Chapter 5
Jareth was not in a merry mood. He felt extremely weak and ill; his body was cold. For the life of him he could only remember falling ill twice in his life, and both times they involved him being around iron.
He racked his brains and then recalled he had been watching Sarah on an iron balcony. How could he have been so stupid—it would take days of resting to recover his magical stores and he didn't have that. In the morning he would have to collect Sarah, unless he sent someone else to fetch her for him.
He could do that, but it would have to be someone trustworthy and he didn't feel secure entrusting anyone with his…yes; well…he didn't want to allow his brain to travel that far in this state.
"Flobby!" Jareth shouted. He waited till that weird, sexless goblin came in. "Go find the Captain of the Guard and have him meet me in my study. Immediately. He must not dally any or else, tell him that. It's a matter of life and eternal damnation. Go," he waved to the red tufted goblin who scurried out of the room.
Jareth rose out of bed, flipped his wrist to be attired in fresh clothes and went into his now clean throne room. He had countless Princesses, Queens, Duchesses, Countesses and other nobilities from the other Kingdoms to welcome to a stay at his castle.
He just hoped he wouldn't pass out from exhaustion.
Sarah was exhausted as she just went to sleep when she got home, expecting everything to have been a very bad dream. However, she had quite a rude awakening:
Sir Didyimus had just shoved her out of bed and she was now looking up at him from the floor. He was staring down at her from her bed.
"My lady? I beg your pardon, but my stead just leapt up here and in his haste, budged you to your current location. I trust you are not hurt?"
"I don't think so," Sarah rubbed her shoulder where it had crashed on the ground. She saw that Lancelot was trying to cover his face with his paws. "Wow, I was thinking that this whole thinkg was just fake again, seeing Jareth yesterday and now you guys. It's the real deal. Aw, Lancelot, you didn't mean it," she rose and rubbed the dog's ear and it started licking her palms happily.
"Lady Sarah, we are here to escort you on his Majesty's orders. Also, he made requests that you are to wear his gift as soon as you are in the Underground."
"What is with that ring? He's making such a big deal about it," Sarah started walking off to the bathroom to brush her teeth.
"My Lady? He hasn't told you?" The guard jumped over to the door and lowered his hat and bowed towards Sarah.
"No. What are you doing here if they are connected?"
"Rumors are my lady, that His Highness is required by law to invite all eligible ladies to his ball being held in his honour for his birthday. This year is the year he is to be required to enter into a marriage—"
"What?" Sarah screeched.
"His gift is a sign that you would be off limits—not a courtesan or anything and that—"
"He's marking me as his property?" Sarah stormed over to the little dog.
"I wouldn't say quite—"
"He is, isn't he? Oh my God—there is no way I'm going to go around as his! He has to marry? Is this a joke? Who would marry such an arrogant, twisted--ugh!" Her vocabulary failed her in her temper. She wouldn't admit to anyone ever, not even her conscious self that as a young girl the Goblin King had frequented her dreams, making her feel unlike any other has just by his presence in memory. Then eventually memories became hazy and she, as she aged, invented new fantasies using him as some brooding Bryonic hero or such and even though she had never done anything yet with a man--she had yet to even have her first kiss--she knew the basics from reading, gossip and t.v. and somehow, her subconciousness more than made up for experiences in her dreams and practicals on said king. There was just something electrical about that man, and even though last night was a dreamless night, she had no doubt she know had enough fodder of him to last many years more with that last refreshing visit.
"That's quite understandable, my lady, however, I believe this is for your protection, as with his seal, you are untouchable—goblins aren't the only beings in the castle anymore—"
"Nope! Tell him, I'm not going. I didn't get an invite, he's demanding me! He just shows up out of the blue, so no—" Sarah was not listening in her little ranting.
"You actually did have one, but it expired in that letter so his majesty came down himself. He's done that for no one else in the Kingdoms--"
"Agh! That man is beyond frustrating! I'm not going!"
"Unfortunately, my lady, I give you no option. Your presence is required, and I cannot leave until you return with us."
"Why? Why is my presence required? If I come along, I got more than one thing to say to that ungrateful, demented, full of himself…" Sarah started muttering and slammed the bathroom door to get dressed.
