Chapter 4 is up (as if you haven't already figured that out) and I can truly say that it was a hell of a chapter to write. Not much of a reason why, because it's mostly just laziness. Anyway, I finally figured where this thing is gonna go, but I won't tell you all that. Muhaha. I hope you all thoroughly enjoy this one even though it's mild. Yeah, still no intimate relations. But soon, my friends.. soon.

Please review guys because I really, really appreciate it. Feedback is this story's savior. (did that make sense??)

- Monica, blackmajick7

Disclaimer: Jareth and Sarah belong to Jim Henson. Everyone with a name that you're gonna be like 'what the!?' to is all mine.

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CHAPTER FOUR

Splendid, colorful and unique flowers of every shade flung out from amongst the shrubs and trees that crowded the front entrance of the gardens. Strange butterflies and other pleasant-looking insects thrived here, living off the sweet nectar that was available throughout. Sarah felt truly at solace in this place, her small hand wrapped around Jareth's larger, gloved one. As they walked down a shaded path of magnolia trees, ever so slowly and unconsciously, her fingers began to twine with his and her eyes flicked over to his face, marveling at his appearance. She couldn't believe how good he looked, and how physically near he was but how intangible he felt. At this thought, she pulled her eyes away and back to their beautiful surroundings.

While Sarah looked away from him, Jareth let his sight wonder to her. He had felt her looking rather conspicuously at him yet he couldn't quite read her thoughts. Oh, he knew he could if he took the least bit of effort, but somehow he felt it wrong to do it. He let his fingers remain entwined with the girl's, almost like lovers would. Now, deep in his mind, he knew something was developing between them already, and he knew he couldn't let his feelings for her surpass what they had to. As long as he kept his emotions out of reach, he wouldn't have anything to worry about.

"It's all so wonderful here," Sarah murmured, a small smile forming on her lips. She let her hand fall from Jareth's and made her way past a path of what looked like crate myrtle trees to a kind of courtyard where tons of extraordinary blossoms resided. Neon greens with black speckles, bright oranges with blue ridges, bold pinks with red hints, and so on glinted in the sunshine. The structure of the flowers seemed to be similar to that of tiger lilies and orchids yet there was something odd about their presence, other than their color, that clearly shown that they were from another world.

Turning away from the flowers, Sarah saw Jareth standing by one of the crate myrtles, his arms folded and a far away look on his face. "What's up?" she asked before advancing to him, feeling dauntless again. A breeze picked up in the air, softly fluttering her white gown about her ankles, revealing the silk embroidered flats that dawned on her feet.

Jareth immediately snapped from his thinking, allowing his eyes to pierce into Sarah, who was literally looking like an angel when she stopped a couple feet from him. "Nothing," he said stiffly in his naturally cruel tone.

Sarah pursed her lips at his voice and crossed her arms. Her face read pure frustration. "Why are you doing that again? Just communicate a little with me."

"Why are you so determined to meddle with me so?" the fae threw back, letting his arms fall down to his sides.

"I just want to talk. What's been bothering you? Ever since.." her words trailed off, suddenly growing uncomfortable. "Well, you know.."

Jareth raised a finely arched eye brow with a smirk playing up on his mouth. "Well, Sarah, there is nothing up that would be anything of your interest...to a certain extent, of course."

The mortal kept her eyes on him, obviously not satisfied. "What makes you think I wouldn't be interested?"

"It is of my affair, part of my duties as king, and you would not really understand," came the curt reply. If Sarah had checked herself enough to observe his expression, she would have spotted a hint of amusement. Instead, she indulged on her impulses.

"Despite what you think, I'm not an idiot. Though, I do respect your desire for privacy, you don't have you act like such an ass about it," she snapped in the Goblin King's face, her pretty face contorted in exasperation.

Jareth simply shrugged, "I suppose that is my way." Then he let one of his impish grins appear, which in turn, made Sarah throw up her arms in defeat.

"Alright, whatever. I'm gonna just drop it, okay?" The mortal didn't wait for a reply, retaining her dignity enough to walk ladylike back up the crate myrtle path. However, she kept her pace at a slow enough rate so that the king could catch up, even though she was trying not to make it seem that way as she lingered a while to examine some of the radiant pink flowers that hung over from the trees.

