I'm Wishing…
When Sarah woke the next morning it was to one of the goblins, either Irving or Georgia, she couldn't tell just yet, waving a letter under her nose.
"What is it?" She asked drowsily.
"Letter to Lady from King!"
"Is it important?" she asked as she yawned and sat up.
"Letters from King always important!" the little goblin told her with a look that said 'don't you know that?'.
"Alright, alright. I'll read it." She took the letter and looked closely at the goblin "Georgia?"
"Yes lady! Georgia!" Sarah smiled proudly.
"I'm glad I got it right. Is Toby up yet?" Georgia shook her head and made a shushing motion with her hands. Sarah quickly discovered that Georgia was quite endearing. "Do you like sugar?" The little goblin nodded enthusiastically so Sarah stood and read the note while she went to grab the bag of marshmallows. This first letter invited her on a tour of his kingdom, which she accepted warily.
Jareth had come to collect her and Toby an hour later and soon introduced them to Indirianna whom Sarah had at a glance assumed was Jareth's wife rather then sister and she proceeded to chew him out right then and there. Luckily Indi had intervened before Sarah embarrassed herself too badly. The girls had gotten along beautifully after that and Jareth began to realize that while the two would become fast friends he would one day wish he had not introduced the two with the frequency which they would gang up on him.
Jareth made a mental note to give Sarah a private tour of the gardens one day soon for it was with them that she appeared to be the most fascinated with. She liked the goblins of course and all of his Fae subjects that they came across were kind to her, sometimes overwhelmingly so. It was rather like high school all over again with every one whispering about the Sarah Williams although this time it was not because of her actress mother but rather her defeat of the Labyrinth that earned her the fame.
That night when Jareth returned Sarah and Toby home he brought up the matter of her split residence. After Sending Toby off to bed, for he was yawning and running into things, Sarah sat down on her couch and thought about Jareth's question. "I have work Monday though Friday normally but I do work the occasional weekend. I work from 7:30 to 6:30." Jareth eyed her carefully and with a knowing smirk he spoke.
"And where is it Precious, that you work?"
"I work at ACS, Administration for Children's Services. I help kids who are going through a rough time get through it. I've helped them find homes, friends, and I keep in touch with them all. You might say I do the same thing you do." She smirked in return. "Only, what I do is actually legal."
"How you wound me Sarah." He teased, a hand over his heart in mock indignation.
"Back to the issue at hand. How about, every other Sunday you can pick me up and I'll spend the week in the Underground. But, I have to go to work Monday through Friday unless I'm sick or you have a damn good reason for keeping me there." Sarah said. "You can pick me up after work if you want." She added seeing the smirk on his face turn into a displeased scowl.
"Are those your conditions Sarah?" She nodded. "Very well. We will start this Sunday." Sarah opened her mouth to object and Jareth raised an eyebrow. Sarah's mouth closed with a snap and she glared at the man before her.
"You tricked me."
"I did no such thing. You did not specify when, therefore I did. If I have to share what little time with you that I am allowed then I'm going to make the most of it. Unless of course you would permit my presence here during your weeks Aboveground...?" He asked
"No." She said sternly.
"Very Well, Precious. I will see you one week from today." And with that he poofed off leaving very little glitter behind, she was beginning to think that the glitter came and went with his emotions.
"And No Reordering time so Sunday gets here faster!" she called after him. When she was sure he had gone she groaned and whacked her head on the arm of the couch a few times. "Stupid, Stupid, STUPID Sarah. Why am I so stupid? Gah! He was nothing but nice and there I go making him mad." Getting up off the couch Sarah wandered back to her room where she promptly threw herself on the bed and began arguing with herself. "On the bright side you get to spend time with him. It's obvious he likes you, I mean he kissed you." Sarah's mouth curled into a grin, "And wasn't that nice?" She giggled "I even kinda wish he would-No! Nu-uh not saying it. Nope. No way."
