Chapter 21
It's all fair game, babe
The winter had gone by quickly this year and the first leaves were butting out on the trees. Jay and Jeremy had their third birthday celebration on January 8th with their family and friends. Marjorie gave them more Legos and Sarah wanted to slap her for it.
"Just wait, when you have to babysit them. I hope you step on every single one of them", she thought to herself.
Jareth and she had been trying for a new baby since New Year's Eve, but so far nothing seemed to work. It wasn't for lack of trying. Sarah started to wear Jareth out, which was saying a lot. Jareth even began to complain to Faron and asked him for advice.
"She is killing me." Jareth confided one afternoon to Faron, who by now had become his closest confident. He never would've imagined a few years ago that he ever would talk to anyone about these extreme personal issues. But now, he needed Faron's advice and it really did not bother him that much to talk about it.
"You know I'm not the kind of guy to shy away from a challenge, and making love to Sarah is wonderful, and my most favorite activity, but I can't keep up with her demand. It's like a complete role reversal. Her libido is through the roof top and mine is going into the basement."
Jareth looked distraught.
Faron sat with a serious face and listened quietly. If Jareth had feared that Faron may laugh at him, he did not. He took it very seriously.
"I try to accommodate her, but it almost feels like a chore now. There is no more fun in it. It doesn't feel like love making anymore, it feels like empty sex. The only purpose is to sire a child. That's not what I want to do with Sarah."
Jareth looked at Faron with a desperate look in his eyes. He had poured his entire soul out to Faron, and he was hoping for some good answers and a solution.
"I think I know what is going on here", Faron got up and poured Jareth and himself some tea. "I believe Sarah feels guilty."
He sat back down and looked at Jareth with a stern look.
"Guilty? Guilty for what?" Jareth asked bewildered.
"Her miscarriage. She still feels it is her fault. She is trying to correct her mistake; in her mind. I think she has a deep seated fear that if she doesn't produce you another heir, you may love her less, or not at all."
Faron sat back and took a sip of his tea. Jareth had a puzzled look on his face. He could not fathom any situation he would love her less for, especially not for failing to become pregnant. She already had given him two beautiful baby boys. Sarah was his entire reason for existing.
"Why would she think that? I don't understand."
"The mind works in mysterious ways. Sarah has always been somewhat unsure of herself. She had never felt quite completely adequate enough for anything. You are the one thing in her life she cherishes the most, and she is terrified to lose you. That is her biggest fear, it always has been."
Faron took a few sips of his tea and adjusted his seat before continuing.
"It all started back in the oubliette, Jareth. She is still dealing with it, deep down inside of her. She felt she had let you down then, and now she feels she is letting you down again. So, she is over compensating."
Faron looked at Jareth with a solemn face.
"Just like you, I want her to be happy, and I always worry about her", he added while Jareth sat stone faced and silent in his chair with his hands folded in front of his face. He had yet to take a sip of his tea.
"I suggest, you talk to her and try bringing back some romance into your marriage. I am sure you have no problems coming up with all kinds of romantic situations. And by the way, your tea is getting cold."
Faron smiled and took another sip.
Jareth went by the Elvenwood 'Flower Designer' store on his way home from the military base and picked up a very pretty bouquet of red and white carnations. They were Sarah's favorite when she was a little girl, and he hoped it would set the mood more towards the romantic side rather than the chore one.
"Hey, babe", Jareth called out when he got back to the castle. He found Sarah practicing her ukulele and going over some finger exercises.
"Jareth", she put down her instrument and smiled at him when she saw the flowers.
"For me? You are so sweet." She gave him a tender kiss as she took them and arranged them in a vase.
"I thought we could go out for dinner tonight, babe. Maybe the Elven Grill or this new place in Faeville called Hideaway." He looked gently into her eyes and put his arms around her waist. "I want to have a date with you tonight. Like we used to, when we did date."
"You are such a romantic, hun", Sarah whispered back. "I would love to give this Hideaway a try. Sounds intriguing."
"It's a date then, babe", Jareth declared happily, "I pick you up at eight."
"Pick me up? But, you live here, with me." Sarah didn't know whether to laugh or have him committed.
"It's an old fashion date remember? I have to pick you up. At eight, in the study." With that he walked out and Sarah couldn't help but feel excited.
