Chapter Two
The next day Jareth woke early and fresh in the morning. He stood at Sarah's window and watched the branches of the tree flitter in the wind. It was the first time he ever saw that tree from this angle and for that matter, the first time he had been in his sweet and sour Sarah's room and she wasn't there. Confused, Jareth tried to analyze his thoughts concerning the girl. He lied to his parents and while that within itself was not unusual, the fact that he purposely provoked his father into sending him away to the Aboveground was. He kept it no secret that he despised everything about the Aboveground with their selfish morals and consumerism but he did keep it secret that nearly every night for the past two years, he was a regular visitor. Jareth supposed he could be called a stalker and a pervert for watching her through her window while she slept but those were Aboveground terms. What could he do, though, if he wanted to talk to her? Waltz up to her in the park and introduce himself? With this new disguise his father gave him, at least he looked like a human but he could never accomplish that himself.
No, Jareth could do nothing. It was like a dream come true when she wished her brother away while he was standing in for his father. Jareth was afraid for a moment when she looked into the crystal that she would take her dreams over her brother. His heart nearly burst with joy when she said she couldn't forget him then the realization came that she would have to trudge through the labyrinth for thirteen hours. He did everything in his power to help her through without seeming to. His father had eyes everywhere and the goblins were first loyal to the true king rather than the standing in one.
Conflicting thoughts flickered through his head regarding everything that his father told him. His task was to bring Sarah back to the Underground for no human who entered the Underground was allowed to return- well no human capable of remembering the time spent in the Underground was allowed to return. Young, little, miniature Jareth was allowed to stay in the Aboveground because he wouldn't remember any of it… unless Father decided to take into account that Jareth fed the little twerp.
The… business the Goblin King runs is non profitable. He collects the children unwanted enough to be wished away to a seemingly tyrannical figure. If the mortal challenges the King- that is, if they believe enough in the Goblin King to challenge him- then the King is to give the wisher a choice of running the labyrinth. That rarely happens now a days for no one truly believes anymore. No one believes except the little girl sleeping a few rooms away from where Jareth stood now. When the child is collected, the Goblin King performs complicated evaluations to test the personality of the child. Mostly like giving it something to hold. If the object in hand was tossed suddenly at the King's head, that particular child was turned into a goblin. Funny how there are plenty more goblins then children running around.
A knock announced someone's presence at his door. He quickly looked down and realized he was nearly acting an exhibitionist and he hurriedly threw his robe over his body, hiding his shorts from sight.
The knock was repeated. "Jareth? Are you awake?" It was Karen knocking on his door. He went to open it for her and she started. "Oh! You are! Terrific, can you get dressed please. We're going into town to get you some supplies and also to find where the little mix up came from. I suggest you bring some money with us."
She smiled and closed the door behind her. Jareth was still nodding his head until he suddenly smacked his forehead. Money!! He had no money! His father never sent him with any for one thing and another thing, even if his father gave him money, it wouldn't be the American currency that he would need it would be the currency that was used in the Underground. He sighed and looked up, down and around. "Father!" he hissed. "I don't have any money what-." A flare of light came from the vicinity of the ceiling and a plastic card fell with a soft plop on the bed. He inched his way over and looked at it. It was a Platinum Visa, good for the smallest transaction. He looked around again. "Thank you, Father."
After getting dressed, Jareth made his way to the bathroom. It was shut and locked against him. He just shrugged and went downstairs. "Oh good. Have some breakfast first then you can get washed. Sarah is having a quick shower now, if you want one then after town you can. It always takes a few minutes for the water to heat up again after being used." She put a plate down in front of him. Pancakes, bacon and one hardboiled egg. Salt and pepper shakers were placed in front of him as well along with a glass of orange juice.
"You like orange juice don't you? We had it yesterday for dinner and now for breakfast." Jareth grinned cheekily and cut into the pancake.
Karen just laughed. "You won't have to drink it if you eat fruits and vegetables but seeing as teenagers rarely eat their daily servings, I must do something to make sure they get their vitamins."
"Makes sense I guess. I mean, my parents don't worry too much about that type of thing with me and my sisters. We always eat whatever is put it front of us." Jareth finished eating when Sarah strolled in. she shot him a glare and popped some bread in the toaster.
