CHAPTER 11
"Are you ready to go and see your friends?"
Sarah did desperately want to see them.
"So they're real, and weren't just a figment of my imagination, or just part of the magic of the Labyrinth?" hesitation tainted her tone.
"They were and are as real as you and me," Jareth said, rising from his chair. "Once you have refamiliarised yourself with them, then we will discuss your magic, and then you can provide your answer to the ball."
"I don't think a ball is necessary," Sarah followed suit by leaving her chair, following Jareth's long, elegant strides out of the hall, with her much shorter, clumsier gait.
"I do," she could almost sense his smirk through the back of his head. "It's long overdue since you've been here for over two years. From my knowledge, my subjects respect you, and this will solidify your honour and reputation amongst them."
They headed down a stone corridor that Sarah recognised as one of the many that led to the gardens.
"I don't-," Sarah started but was stopped by Jareth spinning around, placing a gloved finger against her lips.
"We will address it after we have talked about your magic and attended to your friends," he removed his finger. "I promise that you will get the chance to vent your spleen at me, to your heart's content."
He turned back around, leaving Sarah abashed in his wake.
They entered the garden Sarah had first visited, upon her arrival at the castle. Jareth stormed ahead towards the bench under the willow-like tree near the pond.
There were her three friends: Ludo was standing with his back to her, but she could see glimpses of her other two friends around the bulk of her orange-haired friend.
Jareth stopped short of the trio, and then spun on his heel to confront her. She gave him a cursory glance before rushing towards her friends.
"Ludo," she called. "Hoggle! Didymus!"
Ludo turned around, while Hoggle and Didymus moved around the lumbering beast to see her. Hoggle's eyes widened.
"Sarah," all three said together.
"Sawah," in Ludo's case.
"Sarah, yer alive," Hoggle said next.
"Sarah alive," Ludo joined.
"Lady Sarah, it gives me so much joy to see life's breath inside thee," Sir Didymus puffed his chest out.
Sarah glanced at Jareth, who frowned at the three of them.
"Why wouldn't I be alive? Sarah gave a nervous laugh.
Hoggle's eyes shifted towards the King and back to Sarah. Jareth just crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows.
"Er, Sarah," Hoggle started. "Your friend Hill-a-roo, Hill-a-rey-
"Oh my god, Hilary " Sarah clasped her hand over her mouth. "What's happened to Hilary?"
"She called me through yer mirror a few days ago," Hoggle explained. "Said the red book told her to. Told us yer had been missing from Aboveground for two years. We hasn't seen yer, till nows."
"Is she ok?"
"She sure gots a surprise to be talking to me through the mirror," he nodded.
"You'll have to tell her I'm ok," Sarah pleaded. "It must be hard having her best friend disappear for two years without a trace."
"I is yer best friend," Hoggle prodded his chest with a thick finger.
"Yes, of course," Sarah laughed. "Hilary is my best human friend."
Sarah ignored the pang she felt for Terry.
"She tolds us you was probably kidnapped," Hoggle went on, his eyes shifting between Sarah and the King, who was scowling with his arms crossed.
"We were concerned for thy health, my Lady, but we see that we were quite mistaken," Sir Didymus elaborated.
"I was kidnapped, but escaped somehow," Sarah shrugged weakly.
"Where art thou, the braggart who kidnapped, thy fair maiden?" Sarah noticed Hoggle's eyes flick towards Jareth yet again.
"I don't know who they were, Sir Didymus. And neither does your King, I believe."
Jareth's visage lost its tension, his crossed arms gaining a little slack.
"The Lady is correct," he shifted his boots across the stone path. "I have my suspicions, however."
The five of them exchanged looks with each other and stood in wooden silence.
Jareth cleared his throat. "I will return you to the castle within an hour."
He marched off down the path edging the lake. Sarah watched him go until he was out of sight.
Sarah spent the hour chatting animatedly with her friends. They made promises to tell Hilary she was safe and well. She briefly explained how her two years transpired Underground, leading up to the point she arrived in the castle. It had been painful talking about Terry, but oddly cathartic to talk to actual friends about it.
"A scoundrel, my Lady," Didymus declared.
"Tosser," Hoggle muttered.
"Terry bad friend," Ludo had contributed.
"Yer friend Hilary told us that the rat was the one that kidnapped you," Hoggle said as they walked alongside the waterways together.
"That had been my first thought," Sarah sighed. "But he insists it wasn't him."
"The rat is a liar," Hoggle pointed out. "Hilary saws him, at yer party. "
"What?"
"Tis true My Lady," Didymus chimed in. "Lady Hilary saw his Majesty at the shindig you attended when someone absconded with thee."
"He was helping her look for yer after yers disappeared," Hoggle clarified. "Then he vanished, himself."
Sarah scowled. "Strange that he would leave me alone for two whole years, though."
"He is a rat, what yer expect?"
"Brother," Didymus chastised the dwarf. "Sarah is whole and hale. Has he been treating thee rightly, my Lady?"
"I guess," Sarah shrugged. "I've only been in his company since this morning."
"He brought you to see us, My Lady," a furry paw rested on her arm. "Though we are traitors to the Crown."
"Shut yer pie hole," Hoggle growled. "We is not traitors to nothing."
