A Prophecy Speaks
a/n: I do not own labyrinth.
wolfempress – yeah, all I takes is one time for that to happen huh? And I am glad you like the twist.
I am glad to report that this story will end up being a total of 45 chapters. I am hoping to finish writing it by the end of the week. And the editor/sister with the awesome English powers is dragging her feet and editing more chapters for me. Sisters are pains.
Chapter 28 –or- The Grief of the Queen
Sarah drank the water offered by Carys' maid and laid her head back down in the Queen's lap. Carys had been quick to send messages to the other queens. They had all come as soon as they could, except Xandra. They had been told she was getting ready for departure. Carys found that to be odd. Xandra had been so close to Sarah. But the Goblin Queen just sobbed.
The gift was so rare that only Carys, as the eldest queen, had ever known someone with the gift. Sarah had the advantage that other mothers-to-be did not have, she could communicate with her unborn children. It would mean she could start to educate them and awaken them while they were in utero.
Sarah had been distraught enough when she came to the chambers of the Dragon King and Queen. Her face was a fury, but her eyes shone with tears. Danol had fled as soon as Sarah had showed up. Carys knew her beloved was off to find Jareth and see what the hell he had done to make Sarah cry. Sarah was so young, so new to it all. Toby had come to see what was the matter, and had turned on his heel and left when he heard what was going on.
When Carys told her she would give birth in four months Sarah had fainted. It had taken magic to wake her up. Carys explained that Fae pregnancy moved much quicker than mortal pregnancy. Within a month and a half Sarah would grow big in the belly.
Carys had nearly fainted herself when Sarah told her it was triplets. Three children. Within five months Sarah and Jareth would have five children total in their household. She was happy for them, but it was bittersweet. She knew they had to go to war. Sarah would be here, alone, to defend her kingdom while Jareth rode off to the Dwarf kingdom.
Carys stroked Sarah's hair while the other queens sat quietly. Carys had a power herself that the others knew nothing of. Only her husband knew. She could feel the power. She could feel how much power every Fae held. It was not as rare as Sarah's ability, but it was still considered rare enough. The moment Sarah had transformed into Fae, Carys knew: Sarah was more powerful than all of them, even Jareth. She had truly been given a gift.
Carys had also been right about something else. When she first met Sarah she told Jareth that there was fire deep within Sarah, and he needed to guard it well. Sarah had fire within her. A deep, dark flame of power within her. It would only be tapped when Sarah could spiral that deep into herself. And when she did, whoever was in her way had better watch out. They would not live. No one escaped the wrath of a Lady of the Flame.
Danol knocked on the door and Merissa let him in with a short curtsy. Danol looked immediately to the grief-stricken queen who still sobbed with a broken heart. He knelt before her as a friend, not a king.
"Sarah, look at me", Danol told the young girl. Sarah looked at him with swollen, red eyes.
"Forgive him child. He did not know how to react. All first time fathers react badly. He is worried sick about going to war and leaving you to have the twins by yourself. He is worried that he will not get to see his heir before he dies. He is afraid he is going to die while at war. He is afraid for you, your children, the other kids, and your kingdom. It is all too much for him. He flew off after your very defensive brother yelled at him. I left Toby with Agee and Core in Aaron's room", he reassured her.
"Husband, Sarah is having triplets, not twins", Carys told him. He blanched. He knew of Sarah's gifts. The children in her womb may be the most powerful Fae ever born. They needed to be protected.
"Carla?", Carys called the Ice Queen.
"Yes?", the Ice Queen rasped.
"There will be war. Can you be spared to stay here with Sarah until we return?", Carys asked her.
"My seneschal can take care of things well enough. My kingdom is far enough north that Nogrod cannot take it without taking this kingdom and the MerFolk's lands first. I will stay with Sarah", Carla told her.
"I can take care of my own kingdom!", Sarah said indignantly.
"Sarah, you have two children here already. You have three on the way. You may be powerful, but you will need help", Danol told her, holding her hand.
"Sarah, you are more powerful than any of us, even your husband. He does not know that. You have been gifted beyond what any of us expected. Jareth does not know this, and probably shouldn't, but the children you carry may be the most powerful Fae born in a few millennia", Carys told her. Sarah blanched again. The other queens fell completely silent.
"Sarah must have our full protection", Princess Consort Merissa said finally. It was rare for her to speak so.
"No. You will all go home to your lands and prepare for war. With the kings gone, the queens must stay with the land. Our people will need protection. I will accept the help of Queen Carla, only because strategically she is of no use to Nogrod the Usurper yet. That dwarf will not take away everything I love. Leave Princess Cara here. I will give her my protection. I will not allow the Labyrinth and Goblin City to fall!", Sarah told them, her color returning and her ire rising. This was the fire Carys saw in her. She was stronger than them all. Danol nodded in agreement.
"Sarah, what are you going to do about Jareth?", Queen Kaleia of the Elves asked.
"I am going to go find him. Seems as if His Majesty needs to be reminded of just who his Queen is", Sarah said as she swept out of the room. Carys sighed.
Sarah swept down the hallway, stopping only shortly to check in on Aaron and Toby.
"I will be back later Toby", Sarah told him gently.
"Are you okay?", Toby asked her.
"I'm fine. I just need to go find that other royal pain in the ass", Sarah told him. He smiled his big smile and hugged her. Sarah gave a giggling Aaron a kiss and swept back out of the room.
She stopped and closed her eyes. Jareth was in the labyrinth itself. He had dropped himself into an oubliette. That was something he would do. He could get out, but did he want to? Sarah blinked and she was wearing a fearsome black outfit she had designed. Her hair was piled in curls high on her head, inside the perimeter of her circlet. The dress had a ragged hem and hugged her body. It was sleeveless and had a very high neck. She wore black opera-length gloves. Her boots were black leather, and came up to her knees. She had a crop made, with a ruby set into its handle. She wore her ruby earrings. She set about walking straight through the walls until she could drop into the oubliette Jareth sat in, contemplating his life.