(does happy snoopy dance) yay another chapter. A little note, I started this on Thanksgiving day so that is the meal and the visit Jareth and Sara are having with her family.
A little grumpy Jareth, Healing, Tam Lin, more questions than answers, a little intimacy, and a bit of humor at the end
Above ground, the Williams' residence ...
Jareth was not a happy camper, not that he didn't like Sara's father and step-mother but her extended family also had come for some obscene holiday. He would have enjoyed the wine and revelry of Mabon rather than this "thanksgiving" thing these mortals were so obsessed about. He thought they were living out of step with the seasons. True harvest had come and gone, months ago. He quietly ate his meal, fielding questions now and again.
He watched Sara and the other women doting on the baby, each passing him around like he was some exotic gift to share. It irritated him, but Sara would always claim him back for some trivial thing when she noticed his irritation. She didn't want her family to know just how different Jareth was from a mortal man. She returned to him assuring him it was only a few hours, they would have dessert and be off. He pretended interest in the Football game, but his eyes were always on Sara.
In the Underground...
Pen spent a good portion of her time with Nuada, mostly tending to his wounds. With time, She got him on his feet again. They took to walking in the gardens, and finding a bench to spend a few hours out of the gaze of annoying Goblins and gossiping servants.
"...Jareth and Sara should be returning soon." Pen said, stroking Nuada's hair. "From what I heard his majesty dos not like to spend too much time above ground."
He was on his back with his head in her lap, blurred vision focused upon the sky. Moments like these were going to be rare once Jareth returned.
"So they will be." He said, smiling up at her. "...and we'll have him spying upon us again."
"I do not mind it, and he is too much of a gentleman to watch us be intimate." She said. "He means well, we are his guests who happen to have been assaulted more than once."
Nuada sighed, he decided to bring up a subject she'd been reluctant to speak of since the night of the Banquet. He knew Jareth was keeping things from them, especially about Tam Lin.
"...What did Jareth ask of you the night of the banquet, after I was stabbed."
She closed her eyes, she promised herself she'd tell him but had been avoiding it since that night.
"...Tam Lin was ill with Iron Sickness, Jareth requested I look after him for a few hours while you slept." She said. "It was until I saw him that I realized...Jareth had been forbidden to tell me."
He let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding.
"...He has been here all this time, our son."
"Yes." she said simply. "he has been here since you arrived."
She watched the conflicting emotions upon his face, processing this bit of information. She felt echos of them as he closed his eyes.
"He has been fearful to speak to us." She said. "For what I can only hope is ignorance."
Nuada reached out for her hand, caressing the back, "He is our son, he should not fear us."
"I know he should not."she said softly. "What ever had transpired in his sickness, he tried to push me away." She looked down into Nuada's face. "When before he was following me around like a lost pup."
"What does he look like..." Nuada asked. "I only remember pale skin and a healthy set of lungs."
She laughed softly. "His hair is dark, like mine. He shares my Green eyes, but there is no doubt he is half bathmoran Elf." She reached down to stroke his ear, gently brushing over the tip. "His ears point, but softer, slightly rounded."
He shivered, even a gentle touch upon his ears could arouse him.
"...His face is all yours, fine boned but strong." She said softly. "He turns heads, I know this enough when I first preformed for the Goblin court. Many were asking for his attentions."
He smiled, "...Much like myself when I was in my youth."
"...Then you met me." She said playfully.
He gave her a rueful smile. "...I did not know you'd turn my world upside down."
She laughed softly. "as you turned mine."
He closed his eyes, the brightness of the sky began to bother him. She gently ran her thumb over his eyelid, knowing she couldn't do anymore for him to restore his sight.
"...Do you want me to cover your eyes again?" She asked softly.
He made a soft sound, shifting a bit. Despite several weeks of healing the wounds on his back would bother him if he lay upon it for too long.
"We should go in, I am beginning to feel unwell." He said. "It is too bright."
She knew there was more to it just being too bright. Since the banquet he'd been apprehensive about being in one spot with her.
"We'll go in, I'll dim the room for you."
She led him back inside, his hand firmly on her shoulder.
Above Ground...
Jareth looked down into his pie, the delicate taste of spice and pumpkin enhanced by the rich whipped cream that topped it. It was his third piece, it was one of the few mortal foods he enjoyed. Once he'd seriously considered asking the cooks in the castle to make it, but knowing the goblins he'd probably get something orange scooped out of the bog thrown into a raw pie shell.
Sara had watched him near inhale the first two pieces and now looked bemused as he went through his third piece. She always told her family to make a few extra pies so every one could get a slice. She knew he'd be bellyaching later, Fey digestion and rich human foods didn't often mix well. Especially since the pie he was devouring was homemade with fresh pumpkin. Most of Sara's relatives knew not to stand between Jareth and the pumpkin pie.
Sara took it in stride, since their visit was almost up. She loved her family, but nothing could compare to watching the sun rise over the labyrinth or the full moon reflecting off the fountain in their private garden. He must have caught on to her wish, because he again inhaled his pie and like a gentleman took his own dish to the kitchen..
Sara began to say her good byes, embracing her father and Irene, saving a special hug for Toby. She was surprised when she saw him tucking Lancelot into the small potable bassinet beside her son.
"...He's yours now." Toby said softly as Sara came to retrieve her son.
"Thats sweet," She said.
"I don't need him anymore." Toby said.
Sometimes he still amazed her, even at twelve.
