Ahhhh finally updated this! I hope you'll like this chapter, it's another long one (15,000 words I think). Sorry for the wait, piecing it together was kinda hard and I ended up writing two other stories, A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes and Something Wicked This Way Comes. Please go and read them, and Something Wicked is already finished! Again I hope you'll like this new chapter. Kinda disappointed at the lack of reviews for the last one, was looking forward to see how you guys felt about the trials but that's okay!
I don't own labyrinth nor do I own the song Sway (originally recorded by Dean Martin I think but I think often of Michael Buble). If you haven't, go look up Jennifer Connelly singing Sway in Dark City. She does a great job!
I just write for fun because I can. Enjoy!
A sharp and urgent knock was at his door. Cautious, Jeremy wasn't sure who could've bypassed his security system to come this close.
"Jeremy!" The voice called. "Please let me in."
"Sarah?" Jeremy bounded to the door and let the young woman in.
Sarah looked like she was near tears and she nearly collapsed on him in her urgency.
"Sweetie?" Jeremy hushed her. "Hey, what's wrong?"
Sarah calmed down some and he lead her to his living room. He got her a blanket and Sarah thanked him.
"I have anxiety." She confessed. Here green eyes were full of tears and she looked like she had hastily dressed herself and transported to his door. "Jareth is planning our engagement ball and I don't want to go."
"Shh. Here, let me make tea." The older man lead them both to the kitchen. "Okay, slow down and tell me what's going on."
"Last time I went to a formal ball, all these people were there gawking at me. And then I had a panic attack with Raynard was being a creep and ran away. They all think I'm weak." She sobbed into her tea.
"Hey." Jeremy put a hand on her back. "You worked hard and passed your trial. These monarchs gave you permission to have the crown matrimonial. You have nothing to be afraid of."
"A lot of Jareth's exes are going to be there too." She huddled into a ball. "And I shouldn't feel insecure but god, it's making me nervous. I guess that's a large downside of being an immortal king; you court other royal family members and then you can never avoid them completely. At least I can ignore my own exes."
Jeremy remembered Sarah mentioning the demon lady during their trial, the one that turned into Clarissa. Jareth had reassured her over and over but for many people, this was a demon that they have to deal for the rest of their lives. Jareth's demons were pride and keeping secrets albeit unknowingly. Sarah's was her insecurity.
"And I'm being schooled on what to do, what to expect, but I keep thinking about his mom." Sarah looked at him with pleading eyes. "What she went through-"
"Will not be repeated." Jeremy said firmly. "My cousin married a terrible person who used her for a spare. I suspect that Raynard knew in a way that Ingrid wanted to give up her throne so he wanted to have another child. And lo and behold, Jareth."
"Wasn't Eleanor made fun of in court?" Sarah said quietly. "I'm scared, Jeremy."
Jeremy reached for her hand and held it in his. He made sure Sarah could see his kind eyes and calm demeanor. "My dear." He said quietly. "Jareth loves you. He loved his mother and refuses to have you go through the same things she did. Why do you think he fought tooth and nail to make you his equal in every way that he could?"
"But I'm still scared." Sarah groaned. "He's done all this for me and I'm going to screw it all up. I trust him with all my heart, but that doesn't mean that I'm not scared that someone will knock me off my feet. It's me I don't trust."
"You literally took care of a national crisis at one point and the first human to be granted the crown matrimonial." Jeremy smirked. Uncanny how similar his smile is with Jareth's and Sarah couldn't believe she hadn't noticed it all those years. "It's a ball. You'll survive."
"One where I will meet with future allies." She groaned. "And I can't make a bad impression. Can you help me and coach me too? I came here alone because I'm worried about Jareth. He doesn't need to know how nervous I am and you know what happened with Eleanor more than anyone else. You were her right hand man for a while."
It was true, not even Daniel and Lydia knew the other royals as well as Jeremy did.
Jeremy patted her shoulder. "Of course. I will coach you if that helps."
They bid goodbye and as usual, they gave a kiss on each other's cheek. Sarah looked around carefully to avoid any paparazzi.
Unfortunately for her, she didn't realize that someone caught their kiss from right outside the window.
Sarah and Karen were designing her wedding dress. Sarah had a good eye for designs but Karen was the one who had a good eye for materials and color.
"I like that idea." She looked at Sarah's drawing. "It can have the coat of arms sewed into the hem."
"Jareth is going nuts from the fact that I won't let him see the design." Sarah laughed. "I told him I'll run it by Lydia and Jeremy to make sure that it fits protocol or whatever."
Karen pursed her lips at the mention of Jeremy but said nothing. She colored in the flowers and showed the design to Sarah. "You said Jareth's coat will be light blue, his mother's favorite color right? You should make the majority of the flowers on your dress match."
Sarah new immortal powers helped her to see the flicker of Karen's face. "Karen, I saw your face about Jeremy. What's wrong about him?"
Karen tried to further avoid the conversation but one look from Sarah told her that she wasn't going to get away with it.
She sighed. "Look, I understand that Jeremy is Jareth's parental figure and someone you trust. But things haven't always been smooth going with him while he was with Linda."
"What do you mean?" Sarah asked sharply. She had always been defensive over Jeremy. When she was young, it was because Robert had dated Karen and she still idolized her mother and her mother's boyfriend as a consequence. Now, he was close to her and Jareth mostly because he was Jareth's father figure.
Karen was slightly taken aback by Sarah's tone. "Honey, you know why your parents divorced, right?"
Now Sarah was taken aback. She blinked a few times and sat up a little straighter. "Yeah, it's because of how she wanted the limelight back and because she cheated on Dad. You're not insinuating that Jeremy was a part of that. Are you?"
Karen shook her head. "No, I don't mean that one bit. None of that was Jeremy's fault because he dated your mom after. However, because he was falling for your mom, he took to her side. He heard lies from your mother and he believed them. Part of those lies were about you. He believed that Linda was cheated out of custody with you. I don't blame him, he loved her at the time and he eventually found out that she lied."
Sarah couldn't believe it. She had no idea any of this happened. "Mom said what to him? That's a blatant lie. She gave custody over to Dad!"
"Yes and no." Karen gave a sympathetic look to her. "Your father never forced her to give up custody but he knew that she wouldn't take care of you if she had. Even when you visited her, how often did you spend one on one with her? Almost never. He wanted to keep you out of the tabloids and to have a grounded life. Linda agreed but apparently she felt the need to paint your father in a bad light."
Sarah didn't move for a few seconds. She never knew any of this. Come to think of it, she did notice that her father and Jeremy always seemed to be courteous but cold to each other. She had always just assumed it was because he was dating Linda though. People can act weird to their exes new beau even if they're over them.
"Why didn't I know of this?" Sarah almost demanded. "I'm 26 years old now. I'm an adult, about to be queen, and I'm just now knowing this?"
"Sarah, we didn't keep it from you for so long on purpose." Karen tried to defend herself. "When you were young, it was because there was no need to involve you with their issues. You see already in the middle of it all and no one wanted to make it worse. As you got older, we didn't feel the need to say or even care. Plus, you liked Jeremy. And I wanted you to like me too." Her voice tapered off at the end.
"I didn't need to give you another reason to dislike me by bad mouthing them."
Sarah covered her mouth with her hand. She hadn't thought of it that way. "Oh, I was so awful to you, was I?"
Karen gave a hollow laugh. "No, you just wanted your mother. And I was in the way and I know I'm overbearing at times. But look at us now. I'm designing your wedding dress." She beamed at Sarah.
Sarah smiled back. "Man, am I glad that teenage days don't last long."
"You're telling me." Karen winked. "Toby will be a teenager soon. And someday you'll have your own little ones to raise."
"Yeah." Sarah's eyes glazed over and a goofy smile reached her face. The thought of being a mother to Jareth's little children made her feel warm and fuzzy inside.
"So what kind of wedding do you want?" Karen asked. "Any themes that hit you? I know that you have two weddings to deal with so we can be simple with the one here if you'd like."
"Jareth and I were thinking that maybe we could do some kind of star or galaxy themed wedding." Sarah said dreamily. "And let's do it early June because the rain will let up and the flowers are out. I know it costs more in the spring and summer months-"
"Oh hush." Karen waved. "Don't worry too much about that. We won't go bankrupt from having it in your dream month. Early June sounds good. Trying to avoid Summer Solstice?"
"Yeah. We can't really miss it and having a few weeks to get settled as husband and wife for the Solstice then have our official Underground wedding will be great! We're going to get married by the beach Underground, per tradition of course. And it'll actually be warm there!"
They discussed more wedding plans and designs. Sarah had thought she missed Linda, but now that she was with Karen, there was nothing better than this. Linda would have tried to do things her way, but Karen was more patient now with her and really cared for Sarah's input first and foremost now that she was older.
"A little early for this, don't you think?" Jeremy remarked.
Jareth shrugged. "For a fitting? No. I mean, I have to look 'normal' or as normal as I can, aren't I?" He quipped at his older relative.
Jeremy had taken Jareth to get measurements for his Aboveground wedding with a professional place he would get fittings for. They decided on something similar to what he would wear Underground but definitely with looser pants.
