Author's Note: This chapter really ran away from me. It looks like this may be a longer, much more complex story than I initially intended. I know nothing about wyvern, I just didn't want to use the term 'dragon' because it seems overused. And if anyone knows for sure if the plural of wyvern is 'wyverns' or 'wyvern', please do let me know. ; The Dryn are my own creation, but I believe they're essentially going to be a vampire-type race.

-edit- Editing the chapter to include wyverns as the proper plural of wyvern, and adding a bit more detail to the description of the Dryn.

Chapter One

The Goblin castle.

Chaos reigned. Drunken goblins, panicked chickens with feathers flying everywhere, the rise and fall of angry voices. Such was the scene that greeted Sarah when she emerged from a side passageway behind the throne. The carousing goblins nearest her nearly ran into her before stumbling backwards hastily with startled squawks. Their cries alerted others and silence swiftly fell, as every eye in the room turned to study the beautiful stranger.

Sarah had chosen to wear a crimson velvet dress, accented with black lace. It revealed just enough skin to tempt without scandalizing. The bodice was cut low, but not too low, and molded smoothly down her body until reaching the narrow skirts that stretched to brush the floor. Dark powder made her eyes large and expressive, and lipstick a shade darker than the dress matched the color on her perfectly manicured nails.

Her hair was the finishing touch. After a full hour of washing, combing, and styling ("However did you let it get so tangled, milady?"), Sarah had discarded the elaborate curls of the court for a much simpler look. She instructed the maid to use a single, crimson lace ribbon to pull the dark mass from her face, letting the majority of her hair cascade down her back in loose waves. The full effect of dress, hair, and makeup revealed a dark enchantress capable of attracting and holding the attention of all who saw her.

Exactly the reaction she desired.

Sarah allowed a humorless smile to touch the edges of her lips as she stepped further into the room, knowing that all eyes were riveted on her slightest movement. She approached the throne with solemn deliberation, goblins tumbling out of the her path. The soft swish of her skirts was the only sound as she turned to face her audience and elegantly seated herself in the great stone chair.

"The Goblin King is indisposed," she proclaimed. "I will hear your requests today."

Silence. Sarah's eyes scanned the room, settling on the goblin nearest her. "You! You're here on presumably important business." She didn't bother to hide the disdain that laced her imperial words. "Let's hear it then."

The poor creature jumped at Sarah's bark and fell over, scrambled to his feet, bowed three times, and stuttered with wide eyes, "Y-your Ma..that is, Your High..er.."

"Milady," Sarah prompted, softening her tone slightly.

"Milady," the goblin nodded and bowed again. "Milady, three days ago my business was overrun with termites from my neighbor's. You see, he runs a termite business, milady, and they got loose and..."

Sarah nodded encouragingly as he continued to ramble. Her attention was focused, though, on the strange crowd in the far corner of the room. Too tall and too well-dressed to be citizens, she mused. They were all dressed in identical pale robes, deeply cowled. Pale skin and slender builds made them look almost elfin, but it was difficult to tell the way they huddled in the shadows with their loose clothes distorting what she could make out. She wondered how Jareth dealt with visiting dignitaries. At least they seemed content to wait, for now.

The goblin before her finished his story and she offered him a remedy, to which he bobbed a thank you and hurriedly scuttled out of the room. Another grubby creature took his place, requesting help removing a curse that made his ears sprout leaves, and then another looking for a way to repair a hole in his roof. And so the afternoon progressed. Is this the job of the Goblin King, Sarah wondered, Royal Problem Solver for the decision-challenged subjects? She marveled that he had the patience for it.

Finally, the last of them stood before her.

"...and if that doesn't work, come back in three days and I will speak to King Jareth personally on your behalf," Sarah intoned. After dozens of repetitions, the words she had at first spoken with passion fell dully from her lips. Still, the goblin merchant bowed respectfully and hurried from the room. It didn't matter to him who the mysterious lady was, as long as he had someone to blame if his problems didn't go away as expected.

