Chapter 6. Opening night

Sarah had watched as other girls in the cast retched and moaned after arriving at the theater before the performance. She didn't react as they did, she'd gone dead calm. Even knowing that Karen and her father were going to be seated in VIP seats didn't seem to break the calm that had formed about her. She looked at her own reflection in the mirror. The costumes created by the team of Dido and Magda were magnificent. The golden breast plated bra that her long flowing skirts were attached to was a work of art. Even the long dipping of the gown opening down her back and coming to a graceful fold just above her bottom was masterful. She attached the nearly invisible cloak to her shoulder straps and slipped her fingers in the rings that made the attachment appear more like butterfly styled wings when she moved her hands. Linda stood behind her, their hair identically styled, and their gowns reflective of each other Linda's tones darker and deeper, Sarah lighter and airy. One being on the mortal plane, the other on the Fae plane.

"Break a leg, baby" Linda whispered as their eyes met in the mirror.

"Give 'em hell, Mom." Sarah replied with the same calm her mother demonstrated. Both actresses turned as one and strolled toward the dressing room door and the back stage area to await their stage calls. Had anyone been watching, they would have thought they were seeing a shadow figure of the mother in the daughter.

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A handsome, very important couple sat in the boxed seats of the balcony, the VIP section of the theater with the best view of the stage and all the action. The most important patrons of the theater were seated in this section along with the most important press people.

The woman held the hand of the man softly and spoke to him with slivery whispers as they awaited the curtain's rise. The man seemed distracted by something that seemed to be gnawing at him. There was something here, someone. He frowned, wondering who it was that dared interfere in his evening out. He looked at the woman chattering beside him, giving her a faint smile, but not really hearing her.

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Puck looked into the house seats from his hidden place, racing to where the man was already applying the donkey mask he cried out joyously. "They are all here, just as you said they would be." He leaned on the table smirking into the mirror comically. "High King and Queen and the entire court, just as you predicted."

"Of course," Jareth nodded, "I knew they could not resist accompanying the King." He sighed, "I have but the one regret; that I must cause Kevin to falter. He worked hard and deserves to be praised for his work; I don't like making him look a fool."

"So fond of him are you? You could just put him to sleep," suggested the imp languishing on the makeup table in the empty gallery. "He's susceptible to you, a wave of your hand and he's in dream land, and you may seamlessly take his place upon the stage and woo your honeysuckle."

The Goblin King smiled, wickedly; "A good suggestion, imp."

"Of course, I learned from the best, the High King," boasted the Hobgoblin with a wink.

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Hayden watched the lovers awaiting his cue. He saw Sarah across the stage also awaiting the cue. He blew her a kiss from across the stage, she turned her nose up and he began to seethe. The same anger he'd had on the day of the dress rehearsal gripped him like a vise. He was unaware of the pair standing behind him, a wildly smiling Puck and a Bewitched Bottom whose hand held a crystal orb glowing strangely. He entered the stage upon his cue, growling at the woman who reacted to him with the same intensity as she'd displayed before.

Puck, who had preceded the actor playing Oberon onto the stage kept the little crystal secreted in his garments. Throughout the play he would reach for it from time to time. When he was awaiting his cue to return to the stage, the understudy placed a few drops of the vial to the flower Puck now held. They exchanged a secret knowing smile, as long as neither of them spoke the words; the spell would not alert the High King who was sitting in the audience, enjoying the performance. Cast by a mortal, the words of the spell would still work, but it would be a fainter spell, one Oberon would not identify quickly. When Hayden spoke the words to welcome Puck back to the stage, it was with a wickedly playful grin that Puck did return. Some of his glamour had slipped in his glee.

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The man seated in the balcony started, he sat forward, "What mischief is this?" he whispered.

"My husband?" the woman asked quietly. "Is something amiss?" She looked to the stage, whispering one word upon turning her eyes that direction. "Puck!" She gripped her husband's arm. "That's Puck! What is he doing here?"

"Aye, it's Puck and he's not alone, sniff the air;" Directed the High King.

"Perhaps it is nothing." She prayed urgently.

Oberon looked at her with doubt. "I sent him here to keep watch, not join the cast. Something is afoot."

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Hayden moved forward to where Sarah lay upon her flowery bed, covered in petals so none could see the new costume she was in. Her eyes were closed portraying sleep; he bent forward to squeeze the silk flower that dripped the hidden essence from its heart. "What thou seest when thou dost wake, Do it for thy true-love take, Love and languish for his sake:
Be it ounce, or cat, or bear, Pard, or boar with bristled hair, In thy eye that shall appear When thou wakest, it is thy dear: Wake when some vile thing is near.
" The girl stirred but her eyes remained shut. The staging where Sarah's bed did lie dimmed but didn't go dark.

