AN: Thanks to everyone who reviews. Just to clear something up, when Sarah
said -Well Laurel, Another fine mess I've gotten us into.- She was
referring to Laurel and Hardy, she's not going to call the baby Laurel.
By the way Immortal Ninja, Aggghhh, choke gag.If you'll let go of my neck I'll continue.
To everybody who gave me kind words, Shy thanks.
To Ifonly, I do check it over again and again. (It's harder to edit your own work, than it is to do anybody else's) You will all be happy to know that I do have a beta reader for my next project.-Thanks, SL.
To dragon_fire, Is it really too much.
Well with that done, lets get on with prt 18.
Mine
Complications
Sarah's world had become a hell like place. Sarah was lying on her bed, an arm thrown across her eyes, it was barely dawn, but she knew she'd have to be up soon if she wanted to avoid the messenger that would inevitably come for her. Sarah was tired, what with her days spent avoiding Jareth and Taren.
Jareth, because when he looked at her there was such coldness in his eyes, it chilled her to the bone. If he wasn't snapping at her, he was mocking her.
Sarah couldn't understand, why, if he hated her so much, did he send for her every day? Was it to torture her?
Since he had admitted to her that he loved her, and had, had his love thrown back in his face. The word he'd spoken reverberated around in her head.
"I'll tell you what real love is should I. Real love is a trap, you can't get out, and you don't care that it's ripping you up inside, real love is having your pride torn to shreds and still going back for more. Real love is standing here, and listening to the mother of my child tell me that 'one day she hopes she can find someone SHE can love' And still loving her."
She could still hear him, every word crystal clear. Sarah thought that she might be going mad.
She also avoided Taren, who, when Sarah had told her what Jareth had said, replied with, "He's lying. Its all a trick, He wants you to trust him, and then he'll break you."
And just lately Taren had started to tell her how attentive Jareth was again toward her, how loving.
When Sarah brought up leaving the castle. Taren said the plans to move Sarah were coming along. But it had been nearly three weeks now, and Sarah knew that if she didn't leave the castle soon. She would start screaming, and maybe never stop.
A knock at the door made Sarah groan. 'Dammit!' she thought, she knew she should have moved sooner. But she was so tired. For the last four days she had obeyed the king's command to stay in the throne room with him, where she sat to the side, no one saw her, and no one noticed her. She was there from six in the morning, present for all the meetings, and discussions Jareth held, only moving to dine in the dinning room, where it seemed thousands of goblins also ate. Her appetite was almost none existent now after days of being subjected to watching the goblins eat. They had no manners, not even rudimentary manners, they ate with their mouths open food spilling everywhere, they tossed food back and forth to one another. And worst of all there were some goblins who ate like flies!!!
Then it was back to the throne room for afternoon meetings and, Judgments.
Then dinner was served with enough ale to quench the thirst of an army. Drink made the already disgusting goblins even more disgusting.
Then at last it would be time for bed around nine o'clock. And all the through the long day, Sarah would feel Jareths eyes on her,
Sarah was left with next to no energy. Each night she promised her self that in the morning she would be up and out of her room before the messenger came. But Jareth seemed to know that she would do this, and he had started sending his messenger earlier and earlier.
'Maybe I can ignore the door and the servant will go away.' Sarah thought that maybe just maybe this might work. Sure enough the knocking stopped and she heard the servant move away. Now to be up and dressed before Taren came looking for her, to tell her how many times in the night Jareth had said he loved her, and how beautiful she was.
Sarah groaned and got out of bed. Hastily washing and putting on a simple russet colored dress that reached her ankles, a dark green side less tunic went on over the top, the look was completed by a length of golden colored silk rope that tied around her middle. As Sarah no longer had a middle, she simple tied the belt so that it hung below her swollen stomach. Sarah smiled as she stroked her abdomen, "I can't wait to be able to see my feet again." Felling in a better mood than she had done for a long time, avoiding the messenger, had defiantly put her in a good mood.
She opened the door, and after peeking out both left and right, she felt her spirits rise a little higher; there was no sign of Taren.
