Quick AN! I'm sorry for the wait! I have a little plot bunny nibbling at a good portion of my attention. I'm not 100% sure on this yet (probably about 98% though), but: there might be another story in the works to be published soon. Now, without further stalling, enjoy the chapter! The next one won't take as long. Pinky promise!

"I've brought you a gift," Jareth said rather proudly, the early morning sun shining off his armor.

"Really, Jareth? What is it with you and sitting at my bedside at ungodly hours in the morning? What is it?" Sarah grumbled, burying her head under her pillow.

"Come on downstairs and I'll show you." Sarah moaned in exasperation. "Well, if you don't want him…"

Sarah frowned and peeked out from under the pillow. "Him?"

"Come on," he beckoned, getting up. Sarah put on a robe and followed him downstairs. Jareth opened the front door and orange light streamed out into the hallway. Sarah blinked against the bright light and stepped out with him, consciously trying to fix her hair.

Outside stood a soldier holding the reins of a dapple gray horse. It looked rather muscular, but nowhere near as strong as Jareth's warhorses. Its mane and tail were black and cut short. "You're… gifting me a horse?" Sarah looked up at him.

"If you're going to be staying here, you'll need to be able to get around." The woman walked over to the horse, petting it. Jareth dismissed the soldier, who bowed and stepped aside to give them some privacy.

"I… Jareth," she looked up at him. He smiled patiently. "Thank you. He's beautiful. I don't know what to say…"

"He's not only beautiful but also very obedient. He's been trained to serve in battle from a young age so he doesn't spook easily. He's seven years old."

"What's his name?"

"Gaeth, but you're welcome to change it."

"It's a nice name," she insisted, repeating it and smiling as the horse's ears perked. Looking back at the man she took his hand. "Thank you, Jareth, truly. I love him."

"You're very welcome, Sarah." He raised her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "If you like we can go for a ride after dinner."

The woman perked up. "Really?"

"Really," he chuckled. "You will be spending a lot of time together in the upcoming time, so you should get to know him a little."

"I'd love to," she said softly, smiling as she looked into Gaeth's gentle ochre's eyes.

"Then, as you mortals say," he said with a grin. "It's a date." Sarah blushed and tucked her head, trying to suppress a smile.

—-

Dinner had been light.

Very light.

Alana was a wonderfully kind woman who was skilled in many things. Cooking wasn't one of them. Their fresh resources had been rendered inedible. Sarah was happy to see her again and Alana had been over the moon, hearing that Sarah would stay for a while longer. So, Sarah had remained polite and as positive as she could be, carefully providing constructive criticism.

Jareth hadn't been as gracious and kind to his sister. Sarah could recall the word 'treason' being used repeatedly.

Alana had taken both comments and insults alike ever so gracefully with a patient smile, insisting she was aware of being a terrible cook. So, all three of them were still on the verge of being hungry after dinner. Luckily Jareth had packed a few snacks for the night out.

He opened the door and gestured for her to go first. The streets were relatively quiet. Once they reached the stables, Gaeth was already saddled and ready, accompanied by a dark brown stallion. Jareth helped Sarah mount before getting on the other horse effortlessly.

"So, where are we going?"

"You'll see."

"Always with the cryptic answers."

They trotted through the town, the clacking of hooves echoing through the empty streets. Soon they left town and quickened their pace to a gallop.

Ten to twenty minutes later they reached a clearing. A large open area with in its center a medium sized lake. The moons and stars in the sky glittered like jewels on a velvet surface. The area was surrounded by lush grass and colorful plants and shrubbery, bathed in moonlight, making it look like something straight out of a fairy tale.

"This place is breathtaking," she said.

"Yes, the surrounding area has many beautiful locations." He stopped and dismounted, grabbing a roll of fabric from behind his saddle. "Or so the locals told me." Jareth rolled out the fabric and put it down on the grass while Sarah dismounted. "Take a seat," he offered with an outstretched hand.

"Shouldn't we tie up the horses?"

"They're not going anywhere, they'll be fine." He slung the bag from his back and opened it while Sarah sat down on the blanket. Pulling out some snacks, a bottle and two glasses he sat down next to her. The horses grazed next to them.

"So how are you doing," Sarah asked as he joined her.

The man pondered that question for a moment. "Well enough. I am ready for the next battle if needed, though I hope to resolve further conflict in a more peaceful manner. I'm still rather frightened for your well-being, but here we are." He poured a drink and offered it to her. "I thought we might simply enjoy some water this time. I do believe we should see each other sober more often."

