Obligatory Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, this means I do not own any of the characters, no matter how much I wish I had His Nibs Jareth, the Goblin King as my own personal cabana boy in tight trousers (and nothing else) bearing peach margaritas and chocolate truffles and singing "It's too Darn Hot" under the citronella filled tiki torches while shaking his money maker around my backyard pool. (Let us pause to appreciate that thought for a moment shall we ladies? Mmm, mental images are such lovely things indeed.) I own nothing but the words in this tale and those aren't worth much. Everything else is © Jim Henson and Company. I'm only borrowing their toys and I'll put them back when I'm finished, only slightly used and abused (And more than likely severely Sexually Harassed).
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Quintessence
Quintessence is the most perfect embodiment of something. (In ancient and medieval philosophy) it is the fifth essence or element, ether, supposed to be the constituent matter of the heavenly bodies, the others being air, fire, earth, and water.
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Chapter 2
Dinner and Magic Beans
Jareth was in high spirits as he left the bookstore and headed down the street. He swung his bag idly as he strolled down the avenue. One of his Goblins took up stride next to him. "Yes Biggle?"
"Biggins Sire. We done what you asked your Majesty. Gots all of Lady Sarah's stuff we did. All except her little red book, the one she likes so much. The troll lady, the one who hurts Sarah all the time has it, she's got it in her pocket. We gots to wait until she's sleeping to gets it."
"Excellent. Now then Bratwurst…"
"Biggins Sire."
"Yes, whatever. I'm going to need to stay a while, I am to be courting my lady and it will exhaust me going back and forth constantly. I'm in need of a place to stay. Find me an empty house, preferably something with style and then fetch to me Sir Didymus and Hoggle I will be in need of their services. I will be waiting in the park." Jareth said and Biggins saluted and vanished.
It was nearing nine o'clock when a tall and lanky older gentleman with fox red hair graying at the temples and a bushy white mustache and a velvet eye patch over his left eye sauntered into the park, a short dwarfish man at his side.
"You called for us sire?" Sir Didymus asked twisting his mustache with his fingers, his good eye twinkling.
"I did Cyril. You know, I rather liked that she made you a fox for her visit, it suited you." Jareth said looking at his old friend and sword master in his true form and not the form Sarah's imagination had painted him to be.
"Ah yes, the Lady is unique and creative and I too rather enjoyed the glamour she required me to don for her adventure. I daresay my poor dog Ambrosius however still flees at the sight of a saddle. He has never forgiven me the indignity of being my noble steed. No matter how many soup bones I bribe him with." Cyril Didymus laughed, he was getting up in years but was still healthy and spry and a jocular fellow. Retired Captain of the Guard, he now simply worked as Jareth's personal aide, secretary and steward.
Hoggle on the other hand, looked just as he always looked he was not a sidhe like Cyril and Jareth but a dwarf and Sarah had a pretty accurate imagination on how dwarves looked save for one fact. She had imagined him beardless and he felt positively naked without his beard, which was once more hanging down his front as it was supposed to. Who ever heard of a dwarf without a beard? It was ludicrous. But for Sarah he'd shave if he had to, the lassie was worth it, sweet thing that she was. "Is the Missy alright?" Hoggle asked getting to the point and Jareth smiled. The Rat bastard actually smiled a pleasant smile.
"Physically yes Higgle. Emotionally she needs us, all of us. That's why I called you my friends."
"If I'm yer friend, why is it you never gets me name right? It's Hoggle damn it." Hoggle snorted and Jareth grinned. He knew perfectly well what Hoggle's name was, he just loved to annoy the dwarf.
"So it's true then, all of what you suspected?" Cyril asked and Jareth nodded.
"And more my friend. Her belief in magic is all but snuffed out like a candle. She's very nearly broken in spirit. Until she believes again, I won't be able to bring her back; the underground will not let her cross until that magic is alive in her again. Until she is whole again."
"Just don't blow it this time. Go slow, don't scare the girl off Jareth. She's not no damn fairy sidhe with more lust than sense. She's an innocent girl, woo her right this time." Hoggle grunted and Jareth frowned.
