Special thanks to my beta and friend, Scattered Logic.
Chapter 35: An arduous farewell
The family that sat silently around the breakfast table looked very normal except for one figure. Dressed completely in black, with a high leather collared cape as well as pale skin, strange markings and spiky blond hair, he stuck out like a sore thumb.
Everyone was silent, either contemplating the situation, afraid to speak first, or both.
A three-year-old boy sat on the lap of his much older sister and toyed with the strands of her long dark hair.
Sarah gazed down and watched him. He had been thrilled to see her that morning and he had not left her side since. He was going to make it even harder for her to leave. She could feel Karen's eyes burning into her. Toby had not even acknowledged his parents. He was only interested in his older sister whom he had not seen in a year, but still clearly remembered.
No one had touched their food. Pancakes, eggs and bacon sat growing cold on everyone's plates.
"There must be another way" Robert said softly. He looked longingly at both Sarah and Jareth.
Sarah could only imagine the night that he'd had. There were bags under his eyes and it was clear that he didn't sleep at all. His oldest child was going to leave forever and he couldn't accept it.
Jareth regarded the man and felt pity for him. The loss of his daughter was obviously difficult for him to accept.
Jareth felt Sarah's eyes upon him and he turned to look at her. There was hope in her eyes and Jareth silently cursed her for making this arduous. She knew there was no chance of staying.
"I am sorry, but there is no other way," Jareth answered.
Sarah stroked Toby's blond hair so that no one would see how badly her hands were shaking.
"Could we still speak to her? Is there a way to call her or write to her?" her father asked.
Jareth shook his head. "It would not be safe for Sarah or the child."
"Why wouldn't it be safe? You're just afraid that she might choose to leave you and come live with her family!" Robert taunted.
"We are her family now--I am her husband and she carries our child. She has made her decision and it is a pity that it does not include you," Jareth said coldly. "Leaving the Labyrinth would indeed prove dangerous for both her and the baby. Sarah knows that." He glanced at Sarah and she looked away, obviously fighting back tears.
"I want to know what would be dangerous for my daughter!" Robert's voice rose.
"Daddy, please don't make this more difficult than it already is," Sarah pleaded.
Robert turned to face his daughter. "I want to know what could hurt you."
"Sarah is a Queen and therefore a ruler of a kingdom," Jareth spelled out. "Royalty always have enemies and the fact that she is human only complicates matters."
Robert jerked back and looked at Jareth strangely. "Well, of course she's human."
"Ah, but I am not and neither is the rest of the Underground."
Robert appeared flustered. "You're talking in riddles."
"I am Fae. My kind are immortal, magical and very powerful. The Fae see humans as inferior and treat them like animals."
"And you're one of these things that treat humans badly and you've married my daughter?" Robert appeared panicked. "Sarah, what were you thinking!? Did you realize this before you married him?"
"I am different than my kind," Jareth said firmly, before Sarah could reply. "While I am Fae, I am tainted in their eyes because I am a quarter human. My grandmother was human and my father was half-human," Jareth explained. "My grandfather saw the world differently and believed that people should be judged for their personality and good deeds in life and not for how much magic they possess or how long they live. I agree with his ways."
Robert seemed to have calmed down. "I see but what about the rest of your kind? They could hurt Sarah?"
"Not while she is within my realm. My kingdom is sealed off from the others with my magic as well as the Labyrinth's wild magic. That is how Sarah will remain safe. To leave the safety of the Labyrinth for even a moment, would be to risk death."
Robert's jaw dropped open. "There is no way in hell that I'm letting you walk out of here with my daughter."
Jareth grinned revealing his sharp teeth. "Who said anything about walking?"
"I can't allow this. Karen" He looked to his wife for support. She had been quiet. Far too quiet.
"Robert, she's married the man and is carrying his baby. There is not much that we can do," Karen shrugged.
"I don't believe this! We're her parents, for God's sake! We have every right to try and stop her from leaving!"
