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Chapter 28 – Wedding Day
After enduring dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, the Day of the Wedding between the Seelie Crown Prince/King of the Goblins and the Champion of the Labyrinth was finally here. Sarah sighed as she stretched out in her bed at the Avalon palace. A single tear rolled down her cheek.
Saoirse stood in the archway between the sitting room and the bed chamber. She stepped into the room and addressed the sad, young woman. "Sarah, why tears on what should be the happiest day of your life?" She sat on the edge of the bed and stroked Sarah's hair, wishing to impart some comfort.
Sarah sighed again. "I haven't seen or heard from Jareth in three days. I have had to deal with the healers and the priestess, poking me, prodding me, questioning me, cleansing me, whatever that is supposed to accomplish." She rolled to face the High Queen before she continued. "What if Jareth has changed his mind? Maybe this is his way of paying me back for breaking his heart in the first place?" She buried her face into Saoirse's lap, sobbing in complete misery.
Saoirse continued to stroke Sarah's hair and finally spoke. "Sarah, dear heart, you are just missing your beloved and are experiencing the usual doubts most brides must endure before binding themselves to their mates." She shook her head. "Jareth loves you, you should not doubt it. And the priestess and the healers are performing the cleansing that is required by our laws. Jareth must go through this same cleansing." She watched as Sarah sat up and dried her eyes on her sleeve.
"We, the Fae of the Royal houses, must come to our betrothed on the day of the hand-fasting and soul binding, free of any questions, doubts or linger emotional hurts. You must be cleansed so that the binding will cause you both to be reborn as bonded mates, eternally connected, sharing your magic and power equally. It is merely our way. I'm sorry it has caused you to feel so much turmoil. I had hoped Jareth would have explained this." She frowned as Sarah looked up at her, with hope shining in her tear filled eyes.
"Jareth spent our last night together, explaining the soul bonding. He told me about the incantation, helped me learn it and tried to reassure me about", she shuddered violently, "the athame." The tears again fell from her jade green eyes. "I am trying not to be afraid of the blood ritual but I'm not a magical being. I'm not Fae and I'm scared."
"Sarah, Jareth will vow to protect you during the hand-fasting ceremony, before the entire Seelie court. He would not allow any real harm to befall you. All I can ask of you is to trust my son. Trust that he loves you and will keep you safe." She kissed the young woman on both cheeks and rose to leave. As she made her way out the door, she turned one last time. "The priestess and her assistants are coming to prepare you for the hand-fasting. I ask you to do as they command without comment or complaint. It is required that you not speak from this moment forward until the priestess asks you to repeat the vows during the ceremony. Be calm, Sarah. Soon you will understand everything." And with that, Sarah was alone again.
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Jareth was deep in his own thoughts, having endured the cleansing of the healers and the priest for three straight days. He understood absolute silence was required now as the priest and his assistants would be entering his chamber soon to escort him to the Avalon palace and prepare him for the handfasting. All he could think on was his beautiful, beloved Sarah. He ached for her. A painful emptiness gaped within him. Three whole days without a kiss, a touch, a smile or even a glance. He knew it was necessary but it still felt cruel.
An insistent knocking at the door announced the arrival of the priest, Turlach. He entered without waiting for the door to be opened. Hot on his heels, his two assistants, Dalaigh and Tadhg. Jareth squelched the groan that threaten to come from him. He needed to be silent. No words until the vows were to be spoken. Jareth looked at Turlach, nodding his assent to whatever the priest needed to do. As a monarch, he needed to give his permission for these things to happen.
"Good morning, King Jareth." Turlach and his assistants bowed to the monarch out of respect. The priests and priestesses of Danu, goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danaan, were the most revered and feared beings in all the Underground. It was said that they had to die and be resurrected in order to be priests or priestesses. They wielded a power that came from the same source from which sprang the labyrinth's power. All knew that Jareth was the most powerful Fae in all the Underground, but the priests and priestesses had abilities no other possessed.
