You liked! Thank you so much for your reviews they are really inspirational. Since you liked it so much I came out with another chapter. Hope you enjoy.
Faded Memories
Chapter Three
Sitting in front of the large mirror of the vanity, Sarah stared at the image before her. She knew her name but the person she saw staring back at her was a total stranger. Gweneth, stood behind her, brushing the long dark locks, as she continued mumbling away about some nonsense or other. Sarah was too distracted by her own thoughts to really pay any attention.
Studying her reflection in the mirror before her, she tried to search her mind for something, anything that would give her some kind of clue to her past. It felt strange, not knowing who you were and she did not like the feeling of being lost. Feeling aggravated with not being able to remember anything, her mind wondered at the mysterious and handsome King she had met earlier. He seemed to know her and there was a quality about him that intrigued her yet frightened her.
Soon she would be dining with King Jareth and Sarah hoped with all her heart that he could shed some light as to regaining her lost memories. Having only remembered being within the room she had awoken in, she had no idea on what awaited her on the outside world and it scared her. To not know who you are and to not know the world around you was indeed a frightening thing to contemplate.
Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage and pushed the annoying fears to the back of her mind. This was no time to wallow in self-pity and uncertainty. She was not alone in this. The King obviously knew her and he had told her that he would help her. She just had to be strong and trust him to help her.
Gweneth finished brushing the young lady's hair and looked to her with critical eyes. She knew perfectly well what the King had done to the poor lass but knew her place and her station. Besides, she feared the King and had no intention of disobeying his wishes and orders. Gweneth could understand the Kings interest in the girl, she was very beautiful and held an aura of innocence about her but also strength of character. She would make fine Queen some day.
Patting the girl's hand, Gweneth's voice broke through Sarah's reverie, "There ya are my dear, lovely. Come on an I'll show ya where the dinning area be."
Breaking away from her thoughts and inner reflections as well as outer, Sarah smiled to Gweneth before standing from her seat, "Thank you."
She smiled, "Well, ya most welcome deary! Now, come along! His majesty is a waitin!"
Sarah watched the strange woman hobble towards the door for a moment before following her lead. As she left her room, she found herself in awe at the large expansive hallway. It was filled with exotic rugs and paintings as well as torches, the flames lighting the way before them.
After a few turns, Sarah stopped herself from running into Gweneth, as they had reached a large door. Suddenly her heartbeat started to rise and she felt butterflies fluttering nervously within her stomach. She did not know this man and here she was about to dine with him and give him her trust. Before the door opened and she was lead into the room she mentally decided that though he claimed to know her and had offered to help her that she would be weary of him. She would be a fool to put her trust into a stranger fully.
Standing before the large window of the dinning area with hands held behind his back, Jareth looked out over the gardens that laid bellow. He had made preparations for Sarah's stay, making certain that her so called friends could not return to his realm and polishing up the castle and his subjects. The goblins were now all within the city, all save for a chosen few that were intelligent enough to stay within the castle to perform their duties and services.
He would make sure that she would have everything that she needed and wanted, save for her memories of her past. She would start over, he would tutor her in the ways of the Underground and have it arranged that she stayed within his castle. He looked forward to having someone to converse with that actually had the intelligence to hold a conversation. For far to many years he had to put up with the company of his simple-minded subjects. Having Sarah here would be a much desirable change.
From the first moment that he had laid eyes upon her beauty he had been captivated. It had taken him completely off guard. He, the Goblin King and Fae, bespelled by a mortal child... No, she was no child but neither was she yet a woman. Sarah was on the verge of womanhood and he had to keep reminding himself of that fact for her body looked to be that of a woman in full bloom. Ah, to taste such a flower!
A predatory grin spread upon his lips, as he thought of what the future held for his future Queen. His thoughts and reverie were disrupted by the sound of the door opening. Turning he smiled at the sight before him. Yes, she was indeed a treasure that he would never give up.
Sarah entered with the grace and posture of a princess, her eyes a light with determination and strength. Her hair was a flowing curtain of black silk that blanketed over her ivory shoulders. The dress she wore sat off her shoulders, the corset pushing up her ample and voluptuous breasts. The blue of the dress set off the blue of her eyes and the beauty before him mesmerized him.
Stepping forward, towards her and away from the window, he smiled warmly to her, not at all showing the desire he held for her, after all, he did not wish to frighten her away. Taking her hand in his he brought it up to his lips, "You look radiant."
As his lips touched her skin, Sarah shivered, "Thank you." His presence alone was enough to send her emotions into chaos but the feel of his touch sent her head to spin. Suddenly it became all too obvious that her decision of earlier was going to be hard to adhere to.
His eyes sparkled with warmth as he noted her reaction to his touch, she was already his and she didn't even know it. Releasing her hand, though he wished nothing more than to pull her to him and crush his lips to hers, he broke his gaze away from her and nodded to the servant at the door.
Gweneth bowed to her king before backing out of the room and closing the door behind her. Shaking her head, she wondered if she had just delivered an innocent lamb into the lions din.
