Here we go! Chapter Twelve is now up! This was the most intense romance scene I've probably ever written, so let me know what you think! Thank you so much for all the reviews and encouragement! All of you are terrific!
"When we are dreaming alone it is only a dream. When we are dreaming with others, it is the beginning of reality." –Dom Helder Camara
Chapter Twelve: My Possession
Sarah felt a gentle breeze toying with her long hair, and she slowly opened her eyes. She was standing on an immense, gorgeous meadow. She turned her head and saw a herd of horses, white as snow, grazing, fireflies buzzing merrily about them. She ran her hands down the front of her shirt and was surprised to feel silk beneath her fingers. Looking down, she found that she was again clothed in her black dress from the orphanage, the only difference being now that she was barefoot and her long hair was down, flowing gracefully about her neck, shoulders, and back.
"Welcome to my Labyrinth," a voice whispered in her ear, and Sarah turned her head to see Jareth standing directly behind her, clothed in an open white poet shirt and black breeches.
"This…this is beautiful. It's nothing like what I saw," Sarah said, watching him as he stepped around her so that he was facing her.
"That's because you dreamed that it was a dark place full of frightening creatures and incredible twists and turns. I believe your view of it was influenced slightly by 'Alice in Wonderland,'" Jareth smirked, his pointed teeth glittering in the moonlight.
"The stars are so close. It almost looks like you can touch them," Sarah said, gazing up at the hundreds of stars that were sparkling in the black velvet sky.
"Come. I want you to see my kingdom," Jareth said, taking her hand in his. "This field is only a tiny part of it."
Sarah lifted her skirt a bit with one hand while she walked with him, enjoying the way the silk and tall grass brushed across her legs, dancing in the breeze.
Jareth began to pick up pace, and before Sarah knew it, they were running across the field. The Goblin King was laughing, like a young boy, and he released Sarah's hand.
"Jareth!" Sarah shouted, chasing after him, her cheeks rosy and her eyes shining. "Wait!"
"Why wait?" he asked, turning to face her and stopping just long enough for her to get close enough to reach out her hand.
She nearly grabbed him, but before their hands touched, Jareth was off again, running back and forth in front of her, taunting her to no end.
"For a man of your age," Sarah laughed, twirling as she ran, "isn't all that bounding rather dangerous?"
"Can you not outrun an old man?" Jareth asked, looking at her over his shoulder.
"Oh!" Sarah exclaimed and then quickened her pace.
The two danced about like a couple of young deer, leaping and running, twirling and flying. Jareth delighted in Sarah getting just close enough to touch him and then leaping away. He ran in circles around her, teasing her and laughing merrily at her attempts to touch him. Sarah couldn't help but laugh and enjoy the chase, and she felt very much like a little girl playing Tag.
Ten minutes of this game passed before Jareth abruptly came to a stop and Sarah collided against him, threatening to knock him over. She grabbed hold of his shoulders to steady herself, and then laughed, eyes dancing as they gazed up into his.
"There!" she declared defiantly. "I've caught you!"
"So you have," Jareth smiled and then turned his head. He waved with his hand and then said simply, "My Labyrinth, Sarah."
Sarah looked before them, immediately noting that they were standing on the edge of a great grassy cliff. She gasped when she saw the gorgeous view that was stretched out before them.
Stretching out for an uncountable amount of miles was nothing but flower-filled meadows, every single patch of green alight with fireflies. Deer bounded in and out of the tall grass, and a great herd of horses galloped across the immeasurable green field.
Towering above the fields, glowing white in the moon and starlight, was a great, beautiful castle. It was enormous, and every window was alight. It was surrounded by hundreds of houses, front lights on and sparkling merrily in the darkness.
Sarah's breathing quickened as she surveyed the gorgeous scene, and Jareth could feel her chest rising and falling against his shirt. He stepped away from her, allowing her to fully take in the whole picture, and moved behind her.
"What do you think?" he asked, placing his hands on her shoulders and gently rubbing them.
"How could I not have seen this?" Sarah whispered, eyes wide with amazement. "Jareth, it's beautiful!"
"I had hoped you would like it. In the daytime, it is just as beautiful. I will show you," Jareth said, and he waved his hand gently.
The stars, moon and black sky began to fade away, the sky quickly becoming a bright, beautiful blue, the stars turning into white, billowing clouds, and the moon turning into a warm, radiating sun. The castle shone white and gold in the sunlight, the fireflies were replaced by butterflies, and accompanying the horses were unicorns, their golden horns shining brilliantly in the daylight. A great waterfall pounded just beyond the castle, making a steady stream run through the center of the castle's surrounding village. The water sparkled and shone in the sunlight, looking welcoming and cool.
"How can you do that?" Sarah asked.
"For you I can do anything."
"Will you change it back to night?"
"I move the stars for no one, except you," Jareth whispered in her ear, and almost immediately, the sky changed again, once more becoming night.
Sarah closed her eyes and took in a deep breath of the fresh, pure air. She let the breeze play with her hair and rustle her dress, and she kept her eyes closed as Jareth came closer to her, his body pressing against her back, letting his breath caress her neck and cheek. Her body warmed in his presence, her cheeks became flushed and her breathing quickened.
