It was a normal day for Sarah Williams. She sat at her desk, sketching the goblin standing in front of her mirror liberally applying makeup to his entire face. He was doing a terrible job. Ludo and Sir Dydimus sat on her bed playing battleship. A small troupe of goblins were scattered about her room, some watching the match, others dancing to the radio playing, the rest watching Sarah sketch or playing Go Fish with Toby.
Sarah often had visitors from the Labyrinth coming and going at nearly all hours. In the three years since winning Toby back from the Goblin King, Sarah had earned respect, friendship, and love from many of His Majesty's subjects. She continued to learn from them, lessons of patience, open-mindedness, strategy, patience, goblin logic, how to let herself have fun in the moment, and lest she forget, more patience. She learned that children who were wished away to the goblins were indeed turned into goblins, but were given to families who wanted the children. This happened to be half of the population since the birth rate in the Underground declined with human belief in the Goblins themselves. The wished away children were greatly valued and loved.
Sarah learned that Jareth had never lost a child who was wished away to him. Sir Dydimus insisted that he harbored no ill will toward Sarah, but he never contacted her. Sarah figured if he was nice enough to let them come see her he must not hate her all that much.
She started on the color for the sketch that she would turn in the following day for her art class. Her friends never ceased to inspire her. She'd use them as subjects of her art and short stories in Creative Writing. They were always happy to pose for her or tell her their silly stories. They also enjoyed keeping Toby occupied any time she babysat and needed to take care of meals or anything else where she couldn't be right next to him.
"Hello, Sarah," Hoggle said from behind her. She turned to smile at him.
"Hey there, Hoggle. How was your day of work?" She asked. After coming back from the Labyrinth she found out Hoggle had the mild punishment of longer hours and decreased pay.
"Eighty little brats taken care of. Of course they'll all be back to eating the shrubbery in a couple days, but for now I have enough coin to last a good while." Hoggle ruffled Toby's hair. "How are you, Toby?"
"I'm winning!" He flashed a brilliant smile.
"No, I'm winning! I gots three fishes!" Gurdy said. He was one of the younger goblins and one of Toby's favorite playmates.
"How about some lunch?" Sarah said to distract them both. "Grilled cheese and tomato soup?" There was a general cry of agreement from all the goblins.
"Race you downstairs!" Toby shouted. He and most of the goblins shoved their way out of the door. Sarah grabbed the small radio and brought it to the kitchen. Thirty minutes later saw everyone with a sandwich and soup except Sarah and Sir Dydimus who had eaten together before all the other goblins arrived.
"So what are you planning for the big one-eight next month?" Hoggle asked with a waggle of his eyebrows.
Sarah groaned. "You and my parents! Why can't you just let me enjoy being a kid until like the week before?" Her step-mother and father had been asking what she wanted to do for the past month.
"It's a big milestone!" Karen had said. Sarah had wished that she could hurl the stone into some oubliette.
"I would like to just hang out with you guys, but I can't really say, 'Oh, I'll just go to the Underground, don't worry about me.' My dad keeps saying a barbeque pool party would be fun, but I did that when I turned fifteen and it was… Well you remember." It had been five weeks after running the Labyrinth and her new friends were keen on making mischief at the party since only Sarah and Toby could see them. Toby thought it was hilarious, but Sarah was worried for everyone's safety after the second time her then-crush fell in the pool.
"Yes, I don't suppose your parents would take kindly to you being in alone in your room all night." Sir Dydimus said.
Sarah shrugged. "I don't think I even want a party. I'll figure it out later. I want to put off being an adult for as long as possible." She turned to clean the dishes and missed the look shared between Hoggle and Sir Dydimus.
The rest of the day passed easily with a movie and board games. Most of the goblins left after dinner when Sarah told them her parents would be home soon. Hoggle and Dydimus went up to her room when they pulled into the driveway. "Hello, hello," her dad said. He scooped Toby up and placed a kiss on Sarah's forehead. "How was your weekend?" he asked.
"Fine," Sarah replied as she hugged Karen. "There are leftovers in the fridge if you'd like some. I have a little homework to finish before tomorrow and then I'm going to bed." She gave Toby a kiss on the cheek. "Goodnight, squirt."
"Love you, Sarah!" he said, squeezing her around the neck.
