Hi all, thanks for the reviews - also the ones for my old fic :-) The most often comment I got from that one was that it ended too abruptly, so in this fic, the ending will be nice and slow and fluffy and span the next 4-5 chapters. Hope you'll enjoy it.
- DreamBubble: You are really scary, reading my mind like that! :-) I actually have two-thirds of a chapter written in which Jareth lost his memory and didn't know Sarah or Hoggle, but in the end I decided to not do that to them - at least not in this fic ;-)
Sarah spun around in her chair to see Jareth standing in the doorway, leaning nonchalantly against the door frame. His white shirt and blue breeches looked as immaculate as ever, but without the Pendant, the open shirt made him look partly undressed and very casual. Her heart almost stopped, but then started beating again, madly, as she took in his lean frame, the wild hair and those confident burning eyes that twinkled at her. Had he always looked this good, she wondered briefly, or had she just only noticed now?
She stood, slowly, and noticed that Hoggle did the same.
"Good to see Ye up and about again, Yer Majesty," he said in friendlier tone than Sarah had ever heard him use towards Jareth before, and Jareth nodded curtly. With a quick smile at Sarah, the dwarf took his leave and then they were alone. Sarah felt like the temperature in the room suddenly rose several degrees.
"Tell me what, Sarah?" he repeated in a softer tone, and she detected a trace of uncertainty in his voice that completely undid her. Never breaking eye-contact, she went to him, and as she got close enough to almost touch him, he straightened and took half a step back. She followed and reached out a hand to softly stroke his temples and chin, and she heard his sharp intake of breath at the caress, but he didn't back away again.
She smiled shyly. "Tell you… that I'm so happy you're alive. So happy you are here…with me."
She let her hand glide around his neck and moved even closer and haltingly, he responded and framed her face with his warm un-gloved hands, sending little shivers down her neck and spine.
"Please…" His voice sounded strained and breathless.
Still with her eyes locked on his, she gathered all her courage and finally whispered the answer she hoped he was looking for. "Jareth… I love you, too."
"That… was worth dying for," he replied just as softly, and then – very slowly - his lips found hers in a feathery-light kiss that made her close her eyes and lean into him, revelling in his warm embrace and caress. Though there were no visible sparks of electricity this time, Sarah could feel them all the same – but they were not forced upon them by the Labyrinth's magic – this was their magic, their heartbeats and souls recognizing each other and coming together. She sighed against him and his kiss became harder and more insistent, sending flames through her entire body, and she followed him willingly, lost in the maelstrom of long-suppressed passion.
Long after he lifted his head, breathing hard and apparently trying to stifle a similar fire, and she smiled reassuringly at him, until she looked around and saw that they were no longer in the kitchen, but standing next to the bed in his tower room.
"But… how did we get here?" She frowned in confusion and he grinned at her.
"Don't look at me – I didn't take us here. I can't anymore, remember?"
Of course he couldn't – she was the one with teleporting abilities now, so she was the one who must have subconsciously whisked them away to… his bedroom of all places. Sarah blushed furiously and wiggled out of his embrace, and he laughed again, before gently taking her hand in his and leading her away from the bed and out on the balcony, saving her from more embarrassment.
The sun was shining from a cloudless sky and it took a moment to adjust her eyes to the warm brilliant light. Jareth drew her to one of the benches and pulled her down beside him, kissing her briefly again.
"What happened, Sarah?" he asked softly, still holding her hands. "How long have I been unconscious? I'm amazed I'm even alive – I was certain Ced's poison would have killed me."
"You did almost die, Jareth," she replied and recounted to him what had happened after he performed the ritual and gave her the Pendant.
"You healed me?" His expression was one of incredulity and then he sighed and shook his head. "That wasn't what I expected or why I gave you the Pendant. You shouldn't even have been able to do that without any experience. Though I am truly gratefully and in your debt, of course."
"But… I was sure that was why you transferred the power. Why else would you have done it?"
He raised an eyebrow and then gestured towards the Labyrinth. "How could I leave you alone here in the Labyrinth without the powers to control it? And what would become of you – and of all my goblins and guardians? I was certain you would take good care of them."
