Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
AN Here's where the rating starts to come into play. Nothing too explicit. Just so you're warned.
CHAPTER 4: Here She Comes
I can taste you on my tongue
I can still feel what my hands have done
I got you on my mind
More than anything or anyone
And what we have is a connection
We got front row seats to each other's affection
You're such a thirsty rose
I can still see you when my eyes are closed
My love glows
When I'm with her
And she flows
Like a river
My love's every single song on the radio
My love's every pretty face on video
My love, my love
I'm seeing her in everyone
Here she comes
And when I don't know where you are
It's like I see you
in
Every passing car
I can see you in a
crowd
Or I can see you when I'm looking at the clouds
My love glows
When I'm with her
And she flows
Like a river
And she shines
And the stars
Look up to her
Yea she shines
And she
Shimmers
My love's every single song on the radio
My love's every pretty face on video
My love is a thousand pages of beauty
And here she comes
Low Millions Here She Comes
PART IIBy the time they reached the gates, the sun had sunk until it rested, low and heavy and far too large, near the peaks of the mountains to the east, like a deflating balloon sinking inevitably toward its demise on the perilously thorn-covered bushes below it. Already the light had grown slightly golden and thick, and she suspected that this sunset would be as beautiful and magical as the ones she remembered during those few all-too-brief family holidays she cherished from her childhood. If she closed her eyes she could feel the sultry summer heat, taste the briny ocean-side air and hear the crash of the waves from that period of unnatural happiness in her life. Eventually, as the flaming sphere continued its downward descent in the here and now, it would bathe the world in a rich golden light that leached the color from everything else in its brilliance. It would sprinkle its pixie-dust shimmer over the Underground until finally it lost its battle with gravity and the glitter humanity had briefly borrowed would be enshrouded by the mysteries only night can bring.
Once inside the courtyard she and Jareth both dismounted quickly. "I'm afraid I'm going to be absent for the next few days, Sarah. I have business to attend to with my father," a dark scowl crossed his boyish features, "that must not be postponed. Raven and Ter will be here to hold your attention, to show you around, and to help address any concerns you may have in my absence. I really must go now, but I wish you the best, and do have fun this evening. You'll like both Bran and Kitiara, I promise." He kissed her quickly on the forehead stroked her hair gently, and then went inside in a swirl of his long cloak.
Sarah stood there for a few brief moments, totally numb; not noticing the bustle around her as the stable goblins led her horse away and the castle went about its normal business. Then her brain registered the increasingly gilded appearance of the world around her, compliments of the fast-approaching sunset, and she too rushed inside, still needing to change.
In her room, Pease was already waiting, almost a tad impatiently, while Chak feasted in a corner on a dinner of smoked salmon and fresh milk, served in what appeared to be very expensive china. "Oh, Chak, I'm so sorry! I had completely forgotten about you! He has been a gentleman, I trust?" She asked, turning to Pease. She didn't know where the idea of a cat with a sense of chivalry and morality came from, but she could attribute almost any characteristics to this crazy-quilt beast with his jaunty tail, patchwork coverings and his knowing expression.
Quite to her surprise, instead of scoffing, Pease replied in a tone of gravity and acceptance. "Yes, he has miss, though he got a little saucy with me when he found out he wasn't allowed to dinner. As you can see, we reached a compromise."
At the mention of food, Sarah's stomach immediately growled and she realized belatedly that she hadn't eaten anything in quite a long while. Longer than she could remember, actually. She hoped that wherever she was going this evening served something decent, because she was famished. She glanced at Chak, who licked his chops at her almost mockingly.
"What should I wear this evening, Pease? I'll be going out with…"
Before she could finish, Pease stood and presented what she'd been holding. "Lord Ter came in after you left and explained the situation. He said he trusted me to advise you on what to wear, and this is what I've found." A black silk ensemble greeted her, its soft touch on her fingers making her want to purr contentedly along with her kitten. She quickly donned it, having easily learned to get over her chagrin at undressing in front of someone. It was one piece, with a plunging neckline leading to a ribbed and laced bodice and finishing with widely flared pants. She donned heeled, black silk boots to complete her outfit as Pease removed the braid from her hair. The goblinette then opened a tiny crystal bottle and Sarah faintly caught the scent of lavender. She poured a drop of liquid into the palm of her hand, recapped the bottle, and began to run her fingers through Sarah's hair.
