Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, just the plot of this tale.
Sarah stared at the Goblin King as he held out the glass orb. "I ask for so little! Just fear me, love me, do as I say, and I will be your slave," his gleaming eyes pleaded with her. She thought about it, and really thought about it. If I accept, wouldn't that make me his slave? Would he let Toby go if I asked him to? These questions were imperative for her to find answers to.
"Let's say, hypothetically speaking, I accept. Would you release Toby? Never to bother him again?" she twiddled her thumbs as he brought the crystal back to him.
"Anything you wish, precious." Sarah almost sighed when he slightly smiled at her. A sigh of relief, of course.
"And one more question. Would me giving into you not make me your slave?" she almost stumbled over her words, but fought hard to make sure that she stayed in control.
"Ah, I see. You're worried that I'm going to rule over you? Well, essentially, that is what I want. Never have I had a single person stand up to me before in all my life. That is, until you came along, dear Sarah. Does that answer your question?" she could hear his patience running thin, and his eyes lit up as she nodded. "Come on now, Sarah. Choose before it is too late. If you leave with your brother, I will never bother either of you again," he scooted toward her and began to circle her like a vulture. "But something tells me that you don't want that," he whispered into her ear. "No, not at all. You're seriously thinking about handing yourself over to me: body, mind, and soul." God, he's so close to me, she thought. His nearness clouded her conscience. He knew it, too. "How about we play another game? I'll stop the clock. Choose a number between one and twelve hundred. I've rearranged your two choices in my head in alternating and doubling patterns. I will tell you what your final choice is when you choose a number."
"That isn't fair! How do I know that you'll not cheat and just choose the answer you like best? Hm?" her little tantrum made him grin.
"Fine. How about we grab a few of my goblins and number them. Each will either think of A or B. Whichever goblin you choose will give his answer." Sarah bit her lip, and nodded. Yes, that was much better. "Flottis, Grip, Don, Leer, Slick!" The five short, stubby goblins ran up to their king.
"How can we please His Highness?" they all asked unison.
"Each of you think of A or B and then stand in a line." They all nodded and arranged themselves in a line. Sarah watched as Jareth swapped them around a bit more. "Choose, Sarah."
"Number three." Sarah whispered, not able to find confidence in her voice.
"Grip, what letter were you thinking of?" the King commanded.
"B, sir." The little imps were all excused and Jareth finally turned to her.
"There you have it, precious. Let us both be each other's slaves?" he grinned wickedly. Sarah gulped audibly and widened her eyes. This is it, she turned to look at the cement walls. I'm staying here. With him. With this man, no, King! For forever? "So, if fate hasn't made it clear to you just yet, how about you look into my crystal and see what I can offer you?" he held out the crystal once more. She held out her hands hesitantly, and then she glanced into it.
Within the orb, she saw herself dressed in satins and sheers of different colors while adorned in gold and silver jewelry. Gems. Crown. Queen. Jareth embraced her and kissed her passionately, it almost felt real. Then the scene changed. She was chained to a wall, half naked, squirming. Jareth kissed her bare breasts and then produced a riding crop from his shoe. He rapped it across her inner thigh and she screamed. Not in pain though, in pure thick pleasure. He knelt down before her and kissed her feet, then slowly licked and nipped up her legs. The crystal's light flickered and dispersed before she could see anymore.
"That is only a smidgen of what I will give you, precious," he tucked the orb into his coat pocket. "But of course you are too young right now, Sarah. Just a baby. I'll come to get you in a few years, Aboveground time. Let's say seven years. Yes, that should do perfectly," he chimed more to himself than her. "Oh, and I'll erase you memory! Can't have you remembering all this and trying to get out of our deal, no we cannot." His wild, spiked hair bent slightly as a gust of wind blew in through the window behind them. "How fun it will be to surprise you!"
"Why? Why erase my memories? I promise I'll keep up my end!" Sarah finally spoke. She didn't want to forget her time in the Labyrinth. Him. She did not want to forget him. "It's not fair!"
"Life's not fair, precious. But, trust me. When all of your little friends turn away from you, because they don't believe your stories about coming here, you'll understand why I took away your memory. I want to protect you and keep you from being hurt. Will you let me?" Sarah considered his words carefully and then brought herself to nod once. "Ah! You're such a bright little girl, and I cannot wait to see you again!"
The room spun around and around until she was staring at her stuffed animal-filled bed. She shivered as the curtains blew open and the chilly wind escaped into her room. How peculiar, she mused. Once she closed the window, she left her room to check on the sleeping Toby. He was bundled up in his striped pajamas and sucking his thumb. "If you keep doing that, you'll get crooked teeth," she scolded the sleeping child. "But if it keeps you from having nightmares, continue on." Sarah leaned down and kissed her little brother's head. The opening and closing of the front door signaled that her father and step-mother were home, so she went downstairs to greet them.
"Did Toby wake up at all?" Karen asked.
"Not even for a minute," Sarah answered. Karen smiled and nodded at her, and then she handed her a five dollar bill.
"Don't tell your father I gave you that," she winked as she left the room. Sarah wandered off to find her father.
When she found him in the kitchen, sitting staring at the bills for this month, she gave him a hug. "I love you," she kissed her father's cheek. "Goodnight, daddy." She climbed the stairs once again and finally laid down in her bed and fell fast asleep.