Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience! Here is the final official chapter; after this, it's just the epilogue, which Jemna fans will LOVE! Thank you for sticking with me and for reading this story! (I actually have a doodle version of the chapter prologue; maybe I'll figure out a way to put it up on !)
CROSSOVER REFERENCE WARNING! And I don't own the song that Sarah sings in this chapter!
"Stick a fork in me, Jerry; I'm done!"—Kramer, Seinfeld, The Butter Shave
Chapter 16: Only Hope
I went to see Jarry the day Jathan hurt him…
He was kneeling on the floor with his eye bandaged. He was crying quietly. So I asked him, "Jarry, does your eye hurt?"
He didn't say anything. He just shook his head sadly and looked at me with his brown eye. Then he said, very softly…
"Jay-Jay hates me."
He wasn't angry that his brother had hurt his eye. He wasn't afraid he might go blind. He was sad…because his big brother hated him.
I couldn't stand to see him in so much pain, so I threw my threw my arms around his neck and cried, "I don't hate you, Jarry! I never will!
"I will always love you!"
"Sarah! Jarry!" Jemna cried out happily, "Welcome back!" She embraced them both. "I saw everything in my magic basin! You did it!"
Behind them, Amalthea neighed joyfully again with her silvery voice.
"Lady Amalthea!" Jemna exclaimed with misty eyes, "You're safe!" Amalthea pranced over and hugged her with her head while Jemna hugged her neck and cried. The unicorn rubbed her tears away with her nose.
"I'm quite well, dear queen," she said reassuringly, "You sent me the perfect rescuer." Jemna looked at Sarah, knelt to her like a man, and held her hand to her face.
"Fair maiden from the realm of men," she said humbly, "you have the gratitude of the Elf Queen. I am forever in your debt and you are always welcome in my kingdom." She stood with a mischievous smile.
"And if I may say so," she said, "you make a very lovely princess." She looked slyly at Jareth.
"Mozel tov, Jarry," she nodded, "And Sarah…I wasn't the only one watching you. Toby was, too."
"Yeah?" Sarah asked. Jemna leaned in.
"He heard what you said to Jathan," she murmured. Sarah's brain finally clicked; she realized he'd heard her tell about when Toby was first born.
"Oh, no," she gasped, "Toby! Where is he?"
"In his room," Jemna answered, "He's unusually quiet." Sarah gathered her skirts and ran out of the Willow Room, leaving Jareth with his sister and the unicorn.
She stopped at the door to the Lotus Room and knocked on it. Toby opened it with a sad face that lit up when he saw his sister.
"Sarah!" he said and threw his arms around her, "I'm so glad you're okay! I knew you could do it!"
"Toby," Sarah hesitated, "I want to talk about…"
"It's okay, Sarah," he smiled, "I heard what you told him about me. I also heard you tell him that you loved me." He burrowed his face into her stomach.
"I love you with all my heart, too," he said affectionately, "So it's okay." Sarah smiled and knelt to hug her baby brother.
Sarah stood on the amber terrace, where Jemna had first brought her, wearing a simple dark green dress of exquisite design. She had Addie's bracelet on her right wrist and glanced at it occasionally. She dearly hoped to see that sweet little mermaid again.
Down on one of the rose-bordered lawns, Toby was running around and playing with Sarah's goblin friends and had even attracted the attention of the unicorn, who pranced along with him and neighed with her silver bell voice.
Jareth was up in the Willow Room with Jemna, no doubt talking about Jathan's 180 of emotions. She remembered how Jemna had wept with joy when Jathan had come to her castle, how she'd embraced him lovingly and called him "Jay-Jay" again, how penitent and small Jathan had seemed. Sarah wondered what his reunion would be like with his parents.
She heard a flutter of wings and a white bird perched on the railing—a beautiful silvery white falcon with a golden brown breast, a silver beak, and mismatched eyes of blue and purple.
"Jathan?" Sarah quietly gawked, "Is that you?" The falcon fluttered its wings and trilled. It hopped onto her shoulder, leaving behind a gold colored card face down in the same pattern as any playing card.
"What's this?" she asked, picking it up. It was a Queen of Hearts…or something like it. Instead of the normal Queen, there was a rearing unicorn—a dead ringer for Amalthea with a golden horn, golden hooves, and golden mane and tail. The "Q" and Hearts were in their normal spots, but were also gold.
'It is my gift to you,' she heard his voice say in her head, 'Thank you.' He flew away with a falcon cry.
