Chapter 7: "Date" #2

Sarah slept in late the next day, completely enjoying the sunlight coming through her window and warming her blankets. Around ten o'clock, she finally rolled out of bed and took a shower. The hot steam only furthering her blissfulness. Upon exiting the bathroom, she noticed that Jareth wasn't on the couch or in the kitchen. She shrugged; perhaps he'd taken to sleeping in the loft? She was half tempted to go wake him up, but then figured that since he was trying to be nice, she would too. Instead she went back to her room to change into her clothes for the day, a comfy pair of jeans and a t-shirt with an overly large worn sweatshirt proclaiming the legend Ziggy Stardust with a picture of said Ziggy underneath.

Sarah went into the kitchen to start lunch around eleven. Despite the fact that she did not cook very often on her stove, it did not mean she was not familiar with the concepts thereof. She was in the middle of dicing some chicken to add to a salad later when Jareth wandered in. She glanced up at him before dumping the pile of diced breast meat in the frying pan; it let out a hissing sound as it made contact. "Good morning, or should I say afternoon?" Jareth greeted her before sitting at the table.

"It's still morning… if only just," Sarah commented nodding towards the clock radio proudly displaying 11:14 and playing a popular music station.

Jareth nodded, "Did you need any help?"

"Umm, you could set the table if you'd like. Lunch should be ready in ten minutes or so," she replied washing the raw chicken juice from her hands before moving to stir said chicken.

Jareth rose and gathered plates and silverware, setting the table. Sarah was gathering spices for the chicken when she felt his presence behind her. He reached above her head toward the cupboard where the glasses were stored, being careful not to touch her. Despite his lack of contact, Sarah could feel the heat from his body and stood frozen as his arms reached up on either side of her. Once he'd moved away, a glass in each hand, she let out a breath and went back to choosing spices. My god Sarah, just jump him and get it over with. A very blatant inner voice mumbled.

Hush you! I will not be jumping anyone in the near future, she replied.

Mmhmm, it replied. Says she whose blood runs hot every time a certain Goblin King draws near.

Sarah blushed at the conversation inside her head. I think that's about enough from you.

Okay, but I don't think I could be held responsible for my actions if he does that again, it said nonchalantly.

Sarah grumbled something about needing a psychiatrist before adding the finishing touches to the chicken and putting it into a small serving bowl to put on the table along with the other salad ingredients. She indicated for Jareth to start making himself a salad and moved to fill her own plate with spinach, onions, mandarin orange slices, chicken, walnuts, and raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

When Sarah was taking the last bites of her salad, Jareth brought up the topic of going out. "So, where shall we go today?" he asked setting down his fork and folding his hands in front of him.

"I was thinking we could head towards the park. There's lots of walking paths and plenty of fresh air."

Jareth smiled and nodded, "That sounds marvelous, but do you think we could stop by your art gallery first?"

Sarah glanced up, suspicion on her face. "Why?"

"I've been wanting to see the place that technically employs you. Besides, you're painting my subjects and I deserve to know whether their image is being sold at an establishment of ill repute."

"Well I can assure you that Jackie's gallery is quite distinguished, but if you insist, we can go."

Jareth nodded. They rose from the table and put their dishes in the sink. Sarah went to grab a coat and her purse. Jareth slipped on his leather jacket and waited for Sarah to lead. They walked the eight blocks to the gallery, hands stuffed in pockets against the cold. Before long, Sarah was pulling open an antique looking door below a sign that boldly said, 'The East-Side Gallery'. The inside looked like it had once been an apartment, but the rooms had been opened up a bit more to allow people to easily move through and view the art. "I'm going to go check up with Jackie. My art is in that room there," she said pointing to a room painted a dark forest green.

Jareth nodded and walked away. Jackie had told him that she would distract Sarah for a while and that she'd placed an envelope with a hundred dollars behind Sarah's painting of his castle. He easily found the painting and tilted it up to find the envelope taped to the wall behind it. Jareth smiled and quickly stuck the money in his pocket then continued to look at Sarah's paintings. She really was skilled. He was drawn in by a painting that was done in analogous colors of blue making it appear to be monochrome, but not. The scene was set at night in a meadow with tall grass swaying in a breeze; blurred shadowy forms of trees lay in the background and small lights jumped between wildflowers. In the foreground were three pixies; one was laughing, another was dancing, and the third was playing a panpipe. "Are you satisfied?"

Jareth whirled around to find Sarah and Jackie standing behind him. "Yes, quite…" he answered turning back for one last glance at the painting.

"Then shall we?" she motioned towards the door.

Jareth nodded and followed Sarah out. Jackie gave him a wink and a smile as he left. He smiled back before exiting. They walked the six blocks to the park in silence. Once there, Sarah started along a path that led around a rather large pond. Jareth followed, a small smile on his lips. Sarah glanced over at him, "What?"

He looked over at her, "What, what?"

"What?" her eyebrows furrowed. "You're confusing me!"

"You asked what, I was asking what to your what."

"Oh… I was asking about why you were smiling."

"I'm enjoying the fresh air…. and the company."

Sarah blushed a little and tried to ignore the second half of his statement. "I'm sorry that you had to stay cooped up in the apartment. I guess I've been a bit negligent."

"Not to worry Sarah, it gave me a chance to finish that marvelous book series by that Eddings man."

"David Eddings?"

"That's the one."

"You liked that?"

Jareth nodded.

"You'd probably like his other books too then. They're all very similar in plot, slightly different characters though."

"I will have to look in to them. It's not like I don't have time."

Sarah looked up at his face; he seemed melancholy. "Do you miss your kingdom?"