"Sarah, I made some pancakes. Don't you want any?" Karen asked, holding up the plate that was piled high with the delicious round cakes.
"I'm not that hungry, Karen. Thanks anyway." She sat down across from Jareth and stubbornly refused to look up even when he went on grinning at her.
"Good morning, Sarah. How did you sleep?" He let his lips pop on the P and she blushed red but she was unable to say anything in front of Karen.
A cry sounded from above and Karen bustled out the room. The compulsory on Sarah ceased and she released a frustrated growl. "What do you keep doing to me? I can barely say anything!"
Jareth smirked. "I haven't done a thing. You will find yourself unable to say anything about me or about the labyrinth in the presence of others. So if you want to say anything at all, stop trying to spill the beans on me!" He drained his juice in one gulp and stood. "Well darling, wish I could stay but nature calls." His smirk deepened and he chuckled a bit at her.
"Why don't you need to watch what you wish for?" Sarah's outraged face turned to him.
"Because, Darling, that was never one of my powers." He laughed at her expression and ran out before her emotional anger becomes physical.
GOBLINKINGxGNIKNILBOG
Jareth sat in the front seat of the car nearly bouncing… or he would be bouncing if it didn't look so silly and so far below his station. Instead he satisfied himself with twisting his head this way and that trying to see the car moving from every which window. The world passed in a blur faster than he ever managed to run and being magical as he was, running came nearly as a second instinct, especially when it was away from the cook after he was found in the sweets cupboard.
Earlier that morning, Karen took him to the agency in which he was supposedly apart of in the exchange program to see where they went wrong with the mix up. The girl they thought they were getting from Australia was settled into another family and there was no record of her ever being housed with the Williams. Jareth was grateful that no one seemed to question why he was left to find his 'own way' from the airport. It seems everyone, including Robert himself, recalls picking up the prince from the baggage check. There was even a sign in the back seat which said JARETH, ENGLAND. His Father, it appears has taken care of even the smallest details. Everything was settled into place and he registered with the local police department to prove he had permission to be in the country and would be staying until mid December. They were now heading back home from picking up a few groceries. The back seat and trunk were filled to the brim. It was lucky that Toby stayed home with Sarah, poor kid would have suffocated since even the car seat was used as a bucket to keep the 4L jug of milk and dozen eggs intact. They passed a little park on the way with a little white bridge over an indentation of grassy yard. Karen noticed how he turned his head to follow the passing of the park and Jareth noticed the slight smile on her face, thinking of what- he couldn't begin to guess.
They pulled into the driveway and Karen honked the horn. Sarah came out of the house with Toby on her hip. Jareth climbed out, keeping her in his sights until she shivered from the scrutiny. He just grinned.
"Sarah, care to give us a hand?" Karen asked and she climbed out and opened the trunk by the catch in the back. She gathered a ten pound bag of potatoes and placed them just inside the front door.
"Fine, take Toby though, he won't let me put him down!" Sarah handed the baby to his mother. His eyes were red and filled with tears and he had a hollowed look about his face as if he saw something he never wanted to see again. His little arms stretched above his head to Sarah as his mother took him inside. Sarah winced as a blood curdling scream came from inside and a repeated "Sar sar sar" followed every few breaths.
Sarah glared at Jareth, "He had a nightmare just before you came back and I can only guess what it was about! What did you do with him in that castle?"
Jareth shrugged as he brought more bags into the house. "He seemed to have fun. Maybe I should try and make him happy again eh? Sing him a song perhaps." They passed each other again, each trip bringing more food indoors. "Or perhaps you would like me to sing you a song? I know one about mountains of gold." He leaned in and breathed on her neck when he passed by her closer then what he knew she would be comfortable with.
Sarah shivered and shrank away from him involuntarily. "I would not like that and you know it." They finished with the groceries in silence, putting them in the appropriate spots. Sarah silently fuming and Jareth grinning wider every time she shook her head and mumbled, obviously arguing with herself.
Sarah went upstairs and Jareth, of course, followed. She glared behind her at him and shut herself in her room, only to reamerge a moment later with a basket of her clothes. It looks like she spent the hours they were gone to gather items from her room. He followed her and looked on in silence as she placed items in the drawers of a small dresser. His eyes dilated when she quickly looked over her shoulder at him and shoved some smaller items into the uppermost drawer. A slight blush stained her cheeks. But she suddenly lost that attractive little blush and said, furious, "What do you want! I-." He held a finger to his lips to quiet her then pointed down the hall. Faint humming came from Karen and Robert's bedroom. Sarah covered her mouth. "Oh poor Toby!"
