Chapter 5

Healing

It didn't take long for Jareth to reach his own bedchamber, which was a good thing since he needed a little bit of time on his own. Sarah was back in the labyrinth and it wasn't even by his hand. The wolf had brought her, now Sarah had a new enemy.

Jareth knew the wolf decently well at this point, having after all spent five years trying to control the evil beast. Jareth however felt like all his work towards controlling the creature had been pointless.

If he thought kidnapping an innocent girl and turning her into a slave for Jareth's amusement was the right way to please him the wolf was surely not on the right track.

There had been a time when Jareth would have loved to have this type of power over the girl, he had dreamed of it from the very moment he laid eyes on her. She was the very definition of what he wanted in a woman, and she was the challenge he had always wanted. He had sought to rule over her, and he had wanted her world to revolve around him.

But ever since she had beat him, ever since she had won her brother back from him Jareth just hadn't been the same man. And in the five years after their battle he had tried to change, tried to make himself into the man that Sarah might actually want to….

Jareth sighed and sat at the window, he looked out over his kingdom and was happy to see that things were no longer as dark as they used to be. Though the goblin city was still a little worse for ware Jareth had started to take care of the furthest parts of his labyrinth. He was trying to rebuild what hundreds of years of neglect had done to the outer walls.

This one little girl had come and completely turned his world upside down, funny; he had done the same for her. Sadly she didn't see him the way he had intended. He had all the power in the world, all the magic she could ever want, but as long as a he was a cruel, heartless tyrant she would never want to be with him.

As difficult as it had been, and you could ask anyone, it had been very difficult, Jareth had managed to turn things around. He was still required by his status to take children from those who asked, and they all still had the thirteen hour limit to run the Labyrinth. But for some reason his heart just wasn't in it as much as it used to be.

Jareth had been spoiled, he had been a spoiled rotten little prince, but then again he was the Goblin King. Goblins were not lovable little creatures. Perhaps that was it then, Jareth wasn't meant to be loved. He was meant to do his job, which he had been failing at for five years now… perhaps even longer then that. He had at some point become so bored with his job that he had wanted something new to happen.

Along came Sarah. A mere girl, who with her gifts could rival that of a king who had been around since the beginning. Jareth sighed; he was far to old for her, far to old for his own good. But he was drawn to her, even now, with her age having raised five years she still seemed innocent, naïve, but clever, tricky, and she was not one to be ruled over.

But how he wanted to be part of her world, how he wanted her to look at him with desire, love, passion…. fear.

No not fear, that wasn't who he was anymore, he couldn't let that line of thinking ever enter his mind. If he was to ever truly turn over a new leaf he had to stop trying to control others, to manipulate them, he had to stop trying to make everyone fear him.

He had to be everything she had ever wanted, and he would. If she decided to stay Jareth would do everything with in his power prove to her that not only could he be the man she wanted but also she could have anything he could give.

He could make her happy, he could take away her troubles, and he could….

"Sir…" came a deep growl from a goblin that was too big and clumsy for his own good.

"What is it?" He asked looking at the goblin in an agitated way.

"She is awake… she wishes to speak with you."

"Tell her she needs to rest."

"We have tried… she is most difficult to convince."

Jareth sighed and rubbed his eyes with his gloved hand, "Very well, tell her if she wishes to speak with me I will grant her request but first she needs to take a hot bath, eat something, and get dressed. Lord knows if I see her in that damn slave outfit she won't make it out of her chamber."

The goblin looked at him in a funny way and Jareth rolled his eyes, "Oh go on already."

The goblin saluted and turned on his heel in a quick sprint towards the girl's room. Jareth stared after the creature and tried not to picture the girl in that damn outfit.

OOOOOOOOOOO

"His majesty will grant you your request but he asks that first your bath, eat and put on clothes because Lord knows if he sees you in that damn slave outfit you won't be leaving your bed chamber anytime soon."

Sarah's jaw dropped and she pulled her sheets up around herself, "Did he really say that?"

"Word for word… I never forget what my majesty says." The dimwitted goblin said with a smile, Sarah had a feeling the creature had no clue what the last sentence had meant.

Sarah wondered if it was meant to be taken the way it sounded or if Jareth was referring to the fact that her slave clothes were nothing but brown leather rags over her private areas and it was to indecent for her to leave her bedroom.

