Raven110

Brenna Series

Chapter 1

Late at night

When the cold wind blows

There is a place

That goblins go

Deep in the underground.

They will stay

Being ruled

By a powerful fey

So into the labyrinth

The goblins go

Late at night

When the cold winds blow

For over 300 years, the goblin king had been alone. Basking in the solitude and confinement that he had in his own vast kingdom. There was the occasional period that he threw a ball, or a party, but they were trivial things. Even now, in his now clean throne room, he was alone. His goblins having been tossed out after he finally got annoyed with them. For 300 years he had lived around them and seemed impervious to their pranks, chatter and audaciousness. Ever since that one girl, that Sarah, had beaten his labyrinth. His tolerance seemed of them seemed to lessen. His thoughts were plagued by her, about her, of her. He couldn't forget her in any which way or form. He had finally kicked out the goblins and cleaned his throne room, easily doing it with his magic. Now that it was done, he sat in his sparkling throne and thought. How could Sarah not see the good in what he had offered her? Instead calling him cruel. Why?! Because he did what she wished? He did what he was supposed to do. He didn't expect himself to fall in love with her. Shaking his head he decided to take a flight around Sarah's neighborhood, maybe even peek in and see how Sarah was doing. Transforming into a male barn owl he soared from his throne room and flew away from his kingdom and they fey realm.

But there is one.

The king of the goblins.

That leaves the labyrinth

On the cold windy night.

Soaring around

Checking his heart.

Searching for the one that had swept it away.

How was he to know?

On this windy night.

That a child he would find.

Blood seeped down a trembling little girls face as her father continued to strike out at her, from her place on the floor she could make out the figure of her mom laughing in the kitchen doorway. She didn't' mean to make her daddy mad. She could not even remember what she had done wrong. All she could remember was her daddy yelling at her and kicking her hard. Then the punches came, along with hateful curses. She didn't understand his words or the curses he spoke. She was only three years old, a tiny little rag a muffin child with tattered clothes and a filthy body. At her side was a teddy bear all tattered and torn. She had been playing with it when he had come home from work. Did she do something wrong? Was she playing with her teddy wrong? Why was he mad? She was sorry now and all she could do was cry as she felt the warm red liquid soaking her ragged clothes and matting her hair. The crying seemed to make him madder at her, for he kicked her again. Now more than ever she just wanted to be away and live with some one who loved her. All she wanted was to go away.

She cries and wails

Her father hits her so

What she did?

No body knows

The blood is pouring.

Pouring down.

Soaking her tattered clothes

And pooling around

Her small little body.

As she trembles there.

On this cold windy night.

Jareth was soaring away from Sarah's house rather dejectedly. She was not home apparently, and he didn't feel like looking for her. So he wheeled and started to soar away, when he heard the shouts and crying. Normally he would just keep on going, leave mortal matters to mortals. Only this time something drew him in, saying something was not right. What he saw was a human man beating upon a small child who could be no more than three. Her hands were over her face and she was curled up in a little ball trying to hide from the hits. There was blood on her, and she seemed to be filthy. What had this child done to deserve such cruel treatment? His eyes gazed at the scene before he ruffled his feathers. This would not due, what ever the child did it did not deserve such severe punishment as the beating as this child was getting. He called up his magic, and brought on the rain, feeling the chilling wind of the night come to his aid as well. That would be a plus, all the more to scare those humans. Shifting once he spread his wings and soared through the air straight at the window, which rattled then flew open.

Late that night.

He sees a child

Crying

Bleeding

Wishing to be free

So he retrieves the child.

And takes her away.

Soothing her hurts

And ending her pain.

Away to the labyrinth.

The goblin king flies

A child in his arms.

With drying eyes.

The little girl started as the window flew open when there was no one near it. She saw her mother jump as well, and her father stopped hitting her. She started to crawl away, hoping she could hide before her father turned towards her again, when a large owl flew through the window. Its face was round and white, and it had two different colored eyes. It was a pretty bird, and she suddenly felt really safe and happy. Some of the warm liquid was trickling down her face and into her eyes, so she reached up to brush it away. When she opened her eyes again a strange man was in the room and the owl was gone. She was disappointed, for she liked the owl and didn't want it to leave. Suddenly the man's eyes looked at her and she saw the same two colored eyes that the owl had. Was this person the owl? She stared at him as her father turned towards this intruder.