Date night went perfect. Jareth had picked Sarah up at eight in the study. He wore a nice outfit with black pants, a new red and black jacket with a white shirt and black boots. Sarah was impressed and found him incredibly handsome. She wore a beautiful little green dress he had gotten her in Paris on their last trip, and she had matched her hair color accordingly. When he saw her it took his breath away. She looked stunning.
The new Hideaway restaurant had a wonderful ambience and was geared towards couples for a romantic getaway, or hideaway, as the name implied. They had a completely private little booth with candle light and a soft upholstered round bench instead of separate chairs.
The food had been excellent and the live music was subtle and mellow, made for slow close dancing, of which they did a lot. It had felt like a date from years ago. Sarah was so pretty, and her eyes shimmered in an intense brownish green color. He looked stunning in his outfit and his mesmerizing eyes. Both of them fell in love with each other all over again.
That evening, they made love the way new lovers do. There was no pretense, no sense of fulfilling a duty or certain chore. It was only them, two people in love at that particular time and space. Jareth was happy and Sarah sighed blissfully. She too had missed that feeling.
"Thank you Jareth", Sarah whispered barely audible. "Thank you for an incredible evening." She looked at him with deep love in her eyes.
"I know I haven't been the most romantic wife lately, and I have pushed you over this pregnancy deal. I was just so worried that, if I don't get pregnant, you would be disappointed, and I don't ever want you disappointed in me again."
Jareth was stunned. She had just spoken the nearly identical words Faron had told him earlier. He had been right and spot on. Sarah was worried about him being disappointed in her if she didn't become pregnant.
"Babe, you could never disappoint me. I am so proud of you about everything. You are gorgeous, strong, intelligent, witty, and fearless. You are a dream, and you are my dream."
He smiled and kissed her with all the love in his heart.
"I had a conversation with Chayrone", Sarah confessed. Jareth suddenly paid utmost attention.
"A conversation about what?" He had a good idea what the answer was going to be.
"Us. I usually don't talk to anyone about our issues, if any, in the bedroom, but I knew something was wrong. I pushed you. I got so fixated on getting pregnant, I over looked the most important part, and that is us. It's not supposed to be a chore, it's supposed to be fun, and I know it wasn't anymore."
Sarah lowered her eyes and looked towards the floor.
"In that case, I have a confession to make as well", Jareth replied with a soft smile and picked her head up with his fingers under her chin. "I went and talked to Faron too. The date tonight was his idea."
They both looked at each other for some time and then had to chuckle and finally laugh.
"Oh my god, we are such beginners." Sarah laughed, "Absolute beginners."
"We're absolute beginners, but I absolutely love you", Jareth sang softly into her ear. Sarah gave him a hug and held on tight to him as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I guess we still have a lot to learn. We'll get there, in about another three or four hundred years, give or take a few centuries."
Jareth laughed and gave her another kiss.
Faron and Chayrone had saved Jareth from going nuts in the bedroom, and the next day it was them who received a bouquet of beautiful flowers.
"Apparently it worked", Chayrone smiled deviously and Faron laughed out loud.
"Yes, it must have worked; lesson learned. Oh those children." He shook his head laughing and put the flowers on the dining room table.
Jareth and Sarah didn't have any more bedroom issues. They had decided whatever would happen would be fine with them. If she became pregnant, wonderful, but if not, it was not a big deal either. They would let it play out and quit trying so hard.
Sarah finally was able to concentrate on other issues and activities, like her ukulele lessons she had started taken from the teacher at the YGLC. He was a younger fae man who had studied music at LMA, the Labyrinth Music Academy. He was quite proficient and also played with a band on the weekends at The Underground Club.
Sarah had learned a lot from him over the past couple of month and enjoyed the twice a week lessons tremendously. He would come to the castle to give her his lessons, as it was too complicated with the security detail for her to go to the YGLC alone.
At first Jareth had approved of the lessons, but over the past couple of weeks he was getting a bit frustrated. He wasn't so sure any more if it was a good idea for his wife to be alone with a young unattached fae male in his study twice a week for an hour.
Not that he didn't trust Sarah, he didn't trust the teacher, and he had good reasons. Young unattached fae males had a tendency to go after women regardless of marital status in search for their own partner. It was a dog eat dog kind of mentality, may the most charming one win.
