Now dressed in jeans and a red shirt with sneakers, Sarah sat at a long, wooden table in the throne room, trying to fight sleep as she wanted to hear more about the war. "So what's going on with the elves?" She asked Jareth, who was looking out a nearby window with his hands behind his back. She always thought that elves were supposed to be shorter than humans, but the elf who had tried to capture her was almost as tall as the King. Not only that, but she always believed that they were supposed to be a nice and peaceful race like in the Lord of the Rings with the elegant robes and riches around them– Not a race that would cause wars.
"They want power," he simply answered. "They want to rule."
She studied him. "But why? How far is their kingdom from here, anyway?"
"Not far. Less than two day's walk. But to answer your first question," he turned around and approached her with his hands behind his back. "They are a powerful race."
She blinked. "So how long am I supposed to stay here?"
"Until this war is over."
"But it hasn't begun!" She cried. "And I want no part of it when it does. I know that they want me, but I can't stay here when they do come. I have to get back home. I have a family and a boyfriend."
He stared at her like she was dumb. "The elves are planning their attack as we speak since their plan with you failed. I am not going to send you home for you own wellbeing. I am doing this to protect you, Sarah, and if you do get captured, you're on your own since I won't be able to save you." He then narrowed his eyes as if questioning her sanity. "Why did you call me to save you in the first place?"
The human gave a small shrug and truthfully answered, "You were the only one I could think of." She yawned, covering her mouth with a hand. "Excuse me."
Jareth stared at her, unamused. "I believe that you need sleep. Servant!" The King called, snapping his gloved fingers and a goblin ran into the room in rags. "Take Sarah to a bedroom."
The goblin grabbed her hand, yanking her arm as the woman merely followed, mentally cursing the Goblin King, the war, the elves, and everything in this world.
Sunlight poured into the room, causing Sarah to stir. She opened her eyes, sat up, and looked around the large, stoned room that needed a good cleaning and dusting. The bed was the only piece of furniture and was dusty with old covers. The woman got out of the old bed, put her shoes on, then walked to the wooden door in front, opening it to a hall. Not knowing where she was since she barely remembered going to sleep, she took a right and started wondering around. When she would come across guards, she would ask for directions to the throne room.
After three minutes, she arrived to her distention, only to find Jareth casually sitting on the throne with one leg on the arm, slowly tapping his black riding crop on his boot. His eyes were locked before him, staring, thinking, planning, and when he noticed her, he gave her a glance of acknowledgment. "How did you sleep?"
"Well, thank you," she gently answered, walking around the messy pit to approach the blond King. "How about you?
"Fine." He stood up, whipped his crop behind his back, and slowly approached her. His gaze were not taken off her for one second. "I know that this is difficult for you to stay here against your will, but I am not willing to risk you giving away valuable information about the Labyrinth in any shape or form," his voice was low. "Also, I assume that you enjoy living."
She stared at him, puzzled by his words. He almost seemed to care about her in that brief moment. She didn't know if he was doing all of this to protect her, his kingdom, or both. He makes it sound like he just wants to worry about his kingdom and just wants her to worry about her life. In a sense, he was right. It's not like she wanted to be here and Jareth didn't want her here, either. "But I just found your castle on a whim. I also had help."
"You know how to defeat the Labyrinth," he stated, voice dropping dangerously low as he leaned forward, then stood up straight. "Also, I do wish to make your stay a bit more… comfortable." He swung the riding crop over his shoulder, giving her a small, false smile. "I assume you want to see your old friends like Hoggle again?"
The name made her instantly smile, remembering her old, goblin friend. "Yes. I'd like that very much!"
He held out a hand, summoned a crystal ball in his palm, and with a quick flick of the wrist, he handed her a peach. Seeing her uncertainty at the fruit, he chuckled. "It's nothing like last time. Just close your eyes and bite into it– It'll take right to your friend."
Gingerly, Sarah took the peach, gave the King another uncertain glance, then did what she was told. When she slowly opened her eyes with a piece of sweet peach in her mouth, she found herself standing beside a green hedge under the cloudy sky.
"35," a nearby voice said. "36…37…"
Smiling at the sound of the familiar voice, she dropped the peach, walked around the corner and found a familiar goblin spraying fairies like when she first met him. "Hoggle!"
The goblin lowered the pump, turned around and immediately, his blue eyes grew. "Sarah?"
The woman ran to her old friend, giving him a tight hug. "Oh, how I missed you!"
"Sarah?" Hoggle gasped. "Wha-What are you doing here? It's been years! Did you wish your brother away again?"
She stood up, releasing her friend with a smile. "It has and no, I did not wish my brother away." She frowned. "An elf tried to kidnap me, but Jareth saved me. Now he's keeping me here for my safety."
"The elves? They know about you?" Worry washed over her friend's eyes.
Sarah nodded. "Jareth believes that it's because I defeated the Labyrinth once and the elves think I can do it again so they can use me to get to the castle."
The goblin shook his head in disbelief, setting the pump aside. "I can't believe it, but," he gave a heavy sigh, bowing his head with a small shake, "I can't be blame Jareth either. The elves are dangerous and they will stop at nothing to take over this kingdom." He looked her in the eyes. "Jareth may be cruel, but the Elven Queen, Nalth, is ruthless. It will be a bloodbath when they arrive here and Jareth won't surrender, meaning his death. When the elves are in control, every living goblin will be turned into a slave." Hoggle looked up at her with worry. "I'm sorry that you are in the middle of this, Sarah, but you have to get Jareth to send you home."
Worry and confusion was starting to get ahold of her. "Why do they want to take over this land? What has happened to cause the bad blood?"
Hoggle sadly shook his head. "I don't know."
Seeing there was more to it than what the King had told her, she started to turn to leave. "I'm sorry, Hoggle, but I have to talk to Jareth." Just as she turned around, she bumped into the blond man, causing her to jump back in surprise.
"You said you wanted to see me?" Jareth causally questioned, gaze locked onto her once more. Before she could say anything, he turned around and started to walk. "Follow."
Sarah looked at her friend as she obeyed. "I'll see you soon, Hoggle."
The goblin gave a small wave as if he didn't know what to say.