"You want to wear a light blue suit jacket?" Jeremy raised an eyebrow. He really wasn't sure what went on Jareth's head sometimes.
"Hey, it's the color of the jacket I'll be wearing on my wedding day with all the military metals and whatever other official crap." The king said defiantly.
"Just checking." Jeremy teased.
They were silent for a moment until Jareth started to speak again. "Jeremy?"
"Hmm?" The older man put down the newspaper and raised an eyebrow. "What is it my boy?"
Jareth squirmed a little bit after the tailor went go find the fabric they wanted. "I was wondering, could you officiate the wedding here? I really want you to be there with me. I have Daniel coming up but it would mean a lot if you had a big part."
Jeremy's heart went out to him. Though Jareth may be a king, he was still that little boy from so long ago. He was still a kid at heart in many ways and still wanted someone to love and guide him. The trauma from his mother's death and the loss of his father and sister really ate at him.
Which made his answer to him even harder.
Jeremy saw the king's shoulders drop and his eyes downcast. Already, Jareth was reading his body language and knew what was going to say.
"Why not?" Jareth pleaded.
Jeremy pinched his nose and sighed. He made sure to let Jareth know how much that meant to him. "Jareth, I would love to. I am honored and would do what I could for you. But I have to decline. For Robert."
Jareth's face scrunched in confusion. "Robert? What does he have to do with this?"
"Jareth, I may be your relative, but I dated his ex after they split for about a decade. I have been around Sarah's life too."
"So?" His voice rose almost to a shrill. "You are not replacing him. He's still escorting her down the isle."
"But he and I have a history, Jareth." Jeremy tried to get him to understand. "I suppose you don't know that once I had accused him of being a selfish man because he had full custody of Sarah?"
"What? No?" Jareth looked and him incredulously. "Why the hell would you say something so stupid? Linda didn't want Sarah."
"Well, kind of." Jeremy breathed a sigh of relief that Jareth wasn't about to storm to Robert's house and demand for them to make up. Though he was a little peeved at the typical Jareth-insult thrown at him. "She did want joint custody to look good but she would often leave Sarah alone while she partied. Sometimes, I would even hang out with the poor girl and make sure she was alright. But prior to that, I didn't know any of this. Linda had lied to me about Robert and though we've apologized, it was a sensitive subject. When you involve a child in an adult argument, a lot of feelings go by. Not just for the children but for the adults too."
"Gods." Jareth shook his head. "I had no idea. Sarah never told me."
"She likely doesn't know." Jeremy said. "Robert tried to keep this away from her, which was good. We get along, as you know, but in many ways, I was almost a stepfather to her. I would've been if Linda married me. I don't want to upstage him at her wedding and I don't want to cause any drama."
Jareth felt so heartbroken. Such emotions weren't alien to him but it was a shame that they would have to accommodate. "I understand. Can you make a toast to us or something instead?"
Jeremy smiled. "I would love to. By the way, what part will Linda be playing at the wedding, if at all?"
"Ha!" Jareth made a crystal and juggled it for fun. "She won't be coming. We aren't going to invite her and THANK GOD. Less awkward for you I assume and less awkward for everyone else too. Sarah was adamant that while she has to invite certain family members, she will not invite Linda. I don't think they've held any conversations or had any contact besides Linda sending some generic Christmas card and only signing her name. Sarah gave up a long time ago."
He whistled a fun tune just thinking about how proud he was of her to not feed into guilt and to not invite her crazy mother. "By the way, I want to add glitter in my hair so it shines."
"Of course you do." Jeremy grinned.
Back behind them, a shadow was lurking and listening to their every word.
It was far from over.
One week later
Sarah and Jareth were back visiting Karen and getting some more ideas done for the wedding. Karen was all about connections. Robert had a friend who owed him a favor and was able to get them a discount for a wedding at a five-star hotel. The two women and the king were chatting excitedly and were going to go pick Toby up.
"He's still at the age of being excited to be with his parents and big sister." Karen said as they drove. She made a left turn to the road of Toby's school. "Will you guys be at his band concert Thursday?"
"Duh." Sarah answered for both of them. "He looks so excited with that trumpet. How is listening to him practice like compared to when I played flute?"
Jareth snorted and Sarah elbowed him. He heard ALL of Sarah's stories about how she was probably annoying the entire house and how Merlin would constantly bark at her whenever she played.
"Oh easy. Toby is worse." Karen laughed. "Maybe flute would have been worse but trumpets are just so loud! And the noise it makes just sounds indecent at times. Now he's been playing for a year and actually sounds like he can play more songs than just hot cross buns. Haven't seen him be so dedicated to doing anything as much as perfecting his playing. It's amazing!"
"That's wonderful to hear." Jareth fully approved of someone learning to play an instrument. "Music is such a good way to express yourself."
Karen told the couple to pick up the young boy while she went to park. Toby probably wanted to be seen with his cool big sister and soon-to-be brother-in-law. Hand in hand, Jareth and Sarah walked towards the band room where Toby would be picking up his trumpet.
A few of the teachers blushed at seeing Jareth, for he was so outlandish but also so handsome. However, some of Sarah's past teachers recognized her and greeted her here and there while shuffling on their group of children. Sarah introduced her fiancé and they all expressed their congratulations. Jareth preened at being showed off by his lady.
Sarah saw Mrs. Armstrong, her old band teacher and now her brother's teacher. "Mrs. Armstrong!"
"Well if it isn't Sarah Williams!" She laughed and embraced the girl. "How are you sweetie?"
Jareth stood back to let the two women catch up. Still no sign of Toby. Hmm. That didn't seem so normal.
Call it a hunch, but the king felt something prick at his skin and the hairs on his neck stood up. His eyes sharply looked up around him. He saw Sarah turn back to see him.
She felt it too.
She turned back momentarily to her teacher. "Do you know where Toby is? I'm sorry, my fiancé and I have to go."
"He should have been with us, I saw him a moment ago." Mrs. Armstrong looked around strangely. "If you can't find him, come back to me after all these kids are dropped off. Pleasure to meet you, Jareth."
Jareth politely shook hands with her and they went off to find Toby.
"I feel weird, like I'm being watched." She said to him.
"I feel it too." Jareth's face was hard and unpleasant. "Let's find Toby and take him and Karen home."
They turned the corner to go to the band room's entrance when a bright flash was shoved into their faces.
"Sarah Williams!"
"What the hell?" Sarah gasped at the amount of photographers trying to get a photo of her and Jareth.
"Is this your husband to be?" One asked her.
"What were you doing at Jeremy Allen's house? Why were you kissing him?"
"Jared is it? Did you really plan to not have Linda show up at your wedding?"
Question after question. Sarah panicked but lucky for her, Jareth held her shoulders so her magic wouldn't explode in their faces. How did they know of her wedding? How did they know that they had visited Jeremy?
And what was it about Jeremy and Sarah kissing?
"What are you doing here?" The king demanded them. "This is a school!"
Sarah closed her eyes and focused calmly. "I decline to comment at this moment! You are invading our privacy!"
Jareth discreetly formed a small crystal to track down Toby. To his relief, he had found his way to Karen in the car. The bad news was, more reporters were surrounding Karen.
He yanked Sarah into the school building. Walking into an empty classroom, he formed a crystal. "Karen?"
Karen's face appeared. "Oh my god, Jareth what's going on?"
"No idea." He said. "Sarah and I will transport home, you drive away."
"And we'll contact dad as soon as we can." Sarah growled. "I think I know what happened."
Back at the house, the reporters followed them all the way back but didn't come in of course. They just parked there as going inside would be considering trespassing on private property.
"What was that?" Karen looked hurried. "They were asking Toby questions about you two."
Sarah had her mouth stuck in a tight line as she called her father. "Dad?"
"Honey I'm in the middle of a meeting right now and I'm only answering because you called five times, is something wrong?" He sounded worried.
Sarah struggled to not strangle someone and to not direct her anger at her father. "I don't know exactly how or why, but reporters are in front of our house right now. Jareth went to the grocery in disguise and we found some tabloids of us."
There was a large photo of Sarah giving Jeremy a kiss on the cheek, though the angle made it look like they were kissing on the lips.
Could this be the reason Linda and Jeremy had split? One cover read. Could it be that her daughter had struck up a romance with the man who could have been her stepfather?
Linda's daughter marrying a man who is related to her ex! Another title read. Or is it just a cover up for her romance with Jeremy?
Linda not invited to the wedding, but Jeremy is! Yet another read.
Inside the tabloids were some speculation about what had happened. Most theories suggested that Sarah and Jeremy had a romance and she was marrying Jareth as a way to get closer to him. And some, but fewer, correctly suggested that she and Linda had a falling out which was why she was not invited to the wedding.
All of them though, wondered why Jeremy was invited to the wedding.
And all of them had a statement written by Linda herself.
There was yet another photo of Linda crying, being incoherent and saying things like "I can't believe she would do this to me!" And other inconclusive things. She didn't confirm or deny any theories.
"WHAT?" Robert yelled. "You're kidding right?"
"I wish I was!" She yelled into the phone. "I'm going to call her!"
"Sarah, please don't be rash." Robert begged her. "I'm coming back home right now."
Too late. She hung up on him and was starting to dial another number.
"I'm so confused." Toby said. "Mom, what's happening?"
