Chapter Twenty Four

The sound of one hand clapping

Sarah was ushered straight to bed by Faun. The stress of the death of the child and her wild hormones were playing havoc with her. The maid fussed over her, bringing her broth and calling the Healer to come check on her. Sarah lay in the bed watching the shadows change as the hours passed by. She fell into slumber, but it was troubled.

The room was filled with rosy light of dusk when she awoke from her nap. She rose and went to see the children. Willa was as attentive of her as she was of the children. Sarah sat with the children as they had their evening meal. She listened to them talk about the play room, and their adventures of the day. She tucked them up and kissed them goodnight. Still the King had not returned.

Sarah didn't feel very hungry, and had to be coaxed to eat. Eating alone in the little private dinning room just made her feel more alone. She'd have preferred to have gone to the servants dinning room and eaten with them, but that was out of the question. She may serve the King, but she was not a servant, and could not associate with them as an equal, Carlin had been very clear on that point.

Jareth had been gone all day, ever since the burial. Sarah mused that she should be glad of his absence. Yet, she was not. She could not say she missed him, not in all honesty. However, she had spent so much time with him in the past week that she felt his absence. She stood alone on the balcony of the King's bedchamber, listening to the songs of the city below. She looked at the city and the Labyrinth beyond. This was his world, his place, and now she was beginning to think of it as hers. The words of the Goblin lullaby were becoming familiar to her. She began to sing the words along with the other women of the goblin City…

Gentle slumber kiss your eyes,

Smiles await you when you rise.

Sleep,

pretty Goblin babe,

Do not cry,

And I'll sing you a lullaby.

Care you know not,

Therefore sleep,

While I o'er you watch do keep.

Sleep,

pretty Goblin babe,

Do not cry,

And I will sing a lullaby.

Faun heard the mortal singing. She looked to where her mistress stood and marveled.

Finding no peace in the quietness of the chamber, Sarah reached for the scroll on her Chatelaine. She was looking for the quickest route to the King's private office. There she knew she would find books, and a good read was what she wanted right now. Following the scroll map made it easy to get around in the castle, as it was larger than it appeared. Like everything else here, the castle was not as it appeared.

It was dark when she entered with just her little candle. "I wish I knew how to make light." The copper baskets that adorned the wall lit up with glowing embers. "Thank you." Sarah said to the room. She then walked over to the wall of books that Jareth had said were histories on the Goblin Realm and the Labyrinth. She ran her fingers over the bindings and wondered if any were written in English. Some of the lettering was so strange she knew the words were not mortal but Fae. Her hand came to rest on one book, and she pulled it from the shelf. It was titled 'Kings of the Labyrinth.' She began to turn the pages, and was happy to find this volume was at least written in English.

Sarah took the book over to the wide divan, curled up and looked over at the hearth. "A nice fire would be lovely." Instantly the hearth leapt to life. "Thank you." She nestled into the corner of the divan and began to read. The warmth of the fire and the quiet peacefulness of the room lulled her to sleep.

Jareth returned late, and headed for his office to record the punishment that had been dealt out. As he entered the room, he was surprised to find Sarah curled up before the hearth, asleep with a book in her hands. A myriad of feelings surged thought the Fae King. Anger; what was she doing in his office? Concern; had the stress of the day been too much on her in her delicate condition? Curiosity; what was she reading? Admiration; when he saw it was a history of the realm. Desire; as he looked at her on his divan, looking as delectable as a peach.

He knelt down beside the couch, and studied her face. The confounded woman had bewitched him yet again. Even in sleep, she held sway over him. "Ahh, beautiful baby," he whispered softly so he would not disturb her. "My burning desire." He pursed his lips, "and my adversary." He mused to himself watching the woman. "Oh Sarah, I hope you have the strength I believe you have. The entire Kingdom is going to depend on it, and on you." He deepened her sleep with a gentle wave of his hand over her face. Leaning closer, he watched her sleep. "In just one week, you've done so much to change my world." Slowly he removed his glove and touched the face that tormented his every thought. "My Sarah." With a wave of his hand, he transported them to his bed. Jareth let his body align with the contour of hers. His arm rested on top of her.

