Chapter 4 Violet
She awoke shivering, and felt nothing but pain everywhere. As she tried to move, she realized she was bound, arms suspended above her head from a stone ceiling, panic was rising in her chest. She looked to her wrist as the room took shape, silver bound her them tightly. She tried to use her magic to free herself to no avail. Blood crept down her arm flowing all the way down to her ribs.
Echoing she could hear her baby's cries. "Violet?" She yanked at the binds.
"As I explained, stop resisting... your magic is useless, now where were we?" Sarah's vision steadied long Enough to see Nalan coming towards her. "You're still hearing it aren't you?" Nalan asked amused. "It'll do you good to forget about that life," He was close enough now to whisper to her. "Don't worry, we'll keep trying for our own" it was then Sarah realized she was without clothing, and Nalan was stroking his hand along her flat stomach, Bile gathered in her throat. She closed her eyes, tears fell quickly. "Who knows, I may have already been successful."
"No!" Sarah screamed. She opened her eyes to bright beaming light. Morning.
"Sarah, Love." Jareth, who seemed to have been pacing rushed to her side.
Tears feel from Sarah's eyes, the still lingering nightmare swirled around her. Jareth could feel something terrible in her essence. And moved to pull her nightmare from her, when a cry filled the room, Interrupting his efforts.
Sarah instantly soared with hope. Jareth smiled as he felt the nightmare seem to fade, as Sarah's heart ached for her baby. Jareth reached into the small cradle, gently lifting the babe into his arms.
"Someone has been very eager to meet her mother." Jareth brought the bundle over to Sarah, the baby was wrapped in the blanket Sarah had made in the nursery cradle.
Finally her daughter was in her arms. Light blues and purples danced around as mother and daughter united, their magic swirling around them. Sarah's heart swelled with happiness. As she looked her beautiful baby over. dark, thick hair, ten tiny fingers, ten tiny toes. "Violet" Sarah said softly, and the baby opened her eyes, one blue, one green with a ring of Violet. "Hello my sweet Princess."
"Oh Jareth, have you ever seen a more beautiful baby?" Sarah glowed with pride. " She looks just like her mother." Jareth beamed. Sarah sighed in content as she pulled the baby to her, nursing her for the first time. Sarah pulled the blanket tighter around Violet and held her close. Sarah held her wrist up, it was healed. She looked to Jareth in question. "Iason and I were able to remove the black magic, it was an attempt to brand you," Jareth said through clenched teeth. "It was an incredibly painful process, I'd never let you endure it awake" Jareth kissed her with a worried smiled, as he watched Sarah digest this information. She just gave him and 'later' look. And returned her attention back to her new born. "Just so beautiful"
After Violet seemed satisfied Sarah rested her on her chest to burp her. Jareth just watched in wonder, as Sarah seemed to be a natural.
" Jareth...what does he want? Nalan...?"
Jareth looked at Sarah and Violet long and hard remembering those images. "He..."
There was a knock at the door and Sarah seemed to hold onto Violet more protectively. She felt a vibration around her.
Jareth moved back as he could too feel this vibration. He gave Sarah a reassuring look as he answered the door. It was Iason, Elizabeth and a small boy in her arms he looked to be two years old. Jareth talked softly to them and finally let them in the room.
Iason stopped immediately upon looking at Sarah holding the Princess close.
"Sarah, I'm so glad to see you awake."
Sarah could feel the vibration weaken. She smiled at Iason. And then the vibration was gone altogether.
"Sarah, do you realize you just shielded yourself and Violet?"
"Shielded?" Sarah repositioned Violet, cradling her in her arms. "A powerful ability, anyone or thing that tries to penetrate the shield, Well, it's not a pleasant response, a lot like electrical currents.
Sarah silently noted the information. And looked down again at Violet, everything about the now resting babe was luring, her essence pulled you in, to be around her was to love her.
"Not even Seven months," Sarah looked up to Iason, whom understood her question. " I can assure you, the Princess is perfectly healthy, all 7lbs 2oz."
"That's impossible..." sarah breathed. Running her finger down the sleeping babes soft face.
"No it's incredible, Fay pregnancies are unpredictable precious." Jareth smiled.
Sarah had no choice but to accept this, Violet was all the proof she needed.
"She is so beautiful" Elizabeth spoke up moving towards Sarah. A Small child hid behind her.
"Thank you Elizabeth, and who's this little one?" The boy peaked out from behind Elizabeth looking at Sarah. His blond curls glowing in the sunlight.
"This is Michael, he's 3 and will be staying, until his new mommy and daddy come to get him." Jareth informed. Sarah made a mental note of his age. He was quite small. Neglect and malnourished no doubt.
"Hello there sweetie," Sarah said softly. She could tell by his essence his short time here was the first real bath, meal and friendly treatment he received. Tears threaten to break trough as Violet wrapped her hand around Sarah's finger.
"Would you like to meet the Princess?" Sarah asked gently.
Micheal put his finger in his mouth nervously and looked up to Elizabeth .
"It's ok" Elizabeth walked over to the bed, pulling Michael on her lap, to get a better look.
