I'm sorry about the long wait, I have been so so busy, here is a wee chappy for you.

xx

Chapter 7

Sarah awoke early the next morning, she lay in bed for a few minutes staring at the canopy above her, then she decided to drag herself out of bed. She pulled on the dressing gown she had been wearing last night and walked carefully over to the large window in the room. The drapes were a dark material and she pulled them open slowly and was greeted with a glorious view of the sun rising over the labyrinth. She hugged the dressing gown closer and smiled as she gazed out the window. She was brought out of her daydream by a small tapping at the door.

Sarah turned round "Yes," she said cautiously. She didn't think it was Jareth knocking, remembering what he had said to her last night she knew it defiantly wasn't him. Sarah watched as a small goblin maid entered the room carrying a large tray of food and she carefully placed it on the large wooden breakfast table on the other side of the room. The goblin then tuned round to Sarah and curtsied before she began speaking.

"His majesty will be here in an hour to take you for a walk." She said in a high pitched voice.

Sarah crossed her arms, "I am not a dog you know, I don't need to be taken for a walk." She said.

The goblin stared blankly at her for a while, fidgeting with the sleeve of her dress. "Umm, he will be here in an hour, you should probably make sure you're dressed." She said and then quickly left the room.

Sarah shook her head as the goblin left the room and then wandered over the table where the tray of food was sitting. She contemplated refusing to eat as a protest against marring Jareth, but then she decided against it remembering the time she had gone on hunger strike at Greenacre. She shuddered at the memory of having a feeding tube forced in her nose.

Sarah sat down at the table and began eating, there was a good selection of food and a pot of tea. She carefully poured herself a cup and clasped it tightly, warming her hands up.

ooo

Jareth strode confidently down the hallway towards Sarah's room. When he reached the door he pushed it open forcefully and was a little disappointed to see Sarah was already dressed and sitting on the bed waiting for him.

"Ah Sarah you're dressed." He said as he held out his arm for her.

Sarah noticed the slight disappointment in his eyes, she had made sure she was dressed well before Jareth was due and she betted by coming slightly early he had hoped to catch her naked or something. Even with all these thoughts running through her head she just stared at him blankly.

Jareth motioned for her to take his arm and watched as she slowly stood up from the bed. "Well come on then Sarah," he said impatiently. "I haven't got all day you know."

Sarah walked a bit quicker over to where Jareth stood and cautiously gripped his arm.

Jareth smiled and put his gloved hand over hers as they walked out of the room. They marched down the hallway, Sarah talking two steps for every one stride Jareth took, her feet dragging and her posture slouched.

Jareth frowned at her as he removed his arm from her grip and placed his hand in the small of her back and his other hand across her flat stomach, forcing her back straight.

Sarah flinched at the touch and stopped walking. "What are you doing?" She asked cautiously.

"Your posture is appalling." He said as he placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled them back. "We can't have you walking down the aisle looking like some hunchback now can we."

Sarah shot him a dirty look at the word aisle but said nothing.

Jareth noticed her look but also said nothing.

"I want you to walk with your head held high, shoulders back, chest out and without scuffing your feet." He instructed as he walked down the hall demonstrating what he had just said. "Now you try." He said as he waited at the end of the hallway for Sarah to walk down to him.

Sarah looked at him for a second and then began walking down the hall. She did what he said at first, but then she noticed how he was smirking at her. She wasn't going to let him think for one second that he could just demand anything from her and get her immediate compliance, she wasn't some pet for the Goblin King. So about half way towards Jareth she began walking on her toes, sticking he chest out as far as she could and tilting her head right back. "I'm I doing okay?" She asked Jareth sarcastically as she passed him.

Jareth snorted as she walked past and then covered his mouth hoping she hadn't heard. She had made him laugh, she had made the King of the Goblins laugh and he wasn't about to show this weakness to his soon to be bride. He composed himself and then walked casually, but briskly up to the young woman who was now skipping down the hall.

"I think that's enough for today my dear, I find your inability to follow even the simplest of instructions highly unamusing." He said as he gripped her arm and led her out towards the gardens.

Sarah smiled to herself, "don't think you can fool me oh Goblin King," she thought to herself, "I saw you practically bite your lip off in an effort not to laugh as I walked past."

Sarah looked round at Jareth, his face was hard as stone, but his eyes, his eyes showed his true feelings, the laughter that had almost been.