Sarah awoke to the warmth of bright sunlight on her face. Abruptly she sat up. What time is it? Judging by the light streaming in from the bedroom window, she was going to be late for training.
Before she could move further however she felt Jareth's arms wrap around her waist, pulling her back towards him.
"Going somewhere?" He asked sleepily, drawing her tighter in his embrace.
"I have training."
"Skip it." He murmured, kissing her neck.
"Jareth, I can't. Not after what we learned yesterday." She said, turning in his arms to face him. "Morcant is still out there. It only a matter of time before we have to face him."
"I know." He said, propping himself up on one arm, his free hand tracing its way down Sarah's arm. "Which is why we need a plan. I'm glad you're taking your Order duties seriously, but Morcant is clever. He's been several steps ahead of us this entire time. It will take more than brute force to stop him. Speaking of which," His hand reached hers, his thumb lightly tracing across the scabs on her knuckles, "care to tell me what happened here?"
"I needed to clear my head, and got a bit…carried away."
That was an understatement. Sarah had gone to the training room the night before in the hopes that a good workout would provide her some clarity, or, at the very least, exhaust her enough that she wouldn't have the energy to think about Jareth's proposal. In the end, she had been so lost in her swirling thoughts that she hadn't noticed her hands were raw and bleeding until Saresh found her and called Jarvi. The healer had done a truly incredible job of repairing her hands. Had Sarah not pulled away when she saw the Junk Lady heading towards Jareth she was certain there would not have been a single trace of her self-inflicted abuse left.
"Then it's settled. We need a plan and you need a break from training."
"Saresh—"
"Will get over it." He said, a slight edge in his voice. Sarah couldn't help but wonder at a second meaning behind his words. "Sarah, you're no good to the Order if you run yourself ragged."
"Fine." She said, resigned. "But I'm going for a run this afternoon."
Truth be told, I am relieved not to have to face Saresh after last night. She had no idea how Saresh would react if he knew about the events of last night, but she had a strong feeling he would disapprove.
"Excellent," he said, leaning over her and placing a gentle kiss on her lips. He cracked a mischievous smile, pulling her arms up over her head and holding them in place with one hand. "Now about this whole 'my-wife-not-wanting-to-marry-me' thing." He said, tracing her lips with the thumb of his free hand.
I should have known he wouldn't let that go. Moreover, the manner in which he questioned her was patently unfair, as images of last night began to wander into her mind's eye.
"Jareth, we're not married—"
"Not according to Raelia," he said, his hand making its way towards her breasts.
"I thought you said you didn't sense that bond between us."
Her breath caught in her throat as his mouth closed around her left nipple. No, one thing was certain about the Goblin King, he never played fair.
"True. Then perhaps we should renew our vows?" He asked, pausing in his attention to her breast to catch her gaze, his eyes gleaming with roguish charm.
"Jareth, I'm being serious—"
"As am I." He released her hands, returning to eye level with her. "And after last night, I would appreciate knowing where we stand."
What did she want? Him obviously. But marriage was a huge step, particularly considering the magical bond inherent in fae marriages. An eternal bond. She wasn't sure she was ready for…forever.
"I'm not ruling out the idea, but right now—I'm just not ready to be married. I guess what I'm saying is…I want to get to know you better, spend time with you."
Jareth threw his head back, laughing boisterously, the sound filling the tower bedroom. I don't see what's so funny. She was being honest. She could feel the heat rising from her cheeks as they turned scarlet.
"We're on the brink of war. A powerful blood mage wants you dead. And you want to court me?"
"Yes." She said, "Oh jeez, you don't need to be so…you about it!"
She shoved him, knocking him off his elbow as she turned on her side, away from him. His amusement only increased at her reaction, lying on his back as he howled with a fresh wave of laughter. He can be so insufferable sometimes. He tried, poorly, to catch his breath as he spoke.
"I'm sorry—t's just—so funny—the world around us collapsing—and you want us to go to balls—hahaha—take leisurely strolls in the Labyrinth!" He erupted in laughter again, much to Sarah's annoyance. "Not that I mind, but you have to admit the timing of this—"
"Just forget it! If I'd known asking you to date me was sooo absurd I wouldn't have mentioned it!"
Jareth reigned in his laughter and gently turned her back to face him. His hand caressed the side of her face, coaxing her chin towards him. When she finally dared to look him in the eyes, she was surprised by the well of sincerity in his she found looking back.
