Hehe, I've been in the typing mood so I decided to type up the next chapter on the same day as chapter two. Hope I got you on the edge of your seats. Cha!
*~SFS~*
Sailor Faerie Star
Chapter Three
-------------
Stricken
--------
Jareth grabbed the wolf by the neck and sent it hurtling into a near-by tree. There was a horrific crunch as the wolf hit and fell limp, no longer moving. He stared in horror at the still body of Sarah, her dress torn and stained with blood, with a large gash on her chest, just inches from her throat.
"Oh, Sarah," he gasped through shaken breaths. He quickly scooped her limp body into his arms, holding her close. He could hear Finnhyvar far off and with a quick thought, sent her to the stable, putting her to sleep so she would not be frightened into madness by the method of transportation. With a stricken face he looked at Sarah and brought both of them quickly to her room in a flash. He laid her on her bed and quickly brought his hand over the gash, healing it and all other injuries, till the bleeding stopped. She was still pale, cold sweat on her face. Something deeper was still wrong. She began tossing, crying out in fear and pain. Jareth was stricken, not knowing what to do.
"Jareth!" she cried out, tears springing from her eyes.
"I'm here, Sarah," Jareth whispered, stroking her wet hair, wondering how she had got soaking wet. With a wave of his hand, her dress disappeared and was replaced by a warm nightgown and the bed covers brought over her. Still she was freezing to the touch yet she was sweating profusely. Jareth caused the fireplace to roar to life, bringing more heat to the room.
Sarah continued to toss, calling for Jareth and crying. Jareth felt at a loss, not knowing what more he could do. Here was the one that meant so much to him, suffering, and there wasn't a damned thing he could do about it.
Suddenly, Sarah hoarsely spoke another name, "Felara. Help me."
Jareth suddenly knew it must be the Fae woman. He called out, "Felara! Fae woman, appear!"
There was a flash and the glowing lady appeared. She gasped when she saw Sarah's condition and rushed to her side, "What happened?!"
"She was attacked. A wolf."
Felara grew troubled, "Did you not watch her?"
"I couldn't find her!" Jareth spat angrily, "My crystal was darkened. I did get a quick image of her but that was it! I couldn't get to her until she called!"
Felara grew even more troubled, "Dar," she breath quietly to herself, "Quickly, we have to break the fever. Cold water!"
"But she's freezing!"
"Because she's burning up!"
Jareth was confused. Felara sighed, "I can see I'll have to do this myself. Just try to keep out of the way."
Usually Jareth would have grown angered by such commands but it was Sarah's life at stake. He stepped back as Felara made gestures and a bowl of cold water and cloths appeared. She ripped Sarah's gown slightly in the front and applied a cold cloth to where the gash had been. Sarah jerked, crying out. Felara then applied a cold cloth to Sarah's forehead and made a soothing sound, trying to calm Sarah down.
Jareth stared helplessly and then looked at his hands. He gasped when he saw the blood of Sarah still on his hands. He rushed to a basin in the adjoining bathroom, washing his hands quickly and furtively. So much blood on his clothes, his hands and it wouldn't come off. He slammed the door shut, crying out. How could this happen?!
He fell to the floor, leaning against the door. With a quick gesture his clothes changed and his hands were clean. Still the image of that blood of Sarah raged in his mind. Her blood on his hands. It was his fault. Why hadn't he been more watchful? This wouldn't have happened if he hadn't had so much confusion in his heart. Why? Why?! He held his head in his hands, agonizing over this until he suddenly fell asleep.
Felara knew what was happening in that room and she had muttered a chant which caused Jareth to sleep. Never had she done so to royalty or to someone of more power but it seemed neccesary. She made a gesture and Jareth appeared, sitting in one of the armchairs by the fire, asleep. Seeing that he was asleep, she sighed with relief and again turned her attention to Sarah who was now quieter, still moaning a little, her head tossing some.
Felara continued to dab the cold cloth on her forehead, changing the one on her chest every so often. Soon, Sarah fell into a less troubled sleep. Felara sighed and leaning back in her chair that she had caused to appear. Sarah was safe, for now.
