A/N. For Goldwillow, since I couldn't PM you b/c you were signed in as a guest, but your comment really does merit an address (and this is the last thing I'll say about it because I really don't like being on a soapbox): I have to say, that I think you may have missed the point of my A/N on the last chapter. I'm not hoping for applause from anyone; I prefer honest opinions . The only thing I want from reviewers is the same courtesy I extend to everyone else in not making assumptions on the writer's opinions as a real live human being based on what fictional characters say and do. I don't expect everyone to think what I write is great and wonderful. And I DON'T take personally any complaint anyone has about the STORY. If a reader thinks something is terrible, I want them to absolutely feel free to say it. When it comes to the story, criticize away. By all means let me know what you think is lacking, repetitive, horrible, just too much, etc. Rant all you want about the STORY. But previous comments accused ME of having a rape fetish, and thinking that rape is intimacy and not that big of a deal, because that's what some of the fictional characters in a fictional story think, and THAT, an accusation leveled at me as an individual, that is pretty darn personal and what I take issue with, not their opinion on the material. I am, and always will be, fully aware of what a gross violation rape is. It's called fiction for a reason.
"What's wrong with her, Thornweld?"
Kale demanded answers as the healer went to his work inspecting the woman laid out on the bed. His hands hovered over her blood-stained gown, his eyes closed in concentration. The Goblin Queen was in a very bad state.
"Get that white dragon in here, now."
"What's wrong?"
"Do as I say, Kale, before we lose her."
This was no time to be soft with his words. If they didn't move quickly, they could lose not just the child, but Reagan as well. He didn't have the luxury of cajoling the young king into obeying his order. From what he could determine, the child was no longer connected to her in the womb, and if it was not delivered soon, it would die. But delivery required labor, and Reagan wasn't in labor. There was also the matter of her bleeding rather heavily. If he cut into her to remove the child, he was sure he would only kill her faster. He had to hope the dragon could do something for her.
"I will do what I can to save you and your child, but it's too dangerous for you to go back to your kingdom."
He looked to the woman trying to curl in on the pain.
"Save the baby. Don't worry about me."
"I prefer to save all my patients, child. Besides, your husband would destroy us all if I let you die."
A slight smile accompanied her comment of "Yeah, Jareth is a bit crazy at the moment. Normally he's quite reasonable". He gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. She would need all her strength if she was to have a chance of surviving this.
Kale returned not long after his departure, the white dragon in tow. The massive head and neck stretched into the room, while his body stayed outside, which was probably for the best. He would need much room to maneuver.
"Kale, I need you to fetch my assistant. Torrin should be in the healing ward."
He dismissed Kale from his mind, not even noticing when he disappeared from the room. His focus now was entirely on the white head staring at him with an angry expression, as if he was personally responsible for Reagan's state. He had to hope the dragon could be reasoned with. He was no Caller, he could not see into the dragon's thoughts.
"We are in danger of losing her and the child. Can you do anything to stop the bleeding so that we can operate?"
The dragon snorted, and hovered quizzically over Reagan's belly, snuffling out what was wrong. A careful tear with his teeth separated the material covering her, so that he was directly sniffing flesh. After a soft snort he swiped his tongue across the swollen abdomen, then a second time. To Thornweld's surprise, the blood loss dwindled to nothing after only a few moments. That was one problem solved at least. If only the second one could be solved so easily. Reagan no longer bled from the child's detachment, but the child was still inside when it needed to be out. It would still die if nothing was done, and very soon. When Kale returned alone, Thornweld very much feared that the Goblin King would have reason to see them all wiped out.
"Halleth was injured on patrol. Torrin cannot come. I will assist you."
"You will not. I need someone who can do as I say, when I say it, regardless of what it is. You are too close to be of any use now. If you would be useful, send for her husband. He should be here."
"I will go," Oberon announced from the corner of the room he and Lauriel had taken to wait. "You would be arrested the moment you set foot in the High Court, before you could even deliver your message. I will take Lauriel back with me."
No one was more surprised than Kale when the elf maid refused to leave with Oberon.
"I will assist the Healer. I will not leave the Goblin Queen like this. You can take me home once it's done."
"If you're certain of this, I need you over here, now."
Thornweld's words spurred her into action, and she ignored both Kale and Oberon's protestations to join the healer. He was pulling a bundle from his bag and set it on the table, opening it to reveal an apron full of wicked-looking instruments.
"What is that for?"
