Sunday morning was utter chaos. Sarah was glad Howl and Jareth both had magic, she was sure most of the decorations were Jareth's illusions at work. She met the friend her father had invited to officiate the ceremony; he was an elderly priest who helped with smaller ceremonies. He was sitting at the desk with her and her father looking over the official paperwork when Jareth walked in, dressed in the formal coat, waistcoat and breeches that perfectly matched her own garments. He and Howl had clearly gone shopping in Kingsbury.
"And this is Jareth King," Robert introduced him.
The priest blinked at Jareth then hastily rose to his feet. He walked across to him and peered up at him.
"Why is one of your kind willing to bind themselves in a mortal ceremony?"
Jareth's smile vanished and he leaned over the priest in such an intimidating manner that Sarah hurried over.
"What do you mean, 'my kind'" Jareth purred dangerously. Sarah put a hand on his stomach to get him to back off.
"You are one of the fair folk, are you not? I've worked with souls all my life, young man, and know the difference. You're not the first I've seen, but you are the first I have met wishing marriage."
"And the others of 'my kind' have left a somewhat sour taste, by your tone?" Jareth growled.
"They have been the cause of many a marital breakdown, not that mortals cannot do that all on their own, but the three I have met, unfortunately were misbehaving. I understand by your reaction that you are of a more honourable sort."
Jareth narrowed his eyes and drew himself to his full height, his magic surging around him.
"I am King Jareth te'Eltharion, son of the High King of the Fae. My father will be here attending the ceremony, please, take your complaints about his people to him. He is obliged to take audience with mortals with a grievance against his people. As for myself, I have honour greater than that of my own father. Do you think we could step back and allow our initial greeting to fall to the wayside, and meet with equanimity and honour? My wife to be, Sarah Williams, is mortal; it is for her sake and that of her family that we honour your customs." He put his arm around Sarah.
The Priest raised an apologetic hand.
"A thousand apologies, Your Majesty," he stammered out. "I accept your suggestion; let us proceed in a more civilised manner."
.
The ceremony went very smoothly for how little time they had to organise it. Jareth had even remembered rings, which she had completely forgotten about, and had put Toby in charge of them. He had Howl as his best man and the wizard looked visibly upset when High King Eltharion arrived with his wife at his side, and not wearing the antlers from the other night. The way he, Toby and Michael exchanged looks they must have had some sort of dastardly plan involving them. If Sarah hadn't met the High King previously, she wouldn't have been able to tell him from the next person on the street. He and his wife both wore gorgeous twelfth century attire, complete with wimple and hat.
Once all the vows and legal paperwork were out of the way they could mingle. Jareth had a minor argument with the priest about his name 'Jareth King' as he was registered in the mortal world and his own true name. He bluntly stopped all arguments by swearing an oath with the priest as witness that he was not seeking to trick Sarah in any way. He then spitefully dragged the priest over to his father, introduced them in a very flowery manner and left his father to deal with the mortal's complaints against the fae.
.
It was only as her father led Jareth over to meet several of his business associates that Sarah got a moment to herself. Amanda pounced on her and brought her to where she and Jack were sitting surrounded by her theatre friends.
"Oh my goodness, he's gorgeous!" she gushed. "How could you have kept such perfection from us all these years?"
Sarah glanced back at Jareth, who was looking very relaxed and happily charming all her father's associates.
"How have we not seen the King family before, his father is even better, they must have been very young when Jareth was born, they don't look a year older than thirty!"
"They're from overseas," Sarah hedged, as she watched King Eltharion listening to the priest with a frown on his face.
"Well good thing you found him. So, when is the baby due?"
Sarah spun around and stared at Tina.
"Excuse me?"
"Oh," Tina said in a small voice and waved her hand at her cheek as she blushed, "that was a touch rude of me, I assume makes and ass out of you and me. Sorry Sarah, it was just so sudden."
"Everyone thinks that, including my mother," Sarah raised a forgiving hand. "There were other reasons for the tight schedule, Howl and Jareth have some business that will take them away for a while and this was the only date everyone could make it. With how uncertain some of the deals are, we didn't know when everyone would be back in the country."
"I never thought marrying a high powered business man could be so troublesome," Amanda sighed. She had caught the bouquet and Jack had a rather strained expression on his face.
"It's never been easy, but we've recently worked through some very tricky things and it's settled into something comfortable at last."
"Are you still going to be attending theatre?" Jack asked.
"Of course, I'll also be at college in the fall, same as everyone else. I'm not going anywhere."
"Wow, that's tough, newlywed and your man just goes off."
Sarah simply stared at Tina, unable to explain the complications of being able to walk through a doorway to anywhere Jareth was. She could only shrug.
Sophie, bless her, came to rescue her just then.
"Ah, Sarah, Jareth's father wishes a word."
Not that that was any better,
"What does he want?" Sarah asked Sophie as the old woman, who still had that youthful look to her, guided her across to the High King and Queen who were politely concluding discussions with several of Robert's business associates.
"I think it is a strategic move to avoid much time spent in discussion of business matters they don't know much about," Sophie said mischievously.
"If Eltharion's anything like Jareth, he could make a paper bag sound interesting."
