A Necessary Deception
by Scattered Logic
Disclaimer: Jareth, Sarah and Toby belong to Jim Henson. Everyone else is mine.
Author's Note: Again, thanks go to my beta, Sara McGee; and very special thanks to Cormak, her help with the editing this chapter proved invaluable.
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Sarah undressed, relieved to get out of the corset. Luxuriating in the ability to breathe freely, she slipped on her robe and carefully hung the gown back in the armoire. She pulled the pins from her hair and was beginning to brush it out when there was a knock on her door.
Opening it, she was surprised to see Jareth, still dressed in his earlier attire, standing there.
"I've been giving consideration to the wish you made while in the garden," he said.
"Wish?" Sarah asked, confused. Had she made a wish?
"You wished that Toby could know that you are still alive."
At his words, Sarah immediately opened the door wide, "Come in."
"It is possible to enter mortal dreams," he said as he entered the room. "You would be able to speak with him, but only for a few minutes and only in a dream world."
"When?" she asked, her eyes pleading.
Jareth produced a crystal and held it up for her to see. Looking into it, she saw her brother, obviously asleep, one arm curled over his head and the other flung wide across the mattress.
"Toby," she gasped, and reached out to touch the crystal tenderly.
"He is dreaming even now," Jareth said.
"What do I have to do?" Sarah breathed, never taking her eyes from the image of her brother.
"Sarah," Jareth waited until she looked up at him and then dismissed the crystal. "This is not without risk. I cannot send you into his dreams; I will have to take you into them. In order that I may guide us there, you will have to briefly give control of your mind to me. Should you fight me while we are in the dream, you could harm us both."
"How?" she asked.
He hesitated, "I will have to manipulate Toby's dreams and, at the same time, take you into them with me. Should I lose my concentration, I would be able to release your brother, but there is the chance that we would not be able to exit that dream world."
"As much as I want to talk to Toby again, it wouldn't be right to ask you to put yourself in danger," she said slowly.
"You would be in equal danger," he pointed out. "And I am willing to take the risk along with you."
The temptation was incredible and Sarah wavered in her decision.
Jareth saw her uncertainty and said, "As long as you trust me, there will be no difficulty."
She looked at him silently. He could have kept the knowledge that he could take her into Toby's dreams a secret from her, but he hadn't. He obviously had faith that he could do what he said. And, she realized with a jolt...
"I do trust you," she said aloud. "What do you want me to do?"
Jareth smiled and said, "It will be easier if I sit next to you." He looked around and saw only one chair in the room. "I would prefer not waste energy right now producing another chair." He gestured toward the floor, "Perhaps..."
Sarah shook her head wryly and sat on the bed. "If I trust you enough to let you into my mind, then I trust you to sit on a bed with me."
He smiled slightly and took his place next to her. "Select a place where you want the dream to occur. It would be helpful if it were somewhere familiar to all three of us. If not, it's more important that it's an environment with which you and I are familiar."
Sarah thought for a moment. "You said that you watched me before I came here the first time. Do you remember the park where I would go and rehearse lines from the book?"
"Yes," he said. "Does your brother know it as well?"
"I used to take him there to play."
"Then look into my eyes and focus your mind on the park. See it as clearly as possible and relax," Jareth said as he met her eyes.
She nodded and took a deep breath. She exhaled slowly and concentrated. She could see the park with its small lake, the stone bridges extending over it. In a moment, she felt a whisper of something almost electric brush through her mind and she instinctively tensed. The feeling immediately became reassuring and she knew that it was Jareth.
She relaxed again and suddenly she was standing in the park. She could feel the sunlight on her face and hear the water lapping against the bridge supports. A cool breeze ruffled her hair and she looked around to see Jareth standing near a stone pillar to her right.
"There he is," Jareth said quietly and gave a lift of his head.
She turned and saw Toby standing a few feet in front of her. He was wearing a catcher's mitt on one hand, idly tossing a baseball into the air and catching it with the glove. He was facing the lake and had his back to her.
