As quickly as his little legs would allow him, Hoggle, the dwarf, hobbled up the front steps of The Castle of the Center of the Labyrinth. Jareth, the Goblin King, had summoned him to the throne room. The pint-sized man grumbled to himself as he ascended. "What's his majesty wants this time? Callin' on me in the middle of planning or the festival tomorrow. I gots plans of me own! Tsk, prolly drunk again, been drinkin' toos much since Sarah's been here. Why's he gotta make me suffer alongs with 'im?"
The odor of stale Goblin Ale permeated the corridor through the open archway of the throne room. Goblins were amuck all over the place. The inebriated lot were singing and carrying on in little competitions of drunken stamina. Many of the sauced little creatures failed and would roar with laughter at each other.
Upon a stone dais, lounging in his curved throne, Jareth snickered at a particularly rowdy bunch who tried to build a goblin made pyramid. The stunt was destined for disaster. A couple of smaller goblins were placed in the base as a few of the more girthy and larger of the breed tried to climb to the top. Before one of the drunken louts could throw up his hands in victory, one of the smaller goblins strength gave away and the whole lot came tumbling down.
Jareth laughed into his goblet of ale as he watched the brood try and untangle themselves. Hoggle was glad, and sighed with relief, to see his monarch in mirthful spirits this time. A few times before, after being summoned by the King, the dwarf had to deal with him in a few alcohol influenced bad moods. At times like those Hoggle had to be quick-witted and try not to infuriate the King more or suffer dire consequences. On one occasion the King was inconsolable and in a bout of anger, apparated Hoggle to the Bog of Eternal Stench. Lucky for him, the King's ability to focus his magic was clouded by ale and placed him on the edge of the shore of the bog. That was a close one, but who is to say that it wouldn't happen again? Jareth had been like that for about four years now since he had been beaten at his own game by a young human woman. He was in a constant state of brooding and countered it by drinking. Although he tried to numb himself with ale, wine, and spirits, he could be seen conjuring up a crystal orb and begin to stare into its depths, with a longing look.
The nervous dwarf approached the dais, cleared his throat, and bowed, "Ahem, your Majesty."
"What, Higgle?"
"Hoggle..."
"Mmm...yes, what do you want?" the Fae man snapped with annoyance.
Hoggle furrowed his brow in confusion, "You summoned me here. I left the festival planning right away, your Majesty, and came here."
" I did no such thing. Why would I need a little scab like you?" Jareth muttered while downing the last of the ale in his goblet. "Go away..."
As Hoggle turned away to leave, Jareth sat up straight in his throne.
"Wait!"
Hoggle turned to face his king.
"What was that noise?"
"Wh-what noise?"
Jareth turned to the hoard of goblins, "Silence!" he yelled. The din of noise did not cease. "I said SILENCE YOU IDIOTS!", he shouted. Some of the nearby goblins who had heard the king shout had quieted down. Alas towards the back of the room there were still a rowdy bunch of noise makers who didn't hear him. Jareth conjured a crystal sphere and threw it at the loud bunch. On contact, they disappeared in a cloud of glitter. The other goblins who watched oohed and awwed at their king's power. "I said shut up or you will be bogged just like your friends!"
Just as soon as the noise stopped, a small and distant female voice sounded. "Hoggle? Hoggle, I need you!"
Jareth looked towards the dwarf and stood from his throne. Hoggle turned cold with fear and began to back up. His stumpy little legs were no match for the King's long strides that reached him in no time.
Hoggle began to shake in fear as his King towered over him. "What pray tell, was that Goggle?"
"Uh, you sees...uh..."
Jareth spied something glinting from the trinkets and objects that hung from Hoggle's belt, better known as his "jewels". "What's that?" asked Jareth pointing to the object.
"What? Oh, that? Oh, it's nothing..."
Jareth snatched the bundle from the little man's belt. Upon closer inspection, there was a small gilt-handled looking glass. He was observing the reflective surface, catching his reflection as just any other looking glass would have done. While he was admiring his visage, the reflective surface glowed and flashed.
"Hoooggllle?", the voice called again, and this time from the looking glass.
Jareth reached down and grabbed the dwarf's ear and began to pull hard, "Heggle, you have some explaining to do!"
