Fireshifter: Thanks! I definitely will keep on writing and I hope to see specific things that you like about this story!
Thanks again everyone and I hope you will continue to enjoy this story. I have a lot in store for these guys!
Jareth picked and prodded at his clothing, throwing numerous things aside to find the perfect thing to wear. He was so annoying about it, even his mother noticed.
"Jareth, you're going to destroy your wardrobe!" Eloise frowned at him. Then she had a sparkle in her eyes to tease him. "What's going on? Is there a lovely maiden you're trying to woo?"
Jareth snorted. He told himself that he couldn't just wear his usual tight pants or her father would get the impression that he was going to be some sort of perverted older man with his daughter. He wasn't trying to woo Sarah.
Or was he?
"There's a fair in some small Saturday market in Estella. I'd just like to go visit. By myself." He added. He really didn't want anyone to intrude on his time with Sarah. Even though he'd only meet her twice, she was special to him and their time was sacred. A way for him to not be king but to be able to ponder all that he was. She brought back the purity in his life where he had become dark. Being the king of goblins and taking abused wished-away children did that to you.
"Relax I'm not going to intrude in your time off." Eloise rolled her eyes. "I'm just happy that you look happy."
Jareth paused. She noticed? "What do you mean?"
"I mean that it's good whatever you're doing. Whatever this break has done to you, you've gotten your old smile back." Eloise kissed his cheek. "You're my son. I know the hardships of being king and I'm glad you're not burying yourself in work as much. I feel bad that during your past breaks, I've made you court women."
Jareth looked down at his feet. His mother just wanted him to have companionship, and he had been grumbling about it. "I know, and I'm sorry. I should've realized-"
Eloise cut him off. "It's alright. It seems that both of us should express our feelings more. Something your father was much better at than us."
Jareth nodded. "Yes, that he was."
Eloise patted Jareth on the head, having to tip toe to touch him. "Now go and have fun."
Jareth went with a navy blue shirt, one that wasn't as low cut as his usual shirts and black tights that weren't as tight as his usual ones. He clasped on a glittery cape and donned on black boots. He wondered what Sarah would be wearing today, but knew that she would look lovely no matter what.
"Why do I feel this way?" He questioned himself. No other lady had been as captivating to him as she had been. He briefly wondered what would happen if he pursued her. As a commoner and from another kingdom, he'd have to fight tooth and nail to wed her even though there were no such law preventing him from doing so.
He shrugged to himself. No matter how or why he felt so much for her in a small amount of time, he wasn't going to pursue her anyway. And not now. He felt something, it didn't mean that it was love. And he rather enjoyed her friendship. He didn't want her to run from him.
He basked in the lovely scene in front of him. Children were running amok and many people were having fun with games being played. He scanned around some more and smiled at seeing Sarah in a lovely green dress with a flower crown next to an older man he supposed was her father.
He pretended not to see her, letting her come to him instead. Maybe it was arrogant but he couldn't help it.
Sarah still had her owl necklace but now she had a book of poems she had written that she wanted to share with Jareth. Her father hadn't been told of her new "friend" though her whole family was suspicious of how much her heads were in the clouds lately. She also was reading her labyrinth book more often even if she did know it by heart now.
Robert noticed her glazed-over eyes as he balanced Toby on his side. "Looking for someone, Princess?"
Sarah blushed. "Maybe."
Then she spotted him.
Not that it was that difficult with his messy mane in the sunlight.
"Jareth!" She called after him and waved.
Jareth looked to her direction and waved back. He had never felt so nervous in meeting someone's father before. Here, he had no title to rescue himself. He would present himself as who he was.
"Hello Sarah." He said to her. He stuck his hand out to Robert. "I'm Jareth."
Robert was a little suspicious at first. Who was this young man? He was older than Sarah and his daughter was still in her teens.
But after that first handshake, Robert noticed a sincere smile in his eyes. This young man held some kind of authority but also respect too. "Robert." He smiled at Jareth.
Sarah watched as her father's face went from a frown to a real, genuine smile. She felt relieved. She had wanted to tell Robert all about the dashing young man she had met but didn't want to worry him.
Toby gurgled at seeing Jareth again. The fae waved at the baby. "Hello Toby."
Robert was even more pleased that Toby seemed to like him too. "Are you here with anyone, Jareth? You're welcome to join us."
Jareth's face lit up. "I'd love to."
They played the many different games and did activities like painting. Jareth was impressed at Sarah's artistic skills. "You're talented at anything artistic."
"Thank you." She said. "What talents do you have?"
Jareth gave a shrug. "I suppose I am good at music."