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Dawn was breaking when Sarah next awoke. She turned over in the bed and looked at the face of the sleeping king. Even in sleep, the man did not seem to find peace. She lay there for a long time looking at him, and was startled when he said.

"It's very rude to stare."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." She was going to turn but he prevented her.

"You didn't, I've been awake for some time now." His mismatched eyes opened. "When do you begin the redecorating?"

The woman smiled. "The Domovoi start moving furniture tomorrow."

"You mean today," Jareth corrected.

"Yes, today." Sarah felt uneasy. "I'm a bit turned round as far as the days are concerned."

"What happened yesterday does not happen often, Sarah," he assured her.

"Carlin said you think once is too often," she whispered.

"True." Jareth frowned, "The point is, it does happen. You may as well know and understand it will happen again."

"Are you…alright?"

"Concern, Sarah?" he taunted.

"Don't. Not now, not about this." She warned.

Darkness clouded the stormy eyes. "Sarah, this happens, not often but it happens. I am adept at dealing with the repercussions. Thank you for your concern, but it is not necessary." He moved his hand over his consort. "However, if you truly wish to comfort me…." He saw her wince, and he removed his hand. "Keep your condolences." He rolled the other direction and left the bed.

Sarah closed her eyes.

Jareth stood under the shower and cursed himself.

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A month had passed since Sarah and her children had come to live in the castle. Life had now settled into a routine, and everyone was adjusting. The staff had come to accept Sarah as a part of their life. She met with them each morning, to go over the business of running the great house, instead of a pig sty. It was even starting to resemble a great house. The throne room was not the only room to sparkle now. The walls, the stairs, everything now looked clean.

Even the outside of the castle was taking shape. Jareth had heard how Sarah had a meeting with Aquis. Aquis found his new home in the garden pond to be very advantageous. Master Theo had the garden looking like a garden again. Yuri and the Domovoi were enjoying the activity of moving things around. Sarah wondered how anyone who took as much care of their appearances as the king did could allow his home to have fallen into such ruin.

Sarah knew it would be another two months before she started to show. Nevertheless, she was sure she was with child. Blessed with being as regular as clockwork as far as her cycle was concerned, she was now more than two weeks late. There were little hints that every woman knew about, tenderness here and there. Soon, too soon for her liking the morning sickness would start.

Sarah had begun a study of the castle history, from fist King to present. She wanted to be able to know something of the history of the land her child would one day inherit. The Kingdom had been placed under the Govenorship of Fae Kings long ago. Goblin Kings had ruled the realm but were either greedy or lazy, and the kingdom fell to being plundered. Under Oberon, the Kingdom was given to a Fae to rule. Most of the Fae kings did not last long, that was up until Jareth. Jareth had ruled the kingdom for over four hundred years, successfully and well. While he had taken very little care of the Castle, he'd done much better at keeping the kingdom running smoothly. Moreover, he had done what none other had; he conquered and ruled the Labyrinth.

Clovis came to report to Sarah three times a week, under the guise of coming to give the Chatelaine language lessons. After reporting on the progress in the bakery, Clovis would teach Sarah bits and pieces of the local dialect. Now one month after starting her lessons, Sarah could speak fragmented sentences. More importantly, she was beginning to understand what was being said around her.

Jareth was aware of her efforts, but kept praise or criticisms to a minimum. His demeanor toward Sarah when they were alone ranged from icy to flaming. If there were a picture for the word inconsistent in the dictionary, it would have been Jareth. One moment he'd be ignoring her very existence, the next he'd be seducing her and leaving her completely spent.

Sarah had become accustomed to having her shower interrupted by his entrance. She even got use to his demand that she wash him, arrogant man that he was. What she could not get use to were the mood swings. 'Just who is pregnant here, him or me?' she would wonder. He could be attentive one moment and the next it was as if she were a speck of dust.

