Chapter 10, Look Out World
Sarah awoke the next morning to the sounds of chirping birds. She pulled the blanket that had been draped across her body over her shoulders and nuzzled herself into it. As she started to stir, she remembered that she was missing something. She sat up and looked around the room, searching for the arms that held her the night before.
She got up and walked around the room, looking for the missing Goblin King. Sarah scratched her head and yawned as she realized she was alone. A bit depressed, she skulked to a chair and plopped down into it. The morning light was blazing through the window and stung her eyes. When she looked away from the window she saw a white envelope on the nearby table.
"My Dearest Sarah,
It saddens me to not be able to see your eyes flutter in the morning light, but as one can assume, I have duties to attend to. I leave you to yourself for now. If you need me, you need only call. Otherwise, I will be sure to see you soon.
Sincerest,
Jareth.
P.S. I left you a present, I hope it will be of use to you...If you can find it first that is."
Sarah smiled as she set the note back on the table. She wondered what he could have given her, and where in the world it could be. The cottage wasn't exactly roomy, you could see every nook and cranny just by standing in one corner and looking from left to right. It had to be something small.
Sarah started searching like a five year old on Easter, rummaging through books and shelves, tossing pillows and blankets every which way. After a frantic hour she stopped to look at the mess she'd made, and decided it was best to clean up and try again later. When everything was just as it was she went to clean herself up. As the water started to rise, she examined the varied assortment of bathing oils and bubbles. The small table held every sent imaginable, and some she hadn't. She'd picked up a tall bottle filled with pale orange liquid. She took off the cap and inhaled deeply.
Of course, the first one she had picked was peaches. She giggled to herself and poured the contents of the bottle under the faucet. The room smelled of citrus and sugar, while pale yellow bubbles rose from the water. After a minute she turned off the faucet and lowered herself into the tub.
The warmth of the water combined with the subtle aromas relaxed her to the point where she almost fell back asleep. She was lazy, lounging in the water, playing with the bubbles with her toes. She looked out the small window and watched the birds and strange beautiful insects dance about. She took a sponge and gently lathered herself. Washing her hair and ringing it out, a bit distracted, she never really took her gaze from the window.
When she was thoroughly cleansed she pushed the bubbles away so that she could exit the tub. She held a light clump in her hands and blew into it, sending hundreds of little bubbles zipping around the room. As they floated they appeared to grow larger. One slowly hovered past her face as she peered into it. Swirling colors of soap dazzled the orb. She looked deeper into it, and it popped when it hit her nose.
The next thing she knew, it was cold. Sarah looked around, appalled. She was standing, clad in nothing but bubbles that were now sliding down her body. She was outside, standing next to the lake where she and Jareth had been the night before.
Sarah quickly tried to cover herself, burning red instantly. She looked towards the cottage and made a mad dash as if her life depended on it. She slammed the door behind her hoping no living thing had seen such a horrifyingly embarrassing experience. She rushed to the bathroom and quickly found a heap of towels and wrapped three around her body, trying to hide every inch of skin she could.
She was embarrassed, and absolutely furious. Steam rose from her skin as her blood began to boil.
"JARETH!" Sarah let loose a hellish cry scaring away all living creatures within a hundred foot radius.
"Jareth! Get your fucking ass down here now!" She waited. Her anger only grew with her impatience.
"Jareth, I mean it. Poof the fuck down here now!" Nothing happened. Sarah tapped her foot vigorously and started pacing the room. After ten minutes or so of raging screams and insults, she finally decided he wasn't going to show up. She went to the mirror and dried her hair, putting on a random assortment of clothing she had found in one of the cabinets. She continued pacing around the room when-
Jareth was in the middle of his daily court. The day seemed to drag on as he half listened to the irrelevant squabbles of his citizens. It started out with with a pack of sprites that were terrorizing a local plot of turnips, which lead to a hassle involving a chicken at the market, ending up with the current situation of listening to a pair of goblins bickering over who owned a tree that had grown on both properties.
"What? How does this have any relevance?" Jareth shook his head with the absurdity of the situation.
"Because it's my tree." Said a wrinkled little man.
"No, it's mine!" Shouted the other.
"Enough!" Jareth waved his hands and leaned forward, worn out from the day. It was only noon. "Is this a magical tree of some kind? Does it even bear some sort of fruit? " His voice rose as he spoke.
"Um, no." They said in unison.
"Then why in the world do you care? And why do you bother wasting my- your King's time, with such nonsense?" He'd practically jumped out of his chair. He wanted to strangle the two goblins now cowering before him. This was all pointless, just wasting time that could be better spent. "Get out! Now." The small creatures bolted for the door. He gestured for Mage, who was quietly taking notes to the side. "I'm done. leave the rest for tomorrow, or settle them yourself, I don't care." He rested his forehead in his hand, letting out a sigh.
"Majesty, are you sure that is wise? You've never been one to slack on your responsibilities." Mage asked questioningly. Jareth looked up, a bit surprised at her.
"Hm? Yes, yes I know. I just, can't seem to focus today." He was beat, yet his eyes were anxious, looking around waiting to leave. Mage smiled ever so slightly.
