The next morning Sarah woke to a gentle voice and touch on her shoulder. She felt like she'd just woken from a coma. Her eyes strained against any amount of light, her head throbbed and swayed and her body felt exhausted. A petite and cheerful face greeted her, dark eyes looking down at her warmly. Sarah grabbed a few locks of her dark hair and tugged it over her face, blocking out the light. "What year is it?"
Alana giggled. "Let's get you dressed." Sarah groaned as Alana peeled the covers off her. "I have laid out an outfit for you next to the screen. You will find a bowl there with warm water to freshen up."
Sarah groggily opened her eyes, blowing her hair out of her face. Crawling up she made her way to the changing screen. "Was everything okay last night? What happened? Did you sleep at all?" Taking off her gown she tried to figure out the outfit Alana laid out for her.
"Oh I slept fine, dear. I don't need much sleep. Get dressed and I will inform you of last night's developments."
Sarah was eager to get to the breakfast table as her stomach groaned impatiently but it took a few minutes before she was fully clothed. The dress itself reached only to her knees but was embroidered with beautiful ivy shaped details and gold trimmings. Further covering her legs were warm but flattering dark brown leggings with similar trimming at the bottom. Somehow she slipped into the outfit and the matching boots effortlessly and she found they were warm and comfortable. Perhaps there was a subtle sense of magic to this outfit, as Alana seemed much more petite than her. "Alana, do you maybe happen to have a hair tie?"
"I can do your hair for you after breakfast. Are you ready?"
Sarah eagerly joined Alana at the table. "Absolutely, I am starving."
The lady chuckled. "Please, help yourself. I would have loved to offer a more diverse breakfast but seeing as the camp resources are limited, this will have to do."
Grabbing some fresh bread, eggs and bacon she eagerly dug in. "Are you joking? This all looks delicious. If only I could have breakfast like this every day. Is everyone in the camp so richly provided for?"
"Oh, but of course! I firmly believe in equality in times of hardship. I personally see to it every day that the kitchens are provided with the best ingredients possible and there is enough food to provide for everyone. While we are running short on supplies, we are not starving anyone or creating a hierarchy. Were it not the humane choice, it wouldn't be wise to create a rift among allies." She poured another drink for the both of them as she spoke. "Luckily, the First Regiment should visit today, they will bring supplies. Truth be told, I haven't had experience in leadership before. This camp is relatively new and is mostly a secret reprieve for those on the road. It is my first time in a position of authority. Jareth offered me this opportunity. I wanted to join the First Regiment but he strictly forbade it. Too dangerous, he said." She smiled at Sarah. "I can't say I blame him."
They were quiet for a while, enjoying their breakfast before a thought popped into Sarah's head. "If you don't mind me asking… What became of Torin's men? I take it you had your guards look for them last night?"
Alana, who'd already stopped eating a few minutes ago, nodded. "Indeed," she spoke softly. "I had my men scout into the forest and confront the men that were waiting for you. They are fiercely loyal to Torin so for now they have been captured and are being escorted to a nearby city for further prosecution. This morning a few of my men headed to the camp south from here. The one you came from. I am still awaiting their rapport."
Scouting, camps and supplies… This First Regiment… Something was going on.
"Now then," Alana piped up as she got up from her seat. "How about I get your hair done? Our visitors could be here any minute."
"Yes, of course," Sarah blurted out as she was pulled from her musings. Sitting down at the vanity, Alana collected a brush and a few ribbons. "Thank you for your help."
"Of course, dear! I do love to assist people with their hair." She smiled widely. "It was me that cut Jareth's hair some time ago."
Sarah's eyebrows shot up at that comment. "Seriously?"
"Very seriously. His hair, much like mine, has a natural tendency to…"
"Become a bird's nest?" Sarah offered.
"Oh, absolutely," she giggled. "His hair gets very messy. For months, if not years I insisted he cut it and save himself a lot of hassle."
"That sounds like he didn't give in easily."
"No, he is a proud man. It was like plucking a peacock," she shook her head, her dark eyes saddened.
The woman repressed a grin at her remark, imagining it all too vividly. "Well, it looks good on him."
Alana grabbed one of the ribbons and started to weave it into her hair. She deftly untangled the dark tresses and gracefully arranged the hair all while being incredibly gentle. "That's what I said!"
While working on her hair Sarah gazed at Alana. She had that same intense stare that Jareth could have. Her dark eyes unwavering and deeper than the deepest ocean. Despite being petite, she had an air of authority and a larger than life presence not unlike the Goblin King.
A guard walked in a few minutes later, announcing something to Alana. She replied quietly after which the guard bowed and left.
"It's a bit of a shame I can't understand this foreign language people keep speaking around here," Sarah commented.
Alana nodded her head with a kind smile. "I do apologize, while we do speak English, we try not to do so when discussing more sensitive matters, as our diverse Fae dialects allow us some protection from prying ears." Finishing up Sarah's hair she put her hands on the brunette's shoulders. "What do you think?"
Sarah turned her head as she looked in the mirror, grinning as she saw her hair beautifully braided with the green ribbons woven through it. "It's gorgeous, thank you. I really love it."
"Wonderful." Alana moved to the wardrobe. "Now, let's get going. I just received word that the First Regiment has arrived. If you ask nicely, they might speak in English for you." She winked at Sarah and handed her a green cloak.
Sarah chuckled and put the cloak on. Alana grabbed the cloak Sarah had been wearing yesterday. Walking out of the tent, she handed it to a guard, making a brief remark before moving into the camp.
