AN:
Disclaimer: I do not own the Labyrinth...just Jareth :P (Someone else can have Kolteq, blech...just someone take him...please)
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He's BaaAAaack!
(Part III)
The next day I left Jana to play dress up in her large closet. I had yet to get dressed, but I didn't care. I had to go speak with Jareth, there were things in my mind about the recent events that weren't adding up well. I stepped into Jareth's room and looked around. He must be in the throne room. I turned to leave again, but stopped when I heard the bathroom door open. Maybe I could hurry out before he notices me. I made a break for the door.
"Sarah?" I froze in the doorway at the sound of his husky voice. So well for beating a hasty retreat. I sighed and turned around. My breath got caught in my throat at the sight of him standing there in only his black tights, and I wished I had kept on running. I was very aware of the fact I was standing there in my robe still. "Close your mouth and stop drooling like Toby."
My mouth snapped shut and I glared at his smirking face. Gah! He was a pain in the ass sometimes. I waved a hand in the air and turned to go, he could just forget about it.
"No, wait. I'm sorry," Jareth started across the room to stand before me in all his bare-chested glory. I don't think I remembered him apologizing all that much, if ever. "What did you need, Sarah?"
Besides you? I think to myself and nearly smirked, too, before shaking my head as I felt disgusted with myself. "I had a few questions about our situation."
"Like what?" he crossed his arms and leaned against a bed post to watch me.
"Kolteq, as I said, he told me about him being your cousin. Can you explain your history a bit better to me than you did before? You left out the cousin part, of course, and you just painted him the dark prince of everything dark and deadly. How did your cousin of all people come to be at such odds with you?"
"I told you how," His eyes remained guarded. I knew he was keeping something from me and my questions were hitting close to the target.
"Yes, the latest and greatest problems. Before, you said you allowed them to roam here. That doesn't explain your history before that time. How did the cousin of the goblin king come to be what Kolteq is now?"
He kept his arms crossed and stood studying me. I expected him to give me more bullshit or simply refuse to tell me anything, but he sighed and seated himself on his bed. He patted the spot next to him for me and I sat quietly.
"You're right. There is something I left out. He wasn't always a dark prince, as you put it. We were close growing up. But, one day he just seemed to turn into a whole different person. He left and started hanging with the vampires, lycanthropes, and other creatures he now rules over. That is how his affiliation with them began. As for becoming their ruler, I am not entirely sure."
"I'm glad you were finally able to tell me everything," I smiled gently and touched his arm. "I hope you can continue to, since it seems I may be down here for quite some time. And for the sake of our truce."
"You said you had questions...as in more than one," his hand covered mine and he looked down at me intently. "What else am I to confess everything about?"
"Well...last night, when I saw you holding Toby. You looked so at ease...like you had done it before. And I know it's a silly question, cause of course I am not the only one to have wished their baby sibling to you...but still..." I held out my other hand in supplication, hoping he had gotten my point without me outright asking such a bold question.
"You wonder if it is because I have children of my own." He said quietly. He looked at the floor. "I could easily say it is none of your business, but if things were my way it definitely would be. And, you wanted me to tell you everything, not my half-truths of the past." He turned his face towards mine, so close. "It would be pointless of me to deny that I have not sewed my wild, royal oats. But, as a king, I was ever aware of the issue of producing heirs and that if all my affairs produced children it would create problems."
"So the answer is no, I take it," now why did my heart speed up and why was my stomach doing flip-flops?? Huh? Huh? Tell me that, please.
"No, I have been waiting for that special one that I could make my Queen and produce my only 'heirs'. Or, at least HAD been."
My breath caught in my throat and my cheeks flamed. I sat there staring at him with a mix of wonderment, seeing this whole new side of him, and fear, fear of what this was leading to. He turned on the bed towards me and drew my body against his. My hands went to his chest, running over his lean muscles as I looked up at him, too deep in hormones to really think properly at this moment. It really didn't matter anyways, who needed to think at a time like that, huh? His head dipped to meet mine and his kiss started out soft and tender. One hand was curled in my thick hair and the other was caressing the small of my back lovingly. Sensing no objection from me...why would I object, this was so...too much for words. He deepened the kiss and dipped me backwards onto the bed.
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I registered a scream first that sounded feminine. It came from the direction Jana's room was in. I sat bolt upright on the bed, the sheets falling to pool around me as I looked around and waited for any other sound to indicate what was going on. "JANA?!"
This brought Jareth up next to me. He touched my shoulder comfortingly. "It would be very daring even for Kolteq to come into my castle to attack someone under my protection..." he paused, "unless he was desperate."
"Well, let me see. His plan to attack me in the aboveground failed," I swung my legs out over the side and stood. "Then his plan to have me lure you into a trap failed." I bent over and grabbed my robe so I can put it back on, which I did. "AND we took his hostages. Yeah, I'd say he was desperate."
I was already heading for the door as Jareth hurried after me. I was not sure how he got into those tight pants so fast...maybe magic? Not a time to think of that, though. I had a short distance to travel before I was banging on Jana's door. Jareth stood beside me, he waved his hand in the air and the door opened itself. He held me back so he could walk in first. I frowned and pushed in beside him. He wasn't going to play hero without me!
Kolteq stood in the middle of the room holding Jana against him. One hand covered her mouth, the other was twisting her arm behind her back in an obviously painful position. I wanted to hurt him ten times as worse. Maybe a hundred thousand times for taking precious three year old Toby and harmless Ludo.
"Kolteq, you know it is very unwise to be attacking one of my charges in MY castle," Jareth was saying. I always wondered how he could appear so calm in situations like this. It was disturbing...but then, I suppose it WAS supposed to disturb his enemies and that was the point of it. "Release her now and I will remember you are my cousin and let you go peacefully."
"No, you got the girl you wanted...I want mine!" Kolteq held her tighter and I saw Jana's eyes go wide over his hand.
"We are not prizes to be divided amongst yourselves!" I shouted and started past Jareth, only to have him place his hand on my arm to stop me. I guess he did know me all too well.
"I have grown fond for this one, like you did with Sarah!" Kolteq continued to speak to Jareth over my head, this only made me angrier. Nobody treats me like that...
"Well the aboveground is not like some animal shelter where you just pick out some woman you like to make off with!" I shrugged off Jareth's hand and stepped out of reach. "And please move past the caveman antics. Ladies prefer to be romanced, not attacked and carried away like so much meat."
"And of course that didn't work on you when Jareth did it...right?" Sarcasm dripped from his voice. "That can't be the reason you've become his new little pet." He spat at both of us.
