50 Shades of Fey
Ch. 26 Truth and Consequences
Warnings: Sexual themes, kink themes, corporal punishment...you know...the usual when I'm doing the writing :) Lemon-y stuff coming soon, but this extra-long chapter will have to hold you for a week or so. As always, please review!
Appearing in his study at the manor house, Jareth paused, looking down at the tight leather trousers and flowing shirt he was still wearing from his time in the castle. Shaking his head at the level of distraction he was experiencing, he waved his hand, walking toward the door. His clothing shimmered a moment, before being replaced with comfortably worn jeans and a simple, white button-down shirt. "Just as well that I didn't forget and show up at her door in my armor," he mused to himself as he left the study and made his way toward the west wing of the second floor.
Moving silently through the house, he pursed his lips, deep in thought. Ordinarily, for a serious talk, he would prefer to call Sarah into his study, or the lounge - but after the scene over breakfast and the delicacy of the subject matter, this talk needed to be on Sarah's own turf. 'She needs to feel safe and comfortable if I want to have any hope of her understanding what I am trying to say, especially after my behaviour this morning.'
Cringing inwardly at the memory of his words and actions over breakfast, Jareth sighed. He was justifiably angry about her disobedience, but even without his father's words, he knew his response was too harsh. If he was honest with himself he knew why he was so angry with her and the disobedience wasn't the catalyst - it was fear. The split moment when he thought he might lose her was enough to make his heart freeze in his chest. ' When Jareth reached her door, he was surprised to see that it was ajar. Peering through the gap, he saw Sarah wrapped in her grandmother's hand-pieced quilt, her hair matted and mussed, as she sat on the piano bench. In her hands was a faded pink toy rabbit.
"It isn't fair, is it Mr. Bun?" Sarah muttered quietly, sitting the stuffed bunny on the music rail of her piano.
Jareth watched quietly as she ran her fingers over the bunny's ears, the toy-fur worn down to a silken gloss from years of caresses and soaking up tears. Unaware of Jareth at the door, Sarah sighed, her fingers stroking the toys ear between her fingers, as she had done when she was upset or stressed, ever since the beloved toy came into her possession when she was five years old.
"Jareth probably hates me. Angel isn't allowed to talk to me anymore. Even Toby is avoiding me. I've fucked everything up," she murmured, her voice words heavy with tears waiting to be shed.
Hearing a quiet knock at the door, Sarah looked up to see Jareth nudging it open.
"May I come in?" he asked, his expression somber. Sarah nodded mutely and gave a quiet sniff. Stepping into her sitting room, Jareth fought down a look of surprise as soft words echoed in his head, 'Just terrific, I'll probably get another punishment on top of everything because he heard me cussing… stupid...stupid Sarah!'
With the stuffed bunny in one hand, and her other hand clutching the edges of the quilt around herself, Sarah stood up to face him, only to groan when she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror. "My hair...Damn...I look a fright." Her eyes went wide as she looked from the mirror to Jareth, a faint whimper dying on her lips. "I...I'm sorry."
Even with red rimmed eyes, tear-stained cheeks and her hair knotted and standing out over her head in a fuzzy mass, Jareth felt a surge of warmth toward the girl - knowing deep down that her beauty far outshone any of the women he had been with, even if she didn't realize it. Moving toward her, he held out his hand. "Come here, Sarah."
Shrinking back, Sarah shook her head frantically. "I'm sorry I cussed. Please, don't punish me now! That's not fair!"
Jareth froze, wondering at her frightened behaviour. 'I suppose it makes sense after my outburst at breakfast,' he thought, still perplexed at her reaction to his innocent words, and the sudden wave of fear that flowed through the familial link. Following her gaze to his other hand, he saw that he was now holding a large, flat paddle brush - his own, made of Dyadic Hardwood and fine wild boar bristles. With a sigh, he looked at her once more, his words soft. "It isn't what you think… I just want to help you."
"You can't spank me with that," she muttered, cutting him off with a petulant frown, then sitting back down on the piano bench as if doing so would protect her bum from what she was sure would be an imminent spanking.
"Not today, that is true," he replied, fighting back the laugh that threatened to spill forth. Instead, he merely smiling and stepped closer to her, his bare hand extended toward her. "Shh...it's okay, Sarah. I only wanted to help. I just want to brush your hair." When she didn't move, he gently took the stuffed rabbit from her hand, smiling warmly at the way her hand twitched, as if wanting to snatch it back. "Come, Precious."
Taking her hand, he walked her over to the low footstool sitting in front of the couch and nudged her to sit. Once she had settled on the pouffle, he tucked the rabbit back into her arms, an indulgent smile tugging at his lips from the way she hugged the toy close. Moving slowly so as not to startle her any further, he slipped behind her and sat on the couch, then gently guided her to lean back a bit, until she was tucked between his knees. Jareth hummed quietly, his nimble fingers carefully he freeing her hair from under the edge of the quilt, and smoothing it down her back. Finally picking up a section of her hair, he began to meticulously work the knots out, easing them loose with his fingers and the fine bristles of the brush. As he worked, Jareth felt along the familial link, amused by the strong feeling of confusion from Sarah, tempered with the bitter scent of sadness.
The quiet ticking of the clock, and scratching sound of the hairbrush were the only sounds in the room for several long minutes - but the silence was welcome by Sarah who sat numbly staring at the thick silken rug, while her fingers caressed the worn patches on Mr. Bun's ears. She knew she would be seeing Jareth today, but to have him come to her rooms and then seem to be perfectly content to sit and brush her hair, was astonishing. 'Why is he being so gentle? He was so angry with me earlier,' she wondered, marveling at how careful he was being as he worked at the knots in her hair. With each new section of hair he picked up, he would grasp the hair near her head, saving her from feeling the worst of the 'pulls' while he worked the strands free.
"You called me Precious...still," she finally whispered, half hoping he wouldn't hear her words, even though she knew with his animal senses, there would be no way he would miss them.
Smiling warmly at her as he worked, he chuckled softly, pleased that she noticed and yet did not seem to mind the endearment. "Yes. I did."
"Why?"
"Because you are, Sarah," he replied simply. Laying another smoothed fall of hair aside, he started to tease out the knots in another section, as Sarah fell silent once more. Through the link he could still feel confusion and sadness, the air around her now faintly smelling of candied roses - hope, the scent making his own heart beat warmly in his chest. Once the worst of the knots and fuzzy bits were smoothed, Jareth picked up the heavy fall of hair down her back and began to brush it, gently running the brush through the thick tresses, from the base of her head to the ends, enjoying both the silken feel of her hair running through his fingers and the glossy shine that was rising with each stroke.
Swallowing thickly, her voice wavered as she spoke. "Why are you here?"
Jareth sighed, continuing to work at the knots. "I would have peace between us, Sarah."
"I thought you were angry," she murmured, still wondering why he was being nice to her. Sarah nibbled her lip pensively as she sat there, her eyes flicking to the balcony door, mesmerized by the reflection of herself and Jareth. He looked so relaxed and at home on her sofa brushing her hair, yet at the same time, it gave her an odd sense of comfort.
When Jareth moved the brush up and let the firm bristles run along her scalp then down to the ends of her hair, she couldn't help but purr softly. The sensation was so delightful a quiet moan caught in her throat, while her eyes fell shut - leaving her to miss the pleased smile that curled Jareth's mouth. "
"Yes...I am angry. But I am angry because you are precious to me, Sarah."
"Really?"
Fanning the glossy tresses over her back, Jareth let the hairbrush return to his own dresser, and gently stroked her hair with his fingertips, relishing the feel of it. 'This is the first time I've been able to touch her without her being skittish or angry,' he mused.
"Yes, really," he replied, turning her gently to face him. His fingers curled under her chin, tilting her head up. He hated seeing the purple smudges under her red swollen eyes. "Sarah, I need you to understand some things that I know I have said before but right now it is imperative that you fully see the truth. I am not angry because I hate you. Far from it. I am angry because I...care about you very much. I am angry because Rayvyn could have killed you - and that is not for selfish reasons, but because I am also angry at myself. I want to protect you, Precious...and I failed to protect you from him."
Her throat clicked as she tried to swallow, unable to bear the quiet regret in his eyes. Without thinking she reached up, her fingertips lightly caressing his cheek. "You didn't fail...you got there in time."