Sarah was dressing for dinner, something upon which the King insisted. She looked at herself in the mirror, closed her eyes and she could feel his touch. His hands, his chest, strong muscular legs… Sarah opened her eyes, everything but his lips on hers. The fact that he had never kissed her on the mouth had until that moment escaped her. He'd kissed her neck. His lips had touched her in places Paul would never have dreamed of…Yet not once in the entire month they had resided together, not once had he kissed her on the mouth.

Sarah entered the throne room as a session was ending. Jareth dismissed the goblins and the rest of the gathered supplicants, and turned his attentions to the woman. "I thought we were meeting in the dinning room?" he said

"No, I want to talk to you here." She motioned to the room.

Jareth lounged in the throne, "Is there a problem in the house?"

Sarah looked at him, wondering just what game he was playing at. "You don't like me, do you?"

Jareth shrugged. "Does it matter?"

"Yes, Sire. I think it does." Sarah was tapping her toe. His inattention at the moment was infuriating.

"You are Chatelaine, and the one who carries my heir…."

"I'm not some damn broodmare!" She snapped.

Amusement came into the mismatched eyes. "I always marvel at how misused that phrase is. Always by those who don't keep horses. Sarah, do you any idea of how valuable a good broodmare is? Entire bloodlines depend on the strength of a good brood mare." He swung his legs down and gracefully leapt down off the throne. "A Sire is no good without a worthy Dam…"

"Oh shut up!" She turned her back on him.

Jareth smiled, and continued. "A broodmare is well treated, and cared for."

Something inside snapped. She raised her hand to slap him as she turned. He grabbed the hand in midair and clasped it tightly, pulling her toward him and off balance.

"Temper, temper, Sarah," he hissed.

"Why did you do this to me? You don't even like me." She stared into his eyes.

"I don't have to like what I desire," he stated coldly.

"How can you desire me?" Her temper rose.

"How? Does it matter?"

"You're damn right it matters." She spat at him.

"Such fire," he commented. "Such strength." He pulled her closer, so that their bodies touched.

Sarah groaned and put her hands up to interrupt his movements. "Stop it!" She pushed him back. "I'm not some kind of sex toy, Jareth. I am a person. I have feelings and needs of my own. You can not just use me."

Jareth's amusement of the situation seemed unending. "Really Sarah? What needs have not been met? You have access to your children, children your ex husband wished away, and you lost. You have a house, and staff, and a warm… very warm bed."

"You don't treat me like a person!" She argued.

"I see to it you are fed, and clothed. I share my bed with you…" He moved closer again, pulling her into an embrace. "I shower you with attention…."

"You don't kiss me." She said staring up at him. "Never once."

"I kiss you," he said as he relinquished his hold.

"No, you kiss my body…. But you never kiss me….Why?"

The amusement fled his eyes. "You want me to kiss you?"

"No, I want to know why you don't." Sarah hated when he would turn her questions back on her. She pulled herself together fast. "Is this part of some punishment for some wrong you image I did you? Give me everything except emotional …"

"Some wrong I image?" he roared. "I don't have to image some wrong woman! I offered you an entire kingdom. Or have you forgotten your first visit here to my realm?"

"Will you stop calling it a visit? It was not a visit! A visit means being a guest and treated as one! I was never your guest, I was your opponent, I was your advisory." She roared back. "You took my brother!"

"You wished him away." He reminded her none too gently. "What was said, was said."

Balling her fists she glared at the man. "I never meant it, and you knew it."

"I was helping my lady love out," he teased in a nasty tone. "After all, what no one knew was this: the King of the Goblins had fallen in love with her…"

"You never loved me." She accused.

Jareth advanced on her, held her against his rock hard body. "Oh didn't I? I watched over you in the Labyrinth closer then I ever watched anyone. Who do you think made sure that door in the tunnel collapsed? You don't really believe you and that scab gnome dwarf pushed it down, do you? I never created a ballroom fantasy for anyone else, Sarah. I never sang or danced with any other who entered the Labyrinth…only you… I never gave any part of myself to anyone but you! You and you alone… And you still don't see it."

