It was late into the following afternoon when Jareth finally awoke. One of his legs rested in between hers, her ankle wrapped around his At this motion, Megan stirred, her back arching into Jareth causing "I trust you slept well," he drawled, amused at her She arched an eyebrow up at him. "It is a wonder I slept at all with you on top of me in such a "This is true," Jareth nodded, the wicked gleam returning "I shall pretend I did not hear that comment," Megan rolled "Why be a prince when I am a King," Jareth pressed against "I'll make it worth your while," she whispered wantonly up Jareth pretended to consider this proposition for a moment before Megan reached over the bed to put on her slippers that she'd "Now, where do you believe you are going? What happened to "I am going to procure lunch," Megan smiled as she With a wicked smile that rivaled his, she stepped back and Jareth swore under his breath. Revenge was going to be so sweet. -------------------- It took all of her soldier's training, but Megan managed to Amras Megan She Megan His "You "No, Megan "Impressive," "I "I Megan's "You "I "Do "I Jareth "Then "What Megan "Everything In "Where "Disappeared." "I "I Amras "It "I "She "What "You "Over "If "I -------------------- The "Congratulations, "And "Fine." And -------------------- Jareth "I "Perhaps "Was "I Megan "Your "Yes," "And "She "And "Yes," "I Megan "Thank "You "If "And "Twice "You "I "On Jareth "Very Megan "Well?" "He "Yes "This "So "You "That "He's "From?" "The "I --------------------
His eyes widened and an impish grin spread across his lips as he
realized just how entangled he and Megan managed to get.
knee. Her arm was splayed above her head, the other hand resting
lightly on his back as his hand was tangled in the waves of her hair.
His grin turned into a smirk when he observed where his other hand
was located. His palm was pressed softly onto her breast. Megan would
probably attempt to kill him if she awoke and found his hands on her.
Jareth allowed himself one more moment to savor the idea, and even
smile wickedly as he massaged her for a brief second, amused as her
lips parted in her sleep. Jareth slid his hand down to her waist.
him to bite back a groan. Her eyes fluttered open only to stare up in
surprise at the Goblin King. Jareth propped himself up on his arms,
not moving his weight from her. The hand that was resting on his back
slid down his arm.
confused expression.
manner."
to his eyes. "Most women who find themselves in such an
interesting tangle have trouble sleeping. Why I cannot feign to
imagine."
her eyes. She tried to sit up, finding she couldn't move her arm.
"Now, be a prince and move my arm for me."
her, making her blush. "And as King I take orders from no one."
to him, lifting her chin so her lips were tantalizingly close to his.
reaching over her head to gently pull her arm down. She winced, even
though his movements were incredibly slow. Once feeling returned to
her arm, she pushed against the Goblin King's chest, making them both
sit up.
discarded the night before. She stood only to be captured about the
waist by familiar gloved hands.
making it worth my while?" Jareth's voice was irresistibly
seductive in her ear.
teasingly ran her fingers into the opening of his gloves before
turning into his arms, her lips grazing the skin of his neck. "And
as for making it worth your while," she paused to flick her
tongue over the pulse in his throat. "I never said anything
about doing so now."
disappeared.
successfully avoid Jareth for several days. When everyone had sat
down to the evening meal the night after the thirteen hours, Jareth
inclined his head slightly so he could watch Megan out of the corner
of his eye. She felt his intense gaze through the entire meal, a warm
glow rising to her cheeks, no matter what she did to suppress it.
Between the teasing smile of Aine and the stare of the Goblin King,
Megan all but lost her appetite.
asked no questions, of which Megan was very grateful. He also did not
give her stares that implied she harbored more feelings for the
Goblin King than she actually did. Although she was growing to adore
Aine, she didn't like the knowing look in her eye.
continued to practice sparring drills, refusing to allow her skills
to deteriorate. She hadn't the foggiest of notions why the Goblin
King wouldn't allow her to return home, but she could not afford to
lose her combat experience. Occasionally Amras would excuse himself
from his busy schedule advising the King and wooing his Lady to spar
against Megan.
waited, rather impatiently, for him at the appointed hour. Since
Amras was not present, Megan opted for practice with her throwing
daggers. She idly twirled the point of one on her index finger before
flicking back her wrist and hitting the target she set up at the far
end of the room. The faint sound of clapping drew her attention.
