Chapter 4, Beyond The Horizon
"What the hell was that about?" Sarah asked, bemused, as she turned and glared at Lochlan. He stared at her doe-eyed.
"Pardon?"
"They're wishing me luck? What exactly aren't you telling me here, Lochlan? Is there something I should know about Jareth?"
Again, Lochlan blinked. Sarah growled and sighed heavily through her nose. Registering this display as one of annoyance, Lochlan wised up and cracked a grin.
"There are a number of things, most definitely," he said, which only made her more irritated. She crossed her arms and held back a scowl. After a moment, Lochlan sighed. She'd learn sooner or later… "I've told you. Jareth is fickle. And, as of late, he has been testing the patience of his parents greatly. He is regarded as...difficult."
"Difficult?" Sarah repeated, beside herself. "Why do I get the feeling you're vastly underplaying the scale of that word?"
"Sarah, come now. Do you have any idea how many women The King has passed his blessing to over the last few years? Dozens. Perhaps hundreds. Princesses, Dutchesses, even virgin Queens. And here you are, a green little human at the end of the line who's barely been on this earth long enough to blink. Of course they're wishing you luck."
Sarah pursed her lips at him, having to bite her cheek to stop herself from saying something catty.
"Well, when you put it like that I'm surprised they wanted you to bring me here at all," she said, and waved a flippant hand through the air.
"That's because they didn't. Bringing you here was my idea."
Sarah paused and glared at him.
"What? Why?"
"It is my job to keep an eye on things," he said, with a faint little shrug. "...to oversee the progression of Jareth's work. I was away during the time of your escapade, but I had heard rumors of it. The story intrigued me, so I thought perhaps you might intrigue them in return."
"Intrigue? You're basing all of this over the possibility of intrigue?" Sarah asked, then smiled in spite of herself and shook her head. "My God...and here I thought I was under prepared."
The corners of Lochlan's mouth curled as he stifled a chuckle. She looked so very exasperated and so very charming. She was unlike anything he'd ever encountered. So very human. He was actually excited for the journey ahead. She did not notice his gandering however, and merely sighed roughly.
"Sarah, you are better prepared than I could have possibly hoped for. Come, let's head for the ship. We'll make good time if we leave now."
He turned away, and Sarah eyed him as he effectively put an end to the conversation then and there. She nearly retorted that she wasn't finished yet, but he opened the door and *firmly* ushered her along. Picking her battles, she chose to let this one go for now. She felt handled. Literally. She'd keep note of that.
Without conversation, they headed straight to the main gate exiting the fort. Sarah found herself hesitating, but Lochlan assured her that her bag had been stowed on their carriage, along with a few other provisions General Fostad had provided for her. Sarah wanted to thank him, but from the bustling of the staff she gathered he, his daughters, and everyone else in the garrison, was busy fretting about the King and Queen's sudden arrival.
The carriage awaited them in the courtyard just outside the doors, and was part of a rather large procession of guards and what she assumed were merchant's and their wares. Lochlan opened the door for her and she stepped inside, grateful she no longer had to ride on horseback. Lochlan followed and sat across from her, then reached his arm out of the window and gestured for the driver to proceed. She heard the snap of reigns and then the carriage jerked forward.
"How far is it to the port?" she asked.
"Not far. Maybe about a ten-minute ride."
"Oh. I see," she said, absently. She crossed her legs uncomfortably and shifted in her spot. Her dress was bulky and not something she was used to wearing. She'd much rather be back in her jeans and t-shirt.
"You surprised me back there," Lochlan said, and she peered back at him.
"Hm?"
"You negotiated a crown from The King. That is no small feet, Sarah," he said, a stern eye contrasting to his grin as he spoke. Sarah furrowed her brow a bit.
"What else was I supposed to do? Just because I agreed to this scheme doesn't mean I should be at his mercy," she said, as if that should have gone without saying. "He doesn't get to be desperate enough to barter for a human bride and then look down his nose at me like I'm unworthy. I don't care who he is."
"Well, I hope he never hears you say that," Lochlan said, teasingly...mostly. Sarah shrugged and glanced away, giving in to rest her chin on the heel of her hand as she looked out the window.
They were quiet after that, and Sarah was glad for it. She listened to the sound of waves as they steadily grew louder, and searched between the trees for any sign of a beach. As the trees gradually thinned and the brush was replaced by sand, Sarah felt her irritation waning. This place was just too beautiful. It was impossible to scowl at.
"Was it odd for The Queen to be here?" she found herself asking.
