CHAPTER 13
Jareth entered the throne room and sat on his throne grabbing his riding crop and lounging back tapping it on his boot. He said,"What can I do for you, Darius?"
King Darius said, "I need you to betroth my daughter, Princess Emiline."
Jareth said, "I told you before, no. I can't believe you woke me out of bed for something I already gave an answer to."
Darius said, "But she has her heart set on you."
Jareth said, "Wrong, Darius, she has her heart set on my throne. There is no heart in your spoiled child. I'm not interested. Besides, I have a betrothed and will be presenting her to my father and mother today."
Darius asked, "Do you mean that unusual fae girl you have been seen with?"
Jareth said, "Ah, I see your spies have been working hard to discover my actions. Yes, but she is the one and only."
Darius said, "What is she then? My reports say she has dark hair. There are no dark haired fae."
Jareth said, "I will not discuss this with you. My answer is no and leave me be."
Darius said, "She's driving me insane with her manipulation and pressing me to secure your betrothal. What am I to do with her? She won't take no for an answer from anyone. It's like an obsession."
Jareth said, "Tell her I'm betrothed to someone else and to find another pawn in her political scheming."
Darius said, "I'll try, but she is going to explode over this. She has been focused on you for thirty years now."
Jareth said, "I know and now she'll have to move on. Good luck, Darius."
Darius said, "Thank you Jareth. Be happy in your betrothal. Few of us ever are these days." Jareth nodded and Darius transported out with a popping noise.
Jareth went back to his room and Sarah was gone. He went to the adjoining door to the Queen's rooms and entered hearing soft singing coming from the bathroom. She was singing acapella.
"She Moved Through The Fair" by Loreena McKennitt
-
"My love said to me
"My mother won't mind
And me father won't slight you
For your lack of kind
-
Then she stepped away from me
And this she did say
"It will not be long, love
Till our wedding day
-
She stepped away from me
And she moved through the fair
And fondly I watched her
Move here and move there
-
She went her way homeward
With one star awake
As the swans in the evening
Move over the lake
-
The people were saying
No two e'er were wed
But one has a sorrow
That never was said
-
And she smiled as she passed me
With her goods and her gear
And that was the last
That I saw of my dear
-
I dreamed it last night
That my true love came in
So softly she entered
Her feet made no din
-
She came close beside me
And this she did say
"It will not be long, my love
Till our wedding day"
—--
The sound resonated acoustically through the whole room. It was beautiful, he thought. She was soaking in her bath. He vanished his clothing and stepped down into the warm soothing pool. She squeaked in surprise when he entered the water and took her in his arms. He grinned at her and kissed her deeply.
He whispered, "I told you I was coming back. I missed you already, my beautiful girl. I need to ask you if you'll be my betrothed, Sarah. I love you, my most precious thing."
Sarah thought for a minute what betrothal means. She asked, "Is that like a girlfriend?"
Jareth chuckled, "More like a fiancēe in your world. There are actual contracts to sign in my world because it's with me and I'm royalty. It's much more complicated than you know. Will you? I promise to devote myself to only you and never any other." His hands were moving over her soft skin in the water. He wrapped her legs around his hips and slid inside her and started kissing her neck. All he could think was the fear of rejection and begged in his mind, 'Please say yes, Sarah.' He chanted it over and over in his head.
Sarah thought, 'Oh God he feels so good.' She said out loud, "Yes, Jareth, I'll never love another. Only you." Magic swirled around them as he took her in the water against the side wall. He buried himself in her. His fear dissolved and his thrusting was sliding smoothly and well lubricated in the water with bath oil in it. They both came hard and held on to each other. Her legs were wrapped around his hips and her arms were wrapped around his shoulders. She rested her head on his shoulders.
When they came out of the bathroom wrapped in towels. Sarah was carrying the pouch with Midnight in it. Jareth said, "We need to go see my father and mother, the High King and Queen. I need to tell them of our betrothal and find out why you transformed on your own into a fae. You're completely fae now, you know? I'm not familiar with your eye markings though. Only royalty has markings." She stepped to look in the standing full length mirror. She was surprised. Her brows had a green and blue pattern she did not recognize.
Sarah looked at Jareth, "What the hell is going on?"
Jareth said, "I don't know, let's get dressed so I can present you to my parents. I'll send a missive of my betrothal needing to be witnessed by my parents, while we dress. He caressed her cheek and kissed her before leaving through the adjoining door.
