THE CONCLUSION
“You’ve made a puppy of him,” Sarah laughed at the way he so easily managed what not long ago, had been a wild animal. “Nothing but a puppy.” The horse snorted at her insult.
“Not quite love, I’ve but unleashed the playful companion beaten deep into his soul by a cruel and unforgiving world. You best of all should know what it is to be made a product of one’s surroundings.” The king put out a hand to her. She genuflected as she took it. When he drew his woman into his arms, he effortlessly lifted her high onto his steed’s back. As if she had always been able to fly, she glided onto the animal and set down upon it like a kiss of the breeze. Jareth mounted the animal in a quick and graceful swoop, snugly behind Sarah, his glove stroked her cheek, pressing her head against his chest. Her arms fell about his waist and hung around him loosely. Closing her eyes she waited for Jareth’s heels to dig in and send the horse off in a trot.
Stardust’s stride was gentle, though not as stately or smooth as Bagheera’s had been, but he gave a pleasant ride. So pleasant in fact, the rocking lulled her into some half state between wake and sleep. When again the mortal’s eyes opened wide, it was at the sound of water rolling over rock. Her ears had told her enough that her eyes meant only to confirm. Their journey had taken them to the Northwest. “Are we to have a picnic here?”
“No,” Jareth smiled down upon her. We shall ride on a bit further, unless milady is hungry now?”
“Not at all, if it is in your plan to ride on, then ride on.” Sarah settled back against him. Jareth stroked her long hair, held back from her face by a fine braid led from either side of her temple.
The familiar strum of a guitar roused her the second time, curiosity widening her eyes. The bard they’d met months earlier, in this very spot, stood playing his face enlightened by a cheerful grin. Jareth’s horse halted before the player of the instrument. “Do you recall the last time we were here? Do you remember how we sang?” Jareth whispered into Sarah’s ear.
“Come now, for so long I have committed every word, every look you send my way to memory. Would it be at all like me to not recall our first dance?” she asked from behind fluttering eyes.
Jareth chuckled, “If only it had been our first, surely our first dance has not escaped this fine memory of which you speak.”
“But it was our first,” she went on insistently.
From beneath the jacket he wore he drew a crystal and spun it before her. The image of the silver white ball gown made her blush. “Yes, well that doesn’t count. It was a dance done as part of a grand illusion.”
“But you acknowledge it a dance.”
“I suppose I won’t make an issue of it, if you call it a dance, a dance it shall be.” She kissed him quickly. “Allow me to rephrase. For so long now I have made my best effort to memorize our exchanges, that I would be remiss to recall our second dance which occurred on this very spot.
“Of course dear,” Jareth slid from the back of the horse. “Lucky for me you so vividly recollect that which escapes me constantly.” The king’s smile was as wicked as it was charming. He then addressed the bard. “Good man, what happy circumstances make it that we might run into you this fine day?”
“You’re invitation, my lord,” the man replied honestly. Jareth let out a groan at his reply, but it seemed his frustration only pleased Sarah more.
Jareth cleared his throat, “Do you sleep in quietude? Do you wake in peace? Do you laugh out loud at me?” Ironically it was just then Sarah lost her battle to hold back a tiny giggle. “No one else is free. Open up your heart to me,” he sang from beneath her. His arms spread wide ready to help her descend from horseback. As Sarah slid into his firm grasp, the king continued his melody. “Show me all you are and I would be your slave.” As the tempo increased, she found herself turned and spun in time. “I don’t sit and wait. I don’t give a damn. I don’t see the point at all, no footsteps in the sand.” Her smile was wide when Jareth pulled her close once more. “I bet you laugh out loud at me, a chance to strike me down. Give me peace of mind at last. Show me all you are. Open up your heart to me.” Jareth whispered huskily into her ear, “And as I told you long ago,” his voice returned to it’s powerful notes of song, “I would be your slave.”
On they danced to their accompaniment. “Much better than that fear me, do as I say business,” Sarah smiled into his neck.
“Are you certain this is what you wish for the rest of what will hopefully be an obscenely long life?” Jareth asked. Sarah remained still and quiet in his arms. “I only ask because you seemed to take great care in coming to the conclusion that you loved me. And since have fought so hard to stay here with me. It would put my mind at ease to hear from your lips that this journey we’re about to take is the result of your true love for me and not a result of being told you could not accomplish all you have.”
