Disclaimer: The Sheik belongs to Famous Players-Lasky.
"Jareth," Sarah complained with a giggle, "I'm trying to watch!"
A hum was her only reply.
It had been three days since the Fire Festival and the now officially affianced couple were currently sitting together on the cushion in the library while Rudolph Valentino's The Sheik played on the screen.
Unfortunately, Sarah couldn't concentrate one iota on the film, partly because she was sitting in-between Jareth's legs, reclining against his firm chest; but mostly because he wouldn't stop kissing/nibbling her neck and shoulder.
"You know," she said with a smirk as the last bit of interest she held for the movie flew out the window, "if you want to fool around…"
She started to slide her hand up his thigh, heading for the prize pressing against the small of her back.
"…all you have to do is ask."
"Nice try, precious." Jareth laughed, snatching her wrist away and entwining their fingers.
The brunette huffed and rolled her eyes.
"I really don't get you. We're both adults, we're getting married in ten days. What's with the celibacy?"
After she'd accepted his second proposal, she would've made love to him right there on the tower roof had he not stopped her. Despite her protests, Jareth just would not change his mind on the 'no sex' policy until their wedding night.
"I told you, love. It is customary for all creatures in the Underground to remain abstinent for the thirteen days prior to marriage. Besides," his voice dropped into a seductive purr, "I rather like the idea you belonging to me before I take you into my bed."
Heat rose to her cheeks.
"I already belong to you." She murmured shyly.
"And I to you, my queen." He whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple and squeezing her tight in his arms. "Since that first moment, when I heard your little voice, you have completely possessed my heart. The King of the Goblins, master of dreams and the most powerful fey in existence is, has been, and always will be, at your mercy alone. Amin mela lle, Sarah-mine."
Barely managing to keep her tears at bay, she turned in Jareth's arms to claim his lips in a desperate kiss.
After a few passionate moments, when she was certain she had control over her emotions, she pulled away, somewhat resigned.
"Well, when you put it that way…"
The Goblin King played with a strand of her hair.
"The best things in life are worth waiting for, precious. We've already waited this long, another ten days isn't going to kill us."
"It is if you keep torturing me." She countered, passing her free hand over the still-tender flesh of her neck. "It might be easy for you, but I'm only human."
He blinked at her.
"Easy for me?"
In one fluid motion, he somehow managed to flip them over and intimately press himself between her thighs.
"Does this feel easy to you?" He grinned down at her lecherously.
Sarah's eyes were wide as saucers and her face felt like it was literally on fire.
"N-no!" She squeaked pathetically.
What the hell is the matter with me? It's not like I'm a virgin. True, but I'm hardly an expert either, and I never felt this way for anyone else.
Giving her a kiss on the nose, Jareth rolled off of her and crossed the room to extract The Sheik from the built-in DVD player on the TV.
"Well the movie is over. What would you like to do now, my love?"
The woman sat up shakily.
"Uh…I was actually hoping to visit Hoggle today."
Jareth turned to her.
"You still haven't spoken to him?"
Her eyes lowered sadly in response.
No, she hadn't spoken to nor even seen Hoggle since their fight.
When Jareth had publicly announced their engagement to the goblins the morning after the Fire Festival, she had noticed the dwarf's absence when Sir Didymus and Ludo came to congratulate her.
She still felt that Hoggle owed her an apology, but more than anything, she wanted to have her best friend back. She just hoped that he would understand and be happy for her.
When she'd talked to Jareth about it, he had pointed out that Hoggle was only concerned for her well-being as any good friend would be.
He's protective, precious. That's all. He doesn't think I'm good enough for you, and though I don't necessarily disagree with him on that point, he should be supportive of your decisions.
He approached her and helped her out of the cushion.
"Do you want me to go with you?"
She nodded for about half a second before her face lit up.
"Let's bring Gookie, too!"
He quirked an eyebrow at her sudden excitement.
"Very well. May I ask why?"
Sarah shrugged and fiddled with his symbolic pendant.
"Oh, no reason." She smiled ambiguously.
"Are you sure you don't want me to teleport us there?" Jareth asked as he, Sarah, and Gookie made their way through the hedge maze section of the Labyrinth. "Or at least take a short cut?"
Sarah shook her head.
"No, I want to take the long way. I need the extra time to think about what I'm going to say."