Jareth was resting in bed. He was feeling slightly better, he had to admit, neglecting his duties such as greeting his suitors and whatnots. If he hadn't been about to enter his obligatory marrying age, there would be no doubt that this would be a smashing birthday full of party guests and courteasans, prostitutes and all sinful delights running rampant around him, keeping his mind off of finding a queen.
His father had told him it didn't matter who she was to be as long as an heir was produced, love would follow.
His mother told him he would know when he found her. She should challenge, encourage, be fresh and refreshing. Most of all, spirited. And she also said, "Don't listen to your father". He always listened to his mother.
He also knew when his heart told him that he had found her, even though she wasn't of age in either world, he would wait and let her mature in peace, without him watching and waiting. But he was waiting, and trying to forget her. That didn't happen as her memory was insistent, and everytime he had a runner in the Labyrinth, they would just whine, or agree for him to take the child. There was either no challenge, no fighting, no pleading to run it, or there was but hardly anyone talked to Hoggle, or couldn't even get in the Labyrinth. Those who did, well, they never could get further than the other walls.
She was everything his mother said she would be, and then more. Much more. For one, she wasn't fae. That was a problem. As a mortal, she would age faster than him and die. Only once was there ever a human mortal that lived in the Middle Kingdom, but it was a male who had fallen in love with a Succubus. He died. That was all he could find in literature on that. It was over 1000 human years ago.
Slightly more recently, in Jareth's own family, actually, (after Sarah's dissapointing victory and departure and Jareth's self-induced depression/seclusion) he had found he had had a distant and many generations ago had an uncle who had fallen in love with a mortal girl in the Mediterrean. He had found a way to convert himself into a mortal and lived out the rest of his days with her and died.
Jareth wasn't too keen on the idea of either him or Sarah dying. No one should die if they could avoid it. It was just a waste.
But, when his depression was worsening, he was thinking what would be life without the one you loved. Or, even if you told them they loved you, and you were together and she was dying, how could he just let her? He could die himself just thinking of her dead.
That was when he had the brillient idea.
He would convert her to be like him: Sarah Williams was to become Fae.
Of course, he had yet to tell her. He had yet to tell her his feeling for her, that he wanted to marry her, that she was to be his intended and that she would be his Queen of the Underground and of his heart and that...well...she might not take to the conversion part very well, but she would come around.
No one ever said "no" to him.
No one.
No one... but Sarah Williams.
He hoped she wouldn't say no to him now she had time to grow up. He was offering her everything and more. Eternal life with him, even if they seperated, he would be glad she was out there, somewhere living. When a Fae really fell in love, they loved for life. And life for them was eternity. And Jareth, though he wouldn't admit it to himself out loud nor in his mind, believed that something was there that was just lacking with all the rest. For years now, she was always just on the horizons of his thoughts.
Sure, he could play around with others, but it was for pleasure, fun. Nothing was like the addiction love was, it was like a disease to him and he couldn't quite tame it until he had the right drug.
Jareth just had to find a way to convert Sarah and he was hoping the High Courts would present a way how to do it once it became official of Sarah as his intended. It was either they agreed, or Jareth would lose his kingdom if he didn't give her up. Niether seemed like viable options for him.
Jareth, still in bed, conjured a crystal, dancing it around his hands before peeking at the guests already invading his castle.
Of course, the Vampires from the Far Kingdoms were early. They arrived last night. They would be the most closely watched as they were forbidden to feed in their world by the Courts. They did their hunting in the Upper World of Earth and if they smelled Sarah, here, they might be able to abstain themselves. Or, if she returned to Earth, out of Jareth's reach (he could only make so many trips before his magic drained with running the Labyrinth and such) she could be in danger if they followed her.
Then there were the witches. Only a few of them were present, the rest would arrive much later. Some were beautiful, others hag like. There were all sorts attending his ball. Some other quests were fairies, selkies (he had no idea how that relationship would work out truthfully, but he was good at hiding things), giantesses (he just didn't want to go there), more vampiresses (Sarah better put that damn ring on or else hell would be paid if she was bitten), witches, elves, sirens...the list went on and on and the castle was still being prepared for the party. It was to be a masquerade--he grinned--Sarah would just love that.
And then Jareth's parents were coming...oh, did he have news to tell them. He was just sure his father would be open to his unrequited love interest.
Sarah, my dear, will this all turn out to be a piece of cake?
The crystal shattered on the bed post turning into a breath of golden glitter that disappeared before it fell on the comforter.