Chapter Four
Sarah stood in complete darkness, a little nervous. Then looking up, she saw a shaft of light fall on her face, and get brighter and brighter. Then the light seemed to explode, and she found herself standing on the edge of the mall's famous ice-skating rink. It was the size of a football field, and bleachers should have risen above it, but Sarah could see nothing save the bright lights that shone down and illuminated the rink. She looked down at herself. She was smartly dressed in a beautiful outfit. Her knickers-type pants were of red wool and she wore a flowing white flannel shirt with long puffy sleeves. Her red wool vest was trimmed in white fur, and the ensemble was complete with white earmuffs and red wool gloves. On her feet was the nicest set of ice skates she had seen. The rink was covered in fog, and the pale lights shone through the darkness. Then a figure came bursting out of the fog, as he did so, it blew away. He jumped, twisted, and twirled, performing perfect double axels with the grace of an Olympic skater. He came to a full stop in front of Sarah. It was Jareth, resplendent in his outfit - white shirt and white pants with silver trim. Silver glitter sparkled in his long hair. He wasn't even out of breath. He bowed, and held out a hand to Sarah. She laughed sheepishly.
"Oh please, I love this, but...I can't skate."
"Ah, but your dreams have come true, haven't they? Haven't you ever dreamed you could skate?" Sarah looked at his inviting hand. She reached out, hesitantly, and her hand was grasped firmly. Then she gingerly put one foot on the ice, then the other. She stood there for a moment, getting her bearings, while Jareth waited patiently. Then she looked at Jareth questioningly.
"Ready?", he asked.
"Yes."
"Then away we go!" Jareth caught Sarah's other hand, and started skating backwards, pulling Sarah along. The wind whipped her hair back, and she grinned suddenly. This was easy! Jareth let go of her, and for one moment, her smile disappeared, then returned as she felt all her nervousness drain away.
Jareth smiled, and then gestured for her to follow him. He raced away at top speed to perform an exquisite triple axel. He gestured for Sarah to try it herself. Sarah bit her lip and skated faster. Then, closing her eyes, she jumped and did a quadruple axel! Jareth laughed and applauded, then did a quick flip turnabout, and skated back behind Sarah, coming up behind her to clasp her about the waist with one arm, and to wrap her other hand in his, holding it outstretched.
As they glided along, Sarah breathed a simple sigh of happiness. It was effortless, like riding the wind, she felt so light. Then she jumped and almost fell as she felt Jareth's leg sweep behind hers and lift her ankle high in the air. Their skates, beating the ice in perfect time, sounded like smooth, sweet chimes, as they glided along on one skate.
As she held her head up, suddenly the heavens seemed to open above her head, and soft white snow began to fall around the skating couple. Then Jareth picked her up with easy grace, and held her stomach above his head. Sarah balanced perfectly. She felt as though she were flying. She held her arms out, exhilarated, as snowflakes hung on her eyelashes and skittered across her cheeks, her hair rippling behind her. Then Jareth rolled her down into his arms, holding her close to him for a brief moment before setting her on the ice next to him again. It seemed like a lifetime as they skated together around the wide, silent rink, with only the music of their skates to be heard.
"Would you care for some hot chocolate?"
* * * * * * *
Sarah and Jareth sat in a little cafe, A Nice Cup O' Tea. They were seated on green wicker chairs at a little table for two, surrounded by ferns. Sarah was enjoying a warm hot cocoa, while Jareth sipped at an espresso. A plate of frosted gingerbread goblins sat between them.
Sarah was having the time of her life. She had so needed a break. Work had been so tiring lately, and she had been feeling such a need to get away from it all. This was an extremely rare treat. She sighed.
"What is it?" Jareth looked at her.
"I'm just having so much fun...life has been so hard lately. Oh, it's been good, just hard."
"You know the saying about all work..."
"Yes, I certainly do. It's a very true saying."
"Darling," Jareth took her hand in his, "please don't be melancholy. We have so many more wonderful dreams to explore. Concentrate on the now. Trust me. Be happy." Sarah smiled.
"Okay. What's next?" she asked in excited curiosity.
"That's my girl! First, how about a quick tour around my mall? There are many stores left to explore."
"Your mall? You mean..."
"Sarah, this mall is a manifestation of a section of my Labyrinth. Everything is, really. You wished, and that gave it life."
"I did all this? What about the real mall?"
"Oh, it exists. But this is part of your dreams, and you control it, and I carry it out."
"Oh, I see. Wow, my own mall!"
"Yes, dear. Now, care to shop?"
* * * * * * * *
"Oh Jareth!" Sarah threw her arms around his neck in a fierce hug. "Shopping on an unlimited budget! This truly is a dream come true."
