Chapter Thirty One
Seeds of a Plan
A few peaceful weeks had passed since the day Grizbine had come stampeding into the garden. The broken plants were replaced, and the tuffs of trampled grass had healed. Sarah could see the garden from her office, and the scent of the flowers came in the open window. She stood looking at the garden and its little pond where Aquis now lived. She did not feel much like spending time there it still felt wrong.
Carlin tapped on the doorframe, but she did not appear to hear him, so lost in thought was she. He entered her offices with his ledger in hand and cleared his throat. "Chatelaine?"
Sarah turned, looked his direction and sighed. "Yes?"
"Lady Sarah, are you not feeling well?" He moved toward her with true concern.
"Just feeling blue, and a bit sorry for myself," she admitted.
The Steward shook his head, "When did you last see the Healer?"
"Yesterday," her voice was irritable.
Carlin went to the hall, called to a maid and ordered tea. Then he took a seat near the desk. "What do you have to feel blue about?"
"My poor garden," she moaned. "I can still feel that idiot's …"
Carlin drew in breath. "Is that all?" He placed a hand to his forehead.
"Is that all?" she repeated with a touch of anger. "I should think that's plenty! How dare he come trampling though my garden, and then go running to his Auntie to protect his sorry ass, and turn it around and blame me!" Sarah growled. "I want to get even."
"Excuse me?" Carlin's eyes popped open. "You want what?"
"I want revenge." Sarah tossed the feathered quill on her desk off.
Carlin swallowed hard, "My Lady, that may be more difficult than you realize."
Sarah took her lower lip into her teeth. "It has to be really sneaky, really twisted, and really public."
"I'm calling the Healer." He moved quickly to go track down the healer.
Sarah tapped her fingers on the desk. "If I were a Fae, what would hurt my pride most?"
"Losing the favor of the High Queen," a voice from the hall stated.
Sarah looked toward the direction the voice had come. Jareth stood in her door, a grin on his lips. "How does one go about discrediting one in the eyes of the High Queen?" Her face for a moment mirrored Jareth's.
With purpose, he strode into her office. "My God, you're magnificent when angry."
"I'm passed angry." She stood up. "I'm pissed."
Jareth laughed. "I know the feeling."
"So how do I go about getting a pound of Fae flesh?" her voice quivered with excitement.
"You wait," he said, coming to her side, and speaking quietly in her ear. "And you strike when your opponent is least expecting it." His hand slid to her waist. "You watch for the weaknesses in your opponent, and you use them to your advantage." Her back melded with his chest.
The healer entered the room to find King and Consort having what he thought was a quiet, tender moment. "I beg pardon." Gibbs said calmly. "I was informed the Chatelaine was not feeling well."
Jareth looked at Sarah, his eyes held conspiracy. "Do you feel better now, Sarah?"
"Much." She turned her face to the King. "Much better."
Gibbs' eyes narrowed. "You two have the look of mischievous children."
Jareth drew Sarah closer, "Ridicules. I am simply being supportive of my Consort." In her ear he whispered. "Later, my dear."
She nodded as Jareth disengaged from the close embrace. She watched as he exited her room and then turned her attention to Gibbs. "Honestly, I'm fine."
"Sit," the Elf Healer ordered. The tea had been brought in and he poured.
Sarah sipped and allowed the man to assure himself as to her health and that of the child growing within her.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Carlin paced outside in the hall. "We feel a disturbance." The voice spoke in his head. He went to his own office and closed the door, his hand wave made sure no sound would escape. "Yes, Sire."
"What are they up to?" there was amusement in the High King's question.
"I dread knowing." Carlin stated.
The image of the High King shimmered but didn't form solidly. "She becomes one with the Kingdom."
"More like she becomes one with your son, the King," Carlin corrected. "She's even starting to sound like him."
"Side effects of carrying his child no doubt." Oberon observed.
"I've never know revenge to be a side effect of childbirth," countered his long time servant.
A slivery laugh filled the room. "Revenge? By the Gods! I like that girl."
"You would," sighed the Steward.
"Carlin, she may be the means to many an end." Oberon advised with contentment.
"She is the means of keeping the throne, and your son in it." Carlin clasped his hands behind his back. "For that alone she is worth even a small war."
"Agreed, old friend." The image shimmered and faded.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Sarah entered the king's private office; it was empty. She moved to the bookshelf, looking for the volume on the history of the Labyrinth. Finding one volume that looked promising she began to leaf though it.
"That's hardly what one could call a light read, Sarah." Jareth teased as he entered the room.
"Do we have anything with a layout of the Labyrinth in it?" she asked her eyes twinkled with mischief.
