Turning the Wheel of the Year

by HachimansKitsune

(NOTE: Ch. 12 has been DRASTICALLY changed and now includes LEMONS!) When you're Fate's Whipping Boy, the path to true love will never run smooth. Jareth may just get his wish when he and Sarah are bound together by Ancient Magic, but first they have to survive the Wheel of the Year. (Silliness, fluff, lashings of UST, smut, tight pants, snogging, and did I say UST?)

5. What Happens in Vegas (or the Garden)

Love Potion No. 9

Ch. 5 What Happens in the Garden, Stays There

Author's Note: Whew...a third chapter in as many days! And this one is especially long! Don't expect me to keep churning chapters out this fast. My husband is leaving me lots of time to write for Mother's Day. :) As always, please review. This one starts to get a bit 'fluffy' and the next chapter should see the UST start to ramp up and the flirting become more 'suggestive'. So...stay tuned...and REVIEW :)

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Pausing in front of a heavy wooden door carved with images of elves and fauns frolicking in wood, Alesander turned the golden doorknob and thrust the door open as if it weighed nothing. "Here are your rooms," he announced, stepping back so that the young women could enter.

"Oh my…" was all Sarah could think to say as she laid eyes on the lavish guest suite, her mind frantically trying to take it all in at once and failing miserably.

Alesander followed them into an expansive parlor. The outer wall was taken up with a large set of French doors which opened out onto a balcony, bordered by rose colored brocade curtains, held back with golden cords. Upon the balcony sat a small table and chairs, perfect for enjoying breakfast while overlooking the rolling hills, forests and ever changing lanes of the Labyrinth. The doors were open, letting a gentle summer evening breeze swirl through the gossamer curtains, carrying the smell of warm soil, fruit and baked bread into the room. Glancing to the left, Sarah saw a large fireplace, surrounded by beautiful mosaic tiles depicting what appeared to be the myth of the unicorn and princess. In the grate were several logs, already laid to be lit later in the evening.

The floor in the middle of the room was covered with a lovely tapestry rug, depicting two unicorns flanking a dragon, who balanced a crystal orb in his hands. As the light hit the threads of the tapestry rug, they shimmered, glittering like silken gems. One side of the rug was taken up by a large velvet sofa of deep purple, with overstuffed cushions accenting it in shades of rose and pink. Sarah could already see that it would be the ideal place to curl up with a book and a cup of tea, while watching rain fall upon the balcony outside. On either side of the sofa stood pale pink velvet wingback chairs and dainty end tables, which held golden reading lanterns. While Sarah and Jerra took in the lush beauty of the room, Alesander bustled about, opening doors, his movements speaking of a man who was accustomed to efficiency of form and function.

"Is this suite not suitable, my lady?" he asked, arching an eyebrow questioningly at her. "It is the finest guest quarters in the castle. His Majesty keeps these rooms reserved for guests of the High Court, as such they are the only rooms not yet assigned for the festival."

Gulping Sarah shook her head, stammering as her eyes darted around the room, "No…oh my no…it isn't that at all. They are…this is… well…it's just so lovely. It's too much just for… us. We're…we're no one important."

The hobgoblin regarded the two young women quietly for a moment, then surprised them both by smiling warmly. "His Majesty has seen fit to not only pardon you both, but make you a guest of the Crown for the festivities, therefore you are now as important as any of the nobility that crowd the castle at the moment," he said, then gestured toward the two doors. "Through here you will find two bedrooms with a shared ensuite."

Moving toward the first of the open doors, Sarah gasped in awe. The bedroom was massive, with a gigantic four poster bed set against the far wall. Each end post of the bed was ornately carved with twisting vines and flowers that seemed almost alive, and twined with sheer green curtains. Across the top of the bed was a sheer green canopy embroidered with three-dimensional flowers and vines. Just looking at them, Sarah could almost smell the luscious scent of flowers hanging in the air. The carpet completed the garden theme, the deep green silk threads dotted with woven flowers of blue, violet and pink.

"It's like a fairy bower," she murmured, afraid to step foot into the lovely room.

"Indeed, it is High Queen Titania's favourite room in the castle," replied Alesander. "For obvious reasons."

Sarah coughed, looking wildly at Alesander. "Wha…. The High Queen is actually the Titania."

Alesander's eyes narrowed in confusion as he looked at her, "There is only one High Queen Titania, so I assume she is the Titania you are referring to."

Biting her lip, Sarah nodded, "I…yeah…I just…I don't know how much you know of Aboveground culture, but we have a playwright who…."

At that Alesander rolled his eyes and groaned. "Oh, you must mean Master William. Yes, I am familiar with his work and in that case, yes…the High Queen is 'that Titania'. But it would be best never to mention that work of his around the Queen. She is still rather touchy about how she was depicted. Poor Master William is still atoning for that faux pas," the castle steward laughed, his grey eyes sparkling merrily as he shook his head.

Sarah found herself gaping at the raven-haired hobgoblin, idea that Shakespeare had been writing about the real High Queen was a difficult reality to face. Snapping her mouth shut, she nodded, only vaguely aware of Alesander breezing past her into the bower room and opening a door next to the bathroom. "Each room has a wardrobe that is fully stocked with the sorts of clothing you might need for your time here. There are dresses appropriate to receiving guests in your parlor, for the feast tonight and for the festival bonfire tomorrow night, as well as clothing for working in the fields tomorrow if that is your desire," he added, pulling a dress from the closet. "All of the clothing is enchanted, so when you put it on it will automatically adjust to your measurements and then remain at that size for you," he said, before tucking the dress back into the wardrobe and shutting the door. Moving to the dresser he pulled open several drawers. "The dresser is stocked with nightclothes of various sorts, as well as the appropriate underpinnings for any of the clothing provided. Rest assured, all of the clothing is brand new and unworn. As a guest of the Crown, you are welcome to keep any or all of the clothing provided for your use. It will only be destroyed upon your departure."

