CHAPTER FIVE
In the embrace of the fruit trees, a gentle breeze rifled through the canopy, jostling and swirling the apple blossom scent around where Sarah was lounging, recumbent on the soft, springy grass, next to a snoozing Peggy. Sarah discarded the book she was reading and inhaled the sweet, almost verging on cloying, fruity aroma deeply.
Today had been an interesting day to say the least. Actually seeing Stephen - the Peach Man - was a surprise to begin with but that he had brought along his brother, was unexpected. Sarah flushed at the memory of Terry looking at her with his intense brown eyes. There was something inexplicable about him that diverted her from her initial inquisitiveness in Stephen. She probably only imagined it but the way he asked if they wanted to join him on a picnic, felt like he was only asking her.
He was strikingly different from Stephen, despite being able to tell they were brothers straight away. Stephen had a rounder, fuller figure, more muscle than fat however. Terry had sharper lines; more defined, more lithe, less rugged but still obviously a man with strength. He was quieter, more serious, yet seemed to have a subtle cheekiness about him, less pronounced than his sibling. However, it was early days yet, and she doubted she would have much of an opportunity to study their characters in full. Their residence was on the other side of the Kingdom for starters.
The two years she had all but forgotten her ex husband, Mark, despite the lack of any romantic relationships she had formed in the Underground. In fact the itch, bordering on hunger that ran through Sarah flickered anew as Terry pierced her with his gaze, and was as close as she had got in all this time. The villagers were sweet. Friendly. Pleasant. But they weren't romantic. Or at least not romantically interested in her.
Sarah learnt quickly, she was seen as something quite exotic. People were friendly, but still intimidated by her. Sarah resented her place on the pedestal they had perched her upon. It didn't matter how welcoming they were, she was still an outsider. Friendships developed, but potential for any more than platonic, had eluded her. Not that she minded as developing a romantic interest would be tantamount to admitting she was not going home.
But Terry with his scruffy brown hair and afternoon shadow, looked at her differently than any of the villagers ever had. When he gave her that small little secret smile just for her, it made her stomach swoop and her lungs contract. He had glanced at her in a flirtatious manner that she hadn't experienced since she left the mortal realm. It was exciting, enticing, thrilling, but it was a little unnerving too.
Her marriage wasn't exactly confidence building when it came to trusting new people with her heart and emotions, and had put the nail in the coffin of any further notions of marriage. Not even with trusting them for a casual fling. Besides, one flirty look was too trifling an incident to escalate any further postulation on the subject. Her body must be desperate, and craving the male touch to manufacture so many assumptions based upon one coy and teasing inspection from the man, despite any rationality of her brain.
Sarah peered down at the sleeping child next to her, thanking the universe Mark had never got her with child whilst in their tumultuous relationship. A strain of regret weaved its way through her at the thought of never becoming a mother. Her life was too uncertain, too unstable right now and with her stance on marriage, she was also unlikely to enter the parenthood state. She had to content herself with her adopted family.
The march back to the village was in stony silence for both Jareth and Sevlydi. Jareth was running through the images of Sarah he had collected in their brief meeting, while ignoring his undercurrent of rage and frustration with her kidnappers, and to a lesser extent, his brother.
Sevlydi meanwhile was probably seething that he had to stay a few nights in the village without being consulted first. Jareth did not care. He had bigger grievances to air compared to Sev's paltry complaint.
"I was hoping to actually go and visit Rica," Sevlydi eventually said, grinding his teeth in his displeasure. Rica was Sevlydi's secret lover. Secret because Rica was a male. And while marriage between the same sex was allowable for the common folk, it wasn't for royals due to the need to produce an heir. Lovers were accepted generally but frowned upon if the Royal was unmarried and childless. After that, everyone looked the other way.
"I've spent two years looking for my missing wife. 15 more waiting until I could see her again," Jareth had tested his crystal at the earliest opportunity after leaving the cottage, and was relieved he could see Sarah inside them instead of murky nothingness. "You can afford 3 days separation."
"So why didn't you make yourself known and stake your claim?"
Jareth had known this question would arise. He had thought about the answer but wasn't sure he could really explain. That he wanted to get to know her and her to get to know him, seemed like a frail excuse outside his own mind. That he reveled in her looking at him without seeing the villain she knew, was a fragility that he could not abide even his brother knowing. Her words that spoke against him, still cut through him like a knife whetted against the very rocks of hell.
It didn't matter how many times he told himself he was only marrying her for marriage sake, since he'd seen her, his own desire had betrayed him and he knew it wasn't completely true. Her smiles, her eyes, her laugh, they all captured his imagination like never before. She had left an imprint on his being, that no amount of denial was going to remove. He wanted her.
But he knew in his heart of hearts that Sarah wouldn't see him as anything but the villain he portrayed, if he revealed himself this early. And to see that open and artless expression turn cold and hateful, like it almost did at the mere mention of his name, was something he just couldn't stomach.