She would spend the day in the library, Sarah decided, just like she had for her first two weeks here, before Jareth had started sending for her. Smiling brightly she stepped out. And walked a little way down the hallway.
"Looking for somewhere to hide Sarah? The mocking voice came from behind her."
Sarah turned around slowly, "Don't you ever knock?" Sarcasm edged her tone.
Jareth rolled his eyes. "We're in a hallway Sarah. Not a private room. I didn't think that I needed to knock."
Jareth couldn't help jeering at her now he knew she was all right. When his messenger had come back saying he could get no answer from her room, he'd been worried, he'd appeared in her room, just in time to see her slip out.
Jareth tilted his head, and gave her a sideways look. "I sent a messenger, he said, that there was no answer from your room?" Jareth turned fully towards her, an eyebrow raised in question.
"I was sleeping." At her answer Jareth sent her look that said quite clearly, he didn't believe her.
"Don't look at me like that Jareth, I'm tired. This constant hounding.It's exhausting me." Sarah's voice was rising. All the pressure of the last few days was coming to the surface. "You have to stop sending for me at ridiculous times, I need to rest." Tears sprang up, but Sarah refused to look away from him. Let him see how far he'd driven her, she didn't care anymore.
"You need rest Sarah, so what all this about?" Jareth swept his arm around, indicating her, standing in the hallway. "This is how you rest is it? Creeping around hallways, skulking in the corridors. A very funny way of resting, to my mind." His eyes were odds with his tone; his gaze followed the path of a tear, as it slipped down her cheek. Unconsciously he stepped forward his hand moving to brush the tear away. Sarah involuntarily stepped back more by reaction than by her own will.
Jareth gaze hardened, his eyes were cold now.
"You will, come down to the throne room. You can either walk there by yourself, or I will take you there. You choose.Now." The added order at the end, the, Now. was what did it for Sarah, her temper that she had been keeping a tight hold on finally snapped.
"You overbearing, jumped up, freakin asshole. You think you can say jump, and I'll ask how high, you've got another thing coming, I don't know what your problem is, and quite frankly, I don't give a shit. I'm not Taren; I won't happily take the crap you hand out. I've still got some pride.. Ohhhhh" Surprise rang a gasp from Sarah as a rolling pain rose from the base of her stomach. The pain became unbearable, and she bent double, gasping for breath. Jareth was by her side in an instant, the argument forgotten. Swinging her into his arms he kicked her door open. And took her across the room to her bed. Sarah rolled away from him and curled herself into a ball. She began to sob; the pain was not lessening, if anything it got stronger.
Jareth cursed himself for his inability to help her. He disappeared for a moment then reappeared with Thea whose arms were laden with various bottles of different shapes and sizes.
Thea looked to the bed where Sarah was laid. And jumped to activity. Placing the bottles on the dresser she approached Sarah, putting her hand on her shoulder, she rolled Sarah so she was facing her.
Sarah's eyes were screwed shut, but still the tears fell. Thea in a quite voice asked. "How long have you been having pains my dear?" Sarah blinked at her kindly voice; she tried to find hers own.
J-just started," She panted forcing the words out. "Won't go away..doesn't stop.getting worse." Sarah could say no more. The pain was pushing everything away. She struggled to say a few more words. "Get him out." Thea looked back towards Jareth, Sarah grabbed her arm bringing the older woman's focus back to her. "Out!" she said through clenched teeth. "Get him out!" then almost instantaneously she passed out.
Jareth rushed forward pushing Thea aside. "Sarah.Sarah." Turning to face Thea. He snapped out. "What's wrong with her?"
'Well, your grace, I need to examine her." Thea began looking through bottles. "She could be in labor, but the pain is constant, which is rare but not totally unheard of. I'll give her something to dull the pain so I can wake her up. I need to ask her some questions." Pausing she looked to Jareth expectantly. Jareth looked back at her.
"Well, What are you waiting for?"
"My lord." Thea cleared her throat nervously "My Lady Sarah, well, she did ask you to leave." At his look she went on hastily, "Please your majesty, I'm going to wake her soon, and you being here might make her upset. It's really not good for her."
