Well guys I got this chapter out all in one sitting. I'm rather happy with me right now. ::pats self on back:: A huge wonderful thanks to all of you that have been commenting on this story. It brings warmth to my heart knowing that everyone is enjoying this story. I'm still floored by how everyone's enjoyed and stayed with me through writing this and it's long too and still growing. I make this promise, which I might end up slapping myself later for making but here goes: Yes, there will be a wedding and the honeymoon as well as the day after. I still have the other characters to write about too so as for how much longer before this ends I haven't a clue. This story has been writing me instead of the other way around. ::sprawls back into chair worn out:: Whew! I think that's it for my author notes. So I'll stop yapping and let you get back to the story. Till next posting…
To What May Come
Chapter 31
Troubled hazel eyes watched as the last of the guests of the ball for the evening and the evening's events left the ballroom. When the Goblin King Jareth had requested that she and Lord Cunningham look after the guests, she was on automatic and now… now she felt lost. Varden was no longer a threat, the Goblin King had returned but what of Fayla and Sarah? He had not stayed long enough for her to even inquire as to their whereabouts and her heart constricted at not knowing. Strong arms wrapped around her from behind as a familiar voice caressed against her ear.
Holding Elizabeth in his arms he had noticed her troubled look and knew the reason behind it, "I'm sure that they are both fine."
Moving her hands to hold his arms so that he would not let go, Elizabeth leaned back into his strong embrace closing her eyes, "How can you be so sure? I can't even be sure of it!"
Just as Cunningham was about to say something as to try and ease her worry, in strode the Goblin King.
Jareth looked to the two and inwardly smiled, they did make a lovely couple and he was happy to see them getting together. Seeing the look of concern within Lady Elizabeth's eyes he smiled to her warmly in reassurance, "Sarah is safe within the castle and Fayla is safe with your servant Edward and some other elf. I've already sent a crystal to intercept them and bring them back to the castle."
Lord Cunningham released Elizabeth, relieved to be hearing the good news, "Is the festival still in commencement? Do you wish for the rest of the festivities to be cancelled or put on hold?"
"No, everything will continue as planned including the wedding at the end of the festival. I will not allow Varden to win in any way. Thank you both for attending to the guests for me." He liked both Lady Elizabeth and Lord Cunningham and appreciated their assistance, but he really wanted them to leave so that he could have time to himself and watch over Sarah through his crystal. He did not want to be away from her for too long, but he knew that she needed rest which did not mean that he could not watch her.
Sensing his need to be alone Lady Elizabeth placed her hand in Lord Cunningham's arm, "Let us retire then, this evening's events have taken their toll upon me."
Cunningham nodded and escorted Elizabeth out of the throne room and back towards her rooms. As they reached the hall he asked, "You do not wish to return to your chambers do you?"
Grinning, Elizabeth kissed him lightly on the cheek, "No, let us go to the gardens, the fresh air will do me some good."
Edward pulled back on the reins making the horse come to a stop, he thought he had heard something. Fayla awakened by the feel of them stopping, "What is it?" she asked as she looked up at Edward.
His purple eyes looked to her warmly, "It's probably nothing. I thought I heard something."
Armand shifted in his saddle having heard something out of the ordinary as well, "I heard it too. It was faint but I heard it none the less."
Both elves looked to one another before easing off of their horse's, Fayla tried to follow but Edward motioned for her to stay. Edward and Armand slowly and cautiously drew their swords scanning the trees and brush that surrounded them.
Fayla reached out with her natural sensing trying to see if she could feel any danger but there was none present. Her green eyes focused forwards as her slightly pointed ears picked up the sound that both elves had described. It was like crystal gliding through the wind and brush coming towards them quickly.
"Sheath your swords, its one of his majesties crystals," she did not look to them to see if they had listened to her as she could clearly hear the metal of their swords gliding into their sheaths.
Soon enough a round crystal came hurtling through the trees ahead stopping inches from Fayla's face. Smiling, she took the crystal and as her hand touched the object they vanished from the forest in a show of glitter and light.
The hot water felt soothing against her skin as she sunk back into the tub. A smile tugged at her lips as she replayed her and Jareth's last moments together before he left her to take her bath. It had taken quite a few attempts to persuade him that she was perfectly capable of bathing herself before he finally left her. Each time it looked as if he would leave he would come back and kiss her passionately and she would have to push him away and make him leave, though she was tempted to pull him in with her.
