Chapter 22: Life as a king

When they entered the throne room, all of the council men stopped what they were doing and bowed at her presents, without Jareth having to tell them to do so. Sarah bowed back, than they resumed what they were doing. Sarah looked at Jareth's throne and noticed that there was a smaller and prettier throne sitting beside his. Jareth watched the expression on Sarah's face go from confusion to happiness, with a smile from ear to ear.

            "This is now 'Our throne room' Sarah. It is no longer mine." He smiled.

            "Jareth that is so neat!"

            "Neat?"

            "I mean…I love it." Sarah smiled, a little embarrassed. She made a mental note, that, that word was not used in the Underground, with the meaning of cool.

            "Come have a seat Sarah."

            "He escorted her to her new throne. She sat in it and he sat beside her in his throne. Her hand was on the arm of the chair, and he leisurely placed his hand on top of hers.

            "Is it comfortable enough for you, my love?"

            "Oh yes your Jareth it is perfect. Thank you." When she said that the Goblins looked up from their work and starred at Sarah,

            "It is okay, she is allowed to call me by my name! Just tend to your work and mind your own businesses."

Jareth then clapped his hands and the goblins' attention was on him once more.

            "Please bring me some parchment paper and a quill."

One goblin got up and grabbed what the king requested and brought it to him.

            "Now please tell me if there has been any word from the other kingdoms."

            "Ah, your highness, indeed there have been. Two kingdoms have already requested a meeting. They are asking who you have picked to be the new king       of the Half-ground."

One goblin told the king.

            "Yes, your highness, have you decided who the new king will be? The other kingdoms must know!" Another stated.

            "Really you don't think I know that?"

            "Excuse me."

            "Yes my love, what would you like?" The king asked turning his head to look at Sarah.

            "Well, I was just wondering, why do you get to decide who the next king is going to be, did you not say that you all had to decide? Is that not what you       went to the meeting for?"

            "Well. Sarah I am the head king, I rule over the other kingdoms. I make the head decisions, and they have to agree or disagree. But either way it won't matter. I still decide. I know it does not make sense but it is a rule. Even I don't understand it!"

            "So who made the rule then?"

            "My father did when he was king."

            "What happened to him? I thought that you were immortal?"

            "He was banished."

            "Why on earth, I mean…in the Underground was he banished?"

            "Your Highness, we really should continue!"

            "You dare to interrupt when I and your future queen are speaking!"

            "I…I…am sorry, my lord!"

            "One more out burst like that and I will tip you head first into the Bog of Eternal Stench before you can blink! Understand?"

            "Of course, your majesty." The goblin bowed.

            "Now Sarah, I am sorry, what were you asking me?"

            "That's okay. I asked why your father was banished!"

            "Ah! Sarah, he was banished because of the same thing that King Locket, did to you. He would have been killed but being the next head king in line, I           ordered that he be banished, considering that I could not kill my own father."

            "So how were you able to kill…well…King Locket?"
            "Because he is below me, I have the power to kill anyone I would like to."

            "Oh I see."

Jareth could tell that Sarah did not like that he had that power.

            "But Sarah, I have never used it, until the other day when I saved you. And I plan never to use it again, unless you are in danger, which I know will never   happen again. So you have nothing to fear!"

            "Okay. That makes me feel better, and sorry from holding you from your work."

            "Sarah you have nothing to be sorry about. It is wonderful that you are asking questions. You would have found out sooner or later anyways. So why not     let it be now. Umm?"

            "Right!" Sarah smiled. He always knew what to say to make her feel better. About any of the situations that have occurred in the past week. Jareth looked at her and leaned in to give Sarah a kiss. She also leaned in and they kissed. Jareth would have continued the kiss, and got more into it, but Sarah pulled away afraid of what the goblins would say. Sarah whispered this into Jareth's ear so that the goblins would not hear her. Jareth looked at Sarah and should his head in understanding. Sarah really appreciated Jareth's understanding. And felt quite bad for him, because he was not able to do anything that he really wanted

            "Now shall we continue?"

            "Of course your highness."

            "Councilmen, I am going to write letters to all of the kingdoms I am going to need someone to send these personally to them. Which of you are willing to       go?"

            "Oh, I my lord." One said.

            "No, I my lord" Another one said. Several fought over who was going to go on the journey. A couple even began to fight each other. Jareth threw a crystal at them, and they froze.

            "Can't we all get along? And stop acting this way have you all forgotten that there is a lady present?"

            "Oh right!" They all said and stopped their arguing.

            "If I may Jareth, say something!" Sarah said.

            "Of course."

            "Councilmen, why don't the ones that want to go on the journey, raise your hands!" The goblins all looked at each other and whispered. She just bit her lip and looked at Jareth. He smiled at her. *Yes, an excellent queen she will be!* Jareth thought to himself. Then the goblins stopped speaking to one another and turned to look at Sarah. Then all of the ones that wanted to go on the journey raised their hands. Jareth than chose the different men that were going to go.

And it was as simple as that. Having a queen is diffidently going to be a good thing. She was going to help keep the goblins in check, Jareth could see. Jareth wrote the letters, and the goblins brought the letters to the different kingdoms. But this time it was time for lunch. Sarah was starving. But she did not want to say anything that was going to interrupt Jareth from hid duties again.