"Yes. She has not met with any other suitors."
Sarah pursed her lips, wondering if it was really her oddity as a human that had drawn such interest. Or rather, as Lochlan would phrase it, intrigue.
"She seems nice," she mumbled, to herself mostly. She could see the shore now, white foam lapping at its edge as gentle waves undulated one after another.
"She is."
Sarah glanced back and sat upright in her seat.
"They seemed familiar with you. Her especially." Lochlan looked caught off guard by the observation, though he only smiled.
"Yes. My mother is one of Her Majesty's attendants. His Highness and I were both born in the same year, and so we were raised alongside one another. Our familiarity is what earned me my position as his retainer," he explained. Sarah glanced down. Honestly, she'd never before thought of Jareth as having any friends or family. He was simply...him. An entity. Singular. It was odd regarding him as something more, for lack of a better word, human.
"I see. You must be very close then."
"We were. Once."
Sarah frowned at that, at the weight that baited that word. However, before she could probe any further, the carriage came to an abrupt halt. She heard some of the guards yelling, and the sound of waves crashing became all of the sudden loud.
"Ah. I believe we're here," Lochlan said, and moved to open the carriage door. He stepped down and offered Sarah a hand. She took it and peered all around as she exited.
They were still on the trail. However, just ahead it became planks leading to a pier. Docked in the harbor was a large ship, the likes of which Sarah had never seen in person. The merchants were already loading their remaining cargo and the soldiers escorting them now fanned to their posts. She looked around a little more and saw there were a few buildings, shacks, which seemed to be vending a variety of goods. There were more people moving about than expected. Sarah found herself standing rather close to Lochlan's side. Misinterpreting her behavior, he locked his arm in hers and escorted her forward.
They walked towards the ship, and Sarah could do little to stop her mouth from gaping open as her head tilted far back in awe of it.
"Have you ever sailed?" he asked. Sarah shook her head.
"No. I've never been on a boat before. Especially not one like this."
"Especially?" Lochlan asked, not thinking there was anything too impressive about a merchant grade vessel such as this. Sarah's eyes continued to roam over the length of the hull with wonder.
"Yeah. Ships like this...they aren't made in my world anymore. Not for a long time."
"No?"
"No. They're too impractical. Expensive. Our ships are made from metal now. And they're powered by engines."
"I see," Lochlan said, with an empty tone that had Sarah wondering if he actually did.
"Lord Leche, you've arrived. Perfect timing." Sarah and Lochlan peered over at a man who was walking towards them down the boarding ramp. He was wearing a plain beige tunic, stained with sweat, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He was very tanned, and wore a bright red bandana tied around his forehead, though it did absolutely nothing to manage the unruly mess that was his dark brown hair. She caught Lochlan's smile as he dipped his head.
"As always," he said, then turned to Sarah. "This is our latest passenger, Miss Williams. Have her things been brought aboard?" The man glanced at Sarah, his smile holding fast, and he bowed his head to her.
"Yes. Her quarters have been readied. We merely await your command."
Lochlan turned to Sarah and gestured at the man with his eyes.
"This is our captain's first mate," he explained, to which Sarah nodded and smiled politely.
"A pleasure," she said. The man placed a hand over his heart and bowed again.
"Ah, but the pleasure is ours. The company of a woman is a matter of pride aboard our ship."
"Really? It's not considered bad luck?" she asked. The man looked at her rather oddly, but his smile curled on one side.
"Bad luck? Whatever do you mean?"
"Oh. It's just...in my world...It was a saying, I guess, once. That it was bad luck to have a woman aboard a ship," she explained. The man laughed, a deep, throaty sound.
"What? What a terrifying place you must come from," he said and gestured back at the ship. "You'll find no such prejudices here. Our wares are usually cattle and spuds. Very rarely do we have the chance to entertain a guest, let alone a Lady. We welcome the opportunity." Sarah felt a sense of relief at such words, as apparently her being a human did not matter in the slightest. Wait, was that comfort she was starting to feel?
"Oh. I feel I should thank you then. I was not expecting to be so readily welcomed," she said, a faint smile masking her insecurity. He was still smiling at her, his teeth much too white for a typical sailor.
It was not beyond Sarah's attention that every single fae she had seen over the course of her journey thus far was stupidly attractive. All of them. The soldiers, the servants, The King and Queen, this nameless firstmate, and Lochlan. The genetic profile of this species was a thing of envy, and it was steadily unnerving her. She looked away from the sailor and glanced about the market behind them.
