Rites of Passage by Betty Bokor
Jareth/Sarah. When Sarah is called to save the King, her life takes a whole new course, again.
Spoilers: The movie, the book, and some of the Return series.
Disclaimer: The Labyrinth original characters belong to The Jim Henson Company and Lucasfilms Ltd. This was written strictly for the purpose of entertainment. No attempt at copyright infringement has been made.
A.N. One more day.
Warning: this chapter talks about sex. If you have any objections, please skip it. You will understand the rest of the story just fine.
Rites of Passage
Chapter 20
Sarah felt paralyzed by a sudden and irrational fear when she realized it was already midnight. She hugged Jareth firmly and hid her face against him trying to conceal the tears in her eyes.
He noticed the change in her demeanor and softly asked, "Sarah?"
She took a deep breath and dared voice her fears. "You aren't going to disappear, are you?" she asked in a whisper.
"Disappear?" The question surprised him.
"It's midnight… You know… All those stories…"
"What stories?" He sounded genuinely curious.
She hesitated. "Like Cinderella and all those… fairy… tales." She raised her head a little. "You know… the pumpkin at midnight and-"
Jareth laughed heartily. "I haven't mastered the art of transforming into a fruit," he said cheerfully, "and the owl form would not be right at this time."
"You said we only had until midnight," she replied, mortified.
He noticed she was still worried. "I said we could negotiate after that…" he reminded her in a playful tone, but soon realized she did not feel better. "Sarah," he began, almost admonishingly.
"I'm sorry; I'm sorry," she said as she tried to sit up.
He stopped her. "Sarah, listen to me. That innocence you have is something I found very attractive. After you've seen all the things I've had to see in my life, it's hard to look at anything with new eyes, so I enjoy your perspective more than I can tell. I've brought you to my world, a strange world of which you don't know much, and you're doing a great job at adapting and overcoming, just like you did ten years ago. Whenever you have a question, ask me. It's not silly. It's refreshing."
She shook her head, still somewhat upset at her childishness. She sighed heavily and asked, "So, what do you want for staying?"
"I want?" he repeated feigning shock. "You asked me to be with you until twelve and I stated my conditions; as you agreed, I obliged. Now it's my turn to ask. I'd like you to remain here with me until it's time for me to go back to my army… What would you ask of me for agreeing to that?"
She had to smile. It was a game. He knew she wanted to stay with him, but he was willing to grant her something, even though he had not really asked for anything himself. She could do this. "Okay. I'd like…" she took a few seconds to think, "to play with you," she said with an impish grin.
He smirked before replying with his own question. "Do you mean you want us to play together or that you want to play with me?"
"Both," she dared and, as she wiggled a little to be able to look at him eye to eye, she realized that her position on top of him gave her an advantage.
He seemed to notice the same and openly smiled. "Alright; I'm in your hands. I'm your… toy for the rest of the night. I'm certain that as long as you're so… close to me, I won't be able to deny you anything."
She giggled, half happy and half embarrassed still.
"Besides, you should remember that your watch is marking the time in the Underground now. Aboveground it's merely a few minutes past ten," he added, trying to make her at ease.
Sarah appreciated his willingness to deal with her doubts. Before long, she would learn how patient he could be. Though later on she would attribute that quality to his daily dealings with the goblins in his kingdom, that night she was simply grateful that he allowed her time to learn along the way. She had not lied when she had told him she was inexperienced and, no matter how much she had read, she still was no match for him. But he seemed not to mind; what she saw as ineptitude, he saw as innocence and at all times he appeared to be enjoying himself.
And she did learn. She learned that his body was as responsive as he had said hers was. Or more. She learned the feel of every texture in his body; she learned what kind of touch elicited the best response; she learned how their bodies not only fit perfectly, but seemed to be made for each other.
She also realized why he had seemed to be enjoying so much the first part of their night together. She had worried that she had not participated enough at that time, but now she understood how much pleasure it brought to be responsible for the other one's enjoyment.
Right before dawn, Jareth guided her to the edge of the bathtub where she discovered the "umbrella" was in fact part of something similar to a shower. He tenderly washed her body and afterwards allowed her to do the same to him. She found the whole event extremely erotic and, if she had not been so incredibly tired, she was sure they would have ended up making love right there again.
When they returned to bed, she noticed there were new sheets and covers on it and quietly thanked magic for disappearing the mess they had left behind.
They slept late in the afternoon and the first thing that Sarah noticed when she woke up was how natural it felt to be by his side. She had never woken up by the side of a naked man before and she found the new experience elating. He felt warm and she liked snuggling against him.
"Ah… precious thing, you're finally awake," he startled her.
"I thought you were still asleep," she replied.
"No; I've been enjoying your embrace," he said almost in a whisper.
She looked up at him. His voice alone could cause a riot in her body. "Did you rest well?"