"Okay I'll go," He conceded reluctantly "but you are to come and tell me as soon as you know what's going on. If she is in labor I want to know about it." So saying he spared one more glance at the girl on the bed thinking as he did so, how young she looked. Then he left the room.
An hour later Thea found him pacing in front of the throne. The throne room was for once quiet. The servants going about their duties as though on tiptoe, the goblins subdued and most of them were gathered in the corners, those few who were still on the main dais, were keeping well out of the goblin kings range.
As soon as he spotted Thea he strode toward her. Thea had to stop herself from taking a few steps back at the look in his eyes. Anger, guilt and a touch of fear swirled in their mis-matched depths.
Thea managed to stand her ground, trembling as she did so. "Well?" he said. Thea knew what he was asking. "No My Lord, she's not in labor." Lowering her eyes to the floor, she heard his sigh of relief.
"Whets the matter then?" His relief that it was not yet time gave way to the fear that something else could be wrong.
"False labor, My Lord, her time is close. It's quite common.ummm" Thea was embarrassed. Knowing what she had to would spark the king's temper, but needing to say it regardless. "My Lord, I don't believe that the pain would have been as bad, if the Lady Sarah wasn't so exhausted"
'I'm tired. This constant hounding.it's exhausting me.' Sarah's words returned to haunt him. Guilt ripped through him. 'Why did he have to be so pushy?' He would apologize, he decided, right now.
"I'll go and see her now, if she's still awake?"
Thea cleared her throat. "The Lady Sarah has requested time alone." The lady Sarah had requested no such thing, but Thea, wasn't about to tell her king that Sarah had stated quite firmly, that she wanted Jareth to stay away.
"Time alone for what?" His arched eyebrows drawn together in a puzzled frown.
Thea changed the subject. "I told the lady Sarah, that she can get out of bed when she feels better but only for light gentle exercise, with as much rest as she can get. If that's all my lord, I have duties to get on with in the kitchen."
Jareth gave a distracted nod. His mind on the argument that had caused all the trouble.
Thea gave a sigh of relief, She didn't mind working for the goblin king, he was a fair master. But she liked her work better when she didn't have to deal with him directly.
She rounded the corner to stairs that would take her to the kitchens, and almost bumped into Taren who was standing there. Thea's eyes dropped to the floor as she mumbled. "Sorry My Lady." And kept walking, it didn't do to anger Taren, Thea knew, she had patched up enough, people who served under her to know that. She just kept going wondering slightly, as to what Taren was doing there, hiding round a corner.
Taren was only slightly annoyed when the fat kitchen worker very nearly walked into her, her mind was other things more important things. Rupart had given her good news that morning. Everything was ready. It was time to move. Now before the brat was born.
A smug smile drifted around her lips as she ascended the servant's stairs, making her way to Sarah's room. Without knocking she walked in to find Sarah propped up in bed, looking toward the door. With a long sigh Sarah spoke. "What is it Taren?" Taren smiled at Sarah. She almost gushed her news. "Everything's ready, your transport will be here early tomorrow morning."
Sarah was stunned, she couldn't go now not after what had happened today. She tried to tell Taren that, but Taren only waved her hand in dismissal.
I've hired you a cart, you can rest on the journey.
Sarah tried again to convince her that it wasn't a good idea. "But the baby's due soon. Very soon Thea said, what if travelling hurt's him, what if I go into labor on the journey?"
"We'll take it easy." Taren said, dismissing Sarah fears again. An idea came to Taren just then "Anyway wouldn't it be better if the child was born when you are far away from Jareth. I've seen how he's been treating you the past few days. In fact he was only saying the other night, that the sooner you have the baby the sooner he can send you home." Taren struggled to keep her amusement hidden.
"He's going to send me away? Away from my own son?" Sarah's hand rested protectively over her belly. "He can't. Okay tomorrow, I'll leave here." Her maternal instinct were kicking in, she had to keep her baby away from that monster.
Taren nodded. "Be ready we'll be leaving early, very early. I will come for you myself. Taren closed the door behind her. Unable to keep from laughing she let a small chuckle escape. "Tomorrow, I'll get everything I deserve."
