Chapter 18: The Truth Revealed

Sarah felt her heart soar at his arrival, but as some of her feelings thus far had not been her own, she didn't know where it came from. But she could not examine the moment as she was speaking.

"Jareth!" she recognized the centauress' breathless voice.

"Ione U, the sun shines in your eyes! What news was so important, my shy one?"

Sarah watched as Jareth walked forward and took Ione's hands. His face broke into the first genuine smile Sarah had ever seen. She thought it was indeed a wonderful smile. But Sarah was surprised that the couple did not engage in intimacies common to such a relationship. Jareth's hand grazed the centauress' cheek, but he never once moved to kiss her. She almost wished that he would.

"It is most important, Jareth! I am pregnant again!"

Sarah could feel the centauress was beaming! But it was the look in Jareth's face that caught her attention. He was so happy at the news he was speechless. He hugged the centauress in his joy, but he backed away quickly.

"I'm not hurting you am I?" he asked with worry etched on his kingly features.

Ione laughed. "No, Jareth. I'm not going to turn into a delicate feather in my condition. I'll be at my post until it comes closer to the time for delivery."

"What does Apollo think of all this?"

Here Ione sighed. "Apollo is upset. He is convinced I simply refuse to say no to you. No matter what I say, he continues to accuse you of taking advantage of me."

"That is my fault, Ione," Jareth said tipping her chin so she looked into his eyes. "I don't want you faulting yourself because I ignored my son in the beginning of his life. You know why he's angry with me." Jareth's hand slid to Ione's waist, and for the first time, Sarah realized that Jareth was not wearing gloves. "This is my chance to do things right, Ione. Will you and Apollo live in the castle with me?"

"Until the child is born?"

"Until she reaches maturity, Ione. Until she is a woman like you."

"Jareth, centaurs grow quickly. She'll be fully grown at the age of three."

Jareth half smiled. "Ione, the throne of the Underground was not won in a day. Neither shall this idea of having a family come easily. I will have nearly four years to become a father to our coming child as well as attempt to repair the damage with Apollo. We will see what four years gives us, Ione, but I am not easily tamed."

Ione sighed but she was breathless as she spoke. "Yes, Jareth I know your restless spirit."

Sarah watched in amazement as the scene melted before her eyes and was replaced by another. A small filly frolicked beside her, and Apollo was seated on a centaurian resting couch. Sarah soon realized the filly was playing with a smooth crystal sphere. She laughed in delight chasing its erratic path across the floor. Sarah smiled to herself when she realized that Apollo was controlling the crystal while pretending to read a scroll. She felt a presence, but didn't understand it. It was something to do with the centauress' telepathy. But Ione turned, and Sarah understood. Jareth had just entered the room. Sarah realized that she must have been witnessing yet another part of the castle she'd yet to see. The room was fit for a queen! Apollo looked up and nodded to the Goblin King. It appeared they were at least on friendly terms. Young Isis, as Sarah rightly assumed the filly to be, was the last to realize her father's presence, but she was certainly the most exuberant!

"Daddy!" the filly squealed with glee. She cantered across the room even though it looked like she would trip over her gangly legs at any moment. With a strong jump that Sarah was sure would topple Jareth in an instant, Isis leaped into her father's arms claiming a hug. Jareth did not fall or even budge. He was only slightly assisted by his magic in carrying the small filly. Sarah was captured by the sheer joy not only of the daughter but also of the father. She was beginning to believe that Jareth truly loved his children. She watched more as Ione showed her Jareth doting on his young daughter as well as his efforts to win back the respect of his son.

Sarah watched Isis grow to maturity, and she watched Jareth as well. She noticed that while Isis was growing quickly into womanhood, Jareth was growing away from Ione. He retained some intimate gestures, but Sarah was pretty sure they remained within their own rooms at night. Suddenly the scene she was watching faded.

I am going to show you the discussion the King and I had the night after Isis' third birthday Sarah. It is somewhat difficult for me as it is personal, but I feel you must understand Jareth for who he once was.

"Show me Ione," Sarah responded. "Your secret is safe with me."

She felt Ione's momentary hesitation before the centauress allowed a new vision to come to her. Ione was in a dark room, and Sarah felt the centauress was lying on her side. Sarah began to wonder if they'd really grown apart as she had thought, but she quickly realized that the centauress' small bits of clothing were still in place. Ione turned her head, and Sarah realized that Jareth was sleeping beside her! But the Goblin King stirred, and Sarah realized her wasn't asleep. She noticed with a start that Jareth was not wearing a shirt!

"You're not asleep, Ione," he said more as a statement than question.

"Neither were you," Ione said with a sigh. It was tough to fool the centauress. She didn't need to even exert energy to tell the King's mind was more active than it should be in sleep.

"Probably wondering about the same thing."

"Our last night together."

"She grew too quickly."

"You knew she would."

"Yes, I knew. But it wasn't the same between knowing it and living it."

"You know we will stand behind whatever decision you make, Jareth."

"I know." The King sighed. "It will be hard on our little princess."

"She will learn to survive as Apollo and I did. She will in fact at least have the benefit of knowing you care. That is something Apollo grew without."

"You and the children will always be free to visit, Ione."

"I am grateful at least for this, Jareth."

"I sometimes wonder that Apollo has no aspirations for the throne. He is my first son."

"Jareth, he is a centaur. He has no wish to be King for the same reasons I will never be a queen."

"Why do you insist you would not make a good queen, Ione. Your qualities as a knight would be excellent for a queen!"

"No, Jareth. Do you not see that I cannot stand up to you? I am a follower, Jareth. As King of all the Underground, you will need a queen that can be your equal in spirit and strength as well as intellect."

"Will you find a new love, Ione?"

The centauress said nothing for a moment. "Jareth, you know me not at all to think that my love could transfer that easily. I shall never love another as I love you, and I seriously doubt I will ever find a man I trust enough to reveal our secret to. If by some magic or miracle I were to find someone, they would have the right to know who sired my children."

Jareth caressed Ione's hand with the first two fingers of his own. Sarah had seen him do this to the centauress in various other places she'd been shown, but with Jareth's hands ungloved, this was the first it had ever affected the centauress so. Sarah felt electrified with energy that tingled and swept through her with pleasure. She suddenly recognized it as something she'd seen on old Star Trek shows. It was the same basic idea of a Vulcan kiss. But where the tv version of her world had been an impersonal mere brush of fingers, what Jareth and Ione were doing was extremely intimate and personal. The fluid movement of their entwined hands was like a dance!

"I could not stand to know that our separation kept you from happiness!" His fingers brushed her cheek and chin. "Ione U," he whispered. Sarah knew the centauress was crying.

"And you always will, Melda," Ione said through her tears. Sarah wondered briefly what she'd called him and in what language, but it passed as Ione continued speaking. "I will always love you more than any word in any language past or present could describe, and I can see that we both love our children equally. But Jareth, you have never loved me with the depth I feel for you. That you love me, I am certain, but I do not fill your heart as you do mine. I will be happy, Melda e cuilenya, if you someday find the woman who does not simply compliment you but rather completes you!" The scene melted away and Sarah sighed.

"You've given me much to think on, Lady Ione. I hope you'll not find me rude if I ask to be left in peace the rest of the evening."

"Not at all," Ione replied. Sarah could almost feel Ione's withdrawal and knew she was alone once more.

Centauri Vocabulary: (based on ancient Quenya from Tolkien)

Melda Beloved

Melda e cuilenya Love of my life