A cool draft blew in from Sarah's bedroom window stirring her from her peaceful slumber.
Keeping her eyes closed she wrapped the blanket tighter around herself in an effort to stay warm. She had been dreaming she were a princess in a faraway land. Not the damsel in distress kind of course, but a fierce heroine fighting alongside her soldiers to bring peace back to her people. Full of adventure and excitement, this was the kind of dream she enjoyed the most and she reached with her mind to hold onto it.
Just as she started slipping back into blissful unconsciousness a soft tune floated through the air bringing her right back into reality. It was muted slightly, sounding like it was coming from another room or downstairs perhaps.
The melody itself was pretty, and under any other circumstances Sarah might have been intrigued, but in her dream she had been so close to victory and she was hellbent on finishing it.
She rein-visioned herself standing on the battlefield, her long hair secured in a thick braid blowing back in the wind, sharp sword in her right hand and heavy shield in her left.
All around her blades clashed together. She looked ahead into the sea of soldiers, each and every one risking their life to defend the cause they believed in. No longer wanting to just stand around and watch Sarah charged ahead towards the nearest enemy she could find.
He was completely unsuspecting, too busy relishing in his small victory over taking down a rather large opponent.
She approached silently and swiftly, her sword raised at just the right angle to slip into the sweet spot below his underarm where his armor didn't cover. He instantly dropped to the ground when she removed her blade, now halfway covered in fresh blood.
Never even saw it coming she thought proudly.
It wouldn't be long before her adversaries declared their surrender, her army was already twice as large as theirs by now.
She looked around again, hunting for another lone soldier to engage in battle with. In a matter of seconds she spotted her target, only this time they locked eyes and she charged forward once more.
They were only steps away from each other when the music she'd heard earlier began to float in with the wind. It was louder than the last time and for a moment Sarah was stunned. No one else seemed to notice but her, and the brief distraction was her downfall as the man in front of her raised his sword in preparation for the lethal blow.
"What is even going on?" she managed to whine before he attacked and everything faded to black.
With her eyes still screwed shut she could now hear the tune as clear as day as she was forced out of her dream once again.
She laid still and listened for a moment, completely annoyed at the sound despite its haunting beauty.
As aggravating as it was, she'd never be able to fall back asleep as long as music kept playing and she decided it would be pointless to keep mentally complaining about it.
"I swear if Karen is responsible for this she can shove her friendship invitation right back up her ass," Sarah mumbled as she sat up and opened her eyes to check the time on the alarm clock sitting on her nightstand.
Her breath hitched in her throat when her eyes failed to land on their target. They didn't land on anything familiar in fact, as she studied her environment suddenly feeling very awake.
What the fu...
As her sight adjusted to the darkness, a wave of panic washed over her at what she saw erasing the very thought from her mind.
She was outside.
The floral covered walls of her bedroom had been replaced by two neat rows of thick stone hedges on either side of her stretching a good distance ahead before splitting off into a cross road. Glittering vines snaked up the rocky surfaces in intricate patterns. The entire scene was way too familiar. She paled as realization dawned on her.
I don't believe it...this isn't happening...
Her mind was racing trying to come up with a logical explanation for why she was suddenly, and unwillingly, back inside the labyrinth.
"I never made a wish!," she yelled hysterically into the open air. "I shouldn't be here. I didn't wish!"
On the verge of tears, Sarah shut her eyes as tight as she could.
Maybe when I open them I'll be back in my room she thought trying to comfort herself. You're still dreaming that's all, and when you open your eyes everything will be back as it should be.
Taking a deep breath, she counted to three, and slowly lifted her eyelids.
"Oh come on!," she wailed as her prayers went unheard.
She tried her best to keep her now rapid breathing steady but it felt like she was suffocating.
Why am I here? What did I do this time!?
"I can't believe this is happening. If he had anything to do with this I swear I'll ki...," her eyes widened at the thought.
The Goblin King!