Sighing, Jareth gently grasped her hand, pulling it away from his cheek. He held her hand on his knee, his warm smile belied by the sadness in his eyes. "I nearly didn't, Sarah. Had I not felt the burn of the bond mark or if the charm on the necklace hadn't worked, I…" he said, his words trailing off as he shook his head. "It doesn't bear thinking of now, Precious. The point is, I was angry for multiple reasons, and all of them are directly linked to the fact that I do care about you. I want to keep you safe. I need to keep you safe. To ensure you are taken care of, educated...and happy."
A despondent wave rushed through the link, even as Sarah nodded. "I understand. You promised Father you'd take care of us."
Squeezing her hand gently, Jareth shook his head, frustration pinching his face, as an urgency crept into his tone. "No! No, Sarah… you do not yet understand. Initially, yes… it was because of your Father and because..." he sighed, running his hand through his hair and shaking his head in irritation, more so at himself than the young woman in front of him. "Honestly, at the start it was a thrill to have the 'girl who won' back under my power." Seeing her tense up, his fingers twined with hers, as his other hand came up, tenderly cupping her cheek. "But, that faded quickly, Sarah. I realized I really did care what happened to you and to Toby. Now, I want nothing more than to know you both are safe and happy. So to see you in danger, frightened and hurt…." he paused, his eyes flashing darkly as he looked off toward the balcony, before his eyes fell shut. "Precious, I wanted nothing more than to render Rayvyn naught but ash when I saw what he was going to do. I'm only sorry that he escaped before I could."
Releasing her cheek, Jareth opened his eyes, as Sarah looked away from him, hanging her head, a sense of hopelessness flooding through him. For several long moments she stared at their entwined hands, before squeezing his hand back. "You have a mark too?"
Silently, Jareth turned his hand over, revealing the small design on the inside of his wrist. Leaning forward, Sarah looked at it, fascinated by the miniature round labyrinth design. "It's...not like mine," she mused, tilting her head to examine the circular centre of the design, which was filled with a knotwork triskelion, instead of the horned sigil of the Goblin King. "I thought they'd be the same."
Content to let her look at the strange mark, Jareth shrugged slightly. "No one really knows what it should look like, Sarah. As far as I have been able to find out, no one has ever been in our situation before - bonded and marked without having consummated our relationship. For that matter, I have found no record of a reciprocal bonding mark existing."
"So...what...is that my mark?" she asked, looking curiously at the mark, then up at him.
All Jareth could do was nod. "That is my suspicion."
"It's pretty," she murmured, lightly running her finger over it, then jumping as Jareth shuddered and hissed in a shuddering breath.
"Ye Gods!" he gasped, blinking in surprise at her, at the sudden rush of pleasure which flooded through him, his groin tightening fully in an instant.
Sarah couldn't help but grin at his reaction to the touch, before her eyes were drawn to the mark once more, only to blush as they flitted over the obvious bulge in his trousers. "If your mark is anything like mine, I'm guessing that felt pretty damn intense. Does it feel as good when you touch it, like mine does?"
Still trying to get control of his breathing and other more 'responsive' parts of his anatomy, Jareth gently removed his hand from hers, a pair of gloves with high cuffs appearing instantly upon his hands. Clearing his throat, he surreptitiously attempted to adjust his erection more comfortably, giving her a somewhat sheepish smile in return. "It does 'react' when I touch it, but not as strongly as...that."
Still grinning, Sarah blushed scarlet when her stomach chose that moment to gurgle loudly. The next moment her giggles ran wild when Jareth's stomach gave an accompanying growl that was far louder and longer than hers. Without missing a beat, Jareth glared down at his stomach. "That will be quite enough out of you, thank you!" he snapped, making Sarah laugh harder. While his stomach made no further comment, Sarah's decided to reply with another growling-gurgle, her cheeks flaming.
"I think it is best if we feed the beasties, Precious. It's no wonder, breakfast was hours ago and neither of us ate much."
Reaching over her head, Jareth snapped his fingers and a shimmering crystal appeared to float lazily to the top of the coffee table, where it burst. By the time the droplets evaporated, a large pizza, still steaming from the oven, appeared on the table.
"Wow!" Sarah gasped, then grinned at him before examining the pizza and breathing deep the thick scent of garlic, Italian spices and robust tomatoes. "Hmmm… that smells just like Cassano's!"
"That's because it is," Jareth replied, leaning around her and picking up a slice. "Now dig in before it gets cold."
Picking up a slice of her own, Sarah giggled again, then purred as she bit into it. "It's my favourite."
"I know...and for good reason...it's delicious," Jareth nodded, already half-way through his slice.
Sarah ate several bites, watching Jareth thoughtfully before finishing her slice. "How did you know?"
Jareth merely shrugged, then gave her a conspiratorial wink. "I may have heard from a little goblin what foods you like best."
"Would the goblin's name be Toby?"
"No comment. It is against the rules to rat out a goblin who was merely doing service to his King," Jareth quipped, picking up another slice with a grin.
Eating her second slice, Sarah frowned slightly. "So what… did you steal someone's pizza?"
"Perhaps… it was in the oven and had the toppings you prefer. I did leave payment if that is what you are worried about," he added, trying not to stare at her lips, as her tongue flicked out to lick up a smear of tomato sauce.
Unaware of being studied, Sarah beamed at him, the sight of her open smile making his heart thrum harder in his chest, warmth spreading through him. At the Halloween Ball she had smiled like that at him, and it made his heart fairly leap from his chest. To see her give such a smile freely after his caddish behaviour in the morning, was more than he ever dared hope for. He knew he'd still have to punish her, yet he harbored the hope that they could weather this disaster with the bond still intact - if not stronger.
"So...it's good to be King huh?"
Laughing, Jareth nodded, offering Sarah a nibblet of sausage from his slice. As she smiled at him and delicately took the bite from his fingertips, he purred, "You have no idea."
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Looking at the pizza box, Sarah groaned. Even with she and Jareth both demolishing the pizza, it was still three-quarters full of small squares of pizza. "I'm stuffed and we have nearly a whole pizza left! How is that even possible?!"
Jareth chuckled, finishing off the last of his soda as he looked at the box. It was true, they had barely made a dent in the massive pizza, but it had been worth it. For the last half-hour, they had sat, having the most companionable meal he could remember having since Sarah and Toby joined the household. "I'd say we acquitted ourselves admirably, but the pizza clearly won this war."
With another groan, Sarah leaned back in her corner of the sofa and laughed, shaking her head. "We'll never fit that in the fridge...besides Mrs. Brown would ask too many questions if she found this downstairs."
"True," Jareth mused, a lazy smile curling the corner of his mouth upward. "Luckily, I have a solution that will actually work to both of our favour." Jareth snapped his fingers sharply. "Boggle!" he snapped, winking at Sarah.
A moment later there was a soft popping sound and a grey-green goblin appeared near his hand. The goblin was short, even by goblin standards, barely able to peer over the edge of the coffee table. Craning his head upward, he gave Sarah a grin filled with stained fangs - half of which seemed to be broken or on the verge of rotting out of his skull. 'Gods! I guess goblins don't know much about dental hygiene.'
Glancing up at the soft voice that echoed through his head, Jareth bit back a laugh, then turned his attention to the little goblin. "Boggle… take this box of pizza to the castle hoard. Tell them it is a gift from the Champion."
Boggle looked at Sarah, his yellow eyes widening as he bobbed his head. "Oh...thank yous! We loves pizzas. S'good wit the black jam!"
Saran frowned, looking at Jareth her clarification. "Black jam?"
Jareth rolled his eyes, a broad grin making his pale eyes light up. "Vegemite. Apparently one of our wished aways several years was eating the vile paste on toast when she was collected. The goblins loved it. Now they each get a jar twice a year. Don't ask...but it's become something of a black-market monetary system for them." In the next instant, Jareth's expression hardened, narrowing on the small form who was eyeing the pizza with something akin to lust. "Why are you still here? Take the pizza box and get out!" he hissed.
Gulping the goblin nodded frantically, his claws scrabbling on the box, before he swung the lid shut. Boggle gripped the box, holding it atop the green and yellow tea cosy he was wearing as a hat. "Yes… yer Majesty. Iz goin." Boggle gave Sarah another toothy grin and bobbed up and down in an odd sort of curtsey-ish movement. "Thanks, Lady!" Then he vanished with a quiet 'farting' noise.
