Sarah had been increasingly worried throughout the night, morning and day. The men were pushing hard to reach the city as soon as possible. The horses were visibly getting tired, having galloped for hours since their brief break the night before. Every time they were spurred it took them longer to muster an acceptable speed. Sarah felt bad when she yet again demanded more from her recently gifted horse. His entire body was covered in sweat, his gait became stiff and bumpy and he stumbled over holes in the ground and small stumps.
But Sarah had noticed a change in the structure of her surroundings. They passed more and more small settlements and started running into more and more people on the road. By the time the sun was setting Sarah could see large walls on the horizon, with roofs and towers poking out from the gray stone.
"Is that it?" The brunette looked to her right. Girvin had been riding next to her for the majority of the day, seeing to her every need.
"Welcome to the city of Caisnis, lady Sarah," Girvin said with a weary smile. "The most western city of His Majesty's kingdom and just a few miles from the border."
"What's going to happen now?"
"That is for His Majesty to decide. Though most likely we will first focus on damage control. We don't know what has transpired since we received word from Duke Thanh. He sees to this part of the kingdom. You will undoubtedly meet him within the hour."
Not too long after they slowed to a trot, filing through a large gate past the walls of the city. The streets were deserted. Houses, cottages and market stalls were left abandoned and the sound of the horse's hooves on the stone streets was almost deafening. There were fully armored guards on every other street corner and burly men hauling reinforced coffers into small alleyways. A few stray animals and creatures scampered away when the group approached. Sarah would have loved to look around a bit more to see the first city she had come across since her time here, but there were more important matters at hand.
Sarah spurred Gaeth one more time until she caught up with Jareth, just in time before they stopped in front of a castle. At least ten fully armored guards manned the doors. Seeing the king approach they descended into a deep bow.
"Don't say a word, Sarah." Jareth dismounted and helped her down, before heading to the imposing doors of the castle. The guards out front could only barely manage to get the doors open in time as Jareth walked briskly towards them.
"Duke Thanh!" The Goblin King's voice was booming, undoubtedly filling every inch of the large hall.
Before they'd even crossed the hall the doors ahead of them swung open, revealing a richly clad man with tanned skin and short red hair. His dark brown eyes were accented by red markings angling down from the center of his eyes.
"Do Mhorachd," his low voice exclaimed. The man nodded his head respectfully, before exchanging a firm handshake with the blonde monarch.
"Thanh, I rallied my men to get here as soon as we could."
"You have my eternal gratitude, Sire. When my scouts reported a breach the entire city descended into panic."
"You disappoint me, Thanh," the Goblin King said. The duke looked at him wide-eyed and alarmed. He opened his mouth to speak but the look on Jareth's face effectively silenced him. "Being one of my most trusted and valued regents I'd have expected you to handle the breach with more finesse and control."
The man lowered his gaze, then bowed deeply. "I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty. I vow to you that it will not happen again. I have sent men to push back the intruders but I have not yet received a rapport."
"I have brought the very best. My men have trained daily for hundreds of years and have honed their skills in weaponry as well as magic. We are more than capable of dealing with this, I assure you."
The duke averted his eyes in embarrassment, then laid eyes on Sarah. "Do Mhorachd, I did not expect you to bring a lady to such perilous horizons."
Before Sarah could respond, Jareth waved Thanh's offered hand away.
"Cùm do lamhan fhein, Thanh." Jareth's voice was rather icy. "This is Sarah."
The duke bowed deeply towards her. "It is a pleasure to meet you, fair lady Sarah."
Jareth stepped in between them. "With pleasantries out of the way, I will speak to your court. Gather them at once. Girvin, take Sarah to a waiting room and make sure she's comfortable. Cillian, ready to depart." A soldier on his left nodded before turning around and walking back to the entrance.
Girvin led her into a small side room of the hall. It had dark red walls and brown accents. There was a couch, two chairs and in the back a small side table with a basin of water. A small window provided a modest view and offered light into the room.
Sarah sat down onto the couch. "Why did Jareth tell me to keep quiet?"
Girvin grabbed a blanket and laid it down next to her. "It is vital that this issue is dealt with before panic spreads any further and civilians are endangered. Pleasantries are an otiose luxury that insult the severity of trespassing. For now, please try to get some rest."
