Chapter 11: Uncertain Feelings

Jareth left Sarah and returned to the castle on his own. He felt anxious and foolish, and in a hurry to get away from her. Since her arrival he had felt an unease sink under his skin, a sensation leaving him unfamiliar and uncomfortable. The feeling was worse when she was around so he had kept his distance from her as much as possible. Allowing her to concentrate on her studies and for him to continue managing the kingdom. He, the Goblin King, never felt such feelings and so he hid them deep inside. Taking her clothing was a little exaggerated, but he allowed his temper to best him once again. Jareth had never given Sarah's attire much thought. He had become accustom to seeing the Above attire on the runners. Also, he cared very little of appearance and preferred his riding attire when he could. But when Calenth had brought attention to Sarah's garb, he had felt an overwhelming sense of possessiveness and jealousy.

Calenth had served Jareth since nearly the beginning of his Goblin reign. The knight was his most valued and trusted friend. But when he had indirectly mentioned Sarah's choice of attire, Jareth felt ire build toward Calenth. Jareth quickly realized his anger wasn't at Calenth, but branched from an overwhelming sense of possession over Sarah. A puzzling feeling for Jareth.

Calenth had been correct in mentioning Sarah's attire. What she was wearing was consider inappropriate by his kind's standards. He wasn't mad that she choose those clothes or even that Calenth took notice. Jareth was mad that another man could see her dressed so appealing. He wanted to change that fact the moment Calenth made the observation. Out of a rush of jealousy he ordered her a new wardrobe then hide her cloths. In fact, he saw nothing wrong with the deed. He was king after all. After ordering the removal of the offending attire he didn't think on the topic a moment longer. He tucked away the ordeal as abiding to his kingly duties as protecting a guest in his kingdom. She was his ward for the time and he necessarily saw to her safety and wellbeing. At least that was the excuses he told himself.

When Sarah had arrived the last time as a young adolescence, Jareth took no shame in his mild flirtation with her. He enjoyed the slight blush of naive innocence's on her checks. She was a beautiful girl after all, being on the verge of womanhood. Opportunity to take her would have tempted anyone. Alas, Jareth was the Goblin King and as such he would have never acted on such impulses. First, because Sarah was still a child by any standards and he was appalled by the idea of seducing one so young. Second, he felt it was his duty to protect those the Labyrinth brought. Robing one of their purity would have been a nightmarish and cruel act.

Today's outburst had brought up those befuddling feelings once again. This was no child before him, but a women. One arguing her point and addressing her needs forcefully. He had always admired her outspokenness and stubborn attitude. Age had not tempered her down. After receiving the brunt of her storm he found himself becoming aroused. What had attracted him to her nearly 10 human years ago were resurfacing. He hadn't intended to call her his queen. In fact he had no idea where those words came from. He had tied to paint her as a child blindly fumbling her way through his kingdom, but seeing her as such… was becoming more and more difficult. Taking notice of her and not in a way someone would see a ward in their care, but as one would notice as a beautiful rip young maiden.

What concerned him was why? He couldn't deny his tempter. It was well known far and wide, but it was is tempter that feed him truths when he was the angriest. The truth of the matter was she isn't his queen. If she succeed in her training and chose to stay, she would be the Goblin Queen. Not his. A position and title that marriage did have to secure. Admittedly most Goblin King and Queen were married, it was also the Lover's Maze after all. Jareth could not guess what were to happen if Sara stayed, nor how he felt about the matter. He had no idea where this feeling of possession was coming from and he didn't know what he would do if she left. Jareth was resolved that issues wasn't going to resolve by avoidance. He would teach her to ride and they would go from there.

Sarah sat on the edge of her four posted bed. Books of varying topics sprawled across the large duvet, untouched. After hours of research she had awarded herself with a break. At the moment her eyes were glued to the Looking Mirror, Sarah watched as the Above moved forward without her. Time moved differently between the Below and Above. Little time had passed sense her departure and much had gone on about the same. No one had notice anything peculiar about her absence as they all continued about their own individual routines. Sarah had already checked-in with her parents and Toby. Her stepmother was cooking dinner and her father had just returned from work to claim his favorite chair to watch sports. Toby had been at football practice running drills. After checking in on Denise she now turned her attention to Jason.

Jason was still at the office, but was packing his briefcase to leave for the day. Sarah watched as he moved about the room turning lights off and gathering his belongs. While Above Sarah would have given anything to have this candid moment to stare at him without worry of getting caught. Now that she had… she felt awkward. This was the first time she had thought to check in on Jason using the mirror. Before today she had never felt the desire to do so, but with Jareth's words the other day. She decided to check on Jason.

Before this recent development with the underground Sarah had been thinking a lot about her future. Even with her step-mother breathing down her neck, Sarah had felt that she needed to start looking for the prospects of a husband. Not because it was the "normal" thing to do, nor was it some silly concept about her biological clock. To be honest she could care less about children. If she had some, great. If not, that's fine too. No, the reason she felt the need was simply because she was starting to feel lonely.

