Unfulfilled Desires

Chapter 11

A/N: So have I gotten any better with the writing quality? Or is it just as bleh? Haha. Thank you FallenAngelVamp for your review and interest. I hope you continue to enjoy the fic! Snowbirdyoukai, I'm sorry about Sarah, she's trying to improve. For everyone else who thinks Sarah is a string of bad words…Honestly? Wouldn't you be pretty pissed off and emotionally crazy if you'd been kidnapped and pulled into a world you never thought you'd see again? Especially when you can't go home!? Sarah is in a time of transition with her emotions and actions, don't label her yet. Honoria Granger- If you ever read again, I'm sorry you grew to dislike it. Other than that- please enjoy everyone.

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.

Sarah ate quietly, mulling over the fact that she was sitting across from Jareth's sister. His sister! He had not once mentioned his family to her, and yet he confessed his love. Natalia was chatting quietly with Koja and suddenly turned to Sarah, "Sarah- you know…the way you and Jareth act with each other is highly inappropriate by our standards. It is fine right now, because Jareth is King and no one of a higher rank is visiting, but if my mother were here…Oh my…She would about lose her mind!" Natalia found that idea to be extremely amusing and snickered to herself quietly, her fingers twirling lightly around the end of her long braid. Koja nodded in agreement.

"What do you mean?"asked Sarah.

"What she means, is that in the underground you do not simply kiss another person, let alone a King, unless you are related too, or married to said person,"Koja explained.

"But we only kissed once in public…and the ballroom cheered, "Sarah argued. Her lips were pursed in a pout and her brows furrowed in dismay.

"Ahh, but they were also drunk off fae wine and not of their right minds…Their King also would have been very upset had they not responded well…" Koja added.

"Well..he kissed me…so you can just tell him to mind his manners, not me!" Sarah grumbled.

Her companions suddenly stilled and Natalia had the look that she was stifling a laugh, her hand slowly lifting to cover her mouth. Sarah sighed, knowing exactly why they would act as they were, Jareth had to be right there. Right behind her. As she turned she rolled her eyes and murmured, "How kind of you to join us, Jareth…your sister and brother-in-law are delightful people…" Sarah said in a sickly sweet voice.

"Ah Sarah, don't be so testy…I didn't tell you because I simply had other things on my mind…" Jareth waved off her nasty tone and sat down beside her. "How are you sister? Koja..?" He was smiling again, but Sarah looked closely at his eyes, which were guarded and giving no true idea over his mood. He was probably still mad at her for storming out.

"We are wonderful, brother!" Natalia cheered, "I absolutely adore your Sarah…She is precious…Could we extend our stay for a while? I am sure Sarah despises being cooped up as one of the few women in this castle!"

Jareth appeared to be thinking over his decision while also eyeing up some of the food on the far tables of the room. "Go get some food, Jareth…" Koja laughed, "We can hear your stomach from across the table…" The jest was fun, and Jareth nodded before standing up to fetch himself some food. Natalia looked at Sarah with a frown once he was gone.

"Sarah- why are you being so mean? I assure you my brother did nothing to purposely upset you….He would never!" Natalia assured her with a bright smile.

"I- Well…" Sarah shook her head and stood up from the table, "It is nothing…I'm sorry…" As she turned to leave, Jareth stepped back to the table.

"Sarah..?" he said softly. She stared forward at his chest, as if her eyes could burn a hole through him which she could dive through and disappear. "I have decided that my sister's stay will be extended…would you not like to stay and socialize?"

Sarah bit her lip and looked back at Natalia who was looking chipper and ready to talk. "Oh and Jareth! I can give her lessons on Underground etiquette…She will be a lady in no time at all." The offer was kind, and Sarah knew that deep inside, but the idea that she was a barbaric human flooded her mind and she pushed past Jareth to leave. He didn't attempt to stop her this time, but just watched as she crossed the room and pushed her way into the hallway. Once there she took a deep, shuddering breath.

"A lady!" she huffed, "I don't need lessons to be a lady…" she grumbled, trying to lie to herself. She did like Natalia and Koja, but she didn't like that they were tied to Jareth. Perhaps through Natalia she could learn more about Jareth and maybe feel closer to him in the way he felt close to her? Sarah leaned against the palace wall and sighed, her head beginning to ache due to her emotional turmoil.