"I'd like to know too." Jareth looked at Karen.
Karen faced Toby. "Maybe you should go upstairs and let the adults talk."
"NO WAY." Toby yelled. "I was the one who got bombarded by reporters! I'm 12, not 7 or 8. I deserve to know what's happening."
Meanwhile, Sarah finally found the right number. She sat there waiting angrily.
"Fine fine." Karen didn't want to argue with her son. "Your Dad and Linda had a deal to keep the tabloids out of Sarah's life. He worked tooth and nail to get her to have a normal life. This wasn't as bad when she was on broadway but then she would occasionally act in Hollywood along big stars."
She watched her stepdaughter in dismay. "And things were fine until today for some reason."
Sarah waited patiently until someone answered the phone.
"Hello? Krista? Yes this is Sarah…. Yeah."
Krista seemed to be speaking very fast from what Jareth's sensitive ears could pick up. Then Sarah started to yell again. "BULLSHIT!"
Karen cringed at her stepdaughter's swearing and would normally tell her to tone it down for Toby's sake. But Sarah was on a roll.
"Okay Krista, stop pretending like you don't know who I am! I've known you since my parents divorced. GET LINDA ON THE GODDAMN PHONE NOW!"
And then silence.
Sarah nearly slammed the phone back into the receiver. She huffed and turned to her family. She brought up her hands for air quotations. "Krista says 'oh I'm sorry if you want to speak to Linda please set up an appointment. I don't know who you are.' UGH!" She plopped on the couch. "This is stupid! I know for sure now that she set me up and is too cowardly to talk to me!"
"I'm still unsure of what you're thinking." Jareth's eyebrows creased together. "Maybe something to help calm you down?"
"Oh hell no." Sarah looked at him with defiance. "I plan to stay angry. How dare they go to Toby's school and berate him there? How dare they feel the need to invade in my private life?"
"Isn't that what you'll be doing as queen though?" Toby asked her. "I mean, be in the public eye."
"That's completely different." She retorted. "I am going to choose to be in the public eye UNDERGROUND. I did no such thing here. And to go after a minor like you. Did you guys call the police yet?"
"I got some different news agencies and when your dad gets home, we'll talk about using the law to protect Toby." Karen reassured her. "I'm curious about what Jareth said. How do you know Linda was behind all of this and not just some spies who are hungry for any news?"
Sarah picked up one of the magazines and flipped through it with quickness and ease from being a changling. "Here. The photo of Jeremy and I. That logo for the copyright, Tourain Images is from one of the company she sponsors. She's hired them to track down Jeremy and other exes before. Exes like Keith."
"Keith?" Toby asked.
"The man she cheated on Dad with." Sarah replied. "She's targeting me."
She turned to Karen. "You know Linda. She ALWAYS holds a grudge. I bet that she's been spying on Jeremy for a while but hasn't leaked anything until now because she didn't have any dirt against him and now he's broken off his engagement from whoever he was dating."
Jareth was looking at her with a sideways glance. Something still felt off about this. Like she was hiding some information. "So, why were you at Jeremy's alone? I wasn't aware of this."
At this, Sarah's head snapped to her fiancé. The bright green anger in her eyes was unmistakable. "Are you accusing me of the same thing these tabloids are?"
"What the hell Sarah?" He demanded. "I just was asking!"
"Because you don't trust me?" She nearly sobbed. "I thought we went through this! I want you and no one else. Jeremy is like an uncle to both of us!"
"I do trust you!" He screamed. "I just wanted to know what happened, that's all! Why are you acting so suspicious? Do you have something to hide?" He grabbed onto her wrist to stop her from moving but not hard. Just enough to alert her that he was there.
She yanked her hand away even though he wasn't holding her hard and stormed off to her old bedroom. "I can't believe that you would accuse me and not trust me!"
And she slammed the door shut.
Jareth had a mind to transport to the room and yell at her, but Karen held onto his sleeve. "Hey, let her calm down. She's just really edgy when it comes to Linda. I've never heard her call her mother by her first name before. Have you two had anything to eat?" She asked him.
Both Jareth and Toby looked at her, confused.
"Food helps you think, you know." She said. "Being hungry does you or Sarah no favors. She could just be short circuited at the moment."
Toby shifted a little uncomfortably. "Is this a bad time to tell you guys that we have some bad news?"
Jareth pinched his nose and Karen tried to not scold her son. The king gave him a tired look. "Proceed, Toby."
Toby looked to the window. "You guys were yelling pretty loudly and the window was open."
Jareth and Karen saw, in their horror, that the reporters were still outside and many tried to set up listening devices from the street.
Jareth rolled up his sleeve. "Those motherf-"
"Hey enough swearing." Karen clicked her tongue at him. "I'll go make a sandwich and you can give it to Sarah. Let's not worry about things we can't control."
Karen got Jareth a grilled cheese with a tomato inside for Sarah. "Try to not get into a yelling match again, okay?"
Jareth smirked. "I'll try. You know how my temper gets."
"Oh, I'm aware." She smiled back.
Jareth slowly knocked on the door. "Sarah?"
She didn't respond for a moment.
He tried again. "Sarah, please open the door. I have some food for you too, a grilled cheese with tomato. Why on earth you like tomato is beyond me."
That did the trick. He heard a little chuckle and the door opened slightly. He saw that she had been crying. She beckoned him. "Come in."
They walked over to the bed and sat in it next to her. Now that this wasn't Sarah's home any longer, it was a guest room. Most of her things were packed away in the attic but the bedspread was still there. It felt empty but of course, this was a place where magic happened for her.
"Thank you." She took the sandwich and ate it. "I didn't realize that I hadn't eaten lunch."
Jareth put an arm around her and kissed her head. "I know you get 'hangry' as Karen calls it. I admit I was too. I'm sorry I yelled at you." He sighed.
Sarah giggled at the breadcrumb on his lip and wiped it off with her thumb. "Look at you, apologizing."
"Don't get used to it." He captured her hand and kissed it. "I do it for you mostly."
"And because you know you're wrong, I hope." She couldn't help but egg him on.
Jareth responded with a grunt. He eyed her and tilted his head for her turn.
"Oh okay." She relented. "I'm sorry for snapping at you too. I did get defensive, wasn't I?"
She set down her plate. She didn't want to tell Jareth what had happened but now she felt like she had to or else he would be nervous. "I went to visit Jeremy alone because I didn't want to worry you."
Jareth pulled her closer to him and tilted her chin up. "Now why would you feel like that? I thought we promised no secrets."
"It's the engagement party. The ball." She clarified. "You're so busy and I know you've been helping me a lot but…"
She paused a little and drank some water.
"But what?" He nudged her.
"But I didn't know how to tell you that I still have insecurities." She said quietly. "Not about you wanting to be with someone else or anything, but you know how petty court can get. The last time I was at a ball with you… The Yule Ball… Well we know how that went. And this engagement ball is going to be a state function. This will include your exes too and I can never escape them."
She put her face in her hands. "I went to see Jeremy because he knows a lot of people at court from him being your mother's right hand man. He knows the ins and outs and I didn't want to bother you about it because I'm stupid and have too many issues. I don't ever have to see my exes again but yours will always be around somewhere and I know some are petty enough to remind me that they were made and raised to be Goblin Queen. And here I am, a changling who came from the middle of nowhere about to be queen. I just fell in love with its king." She ended.
Jareth's eyes went downcast. He hadn't thought of it this way before. Oh, his poor Sarah. This would be a demon she would forever had to deal with. It didn't matter if she passed the Trials or if she became a changling. Insecurities would not vanish overnight like one of those evil creatures they had to fight.
In their mind, they knew what was logical. They could go through anything together. The anxiety and emotions take a bit of time to catch up. And she didn't want to waste that time by going through the same old thing with him over and over.
"Hey." He kissed her eyelids. "I understand. I really do. I know you did that for me but you're already perfect and you don't have to make everyone like you. I don't have any good advice besides what I've given you. Maybe seeing Jeremy was a good idea for he's wiser than me and yes, he does know the specific people."
He groaned. "I also hate the fact that most of my exes will be at the ball. I was forced to date mostly royals and now they're everywhere."
"Imagine if we had to deal with my exes too." She scoffed. But her eyes were playful. She had calmed down now and didn't feel like Jareth thought she had betrayed his trust with Jeremy.
"I'd prefer that actually. They're all mortal, so we wouldn't have to deal with them forever." He showed her his pointy teeth.
"Jareth!" She swatted at him and laughed.
"For real though." He said. "At least they're human. Humans are much less petty than immortals. We live forever. For humans, life is too short for grudges. I'm sorry you have to deal with my past."
Sarah wrapped her arms around his neck. "It does suck and I still have anxiety. But what I'm trying to remember is that while they may have been your past, I am your present and your future."
"My one and only." Jareth agreed.
They kissed before meeting with Robert downstairs.
Robert made phone calls all over, and was stressing out. Badly. He was able to protect Toby but for him, Karen, Sarah, and Jareth, it was all going to be a big and crazy mess.
"I tried to call her again." Sarah grabbed a bottle of wine. She was going to need it to get through this. "She won't answer me. That coward."
