Hello all and thank you so much for your reviews. I know some are wondering when I'm going to continue with Things Change. Don't worry I do plan on finishing it but I've put it on the back burner for a little while. I've decided to take it one story at a time. Well, I'll see how long that lastJ Anyway, here is another chapter to my ongoing story To What May Come. Please send me your reviews and let me know how much you like.
To What May Come
Chapter 12
The day was pleasant, as most days within the Underground, but today was even more so. There was something within the air, or should we say within the Goblin King. Mismatched eyes sparkled with delight as he gazed out over his kingdom from the large window of the throne room. Though his eyes were focused on his kingdom, his mind was focused on a certain young woman who had captured his heart and warmed his soul.
Finally after what, to him, seamed like too long, she had allowed herself to acknowledge her feelings for him. It took all of his willpower to have pulled away from her this morning. To part company with the only being he longed to be with, but alas, he had guests that would soon be arriving and he needed to be there to great them. Well, those of most importance.
A surge of power brought him out of his musings as he faced a few of his awaited royal guests. Standing in the center of the throne room stood his majesty King Erwin of Magewood and his wife Queen Alia. Behind them stood two tall fairies, their wings of light brightening the throne room with their glow.
With long dark brown hair pulled back into a low ponytail and dressed in rich fabrics of deep dark purple with black and gold trimming, King Erwin smiled to the Goblin King. "King Jareth tis an honor to be within your kingdom for the festival."
Jareth bowed his head slightly towards King Erwin, "As I am honored that you and your lovely Queen could grace me and my kingdom with your presence."
Queen Alia, dressed in an elegant dress of satin with colors matching her husbands dress attire and her hair a long fiery red braided slightly back, smiled. "We were glad when we had received news that the restoral of your kingdom had been completed and are looking forward to attending the festival."
"Thank you your majesty, I am pleased with the restoration and am sure that you will be as well. If you would please follow Agtha," a goblin woman appeared beside Jareth as he called her name and bowed to the King and Queen, "she will show you to your rooms where you can get settled. I look forward to seeing you again later this evening at the ball."
As King Erwin and Queen Alia followed the goblin out of the throne room Jareth watched as the two fairies glided out behind the King and Queen. Relief flooded his expression, as he knew that they were gone. He hated the formalities of the court, which is why he was only going to do this festival once.
The only thing he was interested in doing was occupying his time with Sarah and getting her to come out of her shell more. He wanted nothing more than to love her and know all of her. Every inch of her soft creamy white skin, to feel her next to him…Jareth had to force himself to stop his mind from wondering to that. He would be able to do those things soon enough. He grinned mischievously to himself as he came to that conclusion.
Sarah watched Fayla as she fashioned her hair in small silver glittery combs making it so that her hair fell freely about her shoulders but away from her face. Her hand absentmindedly smoothed the silken material of her ruby dress. Sarah smiled softly as she took in her appearance, she always did look good in red.
Fayla rested her hands on Sarah's shoulders smiling at the effect of her pampering. The dress that she had picked out for her charge complemented her creamy white complexion and the way it hung off of her shoulders showed enough that she knew the King would probably be left speechless.
Leaning over her charges shoulder Fayla whispered, "I doubt that anyone will be able to take their eyes off of you. Especially Jareth, you might even make him speechless."
Sarah blushed, her smile widening at Fayla's words, "Fayla!"
"Well, is true. You'll be the envy of the festival not to mention the ball tonight." Fayla grinned at the expression on Sarah's face at the mention of the ball.
"A festival, a ball, Jareth, this is really too much." Sarah felt overwhelmed yet giddy all at once. This was not something that she was very use to. Compared to her life before all of this nothing could even come close. Hand reaching out for one of the red roses that sat in the vase on the corner of the vanity, she pulled it out and brought it to her lips as she took in its fragrance. The soft petals caressing against her lips made her close her eyes and smile the memory of falling asleep with him holding her in his arms coming to mind.
Fayla was straightening the bed as Sarah sat with the rose in her hand, "You'll see Jareth soon enough and then everything else will be forgotten."