That when I lost it. I hauled back and slugged him in the jaw. The events after that were pretty quick and my position in it all made it harder to tell what all happened. Kolteq's anger flared causing the white and black of his eyes to disappear into all blue so that his eyeballs were completely covered in that drowning blue. He let go of Jana long enough to haul off and hit me hard enough that I flew back into the wall. Jana took the opportunity to bring her foot up and back into Kolteq's crotch then her elbow into his face. With her momentary freedom she darted across the room and took a leap out her open window. I was too out of it to register it in time to call out to her. Kolteq roared and disappeared quickly. I knew he was going to go look for her. My eyes rolled wearily to the side to where Jareth dropped to his knees beside me.
His hands moved over me in what I guess was him checking to see if I was badly hurt. His hands went over my abdomen and quickly withdrew, a strange look on his face as he studied me.
"Jana...you have to find her first," I told him warily. "And what happened to him...his eyes and his strength...its like he's..."
"He's a vampire, yeah. I guess I know why he suddenly turned to that realm of the Underground. And actually, out there is the safest place for Jana...one of my traps might catch her and keep her safe from him." He reached out to touch my face. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah...I guess, I just want you to go get Jana."
"I have to take care of you first." He said solemnly.
I shook my head and pointed to the window. "Jana's the one in immediate danger."
"In keeping with the spirit of telling you everything, one, Kolteq won't go after her immediately as he is probably going somewhere to calm down and regroup," He laid a hand on my stomach and I found this odd. "Two, you know that even though we faeries look human, we are very different."
"Of course, what's that have to do with anything?"
"Not to be too graphic, but right after intercourse a female faerie can tell if they are...fertilized."
"Your point? I am a little too concerned with Jana to be getting a faerie biology lesson. What does this have to do with anything?"
If I didn't know any better I would think I saw Jareth blushing as he thought of how to say what was on his mind. This only piqued my interest more. What was making the mighty goblin king squeamish?
"Well," he took a deep breath and looked into my face once he gained some composure. "Us males can tell, too, when we have...fertilized..."
"And?" I prompted seconds before I got what he was alluding to. I gasped and sat up bolt straight. "No!"
"Yes, is the thought that horrible?" He did look a bit hurt at my outburst.
"No...just...VERY bad timing and issues that have yet to be worked out...and...and..." I sighed and slumped against the wall again. I looked at his face, his expression caught between that little boy hopefulness and wonderment, and apprehension at my attitude. "Let me guess...you wanna touch my tummy again, huh? I know all about that belly of public domain when you're pregnant...I guess it'll start sooner than normal for me." I smiled at him, trying to put him at ease...and really myself, too. We had to be able to work this new kink out.
He smiled a genuine smile from ear to ear instead of that up-to-something smirk. It was infectious and I smiled back at him as he placed his hand over my belly. He kissed me lightly and then drew back as he remembered, and so did I, what the current situation was. He helped me to my feet and we looked at the window. I stepped over to it and looked out with a worried expression, I hoped Jareth had been right and Jana was safe out there.
I turned and looked at Jareth. "I guess that means you're exiling me up here while you go retrieve her, huh." He nodded. "I'll go check on Toby then. Tell him that he's to be an uncle I guess." I smiled faintly and headed for the door.
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Toby sat beside me on Jareth's bed waiting for him to return with Jana. I had finally gotten dressed in an airy white dress with off the shoulder sleeves that billowed open wide at my wrists. There was no waist line and the skirt was multi-layered, falling to my ankles. I went barefoot with it. I left my hair down in silky waves nearly to my waist. It was a nice dress and not too fancy like some of the others. It made me feel like an angel...the light airy fabric and clean white color.
I looked at Toby and wondered about what it would be like to have my own critter running about. Of course, it was also Satan spawn...err, Jareth spawn. Is there a difference? Oi...I take this to mean we would be spending a LOT more time together. I grimaced. This child will have an entertaining life. I hoped he doesn't pop out an ugly, stinking goblin. Oh, don't look at me like that, you know I would love the child all the same! I'm not a monster!
Toby, obviously sensing my inner turmoil, crawled into my lap. I smiled down at him and figured it would be nice to have a little girl, but I had so many questions. What was it going to change, this child being faerie. Would I change? Already, I felt a bit weird, but it was probably nerves. Jana was missing, Kolteq was waging war with Jareth and now me, and to top it all off I was pregnant...at least according to Jareth. But, Jareth never really lied to me; so I might as well face the facts.
I was obviously spacing out in thought when Toby tugged on the end of my hair. I looked down at him questioningly.
"Sarah sad?" Toby questioned, his blue eyes large and wavering slightly.
"No. No, Toby," I put a smile on. "I am just thinking. I can't wait to see Jareth and Jana again."
"Jareth nice." He smiled and settled himself in my lap, content now. "I like him."
The irony of it all caused laughter to bubble out of my throat. I threw back my head and let the laughter out. This was it, I had finally snapped. It had all finally gotten to me. All this stress had fried the last of my reserves.
"What's so funny?" a familiar sexy, British voice purred from the doorway.
I spun around, instantly sobered. "You're back? Where's Jana?"
"Resting in her room," he said and walked over to sit beside me. He looked down at Toby, he had dozed off in my lap after settling in. "I didn't tell her about our little blessing. Yes, I think it's a blessing whatever you might think of the turn of events." He averted his gaze, I think a little afraid to see what might be on my face. "I left it to you to share this news with your best friend."
"I agree...on both counts." I shifted Toby in my arms and stoodd to head for the door. Jareth reached out to touch my arm and I looked down at his genuinely smiling face. "I am just going to go put Toby in his own bed to continue his nap in peace." I smiled. "I'll be right back, don't worry."
I walked out and crossed the hall to Toby's room. I laid him in the small child's bed in there. Every room seemed to change to fit its inhabitant, as if it knew who would be staying in it next and just knew what they would want. I was hardly surprised by anything in the labyrinth anymore, though. I tucked my young brother in and kissed his soft head of blonde curls before turning to walk back to Jareth's room.
He was standing there just inside the door. I looked up at him, trying to read his ever elusive expression. He reached out to stroke my cheek. "Did my ears deceive me before you left the room, or did you agree with me that this child is a blessing?"
"Of course the child is," my hands went over my belly protectively. "The father may not be, of course..." I smiled up at him and chuckled as he rolled his eyes. I walked past him and sat in a large chair by the fireplace that was like the ones in every room. Though, the one in Toby's room had disappeared. Once again, a case of the room changing to fit the occupant. "All that aside, though, you were in a hurry earlier and we didn't get to talk much about...my condition."
"Let me guess, more questions from the Mistress Inquisitor?" he shot back his own teasing joke. "I'll do my best to answer any I can, considering I don't know it all first hand and that cross-breeding isn't as common as it would seem with such a small race as the faerie."
