Every eye in the castle was on her. Sarah knew this very well, but she refused to bow to these people. She did think of them now as people, no matter the species, which was a far cry from how she had originally perceived them. She has even come to consider a select few of them as genuine friends, despite her husband's warnings. Royalty were never true allies, Jareth had warned her more than once. Friends, especially in this world, did not exist. Of course, she had always argued that point, but every time she pointed out Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus, he was just as quick to point out that none of them were of the Royal Court.
They would all tear her apart, Sarah knew, if she made the wrong decision, but she had watched this girl climb her place in the court as well. She had watched her take her mother's position in the servers. She had also always been able to recognize a bully. She held her head high, ignoring the fact that her shoes were now wet.
She levelled her gaze on the girl who cringed before her, clearly expecting a fierce reprimand, perhaps even to be turned into something. Jareth had told her, in no uncertain times, of what every one of these beings around them was capable. She knew exactly which ones would have turned this child into a frog, who would turn her into a statue, who would evaporate her on the spot, and who would have even worse punishments for her, all for accidentally spilling a drink.
"I think my shoes have had quite enough to drink, dear. Thank you." She heard the ripple of laughter spreading through the court, and her own cheeks burned for the child. "Perhaps you would like to join me in a drink, though?" she asked, gesturing to another waiter. She ignored the gasps as smoothly as she had ignored the giggles.
"M-m-m-m-milady, I d-dare not!"
"I insist," Sarah returned, and gestured to a pillow beside her feet. The girl, blushing crimson red, sank to her knees on the floor beside the pillow, not daring to touch the offered seat. Drinks were swiftly given to them both, passing from trembling hands.
Sarah smiled. "Well?" she asked, raising her goblet to the band. "Play."
Jareth smirked from his place standing amongst the Kings and Princes.
"That wife of yours certainly is... human."
His smile vanished, and the scowl he shot the Prince confirmed he would very soon reek for the rest of his life, what little there would be left of it. "No," he said, his crisp tone sending the rest of those gathered around him scurrying, "she is very..." His smile warmed his eyes. "...Sarah." That was why he loved her, and why this Prince and the others who had dared to laugh at his wife would all vanish. It was also why she forever inspired him every day to be better. He glowed pridefully.
Sarah
Every eye in the castle was on her. Sarah knew this very well, but she refused to bow to these people. She did think of them now as people, no matter the species, which was a far cry from how she had originally perceived them. She has even come to consider a select few of them as genuine friends, despite her husband's warnings. Royalty were never true allies, Jareth had warned her more than once. Friends, especially in this world, did not exist. Of course, she had always argued that point, but every time she pointed out Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus, he was just as quick to point out that none of them were of the Royal Court.
They would all tear her apart, Sarah knew, if she made the wrong decision, but she had watched this girl climb her place in the court as well. She had watched her take her mother's position in the servers. She had also always been able to recognize a bully. She held her head high, ignoring the fact that her shoes were now wet.
She levelled her gaze on the girl who cringed before her, clearly expecting a fierce reprimand, perhaps even to be turned into something. Jareth had told her, in no uncertain times, of what every one of these beings around them was capable. She knew exactly which ones would have turned this child into a frog, who would turn her into a statue, who would evaporate her on the spot, and who would have even worse punishments for her, all for accidentally spilling a drink.
"I think my shoes have had quite enough to drink, dear. Thank you." She heard the ripple of laughter spreading through the court, and her own cheeks burned for the child. "Perhaps you would like to join me in a drink, though?" she asked, gesturing to another waiter. She ignored the gasps as smoothly as she had ignored the giggles.
"M-m-m-m-milady, I d-dare not!"
"I insist," Sarah returned, and gestured to a pillow beside her feet. The girl, blushing crimson red, sank to her knees on the floor beside the pillow, not daring to touch the offered seat. Drinks were swiftly given to them both, passing from trembling hands.
Sarah smiled. "Well?" she asked, raising her goblet to the band. "Play."
Jareth smirked from his place standing amongst the Kings and Princes.
"That wife of yours certainly is... human."
His smile vanished, and the scowl he shot the Prince confirmed he would very soon reek for the rest of his life, what little there would be left of it. "No," he said, his crisp tone sending the rest of those gathered around him scurrying, "she is very..." His smile warmed his eyes. "...Sarah." That was why he loved her, and why this Prince and the others who had dared to laugh at his wife would all vanish. It was also why she forever inspired him every day to be better. He glowed pridefully.
The End