"You're her parent. If you want her to stay then you find a way to stop her." Karen stood.
Robert's eyes widened as he realized what was going on. "Karen, you can't be serious. You're going to walk away without even helping me try to keep her here?"
"Robert, she's your daughter. Whether she stays or goes doesn't matter to me." Karen started to leave the room, but Robert was out of his seat in a second. He grabbed his wife's hand viciously.
"You don't care whether she stays or goes? What's that bullshit?" Robert was furious.
"Don't swear in front of Toby," Karen reprimanded.
"You never loved her, did you?" Robert accused.
"She's not my child."
"But she is through marriage!"
"She's the flesh and blood of another woman. Marriage isn't enough to make me love her."
The room suddenly became deathly silent.
Sarah continued to stroke Toby's hair. She rocked him in her arms and fought to keep the tears from falling. Her stepmother had never loved her. Even though she had often thought that, she had never truly believed it.
Robert stood in complete shock.
Karen stepped back. "I'm sorry, Robert. You wanted the truth. There it is." She slipped from the room without another word.
Robert looked at Sarah. They both had tears in their eyes. "Sarah, all this time I thought that sheshe told me that she did"
"She lied," Sarah spat bitterly. "She lied so she could keep you wrapped around her finger." She looked to Jareth. He wore a mask of arrogance, but his eyes betrayed his true feelings. He felt a great deal of sympathy for her.
A tear slipped down Sarah's cheek. She looked at Jareth. "I want to go home."
"You are home, Sarah," Her father told her. He sounded desperate.
She shook her head.
"Sarah, please don't do this. Don't leave us again," her father pleaded.
"Where Sawah go? Is she coming back?"
A few more tears streamed down Sarah's face at Toby's words.
"Sarah is leaving us forever Toby. She's never coming back," Robert told him.
Sarah put Toby down in the chair beside her and then stood, spinning to face her father. "Don't!" she cried out. "Don't use him as leverage. It's not going to work." She forced herself to calm down, showing how much she had matured.
"I don't want to leave here feeling bitter." Sarah walked toward her father.
Jareth watched them both.
"I'm not a child anymore. You have to let me go. I made this decision. I love Jareth and I want to spend the rest of my life with him, but what I don't want is for my family to not be able to accept my decisions. I know you want me to stay. I wish that I could stay, but I can't."
Robert pulled Sarah into his arms and began to cry. He composed himself quickly and pulled back, stroking Sarah's face with his hands. "You are my daughter, I love you and I want what is best for you. If this makes you happy then II have to accept that. As strange and as difficult as it all is."
Sarah's eyes brimmed with tears. "You love me?"
"God, Sarah, of course I do. I always have."
"Why didn't you ever tell me?" Tears began to stream down her cheeks.
"I thought you knew And you know that I'm horrible with emotions," Robert offered lamely.
Sarah hugged him tightly. She felt someone tugging at her pants and she saw that Toby wanted to join in. She picked him up and the three of them hugged each other.
Sarah forced herself to step back a few moments later. The longer that she lingered, the harder it would be to leave. "We have to go now," she announced.
Her father nodded with tears in his eyes.
Sarah gave him one last hug and hugged Toby who looked very confused. "I love you, Toby." She told the child.
"I wuv you, Sawah."
Sarah smiled at the words and walked to Jareth who was standing quietly by the table. She stepped into his waiting arms.
"You had better take care of my daughter and that baby, or else," Robert threatened. "Sarah loves you enough to leave everything that she knows."
Jareth gazed down at Sarah and gave the first real smile since coming to her parent's house. "I know," he whispered more to himself. Jareth looked at Robert and became serious. "She and the child will be protected, loved and taken care of. You have my word."
It took Robert a few moments to nod but he did.
Jareth gathered Sarah into his arms. "Ready?"
She nodded slowly. She turned in his arms so that her back was pressed to his chest. With tears coursing down her face, she watched as her father and Toby disappeared from her eyes. Never to be seen in the flesh again.