Chapter 6: A Dark Memory On The Cold Floor

Sarah awoke abruptly in a cold sweat to the lingering of the dreams; no memories. She remembered everything: the beatings, the torture, humiliation, the gremlins, her father, and…

She rushed to the washroom and retched in the camber pot. She remembered her last day in the Gremlin Kingdom, the day Lord Dylon… She broke out in tears curling in on herself as she laid on the cold floor.

Jareth was there within moment's kneeling on the floor beside her. He reached out to stroke her soft hair, "Don't touch me!"

"Sarah…" His voice was calm and soothing, "the labyrinth would not have given your memories back if you were not ready to take them."

She looked up at him in shock, only to find his gentle eyes looking back at her. How did he know she had gotten her memories?

"I remember everything Jareth! How dark and horrid my life was. I wanted it all to end!" the tiers coming with more vigor.

"Whatever happened in the past, Sarah, is in the past. The labyrinth only removed your memories until you had time to heal. You are now safe here, protected by the Labyrinth and myself." He reached out to caress her lovely, whipping the sick from her mouth.

"I'm no good, I'm bro-"

He placed a single pale finger against her lips, "Shhhh. You are still Sarah not matter what anyone does or says. My Sarah, You have nothing to be ashamed of, nor anything to fear. You are welcome here for as long as you like."

She smiled up at him, "Thank you." She was touched by warmth and genuine affections.

"You have a future here if you wish it." He paused before he continued, "Perhaps as future Goblin Queen?" He watched her attentively, looking for any signs he had crossed a line.

Fresh tear started to leak from her eyes, "You want me to be your Queen? You wish to marry…me?"

He laughed that full throated laugh that Sarah had become addicted to, "Yes my love! It is my greatest wish!"

"But…but…you don't know who I am or were I came from. What has been done-"

He again paced his pale finger on her lip and sighed, "You are still Sarah. My love, my heart, my happiness, my wish. I care not what was before. I want this." He placed his hand on either side of her face and pulled her in to kiss her lightly on her forehead.

Sarah was suddenly overwhelmed with emotions: surprise, happy, eager, angry, scared, and lastly, the one that held…Loved.

She felt loved! She threw her arms out wide and held him tight, "YES! YES OF COURSE." She sobbed tears of joy into his bare chest.

He held her tight and lifted as she was still in his arms. He held her close as he cared her to their bed.

The following day Sarah was miserable. Not at all by what had transpired the night before. Yes, she was haunted by her newly returned memories, but when they tried to push in on her she remembered Jareth and his words. He loved her and wanted to marry her!

The misery came physically. She was tired, drained, and her whole body hurt. All day she had just felt…uncomfortable. She was sweaty and hot one minute then cold and damp the next second. When she tried to stand she felt dizzy, when she tried to eat she felt nauseated. In all she just didn't feel like herself

Jareth had left early that morning anxious to start the arrangements for their marriage. He came back periodically to check in to make sure she was doing well. Seeing the worry and concern unconcealed on his face each time made her heart ache to know he cared for her.

He loathed leaving her after each visit, but she insisted he do his duties. Upon his last visit he could handle no more and sent for a healer.

Jareth was forced to wait outside as the healer did a thorough examination of the young lady. Sarah lay on the bed as he examined her up and down asking questions here and there about all types of things. Most were as basic as diet and other a more personal level. He moved with skill and determination to find the cause of her discomfort. Finally, toward the end of it all he pulled a clear crystal about the size of Sarah's hand from his medicine bag and laid it on her abdomen. He watched the crystal as the clear ebbed instantly away and replace by purple tint.

He held the now purple crystal close to his face as he watch it fade back to clear. "Ah. I see." He said as he returned the crystal to his bag.

"What is it?" Sarah asked hesitantly.

"You are with child my dear." He said cheerfully. "Congratulations. This is why you feel ill, you are now two magical beings. Its magic and your magic mix inside of you, it is quite common for parent of strong magical lines, my dear. Shall I retrieve The Goblin King?"

Sarah was stunned. For Fey, conceiving was difficult, but here she had become expectant so easily. Then the dread struck her hard and if felt as if a cold hand had squeezed her heart. What if the child is Lord Dylon's? She hadn't been in the Goblin Kingdom long to there was a possibility.

She had lapsed into silence for a more than a few moments. The healer assumed she was processing the news. He gave her few moments then asked again if he should fetch the King on his leave. Not trusting her voice she merely nodded signaling he should do so.

Jareth entered the room and was immediately by her side clasping her hands. She looked crestfallen at him attempting to memorize every detail of him. She wanted to remember him this way in case he turned her away when he found out the truth.

She hesitantly began, "Jareth, I am with child." She left it at that, first wanting to judge his reaction before she continued.

He kept his emotions in check, hiding them with the practiced mask of a king. In his heart he was thrilled, but he could tell something was wrong.

Sarah continued, "The child may not be yours."

The news hit Jareth hard. He stood and silently walked to a window.

As he turned away from her, Sarah rapidly spilled out what had transpired, "I do not love him! I hate him! He forced me! Beat and…" the tears came unchecked, "…raped." She whispered the last bit as shame and embarrassment accompanying her words.

Jareth tensed when he heard her say it, such bitterness and injury in her voice. He stayed facing the window as she spoke to him. He didn't want her to see the pain in his eyes. It wasn't about the babe, the pain he felt was for her. He didn't want to take the chance of her mistaking it for damage to his pride. She had been hurt and he felt the pain as his own. He knew as well, she didn't want his pity; she was too strong for that.

"The child is mine." He turned to face her.

Sarah froze. She didn't know how to respond.

He quickly closed the distance between them and kneeled before her starring unrelenting into her green eyes, "Do you understand, Sarah? This child is mine. I care not of anything else."

Sarah felt annoyed as tears poured down her cheeks once again. She was never one to cry so often, but she supposed tears of joys were tolerable. She reached out and pulled him tightly to her. She felt his strong arms around her reciprocating her embrace.

She wanted to be certain; she wanted to hear him say it because she didn't want any type of misunderstanding. Pulling away to look him into his eye and asked, "Do you still wish for me as your Queen? You are willing to except this child as your heir?"

A warm smirk shined on his face, "Was there any doubt?" He closed the distance between them consuming her mouth with his own. He wanted to do nothing more than to show her how much he loved and wanted her.

I tried to steer away from the morning sickness and "normal" pregnancy because of hormones and stuff. I figured, Fey what the hey? They will have magic issues instead of hormones.