~Chapter 13~
There is a throne room full of people awaiting the human's proof of what the twins have been up to during their century-long stay up in the human world. Representatives from each realm gather in the oval shaped room while little murmurs blend in with music playing off in the distance. The court sits and waits patiently while Ellie, upon hearing the magical music, looks for the source. She stares in wonder at the fairy tale world that she now occupies. She is trying to sit still but she has that feeling again that her mom calls "ants in the pants". Giving into her childish desires, little Ellie tries her best to move with the music while she dances her little heart out. Anxious for her mother to return, she starts to twirl and dance. She is trying to behave, she really is.
Her mind can hardly fathom such a drastic change in life. One day she lives as a little girl shut off from the world with a sickness looming over her and her struggling mother, and the next day she is in a magical castle in a magical plane with a magical cure and a whole bunch of other magical stuff. Ellie's entire world was a little townhouse in the middle of Manhattan with nothing but a few of her mother's friends to keep her company. Not only did her world grow exponentially, but so has her desire to go out and see it.
But Ellie isn't old enough to convey all of the emotion that churns inside of her soul, so instead, she dances. With a skip and a twirl, her eyes glisten at the sheer beauty of the world around her. She is scared. She wants her mommy. On the outside it is clear that she doesn't fully understand what is going on, but the nerves inside can not contain themselves. She is doing what she does best; she dances to the music that plays in the distance.
"What is the little... human doing?" Goddess Morrígan asks as she watches the human child.
"Well I-" Goddess Áine observes the child with a youthful smile of her own. "I do believe she is dancing, dear sister." she adds as she watches her current ward spin in place, forcing the skirt of her dress to twirl along with her.
"Dancing..." Goddess Ériu responds with a look of disgust. "This is no time to be so merry-"
"Oh, I wouldn't quite say that," Goddess Áine ignores her fellow sister, and instead sees the dancing child as an invitation to join in. "When words fail, dance ensues." Goddess Áine's smile is enchanting. She stands with the child and starts to twirl on her own two feet, desiring to watch her own dress follow the twirl to that of the child's.
Ellie giggles in joy as she sees a grown-up join in on her dancing. "Yow'r dress is pwetty." Ellie says, gazing at her beautiful flowy dress.
"Why, thank you, sapling. Yours is quite radiant and becoming, as well." She responds holding out a hand for the child to take.
"Thank you." Ellie says with a curtsy, not really knowing what she is saying thank you to, but she knows that her mommy would want her to use her manners, so she said thank you. She accepts the woman's hand as the Goddess happily guides the child to an age old dance that is often reserved for mothers and their children during their banquets and royal gatherings. The others around the throne room, including High Goddess Danu watches the spectacle before them, but no one calls them to a halt. The other Goddesses stare blankly at their sister Áine, wondering exactly what she is doing with this human child. This is not proper behaviour, but none dare call the spectacle to a halt, and the common folk only whisper on how unusual this is. Though many are shocked by such an improper moment, none are surprised, for this is only one of many cases that involve the rather unorthodox Goddess of a sister that has an uncanny fascination with humans.
Just as Goddess Áine and Ellie finish a messy giggle-filled spin, a large booming noise can be heard from the center of the room. The music stops as everyone sees that Jareth and Sarah have spontaneously returned, but this time there is a third. Upon seeing the third face that accompanies them, Goddess Áine pushes Ellie back behind her as the entire room breaks into several gossiping circles about how Michelina is now standing in the same room, clad in irons, and being leashed up by Jareth, himself.
"What is this?" High Goddess Danu stands as she bangs her walking stick up against the floor. This action gathers everyone's attention as they all fall silent before the High Goddess. "You brought more than you lead on, King Jareth." She narrows her eyes at the situation. "Speak."
Jareth invites his cousin to the floor. "Well?"
Michelina's face is emotionless. She is very good at hiding any feeling. Sarah watches her intently, hoping to catch any feeling in her eyes, face, body stance, anything. Michelina slowly inhales and stands tall. She faces the council and bows her head towards her superiors. "I wish for a private audience with the High Court..." she gulps, "your majesty."
"What is the meaning of this?" Goddess Ériu says as she takes the floor. "You want a private audience after what has been damned of you?" Her words cause her to stand from her place in the line of her equals. "You have quite a sense of humor, dear niece."
