Standard Disclaimer - Like all of us I wish I owned it...I wish, I wish, I wish!
The Doors of the Crescent opened and Kaya swept through the door as Sarah stood up still holding Jareth's hand. Smiling, she put her hand on Sarah's shoulder. "You have overcome the fear in your heart. Shall we begin that discussion now?"
Sarah nodded at Kaya and sat back down. "I'll be, uh, staying over here Kaya." Sarah lifted her arm up and Kaya could see that Jareth actually was the one holding on to her.
Kaya smiled at Sarah, "This is a very promising sign Sarah! Jareth is regaining control of his physical form. He may be conscious in the next few hours but he should return by the next moonlight. I will need to retire soon and there is much to discuss." Kaya moved her pillows closer to Sarah and Jareth.
"Had Jareth been in control of himself when you arrived, he would have told you that eating Underground fruit will begin to impart the magic into your very soul. My dear, you are still mortal, still able to go home to the Above if you chose. Once you eat the fruit, you will become fae slowly and you will no longer call the Above your home."
Sarah looked at Jareth and wished she could touch his face. Did he even know he called her here? Was it him that she shared the kisses with days ago? It didn't matter. She belonged here with him; the last nine years had been the most miserable of her life. Although Sarah never would have admitted it when she met him, Jareth's offer of her dreams was all she ever wanted. How many times had she begged for that chance again after?
Sarah looked up at Kaya who knew that Sarah was thinking hard about this. Picking up the apple that she had set beside Jareth she said "Kaya, what will happen to me after I eat this? What should I expect – pain or agony – because if that is what it takes to stay here with Jareth, I will do it."
Kaya had never seen someone like Sarah before. Oh she'd seen mortals before; she was one when she was a child. A strong willed and courageous mortal who was willing to risk everything for happiness was practically unheard of. Add to that the fact that she climbed the mountain entirely on her own power. "Sarah, there will be pain – and nothing I can do to help you with it. Do you still have the crystal that my fairy gave to you to see Jareth?" Sarah nodded her head and took it out of the satchel that was made to match her dress. "Good, let me see it please." Sarah handed the crystal to Kaya and watched as the High Priestess put a spell over the crystal.
"Sarah, once I have left to retire for the day, please look into the crystal and think of Jareth. I've put a spell over the crystal to allow you to speak to Jareth and him to speak to you. You will need to tell him what you are doing. I would advise waiting for him to regain consciousness before you eat the fruit. Jareth's condition is still a little too weak for him to be frantic over you. I will have some bread brought in for you to eat instead of the fruits. The crystal will not last long – there will be time for only a few words, so choose them carefully."
After Kaya left the room Sarah regarded the fruit. She did not want to do anything to jeopardize Jareth's recovery. She set the apple down and picked up the crystal. "Show me the Goblin King, let me see my love."
The crystal came out of nowhere. Jareth watched it drift down from the hole above which had been growing steadily larger and now lit most of the cavern. The creature sat over in the corner and Jareth could on occasion see its beady red eyes as it regarded Jareth. As the crystal came to float in front of Jareth he could see Sarah within. Her eyes sparkled and she was radiant. "Sarah."
"Jareth." Sarah whispered breathlessly. "I don't know how long this will work. I'm waiting for you. I won't become a fae until you are with me again."
His Sarah planned to stay and she was waiting for him. The Goblin King's heart soared. Another heap of rocks began to fall. "Sarah, I love you. I'm coming home to you soon."
Sarah nodded her understanding but the crystals were breaking apart. Jareth saw her mouth "I love you too" and then the crystal shattered. Another howl of pain came out of the creature. Jareth could now feel the creature's fear knowing it would not defeat him.
The sensations going through his mind were more powerful than the first time he'd seen an Underground eclipse with his mother. He could feel the magic building up within his very soul. The creature trembled in the corner, begging for forgiveness as Jareth threw a crystal at it to destroy it permanently. This wasn't something that an oubliette was punishment enough for and definitely not something that he ever wanted to come up against again. "Sarah, I'm coming." The rocks began to crumble again, but there was no one to fall on.
Sarah was still sitting beside Jareth holding on to his hand as he returned to his body silently. His body jerked a couple of times before Sarah realized it was him moving. She looked down to see him staring at her with those blue eyes and a wide grin across his face. Pulling down the moon cloth, Sarah ran her hand along the Goblin King's cheek. It was really him. "Did you miss me love?" he asked as he sat up. Sarah threw her arms around Jareth's neck and kissed him. His hand touched her neck and Sarah did not wince away, he would spend the rest of his life making it up to her for what had happened; but for now her kiss was delicious and he did not want to let her go.
Jareth laughed. A good hearty laugh. Sarah had never heard anything so wonderful in her life. At that moment the Doors of the Crescent opened and Kaya walked through them followed closely by Creed. Kaya's skirts swished as she walked through the room and stood at the feet of the Goblin King.
Jareth stood up slowly and bowed to Kaya, "Hello Mother. I see you've already met my Sarah."