~Here it is! Sorry it took so long. I wont give you any excuses.. lets just say life is crumbling around me. Hopefully it will not carry over here. Hope you enjoy! I do not own the wonderful creation that is the Labyrinth. Period. My Beta Joie Cullen Rocks and has been amazingly patient. Thanks girl ~
Sarah stared out over the night, the cool breeze ruffling her hair about her shoulders. The Queen stood at her side, mumbling about wedding things to which Sarah could not even pretend to pay attention. It had been three months since her pregnancy had been discovered, her stomach swelled with her and Jareth's child to amusing proprtions. So much for seeing her feet. Smiling, she absently put a protective hand over her stomach. Feeling slightly drained she placed a hand over the Queen's.
"I think I'll go lie down for a moment." Patting gently she moved away without waiting for an answer, paying little attention to the concerned look that passed across the Queen's features. Sarah had often become tired as of late. With only a few weeks left to go she seemed to grow easily fatigued, distracted even.
Squeakems sat in the chair across from the bed, rolling a crystal between his little hands, attempting to mimic the deft movements of his kingys hands with little success. When perty lady came in he cocked his head to the side, watching her intently as he had never done before. He sat a little straighter, big pointy ears tilting up as a groan caught his attention.
"Perty Lady is okay? Squeakem get Kingy now?" Jareth had been absent daily, though his nights were always spent by Sarah's side.
"No Squeakems. I just need rest I think. It's been a long day." Sitting on the side of the bed she gently rubbed her back, watching as Aireya entered the room.
"Sarah dear, I think I shall send for Rayna. Just to have her check you a bit. You've been in the bed most of the day today.
"I'm fine. Truly. Just getting tired faster these days."
"I shall send for her just the same." Aireya twirled on the spot and left Sarah to glare at the empty room save Squeakems.
Jareth stared at Ivy towers from his throne room window. Anytime now…He could feel it. Impatient, he began to pace the floor, cursing the goblins and their trivial matters that were keeping him away from Sarah. The labyrinth at least was ready to give him a pass but it would not last long. When Squeakems appeared he nearly shouted in relief, only to sink into his chair in fear.
"Well?"
"High Queeny say that she gonna bring Rayna to check on perty Lady. She not feel well today."
"Is it time? !" Jareth jumped up from the chair, running for the window.
"Don't think so Kingy. Rayna just come to check perty lady."
"Blast this ridiculous waiting! I simply cannot stand to sit in this castle while she is there without me. Squeakems, send word to my father that a keeper is needed at Goblin Castle."
"Yes Kingy!"
With that Jareth was gone, jumping from the window only to soar towards Ivy, owls eyes guiding his way.
Rayna tsked and frowned over Sarah, Aireya prancing from foot to foot as if she could see past the woman to Sarah. "How long has Your Grace been feeling the discomfort?"
"Nearly all day…" Sarah leaned back against the pillows, snuggling down in to the bed and sighing for its warmth.
"Sarah…Why didn't you say something?" Aireya nervously watched the window. Squeakem having gone it was just a matter of time before Jareth showed up.
"I'm merely tired is all."
Rayna tsked some more and fluffed the pillows behind Sarah's head. "Your Grace will remain in bed for the rest of the evening and the night. In the morning should you not feel completely rested and discomfort free you shall stay abed some more. I will sleep in the adjoining room tonight in case you have a need of me. Simply call me…or I'll hear you shout." Chuckling Rayna bustled to the next room, ignoring her Lady's glare. She was prone to those after all.
When Jareth strolled through the balcony doors he first sought his mothers eyes and found relief there, then he looked upon Sarah and it was short lived.
"What is it? Are you unwell?"
"No Jareth, I'm fine. Merely tired. Come…" Sarah patted the bed next to her, then opened her arms in invitation. He rushed to her side, not missing thewhispered words of his mother. She is near her time…
Nodding he climbed in next to her, brushing her lips softly with his own. With a deep sigh she was asleep.
"How long mother?" He knew she could hear, even though she stood at the doors to leave.
"I think tonight…Rayna says sometime tomorrow…She is well rounded with child, much larger than I thought she would be…It seems odd somehow…." Shrugging she spun on the spot giving Jareth no time to ask what she meant. He took in Sarah's sleeping form, her brow creased in discomfort even while she slept. Saying a silent prayer to the Gods he lay next to her but it was long before he was able to doze away into a fitful sleep.
"Jareth….Jareth!"
Jolted awake Jareth sat straight up in the bed. Fear raked him to his core till he realized it was more an aggravated shout than a pained one. Which didn't last long.