"She's not a coward, she's smart." Jareth rolled a crystal in his hands to keep them busy. "Sarah, you need to think politically."
Sarah paused before taking a sip of wine. "What do you mean?"
Jareth got up to pace. "You have this notion of what Linda is like. She's your mother after all."
"She's not my mother." Sarah said tersely. Both Robert and Karen shrank back a little at the angry glow in her eyes. Since she had become a changling, her powers had been not only stronger, but she seemed to hold authority and a bit of cruelty like Jareth. "A mother doesn't toss her child aside like that and then try to infringe upon her life."
"Fine, then she was your mother. Better?" Jareth was exasperated and didn't want to argue semantics. "You looked up to her when you were younger, for years. And then now, you aren't feeling that way anymore of course but you still seem to almost be in denial or upset that she would 'dare do this' when in your mind, you've always known that she's been this kind of person."
"Wha- denial?" Sarah couldn't believe he would say such a thing. She had known what kind of person Linda was for al long time and had dispelled all notions of her being a good person. "Why you-"
"Stop." Jareth held his hand up in kingly authority. "Do not start on me or accuse me of things. I know how you feel. Have you forgotten why Jeremy is the only family I have left in the first place?"
Sarah took another breath to argue, but as he said those last words, she really, truly thought about it. In her heart, she had hoped that Linda would change. People could change, and she always believed that. But more often than not, they didn't. And Linda was one of those people.
"After all this time." Sarah sat down and took a large gulp of alcohol. "I thought maybe she would change. I had a small hope that she would come to love me more than her reputation or her pride. That I was someone important to her."
"Oh honey." Robert pulled her in close and wrapped his arms around his daughter. "Hey, you are a good, good person and you gave your best shot."
"Jareth's right." Sarah mumbled, looking over Robert's shoulder to see Jareth sitting next to Karen, staring sadly at her. "I have been in denial. And I don't know what to do with her because I keep hoping that if I don't cut things off from her, then there will be a time to come back." She wiped her eyes. "Now though, now I know that my relationship with her isn't worth saving."
Robert held her face in his hands and kissed her forehead. "My Sarah. You always have us, okay? This isn't a decision that you have to make tonight. We can discuss it tomorrow. Get some rest and come back then."
It was the best course of action. Sarah and Jareth bid her family goodbye and they transported back into their chambers.
Jareth let go of her waist but Sarah just held him tighter. "Please, just hold me, Jareth. I need to remember and to feel that you're here for me."
He understood. "I always am, Sarah. Just like you were there for me when my world fell, I will be here for you."
Sarah slept for a few hours then awoke to Jareth beside her on the bed, writing a few things.
"Hey." She scooted closer to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, kissing his shoulder. "What are you up to?"
Jareth kissed her cheek. "Writing in my journal. Just thinking and reflecting."
"That's good." Sarah put her hand on his thigh under the covers and gave a squeeze. "I'm sorry for how frustrated I was today."
"No need to apologize, love." Jareth reassured her.
They sat in silence for a bit, only the sound of a pen gliding across the page could be heard before Jareth closed his journal shut.
Sarah saw the look in his eyes. It was something between sadness, longing, and a lot of action planning in his mind. She could even feel his heart begin to race a little.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She ran her fingers in his hair. She knew he loved it and how much it comforted him.
"I was thinking about my mother." Jareth said quietly. He didn't want to even say it at first since Sarah was having issues with her own, but he found that by talking about his own problems, it helped both of them to put things into perspective.
Sarah put a hand on his chest and traced her thumb on his pendant. He had been missing her quite a bit now that he was going to have a huge milestone in his life: marriage. She had an idea come to her. "Jareth, would it help to go visit her?"
Jareth stiffened a bit at the idea. "You mean, go to the family crypt?"
Sarah nodded. "When was the last time you went?"
Jareth sighed. "Not since she died."
"Then maybe it's time to go and pay her a visit." Sarah held his hand. "Maybe it will help you. And when we come back, we can make some kind of shrine, some memorial in her honor. A lot of people make benches Above. We could dedicate some kind of garden or something. Maybe it would do you good to speak to her."
Jareth thought about this. His mother passed, and even if her soul was around somewhere, he knew that she wouldn't be bothered that he didn't visit her. This was more for him than anyone else. But grieving doesn't stop when you love the person so much that they're a part of you. He would have said no before, but with Sarah, he decided to try. "I'll go, only if you come with me."
Sarah nuzzled against him. "Of course."
Sarah made sure to be dressing her best. Nothing over the top for a ball, more like someone's Sunday best. Polite, conservative. Semi formal. She donned on an A-line black skirt and a soft yellow blouse.
Jareth was so dressed in such a fashion, but his own style, as usual. He had on black boots around his black tights. He had on a brown overcoat and his hair looked tamer than usual, though still wild.
They would be visiting someone important today.
Jareth preferred to keep to himself, but after speaking with Jeremy about how much he wished he had his family at the wedding, he decided that it was time for him to go visit after so many years. Maybe it was a way to dress the old wounds rather than open them up. Sarah would be his anchor, and he could visit her alone too if needed.
He agreed. Having Sarah by his side would mean a lot to him and keep him grounded. She held his hand and kissed his knuckles for confirmation that she was there with him.
They walked over to the cemetery. It was a beautiful land, actually. Grass was green and flowers all over. Unlike Above, the Underground had relatively few people in their population and royalties were able to have their own family crypt. Jareth tapped the statue of Solana and Muraco, their reigning deities.
The statue moved to reveal a staircase. The king and his fiancée both made glowing crystal orbs to float in front of them. Descending downward, Sarah clutched her cape closer to herself to keep warm.
They passed multiple, multiple effigies and spaces. Sarah could see the look on Jareth's face, one of dislike for such a space.
"I've always hated this space." He said. "And the thought of being buried here sickens me. It feels unnatural to have my body surrounded by stone instead of going through nature's way and decomposing in the dirt, for a new life cycle."
"I understand that." Sarah patted his hand. Everyone had different thoughts of how they'd like to be buried, or not at all. She had wanted to be an organ donor if possible, but now she was a changling that wouldn't be feasible. "I think people should be able to be buried pretty much however they please."
"Perhaps we can change that." Jareth smiled at her.
They reached their destination where the previous Goblin Queen laid. Jareth whispered a few words, and the room opened.
As Queen Eleanor was the most recent royal to pass away, her body was isolated from others in case of a need to visit.
Like right now.
Her coffin had her effigy on top, sleeping peacefully with her hands placed at her heart. Jareth told her that the effigy, while looking a lot like her, did not do her justice. It did not show her kindness or her smile. It did not show how good of a mother she was.
Jareth laid his hand on the arm of the effigy. His eyes were swimming with emotions. "Hello, Mother. It's been a long, long time." He spoke as if she was still there, still listening.
Who knows. Maybe she was.
Sarah tried to move back a little, to give him space but he held onto her hand even tighter. She understood and put an arm around him.
"I've thought of you often." He smiled. "It's hard to believe that I've grown up without you. I could've used your guidance, but I'm glad I got to experience your love. Your love is what held me all this time and it's why I was able to eventually open up to someone special."
He looked at Sarah adoringly. "I'd like to introduce you, mother, to my bride to be, Sarah Williams. She ran my Labyrinth at such a young age. She defeated my prideful ego and befriended me. I was too stubborn to tell her that I loved her for fear of rejection and for fear that I wasn't good enough. But she's strong. So strong. And I know you would've loved her."
He let out a sob and went down on one knee for respect. "I love you, Mother. I've missed you so much."
Sarah went down on the floor with him and cradled him in her arms. She let him cry, knowing that he had been holding a lot of emotions in him for so long. She knew that he missed her greatly and wished that he could've talked to her about their courtship and their problems with his father and sister.
Jareth rested his head on Sarah's shoulder. "Thank you, love."
Sarah kissed his cheek. "I'm here for you."
She wasn't planning on doing this, but she felt the need to honor his late mother and to show Jareth that she understood his pain too.
Sarah also spoke as if the former queen was listening. She bowed her head a little. "Queen Eleanor, I cannot tell you how privileged I've been to have your son in my life. Jareth has treated me well, has been a friend and will be the best husband. Thank you for giving him the love that he's had in him. Because of your influence on him, however short, you've guided him throughout these years."
She took a glance at Jareth who was now behind her with his hands on her stomach. His breathing had slowed but she could feel his tears on her hair. Turning back to the former queen, she spoke some more. "I want you to know, that just as he had asked my parents for their blessing, I would have asked you for yours. As he had promised to love and cherish me, to protect and to take care of me, I promise to you to love, cherish, protect, and take care of him to the best of my abilities. He deserves nothing less and I want you to know that I am honored to have him."
She bowed her head once more. "For years to come, Jareth and I will tell our children about you. We will share whatever stories we can gather from everyone who knew you as well as his own memories. We have Jeremy too. Your memory will live on with us and never fade. Your legacy will continue forever for you have raised a king that is open to change and good in the world."
She knelt down on one knee and crossed an arm over her chest in a sign of loyalty to the late queen.
Jareth stood up, one hand caressing the tip of Sarah's head and the other brushing off some dust from the effigy (and using some magic to clean part of it). He leaned down and kissed the top of the effigy's head. The two most important women in his life were in the same room and he took comfort in the love both had granted him.
