Hey everyone, to all that have left me their reviews I thank you so much. Here is another chapter to this ongoing story. Please send me your reviews and let me know if you like this chapter.
To What May Come
Chapter 11
The gardens were a blur to her as her eyes were filled with tears. She could care less where she was going, all she wanted to do was to get away. Sarah wanted to get away from all of these feelings that had been brought to the surface. She could not believe that she actually told them and wished that she could take that moment back. Now they knew her pain and in this place knowledge was power and she gave them the power to use her words against her. They were her friends now, but…Oh God, she felt so vulnerable right now! It reminded her of that feeling you get when you pick at a scab and reopen a wound that should have healed by now, making it sting worse than when you first received the painful wound.
Her legs felt heavy, her pace slowing as she turned to look back and make sure that no one was following her. Turning back she cried out as she plowed into something, quickly finding that that something was a someone.
Jareth reached out as she ran into him, catching her before she could fall back from the sudden impact, "Sarah."
Oh God, it was him, the one person that could harm her the most. Sarah fought against his grasp trying to free herself from his hold. "Leave me alone!" she cried out in desperation to be anywhere but with him. She did not feel strong enough to fight against his pursual of her.
He would not oblige, "Stop this, Sarah! You're behaving like a child!"
"Go to hell! You bastard, I don't want to feel this way about you!" Sarah froze, her teary eyes widened at her own words, she could not believe that she just said that.
Jareth grinned at her words bringing her closer to him, his lips brushing against her ear, "And how do I make you feel?"
Sarah's heart lurched at the way he spoke those words so intensely, unable to stop herself from trembling. She fought for some way to escape his hold, someway to take back her words. How did she allow that to slip? She could not, would not respond to his question.
Still holding her to him, he gently swept her silky dark hair away from her face, his hand cupping her chin bringing her face to look up towards his. Pale face stained with tears and eyes slightly red from her crying made his heart ache. Still her eyes sparkled like stars in the night, so deep and rich that he could spend days just looking within their depths. "You are everything to me Sarah. Without you this world, my kingdom is an empty place. You hold so much pain within you and I want nothing more than to chase that pain away."
God, what was he doing to her? Sarah wanted so much to believe his words, to live the dream to love. He was so close, his touch making her tremble all the more. Coherent thought left her as his lips touched hers, so gentle yet filled with a passion that she had never known the likes of before. Heart fluttering, she melted within his deep embrace the only thing keeping her from crumbling was his arm set securely around her waist, holding her to him.
He never wanted this moment to end as he could feel her finally giving in to the feelings that he knew she held for him. His heart fluttered at the way it felt to have her held against him, the taste of her sweet lips making him feel as if he were alive for the first time in his long life. Jareth knew now that he could not, would not let her go. He would wither and die if ever he did. They belonged together, she was his other half that he had been without for so long.
Eyes closed, she felt him pull away, the feel of his lips still imprinted on her own lips. Her whole body tingled, soared, and was on fire all at once. In a way it was like some kind of drug that had taken its hold on her but she knew that it was no drug-induced feeling. This was so real, nothing like anything she had ever imagined love to be. Oh no! It was too late, she was in love with him and he now had the power to crush her heart, to hurt her like so many others had done in her past.
He knew what she was thinking by the look in her eyes. Fear of having her heart crushed, fear of going through what she had gone through so many times within her life. He knew that her real mother was separated from her father but never knew why. He never knew until not long ago when she had confided the reason to Lady Elizabeth and Fayla. Her mother was a fool.
Sarah looked away from his intense mismatched eyes, her voice a broken whisper, "I…I want to be able to…" God, what was she to say?
He pulled her to him, feeling her relax in his arms as her head rested against his chest, "Shh, no words! I'm here for you, Sarah, no one will ever hurt you again."
Emotions hit her like a tidal wave, so many years of pent up pain, so many years of believing that to feel the way she was feeling towards him was only something attained in books or movies. Sarah tried to hold back her renewed tears, but it was no use. She finally broke completely down and sobbed against his chest, her arms wrapping about him, as she needed him to hold her now more than ever. So long, it had been so long since anyone held her with love and understanding.
Jareth tightened his hold of her as if to pull her more to him. Quietly he used his magic, welding them back to her bedchambers and he continued to hold her while she continued to cry. They sat on her bed as he stroked her long dark tresses, allowing her the much needed letting out of her pain. Jareth swore to himself that he would kill anyone that would ever hurt her again.