Taking the glass the woman chuckled. "Thanks."

"I figured some water and snacks could wash out the taste of Alana's culinary accomplishments. Feel free to grab a bite."

"Hey, be kind to Alana," Sarah said with a giggle. "She tried her best."

"To kill us, maybe." Gratefully he rinsed his mouth with water before swallowing.

"I think I could hear her heart break when you accused her of regicide," Sarah accused. The man laughed. "So… What exactly… was Alana's latest attempt at murder?"

"Would you believe me if I said it was pork?"

"I am willing to believe anything." Sarah shot him a playful glace, which he reciprocated with a sharp toothed grin.

"Well," he said while he leaned back on his hand. "It was fish. Salmon, specifically."

"Salmon," Sarah repeated, gawking at him.

"That's what the receipt and packaging told me, anyway."

"Okay, the next leisure activity on the agenda is cooking lessons for your sister." She grabbed another snack and looked ahead over the lake. After a few moments she snorted. "Salmon…"

For a while they enjoyed the snacks in a comfortable silence. The wind blew peacefully through the grass. Sarah was lost in thought. Countless things flitted through her mind like rabid fairies, yet she felt at peace. Being here with Jareth still felt unreal. Everything that had recently happened had felt unreal. She half expected to wake up in her bed back at home any moment now.

Gazing up at the cloudless sky above, stars glittered far beyond the treetops. The woman took a deep breath and held it, allowing her senses to soak in everything around her. There were so many subtle smells. Mud, pine, lavender, roses, damp wood, wet rocks and… Her head turned and she looked at Jareth, releasing a deep breath. He was gazing across the lake, his eyes somehow reflecting the light of the stars and his fair skin illuminated by the moonlight. His golden hair gently billowed in the breeze, brushing along his forehead and his cheekbones. It was getting longer. His sharp features seemed even more angular in the moonlight, his sweeping eyebrows relaxed and the markings by his eyes creating a decent amount of contrast.

Almost as if he felt her eyes on him he turned his gaze towards her. He looked deep into her eyes, with that unfailing and unwavering intensity. Slowly, a gentle smile curved around his lips. Goosebumps rose along her skin and butterflies fluttered in her stomach. He rose to his feet and held out his hand. A little confused Sarah looked at it, then looked back up at him.

"May I have this dance?"

Sarah's lips parted, looking back and forth between his hand and his face. "A… A dance?" She looked around awkwardly for a second while she lifted her hand. "But there is no music…"

His smile turned to a grin and he grasped her hand. Smoothly he tugged her to her feet, his arm wrapping around her waist to steady her. "Of course there is, you just need to tune in to it." He led her off the blanket and onto the grass. "Listen," he beckoned, moving to put his forehead against hers. He put one of her hands against his chest and closed his eyes, his body growing still.

The woman closed her eyes too. It took well over a minute of complete silence before, in the strangest way, it was like her senses expanded. Like her mind started to play tricks on her. The white noise of the trees and plants rustling around them shifted, the sound of trickling water leaned into a melody and his heartbeat against her fingertips transferred from a gentle throb against her fingertips to quiet drums. It was a sensation unlike anything Sarah had ever experienced. The melody became louder and more distinct. It wrapped around her, seeped through her. Her breath quickened instinctively and all sorts of emotions welled up inside her.

Jareth picked up on her changing breathing pattern. He slowly removed her hand from his chest, placing it on his shoulder, his other hand still holding hers. His free hand came to rest on her waist. He gently started to guide her. Lifting her forehead from his, her hazel eyes looked up at him, both wide yet dazed. It reminded him of that dance all those years ago.

But this time there was no race against the clock. No baby to be reclaimed. No adversity. No mockery from unfamiliar bystanders. There was no fear. No rift between them. She was no longer a child. No longer a stranger.

And those facts offered Jareth the world. At this moment he forgot about his kingdom, no longer remembered his many subjects. At this moment, he couldn't care less for power, for magic, for his crown. For the first time in his life, his entire world contracted to no more than a three foot bubble around him.

And it was enough.

It was more than enough, it was everything he'd ever wanted.

Effortlessly, like they were floating, he guided them around in the grass, never faltering or miss-stepping. On occasion he twirled her around, effortlessly catching her when pulling her back to him. She followed as though it was second nature. They looked into each other's eyes and neither of them could say if they'd been dancing for minutes, hours or even days.

However, Jareth could sense she was starting to tire. Bringing the dance to a halt Sarah let go of his shoulder to touch his cheek. A smile formed on the Goblin King's face. "There is always music for those who listen," he whispered.

