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Chapter 23

Midsummer Dreams

Jareth had slept slightly better the last couple of nights than the few previous weeks before. He had come to terms with the fact that Paradox was not going to tell him the secret about the goblorks until the right time was near. Whenever that may be. Since Sarah had full confidence in her, he had to place his full confidence in her as well.

Sarah was happy to see that Jareth didn't spend every waking minute pondering about it anymore. She had become quite concerned about his mental health, especially when he had lost partial interest in his bedroom activities. Now it was her who wanted the old Jareth back.

It was already mid-June and the hot weather was not subsiding. The summer solstice was only a couple of weeks away, and so was Jareth's birthday. He had told Sarah not to worry too much about anything for his birthday, but she knew deep down he wanted to celebrate it as a special day.

She had fully planned on giving him a party at The Underground Club. Mark had brewed a special artisan beer and planned to name it King J Ale, in Jareth' honor. Sarah knew he would love that idea. Marjorie even had made some t-shirts with the King J Ale logo and everyone at The Underground Club was going to wear it on June 27th for his party.

Since his birthday fell on a Thursday, Sarah was going to declare the entire weekend a holiday in honor of the king's birthday by royal decree. She knew this would boost his approval ratings above hers, which would make him literally feel like a king. She happily smiled at the thought of it.

Jareth had to return to the base in Elvenwood for troop and base inspections as well as some night maneuvers the week before, but promised he would return in time for his birthday. He still wanted to see Sarah every day, so they settled on daily lunch dates again at the Elven Grill. Sarah had overcome her reluctance to visit Elvenwood and felt completely at ease again as the memories of Oda slowly faded into the background.

Jareth had mentioned to Faron what Paradox had told him about the secret on how to destroy the goblorks, and Faron promised to talk to Kelan about it and see if they could find anything in the ancient scrolls. Kelan's research of Sarah's family tree had to be temporarily put on hold. Paradoxes' secret was a higher priority.

While Jareth was at the base performing his duties as the commander in charge, Sarah kept herself busy in fulfilling her queenly civilian duties. She had supervised the completion of a waterpark between Faeville and Elvenwood and today was the ribbon cutting. She also needed to attend a social for the Goblin women's equality group at the YGLC afterwards, and from there head to Dwarf Town for Krimble's official business opening of 'Surface Fashion'.

Her schedule was filled up completely for the entire week and barely gave her time to meet Jareth for their daily lunches, but those, she had marked with a big red heart and was not going to miss them for anything in the world. Jareth always came first.

Marjorie and Mark along with Krimble and Hoggle had agreed to take over the planning for Jareth' birthday party. Arman, Aden, Bethan, and Kelan were also in on the plan and Arman promised he would make sure Jareth would leave the base prior to Thursday.


The ribbon cutting at the 'King J Waterpark' went smooth and without a hitch. Sarah only wished Jareth could have been there, since it was in his honor. It had been her idea to change the name from its original 'Wet Dreams' to 'King J Waterpark', as she found it to be completely inappropriate.

"What were they thinking? Seriously? Have they gone crazy?" Sarah shook her head and not only scratched out the original name, but incinerated it completely from the scroll.

When she told Marjorie about it, Marjorie spit her banana split all over Krimble's ice cream niche, which drew a critical and disapproving look from the goblin busboy who had to clean up her mess.

"I so could come up with a slogan on that one", Marjorie replied with a contemplating look on her face. "'Make all your wet dreams come true at King J Waterpark'. What do you think?"

She gave Sarah a questioning look with raised eyebrows and a huge grin. Both of them spit their banana split all over the niche this time, much to the dismay of the busboy.

The social at the YGLC with the goblin women club was a rather boring affair, but Sarah gave her best smile and nodded graciously to all the comments as internally she was screaming for an exit.

She didn't do well with rich snobby women, whether they were human or goblin. They reminded her too much of Elizabeth. She was glad when she was out of there, and she vowed to herself she would find new members which were more down to Earth, or in this case the Underground, and less snobby.

She barely made it to lunch with Jareth after she had quickly changed her clothes to something more comfortable.

"Why are the legs of your pants wet?" Jareth asked confused after he had given her a kiss when she arrived at the Elven Grill.

"Slight teleporting mishap, nothing to worry about", she replied with a blushed face. Jareth couldn't help but to laugh out loud and bury his head in his hand.

"Oh babe, I love you. You are so entertaining, don't ever change", he managed to squeak in between laughing fits.

"I'm glad you are amused", Sarah replied perturbed, grabbed the menu and pretended to study it intensely. Jareth leaned over the table and gave her a long kiss as he held her face in his hands.

