Author's Note, May 5, 2011: See? All patience is rewarded. Oh, have I plans for this tale. One in particular involving water balloons that has been simmering on a back burner for years. Literally, years. How's that for a teaser to keep you reading?
Chapter Thirty-Three: Good Morning
"Sarah, how did you come here tonight?" The couple had remained in the Escher Room, moving from the lit platform at the center to one of the pieces of stone stairway, lingering on the edge of the shadows. They spoke softly there, in the shadows. Apologies were made on both sides and forgiveness was granted. Sweet nothings were whispered, long silences were comfortable, and now and again laughter would echo. Thus, several hours passed.
Sarah blinked at Jareth, sleepily. "I took the stairs."
He smiled. "No, I mean how did you come Underground?"
She shrugged. "I fell asleep holding the crystal you gave me, thinking of you, thinking that... I would not mind facing the Labyrinth again. When I woke up, I was here. Well," she interrupted herself with a yawn. "Oh, sorry. Not here, precisely. Back on that hill above the gate."
His brow furrowed. "You traversed the Labyrinth? A second time?" She nodded. That should not have been possible. Not without my knowing. He suddenly recalled what she wore before she stepped into the light. "Barefoot?" At her second nod, his alarm that the magic of his Kingdom had acted seemingly on its own quickly shifted to irritation. "Do you mean to tell me walked all this way, all night long, with nothing on your feet?" And then when she comes here, you leave her unshod? That the magic surrounding them suddenly gave the sense of being embarrassed and chagrined nearly made him sigh. Later, he thought, deal with it later...
Sarah was nodding again, her eyelids dropping slightly as she stifled another yawn. "Mmhmm. But I had my pajamas on. I'm not sure what happened to them." She looked up at him, her eyes wide, suddenly upset. "Oh no! The crystal was in my pocket!"
He stroked her hair, smiling. "It will turn up, eventually." She looked content at that. And beautiful, he noticed, but exhausted. "You look tired. I suppose I should return you home for what is left of the night."
In response, she wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling into his chest with her head tucked beneath his chin. "Not yet."
"What of your R.A. duties?"
"It's not my turn to keep the vacuum."
He did not entirely know what that meant and her response had been barely audible, but she did not seem to be in any real condition to explain. "Then stay."
"I have class in the afternoon. It's the impossible one, but we're supposed to be getting another paper assignment."
"I can have you back for that." When she did not respond for several minutes, he looked down. Her eyes were closed. "Sarah?"
"Mmm."
Her breathing was slow, steady. "Are you asleep?"
"Mmm."
"Ah." Kissing the top of her head, breathing her in, Jareth gathered Sarah in his arms and vanished. When he reappeared in the bedroom, he wondered if she would be put out at his "poofing" without her knowledge. It made him chuckle as he lay her on the bed, but she did not stir, even as he pulled the blankets over her. Smoothing her hair away from her face, he vanished again.
Sarah woke slowly, stretching her legs and feeling silk brush against her toes. That's not right, she thought. I have flannel. She cracked her eyes open, letting them adjust to the sunlight streaming in a window, then lifted her head to look around. She was alone in the burgundy room, nestled in a bed of feather pillows and fluffy blankets. Though she had only been here once before, and that time was brief, Sarah recognized where she was and it made her smile. The memory of the night before flooded into her mind as she lay back down again. Much of what went on she did not understand, but found she genuinely did not care. She knew where she stood, was nearly certain she knew where Jareth stood, and that was enough. The rest will come in time, I suppose. The events played out in her mind again and she smiled blissfully. As more details came back, she peeked under the blankets. She sighed with relief to find her giraffe pajamas had reappeared. Reaching into a pocket, she pulled out the crystal that had vanished the night before.
"I suppose I should get up," she told it, quietly, "maybe go find him. Hm." This prompted her to wonder where Jareth might be. And, for that matter, what time it was.
"The King of the Goblins, is likely in his study, working on something unknown though I suspect I could guess if I felt the need, and waiting for you to rise." The voice came from across the room. "And it is shortly past dawn."
