5

"So if I am going to tell our story right," said Sarah as she leaned back against the tree trunk. "I am going to have to ask you some questions; get some personal info."

They were outside in the early afternoon sun. Initially Sarah had gone out with her laptop to inquire of the leaves and patches of frost how life in the woods was fairing and if either of them had seen anything supernatural as of late. Jareth had found her sitting on a blanket to ward off the damp, her laptop sitting idly on her lap. Sarah watched him for a moment prior to putting forth her proposal. His outfit was much the same as the night before except this time he wore a startling blue vest that played up his eyes and made his hair even farer. He could very well be the wood elf that entices a young girl deep into the forest. Of course, was he an elf? No, that he wasn't. Then what was the Goblin King exactly?

From where he stood reading a tattered book he had pulled from his cloth sack, he hemmed and seemed to think deeply on her proposition. "Well, for starters, I like long walks on the beach and enjoy quiet evenings reading." He grinned.

"Noted for the next quarters fantasy want adds," she replied dryly. "And under the heading 'species' what would you prefer: fae or simply unknown?"

"I like the mystery 'unknown' begets, but I wouldn't want just anyone to apply." He was far too amused. "What do you think I am?"

"I know that you're fae, a sort of wingless fairy-,"

"Hold on," he interrupted, dropping his book into his bag. "Fae, yes; fairy, no. All of my ilk are known as the fae, but me." He pointed at himself. "I am neither fairy, pixie, brownie, sprite,"

"Ok."

"Will O'the Wisp, nymph, or elf for that matter."

She smiled placidly. "So what are you then?"

"I," he said and paused dramatically. "Am a magician."

Sarah recalled the floating orbs that he had frequently used to cast spells or cause illusions. At one point he had simply called them "crystals", but Sarah had seen them float like bubbles, their thin membranes exploding at the faintest touch. The urge to ask him to show her one was strong. They had been filled with her deepest wants, her hidden desires. Such things would prove to be delicious distractions.

As if reading her thoughts Jareth stretched out an arm and after a gentle flick of his wrist one of the dainty orbs appeared in his palm. Sarah fought with herself to either run screaming from things she wasn't sure were true, or grab at it hungrily. "I remember those," she said quietly. "Do all magicians use them?"

"No." He let it roll to the tips of his fingers. "It's what you might call my gimmick." With subtle exhale, he sent the orb floating towards her.

Entranced Sarah watched it approach. Gingerly she reached out her fingers.

"It won't pop," he assured her with a hint of a smirk.

"Your gimmick." Her voice was full of awe. "So you don't actually need them?" At contact the orb bounced back defying physics.

"No."

"So you're a conjuror-,"

"Hold on again." He blew air out sharply. When he spoke again his tone was annoyed, "Humans and their blasted synonyms. I'll have to give you a crash course in Underground class systems. Much like there are governors, mayors, presidents, while they are all rulers in their own right, they are not the same." He reached his hand down, stretching as far as it would go. "Tricksters, conjurors," his hand moved up as if indicating brackets. "Magicians, wizards."

The orb obscured by a tree, was enough to break Sarah's enthrallment. She blinked and looked curiously at Jareth. "I would have thought that someone with your disposition would have striven after the highest rank."

"Who says I haven't? I am quite powerful Sarah Williams."

"I don't doubt that. So why aren't you a wizard?"

He sat down next to her and leaned against the same tree. "Proved to be too messy." He brought his bag around and began rummaging through it. "A magician can create illusions, but more often than not what he has created is tangible." From the bag he brought forth a wedge of cheese and two apples. "But a wizard, now he can get inside your mind. Make you think you're eating heartily when in fact you are consuming air." He took a bite from one of the apples and offered her the other.

If it was nothing more than air it was the sweetest breath she had ever taken. "So this is magician work and this apple is real?"

"I was feeling a bit peckish," he replied.

"Give me an example of wizard work."