Unable to help herself, Sarah dissolved into a fit of giggles. Holding her aching stomach, she flopped bonelessly on the sofa, laughing until tears ran down her face. Jareth watched her, marvelling at the free way she laughed in that moment - her eyes shining with happy tears, while the hair he had so carefully brushed earlier, flowed over the back of the couch, twisting in thick ropes while she rocked with her laughter. The sight of her laughter sent a surge of warmth through him. 'I want to hear her laugh more often,' he mused, trying to commit the sound of her laughter to memory.
After several minutes of intermittent, snickering, Sarah calmed down once more. Tilting her head, she smiled at Jareth. "Sorry about that… it was just… he was just so...and the fart!" Giggling once more, Sarah wiped her eyes, while Jareth chuckled softly.
"I'm glad you find my subjects so amusing. Of course, you should know that they adore you, so to have 'the Lady' gift them such a treat, will only further cement their loyalty to you."
Tilting her head, Sarah looked at him, her green eyes growing serious. "So what...that was a political move?"
Surprised at her assertion, Jareth shook his head, squeezing her hand gently. "Not at all, Sarah. I gifted them the pizza on your behalf because it would make them happy - I'm not the beast you like to think I am, Precious. My subjects are hardy and thrive on rough treatment, but they also adore small treats. And for them, to have a gift from you is a boon they will not soon forget."
The room was silent for several long minutes, as Jareth felt the carefree happiness of the past few minutes fade.
"So... does this mean you're not going to punish me now for going to the party?" she muttered, restless fingers twisting the worn ear of her faithful stuffed rabbit. Glancing up at him under a veil of brunette hair, Sarah sighed."I didn't realize I was putting myself in danger."
Jareth sighed, his short cropped hair falling freely over his forehead as she shook his head. "No, Sarah. It doesn't work like that. And I think you know that, Precious."
"Oh…" she murmured, her finger now tracing the delicate stitching on her stuffed rabbit's vest.
Jareth's face fell as he watched her. Around her bloomed the stale smell of uncertainty, while despondence flooding through the familial link, where a moment before had been the warmth of happiness and delight. "Sarah…I've explained this. While I appreciate that you didn't know the danger that was possible, you deliberately disobeyed my instructions and it is that which will be punished. Look at it this way, Precious….if the family of the King ignores his wishes, what message does that send his other subjects?"
The steady ticking of the mantel clock was the only sound, before Sarah finally sighed and nodded. "They would question why they should obey the crown either."
Smiling now, Jareth reached over and lightly took her hand in his, his thumb caressing her knuckles. "Exactly. It is a delicate balance that must be maintained, Sarah. And we both know that while many of my subjects are logical and thoughtful, my goblins are not the most… well… intelligent of creatures...for the most part at least. It would never do for them to find that you, my Champion, had disobeyed an order and were not punished for it. Without rules and the expectation that they will be obeyed or the transgressor will face punishment, chaos would reign." Sensing her despondency growing, he tried to change the subject. "Have you spoken to Angel today? How is she doing?"
Sarah sniffed, a single tear rolling down her nose to drip onto her bunny, leaving a dark pink smear on the satin lining of it's ear. Jareth realized his mistake too late, as the wave of despondency morphed into outright depression. "Her grandparents have her at their house and have forbidden the staff to put my calls through. They say it's all my fault. That I'm a bad influence on her."
Sighing, Jareth gave Sarah's hand a gentle squeeze. "I'll have a talk to them, Precious. We'll remedy the situation. You'll see."
"I don't see that there is much even you could do, Goblin King."
"I've been told that my powers of persuasion are excellent," he replied, winking at her. "And on the rare occasion that such powers don't work, there is always…." Twisting his hand, Jareth pulled a glittering golden crystal from the air, balancing it on his fingertips. "Magic."
"That's cheating, Jareth. You can't go around altering people's memories and stuff. It's not right." Sarah pulled her hand from his, tucking it into her lap as she turned away from him, her glistening eyes staring out the window, but not seeing the lovely gardens below. "It's not fair. I don't remember what happened, but I know I didn't do the things everyone believes."
"I believe you, Sarah," Jareth said, his tone soft. Giving her a gentle smile, he nodded. "Believe in me, Precious. We'll fix this - and we'll do it without having to move the stars."
Before Sarah could protest further, a crisp knock sounded at the partially open door, followed by Mr. Foster walking in. Surprised, Sarah looked up at him, wondering when he had arrived at the house. Since the day he had brought Sarah and Toby to the house, she had never seen him there again. Foster gave Jareth a curt nod, in a way that reminded Sarah of an abbreviated bow, his eyes hidden behind the dark glasses he wore. She didn't know much about him or what he did for Jareth, but based on the formality of his dress, and the fact that he had approached her with the guardianship contract, she assumed he handled some of Jareth's Aboveground legal affairs.
"Sorry to intrude, Sir...but as you anticipated, the local constabulary have arrived. They are in the parlor with your parents and wish to speak to you and Miss Sarah."
Sarah watched, vaguely disturbed by the speed with which the warm smile faded from Jareth's face, replaced with a hard, stony expression that exuded power and authority. Nodding at Foster, he rose, Sarah's hand firmly in his. "Come, Precious. It is time."
"But Jar….Gareth," she stammered, shaking her head and pulling back against his grip. "I'm not dressed appropriately. I can't see them like this."
Still holding the glittering crystal in his other hand, Jareth casually flipped it toward Sarah, making her gasp as it burst. With wide eyes she registered that Jareth had changed her into a simple pair of black slacks and a pink cashmere sweater. Jareth didn't seem the slightest bit concerned about changing Sarah or himself, as he was now wearing a dark grey suit instead of the casual jeans from earlier.
Waving her hand toward Mr. Foster, Sarah shook her head. "But he…" she began, only to have her words cut off by Jareth.
"Say nothing once we are downstairs, Sarah. Only answer questions asked of you and let Mr. Foster and myself handle everything else," he instructed her, his tone firm and officious, as he led her toward the door. With her hand still in his, the two of them followed Mr. Foster through the hall, then down the stairs to the front foyer. Once they reached the front hall, Jareth gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, his demeanor thawing briefly. "Trust me, Precious," he murmured, before releasing her hand. Mr. Foster walked into the formal parlor, pushing the French doors open for Jareth and Sarah.
"Sir, this is Detective Inspector Cross and Sergeant Mullen," Foster said
Jareth gave no sign of caring for Foster's introduction, as he guided Sarah into the room, his hand lightly resting on her lower back. Without a word, he seated her next to his mother, giving the High Queen a brief nod.
Trying not to panic, Sarah glanced at Titania, the Queen's brief smile doing nothing to assuage her fears. The older woman's slender fingers curled around Sarah's trembling hand, a show of strength the girl desperately needed in the face of what was to come. She could feel Oberon standing behind the sofa, as a reassuring weight around her. With his height and bearing, she had no doubt that just his mere presence would be enough to intimidate the officers sitting in simple arm chairs by the door. The younger of the two, wearing a stiff blue uniform, fidgeted with his cap upon his lap. Next to him sat a man in a slightly rumpled tweed suit, his ruddy cheeks doing nothing to soften the irritated expression upon his face. Taking his time, Jareth crossed the room and settled in his favourite black leather arm chair; one arm propped on the side of the chair, as he surveyed the two officers, as if daring them to speak first. The uniformed officer merely fidgeted, looking first at his hat, then at the floor, while the plain-clothes detective scowled at Jareth.
"Go on then," Jareth ordered imperiously, waving his hand toward the officers. Seeing the cranky glare from the inspector, Jareth arched an eyebrow, his stare steely and cold. "Well?"
"We're here due to your girl's responsibility for what happened last night," grumbled the inspector, standing up. The sergeant looked up at him, then stood as well, awkwardly clutching his hat.
"I see. And what is it that you think she did, hmm?" Jareth asked, the casual drawl of his tone at odds with his icy demeanor.
"We don't think, Sir," the inspector snapped. "We know what she did, and once our investigation is complete she'll be duly charged for them! She stole a car, and while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, she wrecked it, causing injury to her passenger, as well as property damage."
Hearing the list of charges, Sarah feel strange hollow feeling settle in the pit of her stomach, even as her throat twitched like she would be sick any moment. Eyes wide, she glanced at Titania, who gave her hand a gentle squeeze. When she looked at Jareth, she was surprised by the cool, calm expression on his face, despite the seriousness of the charges.