"Thank you babe, for the laugh. You have no idea how much I needed that right now." He smirked at her and Sarah couldn't help but to forgive him.

"Bad day?" she asked concerned.

"I'm dealing with idiots, so you tell me", he sounded frustrated and then took her hand in his. "But tell me, how did your day go so far? How was the waterpark opening?"

"Well, apparently they were going to make all your wet dreams come true at King J waterpark." Sarah replied with a chuckle and Jareth looked at her as if she had lost her mind.

"Wet dreams what?" He looked at her with a confused look.

Sarah explained to Jareth about the name change and Marjorie's slogan suggestion. Again, he doubled over from laughing and tears rolled down his cheeks.

"I'm so glad I asked you to lunch. So much fun. My idiots on base got nothing on your stories."

Jareth told Sarah he would be home an entire day earlier than anticipated. Deep inside Sarah thanked Arman for working his magic.

After lunch she had to head back to Krimble's for the store opening which was a much nicer affair than the women's social at the YGLC, and Sarah hung around afterwards for a few more cool drinks. By the time she got back to the castle she was worn out and turned in early for the night. She already missed Jareth and send him a crystal ball in the night with some dreams of her own.


The week went by rather quickly, and before Sarah knew it Wednesday had arrived and Jareth was coming home. She didn't even have a chance to tell him hello before he grabbed her and teleported them straight to the waterfall outside of Emerald Pool Cave.

"Sorry babe, but it's been too damn long. Ever since you send that crystal ball with your dreams I couldn't wait to be alone with you." He kissed her passionately and Sarah sighed in his embrace. Yep, she got her old Jareth back.

The day of Jareth' birthday had arrived and Sarah had told him about the party at The Underground Club they all had planned for him. She did not mention the beer nor the t-shirts. Jareth had been very excited about the news, and insisted to show his gratitude to Sarah with a 'special audience' in the shower for over an hour in the morning.

"You, are getting spoiled", Sarah laughed as he refused to let her leave.

"It's my birthday. Shouldn't you be making your king happy on his birthday?" He always had an answer and justification for anything. Sarah did not object and let him have his fun.

They went with Jay and Jeremy to the new waterpark for a few hours during the early afternoon before it got too hot and Jareth really enjoyed this time with his family. The waterpark had closed it for the public during that time so they wouldn't be hunted down by everyone wanting to congratulate him and take pictures. The only once allowed inside were close family and friends.

Krum was still sporting his Hawaiian t-shirt and the Bermuda shorts, and he showed Jay and Jeremy how to lay down a good surfboard ride on a tall wave. Jareth beamed with pride when they both hung a perfect ten on their first try, even though Sarah knew he had used his magic to make it happen.

"Cheater", she murmured to him out of the side of her mouth while she drank a margarita through a straw.

"Nothing wrong with a little bit of help", he grinned and cheered her with a margarita of his own.


The party at The Underground Club turned out to be one huge smash. Despite the restrictions and vetting process for the patrons, it was packed and Mark had made sure the band was going to play mostly Bowie, Beatles, Rolling Stones, and some Joan Jett.

Soon the crowd crooned to 'ch ch ch changes' and 'ch ch ch cherry bomb'. Jareth was right in the middle of it and performed his 'Absolute Beginners' and 'Let's Dance' Bowie songs Sarah had requested of him, as well as the two songs she had written. The crowd went wild and Jareth received the title of 'Rockin King J'. Marjorie was already making mental notes for new t-shirts with that slogan.

Once again it was nearly dawn by the time they made it back home. Jareth had a big case of his new 'King J Ale' under his arm Mark had given him before they left. The way Jareth smiled, Sarah could tell the day had been a success. Her king was happy, which in turn made her happy.

"Hey babe, what do you say we watch the sunrise together?" Jareth wrapped his arms around Sarah.

"No sleeping?" She wondered and smiled into his eyes as her hands interlocked behind his neck. Faes truly did not need as much sleep as humans and one or two nights without it did not have much of an effect.

"I want to see the sun come up greeting a new day. We have the entire weekend for us. Marjorie is watching Jay and Jeremy and I have things I want to show you."

He took her hand and guided her to their window sill where they sat down in their usual fashion. It truly had become their favorite activity of bonding together. For Sarah the window sill held magic. It was from here Jareth used to send his spy crystal balls to her, and it was here they spent their first morning together after she had accepted his dream crystal.

Sarah sighed deeply and leaned back against his chest as he wrapped his arms tightly around her body. They sat and watched the sun rise with a soft glow of red and yellow. The air was cool from the night and a light breeze wafted through the air. All was still in the kingdom when Jareth gave Sarah a deep and passionate kiss and gently carried her to the bed for a special audience.