"I want to see how she behaves when she doesn't know it's me," Jareth said, plainly. "To her I am merely the Goblin King, a King of great power and strength. I am more than the responsibilities I hold. I am curious to test her mettle when it is not her Villain she faces. I have to be married to her for eternity, may as well learn who it is I am really marrying."
"Don't you think you're better off being honest?"
"You just don't want to be stuck as Stephen the commoner for a few days, Sev."
"And you don't mind being Terry the commoner? For the sake of a girl?"
"My wife. One you chose not to tell me about."
"I did better than telling you, I showed you."
"How many days have you known?" Jareth tried to keep the anger from showing in his voice.
"I saw her at the Harvest Parade. At least I recognised her from your repeated descriptions over the years."
"That was nearly a week ago!" Jareth could not believe he could have known a whole week ago that his wife was alive and well. And that his brother, his true brother, someone he considered a friend, had not told him.
"Yes and then I went to find her to ensure it was her before I raised your hopes up. Once I established it was her, I weighed up the best course of action, surmising that kidnapping her would not be the best option. I thought going in disguise would allow you to approach her in your own time. I know how you work, Jare. I know you act on impulse sometimes. And this is a situation that required more caution and less arrogance."
"I would not have kidnapped her, Sev. Not like those Damn Pinsburrs. I will have their heads."
"They got her here didn't they? She isn't harmed."
"Sev, I could have got her here unharmed. And on her own terms. And more importantly, on my terms. There is still the question of why they did that, why they abandoned her outside my Labyrinth, how she was hidden from me and my magic. What's more, I wouldn't have lost two years."
"I honestly don't know why you even bothered. She wasn't exactly complimentary of you when your name was mentioned. She all but accused you of being her kidnapper. And when I saw her at the Harvest Parade, she was trying to stay out of your view. But I suppose having a wife that fears you, suits your purposes well."
Jareth found it hard to believe Sarah of all people would be scared of him. She was after all his Champion. His only Champion. Sarah was the only mortal he'd met that didn't tremble at the sight of him, especially at the final moment where he tried to tempt her to stay. Despite her concern for her brother, she didn't throw herself down and beg, like so many mortals before her. Each and every time he confronted her, she met and exceeded his expectations. Hiding her true feelings behind a mask of bravery, never letting her anger get the better of her. She showed her potential for being a Queen, by managing to override her strong emotions to get the job done. Even if that job was beating him and his game.
"What royal fae do you know, that marries for any reason other than to produce offspring? What better chance do I have than with a mortal to achieve that means?" Jareth tasted the lie on his own tongue like acid. "Our own father married twice for such means. Both wives nothing but obedient slaves to their master. Why should it be any different for me, than any other fae in history?"
"Forsythia is just like any wife you want to marry for the sake of marriage. I know your personal objections based on her puppet masters. But surely that would have been easier than all this?" Sevlydi gestured at their commoner appearances and attire, in mild disgust.
"We've been over this. The p..."
"Yes, the pearl. You know, no harm will come to you if you ignore it's prediction. Maybe the bride pearl was wrong."
Jareth didn't reply, just raised his fine brow and continued through the village towards the inn.
"Are you really certain this is the course you want to pursue?" Sevlydi asked, after getting no response from Jareth. "To deceive her for your own minimal gains?"
"Knowing someone beyond what they show you, isn't a minimal gain," Jareth whispered.
"It is in this game. Jareth you're marrying her anyway, why put up this charade? You know Nudalun and Omre will insist you marry Forsythia. They won't be happy you chose a mortal. So stop playing games and marry her before they marry you to the Pinsburr girl."
"No, Sev. I will marry Sarah and I will do it my way. Our dear brother and sister can jump off the Hastinji Bridge for all I care."
"Jareth, Omre and Nudalun hold our balls in their hands. You know that. As the two first-born children, with our mother not being..."
"Yes, now keep your voice down or you'll blow our cover," Jareth hissed. "I don't give a flying rat's arse about Omre and Nudalun and neither should you. They would marry you off to Forsythia or worse the moment they found out about Rica."
They had reached the inn by this stage, and more people milling around meant that their conversation had to cease.
Jareth stopped before the door of the inn. "I am going through with this. I don't need your approval but I do need your discretion, like you always have mine."
They entered together in silent accord, knowing that the brothers were bonded by more than just blood, but by secrets and though neither would admit it, also by love.
Only Peggy, Lewis, Alicia and Tessa chose to accompany Sarah on the picnic. Between them they packed some hard boiled eggs, cheese, ham and some cakes. Sarah didn't want to turn up empty handed despite the brothers' insistence the day before, that they were bringing a feast.
For some reason, Sarah had also put some effort into her appearance, choosing her favourite green dress, the 'Sunday Best' as Karen would have called it. Still plain and functional, but cleaner and less worn than her other outfits. She had brushed her hair and tied it into a simple up-do with a green ribbon weaved through it. She didn't quite understand why she cared to make a good impression but the thought of seeing Terry again had sent a shiver through her body.
