Disclaimer: You know, I just realized that I forgot to put the disclaimer on the first part of Flames. However, I think we all know that I don't own anything and I'm not making anything off of this, so don't sue me. I don't even think I could afford to give you pocket lint. Also, the song Shape of my Heart belongs to my favorite people of all time, the Backstreet Boys. If you do feel like contacting them about me using their song, just give them my name, address, phone number, and let Nick know I am single. :o) But anyway… I think that about covers it! Enjoy the story!
A/N: Okay guys… I know it's taken like, forever and a day for me to finally post more of this story and for that I am incredibly sorry. But you'll be happy to know that I'm also almost done with Part 3. I was suffering from a horrible case of writer's block and my thanks go out to Unicorn Lady, Melissa Davis, and Danalas for helping me get out! Thanks guys!!! :o)
Flames-Part 2
Sarah stretched and rolled over in her bed. She opened her eyes and looked out the window in her room. The sun was setting and Sarah wasn't sure how long she had been asleep. She got up and walked over to the balcony and looked out over the labyrinth. She couldn't help but think about how much things had changed since the last time she had been there, and especially how much Jareth seemed to have changed. Sarah turned and walked back over to her bed and noticed the rose and the envelope with her name on it.
"What is this?" Sarah asked out loud. She picked up the envelope and gently opened it. She pulled out the card and read what it said.
Dearest Sarah,
I hope this finds you well rested. It suddenly came to me that you and Toby had yet to eat anything since coming to my castle. It would give me the greatest pleasure if you would agree to eat dinner with me this evening. Don't worry arrangements for Toby have already been made.
I'm sure that you have noticed that there are dresses in your closet. In case you're wondering, yes, they will fit you. Pick any dress you like. One of my goblins will come to get you at 7 o'clock. (There's a clock on the wall above your vanity in case you were wondering.)
I hope to see you soon.
Jareth
Sarah carefully picked up the rose from her pillow. She was still so confused about everything that had happened that day. She knew that there was something going on between her and Jareth, but it scared her. Sarah knew from experience what happened when she got close to people. First, she lost her mother to Hollywood. Then, she lost her father and Karen in the fire. Now, she was on the verge of losing Toby due to lost memories. She would die before she would allow another person to be taken from her. She would put an end to anything that may be happening, but first, she had to check on Toby.
Sarah quietly opened the door to Toby's room and peered around the corner. Toby was sound asleep and Hoggle was sitting next to the bed. He turned at the sound of the door.
"Hi, Sarah. Why ain't ya gettin' ready fer dinner?" Hoggle asked.
"I'm just coming over to check on Toby. How's he doing?"
"Fine. 'Course he's been sleepin' this whole time, but most likely he's the same as before."
"Will you come get me if anything changes?" Sarah asked.
"Sure thing."
Sarah walked back into her room and crossed to the closet. There wasn't enough time left for her to wash up, so she'd just have to do the best she could. She opened the closet door and stared at the numerous dresses, not knowing how she was ever going to pick one. After a few moments of thought, Sarah pulled a dark green gown out of the closet. She laid it on her bed and crossed over to the bathroom.
A few minutes later, Sarah came out of the bathroom, her face washed and hair slightly damp to allow her to work with it easier. She slipped her pajamas off and pulled the dress on over her head. She sat down at the vanity and began brushing her hair. She then piled it up on her head, leaving some curled tendrils hanging down. She pulled open the drawer of her vanity and found a vast assortment of jewelry. She selected a gold chain with an emerald teardrop hanging from it.
Sarah stood up from the vanity and looked in the full-length mirror hanging on her closet door. She couldn't believe the person she was looking at was actually her! The only thing she needed now was a pair of shoes. She looked in the closet and selected a pair of green strappy sandals that matched her dress. She slipped them on and glanced at the finished product in the mirror.
~Finished~ she thought to herself. ~And just in time.~
The clock said it was now 7:00, which meant that the goblin Jareth had sent for her would soon be arriving. Sarah sat at her vanity to wait for the messenger.
__________
Jareth was in the dining room pacing. It was 7:20. Where was Sarah? She should have been here by now! He quickly formed a crystal in his hand and Sarah's image soon appeared. She was in the hallway, looking lost as could be.
