CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
"Makes no sense at all, makes no sense to fall; falling. As the world falls down; falling. Falling; falling in love," Jareth crooned, before offering light kisses across her shoulder. Sarah started to calm down after their mutual exertions, and her breathing began to even out. Jareth ceased singing and kissing her but still held her tight.
"I have returned your undergarments," he whispered into her neck. She was sure she would have her wits about her in no time. She ran a hand over her face and then smoothed her skirts down. Sarah was more than a little overwhelmed about what just occurred. Jareth's fingers had entered her, and she wasn't even dreaming. Sarah had also pleasured Jareth to fulfilment. Sarah didn't know what propelled her to perform such a deed. Strangely, she wasn't embarrassed so much as sated and bewildered by her own actions.
"Sorry to interrupt," came Sevlydi's voice cutting through her post-orgasmic fog.
"You aren't interrupting," Jareth said coldly, suddenly fully clothed once again. "I would have slaughtered you on the spot if you had."
Sarah wriggled a bit in a futile effort to leave Jareth's lap but felt too lazy to put any real effort into escaping.
"I see." Sevlydi eyed them both. "This is a rather public space for that kind of activity."
"Stop trying to embarrass my wife, and tell me why you are here," Jareth snapped, his fingers digging into her waist.
"The Queen's brother!" Sevlydi slid his eyes over Sarah and back to Jareth.
"Toby?" Sarah gasped, fully awake now after her stupor.
"Tobias Williams," Sevlydi affirmed.
"Get on with it," Jareth snapped again.
"The portal is ready," Sevlydi said cryptically. Jareth nodded, a grim expression on his face.
"Sarah, are you ready to go and see your brother?"
"Are you serious?" Sarah clapped her hand over her mouth. "How?"
"Briyash saw what you did by returning the pearl to the unicorn," Jareth explained. "He is in debt to you for bringing a unicorn into his life. Not one fae in existence has ever offered to return a Stolen Pearl."
"Well, it belonged to the unicorn," Sarah answered with a shrug.
Jareth continued, "He asked what he could do for you to service the debt. I mentioned that you wanted to reunite with your brother, so he is using Elfish magic to create a portal to your brother's neighbourhood. The portal will circumvent the protection applied to him. Briyash couldn't achieve this by himself, though. The Labyrinth has heard its Queen's desire, and now that you have married me, it wants to help maintain your happiness. Together they are bending the rules."
"The portal will take us to his location," Sevlydi summarised. "I think you and one of us should go. He will need a familiar face."
"But I thought that if I went Above, I wouldn't be able to get back?" Sarah furrowed her brow.
"You're married now," Sevlydi reminded her.
"Your magic has manifested several times more since we were officially married," Jareth said in a low voice. "You could be strong enough now, but if it turns out you couldn't get back Underground with Toby, then you would have to stay there, but at least you'd have each other."
"Each other, but no job, house, money or viable backstory," Sarah pointed out.
"We can take care of most of those things." Jareth closed his eyes. "You could start a new life, anonymously, away from your old life."
"You said it would be impossible to live there again, with my encroaching immortality and all that," Sarah accused.
"If you went back to your old life." Jareth swallowed, his face tight. "I never stipulated that starting over wouldn't work. But you'd no longer be Sarah Williams."
"You just married me, and we have a war coming." Sarah felt Jareth's hands fall away from her waist, so she slid off his lap, and returned to her original seat. "How could you want me to go and possibly never come back?"
"Want?" Jareth barked. "I do not want you to go, but we only have this one chance. The risk is too high that Toby won't leave there with a stranger. He needs you to convince him. If I lose you—" he paused to clear his throat. "If I lose you, then at least I know you will be happy."
"I have to get my brother back," Sarah echoed similar words from nearly two decades before. She repressed the feelings of dismay she felt at his words.
"I know." Jareth couldn't meet her eyes. "And I know you mean it."
"What's said is said," Sarah said so quietly, she doubted anyone would have heard her.
"I think it is better if Sevlydi goes with you," Jareth told her. The truth was that it would be far too painful to go with her and then have her torn from his arms. At least if he stayed here, he could say goodbye to her on his terms. "He is more removed from the Labyrinth magic than I am, so that is one less risk we would be taking in this whole operation."
Sarah nodded, fidgeting with her necklace. "Do I need to take this off, first or—?"
"No!" Jareth wanted her to at least remember her short stint as a Queen before she possibly returned to a mundane experience. "The portal magic should acknowledge your authority, but this will help."
"So the portal is ready?" Sarah seemed skittish and unsure of herself all of a sudden. Jareth rose to stand with his cane in hand. He wandered over to her.
"I didn't tell you this earlier because I didn't want to get your hopes up and have them dashed," he told her. "There is no time to say goodbye to your friends, but rest assured I will do it for you."
"Even Hoggle?"
"Even Huggle," Jareth acknowledged. He was feeling exceptionally generous after Sarah's attention to him, but not charitable enough to get the dwarf's name right. He sighed as he led his wife to the portal chamber. They had come so far, and Jareth could tell Sarah had invested more emotion in their amorous activities than just gratification. He was so close to getting a declaration from her; he could taste it. But because Jareth loved her as significantly as he did, he would deserve Sarah's affection more if he risked letting her go.
Oh, how Jareth hoped that she would come back. Even if there was a chance, he wished that Sarah chose to return. Everything the kingdom gained by her coming into equal power, would be squandered with his sacrifice; leaving her Aboveground.
They entered the portal chamber that was devoid of anything but the two stone pillars that framed a curtain of white swirling mist. Elfish runes covered the tiles at the base, joining the two pillars. It was a rudimentary portal. Nothing as flash and fancy as perhaps a wealthier Kingdom like Gogondial would have.
"So I guess this might be goodbye." Sarah looked flummoxed, as she turned her gaze from the portal stone to his face.
"Sarah"—Jareth reached out for her hand—"I hope you find Toby and get him to come here safely."
Please come home, Sarah.
"Should I change first?" Sarah looked down at her Goblin Queen attire. Sevlydi threw a crystal at her, and before she knew it, she was standing dressed in the black, skintight catsuit she had arrived in the Underground wearing.
"Oh, that was meant to clothe you in your last mortal attire." Sevlydi frowned. "Instead, you appear to be a cat."
Despite his misgivings about this whole venture, Jareth couldn't help but howl with laughter at the sight of a very cross Sarah, dressed in a catsuit.
"This was my last mortal attire," Sarah swore, blushing as she hazarded a glance in his direction. "Stop laughing, or I will break out in song. I hear you're a fan of coming on Eileen."
"Find something else for her to wear," Jareth told his brother, his smile wavering at her threat. In a quieter voice to his brother, he said, "keep this one for when she gets back."
Sarah blushed even redder at his comment. Jareth chuckled before she was dressed by Sevlydi, in simple black jeans and a blue silk top. Her medallion sat under her shirt, so only the cord was visible. He didn't care too much for mortal fashions, but the clothes hugged her curves just right, so he forgave them. He tugged her closer with the hand he still held.
"How can I sacrifice an entire Kingdom for the sake of one person?" Sarah muttered to him as she moved closer.
"Let's just hope you are not." Jareth pulled her into a brief hug, before releasing her. He longed to hold her and never let her go, but he had to. He had to let her go without so much as a kiss and hope that she would return to him of her own free will. "Go now, Sarah."
