Five days later, Sara was visited by her grandmother's tailor. She had taken to staying in her own castle until the wedding. They had made the announcement two days ago that they would marry in two months.
Of course, when they made the announcement, the rumors started flying that they were marrying so quickly because Sara was already pregnant with Jareth's child. She could be but it was way too early to tell yet.
"Now, milady. You did say you wanted a wedding dress that your grandmother would be proud of."
"Yes. You would know best how to do that. I never met my grandmother."
"Of course. It should be long and flowing of course. Tight bodice and long train. The dress itself should have an emerald green underdress with silver overdress. The train and veil should be silver gauze material. I just need to get your measurements and then we can begin." The elfin woman turned back to Sara with her measuring tape. "Did you want the flowers to reflect the colors?"
"I think so. A beautiful combination. There are so many flowers that we could use."
"I agree, Highness. We will discuss this with the gardener tomorrow." She proceeded to take Sara's measurements.
When the tailor had left, Sara sat down and looked into her mirror, concentrating. "Jareth, talk to me. I miss you."
Jareth's face appeared in the mirror. "As I miss you, love. I can't wait until we are wed. Then, we won't have to be separated any longer." His eyes spoke volumes of his love for her and the desire he had to hold her in his arms.
"Soon. Soon we will be together until time runs out for us." Sara touched her fingertips to the mirror and Jareth reflected her movement. She could almost feel the warmth of his skin against hers.
"I will see you at the engagement party in two weeks. Shall we match the emerald green or the royal blue?"
"I would say the royal blue. To match your majesty's eyes." The mischievous grin on her face bringing a smile to Jareth's face.
"The royal blue also brings out the fire in your own eyes. Not to mention the shades in your hair."
"I will see you later, Sara. I have a meeting to attend. Don't worry. I'm never far from you as long as I remain in your thoughts."
"You are the foremost in my every thought. I love you, Jareth."
With that, Sara's mirror image of Jareth faded. She bowed her head, wishing she could step through the mirror and be in Jareth's arms. That was how her maid found her some time later when she brought Sara's lunch.
"I don't believe I wish for any supper this evening."
"Are you ill, my lady?"
"Just tired. I shall retire early." Sara's maid nodded and left. She was worried about her mistress.
Sara was asleep before the sun had even set.
"King Jareth, we were not expecting you tonight." Sara's houseman was nervous. He didn't want to tell Jareth that Sara was already asleep.
"I didn't know myself that I would be coming here myself until I found myself landing in the courtyard. I just wanted to see how Queen Sara was."
"I believe she retired early this evening. She said she was tired from all the planning for the wedding as well as the affairs of the kingdom she had to attend to. She had three trials and five land disputes to hear today. I must say that, in my humble opinion, she did very well. She showed no signs of tiring through the whole ordeal."
"I believe it. She is a strong woman." Jareth thought for a moment. "Very well. Don't tell her that I was here. But keep an eye on her. If she seems to become ill, or in need of assistance, let me know immediately. I will come to her."
The houseman bowed. "Of course, Majesty." Then, the houseman watched as Jareth transformed and flew off.
Everything seemed to be normal for the next week or so. Then, one day after breakfast, Sara found herself running behind some bushes and being sick. She couldn't seem to keep anything down until after lunch for quite some time.
She kept it hidden from everyone at the castle for several weeks. One day, she called on Caronara.
"High Queen! We welcome you!"
"My dear girl, you didn't have to go to such lengths to bring me here." Caronara smiled as she kissed both of Sara's cheeks.
"I will show you to your rooms, Majesty." Sara led the Queen to a set of chambers near to her own. "If I may have a word in private with you later?"
"Of course, my dear."
What Sara didn't realize is that the queen had already guessed the problem that Sara wanted to talk to her about. There were only three weeks til the wedding and everyone else believed that the queen was there to help her soon-to-be daughter-in-law with the final preparations for the wedding.
"Now, my dear, you made your request sound rather urgent. The only thing I can think of is that you have recently discovered an inability to eat anything in the morning."
"How did you guess?"
"You glow my dear. Much as I did when I was pregnant. It's something that only another woman can easily recognize. Now, I would guess that you are almost what - six weeks?"
"It would have to be about that. Jareth and I have only been together once."
"They say that is all it takes, dear." The queen laughed. "Now, have you told Jareth?"
"I know I need to but I don't know how he'll take the news. Majesty, how do I tell him? What should I say?" The queen wanted to smile but when she saw the agony in Sara's eyes, she stopped.
