Authors Note: I have to give HUGE thanks to the following loyal reviewers: Sennethe, LadySorrow, Moonjava, draegon-fire, and LadyAiviel who have reviewed consistently. Your help and support has meant a lot to me. Thanks guys. I am trying to incorporate many of your suggestions into my future chapters. Please keep letting me know what you think.
Chapter 8 – Understanding and Innocence
Jareth forced himself to look away from the angry woman before him. He was so afraid if he kept looking into her passion filled eyes he would do something else worth regretting. Speak in anger and repent at leisure seemed to be all Jareth could do with Sarah. Whatever had possessed him to speak to her like that? In his mind Jareth had planned to woo her with soft words, confessions of his heart. Now, it seemed, all might very well be lost.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarah was furious. How dare he speak to her in such a manner? Who did he think he was? If that's all I'm going to get for coming here to save his ass.... let him die, Sarah thought to herself. No, she relented; I can't just let him die. This is the man who holds so much of my heart; can't he see what this is doing to me? Looking down into her now empty wine glass Sarah sighed; this was not the meeting she had anticipated. What a fool am I, she thought, dreaming of love and fairy tales at my age. Goblin Kings don't fall in love with foolish mortal women who throw everything of value away.
"Jareth?" Sarah questioned softly
"What?" said Jareth in a cold voice tearing himself back into reality.
"I'm sorry."
"No Sarah, I am sorry" Jareth said softly, immediately contrite.
"I didn't mean it."
"Oh you didn't?" he said in an ironic voice
Sarah laughed
"You meant it Sarah," said Jareth "I know how I must seem."
"No, it isn't like that. I just..."
"You just?"
"I had all these expectations I guess."
"Ah." Jareth frowned slightly "What did you expect?"
"It's silly" Sarah said, blushing "I don't want you to laugh at me."
"I would never laugh at you Sarah."
"Yeah right, I believe that." Sarah said, under her breath.
"I heard that you know." Jareth said with a smile
"Well meah" said Sarah sticking her tongue out childishly
"Well meah?" said Jareth, "So mature."
Sarah couldn't help but laugh, surprised when Jareth laughed with her. His laugh was refreshingly without malice or contempt. Unlike so much else about him, Sarah thought to herself. Jareth was taken aback at the air of innocent pleasure Sarah exuded. There was little innocence here in the Underground. Sarah's presence was like a breath of fresh air. Jareth hoped he could convince her to stay. Sarah was just thinking about how comfortable this felt. I wish I could stay, she thought with an air of sadness.
There was a tentative knock at the door.
"Come in" Jareth called, trying to contain his laughter
Hoggle stepped cautiously inside. Was that laughing he heard when he was outside? Hoggle was concerned that Sarah had been in Jareth's room the better part of the night.
"I...uh...Sarah are you alright then?" Hoggle asked, stuttering
"Of course I am Hoggle" Sarah replied with a smile "Why wouldn't I be?"
Hoggle had the grace to blush at this
"Yes Hogbrain, why wouldn't she be?" Jareth asked, the edge of steel back in his voice
"Jareth!" Sarah reprimanded, "Hoggle as you can see I am fine. It's alright."
Hoggle heaved a big sigh and left the room as quietly as he had come in.
Jareth looked up at the clock on the wall, it was almost 13 o'clock. Sarah must be exhausted.
"Sarah, would you like to rest now?" He asked with concern
Sarah just yawned not really caring
Jareth took this for a yes and realized there was no room prepared for Sarah's use. Where was she supposed to sleep?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N – I am going to be traveling for the next week so this will be my last update for a while. I promise to write more when I can. Please let me know what you think of this new development.