Eleven
Jareth heard water when he awoke next. Water meant they were near the border. This was bad news. He frowned. It didn't bode well for his chances of using magic. Thirst was the least of his worries; still, a drink of water right there and then would have been most refreshing. If he were to wait much longer he would have no say in whether or not he even got to keep his kingdom.
He poked his head out of the covered wagon which he was currently being held captive. His wrists and shoulders ached from being tied up for the past few hours. The rope on his wrists was beginning to cut his thin, ephemeral skin. Jareth's shirt was damp with sweat. The further the traveling party had come out of the mountains the warmer he became. It was terribly stuffy inside the wagon, and it didn't help. Although, at the very least it kept the sun from burning his skin. Under his shirt, his skin glistened. Jareth had no idea why he wasn't done away with yet. He could only assume that it was because King Den wanted to see him bound for himself. Though for proof of his capture, the guards would merely need to remove his head. He honestly had no inkling as to the inner workings of King Den's mind. No doubt he was sure to find out soon enough.
He wondered how the Goblin Kingdom was doing in his absence. It wasn't the most powerful kingdom in the realm, but it was home. The goblins were like unruly children. They needed supervision along with rules and boundaries. King Den had no idea the pandemonium he was causing simply by removing Jareth from the equation. The thought disturbed him more than it should.
Two of the guards had gone to wash up for the morning further downstream. The rest of the guards were near a camp fire, cooking. Jareth's stomach rumbled. He could go a few days without eating, but the stress of the situation brought on hunger like he'd never known. When next he had the opportunity, he was going to throw a feast. All he had been given in the past few hours had been some bread fed to him by one of the guards. They knew the risks if he were unbound. The guards didn't bother with gagging him because they knew he could not use his magic with words. Some magicians and aristocracy could, but he was not one of them.
Suddenly, he heard a commotion coming from downstream. Steel on steel rang out through the trees. Sarah! It had to be. The blessed, blessed girl had come to save him! Jareth had never felt such relief in all the long years he had lived. Of course he had never been bound either.
Out of the trees, Sarah, Clifford and eight of his royal guards came out of the trees. Two of the guards had blood on their swords. They were well aware of the consequences of harming royalty and took their duties seriously. Den's men had no chance.
"Jareth!" Exclaimed Sarah. She ran up to him and cut his bonds from a small knife she had belted to her waist. Jareth rubbed his wrists vigorously. Sarah's hair had been tied back in a braid, he assumed for riding. She was wearing a simple dress of white cotton and silk, the skirt split, also for riding, he assumed. The look was quite a becoming one for her. She was quite a vision, especially considering his brief capture. He put his hands to either side of her face.
"Thank you." Tears began to form in his eyes, such was his relief. She might still choose him yet. Their faces were very close. Sarah pulled back and gently removed Jareth's hands from her face.
"Jareth, I've decided." she stated simply. "I choose to be your queen and be by your side until the kingdom falls." The last was added in a ceremonial gesture of engagement. It meant they would be married at a time and place of her choosing. Sarah decided that she had seen Jareth's virtues, and knew she couldn't live without this man. She would miss his touch, his voice, his very being. Her mother was right about the 'pull' she was feeling toward Jareth. He had taken her on the greatest adventure of her life. She was hoping to have some more. "I love you." She said. Sarah decided this was true. Over the past couple of nights and probably even since her adventure all those years ago.
"Sarah, from the first moment I saw you, you held my heart completely. I am glad we have come to realize our feelings. Sarah Williams, I accept your proposal. I choose to be your king and be by your side until the kingdom falls." He put a chaste kiss to her lips, not bothering to mention when exactly it had been the first time he'd seen her.
Lord Clifford interrupted, clearing his throat. He knelt down in front of Jareth. "Sire, I am glad to see you safe and in on piece."
"Get up man, you know you are beyond kneeling to me," his tone was one of gentle affection.
"Yes, sire. We would have been here sooner, but the goblins have staged a revolt. One of the more intelligent ones sits your throne at this very minute. They have er. . .certain. . .demands, which they require met." It was easy to tell that this subject was distasteful to Lord Clifford.
"Do they?" Jareth was a little amused, actually. Perhaps this could work to his benefit. He grew tired of constantly running a kingdom of perpetual fools some days. A Goblin Council would be helpful, if challenging. Some of the smarter goblins could rule the other ones in day to day tasks and submit requests and petitions when necessary. Still the thought of one of the filthy things sitting on his throne was enough to make him grind his teeth.
"We mustn't delay sire," Lord Clifford interrupted his thoughts. "Lady Sarah and I are headed across the river into the other kingdom to pay her grandfather a visit for two reasons. One, her grandfather must be alerted to her presence, and therefore cede all right to the lands, and two therefore nullifying a war that is now beside-the-point. There is an error in syntax, this last paragraph of the pact and we mean to point it out. I have the copy here sire. The pact is, to all effects, void."
Jareth took the document and examined it. He looked up, the question in his brows.
"King Den does not know then that Sarah is here?"
"We do not believe so, no. Sarah was hidden from her grandfather Aboveworld so she could come back and rule the lands one day."
"Then make haste, I will see to the Goblins, and meet you when I can. Take my guard for protection."
"Yes, sire." Lord Clifford bowed at the waist in acquiescence.
Jareth walked over to Sarah and took the medallian from his chest. "Wear this for protection and strength. King Den has one just like it." Sarah took the medallian and put it over her head.
With a last glance at Sarah over his shoulder, Jareth went into the trees to change form, which was difficult owing to the celestial cycle but manageable, and flew back toward the Goblin Kingdom.
"Are you ready Lady Sarah?" Lord Clifford turned to her. Sarah had let a single tear fall. She stared after Jareth's fleeting form. It was difficult to love, but she realized that it was easy now to love Jareth. She hoped that soon the immediate danger would be over.
Another consideration was that after years of searching she had also found her mother, or perhaps vice versa. She could count the days of her childhood that she wondered where her mother was. Her search was over. She'd be able to be with her mother for the rest of their lives. Today was probably one of the best days of her life. It was a life that she hadn't known, but a life she came to realize that she wanted to embrace. All other details could be worked out further on.
"Yes Lord Clifford, and we should probably get a move on. Even though he's my grandfather, he's a king and won't like what happened to his guards. Let's go claim my birthright."
Clifford, Sarah and t he guards rode off to hopefully end a war and begin a peace.