Sarah laughed at that, "Your probably right. Fayla?"
"Yes," Fayla finished the bed and faced her charge and friend with a smile.
"Do you really think that he'll be speechless?" Sarah laughed at her own question her fingers tracing the petals of the rose.
Fayla joined Sarah in her laughter, "Oh yes, and he will probably try to get you away from everyone else so that he can have you all to himself."
Sarah's mouth dropped open as she turned towards Fayla her cheeks flushing scarlet, "Oh, I can't believe you said that!" Sarah then mumbled half to herself, "Not that I would mind."
Fayla grinned even more as she heard Sarah's mumbled words, the memory of when Gaylon had swept her off her feet on more than one occasion. She missed him and the way he made her feel. To know that someone she cared about was experiencing the same joy and overwhelming happiness she had once had made her happy. She knew that she would never find another like Gaylon, yet she believed with all her heart that they would one day be reunited when she would pass on. They were soul mates and no matter what tragedies or separations might have befallen, soul mates would always be united one way or another.
Sarah watched as Fayla looked to be in her own world and wondered what she was thinking. Before she could inquire though, a knock at the door interrupted their conversation.
Fayla made her way to the door and opened it to find Edward, Lady Elizabeth's servant, standing at the door with a warm smile on his lips. She had know Edward almost as long as she had known Lady Elizabeth, "Edward it is nice to see you."
Edward's smile warmed his purple eyes as he took Fayla's hand and kissed it, "Lovely as always Fayla."
She smiled at his greeting, wondering why he would come to Sarah's room but at the same time wondering why he was looking at her like that. There was something in his eyes, almost, no she could not believe that. Fayla had not seen him in years. He was just being charming as always, "Did Elizabeth send you?"
"I'm embarrassed to say that I was looking for you and was informed that you were with Lady Sarah. I hope that I am not interrupting anything."
Fayla looked to him quizzically, "No, I was just about through with tending to Lady Sarah. Is there something that you need?"
Edward loved to hear her voice and was overjoyed to be able to see her again. He had always loved her but never got in the way of her happiness with Gaylon. Now that Gaylon was no longer within this world though, he was hoping that Fayla would be willing to allow him into her life. "Only your company. It has been too long since last we had spoken."
Smiling in return, Fayla was glad to see Edward, they had always been good friends, "That it has, I'm almost through with tending to Lady Sarah. Let us meet later at noon and we can catch up on old times."
Sarah watched as Fayla spoke with an elf at the door. She could hear their conversation and grinned at the way he was speaking to Fayla. Someone had an admirer. Watching Fayla shut the door and walked towards her Sarah grinned, "Who was that?"
"An old friend. I have not seen him in years." Fayla wondered why she had not tried to talk to him sooner. Elizabeth had told her that he was here with her, but she had not thought to go and see him. Well, she would see him this afternoon and they could catch up on old times. She had met Edward through Gaylon as they were best of friends and so she considered him as such.
Sarah's eyebrow rose, a very good imitation to a certain Goblin King, "Oh, an old friend."
Fayla did not see the hidden question as she started to apply Sarah's makeup, "Yes, an old friend. Now…there! You look wonderful."
Sarah looked at the finished touches to her face and grinned in approval. The makeup was light and there was very little, which is how she liked it. "Thank you, but now what. The ball is not until tonight and…"
"Now, I will lead you to the throne room where Jareth is waiting for you. I will see you later today before the ball."
At the mention of Jareth's name Sarah's heart raced, she would soon see him and was not sure how to act around him, especially after last night. Now that he knew her feelings she wasn't sure what to expect from him.
As if reading her thoughts Fayla patted her hands that were resting in her lap, "Live in the moment, don't think about it just allow it to happen. It will all work out in the end."
Relief flooded his being as the last of the royal guest had been welcomed and situated to their appointed rooms. The most annoying aspect of giving such gatherings as this festival was seeing that the guests were pleased with their stay and situated comfortably. Now that that part was over, all that was expected of him was his appearance at the functions of the festival. He would of course socialize and speak with the royals and important members of the court as his duty as the Goblin King.
