Chapter Thirteen: Within You Without You
He stared down upon her relaxed face, stroking the soft strands of chocolaty hair that framed her endless beauty. He was amazed at how many differences he now saw. When he first set eyes on her, she looked like Sarah over twenty years ago. But looking at her now, she was a completely different woman. He hadn't seen much of her father, but there was a bit of the more unknown side of the family in her. The golden sheen in her hair, her wide smile, long and sharp angled nose…
"Aerynn, my love… you are more than anyone ever thought you were…" he whispered, kissing her forehead gently. She shifted slightly, turning closer to him. He smiled slightly, running his thumb against her cheek. Softly and quietly, Jareth slid off of the bed, padding over to the wardrobe. He pulled out a pair of jeans and a black shirt. Tugging on his attire, he pulled his hair back into a loose ponytail.
He stepped up to the ledge of the window, glancing around at the Underground below. It was quiet due to the late hour. He looked up, staring at the moon. He grinned, slipping off of the edge of the window sill. The world flew passed him, the sharpened rocks coming fast. Jareth saw the jagged points, but did not unfurl the wings hidden by magic. Just as he neared the edges by a few feet, he vanished into thin air, faery dust pouring across the space.
A thin sheet of sweat covered his face as his body felt compressed in a tiny ball; like being stuffed into a hamster toy. He ground his teeth together, locking his jaw. The pain was intense, beyond his memory. Spots danced on his eyes, breathing became difficult. When the pain, pressure, and oxygen loss was becoming too unbearable, Jareth found himself panting for breath outside of Aerynn's room, beneath her bedroom window.
"God I hate teleporting…" He said under his breath, glancing up at the twilight sky. Rain clouds were rolling over the peachy air, and he smiled. One of his favorite times of day. He sighed, resting his head against the wood paneling of the house, when he heard muffled cries within the room itself. Tilting his head up, his eyes scanned the framing of the window, the sobs continuing.
"What the hell?" He muttered, pulling out a crystal. The image of a familiar aged babe appeared inside the sphere. Sarah sat on Aerynn's unmade bed, crying while clenching something in her hands. Jareth dropped the crystal, letting it sink into the ground like it never existed. His body shifted, mended, and molded into the small owl, and he flew around to the front of the house. The window was still shattered from a few hours before. He soared inside, returning to his Fae form.
He strode to the door to Aerynn's bedroom, listening carefully. Sarah was still inside, he heard. Silently opening the door, he stared at her back as she sat hunched forward, sobbing further. He casually leaned against the door frame, watching her quietly. A smile formed slowly on his lips, and he began to sing softly.
"How you turned my world, you precious thing." Sarah spun around quickly, her eyes wide, her face red and tear stained. Anger and sadness ignited in the green depths, but she remained silent.
"You starved and near exhausted me. Everything I'd done, I'd done for you." He took a few steps into the room, his arms crossed over his chest. "And I moved the stars for no one. You'd fought so long. You'd fought so hard. Your eyes are still so cruel, just as I'm still "so cruel". Though I did believe in you. Yes it's true…" He stopped a few feet from the bed where Sarah sat, gazing at her with such emotion she almost looked frightened. "I lived without the sunlight. And I love without your heartbeat. I, I can live without you…" Sarah was silent only for a moment.
"What do you want?" Jareth smirked slightly.
"Checking in." He answered simply.
"Oh, so you can gloat about stealing my child? Just like you stole Toby?" Jareth raised his hand up.
"Ah, no. You asked for the child to be taken, and all those years ago, I took him. You cower before me now, I can imagine that I must be frightening. I re-ordered time, I had turned the world upside down. And guess who I did it for?" He knelt down to stand eye level with her. "You, Sarah. I was exhausted from living up to your expectations. There is but one thing I have come to tell you Sarah." He stood straight, turning away from her.
"What? What do you want to tell me?"
"I'm telling you before I tell her. I can already imagine what you might say. But… I'm still going to…" He heard movement behind him, seeing her shadow loom beside him. Her hand pressed against his shoulder.
"Jareth…"
"I'm asking… for your blessing, Sarah." He paused, turning around to face her again. "I'm asking for Aerynn's hand in marriage… and she will rule beside me in the Underground." He finished, gazing into her eyes as she just stared at him. They stood in silence for a long moment. Sarah's chin trembled slightly as tears rolled down her face again. She leaned forward, clenching his shirt as she shook against him. Startled, Jareth just stared down at her for a moment, before wrapping his arms around her comfortingly.
