Seven

Two nights passed during which Sarah stayed in his room. Whether he had kept her near purposefully or not was lost on him. The first of the two nights he awoke to her crying again, struggling with a dream. She nearly knocked him backwards off of the bed when he attempted to subdue her. But then she held onto him, calming and falling asleep again. He lay there wondering what she saw in her dreams.

The second night he awoke to find her moving to his side. His first reaction was to raise his arms in defense. She said nothing though, but curled her body next to his and put her head on his chest. Gingerly he put his arms around her. He could smell her hair- it vaguely reminded him of lavenders. It was a comforting scent. Miss Leslie Wimberly never smelt so familiar yet enticing. His eyes drooped and he slept.

In the morning she was up before him. He could hear the water running in the other room and then her laughing at something. His first thought was to get up and join her; maybe take nice bath together. When his sleepy brain caught up with his thoughts his eyes shot open and then he shook his head. He had no right to think about taking baths with Sarah.

He heard her laugh again.

Quietly he moved from the bed to the door of the wash room. The door was ajar, giving him a narrow view. Her back was to him, her hair pinned up in a loose bun. She had a straight, defined line to her back. Her arms arched and he saw the curve of her shoulder blades the moment before her hair came tumbling down. Her hair swayed like tall grass in the wind. Then she turned side ways. The outline of her breasts and stomach was stunning.

Jareth realized he was absolutely transfixed by her nakedness. She didn't need a corset to cinch her waist or raise her breasts; or any frills to catch the eye. Sarah was beautiful. He watched her move, tracing the lines of her body with his eyes; knowing that someone had attempted to mare, to destroy her body, angered him. Her body was meant for a soft touch, for a lover's caress. When he heard the voice of Meep and saw that the servant was there to help her dress, he blinked and darted away from the door.

Sarah Williams needed her own quarters, and promptly. More importantly, she also needed retribution. "Sarah!" he called out casually. "Are you decent?"

"Yes," she answered.

Coming in he saw her dressed. It was hard to not visualize her without her clothes on. "Sarah you and I need to discuss some business today. Meep would you show Sarah to my study and have breakfast brought up? I shall join you after my bath." In the hot water it was even harder not to visualize a naked Sarah.

Once dried off and dressed, he squared his shoulders and headed for his study. He was surprised to hear laughter coming from the room. Inside he found Sarah being amused by several of his subjects. Three goblins had constructed a living pyramid with a chicken perched on top. "Tah-dah!" they exclaimed just as he walked in. Sarah clapped and praised them. 'So at ease,' he thought to him self observing. 'Maybe not quite so lost any more.'

"Hello King!"

Upon closer inspection he realized that Meep was holding the chicken. "Good morning. I see you've been practicing."

One of the two goblins at the base spoke up, "We're thinking of adding another chicken soon."

"You will definitely have to show me that," said Sarah.

Jareth clapped his hands. "All right lads and lasses- take a bow and be off with you!"

The pyramid tumbled and the three goblins bowed and left.

"They're wonderful you know," she commented.

"Indeed. Please Sarah come and sit." A food tray had bee set out on a low table in front of a couch. He served her breakfast. "Now, we must have a serious discussion about your vengeance. I know the man that brought you into the court room, and I am fairly certain that he was your attacker. Yet," he handed her a plate. "You seem to think that there were two men involved. Do you still think that?"

"Yes, I do." She grew quiet and still.

"You remember more don't you?"

She nodded.

"Talk to me Sarah- help me, to help you."

Her face grew serious and her eyes went distant. Gone was her mirth from a few moments ago. He hated to see her struggle so, but justice had to prevail and she was the key to it all. "I keep trying to put a face to both of them. The only reason I know that there were two different men is because of their scent. One of them… it's odd, but he smelt like dirt."

"And the other one?"

She looked him in the eyes while biting at her lip. "He smelt like you, like old books and cinnamon."

He kept his face schooled, attempting to not show a reaction. "And which smell do you remember first?"

A slight smile turned the corners of her mouth, sad and quick. "Old books and cinnamon." She sat her plate aside. "I don't know how the last five years have been for you Jareth," she went on to say. "For me, it has been five years of adjusting to someone else's skin. You changed me some how."

He drank from his cup, using the moment as an excuse to look away from her. He knew he had changed her; had tainted her humanity.

She continued, "He was parading as a human, as one of my professors. Being in his company was fulfilling. I-I know this, but I can't see his face. He asked if I wanted to meet at his place." Her voice had grown edgy. She stood up from the couch, turning away from him to look out a window. "How could I refuse? He was what I had been missing. I let him kiss me."

Jareth sat tense on the couch. "Did you want him Sarah?"

"Yes…but only because he reminded me of what I had lost." She sniffed and pulled her chin up high. "Stupid, huh? Just a stupid school girl fantasy gone awry."

No- he wanted to tell her. No, not stupid. He should be up and across the room, holding her and comforting her. He should be leaning over her face, kissing her and telling her that she was not stupid. He just sat there though. "Did you say no?"

"I said I wanted to stop, and then…" She paused. Jareth looked at her- her head dropped and her shoulders had hunched. "Then he got angry, so very angry."

Finally he convinced him self to leave the couch and stand close to her. Images battled in his head- one moment seeing her naked, the next her bruises, and then her in that ridiculous white dress he had made for her five years ago. He stood next to her. "In a month," he said. "I am planning on hosting a party of sorts. It will be an ample opportunity for you to find your attackers. I give my word that every sort of fae man will be there, especially those with human predilections. Can you wait a month?"

Her brow furrowed. "A month? Sure, I can wait. I will have four weeks to plan out exactly what I intend to do to him. I'll render him a eunuch," she added her voice full venom.

Jareth couldn't help but smile approvingly. "Good. That's the Sarah I know. Come and eat now."