Jareth chuckled. "I was surprised when he was still here. I thought you would wish him away again for sure!"
Sarah looked at him with saddened eyes. "I'll never do that again. That was a low blow, saying something like that. I thought for a moment that you could be civil. Dad and Karen seem to like you well enough." She turned to go farther into the baby's room and shut the door in his face, softly at least.
Jareth groaned. What the hell did I do to deserve this? A burst of images appeared behind his closed eye lids. Oh right.
GOBLINKINGxGNIKNILBOG
Jareth sulked the rest of the afternoon in the parlour downstairs. He fiddled with the deck of cards they had played the night before, shuffling and re-shuffling the deck over and over again. He stayed by himself until the front door opened and Robert called a greeting into the house. For dinner it was just Sarah, Robert and Jareth as Karen and Toby fell asleep. The baby was apparently teething and was running a slight fever. Dinner was quick and quiet. They ate soup and sandwiches and drank iced tea. The translation of the meal was 'Robert's cooking'.
After dinner Robert said, innocently "Why don't you take Jareth for a walk Sarah? Show him around the neighbourhood a bit."
Sarah sighed into her empty bowl then started to mechanically gather the dishes. Robert stayed her hand, offering instead to clear the table and that they should just go outside. "Come on, Jareth." Sarah mumbled as she got up and gathered the leash. Merlin, the trusty sheepdog bounded out from wherever he had been hiding. It was the first time that Jareth had seen the dog up close and he was startled by the similarities to Ambrosius, the sensible steed to one Sir Didymus.
He paused and looked closer at the dog as Sarah grabbed it by the collar and clipped the leash on. If he didn't know any better he would say-
"Let's go Merlin." And Sarah was out the door. Jareth wrestled his feet into shoes too complicated for him. They had a star on the side, however and he guessed they were a popular brand. They also had longer than usual laces and Jareth was in too much of a hurry to tie them so…
"Ow! God Damn it! God Damn!" another few choice swear words later and he felt a moist tongue on his face. "Merlin! Stop that, for pity sake!" He got up in time to see Sarah's amused expression until she wiped it clean.
"Are you alright?" The humour has not completely faded from her voice and Jareth could only grumble. "Well if you're not feeling entirely well from that fall then I suggest you go into the house and I'll go to the park alone." She started to walk away.
Jareth swore again and stumbled to his feet. He raced to catch up after tying his shoes. "You know I wouldn't do that. I don't think you ever spent time in that park without me for a couple of years now."
She whirled on him. "So you were that owl? The one I saw all the time in the day!" she shook her head bemusedly, somehow not showing any anger Jareth suspected she must be feeling. "What are you doing here, Jareth? Why did you come here to my home as an exchange student?"
She continued walking, leaving Jareth to follow. He smirked as he easily kept pace with the young girl. "There are many reasons why I am here. The first and foremost is that my Father sent me here. He is the King, not I and after what I did to you in the Labyrinth, he felt it important that I be punished for my actions." He frowned at her. "Is that what you wanted to hear? Or would you rather hear that I came to be here because of a broken heart over the loss of you and I couldn't live without spending more time with you?"
Her face flooded with colour. "Of course not! How could you even think that? I'm relieved that you don't feel that way for me! If you did then I would have to tell my dad that it would be inappropriate for you to stay with us."
Jareth laughed. "You think he would listen to you? Did you see his face when he suggested that we go for a walk?"
Sarah's face blanched and Jareth was slightly sad to see the beautiful blush fade from her cheeks. She mumbled something.
"What was that?"
"I said that- never mind. It's not important anyway." They had entered the park through a tiny path in the trees that led up to the bridge. The grass under the bridge was damp but not filled with water as it is in spring and early summer. Fall however was just around the corner and everything was drying up in time for winter. Sarah stopped in the center and leaned on the railing to look over. Birds fluttered down into the shallow ravine, eating the bugs and worm resting in the soggy grass. Sarah sighed and laid her head down on her arm. "So what exactly are you being punished for?"