Sarah closed her eyes in an indescribable ecstasy. When she had been a little girl, her birth mother had run her fingers gently through her hair right before she'd gone to sleep every night. Now, she experienced a sensation bordering on orgasmic whenever someone touched her hair. It was bliss. She opened her eyes to find Chak sitting a few steps away from her, his sapphire eyes staring, his kitten mouth pulled into a smug grin.
"What're you looking at me like that for?"
His only reply was to "Merow" curiously and inch closer, though he never touched her clothing, for which she was grateful.
When Pease had finished her ministrations, all the waves in Sarah's hair had gone, leaving it completely smooth and oh-so-shiny. Before Sarah could say anything, or even gather her thoughts, Pease approached her with some golden earrings. They were very fine, and worked into thin spirals. It was her only ornament.
She stood quickly and hugged Pease before the goblinette could protest. "Thank you for all you've done." She gave her a sisterly kiss on the cheek and was gone, Chak peering curiously out the door and down the corridor, his gaze following her black shape as it was highlighted by the gold of the setting sun streaming in through the windows. Pease sniffed, angrily dashing the tears from her eyes and told the cat "You can't go with her, darling. Come back in here and I'll pet you and you can have all the fish you want. I – I…" she choked on her tears, "I think you have the most wonderful mistress in all the world. And you are a most wonderful kitten to have been chosen by her." She scooped him up and cried on his soft fur. He purred in agreement.
Ter met her in the corridor on her way to the courtyard. He was dressed in a dark grey instead of his usual black, which brought out his mischievous eyes wonderfully. He never typically wore jewelry, but tonight he had donned a large gold signet ring and a single, tiny, gold hoop earring. He looks like a dashing pirate, she thought to herself as he took her arm. In the courtyard, he helped her mount her stallion, not in the least surprised at his size or temperament. He then climbed on his own smaller horse, which was doing its best to ignore the Vell Fea Seldar, and they were off.
They rode in companionable silence for what seemed like an eternity before Ter ventured conversation. "So Sarah, how was your day today? Did you enjoy the sights of the Goblin Kingdom?" A single black curl had sprung loose and hung in his face, despite his best attempts to tame it.
"Well, first Jareth took me down to see Siri, and we took a tour of her 'domain', if you will. She was very nice, but a little aggressive, and I got the impression that she saw me as nothing more than a soft 'Lady of society' and didn't want me meddling. Besides, I had a secretarial job Aboveground – I didn't like it that much." She smiled at him as he fought a losing battle with his enemy – that single curl that seemed to become unruly whenever he was in the grip of a powerful emotion. She absently wondered what it was before continuing. "Then we rode into the Goblin City and we went into that place that plans social events. They never told me what it was called."
"The String Quartet," he said, sighing in defeat.
"Well, we stopped there, and I met Dehlia, who was rather cross, though from what they told me it wasn't really her fault." A sage nod from Ter showed that he understood. "And I also met Gevan, who's daughter," she struggled for the name before it came back to her, "Tesi has finally gotten engaged. So while he and Jareth talked, a Fae named Caine showed me around, and explained to me what makes Dehlia such an unhappy individual."
"Ah, Caine," he said. "You must watch him carefully, Sarah. He has aspirations toward greatness, which is altogether commendable, but he doesn't seem to care who he uses as a stepping-stone on his way to the top. The fourth son of a moderately subsisting merchant, he doesn't have much hope of marrying well. So he believes that by frequenting the best circles and playing his cards right, he'll make a match and finally claim the spotlight that often goes to his brothers. Altogether a good boy," Ter said, seeing Sarah's look, "but just a little misguided. Perhaps he believes that by ingratiating himself with you, he'll gain Jareth's ear, but I suppose that's immaterial. Continue."
"We left there and made a stop at the barracks. Jareth said he needed to make an inspection, I think. I was left in the care of a soldier name Gawaine, who is absolutely delightful. He let me try my hand at archery. I think with a little practice I could become quite proficient!" A light had turned on somewhere in the back of her mind, illuminating an idea that had been only a vague suggestion earlier – learning archery for real.
"Gawaine, Gawaine," he said, casting about for a face to put with the name. "Wait! Isn't he a pale, freckly, red-headed boy, looks like he just stumbled out of childhood?"
"That's one way to put it," Sarah replied.