"What am I suppose to see? Tell me Jareth, I really want to know."

"We Fae are credited with beguiling you mortals… the truth, my little vixen is I was beguiled by you…. If a Fae bonds, it is for eternity…" He spoke in a low, menacing manner.

Sarah's lips parted, and her eyes widened, just as they had when she'd seen him in the Crystal Ballroom that night long ago. "You …bonded to me?"

"The moment I took you in my arms, and sang to you." His voice hardened. "I was about to seal our bond with a kiss… and you broke from me, ran… and the rest is history." He glared down at her.

"You seem to be under the impression that I understood what you were offering!" She growled in hostility. "All I saw was another trap! You were trying to keep me from my brother!"

"At that moment, I didn't really care about your little brother anymore. I wanted you." He was still angry. "You chose to run from me."

"There was no other choice!" Sarah struggled to free herself from his grasp.

"I was the other choice, woman!" He countered.

Sarah stood still. "All I knew was I had to get Toby back."

Jareth released her, took a pace back. "Oh yes, and that was a wonderful choice wasn't it? Toby was returned, to what? Has he ever been happy? Does he fit in with anyone or anything in your world? No… he was happy here Sarah! He loved being here!"

"He belonged with my parents!"

Jareth sneered, "He belonged to and still belongs to me." He turned away and started to leave the throne room.

"Stop!" Sarah grabbed his arm. "What you do mean he belongs to you still?"

Jareth looked down at the hand on his arm. "I may have bonded to you, but I fed Fae food and drink to Toby."

"You bastard!" she screamed. "You did what?"

"So now, thanks to your need to be a heroine, your precious brother lives in a world he's not really part of anymore." Jareth stated.

"You did that to him, not me," Sarah countered.

"No, Sarah…we did that to him… you and I together." His eyes narrowed. "You want to know why I don't kiss you? Well I'll tell you… I don't think you're deserving of receiving my kiss. You've yet to earn that privilege."

"Keep your damn kisses!" she spat at him. "I don't want them. I never wanted them."

"Liar," ge growled. "You burn with the need for my kiss." He turned and began to leave. "And you can burn for all time for all I care."

Sarah sunk to the floor. "Oh, Toby, what have I done to you?"

Jareth stepped into the hall and hugged a wall, damning himself for having told her more than he'd meant to. He only prayed she had not heard or understood it all. His very soul ached each time he hurt her. 'Be strong, be stronger than you've ever been Sarah.' He thought toward her.

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Sarah had joined the children and Willa in the Queen's garden the next day. She watched as Jenny ran around the pond chasing her little brother. Her heart ached for the little brother she would never see again.

Jareth, looking down on the restored garden, saw Sarah and the children. He watched them, unseen from his tower.

"You could go and join them you know." Carlin said watching the intent king.

"No," Jareth sighed. "I could not."

"Sire." The older man shook his head.

"How is she doing?" he motioned down toward his consort. "How is she being accepted?"

"As if she'd been your partner from the start." Carlin commented with almost pride in his voice. "She does you proud, my King."

"She was always the perfect choice." Jareth leaned on the window frame. "Such fire, and determination. Defiance, and passion. And a soul that not only accepts magic but embraces it to her very soul."

"Are these not words you should speak to her?" asked the Steward.

"Perhaps one day I'll be free to tell her," sighed Jareth. "Not now." He moved away from the window. "Is she making many changes?"

"More a matter of making order, Sire. She has a good head, and knows when things are amiss." Carlin praised the mistress of the castle. "She is wonderful with the supplicants. Often seeing things from a fresh perspective. The staff adore her, and would lay down their lives for her. The citizens think of her as their own."

"Is there much talk of the child?" Jareth questioned.

"Only that you and she are blessed, and expecting."

