Hey people, here is the next chapter. Was supposed to just be a filler but it turned out rather longer as there seemed to be a lot to get through. Has some very difficult and odd content, so you have been warned. Please let me know what you think.
Love you all. FY.A xxx
Jareth landed them at the gateway to the Goblin City and together he and Nathaniel threaded their way through a series of backstreets until they reached a small wooden door, set in a low stone wall. Glancing over his shoulder Jareth placed his palm against the roughened oak and the door faded from existence in a curl of smoke. Nathaniel was standing next to him, staring at the stone without expression. Jareth seized his arm and pulled him through the archway into the castle grounds.
"Come," Jareth held out his hand to Nathaniel who stared blankly at him, making no move to take his hand. The small boy's face was drawn with fatigue, his grief draining his colour and his hair hanging lank, grey with the dust that clung to the blond strands. He was staring out over the calm waters of the lake. Jareth crouched down in front of him once more. "Nathaniel, I need you to listen to me. We need to get home." Nathaniel's eyes wandered over to Jareth's. "Nath, climb on my back."
Jareth had not carried Nathaniel like this for years. It was Rath who had wanted piggy-backs, while Nathaniel had preferred to act like a grown man. And as Jareth raised himself to his feet he could almost believe that the soft weight was that of another boy, the hands gripping tightly round his neck were those that had gripped there so many times before. But as Jareth closed his eyes and inhaled deeply the illusion was lost. The scent was subtly different and the breath caught on the great lump that had lodged in his throat. Jareth opened his eyes and lowered them to the ground, clenching his jaw as he stepped determinedly forward, one step at a time, back towards his castle.
Sarah knelt beside the bed in which they had laid Phoenix, Toby hovering uselessly in the background. True to Jareth's instructions, they had not touched the teenage girl except to move her into the castle although Sarah had drawn the two halves of Phoenix' night dress closed over her body, much to Toby's relief.
Sarah squeezed her daughter's hand tightly before pushing herself to her feet and hurrying to the window for perhaps the hundredth time since Jareth had left. She scanned the landscape again, but all seemed to still.
"Umm, Sarah?" At Toby's voice Sarah spun round sharply. On the bed Phoenix eyelids were flickering. The fingers on her left hand were twitching. Sarah hurried back to the bed and took hold of that seeking hand firmly.
"Hey Phoenix," she crooned quietly, "hush baby. Mummy's here. I'm here."
Behind her, Toby retreated into the shadows. Phoenix eyes opened, looking dazed and unfocussed as they roamed round the room before settling on Sarah's face. Her lips moved silently and Sarah leant her head down to try and catch the words.
"Mummy," whispered Phoenix, "Mummy."
"Yes love, I'm here."
Suddenly Phoenix eyes opened wide and she clutched Sarah's arm tightly. "Mummy. Where. Is. Daddy?"
Sarah didn't know what to say. She leant forward again. "It's ok honey, don't worry."
"No!" Phoenix screamed. "Daddy! Where is Daddy?"
"He brought you home honey..."
"Umm, Sarah?" Toby's voice interrupted but Sarah ignored him.
"...and he went to get the boys."
Phoenix' eyes were wide as they stared at Toby.
"Sarah?" Toby tried again.
"What?" Sarah snapped, irritated by the interruption.
"Jareth's back."
Sarah was on her feet and running to the door before Toby could say anything else. The door slammed shut behind her. Toby looked awkwardly over at where Phoenix lay. Her voice surprised him when she spoke.
"You're Toby, aren't you?" Toby nodded his head. "That was the name I heard Daddy screaming. Not out loud of course. In his head. Just before we passed...Oh God."
Her eyes widened in fright as the memories of what had happened swept back over her. Swiftly, his embarrassment forgotten, Toby crossed to her side and stretched out a hand to her. Phoenix flinched away, horror in her eyes.
"Don't touch me," she whispered, pulling her nightgown closer round her body. "What's wrong with me? What's wrong..." Phoenix' eyes rolled back into her head, her body going limp as her mind sought to protect her from the full horror of what had happened. Toby stared down at her horror struck, before bending down to place his ear next to her mouth. Her shallow breaths fluttered across his cheek and Toby sat back, relieved. Quietly, he moved from Phoenix' side to sit on a small wooden chair against the wall, watching the still body on the bed intently.
Jareth trudged across the lawn towards the steps to the castle door. Nathaniel's head rested on his shoulder, the boy's sleeping breath tickling against the side of his neck, his heart beating against his shoulder blade.