Sarah turned towards Sevlydi, and without a backwards glance, she went through the portal.
Sarah and Sevlydi landed in a dark street. Rows of terraced houses surrounded them, from what she could see in the dim light of the streetlamps. A bench was directly behind her on the pavement, next to a rubbish bin and bike rack. It appeared they had landed in a bus stop.
"His house is just over there." Sevlydi pointed over to the row of hours opposite the road.
"How are we going to go to him?"
"My magic means I can persuade your aunt to let us see Toby." He grinned.
"Not my aunt." Sarah followed her brother-in-law across the road. He knocked at the front door. Sarah noticed while they waited, that he was in a black jacket and black jeans, fitting right in.
The door creaked open, and a woman who strikingly looked like Karen but without the warmth stood there, an implacable glare on her face.
"Yes?" she snapped. "What?"
"We are here to see Tobias Williams," Sevlydi said. Not-Karen looked at both of them. Then her eyes narrowed on Sarah with recognition.
"Ah, Susan!" She scowled at Sarah. "Finally found us. What are you going to do? Kidnap him? Let me just call the police.
"Take us to Tobias Willaims," Sevlydi ordered as he waved his hand discreetly. Not-Karen's eyes lost their focus almost instantly.
"Of course," Not-Karen said with a glazed look. "Let me show you to his room."
They followed her through a very narrow hallway and up a rickety set of stairs. Everything felt worn and old, despite it being clean and tidy. They arrived outside a door that Not-Karen unlocked with a key.
"Here you go," she ushered them in and locked the door behind them.
"It's fine," Sevlydi whispered. "We just needed to get in. Locking us in won't stop us getting out."
"Who's there?" began a somewhat unsteady voice.
"Toby?" Sarah asked.
"Sarah?" Toby replied uncertainly.
"Yes, it's me," Sarah whispered back. "Where are you? We can't see a thing."
Light shot out from in front of her, in the form of one of Sevlydi's crystals. Sarah scanned the bare room to see Toby sitting on his bed, huddled up in the corner, squinting in the sudden brightness. He would be about seventeen years old now, and he was all gangly legs and dirty blonde hair. Toby's eyes darted between the two adults. His eyes focussed eventually on Sarah.
"Sarah?" he said again.
"Yes, it's me," she repeated, stepping closer. "Oh, Toby!"
"I haven't seen you since mom and dad's funeral." He hunched further in on himself .
"I couldn't find you, bud." Sarah knelt on the ground by his bed. "I tried so hard. I am so sorry I couldn't find you. I am here now."
"Aunt Joan kept moving house," Toby explained. "I don't blame you. I blame Joan. I hoped you would come and rescue me one day."
"I promised I would find you," she reassured him. He was so pale and skittish. Sarah couldn't imagine what damage Toby had suffered. That he wasn't angry and lashing out, was a tremendous positive. She half expected Toby to hold her responsible for his entrapment in his aunt's house for so many years.
"One more year, and I will be an adult." he rocked back and forth slightly, before looking back at Sevlydi. "Is this your boyfriend?"
"No, this is Sev—um—Sev, and he is my brother-in-law." Sarah deemed telling Toby a more simplistic name, might be the most suitable approach.
"You are still married to Mark?" Toby frowned. "After what he did at the funeral?"
Sarah didn't know he knew about that. She sighed and shook her head. "I married someone else, Toby. Mark and I split up the day of the funeral."
"I have missed so much," Toby said with a pained sigh, wiping his hands over his face. "How did you get in here?"
"Ah." Sarah scratched her neck. "The thing is, Toby, I don't know how to explain this..."
"We've only got a little bit of time." Sevlydi stepped forward. "Your sister made an acquaintance with a man many years ago, when you were a wee babe. That man was my brother. After thirteen years had passed, he wanted to reignite their acquaintance, except some other people got there first. They kidnapped her, and my brother couldn't find her for two years. Eventually, we discovered your sister, safe and well. She married my brother very recently, and he wanted to make your sister happy, so he enlisted my help to track you down."
"Wow, but that doesn't really explain—" Toby began.
"Hilary also helped," Sarah cut in. "She found your address."
"The man your sister is married to is not a man but rather a fae," Sevlydi went on. "A very powerful fae. I am also a fae, and we got into this house by my magic, confounding your aunt."
"Magic?" Toby's brows shot up. He looked paler still. Sarah winced at the thought Toby wouldn't believe them. Why would a teeanger believe their crazy story about magic? Sarah almost groaned out loud and the absurdity of their situation. She watched emotions flit across Toby's face before he cleared his throat, and said, "Sarah, don't tell me you married that Goblin King you were always going on about?"
Sarah gritted her teeth as Sevlydi turned a knowing look onto her.
"Yes, but we will save the storytelling for another time." Sarah inched closer to Toby. "We haven't much time before the portal closes, so we need to know if you are coming back with us."
"Where are you going?"
"Underground, to the Castle at the centre of the—" Sarah began.
"—Labyrinth," Toby finished, his eyes sparkling. "I remember that story you used to read to me."
Toby always had a fantastic memory. She supposed it was to do with being fae-touched as he was. She cursed herself for having read that story to him, though it seemed to be speeding things up for them now.
"Can I see some magic?" Toby inquired.
Sev waved his hand, and Toby's threadbare blanket went snaking across the bed and onto the floor, wrapping itself around the leg of his wooden bed and then folding itself neatly next to the pillow. Toby's mouth dropped open in astonishment.
Sevlydi gave a shallow nod. "You need to choose, as the portal won't hold."
"Toby, if you choose to come with us, then know that it is forever." Sarah felt honesty was required, despite her mantra of "any means possible" to get Toby home. Toby had to know what he was getting himself into for eternity.
"Will I learn magic?"
"Unsure," Sarah replied hastily, aware of how agitated Sevlydi was becoming behind her. "But you will be safe, and live like a Prince, and you will be with me."
"Anything has got to be better than here!" Toby stood up and grabbed a duffel bag from his wardrobe. "I have had this packed since I came here in case you came for me."
"Toby, if you come with us, there will be no college or university." Sarah sniffed. "No chance to follow your dreams."
"I wasn't going anyway." Toby shrugged. "Joan and Andrew have me working in their shop all the hours when I am not at school. I am working full time when I am no longer at high school."
"Your dreams—"
"My dreams involve me escaping from them," Toby replied.
"We've got to go," Sevlydi said suddenly, looking towards the door. There is magic here that isn't of the Labyrinth."
"What?" Sarah also looked towards the door.
"I thought it was strange that we were locked in," he went on. "Tobias, your aunt and uncle, were they always so callous?"
"Not really," Toby admitted with a sniff. "Joan was just like mom. I stayed with them the weekend the house burnt down, but they were different during my stay like something wasn't quite right. I thought they were just fighting with each other or something. Then at the funeral, they just snapped and whisked me off. Then they were completely different; it was like they were possessed."
"Sarah, I thought you said you never liked them?" Sevlydi whispered as he made a crystal.
"They were kind to Toby, but I was just an interloper," Sarah said in response. "Joan never saw eye to eye with Karen in regards to her kindness towards me. Joan thought Karen was too soft on me."
"Hmmm." Sevlydi rolled the crystal towards the door. "I think they are changelings."
"Toby, are you going to come with us?"
"Yes, of course," he answered quickly.