"Sarah, It's funny to me because, under normal circumstances, courting you would not be a question. We would have done all those things, and more. I don't know if I can promise anything resembling a normal courtship, but if it's what you want I will try."
She leaned into his hand on her cheek, her own coming up to meet his, covering it. A wave of emotion swept through her. Relief, joy, love, all rushing over her at once. I could kiss him right now.
"Thank you." She said, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I've just had a lot to process lately, and marriage isn't something I can handle right now. I don't even know what I am! If I'm even human, or a changeling, or what that even means!"
"It is an intriguing theory. I'll admit that my own knowledge is limited to the human tales my mother used to tell me about them as a child."
"Human tales?"
"Children's stories to teach young fae lessons, like 'never provoke a bandersnatch', or 'dont wander into strange portals or you may become trapped forever in the mortal realm'."
"Is that the Underground version of fairy tales? Like Rumplestiltskin?"
"You mean the Tale of the Ungrateful Human who Broke the Deal She Bargained For? Yes, my mother told that one to remind me that humans aren't bound by their words the way fae are."
"That's what you got out of that? Not that he tried to take her baby?"
Of course baby-snatching wouldn't be an issue for him. After all, that is, in a way, how they'd met.
"A deal she knowingly entered into and broke. With her fae lover, no less!" Rumplestiltskin and the Miller's Daughter, lovers? I'm going to have to read that version of the story someday.
"But I digress," he said, sitting up a bit, his back resting against the ornate headboard. "The human tales about changelings say that they retain some fae traits, even as mortals. Some become the most graceful of dancers, or singers with otherworldly voices—"
"What, like David Bowie."
"Who?"
"Nevermind." She said, then furrowed her brow, "I thought changelings worked the other way around, though? That they were human children stolen by fairies."
"Ridiculous!" Jareth scoffed, "You need some connection magic to travel between realms. No ordinary human has ever crossed into the Underground. But changelings…it is one of the greatest sadnesses a fae parent can endure. Their child, separated from them in a strange land, never to return. It is one of the many reasons why all connections between the fae and mortal realms were severed so long ago."
Sarah lay quietly for a moment, contemplating his words. She moved in closer to him, laying her head in his lap as he stroked her hair.
"I understand how I got here, then—my connection to the Labyrinth and all—and the other members of the Order, but that doesn't explain Toby."
"I have been pondering the same question. By rights it doesn't make sense. Right now, my best guess is that you did it yourself, somehow, when you wished him away. But it's certainly not a perfect theory."
They sat in silence for a time. Every answer brings more questions. Jareth was right, they did need to work on a plan. She was tired of feeling uncertain, living in the dark. Ready to get to work, Sarah pushed herself up sit.
As she turned away from Jareth, she felt his hand catch her wrist. Suddenly, he pulled her beneath him, his lips inches from her own.
"And just where do you think you're going?" He asked,
"Jareth, we need to leave this bed sometime! People are going to wonder where we are!"
"As your King, I order you to stay put while I do terrible things to you!" He said, kissing her neck every few words.
"You're not playing fair!" She moaned, her body responding to his touch.
"See, now I believe you mean it."
She wanted to stay in that bed forever, to let the Goblin King take control of her body like he had the night before. She wanted to lie in the sun warmed sheets, tangled in his embrace until the world fell down.
But there was work to be done.
"Uh uh. No you don't!" She said, mustering every ounce of willpower to push him off of her. "I promised you that I would take the day off of training in exchange for working on a plan to take down Mal Morcant. But if you're not interested in upholding your end of the bargain I'm sure Saresh will be pleased to see me at training."
She smiled at his shocked expression, satisfied that she'd finally found a way to get under his skin the way he so easily got under hers.
"So cruel, Sarah!" He teased. "Though, speaking of Saresh," His expression and demeanor suddenly growing serious, "you should be the one to tell him about us, sooner rather than later. You are aware that he cares for you beyond the scope of your friendship, are you not?"
She suddenly felt embarrassed. She knew Saresh cared about her a great deal, even suspected that there was more than just the bond formed by the Order and their shared adventure in the Labyrinth. But as her time in the Underground wore on, it wasn't Saresh she found herself daydreaming about. She hoped she could find a way to tell him without ruining their friendship. She pulled her knees in towards her chest, letting out a sigh.
"I will tell Saresh—"
"Tell me what?" A male voice by the door interrupted. Sarah's head whipped around so fast she thought her neck might snap. Saresh stood in the bedroom doorway, his face a mixture of hurt, anger, and betrayal. "Why you were late to training? Or why you are naked. in. bed. with. him?"