"You at least know the basics right? I just need to know that. Like, will I change to with the baby being faerie? What are some differences between faerie pregnancy and human pregnancy...and once it is born there will be a whole new set of questions. Don't they have faerie OB/GYNs or pediatricians??"
"We don't need them and if it is severe enough to need a doctor...we call a healer." He explained patiently. "And when you give birth we use a mid-wife...very archaic compared to the aboveground I suppose, but we are faerie and we don't have major medical problems because of our magic. You won't have a worry either, now, to answer the first question you will become faerie...not just by the act of being pregnant with a faerie child, but through our joining of a nature that is similar to human marriage."
This caused me to blink. I held up a hand to stop his lecture. "Hold it...marriage? Who said anything about marriage??"
Jareth's jaw set as I saw a flash of pain in his eyes, before they went cold. "I am good enough to bed, but not to join with?"
"Isn't that the lady's line?" I attempted a lighthearted joke, but he didn't seem to take to it. I gulped. "I just mean...you err...didn't ask me, you just assumed we would." I wasn't even sure what the answer would be if he HAD asked me. This was all so much so fast! I put my hands to my face and tried to think straight. My life was quickly spinning out of control...what to do, what to do.
"You wanted me to ask something I assumed was a given? That we should both be together since we were having a child?"
I stood up and headed for the adjoining door that lead directly into my room. "I'm going to go to my room so I can think clearly."
I didn't make it all the way there before he caught my arm. He turned me towards him and laid his hand gently on my waist. I looked up at him with a tired expression. I was tired of the arguing. "Sarah," he purred. "Will you join with me as my queen, not just to give this child loving parents...but because I have cared for you deeply since I first set eyes on your lovely face."
I blinked up at him in shock. Well don't that just beat all? I murmured "Yes" cause I figured a surprising speech out of him had to be heartfelt. A smile spread across his face at that and he hugged me tight against him. "I guess I have double the good news for Jana now." I smiled. This happiness was infectious!
"Do you want me to finish my lesson first on faerie mating habits?" Yikes...he actually cracked a joke, I think I'm finally rubbing off on him. All it took was a little rubbing. Yeah, see he gets the lame jokes from me... I chuckled and nodded. "Just as I said the faerie woman can tell right away that they are pregnant...they are very attuned to their child the whole time. They can tell if it's a multiple birth, gender, and towards the end what they will look like."
"You said gender? Cause earlier I got this feeling and you said I was starting to get a bit of magic from the pregnancy, I know its soon...but..."
"You going to tell me, Sarah?" He loomed over me.
I sniffed and shook my head. "Nope, you'll have to find out like a normal human man." My hand absently caressed my belly. "I'll carry the child the same as a human?"
"Yes."
"I think that was all my questions, thanks," I stretched up to give him a peck before turning and hurrying to the door. "I really can't wait to tell Jana everything. I'll see you in a little bit." I called as I ran the short stretch of hall to Jana's door.
I knocked and then entered. Voices were heard excitedly in the hall and even as far as Jareth's room. Then there was a feminine scream of excitement. Jareth nearly fell from his seat at the sound. He composed himself as the chatter continued, only to be unseated again when there was a second scream. He smirked and shook his head. The voices had suddenly become hushed.
After a few minutes I walked in solemnly. I knew that half the labyrinth had probably heard Jana when I told her good news...and again when I told her more good news. Jareth was already in his bed so I was going to turn and just head to my room, but he stopped me and told me to come over and join him. I looked at him dubiously, but he smiled that smile that kept melting my heart over the last few days.
I snuggled under the covers beside him and looked up at his face. "What are we going to do about Kolteq?" I whispered. "He's a vampire...but being turned into a vampire doesn't automatically turn you evil. There has to be something more to what happened to him. Maybe he was enchanted...if we could find out how to undo it..."
"I know, I know, Sarah," he put a finger to my lips to quiet me. "I just do not know how to break the enchantment, but as long as he had not been causing serious trouble I wasn't worried. But now..."
"Now's he gotten violent, very violent and bold." I finished for him.
"And he hurt you, my future queen, and could have harmed my child," his hand moved over my belly. "And he hurt your friends, and your brother. All dear to me cause they are dear to you."
"Maybe its like some sort of faerie tale...you are all faeries. He needs a pure hearted girl to fall in love with him...kiss him...something like that." I look to the side as if I could see through the walls to my friend's room. "Jana..."
"Maybe...who knows..."
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It had been nearly a week with no show of Kolteq in all that time. I figured Jana and I were withdrawn from the college by now. I was also not sure how much longer this game of waiting would take so Jareth had gotten all my things from my apartment and I had informed the landlord that I was moving out. We also did the same for Jana, who was happy to have her things now.
I sat in the garden, finally in my own clothes; a pair of jeans, canvas shoes, and a lavender tank top. My hair was pulled into two low, loose pigtails that hung over my shoulders. I tapped my nails on the stone bench beside me, a bit bored with the same every day life of the labyrinth. Jareth had went off to oversee his kingdom, he had to...he hadn't gotten to do it much since I had shown up. Jana had been wondering about the castle when I came out her for a bit of fresh air, I should go back in and find her. I didn't like leaving her alone for too long since we found out Kolteq WANTED her.
What HAD happened during her imprisonment in his castle? I shrugged and stood up. The ground didn't feel quite solid under me and I nearly fell to my knees as my world spun. I felt nauseous and held my stomach. This was not right, didn't the morning sickness start after a month, not a week. Though, truthfully, I still did not know all there was to know about bringing a little faerie child into the world...especially... I smiled and wiped that thought from my mind. I didn't even trust myself to think about the details of my pregnancy, even when Jareth was away. I did not know all of what he could do in his own kingdom, and wasn't going to tempt the fates and take the chance of him finding out.
As soon as I could, I hurried inside. I made it through the doorway and paused, something was making my new spidey sense tingle...or should I say faerie sense? I took a few more steps forward when a hand touched my shoulder. I whirled around to find the tip of a blade pointed right at the fleshy part under my chin. My whole body froze in fear, then my eyes rolled upwards to meet that face...so much like the man I loved, the father of my children...the face that yet was so different, filled with so much evil.
"Kolteq..." I whispered in fear and surprise, my voice coming out a bit light.
"In the flesh," he quipped and then something passed over his eyes as they go downward. It was quickly gone and replaced by the darkness they usually held. "I see my cousin has been busy, I was a bit too preoccupied to notice the last time we met. And, to think, I could have unknowingly caused harm to them, too." He sneered.
"You came here for Jana again, didn't you?" I retorted, my hackles rising like a good mother bear with her cubs threatened. "So why are you down here playing games with me? Or did you already take her??"