"I have blocked the door, so it slows them down." Sevlydi straightened up and walked over to the window. "The confounding spell has worn off, and Changelings are dangerous. Especially if their possessions are being liberated. I can not use too much magic up here as we are breaking the rules as it is. Come take my hands, and I will transport us to the portal."
Sarah took Toby's bag and urged him toward Sevlydi. They all joined hands, and the next moment they were back in the street. Toby's eyes were wide, and he was too flabbergasted to speak.
"I am just going to summon the portal, and then we all jump through." He glanced pointedly at Sarah, before mouthing, "together."
"You will be doing no such thing," came the voice of Joan. They all spun around.
"Toby is mine," Joan cackled.
"What are you?" Sevlydi stood before Sarah and Toby in a protective stance. "A goblin? An imp?"
"I am the aunt of Tobias Williams," she said plainly.
"You are a changeling," Sevlydi growled. "And you have done something to the true aunt Joan and Uncle Andrew."
"How dare you?" Joan accused.
Sevlydi leaned in close and whispered into Sarah's ear. "When I say, take Toby through the portal. I will stay and deal with this."
Sevlydi straightened and faced down the aunt-changeling. "Who sent you?"
"No-one sent me," Joan shouted. "I am legally bound to be the caregiver of this child."
"Well, you didn't do a very sound job," Sarah hissed.
Joan's eyes flicked to Sarah, then travelled down to her medallion. Her eyes lit up, and she cackled. "Someone defeat the Goblin King, then? Or are you just his fuck-trophy?"
"Go now," Sevlydi threw a crystal behind them that revealed the portal. Sarah grabbed Toby by the upper arm and pulled him towards it. As they were approaching, Sarah turned around at Joan's high pitched screech, to see her launching herself three metres in the air to jump clear over Sevlydi's head and land directly between them and the portal. Sevlydi swore and darted towards them as Sarah and Toby turned to face their enemy in her new location.
"Tobias is ours," said a voice from behind. Andrew had joined the fray, and they were surrounded.
Sevlydi just laughed. "You think two changelings, without a solid link to the Underground, can take on two magical beings?"
"We certainly are not changelings," Joan insisted. Sarah rolled her eyes. She just witnessed her flying in the air...
"Let us pass!" Sarah straightened and stared Joan down.
"Never."
"Let us pass," Sarah said again. "Or die."
Toby gasped, but Joan just cackled. "I am not afraid of an ickle Goblin."
"I am not a goblin." Sarah stepped closer. "I am the Goblin Queen."
"I gathered from your wee piece of jewellery you have around your neck." Joan waved her hand. "Quaint."
Sevlydi chose this moment to hurl a crystal at Joan, which instantly stunned her. "Go now," he yelled as he pushed both Sarah and Toby towards the portal. Andrew instantly obstructed them, similarly to Joan. Sevlydi hurled another crystal at him, and they pressed forward. The three of them held hands and prepared to walk through.
"You won't feel anything, Tobias," Sevlydi reassured the teenager as he grimaced at the portal. "Just step through, now, all together."
They went to take the step, but two things happened at once. Someone grabbed Sarah's arm, jerking her backwards, while Sevlydi attempted to launch her and Toby within the gateway. In the end, Toby went through the portal by himself, while Sevlydi and Sarah remained Aboveground. Sarah, charged with fury at the thought of separation from her brother again, spun around, kicking the offender hard in the groin. Andrew went down like a sack of lead, while Joan came for her with her hands extended like claws.
The burning pain was instant as Joan's fingernails scraped down Sarah's face, toppling them both onto the ground. Sevlydi tried pulling Joan off Sarah, but Joan sunk her nails in deeper. Images of Toby and Jareth streamed through her brain. Sarah couldn't fail them, so she drew on all her inner strength. She let out an imposing yell, rolling them both over, so she was on top. It was enough to disengage her attacker's claws, but not without extra pain. Blood flowed down her face and into her eyes. Blindly, she started punching Joan in the face.
"This is for Toby," Sarah yelled, delivering a punch after every word. "This is for my parents. This one is for the real Joan and Andrew."
Sevlydi was at her back in an instant. "We have to go; the portal is closing."
He gripped her under her arms, and half dragged her through the portal. Sarah glimpsed a bloody Joan rolling over and glaring at her as the portal vanished.
Jareth sat on his throne, swinging his riding crop around in circles. It had been hours. Time moved differently in the Above, so he knew that it hadn't been all that long since Sarah had left, but it didn't stop his worry. He got up out of his throne and paced around his throne room. Jareth still needed to make his wife a throne. She usually sat on his, while he stood to her side these days.
He had been King for so long, that he didn't need to seek his subjects' approval, while his Queen had only been the monarch for less than a year. He was generous enough to let her earn their respect by showing his subjects that she had his respect. Sarah would never acknowledge his kindness, but Jareth wanted her reign to be more straightforward than his had been. Sarah, however, defied his generosity and earnt the Goblin Kingdom's admiration naturally. Her reign would at least be less lonely than his. She had his company, even if she pretended she hated him. Hopefully, she would have the young Tobias' company too.
He took one more turn around his throne room, kicking a stray goblin, and then headed down to the portal. As he strode through the doorway, crop in one hand, cane in the other, he was surprised to see a human sprawled on the ground. At his approach, the human shuffled back and onto his feet, looking with uncertainty at him.
"You're him, aren't you?" the boy said, stepping back.
Jareth cocked his head and grinned. He was the wee babe he had bounced on his knee, years ago. He was lanky and in dire need of a good feast or two. Jareth would see to it that the wee lad would soon flourish. He was, after all, brother to the Queen. He watched as Toby recoiled from Jareth's pointy smile. He flashed his canines briefly before taking measured steps towards the child.
The smile soon slid off his face when he realised Tobias was alone.
"Tobias, where is Sarah?" Jareth rushed forward, as much as his one leg allowed him and grasped the scrawny lad by his shoulders. Time enough to do his menacing act at a later time.
"The changeling grabbed her as we were going through," Toby answered, his eyes widening in fear.
"Changeling?"
"Aunt Joan was a changeling," Toby gushed. "So was Uncle Andrew. According to Sev."
Sev? Were they on friendly terms already? Jareth sighed in frustration. "Is Sevlydi still with her?"
"Er, you mean Sev?" Toby asked, shrugging. "Yeah, I guess."
"Tobias!" Jareth pinched the bridge of his nose, almost whacking himself in the face with his riding crop. "I need to know if my— if your sister is alright."
"Oh, gee golly gosh, Mister," Toby answered snarkily. "I will just go back and check shall I?"
Jareth grunted and released the child. He was starting to see a family resemblance. He strode off, pacing the chamber with a dark look plastered on his face.
"Your sister has only got access to a minimal percentage of her magic," he growled. "She is vulnerable Above, and if the portal closes, there is no knowing if Sevlydi's magic is strong enough to transport them both back."
"Can't you go through and yank them back or help them?" Toby pointed over his shoulder at the portal that was starting to fade.
"I should never have let her go without me," he confessed. "It was selfish of me because it was too hard to say goodbye."
At the confused look on Toby's face, Jareth waved his hand. "Magic is complicated, but your sister is more so. I did not know if she would make it back through the portal, and I am less certain that she would want to."
Toby took the moment to look around at the stark walls of the portal chamber as if wondering exactly why she would want to come back to such a dreary, drab castle.
