A little something I thought of when I saw this cute monster baby on some show, I can't remember which one. For your entertainment only. No flames or spelling police. Enjoy.
...
Sarah's life returned to normal after she came back from the Labyrinth. She really didn't enjoy high school but she finished and planned to go to college. Her parents divorced and her step mom and Toby moved to a bordering state.
Sarah had learned to enjoy the things around her, the small things. But she was melancholy. Something seemed to be missing, someone was missing. She was used to it, because everyone left her sooner or later. But still, she did her best to quell the feeling that she was missing someone she met only a few times in a thirteen hour period.
After that night she eyed every owl with suspicion. They were common in her neighborhood. She knew she was being paranoid but the one who lived in the tree in front of her bedroom window seemed to follow her everywhere, much like a stray dog.
"Have you had any luck finding a job?" Mr. Williams asked while they were eating breakfast.
"No dad I haven't. I really wanted to avoid that college loan but if I can't find something soon, next semester will be hard." Sarah said looking sullen.
"I'm sorry I can't afford more, but with child support and alimony every month, were barely getting by. I thought about selling the house and getting something smaller since it's just the two of us. But don't worry about that now. I'm going to work. Try that café on third." Mr. Williams said.
"Ok dad. Have a good day." she said while clearing the table.
Sarah went from place to place that day and no one seemed to be hiring. Every place turned her down and she was getting desperate for a job. She didn't want to have any more debt but she wouldn't be able to afford everything she needed for the coming semester.
As the day wore on she was getting tired and fed up with the whole process. She sat outside of a small sandwich shop, shuffled through her mostly blank resume and felt like giving up.
"This really sucks. I wish I could find a job, any job." she said to herself out loud, as the rumble from the coming storm in the back ground grew.
When she arrived home in the evening her father was there waiting for her in the kitchen.
"Did you find anything dear?" he asked.
"No dad no luck at all." she sighed.
"Well then I have good news. I found you a job."
"Really that's awesome. What kind is it?"
"Taking care of a baby. It should be easy for you since you did so much for Toby. It was the darndest thing to, this man came into the office today, just moved her from oversees a Mr. Kinglin, he just bought the old Turner place down the street."
"Oh the haunted house?" she said remembering the house and old woman that scared all the kids in the neighborhood for as long as she could remember.
"I doubt it's really haunted but even when I was a kid I thought it was. We used to run by afraid old lady Turner was a witch and hex us. She lived to be a hundred and two you know. Anyway it seems he has a child he needs taken care of. He works from home mostly so he needs someone to watch the child, make meals so he can work in peace. I told him about you and he would love for you to start work full time tomorrow."
"Wow but what about college? A nanny job will take up all of my time."
"Sarah he is offering a very good salary and I do mean very good. That includes room and board. If you stay there a year you should be able to pay for all of your college with money to spare."
"Doesn't he want references? I'm only eighteen and I have no experience."
"He seemed to think it was a good idea. I didn't want to question his decision as he is a very big account with our bank. So do your best to behave. But if he tries anything you come and get me. I don't like the idea of you living with a man but I'm sure you will be fine. You can come back here on your time off. Eight o'clock and don't be late." he said handing her the keys.
"I guess there's nothing left to do but pack." she said still awestruck.
The job was a dream come true for Sarah, but you know what they say about things being too good to be true. Sarah had a feeling of foreboding as she walked toward the old mansion on the hill a single suitcase in hand.
"Ok Sarah calm down, it's going to be fine. It's just a baby." she said to herself. She was more nervous then the situation warranted.
As she unlocked the door and walked in, she noticed all of the furniture was still covered in sheets and the room was very dark, all the windows covered in heavy mauve fabrics.
"Hello?" her voice echoed as she inched her way in. The cry of a baby could be faintly heard upstairs so she went toward the sound in the creepy old house.
The stairs creaked and very little light shown through the large window the first set of stairs led to. 'This place is creepy and filthy. I guess I have my work cut out for me. No wonder he's offering so much. No one in town would dare move in here.' she thought.
The cries became louder as she approached a mahogany door. For caution she put her ear to it to make sure it was the right room. She opened the door, her heart racing thinking about a half dozen movies that started out like this and didn't end very well for the person opening the door. Once she had it opened the room was very different then the rest of the house. It was clean, bright, newly painted and looked like a typical nursery. She noticed the blanket was pulled over the baby, which seemed oddly small.
"Ahhh!" she yelled as she pulled the blanket from the child which only made the child yell louder.