Jareth was furious. He knew Sarah and the young Prince were friends, but how dare he barge into his room without even the courtesy of a knock? Never mind that, in their passion last night, the door between the bedroom and the antechamber had been left open. This was beyond the pale.
You've won. She chose you. But if this is how Saresh choses to behave, then let him see. I will apologize for nothing. Jareth couldn't resist twisting the knife just a bit.
"One ought to knock before entering a lady's room. It's called being polite, you really should try it sometime—"
"I came to check on her because I was worried when she didn't show up this morning. Now I realize I should have been worried about you!"
"She kissed me first—"
"She was drugged last night, you asshole! Or did you forget while you were busy taking advantage—"
"Both of you just SHUT. UP!" Sarah shouted, pulling the blankets up high over naked form, her face a deep crimson. "Saresh, this is not how I wanted you to find out, but yes, it's true. Jareth didn't take advantage of me. I chose this. Now, please, get out so I can get dressed. Jareth, that means you too."
Jareth chaffed at being banished from his own room, especially after being granted reentry all too recently. But he was in no mood to fight with her. He gathered his clothes from the floor as he left the room, the door swinging shut behind him in a flash of lavender light.
Saresh stood by the fireplace, now filled with ash and dying embers, his hands clenched in tight fists.
"If you're planning on punching me would you mind waiting until I am dressed? I would prefer to have at least a little dignity."
"Don't. Talk. To. Me." Saresh spat, his voice hard as steel, shaking with rage.
Jareth shrugged and began to get dressed, keeping his eye on the other man. In Saresh's current state, he didn't entirely trust the man not to initiate a surprise attack.
"You know," Saresh began, his gaze far away, lost in the glow of the embers, "after that day, with Morcant, I put my feelings aside. I figured there were more important things to worry about. Clearly I was alone in that belief."
Jareth sighed as he tucked the ends of his chemise into his form-fitted, grey pants. He couldn't fix Saresh's wounded feelings, nor did he particularly care to, but he needed Saresh as an ally. The Order was too fragile already.
"I don't know what to tell you, Saresh, other than to talk to her about it."
The two men looked at each other, from across the room, the tense silence broken only when Sarah finally emerged. She dressed simply in a clean white chemise and black, floor-length skirt, her embossed brown leather waist cincher dividing the two. Her long brown hair was tied back with a black, velvet ribbon. Jareth realized he hadn't seen her in a skirt since their shared reveicum-induced dream of the ball. Judging by the equally surprised look on Saresh's face, he, too, wasn't used to seeing her dressed in something other than her training clothes.
"I figured, since we're not training today…"She said sheepishly, by way of explanation. Then she straightened.
"Saresh," she said, a cool collectedness Jareth had not seen from her before taking over her countenance. She looked regal. Commanding. Like Queen Saeliah. She was beginning to grow into her role as Queen. "we need to talk, properly, but now is not the time. After what we learned last night, we need a plan to take down Morcant and fix whatever he did to the Labyrinth's magic when he created that portal. I need you, Taka, and Raelia focused on this task. The Order will continue their practical training under the direction of Sarai Nzeogwu."
The fire caller. A perfect choice. Nzeogwu was a force to be reckoned with, even without her powers. As a mortal, she'd been a special forces officer in her home country. These days she was equally deadly in hand-to-hand combat as she was with her added firepower. Even Jareth doubted he could best her in combat without magic. While not overly friendly, her raw martial talent and ability to give non-judgmental critiques of form had earned the respect of the entire Order. A born leader. He couldn't have chosen better himself.
"You will gather Taka and Raelia and meet us in the Library in one hour." She continued, before adding, hastily, "please."
Saresh crossed towards her, and gave her a tense bow.
"My Queen." He said, the edge of bitterness in his voice making the acknowledgement of her command sound a bit colder than necessary. Jareth caught the momentary flash of pain that crossed Sarah's face as he strode out of the room, the door shutting behind him forcefully.
Sarah sighed and knelt to the ground, picking up the papers and books strewn about the floor, erasing further evidence of the previous night's activities. She tossed a peach in Jareth's direction, who caught it deftly.
"Eat something." She said, setting a stack of papers on the table, "then gather everything you know about the Labyrinth, its magic, and how it works. We have a long day ahead."
"My Queen." Jareth said, once again in awe of her, before kneeling to help.