Chapter Forty-Two
Spring in the Underground brought with it a myriad of sounds and colors. Between the birds twittering their mating calls and the explosive variety of flowers blooming, the whole city was awash in an almost joyous energy.
In Caladh, the Spring Equinox festivities had finally come to an end and life at the castle would soon revert to its previous, more serene pace. It gave Sarah a little inward satisfaction that the bevy of beauties that came to the castle each year were no longer bait to be dangled in front of the King. No, it was her hooks in him and no one else's and she rather liked it that way.
This morning, she had woken to a chorus of birdsong. Drifting in through the open windows was the faint scent of flowers. Jareth was asleep beside her, having already made his patrol flight and returned to their bed.
Ah, I love Sundays, she thought.
They had made it their habit to have a breakfast tray in their room and spend their time quietly together away from the Court on their free days. Stretching languorously, Sarah lay there, absorbing the scents and sounds of this magnificent Spring morning, utterly content.
That is, until she felt her stomach turn over. A rush of saliva filled her mouth, and Sarah had barely enough time to leap from the bed and run to the toilet compartment. There, her stomach turned itself inside out, and rather violently. She sat there on her knees, stark naked, retching what felt like her soul. She felt hands pull her hair away from her face, then grasp her shoulders.
"Sarah? Are you all right?" Jareth asked.
Before she could answer, another torrent of vomit issued forth. When it finally ceased, and she'd flushed the toilet, Jareth helped her stand and moved her over to the basin. Wordlessly, he handed her a glass with some water in it. She rinsed her mouth and spat, then drank greedily. Thankfully, the water stayed put.
"I'm sorry, Jareth," she said, sheepishly.
He laughed, "I warned you not to try that Goblin ale." He led her back to bed, tucking the covers around her. "Go back to sleep. I have a couple of things to take care of, but I'll check in on you in a bit. Get some rest."
Sarah mumbled something in reply and drifted off. She wasn't sure how much time had passed before she heard the chamber door open, and Koriane come in with the breakfast cart. The moment the scent of food touched Sarah's nose, she was off running for the toilet again. The concerned maid followed her into the bathing chamber.
"Madam, are you all right? Can I get you anything?"
Sarah looked over blearily at the Elven girl. "Could you see if Lily has a moment?"
The girl nodded and quickly vanished. It didn't take long before Sarah could hear running footsteps into the chamber.
"Sarah, what's wrong? Are you ill?" Soft hands gripped her shoulders reassuringly. Then fingertips touched her temple. She felt a tingling sensation and the nausea receded. Sarah wiped her mouth and sat back to see Lily seated on the floor beside her, looking at her oddly.
"I think I had too much Goblin ale… it's really kicking my ass. Do you know of anything that can help?"
Lily nodded, her eyes sparkling and a hint of a smile on her lips. "I might. I have a question for you first, though… when was the last time you'd had your moon-days?"
Sarah looked at her uncomprehendingly for a moment. "Oh, God… I haven't been keeping track… end of January, maybe…" Her eyes got wide as she realized why Lily had asked the question. "Do you think…?"
Giving her another sly little smile, Lily patted her shoulder. "Let's get you presentable, then we'll go see Melina. She'll be able to tell you for certain."
Lily was able to clean Sarah up and get her dressed in a light silk gown, while the maid thankfully took the food tray out of the chamber. In no time at all, the women were seated in Melina's office. The venerable Healer gave Sarah a glass of iced ginger tea, which worked miracles on her tormented stomach.
"You haven't bled since the end of January?" she asked. Sarah nodded, slowly. "Have you felt any tenderness in your breasts?" Sarah nodded again. "Have you been sick before today?"
"No. In fact, I thought it was just too much Goblin ale last night."
Melina nodded to herself. "What I'd like to do is a "reading" on you, Sarah. The Aboveground equivalent would be something like an ultrasound, only I am using magic instead of soundwaves. Is that acceptable?"
"Of course," said Sarah. It never failed to impress her that Melina was so knowledgeable about Aboveground medical procedures as well as those Below. She was shocked when she'd learned that, under glamor, Melina had actually gone to Stanford University Medical School and did a stint at Johns Hopkins in addition to taking up her duties at the castle. While using Healing magic was in many ways faster, like all magic, it also took energy from the Healer directly. The more that she could do for a patient without spending Healing magic, the better. This way, she kept her powers at full strength for emergencies. Thus, she turned to human innovation to supplement the use of those powers.
She stretched her hands out towards Sarah's abdomen and closed her eyes. After a few moments, she opened them again and looked at her with delight. Sarah, knowing what that look meant, returned her delighted gaze with equal parts joy and fear.