There was a bang and Jareth's head jerked up sharply, causing Nathaniel to slip sideways, his loosened grip almost allowing him to fall had Jareth not caught him just in time. The doors of the castle had flown open and Sarah was running down the steps towards them. Jareth lowered Nathaniel gently to his feet, the small boy blinking and staring at the grass.
Sarah hit Jareth like a whirlwind, flinging herself at his body so that his balance rocked and he nearly lost his footing. Her fingers scrabbled at his back in a brief hug before she turned and swept Nathaniel off his feet, seemingly not to notice his lack of response, the limpness of his limbs. She dropped him back to his feet and he subsided to the ground, leaning against his father's leg, finger tips tracing patterns on his ankle.
"Jareth! Nathaniel!" Sarah exclaimed. "But...but where's Rath?"
She spun around as though expecting to see him standing behind her. Jareth merely stood there, waiting until her eyes locked back to his.
"No," she whispered, shaking her head as though this would negate what Jareth had not said. "No."
And then she launched herself forward onto Jareth once again, her open palm connecting with Jareth's cheek so hard that his head snapped to the side and he stumbled backwards. Nathaniel fell sideways onto the grass, not bothering to pick himself up, just staring at the blades in front of his eyes as his mother screamed again behind him.
"NO!" Sarah's fists pummelled into Jareth's chest, becoming coated in his thick blood as she reopened the wound inflicted by the falcon. Jareth's strong arms wrapped round her back, holding her tightly to him as her blows became weaker and weaker. But still Jareth felt the need to say it and he fought the sickness rising in his stomach as he buried his lips in Sarah's hair and mumbled against her scalp.
"He didn't make it Sarah. I'm so sorry."
And the dam of strength broke so that now he was really crying. Tears flooding down his face as he clung to his wife for support while waves of weariness threatened to engulf him. It was Sarah who began to pull herself together first as she drew a deep breath into her shaking body, her voice stumbling over the words.
"N...N...Nathaniel."
Jareth reluctantly released his arms from round her, and looked down at where his son lay on the grass. His eyes were open but his expression was vacant, arms wrapped round his body as though trying to hold in his emotions, knees drawn up to his chest. Sarah knelt down behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Nathaniel did not react. Sarah looked up at Jareth.
"Did he see it?" she asked, her eyes filling with tears once more.
Jareth nodded his head, closing his own eyes against the pain in his wife's.
"He was with him."
Sarah stroked her finger down the side of Nathaniel's neck.
"Come on Nathaniel," she whispered quietly, "let's get back up to the castle. Then everything will be alright."
There was a loud crack and Nathaniel was on his feet as Sarah was catapulted backwards as though having received a powerful electric shock. Nathaniel stared down at her for a second, before turning and sprinting away from his parents up the castle steps, the doors crashing behind him.
Jareth looked after him for a moment, before turning and pulling Sarah up into his arms. She clung to him, sobbing against his shoulder. He ran his hands down her back, pressing her body against his, offering her as much warmth and comfort as he could through his pain. He kissed her temple briefly before speaking softly in her ear.
"You have to understand Sarah. Things will never be alright." Her sobbing increased and her fingers gripped his shoulders painfully. He held her for a few moments longer before prying himself away. "We should go after him."
"Wh...wh..what about Phoenix?"
Jareth cursed softly. "Is she awake?" Sarah nodded. "Go to her and hold her tight. Wait for me. I won't be long."
Sarah took a deep breath and pulled herself together.
"Where are you going?"
"To put Nathaniel into a dreamless sleep. He is too tired. And he can't think. And that way we can deal with Phoenix and not have to worry about him. One thing at a time. And Sarah?"
"Yes Jareth?"
"Never forget that I love you."
He turned away from her and strode across the grass into the castle. For a moment Sarah stared after him, before hurriedly following his path back to the main doors.
Sarah re-entered the room to find Toby sitting sheepishly in a chair by the side of Phoenix' bed, his hand clasped tightly in hers. Phoenix' eyes were shut, her head moving on the pillow as she muttered something under her breath. Toby looked up at Sarah with a half smile.
"I don't think she knows it's me," he said softly, glancing down at where Phoenix clutched his hand, "she sort of fainted when she began to remember what happened and sort of grabbed my...Sarah what is it?"
Toby broke off; suddenly noticing Sarah's tear streaked countenance. He rose to his feet quickly and carefully extracted his hand. He wrapped his arms awkwardly round his older sister, as she once more began to shake with tears.