Jerra whistled softly as she peeked in the closet, "That would be a horrible waste to destroy it all."

Alesander paused and smiled at her, nodding briefly, "Indeed, it would. Luckily, guests such as yourselves are rare at the Goblin Castle."

Frowning Sarah glared at him, "What…you mean commoners?"

Blinking in surprise, Alesander looked puzzled, then shook his head as realization crept into his grey eyes. "Oh no, Miss Charlotte. That is not what I meant at all! I simply meant that we rarely have guests who arrive with none of their own belongings, therefore providing a wardrobe for them is costly, but is generally a once a year thing, so it is not that much of a burden on the castle budget. Please remember, the fact that the King himself has dictated these rooms for your use and given you full right of passage means that for the festivities at least, you are not only granted citizenship of the kingdom, but temporary noble status."

Sarah felt her world spin as the breath in her lungs seemed to collapse in on itself.

"Lady Charlotte!" gasped Alesander, reaching for her arm as her knees wobbled.

"Sar….lotte!" Jerra squeaked, rushing to her friend's side in such haste that she barely caught her error before revealing Sarah's true identity to the castle steward.

The hobgoblin and pixie gently helped Sarah to the bed and sat her down, before releasing her. Stepping back, Alesander regarded her carefully, his light grey eyes shifting to darker shades of pewter in his concentration.

"Perhaps it would be best if I called the castle healer to check you over prior to the feast," he mused, only to be cut off by Sarah.

"No really, I'm fine. Nothing that a bit of a nap and a snack won't fix," she said, frantically looking at Jerra who nodded in agreement.

"Thank you," added the pixie, smiling at the hobgoblin who was clearly not convinced. "It's just been a stressful day, what with coming to court and now being put up in the castle. She just needs a bit of rest and some food and she'll be fine. Humans get…um…low…."

"Blood sugar," finished Sarah, nodding. "Yes…low blood sugar."

Alesander frowned, his lips pursed in a firm line as he looked from the pixie to the changeling. "His Majesty would be furious if you were ill and I neglected to send for appropriate aid." Snapping his fingers, a small female sprite appeared suddenly next to him. The sprite's skin was a luminescent shade of pale blue, complimented by silver hair that flowed down her back in a heavy braid. "Cheryse, see that Miss Charlotte and Miss Jerra are brought a suitable snack. Some fresh bread, cheese and smoked meats would be good, as well as some fruit. Perhaps some peaches from the latest orchard delivery."

Sarah felt her blood turn to ice. "P-p-peaches? Um…no…I'm…I'm terribly allergic to them and would be violently ill. Please, anything but peaches."

The small sprite looked at Sarah and nodded. "Yes, Miss. Would apples be more palatable?"

Mutely, Sarah nodded, her mind racing with the implications of eating the food here. Sure she'd eaten a bit of that damn peach the first time she was here, but while that didn't seem to bind her to the Labyrinth, she didn't know what a full meal would do. "Um…wait…Alesander… I'm human-ish. If I eat the food here, wouldn't I be trapped here?" she asked, feeling the ice in her veins settle in the pit of her stomach.

Tilting his head, Alesander gave her a thoughtful look, then shook his head. "You are referring to the Persephone lore?" When Sarah nodded, he smiled, "That only applies in the Goblin Kingdom if you eat fruit from the King's private orchard. As a guest of the Crown, you are safe from anything that would bind you to this kingdom against your will. Please do not worry yourself over that. I am sure that the King would deal gravely with anyone who attempted to bind you here in such a way. Feel free to enjoy all food and drink while you are here."

Sarah felt herself relax a bit with the reassurance that she would not be trapped here.

"Now then, if there is nothing else you require, I must go supervise final preparations for the feast. As guests of the King, you will naturally be expected to join him in the King's gardens to enjoy the feast with the other castle guests. Following the castle feast, you would be welcome to venture into the city to celebrate with the rest of the citizenry if you should desire to do so," Alesander said, swiftly walking toward the suite door. "Cheryse will bring you a snack, then return for you shortly before 7, in order to escort you to the King's gardens. Should you have any difficulties, merely touch the blue crystal upon the mantel and say her name, and she will arrive to assist you."

Giving a brief bow, Alesander swept from the room, leaving the girls still sitting on the bed in the bower room, too stunned to fully process what had happened.

"Wow…." Mumbled Jerra, fiddling with the end of one of her violet plaits.

"You can say that again," muttered Sarah, flopping back on the bed and draping her arm over her face. "What are we gonna do?"

Flopping down next to Sarah, Jerra sighed. "Not much we can do, I'm afraid. The King has given orders. We have to obey them or face the consequences."

Sarah groaned, then peered at Jerra from under her arm. "Is the potion going to last long enough to get me through this? Or do you need to go get more?"

"You should be okay. The potion is supposed to last until the dark of the moon or until you leave the Underground, whichever comes first," Jerra replied, her eyebrows knitting together as she stared at the embroidered flowers softly rustling overhead. "So…yeah, we should be okay. I mean, I hope we are because the only way I could get more is to go to my cottage so I can contact the person I got it from, and we are guests of the crown, so leaving the city is out of the question without risking the anger of the Goblin King."

With a deep sigh, Sarah rolled off the bed and walked out onto the open balcony. The sun sat low on the horizon, bathing the Goblin City in deep hues of orange and pink. She could already see lamplighters making their rounds through the streets of the city, lighting the street lamps, as throngs of revelers wound their way through the cobblestone streets singing and dancing. In the distance she could see the fields of wheat, waiting for the ceremonial harvesting to begin as the sun rose in the morning. There was something mesmerizing about the sound of the singing rising from the city, and the gentle swaying of the wheat in the fields. Sarah was no gardener, but there were times of the year when she felt called to dig her hands in the dirt and join with the land. While the Labyrinth was not her home, for some reason she felt the itch in her blood to dig into the soil of this strange and oddly hypnotic place.

