It's summer - rain, honeysuckle, a whispered secret, a life-size crystal unicorn...and a riding crop. A romantic interlude between the Goblin King and his lady love Sarah.
A/N: Taking up the Goblin King's challenge. I do not own his story, nor do I own anything else regarding the Labyrinth. I just enjoy a fruitful imagination. :)
This actually became a two shot because it got longer than I had originally intended. Hope that still works
The heat-drenched pavement sent up tendrils of steam as the garden sprinklers overshot the lawn and water landed in sizzling droplets on the stone. Record highs in a New England July had been relentlessly torturing mortals as continually running air conditioners sent electric bills skyrocketing and creatively avoiding the humidity became a number one priority. Even the night offered little protection; in fact, the heat seemed to increase intensely while the mortals slept.
One such mortal had early on discovered that the watering of the lawns in the evening dusk was a perfect time for cooling down in the sultry summer heat. And it was not just for youngsters with a penchant for mischief – or goblins with time on their hands for that matter.
Sarah Williams had long since given up on staying dry in the unusually muggy weather. She had been home on college break for a month and a half already and had resigned herself to a perpetual perspiring. Deciding that once again she would be the master of her own destiny however, she quickly adapted and creatively used the constant moisture to her own advantage. If she was going to sweat all summer, then her bathing rituals would take place under the gently falling mists of an ordinary garden hose and its sundry attachments.
She was past caring about wrinkling up like a dried prune; it was better than body odor and break outs from excess perspiration.
"Tobias Robert Williams, if you so much as even think about letting that water balloon fly, I will personally see that Didymus escorts you to the Bog of Eternal Stench," The bikini-clad brunette warned, her eyes still shut against the sun's harsh glare.
She absently blessed the gallant fox-knight for bringing her the latest Underground news along with a special concoction that kept tender skin from roasting under UV exposure. She could still soak in Vitamin D without the harmful side effects of sun block. Of course, she had already considered what lathering up in a magically-created potion could possibly do – but she decided that she'd had enough magic exposure that her levels were probably fatal anyway. Oh well - the consequences of having goblins, fieries, fairies, and Goblin Kings as regular visitors. Okay, scratch the last one.
"Aw man," Toby's eight year old whine caused her to chuckle cruelly. "How'd you know I was even here?"
"You snuck through the sprinkler to get to me Tobes. I could hear water hitting another body. Besides, those water balloons have been calling your name since dad bought them and this is the first time I have been outside without any goblin protection since I got home."
She had finally sent the goblins packing for a brief reprieve when their latest attempt at mischief had nearly caused a magically-induced fire on the sprinkler-drenched front lawn. She wasn't going to ask, but somehow from what little she did gather, it had involved pavement scrambled eggs and a poorly aimed scrying glass. Explaining it to her increasingly suspicious parents had been stretching even for her imaginative mind.
Of course with the cessation of goblin presence for a time, Sarah had been suspecting a sneak attack from her bored kid brother at any moment.
Said brother plopped down with a squelching sound that was reminiscent of the BOES. It was difficult to remove that memory from her mind, but she managed with great effort and a small laugh. Finally peeking up at Toby with one opened eye, she noticed the pouting expression on his face.
"Come on Tobes. You can't be that bored can you? It's summer and all your buddies are sure to be around if you call."
"They aren't as fun as the goblins and I've already checked. Sam's on vacation, Ry is grounded for breaking his dad's window, and Andy and Mark are going out to dinner with their step dad tonight. There's nothin' to do."
"Mom kicked you out of the house again didn't she?"
Toby grumbled something that sounded vaguely like, Not my fault; stupid goblins got me in trouble again. Sarah laughed loudly and ruffled his already soaked head of blonde hair. Even in the water, it stuck straight up in all directions, a bane of Karen's and the eerie reminder that he had tasted powerful magic in his infancy due to her folly. She was just glad his blue eyes weren't mismatched. It would have been a bit much.
Her darling brother continued to pout as she closed her eyes once more and let the water cascade across her heated skin. It felt refreshing, cleansing, renewing. She could almost imagine each water droplet tingling with its own magic as they hit her and broke open, unleashing the elemental power of dreams. All other distractions faded out as she concentrated on bringing her dreams to life with each pelting liquid molecule raining down to dance on her sensitive nerves.