"Rath," she gasped into his shoulder.
"Your son?" Toby queried.
Sarah nodded against his shoulder.
"Is he hurt?" Toby felt Sarah's fingers clutch the front of his T-shirt tightly.
"He...he didn't make it..." she gasped, echoing Jareth's earlier words. She could not bring herself to say that he was dead.
Toby gasped and pulled her closer, stroking her hair tenderly. An unbidden thought entered Sarah's head and she marvelled that this grown young man, who smelled of the city and of Aboveground deodorant, should be the same small boy she had rescued from Jareth's Labyrinth all those years ago. Phoenix stirred again and Sarah broke away, taking Toby's seat at the bedside and gripping Phoenix' hand tightly.
"Are you going to tell her?" Toby asked, his eyes flicking between Sarah and the bed, where Phoenix was clearly waking once more.
Sarah shook her head. "I'm going to wait for Jareth," she whispered.
As though roused by the sound of her father's name, Phoenix' eyes flickered open. "Daddy?" she asked again.
"Yes honey," a voice answered from the doorway and Toby spun round to see Jareth standing framed in the doorway. Phoenix' eyes locked on him and he quickly crossed the room to take his place on the other side of Phoenix, bending close and kissing her forehead. Her arms slipped round his neck as she buried her face against his shoulder.
"Nathaniel?" Sarah whispered, looking at Jareth.
"Asleep," Jareth answered, still smoothing the hair from his daughter's face as he extracted himself from her arms.
Toby shifted uncomfortably behind them, feeling like an onlooker on an intensely private scene. Then Jareth spoke to him without turning his head.
"Tobias. Go down the corridor and turn to the left. Behind the tapestry of the winged horse is an entry to a spiral staircase. Go down it and turn left then right. The third door on the right will lead you to the kitchen. Go there and ask the goblin to commence in making soup. I wager none will feel like more tonight. Go now."
Toby was greatly relieved to be able to leave the room, and pulling the door closed quietly behind him, he walked quickly down the corridor. Just before he turned the corner however he paused, feeling the wrench of his heart as the sound of girl crying reached his ears. He turned quickly and hurried on, trying to make his footsteps block out the noise, trying to get far enough away that that sound of pain would not reach him.
Jareth leant over Phoenix, holding her close until her tears began to subside. At last, she reached up a hand to rub her cheeks dry. Jareth drew back slightly and looked down at her. She was pale, though her cheeks were red and raw from the salt. She looked older and tired and there was still blood round her lips from her missing teeth. She raised her eyes to his.
"Are you...are you sure?" she asked in a small voice.
Jareth nodded his head and fresh tears brimmed into her eyes. "He's sleeping Phoenix, he's not coming back."
With one arm wrapped round his daughter, Jareth reached out his other hand to find Sarah's, as silent tears coursed down her cheeks too. As Phoenix shuddered in his arms, Jareth desperately wished that he could feel, could cry with them. But his body felt numb, purely functional. It was the blood specks on the sheet that caught his eye that finally prompted him into action.
"Phoenix honey, we need to get you sorted out. Heal you."
Phoenix shook her head and pushed him away, staring at him with wide eyes. Her voice was indistinct from crying and her missing teeth.
"I want it to hurt. It helps me understand."
"Understand what honey?" Sarah leant forward, heroically managing a reassuring smile.
"Why I ache."
Phoenix' words cut right to Jareth's heart. But he gently shook his head at her.
"Phoenix, I am going to heal you. If you would prefer, I could send you to sleep. And then you won't know anything about it?"
Phoenix seemed to consider for a moment. "No, I want to know what you're doing."
Her eyes displayed a fear that they would never have shown before her torment. Jareth bowed his head in acknowledgement of her decision. He raised a hand and beckoned into nothing. A basin of warm water materialised by his side. Reaching inside Jareth passed a damp cloth to Sarah, who silently began to wash the blood and dirt from Phoenix face, soothing the scald of the tears. Phoenix shut her eyes and sighed at the feeling. When her face was cleaner, Jareth held up his hand and Sarah stopped.
"In the absence of a healer, my magic is more than enough. However, I lack some of the finesse and training," Jareth paused, considering, "Sarah I will need a picture to work from. Imagine Phoenix smiling at you. Now, place your fingertip to my temple."
Jareth studied the picture Sarah was sending him, tallying it with his own memory of Phoenix' enchanting smile.