There was a stall selling fish, one for clams, another advertised fishing gear, and further down the line she saw what she thought was a tavern. Hm. That seemed...eerily familiar.
"Sarah? Are you listening?"
"What?" Sarah glanced back to find Lochlan staring down at her. At some point the sailor had left them and apparently Lochlan had asked her a question. "Sorry, I was zoning out a bit," she said. Lochlan frowned but let it go. She was becoming more and more introspective as the day progressed. He couldn't blame her. He merely hoped she would not think herself to death before they even arrived.
"There are a few things I need to oversee before we depart. You're welcome to either wait onboard, or you can stroll about the market, if you wish," he said, which perked Sarah's attention.
"Oh. Okay. I think I'll have a look around then," she said. Lochlan gave her a nod and then turned away, walking briskly towards a man further down the pier. Sarah watched him and pursed her lips. It seemed she was safe to be left on her own, and she wondered why she questioned that to begin with. Maybe it was because she was in another dimension. Maybe it was because she was surrounded by things that were not human, that could use magic, and had not yet used it against her. Maybe she was overthinking it. Maybe Jareth was a little different.
Sarah walked along the road trailing the beach and stared at all the little interactions happening around her. This all seemed so normal, so unimposing. These people were smiling, prattling, haggling. Aside from the hair, they looked like everyday folk. Could they all use magic? And to what degree? What was the class system here? She knew she was considered exotic, and yet no-one had paid her any mind. There were no side-eyes, no whispers behind covered hands. Maybe it was arrogance that had made her presume the people of this world would look down on her, would look at her at all. Maybe The King's condescension had less to do with her species than she'd thought.
She found herself meandering towards a booth selling rather lovely-looking windchimes. They were made of colored glass and petrified lightning, with little beads and decorative shells dangling in between. She fingered a couple that clicked in the breeze, and then froze utterly when a familiar hand reached out and pulled back her hair.
"Do you fancy this one?" The Queen said, just as Sarah turned to gape at her. Sarah's open mouth failed itself and she took a step back. She peered all around, to all the busy beings still going about their business. No-one seemed to care that The Queen was now among them. Could she even be seen?
Sarah brought her eyes back to her, and watched as she moved around the display and tapped at a few of the chimes.
"It's pretty. Yes," she said, warily. Jareth's mother glanced down and smiled.
"I hope you do not mind the intrusion," she said, softly. "I was hoping to speak with you alone for a moment." Her smile humbled, and Sarah found herself worried over the change in her demeanor. It was like she was sneaking. Maybe the others really couldn't see her.
"Of course," Sarah said, following her a step or two towards the back of the stall where they would not be heard. "What can I do for you, Your Majesty?" she asked. The Queen turned and tilted her head, her eyes still low as she thought. She looked wistful, hesitant. Clearly, something was bothering her. Something she could not say in view of her husband.
"I was told you visited this place a mere five years ago," she said, then looked up to catch Sarah's eye. "You spent time with my son. Is that really true?" Sarah's look worried. She wasn't sure where she was going with this.
"Yes…"
"I see...I myself have not seen him for many centuries," she said, which surprised Sarah greatly.
"What? Why?" Perhaps her question was too brazen, regardless it was too late to take back. Sarah bit her lip, but The Queen was not offended. She peered up and, for a brief moment, Sarah thought she saw pain in her eyes.
"He has been sequestered...in his research. He cannot return home until it is finished."
Sarah frowned. Everyone kept bringing up this important research of his, though she hadn't yet asked what that research was. It seemed cryptic. Maybe she didn't really want to know.
"Oh...why?" she asked. The Queen paused, glancing down at her finger as it tapped on the edge of a table.
"Because until it is finished...he cannot become king." Sarah opened her mouth to respond but found herself quiet. This woman looked very sad all of the sudden, conveying a sense of longing she was, frankly, unable to empathize with. She missed her son. That much was certain. She looked up and right at Sarah. Her smile was small and she shrugged, just slightly. "Sometimes I feel my memory waning," she said, forcing another smile. "Perhaps it has been longer than I realize. I simply...wanted to know what he is like."
Sarah's frown only deepened as she watched The Queen struggle to convey her request, and in that moment she thought she saw her true self. She saw a mother. Nothing more, and nothing less. The veil of otherness Sarah insisted existed between their two worlds was now nowhere to be found. And the disillusionment lain within that moment of fleeting insecurity was as profound as it was humbling.
"I think…" she started, careful of the words she chose. The Queen's demeanor was cool enough, but Sarah knew she was hanging on her every word. She bit her lip and took pity. "He is...From what I've seen...I think he's a lot like his father."
