LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!! I give you the much anticipated ballroom scene! Hooray!!!
Slow Burn
Chapter 35: Start of the Ball
Everyone in the castle beyond the Goblin City was busy getting ready for the ball. Yesterday, Sarah and Kelly had spent all day being measured for the dresses they were to wear. kelly was a bit worried when she heard their dresses were to be a surprise, and were designed by Goblins, but chosen by Jareth. He had promised not to let them down, but that still did not help her nervousness. Ironically, Sarah seemed fine with the whole thing.
The girls were sitting in Kelly's room, which has been temporarily prepared as a makeshift dressing room for today, when someone knocked.
"Ladies," A taller Goblins announced, when Sarah went to get the door. "Your garments are here."
"I can't wait to see them!" The blonde girl hopped off the edge of the bed where she had been sitting, and snatched one of them from him.
"Kel, that's not nice," Sarah chided. "How do you know that one's yours?"
"You sound like my mother. Of course this one is mine! Look at it!" She held it up to show Sarah.
It was a light lavender purple color with a long flowing skirt, and was almost sleeveless. In place of sleeves, it had two huge purple roses sewn onto the shoulders. The neckline rose well over her collarbone, suspended by the roses. It was made of a shiny, silky fabric that seemed to make her face glow when she held it up to herself. And the color really set off her deep blue eyes, too.
If Kelly's skirt flowed, then Sarah's dress bounced. In all the right places... It dipped low in the front to show off her cleavage. But of all the colors, Sarah didn't have to guess why Jareth had chosen that one for her. Taking the peach colored dress carefully, she thanked the Goblins and sent him on his way.
"Oh, it's just beautiful!" The Queen exclaimed, when she looked at it for the first time. "I don't like the color, but I see why Jareth chose it..."
"And why is that, exactly?"
"Because well... Peaches are somewhat of an inside joke between us."
Kelly laughed. "Of course, that makes sense. You two are so cute together! It's like you're supposed to be together. I wish I could find someone like that..."
Sarah smiled. "Maybe you will, Kel. What about Zach? He's nice."
"What about him?" The blonde snorted. "He's boring and useless. And he can't even hold down a job! I need someone more mature, I think. But it would be stupid for me to even bother looking while I'm here."
"Why?"
"Because I have to go back home, and that would just break what's left of my heart. But let's not worry about that, let's get ready for the ball! I've always wanted to go dancing..."
Sarah sighed, knowing her friend was right. She was glad she had ben able to figure things out for herself so easily. It had take her over two years to sort out her own feelings for Jareth.
Letting it go, each girl diligently helped the other into her dress. Then, Sarah did Kelly's hair for her. She thought it would better up, because that was how she usually wore it. But the Queen had other ideas. Sarah went to work then, brushing it and spraying it, and even using a curling iron to style it for her friend. It looked dazzling when she was done, and hung free, dangling to her shoulders. Kelly approved, with a big wide grin.
"I'm amazed. It looks so good, thank you!"
Sarah returned her smile through the big mirror. "Don't get too excited. We still have to do your makeup."
"I'd rather do it myself. No offense, it's just that..." She thought for a moment. "I trust me more."
The brunette shrugged. "Suit yourself."
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In what seemed like no time at all, the two girls were ready to go. Jareth came by to escort them both to the palace, since they had no means to get themselves there. For a brief moment, as he stood with a hand poised before the door, he imagined what it would be like to have two lovely ladies on his arm at the ball that night. He would be the envy of all others. But, he realized, with Sarah at his side as his Queen, that was plenty of a reason to be envied.
"Are you ready, ladies?" He extended a gloved hand to eah of them.
Sarah gasped at the sight of him. He looked devilishly handsome this evening. Oddly, he wore no sparkly flashy design. His outfit did not match hers, unless heaven and hell were the theme of the evening. Jareth wore all black. He was dressed similar to the way he had been just before he had lured Sarah into the crystal ballroom so long ago. No, they did not match, but rather complimented one another nicely. It was fitting. Sarah was not upset, even though his choice of clothing was not something she was find of. She refused to let a little think like old memories spoil her evening.
Boldly, she took his offered hand, and was followed by Kelly, who did the same. Jareth looked at both of them with approval. He was most pleased when he saw Sarah's hair. It was similar to the way he had chosen to arrange it when she was under his spell before. But she had added her own flair to an older style; made it different and unique.
He idly wondered whether she'd noticed the double meaning of what the color of her dress represented. As they walked, Jareth thought that if she did get his little joke, she did her best to ignore it. She had put on a shade of eyeshadow that could only be described as peach. While Kelly's makeup was much more heavy and dark than Sarah's, her lilac lipstick went quite well with her peach dress. Kelly wore her usual cosmetic gear, not a thing was changed. However, both of them seemed to possess an inner glow that could be doused.