"Don't bother me with questions, girl. Just do as I tell you. Kale, I'll need all the clean towels you can collect, and a large supply of clean water, and I need them quickly. Then I want you to stay away from here. Meet the Goblin King when he arrives." It would be better for the boy to not see his mother cut open if they could manage it. He waited until the young king had left the apartment to turn back to his patient, who was watching him with wide eyes in a face etched in agony.
"Reagan, the child must be removed from your womb if it is to have a chance to survive. I must—"
"I know what you mean, Thornweld. It's called a cesarean, and they're performed all the time Above. Just do it."
"We have no time to attempt to dull the pain. This will hurt."
A shaky nod was the permission he needed, and he removed the sharpest knife in the bundle. Draco stopped him with a shake of his massive head, before breathing blue-hot fire over the blade, sterilizing it. A satisfied reptilian nod gave Thornweld permission to continue, and he looked back at the body under his hands. He would be as quick and efficient as possible, but no matter how quick he was, he was still slicing into a living body that didn't have the benefit of any pain reliever. Drawing in a calming breath, he drew the blade across Reagan's stomach. Her scream could be heard through the entire hall.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
"I will not wait any longer to get my daughter back, Jareth! We've put up with this under Marek for too long already! How would you feel if it was one of YOUR daughters!?"
"I would feel the same way you do, Larek, and the way I feel now. I would want them wiped from the Underground for good. But I still wouldn't be willing to risk my wife's life until I knew for sure that she'd failed at acting diplomatically. If we can get Lauriel back without resorting to war, we have to try it first. Or need I remind you that those were your exact words to me when Reagan was taken?"
After listening to the elf king rant in the same vein for nearly an hour, Jareth thought he could be forgiven for finally snapping back. He was as furious with his wife as any of them, especially for slamming him into a wall, and when she returned he was taking her home and locking her in their apartment until after the birth of this child. And he'd wanted to see the Dragons extinguished far longer than Larek did. But once he'd calmed down, he'd also had to agree that Reagan had a point. Kale wasn't his father, and while abducting Lauriel was just as reprehensible, there was a chance that he could be reasoned with. And he would admit, privately, that it felt nice to be able to throw Larek's own words back in his face and remind him that he couldn't dispense with diplomacy just because now it was personal.
"You have the boy's aunt and her husband imprisoned, do you not? This might be as simple as a hostage exchange, if we give Reagan time to talk to him."
"I will not release that woman! She's the one responsible for Lauriel's disappearance!"
The argument was interrupted by the appearance of Oberon in the study. No one had sought out the old High King, precisely because he was so personally connected to the new Dragon King. It could cause too great a conflict of interest to consult the Fae on an attack on his grandson, and now his daughter.
"Oberon?"
"Jareth, you must come with me at once. It's Reagan."
"You were with the Goblin Queen? Where is my daughter?!"
"What's wrong with Reagan?"
"It's the child. Something's gone terribly wrong," Oberon ignored the Elf king for the moment. Jareth paled at the news, and the older Fae shot out a hand and grabbed him by the shoulder to keep him upright. They had no time to lose. In a blink, the two of them were gone.
L-L-L-L-L
They appeared in a bedroom to see Draco's head and neck filling the doorway, and a man hovering over Reagan, a blade gleaming red in his hand. There was so much blood; Jareth immediately lunged for him, only to be grabbed and held by Oberon.
"What in the gods name are you doing to her?!"
"I'm trying to save your wife and child's life, now get out so I can get to it," was the far too calm answer he received.
He lunged again, and was only pulled back by the combined effort of Oberon and Draco. The dragon bodily lifted him, teeth gripping carefully, and carried him out of the room, only setting him down in a hallway. Oberon had followed, and Draco growled at them both as if to warn them against trying to come back inside. Indeed, he maneuvered his body so that he was completely blocking the doorway; there would be no getting past him. Only after he'd cursed the dragon and the healer in every language he knew did he realize that they weren't alone in what turned out to be a sitting room. Kale was sitting on a couch, looking as upset as Jareth felt, a decanter of something very strong and very alcoholic in his hand.
"Thornweld is our best healer," the young Dragon said woodenly, "if anyone can help her, it's him."
There were any number of insults just begging to fly from Jareth's tongue, and an almost overwhelming desire to do violence, but he told himself that he wasn't the only one concerned for Reagan's welfare. The Dragon would be equally as worried. Estranged or not, she was still his mother, and he'd only recently lost his other parent.
"What happened?"
"She kicked my ass, that's what happened. But I can't tell you what happened to cause this; I never laid a hand on her."
