Birthday Surprise Pt. 5

Disclaimer: I own nothing (yadda yadda yadda). I just borrow Jareth for some light housework (cuz I like watching him bend over to dust the knick knacks on the bottom shelves

Birthday Adventure Pt. 4 (Conclusion of 'Sarah's Sweet Sixteen')

Sarah kicked the side of the deep copper tub in frustration, an aggravated growl echoing off the brightly colored tiles that lined the walls of the bathroom in the Queen's Chambers. Tugging the fluffy blue bathrobe tighter around herself, she flounced against the counter, glaring at the bathtub that was causing her such offense. For the last twenty minutes she had been trying to turn the tub on so that she could take a bath, but nothing worked.

She ran her hands over the edges and around the faucet looking for a knob or button that would make the water start. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. No water. No knobs. No way.

"Arrrrrgh! All I want is a bath! Is that too much to ask?" she grumped, her emerald eyes flashing as she stared balefully at the bathtub, which seemed to be mocking her by its silence. "I wish I could just have a bath."

Sarah gave a small yelp as a strange pulling sensation began in the pit of her stomach, similar to the way her belly flopped on the Tilt-a-Whirl at the fairgrounds. Blinking rapidly, she gasped as the room around her began to swirl, a vortex of purple mist opening beneath her. Then, with a quiet "pop" Sarah felt herself being sucked into the vortex.

With a breathless scream, Sarah flew threw the vortex, briefly wondering where she was going, before the thought was abandoned in favor of a panicked shriek.

-SPLASH-

The next thing she knew, Sarah was submerged in hot water, her body weighed down by the now soaked, terry-toweling bathrobe. Spluttering indignantly, she floated upward until her head and shoulders broke the surface of the water, only to find her appearance greeted with …

"Bloody Hell!"

Sarah's face burned hotly when she recognized the voice and knew instantly where she had to be.

"Jareth's bath," she muttered to herself, cringing inwardly as she moved to brush away the now dripping chestnut tendrils that were plastered inelegantly to her face.

Her shoulders shrugged upward, as if she were trying to make herself small – or at least sink through the floor of the tub, back to the Queen's Chambers or even her room at home. Screwing up her courage, Sarah opened her eyes to find the Goblin King sitting opposite her in the great tub in his bathroom, his mismatched eyes watching her with befuddled amusement.

"While I am more than happy to share my bath with you, Precious. I rather expected you would join me in the usual way….through the door. Not drop from above," he quipped, his laughter ringing against the metal of the tub.

Looking sheepishly at Jareth, Sarah's eyes widened as they fell upon Jareth' s chest – his lightly muscled, smooth, pale and remarkable naked chest. Then the full implication of her predicament hit her. Jareth was in the bath. Naked. She was sitting in a bathtub with the very naked, very sexy, Goblin King.

…Oh. My. God!...

NOW it is the best birthday ever! Squealed her libido sounding for all the world like a deranged piglet, which at this point wasn't far from the truth considering the greedy way it was ogling Jareth's marble-like chest.

Her inner-voice was oddly quiet amidst her libido's exuberant shouting, having been short-circuited by the knowledge that she was within close proximity to Jareth's naked body.

With a suddenly dry mouth that felt like she had been sucking on Sahara sand, Sarah swallowed hard to clear her throat, trying desperately to find her voice, while still unsure what she could possibly say that would make this situation better.

"I was wanted to take a bath and couldn't figure out how to get the tub to fill" she ventured hesitantly, trying to tear her eyes away from the Goblin King's glistening chest, but finding them transfixed by the fluffy soap bubbles that were clinging to his skin, her fingers itching to reach out and brush the bubbles away.

Following her gaze, Jareth smirked knowingly, an elegant eyebrow raised in response as he surveyed her reaction. "How rude of me, Pet," he drawled, shaking his head, "I should have thought to tell you how to manage. Merely get into the tub and it will fill for you."

"Oh…." She whispered, feeling the heat rising once more to her cheeks. "I'm not sure how I ended up here. I'm sorry for interrupting…."

"I'm not," he purred in honeyed tones, noting the way Sarah's eyes latched onto his tongue as it flicked over his pointed canines. With a somewhat wolfish grin, Jareth winked at her. "Although you are entirely overdressed for sharing my bath, Precious. Something easy to remedy," he said as a shining crystal appeared upon his fingertips.

The appearance of the crystal jerked Sarah's attention back to her predicament. With an inarticulate cry, she launched herself from the bath, running from the room, around his bed and back into the Queen's Chambers, heedless of the trail of water and bubbles she left in her wake. The sound of Jareth's laughter followed her from the room.