Sarah followed, letting her eyes scan the many tents. People were eagerly bustling about, talking and laughing. Approaching a large clearing there were several men dressed in full ornate armor. It was rather reflective even within the shade of the trees, giving the men a robust but regal air. Some were talking with people from the camp while others were busy unloading large crates, barrels and bindings from carriages. A few cheering children excitedly wove through the armored troops while their mothers chased them worriedly.
It was a refreshingly lively sight after the doom and gloom she had encountered in Torin's camp. Just seeing everyone talking and smiling lifted her spirits. Alana greeted the soldiers one by one. They respectfully bowed to her, smiling politely even though Alana was less formal. She asked something Sarah couldn't understand but was sent to someone else for it each time. While Alana was busy trying to get an answer, Sarah noticed one of the soldiers unloading a carriage and struggling with a large crate. The wooden container was so large all she could see was the man's hands and the legs poking out below it.
Quickly, Sarah hurried over to help, supporting the box and helping him carry it to a stack of cargo a few feet away. Once put down the man looked up at her. He seemed alarmed as he took his helmet off. The man had short sandy blonde hair and a rather square face with brown eyes. "Allae impi llea maite Arwenamin, Tira ten' rashwe." Even though she didn't understand it, he was clearly upset.
"Uh, sorry, I don't understand you," she said sheepishly.
The soldier bowed briefly as he fidgeted. "Ah, my lady, you speak English. I am very sorry. I thank you for your help, but please leave it to me. I don't want you to be harmed."
Sarah smiled, shrugging. "It's okay, it seemed like you needed a hand." The woman saw him briefly touch his right side uncomfortably. His plate armor prevented her from seeing anything. She eyed him suspiciously, at which he awkwardly diverted his gaze. "Well, you seem to be hurt. So I will help you with unloading."
Marching over to the carriage, the soldier hurried after her. "My lady!" Sarah moved to pick up one of the boxes. "Please, don't -"
"Sir, I am helping. Now, these boxes are rather heavy, so if you could help, I would appreciate it."
The man hurried to take the box from her but she stubbornly held on to it. He quickly put it with the others. Sarah consistently took the lead while he was still visibly uncomfortable, eyes darting around him. He was probably looking for another man to help him but she kept moving.
A few boxes later the carriage was empty and Sarah clapped her hands with a deep sigh. "There. Teamwork makes the dream work." The man looked a little confused. "It's a phrase where I'm from."
The man took her hand and bowed, politely pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "I deeply thank you for your assistance, lady…"
"Sarah," she offered.
"Lady Sarah, thank you. But please, I beg you to refrain from any further manual labor. There are plenty of men to help. I insist you leave it to us."
"Okay, okay," Sarah chuckled, seeing him stretch his side again. "Now, are you sure you are alright, sir…?"
"Brayden," he offered in return. "It is merely an injury from two moons ago that is still mending. I will receive some healing for it today."
"Sarah, there you are!" Alana walked up to her. Brayden bowed deeply, excusing himself as someone called for him. "I have been informed that Jareth should arrive before the end of the day." Her voice was uncharacteristically high pitched and her fine features gently creased in a wide smile.
Sarah's stomach flipped. "Wait, Jareth is going to be here? He's in the First Regiment," she asked in mild panic as Alana took her arm and walked with her.
"Oh Sarah, he's not in the First Regiment, he leads them. You seem shocked he's visiting. Why else did you think I was in such a hurry to get you here? I haven't seen him in a few months now. I think you and I can both agree that he can't get here soon enough. Once he leaves camp, I'm sure it will take several months or even years before he'll visit. Maybe he can take you home before he leaves. I can definitely try myself but we both know how well that went last time."
"Alana, Jareth didn't tell me anything of what is going on here, but it's pretty bad, isn't it?"
Alana sighed sharply, muttering something under her breath. "Things definitely aren't as bad as they used to be. I have faith that we have had the worst of it. I don't have much time to explain it at the moment so you'll have to excuse me for summarizing. Perhaps Jareth has told you of the fourteen kingdoms that he rules. Two were united through marriage a long time ago. Twelve were taken by terrible force. Since being conquered the people always coped with a certain friction both with each other as well as the monarchy. Jareth has always been a rather secluded person. A trait not often celebrated when royalty is concerned. Not too long after his coronation he almost permanently retreated to his castle in the Goblin City. That castle lies secluded. It cannot be reached by horse and definitely not by carriage. While there are powerful people in the Underground, not many are skilled in teleportation - and those that are often aren't keen on it. Shapeshifting is an even rarer skill that most do not even dare to hone due to the risks associated with it. His retreat therefore was considered a refusal of duty. Jareth prefers his title as Goblin King. Even though many consider it an insult or a sin as it is a form of escapism by their king, to Jareth it means comfort."
"Because of his seclusion, Jareth left much of his kingdom vulnerable. Many assumed roles of leadership while others abused the lack of enforcement to steal and pillage. From the disorder, the concern and irritation came a rebellion. What started as a civil unrest fanned into a flame of anarchy. People sought to overthrow Jareth's rule, claim or divide the kingdoms and seize power from a seemingly uninterested monarch. While Jareth's predecessor was a terrible tyrant, a disinterested king isn't much of an improvement. Some people hold on to the narrative that much of the kingdom was taken by force and that warrants, in their opinion, to be freed by force. Jareth believes some groups might even have gained allies in a different kingdom. Although much of the resistance and chaos has been eased or quieted, he suspects some to have allied with powers strong enough to wear a crown of their own."
