"As lovely as that sounds Your Highness," She said cupping his cheek fondly in her hand. "It's a bit hard to ignore my husband whilst in the arms of another man. He makes sure of it."
Prince Logan stood very still for a long moment, staring at Sarah as if she were suddenly crawling with spiders. Then in a bizarre turn of events, out of nowhere, a little hummingbird came buzzing up and circled her twice before coming to perch on his shoulder. The bird's eyes sparkled with intelligence as it gave her a once over and Sarah stared back curiously, somewhat suspicious.
"Did you say husband?" Logan asked at last, bringing his waist length green hair to drape over one shoulder, away from the bird. "You're saying you are the Goblin Queen?" He sounded highly doubtful and while disbelief was sure to be a common thread tonight, it irritated her more than it should have.
"It does come out sounding that way doesn't it?" Her annoyance came through in her voice without meaning to and Logan looked at her in surprise to it hear it there.
"Well, I….How?" He asked rubbing the back of his neck dumbstruck, appearing to be having a difficult time putting the pieces together, something wasn't quite adding up in his mind.
"In the usual way." She responded dryly.
"That is not possible." He stated, looking at her through narrowed eyes and standing up straighter, apparently having decided she was lying. She was mortal after all and it was a well-known fact that mortals loved to lie. Looking to the hummingbird on his shoulder he asked in a loud whisper, "Who in their right mind would marry the Goblin King?" He gave a theatrical shudder. The tiny bird chirped in a way that somehow came out sounding like a reprimand, causing Logan to roll his eyes. Sarah's curiosity increased along with her growing aggravation.
"Choose your next words wisely Prince Logan, you are beginning to irritate me with your frivolous insults." Sarah said, putting a hand on her jutted out her hip and glaring openly. She looked upon him with a cold sneer, fully sinking into a Goblin Queen persona. The tattoo on her wrist began to pulse and throb, nagging at her to open up and accept what it was offering. She embraced the sensation, allowing it to flare out through the rest of her body, sending tantalizing tingles to every extremity.
Something warm and ancient pushed its way through her veins. It felt like a shot of adrenaline straight to her heart and suddenly the world around her was sharper, more focused and she could feel Jareth watching her intently as well as every goblin in attendance. If she listened hard enough she thought she might be able to make out their whispers. From the corner of her eyes she could see her hair floating gently, unnaturally in a non-existent breeze.
Logan looked back to Sarah, his eyebrows shooting up as he took in her body language. "I don't mean to offend you Sarah, for you are indeed quite glorious, and there is undoubtedly power flowing through your veins." He said tilting his head.
"I can feel it and I can see it." That covetous look flashed briefly in his eyes again.
"But you're mortal are you not?" He asked, speaking more to himself than her. "A half-breed perhaps? Not the typical fairy queen to be sure. In fact, I'm not even sure such a thing would be legal. Would that be legal?" He asked the red and green bird on his shoulder who was suddenly looking at Sarah rather attentively.
Sarah was fighting the urge to reach out and flick him hard on the forehead, the way she used to do when Toby was being especially maddening. Her arm had actually started coming up of its own accord and as she took an unconscious step forward she felt something tug harshly on her dress. Looking down she noticed her dress had snagged on a spindly looking shrub they had stopped next to. As she stooped to untangle her hem from the clinging branches, she found that it was actually a small female goblin that had hold of her. A grubby little face peeked out at her through the bush, small eyes full of mischief.
"Can I help Queen?" Said the goblin eagerly, giving an awkward curtsy as best she could while hiding in the bush.
"Knock yourself out." Sarah replied under her breath, smiling as the goblin released her skirt.
Standing back up, Sarah dusted off her dress and turned her attention back to Logan who was still rambling on about why it was impossible for her to be who she had recently claimed and she sighed, more weary now than annoyed.
"In order to get married, the heads of each court must be present and I recall no such time as that." He finished with raised eyebrows, waiting for her to talk her way out of his solid conclusion. She couldn't help the small smile that touched her lips, if only he knew that he had in fact been present as well as half of fairy.
"I highly doubt you are so privy to the Goblin King's private affairs." She said instead.
He shared another moment of silent conversation with that damn bird. She had him there. Standing up straight and proud he pulled his own self-assurance around him defensively. "My parents would have been in attendance and I through them. How can this possibly be when neither has ever even heard of you?" Logan's tone was haughty and slightly demeaning; he was starting to piss her off all over again but his statement gave her an idea.