"I can still dump you in the bog Hogswiggle! I know." Jareth growled and Didymus held up his long fingered hands.
"Now, my lads cease with thy tempers. We all know the last time had to be played out and the outcome was as it should have been. We had no idea she would forget so completely nor that she would face a reality that made her suffer and lose the ability to wish. But we are here now; we can mend what is broken and bring our lovely lady home. What is the plan Sire?" Cyril asked as they all took up seats on a stone bench.
"I have the Goblins out scouting us a temporary residence here. Cyril I'm going to ask you to be butler and whatever else I need during our stay. Hoggle I am positive what they find us will be horrific but manageable with magic and elbow grease. I'm putting you in charge of the goblins to get us living decently. Get Agnes to cook for us and enlist whomever else you require. For the sake of the gods keep the chickens out and I'd suggest Ludo for heavy work if needed but even I'm hard pressed to put a glamour on him that makes him anything other than what he is."
"A big fat hairy dumb yeti. Yeah, Even Sarah's imagination and all the magic of the Labyrinth trying to grant her visions couldn't change Ludo." Hoggle laughed. Much as he loved the dumb beast, that's what he was a dumb beast and Ludo best intentions usually ended up destroying something unintentionally.
"King! King! We gots a place!" Biggins arrived excitedly, bouncing on his feet and dancing around the bench.
"I'm almost afraid. Lead on Biggleby."
"It's Biggins Sire."
"Deal with it kid." Hoggle sighed as they followed Biggins out of the park.
Jareth tried to keep calm, tried not to toss the nearest Goblin into the bog, and tried not to pinch his own nose off as he tried to suppress the headache forming between his eyes. "What do you call this? It's a ruin!" Jareth groaned looking at what was probably once a grand estate that was little more than stones and rubble and probably hadn't been inhabited in nearly a century.
"You said empty Sire. This is empty and big too, like a small castle!" Biggins said and Jareth sighed.
"Perhaps a hundred years ago. Oh this is going to exhaust me and if I am too tired to be witty and charming on my assignation with Sarah tomorrow I'm going to dip all of you in the Bog, head first, hung by your toenails." Jareth said holding up his hands.
The fallen stones began repairing themselves, the caved in roof raised and slowly but surely Jareth reordered time around the building only. Bringing the building back to its glory, as it had been when it was built. He looked positively ashen by the time he was finished. "There is a sad lack of magic in the aboveground. I'm exhausted." Jareth said slumping and Cryil caught him up.
"Aye sire, but it is grand. Let us get you inside and we'll get your bedchamber sorted out first so you can rest." Didymus said leading a very tired Jareth into their new home.
It didn't take but a half hour for Hoggle to wrangle the Goblins into getting a bed wrestled into Jareth's bedroom and get several women inside to clean and make the bed quickly. Jareth was asleep before the door closed behind the last servant.
"Right, we have a house to get in order before the King rises in the morning! Hoggle if you would be so kind as to get furniture and necessities brought in, I will see this place is cleaned and the servants assigned their duties." Cyril said taking charge of the household as Hoggle took charge of the laborers.
Agnes arrived and headed to the kitchens and several Goblin maids awaiting her orders. "Right girls. We need to stock this larder and the King can't be eatin' no mortal food. Get yerselves back to the palace and bring us up whatever's in the pantry. He'll be needing a hearty breakfast come morning using so much magic. Get us some chickens and for gods' sake, make sure they get cooped up in the yard and not in his majesty's parlor! You know how he hates livestock inside! Move on!"
By late morning, when Jareth finally cracked open bleary eyes he awoke to a cheerful fire in his fireplace, a warm cozy bed, clean draperies and a steaming pot of tea and pastries waiting on a table by his bed. Complete with a vase full of fresh flowers. Sir Didymus and Hoggle had outdone themselves getting this household in order overnight.
That was precisely the reason he kept those two close and only threatened a bog dipping once in a while and never followed through on his threats. They were worth their weight in Goblin Gold. Jareth was halfway through his second cup of tea when Cyril arrived to check on him. "Ah, I see thou hast arisen to greet the day Sire. How fare thee this morning?"
"Tired, but well, thank you Cyril. How is the house? I daresay I didn't see much of it last night." Jareth said around a yawn.