"I want to take you to a special place today", Jareth announced during breakfast in the bedroom. "It's part of my birthday weekend and I have it all planned out", he grinned mischievously as he sipped his coffee and looked at her over the rim of his cup.

"Oh, really? What kind of place?" Sarah replied with a hint of suspicion. Knowing Jareth it may be a new place for making out. Sometimes it seemed his entire mission in life was to find new secluded places for them to be intimate at.

"It's a very special place. I used to visit it often when I was younger. It holds a special kind of magic. You'll see."

Now Sarah was intrigued. This didn't sound like some new make out place. She wondered what he had up his sleeve, but he didn't divulge any more details.

Right after breakfast and a quick shower that did not include a special audience, he teleported her to his secret new place. He had told her to wear comfortable clothes with hiking boots.

When they rematerialized, they were standing in the middle of an old growth forest covered in green moss, tall ferns, and lichens. The sun above was only seen via rays of light beaming down amongst the thick tree tops. A light fog drifted along the ground in places and little silvery specks of dust floated through the air.

Sarah was amazed and looked around in awe. She twirled herself in a circle looking up at the tall huge oak trees that had to be hundreds of years old. Jareth stood there with a satisfied smile on his face as he watched her.

"Welcome to Fairy Wing Mountain!" He proclaimed with outstretched arms and lifted his head with a laugh.

"That's a beautiful name", Sarah agreed and looked at him. "It's gorgeous. Why haven't you brought me here before?"

"Because it is a magical place that only appears every few years. It shifts locations constantly. It took me a long time to track it down and I finally managed last week. Why do you think I spent that much time at the base? I needed help from my searchers", he smirked in his mischievous way.

"You sneaky devil, you", Sarah laughed and gave him a kiss.

"I had wanted to show it to you the first day you were here, after our dream crystal wedding, but it had disappeared. Now it is back." He held her tight and gave her another kiss before he took her hand and started to walk quickly into the fern brush.

"Come with me. You got to see this, but we must hurry, it won't last long."

He walked hurriedly through the four foot tall fern brush and Sarah only kept up because he held her hand securely in his. After nearly five minutes of walking, with Sarah wondering how he managed to find his way, they walked out into a beautiful dell surrounded by enormous trees of oak, red alder and aspen, and more fern.

In the middle of the clearing stood one single huge alder tree, and surrounding it were thousands of colorful butterfly like creatures. Sarah could not see them clearly yet, but as they approached and drew closer she could see they were little dainty humanoids with two pair of wings similar to dragonflies.

"Fairy flies", Jareth whispered and stood still with outstretched arms above his head. Several hundred immediately surrounded him and hovered close by his face and body as if suspended in midair. They started to sing in a high pitch, melodic, and soft tone that almost sounded like a far off women's soprano choir.

Sarah stood in complete astonishment with her mouth open and could only watch. She didn't dare to move. The fairy flies surrounding Jareth began to swirl faster and faster and in tighter circles. More and more joined them until Jareth was lifted off the ground by them and hovered a good fifteen feet above Sarah.

After a few moments he slowly descended. Right before he touched the ground, his hand reached out to her.

"Join me", he whispered barely audible and Sarah gave him her hand.

They were both lifted off the ground again, in a tight embrace with Jareth' arms around Sarah's body and her hands around his neck. When they were twenty feet up in the air they started to slowly spin in the same directions with the fairy flies who started up their song again.

Sarah looked all around at first but then held Jareth' gaze. He kissed her with a gentleness she hadn't felt before, and they held the kiss for as long as it took for them to be brought back to the ground again. Jareth only let go of her when both their feet were securely back on the grassy meadow.

"How was that?" he asked softly still looking into her eyes with a loving gaze.

"Magical", was all Sarah could get out. Jareth smiled softly.

"I told you this place holds a very special magic. You just participated in a fairy fly dance. It only happens one day every few years during midsummer. The once who can participate are especially blessed."

"What was that song they were singing?" Sarah asked still in utter amazement over what had just happened.

"It's their mating season, and this was their calling song. We were given the opportunity to partake in it. That's special. Look."

He pointed his arm towards the sky.

Sarah looked around and the fairy flies had lifted high up into the sky and one by one disappeared from view as their song faded into the wind, and then it was quiet again.

"They won't be back for another few years now." He took her hand again and both turned to walk back into the fern forest.

"Let's go to Outlook Bluff", Jareth declared, and once again, Sarah was glad he was holding on tight to her hand. After a few minutes he slowed down and they entered a small glade with an elevated bluff at the end.

Jareth looked at her with happy eyes and an excited smile as they both ran like children hand in hand across the glade. Jareth excitement was contagious and Sarah felt like she was ten again. They were both slightly out of breath when they reached the bluff. Jareth helped her climb the last few boulders to reach the top of the outlook.