"He'll be a good commander one day after he gets some experience and gets over that infernal bashfulness. He blushes if you so much as look at him, but he's got a good head. Jareth has him earmarked for Robyn's position, should be manage to prove himself before Robyn retires."
"That's good to hear. He seemed very competent. We left there and traveled to a castle, though I never learned the name of the owner. I can tell you he has a nest of vipers for sisters, though."
Ter raised an eyebrow slightly. "What were the sisters' names?"
Sarah though for a moment before replying, "I don't remember all of them. There were five, I think – Jade, Onyx and Amethyst are all I can clearly remember, though none of them seemed overly friendly."
Ter roared with laughter. "If I were you I would castrate Jareth when you return! Nest of dragons is more like it! Ha!" He chuckled some more before continuing. "Jade, Garnet, Onyx, Amber and Amethyst. Five of the most vicious women the world has ever created. They were a plague on society from the moment they were born. Cruel, horrid, awful gossips, all of them! You can guarantee right now their fangs are dripping acid all over your good reputation as we speak. Oh well, there's not much to be done about it. Their brother is Beyd, who is, by himself an altogether good Fae, though he avoids social functions like the plague. It is actually a rather funny story – when their parents died they left as a stipulation in the will that if any of the sisters married before their brother did, the whole estate would go to Beyd and all of them would be left without a cent. I'm firmly convinced that Beyd avoids society for fear of marrying. He doesn't want them spreading their venomous traits to children, I think."
"Yes, I can see where you'd get that idea. I never met Beyd, however. The sisters attempted to draw me into a conversation, but a woman named Amara saved me. Said she was engaged to the Mer King. She was incredibly friendly and informative."
Ter smiled at her. "You could do much worse than making friends with Amara. She is engaged to the Mer King – the whole thing was arranged not two days after Kitiara ran away from home. Apparently, he was as thrilled about the engagement as she was, but he owed our father a favor. I don't doubt he danced a jig down there in his watery palace when Kitiara fled. Amara is no princess, nor is she a shrinking violet – she's the first daughter of a very wealthy silk merchant, and has been running the business for quite a while now. She's very practical and has a wonderful sense of humor. She'll do the aging man good, and probably continue running her father's business to boot. I wouldn't put it past her. They're to be married in only a month's time. It would have been sooner, but with all his raids Darius has made sure that the Mer King's whole attention was focused on things other than marriage. I've always wondered if the little monster didn't have some kind of agenda in keeping them apart."
They were now approaching the Goblin City, and the thick gold light was fading quickly to a russet color. The lights were being turned on one by one as they entered, goblin mothers calling for their children to come in for dinner, merchants closing shop and tipping their hats to their neighbors as they wandered home after a long day, and a few Fae riding purposefully through the streets, calling greetings to each other as they continued toward their destinations. It was all so magical, and Sarah breathed in as deeply as she could, hoping to take that enchantment inside of her, let it permeate her.
They passed The String Quartet, where the sounds of raucous music and hearty laughter could be heard from inside. "Must be celebrating Tesi's engagement," Ter said quietly as they rode past. They passed through a large square, and on the other side the taverns began. Light and the smells of beer and roast fowl spilled from open doorways and goblins and Fae and pixies and any number of other creatures wandered inside.
"Come, this way." They turned down a side street to find more taverns. At the end of that street they stopped in front of The Silver Unicorn. Sarah sized it up as they dismounted. It was a large, three-story building, with open windows spilling roars of laughter and cries for more ale. It wasn't dilapidated, per se, but it could have obviously used a new coat of paint, and some of the windows were rather grimy. Still, it looked welcoming in a way.
Upon entering, the first thing Sarah noticed was that it was packed. Most of the tables were round and the chairs wooden, but it seemed like they had dragged in whatever they could get their hands on to accommodate their unexpected clientele, including overstuffed armchairs squashed around long, rectangular tables and tall stools that boosted the person on them high above the rest of the crowd. A bar ran the entire length of the room on the right side, while burly-looking bartenders hurried to fill pitchers and pass them to harried-looking waitresses, who then weaved expertly through the crowd to their tables. Directly opposite the bar was a large fire where fat dripped off spitted fowl and hissed in the fire. The smells of wood smoke, warm bodies and liquor nearly overwhelmed Sarah, and she had to grab Ter's arm to keep from falling down. In the far back corner on the left-hand side, a stage had been built, and recently from its fresh, clean look. Upon it stood a large, heavily muscled man playing a lute, and a beautiful woman singing a rowdy ballad about a eunuch, a maiden and a magical diamond. Many of the patrons clapped along merrily, and some sang along as the adventures of the unlikely pair got even more and more unbelievable. She couldn't help but cheer and clap as the song ended with the eunuch stealing the gemstone and growing back some of his missing parts and the maiden turning blue for the rest of her life as punishment because she lost it. The sound of coins ringing as they hit the stage filled the tavern for a few minutes, before Ter grabbed her arm.