Sarah felt exhausted from the amount of tears that she had shed and said nothing as he made her lay down. As he was about to leave her side she gripped his hand, forcing him to look to her with question. "Don't go," she silently pleaded.
Jareth immediately sat back down on the bed's edge watching her as her eyes searched his. She looked so vulnerable then, so fragile.
"Hold me?" she pleaded not wanting to be alone.
He smiled faintly as she moved over on the bed allowing him room to lay beside her. Jareth laid beside her, wrapping his arms about her as he held her to him. The light in the room dimmed as the two drifted off into dreams.
The light that filtered into the room warmed her sleeping form as Sarah started to wake from her sleep. For the first time in her life she actually felt rested. Eyes still closed she smiled as the memory of last night came to mind. It felt so good to have someone hold her like Jareth did all through the night. Sarah was a little scared at what this would mean, was she ready for this? Could she open up to him and allow him entrance to her heart? Wasn't that what happened last night?
Slowly opening her eyes, she blinked against the warm sunlight that shined in her eyes. As she opened her eyes more fully, her heart sank as she realized that Jareth was not there with her. Clenching her eyes shut she wrapped her arms around herself hugging herself to chase away the fear that last night was only that of a dream.
Unwrapping her arms around herself, she rolled onto her back and opened her eyes. As she did this she heard the faint sound of something sliding to her side. There beside her was a note:
My sweat Sarah, I cherish the moment we shared last night and am counting the mere minutes until I see you again. Forgive me for not saying goodbye this morning but I could not bring myself to awaken you. You looked so peaceful and breathtaking that I thought it a crime to do so. I hope you enjoy my present and will see you again soon.
Love,
Jareth
Present, what did he mean by present? Glancing from the note to the side of the bed she noticed a large bouquet of red, yellow, and white roses in a large crystal vase. Sitting up from the bed she walked over to the roses and breathed deeply the fragrance. Hearing the door to the room being opened Sarah looked up towards the door but her eyes were focused on the door for only a moment.
Within the room on every table even along the walls on the floor were dozens upon dozens of crystal vases holding bouquet of roses. Hand covering her mouth in wonder she could not stop herself from laughing out at the scene before her. She felt giddy and happy as if she were floating on a cloud.
Fayla had known that Sarah had returned to her bedchambers last night as the Goblin King had sent her a crystal informing her that he had made sure Sarah was safely back within her room. Still concerned for her charge from the events of that night she was not prepared for the sight that met her gaze when she entered Sarah's chambers.
The heavy scent of roses met her senses followed by the sight of the room filled with roses of yellow, white, and red. Sarah was standing at the foot of her bed a huge grin on her face as she turned gazing at the roses that surrounded her. Fayla saw something different within her charges face, it was something that had been missing from the girl's eyes and face ever since she had arrived. Blissful delight, happiness, pure joy and love sparkled from Sarah's eyes.
Fayla felt her own heart soar at the sight before her, she was happy to find the change in Sarah's mood. Ah, the memories this brought when Gaylon had first tried to court her. Those were one of the happiest days of her life. She missed his wit and the way that he had always brought warmth and happiness to her soul.
Seeing Fayla coming near, Sarah smiled to her friend, a part of her sorry that she had run away like she did last night, but a part of her knowing that if she did not run then she would not of had that moment with Jareth. A moment that she would never trade for all the world. In a way, last night had healed her of an old and painful wound.
Fayla smiled at her charge, "I see that last night ended well."
Sighing Sarah sat on the edge of the bed looking at the roses within her room, a smile still edged on her face, "Yes it did." Turning to face Fayla she continued, "I'm sorry for running off like I did last night. I hope that…"
Sitting down beside Sarah on the bed Fayla stopped her words, "There is nothing to apologize for. I asked a question that I had no right to ask. I'm honored that you trusted both myself and Elizabeth with sharing your pain and I know that that in itself was not an easy task."
Biting her bottom lip Sarah fumbled with her hands, as she looked away, "Oh Fayla, I…I have no idea how to go about this. I know that I love Jareth but…I'm afraid to love him."
Laying her hand on Sarah's hand Fayla looked to her with understanding, "As was I when I first met my late husband, Gaylon. I've known Jareth since before he became King, practically raised him myself and I know him more than anyone. He loves you Sarah, and though I have not known you for long, I can see that you love him as well."
"Knowing that still does not make me any less afraid."