Gookie beamed up at her mistress.
"Don't worry, Miss Sarah. I know Hoggle feels terrible about the other day. Everything will be alright."
The former champion sighed in relief.
"Thanks, Gookie."
The trio walked on in silence, for a minute, until the quiet was suddenly broken by an urgent shout.
"YER HIGHNESS! YER HIGHNESS, WAIT!"
Turning around, the group saw Fip running towards them at top speed. The goblin male skidded to a halt just in time to avoid barreling into Jareth's stomach.
"What is it now, Fip?" The fey royal asked, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
The goblins were running amok trying to prepare the entire Labyrinth for the wedding of their king. So, naturally, disagreements and accidents were occurring left and right and poor Jareth had to settle any and all issues that arose between his subjects.
"Pock and Wipple are arguing over which one of them is goin' to have their prized pig be the main course at the weddin' dinner!" The goblin warrior panted heavily. "Their causin' such a ruckus, they've blocked off a whole street! The decoration committee can't get to the market to buy fabric with all the commotion! Please come at once, yer majesty! Please!"
"Who are Pock and Wipple?" Sarah muttered to Gookie.
"The two biggest pig farmers in the Goblin City. They absolutely hate each other!" The red-head snickered in reply.
"Alright, alright." Jareth groaned before turning to Sarah apologetically. "You'll have to go on without me, love."
His fiancé rubbed his arm in understanding.
"Hey, when I'm the Goblin Queen, we'll take turns."
He smirked and gave her a peck on the lips.
"I'll be back as soon as I can." With that, he and Fip disappeared in a glitter flurry.
"C'mon, miss. It's this way." Gookie said, taking Sarah's hand and pulling her through an opening on the right.
The goblin female had only taken two steps down the path before she stopped dead in her tracks, nearly causing her lady to stumble over her small frame.
"Gookie, what's wro-" Sarah's question died in her throat when she looked up and saw what her friend was staring at.
A man was standing a few yards away from them.
He was tall and slim with long, chestnut hair. He was dressed in a vibrant purple tailcoat with silver breeches and black-knee-high riding boots. He didn't move or speak, he simply stared back at them for a long moment.
Sarah felt Gookie's hand start to tremble as a chilly breeze swept through the air.
Finally, the man began to walk towards them.
As he drew nearer, Sarah saw the inhumanly violet color of his eyes, he even had the same markings as Jareth.
He must be a fey.
He came to a stop a respectful five feet away, but continued to blatantly stare at her.
"You must be Miss Sarah Williams." He spoke cordially.
His voice even carried the same accent and aristocratic tone as Jareth's.
"I am Arkus." He bowed formally. "Ambassador of the Fey Kingdom."
So this is Arkus.
"Um…pleased to meet you." She said awkwardly. "H-how do you know my name?"
A sly smile stretched across his face and she felt her stomach turn over.
"Forgive me, but you're a bit of a celebrity in the Underground. The one and only Champion of the famous Labyrinth. Though I must say, I can't imagine how you managed such a feat. If I may be so bold," he continued with a hint of condescension, "you appear wretchedly ordinary to me. How disappointing."
She started at his rudeness, but before she could think of a retort, Gookie beat her to the punch.
"Miss Sarah ain't ordinary! She's gonna marry the king!" As soon as the words left her mouth, the servant gasped and slapped her hands over her lips.
Arkus's eyes widened in awe and that sickening smile grew even bigger.
"Ah, so that's it." He chuckled darkly. "It's as we suspected."
"Yer lordship," Gookie spat with barely concealed derision, "I'm afraid the king is not here. He's settlin' a quarrel right now. You'll find him in the-"
"I am well aware of the rauko's absence." Arkus sneered.
Rauko? What does that mean?
Judging by the way Gookie flinched at the word, Sarah had a feeling it wasn't anything good.
"Go and fetch your master." Arkus ordered the goblin sharply.
She shook her head.
"I ain't leavin' my mistress!"
Arkus raised his hand and immediately Gookie was yanked high up off the ground by an unseen force.
"You will remember your place and obey your superiors, goblin!" The Fey Ambassador snarled.
"Stop!" Sarah shouted, trying in vain to grab onto Gookie's feet and pull her down. "Stop it! Let her go!"
"As you wish." He said scornfully and made a quick sweeping motion with his hand.
