Chapter 17

Love gained, Love lost

"That's just wonderful m'dear!" Midge exclaimed after Sarah had finished telling her family all about her time at the Marquee's estate. Gavin had been sulking in the corner after he had heard that Sarah would be living half time at the Marquees. "Gavin! What's the matter with you son. Aren't you going to congradulate Sarah?" Midge placed one of her fists on her hip as she spoke to her son.

"Congradulations." Gavin muttered and left the cottage. Awkward silence fell for a moment after the door had shut behind him.

"He's just jealous!" Lily proclaimed breaking the silence. "Will you take me with you to the Marquee's sometime?" Lily pleaded with big eyes.

"Me too!" Toby shouted.

Sarah smiled, still feeling a little awkward after Gavin's display. "I am sure I can arrange something..."

"Alright, out you little pests." Midge shoo'ed the children towards the door. Once Toby and Lily had left the cottage, Midge and Robert joined Sarah at the table.

"There's something we need to tell you pumpkin." her father said and clasped Midge's hand. "Midge and I want to get married." he said, getting straight to the point.

"I knew it!" Sarah exclaimed with a laugh, standing and almost knocking her chair over in the process. "I saw the way you two have been looking at eachother for the past few months." she accused.

"So you're alright with it m'dear?" Midge asked. Sarah couldn't help laughing, it was the first time she had seen Midge nervous and it didnt suit the woman at all.

"Of course!" Sarah beamed. "You've been like a mother to me since we arrived. Now it will be official." she smiled, truely happy for them. Looking to her father again she grinned. "Now would you want to go back aboveground if I could wish us back?" she questioned him.

Robert shook his head, "You always did know what was best for me." he laughed.

"Hmph, you're finally figuring it out!" she teased her father again. "It's still sort of odd that I wasn't able to wish us back home though...not that it matters. I wouldn't leave for the world!" Sarah stood. "Well I am going to see what's up with Gavin." she announced before leaving.

Sarah found Gavin feeding their plow horse. "So what's eating you today." she poked his rib.

"Nothing...is..eating me." Gavin replied looking at her strangely, not understanding her aboveground lingo.

Sarah sighed. "It means, what is the matter with you?"

"Well why didn't you just say that in the first place?" he asked.

Sarah sighed again. "Hey you're going to be my brother soon! Isn't that great!"

Gavin turned his back on her. "I don't want to be your brother, Sarah." he said bitterly.

Sarah was shocked and hurt by his words. "But Gavin I thought we were..."

"I don't want to be your friend either..." he said cutting her off. Sarah bit her lip hurt and confused, she was at a loss for words.

Gavin slowly turned round to face Sarah again. Sarah flinched as he reached out and tucked a stray hair behind her ear and then let his hand fall back to his side. "I want to be something...more. to you." he confessed. For the first time Sarah saw what his eyes betrayed.

"He loves me?" Sarah thought. Sarah took a step back, not knowing what to do. "I'm sorry Gavin...I..."

"You're the great Sarah, conqueror of Labyrinths. You're going to make a great life for yourself here...I can't expect you to feel the same for a poor farmboy." he said in a mixture of anger and defeat.

"Gavin, that's not true...it's just..." she still didn't know what to say, she had been so blind and this had come as a complete shock to her. Gavin turned his back on her and started to walk away. Sarah resisted the urge to chase after him. "There's nothing you can say to make him feel better." she thought and retreated back to her room.

The next day. At the Castle beyond the Goblin City...

Priya ignored her King when he appeared in her room. "Priya, give Mirain a tour of the Castle today." when Priya continued to ignore him he added, "That's an ORDER Priya!" he snarled before leaving her room.Priya threw the book she had been reading where Jareth had been standing before letting out a yell of frustration.

Priya marched down the hall to where Mirain was sleeping. "Wake up you lazy girl!" she said rudely shaking Mirain by the shoulder. Mirain woke startled and recoiled from Priya, scared that the elf had come to throttle her. "I'm not going to hurt you." Priya spat. "The King wants me to give you a tour, get dressed." she ordered the mortal. As Mirain slowly started to get out of her bed Priya marched out the room only to drag a trembling goblin into the room. "Draw the girl a bath." she ordered the Goblin who rushed away to complete the task.

"What should I wear to please the King?" Mirain asked Priya.

Priya looked at Mirain as if she were considering her answer. "Something yellow." she answered, full knowing that yellow was Jareth's least favorite color and would not look flattering on the girl. "I'll be back soon." Priya said and left Mirain to her bath.

Later that Day...

Priya walked briskly down the halls, Mirain trying to keep up with her pace. Priya stopped again, infront of another door and turned to face Mirain. "Listen mortal, this is very important to remember." Priya snapped. "This," she said pointing to the closed door. "Is the King's private study. You are not to enter this room under any circumstances, do you hear?" Mirain nodded in understanding. "Good." Priya quiped and continued her way down the hall. Mirain slowed her pace and looked back curiously at the door. "Hurry up!" Priya shouted. "I don't have all day to show you the Castle." she lied. Mirain turned and lifted her skirts and rushed to catch up with Priya once again.

Jareth pinched the bridge of his nose in protest to his constant headache. Sitting at his desk in his private study, he had just finished up the last of the adoption paperwork, the last form had been for Mirain's half brother, Baelin. He had lied when he had bargained with Mirain, she'd lost he had the right to do whatever he wished with her and the babe. This way, she wouldn't have as much to hold against him. He grimaced as he looked down at his gloved hands, he stretched his fingers out as if they pained him. "A few years..." he thought bitterly, a few years in the life of a fae might as well be a few days. "Not long at all...and this pathetic girl is my last hope." he sighed.

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Author's Note: Um not much to say, just a filler chapter really. A chapter or two more before the real fun begins...