"Come on, he said, we'd better hurry if we're going to get a seat somewhere, I think if it's possible this place is getting even fuller!" As he said that, several grumbling Fae walked in behind them, and he led her to the back of the room, where a previously unnoticed stairwell led up to the balconies on the second level.
"This is where the more wealthy sit," he whispered to her as a goblin greeted him warmly and led them to a table near the edge of the balcony with a great view of the stage. Unlike the rickety devices downstairs, these were solid, draped with red damask, and lit by candlelight. Ter and Sarah claimed two softly cushioned chairs on one side of the table. "Kitiara and Bran will be joining us in a moment." And in fact, she noticed that the singing had stopped, and the sound of conversation was now buzzing from down below.
Ter flagged down one of the waitress, who, on the upper level, were dressed a little more orderly and looked less frazzled, and ordered a bottle of their very best red wine, and after a moment of thought, a pitcher of ale. She curtsied and moved away, appearing not to hurry though she moved very fast. More like she floated.
There was no long wait for the pair, for they hurried up the steps a few seconds later, two at a time, and both greeted Ter with huge hugs and smiles all around. Sarah shook hands as she was introduced, though both swept her up in an embrace afterwards as though she were as much family as Ter. Bran was big and friendly, with calloused hands from his previous work as a blacksmith and his new trade as a lutist. He took his seat with a relaxed sigh as Sarah was introduced to Kitiara.
Ter's sister was a study in beauty, though earthy loveliness as opposed to Raven's ethereal splendor. She had a heart-shaped face, framed by silky black curls akin to Ter's. Her eyes were the same dark shade of grey, though at odd moments Sarah would have sworn they were shot through with deep blue. She had a wide, expressive mouth with full lips, and straight white teeth. It was obvious that once she had possessed the pale skin that Raven and her twin shared, but now it was sun-kissed, with a spattering of freckles across the bridge of her bobbed nose. She was by no means thin, but certainly not fat. She had that plumpness associated with women who are loved and who are contented with their lives. She was dressed simply in dark violet, and after she shook hands she hugged Sarah and kissed her once on each cheek before taking a seat beside her husband.
"Ah, Ter," she sighed in her rich voice as the wine and ale arrived. "It's so lovely to see you again. I'm afraid we've only got twenty minutes before we go back out, but after this next set we're free for the evening." She poured a glass of ale for Bran, who drank it in two gulps and held his empty tumbler out for another with a grin.
"Yes, it has been a while Kitiara. I suppose you've heard the news?"
"I have," she replied, schooling her face to a calm, "Jareth informed me the moment this whole thing started. That's part of the reason we're traveling to the Pixie Kingdom – to pave the way for his emissaries later." She cast a sly wink in Sarah's direction. "Of course, he also wrote to inform me of your arrival as well. His descriptions do not do you justice, I think. But then again, Jareth never was one for conveying passion with written words." She winked again, and Sarah wondered if Jareth and Kitiara perhaps had shared something in their youth.
"I don't think even the greatest balladeer in the world could do Sarah justice, Kitiara. It's just not possible." He grinned at her and handed her a goblet of the wine, the heady scent permeating her nostrils. She took it with a smile.
"Shameless flatterer," she said as she sipped.
He poured another for himself and one for Kitiara, who seemed to preoccupied with keeping Bran's glass full to be concerned about her own. She took it with a grateful nod, but didn't drink.
"I bet I could, Ter."
"Perhaps you could. So what's this news you mentioned? I haven't been able to concentrate since your letter."
Bran stopped mid-drink and put his glass down on the table. He glanced at Kitiara and took her hand in his huge ones with a solemn look. They both turned to him and at the same instant said, "We're pregnant."
