Chapter 40: Queen Sarah

They were now back at the castle, standing at the entry way. Jareth took Sarah's cloak and hung it on the hook. He undid his cape and hung it as well. He looked to Sarah who still looked very sad. If only there was something that he could do to make her feel better. He just hated to see her so upset. Then it hit him. He was going to plan a dinner for her and her friends.

But it was to be a surprise. Jareth went to the throne room, and Sarah walked to the other end of the castle to the room that the baby was in. She walked in and saw the baby standing in the crib, crying. This reminded her of the night that she went into her father's room to retrieve Lancelot, and Toby was standing in the crib crying too. She went to the baby and picked him up. She paced the room with him in her arms. She felt so bad that he was now going to be turned into a goblin. And that he was unwanted. She thought about how she wished Toby away, and that she was glad to come to her senses before it was too late…

Jareth was in the throne room. He was making letters for Sarah's friends, to tell them to come to the castle for a dinner with her. And he told the goblins to bring the letters to them immediately. They nodded their heads and left the room.

…She carried him down the hall and to the kitchen where she warmed up a bottle for him. Then carrying him to the throne room she knocked on the door with her foot. Her hands were full and she was unable to open the door herself.

            "Come in!" Jareth ordered.

            "I can't open the door!" Sarah shouted in reply. She then could hear rustling from within the Throne room. She stood patiently and after three minutes of waiting Jareth opened the door, with a great smile on his face.

            "Hello, my Queen."

            "Hello." Sarah smiled a bit suspicious of what was going on. Jareth held the door open, as Sarah made her way into the room. She was looking at the goblins who were working frantically. She walked over to her throne and sat down. The baby was still in her arms. She was holding the bottle to his mouth.

            "Jareth, what's going on?" She asked smiling at him.

            "Nothing why?" He inquired lifting the child from her grasp.

            "Jareth you are acting strange. And I don't like it. What are you planning?" Jareth stopped what he was doing and looked at her crystal blue eyes.

            "Sarah, nothing is going on. I assure you. If I were planning something I would let you know first." He declared in the most convincing tone.

            "Very well then." She answered rubbing her hands along her lap, to remove any creases in the gown. Jareth was now standing on the opposite side of the room holding the baby. She looked up to see him there. She tried to imagine that the baby in his hands was their baby. She smiled at him.

            "What Sarah?"

            "Huh?"

            "What are you smiling at?"

            "You."

            "I see." He said looking at her. Then he looked down at a goblin, tapping him with his foot. The goblin looked up at him, stood up and put his arms out. Jareth bent over and handed the baby to the goblin. The goblin began walking away with the baby, heading for the door. The baby dropped the bottle that he was holding. Sarah saw this,

            "Wait!" She cried to the goblin jumping up from her seat and running over to the bottle that was rolling on the floor. She picked it up, bringing it to the skirt of her gown. She began rubbing the nipple of the bottle on her skirt to clean it from any dirt that may have touched it. Then she handed the bottle back to the goblin.

            "Here. And make sure that he finishes it before you…you know." She frowned. She patted the baby's head gently and waved good bye as the goblin left the room. Jareth was watching the whole thing. He walked over to her and put his hand on her shoulder.

            "It's okay Sarah. He will be fine. He will be happy. Once he is a goblin, they will find a home for him to live in. Someone will take care of him, and love            him as he should be loved." Carefully cupping her chin and tilting her head up to look intently at him.

            "You promise."

            "Of course." He said sincerely. Sarah knew that he meant it and was glad.

            "Thank you." She smiled back. Walking back to their seats, Jareth sat down and Sarah sat on his lap. She had her arms wrapped around him.

            "I love you so much."

            "And I, you Sarah." He kissed her on the lips. Sarah loved the feeling of his smooth, moist lips. As they kissed continuously, the goblins tried to ignore them, but found it very difficult.  Then Jareth had to break away from kissing Sarah. He got but another call from the Aboveground.

            "Excuse me Sarah but I must go." He said trying to get up from his seat, hinting to Sarah that she had to get off of him. So she did.

            "Oh, okay." She gave him one last kiss before he turned into an owl and was out the window. Sarah ran to the window and shouted.

            "Hurry back!" She watched as he disappeared in the distance. Then she went back to her seat.

            "Now are any of you going to tell me what His Majesty is planning?" The goblins just looked at her, shook their heads and then continued on working.

            "Come on. I know you want to." She antagonized. But they said nothing. "Fine." She moped, as she plopped back in her throne and slouched down, tapping her fingers on the arm of her seat. Within moments, Jareth was back. He flew into the room and walked up to Sarah,

            "Well there is another mortal walking through the Labyrinth. I just don't understand them. What goes through your minds? It must be very difficult being one. You (plural, as in all people) never know what you want. It gives me a headache."

            "I'm sorry." Sarah said standing up and trailing her fingers through his hair.

            "Oh, it is not your fault. I'm just talking to who ever, wants to listen." He smiled at her, as a thank you for listening to him, and to let her know that she is appreciated. Just then the goblin that had the baby walked in. He informed Jareth and Sarah that the baby was fine. And that he now was with a goblin family, who was going to love him and raise him. After he gave them that message he left the room to go and greet the new baby that had been sent to the castle.

            "You see Sarah."

            "I believed you." She laughed. They sat back down and worked on a few things. And before they knew it, it was about dinner time. There was a knock at the Throne room door.

            "Come in!" Sarah shouted. The door opened and a goblin stepped inside.

            "Your Highness, if I may have a word with you please." He asked addressing the Goblin King.

            "Of course." Once again Sarah had to get off of Jareth's lap, as he and the goblin stepped outside of the room for a moment.

            "Your Highness, the guests are here. Where would you like me to send them?"

            "To the dinning room."

            "Very well then." The goblin bowed and walked down the hall to the entrance. As he escorted the guests to the dinning hall to take their seats. Jareth watched as he left, and then reentered the Throne room.

            "What was that all about?" Sarah asked.

            "Sarah do you have to ask so many questions?" Jareth stated.

            "Well I am only trying to figure out what is going on here. Since no one will tell me!" She shouted, as she walked to the other side of the room.

            "Okay Sarah. You win." Jareth sighed.

            "What are you talking about?"

            "I was going to wait to tell you but…"

            "What is it?" She asked curiously, turning to look at him.

            "I have invited you friends to dinner tonight, as a gift to you. It was supposed to be a surprise, but because you are so stubborn and have to know everything…" Jareth smiled, as he saw Sarah blush.

            "Oh Jareth, that is so sweet. Thank you. But why did you do this?"

            "Because I felt bad when I told you that we had to leave earlier."

            "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you." She cried running up to him and wrapping her arms around his neck. He put his hands around her waist and lifted her up, so she was off the floor, with her body pressed against his.

            "Now you don't want to keep them waiting do you? Go on." He said putting her down and waving his hand towards the door. Sarah just looked at him.

            "Well aren't you coming too?"

            "Oh I thought maybe you might like to spend some time with them alone."

            "What? No. I want you to come too."

            "Oh Sarah can't you just eat with them? Must I be there?"

            "Yes! Or I am no going to eat at all. And this gift will be completely wasted!"

            "Oh all right. But this is only for you."

            "Thank you." She placed her arm around his and they walked to the dinning hall.