She didn't want to know at this point, she nodded to the goblin, that at her agreement turned and walked out. Sarah removed the sheets and stared at her body in shock. She knew she had been hurting but she didn't know it had been this bad.

Bruises everywhere, small cuts and scraps, some rough places where skin had been rubbed off via her falling or being dragged across the stone floors. She couldn't even imagine what her face looked like.

She stood up and found it was surprisingly hard to stand, her legs shook and she felt weak. Suddenly she realized that since the wolf took her she hadn't eaten. How long had the wolf had her anyway? A few days? A week?

She managed to make it to the bathroom and found the most beautiful in ground bath. Surrounded by stone and marble she felt like a princess, an ugly princess, but a princess nonetheless.

She looked around for a way to fill the tub and noticed to small crystal balls on the far end. She gingerly made her way around to the side of the bath and looked at the crystals, she tried to turn them, but they didn't move. She tapped them, flicked them and then yelled at them but nothing happened.

"Always with the temper." Came a soft voice from the doorway. Sarah turned in surprise and saw Hoggle standing there.

"HOGGLE!" Sarah said standing and hobbling over to him, "Oh I am so glad to see you are alive! Oh my God, I forgot to tell Jareth about you when I woke up earlier, how did you escape the wolf?" Sarah asked.

Hoggle smiled, "Wa? That over grown hair ball, he was nothing, strike'd him down with a sword of gold I did." Hoggle said with a smirk.

"Uh huh. Jareth came and got you then?"

"Sent his guards." Hoggle said with a embarrassed smile.

"Do you know how to turn on the water? I need to bath badly."

Hoggle walked slowly around the edge of the bath and came to kneel next to the crystals, "Leave it to Jareth to use crystals."

Sarah giggled a little and loved how good it felt to laugh, even if it was a small one.

Hoggle gently ran his finger in a circle over the top of the crystel and a clockwise manor and water started to magically fill the bath, "That is amazing." Sarah said.

"How hot do you need?" Hoggle asked.

"Just hot enough to relax my sore muscles." Sarah said.

Hoggle nodded and adjusted the two crystals accordingly and then walked over to what looked to be an alcove with a mirror.

"You like bubbles?" he asked in his anxious tone he often got.

"Of course." Sarah said.

Hoggle grabbed a small vile of pink liquid and walked back over to the tub, he poured half of the contents into the tub and then went and placed it back where he found it.

"You sure know your way around this place considering you are just the gate keeper." Sarah said.

"I was." Hoggle said.

"You mean you're not the gatekeeper anymore?" Sarah asked.

"Not right now no… Jareth wants me in the castle… not that I know why for sure. Since you returned he had been keeping me close."

Sarah wondered on that for a moment and then noticed the bath was filled with water and bubbles and she couldn't wait t submerge.

"Get washed up, I will bring you some food." Hoggle said making to leave the bathroom.

"Thank you Hoggle… for everything." The dwarf nodded bashfully and walked out of the room. Sarah removed what little shreds of cloth had managed to stay on her body and sunk down into the hot steamy water. The bath was deep and she marveled in the heat as it stung her wounds in the best way possible.

She floated their, in the water, the bubbles gently swirling on top of the water and filling her nose with the wonderful scents that rose in misty vapors.

"Sarah… here." The girl sat up slowly and saw the back of the small dwarf, he was averting his eyes.

"Hoggle I am covered you can look." Sarah said blushing despite her invite.

The dwarf nervously turned and held in his hand a golden tray of hot tea and fruit. Sarah's mouth watered and she moved to the edge of the bath making sure to keep the bubbles around her. Hoggle set the tray down and then backed up with his hands behind his back.

"Hoggle, you are acting so strange." Sarah said taking a piece fruit and eating it, the juices squirted into her mouth and her cheeks grew pink from the sudden burst of sweet and sour flavor tickling her taste buds.

"He is acting appropriately so don't confuse him." Came a cool voice from the door. Sarah's head turned quickly to see Jareth standing there.

"Hoggle… please take those disgusting rags away, I never want to see them again." Jareth said pointing at the slave cloths that the wolf had placed Sarah in.