Startled, Sarah sat bolt upright, the crystal rolling into her lap as she pulled the blankets up around her in a self-protective gesture. She twisted where she sat, eyes lighting on a woman lounging elegantly on the window seat. She was more beautiful than anyone Sarah had ever seen, in person, in pictures, anyone, and more beautiful still than Sarah had ever imagined was possible. She was smiling at Sarah, gently and with kindness. Still, Sarah struggled to contain her fear at the unannounced presence. I thought they weren't supposed to be able to do that... "You are one of the Fae, aren't you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
She regarded the young Mortal before her, sitting so still and breathing so deliberately in an effort to remain calm. Yet her eyes, deep and brown, belied her inner feelings. They hid nothing, every emotion was plainly written, her vulnerability and insecurity, the nervousness that was slowly growing for all she was trying to hold it back. "Child, calm yourself. I have no intention of causing your harm." Her smile deepened as Sarah blinked, confusion added to the mix. "When Jareth announced he would be taking a Mortal lover-"
"Lov- Announced!" Sarah had not intended her interruption to be audible and blushed, slightly embarrassed.
She found the slight panic that had crept into Sarah's voice unexpectedly endearing. "There is nothing to be embarrassed about. This is a perfectly acceptable progression of events."
"Is it?" How can she be so casual about this? And I thought dorm gossip was bad.
"Our people have slightly more," she searched for the simplest way to explain it, "open viewpoint on this sort of thing. Especially in regards to the High Court, most feel it is a right to know. And only the two of us know, so it is not really gossip, per se."
"How did you-" Sarah shook her head, wary, but bewilderment was running alongside her fear. "I'm sorry, but... Who are you, exactly?"
"I am the High Queen of the Fae." As this sunk in, Sarah visibly paled. Hm. A different tactic, perhaps. "Perhaps that was not the best way to introduce myself. Please, accept my apology for causing you discomfort."
"Discomfort?"
The strength of incredulity in the look Sarah was giving Titania gave her pause. "Do you know, this is not going at all how I had planned?"
All capability for tact had departed. "Just how did you think it would go? You," she gestured at the woman sitting before her, "are apparently a queen, are absolutely stunning, and I'm just... me. And am sitting here in my pajamas." At that, Sarah suddenly turned bright red and buried her face in her hands. "Oh, man..."
Titania blinked several times. "Hm. I see your point. Let me try again." Sarah looked up, still faintly pink. "I am delighted to finally meet you. I confess I should have waited for a more appropriate situation, but I also confess I have never liked to wait. In less formal situations and among friends, I am called Titania."
"I'm just Sarah."
"Just?" Titania laughed, musically. "I doubt you have ever been just anything." Especially to Jareth...
"Um, thank you." There was a lull as the two regarded each other, considering. Abruptly, though, Sarah became curious. "Wait, did you say 'Titania'? As in Titania and Ob-"
She sighed, long suffering, though the sparkle that came into Sarah's eyes when she made the connection intrigued her. "How that... playwright ever came up with our names I will never know." There was another sigh. "Yes, though admit I despise the comparison."
"But it is such a fun story."
"Perhaps, but I find it slightly defames Our character."
Sarah thought about that, briefly. "Oh. I had not thought of it that way."
"Perhaps it is what you deserve."
Titania's eyes flicked to the figure who had appeared seconds before, lounging on the bed beside Sarah, protectively close yet not touching her. His eyes were narrowed and he glared at the High Queen in irritation, making it clear he did not approve of the intrusion on Sarah's privacy. "So much for protocol," he quipped.
She shrugged. "I got tired of waiting."
"Clearly."
"You need not be so angry. You know there is no other who would dare your wrath by doing the same."
"Yet here you are."
Sarah slowly pulled her gaze from Titania to look at Jareth. He did not return her gaze but continued to glare. As Sarah looked back at Titania, he reached over and took her hand, gently kissing her fingertips. He then rubbed his thumb across her knuckles and she realized his hands were bare. The realization momentarily startled her, and even as delight coursed through her she suddenly felt very shy at this display.