"I came to make sure I had you out of the way so I could take Jana without disturbance this time," Kolteq pressed the blade. "Maybe I'll take you, too. Jana will be easier to handle with you there and Jareth would do anything to get his new family back." He laughed that evil laugh that all villains perfect in their villainy school.
When he laughed the blade moved a bit, also he had pushed just the right button...so without thinking, the next thing I knew my hand came swinging around and slugged him in the jaw. The action had the desired effect of rattling his teeth and making him stagger back. But, it was not without penalty as the blade sliced my lower neck and shoulder area pretty good. My right strap fell useless and my tank top hung at an odd angle. I dropped to my knees and pressed a hand over the flowing blood. Weren't you supposed to try and apply pressure in these kinds of situations? I gaped up at Kolteq, both of us in a state of shock from the quick event.
That's when I heard a scream and turned to see Jana had burst into the foyer. She rushed over to my side and looked me over in horror, then she turned hate filled eye up to the man who was responsible. "How COULD you?? You monster!!"
"Jareth..." I called his name weakly, someone needed to come and sort this out...and I wasn't feeling up to it at the moment, obviously. Within moments, the goblin king in question appeared. He dropped to his knees on the side opposite from Jana. "Do something about them..." I murmured, not wanting him fussing over me.
His eyes flew up to his cousin and he straightened to his full height. "Kolteq, you have crossed the line! I have let it go...your strange behavior. But this...THIS...is too much."
"I only came for the girl, she made it harder than it had to be," Kolteq waved a hand dismissingly.
"He's lieing...he told me he was going to take me too...and blackmail you," I said from my position on the ground.
"Save your strength, I'll handle this, don't worry," Jareth said without looking down at me. He couldn't bring himself to see my abused form, sitting weakly watching. He kept his hard glare on his cousin. "Jana is under my protection, you cannot just go around abducting girls for your own amusement."
Jana was strangely silent beside me. She was somehow now the center of it all and she hadn't said a word in her own defense yet. I touched her arm and her gaze shifted to me worriedly. "Are you alright, Sarah?" She whispered nervously.
"Yeah, you had me worried being so quiet through this all. You speak up for yourself, instead of letting a couple stubborn Neanderthals fight over you." I whispered, leaning back against the stone wall wearily.
She glanced up at the quarreling men, then back at me before standing up between them with a determined look. "Jareth, thank you, but I think I can speak for myself here." She turned to Kolteq and raised a finger to shake at him. "And just because we had that thing at your castle, doesn't mean you can just come here, club me over the head, and drag me off again like you're some caveman!"
Jareth and I looked at each other in the same instant, and I mouthed *What the fuck??* What HAD gone on there?? He knelt beside me again and moved my hand aside. Some fresh blood started to flow without my hand there, but he put his hand there. The pain started to ease and I knew he was using his magic to heal me, I smiled at him gratefully. I still felt weak, but at least wasn't getting worse by the minute. He removed his hand and laid a kiss on my forehead before standing again.
Kolteq and Jana were still arguing. Jana was still looking infuriated, but his expression had become slightly confused and less...dark. I think I had been right, his feeling of love was breaking the spell. Right now he was indeed defending his feelings and his motivations for trying to spirit her away. She wasn't being convinced, I knew that if she pushed his passion button right about now it just might do the job...but I think I had done too well at working her up into a fury.
I pulled myself up on shaky legs then waved away Jareth as he tried to keep me sitting and then helped me across the floor. I made my way over to stand beside Jana. Kolteq looked at me and no longer did that awful rage fill his eyes, yes he was close. I put a hand on my friend's shoulder and motioned to him.
"If he were to make the change to good, would you consider meeting him halfway?" I asked, and she looked at me as I had gone mad. I deserved that look after telling her to tell him off and now trying to make a mate of him.
"I don't know, I don't think he ever could purge himself of evil," Jana crossed her arms and lifted her chin to look at him stubbornly.
I bit my lip in worry as I see the darkness start to creep into his eyes again. "Jana...but what if he could??"
She glanced at me. "If he COULD, I wouldn't be able to keep myself from falling into his arms. I thought I had glimpsed a good man for a bit, it's how he lured me into his trap." She looked down. "It was all a trap, though."
A hand went out to caress her cheek and then lifted her face. Their eyes met and I knew we had finally done it. He was smiling...a genuine smile devoid of wickedness. He pulled her close. "It wasn't just to lure you in, your love shown through the darkness of the enchantment." He drew her close for a kiss and then whispered something in her ear that caused her to blush. I lifted a hand and turned to Jareth. I did not want to know.
The almighty goblin king smiled at me and then walked over to stand beside me. He laid a hand on my good shoulder comfortingly and then looked past me to his cousin. "How did you come to be under such an enchantment?"
Kolteq looked up in thought as he held Jana close, as if not ready to give her up. "An old hag in the wilderness between kingdoms where my creatures sometimes roamed, after I became a vampire and then king...I went after a group of rogues who were attacking people living there. I retrieved them, but this hag thought I was one of them and cursed me to darkness until I found true love of a pure source."
I lifted my chin and looked at Jareth triumphantly. "I told you, didn't I. Do I know my faerie tales or what?"
Jareth just ignored my gloating and reaches out to touch my abdomen. "Is my child doing well after all that?"
"Of course, it's related to you. It's gonna be a like a cockroach...nothing, not even a nuclear meltdown can kill it." I smirked at him. I felt another set of hands and my head spun to look who it was.
Kolteq looked at me apologetically. "Sorry if I startled you, I just wanted to feel, too. And also make sure for myself that my repeated injury to you did not harm it, either."
I smiled gently. "That's okay, obviously not your fault. You just owe them very good gifts." I chuckled and moved away from the two sets of hands. "We'll leave you two alone to get to know each other sans-demonic intervention, I need to speak to Jareth."
Jareth followed me back to his room where I seated myself in the chair by the fireplace once again. He stood looking at me oddly. What could be putting such a look on his face now? It was a happy ending, he had his cousin back. His children were safe.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked with a nervous half-smile.
"You don't have to hide out in the Underground anymore...you are free to go back to your realm," he looked like he was sulking!
"But, I accepted your marriage proposal did I not? Did you think I did that cause I had nothing else to do while I was stuck here??" I was a bit hurt now. He hadn't trusted my word.
He saw the downcast look on my face and dropped to his knees in front of the chair to look up at me. "I was worried, I thought this was all too good to be true. I finally have you to myself, we're getting married, and you're pregnant with my child."
"And I am very glad, too." I leaned forward and laid a kiss on his forehead. He lifted his face and gave me a deeper kiss.
"So, you are staying down here with me, Sarah?" he asked a bit expectantly, with his eyes wide like a child.
It warmed my heart and I nodded. "My stuff is already moved down here."
