A/N: My faithful readers, we have finally come to the end of this tale. It's definitely been a long time coming. My thanks to all of you that took the time to read, favorite, and follow this story. To those who reviewed, you have my enduring gratitude. Your reviews truly gave me the fuel to continue on through the years. You guys rock!
Disclaimer: Bla Bla Bla…you know the drill. I don't own anything you recognize and a lot that you don't.
~~~~~J/S~~~~~
Sarah woke to the feeling of warm lips upon her neck. At first, she swatted at the intrusion to her sleep. The sensation grew as they became more persistent. She could sense the smirk as he continued his pursuits. If he wasn't careful, she was going to smack that look right off of his face. Sarah was not a morning person and being married wasn't going to change that; not even if the person sharing her bed was her own Goblin King.
Married! It was that thought that finally made the Goblin Queen awake with a smile. She looked right up into the face of the man in question. He mirrored her happy smile with one of his own before lowering his head to give her a kiss. At the last second, she turned her head and he ended up kissing her ear.
"Morning breath," she muttered, covering her mouth with the sheet.
"I don't care if you smell like a dragon's ass. I intend to kiss my wife."
Sarah giggled, but kept her mouth hidden from view. "I don't care about your intentions. I'm not kissing you until I've brushed my teeth."
Jareth let out a long suffering sigh. "Fine, you bloody harridan."
Sarah stood and tugged the sheet around her naked body. She ignored his laugh at her modesty, instead opting to give him the finger as she made her way into the bathroom. His laugh grew in volume as she shut the door against it. Her smile was practically involuntary as she wandered over to the marble sink. They hadn't had much time to do a tour last night, so she took a moment to look around.
The bathroom was almost as ornate as his bedroom and she grinned at the opulence. Besides the sink, there was a giant tub with an honest-to-God waterfall going down one wall and falling into it in waves. She went over to it and put her hand out to catch the water and was unsurprised to find it warm and inviting.
Grabbing a nearby towel, she wiped off her hand and went out in search of the toilet. She saw a door and decided to quench her curiosity. Pulling it open, she breathed a sigh of relief. Inside was the equivalent of a modern day commode. She sat down and did her business, giving a small squeal as she was hit with the bidet water after she pulled the handle to flush. Though she didn't know why, she wasn't expecting the rush of water. Laughing at herself, she finished up and went back to the sink.
Sarah looked in the mirror and noticed some very small changes in her appearance. Since coming to the Underground, her ears had developed subtle points and her eyebrows were beginning to turn up. Little bits of glitter had appeared on her eyelids and she tried to wipe them off, unsuccessfully. She shrugged and made a note to talk to Jareth more about it later.
Looking around, she didn't see a toothbrush or toothpaste. Silently, she wished she could find some so she could brush her teeth and get back to kissing her husband. With a gasp, she watched as the items she needed appeared on the sink.
"Must be magic," she mumbled, uncapping the toothpaste and putting some on the brush.
Sarah quickly brushed her teeth and washed her face before coming back into the other room. Jareth grinned as she appeared with the sheet trailing behind her.
"Finally. I was beginning to wonder if you had been attacked by a water sprite."
Sarah gave him a look. "Don't you need to use the bathroom?"
"Of course, but I thought I'd give you some privacy."
"Aren't you sweet," she cooed, cheekily.
"I can be when I find the right motivation."
"Why don't you freshen up and then you'll see how motivating I can get?"
"I'll be right back," he said, hastily making his way into the bathroom.
While Jareth took care of his own morning ablutions, Sarah crept over to the window. She split the velvet curtains and peered at the view over the labyrinth. Gasping, she couldn't believe the true beauty of the land as it sprawled out in the bright sun. At some point, she was going to have to go out exploring. She turned at the sound of Jareth's footsteps behind her.
"Now that we've taken care of the necessities, may I finally kiss my wife?"