"Sarah? Oh my dearest Sarah!" came a voice from down the hall. Sarah looked up to see Melody bounding towards her. "I could simply not believe the events of last night!" Melody threw her arms around Sarah's neck and crushed her in an impossibly tight hug. "Do you feel better? Are you ill still?"

"Melody…I feel fine- bit of a headache though…" she mumbled. Melody smiled and grabbed Sarah's hand, pulling her away from the dining hall.

"Where are we going?"

"To get you something for that ache of course…." Melody answered warmly. "We cannot have you walking around in a gloom because of pain…"

"How long are you staying Melody?" asked Sarah softly.

"Oh…" Melody's tone dropped and she loosened her grip on Sarah's wrist. "I am departing very soon…within the hour actually. I was coming to bid Jareth a goodbye…"

"Go say goodbye, Melody….I don't need anything for my head…" Sarah urged.

"Well…I must not lie…but I wish to see Kaleb before I go as well, and he is in the medical wing…which is where we are headed now…" Melody replied sheepishly. She looked at Sarah with a light blush spreading across her cheeks. Sarah merely smiled and nodded her head in understanding. "He was poisoned you know…" she whispered as they reached the door to the medical wing. Sarah's eyes widened, their green hue looking damp as she held back tears.

"Oh go-."

"Shh…Let us go…" Melody hushed Sarah as she opened the door and pulled her into the room. It was quiet and the healer looked up immediately from whatever he was mixing. "Hello Humeg…I have brought Sarah here for something to help her headache…"

Humeg was a tall, lithe looking man with long grey hair. His eyes were honey colored, with age defining wrinkles around them. He was old, probably older than Sarah could imagine, and he seemed wise as he looked at Melody with a knowing glance. "Milady Melody…he is in the room behind me…Go see to him….Dear Champion…I believe this," he reached behind him and pulled out a small vial with an amber liquid in it, "Will do well for your head…" he handed the vial to Sarah as Melody rushed off to the other room. Sarah uncapped the vial and downed the contents with a groan, "Yes it tastes very unpleasant…but it will do the trick…" Sure enough, moments after the disgusting taste passed, Sarah's headache was gone.

"May I go see Kaleb as well?" Sarah asked softly, looking at the door Melody disappeared behind. The healer nodded and Sarah skittered off quickly to the door, which she opened without hesitation. The room felt hotter than anywhere else in the castle, which she could understand since there were two fireplaces in the room. The room was lined in small beds, but only one of the beds was occupied. Melody had grabbed a chair from one of the corners of the room and pulled it to Kaleb's side, her hand in his as she leaned over to look into his face. It was then that Sarah realized she should have knocked.

They looked so intimate and absorbed with one another. Since her entrance they had not looked to greet her, which Sarah assumed meant they had not yet noticed her. She stood silently by the door and watched them.

"My father is demanding me to return home, Kaleb…" Melody whispered softly, her free hand reaching out to brush hair from his eyes. "I cannot bare to leave with you in this bed…" Her voice cracked and Kaleb lifted a slender hand to wipe, what Sarah assumed was a tear, from her cheek.

"Melody…my Melody…I will regain my strength and come visit when I can…" Kaleb said in a low voice, his eyes heavy lidded as he lay in his bed of pillows and blankets.

"Kaleb…I fear…he will try to marry me when I return…" Melody whispered, lowering her head to rest on his shoulder as sobs shook her shoulders.

Kaleb's eyes opened a bit more when she spoke those words, and he seemed to tense. "No." The single word caused Melody to sit up and look at him with wide eyes. "No…Damn it!" A sudden bout of strength returned to him and he sat up, grabbing Melody's shoulders. "I will not lose you…Melody…give me the honor to court you, with the intention of marrying you once the formalities are done with…Please Melody…do not let me lose you…" His words were filled with passion and love, and his voice was strong throughout the whole proposal.

Melody was silent, her mouth open in surprise, but her eyes sparkling with happiness. "Yes…" she finally said, leaning forward and wrapping her arms around Kaleb's shoulders. "Yes…"

Sarah grabbed the door handle and turned it only to be stopped by Kaleb's voice, "Sarah?" he seemed surprised. "How long have you been there…" He didn't seem angry so Sarah laughed softly.