"Toby!" She called, joy lighting her voice.
Even as she said her brother's name, she saw the edges of the park darken and looked quickly back to Jareth. She saw that he was now standing in shadows.
"I would be a distraction," Jareth explained.
Toby turned to her, "Hey Sis, want to play?"
Sarah almost began to cry when he spoke, but pushed that emotion away brutally. She didn't have time for it now and she didn't want to upset Toby any more than necessary.
"I can't, kiddo. I've only got a few minutes and I need to tell you something important."
Her brother walked to meet her. "What is it?"
"I've gone to live somewhere else. It's going to seem like I'm missing, but nothing bad happened to me. I'm just fine." Sarah touched his hair gently. "Dad may tell you that I've been sick and I was sick for a little while, but I'm well now. So, don't go thinking that I went away and died somewhere, okay?" She forced a chuckle. "And don't worry about me, everything's going to be all right."
"Did you move? Where'd you go?" He asked, frowning. "Aren't you coming to see us in England?"
"I can't, Toby. I live someplace really far away now." Her eyes filled with tears. "And I'll miss you, but I'm sorry, I won't be able to come back. Just remember that I love you and I'm proud of you."
"I don't understand," Toby was confused. "Why can't you come back?"
"Sarah, time is short." Jareth warned.
Toby's eyes were drawn to the shadows where Jareth stood. "Hey! That's the guy I used to dream about. The goblin man."
"King," Sarah gave a strangled laugh. "He's the Goblin King."
"Are there really goblins?" Toby's eyes had grown huge.
"Sarah," Jareth's voice was strained.
"I've got to go now, so give me a hug." She quickly pulled the boy into her arms and kissed his cheek. "I love you. Remember everything that I've told you, okay?" she whispered fiercely.
Tears began to slip down her cheeks and her voice broke, "Please don't forget me, Toby."
She released him and walked over to Jareth. She looked back at her brother and feigned a brilliant smile. The smile dropped from her lips as she turned back to Jareth, and she was stunned at the compassion she saw in his eyes.
As Jareth held out his hand to her, she heard Toby cry out, "Sarah, wait a minute! Don't go yet!"
A whimper escaped her and she bit her lip until she tasted blood. Without looking back, she reached out and firmly took Jareth's hand.
"Close your eyes," Jareth said softly.
When she opened her eyes again, she was back in her bedroom in the castle, sitting on the bed beside Jareth. She took a shuddering breath and bowed her head. She fought desperately to keep from breaking down.
She lost that battle when she felt Jareth touch her shoulder in sympathy. Without thinking, she moved toward him, throwing her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulder as she cried.
He didn't hesitate. Pulling her close, he stroked her hair while he rocked her gently back and forth.
When her sobs finally died away, she said, "Thank you so much."
"You're welcome," he said softly. His normally crisp voice was slightly slurred.
She pulled back, looked at him closely and took in a sharp breath. His face was drawn and his normally fair complexion now had a grayish cast. His beautiful eyes were dull and the fine skin beneath them appeared bruised.
"What's wrong?" she asked quickly.
"I'm fine," he brushed away her concern. "I just need to rest."
Then she understood. He'd already been tired and now he had exhausted himself in order to grant her wish. She felt something wrench inside her.
Jareth pulled away from her and stood. He staggered, almost losing his footing. Sarah jumped up and put her arm around his waist.
"You're not fine. Sit back down," she ordered.
When he didn't immediately comply, she simply shifted her body and pushed against him. He swayed back and sat abruptly on the bed again. She followed him down, her arm still wrapped around his waist.
"I'm going to get Dorenil," she said. She was frightened by how weak he was.
When she stood, he grabbed her by the wrist. "No, there's nothing he can do. I need to go my chambers and lie down. I'll be fine after I rest."
"You're not going anywhere, not right now. Lie back."
His eyes had closed and he began to shake his head.
Sarah forced a light tone, "I may not try to get you into my bed again, you know. You'd better take advantage of it while you can."