Inside Sarah's room quite gut wrenching sobs could be heard.
AN: Only about another two chapters to go. :D
By the way Immortal Ninja, Aggghhh, choke gag.If you'll let go of my neck I'll continue.
To everybody who gave me kind words, Shy thanks.
To Ifonly, I do check it over again and again. (It's harder to edit your own work, than it is to do anybody else's) You will all be happy to know that I do have a beta reader for my next project.-Thanks, SL.
To dragon_fire, Is it really too much.
Well with that done, lets get on with prt 18.
Mine
Complications
Sarah's world had become a hell like place. Sarah was lying on her bed, an arm thrown across her eyes, it was barely dawn, but she knew she'd have to be up soon if she wanted to avoid the messenger that would inevitably come for her. Sarah was tired, what with her days spent avoiding Jareth and Taren.
Jareth, because when he looked at her there was such coldness in his eyes, it chilled her to the bone. If he wasn't snapping at her, he was mocking her.
Sarah couldn't understand, why, if he hated her so much, did he send for her every day? Was it to torture her?
Since he had admitted to her that he loved her, and had, had his love thrown back in his face. The word he'd spoken reverberated around in her head.
"I'll tell you what real love is should I. Real love is a trap, you can't get out, and you don't care that it's ripping you up inside, real love is having your pride torn to shreds and still going back for more. Real love is standing here, and listening to the mother of my child tell me that 'one day she hopes she can find someone SHE can love' And still loving her."
She could still hear him, every word crystal clear. Sarah thought that she might be going mad.
She also avoided Taren, who, when Sarah had told her what Jareth had said, replied with, "He's lying. Its all a trick, He wants you to trust him, and then he'll break you."
And just lately Taren had started to tell her how attentive Jareth was again toward her, how loving.
When Sarah brought up leaving the castle. Taren said the plans to move Sarah were coming along. But it had been nearly three weeks now, and Sarah knew that if she didn't leave the castle soon. She would start screaming, and maybe never stop.
A knock at the door made Sarah groan. 'Dammit!' she thought, she knew she should have moved sooner. But she was so tired. For the last four days she had obeyed the king's command to stay in the throne room with him, where she sat to the side, no one saw her, and no one noticed her. She was there from six in the morning, present for all the meetings, and discussions Jareth held, only moving to dine in the dinning room, where it seemed thousands of goblins also ate. Her appetite was almost none existent now after days of being subjected to watching the goblins eat. They had no manners, not even rudimentary manners, they ate with their mouths open food spilling everywhere, they tossed food back and forth to one another. And worst of all there were some goblins who ate like flies!!!
Then it was back to the throne room for afternoon meetings and, Judgments.
Then dinner was served with enough ale to quench the thirst of an army. Drink made the already disgusting goblins even more disgusting.
Then at last it would be time for bed around nine o'clock. And all the through the long day, Sarah would feel Jareths eyes on her,
Sarah was left with next to no energy. Each night she promised her self that in the morning she would be up and out of her room before the messenger came. But Jareth seemed to know that she would do this, and he had started sending his messenger earlier and earlier.
'Maybe I can ignore the door and the servant will go away.' Sarah thought that maybe just maybe this might work. Sure enough the knocking stopped and she heard the servant move away. Now to be up and dressed before Taren came looking for her, to tell her how many times in the night Jareth had said he loved her, and how beautiful she was.
Sarah groaned and got out of bed. Hastily washing and putting on a simple russet colored dress that reached her ankles, a dark green side less tunic went on over the top, the look was completed by a length of golden colored silk rope that tied around her middle. As Sarah no longer had a middle, she simple tied the belt so that it hung below her swollen stomach. Sarah smiled as she stroked her abdomen, "I can't wait to be able to see my feet again." Felling in a better mood than she had done for a long time, avoiding the messenger, had defiantly put her in a good mood.
She opened the door, and after peeking out both left and right, she felt her spirits rise a little higher; there was no sign of Taren.
She would spend the day in the library, Sarah decided, just like she had for her first two weeks here, before Jareth had started sending for her. Smiling brightly she stepped out. And walked a little way down the hallway.
