disclaimer: don't own sarah or jareth. all other characters though i do own.(at least in this chapter.)
A/N: Well here's chapter 8! hope you enjoy this one. Yes he's homing home Yeah!!!! Please Reveiw!!!
Chapter 8: Homecoming!
18 years later Aboveground, 98 years later Underground...
Sarah stared out the window and over the Labyrinth. She had thrown everything she could think of at the present runner and yet she was almost at the castle gate. She had promised Jareth that none would best her personal time in the Labyrinth and, as of now, none had. This runner, however, was different; the girl reminded Sarah of herself. She was determined and was not giving up no matter what obstacle was thrown in her path. Then it dawned on Sarah that the girl hadn't actually had too many obstacles to overcome, and she thought she knew why.
"Daryan" she called to her eldest. Before his name was fully out of her mouth her appears before her grinning broadly.
"Yes mother?" he said mischievously. He knew why she had called.
Sarah could have easily gleaned the information from him but chose not to. She wanted him to admit to helping the girl on his own. "Have you by any chance met the young woman running the Labyrinth?" she asked quietly.
He knew that he would not be able to lie to her as she would know instantly if he did, so he figured that telling a half-truth should not get him into a whole lot of trouble. "Yes and No."
She was only slightly surprised by his answer. She knew he was helping her if only indirectly. "Okay. Yes, you have met her and no, you have not. Which is it son? You cannot have it both ways you know. So tell me, when did you meet her, Daryan?"
He wanted to tell her, but somehow he couldn't make himself say the words; he couldn't tell his mother that he had enlisted her best friend to help him and his mate. Yes, he had known that the girl was his mate when he had first laid eyes on her from the Labyrinth's outer wall, for he had been sitting there sunning himself in his other form awaiting his mother's return from Above. He had taken one look at the girl and he knew that he had to help her. He looked at his mother with a pleading look and said quietly, "Well, you know how I can change into any living creature like you can?"
Sarah had an idea where he was going with his explanation, for she knew the girl was her son's mate. She had known from the moment she had been summoned to the girl's house. She also knew that the girl was not fully human but half fae, just as she had been when she had first run the Labyrinth.
She saw the look her son was giving her but she had made a promise to her husband that even though she knew that the girl was her son's mate, she could not allow her to finish her run. Yet, she still wondered how her son had been helping her.
"Daryan, I realize that she is your mate. The only reason I even allowed her to try to win was because she wanted to run the Labyrinth. I have no choice Daryan, I am sending her home."
"Mother!" he protested in shock, "Why?" he demanded moments later.
"Because, I made a promise to your father and I will not break it no matter what. I promise, the day your father returns, I will have her return and run again."
He wanted to argue with her but thought better of it. He knew it would get him nowhere. She had after all made the promise and he knew that she always kept her word. He only wished his father would be returning soon.
"Oh, Daryan, you never told me who you enlisted to help her." He did not answer her because his answer was written plainly on his face. He was not even trying to hide it from her. "Daryan! How could you?" she ground out before she disappeared.
Meanwhile....
Elisabeth was at an impasse. She was faced with three possible routes and was not sure which one to take. As she stood there contemplating on which path to take, Sarah appeared behind her.
"You know, you shouldn't be standing around wasting time when you should be moving" she heard the Queen say from behind her causing her to jump in surprise.
"Your Majesty. What do you want?" she said a bit testily at being interrupted so rudely.
Sarah understood the girl's irritation at being taken unawares, but she wanted answers. She had hoped that her best friend had not gone against her wishes yet she knew that he had. However, she wanted Elisabeth to admit his involvement. "Well, for one I want to know who has been helping you and I warn you do not lie to me for I will know if you do."
She swallowed hard and said timidly, "I don't remember his name Your Majesty, but it was a dwarf."
Sarah sighed and called Hoggle to her. When he appeared, he looked guilty. She knew that his intensions had been good yet he knew that he was not allowed to help any runner until Jareth returned.
Hoggle knew he was in trouble. He had despaired of any of the Queen's children ever finding their mates, so when Daryan had told him that the girl was his mate he had agreed to help her as much as possible without Sarah finding out.
"Hoggle. Why are you going against a direct order and helping this girl?" Sarah asked, betrayal lacing her words.
Looking up at his friend, he said downheartedly, "His Highness asked me to."
"I see. And you didn't think that I would find out, is that it?"
Hoggle could only hang his head in shame. He knew that she was mad at him and to tell the truth he was ashamed of himself as well. "Sarah, he asked me-no made me promise-not to tell you."
"Ahuh."
"I am sorry, Sarah."
"It's alright Hoggle; I am sending the girl home anyway."
Elisabeth shouted in frustration, "What!? That's not fair!"
Sarah looked at the girl solemnly and said, "No, it's not fair, but you will be returning to rerun it soon enough."
"What's that supposed to mean? And why do I have to rerun this monstrosity any way?" outrage tinged her voice as well as shock.