"You make baby cry. You calm baby. Squen no able to calm baby. Baby want mama." a little fuzzy goblin said popping out from a pile of stuffed toys which scattered everywhere.
"Goblins! No! No, no, no, no , no, no, no. You have no power over me. I'm done with goblins." she backed away from the crib.
"Baby need help. You help baby so baby no cry." Squen said pointing.
"Oh no I'm leaving before…" she was backing out of the door when her back hit something warm and solid.
"Before what Sarah?" a deep voice came from behind her and hands reached around her.
"You! What do you want? Get away from me." she said fearfully breaking out of his arms and moving to the opposite side of the room.
"Sarah really? I thought we were old friends. I'm hurt." the goblin king said, his head cocked to the left.
"I don't know what sick thing you have in mind but your gone. I made you go away." she put up her fists not knowing what to expect but ready to fight.
"It seems it shall take some convincing…. Sarah please calm down." he said placing his hands on her arms. "Now are you going to let that child continue to cry? Would you have let Toby cry?" he appealed to her motherly side.
"It's not a child it's a goblin." she said looking over the little creature in the crib trying to sit up.
"It's not all goblin and besides goblins have babies as well and this one needs care." he motioned for her to pick the child up. She hesitated at first but it really seemed to need her attention.
"Well it is kind of cute." it quieted when she picked it up.
"Gurgurle burp." the baby said and she forgot her situation and smiled.
"You see Sarah I find myself in a bit of a predicament. This child's parents were killed by trolls. He is the rightful heir of a neighboring kingdom and my cousin. The trolls are looking for him and the human realm is the safest place I can think of. It is very important that this child is protected until I can deal with the troll issue and his powers to ward off trolls come to him. He will one day rule that kingdom and if the trolls get a hold of him and raise him, well I do not have to tell you how bad the situation would be for all the kingdoms that surround it, they are terrible warmongers."
"What do you need me for?" she asked not taking her eyes from the child.
"Well to take care of the child. I don't know any other humans and I did not think it a good idea to hire just anyone."
"I could only imagine the reaction." she said sarcastically.
"Yes that was a concern… I am very busy. I can link my paper work to this house so I can keep an eye on things in both places, I must keep travel back and forth to a minimum to avoid detection. But as for taking care of a child and keeping up appearances, that is where I need you."
"I don't know." she hesitated.
"You did say and I quote I wish I had a job any job." he crossed his arms.
"Crap." she scolded herself.
"What's said is said. Here is a perfectly good job and it will pay all you could desire. If you want more you need only ask. Think about college, perhaps you would like this house when we are done, the car? I have no need for these things back at home."
"I'll do it." she said.
"Splendid. Now take this and buy whatever it is babies need. Food as well, I know nothing of cooking. Squen will assist you with whatever you may need."
"But I can't leave the baby and go out."
"Take him with you." Jareth said.
"I don't think people will react well to a goblin baby."
"I have cast a spell so as long as the child is in the light he will appear as a human baby. You seem to be naturally immune to my glamour. Just do not take him out at night."
"So you're a goblin too?" she asked.
"Sarah I'm no goblin. Well perhaps a bit on my mothers side. You do not know how much this means to me, love."
"Just don't try anything weird goblin king."
"Now Sarah do try to be polite to your employer. You may call me Jareth Kinglin if you wish."
"Fine Mr. Kinglin." she said resentfully.
"So formal. In time you will find I'm not the monster you think me to be." he said touching her face.
"I have a lot to do." she turned away.
"Take the car if you wish."
"I think we still have Toby's old car seat and carriage in the garage. I'll walk back over and get it. You can't take a baby out without a car seat, it's dangerous not to mention illegal." she said.
"See what a help you are? I know nothing of your human laws and we do not have cars where I come from. Why not just appear wherever one wants? It's so much easier."
"Humans don't have magic remember? We have to do things the hard way."
"Pity. At least the humans in my realm can do basic magic."
"I'll be right back." she said leaving the room.
She had the instinct to run from the house and never come back. That's it she would run and never look back. She had managed to escape and he would not pursue her, would he? She could be done with the whole mess, the whole situation. But he said needed her, the child that is, that's what she told herself. The child needed help and she needed the money so she would stay. At least it wasn't anything new to her.
When she returned with the items, she found him gone. Squen was still there and handed her the keys to the car out front.
"I help lady." Squen said.
"I don't think it's a good idea for you to come out with us." she said putting the car seat in the big black Rolls.