"I'm going to kill that goblin when I find him," Jareth muttered to himself. He glanced back in the crystal and, noticing Sarah's face, tried hard not to laugh. He could tell she was getting aggravated over not being able to find the dining room. Perhaps it was time he assisted her…
__________
Sarah had been wandering the hallway for 10 minutes. Surely it couldn't take this long to get to the dining room! She was growing more aggravated by the minute and wasn't watching where she was going. She ran right into the wall. At least, she thought it was a wall until it started talking to her.
"Hello, Sarah. Having trouble?"
Sarah looked up and saw Jareth with his trademark smirk on his face. It certainly didn't help her mood any.
"If you must know, yes, I am having trouble. Seems your little messenger got lost and I wasn't about to stay in my room. I was simply trying to make my way to the dining room. However, your castle is about as confusing as that labyrinth out there."
Sarah was nearly shouting by the time she was done and Jareth was having trouble keeping a straight face.
~She is beautiful when she's angry~ he thought to himself.
"Not to mention the fact that you've probably been watching me this entire time, knowing I was lost, and you didn't do anything. And now you're standing there grinning like the Cheshire cat!"
"Calm down, Sarah. Just follow me," Jareth said as he turned and started walking down the hallway. "And you're right, I was watching. But I thought I'd let you go for awhile more before I stepped in."
"So I'm just here for entertainment, is that it?" Sarah snapped. "Well let's get one thing straight Mister I've-got-an-oversized-ego, I am NOBODY'S entertainment. And if you insist on finding humor at my expense, then I can assure you will regret the day you brought Toby and I here."
Jareth turned around, anger flaring in his eyes.
"I'll have YOU know Miss I-have-to-have-everything-my-way that I am the king of this castle and I will do as I please, when I please. And I would appreciate it if you would remember that." Jareth turned and continued back down the hallway with Sarah close behind him.
"Well, isn't that just ironic. You of all people accusing me of having to have everything my way? I'll bet there isn't a day in your life that you haven't gotten what you wanted. In fact, I would even bet…" Sarah trailed off as she realized they had reached the dining room. Her mouth closed in silence as she took in the scene before her.
The dining room was immaculate. A giant chandelier hung from the ceiling. A wine red tablecloth lay over the table and white rose petals were covering the table, the floor, the chairs, everything. Candles had been placed in the center of the table and a glass of wine was in an ice bucket next to the table. Sarah's face started to turn red as the guilt from her anger flaring up started to hit.
"You… you did this for me?" Sarah asked quietly, not looking up at Jareth.
"Yes, I did. Please, come in and sit down."
Sarah crossed over to the table and Jareth pulled out her chair for her to sit down.
"Thank you," Sarah mumbled as she sat at her place at the table. She felt like a first class idiot now. ~Way to go Williams. Just shove those feet right down your throat.~
"I seem to have caught you by surprise, Sarah," Jareth said as he sat down.
"Well, it's just that you were yelling at me and now I find this and…" Sarah couldn't continue. She really wasn't sure what to say to him.
"And what?" Jareth asked.
"And, well, I guess…"
~Get with it, Sarah! Can't you form one coherent sentence?~
Jareth realized Sarah was having trouble getting her point across, and he sat back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest.
"Come now, Sarah. If I remember correctly, you're much more articulate than that. Obviously you want to say something."
"Well, actually, yes, I do want to say something," Sarah admitted. "But I really don't know how to say it."
But Sarah was saved from saying anything more. The door to the kitchen swung open and in walked a couple of the smarter goblins carrying trays of food. They sat the trays down in front of Sarah and Jareth and went back into the kitchen.
"Well, I'm sure whatever it is can wait. Why don't we eat?" Jareth said.
"That sounds like a marvelous idea," Sarah replied, her edginess from a moment ago fading away as she realized just how hungry she was.
She removed the lid to her tray and was surprised at the aroma that filled her nose. Sarah looked at the food in front of her and was shocked that it actually looked appetizing! She also knew there was no way she could eat all of this! On the tray in front of her was a bowl of clam chowder, lobster, and salad. Jareth uncorked the bottle of champagne that was in the ice bucket next to him and poured some into a glass for Sarah and himself.