"Awhile…I just wanted to say thank you for last night and to see how you were…But I can tell you're in good hands…So…bye!" she dodged any questions by running out the door and into the healer's room. He chuckled at her as she flew by and into the hallways.

Her heart swelled with happiness as she walked through the castle. She was so happy for Melody and Kaleb, knowing that they were perfect for each other, just by the way they spoke to one another. She wanted to have that with Jareth, but she couldn't keep her snide remarks to herself. Sarah groaned and pressed her forehead to the hallway's stone walls. "I want him to be happy…" She whispered, closing her eyes and willing herself not to cry. "I want to be happy…" She whimpered. "I want to go home, but I don't want to leave him behind…or this behind" she mumbled.

"Then tell him that…" came a soft, gentle voice from several feet away. Sarah jumped from the surprise and looked over to see Jareth watching her with a gentle smile. "Sarah…" he murmured as he walked towards her. "I thought you just wanted to leave me behind…" he admitted.

"I just miss my family, Jareth…" Sarah said as she watched him approach. She leaned against the hallway and fiddled with the folds of her dress. "I want to see Toby…"

"You don't want to leave me? You still stand by what you said last night?" Jareth questioned. He looked like an innocent boy, worried that his first love no longer cared for him. In a way he looked lost as he asked.

Sarah laughed softly, "Jareth- seriously? I've spent the last several years trying to forget you…it didn't work..do you really think I'd stay sane if I went home and never came back?" she shook her head and rolled her eyes. Jareth's face lit up at her words and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly against his chest. "Jareth I do love you…I just…I'm having a hard time showing it and believing in…us…"

Jareth pulled back a little and frowned, looking down at her sadly. His eyes were narrowed, but not in anger, in confusion. "How can you not see.." He started, but Sarah placed a finger to his lips.

"Shh…Just know I love you Jareth..I just can't show it yet…" she explained. He sighed and nodded his head, obviously willing to be content with just knowing that she loved him.

"But truly Sarah, you should take Natalia up on her offer of lessons in etiquette.." he teased, smiling. She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, pushing away from him to get some space, "You aren't barbaric, Sarah….you just know nothing about our customs…It isn't a bad thing…"

"Yea yea…fine whatever…I'll do it…" she grumbled. Jareth was smiling when Sarah looked up at him, "Stop grinning like that…" She murmured, trying to hide the smile that threatened to peek out as well. He only grinned bigger which made Sarah laugh and turn away to stalk down the hallway.

"What is wrong Sarah?" Jareth mused, following behind as she laughed and moved a little faster to avoid his arms. He was trying to capture her in an embrace as she dodged and turned through the corridors.

"Stop Jareth!" Sarah whined as she turned around a corner, only to be pinned against the wall by his hands. She was breathing a little heavier now, her chest rising and falling in shaky breathes as her eyes focused on his own.

"Seems I captured you, precious…" Jareth whispered. They both looked a bit flustered as they remained in the hallway, Jareth's body pinning Sarah to the wall, a warm blush spreading through her chest and face. "Sarah…" he continued, "Am I still allowed to court you as we previously discussed?"

Sarah opened her mouth to respond, unsure of her answer, but closed it a moment later. Jareth noticed her hesitation and frowned, leaning away from her slightly. "Jareth-.."

"I will not force you, Sarah, If you want to wait until you are ready.." he spoke, but his voice sounded broken.

"Jareth…listen to me…" she urged, "I…would very much like to be courted, but…I want to see my family…"

Jareth groaned and pulled away from her to lean against the opposite side of the hallway. "Sarah…"

"Jareth…why can't you do this for me? You could go with me…keep me safe…I can't not see them much longer…It's killing me…"

"I told you they are safe Sarah…just trust me…Please?" Jareth assured her.

"Jareth- I will let you court me…but within the next few weeks I need to see my family….You cannot keep me here against my will…" Sarah said sternly. Jareth thought about it for several long minutes, and finally nodded.

"Fine…by the next full moon you will be escorted by myself to the Aboveground to visit with your family…but until then you must come on all dates and planned events with me…." Jareth finished his sentence with a wicked grin. Sarah smiled, but shook her head at his enthusiasm.