Sarah let go of a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, her gaze flickering erratically but unseeing. Vaguely she noticed Alana putting her hand on the burnette's arm, but it did little to ease her worries.
"Unfortunately, questions will have to wait. I am sure you have many." Unlinking their arms the pale lady moved to stand in front of her. Gracefully she gestured to a large tent they were standing by. "Regrettably I have an important meeting to attend. I would invite you, but I doubt it will be interesting to you, as it is neither sociable nor in English. Perhaps you can take this time to explore the camp and meet some people? I am sure there are many things you could assist with."
"Sure, I can do that."
Alana smiled, taking her hand. "The guards know I hold you in high regard, they will do whatever they can to please you. I will meet with you once I am done here." Sarah nodded and Alana pressed an affectionate kiss on her cheek. Excusing herself, Alana made her way into the tent.
—-
A few hours later, Sarah was sure she had seen each and every corner of the camp. She'd helped in the kitchens and much to the annoyance of the soldiers she had even helped unload more carts. A few camp members had been eager to talk to her and she had spent an hour or so playing with the children present. She had also briefly visited the healer's tent. Brayden had been snoring in one of the stretchers. She had seen bins of red and brown colored rags that gave off the sickening metallic scent of blood. It was a grim suggestion of things unseen. Sarah had also met a very chatty nurse. A man that talked so actively and without pause in the foreign language Sarah had yet to find room to tell him she didn't understand a word he said.
Outside the camp suddenly came alive again. The nurse mumbled and waved his hand at the entrance of the tent, spewing words with vigor and obvious annoyance. However, Sarah was curious what caused the people to erupt in activity and she peered outside to the cheering crowd. A group of roughly fifty men were entering the camp. Many had already passed by the time Sarah looked outside, but it wasn't so much the men that caught her attention. It was the beasts they were riding on. She'd seen horses before but these animals were like horses on steroids, their chests wide and muscular and their necks so thick Sarah doubted she could wrap her arms around one. Their thick legs stomped powerfully with each step, their heads rearing wildly. Their manes and tails were trimmed short and they wore bridles with mullets of metal. Their skins were scarred or even freshly cut and covered in sweat. They seemed to have had an intense trip as their mouths were foaming and their skin was steaming hot. The noises they made weren't like the whinnies she had heard horses make before. Instead they wretched out an almost demonic roar as they tugged on the reins.
Looking up from the beasts she looked up at their riders. Unlike some of the men that had arrived earlier today, they were not clad in heavy armor. These soldiers wore lighter armor, something that was likely easier to maneuver in. One by one the men dismounted, their horses led away as they received a warm welcome. Awkwardly waving goodbye to the nurse that was still talking she made her way outside, joining the cheerful crowd and craning her neck to try and spot the people that had just arrived.
In between the many happy faces of the crowd were a pair of downcast mismatched eyes. Despite the warm welcome everyone was receiving, the uneven eyes remained dispassionate. The familiar face was a tight mask, jaw and neck muscles tense. His eyes were ringed with dark circles and his posture was stiff. He looked… lost, for lack of a better word.
Suddenly, one voice broke apart from all the others. A voice that not only made him perk up but also sounded familiar to Sarah. With a renewed sparkle his gaze scanned the crowd as he walked past the tents, searching.
The brunette was also quickly scanning the crowd to find Alana. She figured it best if her presence was announced by her host, rather than Jareth just bumping into her. Perhaps Alana had something specific planned.
Rising to the tips of her toes, Sarah did her best to try and spot the pale woman. Carefully, she waded through the crowd, now solely focusing on finding her rather than reuniting with her friend.
"Sarah?!"
She physically flinched as she heard a familiar baritone voice call her name. She debated whether she should play dumb and keep moving or turn around. Regardless of which decision she would have made consciously, subconsciously her feet were suddenly glued to the ground. The excitement died down and she turned around, seeing the crowd part quietly.
Her heart lurched wildly as he was a mere inch in front of her the moment she turned around. Sarah looked up from the amulet resting on his chest into the pair of eyes that moments ago had been nearly lifeless. His brows were drawn together tightly, his lips were pressed so thin they'd almost disappeared completely. His eyes were both dark and wide. They burned with a near frenzied intensity. The way he was now towering over her was frightening. Lowering her head her eyes flicked up and away from his stormy gaze, like a beaten puppy. Sarah had seen Jareth upset before but she'd never seen him this furious.
On one hand she desperately wanted to hug him as she was happy beyond words to see him again, yet the fearful side of her pondered that she could try running.
Unmatching eyes were spitting fire. His entire body seemed rigid with barely contained rage. Quick like a snake, one of his hands grasped the clasping of her cloak and pulled her to him. Sarah gasped, forced to rise onto her toes as he was close enough to almost touch noses. "What in God's name do you think you're doing here?" His voice was strained but loud and intimidating. Her ears were ringing from the intensity. He was seething. Livid. His voice contorted so strongly that it was almost unrecognizable.
Sarah felt a deep wave of hurt crashing into her. He didn't seem even a tiny bit happy to see her. He tugged on her cloak again, the piece of clothing constricting her ability to breathe as he'd pulled her up nearly high enough to lift her off her feet completely. In her panic, Sarah was still frozen and too frightened to respond. "Well?!"