"Wish I would do what Precious?" Jareth asked as he heard her begin the wish knowing full well how it would have ended had her brain not caught up with her mouth.
"King?" a goblin asked redrawing his attention to his slightly imbecilic subjects.
"What did you get into?" He asked as he used his riding crop to examine the goblin standing before him. The goblin was covered in a lavender, paint like substance. The goblin shrugged. Jareth sighed and waved the goblin away. "Go. Don't come back until you are your natural shade again." The goblin skittered off tripping over many a drunk goblin that was passed out on the floor. And so the week went on. Jareth went to the Metal working goblin who was working on Sarah's pendant. It was coming along nicely and now that the smith had created a rough draft Jareth could reclaim his notebook. He tore the sketch of the pendant out of the book and left it with the goblin for reference.
The week passed by agonizingly slowly for all involved parties, even the goblins were restless. "Kingy?" One goblin asked as she clutched a baby and a magenta colored teddy bear as Jareth sat sketching on his throne in a rare moment of quiet. "Does she remind you of the babe?" Jareth didn't look up from the sketch as he muttered,
"What babe?"
"The babe with the power!" another goblin called, Jareth again didn't look up but he did stop sketching as a smirk crawled across his lips.
"What power?" He replied, surprised the goblins remembered it.
"The power of voodoo!" they shouted
"Who do?"
"You do!"
"Do what?"
"Remind me of the babe!" they said before guffawing into fits of laughter. Jareth grinned, baring his sharp canines before throwing his head back and laughing with them. Unfortunately that was the last of Jareth's peace and quiet in the castle for the goblins went back to their usual raucous behavior complete with terrible singing that Jareth couldn't stop or stand. So he did the only thing he could do, he launched himself out of the nearest window and glided into his personal gardens. He could still hear the goblins but they were reduced to a dull roar instead of a deafening one.
Once Sunday came Jareth poofed himself over to Sarah's as soon as she summoned him, not that she realized that in simply saying his name she had called him to her side. The first time she did it and saw him she jumped nearly three feet in surprise.
While Jareth assured her he couldn't enter her house, or room specifically, with out permission of some kind, he did pop up nearly every time she said his name. Which she quickly learned not to do should she not want him to appear so suddenly.
Jareth swept her back to his castle before she had time to pack more then panties and a few bras. Which earned him an indignant squawk and a lovely blushing Sarah. He took her on a quick tour of the castle and then brought her back to her room.
"Jareth! I'm not staying in the Queen's chambers! It's not right!" Sarah protested, Jareth smirked at her,
"Would you rather stay in the King's chambers then?" Sarah opened hr mouth, blushed, closed it and shuffled into her new bedroom. It was lovely, the 4 poster bed was made of a rich mahogony and scrolling vines and flowers were intricately carved into the head and foot boards. The walls were painted pale lavender and trimmed with black scrollwork with a white ceiling while the silk sheets and the canopy were a candy apple red with gold tassles at the corners, the wing back chairs in the room were a dark blue velvet with mahogany legs to match the mahogany wardrobe and vanity table.
"It's beautiful…" Sarah whispered. She didn't see Clio swell with pride at a job well done behind her.
"Thank you Lady." Sarah whirled around and saw a tall, chubby goblin who came up to her shoulder.
"You did this?" Sarah breathed, her eyes wide with wonder, "It's Amazing! Absolutely stunning!"
"Sarah, this is Clio, the best maid in the kingdom. Clio, this is the Lady Sarah." Clio curtseyed as Sarah stuck her hand out to shake. As she rose Clio eyed Sarah's hand and tentatively reached for it. Sarah grasped the goblin woman's hand and shook it.
"It's nice to meet you!"
"You too, Lady Queen."
"I'm no Queen, just call me Sarah." The brunette insisted.