She went to the fireplace and caused a pot to appear, hanging over the fire. She began mixing herbs and water together and let it simmer as she came back to Sarah's side. Her eyes widened a bit as she saw something appear where the gash had been and then vanish. She only caught a glance of what appeared to be a glowing outline of fae wings before it disappeared. She heard a quiet dark laughter before it to disappeared. Felara breath, "She has been struck. Oh, child." Felara looked with pity on Sarah.
All that was heard in reply was Sarah's small breathing and a soft word, "Jareth..."
* * *
Jareth stirred. He didn't remember falling asleep or even how it could have been possible, considering what he had been feeling. His eyes opened slowly and he saw the fireplace, a cheery fire crackling. He turned and saw Felara sitting in the other armchair looking wearily into the fire.
"Forgive me," she muttered.
Jareth grew panicked, fearing something worse had happened to Sarah but also confused, "For what?"
"For putting you to sleep. I know it is not permitted, especially in one's moment of weakness, but you did seem to need it."
Jareth sighed, nodding, "I suppose I did. Thank you."
She was startled by this but smiled and nodded.
Then Jareth rose and looked at Sarah, sleeping in her bed and then back to Felara. She smiled and nodded, "She broke her fever. She will be fine."
Jareth was jubilant and he quickly went to Sarah's side, not noticing Felara's eyes growing sad. Jareth gently took Sarah's hand, his face filled with concern and care. Gone were the worries of what she would think, he did care for her. He only wanted to be near her. He glanced up as Felara sat on the other side holding a bowl filled with a strange looking substance. "Never fear. It will help her recover."
He nodded as she applied some of the paste on Sarah's chest. He frowned. A scar remained. That shouldn't be, he had healed her completely. He looked to Felara who's eyes he first noticed were sad. "Felara. You know something, don't you?"
She nodded. Jareth waited for an answer but Felara shook her head, "It would do no good to tell you. You would still need to remember what was important on your own."
"Felara," Jareth's voice grew stern, "What is it?"
She put down her bowl and looked him square in the eye. Jareth was suddenly hit with the image of someone laughing. And then another of angry shouts and horses neighing. He gulped in air as if he had been severely slapped and saw Felara looking at Sarah again, "Forgive me, your majesty. I forgot I should not look at you so. It is forbidden."
Jareth was breathing hard, "What did you do?"
"You saw what I have seen, at least parts of it. When a Fae looks directly into the heart of another, they can bring memories and feelings flooding back. I was not to do that. You need to remember on your own."
Jareth was growing more confused and frustrated, "What has this to do with what has happened to Sarah? Tell me what you know."
Felara sighed, "She has been 'Fae Struck'."
He knew what that meant and it angered him, "Who would dare do what has always been forbidden, and in my kingdom at that?"
She looked carefully at him, her glow growing dim as she was fading, "My time is short and I need to leave soon. All I can say is that this is the work of that evil I warned you of."
"But that wolf is dead. It couldn't have survived that hit."
She shook her head, "No, that was but his shadow. He hasn't given up." She was fading quickly, Be watchful, majesty," she lapsed back into her formal speech, "Thine answers lie deep in thine own memory and heart." Then she was gone.
Jareth drew a frustrated breath. Why must that woman be so cryptic? Well, he would not let Sarah out of his site ever again. Nothing hurt her if he could help it.
He was taken back by this thought and then with a chagrin he laughed. That settled his troubles from before. No matter what, whether Sarah felt the same or not, he would love her. Strange, he was not the same man he had grown to be when Sarah first dropped into his world. Gone was the arrogance and selfishness that had ruled his life for so long. A new chapter opened in his life and he was gazing at the cause. He still was unsure if he should tell her directly for fear she would reject him. Her rejection would be like a knife through his heart. Instead, he would love her in silence.
He smiled as he rose, kissing her hand gently. She sighed in her sleep as he stepped away. A quick gesture and a rose appeared which he laid on the pillow beside her.
