ok after this chapter i won't be updating so often as i have to go back to work, but i have some holiday coming up so hopfully i'll be able to upload more then.

Chapter 27

Sarah's P.O.V

Sarah darted through the trees, not caring that branches tore at her skin and clothes, She just wanted to get as far from Jareth as she could.

Hot tears welled in her eyes and she wiped them angrily away with the back of her hand only to have more take their place.

She wasn't completely sure what had happened back there or how it had happened, but she did know she was in a lot of trouble. She had kissed, had wanted to kiss him and to make things worse she had loved every second of it. What was wrong her? This wasn't how it was meant to go! You didn't go around kissing the villainous King who had kidnapped you and was holding you against your will. Was she developing Stockholm syndrome or something?

"Stupid, stupid Sarah!" She berated herself, pushing though a thicket of thorny bushes.

What did this mean, was she really falling for him or had it been some trick on his part? She shook her head, she was so confused, she hadn't know why she'd kissed him back all she could remember was that if had felt so right and that nothing else mattered except kissing him, which was wrong. Lots of other things mattered to her, rescuing her friends, returning home, defeating Jareth, those were the real things that mattered.

Why hadn't she remembered those things at the time? Why had her brain been so fuzzy, she didn't remember eating any peaches, besides it hadn't felt the same as one she'd taken a bite from the peach. Yes she had forgotten things but with the peach she had felt disorientated, this time she had just felt happy, like she had no care in the world.

Jareth must have done something to her, there was no other explanation for it. He must have made her forget all the reasons she despised him and made her think that she wanted to kiss him, she hadn't been in her right mind, it wasn't her fault. She felt slightly better with that conclusion, but the thought of how much she had liked kissing him still had her cringing with shame.

Sarah stumbled slightly over a root and only just managed to stop herself from falling face first into a ditch. She was breathless but continued running, she knew she had covered some distance but it still didn't feel quite far enough.

She needed to keep away from Jareth, what if he used more magic on her? What if he made her forget about her plan to escape, would she even really be able to escape? She hadn't really thought about it, but Jareth had powerful magic, would what Allana have planned really be enough to protect her from him?

Her fear lent her energy and she carried on running. Her feet hurt and she had a stitch in her side. Her body wanted to stop but her mind drove it on, she'd run to the end of the Underground if she could.

An arm of steel snaked round her waist from behind, stopping her in her tracks and hauling her back against a firm muscular chest. The scent of Amber and leather filled her nose and she was immediately aware of just who exactly had grabbed her.

X –

Jareth's P.O.V

He watched Sarah run from the grove in silence, a small flicker of satisfaction crossed his face. Part of him knew it had been wrong to take advantage of Sarah whilst she had still been under the effects of the Unicorn but the rest of him didn't care. Her standing there in the stream like some forest nymph, eyes sparkling with happiness had just been too much for him to resist. He was slightly angry that she had run from him, but that's what she usually did when things were about to get interesting between them. It was an annoying habit that he would have to break her of

Unicorns were extremely magical creatures, touching them could induce a complete feeling of bliss, no matter how bad a person was feeling, one touch of a unicorn could push all that aside and remove all inhibitions, making the person more open to things they would usually deny themselves.

He had wanted to see how she would react with her defenses down, and he hadn't been disappointed. Sarah had responded and kissed him back, deep down she was attracted to him, her reaction had proved that. It had been going so well until the sense of euphoria had worn off and her walls came back up.

It had been a stroke of luck the Unicorn showing up, but it was a real shame the effects never lasted long.

Grinning wickedly, he produced a crystal. An image of Sarah running blindly through the forest appeared, branches snatched at her hair and dress but she didn't stop. Angry tears streamed down her face as she ran.

He watched her for a few minutes, he felt a twinge of guilt for the pain he had caused her, but it was for her own good. The sooner she realized that she wasn't going to be able to defy him forever the better. Besides his actions had some benefits, her confidence in being able to resist him had been shaken and would fill her with doubt over whether or not her scheme to escape him would succeed. Her fear would cause her to make mistakes and that would make it just that much more easier to thwart her. It had also had the added bonus of giving him a moment to experience would it would be like when Sarah finally did give into him. Now he was even more impatient for Merin to finish the potion.