...Or so they believed.
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At the ball, the first person Sarah recognized was Xithieron. How could she not feel his eyes on her? She ignored it, and focused on finding a friendlier face to notice. She saw Sirion seated at the knight's table that Jareth had taught her briefly about. No one but knights, or their ladies, were permitted to sit there. She noted that there were others seated around him, and knew they must be knights too. He did not appear to have a lady with him, how sad.
The music played some forbidden, enchanting tune that Sarah knew but could not place. It was definetely ballroom music. The tempo was slow, but the beat was amusing and lighthearted.
"May I have this dance?" To her severe relief, it was Jareth who had asked her. She saw that kelly had gone off to get something to drink. Alcoholic, most likely. She was not too happy about not being able to find love at such a young age. Sarah felt pity for her, but decided she had problems of her own, and it would be best to forget them with Jareth.
"Of course, my King," She smiled at the thought. He was hers; all hers. Her King...
Halfway through the song, as they were still entwined in each other's embrace, another King approached them.
"I believe," A silky voice announced haughtily. "That it is the father-in-law's right to dance the first dance with the new Queen."
Jareth scowled knowingly at his 'father', but shoved her into his arms. "Have it your way, father. You always do anyhow."
Sarah was silent, as she danced in his arms, which jostled her about forcefully. He did not possess the graceful movements that Jareth did. "Let me go." She said quietly, not wanting to make a scene, but needing to get away from Xithieron.
"I will not," He smirked at her, and made her feel like he was undressing her with his eyes. He was. "It is my right as High King to dance with anyone I so chose. I have many rights as a King."
She went stiff in his arms, refusing to cooperate. At last, the song ended, and he let her go. But he made a big show of kissing her hand, and telling her goodbye. "Until our paths cross again, my sweet." He purred obnoxiously. "And soon they shall..."
"Sarah!" Her friend's call awoke her from her frightened haze. "Over here!"
"Having fun, Kel?" Sarah asked, clearly distracted, and desperately looking for Jareth. Where was he?
"No, but I wanted to get you away from that creep. Knowing what I know, I just had to do something! Jareth went that way." She pointed into the crowd somewhere.
"Miss me?" In a puff of dust, her husband appeared behind her. His familiar and welcome touch was very comforting at the moment.
"Yes! I was so-"
Whatever Sarah had been about to say was interrupted by Queen Penelope. She stood at the front of the ballroom, on a small platform at the top of some stairs. "May I have your attention, please?" Slowly, the murmurs died down to hear what the High Queen had to say. "It is time for the royal knighting ceremony to commence. Would you kindly join me, Sirion?"
"It would be an honor, my Queen," The tall, well-built black man walked up the short stairway to join her.
"You may kneel, sir Knight."
He did as told.
Queen Penelope waited politely for her husband to join her. When he did, he was carrying an obsurdly large sword. "I knight thee," He pronounced, as he touched the blades to Sirion's right shoulder, then his left, and then proceeded to use the tip of the blade to carefully raise his head from it's bowed position. "Sir Sirion, of Denlarr. You may arise, Sir Sirion."
He did as instructed. And it felt great. Now was his long-overdue moment of glory. Sirion had been in service for the Underground for a very long time. While he resided in one of the lesser kingdoms; a place called Denlarr, he was still worthy of this great honor. He had earned it well, by any rights.
"I thank you, my King." He went back to where he was, and took a seat.
"We shall proceed with the Goblin Queen's coronation shortly," Sarah heard Xithieron's cold voice say. "However for now, I advise you all to eat drink and be merry!" This was followed by a round of applause from those in attendance.
But there was a small group of three people, well two people and a Fae, who were not applauding the wicked High King. This was a fact that did not go unnoticed by the masses.
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A/N: I know this chapters was supposed to be longer, but... I think the next one is. Probably. Maybe. Yep, you guess it. Xithieron is up to something. And it is NOT good. But enough spoilers, you'll see for yourself. Just don't hate me for ruining the ball. Hate Xithieron. (::points::) It's HIS fault! Anyway, I hated making Sarah dance with him. But it had to be done. Just his way of being an arrogant bastard. Lol. And Jareth is moody, and just not very happy at all! Do you blame him? At least Sirion finally had his moment of glory. Things get better for him later, though. I have many surprises coming up soon, don't miss it! I would really love to have more reviews, too. Show me some love, people! -Kaline Reine