"Will you and Jareth be coming for Christmas?"
"I don't know, The Yule ball is a serious thing. We may be too busy planning." She said.
Toby pouted, he wanted to see her more often.
"I know you want to see me more Tobes, and I'll try to talk Jareth to let me come more often over the holidays."
That brightened his face a little, "Will you send presents..."
She smiled, picking up the bassinet, "Of course, I'll see if I can't get you a hunter's coat. They're warm and good for being outdoors."
She hugged Toby One armed, went to gather her things and husband.
Underground...
Pen led Nuada back to his chambers, carefully avoiding the main passageways. He had only asked her to pause once, that was so he could treat her to a most delightful kiss. She pushed open the door, surprised when she saw Tam Lin sitting beside the fire wrapped in a blanket.
"...Forgive my intrusion, you were not here when I came a while ago." Tam Lin said, his voice harsh from disuse. "I wanted to talk."
She turned to Nuada, he grimly nodded. It was an opportunity to find out just what was being hidden from them. She led the elder man to another chair and took up the stool between them.
"Mother...Father." Tam Lin began.
Both focused their attention on him, which Pen could see made him hesitate more.
"...The High King...he...paid me...to..." Tam Lin rose slowly, shaking his head. "Forgive me, I cannot..."
The young man took one look at Nuada and turned to go, leaving the room as if the weight of the whole world was upon his shoulders.
It was a few moments later that Nuada realized that something had not been right with the young man. He turned to Pen, who was still slightly stunned.
"...He's frightened." Was all he said. "Of me."
She moved to sit in his lap, leaning against his shoulder. He let out a soft sigh.
"He should not fear to tell me." He said softly.
"All children fear to tell their parents when they have done wrong." She said. "He wants our forgiveness, for what I cannot fathom."
He put his arms around her, letting her quietly rest in his lap. It was only here that he felt truly comfortable, even more so after the night of the banquet.
"...What could there be to forgive, It is I who should be begging his and yours."
She reached up and brushed her fingers across his lips.
"You are here now, and will be for our child...to amend your mistake." She said, shifting to straddle him. "do not punish yourself for those things you cannot change."
He pulled her closer, shifting a bit himself to make her more comfortable. She leaned in again to nuzzle into his neck. He stroked her hair, thinking of the mistakes he had made in his long life.
The first one had been asking his father to authorize the creation of the Golden army. He had been so cocksure then, a young prince who knew nothing of the cost of war even upon his own people. He had only thought to stop the humans, even after ages of exile that had been his goal. The second was not taking the chance at redemption fate had offered him in the form of a human girl in the guise of the maiden. For a year he had embraced the vision of what could be if the humans remembered that they and the Sidhe were once one, but then he had walked away from her and their child and back to his war.
That girl was now a woman, quietly dozing upon his lap and again a child of their making was curled in her womb. His darkest heart had whispered to kill the child, to prevent another "taint" upon Bathmora, He had shoved it away, choosing another path. It seemed Redemption was being offered again, a chance to heal from all his wounds.
"...Brooding." Came her murmured voice at his shoulder. "Isn't something you should be doing right now."
He let out a soft chuckle, she could read him all too well. He closed his eyes, and stroked her hair.
"...What should I be doing at this moment?" He asked.
The soft kiss upon his lips surprised him, but soon he wasn't thinking about brooding at all.
Pen broke the kiss, moving to lay her head on his shoulder again. He licked his lips and leaned back into the chair. It seemed for these moments nothing else mattered, not even the threat of more assassins. She placed her hand over his heart, and leaned up to whisper into his ear.
"Just be with me tonight, like this...together."
He gave a soft nod, he did not wish to move despite the renewed pain in his back. He moved and placed his hand over hers, in many ways this was more intimate than their couplings had been. It set him off balance, made him feel emotions he thought long buried. He pulled her closer, to relish the sensation of just simply being.
Near moon rise, the Royal Chambers...
Jareth sighed, then winced. He knew better than to eat so much human food, but the pumpkin pie was always worth it. He produced a crystal he wanted to look in on his guests. He was slightly amused to see them curled in a chair by the fire, neither of them awake. That was to be expected, it was late and they had no doubt been wandering the castle and grounds in his absence.
"...Spying on them again?" Sara said as she came to sit beside him.
"Would I do anything else?" He said. "They are growing closer, there is already a weak bond between them."
"Leave them be for tonight." Sara said. "Let them enjoy their privacy."
He made a soft noise and vanished the crystal. She set a goblet on the table in front of him.
"...Something to settle my stomach I gather." He said, eying the goblet.
"Yes, or else I won't get any sleep." She said. "We'll find out what has transpired from Hoggel in the morning, it is late."
He made another noise, this one would have done his goblins proud. His cheeks flushed, Royalty did not make such sounds. Sara slowly inched away, as a stench that could rival the bog seemed to emanate from her husband. She made a mental note not to let him have so much human food when they went to the next family gathering. He got up and with as much dignity as he could gather, headed for the water closet.
Sara stood stunned for about two minutes before her stomach muscles began to spasm in laughter. They had been through this before, but it had never been this bad. She remembered when it happened the first time, shortly after their wedding. She had not known rich human foods gave the Fey gas, and the result was somewhat humorous. She tried to school her expression when he came back a short time later and downed the goblet. He said nothing as he went to prepare for bed, murmuring about cruel women. She soon followed suite hoping the bromide she'd had the healers make would take care of the problem at least toe the night.