"To think," Jareth whispered in her ear, wrapping his arms around her stomach and pulling her closer to him. "This could all have been yours."
"Jareth," Sarah sighed, leaning her head back against his chest, her heart beating wildly within her at his closeness. "Why did I run from you for so long?"
"I was the villain in your eyes, the frightening, powerful king."
"Yes," she nodded gently. "I suppose that was the case, but Jareth, you really aren't too frightening. And, when you are frightening," she paused, trying to gather the courage to speak her mind, "when you are frightening," she whispered, "I like it."
Jareth didn't answer, and Sarah turned her head slightly to look up into his face. His eyes locked onto hers intensely, and passion flamed up inside of them.
"Truly, I can be cruel," he smiled slightly. "Would you care for me to demonstrate?"
"No," Sarah whispered, watching as his eyes moved longingly from her eyes to her lips. "This is your dream, Jareth, and I won't have you doing anything more for me."
"My precious Sarah," Jareth smiled, lowering his face to hers and rubbing his nose gently against her own. "My own precious Sarah."
Sarah closed her eyes as his breath brushed gently against her lips, taunting her and heightening her emotions. She quivered as she felt his breath, like a warm, soft wisp of wind barely touching her sensitive skin.
He was being terribly cruel, letting his lips linger just above hers, only his breath touching her ruby lips, promising beautiful things and glorious rapture, but never, never did his mouth touch her.
"Jareth," she pleaded, her blood pulsing and her voice barely above a whisper. "Jareth, please, I beg you, just kiss me."
"Has my cruelty overwhelmed you?" he asked, his voice deep.
"Oh Jareth," she breathed as he pulled his face away from hers, leaving her lips cold. "Jareth, stop torturing me. Please, your majesty, satisfy these longings."
Jareth smiled, his eyes glittering as he gazed at the epitome of beauty before him, the woman he had loved for a very long time. How he had desired to hear her speak such words! How she had haunted his dreams, and how she had tortured him by withholding her kisses! She had never looked as beautiful to him as she did now, her eyes closed in longing, her face tilted up towards his, begging him, pleading him for just one touch, one loving gesture. It seemed as though there was nothing more she wanted than to have him love her, and her very soul seemed to be begging him, as was portrayed by the emotion in her face.
He lowered his mouth to hers and gently, wistfully, let his lips move across hers, barely tasting her, but savoring each second. He heard her let out a quivering sigh as he moved his lips away, and she opened her dark eyes and smiled up at him.
"After such a long time of waiting," she said gently, "I thought that would be longer."
"Are you disappointed?" Jareth smiled.
Sarah turned in his arms and put her hands behind his neck, stroking the silky hair that draped elegantly over his skin. She stood up on her tiptoes and brushed her cheek against his, moving her mouth to his ear. He shivered at her closeness, at the feeling of her fingers moving gently over the skin of his neck as she weaved her fingers through his hair.
"Don't be afraid. I am yours, Goblin King, and I'll never be anyone else's. I never want to be anyone else's. You mean everything to me. You've rescued me from my harsh world of realities, and it's only fair that the knight in shining armor be fully rewarded by his damsel in despair. All the stories say so. I am your possession, your slave. You have full rule over me," Sarah whispered, her voice quivering.
"My possession?" Jareth asked, nuzzling his cheek against hers and liking the sound of that phrase.
He felt Sarah smile against his cheek and then drew his face back slightly.
"Such spirit," he smiled and then brought his lips to the corner of her mouth.
Slowly, passionately, he nuzzled his lips against the delicate corner of her lips, causing her to shiver in his grasp and her blood to run hot. She moved her hands to his shirt and clung to him, drowning in his touch.
"Jareth," she whispered, eyes closed in bliss as he touched the edge of her lips gently with his own. "Jareth, I love you."
He smiled in response and continued moving across her lips with small, delicate kisses. By the time he was halfway finished, she had begun responding, matching each kiss with one of her own. When he reached the end of her mouth, the kisses were firmer, more complete and solid.
Sarah didn't want him to let go, didn't want to stop feeling his mouth against hers. She pressed her lips firmly against his, begging him not to leave as quickly as he had before, pleading with him to show her his love, to show her the passion he had been withholding for so long.
Jareth had no intention of stopping with just those tiny butterfly kisses. When he finished touching the corner of her lips again, he brought his mouth back to hers and touched her lips softly, like an ocean breeze against a small flower. He savored her touch, savored her taste, and her scent intoxicated him. He didn't want to frighten her by his growing passion, did want to scare her away with his desire.
Sarah smiled against his mouth and then thrilled him by kissing him deeply without his encouragement. She deepened her kiss more than he had, causing a noise very much like a purr to vibrate in his throat.