"Who the hell are you?"

Jareth lifted a hand and plucked at his glove.

"Now now, is that any way to speak to royalty?"

He scolded softly, his voice dripping with a chilling malice. The little girl watched this strange man curiously, was he a king or something?

"You're whacked! You aint no royal pain in the ass, only a trespasser in my house. Get out of here." Her father shouted at the strange man. This made the girl shudder, for some reason yelling at this man seemed like a bad idea.

The strange man just chuckled and shook his head, "if that is what you wish. But you will pay for your rudeness and the injustice you laid upon an innocent child…"

The little girl perked up and lifted her head to look directly at the strange man. He glanced at her then suddenly twisted his hand; a round glass ball appeared on his finger tips. With a casual wave, the glass ball flew at her father and shattered, sending a spray of glitter into the air. When the glitter was gone, so was her father. Her mother was standing at the kitchen doorway in mild shock, before she disappeared into the room. The little girl looked at the strange man, as he started to move towards her. She whimpered and cringed back, closing her eyes and curling up into a tighter ball.

Jareth came over to the little girl and slowly knelt down beside her. Running a hand over her head, then over to skinny arms, and down her back. She was so thin, and she quaked under his touch in a mindless fear. Gareth's frown deepened and he carefully reached another hand forward, carefully picking up the little girl in her tattered clothes.

She almost jumped when she felt a gentle touch upon her head, then over one of her arms and down her back. It was almost a soothing touch. then she was being picked up, oh so gently and placed in the crook of the strange man's arm. She felt him move as he rose to his feet, and then opened her eyes, looking up at him timidly. He just glanced down at her then quickly turned his head towards the kitchen doorway. Where her mother stood with a knife. The little girl cowered and buried her head against the strange man's chest. She felt him tense, and if she had been looking, she would have seen his eyes widen in a slight shadow of fear. Just as she heard her mother run at them there was a rush of warm wind and a spray of something against her cheek. It felt like sand hitting her cheek, but it tickled instead of hurt. She squirmed a bit then opened her eyes. A startled gasp issued from her mouth as she looked out over a vast maze. The sun was shinning here, which was odd, since it had been really dark and windy out. The maze went as far as to suddenly disappear upon the horizon in the distance. She looked over his arm and saw forests and fields behind them, so it wasn't all just maze. The entire land itself was covered in a sparkling glitter. She then looked up, into the mismatched eyes of the strange man and blinked several times. Jareth gave her a bit of a smile.

"Welcome to my home little one."

He used his arm to gesture around them. She gazed around with amazed interest. Jareth gave her several moments to look around further before vanishing and reappearing in his castle. This elected both a startled gasp as it happened and after it happened. Jareth chuckled lightly and shook his head, blond hair fluttering around him.

The young girl gazed around the room they were in. it was made completely of stone, and was perfectly clean. A large, spotless chair stood in the center back of the room, like a throne. There was a slight indentation in the floor, like steps leading to a round play pen. There was only a few windows in the walls. Small circles that were slanted and impossible to climb, at least for a little girl like herself. She felt the strange man shift and set her down gently upon the ground. She watched as he moved over to the chair and sat down in it. Looking at her curiously.

"My name is Jareth, I'm am known as the king of the goblins. But you can just call me Jareth, understood?"

The little girl nodded quickly and listened with an intent look on her face. Jareth then motioned towards the girl.

"And what may I call you if I may ask?"

The little girl looked at him. Blinked several times before speaking softly in a voice that was rusty with lack of use.

"Brenna…"

Jareth raised a brow, such an unusual but pretty name for a mortal girl. Then again, something told him this was no ordinary girl. There was this strange tingling in his fingers when he touched her hair. It was if the girl's image was laced with magic.

"Brenna? Hmm…..interesting name…….Well Brenna. First things first, you need a bath."

