Chapter 36

Standing in the Library, Sarah glared at the burnt shell of a chair in front of her. She felt better than she had before she had set it on fire, but she slightly wished that the chair had been Garen. Oh, how she hated him, and she had never met him. She turned as Vivienne sighed.

Smiling, Vivienne shook her head. "I'm not saying anything. At this point, I want to set something on fire, too."

Sarah smiled weakly. "Oh, I want to do more, but I don't think it would be a good idea to try and do it."

Vivienne laughed. "True."

Sarah took a deep breath. "Heard anything?"

Vivienne shook her head again. "Not a word. At least, Julian is here and no where near the Palace."

Sarah nodded. That had to take some worry off of Vivienne's shoulders. Jareth was semi-safe, but that didn't stop her from worrying.

Vivienne waved her hand, causing the chair to disappear. "Just be sure if you do that again, you put the wards up first and not after."

Sarah glanced at where the chair had been. There were a few scorch marks, but nothing more. "What?"

Vivienne sighed. "You can actually prevent the marks, or you can remove them after. It's actually easier to prevent them than to remove them."

"Oh, they aren't that big of a deal. I'll just use a rug or something to cover them. You don't have to use magic for everything."

Vivienne smiled. "Don't change, Sarah. More of us should think like that."

Sarah gave a quick nod. "Guess it's cause it's all so new to me." She walked over and sat in one of the chairs before the fireplace.

Vivienne walked over to her. "Maybe."

Sarah sighed as Vivienne sat down in the chair beside her. "I have more to worry about than scorch marks."

Vivienne nodded. "True."

Sighing, Sarah leaned back into the chair. She wished she had thought to ask Jareth if she could tell anyone else besides her dad about the baby. Baby. She was still trying to wrap her head around that. It couldn't be normal to get pregnant after your first time. It just couldn't. Sarah really needed to relax, but she didn't know if she could tell Vivienne or not.

Sarah sat up when she heard the door. She turned to face it as Sir Didymus walked into the room.

"I'm sorry, M'lady. His Majesty wishes you and Queen Vivienne to come to his study."

Slowly, Sarah stood up as did Vivienne. She turned to face the small knight. "Lead the way, Sir Didymus."

XXXXXXXXXXX

Sarah sat silently as Jareth, her father, and Julian finished their meeting. By the time she and Vivienne had arrived, the Generals were gone. Now she and Vivienne sat on the sofas as the three men discussed the final details. Sarah had a pretty good feeling Vivienne was as angry as she over the fact they weren't being included in the decussion on those details.

"We'll have to lock down the City. I can't have the Goblins going into the Labyrinth." Jareth leaned back into his chair.

Julian nodded. "I'll get the decree to the Mayor. You will also need to be sure Ollie knows. It's mostly his troops in the City."

Jareth nodded. "I told him of my plans already. No one knows the City like he does."

Robin sighed. "Garen will play dirty, Jareth. We know he will."

"I know." Jareth glanced at Sarah, smiling slightly. "We better tell them."

Sarah turned to face him. How were they going to react to the news? One thing she did know was she didn't want to be the one making the announcement. "You tell them."

Jareth took a deep breath. "Sarah's pregnant."

Julian took a step back and quickly looked back at Vivienne. "Really?"

Robin hung his head for a moment, but Sarah could see the smile on his face.

"As you can guess we can't announce this information as it should be. It also means, if Garen discovers this he will move quicker."

Robin raised his head. "I'd kill him before, he tired anything, Jareth. He's already caused my family too much pain already."

Jareth nodded. "Sarah's safety is most important. I want some one with her at all times."

Robin nodded. "Done." He glanced back at his daughter. "I'll get someone I know. Hopefully, I can still reach him."

Sarah almost groaned at the sight of the smirk on Jareth's face.

"Call anyone you can trust, Robin."

Jareth then turned to Sir Didymus. "Didymus, I'm sorry to say, but Sarah needs more protection than what you and your comrades can give."

Sir Didymus nodded. "I understand, but I and I'm sure thy Brother and Sir Hoggle would agree with me, when I say I will not stop protecting Her Majesty."

Jareth nodded. "I was not suggesting that the three of you stop protecting her, Sir Didymus. I will only now have more guarding her as well."

Sarah turned and glared at him. "You already have guards following me, Jareth."

Sighing, Jareth glanced at Robin, who just smiled. "Sarah, you will now have a more visible guard detail. I know you won't like it, but I have to keep you safe."

Sarah nodded slightly. "But I do have free places right?"

"Yes, don't worry. I'll increase the wards around our chambers."

"Good." Sarah gave a quick nod.

Jareth sighed as he stood up. "All right, Julian, go talk to the Mayor. Robin, don't go too far, just yet." He glanced up at Sarah and Vivienne. "Vivienne, I'll need you to increase Sarah's magic lessons."

"Understandable." Vivienne nodded.

"Rosina will be here later today."