Once again, Titania was struck by the way every emotion poured out openly through those eyes. I will mourn the day when she must become guarded before all. And I will curse those who dare to take advantage. "Well, Jareth, as I was just about to tell your Sarah here, when you told Us of your choice, I never would have expected to find such innocence, or find her so charming."
"Now there is a delightful commentary on what you think of my character, Your Majesty."
She scoffed at him. "You may have changed overnight, Goblin King, but you cannot erase the past."
"As though I need the reminder."
Silence fell over the room. Titania continuing to regard the couple, not bothering to hid her curiosity a mask of collected control. Jareth continued to glare, though his irritation softened and everyone in the room understood it was more for show than anything else. For her part, Sarah started tuning them both out. Her focus transferred to a slight buzzing of emotion at the back of her mind. None of it was hers, however. As she concentrated on what it could be, the buzzing ebbed until it faded completely, leaving behind what she could only describe as whispers of the feelings of someone else. Instinct told her that someone was Jareth and the more she thought on it, on him, the louder those whispers became.. But what does it mean?
"Indeed. Tell me, Goblin King," Titania finally broke the silence, necessity for answers finally outweighing the curiosity she held for more information about Sarah, "as you are here it must be asked: By what right did you initiate the ceremony that will bind you to this woman?"
Though they held no malice, Jareth bristled slightly at Titania's choice of words describing Sarah. He knew, however, the question would be asked again, and by others far less sympathetic to his cause than Their Majesties and that her choice was quite deliberate. He answered, simply, "I did nothing."
His response met with the expected reaction. Titania's demeanor changed immediately. Surprise exploded across her features as she sat up, intense. "Really." At Jareth's nod, she stood. Jareth rose as well and Sarah made to follow suit. Before she could move, Titania held a hand out, forestalling. "No, stay." Coming forward, she tipped Sarah's face up with one finger, meeting her eyes and searching them briefly. Finally, she smiled. "You are unlike any Mortal I have ever met. I am looking forward to knowing you better. Certainly you will catch the members of the High Court off guard and I daresay they could use it, though I suspect what lies ahead will not come easy." Her eyes met Jareth's. "I swear on the life of my beloved, she will be protected. But haste must be made. I must go to Oberon now; he will contact you soon." With one lingering, delighted glance at Sarah, she vanished.
Sarah looked up at Jareth. He was contemplating the spot Titania had just vacated and felt he was relieved though concern was lingering and just a little bit... sad. Not knowing what else to do, she said, "Well. I don't suppose this means I have to skip my one o'clock English class, does it?"
"You said last night that you should not miss it."
He apparently missed her attempt to lighten the mood. "Should not and cannot are two separate things. I will not leave you if you do not wish it."
He finally looked down, meeting her eyes. He knew what she was offering and that, though the offer was genuine and heartfelt, she was only just beginning to understand what it meant. Titania had told him haste was in essence, but he refused to push too far too fast. He smiled at her. "I would not have you regret missing something that need not be avoided."
She snorted. "Believe me, of all the things in life, missing this class would be lowest on the list of what I have regrets over."
He laughed at that, and she felt a wave of adoration rush over her as he pulled her out of the bed and gathered her in his arms. "Decide later, then. For now, come. Would you break your fast with me?"
The phrasing amused her. "Yes, please." Then she hesitated. "Should I change? You're already dressed..."
"If you would be more comfortable." At her nod, he looked down. Fingering the hem of her top with one hand, he pointed at one of the frolicking creatures. "What are these?"
Sarah looked down at her pajamas. "What, the giraffes?"
"Giraffes." The word rolled off his tongue, like he was tasting something foreign and did not know if it should be delicious.
"Don't tell me you don't know what a giraffe is?" When he shook his head in denial, she shook hers in disbelief. "That's it. Next time you visit, we are going to the zoo."
"Zoo?"