Sarah reached up and gave him a chaste kiss on his cheek. A torrent of giggles escaped her at his put-out expression. She decided to take pity on the pour pouty Goblin King and wrapped her arms around his neck. This time, her kiss was anything but chaste. When they were sufficiently breathless, she pulled away to gaze into his eyes.
For a moment, they just stared at each other, happy to finally be together. Slowly, Jareth's eyes developed a wicked twinkle. Sarah wasn't sure she liked that look, but she was intrigued by it just the same. When his trademark smirk appeared on his face, she knew she was in trouble. She forced herself to remain in place as he reached out to her. In one swift move, he snatched the sheet from her hands and tossed it to the side.
"Hey!" she chided, her smile belying the harsh tone.
Jareth wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her close to him. The feeling of touching, skin-to-skin, was almost overwhelming. Tipping her head back, he began to ply her face with light kisses. Her eyes fluttered closed at the adoration she could sense coming from the fae king. When he had given proper reverence to the goddess before him, he dipped his head and pressed his lips to hers.
Their soft kisses deepened into something powerful in its passion. Jareth's hands roamed over her smooth skin as if trying memorize its feel. For her part, Sarah's initial shyness melted away as her hands wandered from his back to cup his bum. She squeezed, feeling the hard muscle beneath the soft flesh. His hips pressed forward and she could feel his erection pressing against her. A new feeling on the back of her thighs alerted her to their subtle movement towards their ultimate goal.
Jareth pushed her on the bed and was quick to join her. Placing open mouthed kisses on her neck, he enjoyed letting her teach him to play her body well. He started with her neck and began to slowly move down to the tips of her breasts. Circling each nipple with his tongue, he began to suckle her. If her moans were anything to go by, she was certainly enjoying his attentions. However, he wasn't done with his exploration. After giving each of her breasts a quick kiss, he moved down to the soft skin of her stomach. His tongue reached out and dipped into her belly button, causing her to laugh. He smirked before moving even lower until he was kneeling between her creamy thighs.
Placing her legs over his shoulders, Jareth lowered his face to her core. His tongue reached out and tapped her clit lightly. Sarah jumped at the sensation and he huffed out a laugh at her reaction. Not to be deterred, he circled her clit again intent on learning the method that made her gasp in pleasure. It wasn't long before her hips began to gyrate in time with his talented tongue. Without warning, he slipped a finger into her entrance and curled it up to find that hidden spot inside of her.
Sarah's loud moans filled the air as she grew closer to her release. Reaching down, she grabbed his hair and refused to let him up. If he was bothered by this, he kept it to himself. Instead, he sucked harder and inserted a second finger into her. This had the desired effect as she screamed his name. Her whole body shuddered in her climax and he let her ride it out as he continued to pleasure her with his tongue. It wasn't until he felt her pressing against his head with her hand that he gave her clit one final kiss and crawled on top of her.
Jareth placed his shaft at her entrance, teasing her by putting the tip in and then pulling it out again. Growing tired of this subtle torment, he gave one final thrust forward and the two were joined. All the soreness caused by their first coupling was gone, to Sarah's surprise. She'd expected to be tender for at least a couple of days. Instead, she felt warmth, fullness, and an ache that had nothing to do with pain. She wrapped her legs around him and pulled him in deeper. He smiled down at her and began to set a smooth rhythm.
Just as he was beginning to pick up speed, a crystal appeared in their room. He stilled, giving it a menacing growl. The crystal didn't seem to care that it was interrupting them. It glowed briefly and a voice instructed them to be at the Council meeting in five minutes. As quickly as it appeared, the crystal blinked back out of existence.
"It doesn't look like we have time to finish this," Sarah remarked, frowning deeply.
"The hell it does," Jareth insisted.
Ignoring the message they'd received, Jareth lowered his mouth and took hold of one pert nipple. Sarah gasped at the sensation, effectively forgetting their deadline. His hips began to flex up and down as his pace increased. He gripped one of her legs and pushed it up, spreading her out and deepening his thrusts. The new position was, evidently, just what she needed as he could feel her throbbing around him. A moment later, he growled her name as his own orgasm hit. They collapsed in a heap on the bed, thoroughly satiated.
