Oh, What A Circus!
On the Balcony of the Goblin Castle.
Sarah woke to warmth and to light that was so rudely breaking it's way between her heavy eyelids. She felt like she had only just gone to sleep, and she was not by any means ready to wake yet. Groaning her disapproval, she turned away from the light and nuzzled into the soft warmth that surrounded her, hiding from morning's usual calling card. She blinked, realizing that warmth was a person, and the whole night came washing over her in one big wave. Jareth. His chest was providing the warmth, fine blonde hair tickling her cheek. She didn't lift her head to look at him, unsure as to whether she had woke him up, and hesitant to do so before processing their wedding night.
He had been both aggressive and gentle, passionate and somber. Had caressed all of her and been open to her ministrations, and he had seemed…breathless whenever he would look at her. At one point, he had just looked at her and professed his love with the three powerful little words, and Sarah had choked. She couldn't say it, but had found that easy to bypass by simply moving on to the lovemaking. She knew it wouldn't always be so easy, so she needed to take the time to make up her mind already. Jareth stirred slightly beneath her, and she heard him curse softly, making goosebumps pop up all over her body. "Forgot the damn curtains…" He seemed to gauge whether or not she was awake, and so, she gave up the act and lifted herself.
"I'll get them, your majesty," She purred, leaning down to kiss him, grinning at his surprise before she strolled to the window, snapped the curtains shut, and rushed to crawl back into bed, snuggling close for his warmth. "Brr," She shivered dramatically, scooping the covers from down around their ankles to drape over their still naked bodies. Jareth's arms came around her to help take the chill away, and he chuckled, shaking them in the bed slightly.
"I had not realized my Queen was such a freeze baby," He remarked, earning a playful nip to his earlobe that made him gasp softly, glaring at her with dangerously dark eyes. "Enough of that, we don't have time for a second round this morning."
"Oh?" She sighed, snuffling lightly. "I was hoping we'd at least have time for me to sleep, oh, I don't know, two or three more hours."
Jareth's laughter barked through the room and she lifted her face from his skin to glare at him, now. He shook his head. "Your lazy days in bed are numbered, darling. Today we present you to the kingdom for the first time. If you want breakfast by then, you have to forsake your sleepiness."
She pouted and sighed again, sitting up slightly, propped against the pillows. "You neglected to tell me we actually had things to do today when you kept me up as late as you did." She tried to look angry with him, but his fingers danced up her thigh and skipped her unmentionables before fluttering over her ticklish belly, making her laugh wildly. He smirked at her reaction, and moved over her, kissing her deeply, fully before spreading soft, loving kisses across her face.
"I'll make a deal with you," He compromised. "I'll let you sleep all night while I make love to you, and then you won't be so tired tomorrow, and I won't feel cheated of my rights as your husband."
Sarah smiled at him, reaching to brush his hair from his eyes, leaning up to kiss him tenderly. "You are not nearly boring enough for me to sleep through that sort of thing, Jareth. I'm sure I'll find time to sleep through the rest of my lifetime."
"Indeed you will." Jareth told her with a nod, pecking one last kiss onto her lips before rising to start a bath in the adjoining room. "For instance, whenever my seed happens to take in you, you will not have to lift a finger the entire course of the pregnancy."
The discussion didn't scare her so much, although it made her tummy fuzzy at the thought of carrying Jareth's baby. She stood from the bed, and followed him. "Well that'll be nice. Always kind of figured I'd be working to support my family," Jareth looked at her in horror for a moment, then his eyes softened, he remembered then that women Aboveground were treated differently. "I guess my main concern will be public appearances then, huh?"
"Of course not. You'll hardly have to leave the castle."
Sarah blinked. "But…I'll be allowed to leave, right?"
Jareth's brow furrowed in confusion as he added soap to the running water. "I…suppose? I don't see what you'd need to leave for. Or why you'd jeopardize things that way."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
He immediately sensed his wife's indignity and he sighed. "Sarah, I'm not trying to insult you it's just…life here is precious. Truly precious. Two Fae are lucky to ever conceive and pregnancy for a Fae woman is a very fragile time. Even sometimes with human mothers, our babes can be lost…" He trailed off, and seemed distant. Sarah was surprised at how closely he seemed to take it all to heart. And she moved to place her hand on his shoulder.
"That's terrible. I understand why you'd worry, but I'm from a place where it's a part of life so, I'd like to think our children would be as tough as me, even in the womb."
