Clean Slates
It was not yet dawn when Sarah awoke and slipped from the bed as quietly as she could. She really wanted to use her own bath, but Jareth had been firm when he said he wanted her in his rooms. To that end, he had even magically locked the doors on her bath and made it clear she was to do as he directed. She walked quietly into his bathroom, and started the water running in the shower.
The differences in Jareth's shower and hers were not relegated just to size, but that was the first that registered. It also had multiple shower heads. The color was a deep aqua where as hers had been a pale gold.
Feeling dwarfed by the size of the shower she tried thinking about the day ahead. Warm hands slid over her from behind.
"So this is where you went off to," a voice growled in her ear.
"I was trying not to wake you," she said honestly.
"How considerate," he mocked. "Sarah, I will always know when you are missing."
She thought fast, "I've got the staff interviews this morning. I just wanted to be timely, Sire."
The hands imprisoned her; there was no escaping him. "Your first duties will always be to me, woman. Understood?" She nodded, and he growled softly from the back of his throat. "Good." Sarah cast a glance over her shoulder as he moved back. "This shower is much better," he said changing the subject. He tossed her a sponge. "Wash me."
Looking at the soapy sponge she asked, "Do you intend for us to bathe together always?"
Jareth laughed. "Right now it pleases me to have you under my direction. In days to come I will allow you what freedoms you earn."
"I see." She applied the sponge to his body. "Jareth, is bathing the king one of the consort's duties?"
"For now it is," he said flatly.
"Then I shall of course comply." The sponge began to move Sarah looked up into the stern gaze. "You drugged me last night, didn't you?"
"Drugged? Well for lack of a better word…yes." He was smirking at the memory.
"Why?" She asked as she applied the soapy sponge. "What did you do, and don't tell me it's not important. You wouldn't use enchantment on me unless you were up to no good."
Mismatched eyes filled with fire, "I taught a traitor a lesson." His voice was arrogant and full of disdain. "What do you remember of our…adventure in the throne?"
"Everything," she said quietly. "I remember it all."
His hands took hold of hers. "Do you remember begging me to take you?"
"Yes." Her eyes met his with defiance. "I remember."
"Friend Hoggle will remember as well." His jaw clenched.
Sarah shook her head. "Oh Jareth, why did you do that?" she moaned. "That was cruel. He knows I'm having your child, was that not enough?"
"No, it was not." The Fae felt rage rise. "But seeing you reach for me, beg me, and then give yourself to me. That was."
Sarah looked at Jareth with a pained expression. "I had already given my word to you that I would restrain myself around my past companions."
"You belong to the King, I wanted to make sure our friend Hoggle understood that." Jareth taunted. "Seeing you dance in my arms and then not only be seduced but comply… "
"Revenge?" Sarah asked. "For what? For his having been my friend?"
"He disobeyed my orders, he destroyed my metal goblin, and he allowed you to kiss him after I told him what I'd do to him…" Jareth pressed her to the wall of the shower. "Consider him having gotten off easy, I could have dropped him in the bog of stench."
Sarah shoved him back. "You jackass!"
The surprised Fae staggered back.
"Ok, so I kissed him, big deal!" She threw the soapy sponge at Jareth, hitting him in the chest. "So you scar him for life with the memory of me and you? What's next? Are you going to invite Sir Didymus to watch? Or Ludo?"
"No, of course not," Jareth frowned.
"You didn't have to do this." Sarah turned to leave the shower.
Jareth reached out and pulled her back to him. Holding her tight, forbidding movement, he grumbled. "Yes, Sarah. I did." Possessive hands gripped the wet flesh. "Hoggle had to be shown that you were accepting me."
Sarah stopped struggling. "But to drug me."
"It was an extremely light enchantment." Jareth whispered. "The potion is just enough to allow one to behave freely." He felt the fires mount, thinking of having taken Sarah in the throne of the Kingdom. "You now know I alone can give you what you need. And so does Hoggle, for he heard it from your own sweet lips."
"You dressed me up like a tart! You forced poor Hoggle to watch as you seduced me. You can't defend this action," she whispered.
"I'm not trying to defend the action," he stated hotly. "I'm stating a fact. You belong to the King. Not to Hoggle, nor to Didymus or any other of your many admirers. To the King alone."
Sarah looked up at him. "Yes, Sire."
Jareth held out his hand, the sponge she'd tossed appearing in it. He began to wash Sarah. "We will speak of this no more."
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Sarah looked at the map on the scroll, and followed it with ease. It was only a short way from the Royal apartments down to the Chatelaine's office. She had the scribe's tablet on her desk, ready to go. She looked out her wide window to the gardens of the palace. They had been left go for are too long.
A tapping at the door announced Carlin's presence. "Good morning, Ma'am."
