Chapter 12. Coming to terms

Jareth stood looking down at Sarah, "Shall we?" He offered her his arm.

Sarah left his bed, feeling frustrated, thwarted, and on the whole disenchanted. She looked at him, placed her hand on his arm. "As you wish, Sire."

Jareth looked down at her, "If it were what I wished, Sarah Williams, you'd be in that bed begging me to never stop. However," he waved his arm and the room faded, and another room appeared.

The dining room was still set up with the refreshments and meal he'd planned for earlier. Now sitting, dozing in seats around the table were the six teens and Toby. Sarah glared at Jareth. "If you've harmed them…"

"They are but asleep." He said holding her back. "And will remain so for a moment longer while we discuss our next move." Sarah looked up at him; he continued seeing her state of hesitant co-operation. "The children will be given rooms, as will you. And you will all be treated as my guests. You have just under a fortnight to come to your senses. Use that time well." He waved his hand and the children all began to awaken. "Did everyone have a nice nap?" Jareth asked as he seated Sarah at one end of the table. "Diner will be served in a few moments; I hope you're all hungry."

Mary looked at Sarah, noticed the gown and gasped audibly. David also looked at Sarah, but instead of gasping he asked. "Are you alright, Miss?"

Sarah nodded, "Yes, David." She looked at her students. "Are you all alright?"

"Yes, Miss." They said in unison, all but Toby.

Sarah looked at him, but he looked only at the King. He stood up from his chair and came to Jareth's side. He whispered something in the King's ear. Jareth nodded and looked at the child with compassion. Toby hung his head and asked another question, this time the King shook his head and placed an arm about the child. Sarah knew, Toby was asking about their parents.

Jareth stood up and drew the child to his side. "Please excuse us for a moment, my son, and I need to have a few words." The King looked at Sarah, warning her not to protest. He took Toby out of the room. In the hall he found a bench, took a seat and drew the boy to his lap. "Do not be ashamed to have sorrow. Tears are often a good thing, my boy. If you wish to shed tears for your birth parents do so."

Toby looked up at him, "I'm a big boy now….and big boys…don't….cry…" the tears welled in his eyes in spite of the words.

Jareth looked down into the eyes that were so like his. "I'm an even bigger boy…and I sometimes have to cry." The floodgates opened and Toby clung to his foster parent, weeping and lamenting the loss of his mother and father. Jareth held him and let him cry.

Sarah heard the sounds and looked around the table. "Toby has just learned our parents have died." She said somberly.

David looked astounded. "Oh Miss, we're so sorry."

Mary and Susan moved to stand on either side of Sarah. "Oh Miss," Mary said. "Is there anything we can do, for you…for Toby?"

"Give Toby time to… register his grief." Sarah requested. "Jareth…will help him, right now…but…"

"You said he couldn't be trusted." David said sharply, a bit more than he'd intended. "If he told you that your parents are dead… how can you believe him?"

"Because he may use trickery in some things…" Sarah winced, "in other things he uses the truth." She sent the girls back to their seats. "I have reason to believe him in this case…and he has reasons to want to help Toby over the roughness of this…news. Regardless of what I think of him personally, he does care for Toby."

Ian cleared his throat. "He called Toby his …son."

Sarah nodded. "And that's what Toby will be from now on."

Jackie looked a bit horrified. "He's not making you his daughter, is he Miss?"

Mark looked at Jackie and rolled his eyes. "Look at how he's dressed her! That's not the way a man dresses his daughter you ninny!" Then blushing slightly, Mark looked at Sarah. "Sorry to be so blunt, Miss."

Sarah looked down at her gown. "No, Jareth does not expect me to be his daughter."

"No, I don't." A voice said from the entry. "What I expect from Miss Williams is between her and I, and you'd best stay out of it." He warned firmly. His arm was over the boys shoulder as he led Toby back to the table. "Now, we shall have a lovely meal and while we are eating I will lay down the ground rules for you all." He looked at Sarah. "Including you, Miss Williams."

Sarah sat attentive. "Yes, Sire." Her tone was respectful.

