Spellbound
"Know this, there is a price for dreams." Helena in Choices
Strange is thy pallor! strange thy dress,
Strange, above all, thy length of tress,
And this all solemn silentness!
The Sleeper by Edgar Allan Poe
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The ballroom was silent...suspended in time.
Motionless, frozen...except for a lone figure leisurely making his way to Sarah's stilled form. Noticeably, his carriage was deliberate, controlled, as though he had all the time in the world...and perhaps he did.
Upon reaching Sarah he elegantly bowed to her as though presenting himself to request the honor of a dance. Upon becoming upright he raised his hand to his face and in one fluid motion swept his mask away, "The better to see you with...my dear."
Where Jareth was beautiful, graceful, light colored and sleek, this man was handsome, commanding, dark and powerful. His face was contemplative as he paced before her frozen figure, appraising her with intense blue eyes that absorbed every detail of her expression and stance.
He noticed that Sarah's hands had grasped the sides of her dress and her body was angled slightly outward from movement past a couple who were in conversation; her head and eyes were turned away from them silently searching the crowd for the Goblin King.
Stepping close to her he lifted then caressed a lock of her chestnut hair to his face closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Enraptured by the feel and scent of her he softly exhaled, "Sarah."
Gently letting the lock fall back on her shoulder his eyes wandered her facial features until they rested on her slightly parted lips. Lingering there, fresh desire arose within him as he entertained the thought they were begging to be kissed. As if she were made of the most delicate glass, he carefully leaned in and tenderly kissed her still mouth, moving and embracing her soft lips with his own. Drawing back only slight millimeters he huskily confided, "Forever, I am yours."
Momentarily satisfied by the intimate contact he abruptly drew away and began to examine the shimmering illusion surrounding them. He noted that the dream crystal had good bones, no doubt the pure elements from Sarah's fantasy, but there were serious flaws. It was obvious that Jareth had used his own imagination to complete the fantasy...Sarah would never have dreamed up the depraved guests or obscene Goblin costuming. The undertones of lust and pain were strictly Jareth, not Sarah at all.
Proceeding further into the throng of revelers he spied Jareth in conversation with a blond woman but his eyes were fixed on Sarah, silently watching her. He addressed the stilled doppelganger "You didn't count on me, did you Goblin King? But, then, how were you to know?"
Turning away he continued to inspect the elements contained in dream and began to think of ways to break the enchantment and free her from the sphere. But questions remained, how was he to make her see the dream was not hers? How to rouse her out of her fantasy without giving himself away?
Casually looking up and noticing the stilled flame of a candle inspiration struck...he would fight fire with fire. He would counteract the crystal's magic with a spell of his own. Confident in his plan he moved back in front Sarah's stilled form and closed his eyes. Energy and unnatural light filled the air around him as drew power from sources unseen. He opened his now fire filled eyes and looked directly into hers...his inhuman voice commanding entrance to her very being...her very core.
These words are spoken, know them true
A false dream was woven as a snare for you
Your search for love will not end in this place
Not even in a Goblin King's hollow embrace
When you touch him a changed vision will be born
The dream will pivot to a nightmare of fright and scorn
Hear the clock remind you to complete your task
Breathe in the words of the man in the mask
As the last words echoed in vast room his eyes and voice returned to their natural state...he again appeared to be just a man. Satisfied that with her next breath his spell would be set in Sarah's mind, the man stepped back ready to restart time. Replacing his mask he began to raise his arm...and hesitated.
Gazing on her innocent face and captive form an overwhelming desire possessed him to tell her the truth, even if she couldn't hear him. His expression slowly changed from indecision to resolve as he decided to tell her who he really was.