He couldn't stop thinking of the babe. What babe? The babe with the power. The only girl who had come into his kingdom and then waltzed out. Her brother, oh that baby brother of hers. He caused so many problems even though he solved one. How could she only care for the baby when he was offering her the world in exchange for her brother? Such a simple bargain, hardly a sacrifice to her. She had no need of him; she had her toys, her precious story. He was the one who had need of him, surprisingly, he seemed to need her as well. Her name echoed through his head almost every moment.
Sarah. Sarah Williams. The brown-haired beauty who had made a careless wish only to have it come true. It was perfect. She got rid of her problem and he solved his. But no. She had to become honorable at the last minute. He had almost won too; her story saved her, those stupid lines.
Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great...You have no power over me.
How he wanted that power though. He hungered for it, dreamt about it. He had moved the stars for her, no one but her. He had asked for so little: Just fear, love, obey. Sarah and Toby, the perfect pair. It was strange for him to feel this way. He was the Goblin King. He should feel nothing for anyone. Yet, the girl drew him just as the boy was made to be heir to the Goblin Kingdom. Not that he was planning on dying or anything drastic like that. Oh, no. He just wanted to retire, take a rest.
Jareth, the Goblin King, was tired, oh so tired.
All his subjects feared him. This was good; it showed that they respected him, even loved him for it. Not that most would admit that to themselves. Why couldn't she have just taken his gift of crystal? Although, since she hadn't, he had gotten a chance to watch her, know her, maybe even fall in love with her. No, that was ridiculous. Jareth, the aloof Goblin King, in love with someone, a mortal human even?! Ha! He still remembered her first words to him. So childish, yet almost brave. She must have found him fascinating, yet frightening. Yet who wouldn't? He was pretty amazing, if he did say so himself.
Jareth finished his musings to fully look about him. He was sitting in his throne, above all his goblins. They were scurrying around like the little animals that they were; drinking, yelling, fighting. It bored him. That was the answer! That was why Jareth had been thinking about the girl so much. She challenged him, unlike these sniveling goblins. He craved challenge; it was too slow around here. He got up from his throne and swept up the stairs with a wave of his cloak. Perhaps it was time to visit the human world again. His Goblin City only provided so much entertainment. Before he went, however, he must be sure the gates to his Labyrinth were guarded, but who? Jareth's thoughts turned to his subjects besides his goblins. Sir Didymus was a good guard even though he did let Sarah cross the bridge in the Bog of Eternal Stench. The bridge had broken, fallen into the Bog so the fox was traveling around with his "brother" Ludo. Ludo wouldn't be a good guard at all. Sure, he was big and strong, but he was a little on the dim side for the job Jareth had in mind. That left Higgle, Hogwart… no Hoggle. That was it, Hoggle.
Hoggle was shooting down fairies from around the Labyrinth like he had the day he met Sarah.
"Hoggle." The little creature jumped, startled out of his wits from the voice which came from behind him. He whirled around to find the Goblin King leaning behind him on one of the free standing rocks.
"Oh, your Majesty," Hoggle said with a short bow. He was amazed that the King had correctly said his name. "You startled me."
"I noticed," Jareth comment drily. "Still at the fairy shooting deal I see. Care to take a break and guard the Labyrinth gate for me? Not that I expect anything to happen, but it doesn't hurt. I'll be taking a flight."
"You're going to look in on Sarah and Toby, aren't you?" Hoggle asked eagerly. "I miss her. Not that she couldn't be annoying."
Jareth just looked at him. "Thank you for that exciting tidbit from your moron mind. Of course Sarah was annoying. That's all she knew how to be. She's the one who got you stuck in the Bog for several years remember, Prince of Stench?"
Hoggle winced. "Please, sire, I beg of you. Don't send me back there. I am grateful that you decided to cut short my rulership there. Never back there, please!" He flung himself down on the ground at Jareth's feet.
The Goblin King kicked him off. "Stop that, I'm not in the mood to deal with your groveling. Just watch over the gates until I get back. Even you can do that. Do it well enough and maybe you'll get a new bracelet." He shook the wrist which still wore Sarah's plastic beads before standing straight. "Farewell, Hogwart." With those parting words, Jareth stalked off up a path.
Hoggle muttered and kicked one of the stones. "Ah," he hissed for that kick had hurt. "Call me Hogwart, he does. Name's Hoggle. Can't anyone remember a fella's name around here?" He paced in front of the gates, shooting any fairies which came near him.