"Sweet dreams, my beloved Sarah." and he was gone.
*~SFS~*
Sailor Faerie Star
Chapter Three
-------------
Stricken
--------
Jareth grabbed the wolf by the neck and sent it hurtling into a near-by tree. There was a horrific crunch as the wolf hit and fell limp, no longer moving. He stared in horror at the still body of Sarah, her dress torn and stained with blood, with a large gash on her chest, just inches from her throat.
"Oh, Sarah," he gasped through shaken breaths. He quickly scooped her limp body into his arms, holding her close. He could hear Finnhyvar far off and with a quick thought, sent her to the stable, putting her to sleep so she would not be frightened into madness by the method of transportation. With a stricken face he looked at Sarah and brought both of them quickly to her room in a flash. He laid her on her bed and quickly brought his hand over the gash, healing it and all other injuries, till the bleeding stopped. She was still pale, cold sweat on her face. Something deeper was still wrong. She began tossing, crying out in fear and pain. Jareth was stricken, not knowing what to do.
"Jareth!" she cried out, tears springing from her eyes.
"I'm here, Sarah," Jareth whispered, stroking her wet hair, wondering how she had got soaking wet. With a wave of his hand, her dress disappeared and was replaced by a warm nightgown and the bed covers brought over her. Still she was freezing to the touch yet she was sweating profusely. Jareth caused the fireplace to roar to life, bringing more heat to the room.
Sarah continued to toss, calling for Jareth and crying. Jareth felt at a loss, not knowing what more he could do. Here was the one that meant so much to him, suffering, and there wasn't a damned thing he could do about it.
Suddenly, Sarah hoarsely spoke another name, "Felara. Help me."
Jareth suddenly knew it must be the Fae woman. He called out, "Felara! Fae woman, appear!"
There was a flash and the glowing lady appeared. She gasped when she saw Sarah's condition and rushed to her side, "What happened?!"
"She was attacked. A wolf."
Felara grew troubled, "Did you not watch her?"
"I couldn't find her!" Jareth spat angrily, "My crystal was darkened. I did get a quick image of her but that was it! I couldn't get to her until she called!"
Felara grew even more troubled, "Dar," she breath quietly to herself, "Quickly, we have to break the fever. Cold water!"
"But she's freezing!"
"Because she's burning up!"
Jareth was confused. Felara sighed, "I can see I'll have to do this myself. Just try to keep out of the way."
Usually Jareth would have grown angered by such commands but it was Sarah's life at stake. He stepped back as Felara made gestures and a bowl of cold water and cloths appeared. She ripped Sarah's gown slightly in the front and applied a cold cloth to where the gash had been. Sarah jerked, crying out. Felara then applied a cold cloth to Sarah's forehead and made a soothing sound, trying to calm Sarah down.
Jareth stared helplessly and then looked at his hands. He gasped when he saw the blood of Sarah still on his hands. He rushed to a basin in the adjoining bathroom, washing his hands quickly and furtively. So much blood on his clothes, his hands and it wouldn't come off. He slammed the door shut, crying out. How could this happen?!
He fell to the floor, leaning against the door. With a quick gesture his clothes changed and his hands were clean. Still the image of that blood of Sarah raged in his mind. Her blood on his hands. It was his fault. Why hadn't he been more watchful? This wouldn't have happened if he hadn't had so much confusion in his heart. Why? Why?! He held his head in his hands, agonizing over this until he suddenly fell asleep.
Felara knew what was happening in that room and she had muttered a chant which caused Jareth to sleep. Never had she done so to royalty or to someone of more power but it seemed neccesary. She made a gesture and Jareth appeared, sitting in one of the armchairs by the fire, asleep. Seeing that he was asleep, she sighed with relief and again turned her attention to Sarah who was now quieter, still moaning a little, her head tossing some.
Felara continued to dab the cold cloth on her forehead, changing the one on her chest every so often. Soon, Sarah fell into a less troubled sleep. Felara sighed and leaning back in her chair that she had caused to appear. Sarah was safe, for now.