"Come," he motioned towards the dinning table, "I hope that this is to your liking."
Sitting in the seat that he had pulled out for her, Sarah looked over the assorted foods before her. The table was colorfully set with fruit, breads and eggs. Her mouth literally watered at the site, "It looks delicious, thank you."
He grinned, "You are most welcome."
Sitting within his own seat across from her, he took a sip of his drink, watching as she began to eat the food set before her. Picking at the breakfast before him, he delighted in watching her as she ate. Her face lighted with each bite, her mouth slowly chewing as she savored each flavor that the food provided for her pallet. She was perfection.
The food before her was even more delicious that it appeared to be and Sarah delighted in the pleasure of its taste. Even though she was ravenous, she took her time, slowly savoring each and every bite. Looking up, her face flushed as she noticed the King's stare. It was rather hard to swallow that last bite, as she watched the smile play across his lips.
What a lovely shade her cheeks turn when she blushes! Leaning back into his chair with sensuous grace, he asked with a voice of concern, "I trust that you are feeling better?"
Taking a sip of water she answered, "Yes but I still have no memory of anything from before I woke up this morning. Can you please tell me what happened and how that you know me?"
He smiled warmly to her, he sat up within his chair, "I knew your parents and welcomed you to stay within my castle when they had passed away. I'm afraid that I have not had the pleasure of your company since your arrive for I have been quite busy with matters of running my kingdom. You love horses and have been known to go off riding on a regular basis. I'm afraid that one of my subjects had run out in front of you as you rode your horse and as you tried to avoid running him over you were thrown for your trouble and had struck your head when you hit the ground."
As he told her this, she tried to search her mind for these events but as before nothing. Frowning she sighed, "I don't remember any of that."
Reaching over the table, he took her hand in his squeezing it in reassurance, "Sarah, you can not force the memories to return. It will take time but…" he sighed, "there is a small chance that you will not regain your memories."
Sarah looked down into her lap fighting off the tears, she wanted to be strong but this empty blank space within her mind was scaring her. She felt so lost and did not know what she would do.
Seeing her distress, he rose from his chair to stand beside her. Helping her from her chair, he pulled her into his arms, "Don't hold it in, it is all right to cry."
With those words and the comfort of his arms, Sarah's tears finally fell freely, "I'm so scared. Everything seems so strange and foreign to me."
"It will be all right, Sarah. No matter what happens I am here for you. There is nothing to fear. I will tell you as much as I know of your past to fill that void for you." If Sarah were looking up at his face at this precise moment, she would have seen the satisfied grin upon his features.
'Yes Sarah,' he thought silently to himself, 'you will think of me as your protector and savior. I will have your trust and confidence and then I shall have your heart. I will replace your memories with false ones and we shall make new memories for you to hold onto. My sweet, lovely, Sarah, I have so much to show and teach you.'
Clinging to the only stable thing she had before her, she felt safe within his arms. Any thought of not trusting this man was no more. Jareth would help her through this and even if she did not regain her memories, he would be there for her and fill in the blanks of her past.
Pulling away she whipped at her tears as they finally began to subside, "I'm, I'm sorry." Sarah looked away in embarrassment; she was behaving like a child.
He gently caressed the side of her face, bringing her eyes to lock with his before he told her, "There is nothing to be sorry for. It is perfectly understandable for you to be upset. I would be most worried if you were not."
Sarah smiled weakly, "Thank you Jareth, I appreciate your kindness and generosity. I just hope that I'm not a burden."
Handing her a white handkerchief, he smiled to her warmly, "Nonsense." Face sobering he continued, "Your parents were very dear to me. They would be proud of the lady that you have become and I am honored that they entrusted me with your care. I am only sorry that I was unable to prevent this from happening in the first place. Please forgive me for not protecting you from this situation."
Drying her face she took his hands in hers, "It was an accident Jareth, there is nothing to forgive."
Eyes searching her face, he smiled at seeing the sincerity within her gaze, she was ensnared and it was only a matter of time before he pulled her in completely. Pulling her hands up to his lips he kissed them, his face showing that of relief, "You are truly too kind my lady. You have an inward beauty that is almost as radiant as your outward beauty."
Her voice caught in her throat, he was so handsome and gentle. She could drown in those eyes of his. His eyes, one blue and one brown, held a mystery within. He seemed magical and his voice brought a warmth within that confused and yet drew her.
Not sure about these strange and foreign emotions, she gently pulled her hand away from his, "Thank you."
Knowing not to rush things with her, he decided to change the direction of their conversation. Besides, he was about to choke on all of this flattery he was bestowing upon her. He meant every word but he was male and the male species tend to view such outwardly displays as unmanly.
Offering her his arm, he invited, "Come, allow me to show you the castle."
Accepting his invitation, she slid her hand inside the crook of his arm, "I would like that."
As the doors opened, Jareth lead her down the hall to begin showing her, her new home. So far his plan was working perfectly.