She glanced up immediately as if she expected to see him there, flying around in his owl form mocking her, relishing in her distress.
She found herself temporarily distracted as her eyes landed instead on the moon. It was impossible to miss, large and round hanging high in the indigo sky. Surrounding it were a seemingly infinite amount of golden glowing stars. She had never seen one so magnificent in her own world, it was hard not to admire it for a moment, but she quickly remembered what she had been looking for.
"Where are you?," she whispered as she continued her scan of the sky. No sign of him. "Damn."
Deciding that no one was going to help her figure things out this time around, Sarah reached down to push the covers off her legs. When her hand grabbed the material of her blanket she was startled by the texture. Her normal quilted comforter had been replaced by a big thin layer of what could only be described as spongy moss. It was surprisingly sturdy as she brushed her fingertips over the surface. She squeezed a section in her hand and was amazed it remained perfectly intact.
After she had her fill marveling over the bizarre material she finished pushing it off of herself and stood up from her bed. Or a bed anyway.
The white frame had been replaced by dark wooden logs that extended down into the ground with a tangled mess of roots.
How was that so comfortable? She tilted her head in confusion before shaking it with a sigh. This place will never make sense.
It was then that Sarah noticed the soft notes of the melody were still dancing through the air. She had been so distracted she completely forgot what had woken her up in the first place.
Standing motionless, she concentrated on finding which direction the music was coming from. Clearly it was calling to her and she had a pretty good idea who was responsible. The sooner she got to the bottom of this nightmare the sooner she'd be done with it.
It appeared to be playing from straight ahead, towards the cross in the road. She should have known she'd have to work for it, the Goblin King loved his games after all.
She braced herself before taking a step only to nearly trip face first onto the pavement, her foot having caught on something. She peered down to find herself completely redressed from head to toe. No longer in her plaid pajamas, she was now outfitted in a magnificent creamy silk gown that flowed all the way to the ground. It was a light golden color that clung to her figure from top to bottom, the neckline coming to a low v, revealing way more than Sarah had ever dared to before.
It was sleeveless with two straps on either side that crisscrossed over her shoulders, joining in an X on the mostly exposed back. Even her hair had been changed from loose straight strands to a delicate up-do high upon her head. When she reached up to touch a curly piece of hair dangling down the side of her face, her fingers landed upon a velvety object resting on the upper half of her face. Curious, she brought both hands up to explore the rest strange object. It was extremely soft and only seemed to cover the area around her eyes. I'm wearing a mask?
Her observations were cut short as a chilling feeling shot up her spine sending her defense signals into red alert.
She knew he was there before she even looked up.
The Goblin King stood directly in the center of the cross road, his body facing Sarah in a most predatory way. He was dressed in all black, wearing his signature overly tight pants and tall boots. A mask also donned the top half of his face, covering all but his chin, but Sarah knew was him by the aura he radiated even from so far away.
For a moment she had no idea what to do, seeing him in his fae form again for the first time since the rejection left her stunned. Was he angry? Should she be afraid? Or more importantly, did he still...want her?
Before her mind had the chance to take off completely on what ifs and what nots, the goblin king disappeared down the path to his right leaving her all alone again.
"Hey wait! Where are you going!?" she yelled as she started running down the aisle towards him, mindful to pick up the bottom half of her dress this time.
When she finally reached the corner she spotted him a short distance ahead, just before he teasingly vanished behind another wall.
"Stop! Tell me why you brought me here!?," her cries still went unanswered as she continued chasing him through the twists and turns of the maze.
Every time she thought she might actually be gaining on him, she'd turn a new corner only to find him even farther ahead than before. Her chest was starting to ache from all the running and she knew it wouldn't be long before she needed to rest.
As he slipped behind yet another turn she followed close behind, expecting to find him way off in the distance like always. She rounded the corner barely stopping herself in time to avoid colliding with the giant stone wall in front of her. It was a dead end.
