"Oh good, you're awake," Karen said brightly as Jareth entered the kitchen. "We'll eat a quick breakfast then get going."
"Going? I just arrived," Jareth said, grabbing a muffin off the counter. "And I must ask - how do you awaken each morning without servants singing to you?"
"It's called an alarm clock, Jareth - there's one right next to Sarah's bed. So, we have a lot to discuss this week, but I also have responsibilities. And if Sarah were home, she'd be helping me. I thought perhaps it would be good for you to see how Sarah would be spending a week off from school. Maybe you could begin to understand her more."
"Camping?" Jareth smiled at the thought. "Do you hunt your own meat on those trips or do you have someone for that?"
"We bring our own prepackaged meat from the store. This isn't the Under Ground, Jareth," Karen laughed. "We buy our groceries already packaged. We also do not go around transforming bathrooms into our own personal pleasure cave."
"Interesting. Does Sarah like to camp?" Jareth asked, changing the subject. Karen poured them each a cup of coffee and relaxed into her chair.
"She loves anything that takes her outdoors. She's very physical, hiking, horse back riding, she even wants to learn how to snow ski when we visit friends in Colorado next Christmas." Karen piled a plate high with bacon, eggs, and pancakes and handed it to Jareth. Toby was eating his cereal with his usual glee, scattering pieces across the floor.
"Breakfast is delicious, Karen. Tell me, do you miss having servants doing such things for you?"
"Not usually, though I do admit there are times I'd like a bit of help when Toby decides to turn his breakfast into a messy pile of mush." The baby in question smiled angelically.
Jareth grinned then leaned back in his chair as a powerful feeling of longing hit him. Sarah was thinking about him, he could feel it as if she was in front of him, reaching out to hold him. He closed his eyes for a moment and savored the emotion welling up inside of him.
It felt different than any of his previous conquests - she was surrounding him even as she kept him at arms length. She was confused and sad, he could tell through the pin he'd given her. It protected her even as it kept him aware of her feelings towards him. He was overcome with a wave of need and then, just as quickly, it faded and he felt oddly empty.
"Well then," Jareth coughed to cover his lapse of calm. "We should be on our way."
Their first stop was the grocery store where Jareth pushed Toby in the cart and made fruit dance through the air. Karen quickly grabbed the floating peaches and threw them in a bag, giving the king a look of warning. He shrugged and bit into a large peach, sighing in happiness.
"My favorite, you know," he sighed. Karen shook her head and rolled her eyes as Toby giggled.
"Come on, we have to get the ingredients for cupcakes and then you can help me make them."
"I don't believe I've ever helped out in the kitchen before," he mused, eyeing the many different types of cake mixes.
"Sarah loves to bake, maybe you can impress her with your attempt," Karen teased and Jareth visibly brightened at the prospect.
A woman was handing out samples and Jareth spent a good amount of time testing cookies, pretzels, and pizza. He had Karen buy all of them.
JSJSJS
Sarah ate breakfast quietly, trying not to think of the nymphs who had accosted her in Jareth's bedroom. She'd been so certain she'd want to consider him her king, so happy to have gotten such a sweet letter - but now she wasn't sure of anything.
Her pin felt warm to the touch and she glanced down at it, tears forming in her eyes. Seline noticed this and frowned.
"What is it, dear heart? You seem troubled."
Sarah took a deep breath and the pin seemed to breathe with her. "I'm not sure I can explain it, your majesty. I just don't understand why Jareth can say he likes me and then have those - never mind. I'm just being foolish." A wave of need pulsed through her as she thought of the king and she blushed as she knew that if he somehow arrived right now, she'd be wanting to kiss him. Sadness and longing competed for her thoughts and she felt like she was lost without him near her. She didn't want to call it love, but she felt something growing inside of her heart that was getting harder to ignore. She forced herself to stop moping about it and the connection was lost.
"Sarah, they are servants - nothing more. Things are not always as they seem in this place. Everything is more - intense. More passionate. It can be overwhelming if you are not used to it. Believe me, Jareth does not - hmm, know those women the way you fear."
"It's not really my business what he does," Sarah said but the queen held up a hand.
"It is your business, Sarah. You are being courted by the Goblin King. That means you have certain rights and responsibilities. You must be sure to assert your control in both."
"What does that mean?" Sarah asked, taking a peach off the fruit table. She glared at it and put it back, grabbing a banana instead. Seline hid her laugh.
"It means that you have the right to get respect from all in this realm. You have won the Labyrinth and Jareth's affection. Do not allow jealousy to cloud your triumph, Sarah. You have a responsibility to get to know him as he is trying to know you - so that you may make an informed decision on how your courtship unfolds."
