Ch 20

It was hours later, and Sarah was still lying on her couch. The blankets and pillow Jareth had used were still there, and they smelled like him. Unable to help herself, she had laid her head against the pillow, inhaling his scent. It made her want to cry again, but she couldn't. She was all cried out, and all she had left to do was sit and think.

She had gone over it again and again in her mind, and she still didn't understand how Jareth could have lied to her. He must have lied; he couldn't possible love her while being promised to another woman. How could he have done this? Had he really not meant anything he'd said? She briefly wondered if all of this was just him taking revenge on her for defeating him so long ago. But for some reason, she doubted that. He had looked genuinely crestfallen this afternoon, and part of her was still hoping this was all a mistake. But how could it be? He was to marry another woman, after convincing her that he wanted only her.

She sighed. It was hopeless. Then, out of nowhere, a crystal materialized on her lap. Knowing it had to be something from Jareth, she almost ignored it. But of course she couldn't. She picked it up and examined it. Suddenly, it shattered in her hand and Sarah was pulled into an almost dream-like state. She found herself back in the Underground, but she wasn't really there. It was almost as if she were watching a movie in her mind, one she couldn't shut off.

She saw scenes swirl past her vision, lightening fast, yet she could clearly see what was happening. She saw Jareth as a child, with a young boy who must be Bayron, and another child, a beautiful little girl. She saw the three of them laughing and playing together. The girl –somehow she knew it was Merelinda- ran after the boys into a crystal clear, shimmering lake. She dove in after the boys, and as she hit the water her legs disappeared, replaced by what looked like a glittery blue fish tail. A mermaid, Sarah realized. Sarah watched as the children grew up, always together, always loyal to each other. She understood that these three friends were extremely close, and would do anything for one another.

The visions changed quickly, and Sarah found herself looking at an adult Jareth and Merelinda. She could hear Merelinda pleading with Jareth, begging him to pose as her fiancé until she became Queen of the Merfolk. She watched as Jareth finally agreed, as he would do anything to help his friends. She saw Jareth and Merelinda continue their separate lives, and she could sense their love for each other, but as nothing more than friends.

Suddenly the visions stopped, and Sarah looked around at her familiar living room. She didn't understand what had just happened, but she knew Jareth had sent the crystal as an explanation. He had let her see first hand what had happened, and how he became engaged.Sarah's head spun slightly as shethought about what she had seen and felt. She knew now that Jareth didn't love Merelinda, at least not like he loved her. Jareth had agreed to be Merelinda's fiancé only until she took the throne. Why was that, and when would that be? She didn't really understand, and she felt confused; all of a sudden her perspective had been changed, and she found herself sympathizing with Jareth.

His engagement to Merelinda showed her what kind of person Jareth truly was. Someone that was loyal and good-hearted, and would do anything for someone he cared about. How was he to know that years after agreeing to Merelinda, he would meet Sarah?

She laughed; it felt good to laugh after crying for so long. She was still upset at Jareth for not being truthful with her from the start, but she supposed he had good reason not to tell her right away he was engaged. She was just incredibly happy that he didn't love another woman.

"Jareth, please come to me," she said to the empty room.

At Julie's, Jareth was resting from using so much magic to conjure the crystal he'd sent to Sarah when he felt Sarah calling to him. He sat up quickly, his heart pounding. Could she have possibly forgiven him?

"Julie, Sarah's calling me, I must go," he called into the kitchen where Julie was preparing dinner. "Tell Bayron where I went, and that I'm happy for the both of you."

Julie grinned at him, hoping Jareth's crystal had helped Sarah understand. "Go get your woman, Jareth," she said, winking at him.

With a wave of his hand, Jareth disappeared.