As always,
DISCLAIMER: Sarah, Jareth, and everything Labyrinth belong to Jim Henson Productions. I only own Jay and Caridwen. Oberon, Titania and Puck belong to William Shakespeare.
And now, the story.
The Searcher
Part 3
"Jareth, get down from there this instant!", a very furious Sarah said.
"But mom…"
"Don't 'but mom' me, Jay. That order goes for you too. And don't encourage your father!"
Jay was the nickname they gave their son, as a way to differentiate father and son. True, Prince Jareth looked more like his father each day, he even started mimicking his father's mocking grin. God help her!
An instant later, Jareth appeared in front of Sarah with their three-year old on his shoulders. He looked at his wife's worried face and said "Sarah, we were just enjoying the view of the labyrinth from the trees. You know I would never do anything to harm Jay."
Sarah just sighed, and nodded in understanding, while saying "I know I overreacted, but my only thought was him falling off the tree. I'm sorry, I guess I'm just being a mother."
The Goblin King smiled, and said "And a very good one indeed.", while kissing her.
Sarah smiled back, she could not stay mad with them for long. She did not understand why she reacted that way. But that was not the only case, lately her emotions had been in turmoil, and she did not know why.
The only other time that happened was when she learned that she was going to have Jay. Suddenly, something clicked in her mind, and she started making some calculations.
Jareth, looking at his Queen, said "Is something wrong, dear?"
Sarah just smiled and said, "If what I suspect is true, everything is fine. I have to see someone now."
Kissing her son and husband, she said "I'll be back soon. Jay, please behave and obey your father. That behave part goes for you too, Jareth." She threw them a kiss, and disappeared in the midst of glitter.
'Well?", said a very nervous and impatient Sarah.
The Fae doctor just looked at the Queen and said "My congratulations to you and the king, Your Majesty. Your suspicions were correct, you are going to have another baby."
Sarah smiled, and hugged the doctor, while saying "Thank you. This is great! I can't wait to tell them.", and disappeared from the doctor's office to the castle beyond the Goblin City.
Once she appeared, she asked one of the goblins, "Is Jareth here?"
The goblin said 'Yes, Your Highness. His Majesty is in the throne room."
Sarah simply said "Thank you.", and kept walking to the throne room.
Once there, she could see Jareth watching Jay play with the goblins, trying to capture a chicken.
Jareth saw his wife entering the room, and smiled at her. She smiled back, and said "Jay, go wash and get ready for dinner, it will be served shortly."
All he could do was put a disappointed face, and walk to his bedroom. He knew better than to argue with his mother. He had learned the hard way, so all he said was a very sad "Ok."
Sarah approached her husband and sat on his lap. Putting her arms around his neck, she kissed him.
Jareth looked at her and asked "So, who did you went to see?"
Sarah smiled and said "That is part of the surprise I have for dinner. Come, let's get ready for dinner as well.", while standing up and taking his hand.
They disappeared from the throne room and reappeared on their bedchambers. Sarah was sitting in front of her vanity finishing putting her hair up, with a few strands loose. Jareth approached her from behind, kissing the back of her neck.
Sarah arched her head forwards to grant him better access to her neck and closing her eyes, she said "Jareth, what are you doing?"
In a playful tone, the Goblin King responded "What do you think I'm doing?"
Smiling, she said, "We really need to get going to dinner. But if you hold that thought afterwards, I will make it worth the wait."
He purred in her ear "You promise?"
She turned in her chair to face him, and giving him a quick peck on the lips, she said "Scouts honor."
They walked to the dining room, where they found Jay, Hoggle, Ludo and Sir Didymus already waiting.
During dinner, they had a normal conversation like every night. If Sarah was surprised that Hoggle was the royal advisor, she was even more surprised when she learned that Sir Didymus was the captain of the royal guard, and that Ludo was the groundskeeper of the labyrinth. They made a habit of having dinner together at least three times a week.
When dessert was over, she addressed her son casually, "Jay, you know how long you have been asking for a brother or a sister?"
The little boy nodded and said "I've been asking forever!"
Sarah smiled, and said "Well, looks like your wish has been granted. Soon you will have a little brother or sister."
Jay's face lit up and he asked "How soon? Tomorrow?"
Sarah smiled and she said, "No, I think more in about six months or so."
Sarah turned to see her husband's expression, and had to suppress a fit of laughter. Getting out of the shock, he asked "Sarah? You are pregnant?"
She nodded and Jareth was next to her in an instant, kissing her. She received congratulations from her friends.
After tucking their son, Jareth and Sarah went to their bedchambers. Once they got there, Sarah looked at her husband, and said "Please remind me were where we?"
Jareth looked at her, and said "Sarah, you have no idea how happy you have made me. Another child, another blessing. I just simply adore you."