He wasn't amazed when the child looked at him wonderingly. The child didn't even know what a bath was, not surprising, she looked filthy. Brenna, as she wanted to be called, gazed around her with her wide timid eyes. Fear on several lines of her body, unease resting in her soul. She shifted and watched Jareth as he watched her. Her hair was stuck to her face, and it took her a moment to realize that the warm sticky stuff wasn't falling over her face any more. Jareth too seemed to notice this, seeing smudges of blood upon her cheek and brow. Her hair was matted, her clothes more ruffled than what he bet was usual. He made to lift his hand and clap for a servant, when he saw her cringe. He was a few feet away from her, but that didn't seem to matter, her shoulders tensed and she ducked a little bit. He frowned deeply.

She was scared of him without seeming scared. Or perhaps she was scared of being hit. This wouldn't happen any more, not while he was around. He rose slowly, seeing her small body tense more and knelt next to her.

"Brenna….are you scared of me?"

Part of him wanted her to talk more, her unending silence was un-nerving. Another part of him wanted to investigate this. She might need more help then clean clothes, good food and a little affection.

Her little head lifted, and he looked into her deep evergreen eyes which were as large and sweet as a newborn's. She stared at him a moment, before nodding slowly. Jareth let out a breath slowly, thinking over his next sentence carefully.

"What about me scares you?"

"No hurt. Men scary. People scary."

Oh yes, a lot more help this dear thing will need. Her voice was coming back slowly, as soft as a butterfly's wing and like the coo of a dove in the morning he found himself smiling at the little girl before him. What a precious little bit she was. But what disturbed him, was that she wasn't necessarily talking about him when she spoke of her fear. She stated people. Could it be that she was scared of anyone, that she had so little kind contact with other beings that she reacts with fear towards them. All because she doesn't want to get hurt. With a slight tsk, he reached out and picked her up once again. Rising, he set her on his hip and let a kindly smile grace his face.

"Brenna, as long as I am here. There is nothing to fear. No one will hurt you. Now how about I get someone…….no, how about I go run you a bath. And get you a dress to wear."

Her head and ducked as he had picked her up, now she looked up at him with such innocence and confusion that he wanted to laugh. He did not, for he didn't wish to frighten her. He couldn't understand her confusion; he could only guess that she didn't understand what he meant. She was too young to understand. Three was a very young and delicate age, if he was correct in guessing her age. Bouncing her a bit as he turned towards the main hall, making a hesitant giggle escape her mouth, he pondered where he should put her. It was one thing to retrieve the child, a whole other to get her a place to sleep. Even more pressing would be how the Fey Council would react to him taking a mortal child from her parents and interfering with mortal business. He was surely going to get it for that.

But enough of that for now.

Deciding that he had startled the child enough with using his magic to transport them somewhere, he walked down the hall and towards his quarters. There was a bathing chamber located down that hall, and he knew of a room he could put her for the time being. A few servants were sweeping the corridor as he came up a flight of stone stairs and into the tall archway. They stopped upon seeing him, and rushed over to bow before him. Brenna, resting quietly though tensely in his arms, gasped softly and leaned forward a little bit to look down at them.

"Your Highness, how may we be of service to you?"

They all spoke at once, their voices ranging from gravely to crackling. Slightly grating to his ears if he had to listen to them for a prolonged period of time. Inclining his head to a tall lanky female goblin, he motioned towards the door he knew lead to the bathing chambers.

"Run a good warm bath for this girl, do it quickly."

The goblin nodded and ran off to do so; Jareth shifted his attention to a young elven girl and smiled a little bit. She curtsied to him and inclined her head to the side. Though her eyes were on little Brenna in his arms.

"Would you go find a dress that would fit her?"

She nodded, and made to rush off to do as he wished, but hesitated. Glancing up at him, her long ears twitched a bit and auburn hair fell in front of her blue eyes.

"Yes your Highness, though, would you like me to give her a bath. It doesn't seem proper for you to do so."

Jareth looked at the elf girl, then at Brenna whose head was burying into his shoulder. She didn't want to look at them. He smiled kindly at the elf girl and shook his head.