Jareth had noticed how her teacher would look at her and talk about her musical abilities. Jareth was quite observant, and being a young man himself, also knew what was going on in the heads of single young men. He decided to keep a closer eye on him as he felt a challenge coming up.
"How are your lessons going with, what's his name?" Jareth asked casually in the evening after one lesson.
"Arlan, his name is Arlan, and the lessons are going quite well. We went over the circle of fifth today and some chord theory. I am even more impressed with your musical skills and abilities than before. This theory stuff is not all that easy and can be quite confusing."
She sighed and rolled her eyes.
"So, do you like him? I mean as an instructor, a teacher?" He corrected himself quickly and was upset at himself for nearly screwing this one up.
"I think he's quite competent", Sarah replied and sat next to Jareth at the piano bench. She gave him a funny look that made Jareth miss a note on the piano, and he glanced at her in annoyance.
"You are still my number one musician and teacher, no need for worry", she gave him a quick kiss and walked back to her reading chair with a grin.
"Who says I'm worried." Jareth asked irritated as he realized his cover had been blown. "I just don't want someone teaching you the wrong theory, that's all."
He started playing 'I will survive' by Gloria Gaynor.
Bethan had started to come by every so often as well and always seemed to come up with a good excuse to visit. Since he was good friends with Kaden, it didn't seem out of the ordinary, plus, he had been assigned the leader of one of the search teams for the Einhorn herd, and he needed to report to Jareth once a week. He always made it a point to find Sarah and see her.
Ever since the cave adventure in the northern forest they had formed a unique bond. After all, Bethan had saved her life from dying in an avalanche and dark cave, and she had saved his life from being gored by an angry Einhorn.
It seemed natural that they would form a connection. Jareth fully understood and didn't seem concerned at first. When Bethan started coming around in between reports and finding all sorts of excuses to see Sarah, he became suspicious. He decided to start watching him closer as well.
"That makes number two. How many more fools is she going to attract?"
He mumbled to himself as he looked out of his window in his study and saw Sarah talking to Bethan. She had just finished a music lesson and Arlan was leaving. He gave Bethan a sideways look as he walked off and Bethan likewise had daggers in his eyes.
"This could get interesting." Jareth mumbled again and smirked in a prankish manner. Jareth opened the window and called Bethan up to his office.
"Anything new to report in regards to the Einhorn search?" Jareth asked as if that was the reason he had called him to his official study.
"No your majesty, nothing as of now. We did see Paradox though and she is doing great. I just told Sa...I mean the queen about her." Bethan turned slightly red but kept his eyes on Jareth. Jareth had a hard time to conceal his smile.
"Good then, you can go. I'll await your follow up report next week", Jareth nodded and Bethan left after saluting him.
"Yep, gonna have to watch him", Jareth sighed. "Sarah, Sarah, what are you doing?"
Caryll, the royal sculptor who had sculpted Sarah's statue, had been commissioned by Jareth to create a few statues of faes and goblins for future fountain projects. He had liked the Trevi fountain in Rome and wanted to see if he could recreate a similar fountain farther in the park that had a big open space that hadn't been utilized.
Since Sarah had made friends with a unicorn, he also had plans to have a statue embossed that depicted Paradox being ridden by Sarah at the 'Battle of Shifting Rock Cave', as it had become known in the Labyrinth Kingdom. Jareth wanted to surprise Sarah with it on her birthday in October. It was already March, so they needed to get going on the project.
Caryll came rushing into Jareth' office with the plans under his arms for the monument.
"Your majesty, here are the plans I drew up last night for the 'Battle of Shifting Rock Cave' monument". He handed the sketches over to Jareth who carefully unrolled them. Jareth looked at them for a few minutes and studied them intensely, every so often glancing at Caryll with a stoic look and furrowed brows.
"I really love the monument, the Paradox statue, but why is my wife sitting on the Einhorn in the nude?"
Jareth gave Caryll a questioning stare.
"Your majesty, I thought this would make it a lot more interesting. The virgin queen riding into battle on a long forgotten mythical creature, slaying the beast", Caryll thought he had made an excellent case with his philosophy and poetry.
Jareth once again sat behind his desk with his hands folded in front of his face.
"Did you say virgin queen?" Jareth had a hard time not to burst out laughing. "You do know she gave birth to two princes. That hardly makes her a virgin queen. And from what I remember at the battle she was fully clothed."