Which is why it took her a while to realize that Toby had gone silent and was roughly shaking her back into awareness.
"What is it?" She asked, thinking that he was going to beg her for a new story or tax her creative genius for an activity.
When he didn't answer, she looked at his face in surprise. He stared out across the lawn in the direction of the wooded area behind their home, his gaze unwavering and carrying a hint of fearful wonder. When Sarah assessed his expression for danger and found none, she finally glanced in the direction his eyes followed.
And gasped in shock.
There, half-hidden among the climbing honeysuckle, its brilliance only muted by the semi-shade of the trees' summer foliage, was a full-sized unicorn and its babe. Both made entirely of a glimmering, transparent crystalline substance save for the solid gold horn resting on each forehead. They watched Sarah and Toby with an expression akin to curious amusement and not a little trepidation.
"Toby," Sarah whispered quietly, barely moving an inch at a time as she slowly sat up to take the vision in more clearly. "Do not move, do not breathe, and for heaven's sake, don't speak louder than I am right now."
"Are they what I think they are Sarah?" Toby asked, and she could tell it was taking all his boyish effort not to shout with excitement.
"If you're thinking they are crystal unicorns, then yep," She replied, knowing her eyes were probably as wide as his. "Aren't they beautiful?"
"How did they get here? Won't it be dangerous for them?" He questioned.
"More than likely the same way the goblins come and go and I have no idea."
"Can I ride it?"
"I don't know if Unicorns can be ridden, especially by a man. The legends and myths normally say they get spooked by men and only like young, vir…innocent girls."
"Now why on earth would you believe everything you hear Sarah Williams?" A cultured, sensual voice from behind the Williams siblings caused brother and sister to screech in fright and turn around, heedless of scaring the magical equine beasts now behind them. "Surely you have heard that not everything is as it seems."
Sarah and Toby looked nothing alike, but in their utter shock, the few similarities stood out in full force on the identical expressions. Until Sarah narrowed her eyes in anger and reacted quickly.
"Jareth, you complete and utter ass!" Her hands pounded away at his chest and shoulders, in staccato rhythm timed to match her words. "Not only have you scared off our visitors, but you are trespassing on private property. AND, you have no…"
"Don't say it, for the god's sake," Jareth's face actually looked pained as he finally managed to grab the flailing arms of the fiery emerald-eyed beauty who had Championed his Labyrinth only five years prior.
She had definitely grown up, but her fierce temper still burned him in a pleasant, seductive blaze. Gods he had missed her.
"Sarah said a naughty word," Toby sing-songed, his apparent fear eased at seeing the Goblin King. Sarah wasn't certain she liked his laid-back attitude when danger lurked so closely, but she merely stared daggers at her brother before moving to place her body in a protective stance in front of the younger Williams child.
"Don't you touch my brother Jareth. What are you doing here?" She could not help but notice that he still tended toward skin-hugging pants – though just slightly more modestly inclined, but not much – and his ruffled, white shirt was gaping almost to his navel, showing off the rippling muscles of his abdomen and a familiar emblem of power.
A familiar riding crop hung from a belt loop at his waist and she wondered as she had five years prior what creature was being tamed by his hand. She did not imagine him to be an ordinary horseman and the goblins said he never used it on them – that's what the kicking boots were for.
Though still angry at his intrusion, she could not help the shiver of attraction that flared in her belly. Five years had not changed that chemistry, though it had upped the intensity just a bit. She was no longer the naïve fifteen year old girl; though her innocence was still unhindered enough to cause her to fear his magnetic pull. He was still much taller than her, though the years had added a couple inches onto her petite frame. All in all the effect was rather intimidating still, no matter what she tried to make him believe.
"I came to see a rather large number of previously missing goblins had been so unceremoniously dumped back in the Underground and decided to grace you with my presence while I was here. Why on earth would I touch your brother?" He asked and Sarah could sense a little sarcasm in his velvet tones. "You won him back fair and square Precious; I have no power over him, remember?"
