Chapter 10 – Forever, Not Long At All
Toby sat on his bed, playing with the crystal Jareth had given him. It was a strange evening, to be sure. His parents were not dealing with all the revelations too well. His mom went to bed with a headache after dinner and his dad was still sitting in his study, a drink in one hand and a picture of Sarah in the other. Toby was worried about their sanity but he had to trust that Jareth knew what he was doing. He twisted the crystal, turning it around in his hand and an image appeared with in it. Toby stared as he watched Sarah and Jareth going over some very official looking documents. "What is all that about?" He called on his goblins. "Treeg, why would the king and my sister have to sign documents. Has this something to do with the marriage?"
Even though Treeg was smarter than most goblins, she was not a very good resources for court protocol. "I not know why Kingy and pretty Lady write on papers. Happens a lot in kingy's study." With that she disappeared back under the bed and left the puzzled young man to figure things out for himself. Now Toby had to decide if it was important enough to involve himself in this event or if it was none of his concern. But the image in the crystal was not random. The images never were and so Toby took it upon himself to have his goblins bring him to the castle.
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Jareth watched as Sarah read, initialed and signed the marriage contract, which was required whenever a monarch married. He had his one hand on the small of her back, rubbing it gently in small subtle circles. His chin was nearly resting on her shoulder, his breath softly blowing little loose tendrils of her hair against her cheek and neck. He moved his eyes from the pages onto her face. He noticed the sweet bow of her lips, perhaps the only feature on her face to rival her eyes as his favorite. His gaze moved to her straight nose and finally it came to rest on her lashes that were obscuring his view of the jade colored orbs, so cruel and intelligent. His sigh broke the silence and Sarah turned to look at him.
"Jareth? Is something the matter?" Her eyes shone with the love she felt for him and he moved swiftly to claim her mouth in a passionate kiss. Sarah dropped the quill she had been using, turning her body around as she snaked her arms around his neck. She could already feel the growing evidence of his desire pressing insistently against her hip, his hands working to unhook the bra she was wearing so his hands could fondle her breasts. Breaking away breathlessly from his lips, she panted. "Um, wow, still hungry for more, Jareth, even after lunch, which we didn't eat so you could have me on the banquet table?" She laughed in a husky voice. "Where should we do it now?" She whispered into his ear as her tongue darted out over the shell.
Jareth pushed the documents off the desk and moved Sarah onto the cleared off surface as he pushed her shirt up with one hand and reached into her jeans with the other. "I'm thinking right here works marvelously well, my sexy queen." He moved his lips to her ear and growled, "I have need of your tight snatch, Sarah. Let me thrust my cock into you until you scream out my name." He sunk his teeth into her neck, knowing it would leave an obvious mark, which would vex Sarah, as it would be visible when she wore her wedding gown. Truthfully, he didn't care if she got angry; it was so much fun to cool her anger down and then they would make up with more sex. Jareth chuckled when she started to work the lacings of his leather trousers. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. With all the sex they were having, it was good they were being wed this evening, she might already be with child and if not, soon would be.
Sarah was helping Jareth in removing her jeans when there was the sound of goblins shrieking and a voice gasping. "Do you two do anything else? Yuck! Ugh! Just cover up it up, Jareth. I think I'm scarred for life!" Toby bolted out of the room but sadly not nearly fast enough. He'd seen his sister's bare breasts and how they were in the process of removing her pants. And Jareth was standing there, his impressively large manhood standing out from his body. Definitely not something Toby had ever wanted to see! He was now sitting on the floor outside Jareth's study, feeling slightly sick to his stomach. 'I need some bleach for my eyes' he thought with great despair. 'Talk about things you can't unsee.'!
Just a few minutes later, after pulling his trousers all the way back on, Jareth stepped out of the study door and crouched down next to the traumatized young man. "Toby, I don't know what I can say to make this better for you. I'm sorry you had to witness that. It was not my intention and I had no reason to believe you would have your goblins translocate you here. I did have the door locked." He felt for the lad; it's not something you want to see, ideally. Sarah was his sister and just seeing her naked was a traumatic but seeing them in the throes of passionate sex, well, that must be devastating. "Toby, what brings you here?" Jareth was desperate to distract him from what he saw and change the subject.
Toby looked up from the ground, his face pale. "I saw you two in the crystal you gave me. I saw all that paperwork and I thought it must be important or else the Labyrinth wouldn't have shown it to me. That's why I came here. Is this something I need to know about?" He looked insecure and uncertain.
Jareth sighed. "So, the labyrinth involved itself in the wedding by having you see us sign the marriage contract." He casually joined Toby on the floor, folding his long legs under him. "The contract is required whenever a monarch marries. It sets forth the line of succession and secures the future for any progeny. This is especially important as I named you my heir. If Sarah were to present me with a son, without the contract stating otherwise, you would not inherit." Jareth saw the look in Toby's eyes and patted his arm just before he rose to his feet again. "Sarah and I just signed the contract. YOU are my heir, my Crown Prince. If we have any children, they will be second and so forth in line for the Goblin throne. Sarah was most insistent even though blood generally overrules everything." He brushed his bum off and helped the lad up. "Now, I believe your sister is decent and presentable and needs to dress for the ceremony. Come, let us go to my chambers where we can dress as well." He knocked on the study door before he shouted "all clear" and he and his prince walked to his bedchambers.
Sarah groaned as she opened the door and peered out into the corridor. The coast was literally clear and Sarah crept down towards the Queen's chambers. All she needed was a bath and to get dressed in her gown. In just a few short hours, she would be Jareth's wife and it was all she had wanted since she has run the labyrinth. She had to resist the childish urge to skip down the corridor. She laughed, wondering if Jareth might be watching her and what he'd think if he saw her skipping. Just as she was about to reach the Queen's chambers, Ambrós appeared to her right, bowing. "Ambrós, I thought I had convinced you to stop bowing to me. It feels so wrong to me." She watched as he straightened up, his face twisted into a displeased scowl.
