*Don't own it*

Chapter Twelve

Magic's touch

The day dawned as normal as could be expected but with the suns rising Sarah was unable to forget his closeness from the night before. Despite her best efforts to ignore, rationalize or even acknowledge head on the growing feelings Sarah still had the hardest time coming to terms with it all.

It was weird, there was a new layer to her perception and despite the fact that she tried to ignore it she just couldn't anymore. Sarah Williams liked the Goblin King in a very non platonic way.

It was a crush. That's all it was and she shouldn't take it too serious. At least that's what she told herself. After all she was just an unwelcome, unwanted bit of baggage on his quest.

So in her typical defense mechanism Sarah chatted away the day. As the day moved on Sarah couldn't help the chatter that spilled from her mouth. It was her own defense against the thoughts and feeling that were starting to overwhelm her since the night before but for some reason she had lost the worry she used to feel when she got like this. Now she was uncommonly comfortable with his near silence.

After a particularly long story about the time she spent a week at her grandparents house Jareth sighed, "Have you always talked so much?"

Sarah laughed, "I used to be pretty quiet actually." She admitted as she climbed over a large rock.

"That," Jareth laughed, "I find hard to believe!"

"I'll have you know I used to be a shy girl who had a hard time talking to anyone. I had nothing in common with most people." Sarah shrugged

Jareth turned to her a grin on his face. "Well I imagine so. Not many immature selfish girls around."

Sarah didn't even pause, "Said the arrogant king who pouts when he looses." She snorted completely unfazed by his jibe.

Jareth huffed and shook his head. "Kings do not pout."

Sarah grinned at her small triumph. "So when will you tell me?" she asked again. Hoping he would explain what was really happening.

Jareth sighed, moving at a faster pace he said nothing.

"It's my life on the line too you know. I think I should at least know why." Sarah continued to push.

"Sarah," He sighed with a shake of his head but said nothing more.

"I need a break." she admitted, though she tried to be tougher and not ask for so many breaks she did feel guilty, but to her surprise he stopped and waved at her to sit.

Sarah sighed, slumping down onto the rock and watched as he scanned the woods around them.

"I might be able to help you know." Sarah tried again.

He laughed as he sat across from her on a fallen log, "You are quite helpful enough as it is precious." he said, but the usual mockery wasn't there anymore.

It was almost like her calling him friend had made some kind of change. It honestly reminded her of how Hoggle changed. But the little Dwarf resisted far more than Jareth seemed to be.

"A good friend is always helpful." Sarah said, sure as always that it was right. She may not have had many friends but that is what they did, helped when they were needed.

He stopped, and shook his head. "I wouldn't know."

Sarah froze mid drink and looked up at him "What?"

"Friends are few and far between when one is both a King and a Fae." He said with a shrug.

Sarah felt her heart ache. The Idea of it did make sense. Who could be befriend? "No other Kings or Queens?" she wondered.

"That would be a wretched mistake Sarah." He said taking a swallow of water. "Fea don't get along well with anyone, least of all someone who is likely to steal away your kingdom."

"What about like," Sarah paused trying to find a good word, "Um, just the gentry." At his blank stare she tried again, "Nobility, ah, lesser magic people?"

Jareth shook his head. "The lesser Fea, like that dimwit dwarf you call friend?"

"Yes," Sarah huffed. "He was smart enough to help me against you."

"Are my subjects," He continued, ignoring her comment, "I must lead them I cannot go around making friends I would be accused of playing favorites,"

She nodded. It did make sense. But she couldn't shake the sadness. He was alone.

"On your feet." he said holding out a hand to pull her up.

Sarah groaned but stood up and began following him again.

They had been walking since lunchtime and were making good time. In fact they had only stopped twice. Were they still being hunted? Sarah wondered suddenly, looking around as though she might spot something. Of course I can't see anything they were staying out of sight till they attacked. Maybe they lost them? She hadn't notices Jareth use any magic.

Of course she had no idea what magic was, though sometimes she could tell he was using it.

"Jareth whats Magic?" She asked as the idea took hold.

He stopped again and looked back at her though he didn't say anything.

Sarah waited but he still said nothing. "Jareth?" she tried, maybe he had not heard her?

"Sarah describe salt." He said, the mocking tone back but when she opened her mouth he held up his hand. "But, do not use the word salt."

"I, um its..." she began slightly confused then annoyed that there really wasn't a way to do that.

"I can't simply tell you what magic is," He huffed looking at her again he shrugged. "It just is. Everything and nothing." He held out a hand and Sarah watched as a small spark of light danced above his open palm. "Its music and light, its the darkness behind the stars and the threads of time that pull us forward. In my world its like the air you breath here its..." he stopped and ran a hand through his hair looking suddenly wild to her, like that first moment she saw him standing in her parents house.

