Sarah stood on a balcony outside the Goblin Palace with Danae. The Princess stood next to her quietly. Something was bothering the young girl, but as Sarah didn't really know her that well she didn't like to ask what it was. Jareth also seemed out of sorts, but Sarah didn't like to ask him either, but for a whole other set of reasons. The clicking of boot heels on the stone floor heralded the arrival of Jareth, Aldous and to Sarah's surprise Roland. Danae also seemed to be confused about these turn of events.
"Are you coming to the Goblin City Roland?"
As he nodded, she beamed. "His Highness has requested that I stay at the Castle for a few weeks, at least until the engagement party." He took Danae's hand and kissed it gently. "Shall we my love?" And the two lovers simply vanished.
Jareth nodded to Aldous curtly after the exit of Danae and Roland. Then Sarah found herself alone on the balcony with the Goblin King. They stood together, neither of the pair speaking, neither of them knowing what to say. Then Jareth bridged the silence.
"Sarah, there is a matter of some import that I must discuss with you."
She inhaled deeply, fighting of the overwhelming sensation of panic that she suddenly felt. "Yes Jareth?" she tried to keep her tone light and questioning.
"It's about our entanglement last night" He spoke elegantly, but his tone was still very matter of fact.
"Jareth" Sarah interrupted before he could continue, "It was a mistake. It's just that..." She paused for a second before carrying on. "I just got here and it's not like I don't like you, I do." There was sadness in her eyes, and she smiled at him, trying to be gentle "It's just too soon."
Jareth brought his hand up to her face and stroked her cheek gently. "I know." He smiled at her warmly and pulled her to him in a warm embrace, and felt dampness against his shirt.
"Why are you crying?" he whispered softly into her ear.
Sarah brought her head up to look him in the eye. "I'm sorry. It's just..." she stifled a sob, "It's just that I miss them so much." And she broke down in his arms, sobbing into his shoulder, while he stroked her hair and murmured comfort into her ear. As she stated to quieten down, he brought his lips to her forehead and kissed her gently.
They stood there, for a time, until Sarah pulled free of his embrace and wiped her tear stained cheeks with her fingers. "I'm better now." She smiled wanly at him.
"No you're not" he replied quietly "You won't be better for quite some time."
"I know" she laughed to herself bitterly. "But this is as good as it will get for now."
"I am truly sorry Sarah, for bringing you here."
"I know." She said sadly, looking away, "But it's not really your fault is it?"
"No" he said his voice as soft as a summer breeze.
"Are we going back to the labyrinth now?" she asked, feeling a weight lifted from her heart.
"If you are ready" he replied staring at her back intently.
Sarah stared out over the city, the plains to where she could see the Labyrinth in the distance, then held her hand out to Jareth, who took it. She looked at the city once more, then closed her eyes. And opened them to a far more familiar view, they were standing in the middle of the Goblin City, with dozens of goblins and tradesmen staring at them.
Jareth leant over and whispered in her ear "I seem to have miscalculated our trip slightly, would you care for a walk?"
Sarah nodded, not really knowing what to say, so the pair walked back to the castle in comfortable, companionable silence.
During the next few weeks Sarah's days were now very busy. She tended to spend most of her day with Danae, walking round the castle, or keeping her company while she performed her various duties as the Goblin Princess. The duties mainly consisted of her greeting nobles and ambassadors who were calling by the palace to offer their congratulations on her upcoming nuptials. The rest of her time was spent with Aldous and Dremius who were tutoring her on the ways of the Underground. She learnt history, geography, politics and learning the High speech. Sarah spent hours learning the history of the Underground. How the Labyrinth had been discovered and put to use, how the many wars of the past had come to shape the current kingdoms. In politics she learnt about the many complex alliances that had been forged between the Goblin Realm and the other countries in the underground, old grievances between kingdoms, which flared up every few decades and the roles of marriage and children in forming ties between kingdoms. Sarah's favourite lesson however was learning the High Speech, she had enjoyed languages at school, in fact French had been her best subject. The High Speech was complicated to learn at first, but Sarah was a fast and dedicated pupil.