"I am surprised there was no punishment for helping me."
"We was," Hoggle gritted his teeth. "But nothing worth mentioning. A few tasks added to our duties. No bogging or tossing into an oubliette, so can't complain."
The idea of Hoggle not complaining made her burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Hoggle scowled.
"Sorry, Hoggle," she grinned. "It is just so good to see you all again."
She was still grinning when they rounded a corner and came across The King heading in their direction. Sarah's smile slipped off her face, discerning Jareth's features twisting from astonishment to a small, crooked smile. His mouth then moved into two thin straight lines.
"I was coming back to retrieve you," he claimed. Sarah nodded in response, her eyes downcast. She needed to know why he had attended the party but didn't want to interrogate him in front of her friends. "Say goodbye to your...friends."
Sarah took her time giving her friends kisses on their cheeks, each one a loving hug, as well. "Hopefully, I will see you again."
"Of course you will," the Goblin King chimed in. "They will be at the ball."
Once they made their goodbyes, they went their separate ways. Jareth indicated with his hand that Sarah should step in time with him. She was quite used to following his lead, walking beside him, felt almost outlandish.
"I hope your reacquaintance was satisfactory, Sarah."
"It was more than satisfactory," and though it tasted like ashes in her mouth, she thanked him for the opportunity.
He dismissed it with an aristocratic wave of his hand. "You're not my prisoner, Sarah. They are not either. You're free to visit them any time you wish if that would make you happy."
"What care do you have for my happiness?" Sarah bit. "I quite thought you intend quite the opposite."
"You imagine that I want to see you miserable?"
"I attended a party on my last day Aboveground," Sarah nodded. "Did you also attend the party?"
Jareth quit walking, so she did too.
"Yes, in fact, I was there," he answered truthfully. "And before you think it, I was not trying to kidnap you, nor was I the one to do so."
"So why were you there?"
"The Labyrinth offered you thirteen years reprieve from me, so I couldn't see you, go to you in any form, or even talk to you," he explained. "Samhain was when the time constraints ended. I went to talk to you, but the moment I laid eyes on you, you left to use the facilities, and that was that."
"You saw me?" Sarah blushed thinking of the skin-tight catsuit.
"I did, and it was quite a sight," his lips twitched. "It is forever ingrained into my memory. You were dancing to a song where a man, or maybe men come on Eileen."
Sarah snorted at his look of disgust but flushed brilliant red as he turned his gaze from the ground, back to her face.
"While the idea is appealing, it is quite crude to weave it into the magic of music."
Sarah coughed into her hands to cover the fact she was trying not to laugh at his sudden flippancy.
"They could at least be subtle about it," he shrugged.
"Has this been bothering you for all these years?" Sarah suppressed her grin, with increasing difficulty.
"No, Sarah," his countenance turned serious again. "What did bother me all these years was not being able to find you. The magic of my Labyrinth protected you from your kidnappers when you arrived Underground. You could almost say she kidnapped you, as it deposited you right outside its main gate. But then someone concealed you from me. Only on a chance sighting, at the festival, did I manage to overpower their magic and remove it from you."
"Did I tell you that outside the Labyrinth was where I landed ?" Sarah scrunched her nose up in thought.
"I have informers, Sarah," he sighed. "Don't trust anyone. Especially not that gardener that you associated with."
"He told you?"
"He told me certain facts, Sarah," he closed his eyes. "But he never told me that you were here until after I saw you at the Twilight Festival. I approached him afterwards because I noticed your partiality towards him. I can be very persuasive. Don't blame him. I will not use any information garnered to harm you, but rather to keep you safer."
"Am I safe from you?"
"Clever girl," he grinned. "You're as safe from me as you wish to be. If you ever wish to be in danger from me, I am only too happy to oblige."
His grin turned lascivious as he ran his darkening eyes up and down her form.
Sarah just rolled her eyes at him. "You go from fighting to flirting, to us hating each other to being polite to each other within seconds. We're like an old, marr-"
Jareth's grin stretched wider. "You can say it."
"No, I'd rather not," Sarah mumbled as she blushed anew.
Jareth shrugged lightly. "Things would never be dull between us."
He continued walking, leaving Sarah aghast as she followed him.
They arrived back in the castle in due course. A goblin notified Sarah that morning-tea was ready on the balcony of the dining hall. She was to wait there for the King to join her.
The view of the Labyrinth was magnificent. She had arrived before he did, having the goblin show her the way as he disappeared to run an errand. From the corners of her eye, she could sense the walls of the Labyrinth changing, but nothing moved if she looked directly at them.
Sneaky wall bastards. Her brain edged around the words "fair" and "not", but refused to fully complete the concept in her mind, conscious of Jareth's mocking voice the last time she had uttered those words. How could she let that overgrown fairy sod be her conscience?
"She is magnificent, isn't she?" Jareth asked from behind her.
"She?"
"The Labyrinth is certainly a female," Jareth quipped. "She is strong, determined, knows what she wants and is the most beautiful thing in all existence."
"So not moody, temperamental or hard to please?"
Jareth levelled a glare at her. "I am not a chauvinist, Sarah."
"Though you still believe yourself superior to everyone else," Sarah retorted.
