Chapter 6, Family Abound
"Uncle, what are you doing here?" Jareth bellowed.
Just as he went to break the one sided embrace, a sly smirk cracked along the stiff man's face. Jareth's eyes nearly popped out of his head as the man pulled him in for a painfully heart warming squeeze.
"Jareth my boy! It is good to see you. It has been far too long!" He bellowed.
Once he was back on the ground and sure he hadn't been snapped in half, Jareth took his seat behind the desk, ushering his guest to do the same.
"Indeed, but I must know, what is the means for this visit. I was not told you were coming." His uncle sat in a chair across from him, enjoying the suspense of keeping a secret.
"I trust you received your father's summons?" He asked. Jareth raised a curious brow and glanced towards the paper still residing on his desk.
"Yes. He really is an obnoxious man, sending an invitation to my own party. And I really do detest his ominous sense of surprise." He felt himself start to ramble and reigned in fast. The large man gave a light chuckle.
"Nephew mine, must you really be so harsh? It runs in the family, maybe one day you'll will realize it too." He gave Jareth a lecturing eye. "But, unlike my dear brother, my sense of ominous surprise is far less." He said with a grin. "I suppose you must be dying to know why I've come to visit so unexpectedly? First, I must give my apologies for missing your lovely wedding. I was dealing with a rather nasty incident in the Aboveground, and have only returned just recently. And second-" He was cut off when a rather ecstatic young woman burst through the door.
"Jareth!" She screamed. Her sudden appearance made Jareth go straight into battle mode, practically jumping from his seat. His guest looked back at her with intrigue. She noticeably calmed down when she saw he had company.
She was panting furiously, as if she'd sprinted through the entire castle. The large man gave an amused huff, seeing the grand smile plastered on her face. Jareth was about to say something when his uncle beat him to it.
The mysterious man rose from his seat, and crossed the room towards Sarah. He took her hand and gave it a delicate kiss, giving her a more than obvious once over as he did so.
"My, my. Who do we have here? This wouldn't be your lovely wife would it Jareth? I say, something seems to have rustled her feathers." He said with a devilish grin, the same one as Jareth's, and the same as his father's.
Sarah looked to Jareth for an explanation, she was bursting at the seems to tell him something.
"Yes, this impulsive woman would be my Queen, the lady Sarah." She noticed a slight scowl on his face, apparently this wasn't the way to present herself to guests.
"Ah, but that is good. Keeps things exciting." He purred, never taking is eyes from hers. Before he could continue, Jareth's vein of possessiveness kicked causing him to rise from his place behind the desk and joined them by the door. He oh-so-slyly wrapped a hand around her waist.
"Sarah, this is my uncle Byron. He needs to learn his place around women." Jareth almost sneered. The newly named Byron gave a deep laugh.
"Nonsense! Women love me!" He said, releasing Sarah's hand and stepping slightly to the side. "It is an honor to meet such a beauty, Your Highness." He said close to her face, before moving to take his seat. "Now then, I'm glad you're both here, because what I am about to tell you relates to your wife rather than you, nephew." Jareth led Sarah to a little couch adjacent his uncle, his stare grew more wary at Byron's comment. "The reason I am here Your Majesties, is because I have been charged with the protection of your beautiful bride and her unborn child." Whatever they were expecting to hear, that wasn't it.
"What? that's nonsense, I don't need any protection." She started to wave a hand in front of her face. Jareth wasn't sure on how to respond.
"Well, the High King feels differently. You are about to bear the next heir to the High Throne my dear, this is not to be taken lightly." He looked from her to Jareth.
While he was talking, Jareth had grown more and more angry. That arrogant bastard! How dare he insult me in such a way! He screamed inside.
"I can manage Sarah's safety on my own." Jareth scowled, clearly insulted.
"My boy, this isn't about your father or your pride. This is about Sarah, and the fact that there are those who would benefit from the demise of this lovely creature here." He spoke to Jareth, but kept his eyes on Sarah.
Sarah grew a little worried, after the whole Alasdair incident, she thought it was all over. But now, there were still those who wished to hurt her and Jareth? And now she had another life to worry about, oh wait, two.
"I guess I wouldn't mind having you follow me around...I would feel safer I suppose, and I'd enjoy the company." She said with a reluctant smile.
Jareth was quiet, not happy about this new development, but slowly realizing it was for the best.
"Fine." Jareth spat after a moment. Sarah sensed things were about to get extremely awkward and decided to speak up.
"Ok, now that that's settled, could you give me and Jareth a minute alone?" She asked. Byron raised an eyebrow as he stood to leave.
"I'll be right outside, my lady." He said with strict obedience.
"Um, ok. I won't keep you too long." She said with a smile, practically jumping in her seat.
Once Byron had left the room, she turned to Jareth with a smile that was too big for her face. Jareth looked at her with caution.
