Sorry I didn't upload a chapter last week at all! I was sick, and then I had to go to Boston for some testing. Hoping to get another chapter up before the end of the week. We shall see! Hopefully you like this chapter, and I'm thinking this story is coming to an end soon. If I come up with any more ideas, it will continue, but I promise, you will LOVE the ending! ;)
Jareth took Sarah's hand into his and she was all to willing to leave hers in his. As much as she hated to admit it, she actually did love him. He looked fown at her and caught her smiling. "What are you thinking of Precious?" He asked with a smile of his own. Even though he knew exactly what she was thinking, he wanted her to say it out loud.
She looked up at him and stopped smiling. "Nothing imparticular." She knew very well he could read her mind, why did he even bother to ask her?
He laughed as they walked into the dining hall. The hall was the biggest room in the castle. This was where Jareth held his yearly annual masquerade ball. Which he remembered, was coming up soon. He was more than ecstatic to have Sarah here for it. She was undoubtedly going to be his date. Especially after tonight. Jareth had no doubts that she would be his by the end of the night. She would agree to marry him and they would live happily together forever. He was even imagining her carrying his heir, or maybe more than one of his children. At least, he hoped that was the case. He would be the happiest and luckiest being in all the universes.
He tried to guide Sarah to the table, but she couldn't be budged. He turned to look at her and he saw her staring at everything in wonder. "What's the matter darling?"
"Matter?" She asked monotonely, while shaking her head back and forth slowly. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing." She said slowly. "This is beautiful. Breathtaking even. I've never seen anything so beautiful." Then she thought about it. "Wait, I take that back. I have, but only in movies and magazines. Never in person." She stared up at the chandeliers which hung above the table, the sconces on the wall, the mirrors that reflected the light from the candles in the sconces and then she turned to look at the table. The table was exquisite. It was the most beautiful wood she had ever seen. Prettier than any she had seen at home, and the chairs were matching. They had red velvet covering them.
He smiled. "Just think, this will all be yours to look at every day once you marry me."
Jareth noticed the wonder had left her eyes, and in place of the wonder, sadness had rooted. "You know I want to go home and see my family."
"I know that you do, but we have talked about this."
She shook her head sadly. "No, we haven't. You're always just telling me that I am going to stay here. We've never discussed it."
Jareth grabbed Sarah's hand and stroked the back of it with his thumb gently. "Then let us sit down for lunch and discuss it."
He saw a blink of happiness in her eyes. "You mean it? We'll really talk about it? We'll talk about my family?"
He nodded firmly and she hurried to the table, where Jareth pulled out her chair then pushed it in for her. He walked over to his chair and sat down. He could see the look on her face, like she was expecting him to just pop food on the table like he had every other time they had eaten together. He just smiled at her. "Go on, while we wait for our food to be served, talk about your family."
"Served?" He had caught her completely by surprise. His smile widened as he nodded. "Okay. Well, Jareth I want to see my family."
He shrugged, "You can see them anytime you wish."
Her eyes popped open wide. "You mean it?" Jareth nodded. "Anytime I wish?" Jareth nodded again, knowing what she meant, but also knowing what he meant. She squealed and jumped up from her chair and ran to him and kissed him. "Oh thank you, thank you! This means so much to me." She went back and sat down.
He hated to see her all smiles when he knew they wouldn't last when she found out. He looked at the entrance to the dining hall. "Here comes our food darling."
Sarah saw Carlida and Hoggle placing the food on the table. "Hoggle?"
"Sarah?" Then he looked at Jareth and back at Sarah and corrected himself. "I mean, milady." He said as he bowed.
"Oh, no not you too!" She said as she turned to look at Jareth.
"Milady, I thought I told you this morning, we were instructed to do so. Anyone who goes against the King, will be dipped into the bog."
Hoggle looked at Sarah sadly. "I don't want that Sarah. I told you that in the Labyrinth months ago." He put his hand to his mouth and looked at Jareth. "I'm sorry your majesty! It's hard to get used to. I swear, it won't happen again. I'll call her milady next time."
Jareth held up his hand. "It's fine hogbrain, for now anyways. Anymore slip-ups and I will do what I promised months ago." Sarah's brow furrowed and Jareth laughed. Hoggle put the rest of the food on the table then scurried away.
Sarah looked down at her plate, Jareth's comment to Hoggle already forgetten. "Spaghetti?" She sounded surprised. "You eat spaghetti in the underground?"
Jareth laughed. "Of course dear girl. I eat all kinds of food. Eggs are not the only one you know."
She looked at him and dug into her food, not having to be forced or told to for once. She was happy and he could tell. He was glad that he was cause of her happiness, at least for once.