"Love you all," she called as she went up the stairs. Hoggle and Sir Dydimus were tidying up from the mess the goblins had made. "Thanks, guys." Sarah said as she joined in. After the room was clean she sat at her desk to finish coloring the sketch she had started earlier.
"I must take my leave," Sir Dydimus said, hopping down from the bed. "It is time for me to take my place on watch duty."
"I should probably go as well, Sarah," Hoggle said.
"Well, have a good night," Sarah hugged them both.
"Sleep well, fair maiden," Sir Dydimus said as he faded away.
"Don't let the bedbugs bite," Hoggle laughed, and then he too was gone.
Sarah narrowed her eyes. That had once been just another saying until one night Sarah got into bed and found tiny goblins nipping at her. They had cackled up a storm even as she tossed them out. She threw back the bed sheets, but saw no goblins or any other creatures beneath them. She sighed and shook her head at Hoggle's sense of humor.
Jareth sighed. He used to revel in the defeat of those who dared to run in the Labyrinth. Now he was too busy comparing them to Sarah to enjoy poking fun at them. She had been naïve of course, but she came such a long way in such a short amount of time. And she surely had grown in the last three years.
The laughing babe in his arms snapped him out of his reverie. She was smiling at the tiny goblin on Jareth's shoulder that was making faces at her. "Thimble, go with Horatio to the Transformation garden. When the babe has picked out a flower, call me." Jareth passed the girl child to Horatio.
"She's so happy! Does she have a name?" Thimble asked as he hopped down to Horatio's shoulder.
Jareth smiled softly. "She does now. We shall call her Joy." Thimble nodded and the pair left for the garden. Jareth paced to his office. Sir Dydimus and a few other goblins waited at his door to give their weekly reports. "Shuffle, report," he barked.
"Your Majesty. Our crops are all flourishing." Shuffle and the rest of the goblins went on to give agricultural, social, environmental, and economic reports. Trade issues and cleanliness of the Labyrinth in general were also discussed. As each goblin finished his report they left to resume their duties. Soon Sir Dydimus was alone with his king.
"Sir Dydimus, report," Jareth said.
"Your Majesty," he bowed low. "My lady Sarah fares quite well and young Master Toby is also getting on amicably. His rhetoric expands daily and he is extremely observant. As you know, Lady Sarah's birthday will soon be upon us. She has expressed distaste for the rate at which youth slips from her fingers, and a disinterest in festivities. She did remark that she would like a simple evening in the company of friends, but that she could not simply tell her parents she would be in the Underground." Sir Dydimus noticed the twitch in Jareth's jaw.
"If I may, Your Majesty, it has been three years. Perhaps you and the Lady might meet under friendlier circumstances and she would not be so hesitant in enjoying your company."
"You cannot know that she would enjoy my company at all," Jareth sneered.
"My lord, it is often times that Lady Sarah will gaze into space without explanation. Hoggle or I will ask what she is thinking of and she will startle and blush. Your majesty, I do believe she thinks of you quite often. I do recall reporting that she asked after your well-being on more than one occasion."
"Yes, I remember," Jareth said. He had been very pleasantly surprised, until it entered his mind that she could simply be hoping he was no longer around. He still couldn't decide if he was pleased or hurt. "Say nothing to Sarah for now, but I shall think on it." With that he dismissed the knight.
Jareth sighed and rubbed his temples. He knew that at some point he must reestablish contact with Sarah. She was, after all Champion of the Labyrinth and thereby future queen of the goblins. She earned the right to rule beside him when she solved the Labyrinth. Sarah would be queen, but she must first learn what was expected of her as a ruler over the goblins. She was already a natural, but that did not prepare her for court, using the magic available to her, or many of the other duties she'd have as queen.
He knew it would help to befriend her before trying to convince her to marry him. It irritated him that she had not given herself over to him when he offered himself, but he had come to terms with the fact that she thought he was deceiving her to buy time. What Sarah didn't understand was that his offer stood before or after her time ran out. She not only made it to the center of the Labyrinth, effectively winning her brother back, but she declared herself his equal. No, it would unquestionably be more beneficial to him to gain her trust and friendship before offering his hand again.
Jareth felt the pull of Horatio and Thimble's summons and stood to transform the newest member of his kingdom.