She spun around searching for him, surely he didn't walk through the wall?
Who am I kidding he's the goblin king, his pastimes include turning scarves into snakes and creating hallucinogenic peaches, why should I be surprised?
Remembering the advice she received from the little blue worm on her first journey through the labyrinth she pushed against the stone on all three sides hoping to find a secret entrance of some sort. There was none.
Tired and frustrated, Sarah angrily slapped the center wall with both her hands. If she couldn't walk through it maybe she could just break the damn thing down.
"Okay you win!," she shouted defeated. "I give up, okay? Just please tell me why I'm here."
The music that had still been playing finally ceased and the strange tingling sensation returned creeping slowly up her spine.
"It's about time I heard you say that," he spoke, his voice seductively low and dangerously close to Sarah's ear. "Now tell me pet, what do I win?"
She jumped at the sound of his voice, her wide green eyes nearly popping right out of her head. Turning around, the breath she had been holding got stuck in her throat as she took in the sight of him.
His mask was gone and his two-toned blue eyes seemed even brighter under the moonlight somehow as they unmercifully pierced straight through her with his gaze.
"It's...it's you...," was all she could manage to muster. She had always imagined she'd have something more clever to say at their reunion. Not that she wanted to have one...of course not, but she had still thought about it.
"Were you expecting another?," he asked with a raise of his brow.
She continued to stare at him, silently hoping the cat who obviously had her tongue would just get lost already.
Finally finding her voice she asked, "What could you possibly want from me this time?," ignoring his question.
He simply laughed, the sound sending butterflies fluttering through Sarah's stomach.
"What's so funny? Why did you bring me here?," her patience was filling up fast as he resorted from laughing to grinning at her in that smug "holier than thou" way of his. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks as his silence persisted.
"ANSWER ME!" she exploded unable to take it any longer, the intensity and volume of her voice shocking them both.
His smile faded only slightly.
"I don't want anything from you precious, I simply want...you."
She felt her knees tremble at his confession but managed to hold herself up as they continued their stare down.
"But I walked away...that was supposed to be the end of it. I thought-"
"That we would spend the rest of our existences apart? That I would so easily bow down and give you up all because you spoke a few tasteless words," he interrupted. "Such a foolish thought. We belong together Sarah mine. There are some things you simply can't escape from."
She couldn't help but stare at him incredulously as he said the very last thing she wanted to hear. It felt like she was literally splitting in two. Her heart was soaring at the thought that someone could feel so strongly for her, to make such a declaration, much like the ones she had read in her fairy tales. Her mind however, felt insulted. Why allow her to think she had any control of her fate, if he was just going to do as he pleased anyway?
"You can't! This isn't...it's not...it isn't fair!," the words spilled out before she could stop them.
He let out another light laugh much to Sarah's disapproval.
"Still acting like a child are we?," he teased.
"I am not a child!," she huffed crossing her arms.
She caught a dark glint flash across his eyes sending her nerves into overdrive. He took a single step forward causing her to back up against the stone wall. The wicked smile that spread across his face made her feel like nothing more than a field mouse trapped in the owl's deadly talons.
"Oh you're not you say?," he said before biting his bottom lip suggestively. It only took him one more stride before he was directly in front of her, their faces only inches apart. The lusty look in his eyes as he drank in the sight of her up close sent goosebumps across her flesh. He leaned his head in closer to hers.
"Prove it to me," he whispered, their lips almost touching.
Heat swelled through her body at his words and the anticipation of his kiss. Part of her was screaming at herself to slap him, shove him, do something to get herself out of this situation. The rest of her was basking in this new warm sensation and she was no longer sure she even wanted him to stop.
He hovered his lips over hers for what felt like an eternity before he dropped down to the ground in front of her, much to Sarah's surprise. She never thought she'd see the day the Goblin King went to his knees...for anyone.
Before she could question why he was kneeling for her, he quickly reached out, wrapping his left hand around her hip.