"Jareth!" Both of their heads turned as the chirpy voice interrupted the tension. "I see you two…" Her bubbly voice fell silent as she saw the rage in his eyes and the way Jareth held on to Sarah's cloak. Sarah's hands rose to pry at Jareth's, her eyes wide as she silently pleaded for the graceful woman to help.
Alana quickly hurried up to them. "Jareth, I can explain," she said quietly as she was trying to pry his hand from the fabric of Sarah's cloak. "Let's meet in my tent. Away from prying eyes." His grasp on Sarah's cloak was unyielding and she looked up at him with wide, saddened eyes. "Please, Jareth."
"Jareth, you're hurting me," Sarah whispered quietly, her voice breathy as she quietly gasped for air. His burning stare shifted back to the brunette. Still fuming, Jareth let go of Sarah with a small shove, shooting them both a dark glare before using the cleared path to march towards the tent.
Barely keeping her footing from his shove Sarah rubbed her throat, her windpipe somewhat sore. The pale lady worriedly held onto her arm and held out a hand apologetically. They hurried after him, struggling to keep up with his large strides.
Sarah walked into the tent after Alana, seeing Jareth pace with a hand over his mouth. His strides were large as he walked back and forth like an imprisoned animal. His free hand balled to a tense fist behind his back. Once both of them were inside Jareth exploded. "Why is she here," he demanded as he walked up to Alana. "Tell me how long she has been here!" His voice was so loud that Sarah's ears hurt. "Abair amae right sii," he hissed. Quietly looking between the two her heart raced as she figured out what to do. Alana seemed worried, her hand reaching out to his cheek. Jareth pushed it away sharply. "Tell me!" Alana flinched, taking a few paces back.
Fearing that he might hurt her Sarah went to stand in between them protectively, deciding she'd rather be in his line of fire. "Jareth, calm down! You're scaring her!" His anger was rolling off of him in waves Sarah could physically feel. It was both fascinating and terrifying.
"I don't give a fuck," he barked as he stepped closer.
Despite her surprise that he'd used such a vulgar word she tried her best to be brave and stern. "That's no excuse to shout someone into tears like this. You're a grown man!"
A silence stretched between them. Alana sobbed quietly. Some of Jareth's anger seeped out, his shoulders lowering as he looked at the crying woman. With a quivering voice Alana spoke up quietly. "Jareth, please, it's my fault. I brought her here."
Some of his anger swelled again and he took a step closer. Sarah held her hands to his chest, trying to push him back. Angrily he pushed her hands away. "Why?!"
"I did it for you," she insisted as she shrunk behind Sarah. "When you stopped visiting Sarah, things got so much worse. I wanted to help."
"How is bringing her here going to help anyone?!" The Goblin King's hands were clenched tightly, his chest heaving. He looked at Sarah whose protectiveness grew with every sob Alana wrenched out. It seemed to feed his softer side, the tension of his fury slowly slackening throughout his face and body.
Jareth took a deep breath and released it slowly, calming himself. By his sides his hands contorted tensely. After a little while he let out a deep sigh and gently pushed Sarah aside. "Come here, Lana." His voice was now calmer and more gentle but still a little stiff. Alana walked up to him and with a small sniffle she wrapped her arms around him, pressing her cheek against his chest. He returned the hug quietly and his hand caressed her hair. "Suaimhnis llea nwalma," he whispered softly, at which she nodded. Despite trying his best to suppress it, his hands were trembling.
A few moments later Jareth pulled back and ushered her to the table. "Let's take a seat. Sarah." He gestured to a seat and the women sat down wordlessly. One of his hands raked shakily through his hair. "Lana, please explain to me what happened."
"You have been so depressed and it only seems to be getting worse. I wanted to cheer you up, I wanted to help." Her gentle voice quivered and gradually she started talking faster and faster. "At first I intended to just talk to Sarah but I was starting to grow weary and didn't want to get trapped in her world. Right before I decided to give up, I saw her. I could tell she knew something was going on, even if she didn't know who I was. She fled and once I caught up with her she fainted. I got so stressed that I decided to bring her so we could talk here before I became too tired."
"You traveled through the veil, traveled back and summoned her here?" If Jareth wanted to hide that he was impressed he was doing a poor job doing so.
Alana blushed, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Most of it went fine…"
"Most of it?"
"I… might have lost her."
"You lost her," Jareth repeated, his voice rising as he leaned forward.
The woman pouted as she leaned back a little into her seat. "Well, at least she came through in one piece."
"In one…" The man sighed and rubbed his face. "Lana…"
"What? It went… well enough. I found her again, didn't I?"
Jareth looked at Sarah, who stiffened as his attention was suddenly on her. He remained silent, arching a brow expectantly. "She did find me," she offered quietly, her voice little more than a squeak.
"Sarah…"
"The next day… Torin-"
"Torin?!" Both women jumped as he slammed his first onto the table. "Where is that filthy slime?"
"My men are currently looking for him. He fled," Alana said quietly.
Jareth pressed his lips together, his face a mix of tension and exhaustion. "I am gone for a few months…" He sighed again. "Lana, if this position is too much for you -"
"No!" The woman covered her mouth at the sudden volume. "No," she continued more quietly. "I can do this. I promise."
"I want reports from now on." He insisted tightly as she looked up at him. "No more surprises." Alana nodded quietly. "Lana, please make sure my men are tended to." His voice evened out to a tired sigh. His hand took hold of hers. "A few are wounded and I am sure they could use a good meal." The woman nodded and he affectionately pressed a kiss to her knuckles before she walked out.