"Baby" Michael said.
"Yes, you're right" Sarah said friendly. Micheal looked at Sarah for a long time then moved next to her laying his head on her shoulder, and watched Violet sleep in her mother's arms. Sarah reached her arm up and cupped the child's head patting his soft hair. "You're ok now"
Again Jareth looked on in awe, just when he though it not possible, he fell in Love more with his Queen.
Life settled into a new normal as Sarah fell into Motherhood. The Princess was all the kingdom could talk about. Sarah struggled with her nightmares of Nalan, and refused to revisit them in her waking state. This was wearing her down, however she was making every effort to conceal it.
Jareth awoke to a cry. Not alarmed by this he reached for Sarah, not surprised to find her side of the bed empty. He made his way to the the Nursery. As he got closer a humming became lyrics, being song softly over Violet's fussy cries.
"Hush now, don't be scared,
through this time of darkness, shadows may march, thunders will roar,
but peace shall soon prevail, in this land our sacred land nightmares spread confusion,
but stand your ground and soon you'll have found a light to guide your way"
Violet had calmed. And Sarah signed in relief.
"Violet I love you very much" she whispered drawing her fingers gently down the the six month old babes brown locks.
It was then Jareth realize Sarah's cheeks were also wet with tears, and the vibrations of her shield were present.
" Sarah?" Jareth walked closer, keeping aware of the shield. She looked to him with at start, having no time to clear her tears. She allowed the shield down, immediately Jareth rushed to her side. Grasping onto her white night gown, he gave his sleepy daughter a smile, which she returned. "What is it love?"
Sarah stood, looking up to meet his eyes, she adjusted Violet in her arms straightening out the Princesses night gown. Sarah swayed to lull their little one back to sleep.
"Jareth..." She whispered sadly, a fresh tear falling. He quickly placed his had on her cheek to clear the tear, she leaned into his hand.
She placed a now Sleeping Violet in the cradle.
When the Princess stirred a bit, from the change, Sarah rocked the cradle softly.
"It's to awful to say out loud." Sarah whispered , voice trembling, still looking at Violet taking a deep breath she prepared to face him. Jareth took Sarah by both shoulders looking her in the eyes. "Jareth" her eyes teared up, she placed her hand on his face. Jareth's heart raced as he began to look into Sarah's essence, pulling into her memories, much like she was able to see his concerns. He kept searching and seeing in horror the night of the ball, Nalan getting past his guards and magical defenses, the terrible acts Nalan was forcing upon Sarah in her nightmares, the promises he whispered to her, as he violated her body. A curse, he promised. To take her and Violet away from the Kingdom. He would get Sarah, and he would crush Jareth, this he promised in all her nightmares.
Jareth pulled away unable to see anymore. His heart ached for his Sarah, what she must have endured all these months.
Sarah felt his essence change. "Jar.." Sarah cried out to him as he began to walk away from her.
"Bring the Princess" he cut her off.
Sarah turned back to the sleeping babe, she gently lifted her from her beautiful cradle, grabbed her blanket soundlessly caring the babe to their chambers.
She twirled her finger trying to magic a cradle for Violet, but her magic wavered. And she found herself feeling weak for a moment. Jareth looked on. Determined Sarah took a deep breath and tried again, this time succeeding. She was able to tuck Violent back in without disturbing her. Jareth had joined her, pulling the blanket from her shoulder and placing it gently on the sleeping Princess.
He gathered Sarah in his arms holding her tightly. "I failed, I promised to protect you, and I failed."
"Jareth, they are only bad dreams"
"No..." he took her wrist, pulling up the lace and silk night gown. She examined her wrist. " Can you not see Sarah?"
She looked but only saw the slight scar from Iasons test. Jareth could feel her confusion and waved his hands over her wrist, removing the dark magic. Upon doing so her wrist were both covered in layers of scars and raw burns. " Oh my God." She tried to pull her hands from Jareth, but he wouldn't release her, in fear that she might disappear. It wasn't long before she could feel pain all over her body. "Oh God, Jareth... it's... it's real?!" Her eyes were wild with realization. She looked up to her king, feeling ashamed. "No, please no... it can't be real, they were just nightmares," she cried steadily.
"He's already attempted on your life and Violets..." Jareth whispered, the emotion and rage he was feeling was bubbling up. "He sent you into early Labor that night at the ball, you must have healed Violet, saved her life."
"He..." Jareth couldn't even speak it, the vision of what Nalan did to her. "Raped the Queen!" Jareth knocked over a nearby vase. Waking Violet. Sarah cleared her tears and lifted her child to her, holding her close, to comfort her.
It was real. Not a nightmare. She began to tremble. "Why does he want her?..." she looked back to him. "Jareth our daughter." Remembering her dream. She dreamt Nalan was peering into the cradle. When she awoke suddenly, Violets frightened crying had her running to the Nursery. As soon as she had her in her arms, her shield went up.
Jareth took the Princess, cradling her in his arms. "Come, we have to get you two to Iason."
"He was right..." Sarah stopped.
"What's that?"