Back in the Queen's Chambers, Sarah rushed into the bathroom, striping off the robe as she hopped into the tub, relived when it instantly filled to a steaming temperature.

…What a day….

Fantastic isn't it, chirped her libido still in a hormonal haze over the sight of Jareth's delightfully naked chest. That man is certainly easy on the eye.

Once more alone in the Queen's Chambers, Sarah sunk into the steaming froth of bubbles in the bathtub and let her mind wander, the delicious visual of Jareth's chest leading the way - After all, she deserved a bit of 'mind-candy' after the harrowing embarrassment of the last few minutes. At least that is what she told herself as her eyes drifted shut and she began to imagine Jareth swimming in the crystalline pool by the waterfall. It was a very nice visual. Very. Very. Nice.

As the clock above the mantel began to strike seven, the Goblin King knocked on the door that separated the Queen's Chambers from his own, smiling at the hurried, "Just a moment," that greeted him. When the door swung open, he was sure the surprise was evident on his face as Sarah looked up at him with shining green eyes, a shy smile tugging at her cranberry colored lips. She looked…

"Stunning."

Sarah blushed, running her hands over the skirt of the dress as she glanced down. From what she had seen in the Goblin Market, the dress was simple by Goblin Kingdom standards, but elegant. The sapphire silk clung to her torso, silver laces that ran down her sides emphasized the curves she had begun developing over the past year, curves she was not sure she wanted pointed out to the Goblin King, but thanks to the cut of the dress he'd have to be blind not to notice – and she was fairly certain he was not blind where it came to women.

After getting dressed, she had braided her hair into six plaits, before weaving them together into a solid mass that twisted down her back, with silver and sapphire ribbons woven through it. On the vanity in the bathroom she found a small palate of what seemed to be eye shadows and lip gloss, which she used to accentuate the deep emerald color of her eyes, before adding a touch of lip gloss. All in all, she was pleased with the way she looked, despite not having her usual arsenal of beauty products.

Feeling brave once more, Sarah peeked up at Jareth, letting her eyes take him in, the head to toe black of his attire making her heart thump in her chest. A black silk shirt covered his chest, the pale flesh peeking through the loose laces that held the shirt closed, while the golden sigel of office glinted sharply against the darkness. Over the shirt he word an embossed leather waistcoat, cut to fall at his natural waist. As usual, his legs were swathed in tight black breeches that disappeared into the crisply polished boots he favored.

Jareth's smile softened as he caught her eye seeing a flash of the woman she would become flickering behind the jade orbs that pierced him. With a slight flick of the wrist he conjured a glowing crystal, a smug smirk teasing the corner of his mouth as Sarah's eyes followed the gentle movement of the crystal as it danced over his hands.

"I believe that it is customary to give the birthday girl a present. Is it not, Precious?" he asked, his voice tempered with tender amusement, making Sarah blush in spite of herself.

Stepping toward him, Sarah placed a delicate hand upon his arm, blushing further as she realized the familiar gesture and pulling her hand away quickly, to play absently with the beading on the waist of her dress, her voice soft. "Really, Jareth. You have done more than enough today. I don't need a present."

"Nonsense," Jareth replied with a mischievous wink. "What you need, has absolutely nothing to do with my desire to give you a gift."

…Although I would be all too happy to see to any needs you have…. He thought, wisely keeping that comment to himself as she was far too innocent yet to understand all that he would willingly give her.

Sarah watched as the glistening crystal stilled in Jareth's hand, seeming to hover above his palm where it flashed brightly and transformed into a small velvet covered box.

"For you, Sarah Dearest," he murmured, holding the small box out to her, his eyes darkening as he watched her hand reach out, seemingly of its own accord.

Snatching her hand back, Sarah clasped it with her other hand, her jade eyes peering at him suspiciously, "What is the catch, Goblin King?"

She was unprepared for the response her question received, as Jareth tossed his head back and laughed, the sound a whole-hearted, tenor boom of mirth that sent electric pulses racing up her spine.

"You really are precious, Sarah," Jareth chuckled, shaking his head as he offered her the box once more. "No tricks today, Pet. This is merely a gift to mark your special day. Freely given. And I hope, freely accepted."

He watched with amusement as she nibbled her lip in that all too familiar gesture that indicated she was thinking. Slowly, she squared her shoulders, drawing herself upward as she reached for the box. Jareth marveled at the way she unconsciously adopted a regal bearing, as if her body knew she belonged to the kingdom, even if she did not.

