I won't even make up excuses or apologies of why this has taken for months to write. So I will leave this here and tip toe out of here.

Sarah didn't when it happened, or how it happened. All she knew as she was tiding up her room after the last days of being reckless with her things. When she did fling things around? She was never this untidy.

Another thing the Goblin King had made her do.

Months had gone by since the shift in their twisted relationship. She didn't like the feeling of being a kept woman. She didn't like living at his court for more than necessary. Finally, after almost two weeks of being at his side, she packed her things and returned to the chateau. She had other commitments which he was not so fond of. Which he voiced, which she in turn ignored. He had even tried to forbid her to go.

"This is my life!" Sarah snapped at him. "I have my duties and a calendar to follow, you know that Jareth!"

"It doesn't mean I have to like it?" Jareth grunted as he watched her pack her bag. Sulking in a chair as he watched her. He wasn't stopping her but made sure she knew he didn't like.

"No, but you have still had respect my coven and the rules that I grew up following," Sarah reminded him. "Respect means not acting like a child whenever I have to leave you." She told him as peered out the window to see that her coach was waiting for her. "It will do you some good not having me here twenty-four seven. I know your advisors hate that I am here distracting you from your duties." She walked over to him and bent to kiss his cheek.

It felt strange to be back in her room after being away, but that all faded as she sank down on the bed with a sigh. After a moment of silence, she jumped back up and dumped her bag emptying its contents.

She rearranged the new items she had required over the course of the two weeks. The shimmering robes of the royal blue, the new trinkets that appeared in her room. She took the next few days off, allowing herself to rest and socialize with some of her sisters. Taking some of the smaller girls out into the gardens when the weather was nice.

Dancing with floral crowns and garlands of flowers. She adored the summer months, the sunshine and flowers that bloomed. They all fell into a heap on the ground laughing as she cuddled some of the new additions to the Chateau. It was strange how they adapting they were of their surroundings and new home. The whole Chateaux was blanketed in old magic. It always would feel like home to the sisters, no matter how long they were away. No matter how old they had grown.

This was their home.

Now it only served as a reminder. A reminder of how the palace never felt comfortable. She was constantly watching over her shoulder it seemed. Never trusting anyone, never wanting to completely trust the palace she stayed at. It was a blessing in a curse the magic within this safe haven she called home. You always would yearn for it, the comforting magic that protected you.

She went to a few classes to brush up on a few things she found herself lacking knowledge of in the palace. Learning some newer dances, along with picking up her bow for practice. There was a hunt coming up soon. She didn't wish to look like a fool or a pretty maiden who didn't know how to shoot.

In the evening she spent in meditation to clear her mind before she joined the night classes. Classes and get together with the older girl. Discussions about various techniques and positions. Things to help keep things exciting. Not only for their patrons, but for themselves as they worked through their careers.

Names were never spoken, but everyone knows who everyone was talking about. Sarah kept quiet, absorbing others suggestions and stories. The mishaps and funny moments that happened during acts of intimacy. Leg cramps, toe cramps, accidental sounds from various body parts. It was all part of the act, it was all part of work. It was a part of life.

Just because they were companions and courtesans. Didn't make them immune normal happenings.

How to let a man down when sex was the last thing that was on your mind or when it was that certain time of the month. How to get yourself into the mood when you had no attraction to the customer but they had asked for such a meeting. Those clients who wanted you to bed their son to make him a man. It all happened, it was just a fact of life.

Then there were the issues of being in a patron relationship. When you spend numerous days with one man. Jealousy that came from having to keep up with appearances at pre-scheduled parties. Your own jealousy if they had spouses. How to deal with the wives and girlfriends should you ever run into them by accident?

It was mind-boggling to Sarah. As she listened and tried to place her own relationship with the King in its own parameters. He was betrothed, everyone knew that. He had been betrothed at a young age. Why they were not married yet was a mystery to the kingdom.

Sarah knew the chances of ever having a normal loving relationship would be rare. You take what you can have. At the end of the day, you have your coven and your sister because sisterhood lasted forever.

His advisors truly didn't enjoy her presence. Their looks of haughty disapproval of her status. How they though she was using up the kings time. It was almost like they were jealous of the attention the king gave her.

Finally, Sarah sank into her bed for the first time in two weeks, relishing at having the wide bed all to herself. She sighed happily and sprawled out pulling the duvet over her body. She was just about to shut off the lights when she heard the patter of small feet. A moment later a few whispers of who was going to knock appeared. She shook her head and quietly got out of the bed and opened the door.

"Come on then," she ushered the two young girls in. Too young to be apprentices, in their pure white nightgowns. Yet old enough to sleep in their own room. One had vibrant titian hair, while the other was honey blonde. Twins as they look strikingly similar, sharing the cornflower blue eyes. The girls giggled and raced towards the bed jumping in as Sarah shook her head.

"I'm not even going to ask how you escaped bedtime," Sarah shook her head. She beckoned them to move over and slid into her bed once more.

"We missed you," Tamara the titian hair girl hugged her. "Please don't go away again."

"Yes! Please don't leave us again," Elliya the blonde repeated after her sister.