"Good Morning, Carlin," she said politely. "How soon before we get started?"
"The first applicants are here. We may begin when you are ready." He bowed.
Sarah took her seat at the desk. "Who is first?"
Carlin looked at his own notes, "I've arranged for Faun, the girl I told you about to come in first. I'd like for you to interview her. I think she'll make you a fine maid."
"Send her in." Sarah said.
The girl entered the room and curtsied. She was tall and lean like most Fae, but she was clearly not a full Fae. Her eyes were dark brown, and her skin didn't have that luster most Fae seemed to have. "Good morning, Ma'am." She greeted Sarah, and her tone was both respectful and friendly.
Sarah smiled. "Good morning." Something about the girl was likeable. "Tell me why you want to work here at the castle."
Carlin was surprised at the question, but hid his astonishment.
Faun took a deep breath. "I think that service to the crown is a very worthy occupation. My father is a tailor, and I've been trained in the care of garments. I'd like the expertise of working with the kinds of fabrics that royals use." She was honest and congenial.
Sarah listened. "You know that I'm Mortal? And you'll be expected to help me?"
"Oh yes, Ma'am." The girl smiled. "I look forward to serving the one who bears our King's child."
Sarah still found this disconcerting, that all these Fae were aware what was still a microscopic change within her. "Well, Faun, I think you'll be an asset. You may start immediately. Master Carlin here will assign you rooms. You will live here in the Castle. Your payment and off hours will be arranged by the Master Steward. Welcome to the service of the Crown." Sarah extended her hand, then let it drop when it was clear the other didn't feel free to hold the offered hand.
Faun stood up and curtseyed to the consort. "Thank you Ma'am."
Carlin directed Faun where to go. After she'd left, he looked back at Sarah. "Ma'am?"
"I keep forgetting, I'm not just one of the crew." She looked at her hand and sighed. "Who's next?"
The rest of the morning was spent in interviews. When they had finished, they had nearly thirty staff members. Sarah asked that Carlin assemble everyone, as she wanted to talk to them all at the same time. She looked at everyone as they gathered in the servants common room.
"Good morning, I'm Lady Sarah, your King's consort and the Chatelaine here. As of this moment, we are beginning things on a clean slate. What was done before is over, and done with. This was once a proud castle, and shall be again. We have a lot of work ahead of us. My offices will be open in the morning for any who needs to speak with me. Or you may take your quandaries to Master Carlin. Things here were not on a schedule, but they will be on one now. If any one here does not feel they can work with or for a Mortal, you are free to leave. I will not refuse to give reference, nor will I force anyone to work with me."
Carlin watched the faces of the Fae as they listened to the Chatelaine.
"Those of you who use magic, I'm afraid we are going to tax your powers to the max. Things here need to be set to rights, and quickly." Sarah looked at the faces gazing back at her. "I'm not new to the Goblin Realm, I've visited here before. Moreover, I'm very fond of the place. I've made some dear friends here. I intend to take a great deal of pride in our Castle and its running. Any questions?" There were a few, and she answered them as best she could.
"I will be making up scheduling rosters. We will be changing some things, including the uniforms. If you have suggestions on how to make things run smoother, don't be afraid to pass your suggestions on to the Steward, or myself. Thank you all. You may now return to your duties." She looked up at Carlin. "After lunch, I'd like to see the gardeners."
"It will be arranged," Carlin stated, giving her his hand. "You really need to go have some lunch you look…pale."
"I am hungry," she admitted, as she felt a bit wobbly.
Carlin motioned Faun over. The girl had already changed into a uniform. "Help Lady Sarah."
Just as Faun turned to her Sarah collapsed back into the chair.
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Jareth stood looking at the throne, a self-satisfied grin on his smug mouth. He took hold of the arms, thinking of the passions that had played out in the seat. Something in the air changed; he felt a strange sensation. "Sarah." He said abandoned the room and its memories to find the woman.
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Faun looked at Sarah, "Ma'am?"
Sarah looked at the worried girl. "Get me a glass of water."
Carlin stood over the Chatelaine, "We've over taxed you."
"No, I'm just hungry," she assured him.
"Then you should eat," a voice with an edge of a sword said from just beyond her vision.
Sarah had no need to look, she knew it was Jareth. "I was on my way to do just that."
The maid, the Steward and the rest backed away as the King made his way to where Sarah was seated. "What happened?"
"I felt lightheaded, and my knees went," she said lightly. "It happens when you don't eat. Blood sugar and all that chemistry."
"Sarah, you are with child," Jareth reminded her.
"Oh, it's much too early in the pregnancy for that kind of stuff!" She protested. "When I was carrying Jenny, I didn't get morning sickness for the longest time."