"I see my brother's been here," said Jareth from the entrance. She turned and smiled. He was back in his normal clothes; he walked over and she showed him the card.
"Yes, he has," she said, "Look." He held the card up and looked surprised.
"Oh," he said, "A Dancing Lady."
"What?" she asked, puzzled.
"He's made you a Dancing Lady card," he said, handing it back, "It's a rare and special sort of card Jathan invented himself. It plays music for you when you ask it to. You have only to speak your request and it will play from the card while an image of the figure on the card dances above it. Thus far, he's only made two of these cards, and they actually had dancing ladies. One belongs to my mother, Queen Josethine. The other belongs to my sister."
"Wow," Sarah breathed, "It's so beautiful. I don't know what I did to deserve it, though; all I did was tell him what I went through after Toby was born."
"That, I think, is precisely what someone like Jathan needed," said Jareth, "Someone who understood how it feels to think they've been dethroned or demoted."
"To tell the truth," Sarah said a bit sadly, "I kind of saw myself in him…you know, without the psychotic violence."
"You moved on, though," he reminded her.
"Yeah, I did," Sarah smiled at him, "thanks to you. If it wasn't for you, Toby and I might not be as close as we are…I might not love him as much as I do." She looked back to see Toby being happily tackled and licked by Ambrosious.
"I mean, look at him," she said, "What's not to love?"
"Speaking of which," Jareth turned her face to him, "I don't believe I was conscious for our first kiss." Sarah turned pink, but was more than happy to oblige him a kiss. She quickly learned that when fully conscious, Jareth was a butt-kicking kisser.
"Wow," Sarah breathed when they stopped, "You're amazing." He chuckled.
"I've had a long time to become so," he replied, placing the bridge of his nose to her forehead. She sighed.
"I'm sorry, Jareth," she said sadly, "I'm sorry I took so long. I don't even deserve your forgiveness. Oh!" Jareth had her sitting in his arms like a two-year-old and he was looking up into her face, which was light pink.
"You've always had it, Sarah," he said sincerely, "I would have waited a lifetime for you. Thank you for coming back to me." She hugged his neck and kissed him again, overwhelmed at his enduring faith and his quick forgiveness.
"So now that you have me," she asked, "what are we going to do?"
Jareth knew what she was asking: They'd have to have some kind of arrangement, since Sarah was still in high school; of course he'd visit her at every opportunity, but her parents might not be too crazy about their daughter dating a man who looked 39 years old. Eh, they'd think of that later.
Up in the castle, there was piano music playing.
"I don't know about you, love," he said as he put her down, "but personally, I'm inclined to dance." She looked surprised for a second, then nodded and danced with her Goblin King right there on the terrace. Whatever happened to them now, they had each other, and that was more than enough for both of them.
Later on, about twilight, Sarah noticed the piano music was slower, sadder, more emotional than anything she'd heard before.
"Once upon a time," Jareth told her as they slow danced, "there was a beautiful little princess who used to accompany her father on his many exploits to the mortal world; on one such occasion, they happened to be staying in Spain. It was there, in a humble village, that the little princess met a young boy only one year her elder. He was a handsome and kind young lad, the son of a renowned sword maker. The boy's name was Inigo Montoya and when the princess met him, she knew almost instantly that no one else would have her heart."
"Inigo Montoya?" Sarah repeated in shock, "The guy from The Princess Bride?"
"The same," he nodded, "The boy and the princess played together every day and consequently grew more and more fond of each other…until one day, when the boy's loving father was murdered in cold blood."
"By the six-fingered man," said Sarah.
"Precisely," he said, "and when Inigo swore to avenge his father's death, it meant he would have to leave Spain. The princess was saddened by this, but she knew he would never rest until his father was avenged. So she promised to wait for him no matter how long it took. She promised to pray for his success and his safe return. He promised he'd return on a white horse." They stopped dancing and made serious eye contact.
"She's still waiting," Sarah asked with wide eyes, "isn't she?" Jareth nodded grimly.
"Every twilight she plays that piano of hers in the Music Tower," he said as he looked up at the castle, "It's her signal to him that she remembers their promise and that she's still waiting for him." Sarah looked up at the tower sadly and sighed. Jemna was one of the most wonderful women she'd ever met; it wasn't fair for her to be without her true love for so long!
"Isn't there anything we can do for her?" she asked, gripping his hands.
"I don't know," he answered sadly. Sarah grabbed Jareth around his chest.
"Don't ever go away, Jareth," she pleaded, "I never want to be separated from you again!"
