"I've heard that its possible to grow up - I just haven't met anyone who's done it. Without parents to defy, we break the rules we make for ourselves. We throw tantrums when things don't go our way. We whisper secrets with our best friends in the dark. We look for comfort where we can find it. And we hope...against all logic...all experience. Like children, we never give up hope." Sarah O'Rourke
The next morning, Jareth kissed a sleeping Sarah on her forehead, and made his way to the washroom for a shower and shave.
When he returned, a familiar sight caught his eye. His sister Eimile, and Sarah's best friend, were lying together in bed talking.
Spam, one of the more intelligent goblins, was Sarah's lady in waiting, as well as Sarah's self appointed groupie, and she was also there. Knees crossed, sitting at the bottom of the bed and concentrating as she finger knitted, another skill that Sarah had taught her.
Jareth had to smile when he saw the bow in Spam's fine, sparse hair. It was Sarah's, and doubtless Sarah had given it to her. Doubtless also, this gift would remain precious to Spam for the rest of her life. Queen Sarah could do no wrong in Spam's eyes. She positively adored her.
As they were staring up at the ceiling, Sarah and Eimile had no idea that Jareth was in the room. Sarah was talking.
"….And it's not about the sex, it's NOT about the sex. It's about that moment afterward, when the world stops. It just feels so safe. SO safe. I don't ever want to give that up. Does that make me sad and weak and pathetic?"
"Of course not," replied Eimile. "You and my brother are perfect for one another. You both waited for that one perfect love and that's what makes you happy. Me, I don't need anyone. I'm a strong, independent, successful woman all on my own."
Sarah's response was tinged with irritation. "So – you're saying I am not strong and independent because I love someone? Do you really believe that?"
Jareth was grinning. Interesting how much one could learn by eavesdropping. He decided to make his presence known.
He took a graceful flying leap and landed on the bed next to Sarah. "Of course she doesn't, love. She's just becoming a bitter old maid and trying to convince herself that it's okay." He leaned up with one elbow on the bed, giving Eimile an evil smirk.
Without even looking at him, she lazily raised her hand in an obscene gesture.
"All I'm saying is that some people are just fine being single, just like some people are fine being a couple. Me, I choose to be single. It doesn't mean I don't have my choice of men – I do. I'm hot. I'm hot in lingerie. I'm hot without clothes on. I'm a hot person."
Jareth snorted. Sarah wanted to change the subject. She reached for Jareth's hand and placed it on her growing belly. "She seems to really respond when she hears your voice," she said.
Continuing to lean up on one elbow, Jareth looked down into her face and smiled. "Squirrelly little fish, isn't she?"
"Is she moving?" asked Eimile. "Let me feel!" Then she looked at Sarah's face and said, "If that's okay with you. I know most women don't like just anyone grabbing their tummies when they're pregnant."
Sarah smiled and put Eimile's hand on her bump. She was thrilled with the look of amazement on Eimile's face.
"There's like, a wee person in there!" Eimile mused. "I'm really going to be an auntie!"
"The crazy auntie," drawled Jareth.
"Eccentric auntie," Eimile corrected. "Everyone needs a fun, eccentric auntie. Oh my gosh, the fun things I'll be able to teach her!"
"The last thing I want is you turning her into a little version of you," warned Jareth. "You're the one who gave mother and father the grey hair!"
Eimile shook her head. "Coming from one half of the evil twins. You and Finn were the terrors of the village! Even father was frustrated enough to throw you two into the oubliette for a while!"
"Wha – what?" asked Sarah. " I never heard this before! What kind of hellion were you?"
Eimile winked at her. "Tell her the story about you tipping Mr. Mooney's privy over one night with him in it!" (Not everyone in the village could afford indoor plumbing.)
Jareth waved her away. "Rumours, just rumours. No one can prove that."
"Except for Mr. Mooney, who was able to identify both of you as you ran away!"
Sarah stared at him. Yet another juvenile delinquent Jareth story. Although it was funny, she sincerely hoped their daughter wouldn't inherit these tendencies.
Jareth sat up, ready to change the subject. "Shall we have breakfast, love?" he asked. She nodded and Jareth helped her out of bed, as the growing bump was making movement more difficult.
Eimile sat up and stretched. "Time for me to go. I can't handle the smell of the murdered animals you choose to eat for breakfast." Eimile had been a vegan ever since returning from her time up at University.
"Is that all it takes to keep you away?" Asked Jareth. "If that's the case, I'll keep the kitchen cooking meat all day long!"
Sarah swatted at him. "So, Eimile, you'll meet me this afternoon for magic lessons?"
"Yep. I'll bring my hot self over around 13 o'clock. I don't think you're ready for transporting yet, but your telekinesis is excellent. We can work on discovering your therianthropic animal form and how to put it to best use."
She got up, and tousled Jareth's hair as she walked out of the room. "Later, Sarah. Bye, Chickenhead."
~~~Ó~~~
Eimile strolled back into the castle early that afternoon. She accepted the tea that Sarah offered and they sat down in the library to get to business.
"I have a theory as to what your therianthropic form is, but I'm not going to say anything until we know for sure. Did you bring the mirror? And the candle and saucer of water?"
Sarah nodded yes to all three. This was exciting. She had had some physical changes since becoming immortal: she was stronger, her endurance was greater, her mind was quicker, and she had been highly intelligent before. In addition, her hearing and sight had greatly improved.
Eimile positioned the candle on the table right in front of Sarah, then went to the windows and pulled shut the heavy velvet curtains so the room was dark but for the candlelight.
"Now," said Eimile, "We're going to do some flame work. My favourite form of scrying, which is a form of divination, is a sort of self hypnosis using flame. What I want you to do is gaze into the flame without really seeing it. It's called softening your gaze. If you do it long enough and can focus, it should allow you some visual cues. You gaze at the candlelight until you're not really seeing the light as much as a sort of aura around it, if that makes sense."
Sarah was paying careful attention and nodded.
"Ready?"
"Yes," she replied. "I'm ready."
"One more thing," reminded Eimile. "You can take as much time as you need. There's no rush. And if we need to do it again, we will. Right after or during the process, I want you to tell me what you see and I'm going to write it down. Even if it doesn't seem to make sense."
Sarah leant back on the sofa and focused her eyes on the flame, trying to soften her gaze. It took about a minute, but eventually she was able to see a coriolis moving around the flame. She could see many tall trees. She could see small objects moving in and out between those trees. Occasionally, she would lose focus and her eyes would only see the flame. But she was always able to regain that softening so that she could see the coriolis and the trees and creatures within it. She explained this in detail to Eimile, who wrote it down.
"Could you tell what the creatures were that were flying over the tops of the trees?" questioned Eimile.
"Not clearly. But I think they were birds, as I could see wings. And in my head I heard a whisper. It kept saying, "Listen for spirit.'"
"Okay, good. Now pour the melted wax into the water that's in the saucer. We should see a shape or a figure that is meaningful."
Sarah picked up the candle and dripped the melted wax directly onto the center of the saucer. The figure that it created was so detailed that both she and Eimile gasped.
"I thought so," whispered Eimile to herself.
"Now stand in front of the mirror," Eimile dictated.
Sarah made her way to the tall standing mirror that had been brought down by the servants. Although there was little light in the room, her reflection begin to glow white. In time the details filled themselves in.
Standing behind Sarah was a very large barn owl, taller than her, with wings wrapped protectively around her.
"How perfect for the wife of the king," said Eimile.