Jareth sighed again. "You being here, at least proves her intent was to come back because she would never have left you."
"You love my sister!" Toby raised his brows. Jareth narrowed his eyes at the precocious, forthright teen. He was right, of course, but how had he known?
"I do," he answered simply.
"She told me about you." Toby shuffled his feet on the cobblestones. "You were just a character in a book she loved. But the King was in love with her."
"Indeed." Jareth nodded, warily. That blasted book had changed the narrative specifically for Sarah.
"You would never have let her go if you didn't love her," Toby observed. "If you loved her less, you would want to possess her more."
"Indeed," Jareth said again, quieter this time.
"She will be Ok!" Toby pushed his unkempt, blonde fringe out of his face. "She is more robust than you think. I never gave up hope that she would come back for me. Sarah wouldn't let me give up on my dreams, and I am sure she would be the same for you."
Jareth cast his eyes over the wiry boy. He was astounded by his astuteness.
"You know we are married," he stated.
"Yep!" Toby nodded. "I didn't think Sarah would get married again after what Mark did. When she mentioned her husband, I thought she meant him, and I was so disappointed."
"And now?" Jareth was curious what this bright wee spark thought of his wife's choice in a husband. He resisted the urge to say something scathing about Sarah's ex-husband.
"I reserve judgement to see if my sister is happy," Toby said, stepping away from the nearly translucent portal. "She will make it back, won't she?"
"I sincerely hope so," Jareth said with an edge to his voice. He'd rip the veil to shreds if the changelings harmed her, or she didn't make it back. He paced some more to burn off his excess agitation. He wanted Toby to feel comfortable here and didn't want to scare the lad on his first day. Sarah would never forgive him if Toby took against him. Though judging him based on her happiness was a yardstick that wouldn't endear him to his brother-in-law.
"Can you go to her if she gets stuck there?"
"Yes." Jareth frowned. "But it's complicated. Usually crossing the veil happens during Beltane or Samhain, and for me, it is usually during a wish. A whole plane of existence happens between the Above and Undergrounds. The veil is a world unto itself; full of creatures and veil-keepers. It takes an awful amount of magic to traverse between worlds. I get a free pass because of my role, but Sarah is an unknown. She is Queen, but not recognised by the High Council."
Here Jareth paused as the portal flickered. His keen eyes penetrated the mists, and he could detect shadows moving within them. His heart leapt with hope.
"My father is powerful enough that I wouldn't put it past him to try and stop Sarah's re-entry," Jareth explained, hurriedly. "The portal is a risk, but I had to take it. If I return for Sarah, paid subordinates of my father may still prevent her entry. Rest assured, young Tobias I will return for my wife. I will locate her, and I will do my best to bring her back home. Veil-keepers be damned."
If Navas or the council hindered Sarah, Jareth would contemplate staying with her, damning his kingdom. He knew it wouldn't be the wisest course, but fuck it if he would lose her because of his siblings or his dratted father. He hadn't mentioned his specific concerns about this family's interference to Sarah after they discovered her ex had the Red Book. Jareth had told her of the veil-keepers, but not specifically those financed by his family. How easy it would be for them to remove her from power by keeping her Aboveground. Jareth hadn't lied to her, but he hadn't been entirely honest either, because Sarah would not have wanted him to denounce his Kingdom for her sake.
"How can I sacrifice an entire Kingdom for the sake of one person?" Sarah had said before she left.
'The same way I would for you,' Jareth had thought, as she said those words.
"What has Sarah done to earn your father's anger?" Toby asked, bringing him out of his reverie.
"All she has done, Tobias, is not be my father's choice of weak-willed, pliable wife." Jareth's eyes never left the dwindling portal as he spoke.
"Sarah was always in defiance of those that were unjust," Toby mused. "It was her job, after all."
"Yes." Jareth chuckled. "I have come to appreciate that about her, as odd as that seems."
Jareth was pulled out of their conversation by the appearance of Sevlydi who practically fell through the portal.
"Where is she?" Jareth ordered, rushing towards his brother.
"We went through together," Sevlydi puffed. "I held her, but something ripped her away from me."
Jareth bellowed like a wounded animal, and charged at the diminishing portal, his sore leg all but forgotten. He pushed through the mist, and darkness instantly surrounded him. He reached out with his other senses and magic to find her. When Jareth called Sarah's name, the thick black inky fog of the veil muffled any sound, swallowing up his cries instantly.
As he searched, he plotted in his mind all of the different ways he would defile those that would harm his wife. He was just imagining slicing off the toes of one such critter, soaking those appendages in a bowl of bog water for two weeks, then sewing them into their mouth so they would taste the bog for eternity, when he heard a noise and felt a disturbance.
"Jareth," came a lone muffled cry. He headed in the direction, following the cord that connected them like a lifeline. He had only taken four steps when a body collided with his. His hands wrapped around the form that had barrelled into him, instinctively knowing that it was his Sarah. Her voice confirmed it when she uttered a relieved, "Jareth."
"Yes, my love, it is me." He pulled her tighter, only relaxing when she uttered a squeak of protest. "Are you hurt?"
"Yes, but not significantly." Sarah's arms wove around his waist, and she buried her head into his chest. "Is Toby—"
"He is safe in my— our castle," he ran his hand through her hair, relief flooding him as she was a tangible being. He moved his hand down her hair, and rested above her heart, taking comfort from its beating. "We need to get out of here before the portal closes."
"It's so dark," Sarah complained as she released him. Jareth found her hand and clamped it between both of his.
"Stay with me." Jareth started leading her towards the faint glow of the exit. "Do not let go for any reason."
They both moved across the unseen ground of the veil; Sarah clamped onto his arm, letting him take the lead.
"Jareth, I killed something," she confessed as they moved through the mist.
"What did you kill?" Jareth asked in an imperious tone, that also conveyed a mixture of curiosity and empathy, even to his ears.
"After Sevlydi and I got separated, something grabbed me, and without waiting to see what it was, I pulled my medallion off and stabbed it, then I accidentally sent a ball of magic out of my hands towards it," Sarah explained, breathlessly. "I blasted it off its feet. Then all the inky black mist started swooping in, like my future-walking."
"That is just the portal closing," Jareth explained. "Nothing to fear."
"And the thing I killed?"
"It could be anything," Jareth said. "Describe it to me when we get back. For now, we just need to get out of here."
"Aunt Joan was a changeling," Sarah went on.
"Hush, love," he whispered into her ear. "There are things here that mean us harm. Let's not draw their attention. You can tell me all about it when we get home."
They went the rest of the way through the veil without a word. They had approached the exit recognisable by the grey hues rather than just pitch black.
"Fuck," Jareth swore. They were too late. He put his hand up against the glass-like substance of the portal, knowing it had sealed. Sarah touched the spot beside him and muttered something barely detectable.
"What are you doing?"
"Rescuing you for a change," Sarah said with a giddy laugh. "I got out of a dream-crystal before. I did some reading after we spoke to Hilary. Apparently, this isn't too dissimilar."
"This isn't like a dream crystal, Sarah." Jareth held her hand tighter. "You do not want to mess with the veil."
"No, trust me!" Sarah took her hand away from the glass. He heard her shuffling around with something.
"Sarah, whatever you are about to do, I suggest you don't." Jareth pulled her hand towards him. "I will get us out of here."