The sudden light that ignited in The Queen's eyes was every bit justification for the not-quite-lie Sarah had just told.
"Really?" she asked, her voice more lively and hopeful as she took an instinctive step forward. Sarah forced away her frown. Apparently this was something she'd been needing to hear. The Queen stood before her and reached down to clasp one of her hands. "My, how happy you have just made me," she said, then drew back as she pulled something from a hidden pocket in her dress. "Here. I also wanted to give you this."
"What is it?" Sarah asked, her eyes darting down as Jareth's mother slid a silver ring onto her left index finger.
"My blessing," she said, then curled her hands around Sarah's own. "This ring will protect you from nefarious enchantments. You may need it where you're going," she explained. Sarah's eyes widened a bit, and she bowed her head emphatically.
"Oh...Thank you. That is...very generous," she said, very much caught off guard by the gesture. This woman was not at all what she expected Jareth's mother to be. Could her kindness really be trusted?
"Child," The Queen said, calling back Sarah's attention with a gentle grace. Sarah looked up to find her expression had turned sympathetic. "You spoke very sternly of your purpose here and of your conviction to bear him, us, children. I want to assure you...we are not so coldhearted." She let go of Sarah's hands and reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind Sarah's ear. It was a matronly gesture, something warm and undeniably kind. "What we want most, what my husband wants most, is for our son to come home. We are hoping you, or whomever he chooses, will motivate him to do what must be done."
"I don't understand. What must be done?" Sarah asked. She was confused, and only became more so when The Queen responded with a smile.
"I don't know," she said, breezily. There was a lightheartedness, or perhaps even a sense of loss to her tone. Sarah did not like it. She was about to ask what that meant when The Queen suddenly twitched. Her eyes glanced to the side, as if listening to something. And then she smiled again, hastily. "Hm...I fear this is all the time we have. Tread carefully little one. I hear humans are rather delicate things."
Sarah blinked repeatedly in disconcertion, but before she could speak did a voice at her back surprise her and have her jumping out of her skin.
"Sarah? Are you alright?"
She whipped her head around to find Lochlan standing directly behind her. She turned back around but The Queen was gone. Lochlan was still staring at her, his expression concerned as she realized he had no idea she had been there.
"Huh? Yes. Yes, you just startled me is all," she said, running a hand through her hair as she regained her bearings. Lochlan's eyes narrowed a bit.
"Who were you talking to just now?" he asked. Sarah blanched. Fuck. So The Queen really had been invisible? Damn. What kind of powers did these people have?
"What? No one. I was just muttering to myself. I do that when I'm stressed," she said, stupidly. She shook her head and moved away from him. Not knowing any better, Lochlan took her answer at face value and moved on. He joined her at her side as they began to walk back towards the ship.
"I see. Well, you will have plenty of time to decompress once we set sail. The Captain foretells a strong gale heading our way. With any luck, we'll arrive even sooner than predicted," he said, but Sarah wasn't much listening. Mention of their timeline only reminded her of how ungodly hungry she still was and her stomach bound itself in knots in response.
When they returned to the pier, Sarah found it considerably emptier than when they'd arrived. It seemed everyone and everything was ready to go. Hands were on deck and the vast sheets of the sails were being lowered. She took her time walking up the ramp, wanting to appreciate the spectacle for what it was.
"Why are we going on a merchant ship?" Sarah asked. They were standing side by side in the middle of the deck, Sarah watching in earnest as the crew set about their stations.
"Because this is the only transport that goes to and from Faengsel," Lochlan said.
"Why?"
She'd turned to look up at him. He was smiling at a passerby; leading her to infer he was well familiar with all of the crew.
"Because the seasons are never kind there. It is nearly impossible to farm any type of produce, which in turn makes raising livestock equally difficult. Everything must be imported. The sole purpose of this ship, and this crew, is to ferry supplies to the island every three weeks. It is not a place frequented by tourists. Hence why we are not aboard a pleasure cruise."
"Ah," Sarah said, and glanced away. "Well...why can't we just travel by magic? Wouldn't that be easier?"
"Yes. It would. However, that is impossible," Lochlan replied, taking a few paces forward -which Sarah followed. "The air of the sea is nulled of magic. It is a precaution...against invaders. Something old that was established long ago. There is no ocean in this realm that will carry an enchantment. We are then forced to travel it by physical means," he explained, which had Sarah staring at him quizzically.
"Huh...I never would have thought."