"A lovely estate Sire indeed. I have placed spells all along the fence to avoid any unwanted visitors. Anyone walking by shall not notice anything amiss. The glamour will show them the ruin we appropriated for our use. Only Sarah will be immune to my Glamour and anyone else you wish me to include on the exception list." Cyril said and Jareth chuckled.
"Just Sarah for now. That's fine and good thinking." Jareth said picking through Agnes' pastries. That woman could cook and she'd made all his favorites.
"Hoggle is outside taming the gardens, he grumbles as usual but I think he is quite enjoying himself." Cyril said with a smile as he joined Jareth at the small table.
"Agnes wishes to know what you'd like prepared for dinner I believe you said you had an assignation tonight with our fair maiden." Cyril asked and Jareth grinned.
"Aye, but not here, not yet. She is slave to her job at the moment. I am taking dinner to her. Have Agnes make a variety to place in a basket, finger foods, pasties, peaches." Jareth said and Cyril laughed.
"I do believe that is not a good idea Sire."
"It might spark a memory."
"One you do not want sparked boy. She was too young for that Masque! It frightened her more than it tempted her. You do not thrust young virgins into debauchery and come away with them anything but terrified."
"I know, I know. I admit my mistake there. She was too young, it was wishful thinking on my part."
"It was your loins thinking instead of your head Jareth." Cyril frowned. He only ever used Jareth's name when he scolded him like a pup.
"Admittedly. I promise I'm taking it slow this time, my lesson was learned. She is still a virgin and I intend to keep her that way until she agrees to be mine and she remembers. Rushing last time did no good, I've waited centuries for her, I can wait a little longer." Jareth said and Cyril nodded.
"See that you do. She is a lady Jareth, in every way. Treat her as such. Remember it is a Queen you court not a courtesan bred to the ways of the flesh. There will be a ring on Sarah's finger and vows spoken before you take her to your bed boy. That is how you respect the one you make your wife."
"Aye. I know. I don't like it, but I agree you can cease scolding me like I am five again." Jareth said and Cyril smiled.
"Just making sure my lad." Cyril said with a wink before he excused himself to inform Agnes of Jareth's dinner plans. Jareth finished his breakfast and decided he'd give himself a tour of his new home away from home.
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For once in her life. Sarah woke up fairly content. Karen had been in bed by the time Sarah got home from work, her once father was as usual locked in his study and bitterly ignoring her existence so the house was dark and quiet as she silently made her way to her bedroom. Not even the sight of a painfully bare and Spartan room, devoid of everything but furniture and clothing could dampen her lovely evening. She'd had a wonderful conversation with an intelligent, devastatingly handsome and dare she say regal man in her bookstore. He liked fantasy and lore as much as she did and he baited her with wit and charm and then he asked her to dinner. Granted it was just going to be take-out in the store itself, but that was as close to a date as she was ever likely to get.
She was painfully attracted to him; he sparked fires in her she hadn't known she possessed! It was like the maiden daring the dragon to roast her alive and damn it she wasn't going to bring marshmallows and fixing for s'mores if he huffed and puffed just a little her direction. She wanted to be singed, he was dangerous and devilish and completely and utterly male in every pore of his body. He radiated sexual magnetism and she was the refrigerator she wanted that magnet stuck to! He was also frustratingly familiar and she swore she had met him before, she couldn't remember when or where and when she tried to think about it she just came up with a blank. It was there, she knew it was there somewhere in the swiss cheese of her memory. But finding it was going to be a chore and she was too tired to think about it anymore that night. She was tired and she fell into bed with a sigh. Perhaps she'd remember in the morning on the walk to school.
