Chapter 61: The Details of a Punishment

It was a measure of how much Sarah had learned in the last few weeks, that she gave no reaction to Jareth's idea. Bev and Jareth both had taught her that when she was a queen, she should never show surprise at anything. "A poker face is best, but if you can't manage that then you must still control your reactions," Bev had told her.

Sarah now found Bevelyn's advice to be invaluable. She allowed herself to show mild surprise, and then nodded. "Yes, I think this might be a good place for Terrillia," she said calmly. "I don't think she's been very happy at your place lately."

This time it was Jareth's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Oh?" was all he said.

"Yes," Sarah continued, still straight-faced. "She doesn't speak to you anymore, and she never comes out of her room. I think it might be time to start allowing her some more freedom, Jareth."

Since Terrillia was still locked in the dungeon beneath Jareth's castle, and he had put a spell of silence on her, Sarah's description of the case was disturbingly accurate.

"That is true," he said with his lips pursed thoughtfully. "How about it, Paris? Shall we send my young ward to you, next fall when classes start?"

Paris shrugged. "Sure. If she doesn't get along with you two, then she'd probably fit in just fine around here! You're both kinda bitchy to be around." She grinned unashamedly at him.

"Well, then, it's settled," Jareth said, ignoring her last remark as if she hadn't even made it. "Now if you'll excuse us, Sarah and I have some arrangements to make and a wedding to plan."

xxxXXXxxx

Back at his castle, he summoned Bevelyn and told her his plan. Not surprisingly, she agreed willingly. "You promise me that this Paris woman will make her life miserable?" she pressed.

"I am pretty sure she will," Sarah reassured her. "And even if they end up getting along and Terrillia becomes just like her, it will still be a punishment for Terrillia. Paris is one of the unhappiest people I know; she just doesn't realize it yet."

"Then I have no objection."

"She will be stripped of her magic of course, and she will have her tuition bills paid. Her other expenses she will have to pay herself, by working at a job and earning the money for them."

Bev burst out laughing. "She'll have to work? Jareth, that sounds wonderful! She'll hate it beyond belief, but it might be the only way to 'unspoil' her."

"That's the idea," Sarah laughed. "We'll summon her before us after her graduation and see what she's learned from her experiences… and we'll go from there."

Bev smiled and curtseyed to the both of them. "Your Majesties are very gracious and merciful," she said gratefully.

Sarah giggled. "I'm not a 'majesty' yet, Bev. Don't start with all that before you have to!"

"For my part, though, I accept the compliment," Jareth said.

"You would!" Sarah laughed, as Bev bade them both goodbye and headed back to her home.

Jareth raised his eyebrows. "That went well," he said happily.

"Oh, you're so full of yourself," Sarah teased him. "Shut up and kiss me."

"Gladly." And he did.

A/N: Sorry it's only one chapter updated this time. More tomorrow, I think -- I'm wrestling with a li'l bit of writer's block, but I hope to become unstuck by tomorrow. Keep on R & R'ing if you please; I love to read your ideas for the story even if I don't end up incorporating them.