Sarah put on her panties and bra. She opened the armoire and selected a teal green velvet and silk dress of various shades. It had long tight sleeves, off the shoulder. It had silver embroidery all throughout it, even the trim. When she put it on, it fastened itself down her back. She thought, 'Magic is so cool.' She found a pair of black suede mid heel lace up boots. As soon as she untied the laces and put them on, the laces tied themselves. The clothes were all enchanted. She brushed out her hair and let it dry naturally. She found a set of teal jewelry set in silver in a box on top of the dresser next to her gold. She put it on. She found her clothes and gun and hair combs in a Victorian chair next to the dresser. She had a little pocket in the folds of her dress on each side. She put her gun in one pocket and her coin bag with more gold in it on the other side pocket. She slipped her knife and sheath into her boot top. The laces adjusted. She opened the small top drawer on the dresser and found makeup. She put on minimal makeup with liquid eyeliner in black/brown. She fluffed her hair upside down to dry it faster. There were perfume bottles in a drawer. She sniffled each one and liked a vanilla lavender one. She sprayed some on. The kitten cried for breakfast and she sat down on the bed and fed him. She refilled his little bottle.
Jareth walked in the door in his dark blue leggings and black boots, royal blue velvet brocade jacket, over a white silk shirt. It had a white cravat and ruffles at the sleeves. His necklace was over the shirt. His eye markings were very prevalent and his hair was tinged with blue on the ends. He stopped dead with his mouth open and looked at her. It took a moment. He said, as she turned to him, "Oh, how you turn my world, you precious thing."
Sarah walked over and looked up at him as she came near and said, "Is it alright?"
He said, "Oh my, yes. You are the most beautiful fae woman I have ever laid my eyes on. Fear not your beauty and dark hair will turn heads. A fae doesn't have dark hair like yours and it shines so lovely. Come let's get breakfast, my love." She picked up her pouch and took his hand.
He led her into the dining room and held out her chair for her. A full breakfast appeared on the table with tea and coffee in fancy carafes.
She said nervously, "Jareth, do you think that your parents will like me? I hope I don't do or say anything to embarrass us. I don't know the protocol or anything really." He couldn't stop looking at her. The coloring on her lovely face enhanced her beauty even more than he ever thought possible.
He said, "Don't worry, my darling, everything will be fine. How could anyone not love you? When we get back, you should see your friends. I'll summon them for you."
She smiled and said, "Thank you Jareth, it is very considerate of you." He reached over and patted her hand and smiled at her adoringly.
He said, "You're welcome, precious. I will help you with learning protocol ahead of events." She sighed and let it go. She ate her hearty breakfast feeling much better about it all.
She whispered, "I love you, Jareth." That was the only payment he would ever want from her and he would never be tired of hearing it from her lips.
—--
Sarah found a long warm black velvet hooded cloak with a silver Celtic knot border trim on the entire cloak, even the hood. It had pockets on the inside. It was beautiful. She had Midnight around her neck inside her cloak with the hood up. Jareth was wearing a black woolen hooded cape, also. They were ready to go. He transported them to the stables. In the stables was her horse Ghrian. Jareth must have moved him to his stables. She patted him on the nose and scratched his ear. It was snowing lightly outside.
Jareth said, "I want you to ride with me, precious. I love having you in my arms." She smiled at him. He had a huge black war horse stallion in full fancy black leather and silver brocade conchos and studs on his tack. He was a stunning horse named "Treun" (Valiant) and very tall.
Jareth lifted her up on a bail of hay and he mounted his horse. Jareth helped her up to sit in front of him sideways, with his arms around her holding her in place. She kissed his lips and turned forward. He rode with her to a place inside the Labyrinth. It was a huge stone doorway that looked like a watery silver mirror. It was swirling; he had them walk straight through it without flinching. They came out into a city bustling with people. He turned them toward an abstract white modern looking building. It looked like a formation of a natural clump of crystals. Everyone was looking at them as they passed.
Sarah asked, "What is that white building?"
Jareth said, "It's the High King's Place, my love."
She asked, "Why is everyone staring at us?"
He grinned and said, "Because we have great hair." She started giggling. He just loved the sound of it.
They made it up to the gates with guards. Jareth dismounted and helped her down from the horse. The guards bowed and said, "Welcome home, sire. I'll take your steed to the royal stables." Jareth took her hand and they walked down through a snowy courtyard walkway to the front steps.