"True, they have a way with words. I'm off to distract Howl, he's quite heartless in his way he hunts down young ladies." She bustled off in a very stern manner towards a bevy of theatre girls who were drooling over the wizard.
.
Sarah drew up before the High King and Queen and without thinking dropped a curtsey. They acknowledged the gesture with slight bows of their heads.
"So we now have a mortal daughter," the High Queen said in a soft voice as she inspected her. "You are not what I expected when my husband came home with such wild stories. By his account you were ten feet tall, had dragon's horns and breathed fire." She winked. "You'll need all that to keep Jareth on his toes, he's not as restless as his father, but he's too clever for his own good. I wish you all the best, and that your marriage is blessed with much pleasure and beautiful children."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Sarah bobbed another curtsy.
.
There was dancing and food and Sarah was only too pleased to collapse in her place at the head table and eat something. Jareth was dancing with the High Queen, and Eltharion slid into the seat beside her, all elfin grace and poise.
"How many months along are you, if you tire so swiftly?"
Sarah gaped at him.
"Why does everyone think I'm pregnant!" she squeaked.
He blinked those too blue eyes of his and drew himself up with a slight bow as an apology.
"It was a very rushed wedding, I know my son is sensitive about being a bastard and my older sons have always given him a hard time about it. I thought that he'd wish to save his own child the shame. So what would the real reason be?"
Sarah then realised she could tell the High King the truth and felt a weight lift off her shoulders.
"I've just recently come into my magic, and Howl is training me." She explained the complications with Howl and her training and the warmongering King of Ingary. By the time she was finished Eltharion was scowling a hole in the tablecloth before him.
"Are there so few human wizards that Howl is your only option?"
"Unfortunately, yes. He's also our second cousin, we're obliged on many levels," Sarah said.
"And Jareth just throws centuries of tradition into the dust to protect you," he marvelled. "I will give my son his due; he is fiercely loyal and protective." He sounded proud at that moment. "You would visit this mortal King on the morrow?"
"Yes, Jareth's coming along to give the King of Ingary an earful. I hope he doesn't make it worse."
Eltharion chuckled at that.
"He can be very clever with words if the occasion requires. I've found myself on the lesser end of several bargains when he saw fit to put his mind and heart to it. Perhaps I should visit this mortal king who has caused such strife in my family."
Sarah gaped at him, just imagining every awful outcome.
"Just promise me, you and Jareth, you won't get involved in their stupid war!"
"Of course not, we do not deign to involve ourselves or our people in mortal conflicts, they are often trivial, useless and most of the time could be avoided by sorting out the true issue before it becomes a battle. It's why the disputes heard in the petty courts are so important. Mostly they're domestic nonsense, but occasionally you can pick up trends that will cause trouble later."
It was late afternoon by the time everyone left. Sophie and Karen were tidying up when Jareth checked that there were no more guests then threw out six crystals and everything vanished back to what it was.
"Karen, you will find all the hired items in their boxes in your living room. Sophie, all the tablecloths and drapes you lent us are on the front veranda. Thank you for your care and assistance; we could not have done this without the hard work of the two of you."
"Oh, you young charmer," Sophie blushed; she was clearly tired as she looked as old as she always did and hobbled on her walking stick. "Now off with you and your bride. We'll see the cottage is tidy for your return later."
.
Sarah leaned into his chest as Jareth gathered her in his arms and with a bold call of magic took them away. They appeared on a grey beach overlooking a wide sea.
"Where are we?" Sarah whispered.
"Look up," Jareth pointed.
She did so and blinked to find a castle on the upper promontory and a British flag flying from the turret.
"We're in England?"
"Your father explained that this sort of thing is tradition, to surprise the bride with an exotic location. We shall be rooming here for the week, and shall travel to exotic locations, including the city of a very annoying King tomorrow. Does this meet with your expectations?"
"We're in England?" Sarah breathed again, taking in the salty sea air, not daring to believe it was not a dream. She'd only ever visited Wales before now, and then only the little town that Megan stayed in.
"Scotland," he corrected with a smile.
Sarah let out a gasp of delight, as she could not find words to express herself.
"We shall also be visiting France and Greece, as Toby said you wished to see Paris and Athens."
Sarah walked over and wrapped her arms around him.
"Thank you," she got out around her overwhelmed sniffles. She eyed the castle and shivered in the cool breeze that was blowing. "You know, my mother gave me all sorts of advice for the marriage bed, want to try it out?"
He stared down at her in surprise.
"I'd heard maidens were rather coy about such things."
"Jareth, it's me. I'm not coy."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You said just a few days ago, and I quote 'we have a weird enough relationship without bringing sex into it just yet.'"
"Ah, I can't believe that's coming back to bite me now!" Sarah cringed and slipped out of his arms. She stretched and swayed her way over to the steps carved into the cliff. "I shall just have to go and have fun all by myself, and prove that yes we do have a weird relationship."
Jareth snorted at that.
"My Sarah, you do have that way of exhausting me."
"If it's rest you need, I could always give you a massage." She suggested lightly and smiled as he laughed incredulously.
"Rest? I? It shall be you snoring in deep slumber while I await your waking hours!"
"Then quit dilly dallying and prove it!"