Chapter Eleven
"Ye look beau'iful Sarah," Hoggle gushed as Sarah stepped from behind a changing screen, a half-Fae half-goblin girl had helped her to dress and was fussing over the train of her dazzling white dress. The bodice was fitted and emphasised her slender waist, the skirt was full and trailed behind her majestically. All that's missing is a veil, she thought bitterly before wondering if Faes wore veils at weddings. She had revealed to no one that she knew what Jareth intended but she wondered how many people knew from him.
"This is just a ball, right?" She asked her friends wondering if they knew of Jareth's intentions. "Is there anything unusual at balls – a Fae custom I don't know about?"
"Not that I am aware of my lady," Sir Diddymus shrugged, and she could see on Hoggle's face that he wasn't sure of what she meant. There was a knock on her door and the girl who had helped her to dress quickly it opened it, curtseying deeply to Jareth who stood regally, glittering in diamonds and silks, and satins. Sarah swallowed feeling her cheeks warm up as he stepped into the room. He wore black trousers and a black jacket set with deep sapphires over a snow white shirt. She hated herself for being attracted to him, but she found the older she got the more she found him attractive and the more she found her thoughts wondering. No, she told herself forcing her eyes to meet his. Don't get distracted. She still had no idea how she was going to get out of marrying him tonight, she knew it was inevitable. But she wanted it to happen on her terms. She knew she would drink from the same goblet as him, but even knowing this did little to soothe her. What did it matter if she knew? He still won; he still got his way.
"Sarah!" Jareth's commanding tone snapped her from her thoughts and Sarah shook her head trying to clear it.
"Sorry, what?"
"I said you look beautiful," Jareth sighed reaching up to stroke Sarah's face. She felt the cool leather of his gloves against her skin and remembered her dream, she almost sighed in relief. It was just a dream, she scolded herself, don't read anything into it.
"Thank you," she smiled wishing she could stop blushing. Very queenly.
"I suppose I should wish you a happy birthday," Sarah shrugged and shook her head. "I've brought you a gift." He held up his hand, but Sarah pushed it away.
"Thank you, Jareth, but really…you know I can't accept your gifts, they always come with conditions." Sarah smiled coldly at him but was surprised to see a flicker of hurt cross Jareth's eyes.
"I promise you this is just a gift," he held out his hand once more where a familiar crystal ball appeared. "No conditions." He offered the crystal to Sarah who looked at it as if it was a poisonous snake. "You are coming into your powers; I know you miss your family greatly. I cannot help you cross worlds, not yet. But I can teach you how to see them, perhaps even communicate."
"Communicate?" Hope flared in Sarah, but she quickly quashed it, what was the point? They thought her dead.
"With Toby at least. He has passed through the Fae world; he was here for several hours." Sarah frowned guessing that there was something she had not known about before, "of course he was hungry while he was here…"
"He consumed Fae food?" Sarah spat, "Are you about to tell me that you have claim to Toby?" White hot anger flared through Sarah, and she felt electricity crackle at her fingertips, she looked down to see flashes of light gathering at her palms and she shook her hands to clear them. Fear trickled down her spine; she could see Jareth was pleased by her reaction.
"You are coming into your powers quickly," he smiled, "and no Sarah I am not about to inform you I have claim to Toby. He is safe, as you like to remind me you beat me. You made it through my Labyrinth and defeated me – Toby is free from the Labyrinth. However, he has consumed Fae food – unless you would have preferred I left him to go hungry." Sarah shook her head, "while Toby is mortal the Fae can communicate with them. He will be susceptible to our influence, more willing to…believe in us." Sarah sat on the edge of her bed feeling slightly dizzy.
"I can talk to him?"
"Yes. Through his dreams at first, but as you get stronger you can communicate while he is awake. Although there are of course consequences, he may become obsessed – he may reveal you are speaking to him. While he is young this may not be an issue, just the usual imaginary friend of a small child. But as he grows older…I warn you now to be cautious Sarah and remember that all actions have consequences." Jareth pressed the crystal ball into Sarah's hand. "Happy birthday," leaning down Jareth brushed his lips along Sarah's cheek. She fought back the urge to tilt her head, to meet his lips with her own. Suddenly conscious of where she sat Sarah stood up and smiled weakly.
"Thank you," she set the crystal on her pillow and looked down at it uneasily, should she accept it?
"Come, the guests will be arriving."
Sarah was relieved to see that Jareth had not decorated the ballroom in a similar style to the masked ball. The walls were draped in a white silk but there was no illusion of being trapped in a bubble. She remained at Jareth's side for much of the time, the lewd behaviour of the Fae shocked her, but she could see to Jareth it was nothing. "The Fae are not as…strict…as mortals when it comes to relationships," he shrugged. "We live for an eternity, life with one partner…"
"And you want me to become your queen?" Sarah arched an eyebrow, but Jareth only laughed.
"You will understand our customs one day." I doubt that Sarah thought remaining close to his side. She could feel the eyes of the Fae upon her, eyeing her up critically as if judging whether she was worthy to be their queen or not. "Dance with me?" She looked down to see Jareth holding out his hand and she looked at it nervously. "This is not like the last ball Sarah; you are awake for this one." Nodding Sarah accepted the hand and followed Jareth into the sea of people twirling in the centre of the room. "Just pretend we are alone," Jareth brushed his lips against Sarah's ear, and she nodded nervously trying to follow his steps as they danced. She was not nearly as graceful as she had been during the dream ball, but she managed to follow Jareth's lead without stumbling too much. She glanced nervously at the majestic grandfather clock tucked in the corner of the ballroom and saw that midnight was approaching. Maybe I overreacted, she thought. Perhaps he was not planning for us to wed tonight.
No sooner had she thought this than the music stopped, and the Fae citizens stepped back to admire their king. Holding out his hand a goblet appeared in a pool of mist which gathered around Jareth's outstretched arm. "Thank you all for attending, I am sure this means a lot to Sarah..." She couldn't listen to the full speech; all she could focus on was the goblet in Jareth's hand and the eyes upon her. "I would like to drink a toast to my beautiful companion," What do I do? She thought as she watched him drink deeply from the goblet before holding it out to her. Smiling she accepted the cup and brought it to her lips; it was at the last second that she knew what to do. Pursing her lips tightly she raised the goblet and allowed the liquid to touch her lips. Cheers erupted around them, echoing off the high ceilings and making Sarah's ears ring as she dabbed at her lips and passed the goblet back to Jareth. She could see the spark of fury in his eyes and for a split second he hesitated as he took the goblet, as if for the first time he was unsure of how to proceed. Sarah met his eyes, her look defiant but her smile innocent – as if she had done thing more than accept a toast on her behalf.
"To your Queen!" Jareth proclaimed plucking the goblet from her hand and tossing it over his shoulder. His lips twisted into his familiar smirk, but his eyes remained cold and furious. While the fae continued cheering, Jareth scooped Sarah into his arms in one fluid motion, the tightness of his grip underlying his silent fury.
