Jareth knew why she pulled a screeching 180, and he let her. 'Another time.' Right now what mattered was finding a way to stop Caleb, and save Lee without giving the shadows just cause of war. That was the tricky part, shadows were sly by nature but were easily tricked. All they needed to do was to create a distraction.
"Trickery." He answered, Sarah snickering. "And deception."
"Why am I not surprised?" She rolled her eyes. Then solemn, "That could work. Lure him somewhere neutral and double cross him. But where?"
This time Jareth couldn't repress his smile and his devious mind began searching for the perfect place to kill Caleb. He snapped his fingers,
"Diamond Meadow." He stood and began to pace. "Neutral, out of the way, scared, non-magic conducing." Yes, it would work perfectly.
"In English, preferably American?" Sarah questioned.
"It's a diamond shaped meadow, thus it's name." Jareth explained, sending her a mental image. Tall elms made up the edges of the meadow, trimmed into a perfect diamond shape. A blanket of soft grass made up the floor, small flowers dotting the space. Beyond mountains stood tall and regal over the sacred meeting place. "It's a sacred place, meant to make whoever met within it's bounds equals. It negates any and all magic."
That made sense, no magic tricks. But then, how would they stop Caleb? Sarah watched as Jareth moved to sit on the sill to one of the large arched windows in the room. He looked as if he were lost in thought, planning their next move. She made herself comfortable in his throne, giving him his space.
*Do not speak Sarah, or try to reply, just listen.* He said in her head. *Caleb can't hear me, but he could hear you.* He paused and she nodded.
*Excaliber's magic is too old, too powerful for the meadow to block. It will still function normally even if Caleb and I cannot. You must strike true when you aim, you must destroy the shadow before he can slip away.* Jareth looked at his pocket watch. "Five hours."
Sarah sighed heavily and closed her eyes, leaning back in his throne. She was tired beyond belief and wanted the upcoming battle over with. If this was her dreams than Jareth could take them back. Her dreams had left her long ago and she didn't know if she could get them back. The only dream that had mattered was the one she had swore to fulfill, to love Jareth with everything she had.
"Sarah?" Jareth asked. She could hear his emotions in his voice, a mix of apprehension at the coming confrontation, weariness from being alone so long, concern for her well being, and love, an emotion she's never thought she would hear coming from him. She shivered.
"How will the Agency and Lee cope once I'm gone?" Jareth listened to Sarah's confusion. He knew this wouldn't be easy for her, to give up her life for a completely different one. He only wished there were something he could do. "Will they be able to find a suitable replacement?"
Jareth stood and walked over to Sarah in a fluid movement long practiced to give off an aura of power. He noticed a tired quality to her features, as if she were slowly being drained of her energy, her taxing job beginning to take it's toll on her body and mind. With a gentle touch he was unaccustomed to giving Jareth smoothed back her hair and she responded by smiling slightly and pressing her head into his hand, so much like a kitten would. 'Her animal form must be a cat.'
"Don't worry beloved, everything will work out in the end." Jareth murmured.
In a smooth movement Sarah stood and wrapped her arms around his neck, her face buried in his chest. Jareth's arms came around her waist, holding her close. Their bodies fit together like two pieces of a puzzle and Jareth had never been more relaxed. This was the love that he had spent several lifetimes trying to find. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
Sarah melted in Jareth's arms, smiling softly as he kissed her forehead lightly. Despite knowing Lee was in danger and Caleb was waiting to declare was she wanted Jareth, knowing here might be no tomorrow. Pulling away slightly Sarah pressed her lips to Jareth's, holding herself to him. She felt him tremble as he deepened the kiss, groaning as his sharp teeth nipped at her lips. Clothes now seemed to be an obstacle to Sarah and she tugged at his silken shirt.
*No Sarah, stop.* Even Jareth's mind voice was thick with desire. She smiled against his lips.
*Why? It's what we both want. Besides, this may be the only chance we get.* Sarah ripped off his shirt, revealing his smooth chest to her questing fingers, lips still firmly locked to his.