Ter's jaw hit the table. It took all Sarah had to keep him from sliding off the chair and into the floor. "When? How? What?" He spluttered.
"It's only a few weeks, Ter, so there's no way you could've noticed. Don't blame yourself."
"Bu-but-but that's great news!" He jumped up and looked down over the balcony before pitching his voice to be heard over the din. "A round of ale on me, everybody! I'm going to be an uncle!"
Cheers echoed throughout the large building and probably down the street to the other end. Sarah watched as everyone below toasted Ter with warm and not-a-little-drunk grins, and the waitresses shot him dirty looks as they were forced out into the crowd laden down with more alcohol.
Not bothering to pick up his chair, which he had knocked over when he sailed out of it, he lifted Kitiara up from her seat and spun her around, to the applause of the few other Fae on the balcony. When he saw fit to sit her back down, his eyes were shining with a feverish light, and he kissed her once on each cheek, once on the forehead, and once tenderly on the mouth. He turned to shake hands heartily with an ecstatic Bran. Then, both of them went downstairs to get up a "Three Cheers for Bran", and toast everybody they could find.
Kitiara rolled her eyes and picked up the discarded chair. "Well, at least it gives us a few moments alone together. They'll be like this all night, I bet."
Sarah laughed and took another sip of her wine before discarding it discreetly and pouring herself some ale, which she drank with a satisfied sigh. Kitiara laughed, and she couldn't help but smile back. "I never was a big fan of that stuff." Down below, Ter could be heard toasting to a beautiful baby boy, which would be named after him.
Kitiara, sitting across from Sarah, studied her shrewdly from behind her stormy eyes. "Jareth told me all about you, Sarah. I know who you are, what you are, and where you're from. What I don't understand," she said, "is why you're here. It's obvious you've won my brother's attentions, though whether that's love or lust has yet to make itself known. Do you know what you're doing, Sarah?"
Sarah had expected something of this sort – it had become obvious that Ter and Kitiara were very close. They seemed closer perhaps than Ter and his own twin. It would make sense that she would become protective. "No, I don't know what I'm doing, Kitiara. I'll be honest with you. I – I don't know how I feel about Ter, or about Jareth, or even about me at this point. Everything's so sudden, and it scares me that all of this doesn't scare me. Does that make sense to you?"
Kitiara was silent for a minute, staring down into her untouched glass of wine, and then she nodded. "I think I get you. But please be careful, Sarah. I'm an excellent judge of character, and I like you a lot. I don't want you hurt. Ter's known far and wide as a lover, but he doesn't submit well to love itself. Please be careful."
Sarah was taken aback. She had thought Kitiara would be concerned for her brother's well being. She opened her mouth and closed it again, much like a fish out of water for too long, and didn't know what to say. "I'll be careful, Kitiara." Down below, more cheers and the sound of crashing glasses.
"Oh my," said the dark-haired woman, "I wonder what they're up to down there? Ter's paying for it, I'll say it right now." She turned to Sarah with a smile. "He gets this way. The man loves children more than life itself. I think he's a little afraid to be a father, though – it's a big responsibility. This baby will be good for him. Maybe then he'll settle down."
Sarah shook her head. "Oh, I doubt that. He seems to be enjoying life too much for that."
"Don't be so sure you know him, Sarah. Ter's been like this for a long time. He's afraid of what commitment will mean to him. He remembers our parents' marriage all too well."
"If you don't mind me asking, what were your parents like? I think if I asked Ter, he would clam up, but you seem less bothered by it."
"Oh, I don't mind telling the story. Mother was the Princess of the Fae Kingdom. When she was just eight years old, her parents arranged for her to marry father, who was the first son of a wealthy merchant, blah, blah, blah. That nonsense about good marriages never made sense to me, as you can see." She indicated downstairs, where Ter and Bran were leading the crowd in a chorus of some silly and rather dirty song. "Mother hated father from the start. She tried running away, she tried suicide… she even tried eloping, with Jareth's father, believe it or not. But none of that mattered. She was caught three days from the palace after she ran away, grandfather had put guards on her day and night to make sure she didn't succeed at suicide, and the marriage was annulled because she had already been promised. Society was much harsher in those days." She shook her head. "It was a shame. Father was a petty tyrant. He had been taught that all that mattered in life was obedient children, vast riches and an important title. He had two of those three, at least."
