A/N: I apologize for not updating sooner-what with holidays and life, it's been bonkers. I'm glad you guys liked chapter eleven! It turned out well. (After some additional work, lol...) Anyway here's chapter twelve. Back to Sarah and Jareth!
Disclaimer: I don't own it.
Blind
Chapter Twelve: Kindness
Jareth's heart appropriately jumped to a faster beat when Sarah smiled gratefully to him. He took the opportunity to study her face. Her green eyes, like emeralds, gazed warmly toward him as she dabbed her cheeks with his handkerchief. She managed to catch the tears with it, and her rosy lips were pulled up in a warm smile. Her dark hair was as beautiful as he remembered, smooth and the color of a raven's wing. She'd only grown more lovely with time, and it made him long all the more that they had not parted on such unpleasant terms the last time she was in his kingdom. They could have been getting to know one another better.
When Sarah was fully recovered, he sat beside her in his chair. "There, now. A smile suits you much better, I think." Sarah blushed, pleased, and Jareth's heart warmed to see it. But then her legs shifted in discomfort on the chair, and his eyes passed down to study the legs of her still wet jeans, and on the ground, her tennis shoes. The king frowned to himself. That couldn't be comfortable. He'd fix it if she'd allow it. He just hoped she wouldn't take it the wrong way. Jareth cleared his throat anxiously.
"Sarah, before we begin reading, would you be more comfortable with a change of attire? You must be cold now."
Sarah's eyes widened and he winced. "What?" She questioned.
Jareth leaned forward in his seat and explained. "Your pants and shoes are still wet-and I've not enough magic at the moment to clean them myself." It was true-he'd used a considerable amount of his magical reserves to heal her wounds. Healing was one of the more elaborate forms of magic, and required quite a lot of it to work properly. It'd drained him-though he'd never tell her just how much it had drained him-but he still needed to give her the reason for the suggestion.
Jareth came to his feet before she could form a protest, and he reassured her as he came to stand before her and her chair. "I would not like for you to be uncomfortable, Sarah. I can have a servant wash your clothes, and in the meantime you can enjoy the Underground's finest of fashions?" Sarah hesitated, looking intrigued as she thought about it, and Jareth's kind voice tugged her attention back to him.
"If it helps, you might be interested in knowing that the clothes you'll be changing into come from a magic wardrobe?" Sarah's eyebrows indeed lifted high in interested wonder, and then she grinned with a teasing amusement that made Jareth's heart both warm and thump wildly.
"So you've raided Narnia's closets?" Sarah jokingly accused, then still joking, her tone turned severe. "I'm not sure Aslan would approve."
Jareth grinned back, restraining his laughter to carry on the joke. He replied with mock indignance. "Well, really, what use can a Lion have for waistcoats and cravats?" Unable to contain themselves, they both laughed, and when the laughter had quieted, Jareth spoke with a chuckle. "No, but our clothes are certainly fine, I assure you." Sarah's smile stayed though the teasing lilt to her lips had faded.
"I think I could handle wearing something new for a while." Jareth's shoulders eased in relief.
"Excellent! I shall fetch you your shoes." He said, then stepped to the side and picked up her socks and shoes.
"Jareth, I can put them on." Sarah said quickly, holding out her hands.
With a pause, Jareth smiled tenderly at Sarah. "I hadn't actually intended for you to wear them, Sarah. But if you could hold them, that would help."
Sarah's expression became confused. "What do you mean?"
Jareth straightened, her shoes in hand. "I do not think you should put your wet shoes back on-and I dare not allow you to walk barefoot in the castle. The goblins tend to leave about a whole cacophony of items on the castle floors. I can barely keep the library clean, as it is." He carefully handed her the tennis shoes. "If you'll allow me to, I think it would be best if I carry you."
"Carry me?" Sarah squeaked as she set her tennis shoes in her lap, and then put her hands on her knees, her face glowing until it was relative to a tomato.
Jareth chuckled fondly and reassured her. "Yes, but only for a short time."
