Chapter 7, An Echo Of Dispair

Sarah and Lord Byron sat in the common room, picking away at their lunch and chatting casually. They'd finished their tour of the castle sooner than Sarah had anticipated.

"So, you're Jareth's uncle? His father's brother?" She asked.

"Yes, the younger brother." He replied, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

"I see...You wouldn't happen to be Alasdairs-" Byron cut her off immediately.

"No. I am not that repulsive traitors father." He stated. "I'm sorry my lady, I didn't mean to interrupt you. Alasdair was the seed of my sister, the youngest princess. She past long ago however, when Alasdair was still very young. After that, he was passed around amongst the court. We should have kept a better eye on him." His eyes were dark with memories.

"Hm, I see. So, how do feel about being my babysitter? With you being the High King's brother and all?" She wanted to find out his true intentions as best she could, she didn't think a man of his position could possibly enjoy being forced to take care of a mortal woman.

"I know what you're getting at my dear, and I assure you, you've got me all wrong." He said with a sly grin. "I thoroughly enjoy being the younger brother, I get to live in the lap of luxury, order people around and do as I please. I am a king in my own sense, but without the responsibility." He snickered. Sarah didn't say anything, so he continued. "And, I am most enthralled to be your babysitter. What could be better than enjoying the company of a beautiful young woman day in and day out?" She gave him a bashful smile.

"So, what were you doing before then?" She inquired.

"There was some trouble in the Aboveground. From time to time, creatures are able to slip between the realms, we're not fully sure how this is possible, but there were some imps that were wreaking havoc on a small human town. I was dispatched to deal with it." He explained.

"Those poor people, that must have been terrifying." She sympathized.

"At least it keeps the faith alive." He laughed. Sarah watched him in slight wonderment.

"This is so weird." She watched as he settled himself.

"What do you mean my dear?" He asked.

"I swear, you're like a perfect combination of Jareth and Oetheron. I think I've found the missing link." She joked.

"Don't let him know you've figured it out. He likes to pretend he is nothing like us." He leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"Oh, believe me, I know." She laughed. They soon settled to continue their meal. After a few more minutes Sarah spoke up again. "If you don't mind me asking, why were you the one the King sent?" She wondered.

"I am First General of the Royal Army, a highly decorated man possessing extreme skill and knowledge in the ways of combat and strategy. Only the best for you." He said with a charming demeanor.

"Oh wow. I guess everyone's taking this pretty seriously. I don't think it's ever going to hit me. To me, this is just something between me and Jareth, but it's so much more than that." Her tone was almost saddening.

"Yes it is." He gazed upon the vision of the woman before him. He knew exactly why his nephew had fallen for her. "I must say, you are not what I expected." He said finally.

"I would ask what you mean, but I get that reaction a lot when I meet people of the Underground." She laughed. "It must be terrible, I hear such awful things about the Fae women of this realm. Are they really all so bitchy that it makes me a rare commodity?" She was joking of course, but Byron took her words seriously.

"Most, yes." He answered. She looked up at him from her plate.

"I was joking. I'm sure they're not that bad." She said, returning to her plate.

"Maybe you are just an angel." He said, causing her to look up once again.

"I know it runs in the family, but you can tone down on the charm. I don't think Jareth would appreciate it." Her tone was light but stern.

"No, he would not." Byron teased. "So tell me, are you looking forward to the celebrations tomorrow evening? I myself enjoy a good party, I've been away for so long-" Sarah interjected.

"Wait, it's tomorrow night? Why does no one ever tell me these things?" She exclaimed. Byron laughed a little.

"Yes, the night of the new moon. Don't fret, Jareth only received notification this morning, and I believe the both of you were a bit distracted." He said.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"It is a blessing to be granted one child let alone two." He replied, with an impish grin. Sarah eyed him down, not sure how he knew. "Relax, it's not like you were being very quiet about it or anything."

The two continued to laugh and chat like old friends. He reminded her so much of Jareth, perhaps this is what he'll be like one day? She thought of the prospect of them growing old together. It wouldn't happen anytime soon, but it would happen eventually. She peered into the fire over her shoulder. It's only forever, she thought. That's not long at all... Woah, I need to stop. Why am I thinking of these things? I really need to get my emotions in check...I'm not even that far along. God I hope I'm not pregnant for three years. Her mind rambled.

She was shook from her melancholy daze when Mage entered the room.