Was he suggesting that there had been an opportunity for him to lay his hands on her, or that he'd even attempted to do so? If so—
"I didn't take Lauriel from the High Court," came the sudden confession, "and I know you won't believe me, because of what Father did to Mother, but I never assaulted her, either. I was going to marry her, and make her queen. I didn't know who she was until she told me."
He broke off to take a long drink, and Jareth eyed him. How much could they trust what this Dragon was saying? Particularly if he was drunk.
"Her father will be relieved to hear that. But if you don't let her go-"
"I've already told her she was free to leave. She wanted to stay and help Thornweld."
At the reminder of just why he was here, Jareth sank down onto the couch as well. A healer he didn't know had cut his wife open, and the damned dragon had removed him from the room. How could he be sure the healer knew what he was doing? He should have brought one of the Elven healers with him.
"She said she didn't leave me willingly."
Was the boy daft? Was he really looking for reassurance now, when Reagan was likely dying?
"You should have that discussion with her."
"Will I have a chance to do so?"
Damn it, he wasn't the one to have this conversation. He wanted no part of trying to comfort a boy who likely caused his wife whatever injury the healer was dealing with. He wanted to be in there, with Reagan, or even better, back home with a whole and healthy Reagan. He wanted nothing to do with the damned Dragons any longer. Only in his innermost thoughts would he admit that he simply wanted nothing whatsoever to do with Galen's son. However, he also knew that Reagan would castrate him if she ever found out he'd ignored telling the boy something that would give him ease on the subject.
"She very much wanted to keep you. Whatever else you may believe of her, or your father, you should know that you were very much loved. Giving you back to him was the hardest thing I think she's ever had to do."
His expression must have told the Dragon that was all he was getting, because no further questions followed. They settled in to wait, until they heard a loud roar and then the squall of an infant.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thornweld directed Lauriel to sponge the blood away, so that he could better see what he was doing. Reagan had fainted, which he considered a blessing for her. That much pain would be enough to debilitate anyone, no matter how strong they were. Two towels were already in a pile on the floor, soaked with blood. He almost had it….there! He felt what he was looking for, limbs. He quickly but carefully pulled the child through the opening. The birth cord was still connected to that which had detached from the womb. Everything appeared to be intact, which was fortunate. He wouldn't have to continue digging around in Reagan's body to make sure everything was removed, so that she wouldn't get an infection. He immediately passed the baby—a boy—to Lauriel's waiting arms and began the task of squeezing the womb to mimic the contractions of a natural labor.
"He's not breathing!"
The dragon moved his focus from Reagan to the child Lauriel was feverishly trying to rouse. After a careful sniff, he gave a forceful nudge to the unresponsive body and a loud roar that caused the young elf to nearly drop her burden. The room was then filled with a squall that gave everyone reason to sigh with relief. Thornweld wasn't surprised when two Fae and one Fae-Dragon simply appeared in the middle of the room, dispensing with trying to get around Draco. At least no one else would be able to do that.
"You have a son. See to him while I stitch up your wife."
With that order, he dismissed the interlopers and again focused on Reagan. He would allow the dragon to finish healing her completely, but he would see her flesh sewn shut before he did so. The dragon could speed the healing process, but Thornweld would close the wound with his own hands. With a steady hand, he drew thread through a needle and went to work. After several minutes, his task was finished, and he stepped back to allow Draco access to her. She would have to remain here for the next several days so she could be watched, as the bleeding would continue until all the blood exited her body.
To his surprise, Jareth had already cut the birth cord and cleaned the child. The Goblin King held his son carefully swaddled in a blanket. On second thought, it wasn't so surprising. Jareth was quite likely present at the birth of at least one of his children; he would know what to do.
"This room needs to be cleaned, immediately, so that there's no risk of infection," the healer directed his comment at Kale. "And she can't be moved beyond that cleaning for the next few days, at least. It is still too dangerous, until I'm sure she's fully recovered. I'll stop back in to check her over in a few hours, but for now she should be left to her rest."
He would give her something for the pain once she woke. He had no doubt that even if the dragon healed her stitches so that she was whole once more, she would still be in great pain. Even a normal delivery was quite painful for a woman, and this was far from a normal delivery. After that parting direction, he left the family to themselves. Sorting out their difficult relations wasn't his business, and he had other patients to see to. Besides, the dragon had settled his head on the bed next to Reagan; if anything was to happen that could cause her further harm, or if the males in the room got too out of hand, Draco would take care of it.
