Chapter Seventeen: Intro/Chilly Down Reprise
I couldn't have been sure how long I was running down the endless paths that eventually led to a random turn or crossroad. My lungs were on fire, my chest ached, and sweat was running along the back of my neck. The heat had gotten intense in the Labyrinth. My bangs were sticking to my forehead, but I was persistent. I continued to run further and further along, trying to find my way back to the city. For once I understood my mother's frustration— I had no idea where the fuck I was or where I was going. The sun was inching along the skyline, and soon it was twilight around the Underground.
I paused, resting my palms on my knees as I was desperate to regain my breath. My head pounded with my heart and I felt a headache forming from dehydration. 'Oh great…' I thought, glancing up again. I saw a crossroads head, but I began to walk this time. No point in running. I had burnt any energy that was within my being. But how I managed to keep walking was beyond me.
I went to the left, walking down the narrow path, turning right around a corner, and coming to a bit of a clearing. The walls ran higher up this time, and there were two doors with large brass knockers. A tree sprouted through the stone, twisting and bending into intricate shapes, but it held its beauty. I passed the tree, coming to a stop beside the two doors. One knocker had a ring in his ears, the other in his mouth. Their eyes were closed, like they were sleeping. They seemed familiar to me… though I couldn't place where I might have known of their existence before hand.
"You're tired from running, we know it's true, walk through here now, you know you want to…" A shrill voice whispered through the door on the left— where the face held the ring in his mouth. I remained motionless, suddenly wary about my position. Something felt wrong about that door, but that voice sounded friendly despite the obvious excitement. I bit my lip gently, pondering.
"Come on in, it's still yet light, come on in, we won't bite…" A different, deeper voice cooed through the wooden paneling. I took an involuntary step forward; like I had no control any longer. My focus snapped to the skies. The moon had crept further along, and suddenly, it had to have been another hour or two later.
"That's right that's right, step inside, now don't you worry, now don't you hide…" Another step, another glance. With every motion I made it seemed like time sped up. A few more steps, and my hand rested on the brass ring. My fingers trembled slightly as I tried to fight back. But my wrist bent itself, lifting upward. The ring, clasped in my shaking fingers, lifted a few inches from the wood. It slid through my grasp, and it bounced off of the wood with a clang! The door slid open, and thick fog rolled along the ground by my feet.
"The time is here, it's time to play, the game's begun, now come this way…" My feet carried me into the dense forest with the puffs of fog gliding around my ankles. Trees were covered in glittering branches and leaves, limp like willows. The dirt path stretched through the trees, winding like a miniature golf course through a fake setup. But there was no one insight. No bodies, faces, eyes, or mouths to make the noises, but I could hear the laughter and music playing.
"At last at last, you've come to town, at last at last, let's chilly down!" A bright red creature that looked like a Muppet jumped out in front of my, cackling to his heart's content. In his hands were thick sticks that he clacked together to form a beat, and I saw many other creatures like him playing other familiar and strange instruments, creating the music that I heard around me. A roaring fire was in the center of a large clearing, and more of these things danced wildly around.
Some clapped their hands, some had an instrument. But they all had maniac smiles on their faces, and they couldn't stop staring at me. Unease gripped at my throat, forming a lump where I couldn't swallow it and act like I was fine. I would try to back away from some of them, and more would appear behind me, shoving me back to the center of the area again. I noticed a large tree standing off to one side, but I didn't think much of it; my focus had returned to the creatures dancing at my feet.
"When the sun goes down, and the bats are back to bed. The brothers come round, I get outta my dirty bed. I shake my pretty little head, tap my pretty little feet…" The first one with the sticks that I had seen tossed them into the fire pit, spinning in circles around the fire and singing as loud as he could. His was the first voice I had heard outside of the doors. Another creature like him spun his way to the clearing, but he had more white in his fur.
"Feeling brighter than sunlight, louder than thunder, and dancing like a yo-yo, whoa!"
"Don't got no problems, ain't got no suitcase. Ain't got no clothes to worry about. Ain't got no real estate or jewelry or gold mines to hang me up! Haha, I just throw in my hand—" He literally pulled his hand off of his wrist, and tossed it into the flames. I stared at the pit for a moment, before his voice caught my attention back to him again. "— With the chilliest bunch in the land." His hand was back. "They don't look much, they're so chilly, chilly. They positively glow, glow, huh!"
"Chilly down with the fire gang, think small with the fire gang—"
"It's the only way!" A plump creature said aloud, before laughing.
"Bad hep with the fire gang—"
"A smile a day keeps the doctor away! Don't you remember, Sarah?" My brow scrunched down into confusion. The creature laughed, before bounding away. I stared among them as several of them continued to cry the name of my mother. A flash of Hoggle's words ran through my mind, and I pieced two and two together. My heart plummeted, and I knew that I was in a hella lot of trouble.
This was the land of the fieries.
Oh shit…
"When your thing gets wild, chilly down, chilly down with the fire gang! Act tall with the fire gang—" Their voices were a harmony, though I could hear a sinister tone in their singing. I backed away slowly, trying to get away without being noticed. I didn't see the fiery behind me, until he tripped me. I fell backwards, landing on my back with a painful thud. Several fieries grabbed hold of me at once, dragging me to the large tree I had seen a few moments before. They stood me up, tying my hands above my head, and my feet shoulder width apart. In addition, they wrapped a piece of cloth around my mouth, muffling my screams.