"I heed warning." Michelina quickly responds, though her words are clear as day. "Matters such as these would require more... personal ears." she looks to the crowd. Her eyes are wide as they invite the slightest amount of emotion into them. "I willingly place myself in custody in hopes of a plea for asylum." The sound of gossiping murmurs fill the room. "I fear of what is to come." Her eyes speak with emotion that she is unable to provide.
"That's quite the tall order from someone who has probably killed oh, so many already." Goddess Morrígan accuses.
"I..." Sarah somehow has a certain respect for the strong way that Michelina stands, willing to accept her fate. "I know that I risk much when I speak these words, but you will have to trust that I wanted nothing to do with any of this." Her voice softens as her long dark hair covers her scorned face. She sees the ocean of individuals that surround them. "I have much to spill upon your souls, but I beg that it be in a more secluded manor." Her voice struggles to keep its bravery. She starts to feel the sting of the iron upon her wrists.
Voices scatter around the room at the show in the middle of it. Civilians from all areas of the surrounding worlds take watch, itching to make this new chain of events become viral among all of their own lands. Michelina looks around the room at the amount of faces. There are some that she recognizes, mainly those who sit for the Tuatha de Dennan. Murmurs pick up all around her. She can see the sour looks that fill their faces.
A gentle glow beams from the Matriarch. "Order," High Goddess Danu speaks as she gently bangs her walking stick to the floor like a gavel. "Princess Michelina," The High Goddess gains the attention from every face in the room, "my grandchild... my blood." Her face is stoic; emotionless. Emotion cannot exist in this untimely moment. "Have you any idea what kind of target that has been placed on King Jareth's head due to this foolish escapade? Your Cousin? Your blood? Your kin?"
The questions are asked, and Michelina refuses to look towards him. "I... did," she admits, "but my actions were an act of... fear." Her eyes look away. That word causes more voices to buzz.
High Goddess Danu studies the child ahead of her. She calms the room with a light glow on the ground underneath the feet of all who stand in the room. The Matriarch takes her time to approach the prisoner. "This is not something that I take joy in, Michelina." Goddess Danu says with a hushed tone. "Jareth says that he has found substantial evidence that you and your brother Montgomery have been involved with tasteless actions against humanity."
"Please... your majesty..." Michelina dares to look into the eyes of The Matriarch in front of her. "It isn't a good idea to speak of this so openly-" Michelina suddenly comes to a halt as her vision turns to something behind the High Goddess. Michelina barely whispers, "no..." She starts to move.
"Keep to the ground, leanabh brònach." Goddess Danu gives Michelina a generous warning, but Michelina suddenly bolts into a run. Her sudden speed causes whiplash throughout the room, swiftly bypassing the Matriarch as she aims for-
"Ellie!" Sarah screams as Michelina heads for the human child. Jareth instinctively jumps towards his ward in an attempt to protect her. Almost getting a little too close, Goddess Áine casts a spell on the raven haired prisoner just as her chained hands grab a hold of Ellie's necklace and yanks it off of her. Jareth stops in his tracks as a vibrant light suddenly shoots from his mother's hands. In an instant, Ellie's amethyst necklace with the silver chain is stripped from the child and then shatters to magical pieces upon such a strong impact.
Ellie falls back into Goddess Áine's arms as Michelina suddenly collapses to the ground, broken necklace at hand, and rendered unconscious.
What...
What the hell was that?
The room is silent of any movement or sound. All eyes are wide and ready for retaliation, should the body start to move. The woman lays in a deep slumber with the gasps of the other Fae spritzing the air.
"To the prisons with... my granddaughter." High Goddess Danu says with a very heavy heart. Her eyes slowly come to a close as her sigh grows heavy for her flesh and blood. "See to it that she is not able to escape. This outburst could have been caused by a number of things. She must be bound by the most pure of iron. Use caution."
"Aye, your majesty." One of the many guards lifts the twin and carries her away.
"Mama!"