"If you take the baby outside, I'll get her cleaned up," Lauriel offered. Jareth looked from the tiny face of his son—he had a son!—to his wife, who was still in the remains of her blood-soaked gown. That bed looked like a massacre had taken place in it. He shook his head. The healer had said Reagan wasn't to be moved; he wouldn't take a chance on moving her even to change the bedding. With a wave of his hand and a muttered chant, everything was as it had been before the operation. Only the ruined gown remained, because he had nothing on hand to change Reagan into, and he wouldn't leave her unclothed. Too many people would enter and leave this chamber while they were forced to remain here.
"Oberon, if you could go to my sister when you return Lauriel, and ask her to bring something for Reagan to wear, it would be appreciated. We'll also need a wet nurse for the infant. I doubt Reagan will be up to feeding him quite yet."
He ignored whatever farewells Kale was making to the girl he'd thought to take to wife in favor of focusing again on his son. The poor child didn't even have a name; he'd been so resigned to the expectation of another girl that he'd given no thought to a boy's name. They would have to discuss a name when Reagan woke up. He wouldn't think of trying to name their son without her input. Reagan had explained genetics before, when she carried Isolde, and that there was always a fifty percent chance the child would be male. He might have to give more credit to human science, although he wasn't sure he believed that it was the father's genes that affected the child's sex, or certain diseases.
He only distantly heard the sound of a chest creaking open, and someone rummaging through its contents before it closed again, so he was startled when Kale shoved a handful of material in his field of vision. When he focused on it, he could see that it was a robe, and that it looked like a woman's robe.
"You can put this on her, until your sister arrives. I'm sure she'd be more comfortable in it than that rag."
"Where did this come from?"
"It was hers. Father kept all of her things. I think he hoped that one day she would come back."
Jareth wanted to toss the robe back at the Dragon, just on principle. But Kale had meant it in kindness, and he couldn't bear to see Reagan covered in blood any longer. Taking a deep breath, he handed the baby over to the other man and took the garment over to his wife. She was so pale, he thought it was a wonder she was still alive. Draco watched him as he very carefully lifted her enough to get the destroyed gown off her limbs and slip the robe on. He tied the ribbons to close it so that she would stay warm; she needed extra warmth after losing so much blood. If they were alone he would consider sliding into bed beside her to use his own body heat.
The baby continued to cry, and Kale looked at a loss as to how to fix that. Jareth briefly stroked Reagan's face and arms, to reassure himself that she was whole, before retrieving their son. It didn't sound like a cry of hunger, though he would be hungry soon enough. It was more the sound of absolute disgust with being removed from the only surroundings he knew and being thrust into an unfamiliar environment. The girls had all made the same sound at their birth.
"Shh, little one. Your mother needs her rest."
"This apartment is yours, for as long as you have need of it."
"Thank you."
The crying finally quieted as he rocked the baby in his arms, swaying his own body from side to side. Reagan had done this with each of the girls; it was only fair that the task fell to him while she was unconscious. Not long after the rocking started, the baby finally slept.
"Mother says that you are normally a reasonable man. I—I would ask your advice before others arrive."
Jareth turned to the younger man who had placed himself at Reagan's bedside. The hesitance that accompanied that statement was unusual from the Dragons in general, and from Galen's son in particular it was most unexpected.
"My advice in what?"
"I wish to avoid a war. I was serious in my words at the High Court. I want a lasting peace between my people and the others, but the Fae in particular have been eager to destroy us for years, and I imagine the Elves are not far behind them now."
It was gratifying to Kale, to see the utter surprise in the Goblin King's expression. As insulting as the Fae's opinion of his people obviously was, it was gratifying to be able to prove him wrong in at least one respect. And he knew he couldn't afford to take offense, not when his attitude was shared with most, if not all, of the other races. That was no way to make peace.
"You are correct in your supposition. Only Reagan's coming to you prevented them from attacking already."
"I thought her presence might be the reason for the delay. When Norah didn't return last night, I fully expected an attack this morning. And I'm as certain I have you to thank for keeping the Elves away as I am that you only did it for your wife."
It was a verbal challenge: would the Goblin King lie to him?
"That's very true."
"I am not my father: I don't want war. How can we stop it?"
"To tell the truth, I'm not certain it could be stopped. Too many want retribution for their women being taken."
"They would have preferred that we die out, then."
"I think they would have preferred that you not resort to kidnapping. Your entire society is based around the idea that abduction and rape are a formula for gaining a wife. That may have been tolerated under Marek, but not under this High King."
Reagan had said the same. But that did not ring true with what Warhelm and his father told him. It didn't ring true with the documents sitting in his desk. He had evidence for his claims, and only their word that it wasn't true. Were they really unaware-? It was no wonder his people were so hated, if the others didn't know of the agreements made between Dragon and the former High King. They must really think that EVERY woman brought to this country was taken without anyone's consent.
