And on with the show.
Jareth entered his office with the full expectation of seeing Piertre waiting patiently.
However, Piertre rarely did anything that Jareth was expecting and as he walked into the room he sighed. At first sight, Piertre looked nothing like a being who had been alive for centuries. In fact, he looked like a small boy, maybe around ten years old.
He was a thin thing with bony knees and elbows and was always dressed in torn clothes or rags. His sandy blonde hair was constantly in disarray. Jareth often wondered why one of mixed blood would choose such an appearance, but it worked well for Jareth's purpose.
But at this moment, the delightful gleam in Piertre's eyes was that of a young boy, not a valuable spy. Piertre sat on top of Jareth's desk, scattering papers and knocking other things over, holding a glass jar. As Jareth stepped closer, Piertre smiled broadly. "Look, look what I have found." He held the jar up and Jareth peered inside.
A small fairy glared balefully back, her wings tight against her back.
"Why Piertre, what in the world are you going to do with a garden fairy?" Was all Jareth could say as he sat in his chair.
Piertre tapped the jar which agitated the fairy. She started screaming at him in a language that Jareth was only vaguely familiar with. Even so, he was able to pick out a few words that he would never repeat. Piertre smiled again and placed the jar into a bag hanging from his hip. He spun on the desk to face Jareth, a new seriousness on his face. "So, Majesty, to what do I owe this honor?"
The switch in personality was something Jareth was prepared for. "You are aware of the Immortal deaths?" Piertre nodded and Jareth continued. "I want you to find out who is responsible." Something flickered across Piertre's eyes, something like fear.
Jareth focused on the boy and frowned, "Or do you already know?"
Piertre fidgeted under Jareth's scrutiny. He bit his lip and twisted on the desk before finally replying. "I might have an idea, but it would require more proof."
Jareth's eyes widened, "Well? Tell me what you know!"
"Ah...I would rather not," came Piertre's response. He didn't know how it happened, but one moment he was sitting on the desk, the next he was held from his ankle out of a window. The castle walls were far below him and he got a wave of vertigo. He craned his neck around to see Jareth leaning out of the window grasping him by the foot. "Your Majesty! Please!" Piertre begged.
Jareth had no real intention of dropping Piertre, but sometimes it was necessary to remind his subjects of their rightful place. The fear in Piertre's voice was proof enough that the point was made and he pulled the boy back into his chambers,
dropping him unceremoniously on the ground. "You would do well to remember just to whom you are speaking, Piertre."
Piertre righted himself, but remained sitting on the floor looking at Jareth's polished black boots. "Your majesty," he began nervously, "let me continue on my work. I have nothing of value just at this moment. Only hunches." At this he dared to glance up, but was startled when he saw Jareth crouching down to his level.
Piertre swallowed nervously, "You wouldn't want incorrect information, would you?"
Jareth rolled his eyes and stood in one fluid motion. What he wanted was answers and some competency, but it appeared he was stuck with Piertre. "You have one week then, Piertre, to find something of importance to me. Otherwise, my patience with you will have reached an end."
It wasn't the first time Jareth had threatened him so, but it was the first time where Piertre believed that Jareth would act on it. He nodded, "Yes, Majesty.
I will not fail you." Piertre got slowly to his feet and began backing away from his monarch. It was not easy having Jareth for a king, and Piertre wished that Didymus had been present on this meeting, like he usually was. He was not about to question the absence though, and bowed low to Jareth before exiting the suite.
Jareth watched Piertre go and sighed. He shouldn't have lost his temper. He brushed his hand through his hair and took a deep breath. His eyes rested on the bed and he found himself lightly touching the side where Sarah had slept. Sarah.
He was utterly fascinated with the green eyed girl. Even when dealing with the kingdom affairs she was not far off from his mind. The thought of her brought a smile to his lips and he turned to seek her out.
Sarah woke to the sun's rays dancing on her face. It took her a moment to realize where she was, for she certainly remembered falling asleep somewhere entirely different than her bedchambers. Her cheeks colored slightly at the thought.
Had she really just spent the night with the king? It hadn't been a dream, she was sure of that, but she just couldn't wrap her thoughts around it. Why her?