"So…what does one wear to a feast at the Goblin Castle anyway," Sarah asked, resigning herself to the fact that she was going to be the guest of the Goblin King for the weekend – whether she liked it or not. She only hoped she would be returned home before the dark of the moon began on Sunday evening.

~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~

"No! Absolutely not. I will not wear this," Sarah protested, frowning at her reflection in the mirror as Cheryse laced up her dress. "It's not decent!"

"Of course it is, my lady," insisted Cheryse, draping a necklace of golden vines around Sarah's neck. "This is actually quite demure compared to what many of the ladies of the High Court would wear to such an event."

The dress was composed of the silken material that was so gossamer that she was sure a light breeze would tear it to shreds. Worse still was the fact that it was nearly see-thru. True, the dress was made of many layers of the material, shades of green ranging from vibrant emerald to pale moss. Just the movement of her chest as she breathed made the layers of material slide sensuously over each other, shimmering until it was nearly impossible to tell what color the dress was, as all shades of green blended into one constantly varying color.

Technically she was 'decent' as her stepmother would have described it. The dress did cover her bust fully, twisting up around her neck in a halter, but it was the fact that the 'V' between her breasts dove nearly to her waist that made her blush furiously. The thought of the Goblin King seeing that much of her body, was both oddly thrilling and horrifying at the same time. Given that the skirt felt to the floor, one would think that it would be acceptable, but even the skirt was causing Sarah distress. It was made of many long, narrow diamond shapes of the thin material, overlapping and stitched at the waist – but no where else. If she moved wrong, she would give whoever was looking a fantastic view of her thighs and other 'charms'.

"I look like a virgin sacrifice," muttered Sarah. "Is this how women in the Goblin Kingdom dress?"

Cheryse paused and studied the changeling curiously. "Well, that depends…. A 'Goblin' woman would never dress in such a manor. This is the court fashion of Avalon, so many of the Goblin Kingdom nobles will emulate it this evening. They rarely visit the High Court and only get to dress up for festivals and balls."

"So what would a true 'Goblin noblewoman' wear?" Sarah asked, eyeing the gossamer dress with distaste. "If the Goblin Kingdom had a queen, what would her ladies in waiting wear?"

The sprite's eyes widened in surprise. "You… you would consider wearing what a real Goblyn woman of noble rank would wear?"

Nibbling her lip Sarah briefly reconsidered this plan, then nodded. "If it is more decent than this, then yes. Yes I would."

Cheryse blinked at Sarah once more, then peered into the wardrobe. "No such garment has been provided for you, Lady Charlotte." The crestfallen look on Sarah's face was noticed by the young sprite, who patted her arm reassuringly. "But I know Madame Vange, the seamstress. She will know where such a garment would be. I will be back as soon as I can." Before Sarah could change her mind, the sprite had vanished into thin air.

"I don't know, I think that dress is lovely," Jerra said from her vantage point on the bed, wearing a similar dress in shades of blue that complimented her violet hair and eyes. "Besides, given the way the Goblin King was looking at you all through court, I rather think he'd like the way you look in it…or out of it."

Snatching up the hairbrush from the dresser, Sarah launched it at the pixie's head. "Shush! Don't say such things! It's bad enough that I am stuck here through the festival. But the last thing I need is Jar…the Goblin King taking a liking to Charlotte. I just need to stay out of his way and get through this weekend. Then I can go home before he knows that I am still able to access the Underground. There is no telling what he would do if he knew that!"

Jerra picked up the brush, idly fluffing up the ends of her carefully curled hair, her pale violet eyes narrowing in pensively. "Just a question, but… why are you so sure he'd be angry with you?"

"Unlace this monstrosity of a dress, will you?" Sarah demanded, presenting her back to Jerra, then sighing as her friend began to unfasten the horrible thing. "I don't know. He closed the mirror portal so I couldn't talk to my friends. So he must have found out about it and done it out of spite."

"Are you sure?" Jerra asked, tugging at the tight silken cords at the back of the dress. "I mean, there might have been other reasons for closing the portal. Maybe it was done accidentally?"

"No, I'm sure it was just him being an ass. Come on! You've seen him. You know what sort of a bully he can be. He just couldn't take the fact that I beat him and destroyed his city," Sarah grumbled, jerking the diaphanous dress from her body and tossing it into the furthest corner of the wardrobe before wrapping herself up in the cozy confines of the silken robe.

Jerra chuckled, "To be fair, the goblins destroy the city at least once a year on their own. From what I heard, you didn't do that much damage to the city proper, just the training barracks for the young goblins."

This news made Sarah pause, trying to grasp what her friend had said. "Wait… you mean the army I fought wasn't the goblin army?"

Merry laughter echoed through the bower suite, as Jerra fell back on the bed holding her sides. "Oh Gods and Goddesses no! That was the young goblins. Basically, you destroyed the equivalent of a primary school class of goblin soldiers."

"They were children?!" Sarah gasped, horror written across her face.

"Well, no. Not children," Jerra replied, sitting up and wiping her eyes, careful not to smudge her make-up. "The goblins in the training barracks will never be part of the proper Goblin Army because they are too small and scrawny. So, instead of drumming them out of the military, the Goblin King keeps a separate army, in name only, and lets them defend the city against any runner that gets that far. It keeps them happy and lets them feel useful."

Sarah felt as if her brain would melt as she tried to reconcile the fearsome, bullying, arrogant Goblin King she knew, with the generous and compassionate Goblin King, that Jerra was describing. "He…he keeps them on even though he knows they won't actually be able to stop the runner?"

Shrugging Jerra nodded. "Sure, why wouldn't he? At that point the goal is to delay the runner as long as possible and the while the goblins are inept as soldiers, they are very good at getting in a runner's way."

A slight popping sound by the wardrobe heralded Cheryse's return, a bundle of burgundy and deep green material draped over her arms. Seeing Sarah, the sprite grinned. "Madame Vange was very surprised by the request. She hasn't dressed a proper Goblyn noblewoman in nigh on a century!" Cheryse chirped, trotting toward the bed and laying out the material. "Your request actually made her cry!"

