Enjoy!
Chapter 20
So That Would Be A No?
It turned out that dinner would not be for another couple of hours, and as such Sarah asked for a small tour around the castle, something to pass the time. Jareth had shrugged and said there was not much to see, but after a few moments of encouragement he had agreed, and that led them into a wonderfully decorated room. It was longer than it was wide and had a domed roof with mosaics of scenes she did not truly understand. The landscaping was beautiful though, and she stared at them with her mouth open. Jareth smiled his crooked smile as Sarah stood transfixed under the ceiling. Those pictures were truly remarkable; he had stared at them like she was many times before. Gently, he took her hand and pulled her further into the room, smiling as she snapped her eyes downward and pouted. "There is more to see." He paused mischievously, "You do want to see, don't you?"
Sarah nodded instantly. She couldn't help herself, this place, this room in particular, made her feel like a kid in a candy shop. They passed a tapestry and Sarah paused. It was of a beautiful castle; white as could be. The artist was truly gifted for not only was the castle white, but the white itself seemed to reflect thousands of colors. A sturdy wall surrounded the castle, but she could still see the bustle of people coming and going from the open gates. She turned her attention back to the castle and gaped at the towers and the expanse. Jareth smiled, "That is the Palace Mayair."
"Mayair?" Now why did that sound familiar? She turned to look at Jareth, confusion on her face.
He nodded towards the picture, "That is where Addoyn resides," with a hand he pointed to the tallest tower, "here."
Sarah nodded. Now the name seemed familiar. Addoyn had told Jareth he had been in Mayair. It looked so beautiful on the tapestry; she could only imagine the brilliance in person. Maybe one day, she thought to herself.
She turned away from the tapestry and a large painting caught her attention a few feet away. It was a full length portrait and it stood taller than she. With a stifled gasp she approached it slowly and stared wordlessly. It was a woman with long, blonde hair that fell in luxurious waves down her back and onto the floor, spreading like a train. She was wearing the brightest blue dress, and she was painfully pretty, but what caught Sarah's attention more than anything were the eyes. Inside that portrait stood a woman with one green and one brown eye and a smile that could sooth all fears away. She hesitantly raised a hand to touch the painting, but frowned when a gloved hand clutched hers tight, forbidding her access.
"That is Temnestra," he said softly as he gazed at the picture. She nodded and he dropped her hand. "That was taken long ago…" he smiled inwardly. Before he had been born, back when she was actually happy, she did not look like that anymore though, at least, never to him. He sighed and turned away from that painting. Sarah walked next to him, a burning question in her mind. She opened her mouth to speak, and was silent as he spoke instead. "Yes, that is my mother." She kept her mouth open, but this time in awe. His voice was lined with emotion whenever he spoke about his mother, but rarely was there hate there; more of a longing. She could understand that, her mother had abandoned her years ago. It was a strange sort of longing one experienced for a parent. It was mixed with absolute loathing, but absolute love at the same. She understood that all too well.
Abruptly he stopped, and lost in her own thoughts, she ran into his back, blushing and looking down at her brown sandals as he smirked at her. Walking around her and tapping his fingers together he pointed to another picture, one with a beautiful beach. A wicked grin appeared and he leaned to her, "Would you like to actually see these places?"
Sarah grinned wide and pointed to the rolling waves in the picture, "Go there?" To his nod she smiled and nodded emphatically, "That would be…" her voice was suddenly drowned out by the crashing of a wave on the beach and she finished with a "great," as she looked around in awe. The sun was warm on her face, and the wonderful sea smell filled her senses. The sea was a brilliant crystal blue with green flashes of the deep as the sun, past its zenith, began its curve downward. Sarah was thrilled. It had been years since she had visited a beach. She began to thank Jareth, but when she looked around, he was not near her. She turned towards inland, and there was no king, so she turned her gaze back to the waters, and a few feet off she sighted the king walking barefoot along the surf. She picked up her deep blue skirt and strolled closer to him. Close, but far enough from the waters to avoid getting wet.