Her bags of beautiful dresses and clothing that she had picked out of the malls various stores flew everywhere. Jareth laughed, and after helping her collect her parcels, led Sarah into the "Valentine Evenings" store where they had met earlier that evening. Passing by the bright racks of clothing and the scented shelves of perfume, Jareth led her to an ornate door. As he opened it, Sarah gasped. Inside was a beautiful room, draped in gold silk. A circular golden bed sat in the very center, covered with red velvet spread. A golden veil hung around it. Royal blue plush carpeting was on the floor, and a huge mirror in a mahogany frame hung above a dressing table draped in emerald green. A comb, and brush, both gold backed, sat on the table along with a stack of bright holly red towels.
"The other door leads to the tub room. I'll be back in an hour if you want to freshen up." Jareth bowed slightly and turned to go. Sarah caught his shoulder and swung him back around.
"Jareth...this is...thank you so much..." She looked at him, overcome. Jareth smiled a small smile and kissed her hand.
"An hour, then?" He left.
* * * * * *
Jareth stared into his crystal ball, watching Sarah bathe in the gold tub. He smirked. He almost laughed out loud when he remembered he had thought this would be harder, he remembered a much stronger will. Perhaps this Jonathan had dulled it. He twirled the crystal, focusing finally on a much different picture.
Jonathan sat in a stiff hospital chair next to a wan figure in a hospital gown, lying in bed asleep. The nurse had just left, after checking her blood pressure and pulse.
"She's still unconscious, hon. Sorry." She left quietly shutting the door behind her. Jonathan buried his head in his hands. Sarah had been unconscious for two days, ever since the car wreck. The time for crying was past, as was the time for worrying. Now was the time for waiting. And that's what Jonathan did. Holding both of Sarah's hands in his own, her gazed at her face. She looked so happy. But she hadn't made a sound, not even when they had pulled her from the wreck. Her parents had already been by, as has Toby, but they hadn't stayed long. But Jonathan had talked to their editor and told him to screw the deadlines; he wasn't working until he saw Sarah's eyes open. So he sat in the crummy hospital chair, watching her face, sometimes dozing, but mostly just looking for any change for the better. She is so beautiful, Jonathan thought. He thanked God every day for giving him such a wonderful, caring wife to be. He would wait forever for her.
Sarah stood in complete darkness, a little nervous. Then looking up, she saw a shaft of light fall on her face, and get brighter and brighter. Then the light seemed to explode, and she found herself standing on the edge of the mall's famous ice-skating rink. It was the size of a football field, and bleachers should have risen above it, but Sarah could see nothing save the bright lights that shone down and illuminated the rink. She looked down at herself. She was smartly dressed in a beautiful outfit. Her knickers-type pants were of red wool and she wore a flowing white flannel shirt with long puffy sleeves. Her red wool vest was trimmed in white fur, and the ensemble was complete with white earmuffs and red wool gloves. On her feet was the nicest set of ice skates she had seen. The rink was covered in fog, and the pale lights shone through the darkness. Then a figure came bursting out of the fog, as he did so, it blew away. He jumped, twisted, and twirled, performing perfect double axels with the grace of an Olympic skater. He came to a full stop in front of Sarah. It was Jareth, resplendent in his outfit - white shirt and white pants with silver trim. Silver glitter sparkled in his long hair. He wasn't even out of breath. He bowed, and held out a hand to Sarah. She laughed sheepishly.
"Oh please, I love this, but...I can't skate."
"Ah, but your dreams have come true, haven't they? Haven't you ever dreamed you could skate?" Sarah looked at his inviting hand. She reached out, hesitantly, and her hand was grasped firmly. Then she gingerly put one foot on the ice, then the other. She stood there for a moment, getting her bearings, while Jareth waited patiently. Then she looked at Jareth questioningly.
"Ready?", he asked.
"Yes."
"Then away we go!" Jareth caught Sarah's other hand, and started skating backwards, pulling Sarah along. The wind whipped her hair back, and she grinned suddenly. This was easy! Jareth let go of her, and for one moment, her smile disappeared, then returned as she felt all her nervousness drain away.
Jareth smiled, and then gestured for her to follow him. He raced away at top speed to perform an exquisite triple axel. He gestured for Sarah to try it herself. Sarah bit her lip and skated faster. Then, closing her eyes, she jumped and did a quadruple axel! Jareth laughed and applauded, then did a quick flip turnabout, and skated back behind Sarah, coming up behind her to clasp her about the waist with one arm, and to wrap her other hand in his, holding it outstretched.