As they began to come down from their high, the crystal reappeared and flashed a bright red. It was apparent that the Council was getting irritated with them. Jareth heaved a sigh and made a show out of getting up from the bed. Sarah joined him but she couldn't help but roll her eyes at his dramatics. She understood his ire, though, as she was also feeling a bit peeved. They were newlyweds. Shouldn't it be expected that they were going to spend the day in bed? Jareth placed a gentle kiss on her lips that held hidden intentions.
Before he could take them back to bed, the booming voice of his father filled the room. "Now, children!"
With one final sigh, Jareth quickly changed them into court attire and created the spell to take them to the Council chambers. Sarah's face turned an attractive pink as she realized that everyone was waiting on them. Those already present looked at the late arrivals, some grinning at them knowingly. Jareth made their apologies as he escorted Sarah to their places next to his father. Even with the serious circumstances, Jareth could see his own father hiding a smile. He slipped a possessive arm around his wife and schooled his face into a look of pure indifference.
"Now that we are all here, perhaps we can get started," said Lady Beatrix, her face giving away nothing.
"Bring in the prisoners," intoned Lady Nova.
The doors opened and Connelly was lead into the chamber. His head was down in deference and he was free of his shackles. Behind him, Trahaearn was not so lucky. His arms and legs were still bound in irons and he was practically dragged into the room by two burly guards. If anyone felt any sympathy for his plight, they wisely kept it to themselves.
When they were standing in the middle of the room before the Council, Lady Nova said, "You are before us to determine your fate. Lady Seraphine please read back the charges."
The bard unfurled a scroll. "Lords Trahaearn and Connelly you have been charged with treason against the High King, the Council, and the whole of the Underground."
"The Council has carefully considered the facts and your testimony," intoned Lady Nova, gravely. "You have been judged guilty of all charges and shall be punished accordingly. Lord Connelly, step forward."
Connelly did as he was bid. "I throw myself upon the mercy of this Council."
"Yes, yes," replied Lady Nova, dismissively. "Lord Connelly, because you came forward and gave true repentance, the Council has decided to spare your life. You have been sentenced to servitude to the High King for a period of 100 years. If you are ever caught in such a plot again, you will find this Council much less willing to be lenient."
Connelly nodded, his breath coming quick. He couldn't believe how fortunate it had been that he finally listened to himself. With one last bow to the Council, he ran to his daughter and gave her a tight hug. Finally, he walked to the High King and fell to one knee in submission. Ryan bid him to rise and he did so, moving slowly to stand behind his king.
"Lord Trahaearn, step forward."
The fae lord refused to move and his eyes reflected the contempt he felt for all present. With a sigh, Lady Nova nodded to the guards. They dragged him forward and pushed him to the ground until he was prostrated before them. The only sounds from him were grunts and curses as he struggled to get up from the prone position.
"Silence!" Lady Etain shouted, tired of the sullen behavior of the man before her.
When the room fell still, Lady Nova began to speak. "Lord Trahaearn, what you have done is a travesty on its own. It is deeply disturbing that you were able to manipulate this Council to join in your misdeeds. Quite frankly, that part scares us more than the plot you concocted. However, that is a matter we will have to sort out at another time. Right now, it is my duty to inform you that you are hereby sentenced to death by…"
"No!" Sarah shouted, barely aware that she had begun to tremble.
Lady Nova held a hand up, silencing those that were about to condemn the woman. Although it was highly unusual, she knew that now was not the time to uphold court decorum. The wise Councilwoman realized that these circumstances were made all the more difficult for the young changeling by the recent news that this was her father. She nodded, giving her tacit approval to speak her peace.
"I'm terribly sorry," Sarah began, sensing that she had broken all the rules but not truly caring. "I just can't stand by and let you kill him without speaking up for him. I know he's a traitor and, well, an all around asshole, but he's still my father. Please don't take that away from me. I've already had to give up so much, including my mistaken belief that Robert Williams was my dad."
