This chapter contains a bit of a lime. No lemon. Not yet. Just trying to create some tension between the two. I know I'm deviating a bit from the angst that is Jareth and Sarah that I see in so many fan fictions. I'm going for a more mature Sarah, who can be stubborn, very gifted and a bit more forgiving to Jareth. After all, she did give him her journal that she had been writing down her most secret thoughts. In other words, she gave him a part of her soul. She really doesn't realize just what she gave him and being a good Goblin King, he isn't about to tell her.
Disclaimer: See chapter 1. Reviews are welcome, flames are not.
Chapter 11: You Precious Thing, You
A gloved hand picked up the journal that had fallen onto the floor by Sarah's bed. A quick glance, the Goblin King smirked. "So she still is writing to me," he said softly as he placed the journal unread on the stand by her. A finger brushed away a strand of hair from her sleeping face. Then Jareth left, leaving Sarah to spend her first night in the Labyrinth in peace and alone.
o0o0o0o0o
Sarah surveyed the Firey Forest. She was debating if she should go in or not. The last time, she broke the rules by throwing their heads around but then, she was trying to escape.
The sun was warm and shining brightly as she peered into the dark forest. She knew she could take the other path which would lead her away from the forest and back into the stone maze she just left.
'Decisions, decisions,' she thought, chewing on her bottom lip. She shrugged. She really didn't want to go back. If she kept her head, literally, she should be alright. After all, she hadn't had a problem so far.
Off in the distance, she could hear the Fireys singing. Stepping around an ancient tree with moss hanging off its boughs, she smiled slightly. So far so good. She ducked when she saw a flash of orange pass by. Then she was through.
Pausing for a moment, the idea was tempting to go visit Sir Didymus but she wasn't that keen on going through the Bog. Oh well, the path she was on should lead her to a pleasant cul-de-sac for lunch.
When she stepped into the small area, she noticed that the brownies had anticipated her needs. A table with a nice cold lunch was waiting for her.
"Thanks Pixie and Dixie," she called out. She heard two child like giggles in the bushes as she sat down to eat. Pulling out a small map from her backpack, Sarah mused over her next destination. She was half way through the Labyrinth and she still had three days left to explore.
"Now where should I go next?" she asked herself softly. She had seen new wonders that she had missed or wasn't interested in when she was running the Labyrinth last time. She was awed by the beauty and the mystery of the place and yet, she felt like she was being guided by something or Someone. She didn't believe it was Jareth, although she knew he was watching over her.
As if her mere thoughts conjured him, Jareth was sitting across from her. "Hello Sarah. Enjoying your lunch?" he purred, reaching for a slice of melon.
"Help yourself, why don't you?"
"I believe I will."
She chuckled as she wiped her lips with her napkin. "So what brings you here?"
Jareth shrugged. "I thought if you had no destination in mind, I thought I would show you the Rose maze."
Putting away her map, she smiled, "I would love to."
The maze lived up to its name as Jareth escorted Sarah through the different roses. Pixies and butterflies floated lazily among the blooms. She lost count of all the different varieties and colors of the roses. She even found living leather and feather roses as well. She looked questioningly up at him. Jareth chuckled and shrugged.
When they reached the center, a huge cascading marble fountain gurgled happily. "Oh!" Sarah exclaimed as she moved closer to the fountain. "It's lovely. English design, isn't it?"
"Indeed," he said. The fountain looked like it should be in front of an English estate then in the middle of a Fae's rose maze. The water cascaded down to the bowl in tiers to flow into a marble bowl. Marble ledges allowed a person, human or Fae to sit comfortably without getting sprayed. Rose vines and moss entwined around the edges, swaying in the late afternoon breeze.
Sarah peered into the water and gasped. Not only decorative fish swam around in it but also tiny merfolk as well. "What? Who?"
"You can see them?" came Jareth's surprised question. He went on to explain, "They are water elementals. As are pixies, brownies and salamanders. I have all of them in my kingdom. The Fireys are also elementals."
"I haven't seen any salamanders but I have two brownies that have been following me throughout the Labyrinth. The pixies are kinda cute," she said with a smile as she reached into the water.