"My lady." She said and bowed. "His Majesty wishes me to join you." She added.

"Mage! I haven't seen you in what, a few hundred years?" Byron bellowed. "Come, sit." He ushered her over.

The three sat for some time, talking and playing cards like old pals. Sarah noticed the sun go down, and her eyes grew heavy.

"I believe it is time for you to retire my lady." Byron said. Sarah glared at him. Oh yea, he was diffidently related to Jareth, thinking he knew what was best for her.

"Perhaps, I guess I'll go back and wait for Jareth." She said. Mage stood, and went to the door. Byron rose with Sarah, following close behind. Once the three made their way to her and Jareth's chambers, she turned around and eyed them both. "Well? Can I have some privacy or are you two going to watch me sleep?" She asked sarcastically.

"As it is my job, that would be preferred. But I don't think your husband would take too kindly to the idea." Byron said.

"No he would not." Came a deep and rich voice from the darkness. "I believe I can handle it from here." Jareth said, emerging from the shadow of the hallway. Sarah practically dragged him through the door, slamming it shut behind her. She waited until she was sure her companions had left before speaking.

"Thank God!" She exclaimed in a whisper. Jareth gave her an amused look. "It's nice to have some one to talk to but...I don't think I can have them following me around everywhere I go for who knows how long." She said, flailing her arms.

Jareth caught her in her rant, wrapping his arms around her and twirling her about.

"I love you dearest." He said, nuzzling his nose to hers. He loved watching her flustered rants, it was adorable.

"I love you too. Please put me down, you're making my stomach queazy." She asked.

He placed her firmly on her feet, not yet letting her go.

"So, aside from that, did you enjoy the company of my wise and snarky uncle?" He asked with a smile. She broke his embrace and moved to change out of her dress.

"He certainly has...charisma. He reminds me a lot of you. Were you two close when you were younger?" She asked, brushing her hair. He sat on a chair and shucked off his boots.

"Yes, actually. He was always the troublesome uncle, bringing me along on his shenanigans and telling wondrous tales of far away places. I wanted to be just like him when I was a child." He admitted. Sarah turned to look at him.

"I can see that. It's like being in the Twilight Zone." She said. Jareth gave her a curious eyebrow.

"The what?" He asked. Sarah shook her head.

"Nothing, just something from Aboveground." She walked towards her dresser, and pulled out a simple white night gown. "I may need something a little longer soon." She said holding the gown in front of her, it came to about the middle of her thigh. "This won't cover me very well when I blow up like a balloon." She stated.

"Your point?" Jareth said, rising from his seat and heading over towards her. She gave a sarcastic eye and turned to remove her dress. "Wait." He said, now standing behind her, placing one hand on her shoulder.

Sarah waited, not sure what he was going to do. He gently undid the back of her dress, and slowly pulled it from her shoulders. His fingers grazed down her arms as the fabric left her body. She stood in anticipation, her eyes glued to the floor.

He gently pulled her hair to the side, revealing her neck and shoulder. She instinctively wrapped her arms around herself. His finger tips traced along the side of her neck, and down her shoulder, stopping briefly to encompass her arm as he laid lingering kisses along her neck. Once he reached the base of her neck, his hand moved to trace the contour of her waist, his hand once again stopping to rest on her hip.

"You are so beautiful." He whispered. She looked up, into the mirror that stood before them. She saw his eyes staring back. She looked away with a bashful blush, making Jareth smile into her shoulder. His breath was hot against her skin, making her entire body tingle. "I can not wait to see you glow and swell with the product of our love." She batted her eyes at him.

"You say that now, but, what are you going to do when I'm too big to- um, you know?" She said playfully. He moved his hand to gently massage her back.

"That is irrelevant to me. You've given me enough happiness and satisfaction to last a lifetime." He kissed the back of her shoulder. He saw the worried look on her face, and knew what she was thinking. "You have no need to fret my love. I have eyes for no other, you only grow more beautiful to me. I think I can hold out." He said light hearted.

He reached in front of her and grabbed her night gown that was resting on the dresser. He turned her around to face him, and with a blank stare, lowered the dress over her head. When she was fully situated, he smiled. She gave a slight look of disappointment, apparently she was expecting him to take a different course of action.

