Chapter 27: A Little Q&A Session
"Very well," Jareth said. He cocked his head. "I know about your Aboveground customs--and if I didn't before, then meeting your roommate certainly acquainted me with them!--but I am curious why you have never been intimate with a man. It is unusual, is it not, for a beautiful human woman to reach adulthood and not have had that experience?"
Sarah flushed horribly. Was she a bad kisser? Could he tell how inexperienced she was? She gave a self-conscious shrug and said, "I've never fallen in love, and I've never been a fan of casual sex. I think there needs to be some serious emotional commitment there, if not actual marriage, before I'll be willing to give someone that part of myself. They go together, in my mind." He nodded, and there was a long pause. Then she had to ask, "How--how did you know? Have you watched me that much?" Turning away until her blushes subsided seemed to be the best course of action.
Jareth shook his head. "No, indeed. Entrancing as you are, I do have a kingdom to run. No, no: I knew because of the unicorns."
Like a flash Sarah remembered the unicorn legend, that a unicorn would not approach anyone who wasn't a virgin. But if that were the case… she drew her brows together, keeping her back to him. "But Jareth, they approached you! Is that because you're a king?"
Jareth chuckled and put his arms around Sarah from behind. "No, darling heart, it's not because I'm a king. It's because I've not been in love either."
Sarah turned around in shock. "You mean..? You?"
He nodded.
"But how is that possible? I mean, for one thing you're like, a million years old, and for another, you're gorgeous!" Too late, she clapped a hand to her mouth before she gave his ego too much of a boost.
He laughed. "I'm not that old, I assure you, but I thank you for the compliment!" He drew her over to one of the couches and sat down. "My kind do not lust," he said. "At least, not as humans do. In order for us to feel physical desire, there must be significant emotional involvement as well. It is part of our racial makeup. We are not like humans, who view love and lust as separate things."
"Not all humans," Sarah reminded him.
"True, but it is physically possible for humans to become aroused even when there is no emotional commitment. For us, it is not physically possible."
Sarah took a moment to mull over the implications of such a system. It would certainly cut down on the sorts of infidelities that had broken up both of her father's marriages! Not to mention there wouldn't be any unwanted pregnancies or venereal diseases, or any other aspects of casual sex that her roommate had introduced her to. Overhearing Paris having noisy sex was bad enough, but hearing the guy ask "What was your name again?" immediately afterwards was an experience Sarah would gladly have foregone!
"You've just asked me three extra questions, Sarah. Now you owe me." Jareth grinned. "I'll collect over dinner."
"My lady!" came a high-pitched voice from the doorway. "My lady!" A smallish foxlike creature came trotting into the room and bowed low before the couch where Sarah and Jareth sat. He had an armful of flowers which he presented to Sarah with a flourish.
Sarah brightened and slid off the couch to throw her arms around her friend. "Sir Didymus! I'm so glad to see you! It's been so long!"
"Aye, my lady, it has been aeons, seemingly, since you last called me to your side," he answered, apparently holding no grudges.
"Sarah," Jareth said, "Meet my secretary."
Sarah laughed aloud. "Well, that certainly explains the wording of those letters!"
Didymus drew his miniscule frame up proudly. "As a reward for my valour as your champion, my lady, His Majesty King Jareth hath promoted me to be his Personal Secretary!"
"That was good of him," Sarah said absently. "I'll bet he's a beast to work for, though," she said in a stage whisper that Jareth pretended he hadn't heard.
Didymus acted insulted. "Certainly not, my lady! It has been my very great pleasure to serve His Majesty in that capacity! And as his champion, I cannot allow anyone--not even you, milady--to disparage his name!" He stuck his long nose pompously into the air.
"Thank you, Didymus; that will be all for now," Jareth said mildly. "Perhaps you'd be so good as to see if dinner is served? I'm sure Sarah is hungry."
"It would be my honour to ascertain the status of your victuals, Your Majesty. Until we meet again, my lady," Didymus made them a sweeping bow and scampered off, full to the brim of self-importance.
Sarah turned amused eyes on Jareth, who shrugged. "He's actually a very good secretary."
Sarah had a thought. "What about Toby? Won't he be eating with us?"
"I ordered a private dinner for him and Hoggle - Toby said he wanted to stay in the Labyrinth until it got dark. He'll be returning after dinner; you'll see him then. I thought you might want some privacy for our question and answer session." He winked.
Sarah blinked innocently. "Why, Your Majesty! What could you possibly mean?"
"Oh, you object?" Jareth conjured a crystal and raised his arm to throw it out the window. "Shall I fetch Toby now, so he can listen to your answers about who can approach unicorns and why?"
Sarah grabbed his arm and lowered it. Blushing, she said, "Now that I think of it, I'm sure Toby would prefer to have dinner with Hoggle."
Jareth vanished the crystal and smirked.
A/N: More talking in the next chapter; hope no one minds.Sarah finally gets some answers. And just in case the conversation waxes a little old, there's little bit of fluff there as well. Stay tuned!