She got out of bed and ventured toward her vanity and began brushing her hair still lost in thought. She also vividly remembered a certain kiss, and her heart thumped loudly in her chest at the memory. It was all so strange. She had only known Jareth for such a small amount of time, and yet she was drawn to him; a moth to the flame. She cringed and stared at her reflection. That never worked out very well for the moth, did it?
Her thoughts were diverted when a small knock came from her chamber and a maid entered with a tray of food. The maid curtsied and left again. Sarah shook her head. The servants in this place were odd, even if she didn't have a basis for comparison. she shrugged and ate the breakfast and then dressed in a green fitted dress with beautiful brocade in the front. From what she could see through her window it was a beautiful day, and she planned on enjoying it.
It was easy finding the balcony garden, that was nothing difficult now. But she was surprised to see Lady Emma seated on a bench, a stack of papers encircling her.
Sarah's approach went unnoticed until her shadow fell over the paperwork and Emma lifted her eyes at first in annoyance, and then in pleasant surprise.
"Sarah, good morning."
Sarah smiled, "Good morning, Lady Emma." She gestured to the mess of paper, "What is all this?"
Emma sighed and lowered the record in her hand. "Goblin records. I'm looking for some connection, any connection."
Sarah sat next to Emma and leaned over to inspect the paperwork. Oddly enough, she was able to make out the script, but she frowned. "You don't know what you're looking for?" Emma shook her head. "Do you need any help?"
Emma smiled. "I would love some. Here, let me explain some of this to you." And so Emma instructed Sarah on the records. On each paper was a date, a name, race, and location of the incident, as well as the parental records. Once Emma was sure that Sarah was comfortable deciphering the records, they split the paperwork and began their investigation.
Several hours passed, the sun was past its zenith, and both women were still reading records. Finally, Sarah noticed something. She flipped through the paperwork and confirmed her suspicion and spoke. "I think I've found something here."
"Really?" Emma said surprised.
Sarah handed her a stack of papers. "Look at this, look at the dates." Emma did so and nodded. These were all very early cases. Then Sarah pointed at the race, "And look here." Again Emma looked, but this time failed to see the importance and shook her head. Sarah sighed, "At the beginning, only children with very little Immortal blood were being changed, but now look." She passed more modern records to Emma, who gasped. "See?"
Emma most certainly did see. At the beginning of the disease only babies, newborns with very little mixed blood were affected. But now it seemed indiscriminate. The changes were happening dispite the ratio of ancestry. "Its getting worse."
Sarah nodded, "Look here, too, at the ages. A child last week celebrated its second year, and it was still transformed."
Emma paled. "This isn't good." She stood and several papers fell from her lap to the floor. "We need to tell Jareth about this."
"Tell me about what?" Said a voice coming from the shadows.
Both girls jumped at the sound and then relaxed as Jareth approached them. He saw them both with papers in their hands and he gestured for them. When he looked closely he quickly came to the same conclusion and groaned. "I haven't been looking close enough at these."
"But, now, maybe something can be done, right?" Sarah asked quietly.
It was Emma who responded, "Like what? We know who, but not why or how."
Jareth met Sarah's eyes and her heart fluttered. He gave a little grin and turned towards Emma who was starting to pace. "Emma, we can only do that which we can do."
She stopped and her mouth fell open a little. "What kind of advice is that!?" She resumed her pacing, "Should I tell that to the countless mothers that bombard me day after day begging the return of their children?"
Jareth watched her in disapproval. There was nothing he could do, even with this new information, he still had no idea what was happening to the citizens of the Underground. Yes, it bothered him, but he was not the kind to dwell on matters he could not affect.
Sarah noticed a hardening of Jareth's face. It was an expression she dearly hoped he would never direct towards her, but she felt pity for Emma. "Emma," she said quickly before Jareth had a chance to speak, "Maybe Sajal will have an idea."
Emma calmed down and turned towards Sarah. "Yes, that is an idea." She took a deep breath and shook her head at Jareth, "Excuse me, but I think I will send him a message." When Jareth did not object, she turned away.
