Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the "Labyrinth", but Whimsyn
and Damien are MINE aaaaallllllll MINE!!! Mwaahahahahah!!
Chapter 13
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!!
Sarah had only just closed her eyes. What the hell was that?! And why was sunlight streaming through her windows?
Sarah didn't even remember getting out of bed and answering the door. She wasn't even sure she was standing upright and even if she was, she couldn't see anything anyway. Well, okay. Maybe if she pried her hand off of her forehead and eyes, she would have better luck with the eyesight thing.
Looking down through bleary eyes, Sarah was greeted by a sight that she simply accepted as part of a dream. She couldn't possibly be awake.
Standing before her, was the strangest little man - or was he a goblin? - dressed in a pristine, sky-blue coat with matching breeches. On his head was a small cap with a graceful silver feather that fell over his hat brim to touch the silver-trimmed ruff around his neck. His body was covered in white fur. Curious gold-flecked eyes looked her up and down in an appraising manner.
"I've seen worse," were the first words out of the creature's mouth.
Make that a rude strange little dream creature.
Sarah just stared at him dumbly - too thunderstruck by his appearance to move, too tired to care.
The white, furry being cleared his throat and looked at her pointedly. Sarah noticed then that he was carrying a number of large, beautifully wrapped boxes somehow strapped on his back. Fine. Make that a STRONG rude strange little dream creature.
She stepped back from the door wonderingly and stared as he entered her room and set to work. In minutes her entire room was covered in bags and boxes and bows. She could kiss any hopes of going back to bed goodbye.
The little creature paused in his flurry of unwrappings and stared at her.
"Take these," he said brusquely, thrusting several stoppered bottles at her. "Now scrub really well. You look a wreck."
Sarah stood where she was, eyes barely open, mouth opening and closing in a mixture of sleep and indignation.
"Oh for the love of drunken goblin!" the little man/beast/thing exclaimed. But this time his voice sounded faintly compassionate. "Here."
He produced a crystal, very much like one of Jareth's, but smaller and blue. In an instant it popped in his hand and became a steaming mug of .could it really be.COFFEE? Sarah almost cried with happiness as she took the mug from his hand and drained it as quickly as its hot temperature would allow. After a few minutes of sipping, she felt much more awake and alive - really almost human, not that her present company could relate.
She thought an introduction was in order before she dropped her robes and started to wash with her odd companion nearby. She cleared her throat.
"Aren't you in the bath yet?" he snapped, whiskers moving impatiently. "I've got a lot of work to do and at the moment, I can't work with THAT," he indicated her rumpled presence disdainfully.
Sarah was about to say something cutting about snippy, sky-blue trousered puppies when she remembered her cup of coffee. Okay. The coffee was huge. She would let the rudeness slide just this once. With a weak smile, she trotted off to the bathroom clutching the bottles he had given her.
Thirty minutes later, she emerged, skin glowing and smelling like summer.
"MUCH better!!" the little man cried. "A little less like a kitchen goblin at least. Well, we only have two hours for me to bring out whatever it is his majesty sees in you. Let's pray for a miracle."
With those encouraging words, the small white dog (well, he looked like one so that was how Sarah decided to think of him for the moment) set to the task of dressing her. Even though Sarah had worked in the theater for years, she had never been forced to endure the level of plucking, manicuring, powdering and general artistic scrutiny that she was forced to undergo in those two hours. It was torture. But it was actually kind of fun. Fun torture. That sounded just like the Jareth she knew. No wonder he had selected this particular specimen of a fashion consultant to get her ready for her wedding day.
As Sarah's lengthy primping session drew to a close, she found that she was actually enjoying herself. Whimsyn, as he had later introduced himself, might not be an exactly patient sort of companion, but he had a positively wicked sense of humor and knew how to work miracles with all those girly things that Sarah had never given herself time to indulge in. Her stomach remained coiled in dread when she thought of the impending ceremony, but Whimsyn's scathingly funny comments about the guests who were sure to attend and non-stop instructional monologue on a proper beauty regimen were enough to distract her from her fears. She even managed to down half an egg and several slices of toast as he worked on her toenails.
Finally, Whimsyn produced a dress that he presented to Sarah with a flourish. The beaded material was so fine, it looked more a like a spider web covered with dew than ordinary cloth. The overdress consisted of a tight, beaded bodice with a graceful neckline that scooped low over Sarah's bosom and shoulders. The skirt fell in gauzy sections that fanned out whenever she walked to reveal the embroidered under dress beneath. Whimsyn placed a silver filigree belt around Sarah's hips, accented with a single crystal in the front and then caught Sarah's hair up in several beaded bands that matched her dress. Her sable hair fell over and behind the bands, curled into soft ringlets by Whimsyn's skillful hands. Here and there he had added a tiny braid that he wove a few beads into to give the effect of "stars hanging in a midnight sky".
Sarah would have been less poetic, but after surveying herself in the mirror, she thought she looked pretty good - for her. She looked .somehow innocent, even virginal. Well, she wasn't quite a virgin, but given the fact that the man she was marrying was Jareth, she figured she might as well be. Her cheeks went a little pale at the thought and Whimsyn hastened to add a little more color to her lips and cheeks.
He looked at the breathtakingly lovely woman before him with compassion. He didn't know exactly why, but he could tell that she was more than a little nervous - even frightened.
"I daresay, I have outdone myself," he said - for once, intending his words to be more encouraging than smug. "My dear, no one could possibly outshine you today."
"Thank you." Sarah worked up the ghost of a smile. "Thank you for everything."
Without thinking, she hugged her new friend. Whimsyn was shocked and then elated. He had never been HUGGED by a member of the royal family before. Those other sodden prigs who called themselves masters of costume and fashion would eat their HEARTS out. Plus, he genuinely liked this girl.
