A/N: Sorry for the delay, and I also feel I should apologize for this offering, as it is not the entire part of the story I intended to include here. However, I felt it was best for you, and best for me, to get some portion of it posted to keep us ALL motivated, (and it did seem to end naturally at this point. Hopefully you'll see what I mean. Think of this as the chapter name implies: a transition. Shout-outs to everyone who continues to read and review. You are all so precious to me:) To Alyce - if you are still reading, I did tell you I honored you with a character, though the character in the story does not at all reflect your personal character LOL Hope you don't mind too much ;D

Usual disclaimer still applies. Jareth is still sadly, not mine.

Chapter 13

Transitions in Opposing Directions

Jareth's POV

I paced over the cobbled stones of my throne room wrapped in my own aura of fury. For once I was too livid to even form words! Having not fully recovered from my disappointing altercation with my wife, the untimely arrival of the poisonous witch, Aralia, and her offspring had set my course spiraling into madness once more.

I scowled with utter disgust as one of my boot heels landed in a pile of waste left behind by one of the goblin's avian pets. If only the goblin in question were present. I wanted nothing more than to kick something, or rather someone. But I couldn't even threaten this person with the promise of perpetual stink. She was protected.

"I'm not going to go away just because you choose to ignore me."

My steps halted immediately and I turned to face the two women shadowing the doorway – one still in her nightgown, the other remarkably fresh for one who had traveled through the night.

"As if anyone could ignore you, Aralia," I seethed. My jaw was beginning to ache from the pressure of grinding my teeth together.

"You haven't changed at all, Jareth." Her overly pouty lips curved into an amused grin as she sauntered closer to my halted form. "You always were such a handsome devil. But that temper of yours…" She clicked her tongue before turning to glare at Aetia. "And you…I'm actually rather surprised to find you still here at all. Surely after such a public embarrassment you would have exiled yourself to a nice little retreat in the country?"

"Aetia is most welcome here. You would do well to remember that," I spoke slowly; my voice carefully, but barely restrained.

She laughed, an overly saccharine sound that set my teeth grinding again. "Yes, I can see why you'd welcome her. Every castle needs a good housekeeper, after all. Pity I didn't think of that before. Though, I think I may still be in the slightest bit of shock at finding her in the maid's quarters! Oh, how the mighty do fall!" Her sparkling eyes turned evilly on Aetia once more. "Well, what are you still standing there for? Shouldn't you be preparing my rooms? The journey was long and I am quite in need of rest and refreshment."

"You will not speak to her in that tone!" I warned.

"No…it's alright. She's right; I am neglecting our guests. I'll arrange for a light refreshment to be served in your suite for you and your daughter. Good evening." Aetia's voice was soft and calm, as always. She bowed her head once before turning and leaving the room. I doubted very much that I was the only one who noticed how pale she had become, or the faint trembling radiating from her frame.

Hesitating longer than what was considered polite, I finally lifted my gaze to the only other occupant in the room. Her smug smile was most unbecoming no matter how beautiful some thought her face to be.

"Might you explain why you felt it necessary to barge into my castle in the middle of the night?"

"Well I do so hate to be predictable. And besides, it's nearly dawn now. Come to that, just what were you doing with your sister at this time of night? Trouble in paradise so soon?" If a voice could bat eyelashes, this was certainly the sound.

"Enough of this nonsense, Aralia. You know very well the impropriety of arriving to a foreign court before the appointed time. It is a reflection of my respect for your place in our mother's affection that you are still standing in my castle."

"Right. And the scandal surrounding your sister, not to mention your fear of my mother, your step-mother to be specific, has absolutely nothing to do with it." A pleased grin cracked her face as she turned her back on me – yet another blatant display of disrespect – and slowly inspected her surroundings. Her features settled on a mixture of horror and amusement as she no doubt observed the filth left behind from the goblins' party the night before.

If only her boot heels would land in chicken sh-

"Mother," a soft voice suddenly parted the tense silence.