"Not based on someone's sex though, Sarah, but purely intellect, beauty and power, which I have in spades," he grinned.
Sarah laughed. "And ego."
"It wounds me that you don't see, what I see in myself," he inclined his head. "So you at least see what I see, in the Labyrinth?"
"She is exquisite, I agree," Sarah nodded, looking back over the sprawling maze.
"I can take you back through it one day," Jareth smiled. "A personal guided tour from its master."
"I am planning on going home," Sarah pointed out. "Now I've seen my friends, and Terry has gone, there is little keeping me here."
Frowning, Jareth gestured to himself with mock flamboyance. "I am still here."
Sarah gave a soft chuckle. "I am sure you can bear the deprivation if I was to leave."
"But we have the ball and your magic to discuss."
"I told you, you don't need to hold a ball."
"But I'd like to Sarah," his voice almost broke into wheedling territory. "If for no other reason besides you owe me."
"I owe you?"
"You ran out of the last ball I held in your honour, remember?"
"Pffft," Sarah seized the railing with both hands, returning her gaze to the spectacle beneath her. "Perhaps, if you hadn't have drugged me."
"And this time, you will be there of your own accord," he declared. "No deceit, no deception, no peaches."
She turned back to him. His face reflected only sincerity. "I don't think it's a good idea."
"I do," he insisted. "Your people deserve to see their Champion, Sarah. Your King deserves to have his chance to celebrate his Champion."
"How can you want to celebrate your defeat?"
"Not my defeat, Sarah," his sharp teeth glinted in the orange mid-morning light. "I won a champion."
"I am not yours," Sarah stuck her hands on her hips and glared at him.
"Oh but my Sarah, winning the Labyrinth is not just your success but my whole kingdom's," he reiterated. "You are our only one. One of a kind. No other Kingdom can boast a champion, only us."
"Yes, but you lost."
"I lost the child, yes, but I won a champion," Jareth stepped closer. "We were both victorious, in the end."
"How does that work?" Sarah wouldn't give up. "I rejected you and went home. You lost Toby and the game and - and me."
She said that last word with absolute frailty leaking from her.
"Sarah," he drawled. "Even if you never returned here, if I never saw you ever again, it doesn't change the fact that you're the Champion, that you're my champion."
"I still don't see how that's your victory, Jareth," Sarah sucked in her breath as she realised she had said his name out loud for perhaps the first time. A smug self-assured look crept across his face. She thought he was going to say something about it, but all he did was indicate the table set with tea, scones and biscuits.
"We should eat and discuss your magic," he pulled her chair out for her. "We can table the ball discussion for after dinner."
"If I'm still here for dinner," Sarah sat down. "I should leave soon, or it will be dark before I return to Ghent."
Jareth just pinched the bridge of his nose as he took his seat. "I have to thank you for mostly behaving like an adult since I returned but if you could stop goading me for just five minutes..."
"Terry said you wouldn't be back," Sarah mumbled. "I never would have come if y..."
"If I had been here," Jareth nodded. "I know. And Terry was right. I came back early. I had to take care of a few things that I couldn't trust to someone else."
"Then you left again," she pointed out.
"Yes, because I had to finish taking care of business, and I felt like you needed time to yourself after... everything," he gestured wildly with his hands. "Having the King in the Castle means protocol. I thought you deserved to rest without all that."
"Thank you for not making me feel like I'm imposing," Sarah said, barely audible. "It does make me want to leave more than if you had abused me for my presence."
"I imagine if I did shout and fuss, you would dig your heels in and demand that you stay, you contrary mare," he grinned. "Maybe that's the trick. Maybe I will refuse to let you attend the ball, and you will show up anyway just to spite me."
Sarah found herself laughing. Running the full gamut of emotions seemed par for the course with the Goblin King.
"Maybe try it and see."
"I am not calling your bluff, madam," Jareth wagged his finger at her. "You've always defied me. You asked me to take your baby brother, I obeyed. You fought me, to gain him back, you won him. I offered you everything you rejected it. I offer a ball in your name, yet you refuse it."
Sarah stared pensively into her tea. "I had to win my brother back. I had no choice. And as for everything else, I was fifteen years old. I needed to live my life. Regardless of the deaths, divorce and downfalls, it was my life. Nothing would have compelled me to go back and change my decision."
"Little Jareth was a special wee lad," Jareth said quietly. "No matter what I may say, I truly am glad you won him back, Sarah. The alternative would have been unthinkable."
"Being adopted by a fae couple?"
"Meffod and Yarbro Pinsburr," Jareth clarified, sinking his teeth into a clotted cream covered scone. "A nasty couple. Little Jareth - Toby deserved much better than them."
He scowled, as he poured teaspoon after teaspoon of sugar into his tea.
"He deserves much better than what he has now too," Sarah choked back a sob. "He was adopted by his aunt and forbidden from seeing me. I don't even know if he is OK."
Jareth stopped viciously stirring his tea to observe her face.
"Sorry, I don't know why I am telling you this," she rubbed her cheek with her hand to distract herself from the tears threatening to fall.
"Because we're allies, Sarah," he placed his spoon in the saucer. "We don't have to be lovers, or friends, or even common acquaintances to be allies."