That night she dreamt of a sugar spun silver and white dress, silver ivy ribbons and grotesque masks swirling and twirling around her. A ballroom of moonbeams and spiderweb silks and dancers, lewd and debauched writhing around her trying to tantalize and excite her, to lead her a merry chase. She was looking for something, someone. Just out of reach, hidden like her memories. Another time, another place. She was too young to be there, then. Not too young now, now she knew, she felt, she yearned. Then, the first time, she was not quite there, not able to comprehend the suggestions all around her. Now she knew and understood. She was no longer a girl, but a woman and the one she was seeking was a man. Not just any man, but a man she feared but was drawn to, a man she loved but was afraid to love. He was a paradox, he was power, he was no ordinary man. He was extraordinary. There he was suddenly before her, dressed in a midnight blue frock coat, his wild silvery blond hair streaked with blue to match his coat. His face, his handsome glorious face was haughty and regal, cruel and tender, his lips were curved in a knowing smirk, he was the Goblin King. His name was Jareth.
Sarah bolted awake, the dream fled and she grasped at it to no avail. All she remembered was a face, his face. "Oh Sarah you have it bad if you're already dreaming about him." She laughed at herself turning to look at her alarm clock. At least Karen had let her keep that out of necessity. Three in the morning, she still had a few hours of sleep left before she had to get up and get ready for school. "Okay brain, if you're going to Dream about sexy Mr. King again let's avoid the ballroom and over the top regency regalia costumes and skip right to the good stuff, preferably with some chocolate sauce and whipped cream in there okay?" She put in her request and snuggled back down to go back to sleep.
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School seemed to drag on forever and when the final bell rang Sarah ran home, she wanted to look good tonight for her almost-date. Karen was not home, her father was at work and Toby was naturally with his mother wherever she was. She had the house to herself and if she were lucky she'd be gone before Karen and Toby got home. She took a shower quickly; blow dried her hair and decided to twist it up in an elegant French twist, hoping it made her look a little more sophisticated and less like a seventeen year old girl who was headlong into a crush. She dug through her closet and found her favorite sage green blouse with the billowy sleeves and Queen Anne collar that brought out her eyes. Her dark chocolate brown suede long skirt, matching boots and belt, she was comfortable for a long evening at work, but still looked nicely put together and composed. Now if only those darn butterflies in her stomach would cooperate for the evening she'd be as composed inside as she was outside.
Her luck was holding as she was already walking to work before Karen's car turned the corner, a narrow escape. She clocked in by four o'clock and the next three hours were going to be more like three years as she waited for one Mr. Jareth King to arrive.
At precisely seven, the door chimed, and Mr. Wonderful glided into the deserted bookstore, large basket hanging on one arm, a warm smile on his lips and a dusting of snow in his silvery blond hair. "It's beginning to snow out there. Good evening Sarah." Jareth purred as he walked over to the counter.
"Good evening to you too Mr. King. Right on time." Sarah said, her stomach doing little flips of barely suppressed joy. He looked good enough to eat in her opinion regardless of whatever he carried in his basket that smelled delicious. His hair was pulled back into a ponytail still, his eyes glinted merrily like a cat about to pounce a canary, his long dark wool dress coat was buttoned tightly against the cold, his tartan scarf tossed over a shoulder.
"I wouldn't dream of being anything but punctual when it is a meeting with you Sweet Sarah. Give me just a moment to prepare our victuals." He said with a wink, before heading back to the table. Unbeknownst to Sarah, Jareth muttered a small spell as he set the table, he wasn't about to share Sarah's time with anyone, the shop would be devoid of visitors until closing time. Anyone coming to the door would suddenly get the urge to be elsewhere, immediately. The next two hours were going to be his alone with his Lady.
First Jareth removed his coat and scarf and draped them over a chair. He was wearing a nicely tailored Armani suit in dove gray with a powder blue tie that accentuated his eyes. He then draped a rich vermillion table cloth over the battered old table before he began setting out Agnes' bounty. Roasted chicken in herbs and butter, potatoes and carrots wrapped in flaky pastry pasties still hot from the oven. Fresh fruit cut up into bite sized pieces, brie Bernadette rolled in pecans and honey and toasted to spread on crackers. Peach cider mulled with spices and warm in a brushed silver thermos and chocolate truffles for dessert. "You may come back now Sarah." Jareth called and Sarah gasped at the table setting. There were even two long taper candles burning merrily and a single red rose lying in her place at the table. It was so very romantic.
"Oh Jareth, it's lovely, I don't know what to say." Sarah said breathless with wonder. Jareth just bowed over her hand and once again kissed the backs of her fingers.