"Open your mouth honey," he requested, gently applying pressure to Phoenix' chin. His daughter obligingly parted her lips. Jareth placed his forefinger against one of the bleeding gaps, muttering under his breath as a point of white began to show. Hastily he checked his own and Sarah's memories, halting the growing tooth when it corresponded. Slowly he withdrew his hand and Sarah could not help but notice that his hand was shaking slightly.
"Are you alright?" she asked, taking his trembling hand in hers.
Jareth gave her a thin smile. "Tense," he replied. "I don't want to mess it up for my beautiful daughter. Among other things."
Sarah gave him an understanding smile and moved round the bed to sit next to him. She snaked her arms round his waist and he turned his head slightly, his eyes flickering shut for a moment.
"You are so strong," Sarah whispered in his ear, before kissing him softly on the mouth. "You can do it."
Jareth felt immensely grateful to her as he turned back towards their daughter. Sarah shifted up behind him; her arms still round his waist as she rested her cheek against his shoulder. Her warmth and comfort her balm to Jareth's soul and he carefully applied himself to the task of restoring Phoenix' teeth. One at a time, taking his time. Getting it right.
Finally he ran the tip of his finger over Phoenix perfect teeth and drew a deep breath. Phoenix' eyes opened and she slowly ran her tongue round the inside of her mouth.
"Does it feel right?" Sarah asked anxiously.
"I...I think so." Phoenix nodded her head. "I'm healed now thank you. Is it time for me to sleep?" Phoenix said, hoping that her parents would have forgotten about the other places she was damaged. She didn't want anyone to see. Didn't want anyone to know how dirty she was. Couldn't face anyone ever being anywhere near...there. Ever again. Quickly she closed her eyes, as though hoping to convince her parents that she was now asleep.
"Phoenix honey," Jareth's voice was soft. He had seen the fear in her eyes once more and it hurt him to hurt her more. "Phoenix honey, you're not done yet. You know that." Resignedly, Phoenix opened her eyes. "Would it help if I didn't touch you?" Jareth asked tentatively. "Would it be better if Mummy did it?"
Slowly Phoenix nodded her head.
"Jareth," Sarah began, "you know I can't..."
But Jareth held up a hand to silence her.
"You don't have to. Just a channel so I don't need to touch her."
Sarah nodded her head, not quite sure what Jareth meant but willing, as ever, to trust him. Jareth moved to open Phoenix' nightgown. She struggled away from him, holding the gown closed over her body, fear filling her eyes.
"No," she whimpered and her eyes filled with tears again. "I don't want you to see." She stared up at him through her fringe, shaking her head determinedly. Jareth took a deep, steadying breath.
"Alright Phoenix, we'll see what we can do." Jareth reached into the air once more and pulled out a strip of black material. Slowly he raised it to his eyes and tied it securely round his head. "Would you like to check it Phoenix?" he asked.
Jareth sat perfectly still as Phoenix sat up and raised her hands to his face, only flinching slightly when her fingers cane into contact with his skin. He felt her run her fingers tentatively along the edges of the material, ensuring there were no gaps. After a few moments he heard her lie back down.
"Alright Phoenix," he said as soothingly as possible, "Mummy needs to open your nightgown now. I want you to take my hand," he held his hand out blindly and felt her small fingers wrap round it, "and squeeze it when you're not happy or it hurts. Do you think you can do that?"
Phoenix nodded her head before remembering that her father could not see her.
"Yes," she whispered.
Jareth felt Sarah shift from behind him and heard the sound of rustling material as the torn and tattered nightgown as lifted away. Phoenix' fingers clenched round his for a few a seconds before relaxing slightly. He gave her a reassuring squeeze back. Jareth reached out his free hand and Sarah's fingers quickly interlace with his.
"I need you to visualise everything you see and think of sending it to me. Send me that picture so that I can see too."
"You tricked her!" Sarah's voice in his head sounded angry.
"No," he was quick to admonish her. "Phoenix knows perfectly well that this is what we would have to do. But if it helps not to have male eyes directly on her..."
"Alright," Sarah's voice sounded doubtful.
"Now Sarah, look at her and send me the image. I need you to concentrate."
Sarah's fingers tightened on his as Phoenix's had moments earlier. Jareth did not respond but waited in silence. After a few moments something tickled at the edge of his consciousness and he reached out quickly with his mind, trying to seize on to it and bring it in to focus. His daughter's face. Looking scared. Avoiding Sarah's eyes. Instead, looking at where her hand clasped his own. His own fingers looked strange through Sarah's eyes. He took a deep breath.
