Chapter 8: Ballroom Disaster

She stared at him.

Jareth-- Matt-- was wearing a black tuxedo that seemed, somehow, different than normal. It seemed older, more regal, than the typical black suit. He bowed as she approached him, bending at the waist as if addressing a princess.

"My Lady, will you allow me to escort you to our mode of transportation?" he asked quietly as he straightened.

"Why, thank you, kind sir, I would be glad to." She slipped her arm into his, savoring his sweet smell. They walked outside to where a sleek black limousine awaited them. He shrugged almost apologetically and mumbled something about Lilly. She smiled as he opened the door for her.

"Lilly's idea, huh?" she asked.

"Quite. I had no part in renting this."

"None?"

He smiled gently, "Well, perhaps I donated some money toward the cause."

"You know, I've never ridden in a limo. Never been to a ball either." Alex said. "I'm a little nervous."

"Well that makes two of us for the car, and two of us for nervous."

"You? Nervous? I hardly believe that." Alex replied.

He chuckled, "All the same, I am. So many people in one place that I must hide myself from. And, of course, your friend Lilly is bound to find out what I am soon. When that happens, we will both have much to explain."

"That isn't why you're nervous."

He studied her face for a long time before answering, she was almost afraid that she had said something terribly wrong. "No," he whispered, "No, that's not why I'm nervous. And what, pray tell, do you believe is the cause for my anxiety?"

"Me?" she asked.

"You've a sharp wit, little one, and a good eye for emotion. That is why you can draw so well, and capture such feeling in your sketches. It's because you read people so well. Yes, you make me nervous, and I don't know why. I feel… foolish around you."

She giggled, "Well, I guess we're both nervous about the same thing, then. We're both worried about screwing up. So how about we both tell each other truth and get it over with?"

"I guess I go first," he grimaced. "Very well. I am worried about doing something foolish in front of you. You make me feel like a child again, innocence and all, which is something that I lost a long time ago. My father showed me the brutal reality of the world long before I should have known it, and my innocence was short lived. But with you around…" he shook his head and closed his pale blue eyes.

"I feel foolish around you, also. You're the Goblin King, of a race of graceful people, and I'm a human. A clumsy human. I feel inadequate and childish around you." She almost giggled as he looked skeptically at her. "So we both feel silly, and now we know why. Now that we're here, we don't have to worry anymore, because we know that we both feel a little scared, and we both want to impress each other. So let's stop worrying."

"Truly you are a boon to your kind, and far wiser that your years!" Jareth proclaimed as they climbed out of the car. He once again became that firm and resolutely arrogant man that she had come to know, not the sheepish and quiet boy that he had been acting. She realized that she had come to depend on his unwavering firmness and control and had been worried about his indecisiveness and insecurity.

They walked arm in arm into the ballroom in an abandoned building. She vaguely recalled someone telling her that the whole building had been taken over by a woman who loved parties. Upper-class parties, like balls, not teenager head-banging parties. This woman had redone most of the building to accommodate high-priced and fancy to-dos such as wealthy weddings and expensive dances.

Lilly was talking with her boyfriend and didn't notice Alex until she stood beside them, "Hello, Lilly."

Lilly started and turned to face her friend, but stopped and gaped at her. Alex looked like a fairy-tale come to life! Her green eyes no longer hidden by her glasses and her hair pulled back into that loose bun. And those emeralds! She must be wearing a small fortune! Not to mention her dress which looked like it was made from the finest satin and specially tailored to fit her slender form. Jareth smiled, "Doesn't she look like a vision?"

"What elf doth stand before me, and from whence did she come? She appears as a dream too good to be true, and yet doth grace me with her presence. From what land doth this elven Queen hail from, and whom shall she choose as her King?"

Alex smiled at Lilly's jests and mimicked the same high-bardic speech, "Verily I say to thee, maiden sweet, that I hail from yonder kingdom of Fairy Tales and my King doth be this noble sir, Lord Matt."

"Ah, of course, Lord Matt, surely I knew 'twas you."

Jareth shook his head at the continued joke the two friends carried on, "Yes, well, 'Lord Matt' would like to stop this little charade and find something to drink."

Lilly giggled, "They have soda pop over at that counter," she pointed to a bar barely visible through a group of Senior High-schoolers, "But you might have difficulties getting over there. I'm told the band will start up soon so we can dance, and dinner will be served at eight."

"Dinner's only an hour away?" Alex asked.

"Yeah, and the cooks say that it isn't anything too fancy, not more than two courses plus dessert, but I'm not complaining. I probably couldn't eat more than that."

"You must have the same appetite as Alex," Jareth mused.