His mouth curved in the barest hint of smile, but still he didn't move.
"Jareth, please." Fear began to bleed into her words. "Just lie down here for a few minutes, at least until you feel better."
His eyes opened and he looked up at her. She reached out and touched his cheek with her fingers. "Please," she repeated.
He hesitated and then nodded slightly. Jareth lay back, resting his head on her pillow, his eyes slipping closed again. Before he could change his mind, Sarah bent down and lifted his legs onto the bed. He frowned slightly at that, but didn't speak or open his eyes.
"Only for a few minutes." The slurring in his voice was worse.
She pulled the chair across the room and placed it by the side of the bed. Looking down at him, she could see that he was already asleep, his breathing deep and rhythmic.
Sarah felt a fierce surge of protectiveness run through her and its strength surprised her. She brushed soft blond hair away from his face and smiled slightly. Sleep robbed him of his sardonic mannerisms and made him look deceptively innocent.
Sinking into the chair, Sarah took his gloved hand in her own and settled in to watch over him.
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Jareth was disoriented when he woke. He didn't recognize his surroundings and he slowly became aware that something was pressing against his side. Turning his head carefully, he saw Sarah asleep in a chair beside him, one arm stretched out on the bed along his side, her head resting on her arm. She held his hand tightly clasped in hers.
His memory of the previous night came flooding back.
He had known that entering the child's dream would place Sarah and himself in danger, and he had known that it would tire him. But he hadn't known the extent of the toll it would take. He had tried to hide his exhaustion from Sarah but failed.
He felt a flash of anger at himself for appearing weak in front of her. He should have waited before approaching Sarah with the idea, but he'd been so eager to please her that he'd rushed ahead. Still, she had been obviously concerned for him. Even, he saw, apparently going so far as to sit by his side and hold his hand while he slept.
There was no clock in the room that he could see from his current position and he didn't want to try to produce one. He still needed to conserve his strength. Sarah's room was an interior one and had no window, so he couldn't use the sky to judge the time.
Using his free hand, he slowly began to push himself upright. His movements, careful as they'd been, caused Sarah to jolt awake.
"How do you feel?" She asked, sitting up quickly and looking him over. His skin had lost that awful gray tone and his eyes were brighter. The shadows under his eyes were almost completely gone.
"I'm fine," he said firmly.
She looked at him skeptically. "You said that before and it was lie."
He'd be damned before he'd admit to her that he was still tired. "I recover quickly, Sarah. I am much improved."
Sarah searched his eyes then nodded, apparently satisfied. She glanced down at their clasped hands, and blushed slightly as she let go. She stood and pushed the chair away from the bed to allow him to stand.
"Thank you for what you did for me," she said. "I'm sorry it affected you the way it did."
Jareth got up from the bed. "I'm glad that you were able to speak with your brother. Has it eased your mind?"
"Yes," she said and then hesitated. "Do you think that he'll remember the dream?"
"He should. When I brought him into the dream, I added a spell for remembrance." Jareth looked around the room. "Do you have a clock?"
"No," Sarah said. "Well, I've got my watch, but it doesn't have thirteen hours on it so I stopped using it."
He nodded and went to the door, "I would say goodnight but I'm not certain that it is night any longer." As he placed his hand on the doorknob, he heard Sarah clear her throat.
He turned back to her and she asked, "Are you really feeling better?"
He nodded, "Yes, much better."
She put her hands on her hips and her tone became matter of fact. "Good, because you managed to avoid it the first time, but you're not going to get away with it again."
He looked at her and arched an eyebrow in question.
"I'm starting to think that you don't want to kiss me goodnight." She surprised him by leaning up and pressing her lips gently against his in a soft kiss.
Before she could move back, his arms were around her and it was her turn to be surprised.
He smirked and said, "By your count, I still owe you a kiss."
He slid a hand into her hair and tilted her head back. He watched her eyelids flutter closed and her lips part slightly. But instead of kissing her mouth as she expected, he placed an open-mouthed kiss on the tender area just below her ear. His tongue delicately flicked out to taste her skin and he heard her gasp.