He had to admit that he had thoroughly enjoyed himself and for a time so had Sarah, he grinned at that. He's be able to have so much over the next few days remaining her of just how much she had liked kissing him.

He continued to watch as Sarah stumbled and climbed over old fallen trees and large rocks. She was obviously growing tired, in her desperation to get away from him she had run fast and covered quite some distance. With any luck, her exertion would make her to tired to anger with him. He ought to find her before she fell into one of the forest's traps or worse.

The crystal popped in a cloud of glitter and the Goblin King vanished.

Seconds later he reappeared directly behind Sarah. Quick as a flash, her reached out and pulled her back against his chest, keeping a tight hold of her as she began to struggle.

She was exhausted so her attempts to free herself were weak at best.

"Let me go!" She demanded.

Her tone sounded fierce but he could here the under current of her fatigue. He'd been right to come after her when he did, any much longer and she would have collapsed with exhaustion.

"Sarah calm yourself." He said coolly, turning her to face him without losing his hold on her. Tears still tracked down her cheek, but there was a faint glint of anger. He smiled, his beloved Sarah always had some fight in her even when she was worn out.

"Don't tell me to calm down. Not after what you've done." She snapped angrily.

"What I've done? I haven't done anything my love." he said innocently.

"Yes you have! You put under some kind of spell back there. Made me want to kiss you and forget all the reasons I loathe you!" She hissed, futilely pushing at his chest.

"Wrong again on two points Sarah. I used no spell on you and you returned my kiss because you wanted to." Jareth said.

"No I didn't!" she insisted, " You must have done something, I would never have kissed you if I was in my right mind!"

"True, you would not have kissed me back if you had been think straight. But that was your doing Sarah, not mine." Jareth grinned wickedly down at her.

"What do you mean my doing?" She asked, confusion filled her watery green eyes.

"I mean that you were the one who touched the Unicorn, I didn't make you do that." he told her.

"What has the Unicorn got to do with this."

"A Unicorn has a very unique kind of magic precious, a single touch will induce a person with complete happiness. Continued contact will temporary remove all inhibitions and thoughts that prevent them from embracing there deepest desires. The unicorn allowed you to respond to me the way you would have without all you unjustified prejudices "

Sarah face turned crimson.

"My prejudices are completely justified! And my deepest desire isn't to kiss you! I hate you!"

"Are you sure about that precious?" Jareth teased, pulling her closer.

Throughout there conversation Jareth had noticed that he was gradually taking more and more of Sarah weight. Her experience with the Unicorn and run through the forest had drained her, she wouldn't be able to stand out there much longer.

"Yes I'm sure, now let me go. I don't want to be near you right anywhere near you!" She tried pushing at him again. Instead of releasing her, he swooped down and lifted her into his arms.

"Hey! Put me down!" she shrieked.

He ignored her and began the trek back towards the Castle.

"I swear Jareth, if you don't put me down..." She began.

"Now Sarah it really isn't polite to threaten your King, especially when he is so graciously letting you rest instead of walking back to the castle on your own two feet." he interrupted her.

She didn't reply to that but muttered darkly under her breath.

They walked in silent for a few minutes. The sky was starting to darken overhead as the sun set, despite the half light, Jareth was able to see clearly and kept his pace smooth and steady so as not to jostle his precious burden.

"I rather enjoyed myself today, we should do this more often." He said lightly, trying to keep his feature serious, although his lips twitched.

Sarah growled and folded her arms.

"No we shouldn't." she muttered.

Jareth smirked and continued walking. Sarah body slowly started to relax and her breathing evened out. Glancing down he saw she had fallen asleep. About time he thought, he'd hoped the gentle rocking motion of him carrying her through the forest would send her to sleep.

With a surge of magic, he transported them to her room and placed the sleeping Sarah down on her bed, careful not to wake her.

He then noticed, the slight scratches on her arms where branches had torn at her skin. He waved his hand over the cuts and her skin returned to it's normal beautiful condition. He scanned the rest of her body for injuries that wouldn't be healed by sleep. There were none.

Gently he lifted her hand to his lips and placed a soft kiss on her fingers, like he had early at the Junkfields, before placing it back on the bed and stepping back.

"Until tomorrow Sarah." he whispered as he disappeared in a cascade of glitter.