Breaking Barriers (Chapter 28 up)

Finally the clock in the dining hall struck eight. Sarah breathed a sigh of relief. Putting up this facade of seduction was turning out to be more difficult than she had thought. The fun of seeing Jareth squirm had long ago dissipated. She was almost looking forward to the ball now. At least she wouldn't have to keep up a conversation with Jareth the entire time. It wasn't that she was unable to socially interact with others for a length of time, but because she was not acting as herself (literally) and Jareth clearly was not acting like his normal self the conversation was forced for her. And the worst part was that Jareth didn't even seem to notice. Which was another reason for Sarah's eagerness to leave. What good was it to trick someone when they weren't even aware of what was going on? He had blithely answered her questions as if he hadn't a care in the world, as if simply speaking to her was satisfying enough for him.

Well perhaps things would change when they entered the ballroom, Sarah mused as Jareth eagerly went to her side.

"Right this way," Jareth delicately grasped Sarah's forearm then tucked it into the crook of his elbow. As they walked the hall together, Sarah felt his eyes on her the entire way. Heat radiated off his body and Sarah was strangely comforted by it. What was the harm in indulging herself a little? Jareth certainly wasn't going to object.

The Goblin King led her up to a large door and swiftly swung it open.

Sarah gasped before she could catch herself.

Immediately a hundred different sights, sounds and smells invaded her senses. Lilting music could be heard playing from... somewhere. The tune was heart-wrenchingly beautiful. Hundreds of people were milling about in beautiful renaissance garb laughing and dancing. Ribbons and chandeliers floated above them, strung up by a seemingly invisible source. The pungent aroma of wine assaulted her nostrils. In many ways this was disturbingly familiar to the hallucination Jareth had sent to thwart her four years ago, but in many other ways it was distinctly different. And one difference was exceedingly clear. In an ironic turn of events, Sarah was fully aware and in charge of her faculties this time and Jareth clearly was not.

Before Sarah could completely take in her surroundings a young, fresh faced girl came practically leaping out of the crowd.

"Sarah!" the child cried, "Sarah, it's me Curlique! Look at me!"

Sarah looked as the girl twirled in delight. Indeed, it was Curlique. Her features belonged 100% to the little goblin Sarah knew previously but were here for her to witness in human form. Sarah smiled and bent over, whispering in the girl's ear.

"Remember our little bargain? I would like nothing more than to see your charming face this entire evening. But look what you've done to our dear Goblin King he can hardly bear to part with me."

Curlique looked up at Jareth in astonishment, expecting an admonishment immediately. But he didn't even appear to take notice of the little girl. His eyes were still locked on Sarah. Curlique put a hand to her mouth and giggled mischievously.

"I'll tell you what," Sarah continued conspiratorially, "Just be nearby. If I notice an opening to break away, I will. Keep an eye on me, and if you find me alone feel free to approach me. Sound good?"

Curlique nodded emphatically then quickly vanished into the swirling crowd. Sarah knew she would be watching from a distance.

"Sarah," Jareth murmured to her after Curlique left, "I know you wanted to wait until... well, you wanted us to be alone... but I thought I might finally explain to you why I brought you here."

Looking into the depths of those heart-filled eyes, Sarah could only whisper a quiet, "Okay..."

Suddenly, Jareth's expression changed to that of consternation. It was almost like he was trying to remember something. He opened his mouth, then closed it quickly, as if he was about to say something important, but had then changed his mind. Whatever it had been, Jareth must've had thought twice about saying it. Finally, he continued.

"Well, it's just that... well, Sarah..." Jareth moved closer. By now he was whispering.

"It's just that I don't know if you've noticed but..."

Sarah looked up, expectant.

"I have... grown rather fond of you over the last... well, I'm not exactly sure how long... and things have been undeniably dull here for... gods it feels like an eternity..."

Sarah's brows furrowed. What was he saying?

"Well, the reason I brought you here is... I was hoping there was something you could... do... with me..." Jareth looked at her as if she should know what he meant.

Sarah's eyes widened. Was he really suggesting what she thought he was?

"...Together..." He finished, gently grasping her hands.

Sarah's brain went into overdrive. Well, God knew she wasn't completely... naive in the ways of men... but she had never done... THAT before. After this evening Sarah couldn't deny that there was a certain... appeal to the Goblin King... but he was still evil, wasn't he? It was merely the dress talking, wasn't it? But as she looked into Jareth's eyes, Sarah was once again entranced by his hypnotic stare. Jareth was slowly inching forward again, and for the second time Sarah thought he was going to kiss her.

Sarah was just about to open her mouth and say that she'd think about it when Jareth interrupted her thoughts.

"You know, I was hoping you would... put on a production... you know... for the goblins."

Sarah blinked. Surely she had heard wrong.

"A production," Sarah stated the question.

"Yes, I want you to put on a play, as I said it has been exceedingly dull here of late, and I knew that you wanted to become an actress so I was hoping..."

Sarah let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She felt a certain sense of relief and dismay.

"You don't mean to tell me you dragged me all the way back here to help put on a play?"

Jareth nodded, his face pleading with her to stay.

"But, but that's ridiculous! That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard!" Sarah pushed herself away.