They jumped apart as another sharp rap sounded at the door. A familiar voice called "My lady!" and Sarah rushed to meet her new guest. When she opened the door to her room, she was delighted to find not only Sir Didymus waiting for her, but Hoggle and Ludo as well. With a joyful shout she flung herself into their waiting arms.
"Oh thank god you're all here. I am SO glad to see you!" she cried.
"My lady, no sun was ever more radiant than you are today!" Sir Didymus rejoined, looking admiringly at her.
Ludo simply said "Sa-wah! Back!" and Hoggle turned a little pink and looked at the ground. After a minute he said, "Ya sure look nice, Sarah."
Sarah was so grateful that she didn't have to go through her wedding completely alone that she almost burst into tears on the spot. She controlled herself when she remembered that any display was likely to earn her another half hour under the ministrations of Whimsyn. Two hours of solid beautification had left her feeling a little "primped out" for the time being.
"Won't you all come in and sit down?" she said, gesturing them all in. "Maybe we can rustle up some tea or something."
"I'm afraid there's no time for that," Hoggle cut in. "We've actually been sent to get you for the ceremony."
"What?! But it's so soon!" she gasped in dismay.
"Well, His Highness has the rest of the day blocked off for celebratin'. Plus it's bad luck to see the bride before the weddin' and I think he'd like to see YOU as soon as possible," Hoggle explained. He knew Sarah was probably terrified, but she had agreed to marry Jareth, so she might as well get it over with and then get good and drunk.
Ludo and Sir Didymus seemed to be of the same mind as the three of them practically dragged Sarah out the door. Sarah was completely confused. Had Jareth been thinking she would change her mind? It seemed awfully strange to rush willy-nilly into one of the most important events of her entire life when she hadn't even had a second cup of coffee.
Sarah's friends pulled her down what seemed to be an endless string of corridors before they finally slowed in front of a massive set of double doors. Ludo enveloped her in a furry embrace and then Sir Didymus pulled her to him for a fatherly kiss. She was certain she saw tears in Hoggle's eyes as he handed her an enormous bouquet.
"Whimsyn told me to give you this. He said your hands were shaking so badly it was rattling the beads on yer dress."
At least someone had thought to give her flowers! She had been feeling pretty naked there.
"And Sarah.if you ever need us.for anything at all."
Sarah had time for a last glimpse of her friends over her shoulder before the giant doors opened and they prodded her forward. Music streamed through out into the corridor and she realized belatedly that this must be her grand bridal entrance. Crud. She hadn't gone over any of this wedding stuff with anyone! What the heck was she supposed to do? She guessed that walking forward would be a good start. Sarah couldn't quite manage a smile, but she held her head high and managed not to trip on her hem which was all she was able to demand of herself at the moment.
When she saw the Goblin King waiting for her at the end of the aisle, her knees nearly gave out from under her. He was magnificent. He stood resplendent in a black frock coat with silver embroidery, looking more imposing than ever. His silver-blonde hair cascaded loosely over his shoulders and the sword at his side gleamed against the midnight folds of his cloak. Then there was the matter of the pants. Skin tight and perfectly cut. Keep your eyes off the pants!! You're supposed to look virginal here! Sarah thought, desperately hoping her thoughts were well-hidden. As she felt the flush creep up her neck, she figured she had failed to keep her composure yet again.
The chapel was packed with a motley assortment of beautiful fae and other Underground creatures, all riveted to the trembling bride making her way down the aisle. As Sarah drew nearer, Jareth caught his breath. She was even lovelier than he had imagined she would be. He felt his heart ricochet wildly between the deepest of loves and raw animal lust. How could this mere girl have such an effect on him? And how could he ever have been so lucky as to have her standing here, ready to commit herself to him for life? He pinched himself surreptitiously beneath the folds of his cloak just to make sure he was awake.
As Sarah reached him, her friends, having followed her down the aisle in case she fainted, moved to either side of the dias where Jareth waited. He gently grasped her hand and guided her up the last stairs. Together the two of them knelt as a druid, face hidden in a deep blue cowl, stood ready to intone the rites of their union. Jareth placed his arm around Sarah possessively, holding her close to his side as the ritual that would bind them together as husband and wife began. For once, Sarah was grateful that Jareth was holding her tightly to him. It was her only guarantee that she wouldn't collapse.
Most of the ceremony passed in a blur for both of them. Sarah was only aware of Jareth's eyes and the look in them when she repeated after the druid that yes, she would be his wife, and would love, honor, cherish and be faithful to him for all the rest of her days. Jareth in turn pressed both of her hands to his heart when he made his vow to love her for all eternity, be faithful to her, care for her and protect her until his dying breath. As her hands felt the strength of Jareth's heartbeat while he held them to his chest, Sarah was completely confused by the whole thing. She had expected the vows to be no more than a few formal, empty words. He looked as if he meant what he was saying with all of his soul.
Jareth did mean it. Well, when he could even keep his mind on the words he was saying. He was far too busy devouring his bride with his eyes throughout the ceremony. She was his. All his. And would never, ever belong to anyone else but him.
The druid performing the rites gave Jareth a cup to drink from that Jareth in turn passed to Sarah. After their vows and the ritual cup ceremony were complete, Jareth slipped a simple gold band on Sarah's hand and leaned in to seal their nuptials with a kiss.
Neither of them really knew what happened next.
Sarah closed her eyes and allowed Jareth to pull her to him. As soon as his lips touched her own, she saw exploding lights behind her closed eyelids and felt an enormous surge of energy well up inside her body. Sarah couldn't put a name to what was going on, but it felt like a river of golden light had come pouring out of her. The stranger part of it was that she could feel something else pouring IN. Something so powerful and deep and loving that she couldn't understand it, but instead was left to accept it and beckon it to her with open arms. Sarah felt her arms twine around Jareth's neck as she pressed the full length of her body to his. How his hair became tangled in her fingers, she couldn't say and didn't care.