The small group made their way to the Novia River. Tessa and Lewis were singing and Peggy kept insisting Sarah carry her. With reluctance, Sarah eventually shuffled around her baskets and perched Peggy on her hip, then joined in with the melody. Alicia meandered down the road apparently lost to her own daydreams.
It was an Underground song, but Sarah had learnt it within the two years she had lived down here. It wasn't in her native language but she enjoyed the melody. Helena had told her it was a song about the love between a princess and her servant. Lewis insisted it was a song about butterflies. Tessa, a song about dragons. Janey on the other hand said it was a love song from a King that lost his one true love and was calling out to her.
No one really knew because it was in the old language that none of them spoke. Sweet, quiet Janey was the most passionate about her personal belief on the meaning behind the song. She never said much, but Sarah had been swept away by her determination to represent her perspective. It was a household favourite, at any rate.
They had just started a second encore when they hit the grove of trees by the Novia River that was to be their meeting place. The river was enveloped on both sides by dense trees in every shade of green imaginable, providing ample shelter over the grassy glades scattered throughout the forest. It was a deep, fast flowing river but where they were situated now was a shallow, slower patch that was popular with bathers as well as the occasional fisherman.
They continued to sing as they lay their blankets and baskets down under a sprawling oak like tree, with a broad trunk and immense branches that dominated the vicinity. Sarah popped Peggy down on the blanket as they completed the last verse of the song.
"That's always a favourite of mine," a deep voice spoke from behind them. Sarah turned to see Terry and Stephen striding across the verdant lush grass to join them. It had been Terry that spoke. His brown eyes settled on Sarah's green ones, lit with a warmth Sarah found contagious. A faint flush crept up her cheeks at having been caught singing.
"Perhaps you could tell us your interpretation of its meaning," Sarah grinned. "At Cloverfield it is quite the bone of contention."
"You sing yet you do not know its meaning?" asked Terry, surprised. "Tell me what you think it means."
Sarah described everyone's perspectives, saving Janey's for last.
"I can tell you that one of you is mostly correct," Terry grinned back at her. "Which one is Janey?"
"She's not here," one of the children supplied. Sarah raised her eyebrows at his declaration that Janey had been right. She would be so satisfied to find out and her passion would be justified. She made a mental note to let her know.
"Ah, but she is the one who is the closest. It is a lament for a King's true love having left him and he seeks her return. It is bittersweet because she can not hear him from her world. And he can't know that she can't hear him so he still sings it until time has lost all meaning, and his heart has all but withered away. But he is steadfast and sings for her until he passes on to the next life."
"Well, that's depressing," Sarah mumbled, picking at her sleeve absent-mindedly.
"Indeed. Do you think his love would return if she had heard his song?"
Sarah's eyes shot up. She didn't think the song was depressing because his "love" didn't come back, but rather that he would waste his entire life in an obsession that was not reciprocated. Why else would she leave?
"It really depends on her reasons for leaving in the first place, and just because he loves her, it doesn't mean she owes him anything."
Sarah felt this was all too close to home. Not that the Goblin King truly loved her but she didn't owe him anything even if he did. She glanced at Stephen, when she heard him scoff and caught him rolling his eyes.
"Do you think that just because a man loves a woman, that she owes him, Stephen?" Sarah asked, sardonically.
"No, indeed," he grinned. "But my brother would not wish to hear a less than romantic interpretation of this song. I happen to agree with you. She doesn't have to love him back. She doesn't have to be grateful she was loved in such a way."
Terry narrowed his eyes at his impudent brother.
"The King spent his entire life devoted to a lady, and you two mock his pain."
"We don't know her perspective", Sarah countered. "Only his. We don't know why she left. We don't know if she loved him back, or could love him back. Just because he was a fool to not move on, doesn't make it her problem. Sounds more like obsession than love to me."
Stephen threw his head back with a roar of laughter.
"A woman that doesn't subscribe to the romantic notion of love. Wonders never cease."
"No wait, I never said that," Sarah shook her head, vehemently. She did not really want to point out that her view of love had been seriously tainted by her husband's behaviour. But she wasn't about to subscribe to the notion that someone pining for another, meant that love had to be returned. "I just think it's a one sided song, if this is the true meaning. If we knew how she felt or why she left, then it could change my mind."
"IF it's the true meaning?' Terry questioned. "Why would I lie about the true meaning?"
"Do you understand the language then?"
"I do," he ran his hand through his short bronze locks. "I could sing it for you in the common tongue, if you wish?"
"That would be nice. Maybe later.. I think the children might be hungry," Sarah indicated the children helping themselves to the picnic baskets. The thought of having the possibly significant if not contentious song re-imagined in a comprehensible language by a stranger, was too much to endure.