Jareth could see the stricken look on Sarah's face from the corner of his eye, her emotions flowing through the familial link in a wave of panic and fear. As much as he wanted to acknowledge her fear and soothe her, he could not let them see any hint of weakness. "I see. Well those are rather serious charges if they can be proven."
The inspector's eyes lit up with dark glee at Jareth's words. "We wouldn't be here if we didn't have evidence. Her fingerprints were found on the wheel of the car, proving she was driving."
"Actually, all that proves is that she touched the steering wheel. What proof do you have that she was driving the car," Oberon intoned, his deep voice sonorous in the quiet of the room.
Sergeant Mullen swallowed heavily, bobbing his head slightly before he spoke, "Well...um… we have witnesses at the party who state that they saw Sarah give alcohol to the younger girl, then put her friend into the car with the help of another young man." Giving Sarah an apologetic smile, his green eyes seemed to plead with her as he spoke. "Would you like to tell us what happened? Cooperation with our investigation might be viewed in a positive light by the magistrate."
"I...I don't know. I don't remember what happened after Angel came back from the kitchen with the cups of punch. We danced a bit, then I started to feel sick. That's all I remember," Sarah said, hating the pitiful sound of her voice. Seeing the inspector's cold glare, Sarah cringed back toward Titania, then glanced at Jareth hoping for some show of reassurance - and found none. Jareth continued to watch the inspector, his pale eyes narrowing as the inspector and sergeant spoke.
Near the fireplace, the inspector harrumphed, wrinkling his nose as he shook his head. "Well your friend was intoxicated and drugged."
Frowning, Sarah ran a hand over her face. "No...that was me…I…."
"You admit you did it?" the inspector cut in, looking pleased that she had confessed, his piggish face twisting into a victorious grin.
"That is not what she said. I will thank you not to put words in the girl's mouth," Jareth snapped at the inspector, his tone deadly. Turning his attention to Sarah, he ignored the way she flinched at his sharp look. "Sarah...don't say another word until our lawyer arrives."
The inspector glowered at Jareth, sneaking irritated looks at Sarah, while the Sergeant fidgeted with his hat, crimping it in his tight grip. While Jareth looked stern and in control, Sarah could have sworn she felt anger radiating from him. In the next instant he snapped his fingers sharply and stood. Glancing at the officers, Sarah expected to see them react, yet they seemed frozen in space. Titania patted her hand gently, as Jareth plucked a shimmering crystal from the air.
"Drake!" he barked. A moment later a ruddy face appeared in the crystal.
"Yes, Sire?" replied Mr. Drake, his wide-set blue eyes barely visible from where Sarah sat.
"As expected, the local police have shown up. Has our 'friend' finished examining Sarah's blood?"
"Blood...but…how did you..." Sarah began, only to be silenced by a stern look from Jareth and a gentle shake of the head from Titania.
Mr. Drake didn't seem to hear her, his red face nodding in the crystal. "Yes, Sire… She had alcohol in her system, but not enough to have impaired her driving - if she was indeed the driver. She also had something called GhB in her system. From my understanding, it is not the sort of drug that a young woman is likely to take voluntarily."
Jareth's attention turned to Sarah once more, the sharpness of his gaze demanding confirmation of Drake's words. Nodding, Sarah forced herself to speak. "No, Jareth… I've only ever had a sip or two of champagne, that's it. GHB is a date rape drug Aboveground."
Jareth's frown deepened. "Use our contacts in the police force in London. I want details on that car and who the other person was," he growled at Drake, who nodded before the crystal popped, releasing time. Turning toward the inspector, who stepped back, clearly wondering how Jareth managed to go from sitting in his chair across the room, to be standing in front of him. "So tell me, officer...were there other fingerprints on the car and steering wheel?" Jareth demanded.
The inspector growled, while the sergeant looked uncomfortable, swallowing audibly again before nodding. "Yes, Mr. Rex...two other sets were found. We believe those are from the people who were helping your girl here distribute the drugs."
"Distributing drugs?! I never...I wouldn't…. " Sarah gasped, rising to her feet. "Gareth...I swear…"
"Sarah...sit!" Jareth ordered her, as his mother pulled Sarah back down onto the sofa. When Sarah was once more silent, her head in her hands, huddled next to Titania, Jareth glared at the inspector and stepped toward him. The inspector's triumphant smirk faltered as he stepped back from the powerful man giving him a cold, calculating stare. "Perhaps it would interest you to know that Sarah had been drugged with GhB, so while her fingerprints may have been on the steering wheel, it is highly unlikely she was the driver," Jareth hissed, a wicked smirk curling his lips at the way the inspector's face fell. "Where else did you find her fingerprints?"
Looking at his notes, the sergeant licked his lips nervously. "Well, we did find her fingerprints on the inside of the back window."
"And where there any other fingerprints in the back?" Jareth demanded, still glaring at the inspector who was no longer willing to look him in the eye.
"No Sir. To be honest, that was one of the things that had our forensics people puzzled. Sarah's fingerprints are only in two places on the steering wheel, not smudged like they would be if she drove and the only other fingerprints in the backseat belong to her friend Angel - and they were on the seat belt next to the window where we found Sarah's fingerprints."
"Shut up, Mullen!" ordered the Inspector, moving away from Jareth and cuffing the sergeant.
A slow smile broke over Jareth's face, as he returned to his chair. Arching an eyebrow, he nodded warmly at the younger officer. 'Do continue, Sergeant. Were Sarah's fingerprints found anywhere on the seat belt?"
"Um...No, Sir. They were not," he replied, giving a sheepish nod of his head. "Just on the inside of the window and the door."
"And am I to assume that you do not have an explanation for how Sarah's fingerprints could be on the inside of the window and seat belt, but no where else in the back seat?" Jareth asked, casually leaning on the arm of the chair and propping his chin upon two curled fingers. He could feel Sarah's panic ease as he took control of the situation - replaced by a hint of confusion and a pleasing mix of awe. Pinning the Sergeant with a questioning look, he smiled as the younger officer shook his head, looking at the floor rather than at Jareth. "And what kind of car was it? Manual or automatic?"
"Manual," muttered the Inspector, his voice low and gravelly.
Blinking, Sarah gawped at the Inspector, then at Jareth. "But I don't know how to drive a manual. I haven't even driven an automatic since I've been in England."
Sarah's words had the effect Jareth hoped for. Both the Inspector and the Sergeant looked flustered. The Sergeant flipped helplessly through his notes, as if looking for something that would help, while the Inspector jammed his fedora back on his head.
"Ahem...yes...well...I think we've taken enough of your time for a preliminary interview. Just … well, don't leave town without informing the station of your location, in case we have more questions. We'll be in touch with additional questions once our investigation progresses," the Inspector snapped irritability.
Jareth rose from his chair, tugging at the cuff of his shirt under the edge of his suit jacket. When he was pleased with it, he fixed the Inspector with a cold glare. "I suggest that you do a thorough job of it. It would not do to have to give a very public apology to one of the richest men in the UK."
.·:*¨¨*:·. .·:*¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*:·. .·:*¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*:·. .·:*¨¨*:·.
The halls of Tywellyn House were silent when Sarah left her room at 8:50 that evening, to make her way down to Jareth's study. When the the officers had left, Jareth instructed her to go to her room and stay there until dinner, stating that he was going into the city to check on further investigations about the night before, and where Rayvyn may have gone. Alone in her rooms, she spent rest of the day sprawled miserably on her bed attempting to read - and failing, while her mind raced over Rayvyn's motives and just what Jareth might do to Rayvyn when he was found. At 3 minutes to 9, Sarah paused outside the study door, glancing at her watch. Sighing, she mused over the fact that the best parts of her day were having dinner with Toby in the comforting warmth of the kitchen, and oddly, the relaxed lunch she shared with Jareth in her room.
Sarh counted down the seconds, until the mantel clock in Jareth's study began to chime the hour, the sonorous 'bongs' echoing out into the hall. On the fifth chime, Sarah turned the doorknob and pushed the door open.
As usual, the room was lit by the gentle glow of the various lamps, and the flickering of the golden flames dancing in the fireplace, to ward away the chill of the late fall air. Jareth stood at the window behind his desk, his hands folded behind his back as he looked out. His suit jacket was draped across the arm of an easy chair by the fire. On the nearby sofa, Titania sat, watching her son.