"Umm, you're goblins can actually cook?" Sarah asked, still staring at the food in front of her.
"Yes," Jareth replied. "Thankfully, they're not all bumbling idiots."
Hesitantly, Sarah tasted the clam chowder. It was actually good! All of it was good, and the lobster was cooked to perfection. It was even better than some of the fancy seafood restaurants back home!
There wasn't much conversation during dinner, but when they did talk, it was relaxed and carefree. Sarah realized she must have been hungrier than she first thought, because when she glanced at her plate at one point, there was hardly anything left.
"I can't believe I've eaten this much," Sarah said. "If I take one more bite, I think I'll explode."
"Well, when was the last time you had eaten? If I remember correctly, you were coming here to eat lunch in the first place and I can guarantee that it is way past lunch hour. But I hope you're not too full. We still have dessert."
"More food? I don't think I could possibly eat anything more!"
At that moment, the door swung open and in walked the two goblins again. They once again sat the trays down and exited the room.
"Do I smell chocolate?" Sarah asked.
"Most likely," Jareth said as he took the lids off of both trays. On each tray was a plate of chocolate covered strawberries. There were only five on each plate, but it was okay because the strawberries weren't your average size.
"These strawberries are a bit big aren't they?" Sarah asked as she picked one up.
"Not really. Compared to the strawberries above ground, yes they're kind of large. But these are a bit on the small side for strawberries in the Underground."
Sarah was silent as they ate the strawberries. She thought back over the day and wondered how she was ever going to talk to him about what happened earlier. She knew things had happened fast after discovering what was inside that book. But how could she tell him to back off after everything he had done? He saved Toby, brought a doctor, and even made sure he was taken care of so that Sarah could join him for dinner. And then there was dinner itself. The clam chowder, the lobster, and now the chocolate covered strawberries. Sarah's thoughts stopped as a thought suddenly hit her. While she was training to be a nurse, the most tedious part had involved learning the dietary values of practically every food there was. She thought back over what she had eaten this evening. She knew there was something that connected them all, but she couldn't think of what it was.
Jareth noticed that Sarah was deep in thought. She had stopped with a strawberry halfway to her mouth. He wondered what could possibly be bothering Sarah, so he decided to step in and get her mind off of it.
"Sarah," he began, "would you care to dance?"
Sarah looked at him and couldn't help but remember the last dance she had here. She wasn't sure if she wanted to relive the experience of everyone staring at her and, at times, laughing at her. This time, Jareth knew what she was thinking.
"I promise you it won't be like last time. No enchanted peaches and no gawking subjects. Just you and me."
Sarah agreed and suddenly found herself inside the crystal ballroom again. Only this time, there was nobody except for her and Jareth. The music started up and Sarah and Jareth started dancing. The one thing that did remain the same from last time, was Jareth's voice. Softly, he began singing as they danced.
Baby, please try to forgive me
Stay here, don't put out the glow
Hold me now don't bother
If every minute it makes me weaker
You can save me from the man that I've become
Looking back on the things I've done
I was trying to be someone
Played my part
Kept you in the dark
Now let me show you the shape of my heart
Sadness is beautiful
Loneliness is tragic also
Help me I can't win this war
Touch me now don't bother
If every second it makes me weaker
You can save me from the man I've become
Looking back on the things I've done
I was trying to be someone
Played my part
Kept you in the dark
Now let me show you the shape of my heart
I'm here with my confession
Got nothing to hide no more
I don't know where to start
But to show you the shape of my heart
Let me show you the shape of my heart
Sarah knew that she hadn't quite understood what was going on the first time she had been in this ballroom. But this time, there was no mistaking what was happening. Was it possible? Did Jareth really love her? Sarah stopped dancing and looked up at Jareth. The look in his eyes was hesitant, as if he was waiting for her to say something.
"I… I don't know what to say," Sarah said softly.
"Don't say anything then," Jareth said. He leaned his head towards and for the second time that day, kissed Sarah.
~I'm kissing him AGAIN. I thought I told myself I wasn't going to do this again?~ Sarah thought to herself. ~What is wrong with me?~ Suddenly, it hit her. The connection between everything at dinner. They were all… Sarah shoved away from Jareth.
