A/N: Okay, so writing notes at the end rather than the beginning was a fail...I found I'd just rather do it before. Yep.
Midsummer's Eve gala! Hope you're all looking forward to it! So it turned out to be a bit of a monster and will be spread over at least 3 chapters, possibly 4; but I'm sure you're all okay with that considering all that will take place ;). I will absolutely try to update sooner since it's one whole evening split up. The story really picks up from here on out, in more ways than one...But it's looking to be from 26-28 chapters total, so this isn't the finale my friends!
Courty: I feel like Christmas when you tell me these chapters are like gifts...Haha :D. As much as I like Sarah's friends, I just have a hard time writing them or finding a place for them in the story :/. They will show up again, of course, but it's just not working out for this particular plot-line. Glad you understand though! Thanks so much!
ME a guest: Oh good. I'm glad it was :)
Thanks to: The Queen of Water, Kaytori, ButterflyOnTheWall, , Senshi at Heart, ME a guest, Courty, DaniellaPeirce, DawnRain, tundraeclipse, Invoguewetrust, CompleteBookworm2, Koren Flashblade, and all the other Guests and Anonymous!
Enjoy the Sidhe celebration!
Chapter Fifteen: A Land Serene, A Crystal Moon
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It was Midsummer's Eve, and in some places of the Underground there were already creatures who began celebrating. But at the Adamant Palace by the Sylvan Forest and Effervescent Lake, preparations had begun weeks before to make ready for the extravagant celebration composed of the finest guests in all the lands. Only the best would be offered, and only the best would attend. It was the most magnificent event of the entire year.
And Jareth, King of the Goblins, was dreading it.
There were good reasons he hadn't mingled amidst others of his race for so long. It wasn't just Fiachna's rages that drove him away, but also the general behaviour of so many other Tuatha De Danaan. They pried into his business, they always desired to know the details of his life, and they attempted to manipulate him as they did each other. There were some he didn't mind, of course, and a small few he was almost fond of, but most were not worth troubling over at all. He had no genuine friends among them. True, it was partially his own doing since he secluded himself when he was still young to so many, but he did not regret it.
Nonetheless, they could throw spectacular parties that none could rival in splendour because the Fey were a fair and noble race.
Many of the guests would travel by carriage, winged creatures, or some other transportation starting days earlier, but he and Sarah could not risk an open journey of that kind, not with the Raven Mage bent on revenge and destruction. Although it would take a good deal of power, he would simply spirit them away straight to their destination.
Speaking of the beguiling woman. He waited for her to appear. Evening was fast approaching, and they had need to depart soon. But there was an unfamiliar discomfort twinging and sparking along his veins that he eventually recognised as anxiousness. He didn't understand why he had the odd feeling after all this time.
Immediately, he realised why.
Footsteps rang on the stairs leading down into the throne room where he stood waiting. Sarah finally had arrived, and when she moved into the light, those unfamiliar nerves elevated. Or perhaps it wasn't nerves but a thrill of anticipation and of astonishment to behold such a lovely creature standing before him.
She truly was breathtaking, for he certainly couldn't breathe for a moment.
Her rich, dark hair was reminiscent of the style in the masquerade dream yet with more curls and glittering golden flowers nestled within. The dress was stunning. It was smooth satin beneath with a diaphanous layer above. Its deep green hues hugged her curved but slender figure to the waist where it flared out in true ball gown form with draping folds of which some faded into a faintly lighter shade towards the hem from the deeper green. Leafy vines glittered gold around the bodice and trailed down along the skirts that flowed out behind. It fit off of her shoulders, the sheer sleeves aligned with the neckline draping down her arms. The shade of green highlighted her eyes so that they were like glistening emeralds, and the golden flowers made it seem there were specks of gold in their green depths.
Jareth drew breath. No other woman would compare to Sarah Williams tonight. To him, she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever beheld in all the worlds.
Sarah took one last glance in the mirror and steeled herself to leave the safety of her bedroom. The deep green and gold dress swished around her feet and rustled along the floor while trailing behind her as she made her way to the throne room to meet with the Goblin King.
As she readied for the event, a particular dilemma niggled at the back of her mind. Her friends, the goblins, Mary: they weren't going. That left her and Jareth alone. She laughed a little when it reminded her of the high school proms when all the girls would panic about finding a date or if they could go as friends with a guy without causing problems. It was a similar quandary Sarah found herself in.