"Alright Sarah, I need you to look down slowly. Take your time. Just so that I can see the surface damage."
Against his back, Jareth felt Sarah take a deep breath and realised that, although Sarah had opened Phoenix' gown, she had not yet looked to see what physical marks were visible. The sight caused Jareth to want to vomit. He fought the seething tide of anger erupting in his stomach at what had been done to his daughter. Forced himself not to run straight to the Aboveground and squeeze the life out of Time yet again. Bruises and scrapes littered Phoenix' narrow ribcage, streaked with dirt. Over one of her childish breasts was clearly imprinted the mark of four fingers and a thumb, each print standing out in angry red and blue against the paleness of her skin. But it was the marks on the other breast that caused Jareth to curse explicitly inside his head and he felt Sarah tense beside him, her hand tightening on his as she heard him. Around the nipple, where the dusky areola should have circled, the skin as red and inflamed, blood oozing from the series of cuts quite definitely caused by teeth – a bite mark.
Phoenix whimpered and Jareth suddenly realised he was squeezing her hand so tight he was crushing her fingers. Hastily, he softened his grip.
Jareth took a deep breath. "Ok Sarah, touch each one, one at a time. Concentrate on feeling my magic channel from me through you. That's all you need to do. Oh and Sarah? Leave her breasts until we've got the rest. Start with the least traumatic."
Again Jareth felt Sarah squeeze his hand in acknowledgement. He waited until he saw Sarah's finger lay lightly over a bruise of Phoenix' collarbone, Phoenix wincing away from the contact, before sending his healing magic through Sarah, concentrating as hard as he could on channelling to his daughter. He bit his lip in the effort, the added difficulty of not being able to feel what he was doing increasing the pressure on his already over-tired system. But one by one the wounds began to heal until the only wounds left on her upper body were the deep finger prints and bite marks that covered her breasts.
Sarah reached out a finger and placed it gently against the first of the fingerprints. Phoenix turned her head away, biting her lip and clenching her fingers tightly round Jareth's hand. Immediately he stopped the flow of magic and spoke out loud.
"Sarah, stop." He withdrew his hand from Sarah's so that he could no longer Phoenix face. "What is it Honey? Are you alright?"
The only sound that reached him was a convulsive sob from Phoenix as she pulled her hand from his and crossed her arms over her chest. Blindly Jareth leant forward and wrapped his arms round her, cradling her close.
"Ssshhh," he crooned on her ear as he felt Sarah's hand rest between his shoulder blades before moving to untie the blindfold from round his head. He blinked in the sudden bright light and bent his head to kiss the tear form Phoenix' cheek. She turned her head to look at him.
"Daddy..." she whispered, and wrapped her arms round his neck.
Jareth held her, rocking her back and forth as Sarah rose and moved to the other side of the bed.
"Phoenix darling?" Sarah smoothed the hair from Phoenix' face once more. "Phoenix it will be over much quicker if you just let Daddy see. So what I need you to do is be brave girl, hold tight on to me and just let Daddy finish. Do you think you can do that?"
Phoenix nodded her head slowly. Reluctantly, she took her arms from round Jareth and wound them instead round her mother. Sarah gathered Phoenix into her arms as best she could so that Jareth could still get access.
"Ready Honey?" Sarah asked.
Phoenix nodded against her neck, her arms tightening. Jareth's eyes met Sarah's briefly. Jareth dropped his eyes to his daughter's body and extended his hand. Her breast was warm and soft against his fingertips, making him want to recoil from touching his daughter in this way. He forced his mind to concentrate, bleary as it was from grief and tiredness. Swiftly, he healed the damage so that Phoenix' skin was once more smooth and pale.
Jareth shifted further down the bed, hating himself for what he was about to put his daughter through, loathing himself for the need to do it. Gently, he placed one hand under Phoenix' left knee, lifting it and bending it. He reached over and did the same with the other one, opening her to his gaze. Phoenix whimpered and Sarah pulled her closer. Jareth could her Sarah murmuring into her hair, trying to comfort her. Slowly, Jareth lowered his eyes. Bruises marred the insides of her thighs making them appear to be mottled blue. The downy fluff of her public hair seemed to have been burned and her clitoral hood was so inflamed that nothing could be seen within in it apart from a smear of blood. Blood was leaking from her entrance as well, the edges ripped. A long strip of flesh had been torn away, extending up inside her.