Gookie was then hurled back over Sarah's head and sent crashing to the stone floor of the hedge maze.
"GOOKIE!" The woman screamed in fright, but the little gobliness scrambled to her feet and ran off.
Furious, Sarah whirled around and glared at the fey male.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!"
"Someone you and your pets would do well to show respect!" He barked, not in the least bit intimidated by her rage.
He slowly advanced on her and it took every bit of Sarah's nerve to stand her ground.
"So you're going to marry that fool, are you? Only a human could be so impeccably stupid."
Sarah tilted her chin defiantly.
"Yes, I am going to marry Jareth, and I'm not the least bit ashamed of it! I know all about how powerful he is compared to rest of your kind, and I don't care! No wonder he came here to get away from you, because it's obvious that you fey are nothing but a bunch of ruthless, stuck-up bullies!"
Arkus leaned down so close to her face, Sarah had to clench her fists to keep them from shaking.
"Humans: so laughably arrogant. You don't know anything about that rauko."
Simultaneously, there was a bright flash and thunderous blast.
When the light cleared, Arkus was back to standing several yards away with a group of goblin soldiers surrounding him, pointing spears at his neck.
Jareth stood protectively in front of Sarah, his tattered, black-leather cape spread out like wings.
A whimpering Gookie was hugging her mistress around the knees.
"Oh, Miss Sarah!" She wailed. "Thank goodness!"
"Gookie!" Sarah exclaimed, kneeling down to embrace her. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, miss!" The goblin proudly reassured her. "It'd take more than a toss ta hurt me!"
"Sarah." Jareth's deeply concerned voice captured the human's attention and a blanket of calm engulfed her. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Jareth."
He looked over his shoulder at her. His eyes were blazing with fury.
"He didn't hurt you?"
"No."
"Oh really, Jareth." Arkus spoke in a haughty tone. "I'm surprised you'd think I'd be so crass as to harm your little whore."
Sarah's head spun at how fast Jareth moved.
In merely a heartbeat, the Goblin King had his hand wrapped around Arkus's throat in a crushing hold.
"You can insult me all you like," he growled in a deadly voice, "but you will NEVER slander her in my presence again. Do I make myself clear, Arkus?"
Unable to speak, the terrified fey could only nod and Jareth dropped him like a bag of sand.
"My apologies, Miss Sarah." Arkus coughed stiffly, rising to his feet.
"Not accepted." She said crossing her arms angrily. "Not unless you apologize to my friend."
She pointed to Gookie.
The Fey Ambassador looked appalled beyond measure.
"Fey do not apologize to goblins."
"Then you're about to make history, Arkus." Jareth taunted. "Your fey nature may lead you to think of goblins as lower than dirt, but when you are in my kingdom, you will remember your place and treat my subjects with the upmost courtesy."
The fey male looked simply murderous, but he inclined his head at Gookie.
"I apologize." He said through clenched teeth.
The servant turned up her nose.
"Humph!"
"Now that you're finally here," Arkus addressed Jareth again, "I should like to discuss the matter of your engagement, your majesty."
He smiled cruelly at the Goblin King.
Jareth's back stiffened and he quickly turned to face Sarah.
"Go back to the castle with Gookie."
She was stunned.
"What? Why?"
"Do not question me, Sarah. Go now."
She frowned at him.
"I'm not a child, Jareth. You can't just-"
"Please Sarah." He begged quietly and she was shocked to see fear in his eyes. "Do as I say, you promised me."
Don't get mad. Her inner voice reasoned. He's trying to protect you.
"Alright, but as soon as he's gone, you come find me." She stated firmly. "Understand?"
"I will."
She pressed a quick kiss to his mouth before grabbing Gookie's hand, and heading back through the Labyrinth to the castle.
"Leave us. See that she makes it back safely." Jareth commanded the soldiers.
"Yes, sire!" The goblins chorused and marched after their queen-to-be.
"A little paranoid aren't we, rauko?" The Labyrinth's unwanted guest mocked once the two fey males were alone.
"Arkus," Jareth warned dangerously, "for your own safety, I suggest that you not try my patience any further than you already have today. Let's take this conversation to a more appropriate venue."
A glitter-cloud swallowed the pair, leaving the hedge-maze empty once more.
A/N: Amin mela lle means 'I love you'. Anyone hate Arkus yet?