But she could not take the pain any longer, she needed something to eat. She leaned over and whispered into Jareth's ear, she could smell his wonderful scent, much like the scent she smelt on his pillow the night she took a bath in his chamber.

            "Jareth, I am really sorry, but I am starving. I need something to eat before I die."

            "Oh! Sarah why did you not say anything, to me before, when you first started feeling hungry?"

            "I did not want to bother you again, besides, I like watching you being all king like, it is very appealing to me."

            "Well thank you." He smiled and they kissed again.

            "Okay, councilmen, your future queen and I are going to leave and have some lunch, you may do what you wish till I return."

Jareth got up from his throne and offered his arm to Sarah. She placed her arm through his and before they left, the goblins bowed to Sarah. She bowed back and then they left the room. Jareth brought Sarah into the dining room. He brought her to her seat, poured her some wine and then went back into the kitchen to make some lunch. Sarah sat in the dining room patiently while Jareth was at work cooking a wonderful beef stew. She was looking at the room. It was so pretty, with a chandelier above the table, which sat in front of a large window.

There was also a large open dance floor with chandeliers above it as well. The room was dim, because it was not very sunny out. It was still raining outside. Within minutes, Jareth was back in the dining room, carrying a bowl of stew for Sarah. He placed it in front of her. She tilted her head down and sniffed the stew. Jareth than placed his bowl down on the table and sat down beside Sarah. He poured himself some wine and they drank to a toast of a great new beginning. She loved the stew. And she loved the fact that the king himself knew how to cook, and waited on himself instead of having the goblins cook. This ability was also very appealing to her.

            "Jareth this is wonderful!"

            "Thank you Sarah."

            "I really mean it Jareth. I have never tasted anything like it. Where did you learn to cook like this?"

            "It is just one of my gifts I guess. I really don't know. One day I decided to cook something for myself and found out that I was really good."

            "Well Jareth I am really glad that you can cook."

            "And why is that?"

            "Because I can't cook for the life of me." Sarah laughed.

Jareth waved his hand in the air and suddenly some soft music began to play out of nowhere. Jareth put out his hand and offered it to Sarah. Sarah gazed at him and smiled. He stood up and then pulled Sarah's chair out. She took both of his hands and got up from her seat. They walked over to the dance floor and Jareth placed Sarah's left hand on his shoulder. Taking her other hand and placing it in his. He took is hand and placed it on Sarah's lower back, rubbing her back.

Then they started dancing. Sarah was very cautious while she was dancing. She was afraid that she was going to step on his feet.

            "Just relax Sarah, let me lead. If you step on my feet, don't worry about it. You are going to have to learn this some time. You and I will be attending           several balls and you will be watched by other people. Just remember the time we danced when you were here last. You danced beautifully than. Just        relax…take your time…that' it!" He smiled at Sarah.

She smiled too because she was getting use to the steps.

            "Good Sarah! Keep it up...Good!"

They danced for a good two hours. Sarah loved being in his arms. She felt so wonderful. Being with him gave her a feeling that she would never be able to describe. Finally the music stopped. Jareth extended his arm and bowed to Sarah.

            "Thank you for this dance. You are a wonderful dancer."

            "Thank you Jareth. I would not be as good if you did not help me." She bowed to him. He then stepped in close to her and breathed deeply searching her body. She was a bit sweaty and Jareth could smell that scent, it was driving him made on the inside. He wanted her right then and there. She was taking deep breaths as well, which was making her breasts pop out more, from the top of her gown. Jareth walked around her. Sarah closed her eyes as Jareth's arm was sliding around her body. He stepped up behind her and began kissing her shoulders.

Sarah put her hand down and began to rub his leg. He grabbed her waist and turned her around. He looked into her eyes and then cupped her chin in his hand. Sarah looked up at him, her heart beating faster by the minute. He kissed her left cheek, then her right cheek. And he smiled at her and kissed her lips. He pulled her in and she could once again feel his manhood harden as she leg touched it. She pulled away.

            "Jareth, please!"

            "Okay…your right! Please excuse me! I should have behaved better than that. It is just that you are so beautiful and you are looking so luscious right            now."

            "I am sorry Jareth."

            "No matter...Well shall we go back to work?"

            "Okay." Sarah frowned. She must have been killing him. Slowly like a flesh eating virus, slowly eating him alive. Sarah could feel his pain. She than thought that maybe if she was not in his sight so much than, he would have to resist her, so she told Jareth that she was going to go to she bed chamber and read, while he was at work in the throne room.

            "Of course, what ever you want."

            "Thank you."

            "At least allow me to escort you back to your chamber."

            "Of course."

            Sarah smiled at him and they linked arms. Jareth brought her back to her chamber and he kissed her on the hand and bowed good-bye. Sarah bowed good-bye to him as well and then walked back to the throne room. Sarah shut the door and went to the balcony to go read. When she got there she could see over the goblin city. She wanted to go out there. Even though Jareth again warned her not to go. She thought that if he got mad at her than he would back off as well. (But doing get her wrong she still loves him, but just is not ready to give herself to him. She wants to be married to him first).

So she grabbed to cloak that she wore briefly the day before. She threw it over her shoulders and tied it around her neck. She left the room and walked down the hall. She saw that the door to the throne room was shut and she snuck past the door.  When she got to the door to leave the castle she took a deep breath and opened the door. And she stepped outside, shutting the door behind her…