Sarah shuffled off to attend the children, admitting that she was a little bit flustered by Terry's intensity. He was certainly passionate about that song. Uncomfortably so. The Goblin King was thrown into the forefront of her mind as she had learnt of its true meaning. Though she reasoned the song was probably older than fifteen years and his final words to her weren't about his love for her, but rather desiring her to love him. One sided. Much like the song in question. He never offered her anything in return. Aside from being her slave. But slavery did not equal love. Besides, it was a delay tactic. That was all.
With these reassuring considerations in her head, she busied herself in setting up the picnic. Terry and Stephen joined with their own baskets.
Terry looked at the fare spread before him. "You didn't need to supply any food. We have enough here."
"Thank you, but we wanted to contribute," Sarah gave Terry a small but polite smile. "There are a lot of us to feed."
"Nonsense," a dismissal. "It was our turn to be generous, whether you numbered one or fifty."
Sarah flinched at the word generous. /I have been generous till now, and I can be cruel-/ however, she chose to ignore her inner turmoil as she continued spreading out plates on the picnic rug with Alicia's assistance. It was hard not to think of the Goblin King. A simple phrase could set her off. It was after all, a momentous time in her existence that influenced the course of her life and nearly every decision she made. One couldn't help but be shaped by something like the Labyrinth. It wasn't an ordinary experience at the end of the day.
Terry and Stephen joined them, Lewis zoning in on the latter to engage him in conversation on butterflies. Terry knelt on the edge of the rug, idly twirling an apple around in his hands, while Tessa sat mesmerised by the flowing motion of the ruby fruit.
"Sawah, can you sing twinkle twinkle?" Peggy crawled into her lap after some time had passed in quiet enjoyment of the repast. She looked up at her with big Brown eyes, her pudgy fist finding her rosy mouth, and popping her thumb in as she spoke. Sarah nodded and flushed slightly as she looked up from under her lashes to see Terry still watching her from his kneeling position on the rug. Having to sing in front of strangers was not particularly pleasing for her, but to do it in front of this bewildering man, made her recoil in embarrassment.
Sarah cleared her throat and wrapped her arms around the precious child, as she sang Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
"What are stars, Sawah?" Peggy fondled the hem of Sarah's dress with her free hand.
"Big balls of gas, millions of miles away," Short. Perfunctory.
"Mama says they're magic," Peggy pulled her thumb out with a wet popping sound, pointing up into the starless, daylight sky. "Are they magic?"
Sarah grabbed a bread roll and focused on filling it with salad and cheese. Nothing good ever came from magic. "There is an element of magic, I suppose. Many songs and poetry have been written about the stars. And music and poetry are forms of magic, I suppose."
Penny popped her thumb back in her mouth and glanced away to stare across to the river. The children chatted among themselves as they ate, while Sarah took deep calming breaths. The outside world intertwined with her soul in ways that she could not explain. Sarah found their picnic area to be quite soothing and often enjoyed their walks here with her new family. Today, however she couldn't meditate and enjoy it as she usually would with the children her sole responsibility and the two strangers in their midst. She was very conscious of their presence.
Terry had consumed his apple and was offering other dishes to the older children. They'd brought quite a selection of meats, cheeses, breads and pastries. Sarah was impressed with their fare. The children were in awe too, chatting and exclaiming over their finds on the plates and in the baskets.
"Have you seen any magic since coming back Underground, Sarah?" It was Stephen's time to ask a question.
"No." A lie. "I have not."
"Janey and Simon saw the King produce the butterfly dragon thing at the Harvest Parade," Tessa chirped up. "Remember?"
Sarah bit the inside of her cheek in frustration. "Of course."
"A mere parlour trick to entertain the children," Stephen smirked. "I can assure you our King Jareth is significantly more powerful than a few sparkly tricks for the children."
"Then perhaps my first answer still stands."
Both men wore guarded expressions but she couldn't help but wonder if there was something more to his question.
"Sarah, may I go and gather some reeds now? I've finished eating," Alicia gathered up her plate and napkin to shake off her crumbs.
"Yes just be safe and stay nearby. Call out if you need us."
The two younger children took this opportunity to climb the nearby trees, leaving Peggy, Sarah and the two men to finish the picnic. Sarah wracked her brain for a conversation topic as she picked at her pastry. Her conversations with the Spriggets usually involved the children or the farm, so she never had to think deeper than that. But she knew nothing of these two men except where they lived.
"So, Stephen, you mentioned you had sheep, I assume you live on a farm?"
"Er, yes. A sheep farm with a peach orchard."
"Both of you?"
"Yes we live together."
"And your parents?"
"Dead," Terry interrupted.
"I'm sorry to hear," Sarah said as Terry shrugged.
"We have each other," he explained. "Siblings are more crucial than parents in this world."
Sarah felt a pang at his words. Toby. Oh how she missed him.