Clio waited on Sarah and frequently brought young Tabatha with her. When Sarah first met the child she was beyond confused, she looked human but she lived in the Labyrinth. Sarah had even thrown a book at Jareth's head the first time he'd reached for the baby. It was after she succeeded in hitting him with said book that he took her aside and told her that while many adults who spend too much time in the Labyrinth may turn into goblins, it was because adults were far more susceptible to the effects of too much magic. Children on the other hand adapted far easier and were adopted into willing families all over the Underground.
Tabatha had been one of the children wished away due to her mother being too young and unable to take care of her baby. Now why the girl had chosen to wish the baby away instead of taking her to a human adoption agency Jareth could not say. After Sarah had learned not to freak out when she saw him with a child she discovered that he was good with kids. He loved them and they loved him, watching Jareth with the kids made Sarah think about what he'd be like if they had kids. She stopped and scolded herself, they were only dating, that was all, nothing more.
Tuesday night as Sarah wandered the castle she found a little girl sobbing her pretty little eyes out. "Aw, honey, what's the matter?"
"My daddy hates me!" she wailed, and Sarah gently peeled the girl's hands away from her face. Upon close inspection she could see the girl was no more then 6 years old, if that. She had almost purple-blue eyes and long, silky, raven hair.
"What makes you think that sweetie?" Sarah asked pulling the handkerchief Sir Didymus had presented to her as a welcome back gift, and wiped the girl's face.
"He said so!" she burst into fresh tears.
"Ohh, oh, oh, oh. C'mere sweetie, lets get you calmed down and cleaned up. And you can tell me all about it." Sarah said scooping the little girl into her arms. "What's your name hun?"
"Sophi…" she sniffled as she curled into Sarah's neck.
"That's a pretty name, I'm Sarah." The goblins stared at Sarah's back as the carried Sophi from the room, they had all tried to cheer the girl up but she had just cried harder and with three sentences Their Sarah had managed to get her to stop crying quite so hard. Reaching the Queen's chambers Sarah gently plopped her bundle on the bed. "Now, you stay right here and I'll be back be for you can say hippopotamus." Sarah drew a bath and grabbed the spare bathing suit she kept for emergencies. Quickly she changed and tied her hair back in a high ponytail before going back to the girl.
Taking her by the hand Sarah led her into the expansive bathroom Sarah helped the girl undress, starting with her shoes and working their way up. Once done Sarah swung the girl into the bath. "Now, how did you get to the castle? Did your daddy wish you away, or did someone else?"
"I did it." She sniffled as the tears came back.
"You wished your self away? Well that's clever of you." The little girl looked up at Sarah, eyes shining.
"Really?" she asked in a small voice.
"Really!" Sarah said encouragingly. "Hold your breath." Sophi did as she was told, and shut her eyes when Sarah poured a cup of warm water over her head and for the first time since she met Sophi she looked up and behind the little girl was one very handsome but very transparent man and she nearly yelled, but she stopped herself for fear that she'd scare her charge. Looking back down at the girl Sarah saw that she was wasn't breathing. "Sophi? Sophi, look at me. Breathe sweetheart, breathe!" Sarah panicked, lowering herself to eye level with the girl and gripping her arms tightly. Sophi drew in a deep, gasping breath. Dizzy with relief, Sarah hugged the girl close and tight. "Oh thank God. Sophi, don't do that again ok?" Sarah felt her nod and let the little girl go.
"You said hold my breath…"
"I know I did but I didn't think you'd continue to hold it after I got your hair wet." Sarah laughed. And more to herself then to Sohpi she muttered something about having to talk to Jareth about this kid's father. Not a minute later Jareth poofed into the bathroom,
"You called, Precious?" Sarah picked up the cup she'd used to drench Sophi's dark hair and, re-filling it, threw the water playfully at Jareth.
"I most certainly did not, I simply said I would have to talk to you about something later." She told him, only partially paying attention to the little girl who was now hiding behind her. "Soph? What's the matter?" Sarah asked as she looked back over her shoulder at the whimpering little girl.