"Good times, bad food. When your thing gets wild, chilly down, chilly down…" The main fiery jumped in front of me during a musical interlude. I thrashed against the bindings, feeling them cutting into my flesh. He laughed again and again at my face. I glanced down, seeing a short blade in the style of a machete in his left hand, and my eyes widened.
"Such a pretty face she still has, right guys?" He cried over the music, and a roar of agreement deafened my ears. He ran the flat side of the blade against my cheek, the metal cold to my skin at first; then I felt a burning sensation, like my cheek was on fire. I screamed into the cloth, and the fieries laughed, keeling over and rolling along in the dirt. The leader leaned close to my ear, his voice deep and vicious.
"Not so pretty now, are you?" He jumped away, as a different fiery continued to sing.
"Drive you crazy, really lazy, eye rolling, funky strolling. Ball playing, hip swaying, trouble making, booty shaking! Tripping, passing, jumping, bouncing! Driving, styling, creeping, pouncing! Shouting, screaming, double-dealing, rock-n-rolling, and a reeling! With the macking sex appealing, can you dig our groovy feeling?"
"So when things get too tough. And your chin is dragging on the ground. And even down looks up. Bad luck! We can show you a good time, and we don't judge nothing! Just strut your nasty stuff, wiggle in the middle yeah. Get the town talking, fire gang…" Fieries spun in circles around the fire pit and myself, laughing, singing, occasionally making small cuts in my arms and legs. My skin burned from the material. Tears streaked my face, mingling with sweat. In my mind, I was screaming Jareth's name, but no matter how loud I thought or how loud I screamed it against the cloth, there was no poof of faery dust or an amazingly sexy man to appear before me and save me.
"Chilly down with the fire gang, think small with the fire gang! Bad hep with the fire gang, when your thing gets wild, chilly down, chilly down with the fire gang. Think small with the fire gang, good times, bad food. When your thing gets wild, chilly down, chilly down with the fire gang. Think small with the fire gang, bad hep with the fire gang…" The music faded until it was gone all together. Fieries here and there made suggestions of torture; my heart pounded in my chest faster and faster. My body already felt ablaze and ached, so what more could they do to me? 'A lot… actually…' I thought.
"You embarrassed and humiliated us more than twenty years ago. You beat us at our own game. Now… it's time to pay up." I glared at the fiery from where I stood, seeing the blade gleaming in his hands. The fire seemed to distinguish itself, casting eerie shadows where they did not belong. The fieries seemed to change; their fur becoming shaggy and matted, their eyes glowing with hate and rage, their teeth sharp like a snake's fangs. The leader's movements were quick, but I felt the very tip of the blade slice against my stomach. Though the wound appeared to be close to nothing more than a scratch from a house cat, it felt like being sliced and burned alive. I sobbed, my voice muffled.
"Any last words…?" The fiery snarled, reaching up, and ripping the cloth away from my face. 'Big mistake…' I thought. But my head tilted upward, my mind set only on one word. One name. His name…
"JARETH!" My voice echoed beyond the trees, out into the Labyrinth I was sure. Maybe even all of the Underground. The fieries stumbled back by the power and volume. I closed my eyes when I heard the wind rushing and the smell of peaches filled my senses. I stopped struggling against the bindings, and just relaxed as much as possible. The fire danced higher, creating a large dragon shape that flew up out of the pit, chasing the fieries— sometimes even swallowing them into the belly of inferno.
Once silence had filled my ears, I opened my eyes; a more gentle wind carried the sparkly dust, swirling into a tornado effect, and Jareth stood in his glory. His face was calm, but I could see in his eyes that he was beyond any definition of the word "mad". He wasn't turned completely to me for a moment, but then he turned. His expression was tired, lines of worry in his face. My heart sank as I stared upon his sad beauty. His eyes glanced from wound to wound, before seeing the burn on my cheek. His lips parted to release a soft gasp. I closed my eyes, bowing my head.
He swooped over to me, untying my feet first, before removing the rope around my wrists. I collapsed into his arms, exhausted and in pain. He gently supported my back, bending down slightly to grab my legs, holding me in a bridal position. I curled up against him, and the world spun around me. The forest disappeared, opening to a warm and comforting chamber. Jareth carried me over to the bed, laying me above the covers. I weakly opened my eyes again.
"Jareth… I'm sorry…" He placed his fingers over my lips.
"Don't speak, Aerynn. You need to rest. I'll call Vixanne. She'll heal your wounds for you." He said softly, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. I was stubborn though.
"But you told me… not to go there…"
"You don't know the twists and turns of the Labyrinth like I do. I'm the one who should be sorry." I shook my head, feeling sleep on my subconscious.
"Please… forgive me…" He knelt down, pressing him lips against mine. My head spun slightly. Before I fell asleep, I heard his final words.
"I love you…"
Chapter Eighteen: What Is That?