Jareth leaned on the railing facing her. "For my actions regarding you and your brother. I believe I told you that." He raised an eyebrow at her. "Was there more you were thinking?"
Sarah blushed but shook her head. "It's nothing really. I just don't understand why he would send you here to live with Toby and me. Wouldn't he make sure that you would have stayed away from us?"
Am I really having this conversation with her? Her eyes were steely as they looked into his. I suppose I am. She should be mature enough to handle it, if only in part. "Sarah," he breathed and grabbed her hands in his. "Sarah, what I offered you at the end was true. I want you, not to have dominion over or to control but to be controlled as long as understand me." He kissed her trembling fingers. "I loved you ever since I first saw you."
Sarah pulled away and took a step away from him. She turned on her heel and made her way off the bridge to sit on a low wall. Merlin came bounding up to her then tore away again chasing the birds in the ditch.
Jareth just stared after her. He had borne his soul to her and she turned her back on him the ungrateful little-.
"Jareth!" she suddenly called out, beckoning him to her. He raced to the wall, the thought unfinished faded from his mind.
GOBLINKINGxGNIKNILBOG
Sarah and Jareth walked into the house in decidedly better spirits then when they left. Sarah disappeared upstairs once again and Jareth chose to wash his hands in the kitchen, doing it the mundane and ordinary way. It was eight O'clock and the house was silent and dark but Jareth couldn't have been more comfortable if he had been at home. In fact, this house in the suburbs felt like home and not for the first time since he was here, he looked up, down and around finally settling on the mirror in the parlour. In the reflecting glass Jareth saw the new appearance his father gave him. He whispered his father's given name and the glass shimmered until the ancient weathered face shone in the reflection.
"Jareth? What's the matter?" The King frowned in concern and Jareth couldn't help but smile.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Sire, but I had to tell you." He looked over his shoulder to where Sarah was just now climbing down the stairs. "Thank you, for everything."
The King just smirked in understanding and disappeared. "Jareth? Who were you talking to?"
"My father. I called on him." He was still looking in the mirror and now Sarah stood beside him, though a head shorter she looked just as regale.
She stretched up on her toes and touched the tip of the mirror with her finger. The glass was solid but waves flooded the reflection as if she touched the reality not just the glass. "When I came back from the labyrinth, I was able to invite the creatures from there. My friends said that I should call if I needed anything but after that night I wasn't able to reach them again. Nothing happens." She looked intently at the mirror. "Ludo, Sir Didymus; I need you." Nothing happened. "Hoggle?" The mirror shimmered this time and Jareth looked on in interest. A boy of about sixteen showed up in the mirror. He looked up and jerked when he saw them.
Jareth grinned as he saw the humanized Hoggle sitting by himself in a bedroom obviously getting ready for bed. Jareth's grin deepened into a smirk as he slipped his arm around Sarah's shoulders. They hadn't really talked about this aspect of things and Jareth felt her stiffen slightly and slip away. He sighed and lowered his arm slowly. Ah well, it was worth a try. "Hello Hogshead. I trust you are well."
"Jareth! Why you- Sarah? You and him eh?" Hoggle shook his head. "He's sent to be punished and yet he still gets to party. Disgusting."
"Hoggle! You have no idea what you are talking about!" Sarah wormed her way farther from Jareth and stepped closer to the mirror.
"Humph, sees how much you know." Jareth rolled his eyes. Hoggle was just sore about being left alone for this long and that Jareth was able to see Sarah. If Hoggle wasn't careful, he would lose her friendship… better yet, if Jareth was lucky Hoggle would lose Sarah. More for him. "Did you know, Sarah, that I was punished along with him and sent to live in another family down a street near yours? Bet he never told you that eh?"
Hoggle sat fuming and Sarah frowned, glancing at Jareth. "No he didn't… but you could have come here! I know he" she jerked a thumb at the Prince "is arrogant and selfish enough to not find me if he was given the choice but you shouldn't have had that stopping you! You could have come to me when I called!" She turned away and started sniffing. Jareth had a sneaking suspicion that she was crying or close enough to it.
"Um. Sarah, actually Hoggle didn't have a choice."
"What?" came from two different parties.
Jareth glared at Hoggle. "I'm helping you out here!" he laid a hand on Sarah's shoulder. "Hoggle didn't have a choice, neither did Ludo or Didymus. My father had forbidden them to communicate with the outside world and when they came to you that night, they broke the law." He groaned deep in his throat not believing that he was doing this. He should be convincing Sarah that Hoggle never wanted to be her friend and instead he was convincing her that it was no one's fault.