Sarah blushed at her own thoughts, she couldn't believe that this was really happening, but it was. She was going to get married. Absently, she wondered how her stepmother would react when finding out that she would be becoming a Queen. Sitting up within the tub quickly the water splashed out slightly from her sudden movement. She had totally forgotten about her family, her life before this. How could she forget about Toby and her father?
She had to berate herself, she had been through quite a lot in the past week but still she felt guilty for not thinking about them. How would she explain it to them? More importantly how could she explain the Underground to them? This was something that she would have to talk to Jareth about, he had probably thought about it more than she had, considering that he had arranged it so that they would think that she was out of town visiting an old friend.
Relaxing back into the hot water Sarah let out a contented sigh, she was not going to worry about anything. Not now, tomorrow would be a new day and she would worry about it then. Everything was going to work out fine in the end; she had to believe in that. She was safe from any danger now and Jareth was there to watch over her. Closing her eyes she allowed her worries to slide from her mind, a feeling of being watched seeping within her senses.
Grinning she softly spoke, "Jareth, I never knew you to be a peeping tom. I know your watching me through one of those crystals of yours."
"You did not think that I was just going to leave you alone without watching over you did you," Jareth purred in her ear causing her to splash out almost sinking underneath the water before catching herself.
"Jareth! God, you scared the crap out of me!" she was glad that she had decided on a bubble bath as it hid her body from his view.
Jareth grinned, his eyes scanning over the bubbles that barely hid her attributes from his vision. His imagination was working overtime at the sight and he wished that the next days would pass by quickly so he could actually see her completely.
Sarah in turn did not miss his thoughtful gaze and she splashed him with the soapy water, "I saw that!"
He only laughed in return sweeping his hand over his face and hair drying it magically, "Do you plan on living in that tub? You've been in it for hours."
Crossing her arms over her chest she looked to him with playful defiance, "If you must know, then yes I've decided to take residence within your bathtub."
Jareth in turn leaned closer to her, his lips brushing her ear, "How about if you take permanent residence within my bed. I think you would enjoy it more."
Biting her lip she turned slightly towards him, her lips almost brushing against his. Sarah was speechless at this point her eyes locking with his as he held her within his loving gaze. Her body flushed with warmth and it was not form the water. Trembling slightly she smiled shyly her eyes looking away, "Jareth…"
Gently tilting her chin up to meet with his he kissed her tenderly before breaking away, "Sarah, though it is torture not to be with you in that way right now I will wait until our wedding night or as long as you need."
Jareth stood handing Sarah her robe and diverting his eyes to allow her to have her privacy as she stood and wrapped herself within the soft material. Stepping from the tub she stumbled slightly, Jareth catching her before she could fall. Standing she allowed him to guide her back into his bedchambers.
He could tell that she was exhausted; dropping his hold of her hand he pulled back the covers to his bed and turned towards Sarah. Taking her hand he guided her to the bed silently tucking her in and using his magic to change her into her bedclothes. Kissing her forehead he whispered, "Sweet dreams."
She was tired, her eyes already starting to close but as she felt him pull away she felt a slight panic and did not want him to leave. Grabbing his arm she stopped him from leaving, "Jareth, I… I don't want to be alone. I need you. Please hold me."
Nodding silently he magically changed into his bedclothes and slide in the covers with her. Pulling her to him he held her in his arms, enjoying the feel of having her so close as she nuzzled her cheek against his chest.
Jareth watched her as she drifted off to sleep thanking all of the Gods he could think of for allowing her to be returned to him safely. He was indeed the most blessed Fae in the Underground to have a woman such as Sarah to love and be loved by. Gently moving her dark hair away from her face he stroked her cheek and whispered, "I love you Sarah."
Sarah smiled in her sleep at his words and mumbled back as she snuggled against him, "I love you too."
He chuckled softly at the way she even expressed her love when asleep. Jareth had his angel and he would never allow anyone or anything to harm her sweet innocent soul again. His eyes darkened at the thought of what Varden had tried to do to his love. Tightening his arms around her slightly he nuzzled his face within her soft dark hair breathing in the sweet scent of her.
After their wedding and honeymoon he would have to teach her magic so that she would not be totally dependent on him for protection. Sarah was also going to become Queen and she would have to learn the lay of the labyrinth land and its secrets. It would be a slightly difficult transition from the life that she had been use to but he was confident if anyone could do it she could.
There was so much that they needed to discuss, that she needed to learn but for now all he wanted was to revel in her presence. Jareth allowed his mind to settle from planning their future and settled with enjoying the now.