The brunette looked down at the blanket. Admittedly, she was exhausted. She hadn't slept in almost two days now. Grabbing the blanket she obediently curled up on one side of the couch.
"Sleep, lady Sarah. I will keep watch."
It was the last thing she heard before she descended in a restless and light sleep.
—-
There were voices. Hushed voices. Through a hazy mind it was difficult to make out what they were saying. Her surroundings were dark save from a few small areas of the room lit by candles. She wasn't sure how, but she immediately recognized the two silhouettes opposite the room. The moment she stirred, both turned to look at her.
"Jareth?" From the window she could see the last bit of color in the sky sinking behind the walls. "How'd it go? Is there any news?"
"Sarah, I apologize if we woke you. I have arranged a comfortable set of chambers for you to stay in. I'm sure you could do with a good night's rest, a good meal and a warm bath."
"I'm fine. What about the trespassers?"
The man sat down next to her. "Those will be dealt with. I'm taking the Regiment to the breach. We hope to catch the enemy by surprise in the cover of night."
"Okay, let's go." The moment she moved to rise Jareth put his hand on her shoulder, keeping her down.
"You're not coming, Sarah."
"Of course I am. I-"
"No," he interrupted. When she opened her mouth to object he put a finger against her lips. "Stop. This will likely be a battle of magic. Ten times as dangerous as an armed battle and ten times more unpredictable. I don't have the time to discuss this with you."
She could hear the urgency in his voice. He sounded stressed. Quietly, she nodded. "Is there anything I can do? Anything to help?"
"The best thing you can do now is to obey my orders and stay here. If you feel any impulses at all, remember what I said after your last… endeavor."
She frowned at his smile, not amused given the severity of the situation. "Will you be okay?"
His smile fell. He was quiet for a moment, his eyes straying from hers. "Probably." When he looked back, she was visibly upset. Clearly his lack of a resounding confirmation sent her mind down a path of insecurity. "I have been in many battles, Sarah. While I cannot guarantee an unharmed return, I have every bit of confidence this battle will not be the one that ends my reign." He pressed a kiss to her forehead, then pulled her close.
"llea ghrasta…" Girvin's voice was warm and gentle, as always. "Utae ni mor asca."
The king rose to his feet, his eyes lingering on her before meeting the soldier's gaze. "Kwara he virna."
Girvin descended into an uncharacteristically low bow, with his hand over his heart.
After that, Jareth opened the door to the hallway and marched out. With a quiet click the door slipped shut.
—-
That evening the entire city seemed to be quiet with anticipation. Sarah was pacing her quarters restlessly. The rooms were luxurious, but she might as well have been in a dank stone cell. The warm colors of the rooms and the roaring fireplaces did nothing to ease her worries.
Resolutely, she turned to one of the doors by the entrance of her quarters and knocked. A few moments later the door opened, revealing Girvin, a broad and tall shape in the small door frame. "My lady, what can I do for you?"
"Could you please… Join me? I'm going crazy by myself." Girvin seemed hesitant and an unexpected amount of anxiety and sadness overcame her. "Please," she said quietly, her voice breaking and tears brimming in her eyes.
His blue eyes widened in worry and he put one of his hands on her shoulder. "Yes, yes. Absolutely."
The woman sighed in relief, giving him a rather watery smile. "Sorry, I don't mean to impose. I'm just… Just…"
The soldier, now dressed down in a simple shirt and trousers with his soldier boots, gently shushed her and ushered her into the sitting area. On the dining table there was a plate with an untouched and cold meal. He looked at the woman as she walked over to a window. "You haven't eaten yet, lady Sarah." He saw her scan the horizon quietly. "His Majesty will take care of this, my lady. I have full confidence in my king and my fellow soldiers. It would be a great honor and a blessing to all of us to have your trust and confidence as well."
"What are these magical battles like?" She let herself be ushered back to her meal. Politely he pushed up her chair to the table when she sat down.
