These Dangers Untold

Epilogue

Sarah was running, dashing through corridors and taking turns without thinking about it. She know knew the castle as well as she had known her childhood streets. The mocking voice followed her as she ran.
"Come out, come out wherever you are..."
Hurry, Sarah's brain yelled. Darting into a small room, she ducked behind an archway and waited. A few goblins, who'd been playing some sort of game involving kicking rocks towards the wall, scattered in her wake.
The clacking of boot heels made Sarah stiffen, pressing herself against the wall, but knowing he would be able to see her easily.
"Aha!" Jareth charged her, scooping her up and spinning around. "I win!" he announced cheerfully.
"Of course you did," Sarah grumbled. "I'm as big as a blimp, here."
Jareth chuckled, shaking his head. "You're perfect. And," he added, placing a hand over her stomach, "You're barely showing, Sarah."
"Are you kidding?" Sarah exclaimed. "Look at me! I'm six months pregnant!"
"True," her husband acknowledged, "but I feel the baby is exerting her influence another way."
"What do you mean?" Sarah demanded, crossing her arms.
Jareth raised an elegant eyebrow. "Who challenged me to a 26/50 hide-and-seek tournament?"
"You're never to old for hide-and-seek," Sarah argued. Then the rest of what Jaretb said hit her. "Wait...the baby is exerting her influence?"
Jareth's eyes widened, and he set his wife down hastily. "Oops." Due to his magic, he had known instantly when Sarah was just one day pregnant, and the gender of the child, as well as hair and eye color. The baby, he knew, was going to be a dark-haired, blue-eyed girl. But when he had offered to tell Sarah, she had adamantly refused.
"OOPS? You swore you wouldn't spoil the surprise! Just because you know the gender of our child doesn't mean you can tell me! I wanted to find out when the baby was-"
Jareth threw up his hands. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry doesn't cover it, mister! C'mere!" Sarah lunged, arms outstretched, and targeted the Goblin King's highly sensitive- and secret- ticklish spot.
"Sarah, please!" Jareth dodged her, but just barely. "I-I'll let you choose her name!"
"I wanted US to choose the name!"
"Then we can choose!"
"You- spoiled- the- surprise!"
Jareth fled, Sarah hot of his heels, and soon the castle rang with laughter, begging, and berating.

Three Months Later

"One last time, M'Lady. Push!"
Sarah screamed, and then it was over.
"Good job, your Majesty." The little, matronly-looking dwarf beamed, holding up a tiny, red-streaked baby. "It's a girl!"
"Believe me," Sarah gasped, "I know." Then she fainted.
Jareth caught her as she slumped sideways. He had been standing, tense and vigilant, at Sarah's side throughout the birth, letting her squeeze his hand until it was numb, stroking her sweaty hair back from her face, and being as supportive as he could. He had expected the labor to be harder than a normal one for Sarah- the baby was half-Fae, and thus would be harder for Sarah to free from the womb. Fae, as highly emotional creatures, try to cling to their mothers as long as they can. However, they didn't cry as they were born, like human babies. They waited to see their parents' faces, an old, long-bred instinct from over thousands of years. A Fae child, as soon as it saw the faces of its guardians, loved them in an instant, in a very similar way to how Fae fall in romantic love. "Please follow me with the baby," Jareth whispered to the dwarf. She nodded, smiling at him. "Congratulations, your Highness."
"Thank you," he replied, and he picked up Sarah with ease, her head lolling against his chest. She would wake up soon, but he wanted her to be more comfortable than lying on the labor bed. Jareth strode out of the little room, bringing Sarah to their chambers. When he got there, he lay her gently on the enormous bed, propping her up with pillows and tucking the blanket over her. The dwarf nurse- whose name was Zenuba- brought the baby in, and a goblin scuttled behind her, carrying two bowls of fresh water with clean rags for cleaning the child. Jareth took his daughter from the nurse, and using the damp cloth, wiped the blood from her little face and working his way down. After she was free of grime, he accepted the swaddling cloth from Zenuba and wrapped the babe up snugly. At that moment, Sarah came awake. "Jareth?" she murmured, eyes opening.
"I'm here, love." Jareth stretched out on the bed next to Sarah, letting her lean against him slightly. "And so is the baby. Would you like to hold her?"
Sarah responded by reaching out, wrapping her slender fingers around his wrists. Leaning over, Jareth placed their daughter in her arms.
"Oh," Sarah breathed. "She's so perfect."
The child she cradled was a chubby baby girl, with the barest dusting of fuzz on her head, and bright, keen eyes that took in everything. She held her daughter close, whispering to her. "Oh sweetie, you have your daddy's eyes, yes you do." At this, the little princess smiled, showing pink gums and a tiny tongue. Sarah laughed. Jareth stayed at his wife's side, one arm wrapped around her shoulders, the other reaching out to offer his hand to the baby. She reached up, grabbed his finger in a weak grasp- and began gumming it fiercely. "Oh-ho," Jareth murmured. "Feisty little girl."
"What will we name her?" Sarah looked up at him, tears of happiness spilling over and tracing down her sweat-stained cheeks. The labor had been hard, but the outcome eclipsed that a thousand times and more.
Jareth thought, then suggested, "How about...Marcia?"
Sarah wrinkled her nose. "Eh..."
"You're right," he agreed. "Fleur?"
"Closer." Sarah took a turn. "What do you think of Jenna?"
His eyes lit up. "That's perfect." Leaning over, Jareth kissed Sarah's forehead, then baby Jenna's. "I'll start planning the naming ceremony, and-"
"No, please." Sarah set Jenna on her lap, supported with one arm, so she could grab Jareth's sleeve, fingers clenching so tightly they were white. "Just stay for a little, okay? We can plan everything later. Let's just...We have a family, now. Enjoy it."
The Goblin King smiled. "Alright, Sarah." He gestured to the goblin, who was hovering uncomfortably at the edge of the bed, to bring him the other bowl of water and rag. When he had them, Jareth began to wipe Sarah's face and neck, cleaning away the sweat with precise, gentle strokes. She sighed and laid her head on his shoulder, shifting so baby Jenna was nestled on both their laps. "Look at her," she said in wonder. "She's asleep." 
In the corner, Zenuba and the goblin backed out of the room, leaving the Goblin King and Queen alone to be with their firstborn child.