"Ellie!" Sarah drops everything in her hands as she runs to her child. She envelopes her with her arms with one fatal swoop and holds her as close as humanly possible while shushing the teary eyed child in her wake. "Oh, my baby." Sarah attempts to shush the tears from her frightened child. The security of her mother's arms eases her crying a bit. "Are you hurt?" Sarah cups her child's head as she inspects her face and body.
"No," Ellie sniffs, "s-she...just" she hiccups, "b-broked my necklace." She struggles to speak through her child-like sobs. She continues to cry into her mother's arms and holds tightly to her, mourning her precious gift.
Sarah is almost relieved that Ellie is more upset about losing a silly object, rather than watching her little girl become fearful for her life. The mother exhales in a tearful sigh as she stands next to Jareth. Ellie sits at Sarah's hip as she lays her head on her mother's shoulder grasping tightly at Sarah's neck.
Unsure of what will happen next, Sarah quietly whispers to the Goblin King unbuttoning his jacket with haste. "What's going to happen, now?"
"Now, you leave." His tone sneers with irritation. His words are short as he takes off his jacket, placing it on one of the many seats in the room.
"Huh?"
"Take your child away from here and go back to your chambers." He reiterates as he unbuttons the cuffs of his long sleeved shirt in a frustrated manner. "You will be notified of information as it comes."
She looks at him, but his eyes do not meet hers. Such a change in attitude warrants some uneasiness from the human woman. "Information from you, right?" She asks.
Jareth picks up the forgotten yet essential contraption that Sarah had dropped in the midst of Ellie's safety. "I'm not quite up to speaking with you at the moment, so that will not be a guarantee."
Sarah's eyes twitch at his response. "...W-what?"
"You may leave voluntarily, or I will have someone escort you. Your choice." His words may be meant for her, but he does not face her.
"Wait-" she tries to reach for him, "what's wrong-"
He pulls away. "It is just good to know how well we can trust your judgement."
She looks towards his direction, confused at the tone of his words. "What do you mean-"
"I told you she was dangerous," He suddenly turns to capture her doe-like eyes. Such intensity causes her to fall mute. "Did I not?"
She looks around the room at the eyes that start to fall on them. "Jareth-"
"I warned you about her, but you didn't listen to me." His voice causes her to gently back away from him.
"Wait, Jareth just calm down-"
"See to your child." He shakes his head. His temper causes him to ignore her. "I will take things from here." He steps on.
"Wait- hold on a second." She tries to stop him.
"I will not." Again, he pulls away from her. "I do not wish to linger on this."
His words make her heart drop. "Well, I don't care if you wish to hear from me or not." She makes her voice known. "I didn't know she was going to do that-"
"I told you not to trust her!" He shouts back. His voice is ravenous as it echoes throughout the hall. Ellie jolts in Sarah's arms in surprise of his voice, causing both of the human girls to gawk at him in sudden fear. Everyone hears the outburst and he sees how it makes Sarah cower back even further away from him. "The Fae are dangerous, I have told you this." He steps very close to her. His eyes flicker as his Human and Fae side struggle for control. "You can not trust us." His voice changes with each word. His voice lowers to a whisper as his eyes stare her down with intimidation. "Will you ever understand that?"
It is a real struggle for her to respond. Soft sniffs of self-soothing can be heard from the child on her shoulder as she hides in her mother's hair. "I-I-" She looks away from his eyes. She can't look at them anymore. "I t-thought she could help-"
"Does this help?" He motions to the frightened child at hand. His eyes are so intense that she can feel his eyes sting her skin with judgement. Such a sensation causes a tear to break from her eye. He can immediately sense her sadness, and the fervency from his Fae side reverts back into himself. "Just-" He slowly exhales as he stands fully erect. He overspoke. This is too private. He needs to stop. "Please..." Guilt starts to strike at his heart. He doesn't want her to see him like this. "Please just... go tend to your child." He slowly wanders away from her. His voice is more calm now. It's reminiscent of a more human Jareth. "I can take things from here." He repeats himself. His voice now seems to be driven by concern more than anything else.
Taking the cell phone machine, he plugs the charger up, and engulfs all of the wires in his hands into a bubble of magic power. The power of the electric bubble helps to spring the old thing back to life. As the old battery light comes on, it starts to charge.