She instinctively tugged away, but his grip was strong enough to hold on. He looked up into her eyes before he began slowly stroking her thigh with his thumb.
What the hell?
Her mind raced at lightning speed trying to come to terms with how the Goblin King was now sensually caressing her leg and why her body was so positively responding to it.
Everywhere his fingers touched it felt like he had set her on fire. She found herself craving his touch on other parts of her body, but instead of voicing it, she quietly watched him, curious at what he planned to do next.
Gazes still locked, he brought his free hand down to grip the bottom of her gown. The other released her hip shortly after to follow suit.
As his hand left her side she forced herself not to frown. She tried her hardest to read his expression, to predict what his next move would be. Her innocent mind simply wasn't prepared.
He casually began lifting the hem of her dress up her legs inch by inch, his fingers tantalizingly brushing against her calves. Her mouth parted slightly as she continued to stare down at him with a mixture of anxiety and desire.
By the time his hands reached her knees, he had both hands wrapped around her legs in a firm but gentle caress. The leather of his gloves felt smooth and cool, a welcome relief against her flaming skin.
"Are you ready?," he asked gently.
"Ready?" Ready for what? She screamed internally.
Bending forward he lowered his lips and kissed her calf just underneath his left hand. Without warning, he continued pushing her dress up higher, his lips following the path of his hands.
Sarah felt her eyes close as a moan threatened to escape her mouth. The heat she felt from his hands was starting to spread and rise to places her virgin self was ashamed of. Sure she'd had crushes before, but the butterflies always stayed in her stomach, not between her legs.
As his mouth trailed higher still, his kisses increased their intensity as well. She could feel his tongue softly massage her skin, as he tasted the inside of her thigh.
She opened her eyes needing to watch, mesmerized by the look of devotion on his face. He was taking his time, savoring every kiss like he needed them to survive. The passion he had for her was driving her wild.
"No peach in existence could taste as sweet as you," he paused, breathing heavily against her flesh before resuming his delightful torture.
OH...MY...GOD...
Whether it was his sexy foreign accent, or the words themselves that motivated her, Sarah couldn't control her body's movements as she tilted her pelvis forward, subconsciously encouraging him to pick up his pace.
He was only too happy to oblige as he vigorously and abruptly shoved her dress up past her belly button.
As the cool night air hit her stomach, common sense flooded back to her mind, slowly bringing her out of the Goblin King's spell. She reached down gripping his shoulders roughly. The action was meant to halt his performance entirely, but it only succeeded in turning him on even more.
"Sarah...," he called out, desperation clear in his voice. In a split second his lips slid up the sensitive crease between her thigh and abdomen before landing on their target in the center of her legs.
Her head fell back on reflex as her nails dug into his upper back. She tried her hardest not to make a sound, but the skill of his lips on her was just too much...
"Oooooooohhhhhh," she cried lurching forward, her body spasming from an intense wave of pleasure. As quickly as it came it was gone, the feeling of his mouth disappearing suddenly.
"What the...," she said still trying to catch her breath. She was in her room, back in her bed, her pink and purple pjs damp with sweat.
It really was a dream...
She sat there perfectly still for what felt like hours before finally reclining back on her pillow. She could still see his sapphire eyes burning into her own, could still feel his touch...
It was going to be a long night.
Once again I'd like to thank all the reviewers and also everyone who followed and favorited! You guys are my biggest motivators and push me to try my best. So thank you!
Can you tell it's my first time writing a "smut" scene (if you could even call it that lol.) It wasn't meant to be too graphic, Sarah is still so young after all. But I promise to keep practicing for future chapters. It will get better!
Also, I know the whole dream scene is heavily used in this fandom, but hopefully it was at least relatively convincing to be a surprise to some.
And it's with a heavy heart that I dedicate this chapter to the late (and great!) David Bowie. So happy that I found this fandom when I did, and was able to become a part of it. His memory will live on here if no where else. Gone but never forgotten. RIP