On the way to his room, Jareth couldn't help but think of Sarah. Of their dance six years ago, in the dream he had given her with the poisoned peach. Originally, it was just part of his plan to dissuade her from her mission. But he had genuinely enjoyed that moment. Back then he knew that this was the moment he had fallen irrevocably in love with her.
He arrived at his door, unlocked it and dropped himself onto the large, soft bed. He had just closed his eyes when he saw Sarah in front of him. He quickly opened them again, as if he wanted to escape the painful memory.
But she was everywhere: in his thoughts, behind his eyelids, in every corner of his labyrinth.
He had not entered this labyrinth, once his greatest pride, for a long time. Everything there reminded him of Sarah and the paths she had travelled. The memory was too painful.
With a deep sigh, he sat up and reminded himself that time was running out. If he wanted to treat himself to a long bath, he had to hurry. He went to the adjacent bathroom, which exuded a touch of luxury with its mother-of-pearl bathtub and ornate mirrors.
Jareth let in warm water while he looked at himself in the mirror. The darkness under his eyes and his pale skin told of countless sleepless nights. He massaged his temples and switched off the bright light so that only the small lamps next to the mirror shimmered. The water steamed and smelled of roses. He tested the temperature, stepped in front of the bath and slowly slid in.
The soothing warmth enveloped him and for a moment he was able to let go of the tension. Holding his breath, he dived in as if he wanted to switch off the world for a moment. When he resurfaced, he reached for a book that he had last read here. Thanks to the captivating story in it, he was able to distract himself a little. However, this did not prevent Sarah from creeping into his thoughts from time to time.
After an hour and a half in the water, he forced himself to put the book aside and stand up. The cool air made him shiver as he dried himself off and slipped into a bathrobe. Back in his room, he opened the large wardrobe. An abundance of jackets, trousers and shirts in the finest materials and colours awaited him. But none of them seemed to be right for this evening.
Jareth stood helplessly in front of the wardrobe and had no idea what to wear. He always had someone to help him dress, but he didn't like that at all. He preferred to rely on his own taste.
It wasn't usually that difficult for him to choose an outfit. He went to his bed and sat on the edge of it. That way he could get a better overview of all his things.

Then his gaze fell on the blue jacket he had worn in the ballroom.
Jareth wrapped his arms around his torso and stared into nothingness. He rose and stood in front of the wardrobe again.
He hesitated for a moment before taking the jacket out of the wardrobe. Was it too much? Would it remind Sarah of the past – of their night together in the dream?
'No,' he muttered resolutely and hung the jacket on the door. It was decided: Tonight he would wear it, if only to remind himself of the man he had been back then.
Jareth knew that he had never worn it again since that day because it brought back painful memories.
He gathered the rest of his outfit: black trousers, a cream-coloured frilled shirt and the high boots. Once he had dressed carefully, he looked at himself in the mirror. A pang ran through his heart when he saw his reflection. There were so many memories in those clothes, so many unspoken words.
'Pffff.' He had thrown himself onto his stomach on the bed again and buried his face in the pillows. Why was it so hard for him? He had loved years before, it was inevitable at his age. But these feelings for Sarah surpassed anything he had ever felt before.
'Sarah...' he whispered softly and hastily wiped away a tear that was running down his cheek.
He went back into the bathroom because his hair had to be perfect. Jareth thought of his sister and how she had said he couldn't attend the ball like that. That made him smile a little.
Jareth set to work and ten minutes later he looked at himself in the mirror.
The ringing of the bell snapped him out of his thoughts. Jareth was startled. This bell, which only rang on the rare nights of the ball, meant that the first guests were arriving at the castle.
'Oh, that damn bell,' he exclaimed, almost scared out of his wits. 'I'll probably never get used to it.'
He tightened up, put on his boots and left his room.
He made his way into the great hall where he bumped into his sister and his mother and some of the invited guests. He let his gaze wander expectantly through the crowd.
She was not there.
Lynetta immediately recognised his tension. 'My dear brother. Your face speaks volumes.'
'Does it?' he asked, trying to put on a neutral expression but not succeeding very well.
'Just think about it. The invitation said 'from' and not 'at...and then no one comes in'. She stepped up to him, hugged him and said gently, 'Don't worry so much. She'll come.'

'I'm trying.' Jareth said to his sister, hanging his head. 'And how can you be so sure?'

'Because I can just feel it. She's free to come when she wants. Your Sarah will come. Just wait and see.'

'Don't say "my Sarah."' Jareth looked at Lynetta and growled angrily.
She smiled at him instead. 'Why not? You want her to be yours, don't you?'
'Of course,' he said quietly, so that only Lynetta could hear him. 'But a wish is not always reality.' Jareth slumped his shoulders.

'Come along, my dear. I'll get us something to drink. Maybe that will ease some of your tension and nervousness.'
Jareth nodded uncertainly, but allowed Lynetta leading him to the bar, where she handed him a glass.
'That's sweet of you, but I'd rather wait with the alcohol,' he said.
'So you want to keep walking around with these feelings and the tension?' Lynetta laughed and no longer understood the world.
'These feelings make me fly. Do you understand that? Yes, they hurt at times, but they make me feel alive.'
Lynetta had to catch her breath. That was the most beautiful thing she had ever heard. Especially from her brother's mouth. 'I hope so much that your wish comes true.'
With these words, she pressed a glass of water into Jareth's hand.
'No alcohol,' she winked at him. She really didn't want him to lose that feeling.
'Thank you,' he replied and smiled. He took a sip of the cool water and sighed.
'Well then,' said a loud voice. 'I'd say we all make our way to the ballroom already. There's more to drink there and plenty to eat. If there are any of you who are hungry.'
It was Jareth's mother who had spoken. His stepfather stood next to her and looked at her with a love that outshone everything else.
A little later, Maria led the guests through the spacious corridors to the ballroom. The mighty oak doors opened with a creak and the guests entered the magnificent room. The light from the crystal chandeliers danced across the marble floor and music began to play – softly, like a whisper.
Jareth stood in the doorway for a moment, watching the crowd and searching with his eyes. With each additional guest, Jareth's fear grew. He took a good look at all the guests. But Sarah was not there. His hope faded with every moment that new guests entered, but he didn't recognize them among them.

He went to Lynetta and together they took their allocated seats at one end of the hall. There they sat together with her mother and her husband.
Jareth silently observed what was happening.
He sat in his chair and looked from left to right and back again. He didn't understand why she wasn't there. Had he really been so cruel to her 6 years ago? Had he not made it clear enough how he felt about her? She had already broken his heart once and he wouldn't be able to cope if she did it a second time.
He took a large sip from his glass and looked out into the crowd. 'What if she really doesn't come?
The thought tore his heart apart.