"Here," he sighed "Here its a deep sigh lost in the most ancient of forests." Jareth pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. "Sarah, I can't just tell you..." He paused, apparently giving some thought to it. "Remove your shoes." He said at last.

Sarah stared mind blank as that sunk in. "What?" She managed.

"You wanted to know, I cannot simply tell you, you must be shown."

Sarah wanted to protest but he seemed quite serious and she really did want to know. She sat and began unlacing her old sneakers, "I'm guessing socks too?" She asked to which he nodded. When she was done Jareth held out a hand and pulled her to the nearest tree.

"Now," he began, placing her palm against the rough bark. "Do not move your hand." He commanded and then stood watching first her face and then her hand. "Humans..." he mumbled. "Sarah, close your eyes."

Feeling nervous and excited Sarah stifled a giggle and shut her eyes.

"Now, just listen, what do you hear?"

"You," was her immediate reply, his sigh of annoyance pulled her joking short, "Sorry." She added. "I hear our breathing, and the wind."

"Do not speak, simply list inside what you hear." He said, his voice, while soft still held that annoyed tone. Feeling guilty Sarah mentally shook herself and really tried to listen.

At first it was hard, but slowly all the sounds around her became distinct. The wind rustled through the trees around them and Sarah listened to its voice as it whispered to the leaves of the trees and the long grass that grew along the banks of the brook. The water burbled unending, gentle and soft, tumbling over the rocks within. Sarah heard small twigs snap and the fluttering of wings through the open glade. Far in the blue reaches of the sky a hawks cry echoed against the mountains side.

As the small smile on her face grew she heard a soft footfall near her. "Now Sarah," Jareth whispered so close to her ear that his warm breath ghosted over her shoulder, "Open your other senses." Sarah felt a small shiver run down her spine at his words and ignored the small flop her stomach did by doing as he asked.

The forest sounded like she would have thought, but her other senses showed more than she really considered before now. Beneath her hand the bark of the tree was rough, pitted like scars, its texture so varied and unique. Her toes curled into the soft cool earth, its texture both rough and soothing somehow in the gentle way she sunk into it, enjoying the slight dampness of the forest floor. The scent of slight earthen rot that dominates the deep woods overcame most other smells. Yet she could still tell that water was near, with its mossy smell, that small flowers bloomed randomly around them with the sweet fragrance of pollen. Around her body the temperature of the air differed, from the slight chill in the wind that breezed through the clearing, to the sun, warming the back of her head. Even Jareth made an impact on her perception. Without opening her eyes she knew he stood next to her, the slight warmth from his body radiating toward her.

"Magic's touch, Sarah." Jareth whispered in her ear he leaned close to her shoulder. "Now, what do you feel?"

Sarah's mouth went dry, and her heart rattled out in a chaotic pattern. She couldn't reply, didn't really know what she could say. Feel? So many things were suddenly making her feelings wild and chaotic. So caught in the feel of him close she panicked and shook her head, not trusting her own voice.

And then his hand brushed against hers caressing the back of her hand until his covered hers. Her breath hitched at the touch of its warmth and weight against hers. "Can you not feel it?" he whispered again, and like a spell the words stilled her mind and rolling emotions. Sarah felt it. Focused in his hand against hers.

Jareth's hand tingled against her own but also the tree beneath her hand. It was like feeling a heartbeat, a weak one but there still. It echoed within the tree and within them and soon like she could see it, the forest stretched out for miles. She knew it without knowing how. There were valleys and rocky hills, deep silent brooks that burbled silently and loud roaring rivers that carved away the earth itself to make a path.

"Find the heart Sarah." He said.

Sarah looked without her eyes and found it, deep within the shelter of the mountains and surrounded by untouched forest stood a tree of an ancient age. Like the beating heart of a living thing it pulsed with a magic all its own. Like small tendrils it reached out to all living things within its realm.

"Life is magic." Sarah whispered.

He moved his hand and the connection snapped leaving her feeling somehow heavy. Sarah opened her eyes and while nothing had changed somehow something had.

They stood mere inches apart Jareth had not moved, his eyes staring into her own. The world and all the dangers and worries in it seemed so far away at that moment. She felt almost trapped by his gaze, like she couldn't look away even if she wanted.

I don't want to look away... she admitted to herself as she tried to read his face. He was completely still for one more moment and then his eyes flicked down at her mouth and for that moment Sarah thought he was going to kiss her.

Jareth blinked and moved back from her, "Magic's touch is very light here, hard to find sometimes. At our current speed we should reach the heart within a day or two."

"It uh," she began, her voice soft as she tried not to think about lips and the thought of how he might taste. Tried not to remember his hand against her own and the warmth he seemed to radiate. "You must find it hard here then?"