Mark and David looked at her than at the king. Jareth waited quietly until all eyes were on him. "Good, now…you boys, including Toby will be rooming together in the east wing. You girls will be together in the north wing; Miss Williams will be in a room in that wing also. You will be given access to the castle's library, and other amenities. In return I expect you to behave in a respectful manner, and remember you are guests of a King in a working Kingdom. If you wish to see the Kingdom ask, and a tour will be arranged."

"Where's Hoggle." Sarah asked suddenly aware that he'd not tried to find her.

"Indisposed," Jareth said with a coy smile. "As are Sir Didymus and that orange creature you tamed the last time you visited."

Covering her wish to send a lightening bolt though the eyes of the King, Sarah smiled sweetly; "Will they be free to visit me at a later date?"

Jareth leaned back in his chair, smiled back. "Remains to be seen," he turned his attention back to the teens. "Perhaps we can show you things here that will rival the world you're use to."

David stood up, "I mean no disrespect," he said grandly. "But how long do you intend to hold us here?"

Jareth looked at Sarah, "Not long."

Sarah heard a voice in her head, 'only forever'. She looked at Jareth and frowned.

Servants, beings that Sarah had never seen came into the dining hall with warmed platters. "Ah," Jareth said brightly. "Diner is served; I hope you're all hungry."

Jackie looked at him, "Would it matter if we weren't?"

Jareth gave her an icy smile. "No."

The girl turned to Sarah. "Do we have to eat, Miss?"

"I'm afraid we do." Sarah stated.

Jareth nodded at her. "I think you'll all be pleased." The lids were lifted from the platters and there were pizza's every combination that most teens preferred under the covers. "Well don't stand on ceremony. Dig in."

David and Mark looked at the platters then at Miss Williams. David spoke for the group. "Again, your ….majesty… I mean no disrespect… But Miss Williams said we were to refrain from eating and drinking anything you offered earlier. Has that really changed?"

Jareth looked over at Sarah, "Well meaning again my dear?" He then turned his attentions to the teens. "Before you were to eat of the peaches you were offered that was true. Now you are under my protection and my care. You are free to eat and drink whatever is offered you."

Jackie shook her head, "You mean we're trapped here."

"Not precisely." Jareth said softly. "You young people will be attached to the kingdom the rest of your lives that is true. However I am willing to offer you all a one time deal as it were."

Ian cocked his head to one side. "What kind of one time deal, Sir."

Jareth looked at each of the youngsters. "Each of you has something unique to offer to my world, to my kingdom. I would welcome each of you with open arms." His voice was praising and gentle. "However, Sarah… Miss Williams here has been quick to point out that you still have attachments at home. So here's my offer." Sarah looked over at him with lips parted, wondering what he was about to say to the young folk. "I shall allow each of you to return to your lives…your world and your families for a period of time. Until each of you reaches your twenty fifth birthdays. At that time you must return to the Kingdom, bringing your unique gifts to us. You will become full citizens of our realm at that time."

Mark frowned. "You expect us to leave our families, and our lives."

"I expect you to follow your hearts." Jareth corrected. "Each of you is unusual in your world… and somewhat looked at by others as being …out of step…Here you would be celebrated as the brilliant and gifted individuals you are." Jareth poured himself a goblet of wine and toasted the group. "The choice is yours. You may return to your homes and families and continue to grow and learn… live the lives you had planned and then return here… Or you may stay here and learn new things."

David shook his head, "In the end we still have to leave our families."

"Yes." Jareth agreed. "However it does give you time to be with them a bit longer. It's all I can offer."

"If we hadn't eaten the peaches?" Jackie asked.

Jareth looked at her, eyes like a shark. "You were all destined to eat the peaches. You're destinies were set long before you set foot on the jet that landed you in the United Kingdom Above. Each of you is already tied to my Kingdom…"

Susan held up a hand, "If we refuse?"

The Goblin King looked at the girl, his eyes narrowed. "There is no refusal of being part of the Kingdom. That is a….what is the phrase you use in your world… ah yes…It's a done deal. You are all members of my kingdom…of my household in fact. There's no refusal allowed there."