Four Fae males were transported magically to the Avalon palace, directly to the suite of rooms reserved for the Crown Prince. It was as if Jareth could feel Sarah through the walls and corridor separating them. He shook his head, trying to clear his senses, because he could swear he could smell her scent in his room. His body responded immediately, causing his now suddenly hard member to strain against the leggings he was wearing. And then he heard the heavy sigh of Turlach and looked to see the priest's disapproving shake of his greying head.
"Your Highness, can you reign your desires in or do we need to go through the cleansing again?" He pinched the bridge of his nose in pure frustration.
Jareth shook his head almost violently in response. He could not endure the ice baths and the chanting again! It had been real torture to endure it just once. Twice would feel like a death sentence. He concentrated, and with much effort willed his erection to recede and he slowly relaxed, trying to focus on the rituals that Turlach and his assistants would begin in just a moment.
Turlach was very fond of the Crown Prince. He spoke to him in barely a whisper. "Jareth, I know you are yearning for your beloved. Soon enough you will have all the time you desire to be with her. This is necessary and not without its benefits. Let us do what must be done and then we can have a wedding, alright?" He placed a hand on Jareth's shoulder and Jareth smiled and nodded, sighing inaudibly.
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Kennera was the High Priestess and it was her duty to oversee all royal handfastings. She was the priestess that bound King Jarrold to Queen Saoirse. Her two assistants were novices, training to become priestesses themselves. Lynet was the younger of the two, a sweet young Fae. Tege had been aptly named as she was just as her name stated: a pretty little thing. "Now, remember, do not ask the Lady Sarah to answer any questions. She needs to remain silent until the vows are spoken!" Kennera softened her voice a bit and gave the girls their final instruction. "Be patient with Lady Sarah. She is a mortal and from the Above and unaccustomed to our rituals and ceremonies." She smiled sweetly, nodded her head at the assistants and turned to knock on the door, turning the handle and entering.
"Maidin mhaith, Lady Sarah. My assistants and I are here to prepare you for the handfasting and what will follow." She noted that Sarah stood up and curtsied deeply, never raising her eyes to look upon the priestess and her novices. "My lady, do not subjugate yourself to us. You should be respectful but nothing more. After this ceremony, you will be the Goblin Queen, except for the coronation. You need to acclimate yourself to that fact." She smiled as Sarah lifted her face to finally gaze on the three Fae in her chambers.
'Oh goodness, here are more unbelievably beautiful Fae females.' Her thoughts were racing in her aching head. 'I'm glad Jareth chose me as it becomes ever more clear he could have chosen amongst the most ethereally lovely creatures ever beheld by a mortal's eyes.' She swallowed hard, her throat dry and aching; her desire to speak overwhelming. Sarah nodded at the directions she received and followed the women into the bathing chamber. There the lighting was very subdued and the water steaming, awaiting her. She started to undo her buttons but was stopped by Tege, who merely shook her pink haired head and smiled sweetly.
Tege went about removing her nightgown and Sarah felt odd, standing in front of these clothed women in just her Above lace panties. Lynet gently grasped the edge of the lace and lowered her panties down her shaking legs, trying not to look directly at the lovely mortal. Kennera had taken to unweaving her long brown braid and brushed the loose hair until it shined like starlight. Placing a hand on the small of Sarah's back, she pushed her forward. "Come, my lady, step into the water, and we will prepare you.
Nothing that had happened over the last three days prepared Sarah for the intimate bathing to which she was being subjected. She had never even touched herself the way these ladies were. Washing her with something that smelled like a spring meadow: clean, fresh and lightly floral. It distracted her from the hands that were touching her. It felt weird and slightly arousing. Sarah had never thought a woman's hand could cause those kinds of feelings in her, but clearly she was wrong. She felt her nipples grow hard and a warm pooling beginning in her belly. This was incredibly erotic. She closed her eyes and relaxed as the women washed her hair, rinsed her off and guided her to a table covered in towels. They laid her down upon it face up and began rubbing a scented cream into every inch of her skin.