bit down on her bottom lip to stifle the curse she muttered. She had
been concentrating so intently on throwing her daggers that she
didn't notice the Goblin King had entered the room. His ensemble
clearly stated he wished to spar. Megan had a sinking feeling in the
pit of her stomach that he wished to spar against her.
eyes met hers, his expression rather stern. She took a deep breath
and stood her ground, masking all emotion.
have been ignoring me," he stated.
sire, I've been avoiding you," Megan corrected, her grip on the
hilt tightened. "I expect I shall ignore you shortly."
glanced behind her, marking her distance before turning back to the
King. She tossed her final dagger over her shoulder, still watching
his mismatched eyes. She heard it stick into the wooden target, and
smirked smugly as she noticed Jareth's eyes widen slightly.
Jareth appraised her skill.
settle for nothing less," Megan arched an eyebrow.
am aware," he stepped closer, lessening the space between them.
"I know the kind of men you go to bed with."
anger boiled up inside of her, her grip tightening on her sword until
her knuckles were white. Jareth sensed now would be a good time to
attack. Without warning, he lunged forward attempting to catch her
off guard. Startled but quickly, Megan parried his blow, jumping out
of the way. Attack after attack followed as Jareth pressed the
offensive. Megan could only think of the next move, the next block,
trying to find a way to end this spontaneous fight so she could
disappear from his sight. However, the Goblin King showed no sign of
stopping. Finally he had Megan locked in a dead hold, blade against
blade, neither willing to give an inch of ground.
truly are quite a fighter," Jareth groaned as he squared his
shoulders attempting to push Megan away.
will not let you win," Megan managed through gritted teeth.
"Whatever it is you want from me, for whatever reason you keep
me here, not allowing me to leave the grounds, you will not win."
you honestly not know why I do not allow you to return?"
can only imagine what expectations you have of me," she spat
out, deciding on a course of action.
leaned in further, his lips faintly brushing against hers as they
formed his words.
you have lied to me, Megan," his eyes burned into her very soul.
"You do think me a monster."
am I supposed to think?" she yelled. "You invite me here,
are upset I'm a woman, then keep me here without so much as any
indication why. Then you go and force me to remember the worst thing
I have ever done in my life. I have felt nothing but remorse since
the day I met you."
pressed the bottom of her foot against Jareth's chest, shoving him to
the other side of the training hall. Jareth felt his fury burn hotly,
against Megan or himself he could not decipher. His gaze narrowed and
he began to advance again when he heard something fly by and found
himself pinned against the wooden target, a dagger through the sleeve
of his shirt.
I have done has been done in your name," her eyes shooting
daggers into him. "All the senseless bloodshed, all the danger
endured, all the wounds and scars have been for you, because of you,
in the name of the King," her tone was bitter. "Even that
night, the thirteen hours, that was for you. I believed I could
befriend and trust you after speaking with you throughout that eve
and you throw it back in my face with your lewd comments. You do not
care for anyone but yourself."
a flash, Megan was gone, her sword clanging to the ground. Amras came
running through the open archway.
is Megan?" he asked, watching as the Goblin King pulled the
dagger out of the wooden target and his shirt.
can see that," Amras answered. "What did you do?"
fought her, Amras. What do you believe me to have done?"
picked up the sword where Megan dropped it, turning it over in his
hands.
does seem odd that she kept this sword," he mused more to
himself than to Jareth. "But, I suppose, since she fought for
her life with this it must hold some value to her. She deserves a far
better life than the one she's led."
am aware of that, Amras," Jareth gritted his teeth. "You
know why I have kept her here."
does not," his companion answered shortly. "And she is the
one who deserves the answer."
do you want from me?"
should tell her the truth. And apologize for being such a fool."
my dead body."
you win the match, you continue down whatever path you see fit,"
Amras pointed the blade of Megan's sword out in a challenge. "If
I win, you tell her the truth and apologize."
accept your terms," Jareth smirked, awaiting Amras's attack.
match was long and ranged all over the training hall. Jareth and
Amras had been training together for several years and knew each
other's strengths and weaknesses well. Aine even strolled in to see
what all the noise was about. She sat on the stairs that led up to
the weapons room, watching intently as the two men dueled. Finally,
in an unexpected move, Amras switched his sword to the right hand,
pummeling Jareth's hand at just the correct angle so his sword fell
to the ground. Amras rested his foot on the blade, his sword pointed
at Jareth's throat.