Sarah didn't reply, but the next thing he heard was a smashing noise, and they were both falling. Jareth grasped furiously for Sarah, pulling her closer to himself as they fell. If he was going to die, he was going to do so while protecting Sarah. He felt her curl her hands into his shirt, and then without any warning, her lips crashed with his. She was offering him a kiss, and a searing one at that. And one he didn't need to bargain with her for. He could almost forget his impending doom as she thrust her tongue into his mouth.
The kiss was warm and tender, but verging on desperate. Jareth could hear Sarah's moan catching in her throat, but like all the others it ended before it began. She disengaged before they promptly landed on the hard stone ground of the portal chamber. Sevlydi and Toby stood over them as Jareth lay on his back with Sarah sprawled over him. She was quick to roll off him, racing to pull Toby into a hug.
Jareth groaned as he stood up. The first thing he noticed was the portal still stood, but it was pulsing with the black fog of the veil. The fog was hitting the glass-like material that separated their world from the veiling as if it was trying to butt its way in. He retrieved his cane off the ground and eyed the portal warily.
"We didn't think you would make it back," Sevlydi said, watching them both.
"Sarah saved us," Jareth informed him. Out of his periphery, he could see brother and sister still embracing.
"How?"
"Sarah, what did you do?" Jareth asked, not tearing his eyes away from the inky pitch hurling itself at the wall of glass.
"I just showed it my medallion." Sarah shrugged. "I showed it my authority."
"What was the shattering noise, then?"
"I had to get forceful with it." She released her brother from the hug. Jareth turned to look at her, noticing blood dripping off her chin. Claw marks covered her face, starting with gouges at the temples, but tapering off as the scratches dragged down her face.
"Sarah, your face!" Jareth stepped towards her.
"Changelings are violent." Sarah shrugged. "I learnt that the hard way."
"Not only did you break us out of the veil but you also fought a changeling." Jareth was in awe of his mortal wife. "I should never have let you go."
"Rubbish!" Sarah narrowed her eyes. "I got Toby back, and I got home. That's what we set out to do, and that's what we achieved."
"Sevlydi," Jareth summoned his brother. "Go and fetch a healer."
"His name is Gilo," Sarah said curtly. "He is your only healer, so it is pretty easy to name him."
"Sevlydi," Jareth repeated. "Go and fetch a healer."
"Sevlydi, please go and fetch Gilo," Sarah said, keeping her stare on Jareth. He just glanced at Toby who was watching them both, pensively.
"Your sister"— he gestured towards Sarah—"she is a worthy Queen, is she not?"
"I guess." Toby shrugged. "Sarah always hated Princesses and stories where the girl got rescued by the boy. So I am surprised to see her as a Queen."
"It wasn't like that," Jareth said at the same time as his wife.
"I rescued him," Sarah pointed towards him.
"And then she wanted to spite my father." Jareth grinned. "Either way, we are now happily married, aren't we, love?"
Sarah levelled a scowl at him. "Perhaps you could show Toby to his room while I wait for Gilo?"
"I will do that once the healer has seen you, my love." Jareth leant back against the wall, casting an eye over the portal again. His wife was more powerful than he had imagined. Fighting a changeling was no easy feat, and breaking out of a void like the one in the veil, was near impossible. He would have to station a permanent guard in this chamber in case anything else was set loose from the veil.
His thoughts left the ominous looking portal and moved back to his wife. Sarah seemed to have been happy to see him again by her reception. His fingers traced his lips where he still felt her burning kiss, lingering.
He flicked his eyes to Sarah, who was talking to Toby. She caught him touching his lips, and gave a sly smile before turning back to her brother. He appraised her wounds again with his eyes before the healer came marching in. They were certainly no trifling scratches. She was lucky to still have both her eyes.
Gilo went straight to his patient. The elderly elf placed his small carry trunk on the ground. Jareth watched as Gilo took stock of her cuts, and then applied a balm. He could tell she was trying not to show pain.
"This will need to be applied twice a day," Gilo said to the room. "It has some properties that will help fight the imp's magic."
"Imp?" Sarah questioned.
"Prince Sevlydi mentioned the changeling was of Impish origin, Your Majesty," Gilo held up another small vial of yellow liquid. "This one is for the Hirki bites. You will need a few drops in your bath."
"Hirki?" Sarah questioned. "The thing in the veil?"
"Yes." Gilo stood. "Your Majesty, I could show you my quarters, when it pleases you. That way, you always know where to find me."
Jareth bit his lip to stifle his amusement. Gilo was an extraordinary healer, but he quite disliked being ordered around. Suggesting to Sarah that she make herself familiar with his quarters, was a subtle hint that the monarchs should be going to him for healing and not the other way around. Sarah, the ever soft-hearted creature that she was, would adhere to the elf's directive.
"That will be most helpful." Sarah nodded. "Thank you, Gilo."
"Do you need to be seen as well, Your Majesty?" Gilo turned to Jareth.
"Of course not." Jareth waved his hand dismissively. "Do I look injured to you?"
"Well, yes," Gilo said, quietly. "Your mouth and face and clothes are covered in blood."
Jareth looked down to see his grey gloves stained in crimson; Sarah's blood.
Sevlydi sniggered as he reentered the chamber. "How long were you in the void for Jareth?"
"Not long enough," Jareth replied snidely.
"Long enough to get covered in—"
"There are children present," Sarah reminded them.
"Where?" Sevlydi looked around and gestured at the space.
"Toby is a child!" Sarah glared at Sevlydi.
"Toby is seventeen," Toby chirped up. "But I happen to agree. I don't want to know what my sister and her husband are up to."
"Let's all go and get cleaned up." Jareth clapped his hands. "Tobias, I will show you to your rooms."
They all trudged up the stairs back to the ground floor of the castle. Nobody spoke, and Jareth suspected they were all too weary. Sarah accompanied Toby and him to his new rooms where he was fed and orientated. Once she was reassured he would be comfortable she begged off to go and wash up. Jareth watched her go almost wistfully.
Sarah was lying in Jareth's bath. She didn't really know why, but she could not resist the impulse. The hot water stung her cuts and scratches, but it felt so good to wash off the blood and sweat from today. So many unexpected things had occurred. And she hadn't expected to have used the bit of information she had stumbled on when reading about breaking out of magical traps. Sarah wondered if her magic was helping strengthen her powers of memory because that would have been useful during exams.
After fighting off or possibly killing what she now knew to be called a Hirki, she thought she would be wandering aimlessly around that black void for eternity. She couldn't help but embrace Jareth when he found her. The kiss was one of relief, gratitude and something a bit more ineffable. It was a powerful feeling rescuing someone whose ego presumably couldn't handle being the victim, rather than the saviour.
It seemed a lifetime ago, but it was also the same day that Jareth and her had become more physical and intimate than just a shared kiss. Thinking about it now, her clit twinged and she closed her eyes, trying to think of something that wasn't Jareth. Lying in his bath naked, was not the best place for not thinking about what they had done.
It was as she lay here with her eyes closed, that she became aware of Jareth's presence.
"Did you wish yourself to me again, Precious?"
"No," Sarah said with her eyes still firmly closed.
"You're in my bath." She heard his body slide into the water and felt the resulting ripples lap against her neck.
"I was under the impression that I am Queen here," Sarah said, her eyes still closed. "So this is my bath too."
