Thank you for all the lovely reviews! I can't believe Christmas is so close!
Chapter 52
Sarah cuddled with both Anna and Rosalea in the large bed she shared with Jareth, She didn't admit it to Jareth, but this pregnancy was taking much more out of her than the last and while Matilda said she was progressing well, but she understood why Jareth was worried at the beginning she could feel her body almost protesting against the changes occurring daily.
Rosalea babbled as her pudgy hands followed the kicks and movements of her sibling. Anna was curled on her side facing Sarah, still in her pyjamas. Tabitha gave her the morning off, but she was nonetheless required to go her lessons with Francis later that afternoon.
"I see how it will be, I leave in the mornings and my space is taken by children,' Jareth joked as he walked into the bed chamber, seeing the sight of the girls on the large bed surrounded by blankets, with a roaring fire warming the room. "Don't worry, I won't trouble you, I just needed to get my portfolio."
"It's on the table." Sarah spoke as she grimaced as the child kicked up into her rib cage trying to stretch out. " I'm fine, merely took a foot to the ribs, go do your duties."
"Watch over her Anna, she is quite stubborn," Jareth looked at the newly aged teen as he grabbed his leather portfolio
"Yes Sir," Anna stated, nodding her head.
They talked for a while longer before Anna had to go get dressed for lessons and Rosalea had fallen asleep for her mid-morning snooze.
She dressed slowly, wiggling into her corset she pulled the strings till she felt it was tight enough before tying them off and gathering them into the gap of the corset to hide them away. She picked a simple plaid skirt and blouse combo, something that signified her growing up to have separates and not just dresses.
She walked down to the library, she hadn't seen Francis since the new year which was 5 days ago. She slipped through the doorway, blushing as she took in a wrapped gift on her spot on the table.
"Happy birthday," He smiled as looked up. "Well, go on, open it."
Anna pulled the ribbon and pushed the colorful paper away from the flat box. Lifting the lid, she discovered a dream catcher that was light pink and blue with shimmering crystals tied into the web. White feathers with pink dip dyed ends dangled from thin strands of leather.
"A dream catcher?" Anna said softly.
"I thought maybe they will keep the bad dreams away, Amelia mentioned you often talk about dreams. I thought perhaps this would help." Francis replied, leaving out the spell he weaved into web to catch her nightmares, or the fact he saw one for himself that one night.
Anna hugged him quickly her arms wrapping around his waistline. "Thank you."
Francis somewhat awkwardly hugged her back, Clarissa word ringing in his head. "Well, let's get to work." He said gruffly clearing his throat.
Anna nodded and put the dream catcher in its box and sat down her back completely straight as she perched on the edge finding it more comfortable and understood why all the other ladies did the same thing. Francis sat across from her and handed her some papers for the day's lesson.
Sarah had set out to give Anna a spectacular birthday party, knowing one that the young girl probably never had a real party. She asked around about what they did for children's parties and there were various things parents did. In the end she rented out a tea room in the Crystal City, and had various arts and crafts available for the young ladies from painting pottery to making tiaras to wear before going to one of the natural hot spring baths for a spa afternoon around in and for Sarah to relax away all her aches and pains that grew worse each day. Since her actual birthday was on a Tuesday, she planned the party for the following Saturday.
There was a large cake that was chocolate with pink frosting and covered in flowers. The group of eight girls were busy doing the activities. Pottery was drying and glitter was everywhere as Sarah leaned in, her spot as some mothers stayed to help watch over the girls while drinking their tea.
"Those last few weeks are always the worst are they not?"
"That they are," Sarah agreed with a nod of her head. "Sadly, it's a few many weeks for me to go, though at this rate, maybe he or she will come earlier."
"It's always the worst is the waiting, even when the child is full fae, those 21-22 weeks are exhausting" a lady named Nadia spoke. "Though our husbands are even more exhausting sometimes when they go into over protective mode."
Sarah nodded as she rubbed her stomach. "If it was up to Jareth, I'd be on constant bed rest. It is a lot tougher than last time, so he usually finds me resting anyway."
"When you announced the expectant child, it was just a shock. Even when I had Isabeau, I refused to announce it till she was born, in case I miscarried." Nadia admitted. " Though I know if I should find myself in that predicament once more I do not think I could go through it again. Two is enough that is for sure."
Sarah nodded quietly. "Excuse me ladies, nature calls." Sarah spoke as she pushed herself upwards, making her way to the ladies room.