Kevin and the group portraying the craftsmen of the village gathered on the stage, the audience responding positively to the mirth and humor. Kevin moved off stage to done his mask, a hand pulling him by his neck to a darkened corner. The command was given and the actor closed his eyes peacefully, and slept the enchanted sleep.

Jareth moved to the wing awaiting Kevin's cue. Entering the stage he heard gasps of surprise at his amazing mask. Skillfully he played the role, he sang as he'd practiced, not once using Fae Skill. Sarah entered the stage with the gasps of awe at her scanty and artistic costume. Her breasts where held raised in the open cut fingers of metal work, long delicate fingers of golden metal cradled her breast showing them and yet hiding them at the same time. Forefingers and middle fingers connecting in the valley between the rounded mounds causing them to look even more voluptuous as the metal hands were cupped about her. A thin curtain of shimmering golden metal mail hid her most private parts and yet hinted at the treasure behind the curtain. Over her shoulders was a thin shimmery veiling that represented a royal robe. "What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?" her voice was breathy and dreamy as she approached with an outstretched hand, mimicking a waking stretch. She looked toward the Bewitched Bottom and found herself drawn to the spicy scent; it was the Understudy she told herself. She found her heart leaping in joy that she was able to once more play out this scene with the man whose own face she'd never seen. Her eyes shone, as she approached him. He held her hand when it was offered, and they played out the scene.

Papa, in the opposite wing looked about, "Where's Turner?" he asked the stage assistant.

"I don't know; you want me to look for him?"

Papa sighed, "No, this is fine…"

The Fairy court and the Queen with her bewitched beloved entered the stage, with the actor playing Oberon not far behind. Sarah at last drew the understudy toward the petals of the flower bed. "Come, sit thee down upon this flowery bed, While I thy amiable cheeks do coy,
And stick musk-roses in thy sleek smooth head, And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.
" The girl invited in a voice full of anticipation and need.

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The woman sitting at the side of the High King lowered her eyes discreetly, embarrassed by a memory. A hand upon hers gave comfort and support. The same support was given each time they witnessed the play being acted out. She looked up at her husband and nodded her thanks.

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The thick feathery mattress of the bed accepted the pair, holding them like a hand embracing lovers. The Bewitched Bottom slid within the welcoming legs of the girl his hand moved down the side unseen by the audience; gently it tugged her metal curtain aside, exposing her soft clean shaven Venus mound to his engorged phallus. He spoke his speech as he moved secretively into her. "But, I pray you; let none of your people stir me: I have an exposition of sleep come upon me." His voice begged in earnest, speaking the line slowly to give himself the time needed to break down her last defense, her maidens' head. The barrier dissolved as if it had never been there the moment he pressed it. He marveled at how quickly her body accepted his authority over it as she opened like a rosebud to him.

Sarah arched feeling as if the sun and moon had just met within her. "Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms. Fairies, begone, and be all ways away." She moved to encircle and coil not just her arms but her leg over him, pulling him deeper into her. She sighed as the stage cleared and they were alone in the slivery beams that were to imitate moonbeams. "So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle Gently entwist; the female ivy so Enrings the barky fingers of the elm. O, how I love thee! how I dote on thee!" She moaned in the moment of passion as he brought her to her first orgasm and emptied his milky seed deep into her. Sliding his hand he placed a small wad of something soft into the g-string as he pulled out. Her face stroked his and again she mimicked sleep with a serene calm.

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The man in the balcony stood up, his hand grabbing at time and halting it. "What in the name of God do you think you're doing?" He demanded. "Did you think I would not know you, simply because at this distance I can not get a whiff of you? Think again, Goblin King. A father will always know his son!"

The woman sitting with the High King stood up. "Goblin King? But if he is here who is keeping the Kingdom?"

"A good question," the man holding time in his clutched hand roared. "What say you boy?"

Jareth leaned up upon on elbow and smiled toward the balcony seats. "Sire, you are interrupting our play."

"Your Play!" Roared the King with anger; "Puck get out here and explain yourself. Did I or did I not send you here to keep peace?"

"Peace has been kept," the imp who was in the wings moved out onto the stage, looked at the stupefied audience and then at the High King. "See how peaceful all up here are? You're not enjoying this?" His smile faded as he saw the High King was in no mood. "You never said I could not help him wreak revenge." He declared in his own defense.