She pulled away, wiping her eyes. Jareth brushed her hair out of her face. She chuckled lightly, her face breaking into a slightly smile, before it vanished as quickly as it came. "J-just p-promise me one th-thing, Jareth." Her voice shook.
"What is that, Sarah?"
"M-make her happy. A-and when she is happy, make her h-happier. Give her th-the attention that her father couldn't give her… and the l-love Danny didn't have t-time to give her." She steadied herself, controlling her increasing anxiety. She inhaled slowly, closing her eyes, pausing. Her eyes then snapped open, the jade depths suddenly dark as she grabbed the collar of his shirt.
"And if you so dare as to hurt her in any way possible, and I hear word of it… Believe me, oh Goblin King, there are worse things than death that I could do to you." Jareth swallowed the lump in his throat, but he smiled anyway. Just like Sarah.
"I promise you now and forever, Sarah Williams. I will give her every ounce of love and attention that I hold within me to make up for what she is willing to lose. And I promise that she will stay in contact with you as much as she possibly can." A crystal formed in his grasp, and he held it out to her. Sarah seemed hesitant at first, staring at the clear orb, but she took it anyway.
"Then go, Your Majesty. Go and make her happy." She whispered softly, holding the crystal against her heart. Jareth nodded, molding into that of the owl, fluttering about the room. "Say hi to Hoggle and Didymus for me." She said as he soared out of the room, out of the house, and back home to the Underground, where his future wife remained in a blissful sleep.
Chapter Fourteen: The Eve of Innocence
Several warm days and nights passed in the healing Underground. Jareth began to notice that his citizens of the Goblin City were constantly poking around near his chambers whenever Aerynn was resting. And if they were unfortunate enough to be caught, he'd kick the down a flight of stairs, muttering curses under his breath. He wanted Aerynn's time in the Underground pleasant, and he didn't want anyone and anything disturbing her.
Sighing, the King sat down in a chair beside the large window, staring out across the large Labyrinth as the sun began to sink behind the horizon. His thoughts kept wavering between Aerynn; what her answer would be when he asked her to marry him, or even if she would accept him at all, and the meeting he had to attend to with the Council. He didn't know what they would think of him going against the old prophecy.
Running his fingers through his hair, Jareth sighed again, staring further out across the Labyrinth to the valleys beyond the edges of his vision. The Underground was a truly marvelous place, though it would take months or almost a year or two to travel to ever kingdom and city. In retrospect, the Labyrinth guarding the Goblin City was only a drop of the vast magical world.
Jareth closed his eyes, relaxing and clearing his mind, and he didn't hear the shift in the bed, the soft sheets rustling. Nor did he hear the gentle padding of bare feet across stone that approached closer and closer. He felt a small hand stroke his cheek, soft lips brush against his own. He opened his eyes, looking up at a well rested Aerynn, dressed in one of his black shirts and a pair of dark blue underwear.
He smiled at her, kissing her back. "You seem stressed, is everything alright?" She said, her voice smooth like rich chocolate. He glanced down her body, noticing how the torso of the shirt hugged her frame, her legs long and lean beneath the edge of the fabric. A purr bubbled in the back of his throat. Damn she looked good.
"Yeah. Just thinking about a lot of things." He answered simply, playing with a strand of her hair as she sat down on his lap, leaning against him.
"Like what?" He paused briefly. He didn't want to lie, but all the same… he didn't want to worry her, and he certainly didn't want to spoil the surprise that he had for her.
"Just a lot of things. Dealing with the goblins, fixing issues and minor chaos scenes." He inhaled once. "I visited Sarah earlier this week." He felt Aerynn stiffen slightly in his grasp, her heart beat increasing.
"And?"
"We talked briefly. She misses you. But she told me to just make you happy. I gave her a crystal so she can stay in contact with you. But I'm surprised at how well she can control her emotions. When I went to get you, she was the essence of furious. But in the short hours after when I went to see her… she was just sad."
"Well, Sarah never really did make sense." Aerynn laughed lightly, tilting her head, kissing Jareth beneath the jaw. He exhaled, moaning ever so softly. But she heard it anyway. "My, my, my Jareth… Did I hit a pleasure point for you?" She said, not moving a muscle in her body. When the King didn't answer, she kissed him again, lingering a little longer. She heard his breath hitch in the back of his throat, and as he exhaled, he shuddered. She chuckled.
