Hello! Hope this chapter is okay. It's not action packed but it was needed information. I think by chapter 17, Sarah's old friends will visit! Please review! It makes me write faster!
Bentley felt as if there were hundreds of fairies dancing about in his stomach as he gazed into Arianna's eyes for the first time since she had come to the Underground. I wonder if this is what Jareth felt when he saw Sarah again. Bentley thought to himself. Bentley took Arianna's hand and gave it a kiss, "It is very nice to see you Arianna," Bentley said as he flashed his irresistible smile that always made the fae women swoon.
Arianna definitely noticed Bentley's smile and his dimples. She felt quite light headed at the sight of Jareth brother. She feared looking into his eyes for too long, for she knew that she could get lost in them forever, but she didn't want to stop looking into them neither. Like Jareth, Bentley's eyes did not match. One was a darker, almost midnight blue, while the other eye was ice blue. They complimented his title of king of the Mountains because the darker eye was quite like the sky that blanketed his land at night, while the other eye was like the sky on a clear, mountain day. Arianna blushed at her immediate and intense attraction to Bentley. "It is very nice to meet you, your majesty," Arianna said while making a slight curtsy. Sarah was surprised with how Arianna had adapted so quickly to dealing with royals.
Bentley pulled Arianna's chair out for her, so that they could finish their meal. Jareth did the same for Sarah. Once they were all seated, the servants brought out the next course. It was a beef sirloin, yet another favorite of Sarah's. Sarah was nearly positive that this was no coincidence. It was served with a sort of spicy mustard sauce on the side. It was entirely delectable. Sarah looked at Jareth with a big smile and said, "Jareth, the food is amazing here!" Jareth smiled as his wife. He was glad to see her happy. Every time she smiled, Jareth felt his own stomach fairies dance. "I am glad you enjoy the food so thoroughly, dear. I shall let the cook know how much you enjoy it," Jareth said to Sarah.
Once the main course was finished and cleared from the table, Sarah could not believe that dessert was being served. Back home, lunch tended to be a small meal. They were having a small feast instead. The dessert was yet another favorite of Sarah's, tiramisu. It was beyond scrumptious. Every bite seemed like magic. Jareth chuckled to himself as he watched Sarah. He could see how much Sarah liked the dessert. It is good to see that the small things in life can bring pleasure, Jareth thought to himself.
Once dessert was cleared, Jareth stood up and said, "I think Sarah and I will take a walk together. Bentley, why don't you take Arianna around the palace grounds and show her our favorite childhood spots? Perhaps you two will find something to talk about." Sarah raised an eyebrow, as she thought the way Jareth said that sounded a bit odd, but she did not pay much mind to it. Bentley bowed to his brother and sister-in-law and Arianna made her curtsy. Sarah, remembering that Bentley is a king in his own right, curtsied to him. Thus, the two couples set out on their own paths.
Jareth offered Sarah his arm as they set out, which she happily accepted. Jareth led her effortlessly through the confusing hallways, until they arrived at a small, plain door. Sarah was quite curious as to where this door could possibly lead. She looked up at Jareth with a quizzical look. He simply smiled at her as he opened the door. Sarah's eyes opened wide in fascination and wonderment. Jareth led her into a botanical paradise. It was unlike anything Sarah had ever seen. She needn't say a word to Jareth; he could read her happiness by the look on her face and the squeeze she gave Jareth's arm. "These are the royal enchanted gardens, precious. The flowers are enchanted because they bloom to their fullest potential when the king or queen is present. They haven't been quite this lush until you arrived here. It is as though they were waiting for you," Jareth explained to Sarah as he played lovingly with her hair. She looked all around and saw many of the flowers that she enjoyed Aboveground such as roses, violets, orchids, peonies, heather, geraniums, and so much more. Sarah also saw some plants growing that she was sure did not exist back home because they seemed to sparkle.
Sarah looked up at Jareth who was still contently playing with her hair, "This is the most amazing place I have ever seen! I could be happy getting lost in here." Jareth took her by the hand, "Come," he said simply as he led her by the hand. He pointed out many of the flowers and other living things they saw on their walk. Sarah felt extreme bliss here. Jareth paused at a stone bench. The bench even had flower patterns carved into it. He and Sarah sat down. He held her in his arms. Sarah had never felt so safe. Though she was having warm, fuzzy thoughts swirl in her head, her mind wandered back to when the two couples separated for their individual walk and how she thought what Jareth said sounded weird. "Jareth, something didn't sound right when you suggested to Bentley that he should take Arianna for a walk and chat with her. Am I not getting something?"
Jareth smiled faded. It was not as if he and Bentley did something wrong, but he didn't know if he should share the occurrence with Sarah. He was fairly certain that Arianna told Sarah about her dark past, but he wasn't quite sure of how far into detail she might have gone. In the end, Jareth figured all would reveal itself anyway, so he might as well tell her.
"Did Arianna tell you about her life Aboveground?" Jareth asked Sarah with a stone cold serious expression. "Well, she told me about the sex and drugs," Sarah responded, not quite understanding what Jareth was getting at. "Did she tell you how she ended up here?" Sarah thought for a moment and then remembered how Arianna told her about finding the same red book Sarah had in an alley, so she nodded in response. Jareth continued, "Well, she did not find that book by accident. Bentley had been watching her from the time she was a young girl. He wanted bring her back here so that the two of us could help her, but he could not just take her. It would go against the laws of the Underground. One night as he was flying around in his owl form, he dropped the book by her, hoping with all his heart that Arianna would wish herself away. He felt a special connection to her, and he knew if she stayed where she was, she would end up dead."
Sarah digested that story for a bit. It was quite noble what Bentley and Jareth did for Arianna. It made Sarah wonder something though. "Jareth, if that is how Arianna found her copy of the book, then do you have any idea how I came to find mine?" Jareth chuckled. He certainly did know. "Just as Bentley watched Arianna, I too was watching a girl… you. I could feel our connection, even when you were a young girl. I happened to drop the book in the park where I often watched you and Merlin play. I knew you were smart enough to figure out the rest. I just didn't know you would figure it out at age fifteen." Sarah giggled. It was by no surprise of hers that Jareth purposely dropped the book for her. "Jareth, what do you think will happen with Arianna and Bentley?" Jareth pecked his wife on the forehead, "Well precious, my guess is that there will be another royal wedding to plan soon."
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