"Allow me to heat this back up for you before I answer that question." Girvin rubbed his hands together and blew into them while Sarah looked at him curiously. He held his palms down towards the plate. The brunette couldn't hide her intrigue when steam started to billow from the plate. Once he pulled back his hands he brought them up to his face, blowing along the digits. Smoke escaped his lips and rose from his palm. The soldier held out his hand to the dinner plate. "Please, eat."
Looking down at the meal she found herself still lacking in appetite, but she started picking at it regardless. "Will you sit with me?"
"Of course," Girvin said kindly, slipping into a seat opposite of her. "Now, to answer your question… Battles of magic take on many forms. What it looks like fully depends on the casters. Noxious mists, hallucinations, hypnotizing lights, draining spells, vicious shadows, ensnaring vines… Usually these sorts of magic are used in combination with one another. Each caster has their proficiency."
She looked down at her plate. "Thank you for reheating it for me, by the way."
"You are welcome," he said with a smile. "I stand by what I said. I have full confidence in the First Regiment."
Sarah did find comfort in his faith. But if she were to eat anything at all, she needed some distraction. "So, what kind of magic do you have?"
"I try to hone my skills with fire as much as I can. Not only can it be devastating in battle, but it proves convenient when making campfires, preparing meals and keeping warm in cold environments. But I have a few other skills." Settling into the chair he crossed his legs at the ankle. "While I am considered a gifted adept, it pales in comparison to the skills of others I have met. His Majesty, for example."
"I have seen some of Jareth's magic. How he can conjure or transform things at will or how he can turn into an owl. He's also used some sort of calming spell on me before."
"The latter is likely more along the lines of manipulation or projection. Effective but not his most lethal."
The brunette shivered at the thought of a more vicious side to the Goblin King. While she didn't want to know, the question fell off her lips before she had a say in it. "What would that be?"
Girvin chuckled. "I will not discuss that over dinner, with your desire to eat already lacking."
Sarah felt both relieved and disappointed. "So what about manipulation? I doubt that took on the same form for his enemies as it did for me."
"He once used it to terrorize an encampment, sleeping and awake minds alike. Four years ago he disarmed more than five hundred men overnight simply by entering their dreams and their minds, twisting it to unfathomable nightmares and hallucinations. Scenes and shapes so vile that it left them in shock and prevented them from sleeping ever again. Some didn't wake up at all. While an incredible feat of magic for a single man in the span of mere hours, it left him in a coma for approximately three weeks."
It was a horrific thought. Something she could scarcely imagine. Sarah wondered if she would ever see him use magic in that way.
"I have been sensing his touch on you," Girvin said with a smile. Sarah froze, a bite of her dinner halfway to her mouth. Her cheeks flushed. The soldier laughed. "Oh heavens, no. Not like that, lady Sarah. I am referring to a magical touch. A mark or a gift, I'm not sure."
She quickly took a bite. "Well, he did put a binding charm on me."
Girvin chuckled. "That I have noticed, yes. This is different," he said cryptically.
"You noticed? Who else noticed?"
"It depends on skill and knowledge. You need to possess magic to recognize magic. If you are acquainted with its caster, you will be able to sense what it is and who it is from. Magic is much like handwriting… or more accurately, like a coded language."
"Great," Sarah lamented. "So Alana was aware? What about the Regiment?"
"Almost definitely yes. Duke Thanh probably too." The woman groaned and put head in her hand, leaning on her elbow. "Do not despair, lady Sarah. Among our men the sense of a binding charm was a welcome gift. Seeing that the king is capable of emotional connection eases the Regiment's concern that His Majesty might end up like his father. We know that he is a powerful man and that he is determined to keep his crown. However, many soldiers had doubts that the king was capable of personal connection, be it a healthy love match or even just a genuine friendship. In a way, that spell cast on you gave hope and renewed vigor to be loyal to His Majesty. If he is able and willing to care for you, keep you healthy and secure, he has the capability to do so for his subjects."
The woman looked at him, wide eyed. Then a realization struck her. Her brows lowered. "Wait a minute. Is that why everyone seemed so keen on getting a bracelet from me?"
"And why it was amusing that the entire Regiment would obtain your gift before His Majesty would receive your blessing? Oh yes, absolutely."
"Why do these sort of things always happen to me," she mumbled while picking at her meal again.