Sarah was a little lightheaded. Her mind and body were catching up and sinking into an alien sort of exhaustion. "Jareth, I think I need to sit down for a moment." Her voice was quiet, the music fading into the shadows.

"Of course, allow me." He escorted her back to the blanket and helped her down, before lowering himself back to it as well.

A silence stretched between them while they enjoyed their drink and the snacks. The wind was softly rustling through the trees, a few nocturnal birds calling out in the distance. Sarah leaned back with a relaxing breath, tilting her head while she recovered from her dizziness. "Jareth," she said softly. "Have you ever wished for anything?"

"I have. Even as king. Perhaps especially as king." Putting his drink aside he moved to lay down on the blanket.

"Especially?" Sarah looked down at him, his gaze directed to the sky.

Jareth smiled wistfully. "As king I have many resources and people at my fingertips. With a wave of my hand people will do what I want them to. However, the choices and demands I make are expected to be for the good of the people. Even though my subjects obey, I serve my people. It doesn't matter what I wish…" A rather sour expression creased his forehead. "Not anymore. It never should have." The woman lowered her eyes and moved her hand closer to his, quietly intertwining their fingers.

"Don't pity me, Sarah. I was born to be a king. In many ways. I enjoy my rule, despite a lacking past." He gracefully sat up. "I enjoy the power I have over my citizens. I relish having the capability and resources to make small and big changes alike. While I have neglected my duties for a while, now that I am actively enforcing my will and now that I actually am among my subjects, more than ever I realize that if I wasn't king…" He fell silent for a moment, searching for the words as he looked up at the sky. "I don't know who I'd be." Catching her gaze he intertwined their fingers.

Blushing, Sarah looked away. "It's beautiful here. I've never seen so many stars… Though… What's the plan now? Where does the near future lead us?"

"Tomorrow I will do one final check on the camp we fled. I received word that hostile parties have left the area or have been dealt with, but just to be sure I want to have one more patrol check. This village is too fragile. The day after we'll head for either Caisnis in the east or Dor Cathrach in the south."

"What needs to be done there?"

"Caisnis needs reinforcements. They have been suspecting an attack somewhere in the next few weeks. Dor Cathrach is long overdue for a visit. I haven't been there in many years and have missed a transfer of command seven years ago."

"Which do you think needs to be done first?"

"Dor Cathrach definitely has priority as it is long overdue, though I dread heading there."

"Why?" Sarah looked at him when he remained quiet.

His gaze was firmly fixed on the sky, a frown on his face. Uncomfortably he ran a hand through his hair. "I… I was born there. The castle in Dor Cathrach is where I lived for over two hundred years. It's where my parents lived, my brothers and sisters, my childhood friends. I-"

Sarah gasped, turning to him. "Hold on. Brothers and sisters? Plural?" A look of despair flashed through his eyes and Jareth turned his head away from her, his gaze directing to the treeline. The woman scrambled to face him. "Jareth, don't shut down on me again. Please, tell me," she insisted.

"It doesn't matter. The past is in the past," he said dismissively while avoiding her gaze.

"It does matter. What-"

"Sarah, leave it." His tone was icy. A far cry from his warmth just a moment ago.

She hated how things could go south so quickly, but she didn't want him to keep shutting her out when she was trying to get to know the guy. He couldn't keep her at arm's length if their relationship was going to be… less platonic. She couldn't keep letting him. She wasn't backing off this time.

"Jareth, if we're going to do this," she said as she gestured between the two of them. "If this is something we want to work, you can't just shut me out every time." He turned away from her. A rather childish gesture. Her anger flared. "Don't be a coward," she snapped, putting her hand on his shoulder.

When 'coward' fell off her lips he turned back to her. Quick as a flash his hand firmly grasped the wrist of her raised arm. "I said leave it," he hissed. Fear zipped through her due to the firm grip on her wrist and the threatening tone he used. Though a moment later anger and hurt washed over her.

His gaze was a stark contrast to the way he looked at her for the majority of this evening. Was he to react like this every time his past came up? Would she ever be let in on his darker side? Seeds of doubt embedded themselves in her heart and in her stomach, weighing them down like cinder blocks. There was a possibility that after all they'd been through in the past years, he wasn't serious about whatever was happening between them. A suspicion that hit so hard that it made her feel physically ill. Her vision blurred from the bottom nearly to the top and the feeling of rejection was flooded with further emotions from the tears in her eyes.

"Fine," she snapped, violently tugging on her arm and breaking free from his grasp. Getting up she walked off the blanket.