"Fae don't really need much sleep," he explained, looking down at her.
Lip gravity, Sarah thought immediately. His mouth was so close and now she knew what could come after his kiss. Even if she had not gotten to rest at all, she would have taken the chance; it could be her last. So, she reached up and kissed him.
She felt his mouth stretch into a smile before he kissed her back.
As he slowly turned to her, Jareth tried to concentrate on Sarah and to forget all the concerns that had plagued his thoughts before she woke up. He had not slept at all. He was almost overwhelmed by the intensity of the feelings he had for her. It was not just the attraction he felt or the physical sensations she provoked in him. Yes, those were far more intense than he had ever felt for any of the females who had shared his life –even Mizumi– but, after all, Sarah was his soul mate so he knew it would be different with her. No, it was much more than that. He wanted to keep her by his side; he wanted to wake up every morning knowing she would share his day with him. He was sure all the aggravations his work brought him would grow insignificant knowing that she was there to stay. Maybe they could one day have a family… It made him wish he could come back from that irrational war and find her in his castle, taking care of his goblins like she had done for years with all those who regularly visited her. She would be the perfect queen.
Nevertheless, reality was altogether different. For that to happen, she would have to abandon her life aboveground, leave her family behind, and accept the idea of becoming immortal. Just for him. And, since he could not see any way to make it back alive, he could not even ask her to wait for him. Much less to assume his obligations. No matter what he dreamt of, it was not going to happen. When he said good bye to her, it would be a definite good bye.
But now she was in his arms and that was all he had to think about. He had been given an extraordinary chance. He not only had been reunited with his soul mate, but he had been granted precious hours to share his love with her. So he closed his eyes and allowed his body to help him communicate what he would not allow his words to tell her. They only had hours left.
After making love, he suggested they spent a while in the sunken tub, recovering from their busy night, but they could not stay long there because Sarah became suddenly very hungry. After teasing her, Jareth helped her out and wrapped her in a large, soft towel.
"Do you know where my brown dress is? I thought it'd be somewhere around here," she asked after looking for it near the sofa. "I didn't think this through, really. I should've packed an overnight bag or something."
"No need to look for it. Anything you need… I can take care of it," he said and, before she could even turn to look at him, she realized the towel was gone and she was dressed in a light saffron dress. It was a long gown, made of a soft, light fabric, with long sleeves and very little adornment, but it felt perfectly tailored for her.
"We'll have to talk about this dressing me without asking," she joked.
"I thought that if you granted me permission to undress you, the dressing part was implied," he replied smugly.
"I see… Well, then we should talk about including… undergarments with the dress."
"I didn't see the need."
"Very funny. I just don't feel very comfortable without my own things."
"What about we enjoy a hot cup of tea and then we worry about your things?"
"Fine. I'm starving," she admitted.
They had tea and some fruits and pastries that made Sarah feel much better. A little later, Jareth agreed to take her for a walk along the beach and into the forest. He showed her his favorite spots and the clear in the woods where he would often sit and read, away from his noisy subjects.
It all felt oddly intimate to her, as if they were sharing secrets that nobody else was privy to; as if they were getting ready to share the rest of their lives. As they walked back to the glass house, she thought about it. What would it be like to spend the rest of her life by his side? What would happen when she began to age and he remained young and strong? Would their child –if she was in fact pregnant– be like her or like him?
When the questions began to upset her too much, she dismissed them completely. There was no point speculating about a future that was probably impossible –he was leaving soon and, chances were, he was not coming back– or about a pregnancy that might not be real at all. She decided to enjoy what she had right then and to worry later, whenever what was going to happen finally happened.
When they reached the house, she had to ask about her most immediate concern.
"How soon do you have to leave?" she asked casually, as if were not important.
"Are you in a hurry, precious?" he countered.
"No… I just wanted to know to… plan… for the rest of the day," she answered almost defensively.
"Do you need to be back home soon?" he continued.
"No," she said a little more emphatically that she would have wished to. "I don't have to go back."
"Ever?"
She could not help but blush. "No, that's not what I mean; I don't have to go right now, today… It's the weekend. I don't have to go to work until Wednesday, so…"
He smiled. He enjoyed playing games with her. "Unfortunately, I do have to return to my duties. Soon, but not just yet. Maybe you'll agree to spend one more night with me," he offered.
She could not think of anything she wanted more at that moment. She nodded slowly. "Maybe..."
He looked at her as he opened the door for her. "Perhaps I should find a way to entice you," he said with a mischievous smile.
As soon as they entered the house, she noticed there had been changes in the room. To her left, where before there was only a soft carpet covering the floor, there was now a dining table and two chairs. The wonderful aroma of a freshly baked dinner came from the dishes atop the table.
