AN: Not much in this chapter has changed. A word here, a full stop there. For all the new readers, enjoy! For all the old readers welcome back.
As people who've read 'Mine' know, I'm a review junkie, so please leave a little note. Thanks!
I hope everyone likes my new fic, and there are some really great reviewers out there. I just want to say one thing. I love praise, I like constructive criticism but I hate whiners--if you don't like the story, don't whine about it, don't bad mouth it. Just go away, I'm not forcing anyone to read it. (I was always taught if I couldn't say anything nice, then I shouldn't say anything at all!) So if you have a point to make or you don't understand something, tell me nicely. I will try and explain and you will get a big thank you for taking the time to notice.
To Scattered Logic, my beta, a very good friend who has the best and wickedest sense of humour I've ever come across, she also happens to be a very caring person. To The Hooded Crow, a multi-talented lady who knows just all there is about DB, she's a really nice person, too! To Cormak, a very, very special lady who has so many talents, how she gets time to do all that she does is a mystery to me. And last but by no means least.
Too Much, Too Young.
A Moments Hesitation.
Sarah fell slowly, the Escher room coming apart as she descended. Landing lightly, she looked around. A light breeze lifted her hair slightly.
She was standing on a small ledge left over from the Escher room floor. All around her hung clumps of wall, defying the law of gravity. 'Was there a law of gravity in the Underground?' Sarah wondered. But now was not the time for an Underground physics debate; she had to find Toby. When she'd jumped, he'd been directly under her and now he was gone.
From an arch on the other side of the ledge strode the Goblin king, his gaze intense as it caught and held hers.
He looked exhausted. His eyes had shadows under them and his already prominent cheekbones were hollowed. His hair, a white blond, that normally stood out from his head in an odd way, now looked dull and lifeless.
He was dressed all in white. His breeches were indecently tight; they showed off his thigh muscles to an advantage. His white poet's shirt fluttered in the breeze. The cloak he wore looked as if it were made of little tufts of hair, white hair.
His eye's never leaving hers, he said, "Sarah--beware. I have been generous until now, but I can be cruel."
Tilting her head to the side she asked, "Generous!" Straightening her head again, "What have you done that was generous?"
"Everything," he snapped, calming himself he began circling her; she kept eye contact as she turned slowly.
"Everything you wanted I have done. You asked that the child be taken, I took him. You cowered before me. I was frightening." Still circling, he raised his arm pointing behind him, to indicate the clock that had appeared, its hands whirling. "I have reordered time. I have turned the world upside down. And I have done it all for you."
He stopped circling, and gave a tired sigh. "I'm exhausted from living up to your expectations of me. Isn't that generous?"
Sarah's heart was beating so loudly she wondered if he could hear it. It was true, every word he'd said was true. But she knew what she had to do. Except having to and wanting to were very different. She had to think of Toby.
"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered." Sarah couldn't believe her voice was so clear, especially considering it felt like her throat was closing up.
"I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the goblin city." On unsteady legs she walked forward. Forcing Jareth back.
"For my will is as strong as yours~"
Jareth raised his hand palm up, forcing her to halt. "Stop~" he pulled a crystal from thin air. "Wait." Holding the crystal higher. "Look Sarah~ Look at what I'm offering you. ~ Your dreams."
Sarah swallowed repeatedly, 'If he knows my dreams then why are we playing these silly games.' Then 'Concentrate, think of Toby.' The thoughts flew around in her mind as she struggled to remember the words.
"A-And my kingdom is as great." She could feel herself weakening. 'Please stop. Just let me finish. I have to save Toby.'
She turned her head, trying to think. Jareth took this opportunity to press forward. "I ask for so little. Just let me rule you. And you can have anything you want."
Sarah swung round to face him. "Anything?"
Jareth stepped forward, closing the space between them. Taking her face in his hands, he tilted her face up so she could look into his eyes.
"Anything. Just fear me. Love me, do as I say. And I will be your slave." His voice was low, almost caressing.
Sarah pulled away, "Stop it - just stop it! Why are you making this so difficult? Please~." Sarah started crying. Pressing her hands to her eyes, she angrily scrubbed the tears away. "~I have to save Toby."
Jareth reached for her hand and held it tight. Sarah stared at their joined hands, then up at him. He gave a half smile. "What if I were to send Toby home?" Sarah matched his smile, confused."
"But I do have a condition, Sarah."
Her face fell. She should have known.
"If I send Toby home, you have to stay here with me."
Sarah took a step back, her hand going to her mouth. "I need to think." But Sarah couldn't see how she could possibly think again, her thoughts were a jumble, but she had to at least try. This decision would change her life forever.
"I'm afraid there's no time to think, Sarah, time's almost up. Are you staying or are you not?" Jareth's voice was not mocking; he was just stating a fact. A look at the clock behind him showed 12:58, 2 more minutes. Sarah scrambled for an answer. To go, or stay.
Suddenly she could see everything clearly. What was waiting for her at home? Karen didn't like her; to her she was just a convenient babysitter. Her father no longer had time for her; he was always either at work or out with Karen. Toby was too young to miss her if she left. And she spent most of her time dreaming anyway. So why shouldn't she live her dreams?
Looking back at Jareth, she said, "I also have a condition. I'll stay, once you give me proof that you've sent Toby home."
"I'm offended, Sarah. Don't you trust me?" Jareth's eyes held a teasing glint.
Looking directly into his eyes, she said in half seriousness, "Not really."
"Done." The note of finality in his voice made Sarah's heart jump nervously.
Jareth held out his hand. "Come here, Sarah." Pushing down her feelings of mistrust, she stepped toward him, taking his hand. Jareth slid his other arm around her waist. "Hold tight," he warned as they disappeared.
Everything went black. Sarah felt a rush of freezing wind, and then they were standing in her dad and Karen's room, a few feet away from Toby's cot.
Sarah reached out her hand intending to go over to pull Toby's blankets over him, but stepped back in alarm as the door opened and a young blonde girl came in.
Jareth's arm tightened around her. "Don't move," he whispered. "She can't see us if we don't move."
The girl walked over to the cot and bent toward Toby. Her voice was low as she pulled the blankets over him. "Sweet dreams, sweetheart."
She trailed a finger down his soft baby cheek. Turning, she walked back out, flicking off the light as she went, leaving the door open slightly.
Sarah looked toward Jareth, who still had his arm around her. "Who was that?"
"Toby's babysitter. You didn't think I'd leave him alone, did you?"
Sarah felt him turn so he was facing her, his hands on her waist.
Looking up at him, she answered honestly, "I don't know what to think."
Just then she heard the front door open and close. Her father's voice sounded far away as he called, "Beth, we're home."
Jareth pulled Sarah closer to him. "I think it's time we left," he insisted.
Sarah bit down on her bottom lip. She longed to run down the stairs to say goodbye to her father, yet instinctively she knew that it wasn't a good idea.
Looking at the cot once more, she whispered, "Goodbye, Toby. I love you." Tears blurred her eyes and she looked away.
Jareth held her close and they vanished.
The door opened, Karen flicked on the light. "I could have sworn I heard somebody in here," she said to herself.