"Lady Sarah, you are a gift to everyone in this kingdom. There's just a lot of people that don't know it yet."
Meeting his earnest gaze it was evident how serious he was about this. She wasn't sure how to respond. Part of her was very relieved and happy that she was indirectly helping simply by being here. Yet it didn't feel like it was enough to only be an object of motivation when others were doing so much more. A bird in a cage for everyone to look at while they tended to their wounds.
Uncomfortably she rose from her seat. Moving to the window she gazed along the horizon again. She could hear Girvin walking up next to her. Her eyes scanned the distant landscape, somehow hoping to see a hint of what was going on out there.
"You won't see anything from here," Girvin said as if he'd read her mind. "We're facing east, whereas the troops will be west." Sarah lowered her head in disappointment and Girvin gently held her shoulder. "Would you like to infiltrate the west wing? See if we can find a suitable spot there?"
The woman looked up and around at him, his blue eyes carrying that eternal kindness, peering from his messy brownish hair. "Can we?"
The soldier smiled patiently at her hopeful gaze and held out his arm for her to take. "Of course. Let's find a good vantage point." She took it without hesitation.
—-
Bleary eyes gazed out into the night sky. No matter how tired she was, her eyes kept scanning the landscape. Her head had lowered onto her crossed arms, her posture slouched in the window frame while cold air brushed past her cheek bones. She was so tired, yet her worry kept her awake.
She and Girvin were stationed in the annex of a large library. One which should have been unreachable, had the soldier not shown off another one of his skills. Lockpicking. It was one of the more accessible rooms facing directly west, other options being staff quarters and occupied guest rooms.
It wasn't until an alarm went off that the two sprung to attention. Suddenly fully awake with their hearts in their throats. The sound of bells echoed everywhere around them, frazzling their tired minds.
"What's going on?" The brunette, suddenly wide awake again, looked back towards the door between the annex and the main room.
"Stay behind me," Girvin commanded when he drew his sword.
Sarah moved behind him, looking down the large dark library towards the hall door. It was easy to hide behind Girvin's large frame. It seemed they stood poised there for hours while she practically held her breath, the alarm blaring in their ears. "Should we go back to the suite?" She'd leaned in a little to Girvin's ear, trying to prevent her voice from being drowned out.
Then, a lot of things suddenly happened at once. There were voices by the door and a rattling of keys. A strange sensation started to pull at her being. It was like every nerve in her body started to grow weightless, pulling on her away from Girvin, even lifting her up a miniscule amount, just enough for her heels to lift a hair's breadth off the floor. Her hand clutched the back of the man's shirt in reflex, causing the man to quickly turn around. Her heart raced. A shrill cry pierced through the night sky, but it wasn't hers. It wasn't human. The door to the library burst open and several guards poured in, scanning the room. Unfamiliar hands wrapped around her upper arms and pulled her away from the soldier. Girvin's eyes grew uncharacteristically sharp and viscous.
The next moment, she found herself pulled forwards toward Girvin. In a flash he moved past her, his sword briefly flashing in the light coming from the hallway. Keys rattled into the door of the annex insistently. Behind her she heard a loud thud and she turned to face the soldier and the unknown assailant. Sarah cast a long shadow towards the window of the annex, her silhouette blocking the vision of two shapes that could be found now on the floor. Girvin had positioned one foot on the ground and one knee on the shape that had grabbed hold of her. Sarah moved to look around the soldier's broad shoulders.
"Jareth?"
There, sprawled on the floor was the Goblin King, pinned to the ground with a sword by his neck, looking rather unamused. "Amin moladh. Get off me, will you?"
Girvin quickly jumped back up, sheathing his sword and holding out a hand towards his king. "Your Majesty, my sincere apologies. I did not expect you."
The Goblin King took a moment to fix his hair and pat dirt off his clothes. "Your speed could use some work, Girvin." Sarah threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. It happened before she realized it, really, but she was so happy to see him. Jareth rested a hand on the back of her head. "Now, Girvin, don't tell me you kept this poor girl up all night? This is hardly the time for studies."