Sarah suddenly felt very uncomfortable as they were alone. Her hands wrung tightly while her gaze remained directed at her lap. For a few moments, there was silence. Jareth got up and she looked at him from the corner of her eyes, remaining motionless. Wordlessly, he held out a hand to her and he pulled her to her feet. Before Sarah could look up or respond he had gathered her close, his arms wrapping around her tightly. Almost too tightly. Though tense at first, Sarah eventually allowed herself to relax and hug him back.
His hold was firm and steely. Jareth's quiet and even heart rate gently pulsed against her cheek even all the way through his armor. His familiar scent was inescapable with his proximity. The warmth pouring off of him enveloped her like a warm blanket and pulled her into a sense of tranquility. Sarah wasn't sure if his hold had always made her feel so safe. It wasn't quite like the calming spells he'd used before. It was somehow better.
The woman wasn't sure when tears had started rolling down her cheeks. Her eyes were more than a little blurry when she looked up at him. He quietly brushed her tears away after they slipped from her lashes. He seemed happy to see her, yet at the same time he looked torn. Sarah tightened her arms ever so slightly. She'd figured it barely noticeable, but his reaction to the subtle gesture was surprisingly significant. Without even blinking his eyes flashed to that strangely intense look, that alien hyperfocus. Sarah couldn't put her finger on it. It was almost like a whole new universe had blossomed in the uneven pair. In a way it was scary… But God, she was so intensely happy to see him again.
"I missed you," she whispered.
A strange emotion flickered in his eyes before his trademark smirk was back on his face. Although insufferable at the best of times, at the moment it was a most welcome sight. "I know. Your drunken illustrations made that much clear."
Sarah frowned and blinked as she broke away from his fixated stare. "What drunken…?"
"I'm joking," Jareth confessed, his arms loosening around her. "I missed you too, Sarah. I would ruffle your hair, but I wouldn't want to mess up such a pretty hairdo."
"Oh, hell no!" Sarah immediately pushed herself away from him, not fully convinced he wasn't going to do it. "Alana worked really hard on it!"
He raised his hands in submission, grinning. "I wouldn't dare. The ranger's dress looks beautiful on you."
Sarah blushed, her fingers playing with the cloak's edge. Bashfully her gaze dropped. "I guess you never unlearn how to be a suck-up."
"It's true," he insisted. Sitting down, they joined back at the table and the air grew heavier. "I hope you know that Alana bringing you here doesn't change anything. I still do not want you to be here. I'm sure you have anticipated that I will send you back."
"I'm not leaving yet," she said defensively.
"I know. Unfortunate as it might be, I am not currently in shape to do so." His despondent tone slackened her defenses. Much like months ago, he looked tired. The dark circles tarnishing his otherwise flawless skin made his sharp features lose some of their power. His skin was somewhat ashen and now that she looked more closely she could spot some scrapes and bruises on him. "I presume Alana has told you a thing or two in the meantime."
"Yeah, we talked about some stuff. Not everything, but enough."
"I have been neglectful of my duties for a while now. There are parties that disapprove of my negligence or use it as a tool to try and overthrow me. For the past years I have been traveling, negotiating and fighting to try and right my wrongs. A lot of the unrest has by now been dealt with but I cannot say how long this might last. That refers to both the peace I have managed to regain as well as the resistance still brewing. I didn't want to tell you before. Whereas at first I presumed you were simply fond of magic, I do believe you genuinely care. Had I told you I am sure you would have insisted on helping. More than you already did, that is."
"I do now," Sarah stated firmly.
Jareth looked up to meet her gaze and he let out a deep breath. "I'm sure you do. But I will not accept your help."
"Why not?"
"Because this issue doesn't concern you, Sarah. There is no use in involving any more innocent parties."
"I don't know if you've noticed, Jareth, but I'm a grown woman and I have the right to make my own decisions."
Jareth seemed exhausted all of a sudden, leaning on one elbow and rubbing his face. "Grow all you like, Sarah. I am not putting you in harm's way and that's final."
"I'm not asking you to put me in harm's way. I'm asking you to treat me like an adult so I can make a decision of my own. I am sure there are many ways in which I can help."
"I'm taking you home as soon as I can. If I have to throw you into a dungeon to keep you from blindly running into issues you don't understand, I won't hesitate to do so."
"If you don't respect me enough to let me make my own choices, I will find someone else that will value my help. I'm sure Alana would." Sarah frowned as she looked at him.
Unimpressed, Jareth raised one eyebrow. "Alana knows that you mean a lot to me and that fact will make her as protective of you as I am." Sarah crossed her arms irritably over her chest with her elbows on the table. One of her hands fished around her neck before it froze and dropped back to her waist. His eyes followed the movement. "Where is your necklace?"
She leaned back with an aggravated sigh. "It burst."
"It burst? That's impressive. How did you manage to do that?"
The woman narrowed her eyes. "I didn't do shit, jerkwad. When Alana took me here I was dropped somewhere in the surrounding forest. I could cross the protective barrier put around this camp but once I crossed it, it just exploded."
"Of course... I put a ward down months ago to protect Alana and the people here."
Sarah shivered and her lip curled in disgust. For a moment Jareth seemed confused by her reaction. "It was horrid. I was already sick twice after being transported here. Once I crossed that barrier I was sure I was going to puke again. I even passed out." Sarah frowned at the memory.
"You fainted?" His voice was colored with confusion.
"Yeah, the spell from the necklace, probably."