Jareth drew a calming breath before setting to work, starting with the bruises on her thighs. He ran his hand over her sparse hair, reducing the singed appearance, but did not try to restore it, having no idea what it had been like before the encounter. He withdrew his hands and flexed his fingers in front of his face, trying to relieve the stiffness that was growing in them, before bringing his fingertips down to rest lightly just above her clitoral hood. Phoenix moaned and instinctively tried to clamp her legs shut but Jareth held them firmly in place as Phoenix' sobbing increased and Sarah shot him a look that clearly said to hurry up. Closing his eyes and surrendering to the feel of his fingertips, Jareth sought out the source of the swelling and sent waves of coolness through his hands, soothing the angry inflammation. As the swelling reduced he was relieved to see that only a nail scratch had caused the blood from her clit itself, and nothing more serious or lasting. He shuddered as he remembered the council's wish to circumcise Sarah when she had first arrived, and knew that he would never have been able to forgive himself if that had happened to Phoenix.
He looked back down. Just one area of damage left to go.
"Phoenix Honey I need you to really brave for me for just another couple of minutes." Jareth paused, wondering how best to phrase the next part. "You've got quite a bad cut which goes inside you. Do you know where I mean?" Phoenix nodded against Sarah's shoulder. "In order to see how bad it is, and to heal it, I am going to have to put two of my fingers inside you as well." Sarah glanced round at Jareth, and he indicated the cut. Sarah nodded her head in understanding.
"Phoenix," Sarah whispered in the girl's ear, "I want you to squeeze me very very tight. Are you ready?"
Phoenix whimpered but nodded her head. Jareth flexed his fingers before bringing them to Phoenix' opening, healing the ragged tearing at the entrance. Phoenix was so tense she was shaking. As Jareth carefully pushed two fingers inside her her whole body rose off the bed in protest at the invasion, her crying becoming louder as Jareth forced his fingers deeper, searching for the furthermost end of the cut. Jareth's fingers were buried almost as deep as they would go when Phoenix suddenly went completely rigid, shuddering in shock, before collapsing in a dead faint, her arms falling from round Sarah's neck. Jareth looked up at Sarah and saw his own relief reflected in her eyes. Hastily, while he did not need to be so gentle, Jareth pushed deeper, finally finding the topmost point of the wound and carefully healing down its entire length. Breathing a deep sigh of relief, Jareth removed his fingers, washing them in the basin of water.
Jareth and Sarah looked down at their unconscious daughter.
"Will she remember, do you think?" Sarah asked, her voice full of worry.
"About the healing? Or about the ordeal. Or...about...Rath?" Jareth queried, his voice breaking once more. A wave of tiredness hit him and he swayed on his feet.
"You need to sleep," Sarah stated but Jareth shook his head.
"No. I need to speak to Nathaniel. I...I don't know if you noticed, but he hasn't actually spoken since he told me about Rath."
"He told you? But...but I thought you saw it. I thought you were with him." Jareth shook his head and Sarah buried her face in his chest. "If...if it had to happen, I...I just wish one of us could have been with him."
"He wasn't alone," Jareth's voice held so much pain that Sarah looked up at him, expecting to see it on his face but his expression was blank. "Nathaniel was with him. Which is why I need to speak to him."
But Sarah shook her head firmly. "No, not now. Let the child sleep out his dreamless sleep. At the moment, you need to rest. You're practically dropping. Come. To. Bed. Now." Jareth opened his mouth to protest but Sarah held up her hand. "Please Jareth," and her voice was suddenly full of pleading, "right now I need you too. I need you to hold me. Be near me. Love me. I have just lost my son. Do this for me."
Slowly, Jareth nodded his head. He placed his hands on Sarah's cheeks and kissed her softly on the lips before passing her and placing his fingertips to Phoenix' temples, sending her too into a dreamless sleep. Then he turned and took Sarah's outstretched hand, allowing himself to be lead from the room, back towards his own chamber, stumbling like he was already sleep walking. His body finally giving out on him, after the trauma of all that it had faced that day.
Toby, rounding the corner, was just in time to see Sarah and Jareth enter the door to their chamber. Both looked broken and weary, as though carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. Their loss weighing them down. Sighing, he returned to Phoenix room, pulling the bed covers further up to her chin and taking his place in the chair by her bed once more. Reaching out, he lightly brushed the back of her hand with his, and in her sleep Phoenix twitched, her fingers closing tightly round Toby's hand so that when he woke a few hours later, his head was resting on his crooked arm on the bed, his hand still held firmly in Phoenix's.
Please review and tell me what you think? xxx