"You haven't tasted anything yet my Lady. You look lovely tonight, green suits you, it matches your beautiful eyes." He said with a smile in his voice as he pulled out Sarah's chair for her to be seated.
"Thank you." Sarah blushed and Jareth's inner voice chortled. Who knew she was so easy to please when they weren't adversaries in a game. He decidedly liked that rosy hue on her cheeks and the way her voice became breathless when she was delighted.
"You are more than welcome." He said as he began to fix her a plate. "I hope you like dinner, these are some of my favorites my cook Agnes makes. I am frightfully ignorant of all things domestic I must admit. We would be eating straw and magic beans if you left me in a kitchen for any amount of time and relied upon me to serve dinner." Jareth said and Sarah laughed as she accepted the plate.
"I'd rescue you. I'm not so bad in a kitchen. But really. Magic Beans? Are we going to argue about magic again tonight?" She asked and Jareth grinned a truly feral grin.
"But of course fair maiden. I am bound and determined to get you to believe in all things beyond explanation, but only after I have plied you with food and drink to weaken your defenses." Jareth said with a wink as Sarah nibbled at her dinner.
"Oh this is wonderful. Agnes is divine." Sarah said, her eyes rolling in near ecstasy as she tasted Jareth's offerings.
"Agnes' ego is large enough, I will refrain from fueling it with your praise if you don't mind." Jareth chuckled as he too tucked into a very nice meal.
Sarah noticed Jareth was still wearing his gloves and once again curiosity got the better of her manners. "May I ask why you wear gloves?"
"My sense of touch is rather acute and I find gloves help dampen the sensation." Jareth replied honestly if not completely the whole truth. His touch was magic and Sarah would feel the magic when he touched her without his gloves. He was saving that for a very special occasion, their wedding night to be precise.
"Interesting, I've heard blind people develop a heightened sense of touch and hearing when deprived of sight. I've never known anyone else who did."
"You do now." Jareth winked as he poured her a cup of cider. "This is a specialty from where I come from, mulled Peach cider. I hope you enjoy it." Jareth said and Sarah shivered as she sipped it.
"Oh that is nice; it warms right to the toes. Where do you come from? You accent sounds English." Sarah said and Jareth smiled over the rim of his cup.
"That is a tale for another day I'm afraid. Let's just say I am from a land Far, Far Away." Jareth said, humor dripping from his voice.
"There you go with the fairy tales again." Sarah just rolled her eyes amused at Jareth's playful nature.
"As I said, there is always a kernel of truth in every tale. It is knowing what is truth and what is fabrication that makes the difference." He winked as they finished dinner and he reached over to feed Sarah a truffle. It was truly a very romantic dinner and her eyes were full of light and wonder by the end of the meal.
"Did you enjoy it Sarah?" He asked honestly and Sarah bestowed upon him a genuine sweet smile.
"I did very much. Thank you Jareth. Tonight was… dare I say it? Magical."
"It has only just begun." He said as he reached into his pocket and brought out what looked like a kidney bean dipped in a vat of tye-dye paint out of some psychedelic nightmare.
"What on earth is that?" Sarah asked and Jareth grinned.
"I thought we'd start with the basics, this my dear is your average Magic Bean." Jareth said setting it on the table in front of her.
Sarah laughed. "You don't honestly expect me to fall for this Jareth. You painted a kidney bean."
"I didn't. That my dear is the real thing." He said and it was.
"Right, and I'm supposed to plant it and then climb it the next morning into the clouds, Find a giant, steal his golden goose, his magic harp and then find out I'm the long lost princess of the kingdom in the clouds?" she asked and Jareth laughed.
"Nay, and therein lies the fabrication to the tale. Magic beans do not grow quite that large. They do grow overnight into a rather hearty stalk but they are not ladders or towers of Babylon. They grow to about man height and they simply produce more magic beans. If you eat them however, and I suggest you do not eat them, you… well, putting it delicately, you know how beans react on most people. Imagine noxious, multi-colored wind. This is a favorite Goblin treat to the annoyance of many who must encounter them after a bender of Magic bean chili cook-offs. Plant it, you will at least see how quickly it grows and that magic is undeniable." Jareth said and Sarah laughed.