Amras," Jareth sneered. "You have won."
you will hold up your end of the bargain."
he was gone.
knew exactly where to find Megan. He appeared beside her under the
large tree in the garden she frequently haunted. Her head was resting
against her knees, which were curled up to her chest.
believe I must find a new hiding place," she mumbled into her
knees.
you should," Jareth answered, leaning his head against the trunk
of the tree.
there something you wanted?" Megan's voice was dull, her eyes
weary as she lifted her head to look at the Goblin King.
want to explain why you are here," he met her gaze.
waited patiently.
father passed away when you were young, correct?"
Megan answered. "He fell into the frozen river one winter and
became ill."
your mother?"
was pregnant with the general's child. She did not live through the
birth, nor did the baby."
that's when the general became entrusted with you?"
Megan replied, eyeing him questioningly. "I thought you were
going to tell me why I am not allowed to leave."
am about to," Jareth watched as her mismatched eyes shifted to
the ground for a moment before meeting his again. "The general
was entrusted with you. He did not do what your mother expected of
him. No doubt she needed him to keep you safe, to see to your
happiness, and to, in short, be a father. Instead you grew up in
combat camps and were forced into the most dangerous of professions
where men failed. Megan, do you remember what he expected of you?"
Jareth's eyes bore into her as he struggled to regain his composure.
"You are not a bargaining piece, Megan. You are not something
trivial that should be thrown away, not even in the name of the
King."
stared at him, speechless and surprised. Never in her wildest dreams
would she have imagined this to be the reason he kept her here.
Jareth was protecting her.
you," she said, her voice almost inaudible. Her mind struggled
to grasp the concept he had just explained.
are welcome," Jareth smiled at her obvious confusion. Moments
like these gave him a glimpse at what she must have been like as a
child. She looked so young with her wide eyes searching for
understanding, her teeth absently gnawing on her bottom lip. All of a
sudden, he stood, offering a hand to Megan. He pulled her to her
feet.
you will pardon my abrupt departure," Jareth glanced down at her
hand still in his. "There is something I must attend to. I will
return shortly. In the meantime, I need you to decide something."
that would be?"
I have lost a match to you," Jareth arched an eyebrow. "How
is beyond my comprehension. I have also recently lost against Amras,
which has never happened and I prefer it never occur again. What I
ask of you is continual sparring until I have bested you."
want me to instruct you in swordplay?" Megan raised a skeptical
eyebrow.
have never lost to the same opponent twice. Congratulations, you are
the first."
one condition," she met his eyes, daring him to deny her this.
"You must tell me why you brought up the man with the brown
eyes. Then I will fight you."
let out a low laugh. She would be relentless on this matter.
well," he answered her. "But not now. I must complete this
other task quickly." He glanced behind her and saw Aine walking
down the pathway. "I am sure Aine will keep you company until I
return."
gave him a small smile as he disappeared.
Aine glanced at Megan with a teasing gleam in her eye. "What was
that about?"
had somewhere to be," Megan answered, sitting under the tree she
had recently occupied with Jareth.
I can imagine the reason behind his departure," Aine's tone was
delightfully sarcastic as she joined Megan. "I was referring to
this business of holding hands under the magical tree."
tree is not magic," Megan laughed at Aine. "And he helped
me up. Just because you and Amras are disgustingly in love does not
mean there's reason to create a romance between me and Jareth."
it's back to Jareth now, is it?" the use of his name did not
escape Aine.
are purely evil, Aine," Megan continued to laugh, unable to
remember the last time that she had done so.
is beside the point," Aine tossed her beautiful red hair over
her shoulder. "I believe you have a story to tell."
protecting me."
"My
stepfather," Megan stopped laughing.
general?"
can see I do in fact have a story to tell."
.........................
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Circumstances...A Tale of the Labyrinth {Part Six....Nothing Less}
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