Lifting the lid of the box, Sarah gasped at the delicate object nestled upon the burgundy silk lining. Her fingers slid along the fine silver chain that swirled in the silken nest, before lightly caressing the crystal pendant that hung from the chain – a small, perfect crystal.

"Do you like it, Precious?"

"Jareth…." She whispered, unsure where to begin. The necklace twinkled at her from the box, as if daring her to put it on, yet her mind churned. No one had ever given her such a gift before. Not even her parents. Yet, here it was, her first 'grown-up' present, and from the ethereal Goblin King no less. "Its…it's beautiful."

Seeing a flicker of doubt behind her eyes, Jareth plucked the necklace from the box. A deft twist of his wrist sending the box vanishing back into the ether, as the necklace dangled enticingly from his gloved fingers. Sarah felt her face heat once more as Jareth stepped around her, gloved fingertips lightly grazing her neck as he moved her hair aside, tender draping the pendant around her neck. While Jareth fastened the necklace, Sarah's fingers toyed with the crystal pendant, smiling at the way it flashed, pale pink mist swirling within its glistening skin.

Feeling a warm heat upon her neck, Sarah's face burned hotly as she registered his cheek resting against her hair, his lips practically brushing her ear as he murmured quietly.

"This is a very special necklace, Precious. The crystal is a miniature one of my own, holding within the power to move you from your room to my kingdom whenever you wish," he said, his voice dropping low, a smooth chocolate caress to her senses as her mind fought to pay attention while her libido lost itself in the feel of his lips so near her ear. As he spoke, she felt a firm heat against her back – his chest, pressing lightly against her, while sinewy arms snaked around her. Gently he picked up the pendant, holding it up for her. "Simply hold the crystal in your hand and tell it where you want to go. To go home merely say 'home'. To come to the kingdom, tell it where you wish to go. Either to a place, such as the throne room; or to a person. Such as… the king," he explained, his voice softening as he went on.

Before Sarah could say more, a loud gonging was heard from the end of the hall.

"I am afraid we must go now, Dearest. Your friends are waiting."

Jareth held out a black-gloved hand, his eyes darkening as a playful smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, "Shall I escort you to your dinner, Lady Sarah?"

Giggling bashfully, Sarah dropped a genteel curtsey before placing her hand lightly upon his, "I would be honored, Your Majesty."

As he led her through the halls of the castle toward the surprise her friends had created for her, Jareth couldn't help but feel that it was so natural to have her here… She belongs here. With us. With me…..

When they reached the great oak doors of the informal throne room, Jareth stopped, lifting her hand to his lips and pressing a tender kiss upon her knuckles.

"And here is where I shall leave you, Precious. Your friends are waiting for you inside. Please take your time and enjoy your dinner. When you are ready to go home, merely use the pendant," he said quietly, his thumb lightly caressing her hand, as if reluctant to let it go.

Sarah's smile faltered at his words, her eyes searching his face to see a brief flash of what looked like regret.

"Oh….Yeah," she muttered, unsure why she felt so down about the idea of having her birthday dinner with her friends.

Without another word, Jareth turned and swept down the corridor, the sharp clack of his boots upon the flagstones following him as he walked away.

Sighing, Sarah plastered a smile on her face and pushed open the doors to the throne room, her ears ringing with the thunderous shout that greeted her….

-SURPRISE!—

The throne room was full of creatures of every size and shape, from goblins dancing and cheering in every corner to the troupe of Fireys dancing and carrying on in the pit. The wiseman and his bird-hat lounging on the steps of the dais. And in the middle of it were her dearest friends, Sir Didymus, Hoggle and Ludo towering above them all.

"My lady," shouted the genteel fox knight as he and his trusty steed made their way through the throng to greet her at the door. "I am most happy to see you!"

"Aye. Happy birthday, Sarah," added Hoggle, his voice rough as he smiled at her.

"Sarah. Birthday," rumbled Ludo, waving a bunch of yellow daisies at her.

Taking the daisies before she was hit in the head with them, Sarah hugged her friends, feeling her eyes tear up, touched by their gesture.

"Did you plan this?" she asked, sitting upon the steps with them, her dress spread out around her.

"Well, when we heard that yer parents were leaving you alone, 'an on yer birthday no less, we thought to make it special for ya," explained Hoggle, bashfully looking at his feet.

"Thank you. All of you," Sarah gushed, wrapping Hoggle in another tight hug.