"Jareth..." She doesn't like this. She doesn't like this, at all. "Please... I-"
"Tilda," he focuses on the bubble as his eyes start to glow, "will you please escort Sarah back to her chambers?" he asks, voice toned to fit his concentration for his next task. It's time for him to get to work.
Sarah stands there with her heart breaking at his words. "So what, am I grounded now?" There's a certain emptiness in her tone, but he does not respond. He just continues to concentrate as he heads over to his superiors.
Sarah stands with a tinge of defeat. She doesn't know what else to say. "Come on," Tilda says with a watchful eye. She motions for Sarah to just leave it and follow. "I think a little space is wise for the two of you, anyhow." The blonde's voice is soft as she lays a guiding hand on Sarah's shoulder. She can feel Ellie's grip tighten as they walk away.
"Mommy?"
"Yes, my love?" Sarah's voice trickles down to nothing but a whisper.
"I wanna go home."
"Oh honey..." their voices can be heard trailing off as they make their way out of the room.
"Is he mad at me?" The human child's voice instantly causes Jareth's concentration to break, and the cell phone pops right out of the bubble. He is lucky enough to catch it in mid air as he heavily shakes his head free of the scorned voices that leave his regretful ears.
Goddess Áine reaches for her son, "Jareth-"
"It's fine." He says as he blinks for a new bubble to immediately appear around the contraption again.
+x+x+x+
The afternoon had come and gone. The cell phone had been charged and Sarah was brought back to help unlock the damn thing so they could see what they found. Silence would continue to plague her and Jareth as she worked with the Fae. They would speak, and she would stay silent unless she was directly spoken to, though Jareth would not say a word to a single soul. After her part, she had been excused, and Tilda escorted the human back to her room again. The whole ordeal was so uncomfortable, Sarah was glad to have space in her own room.
Fortunately, Tilda was as kind as she was firm. She was nice to Sarah, and bantered about how thick-headed Jareth could be at times and sometimes he can actually be quite difficult, but he does eventually come around. She indulged the humans with a few stories about their younger years, and Sarah was happy to admit that hearing the antics that Jareth had done as a child did put her and Ellie into better spirits. Tilda was attentive to the humans, admitting that her mother's fascination has helped her better understand human kind, and that she never would have cared about that part of her if their mother wasn't so invested in them. She even told a dark joke on how she assumed Jareth's anger is derived from their father's side. Sarah stayed silent with a wide-eyed smile, choosing to stay silent, knowing of their backstory. The kind Fae woman eventually left Sarah with slightly warmer spirits, but with the sudden lack of a person to speak to, it didn't take long for her mind to plague itself with endless thoughts.
Now, Sarah tucks her sleepy little child into the large canopy bed on her half of the chambers. Ellie has Sarah convinced that she will not sleep unless she can sleep in her mother's bed with her. This idea doesn't bother Sarah in the least. The bed can fit fifty Ellie's, and Sarah isn't sure she feels like sleeping alone tonight, anyhow. It had been a few hours since Michelina's dramatic outburst, as well as Jareth's disappointment with the whole situation. They have yet to speak, and it only makes Sarah that much more anxious. The way he spoke to her ripped her to shreds. Her heart is pained after such a public display. She feels so embarrassed about how he made her leave and his refusal to listen to her. He shut her down and refused to hear anything she had to say. He was very upset at her, she knows, but she thinks that he needs to chill the fuck out a little bit.
She understands that he was concerned for their safety. He did tell her that it was a bad idea, and he tried to warn her. Of course she feels guilty for all of this, but his reaction only made her feel that much worse. That... bitch jumped after her baby, and for what? Why the hell would she do that? What possessed her to try such a thing? Michelina was so fast. Sarah can't think of what would have happened if she were to get her hands on Ellie. The very thought brings her blood to a boil.
But...Sarah was sure. She was sure about Michelina. She always trusted her gut. When she looked into Michelina's eyes, she didn't show any kind of hostility while talking back in the old house. Her eyes were dark and frightened, and Sarah could swear she saw fear in her eyes. There was just... something about her that told Sarah that she was telling the truth. Sarah doesn't quite know how to explain it, but... she could swear that, she... felt the fear inside of Michelina.
