As The World Falls Down

Chapter 38

THE MORNING OF

You woke up to a soft touch on your forehead, and your eyes snapped open to find the source. You were immediately wide awake, as well as immediately confused when you didn't see anyone around you. You reached a tentative hand up and found a smooth, feather light petal on your face, and when you focused your sleepy eyes you could see it had fallen from the thick bloom of white flowers that were bursting from every inch of your room. They hung from the branches of the tree and reached upwards from bouquets suspended in air in every corner and up along every wall. You couldn't help but laugh at the extremity of it all. You swung yourself out of bed, in turn sending a plume of petals that had settled on your blankets up into the air, and you walked through them falling slowly. You wanted to rush to Jareth's room and thank him for the display, but stopped yourself when you realized you couldn't see him yet. Instead, you sent him a silent Good morning with your thoughts, and reeled slightly when he sent it right back with alarming excitement.

Thank you for the flowers, you thought gently, taking your spot at the vanity to begin undoing your curls.

Of course, he replied. Everything is in order.

I had no doubts, you thought with a smile only you could see.

Perfect. I'll have the kitchen send some breakfast up to you.

Thank you, sweetheart.

I'll have them send up your surprise, too.

My surprise? you thought nervously. I have a surprise?

You'll see, Jareth sent before his line went dead, causing you to curse him out quietly as you loosened the last coil and shook out your curls, watching your hair bounce back in shiny waves. You combed through them tentatively with your fingers, quietly assessing what you were going to do with your hair before there was a small knock on your door. You got up and opened the door to a scraggly looking girl goblin just barely holding onto a comically large platter of breakfast foods.

"Good morning, Lady Y/N," she croaked, presenting it to you. "King Jareth requested I bring you your morning meal."

"Thank you very much," you thanked politely, taking the plate from her. She nearly collapsed from the relief of the weight being lifted, but quickly straightened and bowed to you.

"We are all looking forward to your union," she said shyly.

"Me too," you smiled as you set the platter down on the table by the doorway. "I'll do my very best at being your queen."

The goblin girl gave you a shy smile, curtsying once before hurrying off back down the hall. You watched her for a moment before remembering Jareth's words and calling after her.

"Wait a moment! I was told there would be a surprise!" you yelled halfheartedly, knowing she was definitely already out of earshot. You sighed and turned back around and nearly jumped out of your skin when you found yourself face to face with Foxglove and Amoeniel, both of them looking thrilled. They looked stunning in complimentary emerald green dresses, with the fabric hugging all of Foxglove's curves but looking just as beautiful on Amoeniel's more masculine frame. They both wore simple necklaces as well as emerald and pearl pins in their respective hairstyles; Foxglove had woven them into a long braided twist and Amoeniel had used them to pin back gentle swoops of their cropped white-blond hair.

"Surprise!" they screamed in harmony, causing you to scream in response. They burst into laughter as you bent at the hip, clutching your heart to ensure it wouldn't jump out of your chest, or fail completely.

"So sorry, Y/N," Amoeniel apologized in their sweet tritone voice. "We didn't mean to scare you."

"It's funny that we did, though," Foxglove wheezed, putting a hand on your back as you straightened again, adding your own embarrassed laughter to the mix.