The man shook his head. "No, magic items are simply destroyed if one enters through with them. Its magic should not afflict you. Only people and creatures that possess magic will be affected by this ward." He gave her a small smile. "It must have been your 'certain powers' that I'm sure you remember from that little novel you cherish so much."
Sarah looked at him warily, unsure what to make of that information. She'd always assumed it was just a story. A story that was brought to life for her in the Labyrinth. Surely it was just fiction. Surely, the Goblin King hadn't… Her hazel eyes fixed on him, studying the monarch across from her. A wide grin spread on his lips as he languidly leaned back in his chair. She grew increasingly insecure and flustered. The woman jumped as a guard entered, followed by Alana and a few others who started to set the table. Jareth laughed smugly.
"There we go, all men have been taken care of. They are being served dinner or tended to as we speak. I have also arranged dinner for ourselves, I hope you two are hungry." The pale lady looked between the two as Sarah was visibly uncomfortable and Jareth was smirking. "Jareth, what are you grinning for?"
"Isn't it just a delightful sight to see our little Sarah so flustered," he purred, still looking at the brunette's squirming.
Frustrated and a little humiliated Sarah grabbed a piece of broccoli from a plate and tossed it at him. "No fighting at the dinner table," the blonde woman chastised.
"He started it," Sarah muttered childishly.
Alana and Sarah carried most of the conversation during dinner. Meanwhile Jareth mostly listened and tried to relax while enjoying his meal. Once finished Alana excused herself briefly to check in on the First Regiment one more time. A guard came in and provided Jareth with a stack of parchment.
While Jareth made room on the table to lay them out, Sarah looked curiously at the papers. "They are notes of the current goings-on," Jareth muttered while taking off the armor he was wearing, comfortably stripping down to his trousers and a loose shirt.
"Don't you usually just… 'poof' outfits on?"
Jareth looked at her dryly as he sat back down at the table. "I don't 'just poof' anything." He sighed at the pile of documents, clearly not thrilled to read through them. "The reason why I physically dress is the same reason why you are still here." Sarah blinked quizzically. "Especially recently I have been required to use a lot of magic in battle. Magic doesn't have an endless supply. It needs to be used in moderation or will have to be replenished if used excessively. While I could dress myself magically, I prefer to save that energy for a more noble cause. Or to transport little brats like you back home."
The woman ignored the last addition while he settled into reading the notes. "The horses you rode in on… Are those the war horses you spoke of?"
"Indeed they are. Are they what you imagined?" His voice was rather even as he was already engrossed in his notes.
"Not really. They're definitely more terrifying than I thought."
"You should see them in battle," he commented distractedly.
Sarah fell silent, watching him as he read the parchments. Somehow it was strange seeing him again. It seemed to have been so long. Years, rather than months.
She thought back to the moment he saw her here in this camp, two or three hours ago. It was uncomfortable recalling the unbridled rage she had seen him display. Sarah had seen people angry before for sure, but the way he'd been upset was… animalistic. Yet now, he was just sitting here. Unbothered by her being here.
No, he wasn't unbothered.
Jareth had very clear that he was bothered. He simply wasn't in any position to change it at the moment. With a sigh, Sarah got up and moved to the vanity. Jareth's eyes followed briefly before returning to the pages.
Carefully, Sarah tried to unbraid her hair and remove the ribbons. Muttering quietly to herself she tried to make sense of the fastening on the back of her head. The woman hadn't realized she'd been broadcasting it until Jareth spoke up. "Everything alright, Sarah?"
"I'm just trying to get my hair down, but Alana tied it up pretty good." Feeling around, Sarah did feel a pin or two but after repeatedly trying to take it out she started muttering again.
The king rubbed his forehead with a sigh before getting up and walking over to her. Tugging off his gloves he tossed them onto the table. He carefully took out a pin and Sarah thanked him quietly. She reached up but his hand clasped around her wrist and moved it back down. "I'll take care of it." Sarah nodded quietly and he started to carefully unbraid her hair, holding the ribbons between his lips after he took them out. Occasionally his fingers brushed through her hair and his nails scraped along the skin of her neck. Her hands wrung nervously as she tried to repress the shivers.
"Jareth," her voice was quiet, her eyes downcast to her lap. "Do you really hate me being here?" His hands halted for a moment, before he loosened the last bit of her hair. His fingers moved to her scalp and traced up the sensitive skin, his fingers weaving through her hair. Sarah shivered at the chaste touch. The tresses of dark hair cascaded down one by one through his fingers.
Removing the ribbons from between his lips and placing them on the vanity he grabbed the brush. "Yes. And no."
Sarah pouted, crossing her arms. "Always with the cryptic answers."
"Yes, I hate you being here," the man started. Her hazel eyes flicked up to look at him through the mirror. "I hate that there is a chance you might get hurt and I hate that my mind continuously pictures each and every way in which that could happen. I hate that despite being a king to millions and being hundreds of years old, I still don't have enough power to change your mind. I hate that I could use every shred of magic I have in me and I would not have the heart to use it to make you think otherwise. I hate that your stubborn sense of righteousness might one day cause you serious harm. Or worse." Sarah flinched when he ground out those last two words, her eyes falling to her lap. "Yet, I do not hate it, because I did miss you. I do not hate it because even when you defy me you do it with the best intentions. I do not hate it because your very existence brings me courage and motivation to right my wrongs. I do not hate it because…" He suddenly fell silent. Possibly due to the fact that his volume had been gradually rising, or possibly due to hesitation. "Because every minute I see those hazel eyes I want to see them just a minute longer." His voice was suddenly very quiet. His brushing had ceased, his hand ever so gently touching the back of her neck. He took a breath to continue a little louder and continued brushing. "I just wish being with you could be under better circumstances. Which is why it also pains me to think that soon I will have to take you home. This will likely be the last time I will ever see you, because despite everything I just said, I still stand by my decision."