What would attending a grand occasion like this together mean? Mary hinted that others would assume she was his mortal lover, but what would he think? What did she herself think? She'd hoped it could be an innocent adventure with no strings attached, yet now she wasn't sure if that was possible. Or if she wanted it to be. That thought scared her the most.
And so she glided down the stairs to the throne room entrance. Her hands trembled as she stepped out into the open archway.
There he stood in all his enigmatic glory. He was dressed all in cream and silvery-grey so much as when he'd faced her at the last confrontation for Toby: tight breeches, high polished boots, sleek shirt, and a silver coat that glittered in the light. His blonde hair was in its customary long, tapered style, and of course the amulet still hung on his chest. She marked in her mind to ask him about it someday.
He looked devastatingly handsome. It was hard not to stare. All of that appeal and confidence and mystifying quality was enough to make any woman swoon, like being drawn inexplicably to something beautiful and dangerous wondering if it will hurt you or become even more glorious.
The king proffered up a hand quietly to her. She moved out of the archway with gliding steps and gently set her hand on his after a short hesitation.
"Sarah, I do believe the stars and the moon will look down and be jealous of you this evening because they shall feel drab within the light of your beauty." He gave a slight bend over her hand.
Coming from someone else it easily could have sounded absurd or rehearsed, yet from him it sounded completely sincere as if he were simply stating a profound fact. It made her blush and smile. He didn't exactly dole out compliments like Chris had done with her, always trying to flatter or assure her of something. Jareth said it and it was truth.
"Thank you," she said. Did she sound a little out of breath? No matter. "You took what I said about being fit to be seen with me pretty seriously."
The corner of his mouth turned up a little. He seemed to catch that that was her way of admitting his appearance pleased her. With a motion of his head, he kept her hand on his to lead her down into the main hall then outside before the grand doors of the castle that were too big for one person to open.
At last she noticed they were not alone anymore. Although the throne room had been kept empty, the main hall and all around outside goblins were scattered about trying to appear busy or useful even though most of them just stared. She looked but didn't see any of her friends, yet Mary was standing out on the steps watching with a small smile and a twinkle in her eye. Sarah shared a smile in return with the old woman, but neither spoke as Jareth led her into an open space.
He offered his other hand. "Sarah, we can't chance a long journey and so we must travel my way."
"You mean...how you just appear out of thin air wherever you want?"
"Yes, I suppose so. Take my other hand."
She did. Even through the pale gloves the warmth of his hands was evident on her skin.
"Close your eyes."
She closed her eyes and felt something happen. It was like moving without her body actually shifting even an inch. It only lasted a few seconds, so she opened her eyes again to find him watching her.
She looked beyond him, and her mouth dropped open.
In the distance was a palace on the edge of a large deep-blue lake, thin pillars of silver upholding its high roof and its walls of white smooth stone. And yet as large as it was, everything about its structure was delicate and elegant with its curved arches and rounded windows. Vines with white flowers entwined about the columns, and a large portion of the palace looked open to the outside. Ancient trees stood around it as well, some even with branches laden with leaves reaching through windows or open archways. The entrance was wide and curved with two silver pillars on either side like sentinels, and the flowering vines draped around the doorway that had no actual doors. Lanterns that looked like lilies were lit all along the path and in the palace with gold and silver light.
The land around was vibrant and fertile. Lawns of thick emerald grass lay around the palace, white and silver flowers dotted the sides of the path, and a great forest surrounded most of the lake and edged along one side of the building. They had arrived just at sunset when the festivities were set to begin, and so the light of the sun painted the still lake waters deep orange and gold atop the sapphire blue.
"We haven't even gone inside yet," Jareth jested.
"Who needs to when you have this," she said. "It's more beautiful than anything I've ever seen."
"I've seen things more lovely," he said in a quiet voice as he turned away and led her along the path.
As her awe settled down to something more manageable, moving figures appeared within the palace and some were on the same broad path leading to the entrance that she and Jareth were, but no one was quite close enough to distinguish much else.
