Chapter 13: Facing the Unspoken
The next day, Nell fiddled in front of her mirror. She felt trapped and restless, but leaving wouldn't help. She might run into him.
"How did you find out?" a quiet voice asked behind her. She turned around to face the now solemn Goblin King.
"I have ears and Goblins have mouths." She said flatly. All she could do was watch him carefully.
Seeing Jareth lost for what to say, she spoke again.
"You did love her." it came out too flat to be a question like she intended.
He nodded. "Yes."
"She hurt you badly, and you still haven't recovered?" Nell fought the hope out of her voice.
"Correct."
Her heart pulled painfully at that.
"But I didn't bring you here to take her place…" She looked up at him cautiously. "I wanted you here…well" He looked up at the ceiling, "…I brought you here…because you were so annoying and stubborn that I wanted to teach you a lesson."
Nell's shock took precedence over any hurt that may have come from that.
Holding up a hand, he continued. "But, I suppose I wanted you here…because…you were all I could think about since you left…" He paused to see how Nell would react. She didn't look angry, just curious. He walked up to her and slowly took her shoulders. Her face showed a mixture of pain and indecision. "I didn't bring you here just to distract or entertain me. I wanted you here with me…period." Nell's eyes grew watery and she shook her head back in forth.
"I don't understand."
Jareth pulled her into his chest and wrapped his arms around her. He closed his eyes and whispered into her ear, "You are mine now, Naella…and mine alone. I thought I made it clear what kind of relationship I expected. You will be my Queen, no one else. All you have to do is love and obey me and I will be yours." He pulled away from her and stared into her face. "Will you?"
Nell's mind raced as she fought between her heart's answer and her head's. She clenched her eyes shut in defeat and nodded when she opened them. Jareth smiled and leaned forward kissing her. Nell's surprise only lasted a second. She almost pushed him off, but instead she found her body responding of it's own free will. She just started to enjoy it when he pulled away. Her eyes protested the short kiss but Jareth put a finger on her mouth.
"That's enough for now. "
He walked to the door and called out one last thing. "Get some rest, you look exhausted." Nell sank onto the bed, still staring at the door. She hadn't fully registered what had just happened, but, as she gently traced her bottom lip, she smiled anyway. The previous night of crying and restless sleep quickly took effect and she fell asleep.