"May we meet again, in the Summerlands." He told his sweet mother. He took Sarah's hand and off they went back to the world of the living.
"Thank you for that." He told her when they closed the entrance to the crypt. "I don't know if the summerlands are real or if she was even listening. I'd like to think she was."
"Of course, Love. What's important is that you know how she would have done and said." Sarah hugged him close to her, her head tilting up to him. "I'm glad we went. How do you feel?"
Jareth tilted his head a little. "Relieved, strangely. Like something in my heart I had carried but never realizing I had. I may not have a good father or sister, but I had a good mother and now a future wife who will keep me in good hands." He curled a strand of hair behind her ear. "To be able to speak to her was something I didn't know I needed."
He sniffed. "I still can't believe she's gone. I know it's so silly after so many years of being without her."
Sarah placed both hands on his face. "The people who love us never really leave us. She lives forever in you." She placed her hand on his chest where his heart was. "She will always be there by your side."
They shared yet another kiss.
Now, it was time to deal with Linda.
Sarah decided to be political, as Jareth said. She wasn't going to bait Linda, she wasn't going to be petty, she was just going to do what needed to be done.
Against Robert's wishes, Sarah decided to contact a few news agencies and lawyers to do her bidding. The first thing she and Jareth got done was to make sure that every single damned reporter who showed up at Toby's school to be fired and have their credentials taken away. Hungry for the story is one thing, but to swoop into a school was crossing a big fat line.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Jareth asked her. "Would ignoring her be better?"
"Considering that it's been one freaking month and they still haven't let up, I'm going to play her game." Sarah said sternly. "But I won't give her the satisfaction of trying to talk with her again."
After those first calls, Sarah decided that enough was enough. Clearly Linda was just doing this for her own attention, to be relevant in the news. Sarah wasn't just doing this for herself. As a future Goblin Queen, she could disguise herself. It was Jeremy and her family that she had to worry about.
"So if you're not going to make a statement to the media, what will you do?" Jeremy asked her. "What's your secret weapon?"
"My fiancé." Sarah gave a slow grin towards Jareth.
In her penthouse, Linda Williams was getting more and more agitated. She was waiting, waiting for Sarah to break. She was hoping that Sarah would lose her temper and then crawl back to her, letting her once again take control of her life and to use her as a crutch for all the issues in her life. Sarah was young, beautiful, whereas Linda was getting older.
She wore a very luxurious and expensive bathrobe that cost her around $500 and decided to have a pedicure right in her own living room. She flipped the television on and began to watch the news of the day.
"And today we have reports of Jeremy Allen-"
Linda leaned in closer at Jeremy's name.
"-who was seen having coffee with a striking young man confirmed to be engaged to Linda William's daughter. If you recall, Jeremy and Linda had a long and high profile relationship with. It seems that he has no problem at all whatsoever with the kiss that seemed to be shared between his future wife and Jeremy. Further investigation shows that the young man's name is Jareth, who visited Jeremy quite often. Look, even some adoring fans are getting him right now!"
Linda was gripping her wine glass so tightly, it was a miracle that it didn't break. Though she had money and fame, she wasn't nearly as adored as Jeremy. She never understood why. And now, Sarah's fiancé wasn't even upset but was happy!
"Excuse me, excuse me." The news anchor approached Jeremy. "Who is this young man right here?"
"My nephew." Jeremy smiled proudly at Jareth. "We were just having a chat."
"Over wedding plans I assume?" The news anchor pushed in. "Is it true that you were seen greeting your ex's daughter with a kiss?" She turned to Jareth. "How do you feel about that?"
Jareth laughed. "How do I feel about an important man in my fiancée's life kissing her cheek? Is that truly a question?"
"But Linda-"
"Oh? Now why the concern?" Jareth looked directly into the camera, every bit as sassy and condescending as the king he was. "Are you accusing Linda of being so stupid that she would really think that way about her own daughter?"
Sarah had told Jareth to actually say this. That way, it wouldn't look like THEY were accusing Linda of anything, but to let the public and the media come to their own conclusions about her mother's awfulness.
The news anchor faltered a bit. "But her statements, saying that her daughter betrayed her-"
"She said that?" Jareth looked surprised. "Well, I suppose we shall make our own conclusions about that, wouldn't we?"
"And is she invited to the wedding? You were heard saying that she wasn't. And yet, Jeremy is."
"By whose words?" Jareth stood authoritatively. "We have yet to even send invitations."
"Linda said-"
"Oh for crying out loud!" Jareth yelled impatiently. Linda could see genuine anger on his face. She put her hands together gleefully. She had sent her spies to go and find out information about Jeremy. Maybe Jareth will let something slip.
Jareth pinched the bridge of his nose. "Listen, no one was supposed to know of the wedding yet. I don't know how people found out, and I said no such thing about Linda."
Linda frowned. "But he did!" She yelled at the TV. "He definitely said that I wasn't invited!"
"The only plans we had discussed for the wedding was how I would propose." Jareth looked over at Jeremy, who was still with a horde of fans. "He's my uncle, my father figure and helped me to propose. How did people find out? I hadn't even told her parents before discussing it with Jeremy."
Jareth may look distressed on the outside but inside he knew his plan was unfolding. He and Jeremy had a suspicion that someone had been a mole, listening in on them during Jareth's first fitting. Though he deliberately made it sound like he had proposed to Sarah recently and not a month ago, everything else was pretty accurate. No one was supposed to know about any wedding plans yet. Only her immediate family and then Jeremy. Well, the entire Underground practically knew but they didn't count.
By directing the conversation away from Linda and make it about how Jareth viewed Jeremy as a father figure, that alone would condemn Linda for being insensitive towards Sarah without anyone actually saying anything to Linda herself.
"I would appreciate it if you would allow me, my future wife, and my family to enjoy privacy in a life changing moment for us." Jareth said to the news anchor.
"Of course." The news anchor walked away from Jareth's upset face.
Jareth shook his head. He loved modern technology, but when it came to things like this, he was glad that it wasn't nearly as invasive in his own realm. Hell, the Underground had enough nosy people. Imagine what would happen if they had access to cameras!
Linda paced back and forth. This was NOT going well at all. She supposed that Sarah did try to contact her.
"As you can see folks, it seems that we had been mistaken about Linda Williams."
Linda stopped pacing and sat back down.
"Linda here seems to be invading on the privacy of her own daughter. It seems that while we have no confirmation, there was no way for her to find out any information except for spying. You heard her fiancé, Jeremy heard about the proposal and wedding because of his relation to the soon-to-be-groom. Not because the daughter was trying to scorn her mother."
The news anchor went on about how other celebrities seemed to think the same about Linda, some even going so far as to call her a bully.
Oh, her daughter wasn't going to get away with this.
She had her ways. Sarah WILL come crawling back to her.
"A bird?" Jareth took another mouthful of popcorn in his mouth.
"You're making a mess!" Karen sighed at him. "Are you always this messy?"
"Funny, he's impeccably clean except for eating." Sarah used magic to send the popcorn bits into the trash.
"Hey, are you guys going to keep guessing or not?" Toby was flapping his hands in their game of charades.
"I thought talking wasn't allowed. You know that I am a stickler for rules and being fair." Jareth raised his eyebrows at Sarah and nipped her ear when she moved away.
"You guys are impossible." Robert said half heartedly. "Um, Toby are you doing a specific kind of bird?"
"Oh! An owl!" Jareth guessed.
Toby shook his head.
"A turkey?" Karen gave a shot.
"Turkeys don't fly." Sarah told her stepmother. "The goblins did try that once though."
"Don't ever, ever bring that up again." Jareth put a hand to his head as if the memory gave him an instant headache.
"It was funny." Sarah snickered. "I told them about Thanksgiving and then they thought that you'd enjoy a flying turkey."
"And you recall the hordes and hordes of turkey feathers when it landed into my chambers? That wasn't so fun, Precious." Jareth rolled his eyes.
"EAGLE!" Robert yelled. "Are you an eagle?"
Toby nodded. "You got it dad!"
RIIIING!
"I got it." Sarah reassured her parents. They had a long day today and she wanted to help them to relax. Plus it could be her wedding planner.
She picked the phone up. "Hello? Williams Residence."
"YOU LITTLE BITCH!"
Sarah moved her ear away from the phone, her lips pursed and magic flowing in her veins, trying to keep it from reacting. "Hello, Linda." She said with icy calm.
"I don't know what you're doing, but you're lying. I have proof that you and your trash fiancé and my trash of an ex are out to get me!" Linda seethed.
Sarah couldn't help it. She started to laugh hysterically. She even wiped a tear from her eye. "Out to get you? You have proof of what, exactly? That I don't want you in my life? Well go ahead, tell the press! Show them that you invaded our privacy! This is the first time you've talked to me in YEARS and you decided to call me a bitch?"
"You are my daughter, you are supposed to listen and obey me." Linda screeched. "I will cut you off my will!"
As if Sarah would care. She was about to become a queen. "A will? You have a will with all that spending you do?"
"Stop insulting me."