"Sarah, think about what you're saying," Jareth pleaded.
"I have to say, I agree with Jareth," Ryan asserted.
Sarah's chin pushed forward in her stubbornness. "No, everyone deserves a second chance. Even him."
Trahaearn spoke, startling them all. "When my father branded me as nothing better than rubbish, it hurt like the fire of hell. My life began to have only one meaning for me: become the most powerful fae in the Underground so I could show him how wrong he was about me. I only wanted to prove my worth, but I've truly only proven how unworthy I am. I'm so sorry. Please grant me your mercy, though I know I don't deserve it. I don't want this to be the last memory for my children." He looked to Cillian. "I was wrong, my son, to involve you in this. If I were a wiser man, I would have listened to you when you spoke the truth. Can you ever forgive me?"
Cillian was truly surprised. His father had never apologized to him in his life. He cleared his throat and looked away, unable to give him an answer to his question. Trahaearn swallowed, roughly, and turned to the woman who had spoken up on his behalf.
"Sarah, my lovely…daughter," he managed with real remorse in his eyes. "I didn't know of your existence, but I'm not sorry that I was not a part of your life. The man who raised you, your real father, did an excellent job. I just wish I could have been a better man. I hope you can forgive me for everything I've done."
"I forgive you…father."
The room dissolved into chaos as everyone tried to state their opinion at once. Sarah could see several of the members had been moved by their exchange. Others were clearly unwavering in their thought that the man should be put to death for what he did. She hadn't wanted to cause this level of disruption, but she wasn't sorry for it, either.
Lady Nova called for silence and waited until all had settled. "You have given us many things to ponder. We shall recess for one hour as we have much to talk about."
At that declaration, the Council disappeared to discuss the new development. The guards removed, a suddenly cooperative, Trahaearn from the room. Sarah barely noticed them leaving, as she pondered over the words of her new father. A tap at her shoulder startled her back to the moment.
"That was very brave, little sister."
Sarah turned to see Cillian behind her and grinned. "Brave or foolish. Only time will tell."
"I need to speak with my father. I'll be back for the decision." Jareth said, stepping away from the two newfound siblings. Cillian and Jareth nodded to each other in an unspoken agreement to protect Sarah.
"I'm really sorry, Cillian," Sarah said, putting a hand on his arm. "This must be really hard for you."
"I expected worse, to be honest," he admitted. "To have them even reconsidering his sentence is more than he probably deserves."
"What do you think will happen to him?"
"I really don't know. Your plea for his life was pretty unexpected and I'm not sure what will happen."
Sarah bit her lip for a moment before speaking again. "If they do sentence him to death, will you be okay?"
Cillian smiled. "Me? I'll be fine. I've never really been good at being the dutiful son and now I can make my own way. How about you, little sister?"
"Well, I guess I'm going to be pretty busy learning how to be a queen."
"I'm sure you'll be a great Queen of the Goblins."
Sarah grinned. "I hope so, big brother."
"Big brother. Gods, this is going to take some getting used to."
"You're telling me. We should try to get to know each other."
Cillian looked around at all those still present. "Maybe we should find a time to get together when it's just the two of us."
"Sarah, darling," Linda called, interrupting their conversation and making his point.
Sarah grinned. "I'll talk to you later, big brother."
Cillian leaned down and gave her a chaste kiss on her brow before making a strategic exit. It couldn't have come at a better time as Linda filled the space he had just left.
"Hi, mom."
An awkward silence fell over the two of them for a moment before Linda finally spoke. "I'm not really good at these things."
"What things?"
"Apologies."
"You don't have to apologize, mom. I understand that you did what you thought was best for me."
"You're wrong, Sarah," Linda insisted. "I did what was best for me. Robert was a good man and I didn't deserve him. Now you're having to come to terms with the fact that he wasn't your biological father and that's my fault. I should never have kept this from you."
"If it makes you feel better, I forgive you."
"Really?"