Sophi pointed at Jareth who looked at her curiously. "Are you afraid of him?" Sarah asked as she turned around so she faced the child who nodded and buried her face in Sarah's stomach. And then it hit Sarah, Sophi was afraid of men. It made sense, she was only about 6, she wouldn't have had any relationship with a man who wasn't her dad who was obviously verbally abusive.
"Sophi this is Jareth, King of the goblins and the Underground. He won't hurt you. Jareth this is Sophi, I'll fill you in later. In the mean time I think you'd best go." Jareth nodded and exited the room with very little glitter, the tell-tale sign that he was upset. Sarah finished washing Sophi and wrapped her in a towel like little red riding hood. With a quick rub down Sarah sent Sophi back into the bed room as she dried herself quickly.
Dry once more Sarah followed Sophi to the bed where a simple white night gown with ruffles along the bottom hem and around the wrists, trimmed with pink ribbon was laid out. Sarah smiled and helped the little girl into the nightgown. Sarah brushed and braided Sophi's hair and when she climbed into the big bed Sarah tucked her in. "I'll be just next door Soph, if you need me just call." When Sophi nodded Sarah walked to the door that connected her rooms to Jareth's and knocked gently. "Jareth? Can I come in?" she asked and the door opened with Jareth standing on the other side, Sarah slipped inside and found herself hugging Jareth, whom she discovered was sopping wet. She leaned back,
"Were you out in the rain or something?" she laughed, looking up and seeing his feathery hair plastered to his forehead she reached up and pushed the strands back. Suddenly she found herself stroking his hair, and suddenly she found herself wanting very much to kiss him, so kiss him she did. She kissed him with such a force that it caught him off guard and he stepped back, but then his arms snaked around her, pressing her closer. When they made it to his bed Sarah stopped and tried to back up, but Jareth wouldn't let her. "I don't know what came over me…" she said against his chest. Jareth sat down against the head board and pulled Sarah up next to him,
"We can figure that out later, first, why not tell me what happened?"
"I found her crying in the throne room, The Goblins seemed to be trying to cheer her up but weren't having much luck, I'll have to give them each a marshmallow later, it was the thought that counts. Anyway, she said her Father told her he hated her and so she wished herself here, how did she know she could do that? She's not 6 years old, that little red book isn't something she could have just picked up and read from.
"That aside, when I was bathing her there was this man behind her, just standing there scowling at her. He was her dad, I don't know how I know but I do, and I know he yelled at her and called her horrid names. He wasn't corporeal, he was sort've like a ghost. But I can understand why she wished herself away if he did half the things I think he did. She's just a baby. And since she's so young I can see why she'd be afraid of men, especially handsome ones, as she hasn't likely had any positive experiences with them. Oh, and I think she's Elvin, her ears are pointy." She explained in a whoosh of breath.
"Sarah, have you ever seen 'ghosts' like this before?" he asked patiently as he stroked her hair.
"Twice, Once at Alanna's, I saw 3 sets of parents, one little girl about 7 or 8, another girl 11 or 12 and a boy who was about 15. And then I thought I saw a girl about 14 behind Tabatha once, She wasn't well. She was also pale and dirty and Tabatha's birth mother."
"The King of the goblins had fallen in love with the girl, and he had given her certain powers. Isn't that how it goes?" Jareth asked and Sarah smiled,
"You can quote your own book, that's cute. But what does it have to do with ghosts?"
"'Certain Powers' are the key words here, Sarah. One, to have any wish granted as long as you voice it properly, and Two the ability of Post-cognition, also know to the Aboveground as retro-cognition, though I do find myself leaning towards Post-cognition as the better word."
"Wait, I really have certain powers?" She asked as she stood on the bed and began to jump in circles, Jareth smirked,
"Yes, Precious you do indeed. Do you want to know how they work or would you be content with jumping on my bed in that oh so fetching swimsuit you are wearing." Sarah stopped jumping. Placing a loose fist on a cocked hip Sarah grinned cheekily,
"You take note of my fashion Jareth? I'm flattered."