"I believe I have…" She said, sliding her hand up across his chest, into his hair. She tugged his hair back, kissing the apple in his throat like a vampire to its prey. Her lips slid down his throat to the more bare parts of his chest. His hands traveled up her hips to her lower back, pressing her closer to his body. His breathing was ragged as he lifted her into his arms gliding across the stone. He set her upon the bed, kissing her passionately.
Her back arched as she sat up, combing her fingers into his hair again. He lifted his arms as she pulled his shirt up and over his head, breaking away for a brief moment. Aerynn tossed the shirt aside, leaning forward to capture the King's lips. Jareth unbuttoned her shirt, suddenly thankful he decided to pick up more "modern" clothes. Shoving the cloth off of the bed, Jareth moved forward, lying above Aerynn, his lips never parting from hers.
Eventually, she parted for the slightest of moments. "Help me." She whispered, gently clawing at the waist band of his pants. His hands covered hers as he slid the fabric away from his flesh. He kissed her jaw line, grinning as she let out a soft moan. He cupped her face in his hands, a slight sense of worry clenching at his gut. He pulled away, staring at her face.
"What…?" She hissed, much like he had remembered her doing what felt like years ago, when it was only about a week. He stroked her cheek gently, his gaze locked with hers.
"Are you sure?" He asked. She tilted her head to one side slightly.
"Am I sure about what, Jareth?"
"Is this what you want?" Her gaze shifted from his eyes, down, and back up. Slowly, she leaned forward, and kissed him again. A pit in his stomach bubbled like boiling water. His hands slid away from his face, back down to her hips, feeling newly exposed flesh. 'When the hell did she lose the underwear?' He thought, but didn't press it. Aerynn fell against the bed, pulling him with her.
It was slow at first, hesitant and gentle. Like taking the very first bike ride with the training wheels. That's what it felt like. But as they rocked together in a rhythmic motion, the hesitation melted away into a dance. He was the Hunter, and she the doe, back and forth fighting and yet giving in to everything. The sheets rustled, skin on skin slid against each other, and breathless whispers and cries rang around the King's solid chambers.
He felt her back arching as his lips caressed her breasts, the thin sheets serving as their only cover for their nakedness. Her fingers raked into his back, leaving thin red welts. There was pain from the impact, but from that pain the Goblin King moaned. He heard her laugh lightly as her delicate hands brushed his plastered hair away from his soaked face. He gazed down upon her, before bending lower, kissing her gently. His hips rocked, pulling away and crashing again and again against her.
Her legs wrapped around his waist, pushing him deeper in. He gently nipped the side of her neck, hearing her breath shudder and increase. The boiling pit in his stomach felt like it was about to explode. His heart pounded against hers as he kissed her again and again all over, moving faster and pounding harder. Hearing the way she began to shout his name was like a fiery melody to his ears.
Finally, he came and he could almost feel his seed shooting through her. She squeezed him with her whole body once more, before winding up breathless beside him, sweat drenching her entire frame. It didn't help that her lover was lying beside her, and he was just as hot as she. But she didn't really complain. It was a fire that they clung to like it would be the last thing they would ever feel. Their lungs ached from lack of air.
Aerynn turned onto her side, cuddling close to Jareth's body as he pulled the sheet around them. She smiled softly as his arms wrapped around her tightly. She inhaled deeply, letting her breath roll across his flesh. He tilted his head, kissing her forehead gently. She glanced up at him, still smiling. "I love you, Jareth." She whispered. He stared at her for a long while, before kissing her again.
"I love you too, Aerynn."
Chapter Fifteen: The Council
"Vizael, why do I have to be here?" Jareth groaned to his older brother, fastening the light blue cloak to his shoulders, brushing his hair out of his face. He had to meet with the Council about the situation with Aerynn. He blushed just thinking about her, how she twisted in his arms, shivering under his touch. The flames flickered on the torches lit along the hall, the marble flooring glowing a soft cream. The walls were made of a specialized Fae wood, which seemed to cast warmth.
"You're here because this is about you and your… crazy teenager emotions." The fire mage responded, trying to find the right words.
"Teenager emotions? Since when?"
"Jareth, can I ask you a simple set of questions?" The Goblin King paused beside his brother, glancing into the mage's eyes.
"And what might that be?"
"How many times have you kissed her?"
"What do you me—"
"Just answer me."
He sighed heavily, walking further down the hall to the Council Meeting room. "A good number of times. I don't know an exact number…"
"Mhmm, and how many times have you held her in your arms?"