"No. I think it's best if I give her a bath. She's far too fearful of others at the moment."

The elf girl smiled sheepishly then turned around and rushed off down the hall, most likely going to one of the large magical wardrobes in one of the suites. Jareth waved off the other few servants and made his way to the bathing chambers. Just as he reached the doors, the goblin exited, bowed to him, and then hurried off. He felt Brenna lift her head from his shoulder and look after the goblin, her little hands grabbing fistfuls of his shirt.

"What that?" her soft voice whispered.

"That, Brenna..." he said as he opened the door, "was a goblin."

"Really?" she said with child like fascination.

Jareth nodded with a smile, closing the door behind him, "oh yes. A bit on the tall side, but she was a goblin. One of many in my kingdom. You'll most likely see more of them."

He set her down next to the bath, where light damp wisps of steam rose up from the warm water. Then he paused. Tilting his head to the side, he glanced around the room and went to retrieve a few towels. Placing these a safe distance from flying water, he returned his gaze to Brenna. He didn't want to startle her, but it would be hard to get her clean with out startling her. Brenna was looking up at him, her dark eyes curious, and playing with the hem of her limp dress.

"Well little Brenna. You'll have to take that stuff off and get into the water. Mind, it might sting any cuts you have."

"Stingy icky." Brenna stated with a slight wrinkle of her nose.

Jareth nodded in agreement, "yes, but I cannot have a dirty child running around my castle. You must be cleaned up little one, and I bet you don't want to look all messy like this anyways."

He watched Brenna look down at her dirty hands and clothes, then stand up on wobbly legs. She promptly attempted to squirm out of her clothes. Though Jareth had to assist her in actually removing them. Then, picking her carefully off the ground, he placed her into the warm water. He chuckled as she gasped softly and giggled as a few bubbles from soap popped on her feet. Once the child was sitting, slightly tense, in the water Jareth glanced around for some soap. There was none on the ledge of the bathtub, so he turned to rummage on a shelf next to it. Hearing tentative splashes of the water beside him, he smiled. Once finding a bar of soap that he hoped wouldn't hurt her cuts or eyes to much, he turned back to the tub. The water was tinged pink, pale pinkish trails ran down from her head, yet there was a smile as bright as the sun on her face as she started to splash with a bit more enthusiasm.

Poor child, she didn't even seem to care that she was playing in water tinged with her own blood. Jareth removed his gloves and set them on a ledge above the soap. Then he sat on the ledge of the tub and reached down to move her a bit closer to the edge, dipping the bar of soap into the water and working up a lather before trying to wash her hair out some.

"Owwie!" came the indigent cry almost instantly, and Brenna pulled away from him.

"I'm sorry Brenna. But the sooner you get it over with the quicker it'll be done. And don't you want to look nice and clean and pretty for other's to see?" Jareth coaxed gently.

Brenna seemed to think this over, though didn't seem to want to. Even so she let him continue washing her hair, carefully. Once she was good and lathered up, removed himself from the ledge and knelt beside the tub. Gently putting a hand behind her back.

"Lean back Brenna. Lie against my hand and I'll keep you out of the water for the most part. And it'll be easier to wash out the suds without getting them into your eyes."

Brenna seemed to look a bit wary for a moment, and then allowed him to assist her in lying back. While balancing her with one hand, he scooped water from his hand over her head carefully rinsing out the suds. Once her hair seemed to be mercifully free of soap. He found a wash cloth and got that all full of soap, pausing a moment then handing it to her.

"I want you to clean yourself with that. Rub it ALL over, do you hear me?"

Brenna looked up at him, then at the soft cloth in her hand, and then lifted her gaze up at him. To his total amazement, she broke out in a smile and giggled while nodding a few times. Recovering gracefully, he smiled and sat on the edge of the tub waiting for her to be done with it. As he watched her haphazardly rub the cloth over her arms, belly and legs, he shook his head at his own hesitance. He didn't have the will to actually bathe the girl, a girl who he only just found about a half hour ago. He wasn't yet comfortable with the situation.