He sighed quietly, thankful that she had fallen asleep. His hands twitched, eager to kill something. He would have to destroy those fieries. Every single one of them. True, Sarah may have utterly humiliated them years before, but they were too blind by hate and thoughts of revenge to notice that she wasn't Sarah. 'Believe me, you mother fucking bastards, I will make you pay for what you've done. And when I'm through with you, I'll make sure that your afterlife is one of misery and hell.' He thought bitterly, glancing to the window to see a phoenix soaring through the opening, landing on the table. He snapped his fingers lightly, and Vixanne popped into the room, padding over to him.
Vizael transformed after jumping off of the table. He stood beside Vixanne, staring down upon the young sleeping girl. His expression softened from being tense and firm to that of worry. Jareth glanced at Vixanne, before motioning to Aerynn with a nod of his head. She bowed her head once, crawling up onto the bed. She examined the burn on Aerynn's cheek, checking, each of the cuts. Her delicate hands lifted the hem of the shirt, and she stared upon the thin slice. It was no wider than a centimeter, but the surrounding flesh was charred. Jareth whimpered slightly, bowing his head in anguish. Vizael placed his hand on his brother's shoulder gently.
Vixanne traced her fingers along the more minor cuts, healing them slowly. Jareth stared at the fresh scars, each one stabbing him through the heart. He had hoped that she would be safer with him in the Underground. That there would be less violence, less pain. But if anything, there was more that he was inflicting upon her. Vixanne's magic healed the burned tissue, making it just a lighter shade than her normal skin tone. It would be invisible unless under the right lighting.
Eventually, she slid her hand up to Aerynn's cheek, closing her eyes slowly. A soft purple light flushed around her palm, seeping into the charred flesh. Her thin face scrunched in concentration as more of the lavender scented magic flowed from her palm. Jareth saw the burn healing into a lighter color, more noticeable than the other scars. She sighed in exhaustion, lifting her hand away, and slumping against his shoulder. He stroked her back gently, kissing her forehead gently.
"Thank you Vixanne." He whispered softly. She nodded once, staying at his side. Jareth looked up at his brother; Vizael stared down upon Aerynn, his expression hard to read. "What are you thinking about?" He asked. Vizael's gaze didn't waver, but he responded none the less.
"You always told me that she was beautiful. And even though she's a little beaten up, she still is." He looked over to his brother. "I'm happy that you've found someone like her. I can see the resemblance to Sarah, but she still has her own traits that make her unique. Not just the golden tone in her hair, but her aura as well." Vixanne nodded once, her gaze crossing over to Aerynn as well. Jareth stared at Vizael, confused.
"What do you mean her aura?"
"She has the glow of Earth magic, most likely from her mother. But there is more than that. A shimmer like you would see a rainbow in mist from the sunlight. It's faint, but I can see it's there." Vizael leaned down, placing two of his fingertips on Aerynn's forehead. The sun's light was pouring through the window, illuminating a thin shield of light around her. Jareth stared at the obvious wisps of white that were Earth auras, but then he looked closer. Every now and then, a rainbow colored shimmer would swirl around her as well. Jareth's eyes widened slightly, before looking up at his brother again.
"She has—"
"Fae magic. Indeed." Vizael interrupted. "Though how she has it is unknown to me."
"Mortals tend to not have Earth magic, and when they do, they certainly don't have Fae in them. It's uncommon even for a Fae to have both kinds. So how is it that Aerynn does?" Jareth pondered, transfixed on his lover's aura that shimmered back and forth between the two different magic's. Vizael shook his head, pulling his hand away. The aura's intensity lessened, becoming almost invisible to the eye. Vixanne continued to stare at Aerynn, and Jareth couldn't understand why.
"What is it, Vixanne?" He asked, changing the subject. She frowned slightly, reaching over, and lifting the hem of Aerynn's shirt again, just above her belly button. Neither of the brothers could see anything wrong or out of place. Vixanne motioned to a bit of roundness to Aerynn's belly, mostly on the left side. Jareth peered closer, as did Vizael. Why was it that half of her stomach was plumper than the other side? Jareth was about to open his mouth to ask another question, when Aerynn's eyes shot open, and she rolled to her side, vomiting onto the floor. Vizael and Jareth backed away slightly, but Vixanne moved closer, rubbing her hand on Aerynn's forehead as the vomiting became dry heaves. She coughed a few times, before sighing, falling back asleep. Vixanne rolled her back onto her back, pulling out a clean purple cloth, and wiping the young girl's mouth with it.
"What the hell was that all about?" Vizael questioned, snapping his fingers. The contents of Aerynn's stomach vanished in a scent of smoke. Jareth stared at her face for a long moment, shocked and confused. What had made her sick so suddenly?
"Vixanne?" Vizael gently grabbed her chin, forcing the young Fae to look up at him. Her chin trembled slightly, her gaze shifting over to Aerynn again. She sighed, glancing over to Jareth. Vizael released his hold on her, watching as she pointed at Aerynn. Jareth tilted his head slightly. Vixanne pointed at Aerynn's belly, before moving her hands in a semi circle over her own stomach. She made a cradle in her arms, rocking back and forth slowly. Jareth's eyes widened as he stared at Aerynn in utter disbelief. He opened his mouth to speak, but Vizael beat him to it.
"She's… pregnant?"
'What...?' Jareth thought.
Vixanne nodded once.
"But isn't it a bit early?" Vizael began. "It's only been about a day or so since…" He glanced at Jareth, inhaling slowly. "Since you had sex with her." Jareth blushed, returning his gaze to Vixanne. The young Fae sighed, tucking her hair behind her left ear. She tapped her lobe twice, and the tip one.