Being Queen to Jareth's King was having strange effects on Sarah and she was quickly becoming something more. Not different, she was still she through and through, but it was as if she was becoming a more concentrated version of herself. A fearless Sarah, eager to throw caution to the wind where before she might have erred on the side of prudence in order to protect herself. She felt free and she felt powerful and it was going to her head a bit. Abruptly she thought how fun it would be to just stir up as much political trouble for Jareth as she possibly could. No one knew of her, only of her illustrious, good lord it sounded ridiculous even to her own ears… husband.
Completely ignoring his question, she smiled sweetly in return. "We really shouldn't just stand in the middle of the dance floor."
"Yes of course." He replied, supremely confident in his assumptions as she had so clearly avoided answering his legitimate question. "Allow me to escort you back to your… husband." It was said sarcastically, like she was just some brainless human woman that had been caught trying to pull a fast one on a fairy prince. Logan gestured her forward with an extended arm and bent slightly at the waist in a mocking gesture of a bow. "After you, Your Majesty." He said in a highly facetious tone.
She sniffed disdainfully and turning only made it three steps before a startled yelp and the thud of a body hitting the stone floor had her looking back. She found the prince sprawled out face down. He sat up quickly, looking at his shoes in confusion. They had been tied together. Sarah grabbed her middle and gave a loud bark of laughter before covering her mouth. She could hear a snickering from the bushes. Logan glared at her through narrowed eyes.
Clearing her throat she stepped close and looked down upon him, smiling like a magnanimous ruler. "While I appreciate your gesture of fealty, I must say kneeling does not at all become you Logan." It was taking all her strength to keep a straight expression in the face of his outrage. He looked positively murderous and while it should perhaps have put her on guard, it only served to make her want to laugh harder. She was trembling from keeping in her laughter and it didn't go unnoticed.
"You dare speak to me in such a way? Are you purposely attempting to offend me?" He spat out heatedly; waving the hummingbird away that was hovering near his ear, trying unsuccessfully to get his attention.
"Oh dear me." She said with wide-eyed innocence, feigning ignorance. "You did give me permission to address you informally."
His lips turned down in a scowl. "Yes, but you go to far." He said infuriated, looking up at her with reassessing eyes.
Sarah looked past him to the goblin peeking her mottled green head out of the bushes, beady eyes looking to her for praise. She was practically bouncing up and down at her success.
"Oh I think we could better than that." She said pointedly, sinfully.
The goblins eyes widened impossibly large, reflecting Sarah's own feeling of wickedness. A toothy grin overtook her squishy face; she looked at Sarah like she had just given her the greatest gift in the entire world before slowly fading back into the bushes as if she had never been there at all.
"What did you say?" Snapped Logan. He looked behind him suspiciously where Sarah was staring into the bushes and seeing nothing, turned his stormy eyes back to her.
Sarah rolled her eyes dramatically and gave a heavy sigh. "I said, Oh Your Highness, let me help you up!"
"No!" He said a bit too forcefully holding up a hand. "I am perfectly capable of standing without your aid. I have a feeling I would end up worse off." He mumbled that last bit under his breath, but she heard it and it made her feel devious.
Waving a hand over his shoes Sarah watched his thin laces un-knot and retie themselves before jumping nimbly to his feet.
"After you." He said straightening his sating vest, trying to regain his poise.
Sarah turned, making her way breezily through the dancers that watched her from the corners of their eyes. She bristled, her irritation at him growing with each step. As they neared the walnut tree, Sarah looked up and noticed a ridiculous amount of goblins sitting perfectly still in the branches looking down at her, smiling widely. A sense of anticipation broke through her anger. Then she looked down to the lowest branch, all animosity dissipating at the sight of him. Jareth was leaning forward on his perch, hands gripping the bark as if anchoring him, physically keeping himself from standing and meeting them halfway.
She could feel from their strengthened connection how much he wanted nothing more than to come to her, to touch her, smell her, taste her. He wanted to do horribly naughty things to her and she gasped as images started to make their way through that link in crystal clear clarity. He was watching her approach with eager eyes and her heart fluttered tragically. Smiling at her devilishly he stayed put, helping lure her prey close.
As they neared the trees canopy the hummingbird chirped once before taking flight from Logan's shoulder, it's blurry wings buzzed loudly while it hovered in place as they continued on. Prince Logan turned and looked at the bird questioningly. It looked up into the treetops and it chirped once more before zooming off in the direction it had come.
The prince looked up where the little bird had and froze. It was obvious by his expression that he had momentarily forgotten with whom he was dealing and was now confronted with the consequences of that lapse in recollection. He held back, shifting his weight from foot to foot and regarded Sarah differently. He was suddenly looking at her the way everyone had been looking at the Goblin King all evening, as if she were some dangerous animal that was most assuredly not friendly. She smiled sharply at him before continuing to Jareth's side.