Once Brenna had reached all the places she could possible reach, she tossed the cloth into the water, watching the suds pull away from it and laughed. A pale hand reached into the water and brought out the cloth, gently washing off her back.

"My, you do look better all cleaned up." Jareth spoke gently to her.

Brenna hummed softly to herself, no longer regarding the man sitting on the tub, and playing in the water instead. Something in her mind told her that everything was going to change. That he was going to make things better. Still, she wasn't sure about him. People weren't nice to her. But her mind was confused. She was used to people yelling and striking at her, so why hadn't he? She saw him rise out of the corner of her eye and she cringed. No blow came, and she was still confused. Suddenly the water was gone, and a big, warm, fluffy thing was draped around her.

Jareth picked Brenna up out of the tub, thoroughly cocooning her in the towel and carefully drying her off. A soft knock on the door signaled the arrival of the elf girl that he had sent off to find a dress for Brenna. He turned slowly towards the door.

"Come in." he said coolly.

The girl stepped into the room, smiled timidly, and set the clothes on a clean bench near the door then left. Jareth shook his head a bit then walked over to pile of clothes. Picking up the child's under things, he pondered how to do this. Looking at Brenna cocooned and cheerful in her towel haven, he thought a moment. She was almost three, at least; perhaps she could do this mostly on her own with some help. Setting her on the bench, he picked up her under things and offered them to her.

"I'll help you put them on, but you have to try on your own, okay?"

Brenna looked at the underwear and nodded, sliding out of her towel and onto the floor she made to step into them, and wobbled. Jareth placed a hand on her small shoulder, as she correctly maneuvered the piece of cloth on her own. Then looked up at him. He was appraising the dress the girl had brought. It was a soft green, almost sage like color, with white sleeves, and flower patterns on it. Glancing at Brenna, he lifted the dress, gathering the skirt up so he could slip it over her head.

"Put your arms up, Brenna."

She lifted her slender little arms and he slipped the dress over them, making sure the arms went through the sleeves. Then he slid her head through the hole and smoothed the dress down around her.

"There. A lovely dress for a pretty little girl."

Brenna looked down at her dress, then up at Jareth and smiled some. It was a pretty dress. She liked it. She twirled a little, running around in a tiny circle, her damp feet making soft pattering noises on the floor. She only stopped when two large hands grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up.

"That's probably not the smartest of things to do, little one. Stone floors are quite slippery when wet."

Brenna squirmed till she could turn and look up at Jareth. Her eyes some what pained. His grip on her waist lessened and he shifted her to his hip. Jareth winced a bit, as he belatedly remembered the sore areas on the poor girl's body. The bruises had yet to appear, but he was sure she would have quite the vibrant color pallet by next day. She was tense in his arms again, almost wary of him. How unusual, considering she had been relaxed just a few moments prior. Of course, children are strange in their habits.

Jareth set her down gently upon a dry place on the floor and inclined his head to the side, regarding Brenna for a few moments. The child continued to stare up at him solemnly; her eyes far too deep and saddened for a child her age. He sighed heavily and rose from his kneeling position, still watching Brenna.

"I suppose your hungry…"

His miss-matched eyes watched for a type of reaction from Brenna. She shifted a little, looking at the floor and playing with the skirt of her dress as she nodded. A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He reached down and placed a hand on her head, despite the damp slightly messy hair.

"Then how about we get you something to eat?"

Brenna looked up at him with her deep evergreen eyes, looking sweetly innocent and slightly hopeful. A shy smile fell upon the cherubic face and she lifted her arms to be picked up in an ages old gesture. Jareth smiled, turning to pick up his gloves from a near by shelf. He put them on as he turned back around to face the girl. The child was still standing with her arms raised to him slightly. Gently he picked her up, though there was really no need for the excessive gentleness. He had healed her wounds as he had washed out her hair, but he had to remind himself that the slightest lifting of the hand made the child cringe. It was best to do what would not frighten her. So, he carefully settled her in the crook of his arm. He left the room, knowing his servants would take care of the clean up and headed towards the kitchen.