Reclining her head against the hard back of the throne, Sarah permitted herself a moment of rest. But only a moment, as a polite cough then drew her attention. Opening her eyes, she rose to her feet to face the strange guests, hiding her weariness behind a welcoming smile.

"I thank you for your patience," she said with genuine warmth, nodding her gratitude.

Elfin faces watched her solemnly and exchanged silent looks before returning her greeting with careful bows. A tall, thin man with extravagant gold embroidery on his sleeves stepped forward to speak for the embassy. He pushed the hood of his cloak back, revealing a completely shaven head. In fact, there seemed to be no hair whatsoever on his face...even his eyebrows were non-existent. He eyed Sarah cautiously with impossibly pale eyes.

"Milady," he began, "we were not aware that King Jareth had taken a...mistress." The raised eyebrow and polite tilt of the head took some of the sting from his words, but she felt his keen eyes upon her as she struggled to keep her injured pride from showing.

"I'm a recent acquirement," Sarah said wryly, crossing her arms beneath her breasts. "What is your business with the Goblin King, Sir...?"

The group visibly stiffened, faces going blank as one. The speaker spoke with thinly veiled disdain, "Our business and our names are to be discussed with the king, not his concubine." Six alabaster statues watched her and Sarah could read nothing from their expressions, except that they would have nothing to do with the king's woman. Sarah contemplated them from under lowered lashes. Their reaction was not unexpected. Truthfully, she had been surprised with the goblins accepted her 'return in three days' idea so willingly. But a goblin's grasp of politics was nonexistent compared to these dignitaries.

Finally she raised her eyes and offered them a small bow of her own. "Then let me have rooms made for you, that you may wait in comfort for-"

"No." The word snapped like a whip, cutting her invitation off and making her blink at the speaker in surprise. "We will speak to the king now."

Her patience with the guests was quickly evaporating. "I am afraid that is not possible," she replied, smiling through gritted teeth. "Please. Let me show you to your rooms and King Jareth will speak with you as soon as he is able."

Pale eyes stared at her intensely and Sarah tensed as if expecting an attack. The blank expressions were falling away to reveal a hateful menace that suddenly made her feel no more than a silly woman playing dangerous games. The truth of it made her blood run cold. She had made a bold move, assuming that she could control Jareth's kingdom, but she had not planned for such unfriendly outsiders. She had no authority to force them to her will if they pushed their demands.

Sarah swallowed against the dry lump in her throat. The guests' eyes moved almost hungrily to watch her neck bob, before riveting again on her face. Just as quickly, they darted to the side before becoming blank and unreadable again.

"Sarah..."

A chill ran down her spine as the low voice seemed to travel across the room to caress her skin. Turning in the direction the visitors now stared, she dropped smoothly into a curtsey so low she was almost kneeling.

Jareth reclined casually against the archway, dressed in glittering black. In the darkness outside the room, he looked like a deadly shadow assessing both Sarah and the guests from his murky domain. Sarah trembled at the black energy emanating from him and lowered her eyes.

"My King," she whispered breathlessly, praying the foreigners took her tone to be lust or flirtation or anything but the fear and anxiety that twisted her stomach into knots. She claimed to love the Goblin King, had spent the last three days in his bed, but had she overstepped herself in attempting to rule in his stead?

Footsteps approached slowly and polished black boots stepped into her downcast vision. "Sarah..." A gloved hand extended to her. She took it, kissing the covered palm before raising her eyes to meet his and allowing herself to be drawn to her feet. His eyes were clouded, wary hope battling the pain of bitter betrayal.

She looked deeply into his eyes, praying that he would read in hers all the love and devotion that she felt for him. And the fear that she had angered him. "My Love," she murmured so softly it could barely be heard. Still, the words rang through the thick silence. He merely stared at her, face unreadable behind his customary mask. Just as Sarah thought her trembling might become visibly noticeable, he abruptly turned away, her hand still formally on his arm.

"What business do the Dryn wish with me, Alryn?" he asked the guests in a flat voice.