Sarah wished a towel was near by she was uncomfortable. It was okay with Hoggle in the room. Sarah trusted him and knew he was a gentleman if nothing else, but Jareth? All she knew of him was his caddy ways.

Hoggle reluctantly nodded and left with out saying a word. Sarah was too focused on her new guest to wonder about why Hoggle was acting so catatonic.

Jareth approached her and Sarah managed to find the strength to hold her ground. She sat on the little step that was on the edge of the bath and found the water came up to her collarbone. The bubbles hid the rest of her so she tried to look un-phased.

"I heard you wanted to speak with me?" Jareth asked coming to sit next to her on the dry ground. He sat in such a relaxed pose that Sarah felt like he could have been lounging.

"Yes… I… I was hoping…" She paused a moment and then sighed, she took a deep breath and said with confidence, "I wish to stay in the Underground."

Jareth's face stayed blank for a moment and then he smirked, "I figured you might.

Sarah felt a slight hint of annoyance grow in her chest; he acted like he knew what her choice would be.

"What I wish to know Jareth is… where do you wish for me to stay? Every creature has its place here it seems and I don't want to get in the way. But I don't want to deal with the less then friendly creatures either."

Jareth was quiet a moment and then said, "You can stay where ever you like. I have no preference. But I will inform you as someone who knows all the dangers in this land, that the castle is the safest place. My goblins can be rather annoying at times but they are harmless unless commanded otherwise by me. Most of the creatures out side this castle wall I have no control over unless I approach them directly. There are just to many living beasts and such running around, I can't watch them all."

Sarah nodded and then said, "Perhaps I could stay in the castle until I find a suitable enough place to build a home?"

"If that is what you wish." Jareth said with a nod. He looked down at the tray and a small smile crept onto his face. He reached with his hand and pucked up a small slice of yellow fruit, "Try this." he brought it to her lips and she stared at him with suspicin, "Well go on then." He said pressing it gently to her lips, she opened her mouth and allowed him to gently place it on her tongue.

She chewed the fruit and couldn't help but make a yummy sound, it was like passion fruit mixed with papaya mixed with mango. It was unexplainable and yet familiar. She smiled a small content smile and Jareth smiled back with that evil little grin of his.

"You've grown." He said as his eyes took in her bare shoulders, he swan like neck, her thinner face and his big bright eyes.

"Most children grow up." Sarah said with a sad tone in her voice.

"Toby too?" Jareth asked.

Sarah looked away for a moment and then sighed, "I don't know… I haven't seen him in a long time." Sarah said.

Jareth didn't want to pry but perhaps in questioning her he could try and connect with her. She needed to trust him; he would get her to trust him.

"Ran away did he? I knew he would miss me." Jareth said in a light tone.

Sarah smirked but it didn't last long, "No, I went to college, haven't had time to go and visit. And then I got a job and found an apartment, tried my hardest to stay out of trouble. I just haven't had any time to go and see him. But they won't miss me… not as much as they should anyway."

"Most parents miss their children." Jareth said, "trust me I know… I spend most of my days taking them away. You'd be surprised what people will do for their children."

"Not Karen, she never really liked me. She didn't go out of her way to ruin my day but she did ruin it often. Her true motherly heart lies with Toby and his care… as it should." Sarah said a little less enthusiastic then she had planned.

"All is well, you belong here much more then you belong there. You have a heart closer to my own then you do to any regular human." Jareth said gently taking her chin in his hand, he lifted her head and they locked eyes.

He couldn't help himself, he always got lost in her eyes, they could be so cool and controlling and yet so needy and innocent.

I need you Hoggle, Jareth had heard her say to the dwarf, I need you, all of you. How Jareth wished she had been talking to him. He leaned in a little and he could see the fear in her eyes. He suddenly wanted to pull her from the water and hold her. He wanted to feed her fruit while she lay naked in his lap.

Seeing that fear in her eyes had momentarily sparked something in him which he tried his hardest to put out. He couldn't be who he was; he had to be someone new, someone better.

Sarah gently pulled away from him and he watched her facial expressions change from scared to confused to blank. Jareth knew it was time for him to go, he had pushed his luck coming to her at a time like this. He thought perhaps talking to her while she might have felt vulnerable she may have opened up to him but she only seemed more distant than ever.