"Indeed." She could hear the smirk in his voice. "I am not complaining."
She opened her eyes and watched him running his fingers through his hair. She could see streaks of red running through his strands of blonde. Her blood was also still smeared over his lips and down his cheeks. She smiled at him as he stared at her.
"I didn't want to sully my bath with blood," she offered in explanation. Jareth chuckled, mirroring her former pose, with his eyes closed.
"I won't point out how the bath can be cleaned by magic then." He stretched an arm on the outside of the bath. "I don't want you to change your mind about being in this bath with me."
Sarah summoned a washcloth with her magic. Then, while he still had his eyes closed, she silently moved from her side to his. Jareth opened his eyes when she was directly in front of him.
"I am going to wash all my blood off you," Sarah offered in a commanding voice. Jareth's eyes darkened, but he nodded. Sarah placed her hands on the edge on either side of him. She pulled herself closer to him until she was straddling his lap, with her knees, either side of his thighs, resting on the underwater bench. There was no skin contact from this position, but it still seemed quite erotic. Jareth's eyes widened, but he kept his mouth closed. Sarah started dabbing his face with the cloth.
"Thank you for everything you did to let me bring Toby home," Sarah said as she ran the washcloth down his cheek.
"Thank you for calling this home." His hands grabbed her around her waist with one hand, while he started running long, tapered fingers down her spine with the other. "Thank you for trusting me enough to come home to me."
Sarah's hand stilled at his words. Her eyes fixed on his, and she felt vulnerable as if he could read all her thoughts with that one look. She cleared her throat and continued to wipe his face, moving down to his chin and then back up to his lips; the lips that she impulsively kissed when she realised she had rescued them both.
"Thank you also for your hug and kiss," Jareth said as she reached up to wipe the blood out of his hair. He was sitting higher in the water than she had been, so she became sensible of her nudity from her navel up. Jareth's hand that was on her waist came sliding up to cup her breast. "Just keeping you modest, love."
"A little uneven there, Jareth." Sarah brought her free hand up to cup her other breast. No longer supporting her weight on the edge of the bath, she rested her bottom on his lap. The skin contact seemed to unravel them both, as his eyes fluttered shut and she swallowed a moan. He opened his eyes and leant forward, he knocked her hand aside and planted a kiss just above her nipple.
"Now it is uneven," he said in a hoarse whisper, taking his hand away and kissing her other breast in the same spot. "Your breasts are as exquisite as I dreamt they were."
"You've dreamt about my breasts?" Sarah danced her fingertips down from his hair to his neck.
"All the time." He cupped both breasts, weighing them with his hands. "I only ever dream about you. Well, occasionally I have dreams about kicking goblins or flying in my owl form, but mostly you."
Jareth's thumbs started circling her nipples, while Sarah rested one hand on his shoulder and traced his cheek with her other.
"Your scar is healing nicely," Sarah observed. "What about your leg?'
"It is badly scarred and still very sore." Jareth tugged lightly on her nipples. "You don't want to see it."
"Is it that bad?"
"You will no longer see me as the flawless creature you admire," he said with a small smile, closing his eyes as her hand moved down from his shoulder to his chest.
"I don't anyway," Sarah said with a laugh before leaning in and leaving a kiss on his collarbone. "You're the ugliest creature I have ever seen."
"If you desire to see my leg, then perhaps you could massage the cream into it for me after our bath," Jareth suggested before he used his legs to tilt Sarah towards him. His mouth was suddenly leaving soft kisses on her jawline, her neck, across her collarbone and an open-mouthed kiss right above her heart. His hands slipped down her body to cup her bottom. Whether intentional or not, the new position meant she could now feel his erection hot against her body.
He dipped his head, caressing the curve of her breast with his lips, his silky hair tickling her chin as he moved. Sarah noticed he was carefully avoiding her face and arms, where the worst of the cuts were. She let out a groan as Jareth's mouth clamped onto her nipple. He sucked a few times before releasing it, only to then lave it with the tip of his tongue. He kissed between her breasts before repeating his actions with the other nipple.
"I want you." Jareth nestled his head between her breasts. "You exquisite, beautiful, infuriating creature."
Sarah's response was to push his head away from her, and plant a single kiss on his lips while running her nails lightly across the skin of his torso, then his legs. Jareth tried to recapture her lips, but Sarah ducked out of his reach, a wicked smile on her face. She weaved her fingers through his and prized them off her bottom. Then angling her feet, she lifted her body off him and pushed off the wall away from him.
"Then come and get me, you equally infuriating creature," Sarah called from the other side of the bath.
"You forgot 'beautiful and exquisite,'" Jareth said, immobile.
"I thought we were only using relevant adjectives," Sarah said, returning his smirk. Jareth cocked his head but still didn't give chase. She sighed and told him, "I guess you don't really want me then."
Without seeing him move, she suddenly felt him behind her. "Got you."
"You cheated!" She laughed as he wrapped his arms around. "You used magic."
"Well, we will try again, and I won't use magic." Jareth released her. "Ready, go."
Sarah dived beneath the water and rose at the other end for a breath, before going back under the surface. Jareth was swimming lazily on the top before he too dove under the water. Sarah watched him from the bottom, conscious of his nudity. He only kicked with one leg, and this brought the thick scarring on his other ankle to her attention. She was so surprised by the coils of scars etched into his skin, that she inhaled a mouthful of water. She shot to the top, coughing and spluttering. Jareth was right there, rubbing her back.
"What happened, Precious?"
"Your leg, Jareth," Sarah said between coughs. "It is so severe."
"It is what it is," he answered, letting her go.
She twisted in the water to face him. "I don't think I truly appreciated what you went through to save me. What you're still going through."
Jareth cupped her cheek, careful not to touch her scratches. "Right now, I have my wife, naked in my bath and willing to play games with me. Drat my leg, Sarah."
Once Sarah's coughing had abated, she slipped under the water, took in a mouthful of bathwater and came back up to spray it in Jareth's face. She jumped out of his reach as he startled.
"Wench!" He wiped the water out of his face. Sarah cackled as she backtracked away from him. She didn't get far before Jareth yet again had his arms around her naked body. He ran his fingers up her spine until his hand held the back of her neck, bringing her face closer to his. Jareth slanted his mouth over hers, pressing his lips against hers with both tenderness and intensity. Sarah responded by sliding her arms over his shoulders, then wrapping her legs around his waist. Jareth grunted into her mouth but held her easily due to the buoyancy of the water. His cock nestled against her mound as he stroked the back of her neck and cupped her bosom again, this time his fingers caressed and kneaded her breast.
Jareth's tongue penetrated her mouth, and the taste of luscious fruits invaded Sarah's sense of taste. His tongue was velvety smooth and sweet, and his probing was curious but not forceful enough to deter Sarah. As Sarah squeezed her thighs tighter around him, Jareth deepened the kiss, his cock twitching against her groin. Coming up for air, they rested their foreheads against each other while their hands still explored each other.
Jareth relocated both of them to the side of the bath, placing Sarah on the ledge, and then parting her legs with his hands. He inspected the zenith of Sarah's thighs with such greed that it sent shivers down to her core. Jareth's hands roamed down the creamy insides of her thighs before running his finger down the seam of her lips. Sarah arched her back to his touch.
"You are perfection," Jareth whispered. "May I taste you?"