"Stop telling me to obey you like some stupid puppet. I am a woman of my own worth, of my own right! You chose to cut me off and burn that bridge. You can't move on with your own freaking life." Sarah had to mentally remind herself to not grip the phone so hard for her changling strength made her capable of actually breaking the thing.
"You listen to me right now young lady. I-"
"YOU HAVE NO POWER OVER ME!" Sarah screeched. "No one has power over me unless I give it to them. And you don't have it anymore!"
She slammed the phone in the receiver. That felt GOOD. She hoped that she wouldn't cry about it later, but for now, she was going to spend time with her family. With Jareth. And prepare for her wedding.
She had bigger fish to fry tomorrow than to deal with her petty mother. Linda may have gotten the match but Sarah was the one who allowed their bridge to burn.
Something changed in Sarah when she told Linda she had no power over her. She felt more bold, more confident. She was to be the goblin queen, not someone to be intimidated.
And that included at her own engagement party.
Jareth wore the same outfit as in the peach dream, his dark blue jacket with glitter with the long tail. He wore black tights and black boots. This was at Sarah's request for no one had seen him wear this before and she found that this was her favorite formal outfit of his. He dyed his hair so the tips were blue and put on peach flavored lipgloss.
She had a dark blue dress with small gems dotted all over so she glowed like the night sky to match him. It had long sleeves and hugged her body nicely. It was low cut in the back and in the front had a generous cleavage, going all the way down to almost her naval. Just the perfect line between sexy and classy, just like how everyone would be dressed at the ball.
As queen to be, Jareth commissioned a necklace for her, one to match her dress for the night. She lifted up her long, straight hair for him to clasp on the sapphire necklace on her, resting in between her breasts.
"You look absolutely ravishing." He held her from behind. "I have a mind to just-"
"Don't even." Sarah playfully pushed him away from her. "We have some decorum to retain."
"Decorum is near impossible with you dressed like that." He licked his lips. "Maybe you dressed like that was a bad idea. All these other men are going to come and eat you up."
"Trust me, they'll do no such thing." Sarah kissed his cheek. Then she leaned in to whisper in his ear. "That's your job."
"Mmm. That is so very right." He chuckled.
"Are you sure you won't dance with anyone tonight?" Sarah laid her arm in the crook of his elbow. "It's okay if you dance you know."
"I know, but I don't want to." He said flatly. "I have no desire to dance with anyone but my soon-to-be-wife. If you want to dance with anyone else-"
"Nope." Sarah said with a smile. She also had no desire to dance with anyone but him. "I'm good."
Jareth's decision to only dance with her wasn't just so others would see how much he wanted her. It was to show that no matter what, he would not take a mistress. He loved Sarah and would treasure her forever. She would not be pushed aside for countless of women. He knew what that life was like and had no desire for it. Sarah made him fulfilled in every way possible. How could he even think about wanting anyone else but her?
Daniel stood a little from them, am in arm with Lydia who would be announcing them. "Introducing, the King of Goblins and his betrothed, The one and only Champion of the Labyrinth!"
The room erupted with applause. Some were genuinely happy. Some didn't really care. Some were just curious at the sight of any woman finally getting Jareth to settle down. And then some were outright jealous or upset at a human on a throne even if Sarah had gained permission from the other monarchs to be queen.
They mingled and talked with the different monarchs and noble families. Sarah felt a flutter of anxiety at times when another ex of Jareth's would come up, but Jareth kept his arm around her constantly, his hand resting on her hip. She was grateful for that.
Somehow, they got separated and it annoyed them greatly but it was important for Sarah to be seen independently for she was to hold the crown matrimonial. She was able to even secure some trades and political maneuvers.
One such lady was pissing Sarah off though. Her name was Lady Lena, a noblewoman from Ingrid's kingdom and an former flame of Jareth's. Sort of, she and Jareth had courted for about a week as a favor to his father but he broke it off. They had kissed once and Jareth decided that was the end of it.
Jareth had made it clear that he would never, ever allow Ingrid back into his life as a sister but was willing to get along with her through political dealings as monarchs. It would do no good for their kingdoms to not come into contact just because the monarchs hated each other. It seems now, that Ingrid had sent Lena to annoy Sarah.
Sarah, with her new vision, saw Lena trying to get Jareth to dance with her.
"Your Majesty." She crooned. "Why not a dance, for old time's sake?"
"I'm afraid that I have announced that I will dance with no one but my betrothed." Jareth said politely. "I will not make an exception for anyone."
Lena batted her long lashes and leaned forward to show cleavage, rubbing her hand up and down Jareth's arm before he snatched it away. "I don't mind doing what I can to be by your side, even if it's just a dance, Jareth…"
"Pardon me." Sarah appeared next to Jareth, a smile on her face but a deadly look on her eyes that made Jareth glad that it wasn't directed towards him. He breathed a sigh of relief.
"Who is this?" Sarah gave a nod towards Lena.
Jareth extended his hand out to Sarah, kissing the back of her hand and letting his lips linger on her longer than usual. She looked gorgeous with the way the dress hugged her curves and the slit on her leg made him want to just open it up to see more of it. He controlled himself, but barely.
He stood back up. "Sarah, this is Lady Lena. Lady Lena, this is my betrothed, the love of my life and my future queen, Sarah."
The way he smiled at Sarah didn't go unnoticed by not only Lena but anyone near by. It was like she was his very light, his very heart. Sarah herself momentarily forgot about Lena in the warmth of his love.
"Pleasure." Sarah curtsied to Lena. "I look forward to your acquaintance."
And look forward she did.
Jareth would have loved to stay and see what Sarah would do but her tone was clearly telling him to stay out of her way. He respected that and looked forward to hearing about it later. He bowed and made his leave.
Lena looked absolutely furious at Sarah. "So, this is the quaint little girl he picked up from the human world. Bored of immortals isn't he? Now he's moved onto humans?"
To Lena's surprise, Sarah laughed. "That's the least you can do to insult me? You call me a little girl, but who was it that beat the Labyrinth? Who was it that won the Trials and became the only human to earn the crown matrimonial, one that is rarely given even for immortals? Who was the only one who was able to fully win the king's heart just by being herself?"
Lena fought the urge to shrink back. She couldn't explain why Sarah held that air of authority. She had a glimpse of the girl at the Yule Ball a few years back and she had seemed to scared then. Now, she had confidence and grace fit for a queen. Not that Lena would tell her that.
Sarah leaned close to Lena. "If you try to touch him again, I will make sure that you will pay. Like my betrothed, I am generous but I can be cruel too. It comes with the job, one that my future subjects have accepted me to do long ago. I don't tolerate harassment on my love especially in our home. Don't defy me."
Jareth had been more outrightly cruel. Sarah had learned to be sneakier and to wait before pulling out the big guns. She would not let someone walk all over her. She had declared the king and her own other to have no power over her (well, Jareth did have some power over her now) but she was NOT going to let some girl who dated him for a short time to act like she owned the place.
And with that, she left Lena to go speak with other guests.
Jareth looked around over and over for Sarah when the music started to play a slow piece. But he couldn't find her anywhere! He felt lost, shoving a people aside as they were trying to get his attention. Some were scorning at him for taking her to be his bride but he didn't care. He wanted to find Sarah and he was going to have her in his arms, damn it.
Sarah saw her fiancé looking around for her and she grinned. This was payback for when he evaded her in the peach dream. Though it was mostly her own doing, Jareth evaded her on purpose to see her reaction back then. She moved a fan from her face and gave a toothy grin at his perplexed face as he saw her here and there as she disappeared from time to time.
To her great fury, Lena was untying part of the front of her corset and retying it so her breasts seemed to spill out more than usual. She walked over to Jareth and began to rub her hand up his back.
Sarah was so done with her shit.
She waved a hand and Lena was gone. Making a crystal, Sarah grinned and said a few words, tucking the crystal away, pleased with what happened.
Jareth was getting more and more annoyed at trying to find Sarah. Where the hell was she? He turned around and then he saw her.
Sarah was chatting with a few men. Though she wasn't dancing with them, it was clear that they were leering at her. She was, after all, remarkably beautiful and could make any man drool.
Jareth gave a look of jealously and possessiveness, a small growl in the back of his throat much like Sarah did when he did that to her in the peach dream. How dare she have that smirk on her face?
Sarah put a wineglass down and curtsied to the two gentlemen. "Excuse me, I should rejoin my betrothed."
The two men looked a little disappointed at Sarah moving from them but one look from Jareth showed them that it would better if she did.
Sarah swayed her hips for Jareth and put her arms around his neck. She felt his hands come up possessively behind her back. "I'm not sure how I care to have these other men look at you like so."
"You don't have to like it." Sarah leaned into his ear. "Why don't think of it this way, Sire? As long as they aren't touching me, they can look and be forever reminded as to who I belong to."
Jareth took a sharp breath and pulled her close to his body so he could feel ALL of her soft curves. "That, I think I can handle my Precious."
"At least none of my exes are trying to throw themselves on me." Sarah raised an eyebrow.
Jareth cringed. She did have a point. "Sarah-"
"It's not your fault, I'm not mad at you." She kissed his nose affectionately. "But I do need retribution."
"Oh? And what do you have in mind, my cruel lady?" Jareth loved it when her darker side came out. As long as it wasn't too dark.