Jareth had allowed his place within the court to weaken and his popularity dwindle from the lack of care for his station as Goblin King. Yes, he used his power, indulged in the benefits of being King, took pleasure in the games he would play with others, and so much more. He had changed so much over the time when he had first found Sarah, watched her, and waited for the moment when he could bring her into his world. Watched her as she traversed through his labyrinth, how she so easily made friends within her journey, he found himself jealous of that friendship.
After she had shattered his gift of her dreams, and to see that he was part of that dream was something that made him confident that she would love him in return, but she broke away from him, shattered the crystal and broke his heart. Watching her break away from his arms and run away from him breaking his spell he could not watch anymore. He was so sure that she would not remember her quest and make it in time to reach the castle before the thirteenth hour. No one had ever beaten the labyrinth and he was so sure that no one ever would. Imagine his surprise when one of his goblins came barging into the throne room raving about the girl who ate the peach and forgot everything arriving. In his long life there was not much that surprised him, and surprised him she did.
So much he had changed, but he did not regret any of his actions within his life. He may have taken advantage of his station as King and he may have used his power to intimidate those weaker than him to maintain his authority over his subjects, but he never did anything immoral or improper to his duties as King. Jareth was no saint but neither was he a villain. Those that did well by him in service were always rightfully rewarded and treated with respect.
Fayla was one of those very subjects. She was more than just one of his subjects to him, she was the closest thing to family he had left. Jareth only wished that he could have saved her the heartache of losing her husband, Gaylon. He was a good elf and did not deserve what fate had bestowed upon him by taking his life when he was still in the prime of his life. The Underground indeed lost a good member of its inhabitants and such a being was a rarity in itself.
The sound of someone entering the throne room broke him from his thoughts as he turned to see who had entered. His heart raced, his temperature rising with desire at the sight before him. Sarah was a vision of pure exquisiteness.
Fayla had led her to the throne room but did not enter, leaving Sarah alone to face Jareth. Her heart raced, but she kept her calm and forced her legs to move so that she would enter the throne room. The moment that he turned and looked at her, that gaze, the look within his eyes alone made her knees want to buckle or even make her want to flee. A knot formed within her throat the remembrance of how it felt to have him hold her so close coming quickly to mind. No words could be formed and all she could do was smile with embarrassment from the thoughts coming to mind and then he was gone, vanished. The only trace of him ever being in the spot she just saw him in was the sight of glitter and dust swirling in the air before dropping to the floor.
Suddenly, arms wrapped around her waist pulling her back against his warm chest, Jareth's breath brushing up against her ear in a husky whisper, "You look stunning!"
Sarah gasped as she was pulled back against him, his lips brushing her ear as he spoke. She felt herself melting against him as he started kissing the side of her neck. Oh God, she never wanted him to stop. Eyes closing, a soft moan escaped her lips as her hands reached up, her fingers entwining into his soft blond hair.
Jareth smiled, his lips still pressed against her soft inviting neck as she melted into his arms. Turning her within his arms, he kissed her on the lips passionately before pulling away as he allowed them both to breathe. The look within her eyes told him that she wanted more but he could not, not yet. Brushing his fingers across her lips, he never allowed his eyes to leave hers, "Not yet my love. I promise you so much more in the future, but not yet."
Smile escaping her lips, she looked down away from him embarrassed by the emotions that his touch brought about and by his promise for the future. Her heart was racing and she knew that her face had to be completely red matching her dress.
He smiled at her reaction to his words, she was so innocent, "Let us go and join the beginning of the festival."
Sarah took his offered arm and walked with him out of the throne room, her heart still racing, she wondered if she would even see anything of the festival as all that she could think about was that moment within the throne room and his promise.
The End
NOT!
J
Bwahaha! Sorry ::Clears throat:: No it is not yet the end. There is still so much yet to be revealed and I know that you guys would kill me if I left it there. I hope your enjoying this story and continue to read. Again thank you all for sending me your reviews. Coming soon Chapter 13.