Caryll shifted uncomfortably in his chair and was desperately looking for the right words.
"Your highness, your majesty, all monuments take some liberty with the real events. We like to call it artistic freedom. Her nakedness, I mean nudeness is symbolic of the pure heart and pure intentions of her virtuous actions."
Caryll was sure this time he had outdone himself with his words. What poetry. Jareth squinted his eyes.
"Lady Godiva was depicted nude", Caryll added for emphasis.
"Lady Godiva actually did ride in the nude, it wasn't made up. Queen Sarah did not", Jareth replied, quite annoyed at this point. "So, if I would agree to this, how would you be able to get her recreated as lifelike as possible?"
Jareth was afraid to hear the answer.
"She would have to pose nude of course." Caryll's eyes lit up and his ears turned red. "What a wonderful session this would be." He looked dreamingly into space.
"Out", Jareth thundered and pointed his finger towards the door. "My wife is not going to pose nude for anyone, and especially not for you. You will depict her in her hunting clothes and depict this battle true to reality. Do you understand me?"
Jareth leaned over the desk in a menacing way and Caryll gathered his sketches.
He hobbled to the door as fast as his short legs would allow him. Before he left he turned back to Jareth one more time.
"You're sure nude wouldn't be the way to go? I'd love to..." He wasn't able to finish his sentence.
"OUT!" Jareth yelled on top of his lungs and Caryll ran out.
"Fool number three", Jareth muttered to himself in annoyance. "The males in this Kingdom are going nuts. Sarah, Sarah, what are you doing?"
Arlan had started to make more direct overtures towards Sarah the past couple of weeks and she was getting somewhat uncomfortable. She didn't dare telling Jareth, as she was afraid he would send him straight to the Bog of Eternal Stench, or worse, the lava fields with the obnoxious fumes.
When Arlan put his arm around her during one lesson Sarah gently pushed him away and stood up.
"Arlan, this is not working", she said, "I don't think you should be giving me any more lessons. I am a happily married woman and your advances are making me uncomfortable."
There, she had said it. Arlan only looked at her with a questioning look.
"I know you're married, so what? I'm unattached."
He smiled and tried to lean forward to give Sarah a kiss. Sarah was dumbfounded about his brazenness and did the only thing she could think off at the time. She kneed him with an expertly placed kick right where it hurt the most.
Arlan collapsed onto the floor with a groan. "I guess that would be a no?" he moaned with tears in his eyes.
"I would say so", Sarah declared, took her ukulele and marched out while Arlan collected himself and slowly got up. He caught up to her just as she entered the garden.
"No harm done", he grinned, "but you can't hold it against a single guy from this world to give it a try. It's the way of the Underground." He bowed to her and walked off in obvious pain. Sarah stood there dumbfounded and tried to contemplate his words.
"Ok, this world is absolutely crazy then. The way of the underground, what the hell", she mumbled and went on with her day. She was not going to mention it to Jareth. Apparently the situation had resolved itself.
"Hello", she heard a familiar voice behind her and turned to face Bethan.
"Bethan", she smiled, "I'm about to go for a walk to check out the construction of a new greenhouse. Join me?" Bethan nodded happily.
"I guess you gave Jareth the updated report on the search for the Einhorns. Any luck yet?" Sarah inquired with interest. Bethan shook his head.
"Not yet, but we did see Paradox. She's doing well and she is sending her best wishes. She said she received your messages, whatever that means."
Sarah smiled happily. She missed Paradox and was still secretly hoping she would join them here at the castle one day. Bethan kept looking at Sarah with an obvious desire to talk to her about something.
"What is it Bethan? Something on your mind? You look like you're about to explode." She giggled slightly and sat down on a bench to give him a chance to get it off his chest, whatever it may be.
Bethan scooted around the bench uncomfortably and tried to find the right word. Finally he blasted them at her.
"I'm in love with you", he blurted out and looked at her with loving eyes.
"What?" Sarah exclaimed in utter surprise and scooted backwards on the bench.
"Oh no, not you too. Have you all gone mad? Is there something in the air I'm not aware off?" Bethan looked lost.
"Someone else?" he asked with an annoyed face.
"Oh just Arlan", Sarah waved off. "He is not walking so good right now."
Now it was Bethan's turn to scoot back and stand up.