He couldn't hide a little smile at that and he took her hand to help her into the tub. "I certainly hope for that. I wish now that I had spent more time Above in my youth to know more about the culture you come from."
"You know, Princess Di was everywhere back when she was pregnant with her boys."
"Princess Di?" Sarah nodded. "Afraid I'm not familiar with her, precious."
Sarah sat against the back of the tub and Jareth climbed in and attempted to scoot around her, but she urged him silently to sit with his back to her, rubbing his shoulders and washing his back and hair for him. He was tense at first, unfamiliar with not being the one to wash the lady first, but she kissed his skin, murmuring some sort of respectful title and he smiled. Sometimes, it was truly good to be the King. Sarah continued by telling him all about Elizabeth II and her children, and now, her grandchildren and Jareth marveled at the scandalous stories of the recently divorced Diana.
"Last time I spent more than a short time Above Elizabeth was very young, her father was King." He marveled. "Lovely man, George. I attended a polo match with him once. Whatever became of him?"
"He died a long time ago, but I'm not sure what did it." She said softly, feeling him slump a little at that news.
"Ah, the death." He sighed and finally squirmed away so he could face her and pulled her into his lap, just to hold her. "That's the saddest part of living forever, my darling love. You lose quite a few dear friends along the way." He saw something twitch in her eyes and he frowned, brushing her damp hair away from her face so he could look at her. "You know that's not a path you're going to take."
"But I'm human." She said simply. "We all have to die."
He shocked the hell out of her by dropping one hand from her body to punch the wall and the plaster broke slightly, and Jareth's hand swelled and began bleeding. "I told you you won't, why is my word not good enough?"
"Why do you expect me to have all the answers already, Jareth? I don't know anything about your people. About this lifestyle. You have to be patient with me."
If he weren't in a good mood that might have been too bold, but he realized that she was always going to have a mind of her own. He sighed, rubbing a hand over his forehead. "Sarah, I will teach you all I can. But there is so much to know, you'll have to be open to asking anyone you meet here your questions." He stood from the tub and dried off, leaving her a fresh towel. "Hurry and get ready, I'll meet you out on the balcony."
She was about to ask him about what to wear when a dress materialized on the door, an A-line waist with a big pompous skirt, all violet draped elaborately around itself. She dried off and left the tub to dress and when she entered his room, Ellome was waiting to zap her hair into a lovely updo. Jareth's sister led her down the hall in silence, and they walked through the upper salon, where their closest friends and Jareth's cabinet waited. They bowed as she passed, and she wasn't sure whether or not to bow back.
"Ah ah," Ellome dragged her along. "The only person you bow to is Jareth," The doors to the balcony were open, and Jareth was just finishing up a speech about his next move to ensnare the High Kingdom and about his brother in law, Bartel, Ellome's husband, who would become the next Goblin King until he and Sarah produced an heir and that heir reached age to rule. She stopped in the doorway, not wanting to interrupt and he looked up at her. His expression was both fire and ice, but his eyes were softer when he gazed upon her.
Jareth turned back to the edge of the balcony, and his voice held such force and promise that Sarah was hardly sure where he kept it. Without the aid of a microphone, he still reached all the masses of goblins listening below. "My brethren, the High King has stolen your Prince from you," A large wave of hisses and angry yells. "But he has brought you a Queen!" And now cheers. Sarah almost felt nauseous, like she was on a difficult audition. "We shall spare him only the public shame of displaying his head for this gift!" Cheers of agreement and Sarah fought to keep her face neutral to such ugly words. "I will never abandon you all, and I will see to it that myself and my wife, formerly the Lady Sarah, now Sarah, Queen of the Goblin Realm, eliminate the threat that has befallen this beloved land!"
The goblins began shouting for their Queen and Jareth turned to her, offering her his hand. She took it, and he helped her step outside. Sarah gasped when she realized snow was falling all around them, and had been blanketing the ground for many hours, yet the air was not nearly cold enough for snow. Jareth watched her wide-eyed-wonder with wonder of his own, and he grinned at the way she took it all in, her new title, the marriage and the little flakes clinging to her hair. The goblins stopped chanting when they saw her, there was a buzzing response and then silence. Sarah looked down to the ground and her eyes filled with tears of awe as she saw that they had all fallen to their knees to bow to her.
Her husband approached, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, and she settled her arms over his, overwhelmed. "Your people love you, just as I do." He whispered, kissing her temple. "I know it tends to have a gloomy reception up Above but snow only falls here when there is happiness across the land. You've brought them hope, Sarah. You've brought us hope, even in the face of Eowne's death."