We both whirled sharply towards the doorway where a younger version of Aralia stood with unshed tears in her eyes. I used every ounce of strength of will I possessed in that moment not to groan at the sight of the girl. It wasn't that I disliked her per say…more that her appearance was a promise that my current dalliance with frustration and unpleasantness was but the tip of the potential iceberg ahead, as my bride's people liked to say.

"Alyce, darling. Whatever is the matter?"

"You didn't tell me she would be here." Her voice, which was barely more than a whisper, resonated with the ghosts of the past.

I watched, stunned with my growing annoyance, as Aralia's eyes narrowed into slits of fury. "What did she do now?"

The simpering girl's gaze shifted to the floor but her lips remained silent. The gathering tears in her eyes leaked down her cheeks. I nearly strained my own eyes as they responded with an exaggerated roll towards the ceiling. Manifesting my riding crop, I flounced down into my throne and tapped uselessly against my boot as the mother hen glided to comfort her chick.

"Please, angel, won't you tell me?" For all her concerned imploring, the girl remained steadfastly silent.

I couldn't help myself. I summoned a crystal which produced the sound effect of crickets chirping, smirking with more than a little childish pleasure at Aralia's furious disposition.

She whirled on me faster than a striking viper. "That is not funny, Jareth! If that sister of yours so much as looks at my Alyce wrong again -"

"It wasn't Aetia, mother…it was her!" The irritated attitude of youth positively trampled her previous show of timidity.

A veritable explosion of fiery glitter preceded the sudden arrival of a very irate hobgoblin. "Don't listen to a word she says! She freakin' shoved me out of my own bed!"

"I did not! How was I supposed to know you were in the guest chamber?"

"There are like a dozen extra bedrooms in this castle. You really expect me to believe you just coincidentally chose the only occupied one, and then didn't notice the lumpy form lying rather obviously under the blankets?" Raelle shrieked as she charged closer to the amusingly growing-redder-by-the-second girl still somewhat shadowing the doorway.

I groaned internally, closing my eyes and dropping my head back against the arm of the throne as countless memories of days gone by flooded my mind, all featuring the incessant bickering between the feuding princesses. While the Fae were naturally prejudiced against hobgoblins in general, Elvish Fae made their disdain a specialized sport. Those two years spent at court with our joined families had been some of the most trying days of my existence; ones that I had no desire to ever repeat in any fashion. I supposed Raelle's impending mission would need to commence sooner rather than later.

"Don't just sit there; do something!" Aralia's voice snapped by my ear.

I opened my eyes and turned towards the scene, half-expecting to see a genuine cat-fight in progress. The two glowering girls were standing nearly nose to nose at this point. And if it wasn't for the brass colored shimmer faintly trembling around Alyce's form – a clear indication that she was about to lose complete control over her magic – I would gladly have allowed the amusing little showdown to continue.

"Girls, really. Hold your tempers," I implored half-heartedly.

"But Sire -"

"Raelle, I am sure by now Aetia has seen to a suite of chambers to accommodate our guests. Perhaps you could graciously show Alyce to her room before returning to your own slumber. There is no need to wake the entire castle over simple sleeping arrangements."

"I'm not following her anywhere! Last time I did that, I ended up completely ensnared in that overgrown lichen only to be cut loose by that horrible little dwarf!"

"It's Hoggle, not horrible!" Corrected the sassy little hobgoblin.

"Same difference. You goblins are all the same!"

This time I didn't even try to withhold my groan. My head dropped into my palm as I counted the seconds awaiting the inevitable volcano that was Raelle's fury to erupt. Three, two, o-

"What exactly do you mean; you goblins?"

The faintest ripple of magic pulled at my attention. Lifting my head, I observed the feuding pair standing as statues with a furious Aralia holding a time suspension enchantment over them. Her icy eyes met mine, matched by her cool, but threatening voice; "Put a stop to this, or I will, Jareth. You are far too soft with your pet. She is wild, even for a hobgoblin!"

"Yes, and your darling little cherub is the picture of innocence." I stood from my throne and turned my full-height on the annoying woman. With a snap of my fingers, both girls vanished, presumably to their appointed chambers, though at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if my irritation had misdirected them to a shared oubliette. Nor would I much care. "Now, perhaps you feel inclined to explain your early arrival, and why you insist on keeping me from my slumber when you can clearly see the rest of the kingdom is still at rest, hmm?"

