Another update even though you guys don't actually deserve it. Not a single review for the last chapter, that just won't do at all.
If you like it, tell me. If you don't, tell me. Pretty please.
Enjoy.
Chapter 4
The Goblin King left the infirmary with the promise that he would return in half an hour. He chose to slowly walk to the nursery rather than use magic. He was still very much trying to come to terms with the fact that Sarah could have planned for her own death. He knew she was mortal, with all the human frailty's that that engendered, and that fact had always worried him. That she she had acted so recklessly without even trying to consult him rankled.
Jareth had always hoped that one day he would be able to draw Sarah back to the Underground, gaining the boy and his sister now was a bonus, but it was always about her. The method of Sarah's arrival could land Jareth in trouble with the High Council and his own Father. Mortal children could be wished away and would be received into the fae communion whole-heartedly, as they would absorb the magics of the underground as they grew and became fae themselves.
Adults were very rarely allowed into the underground and none had been given leave to stay permanently in over a thousand years. Before tat time most had been been brought below as entertainment and , though he hated the term it was accurate, Breeding stock for fae who were desperate for children. Thankfully the number of fae who had the magic to transport themselves Above, let alone bring people back with them was very few.
Sarah however had not been wished away, nor had Jareth been given permission to bring her Underground but he had no intention of allowing his champion to be taken from him ever again.
As he finally began to approach the nursery his contemplations were interrupted by a piercing scream. He ran the last of the corridor and in to the childrens' room, his heart pounding. These children were special they had to remain completely safe.
It had been Toby who had screamed but Jareth could see now that it had only been a prelude to his laughter as he watched the cohort of Goblins assigned to their protection stumbling around the room after some mishap or other. Completely within the norms of goblin behaviour.
His appearance in the nursery doorway had drawn the attention of both children. Toby from his seat on the floor by an overflowing toy box and Iona from her crib. The toddler immediately stretched her hands out towards Jareth in a mute appeal to be picked up and held. Her elder brother was more circumspect. He stared at Jareth for a few moments before picking himself up off the floor and moving closer.
Toby obviously felt no fear much like Iona which was obviously a good sign for the future. The Goblin King crouched down so that when the small boy was finally next to him Jareth could look directly into his eyes.
"You're him." Toby's boyish treble rang out. "You're the Goblin King." His dark eyes were wide with a kind of awe and wonder.
Jareth was both gratified and slightly confused that Sarah had obviously told the boy his identity. "And what do you know about the Goblin King, Toby?"
"He rules the Labyrinth, which is a really big maze somewhere underground and … and … I should always be careful what I wish for because... because I forget why because."
"And who told you all those things about me and my kingdom?"
"My big sister Sarah, She's always telling me stories about the Goblin King and the Labyrinth. Mommy doesn't like her doing it so she tells me in secret and I can't talk about the you in front of my Mommy." He rattled all these facts off with the honesty of a small child. Toby tugged on Jareth's shirt cuff when Jareth turned away slightly.
"Mister Goblin King? Where's Sarah? The bad men said Sarah would be with us soon."
"The bad men?" Jareth hadn't really thought about the fact he might have to comfort the children after the ordeal of their kidnapping.
"They took me and Iona. They were strangers. I'm not supposed to talk to strangers."
Jareth didn't want to press any further. Toby didn't seem traumatised by his experiences and Jareth didn't want that to change. "Do you want to see Sarah now?" Behind him Jareth could hear Iona becoming more vocal in her attempts to seek his attention.
The boy nodded earnestly. Jareth rose and turned to the crib and acceded to the demands of the child within it. With Iona safely nestled in his arms he held his hand out to the boy and began to lead the way back to Sarah's bedside.
"Toby I need to warn you. Sarah has been very sick." Jareth explained as they neared the Infirmary. "She'll most likely be asleep and you are not allowed to wake her."
"Is Sarah better now?" Toby's little face was full of concern for his sister.
"Not yet but she is going to be back to normal before you know it but until she is you need to be careful around her." He tried to reassure the boy. Iona was much easier, she required no verbal reinforcement. Her dark head lay against his shoulder and one of her hands twiddled with the ends of his blonde mane.
The bath had done wonders for Sarah's appearance. She looked much improved from when he had left. Her skin through pale looked silky and fresh, her dark locks had been washed and combed.
Their arrival at her bedside had caused enough noise to rouse her from sleep. She blinked slowly and forced her eyes to focus on her visitors. The picture, Jareth and the children safe, sound and together, made a faint smile form on her lips and a weight lifted off her shoulders. She held out a hand to Toby which he quickly took a Jareth moved round to the opposite side. Sarah managed to run one hand down Iona's back before it dropped back onto the bed. Her smile widening briefly before her eyes drifted closed again the hand holding Toby's going limp.