"Walk by me," he said to her without facing her.
She shook her head, "I'll get wet."
He stopped and tilted his head slightly and indicated the soaked legs of his pants. "Your point?"
She pointed to her skirt again, "I'll get wet!" To her utter shock he grabbed at her with an outstretched hand and pulled her into the water, "my shoes!" she squeaked and instantly they disappeared causing the waves to lap against her feet. Expecting freezing water she held her breath, but sighed in relief as the water proved mild. She attempted to hold her skirt above the water, but it was in vain and with a sigh she dropped the fabrics. "Happy now?" She tried to sound annoyed, but she failed and he just gave her a sideways glance before continuing walking along the shore and she followed. A few birds called above their heads and she turned her gaze upward and then out to the see, the sun cast sparkling diamonds dancing on the waters. "Oh," she sighed happily, "it has been such a long time since I've been to the beach. Do you like the beach?" She blushed as she realized the absurdity of her question. Of course he liked the beach; here he was walking along it.
He saw her flush and nodded, "I use to come here often."
"Why did you stop," she asked pushing her hair away from her face and holding it at the nape of her neck with a hand. She was startled when he handed her a ribbon and with a smile she accepted it and tied her hair tightly out of her way.
"I was banished to the Labyrinth eons ago," he replied lowering his hand.
"And you're not now?"
That wicked grin appeared again, "No, they re-sentenced me and now I am ignoring that first sentence."
She paused, "The first punishment was the Labyrinth?" He nodded and she continued, "I thought it was your kingdom…" She was confused and Jareth laughed. "After a fashion," he replied. Sarah scrunched her nose, "What was the second punishment." Jareth's eyes darkened and she watched as he clinched his jaw. "The curse?" she offered and when he nodded she took a deep breath, "Well, then, on to more pleasant topics." She was curious, she would be a fool not to be, but it was such a wonderful day, and the salt in the air was invigorating, and she was not going to waste a precious moment dwelling on that curse right now.
Jareth agreed full heartily. "Well," he began as he placed his hands behind his back, "how is your brother?"
"You remember my brother?" Sarah asked not bothering to hide her surprise.
"Why shouldn't I?" he asked as he stopped to look at her. She paused and bit her lip, "I don't know…it seems like a long time ago."
With a smirk he shook his head, "Not that long ago at all. Come now, tell me."
Laughing, she absentmindedly bent down to her knees and reached into deeper water as a wave brought a colorful seashell onto the shore. "He's a normal, sixteen year old pain in the ass."
Jareth saw the large wave coming up the beach, and he saw Sarah leaning down inspecting a shell, but he just stepped a few feet back and watched as the wave crashed over her, soaking her and pulling into the water. With a shriek she fell backwards and she screamed again as a second wave splashed over her head. He couldn't help himself and he laughed as a piece of seaweed fell into her face. A handful of water was splashed on him and he laughed again as a very wet Sarah attempted to stand from the water, but her skirt was wrapped around her ankles and the next wave sent her back into the water, causing more laughter from the king.
"THIS," she said pointing to her soaked clothes, "is not funny!" He sobered as he approached her and extended her a hand, mirth shining in his brilliant eyes. "You had better not laugh again," she spoke lightly as she accepted his hand and allowed him to help her out of the water. He walked her back to the shore, and waited as she tried to ring the seawater out of her blouse and out of her skirt, but as a piece of seaweed clung tightly to her curling hair he had to laugh, and he did as he reached towards her and picked the plant from her hair. Suddenly he was very close to her, too close and she looked up with a small amount of surprise on her face as he reached out to her and pulled the seaweed from her hair. She took a quick breath, "Thank you."
Jareth was about to respond, but Sarah's eyes flitted to something behind him, something important by the way she frowned and so he turned and suppressed a groan as he saw Addoyn leaning against a rock, light beige robes resting on the sand. His arms were crossed across his chest and he watched them idly before speaking, "Am I interrupted something?"