"So, Sarah, please tell me why you think the aboveground is amazing." He was trying to get her to open up to him, and it worked.
Her eyes lit up when she started thinking of everything, then she began talking. "Well, for one thing, there's snow. It's really pretty, especially on the trees. You can make a snowman and have snow ball fights with friends. I've never been in one, but I've seen them. Then there's the rain. No one can see you crying in the rain. Which is the only reason I like the rain."
She paused for a minute, then looked at the mirror as if lost in thought. "The animals, I have more of a connection to them than I do to people, but the animals are so beautiful and they never betray you. Besides Sandra, animals are were always my best friends. Then theres the flowers. I mean, they don't compare to yours or anything, but they are beautiful. Last but not least, theres the bodies of water. You know lakes, ponds, rivers, and oceans. I'd never go in them, but I love to look at them."
He could see how animatedly she talked about it all and was about to speak, but she had started again. "Oh, I forgot all about the sky! During the day it's pretty, because it's blue, but at night, when the stars come out, that's when it's the prettiest. It's the most beautiful thing in the world to me. The most beautiful thing I have ever seen. If I could stay awak all night just to look at them, I would."
Jareth sawher smile falter just a little and his heart felt it. Not like his heart was breaking, but it hurt. "What's wrong Precious?"
Her eyes went to her plate and she shook her head. "Nothing. It's just that you've made me a little sad thinking about it all. She tucked a piece of loose hair behind her ear. "That's all." She looked up at him. "Can we talk about something else?"
Jareth put his fork down and folded his hands together. "We can talk about whatever you want. You choose." That's when he heard it. The call to go get an un-wanted child. He didn't move right away. First, he had to figure out what to do with his precious Sarah. He certainly didn't want her to walk through the castle alone. She didn't know it well enough yet. That's what he saw her put her arms on the arm rests of her chair. He put his hand down and flicked his wrist.
"What the hell is going on Jareth? Why are my arms cuffed to the chair?"
He gave her a weak smile. "I'm sorry my dear." He got up and walked over to her and she was squirming to break free. He grabbed her face gently and pulled it towards him. "This is just a precaution so you don't get hurt while I'm gone."
Her eyes went wide. "Where are you going?"
"I have work to attend to."
Sarah looked at him incredulously. "You're really leaving cuffed here so you can work in your study?"
He shook his head at her. "No my dear. An un-wanted child." He heard the call again, more urgent this time. "I must go. I'll be back in a flash." And just like that, he was gone.
Sarah looked around but couldn't see behind her. In her frustration, she screamed out loud. She heard someone walk into the room. "Hoggle?" No answer. "Carlida?" Again, there was no answer. Her breathing began to get un-even and began to pick up. She heard the person walking over to her. This person was wearing boots. "Jareth?" She started to calm down a little bit. "You're back already? You took longer than that with me when I wished Toby away."
She heard the boots stop next to her and she gulped. She knew if it was Jareth, he would have answered her. She looked up and saw Darin standing next to her. "So my brother is gone and he's left you cuffed to a chair." He smiled wickedly at her. "How gentlemanly of him."
Sarah grew angry. She felt a need to defend Jareth. "You don't know anything about him!" She to go slap him, but of course that didn't work. She had forgotten that her hands were cuffed to the chair.
"I know all about my brother." He bent down to her level." He's arrogant, a jerk, a King, and at the moment, he's left you in a very vulnerable position." He said as he caressed her face while she tried to pull away from him. "You can't go anywhere. My brother made sure of that." Darin said while laughing.
"That doesn't give you the right to touch me!" She said through gritted teeth. "Don't you remember what he said last time?" She turned to look at him and he looked bored.
He gave a fake yawn and pulled her chair out from the table. When it was out far enough, he sat down on her lap, facing her. "What the fuck do you think you are doing?" She asked in a panic.
"I'm going to do what I've been wanting to do since I've first laid eyes on you." Darin grabbed both sided of her head and leaned in and brought his mouth to hers. She tried to move her head, but he was stronger. He held it in place. He was enjoying the lip on lip kiss, but he wanted more. He forced his tongue into her mouth all the while hearing her protests. He didn't care though. Daring had wanted Sarah for himself. Even if he had to steal her from his brother. He pushed her head to the back of the chair and held it there with one hand on her chin as he continues the kiss.
He took his other hand and grabbed at her dress, pulling it up to where his leg was, then he lifted his leg and pulled the dress up and sat back down. He continued to pull the fabric of the dress up until it was up to her thigh. He could feel her breathing quicken. He smiled into the kiss. When he got his hand under the material of the dress, he started caressing her thigh. Finally, he broke the kiss and looked at her. She was crying. "Want me to keep going?" He asked with a wicked smile.