"What? Oh…I didn't meant to be a burden," Sarah gasped, her hands twisting in her lap.

"No…no. She was happy. Seems she had a dream about a month ago, in which she was designing clothing for a Goblyn noblewoman. The staff at her shop thought she'd gone 'odd' over it, so she hid the dresses away, thinking no one would ever see them," Cheryse said, spreading out the material then standing back with a grin. "She says if you like this one, she'll send the rest of her creations over tonight."

Standing up, Sarah shrugged out of the dressing gown and smiled, "Well then, let's get this dress on and see how it looks."

Ten minutes later, Sarah stood in front of the mirror unable to believe her eyes, and judging from the stunned looks of Jerra and Cheryse, they were surprised as well. In some ways, the Goblyn dress was more revealing than the Avalon Court gown, yet somehow it seemed more demure at the same time.

"By the Gods and Goddeses," murmured Cheryse in awe, her blue eyes peeking around Sarah's hip in the mirror. "You look just like Goblyn royalty!

Sarah stood tall and surveyed herself in the mirror, struggling to reconcile the ethereal woman she saw, with herself. The under-gown was a deep russet color, shot-through with hints of burnt orange and ruby threads, making it seem to glow when the light hit it just so. Over that was a gown of shimmering green silk, which shifted from dark green to startling emerald with each movement. Sitting just off her shoulders, the bodice of the overdress was revealing, cut quite low across her bust, while not being in any way 'indecent'. The green silk was fitted tightly to her frame, with golden cords lacing up the back and two more sets of laces angled from under her arms around her sides to the inside of her hips. Flowing from the waist of the dress was a cascade of green silk that fell to the floor in graceful swoops of fabric. Unlike the other dress, the skirt of the green gown was split into six panels slit to her hips, allowing the beautiful shades of russet, burnt orange and ruby red to show through. Each panel was embroidered with golden vines, enhanced with tiny ruby colored beads set in the shape of poppies. A leather corset in an antique gold completed the ensemble. Thin straps embossed with flowers curved over her shoulders, accentuating the creamy flesh of her bust. More embossed vines twisted around the corset, seeming to draw attention to the gentle curve from her hips to bust. Along the bottom of the corset was a four-part panel skirt of golden threads that Sarah was quite sure were spun from real gold.

"It's…it's gorgeous," she murmured, startled at the way the green of the dress made her eyes seem to glow.

Sitting Sarah down, Cheryse grinned, her eyes shining with something akin to maniacal glee. "I know just how to do your hair. Madame Vange showed me a portrait of the last Goblin Queen. I think I can recreate the look," she said, tugging open the drawer of the vanity and pulling out a comb. "Those pompous peacocks who favor Avalon fashion will look like wilted flowers next to you, Lady Charlotte," she declared and set to work.

"Wait…um… ouch…I don't want …ohhh... anyone to think I'm putting on airs by trying to look like a queen or anything," protested Sarah, looking at Jerra for help, only to squeak at the sharp tug on her hair by Cheryse's comb.

"Don't look at me for help. I think you look fabulous and I can't wait to see the look on people's faces when you walk into the feast," Jerra laughed mischievously. "Especially the Goblin King."

~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~

Jareth was torn.

On the one hand he enjoyed the fire festivals, from the feast that heralded the start of the festival days, until the final court that saw the end of the festival. On the other hand, he detested the stuffiness of the festival at court. Stifling a sigh, Jareth forced a smile and continued to greet the guests of the court as they were announced for the castle feast. Lord so-and-so… Princess muckety-muck… His Honor the Duke of nothing-worth-caring-about. On and on it seemed to go, when what Jareth really wanted was to be down in the city with his people. Or better still, off in one of the smaller villages enjoying the communal feast with the villagers. The festivals were there to honor the land and those who work it, not for strutting about like peacocks like the nobility liked to do.

All around him were ladies dressed in diaphanous gowns patterned after the latest fashion from Avalon. Thin and revealing, the dresses played up the inherent sexuality of the High Fae, a quality imitated by the nobility of his court, much to the Goblin King's irritation. For years he had worked to instill the members of his court with more pride in the traditional dress of the Goblyn people – and failed. The only members of his court who kept to the traditional dress were those few who were of the true Goblyn race, the rest viewed Goblyn dress as too 'rough' and 'common', preferring to continue to attempt to imitate the fashion of Avalon.

Although born High Fae, as part of his kingmaking rite, the Goblin King was imbued with traits of all the key racial regions of his kingdom – Troll, Dwarves, Pixies, Elves, Dragonkin, Shapeshifters, Lucan and of course, Goblyn. Of all the racial traits he now felt within his being, it was his Gobyn side he felt most keenly.

Jareth growled inwardly, fighting the urge to wrinkle his face in disgust as yet another fluttering female in a gossamer gown of the Avalon style came sashaying up to him. Simpering waifish females were not what he wanted. Nor were they what he needed. He assumed it was the Goblyn in him that demanded a woman with more strength and fire. Someone clearly worthy of sharing his throne. After years of being introduced to every eligible female in the Underground, he knew without a doubt that his queen would not turn up in whatever floaty frock was popular in Avalon at the time.

"Lady Charlotte of the Above and Lady Jerra Evensong of Glynisfyre," announced the herald.

Glad of a distraction from the silly woman currently fluttering her eyelashes in a way she thought was appealing and only made her look like she had something stuck in her eye, Jareth glanced toward the floral arch leading into his private gardens – and felt his heart stutter in his chest.

In that instant, he was sure he was seeing what Sarah would look like the Goblin Queen. Blinking, he realized it was not Sarah he saw, but Lady Charlotte walking into the garden with her head held high, her green eyes shining brightly beneath ebony plaits that wound around her head in a style seen often in the Goblyn Court days of old. But it was her dress that made the Goblin King's blood burn through him with a desire he had not ever felt. If he didn't know that she was a High Fae changeling, he would swear she had Goblyn blood in her veins. The traditional formal dress of Goblyn nobility seemed to be made for her.