Sarah gulped, speaking timidly. "You'll be careful?" Jareth's smile fell away to be replaced with a serious line.
"Of course, Sarah." Jareth solemnly assured her.
Sarah looked thoughtful, her expression easing, and Jareth held his breath.
At last she gave a nod. "What do I do?"
Jareth released the breath he'd been holding and put his hand on hers-her fingers twitching infinitesimally at the unexpected touch. "I'll have one arm behind your shoulders and the other beneath your knees. All you need to do is keep your arms round my neck and hold tight."
Sarah straightened. "Alright."
Jareth's hand resting on Sarah's breezed quickly and lightly up her arm, around behind her shoulders to stop, and then he crouched down. His other hand came to rest for only a second on her knee, then the back of that hand swept under both her knees and turned so his hand had a secure grip on the far side of her legs. "There. Go ahead and put your arms around me." He said simply, and the woman blushed. Sarah reached for him, and Jareth fought to keep his heart steady as her fingers searched for his chest. Her hands flattened against his poet's shirt, and feeling the fabric for a fraction of a second, they then traveled up to his narrow shoulders.
The collection of ruffles around his neck fluttered when her hands passed by them and she clasped her hands together behind his neck. Adjusting his grip and stance, Jareth asked, "Are you ready?" and Sarah murmured a yes. With great care Jareth lifted Sarah into his arms, and stood up.
Sarah was incredibly light, and Jareth's eyebrows rose high at this. She felt thin as well. Had she not been eating well? He frowned at this but was pulled from his thoughts when the guardian whined, which translated to the King into. "Is the Lady well?" Jareth looked down to see the guardian was waking up.
The Guardian, in the form of a large wooden wolf, was made of mahogany colored wood, streaked with gold. The animal came almost to Sarah's waist in height, and had a peaceful, often reassuring, expression; meant to comfort others. He looked in every respect to be a large wolf-but if one were to stand before the magical animal, they would see the clear wood pattern in the fur and across the creature's body. The animal yawned enormously and got to his feet, blinking his wooden eyes wide and shaking his furry wooden head. The fur like hundreds of tiny toothpicks, rattled faintly together, and Jareth smiled at the wolf. Sarah's head moved toward the Guardian when she heard him whine.
Jareth replied to the wolf's concerned inquiry. "Yes." He inclined his head at the doors, casting his eyes at them as well. "Will you open the doors for us please, Guardian?"
Guardian yipped a, "Yes." then trotted off helpfully toward the library doors. Jareth made his way around Sarah's armchair just as her head was turning back to face him.
"Did we wake the Guardian up?" Sarah asked, an apology in her voice.
Jareth's love for the woman in his arms increased at the reminder of how kind she was towards those around her-in this case her concern for the Guardian. Jareth's response was gentle as he attempted to put her at ease. "Not at all. He sensed we were leaving, and woke up to see how you were doing." His work to reassure her was successful, and she relaxed a little in his arms at his words.
"What did he say?" She asked curiously, and Jareth replied a moment later.
"He asked if you were well, I told him you were, and he said 'yes' when I asked him to open the library doors for us." Jareth's eyes sought out the wolf as he was finishing speaking. The Guardian had arrived at the doors, and once there, jumped at one. The door rattled quietly, as he disappeared into the wood. The guardian became a thinly carved image amongst the carved landscape on the door, where a depiction of a field of wildflowers lay. A breeze picked up on the field as he did, making the flowers and grass sway as though startled by his appearance. Guardian took advantage of the scenery and ran around merrily in the field, making the plants sway as he did. The doors opened fully and stopped and the wolf came running back. He hopped out of the door again as though this was completely normal for him. Which, in truth, it was. He could travel from any door in the kingdom to another-if it were made of wood-making it easy for him to be there for those who needed help.
"Thank you, Guardian." Jareth told the wolf, who bowed his head in response.
"You're welcome, Master!" He moved to the side to make room for his master and their guest.
