emerald eyes were narrowed and wavering as small splinters of pain shot up her arm. Jareth finished unwrapping the bandage and made a small curse under his breath, shaking his head at her arm. "I'm sure the other is no better…" he grumbled. His voice made Sarah tense, something he didn't miss as he quickly dropped her arm. "I thought we had stepped past this Sarah- you've nothing to fear from me…" His voice dropped to a soft tone, the sound wrapping around Sarah like a warm blanket, comforting and welcoming.

"Jareth-" Sarah started, unable to keep her thoughts to herself anymore, "What about my family? You said it wasn't safe for me to go home…but what about them? Surely Taliv knows about them! What if he hurts them? Hurts Toby?! Or Karen!? Or even my father? Maybe he's given up and I can go home and be with them…" Sarah said in a rush of words.

"Sarah…" Jareth whispered, his eyes giving his emotions away for a single second. She saw pain, despair, utter disbelief and betrayal. But then it was gone and a cool mask settled over his face instead. "Sarah you cannot go home…I do not trust your safety above…"

"But Jareth! My family! What about their safety?!" Sarah argued.

"I cannot allow you passage to the aboveground Sarah, I just cannot…I will assure you they will remain safe…but you are to remain here…" Jareth wasn't budging in the argument. Sarah would have to be happy with what she was getting. Obviously Sarah had expected things to go her way and she pushed away from Jareth, hissing at the stinging sensation in her arm. In a whirl of dark hair, pale skin, and fabric she was storming across the room. "Sarah!" Jareth called out, his voice strained.

"You're just selfish Jareth!" Sarah cried out before opening his bedroom door and slamming it shut as she entered the hallway. Her chest felt tight again, her emotions getting the best of her as she stumbled back to her own room to be alone. "How can he keep me here!" She growled to herself. "I'm not his…I'm not even part of his world! He might as well be kidnapping me himself!" She continued to rant around her room as she grabbed clothes to take with her to the bathroom. Her attire consisted of undergarments, a dark blue gown, which had a fitting bodice and long sleeves which connected to a sweeping neckline. A golden trim embroidered with sweeping Celtic knots adorned the edges of the gown. She added a pair of flats to the outfit and set them beside the tub.

She stared at the tub with an irritated glint in her eye, "How do they fill these things?" She waved her hand over the large stone bowl and then pouted. Sarah turned away and began to pace into the bedroom, but it was only moments later that the smell of peaches reached her senses. "Huh?" She rushed back to the bathroom to see the tub filled with steaming water. "This place…" she grumbled, slipping out of her bedclothes and dipping her foot into the water. The water was the perfect temperature, slipping around her foot and then her leg, followed by her entire body as she sunk into the depths of the tub. She could sit in it with nothing but her head above the water, but she paused before sinking her arms in. Sarah needed to remove the other bandages so the water didn't make it cling to her skin. Slowly she unwrapped the cloth and tossed it aside, glaring at the cuts along her skin. She knew it was going to hurt, and she really didn't want to do it, but in one swift movement she pushed both of her arms into the water and cried out softly. The water seeped into the wounds and it stung horribly, but she knew they needed to remain clean.

It took her awhile to eventually drag herself from the water, her muscles finally relaxing and the pain in her arms diminishing. But Sarah knew she would do nothing but turn herself into a prune if she remained in the water for much longer. The air of the room caused her to shiver and Sarah quickly reached for a towel. Luckily there was an oversized rack of towels sitting feet from the bathtub. Her hand grabbed one of the plush lengths and pulled it quickly around herself, sighing in the sudden warmth she found. Her mind drifted silently to Jareth, wondering what he was doing in his room. Were his lips pulled into a tight line of aggravation? Or were his eyes drooped with despair at her sudden departure? Her movements became instinctual as she dried off and got dressed, her mind not focusing on anything but how she left Jareth in his bed. They had been so close, so comfortable, and then she had ruined it.

She seemed to do that a lot; ruin things. Jareth was trying to give her everything she ever wanted. He wanted nothing but her happiness and her safety, but time after time she shoved it all in his face. Above all else, she called him selfish. Sarah frowned as she walked into her bedroom, her dress comfortable and warm around her. The fabric clung to her body and she imagined it was Jareth who clung to her skin instead, that it was his embrace that kept her warm, not the fabric against her. Sarah's chest and cheeks flared red and she shook her head. "Perhaps…I'm the selfish one…" She whispered.

With a sigh of defeat she left her bedroom to search for breakfast. She needed something in her stomach before she started any deep thoughts about her future with Jareth and the Underground. The hallways of the Goblin castle were cold, so much so that Sarah found herself wrapping her arms around herself to keep warm. She should have grabbed a few extra layers, but she hadn't realized that the Underground had such swift changes in temperature. It was only the night before that they celebrated the incoming winter season, but already it was stone cold within the walls. The bitter edge to the air only made Sarah walk faster down the halls, eyes barely skimming the pictures and tapestries that hung on the walls. If she paused to look she would see years of family history and art work, things that Jareth held very dear. His family was important to him, but Sarah did not know he even had one.