Disclaimer: I do not own the Labyrinth...just Jareth :P (Someone else can have Kolteq, blech...just someone take him...please)
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He's BaaAAaack!
(Part III)
The next day I left Jana to play dress up in her large closet. I had yet to get dressed, but I didn't care. I had to go speak with Jareth, there were things in my mind about the recent events that weren't adding up well. I stepped into Jareth's room and looked around. He must be in the throne room. I turned to leave again, but stopped when I heard the bathroom door open. Maybe I could hurry out before he notices me. I made a break for the door.
"Sarah?" I froze in the doorway at the sound of his husky voice. So well for beating a hasty retreat. I sighed and turned around. My breath got caught in my throat at the sight of him standing there in only his black tights, and I wished I had kept on running. I was very aware of the fact I was standing there in my robe still. "Close your mouth and stop drooling like Toby."
My mouth snapped shut and I glared at his smirking face. Gah! He was a pain in the ass sometimes. I waved a hand in the air and turned to go, he could just forget about it.
"No, wait. I'm sorry," Jareth started across the room to stand before me in all his bare-chested glory. I don't think I remembered him apologizing all that much, if ever. "What did you need, Sarah?"
Besides you? I think to myself and nearly smirked, too, before shaking my head as I felt disgusted with myself. "I had a few questions about our situation."
"Like what?" he crossed his arms and leaned against a bed post to watch me.
"Kolteq, as I said, he told me about him being your cousin. Can you explain your history a bit better to me than you did before? You left out the cousin part, of course, and you just painted him the dark prince of everything dark and deadly. How did your cousin of all people come to be at such odds with you?"
"I told you how," His eyes remained guarded. I knew he was keeping something from me and my questions were hitting close to the target.
"Yes, the latest and greatest problems. Before, you said you allowed them to roam here. That doesn't explain your history before that time. How did the cousin of the goblin king come to be what Kolteq is now?"
He kept his arms crossed and stood studying me. I expected him to give me more bullshit or simply refuse to tell me anything, but he sighed and seated himself on his bed. He patted the spot next to him for me and I sat quietly.
"You're right. There is something I left out. He wasn't always a dark prince, as you put it. We were close growing up. But, one day he just seemed to turn into a whole different person. He left and started hanging with the vampires, lycanthropes, and other creatures he now rules over. That is how his affiliation with them began. As for becoming their ruler, I am not entirely sure."
"I'm glad you were finally able to tell me everything," I smiled gently and touched his arm. "I hope you can continue to, since it seems I may be down here for quite some time. And for the sake of our truce."
"You said you had questions...as in more than one," his hand covered mine and he looked down at me intently. "What else am I to confess everything about?"
"Well...last night, when I saw you holding Toby. You looked so at ease...like you had done it before. And I know it's a silly question, cause of course I am not the only one to have wished their baby sibling to you...but still..." I held out my other hand in supplication, hoping he had gotten my point without me outright asking such a bold question.
"You wonder if it is because I have children of my own." He said quietly. He looked at the floor. "I could easily say it is none of your business, but if things were my way it definitely would be. And, you wanted me to tell you everything, not my half-truths of the past." He turned his face towards mine, so close. "It would be pointless of me to deny that I have not sewed my wild, royal oats. But, as a king, I was ever aware of the issue of producing heirs and that if all my affairs produced children it would create problems."
"So the answer is no, I take it," now why did my heart speed up and why was my stomach doing flip-flops?? Huh? Huh? Tell me that, please.
"No, I have been waiting for that special one that I could make my Queen and produce my only 'heirs'. Or, at least HAD been."
My breath caught in my throat and my cheeks flamed. I sat there staring at him with a mix of wonderment, seeing this whole new side of him, and fear, fear of what this was leading to. He turned on the bed towards me and drew my body against his. My hands went to his chest, running over his lean muscles as I looked up at him, too deep in hormones to really think properly at this moment. It really didn't matter anyways, who needed to think at a time like that, huh? His head dipped to meet mine and his kiss started out soft and tender. One hand was curled in my thick hair and the other was caressing the small of my back lovingly. Sensing no objection from me...why would I object, this was so...too much for words. He deepened the kiss and dipped me backwards onto the bed.
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I registered a scream first that sounded feminine. It came from the direction Jana's room was in. I sat bolt upright on the bed, the sheets falling to pool around me as I looked around and waited for any other sound to indicate what was going on. "JANA?!"
This brought Jareth up next to me. He touched my shoulder comfortingly. "It would be very daring even for Kolteq to come into my castle to attack someone under my protection..." he paused, "unless he was desperate."
"Well, let me see. His plan to attack me in the aboveground failed," I swung my legs out over the side and stood. "Then his plan to have me lure you into a trap failed." I bent over and grabbed my robe so I can put it back on, which I did. "AND we took his hostages. Yeah, I'd say he was desperate."
I was already heading for the door as Jareth hurried after me. I was not sure how he got into those tight pants so fast...maybe magic? Not a time to think of that, though. I had a short distance to travel before I was banging on Jana's door. Jareth stood beside me, he waved his hand in the air and the door opened itself. He held me back so he could walk in first. I frowned and pushed in beside him. He wasn't going to play hero without me!
Kolteq stood in the middle of the room holding Jana against him. One hand covered her mouth, the other was twisting her arm behind her back in an obviously painful position. I wanted to hurt him ten times as worse. Maybe a hundred thousand times for taking precious three year old Toby and harmless Ludo.
"Kolteq, you know it is very unwise to be attacking one of my charges in MY castle," Jareth was saying. I always wondered how he could appear so calm in situations like this. It was disturbing...but then, I suppose it WAS supposed to disturb his enemies and that was the point of it. "Release her now and I will remember you are my cousin and let you go peacefully."
"No, you got the girl you wanted...I want mine!" Kolteq held her tighter and I saw Jana's eyes go wide over his hand.
"We are not prizes to be divided amongst yourselves!" I shouted and started past Jareth, only to have him place his hand on my arm to stop me. I guess he did know me all too well.
"I have grown fond for this one, like you did with Sarah!" Kolteq continued to speak to Jareth over my head, this only made me angrier. Nobody treats me like that...
"Well the aboveground is not like some animal shelter where you just pick out some woman you like to make off with!" I shrugged off Jareth's hand and stepped out of reach. "And please move past the caveman antics. Ladies prefer to be romanced, not attacked and carried away like so much meat."
"And of course that didn't work on you when Jareth did it...right?" Sarcasm dripped from his voice. "That can't be the reason you've become his new little pet." He spat at both of us.
