AN: Everyone, I am so terribly sorry for the long wait on this chapter. I've been writing, rewriting, rewriting, making revisions, rewriting, again and again. It's been a bit of a fixation/downward spiral due to personal matters (and possibly insecurity) and I was so close to just burning myself out on this. I took some time to get it right and get myself out of this toxic mindset and I'm gradually getting back on the rails. Anyways, enough of my grouching; back to the story. Hope you all have a wonderful day or night, wherever you may be. Know that you matter and you are loved. Stay strong. Stay beautiful. 3
During dinner, eating seemed to be a rather low priority to the guests. Discussions and opinions flew from one side of the table to the other. People were thoroughly convinced of their stances, causing every addition to the conversation to rise above the other by a handful of decibels. They bellowed exclamations and arguments in several languages.
"I have seen chicken coops more civilized than this," Sarah muttered quietly to Alana.
Alana put her napkin down. "Watch this." She turned to one of the women further down and across the table. "Lady Bridget." Hearing the princess speak up everyone immediately fell silent, all eyes on the woman next to Sarah. "I heard your latest fashion ideas were regarded as strong contenders for next year's festivities. You must be thrilled."
Sarah looked around the table in awe. While no man distinctly voiced or blatantly showed their displeasure, with just a handful of words the light in their eyes flickered out, their head turning to their plates in quiet disinterest. Lady Bridget praised Alana's awareness of her feat, gushing about her plans and secret projects. Alana and Sarah shared a smile.
It wasn't until the next course that the men started to speak up again, shouldering Lady Bridget to the background and instead turning to praise Warren's latest accomplishment developing a new marketplace. The new location had just finished construction and was already thriving and inviting faraway traders. Seeing Warren's mildly disinterested smile and Beyza's sparkle in her eyes, Sarah suspected that the praise for his accomplishment secretly belonged to his wife. Eager to drown out one another's praises the volume was steadily climbing again, yet in a split second, the rising voices fell eerily quiet from just one comment.
"At least the Duke knows how to draw out the best in his people."
People stared at him with wide eyes when the man realized his mistake. The room grew eerily silent, perhaps even a little darker while the king cloaked the table in tension without even lifting a finger.
"I can personally attest to His Majesty's efforts across…" People's eyes shifted to Sarah, causing her to mildly regret speaking up, stalling halfway her sentence. "Across the kingdom recently," she continued a little quieter. People remained eerily still. "I… I witnessed him personally seeing to the security of both a large encampment and an entire village. At the cost of his own wellbeing. He defended them from a hostile party, putting their safety before his own. He didn't so much as sit down until everyone had been given someplace warm to spend the night. His Majesty even arranged overnight shipments to provide for both the people from the camp and people in the village. Additionally he found longer term residences for most of them before sunrise." People stared at her, but her eyes were only on the man further down the table. "While establishing a public market is by no means an easy feat, it is simply unfair to discard the efforts of your king simply because you did not see them firsthand."
Sarah would have guessed the man would at least apologize for his remark towards his monarch, but surprisingly he grew defensive. "Lady Sarah, as much of a vision you might be, you'd do well to remember your place here. Rumor has it you hail from beyond the Veil and you are keen to use your exotic roots as a way to ensnare our king."
Sarah looked at Jareth, seeing his hand curl to a fist on the table. Alana covered his hand with her own. Sarah turned to look back at the man. "I may not have been born or raised here, but I'm not an idiot. I've seen plenty. I'm here because I care and strive to help those in need. Not for any personal gain or some mortal slut to cater to Jareth's needs." There was an audible gasp in the crowd. At first Sarah thought it was because she used a somewhat vulgar slur, but when eyes once again turned to the king she realized she'd called him by name.
Jareth was unbothered when she met his gaze. In fact, he seemed rather amused. "You make it sound as though I mind being ensnared by Lady Sarah, Cormac. Do I need to have you seated in Rosewarden Hall? It's been too long, clearly."
The man had become pale during his public reprimand. He had shrunk in his seat with his eyes cast downwards. "That won't be necessary, Your Majesty. I beg your forgiveness."
"I am sure you do."
Uncomfortably people stared down at their meal, no one quite sure where to take the conversation from here. Meanwhile Sarah leaned closer to Alana, speaking in a hushed tone. "Rosewarden Hall?"
Alana picked up her glass of wine. "A school of public manners for young nobles or royal blood. Usually children graduate when they're the mortal equivalent of twelve."
Sarah pressed her lips together in an attempt to stifle a giggle, quickly covering her mouth with her own glass of wine. Meeting the king's gaze he winked at her, still draped in his seat. Despite his annoyance earlier, his posture had remained fully relaxed throughout the entire ordeal.