"Goodnight, Sarah," he purred into her ear.
He released her with a wicked smile and opened the door to find Twylla standing there, one hand balancing Sarah's breakfast tray, the other raised to knock.
"Your--Your Majesty," the goblin maid stammered. In once swift glance, she took in Jareth's wrinkled clothing, Sarah's robe and the rumpled bed behind them.
"I'll just bring this back later," Twylla said as she turned and fled.
Jareth watched Twylla's retreating back for a moment and then looked at Sarah. He opened his mouth to warn her of the inevitable gossip when she shook her head ruefully.
"Well," she said, "there goes my reputation." She sighed. "And it's stealing my breakfast."
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Jareth returned to his bedroom to change his clothing in preparation for the day. He was still tired, but decided that it had been worth the exhaustion not only to give Sarah some peace of mind, but also to hear her say she trusted him.
He left his chambers, asking a passing servant to see that he was brought breakfast in his office. Before the goblin could leave, he also ordered that a fresh breakfast tray be taken to Sarah. He had no idea how long her maid would be in returning and there was no point in her going hungry.
As the servant was leaving, he called out another order to her. The goblin looked momentarily surprised, but nodded. It wasn't up to her to question the King, she thought.
Entering his office, he saw Ethain placing the upcoming day's paperwork on his desk.
"Good morning, Ethain," Jareth said, picking up the nearest stack of papers and looking through them.
"Your Majesty," Ethain said slyly. "I trust you had a pleasant night?"
At hearing Ethain's tone, Jareth looked up. His eyes narrowed and he dropped the papers on his desk.
"If I could produce a weapon as efficient as the rumor-mongers in this castle, I would be the most feared man in the Underground."
"I beg your pardon, Your Majesty?" Ethain said, his tone overly innocent.
"I did not seduce Sarah," Jareth said, exasperated.
With a smile, Ethain dropped his pose. "Then what's this about you coming out of her room this morning wearing the same clothing you had on last night? And Sarah wearing only a robe?"
Jareth explained what he had done and how he had taken Sarah into her brother's dream. When he finished speaking, Ethain looked at him and shook his head.
"Have you gone insane? You took an incredible risk." Ethain was incredulous.
"It was justified," Jareth said, his voice was deceptively mild, but his eyes had gone cold.
"Was it? If you hadn't been able to release yourself from the dream, what would have happened? Who would rule the Goblin Kingdom and ultimately the Underground? You have no siblings and no heir." Ethain made a serious effort to control his anger. Pushing Jareth too far could be a dangerous proposition.
Ethain consciously softened his voice, "I like Sarah and I'm glad that you were able to help her. But taking risks that could leave Marcan as High King cannot be justified."
"While I appreciate your concern," Jareth said, his voice now as cold as his eyes, "it's done."
Ethain knew it was time to retreat. He'd ceased dealing with his friend and was now addressing his King.
"Of course, Your Majesty." Ethain gave a slight bow.
Jareth's voice warmed just a fraction. "I understand your reservations, Ethain. I will bear them in mind. Now, how are my parents?"
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After Jareth left, Sarah picked up the chair and placed it back in its original place. This was the second night in a row that she'd barely slept. She hadn't intended to sleep at all last night, but when Jareth continued to sleep peacefully, the temptation to close her eyes had finally become overpowering.
Sarah decided to lie down and rest until Twylla brought her breakfast back. A little nap would make her feel better, even if was only a few minutes worth. She stretched out on the bed and became aware of a faint trace of Jareth's scent on her pillow.
She thought that Jareth might have been lying to her again about how he felt this morning. She knew that men hated to admit to a weakness. But at least he looked much better and that frightening slur was gone from his voice.
Sarah had only just closed her eyes when Twylla knocked on the door. Sighing, Sarah opened the door to admit her maid.
Twylla peeked into the room, her eyes sweeping the room rapidly before entering.
