CH 8
Sarah was in cold sweats. When she looked toward the window she noticed the sun was up. The clock read 9:00am. Usually Adele was bustling around her room at that time. Sarah was happy she wasn't though. If she saw her in that state, that would give Adele more reason to keep her in bed for another week. Sarah shuttered at the thought.

She staggered out of bed toward her bathroom. While brushing her teeth she reflected on her dream. The ring she gave up was of great importance to her. It was the only piece of jewelry Sarah's mother left behind after she left. It was her grandma's engagement ring. Sarah's mother never wore it because she wasn't a huge fan of gold. But when she left Sarah clung to the ring because it was the only bit of her mother she had left. Whenever Sarah had a bad day, particularly with Karen, She would stare at the ring and think of all the happy time she had with her mother. That was the closest Sarah could get to her, for she lived in New York was rarely in her apartment to answer the phone. Sarah never regretted give it up though. Toby was worth it. But she still missed the ring. Every once in a while she found herself gazing at her ring finger as if it were still there. She could never bring herself to put another ring in its spot.

Sarah spit out the toothpaste in her mouth and headed over to the closet. She picked out a plain purple dress and found a nice subtle diamond pendant. After she finished fixing her hair she grabbed the letter she had written, off the table and headed out the door.

On her way to breakfast, she noticed there were no servants around. With no one to lead her, Sarah got lost several times. After 30 minutes of searching she finally found the two huge doors.

When she opened them she was surrounded by country side. There were lush green hills that seemed to roll on for miles. In the distance she spotted a barn. Sarah looked around and found Jareth sitting at a table near the bottom of the hill.

"I hope you don't mind that I already picked a place for breakfast. I was growing tired of waiting." Jareth yelled up to her.

"That's alright. This place is gorgeous!" Sarah said as she approached the table. Jareth stood up and politely pulled a chair out for her.

"Thank you!" she said.

"You're welcome Sarah," he then sat down. "I see you have something for me."

"Oh yeah Toby's letter. I hope it will help him calm down."

Jareth took it and stuffed it in his pocket, "It should work wonders. You know he really looks up to you?"

"Really? He's got a strange way of showing it sometimes. He can be so stubborn," Sarah said.

"Sounds familiar," Jareth grumbled.

"I am not stubborn," Sarah stopped to think for a second, "well maybe I am, but only when provoked!"

"Sure, sure." he said while waving his hand, indicating he was through with the conversation. "I am surprised that you haven't commented on your lack of help this morning."

"Well it was a little odd not having Adele fuss over me. Where has everyone gone?"

"It's a national holiday. Sort of a Labor Day for the Underground. It is sometimes the only day most people have off the whole year." Jareth said.

"Really? So everyone has the day off? Including you?" Sarah said.

"Well yes sort of including me. If there is an uprising or something though then it is back to work."

"What if someone wishes a child away?" Sarah asked.

Jareth laughed, "Even though this day is only a couple of hours in your world those people get a lucky break. Or they will just have to try again in a few hours."

"Do you have any plans? I mean if I were you I would go on a huge vacation."

"As much as I would like to I am sort of required to go to a Finally Day Festival. I normally just have to make an appearance and then the rest of the day is mine."

Giggling Sarah asked, "So the day is called Finally Day?"

"I know it is a stupid name. I didn't come up with it. The day use to be called Finally a Day Off Day. But over time they dropped words until it was just Finally Day."

"So what do people do on Finally Day? Play games? Go on trips?"

"No actually they just sit around and do nothing."

"What about the festival? People have to be working it."

"Actually it isn't really a festival like you are use to in the Aboveground. It is just a large group of creatures do nothing except maybe sitting on a bench or lying on the ground."

Sarah laughed, "So on their only day off they just sit around and do nothing? They don't play games? They don't visit relatives? They just sit?"

"Yeah that's about it," Jareth said while popping a pancake into his mouth.

"I have to see this! Can I go with you?"