Jareth carefully checked her breathing to prove that Sarah's stillness wasn't complete before before collecting Toby and walking the children back to their rooms for their midday meal.
When Sarah came back to herself properly, she registered that the pain was gone. She had vague flashes of conversations with the Goblin King and seeing Toby and Iona in his arms. The room seemed familiar too it took several minutes for all the pieces of her memory to reorganise themselves into proper order.
As she tried to raise herself into a sitting position she finally felt it, the pain in her abdomen returning, she couldn't stop herself from crying out.
The doctor was with her instantly holding her shoulders and forcing her back into a prone position. Sarah didn't fight him.
"How..." Her throat felt so dry she had to swallow a few times to try and help ease the feeling, "How long have I been asleep?"
"Days. You needed your rest so we didn't wake you. Before you ask, the children are safe and being given the best of care."
"I know, he promised."
The doctor just gave her a slightly perplexed look.
"Could I have some water please?" She managed to croak out.
The knock at his study door was a welcome distraction. The paperwork that went hand in hand with ruling the Goblin Kingdom bored Jareth to tears, although he'd had the children and Sarah to distract him over the last week.
"Come in." He barked out the order.
It was one of the nurses looking after Sarah. She curtsied, as was proper for her position.
"How is the patient today?" Sarah had long since left the critical list, despite sleeping through the last few days.
"She is awake and ready to leave the infirmary according to the Doctor."
"Tell him I will be there within the hour." He responded and the girl left.
Sarah's recovery, while good news, did not solve the conundrum of Sarah's presence in the underground. Thankfully no one in his kingdom cared about the world outside the Labyrinth and two many of them were loyal to Sarah to cause a problem.
Time had some how flown and Jareth realised that it was past midday. He walked to the Infirmary. It was time to have a serious discussion with the patient.
The nurse had helped Sarah wash and into a change of clothing. The week's inactivity had left her weak and stiff and the wound ached constantly. Doctor Ashe had said that she would be good as new in a month or so. She hoped so, she hated feeling so very weak.
The Goblin King was apparently due to make a visit she'd heard Ashe and one of his nurses discussing it, though most of in voices too quiet for her to hear properly.
It was at least half an hour before he actually turned up. His low heeled boots clicking on the flagstone floor and the scent of sweet spices that she associated with him cutting through the antiseptic smell.
He settled himself into the chair beside her. "How are you feeling?"
"Better, I think. How are Toby and Iona doing?"
"Well, they've settled into routines, though if that boy spend much longer with my goblins I may have to re house train him." He said with a wry twist to his lips.
Sarah tried not to laugh but it didn't quite work and the spasms caused her to gasp in pain.
"Sarah?" Jareth leaned forward, trying to figure out why she was suddenly in pain.
"It's alright. Just try not to make me laugh."
He settled back in his chair, apparently mollified by the explanation.
"Toby has always been like that. I blame you for letting him loose with the goblins during his time here before."
"It's possible." The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
Sarahs smile dropped, "I'm sure you have questions."
He paused for a few moments even though the first question leapt straight to the tip of his tongue. "Why didn't ask for my help sooner?"
"Would you have given it freely?" She looked into his eyes to try a find the truth.
The answer seemed to come easily. "I don't know."
"I knew you might request something I couldn't give while my parents were still alive."
He paused. "Did you figure out who took them?"
"No. They killed Dad and Karen quickly but didn't seem to want to hurt me. Before I got away they were talking about getting to a meeting, they were going to collect "the others" and then travelling on to somewhere else to hand us over. Whoever wanted us scared them. Who scares cold blooded killers?" The question was more for herself than the Goblin King.
"Why would someone want you and not your parents?"
The memories the conversation was bringing up were starting to effect Sarah. She hadn't yet properly grieved for Karen and her Father. She could see the bullets that hit them, the blood spraying out. Karen's screams as Robert went down first. A tear formed and made a slow path down her cheek.
"There isn't anything remarkable about my family."
Jareth felt like refuting that fact but stayed silent.
"The only thing that I can think of that makes me special is having once visited the Underground, but even that can't be unique.
The creature repulsed him but was too useful as a minion and go between to get rid of it.
"What did you find out?" His voice was harsh, disguising the usual melodic quality all fae shared.
"There is still no sign of the children you seek above."
"How can you still have no news!"
The creature could feel the power radiating from his master. It was both terrifying and impressive. "I did take another look round the mortals' dwelling place and there was a scent that did not belong."
"Belong where? Get to the point!"
"Belong Aboveground. It was the scent of goblins." The thing rasped.
"How fresh?" The fae demanded instantly.
"Within the last month certainly."
"Why would Jareth be sniffing around those of her bloodline?"