As Sarah tucks in one of Ellie's arms, she looks to the area of her chest that would have a silver chained amethyst around it, if it had not exploded upon Michelina's impact. Sarah envisions the scene again, with Michelina saying "no" as she jumped at her child. She pulled her necklace off and it shattered as she was zapped by Goddess Áine's powerful hand. Before they arrived, she told Sarah and Jareth and she was instructed to go after Sarah. If that's the case, then why did she go after Ellie? Why?
Ugh. Why?!
A puzzled look continues to sit on Sarah's face as she makes her way to the large open window that looks into a seemingly endless starry night. She embraces the comfort of the darkness as her child slowly falls into slumber behind her. She leans on the large balcony-like railing to take in the nighttime air. She felt something inside of Michelina as she spoke of danger. She knows she felt it. It was almost a cold tingling in the back of her head as the traitor spoke. The feeling was real- and... could that be something Sarah felt when she went after Ellie, too? Sarah can't know for sure, since she was too occupied with the fact that Michelina fucking LUNGED at her daughter. But a feeling? A feeling?
'Come on, Sarah. You're starting to lose it.'
As her little girl sleeps the night away, Sarah wonders how much sleep she would be able to get after all of this. There is just so much on her mind, so much to worry about- Jareth, Ellie, the humans, her own mother- God she just wants to go get her mother. She is starting to get impatient. She looks down to her emerald green dress and forcibly grabs at the fabric. Here she is in this grand castle, being waited on by handmaidens and the friggin' Fae and her mother and friends are literally dying HERE somewhere, and it's almost driving her completely mad.
She travels back in her mind to what she and Jareth found in the pile of pictures and documents. The twins created this huge business for one thing, and one thing only- to rally up humans. They wanted to sell humans, for what, they don't know. She can't even imagine what they are going through- what her mother has been going through this whole time. Michelina said that there was someone behind it, but she never told anyone who. Is that her information? Is she saving it for when she is out of options?
What are they doing to those humans? And why are they doing it? What all does Michelina know?
Something.
She knows something... if not everything!
She knows enough for Sarah to want to find out for herself.
With ready feet, she twists to leave for a hunt to find Michelina... but gently gasps in fright as she freezes in her steps. She becomes startled by a statuesque Goblin King, stoically standing in the shadows of the darkened corners of the room, with only the two moons- (there's TWO moons?!) to fuel as their light. He stares very intently at her.
There is a silence between them. Their distance apart resembles a simpler time in their lives - a time where they played different roles with one another - a time where they had first met.
There is a silent yet brutal understanding between the two, for they desire their distance, but do not wish to part any further.
It may be dark, but their eyes always seem to find each other. "How long have you been standing there?" Her voice is small and meek.
His voice matches hers. "Long enough to hear your sighs of contemplation." He is very still. The wind hums a gentle tune around them.
Her hands fidget in front of her. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" Looking down, she manages to let go of his gaze.
He catches her intended tone. He understands her bitterness. "It was getting late." His voice doesn't rise much. "I wanted to check up on you."
"I suppose I should feel honored." She gently shifts to look out into the evening. Her scornful tone continues. "Is there something you need," she continues to avert his gaze, "your majesty?'
"You." He's quick to respond. She makes the mistake of leering back into his eyes as they pierce into her soul. It was vague, but she heard the softest crack in his voice. This causes a slight hitch in her throat. "My superiors wanted to offer their gratitude," he iterates to cover up his blunder, "for successfully encrypting the machine to locate its findings. They are observing the proof as we speak."
"That's... good to hear." Her voice caresses his ears. There is an awkward aura around them. Neither of them really know what to do.
"I see that your child has maintained proper emotional stability for sleep." He looks towards the ward in the room. "This improvement is quite welcome."
Sarah nods. "Yes," she follows his gaze. "She was very tired." A soft smile grows as she looks at her little girl. "This was a big day for her." She looks down with a frown. "It was a big day for all of us." Her honesty spills out of her. "A lot happened."
"Yes." He gently nods.
"Things were said."
"I know."
"I-" She dares to step closer. He stays still. "I don't regret what I did." Sarah's voice is just a little more clear as she holds a hand to her heart. "Bringing her here-" she steps closer, "she has information, valuable information."
"I know."