That when I lost it. I hauled back and slugged him in the jaw. The events after that were pretty quick and my position in it all made it harder to tell what all happened. Kolteq's anger flared causing the white and black of his eyes to disappear into all blue so that his eyeballs were completely covered in that drowning blue. He let go of Jana long enough to haul off and hit me hard enough that I flew back into the wall. Jana took the opportunity to bring her foot up and back into Kolteq's crotch then her elbow into his face. With her momentary freedom she darted across the room and took a leap out her open window. I was too out of it to register it in time to call out to her. Kolteq roared and disappeared quickly. I knew he was going to go look for her. My eyes rolled wearily to the side to where Jareth dropped to his knees beside me.
His hands moved over me in what I guess was him checking to see if I was badly hurt. His hands went over my abdomen and quickly withdrew, a strange look on his face as he studied me.
"Jana...you have to find her first," I told him warily. "And what happened to him...his eyes and his strength...its like he's..."
"He's a vampire, yeah. I guess I know why he suddenly turned to that realm of the Underground. And actually, out there is the safest place for Jana...one of my traps might catch her and keep her safe from him." He reached out to touch my face. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah...I guess, I just want you to go get Jana."
"I have to take care of you first." He said solemnly.
I shook my head and pointed to the window. "Jana's the one in immediate danger."
"In keeping with the spirit of telling you everything, one, Kolteq won't go after her immediately as he is probably going somewhere to calm down and regroup," He laid a hand on my stomach and I found this odd. "Two, you know that even though we faeries look human, we are very different."
"Of course, what's that have to do with anything?"
"Not to be too graphic, but right after intercourse a female faerie can tell if they are...fertilized."
"Your point? I am a little too concerned with Jana to be getting a faerie biology lesson. What does this have to do with anything?"
If I didn't know any better I would think I saw Jareth blushing as he thought of how to say what was on his mind. This only piqued my interest more. What was making the mighty goblin king squeamish?
"Well," he took a deep breath and looked into my face once he gained some composure. "Us males can tell, too, when we have...fertilized..."
"And?" I prompted seconds before I got what he was alluding to. I gasped and sat up bolt straight. "No!"
"Yes, is the thought that horrible?" He did look a bit hurt at my outburst.
"No...just...VERY bad timing and issues that have yet to be worked out...and...and..." I sighed and slumped against the wall again. I looked at his face, his expression caught between that little boy hopefulness and wonderment, and apprehension at my attitude. "Let me guess...you wanna touch my tummy again, huh? I know all about that belly of public domain when you're pregnant...I guess it'll start sooner than normal for me." I smiled at him, trying to put him at ease...and really myself, too. We had to be able to work this new kink out.
He smiled a genuine smile from ear to ear instead of that up-to-something smirk. It was infectious and I smiled back at him as he placed his hand over my belly. He kissed me lightly and then drew back as he remembered, and so did I, what the current situation was. He helped me to my feet and we looked at the window. I stepped over to it and looked out with a worried expression, I hoped Jareth had been right and Jana was safe out there.
I turned and looked at Jareth. "I guess that means you're exiling me up here while you go retrieve her, huh." He nodded. "I'll go check on Toby then. Tell him that he's to be an uncle I guess." I smiled faintly and headed for the door.
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Toby sat beside me on Jareth's bed waiting for him to return with Jana. I had finally gotten dressed in an airy white dress with off the shoulder sleeves that billowed open wide at my wrists. There was no waist line and the skirt was multi-layered, falling to my ankles. I went barefoot with it. I left my hair down in silky waves nearly to my waist. It was a nice dress and not too fancy like some of the others. It made me feel like an angel...the light airy fabric and clean white color.
I looked at Toby and wondered about what it would be like to have my own critter running about. Of course, it was also Satan spawn...err, Jareth spawn. Is there a difference? Oi...I take this to mean we would be spending a LOT more time together. I grimaced. This child will have an entertaining life. I hoped he doesn't pop out an ugly, stinking goblin. Oh, don't look at me like that, you know I would love the child all the same! I'm not a monster!
Toby, obviously sensing my inner turmoil, crawled into my lap. I smiled down at him and figured it would be nice to have a little girl, but I had so many questions. What was it going to change, this child being faerie. Would I change? Already, I felt a bit weird, but it was probably nerves. Jana was missing, Kolteq was waging war with Jareth and now me, and to top it all off I was pregnant...at least according to Jareth. But, Jareth never really lied to me; so I might as well face the facts.
I was obviously spacing out in thought when Toby tugged on the end of my hair. I looked down at him questioningly.
"Sarah sad?" Toby questioned, his blue eyes large and wavering slightly.
"No. No, Toby," I put a smile on. "I am just thinking. I can't wait to see Jareth and Jana again."
"Jareth nice." He smiled and settled himself in my lap, content now. "I like him."
The irony of it all caused laughter to bubble out of my throat. I threw back my head and let the laughter out. This was it, I had finally snapped. It had all finally gotten to me. All this stress had fried the last of my reserves.
"What's so funny?" a familiar sexy, British voice purred from the doorway.
I spun around, instantly sobered. "You're back? Where's Jana?"
"Resting in her room," he said and walked over to sit beside me. He looked down at Toby, he had dozed off in my lap after settling in. "I didn't tell her about our little blessing. Yes, I think it's a blessing whatever you might think of the turn of events." He averted his gaze, I think a little afraid to see what might be on my face. "I left it to you to share this news with your best friend."
"I agree...on both counts." I shifted Toby in my arms and stoodd to head for the door. Jareth reached out to touch my arm and I looked down at his genuinely smiling face. "I am just going to go put Toby in his own bed to continue his nap in peace." I smiled. "I'll be right back, don't worry."
I walked out and crossed the hall to Toby's room. I laid him in the small child's bed in there. Every room seemed to change to fit its inhabitant, as if it knew who would be staying in it next and just knew what they would want. I was hardly surprised by anything in the labyrinth anymore, though. I tucked my young brother in and kissed his soft head of blonde curls before turning to walk back to Jareth's room.
He was standing there just inside the door. I looked up at him, trying to read his ever elusive expression. He reached out to stroke my cheek. "Did my ears deceive me before you left the room, or did you agree with me that this child is a blessing?"
"Of course the child is," my hands went over my belly protectively. "The father may not be, of course..." I smiled up at him and chuckled as he rolled his eyes. I walked past him and sat in a large chair by the fireplace that was like the ones in every room. Though, the one in Toby's room had disappeared. Once again, a case of the room changing to fit the occupant. "All that aside, though, you were in a hurry earlier and we didn't get to talk much about...my condition."
"Let me guess, more questions from the Mistress Inquisitor?" he shot back his own teasing joke. "I'll do my best to answer any I can, considering I don't know it all first hand and that cross-breeding isn't as common as it would seem with such a small race as the faerie."
