Missing You
"Give me the child" she implored beseechingly.
"What's said is said" he retorted.
"I didn't mean it" she cried.
"Oh, you didn't?" he replied haughtily.
"But that's not fair." she stomped one foot on the ground for good measure.
"What do you think you two are doing?" boomed an irritated voice.
With a screech the miniature Goblin King dressed in black boots that went up his thighs, and a bed sheet functioning as a makeshift cape careened into the fair maiden, wrapped in a pink ballerina tutu clutching a wand topped with a glittering star. They toppled onto the floor limbs entwined in said cape their wriggling imprisoning them further. "Daddy!" they shouted in unison. "Save us."
"I don't think I should," the original version replied, face muscles straining in an effort to keep a straight face. "I've sent you to bed over an hour ago." Leaning against the stony entrance, arms crossed against his chest he peered down on the tangle. "Your Mother will have the three of us if she finds you've been up past bedtime."
"But I can't sleep", whined the fair maiden fixing him with large green eyes.
Inwardly sighing he walked into the room crouching beside them and proceeded to unravel the two little rogues with nimble fingers. He could never resist those eyes. They were his downfall he mused fondly.
"Mummy always reads a story before bed," said the blonde haired little tyke in boots.
"Well, your Mother is not here, son," intoned Jareth. "You'll have to make do with me today. Tell you what, change into your bedclothes both of you and I'll spin you a tale."
Squealing and giggling madly the children ran off while their father settled into the large armchair between their beds. Not for the first time in last few days he wondered if he should just hop over to Draganur and whisk his wife back home. Sarah's talents in diplomacy bordered on genius; otherwise he would have sent the old fox instead. Troll negotiations be damned. Let them start a war, I can take them easily, he thought mutinously. It's not just the children who have trouble sleeping he finally admitted to himself as they settled into his lap with eager faces. Come home soon, Precious.