After the long-winded main course people got up to mingle once more, stretching their legs before dessert was served. Sarah's hand, which had still been resting on the back of her chair once she had risen, was grasped by soft leather gloves. She hadn't even turned around when she felt a presence against her back and breath on her cheek. "Come with me." The low timbre of Jareth's voice made her heart skip. His free hand rested on her lower back, guiding her away from where the guests were headed.
"Where are we going?" When she looked around there was a sparkle in his eyes. He briefly looked around, perhaps to see if they were noticed. "Jareth, we can't just leave…" He deftly side-stepped to slip behind the installment for the band, tugging her into the shadows and through two small doors. A most welcoming cool breeze brushed along her face and through her hair. There was a soft click of a door latch, then silence.
Sprawled in front of her was a stretch of grounds with various sorts of trees, carefully kept bushes, dewy grass and flowers in more colors than Sarah thought existed. The warm light of the party made room for crisp moonlight and gently muted colors. Several paths meandered into the gardens and out of view. Lanterns along the trail and in the flowerbeds provided a near dreamlike lighting. They were standing on a medium sized balcony, fenced off with thick stone balustrades, smooth stone tiles and ornate flower pots. The night sky was a black ocean with countless stars sparkling like glitter, its unfathomable depths made even more immeasurable by the two moons keeping watch over them. Breathing in deeply, Sarah took in the sweet scent of the flowers and the rustle of the trees.
A strange sensation lightly tugged her from the railing and made her step back from the dreamlike scenery. Her gut lightly flipped and her balance tipped. Jareth touched her waist, the warmth of his chest against her back. Sarah chuckled, vaguely recognizing the strange sensation. "One could consider using a binding charm to get a girl closer as cheating."
"A woman," he corrected, his voice pitched with mirth. "Or tonight, I might advocate for the title of goddess. Not that you look any less breathing taking in anything else. Or, presumably, without anything else."
Sarah giggled, feeling his arm wrap around her when she did. "Don't tell me you've been ogling me during the party, Your Majesty. How inappropriate."
"I allow myself an act of inappropriate behavior every once in a while."
The woman could feel his thumb caress her stomach, making her shiver. "Yeah? Then what do you call sneaking off from a party with one of your guests?"
"Inappropriate," he said with glee clear in his voice, his breath against her ear now. "And entirely worth it." Sarah smiled, leaning back into him. His lips pressed against her hair. "Listen."
While subtle, she could hear the music of the band from just behind the doors. Gentle and guiding like flowing water he started swaying slowly to the music. The hand on her stomach shifted, grasping her hand. With a slow twirl he spun her to face him, his free hand effortlessly coming to rest on her waist. Serenely they swayed on the soft tunes, their eyes locked while they were bathed in moonlight. The lovely arrangements of the gardens were wasted, the party and its splendor forgotten while the world fell away around them. The moonlight gave him a near ethereal glow. The sharp angles of his face seemed to carry the faintest glitter, as though the very stars had laid themselves to rest on it. The warmth of his touch was blissful and exciting, a quick reminder of just how close he was while she found herself lost in his mismatched gaze. On occasion he twirled her, eyes lowering along the length of her body, his touch on her waist teasing and sometimes almost wandering. Every now and then his fingers on her hand stretched and twined around her own. Sometimes he slightly tipped her back, just enough to catch her slightly off guard, making her breath catch when he leaned in further.
They could've danced forever, long after the band stopped playing, long after the room behind them had gone dark and quiet, tucked away in a corner of the castle. Lost in the presence of one another, tranquil in each other's company.
It was Jareth who eventually stopped, with a gentle twirl facing her towards the gardens with her back against his chest. His arms wound snuggly around her, claiming comfort equally to what he offered.
Sinking into his hold, her hands rested on his arms. "The stars look so beautiful here," Sarah said quietly, gazing up at the sky. "If only they looked like this in my world."
"This could be your world." His voice was soft. Heartfelt and silently burning. Her stomach fluttered hearing the unspoken question in the handful of words. It was the first time he had expressed that he wanted her to stay. Be in this world. With him.
An unexpected heaviness settled in her stomach. The Underground. A vast world with creatures and scenery she'd previously only dreamed of. Infinite possibilities. Jareth was becoming the center of it all. Perhaps, he had been for a while. Perhaps he always was. The enigmatic Goblin King. Sometimes painfully withdrawn and defensive. Often playful and inquisitive. Tall and imposing with a chilling fury when provoked, yet gentle and doting when he wanted to be. There was so much she didn't know about him yet. A deep pain in those powerful mismatched eyes. Undiscovered happiness in the curl of his crooked grin. He was dark and light. Fire and ice. Hateful to the world though longing to be a part of it.
"You're thinking."