They walked forward as Sarah's eyes drank in every detail. They drew closer and were able to glimpse some of the stately figures. Sarah stared with awe at a pair of male Sidhe talking while they stood waiting to make their entrance into the palace. The one had sharp features so smooth and clear with shockingly black hair while the other had a very prominent jaw and bright blue eyes. They disappeared inside at the call of a herald announcing their arrival.
No one was in front of them or very close behind when they stepped up to the wide arch with vines dangling down. "Uh, Jareth, they're not really going to announce us to everyone in there, right?"
"Well of course they are. Having second thoughts?"
"No," she said firmly.
He offered his arm, and she gladly put hers in his as her stomach swirled with butterflies. Her heart beat in time with their fluttering wings. But the strength and warmth of his arm holding hers was enough to keep her grounded, and there was that scent of starlight again, hovering about him like a fragrant wind.
The herald was another Fay with immaculate yellow attire laced with gold thread. He turned to look at them, and his face twisted with amazement. It took him a minute to regain composure and face the grand hall and cry with a booming voice: "Jareth son of Taylen, King of the Goblins and the Goblin Kingdom!"
To Sarah's horror, the entire crowd of revellers—which looked to be many hundreds—stopped talking, laughing, or dancing to stare at the entrance. A murmur rippled through the waves of Fey, whispers racing from mouth to ear as one of their own who'd disappeared long into his kingdom reappeared without warning at such a public event. And with a mortal girl on his arm, no less!
Sarah remembered to breathe and clung a little desperately to Jareth's arm. Here she was terrified of all the blatant attention, and he was coolly regarding the onlookers with casual nonchalance. Not a speck in him seemed nervous.
Well, if he can be calm and confident, then so can I, she determined in her mind. Her back straightened, and she held her head high. She should be proud to be attending with such a notorious man who was worth the immense attention.
And in those moments as they moved inside to mingle with all the guests who gaped at them, Sarah realised something significant: where all of these lovely creatures failed to gain the Goblin King's intimate acquaintance—standing outside the walls of the labyrinth hoping to gain entrance—she, Sarah Williams, had overcome the maze and what they sought had been offered freely from his own hand.
Seraphina signalled a servant to refill her golden chalice. Once it was full again, she took a long draught and savoured the sweet mead rolling over her tongue. Her brilliant blue eyes swept over the crowded Great Hall of the Adamant Palace with calculating scrutiny. She tilted her head so that her curtain of hair—so blonde it was nearly white—shimmered under the golden light gilding the entire room.
She was a Fay woman of a very high house amongst the Sidhe, and known for her great beauty and cunning. Many a man had asked for her hand in marriage, but each one was refused; although she'd had her dalliances on occasion if one of them pleased her for a time. And so she was extremely aware of her allure and used it for her own purposes but often just enjoyed the attention it gave her, either the desire of men or the jealousy of women. Her skin was very fair, her blue eyes large, and her figure slender and tall. Tonight she wore a blue gown the colour of the sky with silver beading done along the tight bodice which was cut fairly low to expose a broad expanse of skin. Seraphina had learned to use her wares for her benefit.
A couple of maidens under her thumb of persuasion stood with her amidst the throngs while she kept an eye on the variety of things happening all at once. Secrets and information had always proven useful.
The son of King Fayden and of King Rulen entered together: always the closest of friends since their early years and always causing mischief. Seraphina thought King Rulen's son was fetching, but he was not one she wished to entangle with, so she turned aside to find someone else of interest.
But the herald's next announcement brought the entire Great Hall full of hundreds of revellers to a near standstill. Seraphina herself barely managed to hold the chalice that threatened to slip from her grasp as shock jolted straight to her toes.
"Jareth son of Taylen, King of the Goblins and the Goblin Kingdom!"
She stared with the rest of the masses. He hadn't been seen in so long that many had forgotten what he looked like. She hadn't. She could never forget what he looked like, the sound of his voice, or those curious eyes. And there he was. He often wore darker shades to match his darker moods, but tonight he had donned pale breeches, a silvery-grey shirt, and a silver coat that glinted in the light. And of course cream-coloured gloves to match the pants, always gloves. He looked the part of a mighty king stepped out of ancient days haloed by light and glory, but as was their way, he had not aged a day.