Sarah turned on him and frowned. "I don't know what you're playing at impostor Goblin King but," she grabbed his hand and squeezed slightly. "Thank you."
Hoggle just snorted. "I don't want to watch this anymore. Come find me tomorrow if you can find the time." He disappeared from view and all that was left was the reflections of Sarah and Jareth. Jareth felt his heart swell when she didn't release his hand right away, but when she did he glided away from her and sat on the couch. Sarah joined him, perching on the arm chair across from him.
He just looked at her in the soft light filtering in from the hall. She didn't seem able to keep the silence. "I don't know what to expect from you. You're arrogant and selfish and spoiled but yet you still do the right thing. Letting me go was the right thing and I have no doubt in my mind that you could have kept me there, and Toby, especially after you told me that you were sent here as a punishment! Did you know that you would get into trouble?"
Jareth smirked at her, the lights playing havoc on his features, turning his face into a sprite like mischievous demon. He saw her breath catch and his smirk deepened, "There was no way not to know once I answered your call then challenged you and gave you and your brother food… I was hospitable and not like the goblin I should have been. My darling, I would do it all again, for you." His face softened slightly. "But be warned, the consequences of both our actions are yet to be fully known."
Sarah sighed and shifted uncomfortably on the arm of the chair. "If you play me, Goblin, I will never forgive you, I promise that."
He pulled his knee up to his chest and wrapped and arm around his leg. "I know and I await your fury like the fiery blaze it would be."
Robert came down the stairs just then on silent feet nearer to a cat then a human. He froze in the door way, not saying anything. Jareth regarded him with calm eyes. Robert sighed and shook his hanging head. He backed out slowly, giving one more warning look at the foreign exchange student in his living room before retreating back up stairs. Sarah had no moved a muscle so Jareth could only assume she hadn't seen. His sharp ears could almost pick up the sounds of wife questioning husband.
He chuckled and returned Sarah's gaze evenly.
GOBLINKINGxGNIKNILBOG
Karen was sitting up in bed reading a book. Toby slept in his crib that was placed in the corner of the room. He had finally settled down enough to sleep. Robert went down quickly to see if Sarah and Jareth made it back from the park alright. Poor Sarah. She was always used to being an only child until a year ago when Toby was born. Now the poor girl had to give up her bedroom for an exchange student she didn't really want in the first place.
Karen put down her book to clear her head. She just experienced an unsettling feeling that no one wanted to have an exchange student under their roof. Lord knows that they didn't have the funds to properly support another mouth for five months… but then again, Robert did just get that raise last month…
Robert came into the room, his face pasty white and spots of sweat on his brow. "Robert? What's wrong? Is Sarah alright? Did she lose Jareth?"
He shook his head and sat down on the bed, giving his wife a slightly lingering kiss that was half in apology and half in exasperation. "Karen?" he said when he pulled back. "Karen, is fifteen too young to be put on birth control?"
Karen gaped at her husband and threw the covers off her, getting ready to storm down stairs. Robert grabbed her hand to stop her. "Robert! There is no way I'm letting that boy take advantages of Sarah in our house!"
"Karen peace! Nothing has happened yet and I've spoken to Jareth about this. There is nothing we can do if they do… do anything. I just think she should be prepared and if you take her to the doctor… it just might scare her off from doing anything, um, a bit prematurely."
Karen sank back onto the bed. "She's your daughter and I suppose I don't have a right to champion her virtue but if you want me to scare her into celibacy I will but it didn't stop me! And I don't suppose it stopped you either."
Robert's eyes shined even if his cheeks coloured. "We were young and foolish, Linda and I, but I couldn't tie her down, no matter how hard I tried."
"You don't have to try with me." Karen crawled back into bed. "I have to ask though, what gives you the idea that anything will happen? Sarah doesn't really seem like the girl to allow it."
"Sweetheart. Let's just say that I may be more attentive than you may think." Robert smiled and sat beside Karen on the bed.
"Alright, I'll give you that. For now, let's sleep, darling. Tomorrow is Thursday." She said slyly and curled up against his side, mind full of the things they would do tomorrow night.