Her hand reflexively squeezed his arm. Being held by him made her feel so safe. So warm and comfortable. No one had ever offered her such a sense of security. Not even her…
Family… It had been weeks since she'd seen them. She wondered how they were doing.
Sarah was pulled from her thoughts by the feeling of his lips pressing against her hair. His arms briefly tightened in a hug. "I do believe I have a promise to keep," he said quietly. The woman looked up at him from the corner of her eye, trying to recall what promise he was referring to. He smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Warren has been delivered home. Now it is your turn to see your family."
"Really?" A breathless excitement ghosted through her voice, her eyes wide. He nodded in response. Excited, she turned to face him, throwing her arms around him and pressing her cheek against his chest. "Thank you, Jareth." Pulling back a little, she looked up at him. "Will you come with?"
Jareth grinned, one of his hands moving to trace up and down her back. "So eager to introduce me as your suitor, then?"
Her cheeks flushed. He cupped her cheek and leaned in. Instinctively her eyes fell shut, her hands balling to fists at the back of his neck in anticipation. It wasn't until then that she noticed that today he smelled vaguely like vanilla. It complimented his earthy scent with a subtle sweetness. Nearly painfully tender he pressed his lips against hers, so chaste they barely touched at all. While it was breathtaking in its own way there was a twinge of irritation or disappointment coiling in her. His lips curled in a mischievous grin, letting her know that he was perfectly aware of her annoyance. His amusement was contagious, causing her lips to curl as well. "What? Is that all I get from a suitor?"
Jareth's smile grew sharper and his eyes flashed darkly. "Do you desire more, Sarah?" Fingertips brushed down her neck below her ear, leaving a tingling sensation. The earthy tones of his scent pulled her in while he leaned closer. His voice was lower now, little more than a whisper. "Perhaps," he said with his breath grazing her chin. "I have been making it too easy for you. Perhaps, I will let you make the next move." The man smirked when his fingertips brushing along her shoulder made her shiver. "After all… Your will is as strong as mine, and your longing is as great." Their lips were just a hair's breadth apart and his voice had gradually been growing softer. His low chuckle gripped the butterflies in her stomach. "Or, I'll make sure it will be, anyway."
Sarah wasn't sure how long she'd been holding her breath and if that was what was making her head fuzzy. The electricity of his touch left a tangible path on her skin, leaving her skin simultaneously burning and feeling cold when his fingertips travelled elsewhere. "Did you mean it?" Her voice betrayed her breathlessness, her fingers teasing up the back of his neck until she could feel the soft strands of hair on the nape of his neck. She could feel him shudder and her lips curled into a grin.
"Of course. I'm already picturing over a dozen ways in which you could bring me to my very knees." His fingertips brushed down the small of her back, just low enough to breach new territory.
He really wasn't kidding when he said he wasn't holding back anymore. While she was supposedly being the one given the reins, he made her knees weak without even trying. Shaking her head the woman lowered her hands to gently push against his chest, taking a step back. "That's not what I meant."
"Pity…" His hand trailed from her back to her waist, his eyes finding hers when they opened again. "But yes, we can visit your family." Jareth pressed a kiss to her forehead. "We should probably head back in. Dessert won't be served if I'm not present. I presume some of the guests might be getting impatient."
"We kept them waiting?" Sarah looked at him wide-eyed.
"Hardly. I am king. I arrive exactly when I mean to." With his hand on the small of her back he brought her back inside.
While they mingled with the guests, Sarah caught herself lingering on his dare. Or was it an assignment? It made her nervous. Insecure like her teenage self had always been around boys. But Jareth was't a boy. She shivered at the thought, the memories of his lips on hers. Fervent, but always with a certain tenderness.
Definitely not a boy.
Her eyes shifted towards him while he talked to one of the guests, standing tall and confident. Perfectly at ease. In a way it was frustrating, as it only made her feel more insecure in contrast.
What was she going to do? She didn't have any experience flirting with a king. A magical king. Likely with plenty of experience with women. Giggling at his jokes and putting on a nice shade of lipstick wasn't going to cut it. The very idea of pickup lines made her both disgusted and preemptively embarrassed.
The man talking to Jareth bowed when dismissed and Alana joined the circle, forming a small group of the royal siblings, including Beyza and Sarah.
Perhaps she was overthinking it. Perhaps she needed to stop putting Jareth on some sort of godly pedestal and see him more as a normal guy. A guy offering her a drink. A guy asking her to dance. A guy finding reasons to touch her.
Her eyes shifted up from the center of the circle, locking with a certain mismatched pair that were looking at her intently. They didn't even flicker away when a servant offered him dessert.
A normal guy, she reminded herself while picking up a small cup from the platter offered to her.
A normal guy with porcelain skin, hair of gold, eyes deeper than the night sky and the grace of a big cat.