Jareth was thunderstruck to feel the force of power that arose to greet his when he kissed Sarah. He knew that for the first time in his life, he was in the presence of someone whose power equaled his own. He didn't think Sarah was aware of the forces she held at her command, but he knew they might be his ruin anyway. Whatever happened, she was HIS now. His wife. His love. He imagined that he was holding her so tightly that he was probably giving her bruises. But he couldn't seem to stop himself from crushing her to him any more than she could stop herself from opening her mouth to his demanding lips and deepening their kiss.
The clash and subsequent twining of energy between the newly wedded couple did not go unnoticed among their guests. A nervous rumbling erupted in the pews around the newlyweds and more than one eyebrow was raised in surprise at the passionately kissing couple. No mortal-turned-fae had ever possessed any more than the most basic of magics. Any fae could tell that whatever force was coming from Jareth's bride was a good deal above the rudimentary. A few of the wiser guests exchanged grins. Jareth probably had no idea what he had just gotten himself into by marrying a woman as powerful as THAT.
Finally their kiss ended and Jareth and Sarah were left staring at each other with somewhat dazed expressions. Sarah blushed furiously as she belatedly untangled her arms from Jareth's neck and stepped away. Jareth had recovered more quickly and chose not to unwind his arms from Sarah's waist. He was looking at her the way a wolf looks at a lamb. Sarah was busy embodying an entirely different animal spirit. She reminded Jareth of a deer in headlights. What fun! He was only too happy to spend the rest of the evening seducing his wife.
With a joyful shout, he scooped his startled bride up in his arms and turned to the assembled guests.
"Let the dancing commence!" he cried and swept down the aisle, carrying his now mildly panicked wife. Sarah hadn't been dancing in years. She only hoped that Jareth's feet were already good and calloused.
They were ushered into Jareth's ballroom in an enthusiastic procession of fae, goblins, and other magical Underground creatures. Sarah's eyes darted frantically around the ballroom from her perch in Jareth's arms, hoping to catch a glimpse of Sir Didymus, Hoggle, or Ludo. Jareth, however, only had eyes for his new wife and had no intention of allowing her to leave his side.
He strode over to the center of the ballroom and lightly set Sarah on her feet.
"My love," he murmured into her ear, "I must claim the first dance."
Oh. My. God. Jareth's entire court was watching them. Sarah fixed a brilliant smile onto her face and leaned in toward Jareth with desperate eyes.
"The last time I danced with anyone, I was dancing with YOU," she hissed under her breath, her smile remaining firmly in place.
"Well, good. That is only as it should be," Jareth grinned. Then he leaned down and whispered, "As I recall you were a magnificent dancer. Don't worry, love. We're in this together."
Sarah's eyebrows rose in wonder at his encouragement and she took his hand. She had forgotten how easy it was to follow Jareth's lead and started to relax as he effortlessly whirled her around the ballroom. As the music grew more spirited and more couples joined them on the dance floor, Sarah even started to smile. She had always wanted to take ballroom dancing lessons, but somehow never could manage to fit it in between her various waitressing jobs and her busy rehearsal schedule. Sarah was having such a good time that she didn't notice that Jareth was dancing her toward one of the more secluded areas of the ballroom.
As Jareth watched the flushed and smiling face of the woman in his arms, he felt extremely pleased with himself. This time she wouldn't run from him. A moment alone in a curtained alcove would make their dance even more.pleasant.
Sarah suddenly noticed where they were heading and a flicker of consternation crossed her features. She had hoped for a little more time to prepare herself mentally before she and the goblin king were left alone.
"Leaving us so soon? Surely not! Allow me to cut in," a silken voice said over her shoulder.
Jareth barely suppressed a curse as he looked into the laughing brown eyes of his younger brother. His gaze shot daggers as he gracefully stepped aside and allowed Damien to take Sarah into his arms. Jareth cleared his throat in a threatening manner when Damien pulled Sarah closer, and Damien took a discreet step back, looking a bit like a kicked puppy.
"I'll take good care of her, brother," he promised, a devilish twinkle in his eyes as he gazed down at a very nervous Sarah.
"I'm afraid I'm rather protective of my wife. I would be quite wroth if any harm befell her while she was out of my arms," Jareth murmured, his smile oozing menace.
"Ah.yes. I'll try to return her to you in one piece," Damien chuckled, already waltzing her away.
Sarah was torn between relief at gaining a rain check from intimacy with her husband and panic at the fact that she had been passed into the arms of a stranger. She hoped Damien could dance as well as Jareth. If not, she hoped he was wearing thick boots.
"I didn't know Jareth had a brother," Sarah said, thinking she might as well start a conversation. With any luck, Damien might be able to give her more information about the man she'd just committed her life to.
"How in the world did he ever convince a gorgeous creature like you to marry him?" Damien smiled, his brown hair falling over his forehead making him seem boyishly naughty.
Sarah's discomfort increased. Damien was looking at her the way a dog looks at a dripping bone. However, if she could stand up to Jareth, she decided she could certainly handle his younger brother. If she was to live among the fae for the rest of her days, she might as well grab the bull by the horns when it came to dealing with them.
Sarah smiled directly into Damien's all-too-hungry eyes and settled for the truth.
"Blackmail," she purred.
Damien laughed delightedly.
"Of course, the clever bastard. It's only a shame that he found something to blackmail you with before I did. I'm much more pleasant company."
Sarah only arched a brow at him as she whirled under his arm. He really was a decent dancer. Thank god.
"I wonder how he managed to bring you back since you did defeat him at his own game - and when you were a mere child at that. Care to enlighten me?"
Sarah did NOT want to get into it. The thought of being torn away from her family caused a shadow to cross her face. They must still be terribly worried about her. The curiosity in Damien's eyes was becoming even more intense, so Sarah laughed lightly and tried to deflect his attention.
"But I've already answered one of your questions, so it's time for you to answer one of mine. Shouldn't you be regaling me with amusing stories about Jareth when he was a boy? Surely there must be something about him that I don't know."
