I STILL OWN NOTHING. APOLOGIES TO READERS FOR DELAYING- I HAD TO GET THOM OUT OF HIS COUSIN'S GUEST ROOM IN ANOTHER REALITY.
Sarah blinked. "You take much for granted- how do you know I'll want to marry you once I know you? I might want to toss you in your own bog. Headfirst."
The same infuriating smile he wore when they first met played across his majesty's face. "I really should say I'd like to see you try, but you just might be able to do it- since I did promise to fulfill your dreams. Let me give you one reason."
The kiss he gave her might have been more than one reason, but with the lack of oxygen, Sarah lost the ability to count or really care about counting.
Free again, she fought to look unmoved, suspecting that it was a losing battle. "Okay, there's some appeal there- but you can't build a life on that."
Jareth agreed. "No, you can't - but it is a reason to begin trying to. I think you have missed a more obvious question."
Just one? She was donig better than she thought. "Okay- how about this- how will I get to know you? I can't just pop Underground, leaving my life in shambles until I decide what to do- and wouldn't things get kind of - " she thought of the goblins, "chaotic if you left your subjects kingless for that long."
"How long do you think it will take?"
"How should I know? It depends on you too. Have you done much dating? Besides, people put on their good face to date, then when you get married, it's not the same. You wake up married to a stranger."
"Neither of us is your mother- or father," Jareth pointed out, lifting her face to look up at him. "If it reassures you, as king, I am bound to speak truthfully, and live so. "
"Your brother also?"
"The oath means nothing to him- he is bound more deeply to dark magic, otherwise my father would live."
Sarah was glad that the bitterness in his voice was not directed at her. At that moment, she would have given much to abandon sense and embrace the man in her living room, to comfort him, even to agree to what he wanted. Logic held her in check.
"In answer to your other question, I can stay here long as need be- as before. My mother is a capable queen-regent. It will be somewhat taxing, if many children are in need of rescue, but she can handle it. However, she has stated a desire to meet you, at the earliest possible opportunity. "
"Where?"
"She is not fond of journeying to your world," Jareth answered. "It is rather loud for her tastes. Two, you do need to see more of the lands that are mine, and will be yours- should you consent."
Sarah shook her head, impatiently pushing her too long hair out of her eyes. "No, where will you stay? The guest room isn't exactly made up, and it could get kind of- well.."
"I thought your age was more relaxed about that sort of thing!" Jareth stated dryly. "Such a pity."
Red heat flushed Sarah's face, until she saw the twinkle in his eyes. "You're teasing me. That's - that's cruel."
"Am I? " He paused, letting her wonder. "Yes, dear girl, that is so. But , I did warn you, I can be cruel. Just as you can be. Sarah, I can move from world to world in a heartbeat- so your guestroom, ready or not, is not necessary. If you do accept, " and the if sounded as if he was humoring her, "you can study the physics of dimensional transnavigation and location to your heart's content. It is rather dry though. But- there's all the time in the world for that. "
His words had the effect of cold water. "That's the thing. I don't have all the time in the world. Since you lived over a century of my time ago, probably much longer," his nod confirmed that, "but you're not decrepit..."
"Thank you for that."
"Aargh. I- if I lived that long- I would be - decrepit. I'd make Yoda look good, but I won't. I'll be ancient...and probably have no mind left at all in a short time, to your way of thinking."
She had turned away, not able to meet his eyes, not wanting him to see the disappointed disillusionment in hers. With gentle force, Jareth turned Sarah to face him. "Somewhere in all those boring physics books is a text on why none of what you just said is true. I can't explain it to you in less than ten hours, and I'm not sure even then- it wasn't my best subject. However, suffice it to say, you will not age and decay in my world. Needless to say, the sooner you make a choice, the sooner your age will be frozen- oh not actually frozen. Your mind will develop, but not decay. You will not degenerate. Granted, there are probably about seventy five years of remedial courses for you to take, history of the Fey lands, politics, I should apologize for forcing that on you, I suppose."
"You're kidding?" Sarah glanced in the mirror. "Can I cut my hair?"
Jareth blinked. "Uhm- there's no law against it- but why?" He rather liked it.
"It's a pain, but wigs are more so, so since so many parts require long hair.."
"We can consider it- but not too short?" The king hid his smile. He was winning.
Of course, that was to be expected.
"Okay, I'll get to know you," Sarah sighed. "The how of it is still up for grabs."
"Do you recall the lyrics of some of the songs in your play?"
"Of course," Sarah laughed. "I can even sing them."
"Which one - drew you most to the part?"
"You've been reading my mind!" she accused.
"No- just watching you, and I know which ones you sing the most, or hum."
That made sense. "And in this labyrinth, where night is blind- the Phantom of the opera is there- inside your mind.." she sang softly. "But only after, after we met that is. Before- All I ask of you was my favorite song, anywhere. "
"Rather reminds me of another song," Jareth nodded.
"Yeah," Sarah agreed with him. "If that clock hadn't been there, I'd still be there."
"No, you wouldn't," Jareth smiled. "I'd have awoken you long ago, to live something better than dreams. But, back on topic, with your permission, I can - temporarily rewire the REM centre of your brain- where you dream, so you can see something of my past when you dream, at the speed of dreams. "
"Something- rewire?" Trepedition crept into her voice.
"Nothing to worry about. Something- just what you'd see if you had been there. If I can't see your thoughts, then fair is fair. You can't see into mine either. Rewire- I won't cut into your head. Just a small psi link superimposed on your mind. When you feel you know enough, it will fade out of its own accord, actually, of your own accord."
"Can I talk to you as well- or just that?" Sarah blurted out.
Jareth kept his expression careful. "I rather hoped you would wish for both. Just say when."