"My queen, I wish I could comply with your persistent requests but court protocol requires it. And the king might bog me if he believed I was not being completely respectful to his beloved." He sighed and bowed again.
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Fine." Her voice dropped with sarcastic disdain. "What do you need?"
Ambrós relaxed noticeably and smiled. "Your lady-in-waiting is here and waiting to help prepare you for the ceremony." He smiled proudly, as he himself had selected this half Fae, half mortal woman from the High court. Her names is Lady Branwyne and she is most honored to be select to serve on the personal staff of the Goblin queen. If you do not like her, I can find someone else."
Sarah was already shaking her head. "No, I'm sure I won't dislike her…" and she stopped, her jealousy flaring to life. "Is she very beautiful?" She started to nibble on her bottom lip, feeling very insecure and unattractive.
Ambrós gasped. He understood that his queen was worried that the king might stray from the marriage bed. Ambrós knew this was quite impossible but he knew he needed to reassure her. "My queen, Branwyne is a lovely lady, but you need not fear. She is married as all ladies-in-waiting are. Her mate is a captain of the guard at the palace of Avalon. She is here for you, not for mis Majesty.
Sarah breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Very good. I'll be seeing you at the ceremony, yes?"
Ambrós grinned and nodded. "To be sure, your highness." He backed away and disappeared down the corridor.
Well, there was little point in delaying meeting this new lady, besides it was seriously cutting into the time she had to get bathed and dressed. She turned the handle down and pushed the door open, spying the petite blonde standing by the armoire, brushing her gown with a clothes brush. At hearing the door open, she turned and immediately curtsied to Sarah. Sarah groaned in frustration. "Please just get up or rise or whatever it is you do."
Branwyne rose to her full height of five foot five and looked directly at her future queen. "Majesty, I'm am Branwyne, your lady-in-waiting. I hope to be of service to you but should you find fault with me, please dismiss me at once." Her cheeks flushed a bit pink at the statement and she stepped forward to assist her queen.
Sarah huffed a rough sounding, drawn out sigh. "Branwyne, do you have a nickname or pet name? I will trip over yours if I have to call you Branwyne every time I need to get your attention." She smiled and placed a hand on her arm.
Branwyne squirmed a bit and finally replied. "My mate calls me Winnie; would that be acceptable, my queen?
"Oh good grief. Look, Winnie, I think we will get along much better if you call me Sarah when we are alone. All this Majesty, highness and my queen is wearing on my nerves. Please, try to relax. I'm just a human woman, no magic, okay? It will really make me happy." She smiled again, and this time placed her hands over Winnie's.
"Yes, my, um, I mean Sarah." She blushed and smiled shyly, clearly not completely comfortable with the arrangement.
"Great. Help me get bathed and dressed. I don't want to keep His Nibs waiting too long." Sarah threw her head back and laughed loudly at the puzzled look on Branwyne's face. It was going to be fun, corrupting this new person in her life.
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Jareth and Toby were standing close together in front of the garden arboretum. Just off to the right of the flower and vine covered archway stood the Wise man. He would be officiating the ceremony. Jareth looked exceptionally gorgeous in a cream and gold colored jacket over a white, ruffled linen shirt and golden colored leather trousers tucked into gold toned knee boots. His usually wide and fluffy hair was tied back in a ponytail. He looked every inch the monarch he was in spite of looking slightly peaked and nervous. Toby was dressed in a black jacket with white crystals on the shoulders and labels, a crisp, plain fronted white shirt and black trousers tucked into black knee boots. He was smiling like he had just won the lottery, knowing that his treasured sister and his beloved monarch would be joined together in matrimony, forever.
"Jareth, are you alright?" Toby gave him a look of genuine concern, placing his hand on Jareth's arm.
Jareth straightened his back and relied upon the years of court training to rein his tumultuous emotions back under his control. "And why should I not be alright? I am marrying my Sarah; all is right with the Goblin kingdom."
And at precisely the appointed time, Sarah came down the garden path, her satin slippered feet stepping softly over the cobblestones of the path. She was a vision, gliding towards the men waiting at the arboretum: her hair was a riot of curls, held back from her face with two silver and jewel-encrusted combs, the silver-white satin gown glowed pale lavender in the light of the setting sun, the gems glistening as they caught the fading light. She wore no jewelry and only a bit of red lipstick was all the makeup she had chosen to wear. She beamed at Jareth and Toby.
The wise man cleared his throat as the bridal pair joined hands and smiled, staring deeply into each other's eyes. "Will you, Jareth, King of the Goblins, take this, um, young woman to be your wife?"
"I will."
"And will you, Sarah, takes our king to be your husband?
"I will"
"Then by the power of the Gods and Goddesses and the Labyrinth I pronounce that they are, um,…." the wise man began to softly snore as he had fallen sound asleep. Jareth finished the proclamation.
"I pronounce that we are husband and wife, from this day until the end of days. I may now kiss the bride." He laughed as he pulled Sarah into his arms and gave her a kiss that made her heart race and the wanton blush came to her cheeks.
Toby stood a little to the side of the happy couple, tears glistening in his eyes. He was supremely happy to have been witness to the ceremony. In a few days would be the coronation of the new goblin queen and all his wishes and dreams would finally have come true. "Long live the King of the Goblins and his Queen!"
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A/N: well, that leaves just the epilogue and this little tale will be done. I'm a little sad but all things do have to come to an end.