"I have a brother," she offered. "I think I mentioned him yesterday. He means the world to me. I'd burn the world down to protect him, yet I can't help but know I have failed."
"His aunt..." Terry prompted.
"Some legal loophole. I was meant to get guardianship of him after my father and step mother died. But he was taken by his aunt and no matter how much money I threw at lawyers I couldn't get him back or even see him again. Sheer determination and the right aid had never failed me in the past, but sheer bloody mindedness was not enough in this case."
A look Sarah couldn't describe flitted across Terry's face. Sarah flushed. She hadn't spoken about Toby like this in so long. She sucked in a deep breath to keep her heartache at bay.
"Sarah, I am sure you did your very best," Terry said with such gentleness and sincerity she almost believed him. "He would not blame you."
"Toby would be 16 now," she continued. "I doubt he even remembers me."
"Sarah, I haven't been completely honest with you," both herself and Stephen turned in disbelief at Terry, for the complete segue as much as the confession. "I work at the castle beyond the Goblin City. If you want to see Toby again, we could talk to the G-"
"No," Sarah declined with a vigorous shake of her head. She shifted her focus to Peggy who had curled up on the rug and fallen asleep, before looking back at Terry. "I can't - he wouldn't - no, just no."
"I'm going to take a walk," Stephen announced and light as a feather he rose to his feet and moved off towards the river leaving Terry alone with her and the sleeping child. Sarah used the uncomfortable silence to glance towards the other three children. Lewis and Tessa still climbed the trees and Alicia was still gathering reeds by the river's edge. Terror was slowly creeping through every organ and nerve. He worked for the Goblin King? He only had to utter her name in passing and he'd find her. Panic shot through her, making her want to cry, vomit and hyperventilate at the same time.
"I did not mention before that I was employed at the castle, as I sensed your feelings on the subject, but I can tell you that he would want to help. At the very least he should know that someone attempted to kidnap one of his subjects."
"I wasn't one of his subjects at the time," Sarah mumbled through pants as she tried to regulate the ragged breathing brought on by her panic.
"You could tell him now," Terry suggested. "You may not have been his subject then, but you are now."
She should never have trusted two strangers. It was all over. The Goblin King would torture her once he found her. The world tilted under her feet, as her head spun. Her eyes would no longer focus on anything. She needed air. She needed to breathe. She pressed one hand to her stomach and the other to her forehead, trying to balance her emotions and her rising panic. Oh, Toby. How she longed to rescue him. How she missed him.
"Sarah are you quite well?"
"If I...die, I won't... be able to ...rescue Toby," her lungs heaved, sucking in air, glorious air.
"Sarah, why would you die?" Concern. Worry. Anguish.
"The... king...he'd kill...me...if he...finds me..."
"Sarah, I will not be telling the King of your presence here," he rushed to reassure. "Peace, please Sarah. I will not reveal your location, nor will Stephen."
He reached out with his gloved hands, placing it on her forearm. "Breathe, just breath. You are safe. He won't hurt you, and I won't tell him, if that is what you wish."
Sarah needed to breathe and return the children back to Cloverfield before she left to find somewhere else to hide. The thought of leaving her friends made her pulse speed up again and her heart clench, another tide of panic washing over her. She'd put her friends in danger.
"I've got to go," she sucked in oxygen with every word. "I have to-"
"Sarah," a stern warning. "You are safe. He will never know. You don't need to be afraid. Peace."
His hand tightened on her wrist. "I know I am a stranger, and you have little reason to trust me but I vow you are safe from the Goblin King. I may work for him but I will not betray you for his sake."
"You don't even know what I've done," she was growing gradually calmer as she focused on her inhaling and exhaling. Slow, deep breaths. Air was filling her lungs and her vision was returning, though the sense of dread did not diminish. "You don't know why he'd wish me harm."
"No, but it can't be that terrible," Terry ran his hand along her forearm. Comforting. Reassuring. Pacifying. "I have my surmises as to why you know of him despite being an Abovegrounder. The King has enemies aplenty, but not in the form of an Aboveground mortal human."
Sarah shook her head, thumbing the handle of the nearest basket with her free hand. The one not gripped by Terry's iron soft grasp.
"I am glad you're breathing again," a gentle squeeze of her wrist. "You have nothing to fear."
"Let me preface this by saying I have not done anything wrong," Sarah sighed, her voice still trembling. "I did what I had to and I did it fairly, but I can't have the Goblin King knowing I'm here. I can't even tell people why that is. For some reason, everyone trusts him and even respects him. And you! You work for him."
"So you can't trust anyone with the truth in case they, what? Rat you out? What do you fear?"
/His wrath. His rage. My own pride being on the line. Surrendering power. What don't I fear?/
"It's complicated. The one and only time I saw him, I am pretty sure I made him hate me. But trust me, I'm not a threat or a risk to him or to his people. I just don't think he'd appreciate me being here. But I fear for my brother. I can't protect him and I-"
Sarah glanced into Terry's dark unreadable eyes, a flash of warmth and understanding seemed to flicker in those unnerving eyes, but disappeared before she had a chance to interpret it.
