The lack of warmth helped lift the fog from Sarah's mind. What just happened? She raised a hand to her tingling lips in wonder. He had kissed her, and she had kissed him back. His kiss was familiar yet different. Like two different kinds of wine that came from the same grapevine. They had similar notes and flavors, but a different body and weight to each of them.
She looked at Severus, who was standing at more proper distance now. His eyes held a strange hint of triumph and the way he was looking at her made her flush. He looked ravenous and the only thing to sate his hunger was her. She felt like he was ready to pounce on her, lift her skirts, and bury himself in betwixt her thighs, making her moan and keen.
Sarah tilted her head against the wall behind her and let the thought fill her mind. Their coupling would be different, she decided. Much more raw and animalistic. Blood would be drawn, whether by nails being raked against backs or by love bites, she wasn't sure, but she believed it would be a factor. And passion- his would be a passion that would outstrip Jareth's tenfold- she knew it from that single kiss.
Would she be willing to lose herself in that passion? For a year or even more if she chose? She looked at him again. Irresistibly drawn to him, she stepped closer, hand raised with the intent to stroke his cheek, slide her fingers in his hair. Was it greasy as it seemed, or was it soft and silky?
And he let her. Closing his eyes and pressing his cheek more fully into her hand, Severus savored Sarah's freely given touch. He turned his face into her palm and kissed it, hearing her suck in a breath and attempt to stifle a moan.
Severus wasn't above taking her here and now, up against a cold stone wall. He doubted that he could apparate them to a softer place where he could take his time, learn all her secrets and wishes. He smiled inwardly. Their shared chambers would be perfect- especially if his half-brother unexpectedly walked in. Imagine the look on Jareth's face to see his Sarah bucking beneath me. Clawing my back until it bled. Calling out my name as I fuck her.
Instead he said, "We should go. Don't you have a meeting with the harvesters?" He knew from past experiences, other liaisons, that these things take time.
Sarah was once again brought back to reality and fully realized just whom she was caressing. She dropped her hand. "Yes… I… yes." She was unsure of how to verbally regain her composure. "Forgive me." She darted away from him, giving them both more room.
Gentlemanly once again, Severus offered her his arm and they stepped out of the alcove and into the warm sunlight together.
Flying was, quite literally, one of the high points of being the Goblin King, and it was something Jareth relished. It wasn't uncommon for the Faerie to change form, and they came by it naturally, unlike the Wizarding population. It was a kind of magic that was second nature to them- almost like breathing.
He dipped his wing and turned a wide circle, taking in the greenness of the Elvin land that bordered his. It was one thing he wished his Labyrinth had more of, for it was more dust and fallen trees than anything. However, it wasn't meant to be a pleasant place to the Runners. Trees and greenness would give them hope, unlike the barren wasteland that most of the Labyrinth was composed of.
Not that his lands didn't have forests and trees- they did, but theirs was a different green, not as rich or as healthy looking as what the elves had. Now that he had Sarah at his side, maybe they could work on sprucing up the forest a little. It was one of her favorite places, after all.
Slowly the land passed beneath him, gaining a more brownish tint to it; he was nearing the border. And from up here he could survey the damage. The reason for his visit today was to renegotiate a treaty between the Elf and Goblin kingdoms. The time limit of the original document had run its course, and with being newly married, Jareth had let renewing it lapse.
That lapse had led to damage to the border between the two kingdoms. Centaurs were designs of the Elvin Land, not Goblin, and many, many centuries ago, they were able to roam freely between the two kingdoms. They caused a sizeable amount of damage to Jareth's land, for they had a habit of stampeding through the Goblin City and coating themselves in the muck from the Bog of Eternal Stench (why they did that, he had no idea).
With it being nulled due to the time frame running out, the Centaurs took it upon themselves to break down the wall and were found frolicking in the Bog. They were returned to their proper lands shortly, and a temporary border was magicked in place by Jareth himself.
However, it wasn't something he could maintain long term. A new document had to be signed and a more permanent wall put up. He sighed as he flew. Jareth loved being King more than anything. In his mind, it was the ultimate way to help others, whether it be adopting out unwanted babies to barren Fae couples and ensuring that they had loving homes, to attending meetings and figuring out what was best for his people, to making improvements on roads and buildings. It was the greatest self-sacrifice and he loved it all.
And yet, at times, especially now that he had Sarah, Jareth felt more obligated than happy. Why spend hours on end listening to goblins gibbering and chickens pecking at stone floors when he could be with her? Reading, dancing, conversing, joining her in excursions to the Above. Teaching her how to grow and control her magic. Spending evenings holding her, touching her, loving her… being loved in return.
He blinked. He could see the broken border up ahead with a line of goblins at the ready to rebuild the fallen wall. Flapping his wings to quicken his pace, he spotted a pair of horses lazily meandering down the path with riders atop. Looking closer, Jareth noted that the horses traveled side by side, not in a line, as usual. They were close- too close, for he saw Severus easily reach to tuck a stray hair behind Sarah's ear.
