*
AN: Thank you so much everyone for the great feedback. I love reading the reviews and it really spurs me on to keep writing ;) More soon.
*
Strangely Devine. Chapter Six: Sense of Doubt.
*
Diner that evening was a slightly more bearable affair for Sarah, being that she was separated from Aislinn by a large troll that took up an exceptionally large wing backed chair in between the two women at the table.
As the first course was served, Sarah began to wonder if she wasn't just in some Acid induced child's nightmare. There was a Troll to her left, eating a light salad with silver utensils and talking about politics in an accent that made him sound like he was from Scotland. And to her right was the Goblin King, looking more like a male model or a rock star or something, rather then the leader of a bunch of little green men. She sighed heavily before picking through her salad.
At least the food down here wasn't weird. Sure, there was no way in hell she could get a bowl of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, the breakfast, lunch and diner of champions, or for that matter, a frozen Pot Pie, but normal food none the less.
Nearing the end of the second course Sarah was finding that listening to the Prince of the Trolls carry on about trade tariffs was just mind numbing. Jareth wasn't making any effort to tease or talk to her. She was relived at first. Somehow it became unnerving though. She wondered if perhaps he was feeling strange about coming upon her crying earlier. Well any normal mortal male would have been weird about it, so why shouldn't a magical. whatever he was be weird too.
Finally at the end of her rope Sarah asked him a question. "How old are Princess Cymboline's twins?"
Jareth's amused gaze slid her way, "Morawen and Rhian are ten" he said, the hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Did you find them as adorable as everyone else at court does?"
Sarah shrugged "Yes, they were cute" she admitted
Jareth nodded, continuing to regard her in amused way that made her feel like a bug under glass "So, Sarah" his tone was insolent and smug but not unpleasant. Just meant to antagonize her as usual. "Do you wish to have children?"
She shrugged, trying to think about who he could be thinking she would be having these children with "I dunno, I suppose one day I will. I mean--," she internally groaned, realizing she was about to offer up personal information that he hadn't even asked about. "I've never really had a boyfriend or whatever that I especially wanted to spend the rest of my life with"
Jareth laughed quietly and licked his lips "Nor I" he nodded "You've had many suitors then?"
"Boyfriends?" Sarah cringed at the word 'suitors' but brushed it off "A few in high school, several more serious ones in college. My ex is training to become a doctor"
To Sarah's surprise Jareth's eyes seemed to light up at this. "You went to university?"
"Uh huh" she nodded, remembering what Gwendolyn had said about the High Prince's particular interest in the subject. "Gwen said you don't have them here"
He sighed dramatically and shook his head, "No, there aren't enough people here that show signs of intelligence"
Sarah laughed despite herself and covered her both with her hand. "That isn't very nice"
"Oh well, it's true" he said cavalierly "If there was someway to get to the Aboveground I certainly would have gone to a mortal university when I was younger"
"Really?"
"Well," Jareth said dryly "My parents would have had a fit. Mother has greatly disliked mortals ever since she had an accidental run in with Henry VIII"
Sarah's eyes bulged "Henry VIII?" she repeated "How *old* is your mother?"
"Mother? Nearly eight hundred."
"Well then how old are you?" she asked incredulously.
Jareth cocked his head to the side and looked thoughtful. "By your calendar, I'll be.two hundred and twenty nine on the 8th of February"
Sarah gaped at him and accidentally let her eyes gaze over his young form. "Well you certainly look good for being over two centuries old". She immediately wished she hadn't said that.
Jareth raised his eyebrows, his lips twisting into a self-satisfied smirk and he let his eyes rake over he in return. "Why thank you Sarah" he said silkily "You look quite good to me, as well"
Sarah blushed profusely. "I didn't mean it that way" she muttered
"Oh I know" Jareth grinned smugly. "But I'm immortal so I should look this good"
Sarah was on the verge of snorting at his vanity when she realized what he had said. "Wait. you're. you're immortal? As in you don't die?"
"Immortal, not mortal. I don't die" he gave a dry laugh "Quite nice, isn't it?"
Sarah shrugged "I don't know, people always say that immortality isn't all it's cracked up to be"
Jareth shook his head, grinning, "Mortals say that because they're not immortal. You see, Sarah, instead of dying and decaying in the ground I will forever be young and beautiful"
"Forever is a long time" 'she said wearily
"You're right. The world hasn't even started yet. In any case, you have been raised to accept that death is a part of life, while I have been raised to see it as something irrelevant"
Sarah snorted "So then *what* are you"
"Fae" he said offhandedly and gestured around the room. "If it looks human and doesn't have pointy ears, it's Fae."
