Chapter 14- Please do not swim in the lake

I'm lying on the softest grass imaginable. The sun's rays are dancing along my skin and my hair is spread out around my head. I don't have to worry about sunburn either, because according to Jareth it's impossible in the Underground. So obviously, I went and put on the shortest, skimpiest dress I could. Only so I could absorb as much of the sun's rays as possible. A sudden weight on my stomach makes me open my eyes. Imogen has decided to sit on me.

"Sweetie, get off me. Imogen please get off mummy." I beg. Imogen doesn't do as I ask, instead she begins to jump.

"Right, that's it." I say before I sit up and move her off me.

She looks a little confused after being placed on the grass again, but she quickly crawls somewhere else. I close my eyes again. This really is what I needed. It's good to just relax and be able to breath. Just as I think this, someone decides to smack my stomach like it's a drum.

"Immi, what are you doing?" I ask. She lets out a giggle and continues to hit me. I scoop her up and place her in my lap.

"What can we do?" I ask myself.

A crystal rolls past and stops near her. I pick it up and when nothing happens I get an idea.

"Do you wanna roll this around?" I ask. She claps her hands, so I gather that is a yes.

I sit her a little bit away from me and roll it to her. She rolls it back with a laugh. This continues for a bit before I get really bored. I pick her up and walk in a random direction. I carry the crystal with me, since I'm not sure of what to do with it. We come across a small lake.

"This could be fun." I mumble to myself.

I dip my toe in and find that the water is cool, but not too cool. I sit on the edge and dangle my feet in. Imogen wants to too, so I sit her on my lap. Her feet are also getting tickled by the water. After a few moments of this, Imogen begins to squirm. I can understand, the water is becoming a little too chilly. I lift her off my lap and am just about to get up when the crystal beside me begins to shine brightly. I pick it up in order to look at it closer.

"I see you found my gift." A voice says right near my ear.

I scream and stupidly end up in the water. It's not as shallow as I thought it would be. Nor is it was warm. It's oddly peaceful down here. I can see clearly, so this allows me to view all the wildlife below. There are Turtles and fish, but there are a few more interesting creatures.

Such as the small Mermaid currently swimming around me. She appears to be about thirteen years old, and I think she's trying to talk to me. What she's saying I don't know, since all that I can see coming out of her is bubbles. Maybe I can ask Jareth?

Aww shit; Jareth. He must be freaking out.

I wave goodbye to the mermaid and swim towards the surface.

I do the legendary mermaid hair flip thing that Ariel did in The little Mermaid. As soon as I do this Jareth makes his way over to the side of the lake I'm on.

"Ah, good to see you were slightly worried about me." I cry out to him, as I swim towards him.

"I would have followed, but I couldn't leave Imogen." He replies with a small smile.

"Oh sure, save the kid. Forget the wife." I mumble, unsure if Jareth heard me. However given the laugh he is producing, I'd say he did hear me.

"Sarah, technically we aren't married." He shoots back.

"Whatever." I reply, helping myself out of the water.

The black dress I am wearing has tightened. I try to pull it away from my skin, but it is completely soaked. Dammit, I liked that dress. Jareth apparently does too, since his eyes appear to have darkened. He pulls me towards him by my hips.

"Sarah, what are you wearing?" He asks, rubbing his arms up and down my side. A sigh escapes my mouth before I answer.

"It's, it's um, just a dress. I wanted to absorb…absorb the sun." I reply breathlessly. He's now ghosting his hands along my breasts.

Perhaps I should describe the dress. It's black, the top half of it is lace however the back of it is just lace. The front has material covering the lace. The material of the skirt part of the dress is a little see-through, but there is a thinker material beneath it. The dress reaches mid-thigh. I wore this to Ashley's eighteenth birthday party and it was there that I met Chad.

I guess he liked it as much as Jareth does.

"You wore this out?" He asks. He's moved his mouth closer to mine and I can feel his hot breath on my lips. This makes me tingle and something stirs in my stomach.

"Yeah it's a…party dress." I answer. Our lips are now so close, I feel his move against mine as he talks.

"I very much like this dress on you Sarah." He says.

I shudder. What is it about him that just, well, sets me off? He brushes his lips softly against mine, before I take initiative and push our lips together. The moment is hot and lustful. We both nip at each other's lips and tongue. It is a fight to gain the upper hand, something our strong wills want desperately to obtain. I'm proud of myself, when he pulls away first.

With eyes half closed, he removes my hand from around his neck until it runs along his very hard erection. "This, Sarah-mine, is what that fucking dress does to me."

I gently pull my hand away. It's too sudden, I was lost in the moment. Through even I can't deny the heat and lust that sparks through my body after feeling him. Jareth places a soft, loving kiss on my forehead before taking my hand

"There are a few things we have to do, but first I need to introduce you to someone" He explains leading me back up to the castle. It seems Imogen has made her own way back. Probably with Jareth's help.

I'm only listening half-heartedly. I'm still caught up in the kiss.

OoOoOo

Jareth was having trouble concentrating on his lunch. Crowther was looking after Imogen, giving him and Sarah time on their own. He knew where he should take her. It was time she visited the Oracle. Not that he wanted to do that, instead he wanted desperately to take her to their chamber and kiss her like he had on the lake. Her reaction was surprising. He knew she was beginning to warm up to him. She didn't immediately tense whenever he touched her and she had actually started to talk to him. However the ferocity that she had kissed him with was completely unexpected.

But now was not the time!

As Crowther had pointed out this morning, time was running out. The opposing forces were slowly moving closer to their boundaries. His alliances would need to send their forces to the Labyrinth. That was another advantage, the labyrinth served as its own defence tactic.

"Sarah." He called and waited until her emerald eyes met his. "We are going to the high palace. You need to speak to the Oracle."

