"No no no! That doesn't go over there; it goes over there!" Pyrael roared at the goblins.
"We're so sorry Miss Pyrael! Please do not kick us out the window again!" the goblins wailed as they picked up the giant ice sculpture and started to move it to where Pyrael had indicated it should go. Pyrael heaved a giant sigh of annoyance and rubbed the bridge of her nose.
"You know, I'm actually glad that I let you and Amael talk me into you guys taking care of all of the wedding plans," Sarah said as she walked calmly into the grand hall of Jareth's castle.
No, our castle, Sarah mentally reminded herself.
"That's what sisters are for, Sarah!" Pyrael said with a bright smile. "Taking care of stuff like this. I helped all of my other sisters plan their weddings." Pyrael gave Sarah a skeptical look. "Are you sure that you really want to go through with this? And I mean, really, REALLY sure? There's still a few more hours left until the wedding!"
"Yes, I'm sure," Sarah said with a quiet laugh. "Have you seen Mizumi?"
"Not since your final fitting this morning," Pyrael said with a slight frown. "She knows that if she tries to leave, Jareth is only going to throw her into an oubliette, too."
"I don't think that that's going to try and stop her," Sarah said with a roll of her eyes as she sat down on one of the decorated chairs that would be used in the morning for the wedding reception.
"Speaking of dress fittings, this is the third one that you've had this week, and they've had to let the dress out on all three occasions. Is there something that you're not telling me?"
Sarah gave her soon-to-be sister-in-law a coy smile. "Maybe," she said evenly, and wouldn't answer any more questions on the matter, no matter how much Pyrael bothered her.
"Ah, there you are, Sarah!" Jareth said as he swept into the room. Mizumi trailed after him. Unlike a few months earlier, the once majestic queen was now dressed in a simple dress, apron, and kerchief that covered her blue hair. "Mizumi? Could you help Pyrael set up the reception hall? I'd like to have a word with my fiancee."
"Yes, of course, your majesty," Mizumi said softly. She sunk into a curtsy and didn't stand up again until Jareth and Sarah had left the hall.
"How are you?" Jareth asked softly once they were alone. He reached up and tucked a strand of hair that had escaped Sarah's braid behind her ear, and his fingers lingered against her cheek.
"I'm fine," Sarah said with some annoyance.
"I hope that you've taken what Sielel said to heart and you're-"
"I'm fine!" Sarah said with more venom in her voice.
"I know, but I've already lost you twice already," Jareth whispered. "It would kill me if I lost you again. For good this time."
"Jareth, women have been-" Sarah quickly cut off when she saw Moulin approaching them from the other end of the hall.
"Sarah, Myla wants to do another fitting," Moulin said.
"Another one?" Jareth said with a frown. "If they can't get-" He broke off when Sarah put a light hand on his elbow.
"No, it's okay, Jareth. I had another fitting this morning. I'm getting really fat."
"You aren't fat!" Jareth quickly exclaimed. "You're-" Sarah cut him off with a kiss.
"Then I suppose that it's a good thing that we're getting married in the morning, isn't it?" she whispered against his lips. Jareth kissed her again before they both pulled away.
"Speaking of things that must be done, I do believe that I've forgotten Helviir's dinner."
"You really need to find somebody who isn't afraid of him to do that for you," Sarah said with a frown.
"After he maimed the third goblin, I gave up," Jareth said with a deep-set scowl.
"Well, I don't want him to hurt you, too!" Sarah protested.
"Precious, I am not going anywhere." Jareth leaned in and kissed Sarah again.
"Good, because I love you too much to let you leave me."
"After I waited for ten years for you to give me a loophole to come see you in the Aboveworld, you'd better believe that I'd never leave you!"
Thank you to all who read my humble story; your reviews and favorites really meant a lot to me. Much love and until next time, Artemis.