"You didn't have time to do this!" She exclaimed, surprised. Then she worried. "You said you didn't bring anyone else here!"
"I didn't; I have caretakers. This place needs attention when I'm not here."
"Who is it? Where are they?" Sarah asked, feeling suddenly embarrassed, fearing someone had witnessed their very private night.
"Sarah, calm down," he told her as he turned her toward him by the shoulders. "Nobody is allowed anywhere near here when I'm in the house. It's completely protected and private. The goblins come after I leave and only if I order them to do so. They're gone now and they're unable to return unless I call them."
Sarah slowly calmed down. "Okay. I just didn't want them… here, now…" She did not know what to say, so she decided to change the subject. "That smells fabulous," she tried as she indicated the food with a nod of her head and a small smile.
"Indeed," he agreed and gently led her to the table.
The dinner was delicious and Sarah enjoyed every dish. The conversation was light and mostly dealt with the beautiful sights they had enjoyed earlier around the house. After finishing the last bite of her desert, Sarah realized Jareth had been silent for a while, simply watching her. She decided it was her turn to start the conversation.
"Wow! That was really good! Thanks; I was still hungry, especially after that walk."
He slightly bowed his head in acknowledgement.
"So, what do you usually do after dinner? This is the part where many families sit down and watch T.V. at home, but there's no T.V. around here…" she said lightheartedly.
He sighed. "I generally go back to work in my office; after a day with the goblins I need silence and peace, and I usually have a lot of paperwork… Records to keep. Sometimes I check on the children, if we have any, or search for prospective parents. It depends."
"What about for fun?"
He took a few seconds to think, as if it were hard to remember. "It's been a while. I used to like singing… or dancing sometimes."
"I don't think I can sing, but dancing sounds good." She knew how much she had enjoyed their dance the night before.
He seemed to hesitate for a short while. "Alright," he finally said as he stood and stretched his hand toward her.
She grabbed his hand but could not avoid thinking something was wrong. His mood was almost somber.
Jareth walked with her to the fireplace and picked up a small box that was on the mantel. He gave the box to Sarah and waited for her to open it. "I asked the goblins to get something for you while we were walking. I can't explain why I had it made the last time I was home, but I suppose I always intended to give it to you, so, here it is."
Sarah carefully opened the box. "Oh!" was all she was able to say. She looked at the jewelry in the box again and then looked at him. "They look exactly like in the dream."
He smiled. "I tried," he admitted. He grabbed the main piece in the box, the necklace, and, with a clear gesture, offered to put it around her neck. She nodded, smiling, too. "It was your choice for the ball, so I imagined you liked it."
"I love it," she interrupted as she passed her fingers over it. She moved closer to the fireplace to be able to see herself in the mirror. "It's just like the one I wore," she added as she looked. "Let me try the earrings, too," she asked and he held the box as she took the jewelry out.
When she was done, he handed her the ring and looked at her. "I included a matching bracelet. I know you didn't wear one that day, but it seemed incomplete without it."
Sarah pulled the bracelet out of the box and slid it up to her wrist. "It's amazing…"
"I'm glad you enjoy the present. I know that it's something you'd probably wear only in my world and not in yours, but after you visited the last time, I thought I'd have it in case you came back. And last night you were looking at it in the picture…" He walked back a couple of steps to look at her.
Sarah turned to look at him. "What's that for?" she asked as she saw the crystal in his hand.
The smirk gave away he was planning something she would object to. "I was just thinking that that dress isn't right for the necklace."
"Oh, no… You're not-"
Before she could finish, the crystal dissolved against her in a million specks of glitter. When the shiny cloud dissipated, she saw her new dress. For a second she thought it was the one she had worn to the ball in her dream ten years before, but then realized it was not. She looked at him.
"I didn't think you'd enjoy that style any longer, especially the crinoline cage," he defended his choice, "but I kept as much as possible."
Sarah looked again. The fabric and the embroidery in the front of the dress were the same, but the sleeves were gone; the new gown was strapless and the skirt was évasée. It was far more flattering to her figure than the old dress.
He was still looking at her with critical eyes. "Maybe if…" he began and then flicked his wrist and stretched his fingers in a gesture that had become familiar to Sarah, and a pair of long gloves matching the dress appeared on her arms. "Yes, that's much better."
She smiled. "Great. Maybe now we can dance; you just need to dress up yourself," she joked.
He had to agree that the brown leather trousers and the off-white shirt that he had been wearing were not up to her attire, so he used his magic to change his clothes. The new outfit surprised Sarah more than her own.
"It's the blue suit!" she exclaimed excitedly.
He just smirked the usual way and extended his hand as an invitation to dance. Music started as it had the day before and they began dancing around the room. They had not danced for more than a few minutes, when she suddenly stopped. She did not let go of his hand; she just stopped dancing and closed her eyes.