The soldier instantly grew defensive. "Y-your Highness, I-"
"It's fine, Jareth. It's not like I could have slept if I wanted to anyway." She pulled back from his embrace and looked up at him. "How did it go? What happened? Are you okay?"
Jareth offered his arm and escorted her back to the hall. The guards bowed and retreated. Summoning a crystal he spoke into it. "Thanh, please turn off that infernal alarm." When the noise stopped the blonde dismissed the crystal. "We'll talk in your quarters."
The woman couldn't get back soon enough, only vaguely noting how people around the castle were still somewhat shaken up. However, there was a sense of returning quiet, with guards returning to their stations and staff retreating back to their rooms. Entering the sitting area a few minutes later Jareth and Sarah sat down on a set of couches by the fireplace while Girvin dutifully moved about the area. The soldier stayed within hearing range.
"So," the king started, stretching his neck. "Earlier tonight we arrived in the area and searched every inch of it. Every crevice, every treetop and every bush. We found tracks by the border, but nothing more. No weapons, no victims, no camp, nothing. After tripling the size of the reported area without a single find, I gathered my men to return to the city. My suspicion is that they wisely retreated or traveled either further north or south." He rubbed his face, dark circles under his eyes. "But the Regiment was tired. Understandably so. We arrived back at the castle an hour or two ago."
Girvin handed the king a glass of water, positioning himself in a waiting position by his side. "What about the alarm?"
The Goblin King's face visibly soured. "A certain cailin was not in her room, without any sign or trace of where she might have gone." He looked from Sarah to Girvin with narrowed eyes. "And her guardian was nowhere to be found either."
"Jareth, it's my fault, don't blame him," Sarah insisted quickly. "Girvin has taken great care of me."
Briefly his eyes shifted away, almost as if he rolled his eyes. "Well," the Goblin King sighed, getting up. "That was what the alarm was for. I was worried that something had happened to you. That the intruders somehow entered not only the city but the very castle, somehow." Stretching his back he sighed. "But it doesn't matter now, you're here, you're safe. It's been a long few days and frankly I am exhausted. I propose we all try to get some rest. I will figure out whether we head north or south at dawn. Something tells me the intruders did not just step into hostile territory for a brief touristic expedition."
"Your Majesty, do any of the men need tending to? Is there anything I can do?"
"You are dismissed, Girvin," the king said, throwing himself down on the couch opposite of the one he just stood up from. The soldier bowed and left quietly.
Sarah moved to sit next to Jareth on the couch at the edge of the seat by his waist. She looked down when he threw an arm over his head, slumping in the cushioned furniture. While the woman hesitated at first, she moved in to brush a lock of hair out of his face, distantly aware that despite the grueling circumstances it was still incredibly soft and smooth. When he didn't respond in any way the woman carefully brushed his cheek, the warmth of his skin comforting her.
"What's on your mind, Sarah?" Her hand retreated quickly, his lips twitching up in mild amusement. When she didn't answer he opened his eyes to look at her. After a brief moment his chest sank in a deep sigh. "I'll be fine, princess. Go to bed."
He kicked off his shoes and closed his eyes again, tossing his gloves blindly on the small table by his head. She put her hand over his, at which he briefly flinched. Sarah was a little hesitant to do anything else. Meeting his gaze her fingers curled around his palm. He gave her a look of confusion when she got up without letting go, her name on his lips so soft it was little more than a whisper. He rose to follow her. As soon as she walked through the doorway into the bedroom and towards the bed she felt him freeze.
"Sarah - I…"
Immediately recognizing that he seemed to misinterpret the situation, she wrestled a grin on her face and turned to him. "Oh please, birdbrain. I'm not about to let you sleep on a couch after so many difficult nights already." Slowly, tiredly and likely just genuinely exhausted he nodded.
"Allow me to get us comfortable." Her skin prickled and a sensation of a caress along her body alerted her to a change, which caused her to look down. He'd dressed her in a silk but modest set of pajamas and dressed himself in a matching pair.
The sigh that escaped his lips caused worry to blossom heavily in her stomach. Something wasn't quite right. "You're not just tired, are you?"
Meeting her gaze, he debated how to respond. Eventually he nodded. "I just need some time to catch my breath. I've been using a lot of magic and haven't restored it yet."