"Husband?" She questioned sarcastically one corner of her lip turned up. Originally she had planned to give him a healthy dose of attitude, but once again his presence overwhelmed her and she couldn't help but reach out to skim her fingers lightly down the side of his neck, pleased as he leaned into her touch. Likewise he extended an arm out and getting hold of her waist pulled her to him, turning and setting her practically on his lap.
"Yes wife?" A thrill shot through her as he responded casually, like he had been calling her that for years. He smiled down at her wickedly.
Prince Logan licked his lips, thoroughly engrossed at their response to one another and forgetting himself came closer until he stopped just shy of the trunk, his face wary but fascinated.
"So it's true?" He asked with wide eyes quietly, deferentially.
Jareth let his eyes roam over Sarah a moment longer before finally giving the prince his attention, face going hard.
"Are you implying my Queen," He stressed the word. "Is a liar Young Prince?"
He looked startled at the venom dripping from the Goblin King's words, but he also seemed a bit suspicious that neither of them had simply said it outright yet. There appeared to be an internal debate happening. His eyes flicked back and forth between Sarah and Jareth half a dozen times before finally narrowing, his jaw clenched. Taking in a deep gulp of air, he opened his mouth to respond but didn't get the chance as an obscenely large walnut hitting him on top of his head cut him off. It was about the size of a toddler's fist, large enough to make him yelp and rub his head trying to dispel the pain. Another one fell with much more speed and a loud crack just next to his left foot.
Ever so slowly, Logan raised his head and peeked up to where dozens of glowing yellow eyes stared back at him. He took an unconscious step back, a look of horrible comprehension stealing across his face. A nervous laugh bubbled up from his chest and he raised his hands in supplication.
"Sarah, lovely Sarah," He began, voice soft, entreating. "Why did you not tell me from our first meeting?" She smiled at the slight tremble in his voice. "Had I known, I of course would have given you proper acknowledgement and due respect of title."
She scoffed neatly. "You mean you wouldn't have grabbed my ass and tried to kiss me?"
"Yes about that…" Jareth said giving him a pointed look, his own face completely devoid of any emotion. Sarah bit the inside of her check to keep from laughing at the appearance of total panic radiating off Logan who took another slow step back. The glow from his shining skin seemed to dull and flicker once.
He gave a nervous laugh. "You make it sound so crass loveliest Sarah." Then turning to Jareth, took another slow step back, eyes flicking up briefly. "I assure you Your Majesty nothing of any consequence actually took place."
Another walnut hit him square on the head with a painful sounding clack and Prince Logan bent forward grabbing the offending spot. Then it rapidly began raining walnuts down on him forcefully. Logan covered his head as best he could, stumbling as he ran for safety outside the reach of the tree. Cackling goblin laughter, hoots and hollers followed his fleeing figure. A heartbeat of silence stretched out before music flared to life and creatures turned to one another, carrying on their own conversation in hushed murmurs, heads bowed close together.
Sarah sighed happily, settling more comfortably on Jareth's lap and leaned back. She could feel him grinning above her head.
"Contrary to popular belief, I do actually try to keep the goblins somewhat in check at these gatherings. " He remarked offhand.
"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about." She responded flippantly.
Jareth chuckled softly, resting his chin atop her head. They sat together in comfortable silence watching the dancers weave and twirl about the floor. The moon, high in the star strewn sky could be seen through the domed glass ceiling and Jareth began to run his hand absently over her hipbone. Each caress sent little shocks of delight skimming across her skin. She couldn't recall the last time she had felt so perfectly at peace.
"You know," Sarah said breaking the quiet. "We're going to have to bring this tree home with us. Your chambers are big enough aren't they?" She waved a hand. "No matter, if the bedroom isn't big enough you can fix that. Magic the ceiling higher, the walls wider or something."
Jareth opened his mouth but she held up a hand continuing on. "Now that I'm thinking about it, what color are the drapes? Because I was thinking that a shimmering pale gold would really reflect the morning light beautifully." She sat up straighter as if having a marvelous idea. "Actually, we should do the whole room in gold, to match this beautiful new tattoo." She cooed, turning her wrist, admiring the way it caught the light.