His family was talking and laughing, but for several moments the two simply gazed at each other. Eventually, Sarah looked down at her cup and started on her dessert. It was a sweet sorbet of some kind. Something that tasted a bit like oranges but less citrusy. There were little mint chips in it, which was strange but not unpleasant. At the bottom of the cup were tiny berries roughly the size of peas. For fruit of that size, it packed a lot of punch.
Alana silently touched her hand, smiling when they made eye contact. Sarah smiled back, then relaxed her shoulders and joined in conversation. After a second round of dessert, servants offered the group something that reminded Sarah of shots. A bit weird, given the formal setting, but very much welcome to help take the edge off. After everyone else had taken a glass, Sarah picked one up too, startled by Jareth calling her name.
"Sarah, you probably shouldn't drink this."
Beyza blocked Jareth's hand when he reached out. "Your Majesty, let the girl have a drink. She'll be fine."
"This is not just a drink, Beyza."
Sarah looked at her glass, a small pink colored drink with glitters in it. It looked fun. "What is it then?" Her gaze traveled over those in the circle.
"It is Roscal, a local party drink," the woman explained, lightly swirling the contents.
"Sounds good to me," Sarah said. Jareth was just about to object when Sarah downed it. A particularly scolding and weary edition of her name rushed from his lips. Humming in approval, she noticed a very pleasant absence of burning. The drink was almost too sweet and caused a warm sensation to drift down her throat, settling in her stomach. Beyza and Alana shared an amused glance, while Warren was eager to witness her response.
Jareth just rubbed his face in agitation. "Not even once will you heed my advice, will you, Sarah?" He downed his drink with a swig and handed the empty cup to a servant. "I am starting to suspect it has become a matter of principle."
"Oh, keep your pants on, Birdbrain." It had slipped out before she knew it. Her mind was strangely fixated on the sensation and taste of the drink. How it tingled in her stomach and numbed the back of her throat. Had she been more present she likely would have noticed the immediate sway in her stance.
Warren released a rather wicked chuckle. "Oh, this is going to be fun."
"No," Jareth snapped. "It is not. You," he said to a servant. "Fetch me some water."
Sarah grinned, looking around the group. Arguably, this was the best drink she ever had. She immediately felt cheerful. Bubbly. She couldn't even remember what she had been concerned about just a minute ago. The woman looked around, wondering if there were any snacks.
"She looks perfectly fine to me," Warren commented cheerfully.
The king threw him a dirty look. "Leave, brother."
Warren's face contorted in a sulk that was not at all befitting of a royal. Beyza let go of his arm, waving goodbye, eager to see where this went.
The next dessert was already being served and Sarah snagged it up before Jareth could dismiss the servant. Beyza and Alana grabbed one too, hooking arms excitedly.
Sarah sniffed the dessert. It looked like a cream popsicle. Catching Jareth's eyes she opened her mouth and closed her lips around it an inch or two down, pulling it slowly from her mouth. It was like cream. Rich and sugary with the fullness of milk. With an approving high pitched moan she swallowed the contents, holding the stick on which it was served. It left a smudge on her lips, which she licked off without breaking eye contact. She could hear Alana and Beyza giggling, but her attention was solely focused on Jareth's fixation on her mouth. He licked his lips longingly. A servant offered a tray with glasses of water. The blonde took two.
"Your Majesty."
Jareth turned, sighing when Rioghan made himself known.
Stepping up next to him, Sarah finished her dessert. "Hi Rioghan!" She waved excitedly.
"Not now, Briaric." The king clearly was in no mood to see this man.
The burly man smirked, looking at Sarah. His fiery eyes glinted with glee. "As you wish, Your Majesty." With a bow, he walked off, holding the brunette's gaze until he'd fully turned away.
He handed her the drink without looking down or turning to her. Sarah looked up at Jareth while he downed his drink. She still felt giddy and blissfully out of control, evident by her next action. The Goblin King choked on his water, coughing in dumbfounded confusion. He looked at Sarah, eyes wide when she swiftly moved her hand away from his rear. "Did you just…?"
"Eye contact and touch," she said with a giggle, looking down at her hand and touching her fingertips together with a contemplative smile.
"What?" He blinked, confused. Her gaze distractedly fixated on her glass of water, twirling the contents. When Sarah sniffed the liquid, he urged with a tip of his hand to drink it, causing her to flinch back, spilling a little bit of water. Sarah whined playfully. When Alana and Beyza laughed he threw them a withering glare. He plucked Sarah's glass from her grasp and handed it, along with his own, to Alana. "That's it, I'm taking you to bed."
Sarah put her hand over her heart, gasping theatrically. "Your Majesty, how inappropriate of you to exclaim such a thing in public."
"Alana, let's go find another servant. I want a second glass." Beyza started tugging her away but Alana stood her ground, her eyes sparkling with fascination.