"Pert little minx." He muttered as she flopped down in front of him, She preened subtly and flashed a mildly dangerous grin,
"That was redundant… Well you asked me to come down so you could explain my certain powers, and now I am, so, do go on."
"With the ability to have your wishes granted, they have to begin with 'I wish' how they end doesn't matter unless wishing some one away in which case you already know how it goes. Post-cognition is more complicated and you shall begin training it as soon as possible. Once fully trained you will be able to look at a runner or the wished away and know what happened to lead up to the wishing."
"So Tabatha's mom was 14, a clone of her daughter, homeless and sick?"
"I can only confirm the first two, she called for the goblins, not me."
"I called for the goblins and I got you."
"Sarah, you forget, you summoned me long before you ever wished Toby away."
"You mean you were watching me?" her voice rose in indignation.
"It was a pleasure watching you act out scenes from that book. I have to admit; I was surprised to find you simply reading that first day, and not trying to wish someone away. It doesn't happen like that often. There was a time when I accompanied the goblins, but I found supervising the runners a better use of my time. Most runners will never meet another during the run now but years ago when I went with the goblins they were much more likely to find each other." Jareth stopped and looked at Sarah, tapping his lips with a gloved finger.
"Jareth, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Sarah, would you like a pet?"
"A- a pet? Why?" she looked at him in utter bewilderment,
"I know a dwarf." He said simply.
"You have completely lost me. Now what were you saying about watching me?" She asked as she reached for a velvety picture frame that stood on Jareth's nightstand. Jareth caught her wrist as he saw her reach towards the geode that sat in front of her portrait. Sarah frowned at her wrist,
"Was there a reason for that? I just wanted to see the picture frame, that's all." Jareth picked the portrait up with his free hand and slapped it into her captured hand as a surgical assistant may slap a scalpel into the surgeon's hand. He released her wrist and picked up what to her eyes was an ordinary rock. He moved off the bed and walked to the wall where he stood for a moment before returning to Sarah's side.
"So you do keep a portrait of me by your bed." She said quietly.
"For 6 years." He told her, she looked up,
"6? I thought…"
"13 perhaps?" at Sarah's silent nod he smiled. "You were 15 at the time, for me to have kept a portrait of you at 15 by my bed would be inordinately inappropriate."
"And kinda creepy. But Scooter said you-"
"I did order a portrait done of you when you left, once I stopped sulking I'm sure Scooter would tell you, I also had one done of you every 3 years following."
"Why 3?"
"A 15 year old's face hasn't changed much by the time they are 16 but from 15 to 17 the face will have changed more. And then 17 to 21 even more so, the face will likely have lost a child's roundness and will have become more defined in its shape. That portrait is 3 years old."
"Scooter said you sketch, can I see?" Jareth reached into this nightstand drawer and giving it a quick flip through to make sure there was nothing he needed to keep from her.
She giggled as he reached a leather-clad hand out to caress her ribs while she flipped through the book, mesmerized by his talent. "Jar-eth!" she laughed batting his hand away only to have the other come up and do the same to her other side.
"Ssssar-ah!" he drawled as he caught her trying to wiggle away and pinned her down.
"That tickles!" she squealed as she tried to catch and capture his hands in hers.
"Have you ever been riding before Sarah?"
"What?" She asked, a blush rising to her cheeks. "J-Jareth! I'm not sure… I'm not sure we- we know each other…" she stammered but before she could finish he stopped her mouth with a finger on her lips.
"Horse back riding, Sarah. What did you think I meant?" He asked, although the glint in his eyes told her he knew exactly what she thought he meant. Sarah glared at him and took the finger that was still against her lips and placed it between her teeth, she but down but not hard and he was looking at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Not fair." She said around the finger of his glove when he used magic to remove the glove from his hand.
"I wonder what your basis for comparison is." He smirked. Sarah rolled her head to the side and let go of the glove.