"I come. I protect baby with life. No one see Squen. I baby servant."
"Well if no one can see you then I guess it'll be ok. Just be good."
"Squen swear Squen be good."
"How do I drive this thing, It's huge?"
"Squen know, Squen help." the goblin turned into a short dark man in a double breasted drivers uniform complete with gloves, sunglasses and hat.
"Well I guess that will work." she said smiling at the convenience.
"Squen drive for king and queen when they visit world before die. They good to Squen."
"I'm really sorry about that Squen. I'll do my best with the baby. By the way, what's his name?"
"Baby called Tren-Sloghorg the third."
"Tren…slog…horg…that's just not right. He needs a human name. Let's call him Trent."
"If lady think so."
"Call me Sarah please."
"What we buy for baby?"
"Well we need a lot of things. I wonder what the limit is on this card." she held it up.
"King have rooms and mines of gold and pretty stones but no know too much about human currency. He say you use as many millions of pounds as you need."
"Well we wont need that much. You better get another cart though and help me out."
After loading the huge trunk up with boxes of diapers and baby stuff they left to drop the items back at the house. Her next assignment was to go to the supermarket.
"Squen never see so much food. Squen want poofie chips." he said shaking an open bag as the chips flew everywhere.
"Get whatever you want, just not too much junk food. What do you think his majesty likes to eat?"
"Me no know. King yell at cook everyday. Me know he no like fish heads or arsenic. He no like goblin food."
"I hope he likes human food."
"Sarah how are you?" a woman questioned.
"Oh Mrs. Jones how are you."
"Fine my dear. Where did you get such a precious baby?" she looked into the carrier and the baby grabbed her hair and gave it a tug and laughed. She snapped back like she had been struck by lightening.
"Now now Trent we don't do that. Mrs. Jones, I took a job as a nanny to this little very human baby. This is Mr. Squen, he's Mr. Kinglin's driver. He's from….Europe."
"Oh yes the man who moved into Lydia's old place. I certainly hope he can do something with it, she was a terrible house keeper."
"Goodbye Mrs. Jones. Mr. Squen will you please get another cart. We have a lot to do when we get back."
"Squen help Sarah." the little man said running for another cart.
A few hours later back at the house…
"Were almost done. Do you think you can put that highchair together Squen?" Sara asked.
"Squen smart."
"Ok I'll start dinner and get this kitchen cleaned up. Luckily it's not too bad, just really dusty and it looks like everything we're going to need is here. It looks like Mrs. Turner wasn't the bad cleaner Mrs. Jones said she was and it looks like she liked to cook. I've never seen pots this huge. It must be why she's rumored to have cooked children. Squen why don't you open some of the windows so we can air this place out." she cleaned the counters and some pots and began cooking.
She had the big kitchen sparkling in no time. Diner was good but there was one person missing from the table that evening. When morning came she was exhausted from the full day of work before and the baby that woke her up to eat and be changed in the middle of the night.
Jareth found himself lured toward the smell of bacon in the kitchen.
"Good morning Mr. Kinglin. Breakfast will be ready shortly." she greeted.
"Really Sarah please dispose of the formalities, at least before noon." he rubbed his temples.
"Here drink this." she placed a mug in front of him.
"It's rancid what its it? Are you trying to poison me?" Jareth said with over exaggeration.
"No you'll get used to it, it's coffee and no human can leave their house in the morning without drinking it or they will be grumpy and tired all day."
"So it's a tonic." he concluded.
"You can say that. Try some sugar and cream if it's too strong for your tastes."
A few minutes later she was putting the food on the plates and placing them on the table.
"Here you go sir. If you wish diner can be served in the dining room as soon as I locate it and clean it. I'm sure you're not used to eating with the help." she spoke as he eagerly dove into the food.
"I haven't had anything this delightful in ages. The goblins do not know how to cook anything but goblin food. It's taken a ridiculously long time for them to learn to just burn human food. If I could only abduct a chef….And there's no need to trouble yourself, the kitchen table will do and I wish you wouldn't think of yourself as a servant. Think of it… as your own home."
"Thank you. Well this place needs a ton of work but it's a good solid house. Whoever built it meant for it to stand for a long time."
"Here." he held out a glass orb. "It's not going to bite." he said as she cringed and drew away.
"I don't need to see my dreams in a crystal ball thanks."
"You need to learn to trust me. I truly wish you no harm. Stand in the middle of the room you want repaired, wave your hand over it and it will restore the room and all the items in it to it's original state."