"You at least know the basics right? I just need to know that. Like, will I change to with the baby being faerie? What are some differences between faerie pregnancy and human pregnancy...and once it is born there will be a whole new set of questions. Don't they have faerie OB/GYNs or pediatricians??"
"We don't need them and if it is severe enough to need a doctor...we call a healer." He explained patiently. "And when you give birth we use a mid-wife...very archaic compared to the aboveground I suppose, but we are faerie and we don't have major medical problems because of our magic. You won't have a worry either, now, to answer the first question you will become faerie...not just by the act of being pregnant with a faerie child, but through our joining of a nature that is similar to human marriage."
This caused me to blink. I held up a hand to stop his lecture. "Hold it...marriage? Who said anything about marriage??"
Jareth's jaw set as I saw a flash of pain in his eyes, before they went cold. "I am good enough to bed, but not to join with?"
"Isn't that the lady's line?" I attempted a lighthearted joke, but he didn't seem to take to it. I gulped. "I just mean...you err...didn't ask me, you just assumed we would." I wasn't even sure what the answer would be if he HAD asked me. This was all so much so fast! I put my hands to my face and tried to think straight. My life was quickly spinning out of control...what to do, what to do.
"You wanted me to ask something I assumed was a given? That we should both be together since we were having a child?"
I stood up and headed for the adjoining door that lead directly into my room. "I'm going to go to my room so I can think clearly."
I didn't make it all the way there before he caught my arm. He turned me towards him and laid his hand gently on my waist. I looked up at him with a tired expression. I was tired of the arguing. "Sarah," he purred. "Will you join with me as my queen, not just to give this child loving parents...but because I have cared for you deeply since I first set eyes on your lovely face."
I blinked up at him in shock. Well don't that just beat all? I murmured "Yes" cause I figured a surprising speech out of him had to be heartfelt. A smile spread across his face at that and he hugged me tight against him. "I guess I have double the good news for Jana now." I smiled. This happiness was infectious!
"Do you want me to finish my lesson first on faerie mating habits?" Yikes...he actually cracked a joke, I think I'm finally rubbing off on him. All it took was a little rubbing. Yeah, see he gets the lame jokes from me... I chuckled and nodded. "Just as I said the faerie woman can tell right away that they are pregnant...they are very attuned to their child the whole time. They can tell if it's a multiple birth, gender, and towards the end what they will look like."
"You said gender? Cause earlier I got this feeling and you said I was starting to get a bit of magic from the pregnancy, I know its soon...but..."
"You going to tell me, Sarah?" He loomed over me.
I sniffed and shook my head. "Nope, you'll have to find out like a normal human man." My hand absently caressed my belly. "I'll carry the child the same as a human?"
"Yes."
"I think that was all my questions, thanks," I stretched up to give him a peck before turning and hurrying to the door. "I really can't wait to tell Jana everything. I'll see you in a little bit." I called as I ran the short stretch of hall to Jana's door.
I knocked and then entered. Voices were heard excitedly in the hall and even as far as Jareth's room. Then there was a feminine scream of excitement. Jareth nearly fell from his seat at the sound. He composed himself as the chatter continued, only to be unseated again when there was a second scream. He smirked and shook his head. The voices had suddenly become hushed.
After a few minutes I walked in solemnly. I knew that half the labyrinth had probably heard Jana when I told her good news...and again when I told her more good news. Jareth was already in his bed so I was going to turn and just head to my room, but he stopped me and told me to come over and join him. I looked at him dubiously, but he smiled that smile that kept melting my heart over the last few days.
I snuggled under the covers beside him and looked up at his face. "What are we going to do about Kolteq?" I whispered. "He's a vampire...but being turned into a vampire doesn't automatically turn you evil. There has to be something more to what happened to him. Maybe he was enchanted...if we could find out how to undo it..."
"I know, I know, Sarah," he put a finger to my lips to quiet me. "I just do not know how to break the enchantment, but as long as he had not been causing serious trouble I wasn't worried. But now..."
"Now's he gotten violent, very violent and bold." I finished for him.
"And he hurt you, my future queen, and could have harmed my child," his hand moved over my belly. "And he hurt your friends, and your brother. All dear to me cause they are dear to you."
"Maybe its like some sort of faerie tale...you are all faeries. He needs a pure hearted girl to fall in love with him...kiss him...something like that." I look to the side as if I could see through the walls to my friend's room. "Jana..."
"Maybe...who knows..."
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It had been nearly a week with no show of Kolteq in all that time. I figured Jana and I were withdrawn from the college by now. I was also not sure how much longer this game of waiting would take so Jareth had gotten all my things from my apartment and I had informed the landlord that I was moving out. We also did the same for Jana, who was happy to have her things now.
I sat in the garden, finally in my own clothes; a pair of jeans, canvas shoes, and a lavender tank top. My hair was pulled into two low, loose pigtails that hung over my shoulders. I tapped my nails on the stone bench beside me, a bit bored with the same every day life of the labyrinth. Jareth had went off to oversee his kingdom, he had to...he hadn't gotten to do it much since I had shown up. Jana had been wondering about the castle when I came out her for a bit of fresh air, I should go back in and find her. I didn't like leaving her alone for too long since we found out Kolteq WANTED her.
What HAD happened during her imprisonment in his castle? I shrugged and stood up. The ground didn't feel quite solid under me and I nearly fell to my knees as my world spun. I felt nauseous and held my stomach. This was not right, didn't the morning sickness start after a month, not a week. Though, truthfully, I still did not know all there was to know about bringing a little faerie child into the world...especially... I smiled and wiped that thought from my mind. I didn't even trust myself to think about the details of my pregnancy, even when Jareth was away. I did not know all of what he could do in his own kingdom, and wasn't going to tempt the fates and take the chance of him finding out.
As soon as I could, I hurried inside. I made it through the doorway and paused, something was making my new spidey sense tingle...or should I say faerie sense? I took a few more steps forward when a hand touched my shoulder. I whirled around to find the tip of a blade pointed right at the fleshy part under my chin. My whole body froze in fear, then my eyes rolled upwards to meet that face...so much like the man I loved, the father of my children...the face that yet was so different, filled with so much evil.
"Kolteq..." I whispered in fear and surprise, my voice coming out a bit light.
"In the flesh," he quipped and then something passed over his eyes as they go downward. It was quickly gone and replaced by the darkness they usually held. "I see my cousin has been busy, I was a bit too preoccupied to notice the last time we met. And, to think, I could have unknowingly caused harm to them, too." He sneered.
"You came here for Jana again, didn't you?" I retorted, my hackles rising like a good mother bear with her cubs threatened. "So why are you down here playing games with me? Or did you already take her??"