Sarah spent time with Jareth often during this time, they would walk through the gardens, discussing what she had recently learned. They would play chess or cards in the parlour when the weather was bad. Or they would just sit together in the library, while Jareth poured himself into his paperwork Sarah would read quietly. Sometimes Danae, Aldous or Roland would join them in their evening activity. Danae was also busier lately, the engagement party was at the end of the month, and she would be in Jareth's study every day dedicated to guest lists, menus, and seating plans, most of the time with Sarah sitting next to her, offering contributions. When she was not preparing for the engagement party she was making preparations for the wedding itself. A dressmaker was brought in from Threasedene to make her wedding gown, and although Danae's measurements had been taken, and the dress had started to take shape it was still many months from completion.
With a week to go until the engagement party emotions were running high in the castle, mainly due to Danae's nerves about the whole affair. Sarah had witnessed three arguments between her and Jareth in as many days. Sarah was sitting in the library reading, when Danae came storming into the room, and flung herself down in the seat next to Sarah, who put her book down as Danae started speaking.
"I honestly don't know who he thinks he is." She huffed. "Why is he so damned judgemental and hot-headed all the time."
Sarah just shrugged not knowing what to say, and knowing from past experience, and the advice from Aldous and Camille, that it was best not to get drawn into the middle. As when Jareth and Danae started at each other's throats they were best left alone. She was saved from having to think of something to calm Danae's temper, by Jareth bursting into the room in hot pursuit of Danae.
"There you are" he glared at her.
She matched his glare right back, "What do you want?" she sneered at him, her facial expression looked as if it had just been lifted off Jareth and placed directly back onto her own face.
"We haven't finished our discussion Danae"
"Well as far as I'm concerned we have."
"Well I don't remember asking for your opinion on the matter"
"You never do" she bit back angrily.
"I think I'm just going to go for a walk round the castle" Sarah interrupted breezily. "Stretch my legs a bit." And with that Sarah vacated the room, and left the raised voices behind her in the corridor. And nearly walked straight into Roland, who was looking for Danae.
"Excuse me, my Lady. I do apologise." Roland was, in Sarah's mind, the perfect gentleman. Over the last few weeks she had often played the part of chaperone for the him and Danae, as it was a dire breech of etiquette to leave the pair unattended for long. She had always found him to be a most courteous man, who although quiet was intelligent, and always had perfect manners.
"Don't be silly Roland, it was my fault. And call me Sarah, I'm not used to being called my lady." She smiled at him warmly, "Are you looking for Danae?"
He nodded intently; it was obvious that he was very much in love with the young princess. "She's in the library." Roland passed her, but Sarah feeling a sudden rush of sisterly affection for the young man called after him "But I wouldn't go after her right now, she's having another one of her, umm, discussions with Jareth."
Roland chuckled, "Nicely put. Would you care for a walk in the gardens, my lady?" smiling at the last part of his sentence as he offered Sarah his arm.
"Thank you, kind sir." Said Sarah laughing as she took his arm.
"You know, actually it's your highness" said Roland teasing, "I am a prince you know."
Sarah groaned, and slapped her hand to her head. "I'm never ever going to get the hang of this am I?" she smiled, Roland and Danae had taken it upon themselves to teach Sarah etiquette and the system of addressing people formally.
"I think you're doing very well" he grinned smoothing things over as they began to walk down the corridor, towards the garden.
"Is it just me or when you're alone in a room with Danae and Jareth do you want to run and hide?"
"It terrifies me" he confided, "It's worse when they try and drag you in the middle. Was that what you were doing before? Hiding from Jareth and Danae?"
Sarah nodded guiltily, "I was reading in the library when the pair of them came in, mid argument."
"What was it about this time?"
"No idea"
The pair of them strolled out into the garden, until eventually they were joined by a cheerful Danae and Jareth, who had given up today's fight in order to enjoy the sunshine.