"It's a Fae baby?" Jareth asked.
She nodded again.
"But how can you tell so soon? Is it already that developed?" Vizael asked.
She nodded.
"Holy shit. Even Fae babies take longer than this. Could there be something about this child or even Aerynn herself speeding the process?" Jareth asked softly, staring down upon her. Vixanne glanced between the three of them, before shaking her head slowly. Jareth's heart sunk slightly. "Well, do we have any sort of time span as to how long this pregnancy might take?"
Vixanne reached forward, placing her palm on his forehead. 13 days and nights. He pulled away suddenly, staring wide eyed at her. He gave her the look that screamed 'Are you fucking kidding me?' She shook her head slowly, shrugging her shoulders. Jareth sighed, leaning against one of the posts of the bed. Vizael had pulled up one of the chairs from the table, sitting beside the bed. The moon had risen into the sky outside, a soft wind running through. Vixanne yawned, rubbing her eyes.
"Sorry to keep you so late, hun. You can go now." Jareth said softly, stroking her silvery hair. She nodded again, leaning over and kissing his forehead. She crawled over the bed, pecking Vizael as well, before disappearing in a soft light. Jareth looked over to his brother, running his fingers through his hair. The fire mage sighed softly, glancing at Aerynn first, before standing, returning the chair to the table beside the window.
"So now what do we do?" Vizael asked, turning to his brother again. Jareth pulled the blankets out from underneath Aerynn slowly, before sliding off of the bed, and tucking them around her gently.
"I don't know. Over the next two weeks, she'll be having cravings, mood swings, aches, bitchy moments where she wants to rip my head off… maybe something else…" He said softly, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. He turned to Vizael, folding his hands behind his back. "Not to mention come the time of labor, she'll be listing through possible death sentences for me. And then comes the time— what gender will the baby be, what hair color, eye colors, what we would name the baby… The list goes on and on…" Vizael stood, wide eyed and mouth agape.
"And… how do you know all of this…?"
"Watching mortals."
"Figures."
Chapter Nineteen: Day One (Happy Birthday)
I opened my eyes slowly, seeing a rising sun's glow, the sky a deep blue from the night. The bed shifted beside me, and I turned my head, seeing Jareth fast asleep beside me. I smiled. I had to be one of the luckiest girls in the universe to have someone like him. Though I always feared that it was a dream, everything that had happened. That one day I would wake up to find myself in my room, my mother telling me to get ready for school. That I'd go and find everything as if I had never left. As if I had never found Sarah's diary—
As if Jareth never existed.
I shut my eyes briefly, dreading my own thoughts. I looked over to him again, stroking his hair softly, brushing my fingers along his face. I needed to know that this wasn't some dream. That I really was in a magical land that was both beautiful and dangerous. He was so peaceful when he was asleep. The makeup on his eyes was gone, and he glowed. I leaned over, pecking him gently on the lips, before sliding out of the bed. I noticed that I was dressed in a silk and lace night dress, and I blushed. Had he changed my clothes after I had fallen asleep.
I placed my palm on my forehead, sliding it down across my cheek. I stopped, feeling a slight ridge. I frowned, running my fingers along it. I glanced up into a mirror that sat on the far wall. My heart dropped as the memories came back. A light colored scar covered the left side of my cheek, running from nearly an inch from my ear to my nose. There were other scars similar running on my arms, legs, and across my stomach. Each of them were completely healed, and I only assumed that Jareth had Vixanne's aid.
"The fieries…" I whispered, barely audible to my own ears. Wait… my ears… I turned my head to the right, seeing the tips of my ears were pointed ever so slightly. I was sure that there was no Fae in my system. Sarah was as mortal as could be, but I couldn't remember my father much. He was just a shadow in my memory that would sometimes tuck me into bed or drive me to day care when he had to work. I walked closer to the mirror, trying to see if there were any other changes.
Aside from the marks and my ears, I could see none. I turned on my heels, examining every visible inch, before my eyes focused on my belly. Part of if was rounder than the other. I frowned, trying to think if maybe I had gained some kind of weight, but I couldn't remember a last decent meal that I had. My stomach growled, and I wound my arms around my waist, bending over slightly. Oh… speaking of food… I needed some. My head spun from the lack of substance.
Swaying side to side, I managed to walk over to Jareth, shaking his shoulder gently. He grunted once, turning away. I smiled, but continued to shake him. "Jareth… Jareth wake up…" I whispered in his ear. His eyes opened slowly, and he glanced at me once, before waking fully.
"What is it?" He asked, sitting up. I blushed slightly, looking into his eyes.
"I'm hungry…" He blinked once, as if to say 'You woke me up for food?' But he nodded, pulling the covers away from his body. He grabbed a pair of pants off of the side table, tugging them on. He took my hand gently, leading me through the arch way, down a flight of stairs, passed hallways and many other large rooms, into another stone chamber that resembled a sort of kitchen. He had me sit at an island while he opened the windows. Light and fresh air poured through, adding life to the dull room.
"Now… what sounds appealing? I can make a roast, eggs, potatoes…" I thought for a moment, feeling a strange craving clawing at my stomach.
