Chapter Three: The King's Return; to Be a Gentleman (2 in 1)
Due to the fact that she was unconscious, Sarah failed to notice that the Goblin King had appeared just a few yards away. Jareth simply stared in awe for a few seconds, not beleiving who lie before him."It cannot be... what could have made her call me to her, after all these years? And, what is she doing here in the middle of nowhere? Jareth took and few steps closer, and knelt down by her side. "Oh, God..." Jareth cursed as he realized not only was Sarah unconscious, she was bleeding; and very profusely at that. Sensing that Sarah was barely alive, he had to make a decision. "If I leave her here, her death shall be imminent," he began. "However, If I bring her back..." Jareth stopped at that thought, and told himself that her life was worth anything. Absolutley anything to him. Concluding that she must not be left there, Jareth carefully lifted Sarah into his arms. Blood flowed freely onto his clothes, but the usually vain Goblin King cared only that the bleeding showed to signs of ceasing anytime soon. Jareth frowned, noticing that Sarah hadn't even stirred upon being moved. With another simple flick of his wrist, the Goblin King disappeared. Only this time, he had a passenger.
Upon ariving back at the Castle, Jareth sent out orders to all whom he could find, though the goblins were unusually scarce. "You there! Get bandages; and you, hot water and soap! All whom fail to complete their orders will have a lovely vacation for eternity in the bog of stench! Still gingerly carrying Sarah in his arms, as if she were a precious porcelain doll, Jareth quickly walked to the nearest bedchamber. After placing her gently on the bed, he stepped back, trying to evaluate her health. This proved to be one of the few times in his life so far that Jareth would admit that he needed help. It wasn't that he was unable to asess her health and injuries. He knew that if he even attempted to examine her, and by chance she were to awaken, she would kill him. Or try to, at least, Jareth's immortality protected him from such attacks. "Cliona," Jareth called softly, "I request your assistance here..." Before he had had a chance to attempt to reach at least some level of composure, Cliona appeared with a puff of smoke.
Now, had Sarah been actually awake to see this sight, she would most likely have gone into a futher state of shock. This is because Cliona wasn't exactly... human. With her large violet eyes, thick green-tinted skin, and tail, she was all but human. Cliona was a half-breed, one half human, and one half dragon. Upon seeing his reliable confidant, Jareth breathed a sigh of relief. Jareth then bit hs lip slightly, and looked back and forth from Sarah to Cliona. Knowing full well what the he was thinking (That Sarah, when, or if, she were to awaken, would be shocked enough to find herself in the underground, let alone under the care of a dragon.), Cliona simply smiled and stated "Your Majesty, you need not worry." Then, with a slow blink of her eyes, Cliona transformed herself into a more normal-looking person, who appeared to be middle aged. The only real give away was her set of eternally violet eyes.
Following Cliona's transformation to a more "acceptable" state, she rushed to Sarah's side. "I would like to stay," Jareth began, "But we both know that if Sarah found out, that it would be very unpleased." Cliona nodded her head silently at this, and grimly continued to examine Sarah. Not wanting to leave, but kowing that he must, Jareth's melancholy gaze landed on Sarah. "Should she die," he thought, "I don't think that I will be able to live; knowing that I would never again have the chance to see her face, or hold her, or..." Jareth was perhaps on the verge of a slight smirk in response to where his thoughts were leading him, when a burly looking goblin burst though the door, quite out of breath. quick... other goblins being real sick-like" the goblin managed to studder out. Jareth glanced back at Cliona, who didn't even give him a glance, for she was too busy trying to keep Sarah from bleeding even more. Jareth was overwhelmed. "I have just about no pity for the goblins right now, tell all those who are 'ill' to take the rest of the day off, if they must. I'll deal with them all later..."
Sarah opened her eyes slowley, and found herself in complete darkness. "What happened...where am I...?" she wondered silently. Upon trying to sit up, she discovered that doing so caused writhing pain in her shoulders and chest. Screaming out, Sarah fainted. Hearing her cries, Jareth thought to simply appear in her room, for it would be thefastest way; but gave it a quick second thought and decided that it would be too much for her. He settled on walking to her room, which was only down the hall from his own. After entering the room, Jareth's heart skipped a beat. Or several, rather. His precious Sarah lied as though teetering once again on the brink of death, pale as a ghost. Seeing that she was bleeding freshly, he went immediatley to her bedside and slowly started applying more gauze. However, he found it quite difficult to do so and avert his eyes at the same time, so once again, Cliona was summoned in the middle of the night.
With the familiar puff of smoke, Cliona appeared beside Jareth. "You're going to have to be a gentleman --somehow-- and care for her yourself. Nearly every goblin in the castle has fallen ill, some sort of epidemic, I suppose. I'm not sure whether Sarah is immune to it or not, and even whether your immortality will protect you from it. Although, Jareth, Sarah has been here for three days, there are a mere ten left until-" Jareth cut her off. "I am well aware of what could occur if she were to remain thirteen days! How is it possible that all of the goblins are sick?!" proclaimed Jareth in a forced whisper, his very well-known temper flaring up a bit. Cliona, quite used to this, simply continued "Yes, they are indeed all ill, and they have been quarantined to the west wing. However, they need my attention on a day-to-day basis. I cannot risk spreading the disease to yourself and Sarah. I am immune to the disease, I will remain in the west wing with them, and care for them." Jareth failed to calm down, and hissed through his teeth "All of them?!"
At this, Sarah stirred slightly and let out a whimper in the bed. Cliona stepped forward and looked the Goblin King square in the eyes. A bold move for anyone, even his closest and only friend. "If you care about her the way I think you do, and if you wish for her to live, you will find a way to control yourself and care for her. And if you wish to ever gain her respect, love, and trust, you will learn to control that temper of yours. I know that you are well capable of caring for her. Perhaps as much so as myself. Do the right thing, Jareth. You have been given a second chance. Don't lose her this time." said Cliona with both irritation and care in her voice. With another puff of smoke, Cliona was gone. Jareth then turned back to Sarah, knowing that he was on his own.