"The life of a King is a heavy burden. Maybe you should spend the day away, reboot. Lake Aria perhaps? I remember you spending a lot of time there when you would behave quite-unruly." She was casual, any other creature would never think of speaking to the Goblin King in such a manner. Jareth whipped around to her, putting on a show to try and scare her.
"Are you mocking your King? You forget your place servant. You serve ME. You always have, and you always will. Shall I send you on a trip to the Bog for your impudence?" Jareth's false bravado gave way fast. He did everything he could to keep the smile from his face.
Mage watched him with an immovable sternness. She crossed her arms and puffed out her chest. He wasn't fooling her.
"It seems His Majesty is indeed in need of a little trip to the lake. I must say, these tantrums are most unbecoming." She returned. Jareth looked away with a gruff. He slouched back in his throne, breathing heavily. She was right, in more ways than one. He needed a break, he couldn't focus the way he was. He needed to see Sarah. He'd left her only that morning and already his world was starting to turn.
He rose quickly and made for the door, intent on leaving as soon as he could.
"Your Highness? If I may add, they always let you down when you need them." Jareth stopped, and turned with a sly smirk on his face.
"What are you talking about Mage?" He waited.
"This girl. Not to be too cliché but, don't jump if she may not be there to catch you." Jareth turned a little more, a bemused expression on his face.
"Well look at this, you of all people lecturing me on ways of the heart." She would always see him as that mischievous child reeking havoc through the castle walls, but she wasn't completely blind-or deaf for that matter. She knew he was a man, and knew far more than she cared on the subject.
"I am not saying you are ignorant on matters of the opposite sex. After all, I have been the one to tidy your chambers night after night. But matters of the heart as you say? Now that is a place you have never ventured dear boy." Jareth's smile faded, yet he remained silent. "You and your women." She said shaking her head. "You'd be wise to listen when I say that it is far easier to put a bed back together, than it is a heart." She stared at him with earnest. Jareth shook his head slightly, not sure if he should continue walking away or not.
"If she doesn't catch me, then pray I die on impact." He said before slipping through the doorway. Mage merely stood, shaking her head, laughing to herself.
"Oh, my young King. Such a fooled heart beats within blind hands."
When Jareth appeared in the cottage keeping Sarah, he had expected a far different sight. He had expected to find his Sarah pining away at some activity, allowing him to sneak up and whisk her away to a land of joy and folly. Instead, what met him was the murdered scene of his cottage. He looked around and saw Sarah pacing vigorously. She was thrashing about, mumbling to herself. He could make out her cursing something awful. He began to grow concerned when she turned and looked at him.
Jareth was honestly afraid at the burning daggers that shot out of her eyes.
"You, you bastard!" She screamed, hurrying towards him.
"Sarah, what happened, wha-?" He had to step back when he saw her fists curl. He couldn't understand why she was so angry, was she actually trying to swing at him? "Sarah, stop this! What is going on?" He demanded. She laughed something cynical, clenching her teeth.
"Ohhhhh, you've got to be kidding me. You know damn well what the fuck is going on. What is wrong with you! Did you think it would be funny?" She screamed. Sarah was furious. All her rage was pouring out of her, leaving a blindsided Jareth stunned.
Jareth grabbed her wrists to stop her from hitting him.
"Sarah, I have no idea what you're talking about. Stop trying to hit me. Others would lose their head for assaulting the King" He was cold and serious.
"You know what? Fuck you. So now you're going to put me in with the rest of your ohsolowly subjects? No. You're going to tell me why you would choose to humiliate me in such a way right now or so help me I'll-" Jareth cut her of before she could finish.
"Wait, how did I humiliate you? I haven't done anything I swear on my crown." He stared at her with appeasing eyes. She seemed to calm down, or just enough to loosen his grip a bit. She took in a deep breath, her nostrils flaring.
"Why in the Hell would you poof me, completely NAKED, to the middle of an open field ALONE and without warning! What if someone saw me! Do you have any idea how horrified I was? And still am? Don't act like you don't know, were you spying on me you perv?" She spat all at once.
Jareth lowered her arms a little, keeping in mind not to release them. He snickered to himself, which soon turned to a full out laugh as he looked down at Sarah. He reigned himself in when he saw the rage blow through her.
"Heh, Sarah. I guess you found my present then?" He said with a snarky chuckle. "Before you start yelling again, let me explain. First off, I was not spying on you. And I do not take to being called a perv. Second, my gift to you is a crystal. One that will bring you anywhere in the Underground. I figured you could visit your friends, or see some of the sites in my absence. Third..." He laughed to himself before finishing. "I thought placing it in your bathing oils would be a clever hiding place. Apparently, you really desired to be outside. I am sorry for your misfortune, but it is not my fault. Perhaps you shouldn't think with such fervor." He let a boyish grin beam onto her.
Sarah's rage had relaxed itself. She was no longer truly angry with him, but she'd be damned if she was going to let him off the hook just like that, especially with the display of cocky sarcasm he'd just given her. She tore her arms from his grip. He willingly released her, sensing she wasn't going to try to attack him again.
"Whether you were the direct cause or not, I don't appreciate it. And though I should thank you for such a nice gift, you are going to make this up to me. " She pouted. Jareth knew he'd won her over. Thank the gods for his charm. The day had just begun and already it had gone from one extreme to the other.
"I am your slave." He said with a gracious bow, looking up from the floor to wait for her reaction.