Sarah stared at the vanity's table as somehow she couldn't work up the courage to meet his eyes. He cupped her chin and lifted her head, practically forcing her to meet his gaze. "You do look enchanting in this dress," he said quietly before putting down the brush and moving back to the table.
Sarah remained seated. Her eyes followed him through the mirror, studying him as he sat down at the table again. His fingers fidgeted with the edge of the parchment he was reading, causing her eyes to fly back to the vanity. His gloves rested next to her. She could feel tears well up in her eyes.
Not too long after Alana walked back in, taking off her cloak. "Ah, Jareth, I see our notes were delivered to you. Let me know if you have any questions or comments."
"None so far," he said, drawling on the sentence as he was still reading.
Alana sat at the table, putting down a kettle. Sarah joined with a thin smile. "Some tea, Sarah?"
"Yes, thank you."
Alana hesitated as she held a cup of tea. Sarah could look at the pale lady just in time to see her stare at his bare hands. Alana's lips parted wordlessly and her dark eyes moved to look at Sarah. Sarah met her gaze and Alana quickly looked away, putting the cup down and pouring another two cups.
"I hope you like peach tea, I figured I should get Jareth's favorite."
"Always with the peaches," the brunette mumbled. Jareth looked up at her, a mischievous smile curling around his lips. They enjoyed their tea in silence. Once done, the Goblin King stifled a yawn.
"I never thought I'd see the day where you would have trouble staying awake, Jareth." Alana and Jareth exchanged a smile.
Seeing the exchange caused a strange heaviness to settle into her stomach. "So," Sarah started before she realized that she did, and moved her thumbs along the height of the cup. "Out of curiosity, are you two dating?"
The Goblin King's smile fell. For a moment it was silent. "Yes, Lana. Are we dating?" He asked earnestly when he looked at the blonde woman.
Alana looked back and forth between them, her dark eyes wide. "Dating?" She looked again. "I'm… What are we dating?"
"Each other," Sarah added, now very much suspicious that this was a phrase not used Underground. "You know?" Alana still looked clueless, while she could see a certain glint in Jareth's eyes, even though his face remained schooled. "Seeing each other?" Alana frowned, her lips parting as she was trying to figure it out. "Going out?" Alana looked at Jareth for help.
"Courting, Lana."
Despite Alana's incredibly pale complexion her cheeks colored a rather deep pink as the meaning of the question sank in. After a moment of shock she rather comically started fanning herself. "Oh by the Gods, I pray Mother didn't hear that." Jareth playfully touched Alana's hair. Alana slapped his hand away with annoyance.
Sarah looked at the two as Alana was too flustered to be coherent and Jareth was in no rush to answer. She grew impatient, especially when seeing how Jareth was just thoroughly enjoying himself.
In a surprisingly quick flash Alana grabbed Sarah's hand and the brunette jolted. "Oh dear Sarah… Poor, pretty Sarah. I knew Jareth could be secretive and sometimes akin to a wet rag when it comes to showing affection..."
"Hey," the Goblin King exclaimed with an amused grin, leaning back into his seat.
"This buffoon and I are family, Sarah. While I love him dearly, I do sometimes wonder if he deserves my patience. We're siblings, dear. We are brother and sister." She narrowed her eyes at Jareth again. "And the fact that he hasn't even mentioned me once, I take very personally."
Jareth laughed heartily, fully and unabashedly enjoying the mortification from Alana and the humiliation from Sarah. He only wished this moment could have lasted forever.
Meanwhile, Sarah had never wanted to either vanish into thin air or punch someone in the face as much as she did now. To hide her reddening cheeks she leaned her cheek on one of her hands, turning her head away from Jareth. Alana was ranting in a different language as she moved to the vanity and started to brush her hair feverishly.
"Let's end this day on a high note." The Goblin King got up with a languid stretch. He walked over to Alana, who simply swatted at his face as he leaned in to press a kiss to her hair.
When he walked up to Sarah she just held up the forefinger of her free hand, her face still turned from him. "Don't even."
Laughing heartily, Jareth left the tent, the two women inside remaining silent and appalled.
—
Sarah slowly opened her eyes, waking up with a feeling of restlessness. All candles in the tent were doused, it was dark and Alana was sleeping soundly in her bed. Beyond the cloth of the shelter everything was quiet save for the rustling of trees. She had no idea what time it was but she suddenly felt wide awake.
Swinging her legs over the edge of the bed she grabbed a robe and cloak and put on some shoes as silently as possible. Stepping out of the tent the two guards by the entrance bowed politely.
"Greetings, lady Sarah. Is something amiss?"
"No, no. Everything is fine. I just couldn't sleep. I'm going for a quick walk around camp, if that's okay."
"Of course, allow me to escort you," offered one of them.
"That won't be necessary," came a sudden voice nearby, louder than those of the men. The guards and woman looked around as they saw Jareth walking up. The majority of him was hidden beyond an ornate cloak which made his approach almost seem like he was floating. The guards bowed deeply, giving him what seemed like a greeting in the foreign language. "Walk with me, Sarah." Sarah nodded and followed when Jareth walked past them. They strolled past the tents and kept their voices low.