"There is something you should see."
He left the apartment for his office, wondering how such a secret could have been kept for so many centuries. Importing women from other races wasn't merely tolerated by Marek; they had a charter giving complete permission to take mates from outside their own country. The agreement reached between his father and the former High King detailed which families were willing to part with their daughters, for the right price, and which families were not to be touched. Proportionally speaking, very few women in his realm could be said to have been truly abducted. He was certain that Reagan would disagree, and that she would say it was still a crime, and he knew others, even among his own people (Thornweld came to mind), who would agree with her. But the fact remained that while these women may not have given their consent to come, those who had authority over them gave theirs. For the most part, the Dragons had broken no laws. It would be a lie to say that it was true of every woman taken by his people, but it was true for a good many of them.
He retrieved the envelope containing the documents and returned to his apartment. He was pleased to find that the child was still sleeping. He could not bear to hear such cries, and to feel helpless to end them. How terrifying it must be to know that you were responsible for such a defenseless life. Without a word, he handed the envelope over to Jareth, and took a seat at Reagan's side. He would say nothing until the Goblin King read the documents for himself.
"I don't believe it!"
The alarmed cry from the infant lying next to his mother drew both their attention, and Jareth immediately lowered his voice. Neither of them wanted to wake infant or mother.
"I don't believe it."
"I assure you, the documents aren't forgeries. They are very much real."
"I can see the documents are real. But I can't believe that Marek would ever manage to keep something like this concealed."
"Nor can I. I knew that others were angry over the loss of some of their women, but until Reagan said much the same as you, I'd no idea that this wasn't known."
"But you cannot think that even this is right."
"Is it really so different among the other races? Do not heads of families arrange matches for their offspring? As head of your household, do you not have the authority to determine who your daughters will marry, when the time comes? Perhaps, as a loving father, you would never consider sending your daughter to marry one she didn't agree to marry herself, but that doesn't mean you lack the power to do so, or that it would be against the laws of the Underground for you to do it."
Jareth cursed. Damn that boy, but he was right. Strictly speaking, he was completely within his rights to marry his daughters off to anyone he chose, regardless of their opinion on the subject, and according to these documents, that was what had been arranged for the Dragons. Oberon had, in fact, technically been in his right to give Reagan to him as queen, before she actually agreed to their marriage. Still, Reagan had agreed of her own will, and Jareth had witnessed many a negotiation fall through because the woman had flatly refused to accept the proposed groom.
"It's not the same. Forming an alliance through a marriage is one thing, but this giving any Dragon permission to carry off a woman in exchange for compensation isn't an alliance, it's a sale, pure and simple."
"I'm sure mother will agree with you, but one could argue that you're talking only about semantics."
Jareth was prevented from responding to that when Kale continued speaking.
"Taking a woman whose family did not give consent is wrong. I will not argue with you over whether this arrangement between my father and Marek was right, but it is what has allowed us to survive these last six hundred years. And I know that mother disagrees, and I'm certain you will too because of my father's actions, but we do not steal women from their homes and then violate them; our laws do not permit physical bonding to take place until the woman has agreed to the union."
"And if a woman refuses, is she returned to her home?"
The Dragon's silence was his answer.
"If a woman isn't allowed to refuse, you can hardly argue that she's making a choice to agree. Regardless of whether violence is involved, that IS still a violation."
"Reagan is of the same opinion."
"But you're not."
"How can I agree that one of my men taking a wife is a violation? We treasure our mates, Goblin King, because there are so few women here. I can hardly say that is the same as an assault such as mother experienced. What was done to her was wrong, but that is not how we treat our wives."
Jareth supposed it was too much to hope that the boy's opinion would be changed so quickly. He could hardly expect a century of bad teaching to be done away in a single confrontation. Still, Kale had released Lauriel without the need for war. Small as that act may have been, it was a step in the right direction. If they could manage to avoid a war with the other races, perhaps there was hope that the Dragons could be reasonable after all. Given enough time, they might even acknowledge that they could not continue their practices, regardless of the arrangement made by Marek and Galen.
"I will do what I can to help prevent a war."
If there really was a chance that they could avoid a war, and reach a peace with the Dragons, they needed to take it. If Kale went back on his word, or refused to agree to any reasonable demand, Jareth would be first in line to end him, but unless that eventuality presented itself, he would work to see peace restored. He rather owed that to the wife who still hadn't woken, and the child sleeping beside her. Reagan would want the possibility that her sons might know each other.