Her feet came to a sudden stop as she attempted not to run over the two fae that paused in their jovial conversation to look at her. They had seen her before she saw them, and it took Sarah a minute to take in their appearances. A man and a woman stood regally before her. The woman had light blonde hair, pulling back into a braid at her back, her eyes a sparkling blue color that held years of secrets behind them. She wore a dress similar to Sarah's, except hers was grey, a black shrug wrapped around her shoulders to keep away the cold. The woman was thin; something she noticed was popular among the fae, which she without a doubt was. The man at her side was several inches taller than his partner, with dark eyes and equally as dark hair. It was long and pulled back with a clip at the nape of his neck. He wore a pair of black slacks that hugged his legs, shiny boots, a white billowy linen shirt, and a black leather vest. A necklace with a crest hung between the folds of his shirt and his arm was gently resting on the woman's back.

"Sarah Williams I presume?" asked the woman, her voice friendly and her eyes lit up with interest. Her brows were raised as she awaited an answer. "Oh how rude of me….I am Natalia, and this is my husband Koja…" She gave a small curtsey and Koja bowed to Sarah, who stood in surprise.

It took her body a moment to register the past few seconds, but once it had she curtsied as well and cleared her throat lightly, "Oh…oh I'm Sarah, yes…" She was speechless. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to nearly run you over.."

Natalia looked amused, but shook her head in dismissal, "Do not fret, we know you are not from the Underground and we will not hold your…manners against you," her tone was teasing, but Sarah felt bad nonetheless. All of the fae spoke so regally, she really didn't know how to respond to them when she was confronted alone. "Come Sarah, to the dining hall to eat breakfast with Koja and I…"Natalia reached out her hand and took Sarah's, pulling the young woman along down the hall. Koja looked amused, and followed along leisurely, keeping a careful eye on the two women.

Before they had even arrived at the dining hall, Sarah could smell the aroma's coming from within. Natalia opened the doors wide and inside sat a feast to be devoured. Which was odd to Sarah. She turned to questioned Natalia but the she tsked and shook her head, "It is yet another celebration feast, Sarah. One to finish what was interrupted last night, as well as to celebrate the health of our King and Champion." Sarah nodded and moved in to further look around. Banquet tables were set up amongst the large dining hall, with food covering them. Dark blue table linens decorated the tables, as well as the dining tables, with frosted flowers as centerpieces. What Sarah assumed was fake snow was sprinkled about the tables as well giving a very wintery mood to the décor. Soft music was filtering through the room from the corner, where a few fae stood playing instruments she had never seen before. Many of the guests from the night before were littered amongst the room, eating, quietly chatting and enjoying the entertainment. They were not in the sweeping gowns from the previous night though, but more comfortable attire as Natalia and Sarah wore.

"Why do you celebrate…the winter? It's cold and dead…the beauty of everything is gone…" Sarah questioned her companions with a frown.

Natalia laughed softly and Koja spoke, "Ahh, but it is but the opposite, dear girl. The winter does destroy most of our summer growth, but in it's death blooms winter berries and the peaceful silence of the cold. A blanket of snow covers the land, undisturbed and pure. The land sleeps, and prepares itself for the beauty that will grow in the Spring…" When Koja finishing speaking, Sarah looked sheepishly down at her shoes. Her cheeks were red with embarrassment and she could feel their eyes waiting for her response. "You will come to see, Sarah…" Koja encouraged. "Ladies- go feast…" He gave Natalia a gentle shove, who then grabbed Sarah and pulled her into the festivities.

Sarah ended up having a plate of fruit, with several small bite sized pastries she had no name for. Sitting down at one of the long dining tables, Sarah turned her attention back to the 'fake' snow on the table. She lifted a finger to pick one up and realized it was real snow, the moment it touched her skin it melted without getting the table wet. "Natalia…what is this?" Sarah was in awe at the magic of it all.

"A simple trick that the decorator's like to do. I have seen them do the same with rain droplets in the spring celebrations…Though they have not done so in many years...Magic, Sarah…" Natalia giggled softly, her blue eyes portraying her amusement. "I do forget how fun human's are…I must ask my brother if I can stay longer…"

Sarah was taking of bite of a peach when she stopped, looking at Natalia with caution filled eyes. Her brow was creased as she lowered the peach back to her plate and parted her lips to speak, "Your brother?" her voice shook as she spoke.

"Well the King of course...Jareth?" She said softly. "Did he not tell you of his family yet?" Natalia looked like she was about to pout, but shook her head and smiled, "Jareth has two sisters, and one brother. Our parents are the High King and Queen of the land…I don't live in the Goblin Kingdom, I live with Koja, or should I say Prince Koja in his families kingdom…They live to the east of the Labyrinth…The Kingdom of Crè…"

Sarah must have looked as confused as she felt, because Koja showed up then and laughed heartily at her, "It means Earth…My families kingdom revolves around nature and all it gives…"

"That explains why you like winter so much…"Sarah grumbled. The two just laughed at her again and Sarah could help but smile and slump in her seat a little bit.