"I'm not quite sure what he'd do if he saw me," she continued. "He may kill me. Imprison me. Ignore me completely. He may not even remember me. The fear of the unknown is greater than my fear of him, but yet it's better off not knowing."
"I have only known you briefly, but if the King has met you, I can guarantee he would never forget you."
"That is but a small comfort," Sarah reclaimed her arm from Terry's grasp. "But I am sure you meant it with kindness."
"Indeed, it was absolutely kindly meant," Terry reached down and picked up a wildflower from the long grass beside him. "Our King Jareth is not the monster you think he is, but he will never hear of your presence here from me or Stephen. Please be assured of my - our discretion."
"I am grateful," she conceded. "It concerns me though, that a man in his employ has questionable loyalties to his King."
"Indeed I do not," he twirled the flower's stem between finger and thumb. "But I also can perceive your honesty and your sense of fairness, but more so, I am but a lowly gardener. My interactions with the King wouldn't inspire confidences with him. I have conversed with you more than I have him."
A lowly gardener - her thoughts sprung to Hoggle. Hoggle! Perhaps this man knows Hoggle or her other friends. She shouldn't ask. She couldn't ask. She wouldn't -
"Do you know Hoggle?"
"Hoggle the dwarf?"
A cautious nod.
"Yes, I know him," a flat unreadable expression, married with an equally flat unreadable tone.
"Is - is he ok? How is he?"
"He does well," perfunctory. "Sarah, am I to believe you know Hoggle? Have you been in the Labyrinth?"
Peggy stirred next to Sarah causing both adults to look down at her. Sarah used this time to check on the other children. A quick glance ascertained all three remained in sight and safe. Peggy pulled herself languidly into her lap.
"Sawah, I dreamt about you," Peggy said through a yawn.
"What did you dream, my darling?" Sarah found herself grateful for the interruption of the child before she revealed too much to this stranger, intriguing and beguiling but still a stranger.
"Sawah danced in the stars with a princess and a prince."
"What kind of dance, my little one?"
"A pretty one."
"Shall you show me?" Sarah raised both herself and Peggy to their feet. Just in time as a pinecone landed just where they had been sitting. Lewis stood there with a grin on his face as he then scampered off behind the tree Tessa was still climbing in.
Lewis, of all the Spriggets had been the one who occasionally would invoke the feelings she had when she wished Toby away. He had a tendency to cause disruption to the harmony of Cloverfield Cottage. She was pretty sure he had been the one responsible for letting the pigs into the garden. He was always the argumentative one too. Tessa, like her father, was a natural peacekeeper and had taken Lewis under her motherly wing. She called for him now, and he took off towards her, a snicker left in his wake.
Despite two years of living with children, it was something that Sarah still didn't have a natural inclination for. Penny, though, was naturally drawn to her as she grew up from infancy to toddlerhood always having Sarah in their home. If truth be told Penny gave her a sense of belonging and purpose in her new life that no other member of the Spriggets could offer. As kind and welcoming as they were, she was always going to feel like an outsider.
"Children are such spirited creatures, are they not, Sarah?" Terry picked up the offending pine cone and placed it on top of one of the baskets.
"Compared to children Aboveground, these children are unnaturally well-behaved and peaceful. Lewis is just a wee bit cheeky. They would be considered exemplary back home."
"Have you much experience with children?" Terry asked as Sarah started their dance with the toddler as depicted by the dreams of Penny.
"Not really," Sarah held Penny's hands, letting her lead in their waltz-like movement. The dance was distracting her from her feelings of doom. "I have none of my own, but I looked after Toby since he was born until I moved out of home. You?"
"The children that pass through the labyrinth," he stated briefly. "You mentioned the Aboveground in the context of home - do you not consider this home now? If you don't talk to the King, you won't find a way back."
Penny pulled the dance to a halt and moved towards her siblings without a word, leaving Sarah standing alone, the grass swishing against her ankles as she pondered her answer.
"For better or for worse these people are my family now. There are things I miss. I miss modern conveniences, music, movies, books - but most of all it's Toby. Home is the people you're with, not the things or the dwelling. A little bit of my home will always remain Aboveground while Toby is there. If there was an easy way to get to him, I wouldn't hesitate to march right up to the King and demand he send me home.
"If I had children or I was still married to my husband, perhaps I would sacrifice myself to try and get home, if everyone is so certain he wouldn't do me harm despite not knowing our history. None of those are the case. No children. No parents. My husband and I are separated. And I can't reach Toby, so what good does going to the Goblin King achieve?"
Sarah finished her monologue well aware of Stephen making his way back to their spot. Terry noticed it too, as he flicked his eyes from his brother back to Sarah, drawing his mouth into a thin line.