Jareth looked out the window again. "Blessed," he repeated.

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Grizbine sat on the black hunter, and frowned. He had heard that the Goblin Realm was in disarray. Yet, here on the hillside outside the Gate things looked not only peaceful, but also productive. 'Time to pay a call on my beloved cousin.' He thought to himself as he put spur to the dark steed under him.

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Sarah saw the rider and horse enter the formal garden. The horse's hoofs were tearing up the beds that had been restored. She saw Gwynn start to run toward the beast, unaware of his danger. Willa cried out and moved to grab the child back. Jenny tucked and rolled out of the way. Sarah grabbed a rock off the display that was part of the ornamentation in the garden. She swung her arm back and let the rock fly. It hit the thundering steed squarely between the eyes. The horse went down, sending the rider crashing.

"Bitch!" The rider screamed in his gravelly voice as he picked himself up and stormed toward the woman. "Look what you've done to my steed!"

"I was aiming at you!" she thundered back as she slapped the man hard across the face. "You stupid bastard."

Grizbine raised his arm, ready to strike down the human woman, when a bolt of light struck him. It sent him flying back.

Sarah turned; Jareth was now standing beside her. The look of aversion toward the rider was easy to read on the Goblin King's face. Sarah, joining him in that aversion, felt a strange sense of union.

Jareth looked down at her. "Are you and the children alright?"

Sarah looked at where Willa was still clutching Gwynn, who was still unaware of the dangers. She looked to where Jenny was still laying on the ground. "Jenny!" she cried.

Both King and mother went running toward the fallen child. Jareth reached her first. "Jenny, are you hurt?" he asked as he began to examine her.

"No…just scared," whimpered the little girl and she placed arms around the man.

Sarah looked at the man as he picked her up. "She's alright, Sarah." He assured the worried mother. "She's just shaken."

Grizbine rose from the ground for the second time. "Is this the way you greet a guest, cousin?"

"A guest does not come trampling though my garden!" Sarah shot back in a tone that was harsh.

The Fae man glared at her, "Curb your mortal tongue, bitch!"

The garden was suddenly flooded with Goblins and Domovoi surrounding the King and his consort, teeth bared toward the intruder. Willa also glared as she picked up Gwynn. Jareth handed Jenny to Yuri, who cradled the little girl in gentle arms.

Jareth possessively placed a hand on Sarah's throat. "I would have you speak with more respect toward my Consort, Grizbine."

Sarah found the Fae before her not to her liking at all. Unlike Jareth, his features were not remotely handsome. His long hair was lack luster, oily and hung in strings off his head. His eyes were not beautiful, like Jareth's. He was vain, with no reason other than he was Fae. It was unmistakable that he had an intense dislike and jealously of Jareth. Sarah moved closer to the King and placed her hand over the one at her throat. She held her head up, and glared with the same intensity that Jareth did.

"Consort?" Grizbine sputtered. "You jest."

Jareth looked down at Sarah; "This woman is my Consort."

Grizbine laughed, it was a hideous noise. "I'm sure the council will enjoy rendering this union invalid!"

Jareth winked down at Sarah, turned to Grizbine. "I hardly think they would want to. She is after all carrying my heir."

Grizbine blanched. "You have no heir! That is why the Kingdom is to be taken from you!"

"I have an heir," Jareth said smugly.

The intruder fumed. "We'll see what the council has to say about this, cousin. This insult will not go unchallenged."

Sarah stepped away from Jareth. "Don't you ever come riding though my garden again!"

Grizbine touched his face where Sarah had slapped him. "I will not forget the debt I owe you, bitch! Once you are no longer under the protection of my fool cousin…."

Jareth tired of Grizbine and his threats. "Be gone." He waved his hand and horse and rider vanished. Jareth looked at Sarah. "You slapped him." His voice was filled with satisfaction.

"Yes," she said, aware of her action.

"I've wanted to do that for years." He confessed with envy. Bending down, he placed a kiss on her cheek. "Bless you, Sarah."