Chapter Six

The Anniversary

Nearly a year passed. Sarah thought about Toby everyday and made continual effort to find a loophole in which to catch Andromeda. She turned her studies to the histories of the kingdoms of the Underground and learned everything which might be helpful when the opportune moment came. She had to be smart because one mistake could shatter the structure of the Underground entirely.

Each morning, the two dressed and met for breakfast, parting to go about their day's work. They spent two meals together, breakfast and dinner, neither finding much need for lunch.

Every evening once Jareth had finished his kingly duties, he would find Sarah in the library re-shelving the numerous books that she had consumed throughout the day, and then he would escort her on an evening walk through the gardens. They returned to their chambers to dress for dinner, always a somewhat dressy affair, and then they commenced with Sarah's magic lessons.

Sarah had gained much skill and demonstrated a flair for magic. Jareth was proud of her talents and pleased that he had been correct in judging her capabilities. The area Sarah found difficult was defense, much to her frustration. She seemed unable to throw off the spells and enchantments that Jareth used. This worried the Goblin King, because defense was going to be important once the opportunity to rescue Toby arose.

"Once more, Sarah, concentrate on yourself. You must withdraw into your own presence. Sense yourself."

They were back down in the dungeons practicing magic. Sarah was trying dutifully to sense herself, but each time she discovered that she only felt a sensation of confusion and frustration. She had explained this feeling to Jareth many times, but neither knew how to combat it.

"I can't concentrate anymore tonight. The more we work on this, the more confused the feeling gets. Let's go up to the garden for a swim," resignation echoed in her voice. It was clear to Jareth that she hated feeling like she was giving up, but he also knew that she had the determination to overcome this confusion and rescue Toby.

They left the dungeons, arm in arm as usual, and ascended into the castle. They wound silently through the halls to their rooms where they parted to dress in swimming clothes.

Sarah shut the door quietly behind her and moved to the dresser. Another night of progress that seemed to move nowhere. She stripped completely and pulled out her favorite swimming gown. She could not call it a swimsuit in the sense of Aboveground swimsuits because it was certainly much more of a gown. It had a loose design with long sleeves that split to the elbow and flowed gracefully about her forearms in the water. The rest of the dress was made of multiple light layers that cascaded to the floor and split up to her knees. More strips of gauzy fabric completed its graceful shape. She wrapped two special strips across her chest to bind her breasts in place to make swimming more comfortable. The gown had matching panties that were thick enough so as to not be transparent. This one was a delicate cream color that reminded her of the beautiful cape that Jareth had worn after she broke the Escher room.

When she entered her library, she found Jareth already sitting in a chair waiting for her with two large towels. His swimming gear looked almost the same as his normal attire: black tights that were bound around the waist and a cream poet shirt tucked into that. The sleeves were rolled up the forearms, and his boots were gone. Coincidentally, he wore the feathery cape that seemed to match Sarah's gown. She had not seen it since that night so long ago.

Jareth laughed lightly as she entered the room softly, "You seemed to be thinking along the same lines. Come, let us walk."

They left the room again, mulled by the warm summer night. Sarah admired him complacently. "Why don't you wear that more often? It is such a lovely cape."

"I was worried it might upset you, and it is a bit formal to wear regularly. I have not had an opportunity until now."

"My gown seems to match it exactly. What made you decide to wear it tonight?" She looked at his gorgeous eyes as they walked down the moonlit path.

"I will let you guess, my dear Sarah," he said in a purring voice that sent shivers through her body. He was sounding like the Goblin King of her childhood.

"I don't know," she managed to say as they stopped at the well-lit pool nestled in a grove of gently swaying trees.

He bent into her ear and whispered "guess, Sarah." There was no mistaking the dominating tone that she had associated with him nine years ago.

The it hit her, "It's the anniversary of the night I ran the labyrinth!"

"Correct, my pet. And it is the same night that I fell in love with you," as he said this, he stepped behind her and pressed a kiss to her neck, firmly gripping her forearms. "And so, I consider it our anniversary," he let go of her when he was sure she would not turn around and reached into his cape. Sarah remained still, quite flattered by his behavior.

"I found something that I thought was rather fitting for tonight-" his hands began to move through her hair with the same dexterity he used when turning a crystal. She closed her eyes and sighed happily, feeling a little guilty that she had nothing to give him though knowing he expected nothing in return.

"Jareth, I am flattered though don't you think it was a little unfair not to warn me ahead of time so that I might have been prepared?"

"You say that so often. I wonder what your basis for comparison is," he repressed a laugh as he tried to remain in character. He could feel her tremble slightly at the use of the old line.

Once finished, he turned her to face him and grinned with approval. He spun her back around, conjuring a mirror as she turned.

"Oh, Jareth!" she gasped as she saw his gift: the silver leaves that she had been wearing in the Masquerade crystal that he had sent her. They were so beautifully crafted and so thoughtful, she turned back to thank him but found him nowhere in sight.

"Jareth?" she called quietly, a little worried. Then she heard faint music from the other side of the pool and turned back around quickly, her gown fluttering out and transforming into the dress that she had been wearing in the crystal. She marveled at the gown, then looked up to find that the mirror had disappeared and in its place was Jareth, looking just the same as he had in the fantasy. His face was stern, piercing her very soul with his eyes. One black gloved hand extended to take her into his arms as the music became clear. She already knew what song it was.