Ignoring the bland woman before him, who was staring slack-jawed at Charlotte, the Goblin King stood and swept past her, the leather of his asymmetrically styled Goblyn jacket creaking with each step.

"Lady Charlotte," he purred, smiling warmly at her and extending his hand. "I see you have made yourself…at home."

The lady blushed, placing her hand on his. "Home? Well…the room is very nice, thank you, Your Majesty."

With his eyes locked on hers, Jareth slowly lifted her hand to his lips, letting them lightly brush the back of her knuckles. A ripple of pleasure shuddered through him at the simple touch, followed by a burst of desire so powerful, it took all his reserves of willpower to refrain from transporting her directly into his bed. 'What in the Seven Veils of Seline was that?!' he wondered in shock at the sudden sensation of 'want' that engulfed him. Swallowing the urge to ravish her, Jareth smiled and purred, "I was referring to your clothing choice. You look born to wear traditional Goblyn court wear. Which is interesting, since I am quite sure I did not give instruction for such garments to be stocked in your wardrobe."

The feel of Jareth's lips on her hand sent a swift burst of heat traveling down Sarah's spine to pool hotly in the pit of her stomach. 'If this is what a brief touch of his lips does, just imagine what actual sex would be like,' squealed her libido. 'No! No! NO! There will be NO thinking about sex with the Goblin King. Bad. Bad Sarah!' she screamed inwardly, while her inner-self attempted to subdue the now lust-addled libido. While the various parts of her psyche wrestled for control, Sarah took a good look at what Jareth was wearing and felt the volcanic pool of need pulse within her.

The other males in the garden were clothed in silks, velvet and brocades, colored to compliment the brightly colored gowns of the ladies on their arms. Glittering with jewels and fine gems, each outfit was obviously designed to be lavish and ostentatious. The Goblin King however, was not dressed like the others. His muscular legs were encased in deep brown leather, the color reminiscent of the burnt soil at the end of the summer harvest. Around his chest was a matching leather breast plate, embossed with twisted sheaves of wheat, linked in a shape that she knew was the Goblin King's sigil– double horns curved around a triskellion. Under the breastplate she caught a glimpse of a cream colored silk, which was surprisingly free of foppish frills or lace; the only adornment being golden embroidery so fine it was hard to see unless the light hit it just right. Yet it was the jacket he was wearing over the ensemble that made her knees threaten to buckle for the second time that day. The moment she saw the jacket, she recognized it – with its the asymmetrical cut, sweeping collar and etched metal shoulder, it was the same jacket he wore when he cornered her in the tunnels under the Labyrinth.

'Damn. The stupid Fae looks like sex on two legs,' she thought, while her libido melted into a sticky puddle of outright feral and unrelenting lust. Lost in trying to squelch the raging lust that suffused her, Sarah scolded herself, realizing that the Goblin King was apparently waiting for a response.

Lifting her chin slightly, Sarah gazed at him with hooded eyes, her expression cool but slightly amused. "Where I come from, we dress appropriate to the holiday being celebrated," Sarah stated, her tone warm, yet underpinned with steel wit. "I'm afraid I am no prancing, pastel, peacock of a woman, Your Majesty. To attempt to wear such things would only make me look a fool and you more so for dressing me as such."

Lowering her hand from his lips, but not releasing it, the Goblin King gave her an amused smirk, his pale eyes glinting merrily in the torchlight of the garden. "Indeed, Lady Charlotte, I see that you are definitely no one's fool. Please, allow me to escort you to our table," he replied with a regal dip of his head. Gently he shifted her hand so it rested atop his in the formal court posture, and started to lead her through the garden, much to the delight of the gossiping tongues who were already whispering hotly about the ridiculous changeling who was putting on airs and clearly had designs upon becoming Queen – or the King's latest bed-warmer.

"Our table, Your Majesty?" Sarah asked, nibbling her lip and glancing quickly behind her to be sure that Jerra was coming too. Jerra's purple eyes caught hers and gave her an encouraging, albeit cheeky grin as she followed the King and Sarah toward the front of the garden.

The Goblin King chuckled softly, the sound a pleasant purr deep within his chest. "Yes, 'our' table. As my guest, you shall dine with myself and my parents."

Sarah gasped, her emerald eyes widening in dismay at the sight of the High King and Queen seated to the right of the Goblin King's throne. "Oh…but surely there as others more important than I, m'Lord. I would hate to cause offense to someone more worthy than myself and my business partner."

"While I am sure there will be some nobles within my court and other guests who might feel slighted at not being invited to join the royal table, I am King and it is my choice to have my new business partners dine with me this evening," countered the Goblin King, pausing at the chairs to the left of his own. "Please, be seated, Lady Charlotte."

Unable to think of a way to deny the Goblin King's request, since to do so would undoubtably cause a scene, Sarah sat as gracefully as she could in the chair held out for her by a petite hobgoblin woman.

"Your business partners, m'Lord?" asked Jerra, gingerly sitting in the ornate chair that was being held for her by another footman.

The Goblin King nodded and picked up his goblet, giving the two young women a mysterious smirk. "But of course. Once our negotiations are complete Sunday afternoon, we shall be equal partners in your little 'enterprise'," he said, then turned to the gathered guests and raised his golden goblet. "May the turning of the year bring us good fortune, health and many blessings. Gealach fómhar sona!"

Sarah and Jerra raised their glasses as the others did, repeating the Goblin King's blessing. Then when the King had sipped of his cup, they followed suit, all the while Sarah was frantically trying to think of a way to get through the negotiations that would not result in her being locked in a partnership arrangement with the Goblin King. Licking her lips, she was pleased to discover that the golden goblet in her own hand was filled with a light and delicious apple wine.