"Tough time sleeping," Sarah asked a little awkwardly as they walked side by side.
"It's nothing new," he admitted. "I don't need much sleep. How about yourself?"
"I couldn't sleep. Any idea what time it is?"
"It's just past four. Most of the camp won't rise for another few hours." Sarah nodded quietly and wrapped the cloak a little tighter around herself, keeping her head down. "Are you cold?"
"Nah, I'm okay. Jareth," the woman looked up at him. "How long will it be until you send me back?"
He kept his gaze forward rather stiffly. Jareth normally was already difficult to read, but with his entire body hidden from view it was practically impossible. "A week, perhaps. Hopefully less."
"Okay," the woman whispered.
A silence fell. Nearby a few crickets were chirping and leaves were rustling in the wind. Neither seemed to be sure where to take the conversation. They reached the hitching posts at the edge of camp where a few horses were tied up. Most were sleeping but one was still awake. Sarah welcomed the distraction and walked over to the horse. Petting it, the animal welcomingly nuzzled its nose into her side.
Jareth simply stood next to her. It didn't happen often that he didn't know what to say. He looked at their surroundings but nothing offered him anything notable to comment on that wouldn't just make things more awkward. Sarah's dark hair covered her face while she gently stroked the animal.
Suddenly he heard that unmistakable sniff obstructed by a stuffy nose that changed the air around them from a silent but awkward relaxation to a more alert and uncomfortable sense of anxiety. He waited, eyes glued to her to try and determine what to do next. She kept quiet and unmoving as if to pretend it didn't happen. When he heard it again his jaws clenched and he took a step closer to her, his voice barely above a whisper as he called her name.
"Please don't." Her voice was soft and quivering. The horse pulled back and leaned down to nibble on some hay, robbing her of the distraction the animal had given her. Uselessly, her hands fell to the hitching post, resting on the cold wood. Briefly, one of her hands came up to wipe one of her eyes. "Don't make it harder than it already is."
"I try not to," he said softly. "Tell me what to do."
Sarah scoffed, a sound that came out strangled. Jareth took another step closer, uttering her name again. Reflexively she took a step away. Had she looked up then she would have seen the expression of hurt on his face. "I don't know, okay?" She crossed her arms and leaned on the wooden beam. "I want to tell you to let me stay here and help. To let me fight with you rather than against you." She fought to keep her voice down and in a rather unladylike manner rubbed her forearm along her nose. "But at the same time I want to forget. Forget this camp, forget Alana, our movie nights, the notebook… The wish, the novel. Everything. I'm only one stupid little mortal, I know that… But I don't have centuries of memories to bury these under and I don't have centuries left to help me forget about them."
The man looked down at her as she was little more than a crumpled mess. "Is that what you wish?"
Sarah chuckled darkly. "No more wishes, they bring too much heartache."
Jareth didn't chuckle. He wondered what would have happened if he'd never approached her after her adventure. If he'd either remained the pale owl in the tree next to her childhood home or had forbidden himself from his masked visits altogether. He wondered if it would have saved her from this sadness. Would the memory of her adventure have proceeded to haunt her?
He wondered what her life might be like if none of it ever happened, if she'd never wished away her baby brother or even heard of the Labyrinth. If she would be living a normal life, like the billions of humans in her own world.
Yet Sarah had always seemed different. Even before she'd met him when she would endlessly play out the story in the novel. He'd watched her many times. He couldn't quite describe it, but her entire being had always seemed to reach out to him. She was different in a hundred ways of which none he could quite describe.
"So," she spoke softly. "All cards on the table. I told you what to do. Now you tell me."
Jareth gently took one of her arms. She resisted at first, keen to keep as much distance as she could, but when he tugged again she budged. "Do you remember the last thing I said to you all those years ago?" He turned her around and she looked up at him, her face red and tear-streaked, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Just fear me," he started, using his free hand to wipe away her tears. "Love me, and I will be your slave," Jareth gathered her close, enveloping her in his arms. "I hereby withdraw that offer." Sarah looked up at him, a small frown of confusion and hurt on her face. "I do not need anything from you, Sarah. Regardless of what you feel you might need to offer me, just you is enough. I am and forever will be your slave." Tucking her head under his chin he pulled her even closer.
Sarah couldn't even begin to form a response to that. She moved to brush a remaining tear away from her cheek though he barely gave her room to do so. His hold was warm and comfortable, the sound of his heartbeat quietly drumming against her ear. That led her to the realization of their current position. Were it not for the fact she'd just been crying and her cheeks were already red, she would have blushed. "God, you're practically naked. Disgusting." She mumbled uncomfortably as she twisted her shoulders trying to break free, one of her hands against his bare chest.
Jareth chuckled and squeezed even tighter. "Indeed. What will the guards think?"
Sarah felt it as he pressed his lips against her hair and her eyes darted left to right as she tried to figure out what to do next. Her hand, which was resting against his chest, remained completely motionless as she was afraid to even breathe.
Before she could decide what to do he pulled back. Their gazes rose up to each other, his eyes warm and affectionate. "Let's get you back to your tent. You're simply indecent with that terrible amount of bed hair." The woman gasped and punched his chest, at which he laughed. "Unless," he said with a purr. "You'd rather visit mine..."
Sarah pushed herself away from him, marching past him and back towards her tent. "I'd rather spend an hour in the warhorse stables."
"Ouch," Jareth muttered, still grinning as he followed her back to her tent.