"With lovely cream colored sheets!" She exclaimed excitedly. "And a dark wooden bed frame that will match the tree bark and contrast wonderfully with the linen, can you picture it? We'll definitely have to stop my place first though so I can get my owl figurines." She started ticking ideas off on her fingers. "Then to Molly's to pick up my cats. She has been taking care of my three precious little babies while I've been traveling." She turned in his arms so that she could see his face as she continued with hardly a breath between sentences. He looked as though she had suddenly turned into something strange and terrifying.
"Oh my gosh I almost completely forgot! Ken and Cherie's wedding is next weekend. I can't wait to show you off. How jealous will she be? I was going to get them the blender off their registry but since I have you now sweetums," She squished his jaw between her fingers, his lips puckering in hilarious fashion. "How about we just magic them something up instead. Maybe a crystal lamp or something? What do you think?" She asked her eyes wide and shinning and full of hope.
Jareth got a pained look on his face and she noticed he was now gripping her hip rather tightly. She laughed with outright enthusiasm, entirely enjoying his discomfort.
"Teasing." She said and wrapped her arms around his neck. His breath came out in a huff, clearly not amused. Leaning forward she ran soft lips up from his collarbone to ear, where she nipped him lightly. His eyes closed briefly in response, his grip on her tightening. "Or am I?" She whispered silkily before flicking her tongue along the shell of his ear.
"Sarah beware, I have been generous up until now, but I can be cruel." He said tersely and she laughed again, snuggling against his chest. He brought his arms around her in a light embrace and she sighed contentedly.
"I do want the tree though." She said as an afterthought.
He looked up into the branches where the goblins were wildly swinging and jumping from limb to limb. "I must say I'm rather fond of it myself." He said. "If that is your wish it shall be done."
Sarah pulled back to give him a skeptical look. "Really Jareth, I think I'm insulted by your lazy attempt to get my wish out of the way. You're going to have to try harder than that."
"You might be surprised at how often is in fact that easy."
"You're full of yourself."
"And you are simply jealous that I won." He huffed.
"You didn't win, you cheated. I mean marriage? Really? How could I have possibly foreseen that?"
"You of all people should know better than to underestimate your opponents. I did warn you that I wasn't feeling generous, that I wouldn't let you a second time. What better way to cement you to my side? For there are no divorces here." He smiled his crooked smile that always made her stomach flip. "It's your own fault you didn't think of it."
"Be that as it may, you still have no power over me." She said teasingly, deciding to take the high ground.
"Don't I?" Jareth asked squeezing her hips and pulling her against him roughly.
"Oh." She said dumbly, her mind whiting out at the abrupt sensual contact. He growled softly and bit her low on the neck just where it met her shoulder. She hissed a breath in between her teeth, shuddering from head to toe and tilted her head to give him better access. He trailed a hand along her side slowly to rest on her stomach, fingers lightly stroking her through the fabric of her dress. A sharp tingle shot through her and she felt as though he were touching her in a much more fundamentally sensitive area.
Bringing his other hand up, he circled long gloved fingers around her neck, turning her face just enough to brush his lips teasingly against hers before licking at her lower lip and slipping his tongue inside. His hot possessive kisses had her trembling and needy in a ridiculously small amount of time. She a made of appreciation high in her throat and Jareth gave a dark, satisfied smile at her reaction.
Sarah felt like she was about to go right out of her head, wanting nothing more than to slip away with him and finish what he had started. She discreetly pushed back against him, shifting her hips slightly so that she pressed firmly against his erection. He stiffened, a low moan escaping thing lips as his hands squeezed her tightly to keep her from moving again. She made a small sound of protest, aching softly.
"Sarah," The way he said her name, drawing out each syllable like a caress made her shiver. "You naughty thing." He whispered in her ear. "Tell me again how I have no power over you."
"You have no power over me." She whispered back, smiling softly, sweetly at his disappointed pout. "You love me. You would never harm me, and I shall never fear you." She flipped her hair over her shoulder, leaning back to see him better. "In fact, if anything I have power over you." She said cheekily, raising an expectant brow at him.
"Sounds like sour grapes to me precious. Losing is most unbecoming on you." He said severely in snooty fashion. He leaned back against the trunk of the tree, folding his arms across his chest and looking away from her. She smiled at his aloof expression; he was sulking like she had spoiled everything by stating the obvious. Her heart tightened, coiling delightfully in her chest and glowing warm with strange heat.
She bent and took his face in both hands, turning him to look at her and intending to give him a brief kiss, but it turned into something else entirely. He was like a drug and the moment she tasted him, honey and peaches bursting on her tongue, she couldn't stop, she couldn't breathe, she couldn't think. She felt as though she was melting and the room got a bit fuzzy. With a soft groan he uncurled his arms to twine around her, drawing her closer to him.