Sarah shook her head, "No." Jareth just glared at the figure, and Addoyn pushed off against the rock.
"May I have a word with you, Jareth?" It was not really a request, Jareth knew the tone; it was a command. Addoyn was merely being pleasant in front of Sarah, so Jareth nodded and turned to Sarah who frowned at the thought of being excluded.
"Wait here," he spoke softly and walked toward the High Councilman, out of her hearing. "What could be so important that you would search for me here?" Jareth asked aggravated.
"Temnestra," Addoyn replied as walked to the other side of the rock further from the mortal girl. "She has not been seen lately."
Jareth frowned, "She always was one to pout if things did not quite go her way, perhaps this is just a fit."
Addoyn shook his head slowly, "She has never missed a session, Jareth, and today she did not arrive." Jareth scowled and crossed his arms, "Well, what would you have me do about it? She certainly hasn't come to see me," he added bitterly.
"Send the girl home and help us search." He saw the king's expression, and saw the protest and he cut it off with a harsh gesture. "She is not safe here, and if you do not send her home, I will."
"Not safe here?" Jareth repeated, "You would have me send her back to the safety of Deirdre?" He asked exasperated.
Addoyn stared at Jareth. There was more going on behind that mask than the unwillingness to let her leave, but at that moment, he was not interested. He shook his head, "'Deirdre' is probably the safer of the two poisons at this moment, so send her home." His voice developed an edge and Jareth tried not to wince as he shook his head. It was downright painful disobeying Addoyn, but he found his voice, "No."
With a sigh, Addoyn leaned against the rock again, "Do not be difficult, Jareth. You have placed a spell on her, have you not?" Reluctantly Jareth nodded and Addoyn continued, "Well then, she should be safe enough for a while." He saw the hesitance in Jareth's eyes and he growled, "I am not asking you, Jareth, I am telling you. The girl's bargain was with me, and I could return her any minute," he paused as Jareth's mismatched eyes turned cold and continued speaking, attempting to soften his words, "I am allowing you to return her, and I expect it done." With that, he turned from the king and walked forward, fading as he stepped further away until nothing remained.
Jareth turned from the sight and pounded his fist into the rock, jumping as he heard a small gasp. He turned and he saw Sarah standing a few feet away from him, "I thought I told you to wait there." His voice was harsh and she stopped cold.
"I saw him leave…" Jareth's eyes would not meet her own and she closed the distance between them, "What's wrong?" She reached out to touch his arm, but he turned from her.
"Nothing is wrong, and it is time for you to return to your own world now." His voice was emotionless, and he kept his back turned, fearful she would see the anger raging inside him.
"Hey!" She shouted at his back, "I haven't done anything, Jareth! Don't take it out on me!" He turned on her, and she took a step back as his eyes locked on hers. They were smoldering, and his hands shook at his sides as he clinched them tight. With a blink she was in a different surrounding again, but it was at least recognizable, for her bed was there and she could see through her window, but she was confused as the king began to leave without another word. She reached out and grabbed his elbow, stopping his exit. "Wait, Jareth. Honestly, what have I done?"
He turned to her and she was relieved to see the anger fading from his eyes and from his face. "I have been ordered to return you Sarah; it was not of my choosing." He lowered his gaze and Sarah got the distinct impression of a young boy wriggling when he was caught doing wrong. He smirked, "You know how to call me." She nodded and silently released his arm, "So I guess that's a "No" to dinner tonight?"
He smiled, "Maybe another time Sarah," to his surprise she pointed at him and narrowed her eyes, "Damn straight, Goblin King. I'm holding you to that!" She smiled brightly at him and he returned his own with a slight bow before he vanished from her room. She stared at the empty spot and then crossed her arms. It was then she noticed her clothing was dry and as she picked up her feet she noticed her sandals had returned. She shook her head and laughed as a piece of seaweed stretched across her dresser.
A/N: I did this chapter for two reasons: A. I like Jareth and Sarah and 2. This is the calm before the storm! Tell me what you think!