"Ptooey. Tastes like leather." No sooner then the words were out of her mouth that she found herself tasting The Goblin King's lips. "You on the other hand taste like Spices and…" she kissed him again, "Sandalwood and…" another kiss "peppermint..." She sighed in content as his lips met hers once more, slowly, deftly; it was a caress. Sweet and simple.
When they broke apart Sarah smiled, "I haven't. Been horseback riding I mean. I loved horses when I was little but my mother was terrified I'd be stepped on and refused to let me near them. I had a toy horse though, she was butter yellow with a pink mane as I recall and, don't laugh, I named her Butterscotch."
"Butterscotch? Why?"
"She smelled like butterscotch candy." Sarah shrugged and Jareth laughed "C'mon! I was like eight when I named her!" She said punching his shoulder lightly.
"Would you like to take a ride with me Sarah?" A sly smile curled her lips.
"Absolutely. Can we get Clio to look in on Sophi every now and again?"
"I'd be delighted!" Clio accepted when Jareth asked her a few minutes later while Sarah got dressed. "Will she be in need of a family sire?"
"She will."
"I know an elf girl who'll take one look at that little one and simply melt."
"I'm ready" Sarah said as she tiptoed back into Jareth's room.
"Lady Sarah! What in the name of propriety are you wearing?" Clio asked, her voice rising to a shrill shriek.
"Jeans, and a t-shirt. Why?" Sarah asked quietly before looking in on Sophi to make sure she hadn't woken. Closing the door with a soft click Sarah walked over to Jareth.
"You can't go out like that! People will think you're a ragamuffin!"
"Clio, I'm going to see a horse! I'm not going to muck up a pretty dress just so people won't gossip about me. They'd simply find something else to gossip about any way." She turned to Jareth "Tell her I'm not going to ruin a perfectly nice dress to appease gossipy people."
"Clio, do you think we have any riding clothes that would fit the stubborn Lady?"
"I think I can find something, Your Majesty." Clio gave Sarah a triumphant grin as she left. Jareth laughed as Sarah stuck her tongue out at the retreating goblin's back.
"I'm glad you two get on so well." Sarah shrugged,
"She's nice and she's smart. Even if she does force me into dresses at frequent intervals." Clio returned promptly with a pair of form fitting tan pants, knee high black boots with a short heel, a black jacket and a white button up shirt with half sleeves. She thrust the riding gear at Sarah who sighed, rolled her eyes and went to change, again. Sarah returned with the jacket slung over her shoulder, kept in place with a finger she kept hooked inside the collar.
"Happy you two?"
"Quite." Clio said with an approving nod before she excused herself. Jareth poofed them into the Stables where a light tan mare with a white mane and tail stood whickering, she had lovely brown eyes with a white stripe running up from the center of her soft black nose to a star shape on her forehead.
"She's beautiful." Sarah cooed as she and the mare looked at each other. "What's her name?"
"Kendra." He said as he took her hand and slowly, gently, placed it on the mare's nose.
Sarah giggled as Kendra sought out treats from the hands on her nose "What's it mean?"
"Champion…" Jareth breathed into Sarah's ear. Sarah turned frowning, "She's yours Sarah, if you want her…" As am I. he almost said. She looked at him, as if waiting for him to say it. When he didn't she kissed his cheek.
"What's the catch?" she asked turning back to Kendra. Jareth smirked
"Why must there always be a catch, Sarah?"
'Because I wouldn't know what to do with out one.' Sarah thought. "Because you are too like your subjects for there not to be one."
"Introduce me to your family."
"And just how am I supposed to explain you to them?" 'Especially when I don't know how to explain you to myself…' "I mean Hi Dad, Hi Karen this is Jareth my childhood villain and boyfriend? They'd think I'd gone nuts. No dice. Not yet. Pick something else. I'll introduce you when I know how. Besides they just got back from Italy, they'll be in no shape to meet you."
