FireShifter: I think you're confusing Estella and Celeste. Estella is the name of the kingdom that Sarah resides in and Celeste is the princess everyone wanted Jareth to marry (and the same princess who helped him to find Sarah bc she's cool) but I can see how I may have confused you so sorry about that! Anyway thank you so much and I'm so glad you were able to find time to read the story! You will see what happens with Irene and the stepsisters in this chapter! So glad you liked the last chapter and so glad you liked Toby too!
Little China Girl: yesss another kiss had to be done! And Jareth had to learn to apologize lol
Guest: YESSS AWWWWW is the right word for it and I'm glad you liked that chapter!
Jareth glared at all the cuts and bruises on her. Anger filled him again and he had to clench his fists to let it pass.
"Jareth?" Sarah looked at him worriedly.
"I have been a fool, but that was all. I do not hurt people with malicious intent with the idea to hurt or to overpower. What your stepmother and stepsisters did is wrong, Sarah. So very, very wrong. And they will pay for what they did."
Sarah felt pleased at his protectiveness but also a little worried. She didn't want him to get that darkness back in his soul. "Jareth, don't do anything rash."
"I won't." He said. "I am not their sovereign. I hold no power in Estella. But Celeste and your queen do."
Sarah gave a half shrug. "I don't care as long as they can't hurt me or anyone else anymore. That's all."
Jareth turned to her with blazing eyes. "Sarah, if they lived in my kingdom, I would dangle them over the Bog for days and then finally sink them deep in it."
Sarah was taken aback by this. Though she did know Jareth to be sweet and kind, it showed how cruel he could be. "That's kind of-"
"Listen." He said firmly but with a softer voice. "I am a fair king. I allow rehabilitation and redemption, for eternity is a long time. But when someone purposefully harms another for no other reason than their own inferiority complex, that is inexcusable. Lucky for Irene, Estella is much kinder."
Jareth had planned on asking her to marry him. To rule by his side. But seeing her eyes, she wasn't quite ready yet. She needed time to not just know that he wasn't going to hurt her, but to really stop questioning it. She also needed time to take care of herself and to be independent.
"I have an offer for you." He stood up and sat on the armrest, holding her hand. "Come with me to my kingdom. Formally court me. You can live in my castle and get to know the ways of my land. You love to read and you love education, maybe you could become a librarian and a scholar. My old tutor could help you learn."
Sarah's eyes lit up. "You'd do that for me?"
"I already turned my world, Sarah. This is, how did you put it? A piece of cake." He gave her another peck on the lips as she giggled.
"What will I do to earn my keep?" She asked him.
Jareth shrugged. "We will think of something. Maybe you could assist the physicians to learn alchemy. You like to learn about magic."
Sarah nodded. "I like that idea."
Through more chatting, they found that the "certain powers" he had given her was actual magic. How he gave them to her, he had no idea. He just tried to teach her to make a crystal and she did.
"We will also start magic lessons. I will teach you personally." He told her. "Is there anything you'd like to take with you before we go? Any necessities can be replaced like clothing."
"I do have some things, but not much." She told him.
Through some research, Jareth found that Irene didn't just spend money wastefully and Anastasia and Drizella only pretended to be daft but were really good con artists. They had illegal money from quite a bit of nobles. Not to mention the fact that since Sarah had quite literally nothing, no allowance or anything, she was a slave. And to keep anyone in servitude, especially forced servitude was one of the most unethical things you could do.
They were stripped of their titles and Toby was placed into Sarah's custody as she was his sister and an adult. He didn't seem that all concerned about not seeing his mother or other sisters, them not really paying attention to him anyway.
Sarah gave him a single small box of her belongings. Most of them little trinkets from her father and mother that she was able to hide from Irene to prevent them from being sold.
"I do have one request though." Sarah told him.
"Ask and you shall receive, Precious." He said.
"I haven't visited my parents' graves since father passed. Do you think we could make a stop?"
Robert had requested in his will to be buried alongside Linda. Jareth stood a little bit away as Sarah said her goodbyes.
"I found my Prince Charming." She chuckled as she spoke with them. "But he's not even a prince. He's a king. You're right Papa, I had to be careful with him. But I'm still perfectly safe. I wish I could tell you about it and show him to you. He's so sweet and good to me. You know, even at my lowest, I never forgot how much both of you loved me. And I was determined to show Toby that love. I still am. And now, I have Jareth to love me too."
She laid red roses on each of their graves. "I will tell my children and their children and their children all about you both. All about how you taught me kindness and to be strong. I love you forever."
She shifted and turned to Jareth. "Thank you."
"Of course, Precious." He kissed her head. "Go back to the horses, give me a moment."
Sarah gave him a strange look but did as he asked.
Jareth turned to the graves and went on one knee. "I vow to both of you that I will treat your daughter like the treasure that she is. I am sorry for my stubborn pride, but grateful for my second chance. I will not fail you and I will not fail her. I love her with all that I have and I hope you are at peace for she will be protected. On my life and my crown, I promise you."
A week later
Even if the royals were in charge of the kingdom, the judicial system states that they must go through a certain process by the local government in order to punish someone by the law.
Much to the frustration of the stepfamily, everyone knew of the trial and the family would be forever humiliated if they resided in either kingdom.
And lucky for Sarah, she had Jareth by her side.
When presented with all the evidence, the jury ruled Irene, Anastasia, and Drizella guilty of abuse, neglect, slavery, and thievery.
"You have done things that are despicable." The judge glared at Irene. "This isn't the same thing as stealing or being selfish, you went out of your way to hurt someone. To treat her like dirt for no reason other than to feed your ego and to feel in power. She outshines you and your daughters but only because you didn't strive to be better. You refused to be a better person and continued this abuse." She turned to Anastasia and Drizella. "You were treated with kindness by Sarah and her father, Robert, and you deliberately participated in wrongdoings. You have no excuse for this. Even when Sarah was abused, she did not sink to your level."
She pulled out a piece of paper. "You punishment is 20 years of labor so you will understand the meaning of hard work and for you to be humble."
"That's not fair!" Anastasia seethed.
"Quiet!" The judge ordered her. "You think me unfair? Be glad that you are not a citizen of the Goblin Kingdom for their king is much more cruel and less tolerant of abuse. We also believe that while not everyone may choose to be better, Sarah here wants to give you a second chance and you will receive."
At this, Jareth frowned. Sarah looked at him, and he tried to relax his face. He didn't approve of it but Sarah was adamant. And so he let it go.
"But you will always have criminal records following you. You will have to work for yourselves, you cannot own a business or have anyone work under you, and you will report back to us every few years to see what is happening in your lives for us to keep you accountable. Understood?"
The three women gave a nod. What pained Sarah the most was the look in Irene's eyes. Still full of hatred towards her even when she tried to spare them. She was not sorry for the way she hurt Sarah but the losses that she had from being caught.
Later that day, Sarah heard a rumor of goblins chasing her stepmother and stepsisters, threatening them that if they hurt someone else, they would be severely punished and be thrown into the bog. She asked Jareth about this and all he did was shrug.
But out of the corner of her eye, the labyrinth champion saw his smirk.
I didn't really want to drop them into the bog or anything like that, I feel like a punishment should fit the action. In this case, while Jareth would've loved to send her to the bog (sorry Jareth) it seems more fitting that they would be humiliated, stripped of their titles, and then be sent to labor since that is what they forced Sarah to do. Of course, Jareth can't help but have them be chased after goblins!
There are two more chapters in here for an epilogue (HINT HINT proposal and wedding!) I know you guys will enjoy those now that I've wrapped up Irene and the stepsisters. Thanks again and leave a review!