As she spoke, Sarah decided to smile and look up at him through her lashes flirtatiously. Feminine wiles had to be good for something.
Damien fell for it hook, line and sinker. Within an instant he was animatedly recounting a story about a very young Jareth who had mistakenly turned himself into a bunnyrabbit while he had been attempting to master the spell for transforming himself into an owl. Apparently he had copied down the spell wrong and ended up stuck as a rabbit for three days before Damien had helped him find the right book and the two of them had reversed the spell. Damien had been a little sad to see his brother regain his own form since it had been immensely fun to watch his nose wiggle when he ate carrots.
Jareth heard Sarah's musical laughter and strode to her side before he could be completely consumed with jealousy.
"Ah, pardon me, but I must reclaim my wife for awhile. Sarah, there are some people who I simply must introduce you to."
Sarah reluctantly left Damien's stories and followed her husband, but inside she was feeling rather pleased with herself. Her conversation with Damien had confirmed what she suspected - magic had to be LEARNED - and could be learned from BOOKS. Her impulse to get into Jareth's library had been correct then. Well, good. She would start her studies as soon as possible.
Jareth spent the next several hours introducing his queen to the various members of the court. He was growing more impressed with his young wife by the minute. She remembered everything he had told her yesterday and was putting her knowledge to good use. He could tell that the other nobles were surprised at the grace and ease Jareth's Aboveground wife exuded. Of course they would have been expecting someone who was no doubt lovely, but clumsy and uneducated about their ways. Jareth felt himself puff up a bit with possessive pride. Sarah had surprised them all.
After awhile, Jareth guided Sarah over to the enormous pillow pit in the center of the ballroom. Sarah hesitated, since the sight of that pillow pit held somewhat embarrassing memories for her. Years ago, while she had been whirling around this same ballroom in the Goblin King's arms, she had wanted Jareth to fling her down onto the cushions and kiss her senseless. She was amazed that such a distant memory could still make her feel so ashamed.
Jareth saw the look on her face and misread it as exhaustion. Without preamble, he took her in his arms and eased her onto the pillows, and then sat down next to her, pulling her close. He gestured to a servant for food and wine and turned to look down at his wife. With a sigh, Sarah rested her head on his shoulder. The unconscious intimacy in the gesture made Jareth feel positively silly with happiness.
The servant returned and Jareth handed Sarah a glass of wine and some fruit. She took both gratefully and looked at him with questioning eyes over the rim of her glass.
"What?" he asked with an indulgent smile.
"Oh, nothing," she demurred, clearly abashed to have been caught staring.
"No, tell me." Jareth's voice was firm and his grip on her tightened. She belonged to him and secrets of any kind were unacceptable.
Sarah was about to demur again and then saw the dangerous look on Jareth's face and thought better of it.
"It's just that.well, what's in this for you? By marrying you, I can see my family and let them know that I'm alive and well. But why would you want to marry me? I'm certain you could have your pick of any of the fairy princesses who have been following you about and looking at me as if I were some kind of slug."
So she had noticed? Wonderful!
Sarah continued, "Why would you marry some human woman whom you have no reason even to like? This whole thing makes no sense to me, Jareth."
"Makes no sense at all..for the world to fall." Jareth hummed, leaning in closer to Sarah. His gorgeous mouth hovered dangerously near her own before dipping lower so that his lips touched her collarbone. She gasped as she felt one gloved hand trace the low neckline of her gown over her shoulders and down to where it dove to expose the tops of her breasts. Slowly, his hand skimmed lower, over the curve of her bosom and past her waist and hips to settle firmly on her bottom.
Sarah couldn't believe that her husband was feeling her up in front of all of their guests. Well, as she looked around at the debauchery that most of the now-drunken party was participating in, she supposed his attentions were rather mild compared to what was going on around them. Even so, there were a few things that she was shy about in her Aboveground-human-society- like way and this was definitely one of them.
"Please." she whispered, trying to pull away. Jareth only pressed her more firmly into the pillows and covered her protesting lips with his own. She felt devoured by his kiss. The passion that flamed through her entire body as his lips claimed hers was like a brand. Her mouth parted beneath his and she couldn't resist the pleasure of flicking her tongue against his. He tasted so sweet.almost like peaches and honey. Sarah was so lost in the moment that she didn't resist as he grasped both of her hands and pressed them into the softness of the cushions, allowing him easy access to her lovely neck and shoulders. He started to nibble gently on her lower lip, teasing the corners of her mouth until she thought she would die of anticipation. Against her will, a low moan of pleasure escaped her. The lust in Jareth's eyes burned brighter as his eyes raked over her triumphantly. Sarah caught the look and went still.
"No," she breathed.
Jareth was poised to ignore her and explore the fascinatingly low neckline on her gown some more when he heard the first hoots and whistles from the crowd. Drat. Of course their guests would be eager to encourage their every "happiness". This was hardly unusual among fae who were famous for their wedding-party orgies, but Jareth saw the look on Sarah's face and was reminded that most humans just didn't DO this kind of thing - at least not nearly often enough in his opinion.
"Darling, please.not here," Sarah breathed, looking up at him with pleading eyes.
Jareth instantly relented. She had called him 'darling'. He was even more of a complete fool for this woman than he had thought.
Jareth released Sarah from her position beneath him, but with a smile that was so wicked, she wasn't certain if she hadn't just jumped from the frying pan into the fire.
He turned to the crowd with a flourish.
"My queen and I thank you for coming to our wedding. Although it has been more than an honor to spend the evening among you, I think it is time my bride and I retired for the night. By all means, do stay and enjoy yourselves as long as you like!"
Jareth's little speech elicited even more noise from the crowd as well as many drunkenly roared toasts to.healthy relations. Sarah found herself swept up into her husband's arms for a second time that evening as his mouth found hers for a loud and lengthy kiss.