"Would you like to see your quarters?" he asked, turning to face her with a smile. "Perhaps rest after the rather straining morning?"
Sarah raised a brow at him, her expression falling a little deadpan.
"I'm not that delicate, Lochlan," she said, crossing her arms and turning away. "But yes, you can show me to my room."
Sarah sat alone in her cabin aboard the HMS Pomona in quiet repose. They'd set sail some time ago, and it was now rather late in the day. She'd never been on a ship before. The sound of the waves and gentle sway of the hull was soothing. So soothing she had no idea how long she'd even been sitting there.
Her room was small but well accommodated, a twin-sized bunk being the seat she currently loitered on. There was a small window at the back of the room, gifting her a splendid view of churning waves that sprayed and tumbled in the wake of the ship. She had a couch and a small dining table, a vanity, and a bowl of water to wash up with. Initially, Lochlan had apologized for the "meager" accommodations, but she didn't see what he saw. Sitting here, amidst hand-woven curtains and expertly carved wooden finishings, she felt pampered. She felt like a Goddamned VIP. Briefly, she allowed herself to wonder how many other women had shared this room before her, and whether or not they appreciated it as she did.
Her cabin was on the ship's deck level, just below the Captain's quarters. Lochlan had told her that himself, along with the rest of the crew, would be bunking below deck. As the day dragged on, she wondered if she was meant to remain in here for the entire journey.
Nope.
She left her cabin and surveyed the deck. It was calm, a steady wind billowing out the sails as many of the crew stood at their posts and stared on into the distance. She inhaled deeply, and the crisp smell of salt and water invigorated her. This was not what she expected. Was not an experience she ever thought she would be lucky enough to have. As her eyes traced the horizon, the seemingly limitless blue of the ocean ahead, she felt suddenly wistful. So lovely.
She took a few steps away from her door and came into the sunlight. She noticed then that the door to the lower decks was open and the muffled sound of laughter and cajoling echoed from within. She looked around some more and saw the first-mate, not the Captain, was manning the helm. And Lochlan was nowhere to be found.
She heard another burst of laughter emit from the hole in the deck, and felt her curiosity peaking. Hm. What the heck?
Some time later...
Lochlan exited the Captain's chambers and headed down the stairs to the main deck. It was nearing dusk, the sun hanging low and vibrant in the sky. He wondered if it was a sight Sarah might appreciate, and went to knock on her cabin door.
He knocked twice and frowned when no reply came. He knocked again, this time calling her "Miss Williams" before opening the door to peak inside. He stood there for a moment, his brow twisting with puzzlement, before pulling back and closing the door.
"Say, you wouldn't happen to know where our young Lady has gone?" he asked a nearby deck-hand. The man, who had been sweeping, looked at the door, then Lochlan, then gestured to the lower deck.
"Believe she's down 'ere with the men, milord," he said.
"What?" Lochlan replied, scowling at the look of ignorance he received, before he turned and deftly walked away.
"Aye! Kanpai!"
Sarah threw up her hands as she cheered, clapping them loudly as she swayed back in her seat. The crewmen around her were laughing riotously, the one's sitting at the table with her near-blind with it. Their cherried-noses sniffled before tossing back another shot.
Sarah joined and gritted her teeth as the sharp twist of whatever the hell it was they were drinking shot down her throat. She was feeling buzzed, just a little bit, but her rosy cheeks told otherwise. She was laughing, her shoulders bouncing ungracefully as she reached out and clawed back her latest winnings.
They were playing poker. Not a very sophisticated game of poker mind you, but poker all the same. Both she and the crew were surprised this was a game both their worlds shared, and they welcomed her to the table readily. She was never more thankful her father had taught her to play. Whoever thought she'd be clearing house with a band of buccaneers?
The booze had been complementary, so she told herself it would be rude to refuse. She didn't want to insult them... And that was...how many hours ago? She had no idea, but she didn't much care either. Lochlan had told her previously that ingesting liquids would keep her safe, that it was only solid food that would cement her place in this world, so she felt comfortable indulging...just a little.
This was the third hand she'd won in a row, and she was starting to suspect they were letting her win. That was fine. She planned on giving it all back to them anyway. What use would she have for such things where she was going?
A man who'd introduced himself as Babble distributed a new hand.
"I say, I've never seen a Lady so shrewd!" said a man behind her. She glanced back at him and smiled.
"Sheer luck I tell you! Nothing more!" She thrust a drunken fist into the air and they all cheered again. When she turned back to the table, she pushed at her eyes with the heel of her hand. She needed to keep track of herself. Probably wouldn't be the best thing to lose faculty among so many strange men…
"Miss Williams?"