"I do hope you enjoy that. It is the last of the apple wine, made last year from fruit grown in my private orchard," the Goblin King said as he settled into his throne and the servers began to carry large serving platters through the garden toward the high table.

Choking on her second sip of the wine, and coughed violently, earning her a concerned frown from the Goblin King. Sarah looked at Jerra who was clearly as panicked as herself.

"Whatever is the matter, Lady Charlotte?" he asked. "If you do not like the wine we can call for something else."

"No…but…I was told that fruit from your private orchard would bind me to the kingdom," she gasped, putting the goblet down on the table with a heavy thump and nudging it away from her, her green eyes staring at it in horror.

A strange cold feeling cut through the desire that had encompassed him since Lady Charlotte entered the garden – and Jareth didn't like it. For a reason he could not fathom, he seemed to be feeling her distress and it was causing him pain. Gently he reached out, taking her hand and squeezing it lightly in his gloved fingers. "My lady, believe me when I say, no food or drink you shall partake of during your time here for the festival, shall bind you to my kingdom against your will. On that I give you my word. "

Seeing her seem to relax a bit, he chuckled and murmured softly so that only she could hear, "Of course, you wear the Goblyn clothing like you were born to it, so it would be worth it to bind you here, just to see someone wear it so well."

Sarah felt her cheeks flush with heat at his words, then tamped the feeling down. Two could play this game. Fixing him with a coquettish smile, Sarah purred, "While the clothing suits me well-enough, it would take more than a simple wardrobe change to entice me to change my world and my loyalties to you, Your Majesty. And since I have no designs on gaining myself a throne, I'm afraid you have nothing here that would cause me to pledge my oath to your kingdom…or its King."

"Bold words, my dear," chuckled the Goblin King, picking up his fork. "Care to make a little wager on that?"

Picking up her own fork, Sarah waited until the Goblin King had placed a bite upon his tongue before spearing one of the succulent shrimp on her plate. "A wager? Why Your Majesty, I would not have guessed you were a betting man…" she replied with a teasing purr. Deep inside Sarah's mind, a red light began to flash frantically, accompanied by a warning claxon. 'Warning! Warning! DO NOT make wagers with the Fae! Hello?! Have you forgotten everything you've learned and all that Jerra has told you?!'

"Indeed… a wager. I believe that I could find something strong enough to entice you to want to join my kingdom," the Goblin King said, his usually pale eyes darkening to deep navy as he regarded the brunette on his left. As she peered at him around her goblet, for a brief instant he could have sworn he saw Sarah sitting there, her green eyes taunting him. The teasing banter seemed to be just the sort of thing that Sarah might do, and the type of interaction he had always longed to enjoy with her.

'She is not my Sarah!' he shouted inside, a part of him raging at the way his thoughts always turned to the blasted girl, even when he was clearly being flirted with by a lovely woman who seemed to enjoy his attentions.

"That is only half a wager, m'Lord," Sarah said, giving the Goblin King a sly smirk and pulling him from his inner struggle. "I'm no fool…you've said so yourself. Therefore, I'm afraid I must decline. I know better than to make wagers with the Fae, particularly one so full of loopholes as that one. Thank you all the same, Your Majesty."

The way the woman teased him made Jareth's blood buzz inside his veins, the incredible desire for her flaring to life once more. 'Blast it all! I haven't felt this level of demanding need since I was but a teen, still spilling myself over glimpses of a bare nyaad breasts,' he thought irritably. Thanking the Gods for floor-length tablecloths, Jareth smiled at the charming creature seated next to him, while surreptitiously adjusting the hard length that now pressed insistently against his inner thigh, as if trying desperately to lift the table on its own. "I bet that within the course of a year, I could find something about my kingdom that would entice you to grant me your oath of allegiance and join us as a Goblyn citizen."

Sarah paused, finding herself considering his wager, and earning herself a sharp kick to the shin from Jerra. Turning toward her friend she was greeted with deep purple eyes narrowed sternly at her. "Are you crazy?" the pixie hissed under her breath. "You do not make wagers with the Fae! Think…of…your… brother," she demanded, grinding her foot into Sarah's toes so hard she flinched.

"Yes, well, it is an interesting offer, Your Majesty, but in truth I could not forswear my allegiance to the Above, as I have family that I love more than life itself. I would not leave them," she replied, smiling quietly at the King.

The warmth of his desire cooled a fraction at her words, as the Goblin King found himself nodding. "I admire your loyalty to your family, although you are clearly a changeling and should have been of this world from the start. I hope to one day find one who would be that loyal in love to me, and I to them in return."

Seeing the naked emotion shining in the Goblin King's eyes, Sarah ducked her head slightly, turning her attention to her plate. 'Did the Goblin King really just open up to me like that?!' she marveled.

"I apologize for speaking so boldly, Lady Charlotte. I'm afraid that is the Labyrinth speaking. She has a tendency to force herself into my head and heart during the major fire festivals," he said with a laugh and a shrug.

Puzzled she peered at him. "She? The Labyrinth is female?"

"Yes and no. I speak of her as female because she feels that way to me. Previous rulers have felt the land as male. It speaks to each of us differently," he replied thoughtfully. Seeing the curiosity in her eyes, he smiled. "Close your eyes and see how the land speaks to you."

"I couldn't, Your Majesty," Sarah said, shaking her head. "I'm just a simple hedge witch. I work with herbs and stones. Energy work has never come easy to me."

Rising, the Goblin King took her hand. "You can. Come with me."

Without thinking about it, Sarah found herself taking his hand and letting herself be led through the garden, oblivious to the envious whispers and dark looks she was getting. Slipping through the floral arch, Sarah walked with the Goblin King along a moonlit path leading deeper into the King's garden. Stopping in front of a wooden door without a handle, the Goblin King took off his glove and laid his hand flat on the wood. Slowly lines of glowing gold began to flow over the surface of the door, before it silently opened.