A flake settled on the tip of her nose and they both laughed as he flicked it away and he turned her into his arms more properly and stole an arduous kiss from her. The goblins cheered at the sight and Sarah allowed herself to melt into his embrace. After a short while, he parted from her and kissed her forehead, taking her hand firmly to guide her off of the balcony. She stole one last look at the crowd, which was also beginning to depart, before she followed him inside and a guard closed the doors behind them.
Jareth left her a moment to speak to those closest to him in his government and she continued to watch the snow fall outside. She was lost in her wonder until his fingers slipped through hers and she looked at him, and smiled softly. He studied her expression and smiled. "I was wrong about you."
"You were?"
"Yes," He murmured, staring down into her face. "I never thought if…I assumed that if you ever married me you couldn't be happy. But you look happy."
She nodded, it had doubtlessly been a wonderful twelve hours, she couldn't deny that. Jareth squeezed her hand and she saw that his eyes had become marked with sadness. "Are you all right?"
He shook his head. "I'll be fine. But now it's time to lay the little Prince to rest." They shared a silent frown and Sarah slipped her arm around his waist as they walked to the hall. He relished her strength then, that she even cared enough to be a support to him, and they made their way down the stairs to put on cloaks. The Undertaker had just instructed the pall-bearers, Jareth's brothers-in-law and Eowne's tutor, and they had gathered round his little casket in the lower salon, which Jareth had avoided up until now.
The newlyweds approached, hands clasped, and tears instantly filled Sarah's eyes as she gazed down at her brother-in-law. His tiny hands folded nearly over his belly, he looked peaceful, but very pale now. He had been dressed to hide his bruised little neck, and blonde locks, still curled at the ends from his babyhood, were soft and fluffy all around his chubby face. Sarah was the first to reach down into the casket, startling Jareth a little, until he saw her tuck a curl behind his little ear.
He wasn't sure how to say goodbye, not after caring for him as his own for five years. He tentatively reached to touch his little cheek and frowned at the coolness of his skin. Jareth bent, and pulled a little pin with a medal from his pocket and attached it to Eowne's court uniform, the medallion of the Goblin Kingdom, which had been stolen from him with his premature death. His hand trembled a little and Sarah gently squeezed his arm. "C'mon. Let's get the hard part over with."
He nodded and they moved out of the way so the Undertaker could attach the glass lid to the coffin. The pallbearers lifted it up by it's handles, and Jareth and Sarah started the procession out of the castle to the cemetery in Exules, where Eowne would be buries alongside his parents in a crypt, heavily guarded by soldiers at that point in the war.
At the crypt, Jareth held his sisters and they cried as the High Priest spoke wonderful words that should have comforted them. Sarah wiped her tears as they fell, trying in vain to be strong for them all. And when it was all over and the crowds of mourners left, she collapsed into Jareth's arms and they sobbed quietly until they could be shielded from the public eye no more. Jareth took his wife into his arms and transported her back to the castle.
Later, they lay in his bed in silence, with Sarah curled up in his arms, staring at the window like it were the balcony from the morning, expecting the people to call and ask them what to do with their pain. Jareth had pulled the covers up around them, despite the low fire burning in the room now, and Sarah was a welcome warmth that added to his overall comfort. They had come home from the funeral with the intention of blocking out the pain, and had succeeded to a degree. But it had not been the explosive kind of lovemaking that they had had the night before.
He blinked past his jumbled thoughts and smiled down at her, running his fingers through soft, messy hair. She glanced up at him and they smiled weakly at one another, the joy of the wedding no longer able to keep their agony buried. But still joyous enough that they were glad to be together. Sarah sighed at the confusing mix of emotions, and sat up a little, looking into his face which was quite serious but also curious when she moved away. "Hey." She murmured. "Hasn't that throne figured out that your Uncle isn't the rightful king anymore yet?"
Jareth smiled at her expression and reached to trace his fingertips along her soft shoulder, and he shook his head. "I'm afraid it isn't that simple. I have to sit in the throne for it to make a decision," He ghosted his fingertips down along her side, following her womanly curves, but not trying to garner any reaction from her. "And then you will have to sit in it…and if we're decided to be fit, we'll be High King and Queen."
"So the hard part is getting there?"
"That my love," He took her shoulders into his hands and earned a giggle when he drew her down flush to his body. "Is what armies are for. Don't worry." He nuzzled her nose and solicited a soft kiss from her, pressing his forehead to hers. "I have no doubt that you were born for this, Sarah."