"You would never want me after he did what he..."
"Sarah look at me." He commanded.
She couldn't meet his eyes. "Look at me Sarah,"
She looked up. Sadness and fear swelled in her eyes. "Know this, what ever that twisted snake has said, what he has done, will never, ever change my love for you, do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Good then"
Iason started an exam on Violet first. He did find traces of dark magic in her essence. Sarah immediately stepped forward. "How do we clear it?" Upon feeling her mother's discomfort Violet let out a cry.
"Oh, Shhh my sweet flower," Sarah picked up the Angelic child, the long lacy night gown flowed around the babe as Sarah secured her in her arms. Sarah began to yield magic trying to remove the black magic.
"Sarah no," sarah looked to Jareth inquisitively.
"I suspect your magic is depleted, please," Jareth reached out for Violet. After kissing her on her head Sarah fussed over Violets curls and bonnet and handed her to her father.
"Iason, the wand."
"Yes," Iason pulled a long clear wand out of a golden box. Sarah watched as Jareth took it carefully, waving it over Violet, as he did a black smoke like energy was pulled from Violets essence, and a portion of the wand was turned black.
Iason instructed Sarah to the exam table. Jareth called for Elizabeth , whom arrived shortly.
After catching Elizabeth up, she was asked to hold Violet while Iason and Jareth worked on Sarah.
Elizabeth gave Sarah a compassionate look and did all she could to calm Violet.
"You may want to take her back to the Nursery," Iason suggested.
"No!" Sarah protested. "The wished away Nursery, please Elizabeth , and please summon Marcus to be with you."
"Of course"
Sarah watched Elizabeth leave with her baby.
"Jareth, she's never been out of my sight..."
" I know precious." He kissed her on the forehead.
"You highness a word" Iason pulled Jareth over to his cabinet full on herbs and liquids. " Your permission to treat her anxieties"
Jareth thought for a moment. "Yes, Iason I'll have to show you the images, I fear, I cannot speak them out loud"
" I understand."
"Ok Sarah this will help with your nerves, it may make you a bit drowsy, or cloudy feeling"
She just nodded her head and quickly drank the elixir. After a few moments Sarah felt calmed and even closed her eyes.
Jareth looked to Iason and silently gave him permission to proceeded. First Jareth giving him the sight of everything that had happened, from the ball to this night in the nursery. Iason checked the obvious places for injuries. What neither of them expected was the amount of damage they would uncover, Jareth pulled the black magic out of Sarah's essence as he did the glamors, like a vail pulled away. Sarah's torso was covered with deep black and blue marks, some aged, some new. There wasn't an area on her body that seemed untouched. "How?" Jareth bit back rage. "You'd be amazed by what Sarah's spirit can endure."
"I will punish Nalan to the fullest for these crimes"
"Cunning the way he went about it, using her dreams to avoid her shield..."
"It's cowardly."
"May I speak as a friend, rather then a healer..."
"Of course"
"After we rid the black magic, Nalan will inevitably figure out he can't get to her. He will try and strike. Just prepare before you go looking for trouble, he's made it past our defenses."
Jareth understood what Iason was getting at.
"Please heal her, while she finally rests, I don't want her to see this." Jareth had to look away then Iason had to remove hand prints from Sarah's upper thigh.
Jareth magicked a new nightgown on Sarah. They would never see that one again. She stirred and opened her eyes in a start.
"Jareth?!"
"Right here, Iason... her wrist"
Jareth kissed Sarah's forehead as Iason pulled the back magic from the marks on Sarah's wrists, then healed them.
Sarah felt different. Now that the dark vail was removed, memory and dream were no longer intertwined. Jareth had his arm around her, he could feel her go rigid.
Her eyes filled with hot tears of anger.
"I'll kill him for what he's done, I'm going to kill him. Jareth felt a vibration around them, Sarah was shielding herself, and unwittingly Jareth. Iason was moving quickly with a stronger sedative.
"Sarah you have every right to be angry, please put down your shield, so no one gets hurt. Iason is here to help... and we have to get back to Violet."
"Oh god my sweet girl," Sarah covered her mouth, a new horror hiding in her eyes. Jareth reached in to see what she saw, it was Nalan he had taken Violet away from Sarah, but kept her in reach enough so he could torment her with her baby's cries. Then the proclamation of having his own child by Sarah. It was more then Jareth could bear. "He wants Sarah for his own." Jareth whispered. Jareth snapped out of it. Sarah let's go get Violet. And down her shield went.
As quickly as he could Iason injected a sedative into Sarah's neck. " I'm sorry my Love, I'm so sorry" Jareth cradled her in his arms. Allowing himself a moment to process everything. He bit back tears and rocked Sarah a bit, "I'm sorry my Sarah, this is all my fault."
He blinked her to their chambers. Lying her on the bed, covering her for warmth.
He then marched into the Nursery, seeking out that crystal mobile, as soon as he saw it he blasted it into oblivion. Replacing it with a charmed butterfly mobile that glowed purple.
Then he summoned Elizabeth and Marcus to bring Violet back to him.