Whoo! Over 1400 words! You guys should feel very appreciated! I wouldn't do such a long chappie for just anyone, ya know! Now, people, I have re-done my profile page to include FANFIC PREVIEWS! This little treasure now has updates on all your favourite fics- well, the ones written by me, anyway.
WickedGame- I love it when Jareth is a bit evil, too… WHAT ABOUT ME NOT BEING IN SARAH'S FAN CLUB? ISN'T IT OBVIOUS? BECAUSE SHE IS A SLAG!
Moonjava- Thankyou- you are appreciated
Petra15- Continuing- now
Nugrey- Whoa! How many reviews did you leave? Well, I think I like you! As for your last review- not to poke holes, or anything- but it isn't even legal for me to get a job yet. I can't even be employed by McDonalds until November!
What's with the bee's knees? I'm six? Hmmm
I showed your last review to my friend Andrew and he said that it was one of those things that you should frame- I mightn't do that, but I will keep it- stuff like this doesn't come around every day!
BOWIEgirl- Nope, no need to volunteer, I got it all taken care of; JARETH!
(Jareth) Yeah?
(Lady) SMACK!
(Jareth)- What was that for? Owww!
(Lady) Well, apparently, you're getting out of hand.
(Jareth) Oh.
Calendae- DON'T DIS THE NAME! ANGUS IS OK! You left quite a lot of reviews… I'd say you were my new best friend if my best friend hadn't been stolen last week… If you wanna know more, check out my profile… I just don't wanna go into it…
batteredchild- Um, not sure about Sarah getting hurt PHYSICALLY again- But mentally (laughs evilly), Now THAT I can do!
Eclecticbabe- I'm scary? I'm glad someone else is saying so.
FinalFantasyFanGirl- Here is the next chapter!
Mord-Sith Raal- WHAT IS UP WITH YOU AND JARETH ATTACKING SARAH WITH POINTY OBJECTS? NO, JARETH IS NOT GOING TO ATTACK SARAH WITH A NEEDLE! Uh…so Jareth's gonna do what now?
Chapter 15
Regrets and Refuge
0o0o0o0o
Jareth stood unmoving for a few moments, his overloaded brain trying to register what had just happened, what he had just done. His mouth was still open slightly as he stared down at the mess of medicines on the floor- the mess that had once been essential for her recovery- the medicines that she had dropped in shock and fear.
Jareth closed his mouth and leant his forehead against the corridor wall, breathing heavily. He felt awash with guilt; this was exactly the opposite of what he wanted to do- Sarah was more frightened of him than ever.
STUPID! he roared at himself. IDIOT! IRRESPONSIBLE BASTARD!
Well, what did you expect? said that evil voice in the back of Jareth's mind snidely. Of course you were short with he… It only shows that you don't deserve her…
Jareth beat his fist against the wall in anger. He closed his eyes in pain, then opened them and thought about his next plan of action.
Well, he thought dazedly, Sarah is probably sitting in her room crying at present and will throw small projectiles at me if I disturb her… I'll have to make amends later. But for now…
He waved his hand over the mess of shattered glass and multicoloured potion and it disappeared. He then created a crystal and sent it to Gwyn, a message encased inside informing her of the need for more of Sarah's medicine and to see him later in the day.
Jareth walked over to Sarah's door and put his hand up against the firm wood. His hand slid down to the doorknob and stayed there. He just couldn't bring himself to follow through with his threat. He simply sighed and disappeared to his chambers to get some elusive sleep.
0o0o0o0o0o
Sarah ran over to her bed and collapsed upon it, sobbing into a pillow.
She knew she had been wrong when she had left her chambers, but she hadn't thought that Jareth would shout at her.
Sarah had never heard Jareth raise his voice before. She had half-expected him to strike her in his anger.
Sarah curled up into a ball on her bed and held her pillow in a death grip.
Gods, how many times am I going to cry this week? she thought disgustedly.
Sarah sat up straight as a poker when she heard her door handle rattle slightly. She held her breath tensely, waiting for Jareth to either lock her door or come in and shout at her some more.
In the end, neither happened, and Sarah stared in puzzlement as the shadow that showed under her door vanished.
She turned back to her already very damp pillow and sobbed into it once more. She berated herself for being so stupid, so gullible, so… innocent.
Jareth is just a childish sore loser: all he wanted from me is some petty revenge. I'm so thick to have believed that he cared about me! It was just some sick, sadistic way to get his own back!
And, Sarah wailed piteously into her pillow. And now I'm stuck here. Forever. I've GIVEN myself to him!
Sarah pummelled her pillow with her fist, trying to release some of the sorrow in her heart and the pain in her ribs, as, of course, she hadn't taken her medicines to block out the discomfort.