He brought his hand to her cheek soon followed by his lips, and gave her a kiss, a sweet caress. He pulled away after a moment, still smiling. He then swooped her up and carried her over to the bed. After tucking her in, he proceeded to remove the rest of his own clothing, swapping them out for simple black sleeping pants.

He crawled in next to her, pulling her close as he got in a comfortable position. She rested her head on his chest, enjoying the soothing rhythm of his heart beat, her arm wrapped fully around his waist.

"If you are still worried precious, we can always make up now for the time we will lose later." He said with devilish charm. She gave a slight huff, and placed a kiss over his heart.

"Jareth, speaking of later. Thank you for telling me our baby shower is tomorrow night." She said into his chest.

"Our what?" He asked. "Oh, you mean the celebration? Forgive me, it slipped my mind." He said into the darkness.

"Mhmm." She mumbled. "You realize we have to tell them about the twins. Are you ready for all that excitement?" She asked.

"Yes." He said with a large grin. "For once, I'm actually looking forward to a social ball." It was quiet for a moment, before Sarah spoke again.

"Byron told me about Alasdair, about his mother, and how he was the lowly orphan who got passed around between the court." Jareth grew a little stiff at the mention of his name.

"And?" He asked.

"I don't know, I guess it just made me think. That must have been terrible for him, why didn't anyone take better care of him? Maybe he wouldn't have grown up to be so evil...there's two parts to every story I guess." Her mind trailed off, a shallow sadness took over.

"I suppose you are right. Things could have been different." He admitted reluctantly, not wanting to continue the conversation.

"I mean, look at your father and uncle. He was the younger brother, he got nothing, and yet he is completely happy with it. Just think, if Alasdair received the same love...All those terrible things wouldn't have happened, and no one would have had to die because of it." Although she detested Alasdair, she wished things could have been different.

"Your heart may be too big for its own good my love. But you are right. Alasdair was once a good friend to me, we had many a grand adventure together. When his mother died, everything changed." Jareth became lost in his own thoughts.

"What happened?" She asked. Jareth paused, allowing all the memories to come flooding back.

"My aunt was a flower, beloved by all. My father took to her more than any other, he loved her, protected her, guarded her as any brother should. Alasdair was born out of marriage, and considered a bastard with no true rank by many. My father tried to push it aside, to support her as best he could. He was a troublesome boy, the cause for many of my own incidents. One day, he ran away. Not on purpose I think, but still, he fled into forest. My aunt chased after him, searching for hours until she was lost in the tangle of trees and shadows. No one knows what happened, but she didn't return to the castle that night. Alasdair had been in the gardens for hours, when my father approached him. He told my father his version of what had happened, of how he had left his mother wandering through the forest as if it were some grand practical joke. My father sent his guards into the forest in search of her, no one knew why she hadn't just transported back to the castle." He paused to take a breath. "They found her cold and bloody, staked to a tree. Some think it was some sort of barbaric creature, others think a Fae might have done it. But regardless, when my father returned that night, carrying his little sister in his arms...Alasdair was still playing in the gardens, acting as if nothing had happened, as if he felt nothing. I believe my father blamed him for the death of his beloved sister. That's why no one would take him in, and so he was passed around like an unwanted gift. I believe there to be a seed of evil in him even then, and that his true nature would show regardless of how much love he received. He was heartless, selfish and cruel."

Sarah listened to his story, deeply affected by it. She ran her finger along his torso as she thought.

"I remember when I thought the same about you." She said, and paused. "Death is always a terrible tragedy, no matter how much he deserved it." Jareth looked down at her in the darkness. "I don't regret or disapprove of what you did, I probably would have done the same..but still." She trailed off again.

"What happened to my cruel Goblin Queen?" He asked, cupping chin with his hand.

"She's been having rather irritating mood swings." She replied flatly. Jareth had no choice but to laugh. " Wait.." Sarah added. "Your father has a brother and a sister?" Isn't that a lot of Fae siblings?" She asked.

"My grandfather was ancient, beyond ancient. Having three children over his lifetime was actually considered normal." He said.

"Oh wow, that's crazy." She replied. "Hopefully we'll live that long." She added.

"My dear, we have all of forever. You shouldn't plague yourself with such thoughts." He squeezed her tighter.

"I know." She closed her eyes, feeling the pull of sleep.

"I love you Sarah mine." He said to her.

"I love you too." She replied.

It was silent after that. The two lovers held each other in a firm embrace, as they drifted off to a dreamless sleep.