"I am afraid that is something I cannot promise you, girls," Sarah smiled sadly at their antics. "But I can promise to try and be around as much as I can be. Now hush and try and get some sleep." She urged them as she yawned.

They all settled into their places and Sarah soon heard the steady rhythm of their breathing. She smiled and thought of the days learning as her own eyes grow heavier.

She was at home.

Sarah didn't have much time off. As she soon found herself dressed in her silks, emerald green this time she had chosen for this one night. She was the perfect companion as she served the first cup of tea around the small table of men. Her feet folded under her as she sat primly with her hands on her lap.

The night went swimmingly as it was just a business meeting. While the men looked at her in awe, they remained respectful. It wasn't until her time was almost up, her host pulled away from the party. Bringing her to another room, which held a boy who most likely wasn't even 16 yet.

"I want you to make him a man," the man said, as Sarah's eyes widened.

"Excuse me?" She blurted out from shock

"You know what I mean, I want you to introduce him into the way of women." Her host who was beginning to become annoyed at her told her.

"This is not what the contract stated," Sarah shook her head. She couldn't believe the audacity of this patron. Asking her to sleep with his son to make him a man? How dare he?

"Oh come on, your girls do this all the time," He tried to persuade her.

"Yes to entertain your guests, not to bed you son. That was not part of the contract and I decline." Sarah stood her ground turning to leave.

"Oh so only the King is good enough for you," He spat at her.

"My life is none of your concern," Sarah look back to him. "I did not agree to this, which mean I have every right to refuse. I do not have to do anything I do not wish to do. My body is my own, I will not allow it to be used in such a way."

"All of you are nothing better than a well-paid whore," the man's face went red, without thinking he grasped her arm. Gasping when he caught it.

"I suggest you unhand me, sir," Sarah's voice was firm. "If you wish to ever use the services of the Chateau again. I suggest you apologize for your assumptions and allow me to leave."

The man went white realizing his own actions. "I beg your forgiveness." He bowed his head.

Sarah nodded, turning toward the young boy who was only turning into a man. "Your time will come, but for now take this," she said pulling a silk flower hairpin from her hair. "Give this to the one worthy of your love one day."

With that Sarah made her way out of the house, stepping into the carriage that was waiting for her.

How dare anyone to assume such a thing like that to her? That she would just do as they ask? There were contracts for a reason. So these things would not happen. There was an extreme measure of safety built into such contracts.

She swept through the doors of the chateau with her heels clicking on the floor. A look of anger still on her face as she made her way toward the mistresses office.

"Sarah, what's wrong?" The mistress asked as she saw the look on her charges face.

"Seriously do gentleman think just they can just order me to do something?" Sarah fumed. "That I would just do as they ask? That because I have entered an arrangement with other patrons. That it means I will be compliant?"

"Sarah, what happened? Are you hurt in any way?" Her mistress asked suddenly full of concern.

"No, no," Sarah waved her off. "I am just appalled at men right now. Like I would just agree to sleep with his son because he asked me to. I put him in his place I don't think he will try anything again for a long while."

"Very well, I have to keep an eye on him, either way." The mistress nodded. "As well as ask some of the other companions if he ever tried anything of the sort before."

Sarah nodded and yawned. The mistress smiled and instructed her to go get some rest.

She walked the steps up to her room, unwinding the long panels of silk with each step she took. Slowly she reached her room where she took the pins out of her long dark hair. She wiped down her body from the water basin in her room before she pulled on her long cotton nightgown. Sitting on her bed was a rolled up letter with a single peach coloured rose that sat on a shallow box.

Shaking her head, she pulled the ribbon and unrolled the parchment

Precious

I look forward to our time together when your commitments are fulfilled I hope to see you wearing this.

He signed it with a large flourish of a J.

She opened it curiously and found an elaborate royal blue silk. One that was covered in golden thread work and sparkling beads. So Sheer that it was almost transparent despite the colour, underneath the silk was a top. Ivory with gold embroidery, what stood out the most was the fact that there was almost not back to it.

She scowled. Of course, he would send her something she would never wear. He knew well enough she kept her back and shoulders covered when in public. She didn't even feel entirely comfortable having them uncovered around him. They were still her constant reminder that she was not like him. She was not his equal.

She grabbed a piece of paper from her desk and her pen she wrote simply.

'Very original Your Majesty, I hope you don't expect me to wear such a garment.'

Sarah.

She walked out to the hall, beckoning a domestic.

"If it's not a bother, can you send this for me." She asked kindly. "To the King," she added.

"Of course sister," she nodded and with a simple swish of the hand she sent off. "I'll find you should there be a reply?"

"Just knock, if I don't answer just slide it under my door. I was just about to retire for the night." Sarah stated. "Have a good night." She bent her head towards the domestic before she walked back into her room.

Walking over to the box, she shook out the accompanying skirt, of the same ivory. It was beautiful. That was not something she could deny as she hung it away in her wardrobe.

There was no immediate reply to her note as she readied herself for bed. Finally, she gave in and turned off her light sinking into her pillows.

I'm going to try for a shorter interm between chapter. Because six months seems like alot to me. But no promises.

Tina