CHAPTER 11

Sarah boarded her horse and took her baggage to the inn called The Good Egg Inn. There was a fae innkeeper behind the counter and he looked up and said, "What do you want?" He had white blonde hair in a ponytail and blue eyes. He was dressed in a blue shirt with black a vest and pants on.

Sarah said, "I need a room for a week." The fae was looking her up and down.

He said, "Are you fae or elf?" Sarah made a sea green colored crystal ball, after sitting her baggage down on one side of her. The innkeeper nodded and said, "One gold a night. Room two." Sarah gave him seven gold and took the key picking up her baggage and went down the hall.

She entered the room and it was really nice with plumbing too. Sarah put her bags on the floor and took off her cloak, gloves, waistcoat, boots and weapons belt. She laid the pouch on the bed, put the bottles of milk on the nightstand, pulled the kit out and laid on the bed pulling the extra blanket up over herself. She needed a nap. She woke up once to feed the kit.

By the second time feeding the kit, she got up and made her go to the bathroom. She had food in her backpack so she blocked the keyhole on the door and stripped getting into a hot bath. She washed her body and hair. Sarah dried her hair and ate some dried berries, nuts, and cheese on a folded over slice of bread with water to drink. She was satisfied and glad to get back in bed with her squeaky crying baby. She has her cuddled to her chin in a knot to steal body heat from her. She grinned thinking of the little heat snatcher. Lyra was so very adorable. She slept some more waking to feed and tend to the kit.

—--

Jareth had a funny feeling that the Labyrinth was blocking or shutting him out for some reason today. It was a feeling not something it did directly. He wondered if it was his own imagination as he went to sleep that night.

—--

Sarah did as the Labyrinth told her for over the next three days. On the fourth day she was going to get fairy magic put into her head. She has eaten and taken care of Lyra. She had a day just like the first afterward feeling exhausted and felt drained absorbing that much information all at once. The next day though, she did know the magic and all the spells to cast. She went to the Labyrinth entrance and went inside as she was walking down the corridor and about to take her last turn, Jareth came around the corner. They both stopped in their tracks. He saw the markings on her eyes and glowing green eyes. He was entranced looking at her.

Jareth said mesmerized at Sarah's unusual beauty, "Sarah? You… you look so very different."

Sarah said hesitantly, "I know."

He asked curiously, "How long have you been here?"

She said, "This is my fifth day."

He asked her, blinking, "The Labyrinth is helping you?"

She said stoically, "Yes, it convinced me to return to it."

Jareth nodded his head and said sincerely, "I am glad you are here, Sarah. You don't need to say anything. I just wanted you to know. Did the Labyrinth tell you about my brother's intentions if he discovers you are here in the Underground? You need to be safe and watch your back. He is not a good person anymore."

Sarah cocked her head to the side and said, "No, but The White Stag, Cernunnos, told me many things."

He asked curiously, "He did? Why was he here to help you?"

She said, "I need to be going, Jareth. I have to talk to the Labyrinth now." He nodded in understanding.

Jareth said, "I hope one day you forgive me, Sarah." He passed her and continued down the corridor. Sarah watched him leave and went to see the Labyrinth.

—--

The next day when Sarah arrived for her morning meeting with the Labyrinth, Jareth was there. When she walked into the room she stopped in her tracks.

The Labyrinth said, "My champion, my king has come to my summons. I have explained that you need to be trained in the use of the longsword, short sword, knife throwing and hand to hand combat of the Underground."

Sarah said, "I had some training in the Aboveground on self defense, all season survival, some weapons like archery and shooting a gun. I have brought my gun with me with a few thousand iron rounds." Jareth's eyebrows went up in surprise. He had no idea she had any training at all. Perhaps he wouldn't have to start her too far on the bottom rung of the ladder in her training in some things.

Jareth said, "I and the Commander and Captain of my armies will help switch off training you daily." He was surprised that the Labyrinth wanted her trained proficient in so many things. Sarah had a lot ahead of her physically, but she was already ahead with knowing some already.

