Chapter: Their KING
They were the same yet utterly changed.
Gone were the stunted childish creatures of her childhood vision, and in their place, Sarah saw proud warriors and lean farmers, she saw stocky craftsmen and graceful ladies. The sight both gladdened and saddened her.
She was glad that Jareth had restored them to the form they should rightly have, yet sad that this transformation marked the final definitive end to her childhood.
-"Sarah? my Queen? "
" Yes Jareth? "
"You seem distracted my lady... and sad. "
Shaking her head, Sarah smiled softly at him, as he lead her gentle by the hand towards the steps
"No I'm just overwhelmed, it's a lot to take in, when you have lived an aboveground life until a few days ago, and then become a queen... I mean, now I'm a queen, beside a powerful and terrifying monarch whom I love, and. .. dam it Jareth I speak Welsh and have my own magic.. it's just sooo..."
Quirking his eyebrow at her, Jareth gave her a sparkling mischievous grin: "Oh so you love your king do you? Hmm how very fortunate, because I must let you in on a very public secret..." : Pulling her hand as they reached the bottom of the steps, he brought her sharply in against him as he slipped his right arm around her waist, and tangled the fingers of his left hand in her flowing wild locks, yanking gently to angle her head just right, before whispering against her lips:" Your king loves you too, more than he had ever..."
Her fingers in his hair drew him in sealing their lips together before he could finish his sentence. His lips were soft as they nibbled lovingly at hers, and running the very tip of her tongue teasingly across his lips, Sarah moaned with pleasure as Jareth shuddered against her. Time and place lost all meaning as they both surrendered to the lips of the other, slowly mapping out each others mouths, until stars burst before them, their bodies burned with lust and the need to breath.
Gasping for air, Jareth threw back his head as a truly joy filled laughter erupted from his flushed lips.
Giggling like a shy schoolgirl, Sarah rested her head against the hollow in his neck, feeling lightheaded and very grateful for his arm holding her up, as her legs refused to fully support her weight.
" Wow your majesty that was ...wow..."
Smirking he drawled: "Yes it rather was wasn't it.. so have your legs regained their ability to carry you, or must I take their place and help you to your mount, my precious."
Pulling back a few steps, Sarah feigned mock consternation, as she slapped his shoulder playfully: "Oh you would just love that wouldn't you! but no thanks' I can walk myself, thank you very much. I am the goblin queen after all."
"Arh well I suppose I will have to resign myself to merely assisting you as you mount then."
"You know I'm perfectly...".: The look in his eyes stopped her short, before she could tell him, that she was perfectly capable of mounting on her own. His eyes were dark, and filled with a hurt she could not decipher, but it didn't matter, if he needed to help her that badly, there was no reason to cause him unnecessary pain: " Content to let you help me mount, you have no idea how heavy this armour is when you are not use to it."
There, that was a nice save, and Sarah smile widened as she watched the hurt in his eyes melt and give way to a fragile happiness. A happiness for which Sarah would kill to keep alive.
"My Lady, The sight of thy beauty doth bring me endless happiness. Please allow thy humble servant to express his exuberant joy."
" Oh Didymus, you are such a..."
Turning from Jareth Sarah froze in place as she stared into, a wide muscular chest covered in a red leather jacket with a slash design most fitting for a musketeer or swashbuckler.
"Didymus?"
Stepping back, Sarah bumped into Jareth, feeling more than hearing his amused chuckle as he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her in tight.
It had to be Didymus, because that was who he resembled, but this was. ...
He stood close to seven feet tall, all lean hard muscle, covered in thick flaming red fox fur. His gleaming yellow eye, intent on her as he swept his wide brimmed hat, complete with flowing feathers, of his very recognizable head and dropped into an elegant and deep bow.
"My Lady, truly I did not wish to frighten thee, if my true form is abhorrent to thee I shall forthwith remove myself from thine presence, until such time as you or his majesty deems it opportune to transform my person unto a less disagreeable visage."
Staring with her mouth agape, Sarah had to physically shake herself, before she managed to stammer: " God no Didymus, get up, why would I be scared of you, I just never imagined that you would look this... well ..the best word would be formidable, you just look so... wow."
"Wow my lady? I doth not know this expression."
Grinning even wider, Jareth hid his snicker under a rather unconvincing cough: "Yes sir Didymus, WoW. I do believe that, that it is best translated by saying that, your appearance impresses and pleases her, is that not so Love?"
Nodding Sarah quickly licked her suddenly dry lips:" Yes that's about right, I mean. but if you look like this then where is Ambr..."