"So then besides the immortal thing" Sarah took a sip from her goblet "What's so special about Fae"
"We can do a certain amount of magic" Jareth said in a bored voice, he flicked his wrist and three crystals appeared. He juggled them around for a bit and then twisted his wrist again and they were gone. "We're usually very clever, well, compared to dwarves anyway, and we're very seductive" he grinned crookedly at her.
"Really." She rolled her eyes, not the least bit surprised by this new information. "Are you all blondes?"
Jareth laughed "No, not all of us."
"So," Sarah watched the servant remove her plate and place the third course on the table in front of her. "How is it your mother met the king of England four hundred years ago and you know so much about mortals if you can't go between worlds"
"That's a bit tricky" he admitted smugly "First off we could travel between the two worlds four hundred years ago, there was a portal that was closed off. You've probably heard of it, actually. I hear it's quite famous in. what was that place. England?"
Sarah's head jerked up "Stonehenge?"
Jareth nodded "That's the portal. No one knows why it won't work anymore, the idiots. It's for the best really, Fae were being caught and burned at the stake when they ventured to the above world."
"So there really weren't witches, it was just you lot?" Sarah asked bemused
Jareth leaned towards her and pointed to a man with blonde hair who was probably middle aged and next to him was a read haired woman. Sarah frowned. "That's Jacob Duke of Gavelsy and his wife Eva, caught him and burned him at the stake. My mother was sent to fetch him. Well, my mother and a retinue of her servants. Anyway, she was mistaken for nobility at the burning and apparently Henry tried to-"
Sarah laughed "Chat her up" she finished "God, that's weird" She looked at him "D'you know that Stonehenge is a tourist attraction now"
"Tourist?" Jareth frowned,
"Erm, people who travel on holiday or vacation. They go around with cameras and film everything in sight. Anyway, Stonehenge is a place where they all go"
Jareth shrugged "No one knows where the portal on this side is anyway. The only ones who go between are the--"
"Children" Sarah nodded, her eyes suddenly becoming hard as she remembered. "The wished away children"
He sipped at his wine goblet and watched her over the rim. She looked angry "You know I don't want to do it, don't you Sarah?" he asked, his voice was smooth and nearly callous.
"Then why do you?" she scowled
"What would you have me do?" Jareth slammed his goblet down in a burst of anger. "The children will come whether I want them to or not. Those that wish them away will have the chance to go through my Labyrinth to get the child back but most do not."
Sarah frowned "That's horrible. Why would anyone leave a child to be turned into a goblin"
Jareth stared at her incredulously. She was almost amused by the slack jawed effect this statement had on him momentarily. "Goblins?" he repeated "Are you mad? Goblins?"
She blinked, confused "I thought-"
"Honestly, what do you take me for" he sighed, running a hand over his eyes as if very tired. "I do not turn children into goblins. I give them away to mothers who are Fae or sometimes Elves." His voice was cool.
"Sorry" Sarah mumbled, blushing. "It's just you said--- nevermind. It's still horrible that someone would leave a child like that. And you don't exactly help, I'm sure"
"Bloody Hell," he gave a short laugh and his voice sounded annoyed "Sarah, most children are not little brothers wished away by spoiled elder sisters who don't want to baby-sit. And I do nothing to interfere besides telling those who have done the wishing away that they may go through my Labyrinth"
"Oh no? Giving me a drugged peach wasn't interfering? Sending Hoggle and I to the bog because I kissed him? That whole reordering time thing? The cleaners? What was that if it wasn't you interfering? Honestly, you act all offended that I think you're a villain who turns children into Goblin. What *was* I to think with all that going on?"
Jareth leaned back in his seat and regarded her for a long time. Sarah waited for the comebacks to come flying sharp and dangerous out of his mouth as usual but instead he just watched her sit rigid in her chair and breath deeply.
"Because," he said at last, and Sarah turned to meet his gaze. His yews were softer then she'd ever seen them. Almost apologetic but that was not an emotion she would think him to possess. "You were different"
"How" Sarah deadpanned. She tried to ignore that nagging feeling in the back of her mind, that what he was talking about had something to do with those last words he said to her before the end. Stay with me, love me. I will be your slave.
Shut up, Sarah commanded her mind. Shut up.
She held his gaze, and didn't look away from those mismatched eyes. "Why was I different"
Another long silence stretched on and it was like she and Jareth were the only people in this noisy room of hundreds. He pursed his lips and she thought he wasn't going to answer and first.
Then a gloved hand reached out and touched her cheek softly. "If we knew that, we might know why you're here again"
*
Gwendolyn and Gaeton had taken to guessing what Jareth and Sarah were saying to each other. For the first half of the meal it looked like neither was saying anything, both were concentrating on eating their meals and little else.
