Jareth had never felt so many conflicting emotions raging through him as he did kissing Sarah.
One part was ecstatic, another worried, another frightened, but the largest part of him was just relieved and in wonder. The moment his lips had touched her's all the images in his head disappeared. He was loath to break the embrace, but did so anyway, pulling away from her slowly. She did not protest, but instead continued to hold him, looking up at him. Her lips were a bit swollen and he found himself caressing them with his thumb. She closed her eyes and then opened them when he sighed and said quietly, "This is insanity. You know that, don't you?" To his surprise she laughed.
Sarah saw his expression and laughed again. "Insane? No, I don't think so." She was at a loss for a moment on how to continue, her thoughts scattered as all her mind wanted to do was relive that kiss. But she grabbed onto some inspiration and looked up at the man before her. "Do you want to know what I think?"
"By all means," he said with a slight smile.
Sarah took a deep breath and clutched Jareth's arms a little tighter, "I don't remember anything about my life prior to three days ago and waking up in a desert. I have been beaten and scared to death." She closed her eyes against the memory. "And twice you have saved me..." her voice trailed off and she fought to keep a sudden flow of tears at bay. Jareth sighed again, but did not release her. She quickly finished, "I think, in this entire world, you and I are the only ones *not* insane."
Looking into those green eyes he could easily believe anything she said. He needed to believe in her, to believe in something for a change. As he closed his eyes once again he leaned his cheek against her forehead. "That doesn't mean it will be easy. The rest of the Underground will not be pleased to know they have lost their minds," the last part was colored in humor. Sarah laughed and then shivered as another crisp breeze chilled her. She wasn't going to mention it, but Jareth noticed and stepped slightly away, extending his hand to her, "Well, come one." There was some thing different about his tone that Sarah picked up on right away. It was if a burden had been lifted. She accepted his hand and hoped that she had helped him with that.
In a blink of an eye Sarah was no longer standing on the balcony but instead in an entrance of a massive room. Jareth had released her and was striding down a hall, out of sight. Sarah took stock of her surroundings with wide eyes. This first room was obviously a work space. The walls were lined with tomes, a desk was littered with papers, and there were only two leather chairs, one on either side of the desk. Sarah found herself walking out of this room and down a hall; the same that Jareth had taken. The second room was a bit more cozy. Warm red and orange tapestries covered the stone walls and a fire was roaring in a brick fireplace easily big enough for her to stand in. In front of the warm fire was a davenport in rich blue. Sarah paused there a second, wanting to sit and enjoy the fire, but also wanting to explore more. Her curiosity got the better of her and she slipped down the hall one more time. The next room was truly stunning and took her breath away.
It was obviously a bedroom for there was a large four post bed in the corner. Everything was decorated in different blue and green hues and though it was mostly a bare room, it was hard to focus on just any one thing. A movement caught her attention and she turned to see Jareth entering from a smaller antechamber. His eyebrows rose at finding her there and her cheeks darkened, but instead on commenting on her presence, he brought forward a tray with a teapot and two cups.
"Come on, let's not waste the fire," he said lightly as he walked by her. She instantly followed him into the other room.
Sarah watched him pour the tea as she sat on the davenport and asked conversationally, "Where are we?"
That knowing smirk tugged at his lips as he handed her a cup of steaming tea. "These are my private chambers."
Sarah *had* figured as much, and for some reason the knowledge did not bother her. She watched as Jareth waved a lazy hand over the tray and it disappeared from sight. It was not the first time she had witnessed such a thing, for even their appearance in this room was magical, but she never knew how anyone performed such acts. As Jareth sat next to her on the davenport she decided to ask him about it. "How do you do that?" He looked at her for a moment in confusion so she elaborated.
"All of the things you do, all of the magic."
Sarah's question brought to light how extremely different they were. Not one person in the Underground would need magic explained to them. Not one person would need a history of magic. The question did not necessarily bother him, but it had been a topic he wanted to breach another time. Well, it had been asked, and he found it only polite to answer her, so he began. "Sarah, there are many things in the Underground that are taken for granted; one being magic. But let me explain a few things first because I think it will help you. To begin with, I do not believe you are from the Underground suffering from some sort of amnesia. There is a different feeling about you, one that only comes from being born Above."
She swallowed. "Above?" It rang a bell somewhere deep in her mind, but she couldn't pinpoint the reason.
Jareth nodded and took a sip of his tea. "It is a world like ours, and not like ours at the same time.
It is the world of humans, like you." He let that set in for a moment and watched as confusion changed to comprehension across her face.
"You're not human?" She said suddenly understanding.
"No. I am from a different race that originated here, in the Underground." He had been watching her,
but now he shifted his gaze and watched the fire dance before him. "The ability to do magic is granted in our blood."
She nodded. That would explain a few things. Mainly, he did not look like many of the other people in the castle. Only...a new comprehension dawned. "So, Emma, and Lord Ovster?"
Jareth smiled. She did catch on quickly. "Yes, they are also like me. All the Lords are alike."
Sarah could see that. Each of them had a distinct look, but there were similiarities. The eyes, for instance were tilted up, the angles of the face were sharp and drastic, and just the way Jareth and Emma moved was different. Ovster as well, but to a lesser degree that Sarah assumed was due to age. It was like every movement was choreographed, planned into one seamless dance. She had envied them their grace. "But what about Didymus?" she asked out of genuine curiosity. She liked the little she knew of Didymus.