"You may not want to believe it," he continued seeing her look of disbelief flit across her face. "But we should be working together. Yarbro and Meffod are as much your enemies as they are mine."
"How?"
"Incidentally because they are the couple I suspect of kidnapping you," Jareth answered, flatly. "They would have adopted Toby if you lost."
"What? Why would they want to kidnap me?"
"As revenge on me for losing their Stolen Pearl," Jareth explained. "I strongly suspect them, but don't want to confront them."
"Why not?"
"Sarah, I don't want them to know where you are until you are safe and secure,"
"What will make me safe and secure?" Sarah asked, raising a brow, her cup of tea, forgotten.
"The ball will be one step closer to doing just that. It will show people that you're in my protection. The Pinnsburrs are no match for me and my powers, and certainly not when you come into yours as well."
Sarah's cold tea was starting to get foamy bits of milk floating onto the surface, as it separated. She knew she should be listening, but watching the tea swirl in her teacup was helping her process that Jareth was not her kidnapper. And he was trying to help her.
"I inform you that you have magic, and you sit and stare into your tea," he gave her a watery smile. "I expected more excitement. Again you're contrary by focusing on anything but what I divulge."
"I've always known I had magic," a sly smile. "According to my book, you gave me certain powers, after all."
Jareth's brows shot up. "What do you mean?"
"The little red book, it says that The Goblin King -" Sarah faltered. "Well it says, he gave the girl certain powers."
"No, it doesn't, Sarah," Jareth shook his head. "I know the book, and I know it doesn't say that."
"I didn't just make it up, Goblin King," Sarah snapped.
"I didn't say you did," he growled back. "But I assure you the red book does not say those words."
"But I knew it off by heart and those were the words," Sarah insisted.
"Say them," Jareth ordered. "Tell me the entire quote."
Sarah flushed furiously. "What's the point if you don't believe me?"
"I believe you," he sighed. "I believe magic has tampered with the book. Similar to how your friend found the words to call Huggle."
"Hoggle."
"Yes, I suspect the book changed for you specifically," he continued, ignoring her correction. "Now tell me the quote."
"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful young girl whose stepmother always made her stay home with the baby," she said in a rushed, flat, monotone voice. "And the baby was a spoiled child, and wanted everything to himself, and the young girl was practically a slave. But what no one knew is that the king of the goblins had fallen in love with the girl, and he had given her certain powers. So one night, when the baby had been particularly cruel to her, she called on the goblins for help!"
Jareth rested his elbows on the arms of his chair, steepling his fingers as he surveyed Sarah's flaming red face. She swallowed and turned away from his burning gaze.
"Now say the bit that's relevant again, slower this time," he finally said.
"Do you take delight in torturing me?"
"Not at all," he leaned forward. "I am curious as to why you're embarrassed about it, however. Did you write it yourself?"
"No, of course not," Sarah said. "I'm not embarrassed but uncomfortable."
"Does it make you uncomfortable to talk about feelings, Sarah?"
"I have no feelings, and nor do you," Sarah said, crossing her arms. "So the book changing to say that stuff is irrelevant."
"And yet, it is fascinating," Jareth recommenced, drawing his finger along his bottom lip. "Please recite it again."
Sighing, she leaned forward and with crystal clear annunciation, she gave him the quote. "But what no one knew is that the king of the goblins had fallen in love with the girl, and he had given her certain powers."
"It's not so much that I gave you certain powers," he formed a crystal in his hand. "But rather certain - factors that I shall explain later, bequeathed you with certain powers. However, they didn't come into play until you defeated the Labyrinth."
He tossed the crystal up in the air and caught it in his fingertips.
"Shall I finally explain your magic?"
Sarah stipulated that he should continue.
"So inside you, trapped and not easily accessible there is innate magic," he explained. "To activate it, you need certain criteria to be met. I will explain that criteria later. Combined with my power, your magic influences the Labyrinth, making you a target by my enemies as they would try to use you to my disadvantage, to gain traction or a foothold in my land."
"So I'm like a weapon?"
"A bit like that," he agreed. "The Labyrinth left you a gift. One that you can't use or feel until the conditions are right, but always inside you, being nurtured by your life force. The Underground helps strengthen your magic, and meets the conditions, quicker."
"And those conditions would be?"
"Currently unattainable," Jareth picked invisible dust off his sleeve. "In the meantime, you have my protection."
"What if I want to be weaponised, against you?"
"Then you risk your friends, the Labyrinth, the entire Kingdom," he narrowed his eyes at her. "It's bigger than both of us. And I would wager you'd end up dead too when you outgrew your usefulness."
"They wouldn't need me alive to use my magic?"
Jareth shook his head slowly, his expression dark. "At first they would, but if they found a way to drain you, then you'd be surplus to requirements."
Sarah swallowed. "Is that your plan with me too?"
He didn't say anything but twirled the crystal ball around his wrist, placing it on the table and tapping it with his finger until it dissolved in a puff of glitter. He never took his eyes off her.
She absent-mindedly scratched her cheek.
"I know you don't really believe in fair play," Sarah gave him a pointed look. "But if you plan on draining me and then killing me, could you please give me a heads up so I can at least get a running start?"
"The conditions can't and won't be met if I kill you, Sarah," Jareth's voice dripped with anger.