"What?" He asked. Sarah grabbed him by the arms and leaned into him slightly, the anticipation building. With childlike innocence she stuck her tongue out at him. "Why are you sticking your tongue out at me?" He asked again. This time she actually did jump in her seat.
"It'ssthh purrrple!" She exclaimed.
"Yes, I can see that." He gave her a concerned look. She rolled her eyes and repositioned herself on the couch.
"Jareth." She said, retracting her tongue back inside her mouth. "I was in the gardens today. Do you know what a Natality tree is?" She asked. Jareth thought for a moment, trying to recall any knowledge of such a thing. Sarah groaned with impatience. "Well there is a tree in the royal gardens, Mage told me about it, and I ate some of its fruit, and my tongue turned purple!" She exclaimed once again.
Jareth was confused and concerned as to the relevance of such information.
"Care to explain what that means exactly?" His voice was drawn out. She let out an aggravated sigh.
"Oh, you stupid man, of course you wouldn't know what it means!" Her anger was drowned by overwhelming joy. "The color the juice stains your tongue determines the gender of a woman's unborn child." She explained. Once Jareth understood, he became intrigued.
"And? Is purple a boy or girl?" He asked. Sarah's smile widened as she began bouncing up and down in his lap.
"Neither!" She shrieked, clapping her hands slightly as she spoke. Jareth raised a confused eyebrow, eyeing her as he thought.
"I don't understand, what do you mean?" She couldn't get over how he could be so conniving at times, and so unwittingly blind at others.
"For such a clever man, things of this nature seem to skip right over your head don't they my love?" She teased. He processed her words, deciding whether or not he would take it as an insult. She couldn't take all this silent contemplation.
She started shaking her head as she wrapped her arms around him in a full embrace.
"Jareth, we're having twins." She almost whispered into his shoulder. "A boy and a girl." She added after a moment.
Jareth was silent. She grew worried, she was expecting some grand reaction almost instantly. She felt his arms wrap around her, and squeeze. They stayed like that for a few minutes, still utterly silent.
"Jareth, aren't you happy?" She asked, trying to pull away from him. She looked down into his face, which was hidden by his mass of tangled blonde hair. Slowly pushing away stray strands, he looked up at her with a smile. His eyes were glazed with tears.
"My love, my precious darling, I am beyond elated." She started to smile in return. "First you give me love, then you give me a child, and now you give me two. What in this life have I done to deserve such perfection." He beamed onto her. Her smile widened, she felt like a giddy school girl.
"Just luck of the draw I guess." She said with a shrug. She waited for him to speak, watching as he looked away from her.
He wasn't used to being emotional, and it seemed he found himself on the verge of tears almost regularly since he'd met Sarah. He tried to laugh it off, to reign himself in, slowly running his hands up and down Sarah's arms. She reached for his chin and forced him to look up at her.
"Jareth its alright to show your happiness. You're always strong, always indestructible, especially when I need you to be. But right now, I just need you." Her voice was a loving caress. He stared into her glowing green eyes, unable to fathom how perfect his life was now that he had her in it.
"Only you, have the power to command me. Never had I thought it possible, how you turn my world, you precious thing." He said, securing his arms around her and pulling her into a tight embrace. He held her for all he was worth, releasing every raw emotion he had. She felt completely at peace in his arms.
After what they assumed had been quite some time, they finally realized they'd left Byron waiting in the hall.
"I hope he isn't too upset. I kind of forgot all about him." She whispered.
"He'll be fine. If he is to be your guardian, he will have to get used to it." Their attentions were drawn to the door when they heard a loud cough from behind them.
Byron stood leaning against the door, with a look of false irritation.
"Sorry to intrude, but I believe I heard my name." Jareth wanted nothing more than to tell his cocky uncle to get lost, but Sarah thought otherwise. Hopping up from Jareth's lap, she made her way over to him.
"I'm sorry I've kept you waiting. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with a body guard, but maybe I could just show you around, maybe get to know you a little better?" She asked. Byron looked down at the strange woman. He had heard stories of the legendary mortal who had stollen the Goblin King's heart, but had never imagined she to act in such a way.
"That is a very gracious offer my lady, I would be delighted." He said with a grin, and a hand over his heart. She turned away and walked over to Jareth to bid him farewell.
He gave her an unhappy look, and all she could do was shrug in return.
"I guess I'll see you later." She said. Jareth cupped the sides of her face and slowly brought his head to hers and placed a loving kiss upon her forehead.
"If not sooner." He spoke low and soft.
Byron watched the two with interest, he'd never seen such a thing. Never in his long life could he believe his unruly nephew had actually fallen in love, with a mortal at that.
"Please be careful, pet." He gave her an implying eye. "Although he is family, he is still a Fae." She smiled and reached up to give him a light kiss on his lips.
"I'll be ok, besides, I'll have Mage for back up." He smiled in return, as she pulled away and headed back towards the door.
"Ready when you are." She said to her protector. He opened the door and ushered her into the hall, giving Jareth a serious and confirming look before he exited behind her.