The Talk
Jareth sighed happily and turned to Robert and Irene.
"Well? Do you want the crystal?"
He threw the crystal orb to them, and Robert caught it. Irene smiled reluctantly:
"Oh, thank you, sir, then you have our permission to marry Sarah."
"Yes, you do," Robert agreed, but looked at his daughter with uncertainty. Sarah gave him a reassuring nod.
"I'll take her away now," Jareth said. "Our wedding will take place in a week, and my servants will bring you to our world."
Sarah barely had a chance to say a hurried goodbye when the world swirled around her. In a moment, Jareth and her were standing in the familiar Throne Room of Jareth's palace. It was empty, save for none other than Hoggle, who was sitting in the corner and writing down the number of shot fairies.
"Sarah!" Hoggle exclaimed joyfully and ran to them. Jareth glanced at him jealously and stood in his way:
"Yes, Heggert, Sarah is back, and she is going to marry me."
"Marry? You?" Hoggle's eyes grew wide as saucers. He forgot even to correct the Goblin King who, as usual, misspelled his name.
"Hoggle, I didn't tell any of you when I called you. I didn't want you to worry about me," Sarah sighed. "Our family was left with literally only a few dollars. Both Dad and Irene lost their jobs. We were desperate. His Majesty offered to help us. I… er… agreed to marry him for the gratitude."
Hoggle was about to say something, but Jareth said authoritatively:
"Now, would you mind going somewhere else and giving me and my fiancée a little privacy?"
Sarah smiled:
"Hoggle, please don't worry. He is not going to kill me."
The dwarf looked doubtful, but the expression on Jareth's face was such that he bowed and left. Soon, his loud voice was heard. He told everyone he met that Sarah had returned.
Jareth and Sarah stood in silence for several moments, until Jareth drew her closer and said:
"I missed you."
The girl blushed and averted her eyes. But Jareth's hand caught her chin and forced her to meet his stare.
"You didn't think that the cruel Goblin King would miss you?" he hissed almost angrily. "You didn't think that dreaded six-word quote of yours would haunt me every minute of these two years?"
"Goblin King…" Sarah began.
"I have a name."
"Jareth… please, understand me. I truly thought you were flirting with me just to waste a bit more of my time. I had no idea your feelings and intentions were serious! I… I was almost a child back then!" she cried remorsefully. "Honestly, I will learn to love you now! You're so handsome and charming I think I already have a crush on you."
As she spoke, Jareth's anger faded. At her last words he smiled:
"Oh, Sarah… I wanted to hate you so often and so much during these years, but I never managed to, precious."
He leaned down to kiss her, but Sarah suddenly felt a jolt of fear. She stiffened in his arms, and the Goblin King felt it. So instead of kissing her lips he just lightly touched her forehead. Sarah's cheeks grew redder.
"What would be my duties as your Consort?" she asked to get away from the embarrassment. "Will it be difficult?"
"Nothing you are unable to do," Jareth replied lightly. "You will learn, I assure you. I think I will better manage the major political and economical matters, and you will control things like charity, festivities and such."
"To think of it – I read so many fairytales, but don't know anything about your world. Your festivities, your culture…"
"Don't be frightened, you will soon know all this. I will teach you," Jareth smiled as his hand caressed her cheek. "My people will be happy to have such a wonderful Queen. They've hoped for it, just as I did."
"Hoped for it? I've made a mess in the Goblin City, threw away the Fireys' heads…"
"Sarah!" Jareth exclaimed. "Do you believe the Goblin Kingdom wants an all-proper, polite lady to rule them? Thankfully, no. Even the elves, whom you've met in the Crystal Ballroom, with their heads full of grace and etiquette, never wish for such a Queen. And think about me! I would have thrown a wife like that into the Bog of Eternal Stench. Honesty, imagination, quick mind, mischief, sense of humor – that's what my subjects need in their rulers. When they saw you, they knew that instant you would make an excellent Queen for them."
"And when did you think so?" Sarah wanted to know.
"Oh, several years ago, when I was in my owl form and saw you reciting Tennyson's poems in the park," Jareth whispered. "The sight of you almost blinded me. I've never seen such breathtaking beauty. After that I came every day to watch you. I continued to do it after your refusal. You didn't notice…"
The girl blushed once more. There were some days in her past when she had wanted nobody to see her.
"Will you permit me to see my Labyrinth friends?" she asked.
"Why not?" Jareth raised an eyebrow. "It's not like in the Middle Ages of your world, when the Queen was expected to ignore plain people. You can go anywhere you like in the Labyrinth and beyond – everywhere in my kingdom. I'll give you the teleporting ability, so that you wouldn't waste much time. Only…" he paused and looked on the ground.
"What's it?"
"My darling Sarah, please tell me: do you have any warm feelings towards Hoggle?" Jareth asked slowly. She assured him:
"Nothing warmer than friendship."
"Oh, I've been so jealous of him," Jareth cringed. "You kissed him!"
"As a friend!"
"Even so, promise me it won't happen again," the Goblin King said sternly. "You can visit him as often as you like, but you will only kiss your husband."
"Fine," Sarah nodded. "And you will not throw him into the Bog again!"
"Agreed," Jareth smiled contentedly. "Now, my dear, what do you want? You can already choose a dress for the wedding."
"Oh yes, I'd love it!" Sarah cried happily. Though she still couldn't say she loved her future husband, she wanted to look beautiful for him on the special day.