"I came to make sure I had you out of the way so I could take Jana without disturbance this time," Kolteq pressed the blade. "Maybe I'll take you, too. Jana will be easier to handle with you there and Jareth would do anything to get his new family back." He laughed that evil laugh that all villains perfect in their villainy school.
When he laughed the blade moved a bit, also he had pushed just the right button...so without thinking, the next thing I knew my hand came swinging around and slugged him in the jaw. The action had the desired effect of rattling his teeth and making him stagger back. But, it was not without penalty as the blade sliced my lower neck and shoulder area pretty good. My right strap fell useless and my tank top hung at an odd angle. I dropped to my knees and pressed a hand over the flowing blood. Weren't you supposed to try and apply pressure in these kinds of situations? I gaped up at Kolteq, both of us in a state of shock from the quick event.
That's when I heard a scream and turned to see Jana had burst into the foyer. She rushed over to my side and looked me over in horror, then she turned hate filled eye up to the man who was responsible. "How COULD you?? You monster!!"
"Jareth..." I called his name weakly, someone needed to come and sort this out...and I wasn't feeling up to it at the moment, obviously. Within moments, the goblin king in question appeared. He dropped to his knees on the side opposite from Jana. "Do something about them..." I murmured, not wanting him fussing over me.
His eyes flew up to his cousin and he straightened to his full height. "Kolteq, you have crossed the line! I have let it go...your strange behavior. But this...THIS...is too much."
"I only came for the girl, she made it harder than it had to be," Kolteq waved a hand dismissingly.
"He's lieing...he told me he was going to take me too...and blackmail you," I said from my position on the ground.
"Save your strength, I'll handle this, don't worry," Jareth said without looking down at me. He couldn't bring himself to see my abused form, sitting weakly watching. He kept his hard glare on his cousin. "Jana is under my protection, you cannot just go around abducting girls for your own amusement."
Jana was strangely silent beside me. She was somehow now the center of it all and she hadn't said a word in her own defense yet. I touched her arm and her gaze shifted to me worriedly. "Are you alright, Sarah?" She whispered nervously.
"Yeah, you had me worried being so quiet through this all. You speak up for yourself, instead of letting a couple stubborn Neanderthals fight over you." I whispered, leaning back against the stone wall wearily.
She glanced up at the quarreling men, then back at me before standing up between them with a determined look. "Jareth, thank you, but I think I can speak for myself here." She turned to Kolteq and raised a finger to shake at him. "And just because we had that thing at your castle, doesn't mean you can just come here, club me over the head, and drag me off again like you're some caveman!"
Jareth and I looked at each other in the same instant, and I mouthed *What the fuck??* What HAD gone on there?? He knelt beside me again and moved my hand aside. Some fresh blood started to flow without my hand there, but he put his hand there. The pain started to ease and I knew he was using his magic to heal me, I smiled at him gratefully. I still felt weak, but at least wasn't getting worse by the minute. He removed his hand and laid a kiss on my forehead before standing again.
Kolteq and Jana were still arguing. Jana was still looking infuriated, but his expression had become slightly confused and less...dark. I think I had been right, his feeling of love was breaking the spell. Right now he was indeed defending his feelings and his motivations for trying to spirit her away. She wasn't being convinced, I knew that if she pushed his passion button right about now it just might do the job...but I think I had done too well at working her up into a fury.
I pulled myself up on shaky legs then waved away Jareth as he tried to keep me sitting and then helped me across the floor. I made my way over to stand beside Jana. Kolteq looked at me and no longer did that awful rage fill his eyes, yes he was close. I put a hand on my friend's shoulder and motioned to him.
"If he were to make the change to good, would you consider meeting him halfway?" I asked, and she looked at me as I had gone mad. I deserved that look after telling her to tell him off and now trying to make a mate of him.
"I don't know, I don't think he ever could purge himself of evil," Jana crossed her arms and lifted her chin to look at him stubbornly.
I bit my lip in worry as I see the darkness start to creep into his eyes again. "Jana...but what if he could??"
She glanced at me. "If he COULD, I wouldn't be able to keep myself from falling into his arms. I thought I had glimpsed a good man for a bit, it's how he lured me into his trap." She looked down. "It was all a trap, though."
A hand went out to caress her cheek and then lifted her face. Their eyes met and I knew we had finally done it. He was smiling...a genuine smile devoid of wickedness. He pulled her close. "It wasn't just to lure you in, your love shown through the darkness of the enchantment." He drew her close for a kiss and then whispered something in her ear that caused her to blush. I lifted a hand and turned to Jareth. I did not want to know.
The almighty goblin king smiled at me and then walked over to stand beside me. He laid a hand on my good shoulder comfortingly and then looked past me to his cousin. "How did you come to be under such an enchantment?"
Kolteq looked up in thought as he held Jana close, as if not ready to give her up. "An old hag in the wilderness between kingdoms where my creatures sometimes roamed, after I became a vampire and then king...I went after a group of rogues who were attacking people living there. I retrieved them, but this hag thought I was one of them and cursed me to darkness until I found true love of a pure source."
I lifted my chin and looked at Jareth triumphantly. "I told you, didn't I. Do I know my faerie tales or what?"
Jareth just ignored my gloating and reaches out to touch my abdomen. "Is my child doing well after all that?"
"Of course, it's related to you. It's gonna be a like a cockroach...nothing, not even a nuclear meltdown can kill it." I smirked at him. I felt another set of hands and my head spun to look who it was.
Kolteq looked at me apologetically. "Sorry if I startled you, I just wanted to feel, too. And also make sure for myself that my repeated injury to you did not harm it, either."
I smiled gently. "That's okay, obviously not your fault. You just owe them very good gifts." I chuckled and moved away from the two sets of hands. "We'll leave you two alone to get to know each other sans-demonic intervention, I need to speak to Jareth."
Jareth followed me back to his room where I seated myself in the chair by the fireplace once again. He stood looking at me oddly. What could be putting such a look on his face now? It was a happy ending, he had his cousin back. His children were safe.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked with a nervous half-smile.
"You don't have to hide out in the Underground anymore...you are free to go back to your realm," he looked like he was sulking!
"But, I accepted your marriage proposal did I not? Did you think I did that cause I had nothing else to do while I was stuck here??" I was a bit hurt now. He hadn't trusted my word.
He saw the downcast look on my face and dropped to his knees in front of the chair to look up at me. "I was worried, I thought this was all too good to be true. I finally have you to myself, we're getting married, and you're pregnant with my child."
"And I am very glad, too." I leaned forward and laid a kiss on his forehead. He lifted his face and gave me a deeper kiss.
"So, you are staying down here with me, Sarah?" he asked a bit expectantly, with his eyes wide like a child.
It warmed my heart and I nodded. "My stuff is already moved down here."