"Do you have one for laundry too?" she said looking excited.
"No I'm afraid I can't help you with that."
"It was worth a shot. You missed dinner last night." she inquired.
"Yes and thank you for leaving a plate in the refrigerator. I am having great difficulty. It looks like war my be unavoidable."
"No offense but if I could defeat your army what chance do they have against trolls?"
"Well you see those goblins were regular citizens I employed to guard the castle. The rest of the army was elsewhere at war during your visit. Our forces had been severely diluted and I had no choice but to use the elderly and stupid for the task. Not that I would have let them actually harm you anyway." he said sipping his coffee and looking less repulsed by the liquid.
"Really but how will you fight a war now if you do not have a big enough army?"
"That is part of the problem. I can protect my city myself but the other is proving to be difficult. My magic can only do so much."
"Can't anyone help?"
"You see we are the only two goblin kingdoms and you can guess how the other peoples like goblins. If only the child would hurry up and come into his magic he will be able to ward the trolls off. But for now we have to do our best."
"Dada." the baby said holding out his arms.
"Oh it looks like Trent want's you."
"Trent? Come here little fella." he picked the child up and coddled it.
"I didn't think you'd be good with babies but I guess you'd have to be."
"In my line of work one has to have a way with children."
"Why do you take them?" she took a bit of her food.
"Why do you wish them away?" he answered quickly.
"That doesn't answer my question."
"If one of you humans wishes for the goblins to take a child, they will. I'm not the one who takes them. Goblins like children and they sincerely do not like it when someone does not want a child."
"So they make the unwanted child a goblin." she took the baby from him.
"Sometimes if I am too late to intervene. But there are many human villages in the other kingdoms. They are usually sent there."
"But there are no humans in your kingdom?" she began feeding the child with a small spoon something from a tiny jar.
"No and I doubt any would want to live there, it's not the tidiest place. I do not get many visitors." he said thinking she was rather cute with a goblin baby.
"What are the other kingdoms like?"
"Very much like in your stories. Many have shining palaces and perfectly manicured lawns. Goblins prefer things to be a bit messier."
"I remembered."
"You will find the rest of the rooms in the castle to not be in such bad condition as the front throne room. We just had a party and many of the servants were at war or working in the infirmaries. I really don't care to clean however if I had known you would have chosen that particular day to wish your brother away I would have made more of an effort. So what did you really think of my Labyrinth? Clever isn't it?" he said proud of himself.
"Well I really wish…I mean I would have liked to have seen it better but I was too focused on getting out of it to stop and look around. From what I remember many parts were pleasant. But that oubliette was disturbing and the bog well I don't know what to say about that, it was definitely a place I do not want to ever go again."
"That is the point of the bog. It is especially rancid to goblins and it keeps them in line. Let us talk more at dinner. I have a ton of paperwork to deal with today and about a dozen maps to look over."
"Ok well just call if you need anything."
"Thank you my peach." he said and went down one of the halls.
Sarah decided that the first room she would use the magic on was the kitchen. She waved her hand over the crystal and watched as rays of light left it and sprawled all over the room. The room went from dulled to newly painted, the cabinets turned from old dry wood to rich deep cherry. The next room she went to use it on was the front room and then to the ladies sitting room to the left and made her way in a circle. Soon the inside of the house looked just as it did the day it had been ready to move into.
"Oh what now." she said annoyed at the interruption from the doorbell.
"Sarah want Squen to get door?"
"No no I'll do it. You stay with the baby." she scooted the furry goblin away.
"Good after noon Mr.….Oh Sarah dear is Mr. Kinglin available?" the old lady at the door said.
"No Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Smith, he's in his study and he is very busy and can not be disturbed. Is there something I can help you ladies with?"
"Well we just wanted to welcome him to the neighborhood." Each lady handed her a foil covered casserole dish. "My Sarah you must be hard at work. Such and old house." Mrs. Jones said.
"Wont you come in?" Sarah invited.
"On no we can not… I mean we can't stay. Well my dear do tell… Mr. Kinglin we came by and give my regards to your dear father." Jones said.
"Mama! Mama! Scared! Waaaaah!" a little voice from upstairs came.
"I will." she said trying to get them to go away then she closed the door with a sigh of relief.
"Squen no like those ladies."
"I never liked them much either but what can you do?"
"Mama Mama Mama! Waaaaah!" came a voice from upstairs.
"Baby need Sarah." Squen stated.