Sarah's eyes lit up. "Can you play instruments? Or sing?"
Jareth beamed. "Yes and yes. I can play a few instruments. I also compose sometimes. There's this musician in the Above named David Bowie, a favorite of mine."
"Wow." Sarah was fascinated by that. There were lots of Aboveground inhabitants in the goblin kingdom. Sometimes they immigrated to other kingdoms but most stayed there. It made sense that some of the wished always weren't just children (most were though) so they'd keep track of human development there.
"Sing one of his songs." Sarah begged him.
Jareth wasn't so sure, most of Bowie's songs were quite eccentric. But he did know one song that she probably would like.
"It's called Wild is the Wind. He didn't compose it, another singer did. But his version is my favorite." Jareth said.
Sarah decided to dare him. "You should join the singing competition happening in the northern gate!"
"You are so demanding." Jareth teased her. "What will you give me if I win the competition?"
Sarah wrinkled her nose at that. "Hmm. What do you want for it?"
A slow grin filled the fae's face. "I want a dance with you."
Sarah blinked. "A dance? With me?"
Jareth clasped his hands behind his back. His eyes glinted playfully at her. "Scared you'll step on my toes?"
Sarah stuck her tongue out at him, earning a laugh from him. "Deal!"
Robert watched this whole exchange and couldn't stop laughing. Maybe he should be more careful about a young man who was a fae (fae can be tricky) who liked his young daughter, but Jareth was just so playful and innocent with Sarah. He knew that Sarah was often solitary and he had hoped that by marrying Irene, Sarah would have new playmates and friends. But it didn't work. She was just too different from her stepsisters and Robert was glad that she found Jareth. Jareth was someone who challenged her but also accepted her just as she was. Just as she had accepted the fae.
Plus, Jareth had a real royal seal from the goblin kingdom. He couldn't be that bad if he worked in the castle for the king, could he?
Jareth got up to sing. He wasn't sure why he chose Wild is the Wind of all songs, it wasn't an easy one to copy from Bowie but he would do his best. Using his magic, he made music flow in the air.
Everyone, especially Sarah, were mesmerized by the velvety voice that came from Jareth. He sang of love, of kisses. It was of anguish at times and Sarah couldn't believe how he was just so amazing at singing. He didn't dance or move in a seductive way. He just sat there and with half closed eyes and sang his heart out.
Jareth couldn't open his eyes all the way. He loved this song and he gave his all while singing. He tried to push thoughts of Sarah away but he couldn't help seeing her bright green eyes in his mind's eye. She captivated him, and changed him just as he was sure he changed her.
When the last note was sung, everyone erupted into an applause. The judges gave him a perfect score. Jareth never felt happier. Because of his anonymity, he was able to know that they really, truly liked his singing and not trying to get on his good side as king.
It was of no surprise that he won. Jareth won a delicious pie from a vendor and he brought it to share with Sarah, Robert, and Toby.
"You are a fantastic singer." Robert complimented him. "How are you so talented?"
Sarah shook her head. "Don't inflate his ego."
"How rude." Jareth playfully teased her.
Robert rolled his eyes.
"I guess maybe it's in my blood. Or because my father was a singer." Jareth answered truthfully. "He passed away when I was a boy."
"I'm truly sorry to hear that." Robert put a hand on Jareth's shoulder. "My first wife passed when Sarah was just ten. She was the love of my life, and I treasure Sarah so much because of that."
Sarah smiled at her father and kissed his cheek. "But we have each other. And Toby."
Robert smiled. "Yes, we do."
Toby crawled over to Sarah. His sister pulled him into her lap and rubbed his head. Sarah huffed Toby a little tighter than usual.
"My Mother has yet to remarry." Jareth said. The truth was, Eloise was lonely and he wondered if she would love again but with him being king, she felt that she should pay attention to her son first. Jareth felt a little guilty about that. "I always like to think that we keep a piece of them in our hearts forever. Those we love don't truly die, they live on in us."
"Yes indeed." Robert marveled at Jareth's wise words.
A bit later, there was a dance. A jig that Jareth wasn't familiar with but he wasn't one to back down from a dance.
"Robert, might I steal your daughter for a dance?" Jareth may have asked Robert but he was really was looking at Sarah's reaction.
"You did make a deal with her, I can't really say no." Robert laughed. "But, I would like to dance with her first."
Jareth bowed his head. "Of course."
As Jareth played with Toby, Robert took his princess's hand for a dance.
Sarah hadn't danced with Robert in so long. She laughed as he spun her in circles and acted like a gentleman. It was just like the days when she'd step on his feet for him to lead her but now, she was a young lady. And Robert treated her as such.