He stood and spoke sharply, "The dwarf will be your servant while in the castle. I figured someone familiar would do you some good. Make sure you keep resting, as hard as that is for you to do. If you need me use this." Jareth pulled a pocket size crystal ball from the air and handed it to Sarah, she nervously took it and looked at it, "How does it work?" she asked.

"When you hold it think of me and where ever you are I shall be." He said as he backed up, he faded through the door and Sarah stared after him.

"No magician could compare to you Jareth." She said to herself softly.

Sarah enjoyed the bath a few minutes more before she climbed from the bath and found a cloth to dry off with. She wrapped the piece of fabric around herself and searched for something to wear. Eventually out in the main room she found a large oak dresser and pulled the tall thin doors open. Inside hung many colorful dresses.

She smiled to herself and reached for a light green one. She put it on and found it fit her just right. Jareth must have just created them for her. An image of Jareth sewing popped into Sarah's head and she started to laugh.

Sarah had brought the tray of fruit out with her and had sat it on the bed. As she explored the room she often wondered back to the bed to have a piece of fruit and a sip of tea.

Unable to get over the fact that she had finally come back to the Labyrinth the small smile grew bigger and bigger until she felt like her face might rip in half. She saw a mirror in the far corner of the room and walked over to it. The smile faded when she saw her face.

A horrible line of bruising ran up her right jaw and towards her temple, her left eye was swollen along with a small portion of her upper lip. A very small gash was on her forehead though it looked like it was healing quickly. The worst part was the bruising on her neck, a solid band of purple bruising wound around her neck and she wished she had some makeup to dull the bright color.

There was a red line right next to where the purple bruising began, that must have been where the metal from that darn collar had pulled against her skin. It would take a few weeks for all this to heal.

And yet Sarah could not get over the way Jareth stared at her. The way his eyes scanned her body possessively and yet he seemed to restrain himself. He seemed to hold back and keep himself from trying to seduce her.

How would Sarah resist him if he ever tried? If he really turned on the charm, now that she had nothing to lose. Could she? Would she? Sarah turned her back on the mirror and headed for the door. She needed some fresh air to escape from her current train of thought.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Hours had passed since Jareth had last seen Sarah; last he heard she was casually strolling through one of the gardens on the far side of the castle. Hoggle had joined her and the two had talked and laughed and he had escorted her back to her room where she had fallen asleep.

His informants were keeping him up to date and for that he was grateful, the goblins could be awfully stupid sometimes. By what Jareth could see Sarah had been asleep for at least four hours… it was close to the thirteenth hour, which was about midnight in Sarah's world. She would eventually adjust to the extra hour but for now Jareth wasn't worried about her falling asleep at odd times and waking when ever she felt rested.

Suddenly a flash over took him and he saw red silk sheets moving like waves. They rippled and washed across a large bed. Jareth shook his head in annoyance and tried to keep his mind focused.

Another flash revealed two figures in the bed, under the red silk sheets moving against each other like animals in heat.

Jareth's head jerked to one side as he tried to remove the image from his mind. Ever since Sarah had left these flashes had occurred. It was almost always the same thing but he never grew tired of them.

Another flash came and he saw the image of him and Sarah inner twined and sweaty. Her cheeks were a beautiful shade of pink, her eyes closed and her brow furrowed as Jareth took her in their ocean of red silk.

He tried to get rid of the image, as much as he enjoyed them he would rather not have them while in the throne room and surrounded by his goblins. The next time a flash came Jareth actually gasped in shock because unlike the other random flashes that came and went and often times left little evidence of their existence this flash was more realistic and Jareth could hear the moans, and feel her breath on his neck and feel her inner heat all around him.

He furrowed his own brow in confusion; they had never been this real before. They had never made him actually feel like he was on the edge of a powerful and yet sensual explosion.

He stood from his throne on shaky legs and opened his eyes, the goblins paid little attention to him and Jareth was grateful. He left the throne room in a hurry and made his way towards his bedroom. The flashes were coming now even with his eyes open, and each flash made his body jerk in suspense. He had to get to his room, lock the door, and try to figure out what was going on.

There was another flash and Jareth was sent crashing to the floor just outside his door. He crawled inside and slammed the door with his foot, "Gah!" He cried out as his back arched and the images flooded his eyes as if one of those human movies was playing before his eyes.