In a shimmer of stardust, they vanished.
Chapter 13
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!!
Sarah had only just closed her eyes. What the hell was that?! And why was sunlight streaming through her windows?
Sarah didn't even remember getting out of bed and answering the door. She wasn't even sure she was standing upright and even if she was, she couldn't see anything anyway. Well, okay. Maybe if she pried her hand off of her forehead and eyes, she would have better luck with the eyesight thing.
Looking down through bleary eyes, Sarah was greeted by a sight that she simply accepted as part of a dream. She couldn't possibly be awake.
Standing before her, was the strangest little man - or was he a goblin? - dressed in a pristine, sky-blue coat with matching breeches. On his head was a small cap with a graceful silver feather that fell over his hat brim to touch the silver-trimmed ruff around his neck. His body was covered in white fur. Curious gold-flecked eyes looked her up and down in an appraising manner.
"I've seen worse," were the first words out of the creature's mouth.
Make that a rude strange little dream creature.
Sarah just stared at him dumbly - too thunderstruck by his appearance to move, too tired to care.
The white, furry being cleared his throat and looked at her pointedly. Sarah noticed then that he was carrying a number of large, beautifully wrapped boxes somehow strapped on his back. Fine. Make that a STRONG rude strange little dream creature.
She stepped back from the door wonderingly and stared as he entered her room and set to work. In minutes her entire room was covered in bags and boxes and bows. She could kiss any hopes of going back to bed goodbye.
The little creature paused in his flurry of unwrappings and stared at her.
"Take these," he said brusquely, thrusting several stoppered bottles at her. "Now scrub really well. You look a wreck."
Sarah stood where she was, eyes barely open, mouth opening and closing in a mixture of sleep and indignation.
"Oh for the love of drunken goblin!" the little man/beast/thing exclaimed. But this time his voice sounded faintly compassionate. "Here."
He produced a crystal, very much like one of Jareth's, but smaller and blue. In an instant it popped in his hand and became a steaming mug of .could it really be.COFFEE? Sarah almost cried with happiness as she took the mug from his hand and drained it as quickly as its hot temperature would allow. After a few minutes of sipping, she felt much more awake and alive - really almost human, not that her present company could relate.
She thought an introduction was in order before she dropped her robes and started to wash with her odd companion nearby. She cleared her throat.
"Aren't you in the bath yet?" he snapped, whiskers moving impatiently. "I've got a lot of work to do and at the moment, I can't work with THAT," he indicated her rumpled presence disdainfully.
Sarah was about to say something cutting about snippy, sky-blue trousered puppies when she remembered her cup of coffee. Okay. The coffee was huge. She would let the rudeness slide just this once. With a weak smile, she trotted off to the bathroom clutching the bottles he had given her.
Thirty minutes later, she emerged, skin glowing and smelling like summer.
"MUCH better!!" the little man cried. "A little less like a kitchen goblin at least. Well, we only have two hours for me to bring out whatever it is his majesty sees in you. Let's pray for a miracle."
With those encouraging words, the small white dog (well, he looked like one so that was how Sarah decided to think of him for the moment) set to the task of dressing her. Even though Sarah had worked in the theater for years, she had never been forced to endure the level of plucking, manicuring, powdering and general artistic scrutiny that she was forced to undergo in those two hours. It was torture. But it was actually kind of fun. Fun torture. That sounded just like the Jareth she knew. No wonder he had selected this particular specimen of a fashion consultant to get her ready for her wedding day.
As Sarah's lengthy primping session drew to a close, she found that she was actually enjoying herself. Whimsyn, as he had later introduced himself, might not be an exactly patient sort of companion, but he had a positively wicked sense of humor and knew how to work miracles with all those girly things that Sarah had never given herself time to indulge in. Her stomach remained coiled in dread when she thought of the impending ceremony, but Whimsyn's scathingly funny comments about the guests who were sure to attend and non-stop instructional monologue on a proper beauty regimen were enough to distract her from her fears. She even managed to down half an egg and several slices of toast as he worked on her toenails.
Finally, Whimsyn produced a dress that he presented to Sarah with a flourish. The beaded material was so fine, it looked more a like a spider web covered with dew than ordinary cloth. The overdress consisted of a tight, beaded bodice with a graceful neckline that scooped low over Sarah's bosom and shoulders. The skirt fell in gauzy sections that fanned out whenever she walked to reveal the embroidered under dress beneath. Whimsyn placed a silver filigree belt around Sarah's hips, accented with a single crystal in the front and then caught Sarah's hair up in several beaded bands that matched her dress. Her sable hair fell over and behind the bands, curled into soft ringlets by Whimsyn's skillful hands. Here and there he had added a tiny braid that he wove a few beads into to give the effect of "stars hanging in a midnight sky".
Sarah would have been less poetic, but after surveying herself in the mirror, she thought she looked pretty good - for her. She looked .somehow innocent, even virginal. Well, she wasn't quite a virgin, but given the fact that the man she was marrying was Jareth, she figured she might as well be. Her cheeks went a little pale at the thought and Whimsyn hastened to add a little more color to her lips and cheeks.
He looked at the breathtakingly lovely woman before him with compassion. He didn't know exactly why, but he could tell that she was more than a little nervous - even frightened.
"I daresay, I have outdone myself," he said - for once, intending his words to be more encouraging than smug. "My dear, no one could possibly outshine you today."
"Thank you." Sarah worked up the ghost of a smile. "Thank you for everything."
Without thinking, she hugged her new friend. Whimsyn was shocked and then elated. He had never been HUGGED by a member of the royal family before. Those other sodden prigs who called themselves masters of costume and fashion would eat their HEARTS out. Plus, he genuinely liked this girl.
They jumped apart as another sharp rap sounded at the door. A familiar voice called "My lady!" and Sarah rushed to meet her new guest. When she opened the door to her room, she was delighted to find not only Sir Didymus waiting for her, but Hoggle and Ludo as well. With a joyful shout she flung herself into their waiting arms.
