After falling asleep and waking up knowing that she was going to stay for the battle, the first thing Sarah did in the morning was remove the crystal necklace. She no longer needed it now since she knew that she was going to leave after the war. She placed it on the bed as she got dressed in the green dress, then picked up the necklace just as there was a knock on the door. How did they know that she was awake? "Come in," she called.
The door opened to an elderly, new guest in green robes with a green hood over her blue head. Her yellow were gentle as she closed the door.
Sarah's head perked with confusion at the sight of the alchemist. "Altha. Is something wrong?"
"I have to talk to you." The elderly woman approached her with concern. "About Jareth."
Her blood chilled at the name. "What is it?"
Altha took a small breath glanced at the stoned floor, then back to her. "I want to know if you love him."
Sarah blinked.
"Jareth loves you and I wanted to talk to you yesterday, but I was busy with things and I needed to talk to you as soon as I could." She started to wring her hands. "I have known the King since he first arrived and I know how he is. He loves you, Sarah. He truly is in love with you, but do you love him in return?" She looked up at her with hope.
Reluctantly, she nodded with a sigh. "I do, but I don't want to. I can't stay with him. I mean… I have a family at home."
Altha nodded. "I do understand."
A thought then came to her mind. "Also, he once told me that if I was to love him, he would be my slave." She smirked, lost and confused. "I still don't know what to think of that."
"Jareth is a complex man," the old woman sighed, gaze drifting away. "He is also reckless, but not stupid. He will not make foolish decisions… unless love is involved. He tries so hard to keep his guard up, but like everyone, he needs love." She sadly shook her head. "His own mother didn't want him, but I will tell you for certain," her eyes grew strong, "he doesn't say that to anyone. He is also not saying it to the point where he'll do what you say. If he truly loves you," she pointed a wrinkled finger at her, staring her in the eye, "and he truly does, he will be more than a slave. He would defend you till the last drop of his life's blood. He would love you till the last beat of his heart. He will stand by your side as long as you stand by his. Jareth is too loyal to the point where he will give his all. He would destroy himself just to get love in return." She took the human's hand as if begging. "Sarah. If you do love him, don't put him through it. He's suffered enough. I didn't know how serious he was until you told me what he said."
Sarah saw that she really cared for the King like a grandmother and it touched her heart. Not only that, but Jareth would lay down much more than she had thought. Never had she met a man do that, but she didn't know if that was a good thing, either. "I won't," she promised.
The alchemist released her hand, taking a step back. "Then tell him." She turned to the door as though she regretted for saying too much, then she slowly opened the door, walked out, and silently closed the door behind her.
Sarah just stood there, thinking about the alchemist's words from what Jareth had meant fourteen years ago and to the part that she should tell him. Didn't Altha know that would make things worse if she did tell him? If she did have Jareth's heart, she would treat it like fine glass and protect it. She would not let it break because she knew once it did, the glass would turn to stone and having a guard would no longer be necessary. Is that what Altha had meant by for Sarah to tell him? Of course it was. She completely turned her back after the kiss. She didn't even tell him anything, but instead she let his hopes up with no explanation. She had just left him hanging when she didn't even know what to do herself.
Why?
Why didn't she tell him yesterday? Oh, that's right– She wanted to sleep on it to see if her feelings were real. Of course they were real! She fell in love with him, has been trying to deny it, then doesn't even talk to him about it. Now, she was going to tell him and fight along side him. She still wanted to return home, but she couldn't leave without tell him, right? Or would that just make things worse?
Sarah sighed, bowed her head, and thought, What would be less painful for both of us?
The woman made her way to the throne room while she was coming up with different scenarios. She couldn't stay with him, so if she told him, would that just make them both wonder of what could've happened between them? And if she didn't tell him, would they move on and no longer think of it? But that wouldn't be the case for her because she did love him and would wonder of what could've happen if she told him how she felt.
She had two serious relationships in ten years and was even proposed to once, but the relationship didn't last long enough to get to the altar. Now she was in a relationship that was just not working out, and like Altha had said: Jareth was too loyal and does not fall in love easily. He would risk his own life for her and is that what she wanted? No. She didn't. But who knows what would happen if they were together. Who knows what sacrifices would be made…
But now the question was: What would be less painful for both of them?
"Jareth," she said as she entered the throne room, finding the King bored on his throne once more, deep in thought. She approached him and held out the necklace by the chain. "I will be fighting along side you, so I won't be needing this anymore."
His emotionless gaze met her own, then turned to the necklace, and carefully picked it up by the golden chain. "What made you come up that decision?" He cooly asked, placing the piece of jewelry into the palm of his gloved hand, then placed his other hand over it, rubbed it, and within seconds the necklace disappeared.
What would be less painful?
"It wouldn't feel right leaving," she lamely answered.
His hypnotic eyes looked into her own once more. "Well, then if you are to stay for the battle, we have some more training on our hands."
Sarah just nodded, not knowing what else to say.
If she did stay, what if things didn't work out between them? Was it worth a risk?
She turned away, leaving the man she loved alone with a heavy heart. She did have all day to tell him and didn't want to tell him at the last minute. She would tell him while they were both alive and not while he was dying in her arms.
Her heart lurched.
Where did that come from?
He wasn't going to die. He was going to live! He was going to defeat the elves and continue his rule as the Goblin King. Then she remembered what he had told her while dancing: Who knows what fate has in store.
Sarah closed her eyes for a second and took a breath. "No," she whispered to herself. "He is going to live. Jareth is going to live."
Jareth grinned with amusement and humor as the crystal necklace returned into his palm, knowing that there was something much more behind it than her just wanting to stay for the battle. She was still a woman with a family and her own life, after all. She didn't want to die for him or his kingdom.
He'll simply give her what she wants.