"How about A roast beef sandwich with cheese and relish." I said, looking at him. His eyebrow raised slightly, but he nodded once again. I sat in my seat, watching as he prepared the food at a lightening pace. What would have taken nearly hours to make a proper roast, fresh baked bread, and fresh relish, Jareth accomplished my food in under ten minutes. He slid the plate closer to me, wiping his hands on a towel.
"Anything else, my love?" He asked, smiling at me. I blushed, and shook my head.
"No, this'll be good. Thank you." He leaned across the island, kissing me softly.
"You're welcome." I lifted the sandwich into my hands, taking a bite. I chewed a few times, closing my eyes. I heard Jareth laugh, and I could only assume that I moaned. I had never tasted anything so delicious before in my life! The roast beef was full of flavor; it was super moist to soggy up the bread, but it wasn't dry either. The cheese tasted creamy and fresh. And the relish added a sweet sort of flavor. The bread was warm and slightly buttery to a perfect extent.
I continued to inhale my food, feeling the empty pit in my stomach filling up. Jareth began to cook something else, but I didn't pay much mind to it. My focus was dead set on the sandwich in my hands, and the wonderful aromas that were intoxicating my senses. I heard Jareth muttering under his breath as he cooked. I leaned forward, trying to listen, and I thought that he was singing to himself. But I couldn't understand what it was that he was saying. It was too soft.
I had to have only gotten through about three-quarters of the sandwich, before beginning to feel sick to my stomach. I set the remaining bites down, pushing the plate away. My head spun and I felt nausea washing over me. 'Oh god… did I eat too much or is it suddenly not agreeing with me at all?' I thought, inhaling and exhaling slowly. I rested my head on the island top, continuing to slowly breathe in through my nose and out of my mouth. The stone felt cool against my skin, and I was suddenly grateful for it.
"Aerynn? Are you alright, love?" Jareth asked. He walked over to me, placing a hand on the top of my head. I moaned slightly, trying to get as much of the dizziness in my head to stop. "Aerynn, what's wrong?" He continued with the questions. I didn't answer right away, for fear that if I opened my mouth I'd spew all over him. I mumbled my answer once, keeping my mouth as closed as possible. My arms wound around my waist again, and I could almost feel my stomach bubbling beneath the surface.
"I couldn't understand that. Could you repeat that?" 'Son of a bitch…' I thought.
"I feel sick…" I mumbled, a little louder this time. I felt my throat closing up slightly. Quickly, I covered my mouth with my palm, frantically searching for any kind of waste basket that I could find. There was a large barrel that looked empty from where I sat. I rushed over to it, bending over and vomiting my food into it. Jareth came over, pulling my hair away from my face. He stroked my back gently. I kept my eyes closed as I coughed up the last of my breakfast, afraid that I'd just continue to vomit my intestines at the sight.
Jareth had walked away for a moment, before returning to wipe my mouth and face with a damp, cold rag. He helped me over to my seat, tying my hair back with a ribbon that he had been wearing in his own hair. He grabbed a goblet, and filled it with water. My hands shook, making me unable to hold onto the goblet. Gently, he tilted my head back, and poured the water into my mouth. I swallowed slowly, rinsing the horrible taste in my mouth. Tears began to streak my face as I choked back a sob.
"Aerynn, why are you crying?" He asked, pulling up a chair next to me. He brushed away a few stray hairs, tucking them behind my ears. He briefly noticed the slight points, for his fingers lingered at the tips.
"What's happening to me, Jareth? Why did I get sick just now?" I asked, looking up at him. He glanced away for a split second, like he didn't want to tell me something. I grabbed his bare shoulders, forcing him to look at me. "Why?" He sighed softly.
"When Vixanne was healing your wounds yesterday, she noticed that part of your stomach was rounded more so than the other side. Vizael pointed out before this that you had obtained Fae magic, most likely from me. Very briefly, you awoke to throw up on the floor. When we asked what that was all about, Vixanne told us…" He paused, looking away. But on his face I could see the beginnings of a small smile.
"What did she tell you?" I asked. Jareth looked over at me.
"Aerynn… you're pregnant." I blinked, my brain unable to process what I had just heard. I was pregnant? 'What? How can I be pregnant? I only slept with him once, and that was two days ago! So how could it be that I'm—'
"There are Fae genes in your system now. This child will be a hybrid, in a sense." Jareth said, his smile growing. I frowned, looking at him curiously. 'So, what? Can you read minds or something?'
He nodded.
Oh.
"Um… okay… but… why is it… that two days after we made love, I already have visible signs of pregnancy… and I have morning sickness?" Jareth inhaled slowly, peeling my hands from his shoulders. He held them in his own, down by our knees.
"Vixanne said that the entire pregnancy process will take place for the next thirteen days and nights." He paused at the fact that my eyes widened drastically. I opened my mouth to scream the obvious words of 'WHAT THE FUCK?' But he unwound his hand from my grasp, and held it up to stop me from shouting in his face. "I understand that the time period is on the drastic side. But once the child is born, we should know the cause of such short time." He insisted. I nodded once, my head spinning with the information.