"I can't believe I let myself fall for this. You had this planned from the beginning! Admit it!" Sarah yelled.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Jareth said as he transported them back to the dining room, his face clearly showing his surprise at Sarah's outburst.
"Dinner, the dance, the song, everything! You knew I would fall for it!"
"There was nothing to fall for."
"And I'm supposed to believe you after this?" Sarah yelled again.
"After what?" Jareth asked, not understanding at all what Sarah was trying to convey.
"It was all a ploy! You're just like the rest of the guys I know. You only have one thought running through your mind. I can't believe it took me so long to figure it out!"
"Figure what out?" Jareth was beginning to lose patience with Sarah. What was wrong with her?
"Dinner! It was all… all…"
"All what?!" he yelled. "I do wish you would just get on with it instead of ranting like a madwoman!"
"I can't believe you would pull this. I thought you had changed. I thought maybe things could be different. But no, you're just like them. The only thing you care about is getting me into your bed."
Sarah turned and ran from the room. Too stunned to follow her, Jareth sank down into his chair.
"What is she talking about?" he said to himself. Then realization dawned on him. It wasn't entirely his fault this had happened. True, having Sarah in his bed wouldn't be a bad thing in the least, but that was certainly not his goal. At least not yet. He had only told his goblin chefs that Sarah would be joining him for dinner and that it was to be a romantic dinner. Leave to his goblins to make a dinner composed entirely of aphrodisiacs. Next time, he would have to be a bit more specific concerning what he wanted. Now, he would have to go find Sarah.
__________
Sarah ran into her room and slammed the door shut. She collapsed on her bed and let the emotions from the past few days engulf her. She buried her face in her pillow as uncontrollable sobs racked her body. Sarah didn't notice when the door opened and she also didn't notice the person approaching her bed.
"Sarah?" a small voice asked. "What's wrong?"
Sarah lifted her head and wiped her eyes before turning to look at the person in her room.
"Toby? What are doing up?"
"I was tired of laying around and the funny looking guy in my room fell asleep," Toby said. "Then I heard your door slam, and even though I don't remember you, you said you were my sister, so I thought I'd come and see if you were okay."
Sarah pulled Toby up onto her bed and wrapped her arms around him.
"Thank you, Toby," Sarah said, wiping the last few tears from her eyes. "That means a lot to me."
"Well, I also had a question to ask you," Toby said as he pulled away from Sarah and looked up into her face.
"What is it?"
"We're not from here, are we?"
"No, Toby, we're not. This is a place called the Underground. We're from Aboveground and live in a place called New York," Sarah explained. "Why?"
"I was just wondering. Even thought I don't remember anything, I just had a feeling that this wasn't home," Toby said, pausing before he asked another question. "Do… do you think my memory would come back sooner if I was at home?"
Sarah seemed startled at this question. She hadn't even considered that thought before. Although it would make more sense. It probably would be easier for Toby to remember if he was at home, surrounded by familiar things.
"I guess I hadn't really thought of that," Sarah answered. "But I guess it probably would help. The only thing here that would be familiar to you is me. I'll tell you what, first thing tomorrow morning, I'll talk to Jareth and tell him that we need to go home."
Neither of them noticed that Jareth was standing in the doorway and had heard the entire conversation. So when he spoke to them, they both jumped.
"It doesn't need to wait until morning," he said as he walked into the room. "I overheard what the two of you were saying. If you both really wish to go home, I will send you back."
"Would you?" Sarah asked. "I would have expected you to do everything in your power to keep us from going back."
"Yes, well, as I told you once before, I'm exhausted from living up to your expectations of me."
"Can we go tonight? I think it would be best for both Toby and myself if we were to leave as soon as possible," Sarah said, trying to ignore the statement Jareth had just made.
"If it is what you wish, then yes, I will send you home right now," Jareth said as he formed a crystal in his hand. "Just grab your brother's hand and then take the crystal. The moment your hand closes over it, you will be home."
Sarah grabbed Toby's hand and hesitantly reached for the crystal. The hesitation was not lost on Jareth. He saw the hesitation and wondered if there still might be hope. But a moment later, Sarah's hand closed around the crystal and her and Toby were gone.