"Something must have happened tonight," she insisted, taking a step closer to him. "What happened?" Sarah had seen the tightening in his shoulders more often and had grown to recognize it. "Tell me," she prodded.
"It's not… just tonight," he admitted. "I have been a little lavish with my energy, I must admit. Part of that was used to investigate the breach, part of it to aid some overdue paperwork… " Jareth smiled and eased the frown on her forehead with a gentle brush of his fingertips.
"It's not funny," the woman snapped.
He quickly leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Now, let's get some rest." Without another word he ushered her to the bed and the two slipped underneath the covers.
Sarah kept her gaze stiffly up towards the ceiling. While not fully understanding the technicalities, the extent of his gift wasn't lost on her. It was a fascinating and very flattering idea, yet at the same time it felt haunting. "Jareth, why did you flinch?"
There was a brief silence before he turned to face her. "I understand that in your world it is a rather common expression to show fondness with a kiss. However, here it is usually a more serious gesture." Despite dreading to do so, Sarah turned to face him, resting her head on the back of her hand. "Intimacy is more common here," he continued. "Just so we're clear, I am referring to sex," he said, instantly causing her cheeks to flush. He smirked. "There is no shame or judgment in two consenting partners sharing bodily intimacy. Sharing a kiss, however, is often reserved for someone intended or betrothed." Sarah was incredibly tempted to hide under the covers again. "It is not frowned upon to share a kiss without the prospect of matrimony. It is simply less common. You seemed rather shy about pursuing affection so I did not expect you to be so… forward."
Sarah repressed the urge to crawl under the bedsheets. She never was so prude with dating and all that it entailed, but for so many reasons Jareth was different. Her hands moved to the edge of the covers to fidget with it. It took her a moment before she responded. When she did, it was little more than a whisper. "I figured I'd have an easier time if I got that first one out of the way."
The man chuckled and leaned a small bit closer. "Do you?"
"Are you kidding me," she said a little irritably, her gaze still directed down. "I am still recovering from that level of mortification."
"Oh dear," he sighed theatrically. "Then perhaps a second might do the trick."
The brunette's eyes flashed up at him and her hands flew up protectively. Jareth shifted to lean on his elbow, his free hand evading hers to cup her cheek. The blonde grinned, his fingertips caressing her skin. "I've been wanting to do this for… Probably far too long." He playfully bumped his nose against hers. Mentally working herself into a panic attack her hands came to rest on his chest. Somehow the muscles in her arms couldn't muster more than a weak suggestion of him keeping his distance. Sarah screwed her eyes shut and pressed her head back into the pillow a small bit.
Eventually he closed the small remainder of distance and his lips pressed against hers. Soft and sweet and so many things that she had no idea how to describe it. Her heart was racing and her limbs buzzed with adrenaline. Blonde locks tickled gently against her forehead and the warmth of his palm offered a comfort unlike any she'd felt before. Unlike hers, his hands weren't unsteady or clammy. He seemed fully relaxed, his lips chaste and reserved as they brushed against hers.
His ease and confidence put her attempt to shame, really.
Jareth leaned back barely an inch. Her head had lifted only the slightest amount off the pillow and she quickly let it fall back, feeling a now-familiar heat rising along her neck and face. "Better?" He sounded cocky, as she'd expected. His low chuckle caused a brush of his breath to glide past her lips and chin. Bare fingertips gently brushed down her neck. The grin widened when Sarah shivered.
Sarah could see him lean just a tad closer, his eyes hooded and lingering on her lips. "Act cool all you like, Your Majesty. You're not unaffected yourself."
Pale fingertips traced the swell of her lower lip and down to her chin. "Not unaffected indeed," he whispered. The grin on his face turned a little softer. Settling down onto the pillow on his own half of the bed, Jareth let out a deep sigh. "Now, let's get some rest, shall we? Despite the circumstances I can barely keep my eyes open."
"Uh, yeah. Good night." The woman quickly turned away from him, curling up underneath the covers. Her fingertips pressed lightly against her lips where she felt his touch linger. Once the adrenaline wore off and the butterflies had quieted down she slowly drifted off to sleep.