After a while, Sarah, exhausted from crying, fell into a deep and troubled slumber, the rising sun glinting off her window, providing a gentle warmth for her comfort, like a well-meant and well-deserved embrace.
0o0o0o0o0
The golden sunlight played in Sarah's tousled hair, her tear-stained face and puffy eyes as she tossed and turned in her sleep, mumbling and murmuring incoherently, her brow creased in fear, her nightmares plaguing her mind.
Blood, lots of blood. Fear everywhere. Running, always running. A shadowy figure on the path ahead. The figure reaches forward, its face hidden. Hot flames of fear ick Sarah and she steppes back, away from the imposing figure. Her legs were made of lead, she couldn't move. And the figure is approaching swiftly. He is malicious. He is enjoying her fear. He's reaching for her-
'Sarah, dear. Sarah, wake up.'
Sarah's eyes snapped open and she let in a shuddering gasp. She began coughing and gasping. She sat up and clutched at her throat.
Gwyn patted her firmly on the back and Sarah began to breathe normally again.
'Gwyn? What are you doing here?' asked Sarah groggily.
'I've just brought you your medicine. And your breakfast,' said Gwyn, indicating the covered tray that she had put on the bed and the medicine bottles on the bedside table next to Sarah's crystal.
Sarah looked at Gwyn in confusion. 'My medicines? But I dropped them last night…'
Gwyn nodded. 'Yes, you did. But Jareth called me up and told me to make you some more.'
Sarah went quite at the mention of the Goblin King's name.
Gwyn looked at her concernedly. 'What's wrong, hmmm?'
Sarah sniffled. 'Nothing…'
'Something's wrong, dear. Would you like to talk about it? Is it because of how you got all those terrible injuries?'
Sarah sniffled again. 'Well… yes and no. Jareth yelled at me last night.'
Gwyn and patted Sarah's back soothingly. 'He can be quite fearsome when he wishes. I have known him for many years; his temper is unmatched.'
'I went to the dinning room last night to get my medicines because I forgot them there… and Jareth caught me when I was almost back to my room. He…he said that someone could have taken me away from him, he said that there were others in the castle, not just him…' Sarah said softly.
'Yes, that's right; Jareth has some visitors over; the elf prince and a few other dignitaries- they were here before you came and distracted him. He was talking to them about the tax laws and other such sordid things. He will recommence their conference tomorrow morning,' said Gwyn.
Sarah bit her top lip softly.' Jareth said I'm not allowed out of my room unaccompanied from now on…'
Gwyn pursed her lips. 'I'll see what I can do about that, dear. You needn't worry. Now, how about some of this breakfast, then you can have some of what I think you called 'painkillers.''
Sarah nodded almost eagerly and began to pick at her breakfast. The toast tasted like sawdust, the tea was unhelpfully scalding. Nothing was to her taste- but maybe it was just her.
Sarah realised that these were foods that were normally served at an Aboveground breakfast.
'Gwyn, these are things that I'm used to, why is that?' Sarah asked.
Gwyn shrugged. 'I thought that you might like the comfort of the familiar.'
Sarah smiled appreciatively. 'Can I have some of those painkillers now?
Gwyn poured Sarah a dose of the blue potion. 'I'm not sure if you'll like the taste…' she began.
Sarah took the cap of medicine and downed it quickly. 'Mmm!' she said, smacking her lips. 'It tastes like blueberry vodka!'
Gwyn took the cap and re-stopped the bottle. 'You like it?'
Sarah nodded. 'Vodka is a kind of Aboveground alcohol with different flavourings. Not that I'm a big drinker, or anything. I just like the taste.'
Gwyn smiled in a way that indicated that she didn't understand fully, but didn't want to be fully educated on the subject. 'And, when you're ready, just have a little of the cream at a time.' She picked up Sarah's breakfast tray and turned to leave. 'Oh, and Jareth will be seeing you later. You might want to listen to what he has to say.' She left, leaving Sarah feeling quite confused.
Sarah looked at the bruise cream hopelessly. She just couldn't bring herself to examine her marks again…
She decide that she felt dirty and ran herself a bath, using so much bubble water that she suspected that it would support her weight if she were stupid enough to test it.
Sarah emerged from the bath with soothed muscles and untraceable tearstains. She decided to dress herself in a dark red dress with deep sleeves trimmed with black lace. The neckline dipped down far enough to see the barest hint of her bust. The whole dress showed off very little of Sarah's injuries, making them seem less severe then they actually were.
She was just finishing brushing her hair into a shining mass of chocolate locks, when a light knock sounded on her door.
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