The visitors glanced at each other meaningfully, their expressions speaking volumes that Sarah wished she understood. The leader, Alryn she imagined, stepped forward again, bowing respectfully to Jareth. "Your Majesty, I bring greetings from the Dryn Kingdom. We present you with this gift as a token of our good will and gratitude for safe passage through your lands." He nodded at a fine-boned woman standing behind him and she stepped forward, dropping gracefully to her knees before the Goblin King as she held her offering out with bowed head. Alryn's eyes flicked to Sarah, a slight smirk on his face as if to say 'this is how a kingdom is really run.' Sarah pointedly ignored him.

Instead, she studied the offered gift. The woman waited with the stillness of a statue, a pale lavender silk pillow cradled in her outstretched hands. In the center of the pillow rested a large egg that glittered silver. In spite of its icy appearance, Sarah could swear she felt a tingling warmth emanating from it. She glanced inquisitively at Jareth, but his attention was focused on the egg. He stepped down from the dais, leaving Sarah standing alone, and held a hand momentarily over the gift.

"A wyvern egg," he breathed. "How did the Dryn come upon such a thing?"

Alryn smiled mysteriously. "It is our gift to you."

"Wyvern egg?" Sarah asked.

"They're very rare," Jareth replied, turning his back on the guests momentarily as he strode up the dais again. His eyes flashed a warning at her before he took his seat on the throne, gesturing for her to stand near him. "Wyvern live in the skies. They make their nests in the clouds. Acquiring a wyvern egg is a truly astonishing feat." He sounded genuinely impressed.

"Indeed," Alryn inclined his head. "The Goblin King understands the trials the Dryn faced to attain this gift." He cocked an eyebrow at Sarah. "Not that I would accept a mundane to appreciate such things." She merely returned his arrogant gaze coolly, refusing to be baited.

"Come now, Alryn," Jareth said, in the taunting tone that was so familiar to Sarah, "did you come here to taunt my subjects..." Sarah forced her face to remain serene at the label he gave her. "...or did you have legitimate business?"

Alryn touched the kneeling woman's shoulder and she rose, head still bowed. "Business, yes, Your Majesty. Important business. Of a personal nature." His eyes focused pointedly on Sarah.

Jareh followed his gaze. Expecting sparks to fly, Sarah tensed, but instead Jareth merely replied with mocking humor. "Speak now or not ever, Alryn. I have...better things to do than deal with the Dryn." A chill ran down her spine at the intimacy he had managed to instill in that simple comment.

Alryn's expression darkened, as did those of all the others with him. "So be it." He stepped forward and, with a flourish, dropped to one knee. The rest of his party followed suite.

"Your Majesty," he began formally, "the Dryn Kingdom has traveled through your lands to speak with you regarding a matter of utmost important to the survival of our race." He smiled a terrible smile and Sarah felt her eyes widen as she noticed for the first time the pointed edges of his teeth. He ran his tongue over the fangs as he glanced at her hungrily, his pale eyes darkening to the color of dried blood. She felt more than saw Jareth stiffen beside her.

"Mating season."

-end-

Responses to reviews:

sophie: Sad but sweet was my goal. I wanted to emphasize that it's not always an easy road back to happiness after you've faced rejection as Jareth has. Of course more! That wouldn't have been much of an ending, ey?

draegon-fire: I think you read my mind with where I was going with this chapter, at least initially. I wanted to give Sarah a chance to prove she could fit in in Jareth's world, and Jareth a chance to see that she was really dedicated to him. For now I'm just going to keep adding chapters here, but I may split it off into separate stories later.

kili-2: Thank you, it's the knowledge that people enjoy reading that keeps me writing. Otherwise all these ideas would just sit around in my head because I wouldn't see a point to sharing them.

Kate: I replied to your e-mail, but just in case you missed it.I don't write unhappy endings. If one of my stories ends badly, it just means I have more planned! Jareth and Sarah are one of my favorite couples and they will definitely end up together.