Then Sarah spoke and it had all been very boring up until now. Now they were staring at each other intently.
"You don't think she'll eat him, do you?" Gaeton asked his sister.
She shot him a dirty look "Don't be stupid. Obviously one of them has said something quite profound"
"You do know that the High Queen and Queen Moria are passing it about the servants that Sarah belongs to Jareth" he continued, "Do you think we should tell them?"
"Why am I not surprised" Gwendolyn rolled her eyes "The High Queen is dying for Jareth to get married and have children. She's also apparently quite taken with Sarah. Put two and two together" she paused "Besides that, they're not dumb. Some servant with a loose tongue will let it slip, if they haven't already"
"If Jareth and Sarah knew they were suspected of being deeply in love" said Gaeton in an amused voice "I doubt they'd be talking with their heads so close together for fear of further speculation. They're both so vain"
"Well, just look at them" Gwendolyn said bitterly "It's like some sort of mortal fairy tale. They make an more striking couple then Jareth and Bella"
Gaeton pulled a face "Ew, she looked like him, though. That was gross it was like he was with his sister or something"
"You know" Gwendolyn's voice was aggravated. "for the King's advisor you are incredibly immature"
"Oh well" he shrugged "Sarah is going to go mental when she find out what everyone is saying"
*
Thanks: Zebella: I'm glad you think it's funny. We need some comic relief. Somewhatderanged: Yes, damn that wet noodle. It's true. Everyone loves Jareth, but it's only because he's so lovely. *sigh* So, lovely. Skye Haerrington: Yup, Aislinn has some detestable qualities. I'm glad you find Jareth amusing. As stated above, I just find him lovely. Sayanna: Sure thing, chappies are to keep on coming. :D Vireyda Magodaly: Lol, I'm glad you like it. Emerald Skye: That's right, Jareth will protect her! Or at least attempt to and look very lovely in the process. Missy: *bows* Maeberry: The King and I, eh? I think I read that/ watched the movie at one point. I might be doing it subconsciously. *Shrugs* Thanks, in any case, everyone likes being showered with praise. Die-chan: *runs in terror from the frozen fish* Hah, good thing you found that amusing. It was one of my favourite bits to write.
Remember to Review! :D
AN: Thank you so much everyone for the great feedback. I love reading the reviews and it really spurs me on to keep writing ;) More soon.
*
Strangely Devine. Chapter Six: Sense of Doubt.
*
Diner that evening was a slightly more bearable affair for Sarah, being that she was separated from Aislinn by a large troll that took up an exceptionally large wing backed chair in between the two women at the table.
As the first course was served, Sarah began to wonder if she wasn't just in some Acid induced child's nightmare. There was a Troll to her left, eating a light salad with silver utensils and talking about politics in an accent that made him sound like he was from Scotland. And to her right was the Goblin King, looking more like a male model or a rock star or something, rather then the leader of a bunch of little green men. She sighed heavily before picking through her salad.
At least the food down here wasn't weird. Sure, there was no way in hell she could get a bowl of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, the breakfast, lunch and diner of champions, or for that matter, a frozen Pot Pie, but normal food none the less.
Nearing the end of the second course Sarah was finding that listening to the Prince of the Trolls carry on about trade tariffs was just mind numbing. Jareth wasn't making any effort to tease or talk to her. She was relived at first. Somehow it became unnerving though. She wondered if perhaps he was feeling strange about coming upon her crying earlier. Well any normal mortal male would have been weird about it, so why shouldn't a magical. whatever he was be weird too.
Finally at the end of her rope Sarah asked him a question. "How old are Princess Cymboline's twins?"
Jareth's amused gaze slid her way, "Morawen and Rhian are ten" he said, the hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Did you find them as adorable as everyone else at court does?"
Sarah shrugged "Yes, they were cute" she admitted
Jareth nodded, continuing to regard her in amused way that made her feel like a bug under glass "So, Sarah" his tone was insolent and smug but not unpleasant. Just meant to antagonize her as usual. "Do you wish to have children?"
She shrugged, trying to think about who he could be thinking she would be having these children with "I dunno, I suppose one day I will. I mean--," she internally groaned, realizing she was about to offer up personal information that he hadn't even asked about. "I've never really had a boyfriend or whatever that I especially wanted to spend the rest of my life with"
Jareth laughed quietly and licked his lips "Nor I" he nodded "You've had many suitors then?"
"Boyfriends?" Sarah cringed at the word 'suitors' but brushed it off "A few in high school, several more serious ones in college. My ex is training to become a doctor"
To Sarah's surprise Jareth's eyes seemed to light up at this. "You went to university?"