—--

Over the next seven weeks, Sarah was intensely trained on longsword, short sword and knife and spear throwing. They did archery and she was already satisfactory and capable. Sarah learned several sword safety training features, footwork, body positioning, thrusting, lunges, parrying, grappling and other techniques. She had to learn the different cuts, slicing and form. She spared Jareth and his men. They were all impressed with her focus and determination to succeed even when they were being hard on her. She would not give up and was starting to give as good as she got in sword fighting.

The next thing they trained her on was hand to hand combat. They were put on their backs a few times or put in a hold that was unfamiliar to them by her. She was getting stronger physically from all the training and was developing much more endurance and stamina by the end of the third month, Jareth and their men were impressed with Sarah's performance. She had not disappointed them in her skill and determination to achieve being adept at weapons and combat.

At the end of her training, the commander had pulled her aside and told her that her greatest weapon she would have is being underestimated as a female. The opponent would think her weak or naive and it would give her the best advantage and opportunity to take first strike. He said to take the most wisdom in the advantages she would get presented from that. Sarah was smiling as he told her that. It was definitely something she would remember. She thanked him and was walking from the training yard going back to the inn. Inside Sarah's cloak was her kit, Lyra, who was three and a half months old now. She looked out of the neckline as Sarah carried her around. Jareth saw her in passing and sped up to walk next to her.

He said complimentary, "You have done well in your training, Sarah. My Commander and Captain can't say enough about how well you have done."

Sarah said stoically, "That is high praise coming from them."

He asked, "Will you have dinner with me tonight? I want to ask you a favor." She looked over at him and wondered what was going through that crazy head of hair this time.

Sarah said shrugging, "Ok." She was curious at what he wanted being she was no longer afraid of him or at a disadvantage anymore. Jareth went back to his castle and Sarah was going back to her room.

—--

Later that evening, Sarah came to the castle dressed in an olive green velvet dress with gold trim and a matching heavy velvet green cowl hooded cloak. She had Lyra on her shoulder in the expanded fur lined pouch in the same green velvet. Lyra had on a little magical expanding collar and a light magical leash while sticking her pretty head out. Her petite black horns and black scrollwork had started coming in on her forehead and her eyes were a dark yellow gold now. Jareth's advisor, Darneth, led her to the small formal dining room after she vanished her cloak magically. Carrying the little bag of soft food mixed with the kit's milk for Lyra.

As she walked into the dining room, Jareth stood up and walked to her to escort her to her seat and said, "You look very beautiful, Sarah." She said thank you and he pushed in her chair like a gentleman.

He took his seat and two goblins and a human male came in with trays and serving dishes. They started serving roast with gravy, roasted root vegetables with a side of green spinach medley, a small fresh salad and fresh dinner rolls still warm. It all looked so good.

Sarah setup Lyra's food and water bowl. She sat them down on the ground. She put Lyra down so she could eat her dinner. Lyra was about seven pounds now.

The servers poured a glass of wine for them both with a carafe on the table of coffee and a creamer. Sarah indulged in a cup of coffee too. They began to eat. She liked the flavors.

She said while taking a sip of coffee, "Your cooks are very good. I didn't mention or have the time to say that before."

Jareth said buttering a roll, "Yes, my chef is from the Aboveground. He asked to stay when he lost his child in a labyrinth run about forty years ago. The child is a fae now, but he said at least he knew his child was safe and loved here. His wife had wished the boy away and she went back when they both lost. I felt sorry for the father because it was not his doing. He visits his son from time to time." He started eating his dinner.

Sarah said thoughtfully, "That is very considerate to let the man stay where his son is, plus a good job in the castle." She took another bite of the roast as it fell apart melting in her mouth.

Jareth said while drinking his wine, "He is a good person and has another family now too, but never fails to see his son." She wondered if he claimed every human or was it just her this time. She didn't want to start an argument so she said nothing about that.

After a little while when they were done eating, Jareth asked Sarah to come into a sitting room and have a drink with him in front of the fireplace. They sat down with a warm mulled wine. Sarah liked it because it was cold outside. She had Lyra in her lap cleaning herself and laying down while she subconsciously pet her.

