There was an insistent throbbing in his head and his mouth felt as though he had eaten sand, it was so dry. Jareth pulled himself off the floor of his study and regretted moving instantly. His stomach churned as he gagged and the bright sunlight blinded him as he tried to get to his feet. Why, oh, why had he had so much to drink? And then the memories came back all at once and quite painfully. Sarah. She had accused him of trickery. She believed he had played her false, but it wasn't true. He'd told her! He had!

Loildee stood in the doorway and shook her head, a glass in one hand and a bottle in the other. Jareth knew at once that she had sought out the healer and brought him the hangover cure. Thank the gods at least Loildee was still loyal even if his new queen was contrary and perverse. He took the potion without argument and downed in one swallow. It was unpleasant but most effective. Jareth decided to find out what he could about the state of his marriage from his most trusted and valued servant.

"How is my Queen?" He looked hopeful for good news.

Loildee shook her head. "She is still extremely vexed, my king. She still insists you tricked her and has vowed to keep you from her bed."

Jareth flinched at the words almost as if they had caused him real physical pain. He shook his head and groaned. "Do you think she will speak with me? I wish to try to clear up the misunderstanding and attempt to reconcile with her." He looked at the goblin woman earnestly. "I do love her, you know."

Loildee nodded and went over to Jareth and patted his hand as she had when he was younger. "I know. I do believe she will speak with you, but know that she has decided that while you may sleep in the same bedchamber you will not be allowed in the marriage bed. I am truly sorry, your majesty."

Jareth nodded grimly, acknowledging that he had truly made a complete mess of this but with the fervent hope that he might yet repair his mistakes and have his beloved see his intentions had been honorable. He had intended to wait but his desire and deep love had driven him to seduction, however ill-advised it had ended up being. He conjured a crystal and scried that his bride was in the solarium, gazing out at the gardens. He decided this would be a good time to bathe and change clothes. He wanted to see her but needed to be at his absolute best. The hangover remedy had worked and he felt quite himself. Moving down the corridor with a purpose, he ignored the downcast faces of the castle servants. He groaned. They knew. They knew the new queen had raged at their king and even dared to strike him. It had been a shock and it was only that fact that had prevented him from retaliating. And he was glad of it. The thought of causing his Sarah physical harm disgusted him. He simply couldn't hurt her and yet, with growing despair he knew he had caused her pain.

He opened the doors to their shared chamber and saw the room had already been cleaned. He could pick up just the hint of her fragrance: vanilla and honeysuckle. He could feel his body react to the scent. "Damn." He went into the bathing suite and quickly stripped off his clothing and ran the tub full of steaming water. He sank his nude body into the welcome bath, his muscles relaxing with contact of the heat of his bath. Soon, he would speak to Sarah and make her see reason.

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Sarah sat in the solarium, watching the butterflies and dragonflies flitting around the garden. She smoothed her hands over the soft silk of her honey colored gown. She sighed. Jareth had clearly taken great care selecting her wardrobe. Every gown was made from the finest fabrics: satins, silks, velvets. All in rich jewel tones, complimenting her complexion and rich brown hair. She heaved another sigh and realized that he loved her, clearly more than she had considered. And it was becoming clear to Sarah that the love she felt for him ran much deeper than even she would have admitted. She felt like someone had scrapped her insides out with a melon baller; raw and empty. She ached for Jareth. She turned and spied Loildee lurking in the doorway. "What is it?" She queried hesitantly.

Loildee stepped into the solarium and dipped in a quick curtsy. "The king requests an audience with you, my Queen. He is in your bedchamber." She smiled as she watched Sarah rise from the marble bench and glide out the door. 'Please, oh great mother Goddess' she prayed silently. 'Let them reconcile.'

Sarah moved into the bedchamber and found it was empty. But she heard water splashing and walked into the bathing suite. She gasped at the scene before her eyes: Jareth was just rising from the bath, water running in cascading rivulets down his beautiful glistening body. Her eyes hungrily raked over him as he slowly turned and she stared at his manhood, already growing hard at just the sight of her.

"Sarah." It was a pained whisper, full of longing and sadness. He covers his body, wrapping a towel around his slender hips and took two tentative steps towards her. He watched as desire warred with anger on the lovely face of his wife. She move closer to him and flung herself into his arms. "Oh Sarah." He groaned as he crushed her to his still wet form. "I… I'm…oh, precious, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me." The words were a mere pained whisper, his lips rested against her ear, his breath warm on her skin.

Sarah moaned as she claimed his lips in a searing kiss. She moved with a purpose, pushing Jareth out of the bathing suite towards the big bed in their shared chambers. She tore the golden gown from her own body as the towel around Jareth's hips slid from his still damp body to land forgotten on the floor. They fell upon the bed and Sarah worked to possess her husband. While still trying to remove her chemise of soft silk, she straddle his hips and ground her hips down on his throbbing hardness. His shout of pleasure sounded like pain, but the most exquisite kind of painful pleasure is what Sarah knew it to be. She felt it, too. The intense ecstasy of their coupling, two bodies, hearts and souls combining into one was too poignant to be born without the groans and moans of satisfaction. Their mutual release was earth-shattering as they both tumbled into the warm, dark sensation of pure bliss.