"Wait, I've never seen a mortal drunk before."
"Not. Another. Word." His stern voice caused both Beyza and Alana to shrink. Jareth grabbed hold of Sarah's hand and led her out of the room. Sarah enthusiastically waved goodbye to the women. The king managed to tug Sarah away just in time before she could inform Thaddeus that Jareth was taking her to bed.
Some time later they arrived in an opulent hallway the woman recognized to be the wing she was staying in. She had been humming a song to herself the entire way, greeting staff cheerfully and frequently getting distracted by inanimate objects. Jareth stopped at a door and carefully let her go while she swayed on her feet. "You are to stay in your suite for the remainder of the night. Understood? Under no circumstance will you leave it."
Sarah pouted. "But I was having fun…"
"You are intoxicated."
"It's a party," she mumbled in annoyance.
"Yes, well, the party is over."
Sarah reached out to trace her fingertips along the lapels of his jacket. It was like her mind was addicted to fun. "Maybe the public one," she said suggestively.
"I'm putting Roscal on a ban list," he said with a sigh, more to himself than to her.
Transfixed on his lips while he spoke, her hands curled and pulled him to her. Standing on the tips of her toes she leaned in to kiss him. His lips were uncharacteristically stiff when she touched them. In fact, his entire body felt stiff. However, when her hands tugged just a little more, his body bowed further down, yielding. When she leaned into him he pulled back, prying her fingers from his clothing. His hands on her shoulders held her at a distance.
"Okay, sweetling. Before you do more things you will regret tomorrow, I will end this here." He strained to hide the small smile caused by her disappointed pout, her hands reaching out to him. "I am going to call for Sorcha to help you prepare a bath."
"No," she said quickly, her face blanching and pulling her hands from his face. Even in her dazed state she could vividly picture the uptight woman's disapproving glare. "Don't send for Sorcha. I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" Sarah nodded vehemently. "Alright, if you're certain. Then I will leave you here. Should you need me-"
"I'll call," she said, distractedly touching her sleeves like they just appeared there.
"Good night, Sarah," he said with an exasperated chuckle, trying to pull her back to the present. He peeled her hand from her sleeve, her eyes shifting up to him.
"Uh… Good night, Jareth."
He opened her door for her, turning her around so she was facing it. "Don't leave your room. I'd say I would hate to tie you up… But I really don't."
"Oh," Sarah mused like she was fondly considering it, lips pursed.
He quickly pushed her in, wondering if her swift reaction to the drink would also mean that it would flush out of her system quickly. Once her door was closed he locked it, just in case, then picked up his jacket and left.
—-
It took a while for Sarah to pick herself up from the couch. She'd entertained herself for a while with books she couldn't read, leafing through every tome available in her room and finding nothing with pictures. Then she spent an hour struggling with her dress, prying at the laces with combs, long hairpins and eventually the poker from the fireplace. It had been a rather sobering experience, taking her out of the merry buzz. Literally. It was then that she realized she didn't really know when and how she got back to her rooms.
Digging through the wardrobe, she found herself a silken pajama set, finding herself wide awake. Skulking through her rooms she'd enjoyed the view of the gardens and city. They had almost completely fallen silent and dark, save for the lanterns illuminating the main roads.
Once the night air had seeped into her bones and cooled her skin, she wandered through her rooms, trying some doors she hadn't used before. One was just a broom closet. Another was a second wardrobe which was almost completely empty save from some spare bed sheets and pillows. The third was a small hallway leading into a balcony, but she quickly retreated from that as her body hadn't quite warmed up yet. The fourth at the other end of the room had been forgotten.
Eventually she stood in the midst of her rooms, alone. She couldn't describe why, but there was an itch coursing through her. A restlessness. A tension that made her hands ball to fists and her heart beat in a rhythm that seemed… off. Almost like she was experiencing someone else's cadence. Touching her necklace, her body stilled, studying the pulsing she felt through it. It was relaxed. Slower than hers. Not matching what she was experiencing.
While holding onto it, she walked to a nearby carafe to pour herself some water, drinking it contemplatively. Her hand was still clasped around the little hanger by the time she'd finished it and absentmindedly she whispered the name of the Goblin King.
The air shifted around her, causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand on end. Her head turned, her eyes coming to rest on a silhouette in her room. It wasn't until then that she realized she'd been ghosting through her rooms in darkness. The fireplace had gone out, its warmth lingering in the room. Her attention was drawn back to the silhouette when it started moving. The tread was familiar before Jareth's features could be discerned in the darkness.
"J-Jareth? Why are you here?"
"You called."
Sarah looked down at her hand still clasping the necklace and quickly released it, as if it had been the cause of her accidental summoning. "Oh, I'm sorry. I hope I didn't wake you."