"Oh...I'm sorry. I thought were we meeting like usual," she muttered, her hand still on the doorknob. "I didn't mean to interrupt."
Jareth's golden predatory eyes narrowed as he looked out over the yard, his senses heightened to the point that he could taste the trepidation with which Sarah entered the study. She was nervous, but resigned, something Jareth was surprised to feel, but relieved by. 'She must be coming to terms with things better than expected, which will make what must be done far easier in some ways,' he mused. Even with that knowledge, he closed his eyes, forcing the familial link shut as far as he dared, to dampen the feel of her emotions, while shielding his thoughts to prevent any further 'leakage'. 'The last thing I need tonight is Sarah 'hearing' my thoughts during this punishment.'
"You are not interrupting, Sarah. You are right on time, in fact. The High King and Queen will be here as… witness, this evening," Jareth replied, turning around to look at the young woman by the door, then gesturing toward his desk and the open punishment book laying in the middle of the leather blotter. "Come in and sit down."
Biting her lip, Sarah approached the desk and sat down in the big leather chair, her hands clenched in her lap. Looking at Titania, she felt her face flush warmly at the solemn look on the Queen's face, and Oberon's, as he stood behind his wife, one large hand upon her slender shoulder. Sarah glanced up at Jareth as he stepped toward the desk, his fingers deftly removing the sleek grey glove covering his left hand. Knowing what was coming, Sarah cringed. "I'm sorry, Jareth," she murmured.
"As am I, Sarah," he replied, his words quiet, but not unkind. Laying the glove on the blotter, he picked up the sharp blade sitting in the ornate holder. "I should have warned you that Rayvyn had been on the grounds, but I did not want to frighten or worry you while I was gone. However, while my choice not to fully inform you may have led to your foolish decision, the fact of the matter is you disobeyed a direct order of your head of house...and your King. This cannot be ignored."
Sarah hung her head, staring at her clenched hands in her lap, the uncomfortable prickling sensation burning at the edges of her eyes. Seeing her distress, Jareth reached down, tenderly caressing her shoulder. "Sarah...Precious… do you remember why I must punish you when you disobey?"
"Because you are my King," she whispered, her voice cracking as the first of the burning tears rolled silently down her cheek, then dripped onto her hand.
"In part, yes, but there is more to it. You're forgetting the most important part. I care about you, fact is, when I tell you not to do something, there is always a reason for it and being who I am in the Underground, and the fact that you are one of my family, more often than not that reason I tell you not to do something is because I want to keep you safe. If disobeying me means you leave yourself in unsafe situations, I must do all I can to discourage that behaviour. I do this not out of anger or a desire to be mean, but because I care and want you to learn from the mistake. Never forget that, Precious."
Nodding her head, Sarah sniffed,unable to bring herself to look up at him. Out of the corner of her eye she watched as he prepared to cut his palm, only to frown as Jareth's slender fingers held the blade firmly, while presenting the carved handle to her. "What?"
"Go on. Take the blade, Precious."
Sarah's head snapped up at that, her green eyes wide and questioning. "What? No...Jareth… I can't…."
His expression was firm as he nodded, still offering her the handle. "Sarah, we've been down this road. Clearly you have not yet realized that when you disobey, it is not just you who feels the consequences."
Tears rolled freely down her cheeks now, leaving glistening trails. Still she shook her head in protest. "No, please. I can't...can't hurt you. Please, don't ask me to do that."
"You will, Sarah...because you must. Perhaps this will help you remember that you are part of this family and even though I am the head of the family, what you do not only reflects upon me, it causes me pain as well. So, today, you will physically cause me pain. Now do as I say. Take. The. Blade."
Sniffing louder, Sarah obeyed, reaching out and lightly grasping the handle. Jareth lowered his palm, in front of her, silent and stern in his expression. "Jareth…" she murmured, looking up at him, her green eyes glistening. 'Please...I don't want to hurt you… ever,' her words whispered in his mind.
"Go on, Precious. I can hold time and we will sit here until you do this, so you are far better off getting it over with so we can move on," he replied, his tone quiet and calm.
Sarah swallowed against the lump in her throat and tightened her hold on the blade. "I'm sorry," she whispered, then in one swift, firm movement, she sliced a cut into the center of his palm, flinching at the sight of the cut as it began to immediately pool with crimson drops.. "I'm sorry."
"You know what to do," Jareth murmured, nodding toward the quill that lay upon the blotter next to her punishment book.
Sighing, Sarah picked up the quill and carefully dipped the tip into the small well of blood in Jareth's palm, then leaned over her book and began to write in thoughtful script:
Infraction: Went to a party although I was told not to leave the house.
Reason: I let myself be swayed by my friend and thought going to the party couldn't possibly cause any problem.
When she had finished writing in the book, Sarah offered Jareth the quill, only to frown in confusion when he refused to take it. "This time, you will write out the punishment as well, Sarah," he said quietly. "Tell me, from your lessons on Underground culture, what is the standard punishment for endangering the Crown?"
Sarah gulped and looked up at Jareth with wide eyes as she shook her head. "I don't know what you mean?"
"Answer the question, Precious. We have studied this information, so I know that you remember the answer," he demanded quietly.
"The punishment in cases where no physical damage was incurred by the Crown, range from 20 to 100 lashes with the scourge," Sarah murmured, her gaze falling back to the book on the desk, the pristine cream page now marred with red words that seemed to leap from the page.
"Indeed." Looking up at his father, Jareth gave a brief nod of his head. "As High King, what punishment do you wish to hand down, Father?"
Gasping softly, Sarah looked from Titania to Oberon, feeling more tears prickling at her eyelids. Oberon looked at her, his pale eyes quiet, yet stern. She had assumed that Jareth would state the punishment as he usually did, to hear Oberon dictate it, felt more like he was sentencing a prisoner.
Jareth arched an eyebrow as he glanced down at the young woman sitting at his desk, surprised by the sudden wave of nausea he felt from Sarah, despite dampening the effects of the familial link as much as he dared.
"Given the situation and her youth, I would say that 20 lashes would be sufficient to drive the lesson home," the elder King replied, his expression giving no hint of softness.
Sarah bit her lip to force back a whimper, her head hanging once more as tears dripped into her lap. She felt Jareth's hand lay warmly upon her shoulder, but didn't move. "Write the punishment in the book, Sarah." Still sniffling, she picked up the quill once more and dipped the sharp tip just barely into the pool of blood in his palm, before writing the punishment in the allotted column. "Jareth...I….I can't take that much….please...don't," she whispered, crying freely as she looked up at him, her green eyes pleading for leniency.
Pulling a crystal from the air, Jareth ran it along the cut on his palm, healing it until it was no longer visible. "I know, Sarah," he replied, turning his hand over once more and holding it out to her. "You're just going to have to trust me, Precious."
A quiet whimper squeaked in her throat as she put her hand in his, her knees trembling. Rising, she willed her wobbly legs to hold her up, following Jareth toward the chair that she usually leaned over to have her punishments. Instead of leaving her at the chair, Jareth led her to the sofa where Titania was sitting, before releasing her hand. "Sit, Sarah."
Frowning, she sat numbly next to Jareth's mother, shaking her head at him. "I...I don't understand."
"You will," was his cryptic reply, as he began to loosen his tie. Slipping his waistcoat off, he draped it over his suit jacket, before pulling his tie from around his collar, the silk making a faint rustling sound as it slid free, to be dropped upon the growing pile of clothing.
"What...what are you doing? " Sarah asked, blinking owlishly at him.
Jareth said nothing. Sarah watched as his fingers deftly worked the buttons of his dress shirt. One by one he freed the small pearl buttons, revealing a smoothly muscled chest and the sigil of office which was ordinarily hidden under his shirt. She felt a wave of heat rise to her face at the sight of his bare chest, until he turned away from her to drape the shirt upon the pile. Scattered across his back were fine thin lines, aged scars that were barely visible. As she tilted her head, pondering the scars, Oberon stepped from behind the sofa. Sarah's eyes widened seeing the wicked looking flogger in his hand. The handle was thick and bound with strips of black leather; as he walked, Oberon seemed to weigh the flogger in his hand, the falls hanging low to lightly brush his knees with each step. It was the falls of the flogger which made Sarah's heart clench in her chest - each one was made up of finely braided hemp cord, embedded with small bits of bindi-cord. Jareth had shown her one when she asked about a punishment during a history lesson. The hemp cord would be painful enough, but the addition of the bindi-cord with it's tiny hooked barbs of stinging bindi's, was designed to increase the pain of the person being punished.