"Very well. Have dinner with me and my family." Sarah pondered it for a moment, with Indirianna there it wasn't likely of them to get too carried away, and it was just dinner, and maybe desert… But nothing is 'just' dinner or 'just' a swim or 'just' a card game. The last card game she'd played with him had turned out to be strip poker. A game she ordinarily won, but against Jareth she wound up in her underwear with his eyes raking over her at random intervals.
"Just Dinner right? No strip card games? Or swimming in my underwear?"
"You are the one who refused to let me dress you for that swim, Precious. It was hardly my fault."
"So you keep telling me. Alright, I'll have dinner with you and Indi." Jareth grinned wolfishly at her. He unlocked Kendra's stall and handed Sarah the lead rope
"Sarah, watch and pay attention." He took the bridle from its place on the wall and slipped it over Kendra's nose and behind her ears. He took the saddle from the goblins that brought it over and fastened it down over the saddle blanket. He flipped the stirrups down and returned to Sarah's side.
"Unlike Above ground saddles, Underground saddles are lighter in weight and fairly easy to lift, but should you need help, the goblins will be more then happy to assist. The little one is Teak, the big one is Fidgit, the medium one is Gobbs, and the last one is… Hefty. He steals people's right shoes."
"Why 'Hefty'?"
"Hefty Hefty Hefty!" the shoe-stealing goblin proclaimed, hopping up and down as he recited the jingle for a trash bag ad.
"That's why." Jareth pinched the bridge of his nose tapping his riding crop against his leg as the goblins surrounded Sarah, Teak and Fidgit were swinging on her hands, Gobbs was on her shoulder talking in her ear. While Hefty tried to steal her right boot, which he succeeded in doing after knocking her off balance, Sarah removed the goblins from her person and her other boot shoving it at Jareth before taking off after the goblin. "Get back here you! I need that boot!" she yelled as she ran. The goblins then took off after Sarah who ignored them. At first it amused him but Jareth quickly tired of the goblins' game.
"Stop!" He commanded just as Sarah lept for Hefty who, of course hearing his King's command, stopped. Sarah wrested the boot away from the surprisingly strong goblin and held it up in triumph.
"Ah Hahaha! I win." She proclaimed as she grinned in pride. There was no doubt about it; she would get along beautifully as Queen. She brushed off the bottom of her sock and pulled her boot back on. She stood, brushed herself off and hopped on her right foot back to Jareth who met her half way swinging her up into his arms.
"Did you hurt yourself?" He asked, concerned.
Sarah smiled back at him, "Nope! I just didn't want to get my other sock any more dirty." Jareth rolled his eyes and helped her into Kendra's saddle before brushing off the bottom of her sock and putting her other boot back on. He led Kendra from the stall and a short distance away from the stables before swinging himself into the saddle behind Sarah. Taking the reigns he urged Kendra to a trot and then as Sarah got used to moving with the rhythm a canter.
"So you were telling me about how you used to watch me?" Sarah prompted and Jareth rested his chin on her shoulder.
"You were a surprise. I hadn't expected to see you reading instead of wishing. You were intriguing and a nice reprieve from the goblins, you and that sheepdog of yours."
"Merlin!" Sarah laughed.
"That dog did not like me. He barked at me."
"Awww, poor Jareth." Sarah laughed and Jareth closed his eyes at the sound as it reverberated through her and into him.
"Every time you called me I came to watch. I couldn't have not come if I tried; it was too nice to get away from the goblins for a while. You would have made a very good actress you know."
"I act a little still. When there's a particularly appealing role. I have a few questions about my 'certain powers'…"
"Ask away."
"You said any wish I make as long as it's said, and begins with I wish will be granted, right?"
"With a few minor exceptions. Were you to return to the Above permanently and wish someone away and run the labyrinth again I can not return to you the three hours I took on your first run, but that only counts if you are running again. If you aren't running, I can reorder time to give you those three hours and how ever many more you want."