"I'm pregnant?" she asked in wonder. Lily's face broke out in a radiant smile as she watched.
"Yes, Madam. Your son will arrive sometime in November." The Healer's smile was just as wide as Lily's.
"My son…" she murmured, her voice reflecting shock and awe as she placed her hand on her stomach. The vision of the little boy from that snowy hill flashed before her eyes. Then she gathered herself. "Please don't tell anyone… I want to tell Jareth myself."
"Of course, Madam," said the Healer. Lily nodded in agreement. After receiving some more of the ginger tea to keep in her chamber, as well as instructions on how to prepare it, Sarah went in search of Jareth.
After her long soak in the bathing pool, Sarah laid on the balcony chaise, enjoying the balmy evening and sipping a ginger-laced tisane.
Could this day have gotten any more absurd? she asked herself.
After getting confirmation from Melina and coming to grips with the fact that she was going to be a mother, Sarah was beyond excited to tell Jareth about his impending fatherhood. Unfortunately, circumstances decreed that it wasn't going to be that easy.
Just as she'd gone in search of him, she'd received his note that he'd had to leave the castle for a bit. The spring rains from last week had overflowed a dike near the pixie village, and he was aiding them in diverting the water. He had indeed checked on her earlier (apparently before the food cart incident) and encouraged her to take it easy. The ginger tea worked wonders, and Sarah was able to at least nibble some dry toast. Lunch was enjoyed without incident. Jareth returned, had time to kiss her and sit down, then was summoned away for yet another emergency, this time a mudslide that threatened to cut off a main thoroughfare to Caladh. Off he went again.
Sarah thought it the better part of valor to lay down and rest for a bit. After about an hour nap, she rose, intending to make her way to the library when she got the "tingle" that told her a wish had been made. She muttered darkly under her breath. At least the Labyrinth was kind enough to let her know when it was going to be summoning Jareth, so she wouldn't worry. Best case scenario was that the wisher would take their dreams and her husband would be back in time for dinner. The worst case was that they'd run the Labyrinth and she'd be lucky to see him at breakfast.
Of course, it was the worst case.
Jareth sent word inquiring about her health and assuring her that all was well and that he would see her in the morning. Sarah sighed, softly. She wanted to tell him so badly, and now she had to wait. She let Lily know that she hadn't told him yet, so that the news didn't travel to him inadvertently.
Rather than go to the dining hall, she had requested a tray be brought to their chamber. With the help of the ginger tea, she was able to eat her dinner without issue. The bath had gone a long way towards soothing her jangled nerves, and she thought that she would take in some of the warm Spring air before she retired to bed.
Therefore, it was with some surprise that she saw the enormous white barn owl swoop onto the balcony and shimmer into her husband's form.
"Jareth? I thought you had a runner?"
"I do… or did. And a more unpleasant hellion you couldn't possibly imagine. Suffice it to say that the little beast is trapped in a living dream crystal, experiencing what her life is going to be like if she stays on her path. She'll be released in the morning. The wished-away is sleeping peacefully at the creche and will be adopted out tomorrow."
Sarah looked at him, puzzled. "But… I thought they had the full thirteen hours. I mean, yes… you can shave time off them, but I didn't know you could shave off that many hours at once."
"Ordinarily, no. The Labyrinth itself decided that it'd had enough of this cretin and made it clear that either I contained the brat, or the Labyrinth would. And trust me, at least the dream crystal will leave no permanent damage." He stalked over to her, kneeling and looking her over while his hand caressed her cheek. "How are you feeling, love?"
"Better, although I threw up again when Koriane brought in my breakfast tray."
Jareth frowned, "If it happens again tomorrow, I want you to see Melina."
Sarah smiled, "I already did."
"You did? Are you all right?" he asked, worry etched in every line of his face. "Oh… I will be. In about seven months."
Jareth looked at her, his lack of understanding clear. Sarah chuckled, reaching out to run her fingers through his hair with one hand. With the other, she took his hand in hers and placed it on her stomach, giving him a smile of pure love.
"Jareth… I'm carrying our son."
Sarah had never seen such a good impression of a landed fish as she did at that moment, watching Jareth process what she had just told him. He gaped at her, then looked down at his hand on her abdomen and back up to her face.
"But… how?" At her incredulous look, he shook himself. "I know how. I mean… really?"
Sarah's smile was brilliant, "Yes, really."
He sat back on his heels, looking off in the distance, a smile of wonder stretched across his face, his eyes dazed. "My son…" He seemed overwhelmed, but in a good way. He looked back at her with delight, the joy coming off him visible in his aura. "Really?"
"Our son," Sarah said, laughing. "Really."
With that, he gathered her up, holding her close to himself and burying his face in her neck.
"Oh, Precious…"