Jareth had started to worry when her eyes started sparkling and brimming with tears. When her temperament flared it caught him so off guard that he flinched. "Where are you going?"

"Back to the village." She walked up to Gaeth, grabbing the reins.

"Sarah…" His voice was quiet. "Don't."

Sarah halted. The woman had never heard that tone in his voice before. It was unusually quiet. It was rushed. Perhaps even a little uneven.

She didn't want to end the evening like this, but if she was going to be by his side as more than friends she needed to know about him. Good and bad. He needed to include her willingly, rather than her having to repeatedly assault the walls around him in hope she could peer through the cracks before they were patched up.

Perhaps he wasn't ready to include her yet. Perhaps the wounds of his past simply ran too deep. Led by his signals she'd taken the leap past friendship to see if it could be something more. But if this 'something more' was only going to be skin deep, things were about to get a lot more serious and a lot more hurtful.

She shook her head. Her heart twisted hearing Jareth call out to her again softly. Her name on his lips carried so much more than the mere two syllables. She desperately wanted to turn back. Ask for forgiveness for prying in unwanted territory. But sooner or later this issue would have to be addressed. Sarah preferred… no, needed it sooner rather than later. It would likely spare both of them a lot of heartache.

Taking a deep breath she put one of her feet in its respective stirrup and swung the other one across Gaeth's back, releasing a quivering breath. Not having the courage to look at him she turned the horse around and trotted back the way they came. Pressing her lips together tightly she fought off the tears brimming in her eyes.

Jareth sat on the blanket while Sarah mounted the horse, looking at her retreating form with wide eyes. She was really just going to leave? Just like that? Because he wouldn't share his sob story? He hoped to meet her gaze. Hoped she could see how much he wanted her to stay, but she avoided eye contact. Her retreating form summoned an alien clawing at his chest. Suffocating. Icy fingers that slithered their way into his core. He couldn't let her go. Not with the recent turn of events. Not after all these years. Not now. Not ever.

Haphazardly he jumped up, running to his horse. With a swing of his leg he mounted it and quickly went after her, rushing through the trees.

Slowing down to a trot next to her he studied her face. Her eyes were uncharacteristically cold and did not stray from her stark look ahead. Jareth was increasingly worried that his rebuke had blown a huge chunk out of their building relationship. He'd anticipated she'd be disappointed, maybe even somewhat cross, but the damage had proven tenfold. He couldn't leave things like this.

"Sarah," he said quietly.

"Don't bother, Jareth."

The Goblin King clenched his jaws, spurring the horse so he could cut her off. "Talk to me." Jareth looked into her hazel eyes, her brows drawn. Normally he adored the fire in her eyes, but the anger in their depths made his stomach churn. "Please," he added in a more gentle tone.

Sarah steered Gaeth around the brown stallion. "There is nothing left to say."

Jareth ground his teeth and he caught up to her. Sarah preemptively veered to the side to keep him from blocking her again. "Sarah, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, I am sorry."

"Good."

Suddenly Jareth lunged to grab her reins, pulling them. Gaeth tossed his head up and shuffled to a halt. "Dismount. That is an order."

"No." Sarah tugged on the reins but he wouldn't let go.

His eyes held an alien fury as she stubbornly remained seated. Jareth's leather glove groaned from the friction when his hand squeezed the reins. Dismounting he circled to the other side of her horse. He forced her off, holding on to her waist and setting her down in front of him. She struggled trying to get out of his grasp, avoiding eye contact with her hands clawing against his grasp. Swiftly he grabbed either side of her cloak, twisting a handful of fabric into his grasp and pulling her to him. Sarah was now trapped against him, arms pinned to her sides. He held her firmly in place.

After she'd ceased struggling she looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears and anger. Slowly he released his hold on her. One of his hands rose to her cheek, touching it gently. "I apologize, Sarah. I didn't mean to upset you. Please forgive me." His voice was soft and sincere. "Please," he whispered.

The hard edges in her face smoothed. Slowly anger ebbed away, leaving only sadness. Sighing shakily, she pushed his hand away. "If you don't want to share your life with me, that's fine. Really. Including me or not is completely your choice and I respect it if you don't want to do it. I don't really want to give you an ultimatum like this, but I can't pursue any romantic feelings that only go skin deep. If you're not ready to share with me, this ends here. Tonight." She turned from him, his hands limply falling away from her. "So, I will leave that choice in your hands." Without looking back, she mounted once more seeing the warm glow of the village in the far distance.