She felt like she was floating and when Tege started rubbing the cream into her nest of curls and beyond, Sarah sucked in a breath and held back the moan of ecstasy. 'Gods, if she keeps that up, I'm going to, going to…' She felt her orgasm hit her hard as she was turned over onto her belly, to have the cream applied to the rest of her body. Several thoughts came to her confused mind: Did I just cheat on Jareth? Oh, gods, am I a lesbian or bi? Are they doing all this to Jareth, too?' She decided to not think anymore about it. Those thoughts would only lead to more trouble. Better to concentrate on being dressed in her wedding gown.
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Jareth stood in his bedchamber, a look of complete boredom and annoyance on his face. It was required and he was allowing it but it was clear he didn't like it. Being undressed by male Fae was not his definition of enjoyable. It was true that many Fae engaged in sexual activities with both males and females as well as other species, however Jareth had yet to become so jaded as to need to turn to males for sex. He did enjoy other activities, but he was still young, relatively speaking.
The attendants and priest moved Jareth into the bath and began to wash him. The soap being used smelled of spices and citrus. Jareth found the scent intoxicating; his body was relaxing and he felt mildly aroused. As Dalaigh began circling the sponge near his crotch, Jareth's cock twitched. The male smiled wickedly and started soaping him with more stimulating rotations. Jareth scowled at the attendant, unable to tell him to cease his actions when Dalaigh abruptly dropped the sponge and Jareth was dunked under the water, and came up, sputtering. Turlach, Tadhg and Dalaigh vigorously rubbed him dry with fluffy towels and guided him to lay down on a towel covered table. Three sets of hands were applying a scented lotion into every inch of his skin. It smelled just like the soap and tingled slightly.
The feelings of arousal, that he'd felt before, were greatly magnified by the lotion. Jareth struggled to think of unsexy things but his body and cock had other ideas. Goosebumps ran up his spine and his cock was growing harder and longer. Turlach knew the lotion would cause this to occur, and he did his best to ignore his majesty's rather impressive male appendage. Tadhg noticed the reaction but was not interested in focusing on the king's erection. Dalaigh couldn't keep his eyes off of the impress tool and rubbed extra lotion into the now throbbing cock. Jareth was done with being molested and rolled over abruptly so that these persons could focus on the rest of his anatomy. This proved to be a huge mistake.
No sooner had he rolled over then the annoying little Dalaigh gleefully started massaging lotion onto Jareth's buttocks. When his nimble fingers slipped between his cheeks and ran along the crack and touched on his anus, Jareth leapt up from the table glaring at the assistant. The Fae had the nerve to grin at the outraged monarch and simply reply, "I am doing it for your bride, Highness." That was the last straw! Jareth brought forth a crystal, threw it at the now gawking male and Dalaigh found himself gagged and tied to a chair in the bedchamber. Jareth smirked and gave a look to the priest that clearly indicated that the king had lost his patience and it was now time to get dressed for the ceremony.
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Sarah stood motionless as the three females moved around her in a precise and focused manner. Cream colored silk stockings, pale rose colored satin panties and chemise and what seemed like endless layers of petticoats of the finest taffeta, the shade of the palest pink were being lowered over her head and fastened into place. A peach colored corset covered in a cream colored lace was firmly and tightly laced down her back, snug but not too uncomfortable. Sarah sighed and squirmed a bit but continued to allow the women to go about their tasks. This is when Sarah finally saw the incredible dress in which she would become Jareth's wife: the stunning dress was made of duchesse satin with organza sleeves and layers over the skirt. The bodice had a unique shaping of points and scoops on the neckline and waistline. It had a decorative laced up front and laced up in back. It was intricately decorated with embroidery, flowers and leaves. The full skirt had gathers and swathes of organza with hand painted, beaded and structured flowers. Sarah just stared in awe at how the dress shimmered just like the gown in the peach dream ball room had.