"Oh thank god you're all here. I am SO glad to see you!" she cried.
"My lady, no sun was ever more radiant than you are today!" Sir Didymus rejoined, looking admiringly at her.
Ludo simply said "Sa-wah! Back!" and Hoggle turned a little pink and looked at the ground. After a minute he said, "Ya sure look nice, Sarah."
Sarah was so grateful that she didn't have to go through her wedding completely alone that she almost burst into tears on the spot. She controlled herself when she remembered that any display was likely to earn her another half hour under the ministrations of Whimsyn. Two hours of solid beautification had left her feeling a little "primped out" for the time being.
"Won't you all come in and sit down?" she said, gesturing them all in. "Maybe we can rustle up some tea or something."
"I'm afraid there's no time for that," Hoggle cut in. "We've actually been sent to get you for the ceremony."
"What?! But it's so soon!" she gasped in dismay.
"Well, His Highness has the rest of the day blocked off for celebratin'. Plus it's bad luck to see the bride before the weddin' and I think he'd like to see YOU as soon as possible," Hoggle explained. He knew Sarah was probably terrified, but she had agreed to marry Jareth, so she might as well get it over with and then get good and drunk.
Ludo and Sir Didymus seemed to be of the same mind as the three of them practically dragged Sarah out the door. Sarah was completely confused. Had Jareth been thinking she would change her mind? It seemed awfully strange to rush willy-nilly into one of the most important events of her entire life when she hadn't even had a second cup of coffee.
Sarah's friends pulled her down what seemed to be an endless string of corridors before they finally slowed in front of a massive set of double doors. Ludo enveloped her in a furry embrace and then Sir Didymus pulled her to him for a fatherly kiss. She was certain she saw tears in Hoggle's eyes as he handed her an enormous bouquet.
"Whimsyn told me to give you this. He said your hands were shaking so badly it was rattling the beads on yer dress."
At least someone had thought to give her flowers! She had been feeling pretty naked there.
"And Sarah.if you ever need us.for anything at all."
Sarah had time for a last glimpse of her friends over her shoulder before the giant doors opened and they prodded her forward. Music streamed through out into the corridor and she realized belatedly that this must be her grand bridal entrance. Crud. She hadn't gone over any of this wedding stuff with anyone! What the heck was she supposed to do? She guessed that walking forward would be a good start. Sarah couldn't quite manage a smile, but she held her head high and managed not to trip on her hem which was all she was able to demand of herself at the moment.
When she saw the Goblin King waiting for her at the end of the aisle, her knees nearly gave out from under her. He was magnificent. He stood resplendent in a black frock coat with silver embroidery, looking more imposing than ever. His silver-blonde hair cascaded loosely over his shoulders and the sword at his side gleamed against the midnight folds of his cloak. Then there was the matter of the pants. Skin tight and perfectly cut. Keep your eyes off the pants!! You're supposed to look virginal here! Sarah thought, desperately hoping her thoughts were well-hidden. As she felt the flush creep up her neck, she figured she had failed to keep her composure yet again.
The chapel was packed with a motley assortment of beautiful fae and other Underground creatures, all riveted to the trembling bride making her way down the aisle. As Sarah drew nearer, Jareth caught his breath. She was even lovelier than he had imagined she would be. He felt his heart ricochet wildly between the deepest of loves and raw animal lust. How could this mere girl have such an effect on him? And how could he ever have been so lucky as to have her standing here, ready to commit herself to him for life? He pinched himself surreptitiously beneath the folds of his cloak just to make sure he was awake.
As Sarah reached him, her friends, having followed her down the aisle in case she fainted, moved to either side of the dias where Jareth waited. He gently grasped her hand and guided her up the last stairs. Together the two of them knelt as a druid, face hidden in a deep blue cowl, stood ready to intone the rites of their union. Jareth placed his arm around Sarah possessively, holding her close to his side as the ritual that would bind them together as husband and wife began. For once, Sarah was grateful that Jareth was holding her tightly to him. It was her only guarantee that she wouldn't collapse.
Most of the ceremony passed in a blur for both of them. Sarah was only aware of Jareth's eyes and the look in them when she repeated after the druid that yes, she would be his wife, and would love, honor, cherish and be faithful to him for all the rest of her days. Jareth in turn pressed both of her hands to his heart when he made his vow to love her for all eternity, be faithful to her, care for her and protect her until his dying breath. As her hands felt the strength of Jareth's heartbeat while he held them to his chest, Sarah was completely confused by the whole thing. She had expected the vows to be no more than a few formal, empty words. He looked as if he meant what he was saying with all of his soul.
Jareth did mean it. Well, when he could even keep his mind on the words he was saying. He was far too busy devouring his bride with his eyes throughout the ceremony. She was his. All his. And would never, ever belong to anyone else but him.
The druid performing the rites gave Jareth a cup to drink from that Jareth in turn passed to Sarah. After their vows and the ritual cup ceremony were complete, Jareth slipped a simple gold band on Sarah's hand and leaned in to seal their nuptials with a kiss.
Neither of them really knew what happened next.
Sarah closed her eyes and allowed Jareth to pull her to him. As soon as his lips touched her own, she saw exploding lights behind her closed eyelids and felt an enormous surge of energy well up inside her body. Sarah couldn't put a name to what was going on, but it felt like a river of golden light had come pouring out of her. The stranger part of it was that she could feel something else pouring IN. Something so powerful and deep and loving that she couldn't understand it, but instead was left to accept it and beckon it to her with open arms. Sarah felt her arms twine around Jareth's neck as she pressed the full length of her body to his. How his hair became tangled in her fingers, she couldn't say and didn't care.