Sarah glanced up to find a very concerned looking Lochlan standing at the base of the stairs across from her. She scowled at him, as if he were hard to see, and then wove a hand through the air dramatically.
"Oh! Lordddd Leche! I was wondering where you went!" She curled her hand and gestured for him to come near, and he did. He moved around the crowd and joined her at her side of the table.
"What...what are you doing?" he asked, bewildered beyond all belief. Sarah gripped the table and leaned herself back, turning her head up to him as she responded.
"Playing cards. Do you want to join?" she asked. Lochlan frowned and, while he said nothing right away, the look alone was enough to sober her some.
"I think not. I thought you'd been in your room all this time. You had me worried."
And now Sarah frowned. He sounded sincere.
"Was I supposed to ask your permission to leave?" she asked, staring him dead in the eye when he hesitated.
"No…"
"Well then? I couldn't find you, so I figured I'd make some friends with these fine gents here. Aye?"
"Aye!"
Sarah chuckled and toasted her glass with them as they cheered with approval. She took a sip and then glanced back to Lochlan coyly.
"Oh, come on. It's just a little fun. Am I being disgraceful?" she asked, with a twinge of sarcasm. Lochlan arched a brow at her, more bored than offended.
"I was worried for your safety, not your reputation," he said, with a level tone. Sarah set down her glass and inhaled through her nose.
"Afraid I'd fallen overboard?" she asked, her mild stupor giving her eyes the courage to dare him into insinuating that the crewmen, who'd been nothing less than complete gentlemen, might be up to no-good with The Prince's intended.
Contrary to her expectation, this bit of incitement did not offend her babysitter. Actually, he grinned. He looked damn right chipper. He stifled a laugh and extended to her a hand.
"Yes. Actually," he said, his smile stretching a little further as she accepted the gesture. She stood from her seat and handed her cards to the man behind her.
"Looks like it's time for me to go gentlemen," she said and, much to her satisfaction, they all booed at Lochlan. "Here, take my place. Keep all my winnings," she told the man, who's eyes were positively alight with surprise. "I'll see you all in the morning, I'm sure." And she turned away from them without a glance. She giggled as she stumbled, allowing Lochlan to escort her up the stairs with a firm hand -spiteful to admit she may have needed the extra stability.
He brought her up to the main deck, and she was surprised to see how dark it'd gotten.
"Well, you're a bit of a spoil sport, aren't you?" she asked, mockingly, as she released his hand and stepped away from him. Lochlan's smile curled, though she wasn't quite paying attention to it.
"Best to quit while you're ahead, as they say," he said, and followed after her as she moved about the deck. Many of the crew had retired below, which gave them a fair amount of privacy as she moved towards the bow.
"Yeah...you're probably right. I wasn't too keen on actually getting drunk," she said, stretching her arms high above her head as she stood at the rail. Lochlan stood beside her, quirking his head as he observed her.
"Are you trying to tell me you're in fact not drunk currently?" he asked, teasingly. Sarah glanced up at him with a cunning eye.
"Please. I was feeling the atmosphere. It'll take a lot more than whatever the hell they were serving me to get me toppling from my chair," she said, with a new spark of awareness that had his brow rising in honest surprise.
"Wow," was all he could say. She turned back to him with a disingenuous smirk.
"What?"
"You um...you are not like the women we're used to," he said, beside himself, and pleasantly so. He ran a hand through his hair and looked out over the sea. "I think you're going to do well at Faengsel. If nothing else, you'll certainly catch him off guard."
His eyes, which Sarah spied discreetly, were lost in thought and she said nothing in response. Of course he would be optimistic Jareth would accept her proposal, but that wasn't an avenue she really wanted to think about right now.
"When will we arrive?" she asked, changing topics. Lochlan's hand left his scalp and joined his other at gripping the railing in front of him.
"We're making good time. Tomorrow evening perhaps. Hopefully, before nightfall."
"Wow, that's a lot of time to shave," she said.
"Yes, well, we normally aren't in much of a rush," he replied, alluding to her quickly diminishing food supply. Sarah frowned at the reminder, and brought a hand to her stomach. Damn. Drinking all that alcohol was going to make her starving in the morning.
"Thanks...for being so considerate. I really wasn't expecting it," she said, her tone a bit softer. Lochlan's smile humbled, his eyes lowering a bit as he stared at her.
"No...I imagine not."
