Happy Earth Day!
Jareth celebrates it in his own way.
Rated G
A one shot 'holiday' fic, enjoy!
Anne-Marie
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He wiped his hands on a handkerchief and the pulled his gloves back into place. Surveying his work Jareth smiled to himself. He was in what had been a very large forest. It had grown smaller over the years, but the strength of the old trees could still be felt in the air.
A goblin ambled up to him with a pail.
"Now Featherbrain, your job is to tend to this sapling--for the next year and a day. Understood?" The goblin nodded and tried to salute, the water from his pail sloshing over the sides and onto the fresh green leaves of the infant tree.
Jareth walked away towards another end of the forest, there another goblin and tree awaited him.
"Simplestone." He called, without question, he was a monarch after all.
Another goblin came scampering around the corner, squatter and a bit more grizzled than Featherbrain, Simplestone had beady eyes, but nimble fingers.
"Your year and a day ends at sunset, how fairs your charge?" Jareth's gazed settled on his minion.
"She's real fine now yer majesty. Just check fer yerself." Simplestone had his own pail of water he lugged over to where a tree that came up to Jareth's shoulders grew.
"Ah yes, I think she can take care of herself now." Jareth fingered one of the satin smooth leaves that winked at him in the dappled sunlight. A dry laugh, like autumn leaves rustling, floated in the air.
"Yes, I can take care of myself now, thank you your majesty." Jareth's eyes looked from the leaves and up into the amber eyes of the new dryad. Jareth smiled at her, her beauty was fresh and timeless. It had been many years since a tree dryad had spoken with him. Most now were beyond recognizing the power of his magic or the importance of it. It was this realization that had caused the Goblin King to undertake his project.
She bowed a low curtsey to Jareth and her moss colored gown swept around her.
"Thank you." her words carried much meaning. ÒI can remember some, of how you carried my acorn from the heart of your kingdom to this distant land. A place where magic has grown dim. But seems to be needed now more than ever,Ó she spoke softly and trailed off as she looked around the forest that was her home. The bird calls were not as plentiful as they had been in parts ot he labyrinth, she knew that, she also knew that if helped in the right direction this forest could once again boast magic as brilliant as the undergroundÕs.
"You do not weaken your own kingdom by bringing me and my sisters here, do you Goblin King?"
Jareth shook his feather-like locks, "Nay madam, I can only gain power if someday perhaps this forest is what it once was. Home to creatures as yourself, and a safe haven for dreamers. I drawn my strength from those who would lean against your trunk and bask in your shade and imagine great things and then share them with others." He gave a wry smile. " I wasn't selfless when I carried you up here hoping to spread some magic back into this world. I'm as dependent on this world's dreams as they are on me for seeing some part of them come true."
She nodded as she listened, his reasoning finding no fault in her mind which was already wise with the knowledge of the forest around her.
"I shall do my best to shade the dreamers and nourish their thoughts. It is all the thanks I can give that will be of value to you, Goblin King."
He nodded and with a gesture motioned to Simplestone--who gave a rushed, by heartfelt bow to the dryad, the Goblin King faded back into his own world.