Chapter 24: Another Kidnapping is Planned

The next week passed very slowly for Sarah. She found it difficult to concentrate on her classes, even though she completely blew away her Management professor with her project. He told her that she had a "real talent for leadership," which made her laugh as she remembered leading her ragtag group of friends through the Labyrinth so long ago.

Mostly she was thinking of Jareth, wondering how "serious" his intentions were. True to his word, he had returned her well-rested to her bedroom less than five minutes after they'd left. She'd apologized for falling asleep on him (literally) but he'd only laughed and said he hoped she'd enjoyed his lullaby.

That business with the unicorns puzzled her. Still not knowing what she was a "candidate" for made her uncomfortable. Why had he wanted her to be present when he broke off his arranged engagement? She vividly remembered what he'd said in the park, about a precious treasure, but if Toby was right and Jareth had been talking about her, he had clearly said that he had no business keeping it. She wondered, in an idle moment, whether Jareth wanted to marry her instead of Arien, but then she laughed at herself. What gall, to start thinking of herself as queen material! No amount of chutzpah could make her think he intended matrimony with a mortal human.

On the other hand, that experience with the Goblin King in her car had shocked and exhilarated her. Sarah had never known anyone else like him, or anyone who made her respond like that. She blushed, remembering her body's response to those fiery kisses, and grinned. She never thought, at fifteen, that she'd be exchanging such heated kisses with the man who stole her brother -- or that her brother would get along so well with him twelve years later!

Jareth had shown her nothing but caring and consideration, and the Goblin King had shown her passion. Knowing that they were really the same man electrified her and sped her heartbeat, all at the same time.

Lying on her bed after her last class, Sarah rolled his crystal around in her hands and was forced to admit that she was a fair way along the path to falling in love with him. She was getting the feeling, too, that a lot depended on the Dwarf King's wedding. Why else would he have made such a big deal out of telling the unicorns that he was taking her? Did he intend to make her his mistress? She had fallen asleep during his song, but she distinctly remembered a strong impression that he wanted her to come and live there with him. She frowned. If he asked her, she'd have to tell him she wasn't the right type for that sort of thing.

A banging on her door interrupted her thoughts. "Sarah!" It was Paris, who had been even snottier to Sarah in the aftermath of the party last Saturday. "Telephone!"

It was Toby, bubbling over with news that Jareth had been to visit him that day, and had promised him a visit to the Underground that weekend if Sarah could go along too. "He said he didn't think you'd trust him to return me if I went alone," Toby said, speaking almost too fast for Sarah to catch what he said. "So can we go, Sarah? Please? He said to just call him and he'd make all the arrangements. He wants to show me the big maze this time, 'cause last time I was stuck in his throne room with all the goblins. Well, and plus I was, like, two, and can't remember most of it."

"Fifteen months, actually," Sarah said. "Toby, are you really sure about this?"

"Sarah," he pleaded, "This is the most exciting thing that's happened to me, like, ever! Please!"

Sarah laughed, and then noticed that Paris was giving her an odd look. "All right, Toby. I'll get in touch with Jared and make the arrangements. It'll be fun," she said. I hope, she added to herself. She held the phone away from her ear so Toby's whoop of triumph didn't deafen her. "Uh, Toby? You do know this is between us, right?" Sarah crossed her fingers. All she needed was for her stepmother to find out they were making plans behind her back, and it would be all over.

His reply was scornful. "Well, duh! I can keep a secret, you know. I've known Hoggle for years now, and Mom and Dad don't even know."

"I guess so," Sarah said, surprised that it had been that long.

"Sarah?"

"Yes?"

"Are you gonna marry Jareth?" Toby's telephone voice was loud in the quiet apartment.

Sarah's eyes widened as she took in Paris' expression. The girl had obviously heard the question and was ready to burst into laughter. "Uh, what - what makes you think that?" she stammered, her mind racing.

"Hoggle says you wouldn't go to the king's wedding with Jareth if you weren't gonna marry him. So are you?" Toby asked impatiently.

"Toby, can we talk about this later?" Sarah pleaded, knowing she was going to have to do some fast talking to keep Paris from spreading this all over the campus. "He's never mentioned it, and I was only introduced to him a week ago!"

"Introduced? You mean at that party? But Sarah - "

She cut him off sharply. "Toby. Later."

There was a long pause, and Toby asked, "Is your roommate there or something?"

"Yes."

"Oh. Sorry. Well, would you marry him if he asked?"

"I don't know." Sarah spoke through gritted teeth.

"Cuz Hoggle says he might ask you at the wedding."

"Toby!"

Sarah heard the sound of her brother's laughter and knew he'd been playing with her. "OK, well, I'll see you this weekend, sis."

"Uh, Toby?" Sarah said.

"Yeah?"

"What would you think… if it did work out that way?" Sarah asked before she could stop herself.

Toby giggled. "I'd say he's way too cool for you! But if you let me visit, then -- go for it!"

"Right. Well. Nothing's impossible, I suppose, but I'm not holding my breath. I was just curious. I'll see you soon, Toby." Sarah hung up the phone with a shaking hand and took a moment to gather herself before turning around to face her roommate. She cleared her throat. "Uh, Paris. Hi. Um. Exactly… how much of that did you hear?"

Paris shook her head slowly from side to side, grinning. "Sarah, Sarah, Sarah. I don't get you. You're like a nun until I get you to one party, then you turn into this dance machine and hook up with the hottest guy there, and now your little brother thinks you're marrying him?" She clucked her tongue in sympathy, still grinning. "There's only one explanation for it."

"This should be good," Sarah said sarcastically.

"You're all crazy. That's the only explanation. You're nuts, your little brother is nuts, and that snooty Jared is definitely nuts. You're like this whole basket of fruit! Just wait till I tell Leo and Raoul!" She laughed and went off into the kitchen, where Sarah heard her start to chant, "Sarah and Jared, up in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g!"

Sarah was angry for a brief moment, but then the ridiculousness of the situation presented itself and she started to laugh. "Oh, shut up!" she yelled out to Paris in the kitchen. "You're just jealous he picked me and not you!"

"Damn straight!" Paris yelled back. "Did you see him? That man is FINE!"

Sarah laughed. "Damn good kisser, too!" she yelled back.

"Aw, now you're just teasing me!" Paris accused, fortissimo.

"Learned it from the best!"

"How is he in the sack?" Paris wanted to know at the top of her voice.

"Don't know! Never got past the park bench!" Sarah was shocked at herself for a moment, but then giggled.

Paris came back out of the kitchen with a roast beef sandwich at least four inches thick, and sat down to eat it. "So you hooked up with this guy and then spent the whole weekend with him? I thought you went home to see your folks."

"I did. Jared came along."

Paris whistled. "Man, girl, you work fast! Meet a guy Saturday night and by Sunday he's meetin' the fam! Guess you're a slow starter but make up for lost time, huh?"

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Something like that. Hey I have some work to do - Toby and I are making a little trip this weekend and I have to make arrangements. I'll see you tomorrow."

"This trip that's all hush-hush? Oooh, now I got blackmail material on you! But I'm gonna be at Leo's tomorrow, so you won't see me till next week."

Tomorrow was Friday. Sarah hid her smile. She hadn't seen Jareth all week, but he had promised to spend one more weekend with her -- and the king's wedding was only a few days after that. She'd be getting some answers, finally. "Okay, have fun," she said.

"You too," Paris advised her with a leer. "Tell me all about it!"

"Not a chance!" Sarah called back lightly as she ran up the stairs.

A/N: One more chapter coming in this batch.