"Could you tell me...what exactly is he researching over there? And why he needs to be so far away to do it?" she suddenly asked. Lochlan blanched for a moment, then relaxed. She had been staring out over the ocean but now turned back to lock eyes with him. She looked curious, perhaps worried. He wasn't sure...what to say.
"It is...sensitive in nature," he said, hesitating over the words. Sarah frowned.
"Okay?"
"It's not knowledge many are privy to...and I'm...honestly I don't think even I am at liberty to say."
"But you know?"
"Yes."
Sarah paused before responding. She could sense he was about to stonewall her, and debated how best to proceed.
"Why does he need to be in the Goblin Kingdom to do it?" she asked instead, moving on to her second question. Lochlan bit his cheek as he mulled something over.
"...It's not safe. Isolating his work on Faengsel is...a precaution of sorts."
Hm...Sarah wasn't sure what to make of that. She knew absolutely nothing about magic, let alone classified, dangerous, controversial forms of it. She kind of understood the whole isolation bit but...what The Queen had said to her...it left her worried. She'd said Jareth couldn't leave the island, or even become king, without first completing his work. And she'd implied he'd been away doing so for a very, very long time. She tapped her lip as she pondered. Asking further questions might rouse suspicion, and she didn't want to betray The Queen's confidence. Maybe she should let it go for now...learn all she could in stride.
"Sarah…"
Sarah turned and looked up at the subtle tug of Lochlan's voice. That was the first time he'd called her by her name since leaving the garrison, and she realized they were now totally alone on-deck. Her eyes focused on the faint disconcertion she saw twisting his brow. The thought he'd been lost in, whatever it was, it seemed to have turned unpleasant.
"Yeah?"
She noticed the way his grip on the rail tightened just before he let it go to face her fully. She too stood straighter, suddenly attentive of this more serious demeanor.
"You have been...shockingly accommodating of all this. Your performance with Their Royal Majesties was...magnificent, actually. I'm not sure what your memory of Jareth is, but before we arrive...I feel I owe it to you to warn you properly."
"Warn me? What are you talking about?" Alarm rose quickly in her voice, something Lochlan immediately regretted fomenting.
"I told you...he's known to have a temper?"
"...Yeah."
"Well...it is a bit more serious than that," he said, and glanced away. Sarah's eyes, now hardening with scrutiny over his profile, stared intently. "I'm not sure...what your experience with him was, but…"
"Just spit it out, Lochlan."
She felt worry when he glanced back at her with, what she registered as, a glimmer of pain in his eye.
"If he falls into a mood...you need to be very careful."
"Careful?" Sarah repeated. Lochlan was trying to turn away from her again but she stopped him by reaching out and lightly shoving him. "Are you telling me he's abusive?"
Lochlan hesitated, as if caught off guard by the question. That reaction did not make sense to her.
"No...I don't believe he is," he said, and then his eyes lowered. "But...he may very well abuse you."
"What? What the hell is the difference?"
"It's...hard to explain."
"Well you better start trying," she said, assertively, and watched Lochlan's jaw tense as he closed down on her. Her eyes widened as his silence continued. "Lochlan…"
"His...tribulations have had a bit of an affect on him. His outbursts are not always his fault. I just want you to be aware of that."
Sarah's scowl scowled harder. What the hell was he getting at?
"Are you saying working with this dangerous, mystery-magic makes him violent?" she asked, her stare unwavering as he looked, plainly, taken aback. He blinked at her, before the uncertainty smoothed from his face, and his lips curled in a gentle smile.
"That's one way to put it, I suppose. I'm just telling you to be careful," he said, evenly. "I've upset you, I understand. ...But I don't want to jade your opinion of him by trying to tell you what you honestly already know. You've already met him, remember?" he said, now urgently trying to correct himself it seemed. Sarah drew back from him and crossed her arms.
"Yes, and I saw nothing of the temper you keep referring to. He was a bit of an ass, yes. Certainly high-handed, but...God, is that what his parents were talking about when they wished me luck? Was it out of pity?"
"Yes."
The simplicity of Lochlan's response had Sarah glaring up at him. He was just staring at her, as if he was forcing his stare through her.
"Why would they pity me Lochlan?"
She watched as he frowned. Watched as he did everything he could stop himself.
"Because they think there is a chance he may actually say yes."
The passion in Sarah's expression fell dreadfully and a deep disconcerted frown creased her face. She did not like that response. Not at all.
"Is he going to hurt me, Lochlan?" she asked, and again, caught sight of the same flash of pity she'd seen in his parents. Lochlan paused before responding. He wasn't sure how to answer.