Once the cake was eaten and the girls covered in everything imaginable from the make overs that the girls decided to do, they were brought to the spa to wash up, and hair was pinned up and braided before the girls were jumping into bath wearing simple chemises for modesty.
Sarah sank into the warm water, letting the warmth work, it's magic on her aching body as the girls played Marco Polo and other games till it was time to go.
Once at home Sarah excused herself to go lie down.
"You're not well?" Jareth stated as he followed her to their room.
"I am fine," Sarah replied, brushing off the topic.
"You spend most of your day in bed without even being asked, if I asked you to rest when you were carrying Rosalea I would have gotten an earful." Jareth shook his head not having her excuses.
"Jareth, I am fine, Matilda says I am fine. I just find this time around a lot more exhausting and harder on my body." Sarah snapped slightly as she kicked off her shoes before sighing. " I'm sorry, but it only makes sense as I do have fae blood in me. Matilda isn't unnecessarily worried she says my body is reacting like it should. She didn't say it was going to be completely easy for me. But I still have duties and I am still a queen, I do what I can and then I rest every chance I get."
Jareth nodded, choosing his battles wisely as he changed the subject. "How was the party?"
"It was wonderful, everyone had a lovely time and those hot spring baths are wonderful." Sarah smiled dreamily. "How was Rosalea?" She asked as she climbed into the bed after pulling on her robe over her undergarments.
"She was good, kept asking for you, most of the day." Jareth chuckled as he sat next to her. "She also found a kitten in the barn while I was looking over Titus."
"You brought her to the barn?" Sarah looked at him.
"Titus needed grooming and I kept her away from the stalls and anything dangerous"
"And where is this kitten," Sarah asked knowing if Rosalea found a kitten, Jareth wouldn't have the heart to take it away from her.
"We left it in the barn it was too early to take from its mother." Jareth told her. "I conjured her a toy cat to keep her happy though."
Sarah laughed. "Can we get away in a few weeks, just us-maybe go to the villa for a few days. Enjoy some of the last days we will ever truly be alone for the next 20 years."
"I'm sure we can work something out." Jareth thought of the up coming weeks and schedules. "It should be fine," he said wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
The weeks went by what felt slowly to Saraforbut fast to the others of the castle. January was coming to a close. Sarah continued to grow by the day and made her way slowly through the castle when she was up and not resting. It was a late Saturday night when Anna was roaming the halls in her nightgown trying to find a novel as she just finished her last one and couldn't seem to fall to sleep. She was walking down the hallway while the moon shined the window that made her hair and white nightshirt glow.
She smelt the mixture of cigars and cologne before she even turned the corner on her way to the library, she stumbled upon Francis with his shirt open and his jacket over his arm as he just got back from the gentleman club. Seeing his bare chest, and realized she was wearing nothing than a thin nightgown and slippers. She stared at him for a moment in shock noticing remnants of lip stain on his jaw line and on his neck.
"Anna it's past midnight what are you doing up?" Francis asked after a moment.
"I wanted to get a new book, I couldn't sleep." Anna said after a moment. "You have lipstick on your jaw
"um, thanks," Francis stammered, trying to wipe it off but missing it entirely.
"You also smell." Anna told him pointedly. " "Like smoke and the harpy," she added.
"I didn't realize I would be integrated coming home tonight, much less by a 13 year old." Francis spoke calmIy. "Look I don't know what has been going on within your pretty little head of yours, but you must remember that you are 13 and I am much older than you."
"You think I'm pretty?"
Francis groaned. "Did you not listen to a word I said? I am way to old for you Anna, even thirteen is way to young in this world. You are just a young girl. I know you went through something horrible and I am thankful you feel you can trust me, but I am your teacher and whatever you have going on in you head. You must stop and you must stop calling Clarissa a harpy she is a lovely woman who I happen to like very much."
Anna looked at him before turning on her heel running off down the hall. Francis sighed and walked upstairs to his room, when he saw the king leaning up against the wall.
"She'll get over it," Jareth told him. "What I hear and see all that goes in within my palace." When Francis looked at him of how could he know which just happened.
"I did not mean to be that harsh with her." Francis explained.
"She'll be fine," Jareth reassured him. "You are right, you are way to old and she is too young. I mean if she was 16 I might look the other way as some parents do till they come of age but she's thirteen. She'll grow out of it, or find another boy that suits her fancy."
Francis nodded and watch the King disappear without a goodbye.
i know some of you will be sad, but I had to!
Let me know what you all thought! I think I am nearing the end finally, maybe only one or two more chapters Left i think and then I will move on to the collection of oneshots!
Tina!