Jareth was thunderstruck to feel the force of power that arose to greet his when he kissed Sarah. He knew that for the first time in his life, he was in the presence of someone whose power equaled his own. He didn't think Sarah was aware of the forces she held at her command, but he knew they might be his ruin anyway. Whatever happened, she was HIS now. His wife. His love. He imagined that he was holding her so tightly that he was probably giving her bruises. But he couldn't seem to stop himself from crushing her to him any more than she could stop herself from opening her mouth to his demanding lips and deepening their kiss.
The clash and subsequent twining of energy between the newly wedded couple did not go unnoticed among their guests. A nervous rumbling erupted in the pews around the newlyweds and more than one eyebrow was raised in surprise at the passionately kissing couple. No mortal-turned-fae had ever possessed any more than the most basic of magics. Any fae could tell that whatever force was coming from Jareth's bride was a good deal above the rudimentary. A few of the wiser guests exchanged grins. Jareth probably had no idea what he had just gotten himself into by marrying a woman as powerful as THAT.
Finally their kiss ended and Jareth and Sarah were left staring at each other with somewhat dazed expressions. Sarah blushed furiously as she belatedly untangled her arms from Jareth's neck and stepped away. Jareth had recovered more quickly and chose not to unwind his arms from Sarah's waist. He was looking at her the way a wolf looks at a lamb. Sarah was busy embodying an entirely different animal spirit. She reminded Jareth of a deer in headlights. What fun! He was only too happy to spend the rest of the evening seducing his wife.
With a joyful shout, he scooped his startled bride up in his arms and turned to the assembled guests.
"Let the dancing commence!" he cried and swept down the aisle, carrying his now mildly panicked wife. Sarah hadn't been dancing in years. She only hoped that Jareth's feet were already good and calloused.
They were ushered into Jareth's ballroom in an enthusiastic procession of fae, goblins, and other magical Underground creatures. Sarah's eyes darted frantically around the ballroom from her perch in Jareth's arms, hoping to catch a glimpse of Sir Didymus, Hoggle, or Ludo. Jareth, however, only had eyes for his new wife and had no intention of allowing her to leave his side.
He strode over to the center of the ballroom and lightly set Sarah on her feet.
"My love," he murmured into her ear, "I must claim the first dance."
Oh. My. God. Jareth's entire court was watching them. Sarah fixed a brilliant smile onto her face and leaned in toward Jareth with desperate eyes.
"The last time I danced with anyone, I was dancing with YOU," she hissed under her breath, her smile remaining firmly in place.
"Well, good. That is only as it should be," Jareth grinned. Then he leaned down and whispered, "As I recall you were a magnificent dancer. Don't worry, love. We're in this together."
Sarah's eyebrows rose in wonder at his encouragement and she took his hand. She had forgotten how easy it was to follow Jareth's lead and started to relax as he effortlessly whirled her around the ballroom. As the music grew more spirited and more couples joined them on the dance floor, Sarah even started to smile. She had always wanted to take ballroom dancing lessons, but somehow never could manage to fit it in between her various waitressing jobs and her busy rehearsal schedule. Sarah was having such a good time that she didn't notice that Jareth was dancing her toward one of the more secluded areas of the ballroom.
As Jareth watched the flushed and smiling face of the woman in his arms, he felt extremely pleased with himself. This time she wouldn't run from him. A moment alone in a curtained alcove would make their dance even more.pleasant.
Sarah suddenly noticed where they were heading and a flicker of consternation crossed her features. She had hoped for a little more time to prepare herself mentally before she and the goblin king were left alone.
"Leaving us so soon? Surely not! Allow me to cut in," a silken voice said over her shoulder.
Jareth barely suppressed a curse as he looked into the laughing brown eyes of his younger brother. His gaze shot daggers as he gracefully stepped aside and allowed Damien to take Sarah into his arms. Jareth cleared his throat in a threatening manner when Damien pulled Sarah closer, and Damien took a discreet step back, looking a bit like a kicked puppy.
"I'll take good care of her, brother," he promised, a devilish twinkle in his eyes as he gazed down at a very nervous Sarah.
"I'm afraid I'm rather protective of my wife. I would be quite wroth if any harm befell her while she was out of my arms," Jareth murmured, his smile oozing menace.
"Ah.yes. I'll try to return her to you in one piece," Damien chuckled, already waltzing her away.
Sarah was torn between relief at gaining a rain check from intimacy with her husband and panic at the fact that she had been passed into the arms of a stranger. She hoped Damien could dance as well as Jareth. If not, she hoped he was wearing thick boots.
"I didn't know Jareth had a brother," Sarah said, thinking she might as well start a conversation. With any luck, Damien might be able to give her more information about the man she'd just committed her life to.
"How in the world did he ever convince a gorgeous creature like you to marry him?" Damien smiled, his brown hair falling over his forehead making him seem boyishly naughty.
Sarah's discomfort increased. Damien was looking at her the way a dog looks at a dripping bone. However, if she could stand up to Jareth, she decided she could certainly handle his younger brother. If she was to live among the fae for the rest of her days, she might as well grab the bull by the horns when it came to dealing with them.
Sarah smiled directly into Damien's all-too-hungry eyes and settled for the truth.
"Blackmail," she purred.
Damien laughed delightedly.
"Of course, the clever bastard. It's only a shame that he found something to blackmail you with before I did. I'm much more pleasant company."
Sarah only arched a brow at him as she whirled under his arm. He really was a decent dancer. Thank god.
"I wonder how he managed to bring you back since you did defeat him at his own game - and when you were a mere child at that. Care to enlighten me?"
Sarah did NOT want to get into it. The thought of being torn away from her family caused a shadow to cross her face. They must still be terribly worried about her. The curiosity in Damien's eyes was becoming even more intense, so Sarah laughed lightly and tried to deflect his attention.
"But I've already answered one of your questions, so it's time for you to answer one of mine. Shouldn't you be regaling me with amusing stories about Jareth when he was a boy? Surely there must be something about him that I don't know."