"But mother knew better than to let him have a say in our raising. We spent most of our childhood away from the castle – which was probably good for us. That's how we met Jareth, for one, and for two, it allowed us to see how real families lived. Mother died not long after I turned thirteen, which was the legal age to be engaged at that time – though it's since been moved up, thank the Nine. It was ruled a suicide, but I always wondered if maybe father didn't murder her so she wouldn't have a say in who I was engaged to."
"I'm so sorry," Sarah said, placing a hand on top of Kitiara's. "Ter told me it was bad, and he told me about your running away, but I never knew the whole story."
"Well, that pretty much is the whole story. Now, father's married some other poor misfortunate. I met her once – she's younger than me. She's miserable and oppressed in that castle, and spends her days crying, from what I hear. I won't blame her if she jumps off the parapets anytime soon."
"Wow," Sarah said, and reflected on her own family life, for once thankful for the people she had been born to.
"That's enough sadness for tonight. It's supposed to be a celebration!" She stood up. "Bran and I are expected onstage now. Stick around to hear the music, if you want, though it might be a while before we can come back down." She kissed Sarah on the forehead and went gracefully down the stairs, glowing with pregnancy, now that Sarah knew what to look for. A few seconds later, the lute struck and Sarah saw Ter's unruly curls top the stairs. His cheeks were flushed red from the alcohol, and that feverish light still shined behind his eyes, like the sun trying to break through a boiling storm.
"I still can't believe it. I'm so happy for her," he said as he sat down. Below, Bran strummed a few chords before striking up a lively tune. This one wasn't humorous, however, and Kitiara's rich voice gave expression to the excitement of young lovers. She didn't think much of it a few seconds later when Ter put an arm around her shoulder. She focused hard on the couple, who really did make an amazing team on the stage. The crowd cheered and whooped as the song ended and Bran went right into a slow, strumming melody and Kitiara began to sing a lullaby. Ter's deft fingers began to run lightly up and down her neck, his thumb caressing her jaw line.
Inside her, Sarah felt a smoldering anger that wasn't hers. A cruel smile curled her lips and she leaned into his caress, not considering the implications of her actions, only happy to be angering the entity possessing her. Many of the Fae that had been dining stood to leave as the song ended and another began. This was a humorous one about a troll who was cursed to think himself a dwarf, and his misadventures as a giant trying to fit in with little people and finding nothing wrong with his size. The last Fae couple on the balcony other than themselves left as loud applause burst forth from downstairs. They were alone.
They then did another humorous song about a spurned lover who sought revenge through a witch, but her attempts at tripping up her man just ended in misery for her. About halfway through the song, Ter planted a soft kiss on the side of her neck. She felt herself shivering in response as he continued, kissing and gently nibbling her neck and out across her bare shoulder. With his free hand, he began to stroke her silky hair, and it was all she could do to contain herself.
She leaned backwards into him as a duet wafted up from below, a love song between Kitiara and Bran. Both of Ter's arms encircled her, roaming her stomach and her thighs and gently touching her breasts as his mouth became more insistent on her neck and shoulders. Sarah's eyes rolled back in her head at the ecstasy of his touch. His left hand began questing lower and lower until it was grasping her inner thigh, his thumb infuriatingly close to her but not touching, and his other hand turned her head until he could kiss her on the mouth. His firm, dry lips claimed hers, burned them, and he tasted of wine and spice. Sarah was lost – she was drowning in him and his scent and his masculinity. Somewhere in the back of her head that woman was cursing her as a whore, but Sarah couldn't make it out through the haze of alcohol and sex that was consuming her like a tidal wave.
She felt herself growing hot, hot like a sun, hot like a nova, until his touch on her skin was like ice on an open flame. She broke away from him, but only long enough to turn and face him, scoot until she was sitting on his knees and he was kissing her breast just above where the fabric began. His strong hands picked her up as if she were nothing and scooted her farther on his lap until she could feel his own heat answering her own. As he continued exploring her body with his mouth, she grasped his shoulders as if she were suspended over a bottomless pit and he were the only thing saving her.