"Yeah. If I can forgive Trahaearn, I can certainly forgive you."
Linda stepped forward and took her daughter in her arms. "I know I don't tell you this enough, but I love you. You are my special girl and I have to tell you this: I wished for you. When I was a little girl, I liked to think about the day I would become a mother. I always wanted a little girl so you could say you were my favorite dream."
"Are you ready, darling?" Jeremy asked, walking up to the pair and taking Linda's hand.
"You're leaving?" Sarah asked.
"Yeah," Linda replied. "We've decided to go back Above, at least for a little while."
"I'll miss you, mom."
"Oh, sweetie. I'll miss you, too. But don't worry, Sarah. You're not rid of us. We'll be coming back to visit now and then, and you can always come see us."
"I will; I promise. Bye mom; bye Jeremy."
"Goodbye, Aunt Sarah," Jeremy said, grinning widely.
"Oh, shit. Don't call me that," Sarah chided.
His laugh was much like her new husband's and Sarah couldn't deny their obvious relationship. "Ok, Your Majesty."
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Be gone."
Jeremy's face suddenly turned serious. "Don't be a stranger, Sarah. Should you need us."
"Yes, should you need us," Linda said.
"I'll call."
"We both love you so very much, baby," Linda added.
Fighting back tears, Sarah gave them one last hug before watching them vanish out of sight.
"Hey, Sar."
Sarah smiled as her best friend gave her a quick hug. "Hi, Amy."
"I hear congratulations are in order."
Sarah blushed. "Does everyone know?"
"Only those closest to you," Amy acknowledged. "I still can't believe you're married to the Goblin King."
"I love him," Sarah attested, frowning.
"Oh, I know you do. I just can't believe he was lucky enough to nab you."
Sarah laughed. "You're right."
"In all seriousness, I'm really happy for you."
"Aw, thanks babe. I hope you won't be a stranger in the Goblin Kingdom."
"I might visit sometime, but I think I'm going to stay Above for a while and make some hard decisions."
"Thomas?"
"Yeah, we've been engaged for two years and he won't set a date. I'm getting really tired of waiting. Even if I don't get married, I still love my job and I'm not ready to leave." Amy gave Sarah a look of worry.
"It's ok, Amy. You don't have to look over me anymore. I'm a big girl and I can take care of myself. Besides, I have Jareth."
Before Amy could say anything, the Council suddenly appeared before them. Those in attendance quickly genuflected and waited to hear the news. Sarah could feel Jareth taking his place by her side. She reached out and took his hand, squeezing it tightly.
"Guards, return the prisoner."
The doors opened once more and Trahaearn was led back into the chamber. There was a visible difference in his level of cooperation. Instead of being sullen and having to be practically dragged before the Council, he was walking with his head bowed in proper deference. There was more than one raised eyebrow at the change in attitude.
"Lord Trahaern," Lady Nova began. "You were found guilty of treason by this Council. In fact, you were on the brink of being sentenced to death for your crime. However, your words and those of your daughter have softened the hearts of this Council. Let it not be said that we are not open to many possibilities for justice. You have a choice to make. We offer you a chance to live, but it may not be tolerable to you. Should you choose to accept it, you will be stripped of your magic and immortality. You shall live the rest of your days among the mortals of the Above. Your ex-lover has generously consented to helping you form a life there and her husband will keep an eye on you. Any word of bad behavior and you will be brought before the court a second time. If this does not meet with your satisfaction, we can return to your original sentence."
"I accept your offer," he said, simply.
"Lord Trahaearn, your sentence shall be carried out upon the next full moon. Until then, you will remain a guest in the castle dungeons." As the guards led him back out of the chambers, Lady Nova continued. "With that, this Council is released from their duty."
When the Council was dismissed, Shaun jumped down from the dais. He didn't say a word to anyone, making a beeline for the one person he'd been longing to speak to all day. He could see her standing near the wall, speaking with her father. Why did time seem to slow to a crawl? It felt like hours before he finally reached her.