"Sarah, are you alright?" he asked, concerned.
She opened her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm just trying to decide if to tell you the truth," she admitted.
"I hope you don't feel you need to lie to me," he replied, seemingly hurt.
"Oh, no, the problem isn't lying; it's confessing the truth," she acknowledged. She sighed and dropped her hands to her sides.
He just watched her, perplexed. "I thought you trusted me now," he said, still upset.
"Oh, I do, I do. It's just that it's so embarrassing!"
"What's embarrassing?"
She sighed again and turned to avoid looking at him. "It's complicated."
"I can't help you if I don't know what's going on," he tried.
"Okay, fine, I'll tell you," she conceded after hearing the pain in his voice.
They were close to the bed, so he led her to sit on the edge, facing him.
"This is even worse," she whispered.
"Sarah?"
He had a way of pronouncing her name that affected her like nothing had before. She sighed loudly. "Okay. I'd better start with the dream ball."
"Alright," he agreed, still unsure of what was going on.
"In that dream, when I was fifteen, well, really sixteen, because it was only two weeks before my-"
"Sarah," he warned and she realized his patience was running out.
"Fine. That day, when I was dancing with you, I… felt things. I didn't know what it really was and I didn't have time to think about it. Nobody had made me feel that way before, so…" She surely was blushing, but he was very still and silent, so she continued. "But, over the years, as I grew up, I knew exactly what it had been, so I tried to… imagine," she closed her eyes, "I imagined what could have happened if I had been older or if I had accepted your offer and stayed-"
She opened her eyes and looked at him. He had not moved, but now he was watching her with a little smile on his lips. He was starting to understand.
"So… over time, that scenario became more detailed in my head, and every time I thought about it-"
"Did you think about it often?" he asked with a little smugness in his voice.
She was at a loss for words for a few seconds. "Sometimes; not all the time; now and then, you know…"
"Alright; carry on," he smiled openly now.
"Okay. The main problem is that every version of that… scenario, as I said, always started with you dressed in those clothes, dancing with me. I remembered every detail of your attire. The white shirt, that collar, the jabot, the pin, the suspenders, the vest, the jacket, the gloves, the belt, the trousers, the boots… Right? I could draw them with my eyes closed."
"I see."
"No, not really. That's not the worst."
"I didn't think any of that was bad," he replied.
"Oh, yeah, it's bad; it's really bad, because… I've thought of so many ways to-" she stopped, unsure of how to word it.
He remained quiet, but his eyes asked her to continue.
"So many ways of getting rid of them," she said closing her yes, "and-" She shook her head and looked at him eye to eye, "I don't have to explain the rest. You get it, right?"
"I wouldn't mind it if you need to give me more details," he smirked.
"Oh," she covered her face with a pillow. "You're so mean!"
"Come on, Sarah; why did you really stop our dance?" he asked seriously.
She lowered the pillow and looked down. "Because every time I look at you, I can't stop thinking about it. I was so happy when I saw you dressed in that and then… I thought that if I didn't start unbuttoning that shirt I'd go insane."
She sounded genuinely upset, but he could not see anything negative about the whole situation. "Oh, precious; we wouldn't want you to go mad, would we?"
"You aren't taking this seriously!"
"I am taking it seriously," he began as he slid closer to her until he could embrace her. She hid her face against his chest, feeling terribly conflicted; on one hand, mortified about her feelings and, on the other, more excited than ever at having him so close to her. "There was nothing stopping you if you really wanted to go there; we've made love many times since we got here. One more time wouldn't have changed anything. In fact, I was certain it would happen again before the morning. Weren't you?"
"Yes," she admitted softly.
"So, that's not the real problem. I've been thinking that perhaps the problem is that this is our last opportunity."
"Opportunity for what?"
"There's a chance that what happened ten years ago was supposed to happen; we were supposed to meet, we were somehow bound to be part of each other's lives, but it was too early… You were too young and we were both upset, and your brother's fate obscured the rest… So, perhaps, this is an opportunity to set that straight, to see what would have happened if we had met at the right time."
"We know what could have happened."
"I don't think this is about sex, Sarah. I think it has to do with compatibility, attraction, destiny… Like two souls looking for their soul mate. The physical attraction is only the beginning, like the tip of the iceberg that alerts you that there's something far larger hidden below. And standing here, dressed like we were ten years ago has awakened feelings we've probably tried to crush for years. If the circumstances had been right, maybe "us" would have been more than it can be now. And I know that you're human and I'm fae, and we live in very different worlds, but, if we really had had a chance, if the war had ended, if we both had been willing to sacrifice something… maybe we would have tried."
"It's not fair!" she said without even thinking.
He let out a little laugh. Good. It had broken the gravity of the moment; now they could move on. "But," his tone had changed completely, "if these buttons are in your way, by all means… unbutton away."
