Chapter 48
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Revelation
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Sarah paced her room at the Duke's palace nervously, "What's wrong with me." she fretted. "I won, I proved myself. I proved that I belong here, that I can make a life of my own here. I'm free, my family is safe...this is what I wanted." Sarah tried to convince herself of this. "Why do I want to run back there? Why Sarah!"
She stopped pacing and rubbed her temples, on top of all her mixed feelings she felt there was something she had forgotten, it was such a similar feeling as to when she had been enchanted by that peach. Sarah shook out her hands as she often did to try to calm herself and shake her nerves, at that moment her engagement ring dislodged from her finger. Sarah watched as if in slow motion as the ring flew from her finger and bounced across the hard stone floor. The tink of the precious metal hitting stone sounded loud and deafening to Sarah as she stood paralyzed. The Marchioness' words came flooding back to her, "How long?" she wondered had the spell on the ring been undone?
Deep inside Sarah knew that she never really loved the Duke, deep down she knew it would never work between them. Labyrinth conquerer or not, she was only mortal. Realization of all that Sarah had stubbornly and subconsciously decided to ignore hit her now. Slowly she sat down on her bed, still staring at the ring that lay discarded on the floor. "I love him." she buried her face in her hands. "Oh Sarah what have you done?" she asked herself. She had betrayed the one man who ever really loved her, and she realized that now. "He was generous and all I ever did was take from him, and now I abandoned him to his miserable fate." she weeped.
Her sadness and guilt was quickly replaced by panic and she no longer felt welcome in the Duke's home. Sarah's mind raced, wondering how she would tell the Duke? She admitted that the thought scared her and suddenly found the Duke very intimidating. What would she tell her family? Would they understand? She knew the Duke would be enraged that she had chosen his cousin over himself, but she was hoping that he would take it gracefully. "He is a man, and reasonable enough." she told herself, and felt at ease.
Sarah stood, determined she crossed the room and picked up the ring which she then placed on her nightstand. She decided then that she would leave immediately and come back before anyone noticed that she had left. She closed her eyes and concentrated on teleporting herself to the Goblin Castle. After what seemed forever, with no luck Sarah resigned with a sigh. "Where's that crystal." she muttered, feeling ashamed that she could not master the task herself.
Sarah was surprised when she did not find the crystal in her bag. "Maybe I put it away?" she questioned herself, even though she had no memory of doing so. Fifteen minutes later her room was torn apart. It was then that she realized that someone must have taken it from her the night before and the Duke was the only likely suspect. "Well if he thinks he can keep me here, he has another thing coming." she spat feeling angry at the Duke for the first time.
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The Duke sat in his study feeling very pleased with himself. He had been furious when he felt his spell on Sarah's ring dissolve the other night, he was relieved when he realized that she had not come to understand her own feelings yet. He acted quickly while her mind was still hazy, bringing Sarah and her family back to his estate. While she visited with her family he had found Jareth's crystal and immediately disposed of it. He could almost feel Jareth's magic resonating off of Sarah but he also felt something else, something he had felt when he visited Toby. He was quite convinced at this point that Sarah and her family were not completely human, he was not going to take any chances and warded the entire palace with spells and charms to keep Sarah in.
He did not know how long Sarah would be in the dark about her true feelings, he had decided to push the wedding sooner. Jareth's curse would be complete in just a weeks time, he would celebrate the occasion by making Sarah his bride the same day. He had his whole staff busy with the preparations, he would marry Sarah and then have his coronation the next day. A large wolfish grin spread across his face as he thought on these things, finally he would have all that he desired.
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"Well to tell you the truth girl, I never trusted that Duke in the first place." Midge whispered back to Sarah after Sarah had revealed her feelings to her father and new mother. Sarah who had been very apprehensive about telling her parents felt very relieved at Midge's words and felt her shoulders relax again.
Robert merely sat there with a dull expression as he rubbed his head. The past events had left him drained and bewildered, he did not know what to think.
"I want you two to leave here." Sarah started in again. "I doubt the Duke would take this new development out on you, but honestly I don't know him as well as I had like to have thought before." she admitted. "I would die if anything happened to you and I don't want him to be able to use you against me." Sarah stopped short as a knock came on the chamber door.
The family relaxed when only a maid entered the room. The little maid curtseyed before addressing them, "Lady Sarah, the Duke wishes to speak with you." Sarah felt instantly nervous, she did not know if she could face him yet. She turned to her father and whispered so that the maid could not over hear. "I will not reveal my feelings until you are able to leave." she promised before turning and following the maid out of the room. Sarah made an excuse to go back to her own room first and placed the ring back onto her finger before leaving to see the Duke. She fidgeted with it nervously as she made her way down the hall. This palace that once seemed luxurious and wonderful to her now suddenly seemed dark and oppressive.
"Enter" she heard Lasair's smooth rich voice as she stood outside of his study. She braced herself and masked her true feelings before entering the room. "Lasair, you wished to see me?" she tried to sound casual.
"Does this bother you?" he played with her, as he could see her nervousness. "of course I would wish to see my lovely bride." he smiled seductively before she could answer him. Sarah tried to smile.
"I wanted to inform you that I've moved our wedding date." he continued.
"Oh?" Sarah shifted uncomfortably.
"Yes, we shall be married within the week." he informed.
"So soon?" Sarah sounded startled.
"Does this displease you?" his eyes suddenly looked dangerous to Sarah.
"No..I.."
"Good." he cut her of before she could finish. "The seamstress will need to see you today for a dress fitting, only the best for my bride." his demeanor shifted back to charming. "I'm very busy now, so run along and visit with your family. I am sure you miss them after your dreadful experience."
"Thank you." Sarah turned and left. Once she was outside his study and the door was securely shut before her she ran back to her room. Sarah didn't know exactly why she ran but she felt the need to get as far away from his as she could, as fast as she could. She closed her eyes now, trying to think. "How was I so blind?" she groaned, very displeased with herself. The man who had seemed so beautiful, so charming and loving now seemed callous and dangerous.
That evening Sarah made plans for her families departure the next morning. She would tell the Duke that her parents would not be able to attend the wedding because of a farm related issues. Once her parents were safely out of the Duke's land she would try and make her escape.
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The Goblin Castle
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The Goblin King sat mournfully in his throne. It had been two days and Sarah had not returned, he avoided Priya and Gavin because they only reminded him of all he was losing. He cursed himself for ever having hope that she would return. He raised his hand and concentrated, a crystal did not form. Jareth's brow furrowed and he concentrated harder, sweat formed on his brow and still no crystal formed. Finally he resigned and kicked the goblin that sat shinning his boot across the room in frustration. His power was fading and he knew his transformation would soon be complete.
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Author's Note: Sorry it took me so long to update, I've been super super busy. Last two chapters will come fairly quickly. Thanks for all the reviews and support :-)