He wheeled in the air again, circling unnoticed above them. I could… but no, it wouldn't be dignified. Oh, but it would feel so good to just let go. Dipping a little lower so he was directly above them, Jareth slowed to keep just behind the horses. His aim: the back of Severus' frock coat. He literally let go and left a long white streak dribbling down the perfectly tailored and expensive fabric.
Still unnoticed by the pair, he sailed ahead and transformed a few feet above the ground, landing like a cat.
"Jareth," Sarah called out, a bit surprised. "I didn't see you flying; have you been waiting long?" She pulled her horse to a stop and waited for him to lift her down.
"I just got here, dearest." He lifted her from the animal's back, pulled her into a hug but couldn't keep himself from laughing lightly.
She pulled back a bit to study him. "What's so funny? Is my hat askew?" She patted her hair, trying to feel if it was.
Jareth chuckled, mirth and lightness filled his eyes. "You're as perfect as always. You know how I feel after a good flight." He kissed her sweetly. Addressing both, Jareth assured them that this should take no more than five minutes and headed over to the waiting group of goblins, Sarah trailing in his wake.
Severus dismounted his own horse and walked over to watch. A few crystal balls were thrown. 'Pansy,' he thought. Orders were given and the goblins started their task. He snorted and turned back towards his waiting horse. We travel all this way just so-
A snicker emitted behind him. He stopped in his tracks. Sarah trotted over with a silly grin on her face. "Um… you have a bit…" She gestured to her own back. "Of, ah, poo on you."
He turned away from Sarah, who had her mouth clamped shut to stifle more snickers, and glared at Jareth. Jareth was more composed than his young wife, but his eyes danced with laughter. "Must have been the crows," he said.
But Severus knew better. With a flick of his wrist, his wand was in his hand. A spell spoken and a tap on his back… "Better?" he asked, looking over his shoulder at them.
Jareth's lips twitched. "Yes, but, well, now it's a bit pink."
"PINK!" Severus yelled, turning to face both of them. "What do you mean it's pink!?"
"Pink," Sarah piped up and she leant a little closer, making a face, all traces of laugher gone. "Ooh, and it smells a bit like brownie vomit."
"VOMIT!" He now roared. "Why is it that no magic ever works in this place!?"
Jareth tilted his head to the side, considering that statement. "Well, isn't that why you're here, brother? To blend our worlds?"
Severus was fuming but he closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself. "I was distracted, as you know," he bit out. "By Sarah."
"Sarah," Jareth echoed, looking at her. She had moved herself away to escape the smell. "Darling," he called. "Come here, I want to see if you can fix this."
She came over to them, keeping herself upwind of the smelly Severus Snape.
"Remember the cleaning spells I taught you?" Jareth asked. She nodded. "This will be a perfect opportunity for you to practice."
"Oh, no! I'll get it out myself." Snape made to poke his wand in the general vicinity of the stain.
"Severus," Jareth admonished. "Sarah's perfectly capable to clean the, ah, poo, off you. Just hold still."
Severus lowered his hand and turned his back to them. "She's not going to turn me into a toad?"
"Toad? No, her powers aren't that strong yet. A worm, maybe." Jareth glanced around. "There aren't any chickens about?" He grinned at his wife, who grinned up at him, both internally laughing at the idea of Severus the Worm being chased by a hungry chicken.
"Now," he said, more seriously, to Sarah. "Just like we practiced."
Severus closed his eyes and waited to be turned into a worm or get hit in the head with one of those infernal crystal balls. But nothing like that happened- just a tingle of magic flowed around him, followed by silence.
Sarah's bell-like laughter rang out, mingling pleasingly with Jareth's deep barks. The King and Queen were nearly doubled over, holding on to each other to stay upright.
"What?" Severus asked, confused. "What happened?" Did he have a tail or something?
"Glitter," Sarah was able to eke out amidst her mirth. She gave up standing and sat on the grass beneath her, still laughing.
"Glitter?" Severus looked around. "What's glittered?" Then he noticed he was covered-just covered-in glitter. Stalking over to a nearby stream, he looked at his reflection. From head to toe, every inch of him was coated in the stuff.
Jareth composed himself and walked over to Severus. "Well, that does happen here." He dared to smile openly at him.
Snape flicked his wand out again and tried to vanish the stuff away. "Don't!" Jareth cried too late. The faulty spell embedded the glitter to Severus's clothes, skin, and hair. There would be no getting the stuff out for weeks.
Still smiling openly at the glittery man, Jareth said, "Well, an eye for an eye, eh?" And winked his odd one at him.
AN: I do not own any of these characters- they are the property of their respective owners.
I know this one is short but it was a lot of fun to write.
Betaed by AnonyMissJ. I wouldn't be able to do this without you.