The priestess and attendants made short work of getting Sarah into the dress. With a wave of a hand, her hair was a cascade of curls falling over her shoulders and down her back, flowers woven into the brown locks. A wreath of roses was placed upon her head, holding the sheer veil in place. They turned the bride toward the mirrors and Sarah gasped: she looked like she had the same slanted eyebrows as Jareth. Kennera whispered softly, "just a glamor, my child. You should look every inch the Queen you very soon will be. Come, take my hand, it is time." All of a sudden, the four females were standing, hidden in an copse of trees in the palace gardens, near the arbor under which they would say their vows and be bound. Now to await the king's arrival.
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Turlach and Tadhg went about the task of dressing the groom. Jareth had made it clear, he had chosen what he would wear to the handfasting and that it would not be the traditional garb preferred by the court. Silk hose and cream colored leather leggings came first. Next a simply sleeveless shirt was slipped over his head, followed by beige poet's shirt of finest linen. The cuffs and collar were embellished with leaves and vines in golds and greens. They helped him slide his arms into a sleeveless brown waistcoat with a clasp that was made up of two of the medallions of his station of gold and silver. They went to slip gloves on his hands and he shook his head in refusal. The last thing that was done was to add streaks of gold, silver and green into his wild mane of pale blond hair. The priest showed Jareth to the mirror and was pleased to see a smirk on his Highness's face: clearly Jareth was pleased with how he looked.
"It's time, your majesty." The three Fae males were transported to the arbor in the royal gardens.
Standing under the arbor, Kennera was waiting, her long white hair loose about her shoulders. She was wearing the traditional ceremonial robes of the Temple of Danu: beautiful, ethereal, diaphanous layers of pastel shades of blue, green, gold and pink, a gold circlet with a pentacle over her forehead. Draped over her shoulders were vines of flowers. She smiled serenely at Jareth, Turlach and Tadhg and motioned for the gathering to stand. The attendants brought Sarah forward to stand next to Jareth, who stood transfixed, staring at her like he had never seen her before. Sarah smiled at him through the veil and sighed softly. Presently, Kennera spoke:
"Since ancient times, peoples of the Underground have communed with nature to learn more about themselves by example. Since it is within nature that we all do abide, we ask for Sarah and Jareth the blessings of Nature's Elements, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. We do this that they may fully come to understand the lessons each element has to offer. The attributes of which are examples of those aspects they mirror not only within divinity but within ourselves as well."
"We ask the spirits of Air to keep open the lines of communication between this couple. May their future be as bright as the dawn on the horizon. As Air flows freely to and from and through us all, may their hearts and minds and souls come to know the world and each other in this manner. Seeing not only with their eyes, may they together grow wise with wisdom."
"Spirits of Fire, we ask that Sarah and Jareth's passion for each other and for life itself remain ever strong and vital, fortifying each day with a vibrancy rooted in boldness and courage. As Fire clears the way for new growth, may they know that this power is theirs: to create change and bring about the richness and quality that comes with a true love of life."
"We ask the Spirits of Water, that their love for each other and the comfort of loved ones, like the serenity of the deep blue ocean, be the oasis that forever surrounds our Bride and Groom. May they be well loved, and love well, letting the surety with which Water makes its journey to the sea, flowing over rocks or around trees, even turning into vapor and riding a cloud, ever serve as a reminder that with love all is well and will endure."
"Spirits of Earth, we ask that you give unto those you see standing before you this day, the rock solid place to stand and fulfill his destiny. May their journey mirror the vast planes and fertile fields, expansive and alive. May they find the right seeds to sow to ensure a bountiful harvest. And when they look up at the Northern Star, may they know that it is as bright and constant as their love for each other as well as the love of the divine is for them."
"Goddess Danu, whose presence is felt in all things and at all times, we ask your continued blessings upon this couple, upon their union and upon their family and friends and subjects who have gathered here to celebrate this joyous event with them. May they become one in truth and forever revel in the magic that is love."
She took Sarah's right hand and placed it in Jareth's left hand and her left hand in his right, then she continued:
"These are the hands of your beloved, strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. And lastly, these are the hands that, even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving the you same unspoken tenderness with just a touch."