"Er… quite a bit…"
"One last question for you, Jareth." Vizael paused, turning to his little brother. He inhaled, closing his eyes briefly like he was trying to say the words. "Have you… slept… with her…?" Vizael opened his eyes again, staring at Jareth for a long moment. The Goblin King fought back the blush that he could feel boiling along his skin.
"Well, I mean… Uh… I guess that I should say that… We haven't just not… Under the circumstances…"
"Just… answer the question."
"…yes…" Jareth didn't see the ball of flame until it was inches from his face. He barely had time to duck down to avoid losing the flesh on his face. He looked up, seeing anger seeping from his brother's being like a fiery aura. He backed away slowly, holding his hands up in his defense. Vizael stalked forward, keeping his voice low and in slight control.
"You had sex with a mortal child before she turned of age?"
"Vizael, can we please discuss this after my sentencing of death from the Council?" The fire mage sighed heavily, waving his hand in the air like he was saying, 'Whatever…' Jareth nodded once, following his older brother down the rest of the hallway to the large wooden doors. Roses were carved in the sleek surface, faeries and angels dancing along the border playing music in their pipes.
Vizael pushed the doors open with ease, gliding in to his seat among the Council. Jareth followed, standing before the semi-circle of the elderly and wise. Sitting at the head was Jareth's father, Xavier. Xavier had shoulder length white hair, tied in a loose ponytail with a silk black ribbon. His white robes molded around his body like the garments of an angel. To Xavier's left was a thin and pale woman with icy blue eyes, black hair, wearing robes of blue, a pendent made of crystal ice around her neck. To the right, Vizael sat, his eyes locked on Jareth. Every other member was adorned in black or green robes.
"Welcome, Jareth. I can assume that you know why you are here." Xavier said, his voice soft, fatherly.
"I have an idea, but I can assume that you will tell me anyway." The woman in blue stood suddenly, her eyes blazing.
"Don't back talk the Head of Council, Fae!" Her voice was like acid, frozen in time to the highest of bitterness. Jareth winced slightly, but Xavier raised his hand, motioning for her to sit back down. She didn't budge.
"Relax, Celeste. Jareth was merely making a remark. I was not offended at any means."
"But sir…" She continued.
"That is enough." Celeste sighed angrily, sitting back down in her seat, glaring at Jareth with her piercing eyes. Xavier sighed, folding his hands neatly in front of him, his dark blue eyes tired but full of wisdom. A lock of his white hair fell over the left side of his face, but he made no bother to move it out of the way. Jareth could see that his father was getting old, even in Fae standards.
"Now, Jareth, we've seen noticeable changes in the Labyrinth as well as the behavior with your citizens. There is a prophecy that foretold two ways of life depending on your choices. The power of your queen would save the Labyrinth, to put it simply considering no one truly could understand the prophecies. Is it true, that you have brought the chosen queen?" Xavier's voice was firm, but Jareth could almost see the excitement in his father's eyes. A pang of guilt slashed at his chests.
"Not exactly, sir. It is true that I have found love in a woman possessing magic. But…" His voice trailed.
"But what?"
"It is not Sarah." The members in the Council gasped in horrified shock, all but Xavier and Vizael. Celeste's eyes glowed with mock terror, making Jareth's blood boil beneath the surface. He never liked the ice mage.
"What do you mean? Who else is there aside from Sarah to possess such power?" Jareth inhaled deeply, keeping eye contact with his father.
"The daughter of Sarah." Celeste slammed her hand against the wooden surface of the curved table at which she remained seated. All eyes went to her, but Jareth had a good feeling of what she would say.
"This is an outrage, Your Honor! The prophecy foretold of Jareth's future with Sarah. Not the next line down!" Her attention turned to the Goblin King. "You should know the consequences for this treachery." Jareth clenched his fists at his sides, ready to explode.
"And what consequences would there be to face, O Gracious Celeste?" He snarled slightly, trying to keep control. The ice mage sneered.
"Why, we would destroy the child, and you would be left to die in you precious Labyrinth!" Xavier shot to his feet, glaring down at the mage.
"Enough, Celeste!" He roared. Celeste clenched her jaw, but faithfully stayed silent. "Yes, there are consequences that will be paid for this, but my son will not be left to die!" He sat down again, folding his hands in front of him on the table. "Jareth… you knew more than twenty years ago when you first saw Sarah that your destiny was to be with her. Now you come here saying that you are choosing her daughter?"
