Five
1
When Meep arrived Sarah was still standing in the bathroom biting at a finger nail. The little red haired goblin paused at the door and scratched her head. The king had one woman down stairs and another up stairs- not that it was any of her business, but it just didn't seem proper. Still she had her orders- keep the girl Sarah Williams out of sight and occupied until the king came for her. "'ello miss!" she greeted walking in.
"Eh?"
Startled Sarah came out of her thoughts to find a red haired goblin entering the bathroom. What had happened right before Jareth left the room kept playing over and over inside her head: a woman was requesting that he wear a certain colored flower. That she had not expected. Of course what exactly had she expected? Five years ago they parted ways on abrupt, uneasy, dissatisfied, unfriendly terms. Just because she still thought about him, didn't mean he also had thought about her.
Still though, for him to be showing any sort of interest in another woman meant something. For one she had to be one heck of a handful. Jareth liked challenges. Of course she also to be a patient woman, someone who was willing to play his games. 'A beautiful woman,' she thought shifting weight between her feet. 'No doubt with some sort of royal blood in her veins. It also means he's over you, Sarah.'
A memory came alive at that instant. She saw herself in a skirt and black top standing next to a couch. The man was there smiling fondly at her. She knew he was fae; it was almost as if she could smell him. The scent was welcoming for she had missed it. The smell, a wild fragrance that reminded her trees and old books cloves and cinnamon, made her think of Jareth. This man was the closest to him she had come in several years.
'Not entirely his fault,' she thought again. Part of her had wanted it simply because it had reminded her of Jareth. But had she gone through with it? The memory skipped and went fuzzy like a bad VHS tape.
She forced a smile and said hello to the goblin. "I'm Sarah."
"And I'm Meep. King says I'm to take care of you today. Are you hungry at all?"
She realized there was gnawing sensation in the pit of her stomach. "Actually yes, I am."
"Alright then, let's get you into a proper dress and then we'll head down to the kitchen. In here miss."
Back in the bedroom a dress was laid out on the bed. It was a lovely shade of burgundy with some simple gold detailing. Once changed Meep led her out into the hall, through a series of passages, down a stair cases, and once through another set of doors they reached the kitchen. The castle was still in mild chaos, just as she remembered it. She wondered to her self if this woman, this Miss Wimberly handled goblins well? Or were there plans to instate a cleaning crew and for the servants to wear uniforms? By the time they reached the kitchen she felt a tad strained and needed to sit down.
2
Never before had the Wimberly's tried his patience as they did this morning. Again the only plausible topic seemed to be this ridiculous masked ball that Leslie had convinced him to do. She sat next to him, her braided hair strategically adorned with yellow roses. Her voice was in a constant state of excitement. She held onto his arm more so than usual. 'Why did I kiss her?' he thought miserably.
Some where among the servants was Sarah. Just what had she been about this morning suggesting that her rapist wasn't entirely accountable? Had he not gone to court that day; had he just stayed at home then his life would have remained simple. 'Of course had you never answered her wish,' he thought and then quietly chuckled.
Leslie was leaning near. "Why Jareth what do you find so amusing?" she asked.
"Sorry my dear, distracted by my own thoughts. What now?"
"I was just telling mother that we must employ some elves for the ball. Elves make such wonderful servants."
"And just what is wrong with my own dear subjects?" he demanded dryly.
Leslie opened her mouth and then hesitated, looking towards the countess. "Jareth my dear," began Countess Wimberly. "Can you honestly guarantee that your subjects will behave at such a socialite event?"
He slumped back in his chair. "The king of the goblins being denied use of his own subjects- I'll be a laughing stalk!"
"There, there now, it would only be for the ball," explained Leslie holding onto his arm. "I do so want it to be a special occasion." She smiled.
He just stared incredulously at her.
3
"So just who is Miss Wimberly?" asked Sarah.