Replacing his glove, Jareth turned, offering her his hand once more. He was surprised when she hesitated and stepped back.

"I…this is not my place, Your Majesty. I..I'm just a changeling. A simple hedgewitch in the Above," she said, venturing back another step, only to be stopped by the gentle pressure of the Goblin King taking her hand.

"Nothing…and no one are as they seem in this place. Even you, my dear," Jareth murmured, feeling his blood sing once more at the feel of her hand in his. Something about her was drawing him in and the Labyrinth was clearly encouraging it. "Come inside… see for yourself if you are truly as you seem to be. Perhaps, in this place…in the Labyrinth….you could be so much more than you are."

'Danger! Danger! FLEE! Ohfortheloveofallthat'sholyrunaway!' screamed her mind, while Sarah looked from the Goblin King to the door behind him. Through the door she could see another garden and smelled roses and fruit.

"What is that place?" she asked, still resisting the gentle pressure upon her hand that sought to draw her forward through the door.

"My private orchard and garden."

Gasping Sarah shook her head and tried to free her hand.

"Charlotte…you have my word. Remember?" he asked softly, her hand still tucked gently but firmly in his gloved hand. "You will not be bound to this land, or myself against your will."

Sarah bit her lower lip and looked once more into the garden, a deep itch under her skin begging her to walk in. Finally she gave the Goblin King a steely look, her eyes snapping with emerald fire as she spoke. "Give me your oath that you will not bind me without my knowing consent, Goblin King," she demanded.

Seeing the ferocity shimmering in her eyes and stance, Jareth's body responded in kind – like meeting like in a battle of wills. The Goblin King gave a curt nod of his head, his other hand held over his heart. "You have my word and my oath. I will not bind you without your knowing consent."

With his oath still hanging in the air, Sarah took a deep breath and stepped forward through the glowing door into the secret garden. Jareth smiled, squeezing her hand. "There, this isn't so terrible…is it?"

Sarah looked around at the moonlit rose bushes and trees scattered through the private garden. The air was heavy with the scent of roses, fruit and exotic spices. In the center was a fountain, topped by a large crystal which reflected the moon, effectively lighting the garden with gentle light. No longer hesitating, she allowed the Goblin King to lead her to a secluded nook beneath a willow tree, covered in pale pink flowers.

"Please, sit," he said, gesturing toward the ground at the foot of the willow tree. While her mind fought to object, she found her body gracefully dropping onto the ground. Jareth settled next to her. "Now… I promise I will not harm you, Lady Charlotte. I'm asking you to trust me."

Frowning slightly, Sarah looked at him but saw no malice or trickery in his eyes. "I…don't understand what you want me to do."

"Just close your eyes. Trust me…and do as I say," he murmured softly.

'Fear me…love me…do as I say,' whispered his mind, parroting his fateful words back to him. 'She is not Sarah! Leave me be!' he howled inwardly.

"This is silly, I won't be able to 'feel' the Labyrinth. I'm not a King or royalty or anything," Sarah argued, but shut her eyes anyway.

When her eyes were fully shut, Jareth pulled his right glove off, surprised to see that the triskellion upon that palm was glowing a deep red and pulsing with each beat of his heart, while the other lines upon his body were still glowing a golden amber. Still puzzled by the change in his palm, he took her hand in his, twining her fingers in his and using his own to splay her palm against the soil at the base of the ancient willow. "Breathe in slowly and let the scent of the garden fill you," he instructed her, feeling his heart soar oddly when she obeyed, her breath quiet and even as she filled her lungs. "When you breath out, push the air from your lungs and push your energy down through your palm into the ground," he murmured, his lips now near her ear, the scent of her skin teasing him until his blood began to itch within him once more, demanding to feel her body melding with his in the ancient dance. "Now breathe in again. As you draw in air, feel your body opening to the land below you. Feel the essence of the land flowing up into your hand, then travelling up your arm until it flows through your every fiber. Open your heart and your mind to the land. Let it speak to you, Charlotte," he whispered, entranced by the quiet breathing of the lovely changeling.

Sarah fought down the urge to tell him this was ridiculous, that she just dabbled with herbs and stones, she sucked at channeling energy. Sure she'd tried it before, but nothing ever happened. Sighing, she resigned herself to go through with this charade, then she felt it – a slight tickle at the palm of her hand.

'It's probably just a bug,' she thought.

As she continued to match Jareth's slow breathing, she pictured the warmth of the land seeping up her arm, until she realized she was actually feeling it and gasped.

"There…that's it," the Goblin King murmured. "Let it fill you and speak to you. You're safe. I'll keep you safe and grounded here. You're safe to let your mind fly."

And fly it did. One minute she was sitting under the willow with Jareth, the next she was floating over the Labyrinth and it was speaking to her. At first she didn't hear words, she just felt an incredible joy washing over her and supporting her like a warm ocean, bathing her mind and soul with peace and happiness. Then slowly she began to hear a voice, soft and gentle like a mother speaking to a babe in arms.

"I know you, little one. My King knows not of your identity, but you can't fool me, child. I see inside your heart and know the true you."

"Please…don't tell him."

"I will speak no word to him of your true name. Yet you cannot hide from me forever. Come home, child."

"This is not my home, my home is Above…with my family."

"Ask why your heart feels cold Above and beats with the heat of a thousand suns since you have returned. Listen to me, child…I know what you need…what you crave…what will make your soul complete. All is found here…."

The words ended, but the images flew fast and thick through her mind. She saw herself digging in the fields with workers, singing what she knew to be ancient songs, praising the land and the Gods for blessing the workers and their crops. She saw herself spinning wildly around a bonfire, singing and dancing as the pounding drums beat out the rhythm. She saw herself naked upon a bed of newly harvested wheat. The Sarah in the image looked up and opened her arms, welcoming the man she saw - Jareth dressed in black leggings, his chest bare with strange glowing lines inked into his skin, a stags horns resting upon his head, secured by a wreath of green.

