A FEW DAYS EARLIER – At the Ball

Debbie kept looking over at Sarah, who was sitting at the table talking with Jareth and a Lady. She didn't quite like it, as she had Sarah's stories about this man in her head. The man who had tried to manipulate Sarah into staying in his kingdom, with him. Sarah looked relatively relaxed though, and so Debbie turned her attention back to the conversation she had just witnessed.

She stood in a small circle of other Fae and talked animatedly with them. One of them, Lorien, a tall and handsome man, had caught her attention a little. His ice-blue eyes rested on her and that made her a little nervous.

"Would you like something else to drink, Debbie?" he asked her, tilting his head.

Debbie looked at him and beamed. "Yes, that would be great." With these words, Lorien ran off towards the bar. Debbie turned back to the others and listened to the conversation.

Suddenly she noticed that something was different. There was a clinking feeling in the air and she could sense that something was about to happen. Before she could think about it any further, the ground beneath her feet began to shake and a deafening bang broke through the air.

Lorien, who had just returned with two glasses in his hand, threw the glasses in the air and jumped towards Debbie. He grabbed her in his arms and held her tightly to him.

"Hold on tight," he shouted over the noise and with a snap of his fingers he teleported himself and Debbie out of the ballroom. Debbie had squeezed her eyes tightly shut and when she opened them again, they were no longer where they had been before.

"Where...where are we?" she turned nervously to Lorien, who was standing next to her, one arm on her shoulder.

"Don't worry," he reassured her. "I've got us to safety. We're no longer in the land of Jareth's family. This is the land where I live with my family. Look," he made a sweeping gesture, "this is our house."

Debbie turned around and saw the most magnificent house she had ever seen, apart from the castle they had just escaped from. The building was surrounded by a sprawling, lush garden that ran along rolling hills. The architecture was stylish, with delicate turrets and wide, open windows that bathed the surroundings in a golden glow.

"Where's Sarah?" A rush of fear ran through Debbie as she thought of her best friend. Lorien looked at her in dismay. "She," he thought about how best to tell her. "She was... kidnapped during the explosion. I'm sorry."

Debbie opened her eyes wide. "WHAT?!" She couldn't say another word because of the anger that was boiling in her body.

Before Lorien could answer, other Fae appeared next to them. His family had come. Everyone had managed to escape the chaos of the ballroom and now they were all standing together in front of their house, looking at Debbie.

"This is my sister, Nyssa," Lorien said, pointing to an elegant Fae with silver hair who nodded at her in a friendly manner. "And these are my brothers: Kaelen and Eldarion." The two men also nodded, Kaelen with a serious look, Eldarion with a shy smile. Another figure stepped forward, an older woman with dark eyes and gray hair who introduced herself as "Melora, Lorien's aunt."

Nyssa stepped up to Debbie and put a reassuring hand on her arm. "You're safe, don't worry," she said in a gentle voice. "We will do everything we can to find your friend."

Debbie nodded silently, although the words did not really calm her down. She felt her confusion and anger intertwine in a never-ending stream of thoughts. She was sure that Jareth was involved in having Sarah kidnapped.

The days passed, and Debbie found herself in a strange kind of calm that she could hardly grasp. Lorien's family treated her with a caring attitude that she had not expected. She felt safe in their country, which was surrounded by dense forests and wide meadows that exuded anything but the oppressive atmosphere of the ballroom. But her thoughts were always with Sarah.

When Lorien lost himself in conversation with his family members, Debbie explored the landscape alone. She wandered through the garden, taking in the beauty of the place and trying to organize her own thoughts. But her concerns kept returning: Was Jareth really the man she knew in Sarah's stories? Or had he changed? Did he even have a choice in the events that had affected Sarah?

Some days she would find Lorien doing one of his many activities. He was helping in the garden or interacting with the other Fae in the house. There were moments when their eyes would meet and for a brief moment the world would stop. Then it would quickly fall apart again as both of them focused on their tasks again.

One of those evenings they were sitting on a small bench in the garden, the soft sound of the stream and the chirping of birds forming a gentle background. Lorien had a mug of tea in her hand and Debbie was playing with one of the flowers near her.

"I... I never really thanked you for what you did," she began hesitantly, not looking at him. "You saved me from this mess."

Lorien looked at her calmly, a small smile playing on his lips. "It was the least I could do, Debbie. I didn't want to leave you alone."

Debbie nodded, but her mind wandered. She felt that her gratitude in the words did not really express what she felt. She could not help but remember the moments when Lorien had held her in the moment of greatest chaos. Her anger at the situation and her worries about Sarah had been silenced for a moment – by Lorien's calm presence.

"I never told you that you're different," she finally said, her voice a little bit quieter. "You are not like the other Fae I have spoken to. It doesn't feel like... I don't know, like something wrong."

Lorien's gaze softened when he saw the uncertainty in her eyes. "That means a lot to me, Debbie. You are not like most people either. You are stronger than you think."

Debbie blinked as she saw the depth in his eyes. She had the feeling that Lorien knew more about her than he let on – and it didn't bother her. On the contrary, it gave her a strange feeling of security. Maybe it was the way he looked at her, as if he actually saw her, and not just as another problem to solve.

"I've never really met anyone like you," Debbie said quietly, feeling something open up inside her. "Someone who... who just understands."

Lorien took a step closer and carefully placed a hand on hers, which was lying on the bench. His touch was gentle, almost questioning, but also trusting. "I know it's hard for you, Debbie. But you're not alone."

At that moment, she felt a warm wave run through her body. Being close to him didn't feel intrusive, but just... right. She had thought a lot in the past few days about what she needed in her life – and although she still worried about losing Sarah, she felt in Lorien someone she could trust, someone who helped her carry this burden a little easier.

"Thank you," she whispered, looking deep into his eyes.

"You're welcome here, Debbie," Lorien replied quietly, his hand still gently on hers. The moment was fleeting, but it left them both in silence. It was a silent promise that there could be more between them if they allowed it. But the path was still uncertain – they both had their own fears and worries that they could not yet fully share.

In the days that followed, they continued to spend time together, often in the quiet of the garden or during the many conversations with his family. But every time their hands touched or their eyes met, their connection felt stronger. It was not love, but it was the beginning of something deep and meaningful – a tender bond that needed time and trust to grow.

"You can stay as long as you want, Debbie," Lorien said one evening when he met her at dinner. "And if you need anything, tell me."

"I appreciate that," she replied, her voice rather sparse.

"But I have to look for Sarah. I can't just sit here and wait."

Lorien nodded, his eyes becoming serious. "I know. And I will help you find her."

The next morning, Debbie and Lorien set out to travel to Jareth's realm. They knew they had to act before time worked against them. As they left the land, Debbie noticed that Lorien's attitude had changed. He was no longer just the mysterious and quiet Fae who had saved her, but someone who was seriously determined to protect his family – and perhaps Sarah as well. The journey ahead would demand more from them than they could have ever imagined.