"The goblins caused some trouble, so I sent them home for a break. As for being graced with your presence; have I ever requested a visit from you?" She saw him open his mouth to respond and the smirk that accompanied it. "Aside from a foolish, insincere wish made when I was fifteen."
"It was hardly insincere at the time Precious; I wouldn't have heard it if it was not fully intended to be heard," He murmured quietly, the smirk twisting into what could pass as a potentially honest-to-goodness smile. "I am not here to argue about ancient history; although at some time in our near future, we really should resolve the past if we want to move forward. The Game is over Sarah; I come as a hopeful friend."
"A friend? Me, friends with the Goblin King?" Sarah snorted disbelievingly and crossed her arms over her chest, feeling a different sort of heat sweeping a crimson wave through her body at the sudden attention her movement had drawn to certain – rather exposed – parts of her anatomy.
They were still standing in the running sprinkler, though it looked as if the Fae King was untouched by the water. Typical – he visits when she's at her most vulnerable and then peruses her like merchandise in an open market.
"Um guys?" Toby's voice piped up, a little uncomfortably as his eyes darted between the two adults. "I'm just gonna run into the house for some towels okay? Maybe mom will let me bring out some ice cream cones. You want any Jareth?"
Jareth cocked his head to the side and stopped raking his leering gaze over Sarah long enough to scrutinize his little look-alike. It was amazing really – Toby even stood with arms crossed and stance wide, just like the mystical king. Challenging, cocky, and a little unsure of the situation but on pain of death would never tell.
"I will have a vanilla cone please young Tobias," He stated with a small, genuine grin. While he was glad Sarah had won her brother back, he could not help but feel a little regret. The young boy would make a fine Goblin King. Though perhaps, if things went according to plan, that space would someday be filled with his heir anyway.
"Vanilla for me as well Tobes," Sarah said, not taking her eyes off her long-time enemy. So she did not miss when Toby stepped directly up to the Goblin King and tugged on his shirt. Jareth obliged, keeping a wary eye on the elder sister as he crouched to a level more conducive for Toby's height.
"What is it my dear boy?" Jareth asked and smiled in delight as the eight year old cupped two hands over his ear.
Whispering quickly into the Goblin King's ear, Toby snapped back before Sarah could react with any more than a reflexive jerk of her fingers and took off running for the back door of their home. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm the tension in her body before widening them in surprise at the deep, throaty chuckle erupting pleasantly from her unasked-for companion.
"What on earth is so funny?" She questioned in bewildered confusion as Jareth shifted gloved hands to cover his mouth in an attempt to muffle his amusement.
"Your brother is a charming child and I am privileged to know you both. I could not be more pleased that you won him back," His cryptic answer had her glaring again and he threw up his hands in mock innocence. "Oh no you don't. I am the Keeper of Dreams and Secrets; unless master Tobias wishes you to know, I will hold his confidence. I never gave away your secrets now did I Sarah-mine?"
Sarah stopped up short; it had never occurred to her that he was anything more than a villainous, lecherous Fae with a bent toward cruel mischief and twisted humor. She ignored the stirrings that his endearment caused as she considered the new angle he had thrown her. An honest Fae? Weren't they masters of deceit and hadn't she experienced it first hand in his Labyrinth?
"Do you like my gift Sarah?" She jerked out of her thoughts for a second time as his question smacked of honest curiosity and an emotion she might call uncertainty. Jareth's mismatched eyes were boring in hers with an intensity that should have scared her. She couldn't help but think that it might be that intense to cover up the fact that he was possibly afraid of her.
"Gift?" At a nod of his head, she turned back to the tree-line where two crystalline animals still stood in watchful tranquility. "The unicorns were from you? For me?"
"Toby would possibly have frightened them for the obvious reason that he is a hyper-active young boy. They are pure creatures of magic, yet they are not the protectors of virginal maidens as in some fairy stories," His eyes twinkled with mirth when she blushed. "At least not in the way they are depicted. These unicorns are protectors; in that they are guardians over all those with good hearts and pure intentions. They were handpicked from my own lands and gentled enough to be your companions. I would not break their spirits, just as I could never break yours. I thought them an appropriate first gift for you."
"First gift?" Suspicion filled her, but it was not born of jaded misunderstanding. She was genuinely curious probably for the first time in their acquaintance.