"But… thirteen days… that doesn't give much time to prepare for the baby… We'll need a crib, proper clothing, food, a play area that is safe and relatively goblin free…" I began to say, before I looked into his eyes. I was lucky to have had a bone structure in my body, for I would have melted right there. His perfect eyes sparkled, as if to say 'It's all going to be taken care of…' But not just that… It was like he was looking into my soul and soothing it. He leaned forward, capturing my lips with his.
He pulled away, leaving me hanging for more. I'd have to get used to that. He stood from his seat, pulling me to my feet. "I wish that there was a better way to do this, considering the kitchen is hardly a romantic place." He said. I laughed, but I was confused. What did he want to do?
"I know we haven't known each other long, but to me it feels like we've known each other for as long as we've been alive. Ever since I first saw you, I knew that I had to meet you. I had to get to know you no matter what Sarah might have thought or said. Something inside of me was brought back to life the first time that I saw you with my own eyes. I was watching you as you opened your locker and found the music. I saw your expression of confusion, and I wanted to go to you then, but I had to tell myself 'Not yet…'
"And when you were getting closer with Danny… you have no idea the amount the jealousy that I felt. But at the Halloween dance, when I held you in my arms… when I sang to you… when I kissed you… I felt the emptiness that Sarah had left in me just… not only fill up with something new but it began to heal as well. I found myself hoping that we'd become closer. I guess at the time I was just looking for someone to remind me of my 'love'…
"But later as the time passed, and I found you crying in the park— I wasn't looking for a replica any longer. I needed you, Aerynn. I needed you in my life, and to see you in that much pain, I couldn't stand it. My heart was shattered more by your broken self than when you told me that I held no power over you.
"And when I came to you, seeing Sarah in the rage that she was in, seeing you crumpled on the floor… I felt such an ungodly hate towards her for hurting you… I had seen how she grew up into being the beautiful woman that she is today, and the Sarah I saw behind those eyes was not the young girl I had fallen in love with, nor was she the mature mother that I had hoped would have ruled by my side…"
"She was like an entirely different person." I interfered. Jareth nodded once.
"I brought you here in hopes that I'd save you from pain. Later on, while you were sleeping, I went to visit Sarah again. I asked for her consent, which is why I'm telling you this now." He inhaled slowly, looking deep into my eyes as if searching for some kind of hesitation. But I knew that there was none. And he saw it too.
"Aerynn… this is a little bit of late, but due to some circumstances, I've decided not to wait any longer. It's past due, and I'm sorry about that, but…" Jareth surprised me then. My brain had to have stopped processing all information; he let go of my hands, and slowly knelt down on one knee in front of me. My heart skipped a few beats as he pulled out a tiny black box, and opened the lid. Nestled inside was a ring, its silver band styled like rose petals wound together, and a large diamond had been rounded and smoothed to resemble one of his crystals.
"Aerynn Williams… will you marry me, and rule beside me for as long as we shall live?" He asked. I remained frozen for a brief moment, tears running down my face. I nodded shakily, and he stood, sliding the ring onto my finger. It fit more perfectly than I would have ever thought anything ever could have. He bent down, kissing me with a fiery passion that ignited my senses and brought me back into reality. This wasn't a dream. This wasn't a childhood fairy tale fantasy that ever little girl wanted. This was real. I pulled away for a moment, screaming in excitement. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he wound his around my waist, lifting me into the air and spinning me in circles.
I was engaged to Jareth, the Goblin King.
He leaned close to my ear, and whispered, "Happy birthday…"
Chapter Twenty: Day Three (A Visit Home)
I fidgeted slightly, smoothing the shirt and vest over my rounded belly. My hair was pulled back loosely with a white ribbon that I had found lying in Jareth's wardrobe. Speaking of my… fiancée… He stood beside the mirror, adjusting the collar of his shirt, his gaze far off away from the chamber room. The afternoon sunlight was pouring through the open window, casting warm shadows in the corners, giving the room a sense of peace. I sighed quietly, walking over to the window; my boots clacked against the stone flooring. The sound brought Jareth out of his personal trance, and he smiled, before joining me.
I leaned against him slightly, his pendant around my neck. The night before I called Vixanne when he was asleep, and I asked her if she knew anyone who could make another pendant for him. She had nodded once, before disappearing. I hadn't seen her since then, but I figured that it was the kind of thing that took time. The leather cord was worn down in some areas, but otherwise remained firm. I glanced passed Jareth at our reflections in the mirror, my eyes setting on the scar on my cheek. It had healed a little more, becoming less and less noticeable as the long days passed by, but I still cringed. The memories burned like the blade.
"Jareth… do I have to go. Is this absolutely necessary?" I asked of him. He looked down at me, and smiled softly, before taking my hand, leading me closer to the window sill. He chuckled once.
"Yes, love. I told your mother that you would contact her often, and when she decided to find the way to call us, she was none too happy. And when she did, it was when you were bathing. She demanded that I have you contact her, or else she said she'd find a way to come here into the Underground and personally "end" me." He replied as we stood on the very edge. It was a long drop from the window sill to sharp, jagged rocks below. I swallowed the lump of fear that had welled in my throat. He heard this, and laughed.
"I will never let anything hurt you again." He said, facing me. He stroked my cheek softly, but there was no flash of pain or sadness. He was determined to make sure that there was no repeat performance. I exhaled slowly, glancing at the mirror again. He followed my gaze, turning and staring at me through the glass. He rested his cheek on the top of my head, and smiled.