After taking a long second to compose herself, the frost in her gaze thawed to reveal an all together different purpose. "I thought we could spend some time…catching up," she dropped her voice to what I am sure was supposed to be an invitation as she slithered closer to me.

Her intentions could not have been more obvious, though I did wonder about her mode of operation. She was no 'spring chicken' and certainly knew the art of subtlety. Was she really so desperate? I certainly had no plans to play into her delusion. "Has life really changed so much in the Elven kingdom since I was last there?"

She giggled in a way that would've even been inappropriate for someone her daughter's age. "Really, Jareth; you are side-stepping the issue."

I angled away before rolling my eyes, again. My fingers curled inwards in an attempt to prevent the formation of a vanishing crystal. Honestly, would this infernal night never end? I would gladly subject myself to a second round of cruelty from Sarah if it wouldn't be construed as an unforgiveable breach of hospitality to suddenly disappear. Though, perhaps I could still use my sulking bride as a means of escape. "I am sure I don't know what you mean. And as you kindly observed, I really should return to my betrothed before she awakes to find me missing."

I swallowed back my displeasure as her tongue darted across her lower lip in a calculated manner. "I hear tell that your lovely bride has not been so loving after all.

I stepped closer to her and filled my expression with all of my unspoken disdain. A sensible person would have retreated…would have recognized a power far greater than their own, no matter the leash that supposedly controlled it.

Aralia was not sensible.

"So you've come early to assess the rumor, is that it? Tell me, just what did you hope to accomplish at this most unholy hour, Aralia?"

She regarded me seriously for one slow blink before her lips curled into a playful smile. She closed the small distance between us and made to rest her palm on my chest. Her wrist was instantly shackled in my hand before she could make contact.

"Don't."

"Come now, Jareth…there's no reason you and I can't have a little fun. After all, I'm not married anymore. And it isn't as if we're blood relatives."

"You're depravity knows no bounds. If I didn't want you before, what makes you think I would now?"

A brittle laugh escaped her throat as she molded herself closer to me once again. "You always did have a taste for forbidden fruit…brother."

"Yes, perhaps I did. So why would I be interested in one spoiled peach when the entire orchard in sweetest bloom awaits me in my bed?"

Her smile remained, though the coldness of her eyes rivaled the frozen peaks of earth's Everest as my meaning hit its mark. "I am truly curious to meet this human of yours – this mere girl who nearly beat you at your own game, who has finally captured your heart, and who holds your lusts prisoner when none other ever could. What a formidable creature she must be. It would be such a pity if she costs you your kingdom."

"Why, Lady Aralia, is that a threat I detect?"

She paused for several seconds, perhaps deciding whether or not to offer a retort, before forcing another mask of civility over her features. "Surely your Sarah will be awake soon. I take my leave to freshen up. I expect a proper introduction at first meal. Good day, Your Majesty."

I didn't bother to look up as she swept from the room, though her absence was immediately, and blessedly, felt. A string of muttered curses left my lips in tempo with the aching in my head. It wasn't technically possible for Fae to get headaches – an attribute of our unique, magic-based metabolism – yet surely this was as close as I could possibly get. Though, it paled in comparison to the disappointment in my heart. That was one area of my physiology that magic could not help.

My passionate anger at Sarah had subsided to a nervous sort of sorrow. Strangely, and perhaps unfortunately, her treatment towards me did little to assuage my feelings for her. I loved her. I truly did. Much the pity for me as she clearly cared so little for me that she couldn't even adhere to the terms of her own bargain!

I growled with frustration as I paced the room once more. I hated the turmoil coursing through me. I wanted to rage at Sarah. I wanted to compose sonnets for Sarah. I wanted to lock Sarah in my chamber until she begged to be my slave. I wanted to make wild passionate, frenzied love to Sarah. I wanted Sarah to give herself to me completely, just as I desperately wanted to tell her that I had already given my soul to her. I wanted to hurt Sarah just as she'd hurt me.

And I wanted to strangle Aralia and banish her excuse for an offspring from my land.