"Not at all. There was work to be done." He looked towards the untouched bed. "Are you having trouble sleeping?"
The woman fidgeted, not sure what to do with her hands. "I guess… I'm not sure why. I'm kind of anxious."
Jareth studied her. "Are you feeling unwell? I can summon Aemus for you."
"It's not unwell… It's… weird. Not bad per se, just… unusual."
He wound an arm around her waist and gently guided her to her bed. "Perhaps the Roscal is simply getting worked out of your system. You were rather… unlike yourself."
She slipped under the covers, remaining seated while he attempted to pull the covers over her. She didn't budge. "I don't really remember what happened." Even with the more insistent push against her shoulder, she remained upright. "I don't want to impose, but could you stay?"
The tension on his arm slackened. A small smile curled around his lips when she patiently awaited his answer. "Yes, of course." When he turned to grab a chair she took his hand, drawing his gaze back to her. Her eyes had fallen to the blanket and quietly she shifted under the covers, towards the center of the bed. While her grasp was practically non-existent, he followed without resistance. His paperwork could wait. Taking inventory could wait. His mail could wait. The entire world could wait for all he cared. Like a puppet on a string he was drawn up to the edge of the bed. He changed into his sleeping attire with a flick of his wrist. Part of him cursed himself for giving her a necklace that could relay his heartbeat. It didn't matter, he decided when she curled up against his side. With her head on his chest he was fully aware she could hear it loud and clear from his person.
Meanwhile Sarah was hoping that the necklace was a one way thing and Jareth couldn't detect her own racing heart. But God, did it feel nice cuddling up to the warmth and comfort of his body. She could hear his heartbeat thrumming against her cheek, gradually slowing down. Sarah smiled, her eyes drifting shut.
—-
There was no telling how long they'd been asleep. All Sarah knew that it was still dark outside. She was laying on her side, up against Jareth who was positioned on his back. Her hand was resting on his stomach. Under his shirt. But her focus was elsewhere. Instead of the sharp angles of his face slackened in rest, they were tense. In fact, they were straining and slick with sweat. But there was no rosiness to his cheeks, in fact, he was deathly pale. His brow was furrowed and his breathing unnaturally fast, at least in a slumbering state. She called out to him, her hand on his stomach slightly shaking him. She could see his pupils wildly shifting under his eyelids, his hands clawing the sheets. When he still didn't wake with a more insistent shaking she started to feel a little panicked.
She needed help. Someone that knew what might be happening.
The moment she leapt out of the bed he jolted awake, launching himself upright into a sitting position. His eyes were a thick solid black, spread wide but unseeing. His voice was painfully loud in the silence. "Lana!"
Sarah debated whether to hurry back to him or get help, but decided on the latter. Jumping out to the hallway she nearly ran into a servant, who looked at her in confusion. The brunette grabbed her shoulders. "Please, get me the royal healer, quick!"
The woman nodded mutely, breaking out into a run down the hallway.
"Sarah?"
The woman whipped around, seeing a worried Alana walk down the hall. Partially out of panic and partially out of intense happiness, Sarah's eyes welled with tears. "Alana, please! It's Jareth!" Her hand clasped around the woman's wrist and forcefully dragged her inside.
When Alana saw Jareth's fingers coiled in the sheets and his alarmed state she hurried over to him. Once she sat down words rapidly spewed from his mouth, the tone in his voice not at all like the low timbre he usually had. "Where is he, sis? I have to see him!" Frantically he kept repeating himself, sometimes with different phrasing, sometimes gasping for breath in hyperventilation.
Alana kept quietly speaking to him, keeping him from clawing at her shoulders, trying to talk him down in what seemed to be various languages. Eventually Aemus hurried in, in what seemed to be sleeping robes. His assistant wasn't with him. Over the continuous near-shouting of the king they quickly handled the situation. Alana continued talking to Jareth while Aemus wrestled him down to the bed, struggling to hold him there with his aged body. Meanwhile Sarah was helplessly standing at a distance, wringing her hands and her heart racing in her throat.
Then all of a sudden, it was over. Aemus had pressed his palm against Jareth's forehead and the blonde's struggling ceased. The blackness still hadn't faded from his eyes but the sedated way in which he stared up at the ceiling calmed the two by the bedside. From the fading chaos rose a soft singing from Alana. Gentle and slow while she touched Jareth's shoulder. A lullaby.
"Eist anois, beag ulchabhan, sruthan an speir anmea, an domhan naa ar lasadh e an ghrian fiochmhar me'a. Re naa caele glorach, caele trom ae gluais, dun llea maksa sciathain, aho solas.
An tine pahi imigh vee fasann na scathanna hard, fionnuar undome cogar pahi bogann om fail. Lire atua taoidi ardu ari na realt bog fan, an gealach pahi var utae, eua solas thar lamh."
