12Thank you for adding my story to your favorites and reviewing! You have no idea how good that feels! I haven't written in so long and it feels amazing to know that people still like my work!
This is my final chapter, unfortunately. I have considered a sequel, but it depends on what kind of suggestions I get for a sequel, since i'm not sure where I would take it after this.
Again, thank you so much. I appreciate it totally!
Chapter Three: Finished business
Jareth...
I just need you now.
She went to find her little brother.
You remind me of the babe...
Jareth was all to pleased to have "little Jareth" back in his kingdom. The child was absolute delight to watch as he chased goblins about. The mischief the little chap caused made him think of himself at that age, at least from what his parents had told him.
Suddenly his spine stiffened. Sarah was near. He was painfully aware of her presence in a way he had never been aware of anyone else before. Slowly he turned his head just enough so that he could watch her entrance.
Gods she took his breath away. It was clear she was no longer the budding adolescent she had once been. No, she was much more beautiful. The dress she wore was so simple, and yet so elegant as it hugged her slender, curved body. Dark hair spilled loosely, curving around her delicate, yet strong face to emphasize her large, entrancing, hypnotic eyes. She looked nervous. When her eyes landed on Toby, playing with the goblins safely, laughing happily, she relaxed. Scanning the room again, those green orbs rested on him, and a tumult of emotions flashed across her face. Anticipation, longing, fear...
hope.
She called out to Toby first. "Toby!"
The little boy stopped and pouted. "Sarah! You're interrupting the game!" The goblins snickered.
She stooped to talk to him. "Don't you want to go home soon?"
He crossed his arms. "No. I wanna stay here with my new friends and the King. I like him Sarah. He's not as mean as you said he was." Sarah froze.
"I'll have a talk with him, Okay buddy?" she said as she glanced over at Jareth, who was smiling from a chair while pretending to focus on his gloves.
"Okay, can I go back to playing now?"
She kissed his forehead affectionately. "Yes you can, sweetie. Go on and have fun."
"K, bye!" he shouted as he scurried off towards the goblins.
Sarah turned her attention to the King, lounging in his chair, where he had been diligently avoiding looking at her.
Rising, he strode towards her before his body could give away his reaction to her beauty. "Walk with me, Sarah. In the Gardens."
She took a deep breath, then smiled. "Certainly, Goblin King." With one last glance at Toby to make sure he was indeed safe, she followed Jareth outside.
"Where are the Gardens?" she asked, at first only seeing the Goblin City.
"This way" he said, gently guiding her by taking hold of her elbow. An electric thrill jolted up her spine, and his hand felt the heat of her skin. Again, he schooled his features, but not before noticing the sudden, imperceptible shift in Sarah to his touch. A small smile worked its way to his lips. So perhaps, he was no longer the villain in her stories after all.
Soon, they were standing outside of a beautiful green hedge maze; the bushes covered in delicate, beautiful purple blossoms. Sarah couldn't help but lean in to smell the beautiful flowers. They were exquisite.
"What kind of flower is this?" she asked.
Jareth shrugged. "I don't know. I created them without naming them."
Startled, she looked at him. "You made this?" she said, gently touching one of the beautiful buds.
He looked away, before saying " I have a weakness for beautiful things", then looking at her pointedly.
She blushed, then changed the subject. "What else is in this garden of yours?"
With a pointy smile, he again placed a gentle hand on her elbow and began to show her the other beautiful things in his garden.
He opted not to tell her which things had been created while he thought of her; like the beautiful scarlet hibiscus with the innocent white center. Or the emerald green-tipped white roses that matched her eyes, and held cruel thorns. There were the blue bells that weeped; he'd made those right after she'd rejected his offer.
Then there was the fountain portraying a venus-esque woman, holding a crystal close to her heart with both hands as she gazed into the sunset, a wreath of flowers in her hair, while water poured from the crystals to drip down her hands to the basin like tears. Sarah marveled at her beauty, not realizing that the statue was Jareth's image of her.
Sarah found herself suddenly and unexpectedly relaxed with him. Here, she was free from responsibilities. She could relax and let her personality shine through, and here, with the Goblin King, she felt safe.
Finally they sat beneath a cherry tree covered in ripe, sweet black cherries. With a flick of his wrist, a branch descended to Jareth, and he plucked a handful of the berries before releasing the branch. Wordlessly he held them out to Sarah, who took them gratefully while he eased himself to the ground. Sarah followed suit while popping a cherry into her mouth hungrily.
Jareth watched her savor the sweetness of it with interest. What he wouldn't give to savor her in the same manner that she savored that small fruit! He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the tree. After all this time, this little, small slip of a woman could turn him upside down. Imagine!
"Jareth?" she said timidly.
"Hm?" he said, not bothering to look at her or move his head from it's position on the tree. However he jumped in shock when he felt her soft lips brush his cheek, and he instinctively snapped his head to look at her deeply blushing face.
"You've been too kind to me today. I just wanted you to know that it means a lot to me". The look in her eyes told him there was more that she wanted to say, more feelings she wanted to express but wouldn't.
He smiled and reached out to touch her face. Unexpectedly she leaned into his touch, and he was delighted. Slowly he brushed thumb over her lips, watching her eyes flutter shut.
Suddenly, he wanted nothing more than to kiss her, and he hadn't the slightest clue as to what was stopping him from doing so. Gently, he pressed his lips to hers, softer than a whisper. Electricity shot up her spine at the feather-light touch, and she pressed her lips more firmly to him, one hand twining into his blonde hair. "oh my..." was the only coherent thought Sarah could conjure as she found herself lost to the sensations she experienced. Her body quivered weakly, and she clung to him. The pounding of her heart was a roar in her ears, and fire lit every inch of her being, leaving her shivering in delight.
For his part, Jareth held her close, feeling her quivering beneath his tender onslaught. Oh he'd never known that this could be so sweet. The taste of her was honey to his starving soul; and a flood of warmth unleashed itself from his heart, consuming him until his world narrowed and only one thing was left for him to find: Sarah. There was nothing but her. The feel of her was stronger than any opiate or heroin; and he wanted her with a painfulness that shredded him, mind and soul.
Finally they broke apart, both gasping as their emotions raged while they still held each other.
Jareth was the first to break the silence. "Sarah" he gasped, "Just let me be your slave, and I will give up my kingdom and let you be its queen, so that I could serve you for forever."
She smiled at him gently, still holding him. "Oh Jareth," she whispered softly, "I don't want to rule you; I want to love you". As she spoke the words, a tremor hit her as how true they really were fully registered in her mind. She just wanted to love him.
"Be my Queen Sarah. Toby would be my heir; the heir to the most prosperous kingdom of them all. He would want for nothing, and be free to travel Aboveground as he pleased- even attend school if you so desire for him to do so."
How could she refuse? Fiercely she kissed him, and against his lips she murmured: "you best mean what you say to me Goblin King, or I will regret saying yes to you for eternity".
Jareth swooped her up into his arms and carried her to his Castle, to announce their betrothal to the entire kingdom.
Forever had only just begun.