"Sarah, relax," he smiled with her face in one hand, "I'm not going anywhere, certainly not after I finally have you." He looked deeply in her eyes. "I will never leave you again." And he kissed her again, deeply and passionately.
"Now, then," he said lightly as he scooped her up, "perhaps you'll tell me about this play you're starring in?" She smiled brightly.
"Of course!"
Later that night, Sarah couldn't sleep. She was in the most lavish guest room the Elf Kingdom had to offer, and she couldn't sleep!
Maybe it was the soft lilt of piano music that she heard again; she looked at her Dancing Lady card, but it was silent and unmoving. It must have been coming from the Music Tower again.
She slipped out of her bed, her toes sinking into the thick softness of the red rug. She pulled on a gossamer night-jacket over her soft blue nightgown with long sleeves and a wave-stitched hem. She flitted across the light in her fireplace, her night-jacket floating out behind her.
The door knob made no sound as she slowly opened her door to peek out into the moon-washed corridor, its marble floors and walls shining with their Elf-made polish and the added silver luster of the moon.
The music was still going and it sounded beautiful; she had to follow it and she did—down the hallway and up a wide spiral staircase behind a door. She climbed the stairs to another door, which opened onto a slightly sloping hallway that sloped up to her left. She went up the hallway, figuring she must be in the Music Tower, especially since the music was getting louder.
Finally she reached a silver door with a rose-shaped knob; she carefully opened the door and peeked inside with one eye.
The Music Tower was a silver circular room with all sorts of instruments on stands: Cellos, violins, clarinets, saxophones, drums, etc. They were stationed along the wall, which had beautiful arched windows with bench-sills. In the middle of the moonlit floor was a shiny black baby grand with the lid closed; sitting at it and playing the beautiful music was Jareth.
Sarah's eyes widened softly; his back was to her, but his hair was white and his shirt was intensified by the light.
He played up a soft intro to a song Sarah knew; it seemed magical the way it sounded. She felt a tug inside her and she sang.
There's a song that's inside of my soul
She blushed, but inched halfway in the door.
It's the one that I've tried
to write over and over again
Once again, she was speaking to him in song.
I'm awake in the infinite cold
but you sing to me over
and over and over again
She slowly started to walk in.
So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands and pray
to be only yours, I pray
to be only yours
I know now
You're my only hope
She looked out the window directly under the moon.
Sing to me the song of the stars
of your galaxy dancing
and laughing and laughing again
When it feels like my dreams are so far,
sing to me of the plans
that you have for me over again
She danced around while she sang the second chorus; her nightgown twirled and fluttered around her feet while the gossamer throw-over glided behind. She stopped a couple of feet behind him. Her eyes burned intensely as she stared at the back of his head. She put a fist over her heart.
I give you my destiny
I'm giving you all of me
I want your symphony
singing in all that I am
At the top of my lungs,
I'm giving it back!
She sang the final chorus with her voice full of all sorts of emotions—happiness, love, fear, uncertainty, longing—and she softly ended it by sitting beside him on the bench. Jareth finished the music with a quiet flourish and let it fade. After a moment of silence, he reached over and gently turned her face to him with her chin delicately in his curved fingers. He was staring at her like he was trying to memorize her face.
"Moonlight becomes you," he murmured, "It becomes you so well." Sarah thought the same about him; he burned silver in the moonlight the same way his owl feathers had. He was more beautiful than anything she'd ever seen, even Amalthea (which is saying a lot).
"I couldn't sleep," she confessed, "I woke up and heard the music, so I thought I'd check it out."
"Oh, dear," he said, "I hope I didn't wake you."
"No, no," she shook her head and held his hand, "I think my head was just too full. I keep wondering what will happen when Jathan sees your parents again, if Inigo will ever come back to Jemna…and…about us." She lowered their hands.
"Jareth, I love you," she said longingly, "I love you so much I can hardly breathe. And I know you probably want me to stay with you in the Goblin City, it's just…"
"You're still in high school," he supplied, "And you're only nineteen. You still have much of life to experience before making any…commitments." He had his eyes turned away in slight embarrassment. Sarah blinked in surprise; he might as well have dropped on one knee and popped the question.
He turned from her and walked over to the window; he truly was embarrassed. Sarah tentatively walked over to him and took his hand.
"It was easy at first," she said, "Focusing on Toby made it easy to lock up my feelings and ignore them, pretend they weren't there. The older he got, the harder it got to ignore how I felt about you. I started to think, what if? But then I realized it was too late for what ifs. What's done was done…and I thought I'd never see you again." She swallowed and gripped his hand.