"Uh huh" she nodded, remembering what Gwendolyn had said about the High Prince's particular interest in the subject. "Gwen said you don't have them here"
He sighed dramatically and shook his head, "No, there aren't enough people here that show signs of intelligence"
Sarah laughed despite herself and covered her both with her hand. "That isn't very nice"
"Oh well, it's true" he said cavalierly "If there was someway to get to the Aboveground I certainly would have gone to a mortal university when I was younger"
"Really?"
"Well," Jareth said dryly "My parents would have had a fit. Mother has greatly disliked mortals ever since she had an accidental run in with Henry VIII"
Sarah's eyes bulged "Henry VIII?" she repeated "How *old* is your mother?"
"Mother? Nearly eight hundred."
"Well then how old are you?" she asked incredulously.
Jareth cocked his head to the side and looked thoughtful. "By your calendar, I'll be.two hundred and twenty nine on the 8th of February"
Sarah gaped at him and accidentally let her eyes gaze over his young form. "Well you certainly look good for being over two centuries old". She immediately wished she hadn't said that.
Jareth raised his eyebrows, his lips twisting into a self-satisfied smirk and he let his eyes rake over he in return. "Why thank you Sarah" he said silkily "You look quite good to me, as well"
Sarah blushed profusely. "I didn't mean it that way" she muttered
"Oh I know" Jareth grinned smugly. "But I'm immortal so I should look this good"
Sarah was on the verge of snorting at his vanity when she realized what he had said. "Wait. you're. you're immortal? As in you don't die?"
"Immortal, not mortal. I don't die" he gave a dry laugh "Quite nice, isn't it?"
Sarah shrugged "I don't know, people always say that immortality isn't all it's cracked up to be"
Jareth shook his head, grinning, "Mortals say that because they're not immortal. You see, Sarah, instead of dying and decaying in the ground I will forever be young and beautiful"
"Forever is a long time" 'she said wearily
"You're right. The world hasn't even started yet. In any case, you have been raised to accept that death is a part of life, while I have been raised to see it as something irrelevant"
Sarah snorted "So then *what* are you"
"Fae" he said offhandedly and gestured around the room. "If it looks human and doesn't have pointy ears, it's Fae."
"So then besides the immortal thing" Sarah took a sip from her goblet "What's so special about Fae"
"We can do a certain amount of magic" Jareth said in a bored voice, he flicked his wrist and three crystals appeared. He juggled them around for a bit and then twisted his wrist again and they were gone. "We're usually very clever, well, compared to dwarves anyway, and we're very seductive" he grinned crookedly at her.
"Really." She rolled her eyes, not the least bit surprised by this new information. "Are you all blondes?"
Jareth laughed "No, not all of us."
"So," Sarah watched the servant remove her plate and place the third course on the table in front of her. "How is it your mother met the king of England four hundred years ago and you know so much about mortals if you can't go between worlds"
"That's a bit tricky" he admitted smugly "First off we could travel between the two worlds four hundred years ago, there was a portal that was closed off. You've probably heard of it, actually. I hear it's quite famous in. what was that place. England?"
Sarah's head jerked up "Stonehenge?"
Jareth nodded "That's the portal. No one knows why it won't work anymore, the idiots. It's for the best really, Fae were being caught and burned at the stake when they ventured to the above world."
"So there really weren't witches, it was just you lot?" Sarah asked bemused
Jareth leaned towards her and pointed to a man with blonde hair who was probably middle aged and next to him was a read haired woman. Sarah frowned. "That's Jacob Duke of Gavelsy and his wife Eva, caught him and burned him at the stake. My mother was sent to fetch him. Well, my mother and a retinue of her servants. Anyway, she was mistaken for nobility at the burning and apparently Henry tried to-"
Sarah laughed "Chat her up" she finished "God, that's weird" She looked at him "D'you know that Stonehenge is a tourist attraction now"
"Tourist?" Jareth frowned,
"Erm, people who travel on holiday or vacation. They go around with cameras and film everything in sight. Anyway, Stonehenge is a place where they all go"
Jareth shrugged "No one knows where the portal on this side is anyway. The only ones who go between are the--"
"Children" Sarah nodded, her eyes suddenly becoming hard as she remembered. "The wished away children"
He sipped at his wine goblet and watched her over the rim. She looked angry "You know I don't want to do it, don't you Sarah?" he asked, his voice was smooth and nearly callous.
"Then why do you?" she scowled
"What would you have me do?" Jareth slammed his goblet down in a burst of anger. "The children will come whether I want them to or not. Those that wish them away will have the chance to go through my Labyrinth to get the child back but most do not."
