The ballroom still had an elegant, celebratory atmosphere, but Sarah felt out of place. The high ceilings and the shining chandeliers reinforced the feeling of alienation that had accompanied her since her arrival. A steady stream of guests spun around her, deep in conversation or standing at the magnificently set tables. It was not only the opulent surroundings that overwhelmed her, but also the company she found herself in. Jareth had led her into this world with an almost relentless gentleness.
"Come," he said quietly as he took her hand and led her gently and with a light, almost tender gesture away from the dance floor. He led her to one end of the ballroom where several royal-looking people sat on golden chairs. "I want you to meet them all."
The voice he spoke in was softer than usual, with a hint of affection in it. 'The family, as you call it,' Sarah thought, still wondering what Jareth really wanted from her.
She hesitated, but she had no real choice. She didn't know anyone, and her eyes searched the room for something familiar. Her friend Debbie was there too, but she was so engrossed in animated conversation that she barely noticed Sarah. Debbie really meant no harm, as she knew how nervous Sarah had been, but once she was involved in a discussion, she forgot everything else around her.
Jareth stayed by Sarah's side the whole time, and it was hard to ignore the intensity of his presence. Her eyes kept meeting the elegant figures gathered along the walls – and she felt more and more out of place. This was a world she didn't belong in, and one she thought she would never find her way in.
In the middle of the crowd stood an elegant woman with silver hair who radiated a deep warmth. Sarah immediately sensed that this woman was not a stranger, but someone who belonged to Jareth. Her eyes and his met, and there was a silent understanding in that look, as if she was saying to him: 'I told you she would come.' A gentle smile played on Maria's lips as she looked at her son and then at Sarah.
"Sarah, this is Maria, my mother," Jareth said as they stopped in front of her. Sarah immediately noticed the calmness that emanated from Maria. Against all the scepticism that dominated her, she suddenly felt calmer and more welcome.
"Ah, Sarah," Maria said in a tone that was both soft and warm. "It's a pleasure to meet you." Her voice was like a warm, calming breath, and Sarah couldn't help but feel a little less lost for a moment.
Jareth then turned to the young woman standing next to Maria.
"This is Lynetta," Jareth said, pointing at her. Lynetta beamed at Sarah with an almost childlike enthusiasm. Her eyes sparkled as if she wanted to immediately welcome the new acquaintance as a friend.
"Oh, you must be Sarah!" Lynetta approached her with an excited and enthusiastic smile and quickly took her hand. Her voice was fresh and inviting.
Sarah felt the urge to pull back, but Lynetta's energy was so inviting that she couldn't help but be slightly disarmed by her understated friendliness. Sarah let herself be enveloped by her warmth and responded with a smile, even though her scepticism remained in the background.
Lynetta looked at Sarah with wide eyes. "I hope you will feel comfortable here for the duration of your stay. Jareth has spoken of you so often, it feels like I've known you for a long time. I'm really glad to finally meet you."
"He has...?" Sarah raised an eyebrow, but a hint of surprise crept into her voice.
"Oh yes, Jareth is not very good at hiding things," Lynetta replied mischievously and laughed. "Not to me, anyway."
Sarah noticed a man standing in the corner of the room. A man who stayed in the background, who seemed almost unnoticeable. He was watching the scene in a calm, distant manner, as if he wanted to think his own thoughts. Jareth noticed Sarah's gaze.
He tilted his head slightly towards Sarah and explained to her: "This is my stepfather. He doesn't like people. He is more of an introverted nature." Jareth placed his hand very lightly on Sarah's back and led her to the man, who looked at Sarah with a reserved smile.
"Father. This is Sarah," said Jareth and the man stepped closer. His gaze was calm, almost thoughtful, but when he looked at Sarah, there was a trace of recognition in his eyes. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he said in a quiet but firm tone.
Sarah nodded back, unsure how to act. The man didn't say much, and she had the feeling that he didn't need to.
Even though all the greetings were very friendly and warm, Sarah felt like an outsider. She tried not to show any of her uncertainty, but she knew that Maria and Lynetta had also noticed how out of place she felt.
Jareth, who was listening closely to the conversations, noticed the underlying tension in Sarah's demeanour, but he said nothing. He knew that it would take time to find one's way in this world, and he was patient – or at least he tried to be.
"Come, sit down," Jareth said gently, leading her to one of the tables set apart from the company. "It will get better if you calm down and get some rest first."
Sarah couldn't help but nod as she sat down. A mixture of confusion, uncertainty, and a hint of relief burned in her chest. Maybe this was just a stage, a game, but for a moment it almost felt like a real piece of the world that she could lose herself in. But deep down she knew that nothing here could really dispel her scepticism.
Lynetta joined the two of them, sat down on a chair next to Sarah and engaged her in a conversation. Jareth left and came back after a while with drinks for Sarah, Lynetta and himself.
Sarah was happy to finally have something to hold on to and gratefully took the glass that Jareth held out to her. Their fingers touched for a brief moment. But this moment sent a wave of fireworks through his body and Sarah also realized that it did not leave her untouched.
Jareth sat down on a chair opposite the two women and watched Sarah.
She felt his gaze on her and was grateful that Lynetta was there. Sarah felt the uncertainty within her, but for a moment she let herself be carried away by her lightness. It was like a small escape from the insecurity that she still felt about Jareth. But in the background remained the thought that nothing was as it seemed and that she could never really know whether this was all just another game that Jareth was playing with her.