"Looking for somewhere to hide Sarah? The mocking voice came from behind her."
Sarah turned around slowly, "Don't you ever knock?" Sarcasm edged her tone.
Jareth rolled his eyes. "We're in a hallway Sarah. Not a private room. I didn't think that I needed to knock."
Jareth couldn't help jeering at her now he knew she was all right. When his messenger had come back saying he could get no answer from her room, he'd been worried, he'd appeared in her room, just in time to see her slip out.
Jareth tilted his head, and gave her a sideways look. "I sent a messenger, he said, that there was no answer from your room?" Jareth turned fully towards her, an eyebrow raised in question.
"I was sleeping." At her answer Jareth sent her look that said quite clearly, he didn't believe her.
"Don't look at me like that Jareth, I'm tired. This constant hounding.It's exhausting me." Sarah's voice was rising. All the pressure of the last few days was coming to the surface. "You have to stop sending for me at ridiculous times, I need to rest." Tears sprang up, but Sarah refused to look away from him. Let him see how far he'd driven her, she didn't care anymore.
"You need rest Sarah, so what all this about?" Jareth swept his arm around, indicating her, standing in the hallway. "This is how you rest is it? Creeping around hallways, skulking in the corridors. A very funny way of resting, to my mind." His eyes were odds with his tone; his gaze followed the path of a tear, as it slipped down her cheek. Unconsciously he stepped forward his hand moving to brush the tear away. Sarah involuntarily stepped back more by reaction than by her own will.
Jareth gaze hardened, his eyes were cold now.
"You will, come down to the throne room. You can either walk there by yourself, or I will take you there. You choose.Now." The added order at the end, the, Now. was what did it for Sarah, her temper that she had been keeping a tight hold on finally snapped.
"You overbearing, jumped up, freakin asshole. You think you can say jump, and I'll ask how high, you've got another thing coming, I don't know what your problem is, and quite frankly, I don't give a shit. I'm not Taren; I won't happily take the crap you hand out. I've still got some pride.. Ohhhhh" Surprise rang a gasp from Sarah as a rolling pain rose from the base of her stomach. The pain became unbearable, and she bent double, gasping for breath. Jareth was by her side in an instant, the argument forgotten. Swinging her into his arms he kicked her door open. And took her across the room to her bed. Sarah rolled away from him and curled herself into a ball. She began to sob; the pain was not lessening, if anything it got stronger.
Jareth cursed himself for his inability to help her. He disappeared for a moment then reappeared with Thea whose arms were laden with various bottles of different shapes and sizes.
Thea looked to the bed where Sarah was laid. And jumped to activity. Placing the bottles on the dresser she approached Sarah, putting her hand on her shoulder, she rolled Sarah so she was facing her.
Sarah's eyes were screwed shut, but still the tears fell. Thea in a quite voice asked. "How long have you been having pains my dear?" Sarah blinked at her kindly voice; she tried to find hers own.
J-just started," She panted forcing the words out. "Won't go away..doesn't stop.getting worse." Sarah could say no more. The pain was pushing everything away. She struggled to say a few more words. "Get him out." Thea looked back towards Jareth, Sarah grabbed her arm bringing the older woman's focus back to her. "Out!" she said through clenched teeth. "Get him out!" then almost instantaneously she passed out.
Jareth rushed forward pushing Thea aside. "Sarah.Sarah." Turning to face Thea. He snapped out. "What's wrong with her?"
'Well, your grace, I need to examine her." Thea began looking through bottles. "She could be in labor, but the pain is constant, which is rare but not totally unheard of. I'll give her something to dull the pain so I can wake her up. I need to ask her some questions." Pausing she looked to Jareth expectantly. Jareth looked back at her.
"Well, What are you waiting for?"
"My lord." Thea cleared her throat nervously "My Lady Sarah, well, she did ask you to leave." At his look she went on hastily, "Please your majesty, I'm going to wake her soon, and you being here might make her upset. It's really not good for her."
"Okay I'll go," He conceded reluctantly "but you are to come and tell me as soon as you know what's going on. If she is in labor I want to know about it." So saying he spared one more glance at the girl on the bed thinking as he did so, how young she looked. Then he left the room.
