Well, here is the newest chapter. Not a lot of battles will be going on anymore. Whew!
Disclaimer: *sigh* Nope, still own nothing...
Chapter Nine: Aftermath
Sarah clumsily got off of the unicorn and removed her helmet. She knew she had to retrieve her sword, but the thought left her feeling sicker than ever. Her arms and legs shook as she moved towards the fallen elf.
The injured goblin came over to her. He had torn the hem of his shirt to use as a bandage around his shoulder. He got her sword for her, wiping it on the elfin general's clothing to clean it before handing it to her.
"My name's Teh," he introduced himself in his gruff voice. "Well fought, Lady Sarah,"
"Thank you, I think," Sarah answered weakly. "You should be resting, not out here, someone might attack again."
He was shaking his head and he looked toward the main battle. Sarah followed his gaze to see that King Orson and Prince Kamal and their forces had come and were closing Xavier's troops in from the back. She just had time to label these people as friends before the Labyrinth tried to shut them out. The fresh troops were in the process finishing off or imprisoning the last of Xavier's men shortly after. Smaller battles raged off to the sides with those elves that would not give in without a fight, but they soon lost their lives. Finally, she spotted Jareth, sitting on his steed with his unsheathed sword covered with blood. Xavier lay at his horse's feet.
As though he sensed her gaze, he looked up at her. Sarah breathed a sigh of relief to see that he was relatively unharmed. A few cuts ran along his body, but he did not seem troubled by them.
"As it is, ye should be restin', Lady. His Highness will be fit to be tied when he sees yer condition."
Just then, the pain came back in her left shoulder and she grimaced. She placed a hand on her left shoulder, which brought back the stinging sensation. It was warm, wet, and sticky with her blood. She looked at it. Macavity's sword had injured her through the chain mail, which left jagged edges in her wound.
The unicorn stepped over and Sarah looked up into her dark blue eyes. Teh moved back, quickly, unsure of the unicorn.
"You- you're all right!" Sarah said.
Yes, thanks to you and your King, the unicorn replied. Her voice, or the voice Sarah heard in her head, sounded old and wise, but graceful and musical as well. It was a comforting sound.
"I did nothing, Lady Unicorn," Sarah replied. A smile lit in the mare's eyes.
But you did. If I had not seen you while I was locked up, I surely would have gone mad. Seeing you gave me hope. You were just like me; we were part of each other, and knowing that kept me alive. Then your Goblin King rescued me; set me free again, just as he rescued you.
Sarah smiled, "I'm glad he did. It hurt me to leave you there."
The unicorn nodded her head up and down as a human would and whickered softly. He has a gentle soul, Sarah, the Goblin King. You will be happy together. You love him, do you not?
Sarah was startled, but blushed. "Yes, Lady, I do."
Just as he loves you, Sarah, she replied.
"But, how do you know my name? I do not know yours."
I told you, we are connected. I could see it in your eyes, the unicorn's mind voice and acquired an amused tone. I have many names, but you may call me 'Chair Luna' [1]
"'Chair Luna'," Sarah repeated. "Thank you, without you, I would not have made it."
Chair Luna tossed her head gently, causing the sunlight to reflect on her horn. I had to repay you and your Jareth somehow. It was the least I could do.
"Thank you all the same, Lady," Sarah said. [2]
She heard a horse's hooves drawing near and looked over to see Jareth on his stallion, his eyes worried. He dismounted and walked over to her, putting an arm about her waist to support her.
She looked up and gave a small smile.
"You are hurt," he said quietly. Sarah tried to shrug in response, and winced in pain as a result.
Then Jareth looked at the unicorn and bowed as best he could while propping Sarah up. "I must thank you for helping Sarah, Lady."
Nonsense, Chair Luna replied. She helped me before, as did you.
Jareth only nodded in acceptance.
I must be going, there is much I must do, since I have been caged.
"Will we see you again?" Sarah asked, tears coming to her eyes.
Someday, perhaps. I will look in on you, now and again. And you as well, she said turning so she could look at Jareth.
"Good bye, Lady," Jareth said with another half-bow.
Chair Luna tossed her head and turned to run into the far off forest. Sarah watched with sadness as she watched her grow smaller until she could no longer be seen. Even after she disappeared among the trees, they stood in silence, gazing into the distance. Jareth was the first to speak.
"We need to get you inside," Jareth said and in a flash of white light, they were in her bedroom.
Jareth used his magic as well as small healing skills to tend to the wound on her shoulder until it was clean and neatly bound with white linen. It was a painstaking task to remove the metal from the wound, but Sarah bore it as well as she could.
"What happened?" he asked. Sarah turned her head towards him from where she lay on her bed.
"Macavity attacked me," she answered with a tilt of her head.
"At least you are alive," he said thoughtfully and then sighed and Sarah nodded.
"Are you hurt?" she asked quietly. He studied her and saw the concern in her eyes and shook his head.
"Only a few scratches, nothing to fret over."
Sarah just nodded and reached up to his cheek where a small cut had been made. Jareth didn't move, just watched her face.