Again Sarah felt a magical tinge and Jareth lowered her onto a soft bed. The fine cotton sheets were cool to the first touch, but then became clammy and clung to her. Slowly the world drifted away as they gave in to their desires. Even if it was only this once, Sarah knew she'd gotten her dreams back.
"Trickery." He answered, Sarah snickering. "And deception."
"Why am I not surprised?" She rolled her eyes. Then solemn, "That could work. Lure him somewhere neutral and double cross him. But where?"
This time Jareth couldn't repress his smile and his devious mind began searching for the perfect place to kill Caleb. He snapped his fingers,
"Diamond Meadow." He stood and began to pace. "Neutral, out of the way, scared, non-magic conducing." Yes, it would work perfectly.
"In English, preferably American?" Sarah questioned.
"It's a diamond shaped meadow, thus it's name." Jareth explained, sending her a mental image. Tall elms made up the edges of the meadow, trimmed into a perfect diamond shape. A blanket of soft grass made up the floor, small flowers dotting the space. Beyond mountains stood tall and regal over the sacred meeting place. "It's a sacred place, meant to make whoever met within it's bounds equals. It negates any and all magic."
That made sense, no magic tricks. But then, how would they stop Caleb? Sarah watched as Jareth moved to sit on the sill to one of the large arched windows in the room. He looked as if he were lost in thought, planning their next move. She made herself comfortable in his throne, giving him his space.
*Do not speak Sarah, or try to reply, just listen.* He said in her head. *Caleb can't hear me, but he could hear you.* He paused and she nodded.
*Excaliber's magic is too old, too powerful for the meadow to block. It will still function normally even if Caleb and I cannot. You must strike true when you aim, you must destroy the shadow before he can slip away.* Jareth looked at his pocket watch. "Five hours."
Sarah sighed heavily and closed her eyes, leaning back in his throne. She was tired beyond belief and wanted the upcoming battle over with. If this was her dreams than Jareth could take them back. Her dreams had left her long ago and she didn't know if she could get them back. The only dream that had mattered was the one she had swore to fulfill, to love Jareth with everything she had.
"Sarah?" Jareth asked. She could hear his emotions in his voice, a mix of apprehension at the coming confrontation, weariness from being alone so long, concern for her well being, and love, an emotion she's never thought she would hear coming from him. She shivered.
"How will the Agency and Lee cope once I'm gone?" Jareth listened to Sarah's confusion. He knew this wouldn't be easy for her, to give up her life for a completely different one. He only wished there were something he could do. "Will they be able to find a suitable replacement?"
Jareth stood and walked over to Sarah in a fluid movement long practiced to give off an aura of power. He noticed a tired quality to her features, as if she were slowly being drained of her energy, her taxing job beginning to take it's toll on her body and mind. With a gentle touch he was unaccustomed to giving Jareth smoothed back her hair and she responded by smiling slightly and pressing her head into his hand, so much like a kitten would. 'Her animal form must be a cat.'
"Don't worry beloved, everything will work out in the end." Jareth murmured.
In a smooth movement Sarah stood and wrapped her arms around his neck, her face buried in his chest. Jareth's arms came around her waist, holding her close. Their bodies fit together like two pieces of a puzzle and Jareth had never been more relaxed. This was the love that he had spent several lifetimes trying to find. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
Sarah melted in Jareth's arms, smiling softly as he kissed her forehead lightly. Despite knowing Lee was in danger and Caleb was waiting to declare was she wanted Jareth, knowing here might be no tomorrow. Pulling away slightly Sarah pressed her lips to Jareth's, holding herself to him. She felt him tremble as he deepened the kiss, groaning as his sharp teeth nipped at her lips. Clothes now seemed to be an obstacle to Sarah and she tugged at his silken shirt.
*No Sarah, stop.* Even Jareth's mind voice was thick with desire. She smiled against his lips.
*Why? It's what we both want. Besides, this may be the only chance we get.* Sarah ripped off his shirt, revealing his smooth chest to her questing fingers, lips still firmly locked to his.
Again Sarah felt a magical tinge and Jareth lowered her onto a soft bed. The fine cotton sheets were cool to the first touch, but then became clammy and clung to her. Slowly the world drifted away as they gave in to their desires. Even if it was only this once, Sarah knew she'd gotten her dreams back.