Jareth said, "I wanted to ask you for a favor, Sarah. There is a Yule Ball coming up in about a week and I wish to take you as my companion or consort."

Sarah said cautiously, "Isn't that like your girlfriend? Isn't that almost exactly like your paramour like you offered before?"

Jareth said carefully, "Yes, but instead it is more formal with signed and filed paperwork of courtship. As a monarch, I can't do much without paperwork. It would limit you from being pursued by other fae royalty at parties I wish to take you too." Sarah was very skeptical about this offer like last time. She didn't want to be a queen, wife or girlfriend.

Sarah said, "Why can't you just leave it as friends? Why all the formality involved?" She sipped her wine.

Jareth said carefully, "For one reason, my father is up to his games of trying to pressure me into getting betrothed and marry one of the princesses in the realm and this will stop him if I am formally courting you. For another reason, my brother Jared, the King of the Gremlins, cannot try anything sexually with magic on you if you are in a formal contract with me already." Sarah was thinking about what he was saying. Basically, he was saying that it protects him from his father, brother and other females. It protects her from his father, brother and other male royals. She also knows he was purposely not wanting her to be with anyone but him. She was not having sex with him now after the shit he pulled on her.

Sarah said, "Does that mean I have to have sex with you as soon as the ink is dry on the paper?"

Jareth said in a deep sexy voice, "I will not lie to you that I want to make slow deep passionate love to you one day, my beautiful precious. I only will be able to now do this formally because you're a formally titled fae. After the courting documents are signed, then, if you become pregnant, I can skip the betrothal and marry you outright."

Sarah was shocked and overwhelmed by all he just said, by leaping way way ahead again on his whim. He wanted to make love to her only after the documents were signed because if she got pregnant he could marry her immediately?! She wasn't even comfortable enough being around him and now all of this at once, again?

Sarah was not comfortable because he didn't even ask her thoughts on it. He just assumed if he got her pregnant he would just marry her, but not before signing courting documents. That's a lot of assuming on his part. She wasn't sure if she should be angry, offended or just disappointed that he wasn't asking her about it, he was telling her. Sarah sighed, picked up Lyra cuddling her and stood up walking away to look out the double doors to the patio with snow flurries.

He followed her frowning and asked, "What is the matter, Sarah?"

Sarah said flatly, staring out the window panes, "Everything you just said has no consideration on my thoughts or my opinion on anything. I am not having sex with you at this point. It will take time for me to even trust you, Jareth."

Jareth looked confused and said, "I don't understand."

Sarah sighed and said, "I know, and that is the problem. No asking me about anything. You assume that you will not make love to me until after the formal documents are signed. If I happen to get pregnant you will marry me immediately. You have not asked me anything, you just assume it all. Not asking me, as though my opinion doesn't matter about anything to do with this arrangement or relationship, if that's what it will be, because I am nowhere near the sex stage in a relationship with you. You did not say, 'I want to make love to you, of course, when you are comfortable with the idea.' No, only that it has to be after the courting documents are signed. You didn't say, 'If you become pregnant can I ask you to marry me immediately?' You just automatically assume it will happen how you deem it to be. My opinion means nothing."

Jareth was getting defensive and said, "So you wouldn't want to ever have sex with me or marry me?"

Sarah stomped her foot and turned around facing him. She said emphatically, "That's not the point at all, once again! You never asked or cared to know my opinion on those big life decisions. You automatically think I should just accept it, go along with your decision and you never need to ask me ever about anything. It's like you don't think it should matter if I am affected by your choices." Jareth was back to pacing now. He was getting upset because he thought now that Sarah didn't ever want to be with him and was rejecting him again.

Jareth, frustrated, said angrily, "Sarah what do you want me to do now? I brought you here and I know you are still angry about that and everything that happened between us. Is that why you are acting this way, because you are still mad at me? Or are you just being obstinate?" Sarah looked at him like he had three heads.

She felt a tingling sensation come over her. Suddenly, a large beautiful teal and blue set of delicate-looking full size iridescent wings grew straight out of her shoulder blades above her corset and started moving and twitching.