Warm air like a gust of overheated air-conditioned air, ruffled their hair, momentarily blinding her, as it blew her hair into her face. Pulling it back with trembling hands, Sarah did one of those slow wide eyed horror movie turns, where you just know that the monster would be standing right beside you.
And no, she was not disappointed.
Standing just two feet from her was the biggest wolf, Sarah had ever imagined, let alone seen. Ambrosius, and that name was just all kinds of wrong now that he had returned to his true form. Was the size of a large warhorse, putting him in at 15-16 hands at the shoulder. Making him a powerhouse of rippling lupine strength, and glowing grey eyes, to match his thick glossy silver coat. He was beyond terrifying, and yet, as he lowered his head to nuzzle her hand, Sarah couldn't stop herself from laughing loudly, and pull away from Jareth's warm arms, to bury her face in thick fur that smelled of musk, and the deep forest. It was all just too strange for her to fathom, and standing here with her arms halfway around a giant timber wolf's neck, breathing in its warm scent of pack and home, Sarah knew that she had no choice but to simple accept it all unconditionally. Snorting softly, Ambrosius rested his enormous head gentle on her shoulder, enveloping her in the tight space created by his neck and shoulder, in a gesture that fairly screamed protection. And Sarah didn't know how she knew, but she knew, that the wolf had just claimed her as pack, and nothing short of death would ever break that bond.
Stepping back, she ran her hand through the thick fur again, before returning to Jareth's side once more. Smiling up at Sir Didymus, Sarah flashed him a genuinely happy smile as she reached out, and grasped his huge clawed hand giving it a quick squeeze.
"You have no idea how happy I am to see you restored to your true form, I am truly sorry that you had to spend so long in the form I forced upon you. can you ever forgive me?"
"Oh my Gracious lady, of course how could I not, and verily I say that it was but a trifling price, for the joy of thine friendship these past years, indeed I declare that I wouldst live most happily in that stunted form for perpetuity, if it meant being thy true friend, and protector."
" Oh Didymus, I..."
" Sawah, Friend, Sawah come back, fix all."
The ground shook, and for a split-second Sarah wondered who had decided to bring a freight train, and try to run them over with it. Then she was unceremoniously scooped up by enormous orange furred arms, and all but crushed against a massive chest, as words that sounded like rolling boulders and splintering stones, rumbled around her.
Trying to breath in, she manage nothing but getting a face and nose full of heavy fur that smelled like hot flint, and stone dust. Struggling to free herself, she wanted to scream, as she heard Jareth positively howl with laughter, at her struggles. Black stars began to burst in front of her eyes, and she felt herself begin to go limp. Darkness loomed at the edge of her vision, as she heard Jareth speak strange grounding words in a quiet commanding voice. The arms crushing her loosened and gasping desperately, she sucked in air, between painful coughs as she was lowered into Jareth and Didymus arms.
"Ludo sorwy, no hurt Sawah..."
" Oh Ludo: Speaking hurt, but the frightened look in the enormous orange yetis face, made Sarah fight through the discomfort: You didn't mean it... Its alright see I'm not hurt."
Sitting up Sarah ground her teeth at the sudden flare of pain in her freshly healed shoulder, bad as the pain was it was the horrified look in Ludo's eyes, that made her scramble to get to her feet, and reach for the big guileless brute.
" Oh Ludo, come here, it was not your fault I'm hurt, it was a. .. Wraith who..."
" Wraith hurt Sawah, Ludo hurt Wraith."
The huge creature reared up to his full natural height, easily dwarfing both his king and the Llwynog knight. He too had changed, though not as much as the rest of the creatures, Ludo was taller now, close to nine feet, but his form was still recognizable. He was as wide as ever across the shoulders and chest, but much narrower across his hips and ass, giving him a leaner and much more adult expression. The most noticeable change was his legs which had become longer, and his face which was more human now than dim-witted ape, and his eyes... His eyes glowed with a fierce feral intelligence, that intrigued Sarah more than it frightened her.
Reaching up she smiled as Ludo bowed to meet her hand, allowing her to cup his chin gentle.
" Please don't Ludo, don't go hunting him, I couldn't bear it if you got hurt because of me, please Ludo promise me."
" But Ludo protect Sawah, Jaweth Kwing give order...He"
" Yes thank you Ludo I think, that Lady Sarah has quite gotten your point now": Holding his hand up, Jareth effectively cut of their objections. His face once more schooled into the vision of the strong King:" It is time to return to the castle, I'm sure Lady Sarah would agree, it has after all been quite the eventful day, and we still have much to do. Sir Didymus, and Lord Ludo I require your presence before tonight's feast, I have as said a special assignment, and I would be truly honoured if you were to accept, but I will explain it all this evening. Good day my lords. Are you ready my lady?"