Sarah whispered in his ear. The other couples dancing could only guess what she was whispering for Jareth's eyes flashed with the deepest passion.
Jareth took off his coat and willed his gloves away. Sarah still had the same dress on but magicked it so it was a tad shorter, showing her ankles and black high heels off. Jareth snapped his fingers, a latin song coming on.
He was going to show everyone that she was his and he was hers.
A new kind of music started and the crowed either began to dance to it or watched the king and his champion lead. Curious, they all leaned their heads in to watch.
When marimba rhythms start to play
Dance with me, make me sway
Sarah stood behind Jareth, feet shoulder width apart as she moved her hand against his chest upward. Jareth, feeling the heat of her hand through his shirt, started to cover her with his but she moved swiftly to the side right after that.
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore
Hold me close, sway me more
She grinned at him and he slowly twirled her so she was in front of him, her back to his. Jareth supported her weight and glided his hands on her waist sensually. He twirled her so that now they were facing each other. The smell of peaches and spices from him filled her nose and she almost fainted by the distinct masculine smell that he gave off.
Like a flower bending in the breeze
Bend with me, sway with ease
When we dance you have a way with me
Stay with me, sway with me
Sarah's right hand was now on Jareth's neck, her left on his arm. Their faces were so close to touching, but this dance was a kind of chase as well. She wasn't going to make it easy for him to kiss her.
Jareth felt her left hand rubbing down his arm. He spun her around, his arms always supporting her before he pulled her body close to his again, never truly touching. He moved his left hand up her waist, up her arms and held her wrist, his nose nearly touching her cheek. She was his equal, his love, his soulmate. The way she captivated him with her sweet scent and her beautiful green eyes made him want to go insane.
Other dancers may be on the floor
Dear, but my eyes will see only you
Only you have that magic technique
When we sway I go weak
Sarah struggled to breathe as she moved her hand to grasp in his. He was just so sexy, with the way he moved and never really touching her the way she wanted. She let out a moan so quiet that only he could hear it. Jareth growled with a promise. He lead her through a tango, eyes never leaving her.
I can hear the sounds of violins
Long before it begins
Make me thrill as only you know how
Sway me smooth, sway me now
Other dancers may be on the floor
Dear, but my eyes will see only you
Only you have that magic technique
When we sway I go weak
They kept going like that, facing each other then Sarah spun herself so that her back was to him again. Jareth kept his right hand on her waist and his left holding onto her hand. Sarah put her hand on his to show that she approved of this. Not looking at each other now, they could see the hungry and intrigued eyes of the party-goers, staring at the way Sarah's slit was riding up higher on her legs and Jareth's growl was starting to be audible to them. At this, he dipped her down across his knee, her long hair almost touching the floor before bringing her back up to slide his hands around her stomach and up her arms, touching the open flesh on her from where the deep cleavage was. Yes, he would let the people know EXACTLY how much he desired her.
I can hear the sounds of violins
Long before it begins
Make me thrill as only you know how
Sway me smooth, sway me now
Sarah nearly bucked her hips against him when she felt him touch the open flesh on her back and the front. She went behind him again and rubbed her hand all over his chest. She leaned over and licked the sensitive flesh behind his ear.
Jareth was starting to go mad, if he wasn't already. Then the lick behind his ear made him go even more insane. Somehow, he still kept it clean for his guests as he moved her body like the master dancer that he was.
When marimba rhythms start to play
Dance with me, make me sway
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore
Hold me close, sway me more
Like a flower bending in the breeze
Bend with me, sway with ease
When we dance you have a way with me
Stay with me, sway with me
Sarah leaned into him on her right side, lifting one leg up to arm around his waist as he picked her up and spun her around. Their noses were touching. With hooded eyes, Jareth leaned into her ear. "Mi amor, te deseo."
My love, I desire you.
Sarah bit her lip from a moan. As king, Jareth could just use magic to translate whatever language he needed to speak to humans. But for him, he liked to learn all the languages to have a better understanding (a lot of things get lost in translation). Jareth found that Sarah loved it when he spoke Spanish, the words rolling off his tongue and igniting the fire between them. At him dancing with her sensually and then speaking Spanish, she was going insane.
When marimba rhythms start to play
Hold me close, make me sway
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore
Hold me close, sway me more
Like a flower bending in the breeze
Bend with me, sway with ease
When we dance you have a way with me
Stay with me, sway with me
Jareth did an impressive lift where he practically threw her over his back and maneuvered Sarah so that she would end up dipped down. He slowly lifted her up, her head thrown back in bliss.
As the song ended, the crowd had an impressed look at the dance that the couple had given them. Some even gave them applause.
As for the couple themselves, neither really cared what everyone else was thinking. Sarah was trying to gather her last few brain cells (all of them seemed to have gotten lost in the dance) and Jareth was trying to figure out the best way to leave the ball early and send them to their chambers.
He did something else.
Jareth transported them right outside, away from everyone. Both of their eyes were hungry from all that dancing.
Jareth backed Sarah up int a wall and she brought her leg up, the one with the exposed slit, and wrapped it around his waist. Jareth trailed his bare fingers down her silky inner thigh all the way to her ankle.
Their mouths crashed into each other with great devotion. Sarah ran her hands all over his chest though she made no move to go underneath his clothing. Jareth moved away from her mouth and kissed all over her neck. At one point, he took in a patch of skin and sucked on it. Hard.
Sarah moaned and Jareth gave her hot and wet open mouth kisses down her exposed breasts. He dipped his finger at the end of the line and pulled the right fabric out slightly so he could lick around her navel.
Sarah bucked her hips hard against him. Then she pushed him away.
Jareth placed both hands on either side of her head, looking predatory. "I want you."
"Not here, not now." She gasped.
"Just a quickie." He nipped at her neck where he had sucked, pleased to see a hickey forming.
Sarah used her fae strength to maneuver him so he was on the wall and she in front. Jareth grinned. "You know I prefer to be dominant but I so do love it when you make me beg for you." His eyes shone wickedly.
Sarah tried to calm herself. And Jareth. But with any indication of the way their hips were touching was telling her, he wasn't going to calm down any time soon. "Jareth, if we do this now, I won't be able to go back and face them. You're too damn tempting."
Jareth groaned. "Sarah, you drive me insane."
"So do you." She laughed. "Please, or else I'll lose my nerves and won't be able to go out of my comfort zone again."
He goblin king growled. "Fine. But tonight, you're making up for this and I'm ripping that dress off you. And I do not care if it gets ripped to pieces."
"I don't expect any less." Sarah quipped. Before she let him go though, she launched at his neck and bit him hard.
Jareth hissed in pain and pleasure. "If you think this is going to help me be in control-"
"Shut up." She told him. "You gave me a hickey. It's only fair that you get one too."
"Ah yes, all about being fair." He smirked.
"They will wonder about where we went." She said.
"Good." Jareth licked at her neck. "I want them to wonder. Let them know how much I not only love my future wife, but that I desire her beyond anything and anyone else."
Sarah felt hot and heavy but was determined to go back to the ball. "Damn it Jareth."
"I am good, aren't I?" He grinned wickedly. He pulled her close and kissed her shoulder one more time. "And you are a temptress. I want every man in there to know that you're mine and have been since the Yule Ball."
"And I want every single one of those ladies especially your shitty exes to know that you're stuck with me forever." Sarah intertwined her fingers in his.
"Forever? Precious, that's not long at all."
Everyone definitely guessed what they were doing, as is evident from the bite marks on each other their necks. Every female stayed away from flirting with Jareth now, not wanting to touch him after him touching Sarah. The men felt a similar sentiment, except now they were scared of what Jareth would do to them.
Sarah smirked. If the women knew what she did to Lena, they wouldn't be disgusted with her. They'd be scared of her cruelty.
As the last of the guests went to retire, a woman approached Sarah. She was blonde, very pretty, and with kind eyes.
Sarah was on her guard though. She knew who this woman was. She was Jareth's last girlfriend, Clarissa. One they had seen in the Trials and had been engaged to him at one point too.
Clarissa curtsied to Sarah. "My lady. I wish to make an aquaintence with you."
Sarah just gave a nod. She didn't want to send Clarissa away, that would be rude and unfair to her. But she couldn't help it. So many women were after Jareth tonight, some had even discussed offering him riches to be his mistresses. Sarah had a few approach her and tell her that if they could be his mistress, they would be loyal to her. Ha! Fat chance of that. She wasn't going to share him with anyone.
"And your name?" Sarah asked her even though she already knew. She held her hand out for Clarissa to kiss.
"Lady Clarissa." Clarissa kissed her hand. "I want to give you some advice."
Sarah raised an eyebrow. A lot of people had given her advice that night. Some good, some useless. She was skeptical but again, she was supposed to be generous as well. "What kind of advice?"
Clarissa looked a little nervous but pushed on. "You may or may not know, but the king and I, we had been involved at one point."
"And you scorned him. I do know this." Sarah bit out. She didn't need someone to remind her.
"Yes." Clarissa sighed. "He didn't deserve that."