"I love you, Papa." Sarah hugged him.
Robert held her tight. "I love you too, my princess."
He held her face in his hands. "You are a treasure, Sarah. And any person in your life, be it a man man who wins your heart or a friend, they need to realize that."
Sarah held his hands, tears in her eyes. "Oh Papa."
"I don't tell you as much now but I should." He said. "Your mother says you're powerful and you are. I can see that even Jareth thinks so."
Sarah blushed. "We're just friends."
Robert snorted. "You both are oblivious to how the other looks at them, but I'm willing to bet you won't be 'just friends' forever. But as nice as he is, he does have an arrogant streak in him that I'm not too fond of. Almost spoiled."
Sarah frowned at that. "You don't like him?"
"I didn't say that." Robert told her. "I do like him actually. It just seems to be the way he's raised. Maybe it went to his head when he started to work at the palace. But you put him in his place. Just don't take anything too serious with him until you are ready to be your own person and he's ready to beat his spoiled nature."
Sarah still didn't like how her father talked about Jareth, but she couldn't say he was wrong. "I told you, I don't feel anything for him."
"You can hide from him, but not from me, Princess." He kissed her cheek. "Now go give him the dance that you promised."
No one was perfect and Robert knew this. But he wasn't too concerned about Jareth. Sarah had been frugal and responsible. She would definitely put him into place and it seemed that Jareth did so too. That's what love was, he found. To balance each other's imperfectness. To make the other person better but to also accept them as they are. Maybe he had been harsh on Jareth, but he wanted Sarah to only have the best kind of people in her life.
Sarah smiled, readjusting her flower crown on her head as she felt two hands grab her wrists from behind.
"Miss me?" Jareth leaned over her.
"Maybe." Sarah teased him.
Jareth just chuckled and took her in his arms. He had danced multiple times before and found it fun sometimes, but this was more than fun. Sarah just felt... right.
"I'm not well versed in this type of dance." He admitted to her.
Sarah was about to tease him but the look in his eyes told her that he wanted this to be perfect. "Well Jareth, just follow me then."
Sarah wasn't the greatest at leading anyone in a dance, but she still managed. They laughed and twirled and Jareth tried to follow her feet as much as he could. His hair danced and flowed like her dress did and his smile was brilliantly shining just for her.
Jareth was completely and wholly enchanted by Sarah. The flowers in her hair seemed to glow along with her smile. The way she settled in his arms and movements was everything.
She wasn't just a treasure. She was unique and special.
She was precious.
Though they had stumbled through a lot of the dance, imperfect as it was, it was his favorite dance by far. Because he had Sarah.
Sarah curtsied to him. "My lord."
"My lady." Jareth bowed.
Too soon, he had to leave again. Sarah felt her heart ache at him leaving. She had such a lovely time with him. Robert went off with Toby to find Irene and the girls while Sarah stayed behind to say goodbye.
"What's that you got there?" Jareth asked her.
Sarah put a book in his hands. "A trade for a trade. This is a book of poems that I wrote. In exchange, I'd like to see some of your compositions. Just promise to not laugh at my poems since some of them were there since I was eight years old."
Jareth looked at the little blue book. He flipped through it to see pages of lovely words scribbled in and colorful drawings. To show him something like this, just wow. "Sarah, I don't know what to say. To show someone something so meaningful, I couldn't and wouldn't ever laugh." He closed the book and looked into her eyes. "Thank you, Precious."
Sarah wasn't quite sure what overcame her. Well, she had some idea, but she wasn't sure where he got the nerve to tip toe up shyly and brush her lips against his cheek. She had done so with boys of the past but Jareth just seemed so different.
Jareth breathed in sharply when her lips touched his cheek. Oh, how sweet and how pure.
Sarah couldn't look at him after she did that. His gaze was too intense and too unreadable.
Before she knew it, Jareth grabbed her sleeve and pulled her in for a kiss on the cheek as well.
Jareth had been surprised when she kissed his cheek. He had plenty of girls kiss his cheek after a date or so, but Sarah knocked his breath out of him. He couldn't help but do it back to her. To let her know that he also thought of her as someone sweet.
"Next week, I'll come back with some of my compositions as promised." He whispered in her hair. He held her at arm's length and gave her the sweetest smile he could. "I can't wait to see you."
Sarah beamed. "Me too."
Awww aren't they cute? Jareth does seem super perfect right now but don't worry, he'll be a jerk in a few chapters or so. Not too much but enough that it's like the movie. Leave a review and let me know if you're liking their relationship so far!