"Please, Sarah, we need you here..." Jareth grasped Sarah's forearms, afraid she would leave right then and there, "It'll just be for a few weeks or so. The goblins have become complete miscreants, you've seen them before. I'm king of a city, but so what? What good is being King when there's no one to admire you, to say that you've done a job well done? We will put on a production and invite the neighboring kingdoms... perhaps then this place will have made something of itself. We're in high need of interaction here, and I've been unable to come up with a legitimate way of boosting our economy and reputation save for this."

Sarah looked up at him. He seemed genuinely concerned for his kingdom. She had never thought the Goblin King cared for anything other than himself. Could this really be true? It seemed like a rather hare-brained idea, but what harm could it do?

"Please, Sarah?" Jareth looked at her with that same imploring expression he had had at dinner previously. If only he hadn't been so cruel to her in the past. Then Sarah would have had no misgivings about it. Any opportunity to showcase her acting skills was a good opportunity no matter how ridiculous it seemed. But coming from Jareth...

"I know I haven't treated you the best in the past, but you don't know what it's like to have to live up to everybody's expectations. There are rules Goblin Kings need to abide by..."

Jareth, seeing Sarah about to deny him, brought her hand to his chest. Sarah almost jolted at the contact. The skin there was so soft and so smooth. He leaned over until Sarah could almost feel his lips at the nape of her neck and whispered, as if to tell her a secret only meant for her ears.

"Please, Sarah... do this one thing for me. I shall be forever indebted to you should you accept my request."

Even though she was sure she would regret it later, Sarah already felt her head nodding up and down.

"I, I suppose I could..." Sarah said with a bewildered look on her face.

Again, Jareth's face broke into the most beautiful expression of happiness.

"Thank you! Thank you, Sarah!"

Sarah just nodded again, numbly. Jareth cupped her face in his leather-clad hands.

"Now I believe you promised to do something with me earlier this evening," Jareth said teasingly.

What was that? Sarah thought. She simply could not think anymore. She had just willingly given up three weeks of her life to live under the mercy of the Goblin King. What more could he ask of her?

"Care to dance?"

Sarah was startled by the normalcy of the question.

"Of-of course," Sarah stammered, flushing slightly.

Immediately after her compliance Jareth placed his right hand on her hip in a gentle but firm hold. Instinctively, Sarah put her hand on his warm shoulder and slid her free hand into his open grasp. Sarah's head swam with a certain strange emotion. She could not quite seperate this moment from the previous dance she had had with the Goblin King. Deja Vu ran rampant in her mind as Jareth turned her in time to the waltz's meandering tune. In this position she had no where to look but into the Goblin King's eyes. In no time she felt herself slowly slipping back into that bewildered state of mind she often fell prey to when returning his gaze. She felt like his eyes were swallowing her whole. But it was not an unpleasant feeling. On the contrary, rather than leaving her confused as last time, she felt a certain pleasant thrumming in her heart that spread to all her limbs. Looking into those mismatched eyes her entire body seemed a contradiction. She felt numb, yet her skin tingled with life. Her face felt flush and hot to the touch, yet she shivered as if cold. Suddenly, alarm bells went off in her head. At her agreement to Jareth's rather strange request, her plan to seduce the man had been thrown out the window. After all, there really was no point in tricking him when she had already forfeited three more weeks of her life to him, satisfying as it would be. But she still wished to remain somewhat in control of this situation. She did not want to end up hypnotized by this man's stare as she had been in the previous masquerade ball. She could afford little vulnerability when it came to the Goblin King.

Abruptly, Sarah broke the connection. Hesitantly, she rested her chin on Jareth's shoulder so she would no longer have to look into those mesmerizing eyes. There! Now she at least knew she would be able to keep her wits about her. After the huge leap of faith she had already taken this evening she would take no more of Jareth's enchantments.

But soon Sarah realized she had made a grave error in her calculations. In so moving to her new position she was required to lean even more intimately towards the Goblin King's chest. Their upper bodies were now, inadvertently, touching. And at her move Jareth turned his head and buried his face in her hair. Sarah could feel his hot breath on her neck again. The hand on her hip moved around her waist and firmly pressed her back until her body was flush with his. Jareth's voice tickled her ear as he hummed the tune of the waltz quietly to himself.

Sarah immediately felt her body heat in reaction to his closeness. The breath on her neck sent shivers running up and down along her spine. Her heartbeat kicked into overdrive and she suddenly felt like she couldn't breathe. And before she knew what was happening that incessant thrumming that had previously resided in her chest swiftly moved down and set firmly between her thighs. Sarah tried to clear her head and think of something other than Jareth's surrounding warmth, but to no avail. She wasn't supposed to be attracted to this man! She thought despairingly. She was supposed to hate him!

But she was quickly forgetting why she was supposed to in the first place.

Shit. Sarah swore in her head. She was doomed.

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A/N So Jareth has finally revealed to Sarah her "reason" for being back in the Underground. How will Sarah tackle this unforeseen challenge? And it appears things are heating up between the two... what happened to both of their carefully thought-out plans? lolol

@ Vyperbites- Thanks so much for advertising my story.. that means a lot to me *nods* and ah yes, a little citrus is always appreciated ;) But as kookookitty pointed out as something to ponder: instant gratification vs delayed satisfaction...hmmm.... lol In due time, in due time. XD

Thanks for reading ~TheArtist