"I'm sorry, I must have misunderstood then. I thought we had a connection from the hunts, and the cave. I felt it since last year when I first touched your hand during the fae stag hunt." He lowered his head and blushed.
"Oh Bethan, we do have a connection and we always will, but not in that way. You are so young and innocent. In my world we call it puppy love. Trust me when I tell you it will go away. It's not going to last long."
Sarah stood up and took Bethan's hands in her own as she smiled at him.
"Bethan find yourself a nice little fae or elven girl. I know there's hundreds of girls that would love to be your chosen one. I know one in particular who would absolutely die if you would give her the attention."
Bethan looked at her in astonishment. "You are not angry at me?"
Sarah shook her head and chuckled quietly. "Of course not."
"You won't tell the king? I really don't want to fight him over this since you are not interested." He sounded quite casual about it all.
Sarah shook her head with a slight grin. "Not if this is the end of it."
"Who is the girl that's interested in me?" He finally asked with anticipating eyes.
"Marissa", Sarah gave him a sly smile. "I've seen the way she's been looking at you during the Winter Solstice Festival, and I think I saw you checking her out too."
Bethan blushed again and stared at the ground. He nodded silently and then grinned. "Yeah, she's pretty. I kinda like her."
"Then go and ask her out. Quit chasing after something you can't have. I already belong to the king, plus, I'm too old for you anyway."
She winked at him and Bethan had to laugh at the last words. He was two hundred and Sarah was only twenty five, but he knew she was right
Just as Sarah let go of his hands, Jareth came strolling up the pathway on his way back from inspecting the construction of the monument for the Battle of the Shifting Rock Cave. Bethan quickly bowed and saluted with a blush and a smirk and took off.
"Did I miss something?" Jareth asked inquisitively with furrowed brows as he watched Bethan walk off rather quickly. Sarah sat down on the bench again, apparently in deep thoughts, and Jareth joined her putting his arm around her shoulder.
"What is it with men in this world?" was all she asked, but Jareth seemed to know what she was getting at. He had been watching for some time and knew exactly what was going on.
"Let me tell you something about the Underground law and traditions when it comes to fae and elven males. Any single young man can pursue a woman, whether she is married or not. It is allowed to challenge the dominant male so to speak. In this case that would be me."
He pointed proudly at himself and Sarah couldn't help but to laugh.
"Really?" she mocked him. He gave her a disapproving look and continued.
"I saw Arlan walking off a bit funny. I would assume you did this?" He smirked and bit his lip. Sarah only shrug her shoulders as if she didn't know what he was referring to.
"See, here in the Underground it is ok to be challenged, it is actually expected. That's why it is so important to not appear weak, ever. Once a young male finds his mate he settles down for good. No more chasing. Faes and elves marry for life. We only have one mate. You are mine."
He looked lovingly at her face and gave her an ardent kiss.
"So you let all these guys hit on your wife and won't even defend my honor? Am I not worth a fight over?" Sarah looked at him with squinted eyes and pursed lips. How dare he, not fight for her. She huffed and crossed her arms in front of her chest.
Jareth laughed wholeheartedly and gave her another quick kiss on the lips. He held his face very close to hers, taking in the softness of her skin. With his eyes closed he brushed gingerly against her cheeks with his and took in the sweet fragrance of her perfume; peach it was. He inhaled deeply before he drew back again, once more looking deep into her eyes with the look of a hungry lion.
"Oh babe, you are worth dying over. Don't worry, if there ever would be a challenger who is more than a mere boy like Arlan or Bethan, he would be very sorry to have tried to intrude on my territory. Nobody is going to steal you away from me, I can guarantee you that. There would be hell to pay for that."
He held her chin with his fingers as a smile curled around his lips. He gently stroked the side of her face with his other hand and began to chuckle as his eyes softened.
"Actually it is a badge of honor to be challenged. Nobody challenges you over a dud", he added wryly with a smirk and a wink.
Sarah punched Jareth over the dud remark, but laughed.
"I'm glad I'm not a dud then", she sighed and acted relieved.
"No babe, you are the golden ticket and you are my golden ticket. I'll fight all of them over you if I have to."
He kissed her once more, took her by the arm as they stood up, and started to leisurely walk back towards the castle. His posture, however, made it very clear who Sarah belonged to, and he twirled the goblin stick between his fingers as a message to all the other males around to watch out, the goblin king would not tolerate it to be challenged again.
