A very warm welcome to Buggus264! Thank you once again to wondergirl1329 for her review. :) I hope this second-last segment is enjoyable - and not too much of a cliffhanger. :P
Chapter 11: Trials of Affection
Efael had gone considerably insane. Taking into account his already questionable nature, the Council of Mystics had no trouble deeming the incident to be completely unsuspicious. After the failed prince's relocation to the far Barrens his rebel minions no longer had a suitable candidate to rule their new kingdom. The movements towards unification of a new kingdom were cancelled. Now discovered and unprotected by law the rebels scattered but not before a large portion had been carted off to be tried for acts of treason by their various primary kingdoms. All in all it seemed to be a happy ending for the Goblin Realm -except for an uncomfortable matter pursuing the King. The matter pertaining to a bride.
Having almost lost the single woman he seriously considered taking for a mate the notion of marriage plagued Jareth tirelessly. Now in his castle, the mortal woman installed in a guest quarters and several days between the Efael incident the Goblin King was still no closer to a decision. Rubbing his sore eyes Jareth was shocked to open them and find a young elf gazing up at him.
"Are you going to marry her then?"
"Celbri, you should be -"
"Shut up you stupid King I don't care, the harm's been done. I intend to make the best of my situation unlike you who allows worries and troubles to paralyze him when the greatest gift is at his fingertips."
"I never thought I'd be hearing that from you."
"Expectant motherhood has taught me something." Celbri said quietly, gently patting her stomach.
Jareth couldn't help marveling at this elf's determination to remain positive despite the enormous trials she'd endured… and at how quickly the world seemed to be moving around him.
"Give up yourself King of Goblins. The problems will work themselves out. You'll find magic reacts miraculously with mortal emotions." The small elf disappeared as silently as she'd come, Jareth discovering that the interchange had left his mind the quietest it'd been since meeting Sarah.
Once more he ran through the memories of the last time he and Sarah had been in one another's company. He'd arrived in time to see the scantily clad mortal woman managing to successfully subdue a powerful dark elf, the scenario causing Jareth's bones to rock with simultaneous hate for Efael's disgusting tastes and pride in Sarah's strength of will. Despite the inevitable issues that would arise if she accepted his proposal Sarah had proven herself far beyond any expectation, even by fae standards, and the magic that bound them would surely ease any future disagreements. These feelings of uncertainty were new to his world, but so was just about everything else that came with Sarah and, in the end, the Goblin King knew he'd rather bear those burdens than lose the woman he loved.
"Well, a good party has always made me feel myself and," a small smile turned up his lips, "a wedding is a party."
Sweeping around the ballroom in one of the pale medieval dresses Sarah was decidedly rearranging the furniture and décor with her magic. Celbri, despite her supposed 'fragile condition', had begun to teach the mortal woman how to focus her power and use it constructively rather than leave it fester and rampage. Of the other exercises they'd tried Sarah found this task to be the most soothing. The woman had no clue how this power would serve her in the real world but the fact that she possessed a talent shared by so few other humans provided immense comfort. The encounter with Efael had left her shaken and wary of men in general. Given this, her separation from Jareth had enabled her to come to terms with the circumstances and her own state of mind. Despite the opportunity for rational contemplation and analysis Sarah found that, more than ever, her heart yearned for Jareth's presence beside her. What foolish mortal feelings… She chastised herself. But he said he loved me...
Suddenly aware of his commanding presence behind her Sarah was left wondering if the Goblin King could tell when someone was thinking about him. Then again, if that had been possible, he no doubt would have appeared much sooner after their return to the kingdom. "Good evening your highness."
"Good evening to you milady." His arm snaked through hers and she turned her cheek to receive the kiss she sensed he'd give. "Having fun?"
"Plenty. Like it?"
"It suits me well."
The room, now painted in dark blues and draped with purple veils, perfectly matched the King's wardrobe and would enable him to seemingly melt into the walls. An uncharacteristic silence revealed the seriousness of his thoughts to Sarah. "You wish to ask me something your highness?"
He hesitated only for a moment, gazing into her hopeful eyes. "Yes Sarah. Actually I would." And she watched breathlessly as he lowered himself to one knee.