Kennera waved her hand and three gilded ropes, intertwined, appeared in her hand. She wrapped the ropes around Jareth and Sarah's joined hands, tying them into a loose but secure knot. She continued to officiate the ceremony as she spoke:
"King Jareth and Lady Sarah, this cord is a symbol of the lives you have chosen to lead together. Up until this moment, you have been separate in world, realm, thought, word and action. As your hands are bound together by this cord, so too, shall your lives be bound as one. May you be forever as one, sharing in all things, in love and loyalty for all time to come." She smiled warmly. "Recite your vows."
(Jareth and Sarah speaking together)
"Danu, Mother Goddess, here my words. I am hers/his and she/he is mine, from this day until the end of time.
I vow you the first cut of my meat, the first sip of my wine;
from this day it shall be only your name I cry out in the night
and into your eyes that I smile each morning;
I shall be a shield for your back as you are for mine,
no grievous word shall be spoken about us,
for our marriage is sacred between us and no stranger shall hear my grievance.
Above and beyond this, I will love, cherish and honor you through this life and beyond."
Kennera raised her hands, holding them over the couple: "It is my great honor to pronounce that Jareth and Sarah have declared themselves in the face of family, friends and subjects and that they are now husband and wife, King and Queen. Seal you pledges with a kiss."
Jareth lifted the veil over Sarah's head, smiled at her as he looked into her shining green eyes, held her face between his ungloved hands and lowered his head to seal their vows with a kiss that made his heart pound in his chest. Reluctantly breaking off the kiss, he chuckled to her moan of protest, realizing she was as eager as he. In the next instant, the couple faded out of sight, and the celebration began.
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Appearing within Jareth's arms, in his chambers in the palace, Sarah laughed out loud.
"And what, pray tell, lovely wife, do you find so humorous?" He was already removing the veil and flower wreath.
"I'm imagining the celebration without us. It must seem odd." She began working on his clothing as well.
"Precious, it is our custom. We are required to perform the blood ritual and our physical joining as soon as possible after the vows. And I am told, it is a sexual experience like no other." He smirked and kissed her passionately before he spun her around to begin working on the lacings of the dress. "By the gods, woman, how many layers of clothing do you have on? This will take forever." He groaned in frustration.
"Jareth, the priestess said this was done to build the sexual desire to the highest levels possible to ensure the bond would be as strong as possible." She laughed as his fingers fumbled with the laces. At last he had freed her from the dress and he worked at the corset laces. He managed to free her of that article and let her remove the rest of her garments herself as he wanted to rush to remove his offending clothing items as fast as possible.
He pulled her to him and began kissing her passionately, his erection poking her in her belly. She gasped as he moved them toward the bed, the silver athame shining on the nightstand. He looked into her eyes, seeing the fear there.
"Trust me, my love. I will not harm you. You must cut me and I you, but it will not hurt much. On the left hand, cut here. This is the heart line. I will do the same to you and we will join hands and repeat the incantation together." He watched her hand tremble as she placed the blade on his palm and cut him, following the heart line. She handed the blade to him and he gently cut her left palm on the heart line. He heard her hiss slightly and he dropped the athame on the nightstand and joined their hands.
(Jareth and Sarah speaking together)
"Tá tú fola de mo anat, tá tú cnámh de mo chnámha.
Is mise mo chorp gur féidir linn a bheith ar cheann.
Is mise liom mo draíocht, i gcumhacht a roinnt againn.
Is mise liom mo anam go dtí go dtiocfaidh ár saol chun críche."
(You are blood of my veins, you are bone of my bone.
Yours is my body, that we may be one.
Yours is my magic, in power we share.
Yours is my soul until our world ends.)
A bright light shone from their hands and when it faded and they looked, the wound was healed with a small matching scar on the palm, left as a reminder. Jareth laughed with delight and pleasure. "Now, come to our bed, my wife, my Queen. I wish to complete our bonding and revel in our shared excitement, pleasure and magic."
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A/N : Sorry I'm being a naughty scribe but you'll have to wait for the lemon until the next chapter. Until then, enjoy.