"So if I don't meet the conditions, no one can access the magic? So let's just not meet the conditions."
"You misunderstand," he ran his finger through the dusting of glitter on the table. "Unless you meet the conditions, I won't gain access to the magic. It doesn't mean less scrupulous people won't try to gain your magic by more dangerous means. I, however, won't risk your life for a bit more power, Sarah."
"Oh."
"Oh? You sound disappointed," he cocked his head at her, still swirling a finger in the glitter. "Disappointed that someone can't use you against me, without risking your life?"
"No, not sure," Sarah mumbled. "More confused and untrusting."
"I hope this would help you trust me," he waved his hand over the pile of dust. The dust swirled into a mini-sparkling tornado before sprinkling into his palm and reshaping into a circle. The pieces raced around, the spaces in between decreasing until a solid silver bangle rested in his upturned hand.
"A bracelet?" Sarah asked, scepticism furrowing her brow.
"It's a promise bracelet," he held it out to her. "My promise to protect you and to keep you safe and alive."
She gingerly reached out and took the bangle. Tiny glittery blue diamonds permeated the silver bracelet, and opposite the clasp lay a single pearl, with a purple and green sheen.
"A pearl?" Sarah questioned.
"Indeed, is that a problem?"
Sarah thought back to when Prince Sevlydi mentioned to Terry that Jareth had a claim of marriage on her based on the prophesying of Tears of Pearls. Then there was the carving of the owl, the string of pearls, and how abducted children were called Stolen Pearls.
As her finger moved over the pearl, she had sudden flashbacks to the peach-induced ballroom, where strings of pearls twisted and looped around the walls and ceiling. Her jewellery had incorporated the gems with light green and purple brilliance.
She froze in her seat, her finger hovering above the pearl.
No.
She wouldn't accept that some piece of calcified rock was going to dictate to her who she would marry. Least of all, the Goblin King.
Ballroom symbolism aside, the entire concept was absurd. Sarah hadn't given the admission of the Prince any consideration since the other night. She had infinitely more pressing revelations to dwell on. It wasn't worth the toilet paper she wiped with to consider a pearl-based marriage to Jareth.
"What's a Briyash?" she found herself asking.
"Pardon?"
"Briyash? What is it?"
"It is a person," he answered. "An elf. Lord Briyash is Keeper of the Pearls. Why do you ask?"
"I came across the word," she shrugged. "In connection with some pearls."
Was the carving on the tree carved by Lord Briyash? Or was it telling her to find Briyash? Was it telling her anything at all?
"And what was the connection?"
"I have seen a pearl with such a hue before," Sarah brought it closer to her face, as she ignored his question. "Purple and green. I have a matching necklace to this, from Terry."
"Sarah, what was the connection to pearls?"
"The pearl motif is assuredly heavy-handed around these parts," she continued. "Can you tell me the importance of this particular pearl?"
"I can not," he ground out. "Can you tell me how you came to learn of Briyash."
"A tree, outside in the garden has a carving of pearls, and it says Briyash underneath," Sarah mumbled. "Can you tell me the importance of this pearl now? Your brother was very keen to divulge information to me, but I would like to hear it from you."
"Tears of pearls were collected from mythical creatures, and kept in a cave on my lands," he said briskly. "This is a replica of a pearl that was given to me from Lord Briyash before you performed your run. It is green and purple because a virescent and amethyst unicorn wept this tear."
As if struck by lightning, she just realised she had been fishing for Jareth to reveal that it was a pearl that prophesied his marriage to her. She didn't want to go down that road. What had come over her? She nodded in acceptance of his answer and hoped he'd say no more.
He just looked at her suspiciously over the rim of his teacup. It occurred to her that Sevlydi could have mentioned his conversation with him. She blushed at the thought that he could know, that she knew, that he believed he had a marriage claim on her based on the pearl.
"And just like that half the day is past," he stated, after they sat in heavy silence, chasing her out of her mortifying reflections.
"Do you not work?" Sarah teased, thankful for something to get her back on equal footing.
"You are my work," he smirked, standing then pushing his chair under the table.
"Charming," Sarah rolled her eyes.
"Would you rather I sweep you off your feet and romance you Sarah?"
"God no," Sarah spluttered. "I concede that we could be allies, but anything else is a hard pass."
Good, she was back on even ground, with no doubt in anyone's mind where they both stood with each other.
"Terry was a lucky man," Jareth said in an indecipherable tone.
Sarah laughed. "Lucky he made a quick escape before getting involved with me, you mean."
"No, I don't mean," stern.
"Then I don't know what you mean,"
"I meant he was lucky to have your friendship and your willingness to offer more."
"I wouldn't have offered more," Sarah shrugged. "I now realised that he wasn't worth compromising my ultimate goal."
"Ultimate goal?"
"To get back home, to find Toby," Sarah reminded him. "You say that it won't be easy, going back Above considering how much time has passed but Toby is my main priority. He will be sixteen years old now. I've lost two years of Toby's life, not to mention the years since dad and Karen died. The loss of Terry pales in comparison to my concern over Toby. At first, I thought it wouldn't be fair to start something with Terry if I was to leave but now..."
"I can't help you, Sarah," his hands gripped the back of his chair, lowering his head in resignation. "Toby is protected by me but also from me. I can't retrieve him."
