Jareth twirled a crystal ball on his fingertips and sighed. He had been so glad to see Sarah that he had almost broke character. But then she claimed the child as her own and his anger had flared. Another man had laid hands upon his Sarah. She thought that by eating the peach that she belonged to the Underground. But she belonged to the Labyrinth and Jareth was the living embodiment of the Labyrinth, therefore Sarah belonged to him. It had been desperation that had caused him to enter her dreams that night. It was against the rules set forth centuries ago. He was forbidden to go unless he was called for. But Sarah had whispered his name softly in her sleep and he had caved. Besides, she had sort of called for him. So the rules were not truly broken, just bent.
Now she was here, untouched by any mortal man. Her assumptions had stung him more than he had let on to her. Scrub the floors indeed. She had come before him in the plain cotton shift and he had ached for her. The confusion and shock on her face had moved him. He had sent her away to change before she could see the truth.
She thought he was making her his queen only because of Mary. He smiled as he thought of his daughter. Fey lived forever and children were rare. Most had only one if any at all. Jareth was still young compared to most fey and had not even thought of children. He saw too many children tossed aside and wished away. Even if he had wanted children he was not exactly the most wanted fey Underground. Fey women were fickle, whispy and frail. They didn't relish the idea of living in the castle beyond the goblin city. Who wished to rule a bunch of childish, crude goblins. They were dirty and wild. But Jareth ruled them well, appreciating their carefree loyalty. That was why he had chosen here to rule. His mother had been shocked at first. She had expected him to remain in the Seelie Court, lazing about and dabbling in politics as most princes did. But Jareth cared little for court. The glitter only hid the ugliness. At least the goblins were honest in what they were.
He would raise his daughter here, away from the madness that was the court. She would flourish here, amidst the controlled chaos of the Labyrinth. And hopefully in time, so would Sarah.
But though he was to marry her he couldn't bring himself to admit the truth to her yet. He loved her. He, the powerful Goblin King, loved a young mortal girl. There wasn't much that he wouldn't do for Sarah. He would move mountains for her, she had ony to ask him to. But could he trust her with his fragile heart. She had left before, had denied him, and her loss had nearly killed him. Could he drop his guard around her now? Or would he be forced to pretend he didn't love her at all? He wasn't sure yet, but it was bound to be complicated. Things with Sarah always were.