Jareth nearly spit out his pancake, "You would willingly do that?"

"Why yes of course. It is not everyday that I get to see a bunch of goblins lay about and do nothing. Tell me Jareth, while making an appearance will I be required to stay seated at all times or can I walk around?"

"Oh you can walk around if you want. But that kind of goes against tradition. Are you sure you want to?"

Sarah rolled her eyes, "Yes I am sure!"

"Well it is just that yesterday you seemed to think of me as an enemy. Now you are willing to spend time with me. I find that fascinating."

"It's not me wanting to spend time with you. It's me wanting to see the city again. And if you want me to start yelling at you I have no problem with that."

"Oh no I like us at least being civil with one another," Jareth said as he took his last sip from his goblet, "Well I must be off. You will want to wear comfortable clothing, things that are easy to get in and out of because you won't have any servants to help you again until the morning" Sarah nodded, "I will be waiting for you in the garden at around 11." The king politely bowed to Sarah and strode up the hill.

Sarah stayed seated and soaked up the scenery. As much as she loved the hustle and bustle of the city she felt at home and comfortable in the great outdoors. It relaxed her in a way she couldn't explain.

She finished her breakfast and walked back up the hill to look for any source of water. Sarah looked around. The wind made the long grass look like and ocean. It was beginning to annoy her for it kept whipping her hair into her face. After a while she spotted a well surrounded by trees down the other side of the hill. Upon approaching the well she realized it was very deep.

"That must be a 25 foot drop," Sarah thought. It was the only source of water in sight though. That had to be the way out. Trying to build up some courage Sarah began speaking to herself aloud.

"Really that isn't too far of a jump. You jumped from a much higher place to get to Toby. It can't be that different from jumping off the high dive at the swim club. You won't even be landing in water! Just go Sarah!" At that Sarah went for it and jumped in. The fall took a matter of a few seconds that seemed like an eternity.

After a minute or so, Sarah found herself standing in the fountain completely dry. She ran up to her room. Looking at the clock she realized she had 30 minutes to get ready. In her closet Sarah was hunting for anything that resembled a gym shoe. She ended up settling on a pair of leather sandals and a pink cotton dress with a little lace at the sleeves and neckline.

When Sarah came down to the garden she found Jareth studying a patch of flowers. They were a kind Sarah had never seen before. In the middle they were blue but as they branched out they slowly changed into a light shade of purple. All the flowers were bunched together in groups of ten as if to make tiny bouquets. They had to be the prettiest flowers Sarah had ever seen. They grew on a bush just to the side of the fountain.

"It's a pity," Jareth said, "these flowers aren't as beautiful as they were last year."

"What do you mean they aren't as beautiful? If there were any more beauty in them I would have to say they weren't real. What are they called?"

"Royal Virgins," Jareth said knowing the name would need an explanation, "You see the color purple stands for royalty. The color blue means divinity. They also symbolize the Virgin Mary in the fact that there are ten flowers in each group and ten Hail Mary's in one decade of the rosary. Thus the name Royal Virgins. When a princess gets married these make up her bouquet. The tradition is that after the wedding the flowers are to be dried over the marriage bed to bring the couple luck as the flowers die and dry out."

"Oh really? How interesting."

Jareth looked up at the sky, "It's getting late now. We better get going." he began to walk on, Sarah followed.

She had no clue as to what would happen when they got to where they were going. From what Sarah now understood of this day no one did any work. So no speech could be given to a mass audience because no one would have taken the time to set up a podium or rig some microphones.

They were walking toward and archway that led right out to the city. Right outside the gates goblins were laying to the side of the road. One of the oddest sights Sarah had ever seen. Some of them were talking. But it was like the kind of voice you would use in a library.

When Sarah and Jareth exited the gate she expected all of them to stand up to show their respect and mostly fear of Jareth. But it didn't happen. Jareth and Sarah were given many polite smiles and nods. Some even said hello from where they were sitting. None of them were alarmed with his presence. In fact the atmosphere seemed to be even more relaxed with Jareth around.