"Peace," Terry implored. "I will not question you again about the Goblin King. I do not wish to see you upset. I only ask, because down here in the Underground, especially human settlements like Ghent, a sense of belonging is paramount. Our human ancestors could not go home, and any current wished-aways are now the Stolen Pearls of the fae, who may never find their home, here or back Above. We can't do much for them but we can try for those within our power. I assume you have heard of Stolen Pearls?"
"Yes, the unwanted babies adopted out to fae, who are not equal to the task of raising human babies with anything resembling love."
"Correct. Mostly correct."
"See, and your King is responsible for those Stolen Pearls being unloved and -"
"Are we still discussing the Goblin King?" Stephen cut in with a bored voice. "Sarah, I agree. He is arrogant and smarmy and incredibly difficult to deal with but not worth all of your concern, my dear child. My dear brother here, may worship the ground he walks on, but you should desist dwelling on your history and continue on with your life."
'And his pants are too tight,' she tacked on inside her own thoughts. Now was not the time to address that particular line of thinking however.
Sarah found herself gawping, but hurriedly turned away when both sets of brown eyes stared at her. In her head ran a thousand different thoughts, none of which she could voice, especially about the tightness of his Royal pants. Stephen had defended the Goblin King only yesterday. But here he was, the only person to have any negative remarks about him, freely expressing a similar viewpoint to her own. It was both refreshing and unnerving.
"Stephen," Terry turned to his sibling with deliberate slowness, as Sarah moved back to the picnic blanket, busying herself with packing up. "There is no need to be quite so rude."
"What? To Sarah or to the Goblin King?" Stephen sneered. "Do you think he will hear me? Oh great and wondrous Goblin King. Come hither and smite me down for taking your name in vain, you great big pompous prancing overgrown fairy."
On two occasions today, Sarah had found herself agreeing with Stephen, the first time when they struck an accord over the song she had been singing and now at the very apt description of the Goblin King. However, despite her disagreements with Terry, she much preferred his company after so short an acquaintance. Stephen, while friendly, looked at her with indifference after their initial meeting. Terry looked at her with growing interest. Things weren't always what they seemed though, and Terry may turn out to be the villain of the piece after all. She had read enough romance novels to know the deal.
Not that she was romanticising their encounter. Both men provoked responses out of her but she wasn't going to dissect them any time in the immediate future. She settled on distrusting both of them.
"That's enough, Stephen," his brother's name was laced with venom. "Remember there are children present."
"The children could afford to have a little honesty in their lives," Stephen countered. "Though I suppose you soak up their hero worship of your King, as if it were you they revered."
The picnic was packed up with more haste, as Sarah meant to make her way back to their abode. Terry seemed to notice for the first time as he came to assist.
"Apologies for my brother," he said softly as he scraped food off plates into a tin bucket alongside her. "He usually doesn't speak so ill of King. I am not sure what has got into him."
"Why don't you ask him?" Sarah suggested as she observed Stephen out of the corner of her eye, pace rapidly a few yards away, hands on his slim hips, muttering to himself. "He seems agitated. Maybe something set him off."
Terry stopped what he was doing to study her face. "Are you not perturbed by our behaviour?"
Sarah shook her head. "Fighting is something I grew up with. My parents would have fantastic screaming matches. Mostly my mother screaming and my father submitting. My husband and I repeated a similar pattern in our own time too. Communication and empathy is the key to healthy relationships apparently. Advice I never took despite all the marriage counseling."
Terry nodded. "It's very unlike my brother. I assure you he thinks well of the king, despite his contrary words right now."
"I must confess it was refreshing," Sarah gave him a cheeky smile. "Two years and it's the only dissension I have been privy to."
"I assure you there will be others," Terry resumed scraping the plates. "Your friend Hoggle for one."
The smile slid off Sarah's face at the mention of her friend's name. He flinched as she glanced at him before resuming her task. She was telling him too much too fast. Two years of limited society stifles one's conversational skills, but makes one over eager when the opportunity presents itself. How she missed her friend Hilary. Until now, no-one had any real regard for her personally, beyond face value, yet here was this stranger probing and prodding her, and Sarah had relished the opportunity, until panic had set in.
"I shall go speak to my brother."
Terry rose as elegantly as his brother did earlier, and sauntered over to him. Sarah called Tessa to fetch Alicia and she resumed her task of clearing up the picnic. After all the turbulence caused today, it was definitely time to head home.
Confusing feelings drenched Sarah, from her leaden stomach to her fluttering heart, she was consumed with dread, guilt, remorse, confusion, panic and self-loathing. If she had never wished away Toby, she wouldn't be stuck Underground having very difficult conversations with two perfect strangers, that she ought not to trust.
In her solitude she ran their conversations over in her head. Going over every nuanced statement, every contrary expression, and every iota of body language, but the same conclusion was reached at every angle. She got lucky with the strangers who took her in, but her fortune wouldn't hold a second time. Especially with a Goblin King employee. One who hadn't been honest with her. No matter how intriguing she found him, or attractive for that matter, she couldn't trust him.