"Close and lock the doors, Guardian. The last thing I need are goblins in the library." The Guardian stepped back into the same door, and they swayed shut and locked. The wolf hopped back out of the door, looking a little pleased with himself. Jareth nodded his head up the hallway. "Thank you. Lead the way to the east guest suite, please." He told the wooden animal, who wagged his tail and began down the hall, happy to be of service.
As they walked down the hallway, Sarah eventually asked Jareth a question. "What does he look like?" Jareth glanced down at her, his breath breezing over her arm, before he looked up the hall at the Guardian, realizing that's whom she meant. "The Guardian, I mean." Sarah added for clarification, verifying his thoughts.
"He is made from a mahogany-like tree that grows here in the Labyrinth, and he is similar in height to your arctic wolf. I added a few accents of gold to him as part of the spell," Jareth said. Conspiratorily, he bent his head down to speak lower to Sarah so that the Guardian wouldn't overhear him, "but really I just thought it looked nice." Sarah laughed quietly and the king grinned at the sound.
"He sounds lovely."
Jareth nodded, agreeing. "He's one of my best creations-not just for his looks-I put a great deal of work into him so he would be helpful and calming to others." Jareth sobered, studying the Guardian briefly before bringing his eyes back to Sarah. "I'm glad that you like him."
They arrived at the east guest suite, and the Guardian opened the doors for them. The three came into a small sitting room off of the bedroom, separated by a pair of double doors. The room was furnished with comfortable furniture and had two large windows that offered views of the castle's vast garden, placed on either side of a cozy fireplace. The Guardian swept through the room at a trot, sniffing things to be certain all was safe and in order. Satisfied it was, the wolf came and settled down to sit at the end of one of two of the low couches, away from the fire. With great care Jareth set Sarah on that same low couch, at the opposite end nearest the fireplace, where she could keep warm. As he did this he noticed her feet again, and once she was settled, he knelt and swept the hand that'd been under her knees down to the base of one of her feet and cradled it carefully between his hands. It was still sticky from the tea. "Your feet are dirty from the tea. May I wash them?" He asked, and Sarah blushed, offering a shy nod.
"Yes. Thank you."
His lips curved up warmly. "I'll fetch some water. I won't be but a moment." Jareth placed his hand lightly on hers in reassurance, then went into the bedroom and from there to the bathroom connected by an ornate door. The bathrooms of the castle were all modern in plumbing, the same as in Sarah's world. He'd added it shortly after the idea was brought into being, and had it updated accordingly as the human world updated theirs. Jareth was immensely grateful for it, especially now when he couldn't conjure warm water by himself. Jareth filled a low, wide bowl with warm water and gathered a jasmine scented soap, contained in a small crystal decanter, and two soft towels.
Bringing the items back to Sarah, he set it out carefully before her. As he did, he remembered her shoes and how her hands were likely to be just as sticky as her feet. "Let's wash the tea off of your hands first before we begin on your feet." Sarah nodded, and Jareth instructed her to hand him her shoes. She did, and he set them on the ground beside the couch.
Jareth used one towel, getting half of it wet to delicately wash Sarah's hands, and then used the other half to dry them. Once they were clean he moved on to her feet, using the other towel. He paused part way through washing her feet when she squeaked and squirmed abruptly, her foot half pulling out of his hands. Alarmed, Jareth looked sharply up at her. "Sarah, what's wrong? Did I hurt you?"
Sarah let out a laugh she'd been trying to hold back. "No-I'm fine!" Jareth's eyebrows rose high. Had he tickled her? A look at her face told him as much, for she was trying desperately not to smile. A mischievous twinkle entered his eyes and an equally mischievous smile adorned his lips.
"Oh?" Jareth asked casually, slowly sliding the bowl out of range of her feet. "Are you certain?" Sarah nodded hurriedly, and Jareth hummed as though bewildered, though his smile was growing. "Because I could have sworn..." He put emphasis on the last word, drawing it out as he directed the soapy towel to the arch of her foot, not yet touching it, before he continued speaking. "...I had tickled you."