Jareth couldn't suppress a suave grin as he noted the exact look of wonderment on Sarah's face as had been there four years ago. He quietly mouthed the words that already filled the clearing, looking down into her startled blue eyes. The moment was perfect this time; Sarah was as mesmerized as before but now she knew exactly how he felt and her mind was not clouded by enchantments. He viewed that moment as an accomplishment to honor. He had tried in many ways to force Sarah to love him, but by relaxing and being himself she had come to find her own feelings.

Sarah could feel something in the air, perhaps it was simply the enchantment that had recreated the memory, but something felt fulfilled. She was realizing that she had never been happier in her life. A year ago, with all her success, with friends and family who loved her dearly, with the promise of a successful career, she had not been as content as she was at that moment in his arms.

Jareth tilted his head to better examine her face. The music was fading slowly, but she seemed unable to notice. Finally they were left in silence standing perfectly still, the light from the candles dancing through their eyes.

Sarah leaned forward and kissed Jareth passionately, drawing him into the moment. Just as he was in a comfortable rhythm, she pulled back, "I dreamed so often of that moment before you came back into my life, and never once were any of the dreams so perfect what you just gave me."

Jareth gave another seductive grin and leaned in for another kiss, but she turned and coyly walked to the edge of the pool.

"Shall we go for our swim then?" she spun in a circle and the dress fluttered back into the light swimming gown. She always looked so graceful when she changed. The silver leaves were still in her hair, and he tossed a crystal to them to replace them in her jewelry box. He conjured a wind that blew his outfit into the feathery cape and swimming suit that he had been wearing previously. Sarah was already stepping into the shallows, her dress trailing behind her in the water.

With steps silenced by magic, Jareth crept behind her. Sarah paused to watch his ripples intersect hers. "You will have to be more stealthy than that if you want to catch me, Goblin King," she murmured demurely and puffed herself to the other side of the pool in a cloud of shimmering blues. She smiled and dove into the deep waters, the fabric flowing about her beautifully curvy frame.

Jareth grinned at the little game and stepped back into the surrounding foliage. Sarah rose out of the water quietly and took a breath, finding Jareth no where in sight. She gazed intently about her and then felt the water change around her. Like a flash of light she twirled herself and reappeared again in the deeper waters. Jareth was in front of her, spinning around to face her. She gave a defiant smile and dove under again. This time Jareth was prepared. Standing hip-deep in the pool, he twisted his hand to create a crystal which he tossed into the air.

Sarah surfaced and looked around for Jareth. He had vanished once more, but hanging in the air was a glowing crystal. It slowly floated toward her, and before she had time to recognize it as a simple distraction, Jareth had grabbed her around the waist.

Sarah squirmed and tried to escape, but had little luck. "Hey! That's not-"

"Hmm? What were you saying, my dear?" Jareth cut her off, laughing at her incurable habit.

"You cheated," she corrected herself as he turned her around to face him. Her hair floated around her shoulders in gentle, enticing tendrils.

He brought his face close to hers, "Not in the least. I only," his lips were almost touching hers, "bent the rules." Sarah started to lean into a kiss. "You're it."

Jareth exploded into blue glitter and reappeared on a rock near the deeper end of the pool. He held one leg and let the other drop casually into the water.

"Was that really necessary?" Sarah pouted and swam to the water beneath the rock.

"Part of the game, my pet," he pulled his foot from her reach as she made a sudden lunge for it. "Nice try," he smirked.

"How about upping the stakes?" Sarah replied with a hint of Jareth's voice. He cocked his head to one side and regarded her with exaggerated interest. "No magic. Just ordinary cat-and-mouse."

Jareth laughed deep in his throat, "Oh really? You want to play without magic?" Sarah's blue eyes remained sarcastically pinned on his unusual ones. "Alright. But I don't see how I profit from this amendment."

"If you can catch me, and kiss me," she added, "then I will give you your anniversary present." Sarah grinned despite herself and Jareth raised an eyebrow with curiosity. Sarah lunged for his foot again and this time caught it in his distraction. "Your turn."

Sarah dove under water and glided away like a fish. She could hear Jareth as he dove into the water behind her. Already he had grasped her ankle and pulled her toward him. She really had no expectation of out-swimming him, but the chase would be fun. He still had to kiss her.

With a deft movement, Sarah twisted her leg free of Jareth and popped up for air. She swam underwater with fast strokes until she felt his shadow closing behind her. She surfaced and his arms wrapped around her arms and waist, pinning her. By that time they were standing to their ribs in water. Sarah attempted to wriggle free, but she was securely fastened by Jareth's grip.

"An anniversary present? I wonder what a girl can give a Goblin King?" his face was next to hers over her shoulder.

"It's something you have wished for."

"Is it?" he played along, half knowing, half curious. "I don't remember wishing for anything."

"Oh, you've wished for it. Your tights are a bit of a gossip," she said with meaning. Sarah could feel Jareth pause in his attempt to find her lips as he realized what she was implying.

"Very observant. Though I do wonder why you would be observing my tights," he turned her around in his arms. His voice took on a more serious tone, "Are you sure you want to give that to me?" he asked with concern.

"Undoubtedly," she kissed him then.

Jareth smiled into the kiss. He had not believed in the power of an unspoken wish until that moment.