That left Jareth and Sarah alone on the balcony. The same balcony where the night before they had kissed. Sarah blushed at the memory and began picking up a few papers that had flown from the piles. The king had not really said anything to her, and she was nervous in his presence today. Jareth noticed this, and sat casually on the bench. With a wave of his hand, all the papers disappeared. He laughed as Sarah blinked in confusion. "Come sit by me for awhile; I've had a tiresome morning."
She did as she was told, but couldn't quite match his gaze. His eyes were too powerful, even though right now they sparkled in amusement. She also left a space between them which caused Jareth to laugh again. Out of nowhere her temper flared, "Do I amuse you?"
Jareth sobered slightly. He hadn't meant to upset her, but this side of Sarah intrigued him. He had never heard her speak with harshness before. He smirked at her, "Sarah, I do not mean to upset you, but yes, you do amuse me." And confuse him, entice him, and basically draw him towards her, but he did not say these things aloud.
"Was that a form of apology?" She asked sarcastically.
"Hardly," came his instant reply. He sighed, "Sarah, I do not wish to quarrel with you; I came here to enjoy your company." At this he moved a piece of hair away from her face and was pleased when she did not move away.
"You have a strange way of showing it," she muttered as she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. He laughed softly and Sarah opened her eyes to see his face close to hers. With one movement he was kissing her again and Sarah forgot everything else. He pulled her closer to him and deepened the kiss,
she found her hands running through his silky hair and felt his arms wrap around her. She didn't know how long it lasted, but knew it wasn't long enough.
He pulled away from her and she felt a pain inside her chest, near her heart. Their faces where still close together, she could feel his breath on her cheek,
and for some reason, she could feel his indecisiveness. It radiated off him. "It feels like a dream, doesn't it?" She whispered suddenly.
He pressed his lips gently against hers again, but only for a moment before speaking. "You know the problem with that?" Sarah swallowed and met his eyes. She could drown in them if she wasn't careful. There were so many secrets there, so many things she couldn't understand, and she couldn't find her voice, so she just shook her head. "You awaken, and the dream leaves you alone."
She didn't know what to say. She knew what she felt though. She knew that she never wanted to leave him, never wanted to be parted from him, but how did she convey that? For that matter, how did she even know if he felt the same towards her. Well, that answer should have been clear to her, but at the moment it escaped her. A deep sigh brought her out of her reverie and she focused on Jareth's face again. It was then that it hit her, she loved him. From the deepest parts of her soul, she loved him. "Don't think like that." She said firmly.
Jareth smiled at her. He couldn't understand what it was about her, and maybe he didn't want to. But he still felt that their time together would be short; a flame that burned bright and died quickly. Without thinking, he clutched at her and pulled her so that she was sitting on his lap. She looked at him in confusion, but did not object; instead, she rest her head on his chest. There was so much light within her and he needed it. She called out to him from somewhere deep in his soul and for the first time, Jareth, the High King, needed to believe in something more powerful than himself. He didn't know what that was exactly, but he needed to believe in it. Foolish man, he thought to himself. Love is that which is stronger than you. This was perhaps the truest thing he could have said to himself, for it brought to light the fact that he loved Sarah. The admission startled him, and he knew could not bring himself to say such a thing aloud.
They sat like that for a while longer, neither saying a word. It seemed much of their communication did not require speaking. The door opening into the balcony was what startled them and Sarah jumped up and away from Jareth. Jareth remained sitting, but turned to see who had intruded on them. A page was seen coming around a corner, a sealed envelope in his hand. When he spotted the monarch he made a bee line towards him, bowed and handed him the letter. Jareth waved the page off, and preceded to open the letter. Sarah relaxed and sat next to him. Jareth read the letter, and first his face was passive, then confused, and then disgusted. The parchment smoldered and then fell from Jareth's grasp in pieces.
Sarah lightly touched Jareth's arm. "What happened?"
Jareth smirked at her. "Its nothing, really. Just normal demands that I'm in no mood to deal with right now." His arm encircled her waist, and a very mischievous grin graced his face. "And you know what?" She shook her head, but was smiling at him. "I'm not going to." And with that statement, both disappeared from the balcony.
Ta-da! Well, next chapter Tarrence resumes his evilness. What does this mean? You'll have to read to find out. ;)