"My dear, girl. Invite him here tonight. Use the pretext that you need his approval for some trivial detail on the wedding. After dinner, I will leave the two of you to talk. That's when you must tell him. He must know before the wedding. Otherwise, he will wonder why you waited so long."
"But does this mean --?"
"It means you love him. And he loves you. Call him." She stepped back as Sara sat down in front of her mirror.
"Jareth, I need to talk to you." Jareth's face appeared in the mirror.
"What is it, sweet Sara?"
"I need to tell you something. But I need to say it face to face. Can you come to the castle?"
"What would everyone think?"
"Let them think that I needed your approval for one or two final details. Please. It's important."
"I should be able to get away tonight. I can be there just after sundown." He chuckled as she let out a sigh of relief. "Now, maybe you can tell me why my mother is there?"
"It has to do with what I need to tell you. So, you'll know tonight."
"Very well, darling. I'll see you tonight."
"I can hardly wait." Jareth's image faded from the mirror and Sara turned to Caronara.
"Well done, dear. Jareth is going to spend the rest of the day trying to figure out what you have to say. He may even cancel the rest of the day's business in order to get here sooner and find out what it is."
Sure enough, Jareth showed up at Sara's castle a little more than four hours later. "Where's Sara?"
"I'm right here, Jareth." He spun to see Sara walking down the stairs into the main hall. "You don't need to worry. Let's go out to the garden."
"If you wish, love." He had calmed down considerably when he saw that she was physically alright. Even though there was something different about her. He pushed that thought away as he took her hand and they walked out into the garden.
"Jareth, how do you feel about children?"
"I love children. That's why I'm happy to bring them someplace where they'll be loved and cared for."
"How about children of your own?"
"Someday. Many of them, I hope."
"How soon would you like the first?"
"Are you trying to say --?"
"I'm pregnant. You are the only one and it was only once but, as your mother says, it only takes once."
"Oh, Sara." The love that poured from his eyes brought tears to hers as he stepped to her and held her close. They stood like that until Caronara called them in because it was dark and getting cold out.
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A/N: I know this one's a little longer than the others. I just had to get to the right stopping place. Thanks for the reviews. I really enjoy them. It makes the fifteen years I suffered with writer's block worth while.
Will try to post again soon. Thanks again.
Of course, when they made the announcement, the rumors started flying that they were marrying so quickly because Sara was already pregnant with Jareth's child. She could be but it was way too early to tell yet.
"Now, milady. You did say you wanted a wedding dress that your grandmother would be proud of."
"Yes. You would know best how to do that. I never met my grandmother."
"Of course. It should be long and flowing of course. Tight bodice and long train. The dress itself should have an emerald green underdress with silver overdress. The train and veil should be silver gauze material. I just need to get your measurements and then we can begin." The elfin woman turned back to Sara with her measuring tape. "Did you want the flowers to reflect the colors?"
"I think so. A beautiful combination. There are so many flowers that we could use."
"I agree, Highness. We will discuss this with the gardener tomorrow." She proceeded to take Sara's measurements.
When the tailor had left, Sara sat down and looked into her mirror, concentrating. "Jareth, talk to me. I miss you."
Jareth's face appeared in the mirror. "As I miss you, love. I can't wait until we are wed. Then, we won't have to be separated any longer." His eyes spoke volumes of his love for her and the desire he had to hold her in his arms.
"Soon. Soon we will be together until time runs out for us." Sara touched her fingertips to the mirror and Jareth reflected her movement. She could almost feel the warmth of his skin against hers.
"I will see you at the engagement party in two weeks. Shall we match the emerald green or the royal blue?"
"I would say the royal blue. To match your majesty's eyes." The mischievous grin on her face bringing a smile to Jareth's face.
"The royal blue also brings out the fire in your own eyes. Not to mention the shades in your hair."
"I will see you later, Sara. I have a meeting to attend. Don't worry. I'm never far from you as long as I remain in your thoughts."
"You are the foremost in my every thought. I love you, Jareth."
With that, Sara's mirror image of Jareth faded. She bowed her head, wishing she could step through the mirror and be in Jareth's arms. That was how her maid found her some time later when she brought Sara's lunch.
"I don't believe I wish for any supper this evening."
"Are you ill, my lady?"
"Just tired. I shall retire early." Sara's maid nodded and left. She was worried about her mistress.
Sara was asleep before the sun had even set.