The image of Jareth's mouth on her most intimate body part sent ribbons of pleasure right through every nerve. She nodded, almost frantically.
"Sarah," he murmured, still running his finger up and down the outside of her cunt. "Let me hear you say it."
"Taste me, Jareth," Sarah said, her eyes closing. He leaned forward, kissing her on the mouth, running fingers through her hair. The fingers of his other hand dipped inside her folds. Sarah gripped the edge until her knuckles were white, as desire rushed through her, pooling straight at her centre. Ripples of arousal flowed from her core up through her abdomen that had Sarah panting and writhing.
"Queenie, Kingy," came a voice, echoing off the tiles of the bathroom. Sarah shrieked, slinking into the bath to hide her nudity. Jareth pulled her close to him, to help with her dignity, while he stared the intruder down. It was Grygiel, one of the superior goblins.
"What is it?" Jareth said in a tone that belied his impatience.
"A messenger arrived!" Grygiel bowed low. He left a scroll on one of the tables and then retreated towards the exit. "Your Majesties."
"It's from my father." Jareth scowled, as he detached himself from Sarah and climbed out of the bath. Sarah followed suit, grabbing two towels from the shelves. She wrapped one around her frame and then wrapped the second around Jareth's hips. He gave her a cursory glance, showing his surprise at her gesture before he opened the scroll. "They have officially petitioned for war."
Sarah sighed and rubbed her forehead. Following the fluctuations of the day, she was abruptly remarkably exhausted. Jareth caught her yawn, so he folded up his letter.
"Let's get dressed and go to bed." He shook his hand that he was holding the scroll with and it disappeared into the ether. "We will look at this tomorrow."
Another wave of his hand and instead of towels, they were in their nightclothes. Jareth held his hand out to her, lowering his voice, "Come, Precious. Let us get some respite."
Sarah had been sleeping in her own room since the wedding, and it was only yesterday that they had watched each other through the crystals. It was only this morning that they had that intimate moment in the Library. They were suddenly moving at breakneck speed. Jareth stoked the fire with those crystals, but she was the one burning. She craved his touch, but after the events of the day, she acknowledged he was right. She needed sleep.
Jareth seemed to assume that she would be joining him in his bed as he gathered his cane and led her to his room. He turned the bed down and climbed in, waiting for her. She glanced at the secret tunnel and then back at Jareth. She climbed into bed with him, not missing his look of glee.
"Thank you for coming back, my love," he murmured. "Thank you for rescuing me and thank you— thank you for living."
Sarah summoned her cream. She had become prodigiously skilled at summoning-magic over the past few days. She started lathering it into her skin, as Gilo had told her, aware that Jareth watched her, expectantly.
"Would you still like me to do your leg, Jareth?" she asked. He nodded, passing her his balm. She opened it as he slipped his leg out of the sheets and pulled his trouser leg up. Sarah winced at the sight of his flesh carved with fiery, red welts and scars. She applied a liberal amount to her hands and started firmly massaging it into his leg. Jareth groaned as her fingers grazed the fibrous scars.
"Oh, did I hurt you?"
"No!" Jareth shook his head empathetically. "It feels exceedingly pleasant."
"A right pair we are," Sarah said with a feeble laugh. "Covered in scars from head to toe."
"A pair, yes," Jareth said with his eyes closed. "We are both still beautiful, even with the deep scars on the inside."
Sarah slowed her hands to look at his face. "Were you hurt by my refusal of you?"
"The first time?" He grinned. "Or all the subsequent times?"
"The first time."
"Yes," he said, opening his eyes to return her stare. "I have never met anyone that would throw away their dreams as you did, Sarah. No one has refused me as you denied me. It did hurt, especially when the pearl preordained our marriage."
"Well, you got your destiny." Sarah finished rubbing the cream in and popped the lid back on. "I married you."
"Yes." Jareth closed his eyes again. "One victory down, but we still do not know if our moonstones match."
Sarah tensed. She thought of the moonstone hidden in her wall. Despite how intimate they had been, she was still keeping her feelings out of it. As soon as her lungs started screaming in pain, Sarah revived her breathing again.
"I suspect you know already though don't you?" he asked, not even feigning innocence.
Sarah placed the jar of cream on the bedside cabinet and then crawled under the sheets.
"Goodnight, Jareth," she said quietly. Jareth sighed and rolled over on to his side, away from her.
"Goodnight, Sarah."
The next day passed slowly. Jareth read out the letter to Sarah and Sevlydi. Their 'crimes' were numerous, mostly related to insubordination, derelict of duty and breaking of Navas laws and customs. The crimes dated back to Jareth letting Toby 'escape' and releasing the wisher away without consequence.
They had planned on showing Toby the Kingdom and making him feel at home. Instead, they debated their strategy with a whole platoon of goblins present; fearsome-looking goblins, unlike those in the castle or the Labyrinth; all red eyes and sharp claws. Not the bumbling, cartoonish goblins that she had come to adore. Well, maybe not so much adoration as respect.
"I have some news," Sevlydi announced, placing a piece of parchment on the table. "I have scouts reporting to me over from Navas. We had a lot of hypotheses about who was responsible for all the kidnapping, but now we know their accuracy."
"Do tell." Jareth reclined in his seat as he listened. Sarah found herself tensing up.
Sevlydi went on to confirm that the Pinnsburrs had been Sarah's kidnappers. They also had burnt down Robert and Karen's house while Toby was with his aunt. Omre and Nudalun had been the ones to insert changelings into the aunt and uncle's place. It was a loophole they had found when they realised the Pinnsburrs couldn't touch him. They couldn't reach him with magic, but they could still torment him with magical creatures. Omre and Nudalun had captured the real aunt and uncle, and they believed they were still in the dungeons of Navas.
It was pure spite that had led them to plan this entire scheme. By maltreating Toby, they would injure Sarah, and by hurting Sarah, they would unnerve the Goblin King. They had learnt that Sarah was his weakness. At this, Sarah let out a bark of laughter that both brothers ignored. Sevlydi commenced as if nothing happened. He pointed out that this had been the same motivation for kidnapping Sarah as soon as they could cross the veil at Samhain. The Pinnsburrs believed that they would entice the Goblin King with Sarah as bait, as they had eventually done at the ball.
Their main goal was destroying the Goblin King. And this motivation was shared by Omre and Nudalun because they simply disliked Jareth. So they had given Meffod and Yarbro anything they had needed to get the job done. They hadn't banked on the Labyrinth protecting Sarah from scrying — from any parties, Jareth included. When Jareth also escaped the Pinnsburrs, the Navas siblings took it upon themselves to employ the Vile-Brownies to do their dirty work.
Their entire reasoning was a power-play, to show Jareth what they were capable of inflicting upon him. It was also their righteous punishment for dragging his heels about who they wanted him to marry, and depriving the Underground fae of a child. But mostly, Sevlydi pointed out, it was because they didn't like their brother. The last bit of information Sevyldi shared was proof that Glib had been the goblin, pivotal to their plotting and espionage. This reminded Sarah they still hadn't punished him.
It was all things they had suspected and pieced together, but it was enough to have confirmation of it all. Sarah sat in silence at the cruelty Nudalun and Omre committed against their own brother.
"None of this would have happened if I never wished Toby away." She slammed the palm of her hand down on the table after a few minutes to digest all this information. "Your family are pathetic for punishing you for following the rules their council set down about the Labyrinth."