The pounding in my head worsened while I felt my heart close itself as tightly as a vault – the only safe course of action I could possibly make in my current state. Oh, I'd play my part as planned, at least as long as it took to rid the castle of our adversaries, but I would not allow myself to play the fool for her any longer.

Sarah's POV

I woke the next morning to find myself still curled into a tight little ball on the same velvet padded chair in Jareth's bathroom that I had fled to hours earlier. I was surprised, and maybe even a little bit hurt, that he hadn't come after me, but in light of my plans to evade becoming his full-fledged wife, it was probably for the best.

My mood was as achy as my joints. The events of the previous night spiraled back into my memory with the acute pain of a hangover. This was the second time in less than twenty-four hours that I'd awoken with a massive dose of unresolved lust raging through my system and that kind of thing left a girl a bit cranky. Though I realized the most recent bout was entirely my fault. My husband had made it more than obvious that he was quite willing to take care of our situation.

I rubbed uselessly at my eyes, but still his image remained. Visions of Jareth in all his 'sensual glory' would be forever tattooed behind my eyelids. "I can't believe you just quoted that meddling green goblin!" But how right she had been. I had been nervous enough just being in his room, knowing we were literally about to sleep in the same bed and completely resolved not to give in to any of his advances, without having to deal with his full-blown assault too.

Heat slowly saturated my body, settling between my thighs as I thought about Jareth. Every inch of him had been perfect. His skin was pale, but stretched over his lean muscles it seemed like the smoothest cream and I had no doubt would taste just as good. Touching him had been like sticking a knife in an electric socket, not to mention the delicious agony of his lips on my own skin. And then he started speaking…

I gulped. Loudly. This was one war I knew I was going to lose. How could I not? He had barely even touched me and I was ready to buy the whole damn farm. There was no possible way I was going to be able to keep up our charade by living with him in such close quarters and not succumb. Though, I was sure I'd royally pissed him off, pun intended, when I high-tailed it out of there just as things were really becoming interesting. Would he consider this a breech in our contract? Did the Underground folk even believe in divorce, or separation, or whatever?

My hand clasped around the medallion hanging from my neck. It was a smaller, more feminine version of Jareth's, and I knew I should hate it and all it stood for, but strangely I didn't. Somehow, this was the tangible evidence I didn't even know I needed that proved I was here to stay, and he had claimed me.

Slowly, I peeled my limbs from the chair and stretched, my joints cracking in protest. I eyed his enormous marble tub longingly. Hearing no noise from the adjoining room, I figured it wouldn't hurt to have a quick soak and maybe relieve some of the tension coiling in every muscle of my body. After all, he did say this was our chamber now. May as well make the best of it.

"The best of it could've happened last night!"

For once, I had no argument for my psyche.

I used that clever trick of ordering the tub to fill and even added liberal amounts of lilac scented bubbles before happily tossing the god-awful lace nightgown I'd manage to find amidst a ridiculous collection of lingerie to the floor and climbing in. Seriously, what the hell had Aetia been thinking? It seemed almost silly now that I'd ever suspected her of lusting after my husband.

There it was again; my husband. Great. A little tonsil hockey and I'm completely willing to forget he's a sneaky mythical creature who essentially kidnapped me for reasons yet to be revealed.

"That is not entirely true, Sarah. You agreed to all of this, both when you were here before and just yesterday…"

This time I did stick out my metaphorical tongue. Alone with your thoughts can sometimes be a very dangerous place to be. It was easy to throw up a wall of anger when Jareth was around since he never missed the chance to instigate a response from me. But I knew I gave as good as I got. And if I was brutally honest with myself, I knew I owed him an apology for running out last night. He had made it perfectly clear that I was ultimately in charge as far as our bedroom antics were concerned. Though he shocked me with his total lack of modesty when he stripped down to nothing, effectively proving there was no false-advertising going on down there, he hadn't actually broken his word. He didn't touch me or force me to do anything I wasn't comfortable with.