Kissing her, he deposited on her bed, and let her know how much she meant to him. Sarah was sleeping when a faint sound woke her up. She opened her eyes, trying to hear the sound that woke her up, but there was only silence.
Dismissing it, she put her head in the pillow and was going back to sleep when she heard the sound again, but this time she could hear it clearly. It was more a whisper, saying her name "Sarah…"
She sat up in her bed, and asked "Who's there?"
She heard the whisper again, "Sarah…"
For some reason, Sarah got out of her bed, and went to the balcony. There, she had a great view of the labyrinth bathed in the moonlight. Sarah heard the whisper again, more clearly "Sarah…"
Sarah asked again "Who is this?"
The whisper came back, but louder and clearer this time "Is me…. the labyrinth…"
Sarah opened her eyes wide in amazement and asked "What do you want?"
The whisper only said "Your child is very precious. Not only to me, but to the whole Underground. Take good care of your child, Sarah…"
After that, there was only silence. Sarah stayed a while longer, but she did not hear the labyrinth again.
She was startled when she felt arms wrapping around her "Oh, is you. You scared me for a second."
Jareth asked with concern "What are you doing out here? I suddenly woke up and saw you at the balcony as if looking for something."
Sarah rested her head back into her husband's shoulder and said "I just thought I heard something. Let's go back to sleep, ok?"
With that, she took his hand and went back to bed. She did not thought anything of what happened that night, until six months later.
The scene in the throne room was familiar. Oberon, Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didymus and Jareth waiting for Sarah to give birth. The only difference this time, that instead of watching Jareth go between pacing and sitting, they spent their time playing with Jareth's son.
"Dad, do you have any eights?"
"Go fish!", the Goblin King answered. He looked seriously to his brother "Obi, any fours?"
Oberon could not help the smile on his face, watching his little brother. If someone would have told him five years ago that he would live to see Jareth playing something like go fish he would have dismissed them as crazy. Fatherhood has definitely been good for him. His grin crossed his face from ear to ear now. Looking at his cards he looked back to his brother and said "Go fish! Ha!"
Sarah was just getting tired of pushing. She thought that this time would be easier, but looked like the baby had other plans.
Titania looked at her, saying "Come on, one more, one more, now push!"
Sarah pushed with all her might, and she could hear Agnes "That's it, your Majesty, yes. You are doing very good, very good indeed. Keep going, I have the head, the baby's out! You can rest now, hmmm?"
Sarah put her head back in the pillow, and breathing trying to calm herself, she heard a whisper, "Sarah… Thank you…"
Sarah opened her eyes, and said "Labyrinth?"
Titania went to her side "Did you said something, dear?"
Sarah shook her head, "No, I just thought I heard something."
She heard her baby's cry, when Agnes gave her child bundled up "Here you go, a nice healthy baby girl. Congratulations, Your Highness. His Majesty should be here soon."
Surely enough, Jareth appeared in the room moments after Agnes finished speaking. He swiftly moved to his Queen's side, giving her a loving kiss on her forehead and lips. Sitting next to her, he leaned to look at their new child.
Sarah said "Jareth, meet your daughter."
Jareth's face was radiating pure happiness "A girl! Do you know what to name her?"
Sarah's mind drew a blank. She was looking for baby names, but for some reason could not find any that she liked. She heard the whispers from the Labyrinth once again, this time with a name. The Labyrinth was right, that was a perfect name for their daughter. She looked at the Goblin King and said "Yes. Her name is Caridwen."
He looked at his wife and his daughter and lovingly said "Your parents welcome you to the Underground, little Caridwen."
Jareth took the baby from her mother's arms, while saying "You rest now, dear. I'll put the baby in the crib, and leave to give everybody the good news. Agnes, will you stay with them for a while?"
Agnes nodded, while taking the baby from his arms. Jareth and Titania left the bedchambers to give the news to everybody who was waiting outside for the news.
Agnes waited for Sarah to fall asleep, while she rocked the baby in her arms. Once she made sure Sarah was in a very deep sleep, she put the baby in the crib, and took the pendant out once again, while reciting:
Purple heart of the crystal moon
I need to know, please tell me soon
If this small babe is the one bound
to find the Savior of the Underground
Unlike with her brother, this time the pendant reacted to the babe. The amethyst started glowing brightly, and then the brightness decreased, but the pendant still glowed. Agnes smiled, the old wizard will be happy now, the chosen one has arrived.
Agnes left the royal bedchambers quietly in search of the Wise Man. When she reached him, she showed him the pendant, which he took promptly, and put it in his robes. Walking away, he was mumbling "Much to be done…. No time to spare…"
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A/N: Let me know what you think. Your review is greatly appreciated, is your way of letting me know if I'm doing a good job or if this sucks.
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