Jareth, not only intrigued by the look, was actually be turned on by it. "You won't find it in that book." He moved to the shelf. "Here, in this." He handed a small leather bound book to her.
She opened the book, "Yes, this is just what I need." She smiled wickedly.
"Care to share?" A gloved hand moved toward her face.
"Would you leave this out where I can find it?" She asked as she felt his fingers turn her face.
"Tell me how you intend to use it." He whispered with growing anticipation. His lips twitched as he formed words.
"Think of it as a spider web." She whispered back.
"And you as the black widow?" He teased.
"You know every inch of the Labyrinth, don't you?" she asked.
"Yes."
"And you're sure no child would ever come to harm?" Her eyes held a secret.
Jareth pulled her to him, "You are perhaps the most deviously brilliant woman I've ever met."
"Not bad for a mere mortal, eh?" she teased.
Jareth swooped her up in his arms. As he did the book fell from her fingers. "Have you any idea of how…exciting, and exhilarating your wicked side is?"
"I've an idea of how exciting you find it." Her voice got husky.
Jareth looked at her, the woman cradled in his arms. "Are we having a friendly conversation?"
"It would seem so." She sighed, "We have a common enemy, perhaps that makes us more compatible."
"Someone else for us to direct our anger at." Jareth agreed. "Instead of butting heads against one another.
Sarah looked at him, "It's almost like we…like each other."
Jareth placed her feet back on the floor. "I don't dislike you Sarah."
"What do you feel?"
His face had been torrid only a moment before, now it was a mask cold as stone. "Personally? I feel scared, torn down and in ruins."
Instead of backing down Sarah grabbed his arm, "Get over it." Her tone was sharp, and direct. "We don't have the luxury of giving in to hurt feelings. Do you think you'll ever get over this mad?"
"Ask me about a hundred years." He pulled his arm free.
Sarah paused. "Will I be around in a hundred years? I'm mortal, remember?" His features shifted and she moved toward him. "What did you neglect to tell me now?"
"You're going to be aging much slower." He offered happily. "It's a good thing, right?"
Sarah stooped to retrieve the book. "Thank you for the book, Jareth."
He blocked her exit. "I'm a Fae Sarah, we hold grudges." He looked torn.
"You keep saying I made the wrong choice…that Toby was happier here. That may be true, he was happy here. But Jareth, did my parents deserve to lose him because I said those words?" She hit home with her next words. "How would you feel if someone took this baby from us?" She placed his hand on the gentle swell that had recently formed.
"It's not the same!" Jareth yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Yes, it is." She kept a low calm tone. "It's exactly the same."
Jareth threw himself into one of the winged chairs he kept for guests. He placed his chin in his one hand as the other covered his chest. "You think I like taking children from the only homes they know?"
"Sometimes, yes…you do…sometimes it's for the best." Sarah took a seat on the divan. "I'm not blaming you. You do what you do, pure and simple. I made a mistake, and I ran your Labyrinth to correct the mistake, not to upset you."
"I'm still the one who was left on the outside for twenty years." He looked away.
"And you got even, didn't you," she took a seat on the divan. "I'm your consort…carrying your…heir…" Her thoughts were anguished.
He heard the pain in her voice. "The baby is not a bastard, if that's what worries you." He turned back to look at her.
"I admit, I'm not really sure of any of the connections and titles." She closed her eyes, "A consort,…more than a mistress, less than a wife." 'Still says whore.' She thought.
"The conception was witnessed," Jareth said shortly, losing patients with her.
Sarah winced. "Do you have any idea of how that makes me feel?" She felt the emotions flare, and knew her hormone level was acting up. "You made me feel like a whore." She stood up and tried to leave again.
Jareth prevented her departure. "You are no whore." His body blocked hers, but the contact was warm. "I did have to…" he winced. "Force you." Sarah looked up at him, stormy eyes on both sides. "The conception of our child had to be witnessed. You saw the High Queen's reaction, she would have contested. Keeping you as consort is for your safe keeping. As consort, you can never be Queen, and no one will fear your being a ruler."
Sarah's voice shook, she vowed not be reduced to tears. "Why didn't you tell me any of this?"
"I wanted you to think…." He paused.
"More of your revenge?" she observed.
Nodding the Goblin King looked at her. "Ours will never be an easy and simple alliance, I may in time forgive you…but I will never forget."
Sarah nodded, "And I'll never regret that I took Toby back."
Jareth swallowed, "We could call a truce," he offered. "Concentrate our efforts on someone else…say, Grizbine."
Sarah looked pleased with that thought, "Pax?"
"Pax," he growled in return. "Now what is going on in that devious female mind of yours? What evil plan are you hatching?"