Aemus and Alana briefly spoke in quiet, hushed tones before the healer bowed deeply and moved away from the bed. Aemus bowed to Sarah and she uncomfortably stepped forward. "I'm so sorry to disturb your evening, I panicked and I… I didn't know what to do."
The elderly man smiled kindly. "Do not feel guilt for summoning me, Lady Sarah. I am glad that you did. Please excuse me for a moment while I make myself a little more presentable. I will be back shortly to discuss matters."
Before Sarah could object, Aemus had left the room and she quietly shuffled towards the bed, seeing Alana smile gently, brushing some hair out of Jareth's face. She was humming the rhythm of the lullaby. The brunette stood by them, noticing her cheeks were stained with tears. She quickly brushed them away. "Is… Is he okay?"
Alana looked up at her and smiled comfortingly. "Let's give him some space. Join me, Lady Sarah." She rose gracefully to her feet and hooked her arm around Sarah's, leading them to the couch. Once they sat down, Alana kept her voice quiet and slow, like she was trying to console Sarah. "Do you dream, Lady Sarah?" A quiet nod answered her question. "We usually do not." Alana lowered her gaze to her lap. "My kind, that is. Our kind." Her eyes briefly shifted to the bed before turning back to the woman. "There are a few traumatic events in Jareth's past which I cannot tell you about. But I can tell you that when he was younger, the mortal equivalent of approximately sixteen, something happened. Something terrible that has festered within him ever since. Especially the first few years after this event were tough for him."
Sarah's eyes went wide when Alana started crying. Quietly, with silver droplets slowly trailing down the pale skin of her cheeks. Sarah moved closer to her, putting her hand over Alana's. She smiled bitterly, but gratefully laid her free hand upon Sarah's. "I was always there for him. Not just as his sister, but more like a personal maid. I fed him, clothed him, read from books, played music… " Looking at the brunette she could see the pain in her eyes, the questions practically spilling from her lips.
The sadness in Alana's eyes was like a dagger to her heart. She could only imagine what it might have been like for Jareth. What it was still like. "So… He had a dream?"
"I believe mortal folk call it nightmares… Regardless, I know his dream to be about what happened centuries ago. I think that those visions took him back to that dark period of his life. He believed them to be true, because…"
"You guys don't dream…" She sighed and leaned against Alana's shoulder. Her head rested on hers and they were quiet for a few moments. "I can only imagine how terrifying that must've been."
A rustle from the covers caused both women to perk up and turn to the bed. Jareth swung his legs over the edge and both women hurried over. Sarah swiftly supported him when his knees buckled, tightening her arms around him for more than just physical support.
"Gods, what happened?" He cleared his throat, reaching for his head. His chest briefly expanded in a deep breath, shuddering from his lips when he exhaled.
"You were dreaming," Sarah said kindly, letting go of him carefully once she was sure he could hold his own.
Jareth looked at her with a frown. "Me? Impossible."
"Not quite, Your Majesty."
All three of them turned to the entrance, seeing Aemus walk in while still fastening his formal robes. His breath was labored like he'd been running despite his old age. Alana quickly helped him to sit at the nearby table.
"Explain, Aemus." With a flick of his wrist the fireplace roared to life.
The old man pulled a handkerchief from his robe and dabbed the sweat from his brow. "I have consulted with Sir Rioghan."
"Him again," Jareth mumbled under his breath.
"He relinquished that he sensed magic in Lady Sarah. Uncontrolled magic." He briefly looked towards Sarah. "Sir Rioghan sensed it to be within the Fount of Sentivis."
"Sentivis?" Sarah blinked in confusion.
"To give you a very short summary, each branch of magic has a place in the body. A Fount. The Fount of Sentivis is located high in the stomach and fosters intuition and emotion. Mentaris is a place of wisdom and knowledge located in the crown of the head. Visaris is located by the eyes to aid sight both visual and spiritual. Metameris is located at the base of the spine, where teleportation and change is nurtured. The Sanctaris font is for healing and cleansing. Fluoris in the abdomen gives force and warmth. Terranis, located in the feet, give grounding and weight. Manaris in the hands is for creation and manipulation and lastly Scaparis, which is located in the shoulders and is used for defense and physical strength."
Sarah blinked.
"While I have no scientific backing for my hypothesis, I believe that Lady Sarah might be able to sway a mental placing."
She felt her cheeks color when everyone looked at her and she shifted defensively. "But I was asleep! And so was Jareth!"
Jareth placed a hand on her shoulder, turning his gaze back to Aemus.
"I believe this unconstrained magic might be manifesting from her subconscious," the healer continued.
"Hold on. What you're saying is that I made Jareth dream? Wasn't this magic about intuition and emotion?"