"No," Was it her imagination, or was there a little sadness in Jareth's voice as he replied. "He is in fact pure human, like I believe you are."
She assimilated that piece of information and drank a little of her tea before setting it down on a table beside her. For the moment all her questions had died out and she found herself leaning against the sofa back suddenly exhausted.
The fire was warm and making her sleepy. Jareth had also seemed to relax. He was leaning against the armrest, an arm propped up by the elbow, the other hand holding the tea. Sarah pulled her feet up and curled into a little ball on her side. Jareth smiled at her and they fell into an easy silence.
Sarah must have dozed off, but the sound of breaking glass brought reality into sharp focus. She sat up and noticed Jareth's tea cup broken and shattered on the fire place hearth. Frowning, she glanced at him and immediately knew something was wrong. His hands were frozen before him, his eyes vacant and staring into space. "Jareth?" The look on his face was frightening and she tried to shake him a little, but still his eyes did not focus on her. "Jareth!?" Panic was starting to seep into her voice. What was she to do? What was wrong with him? In the distance a bell began to ring and at the same time Jareth inhaled a ragged breath. A little at a time some life returned to his eyes and by the third chime of the bell he was blinking and focusing on Sarah. Even though he seemed to be back with her, the stricken look on his face had not disappeared and it filled Sarah with a cold dread. "what...what happened?"
"I..." Jareth's words faded away and he stood abruptly startling Sarah into backing away and stumbling into the sofa. Jareth could feel her concern for him, but now was not the time to explain. He had felt one of his kind leaving this life and it had been a horrible passing. The bell ringing in the distance confirmed his fear. It seemed the entire castle below had stirred at the sound of the chimes and Jareth pushed his grief down low.
He would deal with it later, but for now he needed to find more information. He glanced down at Sarah who was waiting silently for him to answer. "Stay here." It came out harsher than he intended and Sarah winced at his tone. But then she seemed to look through him, reading him, and just nodded her head. He hesitated one second and was about to speak again when she gave him a small smile.
"Go. I'll wait here."
At that Jareth disappeared from the room. He reappeared in the throne room and noted a few servants running to and fro lighting candles in the room. With a spared thought, he lit them instantly.
The servants stopped their chore, and at noticing their king bowed low. "Leave us." Was all he needed to say and the servants scurried away. Jareth could hear voices down the hall and he turned to see his nobles approaching.
Emma was the first into the room and as the dreaded bell continued cried out, "Who? Who has passed from us?"
Ovster, still in his bed robes also huffed, "What the hell is this about?"
Didymus and Tarrence remained silent as they all came to stand before Jareth. Didymus's face was hard to read and Tarrence's expression was impossible to try.
Jareth noted the panic in Emma's voice. All of his nobility seemed close to panic, except for Tarrence who was standing calmly next to Didymus, his eyes focused on something in the distance. The bell had finally quieted and they stood in silence for a moment before Jareth replied, "I couldn't tell who it was but it wasn't far.
Didymus, prepare the horses and a handful of men. Notify me when this is done." He watched Didymus bow and leave and turned his attention back to Emma, who's usually pale face was ashen. "Emma, there's nothing we can do now." She cringed but nodded slowly.
"How did this happen?" Ovster rubbed his face with a hand wearily. The sounding of the bell had woken him from a deep sleep and he tried to shake off the last vestiges of slumber. No one answered his inquiring, but he hadn't expected that. A few moments passed by in silence. A thought occurred to him and he spoke, "If we are here," at this he gestured to Emma,
himself and Tarrence, "and Emma surely would have known if Sajal was involved," she nodded at this ," then this only leaves Stivin or Brynt."
"Yes, I had thought the same." Jareth said. Didymus had reappeared in the doorway dressed in ridding clothes.
He caught Jareth's attention. "I'll speak to you all in the morning," he said to the trio as he walked towards the door. The Lords and Lady inclined their heads to him and Jareth took their leave.
Emma picked up the conversation again. "They would be traveling together...they always do." Her voice was weak and quavered and she couldn't bring herself to say any names.
Tarrence sighed. "I suppose anything could be possible." They were all quiet. And then he continued, "A landslide? They do usually come through Torin Peak. Its treacherous weather right now." The silence resumed. The three of them lingered in the throne room, not knowing whether to retreat into their chambers, or stay and wait for the return of Jareth.
It was Ovster's voice that broke the silence. "Nothing good is going to come of this," Ovster said suddenly. He then sighed and took his leave, explaining to Tarrence that he was exhausted.
Emma watched him go and crossed her arms over her chest, trying to warm herself. "I think I shall retire also."
She did not wait for a reply from Tarrence before leaving the throne room.
Tarrence held back a smile and watched first Ovster leave and then Lady Emma. Now he was alone in the throne room. Well, almost alone.
There were a few guards posted in the entryway, but they were facing out. With a little grin he made his way to the throne. It was a large chair adorned with many jewels and laid in the purest gold. Tarrence allowed his hand to touch the chair. He wanted to sit in it, but fought the urge. The guards would surely not allow that.
Ah well. Tarrence could be patient. With that thought in place he left the room for his chambers.
Sheesh. This chapter drove me nuts. I think this was like my fourth version :s. Anyway, read and review please.