"But I…" She started before closing her mouth. Jareth put a hand on her back.

"I know…Come, I still have a few things to explain to my parents." He said taking her hand. He intended to take her from the hall to the transport them to the palace.

"Um, Jareth." She said tugging on his hand.

"I might need to get changed." She said smiling slightly.

Jareth turned back around and only now noticed that she was still wearing the black dress from earlier. It wasn't as wet as it once had been. Although is still clung to her body.

"Yes, as much as I like seeing you in that dress, my parents defiantly will not." He smiled.

"I'll go get changed then." She answered rubbing her nose.

"I'll lead you to our room."

They walked in silence, until Jareth couldn't take it anymore. "Are you finding the halls are getting familiar?"

"A little…Some of the halls look familiar but I can tell the difference between the corridors that the goblins are allowed in and the ones that they aren't." She laughed.

"Yes the dirt and grime does give the Goblins away." He laughed.

They arrived at their room. Sarah moved immediately to the wardrobe where she began to get changed into a dark blue velvet dress with a silver floral design along the bust. It was quite beautiful and the velvet complemented her dark hair perfectly. Her hair was still a little wet, but it had begun to twist itself into ringlets. Jareth moved into the wardrobe as Sarah looked at herself in the mirror. He returned holding a small dark blue box.

"What's that?" She asked. He smiled lovingly at her child-like curiosity.

"It's a gift" He passed her the box. "Open it."

Sarah opened it up and revealed a silver necklace in the design of a vine with leaves. It was beautiful and it went perfectly with the silver design on her dress.

"Jareth it's lovely. Could you help me put it on please?" She turned around and lifted her hair.

Jareth got a slight thrill from finally taking the necklace the 'infamous' Chad had given her. It wasn't that he was Jealous, as such. He knew that she had pendants on there that was important to her, but he wanted to give her something. Something that wasn't just a ring. The ring was just a formality. It was just a way to let everyone know that she belonged to him. Not that that had really worked with Reagan. Now she wore something he had given her. And she wore it willingly.

"Thank you. I hope the Oracle approves." She smiled. Despite this, Jareth could see the strain the comment had caused.

"Sarah, you will be fine. The Oracle is simply a young girl who makes predictions. There is nothing scary about her." Jareth placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Okay…I will be…Absolutely fine." She said with a sigh.

Jareth moved his arms and pulled her into a hug. He held her head as she shook with fear and nerves. He closed her eyes gently before transporting them to the High palace.

OoOoOo

I open my eyes and pull slightly away from Jareth. The room we are in is made up in silver and gold. Everything is bright and very expensive looking. Outside the window you couldn't see anything but the blue of the sky. Jareth now wore a coat in a similar design to my dress and his customary heeled boots.

"Come, my parents are waiting." He says taking my hand and kissing it.

A smile creeps across my face. I don't understand why I react the way I do to him. I think I might love him. And logically why shouldn't I? He's absolutely gorgeous and he's so kind. There is the matter of his stubbornness and bad temper, but these qualities don't seem as bad as they once did. Somewhere along the way in our relationship something's changed in me. Something has fallen hard for him.

And honestly I don't think I regret it.

"Sarah. Are you okay?" Jareth calls.

I look around and notice that we have moved on to a sitting room with his parents sitting before us. Have I really been paying that little attention?

"Sorry, just lost in thought." I offer a small smile.

"I'm sure the Oracle will be ready soon." His mother says. What was her name again?

"It's good of you to see her. We need to know every possible outcome of this war." The king says before drinking from the glass in his hand. I look down and find that I also have a glass.

Seriously how much time had passed since we'd arrived?

"Are you ready now?" Jareth ask me.

"Yeah." I answer taking a deep breath.

Jareth takes my hand and helps me stand up. On wobbly feet I smooth down the skirts to my dress. Jareth must be able to sense how unstable I am because he places his hand on my hip and takes most of the weight of me. We look at each other and for a moment everything seems to freeze. I no longer feel scared.

"You need to calm down." He whispers into my ear.

I nod.

Sarah, get a grip! From what Jareth has told you it is nothing but a young girl. What am I so scared of?

Failure.

That's what scares me the most. Failing Jareth and the Goblins. Not being the queen that they think I can be. Not being the wife or mother Jareth thinks I will or can be. Yes I looked after Toby, but he's my brother. I had to look after him. Obviously when we have children I will have to look after them, but what if I can't? What if I fail? What if I'm not as perfect as everyone thinks I am?

"What if I fail?" I all but whisper.

"Sarah, you won't. I have a lot of faith in you. I love you." He says.

"I love you too." I admit.

Jareth smirks. "It's good to hear you finally say that."

I scoff. "Oh you knew all along did you?"

"Of course. As I was saying I always have faith in you. I had faith that you would learn to love me. I guess it worked out." He says with a smug shrug.

"Whatever. I'm going to go see this Oracle to find out how to save our kingdom." I snap before storming through the door.

The room is white there is a large amount of windows in the room, with each one covered in a white fabric. In the middle of the room is a white chair. It looks to be a wooden chair that has just been painted. Seated on the chair is a young girl dressed in white. She has straw coloured hair and her back is to me. The white carpet doesn't make a noise as I move across it.

"Hello? I'm Sarah, The queen, I guess, of the Goblins." I mumble as I move towards her.

The girl turns around and she looks to be about six. However like everything in the Underground, not everything is what it seems. So I don't comment.

"Sarah, daughter of Hecate and Adam. I have been expecting you." Her voice is that of an older woman. It is extremely strange to hear it coming from her.

"Take my hand." She instructs holding her hand out.

I close my eyes and stretch my hand out to touch hers. As soon as I do a strange sensation crawls itself into me and I suddenly feel like I'm falling.