Nodding Sarah Smiled gentle at him, as he offered her his hand, with a slight bow.
" Yeah you are right, I am actually beginning to feel a little tired. "
His grip was gentle as her lead her to the patiently waiting mount, and kneeling before her he offered her his slightly shaking hands, to boost her up.
" Jareth, you don't.."
" Yes " : He whispered: " Yes I do, I want to Precious... I need to."
Pain flared in the veiled depths of his gold and aqua eyes, only to be squashed back down before Sarah could be sure whether she had actually seen it. Nodding softly, she squeezed his shoulder gently, as she stepped into his hand, allowing him to boost her up, as he stood gracefully.
Icewind pranced impatiently as she waited for Jareth to mount his own ebony mount, and join her. Smiling softly at him, Sarah held out her hand in a silent offer, as he drew even with her, their fingers lacing together as he accepted and leaned towards her, with the promise of a kiss in his eyes. A promise, Sarah was only too happy to let him fulfil.
Breaking away, Jareth sighed softly as he nudged his mount forward, fingers still laced with hers. The heat of her naked hand against his gloved hand, quietly reminding him that he felt as cold as a frozen yeti. Goddess he was exhausted, his entire body screaming at him to slow down before it did it for him. Yet he knew without a shadow of a doubt that he had to push on. There was just too much he needed to see done before he could finally rest. Seven years were too long to leave a kingdom without a ruler, and even though Hoggle had done a good job, there were still so much he would have to take care of.
First and foremost he would have to organise the Labyrinths defence, while he planned the first offensive against the nightr...
" So where's your head at Jareth, you have been staring into space for the last several minutes."
" I... . I apologise precious, I was simply tallying up the tasks I have yet to complete today, it is a quite daunting number..."
" God dammit Jareth, you have to start out slow, you were unconscious and in pain just a few hours ago! Please Jareth I need you to take care of yourself, I... dammit Jareth!"
Staring at her in confusion Jareth, found that for the first time in years he was truly dumbstruck, silenced by her words and the raw terror in her eyes. She feared not him, but for him, and she cared, she truly cared what happened to him.
"Why would she care what happens to you, you mongrel atrocity, she just needs you to stay alive, long enough for her to..."
NoNoNoNoNoNoNo, no Sarah wasn't like that she cared, she really cared, she had called him. She needed him, she...
" Jareth, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you, okay, it's just... the healer...Alderthorn right? Yeah he told me that I should take it easy until my shoulder settled, in a few days. And dammit Jareth, that was just a flesh wound in my shoulder, not a bloody million injuries all over my body. Jareth I..."
Care she might, but he was still king, and he would not stand for her snapping at him in public. this stopped here.
" Sarah please, could we just imagine that I am still a king here, and keep the tirades inside our private chambers. But yes you are right, I should rest, my healing is far from completed, and it won't be for quite some time yet. Yes I am EXHAUSTED, I am beyond exhausted, but I am also as mentioned THEIR KING! If I fail them again it might be the VERY LAST TIME! "
Lightning flashed across the rusty red sky without warning, as he snarled at her, teeth flashing sharp and predatory. Gone was the weak, hurt man and in his place sat the feral Goblin King, Lord of the underground and master of the Labyrinth. Swallowing down her first furious retort, Sarah blinked, as she realized what had just happened. He was a proud fierce man, and he had gone through a hell she could not even begin to imagine. Only to have the one he had always depended on for support and comfort, turn on him, and try to kill him. And where did that leave him, alone in a realm he could barely control relying on a girl who had spurned him, and broken his heart, seven years ago. He was exhausted, in pain, and suffering the effects of having been ripped apart again and again. And here she was, snapping at him like he was some sort of naughty child refusing to mind her. What was she thinking?
Giving the gloved hand that still gripped her hand a gentle squeeze, Sarah sighed: "I understand Jareth, and I apologise, I was out of order. Forgive me?"
All the rage fizzled out of his eyes, leaving him wide-eyed and confused as he met her calm soft green gaze.
" Forgive you? Well I... certainly My Lady, After all you mean no offence. You could not..."
Smiling her radiant smile, Sarah lifted their hands, and placed a soft chaste kiss on the back of his gloved hand, effectively cutting him off, and leaving him confused, but silent as he watched her. He was still far from whole, yet he was as said king, and kings did not have the luxury of time