It seemed then as though all hesitation was erased from Sarah, and she released the love and passion she had been feeling for him all those years but had refused to show. She reacted to his sound and moved her mouth swiftly against his, her restraint seemingly gone to the wind. Jareth's eyes widened with surprise for only a second as her mouth moved insistently over his, and then he indulged himself in her open invitation to love her, to cherish her and carry her away. He growled and touched her lips with his own possessively, claiming with each movement that she was his, that she belonged to none other but him. His hands found their way to her waist, and he picked her up gently, letting her put her hands to his neck and run her fingers feverishly through his hair. He wanted this moment never to end, this passion and frenzy of being together, at being in the stronghold of love. How long had he waited for this? He couldn't remember, and he couldn't care less. Sarah was here now. She was his, was clinging to him and kissing him with so much passion that all those hundreds of years of waiting seemed like nothing.
Seconds began to fly by like a salsa dance. Jareth rubbed Sarah's back passionately as she pulled at his hair, the only thing seeming to keep them alive being each other's breath.
"What took so long for you to find me?" Jareth asked breathlessly in between a kiss. "I thought I had lost you forever."
"It's only forever," Sarah spoke urgently, her fingers tracing each line in his high-boned cheeks as she placed another kiss on his lips. "Not long at all."
"My Sarah," he growled, kissing her lips again and then her jaw. "My precious, precious Sarah…" He murmured deeply, losing himself in her as he moved his lips urgently against her skin.
"Jareth," Sarah whispered, her eyes closed and her face to the sky as he rained kisses on her skin. "Jareth, we have to stop."
"Do we?" he murmured against her ear.
"Yes. We have to stop now before we can't stop at all," Sarah said, pulling away from him and putting her hand gently on his chest. "We aren't married, and I cannot just cast aside all of my standards for one night of pleasure. I have children to take care of. What would my parents think if they saw me now?"
Jareth gazed down at her, at the dreamy look in her eyes, at her wind-tossed hair and her beautiful silk dress that so perfectly covered her lovely form.
"They would think," he said, putting his hand on her cheek, "that you are madly in love and are the most gorgeous creature to ever exist. Darling, my precious Sarah, you belong here, belong with me, in my arms, lost to your dreams, all realities shoved aside."
Sarah blushed, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she tried to regain control over her emotions.
"Oh Goblin King," she said softly, leaning into his hand, "how I love you, but we must put up our standards. I think we let ourselves fall a bit far tonight, and while it was heightening and pleasurable, and I very much desire to have more romance, it would be wrong right now. I have my responsibilities to myself and to others that prevent me from continuing on with you, though the night and I so wish to continue with you. I know this is where I belong, where I've always belonged, but just because something feels so right, feels so perfect, it doesn't mean it is so. I have to do the right thing, the moral thing, and stop. Please, help me to remain controlled."
"Is that what you truly wish?" Jareth asked, kissing her forehead.
"Yes, for the time being. There will be a day when I can openly love you without guilt, but now is not the right time."
"Then I will abide to my queen's wishes," Jareth murmured, touching his lips to her own and then pulling back. "Back to the Aboveground we go."
A swirl of color surrounded the two, and they found themselves standing in Sarah's kitchen. Sarah pulled away from Jareth and pushed several strands of hair out of her face, her heart still pounding wildly, and her breathing still rapid and excited.
"I shall return to the Labyrinth, Sarah, for I have several matters to attend to," Jareth spoke, his voice sending goosebumps up her arms.
"When will you return?"
"Perhaps not for several days."
"Jareth," Sarah said, looking over her shoulder at him and resisting the urge to run to him and throw her arms around him again. "How can I bring myself back to that beautiful place you showed me?"
"You cannot simply imagine yourself there," Jareth said with a small smile. "The Labyrinth you just saw takes a great deal more than dreams. It takes heart. I don't believe you have the ability to return to it on your own just yet. There will come a time when you will be able to wish your way back. I must leave, my darling."
"One more kiss," Sarah said, drawing closer to him.
She pressed her lips against his, eyes closed tightly, and then breathed in deeply as the feeling of his lips slowly disappeared. She was extremely tempted to keep him with her, to continue their romance. She knew that just a word from her could stop him and could cast them both into a passion that neither of them had ever experienced. That would have been wrong however, and Sarah reluctantly opened her eyes to find that Jareth was gone, and in his place was a puff of glitter.
Sarah climbed the stairs up to her room, quivering as she contemplated the events of the past half hour. She brought her fingers to her lips and touched them tentatively, trying to convince herself that the whole evening hadn't been just some wonderful dream. She had told the Goblin King she loved him and had even made herself his slave! What should happen if he didn't really love her, but she had bound herself to him anyway?
Sarah was surprised to hear music playing when she entered her room, and her eyes immediately turned to her music box with the little dark-haired princess. The princess was twirling on her pedestal, and the haunting melody of the small box was playing slowly, the words of its song soothing Sarah's concerns like a chocolate-covered strawberry.
"I'll paint you mornings of gold, I'll spin you Valentine evenings,
Though we're strangers til now, we're choosing our path between the stars.
I'll lay my love, between the stars."
"But I'll be there for you…as the world falls down."
"Jareth," Sarah smiled, sitting down at her vanity and placing her hand gently on her statue of the Goblin King. "I'm so glad you came back."