Jareth nodded at his Father, then stood facing the fireplace, baring his back, as his hands rested lightly on the mantel. It wasn't until that moment that the full realization of what was about to happen struck home to Sarah. "Jareth no!" she cried out, attempting to launch herself from the sofa, while Titania held her back.
Calmly, Jareth peered over his shoulder at her, a sense of desolation in his pale eyes. "Would you really wish dishonor me further, Sarah?" he murmured, his voice sad.
"No...it's not that... it's just…."
"Then stay silent, Sarah," Jareth instructed her with a disapproving shake of his head. "You are unable to take the punishment as chosen by the High King, therefore as your Head of House, it falls to me to accept it."
"That's not fair!" Sarah protested, cringing at the petulant whine that had crept into her voice.
"But that is the way it is, Sarah. Now, either stay silent or I will have no choice but to gag you. Let's see if you can actually obey an order for a change, hmmm?" he replied, his words taking on a crisp edge, as he looked back at the fireplace.
Oberon moved closer, his hand gently resting on his son's shoulder. Leaning in, he whispered, "Are you sure about this, my boy?"
"Yes, Father. She must learn and punishing her doesn't seem to be getting the message across. Perhaps this will be the motivation she needs to remember the lesson."
Nodding, Oberon stepped back and gave the flogger several light flicks. Sarah looked aghast at the sight before her, only to jump and cover her cry with her hands as the first lash stroke fell. There was wicked swish when Oberson swung the flogger, followed by a loud crack when it landed. Sarah's stomach lurched, as she watched red lines bloom across Jareth's back. Despite the bleeding lines, Jareth didn't even flinch. Dispassionately, Oberon shook out the falls, then brought his arm back once more. Another wicked whistling sound echoed in the room, followed by yet another loud cracking sound - as more crimson trails blossomed across Jareth's pale flesh. For every drop of blood that beaded and rolled over the porcelain skin, Sarah shed ten tears to match it. Each crack of the scourge made her heart falter and her tears fall faster, until with the tenth she could no longer stand it.
As Oberon brought his arm up for the eleventh stroke, Sarah broke free of Titiania's firm hand and launched herself at the High King. Grabbing his wrist, she pulled at it, halting its movement. "Please….Please Sire...no… I beg you! Stop! Me...it's me who should bear the punishment! Not Jareth. He was trying to protect me. Please...please...stop. Punish me if you must but don't hurt him any more!"
"Sarah!" Jareth hissed, looking at her over his bloodied shoulder. "Be still, girl!"
"No...I can't Jareth. Don't you understand that? I can't. It's not fair for you to take the punishment. It belongs to me! I disobeyed. Not you!"
Oberon caught his son's eye, noting the relieved expression that briefly shown within. 'She will make a wonderful queen someday,' he mused, then turned to the girl, his own expression steely. "Are you quite sure that you wish to share the punishment, Sarah?"
"Yes, Sire. Please."
Nodding, Oberon held out the scourge to the young woman before him. "Fine. You shall bear the remainder of the punishment - only after you have given him three full strokes of your own."
Sarah blanched, shaking her head and taking a step back from the High King and the vicious flogger. "What? No...I don't want to hurt him. That's the point...not to hurt him anymore."
"I'm sorry, Sarah, but the fact is, you already have hurt him. Do this, and he will bear no more pain from your transgression," Oberon replied, his words as firm and sure as his expression.
From his position in front of the fireplace, Jareth felt regret and sorrow flood the familial line from Sarah. For a moment he thought she would back down, then his heart swelled with pride when she nodded at his Father and reached for the scourge.
"Three strokes, then I share the punishment?" she asked, seeking a binding promise from the King.
Oberon smiled and inclined his head. "You have my word, Sarah." He stepped back behind the sofa, his hand resting gently on his wife's shoulder, while Sarah gave the scourge an experimental flick. Glancing at her once more, Jareth nodded.
"Strike true, Sarah. Don't falter. And don't pull the stroke at the last moment, or you'll cause more damage than you would if you hit me properly," he instructed her quietly.
Blinking back tears, Sarah nodded helplessly, her hand shaking. "I don't want to hurt you, Jareth."
"I know, Precious. Nor I you."
Sarah took a deep breath, fighting back the urge to shut her eyes as she swung the flogger with all her strength. The scourge whistled through the air and landed sharply against Jareth's shoulder, making him hiss through his teeth at the fresh burst of stinging lines that sprung up on his skin. As instructed, she had delivered a full blow, the force less than his Father's, but the pain no less significant. The crimson lines flowed slowly down his back, leaving glistening trails across the pale flesh. A moment later Sarah's second stroke fell, the vicious falls licking across his other shoulder. When the final blow landed, Jareth could not hold back the a low groan. The barbed bindi's dug deep into the tender flesh over his spine, leaving bleeding tracks that made his shoulders tremble with every breath, as the barbs tugged on the open wound. Behind him he heard the dull thud of the flogger handle hitting the floor, then the open sobbing of Sarah as she rushed toward him.
"I'm sorry...so sorry…. Tell me...how to make it right...I want to… please let me," she cried, wrapping her arms around him. The feel of her body pressed against his back was both heavenly and agonizing, as the material of her shirt ground the bindi's that had been left in his skin, forcing them deeper into the ripped flesh.
Hissing, Jareth turned in her arms, so that she was hugging his chest, his own arms wrapping around the sobbing woman who was clinging to him.
"We shall leave you to deal with the consequences of Sarah's promise, Jareth," Oberon said quietly, taking Titania's hand and leading her toward the door. Jareth caught his Mother's eye as she followed Oberon toward the door, relief showing clearly on her face. She nodded briefly at him, before the two of them disappeared through the heavy wooden door.
When the study door clicked shut once more, leaving them alone, Jareth sighed, gently kissing the top of Sarah's head. "You must let go of me, Precious. We are not yet done with our business for this evening," he murmured, flinching as her hand touched one of the open cuts upon his back.
Stepping back from him, Sarah scrubbed a hand across her wet eyes, her green eyes red-rimmed as she looked at him. The sight of her tears, shed for him, with his own blood smeared across her cheek, left Jareth speechless; while the primal part of him that held the bond roared it's approval. Stunned, Jareth reached out to caress her cheek, the tears having left lines through his blood. The sight nearly undid the last of his resolve to wait until she was fully ready to accept the claim on her own terms, but her next words spoke to his rational side.
"Please Jareth...let me take care of your back first. That has to hurt. I can't believe you...you did that...for me," she whispered, then dissolved once more into tears, her entire body shaking, while a rush of sorrow flooded through him through the link.
Gently Jareth wrapped his arms around her, hugging her close once more. When her tears slowed again, he led her toward the sofa and nudged her to sit. "I did it, because I care for you, Sarah. I don't know what more I can do before you will believe me. But if it makes you feel better, you can tend to my back, before accepting your part of the punishment." Twisting his hand slightly, Jareth dropped a crystal upon the coffee table. In an instant a bowl of cool water appeared next to a stack of soft linen towels. Laying on a small tray were several sizes of tweezers, next to an empty black bowl. "You'll need to pluck the bindi's out one by one, then wipe down the cuts. Once you have done that, the small purple pot contains a salve that will heal the cuts," Jareth explained, easing himself onto the footstool in front of Sarah.
Nodding, Sarah picked up the tweezers, her other hand cool against his back, as she started to pluck the tiny black and gold bindi's from his skin. Each time she pulled one free, she felt Jareth flinch and heard the sharp intake of breath. "I see now, why the bindi's are used as part of the scourge. They prolong the pain," she murmured, her voice cracking once more, while a fresh wave of tears made her vision blurry. Jareth said nothing as she worked, merely growling or hissing when the pain reared it's head. When the bindi's were finally removed, Sarah carefully dampened a towel in the water and began to dab at the cuts, cringing at the way Jareth gripped his own knees until his knuckles were white. "I would have thought you could heal these cuts like you do the cut on your hand."
"Unfortunately, no. Since these cuts were inflicted as part of a punishment, the scourge used is enchanted. The damage must heal naturally. That is part of the punishment itself."
Gently working on another cut, Sarah traced her finger lightly over a faded scar. "Is that what these scars are from? Old punishments?"