I sank below the surface of the water and exhaled swiftly, the bubbles of carbon dioxide breaking through the barrier of soapy bubble bath like snowy explosions. Now that the floodgate in my brain was flung wide open, I couldn't seem to stop the mushy romantic torrent of thoughts from parading across my conscience. All the little things he'd done in such a short time – sending me a friend, making sure I had some comforts from home, organizing that dinner even though it was obvious he could barely tolerate Hoggle, decorating his chamber to my tastes, agreeing to my pace, not to mention the way he sometimes looked at me, and the things he told me while holding me so close last night – seemed to point to the fact that he really was trying.

Light flickered beyond the skylight my head had made through the veil of bubbles. I rose quickly and sucked in a deep breath while pushing the wet strands of hair away from my eyes only to instantly cower. The sight before me was nearly enough to force me to duck and cover once more.

"Jareth! What are you doing in here?" I squeaked and gathered more bubbles to hide anything that might be showing, but quickly realized he wasn't even looking at me. Again, I should've been glad, but I couldn't help being confused. Since when did he pass up the opportunity to make a pass at me?

"I seem to recall mentioning once before that this is my castle, and I shall go wherever I like." His voice was cold, detached. He grabbed a towel from a shelf near the sink and handed it to me, his eyes never once lifting from the floor. "Now, finish your bath and dress quickly. I expect you for the morning meal within the hour. Our guest has arrived and despite recent events, you will be on your best behavior."

"Can you tell me anything about her? I mean, how am I supposed to act?"

Finally, his eyes rose to meet mine. I shivered unconsciously at his icy expression. Not even as the Goblin King in full regalia had he looked so intimidating. "How are you supposed to act? Why don't you tell me? Isn't that what you do best?" His tone mocked.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I whispered cautiously.

He smirked, as usual. But this was no playful expression intended to bait me. "Truly, Sarah. Have you forgotten how to pretend to want me? You were so convincing at it last night."

Sarah. Not precious, or dearest, or any other variety of irritating endearments. I felt an uncomfortable shiver of dread and confusion ripple down my spine. "Why are you so angry?"

"Angry?" He snorted and turned away from me. "I'd have to care to be angry. Now hurry up."

He seemed to take all the warmth from the room with him as he vanished. My relaxing bath was suddenly as arctic in its comfort as his cold eyes had been. An uncomfortable feeling settled in my chest and even my usual defense of feigned indignation couldn't trample the twinge of guilt. I knew he'd be upset, but I figured he'd manipulate me or tease me, maybe even yell at me. This apathetic coldness was far worse.

And now I had to face some fancy fairy lady who was probably a thousand times more beautiful than me and convince her that I was head over heels in love with the Goblin King while he was apparently so disgusted with me that he had completely changed his personality, all while being more than a bit uncomfortable, not to mention unsure, about the mess of emotions running through me.

Fan-freaking-tastic.

I allowed myself another long, drawn out sigh before rising from the tub and making my way to the enormous closet in Jareth's chamber. The petulant part of me wanted to pull on my favorite pair of jeans and a t-shirt just to give His Majesty the metaphorical finger. The other, newer, less-tried part of me that felt inexplicably drawn to him and terribly uncomfortable with his displeasure wanted to dress to the nines in one of the gorgeous gowns filling the space.

A sudden vision of Aralia's inhumanly beautiful face as portrayed by Raelle floated through my thoughts, making the decision ridiculously easy.

Yeah…definitely a gown, perhaps something with a plunging neckline and a slit up to my waist.

A/N: Thank you to everyone who continues to read. Believe me, I am just as disappointed as you are that it takes me so long to update and I don't blame you if you've stopped. If on the off chance you ARE still reading...and enjoying...I'd love it if you shared your thoughts:) I know this is not a terribly exciting chapter, but it was necessary to allow some plot points to surface beyond the whole J/S seduction drama.

So my latest DB fascinations are:

"Strangers When We Meet" Seriously, how had I NOT heard this song before? His voice sounds incredible on it! Particularly when he sings "Forget my name, but I'm over you..." Just amazing.

The Linguini Incident. Ordered it off ebay and have probably watched it almost 10 times already. It is hilarious. I would love it even if he wasn't in it. (But thankfully, he is, and he looks gorgeous - was filmed in 1991 during his Sound and Vision period...)