Sarah's face reddened and she shook her head in the negative.
"No? Hm. My mistake." He said, and just as Sarah began to relax, he swept the corner of the soapy towel up the center of her foot.
Sarah squeaked again and laughed, clapping one hand over her mouth. "Jareth!" She squeaked between her fingers, her face aflame.
Jareth tickled her foot again, making her squirm as he replied in a calm tone that suggested he was merely discussing the state of the weather, and not the fact that he was slightly tickle-torturing his guest. "Yes, dear Sarah?"
"Stop! It does tickle!" She cried amidst giggles, and Jareth ceased his playful tickling with a laugh.
As she recovered from her smiling, red faced state, Jareth apologized. "Apologies. I discovered after hearing your delightful laugh, that I wanted to hear it again." He moved the bowl of water back beneath her foot and went on washing it, noting how her face grew red again. He finished with both her feet, even washing a little higher where the tea splashed her legs. Once finished, Jareth gathered the items he'd brought from the bathroom and put them away. Afterwards he returned to Sarah. "The wardrobe I spoke of is in the bedroom," The king began. "I will have to help you operate it, but after I will leave you to change. Is that agreeable to you?"
Sarah nodded a yes, and Jareth turned to the Guardian. "Guardian, take Lady Sarah's shoes to the laundry, please. Have them cleaned quickly and returned." The wolf came fully to his feet and approached Jareth, who handed the shoes to the animal in such a way that the Guardian held them in his mouth by the laces. The wooden creature ducked his head in a wolfish bow and then trotted off, hopping through the doors.
Sarah frowned after him in bewilderment, likely at the lack of sound of the doors opening and shutting. "Did Guardian leave?" She queried.
Jareth glanced between Sarah and the doors and answered her query. "Yes. He can pass magically through wooden doors-it's how he gets from one place to another so quickly. It is so he can assist others in the kingdom who might be farther away." Jareth explained, and Sarah's eyes widened.
"That's incredible!" She breathed, and Jareth hummed in agreement.
"It has been an extremely helpful method, so I'm told."
Jareth helped Sarah to stand, then laced her hand through his arm to lead her to the guest bedroom. The room was large, holding an enormous four poster bed with matching bedside tables, a vanity and a wardrobe, and double doors that opened onto a high railed terrace looking down on the gardens. Jareth helped Sarah to sit on the edge of the bed, then turned and approached the wardrobe.
Stopping beside it, Jareth spun on his heel to face her and clasped his hands behind his back. "Now, dear Sarah, what is it you would like to wear?" He inclined his head at the wardrobe and explained. "This wardrobe can create whatever you desire-though it does best with familiar designs. Dresses, and the like. In this instance you might desire a dress and matching slippers."
Looking a bit intimidated, Sarah timidly asked. "So what do I do?"
Seeing her discomfort, Jareth spoke soothingly. "It's simpler than you imagine, you needn't worry." Sarah seemed a little better, so Jareth pushed onward. "Think of a color, then a design. Think about the details. Green silk, crystal beading, elegant lace…" Jareth approached her one step at a time as he trailed off. Watching the wheels turning in her head and hoping his suggestions would prove helpful to her, he came to a stop beside her.
"I think I've got it." Sarah said, seeming confident.
"Excellent." Jareth said. "Now, in order for the wardrobe to work, the one designing the clothes, must be the one to open it. Shall we?" Sarah lifted her hand and Jareth took it tenderly in his. Guiding her to the wardrobe, he placed her hand on the handle and urged. "There, try it now."
