Chapter VI
Sarah opened her eyes.
Another room.
She sighed, sitting up in the bed to look at her
new surroundings. The room was large, with a fireplace occupying one wall,
windows another, and every other open place covered in tapestries worked
with mythical beasts. The plush carpets were in more delicate patterns--flowers
and scrollwork, while the chandelier was of wrought iron and silver. The
bed she lay in was covered in soft, white linen, with a canopy and drapes
of crushed velvet the color of a silvery moon. The furniture here was carved
as well, and a nearby bookshelf was lined with all her favorites. A bureau
at her left was full of clothing, each gown more lovely than the last.
But her attention was drawn to the windows. Pushing open the casement,
she leaned out, peering down at what lay below her.
A garden. In the shape of a maze, no less. Its center
housed a gurgling fountain.
"Does it please you, Sarah?" His voice was low,
as though he hated to disturb her.
She turned to find him standing in her doorway,
dressed in a royal blue ensemble that brought to mind a certain masquerade...
She smiled openly. "Yes--it is lovely...but why
did you do this?"
He came to stand at her side, looking out at the
garden himself before replying. "You said that you were going to stay,
therefore you would require chambers of your own, would you not?" He glanced
at her face before turning his attention to a nearby tapestry. "That is--unless
you planned on remaining in mine?" He must have sensed her sudden embarrassment,
for he turned on his heel and walked out without another glance.
Sarah stayed by the window, mortified.
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Sarah stood in the center of her room, hands on her
hips, surveying her surroundings. She shook her head in disbelief. "I simply
cannot understand him..."
The source of her consternation was fragrant. Her
chambers were overflowing with flowers of every kind--some she didn't recognize--and
all were beautiful and vibrant. On the table by her side lay a single,
gleaming white rose. The note beside it said simply, "For Sarah."
A light knocking drew her attention away from the
scene enveloping her. "Come in."
Talius peeped around the edge of her door. "Good
day, my lady."
"Hello, Talius."
He glanced around the room. "Did you take up gardening,
my dear?"
Sarah laughed. "No, Talius--they're from Jareth."
He smiled broadly at her. "I'm not at all surprised.
Jareth has quite a flair for the dramatic. Rather charming trait, don't
you think?"
She lifted the white rose, breathing in its heady
scent. "Quite charming," she murmured.
Talius' "ahem" drew her from her reverie. "Oh, Talius--I'm
sorry. Did you need to speak with me about something?"
"Yes, my lady. It concerns Jareth."
Fear clutched her. "What is it? Is something wrong?"
"No--no, my lady. I came only to tell you that he
is in perfect health, and--aside from a small scar--there is no sign of
there ever having been an accident. I thought you may like to know."
"Thank you, Talius. I appreciate your telling me."
"You're welcome, my lady. I knew that you had been
concerned for his well-being." Talius looked around the room once more,
then turned back to Sarah. "Jareth is a very lucky man." He looked at her
pointedly, then left the room, leaving a puzzled Sarah behind.
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Dinner that evening was a quiet affair, unusually
quiet, in Jareth's opinion. Sarah was normally much more talkative, but
tonight, she seemed distracted, troubled.
"Sarah? Is there a problem?"
"No, Jareth. Not really. It's only something Talius
said today."
"What did he say?"
"Hmmm. He dropped by to tell me how your health
is--oh! and thank you for the lovely flowers, Jareth."
He smiled. "You're very welcome, Sarah."
"Well, he told me, and then--when he looked at the
flowers--he gave me this strange look and said that you are a very lucky
man."
Jareth nodded in comprehension. He sipped his wine
and looked into her eyes. "Talius believes that I am attempting to woo
you." He laughed at the startled expression on her face. "He calls the
gifts 'tokens of affection'--he honestly believes that I am beginning a
courtship."
Her next words were barely a whisper. "Are you?"
He took another sip of wine, turning his stare into
the candle flames. Neither spoke for a very long time. When it seemed that
Jareth was refusing to answer her, Sarah excused herself and headed for
the doorway to the corridor. Just as she was exiting the hall, she heard
his reply carried out to her through the stillness.