"Come now, love. Sarah is expecting us. And I think she might even have Toby with her." He said. I nodded once, turning to the window again. A gentle wind blew my bangs over my eyes, but I didn't bother with them. I looked down at the rocks, biting my lip nervously, turning to face him.
"Is this safe?" I asked. He laughed aloud.
"Perfectly." He said, wrapping his arm around my waist, and pulling me into his arms as we slipped out of the window, free falling through the air. He muttered something, and I felt a slight tug, and darkness surrounded us, compacting us as the world spun. I shut my eyes and pressed my face against his chest, clenching his shirt tightly. I hated teleporting, even though I had only experienced it a grand total of three times prior to this trip. My heart pounded in my chest, and I thought I was going to be sick, when everything stood still.
"We're here…" He said softly in my ear. I pulled away, opening my eyes. We stood in the front lawn of my old house. Thankfully no one was outside, driving by, or happening to look through their windows to see that two people just poofed onto a certain Sarah William's front lawn. I felt a smile on my lips as I looked at the large window, the house looked freshly painted, and there was a new front door.
"Welcome home." Jareth said. I nodded, taking his hand, and leading him up to the front door. I climbed the steps, and knocked on the door three times, still squeezing his hand. There were footsteps on the other side, and my mother pulled the door open. Her appearance was slightly shocking to me. Her hair was loosely pulled back into a bun with a clip, faint dark circles under her tired eyes. But she still held a pleasant smile on her face. She was wearing a light blue sweater and black jeans, slippers on her feet.
"Aerynn." She said, hugging me in the doorway. I embraced her tightly, before pulling away slightly. She stood aside, letting me pass. "Jareth." She continued the greetings, hugging the Goblin King like they were old friends. He seemed a little nervous, but he hugged her back anyway. She shut the door behind him, and we all stood in the living room.
"I was just beginning to cook lunch. Toby should be here in about half an hour. But with the way your uncle drives, I won't be surprised if he's here in ten." Jareth and I laughed following her to the kitchen. Jareth stood against the far wall as I sat down at the table. As she was washing her hands, Sarah glanced at my face, her eyes falling on the scar. She frowned, pausing as she dried her fingertips thoroughly. "Aerynn, what happened?" She asked, tossing the towel over her shoulder as she walked closer to examine the healing burn. I glanced away briefly, my gaze meeting with Jareth's.
"Fieries." I whispered gently. She inhaled slowly, running her index finger along the mark. She sighed heavily, glancing at Jareth before walking to the stove.
"I thought those creatures were dead by now." She said.
"No… I didn't think they would be a problem, so I left them be in their little forest." Jareth replied.
"I see." She ended that topic in the conversation, pulling out a loaf of bread from the cabinet. She glided over to the refrigerator, pulling out a block of cheese, deli meat, lettuce, tomatoes, and condiments. Jareth slid over, pulling up a chair beside me. It was quiet for a few moments as Sarah prepared sandwiches. I glanced at him. 'Should I tell her?' I thought. He raised an eyebrow, cocking his head to one side, as if he was saying 'Tell her what?'
'About the baby?' He glanced away, and thought for a moment, before nodding once. I began to turn to strike up the topic when he placed a hand on my arm, holding up his index finger. 'Not yet.' I nodded.
"So, Aerynn, how are things in the Underground?" Sarah asked, chopping lettuce for salad.
"Great. It's really beautiful there." I thought I saw her smile.
"If memory serves me correctly, it should be about summer time, right?" I glanced at Jareth, and he nodded.
"Yeah. Mom… would you like to go see it sometime?" She paused, holding the knife along the edge of the blade on the cutting board. She sighed softly.
"Not now, Aerynn. Toby is having a bit of a hard time."
"Why? Wasn't his last checkup a month or so ago? The doctors said he was doing really good back then." Sarah set down the knife, and turned to me, leaning against the counter.
"He had to go in two days ago. And the doctors found like two or three spots on his lung. They aren't sure if they need to do surgery right away or just to try giving him medication. That's why he's coming over today. He needed support. I talked to him that night, and he was crying over the phone. But you know something…" She paused, looking at myself and Jareth. "He told me that he really wanted to see you. You were always one to make him laugh whenever he was upset."
"Sarah… does Toby know about… me?" Jareth asked softly. She stared at him, before smiling slightly.
"Yeah. I told him of my entire adventure in the Labyrinth shortly after Aerynn was born. He knows all about you, Jareth." Jareth groaned quietly. Sarah and I laughed aloud, and my focus turned to the front of the house, and I saw a familiar blue Toyota pulling into the driveway. I grinned, and they followed my attention. "Speak of the devil…" Sarah muttered under her breath. I watched my Uncle Toby walking up the path, his hands shoved in his pockets. He looked miserable, and I felt a sudden pang of sadness for him. It wasn't pity. Nor sympathy. Empathy, maybe. Maybe…
The door opened slowly. Sarah walked around and leaned the archway. Jareth and I were still insight, but Toby didn't notice us right away. He just stared at the floor, before lifting his gaze to meet Sarah's. "Hey Sarah…" He muttered quietly, he still hadn't noticed us. I smirked, standing up from my seat.
