Chapter 24, Miracle Goodnight
It was raining. The subtle sounds of water bouncing off the ground drew Sarah's attention away from the fire. She walked across the room, leaning on the windowsill. The moon was large and bright, filling the land with blue and purple light. The rain made the grass glisten, and the lake tremble. It was such beautiful sorrow.
Without thinking she fled through the door, running down the path towards the lake. She stopped under the tree, just at the waters edge. Hidden tears mixed with falling rain. She looked over Lake Aria, observing all its beauty. It looked like a pane of glass, that had started to sing. the felt the hum of the lake wash over her, clearing her mind. She closed her eyes, and took a step into the water.
She opened her eyes, realizing her foot was not submerged. She took another step, and then another. She marveled at the spectacle, she was really walking on water. Feeling the soft droplets hitting her skin, she watched as the water danced around her.
She hadn't thought of the consequences of wearing a white dress in the rain, and didn't really care. She stood, absorbing the night. With her dress now completely soaked, and her midnight hair plastered to her face, she started to sway. Moving to the low hum of the water, she started to twirl. Pushing away her pain, she danced atop the water. She started humming a tune of her own to match the beat of the falling rain. It was sad, and loving. Something she had heard only once before, something that someone once sung to her.
As the rain fell harder, she started to laugh. Not ready to let go, she gripped at her pain, masking her cries with a smile. She wasn't sure if it was rain or tears that flooded her eyes as she twirled herself to and fro. Loosing the strength to continue, she fell to the water's surface, clinging to herself in a fit of sobs.
As the water rippled around her, something happened. The water droplets bounced, and started floating. She was surrounded by weightless drops of water, whatever was happening it was spreading across the surface of the lake. She watched as the droplets grew into bubbles. Choking back sobs she looked around for the cause of all this. She saw nothing. When she looked straight ahead again, one orb in particular hovered in front of her face. She waited for something to happen. It simply popped in her face.
It was no longer raining, every droplet was hovering around her, and a new song began to play. A low voice filled the air, she thought she was going crazy, that it was all in her head. It started as barely a whisper, and moved slowly over the land.
Skin tell me, turn it around. Head tell me, make it alright. Nobody dancing. Morning star you're beautiful, yellow diamond high. Spin you round my little room, miracle goodnight. Evening flower all alone, pazanane capeche. Haven't got a death wish, just want a little more. Skin tell me, turn it around. Head tell me, make it all right. Nobody dancing. Miracle goodnight. Breath tell me, turn it around. Heart tell me, make it all right. Nobody dancing, it was only make believe.
She continued looking around for the source of the music. She flinched suddenly when she felt something touch her hand. She looked up, a dark and familiar figure caught her gaze.
"Jareth? Wha-what are you doing here?" She said, trying to wipe her face. He took her hand and raised her from the waters surface. She stood before him, broken and hollow. His voice caught in his throat as he started to speak.
"M-my father, told me what had happened. At first I refused to believe it, but the idea of someone altering my life made me furious." She waited, there was no hope left in her heart. "So, I spoke with Alasdair and...convinced him to reverse my enchantment." He spoke soft and level. A hint of a smile graced his lips. Sarah didn't how what to think. Her mind was in shambles, she wouldn't let herself believe this was happening. "I have all these memories, of you, of emotions I have never felt. Emotions I long to have. I believe I loved you not so long ago, and I wish to love you again."
She didn't fully understand, waiting for him to continue.
He looked down, into the palm of his hand, revealing the necklace he'd given her, the necklace she'd given back. He picked it up with his free hand, dangling it between the two of them. He slowly unhooked it, brushing her hair away as he fastened it around her neck.
"I believe this belongs to you." He stared into her eyes, as the pendant started to glow. The faint light started to move, and make its way into her heart. When the light had vanished, Jareth felt a sharp thud in his chest, causing him to noticeably flinch. Sarah reached out for him, worried he might still be hurt.
"Jareth, are you alright?" Her empty eyes filled with worry, and his filled with love.
"My darling, I have never felt better." He staggered. She couldn't believe it. Was this really the Jareth she knew? Did he really love her again? Could the spell truly have been broken?
"I don't understand. I gave it back! I gave it back! You don't love me anymore! This is a trick, I gave it back." She flailed at his chest. He did nothing to stop it. Her screams became sobs as she collapsed into him, clutching the fabric of his shirt. She finally let go, releasing all her pain, her fear, her worries. In that one moment, it seemed as if time had crumbled around them.
Jareth's attempt at remaining strong was losing stamina fast. He wrapped his arms around her, clutching her to him. He kissed the top of her head as he was forced to release his own pain. Heavy tears landed on Sarah's head as he whispered,
"My Sarah, I have always and will always love you. Please forgive me." His tears fell harder. "Please, I plead you find the strength to forgive my stollen heart." And with that, they both fell the ground. Jareth lost his concentration, and one by one the bubbles started popping. And before long, it started to rain again.
They grabbed each others faces in a starved kiss, glued to one another, refusing to let go. Sarah wrapped her arms around him, embracing him for all she was worth. Her force caught him off balance, and he toppled over her. They writhed with each other, zero space between them, kissing over and over.
Taking control of his mind for a brief second, he had an idea. She pulled her mouth away from his when she saw the rain had stopped falling. it had stopped falling because it was frozen in place. She looked back to Jareth, who gave her a kind smile.
"I have reordered time for you. This time, I figured I'd stop it all together." He said to her.
All was quiet. There was nothing in the world but the beating of their hearts. Then something snapped, and the passion was back. He clawed at her clothing, deciding to take her right then and there on the magical waters of the lake. Her dress clung to her every curve, and was very much see through from all the rain. She realized this, and the air around them changed drastically.
Jareth wasted no time, determined to make his claim, to make up for lost time. He entered her fast and hard, the water moved and rippled with each thrust. Her circuits were blown from all the emotional trauma. She clung to him, taking everything he had to give her. She refused to open her eyes, concluding that it was his touch that made him real.
Time had literally halted around them. They had an eternity to themselves, to know each other every way possible.
When it was over, the rain resumed to fall, the air started to blow, and the moon continued to beam over them. They were still firmly locked in one another, unwilling to end the embrace. He smiled, giving her light and loving kisses as they sparkled in the moonlight.
"I told you, I will always belong to you when the sun sets." He whispered.
She clung to him, feeling his body through the drenched fabric of his clothing. She looked into his eyes, really looked into them for the first time in weeks. He was real, he was back, and she would never let go again.
"You realize you still have to get married right?" She asked. He was a little taken back by her response, but then again she would say something like that.
"Tomorrow to be precise." He answered. "After all this, will you still become my Queen?" There was a hint of worry in his voice.
"After all this, I damn well better become your Queen." She teased. He squeezed her tighter, rolling them so she lay on top of him.
"Well, we don't have any time to waste now do we?" He teased back. She looked to the moon, and to the glowing light of the fire from within the cottage.
"Oh, I think we have a few hours." Sealing his devilish grin with a kiss.
A/N- This is the end to -To Forgive A Stollen Heart- Again, thank you all for reading. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Stay tuned for the epilogue. Oh, and don't worry I know I left off on a bit of a cliff hanger. Get ready for Stollen Heart part two! -The Love That Mends And Tears- I'm still brainstorming, but chapter one will be up soon I promise! =)