"No, he didn't." Sarah folded her arms. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you won his heart." Clarissa said. "And everyone here who has tried to bring you down, they know it. I regret how I treated him, it was wrong. But like him, I have moved on. I do know that I have caused him pain and to be withdrawn for many years. The fact that you broke him out of that shell is remarkable. You hold power, My Lady. The way you can command the goblins and show generosity but also firmness is exactly as a queen should. And no one should be allowed to say otherwise."
Sarah was stunned. Here she was, expecting something rude out of her but Clarissa was every bit as kind as she had wanted everyone to be. Sarah felt bad now. "I'm sorry for my earlier remarks, Lady Clarissa."
"Don't be." She said. "I know how it is, I've been through it many times with many of the lords that I've courted with. I don't ask to be friends with you or His Majesty. But I do want you to know that you have an ally in me. And to know that most of these people don't think you're incompetent. Most of us are just curious and as I said, are your allies. The ones who treat you poorly, they are not good enough for you and they know it. Their inferiority complex is eating at them and it's all they can do to throw it at you."
Sarah bowed her head. "Thank you, Clarissa. I needed to hear that."
Clarissa curtsied. "I must go, but I want to say congratulations on your engagement and subsequent marriage. You will make the finest queen. Long may you reign."
—
The next morning, Sarah snuck out of their chambers at dawn, wrapping a robe around herself, dressed in her nightgown. After the ball, Jareth (as promised) took them back to their chambers and made sure both of them had plenty of hickeys all over. Sarah smirked at all the marks he made on her shoulders and decided to leave them that way for what she was about to do.
She transported herself to the Bog of Eternal Stench.
"God, I hate this place." Sarah gagged.
"My Lady!" Sir Didymus came trotting over to her. "How was the ball?"
Sarah thought about it for a bit. "It was in many ways exactly I had expected and then a little better when Jareth and I danced, I suppose. I thought I would be more nervous but I felt like I conquered it in a battle."
"No doubt, those courtiers could be a little tricky." Sir Didymus said seriously. "I did just as you asked, by the way."
"Good." Sarah stood back up. "I know you're my friend but you did me a big favor. I'll make it up to you later, maybe with some homemade biscuits. Where is she?"
Sir Didymus pointed to a ledge and Sarah thanked him.
Sarah transported the ledge and nudged Lena awake. "Hey, get up." She said in a course voice.
Lena got up, startled. Once she saw Sarah in her nightgown, she growled. "How dare you send me here to this nasty place? And take away my magic!"
"As a champion of the labyrinth, I am able to access magic here." Sarah said in a clipped voice. "Me, and the King of Goblins are the only ones who can."
Lena got up in a huff. "So what are you doing here?"
"Why, sending you back home. Aren't I generous?" Sarah smirked at her.
Lena just kept on glaring. "I will tell everyone that you sent me here!"
"Good." Sarah circled around her like a vulture. "I could have dropped you straight in and make yo stink forever, you know. But I didn't, I was kind and let you just spend the night here. You will tell them all why I sent you here. You disrespected my betrothed when you kept advancing on him after he asked you to stop. That is sexual harassment and by touching him when he didn't want it, it is sexual assault. You did it to disrespect me as well. I am going to be queen and I am good and kind. You heard about the lost boys in the caves, I can solve a national crisis and have secured political maneuvers even last night. But, I am also cruel just like my husband-to-be. It is part of our jobs after all. And I do not tolerate disrespect, as I already told you. You were a guest in my home and you scorned your hosts."
Sarah stood in front of her now. Lena started to betray a little fear at the changling in front of her. The fae's eyes got wide when she saw love marks on Sarah's shoulders and knew exactly who gave them to her.
"So, I will make you a deal." Sarah formed a crystal and held it out. "You can leave the Bog of Eternal Stench if and only if you tell the full truth as to why, how, and who made you come here when they ask. Let this be a warning to you and to anyone who tries to come against me that my will is as strong as the king's and my kingdom as great."
She held out the crystal. "Do you want it?"
Lena stared at it for a moment. But what else could she do? She couldn't just stay there forever. "Fine."
She took the crystal and disappeared.
Sarah, with a triumphant smile on her face, went back to her chambers.
When Sarah got back to her chambers, she was surprised to see Jareth not only awake but with two crystals in front of him.
"So now, you both owe me." Jareth told the two crystals. He put his hands behind his head at seeing his fiancée come in. "Hello, Sarah."
Sarah put her hands on her hips. "What's going on?"
"Hi Sarah!" Toby waved from the crystal. "I owe Jareth some Oreos."
"And I owe him five dozen cookies." Hoggle grumbled.
"By this evening. So you better get cooking." Jareth told the dwarf.
"Wait, hold on. What's going on?" Sarah climbed into bed with Jareth and looked at the crystals.
"We made a bet. Jareth won." Toby informed her.
"Stupid rat." Hoggle stuck his tongue out. "Never make a bet with the goblin king."
Jareth smirked triumphantly and tilted his chin up arrogantly. "I can't wait for the sweet taste of victory."
"Okay what was the bet?" Sarah wasn't able to hold in her curiosity any longer.
"The bet was whether you'd send someone to the bog for making you mad or not." Toby said. "I said you're too nice for that, Hoggle did too but Jareth said that you were 'becoming more cruel like the goblin queen should be' and that he bet that you'd be mad enough to throw someone in the bog."
"You didn't do exactly that." Jareth said. "But you did make Lena spend the night there, which is pretty bad."
"I only owe him pack of Oreos since you didn't actually drop her in and Hoggle owes him only five dozen cookies instead of ten."
"You three made a bet on me?" Sarah glared at all of them and then shoved Jareth. "I can't believe you!"
"I can't believe you sent someone to the bog!" Toby tried to justify himself. "Was she that bad?"
"Toby, listen." Sarah took the crystal with him inside and glared at Jareth and Hoggle, who were snickering. "I can't have some lady just acting like she owns the place and harass me and my fiancé. I gave her a chance and she kept defying me in my own home."
"Spoken like a true queen." Jareth grinned. "I'd have done much worse. I probably would have dropped someone in an oubliette, make them be chased by fireys, then make them actually go in the bog."
"Jeez, when you put it that way, you're a whole lot nicer than Jareth." Toby said. "I'm glad I'm not on his bad side."
"Oh trust me, both Sarah and I have been there. You don't wanna." Hoggle shook his head.
"Hush, Hogwash." Jareth glared at him. Then he turned back to Sarah. "I am quite proud of you, darling."
"This is crazy." Sarah shook her head and a strap of her dress started to fall. She pulled it back up hastily.
Jareth saw it and licked his lips. He turned to Toby and Hoggle. "I am busy this morning, so I will speak to you both later."
"Okay. Bye guys!" Toby waved. "Oh, and Mom wants you to come over for dinner tomorrow."
"On it." Sarah said.
"I guess I'm off to bake those cookies. See ya." Hoggle waved.
Jareth waved the crystals away and nearly slammed his mouth onto Sarah's. She grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer, kissing his deeply and with just as much passion that she was sure that their lips would be bruised.
He lifted her up by her waist and laid her on the bed. He pulled away momentarily and kissed her face. "You are so sexy when you're cruel. So dark, just my equal but also so much more sneaky."
"That was not the first word that came to mind when you were cruel." Sarah mumbled as she intertwined her fingers in his hair.
"Then what was it?" Jareth said breathlessly. He pressed his forehead to hers.
"I definitely thought 'jerk' because you were one." She snorted.
"But sexy was one of those words, right?" He gave her a wicked grin.
Sarah flipped him over on his back and took control. "Keep talking, and I will show you how cruel I can be to you and deny what you want."
"Then by all means, I will shut up." Jareth quipped.
They didn't leave their chambers a good three hours after that.
I am very, very much aware of how contradicting Linda is. First she scorns Sarah and won't talk to her years after the whole Phantom of the Opera thing. And then now she wants Sarah to come back? Whaaaat? This is again based on my stepdad's mom except she isn't famous (lol) but basically this crap happened. She pushed him away and ignored his calls but then tried to get him to go back to her in an attempt to feel important and special because honestly, without my stepdad and his sister, no one cared to make contact with her because that's how bitchy she is. It's a manipulative tactic because Linda hates for Sarah to scorn her and is hoping that she'd come back to being her old, meek self. What she doesn't realize is that Sarah will do what she wants and is a lot stronger now.
Also, I thought adding a shitty ex of Jareth's and a nice one would be good. Sarah had a kind ex in another story and while I don't think Jareth and Sarah would necessarily be friends with an ex, they would be courteous if they were. I think it's important to show that as that's how it really is in the real world.
Adding the scene with Jareth's mom was kind of last minute but I thought it would be a nice touch. This story is supposed to reflect real life (well as real life as you can get with a glittery goblin king). The scenes with Jareth and Sarah hanging out with their families and making bets were important too, to show that they have a good support system.
The dance scene is based on a youtube video I found called "Sexy tango to Michael Buble 'Sway' Video & Audio." It has a really talented couple that I found to be really sensual but not overtly sexual which is what I wanted for Jareth and Sarah. Crap, now I want to dance with Jareth!
Anyway, thanks for sticking with the story! There's one more chapter, the wedding but I will keep writing more chapters even when it is "completed." I'll add more and more until whenever I feel like it honestly since every chapter has its own ending. Thanks again and I love your reviews!