"I wasn't suggesting you could," Sarah raised her chin to hide her dismay.
"I can't help you now, but I will find a way to assist, soon," he clarified. Her heart fluttered that he might find a way to help Toby. "Unfortunately, I have my duties to attend. May I show you to a garden, or a library to occupy you until luncheon?"
Sarah rose out of her chair and asked if she could see the library, as she pushed the bracelet over her wrist.
A few hours later, lunch had been brought to her as she read, and she hadn't seen taut hide nor fluffy, flyaway hair from the Goblin King since he left her.
She threw her book on Fae politics down on the oak table and leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms over her head.
She missed Toby, and she missed Terry. As much as she had put a brave front on today, the adrenaline-fuelled anger had left her body now. Tears shimmied down her cheeks, and before she knew it, wholehearted sobs wracked her body.
Everything was too much. Sarah had spent two years stuck in the Underground, daily life plodding along with the Spriggets, to then end up in utter turmoil and drama when Terry walked into her life. And then out of it.
He had brought Jareth back into her life. If she hadn't have met Terry, she probably would never have gone to the Twilight Festival. Jareth was hard work. She couldn't keep up with his mercurial moods or his ever-increasing revelations, nor could she unravel the mystery of the bridal-pearls and her kidnappers.
And Terry changing his tune all of a sudden: had he been scared off by Sevlydi's threat to call the Goblin King?
And how had she gone from enemy to ally in less than thirteen hours with Jareth?
It was all so confusing, and all she could do was cry. And sob. And mourn. Mourn her losses. Karen, her dad, Toby, Terry, Hilary- she couldn't keep deceiving herself that she would see them again.
The Goblin King had made it apparent that he would try, but not to get her hopes up.
She had been deep in a sob, head resting in her arms on the table, when she felt movement behind her. Sarah froze as she felt a strong arm reach across her shoulders, and a gloved hand rest on her knee. She lifted her head to peer through waterlogged eyes at the Goblin King kneeling beside her chair, his face lined with concern.
"Sarah," Jareth gave her knee a gentle squeeze and started running his other hand in circles across the back of her shoulders. "Has something happened?"
"No, nothing," Sarah wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands. "Nothing and everything."
Every point of contact with the King sent thrills through her body. She wasn't sure if they were favourable or not. But she couldn't bring herself to shake him off.
"I miss Toby plus I am hurt and angry with Terry," Sarah confessed, uncertain why she kept opening her mouth whenever he pressed her for information. He had been her childhood imaginary friend for so many years before he'd become her villain. She wondered if subconsciously she was seeing him as that imaginary confidant, rather than the reality of the villain.
"You shouldn't inspire confidences, but yet here I am again, pouring my heart out," she ranted. "I hate that you of all people are on the receiving end of my apparent lack of a filter. I should have answered you with 'it's none of your fucking business.' By the time I am through, you could write a novel of all my failings."
"I'm not keeping score, and I'm not taking note," his voice was silky and light, but with hidden depth.
"I don't trust it when you're nice. It's confusing. Be cruel and only cruel, so it's easier for me to hate you."
"Life isn't easy, so I absolutely won't make it easy for you to hate me," his hands still gently moved in comforting circles. "I thought we established that your first time here. Sarah, I'm a real person, with real feelings, and yes, I will admit some flaws. Small ones, but flaws all the same. I can't be who you want me to be. I can't be your enemy anymore."
"Why, because it's too exhausting?"
"Yes, and it's only decent that you should have to work to hate me if I have to work to make you hate me," his hand left her back, slid over her shoulder and cupped her chin. "Maybe once in a while, you could forbear hating me and find yourself lukewarm towards me. You may even appreciate not hating me for a few minutes."
"Shouldn't you give me reasons not to hate you?"
"Oh, If you did surcease, you'd discover for yourself the reasons to not hate me," his thumb brushed away a stray tear. "Now, stop spending tears on a man who was determined to gain your confidence and then hurt you."
"What, and focus on you instead?" Sarah scoffed.
"If you like," he tilted his head to the side, grinning. "And as for Toby, well, wasn't patience one of the lessons you learnt in the Labyrinth? Hmmm, no, perhaps not. We will remedy that."
Sarah threw a scathing look at the blonde fae and finally gained enough awareness to push away from his tender grasp. She watched as his hands curled into fists as if shrivelling up from their rejection.
"We will figure Toby out, precious," he purred. "Meanwhile, may I escort you to dinner?"
Sarah nodded bleakly and stood up.
"If you return to your chambers, you will find a suitable dress for you to wear for dinner," Jareth held out his hand to her. "May I?"
Taking his hand, she suddenly found the ground dissolving beneath her, as her stomach swooped like she missed a step on the way down the stairs. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, she was in her chambers, still holding Jareth's hand.
"I will wait outside," and with that, he strutted towards her chamber doors.
The silk dress was a burgundy colour. Simple, but more extravagant than the basic village-clothing she currently wore. She hurriedly got dressed and brushed her hair before joining Jareth outside.
"Would you like to walk or port to dinner?"
"Walk, please," Sarah clutched her stomach.
Sevlydi was already there when the two of them entered the dining room. He eyed Sarah, raising his glass to her.