Her words seemed to shake away his thoughts. "Like a fish, who once enjoyed the ocean now confined to a bowl." He laughed reaching for his boots.

"That doesn't sound pleasant, I'm sorry." she offered as she too gathered her shoes.

He shrugged "Not your fault precious." Jareth began putting his boots back on acting as though nothing happened. "We should make camp soon, a storm is approaching."

o0o

Nestled into a hollow overhang that wasn't quite a cave Sarah watched the sun set behind what looked like an approaching storm. Glancing up she hoped the small overhang would be enough should it rain.

Beside her on their single sleeping bag Jareth rubbed at his side. The wound was little more that some yellowing bruises and a scar now "Feeling okay?" Sarah didn't know what else to say. He nodded slightly looking out into nothing.

Stealing glances Sarah watched him in the amber glow of the fire. He looked almost normal to her now, or maybe she was just getting used to him?

"Think it will rain?" she wondered.

Jareth shrugged, eyes still looking into the darkening woods.

"Is everything okay, anything out there?" she tried, hopping he would talk to her.

"If there is, I cannot sense it." He sighed his brow creased in a glare as he poked at the fire with a stick, "What is she doing...?" he mumbled.

The words took a moment to register but once they did Sarah felt her mind cling to them, she who?

She could be just about anyone, related to him or maybe not? Could be a goblin? No.

She shook that idea away. That didn't seem to fit what she had seen of Goblins. Memories of her dance in the ballroom, the many woman decked out in finery. Some other Fae then? Once again Sarah wished he would simply tell her what happened, who this She was who managed to banish him here?

"You know, Its a," Sarah paused looking for the right words. He watched her in the dim light of their fire waiting silently for her words. Taking a deep breath she tried again, "As someone who has had to hide, and not tell people about something important to me I know what a burden it can be."

He looked away, glancing out at the night around them, "Would it have truly made the burden lighter to share?"

Sarah shrugged, "If I knew I could trust them? I think so."

His eyes closed, the smallest of smiles played at his mouth. "Trust is something I find hard to give." he sighed. "I've misplaced it once too often."

Somehow Sarah felt that his words included her. Still she seemed to be all he had at the moment and she wanted to help if she could. "Jareth, what happened?" she dared ask.

He didn't answer at first, didn't even look her way, his finger just traced the outline of the scar for a long moment. "I, made a mistake." he said at last.

The fire crack and sparks flew into the night sky "What mistake did you make?" she wondered.

"I was told by those with more power than me over the underground," he began his voice full of loathing "That my kingdom needed a Queen."

The words rang in her ears and Sarah felt suddenly like she was falling. "You, got married?" she asked, her voice just above a whisper.

"Thankfully nothing so permanent." Jareth smirked into his cup as he sipped at it.

Relief washed over her and Sarah sighed, "Who holds power enough to demand a marriage?" Sarah wondered.

"The High court," He stated with a shrug. "Their reasoning does have merit, as it stands if anything were to happen to me there is no one who can replace me. Besides that, they hold sway over most of the underground so I couldn't simply ignore them." Jareth stretched out his legs and looked up at the stars. "I began inviting potential women to my Kingdom so I might make a show of looking for a queen but none caught my attention in just the right way." Jareth looked down into his mug again, "There was so many, coming and going I, well I lost track I suppose. That's how she got close enough that I didn't notice,"Shifting his position a bit he leaned his head back against the rocks. "By the time I knew of her plans it was too late." He said as he lay a hand against his chest.

Sarah had seen him make that same motion once before and she was again reminded of the gold talisman that she had seen hanging there in the past. "She took that necklace didn't she, was it important?"

"Its not a necklace," Jareth sitting up a little straighter looked down at her, "It was the Key to my kingdom and with it one can control almost every aspect of the Goblin kingdom. Without it I will be, limited in what I can do." He finished the last of his drink and looked down at her. "You should sleep," he said as he pulled up the sleeping bag and tucked it at her side.

"But who was she?"

Jareth shook his head, "Sleep." he insisted.

Sarah sighed, "But Jareth..." She tried again but he simply looked away.

Sarah nodded not wanting to push to hard and really she was tired, settling down in the small space she closed her eyes but doubted she would be able to find sleep. He was so close and her mind was so full of new things. Magic and some small truths that he had let slip. She was sure he wanted to kiss her in that moment but now she was wrapped up in her own insecurities. Surely she was imagining such a thing right?

Sarah glanced up at him. His face glowed in the amber light of the fire, his face turned up, scanning the overcast sky. Watching him she decided that it didn't matter what she thought he would never want her that way.

*End*

**Up next our hero's Luck runs out and choices must be made.**