His chest puffed with pride, Sir Didymus patted her arm, "Aye. But it couldn't have been done without His Majesties help."

"That rat din't do nuthin," grumbled Hoggle, shaking his head. "We organized it all."

Shaking his head, Sir Didymus looked at Hoggle, "Now, brother. Be truthful. It was His Majesty's idea to have a party instead of a dinner. He gave us leave to use the throne room and offered us the kitchens and whatever else we may need to make a suitable party for our beloved Lady."

"He….he did?" Sarah asked, shocked by what she was hearing. "So, why isn't he here? Why didn't he stay?"

"Bah. He weren't invited," spat Hoggle, frowning at all of this talk of Jareth. "Now can we stop talkin 'bout that rat before ya spoil mah appetite fer the cake."

Sarah watched as Hoggle started across the room toward a table spread with food and drink, around which a mass of goblins was passing a large stone jug, their lips wet with what she suspected was the goblin ale that Jareth had warned her about. Turning back to Sir Didymus, she smiled softly as the noble knight gently patted her hand, his other hand petting his beloved steed.

"Actually, my Lady, I asked His Majesty if he would attend and he declined, suggesting that you might not appreciate his presence at your party."

"But…that's preposterous," spluttered Sarah, her lips pursed in a frown.

"Aye, that is what I told him. 'Tho not in as many words, of course," replied the little knight, his whiskers twitching with mirth at Sarah's reaction.

Frowning, Sarah rose, her skirts swishing over the steps of the dais as she paced back and forth before the throne, muttering to herself, "Obstinate man… Completely silly…." Just as suddenly as she began pacing, Sarah stopped, a sly smile on her lips as her slender fingers caressed the crystal pendant. "Guess I'll just have to do something about this."

A cheer went up thorugh the throne room as Sarah abruptly disappeared. That fact that they didn't understand why or how she vanished didn't matter a bit, the goblins and others were just impressed that she did.

Leaning against the parapet at the tallest tower of the castle, Jareth looked out over his kingdom as it stretched over the horizon. The sounds of the party carried up to him, despite his remote location, the raucous singing of his goblins grating on his nerves.

It is your own fault, mate, grumbled his inner-voice. You could have been there if you hadn't been so stubborn.

…She wouldn't want me there. It was a party for her friends….

And what do you think you are? His inner-voice asked, already knowing the answer.

…Maybe someday she will see me as a friend…or more….

It was the 'or more' that he truly wished for, the irony of his wish not lost on him, considering he was the Master of Wishes.

Lost in his inner-dialogue, Jareth was pulled from his reverie by a familiar chiming sound. Looking up, he saw a silver shimmer of light, as if time and space were bending, then with a 'pop' Sarah appeared, gasping and wobbling on her feet. His movements were swift as he reached out, pulling her against him to steady her before she could fall.

"Easy, Sarah Dearest. Breathe. Slowly," he soothed, smiling as he felt her relax as her breathing eased.

"Whoa! I don't think I'll ever get used to travelling like that," she gasped, wiping stray hairs from her face as she slid out of his embrace, her cheeks flushed with both the endorphins of translocating, and the nearness of Jareth's firm chest.

Chuckling, Jareth smoothed the hair back from her cheeks, pleased with the rosy blush that colored them. "In future, make sure you close your eyes before telling the crystal where you want to go," he counseled with a tender smile. "That should make it easier for you."

With a slight nod, Sarah found herself gazing out over the Labyrinth, watching as the walls moved and changed in a subtle dance that made the landscape seem to ripple.

"Why aren't you down enjoying your party, Precious?" Jareth asked, joining her against the parapet, his mismatched eyes drawn to her face as she studied the land far below.

Fingering the crystal around her neck, Sarah blushed, her heart thumping wildly in her chest as she thought about what to say.

"Um…well….the thing is….you weren't there," she said timidly as she tried not to stumble over her words – and failed. "And since you made the party possible, it seems only right that you should be there."

Quietly, the Goblin King considered the young woman before him – the child she was quickly fading as she stood on the cusp of adulthood, knowing in his heart that she did not yet realize how her words might affect him.

"Despite what happened between us last year, Jareth," she continued, raising her eyes to his, as her hand rested upon his arm, "Things are different now and I would really like it if you would come and join the party."

Jareth covered her hand as it lay upon his arm, with one of his gloved hands, a pleased smile tugging at his thin lips as he gazed at her, before nodding, "As you wish, Sarah Precious."