Sarah seemed to be focusing, and then at last she opened the wardrobe. Inside hung an elegant but modest emerald green gown. It was an off-the-shoulder gown, with a sweetheart neckline and lightly bead embellished bust. Long sleeves stayed close to the wearer's arms, and would come to points on the back of the lady's hands. The beads themselves were iridescent, the majority occupying the bust of the gown. Sarah would say the design was 'similar to sleeping beauty's dress', if she was asked to give an example. Beneath it on the wardrobe floor, sat two dainty ballet flats that matched the dress perfectly. Jareth was surprised yet secretly pleased that she'd chosen some of the details he'd offered. The king had hoped she'd take his suggestions to heart, and by looking at the outfit, it was clear she had. The color was her favorite, he knew, so he couldn't take too much credit. Jareth smiled at Sarah as she turned hesitantly toward him.
"Did it work?"
"It did." The blonde man stepped closer to both the wardrobe and Sarah. "Here, allow me to get them for you." Sarah moved a couple steps to one side and Jareth retrieved the dress and shoes. Closing the wardrobe doors, he hung the dress by its hanger from the top of the wardrobe and held the shoes in one hand, then led her hand to the dress.
"What do you think?"
Sarah ran her fingers delicately over the beads on the dress, her eyes growing larger the longer she spent inspecting the magic-made dress, and after it the shoes. "It's just like I imagined..." She whispered, then turned to face Jareth. "Jareth, it's beautiful. Thank you for this." Ruby lips curved up into a smile, and Jareth's heart swelled with warmth as he returned the expression.
"Of course, Sarah."
Their moment was cut to an abrupt end by the nearby clock as it chimed the hour, and Jareth's smile fell away.
Sarah heard it, too, and her own happy smile faded, being replaced with sadness. Jareth was surprised at it. Was it possible Sarah was beginning to enjoy herself? She'd seemed cheerful enough until the clock sounded the hour, reminding them of the circumstances.
Reminding them that she'd be leaving soon.
A swirl of emotions churned in Jareth's gut, and he glared at the clock, his lips twisting bitterly. They both knew that soon this would be over. Sarah would return home, and Jareth would be alone.
Sarah broke the agonizing silence between them by holding up part of the dress with a big smile-putting on a brave face for both of them. "I think I'd like to wear this."
Offering a thin smile, Jareth replied, "Very good. I will guide you back to the bed. You can put your clothes on it for the maid to tend to, and I will wait just outside while you change. Call me if you need anything." Sarah agreed, and Jareth's bitter mood was lifted ever so slightly by how excited she once more began to appear. Jareth led and left her at the bed, excusing himself to the sitting room where he'd wait until she called him. Jareth settled, feeling restless, on the couch opposite the one where Sarah had been sitting. Staring at the spot she had occupied, he waxed pensive, thinking about his next move. He'd have to tell her soon. Before the boy arrived. A grimace took over his expression and he stood with a huff.
"How is that boy doing, anyway?" He wondered aloud, and made a motion to conjure a crystal. He could manage as much, anything more elaborate would have to wait. Jareth peered into the crystal and his eyebrows rose. Seth had somehow gotten help from the mermaids-the mermaid princess, no less-and now he and his friends were inside the lake swimming in the direction of the mermaid palace. Jareth frowned in agitation and thought rapidly ahead. The only way from the lake to his castle, was through a tunnel at the bottom of the lake. They'd discover it through researching the queen's library, he had no doubt, and then they'd be on their way here. Jareth had two hours, maybe three if he planned their route for them.
Jareth turned the crystal in his hand and gazed into a small underwater tunnel. The tunnel eventually split in two directions, with one tunnel blocked by a movable cover. If moved, it would close off the opposite tunnel. With the way it was now, Seth had a clear shot to the castle, while the covered tunnel led to a well just outside Helga's camp. Jareth concentrated hard on the image before him and breathed deeply. Lifting one hand, he made a pointing gesture as though he were moving something across a flat surface, and pushed. The cover budged an inch, and nearby the Guardian returned by hopping in through the door. Jareth heard, but was too busy to offer a greeting. He had to focus. He pressed harder, and the cover slid gradually open. The water split, trying to get through both tunnels at once, and making it more difficult for Jareth. With a final shove, Jareth moved the cover to block the opposite tunnel, and the water changed directions fully, powering up the second tunnel that led to Helga's well. Lowering his hand, Jareth promptly leaned back into the couch, and the crystal vanished. The Guardian whined and came up to him at once, placing his paws on Jareth's knee and leaning toward him to closely study his face.