Sarah lay on the bed, her body flung over his, as she panted, attempting to regain her composure. In her mind was a confused jumble of hurt feelings and angry thoughts. And yet, she knew in her heart she belonged here, in the Underground, in this castle, with her king. One thing had become clear, they needed to talk and until it they did, this could not happen again.

Jareth was befuddled. He looked at the top of Sarah head, wondering what could have been going on in her head. She had been so passionate, desperate to merge their two bodies into one. His heart sang with joy but his mind, always alerted, knew this had not changed anything. Clearly, Sarah desired him. And he prayed she truly loved him and yet he felt her withdrawing even as his arms held her as close to his chest as he could. "Sarah, I know that what just happened has not healed the hurt or even begun to breach the divide between us. We need to talk, and not in the afterglow of our mutual release." He kissed her when she finally raised her face to look at him. What he saw, the pain, the mistrust, reflected in her eyes, broke his fragile heart. "I'm sorry, my heart song. Please, let me explain."

Sarah felt the tears threatening to spill from her eyes as she nodded in agreement. The intense attraction they felt for each other did not resolve the hurt. "Yes", she whispered in agreement, "we need to talk."

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A short time later, the newly bonded pair found themselves in the king's study. Jareth sat in one fine chair and Sarah in its mate. Jareth fidgeted in his seat, his level of discomfort was extreme. He regarded Sarah had saw her sorrow. He could not bear it. He chose to break the silence.

"Sarah, I have made a complete hash of this. I realize that I spoke to you as if you were Fae like myself. I took much for granted and while I did not intend to trick you, I realize it appears that I played you false. I thought you understood and in my love and lust for you, I allowed myself to believe you knew what I was saying." His eyes pleaded with her to forgive him.

"I want to believe you, I want to forgive you, but…" she felt immense pain in her chest. "I can't forgive you yet. I want to but you've hurt me, Jareth. And I will need time. Can you give me time?" She reached a hand to touch his arm and quickly withdrew it as she watched him flinch in what she assumed was fear.

Jareth had flinched but not out of fear of her anger but fear of the burned no desire he felt. He knew he would always feel it: the aching need to touch her, kiss her, love her. But he could not deny her such a simple request. "I will give you all the time you need. I would reorder time for you, move the stars for you, my love. You have but to ask." He felt unmanly tears welling in his eyes.

Sarah looked upon him, completely stricken with sadness at how devastated he looked at this moment. Why couldn't she just forgive him? He looked like he might expire if she continued to refuse his apology. But her pride demanded he give her time to forgive him. "Just a little time, Jareth. We can share the bedroom but not the bed. Sex isn't our problem and probably never will be but I need to be able to trust you. I just…please, give me time!" She watched as he nodded his agreement and then rose from his seat to walk solemnly out the study door. Her heart hurt with every step he took away from her.

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Elora was waiting in the solarium. She had learned from Loildee what had happened after Jareth bonded with the mortal who was mortal no more. Sarah was now Fae and the Goblin Queen. And she had misjudged her only son. And Elora was angry! Did this foolish female not realize she was risking his very life? Well, if she didn't, Elora would make her aware of the real danger. It was a mother's duty to protect her offspring and she intended to protect her boy!

When Sarah entered the solarium she was shocked to see the queen mother. Goodness she was beautiful! Her curly blond hair and lavender eyes veritably took her breath away. "To what do I owe this honor?"

Elora would have laughed if She could have. "I come on behalf of my only son. Do you know what you are doing, young woman? Are you cognizant of the great threat to his very life you have wrought?" She felt a sense of satisfaction at the sharp intake of breath and the sudden pallor of her complexion.

"I wasn't, I mean, I could hardly know…" she did not know what to say.

Elora rose and walk over to grab Sarah by the shoulders and stared into her startled green eyes. "You are killing him; breaking his heart. The heart he foolishly gave to an unfeeling girl. For a woman would treasure so great a gift and treat it with utmost care not throw it away with careless abandon." She released her abruptly, swept past her and move with purpose in search of the goblin king.

Sarah collapsed on the marble bench. She had suspected that Jareth's heart was in the balance. And yet, she didn't want to believe she truly risked his life. But, the queen mother would not have lied about this! In fact, she knew that Fae could not lie. So, Jareth's continued existence was in her hands. And again, Sarah dissolved into a pool of tears.

Elora had found Jareth exactly where she expected she would: sitting on a ledge in the Escher room. How she hated this room! He had seen that silly work of art by the famous painter and simply had to recreate a room like the one in the picture. Ha! Such folly. It served no purpose. She flipped from under one ledge to appear before her son, observing the tears that fell from his beautiful eyes. "Jareth, do not cry, my son. You are a king after all. It is unseemly."

He raised his face to look at her and shook his head. "I'm losing her, mother. She may not forgive me and if she leaves, I'll die."

And Elora heart ached as she watched him disappear in a flash of glitter. And then the queen mother sat on the same ledge and sobbed out her own grief.

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A/N I hope this isn't too sad a chapter. Let me know, kind readers?