"He's not here," Sarah said. "And it isn't what you think."
"None of my concern, is it?" Twylla said, placing the tray on the table. "He's the King, he can do what he likes. And you're a grown woman. None of my concern."
Sarah sighed. It wouldn't matter what she said; Twylla would believe what she wanted to believe. Changing the subject, Sarah said, "I want my Aboveworld clothes back from the laundry." She placed a special emphasis on the last word.
"Paslia's still working on your wardrobe, she'll have another gown ready today or tomorrow." Twylla's mouth began to settle in a stubborn line.
Sarah threw open the armoire and grabbed her scandalous black dress and waved it at the goblin. "Don't argue. If you don't bring me back my clothes, I'll wear this. It's all I've got left."
Twylla made a frustrated sound and left to retrieve Sarah's clothes. When she left, she passed another servant in the open doorway.
"What's this? I've already brought her breakfast." Twylla demanded.
The young goblin woman held up the newest breakfast tray. "It's from His Majesty."
Twylla shot Sarah a look as if to say, 'Ha! I knew better than to believe you.'
Sarah rolled her eyes and then asked the servant to take the tray away.
"But I have to give you this, ma'am," the goblin said. She held out a small clock.
Sarah started to laugh.
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After she'd eaten her breakfast, Twylla had come back with the first of several armloads of Sarah's Aboveworld clothing. Taking the garments from Twylla, Sarah hung them up herself. She was afraid that the little goblin maid would "accidentally" find someway to damage them irreparably.
Dressed in her jeans and t-shirt, Sarah went back to the library, but didn't even bother trying to read. She sat in front of the fireplace staring into the fire. She wondered what Toby had thought when he woke up and remembered the dream. When her family discovered that she was missing, would her words be any comfort to him? Or would all the trouble that Jareth had undertaken on her behalf be for nothing?
Her thoughts turned to the Goblin King. Her feelings regarding him were changing so rapidly. She'd been frightened of him that first night and last night she'd been frightened for him. And she'd been somewhat disturbed to realize how protective she'd felt as she'd watched over him.
Maybe if she'd had more experience with men...
She hadn't dated much in high school. She'd dated a cute drummer in the school orchestra, to the exclusion of other boys. Somewhat shy, Danny had later admitted to her that he'd been so nervous about first asking her out that he'd felt sick to his stomach.
The night of her seventeenth birthday, aided by a bottle of champagne stolen from his parents' wine cellar and fumbling declarations of love, he'd taken her virginity. It had been a somewhat bittersweet experience, the slight pain gone almost before it registered, but the act over before she felt anything more than a mild feeling of pleasure.
The relationship had inevitably ended after graduation when they'd left for separate colleges. A few months ago, she'd heard that Danny had gotten married and that he and his wife were expecting their first child.
Her only other serious relationship had been two years ago. Just out of college, she'd met Scott at a party given by a mutual friend. Four years older, he was much more sophisticated than she was and, of course, she'd fallen head over heels in love. He'd been handsome and charming, and he'd shown her that sex could be a very enjoyable experience.
Scott had been so much fun that it took her almost a year to realize that he was also incredibly selfish. He refused to participate in anything he didn't enjoy. This included going with her to any of the publishing house parties or coming to see her fencing competitions. The last straw had been when her beloved grandmother had died and Scott had chosen to go with his buddies to an afternoon baseball game instead of escorting Sarah to the funeral.
Sarah laughed to herself as she imagined how Scott would have reacted to last night's events. 'Scott, I'd like you to exhaust yourself to the point of illness and risk losing your mind just so that I can talk to my brother. I won't be talking to him in this world, of course. The entire conversation will take place in a dream.'
Her laughter died abruptly as she considered her imaginary conversation. Scott had claimed to love her and he hadn't even helped her paint her apartment. Jareth actually had exhausted himself and risked losing his mind.