"You've survived a day with my brother," he said in greeting.
"Only a day? It felt like a lifetime," Sarah muttered.
"She more than just survived," Jareth placed his hand in the small of her back, leading her to her chair. She wanted to fight him off, but Sevlydi was watching her with raised brows.
"I have to apologise for my nonsensical outburst over breakfast," he said as they all sat down, Jareth at the head, Sevlydi on his right and Sarah, his left. "It may not seem like faes are anything but cold, detached, heartless creatures, but I care for my brother and don't fancy him getting hurt."
"That's all very admirable," Sarah responded wearily. "But what makes you think that I have any power to hurt the Goblin King?"
"You're still in denial," Sevlydi retorted. "Don't you think your denial may be hurting him?"
Jareth rolled his eyes and took a sip of wine. "Let her be, Sev. She hasn't the foggiest what you're going on about and now is not the time."
"I think she does know what I'm talking about," he pointed at her wrist. "Nice pearl."
Her eyes fell to her wrist, resting against the edge of the table. Jareth had said it was a replica? Was it the replica of the pearl that foretold his marriage to her? Even if she liked Jareth, she didn't want her union, predestined. She preferred to exert her own will.
She glanced at Jareth who just raised a brow at her and took another sip of wine as he watched her, before meticulously removing one finger of his glove at a time. He wasn't going to be any more help, then.
"Yes, the King has impeccable discernment for jewellery," Sarah replied cheerfully. "And he crafted it himself, absolute genius."
Jareth smirked at her apparent sarcastic tone. Sevlydi shook his head at her.
"Lady Sarah and I have agreed to become allies, Prince Sevlydi," Jareth kept his blue eyes locked on her green ones. "Let us drink to this happy occasion."
The three of them raised their glasses and downed their first sip before they started on their entrée.
The rest of dinner was uneventful. Sevlydi and Jareth discussed the trade route on the North-Western border, and Sarah followed with minimal interest. She felt like screaming in Sevlydi's face that Jareth could have no desire for her to be his Queen when she had no interest in ruling.
Sarah stifled a yawn when they moved the discussion on to the selling of assets to the Guiana Coast. Or was it the Guianacoast? She didn't comprehend, nor did she care to know.
"Is this a constitutional monarchy or an absolute monarchy or just your every day, pedestrian monarchy?" She asked when there was a lull.
Both sets of blue eyes looked at her. "Well if I am to be the Champion, I may as well know a bit more about the land I am championing for."
Jareth's beam nearly broke his face in two. "Indeed, and if you truly want to learn, then I am sure Sevlydi is more than happy to tutor you throughout your stay."
Both brothers exchanged looks. The younger nodded while the older gave a self-satisfied wink.
Dessert came and went, and they retired to a sitting room off the main dining hall. It was cosy, and fire lit with fur rugs and squashy armchairs. Sarah relaxed in one while Jareth poured them each a brandy.
The brothers talked about the Kingdom again, gradually moving on to Nudalun and Omre. Sarah half-listened, until the heat of the fire, her rough day, and the brandy, slowly had her dozing off.
She woke up to a gentle hand at her elbow.
"Sarah, wake up, precious," she opened bleary eyes to see blue ones obscuring her vision. He was so close their noses almost touched, and she could see the speckles scattered through his irises. It was like looking into a supernova.
"Your eyes - " She started saying before she regained that little bit more consciousness and pushed away from him. "Was there a sleeping potion in that brandy?"
"Of course not," he hadn't moved away from her. His eyes bore unto hers, unnerving her at such proximity.
"I keep falling asleep during the day," she rubbed her eyes.
"My understanding of human emotions is limited, but I'd say you have had quite a lot of them today, and the past few days," he peered into her face. "Emotions tire humans out, or so I'm told."
"They do," Sarah mumbled. She was suddenly aware that they were alone, and Sevlydi had left the room. "Perhaps I should call it a night."
"If you wish," Jareth smiled, still crouched down in front of her. "I take it you're planning on staying then?"
"I don't think I should. We may be new allies, but your brother..."
"Is going to visit a friend and will not return until the night of the ball,"
"Will you still hold a ball in my honour if I am not there?" she asked, doubtful.
"No," he answered bluntly. "That's why you'll be there."
"I haven't agreed," Sarah straightened.
"Oh, but you will," he grinned.
"You're an arrogant sod, did you know that?"
"And you're the only one in the universe, who could talk to me like that and get away with it too, you know that?"
"I don't know," Sarah shook her dark head. "Your brother gives you quite a bit of shit,"
"But he doesn't get away with it," he said darkly. Sarah felt a funny sensation flutter in her stomach. Why would he let her get away with it?
"You shouldn't be so arrogant, and I wouldn't have any need to call you arrogant," she countered.
"But then, I wouldn't be me," he grinned. "But if you want a watered-down version of me, you can always try your luck with my brother."
Sarah just laughed. "I'm not masochistic. I don't enjoy developing relationships with people who hate me. Actually, that's a lie. My husband is exactly the kind of person I loved to hate."
"Husband?" Jareth stood up, now looking down on her, instead of slightly up at her.
"Ex-husband," Sarah corrected. "Not officially, but we're legally separated. I wonder what he is doing right now? Maybe he's rotting in jail because of my disappearance."