She looked at him with quivering lips. “It hurts me you would question my love.” Jareth looked away, embarrassed. “And yet, I understand why you should ask. It took me great time to verbalize my feeling for you, but long before I said the words I knew them.” A wave of her hand and the wind moved the strings of the guitar. The bard startled at the assistance with his instrument. Sarah lifted Jareth’s chin until she could peer with honesty into his mismatched eyes. “There is something that I see, in the way you look at me,” she sang. “There's a smile. There's a truth in your eyes, but an unexpected way on this unexpected day. Could it mean this is where I belong? It is you I have loved all along. It's no more mystery. It is finally clear to me. You're the home my heart searched for so long and it is you I have loved all along” Temporarily, she fled his arms, running in the open field and allowing the heavy folds of her dress to fan out around her. “There were times I ran to hide afraid to show the other side, alone in the night without you. But now I know just who you are and I know you hold my heart. Finally this is where I belong. It is you I have loved all along.” As quickly as she’d left him, she returned. “It's no more mystery. It is finally clear to me. You're the home my heart searched for so long and it is you I have loved all along.” For a moment they danced as the music continued on, Sarah’s head fallen to her king’s shoulder until another verse burst through from her, “Over and over I'm filled with emotion. Your love, it rushes through my veins and I am filled with the sweetest devotion as I, I look into your perfect face. It's no more mystery. It is finally clear to me. You're the home my heart searched for so long and it is you I have loved, it is you I have loved,” a small pause punctuated her intense stare, “It is you I have loved all along.” As if they’d been impatiently waiting for that song to end, Sarah’s lips lifted up to his, kissing him firmly and with as much passion as the notes of her melody.
“Perhaps I should question you more often,” he chided. Sarah butted her shoulder against the king’s chest. Jareth handed the bard a mix of gold coins, thanked him for his time and returned to Sarah’s side. “Walk with me?” he asked. Sarah fed her arm through his and followed where he led.
They were headed back the way they’d come, toward the waterfall. Tiny lights seemed to fill the air and Sarah pulled Jareth off the path. “Fairies!” she cried excitedly. “Oh Jareth, let’s not disturb them.”
“Those are not fairies,” he assured her. “Let us get closer and discover just what it is.”
The closer they came, the more apparent it was, especially so once night aided them by beginning to fall. Sarah’s fairies were no more than an elaborate candle garden set in sand in the middle of a set table. All of Jareth’s stealthy accomplices had made themselves scarce, leaving behind only the table, the meal and a bottle of champagne as evidence of their existence. His setting was at the head, hers to his left, same as it was at the castle, in the center of the table a large bundle of flowers filled a silver urn, the surface of which had been polished to a brilliant shine so that it threw around the reflection of the flames and made them seem twice the number. A beautiful halo of white heather surrounded a nestling of honeysuckle. As with all things in the Labyrinth, they came with a double meaning, the heather said their dreams would come true and the honeysuckle told of the wedding to follow.
Pulling out Sarah’s chair, Jareth invited his mortal to join him for dinner. Sarah took her seat and turning to join her, the king wove his hand, dismissing Stardust who went around to the far side of the falls to drink. Then he poured them two flutes of champagne to drink with the dish which awaited them beneath the silver domes. There was a stuffed turkey breast, the stuffing made with cinnamon and apples. Potatoes au gratin and a mix of vegetables; squash, peas, carrots, corn accompanied the main dish Jareth rose his glass. Sarah followed suit. “To our marriage,” he toasted attempting to show his respect for her customs.
“To our union,” Sarah toasted back doing her best to show the same.
“Do you prefer we have a typical union ceremony,” he asked as they began to dine.
Shrugging Sarah admitted, “Honestly I couldn’t say. I know nothing of the Underground union ceremony to use as a frame of reference.”
“I’d have thought you’d have read up on that by now.” Without saying a thing, Sarah’s eyes told him he was mistaken. “Right, well it’s similar to Aboveground marriage I suppose. You will meet me at the Rowan tree. The Cleric will ask for objections to our union, anyone who objects will be dismembered,” Sarah gasped, “kidding love. I’m king, no one will be given the chance to object to the woman I have chosen. There are vows, although they are less emotional than the ones you’re probably used to hearing. We will vow to live together, commit to one another and in our case, swear that our actions will always be taken in a matter complimentary to the Underground.”
“What do you mean in our case?” Sarah asked between bites of turkey.
Sipping his champagne before he replied brought him only superficial bravery. “The vows with respect to having children will be omitted from our ceremony.” Silence filled the space between them, until at last the king suggested, “We could easily combine aspects of the two if that is more acceptable to you.” Sarah nodded, refusing to break her silence. “Sarah,” his gloved hand covered hers, “This is a time when we should be thinking thoughts of exceptional happiness, not dwelling on a decision made for us by thousand year old elders who would as soon leave us to believe it was our choice.”
Looking at it that way certainly alleviated much of her self loathing over agreeing to their demand. “I like the idea of no one being able to object,” she smiled, “but perhaps something a bit more personal for vows would be in order.”
“After the vows, we’ll toast once to each other, then with the Cleric. Were any of our parents able to attend, we would toast with them as well, but in our case, just the two toasts.” He could see her growing solemn. “Then you’ll be expected to walk on your hands backwards toward the castle while I juggle three flaming goblins.”
“Jareth,” she moaned and shied away, knowing he was kidding her, trying to tease away her worries.