Mary stood up her hands on the table. "You forced us to eat those peaches! It wasn't done freely."

"That's true." He agreed. "I tricked you into eating the peaches. But you did eat the peaches. That's all that matters."

Mary looked over at Miss Williams and whimpered. "That's not fair!"

Jareth covered his mouth with one hand and also looked at Sarah.

Sarah sighed, "No, it's not fair, Mary…. But that's the way it is. That's how life is sometimes. Unfair." Sarah reached toward one of the platters and took a slice of the pizza covered in fresh veggies and munched on it. "That's life."

David looked at her. "So we just give up and give in?"

Sarah placed the pizza on her plate. "David, my grandmother use to say all things happen for some divine purpose. She used to say that Mother Universe has plans we are not privy to…perhaps this is one of those times."

Toby reached for a slice and began to eat. Ian looked at his young friend and took a slice as well. Jackie considered the words Miss Williams had just said and reached for a slice as well. The others slowly followed suit, and upon eating the first slice found no ill effects. They ate the food offered and began to relax.

David looked at the King. "Sir," Jareth looked at him. "When do you have to have our decision?"

Jareth leaned back in his chair and regarded the teens with less feral eyes. "For now, you are on holiday…a Goblin Holiday as it were, but a holiday…. At the end of the time that would be your tour…you will each tell me what you've decided."

David looked at Miss Williams and her little brother. "And them?"

Jareth breathed deeply. "They are already mine… and mine they will stay…They will remain here with me." Jareth then stood up, ending anymore questions. "I have no intentions of discussing in what capacity Miss Williams is going to remain here. I have stated before, what is betwixt her and I is just that…betwixt her…and I." He looked at the weary teens. "If you've finished your meal…I'll show you to your rooms."

Everyone followed the King; he led them to the floor where all the bedrooms were. In one wing was the rooms the boys would share. The King had seen to the needs they would have. "Your own belongings will be brought here in time." He assured the boys as they went about picking beds to sleep in. "Good night, gentlemen." He paused a moment and looked at Toby. "Good night, son."

Toby looked in his direction, "Good night…Sire." He wandered over to a bed and sat down.

David looked at the King. "We'll take care of him." He promised the King.

Jareth nodded, as he motioned the girls and Miss Williams to follow him down the hall. In another wing on the same floor he opened a door for the three girls. "This will be your room for now. Sweet dreams young ladies. Sarah come with me."

Jackie moved swiftly to the door. "Isn't Miss staying with us?"

Jareth looked at the girl, "Miss Williams will be in a room down the hall. I promise you."

Sarah put a hand to his sleeve. "Let me say good night to my girls." She opened arms to hug each one and told them to rest easy.

Jareth led Sarah just down the hall and opened a door. "This is where you'll be staying for now. Good night Sarah." He turned and stepped away.

"That's it?" Sarah asked confused and slightly disappointed.

Jareth stopped, looked over his shoulder then turned slowly. "Yes, Sarah…That's it." He gave her a soft pout. "Did you expect more?"

"Yes." She admitted. "I did."

Taking a step closer he placed his arm over her head and leaned on the wall she rested her back on. "If you want more Sarah, you need only ask." He looked at her face as if he could devour her in one fell swoop.

How long they had stood there, just staring at each other was anyone's guess. Jareth was not about to make a move on her, and she was too fearful to listen to the pounding in her heart and her brain. At long last, Sarah spoke to him. "You can't be serious."

"Deathly so, my precious," the Goblin King stated firmly. "I will await your…decision as anxiously as I await that of the students. Don't keep me waiting too long, Sarah…you know how impatient I can be." He placed his free hand under her chin. "Or perhaps you need reminding of what awaits you." He lowered his lips to hers, softly kissing and caressing her mouth with his. "Good night, Miss Williams." He moved away, cape fluttering and glitter appearing.

Sarah took a deep breath, and whispered. "Good night, Goblin King." She slipped into her room and as she closed the door collapsed to the floor.