CHAPTER 7

Jareth hung his head and undid the spells on her, Sarah grabbed the litter box and set it up quickly. She put the two kittens in the litter box and they went to the bathroom. She sat on the floor and the kittens came to her when they were finished. She had a little bag on her belt and started feeding the kittens from little bottles like babies. Jareth just watched her gentle ways of taking care of the little kits. He knew she would be a wonderful mother. He felt so lost at how to capture this beautiful woman's heart.

Sarah said stoically, "You need to stop trying to control and dominate me to start. If you do not respect my privacy I will leave. You are not my husband, fiance or my boyfriend and even they would not rule me. You will have to earn my trust because you have blown up that ship to hell. I am not a puppet for your amusement. If you got your way, having sex with you would be no better than you going to the toilet on me. Unacceptable. Either you let me be myself, or there is nothing left to make a relationship out of. You must accept me as I am and show me things but do not force or try to change me. Ask me." The last kitten had finished it's bottle she always kissed their heads and pulled out the leather balls and rolled them into the room on the carpeted floor and the chase was on. They pounced and tumbled so adorably cute. Sarah giggled at them.

Jareth listened to what she said and she was right he had tried to change her to his will and it did not work. He watched her nurse the kittens and giggled at their silly antics. It was a glimpse into a happy moment he wanted with her, to have her smile at him like that. He supposed she was right and his approach was all wrong trying to force bend her to himself. He had never wanted something so bad and he guessed he would have to work at it.

Sarah watched the kittens and said, "We should try being friends first and see how that goes."

Jareth got down on his knees next to her and sat back. He slowly reached his hand up and caressed her cheek with his fingers. He said, "You are all I dream about. I am sorry I hurt you, Sarah. I really just wanted to be close to you." He caressed her lips with his thumb. He stared at her lips. He leaned in and kissed her lightly. He whispered, "Please don't hate me anymore."

Sarah looked into his eyes and thought that he seemed sincere. Sarah whispered, "I don't hate you. I'm disappointed that you can't trust me to let me be who I am. I never hated you. I can not let you harm me ever. Talk to me and be honest or it will never work."

Jareth said, "I swear to never physically harm you. I will try if you will." Sarah kissed him on the cheek.

Sarah said, "Ok, I'll try as long as you keep up your end of the bargain." He smiled softly looking in her eyes and kissed her this time more passionately but not an open mouth kiss.

Jareth sat back and said, "Sarah, will you have lunch with me here in the room?"

Sarah said, "Ok." He snapped his fingers and a table appeared by the fire. He stood up and took her hand leading her over to the chair. They sat down and he poured the wine in their glasses and Sarah made an ice water too. She was thirsty. They ate roast with potatoes, salad, and homemade warm bread. It was tasty and nice to sit by the fire and eat, Sarah thought.

Jareth asked, "Sarah, how did you survive without money?"

Sarah said, "Who said I didn't have money? I had three thieves attack me and I killed one and banished the other two. I took all their belongings and sold the bags of jewelry they stole and kept their money. Then I had two bounty hunters looking for me that I banished and took their belongings also. They were looking for humans to pinch and sell so I made them humans in an auction house. Then I had a thief break into my room and started stealing before I could sell the bags of jewelry. He had seven more bags. After I took everything from him I gave him his belongings and fifteen gold and sent him away. By that time I had accumulated forty thousand gold."

Jareth's eyes got big and he said curiously, "You robbed the thieves and bounty hunters? That is amazing. I cannot believe you accumulated that much. Where do you keep it all?"

Sarah said, "An infinite space item."

Jareth said, "Those are expensive items."

Sarah said, "Yes, I paid 60 gold for it. But it's an investment." Jareth nodded and was amazed at her ingenuity coming from a world with no magic and understanding magical people and items to be one step ahead of them.

Jareth said, "You are very clever to have figured that out. Most people would not have found that out so quickly." Sarah said thank you for the compliment. They had a good meal together. Sarah thought he was nice when he wasn't trying to rule over her. After lunch, he kissed her on the lips and let her settle in.

Sarah wondered how long he could be this way. She settled in and all her things were still in the dresser and armoire as she left it. She hung up her clothes and put them away in the drawers. The kittens had worn themselves out playing and were sleeping cuddled together in a knot on the bed by the pillow. It made Sarah smile looking at them.

Sarah changed her clothes and hung up her black leather outfit. She took one of her blankets and covered up. Sarah laid down on the bed and her kittens climbed up half asleep to cuddle with her. She was in her linen shirt and leggings. They all took a nap.

Sarah woke up and scratched her little ones on their ears. They woke up and stretched. Sarah got up and went to the bathroom after she moved the litter box to the proper place and put them in it. Sarah got a dark blue dress out of the armoire and put it on. She looked at her face still bruised. She made a crystal and pushed it into her face. Sarah wished for her hair and eyes to be their original colors. She put on a little bit of makeup and fed her kittens. It was almost dinner time.