As she spoke, Sarah decided to smile and look up at him through her lashes flirtatiously. Feminine wiles had to be good for something.
Damien fell for it hook, line and sinker. Within an instant he was animatedly recounting a story about a very young Jareth who had mistakenly turned himself into a bunnyrabbit while he had been attempting to master the spell for transforming himself into an owl. Apparently he had copied down the spell wrong and ended up stuck as a rabbit for three days before Damien had helped him find the right book and the two of them had reversed the spell. Damien had been a little sad to see his brother regain his own form since it had been immensely fun to watch his nose wiggle when he ate carrots.
Jareth heard Sarah's musical laughter and strode to her side before he could be completely consumed with jealousy.
"Ah, pardon me, but I must reclaim my wife for awhile. Sarah, there are some people who I simply must introduce you to."
Sarah reluctantly left Damien's stories and followed her husband, but inside she was feeling rather pleased with herself. Her conversation with Damien had confirmed what she suspected - magic had to be LEARNED - and could be learned from BOOKS. Her impulse to get into Jareth's library had been correct then. Well, good. She would start her studies as soon as possible.
Jareth spent the next several hours introducing his queen to the various members of the court. He was growing more impressed with his young wife by the minute. She remembered everything he had told her yesterday and was putting her knowledge to good use. He could tell that the other nobles were surprised at the grace and ease Jareth's Aboveground wife exuded. Of course they would have been expecting someone who was no doubt lovely, but clumsy and uneducated about their ways. Jareth felt himself puff up a bit with possessive pride. Sarah had surprised them all.
After awhile, Jareth guided Sarah over to the enormous pillow pit in the center of the ballroom. Sarah hesitated, since the sight of that pillow pit held somewhat embarrassing memories for her. Years ago, while she had been whirling around this same ballroom in the Goblin King's arms, she had wanted Jareth to fling her down onto the cushions and kiss her senseless. She was amazed that such a distant memory could still make her feel so ashamed.
Jareth saw the look on her face and misread it as exhaustion. Without preamble, he took her in his arms and eased her onto the pillows, and then sat down next to her, pulling her close. He gestured to a servant for food and wine and turned to look down at his wife. With a sigh, Sarah rested her head on his shoulder. The unconscious intimacy in the gesture made Jareth feel positively silly with happiness.
The servant returned and Jareth handed Sarah a glass of wine and some fruit. She took both gratefully and looked at him with questioning eyes over the rim of her glass.
"What?" he asked with an indulgent smile.
"Oh, nothing," she demurred, clearly abashed to have been caught staring.
"No, tell me." Jareth's voice was firm and his grip on her tightened. She belonged to him and secrets of any kind were unacceptable.
Sarah was about to demur again and then saw the dangerous look on Jareth's face and thought better of it.
"It's just that.well, what's in this for you? By marrying you, I can see my family and let them know that I'm alive and well. But why would you want to marry me? I'm certain you could have your pick of any of the fairy princesses who have been following you about and looking at me as if I were some kind of slug."
So she had noticed? Wonderful!
Sarah continued, "Why would you marry some human woman whom you have no reason even to like? This whole thing makes no sense to me, Jareth."
"Makes no sense at all..for the world to fall." Jareth hummed, leaning in closer to Sarah. His gorgeous mouth hovered dangerously near her own before dipping lower so that his lips touched her collarbone. She gasped as she felt one gloved hand trace the low neckline of her gown over her shoulders and down to where it dove to expose the tops of her breasts. Slowly, his hand skimmed lower, over the curve of her bosom and past her waist and hips to settle firmly on her bottom.
Sarah couldn't believe that her husband was feeling her up in front of all of their guests. Well, as she looked around at the debauchery that most of the now-drunken party was participating in, she supposed his attentions were rather mild compared to what was going on around them. Even so, there were a few things that she was shy about in her Aboveground-human-society- like way and this was definitely one of them.
"Please." she whispered, trying to pull away. Jareth only pressed her more firmly into the pillows and covered her protesting lips with his own. She felt devoured by his kiss. The passion that flamed through her entire body as his lips claimed hers was like a brand. Her mouth parted beneath his and she couldn't resist the pleasure of flicking her tongue against his. He tasted so sweet.almost like peaches and honey. Sarah was so lost in the moment that she didn't resist as he grasped both of her hands and pressed them into the softness of the cushions, allowing him easy access to her lovely neck and shoulders. He started to nibble gently on her lower lip, teasing the corners of her mouth until she thought she would die of anticipation. Against her will, a low moan of pleasure escaped her. The lust in Jareth's eyes burned brighter as his eyes raked over her triumphantly. Sarah caught the look and went still.
"No," she breathed.
Jareth was poised to ignore her and explore the fascinatingly low neckline on her gown some more when he heard the first hoots and whistles from the crowd. Drat. Of course their guests would be eager to encourage their every "happiness". This was hardly unusual among fae who were famous for their wedding-party orgies, but Jareth saw the look on Sarah's face and was reminded that most humans just didn't DO this kind of thing - at least not nearly often enough in his opinion.
"Darling, please.not here," Sarah breathed, looking up at him with pleading eyes.
Jareth instantly relented. She had called him 'darling'. He was even more of a complete fool for this woman than he had thought.
Jareth released Sarah from her position beneath him, but with a smile that was so wicked, she wasn't certain if she hadn't just jumped from the frying pan into the fire.
He turned to the crowd with a flourish.
"My queen and I thank you for coming to our wedding. Although it has been more than an honor to spend the evening among you, I think it is time my bride and I retired for the night. By all means, do stay and enjoy yourselves as long as you like!"
Jareth's little speech elicited even more noise from the crowd as well as many drunkenly roared toasts to.healthy relations. Sarah found herself swept up into her husband's arms for a second time that evening as his mouth found hers for a loud and lengthy kiss.
In a shimmer of stardust, they vanished.