An hour later Thea found him pacing in front of the throne. The throne room was for once quiet. The servants going about their duties as though on tiptoe, the goblins subdued and most of them were gathered in the corners, those few who were still on the main dais, were keeping well out of the goblin kings range.
As soon as he spotted Thea he strode toward her. Thea had to stop herself from taking a few steps back at the look in his eyes. Anger, guilt and a touch of fear swirled in their mis-matched depths.
Thea managed to stand her ground, trembling as she did so. "Well?" he said. Thea knew what he was asking. "No My Lord, she's not in labor." Lowering her eyes to the floor, she heard his sigh of relief.
"Whets the matter then?" His relief that it was not yet time gave way to the fear that something else could be wrong.
"False labor, My Lord, her time is close. It's quite common.ummm" Thea was embarrassed. Knowing what she had to would spark the king's temper, but needing to say it regardless. "My Lord, I don't believe that the pain would have been as bad, if the Lady Sarah wasn't so exhausted"
'I'm tired. This constant hounding.it's exhausting me.' Sarah's words returned to haunt him. Guilt ripped through him. 'Why did he have to be so pushy?' He would apologize, he decided, right now.
"I'll go and see her now, if she's still awake?"
Thea cleared her throat. "The Lady Sarah has requested time alone." The lady Sarah had requested no such thing, but Thea, wasn't about to tell her king that Sarah had stated quite firmly, that she wanted Jareth to stay away.
"Time alone for what?" His arched eyebrows drawn together in a puzzled frown.
Thea changed the subject. "I told the lady Sarah, that she can get out of bed when she feels better but only for light gentle exercise, with as much rest as she can get. If that's all my lord, I have duties to get on with in the kitchen."
Jareth gave a distracted nod. His mind on the argument that had caused all the trouble.
Thea gave a sigh of relief, She didn't mind working for the goblin king, he was a fair master. But she liked her work better when she didn't have to deal with him directly.
She rounded the corner to stairs that would take her to the kitchens, and almost bumped into Taren who was standing there. Thea's eyes dropped to the floor as she mumbled. "Sorry My Lady." And kept walking, it didn't do to anger Taren, Thea knew, she had patched up enough, people who served under her to know that. She just kept going wondering slightly, as to what Taren was doing there, hiding round a corner.
Taren was only slightly annoyed when the fat kitchen worker very nearly walked into her, her mind was other things more important things. Rupart had given her good news that morning. Everything was ready. It was time to move. Now before the brat was born.
A smug smile drifted around her lips as she ascended the servant's stairs, making her way to Sarah's room. Without knocking she walked in to find Sarah propped up in bed, looking toward the door. With a long sigh Sarah spoke. "What is it Taren?" Taren smiled at Sarah. She almost gushed her news. "Everything's ready, your transport will be here early tomorrow morning."
Sarah was stunned, she couldn't go now not after what had happened today. She tried to tell Taren that, but Taren only waved her hand in dismissal.
I've hired you a cart, you can rest on the journey.
Sarah tried again to convince her that it wasn't a good idea. "But the baby's due soon. Very soon Thea said, what if travelling hurt's him, what if I go into labor on the journey?"
"We'll take it easy." Taren said, dismissing Sarah fears again. An idea came to Taren just then "Anyway wouldn't it be better if the child was born when you are far away from Jareth. I've seen how he's been treating you the past few days. In fact he was only saying the other night, that the sooner you have the baby the sooner he can send you home." Taren struggled to keep her amusement hidden.
"He's going to send me away? Away from my own son?" Sarah's hand rested protectively over her belly. "He can't. Okay tomorrow, I'll leave here." Her maternal instinct were kicking in, she had to keep her baby away from that monster.
Taren nodded. "Be ready we'll be leaving early, very early. I will come for you myself. Taren closed the door behind her. Unable to keep from laughing she let a small chuckle escape. "Tomorrow, I'll get everything I deserve."
Inside Sarah's room quite gut wrenching sobs could be heard.
AN: Only about another two chapters to go. :D