Sarah smiled and toyed with his hands. "I would have, of course. But I'm glad I don't have to. How soon can we reverse the ritual, so you get the Pendant back? I need to learn the right words, of course?"
"So… you don't want to stay Queen?" he asked with a grin, and she shook her head, cuffing him lightly on the shoulder.
"Of course, I don't, I already told you that a long time ago. And you promised I wouldn't have to."
Jareth's smile suddenly faltered a bit and then he drew a deep breath. Getting up from the bench, he proceeded to kneel down beside her, and then he looked her deeply into the eyes. Sarah's heart started beating wildly and she held her breath.
"Sarah Williams," he started in a rough serious voice, "Sarah, you can give back the Pendant and stop being the Goblin Queen, but I would be very blessed and truly happy, if you would… if you would become MY queen instead."
Before she could answer, he gripped her hands tightly and brought them to his lips. "I promise, I'll always take care of you, always protect you and try to make you happy. Please stay with me… I… love you. Marry me, Sarah."
Sarah thought he had never looked more sincere, and to her, never more attractive. She couldn't get a word out, just smiled and nodded, sliding off the bench and into his arms, and then they were kissing again and laughing together.
"I'll never leave you, Jareth," she whispered, when she could speak again and he hugged her tightly, kissing her neck and letting strands of her hair slide through his fingers, caressing her softly.
"Never," he agreed fiercely and then jumped up and dragged her up with him. "Come, precious, let me show you what must be done to transfer back the Kingdom to me. I really miss my magic – there are so many things I want to show you and give you."
"I don't need anything but you," she said automatically, but followed him inside without hesitation. The sooner she could get rid of the Pendant, the better. What if someone wished a child away, while she was still wearing it? She had grown accustomed to the Labyrinth, but really ruling it was not something she wanted to try.
Jareth looked around for a moment and then shook his head with a wry smile. "First thing after I have the magic back, I'm going to get some more furniture for us. Look at this place – a single chair for the desk, a single chair by the fire – so impractical. Nowhere where I can have you a close as I need."
"Except the bed," she joked without thinking, but then blushed as he sent her a heated look and squeezed her hand, drawing her back into a close embrace.
"And we're not going anywhere near the bed," he whispered in her ear, sending little shivers through her, "until you are truly mine in marriage. That would be pure torture."
He let his lips follow the curve of her neck and down to her shoulders, while his hands caressed the small of her back. She closed her eyes and pressed herself closer to him, sneaking her arms around him as the fire returned and made her heart beat wildly.
"I want to kiss you – all of you," he murmured and let his lips follow the cut of her neckline. "I want to see all of you and feel you. I've waited so long for you, precious."
She gasped as his wandering hands found a particularly sensitive spot and arched against him, at the same time both annoyed at and grateful for his insistence that they wait. Her body definitely wanted more – she wanted him much closer, but at the same time it felt like they were moving very fast, and she wasn't quite sure she was ready to go all the way already. And no matter whether he held out because he understood this or if it was because of his own medieval sense of honour, she trusted him completely and knew in her heart that he would let nothing irrefutable happen between them until after the wedding. This brought a mischievous grin to her lips - if he wanted to tease her, she could certainly do the same. Slightly dizzy by the feeling of his warm breath on her throat and neck, she let her own hands slowly explore his lean body and edge their way in under the back of his shirt to feel his silky smooth skin under her fingertips. His muscles tightened as she let one hand wander lower and caress his thighs and backside through the tight breeches, and when she attempted to move it between them to explore even further, he growled and retreated – capturing both her hands in his.
"Sarah, beware," he warned in his dark velvety voice and his eyes were shining. "I have principles, but I'm not a saint!"
"Well, you started it," she retorted and grinned at him. "We were supposed to discuss the ritual, remember?"
He blinked and then relaxed a bit. "Oh yes, the ritual… that's right." Letting go of her, he went to drag the desk chair across the room over to the fireplace, so they could sit closer to each other.
"No more talk of the bed then," he said firmly and gestured towards the chairs. "Come, precious, time for a magic and history lesson."