The pair was silent then for a long while. Sarah thought that Jareth would mention something about having to return to his responsibilities yet when they reached the main stone walk that led back to the castle, he turned to make his way further down the path. She had to fight a smile as she followed by his side; though still somewhat annoyed by his aloofness, she yearned to be in his company more. For a moment, she contemplated this thought. Perhaps he was placing some kind of spell over her? It was very possible; he was the kind of snake that would do a thing like that. But why? She sulked while pondering the possible motives that he may have before shaking the thoughts away to pay attention to where she was walking. She had nearly stepped into a hedge.

Large oak trees began to loom overhead, casting great and almost foreboding shadows against the soft, frail grass blades on the ground. Numerous openings in the path stirred curiosity for the girl and she glanced at the king. "Can we go off in one of these walks?"

"Yes, I was waiting for you to propose it," returned the matter-of-fact reply.

Soon, they were down a well-wooded trail and Sarah could see a sunlit area a few hundred yards off. As they made their way closer, she realized that it was a large courtyard, decorated with numerous arrangements of flowers, bushes, and trees. Strange, ornate stone statues were placed in various areas in the open, immediately captivating Sarah's attention. Slowly, she stepped her way over to a figure of what appeared to be a lean, wispy fae woman posed in a walking position with her head tilted downward. Every slight detail was carved into the dark stone, from the beautiful and mystifying face that was framed by naturally long, thick hair to the resplendent and jeweled sheer dress that clung to the every subtle curve of her body. When Sarah drew more near, she could see that the statue's mouth was smiling in the faintest and elfin way, unexplainablely making her appear as if she were taunting the mortal.

"Who is this.." whispered Sarah more-so to herself, never pulling her eyes away.

"That is Cermei.. My mother," Jareth said dryly right from behind, which caused her to become startled. She turned about, noticing that he was farther away than she originally thought. She smiled even though he had a look of indifference on his face.

"She's so attractive. I see where you get your good looks," she offered and twisted her head back to the statue, which was mounted on a small slab of stone and stood over Sarah's height, matching that of the Goblin King's.

Though appreciating the compliment inside, Jareth frowned because of the thought of his mother. She had left him when he was 13. His father, Diabhidh, had been killed long ago in the battles between the fae and the trolls from the mountains in the northern Underground. Jareth never knew him; he had only been an infant when he was killed. (The battles were long since over; it had been 378 years. At the present time, the rather daft trolls lurked in the remote mountains and remained there, having been defeated devastatingly by the fae and not wishing to decrease their diminishing numbers.)

Cermei had stayed in the castle, trying to cope with the responsibilities of being the new reigning Queen of the Goblins, deal with her husband's death, and yet still care for her guiltless infant son. She juggled with her duties and personal life for 12 years before apparently giving up. She disappeared, no traces left behind, leaving Jareth to take on the position of Goblin King with only just having barely reached his teen years. Yet, the fae were not like humans in the Aboveground. They could decipher issues much more speedily, being naturally wiser than any other creature. When Jareth came to be king, he had already the essential skills of leadership, decision-making, perceptiveness, and responsibility to run a kingdom. Though, back then, he had yet to perfect his swordsmanship, that had been quickly improved to a point that he could defeat his best soldiers.

The single flaw that Jareth now still conveyed was his cruel and uncaring nature. This, it had seemed to him, could not be changed. He felt that he could never give his whole to anyone because of the possibility of that person throwing it back in his face. This was his belief during his life, until Sarah had slipped out of the dubious shadows and into his heart. And when he had offered the mortal her dreams, his soul, she had pulled away, only thinking of her stepbrother. Although it was expected, especially from the kind person that Sarah was, Jareth experienced a clutching heartache that he had never known since his mother abandoned him so long ago. This was why revenge slipped into his mind. Yet, it was all changing now, as he looked upon Sarah's smiling face as she dashed off to an elaborate marble fountain.

His original plans had been to send her back, after she realized that she loved him or at least cared for him deeply. He felt that, this time, she would have no obstacles in the path of what she desired. It was a risk, a very great risk. What if she didn't develop anything for him at all while he, in the meantime, couldn't keep his feelings at bay? She would only defy him again. But, he had ignored this slight diversion and came to her. And she had willingly accepted. Now that they were up to this point, Jareth was unsure of what she felt and increasingly becoming irritated by his feelings roused by her presence.