"I... I know it was a risk-" she continues, "a fucking stupid risk. I feel bad enough about what happened, and with you adding on to my guilt-"
"You're right."
"I'm not happy that she jumped after her, either, believe me, but she knows everything, Jareth."
"And I agree-"
She cuts him off. "-and I just know that there is something else going on that she desperately wants us to know-" She pauses as his words just now catch up to her. "...Wait," she looks up at him, "you agree?"
His response is simple as she finally gives him room to speak. "Yes." His gentle sigh is enough for her to understand. "Regardless of how dangerous she is, she is more valuable to us chained up and alive than dead." He slowly inhales as he stands as straight as a pin. "After a grueling discussion with the other Fae Royalty on what to do to with such an insolent prisoner and their unfortunate choices, it was decided that looking through evidence and ensuring her guilt is the best course of action, as opposed to a common categorical death by beheading for such a traitor to the crown."
"Sounds like you aren't too keen with the outcome." Sarah crosses her arms.
"I..." His sudden chuckle drops her heart to her feet. She definitely didn't see that reaction coming. "Ironically enough, I am one of the ones that opted for her to remain alive." His voice glides to a more human level. "Though your idea was a reckless one, I would be lying if I didn't mention that I agreed with you back in your bedroom. I wouldn't have brought her back with us if that weren't the case." He shrinks the distance between them. "And given how long I've known you, and how well I know you, I don't know why your insistence surprised me in the first place." His newfound honesty releases a new aura around them, one that is more inviting. "It seems that I have developed a terrible habit of being unable to say no to you." His voice suddenly goes quiet in guilt of his outburst.
A small ball of fury ignites inside of her. "So, you yelling at me was your ego on a power trip because you can't say no to me?" Her movements slow as his words vex her.
"My anger was for Michelina." Her body jolts as his hands suddenly, yet gently, grab a hold of her shoulders. She was not aware that they were close enough for such sudden physical contact. "I was... angry, ireful and full of fear, both for you," His slowly traced his hands down her arms. She can see his scornful eyes among the darkness, "and for Ellie." Her twinge of fury dissipates. "It was very wrong of me." He pulls himself closer to her, as her hands find themselves intertwined with his. "Your tears..." he continues as Sarah closes the distance between the two of them. "Ellie's words," Sarah breaks an unwanted smile. "You have more than enough going on." One of his hands makes its way to caress her cheek. "I only add to your burden."
"Burden...?" Her empty hand yearns to touch him, so she travels up his abdomen and places her hand over his heart.
"My anger for my desire to protect you had gotten the better of me." His hands slowly move away from her. "My emotions are a burden on your heart."
"We are the burdens, Jareth. We are the humans that need protection. We are the weak ones. We are the ones that burden you." She places his hand on her hip as his forehead relaxes up against hers.
He shakes his head. "Never."
"You have given so much for us, I... I am forever indebted to you."
"There is no debt to be paid, Sarah. You have been through so much, already." His thumb just barely traces her lip. "I refuse to hurt you again. I will not allow myself to put you in harm's way."
She can't help but to break into a small smile. "And how do you suppose we do that?"
His tone is not so playful. "I've arranged living arrangements for you and your child at my mother's estate."
She severely blinks at his words. "What?"
His touch is light as a feather upon her knuckles. "From there, you will have an advisor that can help you and your child find a new life in your world, one that you deserve." He closes his eyes.
This action sends a shockwave through Sarah's mind and body. The tips of her fingers dig into Jareth's skin as she... feels the human side of Jareth overcome his Fae side. Jareth pauses his movements to feel her fingers dig into him, and the radiation of power that flows through her hands. She can feel the ripples of energy vibrate her very soul.
Her eyes start to glow a vibrant green as a stoic voice speaks from her vocal chords. "You are ashamed of the way you lashed out at her." The ripples of what Jareth recognizes as pure magic starts to wash over her like the waves of an electric ocean. "Guilt. Fear. Unknown." Sarah speaks almost in a chant. "You should know better than to let that fear get the better of you."
Jareth open's his eyes to see Sarah... Glowing a gentle purple aura around her body. "Sarah..." The emerald color in her eyes illuminate.