"Master, you've used too much magic. You need to sleep or eat to replenish yourself." The Guardian said with solemn knowledgeability.
Jareth looked hard at the animal before his expression eased and he gave a wry chuckle. "You're worse than my own mother, Guardian." The Guardian still looked worried, and Jareth sighed and reached out to scratch behind the animal's ear. The wolf leaned toward the hand and listened with rapt attention as his master spoke. "And just like her, you're always right." Jareth tipped his head toward the guest bedroom. "I won't leave Lady Sarah, and I've no time to sleep…"
Jareth wondered briefly what to do, and remembered something. "Guardian, go fetch my healing elixir from my study. There's an emergency flask of it on the lowest shelf of the bookcase. Hurry." Waving the wolf off, the Guardian at once bounded for the door and jumped inside. Jareth closed his eyes tiredly in the meantime and rubbed his temples. He was powerful, certainly, but the amount of magic used today was pushing it. Being as out of practice in healing magic as he was, it was taking its toll on him. But it was infinitely worth it to him to keep Sarah happy and healthy.
The Guardian returned shortly with a small brown leather flask and brought it at once to the king. Murmuring a thank you, Jareth sat up, unstoppered the flask, and gulped down the entire contents. Within seconds his coloring was better, and he didn't seem at all tired as he had before. Placing his paws once more on Jareth's knee, the wolf stared shrewdly at his master until he seemed fully recovered.
At last Jareth breathed deeply and replaced the flask's stopper, looking and feeling a great deal better. Holding the flask out to his helpful creation, Jareth told the Guardian, "Thank you. Go ahead and put this on my desk so I'll remember to refill it later." Taking the flask in his mouth, the wolf ducked his head in a bow then turned and trotted off toward the door. There wasn't as much of a need to hurry, now his master was well again. Before he'd gotten far, Jareth remembered the tunnel and Helga, and stopped the wolf. "Wait!" The Guardian at once halted and turned to face his king. "After you put that away, go and tell Witch Helga that the Runner will be arriving through her well, instead of the previously planned route. She'll be cross with me if she doesn't have fair warning." Nodding his head, the wolf turned and dashed through the door.
"Jareth, I'm ready!"
Sarah's muffled voice sounded through the door from the bedroom, and Jareth came to his feet. Going to the door, he took hold of the handle and paused to take a deep breath. Exhaling, he opened the door. Jareth's cheeks gained a little more color at the sight of her. Sarah stood at the end of the bed where he'd left her, though she'd taken hold of the bedpost and turned herself to face the direction of the door, waiting for him to come in. She looked lovely-certainly lovelier than any woman he'd ever seen. The dress fit perfectly, as he'd expected, and the color complimented her eyes, like he'd hoped. It was also more apparent how thin Sarah was, and this made Jareth ill at ease. She'd managed to braid her ebony hair to one side, and it fell over one shoulder.
"Jareth?" Sarah's brow wrinkled in uncertainty, her hand clenching around the bedpost. In seeing this, Jareth moved forward and spoke in gentle reassurance.
"I'm here, Sarah. I haven't left you."
Sarah relaxed, and her radiant smile seemed to light up the room as she stretched one hand out to him. "What do you think? Did it turn out well?"
Closing the distance between them, Jareth took up Sarah's hand and pressed his lips to the back of it, replying warmly.
"You are as perfect as ever, Sarah."
A/N: Was the "Tickle-torture" scene too much? (Side note: "Tickle-torture" is what my nephew would call a sudden attack of tickles when he was little. Only, because of his accent, it came out as: "Teeckle Torchya". We don't really apply the phrase while applying the tickles anymore, but it was cute/funny at the time.) Anywho, review and let me know what you think! If anything is amiss, let me know and I'll fix it. Thanks oodles and gobs, guys! You're all lovely! :)