Her gut was warning her of danger. She had come perilously close to a nervous breakdown earlier. And Terry was far too pushy about the Goblin King, despite his reassurances that she was safe, he did keep steering the conversation in that direction. Maybe she should just admit she defeated the Labyrinth and then at least she was being honest and he would see why she didn't want to broach the subject anymore.
Or she could just go home and not see him again.
She decided on the latter. Rolling up the picnic blanket was the last thing to do before she had to round up the children. Alicia and Tessa returned, arms full of reeds, so as a team they rolled all the reeds in the blanket, and Alicia agreed to carry them back to the cottage.
While they worked, she kept a watchful eye over the two brothers. They seemed to be bickering from the hand gestures and the way they leaned into each other. Sarah wondered briefly if her and Toby would have fought like cats and dogs as they got older. She'd hoped they would have had a stable relationship at the very least.
Having left the siblings baskets packed under the tree, there was little more to do than leave. So the girls traipsed back through the trees to wrangle Peggy and Lewis on their way towards the road. They hadn't got very far, and indeed hadn't even made it as far as the children when she heard her name being called.
"We're off now," stating the obvious. "The children and I have chores to attend to."
"Understandable," Terry caught up to them, with Stephen lurking behind. "A farm doesn't run itself. But here, take this food. We don't need it and I'd hate to see it go to waste."
Terry proffered the baskets and Sarah warily eyed them, before accepting them reluctantly, and passing them to Tessa to carry. "My family would be most grateful, thank you."
"Perhaps I could come and collect the empty baskets off you tomorrow?"
"I don't see that being a problem."
Liar.
But they were his baskets and there was far too much food to transfer it all into her two baskets. She would just make sure she was far away from the house all day tomorrow so she could avoid any more awkwardness.
Though part of her was curious to see him again. A small part. A small but persistent part of her.
"It was lovely to see you all again," Stephen waved from the background. "Gods protect the King."
He flicked his eyes to hers, and if eyes could smirk, his would be the King of all smirks. The children repeated the sentiment in response, out of habit followed by some polite farewells. Sarah nodded in acknowledgement, and left with the children for the cottage, hoping that she remained safe. That Terry remained as discreet as possible. That Stephen also remained as secretive. Exhaustion washed over her like a tidal wave against a cliffside. Further thinking about her dilemma would have to wait until she had a rested mind.
Jareth watched Sarah leave, after a brief interruption when she had to dump her baskets to chase the boy through the trees as he took off. But then she was gone. The promise of seeing her tomorrow, the only thing stopping him from taking after her.
He cursed himself for his carelessness. He pushed her too hard, too quickly when it came to the Goblin King. She had all but panicked. Sev was angry at him also. They had fought in muted voices about his deception and dishonesty. Sevlydi wanted to return to Rica, reluctant to get tangled in any more webs of deceit that Jareth was weaving. It was all for nothing, a mere human mortal wasn't worth all this illusion and fabrication. Jareth disagreed.
Seeing Sarah trying hard to keep a reign on her panic, had opened his eyes even further to her loathing and fear of him. Him, or the unknown as she claimed. Either way, to reveal himself now would be the death knell in their budding relationship. He couldn't fool himself that she trusted Terry, but he did detect a certain partiality.
He felt both anger and admiration for the girl, thrust alone into an unknown world, leaving behind all she knew was no easy feat. He accepted this. But he knew her as headstrong, determined, and not one to shirk down the task of facing the Goblin King. Sev had argued that she had strength in the form of protecting those she loved from harm. Much like he did every day for Rica. Perhaps there was strength in hiding from your demons instead of challenging them. But Jareth did not see it.
He had expected a Storm-The-Castle kind of Sarah, instead of a Hide-Out-in-the-Countryside Sarah that he was presented with. Sevlydi implored him to see it from her perspective. She had lost all her family, and she had been kidnapped by fae, challenged by a fae King and she did not really have any reason to trust a fae. Jareth knew he would never hurt Sarah, but she had lived the experience to contradict anything he would have her believe. She thought he was responsible for giving the Stolen Pearls to the fae, for one thing. On that he could at least defend himself. It was not like he chose to do that task. Or enjoyed it.
A small part of him might have felt guilty for his part in her mistrust, if he had ever toyed with such a notion before. He may even have felt some remorse for deceiving her as he did now by pretending to be a mere human man, if he ever owned such a feeling. But more dominant, selfish feelings were his authority. She was his wife. He had a right to go about the wooing process as he chose. He was after all a King and Sevlydi nor Sarah had any right to question his methods. He would not betray her to the Goblin King as he promised. He would gain her trust, and then when he did reveal his true identity, she would be in his possession so deeply she wouldn't want to leave.
She would want to be ruled by him. She would want to love him. He was determined.