"And if I were to wish you would kiss me, would you feel compelled to kiss me?"
"I'm compelled to kiss you with out the wish, but yes." Sarah turned her face to look at him,
"Jareth, I wish you would kiss me again…"
"Gladly, Precious, gladly." He whispered before fulfilling her wish with a kiss that sent the world spiraling away. When they finally broke the kiss the sun had begun to set and Kendra had stopped to munch on some grass.
"It's late…" Sarah said breathlessly.
"So it is."
"We should head back." She said tracing his cheekbones with the hand that had tangled itself in his hair.
"If that's what you wish."
"It's not but we should do it anyway." She sighed. "When are we doing dinner with Indi?" she asked as he turned Kendra and they made their way back to the stables.
"Saturday."
"What should I wear?" Jareth conjured a crystal, which, in a display of glitter became his sketchbook. He flipped through it to find the sketch he wanted. Finding it he showed Sarah.
"It's lovely. Do you design your own clothes?" she asked as she looked at the black sweetheart bodiced gown. The black continued down into an over skirt which contrasted nicely with the colors in the underskirt, each color bleeding into the other to go through all 6 colors of the rainbow. Light beading livened up the black of the bodice and the edge of the black skirt. Jareth chuckled,
"Most of them, yes." As they reached the stables Jareth dismounted and swung Sarah down before leading Kendra to the stable hands, goblins and fae who looked after the horses when he had other matters to attend to, such as a Sarah who was trying desperately to not be tired. He gathered her to him as she stifled a yawn,
"Hold tight, Sarah." He said as he poofed them back to his bedroom. Laid out on his bed were her silk pajamas from the other night, they were clean and warm and waiting. Beside them lay a pair of blue and white striped sleep pants. Sarah crept over to the door that joined the Queen's chambers to the King's and cracked it open to check on Sophi who was out like a light in the center of the big bed. Sarah smiled and closed the door.
"Guess I'm not sleeping in that bed tonight. I don't want to wake her." She said as she turned and saw Jareth, shirtless and in bed waiting for her with his fingers laced behind his head as he leaned against the oak headboard. "I'm not spending the night in here!" Sarah squeaked as a blush rose to her face. Jareth smirked and raised an eyebrow,
"Oh really? Sarah, I promise you will be much more comfortable in here then in one of the chairs in your bedroom." Sarah paused, looked at her clothes laid out nice and neat, she looked at Jareth who was grinning that pointed grin at her, looked at the covers of the bed turned back to reveal the soft, deep blue silk sheets that beckoned her.
"I cannot believe I'm doing this." She muttered as she grabbed her pajamas and went to change.
'I cannot believe she accepted!' Jareth thought, happily surprised. Sarah soon returned with the robe she had left in the Labyrinth wrapped around her.
"You thought of everything didn't you Goblin King?" She asked seeing the smug smile he wore.
"Not me Precious. The Labyrinth. It likes you. Now take off that silly robe and come to bed, you won't need it, I promise." Sarah shuffled over to the side of the bed closest to the door, draping the robe over a chair near the bed she fought the urge to give a sultry little dance to the bed and pounce on the elegant male in it. Instead She walked calmly, perhaps a smidge quickly but calmly nonetheless, to the bed. Snuggling down under the covers she flipped her hair up over the pillow and rolled on to her side where she closed her eyes and fell asleep with Jareth stroking he hair almost absent mindedly.
Once she was asleep he slid gently down beside her and he stroked her cheek gently until he fell asleep oblivious to the lights that were still on. Clio came in shortly to ask a question but seeing the King hold his Lady with her head tucked tenderly under his chin and his arms around her while her temple rested against his collar bone her fingers resting gingerly over his sigil of office Clio simply smiled turned out the lights and left taking careful measures not to wake either of them.
And for the first time in a long time, everything was quiet as if the Labyrinth was holding its breath, waiting to see what would happen next.