"How fast did you drink your brandy?" Jareth quirked a brow, as he fashioned a crystal in his palm.
"Not fast enough," Sarah giggled. "The last thing I need is husband drama with everything going on in my life. I wonder how Hoggle spoke to Hilary though, and if I could talk to her?"
"Mirror portal, and yes if you wish," he swung the crystal under one arm, catching it backwards with his opposing hand. "We can try to contact her tomorrow if you like."
"Yes, please," Sarah grinned. The thought of seeing her best friend energised her.
"Meanwhile, hold this and say your husband's name and we can see what he is up to," Jareth passed her the cool crystal.
She held it in her palm and peered in.
"Mark Fenwick," she said, watching the crystal turn hazy before she saw two figures inside. It was some woman with her husband, and it didn't take long before she saw they were at it like rabbits.
She dropped the ball as if it burnt her. Jareth raised a questioning brow.
"Men," she muttered as she bent down to pick it up off the floor.
"I take it you didn't find him in jail then?"
"Nope," Sarah sighed. "I found him doing his favourite hobby.
"Care to elaborate?"
"It's probably your favourite pastime too," Sarah quipped.
"But he can't be spending time with you," he leant in closer to her. "Because you're here with me."
"Haha," Sarah enunciated sarcastically. "Guess again!"
"Well, I know he can't be practising Magic or running a Labyrinth?"
"No."
"Was he doing a puzzle?" Jareth considered. Sarah shook her head.
"What was he doing that's so repulsive to you then?"
"He was getting his rocks off with another woman," Sarah said plainly.
"And you think that is one of my most favourite pastimes?"
"Possibly; Probably; most likely."
"I am particularly good at it and do enjoy it immensely," he agreed. "It pleases me that you have thought about my prowess in bed."
Rolling her eyes, she pushed up from her chair, passing him back his crystal. "Thank you for showing me what I'm not really missing.
"Oh precious, I haven't yet started to show you what you've been missing," his mouth curled into a coy smile, and his eyes glittered with lustful intentions. "But I'm ready when you are."
"So never then?"
"So cold," he smirked as she pushed past him.
"I've had enough of men that care more about the pussy that's bouncing up and down on their cock, than the woman who owns the pussy," Sarah realised she had more to drink than she first believed as she stumbled across the room towards the door. "Until a man can prove that I'm worth more than some lame, tawdry sex, they can get it elsewhere."
"I can assure you, Sarah, that my experience is anything but lame."
"In my experience, if you talk a big game - if you have to advertise it, you're probably not as good as you think you are."
With that, she bolted out the exit, towards her rooms. Somehow, despite inebriation, she succeeded in locating them. She turned the doorknob, shouldered the door open and walked right into Jareth.
"Ooff, the fuck-," she pushed his chest with both hands to stop herself from toppling over. He didn't even budge. It was like pushing off a marble statue. And just as cold, based on the hard look carved onto his face.
"We hadn't finished talking."
"I had."
"You haven't agreed to come to the ball yet."
"Correct," Sarah placed hands on her hips.
He mimicked her, placing his own hands on his hips.
"Sarah, I won't beg," he stated.
"I will be reasonable, despite how much I'd love to see you beg," she moved her hands from her hips to cross her chest. "You've explained how it is beneficial for your subjects, and that it cements to the public and my kidnappers that I am under your protection, but what else is in it for me?"
"The chance to be on the arm of an extremely desirable and good looking fae," he grinned.
"No, seriously!"
"I am serious," then he sighed. "Being my guest of honour will assist you in making connections, which could lead to marriage or..."
Sarah barked out a mirthless laugh. "Sarah Williams will never marry again."
"Are you no longer Sarah Fenwick?"
"I never was," Sarah's face drew into a puzzled frown.
"I heard you say your husband's name," he said as a way of explanation, shrugging.
"I never took his name," Sarah shrugged. "I kept my own."
Jareth smiled. "So fiercely independent. If you marry Underground, your name can also stay the same, if you wish."
"Again, I am not getting married," Sarah huffed.
"I know you're not fond of the fae, but perhaps an elf or a human may catch your eye."
"I am not good at marriage," Sarah tapped her fingers on her own crossed arms. "It's not a venture I plan on taking on again. Try again."
Jareth ran his finger across his top lip. "Whatever you would like at the ball, I will include it. Music? Flowers? Food? You can have your say, and I will grant it."
"Anything I want? So if I asked for Come on Eileen, by Dexy's Midnight Runners, you could play that?" Sarah bit her lip to resist laughing at his horrified expression.
"If you wish," he said resigned. Sarah sighed. She could tell he was trying so hard to convince her to go to the ball.
"Can I give you an answer in the morning?"
"You will truly think about it?"
"I will," Sarah yawned.
"I have kept you too long," he lowered his head in a bow and twisted on his heel to leave the room.
After her bath and other ablutions, she lay in bed, considering her decision to go or not. He hadn't put forward a very robust argument in favour of her going. Not really. But his insistence was compelling. She'd swore to herself she would have an answer for him in the morning.
A/N: In case I haven't already mentioned it, Terry's name is my little tribute to the late great Terry Jones. Thank you, followers and commenters.