The king sighed as he relaxed in his desk chair, a glass of brandy in one hand, his feet stretched out upon the desk, having seen Sarah off for home an hour before. He still marveled at the fact that she sought him out in order to bring him to her own party, something he sincerely thought would not happen, but did.

…She never ceases to surprise me….

I doubt that she ever will, commented his inner-self sagely.

…Indeed….

Upon her request, Jareth whisked them back to the party, to find the goblins singing bawdy tavern songs, having already gone through a full cask of goblin ale and rapidly working their way through a second cask. With a flourish, Jareth settled Sarah on the great stone throne next to him, relishing the blush that rose to her cheeks as she finally listened to the lyrics of the song that the goblins were busy singing – well, shouting, as goblins really did not sing so much as shout the words enthusiastically.

There was cake, dancing and much merriment through the throne room as the party raged on. Jareth laughed as Sarah danced with the goblins, even picking up the small fox knight and dancing him wildly around the room, despite his high-pitched protestations. She even attempted to dance with Hoggle, who never took his eyes off Jareth, for fear of being bogged. And, much to the amazement of the goblins, Sarah even managed to get the Goblin King himself to dance with her, whirling her around the room with a masterful hand, amid cheers of approval from the goblins.

As far as parties went, Jareth decided that Sarah's surprise birthday party was indeed a success.

While the goblins continued to sing, dance and drink copious quantities of goblin ale (which he was sure would mean many headaches and hung-over citizens in the morning), Sarah rejoined Jareth on the dais, leaning heavily against the arm of the throne as she sat next to him. When she had yawned for the third time in as many minutes, Jareth gently patted her arm, smiling warmly at the happy glow in her green eyes as she turned her gaze toward him.

"As much as I am enjoying your company, Precious. I think you should return home, you seem quite tired," he said, his voice soft and soothing, as his gloved fingers lightly caressed her tired brow.

"I am," she sighed with a yawn. "But I'm having too much fun to want to leave."

"Be that as it may, Dearest, you do need sleep. And besides, you can return whenever you wish."

"True," she said, trying to stifle another yawn.

Rising, Jareth pulled her to her feet, his lips near her ear as he slid an arm around her, "Say your goodnights, Pet. I am going to take you home now."

With a wave and many hugs, Sarah bid her friends and the goblin horde that filled the throne room 'goodnight', before taking Jareth's hand and allowing him to transport her home, the two of the disappearing in a haze of silver glitter that showered down on the goblins as they continued to toast to the health of the Lady of the Labyrinth.

Sipping his brandy, Jareth smiled to himself, pleased that it seemed as if making Sarah consider him a friend would take far less manipulation than he had anticipated. Leaning his head back against the chair, Jareth let his eyes drift shut, enjoying the peacefulness of his thoughts, which stood in stark contrast to the continued shouts and singing from the throne room as the party continued, sleep stealing over him as he let himself remember the look of Sarah's face as the moonlight shined upon them in the tower.

Silently, Sarah appeared in Jareth's study, surprised to see him lounging in his desk chair, asleep. Her bare feet padded across the lush rugs that covered the floor, as her plaid flannel clad form tip toed toward the desk. With a hesitant smile she paused when she reached the desk, still unsure what she planned to do when she returned. She originally thought to sneak closer, but thought better of it – sneaking up on a sleeping Goblin King seeing to be a very dangerous idea.

Taking a deep breath, she called his name, her voice quiet and nearly drowned out by the snapping of the embers that danced in the fireplace.

"Jareth…."

"Hmm?" he muttered, cracking an eye to find Sarah standing by his desk, a welcome surprise. "Sarah….what are you doing back here? Shouldn't you be in bed asleep by now?"

Smiling shyly, Sarah moved closer to him until she was standing next to him, her fingers fidgeting over heavily carved arm of chair.

"Well, I forgot something, and needed to take care of it before I went to bed," she replied, her voice soft and unsure.

Jareth's gaze searched her face, his own eyes narrowed in confusion as he watched Sarah fidget with his chair. Without warning, Sarah swiftly leaned forward, her lips pressing tenderly upon his cheek as she whispered, "Thank you. For everything."

And before he could react, she grabbed up the pendant and muttered, "Home," only to vanish in a mist of fine glitter.

With the feel of her soft lips still warm upon his cheek, the Goblin King settled back once more in his chair, a knowing smirk dancing in his mismatched eyes.

"Happy birthday, Sarah mine," he murmured, raising his glass in a toast. "Sweet dreams, Precious."

~~Fin~~

And that ends this story arc. More 'mini-stories' will be written soon. Comments, as always are valued as much as gold!