He pulled back, tilting her head up to get a look at her face, eyes searching. Desperately seeking physical evidence for what he must already know was there in her heart. "Sarah." he said faintly leaning forward, close enough to share the air in her lungs. She brought her hand up to trail it along his jaw in an affectionate gesture, brushing her thumb along his bottom lip.
"I love you." she said, her voice strangled by that unnatural heat radiating from her chest. "I always have." His face was luminous and she couldn't help but smile back in response to that brilliant look. Like she had just granted him his deepest wish.
"Again." He said thickly, joyously. "Say it again."
"I love you." She whispered faintly, her voice soft and welcoming. He leaned impossibly close, eyes wide and utterly black and she felt her heart skip a beat or two and nothing else was said for he took complete possession of her mouth. He was kissing her like she was his and he would never allow her to belong to another. She found his reaction unbearably exciting and kissed him back with equal fervor, twisting her fists into his wild mane of hair and hanging on for dear life.
When he finally pulled back they were both breathing heavily. He looked utterly and unreservedly satisfied, pleased with her reaction to him. His skin was shimmering with power and his expression was one of complete and total triumph. Sarah pursed her lips in response to that face; she hadn't meant to give in so easily.
"Just so you know, officially, I won." She whispered behind a hand conspiratorially, wearing her own contented expression of conquest and victory. And looking at him sitting there, like something impossibly delicious, like all of her fantasies come to life and like he was hers, she had won.
"I can't see how that matters, you're mine now." He said shamelessly, smiling like something that couldn't be tamed.
"Yes but I always win." She leaned back against his chest, making herself comfortable. "It comes so easily to me I never worry about it." He said nothing at her declaration, but lifted a section of her hair, letting the silky strands fall through his fingers.
"I would even go so far as to call it a gift." She glanced up and behind at his face which remained impassive. "An endless open world where nothing can get me down because in the end, I always win. Don't I my devious husband?"
"I suppose there are some who would call such pure narcissism a gift." He said at last, neatly sidestepping her question. He kissed her delicately on the temple to take the sting out of his words.
Sarah laughed feeling wistful and nostalgic and loving him. "Dance with me Jareth."
Before Jareth had the chance to retort, a hush fell in the branches overhead and the tree stopped its incessant swaying. Sarah looked up into the treetop where every goblin had gone motionless then to Jareth who was scowling over her head. Following the direction of his narrowed eyes, she saw King Oberon approaching with a matching glower of his own and shining much brighter than he had been earlier.
Queen Titania was not far behind him, looking regal and calm as her black dress, lined with tiny red and green feathers moved in an unseen current around her lithe body. Catching Sarah's eye, she gave her a small delicate smile and Sarah inclined her head gracefully in return.
"Wonderful." Jareth said sharply, annoyed. "That pompous fool always did have a knack for ruining a perfectly good evening."
AN: Well, I decided to continue, I mean obviously right? I will try to update every Friday, but no promises. Life always gets hectic during the fall and winter. Also, apologies for any bad grammar or missed words. I don't have a beta and I just get so damn excited when I finish a chapter that the need to share it right away overrules my sense of shame at improper writing.
Thank you, thank you, and thank you to everyone who gave a favorite, a like, and followed. An especially big thank you to everyone who takes the extra time to review, my heart melts a little every time I read one.
Speaking of which….
Honoria Granger- Yep just like that! BAM! Bet you didn't see that one coming. If you thought that was a blistering chapter, just wait a couple more chapters. We're talking charred.
Aquelana- Thank you! Sarah's history on how she met the other sidhe will come out eventually.
Emmieluv101- Yes, oh yes he is. Thank you I am trying to keep them in character but they both seem to continually want to stop and jump each others bones, plot be damned. It's super distracting.
Tansy Lofts- I loved writing that part, I squeed myself and probably re-read that line more often than I should have. Oh, and your welcome!
Genevieve Kirby- Ahhhh, thank you!
Kellyn1604- Thank you, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and it meets your standards!
Canela- Oh good god, me too. ME. TOO.
Tenjp- Thank you and here you are!
Arrandiy- Thank you for noticing and also knowing yourself and then mentioning it to me in your review! I have yelled at a fair amount of computer screens while reading fiction, like, uh, come on! Nooooo! I will try to stay true. True-ish,
Demoninmyview- Thank you for the love, I will I promise.
To Guest- Thank you to all the guests I can't call out individually because you didn't leave your name. You're all so quick and dirty and I'm not ashamed to admit that I like it. Keep em coming.