Seraphina felt the familiar sensations of desire and desperation that burned in her heart whenever Jareth the Goblin King entered her thoughts. To her utter despair, he never once gave in to her attentions or seductions. Not even a hint of it. Just as he was to so many, he had been a stone wall of a fortress immutable; but that did not stop her from wanting him to be hers.
And then she saw it. A creature stood at his side.
The fire turned to a blazing flame of fury. Jareth had not come alone but brought a woman with him. The girl had dark hair drawn back in a tumbling mass of shadowy curls placed with gold flowers, and her dress was an enchanting green wrapped with golden vines that showed off an impressive female figure and swished like trees in the wind on the floor. She was strikingly beautiful and bore an air of grace and kindness about her like a coveted cloak.
Seraphina gripped the chalice full of mead in her hand until her knuckles whitened and her magic almost crushed it into oblivion. If violence had not been forbidden at these occasions, she already might have pushed her way through the others to lash out at the woman with what power she had.
Jareth and the girl glided down the pair of steps to join the rest of the guests and disappeared from view.
She reined in her composure and quelled the fires burning in her breast till they iced over into a frosty chill that made her eyes as hard as gemstones. That wretched woman would find that Seraphina was not one to sit back and let another woman possess the Goblin King.
Every imaginable colour gleamed beneath the high ceiling of the palace in the resplendent vesture of all the Sidhe with crystals, gems, stitching, feathers, and all manner of ornamentation that had them all shimmering as they passed by on their gliding feet. A rather short, petite maiden with golden hair swaying all the way to her feet wore bright blue jewels about her neck and arms. A man stood speaking with a large company, his hair silvery as were his eyes and clothed in pale green that reminded Sarah of sunlight glistening on tropical waters. A group of women all wore white, silver, and pale colours that gave them an angelic aura as if the air around them truly was dusted with their light. The styles varied from more traditional ball gowns to long vests on the men to dresses of fantasy that the mortal world would find outlandish.
Laughter and voices were melodic, sweet, and like the sound of bells or waters of a running stream. So much of their qualities made one think of elements of the natural world. And they were all fair and merry that she could see.
The Great Hall itself was magnificent with a ceiling inlaid with silver working and a floor below made of white marble with gold veins. The walls were hung with silver and green banners, and the lily-shaped lanterns hung on delicate chains both from the walls and from the roof, giving off a warm light that bathed them all like sunshine.
It was slightly reminiscent of the infamous masquerade. Yet this time there were no garish masks, simple clothes, or walled boundaries. In another room beyond this one Sarah could see a myriad of dancers whirling around to music thick and sweet like honey.
It surpassed her expectations and impressed her into awed silence. However, it remained to be seen whether the fair folk were as fair towards mortals in their midst.
Jareth still firmly but gently kept her arm in his. His presence was soothing and kept the feeling of being overwhelmed from flooding her senses. He was her anchor in a sea of the unknown, something familiar and welcome. It made her laugh inside to think how bizarre that once would've been.
"How do you think so far?" he asked in his crisp voice.
She looked up at him and found his inscrutable mask in place. "I'm finding the word 'beautiful' suddenly lacking and overused. This is the most wonderful thing I've ever seen! Just these moments have been worth it all even if we were to leave right now." When she saw the shift in his expression begin, she hurriedly added, "But we're not leaving yet, Goblin King. I'm sure there are some long lost acquaintances for you to mingle with."
"They are long lost for a reason, dear Sarah," he said virulently. Yes, that definitely was a sardonic cast to his unique features.
"I'm sorry you must suffer, but I'm still extremely grateful you brought me. Plus, don't forget I owe you a request for it," she said with a soft smile. I don't really smile at him much do I? I've been doing it a lot lately though...
He seemed to appreciate it too because the biting attitude softened a little as he gazed down at her. It looked as though his eyes traced every curve and line of her face.
Just as she was being drawn in yet again to his magnetism, a voice shattered their solitude at last. It was only a matter of time before someone finally worked up the courage to approach the mystifying Goblin King.
"Jareth! My, but it's good to see you after all this time!"
Jareth's face dropped, and he sighed heavily. "Sarah, just remember to say as little as possible. This is going to be a very long night..."
NOTE: The celebrations has begun! And it's all just getting started...just you wait and see what this lovely evening has in store for our pair ;)
Review if you enjoyed the chapter or have questions or just have something to say!