Sarah frowned "That's horrible. Why would anyone leave a child to be turned into a goblin"
Jareth stared at her incredulously. She was almost amused by the slack jawed effect this statement had on him momentarily. "Goblins?" he repeated "Are you mad? Goblins?"
She blinked, confused "I thought-"
"Honestly, what do you take me for" he sighed, running a hand over his eyes as if very tired. "I do not turn children into goblins. I give them away to mothers who are Fae or sometimes Elves." His voice was cool.
"Sorry" Sarah mumbled, blushing. "It's just you said--- nevermind. It's still horrible that someone would leave a child like that. And you don't exactly help, I'm sure"
"Bloody Hell," he gave a short laugh and his voice sounded annoyed "Sarah, most children are not little brothers wished away by spoiled elder sisters who don't want to baby-sit. And I do nothing to interfere besides telling those who have done the wishing away that they may go through my Labyrinth"
"Oh no? Giving me a drugged peach wasn't interfering? Sending Hoggle and I to the bog because I kissed him? That whole reordering time thing? The cleaners? What was that if it wasn't you interfering? Honestly, you act all offended that I think you're a villain who turns children into Goblin. What *was* I to think with all that going on?"
Jareth leaned back in his seat and regarded her for a long time. Sarah waited for the comebacks to come flying sharp and dangerous out of his mouth as usual but instead he just watched her sit rigid in her chair and breath deeply.
"Because," he said at last, and Sarah turned to meet his gaze. His yews were softer then she'd ever seen them. Almost apologetic but that was not an emotion she would think him to possess. "You were different"
"How" Sarah deadpanned. She tried to ignore that nagging feeling in the back of her mind, that what he was talking about had something to do with those last words he said to her before the end. Stay with me, love me. I will be your slave.
Shut up, Sarah commanded her mind. Shut up.
She held his gaze, and didn't look away from those mismatched eyes. "Why was I different"
Another long silence stretched on and it was like she and Jareth were the only people in this noisy room of hundreds. He pursed his lips and she thought he wasn't going to answer and first.
Then a gloved hand reached out and touched her cheek softly. "If we knew that, we might know why you're here again"
*
Gwendolyn and Gaeton had taken to guessing what Jareth and Sarah were saying to each other. For the first half of the meal it looked like neither was saying anything, both were concentrating on eating their meals and little else.
Then Sarah spoke and it had all been very boring up until now. Now they were staring at each other intently.
"You don't think she'll eat him, do you?" Gaeton asked his sister.
She shot him a dirty look "Don't be stupid. Obviously one of them has said something quite profound"
"You do know that the High Queen and Queen Moria are passing it about the servants that Sarah belongs to Jareth" he continued, "Do you think we should tell them?"
"Why am I not surprised" Gwendolyn rolled her eyes "The High Queen is dying for Jareth to get married and have children. She's also apparently quite taken with Sarah. Put two and two together" she paused "Besides that, they're not dumb. Some servant with a loose tongue will let it slip, if they haven't already"
"If Jareth and Sarah knew they were suspected of being deeply in love" said Gaeton in an amused voice "I doubt they'd be talking with their heads so close together for fear of further speculation. They're both so vain"
"Well, just look at them" Gwendolyn said bitterly "It's like some sort of mortal fairy tale. They make an more striking couple then Jareth and Bella"
Gaeton pulled a face "Ew, she looked like him, though. That was gross it was like he was with his sister or something"
"You know" Gwendolyn's voice was aggravated. "for the King's advisor you are incredibly immature"
"Oh well" he shrugged "Sarah is going to go mental when she find out what everyone is saying"
*
Thanks: Zebella: I'm glad you think it's funny. We need some comic relief. Somewhatderanged: Yes, damn that wet noodle. It's true. Everyone loves Jareth, but it's only because he's so lovely. *sigh* So, lovely. Skye Haerrington: Yup, Aislinn has some detestable qualities. I'm glad you find Jareth amusing. As stated above, I just find him lovely. Sayanna: Sure thing, chappies are to keep on coming. :D Vireyda Magodaly: Lol, I'm glad you like it. Emerald Skye: That's right, Jareth will protect her! Or at least attempt to and look very lovely in the process. Missy: *bows* Maeberry: The King and I, eh? I think I read that/ watched the movie at one point. I might be doing it subconsciously. *Shrugs* Thanks, in any case, everyone likes being showered with praise. Die-chan: *runs in terror from the frozen fish* Hah, good thing you found that amusing. It was one of my favourite bits to write.
Remember to Review! :D