Jareth said, "Just let me do the talking no matter what is said, good or bad, in front of you. They may be negative until I explain it all. Keep your hood up and don't look at them until I say so. I don't want them to see your markings until the time comes. Perhaps, they may know what tribe you come from, because I've never seen them before. My parents are over 1,200 years old, I hope they have more knowledge." Jareth opens the throne room door. His parents were sitting on their thrones. He walked in and Sarah had her head down. Jareth bows and Sarah curtseys.
The High King says, "Son, greetings. It's been a long while since you visited or came to court. We see Malachi more than we see you. What is this about a betrothal? Who do you have there?"
The High Queen said, "Yes, Jareth, who do you have hidden there?" She was peering at Sarah.
Jareth said, "It is Sarah, my Champion the Labyrinth."
The high King gruffly said, "You mean that human child you fancied years ago?"
Jareth said, "Yes, father."
The High Queen asked, "How did she return? Did you bring her here? You know it's forbidden to bring back a runner twice."
Jareth said affronted, "I did not. She found her own way because she is brilliant. She researched the past encounter between our people 5,000 years ago. One day, she stumbled upon an old book that was falling apart. It had instructions on how to gain access through Dagda's ancient portal. She performed the ritual."
The High King exploded, "That's a criminal act and the start of an invasion by the humans! They could make war against us! You should have wiped her mind of us and the Underground! This is your fault!" Sarah cringed and gripped his arm harder and stood behind him as a shield.
Jareth shouted, "Calm yourself father! Stop your screaming! You're frightening her! Use your rational mind to see what I'm trying to tell you! SHE'S NOT A HUMAN! Don't you see, we need your help!" The High King sat back down composing himself. Sarah's kitten started crying she took him out and turned around cooing to him. Trying to reassure him it was ok. His little eyes were frightened and big.
The High King asked, "What is she doing?"
Jareth said, "Comforting her kit. We yelled so loud it frightened him."
The High King asks, "Why is she dragging animals around with her?"
Jareth said, "Because it lost it's mother and she is a sweet compassionate woman, fae or not."
The High Queen asked, "What do you mean Jareth? We do not understand about her not being human anymore?"
Jareth said, "During her run ten years ago, she went home and three days later she noticed subtle differences in her appearance. Her ears were tapering, her eyes and hair were shinier than before and she developed an eidetic memory she did not have prior. None of the humans noticed, so she just started with an obsession to learn everything about us and the human encounter 5,000 years ago through academic sources."
The High King, more composed, said, "But she is human, right?" Jareth ignored him.
Jareth said, "She has been in the Underground over a month now, visiting the human towns outside and inside of my kingdom to the north. Father, you would have been as impressed as I was at her preparedness. She even stumbled upon an abandoned full pot of gold some leprechaun left in the old portal entrance she discovered. She used the money for a horse, clothing and lodging. She is amazingly resourceful."
The High King asked, "Where is the book on the portal?" Jareth whispered to Sarah and she whispered back.
Jareth said, "She brought it with her to protect our existence and not have someone else find it. She has it in my castle for safe keeping."
The High King said, "I want it and I will investigate who may have done this. I will then destroy it. Someone did that deliberately. Knowledge of that magnitude would have died out and been untraceable thousands of years prior to now."
Jareth said,"I told Sarah that it was fortunate that it fell into her hands before any damage could have happened. She was aware of this already before I said anything. She is not ignorant; she possesses wisdom in her actions. Don't you see? She is something different. I want you to look closely at her and help me understand what she is. She is completely fae now. I had Orrian analyze her. She has transformed after two weeks of traveling. Then after the "An Cheangail" occurred between us last night she developed eye markings. She is frightened don't you see? We both don't know what has happened." The High King and Queen gasped.
The High King asked, "Jareth how can you "An Cheangail" if she is human."
Jareth frustratedly said, "Father, you aren't listening with your ears. She is not human anymore."
The High Queen stepped down from the throne, walked up to Jareth and said, "Show me." The High King did the same.
Jareth turned and kissed Sarah. He caressed her face and removed her hood. She looked up into the faces of his parents. The High Queen fainted and the High King caught her as he stared open mouthed at her. He said, "Jareth put her hood up and then hide her face. We are going into our private chambers to discuss this." Jareth did as he asked, kissing her once again.