In the kitchen the goblin cook Weech had prepared scrambled eggs and toast. Several servants were about eating as Sarah sat down at the table. Everyone greeted her with toothy grins; some even raised their cups towards her as if in recognition. As she served her Weech commented, "You've got a true woman's body, no doubt made with a true appetite! Not a fickle court woman here!" With a rough slap to her shoulder she sat down her plate and eased her massive body into the seat next to her. "Need to rest m'bones for a bit. Eh now Fash," she said getting the attention of a goblin across from her that was wearing a pair of spectacles. "You've got the Wimberly's clothes in order?"
"Yes, yes," he replied making a tiny adjustment to his spectacles. "Though I hated to part with Miss Wimberly's gown- what a divine piece of clothing it was!" Here he grasped his hands in a form of rapture.
It was at this moment that Sarah asked her question, "So just who is Miss Wimberly?" Several of the goblins present shook their heads in frustration, while others made disapproving sounds. "Your king seems to approve of her," she commented sipping her tea.
Fash spoke up, "She is a beautiful woman, a lady of honor, and we abide by the king's desires…"
She sensed a hesitation. "But?" she pressed.
Weech snorted. "But she's a right nuisance," she said poignantly.
"Now, now Weech!" chided a man's voice. The group looked towards the door to see Bartholomew entering. "Good morning everyone!" he greeted them with a wide smile, adding to Sarah, "Good morning my lady."
"Don't bust my hump about the Wimberly's!" Weech snapped standing from the table. Her massive body jolted the table nearly spilling everyone's drink. "If she eats at the king's table she gets the same brown gravy he does! Her sending a message down here this morning asking for a special dish, what with not having any allergies or digestive problems- spoiled she is!"
"And she has the attention of our king," countered Bartholomew. He nodded at Sarah. "We are giving our new comer a very bleak out look on King Jareth's company."
Sarah shrugged. "I did ask after her."
Bartholomew poured himself a cup of coffee. "Far important then the Wimberly's- how are you fairing this morning?"
"Um, much better. I'm a little sore still, but it's manageable."
"I have all ready breakfasted, so when you are done have Meep bring you round to my quarters, I should like to make sure things are healing properly and discuss some finer details with you." She nodded and he was away.
Bartholomew's quarters consisted of an examining room and a pantry filled with all sorts of herbs and tinctures. The atmosphere reminded Sarah of a naturalist she had gone to see over eczema she had developed her senior year of high school. It was comforting to find that there were sights and smells that pleased her senses. It made the prospects of her new life more manageable, for whatever happened she knew from this day forward she was going to be a citizen of the Underground. She owed a life debt to a fae king. She breathed deep letting the scents ground her and keep her calm while Bartholomew examined her.
He made a positive sound and said "good, good" as he finished. Having washed his hands he took a seat in front of her. "You are healing very well. Your body responded to the treatment and healing spells that were used. But now we must discuss a finer detail."
She braced her self for whatever it could be. He looked so serious. With a nod she told him to continue.
"I am not ignorant of the way your human world operates. Because of the way our kingdom is set up, I have a lot of experience with human children."
What was he getting at? Had she contracted some horrid STD? She nodded again. "Right."
Bartholomew pushed back his hair. "Your attacker did not use any form of protection. There is a chance of pregnancy."
Pregnancy. The word sounded foreign in her ears; foreign and dirty. She stared blankly at the physician unaware that she looked pale and appeared ready to pass out. Her breath caught and she let out a high pitched gasp.
"Sarah?" He stood ready to catch her if she fainted.
"Oh, oh!" was all she could say. Tears sprung to her eyes. "Oh…how long before I know?"
"When was your last cycle?"
"About three weeks ago."
"Then we should be able to determine more in about a week. There is something else." Gently he put a hand to her shoulder. "You are no longer human, you are turning fae."
He looked even more concern when she started to laugh. She wiped at her cheeks which were streaming with tears. Turning fae- the phrase made perfect sense to her. "I knew it!" she exclaimed. "No wonder I have felt so out of place these past five years!"
"Perhaps you should lay down-,"
"No, no! I'm fine. Really," she assured him. "I just don't know what emotion to feel: anger, shame, or joy!" She laughed again all the while still crying. "You look very puzzled my dear physician. Has the king not informed you of who I am?"
He shook his head.
Her face grew serious, she stopped laughing. "I am Sarah Williams. Five years ago I won back the wished away child!"