Jareth and Jadis
Before troops of children made themselves comfortable in Narnia, before one mortal girl turned a world and it's King upside-down and stole his heart, there was a meeting.
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If you want to learn how to run a kingdom, you could read all the books in the world on the subject and it still wouldn't be quite as effective as watching a master at work. That was what his father said anyway. Jareth narrowed his eyes at his father and the ice queen who were talking across the room. He drained his glass and tossed it to one of the dancers who caught it on instinct alone, and strode over, smile fixed in place. The crowd of partygoers parted at his approach and converged after. His smile twisted smugly.
"There you are," the king said, scowling. "I wanted to introduce you to Queen Jadis." Jareth's gaze swung to her. He'd been focusing on his father's intentions too much to notice the tall sallow woman.
"Pleasure." He directed his attention back to his father who grabbed his arm tightly and pulled Jareth's ear down to his mouth.
"Your manners whelp," he hissed and released Jareth with a smile. Jareth gritted his teeth and turned it into a simile of a smile for the woman. He held out his hand for hers. She looked down, yes, down at him. It pained him greatly to admit she was taller and would probably always remain so. At least he didn't look as comical next to her as his even shorter father did. Finally, almost reluctantly, she placed her hand in his. He bowed over it and placed his lips on the back of her fingers in the barest of touches.
"Your Majesty, it is an honor," he choked out, thinking that there would no more need for this bullshit when he was king. Jadis made a strange sound in her throat, a mix between agreement and skepticism.
"Jareth is still learning," King Jarvis said by way of explaining for his son. "But he's a fast learner so I don't think there will be any trouble." Jadis made another sound in her throat, this one a noncommittal grunt. "Which brings us back to the matter we were discussing earlier." Jareth rolled his eyes. His father was virtually tactless. He had no idea how to gracefully skirt about an unpleasant topic, such as business. His eyes met Jadis' and he thought he saw her smile but it was either so brief or so slight that he couldn't be sure.
"I understand your intentions, Jarvis," Jadis said, finally speaking. "But I honestly don't see what young Jareth could learn under my guidance that he couldn't learn equally well under yours. Your kingdom functions just as the same." Was she brushing him off, or complimenting him? Jareth considered the woman's body language and face carefully, but she revealed nothing. That, in and of itself, was fascinating.
"As the boy's father I'm inclined to coddling him a bit." Jareth choked on this blatant lie and started to cough. His father turned to shot him a dirty glare then went back to buttering up Jadis. "You know what a soft spot I have for him. Apple of my eye, you know." Jadis made that same sound of agreement and skepticism. At least the woman wasn't blind, Jareth thought. "I'd consider it a favor."
And with that, the King had caught Jadis' attention. "A true favor?" The King hesitated at the emphasis and slowly nodded. Jadis didn't need to hesitate to answer, however. "Then yes, I think I will take him on." She looked at Jareth, as if to see what he thought of this arrangement and he stared back defiantly in response. The smile that graced Jadis' face now was neither fleeting, nor slight.