Chapter 10: A Night to Remember or Maybe to Forget

8th hour….5 hours' left

Jareth was at a loss for words as he looked at Sarah. He knew from the first time he saw her…six years ago, that he was in love with her, but seeing her now, was nothing like he had ever felt before. She envisioned a true princess…no a queen. A queen that would soon rule with him and be at his side forever…if he could ever break the spell that was. If not, he would be forced to watch as his brother married her and forced her to his will.

Sarah's dress was something he could have easily conjured up himself with one of his crystals. However, the mask that she wore was part of the magic and her beauty. The only thing he could see beyond the crystals, were piercing green eyes. These eyes showed him how fearless she had become, how beautiful she had become and how she had won his heart so quickly.

"How gorgeous you look precious." Jareth couldn't take his eyes off her. Instead, he drank in all of her beauty and fought the urge to take her in his arms and confess his love to her—something he desperately needed to do.

"I don't know if gorgeous is the right word. Pretty, but not gorgeous." Sarah breathed. Gorgeous was something like a piece of art sitting in a museum or a fabulous dress designed by Dior.

"Precious, when I say you look gorgeous, I mean it. I wouldn't say it if I didn't." Jareth's eyes looked deeply into Sarah's as the soft sound of a clicking clock could be heard.

Sarah cast her gaze down at her tips of her shoes that were peaking from beneath her dress. She could feel his gaze on her, but she refused to look up. She didn't feel like anyone special. All she was, was just a girl with wide fantasies. Who at one point was committed to an asylum, given ECT and pills to block out the pictures of her friends and to block out Jareth. From what the doctors had told her, Sarah mostly talked about Jareth. So therefore was the vision they tried to get rid of first. Which in turn would take the longest to rid of.

Jareth placed two fingers under Sarah's chin and forced her to look to him. "You are much to beautiful to keep your lovely eyes cast down like that precious." The room grew still and smaller as they looked at each other. Before he could catch himself, Jareth kissed Sarah's forehead. She smelt of jasmine. Pulling away he looked to her again. "Shall we go?" he whispered.

His soft voice ran a chill down Sarah's back, as goosebumps covered her body from head to toe. Having trouble finding her voice, Sarah simply nodded. Taking his arm, they headed to the ball.

"Do you think it will work?" Sir Didymus questioned quietly as he witnessed the couple head to the ball.

"Of course it will work!" Hoggle bellowed as he too watched from afar. "There are only five hours left. If this doesn't, then I don't know what will."

Ludo voiced his option. "Sarah find happiness."

…..

Sarah quietly gasped when seeing the elegant ballroom. It no longer looked like she had seen it before. The room was still covered in white marble, but there was gold mingled within the marble, and the specks of blue had been changed to specks of gold that were pressed into the floor. The majestic white pillars had been replaced with gold ones and gold crystal chandeliers with thousands and thousands of crystals dangled from the celling in multiple places. Vast arch vector windows were around the perimeter of the exterior of the grand ballroom. French doors led out to the ivory balcony.

Jareth chuckled which brought Sarah back to reality. "I see someone is speechless. Which is something I hardly ever witness precious."

"I'm sorry. It's just that I-I've never seen a place look so amazing. It looks nothing like I cleaned earlier and certainly nothing like it did six years ago."

"Yes, well I do have a tendency to change things every once in a while." Jareth couldn't help but marble Sarah's beauty and the awwness that she seemed to have. "I shall be right back precious. My parents should be around here some place." He quickly kissed her hand and departed within the sea of people.

Sarah glanced at those around her. She saw that they were dressed in their best. Gold, silver and black formal dresses were amongst her and the men wore matching colors of those of their dates. Just like Jareth had matched her dress. Sarah sighed in frustration. She had failed to compliment him on his attire. Instead she was so consumed with herself. Stupid, stupid Sarah. You never think about anyone, but yourself. Sarah told herself.

"Why Sarah, don't you look like a vision." A warm voice came from behind Sarah as she stood in the middle of the gigantic, angelic ballroom.

Sarah's heart quickened as she turned slowly, hoping to find Jareth. However, she was surprised and fearful of who she came face to face with. "Rogan, Jareth told you to never talk or to approach me. You should abide by your brothers warning."

His appearance reminded Sarah of an over the top villain that appeared in some cheeky horror movie. His attire was that of black tails and red accents. Black formal shirt with a red bow tie, black waistcoat with gold buttons, black tailcoat and matching trousers. Hair spiked with the tips dipped in red and a black mask with two red feathers pressed to the right side.

Rogan snickered. Snapping his fingers together, Sarah's lovely aqua dress changed to a raven chiffon ball gown with a sweetheart neckline. A blood red corset laced her up tightly. So tight she could barely breath. Red knit lace traced her middle and along the hem of the dress. To complete the look her elegant mask was replaced with a black replica of the one she wore previously. "That is a much better fit for you my dear."

Sarah tried to back away from this wicked man, but found she was trapped between him and others surrounding them. Jareth were are you?" Sarah questioned to herself.

"My dear, it is not me who should be scared of him, but the other way around. He should be scared of me. After all, this kingdom will soon be mine." Taking hold of Sarah's chin, Rogan forced her to look at him. A glimmer of evilness filled his eyes as the last few words passed his lips and into the open air. "So will you my dear."

Filling her breath come in strides, Sarah tried to calm herself, but that did no good. The room began to grow sticky hot. She began to get dizzy from the lack of oxygen and began to gasp. Pulling at the dress, Sarah discovered that it would not give. Stepping back, Sarah lost her footing and began to fall to the floor.

A/N: Merry Christmas everyone! Hope everyone had a good one. I know this isn't the ballroom scene that you guys wanted, but I wanted to mix it up a little. The ballroom scene you guys are wanting is up next. I promise. Also, thanks for the reviews. They mean a lot.