"That was creative. Noxious chili made from magic beans and a Goblin delicacy. Oh, you're good Jareth. But I don't believe you."
"Plant it and see Sarah, man-height and in fruit by morning. Do not let your little brother eat the beans unless you wish to torment your household for a week. He may find it funny, you I promise will not." Jareth said and Sarah rolled her eyes but took the bean.
"I'll plant it just to prove you wrong."
"I'm not wrong. Care to wager on the outcome?" He asked, the Fae in him could never resist a good wager.
"Alright Mr. King I'll bite. If by morning this bean stalk is as tall as I am and covered in flower power beans what do you want?" She asked and Jareth grinned.
"Another date with you." He said and Sarah laughed.
"You could have had that anyway. Choose something else." Sarah said and Jareth smiled.
"Alright. If I win this little wager, I get a kiss. Is that agreeable to you?" Jareth asked and Sarah blushed but smiled.
"Okay. A kiss it is. What do I get if I win?" Sarah asked and Jareth leaned forward and smirked.
"Name your price wench. I can give as good as I get." He winked and Sarah laughed.
"You tell me where you are really from."
"Deal. I hope you like disappointment and please do not wear lipstick, your lips are divine enough without paint."
Sarah laughed. "Confident much?"
"My lady, my confidence is the very least of your worries." Jareth said with a wink.
Jareth in that moment looked incredibly dangerous and sinful and every woman's secret desire. There were bad boys and then there were men like Jareth who made bad boys look like geeky accountants who live in their mother's basements. He made her shiver in all the right places and in all the wrong ones too.
"Is that so? I think I'll brave it Mr. King."
"My dear Sarah, it is your bravery and stubbornness I find most attractive about you. You are no meek woman and I find that infinitely alluring." Jareth said standing and gathering up their dinner to place back in the basket. Then walking over to stand behind her chair, he leaned over her shoulder, his breath tickling the shell of her ear and sending gooseflesh down her skin. "Plant it where the moon will touch the soil." He said softly, he smelled of wild wind and earth and exotic spices. He was intoxicating as his hand slowly tugged the clip holding her hair up in her twist, letting her tresses tumble down around her shoulders and his fingers delicately ran through her hair as he held strands to his face to breathe deeply.
"As beautiful as you are and as graceful a neck you have my dear. I find I like your hair down much better. Hair as luxuriant as yours should never be contained; it should be free to be kissed by the wind. Until tomorrow my lady." He said softly in her ear again before he gathered up the basket, pulled on his coat and scarf and left the bookstore with a regal bow and a look that said he'd be getting his kiss the next evening.
Sarah was too weak-kneed to stand anytime soon. Jareth had turned her into a complete and utter pile of gelatinous goo and he'd done nothing but speak softly into her ear and run fingers through her hair. What was a kiss going to do to her if he barely had to touch her to set her on fire.
"Like that bean is going to be anything other than a buried joke in the morning. There's no such thing as magic, he's teasing you, and he knows it. Then why do I want to lose so badly?" Sarah asked herself as she pulled herself together, realized it was nearly nine o'clock and time to close up for the night and head home.
She did however stop around in the backyard, found a nice moonlit patch of ground and buried the bean before she headed upstairs to bed.
She dreamed of Jareth again, her brain thankfully going right to the good parts and she woke feeling decidedly wanton before she got up to get ready for school. She was just finishing getting dressed when Toby's voice sounded from downstairs.
"WHOA COOL! MAGIC BEANS!"
Sarah raced downstairs and stood dumbstruck at what was standing in her backyard mocking her. A Man height stalk covered in Magic Beans.
"Don't eat them Toby. Just, just don't." Sarah murmured still trying to rationalize a magic beanstalk standing tall and in full fruit, covered in snow her in her backyard.
Maybe Jareth was right. Maybe the son of a bitch found out where I live and planted that thing in my back yard! She thought to herself and then realized that Jareth did not know where she lived and could not have known the precise spot she planted that stupid bean.
She lost the bet.
She really couldn't find the energy to be upset about it either.
(to be continued... )
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