The view was breathtaking. Below them lay a vast land of old growth forest as far as the eyes could see, interspersed with dells and glades, several small rivers and ponds, including a couple of large waterfalls and several small ones.

Sarah was completely taken in by it.

"Welcome to the southern forests of which Fairy Wing Mountain is only a small part of. This is where I spend most of my time when I was young and growing up."

He stretched his arms out and waved them across the landscape. As he stood right on the edge of the bluff with the breeze playing in his long hair and his cape, Sarah thought he looked incredibly regal and impressive. A mighty king overlooking his kingdom. She couldn't help herself but go over to him and give him a kiss of fiery passion which Jareth gladly accepted.

They both stood close together on the crest of the bluff and took in the scenery as Jareth told her more of his childhood. He rarely ever talked about it, so Sarah was glad to hear he was opening up, and was very interested in hearing some of it.

"I used to come here most of my growing up years. I loved the seclusion and being alone. I was never much of a social kind of guy. I know it is hard to believe", he laughed at Sarah when she gave him a look of utter disbelief.

"I was different then. I much rather chased after this right here", he swept his arm across the area again, "then chasing after girls." He stopped and looked at Sarah.

"Now, I much rather chase after you, precious." He leaned forward and gave her another long kiss before he continued.

"I never had anyone in my life I wanted to be around with, or felt close to, so I chose nature to be my companion. I roamed these forests and mountains from sunrise to sundown, and sometimes all night long. It's also where I found Ares.

Him and I, we roamed these woods together for many years. Even after Caleb had died and I had ascended to the throne. I was more out here than I was at the castle. And when I was at the castle, I was partying with the goblins.

They never expected much from me but to be as wild and unruly as they were. The worse I was the more they liked it. That's how I got the name the wild party king. Until I saw you for the first time. You..."

He looked at her with his intense mesmerizing eyes that penetrated deep into Sarah's soul. "...you changed me, and I am so glad for it. Now, all I want is you, and to share all this right here with you."

He wanted to say more, but Sarah didn't let him. She jumped on him and made him lose his balance, and as he fell backwards into the grass Sarah kissed him with all her passion laying on top of him.

"You know how to make a girl hot for you", she whispered as she began to untie his shirt.

Jareth didn't get a chance to reciprocate on her clothing as a wisp of a noise caught their attention. Only a few feet from them a herd of Einhorns had entered the glade and walked passed them in near total silence.

They both laid perfectly still on the ground, afraid to move, and stared at the herd. There were six of them, a stallion and five mares. Sarah and Jareth barely breathed, and then the leading mare turned her head towards Sarah and stared right in her eyes.

"You haven't seen one of our own, have you?" she asked her in her mind. "She goes by the name of Paradox."

Sarah was shocked and could only stare back before she gathered her thoughts again.

"Paradox is my friend and she lives in the northern forest", Sarah replied.

Jareth realized something was going on, especially when Sarah began to stand up and walk towards the Einhorn. He didn't know whether to stop her or let it play out. Sarah motioned him to remain still and he complied.

She was now directly in front of the Einhorn and the entire herd had surrounded her. Jareth' heart began to race. It would take nothing for her to be killed in an instant and he could barely breathe. His instincts, and every fiber of his body, told him to jump up and grab her, but she had told him to remain still, and he placed all his trust in her.

The herd stood there silently and motionless for several minutes before they slowly backed away from Sarah and then galloped out of the glade in a northerly direction.

"Where are they going?" Jareth asked as he jumped up and ran over to Sarah.

"The northern forest to get Paradox. She is their lost daughter", Sarah replied in a low voice and then looked at Jareth with gentle eyes. "There's going to be a family reunion for them."

They both smiled at each other and then Sarah kissed Jareth very tenderly on his lips and stroked his face with her hand.

"There is something else they told me", she whispered while continue to look into his eyes.

"What is it?" Jareth asked intrigued.

"I'm pregnant, and it's a girl", she kept looking into Jareth' eyes.

Without another word he took her into his arms and kissed her very gentle and long. One of those kisses that seem to last for an eternity, but yet pass much too fast.

"It's a midsummer dream come true", Jareth whispered and kissed her again.

"How did they know?" Jareth finally asked after he let go of Sarah. Sarah only shrugged and shook her head.

"They sense life, no matter how early. I don't know how they do it."

Jareth sat down on a flat boulder and stared out into the forest below him. He gently pulled Sarah in to him and she joined him on the boulder holding on to his hand.

For how long they sat and watched the sun set behind the southern forest while the moon rose above, they didn't know, nor did they care. They only held on to each other and were looking towards the future.