"Why would you ever have thought that?" he asked in real confusion.
"I thought you hated me," she blurted, "I conquered your Labyrinth, defeated your castle guards, I even beat you! I thought you'd never want to see me again after something like that, so I tried to forget I ever felt anything for you!"
'Dang it, Sarah,' she thought, covering her mouth, 'Don't start crying now!' But her heart was pounding so hard she couldn't help it, nor could she look up at him. Jareth sat on the window sill so she had to and he gently held her face.
"You couldn't do it," he asked gently, "could you?" She stared emotionally at him with her eyes spilling over.
"No," she breathed, "I couldn't. I…I know you think I'm such a strong person…"
"You are, love," he interrupted. Sarah shook her head stubbornly.
"Not strong enough to live without you," she whispered. She met his eyes; he looked like he could hardly believe what she'd said. He was searching her face and realized she was telling him the truth. She truly, deeply loved him!
He stood up, took her face in his hands, and kissed her more deeply and passionately than ever. Sarah wrapped her arms around his neck and rejoiced in feeling his hair around her face; Jareth wrapped his around her waist and plucked her off her feet. Nothing existed for them anymore but each other.
The make-out finally ended with Sarah in Jareth's lap, lying against his chest while he lounged across the window sill. She loved the feeling of his soft, strong arms around her, the bare of his chest against the side of her face, her forehead nestled in his neck, his fingers constantly touching her face and streaming her hiar, and above all, his deep, throaty voice whispering "I love you" while she drowned in his beautiful eyes.
"We should get you back to bed," he sighed presently.
"No," she pouted and gripped his shirt, "I want to stay here with you." Again she felt his throat move with his chuckle. He stood up with her and she hugged his neck tighter.
"Aw," she whined sleepily.
"Now, now, love," he smiled as he carried her off, "You've had a taxing day: You've battled an army of gargoyles, charmed a griffin, rescued a unicorn, drastically changed a man's heart, and obtained royal status. You need to sleep on it."
"I'd rather sleep on you," she smiled. Jareth got a weird look and straightened up her back.
"Awfully brazen when you're drowsy, aren't you?" he smirked.
"I don't mean that, pervert," she blushed.
"I know," he said as he opened the door to her room. She didn't notice the time passing; he carried her to her bed and gently laid her down, then covered her up and smoothed her hair back.
"Don't go." She touched his face. He smiled his amused smile.
"I won't," he promised, "When you wake, you'll be in your own bed in your own home, and I'll be watching over you."
"Promise?" she slurred, losing consciousness. Jareth chuckled again; she was still such a child. He leaned down over her.
"I promise," he whispered, "Remember, Sarah: I'm always watching you." He kissed her forehead, both her cheeks, then he slowly and gently kissed her lips. Sarah fell asleep under the kiss of the Goblin King.
Author's Review:
Whoo! Does anyone else feel the need to stick their head in the garden hose? I do! LOL
I know a lot of points sounded like good endings, but I had to put all that in there! I HAD to! That little song number is something I imagine every time I hear it!
I'm sorry if you guys were expecting some big emotional brother/sister love speech from Sarah, but Toby's a smart boy and he did hear her say she loved him, so he's okay...I think.
Holy crap, Jemna's in love with Inigo!!! Then again, who isn't? LOL Don't get me wrong; I adore Westley, but Inigo's got that sexy Spanish vibe! I think he and Jem make a good couple, but that's just me. AND DON'T ASK ME ABOUT YEARS AND AGE, 'CAUSE I DON'T HAVE THAT FIGURED OUT. JUST GO WITH IT, PLEASE.
Did anyone like Jathan's reformed bird form? I got the silver-winged falcon idea from "Quest for Camelot," which, by the way, has Cary Elwes in it! YAY! The Dancing Lady card is something I made up, but was probably influenced by my Yu-Gi-Oh phase (blush). Hey—I liked it! And I happened to love Joey's English voice; it was hilarious! I mean, who didn't love his exclamation of "GIGANTIC DOUGHNUT!" That gets me every time! But I digress…
The chapter prologue (which I haven't done for several chapters, sad to say) definitely has that Fruits Basket flavor, but was not a direct reference to any Furuba scenarios…at least, not that I can think of.
Please leave a nice review and STAY TUNED FOR THE EXCITING AND ROMANTIC EPILOGUE! 'Cause don't forget—Jay-Jay still has unfinished business with one of his subjects! See ya next time!