Disclaimers: You know the drill. If not, look at the other disclaimers.
Chapter 6: Right thoughts, misleading heart
Sarah was amazed at the splendor. She looked around and her eyes fell upon the intimate setting at the center of the room. Feeling a sudden gust of chill air, she turned towards the window, but nothing was to be seen.
"Are you expecting someone in particular?"
Sarah whipped around to come face to face with Jareth, only to suck in her breath when she realized that he was wearing the same midnight blue outfit from their ballroom dance.
Jareth knew why she wasn't saying anything, but he couldn't help taunting her. She was such an easy target. "Well, my dear, say something. I can't have you standing there the whole time that we are in each other's presence."
"I-, I… I really need to sit down."
"Well, why didn't you say so? Here, let me." Grabbing ahold of her arm, Jareth guided her to her seat, and took his own near her.
"Jareth, what do you think you're doing? I thought you hated me, but you acted so nice. Now, you're acting like the arrogant egotistical man I always believed you to be."
"Well Sarah, I'll tell you a story. When you left, I felt betrayed and bitter. However, I knew not what I could do. Soon, however, I realized that I loved you." The shock that wrote itself across her face alerted him to his success. 'Well Sarah, while it may be true that I love you, I do refuse to share you until you are my queen.'
"I… don't know what to say."
"How about allowing me to start dinner?" Clapping his hands, Sarah watched as goblins poured out with food and wine.
~Later that night….~
"Jareth, thank you for the dinner and dance. I appreciated it."
"Your welcome, my dear."
"May I ask you something is regards to my friends?" Jareth's eyes narrowed, but he nodded his consent. "I know you don't particularly like Hoggle, Ludo, or Sir Didymus, but I wish to know if I could see them again tomorrow?"
"Ah, well, dislike is an understatement but I will allow you to see your friends.tomorrow. How does the morning sound?"
"Great, thank you." 'Why am I being so nice to him? I'm supposed to hate him.'
'I wonder how she's taking it? She seems to be okay with my generosity, but I can't be sure.' Shaking his head, he sighed. Taking Sarah's hand, he led her back to her room and left her with a good night kiss. He knew he had shocked her with his sudden romance and she had quickly slipped into her room after the "good night." "Ah, Sarah, my dear Sarah, you have no idea do you?" Chuckling, he magicked himself into his pajamas and slipped in between the wine-colored down comforter and the black silk sheets.

Sarah leaned against the headboard of the four poster bed, pondering what had just occurred outside her door. She had expected more cruelty and superiority from him, but Jareth seemed to have truly good intentions at heart, such as loving/romancing her. 'But this is Jareth we're talking about! And he would most definitely want revenge.' Slipping under her mahogany-colored comforter and green satin sheets, she fell asleep with a last thought: 'I can't wait to see Hoggle tomorrow.'

The morning sun peeked through the windows, causing Sarah to roll over and pull the covers over her eyes. But just as soon as she did so, she threw them back, sitting upright. An expression of pure joy had chased away the tired feeling she had had when the sun had interrupted her dreams. "I get to see Hoggle today!" Jumping out of bed, she quickly through on the white gown that had been laid out for her, knowing that Jareth had probably laid it out sometime last night. She knew she should be bothered by the fact, but she wasn't. After about ten minutes of whirlwind activity, she settled down enough to sit on her bed and enjoy the view. She was startled out of her thoughts by a knock. Looking to the door, she saw Jareth come in.
"I have brought your friends to see you as you wished."
Sarah looked behind him and saw Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus all there. Rushing to them, she hugged them while thanking Jareth
"It was my pleasure. I shall leave you four to reacquaint." Closing the door behind him, he smiled. The plan was going perfectly. He had spoken to the three when he had brought them here. "You may not agree with what I'm doing, but what I say goes, and how I choose to act around her is my decision. Understood?" And they had nodded. Walking back to his chambers, he smiled all the while. "Soon Sarah, you shall be mine and mine alone. A fine Queen you shall make, obedient to all whims and fancies of mine own concoction."

Sarah was in utter bliss. She couldn't believe that he friends were actually here with her! "Oh Hoggle, I missed you so much. And Ludo, and Sir Didymus! You friendship means so much, and when I came back, I could no longer reach you. It was as if you weren't there anymore."
"Well, fair maiden, we missed you deeply as well, but our lives changed after you left. Jareth was quite hurt by your rejection."
"Really? I never knew? Maybe that's why he's being so nice to me now." She closed her eyes, thinking about it, and therefore didn't see the look of worry that passed across their faces.
"Sawah missed. Life empty."
Hoggle nodded at Ludo's simple response. "He's right, Sarah. We did miss you, but we lost hope you still cared when you didn't call us anymore."
"Oh Hoggle, Didymus, Ludo… I'm sorry. I never meant to make you feel unwelcome. You'll always be here," Sarah held a hand over her heart, "forever."

They talked for several more minutes before the three took their leave. As they were walking through the castle, Jareth appeared before them. "Well, she's aware of nothing?
"Yes, your Majesty, she knows not what you plan." Didymus ground his teeth to keep from yapping at his king. "If anything, she believes you're more sincere now."
"Good. You may leave. I shall alert you if my Queen needs you." Jareth turned and vanished as quickly as he had come, leaving the three more worried than ever.

Sarah thought over her meeting with her friends. They had seemed worried, but of what she knew not. They probably thought she didn't notice, but alas, they ended up wrong. Sarah's only fear was why Jareth was being so kind. But if what Didymus said was true…. Sarah sighed and pushed the thought from her mind. Leaning back against the headboard of the bed, she sighed and closed her eyes.

"Well, well, Sarah. It seems you are more naïve that I had previously thought." He laughed heartily as he gazed into the crystal at a blissful Sarah staring out at the beauty of the Labyrinth.