Jareth found an open spot on the side of the road and sat down. Sarah followed his example. After settling into his spot Jareth greeted all the goblins that surrounded them by name.

"Hello Delilah! How are the kids? Seth I see you haven't gotten over your cold. Happy Finally Day to you to Jim!" Jareth said. Sarah just kind of nodded to all the people he was talking to. She then noticed Adele waving to her from across the street. She was sitting on the stoop of a house.

"Jareth, what exactly are you planning on doing? Because I think Adele wishes for me to sit next to her." Sarah said.

"Well I plan on just sitting here with my subjects for an hour or so. If you wish to sit with Adele, by all means go. I want to stay here though. For while sitting on a stoop is more comfortable, I find sitting in the dirt with my subjects more enjoyable." Jareth said smiling.

Sarah thought for second. She couldn't believe what she just heard that from his mouth. She decided not to comment on it though, "As much as the woman upset me last night I can't help but feel I owe her something for not telling her what you and I talked about. I think it would be best if I did sit next to her."

"Alright I will signal to you when I wish to leave."

"Alright," Sarah said. She then got up and crossed to the other side of the road weaving her way through all the goblins till she made it to where Adele was sitting.

"Good afternoon!" Adele said in a very happy tone, "Happy Finally Day!"

"Happy Finally Day to you to Adele," Sarah said as she sat down next to her.

"Can I offer you a drink?" Adele asked.

"No! That is work! This is your day off! Enjoy it." Sarah said.

"Alright I can't argue with that." Adele laughed.

"Why didn't you tell me about this yesterday?" Sarah asked, "It was rather odd for me to wake up and not have you there."

"Oh my dear poor girl I forgot you didn't know. Were you able to brush your teeth alright and get to breakfast?"

"I am not child. I can do many simple things for myself. I just missed having you fuss over me," Sarah lied, but Adele didn't pick up on it.

"Well I shall just make up for the lack of 'fuss' you had today, tomorrow." Sarah could tell Adele meant it.

Silence then fell over them. Sarah's eyes wondered around until they finally settled on Jareth. He appeared to be telling a joke. The goblins seemed to enjoy having him around. Sarah thought of Jareth as the dictator of sorts. But this scene completely contradicted that theory. As much as he complained about the goblins stupidity he seemed to care for them like a father.

"Odd isn't it," Adele said.

"What?"

"It is odd that a man who takes babies for a living could be so kind to his people. I believe he is the most popular ruler this kingdom has ever had."

"How can that be?" Sarah asked, "When I first met him I thought he was a tyrant."

Adele laughed, "Well my lady, you wouldn't be the only one. I have noticed that when he is under pressure or has been asked too many stupid questions he can get very testy. With him running a kingdom that is a massive amount of stress. But once you get passed all of that he is really quite the gentleman. Many a woman has fallen in love with that man."

"Yeah and he probably uses them and throws them away." Sarah said.

"Actually he doesn't show any interest in them. He hasn't had a girlfriend in over 12 years. I hear that he fell in love with a girl and she turned him away. I never met her but I know she must have been stupid. I mean you would have to be to throw away a man like that." Adele said.

Sarah knew the girl Adele was talking about. But she couldn't believe it. "The man across the street couldn't love me. He is incapable of love," Sarah thought, "He is an evil man!" But with the new image of Jareth in front of her now, she wasn't to sure about anything.

The hour seemed to fly by. For Jareth was now signaling to Sarah that it was time to leave. She hugged Adele good bye.

"See you in the morning," Adele said, "bright and early."

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Authors notes: There is going to be more added on to this chapter later...TRUST ME! It's just that I am not going to be able to post anything for 3 weeks because I am going on vacation with my family. I thought I may as well post what I have before I go. I might have time to write up the rest before we leave though so IDK! With that said I would like to thank everyone for their nice reviews. I really didn't expect a lot of people to like this story... it being a first attempt and all. So thank you:)