"I...don't know. Do you think he will hurt you?"
The fact that he was asking her that struck her. How the hell was she supposed to know?
"I...I really didn't think so. No. Jareth was...a lot of things. But I was never afraid of him. He never touched me. He never gave me any reason to think he wanted to hurt me," she said, her eyes drifting away as the memories came back. He was intimidating, sure, but in a completely different way. And yes, while he had sent a cleaner after her, she'd since come to acknowledge that the danger wasn't real. If Jareth really wanted to hurt her, he would have. Plain and simple.
Lochlan tilted his head as he listened.
"Well then, what exactly are you fretting about?" She peered up at him but had nothing to say. Lochlan tore his eyes away from her. "You don't strike me as someone who would let another's opinion sway your own anyway. Perhaps you should trust your instincts and rely on the knowledge that only you have." He spoke to her frankly, though she only pursed her lips in response. This was dumb. Jareth's parents seemed to have a very particular opinion of him, and it would be foolish of her not to take it seriously. It'd been five years since she'd last seen him. Five years since he'd asked her to stay and she refused without blinking. She wondered, suddenly and for the first time, what his reaction would be to seeing her again, how his regard of her had changed, and what it ever was to begin with. Taking cue from her brooding, Lochlan stepped towards her and caressed her shoulder in a comforting gesture.
"You're making me very nervous, Lochlan. Maybe you shouldn't have said anything."
"Forgive me. That was not my intention. I voiced an intrusive thought. One that I now think was unwarranted. I simply felt it wrong to leave you blind to the circumstances. His Highness is prone to violence. That is a fact. Whether or not that violence will be directed at you is a complete unknown. I only wanted-"
"To warn me. Yeah, I got it." Her tone was sharp and dismissive, her hand swatting away his as she took a step back. He admired her strength. Admired how, even when faced with a moment of genuine fear, she managed to control and subdue it. She was irritated. She was defensive. She was the first person he actually thought stood a real chance with him.
"...Are you alright?"
A few moments had passed, and the perturbed silence gradually lulled. Sarah stood, with her arms tightly crossed, and glowered to the side at nothing.
"I don't know. We'll see what happens, I guess," she said, and shook her head as her gaze lowered. Regardless of her concerns, she had agreed to this. They were stranded on a boat in the middle of the ocean in another fucking dimension, so it wasn't like she had any other choice. Even if Jareth was dangerous, more dangerous than she already knew, she told herself she had enough resolve to see it through...no matter what that meant.
"That's the spirit," Lochlan said, lightheartedly. Sarah scoffed, huffing impulsively. She couldn't help it. Lochlan's expression softened. "Would...you like to see something interesting?" Sarah peered up at the inflection in his voice. Her arms were still crossed, but her grip loosened as intrigue took the place of aggravation. Her gaze crossed with Lochlan's, who then reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a jagged piece of dark-tinted glass.
"What is that?" she asked. Lochlan turned it in his hand and then offered it to her.
"It's just glass. But don't worry, the edges aren't sharp as they look."
With skepticism, she accepted the trinket and looked down at it, at a loss for what to do next. Lochlan turned and looked ahead towards the sun. It was still setting, sunken about halfway beneath the horizon. Sarah had been standing with her back to it until this point. It was too bright for her to face directly.
"Use that to look at the horizon, right where the sun meets the water," he said. Sarah blinked, not quite sure she was ready to accept his obvious deflective ploy, but did so all the same. She turned towards the sun, closing her eyes painfully before shielding them with the glass. Her eyes fluttered when they opened, a series of bright dots fading away as her vision adjusted. She could see the sun this way, see the ocean and the horizon and...something else.
There. Just barely. At the very edge of the horizon. There was a pinprick of a silhouette. It wavered and vibrated with the heat of the setting sun. She had no idea if this was the thing she was supposed to be looking at, but nothing else stood out to her.
"What...what is that?" she asked, keeping the shard in front of her eyes as she peered back at Lochlan. He'd placed his hands on his hips and tilted his head. His eyes stared unblinking at the sun, as if the brightness of its rays did not bother him in the slightest.
"That is what you know as The Castle Beyond The Goblin City."
A/N- Ho ho, dear reader, still inching ever closer to our *increasingly mysterious* fae prince. Don't worry, their paths will finally cross in the next chapter. And let me tell you, I just CANNOT wait for that...except I can. Because I'm going to wait another week to post it =P. I don't think I put any Easter eggs in this one...maybe. I don't remember. =P Anyway, tootles.