"No, I want you to leave me alone."
He laughed and looked into her eyes. "To bad. I have no intentions of stopping." He brought his mouth back to hers and started caressing her thigh again. He only wished that she wasn't cuffed to the chair so that he could take her somewhere more private. He heard Sarah protesting again, and he was getting annoyed with it. That's when he was pulled off of her and thrown into the wall.
He got up and saw Jareth standing next to Sarah, who was no longer cuffed to the chair. He saw her grab onto Jareth for dear life and she was still crying. "Jareth, keep your cool. She wanted it."
Anger flared in Jareth's eyes. "Does this look like a girl who wanted it? As you so cooly put it. Hmm Darin?" He pointed to Sarah. "She's standing here crying in my arms. Something she has never done on her own accord." Jareth grabbed Sarah by the shoulders and told her to sit down for a minute while he took care of his brother. Sarah nodded while still crying.
Jareth walked over to Darin and grabbed him by the throat. "I believe I told you last time, not to touch her again. She is my betrothed, not yours!"
Darin laughed. "That's funny, I haven't seen any ring on her finger."
Jareth growled and punched Darin in the face then snapped his finger and sent him home.
Darin had touched a nerve. He was right. There was no ring on her finger and he planned on fixing that tonight.
He turned to face Sarah when he made sure he was calm. He didn't want to his frustrations out on her. When he finally did turn around, he sar that Sarah was visibly shaking. He walked over to her. He grabbed her by the waist and she clung to him, like he was her only salvation. "Sarah, he's gone. He's not coming."
She looked up at him with tears still staining her eyes. "I know what I said earlier, but can I sleep in your room with you?"
Jareth was to busy thinking about what he wanted to do to his brotherto hear what Sarah was thinking that he was caught off guard. "Sarah, he's not coming back."
She shook her head. "I don't care. I was almost just raped Jareth! You saved me. I'd rather stay in your room tonight and be safe than be alone and not sure about my safety. You'll keep me safe. I know you will."
Jareth sighed. "The only true way to keep you safe is for you to marry me." He saw the horror in her eyes. "If I allow you to go home aboveground, he will go and grab you for himself. He will consider you fair game. Do you understand? On my honor Srah, I am not playing any tricks."
She started crying again, then she started punching his chest. "You concocted this plan with him! Didn't you?" He grabbed her hands and she broke down some more. "You made this whole that? You wouldn't need any help if you were really a king!"
"Sarah, I did not make any plans with my brother to scare you. Do you really think I would subject you to what he did to you? I've never forced myself on you, why would I allow my brother to do so?"
He felt Sarah relax and saw her eyes fill with more tears. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I'm just so utterly confused. I don't know what to do."
He looked her dead in the eyes and she could tell he was being honest when he said, "The only thing to do is to marry me." She knew because he didn't smirk, laugh, or say it in a dangerous tone.
She turned away from him, deep in thought. Then she whirled back to look at him. "I'll do it. I'll marry you, but on one condition."
"She is going home the second the wedding is over."
Sarah narrowed her eyes and shook her head. "No. It's not about her." He narrowed his eyes in confusion. "I want to be able to go home and see my family whenever I want."
"Sarah-"
"I mean, after we get married. This way you can come with me."
"What about when you do not age and Tobias does?" She closed her eyes and sighed. "I will let you go home and visit for the first year we are married. Maybe even the first two. Does that sound fair to you?"
"No. You'll get to see your family all the time. I won't. I won't even get to talk to them!"
He grabbed he and hugged her. "We can arrange phone calls. If you would like that."
She looked up at him. "I would love that." She hugged him tighter then let him go. "So, when's the wedding?"
"I already had your dress made. We just need to wait for Sandra's to be done." He saw the anger in her eyes. "I had already planned to marry you. Remember? I have been saying that since before you came back here." The anger quickly faded. "When I planned to use Sandra, I had them start making her dress. It's nothing extravagant like yours, so it should be done tonight."
"Tonight?" She asked in shock. She didn't think it would be this soon.
"Oh no darling, if anything tomorrow night." He looked at the table then back at her. "Are you done with lunch?" She nodded. "Good, I have to go spread the word, but first," He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out the most beautiful diamond ring she had ever seen. It was 4 karots. Princess cut. "You'll need to put this on." Which she was all to happy to do. "Now, I'm going to take you to Sandra's room so you two can talk while I get to work on the pending nuptiuals."
Well, I hope you all enjoyed that! I do believe that was the LONGEST chapter I have EVER written on here.. Now off to go write my other fanfiction if I don't die from hunger first... Lol. Thanks for the views and the reviews. You guys are the best! ;)