"King Jareth, we were not expecting you tonight." Sara's houseman was nervous. He didn't want to tell Jareth that Sara was already asleep.
"I didn't know myself that I would be coming here myself until I found myself landing in the courtyard. I just wanted to see how Queen Sara was."
"I believe she retired early this evening. She said she was tired from all the planning for the wedding as well as the affairs of the kingdom she had to attend to. She had three trials and five land disputes to hear today. I must say that, in my humble opinion, she did very well. She showed no signs of tiring through the whole ordeal."
"I believe it. She is a strong woman." Jareth thought for a moment. "Very well. Don't tell her that I was here. But keep an eye on her. If she seems to become ill, or in need of assistance, let me know immediately. I will come to her."
The houseman bowed. "Of course, Majesty." Then, the houseman watched as Jareth transformed and flew off.
Everything seemed to be normal for the next week or so. Then, one day after breakfast, Sara found herself running behind some bushes and being sick. She couldn't seem to keep anything down until after lunch for quite some time.
She kept it hidden from everyone at the castle for several weeks. One day, she called on Caronara.
"High Queen! We welcome you!"
"My dear girl, you didn't have to go to such lengths to bring me here." Caronara smiled as she kissed both of Sara's cheeks.
"I will show you to your rooms, Majesty." Sara led the Queen to a set of chambers near to her own. "If I may have a word in private with you later?"
"Of course, my dear."
What Sara didn't realize is that the queen had already guessed the problem that Sara wanted to talk to her about. There were only three weeks til the wedding and everyone else believed that the queen was there to help her soon-to-be daughter-in-law with the final preparations for the wedding.
"Now, my dear, you made your request sound rather urgent. The only thing I can think of is that you have recently discovered an inability to eat anything in the morning."
"How did you guess?"
"You glow my dear. Much as I did when I was pregnant. It's something that only another woman can easily recognize. Now, I would guess that you are almost what - six weeks?"
"It would have to be about that. Jareth and I have only been together once."
"They say that is all it takes, dear." The queen laughed. "Now, have you told Jareth?"
"I know I need to but I don't know how he'll take the news. Majesty, how do I tell him? What should I say?" The queen wanted to smile but when she saw the agony in Sara's eyes, she stopped.
"My dear, girl. Invite him here tonight. Use the pretext that you need his approval for some trivial detail on the wedding. After dinner, I will leave the two of you to talk. That's when you must tell him. He must know before the wedding. Otherwise, he will wonder why you waited so long."
"But does this mean --?"
"It means you love him. And he loves you. Call him." She stepped back as Sara sat down in front of her mirror.
"Jareth, I need to talk to you." Jareth's face appeared in the mirror.
"What is it, sweet Sara?"
"I need to tell you something. But I need to say it face to face. Can you come to the castle?"
"What would everyone think?"
"Let them think that I needed your approval for one or two final details. Please. It's important."
"I should be able to get away tonight. I can be there just after sundown." He chuckled as she let out a sigh of relief. "Now, maybe you can tell me why my mother is there?"
"It has to do with what I need to tell you. So, you'll know tonight."
"Very well, darling. I'll see you tonight."
"I can hardly wait." Jareth's image faded from the mirror and Sara turned to Caronara.
"Well done, dear. Jareth is going to spend the rest of the day trying to figure out what you have to say. He may even cancel the rest of the day's business in order to get here sooner and find out what it is."
Sure enough, Jareth showed up at Sara's castle a little more than four hours later. "Where's Sara?"
"I'm right here, Jareth." He spun to see Sara walking down the stairs into the main hall. "You don't need to worry. Let's go out to the garden."
"If you wish, love." He had calmed down considerably when he saw that she was physically alright. Even though there was something different about her. He pushed that thought away as he took her hand and they walked out into the garden.
"Jareth, how do you feel about children?"
"I love children. That's why I'm happy to bring them someplace where they'll be loved and cared for."
"How about children of your own?"
"Someday. Many of them, I hope."
"How soon would you like the first?"
"Are you trying to say --?"
"I'm pregnant. You are the only one and it was only once but, as your mother says, it only takes once."
"Oh, Sara." The love that poured from his eyes brought tears to hers as he stepped to her and held her close. They stood like that until Caronara called them in because it was dark and getting cold out.
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A/N: I know this one's a little longer than the others. I just had to get to the right stopping place. Thanks for the reviews. I really enjoy them. It makes the fifteen years I suffered with writer's block worth while.
Will try to post again soon. Thanks again.