She leaned into him as reached around her to loosen the fastenings of her top, pulling the silk fabric off her shoulder until her breast was exposed, the rosy nipple taught before he ever touched it. Again his mouth and his precocious tongue began their work, almost sending her over the edge with their endless teasing. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she heard the music below stop and heard Kitiara saying to her "Ter's known far and wide as a lover…"
She jumped back off his lap, pulling her clothes in order, panting with the effort it took to break away, sex still coursing through her veins thicker than her own blood. She shook her head. "This isn't right, Ter. I barely know you." She attempted to refasten her top, but it was too hard and she cursed under her breath as the complicated mess continued to slip through her fingers.
"I understand, Sarah. I apologize; it was my fault more than yours. Here, let me help you." At a look from her he added, "As a token of goodwill. Besides, Kitiara will be back soon, their set's almost over and she's gonna notice your top undone."
Warily she turned around, tense and throbbing still with unsatisfied need, though it was abating, thank God. He quickly sorted out the confusion she'd made of the fastenings, and paused for one last gentle caress of her neck and a kiss. "Again, I'm sorry."
She took a deep shuddering breath, feeling the unnatural heat subside slightly, and gave him a shaky smile. "It's okay. I think."
Bran and Kitiara finished their set with another soft ballad, to the cheers of everyone in the room, and they gathered up the coins from the stage. By the time they got back to the balcony, Ter and Sarah had gone through another pitcher of ale and Ter was regaling her with the lively story of how he had once stolen the High King's horse on a bet from Jareth. Kitiara smiled, watching the two who seemed so enraptured with one another.
The goodbyes were brief and heartfelt, Kitiara promising to stop by again soon to see how Sarah was doing, and the couple headed upstairs to their bed. Ter led Sarah through the taproom, which was quickly clearing out, and outside into the night. A sliver of a moon had already made it halfway across the sky and the stars shined brilliantly. She shivered despite the warmth of the evening, and mounted her horse.
During their ride home, it was obvious that Ter wasn't happy with himself for what he had almost done. He didn't brood, necessarily, but there was obvious self-loathing in his eyes. As they rode into the gates, Ter ordered one of the sleepy goblin stable hands to help her down from her horse and whispered a goodbye as he attempted to stride into the castle without touching her.
Sarah's heart melted. She raced after him and threw her arms around his waist from behind, oblivious to the knowing stares of the goblins as they took their time about stabling the horses. Ter stopped and stood stiffly, refusing to face her.
"Ter," she whispered, her heart in her voice, "please turn around and look at me. I have to talk to you."
He took a step away from her, twitching his cloak, and turned to look at her. The haunted expression in the steel grey of his eyes made her want to either tackle him and kiss him or smack him and tell him to get over it, she wasn't sure which. "Listen to me," she said softly as she strode up to him, pressing her body against his and holding his jaw in place so he couldn't look anywhere else but her eyes. "It was as much my fault as it was yours. Don't be upset with yourself. I like you a lot, but it just wasn't right in that bar with all those other people. It's okay," she whispered, and she kissed him softly on the lips.
"No, it's not okay, Sarah. What I did was unforgivable. I don't just like you. I respect you, and love you like I've never loved anyone else, and I was treating you like a common whore. That's inexcusable."
"You love me?" Asked Sarah, unable to comprehend it.
"Yes. I know it's hard to believe with my reputation, Sarah. That's why it can't be like that. I want to prove to you just how special you are to me."
"But you've only known me for a few days…" She trailed off, cursing herself for brushing off his feelings when she knew that love at first sight was entirely possible.
"I know!" It was his turn to hold her chin so she couldn't look away. "It doesn't make any more sense to me than you. I've never been in love before in my life, and I can understand why now – it hurts so much. Every morning I wake up terrified that this is all just some kind of horrible dream. And then I see you and everything's okay again. And I want you to believe me, but you're not going to if I keep acting like I did this evening. So, yes, it is my fault."
She kissed him again, and this time he didn't resist, but wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly, kissing her back with a fierce passion. "Don't be so hard on yourself. I do believe that you love me. Tonight, to me, was only proof of that. So thank you for a wonderful evening. Now go take a cold shower." She kissed him again, lightly, and he let her go, watching her walk into the castle with her head held high.
Once in her bedroom, Sarah stripped quickly and settled down between the covers, grateful for the warm silky body of Chak, who jumped up to join her seconds after she had laid down. Perhaps he sensed her emotional turmoil because he licked her forehead before settling down contentedly in her arms, purring raggedly for both of them.
Fastest Chapter EVER! OH YEA!