He took a moment to look down at Brenna's slightly damp head as he walked down the hall. The girl was stiff in his arms. Yet he noticed, as they walked on, that her head slowly came to rest upon his shoulder. Whether she noticed was unknown, she seemed very tired. As if acknowledging this, she yawned. He sighed and kept walking; thinking about what would be good for a child her age to eat. He had to be careful, he didn't know how often she had been given food before, and he didn't want her to become ill.

He thought deeply on the subject all the way to the smaller of the dining rooms that was closer to the kitchen. It was after the evening meal, though not by much, and he could hear the cooks cleaning up in the kitchen. He set Brenna down upon the sturdy wood table and gave a casual wave of a hand. Brenna stared tiredly up at him, jumping when a side door flew open to reveal several goblin faces. Their large questioning eyes watched Jareth expectantly, Brenna cowered away warily from the odd creatures. Jareth took only a moments notice of this.

"Get me something suitable for this child to eat. Something mild, nothing to fancy."

Instantly the heads disappeared and slight mayhem could be heard form the kitchen. Jareth winced, though he knew that the cooks were the one cooking instead of the drudges that received his orders and carried out mindless tasks, he pitied the cooks for having to deal with such senselessness. Goblins were such uncontrolled creatures. Then again, they could do most of the grunt work easily enough, so they had their uses.

He looked at Brenna, who was playing with some of the jewels in the hems of the gown she wore. Her dark curls were drying, falling lightly around her face. She was pouting slightly, though why he didn't know. He reached up and ran a hand through her knotted hair. Brenna tensed then looked up at him solemnly. Her eyes were soulful and quiet. He felt none of the energy a child her age should have. Yet, during this moment of quiet, he noticed something odd about her. How he couldn't place. She seemed more intelligent then a mortal child should be. She was only three yet she was able to associate things with past occurrences that she shouldn't remember. She understood concepts and observed more then any of the children wished away to his castle at that age. He ran his fingers through her hair again, noting an off tingling sensation in his fingers. The feeling was slightly familiar, though he couldn't explain why.

All this thought on the child was starting to confuse him, things were just not adding up. Brenna looked back down at her dress, just as the door to the kitchen opened. Two goblins came out with a tray between them. A glass of some juice and a platter of food were presented to him. He couldn't help but chuckle. The platter consisted of a sandwich, peanut butter and jelly if he guessed correctly, and some applesauce. While the juice he guessed was most likely apple, though the color seemed a little off to be able. Brenna shifted and scooted over to have a look at what there was, reaching out a small hand to take hold of a slice of the sandwich. The piece seemed too big for her, he noted as he watched her nibble a corner experimentally. Then he watched her take a bite clear out of the sandwich, a bit of jelly sticking to her cheek.

Oh yes, much too big for her.

He glanced around the room as she chewed that bite, looking for something to cut the sandwich with. Not seeing anything, he turned to face her, watching as she swallowed the bite. Then she took another, pea nut butter painting the other cheek and her hands showing to be a complete mess as she had a death hold on the sandwich. He lifted a hand, seeing her stop mid bite and cringe, and twisted a wrist. A knife appeared in his hand, a harmless butter knife, and he went through the process of cutting up the other slice into smaller and more manageable pieces. He then looked at the girl as she chewed; she was watching him in wonder. Her head tilted to the side. She had peanut butter and jelly on her nose, and what looked like to be a glob right on her dress. But she could easily be cleaned up, as could the dress. He just wished he had thought before letting her get into the sandwich. He then watched as she set down the slice she had and looked at the glass. For all her readiness to eat the sandwich she didn't touch the glass of juice and for this he was thankful. He didn't have child safe glasses in his castle, and he didn't want to have her douse herself in what would turn out to be a very sticky liquid. So he reached out and picked up the glass, putting it to her mouth and tilting it slightly as she opened her mouth to take a sip. But as she did so, and swallowed, she made the most amusing disgusted face. Sticking out her tongue she blinked up at him.

"Blegh..."

Jareth stared at her, and then at the glass, "what's wrong with it."

"sour." Brenna spat in an adorable sort of way.