His two tone pupils stared at her for a moment. Sarah understood that she was inviting him into her head, which as far as intimacy went was a form of consummation. "Close your eyes," he told her. "What did I give you?"

The object was cold and slick. "An ice cube."

"And now?"

The small form abruptly turned coal hot. She gasped and flung it away from her. "Ouch! What did you give me?" She glared at him accusatorily.

"Nothing." He took her hand and held it up to her eyes. "I never touched you."

She stared wonderingly at her hand. "That is intensely weird."

"I was asked one too many times to induce harm. I may have my goblin ways, but I could never cause physical harm. Every once in a while I practice it though." His face turned playful. "For fun. Take a look around Sarah."

Turning her head Sarah saw that the cabin and the surrounding woods had dissolved into a shimmering substance. Spotted throughout were wax laden candelabrums and sparkling tapestries. The ballroom from her youth was before her. A sort of sad joy filled her. She stood. "It has been nine years since I have seen this room. And it is every bit as beautiful as I remember it being."

"My greatest accomplishment as a magician," he said from behind her.

She remembered how solid the floor had been and the crash that had echoed when she broke the wall. This place had been very real. "The amount of energy and time you must have put into it…" Her voice trailed. Everything about this place had been real.

"The better part of thirteen hours," he said.

She turned around to see him, to find out what expression he wore; to know whether or not this place invoked any kind of strong emotion. She found him standing in the iridescent blue tailcoat and diamond flecked cravat that he had worn that fateful night. While his sudden change surprised her, she was more startled by the realization that she was in the massive silver and white ball gown. The weight of the material rested on her shoulders and she could feel the pinch of the corset around her waist.

Then his arms around were around her, pulling her against him. She swore she could feel his heart beating when she touched his chest. The heat from his winter skin burned through everything to encase her cocoon like, safe and secure. He was masculine. He was alluring. He was gentle. There was a rush of anticipation and apprehension in knowing he wanted her as much as she wanted him. Without hesitation they kissed each other. He was needful. He was generous. He was magic.

Sarah blinked and felt an odd tilt to the world. It was as if every image and sensation were being drained out of her being via her right eye. She blinked again and shook her head. Jareth stood next to the tree an odd expression on his face. The ballroom was gone.

Afraid of the truth she timidly asked, "What was that?"

Jareth swallowed. He stood rigidly still.

"Jareth?" she pressed with a hint of agitation.

"Sarah I cry your pardon," he said, his voice tight. "When you asked me...And I." He cleared his throat. "Apparently the mental link hadn't fully severed."

Sarah closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath.

He said, "I can apologize a whole lot more profusely if you like; if it'll help."

She looked at him: he seemed to be taking it all in with just as much awkwardness as she was. "That depends," she said. "Was all of that you or me?"

He considered his reply. "Both?"

"That's a good answer."

While it was still embarrassing to know he had been made privy to extremely private thoughts, it was comforting to know he had similar ones of his own. "So," she said trying to shake the tension. "How was it for you?"

He choked on a laugh. "Good, very good."

"It was pretty special," she concurred. "Amazing even."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again they had taken on a darker quality. "Sexy," he stated.

She nodded in agreement. "Incredibly sexy. As far as distractions go, you're the only one I want."

Stepping away from the tree he came and stood in front of her. "I'm the only distraction I want you to have," he said. He touched her hair. "Can we continue our story? Rewrite it a bit to give your reader's a happy ending?"

The female side of her brain was thinking of a million ways in which "happy ending" could be attained, while the writer side of her mind was mentally editing out all of the voyeuristic qualities of sharing their story.

Jareth raised an eyebrow and narrowed his eyes. "Sarah Williams," he said tersely, as if all of her thoughts had been laid bear to him. Again. "My, my, I may have to lay to rest all of my wizarding skills. You could make a goblin blush." He mocked disbelief.

She rolled her eyes knowing full well he was having similar thoughts. She wanted him here, where it all was real. Where he was real.