Panting, Sarah jerked, her eyes flying open as she rolled away from the base of the tree and onto her knees.

"So the Labyrinth did speak to you?" questioned the Goblin King, watching her warily.

"I…I have to get out of here," Sarah gasped, scrambling to her feet and rushing for the door to the secret garden.

"No..wait…Charlotte, please," he called out, following her. "Tell me what happened?!"

"Out…I need out..." she cried, pounding on the door with her fist. "Let me out!"

Warm arms wrapped around her, pulling her away from the door and into a firm chest. "Shh…shhh…it's all right. You're safe. The Labyrinth likes to show off, Charlotte. Whatever you saw, it can't be that bad," Jareth murmured, trying to soothe the distraught woman in his arms.

At first Sarah's mind screamed at her to fight the warm embrace, but his chest felt so comforting and solid, that she finally relaxed into his arms. Slowly her breathing calmed, helped along by the steady beating of Jareth's heart against her ear. Eventually she straightened up, pulling herself from his arms, while her libido shrieked its outrage.

"Forgive me, m'Lord. I think today has been far more stressful than I had thought," she said, refusing to meet his eyes. "I think I should retire and rest before the festivities tomorrow. Thank you for your hospitality."

Having the dark-haired changeling in his arms felt so comfortable and right, that Jareth was momentarily lost in his own head, wondering why after so long, he should feel such a connection to a woman he had only laid eyes on for less than a day. Feeling her pull away made his inner-self howl indignantly, demanding that he pull her back into his arms. Yet, seeing the lost look in her eyes and the sadness pouring off her as she looked at the door, he chose not to pull her back to him. Gently he pushed a dark tendril back from her cheek, his gloved fingertips tenderly caressing along her jaw, before he turned her to face him. With light, but insistent pressure he tilted her face up, forcing her to look at him. The fear and hesitance in her verdant eyes tore at something inside him that howled for the blood of whatever caused her such pain.

"I do not know what the Labyrinth said to you, my dear…but I assure you, I will let no harm come to you in my kingdom," he said, then dipped his head and placed a gentle kiss upon her lips.

Given the way that every touch to her flesh had made his desire burn hotter, Jareth was awe-struck by the slow rolling wave of pure happiness that slid through his entire being at the feel of his lips upon hers. Within his chest he felt a sharp vibration, like a violin string being plucked forcefully. If he didn't know better, he'd have sworn he was falling in love with her. 'It's impossible. Sarah holds my love oath!' he mused, all the while Lady Charlotte's lips returned his gentle caress.

As unprepared as she was for the Goblin King to kiss her, Sarah was even more surprised by the odd vibration that shivered through her chest, and the sudden warmth that engulfed her, leaving her feeling peaceful and safe. When he broke the kiss, she found herself gazing into eyes so dark they were nearly black, yet she was not afraid.

For the first time since she had met the Goblin King, Sarah had ceased to be afraid of him.

Seeing the quiet smile upon her face, the Goblin King lightly kissed her forehead, then took her hand, placing it upon his in the formal style. "Come, I will return you to the party. I'm afraid tongues will be wagging badly enough over the fact that we have disappeared for so long."

"Couldn't you…what…reorder time and make them forget that it happened?" she asked, letting him lead her along as if nothing had just happened between them.

The Goblin King chuckled and shook his head, "If only it were that simple. Alas, that would require more power than even I control, as I would have to adjust time for the whole of the Underground."

"But, you do that for the Aboveground when you have a runner?"

"Yes, but it is far easier. Most of them don't believe in magic, so they don't feel the shift. Here, no one believes in magic – we are magic," he explained, pausing before the floral arch leading back into the garden. "I'm afraid that there may be some terrible things said about you in coming days, Lady Charlotte. For that I blame myself. It was reckless of me to spirit you away, but I thank you for humoring me. Now, I will let you reenter the party on your own, as I must check on the festival celebrations in the City."

Frowning Sarah peeked into the King's garden and sighed, seeing Jerra talking to Alesander and his wife, while the foppish peacocks of the court paraded around. "To be perfectly honest, I think I'd rather go to bed or go into the city myself. No offense, but the court 'party' is really not my style."

The Goblin King chuckled and regarded the woman quietly a moment. "I'll make you a deal…"

"Oh please, not another one of your deals, m'Lord," Sarah laughed. "How many times must I remind you that I will not make deals with the Devil..um….or Fae."

Shaking his head, Jareth eyed the winsome beauty and grinned. "This one is simple…no harm. No foul. You have my word on that."

"Fine. Let's hear it and then I'll tell you whether I'll agree to it," she replied, feeling heat rising to her cheeks once more. It was so odd to see the Goblin King not only smiling at her, but flirting.

"I know a lovely pub in the Goblin City that I think you would enjoy. Tell me whether the Labyrinth spoke to you as a male or female, and I'll take you with me to enjoy the evening festivities," he said.

Mulling the offer over in her mind, Sarah could find no way in which she was being tricked. The offer was straight forward and remarkably simple. "The gossips will definitely talk trash if you spirit the two of us out of here," she said, peeking back into the garden and cringing at the thought of going back in there.

"I'm a big boy… I can handle it. Besides, you should hear some of the things they've been saying about me for years," he laughed.

Sarah took one last look into the garden, then nodded. "You're on. The Labyrinth spoke to me as a woman."

The Goblin King grinned and slid his arm around her waist, pulling her to his side with a laugh. "Hah…I suspected as much."

"Now, for another deal…what do I have to do to get you to tell me some of the terrible things the gossips say about you?" she teased, feeling his hand wrap around her hip to pull her just that bit closer. She felt him lean closer, his lips near her ear as the world seemed to fold in around her.

"Oh…I'm sure I can come up with a suitable payment for those juicy tidbits, m'Lady," he purred in her ear, just as the world fell away beneath them, leaving her clinging to his chest, drinking in the uniquely exotic scent that was all his own. "But I'd be more interested in hearing what you want to offer."