There was a knock at her door and she got up to answer it. It was Jareth. He had on a brocade green and gold waistcoat and white ruffled shirt with tight green short pants and white stockings with buckled shoes. He was looking extremely good to Sarah.

His eyes were smoldering as he looked at Sarah and he snapped his fingers to change the green to dark blue. Sarah giggled at him and he grinned.

Sarah said, "You didn't have to change for me."

Jareth said, "Yes. I do. You look very beautiful in blue and I'm glad you changed your hair back." Sarah blushed.

Jareth said, "Are you hungry?"

Sarah said, "Yes, let me gather up my little ones." Sarah went into the room as Jareth followed and her kittens came flying across the room zooming to out run each other in a scamper race. Sarah giggled at them and squatted down calling, "Spooky, Smokey, let's go eat with King Jareth!" They ran to her and she scooped them up. She cuddled and kissed their heads.

Sarah said, "You little busybodies. I love you." She put them in the pouch and held them in her arms.

Jareth said, "Are you going to feed the kits?" They walked out the door and Jareth held her hand.

Sarah said, "Yes and no. Yes they like to sample my food as well as their own, but don't let them fool you that they are well fed already. They are silly little beggars." He smiled at her and kissed her hand.

They walked into a dining hall and she was seated by Jareth as he sat in the chair at the end of the table. It had a candle chandelier above the table and candelabras at each end. The fireplace off to the side was burning and so were the candles. They were dining by candlelight. The two servers came out right away and laid out soup as a first course and filled their wine glasses. They were human men and dressed up formally. Sarah figured this must be a date.

Sarah whispered to Jareth, "Your majesty, are you trying to court me?"

Jareth took a sip of his wine and put it back down and looked at her like he wasn't sure what to say. He said after clearing his throat, "It would seem so, but I just wanted you to know I enjoy your company and I am glad you stayed. I thought of a nice meal and maybe you might let me dance with you after a little while. I never really got to, but a brief moment, when you were young." Sarah nodded and thought, 'Yes, true, not but a brief moment. I hope he doesn't switch and be mean or forward tomorrow like he did before.'

Sarah said, "That sounds nice and fun. I would like that."

Jareth smirked and said, "I would like to slowly court you, Sarah. Until you are comfortable with it, I'll wait."

Sarah smiled and said, "Let's give it time." The kittens popped up. "You two silly boots again? The main entrees haven't got her and I know you don't want soup you silly boys." She patted them as they crawled into her lap and laid down looking up at Jareth.

Jareth looked at them in her lap staring at him and said, "Don't look at me, I have soup too." Sarah giggled and Jareth smiled at her. They had a salad and then tempura prawns. They were the size of the palm of your hand with roasted vegetables and a light pilaf of pasta. Spooky and Smokey loved the prawns.

After dinner, Jareth took Sarah over to the fireplace and danced with her. He cast a music spell and they danced. They swayed to the music as he spun her around in the intimate setting. They moved together smoothly. Sarah loved it that it was so easy to dance with Jareth. She smiled the whole time.

—--

In the Highland Kingdom, the High King was sitting at his dining table looking at maps of the Creagach Mountains looking for the lost treasure mine. He was having dinner with Princess Carilina.

The High King said firmly, "I want you to tell Jareth that I sent you to him, for him to court you. I do not want just anyone on the High Throne with just anybody. It's ridiculous how he won't wed. If he does not comply , I will go up to the Aboveground and kill that child that won the Labyrinth Championship he obsessed over a decade ago. He will comply because he will have no choice then." Carilina was pleased to get picked to sit on the High Throne. She thought she was the perfect candidate for the position.

Carilina said smugly, "As you wish, your majesty."

—--

When the night came to a close, Jareth walked her back to her room and kissed her at her door. It started out light but became more passionate as Sarah responded to him. He loved the taste of her mouth, her tongue and her lips. He craved her soft sweet taste. Sarah broke the kiss and pecked his lips one last time and opened the door. She said, "Thank you for a lovely evening, Jareth. See you in the morning." She waved and closed the door.

Jareth was about to bust the buttons on his pants. He was so aroused from a simple kiss he couldn't imagine what making love with her would be like to him. He would be in ecstasy and he just knew it. He turned and went to his room to take matters in hand, as they say.

Sarah was smiling at how wonderful the night went. She loved every minute. She looked at herself in the mirror and thought, 'I'm in big trouble because when he acts like this it is so sweet, even the table talk was good. We talked at ease and everything went wonderfully. I love dancing with him, it was so easy and smooth. He must be a very good leader because I just knew where he wanted me to go. Oh I like this Jareth so much better than selfish Jareth.'

Sarah got ready for bed, got under the covers and turned down the torches in the room magically. Her kittens climbed up all sleepy and cuddled up to her. They all went to sleep.