"I also got rewarded." He smiled wanly at her. "The rewards outweigh the punishment."
"Be that as it may," Sarah began sceptically, "but now we have a war looming, another human taken away from his Aboveground life, and possibly the destruction of our entire Kingdom. When will the punishments cease?"
"No-one said we would lose the war, precious." Jareth propped his foot upon the table.
"People will die!" Sarah slammed her palm down again. "Whether we 'win' the war, we will lose lives. No conflict is worth it."
They argued together in this vein for most of the day. Eventually, the three of them had cobbled together battle plans, and Sarah left to spend the afternoon with Toby. Jareth had employed ChipChop to show Toby around and keep him company while the rest of them were closeted in the war room. A room that Jareth had created fit for purpose.
Toby was delighted to see Sarah, yet astounded to discover his relatives were both living but imprisoned in Navas. She recounted some of her tales, leaving out any allusions to her original trip. Sarah wasn't willing to report that she had wished Toby away to the goblins quite yet. Sarah would have to, and soon, but Toby had enough information to absorb in one day.
Toby in turn recounted how his relatives/changelings had made his life miserable. Toby had mustered up some serious inner strength to stand up to their abuses. They never physically touched him, and he was fed, clothed and still allowed to attend school. But it was always the bare minimum.
After dinner, Sarah made her own way to bed. Jareth was regaling Toby with some of the more humorous exploits of his goblins and chickens, so she left them to it. Jareth had assured her that he put one of his most trusted goblins outside Toby's door so there would be no sneaking around the castle while they slept. It was reassuring, but also endearing that Jareth was so considerate.
After her bath with the ointment and then the application of her cream, she climbed into Jareth's bed to read a book. It was a novel she had found in the library: a romance between a fae princess and a mortal man. She was lost within its pages when Jareth appeared out of thin air. He momentarily looked surprised to see her there, but then offered a warm smile. Sarah fidgeted slightly but resumed reading her book.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of you in my bed?" He started unbuttoning his vest as he stood there.
"We have unfinished business," Sarah said without looking up.
"We do!" She could hear his grin. "I took the liberty of putting Grygiel on Bog Security Detail for the remainder of the lunar calendar. I am sure you don't mind."
Sarah gave an incredulous laugh. "It wasn't his fault, and he was right to interrupt us."
"Just so." Jareth pulled his boots off. "But I chose to deal with my frustrations in an adult manner, rather than just bogging him. I thought you would be proud, my love."
"Oh, prodigiously." Sarah smirked, her book lay forgotten in her lap as she watched him start to peel his gloves off with his teeth. "Maybe the gloves could stay on."
Jareth's brow rose, but silently, he slipped his glove back on. He removed his shirt, his eyes intent on Sarah's face, when he suggested, "you can remove my pants."
Sarah threw the blanket aside and strode towards him. She took his cane off him as she pushed him back onto the bed. Straight away, she slid her fingers into the top of his trousers, then worked them down his hips. Sarah ignored his cock as it unfurled from its prison, and pushed the trousers the rest of the way off. He lay naked on his bed, watching her.
"Robe off," he rasped. "Now."
Sarah slipped the silk robe off, revealing that she was also naked underneath. Without waiting for further instruction, she pounced on him, straddling his hips and kissing from his chest up to his mouth.
"We can do this slowly, Sarah," he said huskily.
"Or we could do it fast," Sarah said aggressively. She positioned herself over his erection, grinding her groin against the tip. Jareth bit his lip as he watched her through lidded eyes. Sarah felt the cool silk of the gloves graze her skin as he ran them down from her shoulders to her waist. She let out a moan as they travelled past the sides of her breasts. Sarah ran her hands up to his chest, to rub fingertips lightly over his nipples. She repeated the actions with her tongue, sending Jareth bucking under her.
He slid one gloved hand between her legs, inserting a finger into her folds. Sarah shuddered and moaned as the butter-soft material caressed her clit. She felt ready to come instantly. She grabbed his hand and gave the offending digit a casual lick before lowering herself to his erection, positioning it at the entry.
"We can slow down, love," Jareth grunted. "You haven't even kissed me yet."
Sarah just wanted release, not romance, so she just bared her teeth at Jareth and started guiding his hard cock into her vagina. She had got as far as the tip when she felt suddenly very strange. Dizziness overcame her and it felt like every atom in her body was trying to go somewhere else. She looked at Jareth who was scowling deeply.
"What's happening?" Sarah shuddered but not in a good way. "Is this some kind of curse for trying to fuck you?"
"No!" She had never seen Jareth so angry. His face had morphed into some unrecognisable visage of pure loathing. The next thing Sarah noticed was that she was suddenly clothed, as was Jareth. They were both in their Goblin Monarch attire. Sarah baulked and then slid off Jareth as he straightened.
"I have to go," he said, with a deadly promise laced in his voice, his black armour matching his mood.
"So do I," Sarah said as magic continued to tug on her every atom. "What's going on?"
"A wish!" He scowled deeper. "Your husband passed the book onto someone who has used it. They have summoned me."
"They have summoned us both," Sarah corrected, feeling like she was being dragged apart cell by cell.
"You will stay here," Jareth ordered as he threw himself out of bed, his cloak swished threateningly as he collected his cane.
"The fuck I will," Sarah gasped. "The magic is trying to rip me apart."
"Can you turn into an owl?" Jareth asked with a sneer.
"Not yet." She wrapped her arms around herself.
"Then you can't come!" He shook his head and went to the door. Sarah followed him.
"I have to go." Sarah gripped his arm. "I can't refuse."
Jareth looked at her, really looked at her. His anger seemed to soften as he saw her shivering in pain. He swept her figure with a pitying look and nodded. "You're right. You can not refuse the magic of a calling. Even I can not circumvent it; however much I desire your safety. Come, we need to check if the baby has arrived in the throne room before we make our grand entrance."
He stuck her arm under his elbow and transported them to the throne room. There in the centre pit, was a squally baby held by Cricket and Cookie. Jareth knelt at the edge and ran his fingers over the baby's forehead and then straightened.
"Come, Sarah." Jareth tugged her close to him. "We have our duty."
He led her to the window. "The Labyrinth's magic should be enough to convert you into an owl. Then just follow me."
Sarah peered over the edge at the long drop to the ground. "You just mocked my lack of ability."
"That was before I truly realised the hold the calling had over you, Sarah. I apologise for my briskness."
"I think I may die, Jareth."
"Do you think I would let that happen?" He cupped her cheek. "The only one who will die tonight is the one who interrupted us."
Sarah flinched, uncertain if he was serious or not. "It was just sex, Jareth. Not worth murdering for."
Jareth said nothing and just jumped through the window, elegantly converting into an owl. He circled above Sarah while she stepped up onto the edge. She closed her eyes, and jumped, trusting Jareth that it wouldn't be to her death.
A/N: Yes. I cockblocked them twice in one chapter. Had to be done haha.
Fifteen years since the last wished away baby... next chapter we learn who wished away their baby. :'(
And yay! Toby is back, but boo, so much is going on, Sarah hasn't had much time to reacquaint herself with him.
Thank you, readers and reviewers. We are so close to the end. Ahhhhhh (finally). I never imagined this story would be quite so...bulky LOL. I have only deviated from the initial plot I mapped out in one or two small areas. Achievement: Unlocked Haha.