Jareth was an attractive man who seemed to like her, who'd made an extravagant effort to help her; a man she already had strong feelings for. If it were the Aboveworld, she knew what she'd do--she'd ask him out as a way of saying 'thank you.' Unfortunately, she thought, dinner and a movie were out of the question here.
She paused, a small smile playing over her lips. Why couldn't she ask him out on an Aboveworld type date? She could arrange dinner and maybe dancing instead of a movie.
To pull this off, she would need to talk to the cook to see if she would prepare Jareth's favorite meal, then she'd need to find a room to use as a dining area. The main dining room with Ethain and Brennan in attendance certainly wouldn't do. Not for this. She had no idea what she would do about music for dancing. It wasn't as if she had her stereo here. Even if she did, there wasn't any electricity.
Ethain would know what to do. He'd also know if Jareth had appointments tonight. It might be better to check on these things before she actually approached Jareth.
Again, she scribbled out a note and flagged down a servant. In a few minutes, the servant returned and said that Ethain would meet her in the garden for lunch.
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Sarah was waiting in the garden when Ethain arrived. She jumped up from the bench where she'd been sitting and took her sandwich from Ethain.
"I need your help," Sarah said as Ethain sat.
"Of course, if possible." Ethain said.
"Do you keep Jareth's schedule? Because if you do, I was wondering if he had plans for dinner tonight or if he has a meeting after dinner?" She looked at him as she began eating.
"No," Ethain said, curious. "He has no specific dinner plans nor any evening meetings scheduled. May I ask why you inquire?"
"Well, I don't know if he told you, but last night..." Sarah started.
Ethain interrupted her, his tone abrupt. "Yes, he told me."
Sarah looked at him, somewhat taken aback. "Are you mad at me?"
"No," Ethain sighed. "It's just that His Majesty shouldn't take risks that would jeopardize the leadership of this kingdom."
"Oh, I see," Sarah said softly. "I didn't think of that. I know I shouldn't have let him do it, but I just wanted to talk to Toby so badly."
Ethain shook his head. "No, don't blame yourself. As His Majesty said, 'It's done.' Now, about his schedule..."
Sarah smiled slightly. "Well, as a 'thank you,' I'd like to have the cook make his favorite dinner and..." Her voice trailed off. She wasn't sure exactly how to tell Ethain about next part. "And I need someplace to have the dinner. And maybe music for dancing?"
Ethain began to smile. "And this is simply a way of saying 'thank you'? With music for dancing?"
"Yes. In the Aboveworld, it's a perfectly acceptable way of thanking someone for showing you a kindness," she said somewhat defensively.
"Really?" Ethain was grinning now and gave her a knowing look. He laughed and said, "I'll make the arrangements. I'll have the dining room prepared. Brennan and I can dine elsewhere tonight. As for the music, unless you want a small portion of the goblin orchestra, it might be best if you asked His Majesty to use magic to provide the music when he arrives."
Sarah smiled and said, "Thank you."
Ethain said, suddenly serious. "If you do nothing else, then I want you to at least be honest about your reasons for the evening you're planning. I don't quite believe that this is simply a way of saying 'thank you,' and I don't think you do, either.
"Don't allow Jareth to believe it's an act of appreciation if there's more to it than that. It wouldn't be fair to either of you. As you've recently pointed out, Sarah, you're not a child. This isn't the proper arena for games."
Before she could speak, Ethain stood. "I should start making the preparations. I'll make certain that everything is as you wish it to be."
After Ethain left, Sarah sat on the bench and thought about what he'd said. "Be honest," she whispered. She caught her breath as she remembered the way Jareth had kissed her in the throne room. Neither Danny nor Scott had ever made her feel the way Jareth could with just a kiss.
She'd watched both of those men sleep and never once felt as if she would fight an army to protect them.
Jareth had saved her life and he'd helped her talk to Toby at great cost to himself. He made her laugh one minute and sent delicious shivers up her spine with nothing more than a look the next. Oh god, she thought as her eyes widened. She hadn't believed it could happen so quickly, but there was no point in denying it. She was falling in love with him.
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