"Yes, sir."
"Tell me this, why are you giving up on your destiny?"
"Because," Jareth began, staring at his father. "I love Aerynn." Xavier blinked once.
"Is that her name?" Jareth nodded. "It's a beautiful name, I will admit. Why did you choose her?"
"Because she's everything Sarah isn't." His father nodded thoughtfully for a moment. Vizael sat motionless, just staring at his brother as he began to understand the young King. Jareth stood there, itching to leave the large room. But he couldn't until he was dismissed.
"Well, Jareth, I'm going to need to talk this over with the rest of the Council. Sometime in the near future, we will need to call an audience with Aerynn alone, and we see how she feels about life here." Jareth nodded again. "You are dismissed."
"Thank you, sir." He said respectfully, turning on his heel, and calmly walking out of the chamber. As the doors closed behind him, he ripped the blue cloak off of his shoulders, storming down the hallway, and tossing it on a silver rack. He trotted down a flight of spiral stairs, out into the courtyard of his father's palace. The morning air was chilly, but it felt pleasant to him.
Jareth began running down the stone path way, towards the cliff at the end by the oak tree. The edge came close, until he jumped off the ledge, falling towards the lake thousands of feet below. The crystal waters looked inviting, but Jareth's body molded into an owl, and he soared up away, heading towards the Goblin City.
Chapter Sixteen: The Labyrinth
I stirred from a restful sleep, gazing up at the stone ceiling. My hair was spilled around my head on the pillow like the petals of a flower. I frowned slightly, feeling an emptiness beside me. I turned my head, running my hand along the cold sheets. Where was Jareth at this hour? I heard the clock strike nine, and grinned. It'd be about five where my mother was. My face fell as my heart ached. My mother…
I sighed quietly, pulling the sheet away from my skin, and sliding off of the bed. I felt light, a peaceful feeling washing through my skin. I glanced at the mess of clothes strewn about the room, and I giggled. Right… that's why I felt bubbly. I padded over to the large wardrobe that Jareth had, pulling out fresh under garments, a dark blue poet shirt, and a pair of black leather pants. I pulled everything on, snatching a pair of boots as well. I tugged them on over legs of the pants, glancing at the pendent on the table. I lifted the crescent into my hands, sliding the cord over my head and around my neck.
I walked over to the large open window, gazing out across the Goblin City and the Labyrinth. It was so beautiful; I was puzzled as to why my mother never wanted to stay. I glanced along the streets of the city, seeing goblins of shapes, sizes, genders, ages, colors and status mingling around. At the front of the city stood a fox-like creature, mounted on what looked like a regular dog. 'Sir Didymus.' I thought, my eyes trailing to the center of the city, watching a towering furry beast trotting with what looked like a dwarf at his side. 'Ludo and Hoggle?' I thought, a smile forming. It wouldn't surprise me to find them. This was their home after all.
I turned away from the window briefly, seeing a rolled up piece of parchment on the chair. I crossed over to the chair, picking the paper up into my hands. I unrolled it, staring at the message scrawled in neat, curvy penmanship.
'Aerynn,
I had to leave for a conference with the Council of the Underground. I will be back shortly. In the mean time, if you are to awake and I have not returned, feel free to explore the castle or the Labyrinth itself. Try not to run into the fieries.
With love,
Jareth'
I smiled slightly, rolling the parchment back up, and setting it on the table. The sun was gliding across the sky, warming the land; a cool wind caressing the stone walls and huts that formed the Labyrinth and Goblin City. Everything was beautiful beyond my imagination, it created a warm feeling inside of me. I turned on my heel, walking out of the chamber, down a flight of stairs, down a few hallways, and out of the massive wooden doors of the castle itself.
The city lay not one hundred feet away from the front entry. The goblins bustled around, carrying goods to sell and trade. Not many looked pleasant, but they seemed happy enough. Like this was just another perfect day in their world. I trotted down the front steps, unnoticed by anyone. A wise old goblin with frayed white hair and soft golden eyes was giving away necklaces and bracelets made of random rocks and jewels. She handed me a necklace with red rocks and emeralds, patting my hand with a smile. "For beauty." She said, her voice crackly and hoarse, but still sweet. I smiled and thanked her.
I ventured further into the city, passing stalls and streets lined with goblins and dwarves selling fruits, vegetables, meats, tapestries, jewelry, and everything else that I could see. I spun around in a circle, taking in all the colors and smells, before bumping into a large hairy beast.