"I can't remember who gave it to whom, but we've been almost exactly the same ever since before I can remember. We've always been best friends." Lilly replied.

He nodded and seemed about to comment when the orchestra suddenly started playing. Lilly's date took her arm and guided her onto the dance floor. Alex turned to look at Jareth, who was watching her with a strange light in his eyes. He offered her his hand, saying, "May I have this dance?"

She smiled as he took her hand and placed the other on her waist. It seemed so right, dancing with him. So right to have him watch her and her alone. So right for her to allow herself to be led through the steps of the dance. He was so elegant, so perfect, so sure of himself. How had she ever gotten along without him? How had she ever lived without his icy eyes and warm, though distant, smile? How had she ever managed to go on without him standing steadfast for her to hold onto?

Time became a blur for the two as they danced through the hour. It came as a shock when they were called to sit at the table for dinner. Alex wanted to keep dancing, to keep him close to her. She was hopelessly in love with a fairy tale king. Dinner was better than she had expected and the desserts were sinfully wonderful. She couldn't remember all the different cakes and puddings that she tried, and frankly, she didn't care. All she knew was the dance, his nearness, his infallible timing with the perpetual music.

Alex smiled and led Jareth away from the ballroom to a small balcony overlooking the garden. "I was getting tired," she said as he opened his mouth to question her. "I wanted some fresh air, too. It's rather crowded in there."

"It is."

"Is something wrong?"

Jareth paused for a moment, seeming to weigh what he knew, "No, I guess not. I just feel like something is out of place here, but it comes and goes."

"Oh, okay, I thought it might have been…"

"Yes?"

Alex was suddenly aware of how close she was to him. She started to tremble ever so slightly as he placed a hand on her face in a gentle caress. Stepping closer, just a tad, and his other hand pressed into the small of her back, drawing her closer to him. But the kiss never came; they were interrupted by a rather loud snicker and a wave frigid air.

"Deram!" Jareth murmured quietly, dangerously.

"Hello, my brother, how are you? You look to be… enjoying yourself."

Jareth growled an ancient curse at his half-brother, while Alex demanded, "What do you want? Why are you here?"

The younger fey sneered at her as he would at a bug, but replied, "I have some information that Jareth may find quite valuable."

"Oh? What could you possibly say that would catch my interest?"

He gave a derisive snort, "The fact that you must refer to me as 'Your Highness,' for one thing. Your need to run, for another."

"Run? Why? I don't understand what you're babbling about."

Deram snickered in triumphant glee, "I am the Goblin King, you have been deposed. I guess I forgot to warn you about that yesterday, the bounty hunters have just been set loose. There's quite a sum on your head, dear brother: a whole kingdom!"

"What! This is impossible! There is a twenty-four hour--"

"I must have forgotten to warn you." Deram shrugged.

"You… insolent… disrespectful… arrogant…" Jareth spluttered.

"Ah! Ah! Ah! Watch yourself, Jareth. All of those titles belong to you as well. But I've wasted enough of your time, already. I really should get going, I have a kingdom to repair, you know. Oh! You might be interested in something else…"

Jareth suppressed his rage for another moment as Deram chose his words.

"I never killed our Father. Frankly I don't think anyone did. I think he staged his death and went into hiding. A pity you can't manage something of the sort."

Jareth stared as his brother vanished from the balcony. How could this be? Things had been going so well! Damn! How had he missed this? How had he become so blind to the proceedings of the Council? What was he going to do? According to Deram, he needed to run now, but where to? He didn't worry about himself, he worried for Alex. They would kill her! He would die as well, but they would kill her! Damn it all! He would not let that happen! He would not let her die because of him! He would find a place where she could be safe, how could he do otherwise?

He flinched as he felt Alex take his hand. He wanted to keep her safe, but how? He took her in his arms and held her for a few minutes, drawing strength from that need to protect. He loved her. Even if there was no tie between them now a part of him would surely die if she was taken from him. How could he keep her safe? Lilly's hand on his shoulder brought him back to where they were.

"What's going to happen now?"

Jareth held Alex tighter, "I'm going to have to get smart, and run fast."

"From what?"

"The justice of my people: the bounty hunters. I've no time to explain, we have to leave. I am sorry, Lilly, but I must take Alex. It is no longer safe for us here, or anywhere. I have to find a place where they won't look… I have to…"

He felt Alex tighten her hold on him as he began to silently weep. Did he even notice the tears running down his face? Did he care? He turned away from Lilly and called upon his innate power to transport the both of them away to the Underground, and Luc's kingdom.

He could only hope that his friend would help him.