As they glided along, Sarah breathed a simple sigh of happiness. It was effortless, like riding the wind, she felt so light. Then she jumped and almost fell as she felt Jareth's leg sweep behind hers and lift her ankle high in the air. Their skates, beating the ice in perfect time, sounded like smooth, sweet chimes, as they glided along on one skate.
As she held her head up, suddenly the heavens seemed to open above her head, and soft white snow began to fall around the skating couple. Then Jareth picked her up with easy grace, and held her stomach above his head. Sarah balanced perfectly. She felt as though she were flying. She held her arms out, exhilarated, as snowflakes hung on her eyelashes and skittered across her cheeks, her hair rippling behind her. Then Jareth rolled her down into his arms, holding her close to him for a brief moment before setting her on the ice next to him again. It seemed like a lifetime as they skated together around the wide, silent rink, with only the music of their skates to be heard.
"Would you care for some hot chocolate?"
* * * * * * *
Sarah and Jareth sat in a little cafe, A Nice Cup O' Tea. They were seated on green wicker chairs at a little table for two, surrounded by ferns. Sarah was enjoying a warm hot cocoa, while Jareth sipped at an espresso. A plate of frosted gingerbread goblins sat between them.
Sarah was having the time of her life. She had so needed a break. Work had been so tiring lately, and she had been feeling such a need to get away from it all. This was an extremely rare treat. She sighed.
"What is it?" Jareth looked at her.
"I'm just having so much fun...life has been so hard lately. Oh, it's been good, just hard."
"You know the saying about all work..."
"Yes, I certainly do. It's a very true saying."
"Darling," Jareth took her hand in his, "please don't be melancholy. We have so many more wonderful dreams to explore. Concentrate on the now. Trust me. Be happy." Sarah smiled.
"Okay. What's next?" she asked in excited curiosity.
"That's my girl! First, how about a quick tour around my mall? There are many stores left to explore."
"Your mall? You mean..."
"Sarah, this mall is a manifestation of a section of my Labyrinth. Everything is, really. You wished, and that gave it life."
"I did all this? What about the real mall?"
"Oh, it exists. But this is part of your dreams, and you control it, and I carry it out."
"Oh, I see. Wow, my own mall!"
"Yes, dear. Now, care to shop?"
* * * * * * * *
"Oh Jareth!" Sarah threw her arms around his neck in a fierce hug. "Shopping on an unlimited budget! This truly is a dream come true."
Her bags of beautiful dresses and clothing that she had picked out of the malls various stores flew everywhere. Jareth laughed, and after helping her collect her parcels, led Sarah into the "Valentine Evenings" store where they had met earlier that evening. Passing by the bright racks of clothing and the scented shelves of perfume, Jareth led her to an ornate door. As he opened it, Sarah gasped. Inside was a beautiful room, draped in gold silk. A circular golden bed sat in the very center, covered with red velvet spread. A golden veil hung around it. Royal blue plush carpeting was on the floor, and a huge mirror in a mahogany frame hung above a dressing table draped in emerald green. A comb, and brush, both gold backed, sat on the table along with a stack of bright holly red towels.
"The other door leads to the tub room. I'll be back in an hour if you want to freshen up." Jareth bowed slightly and turned to go. Sarah caught his shoulder and swung him back around.
"Jareth...this is...thank you so much..." She looked at him, overcome. Jareth smiled a small smile and kissed her hand.
"An hour, then?" He left.
* * * * * *
Jareth stared into his crystal ball, watching Sarah bathe in the gold tub. He smirked. He almost laughed out loud when he remembered he had thought this would be harder, he remembered a much stronger will. Perhaps this Jonathan had dulled it. He twirled the crystal, focusing finally on a much different picture.
Jonathan sat in a stiff hospital chair next to a wan figure in a hospital gown, lying in bed asleep. The nurse had just left, after checking her blood pressure and pulse.
"She's still unconscious, hon. Sorry." She left quietly shutting the door behind her. Jonathan buried his head in his hands. Sarah had been unconscious for two days, ever since the car wreck. The time for crying was past, as was the time for worrying. Now was the time for waiting. And that's what Jonathan did. Holding both of Sarah's hands in his own, her gazed at her face. She looked so happy. But she hadn't made a sound, not even when they had pulled her from the wreck. Her parents had already been by, as has Toby, but they hadn't stayed long. But Jonathan had talked to their editor and told him to screw the deadlines; he wasn't working until he saw Sarah's eyes open. So he sat in the crummy hospital chair, watching her face, sometimes dozing, but mostly just looking for any change for the better. She is so beautiful, Jonathan thought. He thanked God every day for giving him such a wonderful, caring wife to be. He would wait forever for her.