Silently, Jareth glanced at the statue of Cermei for a second before turning to the direction where Sarah was still admiring the fountain. It was a sort of three-tier ensemble with foreign inscriptions and strange carvings of animals and plants along the entire dark marble stone. At the very top of the highest dish, a baroque yet life-like statue of a bird sat perched with its wings spread out as if to take flight. As Sarah squinted, as it must have been at least 12 feet in the air, she could see that the bird was none other than an owl. You could have taken a swim in the fountain's lowest and largest level which had striking water lilies and other aquatic vegetation purposely and perfectly arranged for adding beauty. The sparkling, crystal water that flowed out from the tiers glimmered in the bedazzled mortal's eyes and she was not aware when Jareth had come up from behind her once again.

"No, not again!" he exclaimed without notice, causing Sarah to jump. "Those blasted fairies are back in my gardens!"

"What.." the girl began to ask disbelievingly until she caught the shimmering flash flick past the fountain and on its way to a substantial bush brimming with violet flowers. She grinned widely at the appearance of the little creature but kept her distance as she recalled her last acquaintance with one of its kind.

"I distinctly recollect my orders to Hogwart to get rid of those little fiends," grumbled Jareth, disgust written all over his face as he watched a couple more of the fairies fly past to the same bush. "They are nothing but the worst of nuisances in all of the Underground."

Sarah turned to the discontented fae, hearing a particular and intentionally miss-pronounced name that immediately aroused her attention. "Hoggle? Where is he?"

Jareth sighed, crossing his long arms and inwardly cursing himself for bringing up the little dwarf's name. "Oh, he's off somewhere outside the labyrinth, I suppose." He said this in a nonchalant tone, yet he looked sternly at the mortal as if warning her not to say anymore of the matter.

Of course, Sarah did not pay heed to the threat. "Oh, Jareth, please let me see him! I know you can just pop him over here and don't act as if you can't."

The fae's frown deepened more. "He is working on the plants at entrance to the labyrinth for the moment. I am not going to interrupt his obligations and waste my magic just to let you two engage in nonsensical chit-chat."

Sarah glowered, straightening her arms at her sides, appearing truly pissed off.

Closing his eyes briefly, he cooperated with his defeat. "Perhaps, later, I will allow Hogwart to come to the castle.. He will have to come back here to spray those damned fairies anyhow..."

"It's Hoggle," Sarah gently corrected and before he knew it, Jareth was surrounded by Sarah's dainty arms. A warm smile glowed on her face, with the realization that she would see Hoggle soon. And, obviously, she knew that she would also see Ludo, Sir Didymus and his noble steed, Ambrosius, as well in one way or another.

As she pulled away from the embrace, Sarah felt her heart race, locking eyes with the fair-haired Goblin King. The incredible yen to kiss him floated through her mind but she had already stepped away and soon, they were both walking back down the path that led to the main walk.

Throughout the entire time back to the castle, Jareth contemplated inviting Sarah to have dinner with him. He found himself wondering how to ask, not being able to put the words together. Before the mortal, he had never had this trouble. Women of nobility threw themselves at him and he simply had to say a time and it was a "date." Sarah was different, in the most obvious ways, and it made him cringe to treat her like the other women that had shared his bed in the past. And now, just to see how he separated her from the rest, he could see that he was slipping all too fast. Yet he quickly assured himself that he could treat the dinner as a sort of obligation, not pleasure.

Upon reaching the rear of the castle, the massive double doors opened swiftly with unseen magic. Jareth caught Sarah's hand with suaveness and held its delicateness in his, having her meet his eyes.

"If you would not mind, I would like to ask you to have dinner with me tonight Sarah," he asked with a gentlemanly mentality of his own.

The mortal smiled slyly, "Why not?"

She then allowed her hand to be caressed by a kiss from the king's lips, noting the devilish look in his blue mismatched eyes.

"Is seven appropriate?"

Sarah only nodded, watching as he let go of her fingers and nodded in return with a grin, turning towards the open doorway to the throne room. And as she turned towards the decorated staircase, she heard familiar goblin noises such as hysterical laughs and loud yawping.

She only hoped that the goblins wouldn't be in the dining room.

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