Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
"Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce.
If I could save Time in a bottle
The first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day
'Til Eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you.
Chapter 12: Time in a Bottle
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
Sarah walked through the Junkyard of Lost Childhood. The same one that had trapped her when she had walked the Labyrinth before, but this time, she knew wasn't lost. She had all of her memories. She still had her childhood.
However, her goal was the castle beyond the Goblin City, the heart of the Labyrinth, Jareth's home. His words from last night still echoed in her mind: "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 . . . ." She knew that she had a day and a half left in her adventure and she knew actually where she wanted to spend them.
She paused at the Goblin Gate. The guard was sound asleep as she pushed the gate open. The inner gate was also opened. The ten foot high robot guard was split in half as she walked through. Goblins mulled around her as she walked through the city. She heard whispers as she went by.
"She's the girl that ate the peach and forgot everything, isn't she?"
"She's pretty."
"She goin' to be turned in a goblin too?"
"Sh! She'll hear you!" "He's ain't goin' to like it."
She walked up the steps to the castle, ignoring the goblins the best she could. It was almost tea time, that is if she was English. The goblin guards opened the massive doors in front of her. She wondered what Jareth was going to say when he saw her. She had no doubt that he knew where she was the whole time she had been in the Labyrinth. She pretty much knew that someone had ran ahead and told him that she was in the city. Her biggest concern was what he's going to do not to mention what he'll say to her now.
A goblin guard went before into the throne room. She could hear laughter and chicken cackling as she followed. 'How can he stand having chickens in the throne room?' she thought.
"Your Highness! The girl. The girl that won her baby back," called the guard.
"What about her?" came Jareth's voice.
"She's here. In the castle."
"She's right here, Your Highness," Sarah said with a slight chuckle, walking into the throne room. She gave a slight bow, slight curtsy which was hard as she was wearing jeans.
"Sarah, my pet. What are you doing here?" Jareth asked from his throne. He had been sprawled across it looking as if he was bored with the world. Sarah however, knew better. He was watching her with those mismatched eyes of his like a lazy panther watching over its prey and wondering if it would be worth his while to pounce or not.
Dropping her back pack onto the stone floor, she looked around. Straw, dust, chicken feathers and goblins dotted the throne room. Her eyes come back to Jareth. Running a hand through her hair, she blew out her cheeks. His words echoed once more in her mind. Was this really a good idea?
"Well. I thought since tomorrow was my last day. I thought I would visit the castle, if you didn't mind so much," she rabbled, trying to meet his eyes but finding his body more interesting. "Since I didn't see much of it last time."
"I see," he said, slowly stood. Walking to her with that oh so familiar smirk of his, he moved around her as if weighing his options. Sarah stood there unimpressed but secretly nervous. He had the ability to throw her back out into the Labyrinth. After all, the deal was she could explore it to her heart's content, nothing was mentioned about the city or the castle.
She felt him coming up behind her. His breathe tickled her ear as he leaned closer. "Sarah. Are you absolutely sure about this? I live alone. You'll have no chaperone," he whispered.
She smiled as she slightly turned to face him. Her lips close to his cheek. "How very Victorian of you, Your Majesty," she said softly. "To be worried about that."
"Sarah. Don't play the wanton with me," he said, turning her around to fully face him. "I want to know why you are here."
She looked up into this strange eyes of his and shrugged. "Do I really need a reason, Jareth?"
He smiled and picked up her backpack. With a causal toss, he sent it into the air but it never came down. It vanished. Offering his arm to her, he never took his eyes off of her.
Sarah smiled, knowing that she had won this round, tucked her hand into his arm.
o0o0o0o0o
Opening a very ornate carved wooden door, he waved her to go first. "This will be your suite, My Pet. It has everything you'll need," he said as she stepped past.
The suite was a formal Victorian sitting room done in blues, creams and oak woods. The room had an open airy feel to it and it was clean. That is to say, it looked dusted, swept and no evidence that the goblins had ever came into the rooms. She moved around the room. This was way too grand for her. She jumped slightly when he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Do you like it, Sarah? Come." He took her to a door that opened to a bedroom. Not just any bedroom but her bedroom. The one she has been sleeping in for the past five days.
"But?"
"You didn't think I would allow you to sleep just in any bedroom did you? This has always been your's and will always be your's from now on." He placed both hands on her upper arms and gave them a squeeze as he stood behind her. "I will let you get settled in. I'm sure the two brownies that have been attending you would be more then happy to continue."
Sarah felt a shiver running up and down her spine as his breathe caressed her ear. A soft brush of his lips against her lobe. "I will see you at dinner. Be ready."
o0o0o0o0o
Sarah lean against the balcony's stone ledge. She stared up at the fading sunlight. The view was prefect. She could see most of the rose garden maze and some of the box hedge wood section of the Labyrinth. She hadn't left her rooms since he had shown them to her.
Dressed in a simple white and green cotehardie with silver buttons, Sarah was a picture of a 14th century Saxon maiden. The gown hugged her in all the right places and flared out at the hips. It was so much finer then the gown she used to role play in when she was 15. Her hair was swept back into a single braid with a white ribbon laced throughout. Silver and green earrings dangled from the multiple piercings in her ears. She wore no circlet or veil.
Lost in her thoughts, she hadn't realized she wasn't alone anymore. Two strong arms encircled her waist as a chin nuzzled into her shoulder. His body pressed against her back.
They both stared out as the last light of the fading sun cast muted colors onto the skyline. When all the light had disappeared and the stars came out, he pulled her away from the balcony. Leading her to a small alcove where a table was set up for two.
Dinner was a quiet affair. Neither were up for conversation. Sarah thought she should be uncomfortable. Jareth couldn't take his eyes off of her, but she wasn't. She really couldn't think of a thing to say. The food was excellent. For her it was a prefect romantic evening, everything she could've wished for.
When the meal was over, they stood once more looking out onto the Labyrinth. Pulling her into an embrace. The kiss had all the fire and hunger as all the other's they had shared. Time again had no meaning for either of them. She could feel his hands roaming her back as he pulled her closer. Their bodies molding against each other, then the kiss ended.
"Sleep well, my pet," he said as he stepped away from her, placing a small kiss on her forehead. "I will see you at breakfast."
o0o0o0o0o
Dear Jareth,
Time. It means different things to different people. For you, time has no meaning for you are Fae and immortal. For me, I have my whole life in front of me. I am mortal.
And yet, I can slowly feel the sands of time slipping away from me. Will you still love me when I'm old and wrinkle and you remain forever young?
Will you still desire me? Still love me?
It is like the lyrics from "Time in a Bottle." Sometimes I wonder.
I wonder about the future. I have a couple more weeks left before I head for college. Will you still be in my life? Again, will you have time for me? Or I for you?
I will always cherish the time I spent in the Labyrinth and with you.
o0o0o0o0o
Thanks everyone for reviewing. Don't worry there will be lemons in the story, just not yet.
Until next time. --GF