“Just checking,” he confirmed. “But pretty much the toast is the end of it. The couple goes home and has their wedding night. The next day they sit in their courtyard and are greeted by a large number of their friends, families and well wishers. Everyone brings a gift, even the poorest among us, do what they can to express their pleasure at the union. They bake foods to keep the couple from having to spend their newlywed period in the kitchen frivolously. They write songs, or bring live stock, rich fabrics for decorating, fine sculpture, some token.”
“I think I see,” Sarah told him. “We do something similar only we do it the same day as the wedding, the reception follows immediately afterward.”
“But is the couple not preoccupied with thoughts of being together?”
“I’m sure they are,” she agreed, “but they press on.”
“Brave souls,” he muttered just loud enough for Sarah to hear. “Perhaps you’re right, a combination is the best way.” The king took a long sip on his champagne, then began make a chewing motion.
“Ice? In champagne?” Sarah asked.
Jareth nodded, “I prefer cold beverages.” His glove hurried up to his lips and he moaned, “Oooow!”
“What’s the matter?” Sarah said concerned, her hands instinctively moving for him.
His palm shown open, blocking her, forcing her back into her chair. “It’s nothing,” he shook off the pain. “Someone’s just gone and covered this diamond...” By now his voice lost the tremor which spoke his pain and his warding palms now faced skyward. Into his hand he spit the offending object “...in gold,” he concluded. Sarah stared into his hand, curious as to what he was going on about. When Jareth became aware that he had captured her complete attention, he slid from his seat, dropping to one knee before her, the gold encrusted diamond perched between his fingers. The mortal drew a breath. “Sarah Williams,” he began. The mortal swallowed hard, clearing her mouth of the last of a bit of stuffing she’d been chewing. “I have loved you from the moment you existed. You are like no other woman of any kind in any world with which I am familiar, and you have won my heart with yours. Fulfill my foolish hopes, bring my dreams into reality and tell me that I may win your hand.”
What he offered her was a magnificent princess cut diamond in a high setting. It caught and reflected light from the candle flames as he twisted it only subtly in his fingers. It had to have been two karats. It was certainly larger than one, but having never seen anything of a non-costume variety, she had no basis for comparison. This explained the way he’d guided the conversation to encompass their traditions. Jareth had said the finest things, not only had he spoken from his heart, but he had spoken deeper, spoken with his actions. In planning this, by bringing her here, he was more than saying he wanted to unite with her. The king told of unconditional acceptance, for who she was as well as what. Sarah knew that when she took his token, it meant the Underground would be not just be open to her as a home, but ready for her touches. A mortal mark would be made in his world. A change their meant to reflect the change she had made in him.
Tears blocked her vision. “I’m such a fool,” she laughed, wiping them away. “All this time, I’ve known, known you intended for me to be your life’s companion and yet, seeing you there, realizing what effort you’ve put into this and I’m a mess with these tears.”
“I shall cry my own if you don’t soon accept,” he told her, nerves filling his face at her hesitation.
Fingers found the accents of his blonde hair and traced them tenderly. “I’ve already refused you once. I don’t intend to do it again.”
From behind the rock structure that comprised the base of the fall, several onlookers appeared. Sarah recognized their voices before she saw their faces. “Is that a yes?” they asked simultaneously, Arulan, Deverell, Gribbin, Hoggle, and a collection of members from the kitchen staff.
“I can’t bloody well tell,” Jareth grumbled back over his shoulder.
His eyes pleaded up at hers and a giddy joy replaced her tears. “Yes!” she cried. Turning her head toward their audience, she repeated more loudly and with great clarity, “Yes!!” Jareth slid the ring onto the third finger of her left hand, having done his research where this custom were concerned, and scooped her up. His lips covered hers in tenderness that switched to need as he thought about her saying no now, after all this time.
Cheers erupted from behind the rocks, even Stardust whinnied merrily. “For the love of the Underground,” Jareth said exasperated, “I don’t think I’ve ever felt as much fear as when I thought you might have changed your mind.” He held her head firmly between his hands, their foreheads touching.
“I could never say no to you,” she told him covering his hands with her own.
Jareth raised an eyebrow. “There was that one time,” he reminded her.
“Didn’t I tell you earlier the first time doesn’t count.” The king thought back to their earlier conversation and roared with laughter as he lifted her high above his head and spun her around. “Yes,” she repeated to their merry crowd of onlookers which seemed to crow and had begun to include the creatures of the wood as well. “A thousand times my answer is yes. I will be your wife. I will be your queen.”
Friction of body passing over body, kept the mortal’s descent slow. A half smile played on Jareth’s lips. Meant for only her to hear, he leaned in close to her and whispered, “When I pledge my love to you Sarah, I pledge myself to you forever, quite literally.”
Sarah’s lip curled and she shrugged with her brow, “It’s only forever, right?”
Her head fit comfortably beneath her chin, “I suppose, love. I suppose”
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