"What… am I not important anymore?" I asked. Toby's head snapped up, and he stared at me. He blinked once, before grinning brightly. He held his arms out, and I rushed over to him, embracing him as tightly as I possibly could. I heard the chair move, and I figured that Jareth stood up as well. Toby buried his face against my neck.
"Aerynn…" He whispered. I smiled, rubbing his back. We pulled away, and he saw Jareth standing behind me. His eyes narrowed slightly, and I could see the wheels in his head turning slightly, trying to put a name to a face.
"Oh, Toby, this is—"
"Jareth, right?" He asked, holding out his hand. Jareth shook it firmly, nodding, a slightly smile touching his thin lips. Toby looked me over for a few moments. He hadn't seen the scar yet, which I was rather thankful. I didn't need to be reminded of it again. But his eyes set on my lower torso. "Feeding well, Aerynn?"
"What?" I asked, laughing. His hand rested against my belly, and my heart dropped. Oh shit…
"You're plump." Sarah walked around me, examining as well. I looked at Jareth, and he shrugged.
"Yeah, he's right! Are you feeding her well, Jareth?" She turned to him. My heart pounded in my chest.
"Uh… well… Mom… Toby… there's something Jareth and I need to talk to you about." I said softly, sitting down next to him again. Toby and Sarah took seats side by side on the other side of the table. I held my hands in my lap, my right index and thumb twisting the ring on my left hand in circles around my finger. "Okay, well… Mom… you may already know of this, you may not, but in any case…" I placed my left palm face down on the table, showing the ring to my family. Sarah looked at it briefly, admiring its beauty, but nodded. Toby's mouth dropped wide open.
"Aren't you a bit young, Aerynn—"
"In the Underground, the moment she turned 17, she was legally an adult." Jareth explained. Toby's eyes bugged out, but he remained silent none the less.
"Well… the night before my turning of age, Jareth and I… uh…" I trailed off, unsure of what exactly to say. Sarah shifted in her seat, and Toby was a rock.
"Yes… Aerynn?" She said. I inhaled.
"JarethandIhadsex." The room fell silent for a brief minute. But in perfect unison, Sarah and Toby shot up from their seats, and shouted at the top of their lungs.
"WHAT?" I cringed down in my chair. Jareth placed his hand on my knee gently, giving me a sense of comfort and strength.
"Jareth… how… could… you…?" Sarah hissed. I raised my hands, trying to get her to calm down. Toby wasn't making coherent sentences, but I could tell he was not happy about that bit of information. I bit my lip gently, glancing at Jareth. He was calm, but he knew that this was something I had to explain to my family.
"Mom… calm down, let me please…" She paused, leaning back in her chair, silent. Toby was glaring at Jareth. "Thank you… as I was saying, after that event, for reasons unknown, about a day or two later, I began to get nauseous and I couldn't eat much without throwing it back up. I thought that it was just a little bug going around, but Jareth said that it was something else…"
"Oh God…" Sarah said, placing her hand on her mouth, closing her eyes. "Please, please tell me that this isn't what I think it is…" She said after a second. I paused, letting her continue. "Please tell me… are you…" She closed her eyes again, her hands shaking as she fought to say the word. "…pregnant?" She opened her eyes briefly, and I could only nod. She paled visibly, and Toby rubbed her back, though remained quiet.
"There is but one thing… one tiny thing I beg of you…" Sarah said.
"What?" Jareth and I replied at the same time. She inhaled slowly, glaring at him through the slits between her fingers as she covered the top part of her face.
"Please tell me that— if it's a boy— he does not grow any fascination with tight ass pants." Jareth and I were silent, before we burst out laughing. A moment later, and Toby was laughing as well, and then Sarah. We couldn't stop laughing for the longest time, like we were hearing a chain of jokes that were funnier and funnier as they went. My sides were hurting, my face was red, and my ears were ringing by the time we regained control of ourselves.
"So this doesn't bother you?" I asked her later as we cleared up our dishes from the table. The sun was slinking along the sky line. Jareth and Toby were talking at the table, comparing mortal sports to activities in the Underground. 'Such men.' I thought. Jareth glanced at me, and winked when Toby wasn't looking at him.
"Not really… True, I wish you two could have waited a little longer, oh, by maybe thirty or forty years— you've got time to spend. But if it's now, it's now. Though, I am curious to know the reasoning behind such speed in the process. Just how long is the whole thing going to take?"
"Thirteen nights." Sarah coughed.
"Th-thirteen nights?" Her eyes bugged out. "Wow… okay then…" She set a dish in the rack to air dry. I glanced at the clock.
"Well, we should be heading back." I said softly, walking back over to the table.
"But why?" Toby asked.
"Because a certain someone needs her rest." Jareth said, standing up, and pecking me lightly on the cheek. I grinned, a faint blush washing over my face. Sarah giggled, and nodded. She glided towards me, hugging both myself and Jareth. Toby did the same, though he gave Jareth another firm handshake.
"Great to see you again, Sarah, Toby." Jareth nodded to the both of them, leading me over to the front door.
"Stop by more often!" Toby suggested.
"Will do." I replied.
"And if you get the chance, bring the baby by. I'd love to see him or her." Sarah said quietly, standing beside Toby. I nodded, taking Jareth's hand in my own. We waved once, and the world spun around us, lifting us away from the mortal world, back to where we belonged.