Vivienne nodded again.

Robin groaned. "She's still here?"

"She returned not long after we returned here from the Palace."

"I thought Clarence was the healer here."

"It's all right, Robin. Rosina will take care of Sarah." Jareth smiled.

Robin frowned, but nodded.

Julian nodded. "I'll report to the Mayor. What else do you require?"

"Nothing at the moment."

With a nod, Julian walked out the door.

Robin sighed as he headed towards the door. "Vivienne, I would make a retreat if I were you. I wouldn't want to be in here soon."

Vivienne glanced between Sarah and Jareth. "I do believe you're right. I think I'll go check on Toby." She stood up. "Sir Didymus, would you please accompany me?"

The small fox knight nodded. "Of course, Queen Vivienne."

Soon only Sarah and Jareth remained in the room.

"Sarah."

"Don't Sarah me, Jareth."

Jareth took a deep breath before walking around his desk. "I know you don't like the guards, but I have to be sure you're protected." He moved to stand in front of her.

"I understand that, but..."

Jareth sat down beside her on the sofa. "Sarah, I know you're not happy. I'm not happy. We can only do what's best. It's not just the two of us I have to protect."

"It never was, or did you forget Toby."

Jareth sighed. "No, I haven't forgotten him." Gently, he took hold of her hand. "I'm terrified what could happen if Garen gets to you. He knows that to destroy me, all he has to do is harm you."

Sarah sighed. "I know, Jareth. I just feel like a burden and not an asset."

Gently, he took hold of her hand. "You're not a burden, Sarah." He kissed her cheek. "Don't you ever think that again."

"I can't make any promises."

"I'll have to take that. Now, I may be running things from here, but I won't be able to be with you all the time. Although, I will be there everytime you meet with Rosina."

Sarah nodded. "You better, or I will drag you to them."

"I promise."

Sarah turned to face him slightly. "Why did Julian look so sad, when you made the announcement?"

Jareth sighed. "He and Vivienne have been trying for a long time. One of the drawl backs of our lifespans is that it is very hard to conceive."

"So how come we were able so ah quickly?"

"Because of your human blood. Compared to a full-blood, I hate to say the term, you are very fertile."

"Makes me sound like a brood-mare."

"You're not. I promise."

"You might regret that when I threaten you cause of morning sickness or something else."

Jareth smiled against her head. "I have no doubt you will curse me a few times."

"I just wish we could actually celebrate this, instead of hiding it."

"I know, and I wish it, too, but we will once Garden is dealt with. I now have a time line to deal with the fool."

"What are you talking about?"

"Simple. He will be dealt with before our child makes his or her appearance."

"That doesn't give us much time."

"About two years."

"WHAT!?" Two years! What happened to nine months? Sarah glared at him.

Jareth pulled back a bit. "Err, ah, yeah. Fae and Elves have about a year and half pregnancies."

Sarah groaned.

"Sorry, I forgot to tell you, but I can't be sure with your human blood."

"You didn't think it was important enough to mention?"

"I er thought that maybe Vivienne or Elwyn might have mentioned it."

"Children never came up, and don't say my dad. He has had much on his plate this last month."

Jareth sighed. "I'm truly sorry, Sarah." He glanced at his desk. "Where did the box on my desk go?"

Sarah turned to look at the desk. "You mean the box? I put in one of the drawers."

Jareth stood up and walked back to his desk. "Which one?" Sarah began to stand up, but Jareth raised his hand. "No, you stay there. Just tell me which one."

Sarah rolled her eyes. "The bottom right."

Jareth bent down. "Ah, lets see."

Sarah heard the drawer open, and Jareth pull the box out.

He raised it up and smiled. "Good you didn't open it." He moved back around the desk and came back to her. "Here, I was waiting for the perfect time to give you this." He held it out to her.

Sarah gently took the box from him. "What is?"

Jareth smiled. "A gift for a very un-ordinary girl."

She raised an eyebrow. "Uh huh." Slowly, Sarah began to unwrap the box. When she finally got it opened, it took a lot of effort for her not to cry.

"I thought you would like a replacement since you lost the original."

Slowly, she lifted out an exact copy of the little music box with the lovely dressed girl on top. "How did you?"

"I happen to know someone who is rather gifted."

Sarah fought back tears. "It was one of the last gifts my grandmother gave me, before she died."

Jareth nodded. "So you like it?"

"I love it!" She moved forward and kissed his cheek. "It's not much, but it meant a lot to me."

Jareth moved back as Sarah stood up.

"I doubt I need a guard detail to go to our room."

Jareth smiled slightly. "No, you don't. I'm not going anywhere for awhile."

Sarah nodded as she walked to the door that lead to their room, leaving Jareth alone in the study.

So ends Chapter 36. Hope you all enjoyed it. I can only say Chapter 37 will be up next month for now.

So review if you please.

Love,

CL

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Edited: 6/16/14