"Oh! I'm sorry, I wasn't paying—" I stared up at Ludo, Hoggle still at his side. They stared at me as I to them for a moment, the world blurring around us. Ludo spoke first in a soft voice.
"Sarah?"
"No… My name is Aerynn…" I began to say, but the dwarf finished my sentence.
"You're Sarah's daughter. I know." I glanced at him curiously.
"How did you know?"
"Because Jareth wouldn't shut up about you sometimes. Besides, your eyes aren't the same as Sarah's. And also…" He inhaled slightly, leaning close to me. "You smell strongly of peaches." I blushed. "How long have you been here?" I thought for a moment, trying to match all of the days together.
"Almost a week." I answered.
"Hmph. No wonder the changes are becoming incredibly conspicuous."
"What changes?" Hoggle snorted, leading me deeper into the city, towards the Labyrinth itself. Ludo padded behind us.
"About a month ago, the Labyrinth was nearly dead, the goblins were fiercer than any average beast in your world, and everything was in basic chaos. But slowly, things got better. The sun was less intense, the Labyrinth didn't look sick… the little things. It affected Jareth too, because for the first time nearly two weeks ago, he made his presence known to his civilians."
"How so?"
"He sang a familiar song about a baby and magic." For a moment I thought it was about Sarah, but then I figured that it might not have, because Sarah wasn't a baby, and she didn't seem to care for the word 'magic'. Let alone the true meaning.
"But then he kept disappearing a lot. One afternoon, there was some kind of shriek that just ran through our land. But before any of us could ask him, Jareth was gone. And now, here you are, and you say you've been here almost a week now." Hoggle finished, and I realized now that we were in a sort of courtyard, a large throne crafted of stone books in the center. I smirked slightly, thinking of the wise man and the hat. I hadn't actually read the entire section about it in Sarah's diary, but I had seen glimpses.
"I see." I said, sitting down on a stone bench. Hoggle stood as Ludo sat cross legged on the ground.
"But… I have a question for you." Hoggle said.
"And what would that be?"
"Er… how is Sarah doing?" I smiled slightly.
"She's alright. I didn't exactly leave her at the best of times, but I think she'll be okay. She has my Uncle Toby for a reason. And it seems as though he already knows of her adventure here. So she's not totally alone if she goes mad. Someone believes her." Hoggle glanced at me.
"She'd have proof of our world if she took the time to contact us. Shortly after she turned twenty or something, she just gave up on us. Stopped calling us when she needed us. We got lonesome here, unable to go to her during the many times of need." I nodded thoughtfully, glancing at a shrubbery in the shape of a faery. Hoggle remained silent for a long while, as did Ludo.
"Jareth left me a note back at the castle saying to try staying away from the fieries. Why is that?" I asked, looking over at the dwarf.
"It's because you're the spittin' image of Sarah. And the fieries feel like she needs to pay after humiliating them at their own game. Only Jareth knows what they would do to you, thinking that you were Sarah."
"Oh… I see." Hoggle nodded a few times. "I don't understand my mother. This is a truly remarkable place, and Jareth is an amazing man… he offered her dreams that no one else could have given her… She had great friends like you…" I trailed off as Hoggle nodded sadly, and Ludo whined. I looked out, passed the courtyard, over the hedges and walls of the Labyrinth to a range out mountains in the distance.
"Aerynn… I have another question for you." Hoggle's voice pulled me from my spacing. I looked over at him.
"Yes?"
"How long do you plan to be here…?" I lowered my gazed, staring down at the cobblestone pathway that wound through the courtyard. I had never thought of a question like that before. How long was I going to be here in the Underground with the man of my dreams? The man whom I had given everything I could to. My love, my heart, my soul… my very being even. I stood up suddenly, staring back at the castle.
"I uh… I have to go. There's something I need to discuss with Jareth…" I said suddenly, not listening to Hoggle's protesting comments. I bolted through a series of twists and turns, getting as far away from the courtyard as I possibly could. I didn't know where the fuck I was going, but I needed to find Jareth. 'How long do you plan on being here Aerynn? Maybe Sarah will need you. Surely your friends will wonder where you are!' I thought, jumping over a fallen branch that looked like it was covered in faery dust. My boots clacked against the stone, but my adrenaline was pumping so fiercely that I barely noticed anything around me other than the endless turns and pathways.
'Jareth, what are you planning?'