"In a way. It's difficult to explain the relationship I have between my subjects and myself, but the goblins grow on you after a while albeit like mold on old cheese, but that's beside the point."

Sarah giggled; she could just imagine the goblins and their king sitting down for a heart to heart conversation. "So you do care about the goblins…"

He looked over at her, a bit of a startled look on his face. "Of course I do! They are my subjects after all. If I didn't protect them, they'd have most likely gone extinct long ago." He continued after a confused look from Sarah. "The goblins, while they don't have any problem reproducing, are not the smartest of creatures, nor the most well-liked. Prior to there being a Goblin Kingdom, goblins were hunted down for sport by the fae."

"Your people?" Sarah interrupted.

Jareth sighed, "Yes, my people."

"So how did you come to be the Goblin King then?"

"That is a rather long story that I would rather tell somewhere warm," he replied rubbing his gloved hands together.

"Oh, of course! Um, I know of a coffee house just down that way," Sarah said starting to lead him out of the park.

Jareth followed once again. It wasn't long before they were stepping into a small coffee house aptly named Brick House Coffee. They found a table for two tucked away in the back near a window after ordering their drinks. Rubbing her hands together to warm them, Sarah looked at him expectantly. "Well?"

"Hmm, yes, you are persistent, my dear," he commented before taking a sip of his tea. He set the large black mug down on its saucer before speaking. "I became the Goblin King largely because of one thing, my father."

"Wha…"

Jareth held up a hand, "Please, let me continue. My father was not fae; he was an elf from a clan that found every life to be sacred, no matter what race or species that life may be. The elves found the fae sport of killing goblins to be repulsive and they formed a movement to put the killing to an end. My father was one of the leaders of the movement. It took nearly fifty years to get the point across to the fae that goblins were sentient and deserved a chance to live.

"It was at one of the rallies that father met my mum. She was the daughter of one of the fae nobles and was quite interested in what my father had to say. He showed her a goblin village, how they had a society and albeit simple, a system of law and government. She became active in the movement for goblin rights shortly thereafter. It wasn't for another ten years though that the fae and elves came to an agreement. The goblins would be confined to their own kingdom, of which a fae would rule over. Father didn't accept this; he argued that if a fae were to rule over the goblins, then it would become just as bad as before. The fae refused to allow an elf to rule over the goblins though, claiming that they would be too lenient and the goblins would get out of control."

"So how did they compromise?" Sarah asked.

"You have not figured it out yet?" he replied raising an eyebrow.

"You… you were the compromise?"

Jareth nodded, "Yes, my parents married sometime after my mother joined the movement. She was pregnant with me when the final discussions were taking place. It was decided that because I was half elven, half fae, that I would rule over the goblins. Really, it was a mercy to me. Because I am a half-breed, I would have been shunned from fae society. The elves would have taken me in, but would have exercised caution around me because of their distrust in the fae. This way, nobody had to take responsibility for me and the goblin problem would be taken care of."

"Wow… but I thought you said you were fae that first night in my kitchen?"

Jareth shrugged, "It's easier than trying to explain my background."

"Oh…"

They sipped some more at their drinks, finishing them. "Come, I would like to walk some more," Jareth said rising.

Sarah smiled at his presumptuous manner, but rose and followed him out of the coffee house after bringing their cups back up to the front. She let him lead this time, figuring that wherever he led, she could find her way home from. Jareth started down the street toward the older part of downtown. The older architecture was fascinating to examine in comparison with the newer versions only five blocks away. They passed a flower vendor, the man was holding out a single red rose. "Buy a flower for the lady, sir? Only three dollars…"

Jareth paused, reached into his pocket and pulled out a five, "Keep the change," he said taking the half-opened rose and handing it to Sarah.

Sarah accepted it, a large smile on her face. "Thank you…"

"You're welcome, my dear."

"Jareth?" she asked as they started walking again.

"Hmm?"

"Where did you get that money?"

"From a source who would prefer to remain anonymous," he answered cryptically.

"Uh huh… it was Jackie wasn't it?" Jareth shrugged. "I don't know when she did it, but I'm pretty sure it was her."

Jareth merely smiled and continued walking. It wasn't long before he led them back to the park. Sarah wasn't sure if he knew where he was going or if it was pure luck, but she admired his sense of direction. Of course, once she thought about it, a man who lived in the middle of a giant maze would almost have to have a good sense of direction. She followed him as he led her to one of the wooden benches that sat beside the pond. He sat and patted the spot next to him; Sarah rolled her eyes, but sat next to him and gazed out at the pond. Two geese swam side by side a little ways out and she watched as they headed toward the far shore. "Did you know that geese mate for life?" Sarah asked absently.

"Really?"

"Yes, it's really quite romantic."

"Mmhmm…" Jareth murmured looking at her.

Sarah leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands. Her rose lay on the bench beside her. "Sarah?" Jareth asked.

"Yes?"

"Why don't you see Toby anymore?"

Sarah looked back sharply at him. "Who says I don't?"

"I believe you did…" he reminded her.

She couldn't quite remember when he was referencing, but a conversation from when she was sick seemed to loom in the back of her mind, not quite attainable. She turned away and took a deep breath. "I suppose it's only fair that you know, since you told me about yourself."

Jareth leaned forward to see her face; it was in pain, emotionally. "You don't have to if you don't want to. I'm just curious."

"No, I need to get it out. The only other person I've told is Jackie. I never even told Todd."

Jareth waited patiently for her to start, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Sarah took a deep breath, and prepared to tell him. She would get it all out in one go; it would be less painful that way.

o O o O o O o

Here ends chapter seven… not to worry, she will explain in the next chapter, which is already in the works.

Please R&R… *begs*

Labyrinth (c) Hensen, Froud, & Lucas