Aemus nodded. "These are just the bases of Founts. But each base has countless variations. I have been reading about mortal folk and Sentivis most of the day. While there is no combined scripture that I could find, I am led to believe that this potential of gifting dreams is something that lies in your foundation in Sentivis."
Sarah crinkled her nose at Jareth. His eyebrows rose in confusion. "How the hell do you offer me my dreams, when you can't even comprehend them, Birdbrain?"
Alana squeaked, quickly covering her mouth in an attempt to refrain from laughing.
Jareth grinned widely, leaning closer to her. "Ah, but sweetling, all you need to do is share. If you tell me your desires, I will move the very stars to make it happen."
She frowned, pushing him away with a hand against his face. Her gaze directed back to Aemus, who was respectfully looking away. "What about the ballroom, then? Huh?"
"Ballroom?" The healer looked at Jareth.
Jareth had grasped Sarah's hand against his cheek and pressed a kiss to it. "The ballroom wasn't a dream, sweetling. When you fell asleep I simply transported you to me. And carefully transported you elsewhere when you quite literally smashed the party to pieces."
"You drugged me! Then dunked me in a literal ocean of garbage." There was a skip in her heartbeat when he pressed another kiss to her knuckles and irritably she pulled it away from him.
Aemus uncomfortably cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, I am afraid I cannot provide you with a reasoning as to how Lady Sarah managed this feat. I might need to perform additional examinations to determine this."
Just the very thought of being submitted to more testing made Sarah nauseous. "I was touching him," she said quickly. Again, all eyes shifted towards her and her face grew red. "N-not like that! I mean… I asked him to stay because I couldn't sleep and… And…"
"Dear me," Jareth said cheerfully. "Sarah, you're not taking advantage of me, are you?"
"N-no! I told you it's not like that! I woke up because you were sweating like crazy! While we were asleep my hand came to rest on your stomach. Below your pajamas. Involuntarily." God, it felt so tempting to douse herself in the glass of water in hopes it might cool the burning of her face. He looked more pleased than ever. "Don't gloat! Some Master of Dreams you are! Can't even take a little nightmare!"
Aemus cleared his throat again, uncomfortably touching the fingertips of his hands together while his lower arms rested on the table. "It is quite possible that a direct touch makes this easier." He eyed Jareth. "If I might speak freely, Your Majesty… I do believe the bonding between you and Lady Sarah might have aided in her influence."
Jareth nodded thoughtfully. "If that is the case I will relinquish the protective bond."
"Due to the severity of your nightmare, I would strongly advise a protective ward in cases of physical touch. At least for the time being, while Lady Sarah builds control over this magic. While I cannot personally aid you in this, I can send for an acquaintance that can provide you with such."
"That won't be necessary, Aemus. I can ward myself as a precaution." He locked eyes with Sarah for a moment before looking back at the elderly man. "To what extent are these protective measures required? Is there any risk with intimacy?"
Sarah felt her face heat all over again, her wide eyes flying to Alana in embarrassment. A small smile curled around Alana's lips before she looked back at the healer and her brother.
"You are formidable in your magic skills, Your Majesty. I hardly think an absolute novice could sway you with your natural guards in place. Though I would advise you to take measurements if you were to slumber next to one another, especially with skin contact of any kind."
"Very well. See to it that tonight's events are appropriately logged. I expect you to research what you can about these matters. If you need a visa to seek knowledge across the border, write to me with your seal and I will grant you passage as soon as I am able."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Aemus bowed his head and left after being dismissed.
"Scith, dearthair," Alana said softly, pressing a kiss to his hair before taking her leave as well.
"I propose we retire as well, Sarah." He said with a sigh. "I, for one, feel utterly depleted." He pulled her to her feet and escorted her back to the bed. Sarah crawled in quietly, watching him while he quietly uttered something with his eyes closed and his hand over his amulet. Crawling back under the covers he settled against her, holding her close and burying his face into the crook of her neck like she was his only hope for comfort.
Sarah rolled over to her side, at first hesitant to touch him, but then cradling his head under her chin. "I'm sorry, Jareth."
His arm around her tightened and he pressed a kiss to her collarbone. "Don't be, darling. There lies no blame with you." He gently caressed her back until it slackened in relaxation. "Now, rest."
—-
AN: I spent too long struggling with what Alana was singing, then trying to translate it… So darn it, I am putting it in the 'original' for it here in English.
Hush now, little owl, the sky burns bright,
The world is aflame in the sun's fierce light.
The day is too loud, too heavy to bear,
Close your soft wings, find comfort there.
The fire will fade as the shadows grow tall,
The cool evening whispers will soften it all.
When silver tides rise and the stars softly call,
The moon will protect you, its light over all.