"You are afraid," her chant continues as her voice starts to echo, "afraid of your power. Afraid of hers." Sarah is still as she holds onto him with purpose, yet her eyes are glossed over. "You wish for her safety." The pupils in her eyes grow and she deeply inhales. His eyes rise in astonishment of what is happening. She continues. "You are scorned with so much guilt that you feel as though she is safer away from you, rather than by your side." Her voice speaks as if she were possessed. "You are afraid of the repercussions of what would happen if..." her lashes flutter open and close as the luminous color of her eyes fade back into the darkness around them, "...if you told me you... were in love with me..." Sarah deeply inhales as she starts to feel lost and a little scared of what just happened.
They both slowly part from one another. Her hands release from his arms, and the powerful magic that had enveloped them dissipates.
There is a very long silence.
"What... what... was that?" Sarah shivers as she feels goosebumps rise on her arms.
"Y-you... how did you do that..." Jareth is just as surprised.
"I... I just- I don't know- I just... felt it. I... experienced it. I don't know how to explain it."
"You... you felt what? What did you feel?"
"I... I felt what you were feeling. This... sensation just burst through me and I was just talking... I don't know where any of that came from."
"Sarah..." Jareth's eyes have grown exponentially.
"I felt so much, Jareth. You are so hard on yourself." She suddenly finds her hand combing through his hair. "Why can't you understand that you are a good man, and you have a good heart." Her hand travels from his heart to his cheek. "You can't let one argument define everything about you. We are people. We have depth. I can feel the desperation you feel for the safety of me and my baby. The... the feeling is so... so strong." She looks at him with eyes looking for understanding in his. "It's almost as if you feel... burdened by the very emotion that stirs within you- the human emotion within you..."
She was diving into him, diving deep. "Sarah... please..."
"You had every reason to be angry today," her voice breaks into existence, "both with me and just the entire situation." She reassures his touch with her own. "Believe me, I was, too. I was so mad at myself... But the worst thing about all of it was that you didn't want to talk to me." Her eyes suddenly pierce his. He sees her tears struggle to stay still. "You just... sent me away. And now you want to... relocate me? We can't keep running from our feelings, Jareth. Just... please talk to me." The plea in her voice aches his own heart.
The very idea of not being near her for the rest of his days plagued his mind, but he could never do that to her, could he? "You don't want this, Sarah."
"Yes I do-"
"I've told you of the dangers of this," He counters the argument. "You don't know what it takes to fall in love with a Fae being," Sarah can see the darkened features of his face now that her eyes have succumbed to the darkness, "and frankly I am not sure if I even want you to go through what needs to be done in order for you to stay... with me."
There's that feeling, again. The cold twinge of fear in the back of her mind. "Jareth-"
"Excuse me." a meek sounding voice chirps from behind Jareth. The Fae King and the human woman put their conversation to the side as they see a servant of the palace carrying a small candle to light her path. Once she gets the attention from the party, she continues with a bow. "My apologies, my Lord, but I was sent with a message from her majesty, Goddess Danu. She says that the prisoner has awoken." Jareth and Sarah look to one another. "I was tasked with escorting his majesty, and her lady to the council room at once."
Jareth looks back to Sarah with an apologetic disposition. "I'm sorry." He states as she watches his face almost transform back into a more Fae like Jareth. His aura shifts and the spark of change makes Sarah's hair stand on end. A small poof of magic sends a small gust of wind around the party as The Goblin King puts his human side away for the time being. Sarah understands that the time for business is now, and is just relieved to see Jareth hold out an arm for her to hold.
"Don't apologize for working." Sarah accepts his arm with both of her hands. "We will talk about this later, though."
"I know." He slightly nods in a gentle bow. "You may lead." Jareth says to the servant as they make their way to the council.
+x+x+x+
I don't really need to explain my absence to you, do I? Things are hella hectic, but I'm not going to bore you with details, but trust me when I say that things are crazy, and I'm not even including COVID and school. We are living in very strange times. Hopefully adding some more fanficiton into the world can help it suck a little less.
And because I deserve a little bit of sympathy, I just lost a family member, and ironically, Labyrinth (as well as other fandoms) are really helping me stay distracted. And the weed that I'm smoking is really helping with the creative process. Who knew that being a stoner would mean actually getting shit done?
Now... off to homework.