A/N: So. I know it has been far too long and a lot of you may have forgotten about this story, but I'm back. To sum up why it's been pretty much a year: I got a job, moved in with my aunt, my depression worsened, and then I moved half way across the country to be on my own! But I'm going to try my best to not let that happen again, and if you stick around at the end of this chapter I'll probably apologize a little more.
Warning: The first bit of the chapter will contain adult moments, viewer discretion is advised.
Chapter Four: Bones
Sarah awoke to the tickle of Jareth's graceful fingers skimming down her bare back. A light shiver shook her, and she smirked gently to herself, keeping her eyes closed. Just seeing what he would do.
He pet her back once more before his hand slipped beneath the soft blankets to massage her outer thigh, teasing. Testing. Tempting.
Though Sarah felt her face heat, she did not give any sign she had awoken.
At least, not until his fingers suddenly delved between her thighs, pointer pressing sharply against her clit.
She gasped, beginning to rise, but a firm hand held her still. His breath warmed her ear as he whispered into it.
"I knew you were awake. May I continue?"
She let out a shaky breath, cheeks flushed heavily. That bastard.
She nodded.
He chuckled quietly, beginning to gently roll his pointer finger in a figure eight before exchanging it for his thumb. Index and middle finger slowly pressed inside of his queen, hooking upwards to find the spot that made her back come up off the bed in sudden, unexpected pleasure.
And there he held them.
Sarah, unable to stop herself from moving, began to automatically roll her hips into his fingers, fucking herself against his hand. It wasn't long until, with a gentle circular motion on her clit from his thumb, she came undone in his arms.
Once her breathing began to calm, he gently, almost lazily, adjusted her so she faced him, still on her side. She wrapped her leg around his hip, pulling him in, and used her own hand to guide his erect member into her body.
She let out a delighted breath, resting her forehead against his as he began to roll his hips into hers, nice and slow.
Too slow, really. But she had a solution for that.
She breathed his name into his ear and his motions stuttered momentarily, causing her lips to curl into a dangerous little smirk. She did it again, and took advantage of the momentary distraction to roll them so that she was sitting atop him, staring down.
He grabbed her hips to steady himself, wide and mismatched eyes staring up at the nude, enchanting woman turned fae.
And then she began to move.
The new angle pressed against all new places within her, causing her to moan aloud, her head tipping back. Her hand braced themselves against his upper thighs as she worked, rising and falling at a much faster, much stronger pace now.
His own hips met her thrust for thrust, his eyes flicking from where they joined, to her breasts, to her face upturned in rapture.
Already, both were growing close.
Soon they came undone within each other's arms, Sarah gasping sharply and crying his name as her nails, sharper than before, bit into his thighs and sending him into his own orgasm.
After, they laid together in the guest bed of Galadriel's castle, staring out the window as the sun began to peer it's head over the city below, casting the gentlest of glows.
It wasn't long after the sun rose that the shouting began.
Sarah rose quickly, leaving the warmth of Jareth's side and throwing a silken robe over her bare body before approaching the window. Below, in the city, the screams of terror and sadness echoed.
Something most foul had touched the city.
Jareth joined her quickly, pulling her against his side as he looked for any sign of danger. But they could only see the architecture from their room, high up in the castle. They would need to approach to learn what had happened.
A knock on their door startled both Goblin monarchs from their thoughts.
Sarah approached first, forgetting Jareth's nudity, and parted the door several inches.
"Your Majesties," began a young woman, freckles dotting her face, "Queen Galadriel requests your presence in her chambers immediately."
"Alright, let us get dressed and then you can take us there." Sarah said, and the girl nodded.
She turned to Jareth then, worry forming gentle lines in her features.
"What is going on, Jareth?"
He shook his head, already dressed, and handed her a gown.
"I'm afraid I don't know, precious."
And though he tried to hide it, Sarah saw the hard glint of fear in his eyes. Something bad was happening, and it would be foolish to not connect it to the thing that wore her mask.
Soon they were following the nervous girl elf down hall after hall, seeming to go the same route as they had the day before.
But this time they stopped before reaching the tower, and the servant girl let them into a different, larger bedroom.
The queen's bedroom.
Sarah tried not to let her eyes wander, but the room was simple and elegant, exactly how she imagined the sleeping place of Galadriel would be, with no clutter. And everything was a pristine, brilliant white.