Shivering at the feel of her finger tracing the scar, Jareth nodded. "Yes," he replied, his voice dull and quiet now.
"What did you do? Um...that is...if you don't mind me asking...I..." Sarah mumbled, as she started to dab the salve over the cuts, relieved by the way the seeping blood stopped the moment the salve touched the open slices.
"It's okay, Sarah. I've told you, you can ask me anything," Jareth sighed quietly, then purred as the salve began to numb the cuts."I have taken two beatings with a magical scourge at Father's hands since I reached adulthood - both of them to protect a woman I loved."
In shock, Sarah paused, gawking at the lines of cuts scattered across his back while not seeing them at all. 'Love… he loves me? That's why he did this?!'
Hearing her thoughts within his own mind, Jareth dropped his head lower, hiding his smile from her view. "The first, was to protect Mother. I had disobeyed a direct order from Father, and drawn her into it with me - it nearly resulted in a war. Father did not yet know that Mother was with child, but I could feel the other heartbeat. So I begged him to let me take the full punishment. And well….you just witnessed the second time."
With her cheeks flushing hotly, Sarah quickly finished dabbing the salve over the last of the cuts. "Um… there is nothing to bandage these with."
Jareth turned on the stool and snapped his fingers, cleaning away the first aid items he had given her. "No, they cannot be bandaged, but it will be fine. I'll stay shirtless the rest of the evening and sleep on my stomach tonight. By morning they will have crusted over enough that I can wear a silk undershirt, which will protect them from my clothing until they heal further."
"Oh… um...good," Sarah mumbled, nervously fidgeting with the towels she had draped across her lap. "Will my cuts have to heal like that too?"
Tilting his head, Jareth gave her a puzzled look, then smiled when he grasped her meaning. "No, Precious. I will not be using a scourge on you. You have not reached the age of Fae adulthood, nor have you finished your change. A scourge would be far too harsh."
"But… I promised Oberon….."
Jareth silenced her with a gentle finger across her lips. "Hush, Sarah. You will bear your share of the punishment, just not with a scourge. What will happen now is back between us, as family… and… as bonded mates, because like it or not, that is still what we are. Are you ready to fulfill your promise?"
Swallowing heavily, Sarah tried desperately to ignore the butterflies that swooped wildly in her middle. "If you aren't using the scourge...what are you going to use? Will I have marks? Will it cut me too? I don't know if…"
With a quiet smile, Jareth replaced his finger upon her lips. "So many questions. Let me explain, Precious and your questions will be answered if you'd only give me a moment." Sarah's cheeks flushed pink as she nodded sheepishly. Sitting back on the stool, Jareth shook his head, an amused smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I have said I will not use a scourge on you, but this is a punishment - it must be done in such a way that it will make the proper impact upon you. Therefore I will not be using my slipper this time. I will be using a cane, so yes, you will have marks, but there will be no breaking of the skin. You will accept 10 full strokes with the cane, then the books will be balanced."
"Ten? But… you took ten, then I had to give you three more. There should be seven left," she protested, feeling her stomach clench at the thought of ten full strokes with a cane. She had only seen a cane twice in Jareth's study, when he had made her choose what her punishment would be. The very thought of being struck with one made her feel sick.
Shaking his head, Jareth gently brushed hair back from her face. "No, Precious. The three strokes you gave me were the payment for interrupting the punishment designated by the Crown. There are ten more to be taken, if you truly wish to share the punishment." He could smell her fear, a pungent, vinegar scent that surrounded him. "Trust me, Sarah. I will not harm you."
Sarah gave a bitter laugh. "You want to hit me with a cane, how can you say you won't harm me?"
Taking the towel from her lap, Jareth gently rubbed her cheek, cleaning away his blood. "Believe it not, Sarah... I could give you 100 or more strokes with the cane and never actually harm you, much less hurt you. In fact, I could do it in such a way that you would be squirming with need by the time I was through." Amused by the stubborn look of disbelief she gave him, Jareth couldn't help but chuckle. "Someday, you can ask me to prove it to you, but tonight is not that time. For tonight, just understand that there is a difference between hurting someone and causing them actual harm. Harm leaves long-term damage, hurt is temporary. In the case of punishment, even temporary pain can cement a lesson and help someone grow. So yes, I will cane you tonight. And yes, it will hurt. And yes, I suspect you may hate me a bit as it is happening. But know this, Precious...I am not going to harm you. And I am not striking you out of anger. And believe it or not, what I am going to do, I do out of love - as hard as that may be for you to believe." Rising, he pulled a cane from the umbrella stand where he kept it, his slender fingers trailing up and down the rod, feeling for any nick or weakness that could injure Sarah. Finding none, he stood next to the heavily padded arm chair that Sarah usually chose to bend over for her punishments.
Sarah was silent for several long moments, her eyes upon her own hands as they fidgeted in her lap. "I understand, Jareth."
"Good girl. Now, because of what is required, we will do things a little differently tonight. Your jeans are too heavy and would offer more protection than should be afforded for punishment - when you consider I accepted the scourge against bare flesh."
Feeling her cheeks burn, Sarah nodded and stood, her fingers falling to the button of her jeans. Unable to to look at him, she stared at the floor as she unfastened her jeans and started to push them down.
"Sarah? What are you doing?"
She stopped with her jeans open and half-way down her hips, her face burning hotter at the intense look from Jareth. "Um… taking my jeans down? That's...that's what you wanted, right? So I'd feel the full impact?" Seeing his quiet smile, she felt her face seem to glow with heat.
The sweet and sour scent of her embarrassment amused him, but not as much as the undercurrent of desire that tickled his senses, making his primal inner-self howl for it's mate once more. "Not tonight, Precious. Some other time, perhaps," he chuckled, then offered her a pink crystal. "However, this crystal will adjust your clothing to offer you… coverage, without affording you any unnecessary 'protection' from the sting." Sarah looked from Jareth's smile, to the glittering crystal. Reaching out, she hesitated, pulling her hand back. "Go on, Sarah. I promise, I will not take liberties. You are safe with me."
Shutting her eyes she grasped the crystal, feeling a gentle warmth wash over her skin, before noticing a cool sensation on her legs. The scent of rain and musk surrounded her as she looked down. She felt the heat in her cheeks flame again, seeing that she was wearing one of Jareth's shirts, similar to the sleeping shirt she had taken from his room. 'Oh God….' she moaned inwardly. 'For the scent to be this strong, he'd have to have worn it recently.' As she moved to look at him, the silk of his shirt brushed across her nipples, causing them to tighten into puckered buds, that pressed insistently against the thin material. Gasping at the sensation, she felt her cheeks heat further, realizing she was only wearing her knickers and Jareth's shirt - nothing else.
Jareth patted the padded back of the arm chair and nodded encouragingly at her. "Lean over the back tonight, it will give you more support. You can brace yourself with your hands on the seat." Tilting his head, Jareth watched as she bent over the chair, the feel of her embarrassment and fear, warring with the faint scent of arousal.
"What about a safeword?" she asked, from behind the fall of dark hair that hid her flaming face from view.
"I see Angel has been educating you about some other 'adult' matters, hmm?" Jareth chuckled, shaking his head.
Sarah bit her lip at the laughter in his voice. "I...um… well…."
"Precious, I've told you, if you have questions you are always welcome to ask me and I will always answer you honestly," Jareth replied, his hand warm as he laid it against her lower back. "True, safewords have their place between consenting adults when they are 'playing' for enjoyment...both in the Above and in the Underground, however, when it comes to matters of punishment, safewords do not apply. It would render a punishment ineffective if you could decide when you have had enough. You will just have to trust me not to give you more than you can handle, Sarah."
Trying to control her breathing, Sarah nodded. "Yes, Sir…" she mumbled, then froze when she heard what she had said.
'Please don't let him notice,' Jareth heard her moan within his mind. Unseen by Sarah, he bit back a smile at her verbal slip, then lightly laid the cane across her bum. The cool rattan made her tremble, a faint gasp slipping past her lips.
"Remember to breathe in when the stroke hits, Sarah...it makes it easier to handle, but don't move from this position. I don't want to have to start over."
Silently she nodded, her hands flat on the seat of the chair. Jareth tilted his head, admiring the way the silk of his shirt skimmed over the curve of her bum, covering her, but at the same time highlighting the shape of her bum. Shaking his head, he growled at himself. 'Keep your mind on your task! This is for punishment...not pleasure!' Drawing the cane back, he brought it down in a swift arc, the thin rod whistling through the air before it landed with a crack against her bum.