She had friends and her roommate, Denise, but it wasn't the same. The feeling had struck her one night while Denise was working late. Sarah was stretched out on her bed starring at her ceiling, alone. She had nothing to do, nowhere to be, and no one to talk to. It was that moment she had realized she had been like this for years. She was stuck and hadn't notice till that very moment. Living the same day over and over as time slowly ticked pass. Nothing exciting ever happened nor did the day change much in routine. She got up in the morning, went to work, came home, ate, bed, and then repeat. Seldom was there any variance in the day to day. The revelation made her feel uncomfortable, claustrophobic and… lonely. The thought of a least sharing this life warmed her. She felt if she could have someone to connect with and to share the mundane with, then perhaps she wouldn't feel so isolated.

She had dated a few times, but no one she could rely on. Most of her relationships were surface level at best. Even with friends and family, she didn't have a real deep connection to share with them. Even though she loved and deeply cared for them, she still felt they didn't really understand her. Also, her strong independence had not allowed her to deeply connect with them in return.

Looking back to the mirror she watched as Jason boarded the elevator of their office building. She had to admit he was handsome, decent, and kind. Those were all good qualities, but they weren't qualities Sarah though she wanted in a spouse. They were ideal qualities for a husband, but they didn't set a fire deep inside her. Sarah had always thought she would feel a burning need inside and out for the man she would fall in love with. She and Jason? There was no passion between the two of them, no desire. Sarah couldn't help wondering was she settling? Was someone like Jason really who she wanted for a partner for the rest of her life? Or was there more? Suddenly her thought flashed to Jareth's words, "His Queen." Sarah's heart skipped a beat and her face felt hot. What is this?! She thought to herself. Glancing toward the mirror she was tempted to seek out Jareth's image. Before she even allowed the thought to completely form she darted her eyes away. Sarah! Get a hold of yourself! She chastised herself.I can't get caught up in some pathetic crush! I'm not a teenager anymore! I have work to do and I don't need another reason for Jareth to look down on me.

Frustrated Sarah stretched out on the bed letting the images in the mirror dissolve before she could let herself do anything stupid. As she relaxed into the overstuff duvet, she heard a soft knock on the door.

Rarely did Sarah have visitors, so she was quit curious of who it could be. She exited the bed chamber and excitedly walk to the suite door. Upon opening it she found a happy surprise.

"Delerae! Come in! Where have you been?"

Delerae exchanged a gleeful hug with Sarah. "I've been around, but my duties keep me busy. How have you been Sarah?"

"Busy! I've never study this hard in my entire life! There are so many topics and customs to be learned. I never realized there was so much in the Underground. I almost feel overwhelmed, but I take it one step at a time and manage the best I can." Sarah beamed at Delerae.

Satisfied with Sarah's answer, Delerae continued. "And the King?"

"What about the King?" Sarah felt slightly guilty about her thoughts moments ago.

"Has he been treating you well? Have you spent much time together?" Sarah did her best not to make eye contact with Delerae in case the elf girl noticed the flush in Sarah's cheeks. "We've talked…"

Delerae sighed before she continued, "So he is being stubborn?"

Sarah smiled knowingly. "He is the Goblin King."

"He is that, but I had hoped-" Delerae pause. Sarah watched as Delerae made herself comfortable on one of the sofas. Delerae's feet barely brushed the floor as she sat poised on the sofa. "His life has not been an easy one. He has difficulty opening up to people." Sarah caught the obvious change in direction in what she was about to say.

Anxious to find out more about Jareth, "What do you mean?"

"You see Sarah, Jareth's mother had died when he was very young. His kind rarely face such sadness at a young age, we are a long lived kind. Bitterness has been in his heart since her passing."

"How did she die?"

"A broken heart." There was no pause in Delerae's answer.

"Is that even possible?" Sarah felt a little awkward asking Delerae if it were true. For all Sarah knew, death by broken heart might be as plausible as a car wreck from her world.

"I've told you, rarely do those in power marry for love. Marriages between nobility are established for unions of families, power, wealth, or some type of bargaining chip. Jareth's mother was in such an arrangement. She came from a strong noble blood line. Power ran in her blood, but she was stubborn."

"So Jareth took after his mother?" Sarah said half playfully.

Delerae smiled at the joke. "Seems true. They are both strong willed and prideful. Upon hearing about the arrangement she was not happy to say the least. Though she was angry, she would marry her betrothed. Duty and responsibility were important to her. Though, before she settled down she craved to do something daring and reckless….She ran the maze."

It's been so long! Sorry for not updating in soooooo long! I know this one seemed to end a little abrupt. I was kinda hoping to be done with the next chapter before I posted this one, but I've been really slow with the next one. I figured I've waited long enough. Hopefully, I'll have it soon. Thanks for reading!