They sat in silence a while before Jareth stood. "I should check on everyone and make accommodations for our new guests. I will check on you later," he said softly before turning and walking out the door.
Jareth draped himself over his throne and looked at the crystal ball his was twirling in his hand as he thought.
He was thinking about Sarah, and everything that had happened since she came. He wondered how her feelings towards him had changed. Considering everything that had happened recently, he could safely assume that she returned much of the same feelings he had for her. Perhaps even loved him.
Now that everything was over, she would have to return soon to her own world.
Jareth was about to release a sigh when he heard talking and footsteps approaching the room. Jemima and Prince Kamal entered, smiling at each other and talking. Ada was nowhere to be seen. King Orson was in his guest quarters and his and Kamal's men put up in comfortable barracks for the night. King Adair had already been contacted by his son and Jareth the inform him of their victory. Next the rebels would need to be cleared out of the Sunset Kingdom and Crystal City.
Jemima smiled at him as he replaced his mask of indifference and nodded to the pair.
"Where is Ada?" Jareth inquired.
Jemima opened her mouth to answer when Ada's voice carried into the room.
"Right here, I went to see Sarah," she said stepping into the room, Sarah trailing behind her.
Jemima smiled at her friend and went to hug her. "Shouldn't you be resting, Sarah?"
"I'm fine, really. I rested all evening and I wanted to be sure everyone else was alright."
"Oh, Sarah," Jemima said pulling away, the biggest smile on her face. "Please, come meet Kamal."
Sarah looked up at the blond-haired, hazel-eyed elfin prince before her and curtsied as best she could without her left arm.
"Nice to meet you, Sarah," Kamal said with a small bow and hesitant smile.
Sarah just smiled back and glanced at Jareth who met her eyes before she turned her gaze back.
"We were worried about you, Sarah," Ada said from behind her.
"And we are glad you are alright," Jemima added.
"Thank you. You should thank Jareth for that, I think."
Jemima just smiled at her and Kamal looked at the Goblin King. Sarah looked at him as well and again he met her eyes.
Ada cleared her throat and walked out of the room. Jemima tried to stifle a giggle and Kamal tried to hide a smile. He offered the Princess his arm and they followed Ada out.
Jareth rose and strode over to her, embracing her and stroking her hair.
"Stay here," he said quietly.
"I'm not going anywhere," Sarah replied.
"I mean, stay with me."
Sarah pulled back to look up at him. His mask was gone and he looked deeply into her eyes.
Memories flashed through her mind.
"You don't have to have such a miserable life," he had said.
"For a week of your time, and if you choose, you can come back or stay..."
"If you do not stay with me, I will never offer you your dreams again..."
Her eyes widened as she continued to look at him. He returned her gaze, searching her eyes.
"Stay as my queen," he whispered.
"Jareth."
They looked at each other for long moments before Sarah pushed herself back into his arms.
"You want to marry me?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
"Yes."
There was a pause and for the first time in a long time, her heart filled with joy and nervousness and everything felt like it was going to be all right.
"Yes," she answered and Jareth held her tighter.
"I love you, Jareth."
"And I love you, my Sarah."
Ooo... sappy! *laughing* That might have been a little much.
Short chapter, I'm sorry about that. And it just kind of dragged on, oh well. There will only be one or two more before the story ends!
Notes:
[1] Ok, Italian (right? oh well), like Beethoven's "Chair de Luna" right? That means "The Moonlight". So all I did was take out the 'de' or the 'the'. I don't know if it's correct, but it sounds nice anyway ^_^;
[2] I don't know why I have Sarah calling Chair Luna 'Lady' it just kind of happened. Oh well ^_^
I don't remember how I was going to end the whole thing, but I figured something out! Yay! Anyway, I need to wrap the fic up soon; it's time to end it, after a little over a year of trying to write it. ^_^;
My thank yous!
draegon-fire~ yeah, *laughing* magic is a wonderful thing, isn't it? Thanks for reviewing!
Mistress of Darkness~ ^_^; Sorry the little war didn't last that long, it ended quickly, eh? Oh, well. Thank you!
Sayanna~ Oh, I'm sorry. I hope I didn't make you wait too long. Glad you like it!
Mevneriel~ hehe, I want a unicorn too. That would be nice. Yeah, I wanted the unicorn to come back, and I think she will once more, I hope she will, anyway. Thanks!
Labyris~ Tolkien? O_o Thanks! hehe, I wish. Thank you for reviewing tho, I'm glad you like it. Seems odd that goblins and elves would team up, but that's ok! And thank you for reviewing my fic "Heart"! I'm glad you thought it was sweet ^_^
kk~ Thanks for reviewing chapter 6 too! ^_^ Labyrinth is a really good movie, too bad people don't watch it so much anymore. Same with the Last Unicorn. I like that movie too! I LOVE Cats! You do too? That's so cool! Oh, and about Sarah killing someone... I really should have talked about that more than that she felt sick... -_-;; sorry. Thank you so much!
Thank you all so much! The reviews mean a lot to me, and I keep every single one, hehe!