"Jareth….My back…." Sarah struggled to sit up in the bed, jareth gently pushing her back down.
"Oh no you don't. I'll get Rayna…" With a muted curse he stood and observed her, soaking wet from sweat…wasn't it?...Suddenly he realized that what was not sweat was something else…Her water had broken. It seemed finally Sarah realized it too.
"Oh dear….." Sarah lay back upon the bed as Jareth ran from the room, shouting orders like it was midday instead of the dead of night. Rayna was first to enter, then Vale.
"Out! ! Oh no you don't, Vale!" Sarah pointed firmly towards the door, not wishing for Vale to be present for her friends sake.
"Shush. I need a helper and it cannot be you this time Champion of the Labyrinth. It's once more time for you to run your own adventure…with a little help from friends as well." Rayna had effectively silenced Sarah whose mouth snapped shut like a fish thrown back in the water.
Jareth moved to sit behind her on the bed, whispering in her ear. Tilting her head back to look at him she could see only his strength...and the concern in his eyes when he saw her fear. "You will be fine." Of course it came out as a command.
"The baby…"
"Will be fine as well. Now patience love and we'll get through..'
"Your majesty…" Rayna was effectively silenced by his glare. Apparently he wasn't going to leave as was expected. "Well then, you support her there. We'll do the rest."
Nodding his head he lay Sarah back against his chest, placing his hands against her belly as he once more issued a prayer to the Gods that she should live.
Dorian, Garin, Sophie, and Shaemus paced outside the study, unable to sit inside and unable to go up the stairs. Awaiting Rydin they could do no more, only wait as a flustered Vale, who had no time for speaking, ran back and forth, fetching this and that. Sophie winced, reaching out to nearly break Dorians wrist with her grip as a piercing cry issued from up the stairs. Rydin chose that moment to come running in the doors, nearly plowing into Vale who was currently running for the stairs with what appeared to be fresh linens. Grabbing her arms he swung her around.
"My Granddaughter?"
"Not now Your Grace!" Vale kept going, pulling away as if the world depended on the linens. Swinging around to look at the assembled group yet another loud cry rent the air. Making a mad dash for the stairs he took them two at a time, nearly making it halfway before he was tackled from behind.
"Jareth is in there and Rayna will not take kindly to a break in her concentration. Come have a drink and calm yourself…it has just begun." Rydin turned to glare at Dorian and Garin, the two of them dragging Shaemus who apparently acted as anchor incase he continued his attempt up the stairs.
"You, none of you know nothing?"
"No your Grace. Now come have a drink." Garin grinned at the mutiny in Rydin's eyes.
"That's an order Rydin. Come, you will be no help to her there worried as you are." Closing his eyes on a groan Rydin allowed them to peel him off the floor and cart him back down the stairs.
Sagging back against Jareth Sarah clutched at the bed covers. The pain did not stop. It radiated through her very bones, feeling as if it were prepared to snap each one in to little pieces the worst of that being her lower back. Rayna was saying something but she could no longer hear her over the pounding in her head. This was definitely not like what she saw on TV Aboveground.
"You must try again Love…"
"I can't Jareth…please, let me sleep a bit and we'll go again…"
"You can't sleep now. You must fight Sarah. Come Champion, you do not have time…" Rayna's words trailed off at Jareth's glare. The sheer fact was they were now on dangerous time. If the baby was not born soon he could lose them both. Sarah's power was seeping from her very core. It was always so and it was always disastrous.
"Come Sarah, again! One more time darling…you must want to see our babe…."
With tears in her eyes Sarah began again, taking in a long gasping breath she pushed down at the pressure and screamed once more. Jareth felt her pushing back against his chest, nearly cutting off his very breath. Her hands moved to his arms, her nails raking down his skin and leaving bloody trails in their wake. Suddenly there was a pop, the pressure was there but was not so great. Focusing with all her might she heard Rayna through the pounding and didn't stop. A scream once more filled the air.
Collapsing in exhaustion once more, tears pouring down her cheeks it was then Sarah heard it. The cry of a babe, loud and lusty and joyous. Laughing through her tears she felt Jareth's arms come around her and the wetness on her cheeks. Leaning back she kissed him with all her might, the weakness of it not failing to miss him. It was then that the pressure came back. Sarahs hands tightened against Jareths arms and the confusion on Jareth's face was almost comical until Sarah began to scream once more.
"Rayna! What's happening?"
"By the Gods Your Majesty…another comes…." Rayna leaned down shouting instructions, shocked to her core she could not stop to think what this meant for Her Grace.