"We shall see."
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Sarah yawned, stretching luxuriously in her bed.
She sat up, squinting in the half-light of morning. *What time is it?*
she wondered. Climbing out of bed, she wrapped herself in a long, thick
robe--suddenly aware of the unusual chill in the room. *And why is it so
cold?* As if responding to her unspoken thought, a fire roared to life
in the fireplace as she walked to the window. "It's snowing!" The flakes
swirled in front of her window, the garden below was already blanketed
in white, the fountain rimmed with ice.
Dressing quickly, she grabbed a fur-lined cloak
before bolting for the door. Rushing down the castle steps, she burst through
the door and into the dazzling whiteness. She raced through the snow to
her garden, pausing only a moment at the iron gates marking its entrance
before she pushed them open and ran inside. She wanted to get to the center,
to see her fountain, but with every turn she made, it seemed that the maze
was changing, holding her back. She was trying to be careful of the ice-covered
footpaths, but she was also growing very frustrated. She turned another
corner, and found herself at a dead end.
"Damn him! Why'd he have to make this so hard?"
"Now, Sarah--what's the fun in a Labyrinth if it's
easy to solve?"
She spun around to find Jareth leaning against a
wall behind her. He was dressed entirely in white, his hair sparkling with
tiny crystalline flakes. She glared at him in a feeble attempt to appear
intimidating.
"I'd like to reach the center sometime, Jareth."
"Then go." He motioned with his hand, and when she
turned again, the dead end had become the courtyard entrance. She said
nothing, going to the fountain and leaving him behind. She wandered through
the courtyard silently, marveling at the fragility of the icicles hanging
from archways and the wondrously etched ice in her fountain. The snow had
ceased earlier, but now resumed. She was suddenly possessed with a childish
impulse and began dancing through the courtyard, reveling in the beauty
of it all. Suddenly, spying a drift, she threw herself into it and made
a snow angel. Unfortunately, the snow was so deep she found herself helpless
to get up without destroying her creation. A white-gloved hand appeared
before her.
"May I be of some assistance, Sarah?" She smiled
up at him sheepishly, grasping his hand. He pulled her up and she stumbled,
falling against him. His body radiated such warmth that she felt it even
after she had stepped back from his arms. She was flushed, and thanked
him quickly before hurrying towards the exit. His eyes followed her, his
smile revealing small teeth. She was trying to get away.
He called out to her. "Sarah--does my touch cause
you such discomfort?"
She stopped, glancing over her shoulder to reply.
"No--I...just...um...nothing."
He contemplated her words. "I see. I have no affect
on you then?"
She did not move. "I wouldn't say that--" She paused.
"It's just that, well..."
He sighed. "Such a pity." Turning his back on her,
he began walking towards a newly-formed archway in the nearby stone wall.
Watching him depart, Sarah succumbed to another childish impulse. Running
lightly over the stone courtyard, she scooped up a handful of snow, formed
it into a ball, and expertly launched it at the Goblin King's back. It
struck him square between the shoulder blades. His unnatural stillness
was her only warning. Suddenly realizing what she'd done, Sarah bolted.
It was no use. The doorway she'd passed through only minutes before was
once again a dead end. She was cornered. She heard his footsteps on the
stones, and pressing herself against the wall, she turned to face him.
He strode towards her purposefully, and she feared the worst. Then he stopped.
Realizing he was coming no closer, she relaxed. Too soon.
He crossed the remaining ground between them rapidly.
Standing before her, he looked down at her upturned face. Her eyes were
wide, her breath coming in quiet gasps. *What is she thinking of?* he wondered.
Putting one hand on the wall behind either side of her head, he leaned
in closely. She could feel his warm breath on her face, his lips were so
close to her own...
She honestly believed that her heart was going to
pound through her chest.
They remained frozen there for what seemed like
hours. Slowly, Jareth forced himself away. The look on her face was devastating
to his self-control. Taking a deep breath, he held out his hand.
"Come. You should be indoors. You're freezing."
She nodded slowly and took his hand, returning to
her chambers without a word.
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