In silence the three of them sat, David holding Beth's left hand tenderly and Sarah holding her right in a more supportive gesture. There was so much that needed to be discussed, but yet none of them had a thing to say.
"What are we going to do Beth" after an almost unbearably long period of silence, Sarah spoke.
Beth's voice was hoarse from crying "I wanted rid of this thing inside me, long before I knew what would happen. We carry on as before, I'll do away with it somehow."
David reached over and pulled Beth's other hand from Sarah's grasp, turning Beth to face him before he spoke, his voice low and gravely "Whatever happens Beth, I will be by your side. If you need anything, I am here."
Tears leaked from Beth's eyes "I need you" her voice was barely more than a whisper "I need you, David."
Feeling uncomfortable intruding on this private scene, but unwilling to move and bring attention to her presence, Sarah turned away. Yet, from the corner of her eye, she still saw David lean forward and place a tender kiss on Beth's forehead. She also didn't miss Beth grabbing David's hair in her hands and pulling his lips down to meet hers and a bruising kiss. At this point she decided that maybe discretion was the better part of valour, and decided to sneak off.
But the final thing that Sarah didn't miss was David kissing Beth back tenderly, an action that seemed as natural to him as breathing.
Later that evening, as the sun was setting, in another part of the Labyrinth, in a tower, high above the Goblin City the Lord and Master of the whole Underground was also sitting in silence. He perched on a windowsill watching the sun go down thoughtfully. He was pondering the afternoon's events carefully, what had those foolish humans been looking for in the library, he was sure that they hadn't been studying the behaviour of fierys. A sudden more urgent thought came to him. He stopped thinking about what they might have been looking for. Then he started worrying about what they had found.
In a second he was on his way to the library, hurtling down the stairs at inhuman speed. Seconds passed before he was in the room that they had all occupied only hours ago. He strode across the room to the spot where he had confronted Sarah, her sweet scent still lingering slightly on the air.
He bent down and looked at the books on the bottom shelf, one was not in it's correct place he noted. He picked up the volume marked HISTORY curiously, it wasn't a title he had come across for a long time, opening the cover he flicked through a few pages before hissing in annoyance, there were pages missing. He flicked through the book hurriedly, if the mortals knew about Odette, all could be lost again, and he had worked so hard this time to hold together the seams of the universe.
He swore in a language lost to man centuries ago.
The mortals knew.
With a swirl of cape and glitter Jareth was suddenly standing in the middle of the clearing.
"Shit" David whispered under his breath, only just loud enough for Sarah to hear. Turning to face the Goblin King, she echoed his sentiments. She looked at him, panic in her eyes. After another failed attempt at dislodging the baby, Beth had wandered into the forest and there was no-one there who could or would deal with him.
"He likes you" David hissed as he abruptly pushed her towards Jareth.
Terrified, her whole body shaking, Sarah spoke "May I help you, Your Majesty".
"I'm looking for Beth."
"She's not here."
"Where is she?"
"I don't know" she lied through trembling lips.
He strode over to her and grabbed her by the neck, his movements impossibly fast.
"Where is she?" Jareth growled, tightening his grip on Sarah's airway. She glanced sideways at David and he nodded at her. With or without their help The Goblin King would find Beth, there was nothing to be gained by denying him.
"She's in the forest" Sarah gasped out.
"Where in the forest precisely?" his grip on her neck loosened slightly.
"A clearing….about half a mile north of the river."
He let her go and without another glance King Jareth strode into the forest and out of sight.
It didn't take Jareth long to track down his quarry. Beth was sitting in the centre of the clearing, her long legs crossed and her eyes closed. He took the time to observe her without being seen in turn… Things were progressing well, her belly was beginning to round gently, but only enough that you would notice if you were looking for it. His eyes flitted over the rest of her body, until they came to her arms, she was bleeding. The cuts weren't deep, large stretches of grazes, but her arms were dirty and cuts can easily become infected.
Instantly he was by her side.
When she opened her eyes Beth couldn't help but scream slightly. "Jareth" she hissed "you scared the life out of me."
"What happened to your arms" he demanded.
"I…. I fell" her hesitation was slightly unnatural.
He took hold of her arms and ran his fingertips over the grazes, which disappeared at his touch "In future you should be more careful" he informed her curtly.
"In future I will be" she replied calmly. She knew that there was nothing that he could do to her now. "Was there something that you wanted Jareth?" she sighed.
"Perhaps there was something you wanted to tell me?" he suggested eagerly.
She paused to gather her breath slowly. He knew, he already knew. He had just come for confirmation of the fact. Her normal diplomacy gone, she blatantly lied, "No Jareth" she replied "there really isn't."
"Beth, come inside" he pleaded gently "It's cold here."
"You know, I can't even feel it." Talking to him now, she was so tired. "I think you finally broke me Jareth."
He looked at her properly now, talking more care to look over her than he had in weeks and he noticed what he had failed to see.
The strong determined girl was slipping away. She held almost no attraction for him now, save that she was carrying his child. Her skin was very pale and dark circles ringed her red-tinged eyes, a sign that restful sleep had eluded her at least.
"You look tired" he told her caressing her skin gently. She froze at the contact. The way he could pretend to care was eerily realistic.
"I'm exhausted" she told him honestly.
With great care he scooped her up into his arms and transported them back to the encampment.
Sarah and David had hardly moved from their previous spot when the Goblin King reappeared in the encampment. Jareth winked at David "I'll just go and put this little lady to bed."
It was several minutes later before Jareth returned, and during this time, Sarah, and most of the encampment, decided that they were better ducking for cover until he had left. David stayed put, standing guard over Beth's hut.
"Go and catch a falling star,
Get with child a mandrake root,"
David heard the Goblin King's voice before he saw him appear. He walked through the years, confident, almost smug. David thought he looked far too pleased with himself.
"Tell me where all past years are,
Or who cleft the Devil's foot,
All strange wonders that befell thee,"
Jareth grinned challengingly as he continued.
"And swear
No where
Lives a woman true, and fair"
"Are you going to quote Donne to me all day Your Majesty, because I have things to be doing, you know."
Jareth threw back his head and roared with laughter, to David's surprise and dismay "Oh David. Sometimes you make me want to cry. You are just so funny."
"Go to hell."
Like the flick of a switch, Jareth's demeanour changed, "I bet it just eats you up" he was cold and dark now, with the relentlessness of a winter storm "at night, when you're alone in your cold bed. It eats you up, doesn't it. Knowing while you're waiting at home, she's with me." He grinned
Finally loosing his cool, David threw himself at the Goblin King. But when he reached the spot where the Goblin King had been standing there was nothing but air, and the faint sound of laughing on the wind.
Jareth materialised in the Queen's parlour.. She was wearing a pale blue dress, positively dripping with lace and ribbons and was currently on her knees on the floor, fussing over the beast, as if it was a fluffy little puppy
"Who's a good boy then?" she cooed at Ludo "Who's his Mama's good boy?" she ruffled the fur on his face "You are….yes you are."
"The deals off" Jareth told her.
"What deal" she replied absentmindedly as she stroked the Ludo's tummy.
"He" Jareth emphasised his point by nudging the side of the beast with a booted toe "can go back to the encampment." Ludo sat up to attention, nearly knocking the Queen over in his eagerness. "But let me warn you." Jareth bent down to his level. "The girl Beth, she's not for you. Hurt her and you will wish for death."
"Ovverrs?" Ludo drawled.
"Do what you want with them" replied Jareth, loosing interest.
"Mama's good boy" the Queen blew a kiss at him as he left.