"I wish I were as confident as you," She said softly, reaching to touch his hand. "But not literally so…don't go pumping me full of magical confidence, okay?"
Jareth's smirk should not have been so trusted. And she blushed crimson the moment she realized what he was going to say before he even said it. "Well if you like we can pump you full of certain other things…"
She whapped his chest playfully, shaking her head as she laughed. "You are absolutely terrible."
"And you love me ever so much for it," He chimed, making her stop laughing. In fact she nearly fell rigid. Jareth frowned and glanced at her, blinking. He had forgotten the night before, how she hadn't responded to his profession of love. He had neglected to realize that she hadn't slipped it some time today. And now he was dumbfounded to see that even in such a situation, she could not bring herself to believe that she loved him. "Sarah…"
"No, no," She pressed her finger to his lips. "Please don't analyze this, okay? I haven't not said it because I don't. I think…I think you know that I do, Jareth." His breath grew ragged at that and he listened closer. "I just need the moment to bring it out. You had yours last night, this just isn't how I want to remember saying it the first time."
He squirmed from her finger and sighed. "You are entirely too picky."
"So I've been told," She winked down into his face. "But you love me anyway."
The rain was pouring again, and the snow was nowhere to be seen. Sarah blinked. She didn't know how long she had been standing in the grass staring all around her but it was the first conscious thought that she had. Rain. Warm rain despite the lack of sunshine. She turned her head and saw the distant specks of people searching the grounds for the young High Prince and among them she recognized Jareth, looking forlorn. Jareth, she had just daydreamed of him becoming her husband. And she had had a terrible nightmare of what was going to happen today.
She was running then, desperately pushing past the mushy ground toward the woods that Eowne so much loved to hide in. She heard people call to her but she couldn't listen. Perhaps if she ran in there she could save him. Find him alive, if only just barely hanging on. Perhaps it wouldn't be so serious as his little neck being broken. The rain was warm, he wouldn't die of hypothermia. Not for a while at least, so she had a real chance.
The woods were frightening and dark, even during the day, especially with all of the clouds. Sarah winced when a branch whipped out and slashed across her arm, but it didn't slow her. She had to find the Prince. She had to save him from that little black coffin in the lower parlor. She saw bright yellow in the midst of brown and green ahead and she froze, Eowne was sitting in one of the trees. "Eowne!" She cried, and the child turned his head and looked at her with distant eyes. "Don't move! I'm coming up!"
He obeyed but it seemed like he simply was content sitting there. Sarah hiked up the stupid skirts of her dress and scrambled at the tree, and it felt flat. Not a place to put her hands or feet but she somehow managed to claw her way up. Her fingers bleeding and throbbing she scrambled up the branches to the branch that the prince sat on. "Eowne, take my hand…" She sounded gentle but afraid and he glanced to her digits, blinking.
"Sarah," he whispered. "When I'm in Heaven, will you remember me?"
"You're not going to Heaven!" She cried, tears mixing with the rain, warm on her skin. "You're not, okay? I'm here now. I'll take care of you and Jareth and we'll all be okay."
There was a terrifying howl and everything went much darker. Eowne's face filled with dread and he hung his head. "It's too late now, Sarah. He's coming for me. You should go."
"I'm not going to leave you, dammit!" She managed to crawl to where he was sitting and pulled his little body into her arms, cradling him close. His little arms wrapped around her neck and she heard the leaves rustling above them. Looking up, she saw blood red eyes and shining teeth, and Eowne's grip tightened on her. "What…"
"Nosferatu…" He whispered.
That was all she needed to hear. Sarah looked to the ground and then to the part of the tree that she had climbed, no sense in trying to go down that way. She sucked in a deep breath and leapt, and hit the ground with a sickening crack. Her leg….She knew it was broken. But Eowne looked up at her with wide eyes, and was clearly unharmed. She'd have to make due with the one leg.
Sarah was off as fast as she could, limping all the way along. She was murmuring prayers for their safety and the woods were flying past her, she could see the searcher's lights and she cried out. "SOMEONE PLEASE HELP! I'VE GOT HIM!"
The lights drew nearer and she cried in pain when something knocked them over. Sarah wrapped her arms around Eowne protectively and he shook against her. "We're nearly past the line, Sarah," He whispered. "I've brought you all the way to the veil…please. Just a little further. We can make it if he doesn't know you're afraid."
Such wise words from such a little boy. The lights drew even closer and the bushes broke to reveal Sir Didymus and Ellome and they both looked absolutely shocked. With no better idea in mind, Sarah kissed the little boy and flung him out of her arms and to the others. There was a flash of light as he hit a clear wall and he passed through it slowly, like he were going through a liquid.