"Revenge?" The High Queen looked at the girl who was portraying her. "Is that…the child who bested the Goblins and their King?"

"Sarah Williams." Jareth said looking down at the sweet smile on a satisfied face. "Yes, this is she."

Tatiana looked at Oberon, "Oh no, you must do something… reverse time! Stop him before he…"

"Too late," Jareth gripped the girl's thigh that was draped over his hip. He wore a triumphant smirk. "The deed is done."

Franticly the High Queen reached for her husband's arm. "Reverse time I say, reverse it!"

"Yes," agreed the High King and closed his eyes to begin the process.

"It will do you no good," warned the victorious conquering Goblin. "I've put protections in place. Should you try to interfere by reversing time, a paradox time loop will be created, and will stay in place until said time that you accept the inevitable. Sarah Williams has been chastised and penalized by her King. Her punishment stands." He patted the thigh under his fingers.

Oberon glared at the King on the flowery bed. "You claim to be her king."

"I am her King." Jareth tightened his fingers to grip her flesh. "Accept it, Sire. This one belongs to me and mine."

"You did this for revenge?" Questioned the High King suspicious of what the younger King was up to.

"It was my right, to git my revenge." He said with a wicked gleam.

Oberon heard the words but didn't understand; it was the High Queen who did. "You are a monster!"

"Yes, madam," Jareth nodded coldly. "I am."

Oberon looked at his wife, questioningly. "His git." She whispered. "His git."

The High King shook his head, and accepted it was out of his hands. "It's on your head now, Goblin King. You've evoked a long dormant law… it's upon you what happens next." He took his seat, waited until Tatiana had again taken hers, and then released time.

Sarah heard the words spoken by Hayden, felt the strange feathery plant touch her face and felt like she was awaking from a dream. She exited the stage on Hayden's arm the bed darkened and was rolled away by unseen stage hands with the Bewitched Bottom. Kevin awoke in the wing, and prepared to come back on stage, unaware of anything having taken place.

Jareth removed the donkey's head, watching the plucked rose being dressed by Dido and Magda for her last scenes. Part of him would have liked to have stayed and see the rest of the play. However a summons was being made and he could not refuse it. The wished away always came first. In the entire time he'd been masquerading as the understudy there had not been one summons. He considered that providence, for he was forsworn to answer what ever summons came as quickly as he could. He moved into the dressing room used by the mother and daughter placing a bouquet of pansies on Sarah's table with a small gift box in its very heart. He added a note, and kissed the card before depositing it. He waved a hand and was transformed from the understudy to the Goblin King. He looked about the room and laughed, as he vanished to answer the summons.

The curtain came down; it went up again a dozen times before it came down and stayed down. Sarah looked about the stage, expecting to see the man in the donkey's head. She had so much she needed to say to him. He didn't appear, and she tried not to let it disturb her. Linda took her hand and led her back to the dressing room. "I was wrong," Linda said gazing on her daughter. "You'd more than fit into the leather boustie." Sarah giggled nervously her stage bravado now vanishing and modesty was demanding she cover herself.

Upon opening the door, both saw the bouquet of pansies of deepest purple. Sarah walked over and picked up the note and little box.

'Dearest,

I fear we are to be parted for some time. I've had a summons from home, and must answer it.

I shall return when I can, but I know not how long that shall be. Until then.

Take ye this in remembrance of me.'

The note was signed simply J.

Sarah's fingers shook as she opened the little box. In the center of the red velvet bed sat a perfect circlet, a silver ring in the image of little pansies in a perfect circle with tiny little decretive images that she didn't notice. She lifted it from the red bed, sliding it down her finger until it came to a rest. It felt so right, so appropriate and fitting. She raised her hand and looked at the delicate work, wondering how in the world he hand known what her ring size was.

Linda looked at the ring, "How very thoughtful, what a nice way to remember your first opening night." She commented, sniffing the air. "Do you smell that… that spicy smell?"

Sarah nodded silently. "Mmmhummm." She murmured softly.

Hayden stood outside their dressing room door, waiting, and thinking of the fun he had planned for Sarah when the reviews came in. As the door opened, he moved forward. "I thought we'd go and wait for the reviews together. After all, we are King and Queen."

"Hands off Hayden," a voice behind him sounded. "Sarah is going home with her mother, and I'm taking them."

"But the opening night reviews!" Protested the younger actor.

"Will wait until morning," Jeremy stated, having had too many nights of awaiting reviews. He nodded as Linda came out into the back stage area. "Good night Hayden." He said ushering the mother and daughter away.