Jareth lifted the glass, taking a look at the contents. It did seem a little off, and he started to wonder what those dratted goblins had gotten for her juice. To took a whiff, and frowned deeply. They did not give her what he thought they had? It was only after he took a sip that he realized they had.

Pomegranate juice.

It was quite bitter, meaning it hadn't been sweetened yet and wasn't yet ready to be consumed. Shaking his head he gave Brenna an apologetic look before setting the glass before her. Kneeling down a bit, so that he had to look up at her, he motioned her closer.

"Come watch."

Brenna scooted a bit closer, chewing on a bite of sandwich she had taken while he examined the juice, and watched as he waved his hand over the top of the glass in a slow sweep. Slowly, the reddish liquid turned to a soft gold. Brenna gasped and inhaled part of the sandwich she had been eating. She promptly started coughing violently; he patted her on the back till he dislodged the food then offered the glass to her mouth.

"Try that. I assure you it will taste much better."

Brenna took a sip from golden liquid. Her evergreen eyes widened and a joyful smile appeared upon her face. She took a second sip, and then pulled away with a sweet little giggle. Then she reached for one of the pieces he had cut up for her and popped that into her mouth. Jareth smiled as she chewed and swallowed this piece.

"It's peach, a sure favorite among children in the underground so I've heard."

Brenna paused as she reached for another piece then turned and looked up at him

"Very good."

"You like it then?" he questioned, moving some of his pale blond hair from his face.

Brenna nodded quickly, "Yes"

Jareth ruffled her hair, "Good,"

With that, he pulled out a high backed chair from the table and seated himself. His legs crossed and resting up on the table, chair leaning back. He watched as she both succeeded in eating every bit of food, only pausing to wait for him to help her get a drink, and getting herself covered in peanut butter and jelly. He sighed heavily; he really didn't feel like bathing her again. It was such a bother. As Brenna lifted the glass and finished the last of the peach juice on her own, as there wasn't more then a sip left, he rose and gave her a once over.

Her hair was, for the most part, saved. It had a glob of jelly here and there, due to the curls falling in the way as she ate, but her face had several jelly and peanut butter smudges and her dress had a few jelly globs. She could easily be cleaned up with just a little touch of magic.

Even though he knew he was taking the easy way out.

So, as a goblin rushed out to gather the tray with platter and glass, he waved a hand casually. The smudges on her face disappeared, and the globs in her hair vanished. The spots on her dress would need actually washing and care, he didn't bother with that. Instead he picked her up, feeling her stiffen as he did so, and settled her on his hip. Walking back out the way he had come.

He had done a bit of thinking while she had eaten. The child needed a place to sleep and, though his castle wasn't lacking in space, he hadn't been sure where to put her. It would be cruel to put her in a room far from where he could hear her if she needed anything, even though magically he could hear her anyways. She was a three year old; she didn't need to worry about wondering all over the castle to find him. Thankfully, he knew of a room just a few doors away from his own that would be suitable enough.

Brenna was heavy in his arms and he noticed, as they walked up a stair well and into the hall which the room he had chosen sat, that her head was resting upon his arm. Her arms were hanging down limp, and she was quiet. Totally relaxed in his arms. Glancing down at her, he paused to stare a moment. Brenna had fallen asleep in his arms. She didn't even seem to notice that he had stopped walking. An amused smile played upon his face. He resumed walking, coming to the door to her new room. Carefully and slowly he reached out and opened the door, pleased to hear it swing open quietly. The bed at opposite from him was covered in a soft green and brown blanket, with green trimmed with brown pillows. He walked over and motioned for the covers to move out of the way. Then he carefully placed the sleeping Brenna down upon the soft mattress, pulling the covers back and tucking them around her. Though the massive four poster she was sleeping in was much too big for her, Jareth already knew that he could easily acquire one of a more suitable size.

He would also have to get her something more suitable for sleeping in and a dress for tomorrow, as she wouldn't want to sleep in her dresses every night.

Unexpectedly, Jareth yawned. Feeling tired himself. He made a final adjustment to the blanket, making sure it was tucked in around Brenna nice and snug, then turned to leave the room.

Things for tomorrow were best left for tomorrow.