Jareth stopped her by grabbing her wrist. "Don't. They won't like it." Raising her hand to his lips, he placed a soft kiss on her knuckles. "Come. It's getting late."
Dinner was outside under a darkening sky. As the first stars starting to appear, Jareth waved his hand. The dinner table disappeared. Japanese lanterns started to appear giving the place a soft romantic feel. Jarth smiled as he pulled Sarah into his arms. She didn't resist.
Softly, he began to sing as they danced.
There's such a sad love
Deep in your eyes.
A kind of pale jewel
Open and closed
Within your eyes.
I'll place the sky
Within your eyes.
Sarah smiled up at him as they slowly danced around the fountain. The water seemed to add a counter note to the song.
When he came to the end of the song, Sarah found herself being thrown back, only to land on her white downy bed she had been sleeping on the past two nights. Jareth landed on top of her.
His lips met hers. A slight shiver ran through her body and it wasn't from being cold as she return his kiss. His gloved hands exploring her body as hers entangled in his hair.
He broke off the kiss only to stare into her eyes as if trying to fathom her reaction. They had shared kisses all summer but that kiss held more of a promise of things to come. Slowly, he moved to run his lips on her ear, nibbling and licking as he moved down her jaw line to her throat. A soft moan escaped her lips as he moved back up to reclaim them. He pressed his hips into her. She could feel his hardness through the layers of clothing between them.
Time had no meaning for Sarah or rather it was counted off with each breathe and heart beat they shared. Then slowly with great reluctance, he moved away from her. Still stretched on the bed, still fully clothed, he closed his eyes as he sat up.
Puzzled and a bit hurt, Sarah rise up on her elbows. "Ja. . .Jareth?"
Leaning over he kissed her forehead. "Sh. It's alright, my love," he purred, his gloved hand cupped her chin. His lips moved down the bridge of her nose to reclaim her lips once more. This time the kiss was sweet, lacking in the hunger for the earlier kisses.
When he pulled back, he sighed, closing his eyes. "Sarah. You need to rest."
"B. . .but?"
Pulling away from her, he gave her a sad sort of smile, "Sarah, if I asked, would you give yourself to me, tonight?"
Confused for a moment as to why he would ask 'that' question, she smiled. "Yes," came her soft answer.
She noticed his eyes become unreadable. She had been getting better at reading him but right now, in the soft candle light, she couldn't tell what he was thinking. He looked so Fae and like the moment when she rejected him. The word 'vulnerable' came to her mind.
"Jareth?"
Leaning down, his lips brushed against hers again, "Thank you, my dear Sarah. For the thought and gift. However," he said huskily as he pulled back. "I must decline." Holding up a hand to keep her from getting angry, "Let me finish," he said. "When I do take your precious gift, it'll be in my bed and not out here in the Labyrinth. I do have my pride after all. Sleep well, my love."
o0o0o0o0o
Dear Jareth,
You are really cruel, you know that? You show me heaven and then you disappear. You never gave me a chance to explain that I am on birth control. Karen decided since I was going to spend the summer with Linda and bohemia, I had better be protected.
Yeah right. You are the only one I want. If I can't have you, I will die a virgin. Like it really matters where we make love. It would've been wonderful.
I'm not sure if I should cry myself to cry or not. Aw hell, a good cry seem like a good idea. It was such a lovely evening too.
You once ask, "What do you do to me, you precious thing you?" I can honestly ask the same question.
o0o0o0o0o
Well, I hope you all don't get upset with me for pulling them back.
Firefly: Thanks for the review.
Megan: I rated it M for future chapters. Have no worries. Jareth and Sarah do get their act together.
Raven: Thank you. I do try.
Ymir: I'm not obsessed with Labyrinth. I'm just happy that people think I'm doing a good job with this story.
Danika: I'm still a bit annoyed that no one's picked up the pun with Pixie and Dixie. I was hoping someone would ask where's Jinx. I hope your question was answered with this chapter.
LadyA: I do try to put lines in but for some reason doesn't like asterisks or maybe just it doesn't like me. -le sigh-
Until next time. -- GF