She went to the fireplace and caused a pot to appear, hanging over the fire. She began mixing herbs and water together and let it simmer as she came back to Sarah's side. Her eyes widened a bit as she saw something appear where the gash had been and then vanish. She only caught a glance of what appeared to be a glowing outline of fae wings before it disappeared. She heard a quiet dark laughter before it to disappeared. Felara breath, "She has been struck. Oh, child." Felara looked with pity on Sarah.
All that was heard in reply was Sarah's small breathing and a soft word, "Jareth..."
* * *
Jareth stirred. He didn't remember falling asleep or even how it could have been possible, considering what he had been feeling. His eyes opened slowly and he saw the fireplace, a cheery fire crackling. He turned and saw Felara sitting in the other armchair looking wearily into the fire.
"Forgive me," she muttered.
Jareth grew panicked, fearing something worse had happened to Sarah but also confused, "For what?"
"For putting you to sleep. I know it is not permitted, especially in one's moment of weakness, but you did seem to need it."
Jareth sighed, nodding, "I suppose I did. Thank you."
She was startled by this but smiled and nodded.
Then Jareth rose and looked at Sarah, sleeping in her bed and then back to Felara. She smiled and nodded, "She broke her fever. She will be fine."
Jareth was jubilant and he quickly went to Sarah's side, not noticing Felara's eyes growing sad. Jareth gently took Sarah's hand, his face filled with concern and care. Gone were the worries of what she would think, he did care for her. He only wanted to be near her. He glanced up as Felara sat on the other side holding a bowl filled with a strange looking substance. "Never fear. It will help her recover."
He nodded as she applied some of the paste on Sarah's chest. He frowned. A scar remained. That shouldn't be, he had healed her completely. He looked to Felara who's eyes he first noticed were sad. "Felara. You know something, don't you?"
She nodded. Jareth waited for an answer but Felara shook her head, "It would do no good to tell you. You would still need to remember what was important on your own."
"Felara," Jareth's voice grew stern, "What is it?"
She put down her bowl and looked him square in the eye. Jareth was suddenly hit with the image of someone laughing. And then another of angry shouts and horses neighing. He gulped in air as if he had been severely slapped and saw Felara looking at Sarah again, "Forgive me, your majesty. I forgot I should not look at you so. It is forbidden."
Jareth was breathing hard, "What did you do?"
"You saw what I have seen, at least parts of it. When a Fae looks directly into the heart of another, they can bring memories and feelings flooding back. I was not to do that. You need to remember on your own."
Jareth was growing more confused and frustrated, "What has this to do with what has happened to Sarah? Tell me what you know."
Felara sighed, "She has been 'Fae Struck'."
He knew what that meant and it angered him, "Who would dare do what has always been forbidden, and in my kingdom at that?"
She looked carefully at him, her glow growing dim as she was fading, "My time is short and I need to leave soon. All I can say is that this is the work of that evil I warned you of."
"But that wolf is dead. It couldn't have survived that hit."
She shook her head, "No, that was but his shadow. He hasn't given up." She was fading quickly, Be watchful, majesty," she lapsed back into her formal speech, "Thine answers lie deep in thine own memory and heart." Then she was gone.
Jareth drew a frustrated breath. Why must that woman be so cryptic? Well, he would not let Sarah out of his site ever again. Nothing hurt her if he could help it.
He was taken back by this thought and then with a chagrin he laughed. That settled his troubles from before. No matter what, whether Sarah felt the same or not, he would love her. Strange, he was not the same man he had grown to be when Sarah first dropped into his world. Gone was the arrogance and selfishness that had ruled his life for so long. A new chapter opened in his life and he was gazing at the cause. He still was unsure if he should tell her directly for fear she would reject him. Her rejection would be like a knife through his heart. Instead, he would love her in silence.
He smiled as he rose, kissing her hand gently. She sighed in her sleep as he stepped away. A quick gesture and a rose appeared which he laid on the pillow beside her.
"Sweet dreams, my beloved Sarah." and he was gone.
