Sarah came home from school, excited. The lead in the school play and a possible date with Robert Simmons. True, she was too young to date one on one, but they could go somewhere In a group – maybe a movie. Maybe he'd hold her hand. Maybe he'd give her a kiss as he dropped her off afterwards. She sighed, his mom would probably drive them since they were only fourteen. So much for the kiss. Oh well, she could dream. And she'd be fifteen in three days. Her father promised she'd be allowed to date in groups then. It was perfect.
She threw her books down on her bed and saw a letter waiting for her. Curious, she noted it was written on old parchment, the envelope scented like something familiar. Something that made her stomach feel funny and excited. She carefully opened the envelope and stared at the elegant handwriting in shocked silence.
King Jareth of the UnderGround requests the honor of your presence to celebrate your birthday, Sarah Williams. Details to follow...
Details to follow? Was he serious? What details - what party? Did he even know how to throw a birthday party? She thought back on the dream ball they'd shared and shivered. She'd been so sure he was going to kiss her, which was silly. He didn't think of her like that and she'd be terrified if he did. She was just a kid, right? He knew how to hold her attention if nothing else. She sat back on her bed, staring at the invitation.
She tried thinking about Robert, but honestly could barely remember what he looked like right now. She groaned, it was just a birthday party invitation - not a wedding proposal! She was being ridiculous and melodramatic. She was being Sarah, she giggled.
Looking at her mirror she called to Hoggle. He was covered in flour and broken eggs and she could see goblins running amuck behind him.
"We make the lady a cake," a goblin yelled to her. "It's a surprise cake, hope you like surprises!"
Sarah laughed, the goblins were pretty funny now that they weren't flinging themselves at her like cannon balls.
"Hey Sarah - can I's get backs to ya - a bit busy here," he shouted as a goblin threw another egg at him.
"What's going on - why is Jareth throwing me a party?" she yelled back so she'd be heard over the chaos.
"Because you're friends and he's happy. Gotta go, talk to ya later, Sarah." The mirror went blank again and she just looked at it, thoughts jumbled.
Because we're friends. She smiled, she kind of liked the sound of that. She picked up her Goblin King doll and kissed the top of its head.
"You get to be my first kiss after all," she sighed. "Even if you're only a doll, I guess it's going to have to be good enough."
In his throne room, a very interested Goblin King watched through a crystal. She was kissing his image and smiling. He smiled too. Things were going better than he'd imagined.
And when she turned sixteen, she was an adult in the Fae world. Only a year to convince her that he was her destiny. How hard could that be - after all - he was her first kiss. He laughed to himself and plotted their courtship. Love was indeed wonderful.