Sarah thought about it for a long time. She ate the banana, lost in thought, lost in the memory of Jareth singing to her in the ballroom, and then later, in the Escher room she'd secretly loved.
"Come," Seline said, holding out a hand, "we have much to do today. You will come with me as I inspect our lands and you will give me some much needed advice."
"Advice? What could I possibly advise you on, your majesty?" Sarah was floored.
"Why, I am sure there is much you can teach an old, weary heart, dear one. Let us go, the carriage is waiting."
Sarah was surprised to see Sir Didymus sitting in the carriage. She ran to him, laughing and gave him a huge hug.
"My Lady! What a great honor it is to have you here again. Queen Seline has graciously allowed me to ride with you to Queen Marissa's castle."
"Sir Didymus," Seline said. "You are always welcome here. I'm sure Marissa will be pleased to see you again."
"What do you need to go there for?" Sarah asked the small knight, confused. The carriage moved without a driver, the horses knew where to go and had no need of instruction. Sarah barely registered that, since she was trying to figure out everything happening around her.
"Well, I no longer guard the Bog, Queen Marissa has seen fit to hire me as her personal guard. I should be with her now, but she has requested I accompany you dear ladies to her realm. Tell me, my Lady - are you well?"
"Well? I'm fine," Sarah said uneasily and the dog's one good eye narrowed.
"I see. Well, we have much to catch up on I am sure."
JSJSJS
Jareth looked around at the hospital lobby, amazed at all the different types of people rushing about.
"Such a wonder," he marvelled aloud, sensing the hum of activity. There was a strong feeling here, some of it sad and still like death, but most of it was full of life and possibility. Karen led him down a long corridor as he balanced the tray of cupcakes in one hand and carried a bag full of toys in the other. They reached a set of double doors and Karen waited patiently for them to open.
"This is the burn unit," Karen explained quietly. "Sarah comes once a week to cheer up the children here. Since she's away, I offered to substitute."
"Who would burn a child?" Jareth was livid.
"Sometimes it is an accident," Karen said, as they made their way to the children's area. "Sometimes, a parent or older friend is responsible. Ah, Nurse Beckham - are the kids able to see us today?"
The old nurse beamed as she saw the cupcakes. "For the price of one cupcake, I'm sure I could get you in there," she teased. Jareth gallently handed her a cake and the woman blushed.
"Well aren't you the handsome one?" she asked slyly. Karen laughed.
"My nephew, Jareth Lutin. He's come to stay with us for the week. Sarah is off visiting my relatives."
"Ah a trade of sorts, lovely!" The nurse buzzed them in and Jareth set down the tray and bag, looking around. Karen held Toby and walked around the ward, saying hello to the children.
"Are you a magic man?" A little girl, no more than five looked up at him. She was blonde and smiling. Then Jareth noticed her arms were bandaged up and he frowned.
"I know a few tricks," he admitted, pulling a coin from behind the girl's ear. She looked at it impatiently and blew out a frustrated breath.
"Real magic, I mean."
"Ah, well, there are all kinds of magic," Jareth allowed, sitting down next to the girl. "What kind do you think of when you say real?"
"Can you make me better?"
The question, so bluntly asked, threw Jareth for a moment. He shook his head sadly.
"I'm afraid that I have no real power here, it's mostly for show." He didn't know why he was admitting this to the girl, but there was something about her eyes.
"Oh, well, can I have a cupcake?" she asked brightly and he handed her one, helping her take the wrapper off of it. She chewed, deep in thought.
"Sometimes I see you in my dreams. Daddy didn't believe me when I said I sometimes see things even when I'm awake. He told me I was bad." She looked down at her arms. "He got scared and pushed me into a campfire."
Jareth made a mental note to visit the girl's father later in the week and hugged the girl.
JSJSJS
"How does the carriage know where to go?" Sarah asked as they travelled the countryside.
"The horses were trained at a young age to learn the realms. You just think of where you would like to go, and they carry you there."
A burst of water flew through the air and hit Sarah in the head. Sputtering she looked around, and saw a flash of blonde hair disappear into the woods.
Seline sighed and waved a hand, drying Sarah. "Nymph," she explained. Sarah groaned. She was really not liking those river nymphs.
"Tell me Sarah, did you really wish to meet vampires?"
"Real vampires? Well, is it safe?"
"Very safe, I told you that humans distorted their origins and intent. They will be at Marissa's palace seeking an audience with her. You may meet them afterwards."
"What are they like?" Sarah asked. Seline smiled.
"Very - affectionate actually. You'll like them."