Sarah yelped when a sudden line of fire seemed to burst to life across her bum. She could feel the pressure of the cane, the line stinging and throbbing deeply beneath it. Jareth held the cane still until she drew in a deep shuddering breath and slowly let it go, before striking her again. The second blow was just as hard, landing beside the first with precision. Just as the first strike stung, this one burned like she was being stung by a thousand bees. The pain of the second strike took her breath away. Panting softly, she fought to breathe slowly, gradually relaxing once more - only to grunt, trying to stifle her cry when the third strike landed. Gasping, her fingers gripped the cushion as she fought to stay still, the three lines across her bum throbbing and burning like electrified lines. Breathing through the pain, she was only dimly aware of the tears rolling down her cheeks and dripping onto the leather seat.
Then the fourth strike landed, slightly crossing the third in a way that made her fight not to scream, her mind berating her to stay silent and not wake Toby.
Watching Sarah's arms shake as she fought to stay still, Jareth paused, then reached out and tenderly caressed her back. Sarah gave a choked sob at the caress, a shudder running through her. "I know it hurts, Sarah. That is the point to punishment. I need you to remember this pain. Commit it to memory, so you won't forget the penalty for disobeying," he murmured gently. "And there is no reason to stay silent, Precious. Scream if you want. No one will hear you, save me."
When the next strike landed, Sarah didn't fight the scream any longer; instead, she arched her back, her head snapping up as her mouth opened. Her throat was so dry from the pain and tears that the scream sounded more like a strangled squawk, before it fizzled out into a croaked sob. The last five strikes were a blur of burning stripes and tears, interspersed with short screams and gasping sobs as she fought to catch her breath in between the intensely stinging strokes.
While Sarah struggled with handling the pain, Jareth faced his own struggle as he forced himself to continue with the punishment, despite his desire to throw the cane from his hand and cuddle the sobbing woman in front of him. The moment the last stroke fell, Jareth tossed the cane into the air, where it vanished in a haze of glitter. As much as his fingers itched to caress the red welts, the ends of which he could see blooming on the sides of her knickers, he restrained himself. 'Now is not the time. Someday...someday we will play hard and he will writhe at my touch in a pleasurable way. That is not tonight,' he thought irritably, as he gently guided her to stand up.
"Easy, Precious. Go slow," he whispered, then deftly scooped her into his arms, before sitting upon a nearby sofa. Tenderly he tucked the crying woman into his lap so that the tender welts running across her bum would not press against his thigh or the seat of the sofa. Wrapping his arms around her, he cradled her against his chest, ignoring the biting pain in his own back, as the cuts pulled open once more against the leather of the sofa.
"Shh...it's okay, Sarah. I know it hurts. But I'm so proud of you, love," he murmured softly. Slumping against his chest, Sarah sobbed freely, her tears landing wetly upon his shoulder, setting the cuts there aflame once more.
"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry… I didn't know, Jareth. I'm sorry," she babbled, clutching him around the neck.
Jareth nuzzled her temple, pressing a tender kiss upon the pulse point there, his words muffled slightly by her hair. "I know, Precious. But you'll remember next time." Ignoring time, Jareth merely rocked her gently, humming a soft melody to soothe the fears and pain of the woman in his arms. As much as he knew the punishment had to be done, the pain he felt now was far more than the physical remnants of the scourge - in many ways the emotional pain associated with causing her such pain hurt him far worse. Jareth lost track of time as he held her. Eventually she relaxed against his chest, her tears easing.
Sniffing, Sarah sighed, her warm breath lightly tickling his neck. "I was so drugged, I don't really remember much of being with Rayvyn, except the madness in his eyes when he started to bring down the knife." Sarah shuddered and seemed to burrow more deeply into Jareth's arms. "The one thing I remember well….is you," she whispered, her words making Jareth's heart swell in his chest. "I remember seeing you appear and thinking that I've never wanted to see someone so badly in my whole life. Seeing you, I knew it would all be okay. I'd be...safe."
Jareth hugged Sarah tighter, impulsively kissing the tender flesh beneath her ear. "It's okay, Precious. I'm not going to let him near you again, even if I have to keep you with me twenty-six hours a day." Sighing, Jareth turned his head, finding Sarah looking at him, her green eyes red from crying, but oddly clear as she gazed openly at him. Around her blossomed a scent he had only ever experienced when she was playing with Toby - love.
"Thank you, Jareth," she murmured, then leaned in the inch needed to touch her lips to his in a sweetly innocent kiss.
Jareth froze. Afraid to respond for fear of frightening her off, he let her lead. The kiss was brief and gentle, accompanied by an increase in the sweetly floral scent of love. Breaking the kiss, Sarah leaned her forehead against his, her verdant eyes shut peacefully. "Forgive me? Please?"
Leaning his head back, Jareth smiled, his fingers curling tenderly under her chin, lifting her face. When she opened his eyes, he murmured softly, "You are already forgiven, Precious. All I ask, is that you listen to me in future. I only wish to keep you safe." Seeing the warmth in her gaze, Jareth dipped his head and kissed her again, letting his lips brush hers gently. His fingers tenderly caressed her cheek, as released the kiss. "And on that note, I think it is time for you to go to bed, Sarah."
Sarah's cheeks fairly glowed, but she nodded. Wincing slightly as she stood, she frowned, one hand reaching behind her to rub at the tender welts.
Smiling, Jareth watched her. "The cane tracks will sting a bit for the next few days, so you will have a constant reminder as you go through your school day."
At his mention of school, Sarah's face fell, a sudden wave of fear rushing through the emotional bond. "What about Rayvyn?"
"I have my best army squad searching for him, Precious… and Father has guards searching as well. We will find him."
"No, I mean school. I've got to leave the house for school. And he's still out there," she muttered, her eyes glossing over once more.
Rising, Jareth pulled her into a warm embrace. ""It's okay, Sarah. Father has shielded the school. Dark magic will be unable to enter the grounds and several guards have been stationed there to protect you. Unless you would rather stay by my side every minute of the day?" Smiling at the faint flush that colored Sarah's cheeks, Jareth kissed her forehead. "For the moment, I want you going to school. If you find your fear too great, then other arrangements will be made to ensure your graduation." Stepping back, Jareth nodded toward the door. "Bed, Sarah. You need rest after everything that has happened. You'll be taking tomorrow off from class. I want you resting in your room during the day, then you will join me in my study at 6 for dinner and our evening study as usual."
Sarah nibbled her lower lip and nodded, then shook her head. "Um...can I have my clothes back first? I can't go traipsing through the halls of the manor dressed like this. What would the housekeepers say?"
Laughing now, Jareth twirled a golden crystal across the back of his hand. "They'd probably say 'Lucky girl'," he teased, smiling at the deepening bloom of pink on Sarah's cheeks. "However, so as to protect your reputation, I'll make other arrangements. Good night, sweet Sarah," he chuckled, tossing the crystal at her.
Sarah gasped in surprise, her hands flying up to catch the crystal just as it burst in a shower of pink glitter. When the pink haze dissipated, she found herself standing next to her bed. "I really hate it when he does that," she grumbled, collapsing onto her bed, only to hiss as the movement put pressure on the welts from the cane. "Owwww….Those...are going to make classes very interesting this week."
Rolling onto her side, Sarah saw Jareth's punishment book sitting on her nightstand, a feather poking out from between the pages. Carefully she picked it up, flipping the book open to where the feather was holding the place. Nibbling her lip, she skimmed the page, her eyes slowly widening as she read -
Infraction: Took a dragon to Idlylwyld Point to meet Diedre and manipulated Mother into granting me access to the myst portal to go Above.
Reason: Because Father treats me like a child by restricting where I can go and when.
Punishment: 50 lashes with the scourge; + 20 for Mother
Tears sprang to her eyes at the thought of what Jareth had gone through for his mother and for herself. "I asked for a sign about how he felt," she muttered, a finger tracing the careful script in the book. "I think I've definitely gotten it."
Now all she had to do was figure out how she felt about him.
Author's Note: Thanks for all the lovely reviews. They've inspired me greatly, so that I have full working 'dialogues' and scene plans for the next 4-6 chapters...now I just have to find the time to write them! Thanks for reading and please review!