He hands balled into fists as pleasure shot through his entire body and he let out another cry as the images showed both Sarah and himself climaxing in an animalistic frenzy.

Suddenly it all stopped and Jareth lay on the floor gasping for hair, his muscles all over his body tensing and releasing. He felt like someone had just struck him with a bolt of lightning. He stared off into space not even bothering to blink.

Never in his life had he felt anything so strongly. The images had started once Sarah had left five years ago and Jareth had thought nothing of them. He figured his was his own mind trying to create something for him to enjoy. Many a night had had laid awake enjoying the soft and sensual images that played before his eyes. He had slept soundly to the dreams of him and Sarah that haunted his lonely nights.

But this time, this time it had been like it had really been happening, it was like Jareth had been there doing it himself. His body finally relaxed and he felt like he had used all his energy in the few moments that the images had come to him. He managed to stand and make it to his bed.

He collapsed on it and lay there wondering perhaps if the strength of the day dream had had to do with how close Sarah was to him. Perhaps she could have more of a hand in these day dreams then Jareth was aware of.

There was only one way to find out.

OOOOO

Sarah awoke with a start, the sweat that was pouring down her forehead made her feel disgusting. She felt like she hadn't bathed in day's even though only hours ago she had had the most amazing bubble bath.

Her dreams tonight had been strange; whenever she dreamed of Jareth it was usually relaxed and sweet. Calm and relaxing and wonderful, but tonight, tonight it had been like a raging storm of hormones had been injected into her brain. Never before had she seen such beautiful red silk sheets, and at the same time never had she expected her mind to come up with such lustful images.

She had dreamed of inappropriate things before, she was after all a human girl who was passed her teens and who had never been intimate. It was a common thing for anyone, but this dream had been so real. So powerfully frightening and real, she felt like Jareth was still on top of her, pressing her hard into the mattress and claiming her like a rabid beast.

Her cheeks flushed and she stood, perhaps she needed some cold water on her face. She managed to get the basin in her bathroom to fill with cold water which she splashed on her face and she felt much better.

Once she returned to her room she saw an image of her dream flash into her mind, Jareth whispering in her ear, Now you are mine forever.

Sarah shivered and felt like she may pass out, the dream had taken a lot out of her. She had never felt so drained, perhaps it was because Jareth was so close. Perhaps her brain was in over drive because of the last few nights and the events leading up to her current location.

A soft knock sounded on her door and Sarah went to open it, her look of surprise doubled when she saw Jareth standing there. His eyes looked terrified, sweat ran down his brow, his body shook a little with invisible energy and Sarah wondered if he had had the same dream.

"Jareth, what is it? What is wrong?" Sarah asked.

"I was just coming to check on you." He said pushing her door open and walking passed her. She didn't mind the intrusion but she couldn't help but feel like something was off about the man.

Sarah watched him carefully as he tried to hold himself in his normal way, "Is everything in the room to your liking?" Jareth asked.

"Yes it is wonderful, thank you for the dresses."

"Not at all." Jareth said. Sarah waited to see what else he would say, Jareth turned to look at her and sighed.

"Did I wake you?" he asked.

"No not at all. I was already up." Sarah replied.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked trying to seem inconspicuous.

"Just had a strange dream that I couldn't quite recover from. I had to walk out the stress." Sarah said.

Jareth approached her and she backed nervously into the wall, he placed his hands on either side of her head and leaned in close, "What dream could you have had that made you so anxious?" he asked in a soft whisper.

Sarah swallowed and remembered the feeling of his lips on her neck in the dream. She wondered if it was like that in real life.

"I uh… It was about… uh…"

"Was it about me?" Jareth asked with an almost desperate look about him.

Sarah wasn't sure if she should tell the truth or lie, she didn't have to explain what the dream was about, but maybe if she said it was about him he would get the wrong idea and try to make a move.

Sarah wasn't sure what to say, Jareth's eyes closed and he leaned in, his lips brushed hers and Sarah ducked out of his grasp.

Jareth stared at her and then shook his head, "I am sorry I disturbed you. Have a good night Sarah."

And just like that he was gone.

A/n: There is chapter five.