Jareth reached down and picked her up. When she protested, he said flatly, "You never carried a Fae before. It is not the same." He looked at Carlin. "She's going to eat her lunch and take a nap."
"Aye, Sire."
Sarah rested her head against him. "You win,"
"Of course I do," Jareth transported her to the dinning room. "I always win."
"You cheat." Sarah batted her lashes quickly at him with a smug look that mirrored his.
"Sometimes," he admitted smugly, placing her on her feet again. "Sit, and eat."
"Yes, Sire."
Jareth took his seat. "Was it a productive morning, Sarah?"
"Very, Sire." She sipped the water in her goblet. "We…" she looked at him when she realized she had used the word. He nodded, and she continued. "We will be fully staffed soon."
The soup course served. "Sarah, you are Chatelaine The house is your concern. Carlin won't let you make too many mistakes." He added as he sipped. "Make sure you eat on time, and no lifting."
Sarah dropped her spoon. "I have had children before you know."
Snobbishly he stated. "Not mine."
Ignoring the man, she ate her lunch, finding she was indeed very hungry. The meal ended and she was escorted to the bedchamber, ordered to lie down for at least an hour. Before long, she fell into dreamless sleep. Jareth watched her in a crystal until he was sure she was resting.
Carlin stood at his elbow. "She wishes to see the gardeners this afternoon. Should I arrange it, Sire?"
"Yes," the King kept his gaze on the crystal in his hand. "Keep the meeting short and to the point, but make the arrangements. Sarah must appear to be an active Chatelaine, else this is all for naught."
"She has a good sense about her," commented the Steward. "She is no fool."
"She never was," replied the distracted Royal. "She may have been spoiled, and self centered, but she was never foolish. She's intelligent, and has wit…Gods knows she's going to need that now."
Carlin sniffed. "Should you not at least give the woman fair warning?"
Jareth glared, "Don't go soft on me, Carlin."
The Steward shrugged. "It is not hard to understand why some are…besotted. She is unique. One may even say rare among women, Mortal or Fae."
"Which is why she alone could be the one to give me an heir," Jareth said with arrogance. "No one in either world is like Sarah." He tired of watching, tossed the crystal and walked away. "What I do, I do for the Kingdom. Keep her from overtaxing herself."
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Sarah sat in 'The Queen's Garden.' Although there was no queen, the garden retained the title. It had once been a grand garden; the bones were still there, if one looked hard enough. Here she met the gnomes who took care of the gardens in and around the Labyrinth and the Castle. Sarah spoke to the head gardener, who was pleased after many years of being static at having something to do. Master Theo, listened to what Sarah's wishes were, and found her suggestions to be sound.
Carlin had kept quiet, letting Sarah take the helm on this venture. He stood by supportively. When the gardeners scurried off, Sarah looked at Carlin. "Hoggle was not with them, I thought he was one of the gardeners."
Carlin was uncomfortable discussing the subject of Hoggle. "That one lives and works outside the gate," was all he'd say.
"I see." Sarah sighed. "Well, we are off to a good start, eh Master Carlin?"
The Steward nodded, he was looking at her notes. "You'll have the house running smooth as silk in no time at all."
Sarah stood up, then sat right back down. "Do we employ a healer?"
Carlin dropped the tablet. "We do."
"Call him, her, it…whatever." She lay her head on the table. "Now, please."
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The call came, at the same moment he felt Sarah in trouble. Torn he cursed as he made a portal and slipped between worlds. The child being wished away was taken, and he gave the ultimatum. He issued the challenge, it was turned down and he didn't quibble. Jareth returned to the Goblin Kingdom, sending the child to the nursery to be tended to. Then he rushed to his chamber. The healer was making Sarah comfortable.
Carlin stepped over to him. "She was seated the entire time she was addressing the gardener gnomes," he assured the concerned King. "She was never overtaxed. The spell came upon her suddenly."
Jareth paced, waiting for the healer to speak to him. At last the man came to where the King stood. "Well?"
"She is adjusting." The healer turned to leave.
Jareth growled. "What the blazes dose that mean?"
Blue-gray eyes turned to the King. "Your consort is carrying a Fae child, while she herself was not born Fae. Her body is adjusting, much as a normal mortal does when she becomes pregnant." He looked at Jareth with amusement. "Sire, surely you were aware there would be…side effects and symptoms."
"I didn't really give them much thought." Jareth confessed. "Will this affect her carrying the child?"
"Not in the least. A few days from now it will be a completely normal pregnancy."
The healer had never seen the King concerned before. "Sire, are you worried about the woman? Or the heir?"
Jareth's haughty mask returned. "That will be all, healer." He turned to Carlin. "Send for Willa to bring the children here. Sarah needs to see them, and I prefer her to rest for now. And arrange for dinner to be served here in my chamber, for the four of us."