She filled out everything in English first, the marriage forms and various pages she had to sign for the house to be registered in her name. Then they called Karen and Robert and they both sat as Howl read aloud his copy of the Betrothal Contract. Sarah sat beside Jareth watching as he trailed his fingers along his copy in High Elvish, as it had all the circular cursive letters. It was a fairly simple document, stating what both parties brought to the marriage. Her bride price was a three part gift, One part to her father in the form of a cash payment, one part to her future in the form of the house and a trust fund for her future college studies, and the last to her, the gift of the land of the Labyrinth and the duties to its peoples.
Sarah choked at that.
"You're giving me… Jareth,' she frowned at him, "you're the Goblin King, I cannot do the duties you're responsible for."
"I have relinquished no power or duty to you,' he reassured her, "only the land and duties to its citizens, it will take years, but you will learn the governance and magic's required. I will walk with you every step of the way, you know my nature, I do not relinquish power unless there is a significant return to be gained thereby. Your talent at magic will see it flourish like never before."
She nervously fidgeted with her hair then nodded and signed the corresponding line on Jareth's document. They discussed the rest of the document, property she would call her own, that which Jareth would call his, and the division of responsibilities in the rule of the Goblin Kingdom. It even listed a monthly allowance for private use, and a separate amount for the Labyrinth. Howl had been fastidious, or had received help from a lawyer, probably the latter if she knew anything of Howl's personality. The final section dealt with heirs.
"So, Toby will be your heir until our children are twenty years of age, and should both of us perish childless before then, you're appointing Howl as regent until Toby is twenty one years, and Court Wizard until he is thirty."
Jareth nodded.
"Has anyone asked Toby?" Sarah said faintly.
"Your father and I discussed the entailment and line of inheritance with him."
"Jareth," she whispered, "I can defend myself to a certain extent, but Toby is just a kid. Won't those after your kingdom try get to you through him?"
"No one but the King of Ingary and the Goblins need know, and I will place a very delicate spell over the truth until Toby is of age. It's a standard practice for underage heirs, including using body doubles for more risky public appearances."
She leaned against his arm and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Thank you."
They reached the end of the document and Jareth signed with a flourish so beautiful, her own signature looked like chicken scratches beside it. Her father, Howl and Karen all signed witness at the bottom. At least Karen had as plain a signature as herself,
There were several other pages, also in High Elvish, which were documents to be signed after the Wedding Ceremony. Howl read these through so she knew what they said, but they were simply formal wedding vows and the statement that they both had entered the marriage freely.
.
Karen herded them to the kitchen shortly afterwards and they all crowded about the table to discuss the wedding over a supper.
"Sunday morning at nine, at Sarah's cottage, it is neutral territory," Jareth volunteered as they had discussed who they wanted as witness and the pros and cons of every place, including Howl's castle in Ingary, which everyone vetoed because it was too small.
"As land of all three realms, not a bad idea."
Jareth inspected the guest list they had come up with and grimaced.
"Add Eltharion te' Meurfinan to the guest list and we're done."
"Who is he?" Howl asked as he wrote in the name.
"My father," Jareth pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Have you no other family you wish to invite?" Sophie asked gently.
"As every one of my half dozen half brothers have tried to kill me over the past years I'm not inclined to, so no."
The shocked silence as interrupted by a snore from under the table. Sarah ducked under to find Toby leaning against the table leg, asleep.
The meeting broke up after that.
.
Sarah dragged Jareth upstairs after her.
"So eager, precious thing," he purred in her ear as they stepped into her bedroom.
She groaned and hugged him, burying her face in his side.
"I still can't get over the fact that you're upending your entire life to protect Toby and I."
He ran his fingers down her hair.
"I will always protect you, precious thing, always."
She tilted her head to look up at him.
"Jareth, from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of my family who probably don't know how much more political difficulty this will bring you, thank you."
He gave her a bright grin as mischief sparked in his eyes. She loved how happy he looked just then, it spilled out of him in delight and joy.
"As inconvenient as it may become, it's going to be very entertaining. I'm in the mood for some tricky arguments and I am sure the bootlickers in my father's court will swarm the castle over the next few months."
"Are they anything like the High King's nephew?"
"Oh, he's harmless, officious and prejudiced, but harmless. Others, not so much, it'll be good!" He did a little dance right there in her arms and Sarah could only laugh at his anticipation.
"Sarah, Jareth, we're shutting off the lights, don't disturb Toby when you leave," her father called from atop the stairs.
"Okay," Sarah leaned out the door and waved to him.
She closed her bedroom door and leaned against it.
"So how do we disengage my room from the castle?" she asked, staring around overwhelmed, Howl hadn't given any explanation on how to direct her magic.
Jareth slipped around to stand against the door with her back to his chest. He slipped his hands under hers and clasped them together before them.
"What is it that you want done?"
All Sarah could think of was how he hugged her.
"Er," she felt her cheeks flush red.
"Focus, precious thing," he chuckled in her ear, which didn't help anything.
He whispered and wriggled and poked her and she ended up dissolving in giggles, unable to speak.
"Ja-" she gasped, "-reth! I'm- " she giggled as he put his cheek against hers, "-trying to concentrate!" She sagged back into him shaking with silent laughter as he proceeded to trail kisses down her jaw.
It was only as she wriggled free of him and kept him at bay with her bed pillow that she managed to calm her laughter enough to think straight.
"What words do I need to use?"
She shoved her pillow in his spread arms as he approached, then collapsed on her bed in a fresh fit of giggles as he hugged it and crooned to it as if it were her.
"A calm mind helps," he told the pillow, holding it as if it were a child, "and a clear visualisation of what you want done. If you seek to borrow my power, and that is recommended as the Castle is my domain, use the words 'I wish" and my name or title in the request." He plumped the pillow as if jiggling a baby. "Let's hear your request!"
Sarah sat up feeling exceedingly jealous of a pillow and quite ridiculous for all that. That smile of calm delight he offered the pillow was hers! Jealousy turned out to be the antidote to her giggles, She returned to his side and he absently tucked an arm around her, but still continued to address the pillow.
"You're awfully quiet, perhaps a kiss would help?"
She gave an indignant squawk when he planted one on the top of the pillow.
"I wish the Goblin King would pay me attention right now."
Jareth dropped the pillow and gathered her up in his arms with a groan.
"Urg, nothing kills romance like being forced into it," he rested his forehead against the top of her head. His face was pale with as though ill.
"Sorry!" she whispered. "I wish Jareth the Goblin King released from all geas and commands."
Jareth swayed in her arms and sank to his knees.
"Jareth!" she yelped and collapsed onto the pillow beside him.
He sagged against her, sparking magic and that strange violet light flickered about them.
"Jareth!" she caught him as he collapsed bonelessly against her, unconscious.
"Sarah, we asked you not to wake Toby," her father put his head in at the door.
All about her the doors that linked her room to the Labyrinth glowed with the same eerie purple fire that wasn't really fire.
"Dad!" She clung to Jareth, terrified. "Dad, call Howl!"
He stood frozen at the door, gawking at the flagrant display of magic.
"Is this his doing?" he growled.
"Dad! I don't know anything of magic and I need Howl here now!" Sarah panicked. "Karen knows how to find his house! Get her to take you! Hurry!" Her voice broke on the last word and her father fled.
There was a patter of footfalls on the landing and Karen put her head in, gave a dignified gasp and pelted back along to her room. A moment later there were the thumps of people descending the stairs.
"Jareth!" Sarah panted as the fire seemed to stabilise, but not nearly enough. She could see it slowly creep outwards as it began to consume her bedroom walls.
"Howl, you'd better hurry!"