Ellome caught him and hit the ground with the force and she burst into tears, saying his name over and over. The monster howled and was gone and others were filling the woods, many beginning to approach her, some, including the Elven Healer, checking to make sure Eowne was okay. And he was. He was telling Ellome about the monster that had been in his closet.
And then Jareth was there and he bent over her, touching her face. "Sarah," She smiled at him, too fazed to feel the heavy ring on his finger. To see days of agony wiped away. "Sarah how did you…?"
"I think I've been wrong, Your Majesty. I think I do belong here. I belong with you. I love you," And she saw a twinkle of love in his own eyes. "I want to be your Queen."
Jareth shook his head, his expression melting into concern. "Sarah, darling, you are my Queen." His hand paused and began to tremble, touching at her neck. "What…what…" He lifted it and Sarah saw blood. And she was speechless. It hadn't won! It hadn't bit her!
The Healer was brought over and he examined her with his hand to her neck. He looked to his King. "She is fading, Sire. She must have been attacked and escaped in the night, but she was close enough through the veil to find young Eowne. She rescued him from Death's own clutches!"
"He will no doubt have something to say about that," Jareth remarked through clenched teeth, but his eyes shone with tears. "What of her memory?"
"Part of the illusion allows her to live as she did the day he died. Her memories will return rapidly once I begin to heal her, but I need to get her inside out of this rain. She is losing blood."
And Sarah realized that she was wearing the pretty mithril ring and her nightgown from the day of her brother-in-law's funeral. And that her neck hurt a great deal. As she was lifted into Jareth's arms, she clutched him close, feeling dizzy and realized the lights and people searching had only been looking for her. She looked to Eowne, watching her from his sister's arms with frightened eyes and she reached her hand out to him.
"I told you little Prince," She whispered. "You have nothing to fear."
He watched her with solemn eyes and then he walked over to them. Jareth bent so they were at one another's level and Eowne placed his little hand on her stomach. "You'll be okay, Sarah. Thank you. My mama can't thank you enough for bringing me back."
"Eowne…" Jareth's gasp was shaken and Sarah and Eowne looked at him, both with distant eyes. "You did not even know your Mama."
His little brother smiled. "Not in my life, but she took care of me now. And she lured Sarah to me with her dream."
Sarah saw Jareth's eyes fill with tears and he blinked them away, smiling softly. "Come, my little mischievous bride. We'll get you all fixed up and discuss this later." She nodded, too weak to ask many questions, and for once, Jareth was grateful that she was not defiant. He carried her to the castle so the healer could begin his work, and Ellome took Eowne inside to give him a warm bath and dry clothes, and to discuss everything he had seen beyond the veil.
An- I know this is a little strange…I tried to make it as clear as I imagined it but it was tricky. To answer some questions I'm sure you have…
1. Eowne is now alive. Why bother killing him at all? Mostly to knock a little sense into our heroine but this will also serve a bit of purpose in their fight against Omartrique, who will NOT know about his resurrection. But he is alive, and he'll be fine from hence on.
2. So what was real and what wasn't? Sarah at one point after going to sleep was left alone. Maybe Jareth had to relieve himself, I'll leave him that much privacy. But she was attacked by the Nosferatu during that point and enough of her blood was drained to leave her near death. She imagined that it was daylight and that it was the day Eowne died, and she imagined Jareth and the search party BEFORE it was dark. The darkness was her mind knocking away the illusion of daylight.
3. What's the deal with the veil? I've seen use of this concept in other places. I tried to give it a little more physical form here. There was an actual thin barrier (I imagine it like clear Jell-o) that separated the real world from the place Eowne slipped to after his death. In that place, he's still hiding from the monster. The thing DID come after Sarah again, but wouldn't have been able to harm Eowne. Sarah had access to the veil because she was near death, the Nosferatu had access because it's undead, but no one else would have noticed it. Eowne literally came flying out of thin air when he passed through. On that note, he probably actually ran from Sarah to his sister, she likely wouldn't have had enough strength to do more than give him a suggestive little shove.
4. What does Olanea (Jareth's mother) have to do with this? Like Eowne said, he had contact with her past the veil and when Sarah crossed it, she guided her to Eowne and maybe was a gentle force in the back of her mind that convinced her to jump from the tree. I decided not to have her show herself for now. We might see a bit of her later.
If you have any questions I did not answer, please feel free to PM me!