"Hello, my dear," Shaun said, taking her hand and placing a kiss to her knuckles.
"I shall talk to you later, daughter. Your Majesty." Connelly bowed and Shaun could have sworn the man tipped him a wink. Before he could question it, he was making his way to the High King.
"Well, he was in a hurry to get away. I wonder what that was about," Meinwen said, giggling.
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," Shaun said with a wide grin.
"If you say, so," she conceded. "Well, what had you making such haste to see me?"
"You know why. I came for the answer to my question."
Meinwen put a finger to her chin. "What was the question again?"
Shaun growled slightly. "Will you allow me to court you?"
Giggling at the terseness of his words, the young woman decided to put him out of his misery. "Yes, Shaun. You may court me."
Meinwen placed a chaste kiss upon his lips, not wanting to break the court decorum. She squealed, indelicately, when Shaun pulled her close to him. He cared not for the audience around him. With a flick of his wrist he transported them somewhere less public where he could truly express himself with abandon.
Jareth watched them leave, smirking at his friend's hurried departure. He would have to send him a crate of Goblin Ale to congratulate him. He turned to see Sarah looking at him and shaking her head. At least she was smiling. He would do anything to keep a smile upon her lips rather than face her wrath.
Eager to change the subject, he said, "So, I saw you talking to my cousin earlier."
"Cousin?"
"Yes, Cara is a cousin of mine."
"But, she's my aunt. Does that make us related? Ew!" she exclaimed, beginning to hyperventilate.
"Calm, Sarah," Jareth said, trying not to laugh. "You and I are only related by marriage. Your aunt is really a distant cousin of mine on her mother's side. She and Trahaearn are only half-siblings. They share the same father but have different mothers."
"Phew!" she said, pulling a mock arm across her forehead.
"Now that's settled, let us return to our Kingdom."
Sarah smiled. "Our Kingdom. I could get used to that."
"You bloody well better," he growled.
"Come on my broody king. Let's go home."
A genuine smile appeared upon his lips at hearing her call the Goblin Kingdom her home. Jareth grabbed her hand and tugged. Sarah felt herself falling slightly and landing on something soft. They were back in his…their bedroom and were, she looked down at herself, naked as the day they were born.
"You're insatiable," she laughed.
"You like that about me," he asserted.
"I wish I could say you were wrong."
"Shut up and kiss me."
"Bossy," she groaned, but she did as he commanded.
One kiss turned into two then turned into more. The Goblin King and his Queen celebrated their love for the rest of the day and most of the night. They had plenty to rejoice, really. It's not everyday that Sarah, once the betrothed of the High King, became the Goblin King's bride.
~~~~~J/S~~~~~
Six months later, Sarah felt a strange tingling sensation come over her body. Then a child's voice boomed into her head.
"You're such a brat, Bailey. I wish the goblins would come and take you away, right now."
Sarah looked at Jareth and noticed that he was already dressed in a very familiar outfit. While she was learning quickly, she was still at a rudimentary level with her magic and asked him to help her change. She should have known by that cheeky grin upon his face that she would have been better off to do it herself. Glancing down, she could see that she was wearing a tight black dress with the bodice so low you could see the sides of her breasts.
"You've got to be kidding me."
"What?"
Sarah tapped her toes at him, annoyed at his coy attitude. "I'm not wearing this."
"Why?"
"I look like Elvira."
Jareth's brow furled. "Who in the hell is Elvira?"
"Never mind who she is. I am not wearing this."
"You are the Goblin Queen and this is the Queen's Summoning Gown," Jareth insisted. "I see no problem with it."
"Fine, but I'm making some changes."
Sarah snapped her fingers and a large cloak appeared on her arm. She fastened it to her neck and was happy to see that it covered her completely. Taking a look at Jareth, she could see a slight frown mar his features. She rolled her eyes and took his arm. The two of them disappeared to the Above to perform their duties. They would have plenty of time to discuss her wardrobe later. After all, they had forever. Really, forever's not long at all.
THE END