Galadriel herself stood out on her balcony, the doors of it open so that Sarah and Jareth might approach immediately; which they did.
"Today you will leave. You must reach the High King and Queen, and you must do so quickly. The darkness... has already touched my city. It will only grow worse now. I am gathering an army, you would be wise to do the same."
Jareth's hand tightened where he had placed it on Sarah's shoulder, and when she looked into his face it was ashen. Grim.
Galadriel continued.
"You may go into town before you leave. Examine the extent of the damage for me while you gather whatever supplies you will need for the next stage of your journey. It's three days to the High Court, and you will need armor and weaponry as well as standard supplies. The roads are already crawling with evil, and it's hardly been a day."
The elf queen turned then, facing Sarah.
"He will want you. You hold the last piece of his helm. You must do everything within your power to keep it from him."
Her gaze then moved to Jareth.
"I have sent word to your father. You may borrow one of my doves to send a message to your own kingdom. But then you must go."
They did so, sending word that all who were able were to form an army. Half would stay and defend the Labyrinth, the rest would travel to the High Kingdom, joining the High King's own army.
Once their message had been sent, they gathered themselves and left the castle, riding into town to gather food, weaponry, and armor.
When they reached the center of the town, Sarah frowned.
"Jareth..." She whispered, hardly audible.
He nodded, remaining silent.
The sky here was dim, as though clouded by smoke. A tense silence sat over the entire city, not even the birds chirped. Sarah looked around, curious, but there was no one in sight.
The streets, though, were lined with bodies. Each one covered in a fine white sheet.
"The elderly." Whispered Jareth. "And some of the children, likely. His plagues hit the weak first, and he takes their bones to finish the rest with."
Sarah ignored the chill that crawled up her spine, pressing herself into Jareth's side as they walked into the blacksmith's shop, ignoring the sign telling them it was closed.
A young, dark skinned elf sat behind the counter inside, his head in his hands.
"We are closed, please leave." He said, voice hollow.
"My apologies, Queen Galadriel sent us." Jareth said, voice much more soothing than Sarah had expected of him. But then she glanced past the open doorway to his left.
And she saw the female elf, clutching a doll to her chest, face pained. And she understood.
"We just need enough for the road." She said, stepping forwards.
The elf paused, seeming to gather himself, before looking up at her. She saw the recognition in his eyes, as dim as they shone, and he nodded.
"You can. Take whatever you need." He said, still so quiet.
Sarah paused, turning to face Jareth. He knew what that look meant, handing her a small bag of coins.
She placed it in front of the mourning elf.
"I'm so sorry." She whispered.
They gathered some weapons and pieces of armor, and then they left. The baker gave them rations for the journey, refusing to meet their eyes. An older woman was being covered in a sheet in front of the shop.
Finally, they left the city, mood so much more somber than it had been only hours before. Sarah wore an ill fitting chest plate made from elvish metal, as she was unable to summon her own armor as of yet. She was armed with a sword she did not yet know how to use.
But it was better than nothing at all.
They rode away from the kingdom of the elves, and as Sarah looked back, the thought began to occur to her. Began to eat at her.
This... all the tragedy. It was because of her. Because she came back.
"Sarah." Jareth murmured, turning her head away from the city.
Forcing her to meet his gaze even as her eyes filled with tears.
"Do not let yourself hurt more than you must, Sarah. This was not your doing."
He held her then, and she cried.
But soon enough, even that had to end, and they rested there in silence as their carriage was driven quickly away from a kingdom rich with new tragedy and old.
"Galadriel likely told my father all that I told her. When we arrive at his door, we will tell him of this. If it hasn't already touched them. Likely it started with the elves. It usually does."
Sarah lifted her face, a thought striking her suddenly.
"Bliss! And Clara!"
"Hush, precious, they will be safe. The castle is the safest place for them at current."
Sarah worried her bottom lip for a moment, leaning against her husband's side.
"Let's hope that means something." She whispered.
And though he said nothing, she knew Jareth was thinking the same thing.
Meanwhile, in the Northern tower of Galadriel's castle, the king's skin paled in his death-like-sleep, his breath growing shallow.
The poison in his veins began, oh so slowly, to spread once more.
Okay so I'm going to try to get another chapter up as soon as humanly possible, that's just where this one needed to end. Thank you so much for reading and again many apologies for the wait.