Sarah laid her hand on the distraught girl and saw that she would be returning sooner than she thought. Tears of joy filled her eyes as she pulled away from the girl. She waved a hand towards the girl and sent both- the baby and the girl- home. She transported herself back to the castle in a flash of glitter.
She reappeared in her chamber unable to stop the flow of tears. Jareth was coming home! The war was finally over! How had she missed knowing this all important event she was not sure, yet she was glad that it was now over with and he would be coming home. She changed quickly then headed to the town square, calling all the inhabitants to join her as she ran.
After arriving, she thanked them all for their quick response and then told them the news. Cheers went up from every direction and she couldn't help but smile. She knew that they had missed their King almost as much as his family had. The streets of the Goblin City broke out in celebration as the inhabitants celebrated the news and she returned to the castle.
She found her way to the library and sat down before she fainted from the shock. This was how her family found her.
"Mother, is it true? Is Father really coming home?" Mauve asked excitedly
"How long till he comes back?" Portia asked
Her children continued to throw questions at her and she was not able to say anything through the tears, she could only nod at their questions. Just then, Alyana looked up to see her father walking past the open door heading towards his chamber. She smiled and thought about telling everyone but she knew that he wanted to surprise her mother and so she kept silent.
Later that night...
Exhausted from the long day, Sarah made her way to her chamber slowly, heart heavy and yet light at the same time. How she longed to see her beloved husband again. She missed him so much that it was an actual physical ache that would not go away. She walked into the dark chamber-not seeing her husband standing by the bed-and walked straight for the balcony, as she did every night.
"Come home safely, my love," she whispered into the night air.
Jareth stood in the shadows by their bed and watched as she walked to the balcony. He couldn't believe that the beautiful creature before him was actually his wife. He watched as she released her hair from its intricate style as it fell in a black curtain down her back. He noticed that it had gotten longer since he had been gone. Then he heard her voice; a voice he had missed hearing so much for the past one hundred and ninety eight years. He was about to make his presence known when she suddenly turned towards him.
"Jareth?!" she voiced in a gasped whisper of surprise. She watched as he walked into the light coming from the balcony. "Oh Jareth!" she cried as she launched herself into his waiting arms. "Oh Jareth. I've missed you so much," she managed between the tiny, hurried kisses she was placing all over his beloved face.
He caught her lips then in a passionate kiss, conveying all the longing that had been building within him since the war had begun. Pulling back only slightly he whispered, "You have no idea as to how much I have missed you, my love."
Sarah took that as a challenge and said coyly, "Why don't you show me then."
Not needing any further provocation he pulled her down onto the bed and showed her exactly how much he had missed her.
"Please love, don't make me wait, please" she begged, needing him almost as desperately as he did her. He heard her plea and joined them together in one thrust. They both groaned in unison at the contact that for years had been denied them. He made love to her slowly drawing out their pleasure until neither of them could think straight. Only then did he hasten his thrusts. Seconds later they came apart, crying out the others name as the ecstasy flowed through them.
He pulled away from her and hugged her to him. Sarah's eyes began to flutter shut and she whispered softly before sleep claimed her, "I love you."
"I love you too, Sarah" he whispered back before sleep also claimed him.
The next morning Jareth was the first to awaken. He looked down into his wife's peaceful countenance and smiled. He still couldn't believe he was finally home and that he was actually lying beside her after all these years. Brushing a stray hair off her face, he bent and placed a gentle kiss on her temple.
"Mmm" she murmured in her sleep before resettling herself against him.
He couldn't help the grin that came over his features, but she had realigned herself perfectly and he quickly took advantage of the position, he heard her sigh of contentment and kissed her softly on the forehead.
"Is breá liom tú, mo bhean lómhara, banríon mo, mo ghrá ach" (I love you, my precious wife, my queen, my only love)
Finally opening her eyes she gazed up into his beloved face and smiled, "Chaill tú mé, mo ghrá" (I missed you, my love) she answered back. How she had missed hearing him speak in the ancient tongue. She loved hearing its lilt falling from his lips.
"Mé caillte agat freisin, mo ghrá" (I also missed you, my love) he whispered against her temple.
"Can you hold me, love?" Sarah whispered pleadingly. She never wanted to leave his embrace ever.
He complied with her request, never wanting her out of his arms ever again. They had been parted for far too long and he was not about to let her go again. He knew that the next time they parted would be the day they both died. So, he pulled her tighter against him, content just to hold her as they again drifted back to sleep.
Later on that day...
Sarah extracted herself from her husbands' arms only to look down lovingly into his peaceful face. How she had missed this, had missed him. She had to keep telling herself that he was truly lying there. Leaning down she placed a soft kiss to his temple and because she knew that he had not been sleeping well, place a sleep spell on him, so that he could get some well deserved rest.
She quickly readied herself to meet with Elisabeth. Taking one last look at her sleeping husband, she transformed into her favorite form and flew Aboveground.
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